Life and living in Bangkok as an expat. From buying condos to daily life,shopping and cooking.
Most western tourists will be able to arrive to Thailand without a visa, and will be given ‘visa exemption‘ on arrival, guaranteeing a 30 day stay in the country (note, this is different to “Thai visa on arrival” which non-western countries may need). However, for longer stays in Thailand, a Thai visa application may be …
Like most people, my reaction to the Street Food Ban in Bangkok was one of disbelief, anger and swearing, but I also find that many of the arguments against the ban are misrepresented. And because of this I’ve become a bit mixed on this issue, or at least I’ve looked for a more balanced argument. Because …
With a visit back home, I can say there is one thing I am really looking forward to. This, undoubtedly, is the NHS. For the past 3 years in Asia I have been living without any medical or travel insurance and it has been quite nerve-wracking. But it’s not so much the free medical treatment that I …
The original plan for this somewhat extreme budgeting challenge was for one full month, living cheap in Bangkok. A plan which was quickly scuppered with impromptu travels to Kuala Lumpur for VISA renewal, and taxi fares for Fanfan’s university exams. In total we manage a week, but we are still proud. What first prompted this …
Something not yet mentioned on this blog is that I don’t only eat lots of food, but I also cook it… or at least I used to. There was even a time when I hoarded cash to open a Thai restaurant in the UK but I instead spent it buying my condo in Bangkok. While I …
This epiphanic moment follows a grumbly stomach and a yearning for fluffy pork and chilli stuffed crepes. It also starts on a seemingly ordinary day, sat at my condo peering over local life and the surrounding street food stalls, a day not so different to any other. Soon arrives the smiley crepe lady to the …
Power outages in Bangkok tend to be an almost regular occurrence; generator explosions, deafening booms which leave my cat hidden in the bathroom all day. Maybe we live in an unlucky area but it does seem to happen a lot, more than you’d expect from a swank central area of Bangkok. With today’s power outage …
If ‘the first year of marriage is always the hardest’ then I can say our marriage is definite for the long run. Since our wedding in April last year we have enjoyed a yearlong honeymoon, or at least that’s how it has felt. After travels in Europe, our engagement in the Wicklow Mountains, and our …
Many people ask about my website’s title ‘Live Less Ordinary’ apparently it’s confusing but in truth everything is there in the name (idiots). To beef it up a bit…. it is about my decision to ‘live a lifestyle less ordinary to others’. Of course this can be in infinite ways but here, on my website, …
For those travelling on a 60 day tourist VISA in Thailand there is always the option of a further 30 day ‘VISA extension’. This should be applied for before the expiration of the current VISA (after the first 30 days) and the application should be completed at the Bangkok Immigration Office at Chaeng Wattana, or …