ABOUT
Tom is a 33 year old male from a small town called Ossett in the North of England, the closest recognised city would be Leeds. He is currently working for a large digital marketing agency based in Bangkok, but he lives in Phuket now.
Tell us about yourself
My title is the sales director but I also work in Account management and technical account work. I am a native English speaker but can speak a low level of Thai and Chinese. I am a former Royal Navy weapons engineer so marketing was not my initial career choice but decisions along the way have led me here. I am also a partner in a real estate agency as well as the Thailand travel guide owner and writer of Payhip.
Moving to Bangkok
When did you move to Bangkok?
I moved to Bangkok in 2014 after a year living in China. Bangkok kind of chose me, the day I arrived from China for a month holiday it felt more like home than anywhere I had ever been. It was actually an old friend from the UK that invited me on his backpacking trip, so that is how the story began. After a month of traveling I returned to China and knew I had to move back as soon as possible. I handed my notice in at the school I was working at in China and started to use contacts in Bangkok to help me find work.
What is Bangkok famous for?
This could be a long list, but the things that springs to my mind are culture, temples, architecture, shopping centres, markets, nightlife, women, vast array of local and international food, fashion, Miss Grand and Miss World.
What surprised you about life there when you first arrived?
I was very surprised at how easy it was to get around, taxis, motorbikes, trains, underground and overground. Another key thing you notice is how friendly everyone is, from local thais to the foreigners working here, everyone wants to talk. Also, the price of things is cheap if you want it to be and go to the right places.
How to find a job in Bangkok?
I’ll be honest here and say the best way to find a job in Thailand is to make connections. You can find a starting job on websites like Ajarn and some other recruitment agencies but the reality is that the networks you create will yield you much better job opportunities than anything else. I found my latest job (and the best one I have had) in the pub watching football.
How did you find an apartment in Bangkok?
My first apartment was given to me by the school I was working at. When I moved into central Bangkok, I used a website called Fazwaz, this helped me find the units I wanted to look at and then I went into the condos directly to speak with the agents. There are some great agents out there, for example my recommendation would be rightkeyestate.com
How did you get set up?
For the phone I just went to 7/11 to get a tourist sim card. If you want to setup a contract plan you need to have a work permit, the same with a bank account, both of these require a legitimate visa and work permit to present to either True or AIS for a phone, or the banks I used are Bangkok Bank & Krungsri.
Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance?
When you work at a company you get social security which covers free hospital care at the government hospitals. Acquiring private healthcare is quite easy through a company like Pacific Cross.
What did you bring with you?
Not much, clothes, a playstation, a laptop and some basic toiletries. Anything I thought I was missing I could buy fairly easily here. Oh I also brought some Yorkshire tea because I wasn’t sure they would sell it here, but they do.
Living in bangkok
What are the main differences between English and Thai people?
Thai people are very modest and reserved people in general. Religion is important to them, nearly all visit temples regularly. They are very big on ghosts and superstitions, horoscopes and the card reading.
Do you need to speak Thai to live in Bangkok?
English is spoken by almost everyone in Bangkok now, from taxi driver to waiters, with Bangkok being the most visited city in the world; nearly everyone has a basic level of English. I can speak a low level of Thai. There are apps to learn but I have never needed to learn more than a basic level to continue with the level of life I am living.
What are your favorite things to do in Bangkok specifically?
Weekends are fun here. Nights out at nice restaurants, or pool parties. We also play in a lot of football matches across the expat leagues, shopping is also amazing in Bangkok, Siam paragon is probably in the top 3 of shopping centres in the world.
What are some underrated places in Bangkok?
Phrakhanong is definitely not hyped up enough, the condos, restaurants, nightclubs and bars in this area are some of the best.
When’s the best moment to visit Bangkok?
I would say April when Songkran is happening, the national festival, 3 days of outdoor water fights and fun.
Where is the best area to live in Bangkok?
I lived in Rama 9 for a few years and that was amazing but the best place to live is Asoke.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in Bangkok?
This is controversial because some Thais live on 15,000 thb per month, but as a westerner, living like we do with activities, drinking, the bars we visit and the lifestyle we want to have, an income of 50-80,000 would be moderately comfortable.
What are your favorite restaurants and bars in Bangkok?
Oskars is a mix of restaurant and bar that is high on my list, Tonys also, both on Soi 11 in Sukhumvit. I also like the new pastel rooftop bar.
My favorite place to eat and drink is a place called W District in Phrakhanong, a huge outdoor market area with international and local food options.
Was it easy making friends and meeting people?
Absolutely, it is so easy to make friends! Thais and expats are so open to meeting new people. I have more friends here than I have ever had anywhere else. I mainly socialize with the expats here because we share a lot more common ground with our social behavior and business goals.
Describe your favorite recreational activities there or those that are available.
I love the festivals that happen regularly here, my favorites are Kolour and Wonderfruit.
There is also a huge sports scene in Bangkok, we have a casual expat football league which is similar to the Sunday league in England.
Can you tell us something else about Bangkok that we might not know?
There is an amazing place called the Green Lung, a short boat ride from the Khlong Toei area which is pure greenery and an amazing day out on a bicycle which you can rent from the dock.
Economically, is there anything you’d like to share about Bangkok?
Bangkok is one of the best places I have lived for meeting new people and growing a network. There are hundreds of different circles of people you can get involved in from Football teams, to going out groups. It’s far beyond great for interacting, people help each other a lot more here than any other location I have ever lived. You will notice a big difference between the classes of people though, there is the mega rich and the mega poor and they are separated by only a few streets.
Final Thoughts
What has been the hardest aspect of living in Bangkok?
Getting used to the heat is the only problem, it is very hot and humid, working days are a challenge to avoid constant sweat but then its perfect for after work by the pool and weekends.
What does the future of Bangkok look like?
It looks amazing now that COVID has finally come to a stop and people have been flooding back by millions, property is booming, tourists are coming back. The only concern the local thais and expats have right now is the quality of tourists coming into Thailand. There are a lot of young aggressive people entering the country looking to party hard.
What should people consider before deciding to move to Bangkok?
I am giving a lot of tips away that are in my guides but I would say finance is the thing you should consider. Do not come to Bangkok expecting to live a great life unless you are earning a good sum of money, things are not cheap.
Are there any experiences there that you are particularly proud of or that surprised you?
I have set up and worked with around 5 different companies now, from someone that started teaching in a thai government school on a very low salary to someone now earning over 250,000 thb per month – I can say I am glad I did it on the low budget but I could NOT live on that now, I don’t know how I survived from day to day without any less than 75,000 per month.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE? ARE YOU WORKING ON ANYTHING PARTICULAR?
I am currently working with, and always will work with High Jump Digital but I am also partnered in a couple of real estate companies, Right Key Estate, a property finder in Phuket. I am also working on growing my Instagram content as a creator and drone videographer, and we also have our passive income with the e guides of Thailand. The future looks pretty amazing!
Thank you Tom! You said the best time to come visit is during the Songkran festival, that’s when I also went, so I can definitely confirm it was a great time! It seems like you really have made it there, you must be proud! Thank you for giving us all the tips. I wish you the best in your Thai adventure!
