Countries Visited

    Australia
    Austria
    Bahamas
    Belgium
    Belize
    Bermuda
    Cambodia
    Canada
    Cayman Islands
    Costa Rica
    Czech Republic
    England
    Greece
    Guatemala
    Italy
    Japan
    Laos
    Malaysia
    Mexico
    The Netherlands
    Norway
    Singapore
    Spain
    Thailand
    United States
    The Holy See
    Vietnam

    Travel Goals

    1. Climb to Everest Base Camp.
    2. Climb Mt Kilimanjaro.
    3. Learn to Scuba Dive.
    4. Visit every continent.
    5. See the Galapagos Islands.
    6. Sail down the Amazon River.
    7. Climb Ayer's Rock.
    8. Travel on the Trans-Siberian Railroad.
    9. Go into space.
    10. Throw tomatos at La Tomintina in Spain.
    11. See the sunrise from Mt. Fuji.
    12. Try to figure out the Buddhist messages at Borobudor in Indonesia.
    13. Visit the Pyramids
    14. Safari in East Africa for 3 months.
    15. Go to the World Cup!
    16. See Macchu Picchu.
    17. Join the Century Club. (100 countries visited)
    18. Join the Mile High Club. (Hey why not?)
    19. Do development work in a 3rd world country.
    20. See Petra Jordan.
    21. Backpack the Eastern Block.
    22. Go back to Alaska and see the Northern Lights.
    23. Vegas Baby! Vegas!
    24. Greek Island hop.
    25. Cycle Tuscany.
    26. Visit India.
    27. Lounge forever in the Seychelles.
    28. See Morocco.
    29. Oktoberfest!
    30. Caravan across the Sahara.
    31. Visit Tibet.
    32. Go to the Cannes Film Festival.
    33. Go to the Sundance Film Festival.
    34. Eat a sushi meal at NOBU
    35. Pacific Island hop.
    36. Spend a night in the Ice Hotel in Sweden.
    37. Go to Israel.
    38. Carnival!!!!
    39. and it's slightly less cool cousin, Mardi Gras!
    40. See Glacier National Park before the glaciers melt.
    41. Fly first class on some long international flight!
    No Service Fees! Promo Code: NOFEE

Life in Bangkok: The Ex-Pat Scene

September 13, 2007

Bangkok is a city of 12 million people. It sprawls out for miles from the city center. It lacks a concentrated public transportation system leading to huge amounts of traffic- a ride that would take 15 minutes in no traffic can take over two hours during the day time. All of these cars lead to poor air quality and a hazy skyline. Yet somehow in this chaos, the ex-pats of Bangkok all seem to find each other.

When I first moved to Bangkok, I assumed ex-pats were either generally rich old men or teachers with a few people working for big companies. I figured that especially if they were young, they were probably a teacher. Then I started to get friends. I found out that that wasn’t the case. A surprising number of people WEREN’T teachers and instead worked for many, many international or local companies. Apparently, it wasn’t as hard as I thought to find work here- it just takes some time and a few connections. (Neither of which I had when I arrived)

The Bangkok Ex-pat scene is vast- I couldn’t tell you how big it is but I can tell you this: Everyone knows each other, everyone drinks hard, and no one stays more than two years.

The Bangkok ex-pat community is so close that Kevin Bacon would be proud. If you don’t know them, your friend or your friend’s friend does. I’ve meet seemingly random strangers who know my boss, or know my co-workers or know my boss’s friend or have heard of this or that person. Bangkok has a weird six degrees of separation going on….and to make it worse, everyone here loves to gossip.

We are also a group of hard partiers. Bangkok has a never ending supply of ex-pat bars and after hour bars that are packed no matter what day of the week it is. Many of my friends give new meaning to going to work with hangovers. There is this one bar- Cheap Charlie’s that is filled every day it is open. It is the pre-game place in Bangkok and on Wends, you can find all the ex-pat girls at Coyotes enjoying their free margaritas before people move to the trendy Bed Club. It’s a wild scene and a lot crazier than Boston ever was. It’s the most fun I’ve had in awhile!

Yet the downside is that no one stays long. Few people ever stay more than a few years and it is rare to find people, especially younger ones, who stay longer. Most who do are tied to contracts. Typically, most people stay a year or a year and half before they go. It’s a very transient group but then again, that gives it some of its appeal. Everything is always new, the faces always changing, and the excitement always there.

As a tourist, few people love the city, especially me. As a resident, Bangkok opens its secrets to you and comes an exciting place. I love Bangkok- its a wonderful city and my group of friends could be like the UN it is so eclectic. Though I may be living large and spending away money for Europe, I’m having a blast. If you ever come to Bangkok, find an ex-pat to show you the real side of the city, not the boring touristy part most people only see.

Posted by NomadicMatt | Filed Under First RTW | Leave a Comment