Heading home via BKK

So, here I sit with a pore pack on my nose, relaxing in our Bangkok hotel writing this update. After arriving at Suvarnabhumi airport yesterday we dumped our cumbersome luggage (including camera>PC cable, grrr) at the ‘Left Luggage’ facility and sky trained it into the city.

Apart from the usual swampy areas along the way, there was little excess water to be seen. Looking down, only several low lying roads and house yards were partially submerged a few inches. That’s not to say it will remain that way...but here’s hoping!

Our thoughts are with those who have, are and will be effected by this massive, slow moving tragedy.

And, my biggest frustration (well, one of them) is seeing photos and T.V. footage of people standing chest deep in putrid water washing their clothes, preparing food on floating makeshift tables and of children playing, bobbing along in flotation devices.

STAY OUT OF THE WATER PEOPLE! The murky water can harbour cholera, typhoid, skin infections and hepatitis. One death from, and cases of, leptospirosis was reported in the newspaper just as we left Chiang Mai the other day (the details are in my luggage). The exact wording I can't remember, but 'wear shoes, especially if you have open cuts or wounds on your legs' rings a bell. Perhaps something was lost in the translation? 

Houses and buildings in our hotel area (Ratchathewi) remain high and dry. Some have made serious sandbagging efforts, some half hearted (and to tell the truth are a bit puzzling, strategy wise) but most, have not. Many outer lanes on high-set bridges and overpasses have become car parking lots for residents living in susceptible suburbs, which must make peak hour(s) in Bangkok even more hellish than usual.

Floods aside, today I had good intentions of trawling Chatuchak’s outdoor weekend market, however, after strolling through JJ’s (next door) for couple of hours I decided I’d pushed my baggage weight limit to the max, otherwise I would have bought this little beauty as a keepsake...

Apologies for the mobile phone quality.

...and besides, there’s no air con outside.

Snap's other blog Chiang Mai Thai

So what does it cost to live in Thailand?

So what does it cost to live in Thailand?

Of course that question is loaded with variables (especially rent), but for us, who needed a wall/door separating the bedroom from the living area (bonus two bathrooms)....around 28 000 - 32 000 Baht per month in total, for both, for everything.

Our abode was far from the Taj Mahal, but was decent and about 1.5 km from the city walls/moat. Near to two main roads, which made hailing a songthaew or tuk tuk easy. Also, we were 100 metres away from a major shopping mall.

When we first arrived we had to spend a little on set up costs, like a scooter, helmets, towels, kitchen equipment, bed sheets, soft pillows and padding for the mattress etc.

For those interested, here's a brief random breakdown of some of those expenses. For those who are not, even though I'm writing in the past tense, we still have a week to go before we leave Chiang Mai via the 'Place of olives', 'City of angels'....Bangkok.

Cheers!
*PS. There's a currency converter at the bottom right hand side of this blog.

Description	Cost in Baht	Notes
Rent – monthly	6,500	Approx. 1.5 km from city moat. 1 bedroom, 1 living room with kitchenette, 2 bathrooms. Modest.
Water – monthly	100	2 people – no washing machine
Electricity – monthly	800	Running electric fan only, toaster, kettle, induction cooker occasionally
Electricity – monthly	1200 – 2000	As above, but including nightly and some daytime air conditioning
Cigarettes	58	Mid range packet of 20
Beer Leo	46	Large bottle from 7 - Eleven
Beer Leo	60 +	Large bottle at restaurant
Milk – fresh	85	2 litre bottle from supermarket
Butter	73	500 grams
Bread	30 – 40	Small Western style loaf – no sugar
Bread roll	7	Multi grain, small – from supermarket
Coffee	65	Moccona instant – from supermarket
Cup of coffee	30 – 60	Depending on where you buy it
Pineapple/Papaya	39	Medium size – Pre cut and packaged – from supermarket. Approx. 500 gram
Mango	79	Per Kg – Pre cut and packaged – from supermarket
Rambutan (Lychee)	25	Per Kg – from local market
Fruit - various	10	Pre cut from street vendors. Approx. 150 each
Chicken/Pork	170 +	Per Kg – packaged – from supermarket
Yoghurt	22	Natural low fat 150 gram
Rice	25 – 30	Per Kg
Honey peanuts	10	45 gram packet
Meal	30 – 60	Per meal – eating at road stalls or local style restaurants. Usually rice, noodle or soup dishes.
Steak, chips, salad	160 – 200	Restaurant. Some road side stalls prepare a small version, without chips for around 60 Baht
Pizza	80 - 200 +	For two people
Wine	1000	Regular promotions – 3 x 750 ml bottles – 445 Baht per litre
Wine	390 – 440	2 litres South African Mont Claire Shiraz/Cab Sav – 220 Baht per litre
Rum	220	Sang Som Thai Rum 700 ml
Toilet paper	50	6 pack
Fuel - petrol	38	Per litre
Fuel per week	200	110 cc automatic scooter – around town
Hairspray	65	150 ml pump spray
Hair band	10 – 30	Plastic
Thongs/flip flops/scuffs	40 – 60
Shoes	200 – 400	Medium range
Shirt/blouse	150 – 250	Low cost department stores, markets
T Shirt	80 – 150	Low cost department stores, markets
Shorts/long pants	150 – 250	Low cost department stores, markets
Mr Muscle	65	500 ml multi purpose cleaner
Laundry	60 – 100	Per week at our local laundry. 3 – 6 baht per item, even for a bed sheet. Double price for ironing.
Laundry	25	Per small load at hotel. Coin operated using your own detergent.
Cook top	800	One pot (induction cooker) – Tesco Lotus
Electric Kettle	400	Mid range 1.8 litre

Snap's other blog Chiang Mai Thai