My Mother suffered a serious stroke yesterday and she is in the hospital. My sister Ann meets with her neurologist this morning to find out how extensive the damage is. Hopefully, it is not severe, but my Mother's days of living independently (with major support from my sister Elaine) in her own house may be over.
Worse case scenario, I have to jump a plane back to Ottawa asap. Regardless, I am back in Vancouver in a couple of weeks and I will pack up my belongings into my SUV and drive back across Canada to Ottawa to store my belongings, sell my SUV (to my son Jordan) and finally part with my motorcycle.
My plan is to retire to Thailand full time with a couple of trips back to Canada every year to visit my sisters and friends. Once your parents have passed on, it is important to work on maintaining contact with your siblings. My sisters don't seem keen on jumping a plane to Thailand, so I guess it is up to me to go there.
My decision to retire to Thailand is simple economics. The cheapest apartment I could accept in Ottawa would be about $1500 a month whereas I will have a fully furnished new condo in downtown Bangkok with Cable, Internet, gym, and pool for $400 a month. I eat out all the time inexpensively, and I am never at a loss for something to do. I do not need a car as I can walk to eveything or take the BTS (skytrain).
Hey Larry, it looks like I need you late March or early April for our beer and wings trek across Canada. You still game?
TTYL,
Jim
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Home Base
I have been looking around Bangkok for a studio apartment that is affordable to use for my home base when I am in S.E. Asia. I will still be splitting time between Canada and Thailand for a while yet. I lucked in and found a brand new condo on Soi 22 that is a 5 minute walk from both Starbucks, Coffee Bean, and my favourite pool bar.
The good news is that it is 12,000 baht a month and includes cable television, WIFI, internet, gym and pool. That is $400 Canadian. To put things in perspective, my cable, internet and gym membership in Vancouver is over $200 CDN just by itself.
I only need a studio for my home base, but this studio is quite large and comes with a king size bed :-)
I would not feel badly travelling for a month or 2 and still be paying for my home base. I could even have a second studio some where on the ocean, when I felt the need to get out of Bangkok.
At some point in time I must learn some basic Thai, especially if I ever decide to live in Thailand full time.
It's been a little cooler of late, in the low 30's and also a little less humid. I still play lots of pool and listen to lots of music in the local bars. I make more friends all the time so my social circle is expanding. Never dull,
TTYL,
Jim
The good news is that it is 12,000 baht a month and includes cable television, WIFI, internet, gym and pool. That is $400 Canadian. To put things in perspective, my cable, internet and gym membership in Vancouver is over $200 CDN just by itself.
I only need a studio for my home base, but this studio is quite large and comes with a king size bed :-)
I would not feel badly travelling for a month or 2 and still be paying for my home base. I could even have a second studio some where on the ocean, when I felt the need to get out of Bangkok.
At some point in time I must learn some basic Thai, especially if I ever decide to live in Thailand full time.
It's been a little cooler of late, in the low 30's and also a little less humid. I still play lots of pool and listen to lots of music in the local bars. I make more friends all the time so my social circle is expanding. Never dull,
TTYL,
Jim
Thursday, February 14, 2013
The Weekend
It is Friday in Bangkok? As a friend is want to say, "What To Do?". My favorite activity these days is people watching. It is interesting to watch the locals watch the tourists, who watch the locals. There are many stereotypes of both locals (police, motorcycle taxi drivers, bar girls, hookers, hi-so, lo-so, beggars, shop owners and operators, waiters and waitresses), all walks of life.
Then there are the tourists. Husband and wives, young backpackers, Japanese middle age men, Indians, Arabs, young guys in groups, and typical late middle age farongs looking for something exciting that they are missing in their lives.
One of my favorite spots is in Soi Cowboy, an infamous 300 meter strip in Bangkok. There are many places you can sit outside and watch the steady stream of people walk by. Some are just coming by to gawk and some are looking for something. After 9 pm, it is very much a carnival atmosphere. A great spot to sit is Country Road which features a live band and lots of seating. It does not have the usual stage with a hundred naked ladies parading across which is a good thing and no one will bother you as long as you top up your beer every so often. If you want some company, you can always make eye contact with someone and smile, and then you can have someone to talk to for as long as you want. You just have to top up her beer every so often. That is how she gets paid. She gets a percentage of the price of your drink. It is a great way to learn about Thai life in Bangkok.
Many of these young ladies have the same story. They were married, are now single, and are trying to support their 2 children. Dad usually departed when they were pregnant with the second child. They often live with their Mother, who looks after their children at night, while they work, and then they trade places during the day, when the mother heads off for work and the young Thai lady looks after her children. The usual work day or night is 12 hours. This stereotype is usually in her mid twenties to early thirties.
The girls inside on the stage are usually much younger. They are eighteen to late twenties and are there for two reasons, the easy money (however the word easy is misleading) and the chance of hitting the jackpot, a well to do farong with money to support them in a lifestyle they could normally not obtain in Thailand. I know of many Thai girls who won the lotto and now are married to farongs and have a great family life with 2 or 3 children. They can be very happy families. However, if you don't win the lotto, this is a very short career and you are left with no future except to return to your village, move back with mom and dad and look after them in their old age. That works out okay for some, as long as they too, have children that can complete the cycle for them.
That is a very simplistic narrative of a very extensive social ecosystem that I observe daily. Many, many variations to this theme exist.
Age is not a barrier to participating in this ecosystem as many Thai girls prefer an older gentleman because they are less demanding and often more trustful. The most important thing is that he has a "kind heart" and not be a "butterfly". A butterfly is a farong who is simply collecting notches on his belt. All things being equal, Thai girls are no different than western girls and would prefer a handsome young man who can be trusted and who has lots of money. They exist, but are usually on vacation and never seen again.
Then again, there are the lifers, and I could fill a book about them. Maybe later.
TTYL,
Jim
Then there are the tourists. Husband and wives, young backpackers, Japanese middle age men, Indians, Arabs, young guys in groups, and typical late middle age farongs looking for something exciting that they are missing in their lives.
One of my favorite spots is in Soi Cowboy, an infamous 300 meter strip in Bangkok. There are many places you can sit outside and watch the steady stream of people walk by. Some are just coming by to gawk and some are looking for something. After 9 pm, it is very much a carnival atmosphere. A great spot to sit is Country Road which features a live band and lots of seating. It does not have the usual stage with a hundred naked ladies parading across which is a good thing and no one will bother you as long as you top up your beer every so often. If you want some company, you can always make eye contact with someone and smile, and then you can have someone to talk to for as long as you want. You just have to top up her beer every so often. That is how she gets paid. She gets a percentage of the price of your drink. It is a great way to learn about Thai life in Bangkok.
Many of these young ladies have the same story. They were married, are now single, and are trying to support their 2 children. Dad usually departed when they were pregnant with the second child. They often live with their Mother, who looks after their children at night, while they work, and then they trade places during the day, when the mother heads off for work and the young Thai lady looks after her children. The usual work day or night is 12 hours. This stereotype is usually in her mid twenties to early thirties.
The girls inside on the stage are usually much younger. They are eighteen to late twenties and are there for two reasons, the easy money (however the word easy is misleading) and the chance of hitting the jackpot, a well to do farong with money to support them in a lifestyle they could normally not obtain in Thailand. I know of many Thai girls who won the lotto and now are married to farongs and have a great family life with 2 or 3 children. They can be very happy families. However, if you don't win the lotto, this is a very short career and you are left with no future except to return to your village, move back with mom and dad and look after them in their old age. That works out okay for some, as long as they too, have children that can complete the cycle for them.
That is a very simplistic narrative of a very extensive social ecosystem that I observe daily. Many, many variations to this theme exist.
Age is not a barrier to participating in this ecosystem as many Thai girls prefer an older gentleman because they are less demanding and often more trustful. The most important thing is that he has a "kind heart" and not be a "butterfly". A butterfly is a farong who is simply collecting notches on his belt. All things being equal, Thai girls are no different than western girls and would prefer a handsome young man who can be trusted and who has lots of money. They exist, but are usually on vacation and never seen again.
Then again, there are the lifers, and I could fill a book about them. Maybe later.
TTYL,
Jim
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Robin Hood
I am sitting in a British pub on Sukhumvit in downtown Bangkok. Why? The beer is cold and they have fast, free internet. I no longer keep an apartment in Bangkok and therefore will be using the 'Hood' often for my internet access. I also had to change my Thai cell number because my new Samsung Note 2 uses a micro SIM card and I could not use my old SIM card and cell number.
I had to unlock my phone (from Rogers) in order to be able to swap SIM cards and providers. I also lost my high speed LTE and also 3G because my phone is a North american addition and has the wrong 3G frequency. No big deal, as in the past I noticed my Thai 3G often dropped back to Edge anyways. There is so much free WIFI, it is not much of an issue.
I arrived at my hotel at 2 am last night and decided to head out for a beer and some pool and drank and played until 4:30 am when the jet lag kicked out. Twenty hours of travel is no fun, not matter how hard you try. I usually find the second day harder as well.
In case you are wondering, it is sunny with a high of 35 degrees. Not too humid today. Only problem I always get blisters from my sandals the first week back. Too cold back in BC to be wearing sandals.
I meet John McGrath for a beer at another British pub called the CrossRoads, owned by a British expat married to a Thai girl for many years.
That's all I can share for now, TTYL,
Jim
I had to unlock my phone (from Rogers) in order to be able to swap SIM cards and providers. I also lost my high speed LTE and also 3G because my phone is a North american addition and has the wrong 3G frequency. No big deal, as in the past I noticed my Thai 3G often dropped back to Edge anyways. There is so much free WIFI, it is not much of an issue.
I arrived at my hotel at 2 am last night and decided to head out for a beer and some pool and drank and played until 4:30 am when the jet lag kicked out. Twenty hours of travel is no fun, not matter how hard you try. I usually find the second day harder as well.
In case you are wondering, it is sunny with a high of 35 degrees. Not too humid today. Only problem I always get blisters from my sandals the first week back. Too cold back in BC to be wearing sandals.
I meet John McGrath for a beer at another British pub called the CrossRoads, owned by a British expat married to a Thai girl for many years.
That's all I can share for now, TTYL,
Jim
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Delusional
I have been deluding myself believing that grey days, cloudy, and constant drizzle is better than Ontario's white snow, cold, and sun shiny days. I usually defend it by saying you don't have to shovel drizzle.
I live in a downtown apartment with underground parking. If I lived in the same apartment in Ottawa, it would cost me at least $1,000 less (leases a very nice sports car) and I would have no snow to shovel or windshield to scrape. My Dad used to say that Ottawa winters did not bother him when he was retired. If it was a major snowfall, he put the coffee on and sat by hi living room window and admired the flakes coming down.
So, don't be surprised if there is a move in my future back to Ottawa. I still like the thought of splitting my time between Thailand and Canada, but just not Vancouver. However, that move is at least 6 months away.
I am off to Thailand this Tuesday for some fun in the sun and a little debauchery. Time for noodles and rice ... good for my waistline :-)
TTYL,
Jim
I live in a downtown apartment with underground parking. If I lived in the same apartment in Ottawa, it would cost me at least $1,000 less (leases a very nice sports car) and I would have no snow to shovel or windshield to scrape. My Dad used to say that Ottawa winters did not bother him when he was retired. If it was a major snowfall, he put the coffee on and sat by hi living room window and admired the flakes coming down.
So, don't be surprised if there is a move in my future back to Ottawa. I still like the thought of splitting my time between Thailand and Canada, but just not Vancouver. However, that move is at least 6 months away.
I am off to Thailand this Tuesday for some fun in the sun and a little debauchery. Time for noodles and rice ... good for my waistline :-)
TTYL,
Jim
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Can't Take it any More :-)
I have had enough cloud, drizzle, and rain and I am leaving for sunny Thailand this Sunday, Feb 10th 2013. I just might hunt down a beach and bask in the sunshine. I am flying China Eastern Air again and hope once again they will have enough empty seats I can claim 3 and sleep my way across the Pacific.
I will be gone for about 30 days and hopefully when I return there will be signs of an early Spring in Vancouver. This time around I hope to get to Chang Mai which apparently is a mini Bangkok, but has temperatures in the high 20's, not mid 30's. It is at a higher elevation hence cooler. I let my apartment in Bangkok go, so I am free to move around without being hindered by a rental payment.
I will take some pictures and post them this time around as my new Samsung Note 2 takes awesome snaps. Must remember to get it unlocked before I depart.
TTYL, and look forward to some pics.
Jim
I will be gone for about 30 days and hopefully when I return there will be signs of an early Spring in Vancouver. This time around I hope to get to Chang Mai which apparently is a mini Bangkok, but has temperatures in the high 20's, not mid 30's. It is at a higher elevation hence cooler. I let my apartment in Bangkok go, so I am free to move around without being hindered by a rental payment.
I will take some pictures and post them this time around as my new Samsung Note 2 takes awesome snaps. Must remember to get it unlocked before I depart.
TTYL, and look forward to some pics.
Jim
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Sunny!!!
Wonder of Wonders, I have a sunny day in Vancouver. That means I am out and about to enjoy the sunshine before it disappears for another couple of weeks.
I am planning on travelling to Thailand about the 25th of April for a month or so. Sunshine is not a problem in Bangkok and many Thai women carry an umbrella for sun, not rain protection. Unlike North American standards, a tan is not much appreciated as white skin is seen as more beautiful than tanned skin. They buy whitener not sun tan lotion.
I plan to do some travelling this time around as I have let my Bangkok condo go. A little couch surfing will also be in order. Who knows, maybe sleeping on the beach may be an option. Seen it, done it :-)
Enough of the indoors, out I go,
TTYL,
Jim
I am planning on travelling to Thailand about the 25th of April for a month or so. Sunshine is not a problem in Bangkok and many Thai women carry an umbrella for sun, not rain protection. Unlike North American standards, a tan is not much appreciated as white skin is seen as more beautiful than tanned skin. They buy whitener not sun tan lotion.
I plan to do some travelling this time around as I have let my Bangkok condo go. A little couch surfing will also be in order. Who knows, maybe sleeping on the beach may be an option. Seen it, done it :-)
Enough of the indoors, out I go,
TTYL,
Jim
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