It appears elephants are treated much better in Nepal than Thailand. (1/3 of Nepal is jungle.)
http://www.thelongestwayhome.com/blog/nepal/elephant-tourism-in-nepal-is-it-different/
One thing to remember about Asian elephants compared to African elephants: They are mostly born in captivity and have been historically used as work animals, just like horses, mules, and oxen.
Volunteering seems to be much cheaper in Nepal than Thailand. In Thailand it was $600 per week. In Nepal it is $300 for 2 weeks and $1200 for 12 weeks.
www.volunteersummernepal.org/volunteer-with-elephants-in-chitwan-nepal
Another idea is the Peace Corps. They not only pay your travel and living expenses, after 27 months you get $8000 transitional funds for school or tourism. They don't have any elephant programs, but they do have volunteers in both Thailand and Nepal. Also, you get 48 vacation days during that time. You also get full medical and dental coverage. There are openings in the 100 slots for Thailand. There are no openings for the 60 slots in Nepal. But, one could apply now for a future opening there.
Namaste From (halfway to) Nepal
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Long Time No Talk
Got my VISA extended a month to May 24th. So, I will have to go to Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) for about 10 days. I am going to treat it like a business trip and keep to the basics. Once I get back to Thailand, about June 4th, I hope to start doing some sight seeing. I want to take a first class train trip (with sleeper car), as well as some boat trips.
Going to the Immigration Center was interesting. They built a brand new one. But, it is way up north in Bangkok. I had to ride the sky train as far as it went and then take a long taxi ride. It took about half an hour for the taxi ride and I had no idea where I was until we got there. But, God was watching out for me. I had to wait for about an hour for my turn. The lady taking the documents was a bit surly with everyone. But, when I went up there she had this great big smile like I was her long lost brother or something. I messed up my application. But, she looked up the information for me and filled it in right. Wow!
Yesterday, I met a dude passing through Thailand for some games at MBK shopping center at a Starbucks. After a few games we decided to go to a gaming cafe after a meal. Since we wanted different food and he wanted to walk and I wanted to take a Taxi, we agreed to separate and meet there. I was about to order a Grab Taxi, but saw a taxi stand sign for the shopping center and decided to use that. Big, big, big mistake. The taxi driver didn't know where the cafe was and the Grab Taxi stopped working. We drove around for 20 minutes and I finally just had him drop me off when I thought we were close. I walked around for about 45 minutes in the 100 degree heat. The area was a very grungy industrial small shop area with no non Thais around. Finally, the Grab Taxi started working. I was very tired, so I just ordered a Taxi to take me home. Bummer. The month before I go to Nepal, I definitely need to start learning Nepali, at least the alphabet so I can pronounce any word I see, as well as some simple things like directions. Knowing how to talk to a taxi driver is essential.
Another thing one has to adjust for is the price of stuff. Imported stuff is more expensive. Labor is very, very cheap. So, cheese is expensive. However, delivery is cheap, whether it is people (taxis) or goods. MacDonald's will deliver 24 hrs a day for 40 baht ($1.15). They are delivered by motorcycle. My grocery orders from Tesco only cost 60 baht and they are delivered by refrigerated truck.
They have sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds just like in the U.S. They also have pumpkin seeds. These are big, as big as pumpkin seeds. I didn't know watermelon seeds had edible seeds inside.
Live and learn.
By the way, just saw packages of roasted silkworms in the potato chip and nut section. Want some?
Namaste From (halfway to) Nepal
Going to the Immigration Center was interesting. They built a brand new one. But, it is way up north in Bangkok. I had to ride the sky train as far as it went and then take a long taxi ride. It took about half an hour for the taxi ride and I had no idea where I was until we got there. But, God was watching out for me. I had to wait for about an hour for my turn. The lady taking the documents was a bit surly with everyone. But, when I went up there she had this great big smile like I was her long lost brother or something. I messed up my application. But, she looked up the information for me and filled it in right. Wow!
Yesterday, I met a dude passing through Thailand for some games at MBK shopping center at a Starbucks. After a few games we decided to go to a gaming cafe after a meal. Since we wanted different food and he wanted to walk and I wanted to take a Taxi, we agreed to separate and meet there. I was about to order a Grab Taxi, but saw a taxi stand sign for the shopping center and decided to use that. Big, big, big mistake. The taxi driver didn't know where the cafe was and the Grab Taxi stopped working. We drove around for 20 minutes and I finally just had him drop me off when I thought we were close. I walked around for about 45 minutes in the 100 degree heat. The area was a very grungy industrial small shop area with no non Thais around. Finally, the Grab Taxi started working. I was very tired, so I just ordered a Taxi to take me home. Bummer. The month before I go to Nepal, I definitely need to start learning Nepali, at least the alphabet so I can pronounce any word I see, as well as some simple things like directions. Knowing how to talk to a taxi driver is essential.
Another thing one has to adjust for is the price of stuff. Imported stuff is more expensive. Labor is very, very cheap. So, cheese is expensive. However, delivery is cheap, whether it is people (taxis) or goods. MacDonald's will deliver 24 hrs a day for 40 baht ($1.15). They are delivered by motorcycle. My grocery orders from Tesco only cost 60 baht and they are delivered by refrigerated truck.
They have sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds just like in the U.S. They also have pumpkin seeds. These are big, as big as pumpkin seeds. I didn't know watermelon seeds had edible seeds inside.
Live and learn.
By the way, just saw packages of roasted silkworms in the potato chip and nut section. Want some?
Namaste From (halfway to) Nepal
Sunday, April 16, 2017
Songkran
This weekend was Songkran - the Thai New Year. Factories and banks had a 4 day holiday from Thursday to Sunday. I took a taxi to a friend's house for gaming at 7 pm on Saturday. Wow! It was wild. Both sides of the street were packed with revelers. Think of a miles long wet T-shirt contest. They were constantly throwing buckets of water on all the passing cars and motorcyclists. In addition, they had made a paste of talcum powder/clay and water and would dart into traffic and smear cars and motorcycle riders.
I have been here 6 weeks and seen only one accident, despite all the crazy driving here. In the 2 mile stretch we drove, I saw 3 accidents.
Went to Terminal 21 and saw The Boss Baby. It was O.K. With so much closed for those 4 days, I didn't get much done. I stayed home 2 days and watched TV. With less traffic, I got to practice hailing cabs so I will save some money in the future.
Namaste From (halfway to) Nepal
I have been here 6 weeks and seen only one accident, despite all the crazy driving here. In the 2 mile stretch we drove, I saw 3 accidents.
Went to Terminal 21 and saw The Boss Baby. It was O.K. With so much closed for those 4 days, I didn't get much done. I stayed home 2 days and watched TV. With less traffic, I got to practice hailing cabs so I will save some money in the future.
Namaste From (halfway to) Nepal
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Volunteering At Elephant World
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M454E1OouY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xYbEicr35Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUMsNxs5HA8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xYbEicr35Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUMsNxs5HA8
Elephants - Good Or Bad?
I was looking up elephants in Thailand and came upon a lot of disturbing information.
1. This sight has a lengthy description of the problems, as well as some disturbing video links.
https://expertvagabond.com/elephants-in-thailand/
2. This sights summarizes the first site and describes 5 reputable elephant sanctuaries in Thailand.
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/travel-tips-and-articles/how-to-interact-ethically-with-elephants-in-thailand
3. This is one of those 5 elephant sanctuaries. Kanchanaburi (Elephant World) is near Bangkok (2.5 hr taxi ($30) or train ($15)) and also where the Bridge on the River Kwai Museum and sites are.
http://www.elephantsworld.org/
4. Olivia can be an assistant mahout for 1 -4 weeks (grin):
http://www.elephantsworld.org/mahout-program/
"O---l---i---v---i---a, the elephants are calling you."
Maybe I will go there for 3 days or so after I get back from Kuala Lumpur.
Namaste From (halfway to) Nepal
1. This sight has a lengthy description of the problems, as well as some disturbing video links.
https://expertvagabond.com/elephants-in-thailand/
2. This sights summarizes the first site and describes 5 reputable elephant sanctuaries in Thailand.
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/travel-tips-and-articles/how-to-interact-ethically-with-elephants-in-thailand
3. This is one of those 5 elephant sanctuaries. Kanchanaburi (Elephant World) is near Bangkok (2.5 hr taxi ($30) or train ($15)) and also where the Bridge on the River Kwai Museum and sites are.
http://www.elephantsworld.org/
4. Olivia can be an assistant mahout for 1 -4 weeks (grin):
http://www.elephantsworld.org/mahout-program/
"O---l---i---v---i---a, the elephants are calling you."
Maybe I will go there for 3 days or so after I get back from Kuala Lumpur.
Namaste From (halfway to) Nepal
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Meandering Thoughts & Long Range Plans
Not a whole lot going on here.
I go to Co-Working about 3X a week.
I still haven't got to Church, yet. Last Sunday, Grab Taxi wasn't working. Without speaking Thai, I rely on it to get a Taxi. Without a car, one's sphere is much smaller and more constricted. It is an eye opener.
Here, church is 11.3 kilometers away. In Nepal, Church and school are 5.3 kilometers from each other and I plan to live somewhere in the middle, hopefully no more than 3.5 kilometers (2.1 miles) from either of them.
When I get to Nepal, I will get a bike very soon. First, I will get a 3 wheel Tuk Tuk bike. It will make it easier to get around. After awhile, I will get a mountain bike. The 3-wheeler will be like a pick up truck or minivan and the mountain bike will be like my commuting car.
My leg is (very) gradually getting better. I will continue riding taxis this week. I used the BTS once last week and I will use it once this week. Next week, I will ride a taxi to Co-Working and ride the BTS home. I now go down stairs very slowly and softly.
I went gaming yesterday. My gaming thread is at:
https://boardgamegeek.com/article/25601252#25601252
Notice we just played a game called Bangkok Klongs (Klong = canal). Bangkok has more canals than any other city in the world, including Venice, Italy. The game is about the floating markets. You stand on the bank of the canal and wave over boats (like canoes and rowboats) if you want to examine their products or want to buy one of their meals. The larger ones have hundreds of boats.
I like to record my games to encourage gaming in my area. This was especially true in Kansas and Orange County. I also threads for those areas at those times. In those areas I concentrated on wargames which are rarer. But, as people saw reports of those games being played, they got nostalgic and wanted to play again.
I jus noticed that there is a free gaming coffee shop across the street from the Co-Working place. Unfortunately, you cannot cross the streets here unless to go to a BTS station and go over. You would have a better chance of crossing I-91 or the I-35 freeway alive than the street outside.
My long range schedule, due to VISA requirements is:
Feb 24 - April 24: stay in Thailand on my 2-month VISA. Apply for an automatically approved 30 day extension.
April 24 - May 24: stay in Thailand on my 30 day extension.
~May 23 - ~June 7: Travel to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and hang out for 2 weeks. They allow for an automatic 30 day VISA when you arrive.
June 6 - July 6: Return to Thailand (I will keep my apartment during my "vacation"). Receive automatic 30 day VISA when I arrive. Apply for automatically approved 30 day VISA extension.
July 6 - August 6: stay in Thailand on my 30 day extension.
August 6: Fly to Nepal. You can stay there 5 months per year. This will take me to the end of this year and then another 5 months at the beginning of next year. Meanwhile, I will apply for school to learn Nepali for the term that starts in February. This will get me a student VISA for a year at a time.
It will also give me 6 months to learn Nepali before school starts. Learning the language is key for settling in so you can talk to taxi drivers, grocery clerks, read some signs, etc.
My plan is to spend the time before Kuala Lumpur continuing to adjust myself to living here. After I get back, I will make my travel arrangements for Nepal, which should take little time. Then the last 6 or 7 weeks (June and July) I will do some sight seeing.
Kuala Lumpur will be a good experience as it will give me 2 weeks practice of living in a country with poor water quality like Nepal. Thailand has good water quality, mostly. Most people, including Thais, drink bottled water. However, the water is pretty safe and showering and washing dishes with tap water is usually no problem. I haven't been sick, so far. When I go to Nepal, I may have to stop showering and just take bed baths with wet wipes. Eventually, I hope to be able to set up like a camping shower where I can take a quick shower with bottled water eventually.
Back to work.
Namaste From (halfway to) Nepal
I go to Co-Working about 3X a week.
I still haven't got to Church, yet. Last Sunday, Grab Taxi wasn't working. Without speaking Thai, I rely on it to get a Taxi. Without a car, one's sphere is much smaller and more constricted. It is an eye opener.
Here, church is 11.3 kilometers away. In Nepal, Church and school are 5.3 kilometers from each other and I plan to live somewhere in the middle, hopefully no more than 3.5 kilometers (2.1 miles) from either of them.
When I get to Nepal, I will get a bike very soon. First, I will get a 3 wheel Tuk Tuk bike. It will make it easier to get around. After awhile, I will get a mountain bike. The 3-wheeler will be like a pick up truck or minivan and the mountain bike will be like my commuting car.
My leg is (very) gradually getting better. I will continue riding taxis this week. I used the BTS once last week and I will use it once this week. Next week, I will ride a taxi to Co-Working and ride the BTS home. I now go down stairs very slowly and softly.
I went gaming yesterday. My gaming thread is at:
https://boardgamegeek.com/article/25601252#25601252
Notice we just played a game called Bangkok Klongs (Klong = canal). Bangkok has more canals than any other city in the world, including Venice, Italy. The game is about the floating markets. You stand on the bank of the canal and wave over boats (like canoes and rowboats) if you want to examine their products or want to buy one of their meals. The larger ones have hundreds of boats.
I like to record my games to encourage gaming in my area. This was especially true in Kansas and Orange County. I also threads for those areas at those times. In those areas I concentrated on wargames which are rarer. But, as people saw reports of those games being played, they got nostalgic and wanted to play again.
I jus noticed that there is a free gaming coffee shop across the street from the Co-Working place. Unfortunately, you cannot cross the streets here unless to go to a BTS station and go over. You would have a better chance of crossing I-91 or the I-35 freeway alive than the street outside.
My long range schedule, due to VISA requirements is:
Feb 24 - April 24: stay in Thailand on my 2-month VISA. Apply for an automatically approved 30 day extension.
April 24 - May 24: stay in Thailand on my 30 day extension.
~May 23 - ~June 7: Travel to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and hang out for 2 weeks. They allow for an automatic 30 day VISA when you arrive.
June 6 - July 6: Return to Thailand (I will keep my apartment during my "vacation"). Receive automatic 30 day VISA when I arrive. Apply for automatically approved 30 day VISA extension.
July 6 - August 6: stay in Thailand on my 30 day extension.
August 6: Fly to Nepal. You can stay there 5 months per year. This will take me to the end of this year and then another 5 months at the beginning of next year. Meanwhile, I will apply for school to learn Nepali for the term that starts in February. This will get me a student VISA for a year at a time.
It will also give me 6 months to learn Nepali before school starts. Learning the language is key for settling in so you can talk to taxi drivers, grocery clerks, read some signs, etc.
My plan is to spend the time before Kuala Lumpur continuing to adjust myself to living here. After I get back, I will make my travel arrangements for Nepal, which should take little time. Then the last 6 or 7 weeks (June and July) I will do some sight seeing.
Kuala Lumpur will be a good experience as it will give me 2 weeks practice of living in a country with poor water quality like Nepal. Thailand has good water quality, mostly. Most people, including Thais, drink bottled water. However, the water is pretty safe and showering and washing dishes with tap water is usually no problem. I haven't been sick, so far. When I go to Nepal, I may have to stop showering and just take bed baths with wet wipes. Eventually, I hope to be able to set up like a camping shower where I can take a quick shower with bottled water eventually.
Back to work.
Namaste From (halfway to) Nepal
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
A Room With A View
Yay! Our internet is working at our apartment after 2 weeks of upgrades. Schedules mean nothing here. I don't plan to use it much. However, it does come in handy.
1. Looking up a specific word or topic while I am doing my daily Bible study. Right now I am going through Exodus and it will be nice to see what all these measurements and colors mean for the temple and how they come out.
2. Look up where I am going. I have drawn a few maps to show the taxi drivers to clarify my destination.
I really like this Grab Taxi. I have gotten a taxi every time, so far. Sometimes I have to wait 15 minutes. But, I can wait in comfort as I watch their little taxi move around on Google maps. I am going to cut my grocery delivery back to every other week and pick a day, like Tuesday, when I have nothing I will miss if they are super late again.
I did a pictorial on my apartment. I plan to do one on my apartment complex to show some of the differences. These are pictures of my neighborhood.
My apartment is south of downtown Bangkok. It is best to think of Bangkok like Orange County or Johnson County. There is no real downtown. Downtown has older, smaller buildings, It has lots of temples and is the nexus for the bus system, as well as the 3 sky train lines and the 1 underground metro line.
This picture is facing south. Notice the sky scrapers. They are all over. They are not clustered downtown like Los Angeles or Kansas City.
The medium buildings are part of a giant factory. I lucked out here. Because of the factory and their workers, there are a zillion street vendors near my apartment for:
1. breakfast (workers buy their lunch and take it inside to eat inside.)
2. Lunch (other workers come out for lunch.)
3. Supper (workers buy supper and other groceries to take home.)
Right across the street are 2 houses, kind of rare in my area. These people are probably upper middle class with government jobs or jobs with foreign companies that pay more.
My apartment building faces south and this is the street in front. No wasted space in Bangkok. There is barely room for 2 cars to pass. When walking down the street, I always have an eye out so I can hop off the street as they go by.
By the way, south faces the ocean (Gulf of Thailand) about 10 km away (Bangkok is huge - 8 million people.)
Turn 90 degrees to the right, we face west. More skyscrapers can be seen, as well as cranes building even more. Up, up, up we go!
Looking down a little bit we see the two houses next door. The first one is actually also used as a child care place that the workers use. Past those 2 is a little street and then a row of apartments. These are apartments for the locals. They have no air conditioning, no internet, no laundry facilities, and no elevator. They are usually 3 - 4 stories tall. They are probably about $50 - $75 per month for a 1 bedroom.
To the west is the major river in the area.
Turning another 90 degrees to the right toward the north, we see a bunch more skyscrapers and cranes. Downtown is another 5 - 8 miles north.
Looking down a little we see zillions of apartment buildings for the middle class. Houses, in Bangkok, are for the well off. They are sort of like the Anaheim Hills of Bangkok.
Many buildings have water tanks so there will be some pressure for the users.
It is hard to take a picture of the east direction, toward the airport. Leaning out my patio (back of apartment complex), you basically see a bunch more middle class apartments.
Taking a picture from a front balcony we see the continuation of my street. I have yet to explore this area.
Namaste From (halfway to) Nepal
1. Looking up a specific word or topic while I am doing my daily Bible study. Right now I am going through Exodus and it will be nice to see what all these measurements and colors mean for the temple and how they come out.
2. Look up where I am going. I have drawn a few maps to show the taxi drivers to clarify my destination.
I really like this Grab Taxi. I have gotten a taxi every time, so far. Sometimes I have to wait 15 minutes. But, I can wait in comfort as I watch their little taxi move around on Google maps. I am going to cut my grocery delivery back to every other week and pick a day, like Tuesday, when I have nothing I will miss if they are super late again.
I did a pictorial on my apartment. I plan to do one on my apartment complex to show some of the differences. These are pictures of my neighborhood.
My apartment is south of downtown Bangkok. It is best to think of Bangkok like Orange County or Johnson County. There is no real downtown. Downtown has older, smaller buildings, It has lots of temples and is the nexus for the bus system, as well as the 3 sky train lines and the 1 underground metro line.
This picture is facing south. Notice the sky scrapers. They are all over. They are not clustered downtown like Los Angeles or Kansas City.
The medium buildings are part of a giant factory. I lucked out here. Because of the factory and their workers, there are a zillion street vendors near my apartment for:
1. breakfast (workers buy their lunch and take it inside to eat inside.)
2. Lunch (other workers come out for lunch.)
3. Supper (workers buy supper and other groceries to take home.)
Right across the street are 2 houses, kind of rare in my area. These people are probably upper middle class with government jobs or jobs with foreign companies that pay more.
My apartment building faces south and this is the street in front. No wasted space in Bangkok. There is barely room for 2 cars to pass. When walking down the street, I always have an eye out so I can hop off the street as they go by.
By the way, south faces the ocean (Gulf of Thailand) about 10 km away (Bangkok is huge - 8 million people.)
Turn 90 degrees to the right, we face west. More skyscrapers can be seen, as well as cranes building even more. Up, up, up we go!
Looking down a little bit we see the two houses next door. The first one is actually also used as a child care place that the workers use. Past those 2 is a little street and then a row of apartments. These are apartments for the locals. They have no air conditioning, no internet, no laundry facilities, and no elevator. They are usually 3 - 4 stories tall. They are probably about $50 - $75 per month for a 1 bedroom.
To the west is the major river in the area.
Turning another 90 degrees to the right toward the north, we see a bunch more skyscrapers and cranes. Downtown is another 5 - 8 miles north.
Looking down a little we see zillions of apartment buildings for the middle class. Houses, in Bangkok, are for the well off. They are sort of like the Anaheim Hills of Bangkok.
Many buildings have water tanks so there will be some pressure for the users.
It is hard to take a picture of the east direction, toward the airport. Leaning out my patio (back of apartment complex), you basically see a bunch more middle class apartments.
Taking a picture from a front balcony we see the continuation of my street. I have yet to explore this area.
Namaste From (halfway to) Nepal
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
National Thai Elephant day, March 13
March 13 was National Elephant day in Thailand. It is the day elephants and their mahouts (handlers) are blessed for a safe coming year.
Those crazy New Zealanders celebrate the holiday by playing an elephant polo tournament.
After the elephants and their mahouts are blessed for a safe year,
the elephants get to enjoy a feast.
Our next holiday is in about 10 days. Songkran is the Thai New Year and ushers in summer. It is celebrated by a 3 day water fight. Anyone can throw tap or bottled water on anyone. Traffic deaths triple. Everyone keeps all their documents and electronics wrapped in plastic.
Grab your super soakers.
Namaste From (halfway to) Nepal
Those crazy New Zealanders celebrate the holiday by playing an elephant polo tournament.
After the elephants and their mahouts are blessed for a safe year,
the elephants get to enjoy a feast.
Our next holiday is in about 10 days. Songkran is the Thai New Year and ushers in summer. It is celebrated by a 3 day water fight. Anyone can throw tap or bottled water on anyone. Traffic deaths triple. Everyone keeps all their documents and electronics wrapped in plastic.
Grab your super soakers.
Namaste From (halfway to) Nepal
e88, The Egg Co-Working place
I almost didn't come to work today - felt pretty lazy. However, I decided to take a Taxi and practice my Grab Taxi. In fact, I will use taxis to/from E88 this week to see if my left knee will continue to heal. That will save me 12 stories of going down stairs (They have escalators going up stairs) at each BTS station.
E88 is a large modern office building and a nice place to work. It is only 2 BTS stops from home.
Next to the building is one of the 8000 7-11's in Thailand. All 8000 are owned by the same guy. Just like we try to spot license plates from various states as we drive, we try to count how many 7-11's we pass on each taxi ride. Fortunately, they haven't heard of that game where you punch someone in the shouldier when you see a VW bug. With all the 7-11's here, we would all have dislocated shoulders. I will probably buy my lunches here. I can get a good amount for $1.00 (35 baht) and add a couple vegetables/fruit from home.
There is a nice lunch area just outside the office. It is a chance to warm up after being inside all day. Did you notice the Robot guarding our building in the first picture?
Co-Working places are usually billed as places to hatch ideas and new businesses (hence e88 being a play on words for egg). There are also the hen and nest areas of the building. This is a wall with inspirational sayings to encourage hard work and innovation.
From where I am sitting today, to my right, you see tables and our coffee area. We get free coffee, teas, and snacks (cupcakes, cookies, and candy).
Straight ahead is more work space.
To my left is the office. We have key cards. There are 2 sets of doors the key card is needed for. Between the locked doors and the fact the office can see the area, it is safe enough that everyone leaves their stuff when going to the bathroom or lunch. I just take my phones and passport and leave everything else.
Today, I went to Tom N Tom's, which is on our ground floor. If the sign looks familiar, it is because Tom N Tom's is a Starbucks clone. Unlike all the other coffee shops which charge about 50 baht per drink, these guys charge 110 baht ($3.30) per drink. They have plenty of customers, though.
They also serve food. It gets weird here. That iced Americano you see on the lower right is 110 baht by itself. However, I ordered the all day brunch (They have about 12 dishes they serve 24 hours (per day). I ordered the American breakfast and all the dishes come with a free drink. I ordered the same Americano I got for 110 baht last time. However, the whole brunch, including the free drink, only costs 150 baht ($4.50). So, the whole breakfast is only 40 baht more ($1.25). I will usually buy a cheaper lunch at 7-11, but I wanted to try this once.
For 120 baht they have (left to right) tortilla dish, garlic toast, or giant waffle with whip cream.
Anyway, E88 is only 300 baht ($9.00) per day. I get a 20% discount for April which is nice. Like any Co-Working place you get a place to work, free fast wi-fi, coffee, tea, and snacks, 10 color sheets printed, and a locker. They are open 9 am - 10 pm, 7 days a week. I have been getting about 8 hours of stuff done each time I come. It is a great deal. I like Co-Working places.
When not taking taxis, it is only 150 yards from the BTS station. In addition, I pass one side street that has a zillion of vendors, including another fried chicken vendor, as well as a couple with meat on a stick - more ways to buy cheap lunch.
Namaste From (halfway to) Nepal
E88 is a large modern office building and a nice place to work. It is only 2 BTS stops from home.
Next to the building is one of the 8000 7-11's in Thailand. All 8000 are owned by the same guy. Just like we try to spot license plates from various states as we drive, we try to count how many 7-11's we pass on each taxi ride. Fortunately, they haven't heard of that game where you punch someone in the shouldier when you see a VW bug. With all the 7-11's here, we would all have dislocated shoulders. I will probably buy my lunches here. I can get a good amount for $1.00 (35 baht) and add a couple vegetables/fruit from home.
There is a nice lunch area just outside the office. It is a chance to warm up after being inside all day. Did you notice the Robot guarding our building in the first picture?
Co-Working places are usually billed as places to hatch ideas and new businesses (hence e88 being a play on words for egg). There are also the hen and nest areas of the building. This is a wall with inspirational sayings to encourage hard work and innovation.
From where I am sitting today, to my right, you see tables and our coffee area. We get free coffee, teas, and snacks (cupcakes, cookies, and candy).
Straight ahead is more work space.
To my left is the office. We have key cards. There are 2 sets of doors the key card is needed for. Between the locked doors and the fact the office can see the area, it is safe enough that everyone leaves their stuff when going to the bathroom or lunch. I just take my phones and passport and leave everything else.
Today, I went to Tom N Tom's, which is on our ground floor. If the sign looks familiar, it is because Tom N Tom's is a Starbucks clone. Unlike all the other coffee shops which charge about 50 baht per drink, these guys charge 110 baht ($3.30) per drink. They have plenty of customers, though.
They also serve food. It gets weird here. That iced Americano you see on the lower right is 110 baht by itself. However, I ordered the all day brunch (They have about 12 dishes they serve 24 hours (per day). I ordered the American breakfast and all the dishes come with a free drink. I ordered the same Americano I got for 110 baht last time. However, the whole brunch, including the free drink, only costs 150 baht ($4.50). So, the whole breakfast is only 40 baht more ($1.25). I will usually buy a cheaper lunch at 7-11, but I wanted to try this once.
For 120 baht they have (left to right) tortilla dish, garlic toast, or giant waffle with whip cream.
Anyway, E88 is only 300 baht ($9.00) per day. I get a 20% discount for April which is nice. Like any Co-Working place you get a place to work, free fast wi-fi, coffee, tea, and snacks, 10 color sheets printed, and a locker. They are open 9 am - 10 pm, 7 days a week. I have been getting about 8 hours of stuff done each time I come. It is a great deal. I like Co-Working places.
When not taking taxis, it is only 150 yards from the BTS station. In addition, I pass one side street that has a zillion of vendors, including another fried chicken vendor, as well as a couple with meat on a stick - more ways to buy cheap lunch.
Namaste From (halfway to) Nepal
Monday, April 3, 2017
Local Foods
Had a good week. Weekend before last I was basically stuck at home sore and feeling isolated. By Tuesday I was sick and tired of being sick and isolated so I decided to go out every day regardless of the consequences. Tuesday, I went to Terminal 21. Wednesday and Friday I went to E88, the Co-Working place for about 8 hours each day. Thursday, I walked to the BTS station and back and explored my neighborhood a little, especially a nearby flea market. Saturday, I went to a friends house via Grab Taxi and we played games after his family and I grilled brats. He teaches English.
Sunday, my food delivery was late and didn't arrive until 4 pm, although it was scheduled for 10 am - Noon. Since Church starts at 3 pm, I missed Church. Now that I have a stockpile of necessities, water, coffee, oatmeal, etc. I am going to cut back to every other week and have deliveries on a Tuesday or something.
So, Sunday and today (Monday) I stayed home. But, now it is welcome rest instead of isolation. I got laundry done and cleaned and organized my room. I walked up to the BTS station today for exercise and bought some food on the way back.
I am getting about 33.5 baht per dollar from the ATMs when I get my money after ATM fee and currency exchange. This is when the baht is about 34.8 per dollar. So, I am paying about 4% to get my money.
Anyway, these are all from local street vendors. The chocolate Crescents and cake donuts at the top were 20 baht per package (60 cents). Even the street vendors have access to modern packaging.
The chicken is from my favorite vendor. It is like KFC extra crispy. They are half the time 15 baht (45 cents) and half the time 20 baht (60 cents). They are great and cheap.
The bottom left dish is my first Thai food. I have bought from her before. Last time I bought the bed of white sticky rice with 2 fried eggs for 25 baht (75%), a great meal. I had to add my own spices, which was fine. This time I decided to try some Thai mixture. It was also 25 baht.
Uh-oh. I took about 6 bites and it tasted good. It had a little heat, but not much, less than medium Pace Picante Sauce. I got nauseous and drank some ginger ale. The carbonation may have made it worse as I had to run to the bathroom. Not much came up. But, that was it. I threw it away. I felt fine after that. 15 minutes later I ate a piece of chicken, a chocolate crescent, and a couple of cake donuts, and the rest of the ginger ale with no problem.
No more Thai food for me!
Namaste From (halfway to) Nepal
Sunday, my food delivery was late and didn't arrive until 4 pm, although it was scheduled for 10 am - Noon. Since Church starts at 3 pm, I missed Church. Now that I have a stockpile of necessities, water, coffee, oatmeal, etc. I am going to cut back to every other week and have deliveries on a Tuesday or something.
So, Sunday and today (Monday) I stayed home. But, now it is welcome rest instead of isolation. I got laundry done and cleaned and organized my room. I walked up to the BTS station today for exercise and bought some food on the way back.
I am getting about 33.5 baht per dollar from the ATMs when I get my money after ATM fee and currency exchange. This is when the baht is about 34.8 per dollar. So, I am paying about 4% to get my money.
Anyway, these are all from local street vendors. The chocolate Crescents and cake donuts at the top were 20 baht per package (60 cents). Even the street vendors have access to modern packaging.
The chicken is from my favorite vendor. It is like KFC extra crispy. They are half the time 15 baht (45 cents) and half the time 20 baht (60 cents). They are great and cheap.
The bottom left dish is my first Thai food. I have bought from her before. Last time I bought the bed of white sticky rice with 2 fried eggs for 25 baht (75%), a great meal. I had to add my own spices, which was fine. This time I decided to try some Thai mixture. It was also 25 baht.
Uh-oh. I took about 6 bites and it tasted good. It had a little heat, but not much, less than medium Pace Picante Sauce. I got nauseous and drank some ginger ale. The carbonation may have made it worse as I had to run to the bathroom. Not much came up. But, that was it. I threw it away. I felt fine after that. 15 minutes later I ate a piece of chicken, a chocolate crescent, and a couple of cake donuts, and the rest of the ginger ale with no problem.
No more Thai food for me!
Namaste From (halfway to) Nepal
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)