DJ Pat

Matthew keep me updated on your discoveries here....I've dropped a clanger by moving to where I have moved to a month ago. I think it could be cursed or something. I hate it I think.

Matthew

Patrick I'll keep this thread up to date as I look around....

Sorry to hear that's not working out! ^

Unwell

swanky fuck...

__________________

"...ever wonder why they kill the weak ones, baby?"

Jellybean

Someone was trying to rent the maids room in a big apartment at Asoke for 5000 a month on Craigslist.

No aircon though and it really would be like a cupboard going by most maid's rooms I have seen.

Matthew

Wass so swanky bout having a hideout and an affordable hovel to store the GF?

DJ Pat

Matthew is getting naughty???????

Nah I'm sure you wouldn't!!

Aitch

It was these Thai Shoebox Gems that Mathew's talking about that I was hoping would overload the Roomfinder database when we went live, but alas it was not to be. Well, not in the number's I had hoped for anyway.

It's a shame, as there are a lot of folks that just need a crash pad, a second home, or just somewhere cheap and cheerful so as to keep the bills down, but it seems that these types of accommodation either only want Thais living there, or they just aren't computer savvy enough to upload their projects online.

I doubt the latter as many of the under 5,000 THB/Mo. jobs advertise on the Thai sites, so I guess it's the former.

Good luck uncovering Bangkok's hidden treasures. Only wish Roomfinder could help!

Aitch

Matthew

A Thai teacher who is apartment hunting has tuned me into lots of Thai apartment sites, which I'm surveying and sending along to the GF, and they are chalk-full (sp?) of cheapo buildings.

To your credit, Aitch, I found your site extremely helpful when I first arrived and found my first apartment through it. Good luck in your efforts re-tweeking it to fit your vision.

More searching around town this weekend I think.

yobbo

It was good to hear that 'Aitch', otherwise known as 'Mr Roomfinder', is trying to get details of accommodation within the typical teacher's price range.

Having looked at the site today I find that the five most recent places posted range from 20,000 baht to 85,500 baht per month, and include a studio for no less than 43,000 baht per month.

Have my wages failed to keep pace with the rising cost of living, or are such prices beyond the reach of most teachers in Bangkok?

I have found Mr Roomfinder helpful, both in presenting areas where accommodation can be found, and in giving an idea of what one would be expected to pay in each area. That was before the site became flooded with posting from one particular agent.

So good luck to Mr Roomfinder for the future.

In my recent flat-hunting I came across one place which should be brought to the attention of ajarn.com readers.

Living Naraa Place is just off Narathiwat Road, in small, un-numbered soi adjacent to a Caltex station. If you walk south from Chang Nonsri BTS it's on the right, getting on for a kilometre from the station. All rooms have wi-fi capability and prices ranges from 5000 baht for a small studio/shoebox to 17,000 baht for a two bedroom flat.

These prices are fairly high for the impoverished newcomer but are very reasonable for the area. I am not in any way connected with the project - I just went to look and compare with a place I had already paid a deposit for (thanks to Mr Roomfinder).

I will let you know about my new place once I move in.

Cyrille

Are you going on the game?

bet

= mia noi

Matthew

Not exactly sure what you're getting at, but I think not.

Matthew

Saw a few more in the Ari / Suttisan area (Suttisan Rd. connects Ari with Sutthisan MRT)

JJ House on soi 11 I believe it was. Couldn't see the room but it was 5000 and very new and very clean. Close to the main road, washers and dryers in the lobby. Nice sized balconies of the "second half a room/kitchen" variety.

Soi 21 (I think) there's a very nice place called "6 + 1" The girl didn't even know why, but this is also a nice place, for 5400 I think it was. About 2 years old, big open space in the middle, all the rooms open up into this interior space..seemed quiet and the rooms were nice...30 sq I think...they were spacious. The bathrooms here were particularly nice and it was about 3pm and there was lots of sunlight coming through. Girl said it was "nanachat" with plenty farang around. I'm looking at this one, but I still want to get well below 5000 baht, believe it or not.

Which brings me to "family condo" a few sois up. Big complex, concrete looking like hell, stained to no end...people milling about everywhere...but something really charming about it....settled, as these are condos not apartments. Owners and/or long term renters. Different vibe. Smallish dirtyish pool, but okay. 27 sq met. room for 3,500 baht. Thought I was in like flynn until the 'friend of the landlord' who met us there couldn't open the door. Never saw the room. A nieghbor pulled us aside to whisper that she had a key and this guy was a dope who the landlord doesn't actually trust...wtf...come back later...well we had other fish to fry, and the drama (I won't even start to describe it all)put me off (what happened in 5 minutes....imagine living there) but THAT's the kind of place I'm talking about. It really is a deal, and you're in the communty (there's a community??)

We saw a few others that were of the unliveable variety. Lots of apartments down there though.

Another soi on the West side of Phanonyothin right behind Saphan Kwai has a slew of places as well in the 4000 baht range. Nothing that struck our fancy though. Worth a check, however, if you're looking for 150 USD lodgings.
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I should have taken notes and brought a camera, but in the end I'm looking for an apartment, only secondarily feeding award winning content into this oh so exciting thread on ajarn.

As fullfilling as that is...
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****

Well I found my very own Thai Shoebox Gem deep in the Ari subsois. Gularb (Rose) Apartment is back there somewhere behind the oh-so-wonderful (old) Villa market (there's a swanky new more crappy less well stocked Villa right at Ari BTS) about one-third of the way up towards Buffalo Bridge. 20 baht motosai to the train. 10 to main Rd. and Villa. 3rd floor, Bigger WC than I have now (nothing beautiful though) strong A/C, big new bed, old but functional warbrode, table and chair, tiny balcony really only for drying clothes/potted plants but with full length sliding doors and another window on the other wall (it's a corner room) so plenty of light/breeze. Very nice staff and a chilled-out non-threatening, non-insane, non-ghetto atmosphere (this being the absolute key to the whole 'Gem' thing) laundry downstairs and small shop for eggs, snacks, and beers. Strange old sticker on the door reading "a day without war". ok. it's way back there so there's no somtam or curry shop a hop skip or jump away, and you really need the motosai to get there, those sois ain't made for walkin'. but this makes it quiet. only three channels of UBC- HBO, Cinemax, and ESPN, but at least it ain't AXN, Chic, and CNBC.
3,500 baht a month.

All it needs is some good lamp lighting. I swear with the right lighting you can turn any dump into an elegantly cozy space.

DJ Pat

You seem busy Matthew.