Ben's Introductory Post

**swampy** · 1st October 2012 02:02

I've been bitten, licked and sucked by some pretty exotic creatures in my time, but none of them stuck a needle in me. If you are going to Bangkok, you will get the shits sometime in the first month. After that your system should be able to deal very well with any foreign bodies you introduce it to.
If you are arriving anytime soon bring some rubberwear as it's likely to get quite moist.
Once you encounter Thai vadge, your savings are likely to evaporate, whatever the weather, whether you like it or not.
Good luck

**Amanda0** · 2nd October 2012 16:55

Hey Ben.

I had the same vague plan

I flew over with nothing set up, knowing I could always fly back if need be. I literally just got in yesterday (i believe, time difference and jet lag may confuse me!). From what I understand, Bangkok should be a good set up for you. Ease or finding jobs, decent money, and obvious city setting. Set up camp in a few areas, and see which you like. I'm so prone to indecision, I HAD to pick a town before flying over. Only not landing a job will drive me else where.

I flaked out on the vaccines. I ended up just getting the typhoid shot. I'm not sure if anyone gets any vaccines once their over here - but I'm gonna look into it for peace of mind.

I did a similar online TEFL course. Super simple. Should get the job done over here too.

Good luck with everything :D

**fred flintstone** · 2nd October 2012 17:13

^alot of Hepatitis in asia. Twinrix shots are pretty cheap in thailand

**tomcat** · 2nd October 2012 17:14

Originally Posted by Amanda0

but I'm gonna look into it for peace of mind.

...if you plan to eat and drink locally, hep A and B shots are very good ideas...

**Benoso** · 8th October 2012 21:57

Cheers for the responses guys.

I think the best bet is to get Hep A and B then see what else my GP recommends. My friend who's been to Thailand is also recommending Rabies and Typhoid but we'll see.

Just need to get my plan in action now. I've moved back home to North Wales and while it's nice to see family and old friends, it's definitely not somewhere I wanna be for any extended period of time.

Onwards!

**Thinkingofachange** · 9th October 2012 00:09

I don't have too much to offer, except the advice that every young westerner should hear: do not go to Korea. The pay is not that good, the lifestyle is horrible (want constant polluted air and people spitting phlegm on your shoes while calling you filthy and uncivilized?), and there are much better options elsewhere.

**jonny danger** · 9th October 2012 01:28

Go to Korea. You can make a small fortune. My mate works for Hundai and literally rakes it in. He started there working for an agent who paid him 25 bucks an hour. Hundai was paying the agent 50. When his contract was up the admin didn't want to let him go so he cut a deal with them to stay on @40 an hour without the agent.

He gets picked up every morning in a long black sedan and they take him home after classes. He eats two meals a day on site and they pay his rent. He's been there 12 years and works about 25-40 hours a week. You can imagine why he'll never quit.

I worked in The ROK for Samsung at 30 an hour. Much better than I ever did in Thailand but of course it wasn't as enjoyable.

They were fairly clean people but if they spit on your shoe it's only because they think you're a dick .. understandable.

**Hollow** · 9th October 2012 01:49

By all accounts Korea is a good place to go to teach. TOAC isnt a teacher and hasnt taught anywhere as is my understanding, therefore it probbly isnt the best idea to take advice from him on this matter.

**Thinkingofachange** · 9th October 2012 01:55

Originally Posted by jonny danger

My mate works for Hundai and literally rakes it in. He started there working for an agent who paid him 25 bucks an hour. Hundai was paying the agent 50. When his contract was up the admin didn't want to let him go so he cut a deal with them to stay on @40 an hour without the agent.

That isn't raking it in. You can earn 40-50/hr. or more doing corporate teaching in other countries where the living standard is much better and the COL is much lower.

If you don't believe me about the spitting in Korea, read here: Koreans Spitting
Teaching and Living in South Korea: A New Life
Odd Korean Behavior
Try curbing spitting and littering, not romance | South China Morning Post
Korea, No Alternative
Spitting in Korea - YouTube

They are most definitely NOT "fairly clean people".

**jonny danger** · 9th October 2012 02:22

Originally Posted by Thinkingofachange

That isn't raking it in. You can earn 40-50/hr.

Of course it's peanuts to a high roller like you.

**russellsimpson** · 9th October 2012 03:51

**Benoso** · 14th November 2012 18:32

Hi guys. I'm looking to book flights here.

My plan is to book a one-way flight into BKK for January 2013, do some travelling in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, then return to Thailand after six weeks or so to look for work. What would be the best visa for this kind of thing?

Also, I've heard that difficulties can arise if you only have a one-way ticket. Is this true and how can it be avoided?

Cheers.

**Hollow** · 14th November 2012 18:58

Why would you only buy a one-way ticket? You are young and this is your first big adventure. Things do, and will go wrong. Pay the extra hundred quid or so for an open ended return ticket. It helps you avoid any potential probs you might face having a one way ticket and it is good to have as a get-out-of-dodge option if things should go tits up

**Benoso** · 14th November 2012 19:51

Well my rationale is that I may not flying back from Bangkok (I've got a half-baked plan to go on to Australia to visit some family after my stint in SE Asia) so I'm thinking flexibility might be golden. Plus, isn't having enough money for a ticket back home at any time saved somewhere the same level of security as a return ticket is?