Thread: Phatthalung

Hi, I've been offered a job by an agency in Phatthalung - decent pay, help finding housing etc...
But I'm wondering if anyone knows anything about the place, stuff to do, size of the expat community - I'm going on my own and so would want to be somewhere where there are people I can talk to! I have a TEFL, some teaching experience and a masters degree, so I'm not too worried about finding work anyway.

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Originally Posted by Horsinho

I have a TEFL, some teaching experience and a masters degree,

I've been there a few times. I guess they're famous for their artisans, weaving and such. It's nice, about half Muzzie I'd guess. Not too much farang action tho. I think Hat Yai is the next city south. There's plenty there. I know nothing of the schools. I'd assume it's cheap to live there. One problem with doing an EP where the EP idea is new is that you'll be working for an admin that might have little experience with farang. Of course maybe it isn't new to Phatthalung at all, just saying.

Well the guy recruiting me tells me there are already two native English teachers in the school, and that there is a decent expat community. But none of the travel guides have more than a page on the place (for some reason we have 3 in my house!) and I can find nothing about this community online. But if you know if it has any bars, supermarket or gym or anything - the basic things that a town has (I mean I finish work at 4.30, so will want to be able to do some stuff) then any recommendations or advice you have would be great. At the moment I'm torn between taking this and just rocking up in Hat Yai next week and trying to find work.

Yes, it isn't one of those places on the tourist trail. The nearest (good) beach, as you may know, is at least 2 hours away. There is a body of water there, a bay I believe. The beaches round there up to Surat are like clam beaches. I'd think there's a guy, Thais like gyms too. No doubt there are bars, Thais like bars too.

I'm mulling over a job in this city too. Anyone who has anything to share or even the OP about this city please do.

Originally Posted by Horsinho

there is a decent expat community.

i have a friend who spends a lot of time there. his wife and family own rubber tree farms. he laments to me about how few people there are to hang out with, except the waiting-to-die drunk farangs.


my advice is to sit for a few minutes and visualize yourself in an isolated situation. hot weather. you stick out like a sore thumb. polite locals. and probably an easy teaching situation, however frustrating, the bar would be quite low for what they expect. so for a new teacher, it may be a decent place to get your feet wet so to speak. but given that the academic standard is low, you probably wont grow so much as a teacher, as much as learn to teach thais.

sit with that situation in mind. if you feel restless and want a bit of companionship, adventure, and some excitement, youd be advised to pass. for me (and we're all different) it would seem fun, but for a month or so. after that, rural places lose their luster. i can take a deep breath "aaahhh fresh air" and that fills me up good. nice quiet walks are awesome. but soon thereafter, im thinking, "ok whats next. wheres the challenge?" <-- this is not the mentality that sits well in the country.

but again, i dont know you. maybe youre content being alone in the countryside. the hot, sticky countryside. if youre in the town itself, then reduce the amount of isolation, but id still reckon youre not going to meet many english speaking people who are quality folk. my buddy who lives and works in bkk with his wife and kids, has told me he went nuts there. had a good couple of friends, but all there was to do was drink.

everyone has a different take on rural life.

I biked through there several of times and even overnighted twice.

To say it was kind of dead would definitely be overstating things.

I didn't find a farang cafe or bar and doubt there is one.

If one is strictly into countryside scenery and stuff, the place ain't bad. You're a couple of hours down the main highway to HatYai and probably the same down to Songkhla if you cut through that park going over to the east coast (lovely park by the way)

I think Pattalung has the distinction of being the city with the most blue PVC plastic piping for sale of any city on the planet.

There are a few farang teachers up that way, probably more Filipinos.

Good luck and have fun.

I worked there for 10 months about 5 years ago.
There is a Tesco now. There is a Cinema and Swansons Ice cream.
Not too much for Western type eating or bars but a great place to save a few $.
Several teachers come to Hatyai at the weekend for R&R.
A lot worse places to start from.
Good luck