4 Months in Thailand today – Why Thailand, Now!?? (part 6) Safe Environment, Only Child Park

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I shot a quick video in the same park, on the same bench that I did 4 months ago when I first landed in Bangkok and “started my new life” in Thailand.
In that time, well, shoot, in just the last 4 weeks, things have changed. Life is *different*… The world has changed!!! Talk about an understatement, eh?
The Corona Virus/COVID-19 headlines simply don’t stop.
I needed to head out of the house to go see a doctor as it was day 2 of some ear pain and that’s about as long as I go before having an ENT physician have a look inside.
Short answer: I have no ear infection and my insurance I have covered it all – direct billing.
I’m pausing to really focus on what I ‘have’ not what I don’t. I might be dilusional but I think I’m clear headed enough to be able to KNOW that I am blessed to have everything I *need* and still things that I want.
So, at 4 months in the kingdom, I still really like Thailand. I am treated well, feel safe and truly hope that wherever YOU are you’re safe and happy.
Live the Dream!
~mikes

**Travel Update** US State Dept, “Do Not Travel”

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Travel Advisory – Global Level 4 Health Advisory – Do Not Travel (March 20, 2020)
Inbox

The Department of State advises U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19. In countries where commercial departure options remain available, U.S. citizens who live in the United States should arrange for immediate return to the United States, unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period. U.S. citizens who live abroad should avoid all international travel. Many countries are experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks and implementing travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines, closing borders, and prohibiting non-citizens from entry with little advance notice. Airlines have cancelled many international flights and several cruise operators have suspended operations or cancelled trips. If you choose to travel internationally, your travel plans may be severely disrupted, and you may be forced to remain outside of the United States for an indefinite timeframe.

On March 14, the Department of State authorized the departure of U.S. personnel and family members from any diplomatic or consular post in the world who have determined they are at higher risk of a poor outcome if exposed to COVID-19 or who have requested departure based on a commensurate justification. These departures may limit the ability of U.S. Embassies and consulates to provide services to U.S. citizens.

For the latest information regarding COVID-19, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC)website.

You are encouraged to visit http://travel.state.gov to view individual Travel Advisories for the most urgent threats to safety and security. Please also visit the website of the relevant U.S. embassy or consulate to see information on entry restrictions, foreign quarantine policies, and urgent health information provided by local governments.

Travelers are urged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. The Department uses these Alerts to convey information about terrorist threats, security incidents, planned demonstrations, natural disasters, etc. In an emergency, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate or call the following numbers: 1(888) 407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1 (202) 501-4444 from other countries or jurisdictions.

If you decide to travel abroad or are already outside the United States:

Consider returning to your country of residence immediately using whatever commercial means are available.
Have a travel plan that does not rely on the U.S. Government for assistance.
Review and follow the CDC’s guidelines for the prevention of coronavirus.
Check with your airline, cruise lines, or travel operators regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.
Visit travel.state.gov to view individual Travel Advisories for the most urgent threats to safety and security.
Visit our Embassy webpages on COVID-19 for information on conditions in each country or jurisdiction.
Visit the Department of Homeland Security’swebsite on the latest travel restrictions to the United States
Visit Keeping workplaces, homes, schools, or commercial establishments safe.

Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Bangkok
+66 2 205 4049
+66 2 205 4000 (after hours)
[email protected]
American Citizens Services

U.S. Consulate General Chiang Mai (serving Americans in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Kamphaengphet, Lampang, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Petchabun, Phayao, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phrae, Sukhothai, Tak, and Uttaradit provinces.)
+66 053 107 700
+66 2 205 4000 (after hours)
[email protected]

State Department – Consular Affairs
+1 888 407 4747 or +1 202 501 4444

(LIVE) My Ass Off – Fri.Mar 20,2020 @ 8am Bangkok Time * Expat life In Thailand during all this…

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Thanks so much for all of you who joined in this Friday Morning at 8:00am (Bangkok Time) // Thurs, Mar 19 @ 9pm EST // 6pm PST // 01:00 GMT — I believe I’ve gotten all the kinks out of my Live Streaming and with any luck, we will be able to chat, during my Friday Morning @ 8:00am (Bangkok Time)
Looking forward to it! Live the Dream!
~mikes

my Speed Boat in Bangkok!!! at the Klong Lat Mayom WEEKEND Floating Market

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Sure, there are plenty of “Floating Market” videos on YouTube BUT how many of them spend the majority of the time showing you the cool, FAST long-tail boat ride you get to take thru the klongs of Bangkok. This was the highlight of our weekend.

Like many people who visit or live in “the big Mango”, at some point you will ABSOLUTELY end up at a Floating Market. About 1/2 of them have nothing that’s really “floating” but will maybe have a river next to a bunch of little shops selling food and clothing – standard.
BUT the Klong Lat Mayom Floating market, a.k.a. “Klong Floating Market”, is pretty easy to get to a number of ways. What we found the easiest was to take BTS to MRT and then take MRT all the way to its last stop heading west: Lak Song
This puts you right in front of The Mall Bangkea ( https://dude.ly/mallbangkae )
not to be confused with The Mall Bangkapi – another cool mall that you can easily (relative term, I know) get to via the Klong (river) Boat Taxis. That’s for another video though.
Once you get off at Lak Song, you can easily get a GrabCar or Taxi to the floating market, from this location, simple say, “Floating Market, use meter, chai mae?” Basically that’s “Take me to the Floating Market and use the Meter, ok?” In this part of Bangkok there is really on the Mayom Floating market so for about 100 Baht, you’ll get there.
When leaving later in your day, there WILL be a line of cars/taxis next to a very small parking lot where everyone is waiting to get a ride. Easiest thing to do is simply ask drivers, “MRT?” and they will take you to the closest MRT station. We went on a Sunday. *Its only open on the weekends* so expect crowds. The hours are 7am to 5pm. We recommend getting there before 9am and enjoy it before 11:30am/lunch time. The tour groups show up in force by about 10:30am so my noon, its packed.
The food there is Plentiful and Excellent!!!

So, on this day, Gracie and I hopped on the BTS from our condo, got off at ASOK and transferred to MRT, heading toward Lak Song.
*NOTE* the MRT is being extended so there are some times of the day when you will not be able to transfer from one stop to the other. SO, just double check that Google Maps is not sending you to stops as if it were a weekDAY.

Here’s some info on the Klong Lat Mayom Floating Market:
https://www.hotels.com/go/thailand/khlong-lat-mayom

Thanks for watching!
Live the Dream!
~mikes

(LIVE) My Ass Off ** Live Stream – Being an Expat during all of this…

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Greetings. I’m REALLY sorry about all the technical difficulties. This being a “hobby” and keeping the budget very low/tight for the gear necessary, means I have issues from time to time…
I so much appreciate you guys watching and commenting!
All the best.
~mikes

Bangkok 1 Bedroom Condo tour & cost: 40 sq.mtrs near True Digital Park, HOW MUCH?

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For those of you who are a fan of startups, startup ecosystems, specifically the startup ecosystem(s) of SE Asian markets as well as co-working spaces and entrepreneurial incubators, you may already know of True Digital Park. If not, well, True Digital Park is THE largest co-working space in all of SE Asia. It sits between the Punnawithi and Udom Suk stations of the BTS Sky train in Bangkok on “lower” Sukhumvit. In this giant co-working space are many other co-working spaces. Not the least of which is a giant WeWork which occupies much of the 6th floor.
PLUS there are about 100 eateries, a food court, a Tops Market and TONS of parking.
There is FREE WiFi with speed of the order of 100Mbps. Its a cool new spot for Bangkok. One could argue that Bangkok is indeed one of the top 5 best centrally located cities or Hubs in SE Asia. For sure Singapore is in the top 3 BUT for the money, I think Bangkok really makes a great place for businesses and entrepreneurs looking for an inexpensive, exciting city to set up shop, or at least one of their shops.
SO – with all that said, I wanted to be near this and found a great 1 Bedroom Condo of about 40 sq. meters that’s a 5 minute walk from True Digital Park and about 15 minutes from the BTS and an easy landmark for any Grab, Taxi, Tuk Tuk or Food Panda delivery driver.
So, here’s the video of my new place.
If you have any specific questions, please feel free to reach out to me here in the comments or via email: [email protected]

Live the Dream!
~mikes