Quote: (12-11-2014 02:35 AM)w00t Wrote:
But I heard the ED visa is only good for 6 months now so its not really an option anymore. Anyone can confirm this?ß
Confirmed.
You're now also required to take a test at the ministry of education after 6 months to show them that you know basic Thai.
And if you're on your second or third ED visa (like me), you'd better know some reading and writing (I don't know jack shit).
If you run an online business, you probably don't have time for this bullcrap.
I know I don't. So it's back to tourist visas for me.
So far it seems like Savannakhet in Laos is the most lenient when it comes to giving out visas of all kinds.
Rio was just there, I was just there too.
It's a great, sleepy little town on the Mekong river. Perfect to get some respite and nepenthe, sipping beer lao, scarfing paté baguettes and watching the hazy sunset over the water.
****
My Take on Phuket
Like a lot of the posters have been saying, the nomadlist figures should be more conservative. And of course they don't factor in your bankroll, your lifestyle, your hobbies, etc.
$995/month in Phuket is fine...
...if you want to live like a bum and eat noodles till they're coming out of your eyeballs.
My personal napkin math came out to:
Serviced Apartment = 13,500 baht/month (high season; 10k in low season)
Food = 30k baht/month (I eat a shit ton of food)
BJJ Training/Gym = 10k/month
Incidentals = 10k/month+ (supplements, hospital visits, traffic tickets, other bullshit)
So that's in the $2000/month range, which is double nomadlist's entry.
And I live a fairly spartan lifestyle. Just wake up, train, eat, work, go to the beach, work some more, eat again, go to sleep and do it all over again.
I really don't go out to party, I don't like to drink much, and I get my pussy via daygame on the beach and online game.
I have to say that the quality in Phuket is shit and the ratios of men to women are in the women's favor.
The logistics are also a nightmare. Phuket's a big ass island. So unless a chick lives in your part of the island, or the next one over, you'll be zipping all over the fucking place on your motorbike to meet these girls.
But all things considered,
Phuket really doesn't really get enough recognition as an amazing place for digital nomads.
The air is way cleaner than either Chiang Mai or Bangkok. (unless you're in town or in rush hour motorbike clusterfuck traffic).
WiFi is decent.
Warm all year round.
Beaches and islands.
Some of the best BJJ/MMA and muay thai gyms in Southeast Asia if you like to train.
There are 3 modern, international hospitals and a ton of clinics to do blood tests, piss tests, shit tests and any other kind of diagnostic or outpatient procedure you want done, at quite reasonable prices.
No need for hour-long commutes in sardine-packed skytrains. Just zip over to where you want to go on a motorbike.
Soi Taied
This part of Phuket deserves special mention.
Soi Taied is a street (soi = thai word for street) located in Chalong, Phuket.
It's basically a short street that contains Phuket Top Team MMA gym, Tiger Muay Thai, dragon muay thai, Unit 27 crossfit/S&C, Titan Fitness, and a bunch of other healthy shmealthy stores and restaurants that cater to fighters.
If you like fighting or working out, even on a casual level, there's never any real need to leave this street. Everything is taken care of for you including laundry, food on delivery, etc.
The only real thing missing here is a good concentration of girls. Specifically Thai girls. There are a few Western girls dropping in to train but I don't really even bother with them anymore.
For local poontang you either have to go to Laguna (a club) or Patong, but then there are a million working girls there. Or you need to keep your eyes peeled and take opportunities as they come with cashiers, waitresses, store clerks, girls on the beach, etc.
Online game here is kind of stacked against you so it forces your horny ass to get out there and hunt. Which I like.
I'd love to see more of a digital nomad community in Phuket but so far there's only a few dozen of us.