Welcome to the Neighbourhood: The Ins and Outs of Moving to Phuket
Moving house is such a pain. Not that I live in anything as grand as a house, but the sentiment is much the same. After the exhausting anticlimax that was yesterday’s lengthy court ruling, I had to leave Bangkok with half of my possessions crammed into two large bags and make my way to Phuket, which is where I will be living for the next nine to twelve months, give or take. The move itself was painless, although taxis from Phuket airport are ridiculously expensive. It cost me 400 baht to get from the airport to Yaorawat Road, and even that involved the taxi driver getting lost half a dozen times. I’ve also noticed that I’ve acquired a kind of headache since the One2Go aeroplane descended from 30,000 feet. Out of nowhere I got this sharp, intense pain above my right eye socket as my ears were popping. Although the pain has largely subsided, I can still feel it there. I don’t know what this means or if it’s fatal, but it sure is odd.
My new place is reasonably priced at 6,000 baht a month, although to be honest I feel like a rockstar. I now have cable TV, wireless internet access, a small fridge, a balcony, a telephone, and, here’s the kicker, hot water! These things are all new to me since I arrived in Thailand two years ago. The area of Phuket which I will begin to call home is peaceful with more restaurants than anything else. The only internet I have in the absense of my laptop is at one of a number of incredibly noisy internet cafes frequented predominantly by gormless children. The most popular games involve dancing and they make such a din that I will be thankful to have my laptop down here with me.
Tomorrow I have to find out where my new office is and do a number of visa/work permit-related things before going back to Penang for a new visa and some great Indian food. If I could go to Penang more I would. The cuisine there is second to none; and it’s cheap.
I’ve indulged in a lengthy, personal blog post here, but I don’t feel up to writing anything more meaningful in the presence of screaming children.
May 31st, 2007 at 2:27 pm
6000bht/m in bangkok will get you a closet with no aircon or windows.
May 31st, 2007 at 4:24 pm
:-)
May 31st, 2007 at 6:51 pm
What made you move? Leaving behind you the buzz of metropolis and change it to Phukets lazy afternoons. Hope u wont get bored! (But sure your lungs will get some fresh air now, beaches, sald water…) :) Or maybe u made a blog entry about the decision earlier? Cheers.
June 1st, 2007 at 12:55 am
Good luck in Phuket. I’m sure you’ll have some interesting experiences, and by the sounds of where you’ve written this entry from they’ve already begun.
June 1st, 2007 at 2:14 am
That is good about the hot water. That’s the one thing I never got used to being without. Have a great stay.
June 1st, 2007 at 4:02 am
Kahve: I’ve been in BKK for two years. I feel like if I didn’t make the effort to do something productive now then I might never get round to it.
Oddly enough, my office is about ten seconds walk from my apartment. I can actually see it from my bedroom window.
June 1st, 2007 at 4:29 am
Tayland is one of those places that make you think… and make you understand that another world is possible…
June 1st, 2007 at 5:03 am
Good luck in Phuket! Another life experience to add. :)
June 1st, 2007 at 1:32 pm
hey, maybe you will be in a better position to give commentary on the ‘Southern Crisis’.