How to be an Expat in Thailand

OK, try riding your motorbike, one hand holding an umbrella, the other hand sending an sms, steering with your knee and then suddenly dropping everything to offer a quick wai to a roadside spirit house before crossing four lanes of traffic to make a sudden U-turn because you forgot to pick up your girlfriend and she's going to wear a sulk longer than it takes to explain the concept of 'money back guarantee' to a Thai businessman.

by Peter Melzer - we have published an article created by auswathai forum user

Remember.... T.I.T. This is Thailand

For sure, Thailand can be quite strange and newcomers find themselves conducting all sorts of cultural charades and going berserk trying to figure out some of the crazy habits of the locals.

Don't ask us why they eat ice-cream sandwiches, or drink their beer with ice. Never sleep with your head facing west, duck when you walk in front of people, paste yourself in skin whitening cream… there are all sorts of strange beliefs here.

Luckily Bangkok allows you to keep a foot both in the Eastern and Western world. An increasing number of Thais now speak English, especially in the services industry, and there are all sorts of clubs, groups and activities that suit ex-pats. Of course, you should make the effort yourself to learn the language and etiquette of Thailand and assimilate into Thai social circles to truly appreciate the place.

One important consideration if you are planning on living here is that it's not perfect. The Thai way of life is quite different to what you may have experienced back home and they have their own, sometimes strange, way of going about things. In fact the Thai here in Bangkok are incredibly good at some things, but can be quite unsatisfactory at other things we may expect or take for granted back home.

Useful Links

1. Forum Thailand - this article - add comment or see other articles about Thailand people/culture/land

2. WA Thai Community - Thai Culture A to Z 

3. Business Networks - Aussie and Thai - click here 

4. Best E Networks Aussie and Thai - click here

AustCham Thailand Members are Populating in Longdo

Australian Commerce has a substantial presence in Thailand.

It's why so many Australian owned/managed venues are populating across the Longdo Map
click on the photo expand

Reporter:  Phill Smith

It wasn't until we were introduced to AustCham Thailand that we discover the prominence of Australia, as Business owners and/or Managers. So with the help of the ever enthusiastic people of Longdo we embarked on a "Joint venture project" to populate Aussie Venues on Thailands Longdo Map.

Finding Aussie Venues became a "Needle in a haystack"

All known Aussie Govt., agencies we approached but they had no interest in the concept (most drew the curtain of "privacy laws"?  What the !  where talking about Business not Facebook!

We got tired of submitting writing requests (no one reads the content) and receiving the standard template response ... refer this (faulty website).  So what's is the job satisfaction?  "mai ben rai"

Fortunately we had some good luck, we found AustCham Thailand.

I had not idea just how substantial Australian Busines in Thailand is until I glanced at the AustCham Thailand website.

Their Key Features:

Promotion of business between Australia and Thailand

Representation and dialogue between AustCham, Thai Government and other business groups

Providing a dynamic networking, social and sponsorship platform

Community Services

The AustCham Management and staff have been a constant source of energy and synergy. Whether your a visitor on Business or Social their DOORS ARE OPEN. It's a productive culture and the reason I became a member. 

The highlight has been the AustCham's people network, it's quite remarkable! The monthly sundowners are the talk of Business Bangkok, it's a must do event.

The opportunity to meet the Expat community on a quality social platform is a credit to the organisers, it's clear evidence of their success. 

TAAWA 30th Birthday Party - don't miss out

This year is the celebration of 30th years service to the Community!

The party is in September 2010 and promises to be fun for all

DON'T MISS OUT  - Again

Many of us could not get tickets to previous events.. don't delay get your ticket now!

AusWaThai - linking Thailand and Perth W.A. "mid year report for 2010"

Our mission is populating all things good for bilateral links Thailand and West Australia.

Our FREE Community resources has helped many people locally and abroad. Evidence of our success is measured by the substantial growth of our Forum and we have now opened up other medium channels.

We are constantly inspired by your "thank you"

The last 6 months was a roller coaster adventure, political unrest in Thailand (Grossly sensationalised by the Media) and 3 year long over heating Economy in W.A. so at one end everyone needs work and at the other end there are no staff!

Anyway as "Julia will foolya says "moving forward"...

We have short listed a progress report in our Newsflash Page

Appreciation is always appreciated

Please jump on board, select one of the many FREE subscription options to "keep in Touch", the options are noted in the newsflash report.    Link to 6 Mid year report - click here

Take Care

Public Transport in Perth W.A.-การขนส่งสาธารณะในเพิร์ธ

Perth has two bus terminals in the city. The Wellington Street bus station is approximately 200m from the train station and services the northern suburbs. The City Busport is at the bottom of Mill Street on Mounts Bay Road next to the Esplanade and services the southern suburbs.

Both terminals have easy to follow information about times and routes as well as an information booth to answer your questions.

Late night buses leave at midnight, 1:00am and 2:00am every Friday and Saturday night from Wellington Street Bus Station going to Mirrabooka and Morley (northern suburbs only). After dark the buses will stop anywhere.                  

Report by Arwee

Thai Student studying in Perth W.A.

เพิร์ธมีสถานีรสบัสประจำทางในเมืองสองแห่ง คือสถานีเวลลิงตันบริการในส่วนชานเมืองตอนเหนือของเพิร์ธประมาณ 200 เมตร จากสถานีรถไฟ และ สถานีซิตตี้บัสสปอร์ตบริการในส่วนชานเมืองทางใต้ ตั้งอยู่สุดถนน Mill Street ที่ถนนMounts Bay Road ถัดจาก the Esplanade.คุณสามารถศึกษาข้อมูลของทั้งสองสถานีได้อย่างง่ายดาย เช่น ตารางเวลาบริการของรถ,เส้นทางการเดินรถประจำทาง และการสอบถามข้อมูลต่างๆ. รถประจำทางรอบสุดท้ายเวลาแล้วแต่สายรถประจำทาง ตั้งแต่เที่ยงคืนถึงตีสอง ทุกๆวันศุกร์และวันเสาร์ช่วงค่ำเฉพาะรสบัสประจำทางตอนเหนือจะบริการตั้งแต่สถานีรถบัสWellington Street - Mirrabooka – Morley.ช่วงค่ำๆรถประจำทางจะจอดที่ไหนก็ได้.

CATS (Central Area Transport Systems) is a free bus service which operates in the City Centre and Fremantle. They only stop at CAT stops, which are marked with the colour of the bus and a black cat insignia.

•The blue CAT travels north/south between the Barrack Street Jetty on the foreshore and the Northbridge district. They run every 8 minutes on weekdays and every 15 minutes on Friday nights. At weekends you can catch one every 12 minutes.

•The red CAT travels east/west between East Perth and West Perth. They run every 5 minutes on weekdays and every 45 mins on weekends.

•The Fremantle CAT travels around the Fremantle area only. From Monday to Friday they run every 10 minutes during the day, and every 8 minutes on weekends. There are additional services on Thursday and Friday evenings.

แคท(บริการเฉพาะในเมืองเท่านั้น)ค่าบริการฟรี เดินรถในเมืองและในFremantle.รถแคทจะจอดที่ป้ายรถเมล์ที่มีสัญลักษณ์ของแมวสีดำและสีของรถแคทเท่านั้น

- รถแคทสีน้ำเงินเดินรถทางเหนือ-ใต้ จากBarrack Street Jetty ถึง the Northbridge.
- รถแคทสีแดงเดินรถทางตะวันตก-ตะวันออกของเพิร์ธ มีรถวิ่งทุกๆ 5 นาทีระหว่างสัปดาห์และทุกๆ 45 นาที สุดสัปดาห์.

- รถแคทFremantleจะเดินรถแค่ในFremantleเท่านั้น รถวิ่งทุกๆ10นาทีระหว่างสัปดาห์ และทุกๆ8นาที สุดสัปดาห์ ในช่วงเย็นของทุกวันพฤหัสบดีและศุกร์จะบริการรถเพิ่มขึ้น.



TRAINS
 

There are four train lines:

•West to Fremantle

•East to Armadale

•North to Joondalup

•East to Midland

All of the trains meet centrally, at the Perth Railway Station, which is across the road from Forrest Place.

สถานีรถไฟ 4 สาย

•ทางตะวันตก - Fremantle

•ทางตะวันออก -Armadale

•ทางเหนือ - Joondalup

• ทางตะวันออก- Midland

รถไฟทุกสายจะผ่านสถานี the Perth Railway Station ในเมือง ตัดผ่านถนนจากForrest Place