Miniboom

[SimonMac]

I would jump at the chance, a month is not that long and I am sure there is enough touristy stuff for you to do not to get dragged into the expat drinking thing all the time

[Basil Fawlty]

Good idea, I have been told I will have to travel to Singapore and KL so there may be a change to spend a couple of weekend here and there, that may help a bit to make it more enjoyable. Not sure whether to try and go to those Ko Samui etc islands...

There's loads of interesting places that are easily driveable from Bangkok for a weekend :

Koh Chang
Koh Samed
Hua Hin/Cha Am
Kanchanaburi
Khorat
Khao Yai..to name just a few.

Or if you want to go further afield Air Asia flights to :

Vietnam
Laos
Cambodia
Phuket
Krabi
Chiang Mai/Rai

If you're into golf there's also a number of excellent expat golf clubs out there who usually have something going on most weekends.

My best advice though is hire a car for the time you're there and get out of the city and explore what is a wonderful country during your free time...

Or if you can't be bothered with that then there's always soapy massages

[Segush]

Great idea

And try and get out of Bangkok and see the rest of the country over the weekends - even the tourist resorts are a bit of a novelty but there are lesser known areas that are beautiful.

Good idea, I have been told I will have to travel to Singapore and KL so there may be a change to spend a couple of weekend here and there, that may help a bit to make it more enjoyable. Not sure whether to try and go to those Ko Samui etc islands...

[cojak]

Great idea

And try and get out of Bangkok and see the rest of the country over the weekends - even the tourist resorts are a bit of a novelty but there are lesser known areas that are beautiful.

[original PM]

yeah good luck with that.....

[Segush]

Finally going there, got a gym sorted and taking my kindle to keep me away from trouble. I have also decided to only go out Fridays and Saturdays as I would do here. 8 weeks minibreak, back for Christmas...

[Segush]

You'll be bollock deep in the lady boys before you know it.
When I was in Bangkok a Chinese londoner turned up on his first day, slammed his briefcase down on his desk and announced "I've come here to f**k"!

That's how it is.

Haha, I went there in June for 3 weeks and stayed away from that square where they usually hang out. Yes you do see lots of expats being corrupted!

[aussielong]

Rate + X is 4 hours more a day for being abroad, it soon adds up... Saw a nice gym last time, I think if I manage to stick to a plan and only go out say Thursdays and Fridays it may work...

You'll be bollock deep in the lady boys before you know it.
When I was in Bangkok a Chinese londoner turned up on his first day, slammed his briefcase down on his desk and announced "I've come here to f**k"!

That's how it is.

[Segush]

Ask for rate + X, where X is a sufficiently large number to definitely make it worth while.

Go out at night for dinner and a couple of beers, but take nights off, or go home early.

Take lots of films, your xbox/playstation, kindle, find a gym, work on plan B at night etc. Loads of things you can do without going to get pissed all the time.

Rate + X is 4 hours more a day for being abroad, it soon adds up... Saw a nice gym last time, I think if I manage to stick to a plan and only go out say Thursdays and Fridays it may work...

[aussielong]

Ask for rate + X, where X is a sufficiently large number to definitely make it worth while.

Go out at night for dinner and a couple of beers, but take nights off, or go home early.

Take lots of films, your xbox/playstation, kindle, find a gym, work on plan B at night etc. Loads of things you can do without going to get pissed all the time.

Depends on how bendy your arm is. If you are single and your new and friendly team is going out for after work beers every night, it's hard to tear yourself away to go and watch a DVD.

Good good money to be made if you can stick it out for 2 years at low tax rates.

[jmo21]

Ask for rate + X, where X is a sufficiently large number to definitely make it worth while.

Go out at night for dinner and a couple of beers, but take nights off, or go home early.

Take lots of films, your xbox/playstation, kindle, find a gym, work on plan B at night etc. Loads of things you can do without going to get pissed all the time.

[aussielong]

I felt like that after a while when I went there last time. It was fun at the beginning but as you said quite lonely.

They put me up in Soi 11 which is one of the most lively areas in Bangkok, full of expats, so it was difficult to stay in. I was in serviced apartments so they were quite good and very clean. However it was cheaper to eat out than staying in so it felt like living in a hotel anyway. Good for a week but got tired of it in the end...

Money is not the main reason, but I spent very little and invoiced more which made up for it. I think work wise it quite a good opportunity, but a month there I think it is too long... need to make up my mind.

Get a local girlfriend and steer clear of expats. Get a pad in the ghetto for a real experience! My team was hungover every day. It's a young mans game.

[Segush]

I wouldn't do it. I've contracted in Asia in US banks.
Like you said, it's like The Hangover movie. You can't stay in at night because you will be bored on your own and your apartment will probably be tiny. Expat life in these places is one big pissup- so if money is your reason to go watch out. I made good money by living in the local ghettos (serious, was an experience but not for everyone- lonely) to keep costs way down. Colleagues lived in smart places , went on the razzle every night and left after a years contracting with no savings.

I felt like that after a while when I went there last time. It was fun at the beginning but as you said quite lonely.

They put me up in Soi 11 which is one of the most lively areas in Bangkok, full of expats, so it was difficult to stay in. I was in serviced apartments so they were quite good and very clean. However it was cheaper to eat out than staying in so it felt like living in a hotel anyway. Good for a week but got tired of it in the end...

Money is not the main reason, but I spent very little and invoiced more which made up for it. I think work wise it quite a good opportunity, but a month there I think it is too long... need to make up my mind.

[aussielong]

I started working for my clientco in May this year. Was sent to their office in Bangkok in June for three weeks. Good times and better off financially really, but after the second week it was becoming a little bit like the hangover movie and I wanted to get out of there.

Got a call this morning, snowed under work there so they want me to go for a month this time (initially...). Not sure what to do... financially it is very good, I am single so I do not have a problem in being away but Bangkok can be quite heavy at times and social life is heavy there...

Decisions decisions...

I wouldn't do it. I've contracted in Asia in US banks.
Like you said, it's like The Hangover movie. You can't stay in at night because you will be bored on your own and your apartment will probably be tiny. Expat life in these places is one big pissup- so if money is your reason to go watch out. I made good money by living in the local ghettos (serious, was an experience but not for everyone- lonely) to keep costs way down. Colleagues lived in smart places , went on the razzle every night and left after a years contracting with no savings.

[Segush]

I started working for my clientco in May this year. Was sent to their office in Bangkok in June for three weeks. Good times and better off financially really, but after the second week it was becoming a little bit like the hangover movie and I wanted to get out of there.

Got a call this morning, snowed under work there so they want me to go for a month this time (initially...). Not sure what to do... financially it is very good, I am single so I do not have a problem in being away but Bangkok can be quite heavy at times and social life is heavy there...

Decisions decisions...