I’m 41 years old (how did that happen!?) originally from New Zealand. I have my own interior design and sourcing business specializing in products from S.E Asia. I live with my husband, Simon and 2 dogs who came with us from Bali where we lived for 5 years. We have a 17 year old daughter who has been in boarding school in New Zealand for the past couple of years.
We’ve been living in Ekamai, Bangkok for 2 years. How we ended up here is a long story but it was a fairly spontaneous decision involving a yearning for an urban life again and 2 dogs, that all fell into place, it’s a decision that we don’t regret at all. We adore living in Bangkok.
I love the creativity and the vibrancy of this city. There is so much energy and amazing things happening around me all the time. It would be an extremely hard city to get bored in! I find the sleazy side quite creepy though, it is a shame that aspect is all that many visitors see. I find it pretty easy to avoid living where we do and have to admit I still get a bit shocked when I walk around Nana, as my husband Simon astutely put it, it is like walking into the bar in the Empire Strikes Back.
It was the first week of moving here. We had just gone out for late dinner to a restaurant in Sukhumvit, down soi 20 I think it was, walking back to the BTS my husband pointed out something to me in one of the shops as we were walking along. I did that classic mistake of walking without looking at where I was going, and literally walked, smack! straight into a baby elephant! It was the most surreal and unexpected thing to bump into, that’s when I realized this was no ordinary city.
My Thai is pretty lame actually, I’m kinda embarrassed about it as I learnt Indonesian pretty well during my time there, the biggest hurdle I have is not being able to read it. I really need to see the words in order for them to sink in. When I moved to Bali the first Indonesian I learnt was fruit and vegetables as I could study the signs at the supermarket. I know enough Thai to order food, buy stuff, count, ask directions, and get from A to B in a taxi etc. One of my new years resolutions is to learn more Thai!
We rent a townhouse in Ekkamai. Prior to moving here I came over for 5 days to look at possible accommodation that would also allow 2 dogs! It wasn’t easy, most of the places the agents showed me were pretty expensive and tatty. I found our house by looking myself on the internet and it has worked out really well, it is simple, quiet, light, airy and spacious (6 bedrooms!) with wooden floors and white walls and has a tiny postage stamp lawn with a big tree. We have a lovely family who are our landlords, they speak excellent English and were incredibly helpful to us in setting up in a new country and are always on hand if we are ever in need of anything. We have everything from amazing street food and local fresh markets to fantastic cafes, restaurants and gourmet supermarkets all within walking distance not to mention lots of design shops. We love the Ekamai /Thonglor area, so have no intention of moving in the near future!
I would advise anyone looking for a place to rent to do their own research on line, and to wander around neighborhoods they like as well as going to agents. As my experience was agents tend to want to put you in certain types of places that they perceive are suitable for expats, it doesn’t really matter what brief you give them. I went to 5 agents with a pretty clear list of requirements and not one showed me anything remotely like the place we are renting.
I’m an Interior designer I have my own business Hemisphere Design. We do everything from large hotels and resorts to private residences. Something we do a lot of lately is design and fit out whole houses with products from here in Thailand and Indonesia. I love working with manufacturers in this part of the world but it isn’t for everyone. You really need to know what you are doing and have an understanding of how things work and practical experience of how things are made.
I find Bangkok an incredibly inspiring place to be creatively, there is a lot happening here and a lot of initiatives in place to stimulate ideas and creativity amongst young designers and within the industry. One thing that really strikes me here is how companies are reinventing how the materials they make can be used in different forms. There is some very clever stuff happening here right now.
I long to be a smaller size as I would go totally crazy here if I could fit everything I liked! I still like looking though. I get more tailored things made from some of the excellent Thai dress makers along Ekamai road. If I am taking younger or more adventurous friends shopping I usually take them to Siam - Siam Square and the shops in the Lido, also Siam Centre has lots of cool different stores. For vintage the weekend train market Talad Rod Fai has lots of great finds. For basics the Weekend market or Platinum mall always has some good finds if you really look. For Home furnishings etc, the weekend JJ markets are brilliant for crockery and glassware, I have to reign myself in not to buy up large there. The weekend train market has lots of fantastic vintage and reproduction pieces. I often take my clients to Crystal Design Centre to show them furniture items so they can test them out – but we buy wholesale directly from the manufacturer. Jim Thompson outlet in Soi 93 is a must for fabrics – 5 floors of amazing fabrics at heavily discounted prices you can buy straight off the roll. Chinatown is good for getting cheap curtains made up – great for rental properties! The main gift and furniture fairs (BIH and TIFF) have a public day on the last day where you can go and buy items direct from the wholesalers at discounted prices.
My all time favorite restaurant here is Pla Dib in Ari – it is kinda a mishmash of Japanese / Thai fusion with Wood fired Pizzas thrown in - sounds crazy but the place really works. It is always packed and has a fun upbeat vibe. 1/1 Areesamphan Soi 7, Ari. My husband and I love super spicy food - Southern Thai is one of our favs the best we have found is Khua Kling Pak Sod – be warned it is not for the faint hearted – they use whole birds eye chilies in serious quantities. 98/1 Thong Lor Soi 5. Issan style - Polo chicken in Soi Polo - off Wireless road is a fantastic place – people who cant handle the chilies can stick to the fried chicken but the highlight for me is the larb and yum.
We don’t really do clubs anymore – unless there is an international DJ that we want to see coming to town. We do go to bars quite a bit though – and like most Bangkok people my favorites change constantly! My current favs are Mellow in Penny’s Balcony Thonglor – nice décor – amazing cocktails and a really generous happy hour – the food is really good too. We also love Hyde and Seek – the extremely cool bar takes centre stage – it is like a bit of NY in BKK. 65/1 Athenee Residence, Soi Ruamrudee, Wireless Road. I always take visitors to Iron Fairies, it is such an original and fun place. Near Soi 10 Thonglor. Another cool spot is Balco on the river side – it is on the rooftop of the river city shopping complex (next to the Sheraton) it is kinda in the middle of tourist central but hidden away so relatively tourist free – comfy lounge seating, fantastic river views and well priced drinks make it a rare find. There is also the new offering from Hyde and Seek - Viva Aviv on the ground floor of the same complex.
I regularly read BK mag, CNN Go and Bangkok 101 online to keep up to date with what is happening in the city, also BAM, Bangkok art map is a good read to find out what exhibitions are on in town. For people interested in design related events TCDC has a website with lots of info about their upcoming exhibitions and talks etc. Also ebooks and articles etc. – it is well worth a visit in person too - they have great imaginative exhibitions and - if you show your passport you can get a free day access to their amazing resource library.
And of course there is my blog (smiles) – The Girl in a Whirl – It’s meant to be about a bunch of different things but always seems to veer towards food!My husband does a blog too - The Opinionated Diner– he was often stealing my photos (and the occasional funny line – although he did ask permission most of the time!). It was his encouragement that got me into doing my own – I love taking photos so it is a good excuse – although he does get a little tired of me taking a zillion photos at mealtimes! His blog isn’t strictly on Thailand but Bangkok often features.
Try and get out of your comfort zone and make friends and acquaintances with Thai people – learn about the place, wander the local markets and off the beaten track. I find it very strange how some people choose to live in what Simon and I term an expat bubble – they make no effort to learn anything about or immerse them selves in the culture or place in which they are living. I think that it is sad and such a waste of an amazing opportunity. Being a minority in a foreign land can be a bit daunting and at times scary, but it really opens up your understanding of the world and enriches your life and time spent here.
Living in Thailand, so what is that like? The Chicky Net interviews tell the stories of expat women who have decided that Thailand is their home (for now). How did they end up here, what's it like to live and work in Thailand and what challenges and amazing experiences have they have come across?
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