Further Resources for Expatriates and Travelers in Thailand
Even though you've made every effort to immerse yourself in Thai culture, once in a while you'll want to kick back and relax with other expatriates and fellow travelers.
If you're in Bangkok and you want to be sure to run into travelers, head to Khao San Road, where many of the city's cheapest guesthouses are clustered. It's like spring break all year round in that part of town, with European teenagers on their "gap year" wandering around in sandals and shorts, and enterprising vendors serving up delicious foodstuffs from roadside stands. You'll be sure to meet someone from your corner of the globe.
Otherwise, grab a Lonely Planet guide and pick one of the popular restaurants or tourist attractions that the guide advocates. Without a doubt, you will find yourself sitting across from another traveler with a Lonely Planet in his or her hand, and they'll want to strike up a conversation.
When there are no other farang around, it's time to visit the Web. If you're an expat woman in Thailand who wants to befriend other expat women, try Chicky Net Thailand, 'the social network for women in Thailand." More than just a web community, the group hosts events and gatherings all around the country, from coffee dates to book swaps.
Along similar lines, there's the Expat Women's Guide to Living in Thailand, a blog that interviews expat women and gives tips on how to get great deals around Bangkok.
Not to be outdone, there's the unquestionably male perspective at ThailandExpat.net, which announces, "Some men leave their brains in immigration at Bangkok Airport." It's true that the easy availability of female attention, as long as the man has baht to spend, is what draws many male foreigners to Thailand.
However, elsewhere on this blog, the author advocates visiting a quieter region of the country, away from the bar scene, in order to gain a truer understanding of what Thai life is like. The region of Isan, in the northeast of the country, is still relatively remote from tourists, and might make an excellent place to seek out the "real" Thailand.
The website Transitions Abroad has a staggering list of resources and articles for foreigners living in Thailand. Learn the ins and outs of teaching English, or where to find a good Thai cooking class.
And be sure to make friends with the Thais at your job! You're working in Thailand now, so you might as well enjoy everything that comes with it.