Life in Thailand The Great Singapore Sale Life in Hong Kong Mentor for Japan

Life in Thailand - Telegraph Mentor Neil Stoneham says that Thailand is a diverse and fascinating country offering everything from historical culture to relaxing and thrilling leisure pursuits. Last Updated: 12:01am BST 24/04/2008 Introduction to Thailand Visiting Thailand Getting around Housing Jobs Study Leisure Healthcare Our mentors are volunteers and any information they provide is for information only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Click here to access the message boards terms and conditions.

Its also well situated for visiting the rest of Asia and Australia is only four hours away by plane. More and more Thais are learning to speak good English, so communication should be fairly easy, especially in the tourist areas of Bangkok, Chiang Mai (Thailands second largest city) and beachside resorts. Thailand has a constitutional monarchy (the current King is the longest serving monarch in the world) and has a proud history of never having been colonized. Royalty is revered absolutely and it is never appropriate to speak negatively about them, even in close company.

Buddhist Monks walk out of a temple in Bangkok It is also worth noting that the tsunami-hit areas around Phuket are recovering much quicker than their counterparts in other countries because of the more advanced infrastructure. So be sure to make Phuket an option if you are planning a holiday here. Visiting Thailand: The high season from October to March is the most pleasant in terms of weather. Temperatures are bearable and can even be quite pleasant around Christmas time. Note, however, that this is also the most expensive period for resorts and hotels. April is best avoided as the temperatures can reach into the 40s and, no matter how used to it you are, it still feels unbearable. The rains come in June and temperatures settle down again. Visit from this time until September if you like a good bargain and dont mind the odd shower. Most of Thailand is safe. However, there is a lot of unrest from separatists in the southernmost tip of the country, particularly in the provinces of Yala, Narrathiwat and Pattani, so they are best avoided. Getting around: Bangkok is notorious for its traffic jams and this would seem a fair assessment. Having said that, it is often no worse than in many other major cities, and you can learn to navigate your way round much more efficiently after you have been here a while. There are plenty of ways to get around Bangkok and whichever mode you choose will largely depend on how adventurous you are. The safest and most efficient way of getting around is by the Sky Train which snakes above the city in most major areas, including the business districts. Then there is the relatively new underground Metro which complements the sky train routes and, again, serves important areas. Nonetheless, at present, the service is fairly limited to central Bangkok but work is ongoing and by the end of the decade, the public transport system should be on a par with any modern city. Next up, Bangkok is served by a very cheap taxi service. The taxis are mostly quite new and air-conditioned, as well as being in plentiful supply youll never really have to wait more than a minute or two before flagging one down.

Neil Stoneham, is a 35 year-old British journalist currently living in Bangkok, Thailand. He has been here since arriving as an international school teacher in 1999, changing career when an opportunity arose to work for the Bangkok Post at the beginning of 2004. Neil writes mainly educational features for the learning post supplement of the newspaper but also writes freelance pieces for other publications. In addition to his full-time occupation, Neil hopes to one day finish a radio drama script or maybe even get over the 10,000-word threshold of his elusive first novel. Neil will be happy to answer any queries you may have about visiting or living in Thailand. He has a particularly good knowledge of the international education scene, although is unable to recommend specific schools for your child. Introduction to Thailand: Although Thailands unofficial moniker as the Land of Smiles has become something of a clich, it is no less true because of it. Smiling is a Thai specialty, as is cooking some of the tastiest food on the planet and a warm welcome wherever you go. Renowned for its tolerant and ancient peace-loving culture, Thailand has become a Mecca for people from all walks of life. Whether youre looking for an idyllic beach, historical monuments or an extremely diverse nightlife, then Thailand has something to offer. Living here can be an exhilarating mixture of pleasantness and frustration. If the fumes and chaos of Bangkok become a little too much, for example, youre only a short ride away from tropical paradise and inexpensive resorts.

However, this means they also clog up the rounds, thus compounding the traffic jam situation.

The skytrain in Bangkok Taxi fares are charged by the meter and anyone who offers to take you somewhere for a price should be refused as the chances are they will be ripping you off. A sizeable minority of taxi drivers, it has to be said, also like to throw in a few fairground-like thrills into the bargain while they are driving you to your destination! It is, nonetheless, a service most favoured by expats and seems to work fairly well. If youre adventurous, you might like to try the famous samlor or tuk-tuk as they are better known. These three wheeled fume-belching open-air taxis are a fun and cheap way to explore the city. Fares are negotiated in advance with the driver. Also, for the even more adventurous, motor-cycle taxis can speedily wind their way among the traffic if youre in a hurry. If you are looking to travel around Thailand, the train network is certainly a cheap and comfortable, if very slow, option. Most destinations are served from Hua Lompong station in Bangkok and sleeper carriages are available on long overnight journeys. The road network is also an option if you want to hire a car. Road quality is usually fairly good with the majority of signposts written in English as well as Thai. A modern air-transport system serves Thailand as well as other international destinations. New, low cost airlines are bringing fares down to both domestic and Asian cities. Thai Airways International (THAI) is the national carrier and very good it is too. In anticipation of the new Bangkok International Airport (to be opened sometime in 2006), THAI are going through something of a revamp, so the service should eventually be top notch. Housing: Most expatriates live in condominiums or rented houses. These are in plentiful supply in most major Thai cities and there is a good range available. Depending on your budget, it is possible to live in anything from a modest one bedroom apartment, to a grand 200 sq metre condo overlooking the city. Most condos come with a swimming pool and gym facilities. Rental prices are usually about half to two-thirds of the price you would pay for the same thing in the UK. By law, foreigners are not allowed to own land in Thailand. You can, however, purchase apartments above the ground floor and these can be fairly inexpensive, although thanks to the booming economy prices are going up fast. In addition, the laws for purchasing apartments mean that, unless you have a good stock of money back home (where a third or more of the money has to come from), getting a loan from a Thai bank is quite difficult.

Some foreigners opt to get round the law by purchasing property through a Thai partner or friend, although, in certain circumstances, this might not be a good idea. Jobs: Thailand is a popular country for expatriate workers. The perks and standard of living here makes it an attractive proposition, which means it can be fairly competitive. A large number of expatriates have been sent here by their companies back home but there are a sizeable number of them who got jobs while visiting Thailand. By far the most feasible option for foreigners is to work as an English teacher. Acquiring some formal qualification, such as TEFL certificate, will virtually guarantee you work here. There is a reason for this, however. The salary for most English teachers is very small and you will be lucky to earn anything more than 30,000 baht (450) a month. Thats enough to get by but dont expect to be able to afford any luxuries.

A Thai man places durians onto a pile at a fruit market Try www.ajarn.com to get the bigger picture. You will require a work permit and special visa (which must be obtained outside the country) to work in Thailand. These require a huge amount of bureaucracy and, unless you have a job sorted out already, it is pointless trying to obtain one. Working illegally is not advised unless you dont mind risking a spell in the Bangkok Hilton (and I dont mean the hotel). Try these English language newspapers for the latest vacancies www.bangkokpost.com or www.nationmultimedia.com. Study: Thailand probably has the most diverse and varied international education scene in the world. There are some excellent schools here, although they are not cheap. However, it shouldnt be too difficult to find a school which fits your budget and location requirements. www.isat.or.th is a useful resource as is the Bangkok Posts education section www.bangkokpost.com/education. The local government education system is going through a period of radical change and, although there are many success stories, there are few Thai schools that would come close to international schools in terms of suitability for expatriate children. Universities mostly cater for the local population although a few of the bigger universities offer courses in English. My general impression is that they are not quite up to the standards of good British or American institutions but are certainly an option for students who want to study abroad. Leisure: There are so many ways of spending your leisure time in Thailand, it is impossible to mention even half of them here. As a general guide, however, read on. Restaurants serving local and international cuisine from all corners of the planet can be found in our capital. And

Bangkok certainly has the best nightlife, ranging from the modern hip dance clubs on Royal City Avenue to the famed dens of iniquity on Soi Nana or Soi Cowboy. Whatever rocks your boat, Thailand can certainly rock it! If you want something more tranquil, visit the islands of Ko Samui, Ko Samet, Phuket or the land resort of Hua Hin. Jungle and countryside can be found in the beautiful Kao Yai national park (just a couple of hours drive from Bangkok) or the high mountains of the north around Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai. If you want history, a must is a visit to Kanchanaburi home to the fascinating Death Railway and the fabled Bridge Over the River Kwai. Thailand welcomes people of all nationalities, religions and cultures as well as those from the LGBT community. Health care: Good health care is readily available in Thailand. Bumrungrad hospital in Bangkok provides world class private health care and there are many smaller international hospitals around areas populated by tourists. Its a good idea to take out health insurance if not provided by your company or if you are visiting. Ask questions and read the answers on the Mentor Noticeboard. Click here to access the message boards terms and conditions. Leave some space in your suitcase Rosie Milne turns Fearless Investigative Reporter to cover The Great Singapore Sale. Last Updated: 12:01am BST 12/06/2008

This week I decided enough of the Luscious Lady already; I'd re-brand myself as a Fearless Investigative Reporter. And what would I investigate, in my heroic new role? Shopping.

Bag a bargain: during The Great Singapore Sale discounts of up to 70 per cent are available I believe I've mentioned before that shopping is practically the national sport of Singapore. Let me now tell you that each year the rush to the malls reaches a frenzied climax during The Great Singapore Sale. This annual extravaganza is the time to bag big bargains and grab great deals, for two months, discounts of up to 70 per cent are offered just about everywhere and on just about anything carpets, furniture, clothes, electronics, you name it.

We are currently right in the middle of The Sale it ends on July 20th. So I thought it would be a good idea to take myself along to Orchard Road, Singapore's, premier shopping street, there to pounce on unsuspecting tourists, to quiz them on their knowledge of, and participation in, the glorious event. The first victims of my pouncing were an elderly couple from Adelaide, who didn't want to give their names. They were in Singapore on a three-day stopover on their way back to Australia from Europe, where they'd spent eight weeks visiting Mr Nameless' family. I asked them if they'd known about The Great Singapore Sale before they'd arrived. "Yes we did," said Mrs Nameless, "but we're not interested in doing any shopping," Mr Nameless took over "Our suitcases are all full up" he explained, "there's no room for anything else." This, I felt, was not a particularly auspicious start to my career as a Fearless Investigative Reporter. I didn't have much luck with my next couple, either. I thought they looked American. He was large, and dressed in a loud, striped shirt with a baseball cap on his head. She was also large. They were outside the Orchard Road Hilton, and he was carrying a shopping bag, from Armani. They were sure to be shopaholics, I thought. Perhaps they were. But when I approached them Mrs Large looked at me blankly, and said something in what I thought was probably Spanish, and Mr Large growled, "We don't speak English." Hmm. Was this a ploy? In my green and salad days I used to brush-off annoying men, intent on chat-up, by pretending not to speak English, and I'd probably use the strategy on a Fearless Investigative Reporter, too, given half the chance. The next couple I tried were Iranians, and they didn't want to speak to me either. But then I met Doug and Zina Searcy, from Perth. They were regular visitors to Singapore, and knew all about The Sale. This time they were here after a three-week cruise of Asia, calling in at Thailand, Vietnam and Hong Kong. They'd spent "lots of money" in The Sale, "too much, more than we anticipated," said Zina, "our bank manager won't be very happy with us when we get back." Doug had bought a camera, a watch and a pair of binoculars, whilst Zina had bought, trinkets, souvenirs, and lots of bling. "Our suitcases are now overweight said Doug, "We'll have to be prepared to pay the excess, but I hope the plane's only half full, so we get away with not doing." Victoria and Sergey, a good-looking young couple from Moscow were also regular visitors to Singapore this was their fifth visit, and they were here for a week's holiday. Did many Russians visit Singapore, I wondered. "Not really" said Sergey, in delightfully accented English, "Russia needs more information about Singapore." So there you go, a hot tip for the Singapore Tourism Board. Victoria was obviously into fashion. She was wearing impressively glamorous shades that wouldn't have looked out of place on that other Victoria, Mrs Beckham, and a spangled T-shirt emblazoned with the legend "I love dancing." She showed me her shoes. These were divinely strapy little red sandals, and she'd bought them in The Sale. She'd also bought lots of T-shirts, "though my suitcases aren't full yet."

Sergey looked alarmed at this remark, and I beat a hasty retreat, in case I'd sparked a domestic. Fresh from my encounter with the young Russians, I ran into some even younger, jeans-clad Americans. There were five of them, three women and two men. "You're obviously travelling with a group" I said, relishing this opportunity to show off my deductive powers. "How many of you are there?" I was rather taken aback by their reply, which was 2,500. It turned out that they were members of the US military, serving with the USS Peleliu, which was in port for a couple of days. And where had they been before? "We're not at liberty to reveal that information, ma'am." I was so excited by this reply I could barely contain myself. Not only did it sound so thrillingly cloak-and-dagger, but they'd also called me ma'am! Did they know anything at all about the Singapore Sale? "No ma'am." (Ma'am!). Now I'd let them in on the secret, did they plan to buy anything? "We're only allowed 25lbs of personal luggage for a sixnine month tour. We're not supposed to take stuff on board, but we might try to sneak back a few T-shirts." I asked the two women of the party, Julie Blackmore, Operations Specialist, and Sarah Klump, of Interior Communications, if it was hard not to go shopping. They both gave me looks that said plain as day that they, unlike me, were not as shallow as a puddle. I next happened upon a lovely Canadian woman, outside a jewellery shop. She was from Sudbury, a nickel-mining town in Northern Ontario, and we fell into a discussion of possible similarities with Sudbury, Suffolk, UK. These, we decided, were not likely to be very many, although neither of us could be sure, since neither of us had ever actually visited Sudbury, Suffolk. I got so distracted by Sudbury and Sudbury I clean forgot to ask her about shopping. So, then: that's me sacked as a Fearless Investigative Reporter. Rosie Milne's novels How To Change Your Life and Holding The Baby are both published by Pan, they are available through Amazon UK. John Huggett is an artist and illustrator whose works are available through his website at www.johnhuggett.com Life in Hong Kong Last Updated: 12:01am BST 11/04/2008 Hong Kong Climate Accommodation Money Health care Getting around Entertainment

Sadly, Sally Nicholls, our mentor in Hong Kong for many years, died in March 2008, aged 58, after a long illness. Sally was a talented voice artist and scriptwriter, whose

interests included astrology, alternative medicine and animal welfare. We have left the information below, written by Sally, as a resource for anyone seeking information on life in Hong Kong. For those in need of any additional advice, you can visit our Hong Kong message board. Click here to access the message boards terms and conditions. Hong Kong is a vibrant place and offers opportunities to try new things and to 'have a go'. If you come with an expat package, finding a place to live will be easier as rents are the killer here. If you can get over the rent hurdle the life you experience here will be fast, dedicated to work and the almighty dollar - any dollar! Hong Kong consists of three areas: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and The New Territories. Cost-wise, the island is the most expensive place to live in and The New Territories are the least expensive. Hong Kong is very beautiful and about 40 per cent of it is uninhabited because it is so hilly. There are several country parks with good walks and inhabited by animals such as wild boar, barking deer, porcupines and monkeys. It goes without saying that the parks are also inhabited by snakes. Most people live crowded together in the more userfriendly, flatter areas. Try to go out on a junk trip and see the lovely coastline of Hong Kong and its islands. A downside is that the pollution is quite bad and public transport gets very crowded. There is quite a cosmopolitan feel to Hong Kong. Though it is definitely Chinese, you can feel the western influence here and the place buzzes with activity, possibility and excitement. There is a gritty, 'get on with it' feel to Hong Kong and it's not for the faint-hearted. Climate: Sub tropical: January - Febuary: cool, usually dry; March - May: warm, wet, grey; June - September: very hot, very humid, lots of rain, often sunny and steamy; October to December - everybody's favourite - low humidity, sunny, cool. Accommodation: Rents are high. Space is limited and flats tend to be small - you pay a lot of money for a spacious feel. Gardens are rare. Cheaper areas to live include the Outer Islands - Lantau, Cheung Chau, Lamma - and The New Territories. When it comes to electricity, Hong Kong is the same as the UK, 220 v. 3-pin square plugs are the legal norm, but older buildings still have 3 pin, round, small and large. The power supply is reliable. Money: The Hong Kong dollar, linked to the US dollar, is steady at around 7.7 Hong Kong dollars to one US dollar. Hong Kong, as befits an economic centre, possesses excellent banking facilities. Health care: Expensive. Try TCM - Traditional Chinese Medicine instead. Getting around: MTR (Mass Transit Railway) - an underground railway which covers many main living areas and is clean, reliable, safe and affordable. An excellent airport to central service - though it isn't cheap. A very good bus sevice to most places. Double-decker buses on many routes. Also mini-buses (aka PLBs - Public Light Buses) which stop wherever they can, not only at bus stop. It is always possible to get a seat because nobody is allowed to stand. Both types of bus require the fare to be paid in advance, exact amount and no change given. One point to

remember about Hong Kong mini bus drivers is that they are trained to accelerate away from the bus stop sufficienty fast for all passengers who have just got on to fall down in a heap! We drive on the left, like in the UK, and have roundabouts, traffic lights, speed limits and a horrendous problem with parking. Petrol is expensive, parking is expensive, car tax is expensive and insurance is expensive! The driving is not particularly fast, on the whole, but every second counts and if you leave a safe distance between you and the car in front, someone will slip into it. Drivers don't hoot much, or bully much - but equally they may not let you in much! Taxis are good, safe and reliable on the whole. $15 flagfall. In general, Hong Kong is an extremely safe city to walk around in. Obviously, there are basic precautions to observe, but in general it's reassuringly safe. Entertainment: There are wonderful restaurants and every type of cuisine is available: Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Middle Eastern, Indian, French, Italian, Spanish, German, American and, of course, English! Steer clear of eating rare and protected species. There are traditional beliefs attached to eating these which frequently boil down, if you'll pardon the pun, to lasting longer in the sack. Wine and spirits are expensive. Mentor for Japan Philip Bryan says Tokyo is proudly homogeneous with Japanese citizens making up ninety per cent of the city's residents. Last Updated: 12:01am BST 29/11/2004 Tokyo Climate Getting around Housing Health care Working life Visas Our mentors are volunteers and any information they provide is for information only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Click here to access the message boards terms and conditions.

transient - being the world's most expensive city does not attract many retirees or settlers. English is becoming more common in Japan but you should not expect it to be too well known. For example, few policemen, taxi drivers or shop assistants speak more than a couple of words. Climate: Tokyo's climate is similar to London, but not so cold. Snow is known but not every year, and it rarely drops below zero even at night. Summers are long, hot and very humid. Days when it reaches 38c plus ninety-five per cent humidity are not rare! Outside Tokyo, the climate varies a lot - from Hokkaido, with its ski resorts, to Okinawa, with its over-popular beaches. Tokyo has a rainy season from late May to late June, but this is unreliable - we barely had a drop this year. Despite a lack of rain, I have never experienced water shortages or rationing. Getting around: A car is not only unnecessary in Tokyo, it is also expensive, with parking spaces costing over 250 a month even in the suburbs. The public transport system, bus and underground, is extensive and totally reliable. What's more, fares are extremely reasonable - the Tokyo 'Metro' is much cheaper than the 'Tube'. For travel outside of Tokyo, JR (the railway) serves virtually everywhere, and reasonably priced highway buses serve even more places. There are few if any villages that are not served by some form of regular transport. Taxis are safe and not too expensive, but have your destination written in Japanese, and don't be surprised if the driver takes time to find it. Not only is there no London-style test for cabbies here, Japan's truly archaic address system means that even locals frequently get lost! If you do decide to drive, an international licence is useful. If you convert your own driving licence into a Japanese one, be prepared - they have to be renewed every few years. Car insurance is high but getting better since Japan allowed foreign companies into this market.

Tokyo's skyline and Mount Fuji I was born in London, grew up in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe where my parents had a ranch, went to boarding school in England, university in Rhodesia and London, worked for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for about 10 years, and moved to Japan in 1991. I worked in the financial business for about five years and then switched to teaching. I now teach English and business methods, as well as doing some freelance writing, editing and web design work. I am 48 years old and I live with my Japanese wife, Akemi, and our son, Harry. Tokyo: Like Japan, Tokyo is proudly homogeneous with more than ninety per cent of the city's residents being Japanese, followed by the large Japan-born Korean community, most of whom are not Japanese citizens. The foreign community (i.e., not Japanese or Korean) is growing but it is almost completely Like all of Japan, Tokyo is incredibly safe, although this is sadly changing. Despite this, visitors should still exercise common sense. Luckily I have never been the victim of any crime or petty theft, but it does happen. The only areas which might be considered less than safe are the entertainment or 'red light' districts, such as Roppongi and Kabukicho. However, even in these very unattractive neighbourhoods, you are much safer than in most parts of London. Housing: Japan is small and overcrowded, so any form of housing is very expensive. There are no laws against foreigners owning property (I own my own home) but getting a mortgage might be difficult - my Japanese spouse helped my case.

Renting is also expensive, although only foolish folk pay the 7,000+ monthly rent some apartments here ask for. If your company isn't paying your rent, forget the housing agencies that advertise in English and try to use word of mouth or have someone check the Japanese adverts. Also, be prepared for limited space. Many Japanese flats are smaller than a British living room! Health care: Japan's hospitals and doctors are good, if not great. Medical costs are high so some form of insurance is vital. The government health insurance, the cost of which is based on your income, is easy to get and widely accepted. However, most companies have their own scheme which pays a large percentage of the cost. There are no private ambulances, the Fire Brigade's being the only ones used. The 'international' hospitals are very expensive but few outside medical people speak much English. However, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has a website that advises you where you can find English-speaking doctors, dentists, etc. Working life: If you work for a Japanese company, then your sick leave and vacation are one and the same - a bad bout of Flu can easily use up your holiday allowance. What's more, the average holiday allowance is two weeks a year. Some companies even require you to use that vacation allowance at a set time of year, like the overwhelmingly popular 'O-bon' period in early August. However, Japan does have a lot of national holidays, and the New Year break usually lasts from three days to two weeks, depending on the company. However, shops and transport usually work every day of the year. Christmas is not a holiday here - less than one per cent of Japan is Christian, after all. Japan's taxes are quite low, but this means there is almost no welfare system. Should you lose your job, you might be entitled to three to six months labour insurance payment, based on what you have earned. Old age pensions are a joke and may soon disappear. If you don't work, you generally don't eat. As in many Asian countries, you are on your own. Visas: Japan has a fairly complicated visa system, which you can check out at the Foreign Ministry's website. There are many illegal workers here, usually Asians or Africans in factories or building sites. There are also many Westerners illegally working as English teachers on tourist visas, but this is not recommended. Anyone who has read what Amnesty International said about Japan's Immigration jails will not want to risk being a guest. To get a proper working visa here, you need some form of verifiable qualification and/or experience. What's more, work visas are only issued outside, meaning you might need to pop over to Seoul once your paperwork is approved. Being married to a local is very helpful, as a spouse visa does allow you to work. Once you have lived here for around five years or so, you can apply for 'Permanent Resident' status, as I did. This means you never need to renew your visa any more, and it does make it easier to get a bank loan/mortgage. What's more, there is a proposal to let us 'Permanents' vote in local elections. Citizenship is available, but you need to speak, read and write like a Japanese schoolchild of eight years old - which may sound simple until you remember how complicated the language is, with three different sets of writing systems.