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Petchburi Province
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| Q |
The Lonely
Planet guidebook says......? |
| A |
Worth a stopover for its many
temples (yiiiiikes!) |
| Q |
In general, what are the
pickings like for an EFL teacher? |
| A |
Petchaburi province is a
upper southern province at the Gulf of Thailand. The most famous place in
this province is Cha Am. Cha Am is 40 km south of Petchaburi city. There are
a lot of beautiful beaches in Petchaburi province. In Petchaburi city are
about 12.000 students. The life over here offers a good balance between
teaching and relaxing. With the last I mean sitting at the beach, reading a
book or doing your preparation in the garden, etc. The students are very
friendly and in general disciplined. As a foreigner teacher you're really
somebody because there aren't many. When you are at shop or bar and tell a
Thai that you're an English teacher at xxx-school, it can happen that he or
she immediately "wai" you as a token of respect. |
| Q |
How far from Bangkok or
civilization? |
| A |
Bangkok is about 150 km
away from Bangkok. The bus from Petchaburi to the Bangkok southern
busstation takes less than two hours. Busses go to Bangkok every 45 minutes. |
| Q |
Is there any
entertainment or do you invite friends round for Scrabble? |
| A |
Petchaburi has a lot of
entertainment like pubs and karaoke restaurant though they are focused on
Thai customers. Cha Am has several bars and discoteques with English
speaking staff. About 25 km south of Cha Am is Hua Hin (Prachuap Khiri Khan
province). Hua Hin offers a lot more because it's a famous holiday
destination. But you will invite your friends at home for scrabble too
because you have a nice house with a nice garden and many small shops in
your neighbourhood to buy your cheap food, snacks and drinks. |
| Q |
How much to rent a house
or basic apartment? |
| A |
Furnished rooms are
available from 1,500 Baht a month and unfurnished houses (living room, two
bathrooms, two bedrooms, kitchen) in a nice neighbourhood start at 2,500
Baht. Most likely, your employer will provide accommodation but it can be a
shared house. |
| Q |
Shopping malls,
department stores? |
| A |
In Petchaburi and Cha
Am, there are no department stores or shopping malls. |
| Q |
Internet cafes?
(snail-speed Hotmail default page or fatties playing Ragnarok?) |
| A |
Plenty of internet cafe's
with fast connections. |
| Q |
Will you be stared at?
and what's the likelihood of a good beating? |
| A |
In Petchaburi city is a
branch of a national known agency. Company transportation takes you to the
schools. The wage depends on the teaching hours. Based on 24 hours a week
the salary will be about around 20 K. Accommodation is provided by the
company. Because you're working at several schools in the province, you'll
have to commute.
If you work directly for a school the salary is also around 20 k.
Accommodation is provided by the school on the school premises. The main
advantage is that you don't have to commute. |
| Q |
Taxis, buses....or horse
and cart? |
| A |
Petchaburi, Cha Am and more
south Hua Hin are all at the big highway which is called Petchakasem.
Air-con busses to the south and North are plenty available.
Motorcycle-taxies are the main local transportation. |
| Q |
Main advantages of living
there? |
| A |
The balace between teaching
and relaxing. |
| Q |
And what are the
downsides? |
| A |
With 20k you can have a
nice life over here. The main down side is that you really need a motorcycle
to transport yourself. Having said that, in advance you need money to buy or
rent one. Buying yourself is not possible if you don't have a resident
letter. So, if you need to buy one you have to buy it on a Thai's friend
name. Renting a motorcycle costs about 4,000 Baht a month. Buying a good and
reliable one is about 25 k. |
| Q |
Any local attractions? |
| A |
Thailand biggest National
Park Keng Kra Chan is in Petchaburi province. The are several famous palaces
and many temples. The main beaches are Hat Chao Samran beach, Puk Thian
Beach and Cha Am beach. Cha Am beach is the main attraction on the weekends
for Thai people from Bangkok. |
