Thailand

Surat Thani
Q	The Lonely Planet guidebook says......?
A	It basically says that there isn’t much to do in Suratthani, though the last one I read is grossly outdated.
Q	In general, what are the pickings like for an EFL teacher?
A	These days there are a variety of choices. The main high school has an English immersion program. They have about 12 native English teachers. There is also a Rajabhat, with 5 teachers. Additionally there are a number of private English language academies, all offering varying salaries and conditions. Pay varies from 20,000 to 30,000 depending on the institute and the bonuses offered.
Q	How far from Bangkok or civilization?
A	Suratthani is the hub of the south. This means that it’s quite easy to get just about anywhere. Bangkok is 700 km from Suratthani. There is a train station and an airport nearby. The trains, which tend to be of the overnight type, take about 10 hours. Buses a bit less. You can easily fly in less than an hour. Koh Samui is easily accessible. Additionally, Suratthani is about a 3 hour drive (if you drive like I do) from Hat Yai, less than that to Phuket, and public transportation is readily available.
Q	Is there any entertainment or do you invite friends round for Scrabble?
A	There are a number of bars with live music and entertainment. Barsura is a newer establishment, which has a pool table, live music, and often guest performers in from Bangkok. There are two other bars, which have been around longer, Boogie and Crossroads. Both of these also boast live entertainment. GM bar is a popular hangout for the foreign population. It’s an out-door garden pub with a DJ. Additionally there are many video stores with English soundtrack movies, numerous other bars and pubs, some disco/dancing type bars, and countless restaurants (and of course karaoke). There are also numerous hotels with swimming pools and sports facilities, as well as a sports club near the center of town.
Q	How much to rent a house or basic apartment?
A	A typical mansion apartment will cost about 2,500 baht per month, a bit more if you want air-conditioning. A two bedroom, two bathroom townhouse runs up from 3,000 baht (unfurnished). A single dwelling home is generally about 4,000 baht up.
Q	Shopping malls, department stores?
A	Surat has the typical Makro, Lotus and Big C, all a bit on the outskirts rather than in the centre of town. In town there is Sahathai—the Thai version of a shopping mall. There are countless shops, and there is a market selling various goods.
Q	Internet cafes? (snail-speed Hotmail default page or fatties playing Ragnarok?)
A	As in most Thai cities, internet is the newest thing for people to do. There are shops all over the place, additionally there are game shops, and most are found near the local high schools. Most schools also have internet available for their teachers.
Q	Will you be stared at? and what's the likelihood of a good beating?
A	Not as much as in the past, though if you go into the outlying districts you will. When I first arrived, there were few foreign teachers here, now there are over 100. Thus back then you were always stared at, whereas now we are a very common sight. The likelihood of a good beating… hmmm… well, it has happened. This is directly going to be based on your own behaviour. I’ve heard of a few of the visiting males having some problems, usually from being exceedingly intoxicated and blatantly offending the locals with obnoxious behavior. It’s always been well deserved.
Q	Taxis, buses....or horse and cart?
A	Songtaews, tuk tuks, motorcycle taxis, and even samlors. Additionally there are free buses out to Big C and Lotus on the major routes. Most people own motorcycles. Many also have bicycles as there are some nice areas to bike in and around the city.
Q	Main advantages of living there?
A	There are many beautiful places to go on the weekend, many of them yet undiscovered by the tourist industry. Suratthani is the center of the south, close to everything the south of Thailand has to offer. It’s possible to go just about anywhere in the south for the weekend. Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao are all very easily reachable. The pace of life is much slower than Bangkok, and the city is easily navigated. The food is absolutely amazing and very reasonable. Seafood is abundant. Just outside the city is ‘Pak Nam’, which has some of the best seafood around, and is famous for giant oysters. For affordable, excellent Southern Thai food Kroua Jaow Men, out near Big C, has some of the best around. Lucky Restaurant is also a city landmark and is still run by the original owner. Northeastern food restaurants are booming these days, as well as Korean barbeque restaurants. For lunch, try Kaow Praram, something I have yet to find made in the same style anywhere else in Thailand. There are two restaurants, one downtown and one near the main high school, owned by brothers. There are a few choices now for those desperate for Western food. There are a couple KFC’s, a Pizza Company, Swensens and a German restaurant on the river. There is a Dairy Queen in the Lotus complex. As well there are a number of steak restaurants and a really nice spaghetti place set in a flower shop. Another new restaurant, attached to Barsura, is opening, and will serve a variety of foreign foods, including submarine sandwiches, lasagna, and daily specials. Also, though there is a sharp increase in the foreign population, you can still go around town and not see a single one.
Q	And what are the downsides?
A	Stupid traffic congestion and psychotic drivers. Motorcycles EVERYWHERE, and the drivers believe they own the road. It’s difficult to buy English books and music cds here and the theatres only show movies in Thai.
Q	Any local attractions?
A	In the city itself, no, not really. If you go into the outskirts, or take a boat ride, there are many islands, waterfalls, Suan Mok (famous for meditation), mangrove forests, and beaches.

Where's the best place to meet other farangs or are they best avoided?

GM is popular for quiet evenings chatting and having a few cocktails. Barsura is popular for playing pool, listening to music, and dancing. Crossroads and Boogie for live music. The younger crowd heads out to one of the numerous dance/disco clubs. Suratthani is also a place, however, where it is very easy to socialize with the locals if you’re interested in trying out your Thai. There are also many, many farang at the ferry pier where the night boats depart. Generally, these are tourists heading for the islands. There is a portable bar called the Love Shack there, with a rather interesting concoction called ‘Love Juice’ on site.