Life With Michael

LWM 29 - I went back to my ASQ HOTEL (Reliving my Bangkok ASQ Experience)

A few days ago I received a WhatsApp message from my ASQ hotel (Citrus 11 Sukhumvit) that a Lazada delivery had arrived and if I could come by to pick it up! No problem :)

Hence today I am returning to my ASQ hotel and honestly: It's a bit surreal as for the first time I get to see the true outside of the hotel! I walk into the reception area and also see the surrounding of the hotel beyond just what I could see from my ASQ hotel window.

After picking up my lazada delivery I decide to walk around the area and as I am walking I just keep on reliving my alternative state quarantine experience here in Bangkok! From the Villa Supermarket to the little Soi that my room overlooked. 

No day would be complete however with yet another meeting with someone in the Bangkok Startup Ecosystem and we instantly hit it off! A great meeting that was super fruitful! I also need to pick up my Lazada delivery from the hotel with the mistaken address!

Ultimately another day in the Life With Michael :)

LWM 28 - I wasn't going to record today but I needed to get this off my chest!

I decided to take a day off recording. (I am thinking a lot about how Life With Michael should move forward if you have any tips and or suggestions please do share!)

I am also saying goodbye to my current client (the one that kept me super busy during ASQ) and things are just escalating a little bit. It's a shame that it looks like we are not really able to part ways as friends and that's ok: I am choosing my Bangkok life over the security of a job!

LWM 27 - I made a big mistake on Lazada

Today I am running a bunch of errands. Starting off with a shopping mistake that I made whilst ordering on Lazada! By accident, I selected the wrong address in my address book on Lazada. (From when I visited Bangkok and ordered on Lazada at least 5 years ago). Hence I have to explain to the hotel that there will be a few deliveries coming for room 701 but it's not actually for the guest in room 701 :)

Also stopping by centralworld, Bangkok's most confusing mall only to find that the Segafredo promotion is ending soon and that I am unable to find the Vietnamese restaurant I 1000% know is hidden somewhere in the mall.

Lastly, I am back at my Thai Visa Agent to pick up my passport and that concludes this part of my day!

LWM 26 - Bangkok Laundry days and how to deal with Startup Competition

Today is finally the day! I can't procrastinate any more as I need clean underwear :) I am dropping off my laundry at the local Bangkok laundry place. (Reminder - it's famous for losing clothing items) Total price THb180 + 90 for the underwear.. not good, not bad - but simply no other choice in my area in Bangkok.

I on my way to Thong Lor to meet with an entrepreneur and just get educated on the Bangkok Startup Ecosystem. truly a great conversation and I am learning a lot. The Thong Lor area is not a part of town I frequently visit but I do enjoy discovering new places. (its why I love Bangkok)

I am ending this episode with some good and some bad news: 

The good news is that my visa got extended and the bad news is that the startup concept my and my co-founder loved has already been picked up by another founder and launched a few months ago! In a way highly frustrating but at the same time it also offers potential

As always, just another day in the Life in this Bangkok podcast! If you are new, do subscribe and get in touch!

What happens in Bangkok, stays in Bangkok! 

Starting today's Life With Michael episode as I return home early morning. Little sleep however as I have a very busy day ahead in Bangkok!

Today I am meeting again with my potential co-founder. We are reviewing around 12 different types of startup ideas that we find interesting with the aim to bring it down to around 5 startup ideas we can potentially launch in Bangkok. It was a fantastic meeting and there is one in particular that we found super interesting: The Food waste space! So under the project name: Project Fortune Cookie - we are going to be exploring what type of concept we can develop! (and I could not be more excited about it)

After the meeting, I am having a quick lunch stop at my favorite Vietnamese in the city: Hanoi House, near Ploenchit BTS! In a way, a little gem and I cannot recommend it enough! Before I make my way home though I have to stop by my local Laundry place. I need to see what they charge as I am in dire need to do laundry. 

It's a busy day in Bangkok! Thank you for following along! Don't forget to subscribe and rate as this helps me out a lot!

LWM 24 - Exploring True Digital Park (Bangkok Lockdown is over!)

Today is the day where a big part of the COVID-19 restrictions here in Bangkok is lifted. With that over 13 business types get to re-open and with that the Thai Massage places. (The clean and real ones, not the sex ones) This makes me extremely excited! Hence I am making my way to go find a Thai Massage Place that is open for business!

After a successful massage, I am making my way to True Digital Park! One of the leading startup hubs in Bangkok and I am super keen to explore this space and learn more about what is happening. This meeting and tour turns out to be super interesting and super productive.

I am learning about True Digital Park incubation program, the reasoning behind the space and why True is so invested in supported startups in Bangkok. Overall it gives me confidence on what the startup ecosystem has to offer and it is a great first step towards building a network of relevant players in the city! (Could True Digital Park be the hub where I based my startup?)

It could be!

LWM 23 - Searching for Dutch Food in Bangkok (Frikandel Speciaal)

I woke up craving Dutch food. Having lived in the United Arab Emirates before landing into Bangkok, it has been a while since I had some of my favorite meals and that means that today I am venturing out into Bangkok to go look if and where I can eat a frikandel speciaal.

As I am traveling through the city I am once again amazed by the lack of social distancing in Bangkok (COVID-19 rules) but is it really needed? I think I need to let go of this European COVID-19 measurements mindset.

I am making my way to DET 5, a restaurant that apparently has some Dutch snacks on their menu. Located in the Nana area of Bangkok the vibes are completely different from where I am living but it is good to see the entertainment district is still somewhat still alive (and well?)

Det 5 does NOT disappoint and I am able to teach some great Dutch food in Bangkok: Frikandel Speciaal and a Kroket. It is fantastic and it simply tastes like home.

LWM 22 - Getting my Thai Visa in Bangkok

Today's episode is basically part two of yesterday's adventure where I met with my Thai Visa Agent. I am venturing out into Bangkok to get some passport/visa photos taken that I can hand to my Bangkok Visa agent.

Before I do that thought, I make a stop at my favorite lunch place in Bangkok: Coffee Club, who, with a brand new menu now become a bit more affordable than before and that makes me very very happy!

I searching for a photo place and I found a photoshop just at the corner of my street and within quite literally 2 minutes my pictures are taken, I am handed my pictures and I am on my way to my Thai Visa Agent once again.

This time we meet, we agree on the next steps for my Thai Visa and in about a week's time, I should have a visa stamped into my passport!

LWM 21 - I can't find my Thai Visa Agent (Bangkok Visa Agent)

One thing that everyone wanting to stay in Thailand needs to deal with is: Getting a Thai Visa. For some that comes super easy and for some that's a bit more of a challenge. Either way, what it comes down to is making sure that you have a fantastic Thai Visa Agent who can help you through every step of the process.

Today, I am meeting my Bangkok Visa Agent for the very first time (after speaking and working with her remotely), and let's just say that I am a bit confused when it comes to finding her office. (I knew up front that it would be way to easy to just get to her building and all would be well, I knew it would be yet another adventure in Bangkok)

Once I found her we had a great conversation, we talked about the next steps, all sorts of Thai Visa options, and how specific processes work. Ultimately it is all about trust and having the feeling that your Thai Visa Agent is here to support you, trustworthy, and knows his/her stuff.

My new youtube video:

https://youtu.be/xPUBZFACSqY

LWM 20 - I tried Flash Coffee in Bangkok

Today I am trying Flash Coffee in Bangkok! For those unaware Flash Coffee is a new tech-enabled Coffee Chain/Startup backed by the likes of Rocket Internet and Flash Ventures.

Being a hardcore coffee addict, this excited me and I am making it my mission to go and venture out and find Flash and try their coffee.

Lucky me, I have a Flash Coffee right at the end of my street but it turns out to be quite difficult to find, I am also finding my self having to manage my expectations on what Flash Coffee currently really is vs where I am 1000% sure they will be in the next few years. (An Asia wide huge coffee chain)

Flash is giving you quality coffee, cheap pricing, a unique menu, quick service, crazy yellow branding, and adding that touch of data to enhance your experience.

I am super curious to see/find out how they will develop!

My new youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPUBZFACSqY&t=288s