LWM 19 - I bought a spinning bike in Bangkok (No social distancing in Bangkok)

If you know me then you will know that my favorite thing to do in terms of exercise is indoor cycling: spinning! I have spent the last few days trying to figure out where I can get a bike and today I finally found a great deal, made it happen and my spinning bike arrived at my apartment. (And I could not be any happier)

Of course, I am taking my first spinning class (online) to try out my bike and after this I head into town, meeting a friend and I find myself making my way to what used to be one of my favorite hang-out spots: Central Embassy Open House - Co Thinking space. This used to be an amazing place with a fantastic view, truly inspirational but for some reason, 12 months later since my last visit: This is no more? I am feeling disappointed but not sure as to why :)

As I make my way back home I am realizing how in Bangkok there is no such thing as social distancing. Taking in consideration the super low COVID-19 cases in Thailand perhaps social distancing is also not needed? But it is still an interesting observation :)

Trying to register my Simcard at TrueMove H Thailand

I am starting my day off at the coffee club in Bangkok. This being one of my absolute favorite places to sit, relax, and hangout. (Fun Fact: They just upgraded their entire menu selection and my fav meals have become cheaper!)

I am here to have a first business meeting with a potential co-founder for a startup and we spend an hour or so talking, brainstorming, and just getting to know each other. (It was a good meeting)

After this, it is time for a haircut! Whenever I am in Bangkok I always visit the same barber: The Outcast Barber located in Sathorn/Chong Nonsi BTS! Getting a haircut was muuch needed and dare I say I felt so much better after my visit :)

However, the most important thing for today is extending my TrueMove H Thailand simcard! This, as my ASQ hotel had kindly provided me with one but it was not registered. So I am making my way to Icon Siam to the TrueMove H Thailand store where I am expecting to just simply pay for a Simcard registration.. but that is not what happens.

LWM 17: NO MORE ASQ, my life in Bangkok can begin!

FREEDOM! Holy Crap, OH MY SWEET GOD! I have concluded 15 days of alternative state quarantine in Bangkok!

It feels so incredibly liberating to check out- leave the hotel, jump in a Grab car, and make my way to my new condo/apartment in Bangkok!

I am absolutely loving my new place and what makes it even more crazy is that I stayed in this exact same building a few years ago when I was visiting Thailand with my dad! (If only I had known that one day I would be living here - just crazy how life can come full circle at times)

What am I doing as a first thing? I am making my way to the coffee club and eat my favorite Salad. Yes, I know that's super boring but ASQ food wasn't exactly healthy hence I am craving healthier options! Once there the Austrian Embassy in Bangkok decides to have lunch right next to me. (Thinking nobody can understand their conversations but I totally can)

Due to COVID-19 restrictions in Bangkok, the pool is only open for 2 guests at a time for 1 hour a day. It's very surreal to think that I have an entire pool (32m) to myself.

I am ending my first night of freedom at a fantastic skybar. I should say a private skybar because there is only myself and 1 other table taken! Expensive? YES, is it worth it? Well, to celebrate my concluding ASQ: Totally

Life in Bangkok can finally begin!

LWM 16 - ASQ Quarantine Experience: MY FINAL DAY OF ASQ! I AM ALMOST FREE

Can you believe it is day 14 of ASQ? My final full day in alternative state quarantine in Bangkok? WOW did the time go by fast or what! It is really crazy! Today it is time to pack my bags and prepare to leave my ASQ hotel: Citrus 11 Sukhumvit!

But before I do, I have to create one more youtube video for my channel and share with you my final thoughts on ASQ! If you have not yet checked out my video on my ASQ experience in Bangkok then please have a look here:

https://youtu.be/cOPsYtSS_Vo

One more night sleep until my new life begins, am I going to miss this time being isolated? Probably not in the short term but who knows? In a few months from now I might think back to my time inside alternative state quarantine and think: Oh, it was actually a great time to just focus on myself. No distraction etc.

But oh well, can you just say it with me: My final day of ASQ! I am almost free!

LWM 15 - ASQ Quarantine Experience Day 15 - Am I treated with preference? (Tested Negative for COVID-19)

I am happy to announce that I tested negative for COVID-19 for the second time! That means that in two days from now I can be released into the wild! (So we can officially start a count-down towards freedom!)

Just like any other day, I am able to go outside and experience the (highly polluted) Bangkok air! What is different this time is that I am giving a 100% private session outside! There are 0 other ASQ guests around!. 

Am I treated with preference? Or what is happening?

I feel confused... oh well - just another day in the life of ASQ

As I am waking up I notice how incredibly chilly it is! To the point where I am wearing a vest! A quick temperature check shows that it's only 20 degrees Celcius in Bangkok today! (That's very cold) but maybe that's the perfect weather for yet another PCR Test because that's what's happening today!

It's day 12 of ASQ in Bangkok, Thailand, and as part of day 12, I undergo yet another mandatory rt-PCR test! Always such a fun experience (not) but the process this time was a bit better than my previous one (go listen to day 5!).

There is a lot riding on this PCR test because if it comes back negative it means that I can be released from alternative state quarantine on day 15! (If positive then I don't really know what would happen haha)

The hotel remains focused on providing me with great meals and I do have to say that my meals today have been outstanding! I just wonder why the hotel won't deliver this quality from day one? (It would fix so many problems)

It's day 12 at ASQ! 3 more days to go!

LWM 13 - ASQ Quarantine Experience Day 11: Trying to order illegal food!

After my massive complaint about the food yesterday the hotel now calls me to ask for my preference for food today! I appreciate the hotel (Citrus 11 Sukhumvit) trying to make an effort! But let's be honest, it's day 11, its really a bit too late?

As mentioned in a past episode I needed to do some laundry! The hotel doesn't include any free laundry so once I receive back my laundry the total bill will be the largest I have ever had to pay for laundry in Thailand. (It still hurts me today) and it's also a total pro tip for anyone contemplating an ASQ hotel in Bangkok: Find a hotel that includes 1/2 pieces of free laundry a day! (They do exist!)

During my relaxation time at the rooftop, I strike up a conversation with a German ASQ guest who also complains about the food. Fun fact: He does not have a microwave hence I am so incredibly lucky! I am even luckier as I am the last person to leave the relaxation area and I am able to stay for 7 extra minutes! Amazing!

Finally, I am trying to order food from the Villa Supermarket next door to my hotel but regretfully the food gets taken away! (But it was totally worth a try!)

LWM 12 ASQ Quarantine Experience Day 10: Why am I moving to Thailand? Can you microwave fries?

Moving to Thailand, experiencing jetlag, and having a ton of Zoom calls at random hours isn't exactly of benefit to my sleeping schedule. Hence I am feeling tired all day. I am stuck in somewhat of an unhealthy rhythm that I need to break!

Today is the day where I just had enough of the food at Citrus 11 Sukhumvit! I am being served a club sandwich with fries for breakfast! The exact same one I had for lunch before and dinner the day after! Similarly my ASQ dinner today is my 8th pasta dish in 9 days! I had enough! I cannot take this any longer!

I want to take a moment to explain to you why I am moving to Thailand? Why Bangkok and not just any other city on this planet! Ultimately it just comes down to happiness. Where do I feel at home and where do I want to spend the foreseeable future?

All in all, it's just another day inside an alternative quarantine hotel in Bangkok, Thailand! It's day 10! 5 more to go!

LWM 11 - ASQ Quarantine Experience Day 9: Epic Food Poisoning, Most expensive laundry in my life!

Well, this is a fantastic start to the day! I will save you all the crazy details but just know that I turned sick during the night and I got a case of food poisoning! Something that was just waiting to happen! (It would have been somewhat of a miracle to not get it during ASQ at the Citrus 11 Sukhumvit hotel as the quality of food is EPICALLY C R A P)

It is a great reminder also that whilst in ASQ one should always take care of oneself! Shower, Shave, Get Dressed, etc as the risk is that you wander in your PJ's all day as you have 0 interaction with people.

Today is also laundry day! I tried to go without as long as I could but it's needed. My ASQ hotel (Citrus 11 Sukhumvit) does not provide any kind of laundry benefits so I am forced to pay the regular laundry prices. This means it's per item and it does not come cheap at all!

I'm spending the evening time catching up on Bangkok life: Reading up on Bangkok, how to open a Thai bank account etc. Are there any meetups happening to make new friends and also where can I get a good overview of all current COVID-19 restrictions that are happening in Bangkok?

Hence it's not a boring day, time goes by quickly! I am happy to be on day 9 of ASQ today!

LWM 10 - ASQ Quarantine Bangkok: Mystery Lunch, I rented an apartment & I am not the only farang!

Lazada is quickly becoming my new addiction whilst going through my ASQ experience here in Bangkok! I managed to find a pair of my favorite flip flops and have them delivered to my hotel! Before you judge just know that whilst in alternative state quarantine in Thailand it really just is about the small things and small things like buying a pair of the most amazing, most comfy flip flops ever is just a big win! :)

I am also happy to share that I have decided to go and rent an apartment for life after ASQ. It's a place where I have stayed before and I am familiar with and I am able to extend if I end up loving it! I had imagined this big how to rent an apartment in Bangkok style adventure but it's looking like that is not going to be needed. (Let's see, a lot can still change)

Today I get to go outside once again and this time it's all foreign people (farangs) and whilst there is limited interaction it is good to know that I am not the only non-Thai person here. We have one guy from Germany, one from the UK, and one from Iran (I think), and they all seem crazy bored and time is moving incredibly slow for them.

Well, for me on the other hand: My 15 days in quarantine is going by super fast as I am already on day 8!