In, out, up, down...whatever.
Unsure of how long I will be here( the Philippines is still closed to foreign travellers) and being a little leery of Airbnb(go figure), Agoda is great, but a bit expensive; I decided to rent a condo for the short term.
Now, I understand that most landlords want a 12-month contract, 6 months if you are lucky, and if you want a month to month go Airbnb.
I reached out to a few websites geared at ex-pats, put in some details--max. amount, sq. metres, bedroom, kitchen etc. and within hours, my phone was constantly pinging with listings I may be interested in!
For fun, go to YouTube and search Bangkok condos.
Some were willing to connect via Line(like WhatsApp) to send me messages and listings, and I could respond more quickly. By that evening, I had set up a few appointments to view the available condos.
Renting in Thailand can be arduous.
I set up an appointment time after school and walked the 10 minutes to the first location. I was to see 3 units in the complex, 2 single units(28 and 27 sq. m respectively). I was quite excited as I watched the aforementioned videos on YouTube and the recent pictures sent to me were quite enticing.
I made my way to On Nut, and the building's security was quite thorough in asking why I was there, and after several minutes, they told me to wait in the lobby.
2 young ladies approached, Pond and Yee.
Yee was new to the company(maybe 22 years old) and was shadowing Pond(maybe 25), the more senior. Introductions made, we were off to the 4th floor. The hallways are all tile/stone flooring. Very clean and white.
Anticipation was mounting...the door opened, and I walked into the first 1-bedroom unit, the size of one of those display rooms you see from IKEA--what can you do with a room the size of a broom closet?
I felt like a giant squeezing into a child's playhouse. To the left a tv, to the right a small sofa (the space between being the width of the door-give or take an inch)
The bedroom was approximately 6 feet away, separated by sliding glass doors.
The bathroom was to the left behind the tv-wall and the small kitchen, with a sliding door(to prevent odours from getting into the unit) and a small "eating shelf" was "across the hall" from the bathroom. The balcony was off the kitchen, and the washer was on the balcony. The view-- parking spaces and entrance to the garage. Great use of the 28 sq.m!
The second unit pretty much the same, only the mirror of the first and 1 sq m larger. This was on the 8th floor with a similar view as the first.
Then it was off to the 3rd unit.
This was a 1.5. The Lessor's agent met us.
We walked into an open concept living/dining area--to the left was a 2 seater dining table with a small sofa. To the right, a shoe closet/ called a hall closet and the sliding door to the kitchen. Entering the kitchen, the door to the washroom was to the left, the washer was in the kitchen, and the space was a bit bigger than the last 2. At the end of the living area was a "den" ( the .5)with a desk and chair, a single bed, and many shelves with a window. It was partitioned off with a sliding glass door.
To the right of this was the bedroom with a "size 5" bed(somewhere between double and queen), wardrobe and balcony overlooking the pool(which, because of lockdown, can't be used).
The following is the arduous part...
A: "So, which unit do you like?"
Me: "This one, as I am a large person, I like the space here."
A: "So, do you want to take it?"
Me: "Well, I will have to think about it. I will let you know by the time I return to the hotel."
A: "Well, if you take it today, we will take 1000B off the rental price(approx. $20Can)."
Me: "HHHmmmm"
As time was drawing close to leaving my present hotel, I liked it, and the new price made it more enticing...
Me: "Yes, I'll take it!"
A: "We need your passport/visa and the first month's rent today to hold it for you. When did you want to move in? We can have it cleaned and ready for you tomorrow."
Me: "Since I am to check out on Saturday, let's say Saturday afternoon."
So it was off to the bank machine, sign the preliminary paper, and the place is mine for 6 months with an option to renew.
Yes, the hardest part of the ordeal was finding the place, if you want to call it that.
Saturday arrived, and all my bags were packed. I was ready to go, standing there outside my door...the cab arrived, and we were off, sort of, maybe. He kept trying to get Alexa to give him the directions on the GPS. We were halfway there, and the agent texted me. I told her the issue, and she sent the address in Thai to show the driver.
So after signing a standard agreement and lots of "kap Khun krap" and "kap Khun ka", they(Pond and Lessor's agent) departed, and I was now residing in my own rental condo! Too cool---once I figured out the AC.
The only thing not included, and apparently, if I had asked Pond, she would have picked them up for me, were kitchen things and towels.
Well, with my newly acquired plating skills from school, I was well up for shopping for dishes and kitchen stuff!
Yes, IKEA is in Bangkok, but way far out somewhere involving BTS/MTS and a shuttle bus, so I settled for Home Pro, apparently just as good and reasonably priced.
I was amazed at the service I received. As I approached the cashier with my cart, I was directed to the next cashier by a gentleman as each item was rung up, placed in a shopping buggy for me. No bags!??
I had visions of me, as Lucy Ricardo, going down the escalator with my purchases, doing the splits ala Goofy skiing, knocking people over and "Viv"(some unsuspecting Thai lady) following behind trying to help!
The gentleman asked, "Where is your car?"
"I need a taxi!"
"Okay!"
I was to follow him, him pushing the cart, me trailing behind through the mall, down in the elevator, through the lower floor, outside along the sidewalk(are we walking home?) to the "Taxi Stand". He pushed a button, along came a taxi, popping the trunk on approach(visions of airport arrival flashed through my mind), items loaded in and off we went home.
Dining area.
Yes, it will be my catch-all for keys and shopping.
The Den.
I have enjoyed reading, falling asleep and waking up wondering where I am twice so far!
The kitchen.
Unusual to have the washer in the kitchen. Usually, it is on the balcony, which, BTW, is where one dries their clothes!
I was looking at flatware. In Thailand, flatware consists of forks and spoons, knives sold separately.
The bedroom.
As I have made purchases in Thailand, I've noticed the following:
-Bed linens for a double/Queen/King come with 2 pillowcases, 2 bolster slips and a fitted sheet-no flat.
So what you are seeing is the bed partially made.
I have since purchased a thin comforter.
Thank you, Susan Byers, for the slippers placed at the foot of the bed. I'm finding they are beneficial in doing my Tom Cruise Risky Business impersonation!
The balcony off the bedroom. My new dryer! If you look at the balconies in the background, they all have some sort of system to dry clothes.
Yes, that is the pool.
So far, the pool boy has cleaned it daily, the building's cleaning ladies have soaked their feet in it daily as well.
(I don't judge, as I'd gladly join them if I weren't so scared of ending up in a Thai prison)
So, as I nod of typing, in "the den."
Until next time...
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