Bangkok Life Hacks: International Fund Transfer from Thailand to Singapore via Bangkok Bank Mobile Banking. Fast, Convenient, Low Fees.

I don’t think anyone expected the pandemic situation to last for years when it first broke loose around Chinese New Year in 2020, but it has. In fact, the general situation is getting from bad to worse in most countries. I bet many of you are like me, stuck in Thailand for the longest time yet without traveling home and from what I see in many forums, practical things like transferring money in Thailand back to Singapore are increasingly becoming an issue.

I believe many of us might be familiar with some usual suspects like DeeMoney who can do the job, but while they are established and can help with larger amounts, signing up for a new account requires us to physically verify our identity at an agent location (which is risky in the current climate in Thailand), and the money will reach the payee in at least 1-3 working days.

Enter Bangkok Bank, which since end April 2021, has successfully unveiled the linkage of Thailand's PromptPay and Singapore's PayNow real-time retail payment systems. This means that, if you have a Bangkok Bank account and are using their mobile app, you can do an immediate cross-border fund transfer simply with a Singapore phone number linked to the payee’s Paynow account. The daily transfer limit (also single transaction limit) is currently set as 1000SGD, and there’s a fixed transaction fee of 150THB.

If you are worried about the exchange rate, it will be based on Bangkok Bank’s real-time T/T selling rate, which you can check here.

At the time of writing, the selling rate of SGD on powerhouse Money Exchange Service Superrich is 24.55 for amounts less than 1000SGD, so it’s extremely close and competitive.

So if you want to see the full instructions, you can either refer to this page, or watch the short video below (in Thai with English captions). Just know that if you want to pay a friend in Singapore for helping you to buy something, give your parents/sibling/children their monthly allowance, or even transfer them a birthday/CNY blessing, it’s really as simple as paying for your delivery meal now.

PS. Using the same gateway, you can also transfer money from Singapore to Thailand with the same daily limits.

TheKawayiis' Inaugural Adventure on the Songthaew in Bangkok

For the past year, Noah had been bugging me about sitting in a Songthaew, one of Thailand's most creative ways of providing public transport for a population which absolutely detests walking under the sweltering Thailand heat. I kept telling him to wait for the cool season, and I will take the Songthaew with him to Seacon Square. Now that winter's come and gone without any Songthaew ride to boast of, it's time to fulfill a father's promise.

Finally! 

We were on our way to the BBQ Feast Mashup at Viva Thong Lor last Sunday and faced a long queue at the taxi stand outside Emquartier. A small truck parked in front of us and the security guards started asking whether anyone wanted to take it instead. It was a variation of the Songthaew, called the Sii Lor (literally translated as 4 wheels). It's a smaller vehicle, albeit also with two short rows of seats facing each other. Unlike the Songthaew, which in most cases have a fixed route, this smaller variation takes you to wherever you want in the vicinity, charging according to distance. My wife indicated her willingness to take this alternative form of transport, and off we went.

The girls were excited too!

It was quite a ride from Emquartier to Viva Thong Lor, weaving through countless tiny alleys, most of which I might not have passed by in my 8 years here, twisting and turning, bouncing up and down. It felt generally safe, but on occasions we had to hold on to the railings real tight to keep our balance.

Towards the end of the trip, I turned over to ask Noah if he enjoyed himself and whether he wanted to take the Songthaew again.

He smiled gleefully and nodded (oh crap).

Then I asked Ellie.

Ellie!

Ellie?

Fast asleep already!

PS. The trip cost us 60THB, comparable to a taxi journey (with metre). We did not haggle.

Delicious vegetarian food available everyday in Bangkok

Thailand has a 9-day  Vegetarian Festival every year which is celebrated at a grand scale nationwide, but outside the festival, delicious vegetarian food is alarmingly-elusive. However, if you look closely, there are more than enough restaurants that actually have permanent vegetarian offerings, which taste pretty impressive, and this is coming from someone who is not turning vegetarian anytime soon.

My list only includes places which I have personally tried before, and will continue to expand as I discover more places.

1.       Little Bao Bangkok [Closed]

Newly opened at 72 Courtyard, Little Bao Bangkok is Little Bao’s first foray outside Hong Kong, and certainly one of the city’s most anticipated openings in 2016. Commonly known as a place for hipster groups to share tasty bites over creative cocktails, Little Bao unexpectedly serves some delicious vegetarian plates. The Sloppy Chan Bao is a tasty mess of Shiitake tempeh, pickled Daikon and truffle mayonnaise, and once you start on their signature ice cream baos, it is not possible to stop at 1.

One is not enough!

2.       S&P Restaurant

One of the most established restaurant chains in Bangkok, many forget that S&P restaurants actually have a solid permanent selection of vegetarian dishes, more than good enough to grace this list, especially with their accessibility across the whole Kingdom. I like their black olive fried rice, holy basil fried Japanese mushroom and stewed vegetables with shiitake mushrooms, which really defies logic. How can such a tasty stew be made purely from vegetables?


3.       Misoya Ramen

Bangkok Life Hacks: Vegetarian Food. Misoya serves a vegetarian ramen with soup as robust as any vegetarian soup can ever get. My father-in-law slurped up every drop. #bangkoklifehacks #vegetarian #vegan #ramen #vegetarianramen #misoya #misoyaramen #ramenporn #foodporn #instaramen #foodstagram #strangerinbangkok

A photo posted by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Jul 10, 2016 at 8:33pm PDT

Misoya Ramen Bangkok is part of a massive ramen empire that spans from Japan to North and South America. Taking advantage of their special Miso blends  infused into every bowl, Misoya is able to come up with perhaps the most unforgettable vegetarian ramen ever, complete with a good mix of greens and silky-smooth fried Japanese tofu. Even the non-vegetarian customer will slurp up every drop.

4.       Broccoli Revolution

The only 100% vegetarian restaurant on the list, Broccoli Revolution looks and sounds like the THE vegetarian restaurant to go to in town, with high ceilings and hanging plants giving it the modern hipster feel. Its cold-press juice bar has some incredibly delicious concoctions, while the coffee (Roots), cakes (Veganerie Concept) and ice-cream (Farm-to-Table Café) are sourced from the perfect local suppliers.

The famous signature burger.

The charcoal broccoli-quinoa burger looks a dream for instagrammers looking to impress with a #healthyeating hashtag. Broccoli Revolution is certainly worth a visit for the health-conscious, even though I still feel that their food can and should taste even better.




5.       Greyhound Cafe

Saving the best for last, I am directing you to Greyhound Café for a dose of delightful vegetarian dining. The folks at Greyhound are the true pioneers of fashion and style in Thailand, their food is no different.

Bangkok Life Hacks: Vegetarian Food Aside of the annual Vegetarian Festival, when an astounding array of vegetarian food lines the streets for the best part of 10 days, it is not that difficult to find solid vegetarian food on a normal day as long as you keep your eyes open. A good example is the pretty extensive vegetarian menu at Greyhound. This vegetarian lasagna salad is outstanding. #greyhound #vegetarianlasagna #lasagna #lasagnasalad #vegetarian #bangkoklifehacks #yummyinbangkok #strangerinbangkok #latergram #foodporn #instafood #foodstagram #greyhoundcafe

A photo posted by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Jan 8, 2016 at 11:26pm PST

Their huge selection of vegetarian favorites range from vegetarian phad thai to international flavors like lasagna salad and grilled vegetables with pesto sauce. I confess that I frequently order their vegetarian dishes as our mains as they are just so good.


Have a go and let me know what you think!

Bangkok Life Hacks: The 1st Collection

With 6 years of experience living life in Thailand everyday, I hereby present you my list of life hacks in Bangkok, as presented on my IG feed (@strangerinbangkok) via the hashtag #bangkoklifehacks, minus the ones that are no longer that relevant, and grouped into 4 categories, guaranteed to make your life in this crazy city that teeny weeny bit better.

1. Battling Yucky Airport Food

Bangkok Life Hacks: Airport food. Pleasantly surprised to see Bon Chon at Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday. I haven't tried this outlet myself, but you don't usually go wrong with Bon Chon in Bangkok. #bangkoklifehacks #airportfood #suvarnabhumi #bonchon #koreanfriedchicken #friedchicken #strangerinbangkok #bonchonchicken

A photo posted by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Mar 20, 2016 at 6:51pm PDT

Bangkok Life Hacks: Airport Food. Airport food is usually sucky and overpriced, especially after you clear the immigrations. But if you happen to be at the Domestic Terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport, rejoice because there's Yamagoya Ramen at the airport canteen. Springy noodles, nice egg, rich broth and a splash of garlic oil as the final X-Factor, it has to be the perfect meal before a plane ride. Now if they can just give me a proper pair of chopsticks...... #domesticterminal #internalflight #domesticflight #suvarnabhumi #bangkoklifehacks #ramen #yamagoya #yamagoyaramen #yummyinbangkok #airportfood #strangerinbangkok #strangernotinlaos

A photo posted by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Dec 14, 2015 at 10:00pm PST

Eddietor's Note: Not only my favourite noodle at the airport, but definitely one of my favourite in the whole of Bangkok.


2. Vegetarians look here!!

Bangkok Life Hacks: Vegetarian Food. Misoya serves a vegetarian ramen with soup as robust as any vegetarian soup can ever get. My father-in-law slurped up every drop. #bangkoklifehacks #vegetarian #vegan #ramen #vegetarianramen #misoya #misoyaramen #ramenporn #foodporn #instaramen #foodstagram #strangerinbangkok

A photo posted by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Jul 10, 2016 at 8:33pm PDT

Bangkok Life Hacks: Vegetarian Food Aside of the annual Vegetarian Festival, when an astounding array of vegetarian food lines the streets for the best part of 10 days, it is not that difficult to find solid vegetarian food on a normal day as long as you keep your eyes open. A good example is the pretty extensive vegetarian menu at Greyhound. This vegetarian lasagna salad is outstanding. #greyhound #vegetarianlasagna #lasagna #lasagnasalad #vegetarian #bangkoklifehacks #yummyinbangkok #strangerinbangkok #latergram #foodporn #instafood #foodstagram #greyhoundcafe

A photo posted by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Jan 8, 2016 at 11:26pm PST

Eddietor's Note: This is one of the dishes the non-vegetarian me orders most at Greyhound.


3. For you, the one residing long-term in Thailand

Bangkok Life Hacks: ATM machines If you see a row of ATM machines but don't see the one belonging to your bank, don't worry, because you can withdraw cash from EVERY SINGLE machine here. You have 3 or 4 free chances per month for interbank withdrawal, but even if you have exhausted these chances there will only be a small surcharge per subsequent transaction. There are people who have lived here for months but still do not know this! 😭 #bangkoklifehacks #atm #atmmachines #cashwithdrawal #interbank #convenience #strangerinbangkok

A photo posted by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Jan 20, 2016 at 1:19am PST

Stayed in Bangkok for quite a while but worrying every month end because you have exceeded your data limits? Introducing a life hack that could change your life forever! Direct link to blogpost on my IG profile page. #lifehack #wifi #freewifi #dataplan #livinginbangkok #noworries #ais #truemove #aiswifi #truewifi #dtac #dtacwifi #3bb #wifihotspot #strangerinbangkok #bangkoklifehacks

A photo posted by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Oct 19, 2015 at 6:28am PDT

Eddietor's Note: The COMPLETE game-changer, full post here.

Bangkok Life Hacks If you have a decent post-paid plan at any major telco like AIS, TRUE or DTAC, keep your eyes peeled because you might get some perks when you buy stuff, especially at various airports in Thailand. Look what I got for FREE this time from Black Canyon this afternoon. It doesn't take away the fact though, that their coffee is usually pretty horrid. #blackcanyon #bangkoklifehacks #bangkoklife #ais #aisserenade #freedrink #strangernotinlaos #perks #postpaid

A photo posted by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Dec 16, 2015 at 11:50pm PST

Eddietor's Note: No Black Canyon coffee please, no... no... NOOO!

4. Beat the Queue!!

Bangkok Life Hacks: The latest queueing craze in Bangkok has to be #croissanttaiyaki. But for all who are wondering when you can taste this snack if you don't want to join the ridiculous queues at #emquartier, look here. There's no one at #megabangna! #queue #noqueue #sabaisabai #croissanttaiyaki_th #newcraze #niceornot #strangerinbangkok #bangkok #bkkeats #bangkoklifehacks

A photo posted by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Jul 21, 2015 at 12:46pm PDT

Eddietor's Note: There's probably no more queue even at Emquartier now especially after Bake Cheese Tart's arrival.

Bangkok Life Hack: Tim Ho Wan Not a fan of queueing but don't mind their charsiew buns? Just go to the counter and ask for takeaway, these babies will be yours in 10 minutes. It's the only item available for takeaway, but the 1 that matters. #lifehack #bangkoklifehacks #timhowan #timhowanbangkok #dimsum #michelinstar #noneedtoqueue #salapao #charsiew #yummy #strangerinbangkok #wahlauehstampofapproval

A photo posted by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Oct 25, 2015 at 12:04am PDT

Eddietor's Note: One of my original Wah Lau Eh! items. Read here.

The flower pot from #audrey. It looks picture perfect, and tastes decent, my only problem is that it's impossible not to make a big mess eating this. Bangkok Life Hacks: If the Audrey at #emquartier is too crowded and you just want to have their desserts, the one at G Floor at #emporiumthailand is mostly empty. #potcake #buttercream #phromphong #emdistrict #bangkok #pictureperfect #strangerinbangkok #yummy #bangkokcafe #bangkokcafehopping #setheats #bangkoklifehacks

A photo posted by Eddie (@strangerinbangkok) on Jul 19, 2015 at 6:38pm PDT

Eddietor's Note: Emporium is the mall right opposite Emquartier.


What a great list!!

No? Tell me your Bangkok life hack then!

Gallery Pizza: Maybe the best pizza delivered to your doorstep in Bangkok

Safely-delivered to my apartment

I have said a lot about Gallery Pizza on my article on Aroimakmak.com, but I feel compelled to write about them from a completely different perspective as I know a lot of folks in Bangkok are reading this, and honestly, as much as we don't want to admit, too many of us have been reliant on Pizza Company for our delivery pizza fix over the last few years.

The New Yorker, Gallery Pizza's Signature flavour

Take nothing away from Pizza Company. They have done well in a pizza slugfest with Pizza Hut, Scoozi and Domino's in an extremely competitive market. Then again, if you are into more authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas, Gallery Pizza presents itself as a legitimate alternative.

Having tasted many of their offerings at Sathorn 11 Art Space, I had to try out their delivery service before giving you a report of my experience.

1. The operator who received my call was a local who could speak decent English. She recorded my order and address with no issues and told me my order will take approximately 50 minutes to arrive.
   
   To my knowledge, Gallery Pizza's preferred delivery zone will be Sathorn and Sukhumvit Road up till On Nut (with 40THB surcharge), where they will usually promise arrival within 30 minutes. I live a short distance beyond On Nut, thus the longer delivery time and higher delivery charge (60THB). If you live in the suburbs, I will recommend you to call them to find out whether they deliver to you or not.
   
   
2. Delivery arrived on time, in roughly 45 minutes. More importantly, the correct flavours were sent.
   
   
3. The pizzas were warm. I would have wanted them to be hotter, but considering the distance they traveled, I can live with popping them into my own oven for a few minutes before tucking in.
   
   
4. I am extremely happy that they provide a choice of mixing 2 flavours into 1 pizza. It gives customers the opportunity to savour many flavours in a single order.
   
   
5. They deliver till as late as 4am!!
   
   
6. Last but not least, the current 499THB promotion for any 2 pizzas presents a seriously awesome deal for the quality we are getting.
   
   Unfortunately, I have no idea when the promotion ends, so do have a go while it lasts and check out their website for updates before ordering.

Pad Krapao on one side and Ham/Mushroom on the other

In this rainy season, meal delivery services often become life savers for city dwellers like us in Bangkok. Don't forget this article when the clouds start to build up, you will thank me for it.

Bangkok Life Hacks: Free WiFi!

If you have been living in Bangkok for a long time now, does data connectivity give you constant headaches? If so, maybe there need not be any headaches at all? Let me explain.

According to my understanding, post-paid dataplans in Thailand usually come with limited high-speed data. For example, if you signed up for a package with 3GB of high-speed data, once you reach the limit, your data will continue to run. Good news is, you will not be charged for unlimited additional data usage, bad news is, this data is no longer high-speed. You will be given access to much lower-speed data with speeds closer to 512kbps, yes, so slow you might pull your hair out waiting for something to happen.

We all want to agree with this, but come on, give me my WiFi!!

How then, do you go around the problem and survive a full month with high-speed data? Firstly, you might want to call your telco's hotline. They might have a top-up package that will give you more high-speed access at a reasonable price.

A second way is to use this life-hack and see how far it can bring you.

If you still do not know, most reasonable postpaid data plans in Thailand already come with unlimited access to WiFi hotspots all over the country. TrueMove boasts that it currently has 100,000 such hotspots country-wide! This means that once you are in the vicinity of a hotspot provided by your telco, you are just a step away from disabling your dataplan and gaining access to unlimited, stable, high-speed WiFi. These hotspots are available in most indoor spaces like community malls, cafes, shopping centres and department stores.

How then, do we access this free WiFi then? Simple, just dial a number to receive your username and password (usually permanent for your mobile number), log-in and you are good to go! Here are the detailed instructions from the 3 main telcos in Thailand:

1. AIS  
2. TrueMove 
3. dtac 
4. AIS and dtac users can use 3BB hotspots too

Remember, you can use the same method to connect your laptops and other devices as well, or even share with your friends when they are in need. Just remember that one code can only be used for one device at any time!

Need more Bangkok life hacks? Leave me a message!


Disclaimer: The information above is accurate to 19th October 2015. The Stranger in Bangkok does not take any responsibility if any of the mentioned telcos make changes to their dataplans and packages.

Bangkok: Baby/Toddler-Friendly or not?

Recently, I have been asked repeatedly the same question by friends and readers: should I bring my baby/toddler to Bangkok? I've lived here for 10 years, and currently have a 10-month-old and a 3-year-old with me, so naturally I expect to be asked for my opinions on this, but every reply of mine has become longer and longer, so I have decided to share my views here proper to help all parents (with babies/toddlers, not bigger kids) who have the same questions.

1. Transportation
   
   As a tourist, you technically only have a few transportation choices, taxi, BTS (skytrain), MRT (underground) and tuk-tuk (not much experience so I won't touch on this here).
   
   Thais love kids more than you can ever imagine, so do trust me that bringing kids will likely be your trump-card. In BTS and MRTs, we've never had issues with seats, no matter how crowded the carriages are. Even when I bring Noah on the trains myself (and he's already 3), there will still be many locals (young and very old) 'fighting' to offer us their seats.
   
   Do take note also that if you have a baby/toddler in tow, whether or not you have a stroller/lots of bags to carry, you will be helped by the security personnel stationed at every turnstile at a train station. They will definitely help you through with ease via a separate gate at the side so you don't have to rush your way through the barrier with all your 'load'.
   
   Taxis will be a more touchy subject. There are real issues with taxi-drivers trying to earn more from tourists, choosing destinations and refusing to switch on their metres. However, with a baby in tow, even the most opportunistic taxi-driver might decide to give you a friendly ride, in order to give you some assistance.
   
   *Update!!*
   
   At Suvarnabhumi Airport, take note that there are priority queues at BOTH the arrival and departure immigration lines. This is a super lifesaver for families with old people and little ones, as the queues can get absolutely crazy at times.
   
2. Restaurants
   
   Assuming we do not expect any child-friendly facilities at road-side stalls and establishments without air-conditioning just like most other countries, let me zero in on the typical restaurant in a shopping mall.
   
   Many established restaurant chains will at the very least, have child bowls and cutlery, and a number will have dedicated kids menus, but you will have to be prepared when it comes to baby chairs. In most restaurants, the most they can provide might only be chairs for slightly bigger kids, who do not need safety latches or protective tables in front of them. If you have a baby/toddler less than 2 years old, you will need to hold them while you/they eat.
   
   Staff at most restaurants are very friendly to kids though. If they are free, they might even help you carry your baby or play with your toddler, something not common in many other societies.
   
3. Stroller-suitability
   
   If you are looking at the normal roads, the answer is NO. The pedestrian pavements are not designed to be suitable for strollers or prams. If you insist to bring yours along, my suggestion is to stay in 2 areas, the zone between Chit-lom and Siam BTS stations, and the zone connected to Asoke BTS station. These zones provide a conducive skywalk above the road that connects you to the malls and BTS/MRT stations in the vicinity where you can use your strollers with ease. However, do take note that thus far, only a select few BTS stations provide lifts, so be mentally prepared to navigate many flights of steps with your stroller.
   
   An easier way is to carry your baby/toddler in your carrier if you are used to it. This way, you do not have to worry about the stroller outside the malls. In fact, many malls now provide a stroller-rental service. These include Terminal 21, Mega Bang Na and Paradise Park. I have seen strollers in Emporium's customer-service office as well, my take is that if you are at a proper mall, you might want to ask the information counter whether a stroller is available for rent.
   
4. Availability of nursing rooms
   
   In most malls, family/handicapped-friendly toilets are available, but nursing rooms might not be. To be safe, if you need a nursing room, choose to go to a mall with a departmental store (which will surely have nursing rooms in their kid/baby sections). Popular departmental store chains in Bangkok will be names like Central, Zen, Isetan, Robinson, Tokyu, Emporium and Paragon. This means that popular tourist malls like Platinum Mall, Siam Centre, Siam Square 1 and Terminal 21 (though it has a Robinson near it) do NOT have nursing rooms.
   
5. What about essentials like diapers, milk and baby food?
   
   This should not be a big concern. Most big brands are established here. Furthermore, they can all be found in most 7-11s, which are everywhere, so don't worry about this. In fact, there are many local high-quality ready-made baby food/snacks which are available in the supermarkets. Look out for brands like Peachy, Wel-B, Picnic Baby etc.
   
6. Weather and Air Quality
   
   Depending on where you come from and where you stay, you might have different interpretations to this concern. Put things simply, Bangkok is a little more seasonal than countries like Singapore and Malaysia. The best time to come is surely at the end of the year, when temperatures can drop to a low of 18 degC in the morning. This usually happens from end-December to January. It doesn't rain during the cool season as well. The rainy season usually starts from June to August, so this is not a very conducive period to visit. The hottest time is during Songkran, from April to May.
   
   Compared to 'Garden Cities' like Singapore, there are hardly any trees in the Bangkok. Coupled with the massive jams in the tourist areas most of the time, the air quality is expectedly poorer in comparison. However, if you are used to visiting other cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Jakarta etc., this should not be a concern as well.
   
7. Healthcare for the little ones
   
   In town, good hospitals are not difficult to find. If anyone in your family needs medical treatment, remember the names Bangkok Hospital, Bumrungrad Hospital and Samitivej Hospital. These are top-class private hospitals with translators available for almost all languages I can think of. They are of course, not cheap, but compared with a good private hospital in your country, you might find them providing an equal/higher value of service.

So, in summary, is Bangkok baby/toddler friendly?

If you ask me, my answer is a great big YES! If you take note of the pointers above, be mentally-prepared for some situations different from your home country and be less adventurous in your sight-seeing visits (and I suggest, book a hotel connected to or very near a BTS/MRT station), you might understand that even though Bangkok's 'hardware' is still lacking, the 'heartware' is already in place. 

With the increased number of sincere smiles channeled in your direction because of your precious little ones, you will realise by the end of your trip that bringing your baby/toddler along is actually a blessing in disguise.

The Stranger's Ultimate Guide to Online Shopping in Thailand

If you know someone who tells you Thai malls are getting quieter by the day and are not doing well, they don't know their stuff. Yes, new malls are sprouting like wild mushrooms by the minute, and the economy isn't exactly rosy, but the truth is, much of the 'shopping crowd' has been removed by the groups running the malls themselves, through their extremely comprehensive online shopping portals.

Anyone who has read my letter for Noah for his 3rd birthday will know that he is still resisting toilet training. Couple that with the arrival of Ellie, it means that I had recently been forced to scramble around for the best deals for diapers. This exercise pointed me to the beautiful world of online shopping, be it through mall groups like Central and Robinson, supermarket giants like Big C and Tesco Lotus, or even independent online shopping portals like Venbi and Lazada.

The advantages are obvious. Better deals. Delivery to your doorstep (diapers are bloody bulky) as soon as the next day. Access to most items you can find in the malls. Creative modes of payment (payment on delivery is the mode I recommend). Delivery trucks that have built-in sorting drawers, freezers and chillers all at the same time.

A common scene in my house, how to not look for best deal?

However, things might not be as rosy as it seems. If you are tempted to start buying groceries online in Thailand, do take note of the following tips to ensure you do not get frustrated.

1. Be prepared to wait the entire day for your items.
   
   Depending on your order quantity and company you order from, delivery might or might not be free. Some even give you the luxury to select the time period in which you would like them to deliver. But trust me, it is impossible for them to give you any promises.
   
   Most will deliver on the day promised, often the working day after you place the order, but none of my orders had been delivered within the time frame I preferred. Every truck might have up to 50 locations to hit a day, so be prepared to be stuck in 1 place to wait for your items then celebrate your new-found freedom when they arrive.
   
   
2. Be prepared to speak Thai, or look for help.
   
   In your order form, you can give all sorts of instructions, to the point of giving details of the slight cracks on your door to aid in their identification of your house.
   
   But whatever the case, the driver will still DEFINITELY call you on delivery day to ask you how to get to your place, and he will DEFINITELY only know how to speak Thai.
   
   So, if you don't speak Thai, or don't physically stay near anyone who speaks Thai, or do not want to receive urgent calls from random numbers during working hours (and speak Thai), purchasing online might be a very frustrating experience for you (and the driver).
   
   
3. Delivery staff are, well, delivery staff.
   
   Even though the delivery services are well-established and pretty mature in Thailand already, mistakes still happen. There is a possibility that wrong items are sent to you by mistake. Whatever it is, there is no point complaining to the delivery staff, as their job is to drop the items, collect payment and scoot off to their next destination. So, for online shopping, be mentally prepared to pay for the wrong item first, then contact the sales office again to request for the goods exchange. This is just how it works.
   
   And this leads me to an important sub-point that you should not leave your urgent items to the hands of these online shopping portals, because anything might happen and you might just not get your item on time.
   
   
4. Scour around for the best deals, and don't forget to use the discount codes, if any!
   
   One of the best things about online shopping is that they often offer better deals than those you can get in the shops. Of course, it might need you to buy more pieces that you normally do, but they save you the hassle of carrying them home yourself.
   
   For the best deal, homework is required. Be diligent and go through a few websites, they will definitely be offering differing deals which might or might not suit you. Many will have special periodic promotion codes to give you good additional discounts, so please do not forget to use them!

I really wanted to write this post because I have learnt many lessons from my experiences with online shopping websites and I hope to highlight the things you should consider before making your first purchase.

I also want to emphasize again that even if the services are not perfect, I really do recommend online shopping in Thailand as a MORE THAN LEGIT way of getting products without leaving your house, especially if you know exactly what you want, and speak a bit of the local language.

Meanwhile, happy shopping!