Photo Trip Report: England and Scotland

[lindosfan1]

.........and of course the Romney marsh and its sheep.

What are you trying to say?

Strange as it is, the marsh is famous for its sheep, most of New Zealand's sheep originated from Romney Marsh.

[buksida]

Back in Essex, we ventured to a coastal spot etched in memory where we used to spend summers as kids – Walton-on-the-Naze. The old crabbing jetty where I would spend hours watching the tides ebb and flow and seabirds hunt for morsels in the mud was exactly the same, though some of the caravans in the park now cost more than houses.

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Our last week was a little subdued with the news dominated by the Queen’s passing and royal funeral plans. We spent most of it shopping for stuff that was far cheaper than in Thailand and visiting local markets, parks, and the like.

We had covered 2,000 miles from south to north and back again and the two months had flown by. For the first time in memory, I wasn’t really ready or looking forward to returning home to Thailand since I knew what awaited … masks, rain, and roosters!

Thats all folks, until the next road trip. I'll follow it up with some comparisons and observations, the UK has changed a bit in the past three years.

[Big Boy]

'Eels stewed or jellied' I know its a favourite with many, by something I've never fancied. I too grew up near similar marshland, and it was my playground - I caught some monster eels there (3 to 5 feet long), but always released them. I used to hate the slime. It makes me wonder now, why did I bother catching them in the first place?

I still remember the days going home caked in mud, and getting a bollocking

[buksida]

Observations & Comparisons

Prices
I’ll start with the prices since most of us are always making comparisons. Even with 10% inflation and a cost of living crisis, many things are still way cheaper in the UK than in Thailand. These include food - most grocery items in a supermarket with the exception of meat (lamb and beef are about the same) and seafood which is more. Toiletries, cosmetics, vitamins, health products, confectionaries, household supplies, etc. are all cheaper. There are plenty of “cheap shops” now such as Home Bargains, B&M, Poundland, and the like where stuff really is cheap compared to the equivalent here – needless to say, we loaded up.

Drink is much cheaper, the wine was about half the price, and ale and beer are substantially cheaper for what you’re getting. A decent half-liter pale ale was about £1.20-£1.40 per bottle (about 55 baht), buying in bulk became even cheaper, and there are hundreds to choose from (no stupid time or day restrictions either). Spirits were also substantially cheaper, as much as 50% less in many instances. Pub prices ranged from £3.50 to £5.50 per pint which is less than you’ll pay in a swanky pub in Hua Hin for a pint of something decent imported.

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Naturally, things like eating out in restaurants, hotel accommodation, fuel prices, car rental, public transport, and utility bills are much more in the UK than in Thailand.

[Dannie Boy]

I’d certainly agree with the eating out aspect, during my 5 month stay in the UK we had a number of family gatherings and the cost per head was typically £30+ with only moderate alcohol. Fuel is still almost double what it is in Thailand and gas and electric costs have recently increased even further to mouthwatering amounts.

Food costs tend to be similar overall to those in Thailand - some quite a bit cheaper and some quite a bit dearer. The biggest single issue is variety - the UK has an abundance of different foods compared to what’s available in Thailand and most (although not all) better quality.

[buksida]

The biggest single issue is variety - the UK has an abundance of different foods compared to what’s available in Thailand and most (although not all) better quality.

For sure, the selections available in some of the larger supermarkets was overwhelming - we could eat something different every day for a month. Supermarkets are all very same samey here.

[migrant]

Pretty much the same in the states, at least in California which is more expensive than most. Eating out tends to be quite a bit more but the helpings are usually larger. Food, if you compare the Thai staples to US equivalents, is quite a bit more in California and, as expected, western food is cheaper than Thailand. As Danny Boy mentioned I do miss the variety that the states offer. Services are quite a bit cheaper also. A haircut from a basic barber is around $20 whereas here I bay 120 baht. I haven't needed dental, or medical, care when I'm there but in talking to friends that are doctors and dentists it's a lot more in the states. Tipping is also out of control in the states with 20 - 25% of the total bill expected.

[Big Boy]

This comparison used to baffle me after every buksida report because I was looking at generic things e.g.:

- Beer. You can always get a pint of beer here for under £2.50/pint, but that must be nigh on impossible in the UK. I now realise he is comparing the price of UK beer here and the price of UK beer in the UK. Of course it is cheaper in the UK. Likewise if buy a bottle of Chang in the UK it will cost a lot more than it would in 7-11.

- Food. You can eat really cheaply here. However, buy a swede here and you need a mortgage compared with UK prices. Buy a Durian here, whilst expensive, it is a fraction of the price you'd pay in the UK.

So I apologise for any misunderstandings in previous years. I was being more generic, and looking at the overall cost of living in Thailand as opposed to the UK. Overall, if you can be flexible in what you can eat and drink, it is cheaper here. 'Luxury items' do tend to be a lot more expensive here, but that is probably because the majority of the population shouldn't be able to afford them, so a tax on the more wealthy is imposed (of course, locals just get further into debt).

Unfortunately, UK food and drink generally falls into the luxury bracket, and if you want it (as I often do) you will have to pay the premium prices. It was no different when Mrs BB lived in the UK with me for over 20 years - we had to pay the same premium prices for her Thai foods.

[buksida]

Still comparing like for like, a trolley full of groceries in the UK will cost less than in Thailand (unless you're just eating rice, noodles, and tinned fish). We've done a LOT of shopping over the past few months in both places and you get more variety and better food for your money over there. The mrs was astounded at the differences - but yes, anything that isn't rice, noodles, or tinned fish is considered a luxury here making it a more expensive country to do your grocery shopping in for westerners.

Edit: You can actually buy Chang in UK supermarkets and the price difference is negligible. Chang is also a lot cheaper in neighbouring countries such as Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar.

[Big Boy]

I'm not disagreeing, especially since Lotus's came into being. There so little variety, you'd be hard pushed to fill a trolly with anything worthwhile.

Regarding beer prices, my experience is 11 years ago, and it was the price of a bottle of Singha back then I don't think Chang had travelled that far back then.

[Dannie Boy]

Beer is obviously one small item in the shopping trolley but a decent bottle of beer from a UK supermarket is as cheap or cheaper than a bottle of cr*p beer here. Sorry for hijacking the thread so

[buksida]

The thing for me was the mindset that a quid is about 40 baht, when you do the conversions back you notice the difference. You can't get anything here for 40 baht ... well maybe a bag of crisps in the 7-11. Walking around a Lotus or Makro you'll see there is very little priced under 100 baht (aside from Mama noodles), and that's where the differences come in. You can actually buy Thai ready-meals in the UK for a quid or two, and those 'Poundstretcher' shops were insane! A small example of Gillette shaving gel, a quid in the UK, 300 baht here (I wouldn't call shaving a luxury). There were many many examples like this, from shampoo to multivits to nuts and snacks, confectionery, etc., everyday items - not luxuries.

[Big Boy]

Yes, and certainly for me, the mindset sets in where the brain associates lowest denominations as being equal. I see something priced at 40฿, and the brain is subconsciously saying 40p.

LOL shaving gel, although a very occasional purchase is one of my Thai hates, but it is most definitely a luxury. In my wife's village, they all use tweezers to pull the stubble out (makes me cringe )

[STEVE G]

The big problem with living in the west is the price of property in anywhere vaguely nice, particularly with todays mortgage prices.

[barrys]

The big problem with living in the west is the price of property in anywhere vaguely nice, particularly with todays mortgage prices.

This past summer, I went back to Europe to provide some adventure for my nearly 5 year-old daughter Róisín and have my first look around there for 23 years.
It was a real eye-opener for prices, especially in Ireland , where 1 night B&B in Cork City cost €160 for a double room!!! 1 plate of veggie fried rice in the uni canteen was €10......

However, southeast Spain was an exception. Property prices for an apartment 7-10 min drive from the beach were very reasonable - under €1k/m2.

Beer, food and wine prices also great - wine starting at €1/litre - so we know where we'll be spending our time during SE Asia rainy season.