Skill: ivangdavila/bangkok (version 1.0.0)

--- name: Bangkok slug: bangkok version: 1.0.0 homepage: https://clawic.com/skills/bangkok description: Navigate Bangkok as visitor, resident, digital nomad, expat, or entrepreneur with neighborhoods, transport, costs, visas, and local insights. metadata: {"clawdbot":{"emoji":"🏯","requires":{"bins":[]},"os":["linux","darwin","win32"]}} --- ## When to Use User asks about Bangkok for any purpose: visiting, moving, working remotely, teaching, retiring, or starting a business. Agent provides practical guidance with current data. ## Quick Reference | Topic | File | |-------|------| | **Visitors** | | | Attractions (must-see vs skip) | `visitor-attractions.md` | | Itineraries (1/3/7 days) | `visitor-itineraries.md` | | Where to stay | `visitor-lodging.md` | | Tips & day trips | `visitor-tips.md` | | **Neighborhoods** | | | Quick comparison | `neighborhoods-index.md` | | Sukhumvit (Asok, Thonglor, Ekkamai) | `neighborhoods-sukhumvit.md` | | Silom, Sathorn, Riverside | `neighborhoods-silom.md` | | Ratchathewi, Ari, Phaya Thai | `neighborhoods-ari.md` | | Old Town, Chinatown, Rattanakosin | `neighborhoods-oldtown.md` | | Choosing guide | `neighborhoods-choosing.md` | | **Food** | | | Overview & street food culture | `food-overview.md` | | Street food guide | `food-street.md` | | Thai cuisine essentials | `food-thai.md` | | International & fine dining | `food-international.md` | | Best areas for dining | `food-areas.md` | | Dietary & practical | `food-practical.md` | | **Practical** | | | Moving & settling | `resident.md` | | Transport (BTS, MRT, taxis, Grab) | `transport.md` | | Cost of living | `cost.md` | | Safety & scams | `safety.md` | | Weather & seasons | `climate.md` | | Local services (banking, SIM) | `local.md` | | **Career & Nomads** | | | Digital nomad guide | `nomad.md` | | Teaching English | `teaching.md` | | Tech industry & startups | `tech.md` | | Business setup | `business.md` | | Visas (tourist, ED, retirement, Elite) | `visas.md` | | **Lifestyle** | | | Culture & customs | `culture.md` | | Healthcare & hospitals | `healthcare.md` | | Nightlife & entertainment | `nightlife.md` | | Expat lifestyle & social | `lifestyle.md` | | Thai language basics | `language.md` | ## Core Rules ### 1. Identify User Context First - **Role**: Tourist, digital nomad, English teacher, retiree, entrepreneur - **Timeline**: Short visit, extended stay, planning to relocate - Load relevant auxiliary file for details ### 2. Visa Reality Thailand's visa system is complex and frequently updated: - **Tourist visa**: 60 days + 30-day extension at immigration - **Visa exemption**: 30 days for most Western countries (land: 15 days) - **ED visa**: Study Thai or martial arts, renewable quarterly - **Retirement visa**: 50+, 800,000 THB in bank, yearly renewal - **Thailand Elite**: 5-20 year visa, 600,000-2,000,000 THB upfront - **LTR (Long-Term Resident)**: New 10-year visa for remote workers with $80K+ income See `visas.md` for current requirements and processes. ### 3. Cultural Context Thailand is a Buddhist kingdom with deep cultural protocols: - **Royal family**: Never criticize. Lèse-majesté laws are strict (15+ years prison). - **Temples**: Remove shoes, cover shoulders and knees, women can't touch monks - **Head & feet**: Head is sacred, feet are lowest — don't point feet at Buddha/people - **Wai greeting**: Return a wai when given, but don't wai to children or service staff See `culture.md` for detailed guidance. ### 4. Weather Reality - **Hot season (Mar-May)**: 35-40°C+ with high humidity — oppressive heat - **Rainy season (Jun-Oct)**: Daily afternoon downpours, but still hot - **Cool season (Nov-Feb)**: 25-32°C — most pleasant, peak tourist season - **Air quality**: Nov-Feb can have severe pollution (AQI 150+) See `climate.md` for monthly breakdown and coping strategies. ### 5. Current Data (Feb 2026) | Item | Range | |------|-------| | 1BR condo (Sukhumvit) | ฿15,000-35,000/month (~$425-1,000) | | 1BR condo (Silom) | ฿18,000-40,000/month (~$510-1,140) | | Coworking (monthly) | ฿3,000-8,000/month (~$85-230) | | Street food meal | ฿40-80 (~$1.15-2.30) | | Mid-range restaurant | ฿200-500/person (~$6-14) | | BTS/MRT single ride | ฿17-62 (~$0.50-1.80) | | Private hospital visit | ฿1,000-3,000 (~$29-85) | ### 6. Cost Reality Bangkok is extremely affordable by Western standards: - **Housing**: Modern condos near BTS for $400-800/month - **Food**: $5-15/day eating local, $20-40 with Western food - **Transport**: $50-100/month with BTS/MRT and occasional Grab - **Healthcare**: World-class private hospitals at 20-30% of US costs - **Digital nomad budget**: $1,000-1,500/month comfortable, $2,000+ luxury ### 7. Transit Reality Bangkok has good public transit in central areas: - **BTS Skytrain**: Two lines covering Sukhumvit, Silom, Siam area - **MRT**: Blue and Purple lines, good coverage including Chinatown - **Boats**: Chao Phraya express boats, khlong (canal) boats - **Taxis**: Metered, cheap (40 THB start), but traffic is brutal - **Grab**: Essential app — works for cars, bikes, delivery - **Motorbike taxis**: Fast through traffic, orange vests, negotiate price Traffic is a defining feature of Bangkok. Plan around BTS/MRT coverage. ### 8. Neighborhood Matching | Profile | Best Areas | |---------|------------| | Young professionals/nomads | Thonglor, Ekkamai, Ari, On Nut | | Budget digital nomads | On Nut, Phra Khanong, Bang Na | | Families | Sukhumvit (Asok-Thonglor), Ari | | Nightlife seekers | Sukhumvit Soi 11, Khao San, RCA | | Culture & temples | Rattanakosin, Chinatown, Riverside | | Business/finance | Silom, Sathorn, Asok | | Luxury living | Thonglor, Sathorn, Riverside | | Budget travelers | Khao San, Rambuttri, Chinatown | ## Bangkok-Specific Traps - **Visa runs** — Immigration cracking down on repeat visa-exempt entries. Plan proper visa. - **Taxi meter refusal** — Drivers at tourist spots refuse meter. Walk away or use Grab. - **Tuk-tuk scams** — "Temple closed" then gem shop. Ignore, use apps. - **Royal criticism** — Any negative comment about monarchy is criminal (lèse-majesté). - **Drug penalties** — Severe. Possession can mean death penalty for trafficking. - **90-day reporting** — Long-term visa holders must report address every 90 days. - **Work permit requirement** — Working without permit is illegal, even remote work technically. - **Jet ski scams** — Pattaya/islands. Avoid renting jet skis entirely. - **Gem/tailor scams** — "Special government sale" is always a scam. - **Pollution season** — Jan-Mar air quality can be hazardous. Bring N95 masks. - **Rainy season flooding** — Some areas flood badly. Check before renting. - **ATM fees** — 220 THB per withdrawal. Bring debit card with fee reimbursement. ## Legal Awareness Key laws visitors/residents must know: - **Lèse-majesté**: Insulting monarchy = 3-15 years prison per offense. Extremely enforced. - **Drugs**: Zero tolerance. Death penalty for trafficking (750g+ cannabis, 20g+ heroin). - **Gambling**: Illegal (except government lottery). Private poker games are raided. - **Vaping**: E-cigarettes are illegal in Thailand. 10-year sentence possible. - **Pornography**: Illegal. Possession/distribution can mean prison. - **Overstaying visa**: 500 THB/day fine, possible ban, detention for long overstays. - **Work without permit**: Deportation, fine, potential blacklist. See `safety.md` for comprehensive guidance. ## Digital Nomad Context Bangkok is a top digital nomad hub: - **Coworking**: Dozens of spaces (Hubba, The Hive, Glowfish, WeWork) - **Internet**: 100+ Mbps fiber common in condos, good café WiFi - **Cafes**: Work-friendly cafes everywhere, no time limits usually - **Community**: Large nomad community, regular meetups - **Legal gray area**: Remote work for foreign employer is technically illegal without work permit - **Solutions**: ED visa (studying Thai), Thailand Elite, new LTR visa for high earners See `nomad.md` for coworking spaces, communities, and visa strategies. ## Related Skills Install with `clawhub install <slug>` if user confirms: - **[travel](https://clawhub.com/skills/travel)** — General travel planning, itineraries, packing - **[tokyo](https://clawhub.com/skills/tokyo)** — Another major Asian city guide - **[seoul](https://clawhub.com/skills/seoul)** — Korea's capital, similar nomad appeal - **[singapore](https://clawhub.com/skills/singapore)** — Southeast Asian hub comparison - **[tenerife](https://clawhub.com/skills/tenerife)** — European digital nomad alternative ## Feedback - If useful: `clawhub star bangkok` - Stay updated: `clawhub sync`


Security scan verdicts — ClawScan: suspicious | static analysis: clean | VirusTotal: clean | SkillSpector: suspicious (CRITICAL)