JaioraPhuket
Irregular
Every task and goal has a person who can help. We help you find them and meet in person. Everyone is welcome.
Every Saturday · 7 pm
From a resort party to Sala Mexicali
We’ve been meeting since December 2025: the first meetup was at a private beach resort. After a pause and a failed relaunch attempt in April, the community came back in June 2026 — first at We Cafe, then from the third meetup on, since June 27, at Sala Mexicali Phuket Town. In August a few meetups moved to Greek Kitchen by Chalong Bay, and in September they returned to Sala Mexicali.
Not just Saturday
The first meetup, in late December 2025, was at a private beach resort — a pool, a bar, sun loungers, a barbecue. Later, others stepped up too — in January, Maks Raynor gathered everyone at Wine Connection in Bangtao. In April the community tried to revive the Saturdays, went through about a dozen venues, but it didn’t stick. The real relaunch came in June: first at We Cafe, then from the third meetup on, since June 27, at Sala Mexicali Phuket Town; in August a few Saturdays took place at Greek Kitchen by Chalong Bay, and in September the meetups returned to Sala Mexicali. The Saturday topic usually comes up on its own during the week: the silliest map typo, a hiking route, or a digital nomad’s taxes in Thailand. Oleg Teretenko once broke the format down point by point: no set topic, no need to bring a laptop, and the table isn’t just IT people — families with kids come too.
Updated:
FAQ
When and where do IT people meet in Phuket?
On Saturdays at 7 pm at Sala Mexicali Phuket Town — meetups have been held there since June 27, 2026; in August a few Saturdays took place at Greek Kitchen by Chalong Bay. Every week a “Coming?” poll appears in the chat; if few people sign up, a week is sometimes skipped, so check the poll before heading out.
How do I join the Phuket IT chat?
Tap “Open the Telegram chat” on this page and send a join request. Once you’re in, introduce yourself with the #whois tag, and use district tags to find neighbors: #Rawai, #NaiHarn, #Yanui, #Chalong, #Kata, #Karon, #Patong, #Kalim.
Which area of Phuket do IT people live in?
According to a chat poll (August 2026): Rawai — 12 votes, Chalong — 10, Bang Tao — 8, Kathu — 7, Old Town — 6. Members call Kata, Rawai, and Phuket Town the “golden triangle”. They warn that from Bang Tao you can spend up to two hours in traffic getting to the south of the island.
What should I do if a Thai bank has blocked my account?
From members’ experience (January 2026): if your available balance suddenly drops to zero, call the bank — either the amount is released within 48 hours, or a police block has been placed, and then the bank will send the case details and contacts of the police station and the officer who placed it. Members say the main cause of such blocks is P2P crypto exchanges, so the chat’s advice is not to route money through them. Account-opening rules change often: if one branch refuses, try others.
How does a digital nomad pay taxes in Thailand?
From members’ experience (August 2026): you file a return once a year, between January and March for the previous year; after that there’s a fine. Go to the tax office for your registered address with your documents and a bank statement: they calculate your regular income and assign a tax ID (TIN); members praise the Kathu office. Rates range from 0 to 35%, the first 150,000 baht of annual income is tax-free, and the mythaitaxes.com calculator helps estimate the amount; a TIN is also useful for Upwork, which asks for it when you link a foreign card. Rules change — check with the tax office.
What should I know about entry and visas in Phuket?
From members’ experience (August 2026): with a Russian passport you get a 60-day stamp on entry, extendable by another 30 days at an immigration office. You’re usually let in without a return ticket, but with a problematic visa history you can be turned back — members described a person with a previously paid overstay being refused entry. For long stays members live on DTV, student, and Non-O visas; check current requirements on the official Thai e-Visa website.
Where can I play volleyball or padel in Phuket?
Volleyball: according to a chat announcement (April 2026), it’s free on sand in a park in Old Town, amateur level, newcomers welcome, with a game on Saturday at 5 pm. Many members play padel on the island — partners are found right in the chat. Tennis, Muay Thai, and table tennis also come up often in #whois intros, so finding company is easy.