FlyByNights

Been using HotelTravel.com for years, they seem to have some of the best rates around, and even if a lower rate can be found once booked and confirmed, they have always matched it for me.

They also have a great 24hr customer service chat line in 10 different languages.

Yes some very sweet rides around town this week. Anyone know of any good roads to push em to the limit?

My guess is she will sing a slow ballad, maybe something like Whitney Houston, though I really hope she sings something in Thai. If she were to win she’ll have to be voted in by the masses, meaning the Thais will really have to like what they see. IMO most Thais hate English music, well at least the ones that I know don’t like it.

A bit like last year's winner?

Yeah I guess you’re right, anything is possible. I guess we'll just have to wait to see what happens.

I'm still under the assumption though the show was meant for amateurs and the record deal was one of the prizes for winning?

Anyone know what the deal is behind that?

It sounds pretty cool actually, most people say that is the next “happening” place, I guess we shall see in a couple of years.

Anyways what’s the deal with the business opportunity out there? Are there any bars or restaurants owned by any westerners?

Could be sign of boredom, and being power hungry. The boredom I can understand.

I have never met one since living here in Thailand, and never needed them to come to my assistance either.

IMHO let them be, and let them think whatever they want. If it makes them feel good looking in the mirror with a useless uniform so be it.

This time it’s going to be different, I’m sure she’ll be all dolled with make-up wearing a evening dress, though I could be wrong.

My guess is she will sing a slow ballad, maybe something like Whitney Houston, though I really hope she sings something in Thai. If she were to win she’ll have to be voted in by the masses, meaning the Thais will really have to like what they see. IMO most Thais hate English music, well at least the ones that I know don’t like it.

World superstar she will never become, but successes in Thailand is defiantly looking good on her side.

Something I don’t understand, is she actually the only singer on the entire show, and why does she have a record contract without having won yet?

I was under the assumption the show was intended for amateurs, and the record deal was one of the prizes for winning?

Get a PC with an hdmi output. They usually come standard on laptops but some desktop computers don't have them. Make sure your tv can display at least 1080p and it has hdmi input. Also, buy a high-speed hdmi cable if you plan to display at 1080p.

Shawn

Hey Shawn,

Curious about your comment about the HDMI so there is a big difference in quality ? I see some for 500 baht and some as high as 2500 baht.

Many thanks

There is no difference at all. The cable works, or it doesn't. It's digital.

I agree, the only exception is if your going to be repeatedly pluging it in and out of the computer or TV. Then the durability of the actual plug on both ends is something you need to consider.

I'm think it could be การหนีทหาร if your talking about a soldier.

SNAMOS

It could be the Gao Yord Yant otherwise, known as the 9 Spires Yant. This is the most common Yant I have seen most of the Farangs sporting. It’s a sacred tattoo with magical powers which will protect and bring good luck to the bearer. The Gao Yord Yant is usually tattooed on the lower part of the neck but may also be placed elsewhere. The 9 Spires Yant is a geometric design and represents the 9 Sacred Peaks of Mt. Meru and also contains 9 symbolic images of the Lord Buddha. This Yant demonstrates just how important the number 9 is in Buddhism. The Buddhas are the 3 ovals, in diminishing sizes, placed one above each other.

_{I was under the impression Kathu was the only place as well. Can you be more specific on the location? It's good to know there is another place to go, did you have to pay any extra fee?}

PCC means Phuket Country Club & overdue payments do not attract any extra fee unless they have already cut off your water.

lol I should have been able to figure that one out. Been to that office about 10 times before. I kindda figured that was the only place to pay the bill, and yes I do remember as well about the extra fees, had the water meter removed one time, 500BHT+. Staff decided to run off with the bill money.

BTW, I don't play golf.

Sukko Spa on Chaofa Rd do ink and oil (invisible) Sak Yant or Yantra tattooing.

On their website look at Activities > Sak Yank > Photo Gallery

SakYant designs are normally tattooed by wicha(magic) practitioners and Buddhist monks. Are you trying to tell us the spa has a master/ajarn on their payroll?

His name if you have it please?

IMHO looks like a very commercial 'expensive' tourist trap, but I'm sure 100% cleaner Mai Saks.

_{I was under the impression Kathu was the only place as well. Can you be more specific on the location? It's good to know there is another place to go, did you have to pay any extra fee?}

religious rules?

May I ask what those rules are? I believe only the Buddhist monks must abide by religous rules... lay buddhists don't have rules

I hope you fully understand what you are doing, and just not getting the Sak Yant because it’s the “in thing” to do. Not just any monk or individual has the "magical" powers needed to provide a genuine Sak Yant, but I’m sure if go to any tattoo parlor they will gladly make you one right there on the spot, for the right amount of cash of course. I recommend you don’t do this.

For those that don’t know Sak Yant; Sak - means "to tap" or "to tattoo", and Yant, means "Yantra". For hundreds of years Thai and Khmer warriors were renowned and feared for the magical markings tattooed on their skin. IMO, this is probably one of the main reasons it's so big in the Muay Thai scene.

I also have been personally intrigued by these types of tattoos since my arrival in Thailand many years ago, and I have done much research on it as well, eventually I came to the conclusion that I just wasn’t ready to commit to the rules that come along with having one, and also because I am not Buddhist.

Yes there are rules of abstention to follow, below are the foundational rules that all ‘real’ master will tell you to abide by. I would have probably done it if it wasn’t for rules 3, 5, and 10.

1. Do not eat Star fruit, Pumpkin, or any other ‘Gourd’ type vegetable.

2. Do not be anyone’s lover who is already married

3. It is FORBIDDEN in extreme, to slander anybody’s mother. (That’s basically everyone)

4. Do not eat food from a wedding, or funeral banquet.

5. Do not eat leftovers.

6. Do not duck under a washing Line, or an overhanging building.

7. Do not duck under a banana Tree of the type Thaanii (classed as important to avoid).

8. Do not cross a single head bridge; Large or Small bridges are not Forbidden

9. Do not sit on a ceramic urn (Common in Thailand).especially a cracked, or broken one.

10. Do not let a woman lie on top of you, or sit on top either.

11. Do not permit a man to be brushed by the blouse or skirt of a woman, or crossed in front of; especially during the her menstrual period.

Also take into consideration how a ‘real’ Sak Yant is done traditionally. .

The “Mai Sak” or “Khem Sak”(sticks/needles) are not sterilized using any type of modern sterilizing equipment. The sticks/needles are used repeatedly with only a simple placing of the sticks in a bottle of alcohol to remain there until the next use. Most masters have a collection of five to twenty Mai Sak/‘Khem Sak arranged in rows, their tips are soaking in alcohol glass bottles. Sometimes a single tattoo stick may have only half an hour to one hour between tattooing sessions to kill any bacteria that may still be there from the previous “devotee”. The tips are not cleaned thoroughly; they receive at the most a quick flush in a bucket of water. Some masters don’t even have the bottle of alcohol; they just place the needle back on its stand to await the next use. Therefore transmission of AIDS is a possibility. Hepatitis B and C are also a real danger, due to the fact that 0.04 of a thousandth of a liter of hepatitis infected blood is enough to transmit the disease. Hepatitis in such an amount of dried blood can survive on a dry surface for up to three months, in a wet environment (such as a Sak Yant needle), it can thrive.

So I guess if you’re really ready to do this, I recommend going to Wat Bang Phra Temple in Nakorn Chaisri, this is the mecca of Sak Yant Tattooing where thousands of devotees go for tattoos daily. It is the largest temple where Sak Yant tattooing is practiced in the world. I don't think there are any masters here in Phuket, but I could be wrong.

BTW, do you already know the type of Yantra you want? If not I suggest waiting and learn about this practice a bit more, last thing we need is another Farang running around sporting a tattoo he knows absolutely nothing about.

Kata Hua Jai!

Even if your not the one driving drunk, you also have to proceed with caution, because some irresponsible as%hole is.

As the saying goes " You cannot make a ho into a house wife"

This has surly been proven wrong by a good number of men dating back since the Vietnam war.

I think a whore can be converted, but, I wouldn't want to be the guy taking upon this challenge.

My question is, how many of you have actually had success marrying ex hookers, and for those of you that are single, do you think it is possible to reform the ho into a decent housewife? Would you ever consider making a prostitute your wife? IMO it would be a challenge only a very few could endure.

This question is asked with all due respect for the working girls, so please to all you Feminist activists, try to control yourself.

Nice story, but we are talking about hookers, nothing more.

Some hookers are far superior human beings to some of those who look down on them.

Though I agree with you, I don't think we should be ranking people as superior to one another or not. We all have our places in the hierarchy, we are occupants, and the hierarchical respect accords to the position, not the person. We should not be ranking one of our fellows as superior to another. We all have our virtues and vices, and its not for us to judge and weigh those

SC

Sounds great! "We all have our places in the hierarchy, we are occupants, and the hierarchical respect accords to the position, not the person" Reason enough not to wai a hooker.

OP - they are not embarrassing themsleves are they are ignorant of the wai. I was sitting in a bar/restaurant last night when a beggar girl came round the tables selling something. An ignorant farang waied her.

I see them walking into restaurants and waiing waitresses.

Waiing bargirls is of course ridiculous.

If the waitress waiing when you enter or leave, you answer the wai, or at least respond to it with a smile or sawadikrap.

My wife, who is very conservative from a conservative family is doing that. Actually more exactly and correct to servants than to people of the same level, to show you appreciate their service.

For bar girls you usually pretend to don't know that they are prostitutes.....

I think (though I am quite ignorant in such matters) that's a very 'Thai' approach.

The mark of nobility is the respect they show others; because unlike peasants, they have a choice.

"Punctuality is the stern virtue of men of business, and the graceful courtesy of princes".

SC

Yes your right, that's a very much a Thai approach, and so is using the wai. So if you don’t know how to use it, better off just saying hello or waving your hand.

What does the mark of nobility have to do with waiing a hooker? IMO it's more like the mark of a moron, and please explain " "Punctuality is the stern virtue of men of business, and the graceful courtesy of princes". What does this have to do with hookers being waiied?

Answer:

Because they think a wai is simply a gesture to say hello/goodbye, and know nothing of its actual meaning.

It's kinda cute really.

You hit it right on the nail, it would be kinda cute to a cupcake like you ay.

Very nice thread!Walking into a bar you can mostly know what the girls do for a living,to wai or not to wai,that is the Q.

I really do not think Thai people expect us Farangs to know when and how to wai and they do not get worked up about it.

They are a lot more foregiving then the op,and yes i do wai but not always but i mostly answer a wai with the same.

And yes i do meet robbers,cheaters maybe even murderers and some of them i do greet.I hope the op can forgive me.

You are forgiven.

@FlyByNights why do you even care so much that you have to waste your time on a forum about it?

Did you get stung by a hooker or something?

No I don't really care, just thought it make a good topic for this Sunday morning. Now that you mention being 'stung', actually no shitting, this morning went to get the paper and a bee flew in my helmet and stung me on my forehead. All jokes aside this seriously happened, but after I started the thread.

I cannot blame it on the sting

Perhaps they see qualities that people overly concerned with social standing miss

Like what for example?

Let me just say, the OP is clearly ignorant and I think this post is shameful.

Hookers just like everyone else are people. This is a very poor country and people have to do what is necessary to provide for themselves.

Maybe if the OP had found himself in different circumstances in his life he wouldn't be so thoughtless with his words.

People are people, regardless of what they do to make ends meet.

You should be judging the person on who they are, not what they do to put food on the table.

Unless you know the "hooker" personally, you are in not position do determine whether they deserve a wai or not.

The OP has a lot to learn.

Please save me the sad pity story

"People are people, regardless of what they do to make ends meet. You should be judging the person on who they are, not what they do to put food on the table."

Ok, be my guest and wai all the prostitutes that you want, your only making a fool of yourself.

Before you start waiing all people, at least try to understand the principle of the wai, and how it is supposed to be used. Just because someone is about to meet a hooker for a sexual services, doesn’t mean they should get the same respect with a wai, as say you were being introduced to a university teacher.

This is not the same as common western handshake. There is meaning behind a wai. Maybe your thinking it is just a simple gesture to say hello to someone?

You said "Unless you know the "hooker" personally, you are in not position do determine whether they deserve a wai or not."

It's not a determination I make, it's just something I do not do.

You should get a better understanding about the Thai culture, and then maybe you will stop waiing every single person just because you think it’s the ‘polite’ thing to do. Maybe then you can determine who and who does not deserve a wai.

What does this post say about me, is it that am not polite because I don't wai hookers? You should know when and who to wai, if you don't you shouldn't do it because it's uncalled for. They are providing services for a fee. Do you wai the cashier at the local Tesco when they wai you? Yes, you can say it is the polite thing to do, but do you actually think your wai is going to earn you more points than if you don't wai? Does it make you feel more intergrated in Thai society if you wai everybody for every reason? It's a waste of time, they really don't care if you wai them or not, their only concern is how much money your about to spend.

You haven't answered the question. Why does what other people do bother you so much? Who said anything about "earning points" anyway? I repeat, a tourist who returns a wai from a bargirl is just being polite. There's really no need for you to get so hot & bothered about it!

It doesn't matter to me, and it really doesn't bother me either. I'm not the one that looks like an idiot waiing prostitutes. A tourist doesn't know any better, but for someone who lives here, they should already be up on the game and know what time it is. I am not hot and bothered, in fact I'm enjoying reading this thread.

i wonder if you would speak the same if it was back home. No doubt you would also be proud to parade the "ex" hooker on the streets, because it really does not matter, right?

Well if I'd married her, why wouldn't I be proud of her?

You should be proud, you then would have married a professional ho. Not many westerners can say that about their spouse.

I don't understand why anyone would get so worked up about a foreigner "embarrassing himself" and post so many times to that effect here. I see many things which foreigners do which would certainly embarrass me, but so what? To each his own.

I do normally nod when the guard at the gate salutes me, but that could be my military background in not saluting when not in uniform and covered. I normally nod to the multitude of serving staff who wai as I go in a place. but what if I wai'd back? So what? I am going to confuse a waiter? Sorry, I don't buy that.

I have one section in my factory that I sort of adopted as we formed them for one of my projects. It is run by an old woman and now has about 40 women working there. When I go on a trip and have been away for long, I usually bring back chocolate for them, and when I enter, I give a sort of all encompassing modified wai. The smiles on their faces and their deep wais in return would be indications that they are not bothered by it.

WIth children, especially the small ones, some are brought up to me, and they are usually too shy or curious about a foreigner to wai on their own. They often have to be coaxed out from in back of their mother and told to wai me. I carefully and solemnly wai back, maybe not as deeply, but still a wai. The response I get is positive, and in discussing this very thing with my Thai friends, it is appropriate.

Nice story, but we are talking about hookers, nothing more.

I think when you wai you should feel your wai to be sincere in paying your respects physically, mentally and spiritually towards someone.

I don't feel this way when I go to a gogo bar or beer bar.

And beleive me, I see Farang doing it every single time I go for a massage or have a couple beers at the bar.

Have I got this right, you frequent, and are writing on Thai Visa to correct other poster's?

You must have a wonderful sun tan, living in your house made of glass.

.

I do go to go-go bars and beer bars a couple times per year, but I certainly do not wai anyone when I do go. I assume you think it's perfectly normal for a Farang to walk into a gogo or beer bar and just wai strangers, just because they wai you? Don't be a fool, they are most likely looking at you like a pig with some money to spend.

Believe me from my own experience and knowledge, their wais are not as sincere and respectful as you might think they are.

Why does this concern you so much? Returning a wai in a bar, while not necessary, is just polite. This thread really does say more about you than anything else!

What does this post say about me, is it that am not polite because I don't wai hookers? You should know when and who to wai, if you don't you shouldn't do it because it's uncalled for. They are providing services for a fee. Do you wai the cashier at the local Tesco when they wai you? Yes, you can say it is the polite thing to do, but do you actually think your wai is going to earn you more points than if you don't wai? Does it make you feel more intergrated in Thai society if you wai everybody for every reason? It's a waste of time, they really don't care if you wai them or not, their only concern is how much money your about to spend.