bangkok19

I think it's just a hangover from the COVID recovery era... When we didn't have to fill out the arrival cards, but they still wanted to know our country of origin (not birth).

X-WING in lower Pitt St, Sydney. They're (run by Thai's) in Thai-town a few doors up the road from the Thai Pub (the Chamberlain). Their exchange rate is usually around 0.4 baht less than Vasu (you check with the Vasu website prior to give you an idea). If you give X-WING the $$$ in the morning, it will be in the recipient's bank account late afternoon. (Thai time). You can transfer up to $9K. A much more inexpensive way of transferring money compared with the banks (urghh!) and Forex!

The Bierstube was a bit of an institution back in the day. I used to lob in there regularly after an early morning run for breakfast. I can always remember those drunken afternoons stranded in there during the wet season. Standing ankle deep in water with the cockroaches running along the bar with no place to go.. much like myself. John's Place's old building was a bit of a landmark. Lots of history along that stretch of Moonmuang Rd. Does anybody remember Chiang Mai's version of Thermae? aka THE PEACOCK COFFEE SHOP on the street level of the old Montri Hotel. All the (bar) girls from the Night Bazaar and Moonmuang area would go there for after hour drinks and whatever. You would always run into the regulars.. girls from THE KAREN HUT, Stuart's OASIS BAR, THE BLACK CAT, THE BIG BEER BAR, hell.. there was even the waitress there from the HUNGRY HORSE restaurant. There were girls from the HEART COCKTAIL LOUNGE and THE BLUE SKY BAR which was next to the old CHIANG INN hotel (behind the 'actual' NIGHT BAZAAR complex. Loi Kroh Rd had no bars whatsoever. It was the late night walking route from the night Bazaar back to the moat. Nothing along there except for the sound of wind chimes at the Temple and the odd motorcycle with a katoey asking if you want a ride(?) The only bars were at the corner of Kotchasarn Rd, Ba ba bo bo on one corner and that Irish place on the other corner where you had to sign the book (?). Linda Bar (I think) was the next to open in the late 80's or early 90's. Sadly a lot of the aforementioned places are gone so that's why it's good to see John's Place continue! *Footnote - back then I was "living" in the Anodard Hotel. The lady (Sajee) who used to play the piano accordion in the hotel's coffee shop actually opened the very first bar in Soi Cowboy.

Monsoon's buffet breakfast was great and only 250 baht... then it went up to 300 baht.... then Covid hit, and now it's ala carte. For a Soi that totally fits the OP's description.. you gotta get out've town a little.

"the thief was wearing expensive designer brand shoes when he committed the crime".... That narrows it down! He's definitely wealthy. 😂

Best to get advice from a Skin specialist/Dermatologist first before removing any moles. There could be previously undetected cancer cells lurking within and underneath. Moles that have changed in appearance eg. got darker or a more textured surface are worthwhile checking out before removing or tattooing over!

The (dry) wines they sell in Lotus and Big C are the usual suspects that wines companies from the 'new world' mass produce with the export market their target. You'll see the same Chilean, Oz and South African labels on both their shelves. They're overpriced by Thai standards because you can get a "premium" wine for a similar price in Villa Supermarket, Bangkok (upstairs) ot Rimping Supermarket, Chiang Mai. I'm basing this on what you can buy for 650/750 baht. In the Big C you'll pay that for a Jacobs Creek Shiraz which is pretty basic... in Villa it can get you a pretty nice NZ Pinot Noir. Stock storage conditions (temperature controlled), if inadequate, can spoil some wines very quickly. The "screw top" is a plus as I've had so many crumbling corks over the years in Thailand. Rimping Supermarket always have "specials" in the bargain barrels.. quite possibly old stock. To sum up the above... next time you're in BKK, take a look in Villa Supermarket. If you were going to spend 400 baht in Lotus or Big C (or worse) Makro to buy skunk juice, then pay a little extra for a wine that you can actually drink FOR THE TASTE, and not JUST the effect. And... to state the obvious, leave the Red in the fridge for 45 minutes before opening!

Purple Urine... not a big deal! I have it quite often after eating a whole fresh beetroot the previous day.

In 1992, after going past that "bus graveyard" on the highway at Ayuthaya and seeing all the wrecks there, I swore to myself that I'd never travel on a Thai coach again, ever. Even the 'hotel pick-up' mini buses are a worry as they race each other to the Airport.

LEVI'S 511 jeans have very deep front pockets.

I can see all those IKEA shoppers trying to squeeze on the skytrain at Phrom phong station during the afternoon 'peak' with their IKEA flat-packs. I'm accustomed to being pushed by people's backpacks but a flat-pack might just reshape my toes!

I order online from BULK NUTRIENTS. They have flavoured and unflavoured. It comes in resealable bags so easy and inexpensive to ship. I think they're an Aussie company based in Tasmania. The unflavoured WPI doesn't taste all that bad compared to some of the other unsweetened stuff.

Sometimes it's comforting hearing from other blokes with a similar problem. It kinda expands your knowledge of the problem a little and makes you more aware of the options so that when the Urologist does advise either medication or operation, you've been somewhat pre informed (so to speak).

Yeah, I'm sure all the ladies are going to be hanging around the bar between 2am and 4am to make up for the non serving of alcohol and keep the customer(s) amused. The novelty will wear off into the New Year (for bar owners) which will leave just a few that will stay open, those few will have to stock up on their supplies of empty brown envelopes.

Cloud 47 on Silom Rd in the United Services Bldg is excellent. Get there at 5pm on a weeknight. Very quiet with a great view. Also the 360 Bar stop the Hilton Millennium on the River. Easily accessible these days by getting BTS to Krung Thonburi and changing to the Gold Line. Also atop The Marriott on the cnr of Soi 57 and Sukhumvit Rd. I'd steer clear of Lebua/State Tower, too many people. I went to another rooftop restaurant at a hotel right next to Centralworld but I forgot the name, Anatara?

The Colonoscopy is the easy part! The laxative 'fruit juice ' you drink the day before is best drunk chilled, after the first litre it tastes like sh*t. Then, after the Op, when you go home, be prepared for several very long f*rts... they pump a bit of wind into your rear during the Op. and it blows out later!

Where they had asked me for Proof Of Accomodation, I scanned my 4 hotel's 'confirmation' letters (printed out from their email) with all 4 pages overlapping so that the 'dates' were all showing.. the result was one A4 page with the 4 dates and part of the hotel's details. I sent them this in jpeg format of course, all good. Doubt whether any 'human' actually looks at it. My buddy did the e-visa thing last month and wasn't even asked for proof of accomodation. Streamlining the process???

I recall years ago I wanted to take a photograph of my wife in the grounds of Wat Chedi Luang under a HUGE tree with a real camera (not phone) and there were a few focussing adjustments etc to make. My wife was feeling uneasy and said we shouldn't be taking pictures here. (she's Thai)... with that said, a branch about 6ft long fell down from the tree and grazed her shoulder. Lots of 'pee' in that compound!

A good tip at the end of the meal would've healed all the wounds.

You're saying that Caribou isn't Lukthung because of your so-called experience in the Thai music industry?!?! You certainly are a slow learner! You can "name drop" all you want (re Sunaree) but that doesn't help the fact that you got this one wrong! I said in my first post that Caribou was Lukthung.. you disagreed. I'm outta here 'cos I WIN! I'll let ChatGP have the final say.

...you still here?

You are obviously not Thai... ask a Thai person! You should stop arguing while you're still behind. In your case, better to remain silent and be thought of as a fool, than to upload more posts about this topic and remove all doubt! Check out either their all-green coloured CD (title cover insert) or the one with the Thai Flag (on the title cover insert).

I'm unsure of their correct titles but I can sing you a few lines and maybe you'll recognize them and give me the correct song titles. And they are definitely Lukthung or Morlam (Country). Perhaps calling them a "protest" band is more accurate, and whether they're protesting against the right or wrong side of politics is a matter of personal opinion. They are lucky enough to have the talent to express their opinion in the form of music. Anyway, you say they're not political enough so what are you bitching about? The fact that they supported the Yellow Shirts?

Ask any Thai ADULT that enjoys the lukthung genre what they think of the band. If you could speak fluent Thai you could pick the double meanings in some of their lines. I said "too political" and you said "not political enough"..."not surprising from a yellow shirt".. I said TOO POLITICAL and you're actually agreeing with me in your provoking, argumentative way. If a yellow shirt isn't a political activist, I don't know what is!