forrwhat

You are all just overly sensitive.  Get over it 5 min of smoke won't kill you any more than the exhaust, or sewer fumes.   Get over yourself you're not that important to push your foreign sensibilities on other countries.

You can't climb around on Stonehenge, Mt Rushmore, the Wailing wall, and other sacred monuments.  If someone did their would be outrage in each country of origin it's no different here. Why should it be?

3 hours ago, mstevens said:

 

His nickname is "BJ" which seems rather appropriate given his job in the bar industry.  I imagine it's an acronym for his name.

His nickname isn't BJ . Get your facts straight before you denigrate someone.  Shadow Bar is a sports bar not a gogo.

4 hours ago, mesterm said:

 

Who is he? One of the bar owners?

He oversees a couple of venues on cowboy and he's a great guy, but haters gotta hate.

No I was just there 2 weeks ago. I have a multi entry visa so went back and forth to make my second entry. I don't know if they are doing 30day visas.

It is still the closest to Bangkok and the stamp is small not the multi-page deal you get in Cambodia. And it's 900thb

I bought my condo 10years ago when the visa situation wasn't an issue. You would think that if you invest in a country and never break the rules , that you wouldn't be threatened with exclusion of enjoying your investment. But then again I think rationally.

I travel alot to and from Bkk and last time I returned from Phnom Penh through Don Muang. A immigration officer hand wrote in my passport " Apply visa or extension for stay in Thailand" he made me sign it and he signed it. I have had eight multi entry visas in the last 9 years but it never an over stay and I take frequent trips back to my native land. I thought it strange. upon receiving my last multiple entry tourist visa from the consulate in LA. I was told I might not get another.

I don't get this country. I don't work here. I am semi retired at 47 and other than a emails and emergencies I don't work here. I own a condo and I spend loads of money when I am here. I don't want to live here full time so the Elite card doesn't appeal to me. I would however like to spend about six or seven months a year in LOS. It looks like they don't want affluent tourists unless they can off load their money then get rid of them.

ha ha what do you mean "well done", so they caught one, there are thousands here, total incompetence, just set up a booth in walking street for a start that should catch a few hundred.

They have done this. I don't know many expats that go to the tourist areas

Most of us expats here are not IMMIGRANTS.

I think REAL immigrants would be foolish to take the approach I do (and I know others do as well, to different levels).

Also of course there are practical differences. If you're working here and you need to be more local to make that happen, well, there really isn't any choice, if you want to work here.

Many foreigners here are SINCERELY interested in Thai culture. That's different. I'm saying if you realize over time that you're really not, then if you don't have to for practical reasons, why bother FAKING it?

Some would say to be polite and respectful to the hosts here, as they see themselves as guests of the hosts. I hear that but it doesn't move me.

While I don't really care what you do personally. The problem I have is when expats come and refuse to assimilate and spend all their time complaining about how thing should change. If you want to be in a place like your home country then go back home. If you want to live abroad then quit complaining about how thing should adapt to you and not the other way around.

I thought the police released the video (albeit 2 weeks later) to catch the culprits???

Obviously not.

I'm sure catching the culprits takes backseat to making sure that tourism cash cow isn't effected. I wouldn't be surprised if the leakier didn't end up in front of a tribunal for "reeducation" instead of in court.

You do realize that Thai gold doesn't have the same purity as the gold that is standard for international exchange? In order to maximize it's value it is only practical to trade it and sell it in Thailand. So the risk of customs and excise taxes on both taking the gold from and then returning it to Thailand in order to facilitate the trading it too risky. If you really want to get Thai gold then open a safety deposit box and store it there.

For the OP their is also a PREP option. I understand you have not contracted HIV thusfar but you can take measures to protect your self as well.

i have never eaten at McD, but i know all the sheep and poor do....so i buy shares of McD and make millions as the poor eat bad meat, fish, and enjoy spending a few dollars on bad food...

love McD, they control the masses!!

You obviously don't buy shares of McDonalds or you would notice the company is hurting financially. lol

Why in the world would anyone who is internet savy say somthing like this publicly? You might as well issue a challange to all hackers.

It might also help the Bar Owners stay afloat under constant threat from modernization in the area.

All of these laws are great in a non-corrupt and racially biased society. I will applaud the effort if I ever see a Thai being ticketed.

Publicized busts like this always take place before a party of foreign dignitaries arrive. I wonder who is coming?

2 tier pricing isn't just a Thai problem. It happens in any city with a large tourism industry. Dishonest people are everywhere. I am not sure it's even illegal here in Thailand I have seen it in Phuket and Hua hin.

In my previous post I was pointing out that you need to be aware of pricing before you order. If the menu doesn't have prices you need to ask the waiter and be prepared to leave if you don't like the asking price. Caveat Emptor!

Lol I just spent 43000thb for 3 people at Robuchon and it was well worth it. If you don't look at the prices or ask the price before you order you can't blame anyone but yourself.

I went there by accident about 4 months ago as a taxi mistook Kanchananburi for Chantaburi (long story). Very easy border crossing experience. I think their were some nice looking holiday spots across the border as well. Two things that are not great; the Cambodian visa is a full page plus a stamp, the border crossing was 1500thb.

Burma is a single stamp (important to me) and 900thb.

My 2 cents

I was walking on Sukhumvit after having breakfast with a friend a while ago. A police man riding on the back of a bike came up behind me and demanded I stop. He told me he saw me throw away a cigarette. I don't smoke, so I told him this. He told me to turn out my pockets. I laughed and said no. He told me again to empty my pockets. I told him NO. I was carrying a backgammon set in one hand and a iced coffee from starbucks in the other. I said arrest me! I turned and walked away. I knew if I had emptied my pockets he would extract money from me somehow. plus I had just gone to the atm and had over 30K in my pocket.

Busking does not mean your a bum. You are playing music in public sometimes with the hopes of tips according to the quality of your playing.

Bruce Springsteen was caught busking in a NYC subway about 10 years ago. He didn't do it for money but maybe to try new material.

You walk on almost any main public through fare in any major city ( Themes in London, Kalakaua Ave in Hawaii, Los Ramblas in Barcelona,) you will see everything from an indigent playing a box to a string quartet. As long as they are not in your face begging let them be and keep walking.

Is seems posters on TV love to hate other westerners or anything similar to their place of origin.

Have you though about a Lawson's? It is a growing minimart in Bkk. They have a lot more ready to eat items as well.

http://lawson.jp/en/store/franchising/

Sin Sot is an example of how marriage in reality is more of a business arrangement than it is about love. This sin sot tradition is a form of psychological intimidation designed to misdirect long enough to get control and get a sin sot payment.

Unless you have children or want the romantic feeling of being able to say “my wife”, marriage (the business arrangement) has been legislated out of being a real positive; legally it is a form of control that weakens the individual.

Westerners actually sign a financial suicide agreement I mean a “marriage license” essentially paving the way for a government to decide how much money it will cost to end the “marriage”. In Thailand the “business arrangement” starts with a form of intimidation by custom and tradition called “sin sot”.

So you pay the Sin sod here. Then you take your new bride back to falang land. If you end in divorce there you are double donged so to speak.