JimTripper

I don't have a "budget". I just want a real kitchen.

Nah, I only cook on full size gas ranges. Have fun playing with your "convection oven".

A well heeled segment of the younger generation also wants unique "quality experiences". It could be an Airbb, a location, venue or person or a concert festival. Something that's memorable and selfie worthy. Typically, that also means something new, though it could be something old and rare, that fewer people have experienced with a weird twist. For example, going to view the pyramids but seeing it from a fancy baloon tour with wine, etc. Well worn stomping grounds like Nana, Cowboy & Patpong are defintely not on the radar.

Did you think the area had turned much more gay when you were there? I started noticing a lot of guy couples at the bars who I initially thought were just associates, but after awhile they looked gay. Just a vibe I got in general, not at an oriented bar.

If you can't afford one just ask the 7-11 to heat your meals. They have a microwave there. It's free.

I only went in very rarely. It did not matter much to me. I usually went around the corner and got one of the 99 baht fresh made pizzas.

I found it not that cheap, at least for regular daily dining. Many of the meals were a conservative $6-7 Usd with a drink when you do the currency conversion.

You can do a live cam interview with id.me to get a login code. After that setup biometric login with a fingerprint or facial recognition.

Probably the principal of it, not the 25 cents.

I never got the card because it has an expiration date. I don't like keeping track of dates.

Or start welcoming complaining customers and filming it 🤣 to sue later on.

Actually, that's not correct. In Thailand it does not matter if the base complaint is true or not. It's the reputation of the accused in the eyes of the public that matters. Why do you think businesses can't be mentioned here? Many of those complaints are legit. Saying legit complaints should be allowed is not understanding Thai society. The individual is not primary over the interests of a larger group. One persons complaint is just one person, so they should not be able to influence everybody because they had a bad reaction. Thai's "feel bad" about the one person's criticism so will not return to the establishment even knowing it's just one person. They are oversensitive to criticism and can't see a single complaint as not their complaint. They have "absorbed" the other persons complaint into themselves like a sponge.

I miss Jimmy Carter. I wish he was still President.

It may look like that temporarily. There are many more that succumb to drinking, partying, scams, women... They will never tell you that, however. Would you see this guy going down the rabbit hole if you visited his bar early on? It would appear as if he were living the dream, though you may wonder why he seemed "so happy", usually because he over extended himself. Beware of people and situations that seem to perfect.

I agree. Living within your means is rare anywhere, however. If you can really do that everything is Ok.

I'm not so sure about that. The downward progression seems reasonable in the interview. Things get worse little by little. He needs income, then buys truck, then needs insurance, then the brother needs tires, etc etc. It's a slow progression, not just an idiot move. Every step to secure his future requires just "a little bit more" to make it work. Maybe you don't understand how these things play out over time.

Part of the problem could also be that the place simply was not making money. Things always seem Ok somehow when money is coming in even with the relationship problems or skimming. There always seems to be a problem when money gets tight even with a great setup and relationships. I used to walk by that bar when I lived at VT2B and the bars in that complex were always empty and not even open during the daytime, except for the several at the very end near the market. The whole area smelled of desperation. Here's a much better interview I found about it: I'm not sure if it's the same bar thought or a different guy 🤣

We don't care what Thai's think. We are talking about looking like a tourist or not.

I heard that McDonald's in California is a $20 meal now (around 700 baht).

There are a million other things that could have been the cause. People like to single out one thing as a casual factor. Look at any lifestyle habit he has and you could point to it as a healer.

You're hung up on timeframes.

I have one. It's called a microwave.

199 is pricey for just a salad bar in CM. Many seafood buffets are around that or maybe slightly more like 299 (unless they have gone up since I was there 🤣) The ruler is what is appropriate in the location you're in, not other countries or how much money you have. They meant "it's too much for me", not "it's too much". It was a private conversation between the patron and server. Maybe you misinterpreted what they meant or said by listening into their conversation for some reason being nosy. Next time mind your own business unless you are addressed directly.