AsiaTraveler1234

How do they pad the bill when paying with credit cards? 🤔 I always know the total cost before I place the order, whether taxi or food, which is why I use Grab, Bolt, Food Panda, Lineman, etc.

I am in Jomtien Beach (Pattaya area) and Food Panda here still lists THB 10 as "most popular' tip option, so I usually select that option for that reason. When in Rome.

I often order Grab Food Delivery and pay with the credit card tied to my account. It always makes for a seamless and efficient food delivery process. Upon completion of each delivery, Grab always asks me to rate the delivery driver, and then it gives me myriad tip options. I'm curious how much, if any, people generally tip when ordering Grab food delivery and are prompted with all the tipping options. I usually tip THB 20, but I recently tried Food Panda and it says "most popular option" under the THB 10 tipping box. Personally, I hate tipping and wish they would just set the proper price and not solicit for tips (like most things in my home country, Australia) so that customers aren't paying different prices for the same product or service resulting in differential treatment from employees. Grab recently implemented 3% (Thailand) and 4% (Vietnam) foreign transaction fees on credit card payments, which is also offputting and made me install the Food Panda app recently which doesn't do that.

English and Thai are clearly very different languages, whether written or spoken. I want to vote absentee in the upcoming US election, but I'm not sure how to write my address here in Thailand so that the ballot (or any other mail) actually reaches me. If I write my Thai address in English, will the local Thai post office know how to deliver it when received from the USA? On the flip side, if I list the address in Thai will the US Post Office know what to do with it? I also don't believe I am able to cut and paste Thai characters into the ballot request form anyway, so the first part of the question likely is more relevant. Does anyone have experience mailing things from the USA/UK/Australia to Thailand, and, if so, do you write your local address in Thai or English?

I can't find good cheap wine in Thailand. I can tolerate a wine called Hope's End Red Blend that I buy at Food Mart for around THB 550 for a 750ml bottle. It's not good, but it beats everything else I have tried in the under THB 600 (USD $18) price point. I had no problem at all in Australia or the States finding good cheap wine. One of my favorite cheap wines back home is USD $10 but here that same bottle is THB 999 (USD $30).

Thanks for the tip, but I doubt the veggie restaurant will let me bring in some chicken or prawns to go with my brown rice 😪 Still good to know, though! Thanks again 🙏

Yeah, 'same same but different' regarding alternative milk options in coffee. 9 out of 10 coffee shops only offer whole milk. While rare, it's now possible these days to find oat and almond milk options. I'm hoping, with time, that more restaurants will start offer healthier carb options like brown rice, quinoa, or the berry rice that the other poster mentioned, which is news to me!

Anyone know of any restaurants in Jomtien/Pattaya that have brown rice? I'm trying to eat healthier whole grain carbs, but everything here in Thailand seems to be refined white rice 🤔 Perhaps a pad krapow with brown rice?

Haha... when I say diarrhea, I'm talking liquid poop. Like you are peeing out of your bum! For me, it always starts suddenly, usually in the middle of the night, so I immediately begin a BRAT (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) diet the next day and only drink electrolyte water, tea, and fresh coconut or guava juice. But, if it lasts more than 2-3 days without noticable improvement, then I take 500mg Azithromycin once a day for 3 days. I take it in conjunction with Loperamide (Imodium), 4mg after initial "day 3" diarrhea (when I also take the first Azithromycin) and 2mg each diarrhea thereafter, not exceeding 16mg per day over a course of 2 days. That always resolves it within 2 or 3 days. The detail above is for others who come across this thread and may be looking for a solution. I certainly agree with all the prior posts, including the person who seems to do something similar to my regiment above, the person concerned about antibiotic resistance, and the person talking about sanitation and food safety issues. Such a complex issue to navigate! Hats off to you guys who lived in SE Asia 20+ years and never, or rarely, had to deal with this issue! 🙏💩💧

I have been traveling SE Asia for almost 2 years now. I rarely, if ever, got diarrhea in the United States or Australia, yet I seem to get a nasty case about every 6 weeks or so while in Asia, whether in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, etc. I take precautions and generally avoid street food, always wash hands with soap and then dry thoroughly before eating and after using the washroom. I'm curious how often other long-term Western visitors or expats here in Asia get diarrhea, how long it typically lasts for you, and what you have found to be the best treatment, generally. Thanks!

The safest way to pay is to load your credit card into a digital wallet app like Apple Pay or Google Wallet, then tap and pay with your phone. Best way to reduce risk of credit card fraud.

Yes, there are a few companies that run ferries from Phuket to Krabi. Just be sure to check their reviews on Trip Advisor, Google). I'm not sure if the ferries run in low season, but they definitely do in high season. https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g297937-d10064766-Reviews-Tigerline_Travel-Thalang_District_Phuket.html While in Krabi, be sure to visit Koh Lanta's Long Beach if you are after some peace and quiet.

Exactly. With short time, you are getting something (sex) in exchange for the resources. When you give someone resources to support for their family or buffalo, it is that family, not you, who receives the benefit. As an analogy, short time is more like buying a cheeseburger for yourself, as opposed to donating to a cause of feeding hungry kids in Africa.

Yes, I believe 60 day visa exempt started this July. I arrived June and got 30 days.

Despite Bolt being cheaper and preferred by locals, I used to use Grab exclusively, mainly because they are all over SE Asia so it didnt matter where I was; I could always use the same app. I wanted to support the business model of the company. However, Grab recently implemented a 3% foreign payment fee, which is total BS since the charges are in the local currency and processed through the global visa network. As a result of this bogus fee, I now use Bolt in Thailand for rides, and I use Food Panda for food delivery. In Bangkok, I use the BTS since traffic doesn't move 🤣

In Pattaya you can try NB Service. I've used them successfully for a lot of different services here in Thailand. NB Service 329/35 soi new plaza 2nd 9 nongprue banglamoung Pattaya City, Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri 20150 +66 95 768 9851

Yes, I don't like those foreigners who think Pattaya is half of Thailand when, clearly, it's three-quarters! 🤣

I love Thai Airways, too. Probably my second favorite airline after Qantas. I also like Air Asia if you pay for the better seats.

That... and they are less likely to get emotionally attached to their partner or otherwise experience negative emotions.

You are correct. Perhaps what the poster meant to say is that you can acquire gonorrhea, Chlamydia, herpes and HPV via oral sex, which is true, whereas I don't believe there has been a documented transmission of HIV via oral (while still possible, in theory). Without barrier protection, vaginal sex is higher risk than oral sex. And anal sex is higher risk than vaginal sex. An earlier posted mentioned about testing for gonorrhea and Chlamydia in the throat. This is true and, while less common, should likely be tested for via throat swab culture once a year, for those you are oral receptive partners of a penis (i.e., straight women and gay/bi men).

Yes, me too! The aesthetics were what prompted the research, initially, but once I learned about the health benefits and added cleanliness, that sealed the deal 👍

I agree 💯! I, too, am vaccinated against Hep A, Hep B, and HPV (Gardisil). I also just got the new Qdenda vaccine for dengue fever 2 weeks ago. Bangkok hospital was running a special. Dengue a big and growing problem in SE Asia!

I actually had an adult circumcision in my early 20s (no joke). I was born in the UK where they don't circumsize at birth, but I grew up in the United States. At that time, American girls weren't used to my "pencil dick," so I was concerned that I might miss out on potential sexual opportunities as a result. So, I did some research and learned about the health benefits of male circumcision and decided to go for it. It wasn't fun, but in retrospect I am happy I did it since I very much value health and cleanliness. So, yes, there is marked desensitivity (similar to that of using a condom vs. not), and even my girlfriend at the time (who had sex with me for years before before and after the procedure) agreed that the sensitivity for HER was less. Apparently, the foreskin moving back and forth during sex is pleasurable for her, too. I also knew in advance that I likely would experience less sensitivity, having read academic papers about adult male circumcision prior to the operation. The good thing, aside from the general health benefits of male circumcision, is that the decreased sensitivity, like a condom, allows me to last longer during sex. For those who are curious, after the procedure I was basically in bed for 2-3 days, could walk OK after about 5 days, and could technically have sex after a month but I waited 2 months as a precaution.

Yes, male circumcision is good for risk reduction, especially if you dont mind the marked decrease in sensitivity. PREP is great for HIV prevention, but it isn't cheap and only good for HIV, not bacterial bugs like gonorrhea, etc. Antibiotic resistant gonorrhea is on the rise and quite concerning. Condoms still are the safest route, just like wearing a seatbelt or helmet when driving a car or motobike, respectively. I do all 3, and I assume you don't. It really just comes down to your level of risk tolerance.

Perhaps read instead of skim, mate 🧐🤣