henrik2000

Hello, when eating out or buying ingredients in Thailand, do you think about animal welfare? If yes, are you happy with the situation and is there a chance to get meals or ingredients with better animal welfare than normal? In the big cities, in smaller places? If yes, do you apply the same standards regarding animal welfare in Thailand and in the west? Did you ever talk with Thai people about it? What are your consequences? PS I believe that in some hot countries free range village chicken have a good reputation - see “native chicken” in Philippines, “ayam kampung” in Indonesia, “bicycle chicken” in West Africa and a similar thing in Cambodia. I don't know if Thai people are concerned.

Hi all, thanks for more interesting input!

Thanks Khun LA.

Hi, Constitution Day is December 10, but one German source referenced by MS Bing Copilot says this year Constitution Day is moved to December 11, to enable a nicer long weekend. My questions: Are schools and offices (private, governmental) closed on Constitution Day? Is the Constitution Day now practically effective December 10 AND 11? Or December 11 only? Which days causes most freetime traffic? (Not asking about alcohol.) I am upcountry and plan trips to waterfalls, silkmakers etc. If Constitution Day on Dec 10 and maybe 11 has the masses on the streets, i'd reconsider plans. Thanks!

It sounds like you're not really in the market for the in-call experience, so why expostulate. I also do think, when the therapist comes to your abode, it's usually called "outcall" by both parties.

I see your point. But i had horrible experiences in massage shops, with customers and/or masseuse talking boastfully loudly literally overy my head, too hot or too cold (once got a cold), shower disagreable, and then stepping back onto the mad street when i'd just like to curl up. Actually i also find the girls slightly adventurous to enter a foreign male's condo, and i try everything to make them feel safe (which maybe they don't even require). One massage lady said, "i feel safe because i know this area". I asked her how this helps if she's locked into a 15th floor condo with a madman. She didn't know either.

Keeps, thanking for comment and identifying. I fully agree with you, but i am still not sure what Thais make of it.

Hello, in Tom Yum soups like Tom Yum Khung i always find these ingredients: Do Thai people eat them? Or are they just added for taste, but left uneaten on the plate/in the bowl? I asked several Thai foodies about it, including a restaurant cook. They all suspected i suspect Thais of poisoning me with inedible ingredients. They insisted: “Yes, can eat!” I have no doubt you can eat it. But do they really? No Thai was able to distinguish between – possible to eat – actually eaten by most people Then i talked to a professional Cambodian cook who does excellent Thai and Mexican stuff as well. She said: “I pitied the foreigners gnawing on these woodsy and leafy bits. When i knew the Tom Yum or some such was for a foreigner, i fished those ingredients out after cooking with them.” Obviously she didn’t worry being blamed with delivering an incomplete Tom Yum. Was she right to fish the stuff out? Would you have liked to gnaw on it?

Warning, idiot here. Now: Several ladies on Thaifriendly advertise regular non-naughty massage services at customers’ homes. Here is some of the communication I got: ___LADY 1: ME: Hello khrap, can you come to my condo in Jomtien in soi 1 today at 1:30 p.m. for 2 hours of oil massage? If you have time, please tell me your price for 2 hours and transport. Thank you! SHE: Lline id XYZ ME (in Line): Hello khrap, it's me again from Thaifriendly. So can you come to my condo in Jomtien in soi 1 today at 1:30 p.m. for 2 hours of oil massage? If you have time, please tell me your price. Thank you! SHE: hi ME: ((30 minutes silence)) SHE: what give line no talk fake block getaway SHE: getaway ___LADY 2: ME: Hello khrap, can you come to my condo in Jomtien in soi 1 today at 1:30 p.m. for 2 hours of oil massage? If you have time, please tell me your price for 2 hours and transport. Thank you! SHE: I work from 10:00 to 4:30. ME: That means you can massage me because you work outcall massage? Or does it mean you can NOT massage me because you work something else? SHE: Tomatoes and today I work from 10:00 to 4:30.!!! ___LADY 3 is from a massage shop near the condo. Unlike other massage shops, they offer a reasonable price for outcall massage ME: I stay in condo building LookSea XY down the road. Do you know it? SHE: Sure i know it - can go. I write down condo building name and LINE ID and leave. So easy. No need to deal with confusing TFers. SHE (on the phone): Where ARE you? I’m in condo LookSea XY in the lobby, but i don’t see you!! ME: But i am in the lobby too, and i don’t see you too! You’re sure you are in condo LookSea XY? SHE: Of course i am in condo LookSea XY! Why you tell me wrong! I wait you already… oh, wait, what? Oh, sorry nakha, the man says this is condo LookSea YZ! Where is LookSea XY? Please give me 10 minutes, i come. ___LADY 4: from TF again. ME: Hello khrap, can you come to my condo in Jomtien in soi 1 today at 1:30 p.m. for 2 hours of oil massage? If you have time, please tell me your price for 2 hours and transport. Thank you! SHE: That's fine, I can come at 13:30 p.m. today and the price is 800 for 2 hours including transport to your place. I am free today. SHE (later): I'm on my way now ((attached screenshot of Bolt trip shows ETA 1:25 p.m.))

Conditions for product application ((Kasikorn Pay + Tour)) Applicant nationality Foreign tourists (non-Thai nationals) Age 20 years and older Limitation Limited to one person/e-wallet Application format In-person at at KASIKORNBANK foreign exchange booth Required documents Passport Source: Kasikorn Bank

Hi all, thanks for your advice, now following your suggestions I ordered some earpads from Lazada to be sent to my next hotel. I made sure to pay in advance by credit card, so that the hotel would not be forced to pay on delivery. I may have typed in the wrong three digit number perhaps, and in that case I would have expected that the order didn't go through; instead the order was switched just-so to "pay on delivery ", exactly what hotels don't like (but what Lazada certainly likes more than a canceled order). Would have liked to get exactly the earpads that you show here, but weren't available for my xm5 (which I got very nicely second-hand, with big discount and almost no sign of usage). Sound quality and noise canceling are certainly impressive, after coming from a Bose headphone that disappointed me unexpectedly in the sound department (it will go back onto the second chance market, where it came from).

Hi all, thanks for your input and sorry for late reply!

Hello, I have the on-ear-headphones Sony WH-1000XM5 (see pic below). They are quite new, but the earpads make me sweat here in Thailand. Now I've seen online there are replacement earpads for sale that give your poor head a cooler time, supposedly. I am sure I could get these earpads from an online shop in Thailand, but is there a recommendable local shop for those earpads in Pattaya or Jomtien? I only know Tukcom. Especially I’d love the shop to fumble off the existing ear pads and to mount the new ones, which they’ll certainly do much better than I myself could do it. It would also be nice to touch the fabric to see if I'm fine with it. I do NOT need pure 1:1 replacement earpads; the original ones are fine. But I need earpads that are clearly better suited to hot climate and head and sit perfectly on my Sony model. If you have any experience with certain shops (including mounting service?) or products (including “cooling gel” ear-pads), I'd like to hear from you. Thanks!

Hey, there seems to be "Pay by Scan" courtesy of Kasikorn Bank and TagThai: 1. Get the prepaid Pay&Tour card at Kasikorn Bank forex booths (no fees mentioned). This card allows you to pay where visa cards are accepted and to withdraw from Kasikorn ATMs (less fees + restrictions than int'l visa cards?). 2. Get the TagThai app and connect it to your Kasikorn Pay&Tour card. After that, they say, you can "pay by scan" like any Thai (they mention "PromptPay" which seems to be the widespread payment system). Here on Apple App Store and here on Google Play (1m+ downloads on GPlay, but again I don't see any reviews). TagThai seems to have many more functions like travel booking etc. (website TagThai in English), and I anticipate lots of pestering notifications and reminders. Would love to hear of any experiences and if there is a Kasikorn outlet in Jomtien that could set it up – I'll happily bring passport + prepay money.

Roger, Sophon and Treetops, thanks for your input!