Kevin_Beethoven

I was thinking same. Surely there are many other building under construction in BKK. Why didn't they fall down? And existing buildings seemed to have fared fairly well, at least for now. Seems like there must be some massive issue with the construction materials of the fallen building or it is a case of a number of factors that produced the worst example of bad luck ever seen.

Everything looks normal right now in the Soi Cowboy area according to the live cam...

Yeah. Obviously shoddy construction. Been thru a couple similar to that in Taipei. Everyone went around like nothing happened. Me. I was on the 20 floor of an office building and "freaked out" which was a first for me 🤣

This was on the "Today" show. Seems like they did not have any video of Myanmar but tons of the Bangkok building collapse so led with that.

Gotta love US media: Today show leads with "Massive earthquake hits central Bangkok". No mention of Myanmar.

Thank you, thank you, thank you everyone for taking time to advise. I decided to buy an AIS 7 day eSim on Amazon. Use that to get settled in country then pu a new AIS 6 month eSim in Bangkok.

So will be in BKK for several months. Maybe longer. Business (mostly). Prol travel to adjoins countries for a sortie now and then. do I need to buy phone service? I have iPhone with new type of built in sim device. I’ve been in Taiwan a while and honestly WiFi is everywhere and I tell US contacts to use WhatsApp. anyone have opinions on the matter 😁

Thanks for the leads. Appreciate it.

Title says it all. Looking for a place to watch EPL, Champs League and F1. Plus major boxing matches. Expats, locals and cute women in the crowd would be nice! Cheers,

Looks good @Gaccha. Website didn't mention any prices. Any idea of the costs? https://www.42tee-off.com/

Shortly off to BKK on a 2 month stint. Mostly work. But want to take as much time as possible to absorb the culture. however, one thing I'd like to continue is practicing golf. Something Ive taken up recently and dont want to slip in 2 months. Anyone know of a recommended golf driving range in, or close to, central BKK? Not sure where Ill be staying tbh, so anything easily accessible from central BKK by uber will work. Will be bringing a small selection of clubs from US so no need to rent clubs. Cheers.

What a fantastically interesting man. Would love to buy him a drink and hear more about this episode. I wonder if he is a proponent Nietzsche's work? Perhaps he wanted to foster an environment of meaning in his life to overcome the impending nihilism he has become entrenched in? Hmmm... perhaps the reality that the traditional idea that truth is incoherent got to him? Is he shouting "Nietzsche was right you bastards!" on top of that car? Or maybe he is just a loony?

This too concerns me as I prepare for a working vacation to BKK. But really I know the writing is on the wall. As I searched on YouTube for information on BKK, all I could find was how to live on a pittance in BKK and still have fun. Worse still are the posts on how groups of Indians club their money together to go all in on a group shag of a prostitute in order to save money (even commenting on the "bonus" shag to be had by all in the morning). Probably its age-related. I was a backpacker for couple of years out of college but these days I find them irritating. Couple years ago I met up with a friend in Tokyo. For some incomprehensible reason he brought along 2 European backpackers to dinner with us. After dinner they argued that I needed to pay more based on their calculation. I said, I couldn't care less and paid for the whole dinner. Later we went to a bar and they were counting up coins to pay for their drinks. Again I felt so sorry for them I paid the bill myself. Just embarrassing all the way round. So, I will do my best to avoid these situations. As one poster said, just head to the high class places. This is what I am optimistic for BKK - i am hoping to be able to frequent top class venues for a fraction of the price found in Tokyo, Shanghai, HK, etc. I suppose I will do a reconnaissance of Soi-Cowboy and other such places in order to be informed. But, to the OP's point, and with no experience of BKK myself, I would hope there is a high class, top notch experience to be had away from the YouTuber, backpacker, Social-Security brigade.

I'd definitely like to hear of any suggestions of decent Jazz bars. Entrance fee not an issue.

Not, I don't think I am a troll. A naïve bloke when it comes to BKK, but less so each day as I read more here. 😅 Thank you for the input!

There is a lot of truth on both sides here. The bar is continuing to be set high by women here in the USA in terms of what they want from a man. It really does feel like its getting unattainable for many men to find a partner. I've been divorced twice here and so have been in the dating game quite a few times. One statistic sort of put things in perspective: Something like the top 5% of men on dating apps get 95% of the action. How is your "regular guy" supposed to fare in that environment? Not sure how, but I've done OK. Just not able to make it last 🤣 I am originally from the UK and find the women there much more approachable. Chinese women - very approachable Japanese women - takes too long to get to know Taiwanese women - way too shy Thai women - will find out in a few months 😅 Good luck fellas!

This thread is thoroughly interesting! With my trip to Thailand and surrounding coming up, I can't help but think of my old friends experience in Thailand: Educated guy working for a major software company (where we met). Talented investor, and shrewd businessman. I always admired him. I hadn't heard from him in several years until a late-night phone call. He was almost crying. Apparently he was making trips out to Thailand for "recreational purposes" to alleviate the stress of his work. Within a few months he had married a Thai lady, brought her back to the US and then found out she was shagging a guy at the local college she started attending. She later asked for a divorce. Of course, you guys have probably heard this story over and over again. But it really shocked me at how it happened to someone I thought was so smart!

Thanks for that. That kind of price is just amazing. A week or so in Florida (domestic flights) would run me $3,000 to $4,000 on the budget side. Good hotels in BKK on booking.com seem outrageously cheap. I stayed in Air BnBs in the other countries, but with hotel prices like this I might just stay in hotels and move about into different parts of the city. One thing I find in Asian countries (even the expensive ones) is that theres always something that they havent risen the price up for Westerners. E.g. in Taipei I got the most amazing haircuts, in what I would describe a "spa", for $30. In US or UK probably run $150 - $200. I have a lot to learn about this place, I know!

Thanks @Walker88 - appreciate the thoughtful reply. I definitely think BKK will be a great adventure. My title probably sounded a bit offensive or even dumb. I've lived (on business) in Taipei, HK, and Shanghai. Whilst they were all fantastic places, They were expensive. It sort of bothered me that I came back home basically broke after hearing how "cheap" Asia is! Hoping BKK and surrounding countries will be as you say and also, much cheaper! This trip I hope to take in some of the more high end entertainment in BKK and not break the bank. In any case, lots of good information here. Looking forward to getting over there and being another Westerner with the "What the <deleted>" look on his face 🙂 Once again, cheers.

Looks like I ruffled some feathers here. Not my intention. It was a genuine question based on a lot of threads I've read here on AN in last few weeks. In any case. Appreciate the feedback. All the best and have a great new year everyone.

I pulled this quote from a thread I started posing a question on "Alternative Music" in BKK. Rather than reply to this particular response I thought it deserved its own thread. Background: I've taken a company opportunity to do a 6 month stint in BKK to try and expand our business. Chose BKK due to what I would assume is its exoticness and fun nightlife and as a staging ground to trips to adjacent countries. Did I choose the wrong gig? Or was the original poster being a bit "over the top". Will I return back to the USA penniless, with VD, and possibly fired due to not doing my job due to distractions? Or will it be a life fulfilling experience? And if the title statement turns out to be true, is there an alternative place where I can find an alternative BKK "like the good old days of the 2000's, 1990's, 1970's etc.!!!" Edit: Quote in title is not my words. I.e. not my grammar!

No worries. After reading the thread again I realize It seems i may be trying to bring my own idea of what BKK should be to the table. Time to jump in and just see and enjoy what is on offer rather than what I think it should be! Cheers all.

Good point. I found this list online. Its pretty decent but focuses mostly on 90's. It's a good starting point but would love to hear similar genre for more recent alt-rock bands. Bonus would be any local bands doing similar music! 1. Pixies 2. Radiohead 3. The Smiths 4. R.E.M. 5. Talking Heads 6. The Velvet Underground 7. The Cure 8. Pavement 9. The Smashing Pumpkins 10. Sonic Youth 11. Red Hot Chili Peppers 12. Joy Division 13. The Replacements 14. The Strokes 15. Elvis Costello & The Attractions 16. The Jesus & The Mary Chain 17. Interpol 18. The White Stripes 19. Rage Against the Machine 20. Belle & Sebastian 21. Ween 22. Fugazi 23. Death Cab For Cutie 24. The Pretenders 25. INXS 26. New Order 27. PJ Harvey 28. Arctic Monkeys 29. Echo & The Bunneymen 30. Arcade Fire 31. Yo La Tengo 32. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds 33. Siouxsie & The Banshees 34. Beck 35. Dinosaur Jr. 36. XTC 37. The Black Keys 38. Wilco 39. Muse 40. The B-52's 41. Jane's Addiction 42. Depeche Mode 43. Bauhaus 44. Joe Jackson 45. The Jam 46. Yeah Yeah Yeahs 47. Public Image Ltd. 48. Flaming Lips 49. The Shins 50. Modest Mouse

Well, you certainly have more experience than I regarding Taipei. I was there on a 6 month gig. The difference is it was right after the pandemic. Possible things changed since '93? I was actually pretty bored there, so spent 3-4 nights a week out on the town. I must have hit every major watering hole multiple times. Taiwanese women are they shiest people I have ever met. On several occasions just attempting to talk to them they would literally "freeze". I found them to be very sheltered. Looking forward to meeting the Thai women 🙂

Yeah, didn't want to give that impression. I'm all for hookers in the right place. Just in the past I think I get ID'd as a businessman and get unwanted attention when I just want to chill out. Prostitution in Taiwan? Sorry, have to disagree with you there based on my experience. I never met any in my 6 month stint there. Closest would be ladies night at a few bars where the Vietnamese imports were out for a good time. Appreciate your feedback all the same.