janj

Ultimately, I chalk it up to ignorance. When someone makes a comment about it around me I usually keep quiet because that person has obviously never been to Thailand. Of course it's easy to see the sex industry at play... if you walk around Patpong and Soi Cowboy. But tourists can just as easily spend an amazing time in Thailand and see none of it at all. If you're looking for a prostitute, regardless of what country you're in, you'll find it.

It's probably much easier to generalize Thailand in terms of the sex industry than actually do some research and learn a thing or two about the people, place, and culture. Regardless, it's their loss not mine.

Kwae Tiew Nam Tok/ Boat Noodles

Panang

Pad Si Ew

I could live off of those three foods for pretty much the rest of my life. They make up a huge chunk of my diet already!

Generally older middle class thai women also love going to temple and merit making, or even going to fortune tellers (monk, nun?)

Do you like temples?

I think this is a good idea. You could ask her if she's been to a particular temple. If she has then tell her you've heard its beautiful and you'd love to see it, and ask if she'd be kind enough to show it with you as she presumably has a great deal of knowledge about Buddhism and the culture behind it. If she hasn't been before, again ask her if she'd be interested in seeing it with you for the first time. I honestly think this would be the cutest first date, and you could follow the trip to the temple with lunch, dinner, or a snack at a coffee shop.

Oh dear, it seems that most of these replies are written by men. And it also sounds like they have very little understanding of what a woman wants out of a relationship. I've never broken it off with someone because I thought my friends wouldn't like him or he wouldn't get along with them. I've also never avoided dating a race of people because I thought they couldn't socialize with my friends. That's just stupid. I date guys that I get along with. And if I go to a dinner with him and friends and there's a language barrier, I don't expect him to be the life of the party but a small contribution is really all I require. A small effort, and if he's not willing to try then it's because he's a jackass, not because he 'just doesn't fit it'.

Why do fewer hiso girls date foreigners than bar girls? Probably because they meet fewer foreigners and are used to a much different dating protocol than that practiced in the west. Most Thai middle-class people frequent different areas than westerners. In professional settings they may not be bold enough to strike up a relationship with a foreigner. And of course, they have preconceived notions about western men that may or may not be accurate. But because he can't be the life of the party at a Thai function? hel_l, from my experience most THAI guys aren't the life of the party. Your reasoning just baffles me...

Perhaps, just, if they acted a bit more like gentlemen and less like d*ckheads most of the time, they wouldn't have to stand there looking at us farangs with the girls they covet. But funny (not), its the Thai girls that don't want anything to do with them.

That being said, I have met a few 'guys' over the years who have been generally very nice. But they are the exception.

Before you roll out the financial issue of Thai girls liking us just for the money, most guys I hang around with in Bangkok are married / dating girls that work in offices. But that's another topic I suppose.

Agreed. I'm a western woman and I have many Thai friends. I find that, when it comes to relationships, western men seem to have more respect for women than Thai men. The ones that I've spent time with are from very good families, well-off, and essentially treat women as if their place were below a man. A pick-up line used on my friend once? "You know, I'm part of the royal family, you should show me some respect". Plus, it is a common practice in Thailand for men to have mia nois and entire second families. Of course the wives know about it, but it is customary to turn a blind eye in order to save face. I'm not saying western men are saints but considering the alternative, I can easily understand why Thai women, money aside, go for westerners.

It really all depends on what kind of night you want to have. I'm making shit money at the moment so I'm trying not to spend a lot. That doesn't mean I go to cheap places, though! Usually I pregame at home with 4-5 drinks. On Tuesday, Bed has ladies night with free entrance so that's another way to cut cost. Also, if you're headed to Bed, Q Bar, or Twisted you can always stop at Cheap Charlie's for a few drinks before the club. On Friday's at 808 (RCA) they have an all-you-can drink deal with 350 baht for women and 500 baht for men. At most places, my friends and I buy a bottle which comes down to about 500 per person. It's usually pretty cheap at places like Route at RCA. All in all, I'd say on average I spend about 1,000-1,500 per night at a bar/club including transportation (but lately I've been getting away with spending about 600bt!). But that's just my expense, not buying drinks for others.

I find that the best way to cut costs is to pre-game and do a little research, find out which places are having no-cover charge specials, etc. Usually that also means there's a pretty lively crowd to go along with it.

You obviously have never travelled on the Tokyo train network at rush hour time !

I came back to Bangkok after studying abroad in Tokyo for four months... The first time I saw passengers stop crowding to wait for the next train shocked me. That would never happen in Tokyo! I was sure at least twenty more people could have fit in at each car. Believe me, we enjoy a tremendous amount of breathing room on the BTS compared to what I endured on my morning and afternoon commutes in Japan. Plus, people are much kinder on the trains here. I have never seen a local Japanese person yield their seat for the elderly or parents with small children, only tourists and gaijin did that! Here, I see it on a daily basis.

I think you story sounds really sweet and very similiar to how my parents met more than twenty years ago. My mom was a young woman from Isaan who had just moved to the big city. Neither could speak the other's language very well. But they are both hard working, intelligent, honest people and they've made things work out.

Of course, there are some women who are lazy and want an easy life with a rich foreign husband. And 99.9 percent of Thai women believe that marrying a foreigner provides a level of security that they won't find with most Thai women. That's only natural. But don't be a dunce and shower her with expensive gifts or make her believe that she is being bought. While your status may be important to her, successful relationships are built on love and understanding.

Good luck and I hope you find happiness with her when you return to Thailand!

I honestly have no idea. It's a little bizarre to me, but I guess it's alright to turn on in the background while I'm doing something else. If you want to see a "live-action" version of the fashion channel you can always go to Koi on Sukhomvit Soi 20. Apparently, it has some kind of partnership with the fashion channel and a ton of models go there because they get free drinks. I try to avoid it though as it's not the best for my self-esteem

But, if I have to go out to get one,

this is where I go, The Villa Market Complex (Ari BTS), 2nd floor, a place called "Grill and Gravy".

I really like the Grill and Gravy as well. I haven't had their burgers yet but I've definitely been impressed by other items on the menu. Affordable, clean, nice restaurant. Definitely recommended.

Try the Ari or Rama VI areas. Not completely devoid of farrangs, but not quite so many as you get in areas such as Sukhumvit or Sathorn. Quiet, leafy, green and pleasant area of Bangkok. Not sure about the schools though - there are some around, but not sure of the standard.

I live in Ari and really love it. It's a great area: BTS station, 2 villa markets within a two block radius, lots of restaurants, food stalls, phaya thai hospital within walking distance, close to weekend market, Big C

Also, it is a very green area. It's actually surprising but, since there are so many large, old homes in the neighborhood, there is a lot of foliage decorating the landscape. I know you said you were looking for a house, which may be difficult to find but there are many new apt and condo buildings sprouting up all the time.

The new bar on Suk Soi 11 that you're talking about is Twisted, I believe. I've been there once and had a pretty good time. It's a pretty nice place, decent DJ, cool lights. But I'm not sure how packed it gets. When I went it was fun mostly because I was there with so many friends.

Gazebo is new. It opened on Suk Soi 1, right at the mouth of the soi, you don't need to turn in. There's a dance floor and also a lounge area with hookah.

I went to Club Culture near Phaya Thai BTS this weekend and really liked it. They play good music, not the typical hip hop or house, more indie dance music type stuff. Lots of foreigners though, I was surprised.

Scratchdog (I forget where it is tho) is a good after hours place. It's open til 4 and so it gets reaaaallly packed after the other clubs close. Drinks aren't that expensive, especially if you buy a bottle. When I was there, they played some good music to dance too. However, it was a bit too crowded and not that much space to move.

And of course RCA is great. I forget which club it was (maybe Route?) that had this massive bathroom with like three different sections to it and one part was like a powder room with these emo looking guys playing guitar and singing. I just thought it was so extravagant. RCA is nice because you can go inside and dance but you can also sit outside and just chill. If you've never been, then I def recommend.

My hair is fairly straight but I always stop by a beauty salon to have it blow dried and straightened before a night out or an important meeting. In Patong that only costs me 80-100 baht. I always make sure the salon has a/c or at least a fan otherwise the whole exercise is pointless. My hair usually lasts the evening (And I always carry an umbrella)

Same here. If I know I'm going for a night out, I usually get my hair done. It lasts days and it's a bargain at about 100 baht. Otherwise, I just put it up or leave it wavy. For the most part, I've given up on my hair.

There's also a decent bakery by the Ari BTS. Ari side, right next to the escalator. I haven't tried their cakes, but their banana muffins and pecan tarts are great.