Razzler1973

Most dating websites even tell people not to send money and to be aware of scams these days

Why would anyone ever send money in this way, I have no idea

I thought karaoke bars is where people go to sing and make fun of each other's singing ability. Not get their lives threatened. Did you sing Hotel California better than them?

Only in the west, in Asia they seem to take it very seriously

I remember in Hong Kong they'd always be kick offs, violence and all sorts based around karaoke activities!

I want to know how they knew where he lived?

I'd echo that Pai is a tricky place for a bar

You need to grab hold of it yourself. Firstly, you got to get more people in the door. You may not find the clientele that wants to sit in an armchair and sip brandy but it's good to offer premium spirits amongst the other stuff

Aside from 'wanting to come around you' in what way are they making advances?

These are friends of your GF?

If you're the only farang in the group you're a novelty. They'll go home and base their entire knowledge of farang on what you say and do now ... no pressure

Some people have very narrow views, which makes it difficult to comprehend anything different

The least *shocking* is the virgin thing the guy mentioned. My GF in Dubai is a Filipina with a normal job. Nope, wasn't a virgin but she has 3 friends that are all virgins. One just got married to a fellow filipino (religious thing, that one) but two other girls who are virgins and over 30

One isn't bad looking but never even had a BF, wants one but 'can't find someone' ... seems like a defence mechanism, to me. Not taking the leap.

It's really not massively shocking for some Asian women to be virgins at 30, no matter what people may think

I don't know the guy with the virgin wife on here but it's really not the LOL moment everyone has made it out to be as though it's so unbeliveable

I get the impression that in the early days the FMP's were good, just backpackers and respectful world travellers who came upon some beautiful islands with friendly locals and spread the tradition, then some jacka------ heard about it and started coming for the "wrong" reasons, either to binge drink etc. or just be wolves or leeches in general. I worked event security for music festivals in home country before and it is a familiar pattern.

I remember going to the FMPs around the early 90s, that's cause I was traveling back then. People would say 'are you going to be in Thailand for the full moon' but it was more a case of if you're there, you're there rather than making a holiday out of it!

You could also rock up on the day of full moon and get a place to stay right on the beach itself, no problems, no minimum stay, no increased prices

I think the film The Beach changed a lot in Thailand, a lot of 'gap year' kids, people on extended holidays and the middle classes (yeah, I said it!! ) turning up or party people deciding on going to the island instead of Spain or Greece. It became this super duper dance party rather than a party on the beach

"Traveling" isn't what it used to be and all that

Latest news is the FMP, Half and Black moon parties will go ahead, but no others.

What are the others?? Those are the main ones, aren't they? Are there any others that are 'big'?

Personally not a fan or any of the parties these days and prefer just being on the island at non-full moon time. This can be when a black moon or half is going on though and to be honest if you don't go (and aren't staying on that beach) you'd not know any better

It's more avoidable than FMP in my opinion. If you are around in the days before the FMP starts you can see the influx start

I still can't see this lot making the trains run on time (this was the only argument in favour of Mussolini)

http://www.snopes.com/history/govern/trains.asp

Totally agree with the OP

Also, I may google something and it may tell me xy and z but I'd rather an actual person that has visited a place or used a service recently gave me the information as well or confirmed it

Also, it's nice to chat, isn't it

In the UK you can just go to Orange or EE and ask for a SIM and it's free. Their shops are all over the place

I'll bypass the OMG I need x Baht per day / why would you do this, etc etc that has been commented on already

You asked if you can live on 8K a year and the answer is yes, you can

I'll leave out boring stuff like medical and return tickets home and assume you have seperate fund for that but 20K a month in BKK (why BKK, why not go somewhere cheaper?) is doable. It may be enjoyable sometimes but a year is a long time, mate and there may be times when you really want to go drink 8 beers or you fancy fish & chips or a side trip to the islands and spend a bit more

Minor things can affect your budget, which is a problem if you're sticking to a budget. So, yes, you can do it. It'll require a lot of discipline though and it's obviously better have more, even a little more

Oh boo hoo, a young girl wants to have lots of sex with me and I'm tired

... hang your head, sir!

Are we actually any further down the line in having a clue about this?

The couple were murdered. The woman may or may not have been raped. The guy may or may not have been raped. Not sure this has been confirmed

The migrant workers have iPhones of the victims? Duh, that's nothing, you find an iPhone then you keep it. Something about blond hair? The girl has blond hair. Women's hair gets everywhere. I take clothes out the drawer and my girlfriend's hair is bloody on them, never get rid of it!!

I don't see the connection for this lad that's been pictured? He is apparently gay (so?) He was jealous (of what?)

I can imagine backpackers getting into arguements with each other but the whole blugeoning to death doesn't feel very 'backpacker-y' to me though but hey, who knows

I think they're busy naming scenarios but all we have is a bloody hoe and grainy CCTV footage?

Honestly, don't be over concerned about a side trip to Macau

I am sure your missus will love the Big Buddha on Lantau

If I recall around Wanchai there is a small street of local Thai food, think it was off Queens Road East around Johnston Road. There used to be a fair amount of Thai places in the area, Thai writing and hand written signs outside buildings, make your own som tum and all that

I went to Burma about 15 years ago so my info is waaay out of date The days before Agoda

I would just say it's fantastic, great country, check out Ngapali Beach also, you can fly there if you want, road was harrowing over some moutains

Inle Lake, Mandalay, Hsipaw, etc all been mentioned and all great places. You'll have a blast!

Interesting question

I think I am a big coffee drinkers. At least once a day (big cup) and usually 2, can be 3

I never really feel coffee 'perks me up' but maybe cause I drink it so regularly it's just part of my morning routine

I have given up sugars and booze and carbs for short-term diets and I get the feeling giving up coffee may be extremely difficult. Part of that may be cause I don't need to do it but I think it'll be more difficult than not drinking or not eating bread or rice, etc

They served the gin and tonic IN your beer, same glass??

These are people that work in a bar serving you a gin and tonic and a beer in this way? what!

I saw this story and ignored it 100%.

But of course she had to be Thai.

I don't know, Philippines proclaims itself to be the land of the selfie, I believe

In Western countries we get the impression that in Buddhist and Hindu countries the people are beyond all the materialism, petty vanities and all the superficial aspects of physical existence that are so much part of life in Farangistan. It is not possible to be more wrong.

Not directed at you but this kind of thing sort of annoys me

We forego all kinds of religious hypocrisy but for some people we hold Buddishm up to some higher standard, like, muslims don't follow their deal, christians also BUT not the buddhist, tell me the buddhist aren't like every other faith in the world!!!

As in, individual people not mindless followers of 'the word'

The amount of time I have heard 'they're supposed to be buddhist' or something like that when something bad happens to someone. I don't know buddhists should ahere to their faith anymore than all the other people from other faiths that act however it suits them

Baffles me

...

• you plan the rest of your day at the bottom of the esculator
• you enjoy playing 'let's get in the elevator before anyone gets out'
• 50 baht is a lot of money
• you don't think it's strange when your wife five spends 150 baht on gas to drive to the market that sells cucumbers 5 baht per kilo cheaper.
• you pull onto the highway in front of the only visible car to the horizon thats going about 120 kph
• you slow down to 40 and get into the right hand lane 2 km before the U turn.

To be fair that is EVERYWHERE in Asia and also Middle East

My GF works in MBK and I do see bus loads of Arab Tourists been dropped of like a herd of sheep to get lost in the maze of shops for a few hours, My friend who lives in Saudi was saying Arabs love to shop and eat so I think this is a big attraction for them to visit Bangkok, also he made the more oblivious point that there here for the x as they can get it in there country.

Also a lot of Arab come to Bangkok for medical treatment at the International hospitals in Bangkok.

I am sure the tourist board of Thailand are marketing in the Arab counties as most of them are big spenders.

There's excellent health care in this part of the world and local Arabs won't have to pay in their own countries

They can get laid in Saudi, trust me but there's prying eyes and too much hassle so much easier to go to Asia or even come over here to Dubai

Arabs have always loved visiting Thailand. I think Saudis are banned though. I was talking to a Saudi guy the other day, said he was on his way to Thailand but from Dubai as not allowed from Saudi. Over this whole 'gold' thing. I know they don't have Thais in Saudi but didn't know it extended to them not visiting. Apparently so, that is what he said. He said they apply for a new passport when they get back

What's wrong with commercials on the BTS? Better than looking at graffiti or the dirt on the London Underground. Strange, but very "farang" thing to moan about.

A common misconception, the London Underground doesn't really have any graffiti at all and it's pretty clean actually

I don't mind the adverts, they can make enough money from that maybe they won't put the fares up

I am in the MIddle East and yes, plenty of Arabs do escape the summer here, which are horrible

Plus, it was Ramadan during June so even more boring as well as summer so good time to get away, can usually get good deals to Asia

This is maybe something farang don't use in Thailand but if you venture back to the UK, especially in London, everyone is carrying these things around

I know of a case in Phuket that happened more than 15 years ago.

A foreigner's wife used to sell lemons (manao) opposite the main market She sat on the pavement with some sacking cloth spread out with the lemons arranged on it.

She asked her foreign husband to get another sack of lemons from their pick-up, which he did.

Next day, immigration got him due to an anonymous complaint and he was deported.

 

It does happen. See my earlier post about risk and reward with regard to his activity.

Frankly, I couldn't care less what he does, but, in this political climate, my conclusion is that he's being very stupid.

I always think there is always A LOT more to these stories than the headline

It's not really gonna be related to selling Lemons it's someone else in the market using influence to punish them on anything with the whole visa/work thing being an easy one in this case

 

 

 
It was Seaman Staines, controlled by Master Bates as I recall............
 
 

And don't forget there was Able Seaman Sample!

Roger The Cabin Boy.....

 

Sadly, all those characters names are just urban myth

http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/pugwash.asp