EnhancePlus

I could live mighty good here on that money. Just call me jai nam. Maybe do something good for the community.

That's awesome.

It's Phuket, not Pattaya. Where do you guys come from, lonely planet?

Send me some money, khun kwaai

Most people in the states see LOS as the land of whores, political instabilty, beautiful beaches and a haven for pedos. It's too bad.

What is the reference you are citing for "most people"?

I'm just making a wild'a guess but it would be that "most people" in the states don't even know where Thailand is... But this is to me just another example of assuming that this perspective is widespread without any evidence.

I work in a very creative industry that runs the whole gamut of social backgrounds. Yeah, I have had people think it was Taiwan 555.

Most people in the states see LOS as the land of whores, political instabilty, beautiful beaches and a haven for pedos. It's too bad. The negative aspects are usually the part that get ones attention.

Fortunately, I experience the amazing thailand - the people, the culture, the positive ambiance, inexpensive and lots of beautiful woman whom create an allure of mystery and enchantment. To each his own.

We who spend a lot of time here know the persona of the thai infrastructure. Corruption, xenophobia of the elite, poverty and a military mafia police state. Easily ignored by us farang.

The sex industry has been existence here for a long time. Farm girls given the option of making 6.000thb a month or 200,00thb? Moral or immoral, the hard life or the easy money. You cannot just turn this part of society over in a flip of a switch. How many babies and families are supported by these girls? I don't know thais are pretty resilient people so maybe they can accept the reversals of fortune, but what would happen to the consumer based industry of Thailand?

Bars to avoid

Bangkok Hard Rock

Times must be hard.

The band were poor no strong vocals and half empty on a Friday night.

Small heineken 220 baht! normally the mrs pays the bill and moans like <removed> the next day at how many bottles i drank i always thought it was the qantity of beer but now i realise she is moaning about the cost of the beer

Did i misread the post title?

ps

There used to a Brit called Robert who was in there everynight with a couple of Thai girls/helpers (he was mentally challenged or similar)but not there last night and the bar staff didn't know anything, just wondered if anyone else knows whats happened to him.

I always saw him as an icon of Bkk. Mentally disabled but 2 lovely cuties looking after his every need and standing in front of a rock band everynight.

Better than a p1ss smelling nursing home and some fat chav yanking your chain

My ex-GF told me he had bad back problems. I don't know, she's kinda mentally challenged herself

I always set the treble to 10

And NOBODY talking about CHIKUNGUNYA FEVER in the South...now spreading quickly north, with thousands affected in Phuket as I write this.

VERY high fever, tremendous body pain, very long term recovery(up to ONE YEAR! from severe Arthritis-like symptoms and joint pain and stiffness, no vaccine, no cure.

I live in Patong and I am in my FOURTH week of this shit!

The silence is deafening!

I wish you a healthy and speedy recovery.

The black plague was one of the most effective economic stimulus packages ever

I heard today that a newish upmarket hotel in Chiang Mai had an occupancy rate of less than 10%.

Even with special rates the golf courses are almost empty.

This year is going to be the predicted disaster for Thai tourism which no doubt will run in to next year, and- who knows!

I think this a job for the Tourist Police. They'll fix everything

Has anyone else been using this amazing site to view the streets of Pattaya?

I think the photos must be about two years old now, but still great fun spotting people you know in bars!

It is also useful for planning a trip to a Soi you haven't visited before.

Thanks for the tip. Like stepping down memory lane. Here's the link http://pattayaphotoguide.com/

What exactly happens to these people after they have been diagnosed with Swine Flu?

Remember the movie Soilent Green?

At least nobody will starve

What's "Twin Peaks"?

An American show created by David Lynch. The last good tv programming to come out of America - that and "Northern Exposure."

Both aired in the early 90's.

Providing care is taken,recovery rates from H1N1 are very high.

Can TAT use that in their advertisements:

"Providing care is taken, recovery rates from H1N1 are very high. So, no problem, visit the Land of Smiles today."

The fact is that it is hurting tourism all over. I hope it does not mutate into an extremely deadly form.

But viruses love to mutate......it is how they get their kicks.

What if H1N1 mutates with an STD?? Probably make a lot more people susceptible to either one

I'm going to produce a thai version of "Twin Peaks", but I guess it would be confused with a reality show here

I agree the average Thai person is friendly, eager to help and polite. The vast majority of the interactions I have had with Thai people have been positive and rewarding. The Occasional bad experience has been in tourist areas. However, I must admit that reading Thai Visa forum has darkened my opinion of thais.

Excellent story. Unfortunately for me I can get kinda jaded by reading TV also. The only negative experience I've ever had in LOS was a failed relationship. Other than that, I can't say enough good things about Siam.

Thanks for your contribution OP

Throw in a trip to NEP or Cowboy's, a short-time hotel and free condoms

How far and fast can you get away in a taxi on Silom????

You know the Lie: Thai (and sometimes Asian) woman are often unfairly portrayed as more promiscuous than western woman in the Western media; I allege this is done under the subtle but persistent guise of racism, and it is unacceptable. bg's in Thailand's sex industry comprises but a tiny fraction (.2 % ?) of the young female population in LOS. In general the average young Thai woman "..is heavily pressured in society to look and act modest and chaste." ..from Good Medicine For Thai fever, 2004, page 116. This is why for many of those who marry conservative Thai woman, or Thai/Chinese women, there is frequently no sex prior to marriage. Many farang obviously do not go this route, however the best things in life usually take time and are not easy. Although the Western stereotypes of Thai woman remain in some quarters, the reality is more like," ..a Thai woman is likely to have had fewer sexual partners than the corresponding Western woman ." Good Medicine For Thai Fever, page 118. One could ask, why does Western media and western society in general still persist in believing the lie?

You also know the double standard for young women, and in LOS it is no different. From a Khmer proverb, "Men are Gold, woman are cloth." A Cambodian woman explained it this way.."the men look like gold. When it drops in mud we can clean it, but the woman look like white clothes; when it drops in mud we cannot clean it to be white again." ..from Sex Slaves, The Trafficking of Women in Asia, Louise Brown,2000, page 246. Should not the Proverb read...."Men are gold, and woman far more precious than that!!"

Nice proverb. The problem is most Falang's never get to meet these thai good girls. I actually think that the other 98% are not all destined for sainthood either. A woman has needs and desires just like you and me no matter where you are in the world. Anyway, who really wants an inexperienced woman or virgin. Yes, I desire someone that stimulates me mentally as well as physically, but I also don't want a woman who is shrouded in virtue.

Good Ole American Doo Wop from the 50s on my DVD: Platters ("Only You", "The Great Pretender"), Gene Chandler ("Duke of Earl"), The Casinos ("Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye") ... and all the other greats. Got about a dozen Doo Wop CDs and love them all.

Radio Phnom Penh - awesome comp of Khmer rock.

What's ironic is The National Anti-Corruption Commission took 2nd place.

Where's Serpico when you need him?

Cain was a hero to many childhood memories. David Carradine was a respected actor in many Hollywood films. He was found dead in a Bangkok hotel. The circumstances surrounding his death leave a lot to the imagination. Some would say suicide while others would like to point to an accidental death related to sordid sexual activities. Some folks would even suggest homicide. In Bangkok all is possible; welcome to Thailand.

If the Thai newspapers paint a nasty image it's because that is what sells newspapers.

If the Thai police say it is suicide it may just be due to a sense of decency over a tragic death involving a foreign celebrity.

If David Carradine was involved in a private form of deviant sexual behaviour that led to his death, we don't really need to know anymore about it.

If somebody else was involved, let the investigation proceed.

Give the man a break! He is no longer among us.

Amen, brother

Never happen, the all mighty Baht(tourist) drives the Country and goodness knows we farangs spend mak mak Baht day in and day out on any and everything, beside I don't think Thailand need imagines of bar girls prostesting in the street, because a source of income was kickout of country for no reason, talking about blood shed, a bunch of angry(Batter by Thai lover/husbands) Thai women going face to face with the police. a match made in hel_l.

I can see it now. They be some mean mothers if they want to.

Go to Youtube and type 'Sawlon' into the search field. This guy is amazing. His personality is awesome, his music and lessons are fun, concise and more importantly easy to learn. And there's 200 of them!

Definately worth a look troops!

I hear that high scoring on GUITAR HERO will make you as skilled as Eddie Van Halen