[Unplanned Bangkok Trip (March 2024)]

Going back I guess 10 years I invited the guy, who is now my partner, to come to the UK to experience my culture, to improve his English and as it was getting serious to see how compatible we both were.

He was flying on Qatar and was pulled at BKK and asked for the credit card used for the booking (mine) and a copy of my passport.

Panic stations as I was at work in the UK, fortunately I managed to get home and faxed them (it's that long ago!) the copies they required in time for him to make the flight.

I still remember his smiling face when I picked him up at Manchester Airport where customs had opened his bag and laughed at him bringing for me a couple of gay male magazines.

[Street Food]

I live with my Thai partner in Surin, Issan and rarely visit Bangkok as I find now I am older (77) it is just too busy and polluted.

However in two weeks time we will be going there to meet up with a close friend of mine, a lady and her partner, who are flying in from England for a holiday.

She has asked if, one night, we can go out to eat street food for dinner.

Has anyone any suggestions where we would not be engulfed by traffic fumes, one of the high end malls is not what I'm looking for.

[Abundance of cheap notebooks/pads on Facebook.]

20 hours ago, Patanawet said:

Thanks. Is your Robinson's a Bangkok one?

No, it is out in the sticks in Surin

[Abundance of cheap notebooks/pads on Facebook.]

The top floor of our local Robinsons has many shops/stalls selling new/refurb devices

[Bangkok gay guides from Siamroads.com]

I am pleased we have got back to the subject matter of this post.

I have no time for Moses's political views but a lot of time for The Siamroads business since a straight lady friend had a very good two day guided tour with Mac several years ago.

[The 11th Hour Of The 11th Day]

One of my regrets in life is that I never took the time to talk to my Grand dad (who I was close to and saw every week) about his war time experiences as a Tommy in WW1. I believe he told the recruiting office he was 18 when in fact he was only 16.

It was the same with my Dad who during WW2 was a radio officer in the Merchant Navy sailing in convoys across the Atlantic and sailing to India, Egypt and no doubt many other countries

[Tips for a dfrnt type of sex tourist, pls.]

4 hours ago, fedssocr said:

while people in our age bracket may be there mainly for young locals, some people might be flattered to be approached by a handsome man even if he's not the sort of guy they are usually looking for.

Surely some are there to discuss their stamp collections and world events

I'm only here for chicken with cashew nuts

[Pattaya tourism outlook hazy]

I travelled from BKK to Manchester UK mid April returning in July.

Was on Emirates A380s economy changing in Dubai The flights were expensive twice to three times what I paid pre Covid.

All four flights were full suggesting people were not put off by the cost

[Warning - Unsafe Site]

I am not getting that warning

[Fares expected to remain high for up to 3 years]

Pre Covid flying from BKK to Manchester economy return 600 GBP was expensive, I'm flying on Emirates later this month and it cost me 1250 GBP (approx 150 GBP is because I want to try upper deck economy)

[Cambodian mystery and Thai solution - first trip of 2023]

I hope it all works out well Vinapu, you of all the posters on here treat the lads very well, but this guy is making requests which run up a red flag.

[Pattaya Passport Office Relocated to Central Pattaya]

I went with my partner to the Buriram (Thai) passport office yesterday for him to renew his passport.

Cost for a 10 year passport was 1500 baht + 40 baht for EMS and they told him he should receive it in 3 to 4 days.

Last year I renewed my UK passport and it took 17 weeks and cost 128 GBP for a 50 page passport - I used an agent to avoid trips to Bangkok total cost 12500 baht

Quite a difference in cost and service

[The agate hotel or East suites Jomtien]

We have stayed many times at the agate and always had a fridge in the room 

[Just arrived in Pattaya- Restaurant recommendations ??]

1 hour ago, floridarob said:

OK, he just informed me he's looking for Thai, Laos type restaurants ....he said why would he come to Thailand for mediocre French food in lol (he travels to Paris a lot I guess)

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll see if I can convince him to try one of the places anyway 🙄

You could try Mays Restaurant in Jomtien (Thai)

[Just arrived in Pattaya- Restaurant recommendations ??]

If money is no concern IMO Cafe Des Amis is far and away the best restaurant in Pattaya

Less expensive with an atmosphere I really like is Au Bon Coin which isn't open every day

[Subscription to Brit Box]

1 hour ago, kjun12 said:

I have tried your suggestion but have now been thwarted by a requirement that I must pay with a British credit card or Paypal account.  I have neither.

 

Guess there is no way around that.

Using your VPN you can access BBC IPLAYER for free and view a good selection of programmes.

You do have to say you have a UK tv licence but they don't ask for its number

 

[Subscription to Brit Box]

Just now, traveller123 said:

Have you tried using a VPN set to the UK?

 

[Subscription to Brit Box]

24 minutes ago, kjun12 said:

I would very much like to subscribe to Brit Box in order to have access to many British TV shows.  Unfortunately, they do not allow subscriptions from Thailand.  Do any of you know of a work-around in order to accomplish this?

Many thanks for any assistance/suggestions anyone can offer.

Have you tried using a VPN?

[Trip report: Thailand September 2022]

16 hours ago, emiel1981 said:

At the moment I'm taking a little break from boys and bars. Two nights in the countryside in a very nice guesthouse. But I will be back in Bangkok tomorrow and going also back for few days to Pattaya again later. So for sure more updates will follow... 

That looks a really nice guest house. Would you mind sharing the location and name, pm if you prefer.

[Where do you all live & are you planning on living in Asia ?]

Isaan. But I really should visit Jomtien more often

[Keep it Going]

Sean Connery will always be James Bond

[Pattaya Questions, after Due Dilengence]

8 hours ago, floridarob said:

Easier than you might think.....they find Thai people (just look for Thai restaurant or the Temple) and before you know it, they have a group of friends.

I know someone that did this in Houston and others in  London and Sydney..... where I live in Mexico, might be another story, lol

When I met my partner we agreed that it was crucial that we knew we could live together and be happy and that we couldn't judge that from my 2/3 week holidays to Thailand.

Hence he came to England to stay with me for four months initially and then for almost two years during which we had a UK Civil Partnership ceremony. (His mother had passed away 4 months before his first visit, he wouldn't have come while she was ill)

To backup floridarob's post at the end of his first visit he wanted to go to pray at the nearest Thai temple (about 30 miles from my home) while there he was talking to a lady cleaning the temple who gave him phone numbers for some Thai ladies who lived in my home town. As he was returning to Thailand in a couple of days he didn't contact anyone until he returned for his second visit. The result was he met a circle of about 15 Thai ladies who he would meet weekly for food, drinks parties etc, his visa allowed him to work and through their introductions he got a couple of part time jobs, which although low paid (minimum wage) made him feel very wealthy)

 He is very friendly and easy going which along with being a good cook of Thai food meant he slotted in with the Thai ladies very quickly.

 

 

 

[Le Prive Pattaya]

I stayed there must be 13 years ago, it was run/owned by two young French guys at least one of who whom was a Doctor.

They were very friendly and would recommend restaurants and run us there in their car.

It wasn't a large place, I'm guessing it had about ten rooms, the rooms, or at least the two I stayed in, were a little dark and gloomy but the pool and surrounding area were lovely.

[Why not retire to Thailand?]

I think I have been fortunate.

In the UK I lived in a small cul de sac of probably 20 houses mostly occupied by retired people.

After I had met my partner while I was on holiday in Hua Hin and visited him three or four times I invited him to stay with me in England for three months, at the time I was 63 and he would be 27/28.

Probably a little to my surprise my neighbours were very friendly and would invite him into their homes when I was at work, a couple of years later we had a UK Civil Partnership and one of the neighbours brought across a wedding cake they had baked.

It certainly helped that my partner has a very open smile and responds quickly if he feels people like him.

[Flying Business, economy or first class]

I actually feel empathy for the farangs I saw who were very large sitting in economy,I'm 98kg myself so I even found it difficult cramped for the 3 hours so if that farang I saw was I would say 150kg plus just imagine that flight for him.

 

There is another angle to this, pity the poor normal sized person in economy sitting next to the overweight guy.

I am 78kg and a couple of times had this on long distance flights, it was not a happy experience.