Mavica

Yes, I always look up weather reports / history for destinations I travel to.

Mr. Trump got a new paint job for New Years Eve. No, not "Blackface" ... "Orangeface".

And ... in this instance ... the perpetrators, in New Orleans and Las Vegas (to a lesser extent) have active or retired military backgrounds. Others, I don't recall that they wear camo.

Yes, there are parts of Mexico in which such fears are justified and where heinous acts occur, and innocents lose their lives. We always think it won't happen to us. No matter, or almost nowhere we live. Until it does.

Not a place for the stereotypical conservative Midwestern farm family to wander about on vacation (other than NYE).

Sad to hear this.

Once behind closed doors ...

Isn't this what's been happening in the USA and in other countries for ever so long, only not as openly blatant?

I don't think anybody would or is suggesting Mr. Trump didn't win the election fair and square. There are many pushing back that there's any quite strong mandate to implement his most radical actions / promises, though. Mr. Trump won the popular vote by a margin of 1.5%. Of the 152,307,059 votes cast in the election, 75,009,338 were against Mr. Trump. The country remains closely divided: 49.9% to 48.4%. Yes, winner take all, to the victor goes the spoils ... and all that. But by no means a quite strong mandate for his radical proposals. Mr. Trump is doing what he promised, though ... I'll grant you that!

IF I'm reading / processing this correctly ... An ignorant response. Hateful.

WTF? How well did you know the victim? What about him, his personal involvement in the insurance company ... do you know that we don't? Those who know you, love you ... responding similarly if you were gunned down ... would say the same about you? Ignorant response, IMO.

Sick response. Really sick.

The cost of airfare to Thailand, for North Americans, puts visits out of reach for many - compared to other travel options.

Donald Trump: 77,237,942 votes Kamala Harris: 74,946,837 votes Clearly, a win for Mr. Trump. Sweeping mandate? No. Not by any stretch of the imagination. 3.3 million fewer people cast votes in 2024 compared to the 2020 election. A nation divided.

A slightly fem butch bottom?

Yes, living someplace is very different than visiting that paradise ... as a tourist. Many expats have learned that lesson.

An Iron Cross, yes, but Nazi tattoo? I've googled photos of him shirtless. Just the Iron Cross ... if my eyesight hasn't failed me. Overall, his tats do raise questions.

The ripe age of 75. Not too ripe, though!

Yes, the Garden Bar! Great memories.

My first visit to BKK, a certified newbie, the first bar I walked into was Harry's, on Silom Soi 2. It was rightly touted as a gathering place for farang visitors (many business-types) and where one could get information / updates from other customers or bartenders on gay life / hook-ups in the area. No chorus line of boys to off that I remember, but a place to start. I'd learned of it from Dreaded Ned's. Are there others here that frequented the web forum at Dreaded Ned's? - the best and most current (at the time) BKK info (30+ years ago). I arrived as a shy first-timer. 😁 Didn't take me long to lose the shyness! There was a different bar upstairs or next door with twinks who were out for drinks and fun, not working per se (available), and no off fee was required. I took a few home that trip (some for $, some not); times were different. Gorgeous, though. DJ Station was across the Soi. Another bar in the same Soi with a sign painted on front "Beer. Bed. Boy. $5". Don't ask. I'm no longer shy. Cured.

I send many holiday greeting texts, and some birthday greetings. I do this between 9 a.m. and Noon. I also receive similar greetings. 😁

Commonplace in Mexico, people die after drinking fake / adulterated liquor provided to wedding receptions and other celebrations. I suspect it's a worldwide problem, such as we're seeing in Thailand.

200K COP = the equivalent of +/- US$45.