daydreamer

According to the report by @vinapu he was there the night before I was. No, I was there during regular hours. When I arrived, there were 6 people in front of me at the desk outside the front door buying their 500 baht drink tickets. I stayed for about 30 minutes, until about 10.30 pm, and since the shirts did not come off, I gave up on wasting more time, as I was not there to ogle the muscular models. Yup, that's me, fool me once, but not again. I was not there to admire sleeveless arms.

You are correct, the shirts do not have sleeves, but in my book, that's still fully dressed, no different than you see on the street, or the BTS.

I went to Moonlight bar in Bangkok last night, and I won't be going back again. The floor go-go boys were doing their rotation, taking turns on stage. However, they were fully clothed. It's as if they are taking a page out of Pattaya's BoyzBoyzBoyz business model. Sure, the six muscular models were shirtless, but the regular go-go boys wearing number tags wore shirts while on stage. At 500 baht for a drink to watch go-go boys with shirts on, they have lost my business. I have always supported the bars, but bars that follow this practice will not see me again. The mamasan trolled by and asked me which boy I wanted. I made it very clear that I had no interest in looking at fully clothed boys in a go-go bar. I know it has been discussed about BBB Pattaya catering to Chinese women customers as the likely reason for having go-go boys wearing shirts, and that may be true, but last night in Moonlight bar, I did not see one female customer, Chinese or otherwise.

I have visited the ancient Lanna city of Chiang Saen several times with different boys over the years. For anyone interested in Lanna history, this area is a gem, including a very good provincial museum. Only a few miles from the Golden Triangle, Chiang Saen is the oldest city in Thailand, and is one of the old fortified cities that had a wall and a moat surrounding it. Sadly, the city was ordered to be destroyed by the Thai king centuries ago, to prevent the invading Burmese forces from capturing and occupying the city. Everything except the religious sites was destroyed. Although Chiang Saen is only a shadow of its former size and glory, its strategic location on the banks of the Mekong River makes it an important trade port, with boats constantly being unloaded by hand, fascinating to sit alongside the Mekong and watch.

I'm guessing that they will accept a phone number of the hotel you're planning to stay in. If so, the phone number will be useless. Another hare-brained plan, acted upon without consideration for visitors to the country. The powers that be really put their thinking caps on when devising this form that will need to be completed prior to arrival. A large majority of visitors to Thailand buy a local SIM card on arrival, or the next day in a local store or phone service outlet.

It was cool last week, as was Bangkok. The cool weather has moved out. Currently here in Pattaya, it is warm day and night. Serving staff are wearing shorts and polo shirts at night in the open air seating areas in Boyztown.

@Londoner - You are correct, the tuk-tuks in Chiang Mai, as in most areas of Thailand charge farang excessive rates for very short distances. Next time you are there, try taking a songtaew. The red colored trucks are seemingly everywhere, as they do not follow a fixed route. They will go anywhere inside or outside the moat, Suthep Road, Night Market, Chotana Road, Airport Plaza, etc. For trips further outside the city, there are other colored songtaews departing from other locations, such as the white trucks that will take you to the Bo Sang Umbrella Market (traditional paper umbrellas). The trucks depart from next to the Flower Market, along the Ping River, close to Warorot Market. The last time I rode a red colored songtaew in Chiang Mai, the cost in the city was a flat 30 baht, more if you went further outside the urban area. Unlike in Pattaya, you have to state your destination when the red truck stops. If the driver accepts your destination, jump on - without discussing the 30 baht fare. Most of the songtaews in Chiang Mai have a more enclosed passenger cabin than the open-air ones in Pattaya. Many of them have sliding glass windows - handy during Songkran. I was in Chiang Mai two years ago, but I was driving a rental car then, so I didn't take any songtaews. The above info is from about 4 years ago. Someone else may have more updated info on Chiang Mai songtaews.

For Pattaya, I have recently paid 3,000 tip for LT, twice in the past few days. That is for real LT, lasting 12-15 hours, with none of the fake excuses BS boys sometimes make up to leave early. I just tell them I'll pay 2,000 ST, and 3,000 LT, with no further discussion. If I run into the fake excuses, I will adjust downward (again, in Pattaya). If they leave early when hired for LT, they won't get taken off by me again. I don't recall the off fee, maybe 400-500. This is in Pattaya. Bangkok prices in many cases will run a bit higher, depending on the bar and the boy. Other people may pay differently, but that's my recent experience. Somebody will likely say that is too much for Pattaya, but this is what I pay.

@vinapu - you previously reported about boy numbers 36 and 37 at Dreamboys Pattaya, then later, that they were no longer working there. You will like to know that #37 is back at work, in case you are going to Pattaya.

Another example of farang behaving badly: Today at Jomtien Beach, an obese male/female couple seated near me started complaining very loudly when they were told the total they owed was 240 baht for their sun loungers (100 baht each), and their two bottles of water (20 baht each). The man started shouting very loudly that the water was very expensive - (at only 20 baht). Sure, you can buy water in 7-Eleven for 8-12 baht a bottle, but surely the vendors are justified in charging a few baht more for keeping it cold in their cooler, and then serving it to you, when you request it. Sometimes it is just shocking the way people act in a foreign country. And if they were that short of funds, they could have rented two deck chairs at 50 baht each, instead of the more expensive loungers - (or just stayed home instead of vacationing in Thailand, and then complaining loudly about such a trivial amount).

It also comes down to this: there is no call to poke fun at other people just because they used a word in a way you are not familiar with, especially when English is not their primary language. Period.

That's your interpretation. Here's what Wikipedia says: "A distinction between archaic and obsolete words and word senses is widely used by dictionaries. An archaic word or sense is one that still has some current use but whose use has dwindled to a few specialized contexts, outside which it connotes old-fashioned language. In contrast, an obsolete word or sense is one that is no longer used at all. A reader encounters them when reading texts that are centuries old. For example, the works of Shakespeare are old enough that some obsolete words or senses are encountered therein, for which glosses (annotations) are often provided in the margins."

I agree. And I certainly was not being critical of your English ability. If you read what I wrote, I was supporting your use of the word receipts. I said you were not incorrect. I only quoted another post showing the photo of receipts.

@Moses was not incorrect in using the word receipts. It is an older form of the word recipe. My grandmother used to refer to her "receipts" for cooking. "Most of us know the difference between a recipe and a receipt" - from the following reference....... https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/recipe-vs-receipt-usage-word-history

Given the way Thai drivers often flee the scene when involved in a traffic accident, the songtaew driver was likely more concerned about the loss of his 10 baht fare than the welfare of the lost passenger. Hopefully the person was not seriously injured.

Is it guaranteed that a white striped songtaew will not divert from the Pattaya - Jomtien route? No, but jeez, for only 10 baht, the Pattaya songtaew system works pretty darned well. It seems like everyone gets to their destinations. As @ichigo said, just hop off if they take a detour, take another one for a measly 10 baht, and carry on with your day.

Hard to say exactly why your songtaew diverted from the normal route, but in this case, it was likely at the request of a passenger. If you speak to the driver about your destination, it is assumed you have charted the songtaew. Last time I checked, it was 200 baht for a charter. And the driver will still stop and accept other passengers to ride in your "private charter". That is where the info about the white stripe comes in useful. You do not want to ask the driver if he's going to Pattaya (or any destination). If you mention a destination, you will be likely charged 200 baht for your short trip.

I have lived in many different countries, and something I learned early on was to always carry your wallet in your front pocket. It would be very difficult for a kamoey (thief) to wrangle it out of your front pocket.

Update to Pattaya songtaews: I first learned of the white stripe mentioned in my post above more than 30 years ago. I was invited to ride in a songtaew cab, up front with the driver. That used to be common. I talked with the driver on the way to Jomtien, and he explained about the white band marking. I am currently in Pattaya. Today so far, I have taken three Pattaya songtaew rides. I noticed that some still have the marking on the lower body as I mentioned in the post above. But this being Thailand, there are now a couple variations. Many songtaews on the Pattaya - Jomtien route now display the wide white band on the top of the windshield front glass. I also saw a few today that have moved the stripe to the sloped metal roof, just above the cab. My guess is the newer trucks display it on the front for easier visibility, when the songtaew is headed toward you. And there are many with the white stripe on both the sides and the front. In any case, it is still prudent to look for the white stripe if you are south of the hanuman statue intersection in Jomtien, or north of the songtaew station at the corner of Pattaya Tai (South Road) and SaiSong (Second Road). Of course, any Pattaya songtaew is free to take you anywhere, with previous agreement. And yes, there are a few on the Jomtien - Pattaya route with no white stripe. There are a number of songtaew routes in Pattaya. Even armed with the above information, don't get upset if your songtaew makes an unexpected turn. Today on Dongtan Beach, I checked the menu, and asked for a kiwi fruit smoothie. "No have kiwi, but have mango" I was told. So I ordered the mango smoothie. In five minutes, the boy delivered a nice cold pineapple smoothie to me. Rather than get upset, I followed the Thai way, and enjoyed my pineapple smoothie. "Slow and easy" is the local way. Sabai - sabai.

If you use songtaews in Pattaya, something to know is that the trucks that ply the Pattaya - Jomtien route are marked with a distinctive wide white band, painted along the lower body. Boarding one of these songtaew in Jomtien ensures they will be headed to Pattaya, and not divert to other locations (unless privately hired). This is important - if say you are in front of Rompho Market, on Jomtein Second Road, south of the roundabout. Always make sure you board one with the white band to avoid frustration, and a ride to somewhere you didn't intend to go. See the photos below of the Pattaya songtaew with, and without the white stripe marking.

The land of Soi 4, along with Patpong Sois 1 and 2 is all owned by the Patpongpanich (Patpong) family. They are the descendants of Mr Patpongpanich, who originally developed the former banana plantation into the nightlife area we all know and love today. The Patpong family home is at the end of Soi 4, behind the metal gates, past Jupiter. Occasionally at night, when Soi 4 is loaded with customers, an expensive car will make its way through the crowd, and the gate at the end of Soi 4 opens to let it inside their compound. I think the last time I saw the car make its way through the crowded soi, it was a large BMW.

If the distance from the bar to your hotel involves a taxi, you should pay him the return taxi fare back to his bar. Occasionally a boy will transport you both to your hotel on his motor-bike. As they say in Thailand, same-same, but different.

What a poor choice of name for a hotel. The hotel is currently closed temporarily. Hopefully the owners will re-brand it under a different name before it opens for business again.

Google's AI definition of "confusingly elaborate writing style" is: "A confusingly elaborate writing style often uses excessively complex sentence structures, convoluted vocabulary, unnecessary jargon, and lengthy descriptions, making it difficult for the reader to follow the main point due to the overwhelming amount of detail and unnecessary complexity; examples can be found in certain academic texts, overly ornate literary works, or when a writer attempts to sound overly intellectual by using obscure language and convoluted phrasing."