daydreamer

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."

From Jupiter, Silom soi 4:

Here's a Christmas photo that's not AI. This is from Moonlight bar.

That is the point. As stated in a previous post, the sois shown on the two maps above are both marked as Silom 7 Alley (Silom soi 7) on Google maps. The business provided an address that is not easy to understand, leading to the confusion of the location of the bar. The map I posted above shows the location of HIM.bkk, just off Thaniya Road.

Google maps is showing the location of HIM.bkk as being just off Thaniya Road, close to the Sala Daeng BTS station, on Silom Soi 7. The above map does indeed show the correct location of Silom Soi 7, near the Chong Nonsi BTS station, but this is Thailand, and things are not always simple or make sense. Consistent with the countless mysteries of Bangkok, there are two short sois on Google maps, both named Silom Soi 7, on opposite sides of Silom Road. In English, both sois are marked Silom 7 Alley. There are a number of Google reviews of HIM.bkk, dating from as far back as one year. There are photos and videos viewable on Google reviews. Looking at the videos and reviews, the bar looks like a Korean-themed hangout for young Thais.

Land Use Regulations is referring to the zoning laws assigned to different districts of Bangkok, as show in the land use map below. Phaya Thai district encompasses the area north of Victory Monument, to just south of Chatuchak, including the areas of Ari and Saphan Kwai. The Phaya Thai district is designated as a high density residential zone.

You can thank Deputy PM Anutin, who has urged hotels and the tourism industry to increase prices, and focus on selling Thailand as a premium brand. “We cannot let people come to Thailand and say because it’s cheap,” Deputy PM Anutin Charnvirakul said at an event at Bangkok’s main international airport to promote tourism." https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/sell-premium-thailand-against-discounts-wants-high-value-tourists-122070500055_1.html https://www.euronews.com/2022/07/05/us-thailand-tourism

Due to a chronic back issue, I do not get massages, for fear of worsening my condition. I don't want to become paralyzed from an accidental massage error. I also avoid chiropractors for this reason. Although I forgo massages, I occasionally patronize Thai male massage shops to off a boy, to go to my hotel room for sex. I found one superstar this way. I offed him from Classic House massage in Chiang Mai. I became a long term customer of his, seeing him for my entire visits to the Kingdom, and traveling with him over several visits to Thailand. After a few years, he moved to Bangkok, where he worked for several years as a masseur at VCK Cool Space, near Ari BTS station. Don't rule out massage shops, even if you don't want a massage. They are fertile hunting ground, with many willing and handsome young men. Many shops show their staff portfolio in daily Line app messages, or on the X.com website. After you pay the off fee to the shop the first time, if you want to see the boy again, if he is a freelancer - as many are, there is no further off fee, and no pesky mamasan, only your tip directly to him. Not all massage shops advertise off service, but many do.

That would explain Mr Su's plan of "fancy sex".

There were several web sites with forums years ago that were dedicated to gay Thailand, in addition to the excellent Dreaded Ned site. One popular forum was Gay Ting Tong, run by Oogleman. This may ring a bell:

I remember Harry's Bar well. Yes, in the 1990's, Dreaded Ned's forum was the top web forum for info. Here's a blast from the past for those that remember the web site with a bucket on its head:

This article from the Khaosod newspaper from earlier this year says "Thai Airways Finalizes Sale of All 18 Boeing 777 and A380 Aircraft". https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/business/2024/05/13/thai-airways-finalizes-sale-of-all-18-boeing-777-and-a380-aircraft/

Of course it can affect people of any age, but teens are more likely to seek out the lowest cost drinks, as @reader and @vinapusaid. Many young people are attracted to large, low cost "mixed bucket drinks", served in an ice bucket, and shared amongst friends with several straws. These type drinks are popular at Full Moon parties, hostels, and many beach bars. The drinks are often made with a mixture of several different types of liquor and energy drinks combined.

Thailand has already included a departure tax into the price of international airline tickets for about 20 years, so they should not have any problem with collecting this new revenue stream from the airlines. Before the departure tax was included in the ticket price (about 20 years ago), every departing international passenger was required to buy a paper tax receipt for 500 baht in cash after check-in, and then immigration officers collected the tax receipt when the traveler passed through immigration, upon departure. I remember machines in the airport departure terminal that sold those paper tax receipts. Tourists used to be reminded to keep 500 baht cash when leaving the country, to pay the tax. Over the years, and after the tax was integrated into the ticket price, the international departure tax increased from 500 baht to 600, then to 700 baht, and recently it was increased to the present 730 Baht. This fee is invisible, as it is now built into the international airline ticket prices. Domestic passengers currently pay a tax of 130 baht on flights. This newest tax is being called a "tourism arrival fee or tax", and will be 300 baht (in the beginning). So once the new tourist arrival fee is implemented, between the two taxes, a round-trip international air traveler will pay 300 baht arrival tax, and 730 baht departure tax, for a total of 1,030 baht. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/2866607/minister-aims-to-levy-300-baht-tourism-tax

Well, the government of Thailand is still promoting cash usage big time. The government just budgeted 180 billion baht (cash) for the first tranche of 10,000 baht handouts. The ATM machines are working overtime, as can be seen in this photo from the front page of today's Bangkok Post.

I didn't see this announced in the Bangkok Post, but here are a couple links stating the new Electronic Travel Authorization will not begin this December as planned. Originally set to begin in December 2024, the launch date for the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system remains undecided due to the need for further coordination with relevant agencies. https://www.globe.co.th/news/thailand/thailand-postpones-launch-of-automated-tourist-entry-system/

Well, there are people complaining that security staff are directing families with children to the fast track lane, causing long backups. Families with infants are a listed category for fast track. I don't know if airport staff are allowing families with older children (with no infants) to use the fast track or not. The reference I made above concerning congestion comes from this document from AOT:

Economy class passengers age 70 and above are welcome to continue to use the Fast Track Lane, as directed in guidance from the Airports of Thailand, the management company of Suvarnabhumi Airport. So, no change for 70 and above passengers, see the photo of previous signage above, it states "Senior Citizens Over 70". I failed to include the senior citizens category in the list I typed in my original post above. Sorry for any confusion.