I go to 7-Eleven in the US maybe twice a year. Here it’s at least twice a day. What’s your gotta grab?

Mine:

#1 - the cooling towels they keep inside the chilled drinks cooler. I don’t know what chemical they put in those towels but holy crap it works miracles

#2 - the blueberry cookies. For those with commitment issues like me, if you don’t want to buy a full bag, look for these individual size ones.

#3 - toasties. I didn’t think I would become addicted to these but here I am. The croissant ham and cheese is my favorite.

#4 - coffee milk - sold in little plastic bottles for about 10 or 15 baht.

#5 - deet spray - most people buy the one in pink I like the one in orange. I think it actually does help. Keep flies away, but more importantly, you stink less. 😆

#6 - the G’Nite gummies. Honestly, I don’t know if these actually do anything. But they taste great. If I wake up too early at four or 5 AM, I pop one of these

My only pet peeve about 7 Eleven is the minimum credit card amount. I think it's 300 baht. I can never get to 200.

Wow, so much processed food loaded with carbs and sugar. There's often a fruit cart parked in front of 7-11s in Thailand and you should check it out sometime. Guava has a low GI and Thai ones are fresh and crunchy but go easy on the plum powder as it's loaded with sugar. They're called ฝรั่ง or farang, spelled and pronounced exactly the same way as the commonly used descriptor for westerners. Make sure you get the fresh ones and not the ones that have been soaked in syrup.

Unripe mango, pomelo, white dragon fruit, tangerines and Thai jujube (they look like green apples) are also good options for diabetics but, as always, everything in moderation. Next to the cool season, June to August is my favourite time of the year in Thailand being the main fruit season. Longans, lychees, longkong, rambutans (Surat Thani is famous for its rambutans), mangosteens...again, in moderation. I was in Hatyai last weekend and there was still a wide variety of local fruit so you're not too late. Durian is available all year round now; I may be biased but I prefer Malaysian durian to Thai durian. 😅 Be careful of dried fruit: high in fibre but high GI too.

oh yeah speaking of,the Kit Kat knockoffs too!

16 minutes ago, aaroninatl said:

Lol, our taste on everything seems to run completely opposite, so I’ll stick to my stuff thanks. 😆

I doubt very much you know my taste "on" everything. Even I don't know what my taste in everything is and this may come as a surprise to many but I don't know everything. 😏

17 minutes ago, mauRICE said:

I doubt very much you know my taste "on" everything. Even I don't know what my taste in everything is and this may come as a surprise to many but I don't know everything. 😏

See PeterRS!

2 minutes ago, Keithambrose said:

See PeterRS!

Please let sleeping dogs lie. 🙏🏻✌️🫶

🥱

2 hours ago, mauRICE said:

Please let sleeping dogs lie. 🙏🏻✌️🫶

Woof, woof!

@aaroninatl a man after my own heart. In my bar whoring days, too often I raided the hotel mini bar in the wee hours of the morning only to be presented with an unpleasant bill on check out. I remember one evening a boy and I drank 8 bottles of Chang beer (small size) ….at hotel prices. The final total could have purchased a bottle of whisky. Now I make sure to stock up at the start of each trip.

I get a mixture of snacks depending what I’m in the mood for and what boy du jour may enjoy. Recently have been leaning towards Thai snacks such as rice crackers with pork floss and banana chips….or these Japanese cheese-flavoured rice crackers , which are disgustingly addictive. Occasionally I investigate the Thailand-only Lays flavours….I hear there is now durian Lays.

I didn’t try the famous toasties until recently and prefer the croissant-style ones too

A twink friend taught me how to drink Jinro mixed with Betagen, apparently very popular among the boys especially the Cambodians. It also can give you diarrhoea. I see the appeal as barboys never get enough fibre in their diet so it’s a colonic cleanse while getting drunk.

Another habit I picked up from the boys…. “Mansome” vitamin drink, containing collagen, zinc, Vitamins C, E and other things to make you mansome-r. There’s a whole range of these drinks and they’re extremely popular.

I also get canned coffee. I’m an early riser, hotel coffee is swill, coffee shops aren’t open yet, and I refuse to pay 200 baht or whatever it costs at Starbucks for an iced Americano. Usually just Nespresso zero sugar black Arabica.

OK, the register might pass 300 baht now. Got a few new things to try. 👍 been sitting on the patio enjoying a passing shower. But it’s let up. Time for my 2nd 7 Eleven visit of the day.

Update: yep. Instantly addicting. Considered sushi flavored Lays, but opted for the rice crackers instead. Zero regrets. Didn't spot any Mansome... but hey I gotta let the other guys on the island have a chance right?

32 minutes ago, aaroninatl said:

Update: yep. Instantly addicting.

Actually these were the ones I was referring to.

And since you have a sweet tooth don’t forget the After You milk buns. A boy left cream all over my sheets and not in a good way.

Assignment completed. I have to say I liked my rice crackers a bit better… but these were good too. That milk bun is ridiculously good. I took one bite so I don’t spoil my dinner and get another lecture. 😆 apparently fruits and vegetables are good for me. This is startling new information I learned today.

1 hour ago, aaroninatl said:

Assignment completed. I have to say I liked my rice crackers a bit better… but these were good too.

I will try yours when I’m next in Thailand. Clearly we are a bad influence on each other.

1 hour ago, aaroninatl said:

apparently fruits and vegetables are good for me. This is startling new information I learned today.

Since it’s science day, plain water will hydrate you better than coffee milk… and has no sugar.

1 minute ago, hank75 said:

I will try yours when I’m next in Thailand. Clearly we are a bad influence on each other.

just had an amazing lemon and garlic grilled chicken entrée delivered from Grab. But all I could think through the meal was that I get to have the rest of this milk bun that I’m enjoying right now. Enjoying far too much.

9 hours ago, mauRICE said:

Guava has a low GI

what about IQ ?

4 hours ago, hank75 said:

I get a mixture of snacks

.........

Another habit I picked up from the boys…. “Mansome” vitamin drink, containing collagen, zinc, Vitamins C, E and other things to make you mansome-r.

...........................

I also get canned coffee. Usually just Nespresso zero sugar black Arabica.

with snacks I'm 127.64% with mauRICE and if I need one , which is quite rare I opt for fruit, red dragon and mandarins being my favorite .

...........

thank you for pointing out Mansome drinks , somehow I never noticed them on the shelves , not that I look for cold drinks in store , other than beer and ocassionally...

.......

indeed canned coffee, specially when I'm walking a lot

1 hour ago, hank75 said:

Since it’s science day, plain water will hydrate you better than coffee milk… and has no sugar.

only animals are drinking water

1 hour ago, aaroninatl said:

just had an amazing lemon and garlic grilled chicken entrée delivered from Grab. But all I could think through the meal was that I get to have the rest of this milk bun that I’m enjoying right now. Enjoying far too much.

all that food is nice but what about boys over there at Ko Samui ? or you become lesbian which happens to me from time to time too but cheer up, it's easily curable.

I found that one of 7/11 musts is to size up guys working there

I'm with @mauRICE here: the best feature of the 7-Elevens in Thailand, Japan, and across much of East Asia, is their selection of fresher foods. They have chilled salads, yogurts, fresh fruit, sushi, ready-to-eat sandwiches for a light meal -- albeit in addition to lots of processed foods nonetheless and instant noodles. Go to those with bigger floor area, you get a better selectiion. Family Marts are just as good. The Lawson's on Silom opposite Soi 6 is one of my favourites.

The 7-Elevens in the US are possibly the worst I have ever seen, stocked 80% ultra-processed foods, 20% alcohol. No wonder @aaroninatl only goes there twice a year. He may be the exception because 7-Eleven USA must be stocking what its target market wants.

I'm just a little bit surprised that @aaroninatl has not commented on this difference between the 7-Elevens of the US and those in Thailand, but instead is still highlighting super-processed snacks. I get it though that the main point of the opening post was about what his top picks were, so it's a personal statement. Not long ago, a couple from the US I bumped into during airport transit at Narita was commenting on this (to them) very noticeable difference in a highly positive way. They were like "wow, I didn't know convenience stores could be like this."

So, here's the question for @aaroninatl: did you notice the difference? What other observations have you made about Family Mart, etc?

Re cash payments, it's a good thing! 7-Elevens are a wonderful way to break 1,000-baht bills into smaller bills, especially red 100s for tips.

1 hour ago, vinapu said:

all that food is nice but what about boys over there at Ko Samui ? or you become lesbian which happens to me from time to time too but cheer up, it's easily curable.

I found that one of 7/11 musts is to size up guys working there

If there was good news’s to report on that front I’d be all over it. 😉. Dude it’s a bust in every sense on Samui. Grindr . Bars. Spas. All 👎 Even 7 Eleven staff is usually C-. I think it’s just tough to follow Bangkok. Still enjoying KS though for what it is - a chill out

It’s felt like my Asian trip is on a pause. It feels like I’m in Daytona Beach. Lots of cute white frat dudes. But just like in the US, they’re off limits. So yeah food, elephants and temples are dominating my posts. 😆

Back to Asia hopefully when I get to Chiang Mai later this week. 👍

Have not gone lesbian yet. No indigo girls on my playlist. Worry not. 😜 Recharging!

9 hours ago, aaroninatl said:

🥱

All that sugar making you sleepy?

Now I understand why you seem to get tired so easily.

Have you tried the seafood which is quite famous in Samui? I don't eat seafood much but I like fish and we usually eat at the Thai restaurants and have fish cooked to order. They've got a great variety of saltwater fish and have menus in English. At home I tend to eat freshwater fish from my own pond. The standard fare would be fish cooked in sweet 'n' sour sauce, deep fried with garlic or steamed with lemon sauce. My HDL tends to go up after these island trips! 😁

I don't snack but will grab some fruit from a fruit cart when I'm feeling a bit peckish. Sometimes I'll pack an apple, banana or some Japanese cucumber (my favourite) and a hard boiled egg into my backpack before I set out on a day of sightseeing.

7 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

the best feature of the 7-Elevens in Thailand, Japan, and across much of East Asia, is their selection of fresher foods. They have chilled salads, yogurts, fresh fruit, sushi, ready-to-eat sandwiches for a light meal -- albeit in addition to lots of processed foods nonetheless and instant noodles. Go to those with bigger floor area, you get a better selectiion. Family Marts are just as good. The Lawson's on Silom opposite Soi 6 is one of my favourites.

For yogurts and fresh produce I prefer not to go to convenience stores. The Tops Food Hall at Dusit Central Park is mind boggling. They have a wine section, champagne bar and also the fancy “food court” with a carving station for roasts, alongside brisket, lasagnas, roasted vegetables, sausages and more. Though I have only tried the one in Central Pattaya since there is too much choice food-wise in Central Park.

7 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

Family Marts are just as good.

What other observations have you made about Family Mart, etc?

There are no Family Mart stores in Thailand. Family Mart exited Thailand three years ago.

22 hours ago, aaroninatl said:

the cooling towels they keep inside the chilled drinks cooler. I don’t know what chemical they put in those towels but holy crap it works miracles

I am also a fan of the cooling towels. Often they have two sizes. The towels contain menthol for cooling, great on a hot day.

Thinking back to my last trip, I bought these items over the course of different days - water, yogurt, bottled sugar free green tea, Full Moon wine coolers, bagged ice cubes, beer, coconut water, toiletries, snacks, canned iced coffee.

Lately, alongside the large individually wrapped bananas, some 7-Eleven stores have been selling the small nam wah bananas. Yes, I know bananas are sold in markets, but in 7, they are sold in tiny bunches, perfect for one or two people - not in large bunches as sold by the kilo in markets.

14 hours ago, hank75 said:

I also get canned coffee. I’m an early riser, hotel coffee is swill, coffee shops aren’t open yet, and I refuse to pay 200 baht or whatever it costs at Starbucks for an iced Americano.

Same here, I like iced coffee before I leave the room in the morning, and like you, I never step foot in Starbucks.

Tried the canned coffee this morning. Liked it. Coffee milk was a thing I remember living near Rhode Island for a few years. Haven’t had it in years.

And yeah the towels are vital. This is the one I get. Was surprised my buddy who lives in Bangkok had never noticed them. Probably more of a tourist thing.