General Reports

[Rjsss212]

in reality? or just the idea in your mind that you're being respected more?

in some countries i agree it makes a big difference how you dress.

i'm not 'fully' convinced that thailand is one of those.

to me, me findings in many countries is that our attitude is the deciding factor for locals.

we may be dressed like a **** boy, but if we interact in a polite way this seems to be key.

although i accept that for some things (embassies, other official places) it's time to ditch the holiday gear.

agreed 100% on that. it even seems bizzare to even see it on ko samui, away from the beaches.

(also saw one russian girl wearing a bikini while walking around in tesco lotus. lol)

the world and the people in it are myopic and only see what they've been told to dress and hair is the first thing people see and it takes less than 3 seconds for first impressions to be solidly made. sure you may act like royalty but you may already be written off so if one cares about such things then dress is essential.

imagine walking to into a nana bar and sitting next to a handsome 32 year old caucasian male wearing a white dress shirt with a necktie opened, hanging down the sides of his chest with 3 buttons open as well, well polished black dress shoes, suit jacket folded on his lap, rolex watch sipping a scotch. conclusion would be immediate and possibly accurate.

same same. one should dress how one wants to be perceived. all countries participate, you just have to learn the rules.

[Phordphan]

going by the general feedback from expats, i get the impression (perhaps wrongly) that foreigners (either short term visitors or those living in the country) are ultimately classified as 'barbarians from over the sea', regardless of what we do, because it boils down to us simply not being thai. maybe that isn't the case, but i do wonder how effective it really is to attempt to win their favour in varoious ways. it seems that most people around the world do warm to foreigners over time, after having known them personally on a daily basis. for short visits and every day encounters with strangers, i just question if it really makes as big a difference as believed. having said that, it can only be true that people will make snap judgements about people's based on clothing and categorize them based on this. after all, it's exactly the same in britain, which has this operating at a very strong level too.

i agree. in asia, you'll always be an outsider, simply because you don't look like everybody else. as such, there will always be a bit of the "barbarian" mentality that you describe.

it's hard to quantify, but the gf says that when you go around dressed like a beach bum (while not at the beach) , with a butt-ugly bar girl draped over your arm, you are immediately branded as an insane cretin. if you dress reasonably neatly, and your lady isn't dressed like a tramp, your seen in a better light and treated better by those with whom you interact. i admit that some of the cultural nuance may be lost on me, as it probably takes a lifetime to learn. but she insists that it's there.

i guess the overarching point is that, when traveling, i try not to be too offensive to the host country. i had a long conversation with an elderly lady a few months back. she was living in bkk with her husband in the early 1960s as part of the un, or something. her two kids were born in bkk. anyway, she described to me how farang were treated then, and it was just unbelievable. white folks were something of a novelty. today, the farang has such an image problem. fat, tattooed drunks running around half naked, with obvious bar girls in tow, seem to be an all too common sight. it seems the past decade, or so, has seen a major influx of the "lowest common denominator" of the farang tourist. so, imho, anything we can do to try to reduce that stereotype is a good thing.

[RBDave]

I get a kick out of the complaints on here.

Complaining about 600 B BF and 1500 B ST 2500 B LT and paying 4000 B at soapies.

How the girls attitudes are bad.

Review some of the posts and the prices the girls are asking are basically the same.

Yeah, I know the dollar has slid. But the girls don't care about that shit.

I am sure 1975 was different. OK, a loaf of bread was 19 cents then and my house cost me $30, 000 and is now worth $500, 000.

For the "overall" vacation and mongering experience, Thailand is still the best spot in the world in my opinion.

One more thing regarding price. Yes, the price of mongering in Thailand has gone up. Not only is the Baht stronger, the cost of living in Thailand has also gone up. Most Thais work on a very low margin of profit. Once their costs go up, they have to raise prices to maintain a living. Since gasoline has gone up a great deal over the last few years, everything is more expensive.

[RBDave]

I get a kick out of the complaints on here.

I went back to 2007 and the same BS was going on then.

You could put those posts in today and it would seem current.

How Thailand is a shell of it's former self.

Guys complaining all the Arabs and tourists.

Complaining about 600 B BF and 1500 B ST 2500 B LT and paying 4000 B at soapies.

How the girls attitudes are bad.

Review some of the posts and the prices the girls are asking are basically the same.

Yeah, I know the dollar has slid. But the girls don't care about that shit.

I am sure 1975 was different. OK, a loaf of bread was 19 cents then and my house cost me $30, 000 and is now worth $500, 000.

For the "overall" vacation and mongering experience, Thailand is still the best spot in the world in my opinion.

I definitely think things have changed since 2004, particularly the attitudes. Back then, I remember 1500 long time was an acceptable price for a Pattaya beer bar girl, and 2000 agogo. However, just last year, I was quoted 2000 LT from an agogo girl, so it was still possible even then.

With respect to attitude, it could be that since I'm less of a catch each passing year, the girls see more more of a person to get money from than a person to be with for fun. Many of the hot girls "don't do short time". Some it's because they have boyfriends (or in the case of a really hot girl named Nan, a girlfriend) , but many know they can potentially get a second customer that night making more money.

Again, this doesn't mean good attitudes aren't to be found. I BFed a girl from an agogo in Pattaya the other night that I thought was fantastic. Great looks, great personality, and great performance. I would have continued to bar fine her, but she went home for Songkran yesterday. The bad news is, she won't return until after I leave Pattaya, the good news is she will be back when I return. And she does doubles with her (real) sister;"I boom boom sister, jing. Hehehehe" as she held her fingers in the form of a V with her tongue out between. I plan on being in her bar at 9pm then next time I'm here. Hopefully she (and her sister) won't be on multi day barfines then.

[Member #4414]

I get a kick out of the complaints on here.I went back to 2007 and the same BS was going on then.

I kind of agree about some complaints, and how easy it is to slide into the mindset. Recently I went way back in the archives for several areas of the country here around 2003 and yes the same kind of comments were doing the rounds back then about a decline in quality of girls, etc etc, posted by people during the days I today feel were the better times, so it puts everything into perspective really. Having said that, there are some things which to me are undeniable, such as far fewer of the younger and pretty ones entering the arena now, less enthusiasm in 'catching customer' now. Young, Pretty and Enthusiastic can still be found (luckily, or I'd be out of here already) in the offerings, but not as immediately visible as before when browsing. I also find myself spending far more here than ever before, each day. To sum it up, yes still an enjoyable place to holiday (great food, great beaches, and a general 'live and let live' view of foreigner's antics) but has now started to outprice me if I want to treat myself.

For the "overall" vacation and mongering experience, Thailand is still the best spot in the world in my opinion.

For 'overall' vacation, yes I agree. For mongering though, we may be witnessing the twilight years. We'll see.

[Scorchin1470]

If I read the data correctly the thai baht was 25 to the US$ and 44 to the GBP in 1990. Not much different today.

[Luvpuss]

I get a kick out of the complaints on here.

I went back to 2007 and the same BS was going on then.

You could put those posts in today and it would seem current.

How Thailand is a shell of it's former self.

Guys complaining all the Arabs and tourists.

Complaining about 600 B BF and 1500 B ST 2500 B LT and paying 4000 B at soapies.

How the girls attitudes are bad.

Review some of the posts and the prices the girls are asking are basically the same.

Yeah, I know the dollar has slid. But the girls don't care about that shit.

I am sure 1975 was different. OK, a loaf of bread was 19 cents then and my house cost me $30,000 and is now worth $500,000.

For the "overall" vacation and mongering experience, Thailand is still the best spot in the world in my opinion.

[PinkPearl]

Where can travellers cheques be purchased in Bangkok near to NEP?

[Wolvenvacht]

Thank you guys for all input about my question about dresscode.

(snip)

I saw some of you were joking about shoes. What is ok and not about shoes. Sandals without socks, is that ok? Or is it only shoes and socks that counts?

Sandals with nice clothes seem rather strange. I always wear light tan colored canvas combat boots. I never got any complaints anywhere and they give me good traction on the treacherous sidewalks of Bangkok. But then again, I never go to discos and do not dance. Add a light khaki colored pair of cargo pants and a ditto collared shirt with rolled up sleeves and shoulder straps, it looks somewhat like a retired army officer (which is not even too far off the truth). You know how much the Thai like rank, authority and class: at my age any little advantage I get to appeal to the Thai ladies, is a good thing.

A few years ago I was with a pretty classy hooker for a few days in BKK. She told me that this is my holiday, not work, so I should really dress in those pirate jeans I use to. Maybe its a bit different to visit SOL daytime and nana plaza in night time.

I'm sure you can waltz into SOL in any kind of dress or undress and they wouldn't blink an eye.

[Member #4414]

We both take pains to ensure I don't look like the typical Farang kee nok.

Going by the general feedback from expats, I get the impression (perhaps wrongly) that foreigners (either short term visitors or those living in the country) are ultimately classified as 'Barbarians from over the sea', regardless of what we do, because it boils down to us simply not being Thai. Maybe that isn't the case, but I do wonder how effective it really is to attempt to win their favour in varoious ways. It seems that most people around the world do warm to foreigners over time, after having known them personally on a daily basis. For short visits and every day encounters with strangers, I just question if it really makes as big a difference as believed. Having said that, it can only be true that people will make snap judgements about people's based on clothing and categorize them based on this. After all, it's exactly the same in Britain, which has this operating at a very strong level too.

politeness and CLEANLINESS, go a long way.

Both those more than anything else seem to be 'immediately' effective, I agree.

.you could carry her handbag like the pussyboys in Singapore do.

Hi. Well, it was mentioned in most post really just to point it out, as to why it seems facial hair is not liked as much in east asia. In some ways I find the more gentle personality of some Thai males to be far more relaxing to be around than many males in my country (Britain) and societys like Russia, who feel this need to 'exhibit' 'manliness' at each and every opportunity to onlookers.

[Paul Kausch]

Americans and Brits for years had a built in advantage with beautiful asian women, as they were often given the attributes and images created in the studio backlots of Hollywood and Pinewood, but while today the model with the younger girls is now changing to a more eastern (male) centric focus, the western legacy is still there. Dress like this and you can work the Coconut Bar or any upscale club in Bangkok, its a universal dress code.

http://geekoverture.com/files/2012/07/BOND.jpg

Yes, and Caucasian facial features and fairer complexion are coveted; and many Asian women who can afford it subject themselves to cosmetic procedures to acquire these attributes.

[Dextro Sol]

Thank you guys for all input about my question about dresscode.

I agree with most of you about long pants, for me I prefer jeans. I also think a nice short arm shirt or tennis shirt (sua polo in thai) would be ok. I saw some of you were joking about shoes. What is ok and not about shoes. Sandals without socks, is that ok? Or is it only shoes and socks that counts?

A few years ago I was with a pretty classy hooker for a few days in BKK. She told me that this is my holiday, not work, so I should really dress in those pirate jeans I use to. Maybe its a bit different to visit SOL daytime and nana plaza in night time.

[Western787]

Slacks, a nice looking shirt with A collar, good grooming and a pleasant manner go a long way in Bangkok. All Thais, not just the SW respond positively to people who take pride in their appearance. Read a few articles on Thai culture. Thais are a very class conscious people. If you look like a "better class of person" they will treat you as such.

Americans and Brits for years had a built in advantage with beautiful asian women, as they were often given the attributes and images created in the studio backlots of Hollywood and Pinewood, but while today the model with the younger girls is now changing to a more eastern (male) centric focus, the western legacy is still there. Dress like this and you can work the Coconut Bar or any upscale club in Bangkok, its a universal dress code http://geekoverture.com/files/2012/07/BOND.jpg

[FreebieFan]

That's true, but then their culture (and other parts Eastern Asia) seems to idolise feminine looking males in the various forms of media. In Thailand when mongering, as you say, it's all about the money anyway so it doesn't matter if we're just going to working Girls.

To help things along with the girl of your choice, you could carry her handbag like the pussyboys in Singapore do.

Always had to laugh when the gal packed her Hermes Birkin bag (about the size of an ocean liner) and asked her sweet pussy boyfriend to carry it for her all day.

But then these pussyboys seem to attract some nice gals so maybe theres method in the madness.

[Phordphan]

in reality? or just the idea in your mind that you're being respected more?

in some countries i agree it makes a big difference how you dress.

i'm not 'fully' convinced that thailand is one of those.

to me, me findings in many countries is that our attitude is the deciding factor for locals.

we may be dressed like a **** boy, but if we interact in a polite way this seems to be key.

although i accept that for some things (embassies, other official places) it's time to ditch the holiday gear.

agreed 100% on that. it even seems bizzare to even see it on ko samui, away from the beaches.

(also saw one russian girl wearing a bikini while walking around in tesco lotus. lol)

yes, in reality. it's often subtle, but it's there.

if you show up in bkk in shorts, t-shirt and flip flops you're branded a sex tourist. rightly or wrongly. as mr. k pointed out, th is a very class conscious society and a dude dressed like this is obviously low class. now if you're going to spend 100% of your time in hooker bars, you can practically run around naked.

having said all this, obviously tit, and there is always lots of "it depends." there are times in bkk when shorts are fine. i am not an expert in all the cultural nuances. i often take dress cues from my middle-class gf. we both take pains to ensure i don't look like the typical farang kee nok. when traveling upcountry, she insists shorts are fine if the weather is hot. in bkk, sometimes it's ok, sometimes not.

so, not to belabor the point, but i think it's a good idea to develop a general rule. in bkk long pants and collared shirt, politeness and cleanliness, go a long way. so, unless circumstances dictate otherwise (songkran come to mind), this general rule will work well. you can generally go anywhere and do anything and not feel out of place.