General Reports

[Nyezhov]

Have you ever tried that All Cafe coffee sold in some 7-11's? It is proper brewed coffee. I usually get a large iced Latte for 40 baht. Pretty good value compared to most of the other coffee shops. And tastes good too.

Its actually not bad coffee. Its like being back at the convenience Marts in the USA.

I'm very particular about my coffee and I like the independent shops around town. School Coffee at Chong Nonsi is good. The lady who has been down by the Chinese courtyard near Saphan Taksin for probably 10 years makes a good cup. I even like Toms and the like. The coffee in the various pastry shops in the higher end malls is usually excellent, I had a cup I think it was in the Mandarin Oriental Shop at Graysorn and it was pinky cocked 1%er great. The nice thing about Bangkok is than not matter where you are you can get a cup of solid joe. I don't go to Starbucks, not because I can't afford it, but because I don't like the company.

I like the Turkish Coffee around town, I just don't like the environment LOL.

[Nyezhov]

Thais in Bangkok are generally agreeing that cost of living in Bangkok has risen very markedly in the last year or two, even buying food in plastic bags at markets sees a price rise. Exchange rates can have been getting worse also.

Prices are exactly the same since last year in areas outside the farang ghetto and tourist areas. In fact, I had some seafood in my fav seafood joint outside BKK the other day, and paid less based on market value since last spring. Its fruit season now, those 120 sticky rice minis you see in farangland are twice the size at half the price outside, those piles of Sukhumit Langsads at 500 B a kilo are 20 baht a kilo in my area and street meals are still less than 50 b where I'm at.

Tourist prices are increasing because that's the Thai way, less demand, raise the price. Hotel prices are falling a bit.

BTW, if you tourists like a nice little street market, Artbox is across from Thermae. They have Sunrise Tacos there, some Taiwan Tacos, smoothies and the like. Some of the food there is reasonably priced for the area. Its Golden Week though, prices will rise LOL.

[Franga]

Fortunately can still get a coffee for 55 Baht in some coffee shops? Why pay Starbucks prices (for the Hiso Thais). Because I drink so much coffee, I prefer to make my own even in a Hotel room.

Have you ever tried that All Cafe coffee sold in some 7-11's? It is proper brewed coffee. I usually get a large iced Latte for 40 baht. Pretty good value compared to most of the other coffee shops. And tastes good too.

[Syzygies]

Thais in Bangkok are generally agreeing that cost of living in Bangkok has risen very markedly in the last year or two, even buying food in plastic bags at markets sees a price rise. Exchange rates can have been getting worse also.

We have already steep price rises in bars, and starting to spread to some MPs too, e. G. Doki Doki 3700 (or was it 3500) for 90 minutes. Wow! A tiny cafe today charged me 165 Baht for Crab Fried Rice and Clear Vege soup with pork balls. I would have expected under 100 baht merely 2 or 3 years ago. A grilled chicken leg could be anywhere from 50 to 100 Baht now. I can still remember long ago was 20 Baht. I buy raw chicken legs and cook myself. Ha ha. Just weeks ago cooked myself a huge pot of Masaman Chicken with all the special spices.

Fortunately can still get a coffee for 55 Baht in some coffee shops? Why pay Starbucks prices (for the Hiso Thais). Because I drink so much coffee, I prefer to make my own even in a Hotel room. Coffee grounds in filter Paper in funnel dripping into thermos. Its not too bad using 100% Arabica grounds (I pay 109 Baht per box for Meuang Di 100% Arabica in Tops supermarket). That is cheapest 100% I found and taste is acceptable for me.

Attendance of Expats in the Sports Pub is way down. Bad economic times I guess. Food and drinks is not cheap for those on a budget. We can all sneakily get sports program feeds on our smart phones these days, so need to be at the sports pub diminishes. Similarly who needs to attend a movie theatre these days. Can download everything.

I just read travel company Thomas Cook went bust. They were always a rip off anyway for exchange rates etc. in my home country as were Travelex. The world is changing so much. I believe Super Rich at underground floor in the Airport is alright (no commission no fees). You don't want to change much money in Customs Hall with bad rates. I don't have much recent experience since I mainly do transfer to Thai Bank Account.

[Syzygies]

Newspapers report major rivers still rising from waters coming from upstream release, e. G. Moon, Chi, Mekhong. Floods could be getting worse in some Eastern Thai provinces and Lao provinces. Large numbers displaced from homes.

Often electricity gets switched off for safety (fallen lines), so then food spoils even if kitchens are not flooded through lack of refridgeration.

[Syzygies]

Many people in Laos are displaced from their homes. e.g. Savanakhet. Its worse their than Thailand I think. Whole communities staying at schools not flooded.

Doing a border run Mukdahan to Savanakhet (Laos) and back becomes impractical.

Dams on the Mekhong and related water ways, are overflowing. Not sure if Nakon Panom (home of many Tulip girls) is still in a bad way or water already receded. Sakhon Nakhon was another near province with serious flooding, also Khon Kaen, Roi Et, Maha Sarakham, Kalasin, etc.

I waded in flood waters myself (but fortunately below crotch level) and waters went down already (in certain provinces). Thankfully Thailand has these bad tropical monsoon storms but not really proper serious Typhoons (quite rare).

[Mr Enternational]

Age of Consent vs Age of Majority

=============================================

Greetings Gentlemen,

The Age of Consent is the age in which girls can participate in consensual, non-commercial sex with their teen-age boyfriend without said teen-age boyfriend being charged with statutory rape.

However, the Age of Consent is irrelevant to the members of this forum.

What you need to focus on is the Age of Majority, which among other things is the age in which they can vote, get married, enlist in the military, and participate in commercial sex activities.

Please exercise caution and govern yourself accordingly.

Thanks,

Jackson

[BMoreDog69]

Exactly how, if you have photos, does this imply commercial sex? Are you making videos of your negotiations? Do we really need to spell it out, step by step?

As Syzygies mentioned, travelling with multiples phones is not unusual. "Oh, my phone is not a dual-SIM phone", or "My phone isn't unlocked", or "I have a work phone".

If someone asks you about commercial sex, you reply that, "That would be illegal. ", and say nothing more. As I stated, this is not unlike following advice if you're stopped and questioned by the police, which is easily googled and discussed ad nauseum on my monger forums. Have a simple story that fits the reality, without telling anything incriminating and stick to it like a broken record.

Which online storage is less important. Use a ZIP app on your phone to zip your photos and things into a password protected file, and upload that whatever online storage you use.

https://www.androidauthority.com/the...ndroid-258692/

Frankly, this is of little concern, anyway. I have traveled for years and never been hassled. Can it happen? Sure. If you're worried about how hot the kitchen will get, then stay away.

Know the real issues, such as the ban on foreigners' getting religious tattoos, in Thailand.

Commercial sex is not exactly legal and if things escalate, can be used against the traveler to harass him even more. The best option is to ensure that one does not have anything such as a picture, video or chat while crossing the borders.

The question is which online storage options are best to store files for a day or two, securely.

[Nyezhov]

Are you guys serious? I live in Scandinavia and the idea of getting questions like that at the border is just unheard of. Why don't you just hand them a note sying I'm MUTE!. Should solve the problem. I feel sorry for you guys. US of A used to be such a great place. Now with all the shit going on there I am happy to stay away and not visit as a tourist. And with that joke Trump in the oval office it's not getting any better soon. A country that can elect a narcissist, bully and pathological liar as their president do not have my sympathy any more. I'm out.

Don't let the door hit ya in the ass on your way out.

Let's us know when the Rooskis have crossed your border, we'll come bail you out.

[Aviator12]

Believe me, for 2 decades I too never had big problem although I was grilled pretty harshly 2/3 times by overzealous bitchy female officers. They even asked me if I have relationship with women overseas or kids. WTF? I just visit for a week or two.I would ask to speak to their supervisor and enquire why such questioning is relevant?

Are you guys serious? I live in Scandinavia and the idea of getting questions like that at the border is just unheard of. Why don't you just hand them a note sying I'm MUTE!. Should solve the problem. I feel sorry for you guys. US of A used to be such a great place. Now with all the shit going on there I am happy to stay away and not visit as a tourist. And with that joke Trump in the oval office it's not getting any better soon. A country that can elect a narcissist, bully and pathological liar as their president do not have my sympathy any more. I'm out.

[Oterri]

First, so what if they see photos of someone you were having sex with? It isn't illegal to have sex with someone (adult) in a foreign country. "Yes, I'm a grown man, and I have sex with women. What's the problem with this?

Second, as someone who mongers places where it isn't specifically legal, I always use a burner phone.

* keep all photos on your removable memory card.

* backup any chats, etc to the memory card.

* upload anything to be secured to an online storage account. Zipping photos into a single file, which can be password protected, means nobody is going to be able to look at them.

* remove the memory card and factory reset the phone. Yes, forensic analysis might reveal stuff, but again, sex between adults isn't illegal.

* do what you will with the memory card.

Yes, be polite. Yes, answer questions. Yes, keep things short, and be repetitive as shit, rather than elaborating. Keep asking if there is a problem and why you're being detained. As tempting as it might be, don't be a smart ass and ask if they're jealous, or something similarly stupid. Follow all the usual guidelines for being questioned by police in the US, remembering that see&BP play by different legal rules, as indicated.

Commercial sex is not exactly legal and if things escalate, can be used against the traveler to harass him even more. The best option is to ensure that one does not have anything such as a picture, video or chat while crossing the borders.

The question is which online storage options are best to store files for a day or two, securely.

[Syzygies]

Second, as someone who mongers places where it isn't specifically legal, I always use a burner phone.

I always used to refer to having a "monger phone". I only recently first heard this term "burner phone" on an American (over the top irritating) court case TV series. I won't bother with series two. I prefer Scandinavian TV series greatly. The bullshit and overacting is greatly moderated. Normally I don't watch a lot of USA TV (for many years now), and no visits to USA for many years too. I presume "burner" means you need to burn the evidence, or avoid law enforcement tracking you for long. Ha ha. Latest USA jargon did not exactly come up on "Game of Thrones" ha ha. I did try a couple of Sci Fi Series: The Expanse was tolerable, Altered Carbon not really. The Hot Zone must be the only thing in recent times I really liked. Was believable.

I used to replace monger SIM cards in Thailand quite often when I needed to lose track of certain girls. I still think it is a good idea to have a separate very small phone for holding all things you would not want the wife to see, and to have it password protected etc. However normally keep hidden so wife does not have to know it exists.

It helps I have several phone handsets for use in business and Overseas, so multiple phones is not suspicious. One of the ones supposedly for business OS, is actually used for monger contacts.

[BMoreDog69]

First, so what if they see photos of someone you were having sex with? It isn't illegal to have sex with someone (adult) in a foreign country. "Yes, I'm a grown man, and I have sex with women. What's the problem with this?

Second, as someone who mongers places where it isn't specifically legal, I always use a burner phone.

* keep all photos on your removable memory card.

* backup any chats, etc to the memory card.

* upload anything to be secured to an online storage account. Zipping photos into a single file, which can be password protected, means nobody is going to be able to look at them.

* remove the memory card and factory reset the phone. Yes, forensic analysis might reveal stuff, but again, sex between adults isn't illegal.

* do what you will with the memory card.

Yes, be polite. Yes, answer questions. Yes, keep things short, and be repetitive as shit, rather than elaborating. Keep asking if there is a problem and why you're being detained. As tempting as it might be, don't be a smart ass and ask if they're jealous, or something similarly stupid. Follow all the usual guidelines for being questioned by police in the US, remembering that see&BP play by different legal rules, as indicated.

[Syzygies]

Not much chance of that Syzgies. Most of my career was in the Pacific. I am very familiar with the "buy me drinkee" girls looking for "that big PX in the sky". Nope, I am done with allowing a female to attach herself to me; fool me twice, shame on me, right? It might be, as the ex said, that I will die alone. But I will die alone with a dick that is worn down from fucking all the pussy I can get until then.

I am on my 4th long term relationship. What a sucker. Levels of sex with first 2 were poor. They did not fool me at all. I fooled myself. Some girls get horny infrequently. Ha ha. With no long experience, one does not know at all which girl is suitable. 3rd one gave okay Amounts of sex but she was not suitable on emotional grounds (anger for no apparent reason at times). I omit girls of less than 1 year. 4th one has been a lot more compatible fortunately, since was an unintended GF, just fell into it. However if over, I certainly don't want any more.

I remained friends with 2nd long term partner for many years, but I am glad I don't live with her full time any more. Would have to listen to same old repeated rubbish stories and whinging day in and day out. She was not so much like that originally. I value peace and quiet at least some of the time these days.

You would be amazed how appealing some young 23 YO hottie can be though. Can be way sexier than previous partners. Easy to loose your brain. I met one such girl recently, however fortunately I am already taken, so don't have to be tempted. Another girl at the Sports Pub is quite appealing and looking for a BF. Actually somewhat similar to my GF. So many appealing girls available in Thailand that one would like to be doing.

If get into something regular with a girl, how to keep her to Gik status and not to become a GF? Treat her mean, I guess. Takes lots of control.

[Smoothy]

I was grilled pretty harshly 2/3 times by overzealous bitchy female officers. They even asked me if I have relationship with women overseas or kids. WTF? I just visit for a week or two.

I would ask to speak to their supervisor and enquire why such questioning is relevant?

It sounds like they wanted your cock.