General Reports

[1Ball]

I have been asked to empty my pockets, at SFO. They ask their questions very well.

"Is this the ENTIRE contents of your pockets"

If you say yes, and they search you and find something other than an old mint, well................I wouldn't risk it.

If the customs officer has a bug up his ass, you can bet he wants to look for yours too.

[Member #3428]

I've NEVER had customs ask if I had any USB with me (which I do, usually 1 or 2 sticks) - but I'm not used to coming in thru LAX either (the Thai air non-stop) so this trip might be different.

FWIW... Las Vegas, LAX, San Fran are the only places customs have ever given me more then a quick question and look over. IAH, EWR, Miami, JFK, GUM, HNL, and others have never ever done anything more then pass me through. Only a few times have they attempted to open my computer, phones, camera and such and only at those first three airports. And they did ask for all drives and memory sticks.

[Dinghy]

I've NEVER had customs ask if I had any USB with me (which I do, usually 1 or 2 sticks) - but I'm not used to coming in thru LAX either (the Thai air non-stop) so this trip might be different.

With 4gb SD cards out there (and MICRO SD as well) that CAN fit into a wallet, they would need to be VERY interested in my system to even CARE.

This trip I'm trying a new 7mb camera that takes up to 4gb SD so we'll see if they care (camera is about the size of a pack of cigs)

[Duniawala]

Not a good idea. Customs will ask you if you have any USB with you. If you lie, and they find them, you are in deep doo-doo.

Emailing them to yourself is the best way.

Just put them in your pocket (the ones with nude images) keep one with touristy pictures with the laptop. Never had any custom officer to ask me, in my years of travel, to empty my pockets.

however, emailing is a better idea,

[Easy2007]

If you really want to hide data while you travel, use something like TrueCrypt.

http://www.truecrypt.org/

Not a good idea. Customs will ask you if you have any USB with you. If you lie, and they find them, you are in deep doo-doo.

Emailing them to yourself is the best way.

[1Ball]

...

2. buy yourself one or more flash drives, the latest I got was 8gig each. Load the pics on it(or them??) and dump the drives in your luggage. Make sure to clear your camera.

Regards,
Dooley

Not a good idea. Customs will ask you if you have any USB with you. If you lie, and they find them, you are in deep doo-doo.

Emailing them to yourself is the best way.

[Deep Throat]

Ok, as you can see from my sign-on I'm a big fan of DEEP THROAT. It's gotta be bareback for it to be any good. I'm planning a trip of 2-3 weeks for January/Feb. 2009 and am trying to decide where to go. Thailand, Cuba, Cambodia, or Dom Republic. If I choose Thailand then I gotta decide between BK, Pattaya, and Phuket. Biggest problem I have is that some friends of mine know of my "sexual addiction" and think I'm in recovery, which is no longer true. If I tell them I'm going to Thailand, especially BK, they'll be all over me about it. How does one decide where to go for great BJ's, and how do you explain it to family and friends so they don't suspect you're going for sex tourism? For example, I'm thinking that if I go to Thailand I'll tell everyone I'm going to some remote beach area that's not known for sex. And. Are there any nice beaches in Pattaya?

Any and all information and recommendations would be appreciated.

[Jeremy]

Which begs the question, how does one get their photos home safely nowadays? Anyone care to educamate me? (I'm on my way over to LOS this Friday, and would love to bring home some memories! )

1. Go to an internet cafe, download the pics into the computer, have them attached them to a email message and send them to yourself. Many pics? Do it many times.( Better still, get yourself more email addresses, all free.)

2. buy yourself one or more flash drives, the latest I got was 8gig each. Load the pics on it(or them??) and dump the drives in your luggage. Make sure to clear your camera.

Regards,

Dooley

[Padrote]

What was more interesting was the following quote, wonder what exactly those lifestyles preferences are.

"There are personal reasons they are there," said Arevalo. While he would not detail them, Arevalo said, the two had "individual lifestyle preferences" that led them to Thailand where the drug and sex scene is well-known.

Interesting article for me, since I read about the pony tail bandit in the news when she robbed one of the banks and it funny that they ended up in Thailand!

[El Greco]

Which begs the question, how does one get their photos home safely nowadays? Anyone care to educamate me? (I'm on my way over to LOS this Friday, and would love to bring home some memories! )

There are too many free places. All you need is google them.
Here is one

http://www.easyshareonline.com/

I would pay 7 euros for one month at

www.rapidshare.com

Would upload them there and download them once at home and then delete them from their site.

It's the best of them all.


El Greco

[NicFrenchy]

I went to Ambassador Tailor based on this recommendation. Kenny was late that day but got good service from Bob. I saw Kenny the next day when I came back for a second fitting and I told him he blew a commission. He's young. Hopefully he will learn.

The 120s cost $350 per suit fully-tailored. Try to pay in baht as there is a credit card surcharge of 4%.

You can buy 120s in the garment district in LA for $400-$500. If you add the 8.25% sales tax and $100 for tailoring in LA buying suits in BKK is a good deal.

I also had dress shirts made to order. Shirts are $35. The shirts in LA are $42 for high quality in the garment district so this is not as great of a deal.

It all depends on the Fabric you choose. If you know a little bit about Suits, you will see the difference between an Italian and Brittish Fabric, Taylor made and Off the rack Suit.

I have some Very expensive Hugo Boss and Armani Suits but None of them are as nice as the ones From Ambassador Taylor.

Also, As I mentionned, my suits are expensive (16,000 was the cheapest, $500) but they last long, I had 4 suits made 3 years ago when I arrived in Bangkok and they haven't moved, not even a little bit.

One tip though, always make sure you ask them to make 2 pairs of Pants for the suit as Pants get used much faster than the JAckets.

Shirts are around 850-900 thb per piece depending on what you want (I always ask for French Cuffs).

As far as I am concerned, price is not the Issue: I want a good suit that looks good on me. My job requires to meet a lot of customers and I can't afford to meet them wearing a suit or Shirt that has too long sleeves or too large Collar. You want to look good? This has a price.

[NicFrenchy]

Which begs the question, how does one get their photos home safely nowadays? Anyone care to educamate me? (I'm on my way over to LOS this Friday, and would love to bring home some memories! )

Try yousendit

Download your pics to a computer, upload in Yousendit and send to your Email (any email) and then download them again from Yousendit once safe and sound at home.

www.yousendit.com

[Big Boss Man]

I have my suits made at Ambassador Tailor Sukhumvit Soi 19, Great Quality! My suits are expensive though as I usually use Super 120 and prefer fabrics from England rather than Italian.

Talk to Kenny, he is a great bloke and won't overcharge you.

While waiting for your suits, go to Luxury Massage across the Street

I went to Ambassador Tailor based on this recommendation. Kenny was late that day but got good service from Bob. I saw Kenny the next day when I came back for a second fitting and I told him he blew a commission. He's young. Hopefully he will learn.

The 120s cost $350 per suit fully-tailored. Try to pay in baht as there is a credit card surcharge of 4%.

You can buy 120s in the garment district in LA for $400-$500. If you add the 8.25% sales tax and $100 for tailoring in LA buying suits in BKK is a good deal.

I also had dress shirts made to order. Shirts are $35. The shirts in LA are $42 for high quality in the garment district so this is not as great of a deal.

[Pocket Sushi]

Which begs the question, how does one get their photos home safely nowadays? Anyone care to educamate me? (I'm on my way over to LOS this Friday, and would love to bring home some memories! )

I'm curious; when did the US become worse than Nazi Germany? If I end up encountering these type of Gestapo tactics I'll probably end up on the nightly news. Land of the Free my ass!

[Dobinator1]

One more thing: I got a hell of a grilling from US Customs when I went back through LA. First I got a lot of questions about why I was there, what I did for a living, where I was going next, etc. Then I was directed to "Line B, " where they wanted to see my laptop and my camera.

Which begs the question, how does one get their photos home safely nowadays? Anyone care to educamate me? (I'm on my way over to LOS this Friday, and would love to bring home some memories! )