General Reports

[Fun Luvr]

These are some things I learned:

I arrived at the airport about noon Wednesday. It was a long trek from the arrival gate to immigration. There were people-mover walkways most of the way. Immigration line was long, but they were efficient. Probably about 15 minutes to get through the line. The immigration officer didn't ask any questions. I think that may have been because I had filled out the immigration form completely. By the time I got through immigration, my bags had arrived and they were on the carousel just behind immigration. Got my bags and went through customs, with nothing to declare, very fast and easy. Just beyond customs, there are some ATM's. All the ATM's I have checked charge 220 baht per transaction, so it is best to get the max that you think you will need. There are money exchangers adjacent to the ATM's, belonging to the same bank. I changed one of the 1000 baht bills for smaller bills there, and the lady was eager to help.

I took the train to the Makkasan Station. The train station in the airport is two floors below the arrival area. There is no more express train to anywhere. The regular train cost 35 baht. Get the token out of a machine because there are no ticket booths. The token is like a plastic coin, scan it to get through the gate. Hold on to that token because you will need it to get out of the station where ever you are going. That is also true for the BTS train, but they issue a card. The train took 23 minutes to get from the airport to the Makkasan station. Street traffic was a mess outside the station. After waiting about 5 minutes, I found an empty taxi. Look for the light, with Thai letters, in the lower left corner of the windshield. The light being on indicates the taxi is vacant. I found out first hand that the taxi driver could not read a map and could not understand directions. He told me 200 baht fare before starting. It was a nice air conditioned taxi. He took me to three different hotels before getting to my hotel. He acted like any hotel that was listed on the map was the place I wanted to go. Vehicles travel on the left side of the road.

I am staying at the Smart Suites hotel in district 1 just around the corner from Insanity Nightclub. The hotel is girl friendly. In fact, the lady at the front desk encouraged me to bring a lady in last night. The standard room is a little small but it is comfortable. It has plenty of hot water, air conditioning, refrigerator, wifi, and two bottles of water each day. It is only $27.20 a night on agoda, com.

The BTS train is an above ground train that runs east and west through Bangkok. A single ticket costs 27 baht, and an all-day pass costs 140 baht.

Food is expensive. I checked a pizza place yesterday, and a large pepperoni pizza costs 750 baht (almost $25), and a single slice was 150 baht. I usually don't eat red meat, but I checked hamburger prices. The cheapest I have found at a sit-down restaurant is 310 baht, just for a hamburger, no sides. A breakfast buffet is probably the best price for food. They cost from 250 to 300 baht. At a non-buffet restaurant, I ordered a two egg omelet and hash browns and the price was 135 baht. That was the smallest omelet I have ever seen and the hash browns were two small triangles like you would get at a fast-food place. A bottle of water with that was 60 baht. There are some restaurants that have bottled water for 20 baht and from a sidewalk vendor, it is 10 baht. Beef, pork, chicken, and fish meals will cost at least 400 baht, even at a food court in a mall.

There are no pedestrian street crossing except at lights, and I've only seen traffic lights on the major streets. Traffic is so heavy that you can usually cross a street between vehicles. If you are going someplace on a major street, it is best to get a motorcycle taxi. They will go between cars to get you to your destination much faster than a taxi.

It is very hot here, day and night.

I will share information about the ladies in another post.

[Syzygies]

And everywhere you go the Foot Massage is the most popular with the tourists. I think 70% or more in Kho San Road and especially Patong Beach, Phuket.

I guess that is why they insist on washing the feet.

RL.

What is 70%? You are saving 70% of all Massages for Farangs is foot massage? Hard to imagine why they want that (at least for me). Something psychological about getting service?

Yes the feet are really dirty or smelly, or imagined so (culturally), and so washed. Thailand has a lot of dust, sand, mud, dog shit, and human stink, etc. Not sure what the point being made is?

Supposing a guy with massive underarm stink all sweaty goes for a massage indoors. Surely he will have to shower first. Massage a clean person is a better thing. I will always shower before attempting to fuck a girl even if I had a shower just one hour earlier. It is better they are confident that we are very clean. Thais really take a dim view of stinky guys trying to avoid taking a shower.

[Bouvis]

It looks like Billboard will be my first point of call next week.

Some of the talent and feedback looks impressive.

I know with most things we just need to ask the provider if they supply a particular service, but to assist me in my plan of attack and to save time I was wondering if anyone has recently had a session with a Billboard beauty and had anal?

[Robert Long]

The stinkiest part is usually under arms, and maybe be followed by stinky feet, I don't know. I don't suffer that much from either. Under arm stink is caused by bacteria coming out of the pores, and stinky feet maybe related to sweat and synthetics. I keep feet dry most of the time and don't like to wear shoes and socks in daytime (in Thailand) unless raining and muddy, and bare feet round the house. Sandals at the door. I wear black shoes no laces when needed but almost never sneakers. I don't like the degree of being enclosed in them. Sports shoes, to me, are for playing sport. I just personally don't like them for casual or formal wear. Just me. They get grubby on the outside quite easily and not as easy to clean as normal office shoes.

I am aware that odours of garlic, onions etc. Can come out of people's pores, especially Europeans (yes) but it is usually more minor than acrid underarm stenches encountered in lifts for example. Thais eat a lot of garlic but they don't seem to stink of it much, I don't know why. Seems red meat could be a factor? Also asparagus and certain vegetables. I remember a Romanian family (by memory) that really ponged at a party when I was in early teens and wondering what they ate that caused it. Seemed to come out of their skin pores most likely. Having a sensitive nose is not a bonus. Possibly bacteria are having an effect not just on underarms.

Thais consider feet to be dirtiest part of the body, not sure that it makes difference what you are wearing, the feet are still dirty or low class. I don't see my Thai family members wearing socks, except with sneakers or full enclosed shoes for formal situations. None of them work in an office. The Thais say that wearing sneakers makes feet smelly even for Thais but they still wear them. So does not seem they consider feet will be cleaner than if wearing sandals necessarily.

Essentially you shower and clean everything including your feet before going after girls in the evening. Being well dressed can certainly make a difference.

And everywhere you go the Foot Massage is the most popular with the tourists. I think 70% or more in Kho San Road and especially Patong Beach, Phuket.

I guess that is why they insist on washing the feet.

RL.

[Syzygies]

The dirtiest part of your body my friends is your MIND. And it is very important that you use any type of shoe or slipper that has an arch support and not those stupid flat rubber slippers.

An arch support helps your back stay in a proper position when walking and also supports your entire skeletal system. I also support wearing socks. Change them if they get wet and wash your feet by taking at least 2 showers a day. If you have stinky feet, you have other problems with your body. Your diet is not good and your eating to much red meat. You ever get into a lift with European guys? WOW, too much sausage my friend. Or could be too much booze.

RL.

The stinkiest part is usually under arms, and maybe be followed by stinky feet, I don't know. I don't suffer that much from either. Under arm stink is caused by bacteria coming out of the pores, and stinky feet maybe related to sweat and synthetics. I keep feet dry most of the time and don't like to wear shoes and socks in daytime (in Thailand) unless raining and muddy, and bare feet round the house. Sandals at the door. I wear black shoes no laces when needed but almost never sneakers. I don't like the degree of being enclosed in them. Sports shoes, to me, are for playing sport. I just personally don't like them for casual or formal wear. Just me. They get grubby on the outside quite easily and not as easy to clean as normal office shoes.

I am aware that odours of garlic, onions etc. Can come out of people's pores, especially Europeans (yes) but it is usually more minor than acrid underarm stenches encountered in lifts for example. Thais eat a lot of garlic but they don't seem to stink of it much, I don't know why. Seems red meat could be a factor? Also asparagus and certain vegetables. I remember a Romanian family (by memory) that really ponged at a party when I was in early teens and wondering what they ate that caused it. Seemed to come out of their skin pores most likely. Having a sensitive nose is not a bonus. Possibly bacteria are having an effect not just on underarms.

Thais consider feet to be dirtiest part of the body, not sure that it makes difference what you are wearing, the feet are still dirty or low class. I don't see my Thai family members wearing socks, except with sneakers or full enclosed shoes for formal situations. None of them work in an office. The Thais say that wearing sneakers makes feet smelly even for Thais but they still wear them. So does not seem they consider feet will be cleaner than if wearing sandals necessarily.

Essentially you shower and clean everything including your feet before going after girls in the evening. Being well dressed can certainly make a difference.

[Robert Long]

Appropriate footware for the rural provences or the beach, but IMO not for the streets of downtown Bangkok. FWIW the Thai people consider the feet to be the dirtiest part of the body, because they are down in the dirt. That is why a Thai lady would sooner rim you than kiss your feet. Go figure.

They are a part of the lower Suk ex-pat uniform though: Farangs walking around in shorts above the knee, wife-beater tee shirts, and sandals exposing their nasty ass feet.

SL.

The dirtiest part of your body my friends is your MIND. And it is very important that you use any type of shoe or slipper that has an arch support and not those stupid flat rubber slippers.

An arch support helps your back stay in a proper position when walking and also supports your entire skeletal system. I also support wearing socks. Change them if they get wet and wash your feet by taking at least 2 showers a day. If you have stinky feet, you have other problems with your body. Your diet is not good and your eating to much red meat. You ever get into a lift with European guys? WOW, too much sausage my friend. Or could be too much booze.

Stayed for 29 days this trip. Abnb on Soi 21. The second busiest Soi in Bkk. Used the Motorbike taxis a lot. I had done my homework and lined up ladies from ThaiCupid and ThaiFriendly. Had one that drove from Ayutthaya twice to spend a few nights in Bkk. The others were lined up for dinners and movies. These are leg openers. Thai ladies love the cinema and good dinners which they never get without a farang. Absolutely no rejection to go to my room after either event.

I spent a week in Phuket and then 2 days in Khon Kaen by invitation from a beautiful lady. The heart of Issan is not impressive. It's smoky and dusty and boring, with the exception of the sweetheart that invited me.

Back to Bkk and entertained a few more ladies that I met on Thai friendly. I did have a few free nights that I spent at The Beer Garden. Best music in Bkk and 15% doable ladies, the rest have passed their shelf life but do manage to hook an occasional customer.

I met a sweetheart that was waiting for her customer, a guy from NZ who she had been with the night before. He showed up soon and we had a great conversation. Before he came she was telling me where all the younger ladies were. She said they go to Thermae for the Asian guys. She said they can make 4000 thb and the guy lasts 2 minutes. She said easy money and she goes there sometimes. She does not care for Asians and prefers Anglos. Which she says that most Thai ladies do not like Asians but the money is good.

Phuket report soon.

RL.

[Banana Boi]

FWIW the Thai people consider the feet to be the dirtiest part of the body, because they are down in the dirt.

I know some ex-pats in Pattaya who only wear sandals. Then they wonder why they can't compete with the Koreans and Japanese who are generally well dressed with actual shoes on.

Look closely when a civilian girl checks you out when you are back in America. Their eyes will lead to your shoes.

[Sunlover2]

People that walk around in flip-flops so it they're toes exposed are dumb in my humble opinion.

Appropriate footware for the rural provences or the beach, but IMO not for the streets of downtown Bangkok. FWIW the Thai people consider the feet to be the dirtiest part of the body, because they are down in the dirt. That is why a Thai lady would sooner rim you than kiss your feet. Go figure.

They are a part of the lower Suk ex-pat uniform though: Farangs walking around in shorts above the knee, wife-beater tee shirts, and sandals exposing their nasty ass feet.

SL.

[Rob Jones]

Keen Arroyo II. People that walk around in flip-flops so it they're toes exposed are dumb in my humble opinion. Nothing beats a nice toe gash from a piece of broken pipe or something.

Coming up to 58 years of wearing flip flops and no such injuries! The Australian climate is different from Alaska, so maybe we have a 6th sense for such sharp objects LOL.

[Nyezhov]

I recommend sandals, can be rubber if desired or leather or whatever you choose, and no socks, for Thailand. I rarely wear the shoes and socks here, never gym shoes unless exercising. Let my toes and feet gets looots of fresh air. Fungus and other problems like damp smelly socks a lot. So avoid that.

Keen Arroyo II. People that walk around in flip-flops so it they're toes exposed are dumb in my humble opinion. Nothing beats a nice toe gash from a piece of broken pipe or something.

[Syzygies]

He advised me to wear socks made of cotton (or at least 70 percent cotton) instead of wool or some other material, because these materials somehow interact with the chemicals and glues. So I bought new socks and within a few weeks the problems were gone.
If changing socks doesn't help you might have to change to hypoallergenic shoes, but it can be tough to find exactly the right shoes.

I recommend sandals, can be rubber if desired or leather or whatever you choose, and no socks, for Thailand. I rarely wear the shoes and socks here, never gym shoes unless exercising. Let my toes and feet gets looots of fresh air. Fungus and other problems like damp smelly socks a lot. So avoid that.

[Mogwai]

Years ago I had a case of athletes foot that I had a doctor treat for over a year. I had monthly appointments with the doctor. On my last appointment the doctor said it was gone and cured. He asked me what I had done differently? I said last week I had just gotten back from the Bahamas with a week in the sun and surf. He concluded while scratching his head that the saltwater and sun was the proper prescription.

Something similar happened to me. I've had athlete's foot for years (at least that's what I thought I had) and couldn't get rid of it, until I had to spend a week in hospital for an operation. After this week the athlete's foot was suddenly vanished for the most part. But when I left the hospital the problems came back within a couple of weeks.

So I went to see my doctor and he said it was not athlete's foot but shoe allergy. The chemicals and glues that are used in the production of shoes can cause symptoms that look like athlete's foot. So the problems disappeared when I was in hospital because I was not wearing my shoes there.

He advised me to wear socks made of cotton (or at least 70 percent cotton) instead of wool or some other material, because these materials somehow interact with the chemicals and glues. So I bought new socks and within a few weeks the problems were gone.
If changing socks doesn't help you might have to change to hypoallergenic shoes, but it can be tough to find exactly the right shoes.

[Sunlover2]

Someone wrote about the closing of Charoen Pharmacy earlier (but I thought I walked pass it the other day and saw it was open for business but closing down for the day at the time, not 100% sure though), so went to Southeast Pharmacy next to the Sofitel on Sukhumvit instead. Bought both genuine (1500 B) and generic (400 B) Cialis and generic Viagra (350 B). All worked like a charm!

Chareon is closing 90% of the shelves are empty. They are just selling down the last of the inventory.

Last month I conducted a fairly extensive survey of pharmacy's (two dozen probably) from lower Suk to T21 looking for Tadalafil (generic Cialis) it is manufactured in India and branded Apcalis. A buddy of mine wanted me to bring him back some and specially requested a Cialis derivitive. FWIW I do fine with the gerneric viagra manufactured in Thailand which is cheaper anyway.

Net / net: prices varied from 300-500 baht for a 4 pk 20 MG Apcalis. Could not find larger quantity packages or 5 MG / 10 MG doses at legit storefront pharmacies. A few did not carry the generic brand altogether.

The cheapest I found was the pharma at Foodland soi 5. They use a point of sale system, so they scan the barcode on the packaging and it rings up 300 baht. Most of the other shops had no POS system, and I felt like some were sizing me up before deciding on a price to quote me.

SL.

[Gladiator69]

Someone wrote about the closing of Charoen Pharmacy earlier (but I thought I walked pass it the other day and saw it was open for business but closing down for the day at the time, not 100% sure though), so went to Southeast Pharmacy next to the Sofitel on Sukhumvit instead. Bought both genuine (1500 B) and generic (400 B) Cialis and generic Viagra (350 B). All worked like a charm!

[Syzygies]

I might be wrong but I think they won't give you directly the prescription, it's part of the "scam".

Yes I think we can all agree that Hospitals are scamming. The medicine for my Step-daughter at the hospital turned out to be Paracetamol at a vastly inflated price. As they did so little for her, we need not have gone to the Hospital at all.

So I would also suggest to get medicines at a good cheap Pharmacy and for most of them, they can be bought without prescription anyway. The more dangerous things maybe exceptions. I am not sure if can get Prednisolone without prescription, as example.

It is very normal for Thailand doctors to be supplying patients with medicines from Doctor's dispensary, and most Thai patients are not even told what the pills are, so they have to return to the doctor to get some more, however I insist on knowing what the doctor is prescribing for me.

Hospitals have rip off charges left right and centre, so for all blood tests, I go to the Red Cross RatchaDamri.

E. g. I don't bother to go back to a Hospital to consult with their specialist about how my Gout is going. I can just get a regular blood test at Red Cross and interpret if my pill dosage is fine or not.

I also agree, for many simple complaints, you just go consult your Pharmacist.

One Thai girl I knew, was catching a bad cold (maybe a Flu maybe not), so she goes to the fancy hospital and pays thousands of Baht for a useless Flu vaccination, that could be got quite cheaply elsewhere. Far higher price than in my home country. Yes hard to believe but I don't think she was telling porkies. They don't inform the patient that it won't help if you already have the flu. Ha ha. Many patients don't know that taking antibiotics cannot cure a Virus also, so they go to the doctor or hospital just to waste time and money.

Thais talk about "Yaa Gare what" Medicine to cure the cold, which does not exist. There is only relieve symptoms or kill any bacteria that also arrived concurrently.

Gastro is a common complaint that can be treated by visiting the pharmacy. They will know just as much about fixing it as the doctor I reckon, if it is just a normal dose of bad belly, and not a very serious condition. Once a Thai doctor at the hospital prescribed me Amoxicillin Clavulanate for bad belly. Unfortunately the side effect is severe watery or bloody diarrhoea, because the Clavulanic acid kills off good bacteria needed in the gut. So why see a doctor to get the wrong medicine? There are better treatment options.

Pharmacists can be dumb too. To fix diarrhoea, some will sell you probiotics stuff, which really are greatly over rated. They just don't cut it unless a very mild condition maybe. However that was not in Thailand, where medicines are far more restricted without prescription.

I always believe in researching my conditions on the web, as a double check to make sure the so called experts are likely on the right track. We all get misdiagnosed at times, even by specialists. One skin specialist once tried to tell me that my scalp acne was dandruff. Ha ha. What a joke he was. Another time a doctor misdiagnosed lip sores and ulcers as Herpes Cold sores when was actually an extra bacterial infection when weak from a bad virus, sorted out by the second opinion. Even experts can be lacking the right experience level.

Are doctor's going to be a lot better than Pharmacists? Depends on your type of condition I think. Many viruses cannot be cured.

A local villager died recently after his cut leg was exposed to bad water. Hospital could not save him. Be careful going in suspect water. You can be unlucky and contact deadly organisms, or even chemicals like serious pesticides in Thailand. If water is suspect, don't put head under the water. Amoeba entering the nose (to brain) can be fatal. Seaside is much safer.