General Reports

[Syzygies]

I'm flying Hanoi to Phuket via Bangkok DMK. I want to buy some champagne for Phuket stay.

I'd be interested to know availability and range of prices at DMK as I could wait to buy in Phuket if lower (any recs on places to purchase in Phuket welcome too).

Buying in Hanoi could be an option, if worth it, as I could buy duty free I imagine, heading to Thailand. (I have checked luggage).

Thanks.

I don't know specifically about champagne, however King Power Duty Free in Thailand is a big rip off place for many items, imported items and alcohol not particularly cheap, ladies creams and perfumes not that cheap either, imported chocolate prices terrible. Then again I can't say if Hanoi is any better. I bought Pink Moet in Germany rather than try to buy here. Other alcohol bought very cheaply in Italy.

Supermarkets here have very steep prices for imported goods of quality. There are agents that don't do anything making a fortune in the mark up of the prices.

Maybe someone else will know a lot more specifics about champagne here. You might be able to order delivery from somewhere with a much better deal.

[Penguin69]

I'm flying Hanoi to Phuket via Bangkok DMK. I want to buy some champagne for Phuket stay.

I'd be interested to know availability and range of prices at DMK as I could wait to buy in Phuket if lower (any recs on places to purchase in Phuket welcome too).

Buying in Hanoi could be an option, if worth it, as I could buy duty free I imagine, heading to Thailand. (I have checked luggage).

Thanks.

[Penguin69]

I had the Honda 2000 Inverter, very quiet. Cost me $845.00 in 2005, sold it when I sold my house for $850.00, in 2015. Brand names always hold their price. And yes I only used it 4 time in all those years. Smart to have one around, I was the only one with lights in my valley.

RL.

It won't happen in my lifetime? But if it ever opens up NK, it will be the new frontier of mongering? I remember the 70's. Early 80's the South? Those were the days.

Where else can one find a discussion about sex tourism advice in North Korea and power generators!?

To be honest my post was just curiosity about the motives of the member visiting NK. I as much guessed it wasn't for hobbying, but one can't be sure. Everyone likes a challenge.

[Robert Long]

So right but you just don't know about people then it being Thailand better be sure if you have family members here! I got mines from an Auction house prior I had checked the cost of course if you buy name here the cost is going to be much harder. I don't know the Bison name but if it works go with it, not like one needs to use it daily. Had it for 5 years use it twice funny how things work as soon as you get one the power never goes out? Still does but not for long periods I spend more time keeping it tuned and from being rusted?

I had the Honda 2000 Inverter, very quiet. Cost me $845.00 in 2005, sold it when I sold my house for $850.00, in 2015. Brand names always hold their price. And yes I only used it 4 time in all those years. Smart to have one around, I was the only one with lights in my valley.

RL.

[LittleBigMan]

NORTH Korea? Ah, my mistake. I'm not sure why anyone would want to even try that there but to each their own.

It won't happen in my lifetime? But if it ever opens up NK, it will be the new frontier of mongering? I remember the 70's. Early 80's the South? Those were the days.

[LittleBigMan]

Mine is a bit cheaper for fairly lower total power requirements, not Honda brand. Hard to know if "Bison" name is reliable or not.

Yes definitely for outdoors, like would not use a petrol engine indoors for any other things.

So right but you just don't know about people then it being Thailand better be sure if you have family members here! I got mines from an Auction house prior I had checked the cost of course if you buy name here the cost is going to be much harder. I don't know the Bison name but if it works go with it, not like one needs to use it daily. Had it for 5 years use it twice funny how things work as soon as you get one the power never goes out? Still does but not for long periods I spend more time keeping it tuned and from being rusted?

[Nother Monger]

OP was asking about North Korea. Pretty sure there is no hobbying there for a Farang.

NORTH Korea? Ah, my mistake. I'm not sure why anyone would want to even try that there but to each their own.

[Bouvis]

Mine is a bit cheaper for fairly lower total power requirements, not Honda brand. Hard to know if "Bison" name is reliable or not.

Yes definitely for outdoors, like would not use a petrol engine indoors for any other things.

Get a generator set up with an automatic change over switch and use a diesel generator.

http://www.generatorsolutions.org

[EihTooms]

...

I think a generator is good for outages more than 10 minutes, of course you don't know how long it is going to be. I would also suggest lamps with rechargeable batteries over candles. Generators do make some noise, but not as bad as dogs barking, roosters crowing, ha ha.
...

On the subject of candles, those fake but quite realisitic looking battery operated candles you see for sale in shops and on some vendor tables around town (300-500 baht for medium size ones) are great for creating a romantic candlelight atmosphere in a room without the smell, melting wax and open flame heat generated by real candles. Two D Cell batteries seem to last longer than the several hours claimed on the product.

This is not exactly addressing the power blackout minus a generator issue since one of the last things you'd want to do during a power blackout in Thailand with no aircon and no functioning fan is create a romantic atmosphere. LOL.

But I keep a couple of them on hand to sometimes add to the atmosphere when all the electric appliances are functioning. And, in fact, they do come in handy to light up a bathroom in order to take a cool shower or tend to other things during power blackouts without draining your smartphone battery firing up a flashlight app for the purpose. Again, absent a generator.

Those fake candles are so damned realistic and so much less hassle than real candles I wonder why anyone but the truly poor buy real candles anymore. Other than birthday cake candles, that is.

Hey, you can create a candlelight ambience in your room without the aircon and fan blowing out a real flame because there is no real flame, only an amazing simulation of one. LOL.

[Banana Boi]

If you're not Korean, the options are going to be limited. In terms of least to most expensive: either you go to one of the few remaining RLDs, a massage parlor, or go to a room salon / booking club (and spend lots of money. Think over $300 USD before any P4 P).

There might be some Officetels that will allow foreigners, but prices range from $150 USD - $1000 k USD for the VIP ones, and that doesn't include any price gouging they may try. In other words, Thailand is much, much cheaper.

OP was asking about North Korea. Pretty sure there is no hobbying there for a Farang.

[Nother Monger]

Be interested to know about the opportunities for mongering in and Korea.

If you're not Korean, the options are going to be limited. In terms of least to most expensive: either you go to one of the few remaining RLDs, a massage parlor, or go to a room salon / booking club (and spend lots of money. Think over $300 USD before any P4 P).

There might be some Officetels that will allow foreigners, but prices range from $150 USD - $1000 k USD for the VIP ones, and that doesn't include any price gouging they may try. In other words, Thailand is much, much cheaper.

[Syzygies]

I highly recommend everyone to buy this rechargeable LED flashlight that is bright enough to light up an entire room. Just plug in to the wall to recharge. They have similar ones that run on batteries. 69 baht at Mr. DIY. One of the very few non necessity goods have purchased in Thailand.

Thanks, will get one or three.

We have headlamps (strap to one's head) for doing stuff outdoors at night, but these mentioned above will be better for more general lighting in power outage. Thais tend to use candles or even gas or kerosene lanterns.

Many years ago, probably in the 1990's, I went to Koh Chang which was undeveloped, and had no roads, only motor cycle tracks. Also no power supply except for generators maybe, so kerosene lanterns were commonly used. I took 3 girls with me (one was a Tom Boy type of friend of the others so had no interest to do her even she worked as a hooker, not really slim). I suppose no one had smart phones in those days, so girls smoked pot, rather than playing smart phone games all the time. Major past times were eating, smoking Ganja (from Cambodia), sleeping and sex. Not much else. They were too lazy to go on extended walk to the waterfall. These days, taking away 3 girls for a multi day holiday would cost you an arm and a leg. Back in those days very cheap, bungalow accommodation was cheap too, and even a big bag of Ganja from Cambodia was maybe 100 Baht, maybe a little more. There were no police on the Island at all.

[Syzygies]

You can get at HomePro runs around 18,000 baht if you buying foreign brand like Honda and up depending on what you need power need do not use indoor need ventilation.

Mine is a bit cheaper for fairly lower total power requirements, not Honda brand. Hard to know if "Bison" name is reliable or not.

Yes definitely for outdoors, like would not use a petrol engine indoors for any other things.

[Banana Boi]

I would also suggest lamps with rechargeable batteries over candles.

I highly recommend everyone to buy this rechargeable LED flashlight that is bright enough to light up an entire room. Just plug in to the wall to recharge. They have similar ones that run on batteries. 69 baht at Mr. DIY. One of the very few non necessity goods have purchased in Thailand.

[LittleBigMan]

You can get at HomePro runs around 18,000 baht if you buying foreign brand like Honda and up depending on what you need power need do not use indoor need ventilation.