Bangkok Reports

[QUOTE=Pimpa;1324546]I have a friend who is married to a Thai girl. She always scolds him for tipping too much, in restaurants, legitimate massage places etc.[/QUOTE]Indeed, tipping is not a big tradition in Thailand among the Thai themselves. They might leave some small change, but that is about it.

My Thai GF once stopped me from giving something to a beggar lady with a small baby in Pattaya, telling me "She looks healthy, she can work". And then she added,"Besides, she is not Thai, she is Cambodian".

Again; info anyone?

[QUOTE=HenryV; 1324173]Anyone ever been to this place?

If so, can you pinpoint it for me. The only info I can get is that it is across from the Landmark Hotel, between Soi 5 & 7.

Thank you.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=HenryV;1324631]Again; info anyone?[/QUOTE]It is a laid back low lit nightclub cabaret restaurant venue with a three girl singing group who are actually very good. It's been around forever and different from anything else you will find in Lower Sukhumvit. Drinks are a bit on the pricey side. There are some ladies available. Not sure of the pricing structure but the mamasan will explain all. Hope this helps.

[QUOTE=HenryV;1324631]Again; info anyone?[/QUOTE]Might help if you mentioned the name of the place you are asking about.

Anyone know of a place on the street, or very close by? Hoping to get some quick action while there, and I don't have time to take a taxi far away. Preferably a massage.

[QUOTE=HenryV;1324631]Again; info anyone?[/QUOTE]I haven't been there personally, but it's about 15-20 metres up from Soi 5 heading towards Soi 7. It's only a doorway and a passageway leading down to the bar, not a massive front or anything like that, so it can be easy to miss. Look for the sign, I guess.

[QUOTE=Wolvenvacht; 1324615]Indeed, tipping is not a big tradition in Thailand among the Thai themselves. They might leave some small change, but that is about it.

My Thai GF once stopped me from giving something to a beggar lady with a small baby in Pattaya, telling me "She looks healthy, she can work". And then she added,"Besides, she is not Thai, she is Cambodian".[/QUOTE]Tipping is not like in America where you allocate the standard 15% or whatever it is. But my GF generally tips based on performance when we're out to eat. If the service is good, she'll tip 40-50, if its ok she'll tip 20. If its bad they get nuttin!

Also, its standard to tip the guys who help back your car in parking lots and the dudes who hold the umbrella as you walk from the car to the restaurant.

I have been planning my second trip to Bangkok for some time. My last trip was in 2006. My only worry is that I don't want anyone back home to know that I am in Thailand. But my cell phone may prove to be a culprit. I am from India. I will be on International roaming and if I keep my phone off, will the callers get to hear an automated message in Thai. And if I keep my phone on but can't take the call, will they again hear a message in Thai language. Please help. If it helps, I use Airtel prepaid in India. Thanks a lot. I plan to travel on Thursday if I can get an answer that can provide me a solution.

[QUOTE=Harold444;1324328]500 baht tip is so 1980s. LOL. If she has any looks at all 700 plus seems appropriate, espcially if she had to touch your anus. LOL.[/QUOTE]500 is the usual tip (it's just a HJ, right?). But maybe the newbies from Novotel give more.

[QUOTE=Nick2005;1324834]I have been planning my second trip to Bangkok for some time. My last trip was in 2006. My only worry is that I don't want anyone back home to know that I am in Thailand. But my cell phone may prove to be a culprit. I am from India. I will be on International roaming and if I keep my phone off, will the callers get to hear an automated message in Thai. And if I keep my phone on but can't take the call, will they again hear a message in Thai language. Please help. If it helps, I use Airtel prepaid in India. Thanks a lot. I plan to travel on Thursday if I can get an answer that can provide me a solution.[/QUOTE]If your phone is off, it should be the voice of your provider's voice mail box that answers."Off" means that you cannot be reached and the mobile phone network cannot find you, so how can a Thai voice answer in that case? You could be anywhere. There is --literally-- no Thai connection.

Not picking up your phone can be more tricky. In my case, it will be my pre-recorded message that plays and therefore that does not give me away. But if you have no voicemail activated or (perhaps) no pre-recorded message installed, it could be the local version of "The person is not picking up his phone" or "Please speak after the beep" that is played.

I don't know why you don't want people to know you are in Thailand, but disappearing from the "net" for that period sounds much more suspicious to me than telling you are making a tourist visit to Thailand. It may be difficult to believe but most of the people visiting Thailand don't come there to cum.

Right on Suk?

[QUOTE=V Lenin;1324645]I haven't been there personally, but it's about 15-20 metres up from Soi 5 heading towards Soi 7. It's only a doorway and a passageway leading down to the bar, not a massive front or anything like that, so it can be easy to miss. Look for the sign, I guess.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=MonsterMaster;1324642]Anyone know of a place on the street, or very close by? Hoping to get some quick action while there, and I don't have time to take a taxi far away. Preferably a massage.[/QUOTE]Any massage parlor in the area. They are use to backpackers with no money wanting cheap service. Have fun.

[QUOTE=Strikesfun; 1324274]Just back from short stay. Bangkok Suk 1 to 33soi has changed. I have been doing short trips to this area for 10 years and while I enjoy Thailand it is clear that the nana parking lot, nana plaza and soi cowboy days are much different than a few years back.

I have not been going as long as you, but it has changed.

A lot of the lack of SW's on those Sois is due to the fu. Ing street vendors. There are no places for the girls to stand.

But if you go to the Grace Hotel area and walk toward Nana Plaza, I always find many many SW's there after 1am. I have probably taken 12 girls over my last 2 trips and never had a bad experience. Just treat them nice, take them to hotel breakfst. They are very happy with 1k to 1500 for LT.

To the Cheapstakes that cry over the lack of SW on the lower sukh, don't worry, they have not disappeared, they have just moved to another place.

There are a lot of places where one can find FLs and SW on the lower sukh. Just need to keep one's eyes open.

Personally, just seeing the Talent (sarcastic) on the streets of the lower sukh, I'd rather see Street vendors.