Angeles City

As I and many others have reported drinks only girls are alive and well in most Angeles bars, what does not help is that these girls are the better looking girls, exactly because the better looking girls get massive attention and many drinks bought that they can earn the big peso without barfining at all, its all part and parcel of doing business in Angeles bars.

Know personally many girls that are drinks only girls, on a bad night they can get 10 -15 drinks on a good night 20-25 drinks at 150 peso per drink commission to the girl plus her 800 peso per day salary plus making it rain money plus tips and that drink only girl is earning as much in a day as a top pi surgeon, all without showing the colour of her undies to anyone.

Many Angeles girls play the game, tell the punter all that he wants to hear, hit punter for as many lady drinks as possible and then when its time to leave remember that its the wrong time of the month or one of many other excuses, no need to feel bad, its just how it is.

Some people would call those like myself negative or not wanting others to visit but in truth one writes what they see and that includes the truth of drinks only girls and virgins in brothels, bars with older fat girls in huge numbers and the Koreans being no1 top dog to those girls that will barfine, again not negative reporting just truthful reporting even though the rose coloured specs brigade still claim my girl was a stunner, the best girl in the bar and only in Angeles city can this fun be found.

Morale of the story, the best looking girls want money without fucking it is what it is, like it or leave it. When the powers that be (bar owners) grow a pair and put a stop to all this deceit then ill be a much happier punter and delighted to be the 1st to report of such.

[QUOTE=NapaSlapper;2783182]
Morale of the story, the best looking girls want money without fucking it is what it is, like it or leave it. When the powers that be (bar owners) grow a pair and put a stop to all this deceit then ill be a much happier punter and delighted to be the 1st to report of such.[/QUOTE]The morale of the story if what you say is true is that sooner, or later, more likely sooner than later, word will get out and guys will stop coming to AC, the bars will go out of business, and the girls will ply their trade for real somewhere else. Pussy is a price inelastic commodity meaning demand does not respond much to higher prices. But BMD pussy is not real pussy, so it should kill of demand as long as there are other destinations where real pussy remains available.

[QUOTE=FuriousGeorge;2783081]I am in my 40's. I'm fit and tall and I have all my hair so most of the girls think I'm in my 30's. But you are right. Hammer is worthless. Mega is for fun, if you like that kind of fun. If you absolutely want sex that night, don't go. Sometimes I went alone, sometimes with a girl, sometimes with a group. Occasionally I'd see someone I knew there and hang with them. Yes you do need to have some social skills, and dress up a bit. You walk around and smile at a girl, if she smiles back, you say Hi. Some girls would grab my hand as I walk by. You just keep walking and turn back and smile but keep going. Then when you make your way back around you say Hello,. In the old days I'd have patience to romance these girls, but not so much now.

I know that Q bar girl from your report well. She is a sweetheart and a sexual dynamo. I think I know the waitress from Carousel too and she is annoying as hell so you dodged a bullet. The one I wanted from Carousel is the 'dance manager'. She's an insanely hot mid 30's thin hottie who wears pencil skirts and glasses and tells the girls on stage what to do. Never was able to pull that off.

Edit: Funny, I wrote that before I read your next post. Yep that's the dance manager, the one who was yelling. I find her extremely sexy but seems to be all business.

This can happen. It's best not to get too worked up over it. You ended up paying a few bucks to hang with a sexy girl and probably grope her a bit. Believe me, if she doesn't want to go with you, you don't want to go with her. The experience is unlikely to be good, and then you're out a whole lot more money. You smile and leave and say maybe next time. And maybe there is a next time when she's in the mood. Or not. I appreciate that the girls get to make decisions on whether or not they barfine, although it's true you did get scammed, but just a little.[/QUOTE]Thanks for both your responses FG. You obviously have a long life of great indulgence to look forward with both looks and sensibility. Still being good looking and in your 40's changes the perspective greatly, especially since you still look to be in your 30's. You are going to get attention just by being there, and you are doing something that I kind of wish I had started doing 15 years ago -- playing both the civilian and PPM game. (I tried almost exclusively with civs until just before covid and see now that I added years of angst on all those weekends that I struck out, even if there were plenty where I didn't). So not at all to sound condescending, but your looks and physique will inevitably have to go at some point (probably in 10-15 years, and unexpectedly once over 50). As for now, you can approach a place like Mega with a completely different winner's strategy than the over 55 solo guys like me. So I am going to keep living vicariously through you and the other superstars here. (I'm just an advancing novice for my age.).

As for the Carousel dance manager, our Q Bar sweetie and I ran into her walking home with another western gentleman on our way back to the hotel. She is fucking hot with that librarian look, and seems she may well be available (unless he is her BF). I may test that myself (though other guys reading this will probably flock to her now, my self inflicted wound for ISG altruism and brotherhood).

Thanks also for the perspective on the scam. I was damn furious at the moment and wasn't sure I could cool down after that. Good to get perspective from the bros here so that I do not dwell on it. Looking forward to reading of your adventures in the coming decades sir!

[QUOTE=SirLancelot;2783088]I find the 'beauty in the eye of the beholder' comment a little surprising coming from you. I've just trawled back 100 pages on the Angeles thread looking for intel for my forthcoming trip and whenever your name appeared you were calling out how ugly the girls are. To such a degree in fact, I assumed you were just one of those people whose sole aim on ISG is to discourage others from visiting for their own benefit (there are a lot of them about, especially on the Pattaya thread). I'm sure that's not the case, it's just the way you came across.

But in contrast to your reaction to Volterra's excellent posts when he rates girls highly out of ten, you don't add 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' when you routinely tell us how unfuckable girls in Angeles are.[/QUOTE]I would argue that a stroll thru the WS bars on most nights, especially the bars with lots of girls, will find you at least a handful of 'model-material' beauties, and possibly several in each of the larger bars. That doesn't mean that they are all bar-fine-able tonight (for any number of reasons given by the girl). But some are. Also, there is no reason that even a picky fella can't take a step down the next lowest number in order to get laid (assuming he's horny). F*cking a 7, even several nights a week, is better than f*cking no 8's (or anyone) every night of the week. Its not a crime (neither is taking home a 7 and waking up with a 4 -- so I've heard).

OTOH, I am aware that not everyone feels this way.

[QUOTE=Volterra;2782975]So in my report that I just uploaded on Monday night AC adventures, I ran into the problem that has been discussed at length on the AC forum (and elsewhere): The fact that while we are driven to these sex paradises in search of hot, cheap 18 years available in droves, what we now find is how difficult it is to pull girls between 18 and 21. I witnessed this in several forms last night.

Carousel.

I mentioned that as I found an empty booth from where I had been sitting, this young beauty around 21 years old took the stage, in stark contrast to the far less attractive ones who preceded her. I sat myself down in the booth and when the carousel took her around I got a good look at just how hot she was. Smoking body, young clean milky white flesh, tight but baby soft, long dark hair, and beautiful face. She saw me and I immediately gave her a little smile hoping that she'd return the flirtation. But out of the blue her face goes cold and she puts her palm on her lower abdomen and shakes her head no as the carousel takes her to the opposite side. WTF? Something I said? (I was well behaved, well groomed, and not looking too disagreeable I hope.) So I waited for her to come back around. And waited. And waited. And waited. She never came back to my side! So I stretch my head and saw her back to me at the other corner, but doing nothing. Suddenly her young (hot) female supervisor with spectacles comes up and starts screaming at her and banging a cup on the stage metal. She's yelling at her to get back to my side of the carousel. Yelling and yelling and yelling like a drill seargeant. But the girl just ignored her and refused to move or even acknowledge it. Was I that repulsive? Dunno, but I could only conclude that she was conspicuously avoiding me for no apparent reason. Ok, fuck it. I left.

Arabesque.

Next was the one and only really hot girl I saw at this Korean joint. She looked college age (around 20) really cosmopolitan in comparison to the other provincial girls (who were rather wild and unrestrained). Tall, beautiful and well built, I wanted to get her attention even as the other girls were staring me down. But this girl was just sitting on the front of the stage staring down blankly at the floor. Her face looked totally dejected, kind of like "Is this all I have to look forward to in my life?" (I'm not preaching here. I'd like to violate every inch of her body for the right price.).

But I did everything short of jumping up and down on my table like a chimpanzee to get her attention, but not even the slightest hint of acknowledging my presence. Ok, fuck it. I left.

"Anonymous".

The final story, and last straw, occurred at a bar whose name will not be mentioned (for fear of retribution). But to keep you out of the dark, its name is a word that has multiple meanings:

1. The word we use for people (plural) who pull the trigger of a gun.

2. The word we use to describe a very small glass that holds especially potent but tiny cocktails that we down in one quick gulp.

3. The word we might incorrectly use when describing the number of orgasms we negotiate for in a given punt.

In case you still haven't identified the establishment, its name rhymes with several other words:

1. It rhymes with the name (hint: begins with letter H) of an American bar chain named with after a slang word for large female breasts (hint: It is not "Knockers".

2. It rhymes with the word (hint: begins with the letter L) (plural) used to describe people who commit large-scale robberies, often in large groups, during blackouts or times of social unrest.

3. It rhymes with the word (hint: begins with the letters sc) (plural) used for a 2-wheeled gas powered motor vehicle (hint: it is not motorbike, moped, or motorcycle).

So without divulging the name of the establishment, I was there last evening minding my own business and voyeuring over my cold beer at not so attractive go go dancers. The waitress confirmed BFs of 4000, and I was not interested until this very attractive girl, I would say mid 20's, with all the right body features got on stage, mainly with her back to me. I did not wait long before enquiring with the waitress: was the girl available for BF? Oh yes. And the waitress immediately went and fetched her to my table.

I cannot say that we hit it off well, but the girl kept close to me with her hands on my legs. First flag was the cranberry juice she ordered for her LD. You don't drink? "I do, but not tonight. Why, you want to get me drunk?

There was no flow to the conversation, but I mainly just wanted to make my way out with her. I asked her age and reacted with disbelief when she said 19. (I do not believe she was that young.) But as she nearly finished her drink I asked about whether she would BF and come back with me and she said ok. I wanted to leave but flag 2, she wanted another drink first. Far against my instincts and better judgment I agreed to that. So as she quickly finished her 2nd cranberry juice, I reconfirmed the Terms of Agreement time, no go activities, # of shots etc). All reconfirmed without argument, and as I said "let's go" she suddenly says: "I'm having my period. Maybe you can come back tomorrow night and let's see. ".

(Moment of restrained silence.).

Of course, being the straight shooter (crash! Bang! Hint!) that I am, I pointed out that she already agreed to come with me and should have mentioned the "period" much sooner. "Oh but my auntie is working here and I don't want to be seen leaving by her)(blah blah blah).

I immediately called for the manager and a male (local) comes to the table. I explain to him the situation and he barks something at her (like, do you really have your period? Pointing to her lower belly). He then apologizes and offers to give me a free beer. "I don't want a free beer. She shouldn't have ordered the LDs after agreeing to BF".

- M: "Oh but we already have written on the receipts. " V: "They're just pieces of paper. ".

- M: "Oh but we can't tell the girls who to BF with. " V: "I know. So she should have informed me before she agreed to the BF and ordered that drink. ".

- M: "Oh but it would be bad business to waive the fee. " V: ". " (You can imagine my composed response).

In the end, he ended up taking her side, refused to waive the LD, and quickly exited (no where to be found after that). So I kept calm (breathe. Breathe. Breathe). , paid the 800+ peso bill and left without looking at anyone.

Back to the point about the millennial attitude. Just as we were waiting for the manager to come, the girl asks in a provocative manner (like poking me): "Are you angry??

So to relate back to some of the discussions taking place recently on this AC forum, yes younger girls are brazenly determining their own terms of engagement, cunningly devising ways to scam guys out of drink commissions with no intention of bar fining, and getting the tacit support (at this particular, unnamed establishment anyway) of their eviscerated (meaning guys who have their balls missing) supervisors.

On the positive side, Over 4 days, I have only experienced real negativism with this one (unnamed) establishment. All the others have been rather courteous and professional (aside from mamasans and waitresses asking for drinks).

So beware gents: If you happen to go into an AC establishment with a name that might fit the criteria above and start buying lady drinks for young dancers claiming to be 19 and promising to go home with you before they suddenly remember, after you buy them multiple LDs, that they accidentally forgot to tell you that they are "having their period" and you get scammed out of a little drink money (ok I can walk away from 600 pesos easily enough), and you get no positive response from the management when you complain. Don't say I didn't warn you!

Welcome to the new mongering millennium. Shit![/QUOTE]Never forget they are working girls there to suck money from your wallet.

[QUOTE=Fastpiston;2783317]Never forget they are working girls there to suck money from your wallet.[/QUOTE]Thanks Fp. I never forgot. It's a matter of having to agree to certain bottom lines, and if a girl / bar crosses those lines, then I'm not sure one can defend oneself without giving up on the whole scene.

Just I didn't listen to my inner voice when she ordered the 2nd LD. That was red flag that I recognized and didn't heed.

If you have similar experiences and can offer some insight on how you would have handled it (girl and bar manager), I'd appreciate it. I'm all ears.

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;2783263]I would argue that a stroll thru the WS bars on most nights, especially the bars with lots of girls, will find you at least a handful of 'model-material' beauties, and possibly several in each of the larger bars. That doesn't mean that they are all bar-fine-able tonight (for any number of reasons given by the girl). But some are. Also, there is no reason that even a picky fella can't take a step down the next lowest number in order to get laid (assuming he's horny). F*cking a 7, even several nights a week, is better than f*cking no 8's (or anyone) every night of the week. Its not a crime (neither is taking home a 7 and waking up with a 4 -- so I've heard).

OTOH, I am aware that not everyone feels this way.[/QUOTE]Model material beauties? Either you have not been to angeles in a very long time westy or when you say walking st bars your refering to the one in pattaya LOL.

I'm interested to know Why guys that have to travel half way around the world spending thosands of usd to do so would want to have to settle for not what they wanted or have to lower their expectations to get laid, why not just pick another destination where ones ideal girls are available at similar costs, going by the very few western tourists in angeles it looks like many are doing just that.

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;2783263]I would argue that a stroll thru the WS bars on most nights, especially the bars with lots of girls, will find you at least a handful of 'model-material' beauties, and possibly several in each of the larger bars. That doesn't mean that they are all bar-fine-able tonight (for any number of reasons given by the girl). But some are. Also, there is no reason that even a picky fella can't take a step down the next lowest number in order to get laid (assuming he's horny). F*cking a 7, even several nights a week, is better than f*cking no 8's (or anyone) every night of the week. Its not a crime (neither is taking home a 7 and waking up with a 4 -- so I've heard).

OTOH, I am aware that not everyone feels this way.[/QUOTE]Yes WC some come to fuck.

Some are envious of the ones that fuck.

Some are envious of ones that fuck more than one.

Some are smooth cock blockers.

6, 7, and 8+'s are all fuckable depending on the time of day and circumstances for the sexually active mongers.

AC still delivers.

For some after all is said and done, more was said than done.

[QUOTE=Volterra;2783319]Thanks Fp. I never forgot. It's a matter of having to agree to certain bottom lines, and if a girl / bar crosses those lines, then I'm not sure one can defend oneself without giving up on the whole scene.

Just I didn't listen to my inner voice when she ordered the 2nd LD. That was red flag that I recognized and didn't heed.

If you have similar experiences and can offer some insight on how you would have handled it (girl and bar manager), I'd appreciate it. I'm all ears.[/QUOTE]1st thing to do is stop beating yourself up over it, it happens, some girls are experts at their trade and pull the same stunt multiple times in one night, the girl had reeled you in by telling you all that you wanted to hear and get your hopes up, its not easy to spot the scam early, you did nothing wrong.

As far as bar owners / managers siding with the girl, of course they do customers come and go but finding another high earning younger cutie to work the bar is like finding rocking horse shite so of course he sided with her.

Keep on doing what your doing, most enjoy your reports and your happy with your girls, put losses small or big down to the price of doing business in the new Angeles city.

[QUOTE=NapaSlapper;2783332]Model material beauties? Either you have not been to angeles in a very long time westy or when you say walking st bars your refering to the one in pattaya LOL.[/QUOTE]Agreed, Thai gogo bargirls are built better. I was in AC in September. I saw cuties in several bars, and hotties in Atlantis (and a great 2-girl pole dance) and Vikings.

To be fair, I saw the ugliest set of gogo ladies at the eastern (McDo / MacArthur) end of WS, walking towards McDo, the last set of bars on the right. A tout will walk you back thru an open-air resto to the bar (can't remember the name), an American wild-west-themed bar. A dozen gals aged late 30's and 40's, all overweight, dancing on a stage. Yuck!

Also directly across the street (north side) in one of the last bars towards McDo, two pretty door girls convinced me to look inside. Have to walk back thru a hallway to reach the seating / bar area. Several gogo girls were sound asleep in booths at 11 pm. I was the only customer. Only the bartender was awake, and jumped up and started to rouse them to get them dancing or to greet me. I turned and walked. What business keeps the lights on and lets the talent sleep?

[QUOTE=NapaSlapper;2783332]I'm interested to know Why guys that have to travel half way around the world spending thosands of usd to do so would want to have to settle for not what they wanted or have to lower their expectations to get laid, why not just pick another destination where ones ideal girls are available at similar costs, going by the very few western tourists in angeles it looks like many are doing just that.[/QUOTE]I think there are fewer Western tourists in general. I reported Phils DOT data recently for 2022 (Phils re-opened in February), showing just under 1 million tourists entered the country, as opposed to 8+ million who entered in 2019 (the year prior to pandemic). I would be interested to see similar Thai numbers.

Regarding prices. A hottie in my country (not at the AMPS) will in-call for $400-$1,000 per hour, watch the clock, allow you 1 shot, and require a condom. A hottie in Mexico will run you $80-$150 for the same. A Burgos gogo hottie will run you $200 for the night, to include 2 pops (morning and evening), no condom. Things are a bit more dicey in AC, you are more likely to get ST for $100 unless you want to toss in a tip for LT. Compared to my country, I could have 1 hottie for an hour for $1000, or stay in Phils and have 5 cuties for a night each.

Six of one, half-dozen of the other.

[QUOTE=Dg8787;2783353]Yes WC some come to fuck. Some are envious of the ones that fuck. Some are envious of ones that fuck more than one. Some are smooth cock blockers.

6, 7, and 8+'s are all fuckable depending on the time of day and circumstances for the sexually active mongers. AC still delivers. For some after all is said and done, more was said than done.[/QUOTE]I seemed to have survived my time (s) there.

[QUOTE=Volterra;2783319]If you have similar experiences and can offer some insight on how you would have handled it (girl and bar manager), I'd appreciate it. I'm all ears.[/QUOTE]PM me when you get the PM function, I have an idea for you regarding this.

[QUOTE=Volterra;2783319]

If you have similar experiences and can offer some insight on how you would have handled it (girl and bar manager), I'd appreciate it. I'm all ears.[/QUOTE]I regard going into GoGos the same as Casinos. You enter and pay your money to have some fun, not break the bank. Should you win big / get laid by a 19 yo stunner, then that's a bonus not the expected outcome.

Specifically, you paid for her company, some eye candy, and hopefully some groping while in the bar. I'll agree the broken promise to barfine sucks but that is hardly a surprise today. If you want to test her honesty and intent, just tell her you prefer to give her money rather than the bar and that you wil tip her 3 drinks' commission back in your room. If she still insists on drinking in the bar then you know she has no intention of actually leaving with you. It's the same as the bus fare scam in the provinces: why would she prefer being sent cash to rattle around in the back of a jeepney vs a prepaid Grab??

Remember the Philippines insistence on instant gratification. You should doing the same. Pay for lady drinks to receive groping, kissing, and general good times now, not as a inducement to barfine later.

Good luck. G.

[QUOTE=Volterra;2783243]Thanks for both your responses FG. You obviously have a long life of great indulgence to look forward with both looks and sensibility. Still being good looking and in your 40's changes the perspective greatly, especially since you still look to be in your 30's. You are going to get attention just by being there, and you are doing something that I kind of wish I had started doing 15 years ago -- playing both the civilian and PPM game. (I tried almost exclusively with civs until just before covid and see now that I added years of angst on all those weekends that I struck out, even if there were plenty where I didn't). So not at all to sound condescending, but your looks and physique will inevitably have to go at some point (probably in 10-15 years, and unexpectedly once over 50). As for now, you can approach a place like Mega with a completely different winner's strategy than the over 55 solo guys like me. So I am going to keep living vicariously through you and the other superstars here. (I'm just an advancing novice for my age.).

As for the Carousel dance manager, our Q Bar sweetie and I ran into her walking home with another western gentleman on our way back to the hotel. She is fucking hot with that librarian look, and seems she may well be available (unless he is her BF). I may test that myself (though other guys reading this will probably flock to her now, my self inflicted wound for ISG altruism and brotherhood).

Thanks also for the perspective on the scam. I was damn furious at the moment and wasn't sure I could cool down after that. Good to get perspective from the bros here so that I do not dwell on it. Looking forward to reading of your adventures in the coming decades sir![/QUOTE]My best sound advice to you. Get the fuck over it! Go out and fuck some more. If a girl tags you for one or two drinks, so what! Interview another one. I have seen mongers lose their hard-on for days being angry over some small shit. Yes, I have been scammed and expect to be again and again. I limit my losses to acceptable levels. Get back out there.

[QUOTE=Dg8787;2783530]My best sound advice to you. Get the fuck over it! Go out and fuck some more. If a girl tags you for one or two drinks, so what! Interview another one. I have seen mongers lose their hard-on for days being angry over some small shit. Yes, I have been scammed and expect to be again and again. I limit my losses to acceptable levels. Get back out there.[/QUOTE]All good advice and well received from Dg8787, Goferring, WC1, and NS. Indeed, get over it and move on is effective. It's what I advised a couple of dudes who got pulled into LB ass on the spur of the moment and were half suicidal the next day. Just get the fuck over it and get straight back out to find a honey to make you forget.

For me, wasn't sure I was going to be able to recover after storming ouf of the bar, but determined to do so. And in defense of AC, there were still plenty of late night options for doing so. Ended up shooting out my scam frustration on the gorgeous ass of an aging hottie. It's more or less forgotten by now, but will double up my efforts to nip these things in the bud with some of your sound advice. Good on ya.

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;2783380]Agreed, Thai gogo bargirls are built better. I was in AC in September. I saw cuties in several bars, and hotties in Atlantis (and a great 2-girl pole dance) and Vikings.

To be fair, I saw the ugliest set of gogo ladies at the eastern (McDo / MacArthur) end of WS, walking towards McDo, the last set of bars on the right. A tout will walk you back thru an open-air resto to the bar (can't remember the name), an American wild-west-themed bar. A dozen gals aged late 30's and 40's, all overweight, dancing on a stage. Yuck!

Also directly across the street (north side) in one of the last bars towards McDo, two pretty door girls convinced me to look inside. Have to walk back thru a hallway to reach the seating / bar area. Several gogo girls were sound asleep in booths at 11 pm. I was the only customer. Only the bartender was awake, and jumped up and started to rouse them to get them dancing or to greet me. I turned and walked. What business keeps the lights on and lets the talent sleep?

I think there are fewer Western tourists in general. I reported Phils DOT data recently for 2022 (Phils re-opened in February), showing just under 1 million tourists entered the country, as opposed to 8+ million who entered in 2019 (the year prior to pandemic). I would be interested to see similar Thai numbers.

Regarding prices. A hottie in my country (not at the AMPS) will in-call for $400-$1,000 per hour, watch the clock, allow you 1 shot, and require a condom. A hottie in Mexico will run you $80-$150 for the same. A Burgos gogo hottie will run you $200 for the night, to include 2 pops (morning and evening), no condom. Things are a bit more dicey in AC, you are more likely to get ST for $100 unless you want to toss in a tip for LT. Compared to my country, I could have 1 hottie for an hour for $1000, or stay in Phils and have 5 cuties for a night each.

Six of one, half-dozen of the other.

I seemed to have survived my time (s) there.[/QUOTE]Yes fully agree when one compares the usa or australian prices to asian prices asia seems cheaper, but why not compare phills To other asian destinations which would be more more apples to apples.

Ill take just one little street in just one little thai city, that being soi 6 pattaya, where just in that 1 street there are more 18-20 year old young, slim, attractive girls than the whole of the bars in the phills put together IMHO, what's more no bullshit in soi 6,no drinks only girls, no virgins, no only asian girls, no switch and bait, just hundreds of willing girls that will fuck and suck right there and then and all for the bargain price of 1000 baht (1650 peso) want the soi 6 girl for long time then many are willing to negotiate a price, usually 2,000- 3,000 baht all night.

Try finding an 18-20 year old cutie that is willing to fuck right there and then with an older westerner especially long time in an angeles bar, impossible.

Now one realises why angeles bars are dead of western punters and the bars of thailand are standing room only.