New Tourist visa guidance
I've read that the Thai authorities are cracking down on the number of tourist visits and visa extensions permitted in a year.
It's been said (such as on FB, youtube too, maybe) that visiting on a tourist visa exempt passport will be limited to twice per calendar year.
This is intended to target visa runners, who have repeatedly extended 60 day visas with short runs to the borders, while using their time in Thailand to work illegally or for other nefarious purposes.
I hope this 2 visit limit isn't correct, especially for those like me who visit for typically 3 -5 days maximum on a visa exempt passport, whether for a short visa run or just for mongering.
How have you interpreted the new (ly enforced) rules, if they are correct as stated?
Looking for old-style hooker hangouts
I posted this request both here and in a Philippines forum, so I apologize for the duplication.
Over the years, the number of moderately priced "hooker bars" has decreased dramatically in the Southeast Asia capital cities I've visited. Clubs whose clientele consists mostly of nicely dressed and attractive gals on the take and horny and moderately generous guys on the make.
Ladies working as independent contractors, not tethered to the bar. Able to come and go as they please without permission. Waiting for playboys to offer a drink or two, relax and chat, get comfy, quietly negotiate a deal, then head out the door to the lair of choice. Their income is derived solely from whatever money they can extract from their randy customers. Places with no added fees: No mama-sans, no bar fines, no higher priced commissioned beverages, and no drink quotas.
I often played in the Beach Club and ACE Building in Kuala Lumpur, the "Four Floors of (Wh) ores" in Singapore, Taipei's "Combat Zone", PP Banana in Batam, Indonesia, Bangkok Sukhumvit's Biergarten, and the numerous foreigner bars in Jakarta's Blok M. All gone but not forgotten.
Of course, I can find these gals sitting in many onsite bars in 5-star luxury hotels. But their expected prices are normally much higher than the maximum I want to pay, and I'm loath to admit I'm staying at a no-frills 2-3 star lodge instead of a 5-star swanky room located just a short elevator ride away.
Hong Kong's Wan Chai bars are still there, but I don't want to pay over USA $200 for an off-duty housemaid. My Bar and Eastern Promise in Jakarta continue to serve me well. I've read plenty of online reports about Thermae in Bangkok. Midnight Haven (LA Cafe) in Manila is awesome in that most nights offer a selection of upwards of 100 gals who ask for USA $50-60 as compensation.
My question is can anyone give suggestions of similar reasonably priced bars or areas around Asia that might offer what I'm looking for?
And please, no ear-splitting loud music dance halls catering to people almost 1/3 my age. I hate being the creepy old man in the club.