Bangkok Reports

[QUOTE=BionicMan;1783436]They won't fucking care. How can they object against someone doing safe sex? They would embarrass themselves even before embarrassing the traveler. TSA is something else, and they act before you board a flight, not on arrival.[/QUOTE]I don't think they really care at all. I always keep a good amount of condoms in my bags (all of them!) but was never stopped. And I pass them many times a year including very recent trip. The only problem is sometimes I forget some liquid in my bag and get my bags opened. It happened a few times in Europe and the agents were just rolling their eyes.

[QUOTE=LAGuy5;1783217]Yes, your description of your own experiences, which were not unique at all, definitely sums up the legitimate concern. Based on what I have heard from others, you probably were lucky you were only on that list, likely one designating "suspected sex tourists," for a bit more than a year. I would guess though that you had already been placed on the list as soon as you left customs and your complaint may not have affected that. But maybe you have some information about that that I would not.

When did this take place Pogostick? I ask because I have the impression customs has become less aggressive in tormenting single men (or men traveling alone) when they return from Asia than they were in the past. I suspect this might reflect both changes in the administration (not to get overly political, but my sense is customs was more aggressive about this sort of thing during the Bush years), and also the futility of what they were doing. Harassing men returning from Asia was supposed to yield all sorts of prosecutions for men having sex with minors (based on inspections of computers, camera memories, and so forth) but there were very very few successful prosecutions of this sort.

Irrespective though of whether customs has reined in their rabid "what were you doing in Asia" dogs, it still seems prudent to travel in such a way that a customs inspection is not going to lead to an interrogation.[/QUOTE]This was about 5-6 years ago. I still get pulled out for inspection on an occasional basis and probably will for the rest of my life but at least it is not every time anymore.

Because of the language he used I tend to think that it was more of him being an asshole rather than a general policy. I come to Thailand on business and have plenty of supporting evidence for that. I never take photos of girls so my gear is clean of that. My computers and camera are full of travel articles and travel photography. One aspect of my business. The last time I came back from LOS, the immigration officer asked about my business. When I told him, his reaction was "And you get paid for that? Damn, how can I get that job?" (easy. Put in 30 years of hard work and then get VERY lucky).

Now I just make sure that I am totally clean of anything that will raise questions. No condoms, no ED pills and any products I buy for another of my businesses are shipped via shipping / customs brokers. If that doesn't work I may ordain and enter the US in orange robes carrying an alms bowl.

[QUOTE=Pogostick;1783601]This was about 5-6 years ago. I still get pulled out for inspection on an occasional basis and probably will for the rest of my life but at least it is not every time anymore.

Because of the language he used I tend to think that it was more of him being an asshole rather than a general policy. I come to Thailand on business and have plenty of supporting evidence for that. I never take photos of girls so my gear is clean of that. My computers and camera are full of travel articles and travel photography. One aspect of my business. The last time I came back from LOS, the immigration officer asked about my business. When I told him, his reaction was "And you get paid for that? Damn, how can I get that job?" (easy. Put in 30 years of hard work and then get VERY lucky).

Now I just make sure that I am totally clean of anything that will raise questions. No condoms, no ED pills and any products I buy for another of my businesses are shipped via shipping / customs brokers. If that doesn't work I may ordain and enter the US in orange robes carrying an alms bowl.[/QUOTE]You probably already know this but if you are accepted into the Global Entry program ($100 for five years), the odds of such questioning or going to a secondary inspection diminish substantially. And you get through immigration and customs much faster. OTOHnot everyone qualifies and I suspect even a minor drug conviction, e. G. , possession of marijuana, or other minor problem with law enforcement would preclude one from being accepted into the program.

Although your one bad experience may well have been the result of an immigration or customs guy just being an asshole, I have heard credible stories about instances where every man traveling alone on a commerical airplane from Asia were sent to secondary inspection. Not the norm, but I believe the stories I heard were credible. They do go back many years though.

[QUOTE=LAGuy5;1783621]You probably already know this but if you are accepted into the Global Entry program ($100 for five years), the odds of such questioning or going to a secondary inspection diminish substantially. And you get through immigration and customs much faster. OTOHnot everyone qualifies and I suspect even a minor drug conviction, e. G. , possession of marijuana, or other minor problem with law enforcement would preclude one from being accepted into the program.

Although your one bad experience may well have been the result of an immigration or customs guy just being an asshole, I have heard credible stories about instances where every man traveling alone on a commerical airplane from Asia were sent to secondary inspection. Not the norm, but I believe the stories I heard were credible. They do go back many years though.[/QUOTE]I tried to get the pass and I was rejected twice. The first time they said they had a flag on all Indonesia traffic and the second time they rejected me for a couple of traffic tickets. Kept my $100.00 and said goodbye.

I enter thru Honolulu and there is never a line, maybe 2 ahead so it goes pretty fast. I assumed it was another one of some dumb shit in a cubicle in DC that makes the decisions on who can and who can't qualify. I am a businessman also and I carry 3 suitcases loaded with items from Bali and LOS. I have to clear customs anyway. Never had a problem. I guess the CBP guys are happy to be in Hawaii and not on the Arizona border line.

Grew up in LA, was a combat photographer in the army and went to Art Center. Haven't picked up a camera since. Who knows.

RL.

[QUOTE=LAGuy5;1783621]You probably already know this but if you are accepted into the Global Entry program ($100 for five years), the odds of such questioning or going to a secondary inspection diminish substantially. [/QUOTE]Sounds great, but the name is a misnomer. It's very relevant for US entry for citizens of US and a few other countries. It's not going to help me in Thailand, right? I am not a US citizen.

Recently got asked questions on my last arrival to Thailand. Like how come I am in and out so often per year? I don't really want to say to them that I live here part time. Before the bomb, they never bothered me. I pointed out that the Thai websites suggest a Visa is not necessary for stays of up to 4 weeks. However the immigration officials seem to think I would be better off applying for long term Thai Visas. I might do that next time.

[QUOTE=Syzygies;1783649]Sounds great, but the name is a misnomer. It's very relevant for US entry for citizens of US and a few other countries. It's not going to help me in Thailand, right? I am not a US citizen.

Recently got asked questions on my last arrival to Thailand. Like how come I am in and out so often per year? I don't really want to say to them that I live here part time. Before the bomb, they never bothered me. I pointed out that the Thai websites suggest a Visa is not necessary for stays of up to 4 weeks. However the immigration officials seem to think I would be better off applying for long term Thai Visas. I might do that next time.[/QUOTE]No, it's not going to help one get into Thailand. Given that Pogostick spoke of his experience getting into the US I was addressing getting through customs and immigration in the US Ports of entry.

On the other hand, it does provide expedited entry into Australia (they have expedited lines that machine reads Global entry members' passports (or at least did when I visited Australia a few years ago) and the US has reciprocal agreements with the Netherlands, and Germany, so that citizens of those countries who belong to their countries' expedited entry programs can also use the Global Entry lines when coming into the US, although this may require some sort of preregistration.

[QUOTE=LAGuy5;1783217]When did this take place Pogostick? I ask because I have the impression customs has become less aggressive in tormenting single men (or men traveling alone) when they return from Asia than they were in the past. I suspect this might reflect both changes in the administration (not to get overly political, but my sense is customs was more aggressive about this sort of thing during the Bush years), and also the futility of what they were doing. Harassing men returning from Asia was supposed to yield all sorts of prosecutions for men having sex with minors (based on inspections of computers, camera memories, and so forth) but there were very very few successful prosecutions of this sort.[/QUOTE]Yes, this country no longer resembles the one in which I grew up.

I will say that I don't think that policy was a particular product of the Bush administration. For the past couple of decades, I've noticed that the government (including the military) has started bending over backwards to vocal radical groups, specifically the feminists. As you said, during those years the push was on because we KNOW that single men traveling to Asia are [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord915][CodeWord915][/url] and potential Gary Glitters. Just frisk 'them and the evidence will come pouring in. Obviously that didn't work so they moved on to the next shiny object. These days it's all about exposing non-existent campus [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord124][CodeWord124][/url] and forcing the Army to graduate female Rangers.

The last few return flights to the states had me using the kiosk machines in customs, never talked to any agent let alone have my bag searched for unused condoms.

[QUOTE=Breadman;1783847]The last few return flights to the states had me using the kiosk machines in customs, never talked to any agent let alone have my bag searched for unused condoms.[/QUOTE]Just don't make a mistake with the kiosk machine. I accidentally took my picture with my face out of frame (I have to hunch way down), and spent the next 2 hours getting questioned, searched and inspected.

[QUOTE=LAGuy5;1783712]
On the other hand, it does provide expedited entry into Australia (they have expedited lines that machine reads Global entry members' passports (or at least did when I visited Australia a few years ago) and the US has reciprocal agreements with the Netherlands, and Germany, so that citizens of those countries who belong to their countries' expedited entry programs can also use the Global Entry lines when coming into the US, although this may require some sort of preregistration.[/QUOTE]Expedited entry machines relate to Immigration for locals of the country and perhaps some others like you suggest. The customs process is separate, and not expedited. However citizens of certain countries are known to more trustworthy relating to the import of live animals, banned food products etc. However absolutely anyone could be trying to bring drugs into the country, so I don't think many people get ignored by customs. Their is a certain degree of randomness to searches, for general people outside of the usual suspects.

Thailand customs in ever interested in me in any way whatsoever. Don't know if they are lazy or I just don't look like the type. German customs has never been interested in me either. Have had bag searched going into Australia once. They were not interested in my Pirate DVD movies (wasn't porn type).

[QUOTE=Syzygies;1783903]Expedited entry machines relate to Immigration for locals of the country and perhaps some others like you suggest. The customs process is separate, and not expedited. However citizens of certain countries are known to more trustworthy relating to the import of live animals, banned food products etc. However absolutely anyone could be trying to bring drugs into the country, so I don't think many people get ignored by customs. Their is a certain degree of randomness to searches, for general people outside of the usual suspects.

Thailand customs in ever interested in me in any way whatsoever. Don't know if they are lazy or I just don't look like the type. German customs has never been interested in me either. Have had bag searched going into Australia once. They were not interested in my Pirate DVD movies (wasn't porn type).[/QUOTE]In the United States they do have separate expedited lines at Customs for Global Entry members, at least at the airports I have returned through. It is correct they do not have machines for going through customs (at least I have never seen any), but they have separate Global entry lines, which are shorter (sometimes very substantially) and in sharp contrast to my experiences before I had Global Entry, they (at least in my case) never have asked any questions other than things like "how are you doing" when going through the dedicated Global Entry Customs lines (well once early in the program they asked me where I was returning from, without anything further but they haven't even asked me that the last few years). While they do retain the right to ask substantive questions and/or open your luggage at Customs, it seems they do this much much less with Global Entry members than others.

On the other hand, in Australia, USA Global Entry members get expedited treatment through immigration but not customs, at least based on my experience a few years ago. I have no idea about Germany or the Netherlands.

Has anyone purchased Cialis or Kamagra off the street in Sukhumvit? Was it legitimate? Did it "work?

Sorry to ask this next question, but there really are no recent posts on this. Has anyone been to the Eden Club recently? Was it still formulaic or was it worth it?

[QUOTE=LaoMan;1784060]Has anyone purchased Cialis or Kamagra off the street in Sukhumvit? Was it legitimate? Did it "work?

Sorry to ask this next question, but there really are no recent posts on this. Has anyone been to the Eden Club recently? Was it still formulaic or was it worth it?[/QUOTE]Tried both of them and also Viagra from street. Worked perfect every time for me.

[QUOTE=LaoMan;1784060]Has anyone purchased Cialis or Kamagra off the street in Sukhumvit? Was it legitimate? Did it "work?[/QUOTE]I bought 3 times kamagra jelly box from street vendor, last time 4 months ago. Price around 900 - 1000 baht. Everytimes worked perfect.

Went to Crazy House after 8 pm. I should have got there at opening 7. 30 pm. Reason Ging Gaew with the big naturals was already with a customer. As she got up on stage another guy already with a girl was signalling to her. Two guys come in and sat down edge of the stage and as soon as they spotted her, they called Papasan to barfine her immediately. I was not rude enough to BF her out from under her existing customer, as had no chance to find out if she would like to go with me again. Last time I had a great time and she seemed to enjoy a lot but never know. She might like a quick fuck.

Ended up taking another girl Mon. Cute short and wide slung tits. Turned out she liked the DATY immensely. She is a newbie and told me I was her first Farang ever. I don't know if she ever experienced a good DATY before. However was certainly into it after initially little reaction. She was a bit lacking stamina so eventually she had had enough before I had.

Oom, my other favourite was absent.