General Reports

[QUOTE=Phordphan;1685938]You will go to the Taxi queue on the 2nd (floor. You will tell the lady at the desk (the dispatcher) where you're going, she'll write it down and give it to the driver. She'll give you a copy. Keep it, as it has the driver's number, etc. , on it, should you have any problems. She may remind you that you have to pay for the expressway tolls. If she doesn't, the driver will. You can't go to the next taxi, etc. , as the dispatcher assigns your taxi to you.
[/QUOTE]I always go upstairs to arrivals and pick a taxi there. There are lots. No waiting in the queue and no 50 Baht surcharge. They are always so relieved to get a customer, have not experienced anyone trying to rip me off. I avoid any guy chasing me eagerly. I pick one waiting patiently at his taxi.

I switched from the Bangkok Thread since its not a mongering topic.

The world's most unfaithful country.

According Statista Thailand occupies a first place in the most unfaithful nation in the world. A whopping 56% of respondents Thais have admitted that they have had an affair or two during their marriage.

See the full list here:

1. Thailand (56%.

2. Denmark (46%.

3. Germany (45%.

4. Italy (45%.

5. France (43%.

6. Belgium (40%.

7. Norway (40%.

8. Spain (39%.

9. Finland (36%.

10. United Kingdom (36%.

[QUOTE=Phordphan;1685935]Let's see. The stock market took like a $7 Billion hit in 2008. I don't think Thailand did, maybe you know differently. I work with many companies who took a hell of a beating during the recession. Thailand had a recessions, but not nearly to the degree of the US, and has recovered quite nicely.

The US now had $18 Trillion of debt. The country's GDP is around $17 Trillion. The US had record tax revenues this year, but still couldn't quite make ends meet, to the tune of around $480 Billion. That's OK, the Fed just prints more money. This is a recipe for disaster.

Yes, the dollar is strong, lately, due in no small part to the ham-handed ways the Europeans and Japanese have been handling their currencies. But, based on the above, how long can it last? From Bush through Obama the debt-to-GDP ratio has gone from around 56% to about 103%. How anybody can look at these facts and not think these are deliberate actions is beyond me. Anyway, those are the thoughts behind my comments. You don't have to agree, but I don't think they are completely uninformed.

Mod, feel free to move this to the appropriate thread.[/QUOTE]Within about two months of the 2008 global financial crisis, the Thai SETI lost about 45 percent of its value so if you were saying Thais who had their money in Thai stocks lost nothing, that is incorrect. On the other hand, when you earlier referred to having money in an account, it seemed you were referring to a bank account not a stock market brokerage account, unless I missed something in this regard.

Contrary to your earlier suggestion, those of us who had money in normal US Bank accounts lost nothing even if the bank went bankrupt. This was owing to FDIC insurance (with the exception of those few--if any-- individuals dumb enough to exceed the deposit maximum of $250,000 per bank account rather than deposit monies in excess of $250,000 in a different account.

[QUOTE=LAGuy5;1686458]
Contrary to your earlier suggestion, those of us who had money in normal US Bank accounts lost nothing even if the bank went bankrupt. This was owing to FDIC insurance (with the exception of those few--if any-- individuals dumb enough to exceed the deposit maximum of $250,000 per bank account rather than deposit monies in excess of $250,000 in a different account.[/QUOTE]Actually I don't recall any retail bank bankrupted on that occasion. Also I don't recall any FDIC intervention at all.

[QUOTE=OldNewGuy;1686899]Actually I don't recall any retail bank bankrupted on that occasion. Also I don't recall any FDIC intervention at all.[/QUOTE]I think you are probably right. I probably was thinking about the much earlier savings and loan crisis, where I believe there was some FDIC intervention.

[QUOTE=LAGuy5;1686971]I think you are probably right. I probably was thinking about the much earlier savings and loan crisis, where I believe there was some FDIC intervention.[/QUOTE]Yes Thai banks did go bankrupt and depositors lost money. Siam (something) was one of them taken over by a US bank but depositors went under. No depositors in USA banks lost money thanks to FDIC.

[QUOTE=LAGuy5;1686458]Within about two months of the 2008 global financial crisis, the Thai SETI lost about 45 percent of its value so if you were saying Thais who had their money in Thai stocks lost nothing, that is incorrect. On the other hand, when you earlier referred to having money in an account, it seemed you were referring to a bank account not a stock market brokerage account, unless I missed something in this regard.

Contrary to your earlier suggestion, those of us who had money in normal US Bank accounts lost nothing even if the bank went bankrupt. This was owing to FDIC insurance (with the exception of those few--if any-- individuals dumb enough to exceed the deposit maximum of $250,000 per bank account rather than deposit monies in excess of $250,000 in a different account.[/QUOTE]You're correct. My statement was poorly written. Nobody lost any physical dollars, and I didn't suggest that any banks failed. As an aside, loads of businesses went bankrupt and loads more lost their houses in this government-manufactured and exacerbated recession. While this wasn't a bank account, strictly speaking, many millions were lost. I don't recall reading of lots of homeless Thais flooding the rental markets during this time, nor seeing pictures of vacant, heavily foreclosed neighborhoods throughout Thailand.

But, the point was money in a US account vs. Thailand. Before TARP, the bailout, etc. , the Baht was, what, around 40:1? Damn near overnight it went to around 25. The dollar tanked all over the place, not just Thailand. One may not have lost any physical dollars from their FDIC-insured accounts, but they were worth a fraction of what they were a day before. Contrast this with the Baht that remained strong for the next two years, or so. The dollar eventually began to gain ground and is now a bit over 30, but that's still 75% of what it was before the start of this debacle. Had somebody had their money in a Thai account they would have "lost" nothing during this time.

That was what I, so inelegantly tried to say.

[QUOTE=Phordphan;1687176]You're correct. My statement was poorly written. Nobody lost any physical dollars, and I didn't suggest that any banks failed. As an aside, loads of businesses went bankrupt and loads more lost their houses in this government-manufactured and exacerbated recession. While this wasn't a bank account, strictly speaking, many millions were lost. I don't recall reading of lots of homeless Thais flooding the rental markets during this time, nor seeing pictures of vacant, heavily foreclosed neighborhoods throughout Thailand.

But, the point was money in a US account vs. Thailand. Before TARP, the bailout, etc. , the Baht was, what, around 40:1? Damn near overnight it went to around 25. The dollar tanked all over the place, not just Thailand. One may not have lost any physical dollars from their FDIC-insured accounts, but they were worth a fraction of what they were a day before. Contrast this with the Baht that remained strong for the next two years, or so. The dollar eventually began to gain ground and is now a bit over 30, but that's still 75% of what it was before the start of this debacle. Had somebody had their money in a Thai account they would have "lost" nothing during this time.

That was what I, so inelegantly tried to say.[/QUOTE]Actually, the last time the dollar to baht conversion rate was over 40 to 1 was around January 2006, about three years before TARP. The most significant recent drop in the value of the dollar relative to the baht took place from January 2006 to around August 2007, with the conversion rate dropping from around 40 to 1 to 30 to 1. In 2008, the year of TARP, the dollar strengthened against the baht, starting the year at just under 30 to 1, and ending it at just under 35 to 1. In 2009 the dollar weakened a bit relative to the Thai baht but nothing dramatic, ending the year at a tad over 33 to 1.

In short, there is nothing to suggest the conversion rate went from around 40 to 1 to around 25 to 1 almost overnight, and very little, if anything, to tie any significant changes in the conversion rate to TARP or the bailout, etc.

[URL]www.oanda.com[/URL] is a good source for tracking currency rates and historical data for those interested in such things.

I know this question is more suitable for a mainstream forum but since we have quite a few folks here that are employed in BKK, I was wondering what kind of jobs are available for expats? Please be specific about job title and description rather than a vague explanation which makes it difficult to figure out exactly what kinda job opportunities exist in Thailand, if any.

I won't mind hearing about business opportunities either.

Thank you.

[QUOTE=LAGuy5;1687272]Actually, the last time the dollar to baht conversion rate was over 40 to 1 was around January 2006, about three years before TARP. The most significant recent drop in the value of the dollar relative to the baht took place from January 2006 to around August 2007, with the conversion rate dropping from around 40 to 1 to 30 to 1. In 2008, the year of TARP, the dollar strengthened against the baht, starting the year at just under 30 to 1, and ending it at just under 35 to 1. In 2009 the dollar weakened a bit relative to the Thai baht but nothing dramatic, ending the year at a tad over 33 to 1.

In short, there is nothing to suggest the conversion rate went from around 40 to 1 to around 25 to 1 almost overnight, and very little, if anything, to tie any significant changes in the conversion rate to TARP or the bailout, etc.

[URL]www.oanda.com[/URL] is a good source for tracking currency rates and historical data for those interested in such things.[/QUOTE]To LA Guy.

I been going to Bangkok since 1995 first time back then 1 USD is about 28 bht, the highest is back in the early 1998 it was over 53 bht to a dollar because of the Asia crisis every and I buy some gold chain in Chinatown gold back then is very cheap under 300 usd for an oz wish I bought more back then, you can get girl at Thermae café back then for 800 bht ST and 1200 bht all night.

Fast eddie 48.

[QUOTE=Omigawd;1687313]I know this question is more suitable for a mainstream forum but since we have quite a few folks here that are employed in BKK, I was wondering what kind of jobs are available for expats? Please be specific about job title and description rather than a vague explanation which makes it difficult to figure out exactly what kinda job opportunities exist in Thailand, if any.

I won't mind hearing about business opportunities either.

Thank you.[/QUOTE]I have been working in SE Asia for 18 years full-time now.

If you paid for a membership I assume some other expats along with me might PM you with some assistance, but I am not putting it on the open board.

[QUOTE=FastEddie48;1687558]To LA Guy.

I been going to Bangkok since 1995 first time back then 1 USD is about 28 bht, the highest is back in the early 1998 it was over 53 bht to a dollar because of the Asia crisis every and I buy some gold chain in Chinatown gold back then is very cheap under 300 usd for an oz wish I bought more back then, you can get girl at Thermae caf back then for 800 bht ST and 1200 bht all night.

Fast eddie 48.[/QUOTE]I am surprised by what you say for 1995. Are you sure you got the year right?

Prices must have gone up dramatically. My 2nd trip to Thailand after a long break was approx. 1991 or 1992. I could typically get a girl for whole night from Soi Cowboy for 500 Baht back then (in one case just 400 baht and hard to get rid of her). Can't recall if there were any full nude bars. ST virtually did not exist for bargirls (at least I did not hear of it). I don't recall ever doing short time except in a massage place or a Phat Phong back room. I was not into Nana Plaza at the time as it definitely did not have fully nude girls (and only a few bars), although it did have nudity a few years later at Hollywood then Bubblegum, Pretty Lady, Voodoo etc. I did try Phat Phong back then (with full nudity upstairs) like Pussy Galore, Queens Castle, Supergirl, Lipstick?, Firecat, etc. and having Annies Rose and Kangaroo BJ bars where almost anything went on in the bar area. I took girls from Thermae for whole night too at that time (no STs were ever suggested). Some really hot girls who were only part time free lancers. I don't actually remember if prices for them were any different. I seem to recall the price for a girl at the Thermae Soapy Parlour upstairs was a little higher. Not sure how much longer it lasted before being torn down.

My first trip was 1984 or 85 but had very limited play-up opportunities (married) then so don't know what the prices were. I did visit my first Bangkok and Chiang Mai Soapies though, the first somewhat by accident not knowing what went on when I walked in for a look (and I could not speak Thai at all). It was in a low even numbered Soi of Sukhumvit, not Annies or Darling, so obviously was torn down for redevelopment by time I returned in 1992. Its been very hard to find out what it was called. The matriarch "Annie" would presumably know. I should chat to her one day.

A buddy of mine was going to Thailand regularly, well before me and he remembers when could get a fuck for 100 Baht. Ha Ha! I have heard $10 girls still exist in Cambodia in areas out of town where they have no English.

Supermarket prices have risen badly too. Foodland had a grilled chicken thigh with leg for 69 Baht. That is about quarter of a chicken. I can could get that for less in Germany grilled chicken shop. It seems not many years since that would have been 20 Baht. It may well be longer ago than I think. Perhaps nearly 15 years ago. Imported coffee grounds is so expensive in the supermarket that its much cheaper to buy in Germany and put in the suitcase. I guess local Thais don't drink Lavazza or Segafreddo etc. It just costs far too much.

I have resisted paying a membership.

Why? Well, My thinking is, this is a public forum (on the internet) and its free to read and post (sign up).

I have got a lot of insight from my state-side mongering and escapades, but not on an international level.

Why do you other mongers give a darn whether some people have a membership or not? I guess you want them to have skin in the game before you release info?

But for a first time international-monger like myself, I looked for a one time interactive informative river of info.

I often asked myself, why pay if I'm only going to one country this year and there is a variety of info out there?

I'm not knocking this place, but I am trying to say, be sympathetic to newbies who are just going to (insert country) for the first time.

I do see the value in signing up now. I missed many things in my exploits to Thailand, PMs that I would have got to give advice, stay clear from, to visit, or to give that extra nudge of information that was lacking in the forums.

Now that I want to explore other countries, its a no-brainer to sign up. The valuable insight of first hand experience is worth it. At this writing I have not signed up, but ask how the subscription is billed to my credit card.

Pervert billing? Hope not. Answer?

[blue]===============================================

Greetings,

Let me address your concerns about using a credit card to purchase a subscription.

1. [i]Is there any danger that your credit card data might be stolen?[/i] No. Both the shopping cart service and the credit card service I use to process the credit card transactions are both conducted on secure, encrypted websites, so your credit card information is secure.

2. [i]Is there any danger that your credit card statement will show that you've purchased a membership to this forum?[/i] No. The credit card charge will be made under another name (which I won't write here because I don't want it being found by search engines) that looks like it's a contribution to a charity.

3. [i]Is there any danger that a law enforcement agency might force me to divulge your forum username?[/i] No. I delete the shopping cart transaction data every few days, and that's the only connection between your credit card charge and your username. In other words, the credit card charge doesn't include your username, only the shopping cart database has this info, and I have total control over the shopping cart's database.

In addition, the forum's servers are located in Hamburg, Germany, safely outside the USA legal system, and in a country where commercial sex is legal.

4. [i]Is there a possibility that I will take your money and disappear?[/i] No. This has been a membership website for several years, and nobody here has ever reported a single problem with using their credit card to purchase a subscription. Believe me, if there had ever been a problem, it would have been reported it here.

5. [i]Are there any options other than using my credit card?[/i] Yes. You can purchase an anonymous, pre-loaded credit card online and at numerous retail outlets. There is also an option to purchase a subscription by mail using cash.

[url]http://www.internationalsexguide.info/forum/subscriptions.php?#subscriptionbymail[/url]

Thanks,

Jackson[/blue]

[QUOTE=Syzygies;1688038] I have heard $10 girls still exist in Cambodia in areas out of town where they have no English.[/QUOTE]Not only in areas out of town but also in Phnom Penh. The SWs around Wat Phnom can be had for $10 or even less if you're a tough bargainer.

You don't have be a paying member. The privileges are not much different. You can easily check the list of privileges and see if they appeal or not. I would gladly pay for a new membership with new handle if I could get of of probation review mode very quickly.