Bangkok Reports

[QUOTE=Guido88]Allover

My experience buying in Thailand, Europe, Eastern Europe, Russia and Mexico is that most of the time I have found that the meds are knock offs from China or India.

Usually they work well, only 1 time have they not done the job. Last purchase in TJ was a waste.

IMHO Try a small piece and see if it works. Keep the receipt and return if the product is lacking. Your mileage may vary......

Guido88[/QUOTE]

I do agree with u. Some day before I was also afraid about these extra stimulation. But now I'm not. To face an extensive sex practice once I fallen in need of something stimulating and I find "Penegra(Made in India) in Soi Buakhao, Pattaya. Surprisingly It found so effective for me and worked for a longer time.

Arrived to Bangkok 5/28 1 am to Bangkok. The Emigration check was so fast, never seen Bangkok visitors at such low numbers. After customs checks went to first floor the Taxi waiting area. Had to wait about 30 minutes for my turn to get a taxi. The driver got me to my location driving through local roads, didn't see any check points and only few other cars or trucks on the road. Paid him metered 190 baht plus 50 baht air port charge and another 50 baht tip. First impression of Bangkok is almost everything is normal except the curfew that hopefully will be lifted soon.

I find most people proclaim that Super Rich in Big C is the place with the bestrates. A little while ago, someone said Vasu Exchange in Suk near Soi 11 is the best. And more recently, Dinghy posted this website which gives updated rates in Bangkok:

[url]http://bankexchangerates.daytodaydata.net/default.aspx[/url]

The problem is the difference between Super Rich and all the others listed on that site is quite significant (e.g., 32.53 at Super Rich, and the next closest is 32.2). That seemed a little suspicious to me.

So here's what I spent my lunch time doing today. I went from one place to the other in super fast order to try to see the rates offered at various exchange places. My results:

Vasu Exchange: 32.50
SuperRich Ratchadamri 32.53
TMB Exchange in Nana BTS station: 32.19
Super Rich in Chit Lom BTS station: 32.29
Siam City Exchange in Siam BTS: 32.22
Exchange in Siam Paragon: 32.19
MBK Exchange (right outside Tokyu Hands): 32.22
TMB in National Stadium BTS: 32.21

So you can see from this pseudo-scientific gathering of data that there is a minor bi-modal distribution in that Vasu and Super Rich (Ratchadamri) are at 32.50 and 32.53 respectively, and all the rest are in the 32.2 region.

Super Rich Big C is not open since Big C is closed, so the Super Rich I went to is one block further on the next soi. I also went to the two others in that little maze there, and the rates were between 32.50 and 32.53.

Bottom line for me, if you are in the Nana area, go to Vasu, the 0.03 difference is not worth the time, money and sweat it takes to get to Super Rich. But if you are in the Chit Lom area, Super Rich Ratchadamri is the place to go.

[QUOTE=Kumbu]I find most people proclaim that Super Rich in Big C is the place with the bestrates. A little while ago, someone said Vasu Exchange in Suk near Soi 11 is the best. And more recently, Dinghy posted this website which gives updated rates in Bangkok:

[url]http://bankexchangerates.daytodaydata.net/default.aspx[/url]

The problem is the difference between Super Rich and all the others listed on that site is quite significant (e.g., 32.53 at Super Rich, and the next closest is 32.2). That seemed a little suspicious to me.

So here's what I spent my lunch time doing today. I went from one place to the other in super fast order to try to see the rates offered at various exchange places. My results:

Vasu Exchange: 32.50
SuperRich Ratchadamri 32.53
TMB Exchange in Nana BTS station: 32.19
Super Rich in Chit Lom BTS station: 32.29
Siam City Exchange in Siam BTS: 32.22
Exchange in Siam Paragon: 32.19
MBK Exchange (right outside Tokyu Hands): 32.22
TMB in National Stadium BTS: 32.21

So you can see from this pseudo-scientific gathering of data that there is a minor bi-modal distribution in that Vasu and Super Rich (Ratchadamri) are at 32.50 and 32.53 respectively, and all the rest are in the 32.2 region.

Super Rich Big C is not open since Big C is closed, so the Super Rich I went to is one block further on the next soi. I also went to the two others in that little maze there, and the rates were between 32.50 and 32.53.

Bottom line for me, if you are in the Nana area, go to Vasu, the 0.03 difference is not worth the time, money and sweat it takes to get to Super Rich. But if you are in the Chit Lom area, Super Rich Ratchadamri is the place to go.[/QUOTE]

Hey Kumbu

You could have spent your lunchtime with a girl or 2 instead of chasing from bank to bank in the heat to find out exactly what you could have done from your computer

The web site you quoted [url]http://bankexchangerates.daytodaydata.net/default.aspx[/url]
updates every few minutes and would have given you the same answers.

[QUOTE=Bumholes1]Hey Kumbu

You could have spent your lunchtime with a girl or 2 instead of chasing from bank to bank in the heat to find out exactly what you could have done from your computer

The web site you quoted [url]http://bankexchangerates.daytodaydata.net/default.aspx[/url]
updates every few minutes and would have given you the same answers.[/QUOTE]
Some people might think the mongerers are perverted.
I think the real perverts are those spending hours to save few cents.
To each one his own, no doubt.
But what's the real outcome of the exchange rate survey? Some cents (5?) of a baht. Suppose you change 1000$ you gain 50bahts... You don't even buy yourself a beer with that....
How many are spending 1000$ on each mongering visit (of a week or so)?
Guys, don't take me wrong, but we are there to spend time and money to enjoy ourselves and 50 bahts won't give us more mongering enjoyment :)

I thought that Banks give better exchange rate than money changers. It is that there are more money changers than banks so easier but give less exchange rate than banks. Did I get my information wrong?

Went down to SOL for a slimmers lunch today and should've just turned around and went home. Silom is having a huge sidewalk sale that's bringing thousands into the area. The whole road under the BTS was just jam-packed with bodies - and not in a good way. Even the BTS station was packed - so much so that I only bought a ticket good enough for the next station as I didn't want to stand in the line for the change counter. So while is all safe and sound, I'd recommend avoiding the area for the time being - even you bargain hunters out there; while the goods are cheap and the merchants are doing a good job making up for lost revenue, its just hellish.

SOL BBBJ was all it was meant to be, though.

[QUOTE=Thulolado]Went down to SOL for a slimmers lunch today and should've just turned around and went home. Silom is having a huge sidewalk sale that's bringing thousands into the area. The whole road under the BTS was just jam-packed with bodies - and not in a good way. Even the BTS station was packed - so much so that I only bought a ticket good enough for the next station as I didn't want to stand in the line for the change counter. So while is all safe and sound, I'd recommend avoiding the area for the time being - even you bargain hunters out there; while the goods are cheap and the merchants are doing a good job making up for lost revenue, its just hellish.

SOL BBBJ was all it was meant to be, though.[/QUOTE]The Silom street market ends on Sunday (30/5).

[QUOTE=LittleBigMan]Csun213,

I wouldn't move my trip back just because you want to take a ride on the new train. Although the curfew is still on day by day in Bangkok, I sense in a week or so or when they remove the curfew that the Thailand Tourist Association if not already are making plans with the Airlines to present some pretty good deals so that you would visit LOS in the very near future and not during October. They want your business now! Many of my buddies are already researching prices and waiting for the deals. In my opinion you are going to see some price drops for trip beginning and ending in the 2 month range.

Around a month ago there was a discussing on the board relating to police checking Farangs at the bus station for Viagra etc. I was in Bangkok in the beginning of May and for the first time I saw ventors like the ones selling T-shirts on Sukhumvit selling Viagra, Cialis, etc. Just out in the open, layed out on tables. Maybe this was the reason for the crackdown in bus station and certain location. This was clearly black market to me! I didn't ask the price or partake got mines at the regular place Soi 4, next to gas station also on Sukhumvit near Majestic Suites.

LBM[/QUOTE]To LBM

Csun213 have been taking about coming to Bangkok for 2 yr ask alot of questions and never made it here, always making excuse don't he will ever get here maybe he love his wife too much, the poor guy will be stuck in california for ever.

Fast Eddie 48

[QUOTE=Bumholes1]You could have spent your lunchtime with a girl or 2 instead of chasing from bank to bank in the heat to find out exactly what you could have done from your computer[/QUOTE]Indeed. But I didn't know that before hand. Now I do. [QUOTE=Bionicman]I think the real perverts are those spending hours to save few cents. [/QUOTE] An opinion. And there is something to it, despite the hyperbole. [QUOTE=Bionicman]
But what's the real outcome of the exchange rate survey? Some cents (5?) of a baht. Suppose you change 1000$ you gain 50bahts... You don't even buy yourself a beer with that....
How many are spending 1000$ on each mongering visit (of a week or so)?[/QUOTE] Well, some of us change much more than $1000. So if you compare the typical exchange bureau rate of 32.2 with the Super Rich rate of 32.53, and you exchange $10000 (most for work purposes), that comes out to a difference of 2,300 Baht. That can buy you several tasty Thai treats in this town.

My point was that there is indeed a substantial and predictable difference in rates offered at different places, so why not take advantage of it?

[QUOTE=Kumbu]
My point was that there is indeed a substantial and predictable difference in rates offered at different places, so why not take advantage of it?[/QUOTE]

Yes indeed.

While I personally would not bother to do this type of research, and frankly don't even understand why someone else would bother either, nonetheless, it provides information that is useful, and without me having to exert myself.

So a genuine thanks for taking the effort.

Also, I am a little puzzled why others would discourage people from doing research and posting it?

There are plenty of things, both hobby wise and money wise that we all could not be bothered doing, but if someone else saves us the trouble, and we can get a bit extra out of it for no extra exertion ourselves, why dump on the guy?

We might think ourselves smart for not bothering about a few cents in the dollar, but it seems to me to be even smarter to let someone else do the work and then get those extra cents in the dollar without personal exertion - if that someone else likes doing that sort of research it is a real win win. ;) Similarly, there is plenty of stuff hobby wise I could not care about nor would I walk across the street to get. Yet other people would get on a plane and go half way round the world for the same experience. If we dump on people then we risk getting really bland FRs - and that will serve us right.

/rant :)

korp khun khrap. :)

In a few weeks, I will arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 08:15 AM. My second flight goes to Manila and departs at 01:05 PM. In between I have some time to spend, but I don't want to do that in the airport.

Are there massage parlors (salons) in the neighbourhood of the airport where I can enjoy ;-) myself for the time I have to wait?

Any information is welcome. Many thanks in advance!

[QUOTE=Thulolado]Even the BTS station was packed - so much so that I only bought a ticket good enough for the next station as I didn't want to stand in the line for the change counter.[/QUOTE]The BTS has several options for beating those change queues (during rush hour, they can be LONG):

[url]http://www.bts.co.th/en/news/promotion_detail.asp?id=139[/url]
[i]Promotion for BTS 30-Day SmartPasses
Conditions of use

• 30-Day SmartPasses valid for 30 days.
• Unlimited travel distance for number of trips specified.
• 5 year card life starts from date of first entry at an Automatic Gate. Cards may be refilled with trips after the first trip has been used, or validity expires, upon promotion as specified by the Company regulations.
• Passes are non-refundable.

Adult SmartPasses
New Promotional prices for 30-Day Adult SmartPass, effective 1st May 2010.

15 trips, 345 Baht
23 Baht per trip

25 trips, 550 Baht
22 Baht per trip

35 trips, 735 Baht
21 Baht per trip

45 trips, 900 Baht
20 Baht per trip

Promotion Price
Price excludes 30 Baht issuing fee for a new SmartPass. [/i]

OR

[url]http://www.bts.co.th/en/ticket_new.asp[/url]
[i]SmartPasses
BTS Sky SmartPass


1. Price 100 Baht.
2. Minimum refill 100 Baht. (Maximum 2,000 Baht)
3. 5 year lifetime form [sic] date of first use.

- Price excludes 30 Baht issuing fee for new SmartPass.
- 30 Baht deposit is not included in value displayed.[/i]

Myself, I opted for the 2nd option, mainly because I didn't know about the first. When it ran low, just picked an off hour and added another 500 or 1000 baht on it. Gave me a smile EVERY time I bypassed those change queues, or the people trying to figure out how to use the ticket machines. Just swipe and go. Good for 5 years; all I have to do is remember to bring it with me on my next trip.

[QUOTE=Mike Bel]In a few weeks, I will arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 08:15 AM. My second flight goes to Manila and departs at 01:05 PM. In between I have some time to spend, but I don't want to do that in the airport.

Are there massage parlors (salons) in the neighbourhood of the airport where I can enjoy ;-) myself for the time I have to wait?

Any information is welcome. Many thanks in advance![/QUOTE]


Expensive (straight) Massage Shops are in the airport, this timeframe is too short to leave and go off site.

[QUOTE=Fast Eddie 48]To LBM

Csun213 have been taking about coming to Bangkok for 2 yr ask alot of questions and never made it here, always making excuse don't he will ever get here maybe he love his wife too much, the poor guy will be stuck in california for ever.

Fast Eddie 48[/QUOTE]

I will be here in Oct for sure. Booked hotel room and ticket. Had to cancel the last trip because my mom had to go in for Major surgery just before my trip. Of course my trip might still be canceled if my mom does not feel better by that time. There are some things that are more important in life than just going on vacation.