General Reports

Exactly how, if you have photos, does this imply commercial sex? Are you making videos of your negotiations? Do we really need to spell it out, step by step?

As Syzygies mentioned, travelling with multiples phones is not unusual. "Oh, my phone is not a dual-SIM phone", or "My phone isn't unlocked", or "I have a work phone".

If someone asks you about commercial sex, you reply that, "That would be illegal. ", and say nothing more. As I stated, this is not unlike following advice if you're stopped and questioned by the police, which is easily googled and discussed ad nauseum on my monger forums. Have a simple story that fits the reality, without telling anything incriminating and stick to it like a broken record.

Which online storage is less important. Use a ZIP app on your phone to zip your photos and things into a password protected file, and upload that whatever online storage you use.

[URL]https://www.androidauthority.com/the-best-zip-and-unzip-apps-for-android-258692/[/URL]

Frankly, this is of little concern, anyway. I have traveled for years and never been hassled. Can it happen? Sure. If you're worried about how hot the kitchen will get, then stay away.

Know the real issues, such as the ban on foreigners' getting religious tattoos, in Thailand.

[QUOTE=Oterri;2359614]Commercial sex is not exactly legal and if things escalate, can be used against the traveler to harass him even more. The best option is to ensure that one does not have anything such as a picture, video or chat while crossing the borders.

The question is which online storage options are best to store files for a day or two, securely.[/QUOTE]

Age of Consent vs Age of Majority

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

Greetings Gentlemen,

The Age of Consent is the age in which girls can participate in consensual, non-commercial sex with their teen-age boyfriend without said teen-age boyfriend being charged with statutory rape.

However, the Age of Consent is irrelevant to the members of this forum.

What you need to focus on is the [u]Age of Majority[/u], which among other things is the age in which they can vote, get married, enlist in the military, and participate in commercial sex activities.

Please exercise caution and govern yourself accordingly.

Thanks,

Jackson[/blue]

Many people in Laos are displaced from their homes. e.g. Savanakhet. Its worse their than Thailand I think. Whole communities staying at schools not flooded.

Doing a border run Mukdahan to Savanakhet (Laos) and back becomes impractical.

Dams on the Mekhong and related water ways, are overflowing. Not sure if Nakon Panom (home of many Tulip girls) is still in a bad way or water already receded. Sakhon Nakhon was another near province with serious flooding, also Khon Kaen, Roi Et, Maha Sarakham, Kalasin, etc.

I waded in flood waters myself (but fortunately below crotch level) and waters went down already (in certain provinces). Thankfully Thailand has these bad tropical monsoon storms but not really proper serious Typhoons (quite rare).

Newspapers report major rivers still rising from waters coming from upstream release, e. G. Moon, Chi, Mekhong. Floods could be getting worse in some Eastern Thai provinces and Lao provinces. Large numbers displaced from homes.

Often electricity gets switched off for safety (fallen lines), so then food spoils even if kitchens are not flooded through lack of refridgeration.

Thais in Bangkok are generally agreeing that cost of living in Bangkok has risen very markedly in the last year or two, even buying food in plastic bags at markets sees a price rise. Exchange rates can have been getting worse also.

We have already steep price rises in bars, and starting to spread to some MPs too, e. G. Doki Doki 3700 (or was it 3500) for 90 minutes. Wow! A tiny cafe today charged me 165 Baht for Crab Fried Rice and Clear Vege soup with pork balls. I would have expected under 100 baht merely 2 or 3 years ago. A grilled chicken leg could be anywhere from 50 to 100 Baht now. I can still remember long ago was 20 Baht. I buy raw chicken legs and cook myself. Ha ha. Just weeks ago cooked myself a huge pot of Masaman Chicken with all the special spices.

Fortunately can still get a coffee for 55 Baht in some coffee shops? Why pay Starbucks prices (for the Hiso Thais). Because I drink so much coffee, I prefer to make my own even in a Hotel room. Coffee grounds in filter Paper in funnel dripping into thermos. Its not too bad using 100% Arabica grounds (I pay 109 Baht per box for Meuang Di 100% Arabica in Tops supermarket). That is cheapest 100% I found and taste is acceptable for me.

Attendance of Expats in the Sports Pub is way down. Bad economic times I guess. Food and drinks is not cheap for those on a budget. We can all sneakily get sports program feeds on our smart phones these days, so need to be at the sports pub diminishes. Similarly who needs to attend a movie theatre these days. Can download everything.

I just read travel company Thomas Cook went bust. They were always a rip off anyway for exchange rates etc. in my home country as were Travelex. The world is changing so much. I believe Super Rich at underground floor in the Airport is alright (no commission no fees). You don't want to change much money in Customs Hall with bad rates. I don't have much recent experience since I mainly do transfer to Thai Bank Account.

[QUOTE=Syzygies;2375083]

Fortunately can still get a coffee for 55 Baht in some coffee shops? Why pay Starbucks prices (for the Hiso Thais). Because I drink so much coffee, I prefer to make my own even in a Hotel room.[/QUOTE]Have you ever tried that All Cafe coffee sold in some 7-11's? It is proper brewed coffee. I usually get a large iced Latte for 40 baht. Pretty good value compared to most of the other coffee shops. And tastes good too.

[QUOTE=Syzygies;2375083]Thais in Bangkok are generally agreeing that cost of living in Bangkok has risen very markedly in the last year or two, even buying food in plastic bags at markets sees a price rise. Exchange rates can have been getting worse also.[/QUOTE]Prices are exactly the same since last year in areas outside the farang ghetto and tourist areas. In fact, I had some seafood in my fav seafood joint outside BKK the other day, and paid less based on market value since last spring. Its fruit season now, those 120 sticky rice minis you see in farangland are twice the size at half the price outside, those piles of Sukhumit Langsads at 500 B a kilo are 20 baht a kilo in my area and street meals are still less than 50 b where I'm at.

Tourist prices are increasing because that's the Thai way, less demand, raise the price. Hotel prices are falling a bit.

BTW, if you tourists like a nice little street market, Artbox is across from Thermae. They have Sunrise Tacos there, some Taiwan Tacos, smoothies and the like. Some of the food there is reasonably priced for the area. Its Golden Week though, prices will rise LOL.

[QUOTE=Franga;2375127]Have you ever tried that All Cafe coffee sold in some 7-11's? It is proper brewed coffee. I usually get a large iced Latte for 40 baht. Pretty good value compared to most of the other coffee shops. And tastes good too.[/QUOTE]Its actually not bad coffee. Its like being back at the convenience Marts in the USA.

I'm very particular about my coffee and I like the independent shops around town. School Coffee at Chong Nonsi is good. The lady who has been down by the Chinese courtyard near Saphan Taksin for probably 10 years makes a good cup. I even like Toms and the like. The coffee in the various pastry shops in the higher end malls is usually excellent, I had a cup I think it was in the Mandarin Oriental Shop at Graysorn and it was pinky cocked 1%er great. The nice thing about Bangkok is than not matter where you are you can get a cup of solid joe. I don't go to Starbucks, not because I can't afford it, but because I don't like the company.

I like the Turkish Coffee around town, I just don't like the environment LOL.

An interesting survey on expats in thailand.

[URL]https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1125121-expats-relationships-50-say-its-true-love-but-only-one-in-7-gets-anywhere-near-to-daily-sex/?utm_source=newsletter-20190925-0558&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news[/URL]

I see it here, Thai Friendly, Thai Cupid etc. I assume the use of 555, 5555, etc is Thai internet slang for LOL due to the pronunciation of the number 5 in Thai. Is this correct, or am I missing something else?

[QUOTE=BMoreDog69;2375466]I see it here, Thai Friendly, Thai Cupid etc. I assume the use of 555, 5555, etc is Thai internet slang for LOL due to the pronunciation of the number 5 in Thai. Is this correct, or am I missing something else?[/QUOTE]Yes Dog! You're on the right track. 5 in Thai is pronounced "Ha". So 555 is HaHaHa!

I live in a state in the US where recreational marijuana is legal now. Thinking about coming back to Thailand within the next few months for my 4th trip there. How bad of an idea is it to bring in a vape pen or possibly some edibles, like gummies? Though leaning towards a vape pen. In general, I've avoided all drugs on my trips through Asia, including marijuana. The penalty doesn't seem worth it. I had read recently that Thailand was venturing into the medical marijuana scene, so maybe they are starting on the road to decriminalization. I think vape pens are pretty discreet. I've flown with them domestically in the States and no one gives them a second look. So any thoughts? Major bad idea?

[QUOTE=Franciscass;2375345]An interesting survey on expats in thailand.

[URL]https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1125121-expats-relationships-50-say-its-true-love-but-only-one-in-7-gets-anywhere-near-to-daily-sex/?utm_source=newsletter-20190925-0558&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news[/URL][/QUOTE]Yes it is good for a Laugh, without the data being very meaningful.

Some guys are liars about how much sex they get. If the data split between western wife, Thai partner of 2 years or less and long term Thai partner, I think the results would be more useful although small sample size.

"A quarter of people claimed that having a mistress was about companionship not sex. " I suspect some porkies here. Guys eager to secretly meet the mistress for a "conversation" or someone to listen to them crap on. Ha ha. I love listening to my Mrs talk when she is not too loud and not too repetitive (grin grin). Not so much religious talk though.

"In the under thirties only 8% thought a Mia Noi was acceptable. " Older guys much more in favour of outsourcing the sex. For most of us, a Mia Noi is not good enough. 2 or 3 Mia Nois is more like it.

"In general half of respondents said that their relationship was based on true love" Yeh maybe the guy is in love (off his head) and the Thai girl came in for economic reasons (primarily). Some guys were more realistic.

For me getting sex with the Thai Mrs. Varies incredibly. If she has a supply of good quality fresh Ganja, then I get it virtually every day. Otherwise depends on her beer assisted mood. No Ganga and no beer or other alcohol, then I have quite low chances. If my DATY was shitty, then would get even less. There is no such thing as regular for many of us. It depends! I regard Ganja as "horny weed", without using it myself.

I think one always gets a lot more sex in the first year of a relationship, and then it tapers off badly. My ex Farang wife of many years was horny only one day per month. Shitty sex too! Did not even look forward to it, in the end. A Thai wife has to be much better than that.

[QUOTE=Syzygies;2375800] I regard Ganja as "horny weed", without using it myself.[/QUOTE]Yeah, all of us Yanks who come from legal land and get the good Cali here, not the ditchweed, just run off with a woody to have sex with the first thing they see walking.

Personally, I fire up a fatty and the only thing I can do is comptemplate whether I call Gallery Pizza for delivery or just gobble on that kilo of grapes I got for 50 baht. Ow wow, look at that, I got some of those little potato looking things like Lychees too. And check it out, Pocky and a leftover hunk of sankaya. But I really want a pizza. I wonder what's on Netflix. (1 hour passes). Damn, maybe I should get a pizza, this fruit juice is matting my chest hair. I guess Ill go to Thermae. Just fire up this roach and take a shower. I should eat before showering though in case I sauce dribble. Oh, damn, look, the Watford match. OK, I'm getting a pizza. Yo Gallery dudes, ya open? What, you close at 4 am?

Weed makes no one horny and creates no sense of urgency. It creates just a cloud of grooviness. I can even laugh at Chinese in the Thermae, it makes the intolerable, tolerable. Sometimes I just follow one around, studying his interactions. I really want to interview the girl after. Hi, size? Speed? I would just be on the floor laughing. I think Ill go tonight, I have a nice bud set aside hahahahahaha.

Ever consider why you only get laid when your wife fires up? Are ya sure its because the weed makes her randy then?

[QUOTE=KeepItMoving;2375702]I live in a state in the US where recreational marijuana is legal now. Thinking about coming back to Thailand within the next few months for my 4th trip there. How bad of an idea is it to bring in a vape pen or possibly some edibles, like gummies? Though leaning towards a vape pen. In general, I've avoided all drugs on my trips through Asia, including marijuana. The penalty doesn't seem worth it. I had read recently that Thailand was venturing into the medical marijuana scene, so maybe they are starting on the road to decriminalization. I think vape pens are pretty discreet. I've flown with them domestically in the States and no one gives them a second look. So any thoughts? Major bad idea?[/QUOTE]KeepItMoving,

Vape Pens / E-cigarettes are illegal, even for nicotine based substances, in Thailand and it is the latest source of revenue for LE "on the spot fines" from those carrying them. Carrying one with nicotine is therefore risky. Unless you are prepared to lose it and pay a couple of thousand baht into the police pension fund. Carrying one with illicit drugs, IMHO, would be just dumb. Risk of a fine + risk of worse for possession of narcotics. Is it worth it?

I believe the main reason that they are not allowed is that they breach the Government tobacco monopoly, although I have also have heard suggestions that Vape devices potential for use as a delivery medium with illicit drugs (E. G. Meth or THC as you were proposing) also plays a role in not allowing their possession, use, sale or distribution.