General Reports

[QUOTE=StLouisMo2010;2413936]Due to numerous conflicts of schedule my travel plans to Thailand this year may bring me over the Songkran dates in either BKK or Pattaya. I would like to obtain an objective review of what to expect during this Thai New Year festival from those who may have experienced it. Therefore, I would really appreciate any response posted or PM on this topic. I enjoy fun like everyone else but if there are water fights "everywhere and all the time" it may put a damper on the holiday- thanks in advance.[/QUOTE]I have been in Bangkok with Songkran twice, more or less so. In Bangkok it was only 3 days. First year I spent a whole day getting soaked and liked it. At Si Lom, near Siam BTS station, at Khao San Road. At many places they will throw water at you but not in Lumphini park for example. But. They are fully entitled to do so. After 8 pm or so no water is thrown anymore, but officially people are allowed to throw water but nobody does that anymore. You can just enjoy Cowboy or Nana like any other day. But like Szyzgies said a lack of girls, esp Baccara but Cowboy2 was much better then usual. At Si Lom there was even a street (forgot which one) that had a sign telling they had decided not to throw water there. On some sites it is officially announced that Songkran is 5 days in Bangkok. But on day 5 all had turned back to normal, to my dismay. My advice is to go to Cowboy or Nana after 10 pm. Don't go to Si Lom or Khao San Road if you don't like water. Taxis function just like always, so no problem.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2403479]What about what the bar owner would rather? Don't forget that most times tips are put into a kitty and split up by all the workers at the end of the night; same as it was when I worked in a bar way back when.[/QUOTE]The bar girl will happily keep the tip for herself and not share it.

[URL]https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7906281/SARS-like-virus-spreads-China-nearly-140-new-cases.html[/URL]

Currently as related to travel to LOS is concerned, this new disease only bears close monitoring, BUT I would definitely avoid flying any airlines originating or laying over in China. Also considering the large number of Chinese tourists and businessmen flying inter Asian flights these days, I would cut back on those flights too. I remember a few years back sitting in a row directly behind a heavily coughing Chinese businessman on a flight from Manila to Jakarta, I caught his flu and was laid up a few days later. So if you are in Thailand or about to visit, avoid all contact with anyone exhibiting flu like symptoms and if you see a NE Asian guy coughing badly in a Go Go bar or restaurant - get the fuck out!

[QUOTE=Natty Bumpo;2415282] avoid all contact with anyone exhibiting flu like symptoms and if you see a NE Asian guy coughing badly in a Go Go bar or restaurant - get the fuck out![/QUOTE]

Scary part is that you won't know a person was infected until it's too late for you. May take a week after contracting the virus before any symptoms are obvious. This is Chinese New Year so millions and millions of Chinese will be traveling to other countries this week. Surprised no cases in Hong Kong and Taiwan yet but it's already hit South Korea and Japan. Maybe time to go to Germany instead of SE Asia or even Jakarta where not many Chinese tourists visit.

I'm going to be in Thailand late Feb for business reasons and have decided to extend my trip for 3 weeks for pleasure. My initial plan was to split my time between Bangkok and Pattaya to enjoy the sights, ladies, and food. I'm also scouting for potential places to become an expat at. Early retirement, that sort of thing.

As I've began RTFF it is slowly becoming apparent that maybe Thailand no longer is the monger paradise it once was. Comments about quality at the massage places and expansions of clip joints and whatnot. I'm positive there is great fun to be had so I'll still spend sometime there but this leads me into my question:

Any other countries on that side of the world that I should add to my "short list" to RTFF about and research?

South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South America, that sort of area. I'm not too concerned with price, within reason, of course. I just want a nice mix of activities and joints to visit. (I'm going to Europe in the summer so I'll hit the other side of the world then).

To the point: where do you think the new monger paradise is? Or what has been your (recent) favorite place?

I can't wait to document my trip for everyone's benefit!

Cheers,

Rojer.

[QUOTE=RojerAims1;2415523]Any other countries on that side of the world that I should add to my "short list" to RTFF about and research?

South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South America, that sort of area. I'm not too concerned with price, within reason, of course. I just want a nice mix of activities and joints to visit. (I'm going to Europe in the summer so I'll hit the other side of the world then).[/QUOTE]If you aren't concerned about price why in the world are you considering SE Asia as a retirement hot spot? European countries like Switzerland, Austria, and Germany with their FKK clubs and, more importantly, the fact you aren't living in a 2nd or 3rd world country with a lot of backwards thinking should be where you consider early retirement if you have the funds to do so. Japan would be my pick for retiring in an Asian country. Hobbying is not cheap in Japan but the cost of living is not nearly as expensive as you may think. Getting a Visa may be an issue depending on which country you live in. If you have money, Japan allows 6 month visas for those who can show they have 30 million yen (8.3 million baht, 273,000 USD) in their bank account.

If you are seriously considering Thailand, plan on spending twice as much as you budgeted. The Thai baht continues getting stronger. 10's of thousands of broke ass Farang around Pattaya are living proof that Thailand was way more expensive than they had planned.

[QUOTE=RojerAims1;2415523]As I've began RTFF it is slowly becoming apparent that maybe Thailand no longer is the monger paradise it once was.[/QUOTE]

In SE Asia there is still no other country that offers the abundance of options that Thailand offers. Those of us who have lived in Thailand for some time b1tch about many things but Thailand is still the number 1 place in SE Asia. The only other SE Asia city that can give Thailand a run for its money would be the MUCH cheaper Jakarta, especially for guys who like naturally busty young girls.

Only caveat I would put on this is that I would never recommend Thailand for Indian men. Your brothers who proceeded you ruined it for you. I would recommend Jakarta, Phnom Penh, Angeles City, and even Kuala Lumpur for Indian men.

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2415293]Scary part is that you won't know a person was infected until it's too late for you. May take a week after contracting the virus before any symptoms are obvious. This is Chinese New Year so millions and millions of Chinese will be traveling to other countries this week. Surprised no cases in Hong Kong and Taiwan yet but it's already hit South Korea and Japan. Maybe time to go to Germany instead of SE Asia or even Jakarta where not many Chinese tourists visit.[/QUOTE]I stay for about 9 months a year in Wuhan where the virus came from but luckily left about 2 weeks ago for my holiday. The reason for where it has hit is the direct flights fom Wuhan to Seoul and Tokyo. There are very limited direct flights to Taiwan, only a couple of times a week if I recall. I doubt if there are no cases in HK, I'd say they haven't been reported. The train from Wuhan to HK is about 5 hours, so most people would take that rather than fly.

Luckily there are limited direct international flights from Wuhan to anywhere, although they have about 3 flights a day to Thailand, both BKK and Phuket, so expect cases to pop up there.

[QUOTE=RojerAims1;2415523]I'm going to be in Thailand late Feb for business reasons and have decided to extend my trip for 3 weeks for pleasure. My initial plan was to split my time between Bangkok and Pattaya to enjoy the sights, ladies, and food. I'm also scouting for potential places to become an expat at. Early retirement, that sort of thing.
[/QUOTE]Just to address this part: Thailand is still absolutely amazing and at stupidly bargain rates (for westerners). Columbia and Angeles City (Philippines) or other popular budget spots, each for their own reasons.

Don't let the discussions by more connoisseur and very experienced people here dissuade you that Thailand is still an incredible place for this stuff (or let the newbies just getting their DS wet as they figure it out too dissuade you either). We're more arguing the finer points and tactics and tricks to keep the top notch stuff rolling. Sure, the old timers will tell you "it wasn't what it was X years ago". Sure it wasn't, but 15 years ago we were also talking about blackberries can never ever die, they are amazing! Ok really, Thailand has so much stuff going for it in the scene and just in the country overall. Everything is good brother. And the PSE in Thailand, at the price they offer it, pretty much can't be beat anywhere in the world.

The Good news: China has begun locking down those cities most affected by the new virus: "Wuhan to halt all outbound flights and trains as authorities try to stem spread of new pneumonia like illness ahead of Lunar New Year; death toll jumps to at least 17. And in addition to Wuhan, two more Chinese cities were put on lockdown by government authorities, expanding an unprecedented experiment to try to contain a fast-spreading virus that has killed at least 17 people and infected more than 500.

On Thursday, authorities in Huanggang, a city of 7. 5 million people said they won't let long-distance trains and buses run from the urban center and will shut its public transportation system in the lockdown zone, effective midnight Friday local time. Ezhou, another neighboring city with just over a million residents, said it would enact similar restrictions. ".

A word of caution: "Chinese authorities have suggested the coronavirus is spreading between people primarily through coughing, kissing or contact with saliva. " That means stay away from any working girls exhibiting flu like symptoms. Stay safe.

Good post GrapeMan. While I do not think Thailand is a "bargain" anymore, it has not been that for at least 10 or 15 years, I do agree with your main point that LOS is still very very good. I prefer BKK & Pattaya over today's Phnom Penh (cheaper), AC & Cebu City (cheaper). For short visits under 2 or 3 weeks MNL (similar prices) and Jakarta (competitive prices) are very good, but these 2 cities are not as pleasant as BKK for longer stays. Sao Paulo is my favorite city outside of SE Asia and one could easily argue that the girls there are hotter than Thai girls. But Sao Paulo is not cheap either and I prefer the Thai Buddhist culture over any SA culture. Others are free to disagree.

[QUOTE=GrapeMan;2416078]Just to address this part: Thailand is still absolutely amazing and at stupidly bargain rates (for westerners). Columbia and Angeles City (Philippines) or other popular budget spots, each for their own reasons.
[/QUOTE]

It absolutely is not. Thailand has a scene that's more in-your-face and out in the open than in other places, and the atmosphere is a bit more relaxed with occasionally good and friendly service, rather than a typical wham-bam one-and-done in most other spots.

However, the girls are really not easy on the eyes these days, unless ample tattoos, ridiculous nose jobs and ugly thickly painted eyebrows are your thing. Thais (especially working girls from Issan) were never world's best lookers, but they used to have a certain endearing ordinary girl cuteness to compensate, with many coming across as normal and nice people, not hardened working girls. You could easily fall in love and spend a few days with a working girl (and prices were low enough to do so). It even wasn't rare for a punter to marry one. Among the working girls, all that is gone, a simple long time is hard to come by (and one probably wouldn't care to anyway, unless sex starved).

These days, working girls mostly look hard and chewed up, almost always in the lowest 20% by looks (for their age group, compared to a BTS Skytrain sample), and service is getting worse too, both in absolute terms, and in terms of actually needing good service at $100-$150 while not caring much at $30.

These days, even places like Hong Kong or Kuala Lumpur are better for mongering than Thailand in many ways. Service might be crap, but at least they occasionally have some lookers, and prices are not higher either. No idea why and how, but you can actually you can get a Thai in HK for 170 HKD, which is only 700 baht for a quickie (including BBBJ and FS). Not easy to get that price / looks combination in Thailand anymore.

I would still recommend Thailand for a newbie monger, because the scene is so open and easy (albeit not cheap), and because Thailand is still great to visit (good food and sights, easy transportation, tourist infrastructure). However, for a hardcore monger who knows his way around, there are better options than Thailand. Unfortunately, I don't know of a single place with a notable mongering scene in Asia that is the same or better than it used to be 10 years ago. Not sure why, but they all became worse over time.

[QUOTE=NattyBumpo;2416208]The Good news: China has begun locking down those cities most affected by the new virus: "Wuhan to halt all outbound flights and trains as authorities try to stem spread of new pneumonia like illness ahead of Lunar New Year; death toll jumps to at least 17. And in addition to Wuhan, two more Chinese cities were put on lockdown by government authorities, expanding an unprecedented experiment to try to contain a fast-spreading virus that has killed at least 17 people and infected more than 500.

On Thursday, authorities in Huanggang, a city of 7. 5 million people said they won't let long-distance trains and buses run from the urban center and will shut its public transportation system in the lockdown zone, effective midnight Friday local time. Ezhou, another neighboring city with just over a million residents, said it would enact similar restrictions. ".

A word of caution: "Chinese authorities have suggested the coronavirus is spreading between people primarily through coughing, kissing or contact with saliva. " That means stay away from any working girls exhibiting flu like symptoms. Stay safe.[/QUOTE]I'm afraid that this is a sample of what is to come in the near future. It is reported that Wuhan has a population of 11 million. Many Chinese cities are over populated and will have issues as time goes by.

Many of our members on our golf club are from China and they say that rotten meat and food are sold to the poor every day. The merchants do not want to loose money and they will not throw anything away.

As the world keeps over populating things will get worst. Food and water are the most important items in life and they are at the brink. Many cities in the US show high levels of lead poison in the water. We must be optimistic and hope that changes will take effect that can help avoid the dangers that are coming.

There were reports recently that the air in BKK is Toxic or contains Toxic materials. Wear a mask, drink only bottled water and Beer and eat pussy not steak. 555.

RL.

[QUOTE=Crocodilexp;2416407]It absolutely is not. Thailand has a scene that's more in-your-face and out in the open than in other places, and the atmosphere is a bit more relaxed with occasionally good and friendly service, rather than a typical wham-bam one-and-done in most other spots.

However, the girls are really not easy on the eyes these days, unless ample tattoos, ridiculous nose jobs and ugly thickly painted eyebrows are your thing. Thais (especially working girls from Issan) were never world's best lookers, but they used to have a certain endearing ordinary girl cuteness to compensate, with many coming across as normal and nice people, not hardened working girls. You could easily fall in love and spend a few days with a working girl (and prices were low enough to do so). It even wasn't rare for a punter to marry one. Among the working girls, all that is gone, a simple long time is hard to come by (and one probably wouldn't care to anyway, unless sex starved).

These days, even places like Hong Kong or Kuala Lumpur are better for mongering than Thailand in many ways. Service might be crap, but at least they occasionally have some lookers, and prices are not higher either. No idea why and how, but you can actually you can get a Thai in HK for 170 HKD, which is only 700 baht for a quickie (including BBBJ and FS). Not easy to get that price / looks combination in Thailand anymore.

I would still recommend Thailand for a newbie monger, because the scene is so open and easy (albeit not cheap), and because Thailand is still great to visit (good food and sights, easy transportation, tourist infrastructure). However, for a hardcore monger who knows his way around, there are better options than Thailand. Unfortunately, I don't know of a single place with a notable mongering scene in Asia that is the same or better than it used to be 10 years ago. Not sure why, but they all became worse over time.[/QUOTE]You have an interesting perspective Crocodilexp. I can more or less accept your analysis in paragraph 1 & 3 although I still manage to find cute, young, girls in BKK Go Go's.

But I strongly disagree with your suggestion that "Hong Kong (is) better for mongering than Thailand in many ways" even with your caveat that "service might be crap (in HK), but at least they occasionally have some lookers, and prices are not higher either. No, No, No! 555. Once upon a time I used to like the punting scene in HKG. I fondly remember picking up Mongolian, Korean, and Thai STUNNERS in Hari's Bar. It was never cheap, but the quality was amazing. Back then, I am talking 2002 to 20013, the Wan Chai bars were very good too as they were brimming with attractive Viets & Indonesian girls. Again not cheap, but great quality. And then there were the Chinese SW's that hung around Moody Road and the Urbon Council Garden in front of the Regal Kowloon Hotel. I liked them because occasionally I would spot a real attractive girl among the useless. But I was never a fan of Thai Temple Street SW's of which I believe you are referring to in this quote "700 baht for a quickie (including BBBJ and FS). " I mean I respect you opinion and maybe everyone interested should try them street girls at least once just for the slumming experience, but man its pretty low on the totem pole and scuzzy. You are not going to get any GFE, LOL, in this venue and the conditions in the rooms are deplorable, but hey what can you expect in HKG, a very ricco town, for 170 hkd. The Chinese SW's I mentioned are 500 hkd, but at least you take them back to your hotel room.

Anyway, I just wanted to balance out your HKG recommendation. I was last there in November 2017 after a lapse of 4 years. On Friday night I hung out in 2 of the most popular Wan Chai bars. The talent was below dreadful! Friday Night! Ok it was great if you like overweight, 40 year old Filipinas amd don' t mind paying them 2000 HKG. I went back to my hotel around 1:30 am without a girl!. It was that bad. The next night I gave up on the bar scene and picked a very attractive Taiwanese 141 hotel reservation girl. The session in her 3.5 star hotel room was good. Her price was 1700 hkg. I left HKG the next day and I don't plan on returning to HKG for another 10 years. 555. The scene is really bad unless you want to pay up and if you want to pay up you would do a hell of a lot better in Macau where the selection is the highest, but so is the price. As for bottom fishing, you can always go to China Town in BKK. I believe prices begin at 500 baht for a ST there. Good hunting to all.

[QUOTE=Crocodilexp;2416407]However, the girls are really not easy on the eyes these days, unless ample tattoos, ridiculous nose jobs and ugly thickly painted eyebrows are your thing. [/QUOTE]You better get used to it if you plan on doing any fucking these days. I will be the first to tell a chick that she looks like a damn fool. What possesses them to go around looking like that? And these ugly ass out of nowhere tattoos? I mean I have tattoos, but they have significance and are not in view if I do not want them to be. I didn't just hop up one day and decide it would make sense to have some permanent, random bullshit drawn down my entire leg or some letters on my fingers. I, for one, like chicks with natural beauty.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2416579]You better get used to it if you plan on doing any fucking these days. I will be the first to tell a chick that she looks like a damn fool. What possesses them to go around looking like that? And these ugly ass out of nowhere tattoos? I mean I have tattoos, but they have significance and are not in view if I do not want them to be. I didn't just hop up one day and decide it would make sense to have some permanent, random bullshit drawn down my entire leg or some letters on my fingers. I, for one, like chicks with natural beauty.[/QUOTE]3 cheers! Someone who thinks as I do. I frequent KTV's in China and if I see tat's they are not for me. Same goes for a smoker, not for me! I can not understand why a girl with a good body, nice skin, would mess it up with garish tat's? A beautiful woman's body is like a painting, you don't take magic marker and scribble all over it. Not only do you ruin the value, but the beauty is gone!