General Reports

[QUOTE=SinfullyKorean;2711129]Chances of catching HIV via vaginal sex is almost 0:

[URL]https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/chances-of-getting-hiv#chances-of-contracting-hiv[/URL]

During my 2 month stay in Pattaya, I BB'd regularly. I got some good advice from a fellow ISG member I met there to take a piss after going BB. I got tested when I got back in the US. To my surprise, I didn't have chlamydia nor gonorrhea. I was surprised because I thought I noticed white cloudy discharge. But I got the swab test and it came back negative. Those tests are 99% accurate.[/QUOTE]Good to hear about your test results.

Also, it should be mentioned those "0. 08%" and "0. 04%" chances of contracting HIV through receptive and insertive penile-vaginal sex, respectively, as cited in your link are "Per 10,000 exposures" estimates with 1 exposure meaning fucking an HIV-Postive person.

Moreover, with the HIV control drugs easily available today, a person who previously tested positive for HIV but whose drug regime has lowered the viral level to a point where it no longer shows up in a routine test would not realistically be among those "Per 10,000 exposures" sexual partners.

Giving or receiving Oral Sex, receptive or insertive, provides so LOW a chance of contracting HIV per 10,000 exposures they don't even warrant a fraction of a percentage estimate on that link.

I was in Phuket right before COVID shut down the bars. Does it cost roughly the same to eat out at the less expensive Thai cafes? Are the street food vendors as plentiful as they were? Thanks for any info.

[QUOTE=Breadman;2711159]Went to use the ATM today and every so often you get a machine that asks if you want their rate or to continue without using their well conversion. Always go the no conversion route. It told me my total would be $609 usd with their conversion but I selected without. I then went into my bank account and the deduction was $574. Easy to lose $34 if you don't pay pay attention.[/QUOTE]You mean you selected WITH conversion instead of without. I hate it when they prompt that question. I always second guess myself when I'm choosing the "without conversion" option.

[QUOTE=SinfullyKorean;2711129]I got tested when I got back in the US. To my surprise, I didn't have chlamydia nor gonorrhea. I was surprised because I thought I noticed white cloudy discharge. But I got the swab test and it came back negative. Those tests are 99% accurate.[/QUOTE]I had white discharge on the penis February of this year in Rawai - Phuket. I was tested twice, once with urine and once by taking a sample directly from the losses. Both times the tests came back negative. Yet I'm sure it was gonococcus, I've had it before, I know what it is.
I was cured by taking 2 types of antibiotics, oral and sting treatment for a horse.
I think that in Rawai they must see quite a lot of these illnesses and they know how to cure them.

Read in a scientific journal: "A sperm has a maximum lifespan of 2 days, but the most vigorous ones can sometimes survive up to 4 to 5 days in the vagina of the woman. ".

Good luck to all our BBFS.

[QUOTE=Horatio;2712077]I was in Phuket right before COVID shut down the bars. Does it cost roughly the same to eat out at the less expensive Thai cafes? Are the street food vendors as plentiful as they were? Thanks for any info.[/QUOTE]In Bangkok, food costs have increased significantly, maybe 50% compared to 2019. I suspect it's similar elsewhere, not sure about the specific spots in Phuket that you have in mind, it's a big island.

[QUOTE=Crocodilexp;2713047]In Bangkok, food costs have increased significantly, maybe 50% compared to 2019. I suspect it's similar elsewhere, not sure about the specific spots in Phuket that you have in mind, it's a big island.[/QUOTE]Food costs in Patong and Koh Samui have also increased, but not 50% increase. Half of my favorite restaurants have closed. A friend tells me that street food in Aonang has nearly doubled, he lived there until May. I felt smaller Aonang restaurant increases when I was there in April 2022.

As of April, Patong still has plenty of street food, but not as much as early 2020. Still a good cluster of vendors at the north end of the beach. I forgot the name of the market that is a bit south of OTOP, but that had nearly everything open. Perhaps 30% to 50% fewer food carts scattered around Patong. I found myself walking further for the particular street food item that I wanted at that moment.

[QUOTE=Crocodilexp;2713047]In Bangkok, food costs have increased significantly, maybe 50% compared to 2019. I suspect it's similar elsewhere, not sure about the specific spots in Phuket that you have in mind, it's a big island.[/QUOTE]A 10% to maybe 25% if you are going to tourist traps. I know if a noodle soup for lunch went from 35 THB to even 45 THB that's only a 28.6% increase. But high % of increases is common when going from a very low price. But a coke zero at 7/11 has only gone from 13 THB to 15 or maybe 17 THB & at 17 THB that is a 30% increase. And the big BUT is in 2019 32.5 THB = $1, today 35.43 , I just looked it up. 9% decrease. So a 13 THB coke in 2019 cost $. 40 , today a 17 THB one costs $. 48. Only a 20 % increase. And I really think this 17 THB is the higher end of pricing. Maybe really 15 THB, My point 50% is BS, unless you don't know where to shop.

[QUOTE=Crocodilexp;2713047]In Bangkok, food costs have increased significantly, maybe 50% compared to 2019. I suspect it's similar elsewhere, not sure about the specific spots in Phuket that you have in mind, it's a big island.[/QUOTE]Just like Horse Trader already said, I have noticed some small increases in BKK and Pattaya, but definitely not 50%. Not even in the tourist traps.

A tall Americano at Starbucks has gone up from 105 to 115 baht, which makes it slightly more expensive than in my home country, the Netherlands, where it is EUR 2.95.

Has anyone ever thought about buying gold in Thailand? I watched a you tube video or two, and it seems like if you buy the baht gold ingots you pay very little markup 100-200 baht versus the premiums over the actual asking price you pay if buying gold from some of the websites in the USA? Can you buy in dollars or credit card so as not to lose on the exchange rate? Anyone know of a good source of info on the matter? I imagine if you bought in dollars it would have to be pristine absolutely perfect $20's? Thanks for any info on the matter. Does Thailand do silver? I really hate paying the premium on silver in the USA.

Hey,

I'm arriving BKK mid September and wonder whether should I go to Pattaya, for example? Or another place? Obviously I'm looking for better quality in service / looks / variety. It's monsoon peak so its even more complex, since I think it might be less of a deal in BKK.

Thanks in advance.

[QUOTE=TooDirty;2717639]Has anyone ever thought about buying gold in Thailand? I watched a you tube video or two, and it seems like if you buy the baht gold ingots you pay very little markup 100-200 baht versus the premiums over the actual asking price you pay if buying gold from some of the websites in the USA? Can you buy in dollars or credit card so as not to lose on the exchange rate? Anyone know of a good source of info on the matter? I imagine if you bought in dollars it would have to be pristine absolutely perfect $20's? Thanks for any info on the matter. Does Thailand do silver? I really hate paying the premium on silver in the USA.[/QUOTE]This is Thailand. They use baht, not dollars. I doubt anyone will take a credit card for buying gold unless they are also adding the fee that the credit card company is going to charge them. They also would not want to risk you canceling the charge.

If you go to the gold shops then they charge you spot price per gram plus 400 baht commission. If you go to a jewelry store or gem shop then you better look up your prices first. There are 1 and 5 baht weight gold bars that come in 96.5% and 99% purity.

My jeweler is making some 18 K stuff for me. They always only charge me the price they get the material for then they add labor which is really cheap. The other day the price for 1 gram was 1718 baht. I went shopping the gem shops on Beach Road for an 18 K chain to go with my pendant. Honest wanted 2600 baht / gram. He swore there could not be a cheaper price. Or that like many ISG posters swear about hookers, if there is a cheaper price then it is inferior. World wanted 2800 baht / gram and I think another shop (Star?) wanted 2400 baht / gram.

The next day I ran over to my other jeweler in Jomtien to see if she had anything. She was not there, but her workers were charging me 2250 baht / gram. I sent her a message in Line and she came to the shop. She let me have it for 1900 baht / gram.

Spot price of silver is 22 baht / gram. I do not know who would want to buy, carry around, and store $10,000 or 35 weight pounds worth of that.

[QUOTE=SarhaOtzar;2718252]Hey,

I'm arriving BKK mid September and wonder whether should I go to Pattaya, for example? Or another place? Obviously I'm looking for better quality in service / looks / variety. It's monsoon peak so its even more complex, since I think it might be less of a deal in BKK.

Thanks in advance.[/QUOTE]Pattaya is slightly cooler, being next to the beach. But the difference is negligible. I think BKK is better for looks and Pattaya is better for service. But if you're only spending 7 days, I don't think you can go wrong in either. Either way, you won't have time to find some of the best talents in the local clubs. So you'll probably stick to some of the mongering staples like Soi 6, WS, or Beach Street in Pattaya or Nana, Soi Cowboy, and Thermae in BKK. Pattaya will be significantly cheaper. But if you're only staying for 7 days, I don't think you should be worrying so much about the price.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2718439]This is Thailand. They use baht, not dollars.[/QUOTE]Thanks for the reply, it was informative.

I only consider credit card because I often get 0% interest offers for 18 months, but figured I'd have to weigh that against a 3% markup.

And yes carrying 35 lbs of silver isn't something you'd want to do in a zombie apocalypse.

Hi.

Anyone know where I can get a Testosterone injection in Pattaya.

I understand the cost is 8000 baht.

I am staying in Soi Diana. So getting there from my hotel would be helpful.

Thanks.

TC.