General Reports

[Banana Boi]

I got approved for the Destination Thailand Visa yesterday. 1 month was the total time. August 5 to September 6.

Only 1500-2500 DTVs have been issued. I would have thought that number would have been MUCH higher.

[UglyAzzMan]

Japan has dark Underbelly. Don't be so enamored.

One thing I appreciate is they keep the kind of people who push people off platform Subways to a minimum. They and all Asian country s don't want to become Violent.

[UglyAzzMan]

So you are really just talking about the same type of people that would be classified as Farangs behaving Badly in Thailand. I have experienced this behavior up close and personal. I have had few Farangs from my country of origin that have run up on a Farang dam. But I dispatched the riff raff in a very verbally aggressive manner with extreme prejudice. There are at least three Farangs that are going to think twice about running up on a random Farang dam again spewing their hate that they dragged all half way across the world.

Johnny Somali. Did way worser. Recent wuthin the year.

[Lcale1982]

Anyone down to play some pickleball? I'll be here for the next few weeks. Pretty easy to pick up if you play tennis. Read they have paddles and balls at the court too.

[SubCmdr]

So you are really just talking about the same type of people that would be classified as Farangs behaving Badly in Thailand. I have experienced this behavior up close and personal. I have had few Farangs from my country of origin that have run up on a Farang dam. But I dispatched the riff raff in a very verbally aggressive manner with extreme prejudice. There are at least three Farangs that are going to think twice about running up on a random Farang dam again spewing their hate that they dragged all half way across the world.

I have a ton to say about this topic but I'll keep it short since it's not in line with a Thailand sex forum. Been going to Japan since I was in my teens. I always felt it was a 'classy' place. At the 11 second mark of this video you will see the most infamous of the 'riff raff'. The lady who forced Japan to completely shut down the Geisha District in Kyoto to tourists.

Japan is a very strict country where the Japanese follow simple rules. There is a Japanese etiquette to follow. The tourists these days don't follow that etiquette (it's no different than when you see a tourist in Thailand climbing on to a Buddha). Japanese (while in Japan) don't litter, spit out gum, eat or drink while walking or on a train (except Shinkansen), smoke in places not designated for smoking, bud in line to get on an escalator, talk loudly (Japanese whisper on a train) or listen to loud music on trains, etc. I've seen a ton of this from tourists. The worst example of this was when I took a train from Tokyo to Yokohama Chinatown. A couple from China were going ballistic on one another yelling and screaming. All the Japanese on the train were disgusted. The China couple were oblivious to this and fought for a good 20 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oe8Qte16nQ

[Member #4838]

I have a ton to say about this topic but I'll keep it short since it's not in line with a Thailand sex forum. Been going to Japan since I was in my teens. I always felt it was a 'classy' place. At the 11 second mark of this video you will see the most infamous of the 'riff raff'. The lady who forced Japan to completely shut down the Geisha District in Kyoto to tourists.

Japan is a very strict country where the Japanese follow simple rules. There is a Japanese etiquette to follow. The tourists these days don't follow that etiquette (it's no different than when you see a tourist in Thailand climbing on to a Buddha). Japanese (while in Japan) don't litter, spit out gum, eat or drink while walking or on a train (except Shinkansen), smoke in places not designated for smoking, bud in line to get on an escalator, talk loudly (Japanese whisper on a train) or listen to loud music on trains, etc. I've seen a ton of this from tourists. The worst example of this was when I took a train from Tokyo to Yokohama Chinatown. A couple from China were going ballistic on one another yelling and screaming. All the Japanese on the train were disgusted. The China couple were oblivious to this and fought for a good 20 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oe8Qte16nQ

The best thing about Japan is indeed how Japanese follow the rules. I was just there a week ago and was flabbergasted at how everyone in the subways walks on the correct side even if the walk way going in the opposite direction is void of any people. If you're at a cross walk and there is no car in sight, no one walks across until the walk sign turns on. So yeah, hopefully riff raff travelers from all over the world don't kill Japanese culture and ettiquete. Thailand is already done for in this department.

[Banana Boi]

I am curious about the riff raff you describe coming to Japan.

I have a ton to say about this topic but I'll keep it short since it's not in line with a Thailand sex forum. Been going to Japan since I was in my teens. I always felt it was a 'classy' place. At the 11 second mark of this video you will see the most infamous of the 'riff raff'. The lady who forced Japan to completely shut down the Geisha District in Kyoto to tourists.

Japan is a very strict country where the Japanese follow simple rules. There is a Japanese etiquette to follow. The tourists these days don't follow that etiquette (it's no different than when you see a tourist in Thailand climbing on to a Buddha). Japanese (while in Japan) don't litter, spit out gum, eat or drink while walking or on a train (except Shinkansen), smoke in places not designated for smoking, bud in line to get on an escalator, talk loudly (Japanese whisper on a train) or listen to loud music on trains, etc. I've seen a ton of this from tourists. The worst example of this was when I took a train from Tokyo to Yokohama Chinatown. A couple from China were going ballistic on one another yelling and screaming. All the Japanese on the train were disgusted. The China couple were oblivious to this and fought for a good 20 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oe8Qte16nQ

[Nyezhov]

The Thai baht was at 25 in like 1985 IIRC. Life was fun then.

In my head, the big one, I just peg the baht to 30. So 3000 baht is $100. In reality it is (today) $90. My brain doesn't process small change like that when I am balls deep into a 20 year old hardbody. I change money on the fly and have accounts in dollars, baht and riel. I never have enough money in any of those accounts to even think what the Thai exchange rate is, nor will I ever willingly put enough in so that the exchange rate gives me anyhting more than an extra short time.

I'm not stupid, or at least that stupid not to pay attention. So when the exchange rate was 37, I bought a few thousand dollars of baht, but not enough to ever make a difference in my willingness or ability to play in Bangkok. But I guess a I got a short time and a cola out of it.

[SubCmdr]

THB to USD on arrival: 37 to 1; THB to USD now: 33 to 1.

THB has gotten 10.8 % stronger against the dollar.

In real terms that means that I used to pay 27.03 USD for short time. Now I pay: 30.30 USD for short time. A 3.27 USD increase.

The dollar change has more to do with all the Asian currencies adjusting to what they once were (Yen, Baht, Won, rupiah, etc.), partly due to what XXL posted. It wasn't only the baht gaining ground. The Yen has changed over 10% in 3 months as well. I was lucky to switch a bunch of Yen, rupiah, and baht 2.5 months ago while it was low.

The point of my post was that the difference was no big deal to me: 11%.

I know I'm likely alone on this but I'll speak about Japan only. I'm happy to see the Yen gaining value. It keeps out the riff raff that I see more and more of and will limit severe overtourism in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto. This is worsened since the Japanese (except for gogo bar horndogs) no longer travel since they have no money to travel causing more overcrowding. I stopped going to Kyoto over a year ago due to unbearable crowding.

The reality for me is I don't give a (compound profanity redacted) about exchange rates except to monitor what the institutional rates are to see how much the money changers are ripping me off (thieves). Exchange rates go up and exchange rates go down. Like all markets. A ten (10) percent move one way or the other makes no difference to me when my basic fixed expenses (rent, electricity, water, internet) are 65% less than I have ever paid in my life. That is what really matters to me and that is what makes Thailand attractive to me.

It is not the pussy Now I know saying this is going to trigger some of you into apoplectic fits, especially the visitors among us. I have only been here just over one year and I think the place is great. I still need to learn Thai.

But I don't like the high season. The crowds. So I will probably switch it up and move around a little to avoid high season. I am curious about the riff raff you describe coming to Japan.

Agree. I believe the right call is to hold off baht conversion at this time. Let's see if I'm right. USD sits at 32.9206 baht as I type this.

If you don't need to convert why would you? I do not keep more than a small amount to cover the expenses I need an any foreign currency where I operate. And I operate in three different ones. Personally I don't give a flying (profanity redacted). Because my budget is not that tight. Keep in mind that if exchanges rates are returning to the mean (which all markets eventually do) you will be in for a long wait. LOL!.

Just my 2 Bhat on the matter 8 more and you can take a ride on the Baht Bus

[Allover]

AO, AH do either of you speak Thai? Have you traveled all around Thailand and seen and done things here?

The Defense rests

I've picked up some Thai during my travels here but would never say I speak Thai. I have traveled Allover Thailand with the exception of the very far north and the far south near the Malaysian border. Will probably do Mae Hong Son next year if I can find anything to do there. My favorite spots are Chiang Rai and Nong Khai.

SWISH.

[Banana Boi]

The dollar change has more to do with all the Asian currencies adjusting to what they once were (Yen, Baht, Won, rupiah, etc.), partly due to what XXL posted. It wasn't only the baht gaining ground. The Yen has changed over 10% in 3 months as well. I was lucky to switch a bunch of Yen, rupiah, and baht 2.5 months ago while it was low.

I know I'm likely alone on this but I'll speak about Japan only. I'm happy to see the Yen gaining value. It keeps out the riff raff that I see more and more of and will limit severe overtourism in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto. This is worsened since the Japanese (except for gogo bar horndogs) no longer travel since they have no money to travel causing more overcrowding. I stopped going to Kyoto over a year ago due to unbearable crowding.

Which means I am holding off converting any dollars into baht until the baht sinks again.

Agree. I believe the right call is to hold off baht conversion at this time. Let's see if I'm right on Nov 12, a week after the US Election. USD sits at 32.919 baht and Euro is 36.646 baht as I type this. (caveat - don't take financial advice from any member on ISG. Discuss with your Financial Consultant.).

[Explorer8939]

THB to USD on arrival: 37 to 1; THB to USD now: 33 to 1.

THB has gotten 10.8 % stronger against the dollar.

In real terms that means that I used to pay 27.03 USD for short time. Now I pay: 30.30 USD for short time. A 3.27 USD increase.

Which means I am holding off converting any dollars into baht until the baht sinks again.

[SubCmdr]

THB to USD on arrival: 37 to 1; THB to USD now: 33 to 1.

THB has gotten 10.8 % stronger against the dollar.

In real terms that means that I used to pay 27.03 USD for short time. Now I pay: 30.30 USD for short time. A 3.27 USD increase.

[LittleBigMan]

When it comes to the Thai baht after all these years their pattern.

If a report comes out by a Thai official example Bank of Thailand baht too strong or weak a week or so it does a reverse.

I read just the other day official for tourism dislike the baht being so strong bad for tourist that being noted I see the baht getting a bit weaker. LOL.

[Pimpampoumpipo]

This suggests a purely financial cause and no long-term trend.

There are 2 separate points, please read them and do not mix them up