Bangkok Reports

[Werqweq]

Last night I, through no fault of my own, ended up having two girls coming, one after the other. One at 00:30 (a repeat with Miss 172 cm who I posted a photo of earlier), and the other one, my first african girl. A 22 year old who arrived at 01:30, and who looked so hooish, with a neon-green dress and high heels, that I felt slightly embarrassed as she stalked past the security guards and towards me. What would my mother think?

She said it was her third day in Thailand, from Kenya, and was a good fuck with a pleasant enough personality.

Common consensu here is mostly that what one guy pays does not affect the other guy. To show what I think is an example of the opposite: I repeated with miss Africa once in the early afternoon. That session was similarly good to the first one:

Arrived, showers, on to the bed, and then, after she rather too quickly had enough of sucking my dick IMO, gets on top of me.

Her: Where is condom? Me: In 7-11.
Her: You will go get it? Me: Maybe tomorrow.

[laughs and slides on top of my dick and we have a good session.]

A week or so later I ask her if she want's to come over again "now" (again early afternoon):
She: Ok, but today price is 2000
Me: sorry, cannot.
She: ok, bye

So I'm guessing she has enough customers paying her more (2000 and up), and so she'd rather twiddle her thumbs waiting for one of them than repeating with me for 1500, even while her pussy is idle.
Also I probably misheard her "today is three weeks" as "today is three days" the first time.

[Newton York]

Before I begin my rant, let me just say that I've traveled to Thailand more than 12 times stretching back to my first trip back in '98. When I lived in Singapore in the mid-2000's, Thailand was a frequent destination for getaway weekends, etc. I recently got the DTV visa for the purpose of testing the waters for longer stays because in the past, I've really enjoyed Bangkok's cosmopolitan mix of dining, shopping, leisurely activities, cost of living, etc. My last trip was last year and I enjoyed myself.

What happened?

I haven't had a breath of fresh air since I arrived over a month ago. I've grown accustomed to the occasional wafting of future air from the canals or the sewer grates, But I thought I was quite a depth in knowing which areas to avoid and bypassing risky spots. But the air on this trip has been unbearable. Not a day has gone by where on multiple occasions, I haven't felt the urge to hurl the contents of my stomach due to the stench. My throat is raw due to the effects of air pollution that reminds me of India or Egypt. For the first time in my life, I've resorted to walking around with a mask on and even that is just borderline effective. On the 200 m walk back from the local restaurant to my Thonglor boutique hotel, Tears came to my eyes as I watched mothers walk their young ones out for a Sunday stroll, and the only thing I could think about was the irreparable damage they were doing to their young lungs.

I have traveled here in January and February before so I thought I was ready for what I knew was the bad season. But this is unreal. Am I overly sensitive or has anyone else noticed the severity?

I originally had the intention of staying here for three or four months, but now I'm looking for an escape. I tried going to Phuket. That was abysmal. My first mistake was going to Rawai which is a complete shit hole. Nai Harn beach smelled like raw sewage. I tried going swimming in Kata and Karon, but the sea lice in both had me running out of the water. I left Phuket five days before the end of my prepaid stay.

From a hobbyist perspective. It also seems to me that the quality of talent in Nana, Cowboy and Patpong has seriously gone downhill. As early as last year, I was getting great action from 7's, 8's and occasional 9's. This year, I've barely managed to locate an 8. Most are dark-skinned 6's that locals wouldn't even bother with. All the girls have decent quality seemed to have gone to the Japanese and Korean KTV's. Even T-Ded 99 seemed to have higher caliber girls than most of the go-go's in Nana.

I know I'm going to get flamed. Have at it. But as someone who's thoroughly enjoyed himself here over the years.

On a (hopefully) more positive note. Can anyone let me know if the air quality in KL or Singapore is markedly better than Bangkok? I remembered being so, but I know they also suffer some smog during this season.

I think you're being a bit sensitive there chief. What you're describing doesn't sound like Bangkok at all. Last time I was there, it was fine. Next thing you'd be saying that Bangkok floods every now and then. Nothing bad happens in Paradise. And Bangkok is Paradise. Don't make it out to be bad just cause you're lucky enough to be there. I'd do anything to get back there. Sell my soul even but no takers so far.

Also, who swims in the waters off Phuket or Pattaya anyway? It's always been full of sewage and gross. That's like trying to swim in any of the canals of Bangkok. No one should do it. Everyone has known this for years now.

I do agree with you that Nana, Cowboy has gone downhill. But that's been the case for years, and it coincides with the increase of the bar fine prices too. Look, whoever you are bub, you're one lucky dude to be able to be in the Paradise on earth that's Thailand, just accept your good fortune, and don't feel bad about it. Think about the rest of us unlucky fucks that are stuck where it's ridiculously cold now. Here I am, trapped in a job where though I'm quite good at, my millennial colleagues hates me with a passion cause of my old ass ways. Trapped, wishing for death everyday.

But you, you're in paradise. And you're worried about a little smog? Dude, you're surrounded by hot pussy. And you're wasting time trying to swim in the dirty waters of Thailand? You got all your priorities wrong chief. Focus on the pussy. That's what Thailand is for. Pussy.

Geez man, talk about priorities. You have access to plenty of affordable, hot pussy and you're worried about the quality of air? Wow. Anyway, if you're headed to Singapore, you should know the best game in town is Geylang, but most of the chicks there are Thai anyway, so why even go to Singapore? I've been all over South East Asia, mongered all over the world, and Thailand is tough to beat when it comes to this hobby. It's got the best combination of everything. Price, chicks, food, safety. I know deep inside, you know that Thailand is it, and you're just going through this thing now where you wanna make excuses to leave Thailand, cause you're afraid to settle there. But ask yourself. Truly ask yourself. Is there anyplace better than Thailand? None. No better place.

[SiamMan]

Exactly. This has been the rule for 40 plus years. The girls will respect you more if you are dressed in what they consider to be indicative of a higher social standing.

Flip flops or barefoot sandals are another class indicator. Folks that wear shoes in public are simply viewed to be higher class. Thais are very class conscious.

I don't make the rules, I just follow them. What Goatscrot says is absolutely correct.

ProTip: Nothing is more fun on your first mongering trip that getting your foot cut up and then infected. Make sure then you wear flip flops while walking drunk down Soi Nana. I have never worn open toed sandals of flip flops in SE Asia outside my home. Never in 40 years. I like my toes and I don't get free health care. Its a basic health measure.

Yes, sandals / shoes are another class indicator. In fact the feet attire worn are probably more important than the shorts / long trousers; not just for the impression they give, but also for health and safety in this environment. I wear sandals (never flip flops) in and around my home, but always wear proper shoes if I'm going into town.

[Romex9]

I see some reports of air quality and talent levels. I can confirm there were some rancid smells in BKK I've never experienced before and it was generally more dirty than Hong Kong. As to air quality, hard to judge as most cities have bad air quality, riding in the open taxi 3 wheelers you can def sense the bad air quality more because of the fumes. As for talent, I also was a bit disappointed, still mongerable, obviously, but they were fewer and far between than I had anticipated. But as many others have written, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

My first stop in Bangkok was Aya Massage, straight off the plane, shower, spritz, taxi. Interestingly this was one of my best experiences of the trip. The mama sans had an ipad menu LOL. But this place is reasonably priced 2000 baht, which I've realized is a fair going wage + a nice tip. The mamasan brought out all the girls. It's always a bit awkward when they put on this dog and pony show, but it is effective. I chose this tall one named, she was very cute and timid and was happy to be selected, which I've also realized is an important indicator of the experience. In the room I did not realize how much of a tank this Thai girl had, it was incredible. We skipped the massage and got right to it. I only purchased a happy ending but we boom boomed. Not sure if this is common, she was very complimentary of me, but you also got to throw some game on these situations, even if it's all body language and flirting. I tipped Alina 1000 baht. I think tipping is important for the general economy, we need to incentivize good service, because it's not always great. Keep reading.

The next place I went was Snow White. This place was a bit more grimey. But the lore here is that these girls are a bit more down for whatever. I had a couple beers at The Game before I cruised in, which I highly suggest BTW, just to take the edge off, and it allows you to put some mileage down. I went in about 6 pm, so there were only 3 girls working, but one was pretty cute, high cheek bones and big lips. This was also pretty enjoyable, because I took my time. I was so jacked up landing in BKK and turned on by the first girls tank I didn't use all my time, but I did go two rounds with her. At Snow White we had real sex and it was pretty good. Word for the streets, most girls are not into Greek, I've tried with a bunch, so you really got to be direct when you roll in that's what you want. Fee was 2000 baht and I tipped 1000.

One night I went to check out the real Nana Plaza. Fucking hell. This place is a zoo. I mean it's one of the most disgusting yet stimulating places on earth. Honestly these types of places are not my speed, this is Costco, I prefer boutique. But I had to do it, since I'the read about Billboard and Rainbows on here. This place is like an American strip mall, it's like 4 floors high, you shaped and you walk in through a security check. Each floor has various strip clubs. I went to Billboards, the music was blasting and there is a soapy bowl where topless women play with each other and the other side has a rotating platform, where girls wear bikinis and have numbers on them and you tell the Mamasan who you want and they come sit with you.

Word for the streets, bring low bills of cash everywhere, because ALL these bitches have their hands out for tips. I mean it got so fucking annoying in Phuket I just started telling people no tip straight to their face. I'm fine tipping the girls for sex, but everyone has their hands out at these super commercial joints, from the mamasan, to the waiter, to the cashier, it gets excessive.

Billboards was the most expensive and the most mid experience, this is where the pros are, no semi's, no friendies. It's like going to a fucking car dealership. 5000 baht and 1000 baht of that goes to the manasan, then you got to shell out drinks for the girls and tip the drunk ass waiters for bringing the drink. So if you have like 5 beers you are digging into your pockets constantly. They don't have rooms so you got to do the most gross walk of shame to a sex hotel down the street, which in Bangkok, just use your imagination on what that's like. Hotel is pretty cheap.

The sex was mid here, the girl was stoned af supposedly, her friend told me later, but she was really fun and flirty but the sex was lazy. I think she even gave me a look when I went to do doggy and forget anal, oh lord no. I guess I'm not as hard core as some of the mongers on here that lay out exactly what they want, I like to keep the experience a surprise.

The absolute worst experience of my fucking life was at I believe Addict Massage, I went to Mango first but the girls looked bad standing outside, so I walked down, to a red Chinese looking place. This was 2300 baht plus another 300 baht I think for the room. The mamasan asked who I wanted and these girls were not that sweet, but this lean tall girl with straight hair and a great rack, was walking out for her break or something and I chose her, thinking she'the be happy to get a customer, but wrong move, this ***** was the worst, had attitude, was so sexually mechanical and actually told me no doggy style, just laid supine the entire time. I was so shook by the bad service, I just finished as fast as I could and bounced.

I know there are some dawgs on here that get these girls to do all sorts of wild shit in the room. Idk how they do it because the language barrier is so steep and I don't like to be pushy.

Soi Cowboy was the last night and it was a pretty fun experience, less crazy than Nana plaza and hotter girls. I did have a little situation with the sans maybe it was the papasan. I had to check his ass. Note for all the beginner mongers, never never bring out a fucking credit card. Rule #1 always use cash and always have clothing with pockets that allows you to stash and retrieve cash quickly and discreetly.

My boy gave the san his card at some point when these girls were sitting on our laps and trying to get in our pockets. I didn't see it. Then the bill comes and it's like 10 k baht and we had like two beers. He's a rookie and not a monger, poor guy broke his cherry at Billboards of all places. Anyway I took the bill back to the sans and got them to lower it, they tried to argue but I was firm. I don't mind supporting this sex economy and overpaying here and there but I won't be shaken down. What's also so funny at these places is there is barely any security, LOL. In the US you wouldn't even get to set foot close to a boss at a strip club.

[ElDoradoNola83]

My mongering is limited to places where it is legal or defacto legal (Germany, Czech, Spain, Netherlands, and Australia). So it was organized so to speak. What are the best massage parlors in the Nana / Asok / Soi Cowboy area? Stupid question but in those countries, I could pay with credit card. Is that even possible in Thailand?

[JustLoggedInto]

Whoa there, JLI; so you are telling us that there is new place now open in the building where Nataree used to be, and they have pretty girls? This is very interesting news. Tell us more like what is the setup there? Is it a bordello like Nataree was or a pickup bar like Thermae? In it's day, Nataree was a meat market, but was a great place because they had a ton of young, pretty, girls from the north before the authorities shut it down). It's location never deterred me from going, but then I used to go Kings Castle 1 & 2, Patpong at least once a week and I didn't care if I had to travel all the way from Thong Lo to get there. I will always go the extra mile for pretty girls and a little variety.

Oh let me elaborate. I mean that entire area has a lot of pretty girls, easily at the level of Nana / Soi Cowboy. It's just kinda far to get there. I've seen some cute girls at Emanual and Poseidon and there was a ton at some place called Lords (which shut down) and Nataree (which shut down) but those girls didn't disappear they just jump to a nearby spot on that big street.

[EverythingThai]

As I consider myself an old Bangkok hand and having had previously good experience with local joints I just had to do T-Ded. While having significant Thai experience for literally decades I do not speak Thai nor do I particularly like the party setup thing. I am no heavy drinker, monger alone so it is kind of not my sweet spot.

T-Ded is easy enough to find, BTS Saphan Kwai, walk 10 minutes past the Big see turn left two times and it is difficult to miss. Action starts around 9 pm, they are open until 5 AM. The place is in urgent need for renovation, nothing high end here. Just a run down gogo bar with dancers in bikinis. I entered around 9:30 after a massage nearby as I had arrived too early. The massage was good but most interesting was the special negotiation going on in the next section. My therapist and I had a good laugh.

So back to T-Ded. You just enter, the manager speaks 3 words of English, get a table or a private room (150 Bath per hour). Order drinks and food or pick a girl first. Manager is very helpful but you will be the only white Falange. There were at least 50 girls, most GND and really almost all doable. I picked one, who turned out to be a dancer so she will be away for a couple of minutes occasionally but no worries she will be back. The private rooms have glass doors so not much privacy, I did not experience or saw a lot of naughty action therefore. Communication via google translate was easy. The food costs 150 to 400 bath a plate, beer also 150 for a big bottle. They will try to get you to order more and everyone wants a 100 baht tip. So watch it. It will add up. I stayed 2 hours with my girl and paid 2200 including tips, it will be difficult to get much less. The 100 baht lap dances are lame. She grinds you for 3 minutes and lets you grab her naked tits. You give her 100. Not sure why that is in any way appealing. Take out to a nearby dump hotel with only cold water is 2500 all inclusive, she wanted 6 k for the night but leave at 6 am. No good deal IMHO. So I took her ST, which was short but a full GFE delight. Tipped her 500. So the whole evening came to a little more than 5 k plus 65 baht motobikertaxi back home. And I doubt you can get this much lower. It is absolutely no problem to go there as long as you know how to behave in Thailand and watch your expenses. It was it worth for me to experience it once but is it really cheaper? I visited Geisha to see my lovely Bam and had a bar tap of 1 k for 3 lady drinks plus my beer. BF 1 k and she would have gotten another 3 k. So no big difference. But thanks for finding this place and keep more local options coming. There is much more to Bangkok than Nana, Soi Cowboy and the usual MPs!

FA.

Great report Fernando. Did you happen to notice all the girls sitting along the back corridor and the ones at the far end? They normally have about 200 total. 5000 Baht is not a lot to spend for the time you were there. Of course if you go into a go go, buy three lady drinks and then bar fine it will be cheaper. However here you spent more time and that same time and drinking action at a go go bar in Bangkok would cost more.

About local talent. Thursday I tried a local haunt near my home for the first time. Small Karaoke bar. I was the only customer for the night. I ended up drinking with 6 out of the 10 ladies working there. I stayed for about 4 hours and drank and ate and bought shots and played drinking games with 100 baht notes. Had a blast. Bill was 10,000 baht. I didn't take a girl form there because by the time I got around to thinking about it, it was time to meet my regular at T-Ded.

Off I went. Arrived there just about 2 AM. How is this Fernando? I sat down with her, ordered a Heineken, talked for 5 minutes? Paid the 310 baht total bill for the beer and 1 hour sit down with the girl, and the 2500 baht total for ST including the room and left. Full GFE and consensual BBFS CIP unlike what I just read about in a report from Thermae . Love T-Ded 99!

[Gaijin Gigolo]

Hi everybody, I am looking for the absolute best of BKK, the hottest girls around, and willing to pay for it too. If you have any recommendations where the absolute VIP girls would go outside of the usual Nana / Soi Cowboy / Patpong, would appreciate it. Price is no object. Feel free to PM me if easier. Thanks. In advance.

So what is your definition of hot? That's a very subjective term. But regardless, hot girls can be found everywhere and on occasion, nowhere. As someone else said, if price is no object, you're in the wrong city. Head down to Singapore if that's the case.

[Axel Heyst]

There's another place near where Nataree used to be (Ratchadapisek) and there's pretty girls there too but I stopped going there since it's too long of a BTS ride but those had some stunners.

Whoa there, JLI; so you are telling us that there is new place now open in the building where Nataree used to be, and they have pretty girls? This is very interesting news. Tell us more like what is the setup there? Is it a bordello like Nataree was or a pickup bar like Thermae? In it's day, Nataree was a meat market, but was a great place because they had a ton of young, pretty, girls from the north before the authorities shut it down). It's location never deterred me from going, but then I used to go Kings Castle 1 & 2, Patpong at least once a week and I didn't care if I had to travel all the way from Thong Lo to get there. I will always go the extra mile for pretty girls and a little variety.

[Mdemde]

Yesterday evening at a s/t hotel in Asok near to Soi Cowboy. Met her via Tinder then took the conversation over to LINE. 19 years old (could be a little bit older) and pretty, but could do with losing a few kg.

She wanted 3k for s/t, I offered 2k and she readily accepted, but declined when I told her no condom. She quickly changed her mind when I offered her another 500.

She offered to go to my room. I live in a condo unit in Nonthaburi and do not bring girls to my room, so gave her the option of meeting near to her home or meeting at MRT Sukhumvit which is only about a 40 minute journey for me on the MRT. She chose the MRT option.

She arrived 10 minutes early (I was 20 minutes early, and we went straight to the hotel after we met). No fare money was asked for, and none was given.

I normally go out to the bars on Saturday evenings for a few beers (Patpong/Nana/Cowboy) and did so after our meet, which was an enjoyable start to the night.

[FriendlyGuyHi]

Before I begin my rant, let me just say that I've traveled to Thailand more than 12 times stretching back to my first trip back in '98. When I lived in Singapore in the mid-2000's, Thailand was a frequent destination for getaway weekends, etc. I recently got the DTV visa for the purpose of testing the waters for longer stays because in the past, I've really enjoyed Bangkok's cosmopolitan mix of dining, shopping, leisurely activities, cost of living, etc. My last trip was last year and I enjoyed myself.

What happened?

I haven't had a breath of fresh air since I arrived over a month ago. I've grown accustomed to the occasional wafting of future air from the canals or the sewer grates, But I thought I was quite a depth in knowing which areas to avoid and bypassing risky spots. But the air on this trip has been unbearable. Not a day has gone by where on multiple occasions, I haven't felt the urge to hurl the contents of my stomach due to the stench. My throat is raw due to the effects of air pollution that reminds me of India or Egypt. For the first time in my life, I've resorted to walking around with a mask on and even that is just borderline effective. On the 200 m walk back from the local restaurant to my Thonglor boutique hotel, Tears came to my eyes as I watched mothers walk their young ones out for a Sunday stroll, and the only thing I could think about was the irreparable damage they were doing to their young lungs.

I have traveled here in January and February before so I thought I was ready for what I knew was the bad season. But this is unreal. Am I overly sensitive or has anyone else noticed the severity?

I originally had the intention of staying here for three or four months, but now I'm looking for an escape. I tried going to Phuket. That was abysmal. My first mistake was going to Rawai which is a complete shit hole. Nai Harn beach smelled like raw sewage. I tried going swimming in Kata and Karon, but the sea lice in both had me running out of the water. I left Phuket five days before the end of my prepaid stay.

From a hobbyist perspective. It also seems to me that the quality of talent in Nana, Cowboy and Patpong has seriously gone downhill. As early as last year, I was getting great action from 7's, 8's and occasional 9's. This year, I've barely managed to locate an 8. Most are dark-skinned 6's that locals wouldn't even bother with. All the girls have decent quality seemed to have gone to the Japanese and Korean KTV's. Even T-Ded 99 seemed to have higher caliber girls than most of the go-go's in Nana.

I know I'm going to get flamed. Have at it. But as someone who's thoroughly enjoyed himself here over the years.

On a (hopefully) more positive note. Can anyone let me know if the air quality in KL or Singapore is markedly better than Bangkok? I remembered being so, but I know they also suffer some smog during this season.

[Nyezhov]

Showering. I'm oily and fiwfans only and would most of them shower with you it seems mainly they're nether regions that are getting washed although there are a few that's so down their whole body. I would imagine they have to be a little bit careful with their skin drying out especially if they're seeing multiple customers per day.

When traveling I usually only take one pair of shoes myself, and that's a good pair of trainers, either water repellent or Gore-Tex, or if it's cold Gore-Tex boots. I tend towards Hi-Tech fabrics when I'm traveling like Merino wool tops, socks, and underwear and pants that I can wash in the sink and will dry quickly.

I like to travel only with a 7 kg backpack as a carry-on even when I'm going to cold climates.

I thought you were a resident. My bad.

Exactly. Traveling with a small backpack is the best as is quality gear. I prefer Merrill MOAB Goretex boots myself, and when I do exploration trips, even to junglish places, they are all I need. As to shoes, take a look at the line of Keen Sandals, like the Arroyo. Very comfy and fashionable if you have nice fluorescent socks. And the tootsies are safe and covered.

Pants: I like the zip off legs, which means I can hop off a train from Lopburi, put the legs on, and end up in Mixx (no shorts). I get those from LL Bean, Marmot or Columbia.

UnderArmour Heat Gear is very nice too.

I can go 4 plus days out of an Osprey Talon 11 liter.

[Nyezhov]

Honestly, l'm not trying to sound like a turd, but my experience as a 25-year resident is that you are treated better overall if you wear long pants. Your opening statement that Thai men wear long pants is a clue to the cultural norms of dress here. You often do see long pants and sandals at times, but again much of this is class dependent. When you see locals wearing shorts the majority of them are lower class workers, although I will admit there are some exceptions when you see middle and upper class folks in shorts, but if they are in shorts they are normally in very nice shorts and like you in golf shirts or button-downs. Personally I never wear shorts in big cities. Sandals in the wet? You're a lot braver than I am. I just don't feel comfortable getting my feet soaked in that dirty water.

Exactly. This has been the rule for 40 plus years. The girls will respect you more if you are dressed in what they consider to be indicative of a higher social standing.

Flip flops or barefoot sandals are another class indicator. Folks that wear shoes in public are simply viewed to be higher class. Thais are very class conscious.

I don't make the rules, I just follow them. What Goatscrot says is absolutely correct.

ProTip: Nothing is more fun on your first mongering trip that getting your foot cut up and then infected. Make sure then you wear flip flops while walking drunk down Soi Nana. I have never worn open toed sandals of flip flops in SE Asia outside my home. Never in 40 years. I like my toes and I don't get free health care. Its a basic health measure.

[Nyezhov]

That's the wrong approach though. You have to think like the girl. Where would the girl go to where she would make the most money and the most business.

And IMO the hottest ones are in Nana and Soi Cowboy or Walking Street Pattaya.

Looks are a subjective thing but I found the girls in Rainbow 5 prettier than the ones in Billiards. I think Billiards they were all tattooed, dark and not my style, more what Farang like. Rainbow 5 girls and the girls in Walking Street Pattaya were definitely where I found prettier girls. There's another place near where Nataree used to be (Ratchadapisek) and there's pretty girls there too but I stopped going there since it's too long of a BTS ride but those had some stunners. PIMP isn't worth it. PIMP is a ripoff, you'll see prettier girls in Nana Plaza / Soi Cowboy / Walking Street. Again, think like the girl. Where would the girl go if you knew you were hot. Not there.

See how folks turn a good observation into the start of an ego war. ? What is "More what farang like"? You speak for all "farang"? You "farang" yourself?

If you mean Billboard, I find the girls there to be the overall best in Nana. On MOST days. There are usually about 50 ish girls, all types. Sometimes its heifer friendly. Not all girls are tatted up. I'm a farang that doesn't like heifers. Raibow 5 to me is no 2, all the rest. It depends.

I have about 25 visits to Nana last year.

[SiamMan]

Honestly, l'm not trying to sound like a turd, but my experience as a 25-year resident is that you are treated better overall if you wear long pants. Your opening statement that Thai men wear long pants is a clue to the cultural norms of dress here. You often do see long pants and sandals at times, but again much of this is class dependent. When you see locals wearing shorts the majority of them are lower class workers, although I will admit there are some exceptions when you see middle and upper class folks in shorts, but if they are in shorts they are normally in very nice shorts and like you in golf shirts or button-downs. Personally I never wear shorts in big cities. Sandals in the wet? You're a lot braver than I am. I just don't feel comfortable getting my feet soaked in that dirty water.

As another long term resident, I agree with your points on the cultural norms of dress here. And especially how a lot of it is class dependent. However, I value comfort, and I do find shorts to be far more comfortable than long trousers in this climate. So I guess I would include myself with the exceptions you mention of middle and upper class folks in shorts; but like them I wear nice, tailored shorts with a smart shirt. Of course it depends where I'm going, so if I'm going to a smart restaurant or a 5 star hotel then I will wear long trousers, but anywhere else I find my smart shorts and shirt are accepted just fine.