dixon cox

We've probably all used them in Bangkok, but have you ever used a Taxi-Meter in Pattaya?

In all the years I've been coming, I can safely say I never have.

Seems like attempted changes are afoot.

Although it's likely a moot point by now, in this instance anyway, the photo issue can be dealt with at the visa desk on arrival at Pochentong Int'l Airport. The cost varies depending on the person dealing but was around $1 or $2 each the last time I did it. It ends up just being a photocopy of your passport picture but seemingly good enough for them.

Someone may have more up-to-date info on the visa on arrival at Phnom Pehn's airport, but I always found the best way, despite costing a few extra dollars, was to get an e-visa ahead of time. By doing the e-visa it can save a lot of potential palaver with very long and disorganised queues at the visa desks, plus much less opportunity to be ripped-off.

With an e-visa you just bypass the melee and head straight to the actual immigration desks. Just make sure it's one with an 'e-visa' sticker on display otherwise you may queue in that line for nothing.

e-visa

If you get the opportunity it's well worth scanning some passport photos and then emailing them to yourself so they can be accessed anywhere (e.g. for the e-visa application), as well as a scan of your passport main page and any other important documents, such as insurance.  The more modern method might be to save them to a cloud, plus your phone too.

The scene has become far too mainstream since the end of the noughties. What we can blame for that is the smartphone.

These days it must be safe to say that there is not one single girl or ladyboy selling herself to foreigners who does not possess a smartphone.

We (the foreigner) had the internet in our homes two decades ago, bargirls only had internet shops. With the advent of the smartphone, within a few short years, we ALL became mobile information whores and the ability to access each other, wherever we were in the world, had arrived.

Thailand, Thai girls and ladyboys have now become so mainstream that it no longer feels like you're doing anything naughty. If it's no longer naughty then it no longer has an edge. 

In a nutshell: The good old days were those prior to the smartphone era.

I don't know if everyone here has seen the USA TV show Pawn Stars but the star Rick Harrison touts an old style safety razor.

 

https://www.onerazor.com/?mid=4780799

I'd love a safety razor like that.

I've seen the blades available here in Pattaya, but has anyone seen the razors for sale here?

Girls often cut these single blades in half and use them for their eyebrows.

In my opinion, the function of fora is to provide a place to share experiences, discuss related topics, and generally exchange banter and news regarding the particular subject matter of that particular forum.

In our world, the relevant bars may, or may not, choose to represent themselves or have a representative on a forum, that is their choice. Where bars do have a representative in our world it is almost always a farang, for obvious communicative reasons.

Among the general forum community there would be a level of expectation that the farang representing a bar could, should, and would be capable of doing more than simply spamming fora with new threads and numerous bumped posts of the same advert whenever an event or party is approaching. Fielding feedback and being a conduit in to the bar from the outside world surely would not be functions too outrageous to contemplate as part of that role.

When a hostile and combatitive atmosphere commonly and rapidly forms whenever contributions are made beyond multiple event announcements the end result is one which will likely form a negative impression in the minds of potential or existing customers towards the represented bar. Any Thais involved with that bar are most likely completely unaware of the detrimental side effect and stained reputation smeared across various fora that their farang representative leaves behind.

Fortunately, for some bars at least, the attractiveness and appeal of the girls on staff allows many customers to overlook many of the above short-comings.

Hey - that's what I said!

 

In La Bamba's case, any = all.

No.

In La Bamba's case you placed the onus on the customers to take responsibility for ensuring that they got the message through to the senior staff, I didn't. In communicating directly with La Bamba's forum representative I was placing the onus on you.

Forward steps like this should always be applauded, but the fact this is happening first at Brighton College doesn't surprise me one bit 

It goes badly wrong when go down to places like Pattaya & inadvertently meet inflated 'Forum Muppets' in Ladyboy bars

I thought we got on ok 

[..]

 

If I may offer a piece of advice, it would be this: tell Nok about this lack of awareness on the part of her staff.  Both of you tell Nok.  Try suggesting that she or Annie (or both of them) make damn sure any of the ladies who may find themselves behind the bar also know how things work.

If I may offer a piece of advice, it would be this:  Make sure all the staff know about and understand the discount system.

What a palaver.

A bit unnecessary 

I wasn't his biggest fan but he was central to much of the BBC's TV and radio output for many, many years.

RIP.

Keep watching.. Ours starts at 40 seconds into the clip ..

Oh dear ..

A place to post funny, strange, weird, or amusing clips relating to ladyboys, femboys, transsexuals, cross-dressing, mistaken female identity etc. etc..

I'll get the ball rolling ..

Some of us would jump at the chance ..

http://www.ladyboyreview.com/video/I5q+sE2dgj4vfuWVtaoxF6AMz8NfsHVQE1A2bFcmHWE=

It seems this thread has brought about an uncharacteristic reduction in posts.

Had nothing been said the milestone would undoubtedly have been surpassed by now.

Come on man, spit it out!  

What do you notice first in this photo?

The Duke007 fashion follower   .. plus his ladyboy friend still inside 

I thought pricks'n'knobs sounded puerile, so I went for dixon cox instead.

I will admit I had to look up what estimable means, dohhh.

So on that, I thought you went out with DC and myself that night? I can think of many words which would accurately describe us, estimable certainly is not one of them.

You speak for yourself 

On the rare occasion a compliment flutters my way I lean in and snatch it before it flies away  

I wouldn't expect these 'Newbie Tuesdays' to still be running, I think they fizzled out long ago.

In most cases it's better chatting with 'real' people about how things work, rather than bar owners.

My $0.02 the worst one by far I have been in was Pom bar soi Chaiyapoon, absolute pit

Can't be any worse than those at 69 Bar.

This is the style of introduction post I wish more people would make, it certainly sets a far more positive tone, which in turn makes the person far more desirable to meet up with.

So, welcome to the forum blackyellow

You have a very healthy budget, as described by Pdoggg above. Bear in mind that destinations such as Bangkok and Phuket are far more expensive than Pattaya and arguably offer less choice in girls, but undoubtedly far less choice in venues, certainly Phuket.

Common advice, which I would agree with, would be to spend a few nights in Bangkok before heading down to Pattaya, which is 2 hours away by road. Other than that, work your way through the forum and soak it up   

A very honest review to date Sylvester.

During your extended stay you ought to perhaps consider making it your task to sample and review as many of the remaining ladyboy bars as possible for their short-time facilities, perhaps giving marks out of 10 for each venue.

A tedious and selfless job perhaps, but one which could be well worth the sacrifice    

Thanks DC. I guess that means I have a "K-Max Debit card" from the look of the fee info (and it says that on the card). Which pretty much sucks since I have the debt card part shut off. Next time I need to renew my card I will try for the straight ATM card and see how horribly that goes. 

 

Don't think I could get a BKK Bank account unless I apply for a retirement visa. And that would be way more trouble.

Have a look here:  http://www.bangkokbank.com/BangkokBank/PersonalBanking/SpecialServices/ForeignCustomers/Pages/Openinganaccountnew.aspx

Bangkok Bank - Opening an account:

In Thailand for a short time?        <==    

Even if you are only visiting Thailand for a relatively short period of time, you can open a savings account and get a debit card to use for shopping and ATM withdrawals. All you will need to provide is your passport and one other official identification document – for example, a reference letter from your embassy, your home bank or a person acceptable to the bank.

You will also need to provide evidence of your address in Thailand as well as your regular address in your home country.

Required Documents

Foreigner with Long-stay or Tourist Visa

Passport and one of the following documents:

2.1 An official document from another country, such as a document from the

relevant agency giving evidence of the customer’s right to receive pension

funds, OR a letter of reference from one of the following:

- Embassy or international organization

- Customer’s home bank to Bangkok Bank via the SWIFT messaging network

- Person acceptable to Bangkok Bank e.g. branch officer, customer, government officer or company executive

- Educational institution located in Thailand and acceptable to the bank

- Company that is acceptable to the bank, confirming the customer is in the process of getting a work permit

2.2 Other documents that show the name of the customer e.g. a document

showing the ownership of real estate in Thailand such as a unit in a

condominium

Found this PDF for Kasikorn charges: - http://www.kasikornbank.com/EN/RatesAndFees/Charges/ChargesDoc/FeeServices_06012016_en.pdf

All references to B550 are for annual card fees, for several different cards including K-Max, which is what I had/have.

This does make me glad I let Kasikorn go and changed to Bangkok Bank last year, they even pay interest.

.. but it's ok that other foreigners are? 

In my mind the existence of a pretty substantial fee from ATM withdrawals when using a foreign card make having a local Thai bank account even more worthwhile. If I were a regular visitor and didn't have one I would make serious strides to obtain one. 

As an expat I now have no ATM withdrawal charges. Only B20 if I use another Thai bank's ATM, but I don't.  Making quarterly transfers between my UK bank and Thai bank via the likes of TransferWise works very well for me.

Even carrying cash (must be declared to customs if $10,000 or over) and placing it into a local Thai bank on arrival in LoS would make sense.