Post: #101

(01-06-2013 03:51 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  I am in Ketosis.

This is my new opener.

Post: #102

lol, I haven't even begin to talk about the ladyboys. Exact conversation from start to finish.
Picture this exchange - "Hey handsum mannnn, I suck your cock for free."
Me- No
Ladyboy- I suck your friend too.

I am shocked, lol.

Friend was walking down the street (story he told me regarding ladyboys near Nana)-
Hey sexy man, I suck your cock for free.
No.
OK, I rim your asshole too.

Post: #103

(01-07-2013 12:38 AM)WEDO Wrote:  Would be interested in your thoughts on why the P4P scene in Thailand is so prevalent and different than other parts of the world. Just so the rest of us can some how make sense of it.

Maybe I'll try to drop some thoughts on this later but for now I'll just say that it's largely an Asian thing, and Thailand just seems to be a place where the culture and the economic conditions allowed it to get out of control.

It wasn't necessarily the old broken-down gringos that did it either. I've read that 95% of the sex trade is in place for local men, rather than the common misconception that it's there for foreigners. Another tidbit I've picked up is that 75% of Thai guys have slept with a hooker at some point in their life - the ones I knew didn't even bother wearing a condum when they did so. Some statistics say 95% of local men have slept with hookers.

I think the only reason it's become a popular market for foreigners as well is because of it's status as the place to go for R&R during the Vietnam War. Our men were relatively safe there and went to party. From there it gained a reputation, and now you've got the Thailand of today.

Thais are known for their smiles and their fun-loving nature - they call it the "jai yen yen" attitude. Means "keep a cool heart." "take it easy." "Everything will be okay." "nothing really matters." And everything, and I mean everything is supposed to be "sanuk" (fun). These aren't just phrases they use there. They EMBODY the Thai attitude and way of life.

Tell them your brother died, for instance, and they will smile or laugh or make a joke to cover up the awkwardness. Everything is a game and there's no room for moping about. It can be frustrating, but there it is.

So yeah, it never seems like they're that destitute and when you're out drinking with them and having a good time you do tend to overlook what they are sometimes. If you're feeling a little lonely and bored in a foreign place, you can go into a ladybar and drink and yak it up with the girls without ever spending a dime (at least on pussy), and I guarantee you'll walk away in a better mood.

That's why so many old guys get addicted to the whoring over there.

I also want to stress that chasing freebies with prostitutes was not my main gig when in Thailand. lol That was mostly when I lived on Samui for 5 months (an island with an estimated 10,000 hookers), at which point I'd essentially left the states to preserve my life and didn't know if I'd ever see my family again. Given my situation, I'm sure you can see why some of the barriers in my life came down a little and I found myself hanging with people on the fringes of society.

And again, it was more a matter of being in a tourist club than actively out seeking them.

When I moved up to the Thailand mainland, I separated myself almost completely from the tourist trail for a good 3+ years. At that time, I spent my time with Thai university crowd and dated proper girls. I'd go on 2 or 3-day drinking binges and wander into those late-night places here and there, but it certainly wasn't my main forte'.

But you'd be surprised, as mentioned before, how many guys throw their inhibitions to the wind in Thailand. You'll see guys who probably wouldn't touch a hooker back home suddenly taking one on as his girlfriend or even marrying her! It's ridiculous. These guys just don't seem to get it or care. I guess it's so common when they're there that they just get carried away.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #104

(01-07-2013 01:22 AM)DVY Wrote:  lol, I haven't even begin to talk about the ladyboys. Exact conversation from start to finish.
Picture this exchange - "Hey handsum mannnn, I suck your cock for free."
Me- No
Ladyboy- I suck your friend too.

I am shocked, lol.

Friend was walking down the street (story he told me regarding ladyboys near Nana)-
Hey sexy man, I suck your cock for free.
No.
OK, I rim your asshole too.

hahahaha

Fucking Thailand, Man.

All you guys who are just shaking your heads at this shit - these nasty whores who aren't whores (or are they?) and ladyboys and debauchery - you've just got to accept it for what it is and come check it out. It's a crazy, chaotic, out-of-this-world place, but the energy there really is addicting. You take the good with the bad and just shake your head and smile.

It is really surreal.

I meet people all over the world who have been EVERYWHERE but end up back in Thailand. Most of them tell me it makes no logical sense but the place just draws you back.

Or don't check it out. Mai bpen rai.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #105

agree it is addictive. i love the place. u just can not beat the atmosphere, excitement, adventure.

Post: #106

(01-05-2013 12:42 PM)WEDO Wrote:  But you'd think I could at least get a few examples of the hot non pro action you studs are landing there before I decide to take a 20 hour flight and spend a few grand.

Non pro. Met her via social circle, not online game. Going to appear in a issue of Thai FHM (although, I would say she isn't as hot as you would think a Thai FHM model would be. Think it's for a third party product, not actaully an FHM model). She even paid for my sushi and all I bought her was a coke. Nice girl, doesn't drink. Put up some LMR, but I pushed through and rewarded myself with the sound of her squirming and moaning "Don't suck my poooshy baby!" lol.

Don't like to post pictures of chicks I bang because BKK really is a small place, as I learned recently with something that could have bit me in the ass. Also, I don't take that many photos of girls I bang. I rarely use a camera. Though, I would like to start because when I am older I am sure I will regret it. That, and all of my Facebook photos are old as fuck and from when I still thought wearing a Vans t-shirt made me look good.

[attachment=9401]

Post: #107

Also, lots of things I would like to respond to in this thread about shoring, people only banging prostitutes, all Thai chicks being hookers, etc. but it would just end in more bickering and bullshit.

I will say that there are two Thilands, and after 9 months here, I think I am starting to figure it out, which will/has lead to me banging higher quality girls. IMO, this is the reason why so many people who come to Thailand have differing views and reports than I do. BKK isn't an easy city to get a handle on. As you can tell by the more recent visitors to Thailand on these threads, Soi Cowboy and lower Sukhumvit is an easy area to get stuck on. I got stuck there for the first 5-7 months probably of my time in Thailand. If you want to get high quality girls in BKK, you must dress nice, go to RCA/Thonglor, and approach at the clubs. Soi 11 is more of a middle ground with lots of high class hookers, lots of foreigners, and lots of high class/international school Thai girls. I prefer RCA/Thonglor.

Unfortunately it is hard to get forum members to go there, because it isn't as easy to have a good time at Thai clubs as it is the more foreigner oriented places. Different approach game, different social atmosphere, not much intermixing, tons of closed mixed sets, no bar to post up at, etc. Honestly, it is boring as fuck unless you go with a group of your good friends and get your own table, which many forum members won't be able to do because they are traveling solo. I have a large social circle here in BKK, which is a big reason why my experience with BKK is so much different, and more positive than some others who don't have that. The Thai girls on lower Sukhumvit, even if not pros, are going to be much more aggressive and open to sexual escalation than the girls at Thai clubs. Girls at RCA/Thonglor will be less sexual, and not be as receptive to your approaches. This doesn't man they are not interested, it is just that they are more traditional Thai girls, and are in the company of there friends who are also more traditional. Thailand is a class based culture, and how Thai people are seen by their peers is very important. You may still be able to get a ONS from RCA/Thonglor, I have, but without some practice, it will be much harder as it takes a different strategy to game them, and espeically pull them. You will not be making out with them, grabbing their ass, and grinding your dick on their back like you will on Sukhumvit, or back in your hometown. Generally when I got a ONS, I would flirt with them, light physical escalation, basically Roosh's world game, and then slowly move them away from their friends. Towards the end of the night I would hint at watching a movie, or that I'm tired, and that we should go back to my place. A lot of times I would get a chick all of the way back into my condo before I even kissed her or grabbed her ass, as that could be a game breaker if you do it where other people could see.

WEDO, to me it seems you are hellbent on making everyone who visits Thailand sound like they have no game and only bang hookers. I've posted pics of others girls I banged in Bangkok, and answered your a lot of your questions with thought out responses to the best of my abilities. However, you just keep coming back with condescending remarks about Thailand, it's women, and the people who go there in several Thailand threads. Hopefully the extremely long wall of text I posted above gives you better insight into Thailand, and why the reports differ between forum members. You have a lot of knowledge on Cali, a place I can see myself ending up someday, as there appears to be some Jiu Jitsu/MMA gyms there. Maybe we will just have to agree to disagree about all things Thailand related until we can argue about it in person in Colombia...and you throw me some of your leftovers lol.

Post: #108

(01-07-2013 08:31 AM)RioNomad Wrote:  WEDO, to me it seems you are hellbent on making everyone who visits Thailand sound like they have no game and only bang hookers. I've posted pics of others girls I banged in Bangkok, and answered your a lot of your questions with thought out responses to the best of my abilities. However, you just keep coming back with condescending remarks about Thailand, it's women, and the people who go there in several Thailand threads. Hopefully the extremely long wall of text I posted above gives you better insight into Thailand, and why the reports differ between forum members. You have a lot of knowledge on Cali, a place I can see myself ending up someday, as there appears to be some Jiu Jitsu/MMA gyms there. Maybe we will just have to agree to disagree about all things Thailand related until we can argue about it in person in Colombia...and you throw me some of your leftovers lol.

I think it comes down to either go and see for yourself or not. There is only so much info you can get online. I would never go to a country just for pussy anyway. Maybe a stop over. haha

Post: #109

(01-07-2013 08:31 AM)RioNomad Wrote:  WEDO, to me it seems you are hellbent on making everyone who visits Thailand sound like they have no game and only bang hookers. I've posted pics of others girls I banged in Bangkok, and answered your a lot of your questions with thought out responses to the best of my abilities. However, you just keep coming back with condescending remarks about Thailand, it's women, and the people who go there in several Thailand threads. Hopefully the extremely long wall of text I posted above gives you better insight into Thailand, and why the reports differ between forum members. You have a lot of knowledge on Cali, a place I can see myself ending up someday, as there appears to be some Jiu Jitsu/MMA gyms there. Maybe we will just have to agree to disagree about all things Thailand related until we can argue about it in person in Colombia...and you throw me some of your leftovers lol.

Sorry if I came across as overly antagonistic....but I was trying to generate as much a response as I could.

It was somewhat confusing to try and reconcile the two story lines on the Thailand....mainly the normal guys using Thaifriendly and the Shorers.

If I decide to go to Thailand I will definitely look you up and you are more than welcome to meet up with me in Cali anytime.

Post: #110

(01-07-2013 08:31 AM)RioNomad Wrote:  I will say that there are two Thilands

This makes sense to me, and probably the source of all the conflicting reports.

I notice that with the Barcelona reports, and that is why I always have to set people straight.

I know whenever I hear a negative report about Barcelona like, "the place is so touristy! There are no young girls!" etc, I know they spent all their time on Las Ramblas or in a hostel near there like they always do.

----

I would really like to go to Thailand, I obviously have tons of interest in it.

Those time zones are rough for me though.

Post: #111

(01-07-2013 08:31 AM)RioNomad Wrote:  I will say that there are two Thilands

That's about as good as you can put it.

Quote:I think I am starting to figure it out, which will/has lead to me banging higher quality girls. IMO, this is the reason why so many people who come to Thailand have differing views and reports than I do. BKK isn't an easy city to get a handle on. As you can tell by the more recent visitors to Thailand on these threads, Soi Cowboy and lower Sukhumvit is an easy area to get stuck on. I got stuck there for the first 5-7 months probably of my time in Thailand. If you want to get high quality girls in BKK, you must dress nice, go to RCA/Thonglor, and approach at the clubs. Soi 11 is more of a middle ground with lots of high class hookers, lots of foreigners, and lots of high class/international school Thai girls. I prefer RCA/Thonglor.

Unfortunately it is hard to get forum members to go there, because it isn't as easy to have a good time at Thai clubs as it is the more foreigner oriented places. Different approach game, different social atmosphere, not much intermixing, tons of closed mixed sets, no bar to post up at, etc. Honestly, it is boring as fuck unless you go with a group of your good friends and get your own table, which many forum members won't be able to do because they are traveling solo. I have a large social circle here in BKK, which is a big reason why my experience with BKK is so much different, and more positive than some others who don't have that. The Thai girls on lower Sukhumvit, even if not pros, are going to be much more aggressive and open to sexual escalation than the girls at Thai clubs. Girls at RCA/Thonglor will be less sexual, and not be as receptive to your approaches. This doesn't man they are not interested, it is just that they are more traditional Thai girls, and are in the company of there friends who are also more traditional. Thailand is a class based culture, and how Thai people are seen by their peers is very important. You may still be able to get a ONS from RCA/Thonglor, I have, but without some practice, it will be much harder as it takes a different strategy to game them, and espeically pull them. You will not be making out with them, grabbing their ass, and grinding your dick on their back like you will on Sukhumvit, or back in your hometown. Generally when I got a ONS, I would flirt with them, light physical escalation, basically Roosh's world game, and then slowly move them away from their friends. Towards the end of the night I would hint at watching a movie, or that I'm tired, and that we should go back to my place. A lot of times I would get a chick all of the way back into my condo before I even kissed her or grabbed her ass, as that could be a game breaker if you do it where other people could see.

This is a very good description of what you can expect out of the mainstream clubs in Thailand. These are the places to go. These are the places I go now as well. As mentioned many times throughout this entire forum, you will need game to pull women in these spots. If anything, and this is especially true outside of Bangkok, foreigners are at an extreme disadvantage compared to locals in these joints, but I personally think it's worth the challenge. A lot of foreigners don't see the point, and I suppose that's their perogative.

Honestly, if every guy who was looking for easy pussy in Thailand had the patience to go to these venues on a regular basis, they would quickly ruin them simply because of the way they think they can behave themselves over there. My educated guess is they would become unwelcome there quite fast.

You already hear stories of foreigners going into local venues and being approached by a couple guys who tell them to leave and go somewhere else. It's never happened to me, but with the way a lot of foreigners present themselves, I can see why this is starting to happen.

(01-07-2013 09:10 AM)worldwidetraveler Wrote:  I think it comes down to either go and see for yourself or not. There is only so much info you can get online. I would never go to a country just for pussy anyway. Maybe a stop over. haha

I'm on the same page as you there.

(01-07-2013 09:33 AM)WEDO Wrote:  Sorry if I came across as overly antagonistic....but I was trying to generate as much a response as I could.

It was somewhat confusing to try and reconcile the two story lines on the Thailand....mainly the normal guys using Thaifriendly and the Shorers.

To be fair, a few of us have been pretty clear about the two story lines and the two different levels of game needed there throughout nearly every thread on this forum. There are some who gloss over how tough mainstream Thai girls can be, but I like to think a few of us have made sure to pop in and set the record straight on a regular basis.

You can also expect any online dating site to be a cesspool of hookers, freelancers, and gold diggers. It's not very typical for conservative Thai girls to seek out dick online. You do get some normal girls on there, but I believe it's pretty rare.

As a disclaimer, I've never had much success with online dating anywhere in the world, so my opinion on this is largely conjecture.

(01-07-2013 11:42 AM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

(01-07-2013 08:31 AM)RioNomad Wrote:  I will say that there are two Thilands

This makes sense to me, and probably the source of all the conflicting reports.

I notice that with the Barcelona reports, and that is why I always have to set people straight.

I've gotten to the point of believing that these points of conflict tend to be the case with most so-called pussy paradises. In most places where foreigners are said to have some type of advantage, they're more often then not getting the local's leftovers and/or not being realistic in their reporting of the stories.

At least that's what my research shows.

But putting some time and energy into the higher-quality ones can yield results like anywhere else. Just takes more work than most people let on (or realize).

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #112

(01-06-2013 04:51 PM)Beyond Borders Wrote:  Real point being that these girls pick and choose their nights to give it up for free, and most have "passive income" coming from guys overseas they milk for rent money and money to help buy grandma a new water buffalo and some chickens.

Thai hookers should have wrote "The Four Hour Workweek".

Post: #113

As a guy who's spent a year in Thailand: just read what BeyondBorders and RioNomad are saying, disregard all other information.

Post: #114

(01-08-2013 12:59 AM)dirtypurist Wrote:  As a guy who's spent a year in Thailand: just read what BeyondBorders and RioNomad are saying, disregard all other information.

Any thoughts on where to find available Russian girls in Thailand? Pattaya and Phuket (Patong, Karon, Kata, Nai Harn, Rawai) were a bust.

Post: #115

http://min.us/lZrNSOY8xirC0

Post: #116

Well played.

She's got the "gift."

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #117

(01-08-2013 01:10 AM)Soma Wrote:  

(01-08-2013 12:59 AM)dirtypurist Wrote:  As a guy who's spent a year in Thailand: just read what BeyondBorders and RioNomad are saying, disregard all other information.

Any thoughts on where to find available Russian girls in Thailand? Pattaya and Phuket (Patong, Karon, Kata, Nai Harn, Rawai) were a bust.

Sorry dude, Pattaya and Phuket is where 90% of the Russians in Thailand are. At least the package tourist girls. Other than that, Samui and Koh Chang. The prettiest russian girls I saw in Thailand were in Ark Bar and Nikki Beach (sunday party) on Samui, I'd say 80% of them are with boyfriends and 20% are single (vacationing with a female friend). Many of them are cold to non-Russian guys because they don't feel confident to speak English, but if you find a one who can it can be on. I know some Euro dudes who banged Russian girls here (myself I'm more of a yellow fever type).

Post: #118

(01-06-2013 08:08 AM)PartyTime Wrote:  Arrived in Koh Tao this morning. I already like it better than Koh Samui. Its less commercialized compared to Koh Samui (no starbucks, McDonalds, Subway). Less crowded, less dirty, less noisy. But still a happening beach spot.

Nightlife is yet to be seen... I'll update ya'all

Arrived in Koh Tao earlier tonight, just met up with two other forum members and we are going boozing tonight, check your PM.

Post: #119

I used to really bomb out in Thailand until i started to use my baby milk & diapers strategy. It goes like this:

Step 1: Meet girl on street
Step 2: Ask her do she eat food (point inside mouth)?
Step 3: feed her 10 bhat snack (.30 cents)
Step 4: Bring her to 7-11 and buy baby food and diapers (girl giggles)
Step 5: Tell her she make baby with me tonight (point at vagina)

Wamalama ding dong

Total cost 5 bucks (FYI get the cheap 5 oz. baby formula).

TD

Post: #120

(01-08-2013 11:53 AM)truedat Wrote:  I used to really bomb out in Thailand until i started to use my baby milk & diapers strategy. It goes like this:

Step 1: Meet girl on street
Step 2: Ask her do she eat food (point inside mouth)?
Step 3: feed her 10 bhat snack (.30 cents)
Step 4: Bring her to 7-11 and buy baby food and diapers (girl giggles)
Step 5: Tell her she make baby with me tonight (point at vagina)

Wamalama ding dong

Total cost 5 bucks (FYI get the cheap 5 oz. baby formula).

TD

lol And I'm sure she was a real stunner too...The Thai guys must envy you.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #121

@true-dat- haha, thats a good one. must try it out sometime. =p. You think it would work in the US of A?

On a more serious note, had another forum member try it out after my success. He had a good time w/it.

Street food=comfort food and that you accept her culture. Most tourists are too scared to eat street food especially the more risky items on the menu blood-rice sausages, grasshoppers, fried intestine (confirmed by multiple sources) Price is irrelevant. Milk= cultural acceptance. Most asian culture drink warm milk before bed. The girls laugh because it is unusual for a WESTERNER to drink milk before bed.

There are so many quirks about Thai culture that even I couldn't fathom before going...thankfully, I have some hi-so friends/regular girls that set me straight.
1) Braces being a status symbol....huh?
2) Girls not being able to talk to monks (have to step off the street if a monk passes by.)
3) A monk can get arrested if he is kissing a girl.
4) Widespread corruption . Saw a dude get kicked in the face behind Escobar and next to the after-hours (which is Thong-lor aka Hi-society area.) The cops ran after the offender. Offender runs over a wall, stops then pays 2k baht(60 dollars) to police officer. Perp walks off w/a handshake
4b) Petty theft
5) Lackadaisal attitude and poor service in restaurants (we went to a decent restaurant and it took us 15 mins to flag the staff down to order and w/the thai girl hollering at the staff across the room).
6) Sharing food w/strangers is an insult. The act of you sharing food w/random people is like you giving them your garbage.
7) How to talk to service people (sharp tone, middle-high pitch, medium to loud voice)
8) how much to tip (5-10% instead of 20%)
9) Baby powder/whitening skin cream
10) Dilating pupil contacts, insane amounts of make-up

Just accept that you will not understand their culture and approach it w/eyes and ears open. It takes time to acclimate, and actions that would elicit one response at home will not do the same in Thailand.

The same approach is not directed to Thai hi-so girls, Thai regular middle class girls, and to shores. There is a class difference and you should approach each differently.

Post: #122

Quote:Street food=comfort food and that you accept her culture. Most tourists are too scared to eat street food especially the more risky items on the menu blood-rice sausages, grasshoppers, fried intestine (confirmed by multiple sources)

That's always been crazy to me. Food is, in my opinion, 50% of the fun of traveling. I love trying new food, even if crazy shit.

Aside from it just being delicous, some of the more trying ones for me were live shrimp (aka "dancing shrimp") and blood soup.

Quote:There are so many quirks about Thai culture that even I couldn't fathom before going...thankfully, I have some hi-so friends/regular girls that set me straight.

Just wanted to comment on a few of these things just for those who haven't been more than anything else.

Quote:1) Braces being a status symbol....huh?

The reason being that only those with money can afford them, even though they're cheap in Thailand. With the emerging middle class, you get a ton of women from 20 - 30 wearing braces who grew up poor and were not able to afford them but now can.

It can be unnerving coming from the West, where in most cases only girls between 12-15 have braces. Coupled with the young look of Thai broads, it can really throw you off.

I've had Thai buddies tell me they like it though - I can kind of relate to when I was a young teen and thought girls with braces were prettier. lol Again, they don't associate it with age, so it's easier for them to develop this preference. And the Thai girls like to spruce their braces up with all kinds of different colors. Bling bling baby.

I dated a girl that had them for a while. She was pretty cute - a Grand Marniet girl for those familiar with the girls who wear dresses at restaurants to advertise for beer and alcohol companies - but I think would have been a lot cuter without them.

One of my Thai buddies had a pretty good-looking girl with braces and dumped her for a girl with big tits as soon as she got them taken off. Don't know if it had anything to do with it, but I was suspicious.

Quote:2) Girls not being able to talk to monks (have to step off the street if a monk passes by.)

This is done to avoid brushing up against his robes. If a woman touches a monk's robes, he is forced to go through a lengthy robe-cleansing and purification ritual that I imagine can be quite a hassle even for the most patient guy.

It makes a simple day on the bus or the streets a real headache, and you'll notice monks gathering their robes and pulling them towards themselves when navigating through a crowd.

Women are also told they can never hand something directly to a monk in order to avoid the risk of actually touching. Instead, she must set the object down on a table or the ground for him to retrieve.

The avoidance of touching women has something to do with temptation, if I remember correctly. Monks are living a life of purity and resisting all vice and worldly pleasure, and the fear is that it will be too difficult to control themselves if they come in contact with a woman.

Over the years, these moral codes have just been ingrained into Buddhist practice to make it easier on them, and thus Thai culture.

Quote:3) A monk can get arrested if he is kissing a girl.

Wasn't aware but I believe it.

Quote:4) Widespread corruption . Saw a dude get kicked in the face behind Escobar and next to the after-hours (which is Thong-lor aka Hi-society area.) The cops ran after the offender. Offender runs over a wall, stops then pays 2k baht(60 dollars) to police officer. Perp walks off w/a handshake

I've seen some crazy shit having to do with the police in Thailand. You can buy yourself out of getting pulled over on a motorbike with no helmet, no license, and no registration for about 400baht - have done that multiple times.

I've seen a cop running after teenagers, shooting a gun in the air, and then boxing one to the ground before walking back to his bike.

A friend of mine saw a group of cops handcuffing and then holding up a farang and beating the shit out of him to where he was nearly dead, with blood soaking his head and shirt, and left him there for dead. He picked him up, lifted him into a tuk tuk, and paid the driver to take him to the hospital. When I saw my friend afterwards, he was shaking and his face was as white as a ghost, so it must have been bad. He insisted he was leaving thailand. Don't know that he ever did though.

I myself had a pretty scary run-in with the cops that I won't get into online.

And yeah, money always talks. I believe it costs about 30K - 60K to have someone killed. I'm pretty sure high-so people with connections could easily get away with murder if not have certain cops do it for them. And people with connections will always win any legal situation - especially if you are farang.

This is one of the reasons I suggest avoiding trouble at ALL costs in Southeast Asia.

Quote:4b) Petty theft

Pretty self-explanatory. Most crime in Thailand is non-violent, and petty theft is quite common. I make it a point whenever checking into a hotel to find a good hiding place for my money, passport, and valuable. A panel in the ceiling. A lamp shade. The back of a toilet. Pillow case (better than under the mattress at least lol). In the bottom of the trash can (but under the trash bag).

I don't leave this stuff in the room if someone is coming to clean and always put up my do not disturb sign.

Rather than the typical, uncomfortable money belt, I wear a unique one that wraps around my calf. People will never expect to find it there, so even if I get mugged I should be fine. If carrying large sums of cash in a backpack, split it up and put it in different places throughout the bag, so if someone razors the bottom of it and manages to get their fingers on it they won't get everything.

Quote:5) Lackadaisal attitude and poor service in restaurants (we went to a decent restaurant and it took us 15 mins to flag the staff down to order and w/the thai girl hollering at the staff across the room).

Yeah, it's funny because they've got twice as much staff but service is half as good (in all but the fanciest joints). The standard is certainly far lower.

Also important to remember that you always have to ask for your bill at the end. Unlike in American culture, where it's considered rude if they don't bring out your bill in time, Thais consider it rude to rush someone through eating at their restaurant. For this reason they won't bring you anything, especially your bill, unless you specifically ask for it.

Food is also brought out one dish at a time because the typical Thai custom is to share every dish. This can also frustrate Westerners who typically all order their own dish and expect meals orchestrated to come out all at once.

It gets even more mind-boggling for them when they're ordering meals that are obviously single-serve in nature yet Thais don't quite make the logical jump that this is food that will be eaten alone and so maybe everything should come all at once. Thais aren't known for taking initiative for jumps in logic. Just gotta go with it, I guess.

Quote:6) Sharing food w/strangers is an insult. The act of you sharing food w/random people is like you giving them your garbage.

What do you mean by this? Sharing food at a table? Giving it to a neighbor? Handing a beggar leftovers? I'm confused - when do you share food with random people?

Quote:7) How to talk to service people (sharp tone, middle-high pitch, medium to loud voice)

won't get into this again, but I highly advise all new-comers to hold off until you've seen a high-so person in action AND are 100% sure the rules apply the same to you. Just watch and learn first before going in based on your own assumption of what DVY means here. Word of warning.

Quote:8) how much to tip (5-10% instead of 20%)

Tipping is not a Thai custom and should not be expected. Locals do tip sometimes by rounding up, but this is typically meant to convey their status rather than be a kind gesture - as in "I'm well off enough to not have to worry about my change."

In tourist areas, however, tipping has become more common due to foreigners coming in on vacation and throwing their money around. In the areas where nothing but foreigner customers exist, you may even be resented a bit for not leaving it.

A no-class prostitute or bar-worker or even food server may even go as far as to call you a "cheap charlie" if you don't leave one, though this is hopefully still rare. These places are best avoided anyways because someone with those kind of manners in Thailand almost never offers good enough service to deserve a tip.

As you mentioned before, service in Thailand is typically sub-standard. If a Thai person is going to get a tip from me, they better deliver service on par with a Western serviceperson. At least that's my take.

Also note that some fancier restaurants might add a service charge though it is, once again, pretty rare.

Quote:9) Baby powder/whitening skin cream

For those of you reading who don't know, Thais regard white skin as the epitome of beauty. Some of this goes back to the association in old times of poors having darker skin (from working in the fields all day) and the wealthy hiding indoors from the heat. Also, part of it may have to do with the Chinese look, which may be perceived as tied to status (this one is my own conjecture).

So Thai women (and many men) lather themselves up with whitening cream to get a whiter appearance. Sometimes it is just a whitish paste that gives the perception of whiteness, but some actually are meant to bleach their skin, which I hear is really hard on the skin too. The cheaper creams on dark skin sometimes create quite a hideous look and it's hard not to point out to them that they are doing themselves an injustice more than anything else.

It's almost impossible to find face lotions without whitening cream in them when shopping in Thailand.

You'll also notice they fear the sun because they're so worried about their skin getting dark. If you have a Thai on the back of your motorbike (guy or girl lol), they'll go as far as to ask you to stop in the shade whenever possible if you pull up to a red light.

You'll hear the most beautiful girl talk about how ugly she is, and mean it, because of the darkness of her skin. It's crazy.

I guess it's not as strange as may seem when you consider that white people unhealthily bake their skin to achieve a standard of beauty. Many go to tanning salons and/or slap on that tanning lotion that makes their skin look orange, and like whitening products, it often makes them look worse than if they'd worn nothing.

Like whitening products, many experts think these darkening concoctions are bad for our skin and not to mention our livers and internal organs.

After living in Thailand a long time, the love of white skin rubs off on you, especially if spending all your time with mainstream Thais. If nothing else, I shake my head about getting a tan and don't mind my skin looking bright and white. I think I look good when my skin is pale. And I now, like Thai men, prefer white-skinned Asian women to dark.

Any dark-skinned men who find this troubling, keep in mind that most of us white guys of my generation (in America) have been taught since youth that white men are the epitome of evil and that darker skin equals beautiful. So to me, it's not about a racial preference, it's more of appreciating that everything can be beautiful and realizing my preference is now white-toned skin. Though my "preference" may have more to do with cultural indoctrination than anything else...but that's another conversation.

and that said, I do think the Thais take it too far. In Thailand, darker-skinned people even of their own race are inherently perceived as low class and poor. Blunt jokes are made about the darker-skinned Thais and other races (but then again, farang are extensively ridiculed as well). And as a foreigner, if you date a darker-skinned Thai woman, outsiders will no doubt immediately assume she's a prostitute or bar girl or that she's from Isaan (considered the backwoods country-folk).

It's a bit strange considering that there are now dark-skinned wealthy people there as well, but racism is very rampant in Thailand. Fortunately, while it exists on a higher scale there, in my opinion, it is not as hostile as in the West. People judge each other but at the same time are more accepting of differences, if that makes sense.

This is due to the live and let live attitude that permeates the culture.

Not to say they can't be real shitty to the lower classes, but in everyday life people usually treat each other decent and don't live with that underlying hostility found here at home.

Quote:10) Dilating pupil contacts, insane amounts of make-up

Watch this video from Taiwan (though I think its more extreme there). I've definitely woken up to women having them look quite a bit different in the morning. lol Never experienced something quite this dramatic though.

Quote:Just accept that you will not understand their culture and approach it w/eyes and ears open. It takes time to acclimate, and actions that would elicit one response at home will not do the same in Thailand.

Well said. I was reading this entry on Wikipedia today about, of all things, dish-washing, and the differences in method among cultures. It not only gave me some answers about why the sinks in Thai restaurants are so horridly disgusting but also serves as a great example of how the most mundane-seeming things so vastly differ abroad. Easy to forget and important to remember.

Quote:A major variation in method is the temperature and state of the water. Asians and Latin Americans usually prefer running water because it is seen as being more hygienic as the water is not being reused, and usually use cold water. This is practical in environments where hot water is rarely available from the tap, and sinks are perceived as dirty surfaces (essentially a convenient drain). Westerners usually prefer standing hot water. This is practical in environments where hot water is cheaply and easily available, and sinks are perceived as clean surfaces (essentially a bowl with a convenient drainage device).

Here's the link if you want to read the whole thing. Call me a nerd but I actually found it interesting...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dishwashing

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #123

The act of sharing food with strangers...I will elaborate. Its considered rude to share food w/people you dont know. The explanation I got was that it is considrered rude. People you know is OK. People you dont, not ok.

Ill give you context. Girl bought 200 baht of street food. We had plenty of food, and I started chatting up girls and guys and offering them a stick of meat which we were all eating as well. The strangers gave me a weird look and got a little angry. Thai girl smoothes it over, then explains that I commited a major social faux pas. Dont share food w/strangers.

Post: #124

(01-09-2013 04:51 PM)DVY Wrote:  The act of sharing food with strangers...I will elaborate. Its considered rude to share food w/people you dont know. The explanation I got was that it is considrered rude. People you know is OK. People you dont, not ok.

Ill give you context. Girl bought 200 baht of street food. We had plenty of food, and I started chatting up girls and guys and offering them a stick of meat which we were all eating as well. The strangers gave me a weird look and got a little angry. Thai girl smoothes it over, then explains that I commited a major social faux pas. Dont share food w/strangers.

Interesting. I wasn't aware.

I wonder if it has something to do with it coming across as you trying to show higher status than them, since old school way would include the high status guy paying for all the food. Were they somewhat moneyed Thais? Or maybe it just connotates low status if people give you stuff like that - as if you're a beggar who needs to be fed, where the only case it being cool for a high-status person is if they're a monk.

Either way, I'm assuming it has something to do with status that we don't understand. I'll keep it in mind from now on.

EDIT: Wait, wait, DVY, did you offer random strangers your "stick of meat?" You dirty dawg....

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #125

lol, the concept of not sharing food on the street is a new one to me. But no, I dont think it came off as that way (sharing my personal stick of meat, haha)