DivineMadman

I think the situation Michael and I were referring to is the use of the "dual SIM" technology so your phone has two active phone lines at the same time.

I have an AIS eSim on my phone (an iPhone). I don't know if it's an option for someone arriving at the airport. I had been using the regular SIM card and went into an an AIS shop and asked them to set up the eSim for me, which they graciously did at no cost. (Recommended: the nice AIS shop in Central World) My main long-time U.S. phone number for friends, family and banks is the regular SIM card. This set up makes sense for me I think only because I use google fi, which has data at the same rate pretty much everywhere, and was less than half of what I was paying in the U.S. for AT&T; therefore, net-net I'm still saving money even though I no longer get inexpensive local SIM cards when traveling to, say Indonesia or Vietnam. But it's still a bit ass-backwards - logically my "main" number would be the eSIM and swap out the physical SIM when traveling.

Two bits of advice for planning a visit I've heard recently are: (1) try to visit during weekdays not weekends and (2) do not visit during university holidays.

Outstanding!

just to clarify - this new rule applies only to Non Immigrant O-A visas -- which are obtained outside of Thailand at the home embassy. (It is a one-year multi-entry visa that permits one year stays in the beloved Kingdom, so in theory one could stay almost two years on the Non Imm O-A if you leave and renter and get a new one-year permission to stay shortly before the expiration of the visa.) This particular new insurance requirement does not apply for people on an "extension of stay" -- often called the "retirement visa."

I think most of the guys value the commissions they get on the drinks. Bars make their money on the drinks, so selling the drinks is an important part the guys' job. As far as the bar/mamasan/manager is concerned, if a customer is with a guy for more the a few minutes he (the customer) should buy a drink. As a pure thought experiment: if you think of the bar guys' time as the bar's inventory, if a customer is sitting with someone without paying the bar, the customer is stealing inventory. As Vinapu pointed out, some bars may have quotas and they certainly keep track of how many drinks someone sells. I know of one regular customer of a bar who tried to make a habit of tipping directly instead of buying drinks, and when the "boss lady" figured it out she stopped that and stopped letting guys sit with the customer unless he bought a drink. I know there are some people who like to call a guy over to evaluate a potential off without buying a drink, and that's fine, but I think the amount of time should be reasonable. Jus to be clear, buying the drink is what the bar gets paid for providing the companionship. Your companion also gets tipped. And having said all that, no one should ever buy a drink he (and/or nowadays she) doesn't want to. Just be aware that the bar can remove the guy sitting with you and send him back to "work" and if it becomes a habit with a particular guy he might earn the disapproval of the mamasan.

given that it was after the massage, I just assumed it was sign that the massage was truly spectacular.

great report. spot on observations all around. For the ever-elusive twink massage shop in BKK, you might add Crowns Club to your list (Line ID 8t8000). At least what I think of as mostly twinks are there. It's out of the CBD so you would probs get a Grab to take you there. Also there are some gems at good old reliable Bangkok Massage in Patpong. And as you observed, they are scattered around almost everywhere else.

I'm all on board for people doing whatever they want and like, but to clarify there are lots of "full service" shops where the price is all inclusive so you don't need to negotiate. (I tend to avoid the places where you have to negotiate.). Usually these are the nicer places with the best selection of guys -- Prince, VCK, Senso, Nine, Urban Male, MG, etc., etc. Overall the costs end up being roughly the same as taking someone from a gogo bar (or even bit less) . 1,500 tips are pretty standard (although there are a lot at 1,200) and a one hour massage might be 900 (or less), so you can get away with 2,400+/-. At a gogo bar the off fee might be 300-500 depending on where, plus you have to pay the drink/cover charge, plus possibly a drink for the guy, and then there's the 2,000 common s/t here in BKK, so it all ends costing roughly the same. Of course getting a guy from an app is likely to be cheaper because there are none of the "house" charges.

.....maybe you're not going to the right places? Certainly lots of places with any and all the kinds sex you want, at least in BKK.

the whole report!!

Outstanding!

I understand that with a young child you might want some greater certainty but this time of year I think it's "mission impossible". I use the weather channel app but we have days and days of 60-70% percent chance of rain or thunderstorms, which as far as predictions go, are about as helpful as this answer.

LOLs

I also have no problem. I signed in a long time ago using the Anddy method. Currently using Safari/Mac OS Catalina.

I agree with the others. I wouldn't expect the Raya to give you a particularly early check-in just because you plan on leaving early on the 7th. I understand your point, but I'm not sure they think they would get much out of the value you're offering in the exchange. One possibility to stretch the time might be to shower at the Novotel attached to Suvarnbabhumi. I HAVE NOT DONE THIS BUT HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO PEOPLE WHO SAY IT CAN BE DONE. One Blog Another Blog No guarantees. That might get you clean and fresh and kill some time so you get to a more convenient time to arrive in Bangkok and then, personally, I would follow Spoon's suggestions. Apparently Magic Hands Massage on Ngam Dupli opens at 9:00 in the morning. (!). So there's another possibility. A long massage there, drop off your bags at Raya, grab a bite to eat, and the next thing you know the more self-respecting brothels are open at 1:00 and you're good to go. Personally I would confirm Magic Hands Spa's opening time before building my itinerary around it. Magic Hands edit to add: Looks like Lava Mens Spa (formerly dab AEC) on Suan Phlu opens at 10:00. Lava. Again, no guarantees that 10:00 means 10:00.

I say, bravo! If you can relax and sleep on the plane, even better. Now is a great time to be in Bangkok.

I went to Bumrungrad last year. Agree it's all very good and professional. Also something very fun and uplifting about hanging out with all those people from all over the world and everyone is just the same in his/her hospital gown. Most difficult part of the whole thing was the stool-sample-on-demand. My final interview with the doctor was a bit rushed, I thought, but I think that's just the modern healthcare system. Red things on the computer that showed out-of-normal ranges for some tests but his answer for everything was just drink more water and were a mask when the pollution levels are up, which suited me fine. They are very proud of their state-of-the-art everything there, including the non-invasive prostrate exam. I joked that I was rather looking forward to the regular prostrate exam. It took him a minute before he had a good laugh. The guidance in the U.S. used to be colonoscopy every 10 years starting at 50. Earlier and/or more frequently depending on risk group or more importantly family history. I don't know if that thinking has changed. Just for comparison purposes I was thinking of trying BNH this year.

Hilarious.

I'm confused. It's Thai government hospitals where the arguably new policy for dual pricing has been announced. (There are some government hospitals where this was already the practice (apparently), so for some it may be more of a codification of existing practice.) And I actually was also very careful to note that it is the government hospitals. ("I personally don't think dual pricing at Thai government hospitals is an attack." and "So I read the news about the change in pricing at government hospitals, . . . (emphasis added)). Really hard to be clearer than that. And the link that Martinsen had in his post also says government hospitals. Thai government hospitals. Thai taxpayer supported. So it's not really a completely different situation at all. Actually, I think it's exactly the same situation.

It's good to have an opinion. I am out of Thailand roughly four months a year. During the roughly eight months a year I'm here in Thailand I'm not here on short-term visa exemptions or similar. I have (rent) a condo. I'm subject to the same 90-Day and TM30 crap. I learn the language. Make friends with locals and travel around. Have fun. It's seems to me like I'm living here. I think if anyone is ever looking for a theme in my posts, it's that I issue with the comments like: Thailand is stupid. People in Thailand are stupid. People in Thailand are lazy. "Thai culture" is a problem (ahem, Martinsen). etc. I do not that because I am a paid promoter - although if TOT is reading this, I am available - but because I think those sorts of statements are incorrect. I also think that if we make the effort to understand different cultures, how things got to where they are, conflicting political or economic concerns, etc., it's just better and life becomes easier. I personally do not feel that the Thai government is constantly attacking me, even though I am subject the same rules as everybody else. I personally don't think dual pricing at Thai government hospitals is an attack. If I go to the UK I am not entitled to get the same free health care as Brits. I don't think that's an attack. Same same for Canada, etc. In a way this is a perfect example of the whole brouhaha. Someone says it's an "attack" on foreigners. But it's not. How many countries offer government subsidized health care to people who are not citizens or permanent residents? My guess is it's not a lot. So I read the news about the change in pricing at government hospitals, but, before crying foul, I thought, and thought some more, and did a little research, and came to the conclusion, ok, it's reasonable, I understand it. Sabai Sabai. There's really nothing I - or anyone else (with one possible exception) - can do if someone is stuck in a place he doesn't want to be because of his boyfriend's job. But, I can certainly point out that maybe there is a contrary view to the negativity when that is posted here. (The one exception of course is that very person.) I don't think endlessly dwelling on the negative is going to make anything better. And in fact I think the people who study happiness for a living might say it only makes it worse. So maybe we try to make the best of it. Take the energy devoted to fixating on the negative and make the effort to find things to like, make friends, study, do, etc. I'm still friends with people I met at school here when I was studying Thai. Staying in touch with them makes it fun here. I've taken cooking classes in the Klong Toey slums. Interesting and so much fun. And then there are the guys and massages.... It makes filing the 90-Day reports worthwhile. I know for a fact that it is possible to make the best of a horrible, arguably disgusting, situation, because there are guys here who will have sex with me and they seem to be ok with it. If they can put up with that, I can put up with anything. Shalom. I wish everyone happiness. DM

I suppose in a quantum physics sense observing movement is "controlling" it, but not really. People can travel within Thailand. TM30 has been going on for decades without anyone crying "police state" - it was just being done by the hotels. As I understand it, TM30 (or Section 38) is a Cold War era rule. It may have lost its original justification, but nowadays global terrorism seems to get people to the same mindset. (BTW - I'm NOT advocating the rules, and Im not saying that Thailand isn't a police state - I just try to find ways to understand how we get to where we are instead of just saying everything and everyone is irrational or a mustache-twirling corrupt villain.) Worth noting that the sequence of events is that last year there are a LOT of domestic press reports about people (some of them non-Thai) running illegals hotels through AirBnB. The hotels complained, the other condo residents complained, and then there were a lot of news reports. After that Immigration BKK announced it would "work to rule" and get strict. So maybe the AirBnB phenomenon is what pushed the powers that be into crazy defcon 5 mode. Yes, staying in one's home country avoids immigration hassles. Even more power to you if you live a home country that allows people from anywhere to stay in your country for as long as they want without any immigration restrictions, procedures, red tape, corrupt or incompetent people, nationalist batshit crazy anti-immigrant haters, etc. Would love to know that country. Sounds ideal. Canada? There absolutely are reports of corrupt immigration officers. However, my guess is that most people by far are able to process their papers without any particular problems. Some people go through "brokers" - some are mere facilitators and some are hired to get around the rules, such as the brokers who helped people get around the rules. But I think it is simply false to suggest that every expat has to pay a bribe to someone in the process.

And this is exactly the right way to think about/approach the problem.

It certainly may be. What's interesting is that each of the neighboring countries has a different "deal" for their people with Thailand - or put another way, it's all supposed to be the same rules but Cambodians generally get just two weeks, Laos longer, Myanmar another set of rules. And of course Vietnamese get the hardest time. So it makes me think that although they do get caught up in the general sweeps, etc., the CLM workers (and to a much lesser extent V) are handled in their own local/realpolitik way, so TM30 maybe not aimed at them. Also, unlike many Western countries, there doesn't seem to be as much vitriol aimed against the low wage workers "stealing" local jobs here. If anything, the powerful constituencies would seem to be in favor of them. Bangkok construction would grind to a halt without them, etc. [Thailand's unemployment rate is low, but I think that economics wonks will say that where so much of the population is in basic agriculture it's not really accurate to use it as a measure in the way it is used for more developed countries.] So - and this is just my own personal view of course - I think the hysteria is not so much over the CLMV types as people from the other countries. Not rich western countries. But India, China, and heaven forbid someone comes from the dark continent. I expect people saw just recently that the tourism department wanted to do away with visa requirements for India and China, but the foreign ministry/security folk stopped that.

First of all, for me there is a giant disconnect between the new immigration rules that affect long-term stayers and the broad [over]statement that somehow "Living in Thailand is Less Fun." I am having as much or more as I've ever had in Thailand. There's nothing new about 90-Day reports. Not sure why that's being dredged up. The new rules regarding seasoning funds before/after retirement extensions of stay for the 400K/800K people were put in place to stop the unscrupulous types using brokers (lenders) to stuff a bank account for the short instant when they applied for the extension of stay. To me that actually seems like a reasonable thing to do in response to an issue. Hardly some evil conspiracy to make Thailand less fun. For people on the income verification method, life became more difficult because the 4 embassies decided that they would stop giving the income certificate. So the thing that changed there was those 4 foreign embassies. Again, not the big bad Thai government. TM-30 admittedly is a shitshow. It had been ignored for us regular folk in Bangkok and many provinces, but actually was being enforced in some provinces (and life somehow went on for the people living there). Personally, I think we're stuck with it for a while. It's rule and someone big said it was time to enforce it. That big person might be a bit tone deaf on the PR consequences. All we can do is wait and "watch". [Get it - there's a pun of sorts - maybe it was his committee???.]. Why it's really happening, who the hell knows? There's stuff going at the highest levels that I think is beyond foreigners trying to understand. There's a different faction in the military in the ascendant right now. Does all this have anything to do with the old faction (Prawit/Prayut)? Not a clue. There is, I believe, also some legit security anxiety when more than 30 million tourists are crossing the borders. Does that play a part? Not a clue. I think it's very hard for bureaucrats and their bureau-bosses to turn off a rule once they've revived it. Or maybe it's all just punishment for whatever the real story was behind Big Joke's departure. Remember when people thought he was the problem? Oh, to have him back..... And yes, this means the good guys get caught up in the rules that are aimed at the bad guys, but that happens all the time. That's why we have to take off our shoes at the airport. I read a report of a business roundtable meeting with Immigration about TM-30. One speaker, a European woman, said that in some countries in Europe there are complicated rules when a foreigner lives in your home - she cited France - and others where the rules were more relaxed - she mentioned Germany and the Netherlands, I think. The point being that different countries have different regimes. In many, many, many ways, Thailand is easier for foreign long-term visitors than other countries. I do think that it is important for us all to realize that, "They should be grateful we're here" does not play well to Thai bureaucrats and the upper middle class that is running the show. Just sayin'. But, at the end of the day, if the difficulties outweigh the benefits of staying in a particular place, then DON'T GO THERE. There is vast easily accessible trove of information of happiness studies and enjoying life. Endlessly whining and complaining is not the path happiness. If TM-30 makes Thailand sufficiently not fun, don't go and find a better place. DON'T STAY IN THAILAND AND BE UNHAPPY. Or, stay in Thailand and make the best of it all. MAXIMIZE YOUR HAPPINESS.