First Visit

[Patanawet]

2 hours ago, vinapu said:

not only in homes , many massage places for example are requiring or at least expecting the same

Sorry vinapu, I cut your message a bit short; I was referring to temples and palaces.
But now you mention it, I always make to take my shoes off before going into a home -- many times the residents will say "don't bother" when they see me start.
Go into a block of 'working family residences' and each front door will have loads of shoes outside.
Sorry I've digressed from the original message.

[thaiophilus]

2 hours ago, vinapu said:

while your advice is sound and spot on I completely disagree with it.

It's part of travelling fun to find yourself  in alien environment and try to find our way there .

 

Agreed, and I make a point of getting myself lost and randomly exploring any new city I visit. But not before breakfast.

2 hours ago, vinapu said:

Thailand will not have second chance to make first impression when new arrival takes taxi.

Not so...

My first experience of BKK culture shock was in a taxi. After traversing what looked like a modern city with multi-lane elevated roads and high-rise buildings, and a litany of strange place names on the signs - Chatuchak, Din Daeng, Rama IX, Ngam Wong Wan, Chaeng Watthana, Sukhumvit, - the taxi turned off the expressway and dived into the bowels of the Khlong Toei intersection, which appeared to have trains mixing with the cars, and suddenly I was in what felt like an impossibly narrow canyon of decomposing concrete with festoons of wires draped everywhere...

Of course, that was before the ARL, MRT and BTS existed, and meter taxis were still a rare novelty, so the challenge of negotiating  a taxi or tuktuk for every journey was part of that first impression.

[PeterRS]

20 hours ago, reader said:

If the train is a viable option for you, I’d take it. I arrived around midnight this trip and taxi was default option. The driver was worst speed demon I’ve yet encountered, passing every vehicle in sight during moderate rain. It’s not all that uncommon for graveyard shift workers to use meth to stay awake.

With all respect to @reader I think the comment about drugs does a great disservice to taxi drivers in general. Over the last two decades I have probably taken more taxis from first DMK and then BKK to the city centre than any other poster - over 250 trips. As a very regular commuter to my business in Hong Kong, the Emirates flight I have taken dozens of times usually sees me in a taxi around 12:30 am. I have never once had cause to complain about getting back home in around 30 minutes at that time nor about excessive speed. The great thing about arriving around that hour is that there are absolutely no traffic jams. If arriving at 8:00 in the morning, I would not even consider a taxi given the horrendous jam to get into the city. 

I fully undersand there is likely to be the odd bad apple, but the only problem I have encountered on the airport run is a doctored taxi meter. That was easy to spot because I know how much the trip should cost making allowances for stops at traffic lights etc. On that occasion I took photos with my camera of the driver, the meter and the taxi licence number. The driver then refused to accept any payment!

[reader]

I wasn’t in your taxi when you encountered the doctored meter. You weren’t in my taxi as it raced to Silom on slick roads. 

I’ve never encountered a doctored meter. You’ve never encountered a speeding cabbie.

Guess we can booth consider ourselves lucky.

I still contend the use of ya-ba to stay awake is not uncommon. Excessively high-speed driving is a common indicator.

 

[floridarob]

1 hour ago, reader said:

I still contend the use of ya-ba to stay awake is not uncommon. Excessively high-speed driving is a common indicator.

I agree 100%

[PeterRS]

6 hours ago, reader said:

I’ve never encountered a doctored meter. You’ve never encountered a speeding cabbie.

Did I not write "I fully undersand there is likely to be the odd bad apple?"

[reader]

Did I not say “The driver was worst speed demon I’ve yet encountered, passing every vehicle in sight during moderate rain.”

That implies I’ve encountered others before that speed excessively and are likely on meth. I believe it occurs more often than the rare bad apple category suggests.

[vinapu]

13 hours ago, reader said:

 

Guess we can booth consider ourselves lucky.

 

I consider myself lucky I survived day time trip on motorsay taxi  along Suthisan Rd to MRT  station of the same name in May. Positively scariest thing I ever encountered in Thailand in my 22 trips. Up to then I was big fan of motorsai taxis but now I have my doubts

[maump]

I say again, ENJOY every minute of paradise!  I so want to come back!

[fedssocr]

It's interesting to see all of the variety of opinions on getting around. Several trips ago I used the AOT limo service during AM rush hour. I think I paid 700 baht for one of those London cabs. Quite comfortable and no worries about the traffic jams or tolls. I frequently use S&P Limo to just arrange a car transfer. I figure I can afford it and it's very comfortable, so why not. Part of it is laziness I suppose but with luggage I'd prefer not dealing with schlepping around public transport. 

With respect to SIM cards I used to always just get a DTAC plan and SIM. But for the past few years I've been using a product called FlexiroamX. They have multiple products including eSIM, SIM card or SIM overlays. They have lots of different plans including worldwide, by region, or country-specific and they frequently have big sales that make it really cheap. It's data only, but if you use something like What'sApp or Google Voice you can essentially make calls and send texts with just a data connection. Or use Wifi connection. I'd imagine that using a US provider's international calling plan is by far the most expensive. It's easy to swap out your US SIM for the local one while you're in Thailand. Of course you can't receive calls at your US number unless again you are using something like Google Voice.

[jdp103]

Thanks everyone for the responses.   I am getting excited for my trip next week.  I’ve incorporated many of your suggestions as I plan my visit.  Few more questions if I may.

I have never used the Grindr app – I may download and see how it works.  Hopefully I can easily set my location as Bangkok not home.  Although if I have good luck at the gogo bars, I may not need an app. 

I’m thinking of trying the massage places in the afternoon.  I see there are several within walking distance of the hotel.     They all look inviting – any current favorites?  Once I get the hang of the BTS, I may venture farther out to the K-Man Spa.  I’m receiving their daily message showing their line-up of great looking guys!

I plan to check out the gogo bars in the area each evening.  I know I will enjoy the “shows” they have going on.  Is it worth going earlier than 9pm?  I’ve seen videos where the barkers are showing signs and it seems they do not start until around 10pm. 

Is Grab the preferred taxi service?  Does it work like Uber – request a ride on the app?

I have booked a tour guide for Saturday.  The KingKong building sounds like a must-see. 

Where is the best place to get condoms and lube?  I’m guessing I need to have them ready?

Thanks again for all the help.   Going to be fun!

[kokopelli3]

5 hours ago, jdp103 said:

Where is the best place to get condoms and lube?  I’m guessing I need to have them ready?

Thanks again for all the help.   Going to be fun!

I suggest that you bring your favorite condoms and lube with you.

[vinapu]

6 hours ago, jdp103 said:

 

I have booked a tour guide for Saturday.  The KingKong building sounds like a must-see. 

Where is the best place to get condoms and lube?  I’m guessing I need to have them ready?

   Going to be fun!

Fun is sure bet

King Kong building is called MahaNakhon and you don, t need a guide for that. Opens at 10 and I suggest you go early. Crowds in the afternoon may be bigger and air cloudier/ hazier. 

Plenty of pharmacies and 7/11 stores in Silom area, all will help you with your condom and lube needs. Mouthwash too. 

[ichigo]

1 hour ago, vinapu said:

Plenty of pharmacies and 7/11 stores in Silom area, all will help you with your condom and lube needs. Mouthwash too. 

7/11 for sure, and in a pinch, some hotel mini bars stock them also. Bars guys usually bring some too.

[macaroni21]

9 hours ago, jdp103 said:

Is Grab the preferred taxi service?  Does it work like Uber – request a ride on the app?

Where is the best place to get condoms and lube?  I’m guessing I need to have them ready?

Grab works like Uber.

Unless you need condoms of king Kong size, 7-11s will be the easiest places to get condoms and lube. What you may wonder is where to find 7-11s. In Thailand, they are so numerous, you can hardly walk 300 metres anywhere without seeing one. 

[BiggusDikkus]

On 10/9/2022 at 9:05 PM, thaiophilus said:

For the first-time visitor I'd still recommend using a taxi. The train journey requires you to buy tickets, find your way on foot between stations and then from station to hotel, with luggage, in the heat, in a non-English-speaking environment with a weird alphabet, after a long flight, in the wrong time zone...

At some point culture shock is likely to strike. The "old hands" posting otherwise good advice here may have forgotten what that was like 🙃.

Old? That would be me. My first trip to Bangkok came in January 1996. I well remember arriving at my hotel, La Residence on Surawong ... by taxi ... because there was no train option. I am not so old, however, to have forgotten how excited I was to be in Bangkok. It was close to midnight, and I was wide awake after my journey, anxious to get out on the town. I couldn't wait to experience Silom Soi 4, especially the legendary Rome nightclub, which I had heard so much about.

So I showered as fast as I could and started making my way in what I figured was the direction of Soi 4.

Culture shock? I guess. I couldn't help but make a couple pit stops along the way. All that street food! And I missed the entrance to Soi 4 on my first pass. And on my second pass. Then when I found it I was redirected by a tout to a far-away go-go bar that was populated by the kind of bronze-skinned late teenage Adonises that "old hands" like me always reminisce about, wishing those days never ended.

Inside was a very dark bar. It was difficult to see, but one area had a beam of light. I was seated so I had a vantage point to that beam of light, which the go-go "boys" would walk through, big smiles on their faces and pulling their hard-ons out of their shorts.

Culture shock? Hell yeh! I had to be talked into inviting one over to have a drink with me. He had a perfect body. Tight, youthful muscles, the kind of definition some guys are born with and don't have to keep up with visits to the gym. He took my right hand and placed it on the inside of his left thigh, then squeezed his legs together. I could tell this was a practiced move, but he need not have worried. I had no intention of putting my hand back on my own lap.

There was of course a language gap. And there was pressure for me to take the Isaan beauty back to my hotel, for a fee. There were other incentives. Some French kissing. Him guiding my hand to various other parts of his fine body.

So there were indeed culture shocks that night, but nothing monolingual oafish me couldn't navigate.

I was in Bangkok.

Train or taxi? Don't sweat it. You're gonna be in Bangkok!

[fedssocr]

I prefer MahaNakhon at sunset so you can see the city in daylight and then as the lights come on.

I think the Grand Palace and surrounding area including Wat Po is also a must even though the tickets aren't cheap. These days it's easy to reach via MRT or by river boat. The public transport is fairly straightfoward if you have any experience with such systems.

You'll have a great time. I love the chaos of Bangkok.

[floridarob]

9 hours ago, fedssocr said:

I love the chaos of Bangkok.

now, isn't much ( l like it like this)...only traffic I've been in was Chinatown at night.

[VancBCMan]

On 10/25/2022 at 3:41 PM, fedssocr said:

I prefer MahaNakhon at sunset so you can see the city in daylight and then as the lights come on

Me too. Great to go there about an hour before sunset and watch the city as the sun goes down.

[Patanawet]

36 minutes ago, VancBCMan said:

On 10/26/2022 at 5:41 AM, fedssocr said:

I prefer MahaNakhon at sunset

 

From the inside yes, from the outside it is the most hideous amateuristic  piece of architecture since London's Southbank.

 

[jdp103]

What to say!  My trip was amazing.  One week was definitely not enough – but that means I have to come back!  I had some great meals (even tried the street food a couple times – that was a big thing for me).  Saw the Palace, took the boat ride (which I had remember seeing in the James Bond movie years ago).  I even walked out onto the glass at the top of the King Power tower.

I made it to 4 massage places.  I kind of felt I owed it to K-Man Spa since they keep sending me messages with pictures to select.  I went to a different club each evening – DreamBoys, Moonlight, FreshBoys, Tawan, Hot Male, and Jupiter.  Oh what times I had.  Each club fun, and each provided an “off” to spend the evening with.  I even tried 2 guys at the same time (remembering to let the first pick the second – as recommended on this blog).

I have to thank everyone on this blog.   If not for this, I don’t think I ever would have gone.  Reading the posts and trip reports gave me the courage to know I could do it.

Thanks again.  Looking forward to my next trip!

[Londoner]

Your next trip?

"Trips" more likely. Once bitten by the Thailand bug, you won't be able to escape its allure.  In my case, it led me to taking early retirement so that I could spend more time there. The best decision I ever made.

[TMax]

3 hours ago, jdp103 said:

Looking forward to my next trip

Another one hooked on Thailand and the charms of the guys there, welcome to the club 😐

[jason1975]

6 hours ago, jdp103 said:

 

I made it to 4 massage places.  I kind of felt I owed it to K-Man Spa since they keep sending me messages with pictures to select.  I went to a different club each evening – DreamBoys, Moonlight, FreshBoys, Tawan, Hot Male, and Jupiter.  Oh what times I had.  Each club fun, and each provided an “off” to spend the evening with.  I even tried 2 guys at the same time (remembering to let the first pick the second – as recommended on this blog).

Can you share which club you offed the two guys from?

[jdp103]

I got both boys from Hot Male.   I picked a boy I liked and between him and the waiter, they got the message I wanted another and pointed to a couple that would be willing and I selected between them.   It was fun!