vinapu

peace of life may be slow in Laos but they have fastest trains in SE Asia

You should be able to exchange them but that may require bit of canvassing and rate you get will be bit worse than of new emission notes. I saw that disclaimer in some booths in Bangkok but for the hell of me can't recall where. I'd try Xone in Suriwong or Super Rich in Silom Plaza( where Arena is ) , if that won't work try some banks branches along Silom. Bangkok Bank was rightly mentioned above I don't think you will be subject of double conversion if you withdraw money from Polish account in ATM but rate may not be the best and you will pay 220 baht of withdrawal fee on top of what your Polish bank may charge you. At end of day , don't panic , just try few more popular places starting with ones by the train station in the airport. Let us know how it went. By the way I think Kantors are bullshitting you by claiming there's nation wide shortage of banknotes of new emission. Local US consulate would laugh at you if you asked then for help, it's not what consulates are for .

Day 5 part 2 Next stop of our tour was tea plantation, high in the hills. That was one of those obligatory commercial stops but at least they served us light lunch and views were nice. Then off to Sop Ruak, place where Myanmar , Loas and Thailand meet in confluence of Mekong and Ruak rivers. That the once infamous Golden triangle , it used to be lawless opium growing area , hence notoriety but now is serene place with good views and only Opium Museum reminds us about that past. Museum is quite interesting and manageable and we got some time to stroll along the river to marvel at other two countries. While Myanmar side looks serene , on Laos side there’s new Chinese built city and while I’m not against development , it looks bad in such beautiful spot. monument on tops of the hill above the triangle Buddha guards border from Thai side sharp end of Myanmar, Laos across the Mekong Main accent of that city is not the temple , mind you , but casino. Since in my opinion we did not had enough time to back in Golden Triangle I made decision to return there after tomorrow. stop by rice fields on way back By time we returned to Chiang Rai , about 1 hr. drive away it was dark already . S decided to spend 1 hr in the hotel’s gym then we went to Night Market , about 30 minutes walk from hotel to eat something and check offerings but I can’t say stuff on the stalls was very unique , mostly the same one can buy in another tourist markets all over Thailand. Back in hotel for well deserved rest after such busy day if one can call ‘rest’ sharing bed with handsome hunk who is quite grateful for his vacations here. Alarm clock set for 7 am just in case

XSize in soi Twilight

let us know how it went please

you dirty mind !

relax, it's not your penis but that idiot's

The same here but after I developed uniformed response " I give money only when we meet in my room" message seems to sink in

Day 5 part 1 Alarm rung but it was only me who woke up to it, S decided to linger in bed bit longer but it turned Ok as we were still waiting for our van after hotel’s breakfast. First stop was famous White Temple. They gave us 1 hr. which is by far not enough. Never mind impressive temple, admiring almost as impressive toilet complex could take half of time. and then impressive toilets: But that is nature of organized trips, logistics is taken care of but often at expense of spending not enough time in some places and way too much in others. So we need to take good with bad. Certainly whole complex is worth a trouble of getting to Chiang Rai, even if just to visit that temple IMNSHO. Even if it was relatively early – we came to the temple at 9 am there were tons of visitors. Next step was Blue Temple, almost equally impressive and equally crowded but toilet complex not even close to one at White Temple Then on to Black House , temple like collection of different oddities including at least 20 crocodile skins and live buffalo . As for toilet – sign leaves nothing to imagination. All those places are close to the city but not really walking distance. Then off to Karen’s village. It’s bit of tourist trap but curiosity took over but at least it looks like village with people living there , animals wandering freely and only main street is more like market than village street. I was most impressed with long neck lady with all those rings talking over smartphone, XV century met XXI. Village guardians : part 2 of the day - Golden Triangle to follow

Day 4 HC left at 6 and I got some sleep. Past 8 I went for a breakfast to Ibis Styles, they have a deal , buffet breakfast for 250 and it’s extremely good value. After that short survey of Patpong market and back to hotel to pack up. Most of my stuff I’m leaving there as I will be returning to the same place . That part is usually easy for me as I’m used and well trained to travelling light. S showed at hotel on the dot, whole in smiles and we went to Don Muang by usual BTS+Mrt+ SRT red line way. All very smooth although they removed from his luggage some big bottle of body lotion but he kind of expected it. In order not to lead into temptation we were seating separately as one never knows where his hand may land in the plane full of people. Taxi for 180 to our hotel, The Space but south of city center but still walking distance there. We both are in Chiang Rai for the first time. After shower we went to the city , on our way had some local meal 200- for both and secured an adventure for tomorrow – for 1000 per person I bought trip to the Golden Triangle, whole day , visiting 7 places. Soon after dark we retired to hotel as I claimed I’m tired while in fact all I wanted was some intimacy with such a hunk. That turned out easy to have. I guess he felt bit indebted. Second very sweet night in row , I’m afraid to become diabetic. Alarm set for 6.45 am. Few pictures from evening walk in Chiang Rai

Day 3 Today I’m free of social obligations with my friend owing to little lie – I told him I’m going to Chiang Rai today. I will meet him again at end of trip but he will not know it until it actually materializes. Time from arrival was pretty intensive and I feel lazy today wasting precious vacation time in the room or wandering on the market behind the hotel. At 3 pm I mobilized myself to go to Foodland for a soup #4 on the menu – chicken rice soup. Nothing special but since I discovered thanks to one of boys it’s my daily staple whenever I feel hungry but not very hungry. S is very excited with tomorrow’s trip, packed already and sent me picture proudly reporting it’s only 7 kg – I warned him about carry-on limit. From Foodland I went to soi Pluk Chit but not to have massage at Sabaidee Spa or Sanctuary by A but to get a haircut for 100 baht – that is heavily local area with prices to match , on my way back I went to check new mall on corner of Rama 4 and Witthayu roads, Parade or whatever is called. I’m not mall person so only mildly impressed. Returning to hotel I checked new shiny Squrrel House hotel in former BBB Inn location. Looks really very new, if only prices would be more user friendly. Tired with doing nothing whole day and hungry after dark I returned to Foodland for a meal and then parked myself over Chang in front of Banana Club where I was supposed to meet ichigo who showed up on the dot as we agreed. We exchanged latest gossips as he is at end of his very long trip and after gulping beer and gin/ tonic we discussed next steps which turned out to be Dreamboys. I was hoping either Handsome Cambodian ( HC )or Vu Thy, another Cambodian will be there and indeed HC spied me right after he showed up on the scene. I saw him many times but honestly his smile was broadest of them all ( we had unsmiling meetings too ). Using excuse of siting with ichigo I kept him in suspense for a while before inviting him to seat and have a drink. Something good happened in his life or he was on Prozac because I never saw him so happy before. Seeing me, the trusted ATM, was only tiny part of this happiness . Of course we agreed on LT tonight , went to Foodland to get a bite and then to the room. I always liked HC and tonight I was genuinely happy to see such great change of his mood to a super upbeat. He told me bit about his plans for future as well as troubles of the past and was unusually clingy – he usually maintained cool macho appearance but tonight was extract of sweetness. That was transformation I was happy to see. Happy reunion indeed.

Glad to hear you arrived in one piece and are happy from the start. Have fun, no doubt you will

nothing dumb about the idea. Luck smiles at us often only once and if we don't catch now , next time may never happen. saying that I think Jason is still right, stick to original plan. I say it for selfish reason will be waiting for your report from Tokyo where I never been other than overnight in hotel by Narita

Day 2 During our time together I mentioned casually that in few days I’m going to Chiang Rai. S immediately jumped on that wagon saying he wants to go with me. It was exactly what I was planned and hoped for . As traveler companion he is second to none, interested in sightseeing and never complaining about anything. I enjoyed his company in Siem Reap year ago so consider him well tested as co-traveler. I asked him to send me his passport details do I can buy him ticket and we worked out financial details – i.e , all expenses paid, I will pay off fee for 4 days and his compensation will be what I paid him for long time less 1000. Judging from his reaction he would be happy to just go no matter what I offer to pay. Sweet taste of vacations I guess. He declined breakfast offer so I went to UNESCO listed Foodland alone and was surprised how full it was that morning. I claimed last and only available table. Then I went to see my friend , only to learn he had one of his stupid ideas opting for Chatuchak Market so I tagged along. As always it was crowded and very hot. Since we are both jet lagged after few hours of wandering we felt need to rest. Ok , I was feeling quite good but did not want to waste that opportunity to part ways so claimed to be sleepy as well and on Siam station we went our own ways. In the room I bought S a ticket using my tablet as I’m under own strict order not to use phone for any financial transaction unless absolutely necessary. Not sure that strictness served me well but more on that later. Being so close to the bed I soon collapsed on it but not before setting alarm for 9 pm again. For supper I went to G’Bangkok warmly welcomed by Guido the owner as well as Banana barker from across the soi who recognized me immediately and even went as far as to say he is lucky because tomorrow morning he is going to see him mother somewhere in Issan. I forced some tip on him to help with his bus fare. As for bar to visit I opted for The One (Tawan) curious how they are coping after Atlas sucked so many of their employees. Two or three barkers outside were veterans, one even immediately inquired discretely if I would entertain an option to take him with me LT. Inside there were handful of customers and few boys from old crew. One of them , true veteran who I mentioned few times in my report as guy who gave me second worst performance and then year or two later best off of them all immediately suggested I buy him a drink but I politely declined – last time I offed him he cut meeting short claiming he parked his motorbike in wrong place and then 5 minutes later asked for taxi money ! On the stage was one new guy, quite hunky , I’d say twunk +++ sporting very handsome face and surprise, surprise , two brothers who I met first in Arena back in 2013. One of them, Dit was actually very instrumental in me visiting Tawan for first time. We were passing by on the way to BBB Inn and he suggested we step in to see big boys. It’s how I discovered Tawan charms. Now 13 years later I see him on the stage of Tawan’s new incarnation. His brother Fai is one of best masseurs I even had pleasure with . Since tonight I had other designs, I finished my beer, tipped both brothers and new , handsome guy and went my way. Not sure about show at The One as I left about 10.30. I walked around the area to finally land myself at Moonlight . It was 11 pm and show was on. Bar was quite empty with perhaps 10 spectators which was less than number of waiters and mamasans. Certainly there’s some crisis there and for the hell of me , I don’t know why as I still consider that bar the best and feel the best visiting there eve if at least one of their mamasans has nasty habit of leeching to me as soon as I sit down. I was hoping to see Y but was told he took few days off . show always stop mid time for boys parade and quite of them , familiar faces . mostly already rehearsed at least once tried to attract my attention and was even one who tried equally hard not to notice me even if we met in Nov and parted ways on good terms. In absence of Y, leechy mamasan pointed at another attractive guy , not knowing that it was the guy I tipped yesterday at Hot Male – on weekend nights 3 Moonlight dancers boys we giving guest performance at Hot Male between 11.45 and midnight. Practice discontinued week or two later with change of Hot Male’s ownership. So if mamasan and me are synchronized it left me no option than to call guy over. Well built , from up close even more impressive than from distance, nice smile , good English. LT declined but with me being freshly arrived is not crucial so we settled on not so short short time. While walking M told me why he is so well built – he is runner and plays volleyball so sporty type and it shows. We weren’t hungry so did not stop anywhere. Great meeting and I was happy even if he left before promise time – I need some sleep and likely he noticed it so clumsily claimed he needs to go to bar because he forgot something . OK, ok no harm done. He left me happy with the choice tonight.

good you pointed it out. I use that staircase often if I want , for this reason or that , avoid barkers from bars on street level.

they do. What spoils it for them are inconsiderate customers taking photos and clips of the performances, it's why the masks. It seems that often announcements about " not photo" falls on deaf ears. One of our members actually witnessed manager throwing Asian couple out of Tawan exactly for that infraction. I don't like masks either but bask in knowledge that if I want to see their face when they shoot out I can always off them and ask for private show.

rest assured he will be happy to see you whenever you return

you are on something. Sometimes your contacts may be bombarding you with messages annoyingly often. One of guys I have Line of sends me messages to dress warmly because he saw on TV there's snow in my city. Or take umbrella because it was raining . All I can say is ' thank you Mom" but even my mother was not nagging me that way- we kids were free to get frozen or wet if we wished.

Guy sets you on fore and you did not off him on your last night ? talk about wasted opportunities. Even if he was not perfect first time , that fire thing should steer you toward giving him a second chance. By the way , if I off guy and I'm not happy with him I usually skip visiting his bar till next trip to avoid awkward looks ................... you don't need anybody's permission to give them a tip if you inclined to. I have habit of tipping 100 baht best looking guy on the stage just for looking pretty. Sometimes they are surprised because we didn't even cross the eyes. very good that you did it discretely specialy that amount was substantial . Sometimes his friends may be jealous or worse , mamasans want their cut even if they did not do anything to facilitate meeting or sitting. ............................ 5-6 hours of sleeping in Bangkok is wasting precious vacation time . What's wrong with you ?, lol

what about buying cheap SIM card ? than you will have Thai number and all issues will be straightened up. Ancient Romans used to say " when in Rome buy Roman SIM card" , it should work in Thailand this age too

or worse, God forbid it could be in the moment you will be leaving hotel on your way to the airport

indeed , always works for me

he is nobody

not quite, they even fought brief war in 1979

if I hate something in Thailand is that habit frequently seen in bars, performers or boys ( no doubt girls too in their bars) are offered a shot wrapped in 100 baht note