teelack

The point that you make is good in that this whole world wide obsession with PC gone mad is either badly named products or sheer stupidity. Really, it doesnt matter what or why anything that happened in a historical sense should be pilloried. I know little about the founding of the USA but I seem to recall a pivotal point was a bunch of white guys dressing up as Indians (Sorry indigenous people.). Try as you might you cannot re write history even if you believe that 'Back to the future' was real! Incidentally, normal ice is easy enough to see but what makes black ice different is that it cannot be seen and hence it poses a greater danger,

Thinking through this topic. Really, does the crime of Multicolour Mail sound better than Blackmail? Then there is the problem at the various Retox bars in Pattaya. Will the Big Breakfast have Dark Shaded Pudding on the menu? Like many places, NZ will have to review all those signs that say "Caution-Black Ice". Perhaps Caution - Not White Ice"? Then there are all the Welshmen who have been with Blackface Sheep. Perhaps they can be simply be called "Sun Tanned Sheep". The mind boggles but I cannot have black thoughts about it.

Just like Beethoven then?

Thanks for the topic. As you say, its not Thailand but I am interested in hearing anyones take on the good and bad differences between the two destinations. Its a long while since I was in Spain and as I recall it I seemed to end up in those little dive clubs that la8rat mentions where the white rum was cheaper than the Coke. That was a sure way to obliterate yourself!

Ooooops Pete, I forgot to remember the free Sontam. Nothing makes me slow down my eating and drinking like the aroma of sontam! Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

Hi there Pete and be thankful that you are not freezing your bits off in Christchurch. I admit that I don't visit the PBG as much as I did in times past. I will say however that almost every trip I go there a few times. It is possibly the best place to take a Thai girl in Pattaya when you want a place where the food, ambience and service all arrive in the one place. Best wishes to you and the team there. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

My ideal trip is to double up and spend a couple of months in Thailand. Like everyone else however I have a lot more questions than answers. It really comes down to so many factors and it would require my home, any transit points and Thailand to be done with any form of isolation/quaratine. There is also the troubling aspect of health insurance and I really would hate to travel without it however as I have mentioned elsewhere I would get my bank to extend the limit on my credit card to say, $50,000 Then there are the costs. Will there still be great accommodation bargains? Will the reduced number of airlines and possible seating changes increase the costs massivly? Will there be financial disincentives to travel overseas from my own government? There is however one other thing that I keep hearing that I am unsure about. This is the savings to be made by not travelling. All very well but the interest rates universally are still dropping so my investments have taken a hammering and like others I did some dollars on the sharemarket retreat and the volitility could cost m more in the future. I have been buying shares while prices have been down but I am still uncertain if its the "Never try to catch a falling knife" syndrome and I will get burned further. I guess the bottom line is that none of us know how this will pan out and making plans is an exercise in futility.

Thanks for taking the time and effort with this TR. While its a bit sad seeing Bangkok as it is now it did bring back memories. The Soi 20 area including the Rembrandt are all part of my history in the place, not forgetting the Crazy House as well. It does also show that even in these strange times an interesting trip report is always possible especially when you are stuck at home without an actual date to return.

In fairness, I believe most casual forum members are looking to converse informally. As I tell people, I don't need to know the Thai word for philately as I don't come to Thailand to collect postage stamps! It's as much about daily usage and an addition to the Thai holiday experience as learning the language. As I have already conceded, at my age tones are almost impossible therefore I am always looking for ways to communicate with the locals wherever I go. Incidentally, experience has taught me that a few minutes with a good Thai speaking Farang is always time very well spent. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

This has been tried in the past but to no avail. As I read it the forum has not grown at all. It's years since I have seen a post in Hotels /Accommodation. I suggested a regular forum to assist people wanting to learn Thai but there was no interest. Seems like most people want to discuss politics judging by the number of password protected topics. So very sad for something called Pattayatalk.com. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

Thank you Mr. Fiend. I have downloaded the app and yes, good stuff. I also noticed yesterday that I in the first week of August Thai Air is due to fly to almost 50 destinations including most Australia main centers and in my case, Auckland. Needless to say, the devil is in the detail and it's all irrelevant if there are border controls in the various destinations that put people into isolation or if there are onerous conditions for insurance and health documents. Also and just as important, I won't be traveling to Thailand just to go to a beer bar. Some of the attractions that set the place apart from vanilla world need to be reopening. It is at least a positive move and gives hope. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

Yes, perhaps they are prostitutes. Yes perhaps they swap sex for money. Perhaps they offer someone a deal that they believe to be 100 % fair because in addition to sex they are offering in many cases a GFE. Many people come to Thailand precisely because of what is on offer and don't regret a second of their time or money. In my own case I am very happy to have a TGF (in some peoples minds a prostitute) and am happy to call bar owners my friends (pimps?) and sometimes send some money for food in a time of crisis (a fool?). I am completely open about this but certainly believe that I am not being a hypocrite. I can not see anything that happens in Thailand happening in my home world at any price. I will be happy to be a passenger on the first plane back. Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

I admit to useing comments like TGF in my posts. On the phone she calls me her husband. So far, so good but lets get real. If and when the bars and clubs open in Pattaya there will be a lemming like rush to fill the coffers, send home school money and sadly, get a new tattoo! It all sounds like I am being very cynical about this but I would call it realism. I have oft said that if I was an on-going sponsor I might have expectations but experience tells most of it that the girls reaction will be to get another, and another sponsor rather than getting up at 5.00 am in the back blocks to put the rice on. In other words I can 100%, with total honesty say that my girls has never cheated on me! She will and has however being making money and not by carol singing. How many times have we heard the expression "Its just a customer and I am working". One of the worst errors make in Thailand is super imposing Western standards and our personal expectations. The people are not the same. Their way of life and culture is not the same. Their lives, expectations and living conditions (in the main) are not the same. To be honest I think that on a board like this and with a bunch of mongers the question is naive or someone is leading us on.

Question. Can you really cheat on a customer? Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

Yet again well done for making something out of almost nothing. Perhaps a new career as a chef beckons? There is one sub culture that I believe should get your investigative juices flowing. As I understand it there are a hell of a lot of falang bar managers and owners assiting each other to look after the girls and get totally pissed on a nightly basis. Its a way of keeping their bar aired and to stop the draught ale getting stale. its what you know is who...