Go to Thailand they said....it will be fun they said.... (Page 5 of 67)
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This was the second of two through mountain caves I went through. The large tourist boats seen after we exit the cave have been anchored there for almost two years rusting just waiting for travel restrictions to be lifted. My guide told me that during past tourist times the line of boats waiting to pass through this cave would be an hour waiting. He said that there were no other tourists in this entire national park but me. At my resort the only other "guests" staying there were Thais from the city of Bangkok down for a long weekend.  CAVE TUNNEL |
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Originally Posted By Hostile1: Yep. I never had understood the appeal. I would have to be desperate. Originally Posted By Hostile1: Originally Posted By MADMAXXX: Originally Posted By Spartikis: When I hear Thailand all I can think is Hookers To me that would seem like going to a buffet that only had one dish and 100 guys were dipping their spoons in it.  NTY Yep. I never had understood the appeal. I would have to be desperate. You guys know , there are more girls there that are not prostitutes then are prostitutes. They are here too. Its possible to go and not be interested in prostitutes Also it looks like a great place to Vaca with wife or girlfriend. But that would involve leaving the security of home. |
"There's an inner idiot in us just waiting to climb out and romp about in unabashed stupidity, but most people retain just enough wit to keep the idiot bottled up."
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Originally Posted By MADMAXXX: This was the second of two through mountain caves I went through. The large tourist boats seen after we exit the cave have been anchored there for almost two years rusting just waiting for travel restrictions to be lifted. My guide told me that during past tourist times the line of boats waiting to pass through this cave would be an hour waiting. He said that there were no other tourists in this entire national park but me. At my resort the only other "guests" staying there were Thais from the city of Bangkok down for a long weekend.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHwJMtgRyJQCool video op crazy cave, no one there but your boat even better. |
"There's an inner idiot in us just waiting to climb out and romp about in unabashed stupidity, but most people retain just enough wit to keep the idiot bottled up."
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Heading out toward James Bond Island. So called because it was featured in the 1974 movie. The man with the golden gun. Not another boat to be seen.  PANORAMIC VIEW OF ISLANDS |
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25 baht for an iced cappuccino. 10 baht for fresh fried donuts. Just over $1 USD total mmmmmm street food  Attached File |
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Originally Posted By MADMAXXX: 25 baht for an iced cappuccino. 10 baht for fresh fried donuts. Just over $1 USD total mmmmmm street food https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/522423/20210626_084908_jpg-1991405.JPG Lol wow Meanwhile mouth breathers gunna hate. Keep updating only thread worth paying for |
"There's an inner idiot in us just waiting to climb out and romp about in unabashed stupidity, but most people retain just enough wit to keep the idiot bottled up."
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I took a taxi over the mountain to Patong Beach where I rented this room for 895 Baht, about $28 USD. Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Attached File Shower had blinds that you could open up to watch someone shower from the bed room if you like.  Attached File |
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I love the bathrooms in Thailand. All tile for easy cleaning with a sprayer next to toilet and a floor drain. Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Yes you read that right. That room was $28  ETA Let's put that into perspective for a little bit. Those of you that have a house payment of $900, well this is less than that and it includes pool usage, free WIFI, electricity, water , sewage, no property taxes, maid service every day and it's 1/2 block from the beach. Also that's the daily rate they would give a big reduction on a monthly rental. Just sayin. |
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Less than 1/2 block from my hotel is this. Patong Beach Now if only I could make my way to the water through the crowds.  PATONG BEACH |
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Originally Posted By MADMAXXX: Less than 1/2 block from my hotel is this. Patong Beach Now if only I could make my way to the water through the crowds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX3BVpzG6-IHoly crap that's awesome. You've got the whole place to yourself! |
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Be careful walking especially at night as some areas are not well lit and there are sometimes irregular places in the sidewalks. This little irregularity measured about 3' x 5' and 3' deep. The one just like this in the previous block didn't have the protective sticks that this one has. Attached File |
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This is the cave that I climbed up to see on the island with the boat cave from the previous video. Given how Thailand has a DGAF view on safety and how my guide told me before I climbed up there "be careful it's dangerous" and he didn't follow me up the ladders, trail. Then looking at the totally rotten, skinny stick ladder down into the cave , I chose not to climb down into the cave.   I CLIMBED UP THE OUTSIDE OF THIS ISLAND TO SEE THIS DRY CAVE |
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While it looked very overcast and cloudy it actually was much brighter than my phone video camera shows. I had hoped to buy a GoPro camera in Pattaya before I left on this trip but could not find one there on short notice. My biggest fear on this boat trip was dropping my $1600+ USD dual SIM cell phone in the ocean losing it as well as both my USA and Thailand SIM cards and all of my pictures and videos.   PANORAMIC VIEW PART 1  PANORAMIC VIEW PART 2 |
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Originally Posted By MADMAXXX: I love the bathrooms in Thailand. All tile for easy cleaning with a sprayer next to toilet and a floor drain. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/522423/20210626_113255_jpg-1991572.JPGhttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/522423/20210626_113241_jpg-1991573.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/522423/20210626_113231_jpg-1991574.JPG That sprayer is commonly used to clean the dirt ditch after dropping the kids off at the pool. Helps cut down on the swamp ass. |
panem et circenses
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I just had a one hour Thai massage here with this amazing view and ocean breeze. She kneeded my back, leg,, arm, and neck muscles. Then when I was relaxed she twisted my back and made it crack six times. Better than a chiropractor.  Price was 300 baht about $9 USD I asked her how many customers that they have had. She said I was the first one in a month and yet these ladies come here every morning and stay until dark. I gave her 1000 baht and said keep the change. She was very happy. I told them that I hope when they open "operation sandbox " July 1st that they will have many customers. Attached File |
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Originally Posted By axl: If you get to Bangkok look up my old girlfriend. She worked out of the lobby at the American Hotel. Her name was "Number Eight". Since this was in 1970 I pretty sure she's moved to another career field. Or at least moved up the seniority board to number 1! |
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Expatistan Cost of Living Calculator I find the link above useful when I am pondering working or retiring abroad, or just for planning a vacation (helps to avoid getting ripped off). Of course, getting away from the main tourist areas (or going in the midst of a global pandemic ) helps too.You can input any two cities, I just chose to compare Phuket against St. Louis, because it's in roughly the middle of the country, and it's in Misery, while Phuket rhymes with... 
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Originally Posted By GTLandser: Expatistan Cost of Living Calculator I find the link above useful when I am pondering working or retiring abroad, or just for planning a vacation (helps to avoid getting ripped off). Of course, getting away from the main tourist areas (or going in the midst of a global pandemic ) helps too.You can input any two cities, I just chose to compare Phuket against St. Louis, because it's in roughly the middle of the country, and it's in Misery, while Phuket rhymes with... Often misspronounced Phuket is pronounced like "pooh-ket". Now when I was in the Ao Phang Nga National Park resort North of Phuket I was paying about $100 USD a night for a room which is extremely high for Thailand but you pay for the location there and that million dollar view. My normal travel budget is much less than $100 a day for great hotel, nice meals, drinks, transportation be it boat or taxi or train not airfare. This is in some of the nicest most desireable locations in Thailand. My beach front room on the island of Koh Samui was about $45 USD. I imagine that one would spend more than $100 USD a night for a Dollar Inn room in downtown Anywhere USA  My only airfare was $150 USD flight from Bangkok to Phuket after that my most expensive taxi was $30. Also Phuket is known to be an expensive area by Thailand standards. Wait until you see where I'm going tomorrow. |
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Originally Posted By MADMAXXX: 25 baht for an iced cappuccino. 10 baht for fresh fried donuts. Just over $1 USD total mmmmmm street food https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/522423/20210626_084908_jpg-1991405.JPG I ate so many questionable 10 baht meat skewers, basically anytime I walked by a vendor selling meat sticks, buy one for 10 baht. Also had some of the best fried chicken of my life from a street vendor in Bangkok. Also 10 baht per piece.   |
David_ESM: "Wait. So have you ever been cock bit by a goose?"
Kolat: "Yes"
Cock biting update (8/12/10) Kolat: "Yes. More then once."
Kolat: "Yes"
Cock biting update (8/12/10) Kolat: "Yes. More then once."
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Originally Posted By David_ESM: Thai street food is great, and you can get a fruit smoothie for $1, with some of the best fruit you have ever had in your life, EVERYWHERE. And if they add sweetener to any of the drinks, it is all cane juice, which can also be bought off the street from vendors crushing it on the curbside. I ate so many questionable 10 baht meat skewers, basically anytime I walked by a vendor selling meat sticks, buy one for 10 baht. Also had some of the best fried chicken of my life from a street vendor in Bangkok. Also 10 baht per piece. https://i.imgur.com/RhlnRdq.jpg https://i.imgur.com/m7W5ybG.jpg OK, so it tasted AMAZING going down (as they all do), but did it remain a good experience on the way out?  Also, how do we spot the good ones from the bad ones? |
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Originally Posted By GTLandser: OK, so it tasted AMAZING going down (as they all do), but did it remain a good experience on the way out? Also, how do we spot the good ones from the bad ones? The best, safest, street carts to buy from are the ones with the most customers waiting in line. Some you pick out the meat and they quick deep fry it right then. Some is precooked then researed on an open bed of coals. The only thing I avoid are the sauces that they might have in various squirt bottles or containers that are added after the food is cooked. These have been sitting around who knows how long in the hot weather and might contain some unsavory bacteria that our western tummies are not used to. I've never gotten sick from this food. |
View of the resort I was at in the National Park last week. Sametnangshe Boutique Resort |
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Originally Posted By David_ESM: Thai street food is great, and you can get a fruit smoothie for $1, with some of the best fruit you have ever had in your life, EVERYWHERE. And if they add sweetener to any of the drinks, it is all cane juice, which can also be bought off the street from vendors crushing it on the curbside. I ate so many questionable 10 baht meat skewers, basically anytime I walked by a vendor selling meat sticks, buy one for 10 baht. Also had some of the best fried chicken of my life from a street vendor in Bangkok. Also 10 baht per piece. https://i.imgur.com/RhlnRdq.jpg https://i.imgur.com/m7W5ybG.jpg |
king of depravity and prostitution LOL
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EE: 100% (26)
MO, USA
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Attached File At a new resort on a new island. Again I'm their only guest. They haven't had any guests for over 2 months. Before the chinease bio weapon was released almost 2 years ago they were 100% full every night. Walk from my room to beach. Oh and this room is 1000 baht, about $30 USD ETA as nice as Patong Beach in Phuket was, this water is 1000% clearer. Gonna get dinner and a few beers then go snorkeling.   WALK FROM ROOM TO BEACH KOH PHI PHI VILLA RESORT |
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The walk back to my room. ETA tomorrow I'm gonna move to a room right next to the beach for $6 more a night. Tired of all this walking  WALK FROM BEACH TO ROOM PHI PHI VILLAS RESORT |
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This is on the approach to Koh Phi Phi. In the picture below on the cliff face above the person with the black hat are two vertical cave openings. Notice how high up the cliff they are. In the second picture is a close up of these two caves. See the sticks attached to the cliff face. These were put here by some locals. Why you ask? Because a certain type of bird makes a nest using its own saliva in these caves. These nests are harvested by these locals and used in a type of soup which is a delicacy here in Thailand. They use these sticks to help them climb up the cliff face to harvest these nests. It must be a soup worth dying for. Attached File Attached File |
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Very Beautiful Great thread OP. It must seem other worldly being the only one there. Mrs TB and I are experienced travelers and it seems strange. Here's the funny part, I'm read your location as COFEFE. Any Trump flags? On that, what are the natives' current political opinion of the US? Enjoy, and keep them coming. |
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Originally Posted By Thugbuster: Very Beautiful Great thread OP. It must seem other worldly being the only one there. Mrs TB and I are experienced travelers and it seems strange. Here's the funny part, I'm read your location as COFEFE. Any Trump flags? On that, what are the natives' current political opinion of the US? Enjoy, and keep them coming. Every one here that I talked to loved President Trump. They think the election was stolen. They don't get brainwashed by the MSM like the sheeple in the USA. 
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Originally Posted By SpeechPathJunkie:  Things are sooo cheap right now. I'm probably heading to Rayong end of July. Im so spoiled from being here. Been here since last August. It's been great!! @SpeechPathJunkie Where are you currently located? My condo is in Pattaya that I use for a base to travel out of. |
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Originally Posted By MADMAXXX: Where are you currently located? My condo is in Pattaya that I use for a base to travel out of. Originally Posted By MADMAXXX: Originally Posted By SpeechPathJunkie: Things are sooo cheap right now. I'm probably heading to Rayong end of July. Im so spoiled from being here. Been here since last August. It's been great!! Where are you currently located? My condo is in Pattaya that I use for a base to travel out of. |
Award: Most likely to need to call the police 24/365
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Originally Posted By SpeechPathJunkie: Me and my family are renting a house in Bangkok. Bangna area. We will be here for at least the next six years. We haven't been doing any traveling between the restrictions, work, getting a house set up, and to my annoyance- a new dog. Awesome. Send me a PM when you go to Rayong. I'm on vacation that week. I'll buy a beer or 10. Be great to meet another ARFCOMMER here. |
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Originally Posted By MADMAXXX: Awesome. Send me a PM when you go to Rayong. I'm on vacation that week. I'll buy a beer or 10. Be great to meet another ARFCOMMER here. Originally Posted By MADMAXXX: Originally Posted By SpeechPathJunkie: Me and my family are renting a house in Bangkok. Bangna area. We will be here for at least the next six years. We haven't been doing any traveling between the restrictions, work, getting a house set up, and to my annoyance- a new dog. Awesome. Send me a PM when you go to Rayong. I'm on vacation that week. I'll buy a beer or 10. Be great to meet another ARFCOMMER here.
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Award: Most likely to need to call the police 24/365
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Originally Posted By SpeechPathJunkie: For sure. I'll have to see where in Rayong my husband said we were going. It has a bjj place with it. He's living the expat spouse life and doing bjj three times a week in Bangkok Awesome. I'm too old and busted for bjj . But I never miss watching a OneChampionship MMA fight online. ETA Angela Lee, Christian Lee, brother and sister world MMA champions and now their little sister Victoria Lee is up and coming. |
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I just talked to a young British fellow that lives here. He said before covid this bay would be so full of these long tail boats that you couldn't see the water.  Bay almost empty of boats |
king of depravity and prostitution LOL
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Posts:
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EE: 100% (26)
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Originally Posted By MADMAXXX: I just talked to a young British fellow that lives here. He said before covid this bay would be so full of these long tail boats that you couldn't see the water. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBtnrkXtPEkOver-tourism is really a scourge, I feel bad for these countries sometimes. I bet that water is cleaner now than it has been in years. |
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Originally Posted By GTLandser: Over-tourism is really a scourge, I feel bad for these countries sometimes. I bet that water is cleaner now than it has been in years. Yes the water is now much cleaner. Also due to these islands almost totally banning plastic bags. People shopping are expected to bring their own canvas bags. I carry a folding bag in my pocket for when I make purchases at the 711 or Family Mart. Ko Phi Phi Lee is the baby sister island to Koh Phi Phi. It is a mountainesa uninhibited island famous for Maya Bay. The beach on Maya Bay was closed 3 years ago to give the coral in that Bay a chance to regrow. The covid shutdown extended the growth period. I plan on boating over there this week to check it out, snorkel and tryout my new GoPro Hero9 Black
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Originally Posted By MADMAXXX: Also due to these islands almost totally banning plastic bags. Fucking EVERYTHING came in a plastic bag when I was there. Piece of fried chicken? Plastic bag. Fruit smoothie? Plastic cup in a plastic bag. Can of beer? Plastic bag. Side of white rice? Plastic bag. An entire fried pork chop? Plastic bag. Soup? Pour it directly into a heavy duty plastic bag, tie it off, then into a lighter plastic bag to carry. |
David_ESM: "Wait. So have you ever been cock bit by a goose?"
Kolat: "Yes"
Cock biting update (8/12/10) Kolat: "Yes. More then once."
Kolat: "Yes"
Cock biting update (8/12/10) Kolat: "Yes. More then once."
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320 of these to the view point #1 then a 1/4 mile uphill hike to view point #2. Attached File |