bangkok19

I try not to swallow!

Vaping is illegal in Thailand but it's happening at places (indoors and outdoors) around Bangkok, you need to get away from your keyboard more and venture out the front door and OPEN YOUR EYES. It's more widespread than you think. I suppose the next thing you're going to ask me is for names, dates and venues for proof! Lots of things are illegal in Thailand but are still happening.

Fact! I went upstairs and replaced my worn ATM BKK Bank Debit card, at that time (August last year) I was in town for just a few weeks (didn't even HAVE a visa). Lots of signatures required and plenty of general chit chat. I was asked by the lovely lady in conversation (not in an official capacity) where I'm living etc and after replying she just gave a big smile and gave me my new card and said "happy holiday". Re your request... Yes, I opened accounts on 3 occasions over the years with just a Tourist Visa in that very same spot. First time was in the 80's when there was actually a small Post Office up there within the bank. I've also had accounts with the TFB and later Kasikorn Bank. All opened with just a Tourist Visa! The one thing they did stipulate was to "keep the account active" which I do. You, Dr Jack are the typical keyboard warrior that spends your whole day on this site trying to disprove other contributors' personal experiences..... "please post fact"... Really????

Correct... just go upstairs, there are a couple of girls working there that are most helpful. Remember to dress correctly for the occasion.

When you gotta go, you gotta go!

Stickman wrote on a few occasions that he'd see him at the La Scala cinema quite often, and he'd always undo the top button of his trousers before sitting down!

I only ventured upstairs a few times and from memory it was to eat at the Derby King (?) .. they also did take away orders and delivered them to the nearby bars. Can't remember accessing there from the Foodland carpark though. The stairs were near Vinai's.

I once met a young Thai lady in Macca's (Robinson cnr Suk Soi 19) It was just after the opening of the Grande Sheraton opposite. I happened to mention to her that the hotel seemed to be constructed in a very short time. She then went on to tell me that the facade and much of the building was pre fabricated and all trucked in during nights. She was studying structures/architecture at Uni. A lengthy conversation that led to an inexpensive relationship for the next 3 week before I departed BKK. Our liasons were always at HER apartment and I always walked past her hotel's reception (well dressed)and said 'Hi' with a book in my hand. It sort've created the perception that my frequent visits were for business rather than pleasure. Maybe "face saving " for her

Patpong 2 was quite a buzz in the 80's... next to the Crown Royale was the RIFIFI BAR run by Mickey. It often was quite popular just before sunset onwards. Down the other direction was the CLEO BAR BEER ( later known as Vinai's). Anyone remember the old cashier? she was 110° in the shade. I actually saw her pay a visit to the bar last year. You can take an old girl outta the bar but you can't take the bar..... Also the EXECUTIVE BAR was quite posh in its day. I always remember the La Cherie (goldfish bowl) on Suriwong Rd at the end of PP2 near the Suriwong Hotel. It had a grand old escalator to get you down there, but you had steps to get back up. I'd sit at the big glass window with Kloster in hand with my nose pressed up against it watching all the girls applying make-up to each other.

Back in the early 80's as a young sex tourist the Night Owl column was my only source of bar news back in Oz in between trips. I had the pleasure of meeting Bernard in the Crown Royale (PP2) one afternoon. I was introduced to him by an old long gone Kiwi mate who appeared in a movie made at the time (in Thailand) called "COMEBACK" also starring Michael Landon. Back then a lot of the regulars used to rotate between the Madrid and the Crown Royale between lunchtime and sunset. When I was in town I'd mingle with them, hearing all the old stories of Patpong.... also met Neil Davis, an Aussie journo who was shot and killed in a coup in Bangkok mid 80's. His photo used to be on the wall in the GRAND PRIX BAR back in the day. In the small Soi linking PP1 and PP2 opposite the Crowne Royale used to be the SUPERSTAR BEER GARDEN, we'd often stop by there during afternoon happy hour (Amarit Draft 30 baht glass) and watch a video movie as well as the passing parade. Trink would occasionally stroll past some afternoons with friends enroute to either Madrid or Crowne Royale. Great memories.

Chez Marco and Da Stefano are my favorites for good food. Red Lion for the ambience and conversation.

Theories, theories, theories... I base my comments on stuff I've read or seen in documentaries, I wasn't here way back then, nor were you. Then again, you could believe the information you heard from a particular scientist who has said something different from the scientists I may have heard. Neither of us are right, neither of us are wrong. I'm just sick to death of the climate alarmism cr*p that's rammed down our throats. When people in high places with plenty of influence (U.N.) start telling the world that if we don't stop burning fossil fuels within the next 50 years the oceans will start to boil. Puleaze......

PET scans don't show up Pancreatic cancer. You gotta have an Endoscopy to enable Biopsy from pancreas. I'm Stage 4 PC. I have a strong family history of cancers, mother had it twice, father had it twice. The Genetics Research section of the Health Department here is doing special tests in my blood to see if I actually inherited it from my parents. If so, the current chemo treatment has to be altered.

The Climate change Cycle is a reality and has already, and will into the future, CHANGE, with or without our help. We're probably fortunate that the ocean (and the Earth's) temperature is warming up.. record crops growth around the world currently - food sustains life! The current alarmism has turned climate change into the climate industry, lots of people making money out of it, which isn't a bad thing. At this point if time on this Earth, I'd prefer to be here now, as opposed to some time in the distant future when world temperatures are dropping! Plenty of reason to worry then. I doubt whether humanity could survive an ice age... the Dinosaurs certainly didn't!

In 2004 I was doing exactly the same things as I do now... cummuting several times a year between Bangkok, Sukhothai and Chiangmai. Unfortunately my old hotel in Bangkok (The Honey) is now a construction site with a 14 meter hole in the ground. My farm in Sukhothai has a nice modern house in it as opposed to the shack back in '04. My old hotel's in Chiangmai have changed names - the Montri to just plain "M" and Rydges to the Amora. If we go back another 20 years to '84. My old(er) hotel in Chiangmai was the Anodard and I'm really happy to see it ain't changed much. Twenty years ago in Thailand I was walking everywhere, drinking way too much and enjoying the company of friends. Unfortunately about 75% of my farang friends that lived in Thailand back then have passed away. I'm living between Australia and Thailand so get the best of both worlds. I may be retired now but I thought the world was a better place back in 2004. Of course Boxing Day of that year was the exception.