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Imago said: I would also like to add that Thai Pop music is about as bad as German pop music. Possibly worse, but I'm not quite sure yet.
You know I HAVE to ask. How about the body odor? Hey loudmouth, shut the fuck up, right? |
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Phishanga said: Imago said: I would also like to add that Thai Pop music is about as bad as German pop music. Possibly worse, but I'm not quite sure yet.
You know I HAVE to ask. How about the body odor? I would guess Dan smells about the same minus Starbucks on his breath. No More Haters on the Internet. | |
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Imago said: ok, here's a few things so far:
3. This city is disgustingly polluted. You can smell the smoke in the stifling hot, humid, air here, and despite ultra modern high rises everywhere, much of the city is a sprawling mess of delapitated buildings covered in water stains and mold. Which is precisely why it's best to live in the suburbs or just outside Bangkok. Surely Nonthaburi where you've been staying isn't too bad? Here in Suanphak it's getting more crowded but the air is still noticeably different to being in town. 5. The subway here is the cleanest subway I have ever scene. It makes London's subway look like a cesspool, and certain is cleaner than Paris's grimy subway. Unlike London and Paris, the rail is blocked by a wall of glass and doors open only when the train is stopped. This allows A/C in the station, and trains themselves are air conditioned. The experience of the subway and the skytrain (both connected at two stations) is a joy. I wish their routes were more extensive though.
I've only been on the skytrain, not the subway. I was impressed with how clean the skytrain was. I can't imagine there EVER being any graffiti there. 6. The gay section of Bangkok aong Silom road is crawling with white folks. It's also very seedy feeling and I did not enjoy it. I got a good deal of attention, but being a foreigner, I would. Oddly, half the white guys ignored me as they were looking for petite 'real' Thais  . I found the entire experience to be even more extreme than the often disgusting gay meat markets in the US. Soi 3 which is 'straight' wasn't much better.I remember walking along with my parents near Soi Nana and girls were coming up to my father and propositioning him, even with my mother walking nearby (behind, talking with Mon). 
7. China Town kicks arse. The food smells great, but I'm a germaphobe so I haven't yet convinced myself to go to a roadside stand and try something.
Try it! Especially dishes with duck. Also, goji berries are cheap there. About $14 a kilo. 
8. The charm of Bangkok is the people. Everything else repulses me. If not for the Thai people I would want to run like hell from this place. It's too big, too crowded, and too polluted. I believe Bangkok has 8.6 million official residents. Add 2 million undocumented residence, and then add day commuters, and at any given time in the city you can have 12 to 15 million people in it. It's simply massive. That's 3 to 4 times the population of the entire country of Wales, and without the beautiful scenery.
Certainly most people seem to have a love/hate relationship with Bangkok. I couldn't live in the centre, I know that. That's why you want to live outside the centre of the city, but close enough to be able to pop in and enjoy what it has to offer.  The population of Bangkok all depends on what you count as being part of Bangkok. The city proper probably has 8 or 9 million people, but depending on what you include as being in the Greater Bangkok Area it can be over 12 million. Is Nonthaburi part of Bangkok? Not actually a district in Bangkok, I don't think, but it gets a bit blurred as the city expands. I predict that at some point down the line even places like Nakhon Pathom 30-40 mins from here will effectively be part of Bangkok. If you don't include places like Nonthaburi as being part of Bangkok then all such places automatically become the 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc. most populated cities in Thailand. Nowhere else has more than 250,000 people in it.
9. Everything is cheap. VERY cheap. I had a latte at Starbucks that would have easily cost me 4 bucks in the US for about 30 cents here. Amazing.
No. Just no. There is no way you bought anything in Starbucks for 10 baht. You can't even get a coffee on the street for less than 15 or 20 baht. I'm pretty sure coffees at Starbucks start around maybe 90-120 baht ($3) unless there's something I'm not aware of. 
I think you can learn to take from Bangkok as and when you need it. I share a lot of your feelings about it and honestly could never see me putting up with many aspects of it if I were surrounded by it every single day. You've got to find somewhere nice to live, preferably not too far out but with a nice village-like, community feel. Yesterday I spent over 2 hours in taxis during 2 journeys that at other times of the day would've only added up to 45 minutes. Things like that do my head in, but most of the time once you've worked out the lay of the land you can avoid things like that and be quite efficient in Bangkok, finding easier ways to get around, nice places to hang out, good restaurants to eat in and cool places to do your shopping. I can HATE this city and still love living in it. | |
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Phishanga said: Imago said: I would also like to add that Thai Pop music is about as bad as German pop music. Possibly worse, but I'm not quite sure yet.
You know I HAVE to ask. How about the body odor? I smell far worse than the Thais cause I sweat too much here. Thai's don't seem to really sweat as much in the heat. Also, they shower a lot. I like German's even if you all smell  | |
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Imago said: I would also like to add that Thai Pop music is about as bad as German pop music. Possibly worse, but I'm not quite sure yet.
Not Sek Loso.  I LOVE their music, as you can see from my Facebook. Otherwise I completely agree. Have you had the misfortune of seeing Academy Fantasia on TV yet? It's like a Thai version of American Idol meets Big Brother but without any interesting characters, drama, or talent. When they butcher English language songs it is terribly amusing though.
How about Thai comedy? I've seen a few quite funny Thai movies and the commercials are hilarious, but that slapstick shit just confuses the hell out of me. I'm looking at Mon thinking 'what, are you 8 years old??' but then I remember that for the most part Thais don't want to get too deep and just want something easy and fun to entertain them. That's why so many deep conversations you might like to get into often get ended prematurely with a frustrating 'don't serious na'. | |
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Fauxie, what parts of town does your wife like?
Is Silom or Sukumvit cool? I haven't been to Sukumvit in ages. | |
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Imago said: Phishanga said: You know I HAVE to ask. How about the body odor? I smell far worse than the Thais cause I sweat too much here. Thai's don't seem to really sweat as much in the heat. Also, they shower a lot. I like German's even if you all smell Have you noticed how they are often almost scared of the sun and rain though, as if getting caught in either will cause them to spontaneously combust and die? Going out in the sun will give you a fever. Going out in the rain will give you a fever. They don't get crazy Brits like me who love the sun and are used to walking in the rain without an umbrella. | |
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Imago said: Fauxie, what parts of town does your wife like?
Is Silom or Sukumvit cool? I haven't been to Sukumvit in ages. She likes Khao San Road because she's familiar with it and knows stacks of people there. It's also closer to us than Sukhumwit or Silom. She likes around Sukhumwit near MBK, Siam Square, Siam Paragon and all that though. I like MBK for shoes and clothes shopping. These days we pretty much either go to MBK and around there, Khao San Road, or Pinklao (which in 10 years could be the new Sukhumwit, I think) and that's about the limit of where we go in Bangkok 90% of the time unless we've got visa stuff to do or are going for the odd meal with friends (and I never remember where it is) or visiting Max way out in Bang Bua Thong. When we want to break the routine with something interesting we usually travel outside of Bangkok for that, say to the floating market near Ratchaburi or to see family in Suphanburi. | |
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Fauxie said: Imago said: I smell far worse than the Thais cause I sweat too much here. Thai's don't seem to really sweat as much in the heat. Also, they shower a lot. I like German's even if you all smell Have you noticed how they are often almost scared of the sun and rain though, as if getting caught in either will cause them to spontaneously combust and die? Going out in the sun will give you a fever. Going out in the rain will give you a fever. They don't get crazy Brits like me who love the sun and are used to walking in the rain without an umbrella.
I've only noticed the Sun thing. Americans hate the rain too. Believe it or not there are parts in the world that done' rain every day like England or Thailand 
But my mom hates the sun. I think they just don't want to look "dark" | |
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Fauxie said: Imago said: Fauxie, what parts of town does your wife like?
Is Silom or Sukumvit cool? I haven't been to Sukumvit in ages. She likes Khao San Road because she's familiar with it and knows stacks of people there. It's also closer to us than Sukhumwit or Silom. She likes around Sukhumwit near MBK, Siam Square, Siam Paragon and all that though. I like MBK for shoes and clothes shopping. These days we pretty much either go to MBK and around there, Khao San Road, or Pinklao (which in 10 years could be the new Sukhumwit, I think) and that's about the limit of where we go in Bangkok 90% of the time unless we've got visa stuff to do or are going for the odd meal with friends (and I never remember where it is) or visiting Max way out in Bang Bua Thong. When we want to break the routine with something interesting we usually travel outside of Bangkok for that, say to the floating market near Ratchaburi or to see family in Suphanburi. ok, girlfriend, I'm looking on the map and I see a train station nearby, but can't figure out if the skytrain or subway reaches it. Help an Asian out! | |
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Imago said: Fauxie said: Have you noticed how they are often almost scared of the sun and rain though, as if getting caught in either will cause them to spontaneously combust and die? Going out in the sun will give you a fever. Going out in the rain will give you a fever. They don't get crazy Brits like me who love the sun and are used to walking in the rain without an umbrella.
I've only noticed the Sun thing. Americans hate the rain too. Believe it or not there are parts in the world that done' rain every day like England or Thailand
But my mom hates the sun. I think they just don't want to look "dark" God, I don't miss the rain in England. When it's just a light drizzle here though it's no thing to just walk for 5 mins and back in it to buy something from the corner. I don't see what the big deal is. When I used to sunbathe in the front yard people walking by would literally stop and come to the gate and check to see that I was ok (as in, not dead? why could this man be lying on the floor in the sun??)
Yeah, there's the not wanting to look dark thing too. 
I have no tan at the moment so I'm a better person than I used to be. 
So whatchu wanna do today? Go do some shopping first, or sightseeing, or just have lunch and a few beers and take it from there? Longtail boat on the canal? Karaoke? Or just chill out and talk. | |
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Imago said: Fauxie said: She likes Khao San Road because she's familiar with it and knows stacks of people there. It's also closer to us than Sukhumwit or Silom. She likes around Sukhumwit near MBK, Siam Square, Siam Paragon and all that though. I like MBK for shoes and clothes shopping. These days we pretty much either go to MBK and around there, Khao San Road, or Pinklao (which in 10 years could be the new Sukhumwit, I think) and that's about the limit of where we go in Bangkok 90% of the time unless we've got visa stuff to do or are going for the odd meal with friends (and I never remember where it is) or visiting Max way out in Bang Bua Thong. When we want to break the routine with something interesting we usually travel outside of Bangkok for that, say to the floating market near Ratchaburi or to see family in Suphanburi. ok, girlfriend, I'm looking on the map and I see a train station nearby, but can't figure out if the skytrain or subway reaches it. Help an Asian out! How about we meet you at MBK first, maybe have a wander, then go to Khao San together? Surely easier for you to get to. Are there any minivans going into to the city near where you live? They can be a bit stuffy though.  | |
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Fauxie said: Imago said:
I've only noticed the Sun thing. Americans hate the rain too. Believe it or not there are parts in the world that done' rain every day like England or Thailand
But my mom hates the sun. I think they just don't want to look "dark" God, I don't miss the rain in England. When it's just a light drizzle here though it's no thing to just walk for 5 mins and back in it to buy something from the corner. I don't see what the big deal is. When I used to sunbathe in the front yard people walking by would literally stop and come to the gate and check to see that I was ok (as in, not dead? why could this man be lying on the floor in the sun??)
Yeah, there's the not wanting to look dark thing too.
I have no tan at the moment so I'm a better person than I used to be.
So whatchu wanna do today? Go do some shopping first, or sightseeing, or just have lunch and a few beers and take it from there? Longtail boat on the canal? Karaoke? Or just chill out and talk. no karaoke,
I've been to a Thai karaoke before and .... juts no.
I hate shopping, but if there's super cheap places that sell bangkok t-shirts, ect. that could be fun. I've always wanted to send rushing07 an authentic knockoff versace shirt and shit. Bare in mind, If I'm in the sun for a long time or walking around...I will sweat...and I will start to smell... This place is torture. I'll get a hotel in Silom or Sukumvit, and then just meet you guys out there in the ghetto. BUt you'll have to show me how to get their facebook me your phone number. | |
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Imago said: Fauxie said: God, I don't miss the rain in England. When it's just a light drizzle here though it's no thing to just walk for 5 mins and back in it to buy something from the corner. I don't see what the big deal is. When I used to sunbathe in the front yard people walking by would literally stop and come to the gate and check to see that I was ok (as in, not dead? why could this man be lying on the floor in the sun??)
Yeah, there's the not wanting to look dark thing too.
I have no tan at the moment so I'm a better person than I used to be.
So whatchu wanna do today? Go do some shopping first, or sightseeing, or just have lunch and a few beers and take it from there? Longtail boat on the canal? Karaoke? Or just chill out and talk. no karaoke,
I've been to a Thai karaoke before and .... juts no.
I hate shopping, but if there's super cheap places that sell bangkok t-shirts, ect. that could be fun. I've always wanted to send rushing07 an authentic knockoff versace shirt and shit. Bare in mind, If I'm in the sun for a long time or walking around...I will sweat...and I will start to smell... This place is torture. I'll get a hotel in Silom or Sukumvit, and then just meet you guys out there in the ghetto. BUt you'll have to show me how to get their facebook me your phone number. Seedy little karaoke bars out in the sticks are fun though. Dodgy looking guys who look like they might beat you up. Cute girls stroking your leg. Getting the feeling you've been given a 'special' price for the Heineken you're drinking because you look like (and probably are) a mug. The hi-so karaoke places I've never been to.
I was actually talking about bowling alley karaoke booths where it's just your group in there. Anyways, super cheap t-shirts and knock-offs... sounds like MBK to me! Best place for t-shirts, shoes, shirts, belts etc.
We could have a quick look around there and then head to KSR for a few beers. Show you how to get where? Out here? Or to Khao San? | |
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I bought my first iPhone @ MBK.....and cool gadgets for my nephews.....love MBK!
I envy you all! [Edited 7/1/09 18:48pm] | |
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abierman said: I bought my first iPhone @ MBK.....and cool gadgets for my nephews.....love MBK!
I envy you all! [Edited 7/1/09 18:48pm] MBK's pretty cool, right? I got my Adidas there and loads of my t-shirts. Mon buys most of her high heels and boots there and they've even got winter clothes for when we're off to the UK. | |
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Fauxie said: Imago said: no karaoke,
I've been to a Thai karaoke before and .... juts no.
I hate shopping, but if there's super cheap places that sell bangkok t-shirts, ect. that could be fun. I've always wanted to send rushing07 an authentic knockoff versace shirt and shit. Bare in mind, If I'm in the sun for a long time or walking around...I will sweat...and I will start to smell... This place is torture. I'll get a hotel in Silom or Sukumvit, and then just meet you guys out there in the ghetto. BUt you'll have to show me how to get their facebook me your phone number. Seedy little karaoke bars out in the sticks are fun though. Dodgy looking guys who look like they might beat you up. Cute girls stroking your leg. Getting the feeling you've been given a 'special' price for the Heineken you're drinking because you look like (and probably are) a mug. The hi-so karaoke places I've never been to.
I was actually talking about bowling alley karaoke booths where it's just your group in there. Anyways, super cheap t-shirts and knock-offs... sounds like MBK to me! Best place for t-shirts, shoes, shirts, belts etc.
We could have a quick look around there and then head to KSR for a few beers. Show you how to get where? Out here? Or to Khao San? Doesn't matter. We can meetup wherever, I just need to know where. Hey, have Mon pick a nice restaurant and I'll treat us to lunch. It's very important she doesn't try to pick a cheap place just because she doesn't want to seem rude or place a burden on me. I mean, very important. I want a nice place.....because I don't want to squat to take a shit and without toilet paper. Thanks. | |
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Are there decent, safe, hotels in Khoa San? | |
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Nick, take Dan to Silom Road, near Sala Daeng BTS station.....in a street, nearly opposite from Patpong, there is just a great restaurant that has the best Issan food!!!!! Very very good!
I'm sure there are more of them, this is the one I know.....my hotel was in a street off of Silom Road, Decho Street.... | |
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Imago said: Are there decent, safe, hotels in Khoa San?
Decent? No..... Fun? Yes.....maybe you'll get a map of some secret beach near Phi Phi..... | |
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abierman said: Nick, take Dan to Silom Road, near Sala Daeng BTS station.....in a street, nearly opposite from Patpong, there is just a great restaurant that has the best Issan food!!!!! Very very good!
I'm sure there are more of them, this is the one I know.....my hotel was in a street off of Silom Road, Decho Street.... I'm familiar with going to Sala Daeng. If they want to meet me there, that would be easy. I'm also semi-familiar with Silom. It's a seedy mess of fun and commercialism.
ooooh....I'm craving Indian food too  | |
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Fauxie said: abierman said: I bought my first iPhone @ MBK.....and cool gadgets for my nephews.....love MBK!
I envy you all! [Edited 7/1/09 18:48pm] MBK's pretty cool, right? I got my Adidas there and loads of my t-shirts. Mon buys most of her high heels and boots there and they've even got winter clothes for when we're off to the UK. I have spent hours in MBK!!! | |
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abierman said: Imago said: Are there decent, safe, hotels in Khoa San?
Decent? No..... Fun? Yes.....maybe you'll get a map of some secret beach near Phi Phi.....
OK, Silom or Sumkumvit hotels it is. | |
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Imago said: abierman said: Nick, take Dan to Silom Road, near Sala Daeng BTS station.....in a street, nearly opposite from Patpong, there is just a great restaurant that has the best Issan food!!!!! Very very good!
I'm sure there are more of them, this is the one I know.....my hotel was in a street off of Silom Road, Decho Street.... I'm familiar with going to Sala Daeng. If they want to meet me there, that would be easy. I'm also semi-familiar with Silom. It's a seedy mess of fun and commercialism.
ooooh....I'm craving Indian food too Issan, Dan.....different from Indian.....better, if you ask me! | |
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Imago said: abierman said: Decent? No..... Fun? Yes.....maybe you'll get a map of some secret beach near Phi Phi.....
OK, Silom or Sumkumvit hotels it is. http://www.staywithluxx.com/xl/ right off Silom, where you want to be! Also close to this: http://www.thedomebkk.com...o_home.htm a must do!!! | |
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Imago said: abierman said: Decent? No..... Fun? Yes.....maybe you'll get a map of some secret beach near Phi Phi.....
OK, Silom or Sumkumvit hotels it is. Sukhumvit, if you want cheap sex..... | |
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Imago said: Fauxie said: Seedy little karaoke bars out in the sticks are fun though. Dodgy looking guys who look like they might beat you up. Cute girls stroking your leg. Getting the feeling you've been given a 'special' price for the Heineken you're drinking because you look like (and probably are) a mug. The hi-so karaoke places I've never been to.
I was actually talking about bowling alley karaoke booths where it's just your group in there. Anyways, super cheap t-shirts and knock-offs... sounds like MBK to me! Best place for t-shirts, shoes, shirts, belts etc.
We could have a quick look around there and then head to KSR for a few beers. Show you how to get where? Out here? Or to Khao San? Doesn't matter. We can meetup wherever, I just need to know where. Hey, have Mon pick a nice restaurant and I'll treat us to lunch. It's very important she doesn't try to pick a cheap place just because she doesn't want to seem rude or place a burden on me. I mean, very important. I want a nice place.....because I don't want to squat to take a shit and without toilet paper. Thanks. A nice restaurant in Sukhumwit? I'm not sure we know any. We usually eat at rustic local restaurants or Japanese, Korean or western chain restaurants.
We sometimes eat an at Aussie steakhouse at Siam Discovery called 'Steakers', or there's a place near Silom called 'Roadhouse BBQ' that's pretty good. Alternatively we could meet at MBK and look around (or not), but go and eat at 'Buddy Beer' in Khao San Rd. with its air-conditioning, good food, and excellent toilet facilities. | |
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abierman said: Imago said:
OK, Silom or Sumkumvit hotels it is. http://www.staywithluxx.com/xl/ right off Silom, where you want to be! Also close to this: http://www.thedomebkk.com...o_home.htm a must do!!! 5000 baht is too pricey for me. I'm out of a job Aksel
I'm thinking 1200 to 2000 baht total.
The Dynasty off Sumkumvit is a nice place. I'll poke around Silom and see though. | |
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abierman said: Imago said:
OK, Silom or Sumkumvit hotels it is. Sukhumvit, if you want cheap sex..... Hey, what are the prices like at that Sky bar and restaurant? | |
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Imago said: abierman said: http://www.staywithluxx.com/xl/ right off Silom, where you want to be! Also close to this: http://www.thedomebkk.com...o_home.htm a must do!!! 5000 baht is too pricey for me. I'm out of a job Aksel
I'm thinking 1200 to 2000 baht total.
The Dynasty off Sumkumvit is a nice place. I'll poke around Silom and see though. Ever heard of 'short-time' hotels??? | |
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