Sin City in the News

Today's song is actually a commercial Beyonce does for a perfume. This is main stream media in developed countries. Watch it before reading my post today to put my comments in perspective.

Pattaya hit the national news in Thailand after a video surfaced on the internet of an 'Asian' girl giving a BJ to an 'Asian' man in one of the bars on Walking Street. Not that this is unusual but doing it out in the open where it can be shot on video is just plain stupid. The GoPro camera is rapidly altering shooting video on the sly. I have seen many gawkers with the camera attached to their wrist in place of a watch. There is even a nice black model that is even less conspicuous. They point and shoot.

It is interesting that the news referred to the individuals involved as Asians. Rumor has it that is was a Korean man and a 22 year old Thai girl but the Political Correct spin is to save face by referring to both of them as Asians. No doubt the girl was drunk and was offered an inordinate amount of cash to do the deed in the open. Some gawker took advantage of the situation to make a splash on the internet. There are quite a few discrete BJ bars throughout Bangkok and Pattaya. Not sure what the gawker was trying to accomplish, however most bars ban photographs and videos being shot in their bars to prevent this public embarrassment in Thailand.

Unfortunately Walking Street is becoming like Bourbon Street in New Orleans ... a tourist destination for gawkers. The tour buses drop off the gawkers (mainly Asians) and they walk up and down the street expecting to be entertained by the goings on. Of course, selfies and videos are in order to share on their Facebook page back home. Not unlike we northerners who headed south in search of a tan to show off when we returned from our winter vacation.

IMHO, there will be a swift reaction by the authorities to save face by pressing charges in public. Prostitution is actually illegal in Thailand. Who would have thought it?

Thavorn and I were watching a video of Beyonce on tour and Thavorn asked why Beyonce was on stage in her bra and panties. Thavorn was shocked as no Thai girl (bar girl or otherwise) would do such a thing. We live in interesting times.

Many young Thai women are just being exposed to the internet with their the purchase of their first smart phone. They have probably never used a computer and their number one app is Facebook. It is amazing what gets posted to Thai Facebook pages. Very explicit sex. I can't help but think that these same young women feel that this is the norm. Perhaps it is the new norm.

I personally think Beyonce's commercial is worse than the BJ video that has just surfaced. The effect that Beyonce has on young women has a far greater reach. Who is the bigger prostitute ... some young Thai girl making 2000 Baht to send home to help support her children or Beyonce hauling in yet another million for flashing her body in public.

TTYL

Sin City

Pattaya is often referred to as 'Sin City' but it pretty much is similar to Bangkok. This is a great video of 'Walking Street', the main red light district in Pattaya. What makes it interesting is you get to see the gawkers and punters as much as the bar girls. There is everything to see from the Lady Boys (if you can spot them) to the Russian hookers who are threatening to take over Pattaya.

The easiest and cheapest method of getting to Pattaya is to take the bus that runs about every 90 mins from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya. It takes about 90 mins and costs about $5. I usually stay at a cheap hotel that is on the left side of at the end of "Walking Street'. Sorry, can never remember the name ... it is about $50 a night, and has a nice pool for your afternoon swim. They have a website at: http://windyinn-pattaya.com/ . I guess the name is the WindyInn :-) Highly recommended as you can walk to everything!

TTYL

Hump Day

Today's song is 'Wake Me Up' ... just because ...

It is Wednesday and Thavorn and I agree it is good to be back in our apartment ... much easier to entertain Jaidan and keep him happy.

Has it ever occurred to you that the world is getting more stupid? Think about the Darwinian aspect of it. Smart well educated people usually limit themselves to 1 or 2 children while the uneducated masses, with lots of time on their hands procreate readily. In warm climates there is no penalty for being stupid as there is in the colder climates. Back in the 1800's in Canada and much of Northern Europe, if you were not smart enough to prepare for winter then you simply froze to death and the smart prevailed.

Nowadays with the welfare states that these northern harsh climates have evolved into, there is no penalty to be paid for being stupid or lazy. Big government and liberal policies will look after you. It seems that it is even better to have lots of kids because the government will give you more money.

This theory could even explain why the middle class is shrinking and the rich are getting richer.

At some point though, government runs out of money and then you end up with a situation like the Fall of the Roman Empire where you have the masses to entertain and keep fed and fewer resources to do it with.

We don't even have plagues or world wars nowadays to kill off the stupid folks. I think it was Forrest who said that "Stupid is as Stupid Does"

The interesting thing to me about the Forrest Gump movie is that I have seen it many times but never watched it from end to end. One of these days I must set aside enough time to really appreciate the movie.

Nowadays politicians have it easy as they the electorate has been dumbed down and will believe just about anything. 

Whoa now ... not sure where those thoughts came from ... definitely not politically correct ... the PC police may find me out :-)

I try to learn something new everyday ... if I don't, I somehow feel I have cheated myself. My biggest concern is expressed by the wise man whose biggest regret was that he could not always remember what he knows ... been there.

TTYL

Back in Bangkok

Today's song is The Monster ... because Jaidan was a monster on the flight home! (Eminem and Rhianna)

Another Take on 'One Night in Bangkok'

We knew we were in trouble when Jaidan slept the 45 min taxi ride to the airport. He did entertain the stewardess's while the plane was boarding but 15 minutes into the flight he just wanted to be free to roam the plane and when constrained he decided to let the plane know he was not happy. Kind of reminded me of Jordan when he was that age.

We eventually made home and there is no place like home no matter how humble.

It appears the travel era is over for Japanese and South Koreans. I used to see them all the time but while there are still many Japanese punters in Bangkok (they have their own clubs, no farangs allowed) you don't see Japanese and South Korean tourists like you used to.

Instead we have Chines tourists and they appear to travel in couples or the standard, 2 parents, one child family that the state mandates. I find that the Chines I talked to had decent English and really wanted to meet people from outside China. This can only be good for China in the long run.

I met an interesting teacher who teaches in the Caribbean and is new to Bangkok. A kid in a candy shop. I offered to show him around tomorrow (Wednesday) and it will be interesting to see if he shows up or is already out of money. 'No money, no honey' is many bar girls mantra. It is a business after all and punters should never forget that. He has a Canadian teacher friend who is flying in Tuesday to meet up with him. It would be good to talk to a fellow Canadian for a change.

Father's day in Canada has come and gone and my daughter Jaime remembered :-)

TTYL

Monday in Krabi

Today's song is: Dancing in the Dark by Bruce Springsteen ... a favorite

Our trip to Don Mueang ended up with a bit of a problem. The taxi driver had jammed my suitcase into the trunk of his car and the trunk refused to open once we arrived at the airport. I always allow time for stuff like this to happen so it was interesting to watch the level of cooperation among airport security and countless taxi drivers (at one count 12 people working on the problem) solve the problem. Luckily, most taxis are Toyota Corollas and this had happened to at least one of them before. Off came the right rear taillight and many skinny little Thai arms tried snaking by my suitcase to get to the manual lock release. This took many arms and about 45 minutes. Nok Air staff noticed the ruckus and pushed us through ticketing while we waited. They were first class and said they would forward the suitcase if it did not make it out of the trunk in time. Luckily and with Thai ingenuity we boarded on time.

My grand plan to fly at 10 am in the hopes that Jaidan would sleep during the 90 minute flight fell through and and over tired Jaidan bounced up and down on Thavorm and I for the whole flight. However, he did fall asleep while we were in the taxi from Krabi airport to Ao Nang Beach.

Our room at the Pakasai Resort had its problems as our aircon started leaking at 10 pm and 3 guys showed up to see it fixed. That woke up Jaidan as well and 1 hour later they left with Jaidan still awake. I complained the next day as the aircon could not be regulated and our room was an ice cube until I switched it off at 1 am.  The resort upgraded our room so it turned out okay.

Here are some pics:

Yours truly working on this blog in Krabi ....

Jaidan and Poppa at Ao Nang Board Walk

Momma taking a pic of her 150 Baht RayBan knockoffs.

Poppa disembarking from the Thai long boat.

Railay Beach

Jaidan enjoying being out of his diaper for a few moments.

Thavorn with her hair up for a change.

Thavorn trying to get Jaidan to look at the camera.

TTYL

Hump Day in Bangkok

Toady's song is by Jefferson Airplane ... White Rabbit ...

I suppose that 'hump day' in Bangkok could be everyday :-) but in North America it is Wednesday, middle of the week. Thavorn and I are a little bored so I booked a trip to Krabi which is one of my favorite places in Thailand. It is the rainy season so prices are low. I have mentioned that rainy season is no big deal, other than it may rain for an hour at some time during the 24 hours. Not too worry as the sun will pop out soon. So take advantage of rainy season when visiting Thailand ...

Our air fares total 4,400 Baht for Thavorn and I and of course Jaidan flies free. So that is $160 CDN return. Try that in North America! We are staying at the Pakasai for $53 Us a night but that includes breakfast which is a full buffet. Again, try that in North America!

http://www.agoda.com/pakasai-resort/hotel/krabi-th.html?asq=4PKQiI2%2bZBFTmLf13EYBG3uuPAiDeqY8TR0nb11St5Lmc6SyTH6QTSgepQP4y0th%2fiP4kKBLBpgbBD6E8YsPzNc%2fb4wvqG3VLsUeedAZOSj4b3t126sYi%2bYRAg6FXkBYgFhK3fQ%2bmty8mVP%2brY99zu3Q9t5jQMXf%2fgFEPiHFyuA%3d&cid=1646620&tag=f62e58d6-fa37-4e6d-b7ef-2cc924616b16

One of the benefits of travelling in Asia is the cheap airfares. They are cheap because there are no unions guaranteeing stewardess's are paid $60K plus pensions or pilots get over $200K plus pensions. Not too worry, the planes pretty well fly themselves :-)

I like to stay at Au Nang Beach in Krabi,

Map of Ao Nang Beach Area of Krabi

Ocean View of Ao Nang Beach

for a variety of reasons. Good range of hotels, Starbucks, McDonalds, etc. There are some great Thai sea food restaurants right on the beach and there is no better place for dining while the sun sets while drinking Strawberry Daiquiris (girly drinks, but i love them in the tropics). Krabi is very popular with Scandinavian Countries so lots of blonde folks. Not too many Russians :-)

The beach is not great for swimming but Railay Beach is a short longboat hop away.

Typical Thai longboat

Railay Beach ... crystal clear and warm turquoise waters

The flight is 90 mins from Bangkok ... so no big deal. Highly recommended!!!

TTYL

Hangover Bangkok

Today's song is I Gotta Feelin ... by the Black Eyed Peas .. pretty well the theme song of many dance bars in Bangkok.

While I am it here is a 3 minute video of a tour called Hangover Bangkok (12 bars in one night) that tries to replicate the movie of the same name.

Personally I would not recommend a tour as it is pretty safe to hit the 4 red light areas by yourself ... Queens Park (Soi 22), Soi Cowboy (Soi 23), Nana, (Soi 4) and Pat Pong (Silom Road). However I would recomend that you leave your hotel with 10,000 Baht and no credit or bank cards, not that you would get ripped off, but to protect yourself from yourself. Bangkok is addicting and it is easy to get carried away. Refrain from buying too many lady drinks and remember, no matter how sexy and alluring the girl is, there is one better and more friendly in the next bar.

Refrain from saying that you are in Bangkok for the week ... instead it is easier to say you live and work in Bangkok as the girls know that you know the ropes and will treat you appropriately. Don't feel bad about not telling the truth as Thais believe it is okay to lie to save face and make life's journey a little bit more pleasant. 

TTYL