Thailand, Laos & Cambodia

[Corona Man]

Just got back this morning through Singapore. Big 2 weeks but glad to be back. Went to 3 locations;

Pattaya-

If you're a single bloke then this place is dangerous! I can see why it is called the Sin City of the World. Funnily enough I have never, ever seen more Chinese tourists in my life and the streets are continually filled with the best buses I have ever seen- all full of Chinese tourists. Before you go here make sure you have your vaccinations up to date as the City is filthy. Funnily enough the people were not too bad as long as you have some common sense.
If you're going here for a good time then take your time picking them out as it's ladyboy central. Not many blokes under 30. Easily the cheapest place I went in Thailand.

2009 sitting in a bar in Pattaya having a beer with my travelling mate. We had made this particular bar our "local" so we got to know the Pommy bloke who was running the place fairly well. This particular night a group of "girls" where sitting out the front, my mate & I where discussing which were girls, and which were not.... The Pommy bloke overheard our conversation & walked over. I said 4 of the 6 were blokes. My mate said 3 of the 6. The Pommy bloke, smiled, walked away to get us re-fills, then informed us..... we were both wrong. They were all blokes -

[LaughingKookaburra]

Never had my d*** rubbed so many times in my life asking me to come in for a $1.40 beer. I don't want to know if they were blokes or not.

[Corona Man]

Never had my d*** rubbed so many times in my life asking me to come in for a $1.40 beer. I don't want to know if they were blokes or not.

Hahaha - yes - Not sure if that technique will catch on here in Adelaide pubs!

[heater31]

Never had my d*** rubbed so many times in my life asking me to come in for a $1.40 beer. I don't want to know if they were blokes or not.

Hahaha - yes - Not sure if that technique will catch on here in Adelaide pubs!

I for one will be responding with a punch to the face if that technique makes its way here

[Wedgie]

I'd never go back to Pattaya but it is damn cheap! Half the prices of Phuket!

[Jim05]

Watched the footy tonight at a great bar in Legian. $1.50 Bintangs and even though the place was packed the barmen kept a heap in the esky for us

[LaughingKookaburra]

You beauty! Love a cheap Bintang, after 2 weeks you get sick of them though!

The picture quality of the Australia+ network in to South East Asia is an absolute disgrace especially footy games. I watched Sydney v GWS and I had no clue who was supporting who in the crowd. Also they show Australian Drama's that you have never heard of!

[Jim05]

You beauty! Love a cheap Bintang, after 2 weeks you get sick of them though!

The picture quality of the Australia+ network in to South East Asia is an absolute disgrace especially footy games. I watched Sydney v GWS and I had no clue who was supporting who in the crowd. Also they show Australian Drama's that you have never heard of!

The footy at the bar we were at was shown via GWN7 which going by all the ads must be based in Albury or Bunbury. Was real good quality and they were going to show the WAFL GF today. We are in Lombok now and watched last nights game on Australia+ and quality was crap

[carey]

I'm off to Phuket again on Sunday for 3 weeks. Beautiful, doing a heap of touring whilst I'm there seriously can't wait!

[Booney]

Hey @carey, have you looked into what you are doing, tour wise?

The King of Thailand passed away last week and there's wide spread shutdown of attractions for 30 days as the country mourns his loss.

Much of the red light district has shut up shop for 30 days and many tours are being cancelled as people mourn his loss.

[Jim05]

Hey @carey, have you looked into what you are doing, tour wise?

The King of Thailand passed away last week and there's wide spread shutdown of attractions for 30 days as the country mourns his loss.

Much of the red light district has shut up shop for 30 days and many tours are being cancelled as people mourn his loss.

Have a bloke from work over there ATM and some parts of Bangkok it's hard to get grog.
When we were there last trip the King was ill and everyone was basically in mourning then so hate to see what it's like now he has passed.

[carey]

Hey @carey, have you looked into what you are doing, tour wise?

The King of Thailand passed away last week and there's wide spread shutdown of attractions for 30 days as the country mourns his loss.

Much of the red light district has shut up shop for 30 days and many tours are being cancelled as people mourn his loss.

The short answer is No Boon I haven't.

Looks like I'll have to make my own fun......

[Corona Man]

Hey @carey, have you looked into what you are doing, tour wise?

The King of Thailand passed away last week and there's wide spread shutdown of attractions for 30 days as the country mourns his loss.

Much of the red light district has shut up shop for 30 days and many tours are being cancelled as people mourn his loss.

I read somewhere that the country will be in mourning for 1 year......

[Booney]

Hey @carey, have you looked into what you are doing, tour wise?

The King of Thailand passed away last week and there's wide spread shutdown of attractions for 30 days as the country mourns his loss.

Much of the red light district has shut up shop for 30 days and many tours are being cancelled as people mourn his loss.

I read somewhere that the country will be in mourning for 1 year......

The government declared one year of national mourning and has asked the people to "wear black and avoid festivities for 30 days" as a mark of respect. The government has urged businesses to remain open, they however understand if people choose not to do this.

@carey, Embassies in Thailand have urged visitors to Thailand to respect the mourning over the next 30 days and behave in a respectful manner towards the people they meet.

"You should respect the sensitivities of the Thai people at this time; access to entertainment, including restaurants, bars and shopping areas may be restricted and you should behave respectfully when in public areas,"

[Dogwatcher]

There is a serious devastation at the death of the king.
This isn't just a state/religious enforced thing.
Tourists will need to be pretty careful about this.

It will be interesting to watch the next year, as the next in line is very unpopular. Could see some very strong political/military moves as people try to assert their position, influence the next king.

[Booney]

There is a serious devastation at the death of the king.
This isn't just a state/religious enforced thing.
Tourists will need to be pretty careful about this.

It will be interesting to watch the next year, as the next in line is very unpopular. Could see some very strong political/military moves as people try to assert their position, influence the next king.

Certainly potential for unrest, I've taken a liking to the place after last years visit and I read up quite a bit on the weekend as to what may/may not occur.

His son, the only heir to the throne, is best described as a loose cannon. He lives much of his time in Germany, he's been married and divorced 3 times ( twice to commoners and once to his cousin - at the time he fathered 5 children to a mistress while he was married to his cousin ) and he's not popular at all with the conservative side of business, the royal family and military chiefs. He's got a sister, but no woman can ascend to the throne.

He once threw a 4 day funeral for his poodle Foo-Foo who was treated like, well, royalty.

I'd say as DW notes above, westerners will need to tread very, very carefully around the topic of the Kings death and the ascendancy of the prince to the throne.

[Corona Man]

There is a serious devastation at the death of the king.
This isn't just a state/religious enforced thing.
Tourists will need to be pretty careful about this.

It will be interesting to watch the next year, as the next in line is very unpopular. Could see some very strong political/military moves as people try to assert their position, influence the next king.

Certainly potential for unrest, I've taken a liking to the place after last years visit and I read up quite a bit on the weekend as to what may/may not occur.

His son, the only heir to the throne, is best described as a loose cannon. He lives much of his time in Germany, he's been married and divorced 3 times ( twice to commoners and once to his cousin - at the time he fathered 5 children to a mistress while he was married to his cousin ) and he's not popular at all with the conservative side of business, the royal family and military chiefs. He's got a sister, but no woman can ascend to the throne.

He once threw a 4 day funeral for his poodle Foo-Foo who was treated like, well, royalty.

I'd say as DW notes above, westerners will need to tread very, very carefully around the topic of the Kings death and the ascendancy of the prince to the throne.

Nice work there Boon... I know the King was revered, and recall going to a cinema on one trip, before the feature movie played a tribute to then then very much alive King was played. It was "expected" that all patrons would stand during this..... we did so.

We are back mid next year, and have a few days in Bangkok - so hopefully no political unrest occurs. Does the passing of the King, give rise to the whole red shirt/yellow shirt unrest again?

[Booney]

King Rama was certainly an influence on the settling of the red shirt/yellow shirt issue.

But the rift between the red-shirts and yellow-shirts, suppressed since the 2014 coup, has not been addressed, The Financial Times reports and it threatens to flare up without the guiding hand of Bhumipol.


The military were given more power in a constitutional change in 2014 that see's them elect senators who then elect the prime minister. There was an election set down for 2017 where it was expected the military would allow more input from the people, this may be uncertain now as the year of mourning will still be in place at the proposed time of the election. It might then be moved to 2018.

[carey]

We've been waned that any derogatory comments about the king or royal family WILL result in criminal charges.
I had a group of mates get back this morning and they told we 'When he died the place was completely closed for 72 hours, Nothing but the resorts were open' but everything reopened at 12noon Monday.

Apparently Bangkok is the most effected in terms of places still closed.

I leave Sydney in 2 hours, I'm sure we'll be fine.

[Booney]

@carey, been locked up for calling the Prince a nut job yet mate?