YimSiam

The question of who is a tourist and who is something other than a tourist - frankly that's well beyond the ken of the Immigration Uncles at the borders, the visa issuers reviewing applications from dubious Muay Thai and language schools, and possible even beyond the omniscience of the wise ones who guide this troubled nation to happiness and whateverr. There's only one solution, so obvious it almost hurts: the country must station bargirls (with one month or more working experience) at every entry point, perhaps right next to these news infrared Ebola scanners. In milliseconds, a girl can complete a full visual inspection of anyone entering the country, and determine whether he "Work in Thailand?" or "Come for holiday?" Error rate is freakin' close to zero: they know. Of course, this would mean acknowledge the genius and national value of the largely Isaan bargirl population, perhaps distasteful to some. And the girls are so open-minded and good-hearted they'd probably let anyone in regardless of actual status. But for accuracy, that's the way to go.

I once stumbled upon some great feeds on Flickr by another Dewolf - his of really great recent scenes in Hong Kong that captured exactly some of my own experience there. I wonder, maybe a relative. Great - both guys.

Come on, anyone who spends a day or two in Bangkok these days can see that business is DEAD - the only folks making money are out at Mor Chit selling "Go Home To Your VIllage Until Things Get Better" bus tickets... Maybe I spend too much time with the wrong crowd in the wrong places, but it certainly seems that tourists are way down - yet, indeed there are quite a few Indian, Arab, and varied Chinese (PRC, Taiwan, Malaysia) thronging the 7-11 - probably the less-than-well-received 'kaek' elements have been a lifesaver for Thai tourism in recent years, with budget airlines and cheap package deals it's clearly the place to be for Indians out to see the world for the first time. Thailand's reputation has probably suffered with the rise of the current regime, folks worried about violence and inconvenience, and really, who wants to go on holiday to a state ruled by Martial Law? Wrong reason not to come - there's no risk, it's just that the regime is focused on turning the country into a tidy, obedient, puritanical, nationalist state -- which is, obviously, a very virtuous goal that both reflects and produces enormous karmic benefit of those who lead. But the noble banana republic ideal so yearned for, that's a vision of LoS that can suck the life out of the Thai tourism that people crave: chaotic markets, ad hoc beach restaurants etc that show Thais great entrepreneurial spirit, nightlife that only stops when you've had enough, and those eternal Thai smiles and mai pen rai attitude. Going, going, gone... just like those buses back up the Mahasarakham and Nongkhai. YimSiam

Clever, that Film... Gets arrested for being insane in the streets of a foreign country, shouting abuse and pouring water like a lunatic - and then figures that he can avoid the inevitable damage to his reputation by claiming that he was just doing the ALS thing. Almost makes me want to head down to the streets tonight, act insanely and shout words that people don't understand, then pour some water on the road so folks think it's just the challenge thing. On the other hand, except for the pouring water on the road, I kind of do that every night when on holiday here... "Foreigner Pouring Water On The Road" is probably a third-degree felony in Hong Kong, maybe Korea too. Someday Thailand too will stamp out the Irrational Farang. YimSiam

No one gives me a refund when I take a deaf girl from Spicy/Swing, let alone yet another post-op katoey: Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride... All this surrogacy stuff being slapped on the front pages all out once, what a mess. I mean, I suppose we knew that the science has progressed to a point that makes many options quite easy, and we also know that if there is a place where the legal/moral ambiguities can be exploited, particularly with regard to women and their bodies, this is that place - so not a surprise somehow, but still, shocking enough. I can only imagine what is still out there down some back sub-soi, waiting to be discovered... Replacement organs? Duplicate kids, like an insurance against accident? Who knows what lurks in the hearts of men...

Hills, run for. Good chance that whatever's cracked the obsessive farang's brain is something complex and where the girl has some responsibility, some shadiness - at least in my experience. Evil craziness and personal destruction comes to those who invite it, whether by emotional games, drugs, criminal stuff, whatever. If she's got a crazy farang around her and no one has resolved the issue somehow already, it's not going to go away. Find another girl. Funny video - "I know". Staged or otherwise, seems to present an odd scenario -- I'm not sure what the Thai guy is pissed off about (I would guess that the Russian guy fucked his wife, which in context is probably all fine and well, but then the Russian didn't pay...), and the Thai dudes restraint is also not what I'd expect...

Not sure, but I think I saw this guy in Union Square, NYC a few weeks ago - but then, all farang kind of seem the same to me anyway.

There's so much mass delusion going on these days, it's hard to tell what's tongue in cheek, what's genuine, and what's just fear-addled gibberish. What a heist it all looks to be in the end - and how bizarre that the country is merrily pursuing a M.O. only seen in Myanmar in recent decades... So bizarre.

Ethiopian Airlines has one of those, she's basically a national superstar. Eventually her salary will allow her to buy a car, and she can use Lady Parking. Now, as far as who can use Lady Parking, who's the arbiter of "Lady"? Lady ID card? Dress like a lady? If they have a timely and accurate method for finding the true lady in Thailand, I could really use help at Nana.

Fucking good work by the girl - young Thai uni girl, in reverse, in fear and under fire, manages to make a move from multiple vehicles and armed men?! I'm gonna revise my understanding and assume that she actually IS the dealer's driver, police had the right car just the car hadn't made the pickup yet (or was able to get rid of it after the "relatives" arrived...

Next up: Lady Suitcase... with new Lady Suitcase at Thailand's Airports, your companion flies free...

Fuck - first they go after the unicorns, and now the auto rebuilds?!

Actually, I just meant identity as in style - they used to wear green fatigues and be feted by bald men in orange, now it's the Thais wear the fatigues and get feted...

Just a quick glance at the frame shown suggests serious problems with the grid - kind of looks like your chances of landing on "unicorn" are about the same as your chances of landing on "tranny"? Fuck no. I've been on soi 4 a few times in the past weeks, and you are about as likely to end up with a tranny as you are to roll a seven - not guaranteed, but more likely than anything else out there! The unicorns are few and far between these days.

The degree to which Thailand and Myanmar have traded identities is uncanny.

Gotta say, ballsy moves by the girl - making a serious break for it when she saw trouble, and did some damage. Good on her.

Came through Immigration a few days ago - young lady officer was sending people back to the line to complete the little tourist information questionnaire on the entry form, haven't seen that before, and no notice posted - just some sign language style instructions, and a pen given. Also, they are checking prior entries, it seems - I suppose this is well-known, but not to me. She was not very serious about it, but skimmed through a bit before stamping me off with the usual. Does seem abandoned - but at the same time, I haven't been able to get rooms at the hotels I wanted, which is unusual. Does not feel festive, I can say.

Ah, rising China - a billion people with minimal cultural or religious background, trained to make money above all else, to enrich and glorify the family lineage... there is a coming storm, someday the Chinese are going to realize that history has cheated them of some of the greatest bits of life: deeper meanings that vile 'religion' provided, for one. Flashermac - I have no doubt that a brief internet search could quickly replenish your poor memory of Japanese shitting on airplane seats -- as long as you can put a description to a depraved semi-sexual or physiological act, the Japanese have got it out there on video, I'm sure. Have the videos of sexy teens sniffing the shit-stained Delta seat cushion hit PornHub yet? Oh, they will, they will...

neurosis noun (Concise Encyclopedia) Mental and emotional disorder that affects only part of thepersonality, is accompanied by a less distorted perception of reality than in a psychosis, and is characterized by various physiological and mental disturbances (such as visceral symptoms and impaired concentration). The neuroses includeanxiety attacks, certain forms of depression,hypochondriasis, hysterical reactions, obsessive-compulsive disorders, phobias, various sexual dysfunctions, and some tics. They have traditionally been thought to be based on emotional conflict in which a blocked impulse seeks expression in a disguised response or symptom. Behavioral psychologists regard them as learned, inappropriate responses to stress, which can be unlearned. I guess "murder-suicide" could fall under the "and some tics" catch-all category? Anyway, RIP to all involved...

Well, I guess that settles it then. Sick man goes biking with wife, murders wife, murders self; that the house is well-stocked with guns is natural, as she was a keen shooter. And yet, and yet - this has all the invisible hallmarks of being something more elaborate, doesn't it?

That is just bizarre. Prince Paras slapped with stupid and stupidly minor weed crimes, in Thailand. Don't the remnants of divinely-justified monarchies inspired by the Gangetic plains Hindu/Buddhist kingdoms offer each other no mercy these days? The dude had half-an-ounce of weed and couldn't afford his own flashdrive - it's not like he's a kingpin, or one of those Nepali bastards pitching cheap suits. Free Paras! Free Paras! Free... Oh, whatever.

Better get out my weekly agenda and cross out planned vice activity impacted by the crackdown: uh, cockfighting, not really my thing. No illegal gambling den visits planned this week, so that's a relief. Political activity replaced by Angry Birds anyway, and I'm not doing any working, documented or otherwise. This is clearly the kind of crackdown I can get behind with enthusiasm, or at least ignore with confidence. Although I'm reminded of the words of a hoary Pattaya vet sitting at the end of a whorey Pattaya bar some time ago, just after the Thaksin/Purachai Purges reduced the nightlife gutters to pale shadows of the dark shadows of nightlife gutters they had once been. Three moves from victory in a five-baht Connect-4 game, he turned to me and intoned the following: First they came for the Illegal Gambling Den Attenders, and I did not speak out— Because I was not an Illegal Gambling Den Attender. Then they came for nightlife establishments that permitted persons under the age of 20 or stayed open after 2 am, and I did not speak out— because I was not a nightlife establishment that permitted persons under the age of 20 or stayed open after 2 am. Then they came for the yaba dealers and consumers, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a yaba dealer or consumer. Then they came for the alcoholic mid-afternoon punters at my favorite blowjob bar —and there was no one left to speak for me. Like, literally, she was physically unable to speak for me for a few minutes. And then she spit in a towel and rinsed her mouth with antiseptic, and explained that all was in good, clean, minty-fresh fun. Those cock-fighting rings, man, it's all in where you place the hyphen these days.

Please, please provide me with reason-based denials of the above! For years I have enjoyed Thailand, but after ten-fifteen years of this bullshit, I"m about finished with this nonsense. Help me! Explain what's going on! YS

I have never heard a detailed explanation of how yaba is produced in Thailand. What I understand is that it is produced in Myanmar by ethnic militias with links to China for precursor chemicals and arms, and that it is then smuggled into Thailand with the cooperation of the Thai border control authorities, which have a longstanding special relationship with Bangkok providers of guns and authority. Thaksin, one might say, tries to control and limit yaba imports because he cannot control the border forces and his enemies benefit from yaba imports. Likewise, Thaksin understood that the illegal lotteries are a huge cash cow for the government and yellowish forces, and so he tried to absorb them into the government income stream by making them a legal government program. The courts shut this down, sending the illegal lottery back into the hands of the yellow-connected mafias. For those who have not followed; the junta supports the royalty and the mafias connected with them. These include mafias who run illegal lotteries and make payoff to the yellow supporters, as well as border authorities who manage yaba imports from Myanmar [Removed - KS]. These same mafias run the Cambodia casinos - which is why the junta has closed down Bangkok-based (and therefore, Thaksin- and police- connected mafia) casinos. Thaksin and his successors are folks who have challenged the dominance of the [Removed - KS] and their army and administrative controlled structure. The Thai people want the Thaksin folks - as demonstrated by every election in recent memory, even those accepted by int'l agencies. A small group of assholes want to keep milking people dry in Thailand; the Thaksin populist types want to ensure that the group of assholes is composed only of those who ASK via ballot to be milked dry by a bunch of punk big shots... If you are paying attention and you don't understand, I encourage you to enroll in remedial reading and awareness classes... YS

I've really enjoyed products by Shure - as long as I can find the right fit with attachments, sound has been really good, for me (and I don't think of myself as some kind of expat - just a novice impressed by the in-ear technology).