Meeting and Dating Thai Girls

I get a lot of questions here via email about Thai girls and dating. What is the proper way to approach a Thai girl, how can I tell if she’s a “good” girl vs a bar girl, how to avoid internet scams and that sort of thing. Read more

Popularity: 68% [?]

Thaksin Returns to Thailand

I don't normally blog about political events in Thailand because I'm really not that interested in the day to day goings on. However today is a bit different as the deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has returned to Thailand after a 17 month long exile.

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As you can see from the video Thaksin still has many many supporters in his native Thailand. He has said that the reason for his return is simply to clear his name of the allegations made and he will not be participating in Thai politics. Thaksin has said that Thailand is the only place he and his family can truly be happy and he wants to come back and live just like any normal Thai citizen. He also said that he will likely get involved as a philanthropist helping out in the areas of sports and education.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Dance Anthems Summer Splash – Jomtien Beach Pattaya

Pattaya is often thought of as the place to go for cheap booze, cheap sex and to meet ladyboys, but there is another side to Pattaya that is not often mentioned. I'm talking about the music scene that continues to grow each year. One driving force to this is the Pattaya Music Festival which is the largest festival in Thailand and draws as many as

Pattaya is actually a perfect venue thanks to the beach location, large number of hotels, proximity to Bangkok and of course the party atmosphere that this resort town has. Of course the Pattaya Music Festival has led to many smaller festivals choosing Pattaya as their home. One such is the 3^rd annual Dance Anthems Summer Splash being held this year on Saturday March 8^th at the Water Park located on Jomtien Beach.

This year is planned to be bigger than ever and in addition to the music there are plans for a swimwear fashion show, live dancers, firedancers and the great water park slides and pools to enjoy. The party starts at 17:00 with music and visuals being provided by Graham Gold, Chris Samba, Darren Mac, Billy V, Tony Hughes, Live Percussions by Num T-Bone and Visuals by Que VJ.

If you're in the area why not head down and enjoy some great food and music, chill out by the pool and take in the festivities.

If you are wondering where to stay why not check out some of the packages that Agoda.com has to offer right here .

• Location: Water Park, Jomtien Beach, Pattaya
• Date: March 8^th, 2008
• Time: 17:00-02:00
• Tickets: 300 baht in advance or 400 baht at the door (includes 2 drinks)

Want FREE tickets? BangkokRecorder is sponsoring a contest where they are giving away 6 pairs of tickets to the Dance Anthems Summer Splash. Simply send them an email to rec at bangkokrecorder.com with your name and mobile number to be entered.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Mobile Advertising in Bangkok – And I Don’t Mean Cell Phones

Here's a new advertising twist. Put large LCD screens and electronic boards on top of small trucks and then park them at major intersections. Plus you have the bonus of being able to move them throughout the day based on traffic patterns.

That's exactly what the Hello Bangkok agency has been doing in Bangkok since December and people are now complaining about the new advertising saying that it is distracting to drivers and causes traffic jams.

If it is effective advertising of course it is distracting, that's the point. As far as creating traffic jams I can't imagine how much worse things can be in a city that regularly sees gridlock everyday. Have you ever tried to get through Chinatown, Khao San Road or Sukhumvit between the hours of 5pm and 8pm? The roads are so clogged already that it's almost better to walk.

The CEO of Hello Bangkok claims ''Mobile outdoor advertising is a new development in Thailand's ad industry. They could help overcome the BMA's possible ban on oversized billboards, which can be fatally dangerous during heavy storms,'' Mr Kitichai said.

Yes, but what about distracting motorists with these new billboards that can be fatally dangerous at any time Khun Kitichai? Last week, a man claimed that he was hit by a mobile unit of Hello Bangkok, further complicating the difficulties already faced by the company.

Wannee Ruttanaphon, chairman of the media buying agency Initiative, said she found the new medium ''interesting'' and might introduce it to her clients.

''It's quite flexible and can reach a target group easily since it is movable. The advertisers can choose locations that are right for their target groups,'' Ms Wannee said.

Currently Hello Bangkok has 700 of the mobile units, but can you imagine if this takes off in a big way? Thousands of small trucks with glittering neon all vying for your attention while you're trying to drive does not sound like a safe scenario to me.

I know America has Times Square and Las Vegas and similar areas, but at least these glitzy areas are stationary. I can only imaging what traffic would like in Manhattan with these distractions. Of course if you've been to Bangkok you know that Thai's love the neon lights. Simply look at the clubs, pubs and restaurants to see that. Or take a look at a Thai website like TeeNee, all flash and glitz galore.

Has anyone seen these mobile ad units in Bangkok? What do you think about them? Will they take off and turn Bangkok's streets into parking lots during rush hour or will Bangkok clamp down on this type of advertising and remove it from the streets?

Popularity: 8% [?]

Clubbing in Bangkok

Today I have another entry from Richard of richardelliots blogspot and it is in my opinion the best he's written yet. If you like clubbing in the west you will love clubbing in Bangkok. Listen to what Richard has to say because he is right, these clubs have great music, atmosphere and tons of beautiful people.

Bangkok has some of the best nightclubs in the world, fantastic music, stylish interiors and lots and lots of very beautiful boys and girls. As if the locals weren't beautiful enough, they offer free drinks to models on certain nights of the week to make sure the ultra-glamorous are there. It is my favourite place to go clubbing of anywhere I have visited across the globe! Bangkok 's clubs can easily rival those from London and New York .

Lets be clear at the start, I'm not talking about any of the venues where you can pick up a bargirl in Nana Plaza or Patpong. These are also not the back packer tourist traps of the Khoa San Road . We're talking about the Bangkok Super Clubs where middle and upper class Thais hang out. The music scene is mainly hip-hop. There is also almost always a stage or separate room where a live band will play some more rocky numbers during the night.

You actually see comparatively few farrangs in the clubs and I think this is because to unlock their full potential you need to understand a little bit about Thai culture. Lots of travelers arrive with a Western attitude and completely the wrong approach. Let's be honest, most of us go to nightclubs to have a good time and meet and dance with gorgeous members of the opposite sex. So how do you succeed? Steve has a number of good pieces on the blog about Thai dating and Thai culture. Hopefully this article below will also give you some advice and the inspiration to visit one of the exceptional nightclubs.

Make sure you go with at least one other friend and take some ID even if you look well over the legal drinking age. (If you don't want to carry your passport around, a colour photocopy will be accepted almost everywhere.) Entry is usually free. When you arrive don't just buy a drink from the bar, ask for a table. Where you get your table can make or break your night. It is important to get the choice right! Pick a table with a good view over the stage and the rest of the club, more importantly make sure it is near other tables containing hot boys / girls depending on your persuasion. Make sure they are not ladyboys as there will certainly be a couple of tables of katoeys in the club (check the size of their hands ).

At your table the norm is to order a whole bottle of whiskey or vodka and some mixers depending on what you like. If you haven't finished it by the end of the evening you can hand it back to your waiter and they will give you a ticket identifying your bottle. Next time you go to the club you can drink the remainder for free.

You are at your table and surrounded by beautiful people, now for the flirting! Pale skin is seen as attractive in Thailand and you will be one of the few Westerners in the club so you will stand out. Both good starts. Thai men don't seem to dance much, so even if you have two left feet, but are prepared to give it a go, you will be one of the best male dancers in the club. Sadly ladies, Thai girls are excellent dancers in my experience.

If you see someone you like, make eye contact and smile. If they make eye contact back and return a smile it is a good sign. The tables are always pretty tightly packed, so start talking to your neighbours. If you didn't get the position of your table quite right and are making reciprocal eye contact with someone a little further away, ask your waiter to take them a note asking for their phone number. Might sound a bit forward, but it is quite common. If you don't believe me just watch the waiters and waitresses for a bit! Your waiter will happily do it for a small tip. If they give you their number go over and say hello.

A key piece of advice is don't overcook it. The worst thing that can happen, is if you are called Choa Shoo or Butterfly. In a country where face is important no one wants to be seen with someone who is choa shoo. If one person calls you chao shoo others will be thinking it and you should change your focus to enjoying the music and club atmosphere for the rest of the night.

What can result in you being called Chao Shoo? Too much physical contact, being obviously drunk or being seen to talk / dance with lots of people who obviously aren't the friends that you came to the club with. Your flirting needs to be discreet or concentrated on just one person.

So you have met your perfect boy / girl, what do you do next? Public displays of affection are not at all common in Thailand . Kissing in clubs is virtually unheard of. You'll know if they like you from how closely they dance with you. There may also be a discreet peck on the cheek when they think no one is looking. Ask for their phone number and if they call you the next day they definitely like you, so make sure you ask for a second date when they call!

The clubs are full most nights of the week, being busier at the weekend. The craziest time of all is Songkran when you need to go armed with a water pistol and expecting to get soaked to the skin.

Finally, where are these places? Try four of my personal favourites: SLIM and Route 66 at RCA or Santika and Bed Supperclub (the only club to charge an entry fee) in Sukhumvit.

P.S. The concept that drink driving is a bad idea clearly hasn't reached Thailand yet and lots of people drive home from the clubs. Be careful on the roads as you jump in a taxi!

Popularity: 25% [?]

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