[AlphaTravel]

(03-07-2012 11:00 AM)Moma Wrote:  

Drop it casual from what people are telling me, it doesn't take much swag to bang these little tarts. Rock a shirt, shorts and basic shoes and these thai tartlets will be sucking on your balls from dusk till dawn.
Sheet, the fact that you look like a foreigner and you have a little paper to your name roars in decibels to these lot.

Dressing like every other backpacker and sex tourist is not a good idea. You'll be ignored by any decent Thai girl and attract only pro's and the really low quality girls. Shorts on the beach fair enough but don't be walking round BKK in them and certainly don't be wearing them out at night to clubs if you want to pick up decent women. Thais dress well and young Thai guys are sharply (if not very metrosexually) dressed most of the time.

A pair of shoes (even plimsoles), jeans and a tshirt, polo or shirt will make you stand out compared to most foreigners so you don't have to go OTT but shorts isn't advisable IME.

(03-07-2012 11:01 AM)whosyourdaddy Wrote:  

Also i HIGHLY ADVISE you to wear some nice threads when you come here. You'll stick out in a good way. Thais in Bangkok are very stylish, and the guys in particular mostly seem to wear long pants and trendy clothing that would people in NYC would wear. Too many sunburnt tourists wearing flip-flops or shorts and t-shirts in a metropolitan city, where you'll see many in full business attire on Sukhumvit. You can wear linen based suits and still say cool-- i wear long sleeves and long pants (all linen) and stay as cool as in a tank top and shorts!!

Agreed. I walk around in daytime in plimsoles, jeans and a tshirt and it's not a problem. It is hot but not unbearable and I'm not spending loads of time out in the sun, just going from airconned place to airconned place.

(03-07-2012 11:40 AM)RioNomad Wrote:  

Good advice here. Not sure if Moma was being sarcastic, but the Thais dress very classy in non backpacker clubs. Nice jeans, shoes and a polo would make you the best dressed backpacker, but the Thais dress nice.

Indeed, Thai people go out looking good. Backpackers and other travellers tend to look like shit so it's not hard to stand out, by not wearing sandals, shorts and a vest top or those horrendous fisherman pants and thai die hippy clothes some insisit on wearing you're already looking well dressed next to them.

[thegmanifesto]

I am going to go like this.

Will this work?

[AlphaTravel]

I'm sure you've been to hot countries before and wore a suit so if you managed it there then you can manage it in BKK. All the better bars and clubs have aircon, as do taxis and the skytrain which will be your main mode of transport.

[thegmanifesto]

(03-08-2012 01:45 AM)AlphaTravel Wrote:  

I'm sure you've been to hot countries before and wore a suit so if you managed it there then you can manage it in BKK. All the better bars and clubs have aircon, as do taxis and the skytrain which will be your main mode of transport.

So if I roll like in those above photos, I should be in decent shape, "style-wise"?

[WanderingSoul]

Stylewise you would be doing well.

[Innuendo]

get the suits, it's not extremely hot at night when you will probably go out (27-28 Celsius) and it will put you miles ahead of the average sex tourist/backpacker
also there is AC everywhere.

[AlphaTravel]

Quote:

So if I roll like in those above photos, I should be in decent shape, "style-wise"?

You'll be the sharpest tourist in town.

[thegmanifesto]

I just realized something.

Since I don't live the "automated" lifestyle like some of you lucky cats, I have to be on the phone with the US to keep money moving on the streets.

Correct me if I am wrong, but as an example, 8am-4pm Pacific Standard time is 12am to 8am Bangkok time, right?

So here is the question:

If I have to be in my apartment near a phone, from 12am to 8am Bangkok time, would that completely suck?

Is there still nightlife to be had after 8am?

Or could I go out early from 5pm to 12am?

Am I just dreaming here?

Let me know your thoughts.

[Vicious]

(03-09-2012 05:03 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

Is there still nightlife to be had after 8am?

Or could I go out early from 5pm to 12am?

Since official closing times are 2am, 12am is fairly "late" to begin with (there are unoffical late clubs but that's a niche audience). Unless you want to pull (semi-)pros I'd say the witching hour in Bkk is 11pm.

[thegmanifesto]

(03-09-2012 06:59 PM)Vicious Wrote:  

(03-09-2012 05:03 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

Is there still nightlife to be had after 8am?

Or could I go out early from 5pm to 12am?

Since official closing times are 2am, 12am is fairly "late" to begin with (there are unoffical late clubs but that's a niche audience). Unless you want to pull (semi-)pros I'd say the witching hour in Bkk is 11pm.

I was under the impression that BKK was a 24 hour town.

Not so?

What time do you guys begin and end a typical night there?

[jdreise]

(03-09-2012 07:52 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

(03-09-2012 06:59 PM)Vicious Wrote:  

(03-09-2012 05:03 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

Is there still nightlife to be had after 8am?

Or could I go out early from 5pm to 12am?

Since official closing times are 2am, 12am is fairly "late" to begin with (there are unoffical late clubs but that's a niche audience). Unless you want to pull (semi-)pros I'd say the witching hour in Bkk is 11pm.

I was under the impression that BKK was a 24 hour town.

Not so?

What time do you guys begin and end a typical night there?

Vicious is right. It seems like most Thais role out to eat around 8 and then will start arriving at the bars at around around 10. Normal hours bars close around 1:30-2:30 but then you can take it to some afterhours clubs like NARZ that will stay open til 5ish.

Also, besides the heat (I'm writing this at 8:15 am and the thermometer on my patio is showing 33 C) wearing a suit and being a foreigner in April is going to make you a huge target for getting drenched with water. I wouldn't recommend it unless you plan on going straight from hotel door to taxi to club door-- no detours to 7-11. Water dowsing Thais are everywhere.

Bangkok, at times, can be muggy and filthy too so white clothes tend to get dirty quickly just from being exposed to the putrid air. You might have a brown ring around the edge of the collar after 2 or 3 hours.

The fourth pic down of Sean Connery is what I'd recommend. Comfortable and classy.

[AlphaTravel]

Bangkok isn't really a 24hr city, public transport closes around midnight for example. There are bars and restaurants which are open 24hrs though seems to mostly be in the tourist areas. Clubs will close around 2am, then you've got afterhour places which go on to 5/6am and I know of one after after hours place that opens at 5am and stays open until midday. The only people likely to be found in the after after hour place is sketchy pro's, possibly after taking too much methamphetamine. So in theory you could go out at 8am but your choices would be very limited. Going out 5pm to midnight might be a better bet but most of the fun is had after midnight IMO.

[thegmanifesto]

(03-10-2012 12:14 AM)AlphaTravel Wrote:  

Bangkok isn't really a 24hr city, public transport closes around midnight for example. There are bars and restaurants which are open 24hrs though seems to mostly be in the tourist areas. Clubs will close around 2am, then you've got afterhour places which go on to 5/6am and I know of one after after hours place that opens at 5am and stays open until midday. The only people likely to be found in the after after hour place is sketchy pro's, possibly after taking too much methamphetamine. So in theory you could go out at 8am but your choices would be very limited. Going out 5pm to midnight might be a better bet but most of the fun is had after midnight IMO.

So I guess I could go out at 5pm to midnight, then roll how and start working.

Drunk.

Could be interesting.

[AlphaTravel]

Quote:

So I guess I could go out at 5pm to midnight, then roll how and start working.

Drunk.

Could be interesting.

Personally I'd see if you could find away to enjoy BKK and not have to worry about work, you'll be missing out on so much if you can only go out between 5pm and midnight.

[DirectDanger]

I live in Bangkok and here are my thoughts on the topics so far.

April is hot, but not so hot you should avoid coming here.

Experiencing Songkran (Thai New Years) is awesome the first time you are here, after that every year you start to hate it more and more. Know that all of thailand is pretty much on holiday during Songkran so small businesses shut down, all tourist spots are packed with Thais and the few days leading up to Songkran is a nightmare to get out of the city. Go to RCA with a kick ass water gun at night, you will love it.

@AlphaTravel knows what he is talking about when it comes to clothes. Thais dress well and take style serious. Avoid at all cost looking like a backpacker, don't wear sandals/flip-flops at anytime in Bangkok, don't wear shorts at night.

Again April is hot, even at night you will sweat outside in jeans and a t-shirt. I find it hard to try and wear any kind of long sleeve shirt or especially a light jacket which is usually required to have a lot of style. Only in December and January nights can you get away with this and I am pretty well adapted to the heat having lived here for a while.

Bangkok can absolutely be a 24hr city if you want it to be. Every hour after 2am your chances of finding a non-working girl starts to decrease dramatically. Not impossible if you know the right after hours clubs where the normal girls can be found but most tourist don't hit up those places. Normal club/bars have to close at 2am.

Avoid Khaosan Road. You can visit it just to check it out but seriously don't think about staying there.

Don't spend all your time on Sukhumvit soi 11 at clubs like Bedsupperclub and Q bar. These guys do an awesome job at marketing to the international crowd and in no way represents what thai nightlife can be like. Absolutely check it out one night but don't continuously go there which seems to happen with a lot of tourist because its all they know of. Bedsupperclub has different events so the crowds can be very different from one night to the next. Sunday night is gay night so you might want to avoid.

[the_conductor]

(03-09-2012 05:03 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

Correct me if I am wrong, but as an example, 8am-4pm Pacific Standard time is 12am to 8am Bangkok time, right?

So here is the question:

If I have to be in my apartment near a phone, from 12am to 8am Bangkok time, would that completely suck?

You got it wrong by 1 hour, G-manifesto. Thailand time is faster that Pacific Standard Time by 15 hours, So 8am-4pm PST is 11pm-7am Thailand time.

You're really in a tough situation. Is there any way you can conduct your business on the go using a cellphone?

[AlphaTravel]

Quote:

@AlphaTravel knows what he is talking about when it comes to clothes. Thais dress well and take style serious. Avoid at all cost looking like a backpacker, don't wear sandals/flip-flops at anytime in Bangkok, don't wear shorts at night.

Thanks.

Quote:

Avoid Khaosan Road. You can visit it just to check it out but seriously don't think about staying there.

KSR it's self is terrible but in the nearbye area there are plenty of cheap guesthouses and budget hotels if you're trying to budget, some which are pretty good for the price. There are also some good Thai bars in the area as I pointed out in my nightlife topic, Molly Bar, Brick Bar, Deep, Cafe Democ and more. All good fun, live Thai music, and hardly a farang in sight.

[thegmanifesto]

(03-11-2012 03:42 AM)the_conductor Wrote:  

(03-09-2012 05:03 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

Correct me if I am wrong, but as an example, 8am-4pm Pacific Standard time is 12am to 8am Bangkok time, right?

So here is the question:

If I have to be in my apartment near a phone, from 12am to 8am Bangkok time, would that completely suck?

You got it wrong by 1 hour, G-manifesto. Thailand time is faster that Pacific Standard Time by 15 hours, So 8am-4pm PST is 11pm-7am Thailand time.

You're really in a tough situation. Is there any way you can conduct your business on the go using a cellphone?

Not really, unless you know any cheap solutions besides roaming the whole time.

Any ideas?

[Antipodean]

(03-11-2012 04:18 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

(03-11-2012 03:42 AM)the_conductor Wrote:  

(03-09-2012 05:03 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

Correct me if I am wrong, but as an example, 8am-4pm Pacific Standard time is 12am to 8am Bangkok time, right?

So here is the question:

If I have to be in my apartment near a phone, from 12am to 8am Bangkok time, would that completely suck?

You got it wrong by 1 hour, G-manifesto. Thailand time is faster that Pacific Standard Time by 15 hours, So 8am-4pm PST is 11pm-7am Thailand time.

You're really in a tough situation. Is there any way you can conduct your business on the go using a cellphone?

Not really, unless you know any cheap solutions besides roaming the whole time.

Any ideas?

With a data capable cellphone, you can get a local Thai prepay sim card for about $6-8 per Gb, then use Skype to call US phones really cheap.

If you want to be easily accessable to US callers, you can get Skype to provide you with a US phone number for a few dollars a month.

I was in Thailand with a local prepay sim card for data, last year.
Needs to be 3g or 3.5g to work. Signal strength varies a bit depending on the buildings, but pretty good for keeping you online to the world for little bucks.

Actually, the whole subject of getting cheap local sim cards for data in many countries deserves a thread where we can all compare notes and experiences.

I was mostly relying on it for the Googlemaps/GPS for finding my way around cities. Also handy for using Google translate in FSU.

[DirectDanger]

@Antipodean is right on here.

If you have an unlocked iphone or any other kind of smart phone then getting a local sim card is the way to go. I would go with TRUE mobile in BKK as they have the best 3g coverage in Bangkok. For 899 baht ($30) you can get 5 gigs of 3g data and unlimited edge data for 1 month. They have smaller packages if you don't need that much.

Having an iphone with google maps working in BKK is a huge help.

There are a ton of True mobile shops and cafes that can set you up really easy. You can buy at 7-11 but they don't have all the details to help you get set up and it is better to just use 7-11 as a place to buy more credit if you need it.

If you want more details send me a PM and I will hook you up.

[the_conductor]

(03-11-2012 09:55 PM)DirectDanger Wrote:  

If you want more details send me a PM and I will hook you up.

Hey DirectDanger, do you know that your Roosh forum account is set up to not allow anyone to PM you? Lol I tried.

I think you need to go to User CP->Edit Options->tick "Receive private messages from other users." and "Alert me with a notice when I receive a Private Message.", then press Update Options.

[the_conductor]

Antipodean and DirectDangers' posts are spot on. However, if you're using an old non 3g phone you can also get a local sim card and buy an IDD calling card to call back to the States at cheaper rates. Check if your old cell phone will work in Thailand as the GSM frequency here is different.

[DirectDanger]

@the_conductor

Didn't know I had set those options. Now I can get PM's, thanks for the heads up.

[Vicious]

So G, out of curiosity whatever did you decide on?

[billy]

The air will be thick, wet and smelly, the second you leave the hotels airconditioned freshness you will feel the heat hit you in the face and sap your energy, always get a metered aircon taxi and accept that any time spent outside will drench you in sweat in minutes. Light suits seem like a good idea but dirt gets into your clothes in Bangkok and I always seemed to get stains on the backs of trousers that never come out. Lightest suit fabric possible and be prepared to suffer if you wear the jacket. It takes about 3 weeks for me to get used to the heat but I have always been a cold country person, so it might not be as bad for you in BKK as I descibe.