Dedicated to BKK's a-go-go recommendations

[nomoretimes]

PLS READ WITH CAUTION AND LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES:

DAY 3
Me and my fren basically went bangkok to shop, sightseeing, pray and of cos screw. Thinking that thais are good buddhist people , they will not con ppl. However, I was terribly wrong. On the 3rd day of our trip, we wanted to go to the royal palace to have a look. But the tuk tuk driver said it was close as it is prior elections period and on that day the king is visiting that place( DAMN IT IS NEVER CLOSE ACCORDING TO INFORMATION). However I remember that it was rather late, ard 2pm and have ever read that royal palace closes in the afternoon. So that driver told us why not visit a nearby temple first. In the temple, or I would say in in the praying hall, while me and my fren kneel down to pray, I was befriend by a thai in the 30s, speaking good english. He was articulate and not pushy. He ask us why we are here and we told him we are on holiday. Later we engage in a normal conversation and somehow the topic sneer towards that of gems investment. He told us that this week is a special sale of foreigners and there's no tax on gems. Hence one could buy and sell back the gems in the home country for 100% profits. Basically, at that time me and my fren was just hearing a story and didn't really bother as we are more interested in looking in temples rather than visit these jewellery houses.

Later the tuk tuk driver then said go to a few export(jewellery export centres) to see see. He claim was free, no buy and it's ok. Since he quoted everything from this temple,to the jewel places to the final marble temple(very famous temple in the north of the bangkok map) for only 20 babt , we gave in into him. So we visited this so called jewel houses. Neither was I interested as I rather use that money to screw. So everytime we say we never buy from this place, he will bring us to another place and so on. So on the 3rd jewel house, I finally bought something. Called blue topaz. I don't really mind it was fake as it was quite cheap and look nice with it's design. 800babt, which is 30 sing. As the main reason is to buy to give my sister in law. Nevertheless, right after he knw we bought he brought us to the marble temple. Nothing was amiss then, and I forgotten abt the jewel investment shit.


Day 4
On day 4, me and my fren ventured into hua lamphong mrt stn to visit chinatown famous golden buddha. With a help of the map, we were easily able to find the temple located not far from the stn. On our way back to the stn, we were again approached by a so called teacher which speaks good english. And the beginning, I wave him off thinking he's another tuk tuk driver trying to con us. But he wasn't. He told us he was having his lunch break and ask us where we were going. We told him we were just sighseeing around and ask is there any place where we can get a reputable buddhist amulet that is of real quality. He told us of a place, where only thais go and no tourist goes. Later, the topic again sneer to a jewel house called pansiamese. Nevertheless me and my fren were not really interested in the jewel investment but more interested in getting a thai amulet. So again, he signal to the driver to bring us to this temple not far in chinatown. This time was different, the tuk tuk driver didn't bring us to pansiamese or any jewel houses before visiting the temple, in fact we went straight to the temple. Hence this lowers my suspicion level of what the teacher said. However we didn't really bother abt that issue in the tuk tuk as getting a good amulet was our sore purpose of boarding.

So he brought us to this royal temple. Indeed, there was no tourist and few ppl. It looks like a peaceful sactuary that the monks stay and pray. There was a counter that sells this amulets. Again we let our defences down at this temple as the amulets were very fairly priced. ONly 200 babt for one amulet, lesser than 10 sing only!!! We know it was fairly priced as the exact same one in the chinatown golden buddha we went a while ago was like 7000babt!!! what a difference. we talk to the monk with really broken english and even requested he chant prayers to power up the amulet in front of our eyes. After that, feeling everything was fine we went into a praying hall with a big buddha. there was a person inside there already. Feeling nothing amiss, we sat down and pray for a while. Then the man in the praying hall sitting beside me ask us why we are here where tourist don't know of this area( cos we look tourist of cos). We said we are here to get amulets. He talk to us very long, almost an hour. Abt buddhism, what kind of amulets are good, what are the powers. The thing is he never even bring up the story abt gems!! (what a professional con artist!!) He said buddhist got 5 laws, of which one is cannot lie. Later, I ask him why was he here?We again trust him as he seem very good and knowledgable and he claim to be a thai living in australia that come back every yr to pray and of cos do some gems investment! (Oh man, there are so good that they are able to make you bring up the topic yourself). When I ask that, 30 mins is already gone talking abt buddhism, hence we see no loopholes at all, as he is just a person praying in peace. So again I ask him in details, what is all these abt, everyone is talking abt this..

This is the summary so called investment oppt:
the govt wants to help thai students studying abroad, so that gave thai students tax free gems to buy and sell when the study abroad so as to finance their education. The govt will even tell them where to sell.
This week is a special sale, why this so called wholesale centres also allow foreigners to buy, no more than 2 pieces for souvenires. They do not allow foreigners to sell abroad, however you can claim you are buying for yourself and secretly sell back in your country as it is tax free. Wow, at first, I didn't believe , then he started to explain how thai businesses works. He said, any man that want to do business in thailand got to first open an account in thai bank with a sum of money. The amt of money inside determines your credit ability and also determines the amt of gems you can export for your shop (singapore gem shop i mean). Hence of cos he even mentioned poh heng, taka jewellery being big players can export alot to sell back. He added that since small shops can't export alot, they got shortage and will willing take your gems. Why? as there is 152% tax when you export gems out for commercial reasons but no tax when buy in this special period for personal uses. So that asshole said that there is a loop hole in this system and he uilitise that to make money, abt 100% profit back in austrailia(meaning the shop save 52%, that is why they will pay from you). As I studied business, I think thru the process, it sound so damn logical. The worse thing is that I believe him as he say that in front of the praying hall, in front of the big buddha!!! WTF. they are using religion and sacred places so ppl let down their defences. Shame on them buddhist and shame of them respecting their king. The thing is me and my fren being students look poor, so we couldn't figure out why he wanna con us, as there is not much money we can con out of. And this is where I lost the battle.

Being professional cons man, he just wrote the name of the shop: pansiamese. And just leave us alone to think abt it. He was so pro that he was no pushy at all. At the time when he wrote the damn name, we already engage in an hour conversation. So the story goes, me and my fren thought we were so smart and of cos lucky that things went so smoothly (neither have I thought that this aus thai man and the teacher just now was one gang!). We ourselves told the tuk tuk to bring us to pansiamese gems house.
The smart thing of the aus thai guy is that he called us not to talk abt the investment at all in the place, as they won't sell if you say you used for resale! so thinking the pansiamese was taken aback by our intelligence, even though we wear like poor freaks, i freakin bought a ruby which cost near 500 sing!!! They gave me a certifcate and I look and look at the ruby. It looks not fake at all. The fking sales man called ISSY( OR SISSY I would say cos he looks like one) served us with perfect service. I claim to buy this for my mum, and he was extremely happy and said that I am filial. I of cos laugh in my head, thinking I go back to see for 500 bucks profit. Cut the story short, there was a caucasian couple inside that also looking for gems. ( later i knew everyone was con artist , including the caucasian couple). So I happily bought and went back hotel.

In singapore, I started to get worried abt the whole thing as it seem too perfect. i brought to lucky plaza to value my piece. Damn it was worth only like 80 bucks!! Knn, wtf. those assholes sold me below quality rubies. I heard from some shops that some students bought like 12k worth of gems and worth only a fraction of the price back home. I was damn pissed with myself and my naiveness. I ponder abt the issue. I did do my research on sammy, read like 8 guide books, surf the net on bangkok, but why I, being so careful person usually can be duped. There is only one answer, they are so professional that they use religion( claiming buddhist cannot lie) to con you. And the thing is that the same story even though different gems houses was told to us on different days.

I hope this can be a warning sign to everyone and sincerely hope I am the first and last to be con be the scam that lasted for almost 20 yrs.

[motodiary]

Originally Posted by nomoretimes

PLS READ WITH CAUTION AND LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES:

DAY 3
Me and my fren basically went bangkok to shop, sightseeing, pray and of cos screw. Thinking that thais are good buddhist people , they will not con ppl. However, I was terribly wrong. ............................

we all understand your frustration at having being duped but repeating yourself endless in every Thailand thread will only piss off other forum members.

this isn't exactly news to us, except for those who have yet to go to Thailand. In fact, this mostly happen to people who visit the tourist attractions and seldom happen to those people who go there to cheong exclusively as the touts and the whole operation focus on the tourist attractions.

I still remember the time when I went to Bangkok for the first time as an adult with my friend and was taken for a ride in the same situation as you. I didn't buy any gems as I was never interested but I was totally shocked that I was targeted on my first day in Bangkok and only later realised it is a common scam and the scam is almost as old as Bangkok itself.

the whole operation is very professional, and involving first-class acting by people of all races, who chip in comments and appear at an appropriate time to make the whole situation seem natural and convincing. all we can be certain of is that you are not the first and you certainly won't be the last people to fall for their stories.

[nomoretimes]

Actually the main reason for me doing that is that I feel that this information is not dissiminate enough at all. I read all the threads related to bangkok in sammy. None mentioned abt this thing. In fact, I was glad that I know which club to go in patpong to avoid being con as the forum tells me what to do. Hence I sincerely believed that there could be new victims out there everyday and I want them to avoid these as much as possible so as not to ruin their holidays. The sad thing is that some students went there on holiday thought that they can lift off some burden of their parents supporting their education, hence doing the small investment. But sadly, they got into debt. I mean they are not being greedy, just filial. A very sad case.

Originally Posted by motodiary

we all understand your frustration at having being duped but repeating yourself endless in every Thailand thread will only piss off other forum members.

this isn't exactly news to us, except for those who have yet to go to Thailand. In fact, this mostly happen to people who visit the tourist attractions and seldom happen to those people who go there to cheong exclusively as the touts and the whole operation focus on the tourist attractions.

I still remember the time when I went to Bangkok for the first time as an adult with my friend and was taken for a ride in the same situation as you. I didn't buy any gems as I was never interested but I was totally shocked too that I was targeted on my first day in Bangkok and only later realised it is a common and the scam is almost as old as Bangkok itself.

[vmtech]

sad to hear that bro, however it aint new news, the jewellry scam is around for donkey years.

actually once i brought my friends to search for 1, to actually let them go through the scam hehe, found a tuktuk, paid him 20thb and let him work his magic, although before that i already told my friends that im gonna show them something, whatever it is, dont buy anithing.

well.. somehow my friends still endedup buying a overpriced "silk" tie. ok la not as bad as gems at least u can wear the tie.

just remmber, when u are in thailand, you are suppose to shop for fakes, not look for originals! u wanna look for originals, fly elsewhere better.

[motodiary]

A 2007 Round Up

Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve usually see barfine prices raised. In previous years they went up to 1,000 baht but that didn't prove to be the deterrent the bar owners wanted it to be. Remember, owners want their bars to be full of girls until late into the night ensuring high drink sales. Last year a number of bars put the barfines up further, and this year, well, things remain undecided but some bars are talking of outrageous barfines. Think 4,000 baht! Decisions aren't final and may well change on the day, but it would seem anyone wishing to barfine on those nights might need to get a bit extra out of the ATM machine. Some of the big Nana bars have already made their decision with Rainbow 1 and Rainbow 3 charging 1,000 baht for New Year's Eve. Angelwitch is asking 1,500 baht on Xmas Eve and 2,000 baht on New Year's Eve. Any gogo bar that attempts to charge more than that will commit financial suicide!

wow, does this happen every year? Do popular arb nam joints like Nataree and Poseidon charge premium too during festive season, as it is scalping season for holidaymakers high on drinks and merrymaking.

any experienced bros here can comment on this?

[TD0620G]

Originally Posted by nomoretimes

PLS READ WITH CAUTION AND LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES:

I claim to buy this for my mum, and he was extremely happy and said that I am filial. I of cos laugh in my head, thinking I go back to see for 500 bucks profit. Cut the story short, there was a caucasian couple inside that also looking for gems. ( later i knew everyone was con artist , including the caucasian couple). So I happily bought and went back hotel.

Look at it on a bright side.. at least now u can really give it to your mum loh...

anyway thanks for the warning it will be useful to newbies. I was brought to the shops on one of my visits before coz the tuk tuk insisted but I just went in and out again without even looking at the jewellery, coz I'd rather spend it on the puyings.

[devilboy1978(2)]

Any bro currently in BKK nw?Wanna go 4 a drink 2gether?
I'm available frm nw till 12am..Faster drop me a PM..

[ChaYen]

Lesson for the day:

Don't take tuk tuks.

[King]

Originally Posted by vmtech

Soi cowboy is just a strip of bars @ suk soi 23, u cant miss it man. get down from Asok BTS or Suk mrt and u know wad i mean

MANY MANY bar reviews recently posted by yokosi, yinyang and many others , scroll a few pages back and u get ur reviews
enjoy ur holidays

well personally i recommand sharkbar, but just a note, be there early or end up with no place to sit.

thks man, Asoke sounds good!
ya, been reading and salivating at the same time.. LOL
they really give me a very good readup on what i missed from cowboy. Never knew it was so happening as i always go nana..
sharkbar, interesting.. Barraca and Dollhouse seems great too! ARGH! so many choices!!

[vmtech]

To all the bros here, wishing yall a happy 2008! happy holidays and happy bonking hahah

[Shinzon]

Hi friends
I am posting my first mess here since you guys seem to know most about Soi Cowboy. I have heard that there are some katoeys in DEJA VU and there is this girl there I always have suspected to be a post op. But I am not sure, the name is DEE and she is very slim, very long and have long long hair and dance like a crazy coyoteee. She put in some silicon also about 9 month ago.

Anyone that know some facts?
Cheers
/Shinzon

[vmtech]

Originally Posted by Shinzon

Hi friends
I am posting my first mess here since you guys seem to know most about Soi Cowboy. I have heard that there are some katoeys in DEJA VU and there is this girl there I always have suspected to be a post op. But I am not sure, the name is DEE and she is very slim, very long and have long long hair and dance like a crazy coyoteee. She put in some silicon also about 9 month ago.

Anyone that know some facts?
Cheers
/Shinzon

dont know the katoey's name but confirm there are at least 3 of em in deja vu
1 hostess and 2 dancers (damn tall 1)

[Shinzon]

Thanx for the answer bro, however, it does not solve the problem completely...

The thing is that a friend of mine BF her one year ago and I could have sworn that he would regret that... But he told me that he did not notice anything mysterious at all. But the doctors are quite good nowadays and beers can blur your vision. Or he might just be very embarresed over his experience;-)

Anyway, so 5 month ago at my next trip to LOS I popped in Deja Vu just for second opinion. I spot the girl on stage and a takes a really good look. Mama-san notice the whole thing and asks if I want to see her. At this point in time feel I that I really need to solve the probem. So I buy her a LD to study her more closer, but I still cant tell. I buy her another and so on...Now I am really pissed of and start to ask both Mama-san and the other the girls, but they all say that there are no Ladyboys here at all... wtf?! I almost BF the damn thing just to know!

So if anybody has any clues I will deeply appreciate them! Or if you have the time to make a field study... give me a report of your findings;-)

[Shinzon]

Shark Bar is definitely one of the better GoGos in Soi Cowboy. Since you guys seem to know all about the place, what girls do you recommend there?

[Mr.romantic]

Originally Posted by Shinzon

Hi friends
I am posting my first mess here since you guys seem to know most about Soi Cowboy. I have heard that there are some katoeys in DEJA VU and there is this girl there I always have suspected to be a post op. But I am not sure, the name is DEE and she is very slim, very long and have long long hair and dance like a crazy coyoteee. She put in some silicon also about 9 month ago.

Anyone that know some facts?
Cheers
/Shinzon

hahaha get over it and move on lah. why waste time to investigate?