Greetings to our loyal readers and I hope you are enjoying this blessing we call life as much as I am. In my August, 2010 column, I compared 1995 Bangkok to present day and detailed the changes in the nightlife industry. This month, I want to compare changes in cost, livability, transportation and relationships with “good […]
Read the rest of this entry »Archive for the 'Thailand' Category
WoWasis book review: ‘Yakuza: The Explosive Account of Japan’s Criminal Underworld’
If you’re looking for a comprehensive book that provides great insight on Yakuaza business, history, culture, scams, players, this book is it, even though it was first published in 1986. Where it falls short is in the area of Yakuza and prostitution, where frankly, it has a lot of it wrong. We’ll explain why, but […]
Read the rest of this entry »The Good Manner: Should I pay a dowry for my Thai wife?
The Good Manner: Advice on Thailand from WoWasis’ Pa Farang This week’s dilemma: Should I pay a dowry for my Thai wife? Note from Pa Farang: This week, I have received two letters that deal with two sides of the same coin. They appear consecutively, as they are thematically intertwined. Dear Pa Farang, My lovely […]
Read the rest of this entry »WoWasis book review: Martin Booth’s ‘The Dragon Syndicates’
If, like those of us here at WoWasis, you’re a veteran traveler in SE Asia, you’ve done business with the Triads, the underworld syndicates that have their hands in businesses ranging from noodle shops, to food carts, to politics. That goes for some Western cities too, including London, New York, and cities in the San […]
Read the rest of this entry »Bachelor in Bangkok: Khun Lee’s tips on living modestly while the Thai baht rises in value
The world economy seems to be slowing down and the U.S. is especially weak. The U.S. dollar has recently weakened significantly against the Thai baht. This has had a major impact on many people including those of us living in Paradise. Most of my money is invested in the U.S., and many of my mates […]
Read the rest of this entry »WoWasis wordsmith: Where does the word “punter” come from?
Here at WoWasis, we’re fond of using the word punter to describe men that favor the company of female entertainment providers. Those women could be dancers, freelancers on the street, gals working in beer gardens, or massage parlors. They all share one thing in common, their jobs entail meeting men for temporary or permanent financial […]
Read the rest of this entry »6 Tips to avoid being drugged & robbed Thai street women
Judging by news stories and interviews with a number of individuals conducted by WoWasis researchers, the practice of Thai street ladies meeting a man on the street, accompanying him to his hotel room, drugging him, then robbing him while unconscious, is rampant. In each case, the process is identical. While in the man’s room, the […]
Read the rest of this entry »The Good Manner: How do I find an apartment in Bangkok for a 3 month stay?
The Good Manner: Advice on Thailand from WoWasis’ Pa Farang This week’s dilemma: How do I find an apartment in Bangkok for a 3 month stay? Hello Pa Farang, We live in Australia and wish to base ourselves in Bangkok for our winter. How can we rent a one room apartment, close to rail/skytrain transport. […]
Read the rest of this entry »Bachelor in Bangkok: Khun Lee on the difficulty of moving your Thai girlfriend out of your home
No one wants to be James Bond! I have lived in Bangkok quite some time now, and the biggest shock in my expat life so far is that nearly every guy who moves to Paradise tires very quickly of the single life and moves a lass in to his living quarters and lives the same […]
Read the rest of this entry »The Good Manner: Racial discrimination in Bangkok go-go bars?
The Good Manner: Love & Relationship Advice from WoWasis’ Pa Farang This week’s dilemma: Am I the victim of racial discrimination in Bangkok go-go bars? Dear Pa Farang, Three of us got 86’d from a go-go bar. Our crime? One of our group had just bought a drink for a dancer who sat beside him, […]
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