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lol internet. posted:Okay, Nothing, it is perfect as is.
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Sep 25, 2012 11:33
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| # ? May 14, 2024 06:49 |
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Asia.flv https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWToUATLGzs
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Sep 26, 2012 14:43
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So a majority of the bars along the tubing river in Vang Vieng have been closed down until further notice. My wife told me there's too much deaths and no one at the bars are owning up to it, or dealing with the foreign diplomats when that time comes.
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Sep 26, 2012 17:15
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lol internet. posted:So a majority of the bars along the tubing river in Vang Vieng have been closed down until further notice. Good.
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Sep 26, 2012 18:08
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Yeah, it really most definitely is for the best. I went there a few years back, and while I had fun, it really was appalling how dangerous the entire situation was. Even without the drinking, a lot of those rope swings and trapeze set-ups were pretty damned hazardous, and you had people doing back flips and twists and god knows what else off of them. I just did a regular swing off of a rope and when I landed I shot straight to the bottom and jammed my toe pretty hard on a rock in the river bed. I can only imagine some of the injuries in shallower areas, or at drier times of the year... and when you get as drunk as some of those backpackers would get, forget about it. It really is for the best that they shut the place down. I read an article (probably from this thread, actually) that talked about what a corrupting influence on the town the whole operations was, too, how people would get into drinking and drugs at much higher rates, and turn to theft and muggings or assaults against the steady flow of tourists through the town...
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Sep 27, 2012 01:40
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That place was ridiculously dangerous. I saw some drunk brit fall off a suspension bridge on the way to Bucket Bar and break his back. Some drunk assholes insisted on taking care of the situation and once they got him up to the main road I managed to wake up a tuk tuk driver, rip a sandwich board off the side of the road, and lay him horizonally over the Tuk-Tuk to be taken to the clinic. Apparently he had to stay in the captial for 2 months before he could be evacuated out.
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Sep 27, 2012 03:28
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It's just the wrong kind of Peter Pan fantasy land bullshit to be allowed to exist. No one that traveled there got a drat thing out if it, and it being there contributed nothing to the area. Better to just have the river and a few farms.
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Sep 27, 2012 03:39
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I had a goddamn blast in Vang Vieng. I was with some awesome rock climbers who brought all their own equipment so we partied like retards at night and we would go climbing during the day after a hearty breakfast. In between we somehow managed to fit in some good tubing.
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Sep 27, 2012 09:36
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Watching stormclouds roll up over the mountain and down to the sea. I am in their way, their anger will not be brief. Home tomorrow. Phuket, I have done, next time I'm thinking Bangkok and Chang-mai. Got to see a ping pong show at least. 
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Sep 27, 2012 11:40
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The great game without paddles! drat I enjoyed my trip to Thailand/Cambodia. Did our honeymoon over there. Last time I was there I was probably 4. Really the best thing to do is get kinda lost, with lots of time to get back / out, in Bangkok. The wife and I wandered through a small engine and machinist repair district with piles of parts everywhere. Most everyone was extremely nice and no one nuked our food with pepper oil. Side note - recommended pants are linen or a quick dry cotton. We had tremendous fun in the big weekend market, $5 foot rubs! We were at a Your Place Guesthouse for 1/3 of the time, on a tour in Cambodia for 1/3 of the time, 1/6 at Le Meridien in Bangkok, and 1/6 at Nora Buri in Ko Samui. I'm headed back to the region in January on a joint Law-Business school trip to Vietnam and Singapore. I know Singapore is more expensive (dramatically so) so two inter-related questions. 1 - How much spending money should I bring (the trip covers nearly everything minus a few meals)? I'll likely ship purchases back that are decent sized. 2 - Where is the best / most recommended tailor in either Vietnam or Singapore (expecting to cost considerably more than Vietnam)?
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Sep 27, 2012 15:57
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I don't know why I decided to come to Gili island it's basically the same as kuta, except worse because I can't escape it and accommodation costs heaps more. I am heading back to Bali in two days then off to Bandung.
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Sep 27, 2012 16:57
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Can anyone recommend a good tattoo shop in or near Bangkok? Or anywhere really, as my plans are still really flexible. I'd like to get a tattoo as a souvenir on an upcoming trip but I am pretty serious about quality and cleanliness and would be very hesitant to go to a shop unless they have a really good reputation.
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Sep 27, 2012 19:20
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http://www.wat-bang-phra.com/luang-pi-nunn.php
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Sep 27, 2012 20:09
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heading to Koh Tao today. Been island hopping a while but everywhere on the west side of Thailand is dead, which was great for a week but now I'm looking for something a little more busy. Any suggestions for Koh Tao? Hate to beg for advice. Here's some in return! Dont goto the ping pong shows as they will destroy your soul.
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Sep 28, 2012 05:38
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New Way Diving if you want to do good recreational diving. Call ahead for free pickup. Stay on Sairee if you want lively. Im surprised you say the Andaman coast is dead... i thought it was just starting to pick up now.
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Sep 28, 2012 06:59
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If any of you see an ugly Korean couple in Thailand (probably on a tour package) by chance this weekend, be sure to gave them my regards via a partially melted wafer. You'll know you got the right couple if they start sputtering and looking like they're about to implode.
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Sep 28, 2012 07:52
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Themata posted:(probably on a tour package) Since when do Koreans not travel on tour packages?  I was at MegaBagna (a mall) the other day and saw a group of Chinese travelers guided by their tour guide. Must be very exciting to go overseas and visit malls!
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Sep 28, 2012 11:25
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To tell you the truth I do enjoy visiting malls in foreign countries, mostly to find games or movies I can't get back home.
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Sep 28, 2012 11:31
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The MSJ posted:To tell you the truth I do enjoy visiting malls in foreign countries, mostly to find games or movies I can't get back home. Agreed, although not for games or movies; I just find it really interesting to walk around them and see what kind of stores are popular, what foods they have in the food court area, the kinds of people who loiter around, etc. The Sorya mall in Phnom Penh was awesome when it first opened. I don't know if they still have them, but at the bottom of each set of escalators they used to have uniformed escalator coaches to help people who'd never seen them before in their lives and were terrified by the witchcraft of the Westerners.
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Sep 28, 2012 15:57
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As a 6'9 white as gently caress Norwegian, the first time I walked through the mall here was an experience. Eventually ended up with a score of school kids trailing me and a bunch of 10-12 year olds girls running around yelling the lyrics for "Teach me how to doggie". In retrospect, I probably should have had some sort of reaction, but at the time I was jet lagged to hell and just wanted to grab some food.
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Sep 28, 2012 21:19
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eviljelly posted:New Way Diving if you want to do good recreational diving. Call ahead for free pickup. Stay on Sairee if you want lively. Im surprised you say the Andaman coast is dead... i thought it was just starting to pick up now. THIS MAN IS A LIAR. (Actually not New Way is a really great dive shop, and they're always first on-site at Sail Rock) I heavily suggest Big Blue, they're a really exceptional place for diving, and you stay for free if you're diving that day. Let's put it this way. I got back just over 2 weeks ago and I'm already trying to figure out how soon I can go back to Thailand for my divemaster's course. Loved it loved it loved it. (Also had the first Bull Shark and Whale Shark sightings in months on my very first Sail Rock dive so suck it  )
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Sep 30, 2012 04:51
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My first dive at sail rock is always bullsharkful. By the second dive, when there are at least 6 other dive boats are out there, its a little meh. Theres a reason DMs and instrctors from other shops fun dive with us for sail rock. Big blue is a good shop though. For a mega shop, they seem to have good quality control on their staff. I just hate diving with hundreds of other divers around.
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Sep 30, 2012 05:05
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Does anyone have any experience with or recommendations for dive sites and shops other than on Koh Tao? I'm going to Asia in November, planning on improvising my way through Maleysia, Singapore and Indonesia, but I also want to spend 4 or 5 days diving somewhere awesome. I've already been to Koh Tao and I feel like I need to see some more of Asia than just Thailand. Rojkir fucked around with this message at 15:05 on Sep 30, 2012 |
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Sep 30, 2012 15:00
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For the love of god go diving in sipadan. Book now and there is a slight chance you might be able to get in, but you may have to call around to a few different shops.
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Sep 30, 2012 21:10
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One of our group had a really good experience with Rumblefish adventures in kata beach phuket. The owner is Japanese American, Co owner is californian, perfect English and great local knowledge.
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Oct 1, 2012 02:58
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Rojkir posted:Does anyone have any experience with or recommendations for dive sites and shops other than on Koh Tao? Khao Lak in Thailand (north of Phuket) has some awesome diving. Late November should be OK. Otherwise, Sarawak (Malaysia) for sure. Sipadan, Semporna, Mabul - lots of great diving there if you can get in.
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Oct 1, 2012 03:24
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I've heard amazing things about the diving at Bunaken National Park in Sulawesi. I was going to go there last month, but my plans fell through. It's somewhat difficult to get to(you'll have to fly into Manado- which you can get to from Makassar, which has connections to KL and Singapore) and the diving is supposed to be geared towards intermediate/advanced divers, but I've been told that it's up there with some of the best dive spots in the world.
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Oct 1, 2012 05:05
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CronoGamer posted:Agreed, although not for games or movies; I just find it really interesting to walk around them and see what kind of stores are popular, what foods they have in the food court area, the kinds of people who loiter around, etc. The Sorya mall in Phnom Penh was awesome when it first opened. I don't know if they still have them, but at the bottom of each set of escalators they used to have uniformed escalator coaches to help people who'd never seen them before in their lives and were terrified by the witchcraft of the Westerners. Escalator coaches? There's something new. You made me realise, though, that coming from Malaysia mall food in Singapore and Indonesia seems all too familiar for me. Actually, this seems to be true for Australia as well. The most foreign mall I've been too is in Saudi Arabia where fried fish seems to be treated as something special. One thing about Singapore I notice are the couple of sex shops (one across the Takashimaya in Orchard, one at Bugis Street) operating in plain view, which is amusing in light of its government complaining that their citizens are not having enough sex.
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Oct 1, 2012 08:58
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The MSJ posted:Escalator coaches? There's something new. You made me realise, though, that coming from Malaysia mall food in Singapore and Indonesia seems all too familiar for me. Actually, this seems to be true for Australia as well. The most foreign mall I've been too is in Saudi Arabia where fried fish seems to be treated as something special. They arn't having enough sex because you have to fulfil a 17 point check-list before it's actually 'OK' in the eyes of the government
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Oct 1, 2012 10:02
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eviljelly posted:For the love of god go diving in sipadan. Book now and there is a slight chance you might be able to get in, but you may have to call around to a few different shops. Holy poo poo that looks exceptional, but it also looks like it might kill my budget to stay at Mabul. Now I understand why Tao is so popular, it's cheap
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Oct 1, 2012 10:31
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Goddammit, my son lost our motorbike keys somewhere in the apartment. I'm screwed!
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Oct 1, 2012 12:17
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Senso posted:Goddammit, my son lost our motorbike keys somewhere in the apartment. I'm screwed! EDIT: Oppan Annam Style
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Oct 2, 2012 05:23
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ReindeerF posted:EDIT: Oppan Annam Style Hahaha that's genius!
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Oct 2, 2012 05:56
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Holy poo poo Reindeer, whose cheerios did you piss in to get that red text? It's a beauty.
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Oct 2, 2012 08:45
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Cynic Jester posted:Holy poo poo Reindeer, whose cheerios did you piss in to get that red text? It's a beauty. Sure is. My guess is that he hurt someones feelings in the china-thread in D&D.
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Oct 2, 2012 09:39
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There was a thread in D&D on not using the word illegal immigrant because it's racist. I stupidly waded in mentioning that I'd been thinking about the topic of immigration and nationality a lot and planning to write a post because of my cross-cultural experiences and my times spent working as an illegal immigrant (and because I grew up in a community with many in Southeast Texas) and I proceeded to point out that I don't find it offensive so much as accurate, even though I understand that the right-wingers have started to go nuts and turn it into a slur. I was labeled a white, privileged moron who knows nothing about the world by the LF crowd and dismissed - and happened to be drinking a bit, so I just started going after everyone who went after me first. The result was this title (which I will wear with pride!). In fairness, a couple of the people I went after were pretty okay people who just got caught in the crossfire and I've apologized, but most were just what you'd expect. You have to like a group of people who can't wait to proclaim their offense on behalf of every stereotyped group and then give someone a title of sex tourist because of a foreign country's stereotyped reputation, heh. Anyway, enough about that! ----------------------------- Weather is ridiculous in Bangkok these days, rain is bizarre and lasts half the day and sometimes into the night. Streets are flooding, sandbags are coming out, etc. It's nowhere near crisis level, but keep an eye on the news (or ask here) to make sure it doesn't get worse and interrupt your plans! I saw a lady with plastic 7-11 bags over her feet, inside her flip flops the other day. On top of the head is typical, but this was a first for me. ReindeerF fucked around with this message at 14:05 on Oct 2, 2012 |
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Oct 2, 2012 13:59
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Yeah, I have concluded that the sanctimonious ideals of that crowd is just a veiled excuse to be an arrogant dickhead to people who disagree with them. The irony of the title is hilarious though... Anyway, got back from my trip the other day. Conclusions: - Singapore is loving awesome, but very expensive. Singapore's food outshines pretty much everything in Malaysia. - KL is a shithole that has decent food. Don't spend more than 2-3 days there. However, the Petronas Tower at night is like a photographer's dream. I got some awesome pictures of that. - Melaka is a tourist trap that has maybe 2-3 things you may want to see. Spend like a day there at most. - Penang was actually pretty cool, especially with the night markets. It also has a nice old town that is enjoyable to walk around in. - If you have the money, fly into USM on Ko Samui for KPN. It was so much easier. I had no idea where those loving lighthouse bungalows were and after like a half hour of walking up hills with my bag, I gave up and stayed in Haad Rin. It was off season away from a full moon, so the place was deserted. It would have been much more peaceful if I didn't stay at this place directly adjacent to the cactus bar however. It was also Jewish New Year so the entire town was filled with Israeli Tourists. The one's I met were nice, but their reputation was fulfilled when someone pulled a pistol and shot into the air on the beach at like 3AM, causing a stampede. Other than that it was pretty nice and quiet.
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Oct 2, 2012 16:57
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If you want to go to Lighthouse you should get to Haad Rin and then call them. They will send a guy to whatever business you're waiting in to show you the way for your first trip.
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Oct 2, 2012 17:04
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Cheesemaster200 posted:- The one's I met were nice, but their reputation was fulfilled when someone pulled a pistol and shot into the air on the beach at like 3AM, causing a stampede. Other than that it was pretty nice and quiet. What?
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Oct 2, 2012 18:22
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| # ? May 14, 2024 06:49 |
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Here's a charming story of medical quackery in Thailand. Recently a Thai friend of mine took her sister to the Dr at a major hospital here in Bangkok and he did a spot diagnosis of her as having major depression and prescribed Depakine. This is a major psych drug used to treat people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and has all kinds of wacky side effects like potential liver damage, massive weight gain, and renal failure. Then later her mom talked with the dr and let it slip the father wasn't feeling too well either with headaches. They took her dad in and the Dr. claimed he had major depression too and prescribed the same meds. The total bill for the family? Something like 30,000 baht a month for the meds. This Dr. isn't even a psychiatrist but a general practice family physician.
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Oct 2, 2012 18:29
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