Well, OP, have you had enough advice yet?

Really I don't know what all the melodramatics are about, I want to drink on my vacation, don't have quite the money to do it as often as I want and want some ideas on how to get around steep club prices. And there have been a few good ideas here and I am appreciative of them.

As for Geriatrickid, I think you seem like a very worried person, you're first of all talking about the gay club scene as though it were host to the hel_l's Angles and other thugs. I might get into some kind of fight with someone? I should read up on it more? It's very likely that I've spent as much or more time in the Thai gay club scene than most people out there, even those a decade or more in Thailand. Because I spent a few years there cumulatively and there are large swaths of that time, up to 6 months at a time, where I went out EVERY night. Quite literally, for months, every night, maybe a break one night every couple of weeks. Do I say that because it's some badge of merit or to impress someone? No, in fact I'm sure it's something you would look down upon, but I had fun and that's why I did it, and I miss it now. But I tell you this to assuage any concerns over my safety or naivete. I am safe enough in Thailand to the point where it's no different than being say in my own country. I know the dangers, and I've avoided them in the past and I'm cautious in general. I also wash my backside with water and my left hand to this day, in my country, because it's cleaner. My point is, I'm familiar with the dangers and am not worried. You on the other hand may have some serious issues with regard to kind of maybe wanting to control every variable in a situation or something? Being preoccupied with what might go wrong? Just a guess.

Again, as for the talk of alcoholism and all of that, I didn't drink for most of my adult life, then started drinking again a few years ago. I don't have a problem at all and I don't drink here in the US, there's no point I'm alone here. But, again, as many people would, I want to get tipsy and yes sometimes drunk while I go out on the cheap. This doesn't have to be a huge social issue, it's a 'college kid' that wants to booze it up a little for a few weeks on vacation. And some good tips here, Long Island iced tea and buying a whole bottle, never would have thought of these things and I am going to look into them. Yes, Moderator, my questions have been largely answered, and I thank the forum.

One last point, again Geriatrickid, he doesn't buy the economic claims; judging by your name you're perhaps retired in Thailand? There is a reason this is called the worse crisis since the Great Depression, if you were here in the US I think you'd have a different view of things. Sure the stock markets are up again and the Fed says we're out of the recession, but unemployment is what everyone recognizes is going to be here for quite a while, and it continues to get worse. This is as bad as it's been for a while and there really are no jobs and unemployment, even though other indicators are just showing the beginnings of recovery, continues to worsen. I don't think the unemployment numbers have been observed to NOT rise since this thing began, and it seems clear it will get worse. So, it's serious, this isn't the dot com bust or the early nineties slump, this is different.

Now, is that reason to run off to Thailand? Of course not, I have ever good reason to stay home and save, but people do desperate and stupid things when they are alone, idle, stuck, sinking, depressed, etc. Will this worsen my situation? Maybe, it certainly won't improve things, but I need a morale boost or I really do have some more serious, existential problems. And it's hard to keep that out of my posts because it bothers me, so sorry for getting into the whole economy thing, that's not what this is about it's about clever tricks to drink cheap. Thanks again for the useful input.

Hey, you should forget Bangkok and come to Chiang Mai . Plenty of fun places to go, wall to wall gay boys, and no shortage of Farangs who've made a speciality out of getting drunk very cheaply. (That last one is meant in JEST before the indignant start replying )

Also, plenty of people in a similar situation to yourself. No prospects back home, life is hard and solitary, no chance of a job, expect for black market construction, no medical insurance, no family to help them if they get into trouble, serious alchohol abuse problems. Yet, they manage to get extremely drunk for 100 Bt per night (Bottle of lao kaao and a couple of sodas), or really shit faced for 250Bt with certain other substances (and the advantage you don't need to eat - another saving ) Yes, what you are planning is perfectly normal here, except most of the people I know who live like this come from Myanmar, not the USA

I know, sarcasm is the lowest form of wit....... (but Wit did have a nice body last time I checked )

This post has been edited by Paagai: 2009-11-10 06:28:04

I proudly accept the comparison to a Burmese stiff. Hey, if they're living in Thailand they're not doing too bad. I always wondered why farang go to Chiang Mai for long periods of time, I guess you have to be into that sort of rural mountain type environment, which is nice, but the city itself just isn't that hopping if you ask me. Good looking guys though.

True that. I was wearing $70 hiking pants (cargo pockets, zip off knees) and had a 'friend' give me a talking-to about how unstylish I was. I couldn't determine if Thais were brand conscious or not but my friends were certainly concerned about style.

I know exactly where you are at! I did this occasionally when I was a poor person on vacation in BKK or other parts of SE Asia.

My advice is to take in one of those small curved plastic bottles of local whiskey - cost little and 1 will just fit into one of your back pockets - and top up your mixers in the toilet. But there is one big danger to this - it's so tasty and cheap that you can easily get drunk that way, like I have done in the past - and as a young newby it may lead to some undesirables taking advantage of you - like spiking your drink or inviting you to a free party somewhere where you are spiked and robbed - or just robbed whilst you are fast asleep having taken back a guy - it can and does happen sometimes, even in gay places.

Enjoy, but beware. Trust but verify!

This post has been edited by Tyke: 2009-11-15 19:12:44

Trouble is, Chiang Mai is full of gay farang looking to get poor, lighter -skinned boys, cheaply drunk, so the Op had better be careful!

Just tell him it's all the retro rage in Europe and the USA because of a fictitious new pop group called 'Suave'. The pants fit perfectly with your retro 'Suave' hairstyle, shirt and shoes. Even your mannerisms and way of walking are fundamentally 'Suave'. And that he had better modernise his somewhat un-Suave appearance or the little shit is outta here.

My God, we have our very own backpacker type to unload everything on!

But that said, it sounds like you've got your mind made up. I've done stupider things than sneak booze into a nightclub--and they weren't because of a money shortage. Plan things as best you can. Set a budget and try to stick to it. I think one of the main problems you are encountering is that you are actually telling people about your situation.

Do keep us posted. There are some people that are a little bit helpful and understanding. Also don't ignore the advice of the wiser people who have given advice.

Best of luck. Have a safe and happy time. Post if you can. If I am free, I'll head down that way and buy you a few--I haven't been down there for a couple of years.

Well, I think it must be the magic of Thaivisa, but after whining on here I actually got a call from a restaurant I applied to THREE MONTHS AGO! This is after applying to about thirty places. Finally get a call and I'm working now for the last few days! Will see of course how it works out, I've not been in a position to accept a lowly restaurant job in a while, been making bank in the energy industry the last several years, so now I stooping back down to busboy for minimum wage and my feet are covered in blisters, but that's fine I'm grateful, and I'm going to put in my month and run away.

This changes everything, will get my Silom apartment, will not have to worry about clandestine alcohol smuggling, I'll even be tipping bar tenders, and all will be well. But I will take to heart these tips, might consider getting a bottle at DJ, think I will for sure make habit of downing a few cheap 711 caned beers before going in just to kick start the thing. Stop in DJ, I'll buy YOU a drink. Okay, just some good news there, thanks for the advice.

All's well that whinges well.

Congrats on getting a job. Bussing tables isn't as bad as washing dishes. Can I ask what state you live in?

I'm in Nevada right now. The downside to this job is that I had to buy special shoes for it, a certain make with a certain tread, none really fit me, so the ones I have have given me huge blisters, which are infected now. Kind of hard to work like that.

Bummer, sounds like you are working for a corporation in a chain restaurant, they make you buy those shoes! Been there done that! Try buying some of those cushion inserts..they might ease the pain... and hang in there you should get used it...your feet will get better after a while, they need time to adjust.

Corporate chain it is, I always hate how these chains have these images and mythologies they propagate; their food is authentic and their values and atmosphere are special and unmatched and this other garbage, when as an employee you know everything comes frozen in boxes, and everything is a standardized and plastic. Management in these places are always sad characters, they get to be gods over college kids, alcoholics and Mexicans and they really play it up. This is where your business/restaurant management/culinary degree got you? Have fun spending every waking hour in this restaurant, loser, I'm out in a month.

But yeah, think I'll be looking into those inserts, being out of work so long then suddenly on my feet all night is tough. The things we do for Thailand.

Yeah, like a 24hr flight for a one week trip. Obviously hooked...

This post has been edited by malomker: 2009-11-19 05:49:34

Glad you found work. Take care of that money--it can go soooooo quickly in Thailand. Be nice and be kind but keep the generosity to a minimum. Your working too hard for the money to spend it others, unnecessarily.

Keep us posted.

Thanks, good advice, I will.