139 replies to this topic

[Ian900]

Thanks for advice ill be taking my laptop with me but i usually upload all pics onto a photo album online. With my laptop, I belive u have to have it scanned through the xray machine at heathrow before u go through to the plane does it affect the laptop in any way later on :?:

[Automorph]

No Ian, scanning a laptop through security poses no problems at all. I've been having laptops screened since there were laptops and have never had an issue (other than some bonehead TSA agent dropping my machine once).

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[Ian900]

I been reading lb69 fourm and also this other website stickmans guide to bangkok i got lot info there is that one ok as well ? thanks for the help

[LB3048]

Hi,
I think the sex side of things is covered well and truely here on this site. In regards to the general tourist side of things, I would recommend you go to this site http://www.virtualto...kok-TG-C-1.html

and

http://www.virtualto...kok-TG-C-1.html

Have a good read and make sure you understand what's going on. Prior to my first trip to Thailand I had a cursory glanse over these pages but really didn't think much of them or take in much information which proved to be a bad move. I got sucked into just about every scam going and after a while I became distrusting and defensive to the point of paranoia. A lot of the stuff I got caught up in could have been and is easily been avoided had I gone to the trouble of studying these pages. Rule of thumb, just be very cautious of anyone who is trying to steer you off in a different direction to where you want to go. This can be people on the street telling you that a tourist attraction is closed and that you should go for a ride in a Tuk Tuk instead. Riding in a Tuk Tuk can be fun but if you're pressed for time and only want to see the tourist attractions and not get dragged around to shops where the Tuk Tuk driver receives commissions, then you best stay away from Tuk Tuks. There are various gambling scams as well, some people may encourage you to go somewhere with them and they'll want you to gamble on their behalf or gamble with them, this can only end badly.
There is also a lot of petty stuff like taxi drivers claiming to not have change so you are forced to pay a little extra. You need to keep things in perspective and not get too stressed about his sort of thing, the extra you may be paying really equates to a very small sum of money by our standards, if you cant live with that then make sure you have plenty of small change to pay with.
When it comes to drinking in bars, I prefer to pay as I go as some bars are known to charge you for extra drinks which you never even had. I think all first time tourists get ripped off to a certain extent but once you've been there for a while you'll get to know how things work and be better at dealing with it, you just need to be a bit street wise.

Cheers
LB3048

[westbam]

barter for evrything from taxi's fake football shirts and lb's

[Ian900]

Now the next dumb question where is this Stringfellows, I read in that trip report Donnykey wrote ?By the way thanks for the info and i will keep well away from Barbie as well

[Hoot]

the dreaded 'where's it at?' question

Maps are in a sticky at the top of the General Discussion thread

http://www.lb-69.com...OK_PATTAYA.html

[Hoot]

Interesting thing about customs and bringing items back. Each time I've returned from LOS (to the US), I've had my luggage searched, but they really focus on digital cameras, computers and digital media. They couldn't have given a damn about the knock off brietling watches, gucchi jewelry, shirts and other things.

On thing, when they guy was going through my camera (I really don't take nudes and if I do, they've been already loaded up to an internet account and are off my camera) and kept commenting on how beautiful all those girls were (not knowing they were LB's). Yes, i said, very beautiful "girls" they have in Thailand.

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That is some valuable info. I didn't take any pics of my 'non-tourist' adventures last trip...and wasn't screened upon my return.

What is the best method of getting photos home should I add some nude pics to my collection on this trip? I'd like to avoid any uncomfortable situations at LAX on my return. I don't think bringing back nude pics is illegal, but I don't want to provide a LB slide show to the customs agent. I won't have a laptop to upload any 'non-public' photos to an online gallery this trip.

Any suggestions or just SOL?

[rxpharm]

There was a post about this topic in one of the other forum areas - depending on the size of the photos, you could e-mail them to yourself - and then download them after you get back home.

Some other things people have done - burn the photos to a DVD or CD and then put it into a the box that contained an original (not pirated) music CD or movie DVD (you can make it easier by bringing the empty jewelbox with you from home and just pop the DVD or CD into it before you fly back).

Having extra flash memory cards and mailing the one with the private photos back to yourself.

One of the easiest probably would be to take photos of the regular touristy stuff and leave that card in the camera and put the other card with the explicit photos in a hidden spot in your luggage.

If you are concerned about the photos in your laptop - you can rename the photos as another file type - instead of *.jpg, you could rename them *.doc and of course keep them in another folder that does not hold photos.

So there are quite a few methods to use, whatever works best for you!

[Hoot]

One of the easiest probably would be to take photos of the regular touristy stuff and leave that card in the camera and put the other card with the explicit photos in a hidden spot in your luggage.

So there are quite a few methods to use, whatever works best for you!

Thanks RX I didn't see this in my other searchs on the board.

I was leaning toward this option before I made my post and think it will be best for my situation. As long as they don't do a total BCS of my luggage I should be good.

[batman4ever]

actually Stogie from the ATS came up with the best advice iwe seen so far to newbies.....

bring half the clothes...and double the money....

quite true..... :wink:

[Automorph]

I'm not too certain that "hiding" anything in your luggage (explicit photos on a flash card, for example) is a very good idea (coming back to the US, anyway). Since US Customs has a real hardon for single male travelers returning from Thailand (and nearly searches every guy these days), AND one never knows exactly what they may consider "obscene", it just doesn't seem worth the chance.

While "nudes" aren't illegal, per se, if the LB looks young (as many do) and the customs agent is a prick (and you have no signed release stating the age of the person is over 18, or you have some expliicit scene photos (which could be deemed obscene) . . . .I think you see where I'm going with this. Too much subjectivity involved to be on the wrong end of a bad customs decision, with nothing but downside for YOU.

For example, I've had CD's with photos burned previously (again, nothing obscene) and they were in with my regular CD's (which they did examine) and customs looked at the CD.

If you are serious about taking "explicit" photos while in Thailand and bringing them back into the US, load them on the net before you travel.

Best to take advantage of technology, rather than run afoul of customs, since if you do, it will be in the system forever, and you'll never be hassle free at the airport (or any other US border crossing) again.

Forewarned, is forearmed.

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