I don't think the IRS will care. I actually think with the IRS you report everything regardless of its legality. I think drug dealers are actually supposed to report.

My understanding is that you'd list yourself as a "professional gambler" since "online poker" is still a gray area in the U.S.

Plus, the I.R.S. doesn't care about the rules of Thailand, so long as you're sending them money they're happy.

Also, I'm sure there are ways around things in Thailand (i.e. you could be an "internet entreprenuer" or something, or an "online consultant" without spelling out you're playing poker)

Which leads me to another question. Do you drink the water and have ice in your drinks there? I ate food from street vendors and never got sick. But I went to the Hard Rock in Bangkok one night and, without thinking, had the lettuce on my burger and ended up spending a night in the hospital. Does your body get used to the water, and can you eventually eat raw fruits and vegetables without fear of getting ill?

Are you poor? Who does stuff like this?

Also does your wife keep her money in a piggy bank or does she have a real bank account?

Let's not thread-hijack with off-topic discussion. This has been beat to death in a previous OOT thread.

PM me if you believe it's wrong for me to expect my wife to contribute towards our combined living expenses.

Ya'll ain't got no cornbread n' grits up in herre?



QUESTION FOUR: If I look like this, could I still get 5 girlfriends?

it's a good point, and someone said above "if you fear street vendors, Thailand isn't for you".

while this may be true, consider:

I ate ceviche in Costa Rica one time, got food poisoning, couldn't digest any food for a week, lost 15 pounds.

I ate a chicken sandwich from a street vendor in Egypt once, was violently ill for 3 days.

now, am I "afraid" of street vendors when I travel? in certain places, yeah. this doesn't stop me from going to those places, but it certainly causes me to buy bottled water, beware of certain vegetables, etc...while I like being adventurous with food, I'd rather not get really sick.

I've had the sh*ts about 5 or 6 different times, and in different levels of severity.

No one here drinks the water. Its always bottled.

I've heard there is one area where they are trying to treat the water so it is drinkable.

WTF? One pic in this whole thread???

When does this thread turn into "Post a pic of a hot Thai chic"???

Soon I hope.

TM,

Including a live webcam shot always increases your satisfaction, in case you hadn't realized.

Miss Thailand 2006:



More

So what do you do for the first week or two when you are trying to find an apartment or house? Stay in a hotel?

Has the question of whether online poker is legal, and if not, what happens if you get caught ever answered?

How much would it cost to vacation there for a month or so? Please include airfare

Can you get Diet Coke over there? I was in Columbia and all they had was "coca-cola light", which tasted pretty awful. Can you get the good stuff sweetened with aspertame over there?

Nice thread Degen. Looks like you'll be back after I leave so I won't get to school you on the golf course hehe..

Anyway, here's my two baht:

I've been living here in Thailand for 2 years now. It's been fun. Nightlife is off the hook. There are huge clubs in RCA and all kinds of stuff to do. Movie theaters are excellent. Gold class theaters are unforgettable and have totally ruined any theaters in San Francisco for me! LOL.. The cost of living is great. I've saved money, golfed like 50 times this year, had massages once a week, live in a upscale condo in downtown Bangkok with a park view and have traveled all over the country. There are a lot of good things about being in the country even if you have to do visa runs and deal with downsides like pollution and other dirtyness. Overall the plusses outweigh the minuses. I do miss the redwoods and fresh air but I also admit that I spend most of my time in the City.

I have been coming here on and off for 6 years and things have changed quite a bit. Bar closing time is 1am these days in most areas. Visa rules seem to be up in the air and possibly getting more restrictive. thaivisa.com has tons of info on that. Looks like there are ways around it if you just get a tourist visa and then do a few border runs etc.

If anyone is considering taking the long trip. DO IT. Read up on StickmanBangkok.com for some good info too. Party with Degen in BKK... priceless!

Why is Bangkok abbreviated BKK instead of BK? Or am I missing something?

Its so nobody confuses it with Burger King.

coke light is awesome

Between this and the fact you have a violence fetish that you want to explore with young Asian girls WHILE there with your wife, really makes you a despicable human being.

Fsck morality, hey?

I went to one in a bar in Chaing Mai and it was one of the most surreal experiences of my life. In between fights that had a sadist come out and do [censored] like light himself on fire, slice his tongue with a razor blade, drink gasoline, etc. Good times, good times.

Side note - I also got pwned by a 12 year old pool hustler there who beat me 3 out of 3 games for a total of 1000 baht.