The Euro wasn't in circulation in 1999.

Only partly true. It existed in the financial markets where it replaced the ECU. Travellers cheques and bank transfer, for examples, were in Euros from 1st January 1999. Physical currency in the form of coins and bank notes came in 3 years later.

I wonder why someone would want to visit a country whose people he tends to consider dimwits. We don't have even the same sex appeal as Thais.

From today's BKK Post;

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's proposal to raise the daily minimum wage to 250 baht nationwide - 21% higher than today's rate in Bangkok - continues to provoke a lively debate among employers and economists.

I doubt any of us have any idea how hard it is for the working class in Thailand. In rural areas the rate is as low as 151 bt a day - for those who actually have jobs. Sort of puts the red shirts into context !

The economic intelligence centre of Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) said that if 250 baht was the final rate, entrepreneurs in 39 of the 76 provinces would be hard hit, because they now pay their workers much less than that.

It said a rate of 250 baht would be 66% higher than the lowest daily wage now paid - 151 baht in remote provinces including Mae Hong Son and Phayao.

The 'hard hit' claim needs some further analysis.

The truth is that 99% of these far flung employers (and Bangkok employers) have been making very large margins (profits) for years and the bottom line is that the sooner there is pressure to 'cut up the cake' in fairer proportions the better.

There is deep inequity* in Thailand in many respects and it could be better and the actions needed do not necesssarily need to raise cost of good and services, just a more bal;anced better sharing of the profit margins.

*No, I'm not suggesting more red shirt protests.

It also illustrates why Pattaya has a constant flow of fresh young farm boys willing to throw themselves at old farang queens ( I guess self included ) for 500 bt or 1,000 bt a go, plus a good feed and a night of condo luxury.

However their sexual prowess and versatility at such a tender age is a source of constant wonderment to me :)

Is the 250 baht and 151 baht for a 12-hour day? Is 12 hours a typical Thai workday (my general impression)?

12 hours is typical for unskilled / blue collar.

Regular office hours mostly apply for white collar.

a few years ago, i had a bad experience with this bar, transferring me to a not so nice place when a bunch of farang customers came in. the bar was full. last week, i was given the front row seat - that was even on a weekend. so i guess bangkok hasn't recovered yet.

Which bar?

I've had the same experience - at several bars from Jupiter to Future. It pisses me off.

forgot the name, it is the first bar to your left entering soi twilight (the gogo bar upstairs) and tawan.

Oh, that would be Hotmale. There's no danger of being pushed out of your seat now. They are never more than 25 percent full.

when my friend and i was in bkk last week, we were surprised how some boys has become quite rich. the boy my friend offed had a CAR to drive them back to his hotel. however, the boy asked for a 100baht for taxi - possibly forgetting that he drove a car. i guess old habits die hard.

I know a masseur at Hero. He used to have a BMW and recently switched to a Peugeot convertible. He has been working at the Hero on and off for over 5 years. Usually he is off when he has a sugar-daddy.

i also noticed that a couple of the bois in sunee had blackberry phones to play their straight porn to help them get an erection.

not sure if blackberry is cheap in thailand, but it certainly is not here at home.