Ropey

I've always liked the advice "the best camera is the one you have with you" as it applies on many levels.
Smartphone camera quality (and specifically computational photography) has improved dramatically over the past half decade, enough that I would say a top-tier smartphone (Google Pixel, iPhone, Samsung S10, etc.) would suffice for most. Works out well because most people already have phones on them.
It sounds like you're keen on shooting videos too however, with video recording capabilities of phones still leaving a lot to be desired. Should you want to upgrade to a dedicated camera option this leads to the second interpretation: getting something portable and easy to use.
I've known too many non-technical people pick up bulky and relatively cheap DSLRs expecting them to dramatically improve their photos, only to not be bothered enough to learn to use the camera properly as well as rarely even taking them out because they are too big and heavy to carry everywhere. If you are really keen on photography/videography and willing to lug around 1-2kg worth of gear sure, but I'd say most average people are not.
Back to recommendations, I like 'advanced' point-and-shoots like the Canon G7X/G9X and Sony RX100 series but they can be quite costly- ranging from A$700 all the way up to $1500++ They are pretty simple to use with reasonable auto-modes, fairly compact (not pants-pocketable but fits into coats/bags) and the image/video quality is perfectly fine for most I would say. There's a ton of reviews out there, at the time the Canon G7X mark II was lauded as a good vlogging camera. Not sure where in WA you are but JB HiFi has them and maybe you can check some out there.
Going down budget I'm not sure I can recommend the cheaper (<A$300) point-and-shoot cameras. Picking up second-hand or waiting for sales of the aforementioned cameras is a better bet in my opinion. Otherwise, I'd say you're better off just upgrading your phone and maybe getting a tripod with phone mount for any videos. Make sure there is adequate lighting, turn on extra lights if you have to. Work with what you have.

On my last trip to BKK in Sep-19 I was on tour with BGSC who had booked this hotel for about 4 nights.
Rather than complicate matters, I did the same.
There's pros and cons to Citrus Soi 11
The location is a bit too far if its raining or particularly hot. Its not actually on soi 11 as we know it, its down at the very end, turn left and then right and then left again. Its about 150 metres down the sub soi that runs between soi 11 and soi 3. Traffic at that intersection can be a real bottleneck.
They do have a tuk tuk, but its not on call and so only runs on the hour. Saying that, BGSC and I did turn it into a pick up tuk tuk one day when it was raining quite hard.
The rooms are what to be expected for a sub THB 2,000 hotel.
Breakfast was OK, but I only made it 50% of the time. 
Their target market is Indian sub-continentals and Arabs. So be ready for lots of milling and hanging around lifts and the reception area. Why do people go to BKK and then spend half their time hanging around hotels is beyond me? Maybe its an alternative to spending money?
About 50% of the breakfast buffet was targeted at their market, which makes sense, but is a limitation for farangs who don't fancy a curry for breakfast after a long night out on the ale.
The breakfast area is interesting. There is an enclosed space and then a terraced area and another area by the coffee bar. A number of them had made the enclosed area into a Saudi-style males only area and so families sat elsewhere.
Obviously I took great delight in sitting in the unofficial males-only area with my LB guest, which was great fun.
So in summary. Great value, clean and functional.
Would I repeat?
No. So after the 4-5 nights and a 2-nighter in PAT I then returned to BKK and checked into Citrus Soi 13.
One other tip - I booked via Agoda, but if you book directly with them they offer better rates and also free upgrades etc. So that's worth a test if you want to stay at a Citrus establishment.
Cheers
SAG
 

Smart phones are okay but not great especially when you mirror your movies onto a sizeable TV. 
 
Whats a VHS? 

Smells of 1995 in here. Surely you just use your phone and/or laptop? Unless you're an enthusiast I guess, then I prefer the JVC VideoMovie, because you can insert the VHS directly from the camcorder into the player with no adapter required. 

I've been to Talad Rod Fai a few times, it's a good night out if you like memorabilia and antique sort of things. It's a mix of locals and tourists, the ladyboys I've seen have been with bfs walking around or working in the stalls. The bars are tiny and not really a place to go for. 
I've been to rock bar a few times in coco walk, I've not seen any ladyboys in the area. The problem you'll have here and many Thai orientated places is that they go out in big groups and don't really mingle with others outside their groups. Western style bars are popular for P4P and singles looking for farang because they allow random people to meet, Thai bars are more for groups of friends to drink/sing together, there is very little interaction outside their immediate group. 
I haven't been to Udom Suk nightclubs but there's plenty of these sorts of locations dotted around Bangkok, for some reason they tend to have the best food too. They're all girls as far as I'm aware, you'd need to go to a gay area to find ladyboys for local guys. 
Places imo you would be more successful :
 
RCA - loads of ladyboys go here for fun but it's hard to break them away from their groups they go in. Bring a card with your line ID on it to slip to them. 
Ratchada Rot Fai Market - just up Rama IX is the newer version of the old Rot Fai market, bigger bars and apparently there are ladyboys there according to another BM in a thread from a year or more ago. 
Thonglor - there are plenty of Thai nightclubs here, I've seen ladyboys in groups when I've been out and about too. But again, breaking them from the group will be challenging. 
Saphan Kwai - near saphan Kwai bts is a straight and gay gogo bar area aimed at Thais. Bound to be ladyboys there, but not sure where exactly. The straight area is on Suttisan Winitchai Rd around soi Inthamara 2. The gay gogos are opposite side of Phahonayothin Rd down Soi Pradiphat 20 - near Embassy Hotel. 
As a tourist, you will have limited success with any non P4P ladyboys, as they generally are more interested in building a relationship (whatever that relationship may be) than a one night stand with a tourist who may never be back. So I agree with Flip-flops comment above, if you're going to go to the effort to meet them in these places make sure you let them know you're not just a 'one hit wonder'. 

Less than 2 minutes actually. Its called Check in Bar. Her name is Nutty. Look at the first post on the thread and you will see its location. There are lots of her pictures and experiences written of her in this thread - Ladyboy Go-Go Bars = Check in Bar, and in the trip reports. 
Cheers.
Wow! I am impressed with myself. Being a newbie and everything. 

Dynasty Inn,
5 4 Sukhumvit Road Soi 4 Nanatai Klongtoey, Bangkok, Thailand, Bangkok 10110
I was at the Dynasty Inn hotel 3 nights at the beginning of August 2019.
I didn't find any review about this hotel which seems little discussed in this forum, contrary to the Dynasty Grande.
 Why you (and I) would choose this unassuming little hotel (around 60 rooms)? To be in the heart of the action. At your right, count 60 meters to Nana Plaza via Hillary 4 and the Stumble Inn. If you take on your left, Hillary 2 is at 30 meters.
The reviews are good (8.3 on Booking) and this hotel is of course guest-friendly. 
I asked for a non-smoking room at the back of the hotel (quiet rooms). 1 680 baht a night for 2 people. I didn't take the breakfast.
At the entrance of the hotel, the front bar gives you a look at the scene. Very useful to give a rendez-vous to a lb, take a drink and evaluate the chemistry. At night a few ladyboys stand on the sidewalk.
Food from the restaurant is known to be good. I didn't test it.
At the front desk, the hotel staff is friendly and helpful. It's a big plus. The people make the place. No walk of shame. Your guest will let its ID at the reception.
At the check-in they ask for a 500 baht cash deposit for the key.
The back annexe seems to face the rear of Nana Plaza but in the room there is no noise of music or whatever.
The room is quite new, clean and large. 26 square meters. 
Aircon works well, a bit noisy. Comfortable big bed, safe (laptop friendly), fridge, ... Fast wifi.
Complimentary water, coffee.
Bathroom is modern and clean with a hand hose.
All lbs of Nana Plaza know the hotel and will be happy to make the short walk for a session. So no short-time room to pay.
 
All in all I was positively surprised by the quality of this 3 star hotel, clean nice room, friendly staff, located in the heart of the action. I was pleased all the time I spent in that room, feeling well.
Recommend strongly.
Note: Dynasty Grande, on Soi 6, belongs to the same owner and has pool and gym. Around 300/350 baht more expensive by night. Same kind of rooms. Better lobby, front desk not so friendly.
Pictures :
- the entrance of the hotel from soi 4, see the bar. 
- The room with the bed, flat tv, safe. The bathroom. The mirror (ladyboy not included in the package).

I do Imodium as well. Another Thai medicine for bad stomach / shits is activated charcoal. It absorbs anything it can in the stomach. Many hospitals use this with poison cases. Obviously you don't want to take 5 mins after your high blood pressure medicine.
As has been stated diarrhea is nothing to mess with. When I use Imodium I am also preparing to see a doctor if I do not get immediate relief.

Take the test, wait 10 min, get the result. The option is only available to "existing PULSE clients". So the first time you need to talk to a consultant for 500 extra.
 https://www.pulse-clinic.com/pulsexpress/

They run at you with the needle....

I was a regular at PULSE Silom, and they charge for everything. Have to talk to a "consultant" to pick up  a box of Teno-EM PrEP. So that would be 500+1200 for one package. Now I just buy them around the corner at the Chula Pharmacy for 660 THB a pack and do Express HIV tests (without consultant) for 500 at PULSE.  
For STD test you will have to pay a consultant (500), doctor (900) and the test itself around 4000. So that quickly escalate costs. 
To sum up: PULSE is great for HIV/Syf drop in tests and first time consulting when starting PrEP. For everything else I´d go elsewhere. But they are quicker than Red Cross delivering test results from labs.
 

No problem then:
https://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand/changes-visa-exempt.php
"Holders of normal passports of the following countries are granted visa-free travel to Thailand for a period of up to 30 days. The exemption is granted at most twice in a calendar year when entering over land or via a sea border but there is no limitation when entering by air."

This place is excellent for cheap “eat on the side of the road goodness”. Get a kick out of watching the Arab families come and go from the Grace Hotel across the street while scarfing down several shawarma sandwiches. Has been a standby of mine for almost 10 years. You can thank me later 
Mahmoud's Shawarma
7 Sukhumvit Rd, Khwaeng Khlong Toei Nuea, Khet Watthana, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10110, Thailand
+66 86 078 2166
https://goo.gl/maps/PwXB7SJesa787LSC7
Nadimos is also excellent but none of the two locations in BKK are walking distance from Nana.
 

FYI pulled from Thaivisa News:
'' Also in February it was announced that smoking has been banned at six airports in Thailand.
Smoking rooms have been removed Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai and Mae Fah Luang airports, with smokers now only permitted to smoke in special smoking zones located outside terminal buildings.`
It's also worth noting for those who vape, it's is illegal to vape in Thailand, police make good money out of vapers in public. 
 

This is because the BTS rabbit card is (as of this year) now able to be used as a payment card for other goods and services, therefore is treated like a bank debit card and comes under anti money laundering legislation, while the MRT doesnt have this capability so doesn't require the ID by law. 

Ah ha. Thanks for the explanation Ropey. That all makes sense now.
But what would make the most sense is if you could use the 1 card across all 3 networks!
Cheers and thanks for the in-country intel, much appreciated.
SAG
 

I've stayed there many times and have always found it good value for money. Rooms are spacious, beds large and extremely comfortable, bathrooms adequate. Below some pics of the room featuring Ming as a willing participant to brighten it up a little
 
If I stay in the soi 11 area my preferred hotel nowadays is Fraser Suites. Large modern rooms, decent swimming pool, great rooftop bar (Above 11) for only a little bit more money than the likes of Mercure.
 

I have stayed at Citrus 11 a few times and can recommend that one along with OneTrueSaxon. If you can, you should spring for one of their suite rooms. It's not much more than a regular room and the suites have 2 full bathrooms, which comes in very handy when you bring guests into your room. 
Last December, I stayed at Solitaire which is on Soi 11 where it veers off to Soi 13. This place is not bad and the rooms have gigantic beds - larger than king size and I had never come across them before. You can easily sleep with 3 ladyboys in one bed if you need. The restaurant is pretty lame, but that's no big deal because Soi 11 has many places to eat. Below is a thread on Solitaire - despite qualms, I would stay there again because of its location and value.
 
Last but not least is Grand Swiss Hotel, which I really like. It's a Compass property like the various Citrus hotels and every one of their places offer a lot of bang for the buck. Below is a review I wrote a few years ago. If you read it all the way through you will come across a little treat at the end, 555. Hope this helps and good luck. 
 

Jesus, get a room you two. 

You can go to public hospitals and the rates are very cheap, however, the waiting lists are very long and appointments are based on the day not the hour or a specific time. Additionally, if you can't speak Thai, you will probably need to bring a friend to translate for you. Many of the famous doctors from private hospitals also work in public ones a few days a week, so it's not a bad idea if you have lots and lots of time. 

You will find all the information you need at www.thaivisa.com 

Excellent review, especially the tip on booking via the hotel website for a decent discount.

I just finished up a stay at Citadines 11. Here are a few of my observations:

Book through their website. Expedia wanted 4000 Baht a night for my one bedroom condo unit. I booked it through their painfully slow website for 2350 Baht per night after taxes. There are lesser rooms, but I was only in town for two nights, so the extra 350 Baht per night upgrade was not a big deal.

The one bedroom unit of mine was spacious, clean and well maintained. It had a functional kitchen and a split bathroom. The only complaint that I listed with them was the toilet room. It had the porcelain throne and a small sink. But the throne was damn near against the wall/sliding wood door. You can see a huge void in the corner where the old shower used to be. But they never relocated the throne to the center of the wall to make more room for the user. It is fine if you are 50 kgs, but I am double that. So I had to sit at a slight angle when having deep thoughts. Across the hall was the large basin with mirror and a full size tub/shower.

I had a corner unit on the seventh floor. I could hear the night clubs nearby and there were complimentary ear plugs on the safe. But as a monger, bedtime was 3am to 4am, so it was not an issue.

A breakfast buffet is included in the price and it was decent by western standards. The restaurant is open 24/7. It is packed at 4am with mostly Westerners.

The living room and the master bedroom each had a 42" flat panel TV. Most places only give you one.

You can send your laundry out for ungodly prices, carry it over to the 24hour laundry shop across the street (down an alley, look for the signs) that is priced by the kilo, or go up to the 9th floor. The gym and pool are up here. It costs 90 Baht for one token. It takes 2 tokens to do a load. 1 for washer, 1 for the dryer. They are full size units. The laundry soap & fabric softener is included when you buy the tokens from the front desk.

This place is within walking distance of Check in Bar, Nana Plaza, Terminal 21 mall and splits two of the BTS stops. There is a ton of street action on Soi 11 and on the strip down towards the Westin Hotel. The Westin sidewalk was overflowing with LB talent.

The hotel is LB friendly. I had Beam come over on her day off and stay overnight without any issues.

My cab ride to the airport using Grab at 11am was 400 Baht plus 78 Baht in tolls. You can take the BTS to the airport line for cheap, but I had a full size suitcase, a full size gym bag, a fully loaded computer backpack and my CPAP bag. I was not in the mood to haul all that down 7 blocks in 93°F heat just to save 400 Baht.

I was brought up by hired car from Pattaya, so I do not know what that cost would be from the airport.

Depending on how long I plan on staying im Bangkok next year, I will plan on booking here again.


Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

Worthy Reading, especially for those of us that are health or baht conscious
 https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/03/opinion/testosterone-caster-semenya.html

I've been to Talad Rod Fai a few times, it's a good night out if you like memorabilia and antique sort of things. It's a mix of locals and tourists, the ladyboys I've seen have been with bfs walking around or working in the stalls. The bars are tiny and not really a place to go for. 
I've been to rock bar a few times in coco walk, I've not seen any ladyboys in the area. The problem you'll have here and many Thai orientated places is that they go out in big groups and don't really mingle with others outside their groups. Western style bars are popular for P4P and singles looking for farang because they allow random people to meet, Thai bars are more for groups of friends to drink/sing together, there is very little interaction outside their immediate group. 
I haven't been to Udom Suk nightclubs but there's plenty of these sorts of locations dotted around Bangkok, for some reason they tend to have the best food too. They're all girls as far as I'm aware, you'd need to go to a gay area to find ladyboys for local guys. 
Places imo you would be more successful :
 
RCA - loads of ladyboys go here for fun but it's hard to break them away from their groups they go in. Bring a card with your line ID on it to slip to them. 
Ratchada Rot Fai Market - just up Rama IX is the newer version of the old Rot Fai market, bigger bars and apparently there are ladyboys there according to another BM in a thread from a year or more ago. 
Thonglor - there are plenty of Thai nightclubs here, I've seen ladyboys in groups when I've been out and about too. But again, breaking them from the group will be challenging. 
Saphan Kwai - near saphan Kwai bts is a straight and gay gogo bar area aimed at Thais. Bound to be ladyboys there, but not sure where exactly. The straight area is on Suttisan Winitchai Rd around soi Inthamara 2. The gay gogos are opposite side of Phahonayothin Rd down Soi Pradiphat 20 - near Embassy Hotel. 
As a tourist, you will have limited success with any non P4P ladyboys, as they generally are more interested in building a relationship (whatever that relationship may be) than a one night stand with a tourist who may never be back. So I agree with Flip-flops comment above, if you're going to go to the effort to meet them in these places make sure you let them know you're not just a 'one hit wonder'.