Hola from Thailand :)

[mjj9994]

Coup, schmooo... this place seems as bustling as ever. Just wanted to say hello from the "Land of Smiles". Hopfully I can get some more sounds for the boards after my 3 weeks here. Unfortunately, that may be my last addition for a while.... seems I will transferring to a new job in January, which will entail me out to sea for long lenghts of time. Fortunately, the assignment is only for 1 year. However, I will probably be requesting a mideastern assignment after that which may mean I will not be able to access the board from there (military is kinda stringent on the 'obscene' material things.

I will try and post the remainder of my archives before I leave though (or at least before all my gear gets packed up..haha). Anywho... just wanted to say hola and will try and post all my material for uploading (or at least for cropping/editing) soon as I get back.

- Mark

[yeppie]

think about it again, we´d be missing you, Mark.
mideastern? hope you´ll stay a good guy, don´t torture anybody!
take care of yourself.
yeppie (who should watch his tongue better)

[mjj9994]

Well, the deal is... I will be 'in dispose' no matter which location I choose (I am rotating to my 'deployable' phase for 3 years). So, since I will be retiring in about 4 years, that would be a good chance to save some $$$ so I can monger the rest of my life..hehe So, its a bit of a sacrifice, but will hopefully pay off in the long run.

[mjj9994]

Ugh... only been at my hotel 3 days and already got busted by security!!

Here is the back story... checked in my first night and thought I heard the tell-tale "ghosts-in-the-wall" deal... so made a quick round and come to find out the 'ghosts' were in the room above me.. ha. Sooo... second day.. after trolling the bars, I made some more rounds and dubbed a quick clip, but hung around the room and made a hasty exit when it sounded like they were finished (found at later is was just a brief hiatus..ah well).

Annywho... back to the headline... so last night, I was beat and hit the sack early, but awoke at 2am (jetlag..guess my hours are still off), so being as that is about bar closing time.. grabbed the equipment and made some rounds again. Well, low and behold, same ole guy was at it again . So.. placed the gear in a black sock (the running boards of the rooms are black, so figured no one would notice.. then walked around the floors for another possible target room. Well, after about 10 minutes, I decided to head back to the first room and monitor. Good thing I did, as about 5 minutes after getting there, some security guy walks rignt up to the room and examines my gear (without touching) for about 30 seconds (thais arent always that savvy on techno gear). Well, good thing for me, the target room is set up on the end a semi-balcony with a little viewing area that I was crouched in (next to some cleaning gear). Not sure if the security guy saw me or not... but then he walks down to the room next to the targer room, knocks on the door and starts talking to the occupant (in thai... I did not understand them)... then hear the guard head towards the elevator and I wait about 2 minutes, then grab my gear and beat feat. Sure enough.. the guard is waiting right at the end of the hall by the elevator, so I give him a nod (guess he was at a loss for words) and hit the stairs. He did not follow, but as I am sure he recognized me (the hotel is not small, but they all seem to know each guest). I suppose tonight when I see him (they also work the front door in the evenings to greet visitors and take guests IDs (so the 'guests' do not steal anything).

The dissapointing thing is... this target room seemed like a real opportunity as from what I heard.. the guy might fit the bill for satisfying my "requested sound" thread..haha.

I will post a brief clip from the first night. The second clip is too large for me to post until I get back. If anyone can bump up the volume a bit for me and repost (I dont have my gear to do it here), I'd appreciate it.

Oh well... wish me luck all, hopefully tommorow I wont be in jail or deported for illegal recordings or some shit..haha.

[shung421]

Whoa! Some "international intrigue" as it were! Did the guard notice you were clutching the sock as well? Guess you'll have to lay low now.

Do you have the option of checking out of the hotel and into a new one?

[mjj9994]

Well.. good news is.. the guard did not say anything to me... and, as far as I can tell... if he told the hotel staff, they have not approached me about it.. so hopefully it just accounted up to a drunken moment or something.

I stuck the sock in my shorts pocket, but he may have noticed it sticking out a bit. He did not actually see me pick it up or have a confirmed knowledge that I placed it there (unless he saw me.. he did not say anything when I was crouched in the corner). Sounds like I am in the clear... but curiosity may get the best of me and I may have to make another visit to that room..lol.

Good news is... I did bring another mic rig setup, with the portable amplifier and a shotgun mic... but the surrounding rooms/area can get a bit noisy. As the 'target room' is tucked away in a nice little corner though... there may be a place for me to at least hide the equipment (unless the guard has started paying particularly close attention to that area now).

I had never seen the guards doing rounds before... and was being pretty quite while walking around the halls. Perhaps the man in the adjacent room alerted him or something. It was like 2:30-3:00 am.. so no idea what the guy in the next room was doing up or how he knew the gurad (hotel staff possibly?).

Well... we will see how tonight goes and I will keep ya'll posted on operation night stalker.

Agent mark - out.

[Audio]

funny story in Thailand hotel, I know ist an exciting hobby we have thanks for sharing