We have been talking about it for some time but with the Mango closing, looking for Mango 2 and with the old devil, scope creep, rearing its ugly head - things took just a little longer than planned. What are we talking about? The guide of course (formerly known as p4). With all the commenting on the blog, combined with bar updates and reader submissions - we first brought you the Bangkok Guide. This was a herculean effort by Mochalover but we wanted to compliment it with additional information on each venue discussed. Some said wikis but there was a worry that self editable content would be hard to manage. We learned a lot from running the blog and decided we would keep with the blog format but add some major functionality. Ratings and Google maps.
The guide can be found here: http://www.wickedtraveler.com/
It is in beta but mostly feature complete so we wanted to offer early access to those interested (fyi: Internet Explorer testing is not completed but you shouldn’t be using Internet Explorer anyway. Use Firefox instead: http://www.mozilla.com/). We have a lot more items to add and more details to fill in with each item but there is enough to get people started. The front page of the site is pretty self explanatory but I will walk through a few of the main sections.
1. Search:
On the front page and on every item page there is a search box. Just type in the venue you are looking for and the link to the venue will be displayed if the item is in the system. Later we will add a feature to let users suggest venues we don’t have in the system.
2. City Directory and Reviews:
This will be a work in progress but over time this will show you an overview of the city based on the reviews, comments and general city information. Bangkok is the only city now but we plan on adding more. The tree view on the right of the directory allows you to see by area and categories all the venues in the system. Just expand the tree for the categories you want to see and click on an item that interests you.
3. City Map Guide:
We wanted some way to allow people to visualize the city, the venues and discover new places. We figured Google maps would be the answer and pmmp along with a bunch of Thai freelancers trained in javascript created the City Map Guide. The map of Bangkok is in the center with two different navigation capabilities on the left and right side of the map. The left side is a bunch of check boxes that allow you to turn on and off which types of venues you want to see on the map. The tree on the right is the same as the tree for the directory but when you click on a venue it will show you on the map where the venue is and a provide a pop-up with an image and a link to the venue detail page.
The map is only in Thai right now but we have highlighted major areas using English markers to help you get a sense of where the venue is located. We think Google is going to have an English version of the map soon but for now the Thai is it. Browse the Map Guide and discover new areas.
If you have a login for the blog that same login will work for the guide. Your avatars will work as well. To become a new user please go here. The guide is a work in progress and will require that users rate/review items for it to become truly useful. This is a tool that we have always wanted for ourselves - a way to find venues, see what others have said about them and use that information to make informed decisions about where to go. Hopefully this is a major start in the right direction.
For any questions, feedback or to correct any information about venues - please email. Later we will work on a way for people to correct or provide information about a venue through the system.
Enjoy!
Team Mango
tested with safari as well. Which is available on windoze.
View all comments by smitty
Tested with IE in the states and have no problem moving around. but yes should use FF..
I like it.. Good job.
D
View all comments by GoodLife
I spent a little time with the site; it looks great!!. Are you inviting comments on the Beta? If so, how should they be submitted?
View all comments by werewolf
ww: thanks for taking the time. We are adding as we go but appreciate any feedback you care to offer. Please send comments to guide@tfs2m.com
View all comments by pmmp
gl - thanks for checking it out.
ww - if u mean comments as in the reviews u have submitted already - submit away. What u have written is textbook examples of what we are looking for. thanks much!
View all comments by smitty
Like it alot. Clean, clear, intuitive with the right topics and subtopics for us ‘dawgs’! Works on Safari on the iphone and itouch for mongering on the go.
View all comments by mikeyfromcali
m - does the map stuff actually work on the phone?
all - we will keep loading venues as we go. work in progress. We will roll up category pages soon that will show the top venues as well based on reviews. So throw in some reviews.
Please feel free to use this thread to post any feedback. thx
View all comments by smitty
Pretty cool site guys!
Too bad the Bangkok map on Google Maps is in Thai.
View all comments by Orion
o - yeah. nothing we can do about it. We know they can do english and it is a legal issue versus a technical one. We found another map provider in English but the API is weak and they would eventually charge for access. Google is better but we hope the English comes soon.
View all comments by smitty
Why is it, if select ‘gay, ladyboy, short-time & BJ’… the map zooms in on my condo?
View all comments by Day walker
can view it on the iPhone and tests out fine on FF and Safari from what i can tell.
nice work boys.
DW… i had the same type of thing happen… when i selected ladyboy it zoomed into pmmp’s place.
View all comments by groovemonkey
smitty,
Yup the maps work like a champ on the iphone/itouch!! Really cool possibilities like stand in front of one of the places and being able to real-time check it out on the site before deciding to go in!
One thought, might be nice to have a “What’s hot/What’s not” link to highlight the current 411 on the best/worst spots of the week.
Tell pmmp great job. He’s a stud at the keyboard and in Casanova’s! :0)
View all comments by mikeyfromcali
m - thanks. the plan is to have category pages showing the top venues, top commenters, and so on. We just wanted to get up and running. Once we get more data to compile then these pages will get more useful. thanks
View all comments by smitty
mikey: thx for comments. Don’t know about being a stud at the keyboard but I know I’m the man in Casanova’s. Whenever I go in there they are all over me, practically sodomizing me, and they all want to bang me. King stud baby.
groovemonkey: Was thinking of running an LB lounge out of my apartment which is why it zooms into my apt, but they kept using my razor to shave around their ball sacks. I can’t live with that.
View all comments by pmmp
Couldn’t get the ladyboy locations to work. And might I suggest a cock & balls type flag thing to prevent confusion.
View all comments by Combover
@Combover. Wouldn’t preventing confusion be missing the point?
View all comments by tripper
Yes. No. But…don’t know. I’m confused.
View all comments by Combover
“Don’t know about being a stud at the keyboard but I know I’m the man in Casanova’s.”
EVERYBODY is the MAN at Casanovas
View all comments by Orion
I ended up in an after hour after hours place this morning which closed at 8:30am, and when they close there is a lounge with sofas and pool tables next door where they continue going after that, ended up leaving like 9am…
I was too drunk to register the places name but I remember seeing a Ratchaprarop Rd. sign… may have been Soi 15.
Does anyone know what this place is called?
View all comments by Orion
I believe that is Lucky. They do now have the place next door with pool tables that doesn’t close.
View all comments by pmmp
Ok, now I feel pretty stupid since I just noticed I have the word “Lucky” stamped on the back of my hand
View all comments by Orion
o - u must be pretty desperate to be fishing at lucky and then on top of it to not know u were there. nice one…
View all comments by smitty
Wasn’t fishing, some chick I met at Renovate took me there but I lost interest when I saw her in daylight and bolted. No beer goggles withstand the cruel Bangkok morning sun
Figured since it’s a dry weekend I might as well do 3 days worth of drinking in one night.
View all comments by Orion
Orion: You are not the 1st to be at ‘Lucky’ with a nice chick in the dark, only for her to turn into a monster in the daylight?!
I do believe pmmp has been in the same situation?!
- o.k.. so have I.
View all comments by Day walker
btw folks. we know we have some internet exploder issues with the new site but we are working on them. hope u all drop in some reviews soon. thx.
View all comments by smitty
folks - the ratings Internet Exploder bug should be fixed.
One down and one to go.
View all comments by smitty