when I applied for a tourist visa in January (as a foreigner), I got asked to prove that I was a resident here (arc/aprc) otherwise they wouldn't have processed my request. I actually tried to apply for that visa through a travel agent but they all refused that cuz I'm a foreigner (even tho I got an aprc).If you are on visa exempt then you might have some issues when it comes to apply for your visa
3rd world country, all the developed ones have already been banning plastic for a decade at least but thailand is going it the direction of giving as much plastic as possible... Perhaps thing will change in 20yrs...
there's something around bangtao, mostly for wealthy expats who live there, but if u are looking for clubs, bar, h00kerZ and fun then there's just patong