Gaybutton

I did.

The following appears in the PATTAYA CITY NEWS: _____ Dusit Resort Changes its Name A function was held on Thursday morning at the site of the old Dusit Resort and Hotel at the north end of Pattaya beach to officially announce the changing of the name of the long-running establishment to the Dusit Thani hotel. The name changing ceremony was attended by Pattaya Mayor Khun Niran and his senior advisor Khun Itipon as well as Khun Chartchuwan, the general manager of the Dusit Thani and his senior management. The re-branding of the resort and hotel is to put it in line with the famous Dusit Thani hotel in Bangkok which is owned by the same company.

Thursday, February 21 is an important Buddhist holiday, Makha Bucha Day. All banks, government offices, and probably many local businesses will be closed. I have not yet heard whether the bars will be open that day.

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Karen Liberation Leader Assassinated in Tak A leader of Burma's biggest ethnic armed groups has been killed at his home in the border town of Mae Sot, in Tak province. Mahn Sha Lar Phan, secretary-general of the Karen National Union (KNU), was reported shot dead at about 4:30pm on Thursday at his two-storey wooden home by two men who had arrived in a pick-up truck. Kim Suay, his wife, told Reuters news agency: "One of them walked up to the house and said in Karen 'How are you, uncle?' Then the other man joined him after parking the truck and they both shot him with two pistols." The killing was immediately blamed on the Burmese military government. In an interview on Monday, the Karen leader had predicted a possible increase in violence ahead of a constitutional referendum in Burma in May. However, the KNU and its armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), are riven by internal feuds and lethal vendettas. His son Hse Hse, another senior member of the predominantly Christian Karen rebel movement, blamed a Buddhist Karen splinter group which brokered a truce with the Burmese government in the mid-1990s. "This is the work of the DKBA and the Burmese soldiers," Hse Hse said, referring to the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army. Thai police said they had the registration number of the truck and were setting up roadblocks around Mae Sot - a frontier town of refugees, illegal migrants and gem dealers - to try to catch the two killers. The Karen have been fighting for independence in the hills of eastern Burma for the past 60 years. The group once controlled areas of eastern Burma, but now is reduced mainly to a string of bases pressed against the Thai border. Burma began a bloody offensive against the Karen two years ago, which activists say has targeted ordinary villagers rather than separatists. Decades of fighting have devastated eastern Burma, where 500,000 people have been displaced by violence, according to Human Rights Watch, a New York-based rights group. Rape, forced labour, summary executions and land grabs remain widespread, while the military also forced villagers to act as human minesweepers, Human Rights Watch said in its annual report last month. __________ And This: also from the BANGKOK POST _____ Leader of Myanmar's Ethnic Karen Rebel Group Killed in Thailand By CHIRAVUT RUNGJAMRATRASAMI, Associated Press Writer The leader of the Karen National Union, one of the biggest ethnic groups fighting Myanmar's military government, was killed Thursday, dealing a fresh blow to forces opposed to the country's hard-line ruling junta. KNU General Secretary Mahn Sha was shot by two gunmen at his home in Mae Sot, Thailand, a town on the border with Myanmar, Thai police Col. Pasawat Tangjui said. The killing may have been the result of internal differences in the rebel group, he said. No one has claimed responsibility for the murder. Mahn Sha's killing came at a politically sensitive time: less than a week after Myanmar's government announced plans for a referendum on a new constitution this May, to be followed by a general election in 2010. The plans have been denounced by the regime's opponents as a sham meant to perpetuate military rule. "We lost, not only for the KNU, but all the democracy struggle for Burma, a very qualified man. He was a key person, the engine of the KNU," said Zin Linn, a spokesman for the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, an exile opposition group. Burma is the name preferred to Myanmar by the junta's opponents. The KNU is one of more than a dozen armed ethnic groups that for decades have sought greater autonomy from Myanmar's central government. It is sympathetic to the pro-democracy movement inside the country of detained Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi because the junta is their common foe. Since 1988, many other groups have signed formal cease-fires with the ruling junta _ formerly known as the State peace and Development Council, or SPDC _ but the Karen didn't reach a formal agreement to lay down their arms. The KNU, which has been fighting for more than five decades, once had a powerful guerrilla force in Myanmar's eastern border region, but Myanmar army offensives, coupled with divisions within the organization, have reduced the group's military presence considerably over the past decade. Most of the group's senior leadership resides inside Thailand, while its military bases are mostly located just inside Myanmar's border. Myanmar's military continues to carry out sweeping counterinsurgency operations in Karen areas in the eastern part of the country, displacing thousands of civilians every year, many of whom end up joining about 100,000 of their countrymen in refugee camps in Thailand. Mahn Sha, 64, took over leadership of the KNU in 2000 from his ailing predecessor, Bo Mya, who died in 2006. He had been with the KNU since 1963, becoming joint general secretary in 1995 before taking the top post. Mahn Sha was sitting on a balcony on the second floor of his house when the two gunmen arrived in a pickup truck driven by a third man, police Col. Pasawat said by telephone from Mae Sot. "One guy went upstairs, greeted Mahn Sha and then shot him at close range. Then, another guy came up and shot him again before they fled in the same vehicle," he said. "Initial investigations showed that the assailants are also Karen, and after speaking to some witnesses, we believe it was an internal problem within the KNU that prompted the assassination. Still, we have to investigate further to know for sure," he said. A spokesman for Shan ethnic rebels, who continue to carry arms against the government and are de facto allies of the KNU, said Mahn Sha's death "will strategically undermine all opposition groups against the junta's government." "It definitely has a psychological effect, too," said Lao Hseng, spokesman for the Restoration Council of Shan State and the Shan State Army, which is based mostly in remote jungle areas of northeastern Myanmar. "It shows none of us is safe." He said that although the KNU "has many enemies, including other Karen factions," the timing of the attack suggested that the junta was behind it. Factionalism in the KNU leaves open the possibility that rival Karen were responsible. The group's breakaway 7th Brigade signed a cease-fire pact on its own with the government last year, and has since then reportedly been the target of several attacks by the KNU. An earlier breakaway group also allied with the junta, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, is another violent rival. In an interview just hours before his death, Mahn Sha _ also known as Mahn Sha Lah Phan _ denounced the junta's referendum and election plans as a fraud and said they were the sign of an increasingly desperate regime. The junta's plans marked the first time Myanmar's military rulers have set dates for stages of its so-called roadmap to democracy, which it is pursuing without the free participation of the country's pro-democracy movement or ethnic minorities. Speaking to Anjali Kwatra, a journalist working for the London-based humanitarian group Christian Aid, he urged the international community to play a bigger part in bringing about political reconciliation in Myanmar, suggesting the United Nations has to use "a large stick and a small carrot" in pressuring the regime because it so far refuses to accept a peaceful solution. Kwatra told The Associated Press that there was no visible security at Mahn Sha's home, which also served as his office.

Wow! Less than an hour after sending an inquiry to the Deja Raja Villa, I received the following response: __________ I assume from your email that you are a Gay man. I have written this from that standpoint. If I have made a miscalculation please accept my apologies. There are three ways to get to Sihanoukville from BKK. One is thru Phnom Penh taking the Mekong Express bus from PP to Sihanoukville. This bus leaves PP at 7:45 AM and 2:30 PM everyday and arrives in Sihanoukville approx. 4 hours later. The second way and probably the most scenic, longest in time and most arduous and expensive is to get to the border at Koh Kong (Had Lek on the Thai side of the river) then go by bus to SNKVL. One of the fastest and easiest ways is to take the express boat ferry from Koh Kong to SNKVL. this takes about 4 hours costs US20$ and leaves at 8 AM everyday. Thai baht is not acceptable here, but is readily used in Koh Kong. Only USD$ and Riel are accepted beyond the border towns. There are many ATM's in Sihanoukville the best of which belong to ANZ Royal bank. The current exchange rate is about 3800-4000r/1 USD$ however this rate is not important as the USD is the dominant currency here and is used for everything everywhere so there is no need to change money from USD to Riel. You will generate plenty of Riel in change. Sihanoukville is laid back and slow but there are many opportunities for fun here. Cambodian guys are very accommodating and friendly and while there are no Bars that are Gay there are plenty of young men looking for adventure. You will find it less commercial and the beaches and the town far less busy than Thailand. Once here I can point you in the general direction of some places to go. Below is our standard e mail reply to a request for a room, I hope it helps. I would appreciate knowing how you heard about us. Alan Thank You for contacting DevaRaja Villa; Our room rates are $30 per night for a Double Room orTwin Room and $35 per night for the Family room or the Bungalow. * All of our Villa rooms have Air Conditioning, Cable TV, Mini-Bar, Mini-Fridge, Hot Water, Shower and Bathtub, and Innerspring Mattresses for a comfortable night's sleep. Our Bungalow has a two person shower with glass blocks and marble tile with western style fittings throughout. Cable TV installation will be completed shortly. Its thatched roof, verandah and unique architectural style add to the charm of this Bungalow. Of course the bungalow has Hot Water and Air conditioning as well. The Bungalow sits at the edge of our property and has a view towards the ocean. Our Villa is located in a beautiful Tropical Garden setting with views of the beach from our grounds and Bar. It is a short 3 – 5 minute walk to both Ochhueteal and Serendipity beaches. DevaRaja Villa is in a quiet area with cool ocean breezes most of the day and evening. We serve a full Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Menu in our restaurant and bar. We do not include breakfast with the room, preferring to keep the room rates lower and offer you a much wider choice of excellent breakfasts. At DevaRaja Villa we maintain the highest standards of Service, Cleanliness and Security. We can provide Airport or Hotel Pickup in Phnom Penh and transport to Sihanoukville. We also offer a full range of Tours and Excursions to the nearby Islands and Ream National Park. We can also arrange Diving Trips and Lessons. If you wish to reserve a room, we will need the following credit card information from you: type of card (example Visa), card issuer, name of card-holder, and credit card number. No charges will be put against your card and you will be able to pay cash at the end of your stay. We Accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB and ANZ Royal cards for payment. We would also like to know your inbound flight number to Cambodia. Check in time is by 1:00PM. If you are going to arrive later than this please contact us and let us know your arrival time to preserve your reservation. We look forward to hearing from you. Thank You Alan Perry & Mary Swenson *Please note that the rates listed on the web site are not necessarily applicable during special events or holidays. Cancellation Policy; If you fail to cancel at least 24 hours in advance of your reserved arrival time your credit card will be charged for one night. Late Arrival: If you are arriving later than 2:00 PM your reservation may be subject to release and the room rented unless we are notified in advance of your late arrival time. Notification can be made the same day before 2:00PM -- DevaRaja Villa and Bungalows Intimate Stylish Personal Attentive Sihanoukville, Cambodia Reservations: 855-1600-374 myroom@devarajavilla.com http://www.devarajavilla.com

I've never been to Cambodia. I'm thinking of making trip to Phnom Penh, Angkor Wat, and Sihanoukville. I would be grateful for any information you have about Cambodia - the gay scene in Phnom Penh, etc. I'm also thinking about going to Sihanoukville. If any of you have ever been there, I'd appreciate any information you can provide. Are there any gay beaches? I understand a gay friendly hotel in Sihanoukville is Deva Raja Villa ( http://www.devarajavilla.com ). Has anyone ever stayed there or can make other accommodation recommendations? What about currency exchange? Are there any ATMs in Sihanoukville? If not, is it better to bring US dollars, Thai baht, or exchange currency in Phnom Penh? Also, what's the best way to get to Sihanoukville from Phnom Penh? Would you recommend starting in Phnom Penh and then making a trip to Sihanoukville, or do you think it would be better to start in Sihanoukville and work backwards to Phnom Penh, Angkor Wat, and then back to Thailand? Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated. I'm not finding very much about Sihanoukville on the web.

The following appears in the PATTAYA CITY NEWS: _____ Pattaya in a State of Confusion as Anti-Smoking Law Comes into Effect You may or may not be aware that a new Law came into effect on Monday which bans smoking in air-conditioned entertainment venues and offices. The new law is surrounded by confusion and many business owners here in Pattaya are unsure of how to proceed. We can confirm that any business found breaking the law will be fined 20,000 Baht and 2,000 Baht for every smoker caught inside the venue. However, there is an initial 3 month reprieve until the Law is expected to be enforced. This will give time for the Police and local Administration to understand more about the law and to clarify any points which are not clear and will also give time for venues to comply with the law. It is expected that some businesses will be affected in the short term, however, assuming the law is eventually enforced, the initial loss of business should be reversed. We conducted a survey of venues on Walking Street on Monday Night to find out how many venues are complying with the Law. We visited 19 establishments on Walking Street and found that 6 of them were smoke-free. However the smoke-free establishments were found to have far fewer patrons that the ones who were still permitting smoking.

Also, there are photos accompanying the article. See: http://www.pattayacitynews.net/news_13_02_51_3.html

Ok, that works for me . . .

Somebody I know owes me a dinner at Manhattans. Do you want me to dress in drag?

Thank you for that report, Maple. I was in Sunee Plaza last night for about an hour. I went home about 10:00 PM, so I missed the raid. Did they take the under-age boys away too or were drugs their sole interest? Does anyone know if the Pattayaland bars were also raided? If not, once again they always seem to go after only Sunee Plaza. I wonder why. Again, I only visited two bars. I did not observe anyone smoking. I was also going to visit the Siam Boys bar on Soi Day-Night, but it appeared to be closed. Nobody was there, inside or outside. I don't know what the story is with that bar yet.

Yes, it's the same general area. Once you are on Pratamnak Road, you go down Soi 4 to get to both Cabbages and Condoms and the Elephant Pub (which I reviewed in an earlier thread). They're both right next door to each other. You go down Soi 6 to get to Romanasia (two sois before you get as far as Soi 4, if you're coming from Tapphraya Road from town), then turn right on Soi 9. There is a sign at Soi 9 and in smaller print on the same sign it says Romanasia. If you get as far as Soi 6, then you shouldn't have any problem finding Romanasia.

Unless you have your own transportation, getting to and from there is going to have to be by motorcycle taxi. There are always motorcycle taxis available. From the city, you could hire a baht bus, probably for 100 baht or so, to take you there, but you're quite a distance from any baht bus routes if you're starting from Romanasia. I think if you call their number and ask to speak with Derek, he can tell you much better than I can about transportation to and from.

Last night a couple friends and I tried Romanasia, a fairly new restaurant that has been open only for six months. I had read about it on a few restaurant reviews and we decided to give it a try. This is a restaurant you'll have to experience to believe. When you walk in, you cross a small footbridge over a pool and walk into an ambiance such as I have never seen. You're going to either think it's magnificent or you're going to think it's kitschy. We thought it was magnificent. There is seating for only 32 customers, so make sure you have reservations. When we arrived, there was a 'reserved' sign on every table. We were cordially greeted by the staff and led to our table. There is a full bar and very selection of wines. The menu is not extensive, but has something for everyone, including Thai dishes. The food is absolutely superb and beautifully presented, as you would find in restaurants such as Casa Pascal and Cherry's. One of my friends prefers Thai food and he was delighted with his. My other friend and I started with their spinach and cashew cream soup. It was wonderful. I had a pork steak topped with a cheese crust that was out of this world and one of the most delicious sauces I've had in years. My other friend had a chicken dish that he thought was incredible. For dessert, we had their strawberry brulee, which was just gorgeous and to die for! The prices are also quite reasonable. The most expensive menu item is 195 baht. The soup was 90 baht. My entree was 180 baht. The dessert was 85 baht. Bottled water is 20 baht. Sue, the owner, runs the kitchen, so we never got to meet her. However, her husband and restaurant manager, Derek, from Portsmouth, England, comes around to each table, chats amiably for a few moments, makes sure you are enjoying the meal and are satisfied. Also, everyone is served at the same time, something rare in Thai-owned restaurants. As far as we were concerned, there were only a couple negatives. The first is the portions. Two of us thought the portions were too small and we left the restaurant still hungry. I would say this is not the restaurant to go to if you are really hungry. In my opinion, it's the place to go if you are more interested in relaxed conversation with friends, in beautiful surroundings, with some fantastically delicious food. We also thought the service was slow. We felt that too much time went by between courses and it took close to fifteen minutes to get our bill. One crass customer lit up a cigar, despite the fact that outside the door there are tables and chairs set up for smokers. Instead of being asked to step outside or put out his cigar, he was given an ashtray and the staff said nothing to him. Other than that, we thought this restaurant is a wonderful find and we certainly will return. I highly recommend giving it a try. The restaurant also serves breakfast. They are closed on Sundays. We had a good laugh when we pointed out to Derek that their web site mentions a Sunday roast lamb special, and right underneath that it says 'closed on Sunday.' Derek laughed and thanked us for pointing that out. He said he meant to change that on the web site and had forgotten all about it. The restaurant is located in the Pratamnak Hill area (see their web site for directions) and quite easy to find. If you have ever been to Au Bon Coin, it's very close on the same soi. The telephone number for reservations is: 087-135-8357 Romanasia's web site is http://www.romanasia.com

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Strict Smoking Bans in Force All Bars, Pubs, Discos, Clubs - and Markets SURASAK GLAHAN AND AFP A total ban on smoking in pubs and clubs throughout the country takes effect today, to the delight of non-smokers and the chagrin of smokers. The ban covers all air-conditioned bars, pubs, discos and clubs. In addition, the owners of outdoor restaurants and markets are required to designate smoking and non-smoking zones. "They will have to cross the street to smoke over there," said Than Leebamrung, the 36-year-old owner of the Sapha Kafe (Coffee Council) bar, when asked what arrangements he had made to help his customers. Other bars and clubs may simply ask customers to smoke outside in the doorways, but Mr Than was not sure if the same could be applied to his bar, which is in the Din Daeng area. This is because it is situated in a commercial building, where smoking is not allowed. Like Mr Than, most bar owners see the law as impinging on people's civil liberties. "People going to these entertainment places find it acceptable to be exposed to cigarette smoke. I have never received any complaints from non-smokers," he said. The owner of a bar on Khao San road, who asked not to be named, frowned on the ban, saying it would certainly affect his business. "Lawmakers should instead allow operators to set up both smoking and non-smoking areas to be fair," he said. The law previously exempted nightclubs and bars from a smoking ban which was introduced in 2002. The original ban covered indoor public places, including air-conditioned restaurants. The ban's extension is being hailed by health advocates who say it is another milestone for tobacco control. "By banning smoking in pubs and nightclubs, Thailand has once again shown its leadership in tobacco control in the international community, following the examples of Ireland, Uruguay, the UK, France and others," said Bungon Ritthiphakdee, director of the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance. "Hopefully, in the near future, all open-air restaurants in Thailand will be 100% smoke free," she added. Health advocates said the new law would protect both patrons and workers in bars and clubs from the effects of second-hand smoke, which studies have shown can cause asthma, strokes and even heart attacks. They said it would also help smokers quit the habit more easily. Chonticha Putharak, a 21-year-old non-smoker who used to work in a bar, said she developed breathing difficulties and her eyes would also hurt when she was there. "The law sounds good to me because I have an allergy," she said. Chai Jeam-mornrat, a 33-year-old fashion designer who smokes almost a packet of cigarettes a night when visiting his favourite bars at weekends, said the new law is good as it would discourage him from smoking. "I like to smoke when drinking alcohol. Being forced to go out of a club just to smoke outside could make me choose to not smoke to avoid the inconvenience," he said. However, many are still doubtful about whether the law will be effectively enforced. One bar worker said that bar owners may ignore the law and bribe police into turning a blind eye so that things could continue as before. Karn Yaempetch, 33, who once co-owned the Original Sin club in the Chatuchak area agreed that it could be a problem. "Now it all depends on how effective the law enforcement will be," he said. "Law enforcement in this country rarely works. "I think a voluntary measure with proper education on tobacco's impact on health would be more effective than the smoking ban." The health ministry said bar and restaurant owners can relax, at least for now, because authorities won't begin fining the law breakers until June. "Although the ban takes effect on Feb 11, we will focus more on educating people and issuing warnings rather than fining wrongdoers until May 31," said Seri Hongyok, deputy director-general of the Disease Control Office. The ministry is prepared to advise businesses on how to comply with the new rules, and will distribute copies of the regulations by the end of February, Mr Seri said. "If there is any breach of the law, our authorities will consider them on a case-by-case basis to ensure fair treatment," he said.

I was also in Sunee, but I didn't notice any signs. I think I know which bar you are referring to, but I didn't pass that one. Good. That means at least some of the bars are complying and are aware of the new rules. Maybe the rest will quickly follow suit. We'll see what happens. Did anyone else visit bars last night? I only went to two. I'd like to know what was going on and how many bars were in compliance.

This evening I visited two bars in Pattaya. There were no "farang" smoking (including me), but several of the boys were smoking. I mentioned it to a couple of the bar staff. They, of course, acted surprised and as if they knew nothing about a smoking ban. The letters BS come to mind. Ashtrays were still all over the place and I didn't see any bars sporting a "No Smoking" sign, at least not outside. I also saw absolutely no police presence whatsoever in an attempt to start enforcing the regulation immediately. In other words, while I only visited two bars, so far I've seen no evidence that the ban exists anywhere but on a piece of paper. Well, it's only the first day. We'll see what happens.

That is precisely my intent.

As you wish, but I don't understand why you would refuse to go to the bars because of the rule. After all, the bars didn't ask for this rule. It was imposed on them. Why blame the bars? They don't have much choice about it.

Some of your suggestions will certainly be taken up and all of them will be carefully considered. I have great respect for your opinions, as I am sure the other moderators do. We also have some opinions and procedures of our own, so please do not feel slighted. As far as the name calling directed at me, after all these years dealing with message boards I'm used to it and quite frankly couldn't care less, especially when I take a look at who it is that does the name calling. By the way, before the accusations start up again, I am not the moderator who removed the latest MSBUCKET post. It had already been removed by the time I checked in.

Maybe the fact that he is saying he will not comply has something to do with why the bar has a slight lack of customers. Again, being a smoker myself, I can't see anything wrong with stepping outside to smoke. What's so terrible about that? Sure, I'd rather be able to smoke inside the bars, but less than three hours from the time I'm writing this post that will no longer be legally possible. So, I'll step outside to smoke. I hope, for everyone's sake, both bars and customers will comply without any problems. I can't see the logic behind the bar owner's attitude, if he meant what he told you. He doesn't want to alienate his customers? I would think the vast majority of his customers are non-smokers. Wouldn't a refusal to comply alienate the majority of the customers he can get?

I have been trying to decide whether to respond to your post. I think I will. In my opinion, the removal of your post is not censorship of the truth. It is merely removal of a post that violates this forum's posting rules. What you wrote may or may not be true, but it was clearly an accusation with no proof or evidence of any kind other than your word for it. Nobody even knows who you are, so just taking your word for it would be out of the question under any circumstances. This is a message board. It's not an attorney's office in which you are testifying under oath during a deposition. Even if what you wrote is absolutely true, the posting rules clearly state this forum is not here for people to settle their personal disputes or post accusations. If we had no such rule, then the deletion of your post would be censorship. However, since the rules are clearly stated, your post was in violation of the rules and resulted in deletion. I suggested that you personally contact the person with whom you have a dispute. That is the appropriate method for settling the matter. Posting personal accusations on this forum is inappropriate and not permitted even if you have iron-clad proof that the accusation is true.

That has been canceled. They decided instead to use me as the feature contestant in the Sumo wrestling match.

Why not get confused early and avoid the Christmas rush? According to the February 8 edition of the PATTAYA MAIL, enforcement of the regulation begins in Pattaya on February 11 (see http://www.pattayamail.com/current/news.shtml#hd14 ). As far as I can tell, the ban begins in Pattaya on February 11. Everywhere else in Thailand, it begins on February 17. For some reason, Pattaya often does things on dates different from other areas of Thailand. Songkran comes to mind. Apparently, tonight and tomorrow night are the last nights smokers can smoke in Pattaya's bars. It will be interesting to see if "No Smoking" signs are posted in the bars beginning Monday.

You can count on it. I believe the concessionaires along the gay beach area are there legitimately. Most of them have been there for years and nothing seems to be encroached. I have no idea how the regulation will affect the gay beach area, but if I see anything different from usual, I'll certainly post about it. One of the things I'm wondering about is where they expect people to sit if the concessionaires are not allowed to put out their chairs in certain areas. Sure, you might be able to sit out in the sun, but on what? What are you going to do, bring your own chair back and forth to the beach? If you're here on a week or two holiday, what becomes of the chair you ended up buying once it's time for you to go home? I suppose the concessionaires might be be able to rent you a deck chair and umbrella, which could easily mean there will be just as many seats and umbrellas as always. You may also lose the services such as the beach waiters. You may not be able to order something to drink or order any food if the concessionaires not only lose their chairs, but also lose being able to wait on people who are not in the seats owned by the concession. Also, if the concessionaires lose a significant number of their chairs, then they might all be forced to raise their prices. Personally, I prefer the umbrellas. I burn easily. Also, without the umbrellas there may be a lot less eye candy at the beach. Many of the Thai boys won't go to the beach at all. That's because a dark tan is considered low class in Thailand, so they all want to be "color white." A lot of skin whitening cream is sold in Thailand, even the dangerous kind. Workers who have to work out in the sun are usually seen working in long pants, long sleeve shirts, hats, gloves, and even ski masks to keep their skin from coloring. It can be a day with temperatures hot enough to make a sauna seem like air conditioning, but they'll be out there looking as if they're dressed to follow Robert Peary to the North Pole. That's why I think a lack of umbrellas could mean less boys to ogle at the beach. Many like the beach and a great many of them are there on their daily "farang hunt," but I can't help but wonder if many will stop coming if, by the time they get there, the seats covered by umbrellas are all taken. It's usually somewhere between 2:00 and 3:00 PM by the time the boys wake up and get to the beach. To my mind this idea is one of those typical ideas that hasn't been thought through and the whole thing is ridiculous. As far as I'm concerned, this makes it right to the "If It Ain't Broke, Break It" list. The number of deck chairs and umbrellas hasn't been a problem and I never hear anyone saying, "Gee, I sure wish there were a lot less of them. I want to be able to sit down out in the sun for free." I'd much rather see the city make the illegal concessionaires pay for the areas upon which they encroached instead of forcing them to start removing chairs. I think it ought to be "pay up or get out completely." In any case, I'll be sure to post if and when I see any significant changes.