Gaybutton

On the opposite end, I always get a good laugh with the fractured written English used by the Thais. There are so many native English speakers available to proofread for them, but few places ever seem to have anyone do that (unless they've been asking Dan Quayle to proofread) and even fewer ever make corrections when mistakes are pointed out. To me, the all time winner of the Fractured English award has got to be the sign that used to be outside of the Perfect Beauty Salon, near Center Condo. That barber shop is gone now, but the sign lives on forever. Here it is: [attachmentid=71]

Those are too numerous to list and I don't know them all. It isn't limited just to Pattaya either. I had it happen to me in Phuket. It seems to be primarily beach resort hotels that have a restaurant. The best suggestion I can make is to ask at the time you are making reservations. If you already have reservations, then I would still check and find out. If the hotel does have the mandatory buffet, I would also ask the price of it. If I don't want to participate, then I would try to make reservations elsewhere first, and then cancel my original reservations.

What do if your flight arrives when it's raining? Also, what do they do to get people from the terminal building out to the plane for departing flights? In my opinion, one of the most impressive and well designed airports in the world is Singapore's Changi International Airport. It's too bad Suvarnabhumi did not use the same people to design the airport. Based on everything I'm seeing on this thread, and I have not been to Suvarnabhumi yet, it sounds very poorly designed. I would have thought that a brand new airport, literally forty years in the making, an airport hoped to be the new major Asian hub, would have been designed so that it would be a pleasure to use. Instead it seems like it ended up being yet another semi disaster. Even if you don't mind the long walks, when I see people writing that there are not enough bathrooms, no convenient restaurants, not enough gates so that people still end up on a bus at a parking tarmac, and the bus takes you to areas inconvenient for connecting flights, etc, etc, etc, then I'm not exactly impressed with the design. It's hard to believe that competent, modern airport architects and designers would have failed to anticipate these problems, but there it is and we're all stuck with it. One thing is for sure . . . from now on, whenever I take a flight that originates in Thailand, I'm going to check to see if there's a way to get where I'm trying to go by departing from U-Tapao.

I don't agree with you. I think the Pinnacle is an excellent location and it is highly popular hotel for gays. I like Jimmy very much and have always been well satisfied with his service. I have never been asked to pay a joiner fee at the Pinnacle. There is nothing wrong with Tarntawan Place, but you are making unfair comments about Jimmy and calling people "cheap Charlies" because they want to stay at the Pinnacle. That's your opinion, to which you're entitled, but it sure isn't fact. Just because you don't like the Pinnacle doesn't make those comments true. I also don't think anyone is a "fool" for staying at an excellent hotel, only a few minutes away from where your preference is, and paying 1000 baht less a night for it.

Give me a call about that. There's a pool table company very close to where I live. I'll bet you can get service from them or at least they ought to be able to put you in touch with someone who can service it.

The answer is yes to both. The bars will definitely be busy and although most Thais do not celebrate the religious aspects of Christmas, a great many do celebrate the fun parts. Be careful of which hotel you choose. Many hotels charge a manditory fee for a Christmas buffet and also a New Year's Eve buffet regardless of whether you want to eat there or not. They don't let you out of it and sometimes those buffets are quite expensive. I will say, however, the one's I've been to have always been well worth it, although I also resent having to pay for something about which I was never told in advance.

If the visa does not specify the number of entries, then you will need to check with the immigration office. They are the ones who can tell you. I don't know if you need a re-entry permit for a multiple entry visa, but again I would check with the immigration police to find out. If you do need the re-enty permit, it's 1900 baht.

No need to book a full fare. In Bangkok I suggest staying at the Pinnacle. The Pinnacle is a ten minute, 35 baht taxi ride from the gay venues in the Silom-Suriwong-Patpong area. Call Jimmy by telephone to book. Don't use E-mail. You'll be back from your holiday before he gets around to answering his E-mail. It's worth the call. Booking through Jimmy will save you between 800 to 900 baht per night. Jimmy is Thai and he speaks English. His office is located in the Pinnacle. The telephone number in Thailand is 081-859-6585. If you wish to have a copy of the Pinnacle's business card, send me an E-mail at gaybutton@gmail.com. I'll be happy to attach a copy of the business card and send it to you. The card has taxi directions written in Thai so that you'll have no problem getting there from the airport. I suggest Pattaya over Phuket for your first trip. From the Pinnacle it's a short taxi ride to the Ekamai bus station. From there it costs only about 100 baht for a bus to Pattaya. The ride will take about two hours. Once you reach the bus terminal in Pattaya there will be plenty of baht buses to get you to your hotel. You'll be charged about 150 baht for the baht bus ride to your hotel. You can also hire a taxi to take you to Pattaya. That will run about 1400 baht or so. The Pinnacle can arrange that for you. In Pattaya I suggest staying at either The Ambiance or Le Caf

Well, of course he will. Didn't uou know that? 3 times. Good job keeping score. Maybe I'll go for four. Well, what can I say? Nobody seems to agree with me on this one, so that's that. But I still think . . . .oh, never mind. I really have no idea what he will be serving.

You're entitled to your opinion just as I'm entitled to mine. I have no plans regarding that night at all. The idea that I'm having a "little tantrum" is your interpretation. I still think it's a mistake to plan this event only two days following Thanksgiving. That's my opinion.

The following appears in the SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE: _____ SAN FRANCISCO Officer in Child Sex Arrest Reportedly Kills Self 25-Year Veteran was Being Held in Cambodian Jail - Staff and Wire Report Tuesday, October 31, 2006 A San Francisco police officer who had been arrested for alleged sexual abuse and "debauchery'' in Cambodia related to a 14-year-old girl there has apparently committed suicide in his jail cell, authorities said Monday. Officer Donald Rene Ramirez, 50, a 25-year veteran, "committed suicide by firing two bullets into his mouth," said Keo Thea, chief of antihuman trafficking police in Phnom Penh. Ramirez was arrested Thursday in Phnom Penh by Cambodian authorities, officials said. He was assigned to the police traffic detail and was on vacation at the time, authorities said. San Francisco police officials had no comment on the matter. Ramirez could have faced federal charges in the United States under the sex tourism law, which makes it a crime to arrange a meeting in another country with a minor for the purpose of a sexual encounter. Virginia Kice, spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, had told The Chronicle before Ramirez's death that her agency was "working with the ICE office in Bangkok to determine what, if any, further enforcement action is necessary.'' Ngeth Sarath, a prosecutor in Phnom Penh, said Ramirez was charged Sunday with debauchery for allegedly having sex with a 14-year-old ethnic Vietnamese girl. Following the reports of Ramirez's death, reporters in Phnom Penh were not allowed into the police station to verify the official account, and it was unclear exactly how Ramirez shot himself, including how he would have fired twice. The death is under investigation by both Cambodian and U.S. officials. Keo Thea told reporters in Cambodia that Ramirez killed himself after a police guard left to use the bathroom. Ramirez allegedly used a broom to pull a gun from under a woven mat to his cell. Police arrested Ramirez at his rented apartment Thursday, said Keo Thea. Ramirez was seen bringing the girl into his apartment, Sarath said. He said Ramirez had denied doing anything wrong. "He is a policeman, so it is not easy for us to get him to talk," Sarath said earlier. He said police had also arrested the girl's mother on charges of providing the girl to Ramirez. Under Cambodian law, debauchery is a term for sexual offenses against minors. The offense can be punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison. Chronicle staff writer Jaxon Van Derbeken contributed to this report.

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Transsexual to Fight Mental Disorder' Statement ANUCHA CHAROENPO A transsexual man is preparing to file a lawsuit with the Administrative Court against the army's statement in a conscription certificate (Sor Dor 43) which exempted him from service for having a ''mental disorder''. Samart Meecharoen, a 22-year-old student of Ban Somdej Chao Phraya Rajabhat University, said the document, issued two years ago, deprived him of career opportunities as a private firm turned down his application for a part-time job, citing it as the reason. His petition to the court, supported by the National Human Rights Commission, the Lawyers Council of Thailand, the Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand and the Saphan Group representing same-sex lovers, will be submitted to the court on Nov 10. If the court accepts the case for consideration, it will be the first of its kind in the country. ''I cannot accept it (the mental disorder statement) because I don't have a mental problem. In fact, I'm a normal guy who feels like a woman,'' said Mr Samart, who called himself Nong Namwan. He underwent the military conscription process two years ago in his hometown of Lop Buri province. He has long hair and has worn women's clothes for a long time. He has had a breast operation but has yet to change his sex organ. He said unless the document is changed properly, he would have no chance of working after finishing his studies at university in the next two years. ''I am the breadwinner of the family. If I have no job, I don't know how to earn money to feed my ageing parents,'' he said. The army earlier this year recognised the problem and agreed to remove the term ''mental disorder'' from the document for new conscripts, as urged by rights advocacy groups. However, it has yet to find ways to change the old documents. Naiyana Supaphung, a human rights commissioner, lauded the army for its understanding. ''We are waiting for better changes,'' she said

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Outrage Sparked by "Wedding of the Year" Video "Wedding of the Year" in Burma took place in July. But it becomes talk of the town after the release of video footage of the wedding of Gen Than Shwe's daughter and a major which showed extravagance. [see the video: http://www.irrawaddy.org/bur/thandar_shwe.html ) Burma's wedding of the year took place in July, but it's again the talk of the town

Nevertheless, it is the truth.

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Skytrain's Minimum Fare Increases Next Month The minimum fare on the Skytrain will rise from Bt10 to Bt15 next month, the operator Bangkok Mass Transit (BTS) announced on Wednesday. However, the maximum fare of Bt40 will remain unchanged. Anat Arbhabirama, advisor to the BTS board, said the rise in the minimum fare would not affect long haul passengers. According to Anat, this is will be the first time the BTS has raised its fare since it began service six years ago. With the rise, the BTS is expected to earn Bt10.6 million a month from fares compared to the current average of Bt9.5 million. "The fare hike is necessary in the face of rising electricity, petrol and operational costs," Anat said. On the extension route of the Skytrain from Taksin Bridge to Thon Buri, Anat said it would depend on the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to decide on how much to charge passengers travelling on the new route that stretches over two stations. "The BMA has paid for this extension route," Anat said. The new route is expected to begin operations in 2008.

You may be right about that. I don't know. I guess the trick is to find a doctor who does accept the idea of patient confidentiality. I do know that if you go to to the average street clinic, one that actually has a real doctor there, they don't ask to see a passport or any other form of ID. If someone is fearful of a confidentiality breach I suppose he could always use a fictitious name and address. To me, that's still better than taking drugs when you don't know what you're doing. Of course, I also think that anyone taking illicit drugs hardly knows what he's doing in the first place. I'm not a drug user and never have been, so I'm as naive as it gets when it comes to illicit drugs and the terminolgy that goes with it. I don't have a clue what "smoking" means unless that refers to marijuana.

I was not aware that they don't. As far as I know, this is the first time this kind of question has even appeared. I have no idea what a qualified doctor will do or whether he will or will not write a prescription for this sort of thing, but I do know that if someone is in need of medical attention then the smart move is to go to a qualified physician rather than some street pharmacy. If the doctor refuses to write a prescription, that's one thing, but you won't know until you try. I wouldn't recommend simply assuming that a doctor won't do anything.

In Bangkok, and Phuket as well, the going rate is 1500 baht for short time, and at least 2000 baht for "long time." Saphan Kwai will be essentially the same as Pattaya. If you take one of the muscle boys "off" from the Tawan bar, they usually want a lot more, so make sure you have come to an agreement, really at any bar, before taking the boy "off." You would probably be better off making sure the boy knows what you want and agrees to it prior to taking him "off." Sometimes people end up spending a lot of money to take a boy "off" and when they are in the privacy of the hotel room, the boy turns out to be a dud. So, make sure the you have come to an agreement for what you want and how much you'll pay before taking the boy "off." If the boy agrees in advance and then still is a dud, then all I would give him is cab fare.

BANGKOK, Nov 1 (TNA) Standard & Poor

You betcha! The tones and extended vowels are very important. Without using them, quite often nobody knows what the hell you're trying to say. If nothing else, at least try to get a little of the Thai right when you do speak it. People who have lived here for years still insist on mispronouncing "farang." They say "fah-rang", like you rang a bell or, worse still, "fair-ang" with emphasis on the first syllable on top of that. Wrong! It's pronounced "fah-rahng" or "fah-lahng," whichever you prefer (we've been through that debate before), and the emphasis is on the last syllable. I think most of them know that, and yet they still insist on mispronouncing it. Why? Another one is "ya-ba," the illegal methamphetamines. It's pronounced "yah-bah" with emphasis on the last syllable. I can't tell you how many times I keep hearing "yaba" as if Fred Flintstone was saying "yabba-dabba-doo." Is there a chance for these people to learn to speak Thai? Well, being an optimist, I hope so.

I agree with RichLB. Certainly for the average person in Thailand solely for a holiday of a few weeks, learning Thai is not an essential necessity, especially since it is usually easy enough to find Thai people who speak English quite well, but it surely makes life much easier if you are able to communicate beyond the English most bar boys know. Many "farang" who live in Thailand are able to get along quite nicely without leaning any Thai at all, but without an ability to speak the language it definitely limits them. Many see no need to learn to speak Thai, but once you do learn that's when you'll wonder how you ever got along without it.

That is probably true. However, even that still is no guarantee. Those of you reading this who remember my web site probably also remember that I always recommended (and still do) Ronda, from Norcross travel in the USA, when making airline reservations for travel to Thailand because she always managed to beat every other price by hundreds of dollars. Do you know how I found Rhonda in the first place? At that time I had a friend from Thailand who was a university student, on a student visa, in the USA. He's the one who first told me about Rhonda. He had been back and forth between Thailand and the USA several times and never had a problem obtaining his student visa. Obviously he was returning to Thailand, but when his visa was about to expire he would have to apply for a new one. One time he went through absolute hell trying to get the visa. Despite all of his documentation and his history of returning to Thailand, there was one time he was denied the visa three times until he was finally able to convince the embassy to grant him a new one. As far as he could tell, there was no particular reason for the denial other than the agent at the embassy arbitrarily denying it. He was finally to get the visa, was able to complete his college degree, and now lives in Bangkok, so the story does have a happy ending, but he came awfully close to being unable to get it. I have a difficult time understanding USA immigration policy. It seems to me that anyone from a Caribbean island country who manages to float in on a log is granted not only entry, but education, housing, and health benefits to go along with it. Meanwhile, people from Thailand whose intent is nothing more than a holiday and plan to return to Thailand have an incredibly difficult time obtaining a visa. That's another one I can add to my "I don't get it" list.

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ MTV to Stop Airing on UBC Tonight MTV Asia, a music channel currently aired on UBC Channel 32, will stop airing its programme from 11pm tonight. A source from MTV Asia says that the programme will disappear on UBC Channel 32 from 11pm onwards and the music channel will hold a press conference tomorrow about the end of its broadcast on UBC, the country's only cable TV operator. UBC informs its subscribers on its UBC 32 screen that it has decided to stop airing two music channels, MTV and VH 1. The company said that the move was in accordance with its recent viewer survey. Recently, UBC has added a number of channels including two music channels -True Music and Majung.

In other words, North America and the UK are essentially out of the question. What about Australia? Does anyone know whether a visa to Australia or New Zealand would be particularly difficult?