Gaybutton

The link to the web site is posted earlier in this thread. According to their web site, their address is: Asia.com 33 Knightsbridge Road Piscataway, NJ 08854

Gaybutton has been down for months. Mine was the first of the boards to be blocked in Thailand. When that occurred I decided to take the web site offline. It would take me about ten minutes to put it online again, but I doubt I will ever put it online again. I'm quite satisfied with this web site and I really see no need to place the Gaybutton site online again. For those who did not already know, any of the articles that I had on my former web site are still available by E-mail request. If anyone wants any of the articles, all you have to do is send an E-mail to me at gaybutton@gmail.com and I will be happy to send them to you.

I don't see how. The regulations specifically say that none of these places are allowed to play music louder than 90 decibels. Naturally, that is also being rigidly enforced, just like everything else. That's working great too, isn't it? Now maybe if the police realize they play the music without wearing helmets perhaps more attention would b e paid . . . .

For those of you who love Thai food, do you ever wonder what the Royal family eats? It turns out that they enjoy doing a lot of their own cooking. They have written a cookbook of their favorite recipes and it is going on sale in Thailand today. The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Princess' Book Set to be a Hit SANITSUDA EKACHAI Set to be this year's bestseller is Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn's Krua Sra Pathum, a cookbook-cum-2007 diary, which will be launched today at the Book Fair, held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. The book contains 12 royal recipes in the Princess' own handwriting accompanied by personal notes with royal humour. The cookbook-cum-diary also features photographs of the late Princess Mother cooking as well as Princess Sirindhorn herself, in apron and tousled hair, busy in the kitchen showing readers how to prepare each dish step-by-step. Two of the recipes from the Sra Pathum Palace kitchen are those of the late Princess Mother, namely Boston Baked Beans and Boston Brown Bread, said to be among His Majesty the King's favourite dishes during his childhood. The other ten recipes are Superfish in an Ocean of Milk, Prawns in an Emerald Pond, Stir-fried Young Chillies, Poultice for a Baby's Head, Baked Spinach Balls, Wattenmeer Pumpkin Soup, Pumpkin Pie, Beehive Pancake, Pork/Meat on Sticks and Chicken Pressed on the Pan. Despite the fancy names, all recipes are easy to make and the Princess has herself tried each recipe and adjusted them to ensure the recipes' consistency. Apart from doing the cooking and tasting for the book Krua Sra Pathum, meaning Sra Pathum cuisine, the Princess also took some of the photographs herself. After the book launch, Krua Sra Pathum, priced at 299 baht a copy, will be available at all leading bookstores. The proceeds will go to the museum project in memory of Queen Savang Vadhana, the Queen Grandmother, at the Sra Pathum Palace. A prolific writer, Princess Sirindhorn's book-cum-diary last year about her dogs and other animals in the Sra Pathum Palace was also a bestseller. _____ And this, from THE NATION: _____ A Taste of Royal Recipes A 2007 diary of cooking recipes of HRH Princess Sri Nagarindra the Princess Mother and HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, will hit the shelves today. Titled, "Krua Sa Pathum" (The Kitchen of Sa Pathum Palace), it contains colourful photographs of HRH the Princess Mother and HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, while cooking in the palace - plus their own hand-written instructions for 12 recipes. Two recipes written in English by the late Princess Mother are 'Boston Baked Beans' and 'Boston Brown Bread' - both favourites of His Majesty the King as the Princess Mother cooked for the King in his early years. The other 10 recipes are written by HRH the Princess in Thai and English. The menus include 'Ya Pok Hua Dek' (spinach cheese toast), 'Massaya Kasian Samut' (baked snakehead fish soaked in milk and butter), 'Kung Bor Morakot' (freshwater giant prawn on top of seaweed grilled on hot granite rock) and 'Pad Prik On' (prawn and pork stir-fried in Chinese tea seed oil with shrimp paste). The diary is published by the Queen Savang Vadhana Foundation founded by HRH the Princess and costs Bt299. It will be launched today at the National Book Fair at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre and will soon be available in bookstores across the country. Proceeds will go towards the construction of a museum dedicated to Queen Savang Vadhana at the queen's former residence, Tamnak Yai, in Sa Pathum Palace. It was HRH Princess Sirindhorn who initiated the idea that Tamnak Yai be turned into a museum with the aim of making it a cultural-heritage site and a place to teach the younger generation about Thai history and the life of the late queen. The queen was the Princess's great-grandmother. Queen Savang Vadhana, whose life spanned six reigns, including that of HM the King, was the daughter of King Mongkut (Rama IV) and was Queen Sri Savarindhira to King Rama V. Tamnak Yai in Sa Pathum Palace was the residence of the Princess Mother and HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn currently resides there.

In that case, everybody better familiarize themselves with the customs regulations: Prohibited items : All kinds of narcotics (hemp, opium, cocaine, morphine, heroin), obscene literature, pictures or articles. Firearms : Importation of firearms and ammunition can be done only after a permit has been obtained from instruments may be brought in free of duty. Cameras : One still-camera or one movie camera can be brought in without duty. Five rolls of still-camera film or three rolls of 8 or 16 m.m. movie-camera film may be brought in free of duty. Tobacco, alcoholic beverages : Cigarettes, cigars, or smoking tobacco each or in total must not exceed 250 grams in weight but cigarettes not exceeding 200 in quantity. One litre each of wine or spirits may be brought in free of duty. Household effects : A reasonable amount of used household effects, accompanied by the owner on change of domicile are also free of duty. Plants and animals : Certain species of fruits, vegetables and plants are prohibited. Please contact the Agricultural Regulatory Division , Bangkhen Bangkok Tel:5791581, 5793576. A permission of entry for animals coming in by air can be obtained at the airport. If by sea, application must be made at the Department of Livestock Development, Bangkok Tel:2515136, 2526944. Vaccination certificates are required. (source: http://sunsite.au.ac.th/thailand/tipsonthai/custom.html )

Looks like they have come up with yet another way of making foreign tourists feel really welcome in Thailand. 35,000 baht for three cartons too many? That works out to 11,666 baht for each "contraband" carton. I'm wondering about the veracity of the story. It's probably true, but if each individual person is allowed to bring in 200 cigarettes, which is one carton per adult, then the violation amounts to a grand total of three cartons too many since two adults were involved and would be allowed to bring in one carton each. They were taken away from the airport, grilled for hours, and then fined 35,000 baht because of three extra cartons? I'm wondering if there is more to this story.

You just hit on the very essence of much of what the powers-that-be in Thailand come up with. It makes no sense, at least not to us. My favorite is still the 1:00 AM bar closing rule. The stated reason for that was because it will dramatically cut down on street crime. Worked great, didn't it?

Damned right.

BANGKOK, Oct 17 (TNA) Thailand's Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram on Tuesday signaled the nation's readiness to support United Nations' sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear test. "It's a UN Security Council's resolution to which we must conform" he said. Nevertheless, the minister said, Thailand would look into the UN regulations to decide which aspects of the sanctions it would implement as there are many items. Thailand joined the international community in condemning the the underground nuclear test by North Korea on October 9, repeating its call for the socialist state to return to six-party talks to end the nuclear issue in the Korean Penninsula, but refrained from calling for global sanctions against Pyongyang. The UN Security Council unanimously voted to impose sanctions against North Korea following the nuclear test it carried out last week. The sanctions target Pyongyang's weapons and missile programmes as well as luxury goods. (TNA)-E009

Oliver Stone Film Sets Sights on Osama Bin Laden By Steve Gorman, AP In a follow-up to his recent drama "World Trade Center," filmmaker Oliver Stone plans to direct a movie about the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan, Paramount Pictures said on Monday. The film will be based in part on "Jawbreaker," a recent book chronicling the U.S.-led assault on the al Qaeda stronghold in Afghanistan's Tora Bora region and the hunt for Osama bin Laden, a spokeswoman for Paramount, which will make the film with Stone, told Reuters. Stone and Paramount, which released "World Trade Center" in August, optioned rights to "Jawbreaker" months ago, she said, confirming a report in the Hollywood trade paper Daily Variety. Paramount is a unit of Viacom Inc. The Oscar-winning director told Variety the book deal was kept quiet until now to prevent "World Trade Center" from being caught up in controversy surrounding the memoir, which suggests the U.S. military bungled a chance to get bin Laden. "World Trade Center" largely avoided political overtones by focusing on heroics of two cops -- played by Nicolas Cage and Michael Pena -- who became trapped in the rubble of the Twin Towers after hijackers crashed airliners into the buildings. Stone called it "the least political film I've made." And he insisted his objective with "Jawbreaker" similarly would be to "create compelling drama, not a polemic." But the subject matter is bound to spark debate about the Bush administration's conduct of its war on terror, especially if the movie ends up being released in 2008 before the next presidential election. No production date for the film has been set, and there was no word on casting decisions. The book was written by Gary Bernstein, a CIA officer who led the so-called "Jawbreaker" paramilitary unit that helped topple the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Among his more controversial assertions is that bin Laden was present at Tora Bora during the U.S.-led assault on the region in 2001 but managed to slip away. His account contradicted public statements by President George W. Bush and retired Army Gen. Tommy Franks, former commander of U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, that U.S. officials were never certain bin Laden was at Tora Bora. Stone drew sharp criticism for his 1991 film "JFK," in which he was accused of giving credence to widely debunked conspiracy theories in his portrait of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Adding potential fuel to the fire is Stone's choice of Cyrus Nowrasteh, the producer-writer behind ABC's controversial miniseries "The Path to 9/11," to write the second draft of the "Jawbreaker" screenplay. Nowrasteh came under fire last month from leading Democrats who claimed the ABC miniseries was filled with inaccuracies and distortions that painted the Clinton administration as slow to confront the threat of Islamic militants prior to the September 11 attacks.

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ OUSTED PREMIER Thaksin Advised to Stay Abroad for a Long Time Army Rejects his Plan to Return, Says his Coming Back Would Aggravate Social Division Ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra had hoped to return to his home in Bangkok next Sunday, but the Council for National Security (CNS) put a stop to his plan. A political source said household maids had been preparing the Chan Song Lah residence ready for Thaksin's return. There were also reports that Thaksin, who has taken refuge in London, flew to Singapore over the weekend and met with senior members of the Thai Rak Thai. Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont admitted that Thaksin had requested that he be allowed to come home, but was told that the time was not right yet. Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin, head of the security council, expressed concern yesterday about the volatile political situation caused by certain pressure groups acting like a political undercurrent to exert undue influence. "The situation has not been completely normalised and authorities are closely monitoring the unfolding events," he said. In light of the political volatility, the time was not right for deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra to return, Sonthi said. The CNS and the interim government would have to hold a joint meeting before giving a green light for Thaksin to return, he said. Thaksin said in an interview broadcast on iTV yesterday that he would not be returning to Thailand in the near future. Speaking from his posh London apartment, the ex-PM said he wanted a rest. It was unclear when the interview was recorded. General Winai Phattiyakul, the CNS secretary general, said Thaksin should not make a hasty decision to end his exile before the lifting of martial law. "For the sake of peace, many concerned parties have suggested that Thaksin review the timing of his return to Bangkok carefully," Winai said. He also said the CNS would finalise its decision this week whether to issue a white paper on the domestic political situation. The paper, if published, will explain the September 19 coup. Chat Thai Party deputy leader Somsak Prissanananthakul said he viewed the timing of Thaksin's return as the real issue. "It is not a problem for Thaksin to return to his homeland but he should choose the right time to do so," Somsak said. The wrong timing might exacerbate social divisions, he said, adding that he believed Thaksin could decide his options for himself. Former senator Wallop Tangkhananurak agreed, saying that Thaksin's return at this time could trigger dangerous confrontations between his supporters and detractors. Deposed premier Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn enjoyed the forgiveness of the Thai people after a time lapse of one year in exile and remained a respected figure among his supporters, Wallop said, urging Thaksin to emulate Thanom's example. Former Thai Rak Thai MP Chalermchai Ulankul said Thaksin should extend his London stay rather than risk living in detention. Thaksin's return would likely trigger situations that could get out of hand and this in turn would prompt the authorities to restrict his movement, Chalermchai said. Activist Phromsak Saenpho said he had just made a long-distance call from Chiang Mai to Thaksin in London. "Thaksin told me he did not want to stir up trouble and confirmed his stand on the peaceful political process," Phromsak said. He said Thaksin should be allowed his return without any pre-conditions. Chaiphan Prapasawat, another activist from Chiang Mai, said police should immediately detain Thaksin to face charges relating to policy abuses, corruption and more than 2,000 killings during the "war on drugs".

I don't know if that is correct. During October my boyfriend went for his driving license and they did require him to submit a medical certificate. To avoid problems, I suggest spending the 200 baht it would cost to get one, just in case. I'd rather have it and not need it then get all the way out there and find out that they won't issue the license without it.

BANGKOK, Oct 16 (TNA) Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said the Cabinet will discuss during its weekly meeting this Tuesday whether to lift the martial law or not. Martial law has been in effect since the military seizure of power in September 19, through which Gen. Surayud was installed as prime minister. Gen. Surayud spoke to reporters upon returning from a one-day official visit to Cambodia on Sunday. The Prime Minister acknowledged that he discussed the martial law issue with Army Chief Sonthi Boonyaratkalin who also heads the Council for National Security which retains ultimate power over the country at the moment by virtue of its imposition of martial law. Gen. Surayud said that martial law would be on agenda of the weekly Cabinet meeting but declined to discuss the issue any further until after the Cabinet meeting since, he said, this is a matter of collective decision. Right activists, academics and varied civil society organisations have called for the revocation of martial law banning political gatherings and activities, claiming that the law violated the constitution and even the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Gen.Surayud said earlier that the government did not ignore the public concern over this subject but it needs some certain time to revoke the law. (TNA)-E007

Just to avoid confusion, the web site tdperhs is talking about is not Air Asia. The name sounds similar, but this web site is a booking agency, not the Air Asia airline web site.

Make sure to have the desk clerk at your hotel check the ID too. Assumning the boy is of legal age and the ID card actually belongs to the boy, have the desk clerk keep the ID card, with instructions not to release it to the boy without first checking with you to make sure everything is ok and nothing has been stolen.

Yes, you do. You will need another residence certificate, medical certificate, copies of the passport, photos, and your current license. You can get all the copies and photos at the little shop next door to the Immigration Police office, so that won't be much of a hassle. Make sure you take your passport with you. Also make sure, when getting the photos, they are aware that you need them for the residence certificate and also the driver's license. Different size photos are required for each. Make sure the residence certificate says "non-immigrant" on the visa type. Sometimes they make a mistake and print "tourist" as the visa type. The driver's license bureau won't accept that and they'll send you right back to the Immigration Police office is the certificate says "tourist." With the documents, all you'll have to do is fill out the application and hand over the documents. You'll be called to pick up your new license about a half hour later. If you feel uncertain, please feel free to contact me. I'll be glad to go with you, if you want, assuming I'll be available on Thursday.

I took a look at the web site. That's a fantastic offer. It's a round-trip fare. I saw on the same web site that Delta's flight is almost three times that much. You might want to first call CAL and see what they offer. But this fare is one I would grab quickly before they're sold out. Here is a clickable link: http://www.asia.com

Good try, but you'll have to be far more clever than that to get me to take the bait. Everyone can read that board and see the garbage posts for themselves.

The following appears in the PATTAYA CITY NEWS: _____ Broke Texan Makes a Run for it Rather than Paying his Outstanding Rent A bizarre case now from the Argyll Apartments on the Pratamnuk Road in South Pattaya. Mr. Tim Gibbons aged 39 from Texas, USA checked into the apartments three months ago after a planned 6 month stay in Pattaya to take some time-out from his job back in Texas. Unbeknown to staff at the apartment, he lost his job back in Texas whilst he was here in Pattaya and he ran out of money and could not afford to pay the rent. Staff decided to confront him on Friday evening after accumulating a bill of 69,000 Baht over the last three months. Mr. Gibbons did not have the money to pay the bill and took the decision to make a run for it. He was quickly caught and the Police were called. Staff presented Police with the tenancy agreement and he was duly arrested and taken to Pattaya Police Station. He is now in a situation where he will have to either find the money quickly or face some jail time and possible deportation.

BANGKOK, Oct 15 (TNA) Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra can 'come home', but it would be better for him to wait until martial law is lifted. Defense Minister Boonrawd Somtat said Sunday that ousted ex-premier Thaksin is welcome to return home 'as a Thai citizen' but it is better that he should wait until martial law, imposed following the September 19 coup, is lifted. It is up to Mr. Thaksin himself to consider whether it is appropriate for him to return to Thailand now and whether his return could severely stir the waters, Gen. Boonrawd said. However, he said both Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, chairman of the Council for National Security (CNS), will also have to consider whether national security could be threatened if Mr. Thaksin returns now. The deposed premier is now staying with his family in an apartment in London. Prime Minister Surayud told journalists Saturday that Mr. Thaksin had telephoned him and asked to return to Thailand. Gen. Surayud said he had told Mr. Thaksin it was the right of all Thais to return to their homeland but the timing must be right and details must be discussed among the concerned parties. "It's better to wait for the martial law to be lifted," said Gen. Boonrawd, adding that Mr. Thaksin will have to wait until that day, and that concerned officials will have to discuss the issue first to determine whether it is appropriate for him to return home. Meanwhile, Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Chalit Phukbhasuk, also deputy chairman of CNS, said he personally believed that martial law could be lifted within the next one or two months if everybody fully cooperates in solving the problems facing the country. ACM Chalit told journalists after holding talks with the prime minister and Gen. Sonthi on the possibility of lifting martial law that several factors, including internal peace, would have to be taken into consideration before Mr. Thaksin is allowed to return home. (TNA)-E111

It might be telling us that the person who started it ought to have started it on Sawatdee instead of this board and that Sawatdee would probably be a much higher quality board if moderators there also refused to allow that sort of garbage in the first place. Does it tell you something different?

In Phuket you'll probably find what you're looking for at a bar called Tangmo. In Pattaya there are so many bars to choose from that you really need to try them all. You'll also find plenty of the types you seek at the gay beach area. I'll let someone else handle Chiang Mai recommendations for you. I always thought the best bar there was Adam's Apple, but from what I understand it has closed. I'm not familiar enough with Chiang Mai to make any further recommendations. You might also want to check the following two links: Chiang Mai: http://www.dreadedned.com/directory/bytype/2/12/ Phuket: http://www.dreadedned.com/directory/bytype/4/12/

What is most interesting to me is that one could still be 18 years old to work in a bar, but would have to be seven years older to patronize the same bar.

No, it isn't. On that same thread you wrote, "Good god . . . this thread sounds like some of the cess-pool bickering much more common on Sawatdee Forum!! The Mod is going to have to step in I'm afraid." Now you want to criticize him for doing precisely what you suggested. He had to remove the thread entirely, whether you approve of it or not. If he had removed only the posts that caused the problems, then the rest of the thread would have made no sense at all, not that it made all that much sense in the first place. It's one thing for a little cat fighting to occur within threads on which the topic is something else, such as threads about Niddy's Nook always seems to generate, but that thread's very topic and initial post was an attack post. If he had let that stand, it would create a precedent that we don't want on this web site. You're right. That kind of garbage belongs on the Sawatdee Forum, if there is actually some sort of need for attacks at all. If people want to wage a war of words and attack each other, then they'll have to find somewhere else to do it. You don't have to worry about GayThailand becoming the "Ayatollah." Now that he has made his policy clear regarding such posts, I'll be glad to take on that task. I'm always being accused of needless deletions and censorship anyway. So, as long as people have already decided I'm guilty of doing that, I might as well at least commit the crime, and that's just what I'm going to do if another thread like that ever appears on this web site.