Gaybutton

I'm not going to pass. It doesn't have to be nearly that expensive if you forego the appetizers, drinks, wines, etc. I don't even want any of that. When I finally get there, all I want is a prime rib and I'll save all my room for it. It will still be on the pricey side, but I have a feeling it will be worth it every so often.

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Economy Flyers Get a Lounge at Airport Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) will provide its first economy-class lounge at Suvarnabhumi Airport, consisting of entertainment facilities, shower rooms, e-service and resting corners. At the new airport, passengers will be surprised with several new services never before available in the Kingdom. The economy-class lounge is rare among airlines, most of which operate only first- and business-class lounges. But THAI is following a trend at other new airports which have started offering economy-class lounges. Charnchai Singtorij, vice-president of the cargo and mail commercial department of THAI, said the airline faced tough competition in the aviation industry, forcing it to find new ways to please customers. The lounge, he said, would include televised entertainment such as films, music videos, sports, documentaries and world news, in addition to Internet services. Passengers will also have a rest area that includes plenty of seating and showers in 18,000 square metres of space. Apart from the economy class lounge, the airline will offer first-class and business-class passengers a traditional Thai spa, private movie theatre and shower rooms. "We hope that all the lounges will convince passengers to use THAI," said Charnchai. Although there is reason to feel excited about these innovations in Bangkok, Singapore's Changi Airport already has them. THAI hopes to solicit feedback from travellers on how to improve services. The carrier predicts that the number of transfer passengers going through Bangkok will increase 20 per cent in the first year of operation. Each year, Don Muang Airport receives three million transit passengers. To reach that projection, THAI plans to add more international flights, such as a Bangkok-Johannesburg route, by the end of the year. The airline also plans to start operating more flights to India and long-haul destinations. THAI will operate a few international flights from Suvarnabhumi Airport on September 22 to Seoul, Beijing, and Guangzhou. The company begins domestic flights from the new airport on September 15. All other international flights will officially operate on September 28. Today THAI will start flying from Suvarnabhumi to Phitsanulok, Chiang Mai and Ubon Ratchathani. Not only will THAI start using the new airport today, Australian budget airline Jet Star will commence flights to it from down under. Suchat Sritama The Nation

There is a way to know if the boy is at least in his hometown. Cities have city codes as part of the land line telephone number. If they boy's home has a land line, call him on that number instead of a mobile phone number. If he's there, then he has to be in that city. If the home has no land line, but you are still suspicious, you could always do a Google search, find a hotel phone number in his hometown, and specify a time and day you are going to call the hotel. You can tell the boy to be there. You call the front desk and ask to speak to the boy, making it clear that they boy should be waiting for your call at the front desk. If he's there, fine. If he's not, then you get to be even more suspicious.

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ SOUTHERN BOMBINGS Hat Yai Weeps, Fears Worst Published on September 18, 2006 Canadian teacher killed, 14 foreigners among 70 injured n Business leaders expect to lose millions of tourist dollars The fatal bombings on Saturday night have cast a grim shadow over this vital economic and tourist hub of southern Thailand. In the space of a few hours after the bombings, thousands of visitors fled the city and many more cancelled hotel bookings. Community business confidence has also been rocked. Six bombs exploded almost simultaneously at a bar, department stores, a hotel and a massage parlour at about 9pm on Saturday. Downtown Hat Yai was crowded with tourists at restaurants and entertainment venues. The blasts killed four including 29-year-old Jesse Lee Daniel, a Canadian teacher, the first Westerner to die in the protracted deep-South insurgency. More than 70 people were injured, including 14 foreigners, Health Minister Pinij Charusombat said. Among the foreign injured are six Malaysians, three Singaporeans, three Britons, an Indian and an American. Internationally-known Hat Yai is popular among foreigners - particularly Malaysians and Singa-poreans. Bargains and entertainment attract locals. It is the transport and finance centre of the deep South. Almost all business in Hat Yai, however, relies on tourism. Hat Yai is no stranger to violence. It was a target during the first term of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra before the insurgency shifted to Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani after January 2004. The latest major attack here was in April 2005 when a series of bombs exploded at Hat Yai Airport, a Carrefour and a hotel. One man was killed and several injured. However, the explosions this weekend are expected to have a harsher impact on the Hat Yai economy. It was the economic backbone of the deep South, said Songkhla Professional Tourist Guide Asso-ciation chairman Songchai Mungprasitthichai. "The bombings took place in the heart of the city, leaving no sense of safety and security for visitors. It's going to be very difficult to re-build confidence within a short period of time," Songchai said. He said as many as 7,000 tourists had been expected to visit the city over the weekend. All had cancelled their bookings or left the area. That had cost the city millions of baht. "They witnessed everything that happened because it took place right in the downtown area. We don't know how to explain what happened right in front of their eyes," Songchai said. Hat Yai would now suffer from a slowdown in tourism over the coming three months. Normally, the city would expect about 100,000 tourists in that period with the average person spending Bt10,000. "We are losing billions of baht," he said. "We are waiting for the day our businesses go bankrupt. We have been trying hard to cope ever since the violence spread to Hat Yai. But, after these bombings it is doomed," Songchai said. Retailers have experienced an immediate impact. Nearly 2,000 downtown shop owners depend entirely on Thai and foreign visitors. "After the explosions there were virtually no customers. Everyone fears for their safety," said Hat Yai Retailers chairman Nopporn Prakijwatanakul. Deputy chairman of the Songkhla Chamber of Commerce Kawitpong Sirithananonsaku said the bombings would have a great and deep consequence on the Hat Yai and regional economy. "Since violence re-emerged in the deep South in 2004, investment in Hat Yai has been low. So has the confidence of the private sector. The bombings this past weekend have simply made the situation worse," Kawitpong said. The Nation Hat Yai

That's a good question. I mentioned the concern about taxes because the articles include mention of taxes as one of the concerns. I haven't spotted an article that specifies what kinds of taxes they mean. I too am not sure what taxes they're talking about or how much Thailand is losing as a result of the 30-day rules. My best guess is they may be referring to the amount of money Thailand receives when foreigners pay for tourist and non-immigrant visas and visa renewals. Most visa renewals cost 1900 baht a pop. Under the 30-day rule, people don't pay anything at all unless they pay for an extension or pay over-stay fines. When they make a visa run under the 30-day rules, they still don't pay Thailand anything. Perhaps that's what they're talking about.

You'll find everything you want to know on this link: http://www.thaiticketmaster.com/events/wes...e-story_eng.php

The DVD of Westside Story is available in Thailand and it has Thai subtitles. I watched it with my boyfriend to see if he would like it and he really enjoyed it. I told him about the production in Bangkok. Now that he's seen the movie version and can understand what's going on, he wants to see the show, despite the fact that it will be in English.

What an excellent review! Finally, a truly great steak house in Pattaya! I want to get there too. The prime rib sounds fabulous and that's just what I've been waiting for!

2006 U.S. Elections Notice - - - Registration, Absentee Ballot Request Deadlines Approaching U.S. citizens who plan to vote in the upcoming mid-term elections on November 7, 2006 are urged to submit their voter registration and/or absentee ballot requests without delay. Use the Federal Post Card Application, available on-line from the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) website at http://www.fvap.gov <http://www.fvap.gov/> . Each state has its own regulations and deadlines for registering and requesting absentee ballots. Your state may require receipt of your request as early as 30 days before the election. Check the FVAP website for guidance. Many states now allow overseas voters to fax in their registration and absentee ballot requests. Some states will fax out blank ballots to overseas voters, and a smaller number of states allow overseas voters to fax back the voted ballot. A few states allow the use of e-mail. See your state's rules for use of fax or e-mail at http://www.fvap.gov/ivas/fvap_state_menu.html. Some states will begin mailing out absentee ballots to overseas voters by the third week in September. Voters should pay careful attention to their state's ballot receipt deadlines, and must comply with any post-marking, witnessing or notarization requirements. Overseas voters who are required to mail in their voted ballot should plan to allow up to three weeks for delivery via U.S. diplomatic pouch or international mail. Some express mail companies may offer special rates or services for U.S. overseas voters. Voters who fail to receive a ballot from their local election officials may be eligible to use a federal emergency write-in ballot. The federal write-in absentee ballot, or FWAB, is available on-line from the FVAP website. However, most states will allow you to use it only if your initial ballot request reaches local officials by October 7, 2006 (30 days before the election). For additional resources about absentee voting, including links to non-partisan sources of information, see the U.S. Department of State website at http://www.travel.state.gov/law/info/info_2964.html * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * To subscribe or unsubscribe to this list, go to: < http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/embassy/acsemaillist.htm > The U.S. Embassy Consular Section is located at 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand (Nearest BTS Skytrain station: Phloen Chit) American Citizen Services Unit Window Hours: Monday - Friday, 7:30 - 11 AM and 1 - 2 PM Note: The ACS unit is CLOSED on the last Friday of every month. Tel: +66-2-205-4049 Fax: +66-2-205-4103 E-mail: acsbkk@state.gov < mailto:acsbkk@state.gov >

Another way is to simply go to individual schools and ask if they need a native English speaking teacher. Many do and they will help you through the paperwork and obtaining a work permit. Most schools offer a salary of between 20,000 to 25,000 baht per month. They will require quite a bit of paperwork and now, in the aftermath of the John Michael Karr affair, the standards are far more stingent than ever before. It is my understanding that they will require police reports, college transcripts, proof of prior teaching experience, a letter of recommendation from the school at which one was previously employed, etc, and it all must be verifiable.

If you are traveling to or from Thailand, via Japan or Korea, between now and about September 20, travel advisories have been issued due to Typhoon Shanshan. That same typhoon has been the major factor causing the torrential rains you have been reading about (or experiencing) in Pattaya and the rest of Thailand. BANGKOK, Sept 16 (TNA) Travelers flying to Japan and Korea during the next couple of days are warned to check weather conditions before their departures as Typhoon Shanshan is approaching the two East Asian nations, while Thailand should brace for more downpours, with torrential rain forecast in some areas. The Meteorological Department warned here on Saturday that Typhoon Shanshan is moving toward Japan's main island and the Korean Peninsula, from China and Taiwan. Travelers should, therefore, beware of the new typhoon and check updated weather conditions prior to their departures to either of the two countries. Meanwhile, the weather bureau said that all parts of Thailand--the North, the Northeast, the East, the central region and the South--would be influenced by a low pressure ridge covering the country's lower northern, northeastern and upper central regions, as well as the southwest monsoon in the southern Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand over the next few days. These will cause torrential rain in some areas, and high waves at sea. Residents should prepare for further rainfalls, including possible floods and landslides, while trawlers should be more careful at sea. (TNA)--E002

You're right about the banking. I know plenty of stories about a "farang" being told one thing in one bank and being told something entirely different in another branch of the same bank. I've had that happen to me too. In my case, I wanted to open an account at one particular bank. I was told that a foreigner cannot open an account there without holding a work permit. I went to another branch of the same bank and was told the same thing. I went to a third branch and walked out fifteen minutes later with a new bank account, ATM card, and online banking. The branch manager wanted to know which branches were telling me that a foreigner can't open an account without a work permit. He said he was going to inform the main offices in Bangkok about that. I loved what he said about what I was told. He used an American phrase and it came out as, "They tell you bool-sheet."

Well, PapaDavid, I'm sorry you had so much trouble obtaining the visa. How much trouble there is in obtaining a visa seems to depend on where you are trying to get it. Since I lived in south Florida, I always obtained my visa from the Miami consulate. I never had any trouble at all. I never even had to put in a personal appearance. All I ever had to do was download the application form, fill it out, and send it in by mail along with my passport, photos, and a money order for US $50. My passport was always returned to me by mail within a week. Meanwhile, everyone else in the world who applies for the same visa either has an easy time of it or a terrible time of it, and yet it's the same visa. So, this time I can agree with you about the difficulties of obtaining it. I also agree with you about Thailand's dependence upon tourism, and yet they seem to do everything they can think of to alienate tourists . . . the 1:00 AM bar closings are a perfect example. However, I think the reasoning that prompted the rule change is valid. There are a great many people taking advantage of the current rules and circumventing Thailand's ability to collect fees taxes from them, along with keeping track of where they are. I agree with the reasoning for the rule change, but I don't agree with the methods they have come up with to equitably put it in place. As I said above, this simply hasn't been thought through and it doesn't seem as if all the implications have been intelligently taken into consideration.

Vegetarian steak? I don't think so. And where are you getting the idea that Buddhists don't eat steak? That's almost as nonsensical as continually trying to pass yourself off as two people.

That is an excellent point. As far as I can tell, a great many new laws and regulations are written and imposed primarily on the whim or "bright idea" of very few people without being completely thought through first. I very rarely hear anything about hearings or solicitation of ideas from the public before the announcement of new rules. Most of the time it seems that they just do it without even an attempt to consider all the ramifications. Many times, after regulations are imposed, public protest follows and the whole thing ends up changing. There are so many examples, the most recent of which was the taxi issue at Suvarnabhumi International Airport. As soon as they realized that forcing people to have to take shuttle buses to catch a taxi would be a big mistake, the rules changed. I don't recall reading about any hearings prior to the announcement that people would have to take shuttle buses to catch a taxi. If there had been hearings as to how things would run at the airport, I doubt that such a regulation would ever have been in the picture at all. I have a feeling that problems with the new 30-day rule, such as the one you brought up, were never considered. If the regulation goes through as the article states, then I don't think it will be very long before the powers-that-be end up saying, "Whoops! Now we have to make some changes."

Note from GB: We have had a couple of threads already discussing what is about to take place regarding visa runs. The crackdown will apply only to those who come to Thailand under the 30-day 'visa-free' regulations. It does not apply to those holding visas. I believe this article from THE NATION merits a new thread and will make the whole thing clear: _____ Big Impact Expected from Tougher Visa-Free Entry Rules Published on September 16, 2006 The days of foreign visitors doing endless "border runs" in order to live - and often work - in Thailand are over, the Immigration Police announced yesterday. The Kingdom will tighten its immigration rules for tourists who exploit visa-free regulations, starting from the end of the month. The move will affect tens of thousands of visitors from 41 countries who have been allowed to stay in Thailand for up to 30 days without a visa - often for many months or years. The 41 visa-exempt countries include Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the United States. Tourists have been able to extend their stay by travelling to neighboring countries - Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos and Burma - and returning with a further 30-day entry stamp. But new rules have been issued because an increasing number of tourists have stayed for extended periods - without paying proper amounts of tax. This has also helped them avoid close scrutiny by authorities here and in their homeland. (They don't have to report their address, obtain documents from their embassy, or anything else . . . GB) "We are trying to make it more difficult for bad people to get in," Immigration Police chief Lt General Suwat Thamrongsrisakul said at a press conference yesterday. "I don't think it's going to hurt good people because they can apply for a tourist visa (in their homeland)," he said. The move is expected to have a big impact on the foreign community and some sectors such as teaching and diving, plus places where there are many bars run by foreigners, such as Pattaya and Chiang Mai. From October 1, tourists from the 41 visa-exempt countries may still enter Thailand without visas and stay for up to 30 days, but they will only be able to extend their stay here two times - that is, for a maximum of 90 days. And tourists who stay for 90 days must leave the Kingdom for at least 90 days before being permitted to re-enter Thailand. Suwat denied the crackdown was related to the arrest in Bangkok last month of John Mark Karr, the American teacher who was thought to have been involved in the high-profile JonBenet Ramsey murder case. He said there were many reasons that extended back for a long period. Suwat conceded the move may cause some problems, but said "maybe we have to do something to make it better (later)". However, if foreigners wanted to work here they should get a work visa, he said. A source added: "Under the current rules, people from these countries can stay in Thailand for as long as they want. Some even stay here for one year. Many work illegally in Thailand." Instead of sightseeing, these tourists have taken advantage of the visa exemption by getting married to Thai women "for reasons other than love", and have conducted business here. Many of them have not paid tax. The immigration move is a hot topic among foreign residents, and comes at a time when many are fearful about possible changes in regard to firms with local nominees. Hundreds of comments were logged on local Web boards within hours of the Immigration Department press conference. Some said foreigners should abandon Thailand for neighboring countries, while others predicted it might force school bosses to pay foreign teachers a proper wage or cause a boom in men wanting to marry Thai women. Most believed the move could cost Thailand a small fortune. Meanwhile, plans are under way to simplify the process for foreign teachers to work here as the current system requires 13 separate steps, which take many months to complete. Heads of international schools have been meeting with the Immigration Department to try to simplify the process. Thailand recently simplified the process for foreigners who want to become permanent residents. The amount of paperwork required has been slashed and the time involved reportedly cut from more than a year to about four months. Last year Thailand tightened its immigration rules for South Asian tourists, who were allowed to apply for visas on arrival that permitted them to stay for 30 days. Many of them took advantage by travelling to neighbouring countries and returning to get a new visa on arrival at the airport. Under the new rules, they are allowed to obtain a visa on arrival only twice from neighbouring countries. They are then required to return to their country of origin to obtain an entry visa to Thailand. Jim Pollard The Nation

Yesterday I was in the immigration office with a friend. He had been ill and had a statement from his Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital doctor. He had actually already over-stayed by a day or two, but had been too ill to go to the immigration office. He produced the statement and was granted the 15-day extension. They did not fine him for over-staying and did not place an over-stay stamp in his passport.

It isn't limited to Pattaya. Much of central and north Thailand is experiencing torrential rains and severe flooding. That happened last year too, while the Pattaya area was going through one of the worst droughts in recent history. A drought is not exactly Thailand's problem at the moment. I still receive occasional E-mails asking if Pattaya has enough water. Trust me . . . Pattaya has plenty of water! _____ PHITSANULOK, Sept 15 (TNA) Flooding troubled wide areas of the northern provinces of Phitsanulok and Phichit Friday while thick morning fog blanketed the far northern province of Chiang Rai. The water level of the Yom River in Phitsanulok has continuously increased, causing flooding in 58 villages in Bang Rakam district. About 20 schools were forced to close. Chumsaengsongkram sub-district has been cut off from the outside world. A shortage of food and drinking water occurred as flood caused difficulty in transporting necessary supplies to affected villages. There was a report that Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan would visit flood prone areas in the province Friday to find a solution to the flood problem. In nearby province of Phichit, the increased water in the Yom River has triggered flood in five low-lying sub-districts, affecting about 100 homes. Meanwhile, in the far northern province of Chiang Rai, thick morning fog caused poor visibility. The Meteorological Department said that a dense fog formed during the seasonal climatic transition from the rainy season to winter. It warned people to be careful in travelling. (TNA)-E004 I like the statement, "It warned people to be careful in travelling." Good tip . . . .

I'm very glad to see that the police intend to 'clean up' Beach Road. Tourists are too often harrassed by prostitutes, thieves, pickpockets, gangs, etc. I am, however, skeptical. This is not exactly the first time we've heard all about how the Beach Road situation is going to be cleaned up. The usual thing that occurs is all of the problems really are cleaned up. The trouble is, it never seems to take long for the momentum to subside and everything to return to its former state. We'll see what happens this time and how long it lasts. The following appears in the PATTAYA CITY NEWS: _____ Tourist Police to Provide Increased Security for Pattaya Beach Khun Ronagit, Deputy Mayor of Pattaya chaired this further meeting regarding safety for tourists on Pattaya Beach, following recent high profile cases of violence against foreigners and further problems with prostitutes who base themselves on Pattaya Beach around the clock. Police Captain Chirawat from Pattaya

Thank you for this absolutely excellent post. My response to what you wrote is based on my own experiences, my own opinions, and what I have heard from others. Others are likely to disagree with what I am about to write if their own experiences have been different. What you wrote is typical of what to expect on a visit to a boy's home. That includes the "farang" being expected to pay for everything and everybody. My understanding of Thai culture is that whoever has the most money, in family situations, is expected to pay when going out to restaurants and entertainment venues. If there is going to be a party, and there probably will be, then the "farang" is expected to foot the bill for that too, despite the fact that the party is in 'your honor.' The solution to this sort of problem is to have a talk with the boy in advance of the trip. Make it clear to him what you are willing to do and what you are not willing to do and how much you are willing to spend. For example, if mention is made of a party, then give the boy the money to pay for it in advance and let him know that is the limit. Make sure he understands that if the cost goes beyond what you give him, you won't pay for the additional cost. Be certain he understands you will not deviate from that. Often, during a party, then next thing you know is the boy comes to you and says something like, "Whisky finish already. You can give me 1000 baht for buy more?" When it comes to going to dinners and such, it is typical for family members and friends to invite themselves along and they expect you to foot the bill. Again, talk with the boy in advance and let him know that if anybody wants to come along for anything you wish to do, then you expect the boy to talk to you about it first, and make sure he understands that he is to talk with you in private, without the "other participants" being present. Often, you are asked if someone can go too and that person, or persons, is right there in front of you, making it very difficult to say no. Let him know you don't want to be surprised by five or six people, or more, going along when you had no expectation of that and you're the one stuck with whatever bill amount they run up. Don't forget, having a "farang" boyfriend often brings with it great status for the boy, especially if he comes from a poor family. In many cases, that's why he sought out a "farang" in the first place. Being able to have friends and family go along, with you footing the bill, enhances his status. That wouldn't be a problem so much except that it often results in the family starting to look upon you as their unlimited ATM. You become the goose laying their golden egg. I advise making it clear in advance what your limitations are and that you will not tolerate going beyond your limitations or being put on the spot. If you can't speak much Thai, then communication can certainly be a problem, but finding ways to communicate can be half the fun. I'm glad that his family members made the effort. I hear a lot of stories from "farang" who visit the boy's home and the only communication is a few smiles from the family members or being ignored completely. Meanwhile, the "farang" has absolutely no idea what's going on. That is certainly not anybody's fault, but it can get very old very quickly. There is a solution to that too. Take along a good Thai phrase book. In my opinion, the best one of all is titled Essential Thai, by James Higbie. Bookazine carries it, or you can probably order it in advance from places like Amazon.com or another online book supplier. The ISBN number is 974-202-035-3. You might also want to bring along a few books of your own. It is very unlikely that the family will have cable TV, so a few books might help you to keep from going nuts when there is absolutely nothing to do and nobody you can talk with. Few Thai homes have screens on the windows, even the more well to do homes. If the boy comes from a poor family, then hot water is not likely. You can buy them an on-demand water heater inexpensively, assuming they even have plumbing at all. Many of the poorer Thai homes don't. You can even do something simple, such as buying a new plastic trash can, having them heat water in pots, and fill the trash can with it. Now you can use a bowl or something to shower and shave comfortably. Of course, some "farang" enjoy the primitive life for a time. For some people visiting the family, but staying in a hotel might be the better option. Being able to visit the boyfriend's hometown and family can be the highlight of your trip. It can also be absolute hell. It all depends on being adaptable, being flexible, and anticipating as much as you can. Another suggestion is to bring some gifts for the family. Practical gifts seem to be appreciated more than anything else. Have the boy help you decide what to give. You might be surprised. The first time I visited my boyfriend's family he wanted to give them laundry detergent and a six-pack of fish sauce! If you have had an enjoyable experience, it doesn't hurt a thing to slip the family (a poor family) a few thousand baht when you are going to leave. If it's a more well-to-do family, doing something like going to their Buddhist temple and giving a donation to the temple is very much appreciated. I also have a couple of concerns about what you wrote. You said that a former "farang" boyfriend bought the house. You also said there is a car, so I'm assuming that also came from the "farang." My first question is did the house and car come from the same "farang?" I'm concerned that this boy may be going through "farang" until the well runs dry and then moves on to the next one. What became of the first "farang"? What ended the relationship? It is not usual for someone to buy a house and a car for a boy, furnish the house with western style plumbing and items, and then decide to walk away from the relationship. It seems as if the first "farang" intended to be a part of this boy's life for quite some time. What happened? I am worried for your sake about that. I hope you are not being conned. I've seen it happen, unfortunately, many times.

Does it necessarily have to be in the gay area? Don't forget, most of the action occurs at night. What will you be doing with your days? If you can't find something suitable in your price range, it might be more economical for you to stay somewhere else and take the Metro or Sky Train, even a taxi, to the gay area at night. One alternative could be the Embassy Hotel in Saphan Kwai. That hotel is also in the heart of a second gay area and is a 20 minute Sky Train ride to the Suriwong-Patpong gay area. They charge 700 baht per night. If you decide to stay there you probably won't even need advance reservations, but here's their number: 02-279-2641. To get there, just tell the taxi driver, "Prah-dee-PAHT soi yee-sip." If you want a copy of their business card, which does have taxi instructions written in Thai, just send me an E-mail at gaybutton@gmail.com and I'll be glad to send it to you via an E-mail attachment. Obviously there will be additional transportation costs if you do decide to stay elsewhere and use the Sky Train, but you can buy one-day passes for 100 baht at any Sky Train station and you have unlimited use of the Sky Train until midnight. Unless you plan on staying in your immediate area during the day, there will be transportation costs anyway, so that's an alternative for you to consider.

This part of the embassy statement is incorrect. Apparently they released their statement before the change was made that will allow taxis at the main terminal after all.

It turns out I was wrong about the lunches. They will be open for lunch, but I just found out it will be another week before they begin opening for lunch.

Does that mean our rendezvous has been called off?

Among the issues this legislation would cover, if passed, is that alcohol sales to anyone under the age of 25 would be banned. Also, alcohol promotion would be prohibited in stores that are open more than 16 hours per day, meaning that most convenience stores would see their alcohol sales dramatically drop. Where I come from, the response to that idea would be 'Yeah, right.' Sometimes I wonder whether some of the laws and regulations in Thailand have actually been properly studied or at least thought through. I fail to see how effectively banning alcohol promotions in 24-hour convenience stores will solve anything since Thailand already regulates the hours during which alcohol can be sold at any store. What is that supposed to accomplish? People who want to buy alcohol have already adapted to buying their liquor during legal sales hours. Stay open only part of the day and you can have all the alcohol promotions you want. Stay open all day and you can't have any alcohol promotions at all. Do you follow the logic of that? I don't. I also don't understand what is meant by the idea of banning alcohol sales to anyone under the age of 25. It is legal for Thais to patronize bars at age 21. I suppose it would mean that someone between the ages of 21 through 24 could legally patronize a bar, but will have to stick to soft drinks, orange juice, or a glass of water. Has it occurred to anyone to start enforcing laws that already exist? To me, that would make much more sense than simply creating new laws, difficult if not impossible to enforce, when many existing laws regarding alcohol are either selectively enforced or not enforced at all. To me, this sort of legislation is right up there with the 90 decibel limitation on music in bars. Has anyone been in any bars lately that actually comply with that law? Has anyone seen any police officers making bars turn down the volume? They did for about a month when that law first came into existence. After that, the volume was turned up full blast again in most bars and stayed that way. Somehow, I think the same sort of thing will happen if the alcohol law is passed as is. I don't get it. The following appears in THE NATION: _____ ALCOHOL REFORM Industry Fears the Worst from New Law Changes 'Threaten Businesses, Jobs - Won't Solve Nation's Drinking Problem' The new law aimed at controlling alcohol consumption will make people drink more and destroy brewers and related businesses, people in various associated industries said yesterday. Under the Alcohol Consumption Control bill, advertising, all forms of sales promotion activities, and the sale of alcohol to anyone under 25 would be banned. Brewers said the law would turn their future in the international market into nothing more than a pipe dream, while advertisers said the law would affect sponsorship of social activities. Anti-alcohol activists, however, insisted that a total ban on ads was needed for the sake of society. Boonrawd Trading Co's marketing manager Chatchai Wiratyosin said the total ban on advertising could lead to heavy price-cutting campaigns by new and existing alcohol players which would stimulate greater consumption. This would then lead to the major players having a monopoly in the market, as only the major players would survive a price war, he said. "It seems to be good for a big player like us, but in fact it is dangerous. We would face difficulties selling brands internationally due to a lack of domestic marketing support," Chatchai said. He said many big alcohol companies were now focusing on international markets as domestic sales growth had flattened out as a result of previous measures and laws aimed at controlling consumption. Chatchai said the company had no problem with the increase in minimum drinking age or the restriction of sales channels. "We have tried to point out the effects to the Public Health Ministry, which is the lawmaker, many times but our concerns have always been ignored," he said. However, Boonrawd Trading would send representatives to attend the public hearing on the 20th of this month to repeat its concerns, he said. Chaipranin Visudhipol, president of the Advertising Association of Thailand and TBWA (Thailand) managing director, said if the objective of the law was to make the nation drink less, a total ban on advertising would not help. "It can be seen that lao khao [white liquor] is the top-seller without any advertising," he said. "It is also the main kind of alcohol consumed by drivers who have road accidents." Besides affecting the Bt1-billion advertising budget of alcohol companies each year, the new bill will have a great effect on many useful activities sponsored by alcohol companies, such as sports, Chaipranin said. Chaipranin said the current measures to restrict alcohol ads were sufficient. Only social advertising is allowed for all kinds of alcoholic drinks now and the ads have to be aired after 10pm, he said. However, Songkran Takchokedee of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation's Stop Drinking Network insisted advertising caused an increase in new drinkers, especially youths. Despite social ads, the advertisers used tricks to prompt sales via the ads by using gaps in the law, he said. "Social advertising is more hazardous because it makes youths have a positive feeling towards drinking and the alcohol companies," he said. According to research, it is clearly seen that every dollar spent on adverting generates a significant increase in new drinkers, Songkran said. "Alcohol is more dangerous than tobacco, because while tobacco can only damage health, alcohol damages society and creates accidents and crime. So, it's unreasonable to forbid tobacco ads but allow them for alcohol," he said. Recently, CP Seven Eleven Co pledged that the clause to ban alcohol promotions in shops that open more than 16 hours a day would severely affect its more than 3,000 branches that are open 24 hours. Samarn Futrakul, from the Bureau of Non-Communicable Diseases, which oversees the drafting of the law, said enforcement of the bill would need time because it required approval from Parliament. All sections of the bill could be revised after the hearing, Samarn said. Chatrarat Kaewmorakot The Nation