Gaybutton

Look at the bright side. Maybe the "off" fees will be less expensive . . .

BANGKOK, July 12 (TNA) Interior Minister Kongsak Wanthana dismissed rumors of a plot to involving foreign assassins alleged to have been hired to kill Thailand's caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, saying such hearsay only serves to sow fear and confusion among the public. Though the interior minister categorically rejected the rumored plot to assassinate the embattled Mr. Thaksin, a plot which purportedly would be carried out by unidentified foreign gunmen, Air Chief Marshal Kongsak assured the public Wednesday that security officials are remaining diligent, nonetheless. Security officials must pay careful attention to any circumstances which is rumored or otherwise comes to light, he stated. No government can be careless when rumors of such a sensitive nature affecting the highest levels of the state are being passed around by word of mouth. For that reason, Interior Ministry security officials will work harder on such rumored intelligence. The interior minister declined to comment if the so-called assassination attempt might have been connected with Mr. Thaksin's earlier remarks made about a certain "charismatic figure who remains beyond the reach of the Constitution." Meanwhile, Marshal Kongsak played down concerns that a gathering of members of the Dharma Gaya religious sect, scheduled early next week at its temple in Pathum Thani province, had been designed to thwart a massive gathering of the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy set for Friday in the capital. Neither had the Dharma Gaya gathering been designed to show massive support for the embattled prime minister as alleged, Marshal Kongsak said. Nonetheless, a hundred thousand people are expected to show up at the temple next Monday. According to the interior minister, the Dharma Gaya members rally was only meant to celebrate His Majesty the King's 60th anniversary of his accession to the throne. (TNA)-E008

CHIANG MAI, July 13 (TNA) A minor earthquake measuring 3.0 on the Ritcher Scale was reported in Thailand's northern resort province of Chiang Mai Thursday morning, but there have been no reports of any damage or casualties. The quake hit Chiang Mai's Hang Dong District at 07:28 a.m., according to the Meteorological Department. The epicentre of the northern quake has yet been indicated. Initially, there have also been no reports of any damage or casualties from the tremor. (TNA)--E002

If you are flying from Bangkok, then yes, Air Asia is less expensive. If you are leaving from Pattaya, I advise taking Bangkok Air. You can depart from U-Tapao. Asia Air does not service U-Tapao. It does cost about 1000 baht more on Bangkok Air from U-Tapao, but U-Tapao is only about a 35 minute ride from Pattaya and the airport is very small. No waiting in lines and much more convenient for everything. It actually works out cheaper if you are leaving from Pattaya. By the time you pay to go to Bangkok and return from Bangkok, along with the two hour ride it takes to and from Bangkok, it's probably less expensive and much more convenient and hassle free.

It does seem discriminatory, especially considering the fact that the girlie bars are allowed to open much earlier in the day than the gay go-go bars are. Today's PATTAYA CITY NEWS has an interesting article: _____ Beer Bars around Pattaya Told to Smarten-Up and Cover-Up by Pattaya City Hall At Pattaya City Hall, Khun Wootisuk, Deputy Mayor of Pattaya assembled a selected group of Beer Bar Owners to discuss plans to assist the city in cleaning-up its image as local government strive to change the image of Pattaya in an attempt to transform it into a family resort. It was mentioned that the local government are not happy with the image portrayed by open air beer bars and would like the bar owners to tell employees to cover-up and use polite language when conversing with tourists. All too often, Pattaya is mentioned by others as a place where foreigners come for sex and it is this that the local government would like to change, however they do acknowledge the presence of the industry but would like these changes to Beer Bar operation which is the visible aspect of Pattaya

Something that has always struck me as strange, within Christian religions, is the term "God fearing." I've always taken that to mean that Christians attend church services and pray, not necessarily out of full belief and devotion, but out of fear as to what they have been taught will happen if they don't. Personally, I can't help but feel that today there is a significant percentage of Christians who don't truly believe what religious educators try to teach, but simply go through the motions because it is the thing to do. Living in Thailand I have become convinced that the vast majority of Buddhist Thais really do absolutely believe the teachings of Buddhism. Whether the studies that indicate the percentage of Thai teens that regularly attend religious services is accurate or not, as far as I know Buddhists have never killed, tortured, or otherwise terrorized people in the name of religion, while Christians and Muslims have done so throughout history and it still goes on today. I have always enjoyed George Carlin's comments about Christianity: "Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man who lives in the sky who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever 'til the end of time! . . . . . . . . . But He loves you."

Kao Pansa, the three month period of Buddhist Lent, began today, July 11. As is almost always the case during a religious holiday, the gay bars were all closed this evening. My boyfriend and I were in the Sunee Plaza area, in our car, and we were able to drive right through Sunee Plaza at about 8:45 PM. All the bars were dark and the street was nearly empty, except for a few wandering boys trolling for "farang" that might not have been aware that the bars would all be closed today. Now, in keeping with "What's wrong with this picture?", we were just passing through the area because we dropped off one of his friends at his apartment, very close to Sunee Plaza. We then were going out to dinner in North Patttaya. We drove up Second Road. Many of you are aware of all the girlie bars in North Pattaya. Many were also closed, but plenty of them were wide open and filled with customers, as usual. Now, maybe I'm wrong, but I was under the impression the bars close because the police go around a night or two before and instruct the bars to remain closed on certain occasions. Are these bar closings restricted only to the gay bars? As far as I could tell, all the gay bars were closed throughout Pattaya. I'm wondering why the gay bars have to close, but the girlie bars are allowed to remain open. There were too many of them open for it to be chalked up to a few bars defying police orders. We saw no police officers trying to get the open girlie bars to close. As a matter of fact, we saw no police officers at all. We didn't even see any police officers stopping helmetless motorcycle drivers. Why is that?

BANGKOK, (TNA) Computer users in Thailand and other Asian countries have been warned of 26 computer virus strains spreading across the region via electronic mails (e-mails), according to a leading computer software manufacturer. As internet and viruses know no national boundaries, the warning applies to any country in the world. The 26 computer virus strains are worms in the RONTKBR.GEN family, which were first identified last year but have been spreading in wider areas across the region, according to manufacturer Trend Micro Incorporated, a leading world provider of comprehensive antivirus, Internet content security, and outbreak management software and services. The worms are spreading through "no subject" e-mails, and had reportedly destroyed nearly 16,000 computers so far, the company warned in a statement released to the local press on Sunday. The company's experts concede it is hard to contain the worms as their attack begins once the "no subject" e-mails are temptingly opened and they immediately modify host files which prevent any anti-virus function. The Silicon Valley (California)-based company is represented in Thailand by Trend Micro (Thailand). Trend Micro said Thailand is now among the top ten Asian economies where the worms are mostly spreading and destroying local computer systems. The other Asian economies include China, Taiwan and Japan; while the problem in neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia is increasing remarkably, according to the company. (TNA)-E002

In my case it never was . . .

I take what I see in the mirror into consideration before I cast too much judgment on the looks of the boys. Sometimes it's hard for me to believe any of these boys would be interested in me, money or not. What can I say? A 10 is still in the eye of the beholder, but I do concede that I too see a lot less of them lately. Still, I can't help but think about something that was said in "Fiddler on the Roof," when the matchmaker was going to set up an ugly man with a half-blind girl. The matchmaker said, "The way she sees and the way he looks, it's a perfect match."

Hedda, I'm not sure what you mean by "quality." I can certainly agree with what you say about quantity. There are fewer bars today than there were ten years ago. Also, there are many more restrictions on bars today than there were ten years ago. There are also a lot less "farang" customers. That probably accounts for the lesser number of boys. But when you say "quality," I'm assuming you are talking about physical attractiveness. If I am correct about that, isn't that in the eye of the beholder? I am well aware that the majority of gay men go for the hunky, muscle boy types. I know I am in the minority, but that type is just about the least attractive to me. As a matter of fact, for me, that type is a major turn-off. For me, the boy-next-door type is far more attractive and there are plenty of those types around. What I have observed is that a great many more boys in Pattaya are the lady-boy type; many more than there were ten years ago. For whatever reason, that seems to be a big thing among the boys these days. I don't have a clue as to why, but that's what I'm seeing. It ranges from the slightly feminine type to the flaming, over-feminine, types that have had breast implants or are taking female hormones. Is it that sort of thing you mean by "quality?"

Do you think Thailand is about to be hit with an economic tsunami? I have been predicting a baht crash for the better part of a year-and-a-half now. Despite the fact that precisely the opposite seems to be occurring, I have a feeling this will be short-lived and something dramatic is likely to happen. We'll see. For the record, the exchange rate closed today at 37.63 baht to the US dollar.

I don't think Pattaya has lost its allure at all. I have learned that when living here permanently you become used to what you once saw as awesome and fascinating, to the point you begin to take things, including the boys, for granted. I think it all depends on your point of view and how long you are able to stay here. There is a big difference between being here for only a couple of weeks per year and living here permanently. I remember, when I was only able to be here for short periods of time. When I would see a boy I liked if he was with another "farang" I was disappointed. Now, I couldn't care less. I know that the "farang" will soon go home and the boy will be available. If not, so what? There are plenty more where he came from. Back then, I would feel as though I missed something if I wasn't in the bars every night. Now I can hardly remember the last time I even bothered going to the bars. For me, the bars have become 'same old, same old.' I have plenty of other things I'd rather do and, believe me, when you do the same thing night after night, knowing you can go any time, it becomes dull. For me, the only difference between one bar and the next is which heads are on top of which bodies. Over time, owing to the sheer availability of boys, I tend to be far more selective than I was in the past. Boys I once would have done about anything to get are now ho-hum to me. I hardly even give them a second glance anymore. I suppose that's because I know I don't have to. It also helps living with my boyfriend. To me, he is more attractive than any other boys I have seen anyhow, and he is far better at what I like than any other boy I have ever met. So, what's the point of variety when you are perfectly satisfied with what you already have? While it's true that he can be plenty of trouble, just like any of these boys can be, I still would much rather be with him than without him. I much prefer to just stay at home, doing something like watching a movie together. Going to a bar, watching boys just standing there doing nothing more than halfheartedly moving a knee back and forth, ordering drinks that are not any good and I don't really want in the first place, listening to the usual "What you name?" "Where you come from?" "how long you stay in Pattaya?" along with the mama-san pointing toward the boys as if my eyes don't work well enough to see for myself, with the music blaring so loudly that my ears are pounding long after leaving the bar is all no longer my idea of a good time. The bars are simply not my idea of a big thrill anymore, although I do enjoy going out to the bars once in a while. Maybe once or twice per month. But every day? Forget it. I've heard more than one "farang" say, "The only reason to live here is for the sex." I disagree with that. I think that's quite a narrow minded point of view. Before moving here, I really did think I was going to want to be in the bars or otherwise among the boys all the time. But now, finding boys no longer requires the bars. There are plenty on the beaches, and plenty just about everywhere else I go. I have had boys come on to me virtually everywhere, ranging from waiters in restaurants to boys at gas stations. I know I could have any one of them any time I want. That very fact is part of what still makes Pattaya a gay paradise. I can literally pick and choose which boys I want. Try that back in the USA. When I first started coming to Thailand, of course my main interest was the boys. Now, over time, my reasons for wanting to remain here are different. I still like the availability of boys, but I also like the affordability. I couldn't possibly have afforded to retire where I came from, but here it's not a problem. While I used to go to the beach primarily because I enjoyed looking at all the boys, now I go because I enjoy being with my friends even more than looking at the boys. Of course, if a boy who is very much my type wanders by, he definitely gets my full attention. I also like being here because I like the Thai people. I like the lifestyle. I like the challenges of dealing with day-to-day life without being fluent in the language. I enjoy trying to figure out "Thai logic" and just about all the other seemingly incomprehensible modes of thinking. I like the food and the enormous variety of fabulous restaurants at such affordable prices. I am much happier here than I ever was back in Florida. There is one more reason, one that supercedes all the rest. I like being here because for the first time in my life I am able to be who I am and what I am without fear of living with the gay intolerance that still persists in the USA. All of my life, in the USA, I had to live in the closet. Now that I can live out of the closet here in Thailand, I certainly have no desire to return to the USA and step right back into the closet again.

I agree with Hedda, that it is a mistake to publish too much about your private affairs, none of which is anyone's business but your own. I do, however, think that it is helpful to others to know the gist of what happened so that they, especially if they are newbies, can see the kinds of things that can and do happen here and perhaps avoid falling into a similar trap. One thing that has kind of stuck with me since reading it in your first post is that you received E-mail from people who want to take these boys "off" themselves. I find that truly remarkable. You just let everyone know that these boys turned out to be liars, cheaters, and drug users, who also didn't show even the remotest gratitude even when you gave them so much at the end after their deplorable behavior. So, these idiots want to "off" these very same boys? Are they kidding? That just boggles my mind. I'm beginning to believe that the clich

I don't know what it is about Center Condo, but an awful lot of "farang" take a dive from there. I have a feeling if you sit outside on the balcony often enough, sooner or later someone will come flying by. Here's the latest "Flying Farang," as appears in the PATTAYA CITY NEWS: _________ Belgium National Jumps to his Death from Center Condo. This case comes from the Center Condo Complex located just off the South Pattaya Road next to the Chaimongkon Temple. Police Major Pongsak from Pattaya Police Station was sent to the location at 10.30pm on Tuesday Night after security staff at the complex reported the apparent suicide of a Belgium National. At the scene Police inspected the body of Mr. Frans Vilenick aged 39. It was clear that Mr. Vilenick had fallen from a high floor because of the state of the body. The incident happened at the rear of the complex and Police determined that the man lived in a 6th Floor condo for 10 years. His girlfriend, Khun Saowalak aged 39 mentioned that he was due to return to Belgium in the early hours of Wednesday Morning and a taxi had been booked to collect him from the complex at 10pm. 30 Minutes before the suicide he had been drinking with friends at a bar located in the complex and had mentioned that he must return to Belgium where he previously worked as a Fishermen because he had run out of money and could not continue to support himself here in Thailand. Police believe that moments after leaving the Bar he made his way to the 16th floor of the Complex and jumped to his death. Inside his trouser pocket was a suicide note which read:

Hedda, as in most cases, says it best. I agree with him. I also agree with all the posts that have thus far appeared here in response to your story. As you know, Gay Thailand, I am one of the people aware of the full story. There are aspects of it, in my opinion, that would be best kept private. Unfortunately, it isn't just boys such as these who cannot be trusted. There are just too many people who read and post on these boards who salivate, waiting for any opportunity to take an aspect of someone else's unfortunate experiences, and then post absolute nonsense as if it were fact. I think anyone who has been around these boards very long knows that I too have been a victim of that sort of posting more than once. I hope you won't let that happen to you. You have suffered enough. I do think, however, it is a positive thing for you to have purged your soul and told your story. I think it will open the eyes of many "farang" and be of enormous help to others who otherwise would have fallen into the same trap. I have a feeling the vast majority of "farang" who have spent much time in Thailand and became involved in relationships ended up in bitter disappointment at least once. I hear too many "farang" say something to the effect of, "Maybe a lot of the boys are like that, but not this boy." Famous last words. You were with five boys. The odds were stacked against you from the beginning. I do not wish to imply that all Thai boys fit into this sort of stereotype. Many do and many don't. Many are perfectly trustworty, honest and sincere and would no more involve themselves with drugs than you or I would. I can cite many examples of that. For those of you who knew 'David-in-Pattaya,' for one example; his boyfriend stuck with him and was absolutely devoted to him throughout his illness and took wonderful "beyond the call of duty" care of him until the day he died. The boy asked for and expected nothing in return. It was what he wished to do. There are many boys who are like that. The trick is finding them. To my mind, the way one has to handle it, especially at first, is to check up on every damned thing they are told by these boys. Over time, one can move toward one of the few things Ronald Reagan said with which I agree . . . "Trust, but verify." For me, I would have to be with a boy for at least two years before I could feel completely secure. I have learned that the best thing to do is simply get rid of the boy at the first sign of trouble. If that is something emotionally impossible for some to do, including me, then at least keep a strict eye on everything that is going on and don't be afraid to end the relationship if you become fed up enough with it. It truly is mind boggling to try to understand why so many of these boys end up killing the goose that is laying their golden egg for them. Many lie about things they never needed to lie about in the first place. All most "farang" ask, in return for their kindness, is the same as Gay Thailand asked of his boys. And yet they took the risk and threw it all away. It doesn't matter whether it makes sense to us or not. Enough boys behave in that manner that one has to be prepared for that possibility. The worst mistake "farang" make is looking at a money boy through rose-colored glasses. We've all heard our share of horror stories and happy ending stories. The truly sad thing is we seem to hear more horror stories than anything else.

Today, July 4, I did not check the opening exchange rate. As of 1:45 PM, Thailand time, the exchange rate is 37.76. If I remember correctly, that's about the weakest the dollar has been against the baht in years.

He has? Where?

I hope you'll change your mind and stick with us. Just because one person decided to post in such a negative manner and then actually try to justify it, is no reason for you to discontinue posting and asking questions. I guarantee you that one person's questions is what others want to know as well. Even the 'experts' who become bored with questions were once new to Thailand and new to the boards themselves, and didn't know anything more about it than you do. Sometimes they forget that. It isn't people with questions who should stop posting. It's the people who post flames who should stop posting, or at least change their negative, 'how dare you' attitude toward others. Unfortunately, your statement that you won't be back proves my point about how flame posts drive people away and make them afraid to ask questions. Again, I hope you do decide to stick with the board. If someone doesn't like your questions, tough luck.

For the past several weeks, the baht seemed to be weakening slightly and inching its way toward about 38.5 to the US dollar. Since Friday the baht has reversed the trend and is now getting stronger. This morning the exchange rate opened at 37.92 to the dollar and closed at 37.90. For many years the baht held steady at about 45 to the dollar, meaning you would receive 45000 baht if you exchanged US $1000. Now, if you exchange US $1000 you'll receive 37900 baht, a difference of 7100 baht. That is approximately a US $175 difference per US $1000 exchanged. I am not an economist, so I don't have any idea as to the cause of the current baht strengthening, but somehow I can't help but feel that lack of confidence in the US dollar has something to do with lack of confidence in the current occupant of the White House.

All of that is your opinion, one I do not share. You said, "garbage like this that does not deserve a response." If that is the case, then why did you respond? I'm sorry, but you are coming across as trying to be the person who gets to decide what is garbage and what is not. To me, any good faith questions deserve a response, even if it is your idea of a ridiculous question. Who appointed you judge and jury over what questions are and are not deserving of a response? You are assuming that he does not know the basic cost of living here. I don't make that assumption just because he asked for some grocery store prices. In my opinion, that's part of planning ahead. He did not say he has never been to a Thai grocery store. That is purely your own assumption. You also said, "hopefully it will get rid of those asking useless quiestions or questions easily answered via a qiuick google or archive search!" I do not share that hope. I think one of the functions of message boards ought to be answering just such questions. Maybe a google search didn't occur to him. If it occurred to you, then why couldn't you have simply posted a response that said something to the effect of ,"A Google search will provide you with the information you need," and left it at that, rather than to jump all over him and make him feel like an idiot? Can't you see that others may balk at posting totally legitimate questions, even questions you have decided are appropriate, for fear that they too will be attacked for it? I'm sorry, bkkguy. Most of the time I completely agree with your postings, but this is one time I think you're dead wrong.

It's another on the list of things I can't figure out about Thailand and the way things are done. My own street is a perfect example. About a year ago I woke up to the sound of heavy pounding and my whole house was vibrating and shaking. I thought we were having an earthquake. What was actually happening is that a piece of heavy machinery was breaking up each side of the street. There, of course, was no prior notification of this. They did this because they were going to install drainage ditches, similar to what you see along the 'yellow brick road.' The ditches were indeed installed. During the period of about three weeks when a four-foot wide trench, equally as deep, stood as a moat between the houses and the street, there was no provision whatsoever for getting out the door and into the street and vice-versa. All the residents had to create their own makeshift ramps or try to jump across. If a handicapped person lived on my street, he would have been trapped inside his home until the drainage ditch was in and street repairs were made. Maybe I should rephrase "street repairs." Almost nothing was done. The few repairs that were made were as shoddy as it gets. If you could see my street you would think an earthquake really had happened. It's been well over a year and the street condition steadily deteriorates. Nothing has been done. The Thai residents seem to take it all in stride. Nobody seems upset and these people will simply continue driving over the rubble until it becomes completely impassable. To this day, I still have no idea who authorized the installation of these drainage ditches. I don't know whether it was the city or what. I also don't know why it was done in the first place. My street is on an incline. We never had a flooding or drainage problem here at all, even in the most torrential rains. I would have thought that if installation of these ditches was important, so would be keeping the street in decent repair. Apparently not. Meanwhile, all the homes here are on septic tanks. We were told, five years ago, that the city was going to connect these homes to the sewer system. When the trenches for these ditches were being dug, that's what I thought was going on. To date, there is still no sign of these homes being connected to the sewer system. A lot of money was spent for these drainage ditches, needlessly in my opinion. Not one baht is spent on what these homes and streets really need. It's the same at Dongtan and the same where these terrible floods occurred. The rains never were all that torrential, certainly not enough so that large numbers of people's homes should have been severely damaged. It seems to me that the engineers who "planned" these modern marvels must have gotten their engineering degrees from Ed's College and Car Wash. Perhaps from the back of a matchbook cover. Nothing ever seems to be fully thought through. A close friend sums it up best, I think. "Thailand seems to be reactive about everything. There never seems to be anything proactive. On the rare occasions when proactive thinking does come into play, it doesn't work." It's not just engineering problems. It's just part of the usual poor planning. The 1:00 AM entertainment venue closing hours comes to mind. That was supposed to curb teenage crime and gang activity. Meanwhile, there is is more teenage crime and gang activity than ever before. It reminds me of Reagan's logic when he tried to justify a tax increase after promising a decrease. Remember? "We have provided a decrease by reducing the amount of the increase." Well, at least lack of logic isn't confined to just Thailand . . .

The following article makes it sound much worse than it has actually been, at least in Pattaya and the beach area. We have been getting rain, but it has been nothing at all like the torrential rains the article is talking about. The rains in Pattaya and the beach area have been more of an inconvenience than anything else, and I have not seen any flooding at all. I feel terribly sorry for people who have had their homes destroyed in other districts, but quite frankly I prefer the rain we've been experiencing in Pattaya lately to the terrible drought we were experiencing at this same time last year. _____ CHONBURI, July 2 (TNA) Torrential rains caused flash floods as high as two metres in some areas in this eastern seaside resort province on Sunday, inundating hundreds of houses and causing some damage. Rains are forecast to continue for two more days. Many villages in Chonburi's coastal Banglamung district were submerged Saturday night after heavy downpours brought flash floods in the areas. Some villagers said they were unprepared as floods hit the areas quickly and they never experienced such a large scale flood before. Reflecting the localised nature of the weather, some areas of the coast received no rainfall at all. Rescue workers rushed to help the flood victims with boats but relief efforts were hampered as a main road was cut due to two-metre high waters and some parts of the road were impassable. Water run-off in the eastern seaboard is complicated by several bands of superhighways and expressways, coupled with industrial zones and other development which has atered previous run-off channels. Nonetheless, the floods caused heavy damage to hundreds of homes and buildings, roads and other infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department issued its updated weather forcast, warning residents in the Eastern region, particularly in Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat provinces to brace for possible flash floods and water run-off on Sunday and Monday. Due to the influence of the Southwesterly monsoon which still covers the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, there will be heavy rains for two more days. Fishermen are warned to stay ashore or risk the danger of waves as high as three metres which are expected in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. Some other parts of the country are likely to face heavy rains--as much as 60-70 per cent of the kingdom. (TNA)-E001

I've never understood the need some people have to try to embarrass and chop apart others if they ask a question or post something some might consider to be "half baked." I suppose those who do post such flame messages are perfect all the time. I think such messages are unnecessary, uncalled for, and inappropriate whether they comply with the posting guidelines or not. All it accomplishes is to make others afraid to ask questions. He didn't ask anyone to go shopping for him, make notes for him, or anything else. He simply asked if anyone knows the prices of these items. Isn't that terrible? He also didn't say he hasn't been to a grocery store in the fifteen years he's been coming to Thailand. The only relevant prices would be today's prices anyway, unless one believes prices today are the same as they were fifteen years ago or even last year. I don't know all the prices and I don't intend to go to the grocery store and hunt down prices, but I do know some of the prices he requested: dozen eggs: ranges from approximately 30 to 40 baht cooking oil: depends on what kind of oil you prefer. The prices usually range betwen 32 to 70 baht bottle water: depends on the brand. I buy directly from a local bottling company for about 12 baht per six-pack kilo rice loaf bread: sliced white bread is about 20 baht. Other breads range from about 20 baht for a French bread to 80 baht for specialty breads. Soy Sauce hot sauce bar soap laundry detergent kilo pork: depends on what kind of cut you want. Most of what I see ranges from 30 to 50 baht per kilo I do not know, offhand, the prices of the items I left blank. Maybe if someone does know, he can simply post the answers instead of trying to make the guy feel like a damned fool.

I have intermittent problems. Sometimes everything goes through just fine and sometimes it doesn't. Before moving to Thailand I mailed some packages to myself from the USA. These were items I wanted, but didn't have room to carry in my luggage. I did not include anything that would have been a major loss if it didn't get here. I mailed the package two months before moving here and it arrived one month after I moved here. On the other hand, a friend sent a package for me nearly two years ago. It never arrived. Most of my mail from Thailand to the USA goes through, but that is also intermittent. Normally it takes one or two weeks for mail to arrive in the USA from Thailand. I sent a registered letter to the USA more than two weeks ago. It has not yet arrived. In other words, my advice is to go ahead and use Thai mail if the item being sent is not of significant importance. When it is something vital, I'll use FedEx.