Gaybutton

A good number of photos of the goings on are posted on the Gay Ting & Tong board: http://www.gaytingtong.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6675

I agree. Wi's and Cherry's are among my personal favorites. Wi's set menu is 475 baht, but it includes a glass of wine, and the wine is quite good (of course, that's my opinion, but I don't really know a damned thing about wine). The Wednesday night buffet at Cherry's does usually get quite crowded and noisy. It's quite popular. I recommend reservations, even during low season. The telephone number is 086 314 5819. The Friday night all-u-can-eat ribs night is gaining in popularity, but customer numbers are not nearly as high as on Wednesday's. My friends and I go quite often. Those ribs and that price can't be beat. Cherry's also does a lobster night on Mondays. It includes their salad bar, amuse bouche, and a starter that consists of two grilled rock lobsters and two grilled large prawns. The entree is Lobster Thermidor, and it is quite good and done properly. Dessert is your choice of fruit salad, banana split, or tiramisu. Coffee or tea is included. 450 baht. On any of those nights, if you prefer you can order from their regular menu.

Today is the second day of the three day Red-Shirt protest rally during which they hope to bring down the current Thai government. Yesterday was a much lighter turnout than was expected. Now we'll see what today brings: The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Red Rage Rising Jatuporn says clashes are unavoidable, Abhisit 'hopeful' for peaceful protests, UDD rural hordes head for the capital Published: 13/03/2010 The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) yesterday attracted fewer than expected numbers to what it called a "prelude" to its mass rally to bring down the government. Security forces said about 6,500 to 7,000 red shirts showed up at six locations across the capital yesterday. The red shirt supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra gathered to perform ceremonies to bless their cause and curse their enemies. The crowds dispersed after a few hours and were told to meet tomorrow at Sanam Luang. UDD leaders including Jatuporn Prompan, Veera Musikhapong, Weng Tojirakarn and Jaran Dithapichai, led the red shirts to several sites around the city, including the 11th Infantry Regiment, where the government's peacekeeping operations command is based. The gatherings did not adversely affect traffic in the city. As the red shirt protesters in Bangkok dispersed, those in the provinces gathered en masse to start their long journey to the capital. About 14,000 people left Chiang Mai with another 10,000 on the way from Udon Thani in the Northeast. Groups of red shirts, numbering in the tens and hundreds, from provinces in the North and Northeast, all headed for Ayutthaya's Wang Noi district, a key mustering point for the UDD and a security choke point. Mr Jatuporn said yesterday's events in Bangkok were just a "prelude" to tomorrow's big event, and the numbers did not matter. "We have thought it through," he said. "We want to save energy for the big battle on Sunday. "Today's activity is not a rally. It is more of a preview. I hope the government enjoys its estimates [of the size of the rally] until it sees the real thing." The UDD set up its stage at Pan Fa Bridge on Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue last night. Activities will begin this morning, said Mr Jatuporn. The red shirts' rally to force the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration to step down should not exceed seven days, he said. He warned the government not to incite violence as clashes between protesters and security forces would only escalate its downfall. "The government has deployed 50,000 police and troops, so confrontation is unavoidable," he said. "Those who have less patience will lose." Mr Abhisit yesterday said he hoped the rally would proceed peacefully. He said the fact that the government's chief negotiator and a core UDD leader have already established a communications channel was a positive sign. Mr Abhisit said the government has a lot more to do to ensure effective communications because red shirt demonstrators are in several groups and are supervised by different leaders. The prime minister said he has suggested that security forces and red shirt guards could work together to search rally participants for weapons. He also brushed aside UDD leader Natthawut Saikua's threat to mobilise the UDD to bring Bangkok to a standstill if the government refuses to step down. A house dissolution would not solve the political deadlock, said Mr Abhisit. "I have no idea how the situation will develop but I plan to do my best to keep things under control," he said. People's Alliance for Democracy coordinator Suriyasai Katasila said the rally would not draw 50,000 people. Numbers were low due to splits in the red shirt movement and the realisation that Thaksin was exploiting the UDD. ____________________ And this, from THE NATION: _____ Thaksin's Last Chance By Tulsathit Taptim The Nation Published on March 13, 2010 More than ever now, Thaksin Shinawatra needs the rural poor to bail him out. Yesterday's quiet showing by his red-shirted supporters based in Bangkok and its surburbs was downplayed as a calm before a real storm, but whether that's true or not, their provincial counterparts have to produce nothing short of a hurricane in the next couple of days. He could take heart in the fact that red tides were streaming into Nakhon Sawan last night from upper North. The meeting point, rally organizers hope, would be flooded with more than 100,000 people before dawn, making the last stretch of the journey to Bangkok one of the historic political moments. Thaksin knows better than anyone that this particular red campaign can't end with a whimper. While there can be plenty of excuses for the low turnouts at rendez vous spots around Bangkok yesterday, he can't afford to be seen as being abandoned by the rural poor during arguably his darkest hours. No more court case coming up. Pheu Thai, his virtual political party, is facing no dissolution threats. If Thaksin can't turn the asset seizure ruling into a groundswell of sympathy now, the only chance for a "red upheaval" will be lost forever. According to police, only 6,500 protesters gathered yesterday at various spots around Bangkok, far below the initial target of 10,000 people at each gathering point. A lot of factors may contribute to the low turnout _ hot weather, limited financial supplies, the "no-violence" campaigns, the widespread fear of violence as well as the seemingly poor coordination among the organizers. Rivals of the red shirts claimed there were other reasons as well. They said news that Thaksin's family members and close relatives were leaving Thailand during this time left a bad taste in his followers' mouths. Some red sympathizers might have also felt reluctant to join a "pro-democracy" rally that took place only days after the Supreme Court seized his "ill-gotten" money. "If you are red members you can get somewhat confused," said Suriyasai Katasila, a yellow-shirted leader. This is not to say, however, that most red shirts would renounce a campaign to retrieve Thaksin's money. It's only that protest organisers' reluctance to associate the rally with Thaksin's confiscated wealth has left them with the less attractive, or even boring, cause of overthrowing an illegitimate Democrat government. That the "three buddies", as the three red shirt leaders are called, spent most of yesterday appearing on red cable TV discussing same old issues raised eye-brows. They offered no good explanation why they were not leading the crowds on the first day of the rally, only saying yesterday was just a "prelude" and the reds' real force would be seen at the weekend. It seemed everyone was pinning his hope on the rural poor to weave their political magic and save Thaksin. News reports from the province showed lively preparations in various northern and northeastern provinces, but along with that also came a setback, as a group of red supporters were caught on camera receiving payment from those who looked like organizers. Whether or not the apparent scandal was an exception or a rule didn't matter as far as Thaksin was concerned. He has to do whatever it takes to make sure the red rally creates a big impact at least in terms of numbers. This desperate situation has prompted fears that if the red shirts could not form a mass big enough, chances of "statement through violence" may increase. Considering the fast-growing "peace" movement in the city and the government's preparations, a repeat of last year's Songkran turbulence seems unlikely, at least for now. To bounce back from the court setback, Thaksin will need pure power of the poor to relaunch himself. The irony of it is not even the fact that he remains one of Thailand's richest men, but the red shirted leaders' description of this campaign as one to expose a yawning gap between Thailand's Haves and Have-nots.

Pattaya Park

Rit's beach is one of the more popular beach concessions in the gay beach area. As you face the beach from Tui's Place. it's the third concession to the right. It's clearly marked, however all the beach concessions in that area are part of the gay beach.

I hadn't heard anything about that until your post. Do you know why they would be doing that?

No shit, Sherlock . . . Meanwhile I'm sticking my neck on the chopping block because I believe I'm going to turn out to be right. Have you got guts enough to do the same thing? Well, no need to respond. The answer to that question is already obvious. Odd as this may sound, I hope you're right. I'd like nothing better than to see some major happenings on Saturday and Sunday. You know why? Selfish as this may seem, my sole interest in any of this nonsense is how it might affect the exchange rates. If today is any indication, it's all going to be a big nothing. We'll see what happens as it all progresses. My prediction is still all media hype and bullshit. If I'm wrong, then a bunch of you will get to have a field day chopping me apart.

Ok, then I bow to the more recent observations.

http://www.gaygetter.com/gs-eimages/6/6/3/1/img/img-6631-3034.jpg

I just returned from my circuit of Pattaya. I didn't take any photos for a very simple reason. There was nothing to take a photo of. I went down Soi Khao Tolo first. That rallying point at the junction of Soi Khao Tolo and Sukhumvit was completely vacant. Next I drove down Thapprasit Road. Nothing. Everything was perfectly normal. At Thappraya Road I turned and headed for town, went up Second Road all the way to the Dolphin Roundabout, came down Beach Road to Walking Street, turned and went all the way up Pattaya Tai to Sukhumvit, and then went home. There was absolutely nothing out of the ordinary going on. I just checked the TV news stations. Not much of anything there either. The station that was showing the the marchers earlier this morning is now showing a Muay Thai boxing match. A check of the online media says that the biggest rally in Bangkok consisted of about 3500 people. They have agreed to disperse by 5:00pm today and they intend to reorganize and try again on Sunday. That's it, folks. Now it's a little after 3:00pm in Thailand. I believe I was right about what I predicted. If nothing has happened by now, then I doubt it will. As I said . . . all media hype and nothing but bullshit. Meanwhile the Thai government is saying that they intend to level a series of new charges against Thaksin and they are going to ask again for extradition based on the Supreme Court decision. Unless Thaksin has something new up his sleeve, my feeling is that his dreams of a triumphant return to Thailand and taking power or putting a puppet government in place and then obtaining a pardon, are over. Why am I reminded of that 1970's movie, "Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?"

It's 12:55pm. I just had another look at Thai television news stations. The only thing being shown was a group of marchers and cars, about 300 people if that many, going up a major road in Bangkok. I couldn't tell which one. There are four lanes. They're doing their marching in the right two lanes, but leaving the left two lanes clear so that traffic can get through. That's all I'm seeing on TV. I also just got a call from a Thai friend in Bangkok. Of course, I asked him about the rally. He laughed and said, "What rally?" He said if people want to participate in it, they have to go out and find where it is. He said the massive numbers of protesters simply have not materialized . . . at least not yet. So far there seems to be less going on than even I anticipated. If the television news and online media are reporting accurately, and if it doesn't escalate, then this may very well turn out to be a major setback for Thaksin and his supporters. Now I'm heading out the door to take a drive through Pattaya to see if I spot anything going on here. Patexpat seems to be on top of the doings around Third Road, so I'll have a look at other areas and leave reports about Third Road to him. I'll post what I see later. I'm taking my camera with me. If any of you are in Pattaya, Bangkok, or anywhere else in Thailand, please let us know what you see happening, even if you see nothing happening.

It's nearly 11:00am now. I just looked at the "breaking news" items online. Nothing is even mentioned about anything special going on. I also looked at the Thai news stations on TV. All they showed was a few isolated small groups of Red-Shirts walking, carrying signs, and smiling and waving at the TV cameras. I did see one post on an update web board that a convoy of Red-Shirts from Chiang Mai are heading to Bangkok, but they are only just now leaving. They can't even get as far as Bangkok until some time tonight. Other than that, so far I can't find anything in the media.

Ok, the big day is here. It's Friday, March 12. It's 5:30am in Thailand. Don't ask what I'm doing up at this hour . . . Now we'll see what will really happen. Will it be a major brouhaha or will it fail to amount to much? The gist of all the morning news articles is "please, no violence." That plea is coming from all sides. Check in on this thread every so often during the day. If I encounter or hear about anything major taking place, I'll post it here. If you are present in Thailand, please do the same if you can.

Not much of anything goes on at the gay beach at night. No one is there at night unless you're hoping for an encounter with criminals. It is poorly lit at night and can be dangerous. Not exactly a hot spot at night. Years ago it used to be a decent area for nighttime cruising. Lately, however the recommendation is to go elsewhere at night.

Oh well, no one's perfect . . .

Does this mean I am the inaugural listing on your "I Don't Get It" list?

On the Thaigmc site, scroll down a little bit and look on the left side. Try the links under "Gay Web Site." Some will c9onnect you with even more gay Thai hookup sites. Try this one: http://www.smartbkk.com At the top left, do the "Smarts Search." I selected Thailand as the location, clicked "with photo," and left the rest of the boxes that default to "Any" alone. When I hit the SEARCH button 185 pages of ads came up, a great many of which are written in English, similar to Gay Romeo, and they all have contact information.

That's simple. YOU would be responsible. That works for me . . .

A little web surfing today yielded a couple Thai gay personals site that I didn't know about before. It's mostly in Thai, but there is a very good "gallery" section with loads of sexy pics and a personals section marked "Picture Post." The ads are in Thai, but there are plenty of ads with Email addresses and telephone numbers. http://www.thaigmc.com This one includes photos, links to MSN Messenger, links to Hi5, links to Facebook, and Email addresses. http://www.msngaythai.com

Has anyone ever found a web site that provides good Thai to English translation? You might as well forget about sites such as Google Translate. It would have to improve just to do a half-assed job. I rarely get any results other than incomprehensible drivel. If any of you know of any sites at which you can actually get a decent translation, please let us know.

I agree with that head monk. The monks represent the Buddhist religion. I think they should keep themselves separate from politics. The only exception I would make to that would be if the political situation has some sort of direct effect on the practice of Buddhism. I see no such effect in the present political situation, so I think they should keep out of it because it has nothing to do with religion.

Most likely I'm totally wrong. But the more the media hypes it, and you should see the jubilee the media is having today, the more I think most of what we're being told is just media crap. I'm sure there will be a lot of Red-Shirts out there in Bangkok. I'm also sure whatever takes place will occur in a very limited area and that will be it. In Pattaya, I don't think anything is going to happen at all. Most Thais I talk to tell me they're sick and tired of the whole thing and they don't plan to be any part of it. The less educated and more poverty stricken they are, the more they like Thaksin. I don't think it's even about Thaksin anymore. I wouldn't be surprised if most of the Red-Shirts couldn't tell you what it is about. I'm not so sure myself anymore. Oh well, if the government wasn't in some form of disruption, then I guess it just wouldn't be Thailand. They'll have their rally and then it will fizzle out. And what will change as a result? Probably nothing. I really don't think it's going to be anything close to the total chaos the media would have us believe. Well, we'll find out soon enough. But tomorrow, Friday, I'm planning on being able to have a perfectly normal day here in Pattaya.

What's the matter, don't you like re-runs . . . ?

WHAT ?!?!?!? I'm sure you're right about a great many, but the idea that none are prostitutes is not exactly correct. Go to Beach Road or Walking Street in Pattaya virtually any night. Then tell me all about how lady-boys are not prostitutes.

The only thing about any of it that would excite me would be if it causes the exchange rate to move in our favor. The rest of it, unless it becomes very violent, is, as you said, "been there, done that."