Up2u

Stayed there with my bf, nobody got spooked.

I think the Om Yim is an excellent suggestion because it is next to the BTS which will be important to you. It's a little tired now and has no lift but the location makes up for many shortcomings.

Good point. We can also spin this poll, that 100% of the board members are middle aged or older! Ain't that scary.

From the General's diary as written by Kong Rithdee of the BP. http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/433232/it-really-best-when-you-say-nothing-at-all

Michael, you are braver than I am, I would not consider traveling to the middle East (except maybe Israel) with my bf. Be careful, you are a natural target and we don't want to see youtube videos about you.

Here is a short youtube clip of the general with subtitles. Note all the girls in the audience. https://fbcdn-video-h-a.akamaihd.net/hvideo-ak-xap1/v/t43.1792-2/10652954_10152672980406154_348224011_n.mp4?oh=8d2c447dd4f158b3fd3b20a140ff88bb&oe=541C711E&__gda__=1411150291_d0515e7653031bfa38b88611fca57cdd

And why do you think that might be? Do you really believe the Thai press, academics, members of the NLA, etc. would dare speak out or criticize El General? Obviously one of his trusted advisors explained that he f*cked up and he had to make it right.

A friend and bf went there about 4 months ago. Bungalow was inexpensive, beautiful beaches,and loads of mosquitoes. I would investigate other beaches on Phuket Island too.

Patong Beach = Phuket which he ruled out.

General now sorry. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-29249656

From the Nation. More flack about the bikini comments. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Thai-premier-causes-outrage-over-bikini-comment-30243549.html

Well it's not me but there are young members who can't vote.

And if you 23,under 30, etc.?

Yes, I saw his comments and posted a new thread here so we can keep this thread focused on Dongtan beach. http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/topic/9695-the-general-and-tourists-but-can-they-be-safe-unless-they-are-not-beautiful/

Perhaps a little sensitivity training and less victim bashing is in order. http://asiancorrespondent.com/126776/thai-pm-after-koh-tao-murders-can-tourists-be-safe-in-bikinis/

I guess what you are telling us is the tourists numbers which were "butchered or trimmed" have recovered quite nicely.:-)

My recollection from last time was the trees were actually trimmed with the dangerous limbs removed. The pictures may not be the best but the trees have been "topped" and have no large limbs for sprouts to grow. I truly hope you are right and I am wrong about this.

Yes, last time they were trimmed and did recover but this time they were severely butchered for their wood in the name of security. We all hope they survive.

Can't blame this one on the junta, just greed and incompetence.

In the last picture, you are looking at the the back of Tui's. Note the new big tall light standards and the older ones along the road. The trees were "butchered" so the security cameras on the tall standards could do there job or that's the argument. The rumour is the contractor wanted the wood to sell. In talking to my masseur and vendor, no one is happy, because the shade is gone and their customers are leaving the beach early because of the heat. Will the trees grow back? I only hope you are right. The palms have always been trimmed properly (of course they have no resale value). Another note on the pathway mystery, it is said Chonburi officials overruled the locals because the pavers were not removed first but just covered with sand. They ordered the pathway restored;a lot of baht was spent building what we affectionately call the "yellow brick road".

Some of these comments I posted on another forum about the lack of boys at the gay beach. This sadly is still true. However, you will see more changes depending how long you have been absent and what section you sit at. There is an ongoing story about the covering and uncovering of the footpath with sand which has made the local press (see link). Many, many months ago Rit and adjoining the sections at the gay beach got tired of maintaining the footpath (yellow brick road) and expanded their areas for overflow seating by covering the walkway with sand. I thought it was not a good idea and told him so. Anyway, officials did not challenge him and so it remains today. This last August the police and city trying to beat the military junta to the punch (see article) had a formal meeting at section 22 with the vendors. They were told about the changes, losing rows in the front, smaller sections and covering the pathways with sand. No one liked the changes including me especially the loss of the pathways to escape the sun. A week later two bulldozers show up and cover the pathway with sand. Then a week later the bulldozers remove the sand and pile it to make pathway look like a WWI trench. The latest in this saga is the pathway by my sections have been restored and no official has the balls to admit who gave the original order. TIT. Another change you will notice is the butchering (supposedly tree trimming) of the pine trees. This is done for security and safety from falling limbs. The tree trimming started in the north and now reached Rit's section where it has been temporarily suspended. Bottom line is no trees, no shade and importantly no eye candy. http://www.pattayamail.com/localnews/pattaya-officials-given-time-to-clean-up-beach-but-military-is-watching-40900 http://www.pattayamail.com/localnews/mysterious-dongtan-footpath-cover-up-to-be-reversed-within-week-40877

When I voted I did not consider this poll a general retirement question but geared towards a retirement in Thailand since the options were in baht. Everyone's situation is different and one size doesn't fit all. Again, if I considered retirement at 50 and lost my employer sponsored /subsidized health coverage and was forced to go out in the marketplace my annual health premium costs would be 10,000 USD(320,000 thb) which I would have to increase 6-10% for the next 15 years. A sizable chunk of change. (please disregard that 15M typo in post #4). From an American perspective, this scenario makes no sense, and depending where you come from you will have a different answer. I understand the Brits get no general increase in their government pension when living outside the UK. Getting sick in Thailand and trying to return and use the NHS also has its problems so I am told. Remember LMTU's story. Using the 1.5M baht (45,000 USD) figure means I have to pay 25% of that to Uncle Sam, I don't know the tax rates for other countries.

I agree that compliance at the IT will be a snap. However, it is the staff training and problem solving that will be the PITA. Most Americans will complete their W9 truthfully but what about honest mistakes and fake tax ID numbers. What happens when those IRS computers come back with a mismatch? If I was a Thai bank I would want to see the SS card and/or a copy of Form 1040.

Every situation is different. If I retired at 50 and had to bridge the gap until I quality for Medicare (age 65)and perhaps a cheaper health policy, my annual health premium costs would be an estimated 15,000,000 baht. At age 65, the general rule is to budget 80% of your pre-retirement income when you do retire. That is why many of choose to retire, to save a few baht. I know it is not easy to talk about health issues as we age but we must plan for the inevitable.

I tried couldn't make it work, somebody else can try.