PattayaMale

For legal reasons, he just won't admit it. I recently have been giving Gay Romeo a try. It was difficult for me to learn how to use it effectively. Now that I understand it better, I enjoy it. Most bars don't open until 8:30 pm. So I have been on the site in the afternoon.

I really applaud your effort. I will write to my congress leaders also. I suggest this may be a good change to write also to the White and our local chapter of Democrats abroad even if you are not a Democrat. I too am scptecial that we will get any results, but I am certain that if enough people do[ (AARP is really an insurance group) but has alot of memebrs], we have a chance.

Apparently you are not on the "A" list!!

My unreliable sources have told me is was one of the original partners. Have you ever been invited to the Gay Romeo Appreciation Dinner which he funds annually? Fabulous!!!

This morning I also received a message from a very close and connected Irish friend that confirmed his death. It is unfortunate that this man had a knack of the unbelievable for a few of us so some of us had a hard time believing any rumor. Now this is a case of forgive and forget. RIP....he did make good scrambled eggs and had a good sense of humor. Maybe this is like being in heaven before the devil knows your dead. I liked Googie, Michael O'Brien

For argument sake, say every time a 16 year old walks home from school, a bully gang member stops him and takes his money. Day after day the 16 year old is confronted by the bully. So it seems your suggestion is to forgive the bully each time, and just move on. This will make the 16 year old feel good? But the 16 year old wants this to stop. This bully has made him feel impotent. One day the 16 year old decides he will seek revenge to put an end to this. The 16 year old confides in an older man that is a martial arts master who suggests a plan. The next day as the 16 is walking home and again is confronted by the bully, but this time the martial arts master pulls up. He tells the bully to give him all his money or harm will come to him each and every day. The 16 year old has his revenge. The bulling stops. Do you really think the 16 will feel bad about this? Should the 16 year old really just forgiven and forgot?

If this is someones first time to Phnom Penh, I would use the following guy for transportation and very good advice: One tip! If you go, we found a fantastic guide/tuk tuk driver. His name is Ya Chea. his email is chea.tuktuk@gmail.com If you call +855 (0)17773460

Words such as forgive, forget, condone, resentment, probably have different meanings to people depending on the context and the thoughts they associate with the question asked. I am not sure it means a person who does not forgive thinks he is infallible. If someone bumps into me and knocks me down, I will certainly pardon. But a guy that walks by and shoots my dog is not getting forgiven by me. Now would this mean I feel infallible?

There is a good but old book (short) "How to Survive the Loss of a Love". Helped me

I have a hard time forgiving. I can still stay in contact and talk with the person, but a wrong stays in my mind. So I guess that means I don't forget either. I don't mean I cut the person out of my life. I can be very civil to them, even drink and talk with them. But I can't forgive or forget

I hope we will hear more from Gay Thailand about what he has decided to do.

In the last few days I have needed help for a friend that I have previously written about on the board. On my way to the hospital, Traveler Jim, called me to see if he could offer any further help. He had already given me some wonderful contacts when I emailed a few weeks ago. After talking to him on the phone today, I started to think of all the help so many different expats have been to so many people that I know or know of. I think we are VERY fortunate to live in the midst of so many unsung heroes. If i would write a list of all the people it would be very long and unfortunately I might mistakenly leave out a name. I wish there was some way to acknowledge them. When Rainwalker use to host an annual meet and greet for forum members (which he paid for), it was a good way to get the community together. Sort of a "thank you" to our community. Unwarranted criticism from a couple of people ended his generosity. Too bad, because I feel we are very fortunate to have such a caring and helpful community in Pattaya.

GayThailand is absolutely correct. The pride for him was that he did it for his family. The pride for me is how committed he was to do this and allow me the opportunity to be part of it. The 30 days was my assumption and since then I learned very few do it for more than a few days. The number of days is not the important thing. I do think my Thai friend's beliefs are very important to him. He built a beautiful small room in our house where he meditates at least once everyday. (maybe it is just to get away from me for a few minutes...) The elephants would have been a great touch!! That must be a great memory!!

When my Thai friend became a monk I saw how important it was to him and the family. The "party" is really a necessary part of the ceremony I felt. Feeding the monks, shaving the head, washing his feet, going to "class" a few days before to learn how to become a monk and the chantings necessary are important parts. When first asked to sponsor the event I added up the costs and thought, holly crow, this is costing a small fortune. But to see how proud my Thai friend was made a big difference. We rented from the Wat tents to protect from the rain or sun, large pots and dishes to feed the village. We had the final dinner before the induction the following morning catered for 150 people. Had to pay for a 2 story stage with lighting, band, spot lights for the evening dinner performance, vans to bring the dancers from Alcazar to Korat, speakers for the music, dj, the school band played traditional instruments, beer, whiskey, soft drinks, mixers. Cost of robes and religious things for the ceremony. The list goes on................. Since you are being asked for only 25,000; your BF is being VERY conservative. I felt deep pride in his entering the "monkhood" even though he lasted only 6 days instead of the 30 days he originally thought. I really hope you will be there for the event. I think you too will feel proud. This may be one event not to sit on your wallet.....I believe the memories will be worth 10 times that much!

I remember that David (RIP) was a fantastic poster. I always enjoyed his pictures which at first were taken with film and then the film had to be developed and scanned before posting them. David was really nice and when I came to Pattaya he showed me around. I admired him. This in no way refers to me other than David used David in Pattaya. When I was thinking about a name I could use, I combined the thought of him and a take off on Pattayamail which I enjoyed reading on line when not physically in Pattaya. So I came up with Pattayamale. GB this is an interesting topic.

Is this the festival? Found on Tube:

Although the last 3 pages of posts have been very interesting......Is it possible to get more information on the "Gay" festival, other than a link to a tour operator. I want to go, and would like some good practical information. I know I can find a flight, a hotel, and a taxi.........BUT I am looking for information that may not be in a tour guide book. 1. May I take a guy back to my hotel? 2. What are the laws on gay sex? 3. Is there any commercial sex available? Is it legal? 4. What is the festival like? Are there tickets to buy for different venues? 5. Can I get answers without having to read through 4 pages of political, historical, views 6. I have never been to Burma. I have never considered going because I thought there would be a solider on every corner waiting to put me in jail or up against a firing squad wall. Now I am hearing there is this wonderful gay festival???????

Yesterday, I went to see a friend that has been in Chon Buri Hospital for a week so far. My friend told me that he is getting very good care. The doctors have explained what is needed, the nurses are caring and efficient, and the special medication he needs and could not immediately get at Pattaya Bangkok Hospital were immediately available. One of his Drs. is Philippe Suer (Heart2000). This was the first time I had been to Chon Buri Hospital and I was astonished by the over crowding. Patients filled the hallways with their hospital beds. Only fans to keep them cool. Some of the medical equipment looked liked it was from the Vietnam conflict era, complete with military medical markings. Electric cords ran across the hallway floors and my friends oxygen lead had to go through a window to the next room where a patient was not using the oxygen supply by his bed. In one ward there were over 50 beds with no room to walk between all the beds. No privacy at all. Some of the patients that had diarrhea had plastic bags tied around then to catch the waste. But through it all they still smiled and nodded as I walked through the ward and hallways to get to the 4 person room my friend was in; A non air conditioned room with one small window at the far end. Bathroom facilities consist of a bed pan. My friend is getting much better with the care being given by the wonderful dedicated staff. But I can't help but think that just a day before, I was at Pattaya Bangkok Hospital which has only private a/c rooms with, flat screen TV, small dinette ares with microwaves, refrigerators, sink....even a sofa so a friend can spend the night with patients and private toilet and shower area. Having this experience gave me a better understanding of the great divide here in Thailand between what some call the elite and poor. I have seen how farmers and the poor live in villages with a tin roof and dirt floor for a house. My own BF's family use to stand in mud in their house when it rained, before we built them a proper house. But I now think I just shut this out and considered it "rustic". How naive I have been! When I read about the "political" division of the country, my view is changing. How can a country spend the billions it does on things for the military like a hot air balloon to watch the war in the south. Build a "high speed" train system from Bangkok to the airport, without first providing a decent hospital system. Yes "Amazing Thailand"!!!

DSI vs Police It seems Thailand continues to embarrass its self. Police and DSI are arguing over who should translate into English the arrest warrant to Interpol. Also the Police implying that he does not think the arrest warrant be enforced anyway. The Government seems very divided

I have been driving a motorbike in Pattaya for years and never had a motorbike driver's license. My Irish neighbor just started to drive one and he went to get a license. He passed the test, so I thought I would try also. For general information search the forum for the article posted by Gay Button on how to obtain a Driver's License. I failed the driving part of the test on my first try. There is a narrow curb elevated about 5" high and about 3 meters long you drive your motorbike along. I came off it. Actually everyone that did not pass, failed this part of the driving test. Today, I went back and passed. The key to pass seems that many people slow down too much and they wobble off the curb. If you plan to take the motorbike driving test, read the article posted by Gay Button so you have all the required documents when you apply. The driving test track is behind the building you go in to apply. Walking the course a couple times before actually taking the driving part of the test was helpful to me, even though I had to take the driving portion twice.

One of the reasons I enjoy Cambodia (there are many others) is that many guys speak very good English in Cambodia.

Here is a good read from Newsweek:(saw on Thaivisa) Destruction of Thai

You are correct that most sausage may be made from pork, but also any type of ground meat can be made in to sausage. Turkey and chicken are big sellers in the USA. I goggled "French sausage" and did not find anything specific enough. I had there T-Bone steak tonight (sirloin last night). It was very good. GB put us onto a good thing. The steak was trimmed well and cost 257 baht. Well worth it.

I purchased a sirloin at Prime Beef and grilled it on the BBQ. It was very good. I saw the French sausage but I don't know what it is. I asked but the staff did not know how to explain what it is. What is it? Pork?

The airline ticket agent across from Friendship market is very good. When my Thai friend and I went to the USA May 2009 they found tickets RT BKK/US several thousand baht under the online price on EVA. They said many airlines give agents better deals than online. A few years ago we went to China on Thai Airline. I did not have the credit card I booked the ticket with. Thai would not let me check in. They made me buy a new ticket at the then higher price even though the ticket reservation had my passport number number on it.