PattayaMale

For my taste it is excellent coffee. A bar owner from from Boystown area gave me a gift basket and it had Moccona Select coffee in it. I have served it when friends have been over for dinner and usually someone comments about how good the coffee is. There are 5 different tastes. I enjoy Select the most but Rich n Smooth is a bit stronger and also good. The last time I purchased it was at Foodland.

Soi 10 Tom sent me this link Legislation to allow Partner entry If we are serious about seeing the immigration law change, I suggest we each write to our state Senator urging them to endorse and vote for this legislation which was introduced March 9, 2009. Also a letter to Hilary Clinton, Secretary of State, may be helpful. Pass it on

I certainly don't mean to be disrespectful. The story of a 16 year old boy being whipped by his girlfriend's father is indeed sad. And it probably is not appropriate from me to post the following. However, I am. The boy that was beaten has his pictures posted in Pattaya Daily News. Beaten 16 year old It is hard to believe that a 16 year old Thai has such a beautiful build. Also that the mother of the boy will not press charges against the boy's girlfriend's father

I don't think GB or anyone else should be disappointed about the contest. I rarely posted and hardly read this board before the contest. The contest motivated me to try and be a more active poster and reader of other posts. After a few weeks I really started to enjoy reading the posts on this board more so than any other board. Now this board is one I enjoy. Ting Tong is the other. I hardly ever even look at the others. So my suggestion would be to be very pleased with the results. It was fun and productive. Now there may be others like Oolgeman who have started to post more often.

One tip I have heard from 2 different people is that when they ask if you want to be interviewed in English or Thai, if possible, interview in English. Jim was very upfront that he and his boyfriend were gay. The second person that told me to interview in English is a THAI professor at a university that helps prepare people for a hospitality and tourism career. He feels that there is a lady interviewer that is not so nice.

Last Sunday Traveler Jim was nice enough to meet me at Starbucks to share the packet he and his boyfriend had put together to get a visa to the USA. I had seen him at Oud's a few days before and told him my Thai friend was going to apply for a US visa. We have been partners for 10 years and I wanted to show him by country of birth as I had seen some of his. Jim who does not live in Pattata, volunteered to go to his home and dig up the packet they presented at the US Embassy. They were successful in obtaining a visa. We met at Starbucks and he was a big help to me. He gave me some really good tips and gave me his boyfriends mobile number so my friend could call and get some first hand advice about the interview. Once again I say that is why I enjoy living in Pattaya. There are people like Traveler Jim always willing to help

I know I have not posted as much since the contest but I still post. I wrote to GayThailand at the end of the contest and said it was getting harder for me to think of 3 posts a day. Sometimes I posted articles that I found interesting in the Bangkok Post, but many times they received very few replies. I am sure a drop in posts was expected.

I respectfully disagree, as when I lived in Palm Springs, CA, my gardener was Caucasian. Also please note that "Americans" represent all races and all nationalities. It is certainly a country of immigrants. To answer the question about people getting off welfare in America, yes I believe that most all would prefer not to receive welfare. But with an unemployment rate 10% in some states (California being one) the welfare rolls will certainly rise. I am unaware of the Thai system. But know that many of the European countries have systems that pay much more in welfare. I understand that some of the British that are on the dole actually come to Pattaya to relieve the "stress" of not working.

Arrested reporter This seems to be about a news report shown only in Swiss in 2002. The reporter was just arrested leaving BKK airport

It sure does!. I guess I only looked at the pictures B)

I have eaten at the restaurant that is beside the street going into Sansuk. I have walked up the road and did not get tired, but the road is a little bit away. They may have motorbike taxi drivers that are on call that would come and take you to wherever you would want to go. If you like spas and saunas this may be the place to go. Does anyone know if the have massage rooms or foot massages on the premise? You can tell that I have never been there but everything I have heard has been positive

Mike, It may help people to know if it will be rented furnished. It looks very nice. I am wondering if you know who did the driveway. I am wanting to put a new drive into my house> Good luck

Thanks to both Soi 10 Tom and Dale1. Great ideas and suggestions. One of the great strengths of our community is the help we can give others. Thanks so much

If posting on this board leads to castration, I am out of here!!

GT Check your spelling. I think you mean "o men"

Thanks GB. In my friend's case he has a car. But how to find a driver? The idea of local hotels is a good one and I will pass that on to him.

I have a friend that is not supposed to drive anymore. Taking a motor bike or a baht bus is not a good option. I have another friend that lives in Jomtien and simply calls for a car and driver. He said some hang out by where he lives. He also does not want to give out the number as he wants the guy available for him. If too many start to use the driver he may not be available. Which I understand. But maybe some one else knows of someone who has a car that does local trips like a taxi. I have seen a few taxis now in Pattaya have never taken notice if there is a telephone number to dispatch them or how it works. Anyone able to provide some help?

I just had a good friend return from a 2 week trip to Koh Samui and Phuket. They drove so since tourists are down did not make advanced reservations. I talked to him today and he said he was really surprised that both places were PACKED! They had to check several hotels to find a room. Restaurants and beaches were overflowing he said. It makes one wonder how bad the tourism really is? `

I lived a long time in LA and I don't know of anyway to protect a bike from getting stolen other than put it inside the house. Chains and locks just don't work. It is unfortunate. What happened with the flight? I personally have given up on Northwest (maybe they are better but I have avoided them for 6 years). Anyway, good luck with your next adventure and remember this gives you a chance to get a custom seat for the new bike.

One thing that would cost very little money compared widening the road by 18m would be to not allow any parking on Beach Road. Most of the parking is from bike rentals anyway. Just have a service road for delivery trucks and limit delivery time to say 11 pm - 10 am. Close the road to all traffic at all other times. Run electric trams (Like they have in Disneyland) in a loop Increase the width of the side walk on the east side. Close off all the small sois so none open onto Beach road. Allow motorcycle parking only on the small sois (no baht bus, cars or trucks). Charge 10 baht parking for the motor bikes to pay for the attendants at the 2nd road entrances to the small sois. Make 2nd road 2 way and eliminate all parking. Build two parking structures and get agreements with the malls and hotels to allow public parking for a fee of 50 baht. The corner of South Pattaya and 2nd Road would then be a T intersection since the small portion of South Pattaya Road would be closed during the day. This allows traffic going south on Second Road to always make a continuous left turn. Northbound traffic continuous straight thru. Traffic going west on South Pattaya to continue to make continuous left turn. The light would turn green only for a right tun from South Pattaya northbound to 2nd road and Northbound 2nd road to east bound onto South Pattaya. There. Problem solved!

I see that the Baht is now at 35.98 using Bank of Ayudhya buy sight rate today.

I read the print version of Bangkok Post using Press Reader which does not give me a link to post so I cut and pasted this article which I feel is well written. GAME THEORY; GAY REALITY Three men walked into a hotel and asked the receptionist for a room. The price was $30 and they paid $10 each. Later, the receptionist realised that the room actually cost $25. She gave the bellboy five $1 notes to give back to the three men. The bellboy couldn’t figure out how to divide five single dollar notes between three men. So he kept $2 as a tip and returned $3, $1 to each man, telling them that the cost of the room was $27. Dilemma: We started with $30. The three men received $1 each back, so they ended up paying $9 each, for a total of $27. The bellboy kept $2. 27 + 2 = 29. There’s a missing dollar. What happened? Take your time; think about it, I’ll wait . . . A common mistake that most people would make is trying to find the missing dollar — to get back to the initial $30. So one would rack one’s brain trying to add up to 30. That’s the wrong way of tackling the game. This is game theory. The game started with $30. But along the way, the game changed because the room turned out to be $25, not $30. So forget about starting from $30, instead start from the $25. The premise has changed, hence the game has changed and thus your perspective must also change with it. The room cost $25. The three men, each received $1 back, and ended up paying $9 each for a total of $27. The hotel got $25 and the thrifty bellboy kept $2. It adds up, there’s no missing dollar. Forget the $30. When the game changes, you give up the old premise and embrace the new one. Game theory can apply to everyday life, analysing and understanding issues in politics and society, or whatever, in order to plan and act accordingly for maximum yields. For example, here’s an age-old premise: Homosexuality is unnatural. It’s shameful. It’s sinful. This had been the traditional premise in Thailand and many countries around the world. Problem: Operating under said premise, the red-shirt Thaksin supporters up in Chiang Mai abused and terrorised the homosexual community to the point that the Gay Pride Parade had to be cancelled. If this was 30 years ago, society might have applauded the action. More people may even flock to the Thaksin banner. They would have been commended for standing up for tradition and moral decency. The twist in this game is: This is 2009, not pre-historic times when dinosaurs roam the earth. Perhaps no one had told the red shirts the riddle about three men who rented one room at a hotel. Perhaps because that riddle in and of itself sounds rather gay. But that’s neither here nor there. The point is: The red-shirt people, operating under an outdated premise that has already changed, ended up committing an act of narrow-minded bigotry that resulted in condemnation by society and the alienation of millions and millions of Thai homosexuals. This is 2009, the premise of the gay issue has changed. Reality: There is arguably no country in the world gayer than Thailand. San Francisco looks at Bangkok with envy. If all 300 Spartans knew about modern Thailand, they would snap their fingers, twirl their necks, roll their eyes and screech: ‘‘You go, girls!’’ In every office, every classroom, every nook and cranny of this country, you’ll find a gay guy and a guy that looks gay, but perhaps he may or may not be (metrosexuality can be quite confusing). Indeed, the gay population in modern Thailand is numerous, prosperous and is accepted by modern society. They are so numerous that a straight Thai guy can have a wife, two mia noi (mistresses) and three gigs (flirt playmates). This is socially acceptable, because there are just too many females in the Kingdom and not enough heterosexual males to spread around. Yes, that’s how gay Thailand is. No longer a small group of people hiding in the closet, but a large segment of the population letting it all hang out, fabulously so. The modern premise is: Gay is trendy. Gay is fashionable. Gay is absolutely fabulous, and definitely numerous. Trust me, I know — my girlfriend made me go to the Kylie Minogue concert at Impact Arena. The premise has changed. Hence the game has changed. Thus the perspective must also change. Furthermore, without the gay population, not only our dreams of ‘‘Bangkok Fashion City’’ would never be realised, we wouldn’t even have a fashion industry, or an entertainment industry, or many other wonderful contributions that the gay population have made to Thailand. The red-shirt movement is stuck with an old, outdated premise, not realising, understanding or acknowledging that the game has long since changed. To succeed in their goals of getting rid of the current government and bringing Thaksin Shinawatra back to power, the red-shirt movement needs the blessing and support from as many Thais as possible. They instead committed an act of bigotry and caused a scandal, and perhaps made enemies of millions and millions of homosexuals. Their rallies at Government House lasted for only three days because not enough people showed up — well, that is rather embarrassing. If, for instance, they had substantial gay support, then it would have been an absolute party up on Ratchadamnoen Avenue. Not to mention the red shirts that they wore would be much more fashionable. This commentary is not a moral analysis of the relationship between homosexuality and a society based on the ideals of human rights. No. Rather, it uses the simple logic of game theory applied to current issues to help us think better, act smarter and accomplish our goals. To get rid of the Democrats and bring back Thaksin, the red shirts need to garner more support, not make more enemies. They thought poorly, acted stupidly and compromised their goals. Game theory, it should be taught in schools.

I want to add my thanks to GayThailand for hosting the breakfast and sponsoring the contest. This was the first time I met GayThailand and found him to be a really remarkable and fun guy. If you have not met him, I hope you will at some point. I think he said he was going to return to Thailand in about 2 months. The entire group who attended the breakfast were very interesting people to talk with.

Even though I have been living in Pattaya for a few years, I really don't frequent the boystown area that much. But tonight a couple of friends from Ireland invited me to go to a party at Wild West Bar. I talked to one of the dancers who said that the owner who also owns New Orleans, throws a party every month on the 29th. For some reason that has never registered before. I met my friends a little after 8pm. The bar was about empty but the boys on stage still showed some energy dancing. About 8:30 they opened the buffet and still not many customers. But by 9:00 the place was packed. The buffet had fried chicken wings, BBQ pork ribs, meatballs, and a couple salads. At about 10:30 a special show started. It was really good. If you have not been to one of the monthly parties I would really encourage you to try it. The staff is really nice and many of the dancers are very good looking.

Well here we are on the final day of the contest. I want to wish all of those in the 150 club the very best of luck in the final draw. I imagine we all would be happy to win. I want to give thanks to GayThailand for coming up with the idea and sponsoring the contest and GayButton for doing the record keeping and moderating. I really enjoyed reading the posts of others on a very civilized board. Early on GayButton wondered if the posting would continue. I know I wrote this earlier but I hope we all keep posting and encourage others to join in.