TotallyOz Posted October 17, 2012 Posted October 17, 2012 I love Thailand. I love Gay Thailand. I love Pattaya. I also love photography. The boys and I are going to try our best to add one photo every day to this thread for the next 30 days. It will be a photo that we have taken randomly in or around Pattaya, Thailand. Some of the photos will be just a bit of fun and some will be serious. Or, so we hope as we will choose these together each night for that day's photo. I hope you enjoy seeing Pattaya through the lens of our camera! Photo 1: Pattaya at night Moses 1 Quote
Guest thaiworthy Posted October 18, 2012 Posted October 18, 2012 Great idea! Looking forward to it. If you can describe your equipment (the camera), and any special lenses-- that might be useful as well. Even an iphone camera would be welcome. Best of luck, looking forward to some great shots. Quote
TotallyOz Posted October 18, 2012 Author Posted October 18, 2012 We have a variety of cameras and devices and it will depend each day what we use. I have a Nikon pro set with about 10 lens, a Sony Digital and several others. I found it cheaper to buy in USA and bring to Thailand. Quote
TotallyOz Posted October 18, 2012 Author Posted October 18, 2012 Photo 2 Boyztown is famous for the glamor and glow of the night lights. You walk down the Soi and you are tempted by the many gogo boy bars and doormen beckoning you into their place. At nighttime, it is magical with lights of every color glowing in the dark. I often wonder if Pattaya has more neon than Las Vegas. The daytime in Boyztown is a totally different picture. The streets are almost dead of working boys (not 100 percent as you can find that on every corner in Pattaya). But, the daytime definitely shows a different picture than most would expect of the infamous street! Quote
Up2u Posted October 19, 2012 Posted October 19, 2012 Photo 2 Boyztown is famous for the glamor and glow of the night lights. You walk down the Soi and you are tempted by the many gogo boy bars and doormen beckoning you into their place. At nighttime, it is magical with lights of every color glowing in the dark. I often wonder if Pattaya has more neon than Las Vegas. The daytime in Boyztown is a totally different picture. The streets are almost dead of working boys (not 100 percent as you can find that on every corner in Pattaya). But, the daytime definitely shows a different picture than most would expect of the infamous street! How true. I remember my first trip to Pattaya and my arrival at the Ambience during the day. What a dissappoint, especially after Bangkok. But at night, it was like a miracle, a complete transformation. The lights, glitz, Xmas decorations, poinsettias and the boys! Boys, Boys, Boys was really hoppin' with a 100 boys. The good old days. Quote
Guest thaiworthy Posted October 19, 2012 Posted October 19, 2012 The good old days. What year was that? My first trip was in 1997. I stayed at the Ambiance, too. Quote
TotallyOz Posted October 19, 2012 Author Posted October 19, 2012 Day 3 Like I said, at night Pattaya turns from the boring shades of grey to a multitude of colors. From the neon signs that plaster the city to the colorful characters that roam the streets to the many colors that from the vendors that sell their wares, the city comes to life at night. Pattaya is a night city. It is a place where many stores do not even open until after 11AM. Some shops even after that. I often find myself riding a motorbike for breakfast and encountering very few others that are out except a few that are wandering home after a night of partying. This photo was taken near my condo. I am sure over the next few weeks, I'll have a few more colorful photos of the nightlife but this one pretty much sums up where my boyfriends go each night to shop for food. ChristianPFC 1 Quote
Guest xiandarkthorne Posted October 21, 2012 Posted October 21, 2012 I'm not too sure I agree that daytime Pattaya is grey...more muted shades of pastel pink and violet, I feel - like a middle-aged demimondaine (hope I got that spelling right) before she's put on her warpaint and corset. You know the same attractions are all still there, but just not tarted up for action yet. Besides, I actually enjoy walking around in the light of day and seeing a completely different face of the city, though as I said on another board, I live for sleaze!!! Quote
TotallyOz Posted October 21, 2012 Author Posted October 21, 2012 One thing that is a bit more noticeable around town is the abundance of the outdoor bars that are parked up and down the areas. Normally, the bars are made from older Volkswagen Vans and hollowed out and a bar placed inside. Sometimes the vans are painted up with beautiful neon colors, has loud music and strobe lights at night to attract a disco feel. The first one I saw in Pattaya was a few years back and I thought it was cute. Over the last year or two, the number of these have increased drastically. Now, you can pretty much find them in the tourist areas every 5 minutes of walking. Got a vacant parking lot of night? Rent it out to the moving party vans! Pattaya, Thailand is a city that is full of great nightlife, tons of bars and clubs but the addition of these vans tells me that some patrons can't wait to get inside the bar and must have a drink to muster up the courage to go inside. Or, they just love sitting outside drinking watching the waves of people pass by. Quote
Rogie Posted October 21, 2012 Posted October 21, 2012 The old VW vans get everywhere. Many years ago in Chiang Mai I took a picture of a split-screen model taking part in a parade. It was covered with white flowers I was going to say, but looking closely it might be bulbs of garlic and even a few cauliflowers. There is a large peace sign on the side but a woman sitting on top holding a drill and what looks like a cannon partially camouflaged by palm leaves. I can't post it on this thread as it is a pre-digital snap. Date of photo is February 2003. Maybe a Chiang Mai resident knows more. Quote
TotallyOz Posted October 21, 2012 Author Posted October 21, 2012 Day 5: Pattaya Thailand Pattaya is full of things for tourists to do. In fact, I would consider the city one big MF tourist trap. LOL at times at least. That said, one of the best things I ever did in Thailand was go to the Floating Market outside of Bangkok. It was a real web of activity with the ladies bringing in the fruit and veggies from the farms around. It was also very colorful. Well, Pattaya decided to build one that tourists can go to in order to get a bit of that experience. This market is even more commercial than the other one. But, I love the floating boats that ride around the lake and canals. I love seeing all the things that are for sale and walking across wooden bridges. It is something that is fun to do in the fair city by the sea. Quote
TotallyOz Posted October 22, 2012 Author Posted October 22, 2012 Thai’s love their temples and every city has at least one. Often, they are built upon the hills. I have been blessed with the opportunity to pray and meditate at over 100 of these temples over the years. I have been inside and knelt before monks and received blessings at many of them. One thing that every temple has is bells. These bells are often massive in size and heard from a great distance when you ring them. In Buddhism, this represents the ability to purify the temple and grounds. I have even heard it expressed that some think it pacifies the spirits that are in the temple. But, my boyfriend tells me it brings good luck. I hope this is the case, as I brought a 10-week lottery ticket before I left the USA and I was hoping to cash in from abroad. Rogie 1 Quote
TotallyOz Posted October 23, 2012 Author Posted October 23, 2012 Muay Thai is the National sport in Thailand and the people revere the winners. Today, at the local market a match was taking place and the shopkeepers seem more interested in seeing the outcome than in selling anything. It is like being in Alabama when Alabama and Auburn are playing. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted October 23, 2012 Posted October 23, 2012 I have been blessed with the opportunity to pray and meditate at over 100 of these temples over the years Can't help wondering what you meditate about Quote
bkkguy Posted October 23, 2012 Posted October 23, 2012 In Buddhism, this represents the ability to purify the temple and grounds. I have even heard it expressed that some think it pacifies the spirits that are in the temple. But, my boyfriend tells me it brings good luck. when you say "In Buddhism" do you mean generally from the teachings of the Lord Buddha, or more specifically the teachings of Theravada Buddhism, or even more specifically the corrupt animist beliefs that seem to dominate in temples in Thailand? claiming that ringing bells can pacify spirits and/or bring good luck is a Buddhist belief is like trying to claim that Bingo is a Christian belief because it is played in church halls! bkkguy Quote
TotallyOz Posted October 23, 2012 Author Posted October 23, 2012 when you say "In Buddhism" do you mean generally from the teachings of the Lord Buddha, or more specifically the teachings of Theravada Buddhism, or even more specifically the corrupt animist beliefs that seem to dominate in temples in Thailand? claiming that ringing bells can pacify spirits and/or bring good luck is a Buddhist belief is like trying to claim that Bingo is a Christian belief because it is played in church halls! bkkguy LOL I guess you have such a great and deep spiritual understanding (or lack thereof of either spirit or understanding), I'll let you pontificate on what I mean and what they believe. Quote
bkkguy Posted October 23, 2012 Posted October 23, 2012 LOL is an easy response but for someone that claims to have "pray[ed] and meditate[d] at over 100 of these temples" I would have to seriously doubt your own "great and deep" spiritual understanding of Buddhism as distinct from Thai animist beliefs? bkkguy Quote
Bob Posted October 23, 2012 Posted October 23, 2012 ... I would have to seriously doubt your own "great and deep" spiritual understanding of Buddhism as distinct from Thai animist beliefs?.. Moderation in all things, little grasshopper. Khun Michael is providing us all with a light-hearted photo essay of his days in Pattaya and why don't you give it a rest (and/or start your "great and deep" understandings of all things in another thread). Quote
TotallyOz Posted October 23, 2012 Author Posted October 23, 2012 LOL is an easy response but for someone that claims to have "pray[ed] and meditate[d] at over 100 of these temples" I would have to seriously doubt your own "great and deep" spiritual understanding of Buddhism as distinct from Thai animist beliefs? Again, LOL I guess you just don't know me like you think you do. My "great and deep" understanding goes well and above someone who only has negative comments to add to most posts and rarely contributes anything of relevance other than to be pissy. However, I don't think using the word "pissy" really shows much intelligence on my part either so I guess we are both down in the gutter. I guess I should pray for forgiveness and ask for patience. Quote
bkkguy Posted October 24, 2012 Posted October 24, 2012 My "great and deep" understanding goes well and above someone who only has negative comments to add to most posts and rarely contributes anything of relevance other than to be pissy does it? OK, so prove it - use your "great and deep understanding" and post some quotes here from the teachings of the Lord Buddha or the teachings of Theravada Buddhism that support your claims that it is a Buddhist belief that "ringing bells can pacify temple spirits" and/or "bring good luck", because like your boyfriend, and apparently you despite you superior knowldge, most Thais would support such claims because of their animist rather than buddhist beliefs, but again you will probably respond "LOL" and "prissy" because like most posters here you don't like to be challenged to think about what you post or think you know and understand! bkkguy Quote
firecat69 Posted October 24, 2012 Posted October 24, 2012 The word pissy would be a polite way of describing you. Why don't you remove yourself from this Board since nobody is interested in your know it all rants. Possibly the monks can pray for your salvation although I doubt it will do any good!! Quote
TotallyOz Posted October 25, 2012 Author Posted October 25, 2012 One of the things I love about Thai people is that they love their animals. I have seen too many times a snake near the beach and I tell the boyfriend to kill it and he walks over, picks it up and walks back a few hundred feet and lets it go. OMG I say. But, they are kind to animals and they love to feed the elephants and water buffalo. This pretty creature looked hungry so the BF purchased some grass to give to it. All I could think was, “damn, this would make for a great dinner.” But, I guess that did not even cross his mind. Quote
TotallyOz Posted October 25, 2012 Author Posted October 25, 2012 Expected post from Bkkguy: Well, you obviously don’t know what Thais think about animals as you post only about this one animal your BF fed. Does he help the stray dogs in the street? I didn’t think so. So, you should know what the Thais think of animals before you post. Why would you not learn what the ancient texts say about animals before you post? Just because the weeds he is feeding the buffalo is green does not make it grass. It just means you were duped again you ignorant farang. It is people like you that visit this country and spoils it for us, the intellectually elite. A buffalo? Can you show me where the dictionary calls this animal a buffalo? It has 2 horns, but that is not definitive. Come on Michael, get off you ass and research this shit before you post it here. Jk bkkguy. I mean it only in joking. kokopelli 1 Quote
bkkguy Posted October 25, 2012 Posted October 25, 2012 Expected post from Bkkguy: actually I was going to ask if you or your BF had ever taken antibiotics or used an underarm deodorant or questioned why grass (or other plants or bacteria etc), which are also "living things", are so disrespected in Buddhist teachings and what exact level of neural development the Lord Buddha proscribed before respect needed to be granted - but that is probably being really pissy so I will leave you alone with your comfort in your superior knowledge! bkkguy TotallyOz 1 Quote
ChristianPFC Posted October 25, 2012 Posted October 25, 2012 I don't think Thai people are nicer to animals than people from elsewhere. I have seen too many times a snake near the beach and I tell the boyfriend to kill it and he walks over, picks it up and walks back a few hundred feet and lets it go. Shame on you, kudos to your boyfriend. Quote
