Gaybutton

Right. People always bring up 'prostitution is against the law too.' In case you haven't noticed, that law is almost never enforced. But according to the articles, the police are checking passports this week and they're targeting farang. If you don't want to carry your passport this week, then don't carry it. I fail to see the point of arguing about it.

During this week, do you really think it's a good idea to take that chance? With terrorism as a potential threat, the police aren't playing games. And based on the photos in the following article in today's Pattaya One, Caucasian farang are being checked, at least in Pattaya. Take the chance if you want to, gents, but if the police check me I'll have my passport. http://pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/220053/foreigners-detained-as-tourist-police-lead-south-pattaya-crime-suppression-raid/#prettyPhoto I also disagree with NIrishGuy's comment that these checks will hurt tourism. I don't think so. I would think tourists would appreciate knowing the police are on the ball, even if they are inconvenienced. I don't see much room for complaint if people are not complying with the law. Looking at it from the police point of view, what would happen if they don't conduct these checks and a terrorist attack does occur? What are they supposed to say then? Sorry?

That's what most people do. However, between now and New Year's I suggest carrying your actual passport and be extra careful with it so that you don't lose it. As you can see from the article, the police were arresting people who were not carrying their passport. You have to decide whether to risk carrying your passport or whether to risk arrest. The problem is the police are obviously heavily cracking down during the Christmas-New Year's Eve holidays in their effort to prevent terrorist attacks. There's no way to know whether they will accept a photocopy if you get checked. The article doesn't say. NIrishGuy is probably right about who they're checking, but how can we know whether they're also interested in aging Caucasian farang, or will become interested later in the week? Personally, I'd rather carry my passport for the next several days and be extra careful with it instead of risking arrest. Maybe the police will still accept a photocopy and maybe they won't. There's no way to know. The thing is, they don't have to accept anything other than the actual passport.

Perhaps so. Meanwhile, I'd rather submit a rude post than see the OP end up with a rude awakening . . .

I understand how you feel. I've been there too. When you do have those rational thinking moments, when it's not nearly killing you, the question to ask yourself: Is it nearly killing him? I don't think you need me to answer that question unless you actually believe he's pining away over you as you're pining away over him. I'm sorry I'm telling you things I know you don't want to hear, but I've lived in Thailand a long time. I've seen this same kind of situation over and over again. An aging farang comes to Thailand, meets a boy, falls in love with him, and thinks the boy feels the same way. While some people are posting their success stories, and I'm truly happy for them, they're the exception. Most of the time the end result is another brokenhearted farang with a now empty wallet. You seem like a very nice person. I'm hoping your eyes will open enough so the same won't happen to you. In the post above traveller123 said make sure you really know the guy. He's right. REALLY know the guy. You said you met him at the end of your trip in November. There's no way you really know the guy. You hardly know him at all. Maybe after you've spent several months with him it will be a different story, but for now I urge you to wake up and take control of your emotions before you fall into the same trap I've seen so many times over the years. Maybe the boy is absolutely sincere. I'm not saying he isn't, but your job is to make damned sure of it. For all you know he might have a whole string of farang who are also convinced they are in love with the boy and he loves them. I've seen that many times too. I remember one boy who used to carry around 5 mobile phones. When I asked him why, he freely admitted, bragged about it actually, that each was for a different farang. I asked him why he wasn't carrying just one, he said each farang had bought him a phone and a phone number with it, so carrying around just one wouldn't work. The boy didn't have to work. He had all 5 of them sending him plenty of money. True story. Another favorite story was a Sunee Plaza bar manager who was also good at convincing farang of true love. He had a little problem when 2 of them showed up in Pattaya at the same time - and of course neither knew about the other. For two weeks he somehow managed to 'take care' of both farang and survived the two weeks without getting caught. If pleas for money get started and more and more often there's yet another reason he needs more money, that, my friend, is what's known as a 'red light' and that's when you'll know you're being conned. Look for other 'red lights' too. Once you've known him for at least a year, or more, and have been able to spend at least weeks, or better still months, with him and all is still going well, then you'll know you found the right boy. That's when to start centering your life around him. But since you first met him in November, now is much too soon. Don't let him take control of your life and emotions. And please . . . don't be trying to convince yourself of something else I've all too often heard farang say - "Not this boy. He's different." If I had 10 baht for every time I've heard that one, my bank account would rival Donald Trump's. Until then, I give you one of my favorite quotes - one I've posted many times before: "If you want love in Thailand, rent it." I hope it all works out. If you do this the right way, maybe it will. But be ready to drop him in case it doesn't. Believe me, there are plenty more boys if it doesn't work out. I hope you won't have to learn that the hard way. Ok, I've said my piece. Good luck.

2 friends. 2. Compared to the number who've tried it, and did fail, that's not a very promising figure. I have a feeling you disagree with me mainly because you intend to try it yourself. I'm not surprised you're not aware of failures. People usually don't post these kinds of failures. I, however, personally know several who tried it. You know how many of them succeeded? Zero. The only ones that succeeded at all were the ones in which the farang ended up returning to Thailand with the boyfriend and now lives here. And even some of those ended up failing. I really do hope it works out for you and your boyfriend. I know you're not going to change your mind because of what I'm posting, but if it doesn't work out you can't say you weren't warned.

I agree with weewillie and anonone. No elaboration necessary. They said it just right. I wouldn't count on it if I were you. You might get very lucky and find a boy who would want to do that, but that would be the exception. I've seen it too many times over the years. It hardly ever works and the farang all too often ends up heartbroken, along with having spent a hell of a lot of money trying. A one or two week holiday would probably be ok, but longer than that stands very little chance. Why does it hardly ever work? You're probably a sophisticated traveler. The boy probably has never been out of Thailand in his life. He would be away from his family and friends and have no access to them other than a telephone call once in a while. He would be in an environment he's never experienced. He doesn't speak the language. He can't even understand what he watches on TV or a movie. He'll be away from the foods he likes. He'll feel completely out of place. He'll be too dependent on you. He'll be bored to death. Whether it's true or not, he'll very likely start thinking the only real reason you have him in your home country, long term, is for you to use him for sex and instead of being happy, he'll end up resenting you. That's the way it usually happens. No matter how well-intentioned your motives might be, most of the time the boy wants to go back to Thailand after only a few weeks - if that long. I'm sorry if I'm ruining your dream, but that's all it is - a dream - a dream highly unlikely to end happily. It's not realistic at all. I wish it was, but it simply is not. Your best chance for any kind of success is to be with him when you're in Thailand and leave it at that. If you think you're idea will have happy results and will somehow work out well, you're setting yourself up for a major, traumatic disappointment. My advice is to see it through his perspective. In other words, don't do it. If you really find yourself in love with a Thai boy, then love him enough to let him live his life where he belongs rather than thinking about it the way you want it to be.

Somehow, I don't foresee that happening any time soon. Even if it does, I don't assume the fun will be over at all. Suppose every one of the Thai boys become completely disinterested in us aging farang. There are plenty of Cambodian and Lao boys, and soon probably plenty of Burmese boys too, to take over for them - unless, of course, those countries become rich too. I don't think the go go bars would have any trouble finding Thai boys even under those circumstances. Think about it - they work only 5 or 6 hours, spend their time with their friends, diddle around with farang customers once in a while, get free drinks when they have a customer, and make money doing it. "Hookers have the perfect job. You got it, you sell it, and you still got it." - Rodney Dangerfield

I disagree with the idea that Thailand is particularly bad off economically. It may not be the world's richest country, populated by the world's richest people, but relatively speaking I think Thailand is doing just fine. I see plenty of nice homes, cars, shopping, entertainment, etc. What I don't see is people reduced to sleeping under bridges in makeshift cardboard shelters, getting their only meals at homeless shelters or scavenging dumpsters and carrying "will work for food" signs. But I sure see plenty of that where I come from in the USA.

Why even bother trying to do it yourself? There are loads of air conditioning service shops. Any of them will be happy to come by and do a full service maintenance and cleaning, usually for 500 baht per unit. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour for the service.

Charlie Mercer. Yes, that's his real name. He was found dead in his room. I have no details at this point and only just found out about it myself. Charlie was a long time moderator on this board. You heard about it at Nice Boys. Charlie was one of Nice Boys best customers. He was there most nights. He would regularly buy a bottle and share it with the boys. He has lived in Pattaya since about 2003-2004.

That is precisely what I said. While you're busy telling me what to read, I'll repeat - for the third time - see a doctor if the problem persists. That's what I would do. You wouldn't? Ok, make more snide remarks if you want to, just like I'm supposed to give a damn. I've given my advice. The OP will either follow it or he won't. I'm done with this topic.

The short answer is I don't know. I've used several recipes that make a smaller loaf and they're designed to make a smaller loaf. If you try it with more yeast, I wouldn't use too much more - maybe a quarter or half teaspoon more at most. If you put in too much yeast, you'll end up spending quite awhile cleaning up the resulting mess.

I won't say that's the most ridiculous statement I've ever seen, but it comes close. "Real" sick people? Are you another message board intern? Maybe he has a cold and maybe he doesn't. I don't know and neither do you. If his problem persists, going to see a doctor is the thing to do before it gets worse and Pattaya Memorial is the best convenient place for him to go. If he wants second or third best, he can always go to a street clinic.

You didn't say where you are staying. If you decide to go to a doctor instead of listening to the advice of all the message board interns, if you're staying around the Boyztown or Sunee Plaza area, I suggest going to Pattaya Memorial Hospital. Go up Second Road. When you're very close to the Pattaya Klang intersection, you'll spot the sign for the hospital on the right. They provide excellent treatment, charge reasonable prices, and they'll give you your prescriptions right there. If your problem persists more than two or three days, I hope you'll go. It might not be a cold at all. There are other things it might be and you need a proper diagnosis.

I'm sure it was.

If you think that's bad, it's nothing compared to the sound level when some of these open air bars have a party. Try being around for one of those. They almost invariably use oversized loudspeakers, volume turned up to the max, and off-key singers who sound to me more like someone is torturing cats. Just a few days ago I was going to spend some time at the Question Mark bar in Jomtien Complex. Another bar a few doors away was having a party and it was typical. The volume was so loud, and I mean loud, it drove me away before I even sat down. I went over to the next soi to talk to Erich at the Ganymede, but even with the buildings in between it was still too loud to even be able to talk to Erich. I went home. Anyone remember the law that prohibits the volume from being greater than 90 decibels? Please give me a few minutes to finish having my little laugh.

Actually, a few years ago someone did, although perhaps a better term for it would be "pseudo go go." It was called Rock Hard bar. If I remember correctly, it was located where the Sun Boys bar is now. In front it was a bar. In the back, in an enclosed area, there were two or three go go boys. Often they were regular bar staff who would go back there upon request, strip down, and start dancing - among other things. It closed in 2009. No bar in Jomtien Complex has attempted anything similar since then. There is still a video of the Rock Hard bar at: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x36znu_rock-hard-jomtien-complex_news

Scooby clearly said, "Feel free to continue discussion under a new Topic." He's not stopping anyone from continuing to post their opinions about the same subject. What's the problem?

Does that matter? It can't hurt to try. They're not going to be influenced by it anyway, but I've said my piece and made my point.

On this topic I'm seeing some of the most convoluted, ridiculous justifications for being cheap and stingy with the boys. What are some of these people coming to Thailand for in the first place? To have sex while they're here as often as possible at the cheapest price possible - and then try to come up with justifications for doing that? I have yet to see anything I would consider a valid analogy or justification for taking a boy for sex and then handing over 400 or 500 baht. They probably don't even give the boy taxi fare to go back to his room. Unfortunately, no argument is going to change the attitude of the Cheap Charlies. Ok, you come here for a two week holiday. You have sex every day for 400 baht. At the end of two weeks you've spent 5600 baht - the equivelent of about US $160. Meanwhile, if instead you've given 1000 baht every day, at the end of two weeks you've spent 14000 baht for sex - the equivalent of about US $400. Congratulations cheapskates. You saved the equivalent of about US $240. Now you can return home, have a couple steak dinners and fill your car's gas tank a couple of times - all on the boys. You must be really proud of that and feeling really good about yourself.

Maybe the problem is something on your side. I just logged in to Christianpfc's blog just fine, and was not diverted to anything. For me, his site is working perfectly. Have you tried logging in through a proxy site? If not, try that. If you are able to log in that way, without any problems, then the problem is on your side. Even if the problem was on Christianpfc's side, what could he do about it?

I've never heard of anyone having a problem. You'll be fine. At that hour you'll reach the airport in about 90 minutes.

Several board members live in Bangkok. There are also several highly experienced board members who will likely be in Thailand for a holiday while you are here. I'll bet if you post a message asking if someone is willing to guide you around and show you 'the ropes' during your first night on your own, you won't have any problem getting responses from people willing to meet you and help you get a good start.

I would suggest reading trip reports on this and the other boards. I would make sure to read the trip reports from Smiles, Trongpai, and especially Christianpfc. I would urge you to take time to read Christianpfc's blog. He has a great many detailed trip reports, and many of those include reports about places to go that most tourists are not familiar with. See: http://www.christianpfc.blogspot.com/ If you have aditional questions for Christianpfc, just post them. He reads the boards nearly every day and I'm sure he'll be happy to answer questions.