Gaybutton

Today may not be the best day to do much money exchanging. At the moment I'm posting this, the exchange rate between the US dollar and the baht is 36.84. This is the first time since the Asian currency crash that the baht has been in the 36 to the US dollar range. This is expected to be short-lived, but who knows? A couple of months ago all the predictions were that the baht would stabilize between 41 to 42 per US dollar. That didn't happen. However, this time it looks like the BOT (Bank of Thailand) will probably intervene. Even they are saying the baht is too strong against other currencies. For those of you who have been following my daily exchange rate posts, I had planned to discontinue those posts as of November 1. I think I'll keep it going a couple weeks longer so that those interested can follow what will happen. _____ BANGKOK, Oct 26 (TNA) The baht has appreciated to touch 37.10 to the US dollar on Wednesday

Actually, your boyfriend is right. At present both names are being used and he apparently wants to transition back to only the name Ol

I do. I've actually become accustomed to the terrible driving habits of so many Thai people. In all honesty, it is rare for me to drive anywhere without at least one or two close calls. But believe it or not, for me the most scary moments are encounters with "farang" motorcycle drivers. With the Thais, at least they are predictable as to the movements they'll make. With the "farang," you never have a clue. I'm no more afraid driving in Thailand than I was driving in Florida. I do not drive in Bangkok, if I can avoid it, but not out of fear. I avoid driving in Bangkok because of the heavy traffic delays. Also, once you finally get where you're going it's very difficult to find a place to park. If you are going to drive in Bangkok, I suggest filling the fuel tank before you get to Bangkok. Gas stations are few and far between in Bangkok. If you don't already know where the Bangkok gas stations are, good luck if you start running low on fuel. If I am going to be in Bangkok overnight, I usually stay at the Pinnacle. It's easy to get to the Pinnacle from Pattaya and, of course, the hotel has parking for the guests. One time I was at the Pinnacle and was going to go to the Babylon sauna. I drove over. No place to park. I tried to park on the street, but was shooed away by security guards. The closest parking I could find was right back at the Pinnacle. I walked over to Babylon that day. In Pattaya, along with dealing with drivers who seem bent on suicide and taking a few other people with them, the usual problems I encounter are potholes. Potholes are everywhere and even the most dangerous ones are rarely marked. Just the other night, on a major soi near where I live, a Thai motorcycle driver was killed when he hit a dangerous pothole that wasn't marked in any way. Another problem is the narrowness of the sois. That's another one on my "I don't get it" list. When the sois were built there actually was such a thing as cars, but so many of the sois are so narrow that it is nearly impossible for two cars to encounter each other, going in opposite directions, without having to make major maneuvers to avoid hitting each other. Those sois rarely have sidewalks, so you end up not only having to dodge motorcycles going the wrong way, but also pushcart vendors, motorcycles with sidecars, pedestrians, dogs, etc. Why did they build these sois so narrow? Quite often I have friends who stay at Howard's. Ever try driving down there? It isn't easy, especially at night when the bars are open. I never tell any of my friends that I won't come down to Howard's to pick them up, but it is almost always a pain getting there and even more of a pain trying to get out of there. Parking can be a problem in Pattaya too. Here's another one for my "I don't get it" list: The shops that put barriers in the streets so that nobody can park in front of their shop. My first question is why? Why do they do that? How is it possibly hurting their business if a car parks on the street in front of their shop? Do they think that somehow a parked car is going to cause people not to enter their shop? If anything, I'll refuse to shop at a store that placed a barrier in front of a perfectly good parking spot that would have made it convenient to shop there when I end up having to park blocks and blocks away. Maybe they think a car parked in front of their shop will cause pedestrians to be unable to see their shop. Who knows? My second question is how do they get away with that in the first place? They are placing barriers on a public street. That doesn't seem legal to me, but they do it anyway. I have yet to ever see a police officer make them remove the barriers. I've actually moved the barriers out of the way myself, although I'm told that is never a good idea. I'm liable to come back to find tires slashed, the paint on the car "keyed," or Lord-knows-what. The next problem in Pattaya is the constant road construction. There's a third one for today's "I don't get it" list. They are constantly tearing up and re-paving roads that were perfectly good and yet doing absolutely nothing about the sois that are in desperate need of repair or, better still, re-paving. Traffic signals are insane in Pattaya. The light at the intersection of Third Road and South Road (Pattaya Tai) is, I believe, the worst in Pattaya. That is especially true if you are trying to come down South Road from Sukhumvit Highway. The light does not remain green anywhere near long enough. It usually takes three to five light changes before I finally get through that intersection. Quite often I take winding side roads as an alternative to waiting for that particular traffic signal. It may be more difficult that way, but it's much better than spending half your life waiting for that traffic signal. I suppose the next logical question would be, if I had it to do all over again, would I drive in Pattaya or the rest of Thailand? My answer is yes. You don't really need to have a car if you live here, but once you have one, you don't know how you ever lived without it. Despite all the problems associated with driving in Thailand, I'd much rather have a car than be without one.

Here is the report from the PATTAYA CITY NEWS: _____ 2 Million Baht

The following appears in the PATTAYA CITY NEWS: _____ Thai Man Caught Stealing Lady

You know how so many people write about how dangerous it is trying to cross Second Road? Read this, from the PATTAYA CITY NEWS: ____ Irish Man Badly Hurt as he Hit by Speeding Motorbike on Pattaya Second Road Police and rescue workers along with an ambulance from the Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital rushed to Pattaya Second Road in front of the entrance to Soi 13 in the early hours of Monday Morning after receiving reports of a foreign man who had been knocked down and badly injured by a speeding motorbike. At the scene, the victim an Irish National was being treated by medical staff for a badly broken right leg and a serious head injury. According to witnesses he had been hit, as he crossed the road, by a fast approaching motorbike driven by a Thai man who did not give us his name. The Irish man was treated at the scene and later taken to Hospital where is now recovering from his injuries. We urge you to take care when you cross roads here in Pattaya as cars and motorbikes can often come from nowhere. As you cross the road, keep looking for approaching vehicles and cross the road as quick as you can

I'm not going there, for sure. I opened the door for others to go there, if they want to do that. But this is one time I'm going to just sit back, relax, and let everyone else do the arguing. Have a good time, guys . . .

Reminder . . . Those of you Americans in Pattaya who need embassy services, they'll be here on Friday, this week.

There is nothing new in these arguments. Many still insist upon applying western thinking to what goes on in Thailand. Some view these boys as nothing but human garbage, whores and liars, to be used as cheaply as possible and worthy of nothing but contempt. Some view them as God's gift to the planet, to be worshipped and garlands of flowers strewn in their path. Obviously, most view them as something in between those extremes. One thing I note that is usually left out of these arguments is how we "farang" are viewed by the boys. What are we to them? That ought to generate a comment or two . . .

I had the same thing happen to me. When I switched over to TOT's high speed I continued to use the ADSL modem I already had. It never really achieved high speed. I even had technicians from TOT over here to check it out. When they tried it with a modem they brought with them, they got high speed. They told me that a router is what I need. So, off to Tuk Com. They are not particularly expensive, but it pays to shop around. I found what I was looking for at one shop, but still shopped around a bit more. At another shop I saw exactly the same router, but it was selling for 800 baht less. Anyway, ever since replacing the old modem with the new router, I get the speed.

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST _____ Third Army Moves Troops to Capital Follows Fears Thaksin may Return to Country WASSANA NANUAM, ANUCHA CHAROENPO & MONGKOL BANGPRAPA The Third Army sent a battalion of troops to Bangkok last night following fears of the return of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and protests against the election of Meechai Ruchupan as National Legislative Assembly (NLA) president. An army source said the troops were sent from Nakhon Sawan, the closest contingent of the Third Army to Bangkok. Another four battalions were reported to be moving down from Phitsanulok. Army chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin has instructed the First Army, especially units based in Bangkok, to be on alert to deal with any untoward developments over the coming week, the source said. For its part, the Fourth Army in charge of the South has been instructed to step up road checkpoints in the region for fear that Mr Thaksin might sneak back by car into the country from Malaysia via Singapore, the source added. The precautions followed unconfirmed reports that Mr Thaksin had travelled to Singapore from England, where he has been in self-imposed exile since he was ousted in the Sept 19 coup. ''We have to take precautions because Pol Lt-Col Thaksin is the sort of person who says yes when he means no and no when he means yes,'' the source noted. The military movements came to light after Mr Meechai was elected president of the NLA yesterday, in a move that sparked fierce criticism from anti-Thaksin groups who see him as being loyal to the deposed prime minister. The election came amid an upsurge of criticism against the Council for National Security (CNS) and the interim government of Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont. The critics include academics and non-governmental organisations opposed to the coup, including the Campaign for Popular Democracy that was at the forefront in the People's Alliance for Democracy that protested against Mr Thaksin for several months earlier this year. Several mobs could form at this juncture, the army sources said, quoting intelligence reports. They include those against Mr Meechai's election as NLA president, and those protesting the continued imposition of martial law. ''This is where the military fears that a third hand, or previously powerful elements loyal to Pol Lt-Col Thaksin may create a situation by infiltrating or organising mobs to stir up violence in order to lure soldiers into using force, or violent means because they are empowered to do so under martial law,'' a source said. The army sources said Gen Saprang Kalyanamitr, assistant army chief and assistant secretary-general of the CNS, asked Gen Sonthi for permission to move Third Army forces under the command of Lt-Gen Chiradej Kotcharat into Bangkok to reinforce units based in the capital. Gen Sonthi and Gen Vinai Paetayakul, permanent secretary for defence and CNS secretary-general, had been in consultations with Gen Surayud about the matter. The military was also concerned about the spread of reports of division in the CNS, especially reports that Pol Gen Kowit Wattana would be dismissed as the national police chief because he had failed to follow policy, the sources said. The recent razing of schools in the provinces has been put down to the failure of police to contain the situation. ''Pol Gen Kowit has not been dismissed because he is a classmate of Gen Sonthi and most members of the CNS. But his role and stand have been discussed in the CNS several times,'' the sources said. The CNS was watching local politicians and former Thai Rak Thai MPs based in the Northeast and North, the sources said. It was also monitoring the movements of former communist insurgents who were close to core members of Mr Thaksin's ousted government as there were attempts to rally these people around their common grievance about the state's failure to allot land to them. Intelligence reports suggested that police and military officers loyal to Mr Thaksin were stirring up discontent with leaflets and rumours, the sources said. Mr Meechai promised to prove his worth as head of the interim parliament and called on his critics to give him time. As NLA president, he would only be responsible for supervising the selection of the 2,000 members of the National People's Assembly, which will proceed with drafting the constitution, he said. His assembly was not the one drafting the new constitution. The interim charter had clearly divided the responsibilities of the two assemblies, Mr Meechai said. Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda said Mr Meechai was an ''ace legal expert'' and honourable person who would be a ''good president'' of the NLA.

I suppose there are other reasons why smugglers would attempt to get 350 dogs into Laos, but the idea that perhaps they were to be used as food certainly crosses my mind. Dog meat is sold in Laos. I have not yet had the pleasure. As much of a sacrifice that it is, I think I'll wait around a bit before sitting down to a plate of Dog Stroganoff or Fido Fazoo. The following appears in THE NATION _____ Marine Police Rescue 350 Dogs from Being Smuggled to Laos Nakhon Phanom - Mekong Patrol Police rescued 350 dogs early Tuesday morning before they were smuggled to Laos. Pol Capt Sommai Duangkam, leader of the patrol unit for Ban Paeng Pier in Tambon Ban paeng of Nakhon Phanom's Bang Paeng district, said his unit heard dogs barking and howling from a river bank at 5 am. Sommai said when he checked the spot he found that villagers were transporting 39 cages with 350 dogs onto 2 long-tailed boats. He said the villagers fled on foot upon seeing his patrol boat. The dogs were sent to the Nakhon Phanom animals quarantine centre for further action.

At first, raising the legal minimum drinking age to 25 was seriously considered. Now it has been settled that one must be at least 20 years old before liquor can legally be consumed. I am amused because either way a Thai boy can work in a bar at age 18, but he can't drink in the same bar until he is 20. BANGKOK, Oct. 24 (TNA) Thailand's Cabinet Tuesday decided to raise the threshold making the legal age for liquor consumption to be age 20 and to complete the process to enforce the new regulation along with the total ban on liquor commercials by November. Public Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla said the Cabinet discussed the legal drinking age, which was originally pondered to be 25, and decided on 20. The Disease Control Department will work out details of the draft Alcoholic Beverage Consumption Control Act before seeking Cabinet approval. After Cabinet endorsement, the draft will be sent to the Council of State and the whole process which leads to enforcement of this new rule should be completed by November, according to Dr. Mongkol. Apart from setting the drinking age, the Cabinet also discussed complaints about the impact of the Food and Drug Administration's order banning liquor advertisements around the clock that will result in a Bt200 million revenue loss to the state. Dr. Mongkol said the Cabinet is of the view that advertising revenue from the alcoholic drink sector is neither significant nor sustainable. The Cabinet is pondering a possible solution in the form of increasing the so-called 'sin tax'

I guess it isn't enough that so many Thai people are suffering huge losses because of the severe flooding and so many people are now suffering from diseases as a result. Now they (and you too if you're out in the provinces) also need to be careful of crocodile attacks: _____ BANGKOK, Oct 22 (TNA) Thailand's Department of Fisheries Sunday warned that crocodiles bred in illegal reptile farms have been escaping from their confinement due to the floods encompassing much of the central provinces, and that the animals --unused to a natural environment -- may look for food in all the wrong places. An undetermined number of crocodile farms, both legal and illegal, are located in the flood-ravaged central provinces, which have been battered by severe floods this year. The escaped reptiles are likely to approach humans because they are used to being fed by farm raisers, according to Fisheries Department director-general Charanthada Kannasut. The director-general suggested that villagers not walk or travel by boat in flooded areas at night in order to avoid from being attacked by hungry crocodiles. The difficulty in seeing crocodiles, though, is that their nose and eyes are visible only slightly above water, he said. At night they might not be noticed at all. Members of the public who see crocodiles at large should inform the authorities immediately, Mr. Charanthada advised. Crocodiles raised by legal farms have been moved to safe areas from the floods which are now ravaging several of Thailand's central provinces but the public, especially residents living near waterways, should be on alert for crocodiles that have escaped from illegal reptile farms, Mr. Charanthada said. Mr. Charanthada said that crocodiles from legal farms have been relocated and are now being kept in safe areas. Meanwhile, he warned, an undetermined number of crocodiles from unregistered crocodile farms have escaped from inundated farms and are still roaming free in canals and rivers. (TNA) - E 111

First, the boys would need to even realize they have something wrong beyond just a chest cold and that whatever it is requires medical attention. To get medical attention, isn't it possible for them to go to a hospital under the 30-baht plan? I'm really not sure how that works, but isn't that what the plan is for?

This morning I had breakfast with a friend at Le Caf

It doesn't look any less convenient than the main bus terminal, depending on where you're starting from. Obviously the most convenient way to get to the airport is by taxi. If you don't want to spend the money on a taxi, then this is an inexpensive alternative. It's not all that far down the beach. It would take about five minutes to get there from the Dongtan police box.

It doesn't seem to me that there is anything to suggest. She went to Bangkok-Pattaya hospital and this was diagnosed. Correct? What did the doctor say about it and what did the doctor advise doing about it? That's the advice I'd be seeking out. Now, maybe I'm misunderstanding and that's what you're already doing. Are you posting because what you want from us is merely advice concerning how to open the pictures? If that's what you're looking for, I've never heard of any of those extensions other than the dll extention, which would have nothing to do with photos. Dll usually means Dynamic Link Library, and has to do with running programs, and nothing at all to do with photos. Ask the hospital what program they use to open those if Namjai's suggestion won't work. If that fails, then go to Tuk Com and see if any of the software shops have a program that will open them. If you get them to open, can I have an 8x10 glossy?

While it is possible to obtain the retirement visa in other countries, I don't recommend doing that for just the reasons fountainhall outlined. Get the visa within Thailand. Believe me, it's the easiest thing in the workl as long as you enter Thailand with at least the Type "O" visa and you are at least fifty years old. As I said, if anyone wants the article all you have to do is send an E-mail to me and I'll be glad to send it to you. Do not PM me for the article. I have no way to send it via PM. I can send it only by E-mail. Some people have asked me to post the article on the web site, but for reasons of my own I prefer to handle that, and any other article requests, by E-mail.

I've posted a map and circled Soi Chaiyapruk for you. Click the attachment below to enlarge it. [attachmentid=63]

The one-year non-immigrant visa and the retirement visa are both the same thing. You do not need an attorney. Save your money. Obtaining the visa is the easiest thing in the world, but you must be at least age 50. I have written a detailed article that literally walks you through the entire process. If you will send me your E-mail address I will be happy to send you a copy of the article. You can write to me at gaybutton@gmail.com . If you are under age fifty, then apply for the Type "O" visa, which is good for 90 days or the Type "O-A" visa, which is good for, I believe, 180 days. Both can be renewed via "visa runs." With that visa, once you reach age fifty you will be able to obtain the one-year retirement visa.

Although some may argue that the problems regarding North Korea have nothing to do with Thailand, I think the story is highly relevant given North Korea's proximity to Thailand and the fact that so many travelers to Thailand have stops in South Korea and Japan. __________ Report: North Korean Leader Regrets Test AP North Korean leader Kim Jong Il expressed regret about his country's nuclear test to a Chinese delegation and said Pyongyang would return to international nuclear talks if Washington backs off a campaign to financially isolate the country, a South Korean newspaper reported Friday. "If the U.S. makes a concession to some degree, we will also make a concession to some degree, whether it be bilateral talks or six-party talks," Kim was quoted as telling a Chinese envoy, the mass-circulation Chosun Ilbo reported, citing a diplomatic source in China. Kim told the Chinese delegation that "he is sorry about the nuclear test," the newspaper reported. The delegation led by State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan met Kim on Thursday and returned to Beijing later that day

And it's only 106 baht! For details click the following link: http://www.pattayamail.com/current/news.shtml#hd19

I haven't been to the airport yet, but if you contact the airline before you travel, arrangements can be made to have you met at the arrival gate with a wheelchair or some other form of assistance for people who are handicapped.

Not really. You'll notice that when most bar boys order a drink that a "farang" buys for him, it's almost always a soft drink. The bars usually tip him 20 baht for each soft drink he orders, if a "farang" is buying. He gets nothing for beer or other liquor. The reason for that was once explained to me, but to tell the truth I forgot what the explanation was.