Gaybutton

I hold accounts at several banks. I have three main reasons. My primary bank is Bangkok Bank. That is because Bangkok Bank has a branch in New York. It isn't a commercial branch at which you can just walk in, but they do have a routing number. My retirement income is sent to me each month by direct deposit. Since Bangkok Bank in New York does have a routing number, direct deposits are sent to that office, which in turn deposits the funds into my account and it shows up on the Thailand side the same day. I know of no other Thai banks in the USA. My second reason is I keep some money in banks that have the most common ATMs around town. That way I don't have to pay ATM fees every time I want to withdraw cash. My third reason is in case one bank ever fails or I lose an ATM card, an ATM eats the card, or whatever other kind of mishap occurs, I've still got money in other banks, readily available, while I am sorting out whatever problem occurred.

I had dinner at Chez Vickie this evening with Pattayamale and RichLB. I agree that there has been major improvement, both in the service and the food. In all honesty, for awhile Chez Vickie turned into a major disappointment for me. As much as I loved it when it was Vickie L'amour in Bangkok and as much as I loved it when it first opened in Pattaya, the last time I was there I swore never to go back. There were several of us that night. The last three times there were problems about mixed up orders, etc. On one occasion I had been served a salad I had not ordered. I called the waiter over to tell him I had not ordered it and didn't want it. He simply responded with "Mai pen rai" and didn't take it back. I took that to mean he could not take it back once it had been served, so as long as I have it, I might as well eat it, which I did. I was also charged for it . . . The last time I was there I placed my order. I never got any food! We had to beg just to be served some bread, and then had to beg again to get some butter. I am not exaggerating when I tell you I waited a full hour before the waiter came over to tell me they had run out of what I had ordered. A full hour! It wasn't as if other people had ordered the same thing and they had just then run out. It was perfectly obvious they had already run out at the time I placed the order. I didn't lose my cool at that point, although I was getting hungrier and hungrier watching everybody else eating. I told the waiter I'll have the nightly special instead. About twenty minutes later they brought the food . . . the wrong order! The waiter actually argued with me about it. I sent it back and decided to give it fifteen more minutes. When the fifteen minutes was up, so was I. I don't recall ever having walked out of a restaurant in my life, but that night I walked out. I wasn't about to go back until Pattayamale insisted that everything had changed and now the restaurant is excellent and operating as it should be. So, tonight I went. I'll admit having a chip on my shoulder when I walked in, but Pattayamale was right. The whole thing has changed. A whole new, well trained, efficient staff and excellent food, all served properly and in a timely manner. I was delighted and now Chez Vickie is back on my favorites list.

Now that's a discount! Some of you might be interested to know that the Bangkok location does not permit smoking on the premises at all. No smoking in the rooms and no smoking on the property anywhere. I don't know if all IBIS locations have the same policy, but I imagine if one does, then they all do.

This story is beginning to have me wondering too. Before posting, I confirmed with four different sources, not one of whom would have any reason in the world to conjure it up or bullshit me into writing a false information post. I checked the local media today and nothing is there, although that part doesn't surprise me very much. What is striking me as most odd is last night I was down there. It was open and operating as usual, with nobody acting as if anything was amiss at all - until I asked a waiter what he knew about it. It was one of those broadly smiling "welcome inside mister" guys who was quite friendly - that is until I asked what happened. With that the smile suddenly vanished and he just clammed right up and refused to say anything about it. Kotter got his version of the story from a security guard. I never spoke to the security guard, so that makes a fifth source. We just finished about a month of rumors about Googie's death until it was finally confirmed without dispute. Now here comes another one. I'm not going to start playing private detective, but obviously something strange is going on with this story. I'm demoting it to rumor instead of fact for the time being.

You want examples of Thai logic (or lack thereof)? Just go back and wade through my "I Don't Get It" posts. You just might find an example or two . . . I believe if I live here for 1000 years, I would still not even be close to being able to answer that one.

I've seen posts on the various boards complaining of some of the bars filled with ladies in the audience, but I've never encountered that. I see groups of two or three every so often, but that's all I've ever seen. Of course, I don't go to the bars very often, so I don't doubt what others have said. I'm only saying I've never encountered more than that and it's rare enough that I'm usually surprised when I do see ladies in the audience. Again - that's just my own experience.

I'll third that. To me, contemporary board software has too many bells and whistles, kind of like my TV and DVD remote controls - all kinds of buttons and I still have no idea what half of them do. I think the most easy-on-the-eyes colors to read on message boards are black or a very dark blue on a gray background. However, if it is possible to do, there is one bell and whistle I would like to see on this board - a spell checker.

I had some problems at Chez Vickie myself the last couple of times I was there. However, based on what I'm seeing posted here, I'm going to return very soon.

That's fine, but that's not what we're saying. At least that's not what I'm saying and I don't see where you're getting the idea that anyone is saying that. We're talking about a boy you already know and like, he knows and likes you, and you've already been with him several times. I don't think anyone is foolish enough to think they're going to go to a bar, have a boy he's never met, or has never taken off even if they have met before, sit with him, and offer to take him to a movie without giving him any money. I'm talking about boys with whom you have already established some sort of a friendship with. You do tip him when you're having sex with him. I don't think anyone is disputing that. I also fail to see the logic of your doctor at the cocktail party analogy. Few people would be crass enough to seek his medical advice, but I might ask him for his card, tell him something about my problem, and ask him if this is the kind of thing he handles. Don Rickles was one of the entertainers at Ronald Reagan's inaugural gala. "The Secretary of State's here, and Billy Graham. Nice to see you, sir . . . This hand is bothering me." Of course, if your doctor happens to be the same as Rodney Dangerfield's - Dr. Vinnie Boombatz - it might be a different story at those cocktail parties: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptQ9wNs8bKI

Why are you assuming that's the way it will be? What's wrong with letting the boy pick where to eat? Or if you're going to pick it, at least go to a restaurant that serves Thai food as well as farang food. What's wrong with letting him pick the movie? As long as it has English subtitles, if it's a Thai movie, what's the problem? It it's a non-Thai movie, it's going to have Thai subtitles and if it's an action movie, he's going to like it. For years after 'Titanic' the Thai boys were still talking about how much they liked it. Now they're talking about 'Avatar.' However, if you still think there should be a tip, by all means feel free to give him one.

It's always nice to meet a fellow Dan Quayle fan . . .

You mean he's not your hero too . . . ?

Nothing. I disagree with Fountainhall on this. I don't see it as tantamount to calling an escort service. Neither do the boys I've dated this way. I see it as a date too. I don't agree that when inviting a boy one likes to spend time with and he likes spending time with you, doing things both enjoy without sex being involved, then that necessarily means the meter has to be running. Some people are convinced it's all always about money. It isn't. An example of what I often do is to offer to take the boy swimming at Pattaya Park. Most love doing that. To make it fun for all, I always tell them they can invite two or three friends, and they almost always do. Everyone has a wonderful time and there is never so much as a hint for additional money.

Have you ever noticed that when famous people, especially politicians, lose their jobs, resign, or whatever - usually under pressure, it's always "to spend more time with my family"? As for who will take over, don't you know?

I believe in Thailand no distinction is made between rape and statutory rape. Based on my interpretation of the article, I think it is probably more the statutory type of crime. Either way, consensual or forcibly, here's a man having sex with under-age kids. 90 years old! Too bad. He could have been the poster boy for Viagra . . .

I suppose you could look at it that way, but I see "tips" as money given to a boy when you are with him for sexual purposes and he's expecting money for what he does. I don't view an afternoon outing with no sex involved as the same thing. I view it simply as being kind and generous with the boy when giving money to him is not necessarily an obligation.

I'm going to steal some thunder from RichLB, but this story is too good not to post. I love it when a farang manages to beat a thief at his own game. We always warn everyone to be very careful with personal belongings when you have a "guest" who you don't really know. RichLB told me a story, as it was told to him by a friend, about a very clever farang who buys fake, dirt cheap, but real looking, "Rolex" watches from the vendors. They cost what, maybe a couple hundred baht each? When he has someone he doesn't know come over, he leaves one of them out where the boy is sure to spot it. After "fun and games" are over, the farang heads for the shower. If the boy is a thief, by the time he comes out of the shower the boy and the fake watch are both gone - before giving the boy his 'tip.' I loved that story! "That's very . . . cunning." - Ian Bannen, 'Flight of the Phoenix' - 1965

This latest pedophile arrest would be sure to make it to a "you've got to be kidding" list: _____ Australian Pedophile Arrested for Rape of a Minor in Chiangmai Chiangmai police arrest a 90 year old Australian for child pornography and indecent acts of rape on a minor. Chiangmai, 30th June 2010, Police Colonel Klitthaphon Yeesakhorn ( Doi Saket Police Superintendent, Chiangmai) held a search warrant in order to raid a suspect’s house, 144/2, Moo2, Maekhue, Chiangmai and arrest an Australian National Mr. Crousekarl Josep [90]. The suspect was alleged to have acted indecently, raping a child under 15 years old. The officer searched the house to find 500 photos of naked girls and 2 dildos among other untoward information on the computer that was impounded for evidence. The suspect was taken to the police station while denying all allegations. _____ Photos and the rest of the story: Australian Pedophile Arrested in Chiangmai

As much as I'm sure we would all like to see this thread turn into an online bitch-slap between you and HeyGay, let's not do that. This thread is about Chez Vickie. Please keep it that way. I think we all have figured out that you dislike HeyGay and HeyGay dislikes you.

Without rehashing all the reasons already posted, I'll give you a few more. Obviously the most common places people look for hookups are the bars. Not everybody likes the bars. Not everybody is located conveniently to the bars. Even those who like the bars are not necessarily in "a bar mood" every time they're seeking a hookup. Not everybody would agree that using hookup sites is a "waste of precious time" when they know they can easily find a hookup within minutes on those sites, whereas going out cruising might take quite some time before you find what you're looking for. For those visiting areas that don't have gay bars or areas at which they are unfamiliar, it can be difficult just to figure out where to cruise at all or they just have to trust to luck that someone who appeals to them is going to give you that smile or wink. Hookup sites can very often solve that problem. Also, if you're going to search the bars, shopping malls, the beach, etc, you have to do your cruising during the hours those places are open and/or when boys are likely to be there. On the other hand, boys are available on the hookup sites 24/7.

Many do, but if I was specifically seeking macho muscle boys, I would start in Pattayaland, probably at Boyz Boyz Boyz.

I usually celebrate the fourth with a fifth . . .

I agree with RichLB and strangely enough I don't feel the least bit ashamed. And what's wrong with debating about it for an eternity? How about that? I invited the boy to spend the afternoon doing something besides staying in his room and sleeping, which is how most of them spend their day. I took him to a restaurant of his choosing. I gave him money to buy whatever he wants or save it for food because he's starving and I'm just an insensitive son-of-a-bitch who doesn't see or understand his problems and definitely couldn't care less about them. And I also dragged him kicking and screaming to a movie that he hated in a theater where he nearly froze to death. And I didn't even give him a tip for having caused his terrible suffering. How terrible of me.

It looks like I spoke too soon and it may have been a murder after all, although it was being called a suicide when the news first broke. My latest information is the police are now conducting a murder investigation. As usual, it didn't take long for the rumor mill to go into operation full swing, but I intend to post only what I know to be fact. Before the critics jump all over me for earlier saying it is an apparent suicide, therefore not necessarily fact, at the time that's what the police were saying. Now they're saying differently. I don't know why you would feel that the police may not tell the whole truth. After all, it was this same police department that years ago discovered a body in Pattaya Bay, weighted down, hands tied behind his back, and a bag tied around the head - and ruled it a suicide. What's not to be confident about . . . ?

I try not to post these things without confirmation. I just received the confirmation. This has been confirmed by the Pattaya police. Peter, the owner of the La Dolce Vita bar in Jomtien Complex, was found hanged this morning - inside the bar. Nothing had been stolen from the bar and murderers usually don't commit the crime by hanging people, so it's obviously most likely a suicide. At this point I have no further details. I will post what I can find out.