TotallyOz

The boys were roughhousing today by the pool and one slipped and skinned his knee. I jumped out of the pool to see what happened and sure enough, the cut was deep. It was very deep and I insisted he go to the hospital. He whined and said he would be OK but I insisted and he went. The doctor had to put 3 stitches in the leg and gave him a tetanus shot. He also gave him medicine and pain pills. We need to take him back in one week. The cost for the stitches and the shot and the pharmacy was 2,900 baht and that was an emergency room visit. With that price, why anyone would want to even go to a doctor down a dark soi is beyond me. Bangkok Pattaya is amazing and clean and VERY professional. They just keep impressing me time and time again.

Life throws many twists and turns at every corner and when ever you choose a different path more obstacles come your way. Pattaya has always been a fun place for me and I love the bar scene here and often went to 5 or more in one night. But, the real reason that has brought me back to this fair city time and time again is the boyfriend. First it was boyfriend number 1 who taught me how to be a farang in a foreign land and to be taken for every penny possible. (I will not count the baht lost on him or the number of mobile phones) LOL I am now with a guy that I have been with for 4 years and I adore him. He really makes me very happy and content. I look back on each trip to Pattaya and it is the same thing each time. I stay at an expensive hotel because of the great high speed Internet and the service and I spend a great deal of money on the bars and the tips. I can’t even count how many tips I gave to boys just to sit and have a drink with no intention of an off. Now that the USD is low and times are hard for us poor Americans to travel and enjoy the good life we once did, I have decided to try Pattaya a different way. I have rented a home in the fair land by the sea. The boyfriend and I have settled in and started to play house. Buying flowers for the garden, stocking up the fridge, etc. We are eating out less, going out less, frequenting the bars less, spending less money and trying to make this little heaven by the sea some place that is good for both of us and a place we can both thrive and enjoy life. For me that means a balance between him and the bar scene. For him, I think it is a balance between me and his family’s needs. We joined a gym and started exercising together. He has been very good with this. We have been swapping times cooking and he is trying things he never heard of and so I am. As my regular nights use to be going out EVERY night, we are committed to going to gogo bars only one night a week together (this one I have already broken), one night for Karaoke, one night for movie and one for bowling. Yes, that is a lot of going out but just not the same stuff every night. We are trying to add variety and flavor to the day to day routine. He hates Sunee Plaza and refuses to go there with me. That is fine with me as I will usually have one of our other friends go with me. So, for those of you that see me walking around the plaza, it is most likely not with the boyfriend but with another companion. I am not sure how long any of the “other” friendships will last but I am hanging out again with one favorite guys. As LMTU said to me when I first dated the guy, “I remember him when he first came to Pattaya. This boy has one huge cock. Number 1 boy in Pattaya.” LOL The cock part is true. He still has the handsome long hair and divine smile. Mix that will a lot of personality and a good heart and perhaps he will hang out with us for a long time to come. How long this will this “Nobel Experiment last? I am not sure. Been here for almost a week and so far it has been great. Only time will tell. I gave him my word that I would not to hire many guys (we didn’t discuss the term many) and try to stay at home and be a good wife for him (I only broke this once so far). The house I have taken is nice but not huge. It is clean but not without needed TLC. The garden is sparse but getting better each day as we spend our days at the flower marts and orchid farms. Today we shopped for some fish for the outside fishpond. Yes, I have a fishpond. We have 12 lovely pets and I hope they are able to stay alive for a long time. They have plenty of room and we give them plenty of food, but hoping that the occasional party go’er does not get drunk and mistake them for someone to put on the BBQ. Anyway, I hope to have lots of reviews of restaurants and new places over the coming months. Perhaps not as many reports on the bar scene but we will see if I am able to keep to my one night a week out goal (that does not include beer bars with friends). My biggest struggle is going to be trying to balance my desire to keep working out with the multiple of distractions found in Pattaya and in Thailand in general. I was not able to get this in synch on my last trip and I am putting a much more concerted effort into it on this trip. September, I plan to return to the fitness camp I have been to in the place to train for my first marathon in October. So far my longest run has been 22 miles. A full marathon is 26 miles and I feel good about finishing my first one this fall. But, if my time in Pattaya was anything like the last time, too little exercise and too much fun, I may be in for a struggle this fall. But, that is what goals are made for. You set them and try to find a way to achieve them. My goals on this trip are noble in nature but defiantly a long shot.

We were headed to the movie at Major Cineplex and needed to eat. We took a short walk up 2nd Road and found Aloha. It is the place with the waterfall on the outside of it. Inside, it is decorated much like the Little Mermaid. It has a Hawaiian / Polynesian theme. There was live music that was very relaxing and enjoyable. The Thai lady did not hit all the English words right but she has a nice voice and it was peaceful to listen to. There were 5 of us in total. We started off with the Scorpion, which is a mixed drink for 4 with Bourbon and Rum and some Island juices. They served in a large tabletop pot with LONG straws for all of us to reach. We all had the set menu, which was 990 bath each. I had the Sea Bass and the boys had the Tenderloin. It was a 5-course meal. First, we all had a salad. The one with the sea bass was great and served in a pineapple. They had the Caesar Salad. We all had soup. I have onion, which was good, and they had lobster bisque. The lobster was very good. For the main course, the sea bass was excellent. Great flavors, prepared perfectly with some nice vegetables and the plate was beautifully presented. The tastes were very good for my plate and the tenderloin. Desert was fried banana and ice cream which was OK and we all had coffee. The meal was great and everyone enjoyed the food. For everything, the cost for five was under 6k bath. It was a very nice place with perhaps the best atentative staff I have had in Pattaya and the food was great and filling. It was a bit pricey for what we got but it was throughly enjoyable. Aloha Diner and Bar Open Daily 5PM – 1AM 081-8655184 485/17 Moo 10, 2nd Road Opposite Marriott Hotel

I have always felt that the gay clubs were targeted more than the straight clubs in Pattaya. I don't think this has to do with being gay as much as it does have to do with the amount of money being moved in and out. But, the amount of press of the gay raids far outweighs the number of straight ones. I know there is NO difference in the ages, drug habits, etc of these places. You can find it all at both gay and straight. Recently in NYC, there was an uproar over the gay pride weekend. See article below. I remember back to the days when the mayor really targeted the gay places almost to the point of extinction. We were resilient back then and there are enough in Pattaya to hang tough as well. Gay men are smart and educated and are not going anywhere (once they can afford the airfare to get here). I do think the way business has been done in the past is over and there is a new set of rules that will be enforced. Gay Pride Weekend Brings Club Raids by Steve Weinstein New York Editor-In-Chief Saturday Jun 28, 2008 On Friday, June 27, tens of thousands of men were pouring out onto the streets of Manhattan from all over the country expecting a citywide party. The last weekend in June is not only a celebration of Gay Pride, but also a lucrative weekend-long festival of gay dance events. But this year, something else happened. The City of New York, which has been cracking down hard on gay sex venues, moved in with a vengeance on nightclubs. Splash was reportedly overrun by police, although no one from the city or the club returned calls for comment. The club has, however, remained open. The other club was shut down. Pacha, the megaclub on the western edge of Hell’s Kitchen, was scheduled to hold two major dance parties for Gay Pride: Victor Calderone’s Pride Evolve on Saturday; and the Saint at Large’s Champions on Sunday night. Champions has been moved to Capitale, a large space on the border of the Lower East Side and Chinatown where Saint at Large has held parties in the past. Mike Peyton, of the Saint at Large, said that anyone with a ticket for Pacha party should simply show up at Capitale, which is the Bowery a few blocks above Canal Street, and the ticket will be honored. Moving the party has cost the Saint at Large probably much, if not most, of the proceeds, which were to go to Heritage of Pride, the organization that runs the march down Fifth Avenue. A notice at Pacha gave the following information for the club shutdown. There has been surveillance of the club since Aug. 11, 2007. Since that time, the warrent said, there have been drugs bought that included Ecstasy in various quantities for about $20 per pill; cocaine, up to as much as $750 worth; marijuana; and "alleged" ketamine (which could mean it was sold as Special K, but might have been a substitute). The warrant cited drug buys within the cub on dates from August 2007 into June 2008, but the big drug buys only started occurring around December of last year. The club remains closed as of this writing. According to some reports, Marquee, a straight club on the "club strip" in West Chelsea, was also shut down by authorities. But many people, both New Yorkers and out-of-towners, are wondering about the timing of these incidents on the biggest all-gay weekend of the year. http://www.edgenewyork.com/index.php?ch=ne...3=&id=76623

Thanks. Very interesting merger. What is it exactly that Fab Scout got? I don't know the ins and outs of that business too well and have never made a video. I assume this was contracts, etc.? I will agree with Brandon that David is a legend. He has been talked about, cussed about, praised, etc by different groups for years. I also love the way Brandon writes. Having met him last year, he is a sweet and very charming young man.

I left the LOS last week, got to LA and missed it so much I came back 2 days later. The flight crew was the same one as I had on the outbound flight. We were all actually in the same hotel in Los Angeles. I had one lady who had her first trip and asked her if she could give me a bottle of water early and she came back with a full large liter of water for me and asked me to hide it. I thanked her profusely. When I initially asked, she questioned if we normally got them and I told her I didn't remember and she said it was her first flight and she didn't know either. I guess instead of asking someone, she just brought me over a large bottle. When at the hotel, I saw her a few times as I was coming and going. Her English was great and I asked her for dinner the night I saw her and she met me for a nice meal. A wonderfully pleasant lady and very classy and full of charm. Married for 20 years and a Master's degree from University. Speaks Thai, English, French and German. A very nice conversation. She knew I was gay BTW on the first flight as we chatted about my boyfriend in Thailand. I am sure she would not have met me otherwise. Anyway, in the short time I was there, I did the business I needed to do but left off one thing on the agenda. I use a Brawn Electric shaving system. It uses the braun refills and they are at every major K-mart, Target, Walmart in USA. I forgot them until last night someone mentioned to me that I had aged 20 years with the grey beard. It is OK for me to be a bear, but to look 20 years older for me is not something I can take. So, anyone know where I can get these at? http://www.drugstore.com/qxp140480_334918_...enew_refill.htm Your help would be greatly appreciated! (by both me and the boyfriend)

There have been recent discussions regarding laptop seizures and searches when returning to the USA from Thailand. This is done quite often. I read the recent court report regarding a man flying to Canada from Switzerland and was detained in NYC for several days and then sent to Syria where he says he was tortured. The court ruled that he had no standing as he was NEVER officially in the USA. Thus, for those who complain that their laptops were searched and that they are law abiding citizens of the USA, can now say that this did not happen in the USA and thus no privacy issues exist. IMHO this is just a load of horse shit. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/01/world/am...amp;oref=slogin By ALAN FEUER Published: July 1, 2008 A federal appeals court on Monday dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Syrian-born Canadian man who had accused the United States of violating the law and his civil rights after he was detained at Kennedy Airport and sent to Syria under what he claims was an act of “extraordinary rendition.” The man, Maher Arar, tried to win civil damages from United States officials in his suit, but the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York ruled that because he was never technically inside the United States, his claims could not be heard in the federal courts. While stating that “threats to the nation’s security do not allow us to jettison principles of ‘simple justice and fair dealing,’ ” the majority opinion ruled nonetheless that Mr. Arar, who had been seized as he tried to change planes at Kennedy Airport while flying back to Canada from Switzerland, had no federal standing in his case and that the government did not violate the Torture Victim Protection Act by sending him abroad. Mr. Arar, a telecommunications engineer, was detained at the airport in September 2002 when immigration officers found his name on a terrorist watch list. After being held for several days in New York, he was sent to Jordan by immigration officers and turned over to Syrian intelligence, which, he claims, tortured him. In an occasionally scathing dissent, one judge, Robert D. Sack, said Mr. Arar’s suit should have been able to proceed because the argument that he was never really in the United States was “a legal fiction.” “Arar was, in effect, abducted while attempting to transit at J.F.K. Airport,” Judge Sack wrote.

http://www.pattayaphotoguide.com/

If you need a way to send money to your bf when you are away, try epassporte.com. It is very easy to get a gift account and the Visa Credit Card will be in the name of the boyfriend. You can then add funds to his account whenever you want. He will be able to use the card where ever Visa is accepted. He can also use the card to get money from the ATM. I think the ATM fee is 2 USD. If you have money in your own epassporte account, it only cost .35 to send the money to him. It is all done online and very simple. You can gift the card to him. If you want the Visa Gift card in his name, it cost 35 USD to set up. You can start with as much funds as you desire and you can add to his card as much as needed. For me, it is much better than the PayPal card he had and lost a few months back. I gave this company a try and have been very very happy with them. My niece is very young and I recently sent her a Gift Visa. It is in her name and the money is hers to do with as she chooses. It is a nice birthday gift if you decide to go this way.

Yes, I know it is bad all over. I also know the motorbikes get better millage than cars. But, the cost for filling up the bikes keep getting higher and higher. Has the cost of the airport runs changed dramatically?

I have had many boyfriends over the years and know a few things. One, you don't want to give too much as it may be wasted or used on yabba or sucked up by the family. Two, you don't want to give to little or they will seek greener pastures. I think somewhere in the middle is a way to make both the farang and the boy happy. I have had 3 different e-mails this week asking what I give to my boyfriend every month when I am not in Thailand. It is not a number that I am willing to share on a public board but it is a price that both I and he are comfortable with. I want to make sure that he has enough for school, food, clothes, fun and family. For someone that you are with a long time, I do think this amount needs to increase the longer you are with them. I decided on a number that was about what he would be able to make if he was a very popular boy in any bar in Thailand. I have heard many say that 5k baht or 6k baht is enough for the boy to live in his village and be happy every month. I don't think that is quite enough. They leave the village to make more money and to just get it and go back to the village when Farang is not in Thailand is not quite fair. My BF also has a son. The son is 5 years old. I must take the cost of school for him and food and clothes for him into consideration as well. I also must try to imagine if I were 23 and someone were taking care of me, what is it I would want from them on a regular basis not just to survive but to thrive in life. I am sure most can live on 6k bath in their village but is that a life I would want for the person I care for and adore? I think he is with me so that he does more than just survive. He wants a chance for a better future. For me, I often base a number on going to school. If he goes, he gets money. If he doesn't go, he doesn't get any. This has been a pretty big encouragement or him to stay in school. He wants the education anyway and said this on Day1 when I met him but he knows that I want a better future for him and that a good education or trade is the only way out of the life he was once living. Everyone will have different numbers and I know that most are more than the average Thai can make in a job. Perhaps that is enough. Perhaps there are those of us to overspend and those of us who underspend. For those that wrote and asked how much I give him, all I can say is that he is given enough to have a nicer life than most would have. He also gets enough to save and do something wonderful with should he desire to save the money.

Being a New Yorker, and having marched in over 6 of these parades myself, it was nice to know that the new Governor of the Empire State is doing all he can to advance gay rights and make gys equal in every way possible he can within the law. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/30/nyregion...amp;oref=slogin

I saw a sign for New York Deli at the Major shopping mall. Has anyone tried this? Had a bagel there? Is it real Deli style food and good?

Wow, this movie is simply non-stop action from beginning to end and every Thai boy I have spoken to loved it. If you have your boy special and want to see a non thinking action movie, this one is the one. It is crammed packed full of action and fun. The main actor is quite hot as well. I also noticed a new movie segment at the beginning for the King. Are these changed yearly or is it up to each theatre?

If you get 2 VIP seats at Major, they are big and comfortable with lots of extra leg room and drink room. They also bring a blanket to you and your honey to make sure you are not too cold during the show. They are a bit more expensive than the regular seats but they are worth it. I think they cost around 250 bath each. It is a fun and romantic way to see any flick.

Violent crime in Pattaya has gone up it seems and you read more and more about the things that happen in this illustrious city by the sea. On a recent trip there, I had dinner with a friend. He said he had just gone to the Big C and Western Union store to send some money to his family and he walked outside and was held up by gunpoint. A gun was pointed into his face and the holder was a teenager he said. While my friend is Farang and not too old to protect himself, he said with a gun aimed at you, you have little choice but to give them what they want. That was money and he emptied out his pockets for the guy. He did not go to the police and the crime was unreported. But, it is scary to see that these things happen here and we don't hear about them or read about them. My suggestion is to always be cautious of your surroundings and those that are watching you.

Papa David's is a gay owned and operated business in Pattaya. It is located on the way to Jomptien at the circle turnaround right after Pattaya Properties. They have a wide variety of food to eat and enjoy. They have a bit of something for every taste. It is English owned and the food has a flare of the English in it but a wide variety of other things. I ate a great Chicken Plate with two pieces of chicken and 2 pieces of whole wheat toast. It tasted very good. The BF had some Thai food and he said it was good as well. When I lived in Jomptien a few years back, I ate there several times a week and always went alone and sat and was served with a smile and the food was good. The cost of the Chicken and Toaste with coffee and juice was 180 baht. Papa David's is clean and the atmosphere is very comfortable. I recommend it to anyone staying in the area looking for a good, inexpensive meal with good quality food.

The base fare is the same but the extras for fuel surcharge just went up over 260 UDS per ticket yesterday. I was looking into getting a ticket later this summer and another in the fall but could not see why the fares jumped so high when I hit Submit. I called them and they said that as of yesterday, an additional 260 would be added for each ticket for the high cost of gas. Just an FYI

Well, I thought I had pizza at News Cafe in the past and stopped by to ask the manager about it and he said No, they never had it. I told him I had eaten there when they had the 2nd floor open. He said that was not News Cafe but Gians and that the place had now moved next door to them. Yes, my memory is not good and it fails me often. So, for my last dinner in Thailand, I took my favorite guys to eat at Gians. We ordered 2 pizzas for appetizers. One was a sausage pizza and the other one seafood. I had 5 guys with me. Each had a slice of each and loved them and we boxed the rest for later that night. We ordered 4 main dishes to share together as I wanted them to try it all. We ordered Lasagna, Seafood Spaghetti, Salmon Penne, and Ravioli. The guys loved everything but the Ravioli as when they looked at it, it was green and they thought disgusting. I asked them to each please just taste it. They did and they loved it. Each course was a success. By far their favorite was the Salmon Penne and they all said that is what they would get when they returned. I really like the Seafood Pasta for myself and it tasted great. The guys all had Margaritas and beer. I had water. We shared all the food together and for all of us the bill was 3k baht. It is not the cheapest place in Pattaya but the food is excellent and the atmosphere was wonderful. We were an obviously gay group. Well, I an obviously gay falang with an obviously straight group of guys and we were well treated and the waiters were attentive and friendly. I met the manger and he was very nice and gave us great information. Gian’s is going to be a regular stop on my trips here. Great food. Great atmosphere and very enjoyable. Gian's is located next to News Cafe on the road that leads into Jomptien from Pattaya. It is right before Chateau Dale and the first View Talay. It is in the complex of small shops and it on the front corner location. It has a sign out front and is easy to find.

Well, unlike ChrisUK's 6 month long stay (which would be divine in my mind) I have just finished my 12 days stay. It was the shortest stay I have had here in years and of course I longed for a longer time. But, other business calls in the USA that I must attend to this week. I really only came to Thailand this time for the boyfriend's Birthday. I kept asking him what he wanted and he only said for me to come to see him for his Birthday. I tried to offer gifts in exchange for such a short trip but it did not work. I guess deep inside, he knew that I would get him a nice gift anyway and I did. I got him a watch that was a match to one of mine that he had wanted for a few years. His mother said to him that it was crazy to ask for something like that and he said he didn't ask for it that I had just given it to him. His mother thinks he has me wrapped around his finger and that I will do whatever he wants. Interestingly enough, my family and friends think the same thing. Anyway, the trip was great and I really enjoyed my time here. I got to see some good friends from years gone by and catch up on some of the wonderful Thai guys I have met over the years. I didn't really take anyone off that was new to me but stuck to the guys I have known for a few years. I was not as adventurous on this trip and didn't try as many new places as in the past. I did eat at News Cafe and Gian's in Pattaya but had eaten at both before. I ate more meals at Salt and Pepper in Soi Day Night. I find the food there the best and most reasonably priced in the city and my Thai friends love to eat there. I was able to see the paranoia that has beset Sunee and the countless humdrum of the bar scene in the area. I didn't get to the bars in Bangkok for the first time in many trips. That is usually my first few nights in Thailand. My favorite massage parlor B and N was not visited by me on this trip and I can't even remember a time in Thailand when I didn’t have a massage there. The Beach area was slow on the days I went. I still had fun as it was a good way to just relax and sit back and let Marium do a pedicure and manicure. It certainly beats the 50 USD price in LA I had been paying. I had many new offers for live in boyfriends on this trip than any other. Odd as I live in a hotel and can't take but one back to it at a time and the current bf and I have been together for 4 years. I think that is the result of a very low season. The guys that are normally off and busy are slow. They were looking for a long time financially steady guy. I did off many guys that I was a friend with in the past. None were for sexual pleasure on my part but for a night out and having fun and I honestly just wanted to help them out with a little spending money, as I knew they needed it. I don't mind giving a former ex or someone I really adore some baht during low season. I did have one boy I offed a few times who is a doorman in Sunee but he is my favorite massage guy and he did work for the money. His massages were amazing and money well spent. I spent more money in Phuket than in past but that was because I took 3 guys with me instead of just one. It was the boyfriend’s birthday trip and I wanted him to take his friends. I had tried to get him to get his passport, which he lost and go to Hong Kong for his birthday but he wanted to spend time in Phuket, as he had never been there. The trip for me was fun but as you see if you read the report, it was nothing exciting in the bar scene. Pattaya and Phuket are both building up condos and hotels like mad. I had trouble in both cities getting a good hotel, as they were full. I was really surprised at this and wonder if it has to do with the turning tides in Thailand geared toward more high end tourists that are looking for a resort instead of the bar scene? As always, I say I really envy those that are able to stay here year round. It is a paradise and with all its flaws and scandalous characters, it is a bit of heaven on earth.

I had a nice meal at the News Cafe last night. No pizza is on the menu. I know I have eaten Pizza there before but my memory is bad and perhaps I have not. Anyway, they have a host of good food selections and I decided on a board of Steak and veggies. It was absolutely delicious. The steak was not as good as Manhattans but it was excellent. The rest of the meal was much better than Manhattans IMHO. I did break down and have the Crème brûlée. It was good but not great. Cost 130 baht. News Cafe is located right after Bruno's Restaurant if you are headed from Pattaya to Jomptien and it is right before Chateau Dale and the View Tallays. The atmosphere is nice and the food was good. I did think the service was not as good as some places in town but I was also told the owner was not in last night and things may have been a bit off. Please don't get me wrong, the servers were good and there when needed. They just served all the appetizers and salad at the same time and a few little things that most Thais would not know when serving Farangs. But, they were attentive and helpful and professional. I really like the News Cafe and think the food was great. I tasted the boyfriends Elephant Ear (steak not a real Elephant ear) and it was great as well. It is best to tell the Thai guy with you that the name is Elephant Ear but it is NOT an Elephant as they find that not only distasteful but almost sinful to eat a elephant. A bottle of wine is about 1,000 baht and the dinners are about 350 bath each. The boyfriend had a mix of Chivas and Wine and it hit him fast and hard. Being my next to last night in Pattaya before my next trip, I really wanted him to go out with me but he ended up going home and resting while I went to the Plaza to find other company. Luckily, I was able to find someone who wanted to spend time with a fat old Falang. I guess it must have been either my good looks or the smell of the Crème brûlée on my breath and they thought I was a Parisian.

If two Thai guys decide to go into business together and they jointly sign a lease as business partners would both signatures be needed to sell the business or just one? Or, if 2 Thais own a company and the company buys a business, is it able to be liquidated by only one?

Day 1: Pattaya to Phuket We started our adventure from Pattaya and took a hotel car to Phuket. We had a total of 4 people and 5 large bags. We needed to be sure to handle the bags so we used the Hotel car service. The rate from them was 3500 Baht for airport in large van. After about 45 minutes on the road I had a sudden, “oh Shit” moment. I forgot my medicine in the refrigerator of the hotel. I was given some medicine that will control my Thyroid when I was in LA a few weeks back and the doctor in Beverly Hills I went to needed me on this for 2 weeks and then another blood test to determine the right dose. We called the hotel and as we didn’t have time to turn around and go back, I had them send the medicine to me via another car. This costs 2000 baht and it arrived shortly after we were checked into the airport and the boys had a few smokes outside. We debated as to whether or not to go from the airport close to Pattaya or go from Bangkok. It was decided that we would do the Bangkok airport as I would be able to get my points with them and they offered Business class seats. The roundtrip from Pattaya for coach was 7250 baht and the roundtrip from Bangkok for business was 8250 baht. We choose this, as we usually never get extra surcharges for heavy luggage if you are flying in their business class seats. The boyfriend and I both have Frequent Flyer cards with Thai Air and we linked them to our respective accounts. The other two friends that went with us had never flown before and they were excited to try the first time. Both of them wanted to sit near the window and they did. One of them never took his eye off the window and as soon as we landed he called his family to tell them he was flying above the clouds. I think he would have been happy to turn around and do it again. It did remind me of my first trip ever when I was 16 and went from USA to London. I loved the plane ride and would do it again many times and rarely got bored of it in my early years. We had wanted to stay at the Baan Yin Dee but they were fully booked for the nights we wanted. They did have the ability to switch us from 3 different rooms over the course of the trip but that was just not something I wanted to do so I booked at the Holiday Inn instead. The Holiday Inn is located not too far from the gay area and is an easy walk to the main epicenter of gay culture here. There are also lots of little shops and stands along the way to keep you mind occupied along the walk. The Holiday Inn costs around 5k per night per room and that included breakfast for all of us. I am part of their highest level of priority points as I stay when the hotel chain hotels over 125 nights a year. When we checked in they wanted to upgrade us to a private area of the hotel with nice bungalows or studios but that area did not have Internet in the rooms and that was just not acceptable to me. So, we took rooms in the main part of the hotel. The rooms were excellent with nice comfortable beds and a very nice shower. All have been recently renovated and are clean and modern. The shower has a window in it so you can open a hidden door to see the shower from the outside room to the inside of the showers. This was great for me to watch the boyfriend shower but not so wonderful when he tried to watch me. The rainfall water shower is excellent and I have really enjoyed using it each day. The first night we ate at the Ban Rim Pa restaurant. It is one of my favorites in Phuket and it on the hill overlooking the bay and simply beautiful it is a bit pricy but I wanted the guys to see the view as the sunset. We decided on a fixed menu that was seafood based and came with 4 or more appetizers and 6 main courses. The rate per person was 1600 baht. The guys ordered about 3 Coronas each and I got some watermelon juice and coconut juice. The total bill at the end of the night was slightly over 9k baht and service was included in that price. If you go here, I suggest you call and make a reservation as they are often booked and will take walkins when available but to be assured a table, call in advance. If you want a great view and your table sticking out off the cliffs, ask for one of the front tables that are gazebo like over the rocks. There are several of them and they have a wonderful view of all around the area and a great view of Patong beach. Baan Rim Pa 233 Kalm Beach Road Phone – 076-340789 We took a baht bus to the Paradise area. This is the gay area of Patong Beach. Most baht buses and taxis take you in the city for 200 baht. That was his rate and that is what we paid. We got to the Paradise area around 8:30 but there were no boys in ANY of the go-go bars. The place was a ghost town. They all open at 8 but they say the boys don’t usually come until 9:30 or 10. We sate at My Way bar on the outside and had some drinks to watch the passerby’s. It was very slow. The four drinks cost us 530 baht. That was 2 sodas and 2 whiskey and cokes. We went into Mama Sans bar as they did have go-go boys on stage. While the outside of the place is decorated beautifully, the inside still has the worst smell of any bar I have been to. It is musky and smells like moths. We all took a whiff and sat down and ordered drinks. The boys on the stag were NOT anything like we had imagined and not one of them was attractive to me. They may have been cute to someone but I was not able to find one. After the drinks came, I told the boys they had 3 minutes to drink before they guzzled them down. Down they went and out we went. The four drinks were 600 baht and it was totally worth it to get out of there fast. On the Soi directly to the right of paradise is a pool hall I fell in love with when I brought a boy here a few years back. It is well done and airs conditioning inside with 4 pool tables downstairs and more upstairs. They have a clean place and the boys rack the balls for you and drinks were plentiful. We were there for about 2 hours total and all had drinks and the cost of the night was under 700 baht. I think it is called Pluto. On the same Soi as the Pool hall I love are: Best of Faith Massage Heaven Bar Spy Boys Black and White Bar Boys Paradise Inn Flying Handbag Bar Aquarius Angel- now for sale and a great inside. That Soi is also full of gay businesses. Mostly beer bars and host bars. I wandered up and down the Soi but did not find anything I liked. We headed back to the hotel early after stopping by James Dean for a drink. We knew we had to get up early to do a full day boat adventure so we went back to the room and showered and were asleep by midnight. At least the boyfriend and I were asleep by midnight. The other two guys have their own room and I told them if they went out to be sure to be back in time to get up by 7Am to eat and wait for the van to pick us up. I didn’t ask them where they went or even if they went out as they were up and showered and ready to go by 7. Day 2 We book an adventure with Island Hoppers. It was a full day of going from one Island to the next and lots of swimming, relaxing, snorkeling, etc. I have been on this same tour 4 other times and enjoyed it so I wanted the guys to experience it as well. The cost was 3250 baht per person and that included an early morning pickup and delivery. The van took us to the Island Hoppers office where we tried on our fins to make sure they were the right size and then we boarded another van to go to the boat. Having been a few times I knew the best seats were in the front so the boys and I go on and went straight there. It is a bit bumpier up there but not too bad. Our day included trips to Yao Yai Island, Baboo Island, Hin Klang, Momkey Beach, Phi Phi Don Island, Phi Phi Lae Island, Pileh Cove, Viking Cave, and Maya Bay. We had lunch buffet style on a private restaurant owned by the company we used for the charter. The cost was 3250 per person and included pick up from hotel and return to hotel. The group was Island Hoppers and the guides we had were great and their English was excellent. We were able to go snorkeling and see some pretty coral and great schools of fish, feed the monkeys on Monkey Island bananas from the boat, swim on the same beach as Leonardo DeCaprio made the movie Beach, swim in some of the most clear and beautiful water I have seen and feed schools of fish with bread right in our hands, as well as enjoying may relaxing time on different beaches covering each other in sand, splashing in the water and just having a fabulous time. It was so great to see the guys out of their element in Pattaya and able to hand loose and enjoy themselves. Island Hopprs 29/12 Moo 1 Thepprathan Road, T. Rassanda, A. Muang Phuket 83000 Phone: 66-76-252-606-8 Baan Yin Dee is an excellent hotel and restaurant. I tried to book their pool suites for us but neither was available for the week. They had no accommodation for us to book while we were in Phuket. I love the hotel and wanted to eat there. The food is excellent and not cheap but the view is stunning and the food atmosphere is amazing. http://www.baanyindee.com Day 3 We wanted to relax from the trip yesterday as I was sunburned from top to bottom and was in a bit of pain. We did use sunscreen but I guess I didn’t keep it on as much as I should have and therefore was a quiet uncomfortable and just needed to sleep in today. We got up around 11:00 AM today and that was nice. The boyfriend and I are in one room and his 2 friends are in a separate room. When we got up, we called down to ask them if they were up for lunch. Lunch was at the gay bar area, Paradise. We ate at Newspaper Restaurant. It is right on the Soi with My Way and Tangmo. It was very clean and pleasant. We were the only customers. The food was excellent. It tasted good and it was nice portions. The average cost for a plate was 220 baht. We had 5 different plates and several drinks. The bill was 1700 baht and while good, it was expensive. We were told the owner of that restaurant is the same owner as Tangmo and 5 other businesses on that Soi. We then went to the Cobra Show as the boys really wanted to see it. I have seen one before in Chiang Mai and this one was very similar. The guys loved seeing all the snakes, etc and we had our picture taken with a few of them. The show cost 400 baht a person. They had a drink and food bar outside if anyone wanted drinks. We were able to see the show and walk around and look at several other snakes and animals. The show was fun to see if you have never been to one. The next stop was the Shooting Range. We each wanted to try some shooting with pistols and shotguns. The pistols were 900 baht for 10 bullets and the rifles were 700 baht for 10 bullets. Each of us did both the rifle and the pistol. I was the lucky winner of the rifle contest with 94% shooting skill. The boyfriend kicked ass with the pistol and blew me and the other guys away with his percentages. All in all this is a very expensive thing to do but it really a treat for the Thai guys who always see these on TV but never had a chance to hold one and shoot. Next we went Bungee Jumping. We chose the Jungle Bungy Jump under New Zealand Management. They charge 2,000 bath for the jump and that includes a shirt. They will take a DVD of the jump for another 500 baht. So, total per person was 2500 baht. This company was professional and well organized and I did feel safe there and did not think there would be any issue. I took a lot of photos myself so we didn’t pay them to do that for us. Jungle Bungy Jump – 076-321351 At night, we ate back in the Paradise area. We choose a place called 888888 ATM. It was clean and nicely decorated. The food was simply horrible. They over salted everything and the wait time was over 40 minutes. I ordered a hamburger and it was eatable but no where close to the wonderful Niddy’s hamburger I once got in Pattaya. The boys got Thai food and 2 got Spaghetti. They said the Thai food was OK but the Spaghetti was over salted and tasted bad. We each had one drink and the cost for the 4 of us was 800 baht. I hope that this was just a bad night for these guys but watching them trying to cook a hamburger was enjoyable. They had 3 cooks and 4 waiters and we were the ONLY customers. They had a large debate about the burger and finally they decided to salt it. I wish they had just asked me about it. We went over the Soi for drinks at a local beer bar. This one was directly adjacent to Tangmo. We sat outside of it as one of the guys recognized a boy who had worked at Crazy Dragon and has moved back to Phuket. The drinks at the bar were 100 baht each. Not quite as cheap as most beer bars I go to but this seems the norm here. Phuket is much more expensive in every area then Pattaya or Chiang Mai. We went toe the Simon Cabaret and sat 3rd row. The seats were great and the guys loved the show. They have all had Katoy girlfriends before so they really got a kick out of some of these beautiful women. The show as fun and enjoyable. The tickets were 600 baht each and that did not include transportation. For other 80 baht each, they would have picked us up and delivered us to the hotel. Day 4 Rock-climbing day. We were up early and had the free buffet at the Holiday Inn. The buffet is great with a wide variety of choices for everyone. They have Thai dishes, Japanese dishes, some Arab flare and of course all the Western like food. Today was the first day I had seen the guys drink coffee. They normally just drink juice but I guess they stayed up late night and were tired and thought the coffee would give them a boost. We had to meet the driver at the front of the lobby by 7:30AM. We were there and off for the day. I decided to sit this day out as my sunburn was still wrenching from pain. The boys said they had a blast. The boyfriend had gone with me to Chiang Mai on a rock-climbing trip and he was a bit more experienced than his friends but they all came back laughing and tired and said it was a very good day! The rock climbing was 2500 baht per person and that included pickup and delivery from hotel. I decided to stay in the hotel all day today and get work done. I ordered up some food for lunch and spent the day catching up on e-mails and other stuff. The boys returned so excited they were able to do the rock-climbing and I am glad they had a blast. The night was spent in the Paradise gay area again. In this area there are several bars and go-go venues. On the right: Newspaper – which we ate at and reviewed above. Dempseys Connect Room and Food – Seemed to be a busy place and the food was good! James Dean Restaurant – renovations going on one side but the other one open. Time Orchid Lounge My Way On the left: Maprang Bar James Dean and Friends Kar Door Host and Karaoke Thais Best Boys Spartacus Tangmo Kiss BB Boys Corner Bakery Around the corner to the left is the Mama San bar I mentioned above. By far the best bar we went to was My Way. It was full of cute guys and enjoyable. It is not as much fun as when I was here in high season but it was still enjoyable. When I was there in 3 nights this week, only 8-15 dancers I could see. I didn't stay for a show as I was really for a go go boy. Tangmo is fun and upbeat. A lot of cute boys and friendly staff if you like the really gay looking boys. Dempseys has some very cute waiters and staff. BB Boys caught my attention each night as they had a flow of hot studs walking into the place but I was never able to find them 20 minutes later when I would get there. While I would love to have wonderful things to say about the gay scene in Phuket, honestly, I can’t. It was dull and pretty boring. They did not have the caliber of boys that are in Bangkok, Pattaya, or Chiang Mai. I did love the time I spent there and enjoyed the Island and the city. But, if you are going for a date, you may want to bring you own.

First, I am posting in this forum as there were some comments in the new site revamp that makes me wonder about combining the forums. To test this, I am going to post my trip here. Phuket - Island Paradise Phuket Phuket is an often-mispronounced jewel in South East Asia. By far the most popular island destination in the region, it offers sandy beaches, beautiful Portuguese architecture and a rich history that will delight any seasoned traveler. The island does have a rainy season and tourists are advised to avoid its charms in September and October when it is soaking wet. For the rest of the year, particularly from November through February, Phuket’s limestone cliffs, tropical forests and powdery beaches make it a place that you don’t want to miss. The earliest history of the island comes from the Greeks. Claudius Ptolemy wrote of its charms as early as 157 A.D. For most of the past 2,000 years Phuket was used as a stopover for traders who needed to avoid monsoons. When tin was discovered, migrant workers from as far away as Portugal began to arrive and Phuket soon became one of the most influential meeting points for European traders in South East Asia. When the price of tin collapsed in 1985, the island government began hawking Phuket as a possible tourist destination. Travelers took the bait and its popularity and economy have soared. There is a diverse group of people living on the island; 35 percent of the people are Muslim ‘ representing a variety of religious and cultural histories. Hence, tolerance of all types of lifestyles has become the trademark of Phuket. While the nightlife of Phuket is always hopping, there are also a variety of activities to do during the day and as with most of Thailand, there are many wonderful western and traditional restaurants. Dino Park on Karon beach is one of the sillier tourist attractions. It is a small 18 hole golf course set in the age of the dinosaurs. It even features a dinosaur themed restaurant! All of the many beaches that encircle the island are wonderful places to snorkel and dive. At nearly any point along the coast you can find places to rent equipment and guides to help you explore the beautiful undersea vistas and the exotic fish that call the waters around Phuket their homes. Ko Kaeo visitors will not only find a beautiful sandy beach, but also a famous replica of the footprint of BuddhaKo Si-Re also features a wonderful reclining Buddha image. Cape Phanwa is home to the Phuket Aquarium, the place to go if you want to see the beautiful fish that the region has to offer, without having to go to the effort of diving or snorkeling to find them. The nearby Phuket Butterfly Farm has also been growing in popularity with the tourist trade. The Phuket Submarine offers people the chance to dive 30 meters under the sea in the comfort of full air conditioning and the Phuket Zoo is the safest way for you to see some of the regions more exotic animals. Patong Beach is tourist central and you will find a wide array of family friendly activities including go-karts, a haunted house, water skiing and Tarzan’s Water Bunny Jump. The Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Sanctuary covers nearly 5,600 acres and has hundreds of different types of local protected animals. Wat Phra Thong is the most beautiful temple on the island. According to local legend whenever invaders have tried to steal the beautiful Buddha inside, hornets have attacked and driven them away. The adjoining island of Ko Nakha Noi has the regions only year round pearl farm that is open to the public. If museums are your thing the Thalang Museum has great artifacts documenting local culture. Of course, once you’ve had your tourist fun and have accumulated enough stories that you can safely tell your friends and neighbors, it will be time to head out at night and take advantage of the hot gay island nightlife. Like all gay centers in Thailand most gay bars have hosts and waiters that you can pay to play with for a relatively cheap price. There are also a number of gay friendly restaurants, go-go bars and massage parlors to meet virtually any taste you may have. Most of the gay nightlife of Phuket centers around the Paradise Complex on Patong Beach where the people party until the wee hours of the morning. Nearly all the go-go bars in town open around 8 p.m. and have their first live shows around 10:30 p.m. Of course you probably won’t want to spend your entire trip in the Paradise Complex. When you are ready to branch out there are other hot and happening gay places up and down the popular beach. For reasons best left to their therapists, lots of straight tourists flock into Simon, which features an all drag show with some very busty showgirls. One of our favorite hotels is Baan Yaan Dee. Its prices are a bit upscale but it is gay owned and operated and the view is amazing. They have 2 pool suites that open right into the 3-story swimming pool. Check out this hotel and all others in the Accommodations section. No matter where you decide to go, Phuket is guaranteed to offer you a fun experience on your gay vacation. Day 1: Pattaya to Phuket We started our adventure from Pattaya and took a hotel car to Phuket. We had a total of 4 people and 5 large bags. We needed to be sure to handle the bags so we used the Hotel car service. The rate from them was 3500 Baht for airport in large van. After about 45 minutes on the road I had a sudden, “oh Shit” moment. I forgot my medicine in the refrigerator of the hotel. I was given some medicine that will control my Thyroid when I was in LA a few weeks back and the doctor in Beverly Hills I went to needed me on this for 2 weeks and then another blood test to determine the right dose. We called the hotel and as we didn’t have time to turn around and go back, I had them send the medicine to me via another car. This costs 2000 baht and it arrived shortly after we were checked into the airport and the boys had a few smokes outside. We debated as to whether or not to go from the airport close to Pattaya or go from Bangkok. It was decided that we would do the Bangkok airport as I would be able to get my points with them and they offered Business class seats. The roundtrip from Pattaya for coach was 7250 baht and the roundtrip from Bangkok for business was 8250 baht. We choose this, as we usually never get extra surcharges for heavy luggage if you are flying in their business class seats. The boyfriend and I both have Frequent Flyer cards with Thai Air and we linked them to our respective accounts. The other two friends that went with us had never flown before and they were excited to try the first time. Both of them wanted to sit near the window and they did. One of them never took his eye off the window and as soon as we landed he called his family to tell them he was flying above the clouds. I think he would have been happy to turn around and do it again. It did remind me of my first trip ever when I was 16 and went from USA to London. I loved the plane ride and would do it again many times and rarely got bored of it in my early years. We had wanted to stay at the Baan Yin Dee but they were fully booked for the nights we wanted. They did have the ability to switch us from 3 different rooms over the course of the trip but that was just not something I wanted to do so I booked at the Holiday Inn instead. The Holiday Inn is located not too far from the gay area and is an easy walk to the main epicenter of gay culture here. There are also lots of little shops and stands along the way to keep you mind occupied along the walk. The Holiday Inn costs around 5k per night per room and that included breakfast for all of us. I am part of their highest level of priority points as I stay when the hotel chain hotels over 125 nights a year. When we checked in they wanted to upgrade us to a private area of the hotel with nice bungalows or studios but that area did not have Internet in the rooms and that was just not acceptable to me. So, we took rooms in the main part of the hotel. The rooms were excellent with nice comfortable beds and a very nice shower. All have been recently renovated and are clean and modern. The shower has a window in it so you can open a hidden door to see the shower from the outside room to the inside of the showers. This was great for me to watch the boyfriend shower but not so wonderful when he tried to watch me. The rainfall water shower is excellent and I have really enjoyed using it each day. The first night we ate at the Ban Rim Pa restaurant. It is one of my favorites in Phuket and it on the hill overlooking the bay and simply beautiful it is a bit pricy but I wanted the guys to see the view as the sunset. We decided on a fixed menu that was seafood based and came with 4 or more appetizers and 6 main courses. The rate per person was 1600 baht. The guys ordered about 3 Coronas each and I got some watermelon juice and coconut juice. The total bill at the end of the night was slightly over 9k baht and service was included in that price. If you go here, I suggest you call and make a reservation as they are often booked and will take walkins when available but to be assured a table, call in advance. If you want a great view and your table sticking out off the cliffs, ask for one of the front tables that are gazebo like over the rocks. There are several of them and they have a wonderful view of all around the area and a great view of Patong beach. Baan Rim Pa 233 Kalm Beach Road Phone – 076-340789 We took a baht bus to the Paradise area. This is the gay area of Patong Beach. Most baht buses and taxis take you in the city for 200 baht. That was his rate and that is what we paid. We got to the Paradise area around 8:30 but there were no boys in ANY of the go-go bars. The place was a ghost town. They all open at 8 but they say the boys don’t usually come until 9:30 or 10. We sate at My Way bar on the outside and had some drinks to watch the passerby’s. It was very slow. The four drinks cost us 530 baht. That was 2 sodas and 2 whiskey and cokes. We went into Mama Sans bar as they did have go-go boys on stage. While the outside of the place is decorated beautifully, the inside still has the worst smell of any bar I have been to. It is musky and smells like moths. We all took a whiff and sat down and ordered drinks. The boys on the stag were NOT anything like we had imagined and not one of them was attractive to me. They may have been cute to someone but I was not able to find one. After the drinks came, I told the boys they had 3 minutes to drink before they guzzled them down. Down they went and out we went. The four drinks were 600 baht and it was totally worth it to get out of there fast. On the Soi directly to the right of paradise is a pool hall I fell in love with when I brought a boy here a few years back. It is well done and airs conditioning inside with 4 pool tables downstairs and more upstairs. They have a clean place and the boys rack the balls for you and drinks were plentiful. We were there for about 2 hours total and all had drinks and the cost of the night was under 700 baht. I think it is called Pluto. On the same Soi as the Pool hall I love are: Best of Faith Massage Heaven Bar Spy Boys Black and White Bar Boys Paradise Inn Flying Handbag Bar Aquarius Angel- now for sale and a great inside. That Soi is also full of gay businesses. Mostly beer bars and host bars. I wandered up and down the Soi but did not find anything I liked. We headed back to the hotel early after stopping by James Dean for a drink. We knew we had to get up early to do a full day boat adventure so we went back to the room and showered and were asleep by midnight. At least the boyfriend and I were asleep by midnight. The other two guys have their own room and I told them if they went out to be sure to be back in time to get up by 7Am to eat and wait for the van to pick us up. I didn’t ask them where they went or even if they went out as they were up and showered and ready to go by 7. Day 2 We book an adventure with Island Hoppers. It was a full day of going from one Island to the next and lots of swimming, relaxing, snorkeling, etc. I have been on this same tour 4 other times and enjoyed it so I wanted the guys to experience it as well. The cost was 3250 baht per person and that included an early morning pickup and delivery. The van took us to the Island Hoppers office where we tried on our fins to make sure they were the right size and then we boarded another van to go to the boat. Having been a few times I knew the best seats were in the front so the boys and I go on and went straight there. It is a bit bumpier up there but not too bad. Our day included trips to Yao Yai Island, Baboo Island, Hin Klang, Momkey Beach, Phi Phi Don Island, Phi Phi Lae Island, Pileh Cove, Viking Cave, and Maya Bay. We had lunch buffet style on a private restaurant owned by the company we used for the charter. The cost was 3250 per person and included pick up from hotel and return to hotel. The group was Island Hoppers and the guides we had were great and their English was excellent. We were able to go snorkeling and see some pretty coral and great schools of fish, feed the monkeys on Monkey Island bananas from the boat, swim on the same beach as Leonardo DeCaprio made the movie Beach, swim in some of the most clear and beautiful water I have seen and feed schools of fish with bread right in our hands, as well as enjoying may relaxing time on different beaches covering each other in sand, splashing in the water and just having a fabulous time. It was so great to see the guys out of their element in Pattaya and able to hand loose and enjoy themselves. Island Hopprs 29/12 Moo 1 Thepprathan Road, T. Rassanda, A. Muang Phuket 83000 Phone: 66-76-252-606-8 Baan Yin Dee is an excellent hotel and restaurant. I tried to book their pool suites for us but neither was available for the week. They had no accommodation for us to book while we were in Phuket. I love the hotel and wanted to eat there. The food is excellent and not cheap but the view is stunning and the food atmosphere is amazing. http://www.baanyindee.com Day 3 We wanted to relax from the trip yesterday as I was sunburned from top to bottom and was in a bit of pain. We did use sunscreen but I guess I didn’t keep it on as much as I should have and therefore was a quiet uncomfortable and just needed to sleep in today. We got up around 11:00 AM today and that was nice. The boyfriend and I are in one room and his 2 friends are in a separate room. When we got up, we called down to ask them if they were up for lunch. Lunch was at the gay bar area, Paradise. We ate at Newspaper Restaurant. It is right on the Soi with My Way and Tangmo. It was very clean and pleasant. We were the only customers. The food was excellent. It tasted good and it was nice portions. The average cost for a plate was 220 baht. We had 5 different plates and several drinks. The bill was 1700 baht and while good, it was expensive. We were told the owner of that restaurant is the same owner as Tangmo and 5 other businesses on that Soi. We then went to the Cobra Show as the boys really wanted to see it. I have seen one before in Chiang Mai and this one was very similar. The guys loved seeing all the snakes, etc and we had our picture taken with a few of them. The show cost 400 baht a person. They had a drink and food bar outside if anyone wanted drinks. We were able to see the show and walk around and look at several other snakes and animals. The show was fun to see if you have never been to one. The next stop was the Shooting Range. We each wanted to try some shooting with pistols and shotguns. The pistols were 900 baht for 10 bullets and the rifles were 700 baht for 10 bullets. Each of us did both the rifle and the pistol. I was the lucky winner of the rifle contest with 94% shooting skill. The boyfriend kicked ass with the pistol and blew me and the other guys away with his percentages. All in all this is a very expensive thing to do but it really a treat for the Thai guys who always see these on TV but never had a chance to hold one and shoot. Next we went Bungee Jumping. We chose the Jungle Bungy Jump under New Zealand Management. They charge 2,000 bath for the jump and that includes a shirt. They will take a DVD of the jump for another 500 baht. So, total per person was 2500 baht. This company was professional and well organized and I did feel safe there and did not think there would be any issue. I took a lot of photos myself so we didn’t pay them to do that for us. Jungle Bungy Jump – 076-321351 At night, we ate back in the Paradise area. We choose a place called 888888 ATM. It was clean and nicely decorated. The food was simply horrible. They over salted everything and the wait time was over 40 minutes. I ordered a hamburger and it was eatable but no where close to the wonderful Niddy’s hamburger I once got in Pattaya. The boys got Thai food and 2 got Spaghetti. They said the Thai food was OK but the Spaghetti was over salted and tasted bad. We each had one drink and the cost for the 4 of us was 800 baht. I hope that this was just a bad night for these guys but watching them trying to cook a hamburger was enjoyable. They had 3 cooks and 4 waiters and we were the ONLY customers. They had a large debate about the burger and finally they decided to salt it. I wish they had just asked me about it. We went over the Soi for drinks at a local beer bar. This one was directly adjacent to Tangmo. We sat outside of it as one of the guys recognized a boy who had worked at Crazy Dragon and has moved back to Phuket. The drinks at the bar were 100 baht each. Not quite as cheap as most beer bars I go to but this seems the norm here. Phuket is much more expensive in every area then Pattaya or Chiang Mai. We went toe the Simon Cabaret and sat 3rd row. The seats were great and the guys loved the show. They have all had Katoy girlfriends before so they really got a kick out of some of these beautiful women. The show as fun and enjoyable. The tickets were 600 baht each and that did not include transportation. For other 80 baht each, they would have picked us up and delivered us to the hotel. Day 4 Rock-climbing day. We were up early and had the free buffet at the Holiday Inn. The buffet is great with a wide variety of choices for everyone. They have Thai dishes, Japanese dishes, some Arab flare and of course all the Western like food. Today was the first day I had seen the guys drink coffee. They normally just drink juice but I guess they stayed up late night and were tired and thought the coffee would give them a boost. We had to meet the driver at the front of the lobby by 7:30AM. We were there and off for the day. I decided to sit this day out as my sunburn was still wrenching from pain. The boys said they had a blast. The boyfriend had gone with me to Chiang Mai on a rock-climbing trip and he was a bit more experienced than his friends but they all came back laughing and tired and said it was a very good day! The rock climbing was 2500 baht per person and that included pickup and delivery from hotel. I decided to stay in the hotel all day today and get work done. I ordered up some food for lunch and spent the day catching up on e-mails and other stuff. The boys returned so excited they were able to do the rock-climbing and I am glad they had a blast. The night was spent in the Paradise gay area again. In this area there are several bars and go-go venues. On the right: Newspaper – which we ate at and reviewed above. Dempseys Connect Room and Food – Seemed to be a busy place and the food was good! James Dean Restaurant – renovations going on one side but the other one open. Time Orchid Lounge My Way On the left: Maprang Bar James Dean and Friends Kar Door Host and Karaoke Thais Best Boys Spartacus Tangmo Kiss BB Boys Corner Bakery Around the corner to the left is the Mama San bar I mentioned above. By far the best bar we went to was My Way. It was full of cute guys and enjoyable. It is not as much fun as when I was here in high season but it was still enjoyable. Tango is a blast. A lot of cute boy and friendly staff. Dempseys has some very cute waiters and staff. BB Boys caught my attention each night as they had a flow of hot studs walking into the place but I was never able to find them 20 minutes later when I would get there.

For those of you that love the Imacs but can't seem to be able to get them back and forth on planes, I have a solution for you that has worked great for me. First, I really wanted the IMac 24 inch as it has a great screen and it makes it easy for me to see and use. It is also 110-220 electricity voltage which allows me to travel to different countries and not blow the computer. It will also allow me to run Parallels which lets me run both the Mac OS and the Windows XP at the same time. The Imac is an amazing machine but traveling with it is a real pain in the ass and for the life of me I could not figure out how to do it as every Mac store rep I talked to said it was not for travel. I bought a Pelican 1640 Watertight Case $210.53 from B and H Photo in NYC. No sales tax if shipped out of the state. I configured my box to fit the computer and I was also able to put in my scanner and printer just fine. It is now a traveling office. It is 69.9 pounds which meets the airline standard and it also allows me to keep my office with me wherever I go. I love the new setup and have really enjoyed having such a big computer with me all the time.