Gay Thailand

BANGKOK — With the selection of Samak Sundaravej as prime minister on Monday, Thailand has completed a transition from military rule back to democracy. But analysts predict that the bumpy ride is not over for Thai politics: Mr. Samak’s tenure is likely to be tempestuous and his government fragile. A highly divisive and outspoken political veteran who is prone to profanity, Mr. Samak is disliked by the Thai press and intelligentsia and is deeply resented by civil rights groups for his support of deadly crackdowns on peaceful protesters in the 1970s and 1990s. He is a self-described proxy of Thaksin Shinawatra, the prime minister who was ousted in the Sept. 2006 c…

Film's take on drug trade pure fiction 'American Gangster' claims to be based on fact, but as far as Thailand's role is concerned the movie is a fraud By ALAN DAWSON When moviegoers head into the cineplex to watch the latest Denzel Washington movie which begins on Thursday, they should know that American Gangster is peddling them a fantasy that is not at all ''based on truth'' _ especially the part about Thailand. The motion picture actually comes late to Thailand, after just about playing out its string in the United States. Tellingly, promoters are not boosting American Gangster much, even though significant scenes take place in Thailand, and the mai…

Wow. This board has become the Nazi headquarters of Thailand's cyber-info super highway. It must make you feel so big, Mr. Gay Button to wipe out users and messages at the stroke of a key. No doubt, this message and my user ID will make the cut just for mentioning it. Now, to be a little clearer and less accusatory, let's just stop for once and let this thread REALLY display the opinions of the board members. Every other board about Thailand certainly has rules and occasionally has to ban users, but it is done VERY sparingly. This is because opinions are not damaging -- unless they are a personal attack of some kind or a legal issue. Challenging the management …

The following article is the only publicity I have been able to find about this at all. If any of you were in Chiang Mai, can you tell us more about this? The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Gays, Lesbians Parade in Chiang Mai Chiang Mai - Members of the International Lesbian and Gay Association held a parade in Chiang Mai Saturday evening. The "Pride Parade" was held at 7:30 pm and the ILGA members paraded on the Chang Klan Road past the Night Bazaar. The organiser of the parade said it was held in the theme of "equality in diversity". The parade came a day after the ILGA held a meeting in Chiang Mai.

As from the 1st of February Guys GoGo will be no more. Kevin, with Marsha by his side, will transform the bar into a unique entertainment complex. The new bar will be called THE BIRDCAGE. Big changes are planned over the next few weeks. There will be 2 shows nightly at 11pm and 12am. This will start from the 1st February. There will be a new Disco area and also a VIP Bar installed. There will also be big cages installed around the bar with Coyote Dancers. Tuk Tuks will be available to pick up customers and drop them of home in the evening. There will also be a lot of other changes, which will keep the customers happy.No corners will …

Apparently the current downward trend of the US stock market has also had its effect on the Asian markets. Yesterday, the baht to US dollar exchange rate closed at 32.88. This morning the baht opened at 32.90. Less than an hour later, the exchange rate reached 32.99. Now, two hours later, the exchange rate has reached 33.01. We'll see what ends up happening. As of this post the exchange rates are as follows: US dollar: 33.01 Euro: 47.505 British Pound: 63.925 Australian Dollar: 28.2425 Canadian Dollar: 31.7525 _____ Closing Rates: _____ US dollar: 33.01 Euro: 47.505 British Pound: 63.90 Australian D…

Missing thread, did someone get the the needle? I note that the thread congratulating Gaybutton on his magnificent number of posts has disappeared. I just wondered if it has been moved or deleted. Where to and why?

NEW PG Wekly Report for January 22, 2008 now available... The NEW PG Weekly Report for January 22, 2008 is now available: http://www.pgreport.com/index.shtml (select January 22nd for the FULL REPORT..and click to read) PATTAYA NEWS & FORTHCOMING EVENTS PGF Ban Bung donation Oscar the Thais4Life Teddy Bear update Do you want to be an Aussie for a day! Thais4Life Quiz Night at Oscars January 15th - Report OZZ Cafe/Bar Jomtien opens terrace extension Amor Restaurant Strawberry Season Commences News from Sunee Plaza and Soi Day Night Gallery Opium Watercolor Exhibition 26th January Fab Feb Fest Jomtien Plaza- February 1st Preview of …

Can anyone give me the actual phone number for the hotel Serene and Welcome Plaza Hotel ? A number that works of course.. it seems the one I have aren't working : Hotel Serene : 66 38 422952 2. Welcome PlazaHotel 66 38 424765 Thanks for your help.

The Council for National Security held its final meeting Tuesday, declaring itself out of business, but stating its members will continue to meet to discuss business of the armed forces. The weekly meeting of the CNS on Tuesday was the final one, as the 2007 constitution it wrote stated that the junta was finished when a new government is formed, and that is expected by next week. But while the last meeting officially closed the book on the Sept 19, 2006 coup after 490 days, it also was clear that old groups of soldiers never die. "The military should not be involved in politics and politicians should not interfere with the military," declared CNS spokesman…

I am very sad in deed to have to report that Rick Rozelle has passed away. Rick suffered a brain injury over two years ago and has been in declining health ever since. Although based in Bangkok Rick also maintained a house in pattaya for awhile and left many friends there and in Chiang Mai as well. A long time BF (Lern) of his worked in pattaya and now lives in Uttradit. I shall miss our travels and our dinners at the Outback in Bkk.

AIS in talks with Apple to sell iPhones SRISAMORN PHOOSUPHANUSORN, Bangkok Post Advanced Info Service (AIS) has joined with strategic partner Singapore Telecom (SingTel) to bring Apple's much-touted iPhone to the region, including Thailand. Chief marketing officer Sanchai Thiewprasertkul said AIS has been in talks with Apple in the US for several months to win the rights to import iPhones. The iPhone has touched off a new design revolution, as it does away with keys and makes use of a large screen display. Mr Sanchai said that AIS, in collaboration with SingTel and the Australian mobile operator Optus, were discussing phone volumes, marketing term…

If you're anything like me and easily get lost, especially in Bangkok, then a good GPS is just the thing. It comes in particularly handy if you drive in Thailand. Even though you might be in Thailand only as a holiday maker, you might want to rent a car and drive to all sorts of places within Thailand. A GPS can be extremely helpful. Excellent maps are available for Thailand. In Bangkok, the best of the maps is available through ESRI (see http://www.esrith.com/Eindex.cfm ). They'll install a highly detailed map of all of Thailand into your GPS. The price for the software is 7000 baht. You do have to take your GPS and personally go to ESRI in Bangkok and have …

Spurred by the comments that the site is getting boring, maybe this will ginger it up a little. Recent reports seem to have confirmed results of long term studies in Africa that circumcised men are much less likely to become infected by the HIV virus than those who have not suffered the 'unkindest cut'. From what I read, there is something on the surface of the inner foreskin that seems to attract the virus. I add, though, that I saw nothing in the reports to indicate whether the study groups were gay, straight or a random mix. Purely guessing, I reckon most were straight. After hearing almost daily reports from the mid 1980's through the mid 1990's of the dramatic r…

NEW PG Weekly Report for January 15, 2008 available... A NEW PG Weekly Report for January 15, 2008 is now available... as is updates posted daily for the January 22nd edition... http://www.pgreport.com/index.shtml (select date of January 15th for the most recent COMPLETE weekly report and select January 22nd for thew daily updates for the January 22nd edition) From the Co-Editors of the PG Weekly Report: With effect from January 1st 2008, compilation of each Weekly Report commences on Wednesdays - the "Current Compilation" - and is accessible for the upcoming whole week, and updating will be progressive as material is received. At the end …

Topman Chippendale Show cancelled. As from today there will be no more Topman Chippendale Show. Since doing the show from the 18th of December, the bar has been full most nights. Certain promises were made by the owners, which have never been kept. The bar makes good money, yet the staff have to wait over 3 days late to get there salary. I myself have received not 1 baht. There are no good GoGo boys in the bar and the owner does not wish to change that. Thank you to every one who has supported the show, it has been a fun month.Hopefully we will appear soon somewhere else.

Holiday surge leads to crowded airport Bangkok Post : BOONSONG KOSITCHOTETHANA The crowding at Suvarnabhumi Airport is becoming even more apparent during the holiday season as the airport's capacity is fully utilised. Average daily passenger traffic through Bangkok's new airport between Dec 28 and Jan 3 is expected to be 121,000 passengers, exceeding the airport's designed capacity of 120,000 passengers, said Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT). About 17,000 more passengers are expected to go through the airport each day in the period, above the daily average of 104,285 passengers on normal days. In other words there will be 850,000 more passengers passing throu…

Many of you are probably familiar with the GayRomeo web site at http://www.gayromeo.com . They have published the following open letter: _____ 11 Jan: Is YouTube homophobic? As you might have read on our startpage, we had more trouble with YouTube over Christmas. Our Christmas video and the whole GayRomeo account was – once again - deleted without any prior warning. Unfortunately YouTube hasn’t reacted to any of our inquiries. So we have decided to write an open letter to YouTube. We do not think it is acceptable that YouTube should rate and remove a harmless non-sexual video as “inappropriate” - just because it shows openly gay artists. To draw a…

Another sterling example of Thai jai yen and family spirit. It's true what they say, when you marry a Thai, you marry her family as well, right unto death. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2294115_1,00.html British farmer's body scattered over Thai park By Andrew Drummond in Petchaburi, Thailand and Adam Fresco An English country farmer was battered to death then barbecued on charcoal in a Thai national park after divorcing his Thai wife because of her gambling debts. The body parts of Marlborough College-educated Toby Charnaud, 41, were then scattered in the park, one of the last refuges of Thailand

courtesy Pattaya Daily News

Thanks to all who gave feedback and suggestions for options other than Mike Hotel. Today on Pattaya A2Z there is a listing for a gay friendly hotel Merry Inn Hotel 14-15 South Pattaya, Bangramung, Chonburi THAILAND 20260 The map on their web site show them off 2nd road almost opposite V.C. Hotel and Marine Hotel (Not Marina Plaza). Looks to me to be neare the Sunee area but not sure. I'd guess 5-10 minute walk to boys town. Deluxe room w/king bed and American breakfast is 700 bht/night and no extra charge for guest. Anyone familiar with this hotel? I know looks are deceiving on the web but the balcony rooms look nice. Thanks in advance for any feedback. KB

In my last visit to Thailand about a millenium ago, or last June, whichever is more recent, I had a bit of a personal problem that I will not belabor the readers of this forum with in detail. Enough to say that I was conscious of a marked decrease in my performance in the sack. Everything was normal until I put on the condom. Lacking any medical advice, I chalked the problem up to an inevitable consequence of radiation treatments on the prostate. Last week I was watching a History Channel program on condoms. One of the items mentioned was that some condoms come with a desensitizing lubricant that is designed to delay the orgasm. I had some left over from that trip. Sur…

GB, You're definitely not earning your salary! This place is dead. And Sawatdee Gay Forum and Baht-Stop are hopping. Maybe you should have taken that retirement after all, eh? (TR) The Rose

This evening I had a fine, good looking, eager, willing lad from a bar in the plaza which has been getting good reviews. After several hours of frolicking I found he had scabies. I remunerated the lad handsomely, gave him some Jacutin Gel, and let him go. What should a customer do in this situation? 1.The customer should inform the bar owner so that he can suspend the boy, who will then take out a contract on the customer. 2. The customer should warn his friends. 3. The customer should post the warning on Gay Thailand and be sued for defamation, as well as being the object of a contract. 4. The customer should do nothing. 5. Something e…

"Protests against Tesco Express turn ugly as crowd burns coffin Feelings ran high amongst local shop owners on December 28 as they gathered to burn a coffin in protest at the proposed opening of Pattaya’s first Tesco Lotus Express outlet. More than 100 protestors congregated with picket signs in front of the Tesco Express outlet on Sukhumvit Road at Central Pattaya, with their leaders whipping up emotions by saying that the authorities were allowing the store to open against the wishes of the local shopkeepers. Protests have been held against the opening of the store on several occasions, and the local shop owners have been told the situation is being exami…