Up2u

That doesn't make sense, a coup is military force. Things have changed since the last coup. YL and the red shirts have military sympathetic to their cause. Remember the vast majority of the grunts, the soldiers, were drafted and come from red shirt land. Many are the boys from bars, our friends, our sweethearts. Do you really think they will fire on their own family, relatives and friends(rhetorical question). It will be funny when the top heavy bureaucratic army generals turn around and say "where did everybody go?". I have heard it said this one reason there hasn't been a coup, it would not be like the last coup, it would be civil war. Let's hope common sense prevails.

My view is one of total cooperation with CBP. I don't need some agent using me to prove a point by me being impolite or dodging questions. If my travel plans were interrupted I would not be happy. In the period from 2003 to about 2007 we(my American friends) were continually harassed by customs when returning from Thailand. We managed to get in the government computers and the agent entered a code on our custom's declaration form which meant more questions and going through every piece of luggage. That practice ended in recent years but I was asked questions in boarding my EVA flight to BKK a year or so ago. I thought nothing of it until Michael's story and post.

You are wrong, this started under Bush and in particular the Protect Act of 2003<?>. There are threads on the forums a few years back of gay American men getting hassled by immigration when returning from Thailand. Happened to me many times over the years but not in recent years. Michael's experience is a new twist since it took place upon departure.

If in fact, he is referring to Tony's then this place would not meet the OP's standard. My sense is the OP is a hi-so guy and Tony's is a lo-so gym full of tattooed steroid Mary's.

Fairtex. It specializes as Muay Thai training facility. Cute gym training staff, hotel guests sign up for training packages so there is a nice blend of Asian and European tourists. They sell just the gym package at reduced cost.

Paranoia is the word, my bf same same, actually the trees and umbrellas provide sufficient protection from the sun. I go to the beach regularly and
I am still lilly white. Learn to say "mai ao" to the vendors, "not want", and ignore if they bug you. Everyone has got to make a living here.

Agreed, I don't understand this stereotyping as it pertains to tourists here in Pattaya. In my section of the gay beach the Germans, French, Russians, all nationalities get along. There are only occasional incursions by straights. The gay Russians appear to be in the under 40 age group and are a welcome addition for the eyes in that the Thai boys have just about deserted the beach.

Bob, you and TJ, raise a good issue about Medicare and residency. On paper, I have a California address and pay utilities but in reality I reside in Pattaya. My concern has always been what if I have major medical event here in Thailand. With this plan I hopefully got that covered (fingers still crossed), I know Americans with similar plan who have filed claims with no problems and they live in Thailand too and visit the states once a year. I have contacted Anthem and BHP and they do have an agreement on medical costs. My plan has no network that I must use although there is a cost advantage in using Anthem BS providers when in USA.
 
... and yes, apologies to non-Americans who are reading this but health care is a big issue for gay farangs who call Thailand home.

Can you get GWTW with Thai subtitles? It's my all time favorite too.

CM and Phuket are completely different, both have attractionswith completely different character. The OP should express his interests (other than boys) and travel dates would be the number one driver for me. From personal experiences I would strongly advise against summer visits to Phuket. If he is traveling in the next few months then pendulum swings towards Phuket. CM has changed. The polution is worst than LA in the 70's. The view from Doi Suthip is now hardly worth the visit. CM is a big city with traffic congestion and to say is it is not touristy? The Night Market is not special, along with the arts and crafts stores that every tour group must visit. The CM Zoo (despite the pandas) is Ok but not world class by any stretch. The few bars get a late start and frankly are boring with older less attractive types (my 29 year old bf asked why the boys so old!). I must say I enjoyed Phuket (when the weather is perfect) with visits to Phi Phi Is., Pha Nga, James Bond Is. followed by night visits to the bars in Paradise Complex. You can stay in the Paradise and go to the bars at night, try that in CM. Just flying into Phuket over the sandstone formations was fun. And yes Phuket has elephant trekking too with spectactular views. If the OP is going in Jan-Feb, I would try to visit the flower festival in CM and have dinner along the river at very nice (and inexpensive) restaurants. And a word to the wise, do NOT rent jet skis in Phuket or Pattaya!!

Nice pics. Phukets temples are nice too but CM better (in the Lanna style)

I suspect 4 days will not be 4 days after checking in-out of hotels and going to the airport, etc. You didn't give your dates. If they are Dec-March I would vote for Phuket. Phi Phi, Krabi, Pha Nga, James Bond Island are all doable and of course there are water sports, swimming, etc. in clean waters (unlike Pattaya). The gay scene in Phuket is also much bigger than CM. If you are travelling in the summer months then bad weather is too much of a risk and I would go to Chaing Mai and save Phuket for another visit.

Every hotel and guesthouse I've stayed at in LOS has provided complimentary umbrellas. The big question for me is have they fixed the street so there is not a gigantic Lake at the beginning of the soi which hinders access?

Tukcom is like Panthip Plaza in Bangkok; excercise caution. There are many knock-offs and crap. Iphones, memory cards have many fakes there. There are of course ligitimate stores such as PowerBuy, IT Center, JayMart, Winner, etc. where you can buy with confidence. As Michael said you can get better buys in USA. I bought a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 for 24,000 baht at Powerbuy but that same phone is available from Amazon for 19,500 baht.

Thanks for warning!

Went to O'Garas and I can highly recommend the breakfeast too. I had the Irish breakfeast for 160 baht which includes toast , juice, tea or coffee. Large portions, very good food and definitely two thumbs up. We have not had dinner there recently but we always enjoyed the dinners there in the past. (Will try the pancakes next time.)

I think most posters here would be turned off by 38,000 thb yearly membership. I visited once a few years ago and not impressed. A friend has joined the Royal Cliff gym/sauna so you might check that out.

No need to go to hospital unless you want a doctor to help interpret the results. I go here:
 
http://lifecare.siam2web.com/
 
Near Laundry Express off 3rd Rd., not far from Sunee.

As an American I think my tastes are similar to Michael's. If USA chains like Denny's, Carroll's, IHOP etc. can give you a decent breakfast at a fair price, why not here? I agree with the Grottino's rating. The Pig and Whistle is another story. This applies only to dinner at the Jomtien location. Large, generous portions of extremely bland food at rather inexpensive prices. Friends and I have been there on 3 different occasions. Rating: 2.5 This place has been scratched from our dining list.
 
Looking forward to future "stops". (If in North Pattaya on Naa-gleua Rd., the Bon Cafe serves one of the better breakfasts for only 130 baht. Eggs (2), 2 slices of ham, 2 pieces of American bacon, sausage, toast, juice, coffee or tea. 130 baht.)