gerefan

Absolutely no change in Pattaya! Everything just as normal. G

No, I meant the Military Bank (in Arrivals) where I exchange UK cash! G

I arrive in Thailand on 24 December! Will the Airport bank be closed?? G

Yes I went last year with a friend who is an amateur magician. The first 15 mins, of the 45 minute show, was a video of rather poor quality. The remainder was pretty poor and the "theatre" a real flea pit. Not recomended at all. Sorry Gerefan

Last Sunday 18th Feb, I heard a commotion outside my condo on the 9th floor of Yensabi Condo and soon realised a disabled Italian had just jumped from the window at the end of the corridor.His wheelchair was still next to the window. The subsequent video on TV showed him still alive but he later died of his injuries. Why are the Thais so obsessed with showing sick scenes such as these, and pics of dead bodies, on TV?? G

I was at the opening too. This bar is obviously run by the same people as Wild West Boys (WWB). The compere for the evening was the same very petite ladyboy who ran Mr Pattaya at WWB a few weeks ago. The free VIP cards were handed ut by the same guy who ran the Raffle that night at WWB and the Boys were wearing the same pants as the lads in WWB. In fact some were recognisable from WWB and wearing the same numbers they wear in WWB!(No. 77 etc) The VIP cards are identical to those in WWB, except fr the logo on the front, and the drink prices are the same too. It remains to be seen whether the boys were planted for the first night or will be regulars. I doubt whether guys who regularly work in WWB would be happy in a new unproved bar rather than their normal bustling hangout. Time will tell. G

I am in the Tarntawan computer room right now as I type this!! I was allocated a room at the back overlooking the building site and the constant hammering,at 4 pm, was intollerable. I immediately asked for another room and was given one on the 3rd floor overlooking the front courtyard. It had a larger bed and was, ii assume one of the upgraded ones.No problem at all changing rooms so, unless you want to be up at 7.30,..... beware!! I read somewhere to quote Friends of Dicks Cafe and ask for their discount. This instanly reduced the rate to 2150 Bt per night. There are one or two sight annoyances. One is the free computer room. There is a polite sign saying to limit yourself to 20 mins. Some disregard this...so selfish at busy times. Secondly on one of the computers (there are only two) they keyborad is so worn that a lot of the keys are illegible. That and the Thai lettering makes for endless hours of fun! Overall would never dream of staying anywhere else... Gerefan

Yes you are quite correct the gay scene in Amsterdam is now appalling. I used to visit from London every month for the last 10 years or so. There used to be 5 or 6 Houses with Boys but now there is only one left, the Club 21. The remainder have closed due to poor management, boys on drugs,etc. etc. Additionally, all the gay bars that had rent available have closed (Festival, Music Box etc). The largest Gay hotel (The Aero) went hetero last year and was closed all this year for re-furbishment. I doubt it will re-open as a gay Hotel. All this is partly due to the internet but perhaps a lot is down to the expanding scene in London, and the subsequent lack of UK visitors who started to use the cheap Airlines a few years ago. I, for one,now rarely visit Amsteram but save the money for a long (2 month+) stay in Thailand This actually costs me far less than 12 long weekends in Amsterdam and the whole scene is streets ahead. I wish I had made that decision 5 years ago! Gerefan

mmm Tea Money?? G

LMTU Well if they are available I want to "off" one at the Champions at the Threppasit stadium! But, as I dont speak Thai, and I dont have a contact in the boxing fraternity, and I dont want to end up with a black eye,can you suggest another route to this stud?! G

LMTU Are you really suggesting that some of the boxers are available for an "Off"?? If so please tell me how one should go about it! Has anyone else "offed" one of these boxers?? I have seen a few "tasty" ones but never seen anything remotley like an off happening at the Threppasit Stadium. BTW the link to Fairfax doesnt seem to work.. Gerefan