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A way for bars to reduce screening costs for drugs is to observe which boys flee when there is an alert out about police raiding bars. I was in a table-top bar when there was a warning that the police were raiding a bar in the next soi. The boy sitting with me jumped up and put on street clothes and was out the door along with a few other boys in seconds. It was nothing personal as far as I could tell as he was back 20 minutes later when the scare was over. He told me he was scared of a pee test because of yaba. This occurred on the first organized Sunee Plaza party night. I personally have no problem with boys taking yaba and I think koeninthailand is right in saying that many of us have taken something at some time. I do object if any bar owner or bar manager is making yaba available to them free so that they become dependent on that bar. It seems too much of a coincidence that any bar with frequent raids and frequent occurrences of underage yabah consuming boys being taken away is not doing something on the dark side. Of course I am not inferring that this happens in Sunee Plaza.

I suspect, but have no facts, that as in other young boy bars recently raided there is a link to Ya bah and the age of the boy. I suspect these boys are given drugs and accommodation and then become dependent on that bar for their existence.The punter just sees the nice friendly cute boy but does not realize that there may be a very dark side to their existence and relationship to that bar. It is only a theory but I think has a loud ring of truth to it.

The answer to your question depends on what part of Bkk and what time of day you are traveling. The elevated tollway is probably the fastest and least crowded at any time of day and it joins the Chonburi by-pass which is now a 4-lane highway except for about 2 Kms (where it is 2 lanes). You do not need to go anywhere near Sri Racha nor through Chonburi. The Chonburi bypass ends about where the Bangkok motorway joins route 7 which brings you into Pattaya. I usually choose the elevated expressway form Silom or Sukhumvit. The motorway from any location near Rama 9 and Bang Ka Pi areas. GB if you are going from Pattaya, instead of turning left off route 7 to join the motorway just go straight on and once past Chonburi you will see a ramp that takes you on to the elevated expressway. Fom the Pattaya direction this route has a tad more 2 lane highway than in the other direction. It is still fast.

In 5 years time I expect things will change. Currently this little backwater does everything in their powers to help you obtain a license. A first-time Thai license will cost you 270 Baht but maybe some other expenses will arise. You will go through the process as with anywhere else but you are unlikely to fail at any hurdle. You would probably need to go with a very switched on Thai guy and be there by 09:30.

Never having been in Sunee Plaza late at night. My guess is that this was a set-up by the police and the boy was just bait. If true then he will be in for a much bigger pay-off than 20 baht.

To keep the above simple, I excluded info. on Motorcycle licenses. I noticed that some people did both car and motorcycle at the same time. The process seemed to be the same. For motorcycle only the accelerator and post alignment was not included nor was the need to watch the 'how to drive a car dangerously". NB I did not apply for a motorcycle license so I am not familiar with that procedure other than as a bored observer. If you think that you will fail do renew a license for wrong visa, slow reactions or bad eyesight then there is still one office in Chonburi where you can bypass the system. It is located 13

(How do you edit the title to correct spelling errors?) Today, I went to renew my 5 year Thai (Car) Driving License in the Pattaya District Office near The Regent's School at Krating Lai. The procedure has changed since I did it 5 years ago and GB reported the procedure a year ago. The paperwork needed is: Passport Copy of Personal details page of passport Copy of TM arrival/departure document usually stapled inside your passport Copy of the arrival stamp into Thailand Copy of Visa, 'O' or 'B' or others, but tourist visa not accepted. A letter of Residency from the Immigration Offices. (Cost 200 baht + 2 photos and a letter or bill/invoice etc. that originated in Thailand that shows your address.) Your expiring or expired Thai driving license. You do not need a medical certificate if it is a renewal. You do not need any photos. You do not need a Thai escort as it is also 'English language friendly' At the entrance to the building you hand over your documents and provided these are complete you will receive 2 forms to fill-in. Details asked are: your name, DOB, address and Passport number. Once successfully completed back to the front desk and you will be given a number and off you go to the next floor up. There your number will be called and you will hand in the paperwork and then wait for between 10 and 59 minutes and be called "inside" to do some simple mechanical tests. You will do exactly the same as the Thais do at this point. Test 1 is the official will ask each of you to identify the colors from a color chart. He will point to either a yellow, red or green dot and you have to call out the color in English or Thai if you want to be smart. Test 2 is to sit on a chair and in put your foot on an accelerator pedal. When a red light appears on a console in front of you, you hit the break pedal. I think you have about 1.5 seconds to react to the red light and if longer you fail the test. Test 3 is to sit on the same chair and the official will ask you to take a remote control and align 2 vertical pegs/posts until they are level. It is very simple to do unless you are x-eyed or do not have depth perception. All tests are now finished The next process it the Thais will watch an hour long video about driving dangerously and non-Thais have to read a book about road signs. After one hour you will give the book back and go to the front of the office and wait for your name to be called for a photo to be taken. After that is a a 15 minute wait before you are called to collect your license and part with 605 Baht. Your license will expire after 5 years to your next birthday. My birthday is in the spring so my license expires on my Birthday nearly 5 years and 9 months from now.

CNG is Compressed Natural gas and whilst more expensive to fit the tanks it has no carbon emissions and lower running costs than LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas). It is safer as it has a higher ignition temp. Thailand is encouraging by subsidy to taxis to convert to CNG as CNG is a resource of which Thailand has plenty. The other figures quoted above for 500 or 600 Baht to and from Bangkok are for cars using Gasohol which is a mixture of Ethanol and Gasoline. The ethanol is usually derived from Sugar cane or Palm Oil in Thailand. Both CNG and LPG are heavily subsidized in Thailand. Hence your taxi would have spent around 200 baht on fuel. When proper taks are fitted it is safe. If substandard tanks are fitted then you may be sitting on a potential torpedo. Thailand has a good safety record on tanks fitted to cars.

He would have used LPG or less likely Natural Gas (CNG) and LPG would have cost him about 170 Baht in total. CNG about 210 Baht. He would have gladly done the journey for 1600 Baht but as long as you are both happy the price you paid is fine.

Jakrapob Holds Press Conference In Batman Costume Announces creation of "vast, underground lair" for Red Shirts SINGAPORE - “ Fugitive politician Jakrapob Penkair, who vanished from Thailand in the early days of last week's UDD protests, appeared publicly for the first time in today in Singapore where he spoke to the press while wearing a full Batman costume. The Thaksin supporter spoke of plans underway to build a "vast, underground network of tunnels" as a base for the Red Shirts, who would now operate nocturnally. "Bangkok is infested with a disease, and we are the cure," he said cryptically from behind a heavy black mask attached to a cowl and cape. "Our methods are silent and invisible. Our movements are undetectable. We will strike from the dark and bring fear into the hearts of the enemy." Jakrapob did not elaborate on exactly who the enemy was, although he insisted that it was not the PAD. "We did not try to kill Sondhi," he said, referring to the recent gun attack on PAD leader Sonthi Limthongkul. "Bullets are the clumsy weapons of the greater enemy." Responding to the arrest warrant against him and allegations of lese majeste, Jakrapob said cryptically, "There are four kings in the deck, but only two Jokers. Who has the real power?" When queried by reporters about the Batman costume, Jakrapob declared the press conference over and then detonated a small smoke bomb on the table, disappearing in the ensuing confusion. According to his press manager, Jakrapob is scheduled to appear on CNN next Thursday. This is taken from Not The Nation http://www.notthenation.com/pages/news/getnews.php?id=768

Thai visa work permit guidelines Go to this site and you will have plenty of information at your finger tips

My work (in Thailand) involves manufacturing/production and exports. There has been a 40% drop in activity during the last 4 months. As Bob says supplying countries are floundering in the wake of consumer counties not consuming. It also comes back to the credit crunch as banks will not lend to either exporters or importers and export guarantees are hard to come by. So in some cases there is demand but there is no finance available to support the exports Referencing the banks in Thailand; the strength is relative to banks in developed countries who have a seemingly bottomless pit of bad international loans and Thailand's banks generally have only domestic exposure. I hope those who say they do not yet notice any difference will still be saying that in a few months time. I also hope they have some empathy for the inhabitants of a country some have adopted as their home. Lastly the Thais are fairly stoical and adaptable and accept what is given to them. This includes being laid off or working 2 out of 4 weeks or whatever. They are good at surviving and without the state to fall back on they often have a strong family network to offer support.

Every male Thai Buddhist aged 20 or over is expected to ordain as a monk at some time during his life. The length of time is entirely up to him and his family. A favourite time for ordaining is for the duration of the three month Phansa or Buddhist Lent. The monk-to be is told by the abbot that he owes everything - his well-being, education, life itself, and above all the opportunity to become a monk - to his parents who have raised him since babyhood. Now is his chance to repay that tremendous debt by renouncing all worldly pleasures for a while, so bringing his parents the opportunity to earn merit. He is especially doing this for his mother who is unable to become a monk herself.Thai Bhuddism

I imagine 76 baht per square meter is wrongly quoted. I am sure the best advice is do not buy a condo unless it is already built at this time.

Well it sure didn't assuage much but GB you have just proved my point.

This new mall is a brilliant addition to Pattaya. A good food hall and many restaurants. A bit of bangkok come to Pattaya. Shopping malls seem to attract a lot of gay staff and no doubt those who have attuned cruise control will be reporting on the best floors and best places to pick up guys.

I am not, nor do I think Andrew Drummond is implying that people who participate in ''board talk'' are paedophiles. I think that many people who come to Pattaya and many who live here are here because of the easy availability of sex, amongst other things. Drummond's blog comments are that those who do reside here seem to do little about the fairly obvious paedophile activity that goes on. His comment was as I interpret it is that residents and tourists seem just to huff and puff on the boards about it whenever a reported arrest takes place. He was saying if you see it report it. Why is the topic really only addressed in detail when an arrest is made? Why do we not campaign against the many paedophiles and the bars that cater to their needs? I could name, as no doubt others can, which bars are selling under-aged and pre-puberty kids. I also think that most of us do not live entirely normal lives (by western standards). The sex-visitor and sex-pat is usually near retirement age and we do like to off boys who are in their late teens or early twenties. We like to see boys parading in underwear or less. I personally would not take my siblings with me when I go out for a night on the town as I would be to embarrassed for them to see how I enjoy myself. Finally I think most people who contribute to this sort of board are probably more sex tourist than culture vulture. GB my comments probably do nothing to assuage your anger but I don't think there was the implication that you got from it.

Jatukam or chatukam is the correct term and they really run against Buddhist philosophy although of course monks get on the lucrative bandwagon of selling them. This is from a blog relating to near riotous scenes when Jatukam Ramathep were being sold 18 months ago. Jatukam Ramathep

Taken from a blog of a relatively well known freelance journalist Andrew Drummond, Bangkok –Andrew Drummond I think if you read the messages in this thread Andrew Drummond has it about right.

Are you sure this took place in ''?'' ? I was there from 8.30 pm Saturday until 1.50 am Sunday and was not aware of the incident. It was either a non-event or at another venue or I am just deaf and blind.

Many bars will be open tonight. I understand there is no enforced closures.

Touching the top head remains a definite no-no. The emphasis is the top of the head. Tousling a child's head at the front or on the side is ok. Eating western food with a knife remains appropriate. Don't get hung up on the fork/spoon issue, it really is not that important. You are a foreigner and are expected to get it wrong. I would just add one more don't and one more do. Do not use the form of greeting which is the wai. There are many protocols to follow and so if someone holds their hands together and wais you just respond by bowing your head very slightly. It is not correct to wai people who are in the service sector generally. The "do" is to remain calm and non-confrontational in all circumstances whatever the argument or provocation. Thais look down on confrontation and people who show bad temper. The exception is when writing on the various fora such as gaythailand as we are mostly farang.

American Foundation for AIDS Research A First Step Toward a Cure for AIDS? Novel Procedure Appears to Have Eliminated HIV By Jeffrey Laurence, M.D. November 5, 2008 We need a cure for AIDS. We can't treat our way out of this epidemic. Anti-HIV therapy is a lifelong commitment, accompanied by many life-altering and some potentially life-threatening side effects. And for every person placed on treatment, two to three are newly infected. In 2007 alone there were 2.7 million new infections, and only 31 percent of those who needed treatment received it. Viral reservoirs—cells and tissues in which HIV remains dormant, beyond the reach of anti-HIV drugs but poised to grow at any moment—persist for the life of an infected person. And while all currently available anti-HIV drugs suppress the virus, they cannot eliminate it. Given this context, a brief report in February 2008 by a group of physicians from Germany appeared to change everything when presented as a poster at the annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Boston. It described a 40-year-old man—an American working in Berlin—whose HIV had been under good control for several years using a typical cocktail of drugs known as HAART. Then he developed acute leukemia. In an attempt to cure the leukemia, he underwent a course of radiation therapy and chemotherapy in preparation for a stem cell transplant. But in his case, rather than simply using the best match among available stem cell donors, his physicians did something very clever. They also screened potential donors for a natural mutation known as delta32 CCR5. CCR5 is the primary means by which most types of HIV infect cells. Individuals lacking this CCR5 receptor—the 1.5 percent of the Caucasian population in America and Europe with the delta32 mutation—are completely resistant to infection by the most common forms of HIV. The patient's stem cell transplant was a success, although relapse of his leukemia required a second transplant using the same donor. Now off all anti-HIV drugs for almost two years, the patient continues to show no detectable signs of HIV in his blood, bone marrow, lymph nodes, intestines, or brain. To the limits of our ability to detect HIV, it appears that the virus has been eradicated from his body. At the very least this patient represents a functional cure: he is off all anti-HIV meds, has a normal T-cell count, and exhibits no evidence of virus. amfAR quickly called together 10 experts in clinical AIDS, stem cell transplantation, and HIV virology for a two-day think tank at the MIT Endicott House to evaluate these data. The patient's physician, Gero Hutter, presented details of the case, which were closely scrutinized by all. In a summary statement, attendees indicated that this case does indeed represent at least a functional cure. Dr. Hutter agreed to ask his patient to provide additional blood samples so that scientists attending the amfAR meeting could perform even more sensitive tests to attempt to further document that the virus has been erased from the patient. amfAR is coordinating distribution of these samples. But amfAR's involvement doesn't end there. It is possible that the patient may have been cured of HIV/AIDS. But the cost of such a stem-cell transplant procedure can run up to $250,000. It is associated with a relatively high death rate from infectious and immunologic complications, and the number of delta32-CCR5 donors of appropriate tissue type would be very small. Here further research may yield key answers. For example, it is unknown whether the use of a delta32-CCR5 donor is essential. Perhaps the transplant procedure itself was the most important element. The potential to genetically engineer stem cells to remove CCR5 from a patient's own stem cells also exists, and strategies to do so were discussed at the think tank. These and related issues will serve as topics for an upcoming amfAR grant cycle. Dr. Laurence is amfAR's senior scientific consultant

KhorTose these are big words and I am glad the authorities are listening to you. May I join with you and add to the effectiveness of your campaign? Ok sarcasm over - just which authorities have you been in touch with? I think adding comments to a few forums which I suspect no Thais in authority read is not very effective. Or is my scepticism misplaced and you have actually done more than just report here?

I went with my partner to Universe Boys the day after it opened. We went in out of curiosity and it was about 10:30 pm. The door man parked the car and once inside soon realised that it is really a late night club like Dudes and X-ray. So if it gets going it will get going about 1 am. We were the only customers and the dancers were dancing very energetically. gwm4sian described it well. We chatted to one of the dancers and bought him a drink for 250 Baht which included his tip of 100 baht for sitting with us. The boys were generally very good looking and probably with an average age of 25. I think the owner might be Chinese. The manager on the night we were there was definitely Chinese. I think the off-fee is 500 Baht but I did not enquire. As an aside if you like to visit new clubs and see great energy catch this one while you can because I think its location will be its downfall.