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I just returned from my circuit of Pattaya. I didn't take any photos for a very simple reason. There was nothing to take a photo of. I went down Soi Khao Tolo first. That rallying point at the junction of Soi Khao Tolo and Sukhumvit was completely vacant. Next I drove down Thapprasit Road. Nothing. Everything was perfectly normal. At Thappraya Road I turned and headed for town, went up Second Road all the way to the Dolphin Roundabout, came down Beach Road to Walking Street, turned and went all the way up Pattaya Tai to Sukhumvit, and then went home. There was absolutely nothing out of the ordinary going on. I just checked the TV news stations. Not much of anything there either. The station that was showing the the marchers earlier this morning is now showing a Muay Thai boxing match. A check of the online media says that the biggest rally in Bangkok consisted of about 3500 people. They have agreed to disperse by 5:00pm today and they intend to reorganize and try again on Sunday. That's it, folks. Now it's a little after 3:00pm in Thailand. I believe I was right about what I predicted. If nothing has happened by now, then I doubt it will. As I said . . . all media hype and nothing but bullshit. Meanwhile the Thai government is saying that they intend to level a series of new charges against Thaksin and they are going to ask again for extradition based on the Supreme Court decision. Unless Thaksin has something new up his sleeve, my feeling is that his dreams of a triumphant return to Thailand and taking power or putting a puppet government in place and then obtaining a pardon, are over. Why am I reminded of that 1970's movie, "Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?"

It's 12:55pm. I just had another look at Thai television news stations. The only thing being shown was a group of marchers and cars, about 300 people if that many, going up a major road in Bangkok. I couldn't tell which one. There are four lanes. They're doing their marching in the right two lanes, but leaving the left two lanes clear so that traffic can get through. That's all I'm seeing on TV. I also just got a call from a Thai friend in Bangkok. Of course, I asked him about the rally. He laughed and said, "What rally?" He said if people want to participate in it, they have to go out and find where it is. He said the massive numbers of protesters simply have not materialized . . . at least not yet. So far there seems to be less going on than even I anticipated. If the television news and online media are reporting accurately, and if it doesn't escalate, then this may very well turn out to be a major setback for Thaksin and his supporters. Now I'm heading out the door to take a drive through Pattaya to see if I spot anything going on here. Patexpat seems to be on top of the doings around Third Road, so I'll have a look at other areas and leave reports about Third Road to him. I'll post what I see later. I'm taking my camera with me. If any of you are in Pattaya, Bangkok, or anywhere else in Thailand, please let us know what you see happening, even if you see nothing happening.

It's nearly 11:00am now. I just looked at the "breaking news" items online. Nothing is even mentioned about anything special going on. I also looked at the Thai news stations on TV. All they showed was a few isolated small groups of Red-Shirts walking, carrying signs, and smiling and waving at the TV cameras. I did see one post on an update web board that a convoy of Red-Shirts from Chiang Mai are heading to Bangkok, but they are only just now leaving. They can't even get as far as Bangkok until some time tonight. Other than that, so far I can't find anything in the media.

Ok, the big day is here. It's Friday, March 12. It's 5:30am in Thailand. Don't ask what I'm doing up at this hour . . . Now we'll see what will really happen. Will it be a major brouhaha or will it fail to amount to much? The gist of all the morning news articles is "please, no violence." That plea is coming from all sides. Check in on this thread every so often during the day. If I encounter or hear about anything major taking place, I'll post it here. If you are present in Thailand, please do the same if you can.

Not much of anything goes on at the gay beach at night. No one is there at night unless you're hoping for an encounter with criminals. It is poorly lit at night and can be dangerous. Not exactly a hot spot at night. Years ago it used to be a decent area for nighttime cruising. Lately, however the recommendation is to go elsewhere at night.

Oh well, no one's perfect . . .

Does this mean I am the inaugural listing on your "I Don't Get It" list?

On the Thaigmc site, scroll down a little bit and look on the left side. Try the links under "Gay Web Site." Some will c9onnect you with even more gay Thai hookup sites. Try this one: http://www.smartbkk.com At the top left, do the "Smarts Search." I selected Thailand as the location, clicked "with photo," and left the rest of the boxes that default to "Any" alone. When I hit the SEARCH button 185 pages of ads came up, a great many of which are written in English, similar to Gay Romeo, and they all have contact information.

That's simple. YOU would be responsible. That works for me . . .

A little web surfing today yielded a couple Thai gay personals site that I didn't know about before. It's mostly in Thai, but there is a very good "gallery" section with loads of sexy pics and a personals section marked "Picture Post." The ads are in Thai, but there are plenty of ads with Email addresses and telephone numbers. http://www.thaigmc.com This one includes photos, links to MSN Messenger, links to Hi5, links to Facebook, and Email addresses. http://www.msngaythai.com

Has anyone ever found a web site that provides good Thai to English translation? You might as well forget about sites such as Google Translate. It would have to improve just to do a half-assed job. I rarely get any results other than incomprehensible drivel. If any of you know of any sites at which you can actually get a decent translation, please let us know.

I agree with that head monk. The monks represent the Buddhist religion. I think they should keep themselves separate from politics. The only exception I would make to that would be if the political situation has some sort of direct effect on the practice of Buddhism. I see no such effect in the present political situation, so I think they should keep out of it because it has nothing to do with religion.

Most likely I'm totally wrong. But the more the media hypes it, and you should see the jubilee the media is having today, the more I think most of what we're being told is just media crap. I'm sure there will be a lot of Red-Shirts out there in Bangkok. I'm also sure whatever takes place will occur in a very limited area and that will be it. In Pattaya, I don't think anything is going to happen at all. Most Thais I talk to tell me they're sick and tired of the whole thing and they don't plan to be any part of it. The less educated and more poverty stricken they are, the more they like Thaksin. I don't think it's even about Thaksin anymore. I wouldn't be surprised if most of the Red-Shirts couldn't tell you what it is about. I'm not so sure myself anymore. Oh well, if the government wasn't in some form of disruption, then I guess it just wouldn't be Thailand. They'll have their rally and then it will fizzle out. And what will change as a result? Probably nothing. I really don't think it's going to be anything close to the total chaos the media would have us believe. Well, we'll find out soon enough. But tomorrow, Friday, I'm planning on being able to have a perfectly normal day here in Pattaya.

What's the matter, don't you like re-runs . . . ?

WHAT ?!?!?!? I'm sure you're right about a great many, but the idea that none are prostitutes is not exactly correct. Go to Beach Road or Walking Street in Pattaya virtually any night. Then tell me all about how lady-boys are not prostitutes.

The only thing about any of it that would excite me would be if it causes the exchange rate to move in our favor. The rest of it, unless it becomes very violent, is, as you said, "been there, done that."

Looks like one of us will have to eat a plate of words fazoo, with a possible side order of crow. Sitting down on the runways? If they do then they're lucky I'm not an air traffic controller. If I was, you know what I would say to an approaching 747? "Clear to land, runway one-niner left."

He can't stop pestilence, famine, natural disasters that take thousands of lives, murder, poverty, misery, child abuse, torture, wars, etc, but he can sure make obscure appearances on walls, potato chips, shrouds, and inside the lid of a jar of marmite. What's not to believe . . . ?

With the Friday, March 12 Red-Shirt rally imminent, the media is having a wonderful time hyping it all up. Today's news reports have Thaksin's family flying out of Thailand to avoid being held hostage in case things turn violent. It has the Prime Minister heading for a safe house. If has the embassies pleading for peaceful demonstrations. It has the military ready to put down riots. It has dire warnings for farang to stay away from protest areas. Maps are being published showing the major danger areas. You know what my reaction is? Bullshit! While I do recommend staying away from the protests, my own prediction is still that the whole thing will turn out to be a big nothing. I could be completely wrong, of course, and I very well could be eating my words by Friday night, but I think in Pattaya once again you would never know anything is going on unless you're watching it on TV. I think it will be a perfectly normal day in Pattaya with the possible exception of a small demonstration somewhere. I don't predict major traffic tie-ups, the calling out of riot police, or anything else in Pattaya. In Bangkok I don't foresee airport takeovers, sit-ins at government facilities, or tremendous numbers of protesters. I think at most there will be a few thousand protesters out there, if that many. But tens of thousands out there causing chaos? I don't think so. I believe most of this is all media hype. You're not going to find me locking myself inside closed doors, cowering in a corner, that's for sure. I intend to go about having a normal day and I don't expect to encounter any problems at all. Maybe a greater police presence, but that's about it. So, what's your prediction? Are my predictions essentially right or do you think I'm going to end up having to write an "I'm Eating My Words" post? Do you think it's mostly media hype? Do you think Thailand is going to come apart at the seams on Friday? What do you think will happen?

"Senator, we are all part of the same hypocrisy." - Al Pacino, 'The Godfather Part II'

Now yet another earthquake! This time near Hawaii. Fortunately no damage was reported.

I've seen a few at prices between 12,000 to 15,000 baht at Tuk Com. If you shop around at Tuk Com, you'll find prices much less expensive than retail stores such as Lotus and Big-C. You might want to consider checking some of the local pawn shops too. Of course, if keeping it as inexpensive as possible is the goal, you can always stick to the Internet cafes instead of buying a computer.

That's one of the stops I'd like to make. There are several wineries in that area. You gents might make a wine person out of me yet. Who knows, it might even mellow me out . . . Village Farm A friend of mine is in the Philippines. I've asked him to bring back a bottle of that bignay wine I mentioned toward the beginning of this thread. He says he will if he can find it.

Sounds good to me. I know where the area is, less than a two hour drive from Bangkok. I'll do my best to be able to go with you. We'll take photos to post and provide what information we can for those who are interested.