Gaybutton

Yes.

"You can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time. But you can't fool all of the people all of the time." - Abraham Lincoln

Sheeeeesh! I'm not sure what the weight was, but the packet I bought at AKA had about 12 slices of bacon. You know how much I paid? 46 baht! The price was similarly low at Mr. Moo. I think I'll stick to buying at those two places . . .

The operative word is "should." Also, quite often when I read articles about these arrests, the criminal hasn't reported his address or renewed his visa for ages.

I finally got around to trying AKA. They have many items that I've never seen elsewhere. I did try their "streaky bacon," the same kind I tried from Mr. Moo. I liked the bacon at Mr. Moo better than the AKA bacon. I think locals ought to give both of them a try. You're bound to prefer one over the other and the quality at each is much better than anything I've ever found in any of the grocery stores. Both AKA and Mr. Moo have many products besides just bacon. I think it's worth checking out both of them. When I want bacon, sausage, and several other products, AKA and Mr. Moo are going to be the places I shop for them from now on.

For what it's worth, my GPS lists only one hotel within the city, however there seems to be plenty in fairly close proximity to the city. The one in the city is the Amonthep Hotel, telephone 045 679 131. I'm guessing your reason for going there has to do with visiting a Thai person, whether it is a boyfriend of someone else. If that is the case, wouldn't it make more sense to let him find a hotel or other accommodation for you?

Sleep well? Oh yes, I remember that . . .

Probably finding them.

I can't answer your other questions, but for this question the answer is yes.

Actually it's called Buffalo Bill. I went by this evening. It's in an obscure spot, to say the least. You saw one customer. I saw no customers at all. Several boys, but no customers. It's a beer host bar, no different from what you would typically find in Sunee Plaza. I think whoever opened this bar forgot about "location, location, location." I also think he forgot that if you're going to open a host bar outside the popular area, not only does it need to be easy to find (and don't think it is), but it needs to offer something unique to attract people away from the Sunee Plaza bars. If there is anything especially unique about it, I missed it. In my opinion, unless whoever opened the bar wanted his own private bar and has the money to support it, I don't see how it stands much of a chance. If you are in the area, drop by. Other than that, I really don't know why anyone would make a special trip unless you find one of the boys to be particularly attractive.

Then I'm the exception. We all know what we think the decision will be. I think so too. But until the ruling is handed down we don't know anything. Here's why I don't take anything political or the outcome of court cases for granted:

Busy with body builders? The times I have gone to Babylon Sauna, I've never seen any body builders there. I see some muscular guys using the exercise room, but have never seen anything close to the type run26mile is trying to find. I think he'll have much better luck at California Wow and the Hero Massage, although I don't know why he doesn't simply stick to the Tawan bar, where he is guaranteed to find what he wants.

You were probably looking at the intersection of Sukhumvit and Soi Khaotolo. There is a large field there and the Red-Shirts have set up shop there several times. Among other things, they sell the red shirts along with other Red-Shirt souvenirs. They also set up tables, microphones, etc. The trucks probably hold those supplies. I fully expect to see them setting up there any time now, in anticipation of the February 26 Supreme Court ruling about Thaksin and the money. I won't call it his money at this point because that's what the Supreme Court will decide.

Maybe not, but I would think if someone comes along offering enough money, they might be very interested.

I believe I said much of the Thai food is spiced up. I don't know why you think I said all of it. I'll live without the interest. I don't want any hot spices in my food. The only interest it would provide for me is apprehension as to how much it will cause me to suffer.

That, by the way, is Pradipat Soi 20. Also, at the end of that soi is the Embassy Hotel. It can be used as a short time hotel or you can stay there. It's rather seedy and run down, maybe a notch or two below the Malaysia Hotel, but at least it's right there if you want to stay close to the Saphan Kwai venues. It's also convenient to the Chatuchak weekend market. The last time I checked, about 2 or 3 years ago, the farang price was 700 baht per night. Their number is 02 279 2641 if you want to make a reservation, although reservations are probably not really necessary.

I like much of the Thai food, but I can't eat "phet." "Phet" means spicy. "Mai Phet" means not spicy. "Mai ow phet" is what you say to a waiter when you don't want your food spicy. I think most of us are well aware that much of the Thai food is spiced up with loads of hot peppers. I've actually seen Thai friends eating foods so spiced up that tears are rolling down their cheeks when they eat. The first time I came to Thailand I had no idea they spice up their food like that. I had a little surprise the first time I ate Thai food here. I must have drunk at least 20 gallons of water. Well, at least it gave the Thais who happened to be in the same restaurant their laugh for the day. Remember the story a couple years ago when a Thai restaurant in London was cooking hot peppers and the next thing they knew the police raided because people who caught the fumes thought they were under a terrorist attack? I just can't eat it. I've tried many times, but it only burns the hell out of my mouth, so I end up both in pain and unable to taste anything else for the rest of the meal. It ruins the meal for me. I've had people tell me to eat cucumbers or plain white rice to get rid of the effect. Maybe that works for them, but it doesn't help me one bit. For me, it doesn't work. I've had people tell me that without the hot peppers, the food is bland and boring. Ok, given the choice between bland and boring or having a burnt mouth, I'll take bland and boring. Besides, I don't find the food bland and boring anyhow. What about you? Can you handle it? Do you like your Thai food "phet" or "mai phet"?

Another dream I have, but has yet to come true, is that you'll figure out how to write a post that doesn't include those damned annoying smilies . . .

I get the impression that you are Thai, fluent in English, and a Thaksin supporter. Am I right?

I think I already saw this movie . . . Tip for long time stay - GayThailand.com Forum Try gyms and Muay Thai schools. I don't think you're going to find many massage boys that fit the bill. Put an ad on Gay Romeo and try their escorts section. In Bangkok go to Lumphini Park, where the body builders like to work out. Try a Google search for "thai bodybuilders"

That's precisely the problem. Very few people are going to want to find themselves recorded and appearing on your web site. You said it yourself. Pattaya Gay TV can be viewed by anyone in the entire world who has Internet access. Nobody wants to be involuntarily "outed" and that is why you're getting little cooperation from bar owners and the gay community in general. The bar owners have little enough business as it is. If they permit you to come in with your cameras, then they won't have any business at all. The solution to that seems simple enough to me. You want to record bar shows? Try to arrange recording their rehearsals instead of the actual show. An audience won't be present during rehearsals. You want to record go-go boys? Offer them an incentive to agree to be recorded and do the recording before the bar opens. If you want to interview venue owners, try to get them to agree to interviews privately. If you want support from the gay community, then you're going to have to come up with ways to present whatever it is you want to present without causing gay tourists to feel threatened by your presence. When you make statements such as "we have to stand together," ask yourself what people here on a holiday would have to gain by standing together with you and allowing themselves to be filmed and appear before the entire world. Why would they want to stand with you? They have plenty they could lose, but what do they have to gain? I can't see anything they have to gain that would make the risks worthwhile to them. All they would need would be wives, bosses, their children, their friends, etc. to spot them inside a gay bar. Quite frankly, the way I see it Pattaya's gay scene managed to survive quite nicely before Pattaya Gay TV ever came into existence and will still survive just as nicely if your project fails. I believe people are perceiving Pattaya Gay TV as an intrusion and a threat, not as an enhancement. You're going to need to take steps to change that perception. If you want the gay community to stand together with you, then you're going to have to come up with ways to gain support. You're not going to get support from people here on a holiday when you show up with your video cameras, causing them to be fearful that they might involuntarily be shown publicly on the Internet. I've offered a few suggestions. Maybe others also have suggestions. Aside from that, Pattaya Gay TV is your venture and your responsibility. I don't see any justification for you to be trying to volunteer the gay message boards to be a part of your project or help you earn support. I'm sure we'll all be very happy to support you provided we can support you without anyone feeling threatened. But just how you will accomplish that is your own affair.

And when I click it still takes me to the Sunee Plaza site. What it doesn't do is take me to the Show Bar site. Welcome to the latest entry on my "I Don't Get It" list.

I'm surprised, but glad to know that people seem to agree with me on this. When I go to a go-go bar, you know why I'm there? I'm there to see the go-go boys. Imagine that. I'm there to see the go-go boys. Isn't that strange of me? The last thing on earth I'm in there for is to see these horrendous lady-boy lip sync shows. As soon as those start, I'm out the door. Fortunately, Kurt, not all the bars put on these shows and most of the time you'll probably have found your man long before the shows start. If not, there are still plenty of go-go bars that don't have the shows or have them at different times. You won't have a problem finding what you're looking for.

One thing about Pattaya - I've never been anywhere in my life where there are so many wonderful restaurants at very reasonable prices in such close proximity to just about anywhere in the city. There are still some out here on "The Dark Side" I have yet to try, and plenty more in the city and in Naklua. Also, it doesn't take much to get me to go to some of the Thai seafood restaurants way down south on Jomtien Beach Road, almost near the end. There are several. Most have beachside seating available and the food is usually quite good and very reasonably priced. If you don't have a Thai friend with you, no problem. They all have picture menus. RichLB and I have discussed going up and down all the sois on Jomtien Beach Road. It seems like every one of them have restaurants to try, some excellent and some lousy, but we're going to at least have a look and see what's there and try the ones that look good to us. The problem is finding the time to do it. We've only been talking about doing that for over two months, and we have yet to actually get going on it. A lot of people enjoy the Wednesday night German buffet at Ole. One that I like even more is Anton's in Naklua. Theirs is every night. There are Thai selections too. Including water it's 260 baht. There are loads more restaurants to try in Naklua, many of which are German. The problem is, once we find restaurants we really like, that's where we tend to go rather than trying new ones all that often.