Gaybutton

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Samui Crash Kills Pilot Officials Say Rain, Wind Struck Plane as it Landed Writer: SUPAPONG CHAOLAN AND AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK Published: 5/08/2009 Aviation officials have rushed to Koh Samui to begin investigating the crash of the Bangkok Airways plane which killed the pilot and injured 12 people, four of them seriously. Those injured include the co-pilot, the two crew members and nine passengers. The accident yesterday forced the closure of the one-runway airport and it will remain out of action until the Civil Aviation Department officials order the debris to be cleared. Witnesses to the accident, including airport staff, have suggested a heavy rainstorm at the time was likely to have disrupted the landing of PG 226 from Krabi which had 68 passengers, two pilots and two crew members on board, the CAD said. The accident occurred at 2.30pm. The French-manufactured 70-seat ATR 72-500 aircraft skidded off the runway as it was touching down in heavy rains and strong winds. It crashed into an old air traffic control tower. Bangkok Airways president Puttipong Prasarttong-osoth said the pilot apparently died on impact. Mr Puttipong and CAD director-general Kannika Khemawuthanont said civil aviation officials were dispatched to the resort island to investigate the accident along with Bangkok Airways staff. As the airport was closed, the officials had to take a flight to Surat Thani and continue to the resort island by ferry. Deputy chief of the department Wutthichai Singmanee said the investigators needed to examine the flight recorder first. The front part of the plane hit the old air traffic control tower which had been transformed into a fire station. The front section was severely damaged. Mr Puttipong said chief pilot Chartchai Pansuwan, 58, who died in the crash, was an experienced operator and had piloted ATR72-500 aircraft for 14 years. The aircraft was commissioned in 2001 and had flown more than 19,000 flights. The aircraft, including accident coverage, was insured for US$250 million (8.5 billion baht) with Bangkok Insurance Co. The four passengers seriously injured were two Britons, one Swiss and one Italian. Most of the injured suffered broken legs or leg wounds. Mr Puttipong said most of the passengers were foreign tourists including nationals of Germany, the Netherlands, Israel, Spain and France. Somchai Baimuang of the Meteorological Department yesterday said strong winds reaching 30 knots were recorded at the time of the crash. An official at the airport who asked not to be named said there were heavy rains and strong winds before the landing. "During the landing there was a strong wind. What happened is similar to the crash of the One-Two-Go plane in Phuket," he said. On Sept 16, 2007, a One-Two-Go plane crashed while landing in bad weather in Phuket, killing 88 people. Health officials said nine people remained hospitalised including the co-pilot who was among the last to be evacuated from the aircraft. Following the crash, calls for donations of blood Type B were made through television and radio stations. The airport closure forced Thai Airways International to cancel two flights, TG 288 and TG 287, between Bangkok and Samui. According to THAI, the cancellation affected 292 passengers and accommodation would be arranged for them. Bangkok Airways has set up an emergency call centre number - 02 265 8777. Samui airport currently handles 16 flights a day. That figures increases to 24 during the high season. ____________________ And this, from THE NATION: _____ Bangkok Airways Crash Kills Captain, Injures 11 Published on August 5, 2009 A Bangkok Airways turboprop skidded off a runway on the southern resort island of Koh Samui yesterday, killing its pilot and injuring 11 passengers and crew. Airline president Puttipong Prasarttong-osoth said Captain Chartchai Punsuwan was killed when the aircraft, an ATR72-500, hit an unused air-traffic-control tower. The co-pilot was injured in the accident, Puttipong said, adding that Chartchai had flown for Bangkok Airways for 19 years. The captain also had 17 years' experience flying the ATR 72-500. The accident took place amid heavy rain as the pilots attempted to land. Eyewitnesses said there was a loud noise when the aircraft hit the tower following the landing, after which a fire broke out that killed the pilot and injured 11 others. The ATR72-500 can seat 70 passengers. Koh Samui Airport is closed temporarily while the Civil Aviation Department investigates the cause of the accident. Puttipong said four passengers received serious injuries: two Britons, one Spaniard and one Italian. Bangkok Airways' insurers will be responsible for compensation. The aircraft is covered by Bangkok Insurance for US$250 million (Bt8.5 billion). The airline yesterday cancelled seven flights out of Koh Samui Airport and another seven to the island. Passengers on Koh Samui were transferred by boat to Surat Thani Airport for charter flights to Bangkok. Bangkok Airways is allowed to operate 34 flights a day |to Koh Samui, while Thai Airways (THAI) has a twice-daily service. THAI senior executive vice president Narongsak Sanga-pong said the national flag carrier also had to suspend its service to Koh Samui, due to the airport's closure. As a result, two return flights were suspended, affecting 292 passengers. Once the airport reopens, the company will resume its normal flight schedule. Treated in hospital Injured passengers Bangkok-Samui Hospital Thanawat Premrudee, 35, co-pilot Linda Thongkorn, 28, crew member Supanasa Namjit, 25, crew member Nicolas Havel, 39, Briton Panteli Pantelis, 39, Briton Joyce Goosleng, 26, Briton Claire Ballantye, 38, Briton Elodie Lacovangelo, 41, Swiss Mirella Gastaldi, 39, Italian Ban Don Inter Hospital Abreheam Gzaaf, 42, Dutch Lucar Gzaaf, 11, Dutch

Neither did I. Of course I also never got any. But I did send flowers to my hands every so often . . .

In all honesty I fail to see the problem. In a bar you would check a boy's ID card before taking him off, wouldn't you? Why wouldn't you do the same thing when you meet a boy from Gay Romeo? I never have a Gay Romeo boy come to my place at first. I meet him in some sort of neutral territory. If there is the slightest doubt about his age, I'll check his ID card. Also, in all honesty, I have never had a problem with any boy I met via Gay Romeo. I've never had one steal. I've never had one lie to me about his age. The only kind of problem I've ever encountered is when a boy who sounded very exciting when we chatted turned out to be a dud. Some will try to tell you they are not interested in money. The usual reason they give is they are looking for a boyfriend. It has been my experience that the more they insist they are not money boys, the more likely they are to be money boys. I don't mind that if they are honest about it up front. Some of the best boys I have ever met came from Gay Romeo. I agree that caution is certainly the smart thing to do, but I don't see a reason to feel that you need to be so overly cautious that the caution now turns to fear. Read the guestbooks. Many people write their honest opinions of the boys they've met in those guestbooks. If someone has written something negative about the boy, there are plenty of others to choose from. I love Gay Romeo. I'd much rather meet a boy via Gay Romeo than taking a boy off from a bar.

Further news is coming in from THE NATION: _____ Captain of BA Flight Confirmed Dead Published on August 4, 2009 Captain of the ill-fated Bangkok Airways is confirmed dead when his aircraft skidded of runway of Samui Airport and plunged into an old air control tower on Tuesday. Kannika Kemawutanon, director general of Civil Aviation Department, said that the captain, Chartchai Pansuwan, was killed at the scene. Chartchai was killed as the aircraft hit head-on the tower. The flight was landing at the Samui Airport when it slid of the runway reportedly because of the poor weather. Initial reports said the aircraft was carrying 68 passengers and four crew members when the accident happened. Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai meanwhile said 10 passengers were seriously injured. Of them, six were sent to Bangkok-Samui Hospital, two to Bandon Inter and two to Thai Inter Hospitals each. A number of 42 others passengers were slightly injured. Co-pilot and two others crew members were safe. __________ And this, also from THE NATION: _____ Bangkok Airways Announces 7 Passengers Severely Injured Bangkok Airways announced Tuesday that 9 passengers of Flight PG 266 were injured, seven of them severely, in the accident at the Samui island. Bangkok Airways said 61 other passengers were safe along with two flight attendants. It said the pilot was killed and the co-pilot was safe. __________ And this, from the BANGKOK POST _____ 1 Confirmed Death in Bangkok Airways Crash Published: 4/08/2009 A Bangkok Airways plane skidded off the runway and crashed at Samui airport on Tuesday afternoon, resulting in at least one confirmed death and seven injured. Flight PG 266 crashed in severe weather on arriving at the resort island in Surat Thani about 2pm from Krabi province. Witnesses said the ATR72 twin turbo-prop landed in a strong crosswind, veered off the runway and crashed into an old control tower now being used as a parking area for fire engines. Police investigator Sayan Sadsri said the pilot, Chartchai Pansuwan, was killed and seven people hurt. All of the injured were taken to Bangkok Samui hospital, Pol Maj Sayan said. Civil Aviation Department Deputy Director-General Kannika Khemawuthanont said 68 passengers and four cabin crew boarded the plane in Krabi. After the crash, Thai Airways International cancelled two flights to Samui, TG 287 and TG 288, leaving more than 200 passengers stranded at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Samui airport was closed after the accident. For information on the names of passengers on board the flight and their conditions, call Bangkok Airways Hotline at 02-265-8777 or 1771. It said relatives could contact its emergency call centre at 02-2687557 for more information. The Nation

Very little ever does . . .

This apparently happened only a couple of hours ago from the time of this post. Few details are available yet, but here's what appears in THE NATION so far: _____ Bangkok Airway jet skids off runway, many injured Published on August 4, 2009 Captain of the flight feared dead as the aircraft hit head-on to flight control tower. 41 others reportedly injured. A Bangkok Airways aircraft skidded of runway at Samui Airport and crashed into an old aviation control tower on Tuesday. The accident took place at about 2.30pm and as of 3pm, there was still unclear on the number of injuries and fatalities. Rescue teams and workers rushed to the scene to evacuate the passengers of the ill-fated flight. Initial report said that the 75-seat aircraft with 68 passengers and four crew members from Krabi province was landing at the Samui airport when it slid of the runway reportedly because of the poor weather. The Nation's reporter who was at the scene said the aircraft was not caught on fire when the crash happened. Meanwhile Kannika Kemawutanon, director general of civil aviation department said that the Bangkok Airways flight crashed into old flight control tower which is now used as parking area for fire trucks. Samui district chief Sakchai Johpalit said rescue workers were evacuating the injured passengers from the aircraft. The injured were sent to Krungthep-Samui Hospital (Tel 077429500. Another hospital on the island is Samui Hospital which can be reached at Tel 0-7742-0902, 0-7742-1399.) The accident took place as the island was hit by consecutive days of heavy rains. Heavy rains continued after the accident happened.

How much does it cost?

What's wrong with going to Saranrom Park? You've been there. You know you can find plenty there. There are always a few in the parking lot and gazebo at the Malaysia Hotel. I'm not familiar enough with Bangkok to offer any advice about other places to look, but I'm interested, as you are, in areas others know about.

My experience is the opposite. Nearly every boy I meet wears briefs. I have met hardly any who wear boxers.

There are others, but Gay Romeo, I think, is the best of them. As you said, you almost immediately had guys contact you wanting to hook up. That's the whole point. You can get immediate responses on Gay Romeo. Other than pure chat rooms, I no of no other sites on which that can happen, at least not to the degree it can happen on Gay Romeo. On most other sites you either have to try to contact via Email or pay for a membership (try finding a Thai boy who is going to pay for a membership), or something like that. You might want to have a look at: http://www.gboysiam.com/picpost and http://www.ratefun.net But I don't think either of them come even close to measuring up to Gay Romeo. Also, a lot more boys know about and participate on Gay Romeo than on most of the others.

jtrack33 is right. I forgot all about Verasu. That's probably the best place of all. Their web site is: http://www.verasu.com Download and have a look at their mid-year catalog. If you go to the bottom of the page and click on "Contact Us" and excellent map of their location comes up. If you click on the tabs just above the map, their other locations come up. There is also a Verasu in Phuket.

That's true, but GT can test him again at periodic intervals. I understand, at least with ya ba, it takes about two weeks after the last use before the test will come up negative.

I don't think you offended anybody. I hope not, anyway. That's my job!

Well, don't worry about it. You can easily find boys who have all but three of those qualities . . .

A friend of mine was also looking for one and could never find one. He ended up having a friend bring one over from the USA. Fortunately he remembered he needed to get an electricity converter for it or he would have burnt it out as soon as he plugged it in and turned it on. Have you tried the top floor at Paragon? If anyone would have it, they would, although I don't remember seeing one there. But if they don't, talk to one of the managers. Sometimes they know where to get a hard-to-find item. Maybe they can special order one for you.

I know you can have it done at a hospital. You can probably also have it done at the local street clinics. I have no idea whether some sort of home test is available at pharmacies. Why not simply go to a pharmacy and ask?

I think you're right. These stories are making it seem as if coming to Thailand at all means you're definitely going to be a victim of something during your trip. I think if customs was really pulling stunts like that, the airlines would start raising hell and so would the media. It is true, however, that Thailand does have strict rules about how many cigarettes can be brought in. I forget the limit, but if you're a smoker I suggest buying your duty-free cigarettes on the way out, not on the way in.

Why didn't you invite him to eat with you? I'll bet if he knew he would get a meal out of it, along with a tip from you, which would probably be much more than he would have made driving his taxi all day, you would have found out just how divine he really is.

An embassy official once told me that the two primary functions of embassies are business and political interests. Citizens who travel to foreign countries, according to him, who get themselves into trouble, whether innocent or guilty, are pretty much on their own. Even when people are arrested, in most cases all the embassy will do for you is provide a list of reputable attorneys.

I don't think it matters very much. Even if the British couple were absolutely guilty, that wouldn't justify the shakedown after they were arrested. If it was handled the way it was supposed to be handled, then they would have been arrested and given the option of trying to settle with a King Power representative, pay a reasonable bail, or opt to stay in jail until a hearing. But if their story is true (and even if it isn't), now a lot of people are going to be afraid to Shop in King Power at all. Again, even if King Power handled their end of it correctly, the damage is still done no matter who is at fault and King Power is going to have to do something substantial about it unless they want to lose a hell of a lot of customers.

King Power may be totally innocent of any wrongdoing, but the damage is already done. If they are innocent, then they are going to lose quite a lot of money unfairly. But they're the ones who have to find ways to deal with the problem. I, for one, don't need anything from their duty-free shop so badly that I would be willing to risk something similar happening to me. I won't set foot in any shop at the airport anymore unless there is a dire need. It's not worth the risk. Despite the fact that thousands of people pass through the airport every day, and only rarely do these incidents occur, the fact that they occur at all is enough to keep me out of the airport shops. If, for some reason, I do patronize an airport shop, I'm going to make damned sure of what is in my bag and I will keep the receipts for whatever I bought, making sure I was given an accurate receipt. But the safest thing is not to even enter the shops, not even to look around. I might end up a victim anyhow, but it's hard to accuse someone of shoplifting if they never even entered a shop. Until they come up with a way to guarantee that such incidents cannot occur, they won't get any business from me and I'll bet there are plenty of others who feel the same way. Another thing to keep in mind according to the article, is how to respond if someone approaches you, no matter how official looking he might be. I would absolutely refuse to cooperate in any way without first having someone working a desk, who is obviously a genuine employee, contact airport security and having them send someone over to verify that I have been approached by someone genuine. If that doesn't work, I would start shouting "Police! Police!" at the top of my lungs. I might create a scene that way, but I won't be ripped off by some kind of a scam artist preying on innocent people.

Yes. You should see it whenever you start a new thread, reply to a post, or edit your own post. It says "Manage Topic Poll."

Sounds good to me. You'll have a wonderful time . . . just before the kidnapping.

That's where you get a third person involved. He can sell the tickets, the drinks, possibly provide a fine wine list, serve some hors d'oeuvres, and even film the video. DVDs for sale later, perhaps by a beach vendor. Go for it, I say. You'll make a fortune . . .

The Venue ( http://www.thevenuejomtien.com ) is an old place with a different name. It is in Jomtien Complex. It was The Bondi. The Bondi sold out to the current owners. The entire bar area has been renovated. I don't know how much renovation work was done on the rooms. Don't confuse The Bondi with the new Bondi bar that just last week opened along the walkway to the gay beach area. That's a totally different outfit. That particular Bondi is owned by the former owners of the Oz bar.