Gaybutton

What you're not allowed to do is write posts that under Thai law could be construed as libelous, is an obvious vendetta posted by someone who has a personal grudge against a business, or is a post designed to attempt to hurt a business. I've said it before and I'll repeat it now. I'm the only moderator on this board who is a permanent resident in Thailand. When I see a post that can harm my ability to live here or can cause a libel suit to be levied against me, I'm getting rid of the post, even if others think I'm being inconsistent about it. If I thought GT's post met that sort of criteria, I would have deleted it even though he's the boss. He could always fire me . . .

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Catch the Solar Eclipse Published on July 20, 2009 Telescopes will be provided for stargazers and those interested in watching the solar eclipse on Wednesday at a major observation site in Pathum Thani and eight other locations around Thailand. National Science Museum scientists will also explain at the site about the natural phenomenon, which will occur from 7am to 9.30am. A thousand tinted pairs of spectacles will be provided for free. A total solar eclipse cannot be observed within entire Thailand, and the time it begins will vary depending from where it is observed. Call 02 577 9999 extension 2102 or 1835 for more information. The National Astronomical Institute of Thailand (NAIT) said the duration of the eclipse will be exactly from 7am to 9.19am. Countries and areas where a full eclipse can be seen are India, China, Japan and the South Pacific. After the total eclipse in Thailand in 1995, this solar ecplise will set a record as the longest so far in the 21st Century, with a duration time of six minutes and 39 seconds. It will last the longest in Chiang Mai - two hours and 12 minutes - as well as be the largest eclipse, with 69 per cent of the moon's shadow covering the Sun. Bangkokians can see it from 7.06am to 9.08am and can view the moon's shadow at a coverage percentage of 42.2 at 8.03am. The NAIT is cooperating with Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok and eight universities and colleges in other parts of the country to arrange observation sites from which people can view the eclipse.

Since it's not a "happy ending" massage, I think 100 baht would be appropriate . . . maybe a little more if the masseur is your concept of outstanding.

There's nothing to test. It is not yet available.

http://www.pattayamail.com/current/news.shtml#hd2

I just returned from several days out of town and did not look at the Internet during my absence. I'm very sorry to come back only to find this news. Allen and I go back a long way. For many years we advised and consulted each other in dealing with the message board issues. Several years ago we even had a "summit meeting" at my home involving myself, Allen, and other message board owners and we came to several agreements regarding issues and operation of the various boards. Allen, David-in Pattaya, and I shared many experiences together and were in constant touch regarding the message boards. Many of you, I'm sure, fondly remember David-in-Pattaya. Allen did more for the gay community in Thailand than most of you will probably ever know. He deserves much better than what he has already gone through and what he is likely to go through. I hope his remaining time will be pleasant for him. He has earned at least that. When his time comes, if there really is such a thing as Heaven, Allen is certain to be there.

I always had the greatest respect for Walter Cronkite. I'm a hell of a lot more upset over his death than Michael Jackson's.

Many would say that's where any similarity between Mr. Rooney and I ends . . .

I'll go even better than that. Many car dealerships don't issue real "red plates" at all. They issue plastic ones that have no technical validity whatsoever. Some give you a choice of true registered red temporary plates, but at a fee. They don't charge anything for the plastic ones until the permanent plates come in, provided you return them. Even in your home province, if you're driving around with the plastic plates, you're technically illegal. But then again, prostitution is technically illegal too. The police seem to look the other way at both. Just about everyone, Thai and farang alike, use the plastic freebie plates without any problems.

That's my point, exactly. It could not be clearer . . . to us. Why isn't it also clear to them? It all has its designated spot on my "I Don't Get It" list.

I also can't figure out why the bars and hotels are doing things this way. What seems so perfectly logical and obvious to us apparently makes no sense to them. I'm trying to understand what does make sense to them.

With that length of time and also going into next year, I don't think any of us can give you an answer upon which you can truly rely. I suggest you to to the Immigration office and ask. They'll be happy to tell you. Then, it would be helpful if you would let us know what they tell you.

Are you sure that's even possible?

Wasn't that George Washington? Unless, of course, you mean Honest Abe's Used Cars or something. "Is it actually possible to be more than happy? You can be happy, but how can you be more than happy. Sounds like a dangerous mental condition to me. 'We had to have poor Dan put away . . . . He was more than happy.'" - George Carlin

I don't know whether the airlines sell one-way tickets to Thailand or not. I always booked through Rhonda, at Norcross Travel and I only bought a one-way ticket the only time I ever had need for one. I would imagine that you could easily buy a one-way ticket from the airlines. Why not? No law says you have to book your return trip with the same airline. You can buy open-ended return tickets, but they're much more expensive and they do have time limitations. Otherwise it would have been possible to buy an open-ended return ticket in 1957 and still have yet to use it.

"my grandmother was Italian and gave me a recipe for tomato sauce that is out of this world." Would you be willing to share that recipe with us?

Be that as it may, I think Jomtien makes a valid point. The thing is, I think, if you're going to live in Thailand and be happy here, you have to be prepared to take Thailand for what it is. Despite valid arguments, nothing is going to change, even if you're absolutely right. Many of us bitch and moan amongst ourselves about certain things, but the bottom line is if you can't handle the way things work in Thailand, then you're never going to be happy here as a permanent resident. For example, this week some friends and I are about to take a road trip to Phitsanulok. I fully expect to be stopped and ripped off by the police at least once during the trip. I'll be pleasantly surprised if it doesn't happen, but I'm making the trip with the expectation that it probably will. I know that's an unfortunate part of the kind of thing that typically happens here, but I'm prepared for it and I accept it. Obviously I don't like it, but I accept it. If I couldn't accept things like that, I doubt that I could handle living here.

I agree with all of those. One in particular I would like to expand upon is your Rule 7. One thing I've learned is the grapevine among these boys is just incredible. It's amazing sometimes. So many of them seem to know where I am, who I'm with, and what I'm doing any time I leave my home. Quite often boys will come up and introduce themselves to me, boys I've never seen before in my life, and tell me they are friends with this one or that one. As I said, I've never seen them before, and yet they know who I am and even where I've been. The moral of the story is that you really do need to live up to your end of whatever agreement you made with any of these bar boys. Even if he promised the world, but then turned out to be a dud, pay him what you told him you would pay and just don't take him a second time. But if you try to get away with an excuse to give him less than you promised, you're taking your life into your hands. Some things are just not worth the risk.

That's what I thought too . . . leasing them out and trying to re-sell them. I agree with you in that I don't see how they're going to fill flights with aircraft that size unless the tourist industry dramatically picks up, and so far there's no sign of that. I don't know what they're going to do with six of those planes, but they're going to have to come up with something. I think they may try to use at least some of the planes for cargo rather than passenger flights.

I agree with lvdkeyes. I would also say to think with your brain, not your crotch, and definitely obey the age 18+ rules. Another lesson I think many ought to learn is Thailand is much more than boys, bars, and beaches.

That's the problem. Everyone has his own individual opinion as to what constitutes "best." To me, the best is whatever I enjoy the most. If Kobe beef is really that good, then many are going to feel that's the best. For me a 2500 baht price tag, along with wine (which I don't really give a damn about), and everything else, by the time you're done, dinner is going to cost a bundle. I just wouldn't enjoy that. Maybe on a very special occasion, but that's about it. For me, the inexpensive steaks may not be the be the best, but what I look for is the flavor and texture I like best, not to mention a decent portion. One time, a few years ago, I was in Bangkok and I just had to have prime rib. I went to Hamilton's Steakhouse on friend's recommendation and had their prime rib. 1100 baht was the price and I wanted it so badly I was willing to pay it. It was excellent, but I ended up disappointed. The slice served to me was so thin I think I could have seen through it if I had held it up to the light. That's not my idea of a great dinner. If it's anything I can't stand, it's paying a premium price and ending up leaving the restaurant still hungry. To me that's a lot of crap that I can do without. I have the same opinion about Romanasia, in Pattaya. Their food is very good, but the portions are just too small. It's not just me. I ate there with two friends, neither of whom are particularly big eaters, and both said the same thing. All three of us left the restaurant still hungry. The portions at Manhattans, on the other hand, are so huge that even I can't finish. However, the last two times I ate there the quality of the prime rib was not even close to the quality that they served before they fired Tom, their original manager. I was disappointed in the quality twice. I don't think I'm particularly interested in a third try any time soon.

Maybe it's not good enough for HeyGay, but it sure sounds like my kind of place. No matter how good a steak is, I don't think I would enjoy it very much knowing I'm going to have to part with 2500 baht or more, plus tip, to pay for it. I have much better things to do with my money than to pay that much for a steak. I like steak too, but not that much. Next time I'm in Bangkok I'm going to try Mizu's Kitchen and judge for myself.

This is where that old saying about being penny wise and pound foolish comes in. Since it is obvious that certain airlines create a lot of problems for people bound for Thailand with a one-way ticket, coupled with the fact that it is absurd to pay for a round-trip ticket that you know you're not going to use, then to me the smart thing for people traveling to Thailand to stay would be to spend the extra money to get the Retirement Visa while still in your home country. There are pros and cons to everything. For example, it's getting to be more and more difficult for farang to open a Thai bank account without a non-immigrant visa and you need to have a Thai bank account to get the Retirement Visa within Thailand. If you don't have one, they won't grant the visa. On the other hand, if you get the Retirement Visa while still in your home country, having a Thai bank account is not among the requirements. So, you can get the Retirement Visa, come to Thailand with a one-way ticket, and since you'll enter Thailand with an already valid Retirement Visa, now you'll be able to open an account at any Thai bank you want. The bottom line is there are several ways to go about it. But one way I would not recommend is trying to get an airline to let you board with a one-way ticket unless you have a ticket of some sort to exit Thailand or unless you already have the Retirement Visa. I suppose one other thing you could do is call various airlines, explain your situation, and ask what their policy is about letting you travel with a one-way ticket. If the airline says it's no problem, I would ask them to confirm that for you in writing, and have that confirmation in hand when you try to board, just in case some clueless gate agent tries to stop you.

Would that be rump roast or beef jerky?

I thought my story was a nightmare, but yours is incredible. I don't know if I could have gone through what you did without totally losing my temper and winding up arrested. There are two exceptions to what you say above that I can think of. One is if you are returning to Thailand with a re-entry permit. The other is if you are entering the country with a new Retirement Visa that you obtained while still in your home country. If I had it to do over again, I would obtain the Retirement Visa while still in the USA. It would cost more, but it would save the hassle. I was lucky. If that supervisor hadn't given in, I would have been forced to either buy a return ticket or buy a ticket from Bangkok to somewhere else. That would have probably cost much more than the US$100 difference it costs to obtain the Retirement Visa outside of Thailand. That's the problem people are going to face if they try to fly to Thailand on a one-way ticket. The problem is unlikely to be arrival in Thailand. The problem is going to be with the airline. Another way around it would be to buy a fully refundable ticket from Bangkok to another country, and then get the refund once you're in Thailand.