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The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Red Shirts Move Rally to Bangkok Emergency Rule Ends, UDD Defies City Order By: POST REPORTERS Published: 25/04/2009 The anti-government United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship has moved its planned mass rally to Bangkok after the government on Friday lifted the state of emergency. Today's rally was originally scheduled for other provinces which were not affected by the state of emergency with Samut Sakhon tipped as being the most likely venue. The protest was relocated to Sanam Luang after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared the lifting of emergency rule at the end of the joint parliamentary meeting in the early hours of yesterday morning. Parliament wrapped its two-day special joint sitting to debate the crackdown on UDD red shirt demonstrators. A government source said Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban called a meeting with security authorities to discuss the lifting of the state of emergency as parliament was about to adjourn on Thursday night. The source said Mr Abhisit was concerned that emergency rule, if it was prolonged, would backfire on the government. The source said national police chief Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwon pledged to speed up criminal cases against leaders of the UDD and of the People's Alliance for Democracy in efforts to return peace to society. Hundreds of cases are being processed in connection with street protests by both camps. UDD leader Somyos Prueksakasemsuk said the planned rally would not be prolonged. It would begin about 5pm and disperse about 11pm. It would tackle alleged government intimidation of UDD leaders, pressure the government to unblock the signal of its television broadcaster, D Station, and ask it to guarantee freedom of expression of red shirt protesters. Like ASTV which supports the PAD, the UDD's satellite TV station is a communication channel and has been the mouthpiece of the red shirt supporters. "The government should stop violating our rights of free speech. Blocking D Station's signal will only make red shirts more upset and force us to hold street protests," said Mr Somyos, who is one of the UDD's "second-generation" leaders. All pro-UDD community radio stations must also be allowed to resume broadcasts, he added. Mr Somyos said today's rally had nothing to do with other UDD leaders. "The decision to rally was made by the second-generation leaders, who felt upset with the Abhisit government's attempt to suppress the red shirt movement," he said. "It's now purely a people's movement." Mr Somyos shrugged off City Hall's order to ban the UDD from using Sanam Luang for today's gathering. He said the protesters had no choice but to resist it . According to Mr Somyos, there will be no phone-in by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin is in Liberia this week scouting for business opportunities in Africa, Reuters reported yesterday. "I have come to visit Liberia to explore business opportunities in the areas of mining, agriculture and gas exploration," Thaksin said after meeting the West African country's vice-president earlier this week. Small UDD rallies were also expected to take place today in Udon Thani, Chiang Mai and Phatthalung. Mr Suthep said he instructed police to step up security for the main UDD rally but threatened to take legal action if the rally turned ugly or was deemed to be inciting fresh unrest. Puea Thai MP and UDD leader Jatuporn Prompan, however, said he was unlikely to join the rally. He would talk to other UDD leaders first. Mr Abhisit said the lifting of emergency rule was an indication of the government's determination to reconcile differences in society. "By lifting the state of emergency we are sending a signal to the international community that normalcy has been restored," he said. However, troops would remain deployed in certain locations where there was still public concern about security. The UDD protest at Sanam Luang could proceed as long as it did not cause trouble, he said. Mr Abhisit reiterated that he was ready to dissolve parliament and call for fresh elections but it should not happen before the charter is amended. The political crisis would worsen if elections were organised when those rules that were seen as problematic had not been revised. He said constitutional amendments would address the UDD's demands for democracy and reconciliation. Meanwhile, the opposition Puea Thai party yesterday pressed on with its accusations that the military resorted to violence to disperse the UDD supporters during recent street protests. Puea Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said the party would lodge complaints against Mr Abhisit with police and the National Anti-Corruption Commission. During the two-day debate, Puea Thai MPs submitted to parliament "proof" of military violence. Senator Somchai Sawaengkarn yesterday warned the government not to rush into charter amendments. He said a panel should be first set up to review the charter. He also welcomed the government's proposal for a parliamentary committee to investigate the military crackdown on the red shirt protesters.

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ US Rev Jesse Jackson talks with PM Abhisit Vejjajiva during a meeting at Government House on Friday. Jackson is visiting Thailand on invitation of the International Peace Foundation as a keynote speaker. Pramote Putthaisong

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Revoke Jakrapob's Passport: Democrats Published on April 25, 2009 The ruling Democrat Party has urged Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya to revoke the passport of red-shirt leader Jakrapob Penkair to prevent him from using any foreign country as a launch pad against the government. Party spokesman Buranat Samutharak said it would consult with Kasit when he returned from the United States. Fugitive Jakrapob, whose whereabouts are unknown, has said via international media that the red-shirts may very well turn from peaceful struggle to insurgency. Jakrapob, a former minister at the Prime Minister's Office, is charged with lese majeste and has been missing since the Songkran Day rioting.

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ RED SHIRTS' RALLY Reds to Rally at Royal Plaza Published on April 25, 2009 The red-shirt movement yesterday announced it would stage a rally at the Royal Plaza today, in what was an immediate response to the government's revocation of the emergency decree in Bangkok and some surrounding provinces. Somyos Pruksakaseamsuk, co-leader of the movement, said that since the government had now revoked the state of emergency, the leadership had decided to relocate its protest venue from Samut Sakhon to the Royal Plaza in Bangkok. It plans to rally there from 5pm to 11pm today. Somyos insisted that the demonstration would not last long and would not result in any violence. The group expects at least 5,000 people to attend the rally. "This gathering will be a new start, carrying on the April 13 movement's mission," he said. The group has demanded the release of every red-shirt leader, the cancellation of all legal action against them and restoration of the 1997 constitution. Moreover, Somyos said he would like to urge the government to stop blocking the red shirts' media, especially community radio and D-Station TV. The red-shirt leaders are preparing to file a complaint to the Administrative Court over the D-Station closure order, he added. Jatuporn Promphan, a Pheu Thai MP and co-leader of the red shirts, said he would not be attending today's rally, adding that he wanted to map out with fellow leaders what the movement's next strategy should be. Prime Minster Abhisit Vejjajiva said he was not concerned about today's rally. He said the anti-government movement had the right to protest, since it was guaranteed by the Constitution. However, the PM urged the demonstrators to exercise their rights without infringing on those of others. Meanwhile, the Criminal Court yesterday approved the release of the three detained co-leaders of the red-shirt movement on bail of Bt500,000 each. Veera Musigapong, Natthawut Saikua and Weng Tojirakarn were temporarily released on condition that they not mobilise, instigate or cause chaos nor obstruct or damage official investigations.

PRIME MINISTER LIFTS STATE OF EMERGENCY DECREE IN BANGKOK, CAPITAL REGION BANGKOK, April 24 (TNA) - Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has lifted implementation of the State of Emergency Decree in Bangkok and surrounding areas effective Friday. The prime minister announced the move during his closing speech at a joint session of Parliament called to find a solution to end the political crisis. He said his decision was made in order to show that his government had a sincere intention to push ahead reconciliation after the violence protests in Bangkok and some provinces. He also told reporters after the meeting that he had consulted with Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban who is responsible for security matters and Bangkok Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol. Lt-Gen. Worapong Chewpreecha before deciding to lift the decree. Mr. Abhisit voiced confidence that the political situation will be stable and the overall atmosphere will improve. The prime minister imposed the State of Emergency Decree in the capital and five surrounding provinces on April 12 after anti-government protests in Pattaya and Bangkok had forced the government to postpone the ASEAN summit with its dialogue partners. Two people were killed and 123 injured as troops clashed with protesters during operations to disperse the violent protest which paralysed traffic in the capital during the Songkran Festival. The three week protest at Government House mounted by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) ended on April 14 when the movement’s leaders ended their protest and surrendered to the authorities fearing that the troops would force the protesters to disperse and the Red Shirts would sustain physical injuries. Mr. Abhisit said he proposed that Parliament establish a fact-finding panel to probe the transparency of the military operation to disperse the protesters. All parties concerned should be able to participate, he said. As for the accusation that the government applied double standard between the two groups of protesters, the prime minister said he encouraged the members of parliament and senators to comment regarding legal aspects to find solution. He affirmed that the government was pleased to cooperate. The prime minister said he is ready to dissolve Parliament for fresh elections when the concerned rules were set and when the right time has come. Mr. Abhisit also said the government would like the chance to host ASEAN and its dialogue partners again, possibly in June in the southern resort province of Phuket. (TNA)

Good of you to attempt an insult with your second post on this board and I'm sure you're right. However, if you're suggesting our reason for going to Cherry's is to save a few baht, then you're dead wrong. We also go to places like the Montien, Casa Pascal, Bruno's, Manhattans, etc. As a matter of fact, the same group is going to the Montien this very evening. Cherry's happens to be an excellent restaurant and we went there on the recommendation PattayaMale wrote on his original post. And yes, we're going to go back, probably many times if it's better at 6:00, despite the fact that it's less expensive than other restaurants. There are a lot more inexpensive, very good restaurants in Pattaya than there are expensive high end restaurants in the first place. My friend, if you truly believe that you are somehow on a level higher than others because you prefer thousand baht dinners and can afford them on a regular basis, then I'm certain you have gained the admiration of us all. Oh, and don't forget the bottle of wine. After all, dinner just isn't dinner without a bottle of fine expensive wine. Us Cheap Charlies, however, prefer a bottle of water.

Immediately or do you have to return to pick it up? I can't figure out a practical use for it in Thailand that would make paying the fee for it worthwhile. I don't see how having one would do anything more for anyone than a photocopy of one's passport.

The following appears on CNN: _____ Why Women are Leaving Men for Other Women By Mary A. Fischer from O, The Oprah Magazine, April 2009 Lately, a new kind of sisterly love seems to be in the air. In the past few years, Sex and the City's Cynthia Nixon left a boyfriend after a decade and a half and started dating a woman (and talked openly about it). Actress Lindsay Lohan and DJ Samantha Ronson flaunted their relationship from New York to Dubai. Katy Perry's song "I Kissed a Girl" topped the charts. "The L Word," "Work Out," and "Top Chef" are featuring gay women on TV, and there's even talk of a lesbian reality show in the works. Certainly nothing is new about women having sex with women, but we've arrived at a moment in the popular culture when it all suddenly seems almost fashionable -- or at least, acceptable. Statistics on how many women have traded boyfriends and husbands for girlfriends are hard to come by. Although the U.S. Census Bureau keeps track of married, divorced, single, and even same-sex partners living together, it doesn't look for the stories behind those numbers. But experts like Binnie Klein, a Connecticut-based psychotherapist and lecturer in Yale's department of psychiatry, agree that alternative relationships are on the rise. "It's clear that a change in sexual orientation is imaginable to more people than ever before, and there's more opportunity -- and acceptance -- to cross over the line," says Klein, noting that a half-dozen of her married female patients in the past few years have fallen in love with women. "Most are afraid that if they don't go for it, they'll end up with regrets." Feminist philosopher Susan Bordo, Ph.D, a professor of English and gender and women's studies at the University of Kentucky and author of "Unbearable Weight: Feminism, Western Culture, and the Body," also agrees that in the current environment, more women may be stepping out of the conventional gender box. "When a taboo is lifted or diminished, it's going to leave people freer to pursue things," she says. "So it makes sense that we would see women, for all sorts of reasons, walking through that door now that the culture has cracked it open. Of course, we shouldn't imagine that we're living in a world where all sexual choices are possible. Just look at the cast of 'The L Word' and it's clear that only a certain kind of lesbian -- slim and elegant or butch in just the right androgynous way -- is acceptable to mainstream culture." That said, of the recent high-profile cases, it's Cynthia Nixon's down-to-earth attitude that may have blazed a trail for many women. In 1998, when "Sex and the City" debuted on HBO, she was settled in a long-term relationship with Danny Mozes, an English professor, with whom she had two children. They hadn't gotten married: "I was wary of it and felt like it was potentially a trap, so I steered clear of it," Nixon said in an interview with London's Daily Mirror. In 2004, after ending her 15-year relationship with Mozes, Nixon began seeing Christine Marinoni, at the time a public school advocate whom she'd met while working on a campaign to reduce class sizes in New York City. Marinoni was a great support when the actress was diagnosed with breast cancer. Far from hiding the relationship, Nixon has spoken freely in TV and newspaper interviews about it not being a big deal. "I have been with men all my life and had never met a woman I had fallen in love with before," she told the Daily Mirror. "But when I did, it didn't seem so strange. It didn't change who I am. I'm just a woman who fell in love with a woman." Oprah.com: Cynthia Nixon's new life Over the past several decades, scientists have struggled in fits and starts to get a handle on sexual orientation. Born or bred? Can it change during one's lifetime? A handful of studies in the 1990s, most of them focused on men, suggested that homosexuality is hardwired. In one study, researchers linked DNA markers in the Xq28 region of the X chromosome to gay males. But a subsequent larger study failed to replicate the results, leaving the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association to speculate that sexual orientation probably has multiple causes, including environmental, cognitive, and biological factors. Today, however, a new line of research is beginning to approach sexual orientation as much less fixed than previously thought, especially when it comes to women. The idea that human sexuality forms a continuum has been around since 1948, when Alfred Kinsey introduced his famous seven-point scale, with zero representing complete heterosexuality, 6 signifying complete homosexuality, and bisexuality in the middle, where many of the men and women he interviewed fell. The new buzz phrase coming out of contemporary studies is "sexual fluidity." "People always ask me if this research means everyone is bisexual. No, it doesn't," says Lisa Diamond, Ph.D, associate professor of psychology and gender studies at the University of Utah and author of the 2008 book "Sexual Fluidity: Understanding Women's Love and Desire." "Fluidity represents a capacity to respond erotically in unexpected ways due to particular situations or relationships. It doesn't appear to be something a woman can control." Furthermore, studies indicate that it's more prevalent in women than in men, according to Bonnie Zylbergold, assistant editor of American Sexuality, an online magazine. In a 2004 landmark study at Northwestern University, the results were eye-opening. During the experiment, the female subjects became sexually aroused when they viewed heterosexual as well as lesbian erotic films. This was true for both gay and straight women. Among the male subjects, however, the straight men were turned on only by erotic films with women, the gay ones by those with men. "We found that women's sexual desire is less rigidly directed toward a particular sex, as compared with men's, and it's more changeable over time," says the study's senior researcher, J. Michael Bailey, Ph.D. "These findings likely represent a fundamental difference between men's and women's brains." This idea, that the libido can wander back and forth between genders, Diamond admits, may be threatening and confusing to those with conventional beliefs about sexual orientation. But when the women she's interviewed explain their feelings, it doesn't sound so wild. Many of them say, for example, they are attracted to the person, and not the gender -- moved by traits like kindness, intelligence, and humor, which could apply to a man or a woman. Most of all, they long for an emotional connection. And if that comes by way of a female instead of a male, the thrill may override whatever heterosexual orientation they had.

I guess not all that much. Yes, I got sidetracked with that aspect of the discussion. Guilty as charged. Ok, back to the buffet . . .

My own voice carries. I'm well aware of it. People who know me know my voice carries whether I'm quiet or not. But in my case, if I'm unintentionally loud to the point it is bothering someone else, all they have to do is ask me to lower my volume. I realize my voice carries and I would imagine that others with similar voice characteristics are also aware of their own voices. It's a hell of a lot easier to get people to quiet down a little bit than it is to get the restaurants to lower the music volume or eliminate the music entirely. Next time you're in a restaurant and someone at another table is too loud, try politely asking them if they could quiet down. Maybe that person is me! If the entire table is loud and boisterous, then chances are they've had too much to drink and you can probably forget about them quieting down.

I'm mostly with you on this one. There are many places I've stopped going to because of just that. I used to love the buffet dinner at Captain's Corner. It's been at least two years since I've been there. I just couldn't take any more of that God-awful, off-key singer anymore. The way I see it, if you want to have live music and/or a singer, then open a cocktail lounge, but please, leave me alone during dinner. And when the singer is an off-key singer, that's even worse. There have been restaurants I entered, and then turned around and walked right back out again as soon as I realized they've got the music blaring. Have you ever been to one of these restaurants at which they're playing music too loudly and one or two doors down there's a karaoke? Escoffier himself could be the chef, but there's no way I'm going to eat there. I wouldn't mind the music so much if it was soft and in the background, although I can do without even that. But when the volume makes the music dominating to the point you can't even have a quiet dinner or conversation with your friends, that's something I don't want. I can't understand why some of these restaurants think they're doing their customers a favor by drowning out their dinner conversation with the goddam music. Music is supposed to enhance a dinner, not ruin it by making it impossible to even hear yourself think. Is there really anybody who truly likes that?

The telephone number for the USA embassy in Bangkok is 02-205-4000. Why not call them and ask?

Interesting man, this Jakrapob. Where did he come from all of a sudden? I never heard of him until a couple days ago. Sounds like some kind of a frenzied nut to me. Just what Thailand needs - him!

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ 'Guerrilla War' Threatened Published on April 23, 2009 Room for Legal Means Getting Smaller: Jakrapob Fugitive protest leader Jakrapob Penkair yesterday said the red-shirt movement to drive the Abhisit Vejjajiva government out was not spent, but rather would come back even fiercer, including adopting guerrilla tactics if necessary, to achieve its goal. "I believe the room for unarmed and non-violent means to resolve Thailand's problem is getting smaller every day," he told BBC by phone from an undisclosed location. Jakrapob said the struggle to bring down the present administration would continue, but the opponents would no longer rely on conventional forms of protest. Different tactics would be used to confront the government, including possible clandestine subversion or armed attacks, he said. "The state of emergency is a big help. It puts people underground," he said. One of the most outspoken red-shirt leaders, Jakrapob managed to flee abroad after the Army broke up the mass protests in Bangkok last week, leaving the movement in disarray. Five of the rally organisers have been arrested and are being held under the emergency decree, which remains in effect. Prime Minister Abhisit told yesterday's joint parliamentary meeting that Thais should refuse to join any political movement that used force of arms. As he has managed to have the combined house session convened to clear any controversial issues related to the crackdown, people should voice their opinion in the open instead of resorting to violent means, he said. Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart said he would like to ask Jakrapob in return what he would do if he himself were attacked with weapons. Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya came out to accuse ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra of plotting to "rub out" his enemies in an effort to return to power. Thaksin "has resorted to some sort of assassination attempt" as a "last resort", he said in a speech to the Asia Society in New York. Kasit said that, besides himself, the targets included Abhisit, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban. "The five of us are at the moment quite well protected by security forces," Kasit said in the speech on the Asia Society's website. "Thaksin is fighting to the death." Sondhi Limthongkul, a leader of anti-Thaksin protests who was shot and wounded by gunmen last week, is also among the former prime minister's targets, Kasit said. Thaksin spokesman Pongthep Thepkanjana was in a meeting and not immediately available for comment, according to an aide who answered his mobile phone. Abhisit, whose car was attacked by pro-Thaksin protesters twice this month, has maintained emergency rule in Bangkok and surrounding areas since April 12. Police have yet to arrest any suspects for spraying Sondhi's car with more than 50 bullets. Kasit, a former Thai ambassador to the United States and Japan, said "about 10 fully armed marines" are providing security for him and he has stayed in "two or three safe houses" in Bangkok for protection.

No, you're not unique at all. Every hotel in Thailand, even the smaller, out-of-the-way accommodations always require my actual passport whenever I check in.

Since you now drive a car, I suggest carrying your passport with you whenever you drive. If the police stop you and want to see your passport, they usually want to see the real passport, not a copy. In case of an accident, the first thing the insurance adjuster wants to see is your passport. At least that's the way it's been for me.

There is another little problem about the passport card. It isn't enough. When the police do check passports, they also invariably want to check your visa to make sure you're haven't overstayed. If you do opt for the passport card, I suggest at least also carrying a photocopy of your visa.

The following is from CNN: _____ Transgender Murder, Hate Crime Conviction a First DENVER, Colorado (CNN) -- A Colorado man was convicted of first-degree murder and a bias-motivated crime and sentenced to life in prison for killing a transgender teen he met on an online social networking site. It was the first time in the nation that a state hate crime statute resulted in a conviction in a transgender person's murder, the advocacy group Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation said. Seated in the front row of the courtroom, the family of Justin "Angie" Zapata broke out in tears as the verdicts against Allen Andrade were read. The jury deliberated for just under two hours before returning the verdict shortly after 3 p.m. "I lost somebody so precious," said Maria Zapata, the victim's mother. She glanced at Andrade and continued: "The only thing he can't take away is the love and the memories that I have of my baby. My beautiful, beautiful baby." Andrade spoke just one word. "No," he said when asked if he wished to address the court. Judge Marcelo Kopcow then imposed the mandatory sentence for the first-degree murder conviction -- life in prison without parole. The verdict was hailed by gay and transgender rights groups. "This is a landmark decision," said Mindy Barton, the legal director of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Colorado. Barton attended the trial daily. "Hearing 'guilty on first-degree murder' and 'guilty of bias-motivated crime' was a hugely emotional experience for all the family, friends and the supporters of Angie," Barton added. "She will not be forgotten." Andrade admitted killing Zapata, but his defense argued that he acted in the heat of passion after discovering that Zapata was biologically male. The defense asked for a lesser verdict, such as second-degree murder or manslaughter. Throughout the trial, prosecutors referred to Zapata as "she," while the defense referred to the transgender teen as "he." "When [Andrade] met him, he met him as 'Angie,' " defense attorney Annette Kundelius argued on Wednesday. "When he found out it wasn't 'Angie,' that it was 'Justin,' he lost control." But the jury rejected the argument, deciding in favor of prosecutors, who argued that Andrade knew Zapata was biologically male and that knowledge motivated the crime. "This was an ambush attack," said Chief Deputy District Attorney Robb Miller. "This was an all-out blitz." Zapata was "born in a boy's body but living as a female," added Miller. "Ultimately, she was murdered because of it." The case has become a rallying point for supporters of the transgender community, who have held vigils and launched Web sites in remembrance of Zapata. They are calling for the inclusion of transgender people in hate crime statutes across the country and at the federal level. Currently, 11 states and the District of Columbia recognize transgender people in their hate crime laws. According to prosecutors, Zapata, 18, and Andrade 32, met online in summer 2008 and arranged to meet. Zapata brought Andrade to her apartment in Greeley, Colorado, where they spent nearly three days together. According to a police affidavit, Zapata was out of the apartment when Andrade noticed photographs that made him "question victim Zapata's sex." Andrade confronted Zapata, who declared, "I am all woman." Andrade then grabbed Zapata and discovered male genitalia. According to court records, Andrade told police he began hitting Zapata with his fists, knocking her to the ground. He then grabbed a fire extinguisher and twice hit her in the head. Andrade told police he thought he had "killed it," referring to Zapata, and covered her with a blanket. Realizing what he had done, he then cleaned up the crime scene, the affidavit said. Andrade told police he heard "gurgling" sounds coming from the victim and saw Zapata sitting up. He hit her again with the fire extinguisher, he said, according to the affidavit. Andrade took Zapata's car and fled. Police discovered the car two weeks later and arrested Andrade. The jury heard jailhouse phone conversations, including Andrade telling a girlfriend "gay things must die." He did not testify in his own defense. Andrade, the murderer Zapata, the victim

Last night 5 friends and I tried the buffet. It was just as good as PattayaMale described. Actually, it was even better. There is an extensive salad bar, with various dressings along with the salad selections. There is a variety of hot and cold appetizers and soup. They even had unlimited quantities of Parma ham and prosciutto. Among the main course selections there was spaghetti, with your choice of several sauces, fillet mignon, pork fillet, chicken stuffed with vegetables and cheese, lamb, fillet of sole, beef stroganoff, a marinated beef selection, a beef stuffed with vegetables and cheese selection, and several more items. I can't remember them all. The dessert choices included tiramisu, fresh fruit, creme brulee, and an apple tart. In all honesty, there were a few flaws. We had reserved a table. We had no problems about our table, but what we didn't know was they have a live singer. Unfortunately the volume is loud enough that we requested a table change to their second room. We don't enjoy music and singing so loud that you can't have a quiet conversation and end up having to shout to be heard. They did move us to their second room, but they had recorded music blaring in there too! We had to request that they shut off the damned music and they did comply with our request. However, the air conditioning was inadequate and the room was much too hot. So, we had a choice - the singer in a nice cool room or the quiet room in which you're uncomfortably hot. They do have several outdoor tables, but yesterday was one of the hottest days of the year. So, we were damned if we do, damned if we don't. Our other complaint is they are very slow to replenish the food items when they run out. Some items were not replenished at all while we were there. Quite frankly, I see no excuse for that. If we had arrived at 8:00pm, when that was happening, and found several of the food selections completely empty, we would not exactly have been pleased. I admit I'm surprised a restaurant as good as Cherry's would permit that to happen. To my mind, if a restaurant, any restaurant, is offering a buffet, then do it right or don't offer a buffet. Doing it right does not include excuses for running out of food and failing to replenish the empty food trays in a timely manner or failing to replenish the food at all. We arrived at 7:30pm. The buffet opens at 6:00pm. Like so many buffets, the food is at its best when first put out. We're going to try it again next week and we're going to go at 6:00pm. Hopefully everything will be much better. Despite the problems, I would still give the buffet at Cherry's a big "thumbs up" for the food choices and the quality. It's a great bargain at 295 baht. With water, the total bill comes to 320 baht. Just get there early so that you don't encounter the problems we encountered. I do suggest making reservations if you intend to give it a try. Even though we are at the lowest point of the low season now, the restaurant was packed. You can call for reservations at 086-314-5819. They also have a Sunday set menu special at 295 baht.

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Nicaraguan Party Queries Thaksin Move Published on April 23, 2009 Nicaragua came up in the Thai press in late February when it was named as a country prepared to offer shelter to fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. But Nicaragua has not only given Thaksin special citizenship, the Central American state has also granted him a passport. A picture of Thaksin shaking hands with a man believed to be Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega during a visit to the capital Managua was published by a local newspaper, and later released to international media outlets. Sunisa Lertpakawat's second book, 'Thaksin Are You OK?', launched earlier this month, published the pictures of Thaksin with Ortega, and the ousted Thai PM with his Nicaraguan passport. Sunisa claimed she witnessed the incident herself in February while researching the book. Late last year, small countries in the Atlantic and Africa were said to have offered the ex-PM safe-haven and similar roles. Thaksin claimed he had honorary citizenship or advisory positions for trade promotion. Nicaragua was of interest to Thais as Thaksin was reported to have used his Nicaraguan passport to travel. The Foreign Ministry revoked Thaksin's regular passport last week after he urged the red shirts to rise up against Abhisit government and the Asean summit venue in Pattaya was overrun. While Thais were not sure initially whether Thaksin received another passport, the Nicaraguan government said it had granted the fugitive ex-PM a diplomatic passport. Thaksin was to be accredited as an ambassador with a "special mission" to help bring in investment. On Sunday, United Arab Emirates' Arabian Business reported that Thaksin had left the UAE for Nicaragua. Thailand does not have an extradition agreement with Nicaragua, but the Thai government wants to try to negotiate an extradition treaty with the country. At the same time, Nicaraguan media reported opposition MPs questioning what the country would get from Ortega's decision to support Thaksin. Some feared his move could be illegal. Thai papers and news agencies reported that the Nicaraguan opposition party warned Ortega's government, after it granted Thaksin a diplomatic passport, that his position did not warrant such accreditation, even if there were plans to appoint him as an investment consultant for the country. A report in the Nicaraguan press said Vice President Jaime Morales, who is responsible for overseas investor relations, did not have a close relationship with Thai ex-premier. However, Thaksin's appointment as a special ambassador for the country looked to have been recommended by one or more of Ortega's advisors, the media reported. The report said the Nicaraguan government remained quiet about the issue, fearful that it could be lead to a conflict between the two countries. Thais are also interested why Ortega opted to support Thaksin. Some Thai and Nicaraguan media reported that Ortega met Thaksin when he was Thai PM. The relationship allegedly started because Ortega said his country was interested in investment in telecommunication and energy. When Ortega led Nicaragua in the 80s, the government seized property from the wealthy during the 1979 Sandinista revolution. He also led the country through civil war with anti-American and Marxism ideologies. But during his election campaign in 2006, he said he would support foreign investment as he wanted to fight poverty in his land.

I don't understand what point you are making. The fact that you have never been asked doesn't mean that you won't ever be asked or that others won't be asked. The point I'm making is that no matter what, Thai law still requires a farang to have his passport on his person at all times, regardless of whether you're carrying a photocopy or this passport card. Until Thai law is changed to say that the passport card is an acceptable substitute, then the police are under no obligation to honor it. The same holds true for an international driving permit. Despite the fact that the permit is valid for a year, in Thailand it will be honored for only 90 days after entering the country. That's the way things work here. I fail to see any reason in the world to spend $20 or $45, or whatever it is, to buy this passport card when it will be no more or less acceptable than a 1 baht photocopy. As I said, the police usually do accept photocopies. If you are unfortunate enough to end up with a police officer who wants your real passport, then this passport card will be of no more use to you than a photocopy would have been.

Actually, yes you have. You've met me and I always carry my passport with me. That's mainly because I drive. If I'm ever in an accident and I'm without it, that could spell real trouble. However, with only a few exceptions, whenever I have been stopped by highway police for their routine checks, they always ask to see my driving license, but only very rarely ask to see my passport. Geezer is correct. By Thai law, a foreigner is required to have his passport on his person at all times, just as the Thais are required to have their ID cards with them at all times. In most cases, if a farang is asked to produce his passport, but has only a copy with him, the police usually accept that without any problems, but technically they don't have to accept a copy at all.

Ach sooooooooooo. Thank you. I stand corrected. Then Patexpat's offer is an even better bargain.

I think it should be noted that 350 baht is the regular admission price for the circus, so if you accept Patexpat's offer you do not have to pay anything extra because it's a charity event.

Truth? Is there such a thing in any of this? I can't figure out who the good guys and bad guys are anymore. I'm not sure there are any good guys at all. Without even seeing the CD, I'd say a good bet is it's going to amount to nothing more than anti-Thaksin propaganda. The Yellow Shirts will watch it and say 'that's right!' The Red Shirts will probably hang them from their rear view mirrors. It would be very interesting to have a crystal ball capable of seeing how all this will eventually play out.