Gaybutton

"It ain't over 'till it's over" - Yogi Berra The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ New Rally Cited as Reason to Prolong State of Emergency By: AFP Published: 21/04/2009 The weekend rally planned by anti-government protesters will prolong the state of emergency in Bangkok and surrounding areas, a government minister said on Tuesday. Supporters of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra have announced they will regroup on Saturday in Samut Sakon, outside the emergency zone, after rallies in Bangkok ended last week following street battles between demonstrators and armed troops. PM's Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey said the protest in Samut Sakhon province, 36 kilometres outside Bangkok, would only worsen the political turmoil. "The government is ready to deal with any chaos, but this rally will affect the government's decision when to lift the state of emergency,'' Mr Sathit told reporters. ''This is bad news for our country because it will worsen the crisis. They [Thaksin's supporters] should rely on the parliament, as the government plans charter amendments as demanded by the protesters,'' he said. On Monday Jakrapob Penkair, a fugitive senior member of United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, told news agencies the pro-Thaksin UDD would continue its campaign against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. Mr Jakrapob has fled the country to evade warrants for this arrest. "We have developed some strategies,'' Mr Jakrapob told AFP in a telephone call diverted by an assistant to avoid detection. The red-shirts shut down an Asian summit in Pattaya on April 11 and then clashed with troops in Bangkok on two days later. Two people were confirmed killed, in clashes between local residents and rampaging protesters, and 123 injured in the unrest in the capital. The protesters continue to demand Mr Abhisit's resignation, claiming he came to power unfairly in December after a court removed Thaksin's allies from government. ____________________ The Pattaya Police have issued an arrest warrant for Thaksin, on charges of inciting the Royal Cliff Hotel rioting.

Sorry, if I wanted to give the name of the restaurant I would have posted it. No hints . . .

Although there really is no excuse for a non-response, I think you have a much better chance at getting results when you speak to the owner personally, rather than sending E-mail. Usually when I speak to owners, they're very nice and they still do nothing about the complaint, but at least they're polite enough to listen . . . I know of one high end restaurant in Pattaya at which the owner has a reputation of addressing complaints by telling you what essentially amounts to: if you don't like it, tough shit and there's the door. Yes, it's always a nice feeling to know that the customers' wishes and complaints are taken seriously . . .

Yes, I can certainly understand your position if your complaint is falling on deaf ears. I agree that if nothing else, out of sheer courtesy, you should have gotten a "thank you, I'll look into it" response of some kind. As an alternate, some of you might want to try the buffet at the LK Kitchen. It's a very good buffet with several Thai and western choices (but no dessert) on Soi Buakhao. They also have a barbeque included in the buffet price with a selection of kebobs and fresh grilled prawns, as much as you want. You just tell the attendant what you want and they'll cook it and serve it to you. The easiest way to get there is to go to Soi Buakhao via Central Road (Pattaya Klang). Enter Soi Buakhao and the restaurant is located at the first left-turn intersection you'll come to. On the map below, it's located where you see LK Royal Suite. The price is 180 baht for the buffet. If you order bottled water, now the price is 210 baht. Like any other buffet, the food is at its best when you arrive early, rather than after the food has been sitting there for a length of time. I think it's a very good buffet for the price.

You can view that post at: http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3924

I check with two of them, both of which update several times each day: Bank of Ayudhya: http://www.krungsri.com/en/foreign-exchange-rates.aspx Siam Commercial Bank: http://www.scb.co.th/exchange/bk-pvsexchange.htm

I can certainly understand the preference, but don't forget that the prices are somewhat different from what you pay at the White Night, by at least 500 baht. So at the higher end places certainly you're going to get much higher quality food and service, but you're going to pay for it. However, I don't see much of an excuse for crummy service under any circumstances. The boys are hired to provide service, not for admiring themselves in the nearest mirror. For an inexpensive buffet I think the White Night is a very good deal for the price, despite cold quiche and half-hearted service. I don't care for cold quiche either. You know what I do? I don't eat the quiche . . . However, at most restaurants, and I would think the White Night included, the owners do appreciate it if you let them know of any problems or complaints.

As of closing time last Friday, the US Dollar to baht exchange rate was 35.15. By closing time on Monday, this week, it was 35.30. This morning, Tuesday, it opened at 35.40. I would imagine this is the beginning of the effects of the political unrest, but knowing as little as I do about how economics work, maybe it's something else or a combination of factors. Whatever it is, I have no complaints when I see the baht moving in our favor.

None of these revelations come as any surprise to me. I fully expect that as time goes on more and more will be revealed. I can't help but wonder how much went on in the past that we know nothing about and how much is going on right now that we don't know about. One thing is most likely certain, it still goes on no matter how much the government denies it and tells us it doesn't happen. I can't help but feel that sooner or later we're going to find out about government sponsored atrocities that make Abu Ghraib seem like a picnic in the park. Guantanamo is bad enough, but lord-only-knows what goes on in secret facilities. Quite frankly, if these goings-on really do prevent and expose terrorist plots, without anyone innocent getting tortured, then I'm all for it. If these animals who don't mind killing and maiming dozens of totally innocent victims can be stopped, then if the only way to extract information is via torture, then I don't see where the government has much choice if it really works, if there is no other way, and if innocent people are not victims of it. But all three of those 'ifs' have to be there as far as I'm concerned. It all reminds me of a scene in the film "Conspiracy," which was a dramatization of the Wansee Conference in which the Nazis formulated their plans for death camp gas chambers: Dr. Kritzinger: "That we have undertaken to systematically annihilate all the Jews of Europe has been personally denied to me by the Fuhrer!" Heydrich: "And, it will continue to be."

Actually, I do get it. At least I think I do. It took a while, but I think I figured it out. On Level 2, for example, there is an entrance to the shopping mall. On level 2 1/2 you either have to walk up a flight of stairs or down a flight of stairs to be on a level that has an entrance to the mall. So, I think the half levels are those that have no direct entrance to the mall. Of course, if I'm right then it's still an oddball way of numbering parking levels. If I'm wrong, then yes indeed it would get a place on my "I Don't Get It" list.

Asia - Thailand - Southern Sometimes you'll see it spelled 'Koh Samui' or sometimes just 'Samui.'

Last year you posted some excellent photos of Songkran in rural Thailand. What about this year?

Here's a web site I hadn't seen before and found it while doing a little bit of web surfing. I thought those of you who haven't seen it might be interested: http://gayboythailand.com If you know of other web sites that may be of interest, please feel free to post the URLs.

Absolutely, especially if any of the boys join in.

By George, I believe you. Now maybe we can get back to the buffet at Cherry's . . .

This is all fascinating, but I remind everyone this thread is about the buffet at Cherry's, not buffets in Las Vegas. If you would like to talk about Las Vegas buffets, the 'Beer Bar' forum is the appropriate place to do it.

Thank you. Actually I have many more, but they're all similar to the ones I posted. I think it also ought to be noted that most people I observed were quite polite. Vendors were all over the place, selling everything from food and drinks to masks as in the photo above. I saw no one spraying water on them at all. The farangs who really wanted to keep dry, and indicated that to the revelers, were mostly left alone, although there was no way to be out there without at least getting spritzed at least a few times. In my case, every time someone wanted to rub the powder on my face, they all had the courtesy to ask me if it was ok. That was every single time. I was perfectly willing every time because I knew that about ten feet further on there would be plenty of water to rinse it off. They love it when the farang are willing targets and I was offered more partying, drinks, and food than I could handle. Obviously I couldn't take photos of everything without getting my camera ruined, but I did my best. And the best part was there were so many boys out there, shirtless or soaking wet shirts, that it was well worth the constant dousing. I met plenty of boys I had never seen before and now have phone numbers for every one of them! I'll start working on that tomorrow . . . I know that many of you absolutely loathe Songkran, but I had a hell of a good time and I'm sorry the day is over. For those of you who have never experienced Songkran and are not afraid of the water, I hope you can be with us next year.

Sunday, April 19: _____ Today was the big day. It's also the last day for Songkran in Pattaya. I was pleased at how smoothly the traffic flowed throughout the city. Beach Road was closed off to traffic completely, with only an occasional motorcycle getting through. Of course, the entire city was out there and everybody was having a great time. Well, not quite everybody. One of the sights I enjoyed most was the few sourpuss farangs who were out there, apparently out of sheer necessity, trying to keep dry and looking for all the world as if the last time they ever enjoyed anything was in 1956. Other than that, it was all smiles and fun. Here are a few photos:

This is a photo of Sondhi's car after the assassination attempt. The photo comes from THE NATION, so there is, according to some, every possibility that it isn't really Sondhi's car because you can't rely on anything The Nation or the Bangkok Post publishes . . .

Friday, April 18: _____ Today all the activity has really gotten started, just about everywhere. Even on "The Dark Side" there is a lot of water splashing activity going on, mostly children out there having a wonderful time. If you're out and about today, then you're almost sure to get soaked. That might be a welcome relief. It is HOT out there today! It's like this almost every Songkran - hot temperatures and virtually cloudless skies. If you're going to be out there being part of it, be especially careful of sunburn. Tomorrow, Sunday, of course is the really big day in Pattaya. That's the major Songkran day. From among the Thais, everybody and his brother is going to be out there. Me too! Then, just after sundown, it all stops and those of you who despise Songkran will be safe for another year.

Well, finally something with which we agree. How about that? And I thought it would never happen . . .

First, your link doesn't work. All I see is "The requested resource could not be found." Second, as much as your disappointment brings tears to my eyes, I don't feel that I have to agree with you or your interpretation to have intellectual curiosity. Sorry, but I have yet to see anything that constitutes proof. However, I'll reserve further judgment until your link works and I can read what you believe is proof. By the way, save your insulting remarks. You can call me 'simple minded' or whatever you like, but that doesn't do a thing to promote your case. From my point of view, people who resort to name calling are the simple minded ones. That's also a violation of board policy. If you want to debate the issue, then stick to the issue. If you want to start getting personal, you're going to have a problem. We don't allow things to get personal around here, whether directed at me or anyone else.

For photos, see: http://www.pattayadailynews.com/shownews.p...NEWS=0000008940

Have a look here: http://www.pattayadailynews.com/shownews.p...NEWS=0000008942

No crystal ball, but I can't help taking note of the timing of it. Are the Red Shirts responsible? We have no way of knowing that yet, but if The Nation and the Bangkok Post publishes that they are, I'm not going to discount it just because it was they who published it.