Gaybutton

I agree with what you say. In my opinion it's a situation in which both sides are right and both sides are wrong, hence the "Mexican Standoff."

Yes

Believe me, I'm not kidding at all. What can I say? Different strokes for different folks.

Wine Dinner at Poseidon hosted by Hugh Millar Thursday, December 04. 2008 Amuse Bouche *** Antipasti misti ( Assorted plate of Raw Ham, Salametti, marinated Vegetables, Artichoke, Squid, Carpaccio, Tomato & Mozzarella ) *** Zuppa mille Fanti (Chicken Broth with Parmesan Dumplings ) *** Osso Porco brasato con Polenta e Cipolle Braised Pork Shank with Polenta and roasted Onions -or- Cozze alla marinara e crostini Mussels Seaman style with Tomato Garlic Bread *** Tira mi su Wines White Wine La Carraia Umbria Bianco 2007 (12.5%) Grechetto & Chardonnay Villa Martina, Pinot Grigio 2007 (13.0%) Venezia, Italia Red Wine La Carraia Umbria Rosso 2007 (13.0%) Cabernet Sauvignon Villa Martina, Merlot 2005 (12.5%) Venezia, Italy The cost for this dinner will be only 1,400 Baht net for the 5-course dinner including the selection of four wines. For further details and bookings call Hugh on 081-577-8727 or 038-303-300 e-mail hughinthailand@hotmail.com. Please note that booking dead line is December 02, 2008 so that we can purchase the wines accordingly. With our best Culinary Regards, Kim & Pascal

I think Thai Wow is even better. It's called Chock Wow . . . .

Yes. Sometimes the soi is listed and sometimes not, but it's usually easy to figure out. As far as actual addresses, those are not part of the map, although often the built-in information will tell you the address. The software map can stand some improvement, but generally it's amazingly thorough. My GPS has never failed to get me where I'm trying to go. Sometimes it can't get me to the exact location, but it certainly gets me close enough to easily find it. In my opinion, the best way to use a GPS is to regard it as a tool. Usually it can easily get you wherever it is you wish to go, but it doesn't have all the answers. Sometimes it can get you close, but you still often have to find the precise location on your own. The major negative, to me, is the spelling they use. Whoever came up with the spelling of a great many locations apparently made up his own. Very often, wherever it is you're trying to go is on the GPS map, but when you try to key in the spelling of the location all too often nothing will come up because a variation of the spelling was used. If that happens, you'll have to try variations of the spelling. Sometimes that doesn't even help. Sometimes even when you use the same spelling as the map uses, still nothing will come up. That's odd, to say the least. For example, on my map despite the fact that I spell the city of Khon Kaen the same way the map does, nothing comes up when I key it in. Geezer came up with a good work-around that often works. Instead of trying to find the location on the map, try using the hotels or attractions menu. Quite often that does the trick. I managed to find Khon Kaen that way.

Can you give us some insight as to how it all works? Can the staff be taken off? If yes, do you know the off fees and expected tip for the boy? What about the freelancers? How much do they expect to be tipped. Do you know the opening and closing times for the bar? Can you tell us about drink prices and if they're a little better at mixing cocktails than they are in Pattaya? Whatever details you can provide would certainly be appreciated.

Three guesses . . .

The only bar I can think of to which you might be referring is Monty's. I don't find it filthy at all and it's a bar I enjoy very much. It's as clean as anywhere else. I also think he puts on the best bar show in town. It's the only bar show I like.

Just to avoid confusion for those not familiar with the area, the airport you're referring to is the U-Tapao airport, about a 40 minute ride south of Pattaya. There is no actual Pattaya airport.

I'll give you a better one than that. Many of them will actually pick somebody else's nose!

Yes, you can. If you prefer, there is a very large gym called Tony's Gym, very close to the intersection of South Road (Pattaya Tai) and Third Road, about a 10 minute baht bus ride from the Ambiance. Tony's Gym has much more to offer because it's quite a large facility. You can pay a daily rate there. You might want to check it out while you're in town. While we're on the subject, if any of you are interested in taking Muay Thai (the Thai boxing) lessons, there is a good 'school' just outside of Tuk Com.

Thursday, November 27 OPENING RATES: US Dollar: 35.08 Euro: 45.165 British Pound: 53.77 Australian Dollar: 22.71 Canadian Dollar: 28.4775 _____ CLOSING RATES: US Dollar: 35.13 Euro: 45.375 British Pound: 54.25 Australian Dollar: 22.90 Canadian Dollar: 28.5375

The gay activity is not in the park. It's the area surrounding the park and in the nearby vicinity. Of course, it's also all at night. The boys looking for pickups usually start trickling in around 7:00pm. By 9:00 to 10:00 you'll usually find them by the dozen.

As many of you know, the Pattaya Gay Festival (PGF) had a beach party scheduled for this Saturday, November 29. The party has been canceled. The cancellation has nothing to do with the turmoil in Bangkok. The problem is that PGF was promised that they would receive the necessary permits in time, but that won't happen. There has been some sort of delay about the permits. As a result they can't hold the event. All other PGF events are still expected to proceed as previously announced.

The Avalon is literally on the gay beach. You would simply exit the hotel, turn right, walk about 50 yards, and there's the gay beach area. I do not recommend staying there. It's nowhere near the main gay areas and again, you're looking at a 15 to 20 minute bus ride to get to the gay area. Also, that hotel caters primarily to European families. I don't know how kindly they would look at you bringing boys in. Stay in town. You're much better off in town. If you want to stay in the Boyztown area, then stay at either the Ambiance or Le Cafe Royale. If you want to stay near Sunee Plaza, then stay at Howard's. Those are your best choices, in my opinion, and those are the most popular gay hotels. At any of those three you'll have excellent, helpful staff, a hotel at which not only are you allowed to bring in boys, but it is expected, and easy access to everywhere you'll want to go. Again, you're a first time visitor. Stay in the established places near the action.

No, I don't. In Pattaya I can help you myself. If I'm not available, if you post a message here I'll bet you will get responses from several people who would be willing to show you around. Failing that, why not simply take a boy off from one of the bars and pay him to show you around? If it were me, that's how I'd do it. I really see no need for a hired guide at all. As far as the hotels are concerned, I have never heard a complaint about the Ambiance. If you're reluctant to stay there, then I suggest staying across the street at Le Cafe Royale.

Thai Airways has announced that they will divert flights to both U-Tapao and Don Muang airports for the time being. It's hard to understand why the PAD has made this move. Even if it somehow forces the government to topple, it is also costing the a great deal of support. Certainly travelers, especially international travelers, are not thrilled. Also, I felt the PAD had media support before, but apparently they've lost whatever support they had over this. Maybe the reason, in part, is to further humiliate Thaksin. After all, Suvarnabhumi Airport was his pet project. Many of you may remember how he had insisted that the airport open despite the fact that it wasn't ready to be opened. Whatever their reason may be, "We are not amused." This could have a more far-reaching effect. It isn't just passengers that arrive and depart from airports. There is also mail and freight. Preventing that kind of transportation can also cause a lot of problems. I hope none of you are stranded, trying to get home. Of course if you have to be stuck somewhere, I can definitely think of worse places to be stuck. I suppose the silver lining might be that you now have a perfect excuse to extend your holiday in Thailand. I just hope your money holds out until you can find a way to get back home. That could get to be a real problem for people who are stranded if this goes on for any serious length of time. Another problem will probably be getting a flight out once the airport reopens. Every day this goes on, that's a plane load of people who had intended to go home, but couldn't. It could take days, or even weeks, to get a flight out. I hope it doesn't come to that. I would think, once the airport reopens, airlines that have spare planes will bring them to Bangkok to help people who are only trying to go home. If any of you are caught up in the middle of this situation, either trying to go home or trying to come to Thailand, please post here and let us know what you have been told and what you are experiencing.

And there's no reason why you shouldn't. Everything is fine here. Just make sure to contact your airline to make sure your flight will go. A week from now I expect the airport will be open. I can't imagine this situation lasting very long.

Has everybody gone nuts or something? Not only is all of this bound to hurt sympathy for the PAD, but it's going to cause chaos for the tourism industry, which can ill afford even more losses, especially right at the beginning of the major tourist high season. This is ruining the only chance this year for the tourism industry to recover from terrible economic blows. Unless people have good reason to come to Thailand, if I were someone living in another country and planning where to go on my holiday, it wouldn't be Thailand right now. As usual, nothing has changed anywhere, not even in Bangkok, except for the areas caught up in the chaos. In Pattaya, unless you're reading about it or watching it on television, you wouldn't know anything is going on at all. Everything is perfectly normal in Pattaya. Meanwhile, some taxi drivers who are losing business come up with tossing grenades at people? Good idea. If people are blocking your ability to get to the airport for fares, just blow them up . . .

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Hurting the Country Editorial The People's Alliance for Democracy's blockade of the Motorway entrance to Suvarnabhumi airport is a wrong and unnecessary move. This ill-conceived disruption of one of the main roads leading to the country's most important international airport will get the PAD nowhere in its claimed agenda of toppling the government or any nominees of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, or making Thai politics less prone to manipulation by money barons. In fact, this move will only further erode the rapidly dwindling public support, a hard-earned provision that the protesters badly need especially at this critical juncture of its campaign. The damage to the PAD, however, cannot compare with that caused to the country. Suvarnabhumi airport is the main gateway to the Kingdom. The PAD's reason for the road blockage - to prevent Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from returning home from Peru, where he has been attending the Apec summit - is ludicrous, as news reports say Mr Somchai will not be arriving in Bangkok until this afternoon, and he could very well choose to land elsewhere upon learning of the PAD's action. In fact, there are reports that authorities have prepared both U-tapao and Chiang Mai airports for the prime minister to land in case of emergency. So, the PAD's road block only serves to hurt ordinary Thais going about their business and foreigners coming to Thailand on vacation or business. The PAD's march on the Motorway entrance to the airport yesterday prompted members of its rival groups - the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) and the pro-Thaksin taxi drivers' association - to try a counter-attack. The resulting melee caused major traffic jams in and around the airport, resulting in extreme inconvenience for people who had to use the airport. This is absolutely not fair treatment for anybody at all. Beyond the day's immediate chaos, the impact of the PAD's reckless action on the country's tourism industry will be immense and difficult to rectify. Even before the PAD attempted its boneheaded move to partially block access to the civil airport yesterday, up to 14 countries had already issued advisories warning their citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Thailand, and to exercise caution if they do visit. According to Apichart Sankary, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, the protracted political tension is estimated to be costing the country 400 million baht each day in lost tourist revenue. The National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has a similarly gloomy story to tell. Due to the higher cost of travelling and our domestic disturbance, foreign tourist arrivals were down 16.5% while the average rate of occupancy at hotels around the country dropped to 45%. Tourism-related revenue accounts for about 6% of the national economy, and had been forecast to reach about 700 billion baht this year - a goal that is unlikely to be met now. Put these figures into the context of real life and we will see a picture of so many people who depend on the industry for their livelihood, who will have to suffer more and more as those numbers keep going down. The PAD has the right to peaceful demonstration. But blocking access to an international airport does not fit that description. This latest action by the People's Alliance for Democracy comes closer to terrorising the public.

I was thinking that incoming flights might be diverted to U-Tapao. That would actually be quite convenient for those headed for Pattaya, assuming enough taxis would go to U-Tapao. It's a short, easy trip from U-Tapao to Pattaya. But if the PAD tries to blockade that airport too, then would not be much of a temporary solution. The next nearest airport capable of handling diverted flights would be the Phitsanulok airport. It's not a large airport and is at least a two hour drive north of Bangkok. Incoming international flights might have to be diverted to Chiang Mai or be halted at intermediate stops, such as Tokyo, Incheon, Hong Kong, or Taipei. A great many flights coming in from the USA make stops at those airports. However, the PAD might have a lot more trouble blocking the U-Tapao airport. That airport is on a military base and is part of the military base. The military might not be quite so accommodating if a blockade occurs. This is a serious situation and, in my opinion, not a very bright move on the part of the PAD. Preventing people from being able to enter of leave Thailand won't exactly help tourism or generate international sympathy. One of my closest friends is due in tonight. He's most likely on his flight right now and may not even be aware of any of this. I hope he manages to get in without too much trouble. He lives in Pattaya, but has been in the USA on business for the past few weeks. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving too. My table may end up having one less person.

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ 4 Bomb Attacks Rock Bangkok By The Nation At least four rounds of bomb attacks rocked Bangkok early Wednesday, injuring at least 12 people. The number of explosions and injuries was still confusing at press time. Three explosions were heard outside the outbound passenger terminal of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport at 4:30 am. The explosion sounds frightened the protesters as police vehicles rushed to the scene. The protesters feared that police would come to violently disperse them. But their leaders managed to calm them down minutes later. Thai PBS reported that four protesters were injured, two severely in the Suvarnabhumi explosions. The explosion at the Don Muang Airport, where protesters led by the Peoples Alliance for Democracy were rallying, happened at 6:30 am. The figure of injured protesters at Don Muang airport was still confusing. Channel 3 reported that two were injured but Channel 9 reported that five were injured, two severely. Channel 3 added that a grenade was also launched at the protesters but it did not explode. And 2 men were injured by bomb shrapnel and one was shot when a group of men hurled two bombs and fired at the 92.75 community radio station for taxi drivers. Police said the attack happened at 4:30 am. The station was located inside Vibhavadi Rangsit Soi 3 where dozens of PAD guards attacked taxi drivers Tuesday evening. A taxi driver, who identified himself as Watcharin, said he and friends were standing at the mouth of the soi and suddenly heard two explosions and the assailants also opened fire at them. The injured were rushed to the Rajvithi Hospital. The first explosion occurred on the Dusit Bridget in Bangkok's Dusit district at 2 am Wednesday, police said. No one was injured in the explosion which caused a small crack at one side of the bridge. Police found a safety pin of an M26 grenade at the scene. Police quoted eyewitnesses as saying they saw two men on a motorcycle speeding from the direction of the Government House. The pillion rider hurled the bomb to the bridge and they sped away.

The problem with a question like this is that you're likely to get several totally different answers. If it's your first trip, then I would recommend the Ambiance. It's located in the heart of Pattaya's gay action. Not only is it a gay hotel, but there will be plenty of people who can answer all the questions you'll have, can help you with any kind of problems that might arise, and you can count on the desk staff checking the ID of any boy you bring in so that there can't be any trouble. Directly across the street from the Ambiance is Le Café Royale. Both hotels are similar in nature and I would recommend either of them. The Poseidon is nice, but it's in the Jomtien Complex, near the beach. That's fine if you prefer to be near the beach, but it's not close to where the major night-time gay activity is. The Ambiance and Le Café Royale are both in the heart of it. All you need to do to be in the thick of the bar scene is to simply walk out the door and that's why my recommendation for a first trip is either of those. When you arrive, if you want I'll be happy to take you around and show you the ropes personally. I always enjoy doing that and helping people new to Pattaya. If you're interested, all you have to do is send me an Email ( gaybutton@gmail.com ). I'll respond with my local contact information.

Wednesday, November 26 OPENING RATES: US Dollar: 35.07 Euro: 45.5450 British Pound: 53.925 Australian Dollar: 22.545 Canadian Dollar: 28.3825 _____ CLOSING RATES: US Dollar: 35.02 Euro: 45.31 British Pound: 53.785 Australian Dollar: 22.5025 Canadian Dollar: 28.515