Gaybutton

How do you really feel?

It takes 1 to 4 days, but you don't have to go yourself. A travel agent in Ubon might be able to do it for you. It can't hurt to ask. You might want to contact the Vietnamese embassy and ask how long you would have to stay in Bangkok if a travel agent can't handle it for you. Here's the link for the information: http://www.vietnamembassy.or.th/visa.html

The baht to US dollar exchange rate has finally arrived at 35 baht to the dollar. I'll post the daily opening and closing rates on this thread for the time being and we'll see how it goes: Monday, November 24 OPENING RATES: US Dollar: 35.08 Euro: 44.105 British Pound: 52.045 Australian Dollar: 21.825 Canadian Dollar: 27.3875 __________ CLOSING RATES: US Dollar: 35.05 Euro: 44.36 British Pound: 52.445 Australian Dollar: 21.9925 Canadian Dollar: 27.5225

There is also a report in the PATTAYA DAILY NEWS. See http://www.pattayadailynews.com/shownews.p...NEWS=0000007864 When I first had a look at the photos included, I was a little startled and had to look a second time. A few of the photos show boys who look like they're about ten to twelve years old. Their entire bodies are painted and they are completely naked. I wonder what that is all about. I have no idea and I'm surprised by it.

Two sentences or less. Ok, here are mine: 1. Have a great time, but don't let yourself lose your heart to a Thai boy when you're here on a holiday. 2. "If you want love in Thailand, rent it." (That's a piece of advice given to me five years ago by Richard Burk, owner of the Amor restaurant, when I first moved here. Five years ago I thought he was a little too jaded. Now, five years later, I fully understand why he said that and I agree with him. From among all the farang I know, and that's a lot of people, I know only two who have an enviable permanent relationship going with a Thai boy. They're very lucky. Most farang I know who have been involved in relationships with Thai boys young enough to be their grandsons ended up miserable, heartbroken, and often broke. Unless you've known the boy very, very, very well for at least a full year, don't do it. My favorite line from farang is "This boy is different." Famous last words.)

There is no problem at all about taking food home in a bag. That is quite common and expected (unless I'm around. In that case there won't be any food left to take . . .)

Saranrom Park is quite a place! I'm glad you went and can report that all is well. Those of you not familiar with Saranrom Park might be interested in these two old threads. The information contained in them is just as accurate now as it was when the threads were written: http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=399 http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1029

I disagree with you on these particular items. That thing about not touching someone on the head used to be true, but that seems to have vanished into history long ago. The same goes for the foot thing. Nobody seems to pay attention to that one anymore either. I have no idea where you're getting the idea about the fork and spoon. I've never seen any such thing. I've never seen Thais use a fork as if it were a knife. They use the side of a spoon as a knife. I've never seen it any other way. There is no reason in the world not to use a fork and spoon the way you always do. Other than that. I agree with you.

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ COUNTRY ON THE BRINK AGAIN "Last battle" begins today By The Political desk The Nation Published on November 24, 2008 Anti-government protesters are planning the biggest rally today in a final showdown with the government, this time going for a people's revolution to topple the Somchai administration. "The protesters under the People's Alliance for Democracy would not totally bank on the military to come to their side in toppling the Somchai government but would rather launch their own version of the people's revolution," said a political observer. This time they have learnt the lesson. In the people's revolution, the protesters will be attempting to woo public support so that they achieve a critical mass of more than 100,000 people to seize the capital. Spreading out in different rallies, they will lay siege on Parliament, surround the temporary office of the Somchai Cabinet at Don Muang and take control of other key communication sites. "By doing so, the anti-government protesters are about to launch a coup in the capital similarly to military coups of the past. The difference is that they do not carry weapons or have guns and tanks like the military," said the political observer. But to succeed, the military must also guard their security against the police forces. The doctors and academics plan to render support to the PAD today. The state enterprise workers also plan to launch a nation-wide work stoppage. On October 7, 2008 when the police shot tear gas into the protesters killing one person and injuring more than 400 people, the protesters waited desperately for the military to come to their side to no avail. Now they plan to stage a revolution of their own, either with military or without military support. Maleerat Kaewka, a spokesman of the PAD, told the crowd to hang on until Wednesday when the people's war would be finished by then. Others sense that bloodshed is hanging in the air as the anti-government protesters gear up their final war and the pro-government supporters are preparing a counter-attack. "I believe that the situation will reach a breaking point next week. The temperature is now reaching a boiling point. It is just a moment away before a bloodshed happens and military coup will finish it up," said Rangsan Pathumwan, a lecturer at Chiang Mai University. "They are now breaking into adversary groups. Some would like to please the Big Boss (Thaksin) and are ready to launch a clash." Phromsak Saengpho, a leader of the pro-government and Red Shirt supporters in Chiang Mai, also speculated that a military coup might be imminent. He said if a military coup were to happen over the next two to three days, Gen Anupong Paochinda, the army chief, would not have anything to do with it but it would rather be the work of the military from the upcountry joining with the Bangkok military. "I don't believe that Gen Anupong would take part in the coup. He is afraid that if he does that he might not have the ground to stand on," he said. He said the probability of a military coup has increased, with the military summoning leaders of the red shirt protesters in Chiang Mai into the Kavila Military Command to urge them not to join in the rally. Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat is now attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Peru. He won't be back in Bangkok until Wednesday. Yesterday protesters began to fortify their position in the Government House, numbering 50,000 people. The atmosphere looked like a festival as the protesters prepare to go for war. Suriyasai Katasila, one of the leaders of the PAD, said the protesters will march to Parliament at seven o'clock tomorrow's morning and avoid marching at night. The protesters have been attacked several times by small bombs and grenades, including a blast Thursday that killed one person and wounded 29. Before leaving for Peru, PM Somchai signed a series of document to maintain internal security. One of the documents appoints Gen Anupong to head a committee, which is in charge of monitoring and maintaining security and law and order in Bangkok. Army spokesman Col. Sansern Khaewkamnerd said police would be responsible for keeping the situation under control, but that 2,000 soldiers would be on standby in case police ask for help. Police said 2,400 police would be stationed outside Parliament, which is about half a mile (1 kilometre) from the occupied prime minister's compound, Government House.

Here's the business card for Café Ritz:

Me too!

GB'S INSTRUCTION MANUAL It's very simple. When you are in the process of posting a new thread, first you see TOPIC TITLE, followed by TOPIC DESCRIPTION. Directly underneath those you'll see "Poll Options Click here to manage this topic's poll." That's where you can create the poll. If you've already posted a thread, you can still add a poll later through the edit function. It works only if you are the person who created the thread. You have to go back to the first post in the thread, hit the FULL EDIT button, and now you can add a poll to the thread. Only the creator of the thread can add a poll to an already existing thread. If someone wants to add a poll to a thread that somebody else originated, then only the moderators or the thread's original author have the capability.

Most likely in the parking lot of Center Condo, once I land after becoming a "flying farang."

It crossed my mind . . .

The time of this posting is 8:30am. If anything major does happen today, I'll post the information when it becomes available. The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Political Upheaval Feared Today By The Nation on Sunday Published on November 23, 2008 The fate of the country hangs in the balance today in the face of another political upheaval that could lead to a bloodbath after the People's Alliance for Democracy vowed to launch an all-out effort to bring down the government of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and prevent charter amendment by laying siege to Parliament today in its "biggest and final" rally yet. The PAD announced its plan to move its protest from Government House to Parliament at a press conference yesterday after a three-hour meeting of its five core leaders at Ban Phra Arthit. Meanwhile, appointed Senator Ruangkrai Leekijwattana said Parlia-ment had put the Constitution amendment draft presented by Dr Weng Tochirakarn, a leader of the pro-government Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship, at the top of its agenda to be discussed from tomorrow despite House Speaker Chai Chidchob insisting last week that this wouldn't be so. He said the draft included clauses reducing the power of privy councillors, removing some independent agencies, whitewashing parties facing dissolution and giving amnesty to 111 former Thai Rak Thai Party executives. PAD leader Maj-General Chamlong Srimuang yesterday showed members of the press that Constitution amendment had been marked urgent on Parliament's agenda for today. Pipop Thongchai said the PAD intended to stop Parliament working in support of the Somchai government. He said both Parliament and the government had lost any mandate to run the country because they refused to take responsibility for the bloody crackdown on anti-government protesters on October 7. He accused the government of continuing to use violence through a series of deadly bomb attacks to deter people from joining the PAD protest. "If the people are afraid, the government will be able to prevent peaceful protests in the long run, and we will not be able to protect our country and the monarchy,'' he said. Sondhi Limthongkul said the latest bomb attack early yesterday that killed one person showed that the government was using undisciplined military officers to do its dirty work. "This is pressuring a peaceful gathering to use weapons in self-defence. Thai society will see a bloodbath. It is sad that military officers and police have taken part in this,'' he said. The five leaders refused to reveal how they planned to break into the Parliament compound. Chamlong insisted that the PAD must move on Parliament to ensure there was no charter amendment even after reporters told him that House Speaker Chai Chidchob had guaranteed that charter amendment would not be on the House agenda.

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Burmese Dictators Demand Support for Regime Rangoon (AFP) - The head of the Burmese military junta called Saturday for all citizens to back a controversial "road map" to democracy, a day after the regime sentenced the country's top comedian to 45 years in jail. Writing in an article on the front page of the state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper, Snr Gen Than Shwe said it was every citizen's national duty to support the political process. "The state's seven-step road map is being implemented to build a peaceful, modern and developed new democratic nation with flourishing discipline," Than Shwe wrote on the eve of the country's national day. "The entire population are duty-bound to actively participate with united spirit and national fervour in the drive to see the seven-step road map," the paper quoted him as saying. The announcement came in a month when more than 150 activists have been given long jail terms by the military regime, according to opposition sources, in the wake of protests led by the nation's revered Buddhist monks last year. At least 31 people were killed and 74 went missing in the brutal crackdown that followed the demonstrations, according to the United Nations. On Friday, Burma's most famous comedian Zarganar was sentenced to 45 years for contravening the country's Electronic Act, which regulates electronic communications. The charges, however, were not tied to last year's protests. A sports writer, Zaw Thet Htwe, was on the same day handed a 15-year jail term while Gambira, a Buddhist monk who led the protests against the regime in 2007, was given 68 years - the longest sentence handed down so far. They join 23 student activists, including Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi and Htay Kywe, handed terms of 65 years for their part in last year's protests which began sporadically against fuel-price hikes in August last year, but subsequently involved tens of thousands of people led by the monks. Under the government's "road map" to democracy, Burma has adopted a new constitution after a widely criticised referendum held days after a cyclone ravaged large swathes of the country in early May, leaving 138,000 people dead or missing. Authorities said the referendum, carried out without independent monitoring, had received support from 92.48 percent of voters. The road map paves the way for elections in 2010 in a country that has been ruled by the military since 1962. But the US, the EU and the United Nations have dismissed the lengthy proceedings as a sham due to the absence of detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party. The NLD won a landslide victory in 1990 elections but the junta did not allow them to take office. The NLD said Friday the recent jailings decimated a new generation of political leaders. About 150 NLD party members held a ceremony Saturday to mark the country's national day at its headquarters in Rangoon amid tight security. Plain clothes policemen and local militia surrounded the building, while the road to Aung San Suu Kyi's house had been closed with barbed wire since the morning, with increased numbers of police around her house, witnesses said. Rights groups have accused the junta of trying to curb dissent ahead of the 2010 elections. New York-based group Human Rights Watch (HRW) Saturday joined UN experts and the United States in condemning the sentences. Brad Adams, the group's Asia director, using the former name of the country, said the jailing of the comedian Zarganar was "a cruel joke on the Burmese people". "But it's a bigger joke on those abroad who still think ignoring repression in Burma will bring positive change," he said.

You've definitely pressed one of my buttons, and it's not a gay button! I don't like those mustaches either. As a matter of fact I don't like any mustaches on these guys. I don't appreciate kissing a guy and getting my teeth brushed at the same time. For me, the mustaches and beards on young guys as unattractive as the tattoos. And to me, the tattoos are about as attractive as a runny dog turd. Granted, there are some people who are meant for mustaches and beards. The actor David Niven comes to mind. He wouldn't look right without his mustache. Can you imagine Santa Claus without the beard and mustache? How about Burt Reynolds, Wilford Brimley, and Clark Gable? Their mustaches looked great. Can you imagine Oliver Hardy without that little Hitler mustache? As a matter of fact, can you imagine Hitler himself without the mustache? And let's not forget Groucho Marx. But these Thai boys? Forget it. Please boys, wait until you're at least in your mid-forties, ok?

I've done that for you.

I agree with the others. That's cutting it way too close. It can take fifteen or twenty minutes alone, once you're in Suvarnabhumi, just to walk to your departure gate. I would recommend at least three hours between flights. The ride from the old Don Muang airport to Suvarnabhumi will take forty minutes, or more, and that's if you don't hit any traffic delays. In Bangkok traffic delays are quite likely. Your friend arrives at 1:10. Let's assume his plane isn't late and he arrives on time. By the time he gets off the plane and you make it out to the transportation area, you're looking at about fifteen to twenty minutes, and that's only if all he has is carry-on luggage. If he has to wait for luggage, then you need to allow twenty minutes for it, at best. Ok, at best now it's at least 1:25. You grab a taxi to Suvarnabhmi. Again, at best, you arrive at Suvarnabhumi and now it's 2:05. Now you have to check in for your flight out of Suvarnabhumi. The best you can hope for is another 15 minutes, and that's if you're not waiting in a long line. Now you are on your way to the departure gate. Time to go through the metal detector, remove your shoes, and have any carry-on luggage inspected. Again, if there are no lines at all, at least ten minutes. Now it's 2:15. From there you have to get to your departure gate. If you're really lucky and it's a close gate, at least a five minute walk and now it's 2:20. Your flight leaves at 2:45. The aircraft doors will be closed at least ten minutes before departure. Under the best of circumstances and luck, you're leaving yourself only a fifteen minute leeway, and that's only if he didn't have to wait for luggage at Don Muang Airport. In other words, your chances of making that flight are quite remote. I would advise rescheduling.

What did you have for dessert . . . . . ?

You did. I have no objection at all to people trying to win the contest. In my post above I said if I was eligible, I'd be doing the same thing. You're a long time poster on this board. You're not someone who suddenly showed up here once the contest was announced and started writing frivolous posts solely for the purpose of trying to "stuff the box" in order to win the contest. I've read every post you've ever written here and I don't think any of them have ever been frivolous. I don't even have much of an objection to people who are writing frivolous posts. That's not my objection. What I object to hasn't even occurred yet, although I expect that it will. My objection is with the people who came out of the woodwork, started posting on this board only in an attempt to win the contest, and as soon as the contest is over, they're going to disappear right back into the woodwork. As I said, that can't be helped, but I have no personal respect for those who do that. I hope nobody will, but I think some will. I don't think you're going to be one of them. There's nothing at all wrong with your posts or your posting history here, which I am certain will continue long after the contest has been completely forgotten.

If you like piercings, then you're certain to fall in love with this gentleman: And that's just his face. I don't know about the rest of his body. I don't think I want to know. How would you like to be the guy operating the metal detector at the airport? I wonder what happens if he gets too close to a magnet. Anyway, he would certainly make a dream blind date, no doubt. When you knock on his door, he gets to give you a little surprise. And a Happy Halloween to all . . . . .

The following appears in PATTAYA ONE: _____ American Dies after Fall from Well-Known condo. On Thursday afternoon police and rescue services were called to Center Condo in South Pattaya after being informed that a foreign man had fallen from one of the floors and was lying badly injured at the base of the building. The man, an American national later identified as Michael John Bruner, aged 58, was lying face down and clearly in a very distressed state with multiple broken bones. Although he was attended to at the scene and then rushed to Pattaya Memorial hospital, Mr Bruner died a short while later from his injuries. Initial theories are that Mr Bruner committed suicide as residents and workers at the condo said he was suffering financial problems and had recently begun selling off his assets. Even so, it may be that his fall was an accident. Although the deceased’s room was on the 13th floor of the complex, Mr Bruner fell from the third floor. Locals said he liked to sit near an open window on the third floor to catch the sea breeze on most days. For some strange reason police were unable to gain access to Mr Bruner’s room on the 13th floor because it was locked and the keys to the room were not, apparently, on his person. Police said there was no evidence of anything unusual around the third floor balcony area and they believe Mr Bruner committed suicide due to stress. The American Embassy has been notified of the death. ____________________ And this, from the PATTAYA DAILY NEWS: _____ AMERICAN DIES IN SUSPECTED SUICIDE FALL FROM PATTAYA CONDO An American national suspected of committing suicide was found dead following a fall from the third floor of the Center Condotel in Pattaya. Responding to a report of a suspected suiceide received by Police Lieutenant Colonel Tanagrit Larbittisan at 4:00 pm on the 20th November 20 2008 an emergency response squad, consisting of the police and the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Team, rushed to the Center Condotel located on South Pattaya road. The officials found Mr. Michael John Bruner (58), an American citizen, lying alive, face down, on the ground at the back of the condo and next to the garbage storage area. He was wearing a colored shirt and white shorts. He had sustained broken arms and legs. The rescue team rushed him to Pattaya Memorial hospital immediately but he failed to recover and died from his injuries. Mrs. Tonglai Tohprom(44) , a cleaner of the 16 storey condo, told police that she'd heard the sound of something heavy hitting the ground while she was sitting and talking with her friends in the staff room near to where the incident took place. They went out to investigate and found the body of Mr. Michael John lying outside and still alive. Police inspected the immediate area but could not investigate Mr. Bruner’s room, no. 3/456 on the 13th Floor, because it was locked. They questioned other residents and were told that he had financial problems and had lately been selling off his belongings, including his motorbike. Police inspected the third floor balcony where the victim usually liked to spend his time because it is a windy area. On the day of his fall, people saw him there but say he didn’t show any sign of stress. There was no evidence of fighting or anything unusual, only a small broken window and footprints around the balcony. With the evidence available police presumed that Mr. Bruner committed suicide from stress. The American Embassy has been notified of the incident and proceedings are ongoing.

There was a little more to it than just that, although I can well understand wanting to overthrow a government because of taxes! "Do you realize that America was founded by slave owners who wanted to be free?" - George Carlin

Oh my God. Piranhas!!!!