Gaybutton

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I dislike tattoos. I've never understood why someone would want to decorate his body with an image he wouldn't be caught dead framing and hanging on his wall. Some people find them attractive and erotic. I'd rather not find them at all.

First, I suggest you do not bother obtaining Thai baht in advance of your trip. There is absolutely no reason to do that and you'll be charged rip-off prices for it. I also suggest sticking primarily to your ATM card. You'll find ATMs virtually as soon as you step off the plane. They're everywhere you look in Thailand and every one of them have an option to do all transactions in English. Unless your issuing bank is some obscure bank, such as First National Bank of Ouagoudougou or something, your card will work just fine at any ATM in Thailand. If you can, try to bring a duplicate ATM card with you in case your existing card gets lost, stolen, or eaten by an ATM. It can't hurt to bring traveler's checks, but the only real reason to bring them is for back-up if something happens to your ATM card and there would be a delay getting another one. I wouldn't bring too much. Yes, you do get a better rate, but unless you plan to spend thousands and thousands of dollars, it won't make a significant difference. Here's a couple of suggestions: 1. Before you come to Thailand, make sure to contact the issuing banks of any ATM or credit cards you intend to use in Thailand. Make sure the bank knows the dates you will be in Thailand and where you expect to be. That makes life much simpler. It will prevent your bank from locking the card and will also make life much easier for you in case the card is lost, stolen, duplicated, or something else. Also, make sure to get an international collect call number from your bank, in case of a problem, and keep that number in a safe place. 2. If you intend to make additional trips to Thailand, I urge you to open a Thai bank account while you are here. You can open one with as little as 500 baht. Most Thai banks charge an additional 300 baht fee for an ATM card. The card will be usable internationally. Having a Thai bank account will make life a lot easier. You can deposit your money into that account and use the ATM card anywhere in Thailand. If something happens to the card, you don't have to worry about international calls, delays in getting a new one, or anything else. You would be able to close the card and get a new one the same day. By the way, if you do lose a Thai ATM card, call the bank and cancel out the card, but go to the police station before trying to obtain a new card. Most banks require a police report before they'll issue a replacement card. From what I understand, the easiest bank where you can open an account with a tourist visa is the Kasikorn Bank. If you do intend to return to Thailand, then do it now. Open the account during this trip. Don't wait. The regulations keep changing and it could easily end up being difficult to impossible later on. If you want any assistance opening a Thai bank account, or anything else for that matter, please feel free to contact me. I'm always happy to help and I'll be just as happy to personally take you to do these things. All you need to do is to send me an Email ( gaybutton@gmail.com ) and I'll respond with my telephone number.

Ok . . . it ain't so.

Actually I am a little upset about that! I want to give it a try. As for terrible, mean spirited me . . . I leave that to the eye of the beholder. Personally, I don't think it's anyone's business as to reasons why you're doing this. It's not my business either. In my opinion, the only thing that's any else's business is the fact that you're doing this.

Good idea. If you really want to know what happened at Googie's, why don't you ask him?

Are you joking? Do you truly believe that GT is spending $1500, plus whatever it will cost for the little affair when the winner is drawn for the sake of attracting new posters or rewarding regulars? As for the intent of the contest, if GT wishes to share his reasons, that's up to him.

That's very kind of them. I'll remember that next time I park on a steep hill . . .

I think I will. I live for thrills.

I'm out to my family. To me, the word 'out' in this sense means you have told people, personally, you are gay. Other than my family, I have never told my friends, but I'm sure they figured it out. Either way, I couldn't care less whether they know or not. If any of my friends back in the USA don't like it, too bad. I've reached a point in my life at which I'm not going to hide the fact that I'm gay to anyone, with the possible exception of a dream (well maybe 'nightmare' is the better word) holiday in Tehran or Taliban Acres.

I think Laurence has the best idea of all. The food around Wat Chai, after hours, might not be the greatest and you might need a forensics expert to identify what's in it, but those 'desserts' can be outstanding!

If he also parked, maybe you don't know why, but I do . . . and you didn't take the hint? Oh well, another missed opportunity . . . . . . I drive in Thailand every day. I'm not afraid of it, but I have learned to drive not just defensively, but extremely defensively. When I was in high school, many, many moons ago, something my driver's education instructor said stuck with me and has saved me from accidents and quite likely saved my life a great many times, more than I can count, especially in Thailand. "Always expect the unexpected." Around here, those are exactly the words to survive by. It's rare for me to drive at all without experiencing at least one close call. The major culprits are the motorbike drivers who come zooming out of intersections without even a quick glance to see if there's an oncoming car. Sometimes I think these people must lie in wait and signal each other whenever I'm driving. I constantly have to be on the lookout for those motorbikes at intersections, along with every kind of vehicle that exists, including bicycles, cutting me off, making a left turn from the right lane, making a right turn from the left lane, speeding at least double to triple the speed limit, failing to use a turn signal, driving the wrong direction, deciding to pass another car and zooming into my lane, nearly causing us to have a head-on collision, suddenly changing lanes without warning, jumping red lights, simply ignoring red lights, tailgating so close that if he were any closer he would be in my car with me, and lord-knows-what else. One of the most difficult things to do is to maintain a safe driving distance behind the car ahead. As soon as you're a safe distance you can virtually count on another car bulling his way in. There goes the safe distance. I would swear that some of these people must be suicidal. Thais are some of the kindest, most gentle and docile people you could meet anywhere, but put them behind the wheel of any kind of motor vehicle and it's a totally different story. They turn into Mr. Hyde. I'm not afraid to drive at all and dealing with this kind of driving has become second nature, but if you frighten easily, get frustrated easily, are impatient, or are not extremely cautious, then Thailand is the wrong place for you to be driving. It's not easy to be a pedestrian either. In Pattaya, if there were laws against jaywalking I don't know how anyone could cross a street. People complain all the time about the hazards of trying to walk across Second Road. Believe me, it isn't just there. It's everywhere. Walk in the middle of the street around and within Sunee Plaza some time. I don't think it will take long to see what I mean. Some crazy kid is sure to come barreling through at high speed on a motorbike. If you're fortunate enough that he misses you, it won't be by much. _____ "Have you ever noticed that anyone driving slower than you is an idiot and anyone driving faster is a maniac?" - George Carlin

Since you're a relative newbie on this board, I'll leave it up to GayThailand as to whether to let your post stand or to wipe it. In all honesty, if I were to decide unilaterally I would delete your post and cancel your posting privileges right along with it. You know why I'm angry? Because you decided it was appropriate to come here and post an accusation without providing a shred of proof or evidence as to what you wrote. That is unacceptable. Apparently you expect people to simply take your word for it, while you get to hide behind the cloak of anonymity. _____ _____ By the way, in case anyone thinks I am somehow biased in favor of Googie, I don't know Googie and he doesn't know me. I wouldn't know him if he were sitting next to me. I ate breakfast there a grand total of once, about four years ago. I haven't eaten there at all since. The only reason is that it's not a convenient place for me to eat. The food was fine. Nobody knows who you are and nobody knows whether your post is credible or not. But in the past, just about every time someone comes from out of the woodwork to post this sort of allegation, it turns out to be someone who has a personal vendetta against the person being accused. I've been involved with these message boards for a lot of years and it doesn't take much for me to smell a major rat here. First, if you want to make an accusation, this is the wrong board on which to do it. Second, whether you make an accusation here or on any other board, you better be able to back up what you say. Third, if you ever do something like this again on this board I won't wait for GayThailand to decide. I'll decide the instant I see it. Your post will be gone and so will you. GayThailand knows he can overrule my decisions any time he wants without argument from me, but to date he never has. I'll take a "whitewash job" over a "hatchet job" any day of the week! ______________ Several hours later: As you can see, GayThailand has edited out some of the inappropriate remarks that were in the offending post. The gap you see in my post is where I followed up and edited out the portions of my post that would have revealed the very things GT edited out of Gordon's post. There is no place on this board for that kind of posting.

First, airline terminology lesson number 1: Most people confuse a direct flight with a non-stop flight, thinking both mean the same thing. They don't. A non-stop flight means your flight arrives at your destination without making any intermediate stops. A direct flight also arrives at your destination, but there will be at least one stop along the way. You don't have to change planes, but you're going to be delayed by the stop with disembarking passengers leaving the plane and the next set of passengers boarding. Often, especially on international flights, you may also be required to exit the plane (just about definitely if they're going to refuel), but you'll board the same plane again. End of lesson. I'm guessing GaySacGuy meant "non-stop," even though he said "direct." If so, then I'm also guessing he was on a Thai Airways non-stop flight to Bangkok. That flight is a much more expensive flight, which probably is the reason why his plane was empty and your friend's was full.

If he actually finds somebody who knows how to make eggs-over-easy properly, instead of overcooking them as so many breakfast places do (no matter what you try to tell them), then he'll have a gold mine in breakfast customers alone.

Actually "5-baht Mary," as I have dubbed her, does clean every hour or so. Granted, I wouldn't want to rely upon her to clean the operating room if I was about to undergo surgery. However, for 10 baht, you can go into "10-baht Tui's," which is right there. You'll find the restrooms there quite clean and also quite large. It's a much better alternative.

I feel the same way. It's rather obvious when people who have either never posted before or had rarely posted before suddenly come out of the woodwork and make sure to post at least three times almost every day for the duration of the contest. I suppose that is to be expected in a contest like this and there are no rules against doing that. I think if I were eligible for the contest I'd probably be doing the same thing. I imagine some will disappear once the contest ends. It would be nice if that doesn't happen, but I have a feeling some people will do that. That's their choice, if that's what they decide to so. I hope everyone remembers: The winner will not necessarily be the person who writes the most posts. The winner will be the person whose name gets drawn out of the hat. It could very well turn out to be someone who submitted three posts during the same day only once.

What kind of jam? Toe jam, no doubt . . . I don't know if I would want to go to this spa. You get your feet cleaned, yes, but is that enough to truly satisfy? I'm getting a few kinky thoughts about other parts of the body that might get a rise from certain . . . . . ablutions, courtesy of the fish. I wonder if that is offered.

What has me laughing is the fact that this thread was supposed to be about protests regarding California's Proposition 8 and the idea that churches should be taxed. Meanwhile, instead of commenting on the subject at hand we have people arguing about which country's populace is stupid. Well, that kind of gets me wondering . . .

It would be helpful if you tell us where this place is. You didn't even say what city. What's wrong with telling us the name of this place? Also, what kind of food is served? Since you say they have had trouble keeping a chef, why is that? If I were to recommend applying for the job to any friends of mine, they would want to know what the problem has been.

In other words, those fish were hot to Trat . . .

That definitely fits into the category of "now I've seen everything." Don't you wonder who came up with this idea in the first place? By the way, you've got great legs. Are you busy this weekend . . . . . ?

That's great!!! Breakfast all day . . . if your day starts at 11:00am!!! It will be very interesting to see just how many customers pack the house.

Somehow I'm not surprised. According to Thaksin, he had promised his wife a divorce if he ever decided to return to politics. Since he is about to announce an official return, that's the reason for the divorce . . . so he says. Meanwhile, the PAD is essentially saying, "We are not amused." I suppose Thailand doesn't have enough political turmoil . . . The following appears in the THE NATION: _____ Fugitive ex-PM Thaksin to Declare his Return to Politics By Somroutai Sapsomboon The Nation Convicted ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra will declare his return to politic and his eye-for-an-eye fight with his enemies next month in a controversial mobile TV talk show, People Power Party's MP Jatuporn Promphan said Tuesday. "Khun Thaksin will announce on December 14 that he will return to politics to fight to defend his name. He will no longer stand still. He decided to come out to fight as he did not want to be attacked and cornered any more," Jatuporn said in an exclusive interview with The Nation. "Thaksin will no longer wait to be attacked, he will fight back by all means, particularly by eye-for-an-eye strategy, from now on. Khun Thaksin now believes that the only way for him Thaksin to survive and to live is to fight for his name," Jatuporn said. The announcement will be made in the Kwamjing Wannee Sanjon (Mobile Truth Today) to be held in Supachalasai National Stadium on December 14. The programme has been rescheduled from December 10 after the organisers learnt that the stadium is scheduled to host an Asean football competition on December 9-10. Jatuporn also said the main reason Thaksin divorced his wife, Khunying Pojamarn, was because he decided to return to politics. "Khun Thaksin and his wife had decided earlier, after the coup d'etat in 2006, that they would divorce if he decided to return to politic. It is a promise between them. So they decided to divorce now that Khun Thaksin will return to politics," he said. "However their divorce does not mean that they are no longer in love," Jatuporn said. ____________________ And this, from the BANGKOK POST: _____ PAD Threatens to Escalate, Claims Thaksin Lost Political War The anti-government People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) will protest even more if the parliament pushes forward the constitutional amendments, PAD spokesman Panthep Puapongpa said on Tuesday. In response to ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s warning to fight back his political opponents, Mr Panthep said Mr Thaksin has lost the political war and his subsequent movements would cause further damage to the government. He claimed that Mr Thaksin divorced Khunying Potjaman so Khunying Potjaman can become more involved in Thai politics while protecting their remaining assets. He also believed Mr Thaksin’s political movements in foreign countries were becoming less justified. On the video clip featuring a man resembling PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul who escorted a woman, Mr Panthep said it is still unclear whether the man in the clip was Mr Sondhi. He said Mr Sondhi does not hold any political position, and it would not be illegitimate for PAD leaders to lead a normal life.

I agree. It's top quality and available every day. There are other major hotels in Pattaya that most likely do something similar, but the Marriott is the only one within easy walking distance or a short baht bus ride from all of the popular gay hotels in Pattaya. If you're staying in the beach area, as far as buffets go I'm sure there are several, but I've never been to any of them. The Avalon hotel, the one right by the gay beach area, may have a buffet, but I've never checked. Maybe someone else can tell us. Most of the time, if I even eat breakfast at all (usually I either make my own or just have a cup of coffee at home), if I go to the beach area I go to either the Continental Bakery, which in my opinion is the best set breakfast in town, or Linda's, where I love their Scandinavian open-face sandwich breakfast. The Continental Bakery does not have a web site, but you'll find a very good review at: http://www.pattayamail.com/576/dining.shtml The review was written in 2004, before Continental Bakery moved, literally just a few feet away from its original location, and the prices are a bit higher now, but I definitely concur with what the the review says about the food. Want breakfast in bed? Is it a rainy morning and you don't know what to do about breakfast? The Continental Bakery has 10 breakfasts available, beginning at 11:00am, from Door-2-Door. See: http://www.door2doorpattaya.com/continental.php One thing to remember at many Pattaya breakfast restaurants: If you want toast, make sure to ask for it when you place your order. If you don't, many restaurants will give you un-toasted bread and you'll have to send it back to be toasted. Then, by the time you get it you'll probably have finished everything else. But most will be happy to give you toast if you ask. The buffet breakfasts at the Lek Hotel and the Diana Inn are both cheap, but not exactly gourmet quality. The quality is about what you would expect for that sort of price. I have yet to try the breakfast at the White Night. They're open for breakfast every day except Mondays. It's not a buffet. You order from the menu. They open at 8:30am and breakfast is available right up to 2:00pm. They also do an afternoon tea, available until 6:00pm. Except for buffets, most Pattaya restaurants charge extra for a second cup of coffee or tea. At the White Night you can have as much as you want at no additional charge. From what I understand, the White Night serves brewed coffee, good brewed coffee . . . not that Nescafé shit-in-a-cup that so many Pattaya restaurants serve. Has anybody been to the White Night breakfast and/or afternoon tea and can tell us what you thought of it?