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I agree with buaseng. I would not recommend Koh Samui as much of a gay destination, if that's what you're seeking. He's right about the cost and right about the response of farang. Koh Samui does have a gay scene, though, although it's not much. You might want to check these two web sites: http://www.gaykohsamui.net http://www.utopia-asia.com/thaisamu.htm I agree that if you want to go to southern Thailand, with the gay scene in mind, you're much better off in Phuket. If it were me, and I just had to see Koh Samui for myself, then I would plan the bulk of my time in Phuket and two days at the most in Koh Samui.

What happened to me took place on the expressway between Bangkok and Pattaya. The left lane is dominated by trucks, most of which are moving much slower than the speed limit. Trucks have a different speed limit from cars, which makes driving in the same lane with them very difficult, especially when there are three vacant lanes to the right of them. That's what I did and got pulled over anyway. Maybe I have the wrong idea about how I am supposed to drive, but I do think I was unfairly fined. Be that as it may, even if I'm absolutely right and can prove it, I'm not about to get into an argument with the police unless they are asking an outrageous amount of money. Right or wrong, corrupt or not, I'd much rather pay a small fine and be on my way. Most of the time, when the police have set up road blocks, I'm waved on through without incident. I do quite a bit of driving between Pattaya and Bangkok, along with driving to other destinations. I'm rarely ever stopped, maybe two or three times in a year, so I'm really not complaining, although when I do get stopped I'd at least appreciate being stopped for having done something wrong rather than stopped to line the pockets of police officers. Still, this is something you just have to accept if you are going to do much driving in Thailand. It's going to happen, so you either have to live with it or give up driving. There's a letter-to-the-editor in this week's PATTAYA MAIL regarding highway police in Thailand that some of you may find interesting. Nothing like what this gentleman describes has ever happened to me, but I believe him: http://www.pattayamail.com/current/letters.shtml#hd6

Certainly not in the USA.

Details are now in this week's PATTAYA MAIL. Click the link to view the article: http://www.pattayamail.com/current/news.shtml#hd5

Roughly it's pronounced "pahk," but make sure you say it with a low tone. If you change the tone you also entirely change the meaning of the word.

As a matter of fact, I do know one. I look forward to meeting you.

I had exactly the same thing happen to me the last time I returned to Pattaya from Bangkok. I was stopped and told I have to drive on the left. That, of course, makes no sense at all, but for 200 baht I didn't argue. I gave the police officer his 200 baht and off I went. I doubt there is really some kind of a regulation that says you must drive in the left lane, especially when the highway has four or five lanes and plenty of cars occupy them all. I think it's just another way for the corrupt police to extract some money from people, but it's not worth it to me to get into an argument with them. To me, weighing 200 baht against the problems that you can end up facing by arguing with them, I think I'd rather pay the 200 baht and be on my merry way. Don't forget, if you get them angry they can make up any charge they wish. What could you do about it? For me, it's pay the 200 baht and go away looking as happy as I can.

Neither do I. From what I understand, the Pattaya Immigration office wants proof of address because they've caught a lot of people cheating. There are a hell of a lot more farang living in Pattaya than there are out in the provinces, so I would imagine the Immigration office would encounter a lot more problems as a result, which is the reason why they want the proof. I also don't understand why people would want to lie about their address, but apparently there are a number of people who do lie about it, for whatever reasons they have. Of course, if someone really is trying to cheat, he can always go elsewhere to submit his address report.

If we had another four years of Bush, I don't think there would be an America.

This morning was my turn to see for myself. I submitted my 90-day address report. A friend was with me to do the same thing. We both were asked to show proof of residence. I walked in with several documents, but the Immigration officer looked at only one, the one on the top of the little stack I had, which happened to be my Internet service bill from MaxNet. I had made a copy of the bill and the officer kept the copy and attached it to the report. She was interested only in seeing that you have at least something that documents where you live. The officer wants to see the original and wants to keep a copy, so go in with both. She did say that one document, such as a bill in your name, is acceptable. You must bring your document and a copy of the document each time you submit an address report from now on. This applies at the Pattaya Immigration office. I have no idea whether other Immigration offices in Thailand are asking for documentation.

Friday, September 19 Round 3 Rates (Sorry, I was busy this morning and didn't get a chance to check the opening rates): US Dollar: 33.96 Euro: 48.22 British Pound: 61.22 Australian Dollar: 27.235 Canadian Dollar: 31.8075 _____ Closing Rates: US Dollar: 33.98 Euro: 48.20 British Pound: 60.92 Australian Dollar: 27.315 Canadian Dollar: 31.8025

bump

More details and photos can be found on the PATTAYA DAILY NEWS web site: http://www.pattayadailynews.com/shownews.p...NEWS=0000007280

Thursday, September 18 Opening Rates: US Dollar: 34.01 Euro: 48.715 British Pound: 61.725 Australian Dollar: 26.84 Canadian Dollar: 31.71 _____ US Dollar: 33.95 Euro: 48.865 British Pound: 61.77 Australian Dollar: 27.18 Canadian Dollar: 31.795

Is there a difference between that and the senator?

I would imagine anyone not from the USA might have a little problem with it. If you happen to be one who doesn't understand, click the following link: http://edition.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/04/22/santorum.gays

The following appears in PATTAYA ONE: _____ Pattaya Ginjai Festival Press Conference. On Wednesday Morning at Pattaya City Hall, Khun Itipon, the Mayor of Pattaya led a press conference to officially announce this year’s Pattaya Ginjai Festival which is a Chinese-inspired Vegetarian Event which lasts for 10 days where followers abstain from eating meat during this time. This year’s festival will begin on 28th September and will include a parade starting at 9.19am from the Bali Hai Port to the Sawang Boriboon Foundation headquarters in Banglamung where local chefs will prepare a large pan of noodles with vegetables for those taking part in the Parade. The Parade will take in all of Pattaya and will split after it leaves Walking Street. On the final day of the Festival, activities will take place at Lan Pow in Naklua. For further details on the event please call the Pattaya City Call Center on 1337.

I'm not sure how close Saranrom Park is to the areas where all the political problems are taking place. I hope it's not so close that there won't be any boys around. There's only one way to find out, I suppose. If you make it to Pattaya, contact me. I'd like to meet you.

While I don't want to see this situation become violent, to me the ideal situation for farang would be a windfall for the exchange rate. We're about due for a turn-around on the exchange rate, but I am truly sorry if this is the way it will happen.

For those of you who don't already have it, here's the link to the COPA's new web site: http://www.copapattaya.com

When the hurley burley's done. When the battle's lost and won. - Shakespeare: Macbeth - The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ PAD Snubs Somchai's Call for Reconciliation Acting prime minister and People Power party (PPP) deputy leader Somchai Wongsawat said at a press conference after 298 out of 466 MPs voted him the new premier on Wednesday that he planned to work and complete his four-year tenure. The new cabinet has yet to be determined, Mr Somchai said. The caretaker prime minister said he did not feel let down because disqualified premier and PPP leader Samak Sundaravej could not attend the House meeting to vote for him on time. Mr Somchai said he still respects the former premier, and he will ask him for advices because of his experience. He said deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra did not call him to congratulate him for becoming the 26th premier. Mr Somchai is his younger brother-in-law. Top priorities at present include the flood disaster in many provinces across Thailand and the economic problems caused by Lehman Brothers’ bankruptcy, according to the PPP deputy leader. Concerning the People’s Alliance Democracy (PAD)’s relentless anti-government demonstration, Mr Somchai said now is the time for Thai people to reconcile and unite to bring peace back to the country. On the PAD’s side, its key members, Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang and Mr Somsak Kosaisuk, held a press conference on Wednesday, reiterating the group’s stance to oust the PPP-led government. According to the group, even though the parliament has elected a new prime minister, it would not end the crises, adding that the parliament cannot solve the national problems. The PAD claimed that Mr Somchai is not only Mr Thaksin’s nominee, but he is involved with many corruption activities. The group said the newly appointed premier is also related to one of the election commissioners and is also one of the cabinet members who voted for Thailand to give up Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia. The PAD further criticised Mr Somchai, saying his intention is to amend the charter to do away with his wrongdoings.

Anti-Govt Protesters Refuse Time for New PM to Prove Himself BANGKOK, Sept 17 (TNA) Anti-government protesters gathered under the banner of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) demonstrating in the capital for nearly four months reasserted Wednesday they will not allow newly-appointed Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat a grace period to prove himself, according to a key PAD core leader. Retired Maj-Gen. Chamlong Srimuang told journalists that it is useless for Mr. Somchai, appointed prime minister by elected House members early Wednesday, to prove himself with his work as his past deeds were reason enough for PAD to reject him now. But if Mr. Somchai, brother-in-law of ousted fugitive prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, wants the PAD to accept him, then he should try to bring back Mr. Thaksin to Thailand to face graft and corruption charges in court, Gen. Chamlong said. Mr. Thaksin's diplomatic passport must also be seized, the PAD core leader said. The ex-premier, his wife Pojaman and their three children are now living in Britain. The couple was reportedly seeking political asylum from the British government. Several corrupt practices were seen in the previous government in which Mr. Somchai was deputy prime minister and education minister, such as supporting the Phnom Penh government to successfully list the Preah Vihear ancient temple as a World Heritage site, being a proxy of Mr. Thaksin and on a decision to lease air-conditioned buses for commuters in Bangkok which was a corrupt contract, Gen. Chamlong said. PAD core leaders will meet with students rallying against the government before deciding their next move after Mr. Somchai was appointed prime minister. (TNA)

I hope it doesn't come to that, but the PAD is definitely not happy. But the news reports make it seem as if the political situation in Thailand is a bomb about to blow. Apparently, the financial market is already reacting. This morning, probably because of the Lehman Brothers collapse, most foreign currencies were down. The US dollar started at 33.87 against the baht, the lowest it's been in about two weeks. At this moment, the US dollar is already back up to 34.11, and there is still more than two hours to go for trading rounds today, from the time of this post. So far I've found two reactions from the PAD. This one, in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Shortly after the vote, core leaders of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) Chamlong Srimuang and Somsak Kosaisuk held a news conference, saying that the group does not accept Mr Somchai because he is a nominee of Mr Thaksin. ____________________ And this one, from TNA: _____ His appointment as the Kingdom's top minister takes place amid warnings by anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters that they would not accept any member of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) as Thailand's premier. The PAD has accused the PPP-led government of being a proxy for Mr. Thaksin, who is now living in Britain.

Wednesday, September 17 Opening Rates: US Dollar: 33.87 Euro: 47.97 British Pound: 60.455 Australian Dollar: 27.105 Canadian Dollar: 31.5975 _______ Closing Rates: US Dollar: 34.15 Euro: 48.41 British Pound: 60.755 Australian Dollar: 26.9775 Canadian Dollar: 31.9625

My own experiences there have been completely different from what was posted on that blog. It wasn't "rough trade" at all. It was primarily university students trying to earn some money. I've gone around both in my car and on foot and felt perfectly safe either way. I do agree that it's hit and miss. I've been there when there were very few boys and I' ve also been there when there were so many that it was just incredible. In that respect, it's simply a question of luck.