Gaybutton

To my knowledge, the legal drinking age is 20 and, technically, the legal age of consent is 16 provided no money is exchanged. Other than that, the legal age of consent is 18. I strongly urge everyone not to engage in sex with anyone under 18. While it might be technically legal, you're going to have an awfully rough time convincing the police and the judge that money wasn't involved. In every single case I've ever heard of, and there have been plenty, whenever a "farang" is arrested for engaging in under-age sex, it has always been when the boy was under 18 years old. In other words, don't do it.

It seems perfectly clear to me. If a poster has been placed on moderated mode or has been banned, we are not going to tolerate that same poster trying to circumvent our decision by coming in and posting under a different handle. I don't know whether you have done so, but when someone tries to pull a stunt like that, I would permanently ban him from being able to post on this web site. He had to know he is on moderated mode even if he did not receive a PM or email telling him so. When someone on moderated mode tries to post, a message pops up informing him his post will not be visible until and unless a moderator approves it.

Regarding travel to Myanmar, I have a few: 1. What is the legal minimum age in Myanmar? If you are not sure of a boy's age, do they carry ID cards or some other means of checking? 2. What is the expected 'tip' for both short time and long time? 3. You said there are many cruising areas and meeting places. Can you be more specific about the locations of some of them, and in which cities? 4. What kind of currency is used in Myanmar? Are US dollars accepted? Is Thai baht accepted? Are there ATMs, or is it necessary to travel with a lot of cash? 5. What kinds of travel documents are necessary? If a visa is necessary, is it issued on arrival or does is have to be purchased in advance? Do you know the price? Does Myanmar charge fees to exit the country? 6. Do you have any hotel recommendations and know how to contact the hotels for reservations? 7. Do you have any restaurant recommendations? 8. Other than the gay scene, do you have recommendations for "must see" places to visit? Do you also have suggestions for places to avoid? 9. For the first time visitor, how many days do you recommend? 10. Are there any guidebooks and/or maps you would especially recommend? 11. For the gay traveler, if only one city can be visited would you recommend Yangon, Mandalay, or another city? Also, I appreciate your posts. I think what you are saying gives us much to consider in a different way from the point of view many of us have come to believe, and also provides a different perspective on the most common perceptions of Myanmar and whether a foreigner ought to travel there.

Personally, I can understand why a religious holiday would cause the bars to be closed, but I have yet to understand why an election would close the bars and the other entertainment venues. The last time I checked, voting takes place during daytime hours. What does that have to do with nighttime venues? Also, since bar employees old enough to vote can do so right here in Pattaya, then what's the point of closing the bars? If the idea is to keep people from getting so drunk that they can't vote, then I can see ordering the bars not to serve alcohol, but at least giving them the option of remaining open and serving soft drinks if they so choose. It's one more item on my ever-growing "I Don't Get It" list.

Now that Fidel Castro has finally resigned, it will be very interesting to see what ends up happening with Cuba and if a really good gay scene develops there. Having never been to Cuba, for all I know a good gay scene already exists. I have no idea. I hope those of you who may have visited Cuba can tell us about an existing gay scene and those of you who will be going will also let us know the story there. Those of you who are interested might want to visit the following web site: http://www.globalgayz.com/g-cuba2.html

The following appears in the PATTAYA CITY NEWS: _____ 2 Day Bar Closure This Weekend Due to Senate Elections and Religious Holiday On Tuesday Morning at Pattaya City Hall a seminar for election workers took place in preparation for the first two days of voting for the Senate or Upper House Elections. On 23rd of this month those who reside in Pattaya but are registered in another province will be able to vote in this first phase of voting. Unfortunately, this will mean that bars and other late night entertainment venues will have to close from 6pm on 22nd until Midnight on 23rd. This election also coincides with Maka Bouscha Day on 21st February when bars are expected to close in observance of this religious holiday. The seminar explained to the election workers their individual jobs and how the election day will be organized to ensure they are working in accordance with regulations set by the Election Commission.

Most of us have been saying that we would not travel there because of the actions of the government. I would like to know your opinion about that since you apparently have a good deal of experience there. Do you feel that we are right or wrong to refuse to travel to Myanmar? I am also interested in the gay scene in Myanmar. I'm guessing there are no gay bars there, but I would not be surprised if there are cruise areas. How does it work there? Are there any problems about bringing a boy back to your room? Are gays accepted or persecuted? What can you tell us?

Thank you very much for the tip. This evening Geezer and I did just that, and as far as we can tell you are correct. There were a couple boys who we thought were questionable and we would have wanted to check their ID cards if we were going to take them off, but the rest were definitely at least 18 years old, no question about it. That was the only bar I went to this evening, but as I write this Geezer is still out there checking out other bars on that soi. Perhaps he'll have something to say once he is online again. So, maybe all of Boyztown and Pattayaland is "clean" after all. I'm guessing it is. When we hear about police raids these days, we usually hear only about raids that take place in Sunee Plaza. If the police are aware that the Pattayaland bars no longer have any under-age boys, then there wouldn't be much point in staging raids there very often, at least if the goal is to check ID cards.

Thank you. I certainly hope you're right. Ok, Geezer . . . when are we going?

I just tried it again. For me, not only is it working perfectly, but it is also loading up much faster than it ever did before.

The US dollar to baht exchange rate opened at 32.33 today. The exchange rate has held at approximately the same level for about a week now. The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Lee Kuan Yew: US Recession Won't Hurt Asia Singapore (dpa) - Buoyed by bustling growth in China and India, Asia will not be "unduly disadvantaged" if a recession hits the United States, said Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew Sunday night. "I believe this may be the first time where the US economy catches a flu and we are not going to catch influenza - I hope," the city-state's founding prime minister said at a Singapore Airshow leadership dialogue. The Chinese and Indian economies are unlikely to dip below 8, 9, or 10 per cent growth, Lee said. While 40 per cent of intra-Asian trade is bound for the United States, even if the US cuts its imports by half, Asia would not be too badly hit. Focusing on the aviation industry, Lee said he was confident Asia will continue to soar. With new airports being built and more people taking to the skies, Lee forecast "enormous growth in Asia in the next 10, 20 years, more in Asia than in any other part of the world." He was more sceptical on liberalisation going forward. Countries that are not doing so well will want their flag carriers to grow stronger first before they open up, he said. Citing some progress, he noted that by December, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) will lift all restrictions on flights between capital cities. ASEAN includes Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Burma. The six-day Singapore Airshow featuring the giants of the manufacturing industry starts on Tuesday.

I just tried it. It worked just fine for me.

I don't know whether it is a problem with the board software or a problem with my computer, but for the past few days I cannot access any PMs that have been sent to me. When I try, all I get is the "Send Message" box. If you have sent me a PM within the past week I can't get to it to read it. Please send your message to my email address instead: gaybutton@gmail.com If this is happening to anyone else, please let us know.

Oh well, there goes my drink. You've got it right . . .

It's hardly that, but thanks anyway. Now my information is that the goal is to open by mid-April.

I think some of you may be confusing Boyztown with the entirety of Pattayaland. Boyztown is Soi 3, but there are also gay bars on Sois 1 and 2. The bars on Sois 1 and 2 are not part of Boyztown. I cannot say whether any of the Boyztown bars have under-age boys or not. It's been a long time since I've been to any of them. However, I know that some of the Pattayaland bars do employ under-age boys. Geezer, if you wish I will be glad to go with you and personally show you the ones I know about. One thing is for sure - while some of the Pattayaland bars have under-age boys, they are not nearly as common or numerous as certain other bar areas of Pattaya.

One of the bars many miss in Sunee Plaza is the old Memories Bar. From what I understand the previous owners are buying out the Filou Bar and will reopen at that location. I understand it will be the same format as the old bar, including the popular food menu. It will be a few months down the road before they reopen. From what I have been told, the goal is to open by some time in May.

I did.

The following appears in the PATTAYA CITY NEWS: _____ Dusit Resort Changes its Name A function was held on Thursday morning at the site of the old Dusit Resort and Hotel at the north end of Pattaya beach to officially announce the changing of the name of the long-running establishment to the Dusit Thani hotel. The name changing ceremony was attended by Pattaya Mayor Khun Niran and his senior advisor Khun Itipon as well as Khun Chartchuwan, the general manager of the Dusit Thani and his senior management. The re-branding of the resort and hotel is to put it in line with the famous Dusit Thani hotel in Bangkok which is owned by the same company.

Thursday, February 21 is an important Buddhist holiday, Makha Bucha Day. All banks, government offices, and probably many local businesses will be closed. I have not yet heard whether the bars will be open that day.

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Karen Liberation Leader Assassinated in Tak A leader of Burma's biggest ethnic armed groups has been killed at his home in the border town of Mae Sot, in Tak province. Mahn Sha Lar Phan, secretary-general of the Karen National Union (KNU), was reported shot dead at about 4:30pm on Thursday at his two-storey wooden home by two men who had arrived in a pick-up truck. Kim Suay, his wife, told Reuters news agency: "One of them walked up to the house and said in Karen 'How are you, uncle?' Then the other man joined him after parking the truck and they both shot him with two pistols." The killing was immediately blamed on the Burmese military government. In an interview on Monday, the Karen leader had predicted a possible increase in violence ahead of a constitutional referendum in Burma in May. However, the KNU and its armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), are riven by internal feuds and lethal vendettas. His son Hse Hse, another senior member of the predominantly Christian Karen rebel movement, blamed a Buddhist Karen splinter group which brokered a truce with the Burmese government in the mid-1990s. "This is the work of the DKBA and the Burmese soldiers," Hse Hse said, referring to the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army. Thai police said they had the registration number of the truck and were setting up roadblocks around Mae Sot - a frontier town of refugees, illegal migrants and gem dealers - to try to catch the two killers. The Karen have been fighting for independence in the hills of eastern Burma for the past 60 years. The group once controlled areas of eastern Burma, but now is reduced mainly to a string of bases pressed against the Thai border. Burma began a bloody offensive against the Karen two years ago, which activists say has targeted ordinary villagers rather than separatists. Decades of fighting have devastated eastern Burma, where 500,000 people have been displaced by violence, according to Human Rights Watch, a New York-based rights group. Rape, forced labour, summary executions and land grabs remain widespread, while the military also forced villagers to act as human minesweepers, Human Rights Watch said in its annual report last month. __________ And This: also from the BANGKOK POST _____ Leader of Myanmar's Ethnic Karen Rebel Group Killed in Thailand By CHIRAVUT RUNGJAMRATRASAMI, Associated Press Writer The leader of the Karen National Union, one of the biggest ethnic groups fighting Myanmar's military government, was killed Thursday, dealing a fresh blow to forces opposed to the country's hard-line ruling junta. KNU General Secretary Mahn Sha was shot by two gunmen at his home in Mae Sot, Thailand, a town on the border with Myanmar, Thai police Col. Pasawat Tangjui said. The killing may have been the result of internal differences in the rebel group, he said. No one has claimed responsibility for the murder. Mahn Sha's killing came at a politically sensitive time: less than a week after Myanmar's government announced plans for a referendum on a new constitution this May, to be followed by a general election in 2010. The plans have been denounced by the regime's opponents as a sham meant to perpetuate military rule. "We lost, not only for the KNU, but all the democracy struggle for Burma, a very qualified man. He was a key person, the engine of the KNU," said Zin Linn, a spokesman for the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma, an exile opposition group. Burma is the name preferred to Myanmar by the junta's opponents. The KNU is one of more than a dozen armed ethnic groups that for decades have sought greater autonomy from Myanmar's central government. It is sympathetic to the pro-democracy movement inside the country of detained Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi because the junta is their common foe. Since 1988, many other groups have signed formal cease-fires with the ruling junta _ formerly known as the State peace and Development Council, or SPDC _ but the Karen didn't reach a formal agreement to lay down their arms. The KNU, which has been fighting for more than five decades, once had a powerful guerrilla force in Myanmar's eastern border region, but Myanmar army offensives, coupled with divisions within the organization, have reduced the group's military presence considerably over the past decade. Most of the group's senior leadership resides inside Thailand, while its military bases are mostly located just inside Myanmar's border. Myanmar's military continues to carry out sweeping counterinsurgency operations in Karen areas in the eastern part of the country, displacing thousands of civilians every year, many of whom end up joining about 100,000 of their countrymen in refugee camps in Thailand. Mahn Sha, 64, took over leadership of the KNU in 2000 from his ailing predecessor, Bo Mya, who died in 2006. He had been with the KNU since 1963, becoming joint general secretary in 1995 before taking the top post. Mahn Sha was sitting on a balcony on the second floor of his house when the two gunmen arrived in a pickup truck driven by a third man, police Col. Pasawat said by telephone from Mae Sot. "One guy went upstairs, greeted Mahn Sha and then shot him at close range. Then, another guy came up and shot him again before they fled in the same vehicle," he said. "Initial investigations showed that the assailants are also Karen, and after speaking to some witnesses, we believe it was an internal problem within the KNU that prompted the assassination. Still, we have to investigate further to know for sure," he said. A spokesman for Shan ethnic rebels, who continue to carry arms against the government and are de facto allies of the KNU, said Mahn Sha's death "will strategically undermine all opposition groups against the junta's government." "It definitely has a psychological effect, too," said Lao Hseng, spokesman for the Restoration Council of Shan State and the Shan State Army, which is based mostly in remote jungle areas of northeastern Myanmar. "It shows none of us is safe." He said that although the KNU "has many enemies, including other Karen factions," the timing of the attack suggested that the junta was behind it. Factionalism in the KNU leaves open the possibility that rival Karen were responsible. The group's breakaway 7th Brigade signed a cease-fire pact on its own with the government last year, and has since then reportedly been the target of several attacks by the KNU. An earlier breakaway group also allied with the junta, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, is another violent rival. In an interview just hours before his death, Mahn Sha _ also known as Mahn Sha Lah Phan _ denounced the junta's referendum and election plans as a fraud and said they were the sign of an increasingly desperate regime. The junta's plans marked the first time Myanmar's military rulers have set dates for stages of its so-called roadmap to democracy, which it is pursuing without the free participation of the country's pro-democracy movement or ethnic minorities. Speaking to Anjali Kwatra, a journalist working for the London-based humanitarian group Christian Aid, he urged the international community to play a bigger part in bringing about political reconciliation in Myanmar, suggesting the United Nations has to use "a large stick and a small carrot" in pressuring the regime because it so far refuses to accept a peaceful solution. Kwatra told The Associated Press that there was no visible security at Mahn Sha's home, which also served as his office.

Wow! Less than an hour after sending an inquiry to the Deja Raja Villa, I received the following response: __________ I assume from your email that you are a Gay man. I have written this from that standpoint. If I have made a miscalculation please accept my apologies. There are three ways to get to Sihanoukville from BKK. One is thru Phnom Penh taking the Mekong Express bus from PP to Sihanoukville. This bus leaves PP at 7:45 AM and 2:30 PM everyday and arrives in Sihanoukville approx. 4 hours later. The second way and probably the most scenic, longest in time and most arduous and expensive is to get to the border at Koh Kong (Had Lek on the Thai side of the river) then go by bus to SNKVL. One of the fastest and easiest ways is to take the express boat ferry from Koh Kong to SNKVL. this takes about 4 hours costs US20$ and leaves at 8 AM everyday. Thai baht is not acceptable here, but is readily used in Koh Kong. Only USD$ and Riel are accepted beyond the border towns. There are many ATM's in Sihanoukville the best of which belong to ANZ Royal bank. The current exchange rate is about 3800-4000r/1 USD$ however this rate is not important as the USD is the dominant currency here and is used for everything everywhere so there is no need to change money from USD to Riel. You will generate plenty of Riel in change. Sihanoukville is laid back and slow but there are many opportunities for fun here. Cambodian guys are very accommodating and friendly and while there are no Bars that are Gay there are plenty of young men looking for adventure. You will find it less commercial and the beaches and the town far less busy than Thailand. Once here I can point you in the general direction of some places to go. Below is our standard e mail reply to a request for a room, I hope it helps. I would appreciate knowing how you heard about us. Alan Thank You for contacting DevaRaja Villa; Our room rates are $30 per night for a Double Room orTwin Room and $35 per night for the Family room or the Bungalow. * All of our Villa rooms have Air Conditioning, Cable TV, Mini-Bar, Mini-Fridge, Hot Water, Shower and Bathtub, and Innerspring Mattresses for a comfortable night's sleep. Our Bungalow has a two person shower with glass blocks and marble tile with western style fittings throughout. Cable TV installation will be completed shortly. Its thatched roof, verandah and unique architectural style add to the charm of this Bungalow. Of course the bungalow has Hot Water and Air conditioning as well. The Bungalow sits at the edge of our property and has a view towards the ocean. Our Villa is located in a beautiful Tropical Garden setting with views of the beach from our grounds and Bar. It is a short 3 – 5 minute walk to both Ochhueteal and Serendipity beaches. DevaRaja Villa is in a quiet area with cool ocean breezes most of the day and evening. We serve a full Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Menu in our restaurant and bar. We do not include breakfast with the room, preferring to keep the room rates lower and offer you a much wider choice of excellent breakfasts. At DevaRaja Villa we maintain the highest standards of Service, Cleanliness and Security. We can provide Airport or Hotel Pickup in Phnom Penh and transport to Sihanoukville. We also offer a full range of Tours and Excursions to the nearby Islands and Ream National Park. We can also arrange Diving Trips and Lessons. If you wish to reserve a room, we will need the following credit card information from you: type of card (example Visa), card issuer, name of card-holder, and credit card number. No charges will be put against your card and you will be able to pay cash at the end of your stay. We Accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB and ANZ Royal cards for payment. We would also like to know your inbound flight number to Cambodia. Check in time is by 1:00PM. If you are going to arrive later than this please contact us and let us know your arrival time to preserve your reservation. We look forward to hearing from you. Thank You Alan Perry & Mary Swenson *Please note that the rates listed on the web site are not necessarily applicable during special events or holidays. Cancellation Policy; If you fail to cancel at least 24 hours in advance of your reserved arrival time your credit card will be charged for one night. Late Arrival: If you are arriving later than 2:00 PM your reservation may be subject to release and the room rented unless we are notified in advance of your late arrival time. Notification can be made the same day before 2:00PM -- DevaRaja Villa and Bungalows Intimate Stylish Personal Attentive Sihanoukville, Cambodia Reservations: 855-1600-374 myroom@devarajavilla.com http://www.devarajavilla.com

I've never been to Cambodia. I'm thinking of making trip to Phnom Penh, Angkor Wat, and Sihanoukville. I would be grateful for any information you have about Cambodia - the gay scene in Phnom Penh, etc. I'm also thinking about going to Sihanoukville. If any of you have ever been there, I'd appreciate any information you can provide. Are there any gay beaches? I understand a gay friendly hotel in Sihanoukville is Deva Raja Villa ( http://www.devarajavilla.com ). Has anyone ever stayed there or can make other accommodation recommendations? What about currency exchange? Are there any ATMs in Sihanoukville? If not, is it better to bring US dollars, Thai baht, or exchange currency in Phnom Penh? Also, what's the best way to get to Sihanoukville from Phnom Penh? Would you recommend starting in Phnom Penh and then making a trip to Sihanoukville, or do you think it would be better to start in Sihanoukville and work backwards to Phnom Penh, Angkor Wat, and then back to Thailand? Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated. I'm not finding very much about Sihanoukville on the web.

The following appears in the PATTAYA CITY NEWS: _____ Pattaya in a State of Confusion as Anti-Smoking Law Comes into Effect You may or may not be aware that a new Law came into effect on Monday which bans smoking in air-conditioned entertainment venues and offices. The new law is surrounded by confusion and many business owners here in Pattaya are unsure of how to proceed. We can confirm that any business found breaking the law will be fined 20,000 Baht and 2,000 Baht for every smoker caught inside the venue. However, there is an initial 3 month reprieve until the Law is expected to be enforced. This will give time for the Police and local Administration to understand more about the law and to clarify any points which are not clear and will also give time for venues to comply with the law. It is expected that some businesses will be affected in the short term, however, assuming the law is eventually enforced, the initial loss of business should be reversed. We conducted a survey of venues on Walking Street on Monday Night to find out how many venues are complying with the Law. We visited 19 establishments on Walking Street and found that 6 of them were smoke-free. However the smoke-free establishments were found to have far fewer patrons that the ones who were still permitting smoking.

Also, there are photos accompanying the article. See: http://www.pattayacitynews.net/news_13_02_51_3.html