Gaybutton

Despite the fact that I'm a smoker, I'm delighted that Monty is taking the first step in the right direction. I'm well aware that others do not appreciate someone else's smoke and I see no reason at all why smokers, including me, can't step outside to smoke. I hope other bars and venues follow suit. Personally, I wish smoking and the sale of tobacco products would be banned altogether. That way I'd be forced to quit.

Even if Purachai ends up as Prime Minister, I don't know if many of us would notice much of a change. In Pattaya, several gay go-go bars have closed for whatever reasons. Euroboys, KBoys, Gacuya, and a few others are closed. More bars seem to be closing than ever before. I've been saying for years that they will probably eventually fail for lack of customers. Other venues that were gay go-go bars at one time have changed over to other forms of business. Some of you may remember bars such as Nok Nok, Diamond, Boys Studio, Playboy, Lek's, etc. All are gone now or have converted over to other forms of business. I realize Pattaya is in the midst of the low part of the low season right now, but this year's high season resembled previous years' low season. I've never seen a low season as low as it is right now. During the past couple of weeks I visited several bars and there were several times the only customer at all was me. In others there were very few customers. A few bars seem to be popular and fill up with customers, but nowhere near as many as before. The beaches have been virtually empty as well. The long-term resident "farang" are usually there, along with a few who are present on holidays, but other than that you certainly won't have any problems finding available beach chairs. The freelance boys that used to scour the beaches in droves, looking for available "farang" seem to have all but given up. There are a few who still try to find "farang" on the beaches, but most of them are the regulars who are there just about every day. It's been a long time since I've seen many new faces. I haven't been to any Bangkok or Chiang Mai bars in a long time. Someone else will have to let us know the situation in those locales. Not that I'm trying to be a doom-and-gloomer, but the gay life in Pattaya is simply not at all what it used to be. If Purachai does indeed become Prime Minister, I don't see very much that he would change that hasn't already changed anyhow.

I just gave it a try after reading your post. It opened right up for me. I don't know why, but sometimes various sites are blocked by some servers within Thailand and are untouched by other servers. Your guess is as good as mine as to why. I also had a look at the post to which you referred. Part of Elephantspike's message reads: "I'm closing this thread. I'm probably going to close the board soon, too, because most of you guys are complete pricks, and I have better things to do with my time."

Well, we certainly wouldn't want you to be "flabber ghosted." How about pointing to any posting I have ever made - ever - in which I claimed to know "just about everything," since you think it is appropriate to say in your post that I have made such claims.

Would you believe I still have yet to see the photo of the corpse? I'm still getting the same six photos I mentioned above. That's another one I can add to my "I don't get it" list. I agree that nobody, including minors, should be imprisoned if they have not committed any crimes, but I also think that minors shouldn't be left to just roam the streets, completely on their own, with no kind of supervision or care at all. On the streets they're on their own and all too often end up being drug addicts, criminals, gang members, or lord-knows-what. The alternatives, such as orphanages, may not be all that great, but they're not hellholes out of a Dickens novel either.

Just for the record, the Gacuya bar is now closed. I don't know whether it's out of business entirely, closed for renovations, or closed during low season. I have no idea whether the bar will reopen.

I have yet to understand why the insurgents attack schools and teachers. We read about schools being torched and teachers being killed quite regularly. Why? I don't get that part. What do they have against schools and teachers?

As far as I know, the only time an outward-bound ticket is not required is when you are in Thailand on a long-term visa, such as the retirement visa, and you are re-entering Thailand with that visa. Just make sure that if you have such a visa and are going to leave Thailand, that you either have a multiple entry visa or a re-entry permit. Without either one of those, if you exit Thailand your visa becomes null and void and you're back on the thirty-day arrival visa. You might have a second surprise that you don't want if you don't have an outward-bound ticket. You would not only lose your visa, but would also be denied entry into Thailand. The reason they are being much more stringent about checking is because there have been more and more problems with foreigners entering Thailand who have no intention of leaving Thailand. These are the people who used to get by with entering Thailand on a thirty-day visa on arrival, and then just making visa runs every month to renew the thirty days. Thailand wants to put a stop to that, and I think rightly so. "Farang" living in Thailand with legitimate visas pay for those visas. People who were making the monthly visa runs were circumventing the system and paying nothing other than the cost of making the visa run. It was a loophole they have now plugged. So, now those who enter Thailand with the intention of staying in Thailand illegally have to at least have purchased an outward-bound ticket. Whether they use that ticket is their own problem.

Sheeesh! This is getting bizarre. I just had another look and what I saw was the same as I saw earlier this morning - six photos, and every one of them are photos of the meeting without the corpse photo. Your guess is as good as mine . . .

I'm not sure why you would think it would be difficult to find it without a map when it is located right in the middle of Sunee Plaza. It seems to me it would be one of the easiest places to find, with or without a map, even if one has never been to Thailand. Also, in my experience if a hotel 'room' in Thailand has a sofa, now it's a 'suite.'

I think they must have placed the wrong photo on that article. Anyway, that particular photo is no longer included in the article.

Obviously none of us have any idea as to how they are doing financially, but there are guests there and they seem to be very happy with it. So far I've heard nothing negative at all. The name of the hotel is Don Plaza.

Photos can be seen on the link: http://www.pattayacitynews.net/news_12_06_50_2.htm . Most venues have only the one entrance, which is also the only exit. While fires in these venues are an extremely rare event, I wouldn't want to be too far from the door if one breaks out, especially if the venue happens to be crowded. It's certainly something to think about.

I very much appreciate that, Bob. I still have all of those articles available if anyone wants any of them. Some are a little out of date, but if anyone wants any of those, I'll update them before sending them. The two most frequently requested articles are "How to Obtain the Retirement Visa" and "How to Obtain a Thai Driver's License." I am always happy to send copies of any of my articles upon request. If anyone wants any, just let me know which ones or let me know your questions and I'll either try to answer them and/or send the appropriate article. Please send any requests to me at my E-mail address: gaybutton@gmail.com

I apologize for the delay in responding to your question, but I did not want to respond until I renewed my own retirement visa, doing the same thing. I prefer to rely on my own experience to answer these sorts of questions. The answer is yes, they will accept the proof-of-income statement from previous years. They accepted mine without any problem whatsoever. Just make sure you take the original statement with you when you go to apply for the renewal. They did ask to see it.

I am deeply saddened to report that the initial information we received was indeed true and Ernst died on Saturday at 10:00 AM. We received this confirmation this afternoon from his wife. She did tell us that she intends to keep the restaurant open and operating as always.

I'm delighted to know that you had such a wonderful holiday in Thailand. There's nothing like that first time. Thank you for posting about it. Despite the 'drama' that appears on these boards so often, most people who are living here or are familiar enough are always willing to be of help. Please feel free to contact us with any questions, problems, or concerns you may have. You did not say where you are from, but if you are from the USA, I'd like to suggest that you contact Rhonda, of Norcross Travel, when you are ready to arrange your next flight to Thailand. I've been recommending her for many years because she specializes in travel to Thailand and she always seems to come up with airfares hundreds of dollars less than people are able to find any other way. Her toll free number in the USA is 1-888-888-7157. February is high tourist season in Thailand. I suggest that you start making your bookings at least three months in advance of your trip to be assured of getting the flights and hotels you prefer. We'll see you in February and I know how much you are already looking forward to it.

Many of you are familiar with the Olé Restaurant in Pattaya, especially those wonderful buffets at such a reasonable price every Wednesday. Yesterday (Saturday), Ernst, the owner, suffered a massive heart attack. At first we were told he had died. That, thankfully, turned out not to be true. Our latest information is that he is in Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital, in bad shape but at least alive. I don't have any more information beyond that, at this point. When more information becomes available I will let you know.

I'm sorry you went through heartbreaks, but I'm delighted that you enjoyed your stay in Thailand. I hope you will be able to return soon and stay longer.

To me, the question is not whether a school is available, but whether he wants to go. Is continuing his education his idea or yours? If it is his idea, then I would suggest letting him be the one to seek out where he can go. He'll be able to find the right school without much trouble and he won't need your help to find it. On the other hand, if going back to school is your idea, and not his, and if he has shown any reluctance, then you're wasting your time and efforts. In nearly every case I've ever seen, and I've seen plenty, a well-intentioned "farang" trying to get a boy to go to school, if the boy doesn't really want to go, is an exercise in futility. In most cases the boy will actually attend a few classes. When it begins to get difficult he'll quit. I've even seen cases in which the "farang" pays the school, returns to his home country, and the boy manages to get a refund from the school, pocket the money, and then quits. It's a sad situation. I'm sorry to be negative about it, but over the years I've seen too much to be able to be anything else. We all know the value of a good education, but try to convince a reluctant Thai boy. I have yet to ever see a reluctant Thai boy complete even one course. An education has to be something he truly wants, not something a "farang" is trying to force on him. I don't know whether your boyfriend wants to further his education or not. You didn't say. If he is the one asking for help to go to school, then I would be in favor of doing everything you can to help him do it. If you are the one trying to get him to go, then my advice would be to forget it.

All too often there are reports about a "Farang" losing large amounts of cash as a result of either theft from his boyfriend or girlfriend or from a burglary. It goes beyond me why anyone would keep large amounts of cash at home or in a hotel room rather than in a bank, but some people choose to do that. The following appears in the PATTAYA CITY NEWS: _____ Thieves Clean out Foreigners House At around 9:00pm on Monday night police from Pattaya station were summoned to a house in Suksabai Villa, located near the Land Office, to investigate reports of a robbery. On arrival they found the house of 60-year-old American national Mr Wayne Edmisten had been broken into and ransacked. Mr Edmisten was not home at the time of the robbery, which had been witnessed by one of his neighbours. The neighbour had called security guards but by the time they had responded the thieves had made themselves scarce. Police were able to make contact with Mr Edmisten who claimed there had been up to 300,000 baht in his safe, which had been forced open and the contents emptied. Police also believe computer and electrical equipment had also been stolen. The house was dusted for fingerprints but have little else to go on.

On Monday night there was a major police raid in Pattayaland. It wasn't just the gay bars. The raid included the go-go girl bars too. I was not there, but those who were tell me that no "farang" were harassed in any way or checked for ID. The raid was limited strictly to license checks and all of the bar workers were subjected to urine tests. The following appears in the PATTAYA CITY NEWS: for photos see http://www.pattayacitynews.net/news_05_06_50_4.htm _____ Police Check Pattayaland Bars. On Monday night police and Banglamung district officers launched a series of checks on bars in Pattayaland Soi 1 in south Pattaya. The street is a little gender confused with gay bars and girlie bars operating side by side and officers had the opportunity of seeing both sides of the fence without having to leave the soi. The checks concentrated on bar licenses as well as making sure all employees were over the age of 18. In this regard the police and district officers reported that all bars in the soi were operating with correct licenses and all employees were at least 18 years or older. Urine tests on the employees of the bars saw three test positive for the presence of illegal substances in their systems.

I am very happy to be able to report that Geezer will be returning to Pattaya tomorrow (Monday, June 4). He is very happy to be able to get back home and do his recuperating in his own surroundings. He expects to have to stay at home most of the time for the next several weeks, but at least that's where he'll be . . . home.

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Wednesday Night Massacre The nine judges also found two Thai Rak Thai executive committee members guilty of illegally hiring small parties in the April, 2006, election - Gen Thammarak Issarangkura na Ayudhya and Pongsak Raktapongpaisarn. "The Thai Rak Thai's crimes are very dangerous to democracy," Judge Krairerk Kasemsant said. Analysts were subdued and worried. "It's a big surprise because banning more than 100 people will make the political game unfair. It's negative for the country's political climate, which needs checks and balances," leading financial analyst Thanawat Patchimkul said. "It's a political massacre," said Kongkiat Opaswongkarn, head of a leading brokerage. The order disbanding Thai Rak Thai contrasted with the earlier decision to allow the Democrat Party and its executives to continue in politics. Thai Rak Thai leader Chaturon Chaisaeng, who took over after Mr Thaksin went into self-exile after last year's coup, sat on the edge of his seat during most of a late-night verdict, which ended not long before midnight. The dozens of party members who waited for the final verdict at 11:42 p.m. appeared stunned. There were no signs of the violence that some had predicted. Mr Chaturon said he was "not worried for myself, but I worry about the country." He had pledged to accept the Tribunal's verdict, which cannot be appealed. Judges said that disbanding a political party was a serious matter. Thai Rak Thai won elections in 2001 and 2005, they said, and had 14 million members. Ordering the party dissolved would cause economic problems. But the verdict laid much of the blame for shaky Thai Rak Thai political deals on the back of founder and then-leader Thaksin Shinawatra, still in foreign exile. The judges said Mr Thaksin had used the party for his own benefit, and Thai Rak Thai had no political ideology beyond its leader's ambitions. The immediate fate of Thai Rak Thai, the country's most popular party, was not known. But Mr Chaturon and other executives could immediately apply to form a "new" party, perhaps even using the Thai Rak Thai name. Worries of violence after the verdict had long faded by the time the announcement against the party was made. But even at the height of public interest on Wednesday afternoon, no more than a few hundred peaceful supporters of both parties were gathered in three spots in Bangkok - at the court and at the two parties' headquarters. The government had amassed a security force of 13,000, none of whom was needed to keep order. A huge media corps of 700 outnumbered all political supporters from all factions. In his speech broadcast live on TV after the verdict, Mr Chaturon said the verdict is against everyone's expectation and obviously unfair, alleging that such verdict reflects the military-back ruling government's influence. ____________________ And this, from THE NATION: _____ Constitutional Tribunal Disbands Thai Rak Thai Former premier and Thai Rak Thai ex-leader Thaksin Shinawatra, responding to the ruling against the party, told BBC: "We have to respect the rules of the game. That is, the rule of the law. If the rules of the law are observed, we have to respect it." Thaksin said he would "definitely" come back to Thailand because "it's my home country. I love my country. I love my people." Caretaker Thai Rak Thai leader Chaturon Chaisang said last night that the Constitution Court's verdicts disbanding his party, along with two others, was "highly unexpected", and expressed his worry over "setbacks" towards the development of democracy in Thailand. He called on more than 14 millions party supporters to respect the verdicts, and not protest or resist them. "Exercise your tolerance and wisdom and be calm," he said in a brief interview outside the courthouse. Chaturon said he was confident that he would offer good ways out to "go forward together" with party supporters, who he said, still had faith in him and share the Thai Rak Thai ideology. At party headquarters, party supporters and party MPs cried and consoled each other, before giving themselves applause and reading a poem grieving the verdicts. An official party statement will be released at 11 am Thursday. Caretaker Thai Rak Thai leader Chaturon Chaisang vowed on Wednesday night to fight on after the Constitution Court's verdicts disbanding his party. Speaking emotionally at his party headquarters, he said the verdicts had proved that who controlled the state power could make anything right. "Although the power is achieved through the gun barrels, it's still the right thing." He said the public could not accept the verdicts. "This is not acceptable. The country is now ruled under dictatorship," he added. He continued his verbal attacks before his speech was take over by a newscaster. Chaturon said earlier at the courthouse that he was "highly unexpected", and expressed his worry over "setbacks" towards the development of democracy in Thailand. He called on more than 14 millions party supporters to respect the verdicts, and not protest or resist them. "Exercise your tolerance and wisdom and be calm," he said in a brief interview outside the courthouse. Chaturon said he was confident that he would offer good ways out to "go forward together" with party supporters, who he said, still had faith in him and share the Thai Rak Thai ideology. An official party statement will be released at 11 am today.

Unnnnnbelievable! If you are correct, then what's the point of being able to report your address online? The whole idea, so I thought, was to avoid having to personally go to the immigration office. I also thought, from their standpoint, it would make their own job easier and would mean a lot less people crowding the immigration office. But from what you are saying, you would still have to personally go and pick up the receipt. It wouldn't save any time or trouble at all. Here's another one I'm going to add to my "I Don't Get It" list.