Gaybutton

That's because it is no longer called Adam & Eve. Now it's Madame Ed's. It's the same place. The address is 42/10 Sabaijai Village, a soi just to the south of Central Road (Pattaya Klang) on Sukhumvit Highway. If I remember correctly, the price is about 1400 or 1500 baht, including the "tip for boy." I have attached a copy of their business card for you and taxi instructions are written in Thai. I have never tried it, but people who have always told me they thought it was wonderful and well worth it. If you decide to go, please let the rest of us know how it all works and what you thought of it.

You made the reason clear within your post when you said you relented with one of the boys and gave him some money. They have nothing to lose by trying. Most likely the reason why you are suddenly being inundated is because they have to come up with their rent money or lose their room. Many share a 2500 baht to 3000 baht room with two to four other boys and they still can't come up with the rent. Part of their survival system includes helping each other out when one or two have some money and the others don't. I see nothing wrong with helping boys you know personally when the need arises. Some people think they spend their money on discos and karaokes and send the rest home to their parents, and some do, but for a great many of these boys, their lives consist of nothing more than going to work in the bars, coming home and going to sleep, and then doing nothing much other than sitting around or hitting the beaches trying to find "farang" until it's time to go to work again. That's their life. Some people are also under the impression that these boys are taken "off" every night, so there is no reason why they shouldn't have some money. But that is not usually the case. Most of them average two or three "offs" per month unless they have an unusually lucky month. Even then, there are "farang" out there who try to get away with tipping them as little as possible, so they still often end up with next to nothing even when they do get taken "off" because of people like that. In any case, if a boy asks for money you might ask him what he needs it for. If he says he can't pay his rent (or at least his share of the rent), then if you want to make sure the money is used for the purpose you are being told, you can offer to come over to his apartment and pay them directly. That way, if you are willing to "lend" the money, you'll at least know it was used for a positive purpose. In the instances when I've helped boys that's the sort of thing I'll do. First, I want to know what the money is to be used for. Second, I want to know why they boy doesn't have enough money on his own. Third, I won't "lend" it unless I can personally verify that the money is going to be used for a legitimate purpose. I do not give in to the sick grandmother or dead water buffalo routines even if I know they are telling the truth. I won't help them take care of family problems, but if it involves a boy I know and like, and I also believe his story, then I don't mind helping once in a while if I can. I also make it clear that I'll help only the one time. After that, he's on his own.

Dear Pattaya Area American Citizens, The Consular Section of the American Embassy in Bangkok is pleased to inform you of an upcoming Embassy consular visit in Pattaya. Consular staff will be available to provide consular services on Friday, October 27, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Dusit Resort on Pattaya Beach Road near the dolphin circle. The outreach will be held in Dusit Rooms 5 and 6 in the upstairs lobby. The following consular services will be available during the visit: *Passport renewal applications (US $67.00 or baht 2,680 for adult passports

What makes it even worse is the infants and babies almost never have helmets. Meanwhile, despite the fact they are carrying small children, so many of the motorcycle drivers still drive as if they've lost their minds, taking incredibly dangerous and unnecessary chances with the lives of their own children. It amazes me to see it and to see so much of it.

BANGKOK, Oct 11 (TNA) The water level in Thailand's Chao Phraya River as it is flowing through the upper central province of Nakhon Sawan has hit its highest level in the 60 years such data has been recorded, posing a flood threat to the kingdom's lower provinces, including Bangkok, the capital. Waters being collected from the Chao Phraya watershed are converging on Bangkok, even as the capital is experiencing additional torrential rainfall and localised flooding. Royal Irrigation Department director-general Samart Chokanapitak said the river's level in Bangkok is now at 2.02 metres now and won't cause flooding in the capital at present. However, he said, he is concerned that the waterflow at Nakhon Sawan has increased to 5,145 cubic metres per second, surpassing the highest measured speed and volume of 4,800 cubic metres recorded when the worst flood occurred in 1995. The increased water level in the Chao Phraya at Nakhon Sawan was caused by waters pouring in from from the flood-soaked Yom River carrying runoff from the North, he said. According to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, 17 provinces nationwide are now fully engaged in combating floods. The meteorological department forecast that rainfall will decrease in the North, the Northeast, the East, and the Central regions, but more heavy rain is expected in the South particularly, in the upper south. Local residents in Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Chumphon should brace for heavy rains, flash flooding, and forest run-off. (TNA)-E004

It's been so long since I cashed travel checks that I don't recall the exact figure, but it is very nominal. It is a per-check fee, depending on the demonination. Perhaps someone else knows the fees. If you are going to use travel checks you will probably get a better rate by doing a bit of shopping around and checking the private exchange houses. They usually give a better rate than most banks. TeePee, if you happen to read this thread I think I recall that you have an exchange house that you recommend. Is that right?

I had a look at the Elite Card web site. There was nothing there about a price reduction. I've never really understood the point of owning the Elite Card. I don't see how the privileges are worth the price of the card. I remember when the card first came out there was some talk that the card would allow foreigners to own property in their own name in Thailand, including houses, and that might have been a consideration, but I have never seen anything on their web site that indicates any validity to the idea of property ownership. If you want to check the web site, the URL is: http://www.thailandelite.com/index.php

I don't know what we can do about it. This web site program does not have a spell checker, so unless some sort of modification can be made to the basic program I don't see how one can be added. Until and unless the programmers can come up with something, then the solutions I outlined are the alternatives. I'm sorry, but for the moment that's the best we can do.

Certainly if you want to tip more that's fine and I'm sure they would be delighted to accept, but the 500 baht figure is what the managers and the boys themselves tell me that they want. That is what I was told in several massage parlors I've personally checked in Pattaya, and I've checked as recently as this very week. I too was somewhat surprised, but that's what they all are telling me. Apparently that is the going rate. Go ahead and check for yourself. I'd be very interested to know if they are telling other people anything different from what they are telling me. Besides, you are putting words in my mouth that I never said. I never said anything about having one's way with a boy for as long as you want. You get your hour and that's it. If you want more time then you have to pay for more time. I don't make these things up out of thin air, TR. I published the price because I checked it out and that is what I was told by four different gay massage parlors.

Note from GB: This appears to be a preliminary news report. Quite likely a much more detailed report will be available within the next 24 hours. The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Thailand Deplores North Korea's Nuclear Test Thailand deplored Monday the North Korea's underground nuclear test saying such provocative act posed a serious threat to the regional nuclear nonproliferation as well as international peace and stability. The foreign ministry issued a statement after Pyongyang launched the nuke test on October 9 that the kingdom regretted that secretive state ignored the spirit of the six party talk to end the problem peacefully. The government called North Korea to abide by the principles of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. "Thailand, at this time, urges all the parties concerned to exercise restraint and expresses its hope that the nuclear issue in the Korean Peninsula will be resolves peacfully, through diplomatic negotiation by the earliest resumption of the six party talks," the statement said.

Well, maybe I'm wrong about that one. I forgot. Thaksin got rid of all the corruption in Thailand. He did that the day after he ended all the poverty in Thailand.

The last time I even heard anything mentioned about the casinos was about a year ago. Even then, I clearly remember the recommendations being that no casinos be allowed in the beach resort areas. At the moment it seems to be a non-issue. I'm not saying the whole thing won't eventually come up again, but at least for now Thailand seems to have a few other priorities. Besides, the new construction in Pattaya is so rampant that even if casinos are eventually allowed, where would they put them? There's not all that much space left.

The USA is trying to impose its version of democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq. Working great, isn't it?

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Protest Against US Planned Tuesday A group of university lecturers, government officers, university students will submit an open letter to the US Embassy on Tuesday asking the US government to stop intervening in Thailand's domestic politics. "We thank the US government for its concern over the situation in Thailand. However, we ask the US government to stop voicing its opinions and actions that are intervening to Thailand's internal politics," read the letter. "Please also be respectful to Thai society for we are mature enough to find solutions through the democratic regime under the Monarchy which is different from American Democracy," The US government has been vocal since the coup took place on September 19. It has suspended the military assistance worth USD 23 million and has pressured the coup makers to remove the emergency decree. The Nation

I don't know dekdek, or at least I think I don't, but I'd like to add, for those unfamiliar with the Yensabai condos, that it is located within very easy walking distance of Sunee Plaza. The condo has good security guards. I think the price dekdek is asking is quite reasonable and a very good deal. If you are coming to Pattaya for the length of time he specifies I think it will be well worth contacting him for further information.

Well, just a little bit more. Unless the circumstances are highly unusual, you don't have to worry about being placed on some sort of persona non grata list. After all, you might have simply forgotten to take your passport with you when you left your hotel that day. The police aren't going to destroy your ability to return to Thailand because of something simple like that. And while you are photocopying your passport, don't forget to also photocopy your entry stamp and your departure card upon your arrival in Thailand.

I understand your concern, but it's highly doubtful that you will have any problems. First, bar raids are rare and it's even more rare for the police to bother the "farang" patrons unless drug use is suspected. Most of the time the raids are for the purpose of rounding up under-age boys, foreign boys, such as Laotians, working in the bars, and that sort of thing. The chances of being caught up in a raid are quite remote and the chances of the police demanding to see your passport are even more remote. As I said, even then the worst that is going to happen will be inconvenience and a fine. On the other hand, if something happens to your passport then you'll have to go to your embassy in Bangkok for a replacement. I don't know about other countries, but for USA citizens you would have to go to Bangkok with as much identification documentation as you can gather up, along with a police report and new passport photos in hand. You then will have to fill out a 'lost or stolen passport' replacement application and a detailed narrative of how you came to lose the passport is part of the application. The fee for a replacement passport is US $100. Then you have a decision to make. If you need an emergency issue passport, and a typical reason for that is to have documents with which you can cash travel checks, continue to travel, or at least get home, it requires a second trip to the embassy because it takes three days for the embassy to have the emergency issue passport ready. That passport is not a full validity passport. It's good only for one year. Your other choice is a full validity passport. It takes two weeks for the embassy to receive it, which also means a second trip to the embassy to pick it up once they have it. Once you have the new passport, whether it's the limited or full validity passport, you'll then have to go to the Immigration Police office to obtain a new departure card. They will have all of your information in their computers and will be able to print up another one for you. You will have to produce the new passport and the police report. Another little problem: You might not be as close to Bangkok as you are in Pattaya in the event of a lost or stolen pasport. Suppose, for example, you are in Chiang Mai or Phuket. You'll probably have to travel to Bangkok on a bus. You won't be able to fly. Why? Because you have to produce a passport in order to board domestic flights in Thailand. Airlines might accept a valid police report in lieu of the passport, but I don't know about that and I wouldn't want to be forced to find out the answer the hard way. You'll have to make your own decision, of course, but weighing the choice between a couple hours inconvenience at the police station and a nominal fine in comparison with going through obtaining a new passport, my choice would be the police station and the fine. In most circumstances the police will accept the photocopy of your passport, provided it contains everything I listed in an earlier post on this thread, without any problems or at worst an on-the-spot fine of about 500 baht. It is highly unusual for a "farang" to be taken to the police station at all, if he is carrying a photocopy, unless there is suspicion of criminal activity or suspicion that you have over-stayed.

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Southbound Plane Returns to Suvarnabhumi with Wing Defect After leaving Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday morning, a Thai AirAsia aircraft had to abort its flight to Narathiwat, officially due to technical reasons, but passengers said the U-turn was more about part of its wing falling off. The jet eventually reached its destination safely after a five-hour delay at Suvarnabhumi and lengthy arguments between passengers and airline representatives. One of the 94 passengers, Anothai Polsuwan, 40, a lecturer at Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, said they boarded at 9.35am and after half an hour into the flight, the captain announced that a technical problem had occurred and turned the plane back to Bangkok. Passengers were told they would have a new plane ready for departure at 12.45, Anothai said. He and his co-passengers believed that the "the technical problem" was in fact the cover of the upper section of the jet's right wing that had peeled off. They noticed that the mechanics fixing the wing did not look too confident, he said. After two hours of waiting, they became upset upon learning that they had to fly on the same aircraft, which the budget airline's officials insisted had been repaired, he said. The chief mechanic was summoned to assure the passengers that the missing component - which was not replaced due to the lack of a spare - would not impair the aircraft's operability. But some passengers were not convinced. They insisted that Thai AirAsia officials back up their word that the plane was safe by getting on with them and flying to Narathiwat. "If it's a test flight, I won't complain, but this is a plane full of passengers. How can you fly it when its wing has no cover like that?" Anothai said. Airline officials even offered to refund the airfare. But after an hour of furious discussion between both sides, the passengers gave in and boarded the plane, finally arriving without any further adventure in Narathiwat at 2.30pm.

If that is the case, then they may be eligible for a work permit. If so, that could solve a lot of their problems. If they don't have a work permit perhaps they ought to try for one. Based on what you wrote, it seems to me that your friends are doing exactly the type of thing Thailand has imposed these regulations to prevent . . . a "contact" at immigration who can make "special arrangements" for them. Apparently corruption lives merrily on in Thailand and some of the very officials who are supposed to be fighting against it seem to intend to take full advantage instead.

The following appears in the PATTAYA CITY NEWS: _____ Cobra Kissing World Record Attempt from Ripley's at the Royal Garden Plaza The International Press made their way to Ripleys! Believe it or not located at the Royal Garden Plaza on Saturday to witness a World Record Attempt with a difference. Khun Kum aged 45 from Kon Kaen was attempting to consecutively kiss more than 11 Cobras in the space of 10 minutes. This record is currently held by Gordan Cates from Florida, USA who puckered up back in September 1999 to hold the existing record. The press looked on as he managed to kiss 19 snakes inside 10 minutes to break the existing record. However, we may have some bad news for Khun Kum. We have discovered that back in March of this year at Ripley

I'm very sorry to hear that you and your boyfriend became victims of this sort of crime, but since it did happen, I'm glad you posted about it. People ought to take note of the fact that this crime happened in broad daylight. The local criminals have become quite brazen about committing such thefts and unless you're really lucky, there won't be much the police can do about it. Sometimes I read stories about how the police managed to catch the thieves, but most of the time they get away with it.

It is technically mandatory, but the police are usually quite understanding if you carry a photocopy of your passport instead. Passports can be pick-pocketed too, you know. Make sure the photocopy includes your information and identity page, departure card, approved address report if you are holding a visa that requires one, and the entry stamp or visa stamp. In almost every case, if there is any serious question the police will accompany you to check your actual passport. It's your call, but the last place I'd take my passport would be into a bar. It's unusual for the police to bother the "farang" at all during such raids. I'd rather have to go through the inconvenience of paying a fine and retrieving my actual passport in the unlikely event of being caught up in a raid and the police also demanding to see my passport. If you think that's a hassle, try experiencing the expense along with what you'll go through if your passport is lost or stolen. Carrying a photocopy is the lesser of the evils, in my opinion. My guess is the "farang" who were in the bar that night didn't even have a photocopy on them. As far as I know, you only need your actual passport on your person when transacting business in a bank or opening an account, cashing travel checks, driving a car or motorcycle, a first time visit to a hospital (the hospital will issue you an ID card upon your first visit), traveling on an airline (even domestically in Thailand), doing paperwork at the Immigration Police office, or checking into a hotel. I can't think of any other circumstances in which having my actual passport with me was ever necessary.

People also need to understand that it's a mistake to carry more cash than necessary when going out on the town. Some of the major danger areas haunted by pickpockets are Beach Road at night, Walking Street, the darker, more remote areas near Yensabai Condo, and anywhere that is not well lit and where you'll find yourself alone. If you are going to a sauna or massage parlor, be very careful about your wallet and mobile phone. The gay massage parlors in Pataya usually charge about 400 baht for the massage and want a 500 baht tip for the boy for a "happy ending" massage, so you don't need to enter a gay massage parlor with more than 1000 baht cash. Unless necessary, there really is no need to carry things like credit cards, ATM cards, your passport, etc. If your room has a safe, that's the place to keep those items. If not, at least keep them in the hotel's lobby safe or very well hidden. If you intend to bring back a "guest" that's not the night to be wearing expensive gold chains or jewelry. You're better off if the boy doesn't even know you have such items. One trick, if you are planning to bring a "guest" to your room, is to have his tip money ready and hidden before you even go out. That way, when you are ready to give him his tip you won't have to access your wallet or open your safe at all. When you return to your hotel with your "guest" make sure he has his ID card (and make sure it's actually his) and have him leave his ID card at the front desk, with instructions not to give the ID card back to him unless you personally accompany him or the front desk first calls you to verify that everything is ok. Make sure the "guest" knows that you have given those instructions. Several hotels do that as a matter of routine, but not all. If the boy has no ID card or the photo does not sufficiently resemble him, then don't bring him to your room. When you enter your room, the first thing to do is to put any valuables, including your mobile phone, in your safe. Most boys want to shower and also have you shower before engaging in other activities. It's when you're in the shower that you are most vulnerable to theft. There have been many times when the "farang" emerges from the shower only to find both the boy and his valuables gone. I know many prefer to keep the boy overnight, but you're much safer doing "short time," when you'll send him on his way after you're done and you can sleep knowing you won't wake up to find belongings gone. If you like the boy, you can always make an arrangement to meet him at some mutually agreed time the next day. Some of this may seem overly cautious, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Some of you may recall that not too long ago a "farang" was murdered when he brought two boys with him to his room at the View Talay condos. The condo has security guards. I'll bet if he had insisted that the boys leave their ID cards with one of the security guards, then it never would have happened. Unfortunately pickpockets, petty thieves, and even violent crime is far more common than ever before. The odds are greatly in your favor that nothing at all will happen, but why take the chance? It's better, I think, to be overly cautions than risk having your holiday ruined by an incident. A phrase I often use, and I think it applies here, is think with your brain, not your crotch.

The following appears in the PATTAYA CITY NEWS: _____ Bus Number 500 Steals 500 Baht from a Norwegian Tourist and Pays the Price An interesting case now from the Tourist Police Mobile Unit located on Walking Street. The Baht Bus cooperative who operates over 700 Baht buses here in Pattaya last year implemented a customer complaint response unit which has proven extremely effective in solving disputes between Tourists and buses. In this case the complaint service was put into practice by the Tourist Police after they received a complaint from Mr. Pal Hageencen from Norway and his family who employed the services of Baht Bus number 500. The journey began at the View Talay Condominium in Jomtien to Big C in North Pattaya, however an exact price for the journey was not agreed upon by both parties. At the conclusion to the journey, the taxi driver quoted 60 Baht but Mr. Hageencen only had a 500 Baht note on him. He passed it over and he then claims the taxi driven by Khun Sor aged 45 then drove off without giving back the change. The Tourist Police contacted the Baht Bus Cooperative who located the Baht Bus in question which made its way to Walking Street. The Driver initially claimed that he thought he was given a 50 Baht note but this did not explain why he allegedly drove off without receiving the extra 10 Baht. Eventually the driver admitted he had driven off with the 500 Baht note which was duly returned to Mr. Hageencen who, despite the attempted theft, gave the driver 60 Baht to him for the journey. Khun Sor is now suspended from driving pending a further investigation.

Fountainhall, one of the complaints I have been reading about is difficulty trying to figure out which luggage carrel is the one that services your flight. I've read that the announcement board prints the carrel information so small that it's difficult to read. What was your impression? Did you encounter any problems? How long would you say it took for your luggage to show up?