Gaybutton

I don't "need to admit" anything. Why? Because you say so? Pardon me. I forgot that the only acceptable point of view is your own. I challenge you to show me one post that says, or even implies, that I don't think the Thais have a right to fight for their rights. That is absolutely absurd. Since you can't seem to figure out what I've been saying, I'll try to help you. I have no objection to Thais or anyone else fighting for their rights. I think the way they are going about it is ridiculous. I also think, especially based on the numbers that actually showed up for these demonstrations . . . you know, the ones you hoped I would be so wrong about just so you could gloat . . . that those demonstrating are not representative of the majority of the Thai people. The published poll results back up that opinion. You seem to be a strong advocate for a system in Thailand in which it's share the wealth. In case you hadn't noticed, that brand of Communism failed. Yes, I would love to see an end to poverty in Thailand. I would love to see an end to poverty throughout the entire world. But I don't advocate the methods by which you think it ought to be fought for and I don't see how returning Thaksin to power would help the impoverished even one bit. As long as he has nothing to lose and can continue to convince enough people that he is a victim, not a criminal, and he is also their ticket to a better life, then why would he stop trying, no matter how much it's pulling apart the country? To my mind, if he was truly so altruistically concerned about the welfare of Thailand, then he would have stopped trying to incite these things long ago. If these people are convinced that the current government is illegal, then take it to court. They're not going to get what they want by trying to force the government out. They're not going to get what they want by pouring blood either. So far they have accomplished nothing and as far as I can tell the whole thing has been nothing but bluster and nonsense.

About a year ago a friend stayed at the Room Club. I visited the room and thought it was very nice. I don't know what they charge for the rooms, but if you're looking for a beach location, it's as good a place as any.

Perhaps, but I prefer reviews that don't require me to "read between the lines" to get an accurate idea of what I will encounter. When reviews directly contradict each other, it gets a little difficult to decide which one is the most credible. Sometimes I see reviews or ads that say certain venues were "Voted Number 1" or "Voted the Best." Voted by whom? To me, it's just like that old Anacin commercial that used to appear regularly on USA television. Some actor dressed to look like a doctor used to say, "All aspirin is not alike. Anacin has an extra added pain relieving ingredient . . ." Of course they never say what that added ingredient is. Ever look at the label? That "extra added pain relieving ingredient" is none other than caffeine. Great! I can pay ten times the price for Anacin or I can take a cheap aspirin and drink a cup of coffee along with it and have the same thing. I feel the same way about misleading hotel reviews. I like what Astrrro and lvdkeyes are saying about the Agoda reviews. If I'm looking for reviews, that's where I'll be doing my looking.

I am always amused when the self righteous come along to lecture everyone else on how they should feel and what they should do while at the same time passing along their opinions as if they were facts while failing to tell us a thing about what they do here themselves. Yes, many expats come here for the cheap sex, but many are also living here for a wide variety of other reasons and often the cheap sex has nothing to do with their reasons. As for the lack of compassion for the Thai poor, what would you have us do about it? Start giving away our money to them? Pay their debts for them? Start taking responsibility for their lives? Most expats I know do what they can do through various charities. What else can they do? Many donate hundreds, even thousands of dollars. Many, both gay and straight, have taken in boyfriends or girlfriends and not only support them, but also support their families and help as best as they can. I have several friends who have purchased new houses for the families. TravelerJim regularly sponsors boys and finances their entire college educations. He is not the only one who does things like that. So don't come here and start handing us this lack of compassion nonsense and don't ask us to subscribe to the idea that the world, or at least the expats, owe the Thais a living and don't ask us to try to resolve their political troubles for them. If the Thai government, in your opinion, lacks compassion for the country's poor, what do you think expats can do about it or even should try to do about it? We're not blind to what goes on in this country. We expats probably see a hell of a lot more than you can even imagine. That doesn't disqualify us from expressing our opinions on these message boards. I didn't know our opinions make us 'brainless parrots' unless our opinions are the same as yours. The real bottom line is this is their country, not ours, and they're the ones who have to do something about it if they are dissatisfied with their lives, opportunities, and political troubles. As expats we can help as best as we can, and most do what they can afford to do. The very fact that expats live here is in itself a huge financial contribution. Other than that, I don't know what you would expect expats to do. And since by your own admission you don't live here, then you can't possibly know what expats living here permanently are actually doing.

I was with RichLB this evening, along with two other friends. There is no free water. It's only the bottled water, the same bottled water you can get at any 7-Eleven for 10 baht. I concur with RichLB in everything he said. I think most people know I am very reluctant to criticize gay and gay friendly venues, but this was my idea of outrageous. I'm sorry, but the equivalent of US $2.50 added to your bill for a small water is ridiculous. I ate there only a couple weeks ago and the water was 50 baht, and I thought that was kind of steep then. Now it's 80 baht for the same water. We even called the owner over to see if there was some mistake. He said yes, it's 80 baht. I asked if he realizes this is far more than just about any restaurant in the entire city charges. All he said was "Sorry," and walked away. I don't know what happened. A couple weeks ago the food was outstanding and the prices were reasonable. Now the food was mediocre at best, bland, and too small portions for the price. We had trouble getting the attention of the waiters. We couldn't get them to even glance in our direction even when we would call out for them. And we really did have to wait a good 25 minutes for the bill. And then we only got the bill after RichLB got up, went to the owner, and asked for it. Also, three of the meals were supposed to come with coffee. It was never even offered. We didn't ask for it because we were afraid we would have another long wait before it would be served. A couple weeks ago customers were given a welcome drink upon arrival. This evening none was offered. Two weeks ago I would have listed this restaurant as one of my favorites. Now I doubt I'll ever go back. What happened?

I just looked at the reviews of the Avalon on Tripadvisor. I am wondering why you are saying it is a good place to check. There are 5 reviews, four of which are in English. They all say the staff doesn't speak much English, but that's the only thing the reviews had in common. One person wrote that the restaurant was terrible and overpriced. Another person wrote that the restaurant was wonderful and inexpensive. That's all I saw. Nothing much about the rooms, amenities, proximity to places to go, or anything else. I couldn't find anything where anyone had written about how the staff handles problems. What's the reliable part?

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Reds Spill Blood at Govt House Published: 16/03/2010 at 06:12 PM Red-shirt protesters splashed blood in front of the entrance to Government House late Tuesday afternoon, in a Brahman ritual aimed at toppling the government. Leaders of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), Natthawuat Saikua, Jatuporn Prompan and Arisman Pongruangrong, and a group of red-shirt followers arrived at Government House about 4pm. The UDD leaders negotiated with Metropolitan Police chief Wichai Sangprapai after authorities refused to allow them to enter the grounds. After talks, 100 red-shirts led by opposition Puea Thai Party MP Jatuporn and a Brahman priest were allowed through. The Hindu priest, who carried a Buddhist statue with him, performed a ritual before protesters outside the entrance poured the blood they had donated near the front gate. Medical and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration personnel immediately cleansed the area and used chlorox to disinfect the blood stained road after the ritual was performed. There was not trouble and the red-shirts later returned to the main protest venue at Phan Fa bridge. ____________________ And this, also from the BANGKOK POST: _____ Reds Complete Blood Ritual Published: 16/03/2010 at 06:12 PM The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship on Tuesday completed their ritual against the government by pouring blood taken from its supporters at all four gates of the Government House. UDD leaders claimed the red shirts donated a total of 300,000cc of blood. Apart from the red shirts, about 60 MPs of the opposition Puea Thai Party also gave their blood for the ritual The donation started from about 8.30am and ended about 3.30pm. The red shirts then marched from Phan Fa bridge at about 4pm - with the blood in twelve 5-litre bottles, two large buckets, and 50 syringes - and arrived at the Government House shortly before 5pm for the ritual. At 4.50pm, Jatuporn Promphan, a UDD leader, a man dressed in white as a Brahman, and another man holding a Buddha statue in his arms, walked to Gate No 2 where a religious rite was performed. The Brahman cited spells and incantations and poured an amount of blood in front of the gate. After that the Brahman took an amount of blood from the ground to write some letters on the cement posts of the gate. The ritual was closely watched by Pol Maj-Gen Wichai Sangprapai, the Metropolitan Police Division 1 commander. Only a small number of the red shirts and news reporters, many of whome foreigners, where allowed to witness the ritual while others were cordoned off by more than 2,000 policemen. Apart from Gate No 2, the red shirts also poured blood at Gates Nos 1, 3 and 4 by Mr Jatuporn and UDD leaders Nathawut Saikua and Wiphuthalaeng Pattanaphumthai. All went well during the ritual without violence because the police had talked to the protest leaders beforehand that the red shirts would be definitely not be allowed to intrude into the Government House or face a crackdown by police on standby fully equipped with anti-riot gear. Fire engines, ambulances from Vajira, Police and King Mongkut hospitals and medical staff were put on standby in the Government House compound, From the Government House, the red shirts returned to Phan Fa bridge, from which they proceeded to the Democrat Party headquarters on Setthasiri road for the same ritual. At the Democrat Party head office, four companies of police under the command of Metropolitan Police Division 2 chief Pol Maj-Gen Saroj Promcharoen, one company of border patrol police, one company of provincial police from Samut Songkhram and one company from Chanthaburi were deployed for security. The police did not carry weapons. About 50 plainclothes policemen were also in the area to take pictures and videotapes of the ritual for possible law-breaking incidents. Metropolitan Police chief Pol Lt-Gen Santhan Chayanont inspected the scene ahead of the red shirts to ensure readiness. Earlier, Mr Jatuporn announced that the red shirts would go the the house of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in Sukhumvit Soi 31 tomorrow for a similar ritual.

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Blood Ready to be Splashed Published: 16/03/2010 at 04:41 PM Blood collected from red-shirt donors is being carried in large jars and water bottles in a march to Government House, where it will be spilt near the entrance later today. The donations were first displayed on the red-shirt stage. Leaders said they were able to collect 300,000 cc of blood. They earlier planned to collect a million cubic centimetres of blood, but there were not enough volunteers. Soldiers and police increased security around Government House ahead of the ritual and barbed wire has been placed around the gate to prevent instrusion by the red-shirts. Fire trucks are also stationing around the compound to clean the area, which will be covered by blood this evening. (300,000 cc is about 80 gallons)

Rather than copy and past the BANGKOK POST article this time, here is the URL. Plenty of photos: Protesters give blood to scatter at Govt House ____________________ Et tu Chiang Mai? Here's the latest from Chiang Mai, from THE NATION: _____ Chiang Mai Hall to be Closed at 6 pm Following Threat of Bloody Protest Chiang Mai - The Chiang Mai provincial administration will close the gate of the Chiang Mai Hall at 6 pm to prevent red-shirt protesters from coming inside to pour their pooled blood to protest the government. Chiang Mai Governor Amornphan Nimanan said the hall would be closed from 6 pm to midnight. Earlier the day, red-shirt leaders in Chiang Mai said they would collect blood from protesters and pour them inside the compound of the provincial hall in parallel with the blood pouring outside the Government House by the red-shirt protesters. The Chiang Mai red-shirt leaders started collecting blood from supporters in front of the Grand Waroros Hotel since in the morning.

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: ____ UDD: Blood to be Spilled Before Evening Published: 16/03/2010 at 11:50 AM The anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) will splash the blood of its red-shirt supporters at the entrances to Government House between 3pm and 4pm instead of 6pm as previously announced, UDD prominent figure Nattawut Saikua said on Tuesday morning. "The ritual has to start earlier because it could be a little dark at 6pm. "We (the red-shirts) are ready to sacrifice our blood and lives to bring back democracy and bring down bureaucratic polity. We'll then know that the red-shirts’ blood is warm while Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's blood is cold," Mr Nattawut said. He said the donors will curse the bureaucratic polity system without specifying any particular person during the ritual. The ritual will be held so people would not see it as a violent or dirty event, he said. "We want the government to know that we are protesting peacefully," he said. UDD core member and opposition Puea Thai Party MP Jatuporn Prompan vowed that the group will take no longer than seven days to defeat the government. On UDD leader Veera Musikapong's suggestion that all Puea Thai MPs should resign, Mr Jatuporn said he will discuss this issue with the party members. "However, I don't think I'll step down first because my resignation would pressure other party members. "The issue should be concluded within a day or two," he said. He said if all Puea Thai MPs resigned a House meeting would be incomplete as there would be no opposition. "I demand the government to dissolve the House of Representatives and call a fresh general election and let the people decide who will administer the country. "If the Democrats genuinely win the election the reds shirt will not oppose. But if the Puea Thai are the winner the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the Democrats should accept the result," Mr Jatuporn said. People would not accuse Mr Abhisit of stealing the prime minister's post if his party won the election, he added. UDD core member Veera said the group will continue to find peaceful ways to protest if the blood splashing plan did not work. The group will continue resorting to civil disobedience to pressure the government, he said.

I can only hope this blood nonsense won't change the meaning of LOS from "Land of Smiles" to "Land of Stupidity." The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Red-Shirt Leaders Pool Blood Red-shirt leaders had their blood pulled out Tuesday morning in the campaign for protesters to pool their blood for pouring in front of the Government House. Veera Musigapong was the first red-shirt leader to give his blood at 8:25 am. He was followed by Jatuporn Promphan, and then Natthawut Saikua. They were followed by Weng Tojitrakarn, Adisorn Piengket, and Karun Hosakul. Their bloods were emptied from syringes into a bin, which was by half with a solution. The red-shirt leaders said the solution was chemical for preventing the blood from hardening. Jatuporn said the pooled blood of the red-shirt people would be poured onto the ground in front of Government House before dusk. ____________________ And this, from the BANGKOK POST: _____ UDD Warns There Will be Blood Published: 16/03/2010 The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship is threatening to splash the entrances to Government House with its supporters' blood. Co-leader Natthawut Saikua said yesterday the UDD would today start drawing 1,000 litres of blood from around 100,000 red shirt demonstrators and splash it about the grounds of Government House if Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva insisted on clinging to power. Each member of the red shirts would donate 10cc of blood, he said. "If Mr Abhisit and his cabinet ministers want to enter Government House to work, they will have to walk on the people's blood," Mr Natthawut said in front of the 11th Infantry Regiment, where the red shirts were gathered in protest for much of yesterday. The headquarters of the ruling Democrat Party and the prime minister's house would be the next targets to be splashed with blood if the UDD's demands were not met. The Public Health Ministry has warned the protesters against the possible transmission of diseases. But UDD leader Weng Tojirakarn, a medical doctor, said the collection of 10cc of blood would not cause any harm to the protesters. Medical staff normally take from 350 to 450cc of blood from a person at a time, he said. He said the UDD was in the process of coordinating 500 medical staff and nurses to draw the blood. Permanent secretary for health Paijit Warachit said the red shirts could go into shock, especially during hot weather, if they did not have enough rest prior to donating their blood. Red shirt protesters shrugged off the warning. Supatra Kee-ngen, 53, from Chiang Rai, said she was willing to donate for the campaign. "We have no gun, no arms, but what we all have is our blood. And we will use it to ask for true democracy," she said. A 67-year-old retired nurse from Bangkok also pledged to to donate her blood to support the UDD's call for justice. The woman said the red shirt protesters need not be afraid of giving such a small amount of blood.

No, and there are no posts waiting for approval or disapproval. Maybe so, but you won't get them on this board. I'm right here enforcing the personal attack rules. The fact that you own the board does not mean that people get to break the rules to attack you. They'll have to do their attacking on other boards where those kinds of posts are permitted. If I see any attack posts, directed toward GT or anyone else, don't blame GT for wiping the posts. Blame me because that's exactly what I'll do and I'll also place whoever does so on moderated mode.

To me, once a court convicts someone, that's the end of whatever it is being on "allegation" status. This, by the way, was not the first time this man was in legal trouble for pedophile activity. It was the third time.

Do they? Well, I don't. Suppose you explain why the site was closed down.

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Blood Campaign is Dangerous : Health Groups By Pongphon Sarnsamak The Nation Published on March 16, 2010 The Nursing and Midwifery Council is threatening to punish nurses who agree to collect blood from red-shirt protesters for the plan to pour blood around Government House today. "We will consider punishing them on a case-by-case basis," council president Prof Vijit Sriruphan said yesterday. "They should know that collecting blood is only done for research or medical purposes." But she said the council would not go as far as cutting nurses' professional licences. Vijit expressed concern over the mass blood collection at at the rally site, saying that it could put demonstrators at risk because some medical devices could be contaminated. She spoke after Dr Weng Tojirakarn, a leader of the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship (DAAD), said he would mobilise 500 medical workers, including doctors and nurses, to draw blood from red-shirt demonstrators. The blood campaign is a move aimed at pressuring Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve the House of Representatives. But many health authorities expressed serious concern as soon as the idea was unveiled. Medical Council secretary general Dr Samphan Komrit said it was highly unlikely the reds would be able to mobilise 500 medical workers for the protest today. He said taking blood from people could be dangerous if it wasn't done by trained medical workers. Deputy director of the Thai Red Cross Society's National Blood Centre, Commander Dr Ubonwan Jarunreungrit, said a blood puncture could cause paralysis if the needle was put in the wrong position. "Or if the puncture is made on an artery, people will lose a lot of blood and they may suffer shock," she warned. Thai Red Cross Aids Research Centre director Dr Praphan Panuphak disagreed with the red shirts' blood campaign. If protesters did not have adequate sleep, they would be exhausted after having blood drawn out, he said. Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit warned protesters not to use the same needle to draw out blood as they would be at risk from infectious diseases such as HIV/Aids and hepatitis. He also said red shirts should avoid giving blood in sunlight as that could put them at risk of suffering a stroke. Samphan, of the Medical Council, also disagreed with the red shirts' blood campaign. "I can't say that this is an abuse of the code of medical conduct or not, but it would be the first [such] case in history," he said. Samphan said the council would discuss the issue at its next meeting if somebody filed a complaint about the move.

I hope it doesn't come to that. It's very difficult to believe that intelligent people could have conceived such an idea in the first place, much less try to put it in place. First, if the blood is to be drawn in a safe manner, that means some sort of professional medical staff needs to do it. My guess is that most medical professionals would refuse to do it. I also guess that not only do they lack the time to participate in something this ridiculous, but hospitals simply don't keep sufficient supplies on hand to be able to do this even if they want to. They can't cannibalize their emergency supplies for this, so where does all the necessary equipment come from? In what kind of containers is the blood kept in once drawn? Who is the blood given to? Is it just handed over to each individual who had it drawn? Would a reasonable medical professional participate in such an activity knowing what is meant to become of the blood? Would a reasonable medical professional participate in such an activity knowing how it might affect his own career once it becomes known he was sitting there drawing this blood? How many man hours would it take to draw that much blood in small amounts from individuals? Second, I can't help but wonder if this very idea won't serve to backfire on the Red-Shirt leadership even if no blood is drawn at all. I wonder how many Thais would want the current government to step down in favor of letting geniuses who come up with ideas like this start running the show. I wonder how many Red-Shirt demonstrators will find this idea to be absurd and instead of participating decide to head for home. I wonder what Thaksin has to say about this idea. So far I haven't seen any comments from him about this. Meanwhile, there are more Thaksin sightings popping up than Elvis sightings. So far I've seen reports that he is still in Dubai, in Cambodia, in Montenegro, that he attempted to get permission to enter Germany (and that permission was denied). Wherever he is, further reports have him telling Red-Shirts to start up more protests in their home provinces. Way to go! Why not add inciting riots to the current list of charges?

The Rabbit Resort is definitely gay friendly. Has anyone checked into whether the Avalon is gay friendly? Despite the fact that it's right in the heart of the gay beach area, it seems to be primarily a family hotel.

Maybe so, but a few years ago when I had to replace my own passport, the chief of the American Citizens Services section of the USA embassy in Bangkok personally told me that once an American passport is reported lost or stolen, it is useless to anyone. Maybe they stole yours, but that just isn't making any sense to me, not only in light of what I was told, but also in light of the fact that if they were stealing people's passports, then complaints would have been publicized long before now. It doesn't make any sense to me that they would have had a reason to single out yours. The 'lost it and won't bother to try to find it' idea makes much more sense to me. But no matter what happened, nothing alters the fact that it's gone and you had to go through a lot of hassle and expense to get a new one. That should serve as a warning to anyone reading this thread.

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Briton Gets 14 Year Jail Term for Having Sex with 2 Underage Boys The Ratchadapisek Criminal Court Monday sentenced a 47-year-old Briton to a 14-year jail term for luring two underage boys and molesting them. According to the lawsuit, defendant Robert John Alexander Hoseman allegedly lured the two 12 year olds in Chon Buri's Bang Lamung district in late 2004 and performed oral sex on them. Hoseman, however, denied any wrongdoing, claiming that the boys had consented to the sexual act. After considering evidence from both sides, the court found Hoseman guilty and sentenced him to 14 years in jail - of which 12 are for molesting children under the age of 15 and two for luring minors away from their parents.

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ UDD Blood Drawing Starts Tonight Published: 15/03/2010 at 04:10 PM The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship has contacted five hospitals for medical staff and equipment to help take blood donations from the red-shirt protesters, UDD core member Arisman Pongruangrong said on Monday. The UDD has announced it will draw one million cubic centimetres (cc) of blood from red-shirt volunters and pour it on the ground around Government House. Ministers would then have to walk on the people's blood to get to work. The announcement followed Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's rejection this morning of their demand for an immediate House dissolution and a general election. Mr Arisman said the UDD had asked for 20-30 medical staff from each hospital. The protesters would be first asked to donate 10cc of blood, starting on Monday night. UDD leaders would donate their blood on morning, said Mr Arisman, who said would give 50cc. "Donating of 10cc of blood would not be harmful to health," he said. A source said the Thai Red Cross Society, if asked, would not be able to help take blood from the protesters for a protest. It would assist only when blood is donated for other people, or taken for a health examination. ____________________ I hope the hospitals feel the same as the Red Cross, although they might cooperate in the idea that it is better to have this done professionally than by people who don't know what they're doing. Of course, even if the hospitals cooperate, what about the issue as to what will be done with the blood? Do hospitals even have the spare staff and equipment to draw blood from that many people? I've seen idiotic ideas before and I'll see them again, but this one should get some sort of stupidity award.

There is quite a bit of commentary about this on the Thai Visa forum: Red-shirts To Splash One Million Cc Of Blood On Govt House - Thailand Forum

Here's the latest - The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Reds to Scatter Blood at Govt House Published: 15/03/2010 at 02:12 PM United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) cofre leader Natthawut Saikua has announced that he will take one million cc's of blood from protesters and scatter it around Government House on Tuesday, a day after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva refused to bow to the group's demand for a general election. The drawing of blood will take place at 8am on Tuesday, according to Mr Natthawut. The blood would be taken from 100,000 volunteers, including protest leaders, he said. This would be a symbolic action. Cabinet ministers would have to walk over the protesters' blood when they enter Government House to work, he said. If the government still refuses to dissolve the House, then another million cc's of blood will be spilt at the Democrat Party headquarters, he added. The next target would Mr Abhisit's house, he said. ____________________ And this, from THE NATION: _____ Laos Issues Warning on Travel to Thailand Vientiane - The Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a travel warning for Thailand, especially to Bangkok where a mass protest was underway this weekend, media reports said Monday. The ministry warned the general public, officials, business people and students to avoid traveling to Thailand while the Internal Security Act is still in force, the Vientiane Times reported. The Thai government has placed Bangkok and parts of the capital's seven surrounding provinces under the security act from March 11-23 in anticipation of possible violence from protests. An estimated 100,000 protesters gathered in the capital this weekend in an effort to force the government of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to resigns and call for new elections. About 30 countries have issued travel warnings to their citizens to avoid Thailand, especially Bangkok, if possible this month. The Lao Foreign Ministry also warned its citizens working in Bangkok not to go to the areas where the protests are taking place. There are an estimated 120,000 Lao nationals working as labourers in Thailand, which boasts a much bigger more successful economy than its communist neighbour but a less stable political system. Laos has been under singe-party communist rule since December, 1975. Protests and other signs of political unrest are unheard of in the land-locked country of about 6 million people.

This just in: The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Red Shirts Returning to Ratchadamnern Published: 15/03/2010 at 12:46 PM The red-shirt people gathering in front of the 11th Infantry Regiment on Phahon Yothin road have been told by their leader Veera Musikaong to head back to their main rally site on Ratchadamnern avenue. Mr Veera, one of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship's core leaders, made an announcement through loudspeakers from the top of a truck telling the red shirts to return to the Ratchadamnern avenue where UDD leaders would ponder their next moves to mount pressure on the government. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in his televised speech from the peace-keeping operation centre in the 11the Infantry Regiment at about 10am, long before the arrival of red shirts, that he would not give in to the UDD's House dissolution demand, citing support from other parties in the coalition. Shortly after making his speech, the prime minister left the peace-keeping centre in a helicopter

There wasn't supposed to be a day 4, but the Red-Shirts are continuing and gave an ultimatum to Prime Minister Abhisit that he must dissolve the current Thai government by noon today or face the consequences of the Red-Shirts escalating their rally. Noon has come and gone and Abhisit has made it clear that he has no intention of giving in to these demands. According to estimates published in various news articles, the Red-Shirt numbers are somewhere between about 80,000 to 100,000 protesters and I seriously doubt those numbers are anywhere near sufficient to bring down the government. I still believe it is going to be more bluster, threats, and hype than anything else, although the numbers are sufficient to cause traffic chaos in Bangkok. So far it has all been peaceful and to my knowledge nobody has been hurt. We will see if it stays that way. Meanwhile, whatever is taking place, it's all in Bangkok. In Pattaya everything is perfectly normal and without reading about it in the media or watching it on television, you wouldn't know anything is going on at all. The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ PM Rejects UDD Demand, Rallies Continue Published: 15/03/2010 Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has rejected the red-shirt ultimatum to agree to dissolve the House by noon on Monday or face mass anti-government demonstrations. Mr Abhisit said on national television about 10am on Monday, two hours before the deadline, that he would not bow the demand of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD). "The protesters have demanded that I dissolve the House before midday today, but the coalition parties agree that the demand cannot be met," he said. His statement came as thousands of red-shirt protesters this morning marched on the 11th Infantry Regiment, where Mr Abhisit has been staying since the protest began, to demand an answer to their 24-hour ultimatum. Mr Abhisit reported to have flown out of the compound by helicopter after he issued the statement. The protesters left the Phan Fa bridge around 9am and planned to arrive at the barracks by midday to hear the prime minister's answer. "Midday today is the final hour we give Abhisit and his government. Abhisit says he won't dissolve the House, but with the people power today he will have to reconsider," said protest leader Natthawut Saikua, before the crowd departed. The protesters travelled in convoy to the barracks in trucks, buses, cars and pick-up trucks, promising non-violence and vowing to return to the main rally site after their doorstop. "We will come back here. We'll keep fighting," Mr Natthawut told the cheering red-clad crowd before it departed. Chiefs of state security units reportedly gathered at the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bangkok’s Bangkhen district in the morning to discuss measures to deal with red-shirt protesters. Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda and acting police chief Pol Gen Prateep Tanprasert were reported to have arrived at the military camp about 9am. They did not give any interview with reporters. Gen Anupong had on Sunday ordered troops providing protection at the 11th Infantry Regiment to refrain from using force to deal with the red-shirts. Army spokesman Sunsern Kaewkumnerd said about 2,000 soldiers were manning the 11th infantry army barracks, with three helicopters on standby to whisk leaders away if needed. "We will push out the protesters if they trespass into the base. The final step is that rubber bullets would be fired at them, but the army has no wish to disperse the demonstration," Col Sunsern said. The red-shirts had dubbed their rally a "million man march" but police estimated their numbers reached only 86,000. Protest leaders gave various figures, all far higher than 100,000. Authorities have deployed a 50,000-strong security force including soldiers and riot police across Bangkok and surrounding provinces for the rally, having invoked the Internal Security Act that allows the military to ban gatherings and impose curfews. ____________________ And this, from THE NATION: _____ Red Shirts March for Reply on House Dissolution Red shirts protesters on Monday march to the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bangkhen where the premier is inside to push for reply on House Dissolution. noon : A red shirts leader; Arisamun Pongruengrong, says the rally in front of the regiment would end at 2pm and the protesters would move back to Pan Fah Bridge. 11am : Public Health Ministry upgrades emergency service to a highest level following the red-shirts march to the peacekeeping operations command in Bangkhen. The ministry prepares extra beds, bloods and rescue cars in case of emergency. The upgrading is announced after it evaluates that the number of the protesters exceeds 50,000. 10.40am : Rear of the red shirts' procession is still at Sanam Luang while its head already occupied Paholyothin Road in front of the 11th Infantry Regiment. 10.20am : Red shrits arrive of the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bang Khen. Their rally almost paralyse Paholyothin Road near Prasimahatat Temple. 10.10am : Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says in a special television programme that red-shirt leaders used false information to incite protesters to clash with the authorities. He said the red-shirt leaders had been using doctored audio clips during the rally Sunday night to try to deceive the protesters that he ordered the use of force against them. The premier insists the government had no plan to use force against the protesters and the enforcement of the Internal Security Act was aimed at keeping law and order, not for suppressing the protesters. 10am : Abhisit announces the government could not give in to the protesters' demand for House dissolution. He insisted the demand could not be met before the deadline expires at noon Monday. He said his government would also have to heed opinions of other groups of people in the society. The prime minister was speakigng to a press conference after a meeting with leaders of coalition partners. He said all coalition partners reached the common stand that the protesters' demand for House dissolution could not be met. 9.44am : The first part of the red-shirt procession from Phan Fa Bridge reach the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bang Khen. They arrived mostly on motorcycles and some pick-up trucks. The regiment announced through loudspeakers to try to calm down the protesters while playing songs composed by His Majesty the King. 9am : The front part of the red-shirt procession from Phan Fa Bridge reached the Lard Prao Intersection on their way to the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bang Khen, TNN Channel reported. The front part is comprised of protesters on motorcycles. They stopped at the Intersection to wait for other protesters, who were travelling on pick-up trucks and other vehicles from Pan Fa rally site. The protesters plan to reach the 11th Infantry Regiment at noon when the 24-hour deadline for the government to dissolve the House expires. 7.45am : The Metropolitan Police Bureau advises motorists to avoid the Phechaburi Road, Victory Monument and the Phaholyothin Road as protests were heading to the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bang Khen to defy the Army. Pol Maj Gen Phanu Kerdlarppol, deputy metropolitan police chief, said the red-shirt protesters were moving the Pan Fah Bridge to Bang Khen, using Phetchaburi Road, passing through the Victory Monument and Phaholyothin Road, and could cause traffic snarls on the road. He says traffic congestions could spill to Ramkhamhaeng and Ladprao roads.

That is correct. There is no pool. Maybe they have an arrangement with the Avalon Hotel next door or perhaps you can make your own arrangement for a fee. Of course you are also within easy distance of one of the biggest pools of all, Pattaya Park.