mauRICE

That looks good and the portion of chicken is generous. I'm not a fan of basil myself but I'm sure they do other basic Thai dishes.

He's RSVP'd. See above in case you missed it. 😏

I don't. You make some interesting observations.

Are they training to be rocket scientists - or perhaps space nurses? @bkkmfj2648 must be thrilled to read this as he's moving to the Philippines soon.

An interesting observation and one that isn't without merit. On my most recent visit, I found the complex and its gaynizens to be just as welcoming as on previous visits with the added buzz of Halloween and high season thrown in, but, now that you've mentioned it, it could just have been any other carnival-esque street and not necessarily a gay one. I'm okay with this as I adapt well to change ** and kind of have grown up with "gay Thailand" over the last 25 years, both within the commercial sex industry and more importantly within the larger gay Thai population. Isn't this blurring and mainstreaming of gay identities trending worldwide? Speaking of new restaurants opening, I wonder whether KFC and McDonald's are going to move in? I mean there are plenty of Ronald McDonald and Colonal Sanders look-a-likes among the local farang gaynizens who can act as mascots and I'd hate to see such a valuable resource go to waste. Pennywise too but I don't think Stephen King is planning to start a book club in Jomtien anytime soon. 🤷 ** One thing I find a bit annoying is speaking to a member of staff in Thai for them to look bewildered because they're newly arrived Cambodian or Vietnamese. Laotians and Shan Burmese are okay as most of them can speak Thai at some level.

Oh my and this happened in neutral (Thai) territory. I shudder to think what could have happened to the farang had he moved to the partner's home turf where presumably everything would have been in the partner's favour.

I'm sorry to hear this but can't say I'm surprised as it's not unusual for something like this to happen in Thailand and the region. I don't know what the situation is with Zack and his Thai/Laotian/Cambodian? partner but when the farang literally becomes the fabled sick buffalo after all use has been extracted from him, the partner will then find a new buffalo to replace him.

Uh-huh. 🙄 Does your young Indian companion celebrate Diwali? If he does, wish him Happy Diwali for me. I'm on a three-day long weekend and spending it at my partner's place in Songkhla. 💞

...and in India you're a fluffy poori?🤔 *bobbles head *

Why not? Aren't you Cam's boyfriend/partner and have known each other for at least half a year now and lived together for two months, under the most trying conditions? At what point will it be okay for you to ask personal questions of your own partner? I'll be the first to say relationships are rarely 50-50: the balance of power, commitment and sanguineness varies at different stages of the relationship but you seem to have taken yourself out of the equation altogether.

Zack the owner of @Home Bar? I didn't see him this year either. We spoke once a few years ago. He was friendly and welcoming. I'm sorry to hear that he's unwell. The bar was open last Halloween and I think his partner is running it now.

You missed out the final stage of retirement - death. Because when you Gotta Go, you Gotta GO.

I wouldn't say "great familiarity" but having been in Pattaya for short visits this past year one does notice things. And from what I've seen, the old farang in Jomtien Complex, with or without partners, seem to be doing okay and are enjoying themselves. Some of their partners may double up as carers but my point is they haven't stopped living just because they've got older.

While munching on fava beans?

Carlson? 😒 I know it's an informal, old-fashioned Aussie word for food or meal but it sure dates you, @BjornAgain .🤭 Coqtales is where they hold the weekly quizzes and bingo nights which attract some of Pattaya's oldest farang (and that's saying something).