TotallyOz

Everyone that lives there seems to thrive there and love it. For me, time in Pattaya seems to blend in day after day and it is easy to get lost and wake up and 4 months have passed. There are many things to love about Pattaya but what specific draws gay men there other than the sex? What is it that compels many to settle there and retire there as opposed to other areas of Thailand? What makes Pattaya so special for gay men?

Happy 3rd Year! http://www.richards-bangkok.com/calendar/090121/

I am in the UP of Michigan and the temp is below zero. I walk outside and the hairs in my nose freeze. I had just had a wonderful facial where the lady in Phuket trimmed my nose hairs so I didn't think I had any to freeze but I guess I was wrong. What a miserable existence if one were to live here. Luckily, I am here for a week only and then off to NYC for a week before visiting my family in the wonderful Bible Belt after the inauguration. Can't wait to hear what the locals down there have to say. LOL Then, Brazil calls me and I'll be back in the tropical weather and able to walk out without a coat that weights 20 pounds to keep me warm.

I received this from a member. I am not sure of its validity and have not been able to find confirmation but it sounds legit. Please see the below message we received: Chiang Mai Gay Pride Information After waiting several months for the Mayor to give us a License, we are now able to hold the Second Chiang Mai Gay Pride Parade and Festival. The following Events are currently Scheduled and more will be announced later. A Major Concert / Fundraiser and a Pre-Parade Party will be Announced Next Week. For additional Information, to Volunteer, or to Donate Money, contact Pad of Mplus. PadChiangMaiPride@hotmail.com 089-950-8726. For information about Mplus visit their website: http://www.MplusThailand.com/. Unfortunately we have not had time to create the ChianMaiPride.com website yet. This will be coming soon. Chiang Mai Pride Announcement Party – THIS FRIDAY Friday – 16 January 2:30 – 5:30 pm Entertainment Snacks Fancy Condom Creation Contest Sunday – 15 February 1:00 pm Kad Suan Kaew – 3rd Floor FREE Chiang Mai Gay Pride Parade Saturday – 21 February 4 – 5 pm Formup Buddah Satan Parking Lot (Taipae Road near Narawat Bridge) 5 pm Parade Start Down Changklan Road (Night Bazaar) End at @Tawan Trendy Mall (Across from Pantip Plaza at end of Changklan Road) Chiang Mai Gay Pride Festival Saturday – 21 February @Tawan Trendy Mall (Across from Pantip Plaza at end of Changklan Road) 1 pm - Festival Opens 6 – 10 pm Entertainment 6 – 7:30 pm – Thanks Peppe for Mplus Thailand

I know that there are many that donate to charities in Thailand and that many on this board and others have charities. I have decided to organize a charity in the LOS. What steps do I need to go through to make this a legal, professional charity. I have already decided it will have a US based component that money will be tax deductible for US citizens. I want this to flow directly into the charity in Thailand with every dollar accounted for and everything totally visible for all to see. Are the local charities independent or under the umbrella of another Thai Charity? GayButton gave me good advice to also contact the Embassy and ask their advice and I'll do that as well. As far as getting this set up and legal, does anyone have any suggestions, comments or advice? It would be most appreciated!

Its back. One of the best shows of last year is back for the 2nd season. Damages stars Glen Close as a high powered lawyer. It was a fantastic show last season and it just started on ITunes this week. Welcome back Damages!

I ran across a website I have never seen before yesterday and saw the forums. They are quite busy and active. There is a huge ladyboy online community out there. The site I saw is: http://www.shemale.asia Anyone know of other sites with ladyboy forums?

On my recent bike trip, I saw so many amazing temples across Thailand and my desire to learn more about them and the people who live there increased dramatically. I have never studied the Buddhist religion and I do want to learn more about it. I found an interesting program that allows for English speakers to live as a monk for a month to learn about the religion and the life of a monk. It sounds like a fascinating program. Has anyone ever done anything like this? Heard of other programs geared toward English speakers? http://www.monkforamonth.com/

"Beauty is only skin deep" or at least that is what I am told. Yet, I seem to pick the boyfriend based on this attribute. Walking around in Sunee last night, there were few I really wanted to get to know but there was one that intrigued me and I really would like to get to know him better. He is not educated at all but his looks were killer. A 19 year old boy from Issan and speaks little English. After the breakup with the last boyfriend I wonder if there is a better way to select the next Mr. Right. (True I have a Boy Special that is with me but he is not in Pattaya and hates the city so I try to keep him at a distance and save him for myself and other trips) If I chose based on brains would I be as happy? Is there a middle ground? I often doubt that I'll find what I am looking for in a bar. Sitting with a friend last night, he said, "yes, but you always say the same thing when you break up and you go and do the same thing over and over and never seem to learn your lesson." This is true and perhaps I need to adjust my sensor for what I am looking for. Since college my favorite poet has always been John Keats. He said, "Beauty is truth, truth beauty," - that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know. If you follow this, do you think you will find the perfect partner? Or, is there more to it? Is beauty enough to secure your happiness with a guy?

There are lots of holidays that we are not used to, being foreign. Many of the holidays I really look forward to and have a great time. Part of loving Thailand is taking in all the culture and being a part of all their events. When a special event is coming up, many get excited and make plans. The bar boys love the holidays when the bar is closed and they get a break off from their regular routine. Me, I love Songkran the most. What is your favorite event in Thailand? What do you look forward to the most?

I woke up to a chilly 58 degrees F in Pattaya. Nice waking up weather but chilly for the Thais. I had a nice walk along the beach with people covered up for winter.

Well, the BF and I officially broke up over a week ago. It was hard for both of us. I had him come to visit me one day on the bike ride and when he arrived I was 100 percent certain he had gotten back on Yabba in my absence. It did break my heart. I needed a few days to think about it and it was not something I was willing to go through again. I cut off all him ATM's and Credit Cards and called him to say goodbye. As a severance package (the second one in one month) I told him that the 2 motorbikes I had in his name were his to do with as he pleased and to sell them for drugs or rent or whatever he desires. I also asked that he never contact me again. I am sure I will change on the contact part as time heals the wounds of the sad feelings and distance separates us and allows us to move on in different directions. It was perhaps the hardest thing I had to do in a long time but when I saw his eyes and his lying to me about the drugs, I knew I had no choice. He had led a very good life for a long time but in the end, he had to decide the direction of his life instead of me pointing the way. Yes, I am sad and yes it was hard but it was the right move for both of us. Now, I have only one lad who takes great care of me. He does not drink, smoke or do drugs. But, he is so horny that I need a break from him weekly or I'll never get to be a little bit of a butterfly. His philosophy is to keep me to himself by draining me of all sexual energy 2-3 times every day. It does work as I an ever interested in anyone else when he is around. This is also my first truly gay boyfriend in Thailand. I will be interested to find out how the future holds for both of us. I have treated him and his family to a 4 day holiday in Phuket at a nice hotel and great food and adventures. Yesterday, our ATV adventure also threw out my back but a good 2 hour massage by the Boy Special cured the back and I was as good as new. BTW: it was his fault my back was out as he was passing me and I slid into a rubber tire and took a nice jolt. Boys will be boys.

I wanted to treat the current Boy Special and his family to a nice dinner. We reserved the Baan Rim Pa and requested a table on the end with the gazebo. They agreed. We also asked for a cake for his birthday. When I got there, they saw that I had 4 Thai's with me and put us at a different table. I was pissed but did not cause a scene in front of my guests. I did go out at one point to complain and they said, sorry, we didn't know what table you wanted. BULLSHIT. They also said that they didn't give a free cake to guests and I said I had requested one be ordered with his name and I would pay. Oh, so sorry they said. Again, I was not happy. We ordered the set menu 3 which was mostly seafood and cost 1700 baht a head. I had the lobster and got seafood poisoning and ended up in the hospital for some drugs. The view is amazing there but the cost vs the pitiful lack of service, respect, etc on top of getting sick made this my LAST visit to this place. I have been there at least 40 times over the years and did wonder if my complaint to the management had anything to do with the bad seafood. I did pay my bill. They included a service charge. I added one baht to it and gave to the manager and told him that this was what the entire service was worth. Now, you have seen me post on these boards for years. I rarely if ever post a negative review. This one was well deserved AND my hotel review is to follow in the coming days.

Rod, I can't access the site you gave for some reason. However, if you give me more details on it, I'll be in Brazil in 3 weeks and will gladly go to their stores to try to find it for you.

In NYC, they have a group that deals with this and I took a friend once there. They were amazing with police liaison, lawyers to assist, etc. I am sure LA's Gay Community Center will have something similar.

Interesting topic Townie. Yes, I do share what I do with my friends and even if they are not into what I am, they are respectful. When they share their latest portfolio run, they share with me and I pretend I care about that as well. I have no problem with anyone knowing I hire guys. It has never been an issue for me. I do not share intimate details about what one does in bed as it often changes from one person to the next and I hate giving away too much information. I still remember sharing with my family that I owned and operated an escort service at one point in my life and they said, "well, you are happy and that is all that matters." I love being happy and Happy Endings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPr6zQSm-WM

This was a surprise move and it is OK with me. I guess he needs to really clean house and get rid of anyone who conspired with the illegal actions of the past 8 years of Bush. I am sure he trusts Panetta to get the job done and be loyal. I just wonder if he has the savvy to handle this job. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/07/us/polit...07cia.html?_r=1

I am a New Yorker and a voter and I hope she is the next Senator. Why? I don't really know. It is one of my decisions based on no knowledge of her other than her name. I feel very uninformed but willing to give it a shot.

Pretty amazing if you ask me and it will come with an option 256G Solid State Drive. I know the Stef Lacoste is in line waiting as we speak.

Eleven gay bars in Seattle were sent letters Tuesday threatening ricin attacks — in what some are describing as a hate crime. The anonymous letters say, "I have in my possession approximately 67 grams of ricin with which I will indiscriminately target at least five of your clients. ... I expect them to die painfully while in hospital." A 12th letter was sent to the alternative weekly The Stranger, according to its Web site. That letter says the paper should be "prepared to announce the deaths of approximately 55 individuals." The letter lists the bars as: The Elite, Neighbours, The Wildrose Bar, The Cuff, Purr, The Seattle Eagle, R Place, Re-bar, C.C.Attle's, Madison Pub and The Crescent. The letter implies the attacks will take place one Saturday this month. In a statement, the Seattle Police Department said it takes the threat seriously. It has seized the letters and is processing them and is coordinating efforts with the FBI and other federal agencies. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says ricin is a poison found naturally in castor beans that can be deadly if purified and then ingested or inhaled. Dan Giroux, a bartender at The Elite, said he read the contents of the letter through the envelope with a flashlight after being warned not to open it and found the experience "a little horrifying." "I expect to feel safe at work. Being here is like being at your house. But this doesn't make you feel safe," he said. Elite manager Kay Hansen said the bar has been informing customers of the threat and warning them to make sure they don't leave their drinks unattended: "On the one hand you don't want to overreact, but on the other hand, you want to make sure your staff and clients are safe." Stranger editorial director Dan Savage said he didn't take the threat too seriously: "I get a death threat a day with Savage Love," he said, referring to a sex column he writes. Savage said the letters didn't contain any religious references, making him wonder whether the author was an embittered gay person. He said that if the threat were designed to ruin business for gay bars, it may backfire. Staffers from The Stranger made a point of visiting gay bars Tuesday night to show their support, he said, and others may be inspired to do the same. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/loca...nthreat07m.html

I need a bike shop to take apart my bike and get it ready for air travel. Any suggestions? The hotel I am at is useless in any information. A detailed report to follow my trip. ;(

The prices most charge for all the events in Phuket are ridiculously high. They are outrageous at times. A day trip to Phi Phi Island on a speed boat the hotel offers for 3200 baht per head. I met a few people on my bike trip that are tour operators and they said they would get me the same trip for 1300 or less. I started asking around at all the little shops in town and they were all going for less than the hotel price and they ARE all the same trips. The boyfriend and I took his family for an entire day trip to Phi Phi Island, snorkeling in Maya Bay, lunch on the Island and drinks on the boat and a quick tour of Monkey Island. The cost from the hotel was 2800. We paid 900 baht a head for the same door to door service. Be careful where you book and do NOT pay the regular rate anywhere. As with everything in Thailand, it is negotiable.

Had dinner last night at Patong Beach Grill. This place takes up about 9 shophouses on beach road and they have a wide variety of food from steak to Thai to seafood. They were more than a bit on the pricey side. The food was very good. I did have the steak and it was the only thing that we ordered that I did not like. It was not bad but it was not good either.

My Boy Special's family has been with us in Phuket and they are flying back to Bangkok this week. Does anyone know what the cost for a taxi should be from Bangkok to Korat?