TotallyOz

First, I am posting in this forum as there were some comments in the new site revamp that makes me wonder about combining the forums. To test this, I am going to post my trip here. Phuket - Island Paradise Phuket Phuket is an often-mispronounced jewel in South East Asia. By far the most popular island destination in the region, it offers sandy beaches, beautiful Portuguese architecture and a rich history that will delight any seasoned traveler. The island does have a rainy season and tourists are advised to avoid its charms in September and October when it is soaking wet. For the rest of the year, particularly from November through February, Phuket’s limestone cliffs, tropical forests and powdery beaches make it a place that you don’t want to miss. The earliest history of the island comes from the Greeks. Claudius Ptolemy wrote of its charms as early as 157 A.D. For most of the past 2,000 years Phuket was used as a stopover for traders who needed to avoid monsoons. When tin was discovered, migrant workers from as far away as Portugal began to arrive and Phuket soon became one of the most influential meeting points for European traders in South East Asia. When the price of tin collapsed in 1985, the island government began hawking Phuket as a possible tourist destination. Travelers took the bait and its popularity and economy have soared. There is a diverse group of people living on the island; 35 percent of the people are Muslim ‘ representing a variety of religious and cultural histories. Hence, tolerance of all types of lifestyles has become the trademark of Phuket. While the nightlife of Phuket is always hopping, there are also a variety of activities to do during the day and as with most of Thailand, there are many wonderful western and traditional restaurants. Dino Park on Karon beach is one of the sillier tourist attractions. It is a small 18 hole golf course set in the age of the dinosaurs. It even features a dinosaur themed restaurant! All of the many beaches that encircle the island are wonderful places to snorkel and dive. At nearly any point along the coast you can find places to rent equipment and guides to help you explore the beautiful undersea vistas and the exotic fish that call the waters around Phuket their homes. Ko Kaeo visitors will not only find a beautiful sandy beach, but also a famous replica of the footprint of BuddhaKo Si-Re also features a wonderful reclining Buddha image. Cape Phanwa is home to the Phuket Aquarium, the place to go if you want to see the beautiful fish that the region has to offer, without having to go to the effort of diving or snorkeling to find them. The nearby Phuket Butterfly Farm has also been growing in popularity with the tourist trade. The Phuket Submarine offers people the chance to dive 30 meters under the sea in the comfort of full air conditioning and the Phuket Zoo is the safest way for you to see some of the regions more exotic animals. Patong Beach is tourist central and you will find a wide array of family friendly activities including go-karts, a haunted house, water skiing and Tarzan’s Water Bunny Jump. The Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Sanctuary covers nearly 5,600 acres and has hundreds of different types of local protected animals. Wat Phra Thong is the most beautiful temple on the island. According to local legend whenever invaders have tried to steal the beautiful Buddha inside, hornets have attacked and driven them away. The adjoining island of Ko Nakha Noi has the regions only year round pearl farm that is open to the public. If museums are your thing the Thalang Museum has great artifacts documenting local culture. Of course, once you’ve had your tourist fun and have accumulated enough stories that you can safely tell your friends and neighbors, it will be time to head out at night and take advantage of the hot gay island nightlife. Like all gay centers in Thailand most gay bars have hosts and waiters that you can pay to play with for a relatively cheap price. There are also a number of gay friendly restaurants, go-go bars and massage parlors to meet virtually any taste you may have. Most of the gay nightlife of Phuket centers around the Paradise Complex on Patong Beach where the people party until the wee hours of the morning. Nearly all the go-go bars in town open around 8 p.m. and have their first live shows around 10:30 p.m. Of course you probably won’t want to spend your entire trip in the Paradise Complex. When you are ready to branch out there are other hot and happening gay places up and down the popular beach. For reasons best left to their therapists, lots of straight tourists flock into Simon, which features an all drag show with some very busty showgirls. One of our favorite hotels is Baan Yaan Dee. Its prices are a bit upscale but it is gay owned and operated and the view is amazing. They have 2 pool suites that open right into the 3-story swimming pool. Check out this hotel and all others in the Accommodations section. No matter where you decide to go, Phuket is guaranteed to offer you a fun experience on your gay vacation. Day 1: Pattaya to Phuket We started our adventure from Pattaya and took a hotel car to Phuket. We had a total of 4 people and 5 large bags. We needed to be sure to handle the bags so we used the Hotel car service. The rate from them was 3500 Baht for airport in large van. After about 45 minutes on the road I had a sudden, “oh Shit” moment. I forgot my medicine in the refrigerator of the hotel. I was given some medicine that will control my Thyroid when I was in LA a few weeks back and the doctor in Beverly Hills I went to needed me on this for 2 weeks and then another blood test to determine the right dose. We called the hotel and as we didn’t have time to turn around and go back, I had them send the medicine to me via another car. This costs 2000 baht and it arrived shortly after we were checked into the airport and the boys had a few smokes outside. We debated as to whether or not to go from the airport close to Pattaya or go from Bangkok. It was decided that we would do the Bangkok airport as I would be able to get my points with them and they offered Business class seats. The roundtrip from Pattaya for coach was 7250 baht and the roundtrip from Bangkok for business was 8250 baht. We choose this, as we usually never get extra surcharges for heavy luggage if you are flying in their business class seats. The boyfriend and I both have Frequent Flyer cards with Thai Air and we linked them to our respective accounts. The other two friends that went with us had never flown before and they were excited to try the first time. Both of them wanted to sit near the window and they did. One of them never took his eye off the window and as soon as we landed he called his family to tell them he was flying above the clouds. I think he would have been happy to turn around and do it again. It did remind me of my first trip ever when I was 16 and went from USA to London. I loved the plane ride and would do it again many times and rarely got bored of it in my early years. We had wanted to stay at the Baan Yin Dee but they were fully booked for the nights we wanted. They did have the ability to switch us from 3 different rooms over the course of the trip but that was just not something I wanted to do so I booked at the Holiday Inn instead. The Holiday Inn is located not too far from the gay area and is an easy walk to the main epicenter of gay culture here. There are also lots of little shops and stands along the way to keep you mind occupied along the walk. The Holiday Inn costs around 5k per night per room and that included breakfast for all of us. I am part of their highest level of priority points as I stay when the hotel chain hotels over 125 nights a year. When we checked in they wanted to upgrade us to a private area of the hotel with nice bungalows or studios but that area did not have Internet in the rooms and that was just not acceptable to me. So, we took rooms in the main part of the hotel. The rooms were excellent with nice comfortable beds and a very nice shower. All have been recently renovated and are clean and modern. The shower has a window in it so you can open a hidden door to see the shower from the outside room to the inside of the showers. This was great for me to watch the boyfriend shower but not so wonderful when he tried to watch me. The rainfall water shower is excellent and I have really enjoyed using it each day. The first night we ate at the Ban Rim Pa restaurant. It is one of my favorites in Phuket and it on the hill overlooking the bay and simply beautiful it is a bit pricy but I wanted the guys to see the view as the sunset. We decided on a fixed menu that was seafood based and came with 4 or more appetizers and 6 main courses. The rate per person was 1600 baht. The guys ordered about 3 Coronas each and I got some watermelon juice and coconut juice. The total bill at the end of the night was slightly over 9k baht and service was included in that price. If you go here, I suggest you call and make a reservation as they are often booked and will take walkins when available but to be assured a table, call in advance. If you want a great view and your table sticking out off the cliffs, ask for one of the front tables that are gazebo like over the rocks. There are several of them and they have a wonderful view of all around the area and a great view of Patong beach. Baan Rim Pa 233 Kalm Beach Road Phone – 076-340789 We took a baht bus to the Paradise area. This is the gay area of Patong Beach. Most baht buses and taxis take you in the city for 200 baht. That was his rate and that is what we paid. We got to the Paradise area around 8:30 but there were no boys in ANY of the go-go bars. The place was a ghost town. They all open at 8 but they say the boys don’t usually come until 9:30 or 10. We sate at My Way bar on the outside and had some drinks to watch the passerby’s. It was very slow. The four drinks cost us 530 baht. That was 2 sodas and 2 whiskey and cokes. We went into Mama Sans bar as they did have go-go boys on stage. While the outside of the place is decorated beautifully, the inside still has the worst smell of any bar I have been to. It is musky and smells like moths. We all took a whiff and sat down and ordered drinks. The boys on the stag were NOT anything like we had imagined and not one of them was attractive to me. They may have been cute to someone but I was not able to find one. After the drinks came, I told the boys they had 3 minutes to drink before they guzzled them down. Down they went and out we went. The four drinks were 600 baht and it was totally worth it to get out of there fast. On the Soi directly to the right of paradise is a pool hall I fell in love with when I brought a boy here a few years back. It is well done and airs conditioning inside with 4 pool tables downstairs and more upstairs. They have a clean place and the boys rack the balls for you and drinks were plentiful. We were there for about 2 hours total and all had drinks and the cost of the night was under 700 baht. I think it is called Pluto. On the same Soi as the Pool hall I love are: Best of Faith Massage Heaven Bar Spy Boys Black and White Bar Boys Paradise Inn Flying Handbag Bar Aquarius Angel- now for sale and a great inside. That Soi is also full of gay businesses. Mostly beer bars and host bars. I wandered up and down the Soi but did not find anything I liked. We headed back to the hotel early after stopping by James Dean for a drink. We knew we had to get up early to do a full day boat adventure so we went back to the room and showered and were asleep by midnight. At least the boyfriend and I were asleep by midnight. The other two guys have their own room and I told them if they went out to be sure to be back in time to get up by 7Am to eat and wait for the van to pick us up. I didn’t ask them where they went or even if they went out as they were up and showered and ready to go by 7. Day 2 We book an adventure with Island Hoppers. It was a full day of going from one Island to the next and lots of swimming, relaxing, snorkeling, etc. I have been on this same tour 4 other times and enjoyed it so I wanted the guys to experience it as well. The cost was 3250 baht per person and that included an early morning pickup and delivery. The van took us to the Island Hoppers office where we tried on our fins to make sure they were the right size and then we boarded another van to go to the boat. Having been a few times I knew the best seats were in the front so the boys and I go on and went straight there. It is a bit bumpier up there but not too bad. Our day included trips to Yao Yai Island, Baboo Island, Hin Klang, Momkey Beach, Phi Phi Don Island, Phi Phi Lae Island, Pileh Cove, Viking Cave, and Maya Bay. We had lunch buffet style on a private restaurant owned by the company we used for the charter. The cost was 3250 per person and included pick up from hotel and return to hotel. The group was Island Hoppers and the guides we had were great and their English was excellent. We were able to go snorkeling and see some pretty coral and great schools of fish, feed the monkeys on Monkey Island bananas from the boat, swim on the same beach as Leonardo DeCaprio made the movie Beach, swim in some of the most clear and beautiful water I have seen and feed schools of fish with bread right in our hands, as well as enjoying may relaxing time on different beaches covering each other in sand, splashing in the water and just having a fabulous time. It was so great to see the guys out of their element in Pattaya and able to hand loose and enjoy themselves. Island Hopprs 29/12 Moo 1 Thepprathan Road, T. Rassanda, A. Muang Phuket 83000 Phone: 66-76-252-606-8 Baan Yin Dee is an excellent hotel and restaurant. I tried to book their pool suites for us but neither was available for the week. They had no accommodation for us to book while we were in Phuket. I love the hotel and wanted to eat there. The food is excellent and not cheap but the view is stunning and the food atmosphere is amazing. http://www.baanyindee.com Day 3 We wanted to relax from the trip yesterday as I was sunburned from top to bottom and was in a bit of pain. We did use sunscreen but I guess I didn’t keep it on as much as I should have and therefore was a quiet uncomfortable and just needed to sleep in today. We got up around 11:00 AM today and that was nice. The boyfriend and I are in one room and his 2 friends are in a separate room. When we got up, we called down to ask them if they were up for lunch. Lunch was at the gay bar area, Paradise. We ate at Newspaper Restaurant. It is right on the Soi with My Way and Tangmo. It was very clean and pleasant. We were the only customers. The food was excellent. It tasted good and it was nice portions. The average cost for a plate was 220 baht. We had 5 different plates and several drinks. The bill was 1700 baht and while good, it was expensive. We were told the owner of that restaurant is the same owner as Tangmo and 5 other businesses on that Soi. We then went to the Cobra Show as the boys really wanted to see it. I have seen one before in Chiang Mai and this one was very similar. The guys loved seeing all the snakes, etc and we had our picture taken with a few of them. The show cost 400 baht a person. They had a drink and food bar outside if anyone wanted drinks. We were able to see the show and walk around and look at several other snakes and animals. The show was fun to see if you have never been to one. The next stop was the Shooting Range. We each wanted to try some shooting with pistols and shotguns. The pistols were 900 baht for 10 bullets and the rifles were 700 baht for 10 bullets. Each of us did both the rifle and the pistol. I was the lucky winner of the rifle contest with 94% shooting skill. The boyfriend kicked ass with the pistol and blew me and the other guys away with his percentages. All in all this is a very expensive thing to do but it really a treat for the Thai guys who always see these on TV but never had a chance to hold one and shoot. Next we went Bungee Jumping. We chose the Jungle Bungy Jump under New Zealand Management. They charge 2,000 bath for the jump and that includes a shirt. They will take a DVD of the jump for another 500 baht. So, total per person was 2500 baht. This company was professional and well organized and I did feel safe there and did not think there would be any issue. I took a lot of photos myself so we didn’t pay them to do that for us. Jungle Bungy Jump – 076-321351 At night, we ate back in the Paradise area. We choose a place called 888888 ATM. It was clean and nicely decorated. The food was simply horrible. They over salted everything and the wait time was over 40 minutes. I ordered a hamburger and it was eatable but no where close to the wonderful Niddy’s hamburger I once got in Pattaya. The boys got Thai food and 2 got Spaghetti. They said the Thai food was OK but the Spaghetti was over salted and tasted bad. We each had one drink and the cost for the 4 of us was 800 baht. I hope that this was just a bad night for these guys but watching them trying to cook a hamburger was enjoyable. They had 3 cooks and 4 waiters and we were the ONLY customers. They had a large debate about the burger and finally they decided to salt it. I wish they had just asked me about it. We went over the Soi for drinks at a local beer bar. This one was directly adjacent to Tangmo. We sat outside of it as one of the guys recognized a boy who had worked at Crazy Dragon and has moved back to Phuket. The drinks at the bar were 100 baht each. Not quite as cheap as most beer bars I go to but this seems the norm here. Phuket is much more expensive in every area then Pattaya or Chiang Mai. We went toe the Simon Cabaret and sat 3rd row. The seats were great and the guys loved the show. They have all had Katoy girlfriends before so they really got a kick out of some of these beautiful women. The show as fun and enjoyable. The tickets were 600 baht each and that did not include transportation. For other 80 baht each, they would have picked us up and delivered us to the hotel. Day 4 Rock-climbing day. We were up early and had the free buffet at the Holiday Inn. The buffet is great with a wide variety of choices for everyone. They have Thai dishes, Japanese dishes, some Arab flare and of course all the Western like food. Today was the first day I had seen the guys drink coffee. They normally just drink juice but I guess they stayed up late night and were tired and thought the coffee would give them a boost. We had to meet the driver at the front of the lobby by 7:30AM. We were there and off for the day. I decided to sit this day out as my sunburn was still wrenching from pain. The boys said they had a blast. The boyfriend had gone with me to Chiang Mai on a rock-climbing trip and he was a bit more experienced than his friends but they all came back laughing and tired and said it was a very good day! The rock climbing was 2500 baht per person and that included pickup and delivery from hotel. I decided to stay in the hotel all day today and get work done. I ordered up some food for lunch and spent the day catching up on e-mails and other stuff. The boys returned so excited they were able to do the rock-climbing and I am glad they had a blast. The night was spent in the Paradise gay area again. In this area there are several bars and go-go venues. On the right: Newspaper – which we ate at and reviewed above. Dempseys Connect Room and Food – Seemed to be a busy place and the food was good! James Dean Restaurant – renovations going on one side but the other one open. Time Orchid Lounge My Way On the left: Maprang Bar James Dean and Friends Kar Door Host and Karaoke Thais Best Boys Spartacus Tangmo Kiss BB Boys Corner Bakery Around the corner to the left is the Mama San bar I mentioned above. By far the best bar we went to was My Way. It was full of cute guys and enjoyable. It is not as much fun as when I was here in high season but it was still enjoyable. Tango is a blast. A lot of cute boy and friendly staff. Dempseys has some very cute waiters and staff. BB Boys caught my attention each night as they had a flow of hot studs walking into the place but I was never able to find them 20 minutes later when I would get there.

For those of you that love the Imacs but can't seem to be able to get them back and forth on planes, I have a solution for you that has worked great for me. First, I really wanted the IMac 24 inch as it has a great screen and it makes it easy for me to see and use. It is also 110-220 electricity voltage which allows me to travel to different countries and not blow the computer. It will also allow me to run Parallels which lets me run both the Mac OS and the Windows XP at the same time. The Imac is an amazing machine but traveling with it is a real pain in the ass and for the life of me I could not figure out how to do it as every Mac store rep I talked to said it was not for travel. I bought a Pelican 1640 Watertight Case $210.53 from B and H Photo in NYC. No sales tax if shipped out of the state. I configured my box to fit the computer and I was also able to put in my scanner and printer just fine. It is now a traveling office. It is 69.9 pounds which meets the airline standard and it also allows me to keep my office with me wherever I go. I love the new setup and have really enjoyed having such a big computer with me all the time.

What is usually the best way to get USD converted to baht? I have usually waiting till I am in a city before I convert things over but it is better to do at the airport?

Chris is a nice guy and I have known him for a few years. He seems to get along with everyone and his stories on living in Thailand are very well written and documented with photos and personal information. I suggest anything thinking of moving to the LOS read all his 5 chapters. It has a lot of great information in it. http://www.sawatdee-gay-thailand.com/forum...t-5-t15175.html

George posted a detailed thread on SGF about the new owners of Memories Bar. It was a very well written detailed explanation and telling of recent events. I did finish my pot of coffee before I finished his story but it was well worth it. It is located here: http://www.sawatdee-gay-thailand.com/forum...ues-t15187.html

I love drink Propel. It is like Gatorade but without all the sugar. It is a drink that has lots of electrolytes and helps your body repair itself and it great for exercise or when sick. I have never seen it in Thailand and wanted to bring some with me but the bottles are so heavy that it would be impossible. I found a great solution for those that love the drink as much as I do. They sell it in a box with powder. It is called Propel Fit Powder. It comes in a box of 10 and is relatively inexpensive. I brought over a case of it and it weighs very little and easy to put into a suitcase. I ordered mine from Walgreens in the USA but many other stores have them as well. Just an FYI for any interested.

Well, sorry, I am kidding on that one. Just wanted to give a nod to my friend Ear Wig and let me know he is still loved. As for Sunee, I am sure that you veterans have heard this over and over again, and it has never come to fruition. But, having visited Pattaya and spent time in Phuket, most that I talk to outside of the Sunee area say it is on its last leg. It is at the end of its heyday. I met several in Pattaya show say they will no longer go there and many others who say that they will not support any businesses related to the bars or the owners there. I am sure many of you have lived through the roller coaster ride before. Is this the beginning of the end? Will be bars that are there be able to sell and get their investment back? Are others willing to open up a bar where so much controversy exists? I cannot imagine that any of the bars are making good money, with the exception of bars like Ouds or Come In bar and maybe Jimm Jimmy James. Perhaps I am dead wrong in this and that there is great money to be made there. I just don't see it. What am I missing?

I dropped by the Hutch store near Tutcom the other day and saw their USB powered modem. It is supposed to give speeds up to 550 kb per second and is about 16k baht per year for the modem and the plan. Anyone tried this? I tried to buy the upgraded modem but they were sold out when I went there and they said it would be back in stock in 1-2 weeks. I have the ATT one for the USA and it is amazing and fantastic.

Apple has now introduced the new Iphone GPS due to hit stores in many countries July 11th. It looks great and amazing. It is supposed to be sold in 70 countries and I am sure not long before Thailand will have an official carrier. The price is lower on this one than the previous ones. http://www.apple.com

If you are a points guy like me, you love the free upgrades that hotels give when you are a priority member. Marriott is offering one to join up with them. All you need to do is go to the link below and sign up for the rewards program and give them your KLM number. I used my NWA one and it worked but if you want t follow the letter of the rule, use your KLM and once Gold, you can always revert back to NWA. Your Marriott will be upgraded to Gold. I have friends that have done this and it was instant. If you are already a Marriott member, you may go ahead and get another account or you can simply try to merge the two. The later works for some but not for others. I have friends that used this link with the current account and it was automatic upgraded the next day. It is worth a try for those of you that ever stay at this hotel chain. http://www.joinmarriottrewards.com/flyingblue/FBG2

If you are a points guy like me, you love the free upgrades that hotels give when you are a priority member. Marriott is offering one to join up with them. All you need to do is go to the link below and sign up for the rewards program and give them your KLM number. Your Marriott will be upgraded to Gold. I have friends that have done this and it was instant. If you are already a Marriott member, you may go ahead and get another account or you can simply try to merge the two. The later works for some but not for others. I have friends that used this link with the current account and it was automatic upgraded the next day. It is worth a try for those of you that ever stay at this hotel in Thailand or elsewhere. http://www.joinmarriottrewards.com/flyingblue/FBG2

In NYC I found very similar things. The West Village and Chelsea were mostly gay when I was there. They are now Yuppie heaven. Many of the gays are moving out to Queens and Brooklyn and even in those areas, the gays seem to be more spread out than in past times. I miss the old West Village and the days where the night clubs in Chelsea were kings of the universe.

Absolutely Divine!

Thanks for the link Anton. I appreciate it. I have used Vonage for years. I do this as they don't pull my IP and base my outgoing or incoming calls on where I am located. This means I can travel anywhere and still get all my calls for my monthly fee. I have the world plan and it covers most places I travel. It is not free but I find it worth it. I have used Skype in the past and enjoyed it. But, they have gotten much more expensive and they do look at your IP. I have unlimited US and Canada calls per month but if I am outside of the USA, they count that as long distance and charge me for each minute. This really sucks as I am out of the USA more than I am in USA. I haven't really tried other plans but I still use both of the above but mostly Vonage. The Vonage adaptor is also 110-220 so it plugs in fine in most countries and I can set up a regular phone with it and it works perfectly.

We are working on a revamp of the site. It will be our first major revamp since we started the site. We want to make it as user friendly as possible and give you as many new features as we can. So, what do we need to add? How can we make the site better for you? What features would you like to see? We would greatly appreciate any input possible. Thanks.

I have been in touch with a broker about a home in Pattaya. Not really interested but wanted to see the options. The prices for what they offer for most of the homes are outrageous. Most of the 3 bedrooms in nice secure areas are 85,000 baht. I guess the market is not as bad as many thought if those places are renting out consistently. I would never live in the city as I do feel it is not as safe as the Jomptien area. I had a friend that rented between Pattaya and Jomptien in a very nice large home with swimming pool and his home was broken into a few times. As my realtor was driving by that area, I asked him about home prices there, he commented that only an idiot would move there as the area is know for the robberies. I thought it may have been just a coincidence that my friend had his place broken into but I guess that was not coincidental. The realtor said he would not even show me anything in that area as it was a big mistake to move there. Most of the places he showed were in Jomptien and gated communities. I do know there are many that live in Pattaya and don't live in the gated communities. How safe do you feel? How secure are our belongings? Do the gated communities offer that much more safety?

In Pattaya with he boyfriend and I was woken up around 1 am with the biggest downpour I have seen in a bit The rain really plummeted out of the sky tonight I walked into my hotel lobby, ordered a bottle of wine for me and some security and we drank as we watched the streets slowly settle down and the mobs of wet people moving along the streets. It really does rain hard here!

I have gone up and down for a bit. I actually posted the weight loss journey I had last year. This year has gone well but I wanted to get ready for the San Francisco to Los Angeles Aids Lifecycle for charity. It is 550 miles in 7 days. I did it last year but I was not ready for it. I wanted to try it again this year but to be better prepared. I started getting ready in Chiang Mai in March and took a few escorted bike tours. They were mostly mountain bike trips and I had a nice time. They were not terribly long but they were enough to get me back into shape for the ride. I then went back to the fitness facility I had gone to previously http://www.camptechnique.com They are simply wonderful and they put a schedule in place for me to have enough riding and cross training to get the trip done and be prepared for it. Luckily, most of their rides were on the beach with beautiful scenery and they averaged 18-30 miles per ride. Doing this 3-5 times a week for my six week stay really helped me prepare for this event. The guys at Camp Technique are amazing and I had a fabulous time there. They are a bit expensive but they were worth every penny IMHO. I decided the best way to loose weight was to do it naturally instead of taking some miracle drug where the side effects short term and long term are unknown. I had one friend who took some drugs in Thailand for this and he turned from a kind and gentle man to a total psycho. All his friends think the drug had a great deal to do with it. I was not willing to take that risk. The camp was a struggle this time. Not physically but it did not produce the weight loss I expected in 6 weeks. I was working out up to 8 hours a day 6 days a week and only loosing one pound. The owner knew something was wrong. He wanted me to go to a doctor in Beverly Hills in order to find out what is happening. The doctor specializes in this and while a bit more than I had ever paid for an office visit, it was truly worth it. He did a full blood work up with over 13 viles of blood to test every thing imaginable. What he found was the cause of me not being able to loose weight the way I should. It was not the reason I gained weight as I know that eating the wrong foods and drinking too much sodas with tons of chemicals had really taken a toll on my body. The drug regiment he put me on was a combination of vitamins and minerals as well as drugs for hormones, thyroid, and about 4 other things I can't pronounce. He also is having me do a sleep study as he said anyone who does not sleep will not loose weight properly as that is needed nightly for the body to recover. After my bike ride, I flew to the deep south to spend 2 days with my grandmother and then back to LA to see the doctor again. That night I boarded a plane and headed to Thailand. I won't see immediate results in the weight but I should start to see them when I get the right mix of meds and exercise. I have another task I really want to do this fall that I am preparing for along with one of my best female friends. We expect to go back to that Camp and train for a month in order to do the event in September. My goal is weight loss is not to look great in the mirror but to get healthy. I also have a dream of finding a way to spend my money in Thailand on a charity. I have almost decided that I want to do a bike ride from Pattaya to Bangkok with all the money going to charities in the area. Does anyone think this would fly? Am I wasting my time and energy?

Was around in Sunee for a bit tonight. Ate at Ole restaurant and it was enjoyable. The boyfriend loved the steak and we had a good time sitting and chatting. Jimm Jimmy James was a bit slow. I was told many boys were off already when I showed and that others took the day off. Still, what was on stage was cute and all seemed to really enjoy themselves. I know I enjoyed the boys frolicking with each other. I headed over to Villa Rouge but it is still closed and not open for business. I was told the other 2 bars that were closed were open tonight but Villa Rouge would take longer to open. We went to Sundance and they had a mass of guys and some very nice looking doormen. Topman was where the action was at tonight. The stage was full of boys and there were many customers to be found. I found a dear lad there that I just had to have accompany me out tonight. Yumm. I did not see one dancer who had even questionable age on stage or around the bar at all. The mamasan from years back is Jack and always a pleasure to talk to and deal with. The 2 doormen I took off had a 400 baht off. Not a price I wanted to pay but I had already offed them before I was thrown with that. Come In bar was crowded all night and seem to be the busiest beer bar around. But, damm, the beer bars across from Jimm Jimmy James also had full houses. Corner Bar wasn't packed but had a nice group in there. I think their may have been some club meeting going on at one point as I saw a few owners of other bars chatting away. Oud's bar looks fantastic. They did a stand up job on the place and he was full of laughter and silliness. The place will be a hit and bring a nice bit of traffic to that part of the Soi. I did hear from many of the boys that it was so slow and not many customers. I didn't see the lack of it there but perhaps I am just not used to the numbers. Things looked pretty good to me. I took my guys to see Hulk at Major Cineplex tonight and we all enjoyed that a great deal.

I have been in the USA a bit and I have a lady that gives me massage 2 times each week. She is Thai and an American citizen. She also loves Thailand and wants to return there one day. She is married and has children of her own. We talk often and chat about Thailand and the boyfriend there. Today she asked me if I would take care of her nephew. I was a bit shocked at this request but I listened to her. She said he had finished high school and wanted to go to University but his family could not afford it. They live in Chiang Rai. I asked if he was gay and she said she did not know but was sure I would be happy with him and we could take care of each other. I asked about what he looked like and she got on the phone and called her family in Thailand. She spoke Thai and I didn't understand much of the conversation. But, I did hear the words, Take Care and Jai Dee Falang. After a few minutes of her with her phone to her ear and half way massaging me, she came back and said the she would get a photo from her family via e-mail this week and send it to me. Tall boy she said, and he is in the army now but gets out soon and would love to meet me. I know she didn't talk to him as I heard a female voice on the other end but I guess someone can speak for him. The whole thing took me a bit by surprise but it was a nice one. Just talking about Thailand with her always makes me want to jump on the next plane and take a trip. I do not think that this conversation will lead anywhere but I guess I was a little surprised that she was trying to fix me up with her family in Thailand. She has a BMW here and I am sure she would be able to afford to help him. So, I don't really know the full story I am sure.

I normally stay at the BaanYinDee hotel and love it there. Their suites are booked for the time I will be there. Does anyone know of some really great hotels with close access to Patong Beach and that have a great swimming pool and high speed Internet? I have stayed at the Baan Yin Dee and the Holiday Inn and enjoyed both.

I asked the boyfriend over and over what he wanted for this Bday and I usually take one of my boys to a nice restaurant and then to a disco. He said all he wanted was me to come to Pattaya and have dinner with his friends. I said OK. A long Thai Air nonstop from LA today put me in Thailand at 6:00 AM. The trip was easy and I did get some rest. I am not a good planner so the Premium Economy cost me 1990.00 because I did not book in advance. An extra 400 for luggage and so far the trip is getting expensive. They do allow you to carry 2 pieces on for free but I had 6 total and one was for presents from "friends". Once in the car, I called the boyfriend who was still asleep and he woke up, showered and met me in Pattaya. He is adorable and his smile is just amazing. We went to Royal Garden for some food and then we went to a Country Beer Garden near Big C that serves many things but Thai Whiskey is part of it. Our group of around 10 or so had tons of drinks, lots of food that is cooked on the table over flames and lots of booze. We even had 2 large Hookas (large pipes for smoking). After 4 hours of non stop eating and drinking I paid the bill. It was 2400 bath for everything. I was tired to I left money for the boyfriend and headed to the hotel alone. I had a great time and it was lovely to meet many of his friends from school. They are not money boys and girls and it was quite a change of pace for me to spend time in this group. I throughly enjoyed the trip to the beer garden and I am sure I'll do it again when jet lag isn't so good. I had given the boyfriend his birthday presents early as I can't seem to wait for anything. He loved them and it brought a bigger smile to his face. Spending a night in Pattaya without even entering a bar is a rarity for me but it is something I quite enjoyed.

Well, I am from the South and I am not racist against blacks. I don't date white guy, but I have lots of them as friends. Honestly, I don't know much about Obama and that is what is disappointing to me. He is an unknown for me and I honestly think his nomination will not succeed and that we will be in for another 4 years of Republican rule. I am open to listening to him. I even ordered his book and will read it. I will read it with an open mind. But, I am not willing to change my mind that he should not have been the nominee. That was a mistake and one that will hurt us for years to come.

I have to agree with Anton on this one. The room is my space while I am there. To just randomly choose a place I had left money and take it was wrong. I have left some near my desk as well. That was not touched. It was the money in the bathroom near my 16 bottles of cologne that was taken. I am glad she didn't take the new bottle of Angel for Men as that would have been devastating for me. I tip for good service in all areas. But, I don't tip when things like this are done. I would also not stay at this hotel again. It was a one time thing.

From the Nation: Skyrocketing oil prices have clipped Thai Airways International's wings, forcing the flag carrier to retrench on its 10-year business plan, including possibly paring routes and new aircraft procurement. "The airline's revision will also include its revenue projection," THAI president Apinan Sumanseni said yesterday. "THAI's revenue this year will fall short of the target of Bt210 billion," he said. The new plan will be finalised by next month, but the airline has already decided to close its long haul Bangkok-New York route in July and cut frequencies to Los Angeles, London, New Zealand and Johannesburg due to higher jet fuel expenses, he said. On July 1, the New York station will be closed down and flights to Los Angeles will be reduced from seven a week to five. "The company has already lost Bt4 billion per year for the two long-distance routes to New York and London," he said. The oil price is the key driver of the cost of operations. The jet fuel price has jumped from US$270 per gallon last year to $400, which hits all airlines, he said. The four A340-500s used to service the Bangkok-New York route will no longer be needed and sold off. The company bought the aircraft for $130 million (Bt4.3 billion) each. The long-haul routes are struggling the most because they consume much more fuel. The Bangkok-New York flight was launched in May 2005. The airline is running an average load factor of 80 per cent on the daily flights, but the return is still poor due to fewer premium seats. Major rivals including Singapore Airlines still operate the route but have transformed all seating to business class, which gets higher rates. THAI is studying reducing frequencies to London, Johannesburg and other destinations. The airline will also revise its route from Bangkok to Oakland, New Zealand, by adding stopovers in Sydney or Melbourne. The plan is set to start in October. However, traffic to India is picking up so it will increase flights to New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/topstory/r...newsid=30074952