PattayaMale

A friend from the USA and I decided to avoid the heavy days of Songkran (April 18 and 19) by taking a short trip to Phnom Penh. In my opinion, Phnom Penh is fantastic. True it does not have the type of bars in Bangkok or Pattaya, but it is just as easy to find a friend for the night. Our flight was on Bangkok Air. The flight we were scheduled on was cancelled so we had to take the 6pm flight. For those that have never taken the trip, the airport is very small and efficient. We got our Cambodia Visa online for $25. We were through immigration, my traveling companion picked up his checked baggage, and took a ticket for a taxi ($9). The entire process at the airport was way less than 15 minutes. The 20 minutes to our hotel. Our hotel was the Blue Lime. It 1 block from the gay bar Blue Chili. I would recommend the hotel which has 14 rooms and a wonderful and very good free internet; $50 a night including tax. But ONLY if you will not be bringing guests back. No joiners! (NagaWorld Casino maybe a better choice. I stayed there 1 night) We did have a surprise we did not count on....almost all of the gay bars were closed since their New Years ended on Friday the 16th. HOWEVER IT DID NOT MATTER. We found alot to do and see. Of course the tourist sites, but better is meeting the Cambodia people. My travel partner and I both agreed that it might be a very good alternative to Pattaya (no beach, as is the same in Bnagkok) for expats to take up residence. The reasons, cheaper, people speak excellent English, money is US dollars, easy immigration policy, and of course the wonderful men!!! I can not think of anything I would really miss...other than the great friends I have made here in Pattaya. One tip! If you go, we found a fantastic guide/tuk tuk driver. His name is Ya Chea. his email is chea.tuktuk@gmail.com If you call +855 (0)17773460 I believe it was a great trip!

Which of those things you recalled, advocated VIOLENT overthrow of the Government, and also last for months on end? I am very aware of Kent State because I was there. Many of us agreed that the Vietnam War was wrong, and we agreed that the tactics used by fellow students were wrong by looting businesses and burning down campus buildings and cutting fire hoses so fires could not be put out. I participated in 2 very large protests in Washigton DC. The one in 1987 was well over 200,000. We all layed in the streets for 10 minutes in civil disobedience showing those dying of AIDS. The demonstration lasted for 6 days without any call for violence! Those interested may see this link Equal rights When Government Pete Wilson vetoed the Gays right bill I lived in West Hollywood California and marched to the Federal Building and onto UCLA where Wilson was holding a meeting. Never did anyone seek to violently over through the Government. I was a Union activist and on several occasions demonstrated in Los Angeles which blocked streets and expressways. When many of us were arrested we did not use force against the police, we went limp and just made the job to clear us much harder for them. We never attacked the police or military with rocks, bamboo spears, bullets. Nor did we push them and take them prisoner. We practiced civil disobedience. Some people may feel that the poor farmers are rising up. This in my opinion is bullshit. The entire mess has little to do with human rights or justice. In my opinion it is a quest for political power PERIOD! It is all about political FAMILIES (including police and military) trying to line their pockets. This goes for BOTH sides. This crap about Reds seeking justice for the poor vs the aristocrats wanting to keep the farmers poor is given since no one is going to say, "We want to run the Government to make our political families richer". I think that many of us like to pontificate that we are great analyzers of history. Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Castro, Chavez, Mao, Mandela....civil disobedience..human rights.. peasants..landless farmers..redistribution of wealth.. Thailand has a history of doing just what it is doing now. Trying to justify, in the name of the people, who will get the spoils. Busted!!! Where did RichLB find that Abhisit was supposed to have new elections? He is a leader of a collation government. Different parties formed the government and chose him as Prime Minister. Many ministers left what is now the red wing to form a government. There is an opposition party, sort of like the Republican party in the US.

Possibly RichLB and I are using different meanings of the word when I wrote terrorize. Maybe this will help us talk about the same thing. upset, threaten Synonyms: alarm, appall, awe, bludgeon, browbeat, bulldoze, bully, coerce, cow, dismay, dragoon, fright, frighten, hector, horrify, intimidate, menace, oppress, petrify, scare, scare to death, shock, spook, startle, strike terror into, strong-arm, terrify In kidnapping no ransom is necessary. Detain by force should be sufficient. Sharpened bamboo poles are very deadly. Re: Vietnam war The thing that is most surprising to me is the lack of respect for the law and OTHER peoples rights. I believe RichLB is a US citizen. How would the police in Long Beach or Washington DC deal with a group like the Red Shirts if this was happening in USA. Would it be ok to invoke the violent over turn of the US Government? I am not taking the side of Red or Yellow. But the rule of law in Thailand seems to be the rule of the lawless.

"Agree with them or not, they are commited, organized, and seemingly succeeding in bringing about some form of change without having resorted to violence. I applaud them for that." Kidnapping, breaking and entering, terrorizing a community, breaking up a gay pride demonstrating, stabbing police with sharpened bamboo poles, grenade tossing, shootings, attacks on private property (Royal Cliff), beating a MP, etc.......is not violent????

This is an interesting discussion with many opinions. I am surprised that no one mentioned Cuba, Laos, Cambodia, or Burma. Maybe this is because no one feels those other countries have anything in common with Thailand. I admit that most of you have a better handle on history than I do. So maybe you can help answer a couple questions I have. Did any of the current Red Shirts try to put in place a communist regime in the 70's? Is it true Thaskin promised to disband the Red Shirt protests if his billions of baht were given back to him? How are the poor landless farmers financing the protests and acquiring military hardware? How is it that the Red Shirts seemed better prepared than the Thai Govt, police and military? What will happen if the Red Shirts bring down the government? Will the other side just accept it? Will the other side try to take down the government....and how will the back and forth end? Final question, what happens to the foreigners that own property or businesses or live in retirement in Thailand? Will the bars and go go bars still be here?

I think it is unacceptable. Would you ask a person that is married, "I understand you are going on a business trip. While you are away, is it OK if I date your wife?" That being said, I do know of people that allow (have) their "boyfriend" to go back to work when they are not in Thailand. In that case, I can understand another offing the "boyfriend" from a bar when they are working. But still, I would not ask the farang if it was ok. If the boy is working he is working.

GB, I did indeed try to understand what was being posted. This thread was about "New American Credit Card laws". When the term Cash Advance was used, I had thought that was about credit cards. So I asked for clarification. Even though I too appreciate the tip on inexpensive ways to get cash out of an account, some terms are important to clarify what is being said. In your former job, was it important to use the right term? I was not trying to prove my self "right". I leave that to you. I was trying to get clarification. I have gone to Bangkok Bank and used my USA bank card to get baht. I was charged a small teller service fee at Bangkok Bank and a less favorable exchange rate. My USA bank did charge an "international" withdrawal fee based on the cash changed into baht. When the thread started about New American Credit Card laws, and the term "cash advance" was used, I tried to figure out if what being posted was a change in what banks could do. So I tried to get clarification. It had nothing to do with proving me "right". Why do you like to be so opinionated and use such a critical tone? It has a tendency to put me off about posting anything. Sorry for the tension my request for clarification caused. Let me bow out, gracefully.

Here is what Wells Fargo says in their glossary of terms. Cash Advance A cash loan drawn from the available credit of your credit card account. There is no grace period for cash advances. Interest accrues daily until the complete balance is paid in full. Transaction fees may apply. lvdkeyes, you may want to check this. They must be charging you interest and transaction fees.

I am getting confused. I thought a "cash advance" is sort of like a loan from your bank. If you all ready have money in your account and withdraw that it is a cash withdrawal. Is it being said that a bank in the US will advance you cash you only need to pay $3.00, with no other fees or interest charge? May I ask what bank?

Please check the link. I get "oops,,link maybe broken"

I also appreciate the effort by PattayaGayTV and GB's suggestions. I feel that another clue was dropped as to what is (did) go on in Sunee Plaza as to the cancellation of the Valentine/Chinese festival, which still has not been answered. When David of Pattaya or Boxer use to post pictures on line the customers faces were blurred. Most recently when I see pictures posted, this is not done any more. The time GB got "slimed" many pictures where posted on Ting Tong without faces blurred and I did not hear any uproar. My picture has been posted (no one asked if it would be ok) from events at Oscar's and Oud's, but not a problem for me. I can understand GB's point but it does not seem to be universally followed. The cancellation of events in Sunee Plaza is unfortunate for not only PattayaGayTV, but customers that make plans around announced events.

The video promotion is very good. It looks really fun for those that can do a biking tour. And it is so true that Issan is some of the most beautiful scenery and friendly people. I have lived and or visited Thailand for about 14 years and had never been to northern Isaan until 2 weeks ago when my Thai friend and I drove up to see a long time friend that is very ill. I was so surprised at how beautiful and modern it is. We went by car. At every PTT service stattion they had a new 7/11, Amazon Coffee shop, and beautiful gardens with waterfalls. The is a ton of super highway construction going on. We stayed at a small but new resort (250 baht); small bungalow with hot water and air conditioning. The farms and small villages are scenic. Lots of buffalo (all looked very healthy)and handsome guys working the farms. The mountains, rivers, temples...Issan has it all.

When I clicked i was directed to Nicky's Sunee Plaza site

Good for the Corner Bar for sponsoring this event and for those that are donating things. Take Care

Remember w2k? The world was to fall apart because computers would not recognize a date past 99 (1999). Remember the build up, the anxiety? Well I think this is how Pattaya and Thailand will be affected. But I have taken 3 million baht out of my Bangkok Bank account.....just in case!

Pattaya has had most of what RichLB described for several years. Also many new hotels and resorts are being built. But I am not sure that would be the end of the type of gay scene and girl bars many of us have come to enjoy. I also believe that the city government is fully aware of how much money comes in from the entertainment side. As we talk about the future of Pattaya, I still believe that gambling resorts will also open at some point. I believe they will be in the vicinity of Ambassador City. Bangkok has sex areas like Pattaya. Business, Tourism, government, etc. all combine without excluding any sector. I think Pattaya is becoming the same

I like the analysis by Marconi21. A very good post I believe

As most all ready know I am a bit confused. What happened to the New Year / Valentine's Day festival? I am happy part of the mystery is solved, but weren't there several things that happened at about the same time?

Actually I am a bit disappointed that those that know what is "going on" in Sunee have taken the attitude of not honestly saying what has been going on. So here is my theory based on extensive research. Sunne has become a business threat to the competition. They organized under a single banner and started to increase dramatically their customer base. While a competing area was having some of the biggest downturn they have experienced, several Sunee bar owners were having very good months. The fact that they had organized was paying off. The competition noticed this. At first they thought this Sunee up turn would fizzle out so paid little attention. But when it did not fizzle, they thought something must be done. Sunee had orgaized a great Lunar New Year and Valentines Day festival. many customers were looking forward to it. The festival was well advertised. AND THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. The solution was for the competition to nudge the powerful to "look into" Sunee. So the powerful started visiting the Sunee bars and arresting and fining bars for the littlest of infractions. Infractions that when revealed will make people say "you gotta be kidding". But this did spook some of the bar owners who had used to always like to stay out of the limelight. Stay under the radar. Not bring attention to their bars. Just use word of mouth. Some decided the publicity was bringing problems from the powerful into the area. Some felt it would be best to not go ahead with a festival and stop all talk about Sunee. Maybe this would take the pressure off and satisfy the competition who were better connected with the powerful. So now you know. Why did people not want anything said about Sunee on the boards??? Now it should be clear. The answer to is it safe to visit Sunee is of course yes. JUST DON"T TELL ANYONE.

I want to wish GB Happy VD...(Valentine's Day)

To clarify my point, I was not suggesting naming names but an explanation of what was going on in Sunee plaza. The last thing I would want is GB or anyone going to jail for something posted on the board. If that happened who would I go to dinner with ? But certainly explaining what is going on (without any name), should not be a problem should it?

I received a call this evening from a person in Chiang Mai asking what in the hell is going on in Sunee Plaza? He asked because of the "gag orders" on the different boards. In my opinion, by people not posting what they "hear" even as "hear say" it can damage Sunee Plaza. It damages it because some people may think worse things that what is true. As to over reacting, I am curious as to why GB feels he would be at jeopardy when he does not own the board, nor is he the only moderator. I think I would be at greater risk (under the theory expressed) if I made an opinion about a post. What I have heard is that at some bars, foreign owners do not have work permits and yet are very involved in the day to day operation of the bars. This maybe a problem for some. The idea of not naming names is because the boards are followed by the some authorities. Remember when Monty was sitting at his pool years ago, and the police arrested him and jailed him for a few days until he could make bail? The "owners" of bars in Boystown have work permits and a legal set up of their business. It was pointed out that something may happen several weeks ago. Many people laughed when I posted the thread from ThaiVisa; when it was suggested that some people could set up business to meet the legal requirements.

10% of something large is huge. In my opinion, love is boundless. So how big is 10% of infinity? Enough for any man I imagine.

Actually, the third hand smoke research is fairly new...

In my opinion that was the best post RichLB has made. It expresses what many have learned to be true.