Rogie

I see this from the FAQ section of that web site you quote FH. This and other comments made on the site make it clear to me the organisers have the patience of Job and are doing a good 'job' in the face of entrenched intransigence!

Nice to see people enjoying themselves. As a matter of interest, I think i am right in saying you lived in HK at one time FH. Assuming that was before 2006 (the date of the first 'flotilla'), how would you say the LGBT scene there has developed since you left?

Thanks for supplying ten reasons why opening an account might be a good idea. As it would appear to be quite a simple thing to do it makes sense to do it - even if you do not make much use of the account you haven't lost any money. I assume there are no hidden (ie. not explained to you ) nasty charges for 'current accounts'. I am now convinced it behooves me to open one.

Does anyone recognise any of these places recommended in a recent article in Britain's Telegraph newspaper? The first one is a hotel and the other three are restaurants. Aloft Bangkok A newcomer to Bangkok, this is a hip, contemporary hotel that is located downtown in Sukhumvit, walking distance from bars, restaurants and shops, and a free tuk-tuk ride to the nearest Sky Train and subway stations (0066 2207 7000; starwoodhotels.com/alofthotels). ____________________________________________________ La Table de Tee Currently Bangkok’s hottest ticket, La Table de Tee is the brainchild of innovative young chef Tee Kachonklin, who creates a different Franco-Thai tasting menu each day. Reservations are essential (69/5 Saladaeng Road; 2636 3220). Brio It might seem odd to eat Italian cuisine in Thailand, but chef Antonio Facchinetti’s passion for food is equalled only by his skill and imagination in preparing it – this is fine Italian dining at its best (Anantara Bangkok Riverside; 2476 0022). Sala Rim Naam Sala Rim serves lavish Thai tasting menus accompanied by classical Thai dancing performances. For a more tranquil, dance-free experience, dine alfresco by the river at Terrace Rim Naam (2437 6211). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/9349183/Cruises-Thailands-river-of-kings.html

British newspapers often carry stories of foreigners living in Britain, legally or not, who have carried out crimes. The reader is left feeling indignant that such people can come to our country, accept our hospitality, yet abuse that trust. This BP article shows us the other side of the coin. We've known for some time that Brits behaving badly abroad is very common, but it's usually assumed they are just visiting a foreign country and got a little carried away, so it's rather disconcerting to have it rammed home that Brits living abroad are more than capable of abusing the hospitality and trust of their adopted home. I take it the younger one came to Thailand with his father 'more than 10 years ago' which would make him 15 or even younger when he arrived. That suggests his father / parents cared little for his future welfare if they were prepared to disrupt his schooling at a difficult age. I'm not trying to make excuses for this guy, but if I had to guess I'd say he comes from a pretty dysfunctional family.

A tasty tit-bit from mother China: (After reading this it'd be a toss up whether I'd prefer the real mccoy or the fake!) . . . and another juicy morsel: http://www.telegraph...-pigs-ears.html

I don't know about you, but when I see an item, especially a new techie-gadget that's bound to be popular with buyers, that's significantly cheaper in one place compared with others, I suspect something . . . GB's example of the bread machine is different, because I very much doubt anybody is going to go to the trouble of making 'copies'.

The new Gay Pattaya site (see recent topic in the main forum) has a couple of queer (i.e odd) links: Glad that's the 'quick' summary - I wouldn't want to have to wade through anything more verbose. http://queerstrokes....queer-and-then/ http://queerstrokes.wordpress.com/ I think he's saying or implying the gay scene has become too 'establishment' and needs to go back to its roots in order to become more inclusive. Hence it's ok to resurrect a word whose alternative meaning some had consigned to the dustbin. I realise this topic originally focused on Asian academics and activists use of the word queer. I am interested in the way language is used, how new words come along and existing ones change their meaning or emphasis. Sorry if I am boring anyone!

If there's one thing these boys exude, it's cleanliness. They're squeaky clean. I couldn't possible imagine anything dirty transpiring between them. Another thing, I love their dress sense - an eclectic amalgam of dressing gowns, bulging Y-fronts, cummerbunds and sawn-off dinner jackets . . .

Thank you for that link Bottomdad. Writing a blog cannot be easy. The blogger has to capture his readership and make them want to come back on a regular basis. He has to find his own little niche, and fill it with interesting, original and informative content. And thought-provoking stuff too? That latter aspect seems to be an important part of this blogger's style, at least on his home page. I haven't looked at any other pages as I am not really interested in the day-to-day goings-on in Pattaya. The blog has plenty of humour and I didn't read anything crude or in bad taste. It doesn't seem to be his style to slag other people or businesses off either. There was a well-liked and respected late gentleman known as Gay Pattayan - so by calling himself Gay Pattaya, I wonder how that will go down. For myself, Pattaya is full of 'gays', gay this and gay that so provided there is no confusion I don't see a problem. He says he's lived in Pattaya a long time, so there . . . ! I wish this new blog every success, and as far as I can tell he's an Englishman, so that's a good start!

The only way to be sure is to ask! I would love to have the confidence to do just that. Funny thing is, I might quite possibly go out of my way and take the time to speak to any friendly-looking local when I am a visitor in their country, but if I were to meet that same person in a neutral (or third-party country, so-to-speak), I wouldn't. Queer!

Well I don't know for sure if every low season is worse than the year before because I don't visit Thailand often enough out of the October - May period to be able to see with my own eyes, but reading these boards for several years the same comments keep recurring, "this 'low season' is the worst I can remember" and similar. A recent topic was titled Lookin' for fun this VERY low season. I wonder if comments such as these and discussions such as this one do not serve to put gay men off. I recall at one time somebody telling me "I love the off season, nice and quiet and more boys for me!". Fine if there are indeed lots of boys, and all he wanted to do was mess around like a true pteradactyl, but what about the atmosphere, the 'feel' of a place? Anyone other than possibly a first-time visitor must surely enjoy interacting with other people in a non-sexual way, other farang, joking with the boys in the outdoor bars whilst enjoying a drink, etc. If I had to make a guess I would say talk of a really bad low season is more likely to put men off coming rather than Pattaya's popularity as a family destination. As alluded to in the previous post "I asked if the bars bothered them and he said not at all that the kids don't go outside the hotel grounds late night." I would imagine men in Pattaya for the sex are not going to let a few families holed-up in their hotels bother them in the slightest! The other aspect of concern might be age - is the average age of the gay population either resident in or visiting Pattaya increasing? I would suspect the answer to that is 'yes' for those in the ex-pat community. Visitors I don't know, but unless Pattaya is getting a constant supply of fresh new faces of all ages then clearly it will start to decline. The lack of fresh new faces from China, Korea, etc has been mentioned already.

Kiwis? None that I know of (who post). It would be nice to hear from any members currently living there, or living abroad but born in New Zealand. Any Kiwis reading this, you are lucky indeed. Many young New Zealanders get a wanderlust judging by how many you meet in Europe, but I wonder just how many don't yearn to return to the nest, settle down and live happily ever after. I would imagine it is a very fair, open and progressive country. I hope the Maoris are treated well. The country excels at rugby football, the 'all-blacks' always formidable opposition. Have you seen them do the 'haka' before a game? Winos? I assume you are using that term in a friendly fashion? In Britain to be called a 'wino' is a bit like saying somebody is on skid row; a down-and-out. Assuming you mean somebody interested in wine who enjoys a good bottle from time to time maybe even having a wine cellar or cooler, then I'd be very surprised if there weren't many such reading this. I am one of them, but because I buy and drink wine from many different countries I haven't got sufficient knowledge to be able to recommend particular wines. I can only generalise, for example with dinner last night I enjoyed an excellent Chilean Rose Merlot, name on the bottle was 'Aromo' and it came from the Maule Valley. I have no idea whether all Chilean roses are good, but as rose is my current favourite style of wine I will definitely try any I come across from Chile. I really should try and record the names and tasting notes of wines I drink, but I hardly ever do that. Some people keep a wine diary, that must be an excellent resource for reference purposes, if you have the discipline to keep records. I imagine so. But no doubt there are bargains to be had (underrated), just as some wine growers rest on their laurels and charge too much (overrated). I suppose the power of the marketplace holds sway in the long term.

Good Google 'cartoon' simulation today (Sat 23rd) - too complicated for me to follow even though it comprises just zeroes and ones, and the solution is supplied in the link below showing how to solve the Alan Turing Google doodle! http://searchenginew...omputer-Science

Hope of a new dawn in Somalia Mogadishu is enjoying its longest period of relative peace since the 1980s, writes Nick Meo in the Somali capital. Is it possible that the country has turned a corner? http://www.telegraph...ists-ranks.html

April Ashley receives MBE for services to transgender equality http://news.pinkpape...r-equality.aspx In an article in The Independent, her biographer Duncan Fallowell recalls, having met her when he was an undergraduate at Oxford in the 60's. "We gave a celebrated dinner for her in the Oscar Wilde Room at Magdalen College. The porters served the food and stood against the walls like footmen. The climax came when April leaped on to the mahogany dining table and performed a flamenco in and out of the candlesticks. Magdalen had never seen anything like this - Ever." http://www.independe...ed-7856581.html

I often enjoy reading the obituaries of notable WW2 servicemen that appear in the British press, they all have a story to tell, but of course they are always Brits, so it makes an interesting change to read about a German. This chap with the same name as the Swiss pervert was quite some character. I like this quote of his:

Yup, I think we all got it now! On reflection did I not in modesty draw attention to the drinks cabinet? From that vantage point our fatty friend is unmistakeably not female.

The pink flower pot? The candles? Hang on, what about that 'well-stocked' drinks cabinet?

Here is another weirdo, this time a Swissman, this article appeared in May this year: Read more: http://www.dailymail...l#ixzz1y2vhb8IU Der Spiegel have this article from October 2007: Then the article says this Bizarre! http://www.spiegel.d...k-a-511775.html

Read more: http://www.dailymail...l#ixzz1y2vhb8IU

That lithe young Chinese dancer is (well he certainly looks) wonderful. I would imagine his body to be beautifully toned, oozing youthful vitality and a lust foir life. See if you can find out his name in whatever dance group he is a member - maybe he has a fan club and with any luck a selection of face and body shots. Even if not suitable for use as an avatar, if they exist they might form the basis of a new topic.

Well I suppose it's entirely possible . . . With regard to my earlier comment about cannibilism and sex, Colin Wilson in his book 'A Criminal History oI Mankind' mentions a rather strange account of what is alleged to happen; In a book called The Beginning Was the End written in 1971, a Hungarian anthropologist called Oscar Maerth comes up with a theory whose starting poin tis the evidence for widespread cannibilism among our ancestors. Wilson wrote: "Basing his theory on his study of modern head-hunters in Borneo, Sumatra and New Guinea, Maerth argues that the eating of human brains stimulates intelligence and increases sexual excitability. He points out that in parts of Asia, fresh ape brain is still regarded as a delicacy, and can be bought in restaurants. The animal is killed immediately before the meal , and its brains are eaten raw". Maerth says: Wilson goes on: "Early man ate the brains of his enemies - perhaps believing he could absorb his courage and other virtues - and discovered it made him more intelligent. It also caused him to become obsessed with sex, and removed the animal inhibitions against having sex when the female was not in season". As far as I am aware Maerth's theory is unproven. It all sounds a bit far-fetched to me, but bear in mind what the German cannibal said happened to him after eating the other man - he spoke good English, and afterwards he noticed an improvement in his abilities. Believe it or not, it is a very difficult theory to disprove! .

Here's a report from Britain's Guardian newspaper from December 2003: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/dec/04/germany.lukeharding

Yeah, after wading through that food fight now I know what you did with the hot dog! Coming soon on this thread: (Thaiworthy - if you post to say you'd rather I didn't I won't do it) - Did you know eating brains is reputed to be an aphrodisiac?