Cool Water Palace

I recently discovered the phone net card.

When it works it's ok, but other voices in baclgwround. I often get messages that my account number does not have enough digits. I phoned the help line, but was told 'nothing wrong with card' I'd already said it works sometimes.

Any ideas, and are they covering up a problem? The first time there was a violent electric storm raging, so I thought that could be the problem, but it's happened in all weather conditions. When it is supposedly too short, I only occasionally get it to work by retrying.

I thought this thread was exhausted. But 2 interesting contributions from John K and Sheryl.

A point about references to occasional problems. Those men know they have performed in the past. I have not to any real extent.

I find little in the way of formal health services, rather than surrogacy at enormous expense, or non traditional massage services at less expense. My understanding as mentioned before, is that there are techniques in TTM but they are not provided much as such.

The hypnotherapy website I was referred to only mentions ED and 'Do you really need Viagra?" So I need in this area to follow the advice of John M. And thanks Van for offer.

I'd forgotten about the zinc role, and which foods have what minerals. I must check up. What are the best sources in Thailand?

No discussion of different approaches of western and eastern medicine, nor of the role of attitudes to sex and sexuallty in western religious countries over the centuries, and oriental perspectives. I was advised by a Chinese internet contact that I had an insecure seminal gate (a kidney problem) and he recommended a herbal concoction. I think a Thai practitioner offered a similar product but from crushed beetle. Well there are a lot of varieties around - more species (10 times more?) than all the other species of all kinds of animals put together.

Perhaps the PMs I received may be right about so-called non trad services (I'd dispute the absence of tradition!). The women who've become part of my life over the last few years are not able at present to help or cannot see a way to help. Sheryl's advice is sensible, and I'll respond more fully, perhaps by PM.

I drafted a reply here that could have got a bit heavy but I toned it down. I have angry views about sex and religion. And I've yet to discuss the relation of missionary influences and trad remedies in African countries with the friend i mentioned from Zimbabwe. The example of the South African health minister's views on ARVs leaves a lot to be desired, to say the least. But I think Viagra is based on traditional remedies.

Have we done with this topic? Better wait and see. I think now possible not after all.

I've found a solution I think. phone net is 5B + VAT (1B cheaper than to UK!) via freephone no, + local call charge from Public boxes. It also works via DTAC at least. Zim another matter - 32B + VAT land and mobile (5 and 10p respectively from UK)

hi guys

i have researched this permanent residence thingy and in theory I will be elligible to appy in decemebr 2007

i can satisfy all the stated criteria (even the 97k baht reluctantly), but you also have to take a thai language proficiency test, both reading writing and oral

i have some verbal fluency in market lao (which is all most of us have to go on in the general walk of life) but would balk at the idea of conversing with an educated thai

anyone know anything about this?

Kerriste!!!!!

Not another dose of Mr Purachai or his clone

Is this a sample of the kind of ill considered populist legislation that we can expect from now on

What else can we bash in the Tourist Industry here?

Why not shut everything down after 8pm as up country and have us all live like submissive peasants. (You vill laugh and be happy or you vill be shot)

Do they have the slightest idea what democracy is about

BTW last week the strip down pattaya was blasting away like the old days till 5am. Everybody happy

This place is going to become the Land of shieser for brains

Sorry I forgot to include that in my list of things to do. I had PM from one.

I think I should round up to comment on posts since my last reply.

I've had only one response from a fellow past 'sufferer'. No others willing to own up? And women's responses when faced with the problem?

There are more 'prurient' parts to other sites (with some interesting content which could be worth following up), but presumably only accessible in Thailand with difficulties. I'm ignorant in use of proxies.

Where do Thais go to resolve the issue - suitable massage facilities?

Re the suggestion about not masturbating, conflicting help. On this thread, one advised not to, which I sympathise with in view of the strange technique I adopted when I used to be in the act. Another reply elsewhere actually suggested doing so with sex toys. The latter have not seemed to serve much purpose to me when I've tried. and consumer surveys seem noticeable by their absence. They do nothing for me - none that I've tried in the way of vibrating substitutes at least.

Drugs? Mm. I never liked any in the past, except alcohol, caffeine and sex! I assume the suggestion did not include skunk. I could try some use of Viagra etc, as that might be helpful, as all is getting the better of me recently.

So I think I need suitable massage, mechanical or human, some ED drug use, a woman willing and able. 2 women here now in Thailand have tried, but one is not really interested in my situation and her English is very poor, but otherwise a good companion in bed. Another, I think I love more strongly as she's a really good woman to know, and I want to stay connected, and I think she does too, although she is very busy in other ways for now. I'm working on her, hopefully sensitively, and hope to meet her now tomorrow, but only probably for lunch. I also have a friend, so far platonic, on another continent, but practical issues of politics, visa regulations and interpretation thereof, economics, religion, geography, studies, and I think past abandonment and sex troubles stand in the way of a sexual relationship. But she's a wonderful woman, and I've known her longest.

So I think that's it for now. I'll check for responses for a while.

I need to phone a friend in South Africa, and find the cheapest seems to be VJ internet at 20p per min to land lines. I dare not ask about calls to cell phones there! They are at the higher end of the range of such calls via discount connections from UK. To land lines they are only 4p per min.

The info on posters in Lenco booths includes SA, but attempted calls do not connect. I could not get through to an English speaking machine or human on their enquiry number.

I sometimes also need to call Zimbabwe. Any suggestions there. I had an impossible task to Econet numbers in Zimbabwe for some time, but the problems seemed to have been greatly eased a few weeks ago. 10p per min is possible to cell numbers, and 5p to landlines (same as Thailand - land and mobile).

I suspect there are many factors affecting the rates available for calling different countries - reasonable problams of logistics as well as extortionate access charges by networks in the countries concerned. Why should access to Thailand cell nos be among the cheapest anywhere?

I'm due to arrive 1830 on Thursday. I'm still wondering if it makes sense for a greeter to come by taxi (probably of a friend's brother), and wait for me, and getting to Sukhumvit near Soi 20/22 before dawn.

How is all this, good and bad, being reported on Thai TV? And in Thai language press? Extracts here evidence of a critical stance by Bangkok Post and Nation.

I've been confused in the past when flights leave soon after midnight. The date is of course the next day, I have to re- remind myself, and 'just after midnight' is before 3am - as a general rule. So BA seem to have got it right. Their point will have applied to all flights in the procession to other European cities which leave around that time.

The flights may be just before midnight during the Northern winter and Southern summer, because of the 2 hour time difference in the difference between UK and Oz. I think my first flight from BKK was before midnight in November a few years back.

Flightstats link causes Safari to crash. Another teething problem. I'll try again in a few days.

Firefox OK. More information than is necessary, I think

Flightstats link causes Safari to crash. Another teething problem. I'll try again in a few days.

Thanks looks good. I've been told of a hotel, but location not known yet, at 310B pn. As I'll be out of BKK for 7-10 days during my stay, that may be more economic. But I fancy the pool! Maybe for my longer stay when I'm earning.

Just checked Heathrow live departures. Only one flight seems to be leaving tonight to Bangkok, and Sydney (Bangkok via Sydney - so they say! How do they manage that?) so they reduced flights to one in line, I imagine, with the comments that airlines were being cautious about running their usual schedules on the first day. That one flight left 2 hours late - coincidence or what?

CWP:

You wrote you had no (or limited) sexual education whatsoever and 'consumed' sex for the first time when you were 28 years old.

You also write about 'ladies/women/girls'.

Have you discovered already whether you are hetero-/homo- or bisexual?

Could your 'problem' be in that hemisphere?

LaoPo

A strange post, I think.

Ladies: well only when referring to the 'ladies forum', cos that's what's it's called.

women: once only - surprisingly, I feel.

girls: not me, never I hope. That was other contributors. Personally, I do not like references to women as girls (Am I perverse? Maybe), nor do I really like the expression 'bar girls', but I think we're probably stuck with that, and I don't wish to go to the barricades about it. 'What expression would I use?', I hear many say. I've not the faintest idea!

And to answer your question - NO.

I had an attraction to another boy in my class when I was 11. And I recall two advances by gay men to me. One on a beach in the Med, who was aggressively wanting my company, but who was accompanied by his mom, which I thought strange, and another on Primrose Hill in London on a blazing hot day, when I was flashed, as I was walking near him only in shorts. Not even on the Heath!

So make of that what you will.

Yeah. watched it all on TV: Sky, BBC mainly. But the live reports of riots in the centre of Budapest were much more exciting! I think the cops there will all go to training college again, or the commander will be sacked! I don't think they had the faintest idea what they were doing. Even the water cannon ran out of water and was disabled.

Maybe they thought after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the coming of a liberal economy, there'd be no more need for crowd control training!

Off topic? Certainly, but someone said on another thread that it's a quiet night. And it's one world.

A friend came from Wam Nam Yen, so I asked on the Thai language forum what it meant. I was told 'Cool Water Palace' hence... I still never found out where the cool water palace is or was. It seems just main street, anywhere on a trunk road, to some extent, with a few back streets. I think in the past the place may have been first settled because of a local spring, possibly a consequence of the volcanic outcrops to the north. I want to know more about Thailand's geology. Any references known, in English? Or have I not studied the regular guide books closely enough?

My first effort was all in one word, but that was already taken, so I split it up.

What you are experiencing is not as uncommon as you think.

I'd usually read that it was in 1-4% of men, but the I recently read that 8% have the problem at some time.

I am not a man so don't fully understand the problem. I have a question though, do you get the orgasmic rush without the ejaculation of fluid or not? Maybe you have retrograde (?) spelling ejaculation and it is going into your bladder. Do you notice sediment when you pee?

Sorry I couldn't be much help. Glad I am not a man though

I do get orgasmic sometimes without ejaculation. I forget the details, but i'd read about retrograde ejaculation but decided that was not the problem. Also prior to my surrogate therapy, I had a check by a specialist doctor, and he thought I was otherwise ok.

You may have a problem with letting go of control during sex, and/or self-monitoring rather than losing yourself, which is generally a requirement. I'm assuming you're able to stimulate yourself to conclusion? I'd recommend giving up the self-stimulation to give you maximum motivation to resolve this problem. At the same time, you will need to develop at least one satisfactory semi-long-term connection with someone- even if it is only for therapeutic purposes- in order to get over your self-consciousness and build some trust. It may be that issues of trust and control are ruining both your personal life and your sex life. A counsellor or therapist may also be useful.

"Steven"

Yes, in other words. It's like riding a bike? Or learning to drive? Swimming?

I've never fully ejaculated with a partner, but have occasionally come very near, unless it was orgasmic excitement. I did masturbate a fair amount for many years, once I'd started a bit late, but not in a very usual position. The 'sort of foetal' position might be in the Kama Sutra, though! I'd had strange ideas when I was little about what sex was. this tailed off for a few years, and I even stopped achieving this completely 2-3 years ago. Stress has been part of the problem about my life in general, which has no doubt worsened my deep-rooted inhibitions in my view (and apparently a consensus here).

My sex education was totally non-existent, even amongst peers (and I recall seeing no wildlife films of lions at it, for example). I'd become something of a loner when a child, so I was interested to read about chimpanzees who are brought up for first 6 years, having no sight of copulating pairs. so they could not perform, even with a receptive female. They did not know what to do. I don't know if this was from observations in the wild or in a zoo or other domestic environment. I feel my experience was not too dissimilar! My first attempted sex was when I was 28, since when there have been only occasional short-term relationships. My successful relationships have tended to be platonic.

This problem is often encountered with men taking certain prescription mediciations and with those taking any form of speed ("uppers").

Any drug use or regular medications?

If no medications/drug use of any sort, and physical exams are normal, then presumably pschyological. For which, psychotherapy.

Do you have the same problem when on your own (masturbation) or is it only when with a partner?

See above about masturbation. Only drugs are generally occasional ibuprofen or paracetamol.

Thanks everyone for the helpful comments and suggestions. Noone admitted to the remedy of a vibro-ejaculator!

Are there any South African trained teachers reading this forum who were trained in Cape Town?

In particular I seek information on the value of the teaching courses of the Academy of English in Cape Town, Claremont, Cape Town. It may be more appropriate to send a PM.

Apparently, according to a friend currently in Cape Town, they arrange most placements in Korea, but some in Thailand.

Their web address is www.aoect.com.

"Many TRT figures now in London"

So says the subheading of the thread, but the content does not really deal with this, so this post may be in line with the original intention, but not with the content.

What I want to say, and I hope is considered relevant, is:

All these people on London? I don't want at all to pursue the immigration issue - a red herring in my view. But, unless a post 'junta' (?) government is again TRT, will relations between UK and Thailand be a bit strained, especially if plotting continues after there may be common support for developments after appointment of a PM? But then all sorts have plotted in exile in London (eg Marx/Engels, and African liberation movements).

Censorship - come on why won't they allow coverage of thaskin?? Smth seems a bit off I'm afraid.

True, they won't allow his mug on TV, but from what I can see on BBC and CNN and the offshore newspapers, he has gone underground basically. If I was him I'd be taking my story to the international media, to press my case. But he hasn't seemed to have done that.

Regrouping and plotting his next moves I'd imagine.

In a Thai restaurant in Chapel Market, if the reported sighting on another thread is to be believed. But then I thought I saw Thaksin in Oxford Street last week, before going to the UN!

But seriously, there's been no comment, that I recall on TV, on the reporting in the press abroad. Most in the UK seems to have the tone " coup, eh -- tut tut ". I agree at the moment, but the responses surely need to be more constructive.

I found a report in the Financial Times by Amy Kazmin which seems very sound (without my having particular knowledge), and the website has many other links, but further access needs registration and payment. An article in the Guardian (free on their website) by Jonathan Steele (a columnist I normally respect) was a bit sniffy, and even more so was an article in the Times by Bronwen Maddox (free on website? - I don't know). I don't feel I'm in a position to say much very objectively, but perhaps those who are would care to comment on foreign journalists' responses, and even public responses of Government ministers. Perhaps the latter are waiting for the Prime Minister to be appointed, and see what happens then. I've seen no reports yet of recognition of the new régime.

An interesting coincidence, as you see from the preceding post to yours. Your budget is higher, though! A decent hotel room with, of course, utilities, except cooking facilities and internet access can be had for 600-800B per night, with, no doubt discounts for a month.

When I saw your post, I thought: ah, we should share somewhere with two rooms, but you want more luxury, methinks. I hope to go to Udon Ratchathani and/or Sa Kaew, besides a trip to the seaside during my stay, all of which will take out at least 10 days, perhaps, so I might still go for a hotel room at 500-600 B, while in BKK.

If you've not been before, Soi 22 is 5-10 mins from Sukhumvit BTS station, but with a rather nasty adjacent crossroads to negotiate, but more so from the Asok skytrain station. I'm not familiar with the central business area, except for one-off visits to particular places. You'd probably find better value elsewhere, as can be seen in the threads on BKK districts.

So you've not been before. There are 3 big problems with BKK, which you probably already know. 1 the traffic. 2 the traffic. and 3 the traffic! Especially as it's not the hottest time of the year.

I am taking, no doubt, one of their disfavoured courses, as not enough money or time for the 'recommended' full course. I'm a convinced devotee of distance learning, and hence now online also, for the theoretical part of courses, especially for mature students, with prior experience and/or quals. (But I know what may be said - TIT).

But, anyway, do the officials at MOE have discretion to take into account prior teacher training?

I intend to approach the college that runs my course and see if they are aware of this development, and whether they are making representations. Is this happening, to anyone's knowledge? They could use the argument that many may go to other countries where they get more pay anyway, and their certificates are accepted! They'd need to provide the supporting evidence.

In the past I've been met by friends who come in a taxi, then wait for me to emerge from immigration. I've usually then had to wait varying lengths of time while one of the friends goes to get the taxi to come. How feasible will this arrangement be at the new airport?

And to pick up a thread on another topic, how long then to Sukhumvit Soi 22 at about 1930 on a Thursday, assuming flight is on time? I assume the friends should leave at lunchtime to get to the airport early evening.

Am I looking for the impossible? A basic, clean room, with shower at least, for one month from Oct 5. I'm on a budget this time so do not want a hotel room at 600B minimum per night. I was thinking of a maximum of 7-8000B for the month! And obviously plus a deposit. I know they exist for 5000B and less but whether they are available for a farang is another matter.

Would it better to commute, and have to pay some taxi fares?

Any suggestions?