ironbark

Sydney has just finished pulling down its thirty year old monorail system. Installed by an arrogant "can do" minister it was affectionately known as the monosnail. Totally out of character with the streetscape it was an amusement for some tourist and ignored by citizens.

Ironically, the current conservative govt. Is replacing it with a street level light rail system which will follow more or less the same route as the one that used to run 50 years ago and was removed because it was considered old fashion and interferred with the car traffic.

That may be true but assuming the gift was given with good intentions but I still think it is uncharitable to denigrate the intention of the gift.

Why do you call the gift giver an "idiot". We all receive unwanted gifts from time to time and accept them graciously in the spirit of goodwill that the gift intended.

I spend most of my time/money with the commercial trade because it saves energy and misunderstandings. I have met some really lovely boys who made no secret of their desire for a LOTR ...

"Commercial trade"?

LOTR?

commercial trade = rent boys.. gay for pay..... massage parlours..... host boy.... gogo bar boy ... prostitutes etc

LOTR ..... long term relationship.

The answer is simple, there is no answer.

There are boys out there that fit every description and I think I have met all of them.

There are genuinely nice boys who would really like to have good LTR with and older farang and many who would just see you as a walking wallet to be scammed.

I spend most of my time/money with the commercial trade because it saves energy and misunderstandings. I have met some really lovely boys who made no secret of their desire for a LOTR but so far I have rejected all overtures. The reason I think has more to do with me and my preferences rather than theirs.

The police seem to think that the "confession" is not necessary because the DNA will provide all the necessary proof. What they dont realise or at least not saying is that a smart lawyer only has to cast doubt on the way the DNA was collected, its security in storage or the possibility of contamination and it will be thrown out of court along with any chance of a conviction.

While there was a lot wrong with the beach chair system, mostly the fact that they totally dominated the beach with no "free" beach available to those that wanted to avoid them. Also since the cleanup we have heard about the corruption and collusion associated with the assignment of areas.

However, I also agree that they provided a welcome and decent service.

They were inexpensive, provided food and drink thoughtful shade adjustment and i felt some security for my possessions when I went in the water. I also noticed that they were quite fastidious in keeping their area clean of litter.

I think the complete clearing away has been a mistake was not the correct response to problems.

There needs to be a proper licensing system and oversight that regulates their activities and limits them to no more than say 40% of the sand area.

As someone has already pointed out it is easy for us on TV to speculate on the cause of the accident based on little or no evidence and judge all and sundry guilty.

What is evident however is that the Phuket Maritime Dept has a major problem on its hands with the boating and tourism industry being poorly regulated and supervised.

Many millions of baht are being spent on a dubious AIS system for a minority foreign cruising while the real safety issue associated with high speed tourist boats is being ignored.

I have said it before in other forums that there needs to be an enquiry into the maritime dept and the management to be held accountable.

I opened two accounts on a tourist visa and one account on a ED visa. Simply walk into a bank and ask to open an account, Simples

Same advice.. if at first you dont succeed, try, try, again.

For years I put off getting a bank account because people told me I needed all sorts of documents. Then one day I just walked into a bank in Sihom and asked to open an account. No problems, they couldn't have been more helpful. All they asked for was a copy of all the pages in my passport.

Twenty minutes later I had an account, ATM card, a passbook all my passwords all organised.

Goodness me, all those physical tests, and nothing about road rules. No wonder Thailand has one of the highest accident rates. (250 / 100 000 km compared to say Aust with 7 / 100 000 km )

I suppose it would not be a good time then to remind the Chinese of the 10 or so Han Emperors who kept male as well as female concubines.

Assuming it is true that the current law restricting foreign ownership is flouted more often than observed, especially in tourism and property development, yet it is also clear that these sectors are among the strongest in the economy.

It is therefore a reasonable conclusion that unrestricted investment, a truly free market, is not only not harmful but necessary. So why would you want to enforce protectionist policies. It doesnt make sense.

As I own a bus window cleaning company I am very pleased to hear this. All these unfortunate people see of Thailand is the bus window. They get driven from hotel to spending place, told where to eat, drink and toilet stop and eventually returned to their place of residence with instructions as to where to be at 07.30 the next day to press their noses against the window of the next tour.

Sounds like the ideal tourist to me. Keep them together and moved about in a special bus.

Instead of like those awful farang that insist on eating and drinking in Thai restaurants, getting drunk and fighting with tuk tuk drivers, and, and actually trying to be friendly with the locals, esp. the women.

It may havr been a genuine mistake and his lack of attention to the stamp he used. It happened to me once and I only noticed a week or two later. I went to the immigration office in Phuket and they re stamped it for the 60 days no problem. I think it happens more often than people realise.

you have to have serotology for syphilis(covers other STD's)

not heard that HIV is asked for

Just been informed by HR of requirements

Are you worried about the result ? Sounds like a good idea to me.

in reality a periodic HIV test doesnt hurt, and is a good idea and I for one would like to know sooner rather than later, if I did have HIV

Yes it is a good idea for personal reasons but that is not the point being made here.

The question is should it be a condition of employment and unless the job description includes activities that may result in accidental transmission of body fluids, for example some types of health or sports work then it should not be a condition of employment.

I don't particularly like amorous displays of affection in public places by either people regardless of sexual orientation. The peck on he cheek, the minor hug is fine -- I don't consider that amorous. The exchanging of bodily fluids I think should be a little further out of public view.

I am not revolted by it, but it's slightly uncomfortable. I am especially uncomfortable if I am not participating!

As a generalisation (there are always some exceptions ) humans as a species prefer to have sex in private but love to watch it.

Compare to animals who are willing to do it whenever and wherever.

- source unknown.

I think I have found the definitive gay agenda.

http://christwire.org/2011/06/14-outrageous-secrets-that-a-homosexual-will-never-tell-you/

Ditto about the age and energy thing. I've had two good LTR in the past before coming to Thailand. One died, the other we parted on good terms and still good friends so I think I have been more privileged than many. As I am in my reclining years now I have been pleasantly surprised at the interest and enthusiasm quite young gay Thai have had for a relationship with me. One of the pleasant discoveries as I aged is that their are some people that actually enjoy a relationship with older men.

Yes, money/security is usually the bottom line with them but I am not offended by that. It is human nature, gay or straight. Long term planning on their behalf is just common sense. I would do the same in their position.

The important thing is to know there also genuine interest, friendship, attraction, compatability. Call it love if you wish or something else but the important thing is you make a connection on that emotional level. Yes I have met my fair share of good looking straight money boys and we had a short fling. The physical side was bloody fantastic and I would have considered something more permanent but they lacked that essential emotional connection. Others I have met we really connected on the mental level but the physical side was frankly bleaaah!!!.

So I'm still looking for that third special person. If it happens great. If it doesn't, then I cannot complain because I have had such a good time in the search.

BTW, to answer you question, I do most of my hunting in massage shops. It saves a lot of time on the awkward explanations and avoids accidently offending if I pick up the wrong person. There are plenty of straight money boys but there are also plenty of more homely gay boys that realise they are rapidly approaching their use by date and seriously looking for their Mr Right.

Baby traffiking, pedophile conspiracy, body part factory; it never ceases to amaze me how people will believe the worst.

In a county like Thailand where too often the laws are weak and poorly enforced there will inevitably be abuse of the system. But that should not be taken as a justification for throwing the baby out with the bathwater so to speak. (sorry!)

It is to be hoped that this scandal will lead to improving the rule of law, but not banning a practise that if ethically and competently undertaken fulfils a great need in society.

I keep reading from people opposed to surrogacy that people should adopt instead.

They seem to be unaware of the fact that there are just not enough unwanted babies in Western countries available to adopt.

A huge social change occurred in the 1960's with the advent of the contraceptive pill, access to safe abortion and social welfare for single mothers. There was no longer the social stigma against unmarried mothers. Women started to keep their babies instead of giving them up to orphanages.

This was a good thing given the terrible abuses we now know about that happened to these children in those institutions.

Well managed and ethical surrogacy is a much more desirable way for childless couples to have a family.

The human body has numerous defence mechanisms to protect it self. In fact research is showing that many modern illnesses like asthma and allergies come about because our modern lifestyle is too hygenic.
Those that claim they never drink tap water are fooling themselves. When you shower, you invariably get tap water in your mouth. Same when you wash the dishes or rinse the vegetables.
Given health standards and poor enforcement in Thailand you have no guarantee that bottled water is any better than what comes from the tap.
If you do ever get tummy troubles it is more likely due to using a different source of water, which has a slightly different assemblage of bugs and it is just your immune system making adjustments.
One post correctly noted that to much RO water has its own problems because our bodies actually need a certain level of salts, minerals and good bugs to function properly.

In certain neighbouring countries they would have been served up as "ping ma" long before now.

I wonder if he will have to pay for "support". Make You think about having so many kids.

These guys blatantly break the law and not only are they not arrested and prosecuted, they aren't even fired. Of course, they do lose face by being transferred (demoted?), which is a big thing in Thailand ... but still not enough punishment. 

I know the militsry has enormous powers but only a properly constituted court of law should have the power to judge and punish them. It is called "the rule of law". No matter what you think of them due process must be followed.