wowpow

Is there any way to pressure the new Thai Government through Embassies and/or Tourist Authority Thailand to simplify and regularize the Visa rules?

Consulates and Embassies and local Immigration Office all seem to operate by their own rules and introduce new regulations at a whim. Even in one office you can find that different officers will apply rules differently. Pattaya, Phuket and Penang seem to have a particular history of introducing and/or threatening to introduce new rules which either never get applied or sometimes are applied for a while and very occasionally last. One only has to look at this forum and others such as Lonely Planet Thorntree to see the massive confusion and distress caused by the current situation. There must be thousands who decide to holiday elsewhere when they enter the quagmire of varied and changing requirements.

Air fares from the West are soaring and currencies falling in relation to the Baht. The new Government is expecting much increased revenue from Tourism and could well be expected to back changes?

I don't really understand why Air NZ is being castigated for offering a gay ride to Sydney for the Gay Mardi Gras Parade.

There are gay hotels, restaurants, cruises. bars, brothels, ghettos, shops. holidays etc.. Why is an airflight different?

Pattaya Im migration Rules - as I found them

When I went to Immigration late January they confirmed that the 800,000 baht in the bank was only for the first time application. I also found that they reduced the extension to the 30 days permission to visit Visa free to 7 days but the fee of 1900 baht remains the same.

When I went to report my 90 days at the same address - now over 5 years. I was told that I had to renew my retirement Visa on 20th July - which I knew - he then said and no extension - I did not know than any extension was possible? I said "and 800,000 in the bank" he replies "Yes" I said " but three months not necessary?" reply " Three months is necessary" "Are you sure" "I am VERY sure".

On 19th July I went to renew my Visa. It is always a worry as you don't know what new "rules" they will spring on you. Also they don't like you applying before the last week of the old Visa. This means if anything goes wrong and you don't get the new Visa you have urgent problems. I go very early, I dress nicely, I smile a lot. In addition to the usual papers. I had to get photocopies of all my bank book pages back to when the money came in from abroad. I also had to get a photocopy of my first arrival stamp in my passport.

The tales in Peter Murrell’s If Truth Be Told are mainly about gay men in Thailand, and any reader who, as resident or visitor, knows the scene will recognise with pleasure the many touches that show the writer has noted and thought about the puzzles, oddities and curiosities of ‘farang’ life in the Land of Smiles. They are deftly sketched, the language is lively and clear, and the author’s ironic eye and wit seldom fail him. However, though the material is explicit when it needs to be (as in Sex Show, where we have to experience what the main character feels), these stories do not bring the instant gratification that some may expect from ‘gay fiction’. Some are highly comic, but readers should perhaps take their cue from the early pages of the book – including the painting reproduced on the front cover

This is a radical take on a famous modern painting, but the elegant calm of the original is replaced by a very tense scene. The farang and the Thai boy confront each other, the former hesitantly expectant, the latter shy, perhaps filled with foreboding. There is a great, unfilled space between them and it is by no means sure that anything will be created to fill it. The epigraph of the book is "If thou hast not seen the devil, look at thine own self"; and the first story, Short Time (a title that turns out to be savagely ambiguous), hardly makes for a comfortable read. A totally unremarkable first-time visitor to Thailand rambles in his thoughts as a boy sleeps on the bed in the short-time room. Peter Murrell does not deal in snappy endings, but the shocks can be devastating. Within the first seven pages of the book we have been brought face-to-face with what, in other contexts, has been called ‘the banality of evil’.

Full article http://www.spicemag.net/viewarticle.php?article=139

Take time to have a browse around SPICE's nice new webzine.

The cover picture by 'Bird' Sawekjun is patently 'after' Hockney's Mr and Mrs Ozzie Clark and Percy. Surprisingly there is no credit. Maybe all will become clear with further reading?

I have just read the first three stories and I find them very good indeed.

My friend and I were sure that Claudio would be 'more than comfortable' helping host a Gay Festival Dinner.

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Guest chef again at Bruno’s

by Miss Terry Diner - Pattaya Mail

It’s that time of year again, when enterprising restaurateur Fredi Schaub of Bruno’s Restaurant and Wine Bar imports a European chef to refresh the taste buds of the Pattaya gourmets. Following on from the success of the last two years (chefs Luca Messina and Peter Marti), Fredi has this time brought over chef Claudio Forti, who has been showing his culinary expertise since August 1 and will stay at Bruno’s until August 31.

Remembering wonderful culinary treats from his previous chefs, it was with much expectation that the Dining Out Team accepted Fredi’s invitation to meet chef Claudio, and to try some of the different dishes that he has brought with him.
We are presuming that surely everyone in Pattaya knows where Bruno’s is located, but just in case... it is on the left side coming down Thappraya Road, about half way between the Nirvana Place at the top of the hill and Thepprasit Road near the bottom. There are ongoing roadworks, but the car park attendant will show you that there is more than adequate parking alongside the restaurant, as well as at the front.
Again, for any newcomer who has not dined at Bruno’s Restaurant and Wine Bar, it is one of Pattaya’s elite fine dining restaurants, with the service and décor that you would expect of an establishment of this caliber.

Need we say more?
To fully appreciate this new visiting chef’s culinary efforts, it does help to know something of the man. Claudio Forti is a proud Piedmontese, a man who decided to go into the world’s kitchens to follow the direction given him by his maternal grandmother, herself a superb cook. Like all passionate Italian chefs he is only too happy to discuss the merits of Italian cheeses over the ‘inferior’ products from France and Australia, and, given time, would be pleased to educate his listeners on the differences in the 200 types of extra-virgin olive oil. “We don’t use olive oil, we use extra-virgin olive oil!” This man is a perfectionist in the kitchen.
We began with some starters, first off a Piedmont flan of Parmesan and green asparagus. The flan was particularly good. It is difficult to get a good flan and most restaurants are afraid of this delicate dish, but Claudio is not. Since savory flans originated in Italy, this might be the reason. Despite the asparagus not being exactly like Italian asparagus (according to Claudio), this dish had a wonderful meld of flavors, and I liked it very much. Our other starter was a blue fin tuna and rock lobster with a mango salad. This had everything - taste, flavors and textures. A great introduction to his Italian style of cooking.....

Full article http://www.pattayamail.com/current/dining.shtml

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Unsolicited

I dined there last evening with a good friend and we were delighted with the offerings. Virtually the whole menu is by Claudio. The Piedmont flan of Parmesan and asparagus was much as Terry describes above, my friend had an intense mushroom soup topped with a parmesan cup of sauteed mushroom - he was cooing with delight. Deep fried Ozzie lamb cutlets were a triumph, trimmed of all fat and with the thinnest coating of fine breadcrumbs cooked still just pink in the middle and served over a spinach salad on a pizza bread - Breast of duck was cooked to perfection and served with a fine sauce, crushed potatoes with cheese and fresh beans. An excellent Panna Cote paled when tasted next to the sumptious Zabaglione ices. Freddi offers an off list distinctive pudding wine - a Chilean Moscatel which is a delight, well balanced sweetness and acidity. A truly memorable meal and service as ever at Bruno's was deft and attentive.

Claudio circulated and chatted at the tables. He speaks very good English and is quite a charmer. He teaches in the Winter and works in Hotels during the Summer. He seems to be enjoying himself in Thailand very well indeed.

Bruno's Reservations 038 364 600

I was at Pattaya Immigration Office this morning. The Senior Police officer at the retirement section confirmed that this rule will apply from 1st October 2007.

One cannot help wondering what they hope to achieve. The letter from the Embassy says that you have told them that you get $XXX pension, that's all.

Another peg in the Thai Immigration 'charm offensive' to make foreigners welcome?

21 July 2007

Jomtien Gay Community is organising another great

evening of fun with a fashion show by POPPEOPLE, Shows

by EXXIT & Dolce Vita boys, raffle + Mr Summer Fantasy

2007 contest.

Start 8 PM at EXXIT, Jomtien Complex until late.

Entrance 250 Baht including 100 Baht for Cammilian

Centre for children with HIV and Take Care charities.

I hope this sort of thing is allowed

bendix - doubting Thomas and bitter-mints. Will someone please give him a Mickey Fin so that he will believe in them.

One should always look on the brightside of Life da dum da dee.. If drugged asleep and robbed at least they didn't cut your throat and bury you in a shallow grave near the airport.

The airport permits touts as they rent desks at the airport probably expensively which is why they need such large fees compared to meter taxis. Stikll that is no reason for the AOT to permit these touts.

They are waiting to select a new Chairman at AOT. They have 10 applicants for the 900,000 baht a month job including two airforce Generals.

Everyone seems to be imposing Western values on their Thai boy. Make him work, invest in business, go to school to improve oneself. Thai attitude is 'I have farang no need to work'. Buddhism teaches Thais to accept their current life as it is, make merit so that the next life will be better. For most farm boys there is no way to improve their situation so they don't try or see it as an option. The one way out is LUCK which is why gambling is so popular. Big luck is to find a rich farang.

Most lads will agree to whatever their farang insists upon and if it sounds amusing will go ahead with any project. Often interest fails after the initial excitement and the project fails.

There are exceptions, of course, and it is rewarding for Western eyes to see their boyfriend make a success of something. I just say be aware that your friend may be thinking as I write above.

One guy I know is working in a Bangkok go-go bar and saying he had no money. I said " Yes but you have buffalo?" He swelled with pride and said " No I have fifty cows, we buy them small and make them fat and then sell them it is a very good business". Another go-go boy has bought a Garage repair business valued now over 1 million baht.

I think this oldie is on a par.

Novice "Mother Superior we have found a cas e of Syphilis in the Convent"

Mother Superior " Good I was tiring of the Beaujolais "

Much of Silom Soi 4 does close for Songkran anyway for their staff to visit families and to avoid the excessive exuberance of those celebrating. Telephone Bar was advertising that it would open. Maybe that's now cancelled?

"Nationwide security alert for Songkran - Bangkok Post

BANGKOK: -- Authorities have issued a full security alert in the wake of an explosion in front of a Bangkok mall. Australia warned that more bombings were feared at Songkran this weekend.

Bangkok areas of particular concern were the Khao San Road, a celebrated meeting point for foreign tourists and backpackers, and Sanuam Luang, a large park in the centre of the old part of the city which attracts thousands of Songkran revellers.

The government has ordered extra police in Bangkok for Thai New Year celebrations this weekend to try to prevent a repeat of the New Year's Eve serial blasts that killed three people.

Pol Lt-Gen Adisorn Nonsee said more than 3,000 police officers would patrol the capital, up from the current 1,500, during the five-day Songkran festival which kicks off on Thursday afternoon.

Piyabutr Jiwaramonaikun, chairman of the Association of Khao San Traders, said more than 100 soldiers, policemen and civil volunteers would be on duty in the backpackers' festival area while bomb detectors would also be used as part of the security measures.

Mr Piyabutr expected that more than 10 million baht would be circulated during the four-day event on Khao San Road which should see a daily turnout of 40,000-50,000 Thai and foreign celebrants.

He said revellers would be banned from applying talcum powder on others and each day's festival would end at 7 pm. Water gun is one of the favourite equipments to splash water on others during the festival.

Nobody was hurt in Monday night's explosion in front of Major Cineplex Ratchayothin, but three phone booths were damaged. Police detained, but later released a taxi driver suspected of planting the home-made device.

The Australian embassy in Bangkok issued an advisory to its citizens in late February, saying it had received reports of possible bombs in crowded places such as department stores or public transport in the capital.

The advice, renewed today in an announcement, urged "a high degree of caution because of the high threat of terrorist attack".

"Thai authorities have previously warned of the possibility of further co-ordinated bombings in Thailand to coincide with symbolic dates, including in Bangkok and the southern provinces," the travel advice said.

"They have mentioned the Buddhist festive season of Songkran (around the period April 11-17, 2007) as a particular time of concern. We assess these warnings are credible," it said.

"Further terrorist attacks could occur at any time, anywhere in Thailand," it added."

-- Bangkok Post, Agencies 2007-04-10

I am sure that when I read about this onward ticket in the past it always specified the it had to be an Air ticket.

I went to the Thai Embassy London website and it now says:

" Their purpose of visit is only for tourism

They have the nationality of the countries issuing their passports or travel documents in lieu of passports which must be authentic and valid (this excludes all certificates of identity)

They arrive in and depart Thailand by any means of transport (air, land or sea) through immigration checkpoints, any confirmed tickets to leave Thailand within 30 days from the arrival date at the port of entry in Thailand must be obtained.

Confirmed tickets to leave Thailand within 30 days from the arrival date at the port of entry in Thailand must be obtained."

So it seems that they have changed the rules and seem to be getting ready to apply them. They are in a difficult situation to publicize the new rules as it has always been a rule they just didn't enforce it.

The airlines, after some hesitancy, accepted printouts of confirmation of a ticketless flight. I feel sure that Immigration must do the same.

Dongle-busters are on sale in Panthip Plaza. These avoid the tax information gathering system by routing your internet connection via an overseas circumlogutor on a scrambled signal similar to the Thai army system. The danger is that the tax collectors may compare the internet service provider member list with those paying tax but this is extremely unlikely to happen within the life of the current coup. These devices are a rather expensive 1000 baht and the designer Apple blue denture version is 5575 baht - discounts currently unavailable and the essential for the cool computer nerd.

The Stepford - a remote dongle cunnuingly disguised.

I have heard rumours that cheap copies of the fake dongles are being sold by the vendors on Pattaya beach for 150 baht.

Pattaya Police Massive Crackdown

from Gaythailand

See campucats "The shit hits the fan on this board and here from Gaythailand

GaySacGuy

I just received a phone call advising me that all the Farang in Wild, Wild West without a passport in their possession were detained/arrested/taken to jail??? Not sure which, but definitely not good. It is 10:30 p.m. in Pattaya, apparently this just happen this evening. Also rumor of two or three bars being closed, but no confirmantion. Can anyone either confirm or deny this information?? I sure hope it is some kind of mistake, but the way things go, you never know!

painai

Yes, I was there, thank goodness I carry a laminated copy of my passport (which includes the first page and copy of my visa), only 2 of the customers, myself and a Japanese tourist who had his passport, were not taken away in a pick up by the (I assume) Bangkok police. The police came in only questioning the customers, and those without id were rounded up, searched, questioned and taken away. About ten or twelve all together were taken away. It really looked sad to see the elderly farangs who had trouble walking trying to get in the pickup. Moral of the story, carry your id!

from Sawatdee Gay Thailand

campuscat

he farang grapevine is humming tonite in Pattaya/Jomtien. So much is happening so quickly I will just touch on the issues and

let others fill in the details as the facts become better known and clearer in the next day or two.

In Sunee Plaza, the sign people were busy changing the name of Banana to Krazy Pub but tonite the beer bar next to Krazy Dragon was shut down tight and the owner (or part owner) in some sort of detention for underage porno activities. There is a write up on him on one of the pattaya news websites and I am sure someone can provide the link.

K-Boys is closed for one month for issues stemming from the recent police raids.

Holiday Boys formerly Butts Boy is closed due to issues with its lease.

Euro Boys is closed for an indefinite time period but at least a few months for reasons of the new owner.

In Boyztown Pattayaland sois, police were very active tonite and it is reported on another site that those customers

lacking passports or equivalent IDs were taken by the police right out of the bar. This is the first time I have heard of the

police activities being aimed at the farangs including the Asian customers from Japan etc.

Bars were told to close early on other Pattayaland sois because of improper liquor licenses etc. and the pressure is on..

I cannot confirm the names of the bars involved as I only have scattered information from the other website and a couple

of telephone calls but I am sure others can fill in the info as it comes out..

These type of things tend to last for months and only a fool with go out with his passport or equivalent ID and take a boy without

an ID card for the time being.

Thank you for acknowledging that using the word 'choice' in such a context is not appropriate. Why people are gay/transexual/travestite or whatever is still unclear though there seems to be a move towards 'nature' rather then 'nurture'.

I think that from a Social anthropological interest Thailand would be very interesting as Thai society is much more accepting of the ladyboy/katoey than most cultures. The local schools in Pattaya are taken to the Tiffany or Alkazar shows as part of their education.

It is a minefield to achieve full understanding. For example, I know of one mature merchant marine officer who came to Thailand and had the surgery to turn him into a female. He stayed on assisting patients who were visiting the Chonburi hostpital where the work was done. Eventually he fell for a post-operative and now they are a happy 'lesbian' couple. The drive to make the body the same as the mental orientation seems very strong even when it clashes with sexual orientation.

Pattaya has annual competitions at Alkazar and Tiffany theatres which are both dedicated to ladyboy extravaganzas - search up their websites. Gay bars often have competitions watch out for info on dreadedned and boxertravels websites.

"may reinforce the chosen gender identity of transgender people in Thailand" many would say that their identity is not "chosen".

I find your research topic a bit odd. I am gay. I did not choose to be gay. Appearing in a gay show would not affect my gender/sexual identity. I don't think that ladyboys entering or not entering competitions affects their gender identity. I wonder what leads you to think that it might?

I think that the question is "What is the purpose of a Gay Festival?" Pride? I wonder if the news shots seen around the worlds of gay parades with everyone in wierd outfits, drag, leather, degrees of nudity, sequins and feathers does much to warm the hetero community to gays. Still a parade of men in suits would be boring. It seems that there may be many reasons for such. I think that currently Bangkok organisers are very new and did provide a super parade and some amusing side events. This brought together many of the gay organisations of Bangkok and was a fun party and nothing wrong with that. They do not see their main purpose to fund raise.

Pattaya authorities have, sadly, not permitted a parade for the last two years and the future looks unlikely. The great thing about the Pattaya Festival is the brilliant Madam Jim of Boyz Boyz Boyz. The committee decided to go the fund raising route with a series of events throughout the year and Madam Jim can extract blood from a stone without hurting it. What makes it possible is the large resident gay community and lots of snowbirds and holidaymakers. I believe that the big fundraising events are the monthy dinners and streetparties plus the amazing individual generosity of locals and visitors.

Madam Jim in a rainbow frock

Crystal Boys on Pattayaland Soi 2 ( next to New Orleans restaurant) opened last night to a packed house with punters ignoring the babyback ribs and chicken wings on the free buffet for the beef on stage. Not only did they have the muscular guys from Wild West but it looked as if a bus had brought every bodybuilder from a Korat gym to the bar. Almost as busy as Tawan Bar Bangkok's longstanding Muscle bar.

Wild West has become the most popular bar in the Boyztown area due it's innovative (nit noy) shows and large numbers of handsome boys. They originally had a small premises and a couple of months back moved to a large bar all on Pattayaland Soi 2.

Mr South Pattaya 2007 competition at Wild West Bar photos

No 12 Mr Chang is now Crystal Boys superstar

"Even the ladies are coming out of the clubbing closet. Traditionally ignored in Thailand, affluent young lesbians have found two new glam homes in the past few months: cozy Zeta, the first women-only bar with nightly live music; and Shela, a slick two-story space that is more grown-up by comparison but is pumping almost every night of the week"

http://www.outtraveler.com/features.asp?did=546

So after an hour ot two when they count up the number of days. Then they have to count up the number of days in the 6 months from the first day of entry. This could take some time.

I went with a friend to get the 'usual' 10 day extension to his 30 days Visa free permit. We were told tha,t from 28th January, only 7 days is being allowed at the Pattaya Immigration Office. This left my friend 2 days short for his flight.

The Officer said "Go to the airport and pay 1000 baht fine". He assured us that my friend would not go to monkey house (jail) if the regular Police stop him. I'm am much less certain. The alternative is to do a visa run to cover the 2 days.

I am concerned that I have not seen any announcement regarding this change which may inconvenience many tourists. I wonder if it is only Pattaya or national?

My friend says " Farang dog expensive - eat food from supermarket and get sick. Thai dog good, eat anything and not get sick also good guard".

It's interesting to see Thai dogs who lye around on the pavements but nobody ever moves them on or steps over them. Can this be the cause of their appalling road sense. They don't seem to notice approaching cars. Thaat's why there are so many with a leg missing?

Some Thai dogs get very lucky http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2515203.stm

"Racism is a belief system or doctrine which states that inherent biological differences between human races determine cultural or individual achievement — with a corollary that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.[1]

Some writers have used the term racism to refer to preference for one's own ethnic group (ethnocentrism), fear of foreigners (xenophobia), views against interracial relationships (miscegenation), and/or generalizations about a specific group of people (stereotype).[2][3]

Racism has been a motivating factor in social discrimination, racial segregation and violence, including genocide. Politicians are known to practice race baiting in an effort to win votes. The term racist has been a pejorative term since at least the 1940s, and the identification of a group or person as racist is often controversial". Wikipaedia

Some writers misusing a word does not make it cover what they write and you leap to say that is so. Making the words fit your arguement! If you read the whole article in Wikipaedia you will see that the definition I quoted is the correct one though I agree that it is flagrantly and frequently misused often to slander and libel persons in a pejorative way..

It is not RACIST as there is no way that it complies with the meaning of the word.

"Top Web Results for "racism" 4 results for: racism View results from: Dictionary | Thesaurus | Encyclopedia | All Reference | the Web

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source

rac·ism [rey-siz-uhm] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun

1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.

2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.

3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races."

I know that is it common these days for any difference between races being noticed and someone will, incorrectly, shout "racism". Well races do differ in many respects so we had better learn to live with that.

Double charging is not fair but:

This seems perfectly reasonable if the charge is for a national asset such as a park or a museum.

It seems to be common practice around the world to make lower charges for children, the disabled and the elderly.

It is common practice for breeder bars and discos to allow women in at a lower charge of free.

I note that all International companies charge different prices in different countries according to what the local market will bear. A tube of Colgate toothpaste costs about 40 baht in Thailand and about 111 baht in the UK.

Life is not fair and there is little point in getting over excited about it. Do what you can to change important injustices ( I find this one very low on the scale of poverty, repression and disease) and get on with life.

I went to Simon Cabaret in Chiang Mai this week. They price is 600 baht. I said "I am Thai" the cashier said "Oh! Have you ID" I gave her a photocopy of my passport and she reduced the price from 600 baht to 400 baht. I then asked if my male companion could have the same price as he was my wife but that was refused. I didn't shout Homophobia!!