how are you going to celebrate it this year? go-go bar again ;-) ? or going to buy a christmas tree and invite friends to party at home? im choosing second, but want to prepare everything so it would be more traditional. I wonder where to find tree and toys in phuket? may be some other features? santa and deers made from light rope :-D ?

There is a new Toys 'r Us near the villa market for quality toys and Supercheap for the one hour life span toys

how are you going to celebrate it this year? go-go bar again ;-) ? or going to buy a christmas tree and invite friends to party at home?

Why can't it be both?

Except I'm not going to pay for it. Existing tree in garden will get proper Christmas attention. And Existing Mrs. at home will also get proper Christmas attention.

how are you going to celebrate it this year? go-go bar again ;-) ? or going to buy a christmas tree and invite friends to party at home?

Why can't it be both?

Except I'm not going to pay for it. Existing tree in garden will get proper Christmas attention. And Existing Mrs. at home will also get proper Christmas attention.

Thank goodness I now live in Thailand. So much easier to avoid all the commercialism of the event (and all that goes with it) that I had to suffer for years when I used to live in the UK.

Bah Humbug!!!

With any luck, I'll be at home working.

OP, I like your spirit, but don’t just push this boat out half way, if you’re going to do it I hope you go, “Griswold” (Griswold family Christmas, a film) Not seen it? Before you start the prep...see this film.

I will be in the Sahara desert this Crimbo, the only farang in 500 miles! In preparation I have fashioned a Santa’s hat for my helmet, (steady) toilet paper and old yogurt pots for the small tree outside my cabin and for Santa’s little helper, (a wild dog who has adopted me here) I have made a small pair of reindeers horns out of chicken bones and am now attempting to get him to wear them for the big day….not much luck, he’s on the 5 set, he keeps eating them as soon as I turn my back, Happy Crimbo!!!

Bah Humbug ! indeed.

I agree with the sentiment that being Thailand avoids all the commercial crap associated with this time of year.

Unless (a) you are walking through Emporium or other central establishments in Bangkok or ( in Pattaya, where any excuse is used to party-up.

how are you going to celebrate it this year? go-go bar again ;-) ? or going to buy a christmas tree and invite friends to party at home?

Why can't it be both?

Except I'm not going to pay for it. Existing tree in garden will get proper Christmas attention. And Existing Mrs. at home will also get proper Christmas attention.

Good one che! We are having a few Thai friends around for a BBQ and karaoke plus the odd farlang or two. We've already got the plastic tree and the decorations from last year. No serious presents but we're going to do a 50 baht max. swap idea. We are about to make some highly drinkable 'stuff' from cane sugar in a large bucket, so that should sort out a few guests.

Happy Christmas to all tv contributors by the way. I hope its a good one whatever you're doing - or whoever you're doing.

how are you going to celebrate it this year? go-go bar again ;-) ? or going to buy a christmas tree and invite friends to party at home?

Why can't it be both?

Except I'm not going to pay for it. Existing tree in garden will get proper Christmas attention. And Existing Mrs. at home will also get proper Christmas attention.

Thank goodness I now live in Thailand. So much easier to avoid all the commercialism of the event (and all that goes with it) that I had to suffer for years when I used to live in the UK.

You are very right about the commercialism of the event Prodriver. I lived in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania where Muslims and Christians would just go to the beach all day and have a picnic and have fun with friends and family. No presents-giving, no christmas trees, no card-giving in the Christian community. We did the same during the Islamic holidays of Eid. Now I am in Japan, a Buddhist/Shinto nation but you wouldn't know if you fly in December. There are Christmas trees everywhere, parents shop for presents for their kids and Santa comes all the way from Finland to visit kids in kindergarten. Yet, I have never met a single Japanese who knows anything about the Christian faith, it's all about the Yen.

Max2010

CHRISTMAS dinner at a good place and a visit to the Go-Go bar are traditional behavior in Thailand for Westerners and I make it a point to do both.

how are you going to celebrate it this year? go-go bar again ;-) ? or going to buy a christmas tree and invite friends to party at home?

Why can't it be both?

Except I'm not going to pay for it. Existing tree in garden will get proper Christmas attention. And Existing Mrs. at home will also get proper Christmas attention.

Thank goodness I now live in Thailand. So much easier to avoid all the commercialism of the event (and all that goes with it) that I had to suffer for years when I used to live in the UK.

+1

CHRISTMAS dinner at a good place and a visit to the Go-Go bar are traditional behavior in Thailand for Westerners and I make it a point to do both.

But is it real Christmas or your Christmas. If it's your Christmas , sounds good to me.

Probably my Christmas, but I gave up trying to completely ignore Christmas long ago.

Edited December 16, 201015 yr by Ulysses G.

how are you going to celebrate it this year? go-go bar again ;-) ? or going to buy a christmas tree and invite friends to party at home?

Why can't it be both?

Except I'm not going to pay for it. Existing tree in garden will get proper Christmas attention. And Existing Mrs. at home will also get proper Christmas attention.

Thank goodness I now live in Thailand. So much easier to avoid all the commercialism of the event (and all that goes with it) that I had to suffer for years when I used to live in the UK.

Amen to that brother....and in the UK Christmas seems to start earlier each year .

While here in Thailand New Year's Day gets much more attention than Christmas -- which is just fine with me -- I have a special attachment to Christmas as the modern image of Santa Claus was invented starting in 1865 by the cartoonist Thomas Nast shortly before he moved to my hometown in NJ ... where he went on to create the most famous -- or infamous -- American political cartoons of the 19th century. Santa Claus up to that point was often depicted as tall and skinny.

The Thomas Nast House is still an historical tourist destination in Morristown, NJ

Edited December 17, 201015 yr by jazzbo

While here in Thailand New Year's Day gets much more attention than Christmas -- which is just fine with me -- I have a special attachment to Christmas as the modern image of Santa Claus was invented starting in 1865 by the cartoonist Thomas Nast shortly before he moved to my hometown in NJ ... where he went on to create the most famous -- or infamous -- American political cartoons of the 19th century. Santa Claus up to that point was often depicted as tall and skinny.

The Thomas Nast House is still an historical tourist destination in Morristown, NJ

Jazzbo, I'd have to say that the current red and white Santa looks much less dodgy than this one! But thanks for the pic.

Ok then the first one was for the history buffs .. now the colorized version a la Ted Turner BTW Nast apparently drew his first Santa Claus in 1863 at the request of President Lincoln as a cheeer-up gesture for the Union troops during the US Civil war..

Edited December 17, 201015 yr by jazzbo

gosh, posted and forgot, interesting reaction especially tonto's dreams about sahara.

Thanks for bunta only you was helpfull,