Gay Boy Thailand

Taxies

Posted in Diary | No Comments »

The opposition rally at Siam Paragon 29 March 2006

Posted in Diary, Other pictures | No Comments »

Delivery boys

A crew of delivery boys take a rest in the back of their truck in Chinatown.

Posted in Diary | 1 Comment »

Diary: Celebrity & cash

Three television channels interviewed Chalerm yesterday. My minor celebrity boyfriend says he is not sure when it will go on the air, or if they will use the segment with him at all, but I hope to see it.

Today Chalerm is dressed up to go to the government offices to hand them flowers (again). I guess there will be more media present.

I haven’t heard anything formal, but hopefully this activity means that the military will drop their “permanent mental illness” stamp, which they currently give gay boys and ladyboys when they exempt them from service. It has taken a while. The campaign started when Chalerm was hurt and angry to see this stamp in his military book last year, and told leaders in Rainbow Sky.

The real Mother Noodle was here yesterday, for the first time. Younger sister Noodle was sitting at my computer doing her homework, and Chalerm told me I could only borrow the computer for five minutes to check my email. What a strict regime.

Farang N called to warn me about the not-so-nice pro-Thaksin demonstrators. They like to beat people up. I saw a swarm of them on Silom on Wednesday. Unlike the cheerful anti-Thaksin crowd, who included women and children and the elderly, the pro-Thaksin people were only grim looking men from out of town. They were Thaksin’s hired thugs.

I had been thinking for a long time about selling a surplus television set we have stored. It is a 20 inch Samsung I paid 10 000 baht for four years ago. We don’t use it anymore since the landlord gave us a bigger TV. But I never got around to putting in an ad for it in a newspaper or on the Internet. Now Chalerm had found a buyer among his friends.

New 20 inch televisions are only 5 000 baht now. Chalerm got a good price for our used one. We argued about the table that came with the TV. Chalerm wanted to keep it for future use. I wanted to get rid of it, thinking it will only fill up space and probably never be used for anything again. I won and we gave the table away with the TV set. Chalerm took care of the dealings (cash only please) and handed me 3 000 baht this morning. That’s the way I like it.

Posted in Diary | 3 Comments »

Pretty Thai Boys For Democracy

You wanted to see more of him?

Posted in Diary, Asian boy pictures | 5 Comments »

Photos from the anti-Thaksin demo today

Here are some of the photos I took today at Siam Station. Many had made various cartoons and posters making fun of the prime minister. One man was dressed up as Thaksin-Hitler, doing the Nazi salute. The police stood idle and watched. Click on any picture to see a larger version.

Posted in Diary | 4 Comments »

Diary: The anti-Thaksin demo

Today I went to Siam Station to see the demonstration. Seeing it on television is one thing, it is more impressive to have a large crowd up close. The atmosphere was festive and when marching someone would yell “Thaksin?” and the crowd would respond “get out!

The slogan is “Thaksin awk pai”, which also translates as Thaksin must go, or Thaksin must leave.

People were smiling and waving flags and banners, and the event looked more like a village fair than a political conflict. But crowd had lots of energy, and I could feel their determination.

A friend of mine send me a message on the mobile phone asking how many people were demonstrating. I replied I could see maybe 5 000. But some sections of the demo were held up by traffic police and could not join the main group, which set up camp (literally) under Siam Station.

At the same time opposition newspaper The Nation published an estimate of 50 000 demonstrators on their web site, which was a bit optimistic I’m afraid. Later in the day, after the offices closed and the crowd swelled in the cooler air after sunset, The Nation estimated that 100 000 people were there.

People were friendly and the demo guards let me through, looking at my camera and maybe thinking I was foreign press. One elderly Thai-Chinese man changed to shouting in English when he saw me.

I saw Chamlong, the tall and thin veteran political figure who led the anti-goverment demonstrations in 1992. He wore his customary blue shirt and sat on a on a truck writing autographs. Chamlong used to be Thaksin’s friend and mentor, but the friendship turned sour a while ago and Chamlong is on the street again, calling for the removal of Thaksin.

Paragon, Siam Centre and others had closed. Only security guards manned the locked doors. Some sultry policemen stood around in small groups, watching the crowds but not doing anything.

The participants were decidedly urban and middle class, but the organisers had made a few farmers and dark-skinned country folks walk in the front of each section.

Now the demonstrators are going to stay at Siam Station for a couple of days. From out of nowhere vendors have appeared, selling mats to sleep on and food. The organisers hand out free water bottles. The city of Bangkok, which is run by the opposition, has brought mobile toilets.

I will try to get a look at the pro-Thaksin camp at Chatuchak later.

Posted in Diary | No Comments »

Hot tempers

Prime Minister Thaksin thought it was a good idea to have lunch in a food court in Silom soi 5 on Monday, being folksy and looking good for the media as part of his election campaign. This backfired when some of the shop ladies in the soi began to heckle the PM, shouting “Thaksin get out”.

“Thaksin get out” is the slogan of the opposition parties. I would say that when mother types like these women get angry with a PM he is in trouble.

Posted in Diary | No Comments »

Diary: Never too early

The three air condition repair boys came, escorted by the maid. They spoke loudly about Chalerm and I, asking nosey questions which the maid did her best to answer. Realising I might understand the conversation she shut the door.

I have been planning for a while to have a look at the pro and con Thaksin demonstrations, but Sunday when I was on my way it was so darn hot I sought refuge in a shopping centre instead. Judging from the crowds I wasn’t the only one with that idea. Why overthrow a government when you can go shopping instead.

Farang D says today is the worst day yet in the low season. I am adding to the web site hoping to drum up business. Chalerm watched me working last night and was worried I might screw up.

I saw Cedric had posted an appeal on Sawaddee Forum for me to “get over it” and return. Thank you Cedric, I am over it, but I am happy as it is. The time I used to spend in Sawaddee Forum is now spent on something else. I still believe new mods and a rethinking of the culture of the board would do it good.

I don’t think the Forum can survive the Thai government blocking in the long run, or if it does it will be reduced compared to what it used to be. Posters who are actually on the ground in Thailand may make up a small percentage of total traffic, but in all modesty we who are here have something crucial to contribute. You can get the hard core of existing users to use proxies but for many that is too much trouble.

Is it too early for me to start dreading Songkran? Yes, I am a bad sport, a humourless farang who can’t see the charm in getting attacked by water gun carrying kids on every corner, drenched with fire hoses, having buckets with ice water poured over my head, or being ambushed by pickup trucks with large barrels of “ammunition” on the back. If it wasn’t for the fact that everyone else wants to leave too and hence drive up the air fares, I would have left the country for a safe place like Malaysia. The trouble with the water war is that (a) you can’t refuse to take part and (b) it goes on for five days.

In 1998 I took part in the water fights as a tourist. I bought a large water gun at Robinson and went to Lumpini Park and joined in. It was fun for a couple of hours. I fought back with water and I enjoyed the many people who put talcum powder on my cheeks as a genuine wishing well rite. The women in particular did this and they were warm and friendly. I resisted the drunk Isaan man who tried to push me into the lake. But now that I live here and have no choice I have come to resent Songkran. It is too much of a good thing.

Posted in Diary | 12 Comments »

Idol worship

A Japanese tourist takes a picture of an Italian sports car at the Paragon shopping centre.

Posted in Diary, Other pictures | No Comments »

Paragon display window

Posted in Diary, Other pictures | 1 Comment »

Diary: VIP

Farang D speaks well about Chalerm’s work. Earlier Chalerm was in the shadow of a couple of dominating personalities in the office, but as these have left Chalerm can show what he can do. Today he was there alone most of the time, taking care of business as the Thai boy manager went shopping at Paragon. “Dad” is proud of him.

I found a few Minolta lenses tucked away in a corner in Maboongkrong, and bought the best one. My immediate hunger for lenses is now satisfied.

When I went to Chinatown I could not find the camera shops. I had forgotten what a maze that place is. I wandered around for a couple of hours, looking and taking pictures, but never got to the camera shops. Next time I will be better prepared and study the map.

Tomorrow I have to tell the manager of the building to send air condition repairboys. Two of our units failed at the same time. One is making funny noises and the other one freezes up inside, plus it leaks water onto the floor. They never maintain the air conditioners, but wait for them to fail. Inevitably, they will fail in the hot season when they are most needed. Three lads will arrive with equipment to fix them. This happens every year.

Mother Noodle is not the mother after all, I have learned. She is Older Sister Noodle, which might mean she an aunt or a cousin or whatever. She was here yesterday night and Chalerm helped her with some documents.

The Noodle Girl (the youngest one) scolded herself when cooking noodles in the soi. Poor girl. She was sent to Chula hospital with burns. Chalerm went to visit her, but when he came to the hospital he was turned away because it wasn’t visiting hour. When he came back at visiting hour she was released, having stayed a couple of days. I saw her yesterday. I can’t say she smiled. She is probably still in pain.

I didn’t know she slept over in the guest bedroom and she surprised me early this morning while I was sitting in my underpants in front of the computer. At least I wasn’t naked. I don’t want to scare a sensitive young thing.

I gave Chalerm another invoice for my web design work. Chalerm complains on behalf of his employer how incredibly expensive I am. Like the Thai boy manager, Chalerm seems to think that a business website can be built in an afternoon or two. Chalerm also believes that writing a novel should not take any longer than reading it does. How hard can it be?

Chalerm is going to a press conference next week, at the Ministry of Defence. He will speak about his test case protesting the “permanent mental illness” stamp the military gives gay boys and ladyboys when they exclude them from the draft.

Saturday this affair led to a trip to BNH hospital, where Chalerm saw a doctor to get a certificate saying he was not insane. I had various jokes ready about the impossibility of this mission, but I kept silent as it is a sensitive matter. Two other gay boys were there for the same reason. Chalerm knew them from Rainbow Sky. Much chatting and socialising erupted in the waiting room. A farang woman sat nearby, clearly wondering what a man like me was doing in the hospital in the company of three young men in various stages of gayness.

The doctor charged 780 B for the consultation but Chalerm didn’t get any paper declaring his sanity. (I could have told him that). But seriously, I don’t quite understand what this is about but according to Chalerm it will be revealed next week. I asked if I could go to the press conference but Chalerm said I had to make do with watching it on television like everyone else. It seems I am living with a VIP. If I ask nicely maybe I can get his autograph.

Posted in Diary | 1 Comment »

The candidate

Posted in Diary, Other pictures | No Comments »

Is it full yet?

Posted in Diary, Other pictures | No Comments »

Picture: Delivery boys

A crew of delivery boys taking a rest in the back of their truck in Chinatown. Click on the picture to see a larger version. I have also updated my photo blog.

Posted in Diary, Asian boy pictures, Other pictures | 3 Comments »

Diary: Spies

I am annoyed with Chalerm for being out so late, with the Noodle Family and whatever he does out in the soi. Last night he came home 3am. Since he works afternoon and evening he will usually manage to get out of bed and to work in time, but still… this night owl habit is going too far (and I am a night owl myself). I don’t like the idea of having him out there alone in the dark. He was here at home with one of the Noodle Girls around 10pm, and at 1am last night he was with the Noodles in their home, at 2am he was eating on the street, and right before 3am he was in the 7-Eleven. I know this because I called him up and chided him several times.

I went to immigration this afternoon to get my 30 day extension. I dread going to immigration. I have this feeling that they will put me in chains, throw me into a dark room full of Burmese and Bangladeshis, and that I will never see daylight again. Luckily this didn’t happen today, all they wanted was a 1900 baht fee.

I am looking for more Minolta lenses. Today I was around Bangkok to see if I could find any in the shops, but they are out of them. Someone has underestimated the demand for Minolta glass. I consider bidding for a used one on ebay. It is already more than the price of a new one, but new lenses can’t be found. If I buy it I will have to ask the seller to send it to Thailand marked “old lens no value” or something like that, so customs don’t grab it with their greedy fingers.

I hope Sony as the new owner will sort out the situation with Minolta gear so I don’t have to hunt for items like they were precious antiques.

I received an “anonymous” complaint from Farang D’s corporate headquarters yesterday. A strangely familiar voice told me on the phone that despite a ban on smoking in the office a man was there puffing away. “Anonymous” had put up a no smoking sign in Thai, but the man disregarded this. Both girls and gay boys complained about the pollution as well as the man’s unwanted presence.

Farang D asked me to find out more. Digging into the matter it turned out that the suspect is a man commonly known as The Talker. He earned his nickname for his love of talking. The Talker is an engineer, and his job is to repair and maintain things. He has no business in the office, but he likes to go there to enjoy the air condition and talk to the ladies. The Talker is in the office every afternoon, hanging around for hours in violation of company policy. Farang D thanked me for the spying and promised to put his best boy on the case.

Posted in Diary | 2 Comments »

News: A strange blackmail story

Finnish Man Survives Shakedown
Pattaya City News 22.3.2006

In a bizarre story that is yet to have a conclusion, a man from Finland happened to pick up a male bar worker from Boyztown on Friday night the 17th of March and was returning to his room in Jomtien by way of motorbike taxi when the trio were stopped by a car holding six Thai males. Two of these men were wearing police uniforms with the rank of sergeant. This pair asked the Finnish man for his identification papers and other information and then told him he was under arrest, without specifically detailing his alleged crime. The sergeants told the man they were from Prathum Thani province near Bangkok and would have to take him there unless he could come up with the sum of 700,000 baht to avoid prosecution.

The Finnish man said he didn’t have that amount of money lying around but would try and contact friends to raise the cash. He and his Thai male friend were then taken by the policemen to a hotel room in Central Pattaya. Because it was late at night the police and their friends were not as vigilant as they should have been and the bar boy was able to escape from the room while his captors fell asleep. He alerted Pattaya police who returned to the room to find only the Finnish man in residence.

It appears that the police and their accomplices decided to abscond after finding one of their captives had escaped. Pattaya police began investigations and on Wednesday they arrested a 45-year-old Thai man in Pattaya and charged him with kidnapping and holding a person for ransom. Pattaya police say they are searching for the two Prathum Thani sergeants who appear to have fled.

Posted in News clips | 1 Comment »