4:17

Anyone have any first hand knowledge of Jomtien Plaza Residence For my brief four-night sojourn to Patts at the end of September -- the Tide-Me-Over-'Til-the-End-Of-October trip, as it were -- I was toying with the idea of staying in Jomtien, just for the hell of it. Probably end up back at the good ole PBR, since I won't have much time to muck about, but we'll see. Was just looking at places on Agoda; want to pin down places soon (prolly end up in the Dawin for three nights up in Bangers). Anybody got any suggestions for Jomtien then? What's the scoop on the hotel(s) in Jomtien Complex -- the place with all the bars and whatnot, including Hot Legs and Sugar and Spice? (Heh, had to go luck up the names of those bars in my own trip report over on LB-69). Anyone got the 411 for ole 4:17? Prefer an in-room safe, although it's not a must-hab, but a hot water shower, clean bug-free sheets, and guest (namely ladyboy) friendly are necessities. A balcony would also be nice, but again not a necessity. And I have no concerns with the walk of shame; many years over that ... Jomtien Plaza Residence

Agreed. Didn't mean to hijack your thread, FB, and it was indeed an epic, well-written story and I'm glad you got your phone back. Most people wouldn't have persevered and written it off. Well played. As for livin' large -- digression again -- just not a phone guy, I guess. I have a ridiculously powerful laptop (and an even more ridiculous PC at home collecting dust), if that counts.

Me three. I think the same is true of just about all professional sports on either side of the pond. As for the Premier League specifically, I like footy myself (as distinct from American football, although I like that too), but curious if anyone thinks the season is a bit too long? August to May, or thereabouts, am I right? I know with American basketball, I get bored with the NBA season. It seems like they play a 1000-game season for months on end, eliminate two teams, and then have playoffs that last for two more months. By then it's summer time, college hoops are long over, and who cares? I almost got in a fight in a bar once, because I asked to have a television (one of five, I might add) switched from an NBA playoff game to coverage of the Giro D'Italia. ... Any footie fans feel the same way about the Premier League? Maybe it's just me. I get bored easily. Except with, well, you know ...

Naw, I stick with my trusty brick-ish Nokias. Ever since one got ejected when I did a header while on a motorbike -- damn bass-ackwards brakes -- I've been partial. It skittered across the road -- unfortunately not unlike me -- and came apart in several pieces -- fortunately unlike me. I put the bike right side up, collected the pieces, licked my wounds and rode home (where that motorbike is still parked, for all I know) and put the phone back together (after bathing myself in Bactine and quaffing a beer and ibuprofen), turned it on, and holy shit, it still worked. Nokias. Software UI may be shite, they may be ugly as Obsessions' mamasan (and about as clunky), but you can beat the piss out of 'em and they come back for more (also like Obsessions' mamasan, or so I imagine). And they're (relatively) cheap cheap (same same Obsessions mamasan?). I like that in a piece of kit.

Same same me. If I had 30 baht for everytime I've heard this when a girl sees me whip out my beat-up Nokia: "Nokia C6? Why you no hab iPhone?" ... well, I'd be much closer to officially retiring. One girl, on my last trip, and I quote: "It's not even an Android."

It's fate. Had this conversation earlier today (well, technically yesterday, at this point): Boss "Would you mind not taking your entire two weeks of leave at the end of October?" (I have that much vacation time to use up by Oct. 31, or else I lose it -- can't get paid for it, unfortunately). Me: "Gee, what if I were to take a week at say, the end of September, and then a week at the end of October? Would that work out scheduling wise for you?" Boss; "Oh yeah, that would be great." Me: "Okay then." The thing is, I'll still be taking two weeks at the end of October, heh. Actually a bit more ...

This is most excellent news. They were pretty funky -- and not in a good way -- the last few times I was there. And glad to hear things have been busy customer wise; it looked pretty quiet -- as all the bars were -- when I was there early last month.

Most excellent Rossco, indeed things move in mysterious ways. And kudos to you once again for all your hard work; I'm sure you've got a lot of positive karma in the metaphysical bank. I've done some volunteering myself in Thailand, including at an orphanage for children that are HIV+, so I can understand just how emotionally charged your visit must have been. As for not posting the photos, have you thought about setting up a website for the event itself?

That's it. The last straw. First Pookie, then Tara. I'm not waiting until the end of October ... I think a quick dash over in September is in order. Not that I, uh, keep a list or anything, mind you.

Now I just need to buy a replacement big-boy camera ... I'm going to treat myself to a Canon 5D Mark-II -- maybe even a new Mark III -- once I get settled in a few months.

You can use the Kindle App on an Android tab -- there are some cheap Android tabs available in Tukom; I know as I have one that is primarily a backup to my ancient Kindle. There are a multitude of free third-party ebook readers available for Android as well. You can also get Barnes and Noble's app, although you have to fool Google/BnN into thinking you are in the United States in order to install it ... But I imagine you could track down an actual Kindle in Bangkok without too much problem ... Edit: just be aware your battery life with an Android tab won't be what you are used to with your Kindle. Other than that, it works great as an ebook reader. And the fact that it is backlit comes in handy sometimes (provided battery life isn't an issue at that momen).

Idaville has Encyclopedia Brown; we've got Encyclopedia Bumblebee. Nice shots there, BB. I particularly like the one with the with the old bicycles parked in front of the front door ...

Wow, where'd you come across that Duke? Another forum, I suppose. I rarely seem to ever make it past the end of Soi 4, but I shall endeavor to check this place out come October/November ... or again in late December ...

Gratz to the Irish folk here on Katie Taylor's gold in women's boxing in the lightweight division. And while on the subject, props to fellow Yank Claressa Shields on winning gold in the middleweight. Always cool to see history being made. And Ciobha, gotta agree: Denise Lewis has it going on.

I'm not getting in the middle of this or taking sides one way or the other, but: I can confirm the meaning of the word septic in this instance/context. I've come across it more than once in my travels, although I believe it is originally British, as opposed to Aussie (although I've heard Aussie friends use it, too). But yeah, it's a term of endearment for my fellow Americans: septic tank = Yank, i.e., rhyming slang.

I've never been one to make a list. But I think that just got shot all to hell. We need a "SQUEEEEEEE!" icon; she is so damn cute. You're killing me, Mardhi. 12 weeks to go ...

I seem to have less of a problem than most with flicks and huffs and such, going by the trip reports I read -- geez, as I write this, that sounds like those guys who come on here and claim they fuck whores all day and never pay for it. But I'm just purely going off anecdotal evidence, I suppose. And as JS says, I've learned to use the "I-have-no-idea-what-the-fuck-you're-on-about-so-I'll-just-grin-like-an-idiot-because-I-have-no-clue-what-else-to-do" smile, as opposed to getting bent out of shape. Some friends say I've been over here too long, but it's actually kind of fun -- turning the tables and all that. I generally agree with what Rx said earlier, and others -- but then it all reminds of my very first time in a ladyboy bar: Casanova. Yes, some years ago, as a ladyboy nubert -- not to whoring (not by a long shot) but to ladyboys -- the very first ladyboy bar I set foot in, on my initial trip to Thailand, was Casanova. Damn the torpedoes ... in for a penny ... etc. and so forth. You see, I had been on my way up to the third floor -- had my sights set on some of the superstars in Cascade at the time -- but got waylaid by one of the glamazons that lurked on the second floor landing -- you know the stairs at the back of the Nana complex where they like to prey on the unwary passerby. I initially tried to fight her off, but then I saw Peng walking in and let myself be led in literally by the crotch, my dick hardening in the glamazon's big sinewy hand in spite of myself. Anyway, long story short -- you know my penchants for walls of text -- I ended up between two well-knowns (at that time). Not superstars, but well-known girls of some repute (who will remain nameless). One quite petite, the other one, a not-quite glamazon (there was no way in hell I was going to sit down with the giantess that had led me in). After a hard-sell -- not-quite glamazon had her stiff cock in my hand (first time!) at one point, while the small one had her silicon boob in my mouth -- and the push to take two ladies (it was low season) -- I manage to checkbin with vague promises that I might be back. And I was adamant the whole time that I only wanted one ladyboy. I ended up coming back much later and much drunker that night, as I was quite besotted with the small one. She's up dancing; I motion for her to come down, and the mamasan to come over as I want to barfine her. The big one comes up and asks if she can come to; I repeat my mantra from earlier in the evening: I only want one ladyboy tonight; maybe some other time. Bear in mind that I've been saying this all night, and have been nice and as polite (if firm) as I can be -- I love my courtesans, after all. They've all got hearts of gold, deep down (most of 'em, anyway). She proceeds to flick and huff, and then decide that isn't enough: she smacks me hard on the head with the flat of her hand and stalks off. The mamasan witnesses it all and immediately jumps in her shit, and is apologizing to me. Fortunately I'm an easy-going drunk, usually, and tell her mai pen lai; comp me a drink and we'll call it even, which she promptly does. Having read plenty of trip reports prior to this, I knew I was getting off light, as far as being the object of a Thai ladyboy's ire is concerned, and considered myself a lucky noob ...

I rarely have any problems accessing the site on my laptop with a wired connection using Opera (the browser -- not singing an aria or something while I'm browsing) -- no more than with any other site, being here in Viet Nam. However the problem TT described happens not infrequently when I'm viewing the site over WiFi using my Android tab and Opera Mobile. Don't know if that will shed any light, or if there is any commonality with others, but there it is. While we're on the subject -- is there any way to force the site to serve its mobile version? I see it when I use Opera Mini on my phone, but on my tab, with both Opera and Chrome -- and even when I set the browser to identify itself as a tablet browser -- I get the usual desktop version, and there are times when I would rather access the mobile version of the site on the tablet. Any chance of getting a button/option box to check? Or is there one somewhere that I've missed? That might also be a quick temporary fix for those having problems, perhaps?

From the Bangkok Post And what does her mom do to celebrate? She's going to enter a Buddhist convent for nine days. Thai Medalist's Mom Rejoices by Becoming Nun It sounds like I'm being facetious, but I'm not -- this is a awesome story (in the modern vernacular sense of the word awesome). She had to add 4kg on her final lift and achieve a personal best to jump from sixth place to second. 4kg may not seem like much If you've never trained with free weights before, but when you're talking about max lifts and personal records, it's a big jump. And an interesting sidenote: she knocked a fellow Thai out of the bronze medal position to fourth place with her lift.

Know what you mean. I could go for some ... wait ... wait for it ... Tatar salad. *crickets* Thank you ladies and germs, thank you. I'll be here all the week.

I haven't been since 2005, but unless it's changed drastically, that seems almost ridiculously high. I could see a business traveler on an expense account dropping that much on a hotel/transport/food in HK -- the Kowloon Holiday Inn is going for $300 a night on Agoda right now -- but your average tourist? No ... Granted you will pay more for working girls than you would in Bangkok, by way of example -- but I'm guessing that wasn't part of Lonely Planet's estimate (and it's still way cheaper than back home in the States -- at least it was 7 years ago). I think some more research may be in order before you write the idea off ...

I have the same same question as Sam, only vis-a-vis the girl in the yellow dress and shoulder-length hair. ¡Ay, caramba! My butter? She is melted.

I'm going to chip in here and play devil's advocate – i.e. bad butterfly man. Now I like the GFE rather than the hardened pro experience, naturally, but only for a few hours or one night/morning at most. Mostly my instincts find me what I want. Don't get me wrong; I'm not knocking those who find one girl and stick with her for the length of their stay – whatever works for you. Me, as I say, I'm a bad butterfly man. It's true that I love the girls – it's cliché, I know, but I do love the working girls because most do have hearts of gold, if you treat them right – true of anyone, really – but that doesn't mean I want to settle down with just one for more than a day or so. Or a month, or a year, or a lifetime. The same is true of quote/unquote real, non-p4p relationships. I've been in long-term relationships, and even been a few months away from tying the knot – yikes! There but for the grace of God, go I – but for the majority of those relationships I was at best, comfortable, and at worst, bored or otherwise deeply unhappy. Generally I've been much more happy and enjoyed life more while on my own. Now there is nothing wrong with a comfortable relationship, if that's what you want. Again, not knocking it; it's just now how I'm wired. I think one of my favorite Maugham quotes sums it up best: Variety is the spice of life and all that. Or that old saw about "I'm not paying them for the sex, I'm paying them to leave when it's over." It's not that I'm not open to the idea of getting involved in a serious relationship – or, more to the point, taking one bargirl, be she LB or GG, for the length of my trip. It's jut not a goal, as I'm evidently just not cut out for that sort of thing (Gemini in the house!). I've been accused more than once of being the prototypical loner; I don't know about that, but if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck … But I think it has even more to do with just craving variety, however, which would explain why I sill love the vajayay, even as I've evolved into a ladyboy-craving pervert. On the other hand, I've met a few, both LBs and GGs, who I'm sure I would enjoy traveling with or spending a week or two at a time with, although by day two or three she might have to move into an adjoining room. I don't like sleeping with someone – even with someone I'm sleeping with, if you get me. Anyway, just wanted to chime in with a different perspective. Again, to each his own.

Once again, Well done, Rossco (P. Coltrain). Wow, La Bamba has more sponsors -- yours truly among them -- than girls that work there. That speaks volumes about Nok and her establishment. Now only 3 long months until I can tell her and Cindy and Nancy in person, argh. And it's interesting that LBR is the no. 2 forum behind LBP in terms of sponsors

Ah, was wondering if Rx would weigh in and shed some light on this; thanks Rx. And I agree with Kendo; while I'm sure the finasteride may have affected him ... er, her? ... I can't imagine it would suddenly make him want to be a woman if her weren't transgendered or otherwise suffering from gender dysphoria in the first place, no matter what the dose. Along the same reeking bullshit lines, I highly doubt that a drug would suddenly change your sexual orientation -- aside from the gender issues -- 180 degrees. But then if she is really a transgendered woman now, would she identify as homosexual, being attracted to men? In any event, I'm guessing a confused individual was present long before the finasteride snafu. And this quote from Frost seems apropos: "Man that is of woman born is apt to be as vain has his mother."