4:17

Hey JS, if you're looking for a recommendation, I've used this for years: Panda Antivirus. It's free, very lightweight, and shouldn't give you any problems. The need for heavy-duty antivirus and firewall software is a bit overblown, imho, which is why I started using Panda in the first place on my Win 7 box (an IT tech friend turned me onto it originally).

The Dawin on Soi 4 would be my choice. You've got all sorts of options while based here, whether you strictly want to look for uh ... companionship, as the cliche goes, or you want to mix in some touristy stuff as well. BTS is a short walk away; in the immediate vicinity there are all sorts of bars and restaurants and of course, Nana Plaza. ... As for the Dawin, great beds and comfortable, quiet rooms and small pool -- great mid-range hotel. Have fun ...

I think perhaps some are over analyzing this in BB's case. I think it's only natural, particularly given where BB was born and raised and where he currently lives half the year, that every once in while he catches himself thinking "Holy shit look at what I've been getting up to?" Doesn't necessarily mean he's having a crisis or questioning his identity. In fact BB strikes me as one of the more self-possessed and secure individuals in this little subculture of ours that I've met -- a subculture with some colorful characters, to say the least.

I believe you are probably correct, DT, as that night was the night of DonneyKey's party (DK, et. al.). I haven't seen her there regularly, and I'm there on average several times a month at least. If I think about it I'll ask Lita next time I'm in and see if I can clarify. Personally I hope not, the way she was acting that night. But then YMMV; I know she's popular with a lot of people, including my Irish mates.

*cough, cough* ... Nancy ... *cough, cough*

Almost every time I log onto the site, It will show me as logged in, and I can see all of the forums. Then I'll browser one or two threads, and and then I go to open another one and it will produce an error, as if I'm not logged in. "You don't have permission to view this" yadda yadda. I have to log out -- which it lets me do (I get the "successfully logged out" page, with the option to log back in) -- clear out my cache manually (even though it's cleared every time I close my browser, so I'm logging in from scratch every time) -- and log in again. If I'm lucky, it lets me stay logged in for awhile. If I'm not, a few moments later I have the same issue. It happened just now, after the great Forum Cache Cleaning of '13.

Yep, well played sir! Taken from the Massage Parlor annex of Canterbury Tales (across the street from Canterbury Tales proper). Canterbury Tales is located, of course, on -- as I like to call it -- Soi Chase Some Poon. For obvious reasons.

Digging around in the basement archives looking for something else, I came across this. It should be easy, even with the signage blurred out ...

Route 67 has discovered the perfect place for certain board members to stay when they visit Pattaya. ... *crickets* ... I kid, I kid. But seriously, ladies and germs: name this shot (which I'm uploading on behalf of said Route because he is having technical difficulties, of late). And he would have me ask: Who does live in a room such as this?

I think I was there when you took the shot, 555. I've been with the lovely Will before, but I didn't spend much (as in none at all) on her feet. Most of the rest of her, however ... well, I shan't kiss and tell, as she's spoken for nowadays. And as tacky as it may sound, they do make a great couple; he's a good guy.

Will @ La Bamba?

"In the end, there can be only one." Heh, seeing Gate and Gate (meat) swordplay might actually be fun, now that I think about it. Much better than lopping heads off with a fake Scottish accent. Am I being too esoteric? Anyway, great photos, Chris. Ice just gets lovelier and lovelier. But where's Rabbit been lately? 'Bout time I paid another visit down Phrom Pong way. Although Gate hasn't texted me lately so business must not be too bad, 555.

I'll skip The Ruttles -- just don't like tribute bands that much, although a Thai Beatles tribute is ... interesting ... but thanks for the heads up Duke! I'll have to check it out and report back. I hear from my inside sources that Finnegan's might be changing hands in the near future, so I may have to find an alternate hangout when I get tired of Sang Som and soda. Okay, this is the third time I've tried to edit, argh. Was that ... Miss Oh? Owe? ... did she drink that pint, or was that yours?

As I've discussed before here and over on LB-69, the Thai owner swears up and down that her distributor, Heineken, imports the Guinness barrels she gets in her bar from Europe. I find this difficult to believe, given, as you say, there is a brewery just to the south. But, having said that, this is the only place I've ever found a palatable pint of Guinness on tap in Southeast Asia (granted, it still doesn't taste like what you'd get back in Ireland or the UK, but it's usually on par with what we get in the U.S. from the Canadian brewery). Usually Guinness on tap in this part of the world takes like dirty ass filtered through an even dirtier sweatsock. Last night it tasted pretty yummy. As was the Glenfiddich. I only paid for one of these; the other two were bought by various round buyers. Huzzah.

Good thing I got Miss Manga's number if she's already flown the coup. And now I can walk into Action Street without feeling guilty, 555.

You have detox days? Ching law? ... 555

I don't think the Thais really care that much, one way or the other, BB -- not like we in the West do. People go on and on about "face" in this part of the world, when we have the same thing, it just works differently in the West. While in many ways Thais look at anyone who isn't Thai as a barbarian, at the same time, they don't hold us to the standards they hold other Thais to, simply because we aren't Thai. On one hand, they are amazed that falang would be so brazen as to be stepping out with a working girl in public, something a Thai man would never do (if you've ever seen a Thai brothel that caters to Thai men -- well, you haven't because unless you knew it for what it was, it would look just like another house, office building, etc.). The fact that it might be a lady, ladyboy, or some twink boy from Boystown you're walking with is immaterial. But then it's not a loss of face, per se, because we're not Thai. Much less stigma for us here, doing that, than back home, to be sure -- even if you are public with your preferences -- unless of course, you live in a place like San Francisco or something. Even then you may run into some asshole that feels justified in verbalizing his or her opinion of you. To be honest, I think Thais are more scandalized by the fact that guys will walk around with shorts on at a nice restaurant, or walk around on the street with their shirts off, than anything else. Evidence of our barbarianism, 555. Seriously, ask your lady about this sometime, if you haven't already. I just waltzed down my soi earlier this afternoon with Miss Fah in tow, in her work clothes and fuck-me high heels, because we forgot to stop by her place to pick up some street clothes once we got in the taxi last night. Most of my neighbors were out; I said "sawasdee" to the ones I normally chat with, and did even stop to talk briefly with the lady I buy food from sometimes. Hardly anyone batted an eye at Fah. There were a few second glances, but no snickers or rubbernecking. And I can catch enough Thai now to know when I'm being discussed. Granted, maybe they just waited 'til I was out of eyeshot/earshot, but when I walked back home an hour later by myself, again, it was business as usual -- no knowing grins, or anything like that. And it's not like I make a habit of this; in the six months I've lived here, she's only the second lady I've brought home (as you know, I tend to save the whoring for the weekends down in Patts). With regard to your old lady, that makes all the difference in the world when the family will pony up for an education -- an uncommon thing for a rural family to do. She would have had considerably fewer options if she wanted to get off the farm/out of the village with an education. But then that's the same the world over, to one degree or another. Good on her mum.

Finnegans, the nice little Irish pub on Sukhumvit Soi 4 -- the one with the wee Thai dude out front, usually (thankfully no longer forced to dress like a leprechaun) -- is celebrating its 7th anniversary tonight (Saturday, June 8). There will be free food and drink specials, from what the girls tell me (but no free Guinness, alas). If you're not familiar with Finnegans it's not a ladyboy bar, but it is a great little place, great food -- both Thai and falang (the cook is an old Thai lady) -- and great service staff. While it is Thai run, the service is Western in style. A lot of expat regulars (and a few Thais) frequent the place and it's a good place to hang out. And the Guinness on tap is usually tolerable (I stress both words: usually and tolerable -- but you have to take what you can get in this part of the world. And a tolerable Guinness is still better than just about any other beer, IMHO). Of course they have the usual bottle beers available (eighty baht during happy hour until 8 p.m.) as well as Heineken and Tiger on draft. And it is ladyboy friendly. I've brought a ladyboy in with me before, and not had any problems, other than a few raised eyebrows from the farang patrons (of course I'm used to that, 555). JimSlim recently had the legendary Miss Eye meet us there, and she was made welcome. In fact one of the staff commented to me later that they thought she was very pretty (to which I replied "You should see her naked"). It's easy to find; it's right across from the Raja Car Park, nestled between a Family Mart and a massage place.

And who gave you that idea? ;)

But wait, don't all the guidebooks say Thailand is enlightened and tolerant? 555 I've had many girls tell me the same thing, and you can see it for yourself sometimes when you live here. Yes, Thais are much more tolerant and accepting of transgendered woman and gay people, male or female, than most cultures in the Western world, but they are still definitely second class citizens in many respects. Many times I've had Thai people see a ladyboy and point her out to me, as if she were a reason for amusement -- something to be ridiculed (much like they do with farang, 555). Then there is the portrayal of ladyboys in popular entertainment; it's frequently anything but flattering, usually played to stereotype. Have you ever talked to a ladyboy or another Thai person about why someone might be born transgendered? A common belief, this being a Buddhist country, is that it is because of negative actions in a previous life -- perhaps as a man they harmed women, etc. It's a rather commonly-held belief, from what I gather. Not everyone feels this way, but again, not uncommon. I think unless a ladyboy is very smart and clever, and/or her family is well to do and supportive and she can get a good education, her options in life as an adult are going to be limited, even more so than your average Thai -- especially if they come from a rural area. There's a reason so many girls/ladyboys from Isaan -- as opposed to the Bangkok metro area or other large cities -- work in the service industry here (and by that, I don't just mean the beer bars and whatnot as prostitutes). What does your missus say about this topic, BB?

So that's why the pool table is so warped! Excellent photos; well done!