1 May - National Labour Day
5 May - Coronation Day
7 May - Substitution Coronation Day
9 May - Royal Ploughing Day
4 June - Visakha Bucha Day

Cutey and Beauty Hair Salon are having a "Special Summer Promotion"
All gents hair cut including wash 300baht and coloring 1,000baht only, call 02-231-2315.

1 May - Mr. X-Size Summer Contest at X-size Bar Soi Twilight
26 May - 5th Anniversary and Khun Naam's birthday party at Meeting Karaoke
Ramkhamheng Rd., Soi 81/4
11-14 June - Telephone Pub "Celebration 25 Years Party" 4 days of fun & excitement,
a cabaret show every night, only 25Baht for drinks. Don't miss it!!

Club One Seven B&B Happy hours enjoy the company of the "Family" with a
COLD BEER at Home Dining Caf? & Lounge from 4pm-6pm daily, cold beer @ 50 baht each.

Connect Guesthouse
Every Saturdays – Connects gay day tour to Kai Island, at 11:00-19:00.
Every Sundays - BBQ buffet at Connect, start at 8 PM, only 250 THB per person.

8 May - Pattaya Pride 2012 Invite you to a fun charity "Quiz Night" at Panorama Pub
18 May - "Rear Of The Year 2012" at Copa Show Bar in Boyztown
19 May - Pong's Birthday Party at NAB Club
15 June - "Fetish Friday 4" at Copa Show Bar in Boyztown

Bondi Bar & Guesthouse - Quiz night every
last Sunday of the month and Flossies Cocktail Party every Thursday start from 9.30pm.

Happy Place Bar - "Boy Bingo Night" takes place the 22nd of every month. start from
9.30pm. to 10.30pm.

House Of Male Sauna - Special offers & events
-Free entry on your birthday
-Each 10th visit to House of Male free-Obtain coupon from cashier
-Buddy nights Tuesday & Thursday nights with entry for 2 at the price of 1, commencing 6pm.

Club One Seven Sauna now open midday to midnight every day, for seven themes night look details at: www.cluboneseven.net/Chiangmai

Initiatives for Phuket Pride 2012

Giving back to our Community
Creating Positive Changes is what Phuket Loves U (PLU) Club for 2012 will our focus whether through increasing the awareness of health issues in our community or by providing financial support to achieve that goal.  For 2012, our club has decided to work on two initiatives: the financial support of The Life Home Project Foundation and development and implementation of an awareness program for our unified community that highlights HIV/AIDS and STD.

Working to create a positive change for our future
The Life home project is a registered charitable foundation that is registered under Thai law. It is non-denominational, non-profit charitable organization. The projects main goal is to help to improve the situation of those in Phuket, primarily women, who are HIV positive, and their children (who may be HIV positive themselves) as well as other disadvantaged children.

Phuket is currently one of the highest areas in the country for HIV/AIDS infected people. The public Health department indicates that 60% of all new HIV/AIDS infection occurs in teenagers between 15-25 years old. The Life Home Project is addressing this alarming issue with its outreach program, by providing workshops and community awareness days out in the community of Phuket in the dangers of unprotected sex.

The (PLU) Club intends to raise money to support many of the wonderful projects that the Life Home Project runs, but the two we are most keen to support is their Scholarship Program and their Day Care Centre.

PLU Club fully supports these programs in wishing to obtain a better future for the kids, helping them to break the cycle of poverty or stigmatization in which they are trapped. We along with the Life Home Project believe that the best way to achieve this is to provide access to education in order to give them the opportunity to have a brighter future and better life.

The Scholarship system is based on a ‘Godparent’ for each child who would pay for the scholarship for one year of education. The PLU Club intends to become a ‘Godfather’ for many of these children.

The Day Care Centre provides meals and a children’s development program. This centre ensures that the children are protected from any harm or rejection that they might face as a result of being HIV positive. The PLU Club intends to support this program, the money from us will allow them to buy more equipment and books etc. and in time allow the program to expand offering this fantastic support to more and more of Phuket’s HIV positive children.
For more information visit their web site:www.www.lifehomeproject.org

Creating a Positive Change in Paradise Soi
The slogan for the International Aids Day on December 1, 2011 was “Getting to Zero”.  The Local and National Official reaction is that Phuket is getting close to that goal, however, those in our community know that this is not the case.
UraiSamakkarn, a member of the board of the Life Home Project on KohSirae, a shelter for HIV-infected women and their children (some of whom also have the disease) points out, “Phuket currently ranks third in Thailand [in terms of the percentage of the population infected] and first in the South.”

VickkySittiwetch of Andaman Power stated that ‘The new generation of homosexual men and ladyboys are the groups most at risk” which is why this year Phuket Pride has committed itself to creating and implementing a year’s program that will work toward increasing the awareness and services for those dealing with HIV/AIDs and STD in our community.

Collaborating with Andaman Power, we plan on tailoring an awareness program targeting the young Thai workers in the commercial sex industry within our unified community.   With this awareness program and by providing free condoms, it is our goal to educate our unified Community in safe sex and thereby lower the alarming rate of those getting infected with HIV/AIDs and STD.  Our education and awareness program can not end with the Thai Community.  We need to reach out to visitors and foreign residents who also have role in matters of sexual responsibility. There is no “Us” and “Them” in this tragic story. We must all act together to make a difference.

Education, education, education will be the initial step in our club’s meeting our mission which is Promoting Healthy Living, for our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Communities

Please consider making a donation to either cause by printing and faxing the donor form on the donor page.  Collectively, we will make a positive change for the future of our community.

Samui Top To Bottom By Roving Resident Reporter Adam Preston

If you accommodation is provided by an international tour operator or even chosen yourself from an on-line hotel booking web site then the chances are you will find yourself in one of the main beach resorts of Samui.  No Problem!  This is probably where you want to be: with top quality hotel facilities, a wide choice of restaurants, some night life and entertainment options and all under the swaying palm trees that are the icon of this tropical island.

If you decide you want to explore further afield you don’t need to travel far to find yourself the only person on a quiet beach or alone at a magnificent waterfall.  You don’t need to travel far – but you need to travel smart.  Simply speaking a rented motor bike and a free island map is not going to lead you to the best beaches, waterfalls, temples etc.  Such places are remote and unspoiled for a simple reason.  Visitors can’t find them!   One reason is that many are not on the map at all.  After all there is no official mapping agency in Thailand.  The map you are given is a freebie given away to promote major businesses on the island. Another reason is that many places need 4 wheel drive to access or maybe they are only accessible by boat.

Lucky for gay people visiting Samui there is a small friendly tour company which can take you in comfort and style to the places the others will never find.  If only the heterosexuals had such a service our life would not be so easy.  But they don’t.  And we do.  So it is.  Samui Rainbow-Scuba & Tours has something to offer almost everyone: from travelling in chauffer driven air con comfort through the rain forest to cycling through coconut plantations to diving under the sea.   See their ad in this magazine or find their pictures, descriptions and videos at rainbow-scuba.com and youtube.com/scubachild.

 Regatta Samui 2012: May 28-June 2nd

A regatta is a yacht sailing race and these events create a fun and exciting atmosphere where ever they are held around the world.  The Samui Regatta was founded in 2001 with just 11 boats and the event has grown every year since then.  Now with International status the event attracts boats from overseas counties such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia.

Between 28 May to 2 June you can experience the excitement of 5 days of sailing and 7 nights of partying on the gorgeous tropical island of Samui with some of the best racing yachts in Asia.  Every morning and afternoon if you are in the south of Chaweng Beach you will see the flotilla of boats leaving and returning. Depending on the course being sailed each day you may also be able to watch some of the racing on the horizon as you top up your tan on the beach.

Want to make it close up and personal?  How about spending the day on board one of these racing yachts.  Small gay group with our own captain to guide and explain the race as it unfolds.  Enjoy the sun, sea and wind!  Come prepared for an exhilarating ride and don’t forget your sun screen and a hat.  Contact Rainbow-Scuba & Tours Information Desk at the Cozy Cafe details below.

Cafe Culture on Samui
Tropical Fah Samui were the first to bring male massage to Samui (over 7 years ago) and now they are the first again to bring us a Cosy Cafe and Wine Bar.  Somewhere small and cozy, close to the gay action but far enough away to enjoy a quiet drink undisturbed.  Host Khun Long and his staff show the same enthusiasm and professional attitude that has made then a focal point of the gay community on this small island for so long.  Reasonable prices on a wider than usual selection of wines, spirits and beer.  Worth a visit any day of the week but don’t miss their 2nd Friday Party – happening every second Friday of the month (of course).

Hungry In Chiang Mai (By David Edwards)

Chiang Mai has so many places to eat good Thai food cheaply, it’s almost impossible to go hungry here.  For the authentic experience the street food at markets is unbeatable.  Every evening,aplethora of vendor carts congregate around Chang Puekand Chiang Mai Gates where you can find every type of local dish imaginable.  Around Thapae Gate area there are so many tourist restaurants it would take a book to describe them all!  So when you are hungry in Chiang Mai where do you eat?  This article offers a brief introduction to Northern Thai food and suggests some above average places to eat both Thai and western food.

Like other regions of Thailand, the North has it’s own, quite distinctive, cuisine and dishes.  A key differentiator from central Thai cuisine is the major staple is sticky rice, KhaoNiaew(also called glutinous rice), rather than jasmine steamed rice.  In country style family life, a large pot of sticky rice is cooked in the morning and used for the entire day.  It’s eaten by taking it with the fingers and moulding it into a small ball, this is then dipped into other food or sauces and eaten.  Traditionally no cutlery is used.  In restaurants sticky rice is served in little baskets.

Sticky rice served in Baskets and classic Kao Soi Dish (Source: Wikimedia)

Northern Cusine has influences from both Buma and China.  One popular lunch time noodle soup dish, originating from Yunnan province in SE china, is Kao Soi, sold by many street vendors and small restaurants.  Chicken legs are stewed in a coconut milk sauce rich in spices, chilli and turmeric, which gives it’s characteristic yellow colour.  It’s served with egg noodles, crispy fried noodles and a range of condiments.  Probably Chiang Mai’s most popular noodle dish is the street food classic:KhanomJeennamngio; fine rice noodles served with a pork and tomato curry sauce and fresh vegetables.

Curries from Northern Thailand are less fiery than elsewhere due to the Burmese influence.  A classic is Geang Hang Ley, a slow cooked pork curry rich with spices, especially turmeric.  Other curries are more watery and soup like, without coconut milk and with leaves and vegetables used for flavouring.  Pork, Chicken and beef are used.  Another speciality is: Gaeng KhanoonotYoung Jackfruit Curry.  Appetisers and snacks are popular here, the best known being SaiUa, or Chiang Mai Sausage, a very spicy pork sausage cooked over an open fire.  Others include Kap Muu – deep fried Pork Skin which is great served with Naam Prik Noom chilli paste andNaam Prik Ong, a spicy ground pork dip.  Many upmarket Northern Thai restaurants offer an appetiser platter featuring these and other dips with fresh vegetables and sticky rice.

Around Thapae Gate and the Night Bazaar, the most popular tourist areas,numerous Thai restaurants can be found.  Many include the above and more Northern food specialities.  But, for a real classic Northern Thai experience visit HuanSoontaree, a large restaurant with Lanna style decor specialising in northern cuisine.   Owned by renowned Thai folk singer Soontaree Vechanont,  it’s serene location is on the banks of the ping river a few Km north of town.  Khun Soontaree still sings there herself most evenings.  Another authentic restaurant set in a stunningly beautiful golden teak wood placein the Chang Puek area is Ruen Come In.  If you want some extra special accommodation they also have luxury suite rooms available.

Ruen Come In Restaurant and Hotel – Beautiful Lanna style teakwood building.

Apart from having great Thai food available on every street corner, Chiang Mai also has plenty of restaurants serving a variety of great western food.  Whilst many are mediocre affairs targeting tourists, a few have carved their own niche and are well worth visiting.  One such place is the gay friendly Ginger & Cafe located inside the eastern moat near Thapae Gate.  Ginger &Kafe offers both Thai and Western menus in a venue filled with an eclectic mix of sumptuous sofas, Thai antiques and bohemian design.

Across town on HuayKaew Road, Pern’s restaurant has only been open a few months and has already established a firm following.  Run by partners Brian and Pong, veterans with a proven track record in catering businesses in Thailand, it offers a menu of high quality Mediterranean food with influences from Turkey, Greece, Morocco and Italy.  Other propositions include succulent steaks, other western food favourites and some exquisite yet affordable wines.  Although not specifically a gay venue, Pern’sRestaurant has developed a significant ex-pat following, which includes a happy mix of gay and straight customers.  It’s also home to the former Darling Wine Bar.  Now discreetly located at the back of the venue, the bar is a great place to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail or chat with friends over a glass of wine.

 
Friendly staff at Pern’s Restaurant

Located in the same block as Pern’s, is Lemon Tree, an unpretentious gay friendly Thai restaurant offering genuinely good Thai food at everyday prices.  It’s also close by to Soho bar.
The Nimmanhaeminda Road area is the up and coming modern trendy part of town popular with more affluent Thai’s.  It’s expansion seems never ending with new bars, restaurants and coffee shops opening every week. Explore the network of small sois off the main road to discover many interesting places that are too numerous to mention.   A good choice for Thai food is Cafe di Nimman which serves great Thai food in a modern setting.  It’s close to Glass Onion and Warm Up so a good dinner option before a few drinks and some dancing.  The similarly named Nimman Bar and Grill is a luxurious yet affordable restaurant located in the Kantary Hills Hotel.  As well as great steaks they have a variety of western food options including pizza and pasta.

Nimman Bar and Grill at Kantary Hills

Beccofino excels with authentic Italian cuisine, though it’s definitely not somewhere for the budget traveller.   For authentic Burmese food try Nong Bee’s restaurant, after which a walk down soi 13 will bring you to our friends at The Best Friend Library, where you can find information about the plight of Burmese refugees.  For healthy eating, Salad Concept is a great place for lunch, or for English food, especially Sunday roast lunches and good beer visit The Pub.

The Pub – A Chiang Mai legend set in an old Lanna Style building

Chiang Mai Updates

It’s not often we can report a major new venue opening in Chiang Mai, but February saw the launch of See Man Pub. Gay focused; it is a brand new modern, air-conditioned, large Thai style music pub with live bands, katoey acts and coyote boys, all with an Indian influence.   It’s location is near the intersection of HuayKaew Road with the Canal Road, opposite the Phucome Hotel and open until 2 a.m.

The Santitham area of town continues to grow as a main focus for gay life in Chiang Mai with three new businesses opened in recent months.  QI 68 is a brand new ultra-modern guest house with an interesting architectural style which mixes traditional wood feature with modern glass and concrete.  Mansfield Place a boutique resort style guest house including bar and restaurant exudes up market luxury in a discreet location.  Radchada Garden Cafe is a great place to enjoy lunch or evening cocktails in a peaceful tropical garden set around a beautiful old Lanna style teakwood mansion.

To keep up to date with all the news and gossip from Chiang Mai we recommend you visit www.gayinchiangmai.com

Isaan Scene (By Miss James)

I am writing this issue’s column from the very un-Isaan city of Seal Beach, California, 40 kilometers south of Los Angeles, where I am on my semi-annual visit “home.”  Although it is the hot season – my least favorite time of year in Thailand – after six weeks in “The Land of the Free” I miss Udon Thani and Isaan very much.

So what is it that I am missing?  Well, if I were back in my adopted home of Udon Thani, I would be going to my partner’s club, THE BOY ZONE, every night.  Here I am surrounded by anywhere from eight to twenty gorgeous Isaan lads on any given night, and they are usually a very frisky and fun lot.  I also get to converse with the steady stream of customers – locals and out-of-towners, Thai and farang, tourists and expats – who come into our bar.  I also understand that there’s a new, mixed club in Udon called CROC’S, located on Prajak Road near the train station, and I am dying to check it out.  I miss places like TAWANDAENG, the liveliest music club in town.  Tawandaeng features a number of live bands playing the full spectrum of Thai favorites to an audience that spans the full spectrum – young and old; gay, straight and whatever; Thai and farang; boy and girl and man and woman.  A high-decibel evening of fun is guaranteed.  I miss the food.  Fabulous, spit-roasted Isaan gai yaang (grilled chicken); the best larb ped in the Kingdom; and grilled Kalasin shrimp.  All enjoyed sitting in a Thai-style, open-air sala on the side of a small lake (there are a dozen of these places around town), or on the banks of the Mekhong River in nearby Nong Khai.

I miss gay Isaan.  Isaan’s gay scene – at least in the traditional sense – is very small.  Ubon Ratchathani has a couple of gay bars – BLACK BEANS is a fun karaoke bar (no English spoken by the owner or boys, but somehow non-Thai speakers get by); Khon Kaen has THE BEACH, Isaan’s only gay sauna; KHORAT has its central park next to the moat in “old town” with (sometimes) fabulous cruising opportunities.  But gay Isaan is usually found outside of the “traditional” gay style of establishments.  For instance, pretty much every bar or club outside of the straight-oriented, commercial sex bars can be said to be mixed or gay-friendly.  In fact, a gay couple or group visiting one of these establishments would most likely be welcomed with open arms!  The same can be said of Isaan’s restaurants.  There is a much more tolerant, laid-back attitude towards homosexuality in Isaan that is, I believe, a result of the laid-back, down-to-earth nature of the local people.  It is quite easy to meet young gay, bi-curious, or just curious men in just about any public venue in Isaan, be it a bar, restaurant, shopping mall, or gas station.  It just takes a little effort on your part.  Isaan folk are very receptive to foreigners, be they gay or straight.  Don’t worry so much about a formal, traditional gay “scene” in Isaan.  If you are receptive, you will find it, or it will find you….

So if you are lucky enough to be reading this while in Thailand – perhaps while visiting Boyz Town in Pattaya, or dining/drinking on Soi 4 in Bangkok, first – consider yourself lucky to be in Thailand, and not Los Angeles!  Then, consider taking a trip up to Isaan for a weekend or a week.  Khmer temples, beautiful national parks, idyllic riverside villages, the best food and the cutest boys in Thailand are waiting for you.  Oh yeah, and a fabulous, NON-TRADTIONAL gay scene, as well.

The author can usually be found at The Boy Zone bar in Udon Thani, or reached at jamespaulhanson@gmail.com.

Tarntawan Place - Bangkok

Welcome To The Tarntawan Place

The Tarntawan Place takes great pleasure in welcoming you to a hotel experience of truly friendly service and vibrant surroundings.

Whether you are visiting on business or purely for pleasure, we are your surest choice in Bangkok.

The commitment and dedication of our International management team and fine Thai staff has become renowned worldwide. In our quest for total customer satisfaction, our emphasis remains on guaranteeing for you, our guest, the comfort and atmosphere expected for a perfect stay.

Situated in a quiet courtyard off Surawong Road in the heart of Bangkok's business and entertainment district, the Tarntawan Place is within walking distance of international banks, major companies, shopping centers and airline offices.

The Tarntawan Place is well established among the boutique range of accommodation that has become the preferred choice of the discerning leisure and business traveler in the 21st century. Our rooms are stylishly appointed, spacious and light, creating a friendly and intimate atmosphere. Our personalised service and attention to detail ensures a special comfort and charm. We look forward to welcoming

Rooms and Suites

Relax in the comfort and style of our attractively decorated rooms and suites. They are generously appointed with full amenities, because we understand the importance of your 'home away from home'. All rooms include a spacious working area, IDD phone, cable/satellite TV including BBC and CNN, free Wi-Fi Internet access, fully stocked personal bar and fridge, coffee/tea making facilities and separate bathroom with a bathtub and hair dryer. Deluxe Surawong Rooms and Suites offer superior bedding, fruit and flowers, bathrobes and slippers, turndown service and DVD/music player. Also included in the room rate are:

• Tax and service charges
• Free WiFi
• Free local calls
• Complimentary breakfast available any time of the day or night
• Complimentary copies of international and local newspapers
• Invitation to our weekly management cocktail reception

Bar & Restaurant

Enjoy the relaxed ambiance of our Lobby Lounge Restaurant, which offers a wide variety of Thai and International cuisine. Breakfast and the full complement of our menu are available 24hrs. This helps with those 'time zone' difficulties and makes life especially easy when 'a late night' means 'the early hours of the morning'!

Facilities: The Tarntawan Place offers all the facilities you would expect including:

Summer Special 2012
Our ever popular Summer Special package is available from 14 May 2012 till 31 October 2012.
Stay for 4 consecutive nights during this period and as well as the usual room facilities and benefits the package includes:

Location

The Tarntawan Place is conveniently located in the heart of Bangkok's business and entertainment district and is within walking distance of international banks, major companies, shopping centres and airline offices.

All of Bangkok's best nightlife venues are just around the corner, including the famous Patpong Night Bazaar and Thaniya Plaza ["Little Tokoyo"] and the gay hotspots of Soi Pratuchai, SIlom Soi 2 and Silom Soi 4.

The Tarntawan Place is approximately 35 km from the airport.

Address: Tarntawan Place
119/5-10 Surawong Road
Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500
Tel: +66-2-238-2620
Fax: +66-2-238-3228
Email: tarntawan@tarntawan.com

Bangkok Hot News!