RhinoTusk

I made my semi-monthly visit to Patpong tonite and the usual bars: Kings Castle I & Ii, Club Electric Blue, Pink Panther, and Bada Bing. King's Castle raised the price of Jack & Coke from 130 to 150, but CEB still has 59 baht draft. As usual, I had the best time in Bada Bing but left the camera home this time. After some Long Island Iced Teas, I enjoy taking a Tuk- Tuk back to Sukhumvit. They always asked for 200 and accepted 120. As a sign of the times, now they ask for 300 and won't take less than 150, it's less than a hundred on the meter. Fortunately, i started early and could use the BTS for 31 baht.

He's a former adviser to Colonel Muamar Gaddafi

Stopped off in Pattaya for two days to bar fine three girls, hadn't been in town for over two months. Noticed Fahrenheit has a new sign. The new place it lit but not open. Still lots of Christmas decorations Some attractive Russian women around One was keeping watch while 2 were humping around the corner. A new character on Walking Street? Seemed popular with the ladies Time to sober up with an Irish Coffee at King's Cafe Can I bring my own stash? Making me hungry! The new Saengchan Kitchen, next to Marine Seafood In 12 years she'll be working the chrome pole Harem have such a loyal following they're camping out just to be first in the bar.

A very happy new year on Soi Cowboy tonight.

But there was more picture taking than usual last night

Some girls are camera-friendly while others go back into the bar until I'm gone.

Miles and 'Trane at Studio 61 in New York City, April 2, 1959

Merry Christmas!!!

You can use the outside ramp to get to the second floor parking level, then would have to use the service elevator.

The Pool Bar at the Amari Emerald Cove Ko Chang. Long Island Iced Tea, half-price during happy hour, 3 to 6 PM

They're trying to sell cars to rich Thais, very few farang there. Wish I could afford the Maserati, I used to have a Mustang GT in that same shade of blue.

My personal favorite

Last show of the year, ended yesterday

They're not exactly camera-friendly

A few from last weekend while I was having an Irish Coffee

President Lyman in "Seven Days in May" "I think someone should just take this city and flush it down the fuckin' toilet."

Hedley Lamarr in Blazing Saddles. "Gort! Klaatu barada nikto."

There are bars very near the hotel. I booked during a 50% promotion, 6000 baht for 2 nights, excluding breakfast and internet. In-room wifi was 400 baht for 24 hours but free wifi was available in the lounge. I topped up my micro-sim and used 3G but could sometimes pick up the free signal from my 3rd floor room. Besides a great pool, squash and tennis courts, a billiards room, table tennis, and a fitness room.

I hadn't been to Hua Hin for 10 years so thought I'd check it out for a few days. Caught the 8:05 AM Diesel Rail Car from Bangkok's Hualamphong Station for a very relaxing 4 hour ride, even had a meal delivered to my seat. Double the minibus fare but much more comfortable. Stayed at the Hilton. I particularly enjoyed the large pool Water slide for the kids and a swim-up bar A bunch of bars within a few blocks of the hotel with friendly ladies Another concentration of bars around Soi 80, but not many customer Lots of seaside seafood restaurants, tourist prices I ate at a french place called Le Bistro. Service and presentation were great but food was mediocre. The night market didn't seem to have much The Centera looked very nice with colonial style, but pool couldn't match the Hilton. Last visit, I stayed at the City Beach Unless I take up golf, it will probably be another 10 years before I'm back to Hua Hin

Thanks

I have a Hua Hin trip report but my images are 4 meg and I only have 1.5 meg of image space left.

Norman Bates, Psycho "Well, let's not start sucking each other's dicks quite yet."

Here are a few more shots around town and along the Ping River

Sorry about that. I stand corrected. Whatever this is.

Thanks for the comments, gents. Attractions Wat Chedi Luang Right in the middle of town, the remains of a massive temple damaged by an earthquake in 1545, when it was home to THE Emerald Buddha. Dating from the 14th century, must respect these magnificent structures that stand the test of time. Wat Phra Singh What I remember of Wat Phra Singh during my first trip was how a farang stole my new Nike tennis shoes I had left outside when I entered the temple, so beware. We waited until everyone left and found a beat up-pair of New Balance, two sizes too small, but I had to wear them until I could find some shoes in my size. There are lots of other beautiful old temples in the city. Night Bazaar A huge indoor-outdoor market, including the Kalare Night Bazaar and Anusarn Market, selling handicrafts. Sunday Walking Street Market Every Sunday at 4 PM, they close Ratchadamnoen Road for the Sunday market. Goods appear to be of a higher quality than the Night Bazaar, and prices may also be better, because you see Thais shopping there. I hired a tuk-tuk driver for a half-day to take me to some of the tourist attractions to the north. Monkey School Monkeys doing cute tricks, performing amazing feats, shooting free throws and climbing the pole for a slam dunk, diving for coins, etc. Good fun and only 200 baht admission. Karen Village The long neck folks, selling some cool handicrafts. Admission to their village was 500 baht, pretty steep. Everyone was very pleasant and polite, for 500 baht they should be. Crocodile Farm Some guy kissing crocodiles, putting his head into their mouths, and reaching into their stomachs. For 300 baht, I'd give it a pass. Tiger Kingdom Like Pussy? Chaing Mai City Arts and Culture Center Housed in a 1920's building on Prapoklao Road, near the 3 Kings Monument, that was formerly Provincial Hall, a multi-media display of the history and evolution of the city, as an independent capital to the present day. Visitors are shown a movie, subtitled in English, to promote an understanding of Chaing Mai's roots, and a set of exhibits. Admission 90 baht. Even the local history of the farang is included. Chaing Mai Zoo and Aquarium A 200 acre zoo with 400 species represented, including giant pandas from China, koalas and ostriches from Australia, penguins from South America, the only Indian rhino in Thailand, a happy family of hippopotamuses, flamingos, zebras, giraffes, lions, tigers, camels, sheep and many varieties of birds. 100 baht you unlimited access to the shuttle bus and tram. Some of the exhibits also required an extra ticket. The panda exhibit for example, was 100 baht extra. For 150 baht, you were allowed 20 minute access to the snow-dome, a facility with controlled temperature of -7 degrees. There really wasn't any snow, just ice. They provide a winter coat and boots, and the Thais bundled up, but it wasn't so cold my my standards, in fact I couldn't even see my breath. They provided an inner tube that you could take upstairs and slide down an ice rink. Otherwise, I just sat around until my time was up, thinking what a rip-off this was, but when I went back outside I felt instantly refreshed. It didn't feel uncomfortably hot anymore. This nirvana lasted for about 10-15 minutes until my body temperature caught up and I reverted to being hot and sticky. The acquarium also requires an extra ticket, 225 baht I think, and was quite disappointing. There were a few small sharks and some exotic fish but really not much. I'd skip it next time. Sayuri Soapy Massage I was saving the best attraction for last. After spending the entire afternoon at the zoo, walking steep hills in 34 degree heat, I'm completely drenched in sweat. You may hear people say that Chaing Mai is cooler than Bangkok, it's only at night. My flight leaves at 10:40 PM, I'm checked out of the hotel, a fresh change of clothes is packed on top of my bag, but what I really need right now is a bath. Mongering wasn't a priority this trip, there are far better options at home in Bangkok, but I'd heard about Sayuri Soapy Massage, supposed to be the best in town, and this seemed like a good time to check it out. It's not on my Nancy Chandler map but google maps has it, so I have my driver drop me at the Nawarat bridge and I hoof it from there, about a 15 minute hike. You learn never to arrive at these places in a taxi or tuk-tuk. I'm the only farang present, old Thai guys sit around sipping Chang beer gawking at a couple dozen girls in the fishbowl. One group of girls have a 'B' badge, one group have no letter, and the largest group have an 'M' badge. A single girl sits on the couch in street clothes, a sideliner, she's very pretty, but no more than some of the 'M' girls. Some girls could grace high end Ratchada soapies, this is better than anything in Pattaya. Honey Massage may have nicer facilities but that's trivial, the girls are all that matter. Papasan writes on a piece of paper, B-class or no letter, 2000 baht, M-class 2500, S-class 3000. These are farang prices, but maybe not the tourist price. I ask for one of the M-class girls that had eyeballed me when I entered and ignited a flame, she was absolutely gorgeous. 25 years old, firm body and good English. She thought I was a local because I arrived without a driver. I was led to a small pink room with mirrored ceiling and walls but just a standard-sized tub. An air mattress is leaning against the wall, but I don't ask for it, I've had enough of those. Instead, I enjoy her deep tissue and foot massage. Since I have my camera, I ask to take a picture. "No, cannot", she says. GoGo girls rarely decline a photo but soapy girls have a much different attitude about being photographed. Her sex was awesome, I tipped appropriately and left feeling even more refreshed then after the Snow-Dome. The one-hour flight home was very relaxing.