Here is a good video from ThaiVisa and a spot I want to visit and photograph.   You can see where my mind’s at.

Also known as Chao Mae Tuptim, the Phallic Shrine houses a collection of hundreds of wooden, stone and metal phalluses and lingams.

Ciao

Are you looking for a Harley-Davidson or perhaps American or Tex food, maybe a club with live music and 2 full pool tables –

THEN, The Purple Space Monkey, is the place to go.  Went there yesterday for lunch with Jerry and was really surprised – great food at reasonable pricing.  Planning on going back to catch some of the entertainment and see what the place is like at night.  I can recommend the food – next I’ll try out the show.

The Purple Space Monkey is a combined Custom Bike shop and bar/restaurant located in the road mid way along Jomtien Beach Rd,( where there is a police box) and you turn left and its on your left 1/2 way down the road that leads to Sukumvit Rd.

Ciao

Need a ride to Bangkok – try Pattaya Van  start from TukCom pickup site (across the street and up about 1 block) – to Victory Monument BTS station – 1 1/2 hr. ride  97 Baht  6Am to 8PM

While your in the TukCom area stop and get a great massage at Somjit – Tom is my favorite masseur.

Right around the corner is the Sunee Plaza area – and a great little restaurant called Little Mango – the owner is Ken and he offers great food, service and pricing – when you go to Sunee don’t miss it.  I don’t have a photo right now so I’ll also introduce a great site to follow on gay life in Pattaya and BKK   NICKY’s Gay Thailand

And I also want to introduce and recommend UK Salon in Jontiem Beach.  just up from the police station across from a country “cowboy” bar  – ask for Jin (manager) for a great haircut. 

Ciao

First, I always go the North end of Jomtien Beach and rent a chair to enjoy the afternoon.  The predominate gay area (flying the rainbow flags) is almost in the middle – between  the police station and the north end of the beach.  Before and after are mostly family areas – Here’s some quick shots. And then to the wind surfing area, Parachute gliding, and ski boats :

Great places to eat along the beach – fresh fruit anyone – and of course if your Russian (most are – ha.ha.) the last sign is for you.

Ciao

Here is the  ******* SLIDESHOW *******   check it out.

The “Venue” is a real landmark for Jomtien Complex – This was last night (Sunday) and time for the start of a new different show for the coming week. 

First, we were treated to 2 singers – and they were great – headliner Mr.Paul (photo #2) – Classic Italian songs, excellent.  Then the main show – I meet Mr. Ball (last photo) and will be sure to return and get better shots in the future – I am hoping that Khun Ball will get me in the wings to get some shots behind the scenes.

Ciao

New place in town – Radchada Garden Café   be sure to check it out.

I’ll stop by over the weekend and get some photos too – Should be a great place to just relax and have a place to mingle earlier in the evening – I have always hated that Chiang Mai only had venues starting at 10 PM – Now I have a place to stop by and still be able to get home before 10:30   ha ha

Good luck Khun Mai ,  and also Hi to Note and Peter.

Ciao

Last week in the heavy downpour, while taking a monk home from Monk Chat I backed into a tree and really fucked up my back bumper on the car – had to take it into the body shop to fix this and all the other dents  – a week  – what will I ever do ??????

“Pattaya for a week”  or a least 4 days – no photos, went down to visit Jerry and just relax on the beach and catch some shows – nice, nice, nice holiday. 

Went to the “Venue”, a great ‘Broadway’ type show.  

Can you imagine a 2 hour show that cost just 100 Baht a drink – that’s about $3 – and extremely PROFESSIONAL – and they don’t bug you about the drinks.

And of course we had to check out Sunee Plaza – some great shows there – sexy young men, and I mean “SEXY”.  I really liked the chuckwow show at “Good Boys” – definitely plan on coming back.

Back in town, I meet a wonderful young man, had dinner a couple of times and took in some shows.  His birthday is next month and he is planning on coming to Chiang Mai, for his birthday so I can show him around my town and local area – really looking forward to that.

Spent most of the time at the beach, just laying in the shade – sipping coconut juice from the shell and watching the boys go by.  Didn’t have to go far as most of them come by to say hello and see if you would like to help them out – times are bleak – very little tourist – but still it’s a great feeling just to have a 18-20 y/o young man stop by to chat and find you attractive (or maybe it’s your wallet, he,he – at my age, does it really make a difference?) – in any event this is what retirement should really be – Don’t you agree.   Thanks Jerry for showing me around –

Now all I have to do is move there and take full retirement – ha-ha

Ciao

Just a follow up on my new diet – I have never felt better and getting better each day – as I said earlier amazing.

Every day for lunch I have been going to Khun Churn Vegetarian Restaurant. There I met Khun Tum, Manager of the location, but didn’t realize till now that they were so big, 4 sites – Chiang Mai and BKK.  The CM site is at Soi 11, off Nimmanhaemin Road -  The photo above is the Owner, but I haven’t met him yet.  Wonderful food and extremely great prices. Check out some reviews.

Ciao

Our Tue Chiang Mai Camera Club meeting went ok with the usual lack of supplies. ha ha   No Projector, No Computer – and a rain storm – BUT still we had a great meeting.  Bert, Jim and Steve (who brought a friend, I’ll talk about him in a minute) and me, of course. 

Got to talk about a lot of different photographic topics and also found out about the latest news on the CMPG’s happenings.  They have or are going to start up workshops for  Photoshop and Lightroom, and have a instructor ready – nice.  I think they are waiting for renovations to the old Tusker’s site and will continue there. Chiang Mai Photographic Group would be the place to go.  They have all the equipment and space and attendance to offer you what you want.  I am very glad to hear that the ‘management’ has stepped up to the latest software and plans to offer workshops in the future – bravo, finally grew up.  Highly recommend you check them out.

Sooooooo ….  I recommended to our group that we change our venue to a social group of expats (informal – not to compete with the CM Expats Club or CMPG ) who still want to discuss their photography and other ideas and continue to meet a Sangdee on every other Tue.  I’ll let you know what was decided when we have our next meeting.

Now back to Steve’s friend – Philip Ward and his project “The Laos Children’s Workshop’”. He told us all about his accomplishments and problems starting and developing the center.  Fascinating – He’s here trying to find equipment and resources that they are in desperate need of.  Computers, Tools, Cameras, Software, and of course money —  etc.  I’m going to help him out with tutorial software collection I have -  Check out their website and maybe you can help too – Please contact Philip  – see if you can help in any way  —-   these kids really need your help.  Help these kids develop a skill that can support them when they leave the orphanage.  Life is unimaginable in Lao when you have no education or a saleable skill but they are also considered outcast tribal boys – bleak !!!    HELP GIVE THEM A FIGHTING CHANCE.

Ciao

Laptop need servicing,      total repair     – this is the place to go in Chiang Mai MTEK Notebook Service Shop.   Just next to ICON Computer on the moat just down from Kad Suan Kaew Shopping Center – Huay Kaew Rd.  Excellent service and pricing.  And they speak some English.

Ciao

If anyone is looking for a Internet Hosting Co.  (ISP)   then I can only recommend DreamHost.   I have been with them for over 4 years with this blog and can only report EXCELLENT service, support, and stability.  Did I mention SUPPORT – it has been nothing less than superior – they have helped me and solved every problem I have encountered running the blog and each time within 24 hours – AMAZING.

If your planning on a web-site check them out – you can’t go wrong.

Ciao

Amazing, I was at the shopping center today having lunch and asked the waitress if she knew if the Chiang Mai Water District Office on the Super Highway was open today on Sunday.  She didn’t know but what a coincidence, sitting next to me at the next table was a couple of gals who were just opening their new business in Chiang Mai for water purifiers.

They went out of their way to find out for me – GREAT SERVICE – if this is indicative of the service their company will offer – I want to shop there.  Their just starting out and need your support – you can contact them at

{ www.foreverandaday.com  }  Right now the web page is still under construction so to view their products you can go to the mother company’s web-site .      www.espring.com 

Best of Luck – Susie and Jutamas

Ciao

@Richard’s Pub off Silom in Bangkok has closed it’s doors – However Jim is retired and doing the CambodiaOut website now.  Check him out at  www.cambodiaout.com

And thanks for the friends – link, Jim    Appreciate it.

Ciao

I just purchased the best pair of glasses I have ever worn.

Best service, and price.  9,000 Baht or $300 US    Service included electronic eye focal examination with personal testing using  replacement lenses.  The glasses are made with designer magnesium frames, UV protection, transitional (Grey), light weight – scratch resistant plastic. – Wow Great.  

Khun Ocha (left) and Khun Pong in their “Top Charoen Optical” store on the CharyaPhum Rd (outer moat – Thapae Gate side) , right next to “Northwest Wheels”  is the place to go.  Tel: +66 053 252 393

It’s worth a trip to Chiang Mai.  You can almost fly here – have a weeks vacation – fly back,  for the same price you’d pay for new glasses in the States.  Pick up some clothes (Designer), new luggage and meet some of the lovely young men here at the same time.

Hope you come to visit.

Ciao

Max told me about “Wit” and his Café, take the second Soi on the left past the Canal Road on Suthep Rd.  (See the map) .  It is hard to find and when I went there Sat it was still raining and so they were not open.  I did get to meet Wit and managed to take some quick shots.

It’s located in the front yard of the house and can be a little difficult to find.  I plan to go back and visit next Tuesday and see how the drinks are and what kind of customers he draws – students, students and more students – hopefully it won’t be raining .

Wit seems like a real neat guy and we will chat later and I’ll tell you more about the Café and him.  Maybe I can find some models there too.

and here’s a shot from the front road – don’t go past it – more Tuesday

Ciao