Should also note that:

- Insurance is still in it's infancy in Thailand and is quite immature in terms of knowledge of the concept, coverage, products, taxation implications (where applicable) and overall professionalism
- Overall, a quite small percentage of the total Thai population can afford life and or health insurance (too busy surviving day by day to even think about the future)
- Insurance scams abound, health insurance is one example (forcing up premiums)
- Many Thais don't trust insurance companies for good reasons and same goes for insurance agents, and I know this one because of two incidents in my one step away Thai family
- I have contents insurance on my condo, a JV of a well known UK based company and a local company. A fire in a close room did a lot of smoke damage to my condo, local office of insurance company tried every angle possible to avoid payout as per the policy.

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[QUOTE = Xfun; 677003].
**For a much more comprehensive coverage, suggest members go to thaivisa.com / forum then Thaliland news clippings and / or general topics. Currently they have a continuously updated daily thread. [/ QUOTE].

-- I shall be enjoying some R&R. away from BKK. during the Labor day w/e., so shall leave readers to enjoy the a/m. recommendation.
- I believe that > Thaivisa.com - Home < is part of The Nation gp., isn't it? (Query: 'How impartial is The Nation gp.?' - Printer's Devil.),.

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What I would like to know is are the gay go-go bars off Surrowong road (e.g. Classic Boys, X-boys, etc.) open or not? Plan to come back to Thailand mid May, but not to Bangkok if the gay scene is dead.

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Open.

I expect it would take a rather large nuclear detonation for the gay scene to be "dead" in Bangkok.

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[quote=trentaus;677010]
What I would like to know is are the gay go-go bars off Surrowong road, (e.g. Classic Boys, X-boys, etc.), open or not? ... . [quote]

-- Today, (28th.), I walked-through Soi Twilight, (off Suriwong rd.), at approx. 18.30.hrs..
- As far as I could see all of the bars, clubs, entertainment places, massage parlors, pool bars etc. etc. were either OPEN already or their opening was getting under way.
- But between now and yr. ETA., (a couple of weeks.), is - like 'A week in politics.' - a long time ... ?

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Thanks for the info. If things are bad in the city when I arrive at BKK airport (which hopefully will remain open), I will simply go to Pattaya instead.

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Article in today's Bangkok Post:

There is still music in the air. Several waiters are working, but only a few customers are seated.


Dancers wait in the doorway of King’s Castle 3 on Patpong, where customers have been in short supply lately. THITI WANNAMONTHA
To, a 35-year-old pub manager on Silom Soi 4, welcomes me to his lonely bar. He has lost 90% of his customers since the red shirts moved to Silom, costing his large pub more than 50,000 baht per night.

By day, Silom Road is the heart of Bangkok's financial district, home to numerous banks, brokerages and consultancies. But once the sun sets, the street transforms from a busy business centre into one of the world's most infamous red-light districts.

You have Patpong Road, famous for its rowdy clubs, go-go bars and open markets flaunting the latest knockoff bags, watches and Hollywood movies. Soi Thaniya boasts dozens of high-end clubs catering to an ever-shrinking population of Japanese expats.

And then you have Soi 2 and Soi 4, the centre for the capital's gay nightlife. Pubs, bars, restaurants, saunas and massage spas can be seen left and right, catering to Thai and foreigners alike and open until the wee hours of the morning.

At least up until two weeks ago, anyway.

Bloody skirmishes between security forces and anti-government red shirts have taken a heavy toll on business, particularly the grenade attacks on April 22 on Silom Road that claimed one life and injured scores of others.

Residents of Silom Road express anger and indignation about how their lives and livelihoods have been all but held hostage by the political infighting.

Jatuphon, 35, has spent much of the past decade on Silom Road since starting his gay tourist magazine, Bangkok Variety in 2000. Most of the advertisers in the handout are entertainment venues located on Soi 2 and Soi 4.

``My customers complain a lot about the situation,'' said Mr Jatuphon. ``Many bars have to close earlier and that definitely affects their income. Some of them asked me to extend the terms of their credit.''

He added that his publishing business has been struggling ever since yellow-shirted protesters shut down Suvarnabhumi Airport in December 2008. Business picked up again late last year, only to plummet when the red-shirt protests started this year.

``When the yellow shirts closed the airport, the number of foreign tourists dropped, but Thais still came. This time it's different. Thais are worried about their safety and have simply stopped coming to the area.''

Politically, Mr Jatuphon said he was not a yellow-shirt supporter, but he absolutely opposed the tactics used by the red shirts, who seem intent on trying to force the government from office by disrupting daily life in the capital.

``I didn't agree when the yellow shirts closed Suvarnabhumi Airport. And I certainly disagree with what the reds are doing today,'' he said.

``I don't agree with them and I'm not afraid. Gay people have a different point of view about politics. Normally we don't want to get involved, but we are ready to express our opinions if we cannot bear it anymore.''

Advertising in the free Bangkok Variety has fallen 40% to 45% in recent weeks, and could decline further if the situation is prolonged, Mr Jatuphon added.

Nearby, Pop, a 24-year-old regular to the area, said he was scared about the threat of new violence.

``I don't dare come to Silom nowadays. I'm afraid of what might happen. Instead, I might go to the bars near Chatuchak Market or Ratchadaphisek, but it's not really the same,'' he said.

To's pub on Soi 4 planned to celebrate its 12th birthday next month before the protests reached Silom. ``If the political situation does not ease by next month, the owners of the pub may have to consider closing their business,'' he said.

``This is not just a pub for gay people. We are like a community. Silom is the destination for both gay tourists and gay foreigners who live in the country,'' he said while watching his waiters group together for a dance.

``I want everybody to respect the law and I am looking for the government to enforce it,'' he added.

As I entered Silom Soi 2/1 to interview the manager of @Richard's Pub and Restaurant, I realised it was empty.

Narongsak Thammavaraporn, the 39-year-old manager, said that normally eight to 10 tables would be taken during dinner time. ``Now we are lucky just to get a few customers in the early hours,'' said Mr Narongsak.

His establishment has lost more than 50% of its typical revenue since the night of the bombs. ``Most of the guests here are foreigners and they are quite concerned about the situation. They are confused about what happened here because they receive information from the foreign press that is quite different from the Thai press.''

The two managers worried that the protests in Silom would not end anytime soon. However, there is still no leader among entrepreneurs in the area to push their concerns to the government.

``We have not laid off any employees yet. We just put them on holiday and make sure those who do come to work will be safe by keeping our eyes on the situation,'' said To.

``If this disturbance is not over soon and we really have to close our business down, I just want to ask, who will be responsible for that?'' said Mr Narongsak.

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[quote=wantasian;677064]
Article in today's Bangkok Post:
... .
To, a 35-year-old pub manager on Silom Soi 4, welcomes me to his lonely bar. He has lost 90% of his customers since the red shirts moved to Silom, costing his large pub more than 50,000 baht per night.
... .
... . QUOTE]

-- I believe that the a/m. man is employed by BALCONY BAR?
- The o'all. tone of the whole article reads as exaggerated, to me, (of the trio of Sex, Sensationalism & Scandal that keep the media alive, [and ensuring income.], this article manages to combine both sex & sensationalism.),.
- But then I've been OUT of BKK. for the last few days and so am not au courant with the very latest.
- Agreed that business is DOWN, all too true - but in such a sit'n. instead of bemoaning fate the mngmnt. should start promoting vigorously. But I do have my doubts about a pub. as popular as BALCONY BAR CLOSING DOWN.

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Thaivisa.com and the forum are not 'part of the Nation group' and a few minutes scanning the site, the sources of a few threads and the overall hundreds of thousands of comments, analysis, opinions etc., from members (the public), which makes up probbaly 95% or more of the overall content, would quickly show anybody that it's not 'part of the nation group'.

Thaivisa was started quite some years ago by a gentleman named george, not 'the Nation'.

What is true is that one of the numerous newspaper etc., feeds used by Thaivisa.com/forum is the nation and there are numerous other feeds. This 'secton' is tiny compared to the public contribution.

The current 'daily thread' (regarding the red shirt etc situation) has content from numerous news sources as well as a few pieces from 'the Nation'

Like any news source / newspaper, political commentary, you make up your own mind what you believe and in turn what your own opinion is.

Thaivisa.com is in fact a very comprehensive source of information for foreigners.

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Why would you assume it's the Balcony (actually naming the Balcony) and say that the comments are exaggerated?

It doesn't take much thinking to realize that it must be true that the shops / venues etc., in this overall area currently have much reduced business.

What prompts your comments about 'Sex, Sensationalism & Scandal'? Are you suggesting that Bangkok Post is mainly 'Sex, Sensationalism & Scandal'? Perhaps you should broaden your horizons quite a lot.

You comment: "Agreed that business is DOWN, all too true - but in such a sit'n. instead of bemoaning fate the mngmnt. should start promoting vigorously. But I do have my doubts about a pub. as popular as BALCONY BAR CLOSING DOWN."

1. It would seem from the Bkk Post article that a reporter has interviewed some bar owners / managers and assembled their pretty much similar comments of concern - what would you expect them to say given the circumstances?

2. You also say that Balcony should stop complaining and do some promotional work. Is this meant to be a criticism of Balcony? What would you expect they should be doing, offering customers bullet proof vests and tin hats?

3. Was there any comment about Balcony closing down in the article, I didn't see any such comment.

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-- It's sure that it's not TELEPHONE PUB. '... the oldest and most famous gay bar & restaurant in BKK. ... .' that will be celebrating its 12th. b'day. next month, is it?

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Wrong!

Many many gay bars (some since gone to cock heaven) started well before Telephone.

Most famous? Well that might be your opinion.

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I think Telephone Pub is the most famous. It's old and well-known. Also, it seems that young tourists know about it (not just old tourists). But personally I don't like Telephone Pub because it's just a place to sit. Do people meet other people there? I check TP out often but leave quickly because I can immediately size up a place and know if it's a total waste of time. I heard you can meet Thai there, but I don't see it. Just a place to sit and sip a drink for a LONG time.

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-- Actually not my opinion; I put the words in 'inverted commas' to indicate that it was a quotation, but apologise for not including the source: monthly & freebie mag. Spice - #52..
-- With the MINIMUM age for entry to a pub. being 20 yrs. I remember jokes being made about the T'PHONE. having its 20th. anniversary and now being legal in Silom 4.!
- In my desk's drawer I have Seven & Eleven years' buttons from the BALCONY PUB.; my time track suggests that BALCONY is about due for its 12th. yr.

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I find if you go inside on the ground floor there are many approaches from Thai guys. You just scan the patrons and make eye contact with likely lads and quite often will score

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