Some of you have probably visited Nana Plaza in Bangkok or have at least read my post regarding the history and future of Nana Plaza. Well in that post I told you about the declining business in Nana Plaza last year and continuing into this year. It seems that the major owners in Nana Plaza have decided to protect themselves by diversifying.

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I never thought of human rights as high on the agenda for Thailand, but they have surprised me by making a change to their laws which will make life for Thai kathoeys much easier.

Under Thai law all males are required to report for the draft when they turn 21.  If they voluntarily enlist Thai males must serve between six to eighteen months depending on their education and if they are drafted they must serve for 24 months.

Under their current draft system ladyboys have been rejected for suffering from a mental disorder.  This has made life much harder than necessary because in Thailand men are required to prove that they have completed their national service when applying for jobs or bank loans.  Once they show their military rejection forms they are automatically disqualified from many jobs and loans.

A senior officer in the Royal Thai Armed Services said Wednesday that they will be creating a new category for military service to categorize draftees as neither male nor female.  And they will cease using the mental disorder rejection for kathoeys immediately.

While the military tries to find a new word for this new category ladyboy conscripts will be turned away and given a form that states they have an illness that cannot be cured within 30 days.

To qualify for the third category, transsexuals will have to report for the draft for three years in a row to prove they are really trying to live as women.

This should open up many avenues of opportunity for the Thai ladyboys who will now be able to get better jobs as well as bank loans to finance such things as cars and houses.  I congratulate the Thai military for their open minded stance on Thailand‘s ladyboys.

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Here’s a bit of a plug for the Hilton chain of hotels, but if you’re going to be in Thailand over Songkran you might want to consider pampering yourself a bit. Hilton’s are great hotels and the one’s in Thailand are no exception, but they are 50% cheaper than in the U.S. or the U.K. What better chance to pamper yourself a bit and save some money in the bargain. [...]

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If you love a party then take a look at what’s on tap at some of the hottest nightspots in Bangkok for this weekend.  Everything from the best DJ’s in SE Asia to pool parties, tequila and cabarets.  Bangkok‘s nightlife is world renown and there is a very good reason why.  If you’re looking to let loose here’s where to go this weekend.

Thursday March 27^th, 2008

Arcadia Pool Party – Live bands as usual in the main room, with our Arcadia DJ set to finish the night at 2am. Punk – Rock Karaoke, Guitar Hero Competition, Live Bands, Arcadia DJ Set. This month for part of the evening, you can sign up to sing your favourite indie song from our set list. We have all the lyrics to the best songs. Here’s your chance to sing with a live band! Meanwhile, upstairs on the roof terrace, we have a “Guitar Hero” competition throughout the night. Winner stays on, the person with the highest rank at the end of the night wins a prize.

Also, if you would like to get wet for us, feel free to use the new swimming pool! If you would like to come early, from 8pm we will be showing the new Joy Division movie on the roof. Food is available from the restaurant, with cheap drinks all night. Entrance 150 Baht with one free beer. 20 + I.D. Required.  Arcadia Bay Ta Ra – Kao San Road

Friday March 28^th, 2008

Soul Central at Club Culture – Soul Central began their production career in 2000, putting out a number of releases on labels such as Soundmen On Wax, Henry Street Records and Kenlou as well and their own Clean Cut imprint.  In addition to their world-beating production, Soul Central is continuing to travel the world as one of the world’s most dynamic DJ teams. Never afraid to drop peak-time anthems or soulful vocals, Soul Central are unique in their understanding of how to combine a true, underground house sound with a big room party vibe. With an adventurous sound that can be both tough and dynamic and smooth and soulful, they purvey a diversity that puts them in a league of their own. 20 + I.D. Required.  Club Culture – Sri Ayudthaya Rd. (Phaya Thai BTS)

Friday March 28^th, 2008

Olmeca Gold Tequila Party – GLOW AND OLMECA GOLD TEQUILA PRESENT Olmeca Gold Tequila Party “Tequila Gals are Back!!!” with DJ Gaz Mel, Sexy Drinks! Sexy Girls! Sexy Music! Come prepared for a night of great music and good times and a whole lotta TEQUILA!! Come and join OLMECA GOLD and GLOW NIGHTCLUB along side Canadian DJ GazMel presents as they present to you “Tequila Girls are Back!!”. What to expect aside from a club full of sexy people: Music: Minimal, Electro and Tech House courtesy of DJ GazMel. Live Performances: Professional Dancers for your viewing pleasure. SPECIAL GAME: A CHANCE TO WIN A BOTTLE OF OLMECA.

SPECIAL PROMOTIONS:

Tequila Promotion : Olmeca Gold only 1,800 baht/ a bottle (normally 2,300 baht)
Tequila shot : 160 baht / a shot (normally 200 baht)
Tequila cocktails : 180/ a drink (normally 220 baht)
Magarita, Tequila sunrise, Tequila sunset, Maxican surfer, Tequila slammer girl (Glow’s special cocktail)
Entrance 200 baht and 1 drink (Tequila shot or Tequila cocktails only). Start 9pm till late. 20 + I.D. Required.  Glow – Sukhumvit Soi 23

Saturday, 29 March 2008

Magic of Minimal at Glow – “MAGIC OF MINIMAL” with DJ E.K., DJ MAGIC MUFFIN AND DJ PLAN B. Music is minimal elecro and more electronic beats. Dancers on stage. Entrance: 200 baht + 1 drink. Start 9pm-late. 20 + I.D. Required.  Glow – Sukhumvit Soi 23

Saturday, 29th March 2008

Deeper, Speed and Rome at Luminous – Luminous presents DEEPER, SPEED & ROME “TURN BACK TIME” with DJ B (hip-hop, reggae, old school on the 1st floor), DJ Night (from Rome with a ladyboy cabaret show)

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It seems that many of the men that visit Thailand have a preconceived notion that all of Thailand‘s ladyboys are also prostitutes. It’s true that normally foreign men only meet the ladyboys that work in bars and restaurants, however this is only a small percentage of all the kathoeys in Thailand. [...]

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I just finished the long conversation with my mom on the phone a few minutes ago. She said around where my hometown is (Tak province), it is so freaking hot! Yesterday it was 40 Celsius and today’s around 39 Celsius, hmm…just almost 40. Well I have to convert to Fahrenheit because now I’m not that used to Celsius system much. OMG…40 Celsius = 102.2 Fahrenheit.

Extremely hot in Thailand like this makes me think about the very important holiday for Thai people known as “Songkran”, that is coming soon. Songkran festival was the Thai New Year in the past before they moved into international day January 1st like anywhere else in the world. Songkran was specifically on the Thai calender on April 13th – 15th every year.

Most people they knew the symbol of this tradition just for splashing water on others. Not many of them know about the most significant activities is all about to do good things like offering food to the monks, releasing birds and fishes, donating, visiting and paying respects to elders, family members, friends and neighbors. It shows about spirit, love, and care between family members together.

So many residents who are living in Bangkok, will go back to their hometown to celebrate with their families. So that’s why Thai government has set on April 14th every year to be family day in Thailand. Let say it is just like Christmas Day for American people I think.

Water has been a representation for Songkran, against the hotness from the weather. The splashing of water originated as a way to pay respect, ask for blessing or apologize to an elderly person about an insult. This will be done by gently pouring a small amount of lustral water on the elderly hands or over a shoulder as a sign of respect we call “Rod Nam Dam Hua”. But for young people mostly will be splashing water, we call “Sard Nam” and this has further evolved into water fights and splashing water over people riding in vehicles.

Usually for me I wouldn’t go back to Tak on this season because it will be so frustrated situation with a thousand of people at the bus station or any of transportation service. I always told my parents I would be happy to go back anytime at all but not on Songkran. So anyone of you please keep in mind if you want to travel somewhere for Songkran, just need to go like a week or two weeks ahead and also make a reservation first. So I prefer to stay in Bkk because no need to worry about traffic at all. Well, except for some places in Bkk where they’re going to celebrate like Kao Sarn Rd., Silom Rd., and Sukhumvit area, traffic can be worse.

You can get more information about “Songkran” here at Songkran.net and then you will get some idea Songkran this year where in Thailand I want to go!

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Part of the population in Thailand is Muslim people…especially in Southern Thailand. In around where my high school is we have a lot of Muslim people who live there and when I was young one of my best friends was Muslim too. So that’s why make me used to Muslim food so much. [...]

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I can’t believe that the Thai government would condone such illegal tactics, but this report from the Thai language newspaper Krungthep Turaij seems to indicate just that. I hope that I never come under the watchful eye of the ICT and this is just one more reason that I try to steer away from subjects that might be considered controversial by Thai standards.

I will agree that the websites they are targeting that are disrespectful to Buddhism are in poor taste, however I can’t agree with the hacking of ANY sites or the censorship of free speech and the internet. Considering the state of Thailand’s neighbor you would think that they would be more sensitive to censorship.

The Information and Communications Technology Ministry is to ‘hack and crack’ foreign websites deemed offensive to Thailand’s revered institutions.

A March 15 report in Krungthep Turakij newspaper quoted a source at the ICT that the ministry could pursue legal proceedings only with websites registered in Thailand, and is now planning a ‘hack and crack’ programme to hack offensive websites hosted abroad and delete their contents, because the legal process would take too long.

“This approach may be somewhat illegal, but sometimes it might be worth it, if [the websites] are really unacceptable,” the source said.

One website registered abroad has been found to advertise merchandise including calendars, dolls, bags, hats, glasses, watches, trousers and underwear, all with a logo of the Buddha meditating on a lotus, with the face of a dog. It was reported to have upset many Buddhists.

On March 14, ICT Minister Mun Patanotai said that he had called a meeting of investigators from the Department of Special Investigation, and Crime Suppression Division, and the ‘ICT cops’. ICT Minister’s Secretary Sarawuth Petchpanomporn was assigned to coordinate the collection of evidence and ask the courts to block websites and prosecute owners who, if inside the country, are subject to fines and imprisonment under the 2007 Computer Crime Act.

If the offense is committed abroad, the Minister admitted that there were difficulties. However, the Ministry has so far asked for cooperation from the authorities in each country or website administrators themselves, who have cooperated in solving the problems or delete offensive material, particularly concerning Thailand’s ‘supreme institution’.

“The ministry has 30 so-called ICT cops, so it is difficult to keep a thorough watch. We still have to rely on net surfers or webmasters to help, to solve the problem or notify the ministry of any irregularities,” Man said.

Acting Director Booncherd Kittitharangkul of the Office of National Buddhism’s Technology Centre said that on hearing the news he felt uneasy, and believed that it upset all Buddhists across the country.

The Technology Centre has found that the website has its server in California, USA, and the centre has twice asked the ICT Ministry in writing to shut down the website, but it is still online. The centre has also asked the Foreign Ministry’s Information Department to address the problem through diplomatic means.

“If within one month the problem is still not solved, I will ask for cooperation from ‘internet cop’ Pol Col Yanapol Yangyuen, Commander of Office of Technology and Information Cases under the Department of Special Investigation, to shut it down,” said Booncherd. He added that his centre has cooperated with relevant agencies in shutting down 5 similar websites which made commercial use of Buddhist symbols.

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Lots of you come to Thailand Musings looking for Thai love phrases and that’s not surprising. You want to be able to express yourself in your new Thai girlfriends native language and that’s a really good thing. It help you to understand the culture a little better and it gives her a really good feeling too. By learning some Thai language she knows that you are more committed and that you are interested in her culture.

When Golf and I first met and started chatting on Thai Love Links I struggled to find a good resource for Thai language. I didn’t need to become proficient, but I wanted to be able to express my feelings for her in a way I knew she would understand and I wanted her to know that I cared for her so much that I was willing to take the time to learn her language.

So, for those of you that want or need to speak the language of love in Thai here’s a small dictionary of Thai love phrases that are sure to impress and excite your new Thai girlfriend. I guarantee she will be amazed and impressed. If you’re having trouble with pronunciation you can ask her for help too which will help to make your relationship more concrete.

And if you really want to impress your new friend why not give our Thai translation service a try. For a very reasonable fee Golf and I will translate your email from English to Thai or your girls email from Thai to English. In addition to being affordable we also offer 24 hour turnaround and complete privacy.

Beginning Your Relationship

I am single. (pom yung sot) ผมยังโสด

You are very beautiful. (koon suay mak mak) คุณสวยมากๆ

You are very cute. (koon na-ruk mak mak) คุณน่ารักมากๆ

I like your smile. (pom chorp roi yim kong koon) ผมชอบรอยยิ้มของคุณ

Can I see you tomorrow? (proong nee jer gun dai mai) – For yes the reply is “dai” and for no the reply is “mai dai” พรุ่งนี้เจอกันได้ไหม? ได้ / ไม่ได้

Are you free tonight? (keun nee koon wang mai) – For yes the reply is “wang” and for no the reply is “mai wang” คืนนี้คุณว่างไหม? ว่าง / ไม่ว่าง

Do you like me? (koon chorp pom reu blao) – For yes the reply is “chorp” and for no the reply is “mai chorp” คุณชอบผมหรือเปล่า? ชอบ / ไม่ชอบ

Can you go out with me? (bai tee-o gup pom dai mai) – For yes the reply is “dai” and for no the reply is “mai dai” ไปเที่ยวกับผมได้ไหม? ได้ / ไม่ได้

Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend? (koon mee faen reu yung) – For yes the reply is “me” and for no the reply is “yung mai mee” คุณมีแฟนหรือยัง? มี / ยังไม่มี

What kind of men do you like? (koon chorp poo-chai bap nai) คุณชอบผู้ชายแบบไหน?

Can you tell me your phone number please? (kor ber tor koon dai mai) – For yes the reply is “dai” and for no the reply is “mai dai” ขอเบอร์โทรคุณได้ไหม? ได้ / ไม่ได้

Do you want to go and eat with me? (bai gin kao gub pom mai) – For yes the reply is “bai” and for no the reply is “mai bai” ไปกินข้าวกับผมไหม? ไป / ไม่ไป

Do you want to go to watch a movie? (bai doo nung gup pom mai) – For yes the reply is “bai” and for no the reply is “mai bai” ไปดูหนังกับผมไหม? ไป / ไม่ไป

Your eyes are so beautiful. (duang dtar kong koon suay mak) ดวงตาของคุณสวยมาก

Can I hold your hand? (pom kor jub meu koon dai mai?) ผมขอจับมือคุณได้ไหม?

Have a nice dream. (fun dee na) ฝันดีนะ

Take care of yourself. (do lae dtua eng duay na) ดูแลตัวเองด้วยนะ

Taking it to the Next Level

Love at first sight. (ruk raek pop) รักแรกพบ

I still remember the first moment we met. (pom yung jum krang-raek tee row pob gun dai) ผมยังจำครั้งแรกที่เราพบกันได้

I want you to be happy. (pom dtong gan hai koon mee kwarm sook) ผมต้องการให้คุณมีความสุข

You make me happy. (koon tam hai pom mee kwarm sook) คุณทำให้ผมมีความสุข

I miss you. (pom kit teung koon) ผมคิดถึงคุณ

I miss you all the time. (pom kit-teung koon dta-lod way-la) ผมคิดถึงคุณตลอดเวลา

Can you be my girlfriend? (ben faen gub pom dai mai) – For yes the reply is “dai” and for no the reply is “mai dai” เป็นแฟนกับผมได้ไหม? ได้ / ไม่ได้

You are my girlfriend. (koon ben fan kong pom) คุณเป็นแฟนของผม

You are my sweetheart. (koon keu yot -ruk kong pom) คุณคือยอดรักของผม

You are the one I have been waiting for. (koon bpen kon dieow tee pom ror koi) คุณเป็นคนเดียวที่ผมรอคอย

I am serious about you. (pom jing jai gup koon) ผมจริงจังกับคุณ

I think about you all night. (pom kit teung koon tung keun) ผมคิดถึงคุณทั้งคืน

I want to meet you. (pom dtong-gan/yaak pop koon) ผมต้องการ/อยากพบคุณ

I want to hug you. (pom dtong-gan/yaak got koon) ผมต้องการ/อยากกอดคุณ

Can I kiss you? (pom kor joop koon dai mai) ผมขอจูบคุณได้ไหม

I want to be with you. (pom yaak yoo gup koon) ผมอยากอยู่กับคุณ

Do you miss me? (koon kit teung pom baang mai) คุณคิดถึงผมบ้างไหม?

I won’t forget you. (pom ja mai leum koon) ผมจะไม่ลืมคุณ

When do you want me to come back? (koon dtong gan hai pom glup ma muea rai) คุณต้องการให้ผมกลับมาเมื่อไหร่

When You’re Ready to Marry Your Thai Girlfriend

I think I have fallen in love with you. (pom kit wa pom long ruk koon) / (pom kit wa pom dtok loom ruk koon) ผมคิดว่าผมหลงรักคุณ / ผมคิดว่าผมตกหลุมรักคุณ

My heart is yours. (hua jai kong pom ben kong koon) หัวใจของผมเป็นของคุณ

You are my angel. (koon keu nung fa kong pom) คุณคือนางฟ้าของผม

I love you. (pom ruk koon) ผมรักคุณ

I will be faithful to you. (pom ja seu-sut dtor/gub koon) ผมจะซื่อสัตย์ต่อ/กับคุณ

I don’t want to let you go. (pom mai dtong-gan hai koon bai) ผมไม่ต้องการให้คุณไป

Can I meet your parents? (pom ja bai pob por gub mae kong koon dai mai) – For yes the reply is “dai” and for no the reply is “mai dai” ผมจะไปพบพ่อกับแม่ของคุณได้ไหม? ได้ / ไม่ได้

I want to see your face every day. (pom yaak hen na koon took wan) ผมอยากเห็นหน้าคุณทุกวัน

I want to marry you. (pom dtong-gan dtang ngan gub koon) ผมต้องการแต่งงานกับคุณ

I can’t live without you. (pom yoo mai dai ta mai mee koon) ผมอยู่ไม่ได้ถ้าไม่มีคุณ

If There’s Trouble

I hope I can see you again. (pom wang wa ja dai pob koon eek-krang) ผมหว้งว่าจะได้พบคุณอีกครั้ง

Can you give me one more chance? (hai aow-gat pom eek-krang dai mai) – For yes the reply is “dai” and for no the reply is “mai dai” ให้โอกาสผมอีกครั้งได้ไหม? ได้ / ไม่ได้

I will never cheat on you (pom ja mai nork jai koon) ผมจะไม่นอกใจคุณ

Your love is very important to me. (kwarm ruk kong koon sam kun dtor/sam-rap pom mak) ความรักของคุณสำคัญต่อ/สำหรับผมมาก

Please speak to me. (dai brot poot gup pom) ได้โปรดพูดกับผม

You hurt me so much. (koon tam pom jep-bpuat mak) คุณทำผมเจ็บปวดมาก

Please trust me. (brot chuea jai pom) โปรดเชื่อใจผม

I want you to trust me. (pom dtong gan hai koon chuea jai pom) ผมต้องการให้คุณเชื่อใจผม

I never lied to you. (pom mai koie gor hok koon) ผมไม่เคยโกหกคุณ

Don’t leave me. (ya ting pom) อย่าทิ้งผม

I will always be on your side. (pom ja yoo kiang-kang koon sa-mer) ผมจะอยู่เคียงข้างคุณเสมอ

Obviously this is not complete, but it will give you a great start and if possible get your Thai girlfriend to help you expand on your vocabulary. If you’re interested in more Thai language guides leave a comment telling me what you need to know and I’ll do my best to put together additional guides. And if you want to hear the phrases maybe I can get Golf to record them and we’ll post them up here. As always, I’m here to help in anyway, just leave a comment and ask.

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Hi everyone and welcome to the new design of Thailand Musings! I know my posts have dropped off in the past two weeks and it has been due to all the work I have been putting into this new design. And now finally it’s done! [...]

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Well, since I’ve spent the past two days sick and in bed it seems like the perfect motivation to talk a little bit about getting sick in Thailand and Bangkok. It’s true that many travelers to Thailand experience diarrhea and if you know some Thai’s you’ll find out that even they can fall to the bacteria, but there is very little chance of anything serious. [...]

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It was quite a busy week for me last week, but I am that much closer to unveiling the new look of Thailand Musings. You may have noticed some changes already in formatting and navigation because I’ve been working in the background to get everything ready for the change. And Golf and I took a trip to Atlantic City over the weekend. It was her first time to see the Atlantic Ocean and her first visit to a casino. Very exciting for her and she has promised to share her thoughts about it later this week. Also coming up this week is Golf’s recipe for Tandoori Chicken, so stay tuned for that, I can tell you it is fantastic!

Here’s a quick roundup of some notable posts around the blogosphere:

The 10 best things about living in Thailand – Self explanatory. Browse over and add your own favorites.

Thailand to become the Vegas of the East – The Lost Boy gives his take on the announcement that gambling will be legalized in the Kingdom of Thailand.

Almost Finished – Preview of a great new book about life in Thailand. I for one cannot wait until Geoff releases the full book.

Sacred Life Sunday Orchids in the Desert – A fellow Thailand blogger looking for some good advice. Go over and see if you have something to add to the discussion.

Thailand Turns Upscale Gangster Paradise – Russian arms dealer caught in Bangkok at the Sofitel Silom Hotel.

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Tawanna Square is a smaller, less accessible and yet still chic, trendy and well worth visiting version of Suan Lum Night Bazaar. With Bangkok boasting one of the largest concentrations of markets, malls and shopping areas in the world [...]

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I’m seeing a fad in Thailand for several decades. A craze of European and American men coming to Thailand and signing with dating agencies to find Thai brides. As American and European societies mutates and Western women become increasingly liberated and increasingly similar to blokes, conventional American and European guys are turning to Thailand to find a more conventional wife. Thai women are usually pretty, slim, take very good care of themselves and also take extremely good care of their spouses. They make dinner, they clean, they take care of the children and they make their guy feel as if he is a King. It’s no wonder American and European fellows desire a Thai bride.

For the girls, the men are perceived as a good catch. European and American guys, even less affluent ones, typically have more money than Thai men. American and European guys present a Thai woman a chance to leave Thailand and visit another country. American and European guys are viewed by some Thai women as being kinder than Thai men and Thai guys have a certain notoriety for not being monogamous. Lots of Thai blokes also don’t settle down after marriage, and keep a girlfriend even though they have a bride and kids at home. So for some Thai girls, an American or European guy afford things a Thai man does not.

As you might imagine, there will be some complications in marrying a Thai bride. Language differences, cultural dissimilarities and visa concerns come immediately to my mind when considering some of the issues that Thai-Western couples may come across. Overall though a Thai bride might be a great idea for many fellows that have become disillusioned with American and European ladies. If you begin the marriage with some planning and with discretion you have a great chance of having a outstanding marriage.

To the fellows who come to Thailand searching for love and a Thai bride, I say “Best of luck”. It can occur for you, especially in this day and age of web dating and personals. It certainly did happen for me and I couldn’t be happier. To the Thai women I say Get to know this bloke slowly. In any culture, there are good and evil. Look out for warning signs, and believe in your instincts. If you have questions, they are present for a reason. Remember that money isn’t everything.

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For those of you that love Suan Lum Night Bazaar like I do take note. Looks like they are finally going to enforce the closing that was supposed to take effect last April. [...]

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