ChrisUK
September 27th, 2006, 02:44
For those who have not seen the three reports on my "Living in Thailand Experiment" over the last couple of years, you can find them in the Resource Forum or as a single download in my Blog; http://www.sawatdee-gay-thailand.com/forum/weblog.php?w=25
I came to the provisional conclusion that whilst I enjoyed my stays there (the longer I stayed, the more I felt 'at home'), the foreseeable future would be best served by spending 6 months in Thailand and 6 months in the UK.
It's now been 9 months since my last trip ended in January and I'm raring to return. Since that trip, I have felt all sorts of emotions from despondency at missing the fun in Pattaya and the beauty of other parts of Thailand to joy at many of the Gay Pride events around the UK, including Birmingham, London and Brighton. I've had a fortnight in Gran Canaria during their Carnival Events at Playa del Ingles, having fun in the dunes and on the beach and enjoying the nightlife in the Yumbo Centre. I've had fun working in my garden and seeing the plants develop over the Spring, Summer and unusually very hot drought periods when my thoughts drifted back to the Land of Smiles as I lounged in my back garden. My conservatory has given me pleasure as I watched the exotic, but easy-to-grow Strelitzia, Bougainvillea, Orchid and Passiflora flower alongside the more common and colourful plants of Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, Ferns and Cacti.
Now as the Summer ends in the UK, itтАЩs time to say goodbye to all my UK friends with whom IтАЩve enjoyed socialising, and spend Winter in Thailand. IтАЩve planned it so that about five of the next six months will be spent there. As I intend to make three journeys to Thailand over the next year, I applied for a non-immigrant, multiple entry visa from the Thai consulate in the UK for ┬г90 (plus ┬г8.40 special delivery return postage). This will not only enable me to make the three entries, but also visit other countries in the region if desired, without it affecting the visa.
This first trip will begin in a weekтАЩs time, lasting for two months, and then I return to the UK for about one month for Christmas and New Year. Shortly after that IтАЩll be returning to Thailand for about three months until Easter.
IтАЩm looking forward to meeting all the expats and regular visitors, with whom I have made friends over the last couple of years, to relocate to that lovely Condo with the beautiful view overlooking Pattaya Bay, rejoin the Fine Dining Society, revisit the Thais4Life meetings, settle into the usual space at Mr RitтАЩs on Jomtien Beach and wait for Rainwalker to have his Social Gathering at Memories. Loy Krathong (on 5th November), my birthday (sometime in November), and the Pattaya Gay Festival Finale (29th Nov to 2nd Dec) will be highlights of the trip, along with any excursions or adventures I may go on. Boystown and Sunnee Plaza will, of course, be my favoured areas for bar-hopping and meeting the locals. :love6:
If I enjoy the adventures of the next couple of months as much as last year, IтАЩll be putting together another report for Christmas reading. In the meantime, letтАЩs go and have a party! :bounce:
I came to the provisional conclusion that whilst I enjoyed my stays there (the longer I stayed, the more I felt 'at home'), the foreseeable future would be best served by spending 6 months in Thailand and 6 months in the UK.
It's now been 9 months since my last trip ended in January and I'm raring to return. Since that trip, I have felt all sorts of emotions from despondency at missing the fun in Pattaya and the beauty of other parts of Thailand to joy at many of the Gay Pride events around the UK, including Birmingham, London and Brighton. I've had a fortnight in Gran Canaria during their Carnival Events at Playa del Ingles, having fun in the dunes and on the beach and enjoying the nightlife in the Yumbo Centre. I've had fun working in my garden and seeing the plants develop over the Spring, Summer and unusually very hot drought periods when my thoughts drifted back to the Land of Smiles as I lounged in my back garden. My conservatory has given me pleasure as I watched the exotic, but easy-to-grow Strelitzia, Bougainvillea, Orchid and Passiflora flower alongside the more common and colourful plants of Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, Ferns and Cacti.
Now as the Summer ends in the UK, itтАЩs time to say goodbye to all my UK friends with whom IтАЩve enjoyed socialising, and spend Winter in Thailand. IтАЩve planned it so that about five of the next six months will be spent there. As I intend to make three journeys to Thailand over the next year, I applied for a non-immigrant, multiple entry visa from the Thai consulate in the UK for ┬г90 (plus ┬г8.40 special delivery return postage). This will not only enable me to make the three entries, but also visit other countries in the region if desired, without it affecting the visa.
This first trip will begin in a weekтАЩs time, lasting for two months, and then I return to the UK for about one month for Christmas and New Year. Shortly after that IтАЩll be returning to Thailand for about three months until Easter.
IтАЩm looking forward to meeting all the expats and regular visitors, with whom I have made friends over the last couple of years, to relocate to that lovely Condo with the beautiful view overlooking Pattaya Bay, rejoin the Fine Dining Society, revisit the Thais4Life meetings, settle into the usual space at Mr RitтАЩs on Jomtien Beach and wait for Rainwalker to have his Social Gathering at Memories. Loy Krathong (on 5th November), my birthday (sometime in November), and the Pattaya Gay Festival Finale (29th Nov to 2nd Dec) will be highlights of the trip, along with any excursions or adventures I may go on. Boystown and Sunnee Plaza will, of course, be my favoured areas for bar-hopping and meeting the locals. :love6:
If I enjoy the adventures of the next couple of months as much as last year, IтАЩll be putting together another report for Christmas reading. In the meantime, letтАЩs go and have a party! :bounce: