MAY 2008

The Tantalizing Taste of Thai Cuisine
Today Thai food is undoubtedly one of the world’s most popular cuisines, which in itself brings many people here to discover the origins and complexities of the home of such wonderful fare. It is notable that Thailand is the only South East Asian nation never to have been colonized, but it is indeed also surprising that Thailand’s cuisine represents quite the opposite parallels, with influences from all its neighbours and from visiting traders over the centuries. So let’s take a look at the history, the chemistry, and the culture that is Thai cuisine, and help you to discover what makes up the magic ...

The Health Benefits of Wine
In keeping with this month’s theme of Thai Cuisine, it seems appropriate to discuss the health benefits of wine. What’s a good meal and time out without a good glass of wine. Lately, I have been opting especially when out for dinner for wine instead of beer in an attempt to cut down on my calorie intake. The challenge is, a good bottle of wine...

Pillow Talk
I’ve been given the opportunity of writing this month’s Pillow Talk. Most of you will know me through the monthly motorcycle column I have been writing for years. I suppose because the home office knows I am single they felt that the subject matter would be better served being written by yours truly. This subject we’re about to take a look at is almost considered taboo to talk about in Pattaya and Thailand in general. HIV and AIDS is usually only discussed when one seeks advice because they are concerned about a high risk act they took after a night ...

Motorcycle Story – Contribution from Gary Graeme Jones
Dear Editor,
Tom Rossetti’s February Motorcycle Story deserves a far wider audience than just Pattaya, or for that matter, just Thailand. His sage advice applies to Ex-Pats worldwide. Nor is it solely pertinent to “Travellers” on just 2 wheels. 4 Wheelers, 16 Wheelers, no Wheelers (boats and planes) would benefit from the four maxims: Search, Predict, What if, Act...

APRIL 2008

Here's To Your Health
Fasting - has been recognized for centuries as being the single most important natural method to use to re-gain or increase optimal health...

Motorcycle Story
Well, here we go again. It's that time of the year again Happy Songkran. If you are in town during this time, the best advice I can give you is to not be riding in town from the 13th thru the 19th...

Greenwich Beer Time
I measure the passing of man's greatest treasure and asset, friend or foe, namely time, not by the hands of a precision chronometer, the passing overhead of the sun, sand in an hourglass or the days taken for the wife to forgive me, but normally by the amount of empty beer bottles arrayed in front of me. Let me explain...

Your Songkran Survival Kit
Thailand's most celebrated holiday is the summer holiday in April, and in ancient times this festival was probably much like the 'mid summer' festivals which originated from pagan times in Europe...

MARCH 2008

A taste for the exotic
In common with most hot countries lying in the Tropics, Thailand has more than its fair share of bugs, creepy crawlies and nasty looking reptiles. In fact, in this particular respect...

Here’s To Your Health
The Tao of Health, Sex and Life in Pattaya Part II

Nowhere on the face of the planet could a more complete field study be done on the effect and significance of sexual relations between men and women...

Motorcycle Story
Ban on Cell phone driving to take effect on May 8th

The Traffic Police Office has declared that the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has passed the 8th...

Pillow Talk
There is so much sexual activity being generated in Pattaya that if the energy could be stored in a generator it would supply electricity for the whole continent. Although it isn’t talked...

FEBRUARY 2008

Here's To Your Health
As I mentioned in last month's Road Less Travelled column, I have been commissioned by the friendly Management of The Pattaya Traveller to write a new column called, Here's To Your Health...

Motorcycle Story
Wow! What a year. Although this story runs its course in February, the pen goes to paper early in January. I've talked to several people in the know...

Pattaya Pillow Talk
Welcome to Pattaya Pillow Talk. This new column will feature local women and men, experts "in the field" and other useful information...

DECEMBER 2007

Happy New Year 2008
Pattaya has had an impressive rise to become the tourism hotspot of South East Asia. ..

The Road Less Traveled
Well, hat's off to everyone here in Pattaya, as we've made it through another year. The world is still in the game with the domnesday clock I believe somewhere around 9 minutes to the hour...

Motorcycle Tyre Guide
Motorcycle Tire/Tyre Maintenance tips to keep your motorcycle at peak condition. Last week I noticed that I was continuing to lose air preasure in my front tire...

AUGUST 2007

Tattoos and Thailand
The idea of having a tattoo had appealed to me long before I ever came to Thailand. In fact, I doubt I had even heard of the country when, like most schoolboys my age...

The Road Less Traveled
This column has always been about examining from different perspectives, the experience of those people who have decided to walk "the Road Less Traveled"...

Out For A Beer
As you may have already heard, this has been a challenging year for many entertainment venues as the number of venues available versus the actual amount of tourists...

JULY 2007

The Pattaya Marathon - 2007
Have you noticed that there seems to be more people jogging around the area (in this heat!) lately...

Motorcycle Story
I was down at the Handlebar Restaurant and Bar located just off Thepprasit, speaking to one of the Owners, Tracy from Liverpool...

The Road Less Traveled
I was recently reminded of the nature of doing business in a place like Pattaya when a friend and associate told me about a deal gone bad...

Out For A Beer
With so many entertainment venues catering to the single crowd in Pattaya we thought we'd take a much needed breather from the "sexy many, come inside"...

JUNE 2007

An Experience Beyond Ordinary
Many will say that regardless of whether you live here or are here on holiday, Pattaya has much to offer in terms of first time experiences...

Motorcycle Story
Wow! I can't believe how well the locals drive here in Pattaya! That's the first thought I had when I got back into town...

The Road Less Traveled
I was reminded by a friend from abroad of just how many years I have been living "in country"...

Out For A Beer
To say Pattaya is one of the world's hottest, wildest entertainment centers would be considered an understatement...

MAY 2007

Same – Same – But Different
Thailand is a land of beauty, a land of smiles, culture, contrast, dichotomy and contradiction...

Motorcycle Story
Hopefully everyone survived April's festivities. I decided to leave town and stay off the roads entirely...

The Road Less Traveled
When the Editor of this wonderful publication informed me of this month's theme, that being of the Thai phenomena of Katoeys in Pattaya...

Out For A Beer
When you have been living here as long as the OFAB crew or for those of you that have been coming out here every year for years...

APRIL 2007

The Ultimate Water Fight
Now famous the World over, Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year, is once again almost upon us...

Motorcycle Story
Nice hearing from you and thanks for your comments on the motorcycle column. Your question really brings up a lot of points...

The Road Less Traveled
Well, it's official. The hot season is here and so is Songkran. For those of us who have lived here for a while...

Out For A Beer
What a great time to be in Pattaya! Not as many Visitors right now as we approach what some consider to be low season...

MARCH 2007

Muay Thai
Muay Thai (Thai Kick Boxing) is what the Thai people call their own martial art...

Motorcycle Story
Well, I took my bike in for its yearly check-up which usually means getting some cosmetic things done like chrome as well as the usual changing of fluids...

The Road Less Traveled
After you've been here for awhile you start sounding like your father when he used to tell me about the Sinatra days...

Out For A Beer
Amazing Pattaya! A city that never sleeps. The OFAB staff decided to start our journey for our monthly report off the beaten track so to speak...

FEBRUARY 2007

Pattaya – A City of Love
Every February, across the country, chocolates, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine...

Motorcycle Story
For those of us who have mastered the art of riding in Pattaya, the practise of riding pro-actively and expecting the unexpected...

The Road Less Traveled
"Love is a rose but you better not pick it, only grows when it's on the vine. Hand full of thorns and you know you've missed it, lose your love when you say the word mine"...

Out For A Beer
Now that the relatively short high season is tapering down things are slowly getting back to normal. The working girls who wait for months for the high season...

JANUARY 2007

The History of New Year's Resolutions
Every year legions of people decide to make a fresh start and vow to do things differently then they were doing the previous year...

Motorcycle Story
I am an avid Reader of your motorcycle column and am contemplating buying a motorcycle here In Pattaya...

The Road Less Traveled
We humans are funny creatures when you think about it. I've never really been too much into these man made holidays...

Out For A Beer
A ripple effect of grief shook Pattaya on Dec. 14th, when Steve Blumentha passed away....

DECEMBER 2006

Motorcycle Story
In the next couple of motorcycle story columns, I'd like to take a break from our three or four part motorcycle brand history segment...

Pattaya - The Geneva of South East Asia
No matter where you are from or what religion you practice, the great thing about Pattaya is...

The Road Less Traveled
After you've been in the tropics and specifically Thailand for a while, the holidays sometimes don't seem to have the appeal...

Out For A Beer
Now the high season comes again, and the streets are filled with wide eyed and fat walleted tourists...

NOVEMBER 2006

Motorcycle Story
Last week we talked about The Harley Davidson Motor Company and the incredible history that was created by a small group of Visionaries...

Loy Kratong
For those of you with a romantic interest in someone from Thailand, the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month...

The Road Less Traveled
...Taking a break from the computer at my local internet shop, and enjoying a smoke outside, I was joined by a very attractive lady...

Out For A Beer
It's nice to see the Land of Smiles settle back into relative normalcy after all the excitement of September...

OCTOBER 2006

Motorcycle Story
There are approximately from what I hear over 300 Harleys presently being ridden here in Pattaya...

Pattaya's Animal Kingdom
As a species, we humans are the only one on the planet that have the capability to intentionally or even unintentionally wipe out complete species...

The Road Less Traveled
In keeping with this month's Pattaya's Animal Kingdom theme I would like to touch on the topic from the standpoint of someone who lives here...