Waves of December

More than 50,000 people have died as a result of the earthquake and tidal wave of December 26th, including more than 1,543 in Thailand, according to the Bangkok Post. Hotels in Thailand's beach resort areas were packed. Fortunately, none of our customers staying in Phuket or Krabi were injured. Some have left and some have decided to stay on.

The hotels we use in Southern Thailand are mostly unaffected by the disaster. Sand Sea Resort,  Krabi Resort, Na Ka Man Da and Tubkak Resort in Krabi sustained only minor damage and are operating normally. Phuket's Baan Yin Dee and Icon Hotel are both completely undamaged and operating normally. Clubs in Phuket's Paradise Complex are still open. [read more] Unfortunately, the delightful Club One Seven was damaged heavily by the full impact of the three waves, which carried a mini-van into their lobby. We are unable to determine the extent of damages, if any, to the Salathai Hotel. The Golden Buddha Beach eco-resort was destroyed.

Bangkok, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Beijing and all of the other places we work are completely unaffected, although New Years Eve countdown parties in Bangkok have been cancelled.

We hope things will return to normal by February for Phuket's 6th annual Gay Festival, scheduled for the 9th through the 13th. Dates were recently changed to avoid a conflict with Thailand's national elections on 6 January.

Judge's Decision Stuns All

For those who have been following the saga of our "problem" that unfolded last March, the matter has taken yet another fascinating turn.

On Christmas Eve the judge delivered his verdict in the state's case against two of our our original directors. Both were charged with a minor work permit violation and for "distribution of obscene materials for profit." While the judge had no interest in the private collection of photos and CDs found in the home of one of them, he was did not like the copies of a local gay magazine that was found in our office. The magazine is distributed free in many gay bars, restaurants, hotels and even beauty salons. While the magazine does not feature nudity or lewd content, it carries advertisements for massage establishments and go-go bars, as well as maps and other practical information for visitors. The judge reasoned that, by making copies of this magazine available on the table by our front door, the two directors of the company (which has never been charged and was not a defendant in the criminal proceeding although it was scolded in the judge's decision) were guilty of the distribution charge. Both were fined and given suspended jail sentences.

No charges have been brought against any of the other Thai business that distribute the magazine, the publishers of the magazine, or businesses that distribute a score of other free magazines in Thailand that carry advertisements for prostitution businesses catering to heterosexuals.

Everyone in the courtroom, including the many representatives of the media who have been following the trial, were stunned by the judge's bizarre and unexpected ruling.

An appeal is expected to be filed this week.

Meanwhile, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has still not delivered a ruling in the matter of the suspension of our license stemming from the same March 19th raids on our offices. If the ruling is unfavorable you may be sure we will have some surprises of our own. Meanwhile, we are grateful for the tremendous support we have received from our friends around the world.

New Places

Anyone looking for someplace new and unusual could fall in love with Kep. We had never heard of Kep either until we heard of a new gay-owned hotel there on the southern coast of Cambodia. We think  it is one of the most interesting destinations we have ever added to our collection of adventures. Begin with a drive south from Phnom Penh by four-wheel-drive vehicle, which will ply the back roads of southern Cambodia to visit silk villages and some incredible, yet seldom-visited temples built long before Angkor. By sunset you arrive in the sleepy seaside hamlet of Kep, a colorful living museum of 20th century archaeology at the foot of Bokor National Park. To read a story about Kep and Bokor and see a photo gallery, please visit www.utopia-tours.com/albums/kep. A new Kep package will be on our website soon, or contact us for more details.

India ranks high on our list of most-requested new destinations. We are experimenting with two India itineraries, a six day trip that includes Delhi, Agra (Taj Mahal) and Jaipur, as well as a six-day trip that also includes Khajarajo (hundreds of temples with erotic carvings), the amazing abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri, and Varanasi, famous for its 24-hour cremations along the Ganges. For more information please contact us.

Where to Eat

Many of our guests ask for advice about dining in central Bangkok.  Here are this month's suggestions:
 

Dumpling Heaven With only six tables, the Sun Moon Chinese Restaurant next door to the Pinnacle Hotel is possibly the smallest indoor restaurant in Bangkok. From the moment you walk through the door your senses will be overpowered by the glare of the fluorescent lights on the white tiled walls, the noisy checkers game going on in the corner, and the magnificent aromas wafting from the kitchen. The all-photograph menu comes in albums entitled "Our Wedding" and "My Graduation." Choose the dumplings first--two or three plates for two people or one of each if there are more in your party--for they rival the best dumpling palaces in Beijing. Other choices may be difficult to make because of the extensive menu. For a first-time visit, however, consider the eggplant in meat sauce and the giant pork-stuffed chilis, which are not as spicy as they look.  The bill will be next to nothing. Who needs to go all the way to Mongolia?

Brunch Reinvented Remember "brunch?" It is alive and well in Bangkok and several leading hotels offer a huge repast every Sunday. The best of these is  the Sunday Brunch at the Four Seasons Hotel (formerly the Regent). The variety and quality of the food is absolutely dazzling: turkey, ham, roast beef, dim sum, sushi, all kinds of fish, every imaginable kind of bread, pasta and risotto cooked just for you, about 30 different salads and about 60 different desserts. Walk into the kitchen to find very fresh lobsters and oysters from Australia, lovely New Zealand lamb and beef. Select what you want and they will prepare it exactly like you want it--or you can cook it yourself if you like. They will even cook it yourself if you like.), Our favorites include the caviar bar, all you can eat foi gras (saut้ed in butter--you can actually feel it clogging your arteries) and all-you-can-drink martinis. It's only about $40 per person.

Have a favorite restaurant in our part of the world? Please tell us all about it.

Mood Lighting at 35,000 Feet

Thai Airways will begin nonstop service between New York and Bangkok on May 1st. The  17 hour flight will use new Airbus A340 aircraft which will carry 223 passengers in a totally new style. Instead of the traditional three class configuration, TG will offer a choice between business and "super" economy and regular economy class, with  60 seats in business class, 114 seats in economy and 49 seats in super economy. Business class will be furnished with shell type seats for privacy, with a 170 degree recline to allow perfect sleeping comfort. Economy seats are also of a new design, with a generous 37-inch pitch and 120 degree recline for maximum comfort. Super economy will feature seven-abreast seating with foot rests. The aircraft will have mood lighting, business class will have extra large lavatories. There will be interactive, on-demand in-flight entertainment with personal screens. Telephone, e-mail facilities and personal phones in business class. Power outlets for laptops will be installed in each seat.

United Airlines has at last launched service from San Francisco to Saigon via Hong Kong.

Current Club Sanook Goodies

Club Sanook is quiet this time of year. However, we are already gearing up for 2005 of season specials for the months of April through October. Members who have a Utopia Membership card are entitled to discounts on Purple Dragon during high season. We have other all-year specials as well. Please visit www.clubsanook.com for details

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