AN EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW:  iCON2004 BANGKOK

WHERE GAY WEST MEETS THE EXOTIC EAST

From November 17-21, 2004, the 5th LYC Annual International Convention for gay Asian and non-Asians will be held in Asia's Gay Capital City, BANGKOK!

This is the first time such an event will take place in Asia as previous "icons" were held either in Europe or in North America. Long Yang Club Thailand, the host group have prepared a wonderful 4 day program for guests.

SNEAK PREVIEW OF THE PROGRAM

The first day (Wednesday, 17th) will be registration at their 'base hotel', the gay friendly Tawana Ramada Hotel. As a registrant for the event, you will be provided with a 'Registration' Kit' packed with all sorts of goodies, maps and brochures, as well as discount vouchers from local gay venues. There will be a brunch followed by an enjoyable evening cruise along the Chao Praya River, with dinner on board the cruise boat.

You will get a guided tour of the 'City of Angels' as Bangkok is known, on the second day (Thursday, 18th)of the event. The tour ends with a lunch near the world-famous Grand Palace .

There will even be an optional pool party at the world-famous Babylon Sauna with foam party in the evening. The organizers are also trying to arrange a visit to one of the 'Lady Boys' cabaret, an unforgettable show in which the Thais excel . iCON 2004 organizers will also provide a gay map of Bangkok for registrants who wish to visit the local gay venues.

The workshops will be on Friday (19th) but it will be a one with a Thai difference. You may get a selection of workshops topics that will include some with a Thai theme! In the afternoon, there will be the LYC International Annual General Meeting , and in the evening, you can relax at the iCON dinner with classical Thai dancing show.

On Saturday (20th), iCON 2004 program takes you to beautiful Ayuthaya, Thailand's former capital and filled with character. You will return to Bangkok on a cruise boat, the Grand Pearl, with buffet lunch on board. The last day Sunday will be an 'Au Revoir' brunch at a riverside Restaurant.

Of course, like most organizers, the iCON 2004 makes a waiver reserves the right to change the program due to unforeseen circumstances or at short notice.

BANGKOK GAY PRIDE

You may be pleased to learn that iCON 2004:BANGKOK, which takes place

from Nov 17-21, it will take place during BANGKOK GAY PRIDE (Nov 14-21) itself. In fact, the iCON 2004:BANGKOK program will be coordinated with BANGKOK PRIDE. This means that you will be able to 'Kill two birds with a stone' so to speak! If you wish, before iCON 2004 starts, you may like

to go to BANGKOK PRIDE IN THE PARK on Sunday Nov 14th. Then you can start enjoying iCON 2004 from Nov 17-21. And right after iCON 2004 finishes
on Nov 21st mid-morning, you may like to wait to enjoy 6th ANNUAL BANGKOK PRIDE PARADE, Silom Road, Bangkok at 5pm.

What is more, when you visit the gay bars and clubs during this season, you will sense of special kind of 'gay festive' spirits as many of the establishments will also have special parties to commemorate BANGKOK PRIDE.

Apart from the gay scene, do not forget that Bangkok is a shopper's paradise and an Asian food heaven. You can shop till you drop as well as enjoy lovely Thai cooking....but iCON 2004:BANGKOK already intends to feed you well!

ACCOMMODATION

iCON 2004 has made arrangements with 3 hotels, all within walking distance of each other, and are a stroll away from the gay scene. They are the 4 stars Sofitel Silom; the 4 stars Tawana Ramada, and the 3 stars Tower Inn.

Although they have a recommended rate to the iCON 2004 organizers, if you book through discount hotel booking agencies on the internet for instance, www.hotelthailand.com or www.thailandhotel.com, you may get even better deals on these and other hotels in Bangkok. Shop around and compare but book early to avoid disappointment. These hotels are very popular.

We would not recommend you to book at other hotels as you may find the distance to travel to the Base Hotel may be quite far; Bangkok is a big city that spreads far and wide. Although taxis are cheap, you must know how to bargain to pay a fraction of what the taxi drivers ask.

THE WORLD IS COMING TO BANGKOK

Bangkok has for a long time been a 'Gay Mecca'. Plane loads of gays come to the Bangkok every day from all over the world. It is anticipated that people from Australia and New Zealand, the USA and Canada, as well as from the UK and Europe will be coming to iCON 2004. And not forgetting those people from the rest of Asia as this will be the first time the event will be so close to Asian cities.

The great thing about coming to iCON 2004 for people from the West is that they can also travel to other Asian cities after the event.

REGISTRATION OPEN NOW !

iCON 2004 is taking registration now. Registration is done on the internet. YOU CANNOT PAY AND SEND BY SNAIL MAIL.. Go tothe iCON 2004 website at www.longyangclub.org/icon2004 , click 'register' on the bottom right of the page, and follow the simple steps to register and pay.

Early Bird registration (up to 30thJune, 2004) is US$240 per person. After that date, it will be US$290. SO HURRY AND REGISTER EARLY TO SAVE !

For more information, please email Richard at icon2004@longyangclub.org

or Kovit at kovitss@yahoo.com

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