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BenG1000, you have some pretty good advice already. I very much agree with DivineMadman. Even after visiting Bangkok for a couple of decades, as I only visit once or max twice a year, each time feels new and those butterflies of anticipation never go away. It’s Great! For accommodation my go-to is Le Meridian. If it is within your budget, go for it. Great location, pool, and very companion friendly. They also have a great spa. Nothing like a good Thai massage (you wear a type of pajama, no oil, no ‘extras’, a short lady walks all over you and bends you pretzel shaped) to get the kinks out after a long flight. I have never experienced a guy expecting a larger tip because of the hotel. Like us, the guys like nice things, so I think a nice hotel (especially one that does good Thai food) is a pleasant bonus for them. If you have time, look beyond the gay scene. Bangkok is World Class. Try a couple of Skybars, for example Vertigo at the Banyan Tree or SkyBar at Lebua State Tower. Thai food is excellent. Within walking distance of Le Meridian there are Ruen Urai, Mango Tree, Baan Suriyasai and Papaya. For cocktails you can’t go past Vespers in Soi Convent. For presents for friends and family, try the Royal Thai handicraft center (in a mall somewhere, the concierge will know), Jim Thompson Outlet in the suburbs a couple of blocks from Bang Chak skytrain station or Chatuchak weekend market (if you don’t mind leaving soaked in sweat). The bars continually change, so just go with the flow until you find a guy that clicks. My suggestion for a first evening is: · * Relax with a Thai massage. · * Have a light Thai meal at Ruen Urai. Good food in a relaxed garden setting. · * Go to Vespers for a pre-club cocktail. The walk will get you a little into the beat of Bangkok. Cocktails are excellent. Bar staff are attractive and friendly (professional mixologists, so no this is not a go-go bar) and talking with them will move you into the zone for talking to the ‘bar guys’. · * Don’t head straight to a bar, take a seat in Maxis and people watch for a while. Get a feel for the pulse of the scene. · * Then hit the bars. · * I would start with Dream Boys to level-set. A range of types, helpful non-pushy mamasans, generally a good standard. · * Then, in a hunt for twinks, in no particular order as things change: Fresh Boys (both locations), G-Boys and Classic Boys. · * Opinions vary on Mamasans. I usually work with them as they know the guys, they can interpret and if you find one annoying the blocking hand signal is usually enough. · * Be sure to discuss what you want up-front before you take a guy off. Aligning expectations goes a long way to a happy experience. This may particularly be the case looking for a twink top. However, in my experience, many twinks are versatile and many are tops (to my regret). I do not think you will have a problem. · * As a visitor, particularly not a frequent one, do not get too hung up on prices. You only have so many nights and your airfare and hotel are sunk costs. If you like a guy, better to get him than quibble over what is in effect pocket change compared to your sunk costs. If If you want to take a guy for company to a Skybar or just generally, they will be happy to go with you, but probably better to do it the second time you meet so that you have a connection and the guy can actually be company.

I don’t believe DivineMadman intended this to be a list of the best gay male-to-male shops in Bangkok. Instead it’s just what the title implies: information about a bunch of massage shops. And he took the effort to arrange it in logical order. And it’s just that. He relates his experiences and encourages others to do the same. Information helps us pick and choose but isn’t a substitute for actually going out there and trying it ourselves. Since every massage experience is a unique activity between the parties involved, variation in outcomes is inevitable. But if we dither and fret over every decision, we begin to preclude spontaneity. What distinguishes this thread is that it’s started by an established member who has proven experience in the subject. This, to me, is much more valueable than information gleaned from annonymous sources on commercial sites. I simply wouldn’t trust the latter.

next time I'm in Bangkok I may test that statement by asking Babe for long time , my hope dies the last

I indulge in a fair amount of (very enjoyable) life danger, and I exercise a lot of control at the same time. Risk mitigation, not prevention. Life beckons!

Good advice all. I've tried to make it clear that the info I put out isn't even intended to be complete or exhaustive, and only occasionally up-to-date. I figure the guys who are inclined to go explore some of the different parts of Bangkok will figure that out on their own. I try to get to places a few times before posting a meaningful write-up. I may have a good time at DM Spa but I'm not getting back there this year, just because I'm busy. Lat Prao is such a traffic nightmare these days I'm just not even thinking about going over there. I get the shakes just thinking about going near Don Muang, which means what looks to be a nice new place like Orchid is going to be left for someone else to report on. I'm not sure some places really even care much about the farang crowd. And it's really about the guys there at that particular day (as Crystal Relax points out now), so how much can you really plan. Personally, there are some guys at Koonpaan (rough transliteration) who I think are really sexy, but I'm not sure they're everybody's type and it's not convenient, so, again, why bother. There are some places that I just ignore for other reasons. One place was discussed on a Thai board and I thought the owner's responses were off-putting, so forget it (as far as I'm concerned). A new place that started being active on Line posted pics of two guys that seemed rather young and put "17-18" as the caption. Delete block and move on. If you have found a good place that you want to give some advertising - post about here. I wanted to get AEC some visibility to support a nice small new business and I took a shine to a couple of the guys. Bantai is still in business. Somedbody have time to go there and update?? Or if you have favorite place that you want keep secret (like Pong), fine. Up to you. gboysiam and if you want to go through the hoops tmmsociety are good sources of info. I've found out about places from other members here (thank you 1moRussian ). I've also found out about places by facebook suggestions and similar random connections.

A wonderful and informative post by CurtisD. I would add that, if offing a boy as company rather than just for bedroom action, it is important to consider a couple of things. How is his English, can he converse? More importantly is he a lively, outgoing sort who enjoys being taken out and is willing to be a good companion? I have made the mistake of assuming a boy who spoke good English would also be a good companion since we had a chance of sustaining a conversation...I have since learned that the two do not necessarily go hand in hand.

Seriously, do you think the U.S. State Department is going to publish a warning not to visit an active prison for paid gay sex with inmates? Please tell me this is a joke!

It is extremely foolish to walk around Santo Domingo wearing a $4,000 watch. It’s even more foolish wearing one and thinking you “do not look like a tourist”.

The Wave Organ Peter Richards and George Gonzalez Exploratorium artists in residence, 1986 The Wave Organ is a wave-activated acoustic sculpture located on a jetty in the San Francisco Bay. The concept was developed by Peter Richards and was installed in collaboration with sculptor and master stone mason George Gonzalez. Inspiration for the piece came from artist Bill Fontana’s recordings made of sounds emanating from a vent pipe of a floating concrete dock in Sydney, Australia. In 1980, Richards (a Senior Artist at the Exploratorium for many years) received a planning grant from the National Endowment for the Arts that enabled him to conduct an extensive period of investigation into the physicality of the Wave Organ phenomenon. A prototype, built at the same location, was presented as part of the New Music ’81 Festival. Though very rudimentary in nature, it generated enthusiasm and support for a permanent work. Permit acquisition and fundraising efforts by Frank Oppenheimer, Founding Director of the Exploratorium, began soon after, but actual construction did not start until September 1985, seven months after Oppenheimer’s death. The Wave Organ was completed in May 1986 and was dedicated in June to the memory of Frank Oppenheimer. The Wave Organ is located on a jetty that forms the small Boat Harbor in the Marina district of San Francisco. The jetty itself was constructed with material taken from a demolished cemetery, providing a wonderful assortment of carved granite and marble, which was used in the construction of this piece. The installation includes 25 organ pipes made of PVC and concrete located at various elevations within the site, allowing for the rise and fall of the tides. Sound is created by the impact of waves against the pipe ends and the subsequent movement of the water in and out of the pipes. The sound heard at the site is subtle, requiring visitors to become sensitized to its music, and at the same time to the music of the environment. The Wave Organ sounds best at high tide.

Extension of validity varies greatly from one provider to the other. Maximum validity for AIS is 365 days. Registering your number does not help. I did so in 2012 (?) hoping that would keep the number to my name, but the time I came to Thailand for holiday, it was beyond validity and I couldn't get the number back. Between AIS, you can transfer validity or balance for a small fee. @ChristianPFC is using these machines (I never have) and can advise more These machines do indeed come with or without service fee, as high as 5 THB for 100 THB top-op, i.e. you have to insert 105 THB. There is an interesting problem related to expiration of SIM-cards. I have saved someone's number, his validity expires, the number is assigned to a new SIM-card and bought by a new person. The network detects activity, and LINE adds this person. I message him/her, hoping to find a long-lost friend. Usually it's pretty quick to figure out it's not the person I'm looking for, but once I ended up with a Thai woman who insisted she loves me and wanted to marry me, and when I told her that's impossible because I'm gay, she wanted to borrow 20,000 THB.

I don’t think so he looks much older now.

there's also rumor spread by me that above it's just a rumor. Yes Jupiter will be closing at end of March , only unknown is March of what year, last estimation was 2034

perhaps they just will construct new door and this is what whole hoopla will be about

me and charm ? those two don't go together

A mystery...my friend asked a Moonlight mamasan exactly what the “Grand Opening” was all about, and his reply was that the owner was keeping it a secret. Maybe Moonlight and Jupiter really ARE merging. Or a merge with Hot Male?

Was invited to visit a regular’s room in Bangkok. It was the typical cube with petitioned off toilet area. It lacked a window (as do some of the newer rooms at Raya, btw) but had a ventilation duct connection. Although it initially struck me, a westerner, on the austere side, he was happy with it. None of his walls were exposed to the sun so it didn’t get as hot as the rooms with exterior walls. And he said it was relatively quiet for the same reason. He was sharing it with one other guy along with the 3,000 bht monthly rent (plus electric and water fees).

Let’s start with muscle session first, I think there is a high possibility he will agree for this very soon....the question is not “if” but “when” and “who” now...clock is ticking

I apologize for agreeing with you.

I believe this rumor/news came from me as I heard it from one of the staffers. Yes the two owners are friendly. But no I don’t think this will be a reality any time soon and definitely not by next month!

I think people want to believe they have more control than they do. You can do all the right things and still be victimized. You can do all the wrong things and get away with it. That doesn't mean you shouldn't exercise due caution, but being unlucky isn't the victim's fault.

The price of the watch misses the point. If you try to blend into the landscape the less opportunity you have to be a victim. But even making a momentary mistake or lapse in judgment as I did in forgetting to lock my luggage I then became a victim. Was I more visible with an expensive watch which looks like everyone else's or the tourist sitting at a cafe on the Conde wearing a shirt with an American flag that said, F Trump? That is the point.

Some more pictures on SX

Great reports @pauleiro Thank you indeed! May I ask one question: is Puerto Rico just like the US when it comes to tipping for any and all services, and would you say 15% is the usual expectation?

I'm willing 2 pay that as long as I can off Arm, hehehe

Interesting, but with a much less effective rate. 86% leaves a lot more wiggle room than the 92-99% effectiveness of daily regime PrEP. Bottom line (for me), until the manufacturer and leading ID doctors say it's as effective, I would never do intermittent cycles. Daily use results in maximum protection. Protection is the very reason why we take the drug. Why would I want to cripple the effects?

When talking from experiences, there are bounds to be a spectrum of experiences as there are a lot of untold things that could be the results of that said experiences. There are boys that are greedy and expected more when u show u have money, there are boys who expectation never change, and they are boys who still expect more regardless. Which is why i always refrained from making a comment regarding one's experiences. We are only hearing from one sides of the story after all. And if we throw in the reliability of the story teller, the intention, the memory, the mood, the expectation of the story teller vs reality and so on, itll get more complicated. There will always be stuff that we never experience but happened to someone else and vice versa.

Just a couple of points from my perspective, prefaced by the general observation that you should feel free to spend what money you have at your disposal in any way you want to ensure that you enjoy the holiday experiences that you want to. Some will spend a higher proportion of their available budget on a top-end hotels and resturants, some will spend a higher proportion on drinking and partying, and others (myself included) will spend that higher proportion of their budget on having sex with the boy(s) (they can cum in pairs ) of their choice. Its a fundamental 'up-to-you'. However I would observe that when you call-down a boy you like the look of in a bar and buy them a drink, a two-way interview process takes place to see if you are likely to want to spend more time together. For their part, the boys will almost invariably ask 'what your name?', 'where you from?', 'where you stay?'. 'how long you stay?', 'your first time in Thailand?' - amongst other questions. These seem simple questions and maybe you feel they are just being friendly, and indeed they are, but the are also subtly pigeon-holing you into degrees of potential. And, unless they are very new to the business, they will already intimately know most of the regular hotels in the area including how much it costs to stay there. They will also make a further assessment of you quickly dividing you between 'Mr Horny' and 'Mr Lonely' and they can then act the pornstar or act the boyfriend accordingly. As a newbie ten years ago I went on my first night into the first agogo I found and then barfined the first girl I saw and she stayed with me for the rest of my holiday. Thereby breaking just about every mongering 'rule' and making just about every newbie 'mistake' in the book - but I still had a great time notwithstanding. Just keep a smile on your face, and your hand on your wallet, and you wont go far wrong LOL

Scooby said exactly what I wanted to say in a much more elegant way than I could say it. I like nice hotels and do not mind spending money on them. I don't understand people buying 4-6 drinks in on a bar when it is much cheaper than a 7/11 but I don't drink and not my thing so I don't criticize. I also never spend money on nice clothes. Not once, ever in my life. It is not my thing. But, I do like nice hotels and tipping boys what I feel they deserve. Anyone who makes money gets to decide how they spend it. I was criticized on here for years for spending money on hotels and thus why I stopped posting those experiences. In the last 3 months, I have stayed at three Intercontinental Hotel in 3 different locations in Thailand plus one in Singapore, one in Hong Kong and one in Tokyo. I loved those stays. But, too much bitching on sites when I tell others about this that I often just don't post the details. I never posted to brag but to inform. However, some do not see things that way.

It would be awkward. What I did was went to Club 117 and pick out my 4 sexiest regulars and told them to invite friends. They did. The bartender went. A drag queen or two and we had a full booth. The boys are smart and know they get free booze and an expensive ticket. I reserved my booth through the Intercontinental Hotel so they did the book and the payments. That was not a smart move as they added a service charge but it was easy to deal with. At the end of the night, I paid for extra booze on an American CC. It was not a cheap night but we were buying lots of bottles. And, did I say I had many sexy Brazilian boys giving me tons of attention. I loved it and did the same thing for 3 years in a row.

Relax, I think vinapu was just kidding. I also didn't think colmx was being judgmental and was only sharing his perspective on hotels and offs. From his post I didn't get the impression that he was projecting his money issues on anyone or that he even had money issues.

You need a transocean flight. With Airbus neo and Boeing MAX families, perhaps, we will be flying by them from Russia. With loooong line to the only toilet Our S7 already has flights from Novosibirsk to Suvarnabum (before it it was more eastern Irkuts). Should check their prices next time. And maybe a stopover in Novosibirsk? Haven't been there for 15 years... Although a friend of mine moved to Doha working in Qatar Tourism now, perhaps, Qatar Airways will have a chance to see me once more... Funny thing was with our much advertised MC-21 aircraft project - it happened, that for wings they are using Japanese composite materials made by USA license. Thanks to very friendly Putin's foreign policy, the Japan company stopped delivery. And if no composite wings there is no sense in this aircraft, it will have efficiency of late XX century aircrafts...

Sounds promising!

I was looking at Babe’s IG account and found this old photo of him working at a somtum food stall in Chutuchak weekend market! I used to go there to ogle hot guys’six pack, food was not so good. haha Never knew Babe was working there. Many customers were taking photos with them. An older guy in the red costume was very offended when I asked if boys were working as gogo boy at night. Guys didn’t speak English. I took the photo below

I think the opposite is probably true in my experience I reckon he started out as a rank-and-file MB, and has now decided that he's worth more, its definitely more common for bar boy to turn to model and then unavailable as they become more muscular (and more desirable to a subset of customers) Not uncommon And in fairness... he's not wrong, he is spectacularly handsome!

I mean it isn’t like you are planning for your girlfriend to bareback with them right? Wear a condom, get on Prep for extra protection. I doubt the guys on Tindr are that much cleaner than the average garoto. A lot of guys on here have been with lots of sauna guys and never gotten anything. Please let us know how you adventure goes..

The guy has a sexy body but really (for me anyway) beauty is about the face. Obviously for privacy reasons Pylonguy can’t post that...there is no use in arguing about how attractive someone is without seeing their face (nice cock adds points too lol)

With a weak OASIS boywise and a weak Grindr (only place in the world where I see so many mature guys on this site), I was thinking that I might remain boyless for the week end. That was before I went to SX Friday night. OMG ! Lots of horny gogo boys. Cute and sexy bartenders not only bartending. An active pitch black dark room. Everything to make a gay man happy ! I will post more later

Arrived in San Juan last Thursday and went to OASIS the first night. Only gay bar remaining in Conrado. Good music. Nice and friendly barman, Henry. As expected even though they claim to open at 9 pm, at 9.30 pm I was the only customer. A screen display softcore gay porn (white party in Fort Lauderdale). As usual in Puerto Rico the temperature inside the bar is feeezing cold. Outside is a little bit hot. Inside is definitely too cold. It is the same everywhere : restaurants, museum, shops ... back at 10.30 pm there are a few customers but no boys. "2 might come" says Henry... hay que esperar (we must wait) as they say in Latin America. Puerto Rico is American for the rules (for a foreigner it is the same as entering mainland US, $ is used, there are Walgreens and CVS ...) but is is clear we are in latin america : everyone speaks spanish. Most speak English of course. Roads are as bad as in latin america with big holes in the middle of the street. Back to OASIS, I waited until 0.30 am and no boys show up. Henry said that there would boys for sure on saturday and best night was monday for the black mondays. Pity I am no longer in SJU on monday. OASIS party seems to be hot and worth attending. OASIS is very near to the gay beach and it might be worth going there in daytime.

I agree that one should ensure one's physician and pharmacist are on side. Pharmacists cannot prescribe medication. In my case, the clinic is a specialty HIV program with a research component, where physicians and Allied Health colleagues work as an integrated team, with pharmacy down the hall. I get 20 minutes with the nurse (questionnaire, venipuncture, etc), however long I need with the pharmacist, and 1-2 minutes with the doctor who looks at a screen and asks if I need a script. He had agreed to be my GP, as he completed FamMed, but I have to remind him sometime when I require generic attention and he is (I hope) less frazzled. BTW, a friend is a PhD pharmacist, not a physician. He is the go-to even for top-tier Infectious Diseases physicians specializing in HIV care. Complex regimens involving drug interactions are carved out by this Pharmacy dude. This is also the case in many programs where the pharmacist is not a PharmD. You know, most physicans do NOT have the attitude: 'me physician, you lesser life form'. Further, how many doctors have the time in their 12-minute patient care blocks to sit patiently going over instructions for consumers that may need a lot of medication support and guidance? Pharmacists do not need a dressing down. The real problems relate to laypersons giving their family, friends, associates, etc, misinformation that is swallowed hook line and sinker. This thread is not about who is correct ... there is no opinion called for because by now it should be clear that nobody here has presented debatable info about PrEP models.

I'm with Totally OZ - my doctor said it should be taken every day - not as an "after morning pill". Also, your pharmacist should NOT be prescribing you medication or instructing you how to take it - that should strictly come from your doctor.

Carbon dioxide in our atmosphere may soar to levels not seen in 56 million years ...That era, known by scientists as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), was Earth's warmest period since the extinction of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. According to the study, during that period, the poles were ice-free, and the Arctic was home to palm trees and crocodiles. That warmth caused a major extinction of organisms in the deep ocean that are a key link in the marine food web... https://www.yahoo.com/news/carbon-dioxide-atmosphere-may-soar-130003384.html

Bagpipes require almost inhuman lung capacity to operate. Amazing:

Well, I was one of Pong's no show customers, but not that I didn't try to meet him. This was probably ten years ago (he's been in business a long time, and before he added the music massages). He sent me instructions on how to find his apartment on a side soi off Thanon Petchaburi, about halfway between Ratchathewi BTS station and Panthip Plaza. At that time, he had a website with a map to his apartment. He was also on Gay Romeo listed under Bangkok escorts , before it became Planet Romeo. I made it to his apartment building, went upstairs, but there was some wonky and missing numbers on the apartment doors. I called him twice on my mobile (this was before smartphones). I contacted him on the phone, but he was reluctant to try to find me in the building. I knocked on two doors, but they were not Pong's apartment. I searched the building for about 20 minutes, but was unable to locate him. After 20 minutes and two calls to him, I gave up and left. So you see, not every no show is intentional.

must you rub it in?

I would venture to defend his deposit policy and guess that it's probably due to too many now shows or very short notice cancellations from unreliable customers. It's not like he is a shop with multiple staff, so if he is in such high demand, he has to be sure how to manage his time and bookings. I understand that, though it is obviously rather unusual.

I haven't tried him. He's certainly my type in many ways, but his schedule is very often booked well in advance and although I am sure he is 100% dependable and above-board, you have to send a deposit to make a booking with him, which is just a little irritating. Also -- and maybe most important -- he identifies as top only so, taking him at his word, I don't think I'ld be getting my bang for my baht. He is very popular and has been for years so I am sure he's great. Just never makes it to the top of my "must do" list. Maybe someday I'll be intrigued enough and he'll have a sudden cancelation and I'll have the good luck to get a massage with him.

As the redoubtable Vinapu is not sure about my feelings I've decided to wrap up and give clarity as well as some final thoughts. Yes, I had a good time. Thailand is always fun. I think Jomtien soured me. But, this is my fault as I should have returned to Bangkok. I did not go to Pattaya because it is cheaper but I do agree with FloridaRob - Brasil is so much more expensive yet the cost is far more reasonable., humbly, suggest that whenever you drive something even slightly underground then the costs go up. I'm lucky that I love many types. Asians, blacks, and Latinos - even the blue-eyed red-haired lads of Dublin. Frankly, the older I get the more I go to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. 90 minutes from home - enough said. Now, if I can find someone in Santo Domingo's china town... I too am waiting to see what happens to Brazil under it's new, ultra-right-wing president. As I will be carefully watching for reports of the Ambiance and Boy's town. Christian mentioned that the soi with the Ambiance is closed to cars at night. Yes. But, my grab took me nowhere near the place on my first three ( yes 3 times. I shortened it for the story ) times entering the destination for the driver. He insisted I had gotten into the wrong car. Well, I checked his plate before entering, Heiko of the Poseidon spoke to him, and really, the front of Poseidon is littered with grab cars???? No, they need some basic, minimal standards for drivers in Pattaya. I'm glad others remember all the wonderful bars of Saphan Kwai. Midnight Cowboy used to dress the boys in old Thai costumes for some of their shows. They were just wonderful. I used to stay at a small, Thai Chinese owned hotel right next to the far larger Elizabeth. They were wonderful to me and there was never a better more welcoming spot. I think my feelings are cloudy because, as always happens, on my way home I'm saying "never again", "too damn far and too damn long a trip." I feel jet lag terribly. Yesterday someone came by my house around noon. He called me, knocked on the door, chatted with a neighbor who called me. I did not respond. Why? I have no idea I would have said I was up and awake all day. I must have been sitting up sound asleep and oblivious - this is a week after my return. Finally, my thanks go out to Scooby without whom my old phone plan would have greatly restricted me. Ggobkk for guiding me, in personal notes, to such a good tailor, and to Paulsf for lots of advice and encouragement. This is a wonderful group of like-minded people who assist each other.

Ever been to Brasil....?? I love Thailand for food, massage and the occasional good sex......but can't wrap my head around what $$ some guys in Thailand ask for, the cost of living is soo much more in Brasil, yet the rate there is 850-1300 Baht.....and prostitution is legal (currently, let's see how their new president is). Also, I don't ever remember Brazilian guys playing mind games like the guys in Thailand. On the other side of the coin, I know people that ONLY go to Latin countries because they don't like Asians, smh

Paborn, I thought I was the only one who used to stay in Saphan Kwai years ago to be close to the nightlife and host bars there. I also spent lots of time in Charmming, Hippodrome, Midnight Cowboy, Apache, Alladin, Stax, etc. I used to stay in the Mido Hotel on Thanon Pradipat, until the Karnmanee Palace was built across from it, then I stayed there every trip for many years until the demise of Saphan Kwai boy bars. I once offed a nice boy from Hippodrome and took him to Koh Samui for a week. He proudly pulled out the then current edition of Midway magazine to show me that he was that month's featured model. He didn't know that I also had the same magazine and had searched for him because of his pictures in Midway. That was back when magazine models would have sex with customers, not just there to be pretty like the cover model on the current edition of ThaiPuan. I agree that the Jomtien bars are not appealing to me, they are set up like Panorama, where most customers sit and look out into the soi. Not the best way to view or meet the boys.