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I have been grateful to learn so much from the reviews of others over the years. Now I have just returned from my most recent visit to Bangkok, I thought I would share my experiences with everyone. It is certainly a time of change around the gogo bar scene in Bangkok just at the moment. I will include my observations of some of the new bars, alongside the old. Day 1 Flight arrived at 7pm. Quickly through fast-track immigration and bags rapidly available. Traffic into the city was terrible. This might be usual on a Friday night or possibly because of the celebrations for the Kings coronation over the weekend. Settled into hotel in Silom close to the scene. Tired, but feel like a beer and a quick look round the bars to get settled in. First visit to Lucky Boys. Arrive as the show is drawing to a close with big cock show boys walking around the crowd seeking tips for a quick feel. A big barn of a place and it is packed. Lots of staff around who find me a seat. Good layout, with a mix of booth style seating for groups and other individual or small seating areas. Lots of boys. Mostly twinks. Place empties fast at the end of the show. Not in the mood for an off, so finish drink and go back to hotel. Left with the impression that Lucky Boys has quickly established itself as the leading bar amongst the new group on Soi 1. They have probably taken lots of business from the old Dreamboys. I wonder if they will be able to sustain this longer term? Back to hotel and a lengthy sleep. Day 2 Late breakfast then a couple of hours at the hotel pool. Mid-afternoon decide to go for a massage. Keen to try 'Magic Touch by the Tree' based upon some very positive recent reviews. Arrive around 3pm. Easy to find and nice venue - clean and nicely decorated. No choice of masseur as I hadn't booked in advance and I am allocated to the next masseur on their rotation system. No problem with this in principle if all the masseurs have the same skills. Take 90 mins scrub and oil massage. Huge disappointment. Whilst masseur was friendly and attractive, his massage skills were average to poor and not a sensuous experience at all. He remained in his clothes throughout. Only towards the end did he offer me the 'special' service and suggested I'd like to tip him 2000Bht. Politely declined! He's going to have to work much harder for a tip anywhere near that size. So I leave unsatisfied, but with further opportunities ahead over the next week. I have no reason not to believe the earlier positive reviews of Magic Touch. I guess I was just unlucky in the selection of the masseur. But I'm not sure I'll go back, which is a pity given the convenient location close to my hotel. In the evening I decide to try more of the new bars - Hotmale and then Freshboys. Both bars a decent size and familiar layouts to the previous bars - with main stage area and tiered seating around 3 sides. Good number of boys in both bars - again mostly twinks - and the shows were the usual range of acts including fucking shows at the end. Freshboys has a fun group of waiters who seem to be competing with the stage boys for drinks and possible offs (the waiters all have numbers) from customers. There was lots of amusing interactions going on with the waiters. I found the waiters more attractive than the stage boys. After the 12 Midnight show, I offed my favourite waiter - back to hotel together for a couple of hours of fun. It made up for the poor massage experience earlier. Day 3 onwards to follow soon ...........

https://www.gq.com/story/how-dating-apps-ruined-traveling “Sampling the guys of places I visited was fun until it wasn’t. Instead of being open to hookups while traveling, it began feeling like a necessary part of the trip—that it was my international duty to make nations closer by having my body parts smashing up against some resident’s. And while there's nothing wrong with wanting to hook up on vacation, I've come to the realization that that I was relying on making out in new places just as tourists depend on Fodor’s Travel Guides as the blueprint for a proper trip.” How Dating Apps Ruined Traveling

'New Screwboys' is actually the name of Screwboys (the gogo bar)...its just most people call it 'Screwboys' for short I think the 'New' part comes from where it was taken over a few years ago

Anonymous Testing Thai Red Cross offers anonymous testing for HIV and STDs. I don't know if Pulse Clinic does, but they seem pretty "woke", so one could check there as well. SWING is an excellent support/health group for the gay & trans sex workers. I don't know if they provide testing for customers or the general public, but they could be another source. On/Off Use. As I understand it, going on/off PrEP is fine, as long as you follow the guidelines. This means always getting tested - for HIV and kidney function - before starting/resuming and getting tested again when you stop. Again, just to point out, PrEP can fuck up your kidneys if they are not healthy and kidney health has nothing to do with your sexual escapades. So you can't really make a judgment about the state of your kidneys on your own. So proper testing for HIV and kidney function, etc., is essential. [I follow this particular regimen myself.] It is not a drug that should treated like a recreational viagra. Do Not Let the Perfect be the Enemy of the Good PrEP is important and useful. It does not protect against STDs and it doesn't promise 100% protection against HIV. I am pretty sure, however, that the health professionals who work with sex workers in Thailand (and elsewhere), strongly advocate PrEP for those who are eligible. When I read posts here sometimes the "oh it's imperfect" seems to drown out how good and important it is. The organizations that provide free PrEp and support to sex workers such as SWING, and Pulse for those who pay, and Thai Red Cross for anyone, make regular periodic testing a part of their PrEP programs. There are bound to be exceptions, of course, but these guys/gals are actively taking care of their health. Having a discussion with your guy about PrEP and where he goes for PrEP and testing is a perfectly fine thing to do. Because I have had the unpleasant task of accompanying an acquaintance to be tested for HIV where the results were positive, I almost always end up talking about PrEP with working guys I get to know. In my non-statistically valid sample of Hornet guys in Bangkok, identifying as "Negative on PrEP" does not mean they will necessarily bareback. (applause!).

It would be rather foolish for people to be living in a foreign country without adequate health insurance. If it makes you feel any better, I just renewed my retirement visa this past Friday, May 10. I was not asked to produce any proof of medical insurance. The immigration officer didn't even mention anything about insurance at all. Nobody else renewing their retirement visa at the same time I was there was asked about medical insurance either. So unless I happened to renew on the very last day when there was no medical insurance requirement, then there is no requirement - not yet anyway. (PS: please spare me the lectures about how you're not renewing, you're extending.)

Yes, avoiding flying is very similar to avoiding wearing condom ...........

That is indeed hard to believe. According to an article in the illustrious medical journal , Guia Gay São Paulo, even though PrEP has been offered by SUS (the Brazilian National Health Service) for people at risk since 2017, as of summer 2018 only 2,748 Brazilians had initiated PrEP, at least PrEP that is dispensed by the SUS. The SUS had sufficient supplies for another 4,200 to start PrEP. I doubt that many Brazilian MSM are obtaining PrEP through sources other than the SUS, because they would then have to pay the high retail cost of Truvada out-of-pocket. That's a worrisome observation. As a confirmed passivo (bottom) who wishes to maintain his HIV negative status, I am keenly aware of the point during sex at which garotos don their camisinhas (condoms). Truth be told, I have never been with a GP who has not used a condom. And I've never had to ask him to do so. If the mores of condom use are, in fact, changing among the sauna boys in Brazil, as you imply is happening among Brazilian MSM in general, that would be concerning indeed.

Agree about the foolishness part. And feel sympathetic toward those who can't afford reasonable coverage (or have so many pre-existing conditions that having health insurance which excludes pre-existing conditions is pretty much a waste of time and money). As to the alleged new medical insurance requirement: (1) Since the new policy wasn't announced until after you renewed last Friday, not surprising that the Immigration officer didn't say anything about it. (2) Ubonjoe (typically very accurate) indicates the new medical insurance requirement at the moment (things could change) only applies to those applying for an 0-A visa in their home country (which, of course, is the only place you can get an 0-A visa based on retirement).

She obviously is striking a chord with some and was elected in her own state. I give some respect for those accomplishments. However, her politics/proposed policies are very different from my ideas so no Presidential vote from me. Best regards, RA1 Yes, that John Smith.

I no longer work with Microsoft Word program, so I do not run my pieces through Flesch-Kincaid reading grade level. The first paragraph is actually one sentence with three points separated by semi-colons. If it were PowerPoint, they would likely be presented as three bullet points. I am going to leave it up to the reader to mentally organize the structure for their consumption, should they choose to accept the mission. Interestingly, this thread contains information about research studies. I can assure you that research summary abstracts, including all of my several publications in peer-reviewed journals, contain well beyond 64 words. As you know, the abstract sentences are often clustered together. Sometimes the meat, potatoes and veggie sides are separated out on the plate, typically four headings but nevertheless usually single-spaced. Each periodical conforms to one of a handful of stylistic preferences. I often take the time to read entire journal articles that are referenced here on the Board, beyond the news summaries. I usually do not distract myself with word count. Such reading requires more than the average 64-second attention span, a liberal estimate, that is today's trend in focused attention to written material. The 64-dollar question is: how does one package content to everyone's penultimate satisfaction? The answer is simple. One cannot.

Just on the point of testing and my reading recently that Thai authorities have boosted the Country’s existing STI infection / treatment surveillance system is anyone aware do the hospitals etc still ask for a copy of your ID / Passport if you present to get tested there ? I know this certainly was the case in Bkk when I presented a few times and I was able to bluff it with various excuses about passports being left in hotels etc and gave a duff name etc ( to access the tests which all came back negative thankfully) but is this still the case I wonder as it must surely be yet another reason for some farang at least there NOT to bother testing ? Although I laugh as when I ring my local UK NHS anonymous STI clinic for random regular testing the very first question they ask is "what's your name and best contact number please' - so much for anonymous ! Oh and before anyone asks why bother giving a duff name this was a few years back now and there was talk ( and I still wouldn't totally dismiss it) of authorities holding lists of farang ( and Thai) name and address details ( of people within Thai or oversees) visiting or living in the Country with HIV / Aids etc so that "someday" should they ever decide to farang at least are simply turned away at the airport to reduce risk / cost to Thailand - paranoid perhaps but back then at least that was ( I felt) a fairly reasonable possibility ( see Singapore for example where 14,200 people had their HIV status "leaked" - albeit not by the Government, but is shows the lists had already been generated for "whatever" use later on at the whim of whatever Government might or might not get into power.

O.K., I'll bite.... Who is John Smith?

Interesting article. So true for many of us. However, many of us travel with the specific expectation of a romantic adventure. In that case, the article is a confirmation of our intent, in many cases.

Does it bother you when people use female words in regards to gay males? Afterall a gay male is not merely "a chick with a dick". Yesterday morning I was waiting for my aide of the day to help me dress. Another aide - a male - dropped by. He said to me "You're a princess".

Just a small request, please. This discussion is very interesting, but I can understand the trends (eg anecdotal reports here) better if reference is made to when the BB offer or proposal from the Brasileiro is receptive anal (he bottoms), insertive anal (he tops), or perhaps reciprocal. ————- Most ‘garotos’ I select identify as ‘ativo’ exclusively but I am flexible about ‘versatil’ role. I always at some point put on a condom because “you never know” if they will accept receptive, as long as they do not have to explicitly verbally agree. It is fascinating to witness the reactions. Usually they freak out and I have to calm down the drama. What is particularly amusing is the idea that I could subdue and pin down any of these guys. I assume their vehement protest is related to my apparent bold assumption they “look” or “behave” gay enough to take it up the ass after all. However, some will go down on it, with the condom on me, although that had not been part of the sealed deal. A renowned exclusive top at 117 I have gone with for a few years recently shocked me by allowing me to frottage between his perfect butt cheeks with his face smooshed down on the mattress, with me wearing a condom. Sometimes edging a little beyond the forbidden is half the fun. ——- More on topic, I have had no BB offers among any of encounters now having reached 3 figures. PrEP uptake that is governmentally financed is a huge hurdle among the “straight” working guys. They are required to go to the relevant health station and declare that they are either having sex with men or are doing commercial sex work presumably with male clientele. There is no face-saving box to tick off, ie, “just a gigolo”.

they do change THB to any foreign currency at rates that are just as good as their buying rates. For the major currencies like EUR USD GBP the spread between buying and selling is minimal

I think it depends more on how well they know the client. For the last 2 or 3 years I have been offered bareback sex by sauna guys who regularly work Pointe and 117 and I am not asking, I would estimate 75% of the time! I say no that's ok let's use them, but I don't get into to conversations about as to why they are offering. Also better then 1/2 the 3 and 4 ways when they are doing each other it is usually condomless! So the old adage "being forwarned is being forwarded" or something like that! (The guys in Mexico have also gotten very free about condomless sex)

Well I always use condoms --100%. Recently two friends who are on PREP were in Rio and they really wanted to have bareback sex and they had a hard time finding garotos who were in to that--and their impression was that all the garotos played with condoms only. I guess it depends on the night, the client , and the $$.

But shouldn't you have known better being somebody that did watch your friends die from AIDS related complications? If they are so eager to have you do that with them, assume you arent the only one....

To answer your above question and just for total clarity in case people reading this later might end up with a false sense of security - PrEP doesn’t prevent other STDs at ALL - it just just reduces the chances of picking up HIV - nothing more than that - hence it's a good idea to still always use condoms, unless you've decided that you're happy playing Russian roulette and risk picking up one or many of some of the other ( increasingly fairly serious) STI's that are out there now these days. https://www.onemedical.com/blog/live-well/safe-sex-prep

I like this pics of Babe...enjoy!!!

This is happening in the states, too. When I'm topping, guys sometimes ask me to take off the condom. Yesterday a "straight" young man I met online said he wanted to feel me cum inside him... In the heat of the moment I gave him what he asked for, but he was taking a stupid risk for a reason I honestly don't understand. Maybe it's because these 20-somethings didn't watch half their friends sicken and die of AIDS back in the 90s.

I've been to Lima a few times, I like it. My taste is in average , guy next door looks...not muscle Gods or requirement to have a huge dick (even though I like it). Plus there are lots of Venezuelan guys living there now...so it's a mix. The gay sauna in downtown (Sauna 240)is very nice as is the Disco Vale Todo Downtown and Sagitario in the centro (dangerous area at night) . Grindr is also good...LOT'S of free and there was an escort I hired, black guy...can't remember if he was from Peru or Venezuela, but was worth it...about 30 usd. I agree with MVAN, my last trip to Brasil was meh, could be us or just a blip in the times we were there, I hope. Cuba used to be AMAZING 10-20 yrs ago....but it hasn't recovered , sadly.

Not judging YOU but there is a saying..."There is no fool like an old fool..."

Yes. I do know better. I've used rubbers religiously for decades. He was so hot and I was halfway to the finish line when he asked me to lose the rubber. I'm an old man and not used to being desired like that these days. Scary how easily I lost control...