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Rant of the day - it’s hot. Temperature is double what it is at home...really curtails my desire to be out and about in daytime.. So...to continue Hab left around 2am to catch his visa run bus. I slept in until almost 10am which is unprecedented for me. Tarntawan breakfast using same menu that’s been here for at least a decade. Food, though, is fresh! Haven’t seen the manager who parks his Honda in the driveway...want ask about the changes and to whom the new Imperial Hotel Surawong would be marketed. Deciding some personal care and some air conditioning was in order, I took the BTS to MBK Center and got lost finding Red Nails (2nd floor C Section). One of my offs introduced me to this salon some time ago and it is now a regular stop where I get a pedicure. I could give a series of reasons to justify the need for this procedure, formerly infected toe, broken nail, etc...BUT, it’s for the sheer pleasure of walking once the calluses are removed. Wander around MBK using my restored feet, so many areas I rarely visit. Focus on the 5th floor - crafts. Which include such artistic masterpieces as T-shirts, silk scarves. I pick up some souvenirs and must be the first customer of the day as my payment is waved over the shelves. Back to hotel to drop off my packages (2) and then head off to visit the guys at Excelsior Tailors in the Siam Heritage Hotel. It’s a social call to keep up my contact, but I don’t need anything this trip. Headed to Madrid to meet a fellow Forum member and have some pizza. Same four ladies still in charge in Madrid, it’s pointed it that several of the artworks are actually framed puzzles. Unlike some other Forum gourmets, I am not of the option that Madrid’s pizza is stellar. But I like the character of the service and the purported history. There are signs on the entry door and the bathroom door advertizin that Madrid will be celebrating its 50th year in November. (Vinapu put that in your calendar). Now, I’m off on my own, as my dining companion isn’t into the bars (at least tonight). So as I start a shortcut through the stalls of Patpong 1, I see a familiar face sitting at the entrance to Superboyz, the 2nd of the two gay bars/gogos on Patpong 1. The gatekeeper is the larger of the Twilight Hot Male mamasans. Surprised to see him / he’s surprised to see me. He leads me up a very steep flight of stairs (steep fights of stairs will be another “rant” soon enough). At the top of the stairs one turns to the left and can see the whole room - which is modestly wide and narrow (two rows of seating facing a stage. On the stage are 6 guys, types are difficult to classify. More than twinks but not by much. I thank the Mamasan for his tour and holding the handrail, head to Patpong 2. There is a traffic jam of touts, grabbers, and hangers on where Dream Boys Paradiso, Hot Male, Fresh Boys, Lucky Boys, and Screwboys are located. Out of past loyalty, I head first to Hot Male, where I’m welcomed by the previous site’s Mamasan. He shows me the outdoor bar which has potential as it overlooks Patpong 2. Note - didn’t see either of the two Twilight Hot Male grabbers, all new faces in new logo shirts. We go into the club, one of the boys waves me over to where he is sitting. He is the only one left from the previous location - he recognized me and knows that I won’t be offing him. That makes it easy to sit and checkout his version of what is happening with Hot Male. Having looked at the “talent” on stage, I mention that it sort of average and the coyote dancers aren’t up to the standard (I’ve offed two of the HM coyotes from the old location). He tells me to wait to check out one of the new boys, “just your type” he says. This is not a surprise, as I learned a long time back that the boys score their clients and note likes and dislikes and pass the information along. There may even be a secure web app for the boys to share client stories. When asked, he tells me the show is pretty much the same but they don’t have a lot of the stage space they had before. Lots of rings hanging above the stage, so that effect is still there. The mamasan joins us and tells me the boys were from Cambodia, VietNam, and Myanmar. The rotation changes and one stunning boy steps on stage (this is the one I was told I would like). I’m introduced, but it’s too early - just 9pm. I tell him I’ll be back. I may have meant it. At this point a group of non-Farangs comes in and sucks all of the attention, which gives me the chance to leave. I give #1 two red bills to my old familiar who is #1 and a god guy if you’re at HotMale. Mr Myanmar gives me a kiss. OK...next - Freshboys...as this is on the same level as Hot Male I can just walk over and avoid the stairs. As I go to enter, one of the waiters is coming out, he sees me (avoids running into me), turns and escorts me in. Room hasn’t changed since I last reported on it, U-shaped seating surrounding a thrust stage. Same mamasan as before, I don’t know her name, but she leaves me alone. Maybe 16 boys in rotation on stage, one with the face of a rascal keeps engaging with me via smiles and some crotch pulling. Waiter (#8) comes over and takes my drink order...#8 is young, but then almost everyone is, and very sexy. I invite the rascal over, he tells me he is 23 and from Vietnam. He looks much younger, very touchy feeling, puts my hand where it can roam. I buy him a drink and when #8 brings it over, I start to think about lust with a waiter. My Viet boy is not to my type. I see the last boys dressing for their musical numbers and decide its time to leave. I give Mr. 23 year old a red note and thank him for his time. Another waiter brings me my bill, so there is no chance to proposition #8. I wonder if I actually would have... Seating note...sitting to the right of the front of the stage one has a clear view of the boys dressing room. OK...now to check out Paradiso. Down a flight of stairs, using the handrail as these steps aren’t as well lit as Hot Male’s. There are now even more touts about as it’s almost showtime. Paradiso is similar in size to Stranger Bar on Soi 4. If one isn’t familiar with Stranger Bar’s layout, think narrow in width and not a lot of depth to the room. 5 muscle guys, sort of beefy, on stage. Drinks are 350...same as Hot Male price. Place is full, but not sure what that means, one other farang. Leave after I finish my drink, learning that the off fee tonight is 400. Not sure if it changes night to night. As the show is starting at Lucky Boys, I let a grabber help me up the stairs.. OK...Rant - I’m relatively agile, but the stairs at Superboyz, Freshboys, HotMale, and Lucky Boys are steep enough that Sherpas should be provided. As I’m happy so many clubs were able to relocate, (Rave) that will have to be endured. Since I was at Lady Lucy’s Lucky Boys last night and taken Hab away with me, I was greeted with ruffles and flourishes by Lucy. Boys are paraded for me, advantages, disadvantages all analyzed. At least 30 boys in the rotation, more sitting with customers. I’m the token farang, though I’ll be joined later by another. Place is fairly full, and this is a big room compared to the others I’ve visited tonight. I ask #39 to join me and buy him as drink. He’s Cambodian. On stage he looked Iike a deer caught in the headlights. Tells me, in my limited Cambodian which matches his English vocabulary, that he’s been in Thailand for half a year, at the club for a month. Since he’s sitting with me, Lucy keeps returning to see if I will off him. He and I run though the check of what he/we will do. Boxes checked, I agree to an off, He goes to change. Show begins...artsy, with elaborately costumed lady boy singers. In my jaundiced opinion, show is nothing special. #39 and I leave for my hotel. I ask if he’d like anything to eat. Offer declined. Holds myhand and guides me along Surawong. At the hotel, he recognizes it and tells me he doesn’t have his ID or passport. UGH. Frustrating. I give him 200 and he departs. It’s now somewhere after 11pm. I go up to my room, realize I’m, being foolish and head to Screwboys, with a thought that maybe the waiter at Freshboys....(thought left unfinished). At Screwboys, I’m shown to a table where a couple is already seated, and I’m wedged in. All the tables and seats are taken, crowd is about 30% female. I am (again) the only farang (in the Euro-Caucasian sense). I no more than sit down and I’m waved at by a two time former off, he’s changed his name to Yoyo. I invite him over, no room to sit, Mamasan finds a place by the stage. Yoyo and I are familiars, I don’t have to ask any questions about do’s and don’ts. Decide to skip my #8 waiter hunt. I pay the fee of 400. I ask if he wants any food and he gets some Durian from a street vendor. We have that back at the room before we get into bed and do things. His cumshot is even greater than Hab’s the previous night. Yoyo tells me I’m his first customer this week (it’s Sunday, and I don’t ask when his week started) but it’s a magnificent tribute to abstinence. We hang out in bed for a while and then shower together. He’s a good guy, genuinely handsome, and Vietnamese. The only Viet, who when i met him 2 years ago, was more than willing to do everything and mean it. Now he’s put on some guard rails, but not for me, or I didn’t cross them. I give him 2000. We say good night, and the Line messages and photos begin on Line. Comment - mentioning that I’m one of the few farangs I notice in the clubs, the mamasans who chat me up and that’s at least 3, tell me the customers are mainly Chinese, but indicated that more and more are really Taiwanese, and they are seeing more Koreans. Japanese are few are far between - unless it’s a girly bar in Thania. I’m going to take a break now...had thought I’d include my Moonlight report here...but it’s time for my massage and I need to get to Arena. Thanks for the PMs, I hope I put the answers into this portion of the report.

Nostalgia anyone ? (TMOT th edition, 1997) (Galaxy bar n° 17 in the down right corner of the main map) (sorry, cannot figure how to lay out pictures in a better way) TMOT was wrong with their directions : going west on Surawong, you would have to turn left (and not right) in the subsoi

I made it to Bangkok mid-day, yesterday, Saturday...which was Visalia Buddha Day. As FloridaRob noted elsewhere in the Forum that translates into NO ALCOHOL until midnight. I flew in on Thai airways from Hong Kong. I arrived in Hong Kong from San Francisco Friday evening. I stayed at the Regal Airport Hotel which is a walkway away from Terminal 1. It’s decent and seems to house tourists like me who don’t want to wander around the terminal and sleep on benches waiting for their connection, it also houses flight crews from a roster of airlines. Note: Romeo and Blued were filled with what looked to be flight attendants. Rant - periodically in this trip report, I may use the space to vent. Here is the first one - I was pleased to note that I was upgraded on the flight to HK...this was the second time in a week, having received the same courtesy going to London 6 days prior. Nice, but with the lay-flat seats, it’s claustrophobic! I was never comfortable in the flat bed as I’m a side sleeper. The UA beds are designed for those who sleep on their backs. Back in the days without cubbyhole business seating, the seats reclined but not into beds, I was always able to sleep...Actually, once I turned the bed into more of a recliner I slept. One more addition to this rant: is there a rule that window shades should be down throughout the flight. Only three were up even for landing. Increases my sense of being in a cave...and unlike the Thai soccer boys, not sure of a rescue. Rave - rants should be offset by raves. This rave is for my fellow Forum members. BiggusDikkus’s reminiscence of his tour led visit to Galaxy Boys, reminded me of how much reading this Forum and taking in the advice helped when I returned to Thailand after a two decade absence. Examples from the first hours of this trip. As I report on my visit, I’ll note where there was a Forum insight. Thai’s flight from HK was comfortable and all the window shades were up. I had a row to myself, the 777-300 was only half full. One incredibly handsome, sexy guy, a row over. BUT he was with his wife/girl friend and the mother of one of them was in Business. Enjoyable eye candy. Arriving close to on time, it was a good half mile to immigration. Incredibly handsome guy and family sped by in a cart. My mind goes to Crazy Rich Asians. Get to immigration and it is jammed. Forum Rave note; a few years back one of the Forum members, perhaps PaulSF, told me about the priority channel...which is for diplomats, monks, and folks over 70. I’m in one of those categories and was the only one using the channel. Note - if it hasn’t been mentioned already, immigration is collecting fingerprint scans as part of the arrival process. My luggage was arriving at the carrousel just as I did. Incredibly handsome guy was there with two assistants pulling luggage. Then I noticed that the mom was in a wheelchair...explaining the ride from the plane and the need for the help with luggage he’s still handsome... Forum rave = this was one of the very rate times I’ve arrived when the trains are running to the City. I carefully followed the directions provided more than once by Vinapu. Go to level B, use the machines, take the token, but (Forum rave) find the currency exchange as noted. My rate was 31.71 to the dollar. Took the train, changed as instructed in the Forum, using escalators and lifts, only had to tote my bag and backpack down some steps at Sala Daeng to use the escalator in the Thania Building. 90 minutes after landing I was wheeling my suitcase. Into the Tarntawan and greeted by the desk staff, one of whom has been there since the Lukas era. I had been assigned to my favorite room on the 5th floor. It’s a two room set up and has many happy memories for me of good times and many boys. I unpacked, put my important things in the safe. After washing up, I went to Prime Massage. It was 5pm and I was told I could reserve for 6pm. OK...I used the time to check for neighborhood changes. There is a hotel complex being created in the space between the Tarntawan and the apartment building across from Prime. Last year, I read the sign wrong and told DivineMadman it was an expansion of the hospital. Wrong.No construction was visible. Went to Soi 4 where the massage boys were out from both Adam and Nikrat. Tempting. I located Banana Bar on 4 but saw it would be closed tonight due to the no alcohol holiday. Tables were being set up at Telephone I checked in with my workout shirt vendor who will pull some shirts in my size for me to pick up later. Now to Patpong 2...things seem concentrated what with Screwboys and DreamBoiz on the street level, and Lucky Boys, Fresh Boys, Hot Male one flight up. Could be tricky for members who are agility shy. Back to Prime for a luxurious one hour foot massage, followed by a classic “it will feel better once the pain stops” Thai massage. Just what I need as I’d been in planes for more than forty hours in the past ten days. Masseur was Yo and I’d like to have him for another pain session. It was now 8:30 so I sought out some street food and went looking around. The Forum has a report that there were two new male bars on Patpong 1. I found Banana and let the Mamasan pull me in with a severely discounted drink price of 200...remember no alcohol so $6 for a coke...interesting set up, with what looks to be a stage in a triangular shaped room. 6 boys, all twinks. One other boy was the music master and energizer bunny. Mamasan told me she had a room upstairs. I enjoyed talking with her and about the month they had been open. Could use more business. It was too early for an off so I noted that the Udon Thani energizer was a future possibility. As I left, I was grabbed by a tout, I thought he might be from the other new gay bar...he wasn’t and I didn’t take up[ his offer for a reduced rate for watching pole dancing. I later learn the other new gay bar on Patpong 1 is right next door to Banana. I decided it was time to head over to Patpong 2...Moonlight was closed for the holy day and so was Hot Male, which I learned after I’d climbed the stairs. The grabber for Lucky Boys moved in before the Dream Bois grabber. Up a flight of brightly lit stairs, entrance lobby is brightly lit and seems to be the location for the toilets/changing areas. Let into the main room, who was there to greet me but Mamasan Lucy! Quickly she ushered me to a table with a clear view of the stage and a drink order given (350 tonight as its no alcohol until midnight). I immediately noticed no one was on the stage but there are a lot of guys in the room all are still dressed and wearing numbers as are the waiters. (Forum confirmation. = the waiters are offable). There are some other customers, two of whom are female. Lucy knows why I’m there, so I can’t pull any of Vinapu’s Mamasan brush offs. We talk, she brings over a Cambodian boy, 23 years old. I buy him a drink, we talk - we have nothing in common. There is an announcement of some sort and all the boys stand up and move to the changing areas. At 9pm, the boys, other than the waiters, move into performance wear, or lack of. Lots of smiles to me, I’m one of the few possible customers at this hour on a holy day, so I don’t put it down to my innate charm. About 30 boys take to stage with at least a dozen waiting for stage space to open up. I should note that it’s a really impressive space and well designed. But, I digress. Lucy’s chosen returns in his boxers and knowing he isn’t going to be my choice, tells me about some of the boys on stage as I indicate who looks attractive to me. Guys range between twinks and lightly muscled guys. He suggests a couple of guys - he favors Cambodians (surprise). Lucy checks in, She brings over one of the boys I was interested in. I give Mr. Cambodia 100 THB and thank him. He gives me a kiss. New guy is handsome, good tight musculature, and Vietnamese. I ask about what he likes/is willing to do. Note: he’s Vietnamese, so I’m pretty sure of the answer...to my surprise he is willing to do even less than most Vietnamese. Another 100 and thank you for your time. While my inquisition was taking place, many of the others boys swan by and blow kisses and some rub my back. Lucy brings over #22. Name is Hab. 24. Cambodian. Good English. Says in English he does everything. Lucy confirms. I like his look and his answers, so I tell him to get dressed. While he is dressing one of the waiters comes over and tells me that I will like Hab. Waiter is from Cambodia! Hab returns, I settle up. Off fee is 400. Short time agreed at 2000. Note: Lucky Boys has an accounting system. Each successive slip in the check bin, increases the total charged. So while there were multiple slips in the bin, only the most recent was the one for payment. After, Lucy insists on giving me a goodbye kiss, Hab and I leave for the Tarntawan. We pause at DreamBois for a look. Really small, shirtless guy on stage. Make a mental note to return. Back in the room at the Tarntawan he was everything he promised and more. Attentive, submissive, dominant, as needed or wished. I finished before he did and his cumshot was enormous spraying him and me. After a shower, we settled back for some in bed bonding. He left when it was time to catch his 3am visa run bus. I recommend Hab...note if you ever off him, his erogenous zone is his left nipple. I know, I know more information than is needed. All in all, not a bad first day in Bangkok. Actually, it was a great day. Please excuse typos etc as I writing this on an ipad - which limits my ability to check things.

I had a very nice Italian dinner tonight at Azzurro. It is a nice and small Italian place near Phra Kanhong. The food was good but the deserts were excellent. If you are in this area, they have a really great lunch special until 4 or 5 each day that is really reasonable. http://www.azzurro46.com/ Address: 46/2 Sukhumvit 46, Phra Kanhong , Klongteo Bangkok Phone: 02 392 5989

Thaipuan available on line for those not in Thailand

I would later look for it, on several occasions, but without much success. That first night in Bangkok, as I was leaving Galaxy Boys, I was told to go in the opposite direction from how we arrived. As it turned out, the soi the bar was on met up with Surawong, maybe a block and a half from the hotel I was staying at. Also as it turned out, I had been on Soi 4 when the tout led me away. I found that out the very next night, when I had to find Telephone to meet a Japanese friend who was also traveling in Thailand for the first time. This night, I arrived a bit early. I didn't want to repeat my mistakes of the previous night, regardless of how adventurous they turned out. So I was better prepared when the same tout approached me again. I gave him a firm no. This time instead of craning my head and looking at the businesses as I passed by I would look ahead of me, and sure enough, there was Telephone, not far up the soi, on the left. How could I have missed it last night? But before I could step inside I was again waylaid. This time by something or someone tugging at the cuff of one of my pant legs. I looked down. It was a little boy. He looked barely old enought to walk but he must have also been able to run. How else could have he sneaked up on me? When I stopped to look down and met his gaze, he bowed, his hands together, in what I had read was a wai. I was gonna ignore him and just head to Telephone, mindful of what had happened the night before when I had allowed myself to be so easily swayed. But something about that small, barefooted kid tugged at my heart. I got to wondering how old he was. Couldn't've been much more than 3, if that. And then my over-active mind stirred up recollections of what I might have been doing on a Saturday night when I was 3. I pictured myself sitting on a carpeted floor, in a converted garage, watching a black and white TV with my brothers and sisters, none of whom were hungry that night, none of whom had ever known what hunger must feel like. I had a fortunate middle-class upbringing. And now in my early 30s I was able to travel to an exotic destination half way around the world from where I had grown up. Why was I fortunate to enjoy this little boy's country while he was in the street begging? So I decided to reach into my pocket, dig out some change and drop it into his hands. Then I had a second thought. I pulled out my wallet, squatted down so the two of us, the fortunate tourist and the hungry native, might be face to face. I peeled off a couple 100-baht notes, folded them up and handed them over. As soon as I did, the little boy did the fastest 180 I'd ever seen and scampered away with surprising speed until he was safe at the feet of his mother, tugging at the hem of her skirt. I remained in a squatting position, rather shocked that I didn't get even a “thank you.” I felt almost wounded not getting one. And now I would have to stand up and let everyone in this crowded street see my embarrassment, gawk at the gullible tourist. My Bangkok trip was not turning out how I had planned. Still squatting and looking toward where the little boy had run, I decided to stand up and to walk as quickly as possible to the door of Telephone. I had already spotted the entrance before I felt the tugging at my leg. Now it promised me sanctuary from the stares and snickering of bystanders. So I stood up, ready too make a beeline for my goal when the most surprising and gratifying thing happened. Everyone sitting down at the outside tables along Soi 4 had apparently been watching my encounter because they broke into applause. I looked around. So many young smiling Thai faces. I paused to soak up the Saturday night energy, which had suddenly turned very positive. I smiled back, then walked into Telephone. That great energy would last. It turned into one of the greatest nights of my life, one that would not end until 5am. Really, though, it did not end until two Sundays later, when it was time to go back home. I had a late flight, after midnight, so in the afternoon, with a few hours to spare, I thought I'd go look for Galaxy Boys. It seemed fitting to spend my last night in Bangkok — after saying goodbye and exchanging phone numbers with all the people I had met during my stay — in the same bar where I had spent my first night. That same sleazy bar I had never told anybody about. I got lost, though, and could not find it. Still, there's a story from my search that still rattles around my mind on a daily basis. Perhaps that story will be my next entry in this thread.

It was 5:30 a.m. Tokyo time when my alarm went off but it was easy to climb out of bed. With purpose. I was leaving for Bangkok later that day and I still had to pack. It wasn't until 8:30 p.m. that I was able to check into my hotel. That's 10:30 Tokyo time. I was hungry and tired, not to mention sweaty, having had to walk and lug my suitcase for the last kilometer or so. I did not go straight up to my room to shave, shower and get myself ready for a Friday night on Silom. “Or maybe on Patpong,” I thought to myself. “Patpong is supposed to be getting busy with gay bars now that Soi Twilight has turned out the lights.” Before I could take a look around, I needed some calories. So I broke one of my Cardinal rules of traveling in Thailand — I ate dinner in the hotel's restaurant. Side note: I was the only solo diner in the place but I was mostly doing the same thing everyone else in the restaurant was, using my phone to scroll through my social media accounts. Even couples fed their smartphone addictions rather than make conversation. So rather than feel lonely, I was part of the club. I was also feeling my age. I didn't get up to my room, unpacked and showered until after 10. I was exhausted; there would be no Friday night out in Bangkok for me. All I could do was crawl in bed and let memories of my first trip to this megacity unspool in my head. That night I also broke a Cardinal rule. Was it really 23 years earlier? Must've been. Like tonight, it was a Friday, but when I arrived at my hotel much further into the night, I was exploding with energy. I just had to wash up, pull on a pair of designer jeans and a Calvin Klein T-shirt and find my way to the fabled Silom Soi 4, to Telephone, to Rome and so many other bars and clubs I had only read or heard about. Could I find the soi on my own? I probably could have squeezed my guide book, “The Men of Thailand,” into a pocket, but I wasn't going to embarrass myself. I wasn't going to look like a foolish tourist. And besides, how hard could it be? One alley over from Patpong, TMOT told me. And my hotel was a 10-minute walk down Surawong from Patpong. It would be easy. So off I went. I would sate my hunger at a street food stall on Patpong. I was going to get the full Bangkok experience. Then, finally, I began making my way to Soi 4. As I recall now, I was almost at a jog. And maybe my haste was my problem. I ended up making some wrong turns. As everyone knows, there are two Patpongs, but I let this slip my mind. When I finally did turn into Soi 4, well, that's when I broke that Cardinal rule. Only I did not realize it until several long minutes later. ”Are you looking for the gay bars?” someone asked. How did he know? That's exactly what I had been trying to do for, what, 15 minutes? Was I on the wrong street? Again? How many wrong streets could there be? I had initially missed Soi 4 and not realized it until I saw a sign for Soi 2. Surely I didn't double back too far. At least I hadn't got all the way back to Patpong. And who is my interrogator? A gay basher? I don't think I would admit to a stranger back home that I was looking for “the gay bars,” but this is Bangkok, and TMOT, while perhaps failing to give more specific directions to Soi 4, did insist that gays are not harassed in Bangkok, that even taxi drivers wouldn't think twice if I told them to take me to “the gay bars.” So I could tell this guy the truth, whoever he is. ”Yes,” I managed to say. He smiled. He knew the answer. So at least “The Men of Thailand” was right about Thais not being prejudiced against gays. I felt braver. I could safely add to my one-word reply. “Do you know where Telephone is? Is this Soi 4?” ”Follow me,” I remember him saying. “I'll take you there.” So off we went, back out of the alley I was sure was Soi 4. Apparently I had been wrong again. When we got to Silom, we turned right. We walked past the nicknack stalls of the night market. We walked by the first Patpong soi that I had missed earlier in the night. We passed the next Patpong street. Is that really a Christian bookstore on the corner? Odd place for a Christian bookstore. And aren't we going in the wrong direction? Or maybe that was my mistake all along. I was supposed to take a right at the end of Patpong, not a left. Wow, that would have saved me a lot of time. I could already be in Telephone, flirting with a cute local. Or maybe Rome. I really want to go to Rome. I've heard so much about it. The best gay nightclub in Asia, they were calling it. My new best friend then brought me out of my own thoughts. ”Where are you from?” he asked. I told him. “How many times have you been to Thailand?” “When did you arrive?” “How long are you staying?” Hey wait a minute, I thought. How far are we going to walk? One alley over from Patpong, right? And this neighborhood doesn't really look like a nighttime entertainment district anymore. In fact, we seem to be passing a hospital. A Christian hospital. I didn't realize there was such a big Christian influence in Thailand. My inner monologue is often over active. It also has the ability to make the exact same sound as a needle being dragged across a vinyl record when it's about to change topics. “Who is this guy I'm with?” I finally thought. I didn't actually ask that question out loud but I could see a little anxiety in his face as he noted my own. ”Just a little bit more,” he assured me as we turned right onto I don't know what street — a street that did not have nearly as many Friday night revelers on it as the street where I had met ... Who? Who the hell is this guy? And then it hit me. “Oh, no!” my inner monologue screamed. “I broke the TMOT Cardinal rule — ‘DON'T GO WITH TOUTS!’” ”Obviously we're not going to Soi 4,” I managed to say with a snarl. “Where are we going?” ”A gay bar,” the tout answered. “Trust me. You'll like it.” He was practiced. He recognized that I was about to turn back, so he turned into a desperate conversationalist, keeping me stupidly talking to him as we continued turning corners and walking down poorly lit streets until we were there ... Under a sign that read, Galaxy Boys. We walked up to the second floor and into a very dark, very uncrowded bar that had at least a dozen go-go dancers. All young, maybe late teens, early 20s. All with perfectly lean but beautifully defined bodies. All with smooth, bronze skin. All with long, lithe legs. All with supple calf muscles that took shape much higher toward the knee than I had ever seen before. All dressed in nothing but bikini bottoms. And those smiles! The walls appeared to be black, and there was little light, only dim beams that lit the boys on the stage. The ones in the shadows were pulling out their little soldiers and rubbing them until they stood at attention. The achievement of a full erection would bring a broad smile and a glance my way. The tout was right, I kind of did like this place. In fact, I was entranced. There's something to say for sleazy bars. Especially when no one sees you walking into one. I ordered a beer and sat back while the tout walked toward the entrance where he engaged the manager, at least I think she was the manager, in an animated conversation. More of the dancers smiled my way. I smiled back, unsure what else to do. You can probably guess the next several events. The manager and tout would return. The manager would insist one of the boys come down and sit with me. He put his hand on my thigh, and one of my hands on his thigh. His skin was warm, smooth, a little damp. I found myself in the same conversation I had been in minutes earlier with the tout. The go-go dancer took my hand and placed it further up his thigh, so that my pinky was rubbing his cock. He giggled when my head turned, betraying my startlement. ”I like you,” he said without pronouncing the k. I stared into his eyes, and as I searched for the proper response — Was there one? — he began to kiss me. It wasn't a peck, but a full, lips locked, open-mouthed, gentle jaw movement kiss that my tongue remembers well to this day. ”I like you, too,” I said, pronouncing the k and figuring I might as well state the obvious. “I'm also hard as a rock.” I don't think he understood that but the tout and manager seemed to know that the time to pounce was right and they were back at my sofa with a 2,200-baht bill. ”For one beer?” I sneered. ”No for boy off too. And must pay boy another 2,000 baht at hotel.” Apparently it had already been decided that I was taking the best kiss I had ever had back to my hotel. But I balked. I was on my way to Soi 4, remember. I never made it to my intended destination that night. I left Galaxy Boys and returned to my hotel as it had been ordained for me. ... I'm not sure what will come next, a report on Night II of my most recent trip to Bangkok, or me reminiscing about that first trip 23 years ago.

Launch Party 19 May 2019 A couple of Dreamboy boys were invited.

Patpong gogo bar, Pink Panther, next to Screw Boy Drink 130b Ladies drink 180b Bar fine 800 b Short time 3000b

Tried to hookup with rent boy from Grindr. Met him at nearby cafe. Shows up and he was jumpy and fast talking. Didn't feel comfortable with his vibe. He was in late 20s and handsome face, and his dick pics made my mouth water, but decided didn't want him in my hotel room. I think the mature, big cocks and laid back men at Cine Lido have spoiled me. Gave the Grindr dude some bucks for his troubles to get here, and sent him on his way. My last night in SD and feel like hitting the sauna before one last visit to the sleazy theater.

I agree. This guy is posting in detail about slobbing knobs on cum-filled floors in dark, smelly adult theaters in an established known in the DR to attract only the same kind of substandard looking men one would see at an adult peep show in Anytown, USA — doing these activities while wearing a gag mask (the leather / S&M scene is at minimum very unpopular in Latin / South America and at most, completely frowned upon, even by the gays). It’s clearly an odd display of “humble bragging” to the group, but I am still trying to figure out what exactly there is to brag about here. That some chubster went to the DR and paid $1.25 USD to suck multiple random dicks in dark rooms while wearing knee pads and a mask? After the second or third post, it was repetitive.

What a nasty response. Are you incapable of reading the screenshot I posted that shows the place is closed on Saturday and Sunday? Someone might be reading this forum and your posts. Those readers might want to visit that facility. Internet searches show that the establishment is closed on the weekend. Most reasonable people would believe the place was closed based on the posted information. It is simple to add a correction to an error showing for that facility. I was under the impression that you posted your experiences to share with forum members. Given your response, your postings appear to be little more than bragging rather than sharing.

There are 5 gay clubs on Patpong 2. On ground level are Dream Boy Paradiso and Screwboys. One flight up are Hot Male and Hot Male Bar, Freshboys, and Lucky Boys. Nearby just across and up a soi is Moonlight, the current reigning champion. On soi 4 off of Silom is Banana Club, Stranger Bar - the House of Drag Queens, and Jupiter - which is Moonlight’s closest competition on Patpong 1 - are two places that opened in the last month or so - Banana and Superboyz. I estimate no Club is more than 5 minutes from any other, except for Tawan, Golden Cock, Super A, and Nature Boy, which a few minutes further down Surawong and nestled close to one other.

that is outright sin...

Day 3 Another late start after the night before. Late breakfast and then some time relaxing at the pool. Mid-afternoon, decide to head out for a massage. After the disappointment at 'Magic Touch' the previous day, decide to go to MyHero. It's further to travel and more expensive, but a place where I have always received consistently good service in the past and where the choice of boys is generally more to my taste. Free travel on the skytrain due to the coronation celebrations this weekend is an unexpected bonus. Arrive at MyHero around 4pm. About 20 guys to choose from. Immediately focus on a lean but muscular guy, one of the few to take his shirt off to reveal a great torso, wide shoulders, slim waist and muscular 6 pack. My choice is confirmed when mamasam includes him in the group of guys when I enquire 'who is gay/does everything?' Masseur is called Win - suffice to say it is a great session - scrub, oil massage and special service. Restores my faith in massage services after the previous days disappointment. Leave feeling rejuvenated and satisfied. Rest up back at hotel for a while and then head out to dinner - a local thai restaurant for a good chicken green curry. Its getting a bit late now - around midnight - but decide to pop into Moonlight for a beer. There is a special boy here who I have linked up with on previous visits and I'm curious to know if he is still around. Fixed fee of 450 bht to enter - for show and one drink. The place is busy as there is a birthday celebration for the owner/manager taking place. I go upstairs to find a seat and watch the final parts of the second show. As the show ends and the boys reappear on stage, it is clear that many have already been offed and few remain to choose from. No sign of my special one. I decided to head back to hotel alone to sleep but resolve to return earlier tomorrow as the choice of boys at Moonlight is usually to my taste. Day 4 to follow .............

An interesting report about HIV among Brazilian men who have sex with men (MSM) appeared in June 2018 in Folha de São Paulo about a paper that had just been published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, International Medicine. The study included 4,176 MSM from all social strata and age brackets in 11 Brazilian capitals. Each participant had two interviews and HIV tests and half of the participants reported that this was the first HIV test they had ever received. 83.1% of the considered themselves gay, 12.9% heterosexual or bisexual and 4% "others". Of the total, 75% were having sex only with men. 3,958 of the participants agreed to be tested and, taking all of the participants in the Brazilian cities as an aggregate, 18.4% were HIV-positive compared to 12.1% in a study set up in the same way in 2009. Of all of the Brazilian capitals in the study, São Paulo ranked first, with 1 in 4 MSM HIV-positive. Rio de Janeiro had an HIV-infection rate near the middle of the pack at 15.3%. Among MSM 15-19 years old, the rate of HIV infection had tripled since 2009, going from 2.4 to 6.7 per 100K inhabitants. Among MSM age 20-24, the rate had doubled from 15.9 to 33.1 cases per 100K inhabitants. The authors wrote that Brazilian MSM are experiencing a "second wave" of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The factors they hypothesized for this increase included: The reduction of HIV prevention campaigns in Brazil related to the economic crisis. The anti-sexuality instruction in schools movement of the Brazilian extreme-right [and this was even before Jair Bolsonaro became president and, as one of his first policies in office, acted to remove sex and diversity education in Brazilian schools]. The rise of social media, giving MSM the ability to have many more sexual encounters. The fact that young MSM don't remember what the worst years of the AIDS epidemic were like and never met anyone seriously ill with complications of HIV/AIDS. The [false] notion that HIV has been cured by current medications, losing the fear of death has led to a "relaxation of preventive measures". They provide this telling quote: "Young [Brazilian] men think of themselves as supermen, who'll never get sick, and so they don't seek out health care services."

'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

You are a bright guy and probably nice on top of that. However, your writing is unnecessarily difficult to read. By way of example in the first paragraph of your post that I quoted above YOU HAVE 64 WORDS in the first paragraph. Not even a textbook would contain 64 words in a paragraph. If you want most others to understand your input, you should shorten your paragraphs by not including several different subjects and thoughts. Sixty-four words in a casual paragraph are unreasonable. Please do not feel offended by my observation and suggestion. If you want people to understand your posts, you should break each thought and/or subject into a separate paragraph.

Guys - VCK is a brothel. So is Prince. (For that matter, so is Bangkok Massage, Myhero, etc., etc., etc.). So are most of the other shops we discuss. They don't provide much training, don't advertise as having trained-and-licensed masseurs. You might fid a guy who gives good or great "legit" massages, but that's all upside. Don't go in expecting it. These places offer erotic/sensual "massages" for relaxation and foreplay, plus sexual services. That's all that you or I can realistically expect at these places. That's what you get for the advertised price. If you go with those reasonable expectations and understandings you will more likely than not have a good time. Asnstudent has it right. There are other shops that advertise or try to distinguish themselves more on massage skills, or that don't so much hire the pretty boys so maybe the massages might be a tad bit better. If that's more important, then don't go to VCK, Prince, etc. It's really that easy. If you don't like the cost - don't go. Go elsewhere. And be happy. Asnstudent also has it right that 9:30 meeting means 9:30, not 9:35.

I totally agree with Bolsonaro here. Brazil can't BECOME gay tourism paradise. it IS already gay tourism paradise. :-))