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I was in Brazil August 14th to 26th, spending the first 2 days in Porto Alegre, the next 6 days in Rio and the final 3 days in Sao Paulo. There are 4 guys in Porto Alegre that I have known for a number of years that I usually see there and Mezziniu has been one of my favorite saunas since it’s opening in 2006. I met up with the soccer coach at the hotel, when we met 12 years ago he was a 19yr old working at Mezziniu but within a year got signed by a semipro team. He is one half of the famous cousins I previously have posted about. He spent the afternoon and then dropped me off at Mezziniu. It was slow on Friday with maybe 15 guys and 10 or so customers. But I met up with a blonde buff guy and a 22 yr old Venzuelan guy who is a friend of Victor who used to be the massuse at both Pointe and 117 in Rio previously. Victor gave a good recommendation and he was right! Saturday the soccer coach came over again and spent the afternoon. About 5:30 I went to Mezziniu and it was already very busy. Saturday nights are their big night! I met a hot 23year old and had a good time with him and then Victor came up to me and said he was getting off work at 9:00 and had a hot friend he knows I would like and could the three of us go to my apartment? I said sure, as I trust Victor's judgement, plus he really wanted to be fucked by this guy! at 9:30 they showed up and his friend was 23, lean, nice dick, great kisser, and we both fucked Victor! I went to bed about 1:00 am and had to be at the airport at 9:00 am for my flight to Rio! Sunday when i got to Rio I didn't go to the local saunas but went to one a hour away in Niteroi that is only gay one day a week! Met up with 2 sets of cousins there and had a great time. Monday I went to Lion's club and it was very busy. the place is huge and very nice! I met up with the 2 brothers from Niteroi and had a really lot of fun. Tuesday I went to 117 and they were packed like they are every Tuesday but 80% of the guys there were the same muscle guys I have seen there for the last 4 + years! I didn't do anyone, but talked to a lot of old friends. I then walked back to Lions Club which is a short 5 block walk from 117. John the former bartender from Manhatten rios was there and working as escort. I had been with john before at 3:00 am at a party last spring so I knew what to expect and it was as good as I remembered! Weds, my namorado was back in town so we lthe next 48 hours together and then on Friday I left for Sao Pauo! Friday night was packed at Lagoa! I was talking to Rudolfo, the owner who I had just been with at Lion's club the night before when I spotted a Vgl, 24 yr old black guy with the most handsome face I had seen in a long time! He appeared to be waiting for Rudolfo and I to finish our conversation to make his move and start talking. After a drink we decided to go to a room and he was amazing although he thought i was a bottom and i thought he was and it turned out we were both tops! He had a Big beautiful dick! He said “two tops can have fun”! He was right! later I went with another guy who was ok but i would not repeat. Then luckily i made the best decision of the whole trip! I decided i was really tired and instead of going to one of the clubs i went back to the house Alone!! The house has a front yard and gate and at 6:00 am I woke up to what i thought was someone calling out my name from outside! I went downstairs to the front door and looked out and there at the gate was my namorado from Rio! He decided to surprise me and got on the earlist flight! So we went back to bed until noon! Then we spent the next 3 days enjoying SP! Just 4 weeks before, we had been in Mexico for 2 weeks together, for the 3rd time in less then a year, and we were together 24/7 the whole time there and only had one argument! He may be the one, but i am going to take my time deciding! i am back in Brazil October 24th to November 4th

And cost of living is higher for the guys there. Sex, whether you are top or bottom is INCREDIBLE 98% of the times. Is more dangerous than Thailand, not as bad as some people report (especially from people that have never been there). Restaurants are more expensive than Thailand and there is the entrance fee to the sauna, about 65 R (16usd) but there are no mandatory drinks to buy, no off fee. You will see some of the biggest cocks you've ever seen in your life and the guys are NOT shy. If you ask to take pics of them most will say yes and start posing, when you say ok, that's enough, they'll want you to take more, they love pictures. Sao Paulo as some great restaurants but nothing much of sightseeing except for some museums, Rio has blah food in my opinion (unless you want to spend a lot) and good touristy things to do. Rio has 3 good rent boy saunas, Sao Paulo has 2 If anyone is going to travel that far, I always recommend going to both places, is a cheap flight when you buy ahead of time and both cities have downtown airports that make taking the flights seem like you are hopping on a bus. Bottom line is stick to the saunas or guys that you met at the sauna. Grindr or street cruising is tempting but you have no way of really knowing who was with you, sauna guys depend on sauna work, is their job and they know not to fuck that up.

Actually I understated your point all too well and I find it irrational. You claim to have lived in Thailand 13 years and you've come to the conclusion that Thai culture is ruining Thailand. And in all those years you haven't noticed that "saving face" is one of the foundations of Thai--and Asian---culture. Apparently it didn't occur to you that that might be the reason that the two other Thai players didn't embarrass their friend at the card table. Oops, I forgot. You do know all about "saving face" because you blame that tradition on the Thais who keep giving you bad directions. You feel oppressed by the government, Thais in general and certainly their ruinous culture. But you did a ballsy thing in going after the card player who was telling untruths. Put him in his place, you did. And I'm sure your admonishment was well received, coming from an opinionated farang. You did have the courage of your convictions and do that, didn't you? In any case, Marty, bear in mind that just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that they're not really out to get you.

I found the error, I had Airbnb provide prices in R$. But once I changed it to USD the CPF requirement left the screen. Thanks everyone!

It’s hard to take you seriously. Almost every post you’ve made over time is negative.

"The day I don't like living in Thailand anymore, I know where the airport is." - Geezer

While the crime rate is high, it’s mostly in the big cities. Rio and São Paulo. Brazil is as beautiful a country as there is. If you visit other coastal cities the crime rate drops. We are all used to the lack of crime in Thailand, but in most of the rest of the world it exists. I live in Ft.Lauderdale. I wouldn’t walk on the beach in Miami or Ft.Lauderdale late at night for safety reasons. Chances are if you go to Brazil it will be a much shorter trip than you do to Thailand . Yes, you’ll probably make a few adjustments for safety. But if you have the opportunity don’t miss out on the incredible beauty of the country and some of the most beautiful and sexy people around. Rio beaches are an amazing sight. Just use them daytime, not nighttime.

@Tomcal, I think the name of the sauna you went to was Ponto De Encontro, which is in São Gonçalo, a town just north of Niteroi (and is slightly farther from Rio proper). That sauna has been around for years, and has more of a “home-style” feel to it. I believe you’re right about it only being gay on Sundays. On that night, it has working garotos and they, by all accounts, are the “guy next door” types. Thjs sauna is not to be confused with Encontru’s in Niteroi proper, which by the website, looks like it is aimed at a gay audience, and is not open on Sundays. It seems to be open Monday.- Friday, and only for special events on Saturdays. It looks relatively new (I’m thinking within the last year). It seems to openly advertise as a sauna with working garotos in it. What kind of garotos are there? We need a report! Who will be the pioneer poster?

it was my understanding that the sauna has been there for years and only operates as a gay sauna on Sundays! Small bar with only basic drinks i.e. Beer, Whiskey, Vodka. but the owner did send one of the guys to the store to buy some mix someone wanted! everyone was very friendly!

Yes it was! i think the official name is “Ponto de Encontro. PE”

One more "teaser" while we are preparing profile page for new guide:

You do give off that vibe ....

So if anyone disagrees with you it’s because they don’t understand? Is that what you think?

Divine, you continue to suffer from a desire to paint a beautiful picture of Thailand and its government. You have blinded yourself if you believe that they are not trying to make it as difficult as they can for expats to remain here. And, exactly what tax base is paying to the government hospitals here? Certainly not the Thai people who go to these hospitals. I won't pretend to know where the money comes from to finance the Thai government but I do not believe it is from taxes. Also, for your divine information, I use a private hospital here because I don't want to sit for 8 hours waiting to see a doctor as most of the patients who are there have to do. With regard to Thai culture, I firmly believe that it cripples this land. The desire to never disagree with or tell someone they are wrong is ridiculous. You try to make it appear that I am thoughtless and do not understand Thai people. I have lived here 13 years and during that time I have met many Thais and have had many good times with them but their culture also makes them hypocrits and sometime liers. There was an occasion when a group I was with, consisting of 5 people, 3 of which were Thai, were playing cards and talking. One of the Thais was lying about some serious things he said and none of the Thais would challenge him. Yes, this is a small example but I have seen it on many occasions. It is the same thing with directions. Thais will almost never tell you they don't know. Better to give an incorrect answer than to say they don't know and, due to their culture, loose face. I think that you love Thailand because of the sex available to you. That is not bad but don't let it blind you to underlying facts about Thailand and its people.

But this treatise does not go nearly far enough. I agree the signers had little idea of the further ramifications of same but still one could hope for much more. Regardless we, the inhabitants of this century are the beneficiaries of their ideas. One can only hope for the future. Best regards, RA1

I'm confused. It's Thai government hospitals where the arguably new policy for dual pricing has been announced. (There are some government hospitals where this was already the practice (apparently), so for some it may be more of a codification of existing practice.) And I actually was also very careful to note that it is the government hospitals. ("I personally don't think dual pricing at Thai government hospitals is an attack." and "So I read the news about the change in pricing at government hospitals, . . . (emphasis added)). Really hard to be clearer than that. And the link that Martinsen had in his post also says government hospitals. Thai government hospitals. Thai taxpayer supported. So it's not really a completely different situation at all. Actually, I think it's exactly the same situation.

Very wise words, Divine Madman. I couldn’t agree more. One of the toughest life lessons is learning to see shades of grey. After you start seeing shades of grey, you realize that just about everything in life is shades of grey. I agree with you, DM. There is no conspiracy to make farang life in Thailand miserable. In fact, it just might possibly be true that, just maybe, it’s not actually about us. Strange idea, isn’t it, that other people exist, see things through the lens of their culture and experience, may not think the same as we do, may have other priorities besides our precious little selves. Oh, the humanity!

It's good to have an opinion. I am out of Thailand roughly four months a year. During the roughly eight months a year I'm here in Thailand I'm not here on short-term visa exemptions or similar. I have (rent) a condo. I'm subject to the same 90-Day and TM30 crap. I learn the language. Make friends with locals and travel around. Have fun. It's seems to me like I'm living here. I think if anyone is ever looking for a theme in my posts, it's that I issue with the comments like: Thailand is stupid. People in Thailand are stupid. People in Thailand are lazy. "Thai culture" is a problem (ahem, Martinsen). etc. I do not that because I am a paid promoter - although if TOT is reading this, I am available - but because I think those sorts of statements are incorrect. I also think that if we make the effort to understand different cultures, how things got to where they are, conflicting political or economic concerns, etc., it's just better and life becomes easier. I personally do not feel that the Thai government is constantly attacking me, even though I am subject the same rules as everybody else. I personally don't think dual pricing at Thai government hospitals is an attack. If I go to the UK I am not entitled to get the same free health care as Brits. I don't think that's an attack. Same same for Canada, etc. In a way this is a perfect example of the whole brouhaha. Someone says it's an "attack" on foreigners. But it's not. How many countries offer government subsidized health care to people who are not citizens or permanent residents? My guess is it's not a lot. So I read the news about the change in pricing at government hospitals, but, before crying foul, I thought, and thought some more, and did a little research, and came to the conclusion, ok, it's reasonable, I understand it. Sabai Sabai. There's really nothing I - or anyone else (with one possible exception) - can do if someone is stuck in a place he doesn't want to be because of his boyfriend's job. But, I can certainly point out that maybe there is a contrary view to the negativity when that is posted here. (The one exception of course is that very person.) I don't think endlessly dwelling on the negative is going to make anything better. And in fact I think the people who study happiness for a living might say it only makes it worse. So maybe we try to make the best of it. Take the energy devoted to fixating on the negative and make the effort to find things to like, make friends, study, do, etc. I'm still friends with people I met at school here when I was studying Thai. Staying in touch with them makes it fun here. I've taken cooking classes in the Klong Toey slums. Interesting and so much fun. And then there are the guys and massages.... It makes filing the 90-Day reports worthwhile. I know for a fact that it is possible to make the best of a horrible, arguably disgusting, situation, because there are guys here who will have sex with me and they seem to be ok with it. If they can put up with that, I can put up with anything. Shalom. I wish everyone happiness. DM

Kkkkkkk ... vid directed like a single handheld cam psychological horror thriller. "No, run! Don't go down those stairs!"

Good luck Michael and thank you for taking on what must be a considerable workload. Personally I enjoy reading this forum because of the civility and knowledge of the members, there is a lack of snide comments on here which I really can't stand and which appear on other forums.

Hilarious.

Thanks for the heads up. There are, I'm sure, now thousands of foreigners canceling their trips. Thankfully you, an honest farang, were there to call him out and expose his lies.