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Brazil Sep2020 General Observations Comparison to Germany (my fatherland) and Thailand (where I spend a lot of time) and elsewhere in Asia. The problem with going to so many places is that there is always something better or worse than elsewhere, and I want all the good in one place! Exchange rates: 1 EUR = 6.41 BRL (Brazilian real), 1 USD = 5.51 BRL, 1 BRL = 5.73 THB (25sep2020). Some of what I write is exaggerated for humorous effect. Originally published here: https://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2020/09/brazil-sep2020-general-observations.html This article will be published on Boytoy and Sawatdeenetwork as well. Cleanliness of public areas There was more garbage lying in the streets and more people going through garbage looking for recyclables than in Thailand. I frequently noticed smell of pee or poo in the streets (in Paris in 2012, there was smell of pee only under the Seine bridges, in Thailand I didn’t notice smell of pee or poo, in some areas in Berlin there is a lot of dog poo). On the other hand, I saw fewer rats and cockroaches than in Thailand. But there were pigeons picking in a heap of rubbish. Disgusting! More homeless people than anywhere else I have been, most notably in groups or families (with babies and adolescents); whereas in Thailand mostly isolated individuals, and those who live near my room in Bangkok, not sound of mind. There was graffiti everywhere, more than I have ever seen before. Graffiti, tattooing and piercing seem to be national pastimes. Covid In public transport and shops wearing a mask was compulsory, and most people wore their mask outside as well. Some places I wanted to go to closed for Covid. Temperature checks in some places, alcohol gel dispensers for hand disinfection in many places. Flight to Brazil and back My flights (Berlin via Paris to Sao Paulo with Air France, Rio de Janeiro via Amsterdam to Berlin with KLM) were at price (508 Euro return) and times as I think it would have been before Covid. Empty airports, no queues at check-in, security, passport control. Departure and arrival ahead of schedule. Full meal service on Air France, reduced service on KLM but still full meals. Brazilian immigration asked for my length of stay, so I showed my return flight. The flights Berlin to Paris and Amsterdam to Berlin were ¼ full, the flights Paris to Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to Amsterdam about 2/3 full. Side note: this was my first flight with Air France, my first flight with KLM, and my first flight across the Atlantic. My father asked what kind of airplane I flew with. I’m not familiar with the types, and it doesn’t make a difference to me, so all I can say is: it was a monoplane. (A joke, original in German: "Na so eins mit zwei Flügeln!" I have no interest in cars either, if someone asks me "What car did he drive?" - "I don't know. It was black. Oh, and it had four wheels!") Hold luggage would have cost 40 EUR extra each way. So I took only hand luggage and bought additional clothes in Brazil and did laundry. In the history of mankind, nobody has ever traveled that far with that little luggage. Food In Thailand I usually stay in hotels without breakfast, because I know Thai food and can get breakfast outside easily. But in Brazil, I would not want to start my day having to search for a place to eat and then decide what to eat. That applies to the rest of my meals, I stuck to food I know (pizza, pasta), or places with English menus as I’m not adventurous to try unknown food. Everything I had tasted good (whereas my memories of meals in Cambodia are negative) and was cheaper than in Germany, but more expensive than in Thailand. I’m sure knowing the local food will allow saving money. I spotted a lot of cheese and vine in the supermarket and assume they are regionally produced and cheap (whereas in Thailand imported and expensive). A lot of meat hanging in the butcher’s shop. I didn’t see any vegetarian restaurants (I have vegetarian friends who get along well in Thailand food-wise). Globalization When I was in Taiwan in 2018, I had a meal “Gyudon with 4 cheese” in a Japanese fast-food chain Sukiya that was delicious. By chance, I found the same chain Sukiya with the same dish at the same price and same taste in Bangkok, and now in Brazil! That seems to apply to ATM fees as well. In Cambodia the fee is 5 USD (I tried once to see if my credit card works as a back-up), in Myanmar 6 USD (ditto), in Thailand around 6 USD, and in Brazil Banco24horas showed 24 BRL = 4.5 USD. Same for entry prices worldwide: Eiffel tower 25.90 EUR; Sugarloaf 116 BRL = 19 EUR, Royal Palace in Bangkok 500 THB = 14 EUR. The variation of entry price is much lower than the variation of GDP per capita for the countries quoted. Health benefits Nowadays I can’t imagine how I could endure German autumn and winter for over 30 years, and one of the reasons why I went to Brazil was to escape the weather. I get cold hands and feet easily in Germany (all the time except in summer; a first-world problem). No part of my body feeling cold in Brazil, that alone was worth the trip. Update: my mother bought me a pair of furry slippers, at least I don’t have to suffer from cold feet now. In Germany, I get tinnitus (probably low blood circulation, related to cold hands and feet) that quickly goes away when I’m in Thailand. In Brazil as well! In Germany, I get dandruff and skin rash, but that quickly disappears in Thailand and Brazil. I think it’s because in Thailand and Brazil I shower every day and before and after sex, whereas in Germany only every other week. In Germany, I get athlete’s foot (from wearing closed shoes all the time, see cold feet above), that quickly goes away in Thailand in flip-flops (flip-flops save a lot of time anyway, except for hiking and travel in air-conditioned bus or airplane, I wear them all the time). In Brazil I didn't go to places where you have to take off your shoes (like temples in Thailand, I go to many and flip-flops are very convenient), so I didn't buy flip-flops, but next time I will. Blasphemy? In Germany, I gain weight (eat a lot, sedentary lifestyle); in Thailand, I lose weight (walk a lot). In Brazil, my weight was stable. The only negative is sunburn. After two days in Sao Paulo without sun protection, my skin was red and I covered up to avoid a sunburn. Health insurance I took “Hanse-Merkur Jahres-Auslands­Krankenversicherung” at a cost of 17 EUR (valid for one year, each trip maximum 56 days). I asked them for a document that states the exact requirements of Brazilian immigration and got it the following day. My health insurance was requested at check-in and at Brazilian immigration. Hotels All hotels I stayed in (SP Hotel Moncloa in Rua Augusta, RJ Hotel Atlântico Rio and Augusto's Copacabana Hotel, both near metro Cantagalo) had breakfast included and a room safe and were reasonably priced and I would recommend them. Hotel Atlântico Rio, booked for 80 BRL per night on agoda, was the best value for money I ever stayed in. They had a full breakfast buffet. Breakfast was busy with guests, always guests at reception or in lobby, and when I wanted to stay longer they were fully booked. Room safe was 6 digits which had to be entered twice (elsewhere 4 digits, enter once). Early check-in (8 or 10 am) was not a problem in the two hotels I arrived early. Booking at reception competitive with agoda in two cases I extended my stay. Different to Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, where receptionists told me they can't match the price on agoda and advised me to book on agoda to save money. Reduced breakfast (individually packed and served due to Covid and low number of guests) and full breakfast buffet. Language National language of Brazil is Portuguese, with little English spoken outside hotels for tourists. I can read French fluently as a foreign language, which allows me to understand half of written Portuguese (the laundry instructions in next article I understand completely). But understanding spoken Portuguese close to zero, same for writing or speaking. In preparation of the trip, I had a look at Portuguese phrasebooks and videos on youtube and spend some hours. But after a few days in Brazil it became clear that I will not spend extended time in the future and I abandoned learning Portuguese. German is spoken in Germany, Austria and most of Switzerland. English is spoken in UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Why oh why do there have to be Portuguese and Spanish? It’s a nuisance like driving on the left or right side of the road, or different power plugs in different parts of the world, and creates a mental block in my brain. Each language for itself is below the threshold worth of learning for me, but if they were one language I would learn it. Laundry I did not bring enough clothes for the entire trip. Washing my clothes in the bathroom sink was not convincing. Results could be improved by bringing a plug. Tip for drying: wrap clothes after washing in towel from hotel and wring it. Thus, the towel will absorb some water and the clothes will dry faster. Or use a hair dryer (during rainy season in Myanmar in 2018, that was the only way I could get my clothes dry). Laundry at my hotel was outrageously expensive (for trousers/pants wash and iron 28 BRL; that means for 6 times wash and iron I can buy a new one!). A friend told me that laundry is expensive, and numbers I saw at laundry services in the street where high and there is the language barrier, so I decided to use a public laundry. The closest (1 km away) to my hotel that I could find on google was Lavanderias Laundromat in Shopping dos Antiquários (open 24/7). Payment only cashless. I asked people, cannot pay with Riocard (whereas in Taiwan easycard can be used for everything), only with credit/debit card. My credit card (consorsbank Germany) is accepted! Else I would have had to ask other customers to pay cashless for me and give them cash in return; I was wearing my last set of fresh clothes. Washing was 18 BRL which is not cheap. And had I known that drying costs the same, I would have taken my clothes home to dry in my room. Detergent and softener added automatically by the washing machine. Thailand wins hands down (laundry available everywhere and cheap). In Myanmar I had similar problems (had to walk 1 km from my hotel to laundry service, not cheap compared to Thailand). Money exchange and ATMs 10sep2020. In GRU (Sao Paulo international airport), go to ATM Banco24Horas (red). A fee of 24 BRL is shown, followed by an offer for DCC (Dynamic Currency Conversion with a very unfavorable rate) which I decline. Afterwards error message and card ejected. Go to blue ATM24hs. A fee of 39.90 BRL is shown, followed by offer for DCC which I decline. Afterwards error message and card ejected. Both attempts were with comdirect visa card (bank account in Euro in Germany, bank offers worldwide cash withdrawal without fees which worked well in SEAsia). Go to money exchange booth (at least there I deal with people). Their exchange rate is 1 EUR = 5.44 BRL. But that does not include fees/taxes. For 100 EUR I get 520 BRL, a loss of 17% against xe.com 6.29, my worst money exchange ever. In SEAsia, I have it down to 0.5-1% loss against xe.com. In Frei Caneca shopping mall, try again at Banco24horas: communication failure. Try at bradesco: card declined. (Upon returning to Germany, I find that my comdirect credit card has been cancelled by my bank because there was fraud attempt two days before I went to Brazil. The first time such thing happened to me, and that explains why my card was rejected.) I have another visa card (consorsbank), Try at Banco24horas: communication failure. Try at bradesco, finally works and I get 1000 BRL from ATM. Processed at 1 EUR = 6.21 BRL, a loss of 2 % against xe.com 6.30. At money exchange (“Confidence Cambio” blue on white) in Frei Caneca shopping mall get 575 BRL for 100 EUR (a loss of 9% against xe.com). Both money exchanges did not have rates displayed, and it took the clerk at Confidence Cambio a while to calculate the effective rate (5.80 before, 5.75 after taxes/fees). In both exchanges, passport was required. 16sep2020. There is an ATM in my hotel lobby (Hotel Atlântico Rio near metro Cantagalo), how convenient! WRONG! This ATM offers up to 2200 BRL (others maximum 1000), I go for 1500 and decline DCC. Without any further communication, a fee of 193.89 BRL is shown and the transaction is processed. That is 11% of the withdrawn amount. Exchange rate was 6.14, a loss of 2% against xe.com 6.24. There is a small chance that DCC was displayed in a way that is misleading/confusing and I pushed the wrong button and accepted. The take-home message is: avoid ATMs in airports and hotels, and when DCC is offered, rather press “cancel” on the keyboard than on screen. For money exchange, SEAsia wins hands down over Brazil. People Brazil is a mixture of races like I have never seen before. There were White, Yellow, Red, Brown and Black; only an Eskimo would stick out of the crowd. That means everyone can blend in (whereas in SEAsia a White immediately sticks out as a foreigner). The downside is that everyone will approach you in Portuguese, and with mask they can’t see my helpless look because I don’t understand what they are saying. Everyone I met was nice to me and tried to help, with or without speaking a common language. Public transport I took buses or metro wherever possible. Riocard is useful as it can be used on various public transport. Metro in Rio is 5 BRL, bus 4.05 BRL per trip (high inflation, on the internet you still find outdated cheaper prices). I spotted these devices in the metro: rent a power bank, rent an umbrella, free condoms (size 52, too small for many of the dicks I saw in the saunas) Quarantine in Germany During my trip to Brazil, a 14-day-quarantine for people coming from risk areas was introduced. That does not affect me much, as I don’t work and spend most of the day home anyway. Now I have to keep a diary and measure my temperature twice per day, and health officers call me every day to ask how I’m feeling. Since my birth, I haven’t gotten that much attention! Safety My biggest concern was safety. Warnings and stories about muggings and robberies are plentiful on the internet, and this video From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4x23ie9hNc Thieves stealing a phone on a walkway in the centre of São Paulo look The speed of these Jan 24, 2017 To be on the safe side, I left my good mobile phone in room and took only my old phone (bought in 2016) outside. I left my main wallet with cards in my room and carried money on two places on my body (a habit I have been following for years, everywhere). The only thing I did not have backed-up was my camera. In SEAsia I carry it on my neck all the time. I got advice not to carry my camera around my neck, and I didn’t see anyone in Brazil carrying a camera around his neck, so I put mine in my pocket and took a second camera (bought in 2009, doesn’t work any more) as a decoy. Thank god I didn’t need any of these back-ups and decoys! While there are signs of increased safety measures (compared to Europe or SEAsia) like money transport cars look like tanks, presence of police in bulletproof vests and carrying rifles, most properties walled or fenced, with barbed wire / razor wire or electric fence on top, entrance via a (lock chamber? what would you call it in English? In German "Schleuse" like the lock (water navigation)); I never felt insecure (and I did plenty of walking around town SP and RJ at day or night). People I observed behaved just like anywhere else I have been (i.e. wear wristwatches, use their phone in public, carry backpacks or tote bags). On my first trip to Cambodia in 2014 I almost had my mobile phone stolen. I was standing at the road and holding it high and away from my body to get GPS when two men on a mocy drove past and tried to grab it but failed. Since then, I stand on a wall or on a post when using my phone in public. SIM-card Couldn’t find the TIM shop closest (by google maps) to my hotel. But I spotted Claro in Frei Caneca shopping mall. Go there and with help of google translate get a SIM-card (10 BRL for prepaid SIM-card and 40 BRL for 4 GB data within two weeks, the card will be valid for 3 months). Tap water I drank liters of tap water in SP and RJ without negative effect. Now I can add these to my long list of cities where I drank tap water (Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket; Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Pakse; Hanoi, Danang, Saigon; Yangon, Mandalay; Phnom Penh, Siem Reap; Taipei, Taizhong, Kaohsiung). Wile hiking in the mountains, I drank water from a stream. Uber I prefer walking and public transport over taxi. Everything under 5 km I rather walk, everything over 10 km I rather take public transport. I used uber only twice during two weeks. What I did not consider was that you either have to verify your identity with a CPF (individual taxpayer registry identification, which I don’t have) or submit your credit card information (my credit card was in my room, and the paper where I wrote down the numbers were in my room, and I don’t know them by heart), so my first trip I wanted to make failed and I had to walk. Weather/Climate Most of my trip, weather was great. Only my last days in Rio gave an outlook of what their next months will be: rainy. I didn’t have big plans, so staying in all day because it was raining all day was not a problem for me. Rainy season in Thailand usually one short and heavy downpour in the evening. But I had travel plans spoiled by rain in Thailand. Climate has a strong influence on my travel. With rainy and hot summers in SP and RJ, I rather go to SEAsia where it’s dry and cold (by local standards). Yellow fever No vaccination against yellow fever required for SP and RJ. I checked in Germany and it would cost me 160 EUR and I would have to go to Berlin to get a vaccination. A friend from the USA said it would cost him 450 USD there (doctors and the pharmaceutical industry are holding the entire USA hostage!), whereas in Brazil it’s free for everyone. In hindsight, I should have gotten a vaccination this trip (for possible future trips in Latin America), and will do next trip. Copyright 2020 ChristianPFC

From The Diplomat In January of 2020, Fang Tianyu, an employee of a state-owned company in China, moved home to the city of Chengdu because of COVID-19. Fang’s family had made it a point not to speak about her love life since she came out as lesbian two years prior, but quarantine at home changed that. “Since being in quarantine, my dad has had very serious quarrels with me almost every day about my girlfriend or marriage,” she told the authors. As a result of these arguments, Fang broke up with her girlfriend to search for a male partner. “If the pandemic had never happened and we hadn’t broken up, we would be celebrating our three year anniversary,” Fang said at the end of our interview. During quarantine, many people have experienced increased familial tension. However, Fang’s story depicts the unique pressure that members of the LGBTQ+ community have faced in returning home. In an August study, researchers noted that depression rates among British LGBTQ+ people have skyrocketed during quarantine. Not only that, but one in six respondents experienced an increase in homophobia and transphobia. This number doubled if said respondents were closeted. Homosexuality was decriminalized in China in 1997, but gay marriage remains illegal. The picture on trans and other queer rights is mixed. Censorship of LGBTQ+ themes in entertainment is common — but just last month an employee of an e-commerce firm successfully won a case against her employer who had discriminated against her on the basis of sex, specifically for being transgender. However, China is not a common law nation. Technically courts are not meant to interpret law and court precedent does not equal law, although the mechanics of this are vague. Because there are no clear protections against homophobia and transphobia in China’s employment protection legislation, the actual status of trans rights is still unclear, despite the court win. During COVID-19, existing problems have been compounded. The stigmatization of homosexuality in China has made it difficult for individuals living with HIV and AIDS to receive basic medical care. A recent report in the Southern Urban Daily describes one such situation. Shan is a homosexual man living with AIDS who had managed to keep his diagnosis a secret from his family. When Shan returned home for quarantine, he only brought medicine sufficient for a one-week stay and soon realized it wouldn’t be enough. “Hopeless, helpless, and waiting for death,” he responded when asked by Southern Urban Daily reporters to describe his situation. “Every route out of the village was locked, and the only place I could try my luck was at the clinic in the rural marketplace.” As dire as his circumstance was, he was still reluctant to speak about his situation with local doctors. He worried that even if he did, they still might not understand what type of medication he needed. In 2015, 82 percent of new HIV infections in adults age 18 to 24 occurred among what scientists call the “men having sex with men” (MSM) population. Statistics like this fuel the overwhelming social stigmatization of HIV as a “gay” disease. High new infection rates amongst the gay community combined with the perception that only gay people are affected by the disease make it difficult for people like Shan to be open about their diagnosis. A Family Struggle The first wave of COVID-19 in China coincided with the country’s largest annual holiday — the Lunar New Year — which added additional strain to an already precarious situation. Many young people returned home for the holidays and subsequently found themselves stranded away from urban centers when quarantine clamped down. This opened up many young people to be subjected to the tradition of xiangqin (相亲), in which parents arrange for their children to meet suitable marriage partners. Xiangqin creates a uniquely difficult pressure for LGBTQ+ youth, who must navigate either conforming to or resisting their parents’ expectation that they be in a heterosexual relationship. During COVID-19, existing problems have been compounded. The stigmatization of homosexuality in China has made it difficult for individuals living with HIV and AIDS to receive basic medical care. A recent report in the Southern Urban Daily describes one such situation. Shan is a homosexual man living with AIDS who had managed to keep his diagnosis a secret from his family. When Shan returned home for quarantine, he only brought medicine sufficient for a one-week stay and soon realized it wouldn’t be enough. “Hopeless, helpless, and waiting for death,” he responded when asked by Southern Urban Daily reporters to describe his situation. “Every route out of the village was locked, and the only place I could try my luck was at the clinic in the rural marketplace.” As dire as his circumstance was, he was still reluctant to speak about his situation with local doctors. He worried that even if he did, they still might not understand what type of medication he needed. In 2015, 82 percent of new HIV infections in adults age 18 to 24 occurred among what scientists call the “men having sex with men” (MSM) population. Statistics like this fuel the overwhelming social stigmatization of HIV as a “gay” disease. High new infection rates amongst the gay community combined with the perception that only gay people are affected by the disease make it difficult for people like Shan to be open about their diagnosis. The first wave of COVID-19 in China coincided with the country’s largest annual holiday — the Lunar New Year — which added additional strain to an already precarious situation. Many young people returned home for the holidays and subsequently found themselves stranded away from urban centers when quarantine clamped down. This opened up many young people to be subjected to the tradition of xiangqin (相亲), in which parents arrange for their children to meet suitable marriage partners. Xiangqin creates a uniquely difficult pressure for LGBTQ+ youth, who must navigate either conforming to or resisting their parents’ expectation that they be in a heterosexual relationship. Continues at https://thediplomat.com/2020/09/covid-19-is-further-disenfranchising-chinas-queer-youth/

I'm wary of reviews of hotels that claim that the reception staff are rude and unhelpful. Judging by the origins of such reports, I have the impression that that some of the complaints are the result of the visitor regarding him/herself to be of a higher class than the receptionist and demanding a level of servility that is inappropriate.

Lots of pizza and boys and farang.

If you are in Thailand and looking for a staycation, the rate now for the Queen's Park is 1010 baht per night. An amazing deal to see gay Bangkok and spend some time at a good hotel. I have stayed there and enjoy it!

Reading about gay Thailand on various forums and books and considering Bangkok's physical development, I suspect most who were around at that time would say the golden era was from the mid 1970s until the early 2000s when the Thaksin Social Order Campaigns started. But vinapu is right. We can only talk about golden eras when we ourselves experienced the country.

So true. Ive stayed in several 3-star hotels in out of the way locations, nice bedrooms with great staff and excellent food. I gave them 5 stars. I never expected them to be like the Mandarin Oriental or Ritz Carlton hotels. Similarly I have given a couple of top hotels I have been lucky enough to stay at 3 star reviews.

I'll AGREE....This debate is a disaster and BOTH men are an embarrassment to this country. Americans dont deserve EITHER of these buffoons.... Trump is a raging pitbull and Biden is rattled. Neither are qualified to run a bake sale, let alone a country OMG ! @stevenkesslar, even a tray of Cannoli's aint helping me tongiht.

From Thai Enquirer Government coalition rife with rumors about Thaksin comeback Following an audience that was granted by His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn to the ex-wife and children of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, speculation and paranoia has increased in the government about a possible return for the exiled prime minister. For the past six years, the government of Prayut Chan-ocha has tried to eradicate the complicated legacy of Thaksin. The Prayut administration has prosecuted Thaksin allies, rewritten history books to omit Thaksin and has accused the exiled prime minister of trying to topple the country’s revered monarchy system. However, an audience granted by his majesty the king to Thaksin’s ex-wife last week where she donated ambulances to Siriraj Hospital has the ruling government coalition running amok with rumors. Sources inside the Palang Pracharat and Democrat Party told Thai Enquirer that numerous theories have been floating around inside the cabinet and among senior members since the audience was granted. The conspiracy theories have ranged from the plausible, Thaksin might receive a royal pardon, to the incredible, Thaksin might force Pheu Thai to join the government coalition. While chances are the audience was just to receive a generous philanthropic gift, the rumors show that the government coalition are on a knife edge and feeling embattled after three months of pro-democracy protests. That is not to say that the opposition has been free of rumors. The audience has sparked as many rumors as well including students accusing Thaksin and Pheu Thai of abandoning their cause to join the establishment. ====================================================== From Khaosod English Pheu Thai Dismisses ‘Unity Gov’t’ Rumor in Wake of Sudarat’s Resignation BANGKOK — The caretaker of the Pheu Thai Party on Monday said the abrupt resignations of its leaders are strictly a tactical move and not a sign of a “takeover” by any individual. Pheu Thai Party acting chairman Chusak Sirinial said the departures of party leader Sompong Amornvivat and chief strategist Sudarat Keyuraphan, among several others, will open an opportunity for younger politicians to have bigger roles in party leadership. “The new generations will be given a chance in administering the party more than before,” Chusak said. “This will show that we listen to the voices of the new generations.” Chusak also discounted the speculations on social media that the resignations are part of a deal to form a “national unity government, and that Potjaman Pombejra, ex-wife of ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, would take over the party.

inacurate reviews not necessarily are fake, sometimes people are , like anddy said, professional complainers, others are opposite, look at everything with very rosy spectacles. Not knowing the person it's hard to assess usefulness of review

of course you are right, it's that same like with boys. Sometimes we feel lust based on picture somebody posted or one from website and when we , all salivating finally reach his bar we see boy in question , not even half as attractive as we imagined. On other hand , beside him is standing stunner, somehow never mentioned by anybody. Actors ranking is one by creator of that list , one can easily find similar rankings with other leaders and omissions , it's just for fun but also helps to select next BL series to watch, LOL. As for Bright they may be better looking guys but , based on various clips on YouTube, I like his personality so don't mind his lead still missing Tul / Knock / on the top of list.

if and when I read reviews (not that often, coz I don't care much what other anonymous people say, they may have totally different preferences than me) I read mostly between the lines which I find more revealing than what's actually written. By doing that you can try to get a feel for what kind of person it is, and thus how to evaluate his/her actual words. Sometimes I say to myself, "ah typical complainer, always finds something to bitch about" and can immediately discard the entire review, regardless of whatever facts the person may present. As for fake reviews on tripadvisor, I never never read reviews there. If at all, I read reviews on booking.com or agoda, as they can only be posted by real guests with real bookings and stays.

You mean you went on stage instead of him and he was sitting in the audience?

I think good sex is all in the head, so if your partner is not someone you would be very attracted to or turned on by, you’re less likely to think the sex is great. Or maybe that’s me! Some people are just wired to be (or maybe are trained or conditioned to be) sexually attracted to specific types, while others have broader sexual tastes. I can give examples from my Immediate social circle of wolves — one likes hairy, swarthy Mediterranean / Arab types; another is only into smooth twinks; another likes tall, dark, skinny basketball player types with huge dicks; another likes short, fire hydrant-height bottoms; another likes street trade with “character faces”; another wants them to look like a model fresh out of GQ Magazine; the last one wants to get fucked by anything with a huge dick, looks be damned! I prefer masculine, muscular men, dark or olive-skinned. Sometimes, my friends and I can overlap in what we like, but not that often. One of my friends told me that “I’m missing out on the good twinks”, yet I remain unmoved. I try to get him into one of my favorite guys, and he says “there’s nothing that a statue can do for me”. As one of my good friends likes to say, variety is the spice of life.

somebody should tell him that cemeteries are full of people impossible to be replaced. And it's always endearing when coup leader sings praises of obeying the laws

Have you actually read that article and the review posted by the man in question on Tripadvisor? Frankly, he is a total idiot. He wrote two reviews on Tripavisor one of which was taken down as contrary to the site's guidelines. He had basically defamed the hotels F&B manager. The one review that remains up reads like the ranting of moron. I have not read his google reviews. Anyone who marches into any hotel or restaurant expecting to drink their own liquor without some form of corkage payment and then makes an idiotic song and dance about it (it was only 500 baht for goodness sake) plus writes a string of abusive reviews full of vitriol that can be read publicly is a spoiled brat. The F&B manager actually waived the corkage to calm him down. But that was not going to stop this moron. In this particular case, Im glad he ended up in jail for a night or two. Had he had cash in his bank account or got some from his friends he could easily have avoided that. I also agree the hotel overreacted. But the idiot deserved it in this instance.

I’ve found this true during my recent stay. The guys I like are 150-200, and they have provided exceptional programs. I’m not into the too muscular guys, but I’ve had a couple this trip. In the sauna, their cost seems to be only marginally higher. But Online guys are a bit pricer. I offered a muscular black GP off of https://garotocomlocal.com.br/ $250 for an overnight here in Salvador. He told me that was his hourly rate. I read the message and never replied; he messaged me back an hour later saying he could do it for 400 which is still high for Salvador. I passed in favor of a 150. The second overnight program is almost always a lot less expensive than the first. One guys charged me 400 the first night then only 150 the second. I guess it all evens out. Prices really vary wildly based on the boy. To say your personal looks or attitude has nothing to do with how much you are charged is inaccurate. If the boy is truly “straight” then your looks will not matter but your attitude will. But really they are all about the dollar. But the gay boys I’ve had conversations with def change their price based on you! Some members here are wealthy and 150 vs 400 is of little consequence to them. I know some members on this forum must pay the highest amount because their attitudes suck! Lol And if their faces match, it might be scary lol. A small warning though before my trip I made a mistake of agreeing to a 400/night program with guy staying with me for 3 days while in Rio. I ended the agreement a day early and understandably the boy wanted his pay for all 3 days. We came to an amicable compromise but be careful of what you agree to. Just like you would want someone to hold up their end of a agreement the boys will as well.

Hello, Babybear: I have spent quite a bit of time all over Brazil over the last decade, and continue to do so. I’m a bit hesitant to delve again into pricing discussions here because oddly, some posters seem to equate the amount of money they pay for sex (whether it’s a smaller or a larger amount) with their self-worth or their physical attractiveness — and it has to do with neither of those things (It’s purely transactional. Stop. The End.) Nevertheless, regarding overnights with garotos de programa in Brazil, I will provide you with my personal experience and the experience of my travel partners (all of whom vary in physical appearance and personal tastes in men, but are in the same socioeconomic class in the USA and Europe): Asking prices for pernoite (overnights) can vary widely — depending on what Brazilian city you’re in, the demand of the garoto from other clients, how he looks and his self-perceived value. In general, the “guy next door types” / average guys / twinks will expect and cost less, while the Greek Gods / body boys / muscle guys : supermodels / “Beach Barbies” expect and ask for more. (I suspect that at least one of the garotos that quoted you the 800 - 1000 R range fit in the latter category — or at least perceived himself to be In it.) Also, consider that some garotos, due to family or other obligations, do not even like or want to do overnights, and consider pricing them simply on a time basis (by the hour, instead of pernoite), and thus, will charge accordingly. So again, it depends. I have seen or have been quoted overnight prices from anywhere from $200R to $2000R. Yes, I said $2000R. Now, I don’t know anyone who admitted to actually paying that amount out — I certainly did not — but that was the garoto’s quoted overnight price. A good rule of thumb is to follow the 80/20 rule. High 3 figures to 1000 reais in SP and RJ is not an unusual overnight asking price for a number of the “Greek God” types. Estimated about 10% will ask in this range. The lower range of around 200R or so from the average “guy next door” or “man on the street” types is probably around another 10%. But in the mid 3 figures (which would include your expected range of 400 R, but that’s usually a variable, not a hard and fast number), you should be able to happily secure an overnight with about 80 percent of the available garotos, which should include a wide range of looks and body types. (Prices are generally less in the North and NE regions of Brazil. It should not be shameful, insane, indentured servitude less, but slightly less due to cost of living differences.)

I have a little free time, so I’ll say a little about my adventures so far before I forget. I arrived in São Paulo on the 16th and stayed until the 21st. This trip was my first time at SP, and it’s very different than Rio. It’s a massive concrete jungle where the closest beach is an hour away. On my first day, I linked with @brockmiller, who is now my Brazilian travel BFF! We turned Lagao out every night!! We are both very friendly and welcoming people and not to mention massive sluts. Shoutout to everyone else who we hung out with or meet from BT! I don’t remember your user names, and I don’t want to say your real names here, but you all know who you are! Lagoa was decently busy every night and very busy on the weekend. The guys were prob 30% European white, 50% light mix, and 20% darker-skinned mixed. If the European look is your thing, then Lagao is the only sauna I’ve seen that would satisfy. The building was mostly open, everyone was naked, and no one except the building staff wore a mask. Only the actual wet sauna was closed. All other parts of the sauna were open. I enjoyed myself at Lagao, but it is expensive. I prob spent more than twice the amount I spent here in Salvador. But I did find out I was overpaying for programs. I was paying 400 for overnight and 200 for a regular program. A middle-aged black Paulista told me and @brockmillerthat there is NO REASON we should spend that amount for a program. In his words; we were too young and beautiful ever to pay that amount. He said at the very most, 250 for overnight and 100 for a program in SP. When I asked him about Salvador, he said 50 for the regular program and 150 for overnight. I’m here to report he was right! I have not been turned down for a single program using his rates. Being honest, I hooked up with many guys while in SP, and I only remember a few. Two intensely dark-skinned guys we will call Casa and Diego. Both vers and both 5star yep reviews. All others were forgettable or didn’t stand out from the pack. After São Paulo, Brock and I went to Rio, where the party continued. Rio was Rio... some good, some bad as always. 202 had a fair amount of guys working. Some new faces and many old faces had not returned. 117 was damn near empty, and none of the guys were to my liking. I only had one new guy in Rio, and that’s because @brockmillerforced me to have sex with him. In Rio, I had a few favs who entertained me for most of my stay. In particular, a 6’5 deeply dark guy who has done some porn had been working out heavily during COVID and had a nice new buff body. I enjoyed his new body and WAP for a few days. On a side note, one thing I don’t like as much about Rio is that many of the black guys only top. In SP, all of the black guys I was with except two were vers, and many here in Salvador are also vers. Maybe I’m not doing something right, but I know a few black guys who work at 202 who’s asses are calling to be fucked. I will tell you about my adventures in Salvador once I have a moment. Salvador is magical is so many different ways! I hope my spacing allows everyone an easy read this time.

From Bangkok Post Thailand eyes 50,000 foreign tourists in Q4, down 99.5% hailand is expected to have 50,000 foreign tourists in the fourth quarter of 2020, down 99.5% from a year earlier, an industry body said on Wednesday, as the country tries to support its battered economy by gradually reopening to visitors. Foreign tourist receipts are seen at 4.5 billion baht in the quarter, down 99% year-on-year, Chairat Trirattanajarasporn, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, told a briefing. The council predicts 6.74 million foreign tourists this year, down 83% from a year earlier, after a record 39.8 million visitors last year, he said. Next year's outlook remains uncertain, Mr Chairat said, although the official tourism agency predicts 20 million foreign tourist in 2021. "If there is no vaccine and we still have a 14-day quarantine, I expect only hundreds of thousands of tourists next year," he said.

Panorama now closed on Mondays. Boyztown (Pattayaland soi 3) very dark on Monday nights.

Because none of the boys at Jupiter are gay I guess.