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In the end its all going to be about risk, because, to obviously varying degrees, we manage risk every day in almost everything we do, every time we get in a car, or on a plane, etc. Covid is with us now and will probably always pose some level of risk in the future, We manage risk of STD's in all our sexual interactions with the boys; some of us might take more precautions than others, but we still do it, and it doesn't prevent our holiday fun. We manage risk every time we try and walk across Second Road in Pattaya, for example. We accept a level of risk every time we take a taxi-bike whose driver wends his way at speed through the daily traffic jams along Beach Road. We are in a situation now with Covid where governments are, understandably, managing risks for us, but those restrictions will eventually ease, and then it will be up to us?

Now you know how we feel

The gay boys of Africa are on twitter smashing up a storm. Nigeria (which is un-visitable) has orgies of guys in sessions. The gambia is full of boys for hire. They call them 'beach bums'

This sauna has all the usual facilities, including a video room with comfy seating and a dark room. Their cabins are notable for being almost hotel-like. But it also has a full-fledged cabaret-style nightclub in it, as well as a more chill bar and an outdoor bar area as well. A lot of tops come here; the escorts are in special towels for efficient cruising. R. Cândido Mendes, 117 | 21 2252-0160 | http://www.netgay.com.br/saunas/club117.htm https://www.gayguides.com/listing/club-117/

Compared to the other apps, Grindr is so expensive. What gives? I think nearly 250 USD for a year of premium and that is often 5 times that of other apps.

An interesting article about the background to the current state of affairs in Myanmar: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/02/world/asia/myanmar-coup-aung-san-suu-kyi.html?smid=em-share

My sense is that if you need 343 pages with countless references the answer remains: don’t know. Which is good for the married men ... can keep their wives off-balance.

Most days I chat to a couple of other BMs here (and some of the boys as well) and invariably we sooner or later return to the topic of when we are likely to be able to return to Pattaya, some days we feel more optimistic, other days more pessimistic about our chances, depending on both our moods and latest revelations on infection numbers. Its all pretty futile at the moment as there are so many different things in play both at home and abroad that affect our chances. All have to fall into place to enable us to travel. The first major consideration for my Irish friend and I are vaccines. I am lucky in that I have now had both my shots (AZ), but he is still waiting for his first. Second our UK government currently forbids foreign holiday travel, but if our 'road map' is not blown off course, that particular restriction is due to be relaxed in a few weeks time, but there will probably still be a traffic light system of those countries considered safe to travel to - green being ok, but red for those countries where quarantine measures would be applied on our return home (bit more complex than that). Third our chosen country has to be prepared to let us in, all be it with their own quarantine regulations and other requirements. Currently Thailand is not doing well with either Covid numbers or vaccine roll-out. Fourth, there have to be flights available to us. And so we slowly build our own little road-maps back into Thailand as options become available to consider, but obviously all too aware that resurgences at home or abroad could set all that back months. So personally I still hope for October, but ............. ?

Great updates, more plz

As an aside, I'm surprised - and I hinted at this in an earlier post- that most of the recommended restaurants aren't Thai. Is this a fair reflection of falang taste? For me, the prospect of Thai food- both the sophisticated and that on offer at basic restaurants- is one of the things I look forward to most. And miss now!

Will Summer Happen? No.

I got the Pfizer. I pfeel pfantastic! No pfucking side effects! Consider it a gift from Pfauchi! So ready to pface the summer now!! (Just trying to make you smile! You did make some good points!)

The Copacabana Sauna is open nice and early at 10am if you just want to chill in the sauna for a while or get a massage; go after 6pm if you want a bit more action. Note that there are no escorts here, although there is plenty of action from a wide variety of men, looks-wise and age-wise. Rua Dias da Rocha, 83 | 21 2235-5563 |https://saunacopacabana.com.br/ https://www.facebook.com/saunacopacabanarj/ https://www.gayguides.com/listing/copacabana-sauna/

Rio G has modern, immaculate facilities decorated with red accents, and there are professional-level spa services (where a facial is an actual facial) as well as the whole dark room/porn room/cruising action you'd expect. Get a tantric massage for a unique experience. https://www.gayguides.com/listing/rio-g-spa/ Rua Teixeira de Mello, 16 | 21 2523-5092 | http://www.riogspa.com.br/

I will look into it today. Thank you.

Bf likes Nara at T21.

Although I have not been to Phuket for some years, I used to go to the island almost annually. By far my favourite restaurant is Baan Rim Pa. It is nestled on top of a small cliff close to the north end of Patong. The setting is exceptional with great views over the sea to the sunsets. There are no windows as such and so it is open to the evening breeze. In at least a dozen visits I have never once had any dish I did not love. Baan Rim Pa should have been wiped out by the tsunami because the waves crashed over the waterfront road just 30 meters away and into the apartments across the road. But it was just high enough off to escape any damage. Getting there is easy. Just take the coast road north at Patong Beach. Turn left at the end as if going towards Kamala Beach. Immediately there is a small incline. The restaurant is on the left at the top. Across the road is the original Novotel on Phuket. Photos from Baan Rim Pa website https://www.baanrimpa.com/thai-restaurant-kalim/

I discussed a vacation in Cuba about 3 years ago with 3 different, experienced travellers to Cuba. 2 of them were European and 1 was Cuban working as a model in Spain. All said Cuba was now not what it was (with the economic difficulties etc) and all the young handsome gay guys had managed to get sponsorship to leave.

Yes, IMHO, this was a complete scam. However, I did not think twice about paying and causing a scene. This is not my country and I was in an area that was hard to get to and out of. Just an all around bad situation.

Delete ... sorry I must be back my old terrible habit of hitting Quote when I meant to click Edit ... edit used to be at the bottom of the field. AFAIK, the impulsive false step is irreversible once clicked. That is why some of my posts look like full quotes, I guess. Let’s consider it rehearsal for driving you all insane to the point where there will be no getting around reducing the two Latin American sections to one. ;<)

Baker Boys I came across this trailer. Not a BL, not sure what it is, mystery/crime? At least partially gay, with Singto Prachaya as Weir interested in his boss... Funny comments on Youtube about Singto's role, "Honestly, the biggest inside joke in GMMtv is Singto being cast in roles where he can cook knowing full well Singto cannot cook to save his life"

I give 999/10 stars for A Tale of 1000 Stars! I have to deduct 1 star because I suffered too much when Tiens parents made him study in the USA. I would have preferred him ignoring his parents pressure and directly going back to the mountains. According to the internet in the novel he didnt go to the USA but finished his engineering studies in BKK and then went back to Pupha. A few more kissing scenes would have be appreciated. Definitely competing for the title of best Thai BL 2021!!!

New Year in Fortaleza: And a Muted New Year to Everyone! I had no expectation whatsoever about any business-as-usual New Year’s celebration in Brazil. That is not why I went here in the first place. The pandemic is still very much raging, and I wouldn’t think there would be any place in the world (that accepts Americans) that would have a full-blown New Year’s celebration. So my expectations were to not to go to any parties, to not see fireworks, and not to see a lot of people comingling. But the point of me coming was to spend time with the BF, which takes the sting out of the lack of any celebrations here. As we got close to the date of my arrival to Brazil, we have been going back and forth as to where to spend the turn of the New Year. We ruled out Rio and Sao Paulo, as both cities were proactive in letting everyone early know that (a) they were taking this pandemic seriously and (b) no celebrations were to be had. So we were stuck with choices in the Northeast, and in the end, there was no place like home, and Fortaleza won out. I decided to splurge and I had us stay at the Holiday Inn Fortaleza. It was definitely more upscale than staying at an AirBNB, its across the street from Praia Iracema, and with its nice restaurant and bar and other first world creature comforts, we can celebrate the New Year in some style. Lucky for me as well, I was able to redeem those accumulated IHG points that have been left unspent during the pandemic. They usually come in handy when staying in Sao Paulo at the Intercontinental Hotel there. But in Fortaleza, the points definitely work as well: Upon arriving at the hotel, Paulo immediately whips out the cellphone and takes selfies, around the hotel sign: The hotel was decked out for the holidays, and the room we got was spacious and faced the beach. The buffet breakfast was a nice treat to have every morning, with a shit ton of breakfast items, combining American and Brazilian food. I looked forward to it everyday. And the premises were pretty nice as well, with a chill pool to hang out with. Again, Paulo took advantage of the nice surroundings and took many photos by the pool: I filmed him doing backflips and such by the pool. It was going great until he somehow hurt himself with all his exertions. It wasn’t serious or anything but the next day he felt some backpain. We go to the pharmacy to get him some pain relievers. I suggest buying some BenGay, the fairly ubiquitous pain cream (in the USA) with Menthol and Methyl Salicylate. We were in luck that the drug store we went to had it. Although the name itself made Paulo laugh out loud. On the Uber drive home, he could not resist sharing this with the Uber driver. I guess BenGay sounded exactly like “Bem Gay”. It was trully, really gay. We ran into further bad luck, as the night before the eve, we see the barriers being installed by Praia Iracema, where traditionally the fireworks will be. I guess Fortaleza is choosing the safe way out, which is to also prohibit people going to the beach and the sand on the 31st, prohibiting fireworks, and all other parties for New Year’s Eve. I guess escaping Rio got us to the same type of restrictions here. Which was fine. A relatively quiet New Year’s celebration with just the two of us, is probably the best we can do. With the saunas closed on New Year’s Eve, and the beaches closed the whole day, our options were limited. Which is why choosing to staying at a hotel was a good idea. The gym hotel was still open, the pool was still open and hopping, and walking around Praia Iracema was also a good idea on this slightly cool day. It rained in the afternoon, and when the rain stopped, it was time for us to get some dinner. Paulo wanted to go to a restaurant close to the Holiday Inn that had the best picanha steaks in Fortaleza (his words). We walk there and there was a wait. The place was packed! But finally we get to a table. We immediately order some of the freshest cairpirinha de limaos I've ever had, to start the festivities: It was the first New Year’s eve that we were spending together, and we mostly spent the time over dinner, sharing stories about Eve’s past. Paulo is a wild child, and it was no surprise to me that his idea of celebration was both very wild and very drunk. We finally get our dinner and yes, the meat was pretty tasty: We were sitting close to the road side and he noticed a family of panhandlers begging for change next to us. Mom, Dad and baby. It was a firm reminder of where we were, Brazil, and with the pandemic, I am sure this panhandling has only worsened. Paulo, with a heart as big as his cock, hailed the waiter to come to us. He asked the waiter to cook a quick picanha dinner to go and to pack it up with utensils and napkins. 15 minutes later we got the plastic bag filled with the food. He looks at me and says “don’t worry, I am paying for this.” and gives the food to the beggars. They were very grateful obviously. Afterwards Paulo tells me that he is nothing but a GP and can’t do anything to change his country. But this, he can do. Afterwards, we walk back to the Holiday Inn. It was almost midnight so we decide to head over to the pool area, where there was a terrace where people can watch the beach and the (lack) of foreworks. There were some people there but I am sure this would be more crowded pre-pandemic: The clock strikes twelve, he gives me a chaste peck in the cheek (we were in public, in Fortaleza after all). There were some people milling the sidewalk by the beach, but there were a police presence to help avoid any agglomeration. There were no fireworks at first, but then we hear some fireworks by the beach, and the police quickly race to apprehend the people who were doing this. They were serious. After the turn, we decide to join the people walking by the sidewalk. There were advisories everywhere, reminding us that we can’t gather in huge numbers, and the people were constantly in the move and sitting down was generally frowned upon: Still, Brazilians do what Brazilians do. There were some who managed to take a Bluetooth speaker to blare celebratory music, and soon people were dancing. Some vendors were selling beers too, and very discreetly so police won’t be able to apprehend them. The police can’t be everywhere after all. We took advantage of this and a couple of cans of beers later, we were definitely were having a good time. We got home at 3 AM, after taking part of some dancing some walking, some laughing. This was a fairly muted way to spend New Year’s Eve, but it was fun regardless, and Paulo was game enough to lift my spirits up, as he is always wont to do. The next day, while getting some breakfast at the hotel, we see this scribbled on a mirror by the restaurant: It says: “Here comes 365 new opportunities. Make the most of the good things to come, embrace the challenges, and overcome the difficulties.” However horrible 2020 was, the promise of the New Year, and a new chance to start again, is usually enough to make one forget of what happened in that horrible year. Even if it only lasts for a day. Next… back in Rio.

what this is supposed to mean ? you are itching to go to Taiwan or for China to invade , please clarify

I'm always on the look out for good Thai restaurants in Pattaya. Somsakdi on Soi 1 is a very traditional Thai restaurant with a huge menu and generally very good food. For upmarket, I like the Avani hotel's Thai restaurant Sala Rim Nam - great setting in teak pavillions on lotus ponds. The set menus are good value and include dessert and coffee - if there are two of you, you can each have a different set menu and share everything Thai-style. The many German owned restaurants at the start of the Naklua Road just past the Dolphin roundabout, and in Naklua Soi 33, do the classic Thai dishes quite well, I particularly like Leckerle. If you're in need of western food the German set meals at these restaurants are great value, usually soup or salad, main, and desert or coffee for under 200B. In Jomtien, Surf Kitchen is a reliable and popular place for Thai food.

I've been to Sauna 1097 a few times, it was pretty rundown, but I love the less polished guys.

In the sauna, 100 is usually the rate...some may ask for more. I offer 150 to come back to my room, some 200...this is BRL

Here is some evidence of the quality of guys who are available in San Jose. This guy is currently advertising on craigslist (and these photos are posted publicly on his ad). He is asking for $100 USD for an hour. More expensive than the prices I mentioned, but then again, he is much more attractive than anyone I met on my previous trip, so I can see how he can command a higher price. I will update my report or write a new one when I have more current information.

So why do we need the vaccine again?

Not good news for Australians, I just hope they can get some successful vaccine travel bubbles going, I do miss having my hands (and other parts) on those smoking hot Thai bodies. ............................ A new report has warned that international travel for Australians is likely to remain restrictive until 2024. Deloitte Access Economics’ quarterly business outlook - printed prior to the Morrison government’s vaccination program being thrown into disarray late last week - expects international borders will re-open only gradually. For Australia, Deloitte economist Chris Richardson anticipates there will be some sort of quarantine remaining for incoming travellers for some time. “That keeps international travel - both inbound and outbound - pretty weak in 2022, and it may not return to pre-pandemic levels until 2024,” he said 2024 travel prediction