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Pattaya, turned out to be great for me. Just paying an attention to close environment was fruitful as, I landed really good guy from one of massage shops just by Agate, my hotel. 2 massages and 2 LT's in 3 days says a bit ! Generosity seems to pay off as I upped his requested 1st night tip and second one was almost bordering on exhausting and it was not only me who noted it. Professional behavior too, no stupid tears on departure just kiss, embrace and hand shake. Agate was almost empty like most hotels those days but at lease, was opened and I landed nice room for relatively peanuts. Great French bakery on the corner opposite Soda massage. Sunee was dead zone but even in the afternoon arrond 5 there was some life and if pressed even I would find 1 or 2 to take with me for a stroll or something. Skinny for my taste and more mid than low 20 ties but this is what I look for anyways so hope is there. Boyztwn is disaster zone with only Scandic opened if only to carry the torch, one or 3 hunks there but I skipped this part. ALT Heidelberg closed but not boarded, Berliner Cafe opened and few money exhnagers opened had actually better rate for euros 37.70 and more than world famous booths by train station in the basement of Swampy 37.30. But generally one in need to change currency needs to look for one opened as 2/3 of booths in both Pattaya and Bangkok are closed. What is, interesting thought, ones survived are those which offered better rates which if you think about this, makes sense. More traffic more chance to survive. Walking Street is 93.5 disaster zone but 6.5 is enough for few tourists wandering Pattaya streets right now. Bars not opened but winks and whispers are. Disaster time, like in Bangkok was not wasted by some. Some premises are not boarded but spruced, renovated and spiffied, sometimes for other than original purpose. So old saying : "never waster good crisis" was, taken by some seriously. From Dec 15 on frequency of Jomtien airport bus is increased by 1 to 7 a day if I recall so again that is good sign. Bus full both ways. As mentioned Swampy exchange counters are operating but only 3 or 4 of previous 8 or 10. Airport mid day yesterday was quite empty but not completely empty, another good sign considering size of arrival hall. Stores are opened as before and ever good hearted I upported 7/11 by buying coffee and purchasing soap spending money as it is no tomorrow. Flight to Chiang Mai was I think completely full, nice view of country from above. In the airport I did not bother with economizing on busses or tuk tuks and went with flat rate taxis. There are 2 companies with booths beside each other offering 150 rate but this seem to be to Old city. Since I,m staying bit further I was, quoted 200. Since I, m close to Adam's Apple I passed by but that is, another piece of history as bar is closed and place up for sale. But view from room, I think bigger then my apartment is excellent, air is crisp, banana pancake can be had for 30, street food abounds and city walkable. Being here for 1st time I ventured out actually after dark as I arrived late and easily found my way there and back. First impression is 7/11 are less ubiquitous than in Bangkok and Pattaya but adds on apps are deceitful and photos hopped all the same. Temple sightseeing started with Classic House massage. Will return to report more as first sample may be inconclusive, all the same like room visit from Romeo. I try not to jump into conclusions after just 1 statistic sample. Sleeping alone but with wide opened both windows was very pleasant though, will repeat tonight unless something happens, one ever knows.

Post 2 - Bangkok report My trip was broken into 5/6 days staying in each of Bangkok - Phuket - Pattaya - Phuket - Bangkok. As explained in the previous post I'll give a report of each location rather than a chronological order of the trip, so this post will be about my Bangkok experiences. Daytime activities During the day I like to do a lot of walking. General plan is there is no plan. Went exploring and got lost, have a coffee, move on see where the wind takes me. I couldn't access lumphini park, the entrances I found were all closed but I saw people in there so there must have an entrance I couldn't find. Visited the Ari area, the riverside area and took 2 boat trips. To enter the malls had to scan temperature each time. Generally each day ended up with a massage from one of the establishments on either the surawong or silom roads. I didnt get to any of the more upmarket gay massage places this time, mainly through being otherwise occupied rather than choice. Bars/Nightlife I should point out that food was available in all the establishments I visited. The place to be was Silom Soi 4. The place was buzzing, even on week nights. When I visited at the weekend I couldn't get a seat either at the new Circus bar or Balcony bar so ventured on those nights to a quieter cozy bar at the end of the soi where I got a seat (and happily chatted to some handsome waiters). The Circus bar seemed to be in the in place to be and when meeting up with some local guys this was the bar of choice where they would like to meet for a drink. I frequented the Pride bar (seemed to be more local Thai oriented - maybe because of the live singer - but just my impression) and visited Connections bar where I was warmly welcomed by the Australian owner and his boyfriend. In my first Bangkok stint I mainly frequented Balcony, Circus and Connections but I'd have no hesitation in supporting any of the bars on this soi and would be happy drinking in them all. Closing time most nights was either 11pm or 12 pm and earlier in the trip on some days alcohol could not be purchased after 9pm or 10pm. I don't know what rules are/were, and would simply follow the flow and directions of the staff. Soi 2 - I visited the DJ station complex a couple of times and the bar opposite as it had opened up during my visit. There were times where I was the only foreigner there and I didn't get to chat to anyone. I still enjoyed visiting though. I think they closed at midnight. Patpong area - This was very quiet and dark. There was one gogo bar open and this changed to three on my return. I did visit one of the gogo bars open (full street clothes only) which I won't name because I didn't enjoy the experience. The tout told me a drink was 250 bht only to be given a bill for 450 bht. I'm not tight, but that left a sour taste so I finished my drink, payed my bill and didn't return. Maybe it was just some confusion. I hope that post covid this area can get back in full swing again. Jupiter 2018 - This turned out to be the highlight of my trip. It had opened up on my second visit. Unfortunately for the bar there were very few customers but fortunately for me it meant much more interaction with the staff. About 8-10 models each night with a rotating live singer and catwalk format for the evening. About 15 minutes each rotation. Drink price was 170 thb for a beer and no entry fee - expect this to change when the shows return. Because they were very welcoming and had reasonable drink prices I was happy to open up and spend. The mamasans/captains here are not pushy and I found them very friendly. I got acquainted with a few of the guys there strutting the catwalk where some of them were happy to come back to the hotel after the bar had closed on various evenings to discuss the climate crisis. Hotels I stayed in Trinity Silom (one night only), Crowne Plaza and Quarter Silom. Crowne Plaza without a doubt turned out to be the best value for money for me and I enjoyed staying here. It was very cheap at average price of about 1400 thb through the Agoda app. For my stay at Quarter Silom Soi 6 and paid an average of 750thb. In normal times I would stay at the quarter again, but, for a brand new hotel I was surprised at a couple of things. Firstly the bathroom and part of the room flooded when taking a shower (could be avoided if holding the shower head and carefully angling away), only two bath towels provided (not hand towels) and a lack of storage space. For a city centre hotel I would stay here again but in my opinion there are much better value options during the present time with many good quality hotels heavily discounted (purely my opinion of course and we are all different and I guess my view was tainted as i had been spoiled with high end hotels in other parts of the trip). Restaurants Many options in Silom Soi 4 but don't expect anything fancy. I had good meals in Gs, Pride and Balcony. I also visited some more upmarket restaurants and was taken to a fancy Italian restaurant on Witthaya Road (can't remember all the names sorry...) Two restaurants visited on Sukhumvit soi 11 - Hemingway's for Sunday lunch (nice roast) and Oskar for dinner. Guys Ive already mentioned my acquaintances at Jupiter. Everything else was via the apps. When I first arrived was bombarded with many offers from mostly Cambodian guys looking for some tips and got to know a few of them. What did surprise me was how many local and other expat asian guys there were interested in meeting up for free. It just needed a little patience and spectrum ranged from 21 year old twinky students to 35 year old very handsome muscle guys which wouldn't look out of place at some of the model bars and a few older gents too. Would you believe I even had one very attractive 25 hiso guy take me out to dinner picking me up in his BMW!! I couldn't believe my luck - he was just sexually attracted to older white guys. Back to our friends looking for some support I noticed more isaan boys on the apps for the second Bangkok stint where I became acquainted with a few of them - hopefully a sign many are starting to return back to the cities. Transport Mainly walking. I used the BTS and when needing to take a taxi I used the bolt app. The bolt app ended up being the best and cheapest taxi app. Overall, with the exception of Patpong being closed, and with some adjustment elsewhere there was much on offer in Bangkok.

Go for a fast track opton. My hotel did not mention there was a fast track option when I booked. I only discovered it was available on a call with the conceirge. 4 hours guaranteed. All going well Bangkok Guy and I will meet over a late lunch. I agree with Vaughn that the Le Meridian is a great AUNT-free option.

I’m staying at the Le Meridian in January. They told me 10-12 hours for results without fast track. With fast package (1700 baht) they say 6 hours. I’m not arriving till midnight so 12 hours is perfect.

So sun is shining again

Jomtiem Complex bars are open again now. There was a meeting of bar owners today.

We can only hope thing return to more normal in few days. Certainly bar closures don,t eliminate availability of suitable companions. I landed great guy in one of massage places just by making preemptive move by pressing 100 baht in his hand while passing by. Next time I walked by in our ot two interest in me was guaranteed and we had no less then 4 exhaustive session of checking my banknote collection then I started to wonder if I,m not too old to be such avid collector. Bottom line, while bars are closed, entertainment is not. I agree with z909 sentiment the police movements seem to be discriminatory but as other posted noted, this is how Thai system works and is not up To us to repair it. We can only report.

After reading so many trip reports on here I thought it was time I contributed back as I've just finished a 4 week stay in Thailand. I'm afraid it won't be as good as many of the excellent reports on here but Ill do my best. My trip consisted of Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya. All of my hotels were booked through Agoda and I had great deals in all 3 cities through the app. I'll break it down in to 5 posts in this thread but it might take me a while to get all the posts up as I'm still playing catch up with work. Post 1 will be general planning/entry into the country, Post 2 Bangkok report, Post 3 Phuket report, Post 4 Pattaya report and Post 5 general observations (including info on internal flights). So here goes Post 1... My trip planning started on 1st November when the Thailand pass become live. I realised there were going to be many hurdles to overcome but I was determined after a 2 year break from the country. I juggled about whether to book the flight first or apply for the pass first, in the end I applied for the pass and kept fingers crossed it would be approved. The preparation took me quite a few hours because it was a nightmare trying to understand how to convert all the documents into jpg (something that I don't think is required now with later modifications). It took 3 days for my pass to be approved and 5 days later with pass in hand I was finally on a plane again to Thailand. Arrival into Bangkok Arrived 8 am and Suvarnabhumi airport was very well organised. As soon as I left the plane and turned right there were plastic chairs in the corridor. We asked to move along to the first available vacant chair. The chairs seemed to be in batches of about 30. This was first 'provisional' check of documents where a team swept through and checked we had the correct documents and asked us to put them in a particular order ready for the official check. This took only about 5 minutes but once our batch of people had been checked we were then asked to move forward to the Thailand Pass desk for the official check. They checked the pass and also wanted to the plane seat number (squeaky bum time because the plane I was on was full). Everything ok, took literally less than a minute and then on to immigration. Immigration was brilliant - no queues and all barriers removed - I walked straight up to a desk. Got my 30 day stamp, picked up my luggage and then into the arrivals hall where we were greeted with all the hotel reps and looked for the Trinity Silom sign form my 24 hour incarceration. I was put in a van on my own which I previously requested by email. I think from leaving the plane to getting into the van took 15 - 20 minutes. It felt good to be in Thailand again but apprehensive of getting over the quarantine hurdle. Quarantine I was take into the basement of the hotel and immediately had a swab for the PCR. It was about 10 am and asked how the long the result would take and they told me tomorrow morning. It was a bit nerve wracking thinking of the 'what ifs' but a shower and then some sleep. About 12 noon some lunch delivered outside the door and then to my surprise at 1pm (just 3 hours after arrival) the phone rang. Sir we have your results... and we have to inform you (gulp)... it is negative so you are free to check out when you want. I didn't want to stay in prison any longer than necessary so I immediately got onto Agoda and got a great deal at another hotel. I checked out, was given a copy of the PCR negative result and lateral flow test which I was told just for me to check after 7 days, no mention of reporting the result or about any apps. After checking out of the quarantine hotel I headed into the Bangkok streets for the adventure...

I went to 117 last night. While they did have signs posted saying that you are required to show proof of vaccination, no one asked me for proof. Inside only a few clients wore masks and none of the boys did (I did not). It felt like nothing had changed since I was last here almost 2 years ago except for the GP’s who were there last night. It was crowded as it always is on Tuesdays but there were very few guys who were my type (really handsome lightly muscled to heavy muscled). I was disappointed that only one of the regulars from my last few visits before Covid was there last night. I had let him know I was coming. I only did one program with him and a friend of his (an American football player type build kind of guy who was a great kisser). There used to be so many cute regulars that I enjoyed but my friend told me he has not seen them at the clubs since Covid. I am trying to decide if I will go back to 117 tonight or give 202 a try. I have been to 202 a couple of times before years ago but had no luck. Maybe I will give it a try tonight. My hotel in Centro seems the same except due to Covid they don’t stock the mini bar in room. I don’t know how that corresponds to Covid but whatever. I usually convert my money at the airport (I know I shouldn’t but it is so convenient) but my flights were delayed so I had to race through GRU to catch my connecting flight to Rio, so I did not have time to exchange my cash. Santos Dumont (my final destination) does not have a currency exchange. Now I have to figure out how to find a currency exchange somewhere Centro within walking distance of my hotel. I will check with the front desk when I go down for breakfast.

I will miss “Humpalong.”

Hotel: Glo Hotel Sukhumvit 5 Plane landed 2230 on Nov 30 Tested next day at 0930 Result at 1930 Two people, Two tests, two results. Stayed the extra night at no cost. Food: Disgusting. Cost: $312 Canadian or about 8000 Baht via Agoda I think we could have done a lot better.

The 1700 is just the add on price for the fast track. Package starts at 6300 without fast track.

Continuing my updates, yesterday's 14. 00 pm airport bus to Pattaya was full so if you are planning to use it, perhaps don't count on last minute seat. Instead of always we'll represented graying and balding, at times bit shaky, single white men, good portion of passengers were girls returning to work I suppose. So that could be good sign. Other forum member z909 gentlemanly mentioned in his post was me. I will see how Complex situation will look tonight, but as he said bars were chasing customers away due to police presence. But massages were opened and there were some lookers there, I couldn' t stop myself from forcing 100 on one of them just for look, but also in view of the future. As for apps I must say it was a bit shocking when after installing Grindr messages and pictures started coming immediately to a degree that at one point I just stop even looking at them. Whether what was, presented was of any interest is another question but certainly traffic is there. Nice weather too with another crispy morning.

From The Thaiger Bangkok’s Train Night Market Ratchada is now returns with a new location and new name, but still with the same vendors with a wide variety of stalls including street food, clothes and accessories, furniture, vintage items, handcrafts. The market, now called JODD Fairs, is near CentralPlaza Grand Rama 9. The new spacious area has open-air bars to hang out and more “Instagrammable” spots. The market is located behind Central’s building, just drop at Rama 9 MRT Station Exit. 2 and work through the shopping mall to the market. The market is open everyday from 11am until midnight. Find more information via their Facebook page JODD FAIRS : จ๊อดแฟร์ https://thethaiger.com/news/bangkok/bangkoks-train-night-market-ratchada-opens-in-a-new-location-under-new-name

It was supposed to be Jun 2020 trip but Thailand did not let us in, then I tried my luck for October this year but canceled it. When Thai Pass came to an effect I decided to finally utilize that prehistoric ticket I bought back on Dec 3, 2019 for Jun 2020. And here I'm, feeling like chewing gum after 27 hrs trek, locked in my hotel room, waiting for a nurse to come and take my sample for dreaded PCR test. First time took Swiss and must say that their good reputation is well deserved, massive Boeing 777 plane was surprisingly full with plenty of mixed Thai-Caucasian couples prominently visible in statistic sample and a lot of young people. Few nice surprises on arrival. Thai bashers will be disappointed to hear that admission process was extremely efficiently conducted, well organized and well staffed. In reality they want to see your passport, Thai Pass QR code, immigration T6 form or whatever it'called AND YOUR BOARDING PASS FROM LEG BRINGING YOU TO THAILAND, somewhat unexpected. At 6 am weather extremely pleasant, perhaps no more than balmy 23,even now at 9.30 I' m sitting in my room with balcony door wide opened, AC turned off and all that in the room actually facing the sun. Traffic was also light, Sunday morning has it' s charms. Dtac booth selling Sim cards was opened, just past luggage belts and I noticed 1 exchange booth open but rates were kind disappointing so I did not change money there. Somebody reported messy and disorganized taxi procedure but it was not my experience,as you leave customs area there tables with names of participating hotels and somebody will lead you to your car from there. I must say I need to bite my tongue not to ask my hotel representative if he would be interested in LT since he will be right in place on the Moonlight stage. That is it for now, I will try to update you guys but test, results and well deserved rest first before I even venture anywhere from my temporary and quite pleasant confinement.

A Supreme Court judge in Brazil has ruled that foreign visitors will need to provide a Covid-19 vaccination certificate to enter the country. The ruling invalidates regulations issued previously by the national health agency demanding only a negative PCR test for foreign arrivals. The judge said it would be impossible to check all visitors and prevent the spread of the new Omicron variant. Lenient measures had made the country popular among non-vaccinated tourists. The ruling is seen as another defeat for President Jair Bolsonaro, who has repeatedly undermined efforts to control the spread of the virus in one of the world's hardest-hit countries by the pandemic. The president, who says he has not been vaccinated, had denied requests of the health agency Anvisa to demand vaccination proof from visitors. Judge Luís Roberto Barroso said exceptions would be made for those coming from countries that had been unable to vaccinate most of their populations. They will need to quarantine on arrival for five days. It is not yet clear when the new requirements will be introduced. The announcement comes ahead of the country's busy summer season, with cities hosting popular New Year's Eve parties and Carnival parades. But several celebrations have already been cancelled because of the Omicron variant. In Rio de Janeiro, the famous fireworks display at Copacabana beach on 31 December has been called off for the second year in a row. Since the start of the pandemic, Brazil has reported 22 million Covid-19 infections and 616,000 deaths. About 65% of the population has been fully vaccinated. The country has confirmed four cases of the new Omicron variant. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-59625304

was it typo by any chance? If not it sounds incredibly cheap.

If you're looking at options it might be worth considering the current Le Meridien deal: https://www.marriott.com/offers/step-into-thailand-in-style-off-34608?propertycode=bkkdm They say that they do a drive-through test at the BNH hospital on the way to the hotel, so i would imagine that would significantly improve the turn around time. I stayed there for my last BKK trip and loved the hotel, no AUNTS in sight.

It took me exactly 7 days (including the weekend) for my Thai Pass application to be approved. Since I live in a state where there is no such a thing yet as QR code for COVID vaccine certificate (yes we dont participate in CDC's VAMS system if anyone wonders), I just submitted screen shots of my CDC white card vaccine certificate. everything on the card is handwritten except stickers of the vaccines' lot/batch number. Regarding the health insurance, I just used my current local one.. i thought i'd just wait and see what happened since i still had a little more than two weeks before my trip. That time, i didnt realize that we needed a dedicated confirmation letter from a hotel for our one night quarantine stay. so i just submitted a screen shot of my booking confirmation from agoda site. It took me about only 10 min or so on my little phone screen and i got the confirmation email immediately with the receipt number. My anxiety kicked in after 3 days or so ... then I decided to submit another application with more prepared documents including a confirmation letter from Furama Silom for the test and go program. My first application was submitted around 2 pm EST on a Monday and when the status said still "Reviewing" on Sunday night (Monday morning BKK time), I started making phone calls to the numbers listed on Thai Pass site using Skype. The first question I was asked was my intended departure date. then I was told that i still had more than one week, and it could have been the reason I was told. The staff was quite helpful and she gathered my info including passport number, thai pass application receipt number and my email address etc. Then she said he was going to forward my information to "the officer". I also explained to her there's no way that i could get QR code for my COVID vaccine certificate, also asked her if i would need a Thai insurance plan. She said as long as i have a health insurance that would cover COVID related expenses, I wouldnt need to buy another one. But she urged me to submit another application if i wanted to. So, I decided to submit my third application after I talked to her on Sunday night. This time, I used Adobe fill and sign to put in my passport number and nationality on my vaccine card front page and my info again on the back of the card as well. Also I bought an insurance from AXA thailand (costed me about $45). and i submitted my third application. When the status of my all 3 applications remained "Reviewing" when I woke up on Monday morning, I started to make phone calls to local Thai consulate and started thinking to use an agent's help. Then all of the sudden around 2 pm on Monday, i received an email saying that my application was approved. When i checked it was my very first application, I still have two applications under "Reviewing". the approved one was the one that i submitted using my small phone screen without proper confirmation letter from the hotel etc. the one without a thai insurance.

Hotel: Amara Plane landed at about 10:50 am. Transported to hotel by Mr Ball, not shared. Arrived about noon. Told to come down to lobby at 3pm for test. I did so but sent back to room to await a call. Finally tested at 4pm. Down to lobby in one lift then up to carpark via another lift for testing. Food: 3 choices, very tasty but small serve and no drink. Test result at 8am. Cost about 6400thb via Agoda

Hotel: Centre Point Silom Riverview Plane landed 6 am, in hotel at 7, test taken at 10.30 am in the hotel, result came 9.55 pm Transport not shared, I did not care if it would as plane was 80 % full anyways. Food, sampled all three but breakfast on the next day as I was full after flight. I was presented with some choices. I liked what was left at the door for me. Cost 5200.80 baht Also booked at Agoda with cancellationnavailabe to a day before arrival / Thai time /

Hotel: Trinity Silom Plane landed 8 am Test result 1.30pm same day (just over 3 hours but was originally told it would be next morning by the hotel rep on arrival). Transport not shared, confirmed by e-mail in advance, no extra charge. Food: Fair. Only sampled lunch. Left outside door, Thai option only. Cost: 5000 approx (Nov 2021) Booked via Agoda, with good cancellation rights Additional note: Test was taken as soon as I arrived at the hotel. A nurse and a hotel rep was waiting in the basement of the hotel where they had a small area for swabbing guests on arrival.

I guess another project for me to take on when I return to BKK

I,d stick to Furama as they have bigger rooms and better view from them. Important when you enclosed forcibly. Don't worry about reviews by a strangers though. People tend to extrapolate their one time experience into universal truth. Turnaround is important but your timing may not necessarily match that of others. I used Centre Point Silom, took their biggest room available ( this trip because rates are so cheap in every hotel with exception of Raya I splurge on the best room to treat myself) and did not worry about Turnaround time as that may be factor beyond their control. What I liked is the despite fact I arrived at 6 am they let me che check in early for free so I was not worried about need to pay for second night. Most important fact is that you arrive in good tome to be in Bangkok IMNSHO

Police ban the appetite for booze in Jomtien’s gay street By Barry Kenyon December 11, 2021 A police raid at the Jomtien Complex, sometimes known as Super Town, has effectively closed the open-street gay bars just one week after they had reopened. It had been widely assumed that the bars were in the clear serving alcohol provided that they had obtained the SHA (Safety & Health Administration) certificate issued by government bodies. However, Pattaya police and officials from the Department of Provincial Administration, which issues licenses, pointed out that the SHA certificate covers many types of businesses including restaurants, accommodation, travel agencies, health spas, souvenir shops etc. The SHA is not in itself a go-ahead to serve booze. The other requirement is that the business is licensed to serve food and – crucially – has eating as its main income earner. Bars which serve booze as the mainstay, but offer food to customers as a sideline, are not deemed to be eligible under the Chonburi governor’s provincial edict of December 4 which specifies “restaurants”. They must also have the SHA certificate which requires a vaccinated staff, satisfactory sanitation and high-level public services. The popular Yupin’s restaurant in the Complex is an example of a fully-qualified business which can legally serve beer, wine and spirits to dining customers. Police captain Tanakit said that the bars in question were really posing as eateries to justify selling alcohol, but this was not the purpose of the provincial edict which was designed to limit the spread of Covid. If bars wished to operate, they must offer food and soft drinks only and should close by 9 pm. Making a commercial profit on this basis is a no-no, although one Complex bar has been open for coffee and cakes for several weeks already. Properly licensed restaurants with SHA certification can serve alcohol from 11 am to 2 pm and 5 pm to 11 pm under the provincial decree. Police added that they had received reports in the last few days that parties had been held in the offending bars until well past midnight with minimal attention paid to social distancing and mask wearing. No bar owners, staff or customers were arrested during the initial raid, but warnings were issued in clear language. The Jomtien Complex, prior to the pandemic, was the center of Pattaya’s once-famed gay scene with competitors Boyztown and Sunee Plaza already well past their prime. Police later told reporters that they were not specifically targeting gay venues, pointing out that their raids until now had been on non-gay establishments operating illegally. But bar workers in the Complex commented that a merry Christmas 2021 now seems out of the question. Government spokesmen have said that the intention is to allow night life to operate normally from mid January. But this depends on the success of the national vaccination program, the level of Covid infections and, in particular, the behavior of the Omicron virus variant. Meanwhile, Pattaya’s well-known nighteries such as Walking Street and Sexy Soi 6 remain mostly shuttered. Shaking off the resort’s ghost town image is proving very difficult indeed. https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/police-ban-the-appetite-for-booze-in-jomtiens-gay-street-382600

Yes, I'm quite, quite cognizant that within a few weeks, 2022 will be here. I also find your comment unnecessary, for my first response here was relevant to the initial inquiry. I answered the question. What followed regarding CARNAVAL 2003 was my reminiscing about THAT TIME.

I just want to give my most heartfelt thanks to @vinapu for taking the plunge on not only visiting Thailand during these uncertain times, but also to document, in almost real time, his exploits. The trip reports continue to be the bread and butter of this forum, and @vinapu your perspective is always welcome and greatly appreciated, in my world. I have completely written off Thailand for at least this holiday season. While I'm glad that things look like they are slowly getting back to normal, some of the uncertainties still make me feel that I won't be able to enjoy myself as much as i would, like the usual New Year circuit parties for example, have not been reinstated, as far as i know. I am heading to Mexico and Brazil for Christmas and New year, but who knows after that. Maybe Songkran next year will be a thing? And @vinapu please continue this trip report! Maybe you will have a monodiet of twinks this trip. I havent been dining on twinks lately. Too many muscle gods taking up my time in Brazil.

Airport exchange booth was by the luggage belts. Because of covid I was, whisked to the waiting taxi so no chance to see whether booths at railway station are opened. What I noticed in Silom area few booths are closed presumably due to lack of tourists. I like to steer you to a "" Silom bars" thread where I posted a bit about Dreamboys show. As you see, live is slowly going back to normal. There was some movements I Hot Male outside too but did not have a chance to check it out yet. Soi 4 on Monday was, less busy but by no means deserted although at Jupiter it seemed only waiters were present and perhaps two boys but it could change later. Bars are starting earlier, at 8 but also closing earlier, at 11. Walked certain twink to a taxi past midnight through Patpong 1 and few bars were showing sign of life. On another hand atop of Mahanakhon between 10 and 10.50 apart from first arrival I. E. me only 3 other tourists appeared, one of them stepped on the glass platform, but I was first anyways. Lunching with another forum member at world famous, 5 Michelin stars Foodland Patpong restaurant between 1 and 2 it was almost empty as well with more staff than diners. Quarter Silom, new hotel in soi 6, just past Tawan or at least when Tawan once was, perish the thought is very modern and well appointed, even with a pool and a gym. Rooms not too big but very well appointed and organized, I liked long desk particularly. There's breakfast buffet, well stuffed particularly with Asian style food, if not included in room rate one needs to splash 129 baht. Kind of novelty are almost universal so far( 3 out of 4) requests for deposits at check-in, either 1000 or 500 so be prepared with cash or card number. Whether it's new trend or just kind of my bad luck remains to be seen. Dragon fruits are quite big this year so it looks covid works well for that crop. And jet lag is still killing me, as usual 3rd day is the worst. Getting old is no fun, jet lags, twinks and other disasters don't compensate for a fact that from time to time somebody yields the seat in the subway car or bus.

From Richard Barrow Twitter site Percentage of positive cases has risen compared to last month Test & Go: 0.08% ~> 0.12% Sandbox: 0.21% ~> 0.23% Quarantine: 0.81% ~> 2.16% 1-30 November: 171 cases 1-14 December: 189 cases ======================== In November, most people flew to #Thailand from USA, Germany, Netherlands, UK and Russia. This month: Germany - 8,739 UK - 6,818 Russia - 4,549 UAE - 3,966 USA - 3,705 France - 3,702 Sweden - 3,637 Singapore - 3,260 Israel - 3,000 S. Korea - 2,813

Unfortunately it won,t be me, saying that with bleeding heart indeed