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The Thaiger today published an all-encompassing collection of the trials and tribulations of the expat community. It's too long to post in its entirety but if you're a member of the group, or considering it, you may find it of interest. From The Thaiger By Tim Newton There will be bumps along the way between your visits to the beach, bar and immigration office (sometimes the bumps will be at the beach, bar and immigration office). Expat life is what you make of it here in the Land of Smiles. Moaning about it never helps but accepting the bumps is part of the adventure. Here are our Top Ten Hard Truths for expats in Thailand. https://thethaiger.com/travel/top-10-hard-truths-living-expat-thailand

As I may have mentioned, I have visited rio and recife in january. A little bit more than a week in rio and week in recife. All stores and restaurants were opened. The beach has usual crowds. Maybe there were less vendors on the beach during the week. I did not visit saunas, because a new wave of omicron just started to grow in brazil. I was said when I saw that my my favorite bar Tonemai on Rua de amoedo in Ipanema is closed. Now they are refurbishing the place and the domino pizza will move in short time. This was my first trip after January 2020. Maybe the prices of food did increase, however the exchange rate is taking care of the increase. What is more sad, is that I feel that quality of food is getting worse. As I said, I did not visit the saunas, because of covid fear. However, grindr is rich with boys who are willing to do anything. Some will start their offers with 500, some with 300 reais, but they will all settle for 200 reais. It was particularly interesting in Recife. I did not know, how the hotel will treat visitors. I have read on tripadvisor that hotel’s policy is liberal. And really, whenever, I came in the lobby with guest the security was looking literally away. No problems. Recife is not much up to, but village near by Olinda is beautiful old village. I would also recommend uber trip to beach in porto galinhas. Really nice, but avoid weekend.

I went to the Chakran sauna, pre-Covid, and as a late 40's white guy, I definitely felt like I didn't belong. It's an amazing space, with a rooftop sex-filled deck that overlooks the skyline, but it was definitely all young Thais looking for other young Thais. I miss Babylon. 😪

I hope this is some help, it shows gates 1 - 10:

Jess Stearn, the author of The Sixth Man: A Startling Investigation of the Spread of Homosexuality in America, seems to have been prescient. proclaiming in 1961 that "one out of every six men in America is a homosexual." I remember this book well, since a professor in one of the sociology courses I took in college assigned it as required reading at just the moment when I was beginning to ponder my own sexuality. Although I questioned his estimate at the time, what I took away from the book was that I was far from being alone in my attraction to men and that my professor wanted people like me to know this. I suspect that the increase in those who identify themselves as LGBT from 2012 to 2020, as Gallup reports, does not document some seismic shift, but simply reflects the number of people who are now willing to to reveal their orientation openly .

I hope for the Vietnamese people that the infection rate quickly drops. Vietnam is a country which many tourists seem not to consider on S E Asia trips. I have only been 3 times now but have absolutely loved the country. Hanoi is a stunning city. I was not so keen on HCM City but I think that was more my lack of preparedness. The island of Phu Quoc perhaps surprisingly under Cambodia was a gem and my more recent trip 2 years ago to Danang, the glorious Hoi An and the old Imperial capital of Hue was one of my best trips in Asia. I did not venture to any gay establishments apart from one bar in Hanoi. Phu Quoc was purely a beach break and I was not looking for company although some of the boys working in the hotel were obviously gay. As soon as I arrived in Hoi An for my central Vietnam trip, however, the apps got busy and I arranged a meet up with a lovely guy for later in Danang. He stayed two nights with me and even accompanied me to the airport on departure. Apart from drinks and meals he wanted no cash, not even to get back to the city.

After finishing several weeks in São Paulo I decided to spend a few weeks in Rio de Janeiro though I had not at all planned it. I had been toying with going to Recife, particularly since an excursion to that destination was abruptly cancelled in March 2020. The weather was certainly better in Rio and the recently overused umbrella stayed packed away. One of the most striking things was that Tues free 1st cabin booking night, of which I attended two while there, though always packed in years gone by, was almost unmanageable. Reserving a suite involved a 90-minute wait that was best spent in more remote corners far from the maddening crowd to attenuate coronavirus exposure risk, attending the event being so very counter-intuitive with case incidence peaking there. It seems to be a locked-in ritual but with diminished returns, including for providers. You can collect phone numbers. Over the few months I tested very regularly and managed to beat the odds of a pandemic index case of infection.

From CNN CNN)More adults in the US say they identify as LGBTQ than they did a decade ago, according to a new Gallup poll, a trend largely propelled by Gen Z adults. The percentage of adults who told Gallup they identify as LGBTQ has doubled since 2012, per the polling firm, from 3.5% of Americans then to 7.1% of Americans in 2021. The rise can be attributed to Gen Z, according to Gallup -- about 21% of adults born between 1997 and 2003 identify as LGBTQ. Meanwhile, 10.5% of millennials, the generation that includes adults born between 1981 and 1996, identify as LGBTQ, per the poll, and the percentages dwindle among the preceding generations. Among LGBTQ adults in the US, more than half of them -- nearly 57% -- said they were bisexual, according to Gallup's poll. That encompasses about 4% of all US adults. Gallup reported that 20.7% of LGBTQ respondents identified as gay, 13.9% as lesbian and 10% as transgender. Bisexuality is the most common LGBTQ identity among members of Gens Z and X and millennials, Gallup reported, with 15% of all Gen Z adults saying they were bisexual. It makes sense that a greater percentage of Gen Z identifies as LGBTQ compared to older generations, said Sharita Gruberg, vice president of LGBTQI+ Research and Communications Project at the Center for American Progress. Gruberg noted that the world in which the younger generation lives is one where same-sex marriage is legal nationwide, as well as one where awareness and visibility of orientations and identities other than heterosexual and cisgender continues to grow. "Gen Z has grown up at a time when stigma around LGBTQ identities is on the decline and rights are expanding," said Gruberg, who was not involved in the poll. "As greater awareness about the diversity of sexual orientations and gender identities grows, and as stigma surrounding LGBTQ identity lessens, we're likely to see more people self-identify as LGBTQ." https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/17/us/lgbtq-population-increase-gallup-cec/index.html

An interesting bunch of comments but none that have not been discussed at some time on this and other Thailand chat rooms. Without going through each one, as a longish-time resident in Bangkok I have recently decided that the constant visits to Immigration at Chaengwattana for 90 day reporting and annual visa/re-entry permit renewals is such a pain that I purchased a Thailand Elite membership. A 20 years visa for 1 million baht is obviously a lot more expensive than having either 65,000 remitted monthly or the other ridiculous method of having 400,000/800,000 tied up unspent in a savings account. But it is vastly more convenient for those who can afford it. Of course you will not get your 1 million back at the end of the term whereas that 800,000 is yours once you die! I am just delighted that Chaengwattana will be a distant memory once I can travel again (travel outside the country just once a year and you never need return there). But even if you never travel, the once-a-year visit to Immigration is a breeze because there is a young lady there to help you and a special counter. Last year I had an appointment at 11:00 am and was out by 11:20. Before getting the Elite visa, I'd have to be there around 7:30 am and was rarely out much before noon thanks to huge queues. Now I rarely have to queue. Even once I start travelling again, Elite members can use the dedicated first/business class lanes. (In that regard, over 70s also can use these lanes.) The paperwork in this country is just plain ridiculous. Bar girls/boys not loving you is again just something everyone has to have at the front of their minds. Of course there are exceptions, but these are mostly few and far between. Two-tier pricing has never bothered me, but it seems to strike a nerve with some posters who are incensed by it. I have never understood why! It is not that this is unique to Thailand because it isn't. And during my career before coming to Thailand I have earned a lot more than the vast majority of Thais. Plus it's their country. What bothered me most when I first settled here is the endemic corruption. It pervades virtually every aspect of life in Thailand. For a time it drove me nuts. But like living anywhere that is not your home country, there are certain issues that will always piss you off. As with all cops being on the take, you have no option other than get used to it - or move to another country. (Note: my comments above refer to Bangkok. I understand Immigration can be a lot easier in places like Pattaya, Chiang Mai etc.)

you can only hope you will be tested right after arrival, not in the morning, when they may start counting their 12 hrs promise. I booked mine quarantine / test hotel through Agoda and had confirmation right away .

Like in every other aspect of personal appearance, beauty--or revulsion--is in the eye of the beholder. But I have to say that I've seen some attractive tattoo artwork. Admittedly, I'm more than a bit influenced by the body that they're attached to. I agree that I'd prefer that they don't implant silicone into otherwise beautiful and functional appendages, or try to look as blanched as a Korean boy band member. in the end, however, I suppose it comes down to their personal choice.

of course, all that ATK nonsense is just haze and smoke to show that something is done

I was there last month, and for one of the world's largest cities, it was pretty ho-hum I met one escort from mileroticos who was from Uruguay/Argentina. Beautiful face, very tall, great body, nice big dick, nice guy, terrible in bed could barely get hard enough to insert. Seems to be a lot of escorts from Colombia. From the best looking guys online I would get very sporatic replies, like days later, or not really answer my questions. Some that did reply would kiss, only one would bbk. I have a WhatsApp from Croatia and then a few days into the trip I got a Mexican cell number that I sent texts. Prices were about 100usd for the real good ones although there was one that wanted 350usd. The $5 Mex SIM yielded lower price quotes. I stayed half the trip closer to downtown, (free) guys on Grindr noticeably darker there than the second half of the trip when I stayed in Polanco. In 10 days I got diarrhea twice (which certainly dampen's a bottom's sex trip, and one of the 2 times became so ill I was in bed a day and a half. C'mon Mexico--it's 2022. Much poorer countries (e.g. Egypt) while not advisable for long term drinking at least have solved acute problems. And no I didn't drink the water per se, so it mustve been even small amounts on lettuce or something. I too have been casting about for closer and safer alternatives to Brazil (and by Brazil, really, I mean Rio) but CDMX despite other appeals seems not the best for that.

I agree 100%! A few years ago I celebrated Songkran in Pattaya with my regular friend, his brother and some of his friends from Eros. First of all, I bought them all the largest water guns we could find. It was then off to 7/11 for our first of many cans of beer. We then hit Beach Road. I have to say it was the best fun I've had with my clothes on! We did the Thai thing and "went for a swim" when we needed a piss. Then more beer, more water fights, eating various snacks among the way......... it was exhausting. By the end of the day I was fucked. At the end of the day my friend and I retired to my hotel where I was fucked again!

Expanded sexual health services in Bang Rak From Bangkok Post The Public Health Ministry has opened a new facility, Bang Rak Medical Centre Building, with the aim of providing one-stop sexual health services and becoming a full-service wellness centre. Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and other senior officers attended the opening ceremony on Thursday. The building is part of Bang Rak Hospital complex on Sathon Road. Mr Anutin said the hospital has provided sexual health services for more than 90 years. However, the new building and facility marks a transformation to one-stop services and paves the way towards a complete wellness centre in the future. The incidence of syphilis among youths aged 15-24 years old, moreover, surged from 11 patients per 100,000 people in 2015 to 50 patients last year, while the figure for gonorrhoea within the same age group stood at 58:100,000. The Public Health Ministry has set a target of reducing new syphilis cases to 1:100,000 and gonorrhoea infections to 3:100,000, he said. Disease Control Department director-general, Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, said the one-stop service centre will roll out Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) to contain new HIV cases next month. The centre will also offer test-and-go services for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), self-sample Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing, and advanced microbiology and molecular biology laboratories. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2265975/new-sti-medical-centre-opens

I am glad to be back both in Thailand as well as in this forum. After I logged into my account, I re-read my last post from my last trip in February 2020. I had strong feelings then, when I left. I did contact Myanmar boy after and promised to meet in April 2020. Of course, that didn’t happen and I did not contact him since. Tl;dr I did meet him this trip but I am not sure I will see him again. In fact, he was one of the main reason I went ahead with this short trip despite all the hoops to go through, uncertainties and risks. He appeared in the line-up for a massage shop I was following on LINE. He was still in Thailand, and I wanted a reunion, two years overdue. Phuket Sandbox notes I travelled under the Phuket Sandbox scheme during the suspension of Test&Go. My Thailand pass approval took 7 days (applied on Saturday, approved on Friday). Upon arrival at Phuket airport, immigration only checked 2 documents; Thailand pass and my pre-departure PCR test, which they took and kept the copy. This was the only time anyone in Thailand asked for my Thailand pass or cared about what scheme I was travelling on. Technically, I could leave and fly off anywhere else after Day 1, of course that would be illegal. After immigration and collection of baggage, PCR test station was outside conveniently next to the pick-up point. I did my PCR test at 6.30pm and the results was in my email inbox at midnight. It was my first time in Phuket so I had to take extra time to research. Thanks to @Midguy1, his trip report was really helpful. I am not really a beach and sun person, so I was not sure how much I will enjoy spending 7 days here. I did. Being a morning person, I loved and missed my daily morning run-walk along the beach the most. I spent the evenings, when it cooled down, watching the sunset daily. Maybe it was the just the laid-back getaway atmosphere I needed. There were a lot of foreign travellers, but it was not overcrowded. I see a lot of Thais as well enjoying their time on the beach. I had most of my meals from the street carts along the beach, not the cheapest but the most convenient for me. As widely discussed, mask wearing were more lax here compared to Bangkok. Depending on your risk appetite, you had options to be away or be in the crowd. Massages I had an average of one massage per day. The massage shops are on one row of Royal Paradise Hotel street, while the bars were on another street around 50 metres away. I like to research using google street view, but it was not possible to view the row of massage shops since it is on a walking path and not a road. Very little footfall, but I do see one or two customers at the shops every time. One of the massage boys told me that it is busier at night after dinner and they close late after midnight. There were about 4 shops open. I only remembered 4massage, as I saw it mentioned in a few sites during my research and it was also on google maps. The other shops' names were either not prominently displayed, written in Thai or I was just distracted by the boys sitting outside. 4massage had the most number of boys, at least 7 at one time. The rest had between 2 to 5 depending on the time of the day. I was pleasantly surprised at the number and choices available. I would say most, if not all were Thai. Prices for oil massage was 300-400 baht. Most did not have duration specified in the menu, or again maybe I was too distracted to notice. I will not go into details for each massage. Overall, massages were average but attention and services were great. Half of the guys specified their tip request which can be negotiated down. I do tend to tip more for those that don’t ask. For the apps, it seemed to me the numbers were small, one or two pages covers everyone in Phuket. Most boys on the app works at a massage place. For those into ladyboys, there is definitely a higher concentration here on the apps and also working at massage places than anywhere else I’ve seen. It was on the apps I found BKK boy, the highlight of my trip. Based on location, I guessed he worked at a massage shop so I started the conversation immediately asking him that. He confirmed, sending a picture of the massage shop and the menu. I quickly negotiated and agreed to his offer for him to come over to my room. He said he will reach in 5 mins, however it was at least a 15 mins walk to the hotel from his shop. I thought it was ‘Thai time’ but turns out he asked for a ride from the shop manager. He was thinner in real life but still looks pleasantly good. I requested to start with a massage, which he did, for a short while. First impressions a little on the aggressive side in bed to my liking, but I saw glimpses of his cheeky and caring side off bed as we had a short conversation after as he sneaked in a goodbye kiss with mask on. He has also mastered the art of texting by not being too pushy or overbearing. After he left, I knew I wanted to see him again. I kept my options open with a ‘maybe’ we can watch the show at Zag-Zig bar the next night which we talked about. The next day was my last full day.

Bangkok I booked the first flight to Bangkok at 8.35am, which means I had to leave the hotel really early at 6.00 am. Airport check-in and security for domestic flight was simple and fast. The Thaismile flight was full. Despite having been in Thailand for 7 days, stepping in Bangkok again felt surreal. I was back and settled in at Le Meridien by 11am. Hotel felt empty such that the front desk manager and cute concierge guy would greet me by name every time I stepped into the lobby. Partially regretting making an early 1pm appointment, I took a short rest before leaving by Grabcar. I somehow forgot about Bangkok traffic as I reached slightly late. My first appointment was at Home Spa, one of the few places along Suthisan road near Saphan Kwai BTS area. Over 2 years, I have amounted some places I follow on Line and Twitter that I would now be able to visit. I would say it is a local place, their posts and ads are all in Thai. When I messaged them in English, they replied quickly and I made my booking with little hassle. The shop was basic but spacious, comfortable and clean. When I entered, one guy greeted me and mentioned the guy I booked. He spoke little English but nothing pointing can’t solve. Payment was requested first before proceeding for the massage. Massage was slightly underwhelming, made up however entirely by his physical being. I decided to walk the stretch of Suthisan road to the BTS since it was my first time in the area which took roughly 20 mins. I took a late lunch and then headed back to the hotel for a quick nap before my evening appointment. I was slightly nervous for my next appointment, it was with Myanmar boy. Before I flew to Thailand, I messaged to his last Wechat contact but he was no longer using it. I booked him through a massage shop so he does know it was me. As many have expressed, it is uncertain whether the chemistry and connection stood the test of time. At 5pm, I was awakened from my nap by a call from him, he called to confirm the appointment time. Near 7pm, another call to confirm my hotel as I went to grab coffee and wait for him. He came in a taxi as I greeted him, he seemed happy to see me. He looked slightly roughened up, as we headed back to the room. He had bruises which he claimed were from a motorbike accident after a drunken night out. He also stayed in hospital for one month because of covid and have not been working for three months since. He acknowledged the situation was not good but have started efforts to look for new work. For the massage place, he only submitted his pictures to the mamasan and works on-call basis. Chemistry and connection was still there, however not as strong as before. I was still glad I got to meet him. I tried to arrange a meetup for my last night but only got a reply after I left Thailand. He seemed to be doing a lot better in our follow-up messages, I may still look for him when I go back. I skipped visiting the bars that night as I planned to have my pre-departure ATK test the next morning. Some random notes of my observation of Patpong area: Patpong 1 without the night market was dead, King’s Castle lady gogo still open and what looks like a new or relocated pool place with ladies. Newly refurbished Thaniya plaza looks nice but did not get a chance to visit. The next night night I visited the ‘gogo’ bars in Patpong 2. Only 3 were open Freshboys, Dreamboys and Hotmale. Moonlight and Jupiter were also open from my knowledge but I did not visit this trip. Drink prices were the same 350-400-450 if I remembered correctly. All had a good number of boys ‘standing’. I went into Freshboys first and was the only customer. The fierce-looking mamasan now dressed down with a polo-tee and skirt greeted me. Was informed they still have a show at around 9.45pm. I got 2 boys to sit with me for a short while before heading to Hotmale. Hotmale had a few more customers inside and outside. Music blasted abit too loud and only one boy that caught my eye though most of them seemed more interested in looking at themselves through the mirror or the floor. I left shortly after for Dreamboys. Dreamboys also had two groups of customers with a reasonable number of boys. I stayed for the first act of the show at 10pm. It was Johnny and 2 other boys with the ‘gogo-coyote’ dance. I was mesmerised and impressed by the moves of one of the boys wearing the crown. Was this a return of gogo? Because Freshboys also had this gogo-coyote dance number in their show that I would watch the next day. I left that night with no offs. On my last full day, I booked another afternoon session at Home spa. This time I decided to book a Grabbike which could weave through Bangkok traffic. This massage session could be the second highlight of my trip. He looked better in person than his photos. He started the massage with a towel on but would loose it not long after. I thought he still had underwear underneath, as with the previous guy but then I felt something brush my leg a couple of times before realising. His normal massage I would say is good but then he moved on to his special moves around the thigh and groin areas. He made sure I felt it as he added force and aggression to it. Honestly, I don’t think I have felt anything like that, at least not for some time. He spoke little English but we managed a short conversation after. A definite repeat for the next trip. That night, I would return only to Freshboys. I had the same cute Cambodian boy who spoke little English sit with me again, this time with another one of his friend. I was the only customer again until the last segment of the show when a couple walked in. I found myself talking to the friend more but I knew I was going to off cute Cambodian boy. He was one of the dancers in the gogo dance segment where I was also impressed with. There were a total of 12-13 boys and I thought all of them were decent and at least smiled or made eye contact. It was my last night so I decided to tip all of them. Mamasan then convinced me to take the friend as well just for supper, which I agreed since I enjoyed talking to him. We went to a place just down the street. Again, I talked more to the friend as he was complaining that he received a message from his other boss that the casino along the borders were re-opening so he has to go back there to work. After the supper, I said goodbye to the friend as me and cute Cambodian boy headed back to my room. I enjoyed his physical companionship but his lack of English communication made it difficult for a deeper connection. He stayed the night and was a light sleeper so he woke up early when I got up. We exchanged contacts and said our goodbye. It was a short but fulfilling comeback to Thailand. As I got on the plane, I left with two ‘Miss you’ on my phone this time.

I did my last morning jog on Patong beach, a total of 5km from one end to the other and back. There were a handful of other fellow early runners and also some who have not left from the night out. After breakfast, I got on my phone and made 2 appointments for Bangkok the next day. I only had 3 full days in Bangkok and did not want to waste them. I had a few short messages with BKK boy, however I did not confirm a meeting until much later in the day. There was radio silence as I await his confirmation. I spend most of the day running errands and packing. My hotel balcony sunset view where I spent most of my time. BKK boy was finally back online just before 8pm. Conversation was quick and easy with him, he even dropped a call to talk as we confirmed to go to Paradise complex together. He said he will fetch me in 5 mins. I told him to take his time since I was still packing. He reached in 10 mins. I finished what I could, got ready quickly and met him on the beach road pavement at the front. It was a short straight road so I didn’t mind the 3p on a motorbike as he made sure to hug me tight from the back. We dropped off a distance away and took a short walk. We also walked pass a police roadblock stopping all motorbikes to check their license. I have seen this a few times during my stay. Phuket Bars I only went to Zag and Zig Bar’s show twice so I don’t have much info on the other bars. Zig and Zag share and occupy a huge outdoor seating area on both sides of the road. The other bars I saw open were Tangmo bar, the first shop on the street and G-club at the end on the street. I only noticed the Tangmo guys during my second visit. There were about 4-5 guys outside hustling passers-by to enter. Their profile and outlook reminded me of the ex-Viet waiters from Freshboys. I would’ve dropped by if I had another night. The first visit was a Wednesday night, not crowded, mainly couples and a few small groups. There were around 5 coyote dancers on the small stage before the show. They have 2 show times, 8.45pm which ends around 9.30pm followed by a short break before restarting at 9.45pm until closing time of 11pm. The show was only ladyboys lip-sync. I liked the outdoor seating area and the atmosphere. Drinks prices start from 80 baht. Waiters hustles you to take a seat, but does not disturb you after ordering the first drink. The second visit with BKK boy was a Friday night. The place would be packed with a few large groups. He greeted and was greeted by a few of the waiters and workers, which I thought he looked like a regular here. I have not explained that I described him as BKK boy because he originates from Bangkok. He mentioned that he has been in Phuket for 7 years. Also, in our conversation that night, it turns out that a number of those years he worked at Zag, though I didn’t ask in what capacity. He said he still come to Zag regularly now to drink with his friends. I do not usually enjoy ladyboy lipsync shows, but I thoroughly enjoyed this night. Besides the company, I thought the performers and atmosphere was energetic and they interacted well with the audience. I thought BKK boy looked more like the tourist as he snapped pictures and videos to post on his WeChat moments. Two of his close friends, a waiter and a performer joined us and I bought them drinks. I complained to BKK boy that the show only had ladyboys. He replied there will be a boy show, pausing as I thought he was being serious, before cheekily continuing that it will be in my room. We stayed until closing time, having him beside me felt natural and comfortable. He made sure I was taken care and comfortable throughout the night. We walked to the main road where he asked me to wait as he went to borrow his manager’s motorbike to send me back. On the bike ride, he made sure I was hugging him tight. He asked me if I was really not hungry, I re-confirmed that I had dinner before realising he was not talking about food. In our earlier conversations, I told him I just wanted the night out since I have an early flight to catch. As we reached back to my room, he made sure I was fed before saying our goodbyes. It was a fitting end for my Phuket trip, and I found someone who would maybe bring me to Phuket more often.

A photo from our last walk on Ao Nang beach, the evening before leaving the south I had to make a new flight booking for us to return to Bangkok. We had missed our return flight due to the quarantine period. Since Thai Airways ignored my request to change our booking, I decided to give my money to a different airline for the return flight. I purchased one way tickets to Bangkok for us on Nok Air. Phang Nga bay from the air, just after takeoff from Phuket: On final approach into Bangkok, the plane flew over the mouth of the Chao Phraya River, where it snakes its way into the Gulf of Thailand Nok Air uses the old Don Mueang airport. The airport still looks much the same as it did years ago, with some renovations. Even though it's a much smaller airport than Suvarnabhumi, they still somehow managed to park the plane at a gate that required about a kilometer of walking through the terminal to reach the baggage claim hall. In Bangkok, we checked in to the same room we previously had three weeks earlier at the Furama Sathorn. The next day was Chinese New Year, February 1st. I had no plans, and that afternoon asked N what he wanted to do tomorrow. I was pleased that he didn't give me that old Thai standby answer, "up to you". I decided to go along with whatever he wanted to do for the next couple days after returning to Bangkok. He made a phone call, and told me we were going on a road trip the next day. What a nice experience he planned for us. That morning, I found myself in a very nice new Honda van with some of N's friends and two Buddhist monks in saffron robes, on a road trip to Ayutthaya. The van belonged to one his his friends, who drove. The plan for the day was visiting two large temples in the historic district of the former capital of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. For the first part of the trip, N and I sat together in the second row of seats in the van. When the two monks joined us along the way, I switched to riding shotgun in the front, the two monks sat in the second row, and N and a friend sat in the third row. As we drove through heavy Ayutthaya traffic due to the holiday, songs from the Eagles and Aerosmith were pumping from the stereo. I just went along for the ride, carefree and taking it all in, as it was N's chance to entertain me for the day. I had no plans or agenda, and it was kind of amusing to watch N having fun, and acting as the guide, as the day he had planned for us played out. Some of the best and most interesting experiences when you travel happen when you relax, and don't ask too many questions, or as the Thais say "don't think too much". In Ayutthaya, for a couple kilometers, there were vendors lining the main street that leads to the historic temple district. The vendors all sell the same thing - huge bags of air puffed and brightly colored fish food, and small live fish in plastic bags. The live fish are sold for release in the temple ponds, for merit making. This was the first time I've seen these huge bags of brightly colored fish food for sale anywhere in Thailand. I have seen containers of small fish food pellets, and bags of day-old bread for sale near many other wats around Thailand, but not these giant sized bags of vividly colored fish food. Apparently these Cheetos-looking fish snacks are something unique to Ayutthaya. Not to miss out on any potential customers, this vendor also had bags of day-old bread, and bags filled with fish food pellets for sale. They can be seen in the lower right portion of the photo. The first temple we went to was a Buddhist temple with a heavy Chinese influence. There was a huge gold Buddha statue inside the main building. The place was packed with people due to the Chinese New Year holiday. I'm not sure what this man is doing, but he's holding an open bottle of Big C brand cooking oil in one hand and a white lotus bud in the other hand. Of course the lotus bud is commonly found in temples, used in prayer rituals, but the cooking oil? The tuk tuks in Ayutthaya are a different type than the Bangkok style. They are kind of a mini songtaew, with two bench seats in the back, running along the sides. In the front, there is a steering wheel, not handlebars. Also, the front cab has doors, with roll-up windows. They remind me of the three wheeled vehicles that were still in use in rural Japan until the 1980's. This red model is kind of sporty, complete with a set of vintage mag wheels. The second temple we visited had a huge ancient chedi, There was a very steep staircase, where you could climb up into the inside of the chedi. Once up in the chedi, we looked down through an iron grate to see two monks far down inside the base of the chedi, sitting and counting large piles of coins. In the center of the photo, the staircase is visible, with people climbing up into the chedi. We had a fun day trip, and it was good to see Ayutthaya once again, after many years. The following day N insisted we take a tuk tuk ride in Bangkok. I hadn't been in a Bangkok tuk tuk in more than 30 years, but I did not want to deny him his fun. It was my last full day in Thailand, and rather than resist, I decided not to "think too much". Of course, N chose a tuk tuk that made a mandatory stop at an Indian tailor shop on the way, one of the most common tourist scams in Bangkok. The way it works is that if the tuk tuk driver delivers potential customers to a certain prearranged shop, for each visit, they receive a stamp. After filling a card with 10 stamps from the shop, the driver receives 4 liters of free fuel from the shop. Usually these shops are either jewelry stores or tailor shops. So we spent 5 minutes inside, looking at bolts of cloth that could be made into clothing. I had no intention of buying anything, and in 5 minutes, we were back on our way. Our tuk tuk as it entered Silom Road, with Saladaeng Road on the left. Looking back on my quarantine experience, as it worked out, it was really not as bad of an experience as it could have been. I can think of many worse places to be than being sequestered in a hotel room with a hot Thai boy for 8 nights of mandated quarantine. I could have just as easily have caught covid at home, and not in Thailand as I did. But then I would have been in isolation by myself, instead of with N. Luckily, I had enough time in Thailand, and the quarantine happened early enough in our trip that with some strategic juggling of our schedule, we were able to travel everywhere we had planned to, with one exception. The only planned location we had to cancel on this trip due to the time spent in quarantine was a few days in Pattaya. But Pattaya will still be there waiting for my next trip. One benefit of this quarantine escapade is that I didn't need to spend time in Bangkok during my last full day in Thailand to get a covid test to enter the USA. Under the revised US CDC rules, if you can show a positive covid test result within the past 90 days, and have a medical certificate clearing you for travel, no test is required to enter the US. Upon showing these medical papers at Suvarnabhumi, there was no issue checking in for my flight without a covid test. In case you are interested to know what the quarantine expenses were, I paid 30,500 baht for N to stay in the hospitel with me. I exchanged money only once, at the beginning of my trip in Bangkok, enough to cover the entire trip. I then deposited this money in my K-bank account, so I could withdraw it at ATM's. Using the exchange rate at the time I bought my stack of baht, N's quarantine equated to about 910 US dollars. This amount covered both his hotel fee and the hospital charges, and included N's ambulance ride. The hotel and hospital fees were billed separately. My hotel fee and hospital charges came to 41,500 baht for the 8 nights, and there was no fee for an ambulance ride, as I drove myself to the hospitel. This difference in pricing is because of dual pricing for Thai citizens and farang tourists. And this was with my second PCR test being paid for by the Thai government under the amended rules for the 7 night Test & Go program. I have read that some people have been charged far more than this amount to be quarantined in other parts of the country. It probably helped that we were not near any cities. Khao Lak is not heavily developed, and is very lightly populated. I'm guessing in Bangkok or other large cities, the charges may have been substantially more. It also helped that we only needed to quarantine for 8 nights each, not the 10 days they originally told us we would be staying. Several times during our month together, N told me that he really liked to be able to get away from Bangkok. He said he enjoyed being in quiet locations with not so many people, like the bungalow resort where we stayed for a few days. I surely hope to see N the next time I travel to Thailand, and I made that clear to him. He has sent me messages already since I left, telling me he wants to travel with me again next time. Another evening view from the 12th floor balcony of our room at the Furama Sathorn, my last night in Thailand. With the way the world has dramatically changed in the last couple years, I just hope that it won't be much longer until many more people will travel to Thailand, and bring the tourist income that that is so much needed by many people and businesses there. Even though we had to be quarantined, I had a really nice time in Thailand. Would I go again under the same circumstances? You bet I would. It sure beats sitting at home looking out the window, and waiting for who knows how long for the pandemic and travel restrictions to come to an end. I've already started thinking about where I want to travel on my next trip to Thailand. I am counting the days until my next flight to Thailand, when I hear those electrifying words on the loudspeaker, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is the captain speaking. In a few minutes, we will be landing in Bangkok". Until that magical moment arrives, I will continue to be the daydreamer.

Salvador is an experience that isn’t right for everyone.