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I'll share my thoughts regarding BKK and drugs. BKK is not different than any other gay capital of the world and substances use are strongly tied up with nightlife and sex. Especially in the gay scene but not limited to the gay scene. Although yours truly avoids drugs (except minor alcohol consumption), I do find it almost impossible not to find myself in situations where people do drugs considering the fact that I do enjoy the nightlife scene and the nightlife crowd. So, I try to develop an indifferent approach to most recreational drug use. V, for example, has indeed a substance use disorder, I'm sure of that and also told him that. But, he's in denial and that's his life. Usually in Grindr it's easy to see how much drug use and sex is common with lots of offers for High Fun. It's prominent in BKK as it is in TLV, BER, AMS, PAR, LND or NYC. It's everywhere and I try to navigate life without using it but also not denying myself from experiences that usually involve people using it. The real problem in the gay scene is crystal meth (also called Ice, T or Tina). Usually when that's on the menu of people I hang out with, then I take a step back. T is getting more common in my home city as it also gets more common in BKK. It is highly common in European capitals and the USA. This trip I was near it in more situations than I recall in my previous trip . And that is indeed the really sad news cause crystal meth is in the league of the highly addictive, deadly, life ruining drugs next to Heroine.

I count myself among those who never had to do with buy being know user or behaving as such. If that would happen be trying to get rid of company ASAP under any pretext. Once at BBB Inn I was witness to commotion created in the room beside mine, by most likely drugged guest. Boy escaped screaming so I learned the lesson to stay away from users. One of our members once pointed at one of guys at Screwboys and warned me about him being user but he was not my type . Since I'm HongThong user , I hope that doesn't count as drug.

Im totally against drugs and tried to advocate that with the boys im with. Luckily so far, most of the boys i take fancy dont do drugs, or not that i know of. Sadly, some did. One actually shows some sort of withdrawal symptoms the night we were together, albeit mild. He did ask if i have ice.. No idea out of desperate needs or what since ive never give any indication that im into chem fun. On a second ocassion, a diff boys asked me if its okay for him to try drug with a diff customer. Apparently a customer is offering him chem sex for more money and i told him what i think of it. I advise him not to do it, but he said he already did it... And like it. I told him whats the danger of drugs etc, the whole thing i think he should know, and hope he listen. Apart from these, im pretty sure some of the guys i like took some sort of viagra to perform, as well as those bodybuilder taking steroids for diff reason.

Richard Barrow has posted numerous photos of random street art around the city. It's worth a look if Bangkok is one of your favorite haunts. https://www.richardbarrow.com/

But in general in this topic, the main thing to keep in mind is there is a tragedy unfolding now in Ukraine. I dont disagree that many aspects of US foreign policy in the last twenty years (such as the invasion of Iraq or the the support of the extremist Likud position on the occupation of Palestine) have been shameful, but to harp on about these issues in a thread such as this, while also minimizing the blatant use of cluster bombs, the intentional targeting of civilian targets and the confirmed use of vacuum bombs THIS VERY WEEK in Ukraine, in a blatant attempt to shift the narrative, is unsavory. And I must say that the way in which what I would call "foreign policy leftists" from the USA, in particular, tend to frame this is very irksome to me as a European. The main geopolitical issue at hand is Russia (or the current ruler there at least) trying to regain the position in Ukraine that it had in Tsarist times. One can argue whether that is a good or bad thing (personally I think it is bad), but one thing it actually has rather little to do with is what the USA were up to in Iraq in 2004 or in Nicaragua in 1985. But if you read many threads on Ukraine with posts from US (not just here) "foreign policy leftists" seem to be ranting on about irrelevancies such as what Billy Kristol said onetime, or how much Blackwater might make out of Ukraine, or whatever. The sense in which they are not engaging with the lived reality of an international world system in flux, or the biggest single refugee situation since WW II, is frustrating. It seems like in their head they are still arguing with that annoying fellow student who was a foreign policy hawk in a university seminar in 2006.

I understand why people are nervous about the threat of nuclear war. It is not something you can take chances about. But if you look objectively, America under Biden is demonstrating a considerable degree of restraint with its support for Ukraine struggle, for this very reason. Biden has opposed Russian aggression with sanctions and some arms to Ukraine. But he is very clearly said that, as Ukraine is not part of NATO, the US and NATO will not get involved in assisting Ukraine with either troops or a "no fly zone". In fact, the United States has even decided that simply allowing the Polish Mig fighters to be transported from Rammstein to Ukraine would be too much of a provocation. I do not like the fact that all this is helpful to Putin. But I do accept that Biden’s motives are genuine in not wanting to extend to conflict. I think Biden has clearly shown that Russia will have absolutely no genuine excuse to extend the conflict to a confrontation with NATO, or God forbid, a nuclear war. But some posters on this site, and others I read, seem to be very exercised on this point and keep going on about how Biden may be about to bring us all to the brink of global nuclear war. Interestingly, I have noticed on this and other sites that they seem to be the same posters who are very exercised about the plight of Russian speaker in Luhansk and Donetsk. A coincidence I am sure

If you think this is a good argument to persuade people to not support the Ukrainian people in their fight against Russian imperialist aggression, I am afraid that you are wrong

I better understand your position but please accept that I cannot agree with it. You seem to obsessed with the past, and you find yourself defending Putin's decision to invade Ukraine. Capitulation to an aggressor will never quench his thirst for more aggression, more territory. That was certainly demonstrated in World War II. NATO was formed to deter such aggression in the future. If Churchill had given in to German's demands, the map of Europe would look very different today. North Vietnam aggressively fought a war with a nuclear power. It could have simply given in but it persisted and drove the Americans from their land. Taiwan is regularly confronted by a nuclear power but chooses resistance. I understand that fear can be debilitating if we allow it to dictate how we live our lives.

When I was young, I enjoyed experimenting with drugs. Now that I'm old, not so much. At least here in the US, damn near everything might have a killing dose of Fentanyl in it. We had two high school kids die this week here in Portland Oregon of Fentanyl overdoses from counterfeit pills. They mix that shit with everything these days.

Day 3 We woke up by my alarm at 10:15AM. V asked me to set up the alarm so that we don't miss breakfast. When presented with a buffet, V eats for an entire family. Given the fact that we have 10 mins to stock up with food he piles up several plates and actually eats them. Breakfast at W is good. After that, I said my goodbye to V, told him I'll be back in the room by 9PM and that he is welcomed to do whatever he wants. He had his own key to the room. I have a friend from my time at the army that in recent years lives in Koh Phangan. I told him I'm coming to BKK and he said he will come too to enjoy the city and see me. We met at Yunomori Onsen & Spa at Sukhumvit. It's a really nice place to hang out, chill and facilities are in great condition. I thought I'll get bored but actually I really enjoyed that heterosexual experience of being naked among other men in an environment that Is relatively non sexual. Nonetheless, I was also surprised that there was some eye candy there. Several hours later, we go for Ramen and I tell him I'll meet him tomorrow as I have other business to attend to in the Sukhumvit area. He knows what I mean by that. I try to avoid the Sukhumvit area since it's jammed, far, and heterosexual but if already there, I knew I had to check the neighborhood's product quality. And by that, I mean Krubb Sauna. But before I review Krubb it must be said – Babylon is missed. Its absence was prominent during this trip. It's not that I don't like the other local saunas – I think they are great. But Babylon was something else. It was a different product. In Babylon, me being white was an advantage. Most people there were foreigners looking for foreigners or Asians looking for foreign men. I don't feel that my race is a disadvantage in the local saunas, but it is not an advantage. I know it can be argued that the local saunas are more Asian for Asian but I don’t feel that way. I do think that in the local saunas, rejection is commonly misinterpreted by white people as rejection by race. I think it's mere rejection, which is rarely based on race. Anyways, in addition, the level of facility in Babylon was nothing to be compared to the other saunas. I hope that a decent place that tries to enter that specific niche will pop up soon. RIP Babylon, I did a lot of sodomy in your premises. Arrived at Krubb sauna at 6PM on a Saturday eve. Staff were welcoming and friendly and explained that it's naked month and towels are provided only for showering. I loved that, and especially the enforcement of that policy as they kept enforcing that rule inside the compound and not only at the locker rooms. Facilities are high standard and well maintained. Compound has several levels which can be quite tiring and it's the same in the other local saunas I've been too in the past (R3, Chakran, Mania). Place is nicely full with about 100 men, me being the only white guy. The common dish that is served that night is Asian Twink and Asian Twunk which is not my favorite but it is something I can work with and I have my share of fun. An hour later I find one that is my type, and play with him. He asks me if I'll stay for the party which I was unaware of, but I already knew that when they say in the local saunas "party" they mean orgy. I tell him I'll probably stay and he tells me to come find him at the party. At 8PM, about 100 men went to a single 40SQM room at that place. My Covid conscious told me to get the fuck out of that room but my dick told me to stay. In Thailand I mostly listen to my dick. At home I am able to do more negotiation between the two 😊. In that room I spot my guy from before and realize he is part of the entertainment of the event. I come to see him, we have our public fun and I leave. All and all that place was fun, entertaining, well maintained. I leave and get back to the room where V is already waiting for me to go out for dinner. We go out for dinner at Soi 4 in the place opposite to the Mexican place and have another mediocre, reasonable dinner. From there we move on to GOD again. It's a full house that night (But still less than pre Covid), and parting with V was similarly great till lights turned on again at 1:20AM. This time I knew V would insist on an after party so I mentally prepared for a long night. You may be fooled by the term "after party" to thinking that it is a party with people dancing. If it was, I'd be more inclined on going, but it was a chem-sex party. Which means less party, more drugs and sex – which is a combo that is not a turn on for me. Anyways, we go, it is in a beautiful luxury penthouse at a very high tower. I suspect that there is an informal contract between the owner and some of the hot attendees – they come and play at his party – he supplies the drugs. Some of the more dangerous drugs are on the menu that night, but V stays with E and G. I don't even drink alcohol there, as I don't feel that it is a safe environment. V and I play, he takes more drugs and by that also he is more awake and energetic. At 3:30 AM we start negotiation on leaving time. I want 4, he wants 5, we leave at 4:30 AM for some more private fun. V knows that I'm a huge fan of oil play and he surprised me with a large Jar of Coconut oil for that night's fun. Bed is soaked with oil when we go to sleep at 6AM.

We are a country that elects Trump as president. There is nothing a celebrity cannot recover from.

I absolutely love this series. One of the best stuff they produced so far! I wasn't sure if we should call it a BL series or not, but as it turns out it is clearly a BL and it even follows the rule that a BL couple never comes alone. All this embedded in a very modern action series background. As usual, the pre-ultimate episode is highly dramatic, but here it is more about life/death or prison/free, not just couple or not. Can't wait for the last episode. Full of social criticism. In the BL universe I would give them 6 out of 5 stars, but how did they manage to get an IMDB-rating of 9.9?

Yep, It will almost certainly end badly, in that Ukraine will be either physically destroyed or will be forced into a humiliating surrender. Extending to WWW III and ending up with the use of nuclear weapons is less likely, thankfully. By the way, I think the Taiwanese are very well aware that the USA is not going to physically intervene in any invasion from the mainland, and probably has a greater understanding of this than the Ukrainians had. But, like Russia, I think China may be surprised surprised at the strength and depth of the sanctions that take place. Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Chinese government took pause from what a strong defense of their country Ukrainians are putting up, beside despite being hugely outnumbered by Russia.

What's good for the goose must be good for the gander... From Pattaya Mail As much as government officials would love to make Pattaya a “family friendly” resort, the city’s economy remains powered by bars. The reopening of bars as “restaurants” and the return of tourists is seeing the entire bar ecosystem come back to life. Phonpan, a bargirl on Soi 6, said the street of bars and pubs is getting busy again with British, German and, for now, some Russians patronizing hers and other bars. She can now earn about 1,000 baht a day. Prasit, a motorcycle taxi driver, said he’s busier, too, now that the bargirls need to travel to work and back. Gasoline prices are rising, so he’s happy to have more income. Somphon sells revealing clothing to the bargirls and she’s doing better too. Sales aren’t as good as they were in 2019, but she has hope for the future. ================================ From Pattaya News Today’s video is the current situation on the ground in Pattaya in terms of domestic tourism, according to the president of the Eastern Hotels Association. https://www.youtube.com/c/thepattayanews

W is a better hotel. No doubt about it. But, Meridien's location is better and it is good enough. Even having a 7/11 just opposite to it is pricless. W resembles So Sofitel in the manner that when you go out, there is nothing outside and you either need to walk some time or taxi. They are both "better" than Le Meridien. But Location, Location, Location. Next trip I'll probably return to Le Meridien.

Thank you so much for your amazing report! Looks like such a great time. Which hotel do you prefer Le Meridien or the W?

I think the judge's words were very appropriate. They shocked me, but they were quite necessary in this case, in these times. Narcissism and arrogance in America have rolled off the charts to dangerous levels. It's a serious problem, and, sadly, it seems a war of some sort (lots of bloodshed and loss) may be the only thing that can fix it. Too many people have lost their capacity to care about one another. Donald Trump, the orange orangutan, unleashed the god-awful, ugly cracken that he is. People are publicly behaving in ways we have not seen before. Double-down is the new behavior strategy when challenged, no matter what the truth is, no matter how wrong or arrogant you are. Frankly, fuck truth. It's me against you, a fight to the finish. Jussie Smollett is a very sad, morally bankrupt character. His family may be righteous and courageous to love and support the good side of him, but they are all suffering fools for tolerating the dark, cynical side. I can't believe it, but I watched the entire sentencing hearing. In the end, I was sickened with disgust by Smollett's behavior. The behavior I saw is not the behavior of an innocent man done wrong by his peers. This was pure, contrived spectacle for the angry and ignorant. A truly innocent man would have called on humility to address the judge and the court with respect, given the power and fairness of the American jury and court system. A truly innocent man done wrong would have begged for mercy and called on God to save him at this final hour, regardless of religious belief. The judge's harsh words had no effect on Smollett. NONE. ZERO. In fact, Smollett chose to double-down on his act of defiance, turning his defiance into a public cry to avoid or provoke conspiracy, in the event he dies while in jail and authorities try to call it a "suicide." Or worse, turning this whole charade into a fist-in-the-air, Black Power injustice fiasco. Again, it's US AGAINST THEM. Smollett clearly doesn't know when to quit. His narcissism is so severe, he thinks stubborn arrogance is the path forward to redemption. In many ways, ironic as all hell, Smollett is just another form of Trump and Trumpism. After you read the court testimonies, Smollett's entire concocted story is laughable. The storyline details of his odyssey wouldn't sell in Hollywood. None of his "facts" added up. He famously took the stand to defend himself, and a jury of his peers did not believe him. Lie or no lie, a smart, talented actor would have been able to seduce a jury to his side. Smollett's arrogant narcissism is not acting. It's also not very smart. It's a strange and peculiar phenomenon that leaves every reasonable person sad and heartbroken. Smollett's Black Power grievance stand is ridiculous, also laughable. Millions of reasonable people, Black and White were on his side. Reasonable people wanted to believe him. No one, not even the Chicago police, wanted to "get" Jussie Smollet, to bring him down. He was a nobody. A good-looking, Black actor who happened to be gay. No big deal. But after Smollett double-downed on his big lie, costing tax payers $130,000 and Lord knows how much damage to truth-telling victims of hate crimes, most of those reasonable people walked away. They did not like being played for fools. Now, Smollett will suffer even more. And I seriously doubt he can recover. He's dug himself in too deep.

That's the part I lost interest in the story.....😞

Ban (บ้าน) and bang (บาง) are distinct words in Thai: different tone, different final consonant. Ban means house or village; bang is a waterway or a locality along a waterway. As you might expect, the one in Bangkok (บางกอก) is the latter and still exists in the names of the districts Bangkok Yai and Bangkok Noi in Thonburi.

It's dismaying to hear that drugs are so popular in Bangkok.

@GoldMember Your trip reports are one of the top ten things I missed most during Covid! Welcome back and thanks for sharing your incredible stories!

Sounds like one hell of a trip! Great story telling. I cannot even think of the last time I stayed up to 4:30 AM.

I had a similar experience with @macaroni21 during their peak, some of the tawan guys had attitude. Some would even refuse to sit down with customer. And most have 2x off a night. I had the unfortunate experience that the guy fell asleep on me. He later explained he had been with a few customers earlier that night. The demand for these guys were so high, that some ultimately had to stop working in the bar after being offed permanently by the rich gay punters. It was only after their peak that I got to know some of the guys working there. Most are OK and down to earth once they get to know you and are less transactional in their interactions with me.

Tipsy Talk Back at the hotel Bangkok Guy heads to IconSiam to get a shirt for tonight while I shower before the tailor arrives. I am very pleased with the clothes and by the time Bangkok Guy returns I am wearing some of my new wardrobe, a pair of high-waisted caramel linen trousers held up with woven silk braces in light blue with a tropical fish design and a white Chinese-collared shirt, the collar and placket lined in deep navy. Bangkok Guy both likes and is amused by the braces “They cute”. He explains his amusement by showing me a picture of little children wearing outfits with braces – he associates braces with children’s clothing. He has bought a white Chinese collared shirt which matches mine. His phone rings. It is our driver from today saying that she will not be driving us tonight, one of her colleagues will collect us. We are disappointed as she is a co-conspirator and we like her car, a black Honda Accord, which Bangkok Guy tells me in Thailand is a “Boss car”. Her colleague arrives in an SUV, apparently “Not Boss car”, so we arrive at Baan Suriyasai as our humble selves. Our reservation is in Khun Bangkok Guy’s name as the restaurant was having trouble with my name and Bangkok Guy took over. The new shirt matches his status as patron-of-record. We have our usual room, a private table-for-two overlooking the courtyard. Bangkok Guy orders for us, old favorites like the pork belly with different sizes of egg and a few new dishes. As always the food is wonderful. No champagne by the glass, only by the bottle. I ask Bangkok Guy if he likes champagne and if he can drink more than a glass. I order a bottle after he affirms both. We don’t usually drink this much, certainly not Bangkok Guy, and the alcohol loosens the conversation. “Why you drink so much?” “All Falang drink”. “I not know Falang, I know you. You like alcohol more strong (than the champagne)”. I later ask for an eau-de-vie, confirming his analysis. “Your mother knows you are gay?” “Yes”. “Does it bother her?” He looks confused “Why it bother her?” “In the West some parents do not like their sons being gay”. “Oh?” he is not sure what to make of this Falang peculiarity. “Why you give me everything?” “I don’t give you everything”. “You give a lot”. “I like you”. “How much you like me?” “A lot” and I extend my arms to indicate the entire room and the universe beyond. “Why you like me?” “You are a very nice person. You have a good heart. You are responsible. You have a sense of humor”. “I not so nice”. “Really, why you say that?” “If I no want to talk to someone they can see, my face look like this” (he tries to pull a face of someone turning up their nose, but does not really succeed). I had wondered how Bangkok Guy’s complete lack of a poker face went down with fellow Thais and this suggests that it can cause problems. “You like me?” “Yes, you always nice to me, never ‘Ack Ack’ me, and you are funny”. ‘Ack Ack’ is said rolling back the lips to show the teeth in a biting motion. It’s a gesture I have used to indicate that I have had to deal with someone. He sees it as part of my being a Boss, but happily I don’t act as Boss to him. “Why you stay in such expensive hotel?” in a slightly critical tone. Bangkok Guy likes value-for-money, not expensive things. Now I discover why he called asking for the hotel address. I explain I have a deeply discounted rate, but admit it is still expensive. I am paying about twice as much as I normally would in order to get the space and river access, to keep distant from people because of covid. He nods, this is of a piece with my using the LimoPattaya rather than public transport and insisting on cracking the windows open despite smells outside. On the way to Ayutthaya, he wound the windows up because of a smell (not much of one to my nose, but he has a much keener sense of smell) and I put them back down. He felt the need to explain my odd behavior to our driver (I caught the word ‘covid’) and she just laughed. After driving me several times she was used to my strange obsession. “What do Thai people think when they see your ring?” I ask, indicating the ring-of-power-that-was-supposed-to-be-a-dragon on his ring-finger. “Think I am married”. “How many children do you tell them you have?” I tease him. Bangkok Guy gives me a tolerant ‘You are so Silly’ look and ignores the question. “In Thailand where you want to live, Bangkok or hometown?” “Bangkok too many people, but is business. Hometown is nice, have trees and nature, but no business. Stay Bangkok for business and live in hometown once business big enough. If could live anywhere, would live in mountains like you, cooler, air clean, not many people”. In mountains like me?! “I don’t live in mountains”. “Yes, I see many trees”. One time he called me I was in the garden and he has associated the many trees with forest, which he associates with mountains. He really does like nature. I explain the confusion. “Still many trees”, which I can’t deny. The comment about no business in hometown causes a penny to drop. The allowance I give him enables him to stay in Bangkok and keep alive his aspiration of creating a business. Without it covid would have forced a retreat to the hometown where the living is cheap but the opportunities are zero. “Outside Thailand, is there anywhere you would like to live?” “With you”. “You can live outside Thailand?” “Yes”. “But no Thai people, who you talk to?” His look implies I am missing something “Who you think run Thai restaurants?” he asks laughing. My local Thai restaurant is indeed run by Thais, and there is a temple twenty minutes away. I have always thought that Bangkok Guy was wedded to Thailand, so this is news. “You would be happy outside Thailand?” The answer here is nuanced. In Thailand getting ahead as a very poor person is difficult. His father went bankrupt a few years ago and now the responsibility for the financial wellbeing of the family unit (his mother and younger sister) rests on his shoulders. It is a lot. He accepts the responsibility, not accepting it is not a consideration, but he would like to be happy while he shoulders the responsibility and somehow this might be easier outside Thailand. My guess is that it comes back to needing emotional support and, possibly, he thinks there is more opportunity outside Thailand. Bangkok Guy, possessed of the ring of power, wants to join me in my woodland sanctuary. I wonder if this is how Tolkien got inspired? I’ve never heard that he visited Thailand.

Ayutthaya and Birthdays The same lady driver from LimoPattaya is on time in her very nice car to drive us to Ayutthaya. As usual, Bangkok Guy curls up on the back seat and rests his head in my lap. My role as human pillow is secure. After the first temple, one with tortoises, we are hungry. Bangkok Guy finds a place online and a ten minute stroll finds us at a charming old wooden Thai structure nestled in a garden. No one in sight, and we are concerned that it is closed until we find the proprietors seated around a table at the back having lunch. We are the only customers, and they are delighted to see us. Bangkok Guy selects what turns out to be a very good lunch. Over lunch we continue an earlier discussion of future travel plans. We have been looking at all the places that Thais can go without visas and some of these correspond to my bucket list, including the Maldives and the Serengeti (Tanzania and Kenya are e-visa, failing which South Africa and Kruger National Park is no visa). He does not know the Serengeti, so I type it on his phone and he explores the pictures on the web, his grin widening. He holds up a picture of one of the lodges with eco-style architecture: “This where we stay?”. “Can”. “I want!!” He is however a frugal realist: “But expensive?” Yes, compared to Tokyo which had been the next on our list, but as I want to go anyway and it will be more fun with Bangkok Guy than by myself, I assure him we can do it. Our post-covid travel plan is now the Maldives and Africa. Tokyo is banished: “It only shopping”. However, who knows when covid will end. For the second half of this year we agree that he will plan a trip for us in Thailand. Bangkok Guy is enthusiastic and shows me pics of himself on holiday in various spots of natural beauty around Thailand. He really likes scenic beauty, partly for the beauty and partly for the absence of people, and traces out a possible route on a map, all nature spots except Chang Mai which, as I have not been there, he thinks I should see. We will hire a car, he can drive, he is in fact very enthusiastic to drive me. To avoid circumnavigating Thailand by car, which I think would be tiring, I point out that he has a credit with Bangkok Airways for the cancelled Koh Samui ticket, so when we reach the far North we can fly South and hire another car. Given the logic of a free flight, he agrees, although left to himself he would drive the entire way. Lunch over, he calls the driver (they exchanged numbers and he is now in charge of driver relations) and we visit more temples including the Buddha-head-in-tree, the one with a big fishpond and the reclining Buddha. Our last stop is a floating market which Bangkok Guy is very keen to re-visit as he enjoyed it on a previous occasion. From his photos I thought it was a local market, but it is clearly built-for-tourists, albeit strongly appealing to Thai tourists. Unfortunately many of the shops and the ladies selling from boats in the small lake are no more, victims of the economy. Bangkok Guy is disappointed but unfazed and once he finds a clothing store I see why he likes this place – very attractive casual clothing at very cheap prices. He gets a stylish tie-died shirt and loose pants in white with a red-brown Thai-patten print for 100Bt each. H&M and Uniqlo, eat your hearts out. It is now a little past the hour at which we need to depart if I am going to be back at the hotel in time to receive the completed clothes from my tailor. Bangkok Guy speaks with our driver, and we are on the road home for all of four minutes when we suddenly pull over and circle around for a parking spot. To my questioning face Bangkok Guy says ‘Two minute’ with his ‘Trust Me’ expression. I assume he needs to go to the toilet. Ten minutes later I am beginning to wonder. Fifteen minutes later I line him “?” and get a quick response “Five minutes” and a sticker indicating ‘please’. My “Ok. What you doing?” gets a sticker of a figure biting its fingernails. “Not to worry, but only because it is you” to which he responds with a kiss sticker. Whatever he is doing, it means something to him, and I will find out eventually. I text my tailor that I am running late and can he please come thirty minutes later than scheduled, a request with which he is fine. I look back in the direction in which Bangkok Guy went to see if there is any sign of him and spot an advertising sign for a jeweler. Our driver is watching me. “Did he go to the jeweler?” “Yes”, she smiles. She is in on whatever he is up to. I decide to visit the jewelry shop. As I approach the shopgirls see me and by the time I enter they and Bangkok Guy are doubled-over in guilty laughter. A gold dragon on a red cord is just about to be placed in its gift box. Instead, Bangkok Guy places it around my wrist “Happy Birthday!” Everyone in the shop is beaming. It is the same type of dragon that I gave him the money to buy two years ago, instead of which he bought the ring. I had said I would like one and we had planned to take a boat to Chinatown tomorrow to get one for each of us. Bangkok Guy had drawn me into a thorough discussion of what size dragon I wanted compared to the size he wanted, and in the car on the drive here had played around comparing his hand and wrist with mine, I now realize to size the red cord correctly. I offer to buy him one but no, he has the ring, the whole point of the discussion was to find out what size of dragon I wanted. I am quite blown away and grinning from ear to ear. This is a nicest gift I have had in a long time, and the best planned. As an aside, our lady driver passed Bangkok Guy’s number on to LimoPattaya, and for the remainder of the trip LimoPattaya call Bangkok Guy, not me.

Enter Bangkok Guy Complete radio silence from Bangkok Guy, which is not a surprise as he only communicates if there is something to communicate and, unlike me, feels no need to reconfirm what is already agreed. The need to keep multiple balls in the air in business has habituated me to rigorous management of time and process which I unwisely carry over into my personal life. Unwisely, as it gets in the way of relaxation and spontaneity. In Bangkok Guy’s words ‘So much organize’. Bangkok Guy has three approaches to managing this potentially irritating part of my personality. Amused indulgence while he watches me attempt to bend the universe to my will, when a wise person would realize you can only organize so much and then play the rest by ear; persistent but gentle suggestions that I need to relax more; and simply ignoring me and doing what he thinks is necessary at the pace he considers suitable. Today he is ignoring me. A little after 5pm he Line’s me that he has finished his errands and is on his way, followed by a Thai-language screenshot of the hotel with the question “This your hotel?” Odd question as he has already spoken to the hotel about his vaccination status, so I guess that his taxi driver knows of other hotels with similar names and wants confirmation of the address. I later discover that he went into the website to get the address and got such a shock at the room rate (full board, not my heavily discounted rate) that he felt he needed to confirm. It is great to see him. He looks good and his eyes have their usual sense of mischief. After two years apart we are both happy, hopeful, but slightly hesitant. Is this going to click and pick up from where we left off? I reassure him that as he has been sick, we go at his pace. I follow him. He wants to rest, we rest. He wants to go to Bamboo Bar, we go, but if he does not feel up to it, we do not go. His face, mirroring his thoughts as always, is a picture of great satisfaction mixed with thought. He snuggles close and smiles “I follow you”. “You have been sick, I want to be sure you are ok”. “I not tired any more, can go anywhere. You want to go Ayutthaya? Can go.” I touch the gold ring on his ring-finger. “You give money for (he uses a Thai word meaning dragon charm) but I buy ring”. We have had this discussion on Line, but now that I am seeing the ring in person for the first time, he is watching my reaction. “So you wear my ring?” “Yes”, with a mischievous smile. “So you are mine?” “Yes”, with the mischief heading off the scale. I trace his eyebrows with my finger “These mine?” “Yes.” Stroking his nose “This mine?” “Yes.” Comprehensive exploration reveals that all of him is mine. Ah, but apparently a rule of reciprocity applies here. “If ring make you mine, then ring makes me yours?” “Yes.” “All of me?” “Yes” with a great grin. This is clearly a powerful ring, but alas for Sir Peter Jackson there is no material here for a further trilogy. Unlike Sauron, Bangkok Guy is likely to use the power of the ring gently and reasonably, mischief and grinning included. It does not take much empathy to understand that while Bangkok Guy needs and likes the financial support I provide, he also needs love. He has a romantic heart but beyond that, sane and well-balanced as he is, I sense a need for emotional support. I don’t know his full family background, but there is a deficit there that needs to be filled. After a couple of hours slowly reintroducing ourselves, we shower before heading to Bamboo Bar. We are again very comfortable with each other. Things are not back to where we left off. Somehow they have moved beyond that.

Apolo … been there dump that; not appalling, but … ———— Juan Bin Bin … Bin there dump that. Don’t wanna go to there again.

@daveti truly don't know, but reach out to Ezekiel as I'm sure he can help you. When I go back in March I will see if the guys he spoke about are comparable to the guys in Santo Domingo. While at the Hardrock I did get the attention of a sexy tech who works in the casino.. we exchanged numbers and he told me he couldn't go to my room as it is against resort policy. Stay safe and be well, my friend...

Thanks ¡Gracias!

If you stay in resort you will have problem in finding a boys. You can try on Grinder and if you find what you like you have to inform Hotel that you will have a visitor and pay Daypass for him. So guy need to send you copy of his ID. Better luck you will have in capital.

No info, anybody? When will someone develop an all-inclusive resort that is truly all-inclusive, like an open-air Brazilian sauna with a beach attached? All you can eat of course.

Having fun ,even went to the beach a few times (I'm like a vampire). Lot's of guys on Grindr, still gotta watch out for photoshopped and fake pics...but 10-20 usd is the ballpark that most MB are asking for, a few higher but they drop down after you say too much. I'd say 60% MB and the rest looking for fun or possible BF. I feel like Indonesian guys are how I remember it being in BKK 15-20 yrs ago.....even with MB, it doesn't feel so transactional. No discussion of long time or short time, if you get along with each other, a dinner or movie ...there's no further discussion about more money or buying them things (cell phones, laptops, motorbike). No stories about mother or the family cow dying either. in Bali there are 4 gay bars next to each other and a number of massage places...beach restaurants/bars are open until midnight, so nice listening to music and watching the sunset into the night sky on the beach. Lots of great restaurants, many Italian with amazing food. I'm spending 1/3 of what I spend in Thailand and still having as much fun and sex (maybe more).