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Day 1.5: Just like riding a bike So we slingshotted from the muggy streets of JBR Beach in Dubai at 3 AM, to the damp streets of Silom in Bangkok at 12 midnight, in under just 13 hours, we really didn’t have any time to stop and smell the roses. Until now. We wandered our way from Moonlight to Patpong, where the cluster of boy bars resided. Not many people were still out and about, and I wasn't sure if it was because it's already 12 midnight on a Sunday, or it just rained, or because of the lingering pandemic, or all of the above. I was expecting the usual throng of people milling about, and street vendors hawking food and souvenirs, and massage therapists enticing you with their brand of relaxation, and with all the smells and the heat that is in this part of the world, made a heady mixture in the air that can make you delirious and keep wanting more. Instead it was almost solemn, peaceful, sleepy. Not dead, or empty, just tranquil and serene. We walked, without urgency, only purpose, to Patpong. Tiago held my hand, as he has been accustomed to do in Brazil, and as he was forbidden to do in the Middle East. “This is fine, right?” he asks me, as he squeezes the hand he was holding. I assured him it was. We were in Bangkok after all. And not just any place, we were in Silom. This place is legendary. You just had to see it to believe it existed. No Bangkok guidebook or Tripadvisor review or Instagram post can capture its true essence. You only had to hear about it, to know it’s worth visiting. And once you do, there’s no way you want to leave. Well, ok, that was the Silom of old. The Silom of right now was kind of a sleepy place, at least at this hour. As we make our way into Patpong 2, Tiago notices a bar that advertised Muay Thai fights on its street sign. It was the Pink Panther. “Are there fights here?” he asked, interested in seeing something that is in his line of work. I’ve never been, but I answered that “I think there are, but this place is mostly a girlie joint.” Tiago then asks “And we are not doing any girl stuff this trip right?” I laugh. I know that these bisexual Brazilians will fuck anything in sight, but I tell him “Maybe, if you’re good,” just to tease him. You have to admit, that Patpong 2 is a poor substitute for Soi Twilight. Yes, thank goodness that a lot of the refugee bars from Soi Twilight found a home on Patpong 2, but the Soi is bookended by girlie bars, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site Foodland ™ was smack dab in the middle of all the action. Gone are the days that most of the gay bars were concentrated in a focused strip of a street, with touts manhandling you to compete for your attention as you make your way through the Soi. A bit of that still happens, but it's just not the same. Perhaps, it is just following a world trend that has done away with gay neighborhoods, and welcoming a more integrated world. We are the victims of our own success. We demanded for visibility and equality, and once we've achieved it, we became just like everyone else, sandwiched between girlie bars. Probably outdated, still interesting, from bangkokeyes.com The tout of Fresh Boys was the first to greet us, trying very hard for us to get to go enter the bar. “No thank you,” was my answer, even with the tout promising that the boys were fresher here than anywhere else on the Soi. I dragged Tiago away from the tout to get to the nexus of Dream Boy and Hot Male. And before their respective touts had a chance to plead their cases, a boyish voice suddenly shouts “Numazu, what the hell are you doing here?” And the voice used my real name too. Tiago asks, “How does he know your name?” I answer “The same reason everyone in Sao Paulo knows my name." Let's call him HM, the bar boy extraordinaire of Hot Male, who shouted out that sentence alerting boys in even as far as Jupiter (the bar? the planet? your call) that Numazu has arrived. He runs over to hug me. I introduce Tiago, who then hugs HM in return. “Your boyfriend?” HM asks, of course. “Yes,” and I fill him in the details of our trip. He then fills me in about the scene, what he has been doing, and regaled me with stories of mutual friends, and heartaches, that I have been witness to in the past. It was like catching up with an old friend. And he truly was an old friend. A sexy old friend. Tiago, meanwhile, was getting some attention from the tout of Hot Male, who was enticing him to go up to see some hot males to his bar. “I don’t know what he wants me to do,” he tells me, not understanding Thai accented English. “He was asking you if we wanted to go upstairs to another boy bar. He asked me if I wanted to. I said sure, why not, since we are here. I bid adieu to the town crier and headed up over to Hot Male. There was still a lot of people inside Hot Male even if it was after the show. About 4 groups of people, with a variety of boys sprinkled in there. As we get settled in our seats, and get our drink order (water and rum coke – weak af), I see that there were 5 guys onstage with their dicks hanging out on full display. I’d say that they were all nice looking, so it was pleasant sight to see. Tiago of course, asked about this display of dicks, so I give him a rundown of what I usually see in a boy bar. He then asks about HM, how I know him, where he was from, and asked me if HM's English was fluent. I said it was, and its fairly advanced compared to the average working boy, and it is better than even (Tiago's) English. He asked how this was possible, since he was having a hard time getting to that level of fluency. I told him that HM probably learned the most from all the farangs he has met through the years, just practicing with them, not afraid to make mistakes and open in being corrected, etc. Tiago said that he took classes in Brazil but still struggles. Hot Male didn’t have a lot of boys in the bar, but the ones they had were a pretty nice selection. I could see offing almost everyone in the bar at this moment, but we already had that pending off. One stand out for me was this guy. Amazing body and cute face. Could be fun: I get a text from MonBoy saying he was wrapping up and asked me where we could meet him. Told him we will wait for him on Patpong 2. And then one by one, people at Hot Male got up and left. We pay for our two drinks, and descend back to street level. After a few minutes of banter with HM, MonBoy shows up. HM does a double take, and then greets him, in Burmese, Thai? Of course HM knows him, and knows him being with me in the past. He bids all of us farewell as he helps close down his bar. I order a Grab Taxi, and soon the three of us are bunched in together in the back seat. I was in the middle. Tiago rests put his hand on my thigh as he looks out at the scenery. MonBoy held my hand and rested his head on my shoulder. We get home, and Tiago immediately takes off his shirt, as it was hot. MonBoy suddenly gets bashful. He sits on the couch, saying nothing, while Tiago and I get comfortable at home. I sense MonBoy’s sudden shyness and ask him if he wanted to shower. He said he just showered so he was fine. Tiago, eager for a shower, strips naked as the day he was born, and heads for the shower in the guest bedroom. MonBoy laughs, perhaps not used to such immodest manner from clients. “Why don’t we shower together?” I ask him. OK he said. He takes off his shirt, and takes the rest of his clothes in the free bathroom. I join him, stark naked. I have known every angle of every nook and every cranny of MonBoy’s body. I was eager to see how it feels after almost 3 years of not seeing him. There, in the shower, I see that he has not changed much. He still has that bronze skin that was smooth as silk. His torso was a leaner than before, still athletic, still fit as ever, but he was noticeably smaller. Except the ass, all its glory is still there. Two perfect mounds. The cock was the cock, he still has that famous bigger than average cock. And the face, maybe a little bit more worn, gaunter, but still beautiful as ever before. After some initial soap and rinse down, we make out. He still is the best kisser I’ve ever had in Thailand. He certainly knows how to do it, or at least how I wanted it. I stroke his dick, it gets to attention. After some more foreplay, I reach for the towel to dry us off. We emerge from the bathroom and find Tiago laying on the bed, stroking his dick on one hand, his phone on the other, watching a video. He puts the phone away when he sees us emerge. MonBoy gets shy again looking at me, and then at Tiago, and then at Tiago’s dick. I tell Tiago, in Portuguese, that MonBoy is a little bit shy. Tiago gets the hint and stands up, to make some space, dick swinging with his motion. What followed was a little bit awkward, but nonetheless fun to explore and try out. MonBoy eventually got settled in bed, but couldn’t get hard again like he was in the shower. Tiago asked if he was in the way, but MonBoy assured us he was fine with the two of us being there. The kissing was hot, everyone tried to suck each other, which was hot. Tiago was really into rimming MonBoy, which was fun to watch. Monboy probably embarrassed with his shy penis, offered to bottom for both of us. I asked MonBoy if he has taken anyone as big as Tiago before. MonBoy assured us he did. I’ve seen MonBoy take dick like a champion before. Tonight was not one of those nights. He tried tho, which was in itself a triumph. Tiago came jacking himself off while rimming MonBoy. I came while jacking myself off, Tiago sucking my nipples, and MonBoy making out with me. MonBoy stayed being shy. Which was fine. We all shower after, with again Tiago in the second bathroom and MonBoy and me in the master. MonBoy asks to stay for a little bit because he wants to take the BTS/MRT home and it doesn’t start up till morning. I offer a GrabTaxi and he says its just easier for him to use the train. Tiago settles in the bed and gets to deep slumber almost immediately. I plop myself in the middle while MonBoy settles in beside me. It was a long day, and it all hit me and put me to sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. Everything that happened tonight was very familiar. It was like those 2 and a half years never happened. And I got on the saddle really quick. It was just like riding a bike. Well, almost. I guess Tiago’s bike was too large for MonBoy to ride. It doesn’t matter. As long as you are along for the ride, that’s what counts. Next, the morning after…

No. I am the one who offed the guy up there.

It looks like someone else took over Super A pre-Covid's location and it's now a different business the last time I checked. I walked past Nature Boys many times (on my way to the nearby market and/or New Twilight) and can sense that there are some activities going on behind their thick door curtains. But never have had the courage to enter (I feel like it's too small and thus too intimate for first-time visitors like me)

One of the last moments of soi twilight in 2019 ... a guy removing the dream boy sign ...

Day 1: The Quarantine 15 It’s no secret that my preference is for guys with a little bit of muscle on them. That’s just a preference, it’s like if men were all on a grocery store shelf, it’s the first one I’d pick out of the rest. But that does not mean that sometimes I'll venture further into the aisle and pick something fat-free, or something with more fat content, or something saltier (I don’t know what that means). I go with what is fun at the moment, and that kind of open-mindedness was improved by the pandemic, another unintended consequence of the event that changed all our lives. So in picking the bar to go to tonight, being pressed for time, I decided on the low hanging fruit, the one that has worked for me in the past, filled with my usual preference for boys. I also had to balance that with what Tiago, my companion, would enjoy the most as well. Granted, that this is his first time going into a Thai boy bar, or any bar that had escorts (he has not been to the saunas in Brazil, he said), so he was eager to just experience it all. So I had to pick one with a decent show. So there was just one bar I could think of that fit all this – Moonlight Bangkok. My first impression of Moonlight, July 2018: They are adept in using social media to evangelize their brand of boy bar. Which I admit bode well for them in the lonely months during quarantine. It is always interesting how any establishment that depends highly on reputation and hype dealt with the pandemic. In March 2020, as the world closed itself to deal with the pandemic, I remember Moonlight going from hyping Songkran 2020 (to which I was looking forward to): to temperature checks in March 15, 2020 (they tried!): to closure in March 18, 2020, with an expectation to reopen in 2 weeks (just like me who thought this was just a 2 week thing): to continued closure: to some reason the Moonlight models working at HotMale bar: to a final reopening at the end of September 2020: And a great show soon after, with an amazing model, Mr Jack, and his “sexist” underwear. i wish he would come back, he is hot: Through it all, they’ve maintained their social media presence, keeping the light on in that sense, and always kept everyone informed about next steps. I think with all the uncertainty with what pandemic has brought in our lives, having this reliable source of info, good or bad, was a comfort. Kudos to the management of that establishment, I think this should be an example on how to do social media, and customers are not left with gossip and hearsay to sustain them during those dark days. Back to the present: Happy Beer Garden has never changed. For some reason one of the waiters recognized me and asked me how I was. I do not remember him at all. Anyway, after a few pleasantries, I told him we were in a hurry to make a 10:30 PM show at Moonlight so we had to get our food in a jiffy. Since Tiago is Brazilian, he does not like spicy food, so I had to scour for the mild offerings in the menu. I settled on a chicken dish with rice, which he still thought was spicy. I told him to get used to it, since he’ll be here for 6 months. I also got a Thai Icea Tea to calibrate my taste buds and remind it how awesome Thai food was and to get ready for its many delights. Luckily the waiter was true to his word and we were out there in 15 minutes, which gave us plenty of time to saunter over that unpronounceable alley way off of Surawong Rd to Moonlight. I guess Mr. Nut is now the face of Moonlight? Great choice. Things that felt familiar: the 400 baht entrance fee with welcome drink, no changes in seating and stage. AC was on full blast. We get guided by a mamasan to our seats, which was toward the back and at the center, which I thought was pretty good seating. Tiago sat down, and looked around, took it in, smiling the whole time. He looked across the room, and found 3 boys, some in underwear, some shirtless, some in tank tops, some in pants. The boys rotated, but it was always 3 at a time on stage. Tiago then had a million questions, possibly the same exact questions I had when it was my first time in this bar, and in a Bangkok boy bar. Yes, all the boys are available for sex. Yes, you can use the number to identify the boy you want to off. No, most of them are Thai, but some are from Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. A boy costs probably 2000 baht to 5000 baht, depending on the boy snd the length of the off. Yes, most of them are tops, but there are a lot of bottoms as well. And the most important answer – Maybe, I can get a boy, but only if you’re comfortable with it. Tiago looks at me and shrugs. He tells me he always defers to me for that. “Let’s see who is hot among these guys,” he said. We were asked our drinks. Tiago, who doesn’t drink, ordered a water. I ordered a “rum coke”, which was a test drink I would order in every bar in order to judge who served the stiffest drink. This is a test I’ve employed in other establishments, and there was oftentimes a correlation between how good or strong my cuba libre (rum and coke) was to how much fun I’d have that night, since cocktails are of differing quality in the world. Tiago asks how much the drink was, I tell him it was roughly 55 Brazilian reais. “That seems really expensive,” he says. I tell him that this is like an entry fee, and tell him the entry fee to the Sao Paulo’s Lagoa sauna is 65 reais, without any drinks. And I tell him that we get to see this one-hour show, so it all is pretty worth it. The drink was pretty weak. Not a good sign lol. Before the show started, I see a familiar face among the rotating boys. The boy who has defined all my Thailand visits. The boy who other offs has been measured against – MonBoy, the Myanmar boy from Mon State. My first impression of him, in June 2017: I tell Tiago the cliff notes of my past relationship with MonBoy. He takes a look at him and tell me to invite him to sit with us. I mention to him to come over. He bows, but was hesitant, and then gets off the stage and goes over a group of 4 Thais sitting just to the left of the stage and talked to them for a bit. MonBoy then goes over to us. “Where sitting?” Mon Boy asks. Tiago schooches over to make a space between us so MonBoy can be sandwiched in between. Good sign. He greets both of us, and then leans on me and asks “Your boyfriend?” pertaining to Tiago. Good question. When we were planning the Doha-Dubai-Bangkok trip, Tiago brought up the subject of what were supposed to be to each other while traveling. This question came up when we went on that trial run to Mexico, when he was showing immigration hotel accommodations for Cancun where we were staying, which had both our names on it. He told immigration that I was his boyfriend, and I was American, which was code for “Don’t worry about the Brazilian entering your country, he is with an American who will pay for everything.” He even showed the immigration people our pics together (chaste ones having dinner, walking along Paulista Street, at the gym). I told him sure, this will work for Thailand too, but not in Qatar, or the United Arab Emirates. Not true, it did work, indirectly, in Dubai, where we checked in together at the Hilton. When we handed over our passports, the handsome check-in guy asked us if we needed a King size bed instead of two doubles. I replied “King, of course” and the guy didn’t even bat an eye. I reflexively said “Yes, he is my boyfriend,” after introducing him as such for a better part of 2 weeks now. MonBoy then looks at Tiago and shook his hand. Tiago, all Brazilian, pulls him in for a hug. They laughed. This might actually work out. After some initial greetings, MonBoy tells me that he is actually committed to a short time encounter with the Thais he talked to before. But he says that he can meet up after that if I was still interested. I told him of course. He gives me a kiss in the cheek, and gets Tiago’s left hand and kisses his hand, and leaves. This works out, no payment of an off fee. I explain the situation to Tiago. The show starts, and quite frankly, nothing has changed in the numbers, the drag queens, and the quality of the show. It’s like I’ve never left and just saw this same show the week before. I knew certain songs were different, and some numbers were different, but it all just felt the same. What changed me for, however, was I was with Tiago. He kept asking first-timer questions that were interesting and funny. Like “Is that really a guy,” or “Do Asian boys kiss like Brazilians,” or “Do these shows also exist in Brazil?” I tell him, no. The shows in saunas in Brazil were kind of different. Some drag queens, yes, depending on the venue, but the males did not have elaborate numbers like here. In Brazil, it was just a man, a very muscular man, stripping sensually to nothing but his undies, and then showing his ass, and then his erection, after the number was over. “Which one do you prefer? This, or Brazil’s way?” he asks. I think about it for a minute. I tell him it depends. Sometimes I like this spectacle and disciplined dance numbers. Sometimes I’d just like to see a large cock. So, “Os dois – Both,” was my final answer. “Very American of you,” he tells me. That was not the first time he has called me as such during this trip. Just some asides, and this might sound a bit petty, but I did notice some models were a little less defined than before. Don't get me wrong, they still look fine. The pandemic was hard to us all, and I am in no prized shape either. Maybe its because I was with Tiago, and therefore I was measuring everything with his (fairly large) measuring stick, but judge for yourself. 2019 in the left, when I left them last, and 2022 how I’ve seen them now: Mr York Mr Tum Or maybe they just had a big dinner, who knows. I did like Mr Korn A LOT. He has this cocky humbleness to him, and once in a while he would smirk and I see possibilities. Maybe a future off: The show finishes. Some live entertainment was next, and as advertised, it was pretty fun, and the vocalist, May, was pretty good I think this was a good addition to the bar. If we weren't tired, we would have stayed longer: I get a message from MonBoy, telling me he is going to his client’s hotel. We leave Moonlight. I tell him we were going to Patpong, to see what’s up. Next post, another Boy Bar to go to (which one, can you guess), and a familiar face, next.

But you are first time visitor with experience so nothing should shock you there. Be brave !

Is that you up there?

Their Facebook account states open at 7 pm, but I never visited as early as that during my trip. You might well find boys sat outside at that time, but maybe the most attractive ones will turn up later.

I think I feel compelled to publicly thank @Slvkguy (S in @Riobard's story for those who are not paying attention) for two major achievements: He has unmasked one of the most deceitful, manipulative, malign, bat crazy trolls I had never interacted with. With the same emphasis that I express my gratitude, I want to suggest @Slvkguy to take the case privately to the owner, and end the public beefing. If anyone who is paying attention still think that the troll is an innocent victim, they are blind. He has trigger @Riobardto write a long, multiple paragraphs posts, in an language that even this not very bright English learner can understand without calling my cryptologist and Egyptologist friends to give me a hand. THANK YOU, @Slvkguy My gratitud is blurred, however, by a little tiny question hammering my decaying brain: Why did @Riobard pick a Capital O instead of a capital J?

Hello Emiel1981, Back in 2015 I took a hired gay guide couple who gave me a road trip through Chiang Mai, Chaing Rai, Sukhothai, and then the fabulous Kanchanaburi region. Here is a link to my 2015 trip report - in case it could be helpful to you. Cheers and enjoy, M. 2015 trip report

I did a 3 day/2 night Isaan tour many years ago that included Phimai and Phnom Rung. I feel like Phimai is really underrated. My trip was arranged through a travel agent which is no longer in business. But it was a nice trip. I had a guide and driver. We stayed in Khorat for the the overnights and did day trips out from there. I always felt like arranging a guide and driver was cheap enough to make it worth doing rather than dealing with trains and local transport. You might want to take a look at Paddy Doyle's YouTube channel. He recently finished visiting every province of Thailand on a moped. After completing the mission he posted several "best of" videos if you aren't interested in watching all of his travelogues. [He's touring Vietnam now] He shares info about lots of places I had never heard of. Depending how far afield you have already traveled you might consider places like Sukhothai and the many nearby national parks. I personally would like to spend some time up in the northern mountains some time. I did Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai long ago with visits to places like Doi Tung and Lampang and Lamphun.

The word "back door" tends to put some of us in an instant alert mode

Yes Winner was certainly thriving last night when I was there at 10pm with around 10 boys still there - 2 or 3 outside sat at tables with customers and the rest taking it in turns to dance or with the 3 customers including myself. Drinks are inexpensive and the music volume is reasonable. Boys were all in briefs apart from one in a g-string. It’s an Oasis in the mIddle of a ghost town. The owner certainly has got the formula right, but then it always used to be right in days gone by. Sunee’s decline could be judged by the motor bike taxi driver I engaged on second road not knowing where it was situated - I had to direct him. When I told him to stop at the entrance he looked down the dark deserted Soi appeared worried and said “sure ?”

I'd go for Panama, Indonesia and Cambodia..... https://fb.watch/eci5fUsGo_/

From Bangkok Post The Ministry of Public Health has revoked its previous declaration of seven countries as Covid-19 danger zones, citing an improvement in the pandemic situation and the global vaccination coverage against coronavirus. The decision to remove Italy, Iran, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Indonesia from the list of dangerous epidemic areas was reached at a meeting of the national committee on disease control held on Friday.

On my next trip I am planning to visit the far north Chiang Mai,Pai and Mae Hong Son never had been there due my laziness.I am planning more touristic things then boys. lol . By the way I had been in Sukothai five years ago, the old city is amazing much more impressive then ruins in Ayutthaya and the Thai's there are the most lovely people I ever met in Thailand.

Why does any hot stud need to speak to me while sitting on my face? My attention is elsewhere and he grasps the task at hand wordlessly. And how can I manage intelligible pronunciation with a smothered mumble owing to a delicious ass pressed against my piehole? When the time is up he’ll just get off. Nonverbal cues are the backbone of communication. Think hunters and gatherers. I’m getting a meal, not braiding hair.

Wow Numazu, In my opinion, you are Rush reincarnated with your writing capabilities. Rush archives I really like the way that you write and the fact that you included a map, which is a 5***** star act for me!! So many posters here write their fabulous trip reports (greatly appreciated) but without a map for context - I often get lost and confused about the lay of the land. A map helps me to get oriented and prepared for my to-be adventure. Thanks. Numazu, the snippet what you wrote above - is SO true. Us gays we have fought so many years for equality and now that we have almost gained it - we are starting to lose our ghettos (hang out zones) - which for me are what made being gay so special. The first time I walked into Soi Twilight many years ago was one of the MOST gay captivating events in my entire gay life (even more so than Amsterdam, San Francisco, Paris, and New York). The intensity of it all was at first overwhelming but over time it became easier and easier to digest and enjoy - it was like heaven. I cannot wait to read your next segment.....

were you there too ....😉

This debate comes now and then, and in my opinion is nonsense, because ultimately it is about personal preferences. If you enjoy traveling to Brazil to hook up for free, go ahead, you will have a lot of fun and hot men joining you. If you travel to Brazil to have paid sex, go ahead, you will have a lot of fun and hot men joining you. There is not an option better than the other, do whatever leaves you satisfied and happy. In my personal circumstances, I go for the saunas but I have also enjoyed for free hook ups. That is what I do, and I do not pretend to sell my personal choices as superior to others'.

My hunch is next stop is Hot Male...

To be honest, I haven't moved on from that guy.. I still bought food from him one time, gave him 100 and he gave me a cute shocked look 😌 I still greet him whenever I pass by but I try to avoid eye contact with him as much as possible. Project # 2, which is this cute cook in Amarin is still no progress though I gave him 100 tip twice already which could have been quite weird for him since you dont really use cash to pay in Amarin food court. I have no game plan with this guy in all honesty. The whole gogo bar and massage shops have grown on me already. It's just so easy. You go to bar, check if someone's your type and you just pay to bang. The idea of guys doing it with 10000 other customers kills the fun for me too. Cruising (for straight guys) is the complete opposite. It can be very challenging and entertaining. But it is also very tiring (you have to walk a lot to scout for cute guys lol) and can be very disappointing. But I enjoy it. I enjoy walking around looking for cute guys. Gives me motivation to learn Thai too. I am also quite surprised that not a lot forumers here are into cruising (and into straight guys). In another gay forum I was in, this topic is even granulated into cruising for basketball players, models, celebrities, drivers, construction workers, etc..

I remember paying for hustlers at the greyhound station when I was 17.....kind of have the Charlie Sheen motto that I don't feel like I'm paying for sex, I'm paying for them to leave afterwards.....plus once I'm finished, I'm finished. Maybe selfish, but I don't have the patience or stamina to keep going waiting for the other person to get off, lol I do meet some on Grindr or in clubs that aren't paid hookups, it feels awkward and I'm always asking....you need money to get home or anything 😝

I like all 3 forums: Gaybuttonthai.com Sawatdeenetwork.com www.gayguides.com I like Gaybutton more for practical information (how to stuff and how to get over bureaucratic issues), I like Sawatdee because it is more focused on Pattaya, And then, the grand-daddy of all of them - this forum, gayguides - mostly for 1.) for within Thailand - more non-Pattaya stuff, 2.) the global boards for information on Europe, South America, and Asia.

As I understand it, if I have this right, forum member S posted a trip report some weeks ago, including details about a service provided by advertiser G. Eventually member D backchatted with S to discuss the S-G transaction, seemingly innocent enough. [I have altered some cap letters in a way that does not undermine tracking the event sequence] D subsequently engaged with G, stating and using his social connection with S in order to extract service playbook details, etc, information-seeking that someone like G might have handled differently had D simply been one inquirer among a horde of inquirers to which those in G’s service industry would be ordinarily accustomed. But then D had evidently pushed so hard and so inappropriately for information, attention, what have you, from G that G took time from his service schedule to castigate S for putting D onto him. This inevitably eroded S’s social capital with G, perhaps extending beyond due to service network interactions. Meanwhile, it appears that D could, or expected to, walk away unscathed. In actuality, D could have reached out to any number of players in G’s service industry … without manipulatively prevailing upon any forum member for the purposes of seeking an ‘in’ with the hope/goal of enhanced attention from (a) specific service provider(s). S naturally and justifiably related this ugly experience on the forum, stimulating a discussion regarding how to handle sensitive information in the context of a forum in which some members’ behaviour and motives surrounding such information cannot be reliably predicted. It seems the plot then thickens as it appears that, not surprisingly, D quickly re-emerged as O. There may be other capital letters representative of players involved, given the flexibility within the forum for altering handles. However, S has only ever been S. S, and most of us in fact, view the prerogative of changing handles as legitimate. However, this happened very quickly, the incident funeral meats still lukewarm, and S perhaps still understandably wishing for, one, some kind of accounting from D/O+, and, two, desiring to alert other members regarding an established interloper’s pattern of ingratiating himself with others with the likely intent of repeating the kind of behaviour and trust-engendering that ultimately bit S in the ass. When S then initiated an exchange with O regarding an accounting of D’s behaviour that COULD be attributable to O, on the assumption D=O, it seems that O responded as if S was being inappropriately unwelcoming of new members, as if in fact S were being persecutory. This was puzzling and suspect because O could have carried on with his stated ‘new’ membership agenda without feeding the assumption he was, in fact, the original interloper D. His aim, apparently, was to split the forum membership into camps, hoping to conquer S, S being representative of decorum regarding how members handle information about service providers. S has naturally persisted in drawing attention to these dynamics because in addition to having been manipulated regarding the original G information scenario, he is reacting to apparent attempts made by the interloper to hoodwink him and the forum at large. I do believe that S may have cards yet to play, has alluded to such, and wishes to utilize his evidentiary data judiciously. At this point, an overt admission from O as to identity and troublemaking history is not required by SOME of us, according to our tolerance level for ambiguity. The membership IS divided, has capitulated to an interloper’s shenanigans, as some are blind to the unfortunate set of events, some may support D’s actions pursued with impunity because they have unique forbearance or would be inclined to replicate such behaviour themselves to a degree, or some may think S’s patient steadfastness is beyond the pale. The latest response trend seems to be that S bears more the brunt of responsibility for the spicy dynamics that have emerged regarding a theme that should be relevant to all us. Perhaps this is partly a result of the identity ambiguity already referred to. Sure, we all want more entertaining and salutary posts to read, but there is a process within social media that often calls for an accounting of behaviour. Personally, unlike a number of others, I don’t mind the back and forth among key players within this whole scenario. Like anyone else, I can calibrate my degree of attention to the narrative. If I have it wrong, if D=O is untrue, I see such a judgement as a natural artefact of human error. However, a ‘Hakim’s razor’ application to the thread content leads me to believe that S’s conclusions are supportable. He did something intending to be graciously accommodating and the cascade effect is a forum malignancy not of his making. I suggest pausing and taking stock of where most of the sucking up one side of the system and shitting down the other side of the system is actually occurring.

Please.

+1

I'm a bit of a bore about the north but the journey from Chiang Rai to Mae Salang, a Chinese town inhabited by the descendants of the defeated Nationalist army is, for me, the most fascinating in Thailand. Better than Doi Inthanon. Some of the roads aren't for the faint-hearted- narrow and mountainous-but what views!

He went from weeks chasing an impossible guy to 10min in toilet hahaha. Id say thats covers everything. He has graduated cruising 101.

From Bangkok Post A commercial district in the heart of the city, Siam Square is known as a trendy spot for people across generations. An entire shopping district where youngsters find the latest fashion, it's also an ideal meeting spot where plenty of restaurants and malls are located. It is also a limitless learning resource with many educational hubs and institutions. In the midst of rapidly changing trends, lifestyles, society and economy, the old commercial district has recently been rebranded as Siam Square Walking Street. Located on Siam Square Soi 7, Siam Square Walking Street recently opened after the Property Management of Chulalongkorn University (PMCU) continues its mixed-use projects. The area has been renovated over the past couple of years in order to develop urban communities with facilities that ensure a better quality of life. “Although the main street area has remained the same concept as a mixed-use area, we have changed and developed it to be more beneficial for people who shop on foot, whether it's the part of the main street where we now prevent cars from passing or the burying of power and electrical cables underground to create beautiful scenery and ensure safety. There is also a wide walkway and it is easier to stroll around the area," said Assoc Prof Dr Wisanu Subsompon, vice-president for Property and Physical Management, Chulalongkorn University, during a recent group interview about the development of Chula Smart City. The charm of Siam Square is unique in terms of diversity, and in terms of brands, there are shops that meet the needs of all customers, proving that Siam Square is a space for everyone. There's also an event space that has a variety to support all target groups as well as a large new area to accommodate growing demand," he explained. “Another latest project by the PMCU is Siamscape, a mixed-use building in Siam Square. With the concept of "Lifelong Learning", Siamscape has an outstanding design and unique architecture through the Façade Gate, the entrance that represents a door that will lead to a world of endless learning. There are highlights on the 9th floor with L.A.M.P (Learning & Meeting Place) and the "Urban Park" concept, as well as an outdoor area on the 10th floor, SkyScape, which offers panoramic views, the first in the area.

I don't think anyone wants to know more. Put it to bed!

You could take the "sprinter" train all the way to Ubon Ratchathani and make that your base for exploring eastern Isaan. Soutbound, take a train to Phetchaburi for a few days. There are temples and caves (surprise!) and a hilltop palace/observatory. The Mae Hong Son loop from Chiang Mai is worth doing, too. Public transport is probably not adequate so you will need wheels of some description (I did it in a hire car.)

A couple of years ago we went to the botanical gardens. On arriving at the cashier's booth and peering to see if it was double pricing, the girl in the booth looked at us and said "you two are so old, you get in free".

Many years ago, on a visit to Chiang Mai, I did quite a long trip up the Ping River and stayed overnight on a raft hotel. The next day we went on a trip through the jungle and also visited a primary school. It was something different and a very enjoyable experience.

Ten minutes could be considered LT for public encounters 😀

Straight+ public place+ only ten minutes OMG when the romance had gone these days...

Numazu, Excellent trip report and writing skills and narration. Bravo!! and the way you ended this episode - like a cock tease - very tantalizing. I cannot wait for the next segment. Thanks, M. p.s., your writing style is very similar to Rush from Dancing with the Devil in the City of Angels unfortunately, he is no longer with us....

I’d still choose Amara. Have used (and been satisfied with) Crowne Plaza but Amara is newer and I like the vibe. Walking time from Patpong about same. Amara’s key clientele was middle class Chinese travelers. When China opens up more, these bargain prices may well go south. I’d jump on them while they last. They recently started a membership program that offers 10% discount.

Typically it means guy gives you a hand job. But others may interpret this differently.

I have met him at my room. He stayed with me last night. I just want to know about the Spa. I have not heard of it and if it has others that look like him, I'm going to try.

Actually I disagree with that for the simple reason that Sunee is exactly a dark and out-of-the-way sort of place. In Winner Boys it is still possible to have discrete, but 'very intimate' conversations with the boys; dark corners for dark deeds, so to speak, and even occasionally with 'happy' conclusions to those conversations. Not as 'in-your-face' as the more openly 'hands-on' that you get in Nice Boys, but still a level of customer/boy 'intimacy' that you never see in Jomtien Complex, or in Boyztown now for that matter. They can get away with it in dark, forgotten little Sunee Plaza, but I just can't see that model being allowed anywhere else in the gay areas of Pattaya - I would love to be wrong on that but .... Sunee Plaza and Winner Boys (& Nice Boys) is still worth regular pilgrimage. Winner Boys might not be as packed-out with customers as it could be, but free of Covid restrictions, it can still be a nice modest little 'earner' for its boss and its boys with its current level of traffic.

Salvador was the one time in Brazil where I got mugged (about 10 years ago). The historic center is like an island surrounded by very sketchy neighborhoods. This was the one city I should have heeded all the warnings about, but I was cocky from my good experiences in SP and Rio. It looked like such a short walk from my hotel in the colonial center to the sauna ...