Leaderboard

One of the issues that my generation of Thailand-falangs faces- not youngsters like olddaddy of course- is that now I know that each trip I take may be my last. "Carpe Diem" are the last words I say to myself when climbing into my car for the drive to the airport. It's not just the advent of the Final Curtain, but the increased possibility of ill-health that would make the already arduous journey to BKK beyond my capabilities that haunts me. Then there comes the farewell to P. Will it be the final one? It's not a subject I choose to raise with him directly but the legal and financial implications for him have to be addressed; and he knows that I'm seeing my lawyer about my will when I get home. That embrace as we part company at the airport shortly will be deeply affecting. It always is. So, living each day as if it's your last, something we used to sing, of all places, at Primary School, remains a powerful precept for lovers of Thailand; and even more so for lovers of Thais. i should apologise for adding a melancholic note to an interesting thread but, let's be honest, it has been the elephant in the room, has it not? Or perhaps it's just me.

Thanks, Olddaddy, for your brutal honesty. The issue of aging and loneliness is something I believe all gay men have to come to terms with at some point. It seems to be happening now for you. Some on the forum have found a life partner and that affects their decision to retire to Thailand. Others find that they're simply happier in Thailand than they are in their home country. But for most of us, Thailand remains a frequent destination but not our home base. It has crossed my mind to retire to bkk but I wouldn't consider it unless I could first master the language. Learning any new language is more difficult with age but still possible if you're adequately motivated. I'm not and I can't envision a life in Thailand without being able to communicate in Thai. If you're seeking boyfriend material, maybe just start looking for friends first. Friendships can have a way of turning into more meaningful relationships over time. But if you begin by limiting your field of candidates to sexual contacts, you may find that the relationships never grow beyond that point. In any case, you're still a relatively young old man. You have a right to a happy future and I wish you well on your journey.

After a day around the neighbourhood I headed out to 117 expecting a quiet night and it was. While there were fewer customers and boys, there were some new face on this trip and a boy for most tastes I am guessing. Still an impressive choice On arriving at 117 I was able to help a Californian visiting the place for the first time. It is easy to forget all the little things to make your visit go smoothly. He had got to the end of the corridor trying to get through the door immediately in front. It was easy to open the door to the right and get him inside. Simon was on the counter and able to explain in English how the place worked. He was then off to enjoy the place and I saw him later with a cute guy and helping the cowboy stripper with his Speedo’s. I think he had a good first night, and said he had two weeks ahead when asking me later about places to see The guy I had missed the night before at 202 as he was leaving I was meeting tonight. I soon found him and we started with a drink. This guy stool out not only being young and handsome but with amazing pecs in proportion to his body. Plus his hands turned out to be magic at massage. I stayed for the strippers as the cowboy guy was so hot. Then it was back to Leblon for my sushi fix.

I've been an avid reader on this forum and used to frequent BKK prior to the pandemic. Just my 2 cents' on this topic: I'm a 35 yo gym fit guy with a healthy (i think) sex drive but in all of my trips to BKK, I rarely have sex with the guys I meet there, paid or otherwise. I remember some trips where I didn't have sex with any of the guys I met onlie and off'd from the bars. In fact, I've actually off'd guys from the bars just to have them accompany me for a drink or late night dinner. Same goes for the guys I meet online. Occassionally, things progressed to some fun times in bed (I'm not a celibate lol) but it's not always the case. I think not having sex everyday on your vacation is not something to dread or be regretful of. At the end of the day, I just want to enjoy my vacation in Thailand. That may, or may not, involve having sex with the guys I meet. Sometimes, it just means relaxing at the pool of the hotel or dinner at a slighly fancy place or just exploring the different layers of Thailand.

I am the guy that Olddaddy is referring to. What he wrote are also my concerns - meaning will I fit into a new retiree life in Pattaya/Jomtien. I have left my doors open so that I can return to Europe (or to some other destination) - where I live now - if I won't like Pattaya/Jomtien. I am originally from the USA and I left the USA in 1999 as a result of some gun violence that occurred to a friend. It was in Colorado - our ski buddy group went out for a beer. I was tired that night so I left earlier to go home. Our friend was the last person to leave the bar that night - he went out back to the parking lot to get in his car - some random guy came up to him and said give me your wallet - he replied NO and the killer said, good-bye and shot him dead at point blank range. After his funeral at one of the ski group friend dinners, my friends told me, hey, we are going to get our gun licenses - do you want to join us (back in 1998)? I replied, NO thanks - in fact, I will use this opportunity to leave the USA to finish my undergraduate studies that I never finished. I hate gun violence!! So, in 1999 I moved to Rome, Italy and started my new life there as an older student at the university. Just shy of the first year, I almost moved back to the USA - as the culture shock and language barriers were keeping me from fitting in. Of course I fit in with the younger students but I did not click with them as they were just there for a one semester abroad party. I persevered and seeked out an Italian who could not speak much English to live with and after living with him for 6 years - I was able to fit in, make real friends, learn their language, get my Italian citizenship, and find an international career. So, what I learned in my early years in Italy - I am hoping will give me the strength and perseverance to help me fit in and adapt to my new life to-be as a retiree in Pattaya/Jomtien. I believe that if we encounter loneliness - then it is our own responsibility to overcome it. I am also an introvert - but I can force myself - when needed - to be extroverted. So, I will push myself to create a network in Pattaya so that I do not become that lonely person in a nice condo overlooking the Gulf of Thailand wondering - Oh my GOD - what have I done. If I find myself in that predicament of loneliness - then I will only have myself to blame. My life will not ONLY consist of the Jomtien Complex, the gay beach, Boyztown, and Sunee. I see that there are so many additional things to do in the environment, nature, helping out the less fortunate, joining the expat group PCEC Pattaya City Expats Club, continue with some projects that my former employer would like me to work on, use Pattaya/Bangkok as a jumping off point to explore the nearby countries, explore Thailand in a more deeper way - after watching Paddy Doyle's great adventure where he explored ALL 77 of the Thailand provinces - I realized that I also want to do that - and it would be so cool to do it on a low powered motorbike like he did. So, in summary, do I fear all that Olddaddy wrote - HELL YES!!! but, I am not getting any younger and I have lived in the North American continent (New York and Colorado) and then the European Union (Italy and Hungary) - now it is time for Asia and all the excitement that this will bring to me for the last chapters of my life.

I retired/left the workforce 10 yrs ago at 48 yrs old. It was between Mexico and Bangkok where I wanted to move to, Pattaya was out of the question, is great to visit but I couldn't imagine living there. The more I looked into in, Mexico was the clear winner. Easier to get residency and no reporting BS and no keeping money in their banks. Once a resident in Mexico the only thing you have to report to immigration is any change of address. I built an impressive house that would cost millions in the USA.....Also, is less than a 2 hr flight back to the US if I needed to.....almost 2 yrs ago I needed to have my gallbladder removed and flew to Boston. Merida has great hospitals and Doctors, however, I'd prefer a Boston hospital over international hospitals when having the choice. I got a little bored after a couple of years and opened a NY Style Pizzeria.....that has kept me more than busy. In countries like Mexico or Thailand, having even a small business like this makes you sort of a celebrity. You hear "he's the owner" just like in Thailand, he's the owner carries big weight. My family isn't close and most of my friends have family and careers, so I hardly saw them. I hang around with almost exclusively locals between 18-35 and it makes me feel/look younger than I am. Plus Spanish is much easier to learn than Thai .....😝 I could imagine if I did go to BKK, I'd open a business there too....the bureaucracy in both places are stupid, but not impossible to overcome. I did all my own documents and even have a liquor license, all done without any bribes. Merida is in Mexico but corruption, although it exists, isn't as bad as other parts of Mexico or probably Thailand. I read somewhere that 72% of Americans live in or close to the city they were born in. I lived in Florida for 10 years and is a very transient state, many people end up going back to where they came from....moving internationally is a huge move and with a change of language, culture and politics, isn't for everyone.

Great, great, great - makes me craving for Brazil one more time, sigh. Memories are coming back...

I just saw another post where the poster was saying he was retiring to Pattaya in September. Now this question has been thrown around the gay forums for years and of course many of the original farang expats are no longer with us. The "latest" gay farangs of course to retire will be more wealthier however is it just me but I have noticed my last few months there is far far less gay farangs retiring to pattaya,no idea about Bangkok but far less gay resident expats in my opinion So this is my update, I just spent several months in Thailand, particularly in Pattaya to see if I still had that "urge" to settle down there forever like I used to want to when I worked hard and all the overtime I could to save enough money for that "exciting retirement" Fast forward 25 years and sadly it seems going by my last few months in Pattaya I no longer have that urge or excitement to retire here in Pattayail,I'm not ruling out other parts just Pattaya now doesn't do it for me Its a combination of things, unfortunately I tend to reminisce over old times and what Pattaya used to be like, walking thru the old Sunee recently I had memories after looking at the old Top man go go ,the exciting & busy times there etc, Michael who used to own it,memories bar ,the old farang expats who used to talk chat laugh with The boys who were more Boyfriend material entertainment,rather than the business like boys nowadays. It's no longer like that,well to me anyway,yes I know times change 25 years on and now near retirement I cannot see any reason to retire there,the boys are drying up and more than ever " businesslike" with one even sending me a written quote for his services on grinder and times of service etc. The beer bars I can no longer relate to,I find a few farang owned great where you can communicate with other farangs but most seem Thai owned and uninteresting . Unfortunately I suffer with "it's not like it used to be" syndrome. I find most things in the supermarket etc just as expensive if not more expensive than my own country eg cheese& coffee. But what confirmed it was talking a gay farang in a beer bar who had been here 2 years who was "lonely".He was thinking of going back to the UK as he had his daughter there. He spent his days living in a jomtien condo near the complex and was ,in his words,"bored" He had no friends it seems or should I say "real friends" just seemed to be the other gay farangs attending daily the beer bars he would say hello to.On asking if he had a BF he said no you cannot find a real BF here and I believe he is right. Talking to him gave me that extra thought that it's too early yet and with risk to retire there without having any "support'. Support meaning someone who is a genuine friend, someone who notices you not around etc ,support when you get sick I imagined what my scenario could be 62yo ,then retire to pattaya,I'm still gym fit & relatively healthy. So I would rent a condo probably near jomtien complex and spend my days doing what? Maybe going to gym like I did, massages etc but the days start to get boring, missing family back home, etc Visiting bars? Hiring the services of male prostitutes who want to go as quick as possible,then what? That got bored for me. Watch tv ? I would be bored too and very lonely . Obviously age makes a difference too,if I was 75 instead of 62,it may be more inclination to retire to pattaya but once again where do you get that support if you need it in sickness etc What some guys cannot fathom is you will no longer be a guy on a 2 week holiday chasing arse or dick, you will be living there and you will grow tired of it . You will find the boys working will become disinterested in you as you no longer use their services as much as a 2 week millionaire and they stop contacting you on Grindr etc You will sit most nights in your condo watching tv bored shitless, you will go out during some days to beer bars just to talk to someone. You will be alone the majority of your time unless you hire the services of company who want to most times leave asap anyway I can't do it at this stage of my life ,I prefer to continue working and travel each year . One thing that could change that though is if I had a very genuine Thai boyfriend and I don't mean a paid boyfriend who works in a bar I mean a real lover , someone you can move there for and live with . But at this stage guys I would say be very hesitant to jump into something such as retirement to Pattaya and finding out your more lonely than ever! Suffering depression being away from family,living by yourself in a high rise condo would be no fun with no network support wouldn't be fun, and to be brutally honest with you I have heard there have been far more negative stories of farangs retiring to pattaya particularly gay farangs than positive,that's why you see so many going back after trialling it for a few months It wasn't what they imagined, I doubt any like me on here will admit that though,that they didn't like it here full time , I do,I couldn't cut it guys,living in that jomtien condo everyday ,not at this stage of my life, it got boring,I got lonely ,I felt like I had no support,I wanted love after a while, someone to care for and he cared by, the moneyboys,that's what they call themselves nowadays, weren't people I could relate to,times change I guess ,but maybe some day I can get my spark back when Pattaya comes back I guess but not this time, I'm going back home

From Richardbarrow.com The Luang Phor Pan Festival at Wat Mongkol Kothawas in Klong Dan, Samut Prakan Province, will this year take place from 28th October to 3rd November 2022. The big parade on land and sea is on 28th October at 6:09am. This is one of my favourite festivals in Thailand. More information is available at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) website: https://www.tatnews.org/2022/02/40th-thailand-tourism-festival-2022-from-18-22-february-in-bangkok/

I have a good friend who is nearing retirement. He's already 66. For years he's been talking about the need to have friends around in old age to help care for you. He recently had back surgery and thanks to his sister and several friends he had a good network helping him out in his recovery phase. He and his oldest friends talk about creating a group home of sorts for themselves so they will always have each other nearby. He's an extrovert so I think he really needs people around more than I do. As a pretty strong introvert I am able to entertain myself pretty well. The last couple of years of the pandemic I haven't really interacted with many people. I've been working from home full time since it started. Most days I don't leave my apartment. I do talk to my best friend on the phone almost every day which does help. I expect that if I tried to retire away from where I have spent the last 32 years it would be difficult. While I don't have a huge number of friends, my small network is quite reliable. Making new friends at retirement age is likely to be difficult for most people - especially so for an introvert. While I don't know that I would be any more lonely there than I am here, I think it's likely there would be a real degree of isolation being on the other side of the world. Thailand doesn't seem especially stable - but I'm not sure there are many places these days that are. But the rules there - such as they are - can change quickly. My current expectation is that I will spend several months each year traveling (at least for the first few years). Rather than retiring to Thailand full time I think I would want to go for a couple of months at a time. But home base will still be where I am now.

Yes. Coming to appreciate and embrace the difference between pleasure and joy has been critical for me. Keep in mind that that if you're at all considering naming a foreign national in your will, the post-death transfer process is more complicated than if you both resided in the same country (at least that's the case in the US and I suspect other countries have their own laws regarding this). The laws of the country where the beneficiary lives also come into play. I've found that not all lawyers are familiar with them and prepared to properly advise you. Finding a lawyer who is could be your first step.

PeterRS can be reassured. I've had a will for decades. The issues of the moment are two-fold; firstly, ensuring that my estate finds its way to two foreign beneficiaries, one in Thailand, the other, possibly complicated, in Palestine. And as quickly as possible in P's case. Secondly, like scott456, , I haven't got family to worry about- the remaining ones do not need my money- but I do have to face the fact that , were I to be disabled mentally in my dotage, I'd need someone to make decisions for me. And that would have to be a lawyer. I'd not wish to burden P with that responsibility. I seem to have turned an amusing and interesting thread into something more dark. Again, sorry.

@macaroni21 makes many interesting points. But I'm not sure this one is particularly valid, the more so if a visitor is even slightly adventurous. As a start it is just a short walk to the famous Wat Hua Lamphong temple which I find one of the most visually interesting of the many dotted around the city. Then the Silom/Suriwong area is very close to both Skytrain and MRT subway stations. It's now only 4 stops on the Skytrain to get to the river at Saphan Taksin. Take either the leisurely slow or the fast express public boats (both very cheap) to see Bangkok from the river (and note some of its Chinese heritage) and then arrive very close to the Grand Palace and the stunning Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Pho temples. Depending on the time of day, it's worth taking a taxi or tuk-tuk for the relatively short distance to see the famous Marble Temple (Wat Benchamabophit) with its perfectly symmetrical frontage, A short distance away is the fascinating all teak Vimanmek Mansion built by King Rama V in 1900. As with the Grand Palace complex, like many royal tourist sites there is a dress code if you wish to visit - no short pants, no sleeveless shirts revealing shoulders and no flip flops. Being main tourist sites, there will almost always be tuk-tuks nearby if you don't want to walk. Then if traffic is bad after your wanderings, the river is only about 1 km away and the express boat from Thewes pier gets you back to Saphan Taksin in something like 20 minutes. It all makes for a fascinating if perhaps tiring day trip.

Just another hint on how to read the Very Thai book. I first saw it after I had been to Thailand two or three times, and bought it and gobbled it all up. But if you have never visited the country, some of it may seem a bit obtuse and obscure -"Is a whole section really needed on concrete bar furniture made to look like garishly coloured sliced-through tree trunks?" you may well be asking yourself . So don’t try to read it all through, flick through it and read a few chapters you’re interested in. Maybe keep at your bedside and read a few pages every night. Then leave it, and go back to read it again a week or so after you come back from Thailand. I guarantee you will find you have found a fascination with the most weird things... And no, I dont get commission on sales!

There's a follow up booked called Very Bangkok as well that is very good. I agree that Burmese and Cambodian guys can have a bit of a different look. Lots of South Asian intermixing in those places. Bangkok has been putting lots of work into green spaces. There are some areas of town that are surprisingly wild.

Yet another project related to this story https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/netflix-thai-cave-rescue-series-1235187251/

My first thought in response to the opening post was this: To fly halfway around the globe, enduring an 18 - 20 hour flight and a 12-hour time zone difference, for only one week's vacation does not sound like a good cost-benefit equation. I don't know about you, but I have friends who need 3 - 4 days to adjust to the time zone change. Effectively, you're going to be 2 - 4 days short on account of flight time and sleep adjustment time. And then to fly all the way back.... If you can stretch your available time window, it can make a big difference. Other thoughts: 1. I agree with others that (for now) Bangkok is a good introduction to East Asia. In normal (non-Covid) times, I might have suggested Hong Kong or Taipei or even Shanghai, and certainly Bali would be on my shortlist too, but these are not normal times. 2. Culture there certainly is, and there will be customs that, closer to the time, you need to ask about on this forum e.g. long trousers, slip-on shoes, touching, etc. 3. Bangkok is a huge sprawling city with an estimated 10 - 11 million people. Traffic can be bad. Its metro system ('subway" to Americans) is not well developed and some destinations require a long walk (say, 1.5 km in heat) from the nearest station. 4. Because it is a huge sprawling city, you will need to select your hotel location with care. I recommend that you stay in the Silom-Surawong area, where the gay nightlife is. This avoid having to travel a long distance back to your hotel late at night. 5. But there are next to no "traditional" cultural sites in the Silom-Surawong area, so daytime travelling to the main sites cannot be avoided. 6. Forget about nature. Bangkok is one of the most built-up cities. I read somewhere that it has among the lowest ratio of green spaces to paved spaces. If, however, you have an interest in sewer rats, then Bangkok is the place for you. 7. Assuming you do not speak any Asian language, Bangkok will also be an easy introduction to Asia. There are cities that speak more English (e.g. Singapore where English is almost universal) but in the touristy areas, you can get by without having to learn even one word of Thai. 8. Part of culture is the food. You need to know what your tolerance for spiciness is, so that you don't make a huge mistake in ordering. Perhaps you can visit some Thai, Korean or Chinese Sichuan restaurants in your home city and figure out how much you can take. Allow of course, for the fact that in the US these ethnic cuisines would often have adjusted their levels of spiciness to Americans' palate. So what counts as "very spicy" in the US is "medium-low spicy" in Thailand. 9. For me, one of the problematic unknowns when visiting a place I have never been to before is to know the tipping culture (if any). It's quite amusing to me but I have met Americans who are shocked to learn that there are countries where tipping is almost unknown. (Not in the least suggesting that you're one of them, in fact, being on this board, you're probably better travelled than your average compatriot.) But my point is, no two countries have the same tipping culture, and if you wish, a discussion on this board about Thai expectations before you leave home may be useful.

I was in Warsaw this spring for 4 nights following a longer European vacation with some straight friends. In retrospect I wish I had gone to Barcelona. I can’t speak to hotels as I stayed in an Airbnb downtown that I was quite pleased with; relatively modern and up to date with a balcony for ~$50/night. No issue with visitors as there was no doorman and I just needed my key fob. Struck out on Hungz; the guys I reached out to mostly didn’t reply either there or if I sent a WhatsApp. Only paid hookup was a Grindr muscle hottie (upon meeting he said he was from Belarus but had been living in Warsaw for many years and spoke excellent English) who took my offer of 200 PLN (about $42). Had a couple of fun visits to Sauna the Fire and Heaven Sauna - the first had better facilities, the 2nd had more guys and seemed to be consensus for best sauna in town in terms of customer volume. Word of warning, be sure to arrive at WAW with plenty of spare time if you are checking bags. I had an early morning flight out on LOT, connecting in Geneva WAW-GVA-IAD. Business class check-in line took 30 minutes to get to the counter (something I have never experienced before) and by that point it was cutting it close for the luggage cut-off time time (I think it was passed it but they called someone and kept it open). There was some issue with my ticket (an award ticket issued by Turkish Airlines for travel on LOT and United) and the LOT agents weren’t able to check my bag all the way through, so I had to collect it in Geneva and re-check it.

Introduction If this pandemic has ever taught me anything, is that to never take anything for granted ever again. My last trip to Thailand was in December 2019. That trip was the only Thailand trip I had that year, having prioritized Brazil and Colombia that year. I was already figuring out that Brazil catered more to my evolving taste for both boys, sex and entertainment, but I was still wanting to go to Thailand because of the food, the locations, and yes, of course the boys. Thailand's unwillingness to reopen as soon as others have (during the pandemic), however, has given me the opportunity to visit Brazil more, thus deepening my connection to that country, at the expense of the Land of Smiles. Throughout all that though, I've been trying to go back to Thailand since it always will hold a special place in my heart. I remember my last international trip before air travel was paused during the pandemic. No surprise, it was to Brazil. I remember entering Sao Paulo on March 17, 2020. The plane was half full, the streets of Sao Paulo where empty, and everyone was sheltering in place, even if Carnaval ended just 3 weeks before. On March 19, Brazil closed its land borders. After that, I finally decided to go back home on March 23, 2020, fearing that flights back to the USA would be cancelled eventually. And I was right. On March 27 they announced that Brazil would close all its borders, even air, on March 30. Thailand had a similar thought process, closing its land borders on March 18, and then all borders on March 26, 2020. I know that I am not the only one to think that this pandemic was only going to be 2-week thing when it started. And then a month rolled by, and then 3 months. Since I was just at home, my routine started to change. I exercised more. Ate better. I did more video calls, both for work, and for friends far away, similarly stuck at home, wondering when this will all end. I’ve gotten lots of desperate cries for money from boys (Brazil, Thailand, Colombia) without any incomes with all the saunas and clubs closed. Though it all, I thought I did pretty good for myself, and actually was able to focus on other important things that I wouldn’t normally would have without the urgency of the pandemic looming all over us. I was pained of course, as I had plans to go Thailand over Songkran in 2020: And then something miraculous happened: Brazil decided to open up again. July 30 was the date, so after only 4 months of staying put, I was able to travel again. And it was glorious. Less people in airports and airport parking which meant less time needing to be at the airport. Less people flying which means either instant upgrades to Business class, or having a row to myself in economy. Less stupid tourists clogging up the streets, and less people in the streets in general. And yeah, you had to wear a mask in the plane, but at that point, I’ve gotten used to it, and counted myself lucky to still be even traveling to care. And with Brazil’s infinite wisdom, most of the clubs in Rio and Sao Paulo opened up as well, which meant that I was sometimes the only gringo at the premises. I certainly made the most of it, judging from these trip reports: Through it all though, I’ve had Thailand in the back of my mind. When the hell will it ever open up? 2021 rolled around. Apart from my monthly, multi-week trips to Brazil, I’ve pretty much scoured most of Western Europe, the Middle East and Mexico. But Thailand has remained closed. (I’ve also have been keeping my eye on Japan, which is still in a weird reopening phase. I’ve been dying to return.) I see domino after domino of COVID restrictions fall down. Except Thailand. I shared this in August 2021: Then the Phuket sandbox happened in July 2021, and while appealing, still was too restrictive for me. And news about the bars still closed was disheartening. Then Thai Pass was introduced in November 2021, and that felt more appealing to me, though the RT-PCR requirement, and the quarantine hotel requirement was something that was a bit unnerving to me. It just introduced (perhaps unnecessary) wildcards to a supposedly wonderful trip. I’d rather just go straight to Brazil, (even with their evolving COVID requirements as well – from medical insurance requirements, to COVID test, to having scrapped everything as of April 2022), and their open bars. I finally bit the bullet and bought my ticket to Bangkok last April. I was heading to Dubai in June, and found it interesting to instead head over to Bangkok after that trip instead of high-tailing it back to California. Also, Thailand dropping the COVID test requirement for vaccinated travelers was the deciding factor for me as well. The COVID dominos were starting to fall in Thailand. The June 12 announcement that the USA was dropping its COVID testing requirement to enter the USA was another domino falling that was just icing on the cake. It seems that the stars are aligning in just the right times for me to make a comeback in Thailand. So next post will be my preparations for the trip, and the REAL reason I am going to Thailand. P.S. To new posters, yes, I am always this long-winded when it comes to my trip reports. An example:

Now 6 weeks into my 7 week vacation, the last few weeks I have really slowed down and I feel guilty. At 62yo I just it seems,don't have the stamina anymore to keep " fucking" ,to keep taking guys back to the room whether they are paid or free ,in fact last night I ordered pizza in my hotel room and watched a movie ,all alone ! I envy you guy on here who can take 3 guys everyday,who can rage all night at different go Go bars ,how do you do it? I'm gym fit, I eat well, I'm even taking extra vitamin and staying off the alcohol ,but I can't do it everyday anymore !!!! I'm really getting depressed about it, Can I ask honestly,do you guys on your vacation go out every night to bars,do you take guys everyday for sex? Did you drink alcohol everyday in the bars too? I don't know how you guys have the stamina ,at 62 my body won't let me ,I tried it the first week, went to gym in the morning , sightseeing during the day and walking, go Go bars,alcohol , discos ,then boys at night ,by the second week I was in bed a few days sick !!! In a way im a bit depressing I can't do what I used to 15 years ago where I sort of lived to the fullest my vacation time How do you guys have sex with multiple guys everyday on your vacation! Look to be honest with you guys,I would never do such a long vacation again,7 weeks is just far too long! I hate to say it but boredom does come into sometimes when on such a long vacation time. Oh I'm getting too old 👴👴👴👴🤣🤣🤣 .

So close and yet so far… I was writing this trip report in a lull in my travel schedule. And I almost made it to my final posts but not before I started traveling again. Let’s see when I can finish the posts. In the meantime, a view from my seat today. Can anyone guess where I am and where I’m going? @floridarob you already know the answer.

I started posting Montreal details in this very GG thread 6 weeks ago if anybody wants to scroll back, inquire here, or DM me. You can get into the walk-in vaxx site in The (Gay) Village in seconds without a booking. Bring passport for ID. I was in that neighbourhood last week for routine HIV PrEP STI panel nearby and there was nobody seeking Imvamune (Jynneos) but about 20 personnel twiddling their thumbs and an ample supply of doses. (The thumbs thing these days means keeping busy on smartphones.) I think Toronto is very easy as well, likely particularly Metro Hall on Bay St. & Queen St area, but I don’t have details … well, now I do … see below.

Have you been to Brazil?

Yes horrendous! I was there a few years ago and,if it is anyhting to go by, Guiness was the equivalent of 10 GBP a pint.

Until these bigoted religious organisations can appear in public alongside their "God" for all of us to see - and not one single religion has ever been able to present him to us in the flesh - then they should keep out of any debate which wishes to change the way people live their lives. Their particular religious rules and beliefs should only apply to themselves.

Strong rumours from Singapore suggest that the government is finally going to get rid of the Section 377A anti-sodomy law left over from British colonial times. This is part of a letter recently sent out by Pastor Yang Tuck Yoong of Cornerstone Community Church, a long-time opponent of the repeal of Section 377A and LGBT rights in general, to other church leaders. The ruling PAP has informed them that Section 377A will be repealed within the next few months. On Thursday, several of us were invited to meet with Ministers Shanmugam, Edwin Tong and Desmond Lee to discuss about the future of 377A To summarise a few salient points of the meeting which are important: In a nutshell, we have been informed that 377A will be repealed in the coming few months because there is a general understanding that though it may be a sin, gay sex ought not be criminalised. To balance this, the government is likely to put in a constitutional clause referencing the definition of marriage in the Woman’s Charter. This is different from enshrining a definition of marriage in the constitution itself. It is a technical move that merely prevents constitutional challenges to the standing definition of marriage (on the basis of it discriminating against homosexuals). This means that while the government of today says it is ideologically committed to a one-man, one-woman marriage, this is not set in stone. The definition of marriage can be changed with a simple majority of parliament rather than a supermajority if it was enshrined in the constitution. This puts the crosshairs of LGBT activists squarely on marriage and the new battleground of our country will shift to marriage. LGBT activists will seek to shape public consciousness of what marriage is, and attempt to get parliament to enact gay marriage because they believe that homosexuals should have a right to marry. Likewise, the church must now protect the definition of marriage as a comprehensive and conjugal union of a man and a woman, ordered toward reproduction and the raising of healthy children.

I listen to music! as a lover of classical music, I know that I shall be without my daily "fix" while I'm away. But I'm not sad about it; i find that I return with renewed gratitude to Mozart, Wagner and Mahler et al and with increased enjoyment. And i nearly forgot; I check my blood-pressure medication for the fiftieth time, having once left some vital tablets at home. Or is it the hundredth?

My last full night is usually fairly quiet, go for a massage and a last spot of fun with the massage boy, meal and a couple of beers then turn in for the night. Because my flights are usually about midnight my last day is to do a final spot of shopping, I always head off to the airport quite early and my last trip I went for a Thai massage at the airport and that made a big difference for the flight home.

Yes my birthday yesterday, unfortunately I celebrated it by myself with greetings from friends over WhatsApp. But such is life when your travelling

Last night I had in Jomtien was in early May and I took the advice to take Taxi to Airport from Jomtien rather than go to BKK for one night. That was good advice as it's cheaper and more convenient 👍🏼 I often wonder who names are on here or whether I have actually met them at all.....I frequented the 'At home Bar' in May 22 and had a great time there 👍🏼

I also use Mastercard. It is not consistently reliable in retail, though usually works. I also find Santander to be the only consistent bank for ATM withdrawals.

I agree with all of your points with the exception of the above. If you're staying in the Silom /Surawong area, you can walk to the city's premier park at the intersection of Rama IV and Silom roads. Lumpini Park spans 142 acres (57 hectares) and attracts thousands of visitors daily. It has all the facilities you'd imagine, including the often mentioned outdoor weight lifting area where those dedicated to acquiring hard muscle can be seen working out at all hours. The best times to visit are early mornings and early evenings when the heat is manageable and the sun is low. There's a no admission fee. There's a foot bridge connecting Lumpini to Benjakitti Park. There are many other large parks around the city but Lumpini remains the most celebrated.

The cost of paid sex overseas is greatly influenced by airfare and hotel cost. To be cost effective, you most likely will have to fly cheap economy class and stay in a low to mid budget hotel/airbnb.

Xi is unquestionably playing to his own power base. Frankly, I don't think at the present time he gives a damn what happens in the USA - or any other country for that matter. He has far too many major problems and developing problems at home to be concerned about other countries. If Pelosi makes the visit, Xi's hand among the power brokers in Beijing is strengthened almost whatever he does.

I think China has also misplayed the US. Once you publicly threaten Pelosi for making a visit, you vastly increase the odds that she'll make the visit. How do you even benefit from doing that other than playing to a domestic hardline audience? Xi is playing to his own version of congress.

Having met @Latbear4blk a few year ago, and if his situation hasn’t changed, I’d say that his time is indeed limited to these two weeks. I’ve actually done week-long Thailand trip all the time back in the day. I’d leave Thursday night from California and get to Thailand early Saturday morning, when I then do an early (pre-arranged) early check in with the hotel (usually Crowne Plaza), and then sleep off the flight till 8 PM, then after a great shower, have dinner and then hit the bars at 9 PM, for the shows at 10:30 PM, and I’ll have a boy with me at midnight, and actually taking advantage of the still being in the USA time zone that I will have the energy to fuck all night. Indeed, jet lag is a bitch, but it doesn’t hit me till after lunch, so I’d usually book my tours and sightseeings at 8 AM or earlier if possible. This way, I can tire myself enough to actually sleep in the afternoon, and I will have skipped the heat that usually gets more intense later in the day. Lather, rinse, repeat, until I am adjusted to the time zone. That is usually Tuesday, Wednesday time, when I can then do full-day tours, and with boy bars usually less populated on weekdays, I can opt to skip or spend time with a long time boy. Then when the weekends hits again, I’ll try to get back to the American time zone by sleeping in the afternoon again and hitting nightlife till the wee hours of the morning. And at the night before my flight back to California, I usually don’t sleep, and just spend my few remaining baht to enjoy my threesome/foursome/my house-ful of boys till my morning flight back on Sunday beckons. The flight is usually 13+ Hours back, so I can make my adjustments then, and then I’ll arrive early to late afternoon Sunday in California, where the wear and tear of travel catches up to me, but I force myself to sleep no earlier than 8 PM so I can adjust quicker. @Latbear4blk either time window is great and I think you’ll be getting to Thailand with other gringos with similar times off, and that it’ll make your trip better. I doubt it, but if your Spring Break runs through April 13, I’d suggest going during Spring Break to spend Songkran in Bangkok, since Songkran is amazing and you will need to experience it at least once in your life. I know some here hate being doused with water in inoppurtune times, but knowing you, water is your thing and you will absolutely love it! I’d pick Bangkok as your first time city. There is enough to do culturally and boy bar wise to help you get introduced to how Thailand does Mongering. You will find that the overall cost to rent boys here will be a little bit higher than what you’re used to, but that will be offset by everything else being cheaper (food, accommodations, transpo etc). Either way, you won’t know you if you will like it until you try it. And I have a feeling that you will! P.S. And no, I am not a paid spokesperson for TaT lol.

Strangely I used to be a night owl too,always stayed up late even worked the night shifts! Nowadays even on vacation I'm in bed by midnight most nights. I keep myself fit ,overdo the gym,drink protein,( I mean the powdered form😂) take vitamins and still I feel sleepy at night I would imagine how I would be if I drank alcohol,abused my body with junk food etc

I don't think we are ever too old for sexual activity, although stamina may be reduced. I'm older than @Olddaddy and in Thailand I have my long time partner with me. Out of the country, though, I am let off the leash! A few years ago on a trip to Taipei when I was several years older than @Olddaddyis now, I relied on the apps. One day I had unusually set up two hook ups - one at lunchtime and the other late afternoon. Then just after breakfast a guy sent me a message. He worked nearby and would be going out soon to collect something for his company. Could we meet? I basically said I was busy, but he looked cute and pressed hard - so what was I supposed to do? He came, we met for a quick coffee in the lobby, he was indeed cute and - well, the next 45 minutes were extremely enjoyable. The only problem with 3 guys in one day is that I twice had to send out for dry towels! No doubt housekeeping was well aware of the reason! As I was relaxing after my last scheduled encounter, oops - it happened again. An art student had just finished a late class (I usually stay close to a university) and clicked on me. Could he see me before he went home? Although tired, he looked even more cute than my earlier encounters, and so I said ok but added I'd had a tiring day. He looked gorgeous both clothed and naked on the bed. He was also like a tiger and I had once again to work hard. But what a session! After he left, I went down to the bar for a stiff drink before heading back for a long sleep. All the boys were only out for sex. All seemed to enjoy being with much older westerners. As in the case of most on the apps in Taipei, none was a money boy. 4 is the most ever in one day and I have never come close to repeating it. One a day now is perfect for me. But what a day! What a memory!

@Olddaddy we applaud you for putting your fears out here on the board, and obviously it has struck a chord with a lot of people here, which should make you feel good about what you’re going through right now. Being envious of other people having more than you is natural and a common experience. Someone will always be richer, be more good looking, be younger, have more energy, than you will ever be. Your main concern, that you are older and slower that you used to be, is just a fact of life, and something that we do not have any control over. So you can be envious of others that still have their youth and energy, or you can use envy as a motivation for you to focus on the things that YOU can control, be it inviting a cute guy to have pizza with you, or discover a place in Bangkok you’ve never seen before, to mix things up. And have you thought of maybe that others are envious of you too? Having the resources, and the time, to spend 7 straight weeks in the Greatest CIty on Earth™ is no small feat. You have probably worked your darndest all your life to get to this point, and that is something to be proud of. I’m pretty sure most of us here on the board are envious of you for having the means and the courage to go on a vacation this long (I know I am). And don’t forget, this is YOUR vacation. You set your own rules. If you want to eat pizza alone every night after a night in the town, then that’s great! If it makes you happy. The pressures and expectations you have of your own energy levels and youth are all from you, and no one else has the right, nor the capability, of telling you how you should spend your vacation. Finally, I am glad you are letting yourself feel these “negative” feelings, and being honest about how it affects you, and even putting yourself out there, out here on the board, by reaching out to like minded people such as us. I feel that life is better if there is a balance. Too much of a good thing really is too much, and that includes sex. Be glad that you can fuck all those pretty things once in while, while allowing yourself the time to convalesce, and regains both your strength physically, and your desires mentally, for another round or three. I love this graphic: because it shows that balance is ultimately what you should strive for. You will have your ups, and your inevitable downs (like what you’re going through now), but no matter what happens, make sure that you enjoy yourself, because that’s the whole point right?

As @readerobserves this is a topic that has drawn lots of insightful comments. As one who has a few years on you, I can only say is relax into vacations. I aim for three weeks visits as there is a boredom quotient tht grows with the length of stay. I agree with @floridarob that sometimes chilling out in the hotel is a suffieicnt way to end the day/night and recharge.

in the event there is interest in keeping a topic focused, can you say that when you're not taking Quaaludes so we might understand you 😉

Do what I did - get QBF ( quasi boyfriend) with motorbike , he will take you everywhere on his vehicle. When you arrive you guys can even ride each other depending on mood or preference

Day 7.5: The Dreamers You know you’re getting old when you start reminiscing about the old days. And for me the old days were way back in… 2014. OK, I know that that’s not even 10 years ago, but that’s the year I first started going to Bangkok and started to darken the doors of its illustrious boy bars. Back then, Soi Twilight was in full swing (at least from what I saw), Tawan and Jupiter were both off-Soi choices I would visit, and Moonlight didn’t even exist yet. And back then, we didn’t need a New Twilight, as the old one was more than enough. Dream Boy on Soi Twilight was a standout for me. That neon sign alone was iconic. This was my impression of it way back in 2016: It seemed to be always full on weekends. The touts may have something to do with it, as they were ever present in the Soi, literally pulling indecisive people from the street to plop them onto DreamBoy’s seats. Inside, I’ve always thought old DreamBoy’s layout was the most ideal for optimal viewing of what was going onstage. Since the setup was “arena theater”-style, the audience almost did not have a bad viewing angle, and the shows were optimized for viewing of this kind of stage. But of course the greatest of structures is nothing if the main attraction is inferior. The fact that there was great variety in the boys here, often in skimpy white briefs, and with the seating the way it was, you can be up close and personal with balls in your face. I’ve spent so many nights searching for Mister Right Now in this bar. Oh the memories. --- As Tiago and I make our way to the gay area of Patpong 2, I only had to show my face to my usual mamasan at Dream Boy to be automatically led to the premises of the club. The club was almost full on a Saturday night, but miraculously there were nice seating close to where most the staff were sitting, with the mamasan shooing the staff currently sitting so we can claim the seat. Regular coke and rum and coke – it was fine, not too strong or weak. We got in just in time for a last glimpse of the boys on offer and before the coyotes terrorized the stage. There was a lot of boys, maybe 40, and a great variety as well, as in the old days. There were twinks, and hunks, and everything else in between. They were in jeans, which was less ideal, but beggars can’t be choosers. I see a few boys I’ve offed in the past, which is always a comfort knowing that they have toughed it out through the pandemic and able to continue with this life. There was a tall hunk (handsome, white skin, abs) who was model-like and was even better looking than any of the Moonlight or Jupiter boys. He got snapped up very quickly by a rotund Asian guy up front. The coyotes came, which was fine. “All girls,” Tiago said, as he thought the dancers were to feminine acting for his taste. I didn’t mind them, but no one was attractive to me. I’ve always thought the big column in the middle was an unfortunate fact in the club. It's probably load-bearing, so they can't do anything about it, but still, it's fairly awkward to have it obscuring the center of the stage. Though, it was ingenious for them to put a platform around the column so that it can be used for numbers. But boys and other numbers who end up behind the column would be unseen, and depending on where you were seated, you would miss some of the action if the column obscured your angled view. Far cry from the seating of the Twilight days, but this is what we have now. The drag queens were actually pretty good. Gone was the slapstick skits that were a trademark before, but now they just have the traditional lip-syncing goddesses that are staples of clubs all over. The numbers in general were pretty slick and choreographed, like it was before. I recognized the star of Dream Boy, still here after all this year, maybe looking a little older, but still hot as before, dancing his heart out like his life depended on it. I used to dream about how it was to off him, now, not so much. How my tastes have changed. Probably the highlight of the night, and possibly because Tiago was so entertained by it, was the fuck show. I recognize the bottom and I’ve seen him do this a thousand times before, but the top was new to me, and very handsome and had a good dick for topping. The fuck show was always more spectacle than erotic for me, and I am impressed by the dexterity needed to pull off some of the moves. It was all impeccably choreographed, fairly acrobatic, and Tiago is amazed that after all this impressive acrobatics, the cock doesn’t seem to leave the asshole at any point of the number. The pair then makes their rounds around the room, searching for tips. When the fucking pair gets to us, Tiago implores me to get out some baht as tip. 100 baht. When the boys are back onstage, it was time for me to choose if there was anyone to off tonight. There were a few possibilities, and one old off who, once he recognized me, tried to get my attention all night. I then feel Tiago’s head on my shoulder, as he yawned. I laughed. I asked him was he sleepy. He said he was just yawning. I asked him if anyone onstage was to his liking. He took a look, and then put his head on my shoulder again. “Up to you,” he says in Portuguese, which gave me a little chuckle. "Up to you," in Portuguese lands differently for me. “What do you want to do?” I ask him. He sits up at attention, and smiles his million watt smile. “I want ice cream!” he says. I laugh. That actually sounded better than the smorgasbord that was before us. Oh no, I have changed as well. I do not feel the same sense of urgency of offing, and fucking as I have before. Or maybe because I’ve cum three times today already, twice with Tiago, and once with the Tawan twosome, so maybe I deserve this ice cream. Overall, this club holds a lot of promise. The premises were nice, the numbers were entertaining, and the boys great looking. I'll put a pin on this club for now, and will take advantage of its delights at a future date. We then go to the famous 7 Eleven at CP Tower across Silom Soi 4, where a lot of gay cruising happens. Tonight was no different, as some young Bangkok-ians were checking Tiago out. But we were there for ice cream. And after two Magnum chocolate ice cream bars later, we walk back to the apartment. No Dream Boy for me tonight, as the one with me is very very real. My last day, next post…

Don’t feel disappointed, I’m less than half your age yet I get maybe a fifth of the sex during my vacations. The stamina of most of the guys here is certainly amazing, yours included. Though I’m happily in a monogamous (*gasp*) relationship now, hence the lack of action during our last trip to Thailand, living vicariously through you guys really inspires me to continue having a sex drive when I’m older. Moreover, even before when I was single, I could maybe do 2 rounds max, and only with one guy. Just relax champ, the purpose of your vacation is to have fun, relax and enjoy. It’s not a competition. Just listen to your body and let it all sink in.

A friend in the US suggested B Complex injections for fatigue/lack of energy. In long term, you could try more holistic approach: i.e. adjust your diet (vegetarian vs. vegan vs. high protein) to see how your body reacts. Sometimes, eliminating sugars or watching glycemic index helps. Mediation could also give you a boost of energy. Overall, as we age, we need to listen to our bodies more and modify our behaviors accordingly. Getting enough sleep is also important. So, if you are up all night, shorten the sightseeing to give yourself enough time to recuperate. Cuddling with LT vs. a few/couple of STs a day could do the trick and help alleviate FOMO. Most importantly, don’t feel guilty - it’s your vacation, so you should do what feels right at the moment.

Don't be. Wrong reaction and wrong emotion. It can happen to anyone. That's your body telling you to give yourself a rest before you wear yourself out completely. I know most who come here for a holiday think they're missing out on something if they don't have sex every day - especially if they rarely get any back home. But that's nonsense. I think sex and boys should be thought of as a part of your holiday, but not the entire focus. There are plenty of other things to see and do when it's just not the right moment for bars and boys. Try a legitimate Thai massage. Try a genuine foot massage. Go sightseeing. Go shopping. Try an out of the way, unfamiliar restaurant. Take a seat at a good location and spend some time just people watching - and don't be surprised if a young gent approaches you - and he might not even be a money boy. We all slow down as we age. You need to accept that as reality. If you need a rest once in a while, don't get depressed about it. Merely find something else to do that day and by the next day you'll probably be ok again and raring to go.

I've been to Szczecin (Stettin) twice on trips to Berlin and never had trouble taking a guy to my room. There was a gay bar there with trade too. I'll probably go soon to some city there. I had thought with Poland getting ESTA they would be flooding the US but I guess Covid stopped the escort migration. Have to go and do take home. I hear Krakow and Wroclaw on the Czech border are very nice with stunning guys. I haven't seen any cute Polish guys on Chaterbate though it's full of hot Russians. btw- the cute 5 guys that do foot shows under https://chaturbate.com/carefree_warrior/ on CB say they're in Warsaw but are really Russian boys in Russia. Cute as hell. Russia's always been hard for me to get into though.

I visited Warsaw 3 years ago and to avoid the uncomfortableness of the hotel - I rented a place by using the MisterB&B app (works like AirBnB). I had a new guy in my room every day/night and nobody said anything - as it was my own rented apartment - it was perfect. I was supposed to go to Warsaw again this past May - but I got covid and I could not go - but I had already rented a beautiful flat with AirBnB - and I was going to repeat what I did 3 years ago. I also used the HunqZ site to find all of my sexy Polish guys - there were also MANY Ukrainian guys available because of the current situation.

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…

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.