Leaderboard

I'm thin but tall (1m85 / 6'1), fly +- 180h a year and always book economy. I simply prefer to spend my money on other things than on luxury during the flight, although I certainly understand why people book business once you have experienced it. I have my routine and try (and mostly manage) to sleep on every flight, even if it's just a short one hour haul. I bought custom made earplugs, comfortable and they block all the noise when you try to sleep. I love my noise canceling headphones. I've got the sony mx1000m4 and couldn't miss them on a flight. Lately I often fell asleep with those headphones on and my earplugs still in my bag. I always pick a seat at the back of the plane (a bigger chance on an empty seat next to you) and select an aisle seat in the middle part (only one person can ask you to stand up when he/she needs to go the bathroom). On long haul flights with a 3-4-3 layout, it often narrows to a 3-3-3 layout. My favorite seat (and I do pay extra for seat selection if necessary) is at the left side of the second row of 3 seats in the middle. (see screenshot, the green spot). You can stretch your legs, nobody bumps into you and even that bathroom was closed on my latest flights (people tend to go anyway to the bathoom that they can see). As other posters mentioned, always check seatguru. I never watch movies, they keep me awake, but I do use an e-reader (makes me sleepy). I used to take a sleeping pill before flying, but that made me dizzy. Now I just drink one whisky at the start of the flight. I use a pillow similar to this one: https://www.amazon.com/Inflatable-STTARLUK-Airplane-Comfortably-Supports/dp/B093HD2RK7 It's bulky, but comfy and I can even read an e-book in sleeping position. An added advantage is that it seems to refrain people to ask me to stand up if they want to go to the bathroom. I do buy a last minute business class upgrade if the price is right. On one of my latest air france flights, I had a business class upgrade on both legs of a 11h flight for less than 400€ in total. If the flight is delayed, I always ask for a free lounge voucher (and often get one). If you don't ask, you get nothing..

I have been very spoiled. From the mid 1980s I have worked for companies in Asia which allowed me to travel in business class. For three years in the early 90s, one of those companies alllowed me first class travel for long haul intercontinental flights, of which I took about a dozen a year. Travelling so frequently, I amassed a very large number of air miles each year and these enabled even more business class trips for vacations, often for annual visits to friends in Sydney and once for a trip to and around South America. Intercontinental first class in the early 1990s was not much better than business class in most airlines now. Only two real differences - a lot more space and mostly very fine cuisine and wines, especially the latter. In the years since then, I have been upgraded a few times and find the difference with business class getting even closer. Since semi-retirement, I have had to pay for most of my own travel and the mileage bank is close to empty. I'm medium height and now 88 kg. I have still only done 2 longish-haul returns in economy class. First was LHR to Chicago on BA in mid-2015. Hated it. Outward trip I was seated in the middle of about 30 girls who had been at some hockey tournament in Israel. They were as high as a kite. The flight was miserable. On the overnight return, I declined dinner but said I would like breakfast. Assuming this would at least be juice, coffee and a bacon roll or something lilke that, little did I know how desperate BA's economy catering had become. Breakfast was tea or coffee and a tiny hard wrapped slab of fruit cake that was all but frozen! At the other end of the scale JAL's economy class 787 on the BKK/Tokyo route in 2018 was extremely good. Comfortable window seats and the best economy menu I have ever experienced. This had been created by JAL chefs especially for economy passengers.

I can't do economy. I'm large and tall. What I have found is airlines that have business class for reasonable prices. For example, I have booked a few times on Hainan Airlines from Bangkok to Chicago and the business class fares were right at 2k USD. That was almost the same as the economy or premium economy on AA or Delta. I liked the airline and the service was fine. It was not as luxurious as Singapore or other airlines but the seat was fully lay back and comfortable.

Vinapu is right. No matter what "service" you want, even if it is hardly anything at all, you still will be expected to give the boy at least the minimum tip. After all, whatever you want is not something he decided. You're the one making that decision. He is providing what you ask for. Don't forget, you're spending a great deal of money just getting to Thailand. You're probably going to stay in a good hotel, eat in good restaurants, and have plenty of drinks. So, don't try to save money by being less than generous with the boys. After all, most likely the boys are the main reason you're going to Thailand in the first place. If the boy is giving you what you ask for and doing a good job of it, I suggest tipping beyond the minimum, even if what you ask for is minimal in itself. And if you do that, he will be genuinely happy to see you if you return and will do even better than the first time - and that beats hell out of him thinking "Oh no, him again!"

Very interesting intel. I can empathise with the poor leaseholder's decision. It sounds like one of those situations where the losses are smaller just paying the rent on unused space, compared to trying to open the business and losing money paying the rent plus bleeding red ink from operations. But what it means is that there is hope... though it is debatable how long it will take for Xi Jinping to change course. It only proves what I have said before. Lucky Boys was way too big a space. The business does not have the agility to adjust to circumstances that a smaller business would have.

I second the motion: this list MUST be pinned!

there are two quite new hotels in the area worth a try: ibis styles silom (silom opposite to soi 6) and the quarter silom by UHG just opposite of the prime massage in silom soi 6. both reasonably prices and nice from what i saw and heard from friends. personally i stayed in another very nice, cheap, new hotel called "the cotton saladaeng" at sathorn soi 2 (2 min from so/ sofitel). i can recommend it, no problem bringing guests into your room :). a bit off topic, concerning partying: as clubs (GOD) must close at 3, there are 2 small, speakeasy-style after parties at "the kitchen" (krua restaurant in silom) and banana club (soi 4). go there, to the back or upstairs and you will be surprised how much is still going on :D. i enjoyed it a lot the last 2 weeks!

I also hope and pray that calmer heads will prevail. Yes, I totally agree it's a beautiful island (a few photos below from a round-the-island trip i did a few years ago), the people are warm, friendly and kind, and the men sure are hot. That's one reason I always go to a hot spring on my visits - and hot does not mean hot from the really hot pool! I think one of the reasons so many of the guys are hot is a result of that military service. Many of the guys in their 20s have great bodies. The museum is stunning. Extaordinary that it can only show a tiny fraction of its treasures at any one time. Yet as I am sure you are aware, those treasures were actually stolen from China by Chiang Kai-shek when he fled to Taiwan. They had been crated up during the Japanese invasion of China so they could be moved around for safety. It was therefore relatively easy for Chiang to have the crates shipped to Taiwan.

This forum has gotten too quiet. We need Min to get back to his travels for our entertainment! 😘

Problem with that green seat , is they line up for the toilets hovering over you I was in seat which is just opposite you,I look up from my aisle seat they are all lined up for the toilet standing over me , for now on anywhere near toilets for me is a no go . People I found out are fascinated by toilets even on a 1 hour flight .

You write as if the “people who actually live in Taiwan” are entirely helpless in the situation. But the fact is that Taiwan is a democratic country – and it was the democratic vote of the people in elections that has resulted the increased tensions over the status of Taiwan. As you have pointed out, the collapse in the number of mainland tourists visiting Taiwan followed the PRC unhappiness with the decision of the Taiwan people in the 2015 election. Obviously that very negatively impacted on the tourist sector of Taiwan, but I think it is fair to say that the electorate knew before the election that the result that transpired would enrage Beijing. But they cast their vote for their favoured candidates anyway, as is their right. You are trying to create a divide here between the “politicians” and “the men and women who live there”, but it seems that on this issue people are leading and the politicians following - otherwise the Kuomintang would be winning elections. Now you may be of the opinion that the Taiwanese people are misjudging their own long term interests, and should “go gently into the good night” of becoming a new subjugated province of the PRC, like Hong Kong. However, I would urge you to make that argument in a straight-forward fashion, rather than insinuating (in a rather dubious proposition for a country with democratic elections) that only "the politicians” want a certain policy… and that the “ordinary people” disagree.

I was there last month. I was never directed to the service elevator, though I had previously read reports about that and was conscious of the possibility. However, I should add that the latest that I went back to Raya Hotel was probably around 11:30pm, at which hour I still used the front entrance and guest elevators. Perhaps those reports referred to the wee hours of the morning? Then again, nowhere did I see any signs put up by the hotel to alert guests that a detour might be required at some time in the night. So maybe it's no longer the case? By the way, my review of Raya was uploaded yesterday on my blog. https://shamelessmacktwo.travel.blog/2022/08/02/the-sequestered-fridge/

The bar on an Emirates A380. And all free!

From The Diplomat By Pattharapong Rattanasevee On May 22, independent candidate Chadchart Sittipunt was elected as the governor of Bangkok in a landslide victory. He gained over 1.38 million votes and led other candidates by a vast margin. In fact, Bangkok is the only province in Thailand where the governor is elected to a four-year term rather than being appointed by the Ministry of Interior. Given the demographic centrality and political dominance of the Thai capital, the results of this election have inevitably sent a strong message to the central government and carry implications for politics at the national level. Meanwhile, Chadchart’s sweeping triumph means that he is burdened with the massive expectations of the people who voted for him and expect his team to deliver tangible results soon. He is also challenged by difficulties having to work with the current government headed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the leader of the military coup of 2014, during which Chadchart was arrested, handcuffed, and detained. Just over a month after assuming office, Chadchart’s administration has quickly gained widespread praise from the public. There is no one single explanation for this but several factors are likely involved. First is his down-to-earth, open-minded, and compromising personality, which makes him approachable and friendly to all, from executives, colleagues, and merchants to low-ranking workers and ordinary people on the street. As a result, he has been able to accomplish several tasks more quickly, easily, and effectively than his predecessors because his personality traits have encouraged cooperation and participation from all parties. Chadchart is approachable compared to the usual Thai politicians, which obviously contrasts with Prime Minister Prayut’s commanding style of speaking and fiery temperament. econd, Chadchart started working as the governor of Bangkok right after the official results were announced and has continued to work hard from before dawn – he usually begins his day with a morning jog – to well after dusk. In the event of public hazards such as fires, he has visited and inspected the affected sites shortly after they were reported. As Thitinan Pongsudhirak of Chulalongkorn University wrote recently in the Bangkok Post, Chadchart has “become a ‘superman-like’ figure, appearing everywhere to address crises big and small all over the Bangkok metropolis.” Of course, it remains to be seen whether he can maintain this level of competence, enthusiasm, and dedication for the full extent of his four-year term. Third, Chadchart’s administration has shown the Thai capital, and the country at large, unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability. He has urged that Bangkok’s budget be made available for public scrutiny and has exploited digital technology to solve conventional bureaucratic problems, for example, promoting the Traffy Fondue complaints-receiving application, and launching apps for a project to plant one million trees in Bangkok and the Open Bangkok Data scheme, an initiative which aims “to foster citizen participation in city development, conflict reduction, and transparency.” Although he began his term with a very limited budget, as the previous governor has spent most of the allocated funds for the fiscal year which will not end until September 30, many analysts agree that he has spent wisely and put resources to good use. Among his most urgent policy decisions has been to disclose the contract for the BTS Skytrain system, one of Bangkok’s major intercity transport networks, and undertake a major transformation of City Hall’s investment arm, Krungthep Thanakom Co. Ltd., which he views as a breeding ground of corruption. Fourth, Chadchart has proven himself to be a modern, social-media savvy politician with over 2.5 million followers on his Facebook account, where one can view daily livestreams of his activities. With a dedicated PR team to cover his doings, Chadchart uses online communication wisely to turn the stuffy business of governing Thailand’s largest city into a live reality political show reaching millions of social-media users and making it easier for millennials to digest and assimilate the information. To illustrate his online popularity, just hours after a pre-dawn daily jogging Facebook Live episode, his account received more than 50,000 Likes and Loves, 1,600 shares, 7,400 comments, and 404,000 views. Although many are now starting to think of Chadchart as a potential future prime minister, he is unlikely to run in next year’s general election. But given that the country has been suffering from long-standing political malaise and frustration over the incompetence of the ruling regime, the Chadchart phenomenon could lead the way in setting new standards for politicians and new heights of public expectations. Thailand could derive fruitful benefits and learn many valuable lessons from it, at least for the next four years.

I was just going to suggest seatguru. Of course it can't tell you where the passengers of size will be located, but it can help you see which seats are least desirable. I am not a big person by any means, but once you fly up front it's nearly impossible to go back to sitting in economy. Most of my business and first class trips have been booked with miles so they weren't super expensive. But I have paid for business class. When your trip is 20 hours plus to the other side of the world having some comfort is important to me. There's no way I could sleep sitting in an economy seat. Even in a lie flat business seat it's not especially easy for me. But it's way less stress on my body and mind. Plus the lounge access is a nice thing, particularly when the lounge has showers and decent food. It's nice to freshen up mid-trip. And shorter check-in lines, etc.

From Channel News Asia Bangkok’s recent proposal to allow foreigners to buy land in Thailand is poorly thought out and will not be the panacea for the Thai economy that the government envisages, say two experts. BANGKOK: Thailand has long been a popular destination for foreign investment and expatriate retirement but has severely restricted foreigners from owning Thai land. With Bangkok now keen to attract wealthy investors - especially the Chinese - to aid Thailand’s post-pandemic recovery, the government is contemplating a major change in the laws governing foreign ownership of real estate. On Jul 15, the government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha unveiled a proposed policy to allow foreigners to own land for residential use. The stated goal of the policy is to boost the Thai economy by luring wealthy foreigners to spend and invest in the country. Foreign nationals who invest 40 million baht (US$1.1 million) in property, securities or funds in Thailand over a period of three years would, starting in September, be permitted to own up to 1 rai (about 1,600 sq m) of land. On one level, this proposal addresses a clear problem for Thailand: The current supply of residences far exceeds demand. Data from 2020 indicates that there were more than 90,000 unsold condominium units in just the Bangkok metropolitan region. According to The Bangkok Post, of the roughly 1.5 million condominium units in Thailand, foreigners now own only about 90,000 units. Targeting wealthy investors with high purchasing power might help address this looming real estate crisis. The proposed change in rules on land ownership aims to augment investment in Thailand by 800 billion baht. The change will likely appeal mainly to prospective Chinese buyers. Already, half of the foreign-owned condominium units in locales such as the resort town of Pattaya are in Chinese hands. There is a close link between tourism and investment; many major Chinese cities are short flights away from Bangkok and key Thai cities, which makes the Thai properties potential second homes for wealthy Chinese families. However, potential Chinese buyers and investors are likely to be more interested in landed property than in condominiums, especially in the main tourist destinations. Ironically, the new policy is likely to see the pool of prospective condominium buyers shrink, as wealthy foreigners - especially in the target Chinese market - will have a more desirable investment option: Land. The proposed plan may well increase land tax revenue and benefit the Thais fiscally but its political and social ramifications merit careful consideration. Foreigners may begin to invest freely in property, but whether they will reside in the country is another matter. In addition, increased foreign purchases of luxury dwellings will intensify perceptions of inequality and rising land prices will worsen the actual inequality. These concerns have led the opposition Phuea Thai Party to oppose the scheme. The party reasons that nearly 80 per cent of Thais do not own any land and that allowing foreigners to buy land will benefit the more affluent segments of Thai society with land to sell. It will exacerbate the inequality in land ownership. Continues at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/thailand-bangkok-foreigners-property-residential-land-ownership-2857981

General Santos City,or Gensan for short is a city in the southern part of the Philippines,it's more a country type city . It even has its own international airport although you can't fly there directly from other countries,you have to change at Manila airport. Gensan is known as the "tuna capital" of the Philippines and will hold the tuna festival in September for those interested. I found General Santos City the best out of all the cities I visited. There's no condos there or skyscrapers,it's a large country type city where the people are friendly and cheap prices . As for guys I had 8 in 2 weeks and the majority didn't want pay ! Two asked for trycycle money to my hotel ,(100 pesos) another asked for 1000 pesos (about 700baht) the others were bisexual guys in the tuna industry looking for quick fuck for free. They were all tops and a few had tattoos and most were either married or had girlfriends,I got them all of grinder. General Santos City ( Gensan) has a few 4 star hotels one a 4.5 and also a casino inside the hotel. Country city like this is worth a visit esuif your in your mature years because the bisexual guys on Grindr are horny for new ass , very few farangs are in Grindr in Gensan , I saw a few backpackers only . So guys I ask you to explore rather than just go to Thailand every year ! Try the Philippines!!! Especially country cities like general Santos City & Davao,2 of the most safest cities in the Philippines!

The only way to make sure God listens to our prayers is tagging him. @TotallyOz

At 6’2” and >200lbs the only time I fly coach is on Southwest Airlines flights with duration of 1 hour or less.

Like Neyger and Vinapu, I travel at the back of the plane for leisure. I used to fly business class quite a bit but those were the days when others (company) paid the fare. I can appreciate the difference in service, but for me it all seems quite unnecessary. I'd rather spend the money on other things that are more important to me. It all seems quite unnecessary to me because I am lucky in a way. I am below average in height and I am able to keep my body mass index (BMI) under 25. So, an economy seat is OK for me. A premium economy would be plenty. One of the few blessings in life from being small-built. Other aspects discussed here are also unimportant to me. - Business class lounges? I don't want to sit while waiting to sit in the plane for the next several hours. I prefer to walk/explore the terminal, get some exercise while I can. - Nice food? I want to stay away from temptation to maintain my BMI. There's also the risk of bloating when air pressure is reduced at altitude, making sleep harder. - Drinks? Never really acquired a taste for that. I am no connoisseur of fine wines. A flatbed would be nice, I agree, but then I am able to sleep in a seat. I don't even own noise-cancellation earphones like Neyger. I have considered buying one, but my normal (wellpadded) earphones muffle cabin noise to a significant degree, and so far, they're good enough to help me sleep. Neyger's inflatable thing - I really don't know what to call it - is intriguing, but here's my question: How much huffing and puffing will it need to get inflated? In any case, I'm not sure that I would want to carry one more thing when my simple inflatable pillow seems good enough.

Didn't look closely at the link, clicked on it and then realized - Shameless Mack!! Love your site. ... Lucky Boys is closed? Not a great sign. It was one of the larger joints, and noticeably flourishing, in the post-Twilight era.

Thank you! Very helpful. Great to have community.

How dreadful! The more so considering how young some of the deceased were. Even at this early stage it seems perfectly clear that the fire department - or whichever one is responsible for ensuring fire regulations about materials used inside public premises meet fire safety standards - completely failed in their duty as far as granting premises a license to operate is concerned. Anyone who has been in the entertainment business knows only too well that cheap insulation material can be highly flammable. Sadly TIT! As has been said before, the fear for the gay community must continue to be Silom Soi 2. If there is a fire in DJ Station or any of the other venues in that soi, its tiny entrance is certain to cause panic if large numbers are trying to get out. It will be worse if, as was discovered some years ago, DJ Station's one back exit was padlocked shut!

From MSN “My biggest fear in retirement is waking up and not having any idea what I am going to do that day,” says David Lucero. But David’s fears have never been realized…because he went in search of an overseas adventure. His travels began with an epiphany in his office. “Back in 2013 I was working in Houston, Texas, and at that time I was around 62. I was working in a private equity firm and was tired spending 10 to 11 hours a day looking at a computer screen. I’ve always enjoyed traveling so I started looking for things to do outside of the U.S.” David discovered a slew of teaching jobs overseas. “I found a teaching job in Yantai, China (Yentai University) and in early 2014, I went for a year and stayed for four years.” During that time, David used China as a base to explore Asia. “I traveled in Central and Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, Lao, and the Philippines. My brother had been to Chiang Mai 30 years ago and he suggested I go there.” Chiang Mai is a northern city in Thailand known as the “Rose of the North.” With golden temples to explore, international restaurants, and festivals to celebrate on a regular basis, Chiang Mai is popular with tourists and expats. Although it has a warm to hot climate, Chiang Mai does have a cool season, and temperatures can dip into the 60s during the winter. It is a short hour’s flight from Bangkok and has an international airport that serves destinations all around Asia. Nestled among the mountains, Chiang Mai offers a variety of lifestyles including city living in a high-rise condo, suburban living, and country living with views of rice fields and banana plantations. “This city is great because it has a good expat population. The city’s size was right for me. Here you can get anywhere you want in 20 minutes on a motorbike. Whatever your interest is, go to Facebook and you will find a group in Chiang Mai. Hiking, walking, eating, golf, whatever,” says David. “Back in China, I realized that I really enjoyed teaching so when I first got to Chiang Mai, I circled around a few schools I had driven by and I just walked in and asked if they needed teachers. Teaching began to fill a gap. I could teach as much or as little as I wanted to, so I chose to teach 15 hours a week. I was only paid about $9 an hour but it was something that I enjoyed.” One day someone suggested to David that he attend a Rotary meeting. At the meeting, he was asked if he was any good at math. “They told me about a charity school helping Burmese migrant workers and they were looking for a math teacher to volunteer,” he recalls. This meant that David could stay in Thailand on a volunteer visa. It is illegal to work or volunteer on a retirement visa in Thailand, so reputable places do offer volunteer visas and pay the costs. David’s volunteer teaching timetable is around 10 hours per week and is flexible so he has plenty of time for further travel, which he loves to do. “My favorite spot for travel is Koh Chang, Thailand’s third-largest island after Phuket. It’s an eight-hour mini-van trip from Bangkok. There are nice beaches and it is relatively unpopulated compared to other beach towns.” When David isn’t teaching and traveling, he is busy with the many social events that are an intricate part of expat life in Chiang Mai. “I joined a pool league and we play in bars and travel to a new venue each week. I got involved through friends. I never really played pool much in the U.S. but you get better at it. We play in teams. It’s just people getting together drinking a beer, playing pool.” David says when he first arrived in Chiang Mai and was searching online for activities, he found a competitive bridge competition. “I used to play bridge when I was younger, but I hadn’t played for 30 years. They have a wonderful club here and they are mostly retirees but some are Thai and some are younger digital nomads. They host tournaments too, so you get to meet players from outside this city and make friends. Some of the players are competitive but most of us are just there to drink a beer, make friends and have fun.” A large part of social life as an expat in Chiang Mai is the food scene. There are hundreds of restaurants in and around the city and as the food is so flavorful and cheap, there is never a reason to cook. David says that a good quality lifestyle here costs around $2,000 per month. His medical care is affordable too. “I am very fortunate that I don’t have underlying medical conditions so that isn’t at the top of my list, but I do go and see a very competent, English-speaking doctor at Ram Hospital and they test my bloods and do a general check-up. The doctor costs about 400 baht ($12) and the blood work and tests come to about 2,000 baht ($60). “I have enough money in the bank in case I had something like a heart attack, but my medical insurance is really just a ticket home. I do have accident insurance which is very cheap. It costs 6,000 baht ($180) a year and pays up to 300,000 baht ($9,000),” says David. “What has surprised me about my move here is how much I enjoy Chiang Mai,” says David, “how different it is from the U.S. How different…and how much better it is.”

Thank you Slvkguy, your 8 pointers are excellent and on topic, and wise from experience. That list of 8 should be pinned if not already so. The goal here is to make aware and warn tourists as to the current situation. It’s not about drama or trying to scare anyone. Some visitors may get 100 hits from an app and believe they’re in a paradise free of danger or risk. If it saves one life it’s accomplished something. I say enjoy and be careful!

PeterRS's comment about JAL's economy class food interests me because the last thing on my mind when I upgrade to business is the food. I am totally incapable of enjoying it on the flight, preferring to eat prior to departure. As for drink...well, EVA's Business had a splendid wine list on Tuesday and yet the best I could manage was one small glass. EVA no longer have First Class but, many years ago when it was still available on the old 747s, I was "double upgraded" and found myself one of six (?) passengers in First on a BKK-LHR flight. The food and the wine was of luxurious quality, chosen to include the most expensive items available, such as pate de fois gras and caviar. I managed to eat very little of it . And, incidentally no doubt, I suffered stomach pains the next day which have never occurred before or since. Even on Easyjet. I put it down to divine retribution for mixing with the wrong company.

Up to a couple of years ago I used to rent a motor scooter of which I made extensive use for myself and was very often accompanied by boyfriends. I think I was a carefull rider and in fact I never had any sort of accident. I was fined a couple of times - once for going the wrong way up a one way street and the other because the bike had not got a valid test certificate. I never used them when I had drunk more than one beer. I always refused requests by boyfriends for them to use the bike.

I wrote the above in relation to an earlier post from @kjun12. I have since received a courteous PM from him with a generous comment. I clearly overreacted in my response above and openly send apologies.

Seegasm is a different form of porn site. It seems to be run by one guy who features as the top in many dozens of vdos. He's either training cute naked young guys in different forms of sexual pleasure as a bottom or just giving them a good time. He records each vdo from 2 or 3 angles and then releases them individually. Initially quite interesting but they do tend to be pretty repetitive.

I don't really want to argue with you because it's clear you have strong views and know a lot about Taiwan. I hope for the people of Taiwan that this doesn't escalate. As I'm sure you know, military service is mandatory and there are constant threats from China. But it is a beautiful island, the people are very progressive and warm, and the men are hot. It also has one of the best museums in the world in my opinion. This discussion is making me want to go back. It's been a while.

Salamat po for the good description of the Macho Bars in the Philippines. Bottom line they are much more expensive than the Go-Go Bars in Thailand and the results are much more mixed. My recommendation is to skip them and meet local guys online or in the Mall. In addition to Grinder there are guys on Romeo and available to chat on WhatsApp. Many are seeking older "Daddies" and hoping to find a Long Time Relationship. But Pinoy guys are great as Friends and in Bed!! Go and enjoy!!

I agree! GenSan is a nice place to visit in the PH. But there not any beaches near by. You have to go down to Glan to find a good sand beach. But Davao is much better. You can take a Pump Boat across the strait to Samal Island. Several nice beaches and water parks there. And many places to visit in the City. Give it a PLUS!!

I guess it's " convenience"& comfort in using a air conditioning Grab car rather than a baht bus. The majority of us are old ,and with being old you can become lazy just like me 😃 Sometimes just for comfort & convenience I used a Grab to go from jomtien complex to Pattaya, rather than walk up the hill,wait in the heat for the baht bus then spend the next 20 minutes stopping and going with people crowding in with you .

A bit harsh, one mean comment in a tread does not make you a troll in my book.

@Rick7235 sorry for the late reply, I was quite busy these past few days. To answer your question, “Macho dancers” are gogo boys/strippers known for their characteristic dance typified by lots oh hip gyrations and smooth serpent like movements ( you can refer to some videos online to get a glimpse of these men’s erotic dance”. Their are a couple of clubs that have these shows, mind you that they cater to both gay and straight women, so it would not be uncommon to see some cis women in these clubs. Moreover, they usually attract an older age bracket, and most would be regulars in these establishments and are often called as “Matronas” or matrons. Some well known clubs are: Apollo - Located in Pasay (Southern Manila) Solutions- Pasay Whitebird - Roxas Boulevard FClub690- Quezon City( Northern Manila) Adonis- Timog, Quezon City Emotions- Cubao Boyzone- Cubao Quality of these bars vary significantly, expect to get what you pay for. More expensive clubs like adonis and apollo have are generally cleaner and spacious while the smaller and older clubs like boyzone may not have the best record for cleanliness. On the upside though, these older, rundown clubs at cubao may provide cheaper men, though the quality might not be up to par as the more established clubs. Moreover not all the clubs offer sex shows or nude dances ( locally known as “all the way”), especially after the pandemic. For the expenses: Most clubs require an entrance fee of around 100-200 pesos, expect to get drinks at around 200-300 and “macho drinks” or drinks for the dancer that you would like to “table” or essentially keep you company to cost around 500-800 ( they earn a commission from this). VIP rooms are available for a set package of usually 10 beers for 5,000 and includes 1 on 1 time with your chosen dancer. Each club has different prices to take a boy out during his shift, some would require you to buy a minimum number of drinks, I’ve also heard of off fees up to 7,000 (which does not include payment for the dancer, just the fee for the club). With that in mind, it would be better to get the model home after his shift is done (usually at 2am-4am) to avoid this added fee. The actual price that you would pay for the guy would also vary greatly depending on how popular he is, or if he is even willing to go out with you. Please keep in mind that not all of the dancers offer sexual services, so do ask the floor manager for your specific expectations and needs so they can recommend a guy for you. Tip for Floor manager up to 500 pesos. Once you get in the club you will be assisted by a floor manager, their role closely mirrors that of the “mama san” in other countries. The manager has you in mind at all times, so if you have any questions on what each boy can do or questions about the prices then just ask them for advice. Clubs open around 8pm-2am, during this time the men will be presenting one by one (sometimes in pairs), as the night drags on so do their clothing. When they are not up the stage performing, you can get some of the buys to drink with you if you buy them a beer, policy defers in each club and each guy, some allow you to touch the guys’ package while others don’t. During your “table time” it’s best to get the guys number, get closer with him, and potentially ask him out to go with you after your shift. This is also the best time to ask him his price and what he is willing to do. But don’t be blunt. A lot of these guys want things to drag on.

I wasn't quoting the Guardian article, I was relating my own experience. I taught in Taiwan, I've had Taiwanese colleagues, Taiwanese students and a Taiwanese boyfriend. They all emphatically stated that they were not Chinese. The consider Taiwan to be an independent country with its own language, culture, currency and political system. They also look to the West for protection from a much bigger bully, China. They live under the constant threat of an attack, much like South Koreans do with North Korea. Your experience may be different and to be honest, I haven't read all of the posts in this thread because some of them are way too long. I was simply making a point, if you ask the people of Taiwan, they will tell you that they are not China nor Chinese.

And he didn't inhale either . . .

Bill Clinton didn’t think oral was sex.😂

Are you familiar with Seat Guru? You might want to check that site when trying to decide where you want to sit. https://www.seatguru.com

Nobody will force you to have real sex anywhere but minimum tip is minimum tip. HJ or BJ is still sex, no? Some massage places in Saphan Kwai area have lower minimum tips

I rather spend my money on business class bar guys than business class flights and always fly economy in the one of last rows precisely because nobody likes to seat there. Long flights are chore and I don,t see reason to pay more than necessary, jet lag being main issue for me. As for overweight passengers taking 1.5 seat I feel sorry for them but even more for people in the same row. Perhaps charging passengers by total weight of them and their luggage would solve issue ?

I actually feel empathy for the farangs I saw who were very large sitting in economy,I'm 98kg myself so I even found it difficult cramped for the 3 hours so if that farang I saw was I would say 150kg plus just imagine that flight for him. There is another angle to this, pity the poor normal sized person in economy sitting next to the overweight guy. I am 78kg and a couple of times had this on long distance flights, it was not a happy experience.

Those are the types of moments that we will remember f o r e v e r ! ! ! Thanks for sharing it with all of us. Mine was like this but in Brooklyn. There was this cruisy park where I had heard that you could go to meet other guys to jerk off with. It was near the BQE and quite isolated - as it was hidden underneath the highway in a park. There were about 30 guys milling around. A hot guy approached me (I was only 23) and picked me up and put me on the park table. I was so nervous that my knee caps were shaking and making a strange noise. The guy asked me to close my eyes and wanted to know if I had white underwear on. I replied yes (I later learned that this hot guy had a HUGE fetish for guys in white underwear). He removed my shorts (it was a hot summer night) and started to caress me in my white underwear. I was rock hard very quickly and finally my knee caps stopped to clatter. I peaked with one eye open and the other 29 guys circled around the park picnic table where this hot guy had placed me on and they started to jerk off in a literal circle jerk formation. Some tried to approach me - but he barked at them to keep their distance as I understood that he wanted to be in full control of my ejaculation. He asked me to let him know when I was getting near to ejaculate - which was like within the first 5 minutes - and he would stop and do other things like caress my balls and/or nipples. I then understood that he wanted to make a show - as various guys who were in the circle jerk would cum each time I told him to stop or I would cum prematurely. When there were only a few guys left in the circle - he said ok, I give you permission to cum and boy did I let out a big load. The guys from the circle jerk applauded and the hot guy who took charge of me also ejaculated. It was totally hot. I frequented this park often after that initiation night and often this event would be recreated - but I was no longer the one on the table -- as I learned to understand that only a newbie could be on the table to be celebrated in front of the others like that - as it was their tradition and ritual. This celebration lasted until one day the NYC police descended into the park one evening during this ritual and most of us escaped by rapidly scaling the high fence to get away from the cops. It was a totally crazy period but one that I will remember forever - like your Arena massage in secret with your trusted taxi driver.

During my last trip I began taking frequent, early evening walks through Lumpinee Park. I’d wait until the sun was low and twilight would set in by the halfway mark. On some nights I’d make the trek with a friend who was off work but on other days I was pretty much alone—except for the cats. I discovered the cats—or perhaps it was the other way around—about five minutes after entering the park. What first caught my attention was their lack of skittishness. Wherever I cam across one, it was obvious that they viewed themselves as being entirely at home, which is something you don’t expect from an animal that doesn’t have a traditional home. As I made my way along the wide paths, I began to spot them relaxing on the grass and sometimes right in the middle of the road. It also became apparent that none appear scrawny or unhealthy. They looked like typical house cats but their house just happened to be a park. In the vicinity of the outdoor weight exercise area, I spotted some felines stretched out on concrete benches. Some were being petted by passersby. I cautiously approached one and as I tried a tentative stroke, it rolled over on its back for a soothing massage. As I moved further along, I saw a few cats eating along the side of the road. Some folks are apparently providing cat food on a regular basis. Soon I came to a bridge over a stream where a few folks gathered by one end. When I paused to see the source of interest, they were tossing bread crumbs to turtles near the water’s edge. The cats weren’t the park's only inhabitants to figure out how to get an evening snack. And if the turtles weren't quick, a fish would dart over and grab the morsels first. One evening when I approached the bridge, three crows positioned themselves on the railing to catch breads crumbs mid-air tossed their way. And it wasn’t just these creatures that inhabit the park. Monitor lizards can be found wandering about (no, they’re not looking to be petted). The park in the evening attracts many joggers of all ages. Everyone goes with the flow whether they’re out for a leisurely evening stroll or exercising to work up a good sweat. Towards the end of our circuit, with twilight fully setting in, the park takes on a magical glow as the lights of nearby high rises reflect off the lake. It never fails to mesmerize me. The best place to enter the park for most of us is the main gate on Rama IV near the Silom MRT station. A few refreshment stands are scattered about the park (water is 8 baht).

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.

(part 10) As mentioned in part 9, a Thai boy who's working in X-boy asked me to take him to another bar to watch a show (X-boy itself has no longer offered any shows post-Covid). Since I like the boy and wanted to do something nice for him on my last day in Pattaya, I told him to go to Jomtien complex that night at 9pm and we would go watching a show together. I'd buy him drinks, pay his bar fine of 500, and also a short time fee of 1500. Then around 8pm, he messaged me with a reschedule request, saying something about having "other business". Looks like the dramatic "I was born to never watch a show" (his words via some awkward Google translation) wasn't that important. His last-minute cancellation means I scrambled to find a replacement. Then the next night, when I was in Bangkok already, he messaged me again, whining that he had no customer at all that night, not even a boy drink so he's broke. Turns out, on previous night, a customer to the bar bought him a drink so he cancelled me in hope of getting another off then going with me the next day. Too bad the customer didn't off him eventually and I wasn't available the day after either - a typical case of he who tries to have it all ends up with nothing. On my way back to Bangkok, the first thing I do was to contact Boy No 26 from Dream Boy (mentioned in part 8 ) for a repeat. Guess what, he was on his way to Pattaya. It was his birthday so his boyfriend took him to Pattaya to celebrate. Wait, his boyfriend??? Turns out the one I thought was his ex back in Chiang Mai is still with him. "So your boyfriend doesn't mind that you are working in Dream Boy?" "No, he's also working at the same bar." "His number was 24 right?" I jumped to a conclusion, remembering very well he picked boy No 24 when I asked him to choose a boy from the rotation. "No, No 99." "Aha! Then why you picked No 24 last time?" "Because my boyfriend didn't come to work that night." "So if I off both you and your boyfriend at the same time, would you mind?" I asked, again just testing how far they would go (he already showed me pictures of his boyfriend, not my type at all). His answer actually surprised me a little. "I don't like three people, but it's okay if the third person is my boyfriend" Well, well, well, it looks like if that night I actually offed No 24, No 26 wouldn't go with it. Also that's how you sell your boyfriend as an add-on Apart from Boy No 26 going where I just left, another unfortunate coincidence was that the Tiny Lao (mentioned in part 7) has gone home for about a month to be with his family and also renew his passport. The Hotmale downstairs didn't feel the same without him. I kinda miss his warm hug and gentle touch. This time in Bangkok, I finally paid a visit to Moonlight, the only go-go bar I haven't tried so far on this month-long trip. There were about 10 floor guys, most of whom are neither here nor there (not twink but not hunk either). I just read Numazu's latest report and am very curious about his MonBoy (the same way I'm about Vinapu's K - the nice single dad in Tawan), but can't recall anyone that impressive the night I visited. Then the pre-show model parade. At least three of them, Tum, Babe and Korn (and probably Smarch also) looked like they had their nose redone. Babe looked tired with under-eye circles clearly visible despite heavy makeup. His smiles were still very sweet though. Tum and York appeared to be following in Nicky's footsteps with flabbier arms and fat rippling around the belly area. I guess they are pushing 40 and at that age, working out alone would not suffice anymore. You need to watch what you eat and drink, and also the quality of your sleep, to minimize fat deposit. Korn was the only model who showed any form of 6 packs that night. Personally, I found the guys in Jupiter more "model-like" than those in Moonlight. Well-toned, flat stomach, lean but ripped body, nice height/size ratio. And for perspective, below is Jupiter's poster boy, who is over 30 but still can keep that Ms. Universe-like waistline to go with his well-developed chest and arms. (in real life, his waist looks even smaller and arms more muscular) There wasn't much going on in the tip department although the house was half-packed with mostly Asian customers. Before, it often looked like someone got tipped every few minutes or so in that bar, which made me think they probably used fake tips to get the ball rolling, especially when it comes to 1000-Baht garlands. Like if Day 1, models A and B get a garland, then Day 2, models C and D would get it, and so forth. Sometimes, model A gets 2 garlands on Day 1, or he gets another on Day 2. So my guess is that: the first one on Day 1 was staged by the bar. Any extra one on the same day or those on other days were actually from customers. What I saw this time seems to confirm my theory: very early in the parade one model got a garland (can't remember it was Nut or Smarch), presented by a Mamasan, who pointed vaguely at someone (could be anyone) in the audience. The same Mamasan then walked around the house, waving a bunch of garlands but there were no takers. So no one else got that 1000B tip, and throughout the show, only two or three models got tipped 100B with a nip of whisky. Finally, to answer @AlexThompson's question about Bangkok pre- vs. post-Covid, I would say cheaper accommodation, fewer tourists, more discounts at brand name shops, much less traffic at least at night (very easy to cross Suwarong road in the evening these days), more willing boys on apps (I met a few university graduates who haven't been able to find a job and who said they never thought they would sell themselves on app before Covid) - which I like. On the other hand, fewer gay bars, fewer options for traveling to Pattaya, and fewer street food stalls - which I don't like. One thing I certainly have problems with is the increasing number of straight MBs, who appear to use "being man" as an excuse for doing next to nothing in bed. I understand if they are unwilling about being f*ck, but no sucking and no kissing? in this kind of profession and for that kind of money? Some don't even perform the top role because they say they can't get hard for another man. Basically those would just lie there, being serviced and then getting paid handomely for "being a man"! Before Covid, I had heard about and also met many willing straight boys from Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, who could do everything. Vietnamese boys were notorious exceptions. Now, it doesn't seem the case anymore, at least in those Bangkok and Pattaya go-go and host bars I visited. It looks like those straight boys, regardless of nationality, just copied each other by asking for more while doing less. Speaking of which, most Viet boys working in gay bars in Bangkok are straight and came from rural areas in central Vietnam (read: conservative and narrow-minded). So even when they are "reduced to" selling sex to men to earn a living, they still want to keep the illusion of "being a man with dignity and all" (I'm talking about this from the perspective of a Vietnamese). There is also peer pressure. Since they all got into this line of work through friends and acquaintances, they kinda know each other, forming a fairly close-knitted community with well-kept secrets (of course nobody in the village back home know what they are actually doing in Thailand). And in that small community, no one wants others to know that he can be anally f*cked by men. I've seen this in Vietnam too, many times. Some boys let me top them for more money, but made me promise I don't tell their MB peers about that. So if you really like a cute but unwilling boy, just try to get him into bed first. Then with patience, temptation of extra tip and the psychological power of situation, we and he himself would never know what he's capable of doing. Like that time a boy moved to French kiss me when he was about to cum, his first man-to-man kiss ever, as he later admitted, blushingly , and that he didn't think it could be so hot. Outside go-go bars, there are now quite a few Viet boys who work freelance on the app in Bangkok. They are mostly gay, from the south (read: more open- and business-minded), taking good care of their appearance, willing to do many things in bed sometimes for less (they still earn more than what they normally make at home though). I frequently ran into some of those southern boys in Silom road (their favorite spot is the the bus stop located between Patpong 1 and Silom Soi 6), who openly solicited in the street with "massage offers". Several Viet go-go boys when they learned that I'm from the north mentioned a boy from Hanoi who worked in Jupiter before Covid. That was the one who could do everything in bed, they told me. He went to gym, even got a facelift, and became very popular. After just a few years working in Bangkok, he already saved enough to buy a house back home. That's no small feat considering a small house in Hanoi could easily set you back more than a hundred thousand US dollars. So "Why don't you guys try to be like him?" I asked those boys, who were good-looking but admitted they have been able to save little or not at all from their work. Try to be more accommodating and get more customers, make a decent sum and then get the hell out of this line of work, go home open your own business and settle down (the last parts remain a life-long dream for many rural guys in Vietnam). But it looks like my advice always fell on deaf ears. Like that very cute Viet twink used to work in Lucky Boys I mentioned in a previous post. He got called from the stage by three different groups of customer, both Asians and farangs, in the span of a couple of hours I was there (and it wasn't even a busy night) but still no offs because later he told me, they all wanted him to bottom for them. He could have lost probably at least 300 potential customers per year (not to mention possible repeats) which translates into no less than 600K. Still, he couldn't care less about my math. While I was typing this part in the airport, Boy No 26 messaged me saying he just arrived in Bangkok. Are we star-crossed lovers or something? I jokingly asked if he's willing to do it in the airport. He replied with "555", so I said goodbye, hoping we'll have a chance to meet next time. Also told him if I ever see his boyfriend in Dream Boy, I'll tell the boyfriend he picked No 24 the last time. And with that little warning, I left Bangkok. (to be continued)

Corrections: B.N. stands for Bass and Na (not Nut) Here are some updated pictures of the B.N. bar To be honest, my exposure to other fellow visitors to Thailand has been mostly limited to what I read in this forum. That's why I assumed most Westerners would treat the locals at least decently, as I have no doubt you and many other members here would. So some of his sharing did shock me. Kiwi appears to think that his Asian customers are kinder than farangs, but I don't think race and ethnicity has much to do with it. I certainly heard somewhere else a lot of stories about terrible behaviors of Chinese tourists while on tour. A Pattaya MB once told me about this Indian guy, who came to off a boy from his go-go. Customer came in, quickly picked a boy from the rotation (so that he didn't have to pay for a drink and also the boy's drink), paid the bar fine and took the boy back to his hotel. Once the business was done, he refused to give the poor boy any money, saying that he already paid the bar fine and that was enough. Boy came back to his bar empty handed so the owner or manager (I'm not sure which one) decided to bring the boy back to the hotel to confront the customer. Thanks for your suggestion but it looks like we would never cross paths when it comes to boy selection

@MinI can tell you must be an excellent conversationalist as you always seem to get such interesting insider information. Kiwi seems like such a treasure and I'm sad to hear he has had such negative experiences. I don't think I'm a people pleaser, but in all encounters, especially paid, I constantly feel like I'm asking "Is this okay?" just to make sure that whoever I'm with feels respected. I could never do the type of work they do, not because I disrespect it, but I just could not handle the tricky and difficult situations many of them will experience. From your post, I think many people will be reaching out to contact Kiwi. He certainly sounds like someone I would love to meet. If you want to meet a similar guy who is very open and talkative, I suggest Suwit at Paradise Spa in Boyztown. @vinapuhas mentioned him several times in trip reports, and I can say that my massage with him was the best part of my Pattaya trip. He has an interesting story that I won't spoil for you.

(part 9) During my 7-day stay in Boyztown this time, I had another massage session with Kiwi. It seems he had more customers recently (asked me to re-schedule twice because of schedule conflicts). The second time, he had to go to Bowin (more than 30 km from Pattaya) in the evening to meet a Chinese customer, who's working in some construction project there, and stayed overnight. The next morning, I checked if he's back yet. "Not yet, I'm still cleaning"? Cleaning? I thought he went there for massage services. Turned out Customer gave him 3000 for massage + staying overnight and 1000 for 2-way Grab fare. After massage, it took customer less than 2 minutes to cum. Kiwi felt bad for customer, spending all that money for those 2 minutes (he's must be a result-oriented person), so he offered to stay and clean customer's whole house before he left. Back in my room, this time he brought candles to make it, his words, "special and romantic". Wonder if anyone told him about my previous review (reported in part 1, in which I did say he brought everything but no candles). As usual, he talked a lot during our session and I just listened to his stories, some of which were nice and warm (like what his Chinese ex did for him), some bizarre but exciting (like that time a Japanese customer hired him and 6 other MBs in Bangkok, and paid very good money, 6K each, for an orgy; but he couldn't get hard probably due to peer pressure and became the only bottom everyone else took turns to top), and some, unfortunately, saddening. Contrary to popular belief, many farang customers were not civil, generous, or even hygienic. Some were outright rude. One asked him to do foot massage, then Thai massage then oil massage, which took 4 hours in total. Then on top of that, he was asked to f*ck the customer for another half an hour (it was so hard because he had no energy left but he soldiered on), and got paid 1500 for all these. Or when he bent down to rub some customers' genitals, he had to hold his breath because it looked like that part hadn't been washed in a long time. Or this farang (who looked old, all wrinkled and overweight in his pictures) contacted him on app for a possible meeting. When being told he has to pay, the old guy said this "Your parents must be proud when they find out that you are a money boy", then boasted about how he himself could have other Thais, who are students, younger and cuter, for free. "I don't believe him. And my parents do know about my work." Kiwi said. I guess, we all had some very hard days. Having moved to Zing in Jomtien Complex, I first stopped by the new B.N. bar just opened last month, 10 June to be exact. It's a few meters from The Venue, a bit off the main soi, so the location is not at all ideal (the only advantage is that it's a lot quieter here so easier to talk). Bought drinks for and talked to their new Cambodian boy (just here for a week) and also a cute skinny Thai I always saw sitting outside every time I walked by. It turns out the Thai not just a boy, he's actually the co-owner of this new bar! 27 years old, used to work in 2 go-go bars in the now-defunct Twilight soi in Bangkok, then Toy Boy in Boyztown, Pattaya right before Covid. And now, he opened a beer bar with his best friend, a Cambodian guy who looks around his age (B.N. is the initials of his name - Bass and that of the partner - Nut, if I got it right. I saw someone already interpreted the acronym as Big Nuts hehe). I forgot to take pictures last night so I just use an old picture from Internet. I'll come back later tonight to get a more current picture of the bar. Each partner put in half the investment (400K for fixed assets and an extra 50K for liquors and beverages). Even if the location is not prime, they still have to pay the same rent rate as everybody else in the main soi: 20K per month for their small shop, utilities adding another 3K, and, well, 2.5K to the local police (every bar in the soi pays more or less that amount, the owner told me) so they would turn a blind eye to things like non-Thai staff and late opening hours. For now, with that overhead, there's no way they can make a profit. They are trying to hold out and wait for the high season (or when the Chinese are allowed to come back), said the owner, who thought I'm Singaporean and who used to have a lot of Asian customers, mostly Chinese and Japanese, back in his go-go days. The two hours I sat there, they had only 3 customers. While the Thai partner was talking to me, the Cambodian one sat listening patiently to an elderly farang, who talked slowly but incessantly for a good two hours. "Is your partner's English that good?" The Thai shaked his head "same same me, but the customer can speak Thai". Apart from two partners slash host, they have 3 other hosts (2 Cambodians and 1 Lao). @gerefan, I read your comment so I asked them again about the basic salary. The new Cambodian host told me they received 100B from the bar but only for any night they don't have any customers (drinks or off) - so that means 3000 minimum per month (3 hosts there share an upstairs room in the Complex for about 4000). Some customers wanted to off the Thai owner himself, but he couldn't go because he's been playing multiple roles at the bar (owner slash host slash cashier slash bartender slash legal representative when the police come - the bar registered under his name and it looks like his Cambodian buddy is a silent partner) and no one so far would wait until the bar closes to take him. Another piece of intel: one of the bar's Cambodians, who the other day talked to Dough, the owner of Toolbox bar in Phnom Peng (mentioned in Part 7), pointed at some space near Agate's entrance and told me, Dough's new bar is gonna be there. On a separate note, a Thai boy from X-boys asked me to take him to watch a show in another bar because he said he never got to see any show in his life (sound like a sob story to me). Since I already moved to Jomtien, I told him to take a day off from his Boyztown bar and come to Jomtien complex, I'll take him to drink and watch a show in M2M and then we can go to my hotel. He said he can't take a day off as he has to report to work in the bar every day even if he's sick. In the case of no-show, he has to pay bar fine of 500 per day. I guess I can give him that money too, but just wonder about the situation. A Lao boy from Boyz Boyz Boyz told me something similar. If a customer can't go to the bar to pick him up, he could only go before or after working hours (8pm to 2am) if he wants to avoid the bar fine. On the other hand, I also see on many occasions boys in Fresh Boys and Dream Boy in Bangkok, and Winner Boy, Toy Boy and Pikky in Pattaya, didn't show up for work for all kinds of reason or while being at work, they just left to eat or went home early when there's no hope for more customers. The Thai boy (mentioned in part 2) told me he used to juggle two jobs with both Winner Boy in Sunee and Pikky in Boyztown. So usually weekdays, he worked in Winner Boy, and in weekends, when Boyztown was busier, he switched to Pikky. Last time, I had to wait for an hour for a boy in Fresh Boys and he didn't show up. Mamasan told me, probably because of the heavy rain that night, while a Viet waiter told me he thought the boy just had an outside customer. Last week, I went to Winner Boy bar twice and on both occasions had to leave because the owner who was sitting outside with one or two fully clothed boys told me they didn't have enough boys coming to work so they couldn't open the bar inside. So it looks to me, some bars are more strict about enforcing bar fines than others to make sure that boys can't take outside customers during their working hours without generating some kind of revenue for the bar. (to be continued)

He's also at disadvantage because he's foreigner and not legally allowed to work, so can't ask for the same pay as Thai. Anyway, I talked to a new Thai waiter at Panorama (Pattaya) last night, who just started 4 days ago. He got paid between 4000 and 6000 per month for a shift starting from 4pm until 1 or 2 am in the morning. So my 200 tip for him is already more than his whole day's pay check. I guess they must rely on tips to survive. Still, just a few are actually gay