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I used to stay at the Tarntawan on every visit to Bangkok. Then one trip I met a friend from New York who was staying at Pinnacle Lumpini, which had a bit smaller rooms at about half the price. So I started staying there. I think I checked out of Tarntawan the very day I saw my friend's Pinnacle room and checked in there. The breakfasts at Pinnacle were even more interesting than at Tarntawan. I met a real cutie in DJ Station one night. He came back to the hotel with me and we stayed up till about 7 in the morning having some wild, tequila-fueled sex. We got into positions I had never even dreamed about, then he insisted that I cum on his face. After showering we decided to go downstairs for breakfast. Neung wore one of the hotel-supplied bathrobes because why not? There were a few other couples like us who had obviously been up all night long. But most of the tables were occupied by families. At one point, a blonde little boy walks up to Neung to ask him why he was wearing a bathrobe. Neung spoke good English, gave the kid a charming reply and the two kept talking, mostly about the little boy's first trip toThailand but also about why Neung spoke English and stuff like that. What I remember most was the little boy's parents watching the conversation, checking out Neung, looking at me, sizing up the mixed-race, mixed-age gay couple and letting the conversation go on. Both Neung and the little boy were so pleased with their encounter, with the chance to talk to someone from a different world, with the knowledge that that chance encounter could only have taken place at a hotel breakfast buffet in Bangkok. It was wonderful.

Part 8: Muscle mania at Tawan I started the evening wearing a nice schnitzel at G's in Soi 4. Chatted on grindr with boy from Myanmar who was having drinks at balcony pub alone. He asked me to join him. Was nice conversation and company. But not my type so after 1 drink I excused myself saying I had other engagements. Which was actually true. As I planned to check out Tawan bar tonight. I arrived in Tawan around 10:30pm. It was 400 baht for a drink. Also my 2nd drink was charged 400 baht... In my opinion a bit overpriced for a second drink. Most boybars charge you less for 2nd+ drinks and only first drink is 400 baht. Around 20 shirtless boys in tight navy themed underwear, some more other less muscled. When I came in only 4 other guests in the bar, but around 5 more came in just before / during show. Also ladyboys again here in the show... Why? Even in Tawan... They are still doing the part where 3 boys do competition who can cum first, for some tips off course. But I liked it the most when they put "I know you want me" song on and all guys, with hard cocks, walked around the bar for customers to feel, touch and grope. I took the opportunity to touch some muscles and 6packs and licked some nipples. Get your 100 baht notes ready for some sexy fun! Also part of the show is off course a bdsm themed act. Muscleboy 1 wearing a balaclava (but we all know who it was because you can recognize him at his tattoos) and muscleboy 2 ties him up and slams his body with insulating pipes before pouring candle wax over his but. Sucking cock and licking ass was also part of this erotic act. By the way: where else do they have a toilet boy who gives you small shoulder massage while you are washing your hands after peeing... Lol Special gesture of hospitality in Tawan! Off fee (or price for going to upstairs room): 500 for the house, 2500 for boy. Found a very nice muscle boy with great 6pack. He spoke decent English and told me he is "straight" but can kiss, suck and get sucked by guys. Only can't be fucked, only fucks. A Korean guy next to me, I had nice conversation with, already told me this guy was his favourite in the bar and already talked to him. So 6pack guy ended up sitting in between me and Korean guy. Being his first time in Tawan, Korean guy was a bit shy. So it actually was me doing most of the muscle touching. When Korean guy went to atm te be able to pay the off fee, 6pack guy told me he liked me more because I was so enthusiastic when he came around during the "I know you want me" song. He was the guy I licked the nipples of. And while sitting next to me he was touching my crown jewels. Omg... Actually I was already very tired (liked the fun I was having but not necessarily looking for an off) and also just couldn't "snatch" 6pack guy away from Korean guy. Because I also don't like when that happens to me. So with fresh bahts from the atm, Korean guy went to the upstairs room with 6pack guy. I stayed watching the other muscle boys, some of them in the meantime naked. Received a little souvenir Just when I finished my 2nd drink, Korean guy came back from upstairs. He said 6pack guy is very friendly and he had a good time some muscle worshippping and sucking his cock. Good review by Korean guy, so I probabaly have to go back to Tawan to have my own try with 6pack guy.

If I were looking for a relationship a bar boy is the last place I would start in any country for a whole host of reasons. I have never intended to get involved with any of the bar guys in Bangkok and, when I take a step back, the fact that I am now involved with Bangkok Guy to the extent that I am still surprises me. As the relationship began in a bar my ability to help him financially is an inevitable part of the relationship. To ask if a bar boy would stay in a relationship without the financial support is, I think, fatuous. On their side, the need for financial support is a baked-in part of the reason they are there. The more relevant question is whether the relationship can be one of a fair and equal exchange with respect and caring on both sides. If the falang treats the guy as a sex doll, a trophy, or as bought property, or just generally fails to consider his needs, there will be no long term relationship. If the guy does not like or respect the falang, or if he thinks it is purely short term, then he is likely to view the falang as an ATM to be emptied as quickly as possible, and there will be no long term relationship. However, if each likes and respects the other, both are transparent about their needs and the exchange of needs seems a fair trade, there is a chance it might work subject to the vicissitudes of all relationships including compatibility with each other’s friends and families and ability to co-locate. Again making it plain that I am aware that I do not have a full understanding of the situation, my perception is that if Bangkok Guy and I decided to go for an actual full time relationship the main problems are: (i) Ability to co-locate. I do not want to live in Thailand. Bangkok Guy is clear that he does not care where he lives as long as it is with me. That’s nice to hear, but not practical. (ii) Bangkok Guy’s responsibility to look after his mother and sister and possible wider family network ties. It’s the second point where there are possible transparency issues around how much I am viewed as an ATM to be emptied as quickly as possible. Bangkok Guy completely lacks a poker face. What he is thinking, his state of mind, is on his face, especially if you know him. It has the benefit of making communication easier. When Bangkok Guy asks me for financial assistance he does so in one of three ways. (i) Completely openly and hopefully. This is his expression when he is discussing his own needs. He is approaching me as his friend to fulfill the financial part of my role in the relationship. He has always been very straightforward in these discussions and I enjoy them as I get a clear view into his circumstances and his hopes. (ii) Complete panic. This has only happened once during Covid when his part of the family couldn’t make their payment on the time-payment-tractor. It has only happened once and no one could fake the sheer panic on his face, let alone someone without a poker face. (iii) Reluctantly with submissive/concerned body language and a concerned face. On these occasions he is asking for help with something to do with the family, not himself. The first two approaches are consistent with a relationship based on fair trade. The third concerned/submissive approach is the one where suspicious minds could raise questions. Does his expression indicate guilt as he knows he is pulling a con, or reluctance as he thinks it might strain our relationship, or frustration & reluctance as he resents having to bear the responsibility of looking after the family? My guess, guess, is that it is some combination of the last two. Bangkok Guy takes his responsibilities to his family seriously. He is a stoic and not one to complain. But just occasionally a look or the tone of voice lets it slip that he resents the responsibility and the demands it places on him. It shows in his schizophrenic attitude to his home town. On the one hand he loves its physical beauty and clean air, on the other hand going there to be with family is not his favorite thing. I also suspect that his family may view me as a family ATM. “Son, you have great success, bring ATM to family, now empty ATM while the going is good, falang so unreliable need to empty now” while Bangkok Guy does not see it this way. I think Bangkok Guy wants a long term relationship. Misuse and abuse of the ATM is not consistent with that. My guess is that his family puts him in a difficult position. I have had two long term relationships, the first of which was with a successful self-made guy from a quite dysfunctional family who, after he became successful, made his life very difficult with their demands for lifestyle uplift. I thought they were a pack of c#nts and would have cut them off, after all they cut him off when they found out he was gay, before he became successful which somehow overcame their distaste for gay, but they were his family and he needed their acceptance (worthless and self-centered though it was). I suspect Bangkok Guy is in an analogous situation, although (i) his family are simply poor, only mildly dysfunctional and have no objection to him being gay and (ii) he is bound to them through the need to fulfill social norms more than through emotional dependence. If I am right in this, if, then the risk is that Bangkok Guy decides at some point that his dream of a long term relationship is not going to happen, or that I will not give him enough assistance to start his own business and become independent, in which case he is exposed to a return to a low-and-unreliable market income and a hand-to-mouth existence, in which case he may as well empty the ATM while he can. Bangkok Guy and I need to maintain faith in each other. Without trust, there is nothing.

Boypass?

Part 9: "Roomservice" Today I had lazy day. And I did what one does when having a lazy day in Bangkok: looking on grindr for a massageboy to come over to your hotel room... My choice of the day was a boy who works at Bangkok Spa in Silom Plaza. Before he had to start working at 3pm, be came to my hotel room to give me a nice massage. I was too lazy to go to the shop. And I like the comfort of my own room over a maybe dirty, old massage room somewhere in a shop. In my own room I know I can have a nice shower after and can just relax on bed instead of having to travel back to my hotel first. He had some very sexy pictures on his profile, showing a nice 6pack. Versatile, so so the after-massage-fun looks guaranteed. I felt for the 6pack... Only a few minutes after the agreed time he was in front of my hotel room door. No problem for him to get into the hotel. Friendly, goodlooking guy indeed. He spoke good English, always nice to be able to have something of a small conversation. He even spoke a few words Dutch as he visited my country (the Netherlands) and has a friend from there. Massage was nice, the after service even better. Good skills on sucking and eager to get fucked. What a nice way to have a lazy afternoon. And the day is still young... Still have the evening adventures ahead.

I found out another issue with the shower in Tarntawan Hotel... The shower hose is short, so can't put the shower high enough for me to be able to actually stand under the shower head. For washing my hair in needed to bend over. A position I normally never find myself in... Lol Booked it for in a few weeks from now. For sure update will follow from me about how the hotel was. I stayed a few time in D Varee Express and never heard any noise from DJ station. I actually think there one more bukkding between that hotel and DJ station. So you will be fine noise wise. If the quality is good (nice uptempo song, act doesn't carry on too long...) it can be fun. For variation. But erotic boy acts should always be the main feature in the show.

First drink in Hotmale was 400 baht. I think most of us think the same about the shows. Some (soft) erotic entertainment would be nice. But we are there for the boys, not for hours of bad dancing that is not erotic at all or poor drag / ladyboy performances. Bar owners seem to think otherwise. Well the Tarntawan is not 20USD per night anymore on booking.com as I just checked. I come back for another 5 nights in Bangkok end of this month. Some examples of the price (all without breakfast): Tarntawan: 35 euro per night Raya: 55 euro per night Ibis Styles: 40 euro per night D Varee Express: 25 euro per night Im actually thinking about trying the new Ibis Styles at Silom road. I like the idea staying in a brand new, fresh hotel. Also the location is good. Just between where Patpong 2 and the Soi of Tawan come out on Silom Road. Haha! I can imagine! No... I was in a hurry to catch the show at Tawan. How that expierence was, I will post in my next report later today... 😉

Saddened to hear that the once most popular gay-friendly hotel has fallen so far. Besides the ever-present manager, Lucas, there was one particular staff member I still recall fondly. He was one of the elevator guards who (20 years ago when I first arrived in Bangkok) was a young man. Courteous and friendly to a fault, I looked forward to his morning greeting. I believe he stayed on for a few years after new management took over. Even when I wasn't no longer staying there, I'd drop by to say hello and give him a red note for old time sake. It was always entertaining to see who showed up in the lobby for breakfast with their overnight guests.

Part 7: Let's try an old gay favourite: the Tarntawan Hotel I can't afford Le Méridien for my complete stay, so after 3 nights of luxury I checked out and changed hotels to the old gay-favourite Tarntawan. Never stayed there before. On previous trips I’ve stayed in The Raya (when they just opened and were having very competitive room rates), but mainly in D Varee Express and Bally Suite. The last two because they always have very good offers and are some of the cheapest options of acceptable quality around Silom. During my last trip I decided not to book Bally Suite anymore. The rooms are showing age. Air-conditioning was not working well. And you have to be in luck with the allocation of your room. If you’re placed in a room at the DJ Station side of the hotel, you will be able to hear the music in your hotel room almost as loud as if you are in the club itself. D Varee Express I would still recommend if you’re looking for a low-budget option and if you’re oke with not having a window in your room (as their cheapest option doesn’t have a window). I’ve read so many good reviews on this forum about the Tarntawan, and how you guys have stayed here many times, I decided to go for that place this time and try it. My room in the Tarntawan It has been written on this forum before and I can confirm; the hotel is showing its age. Actually the basis of the room is quite oke. The closet, bed, desk and wood/yellow wall are still in style. But the room could use a fresh up. Specially the curtains. Holes are in it and part of it hangs loose. The big photograph above the bed is not sticking well to the wall anymore and is getting loose. And I would replace the chairs and table. Probabaly the bathroom needs a renovation too. Room is very dark. It has big windows but they are keeping out the daylight because they are this kind of blinded windows. So yeah there is some work to do, but it wouldn't need a complete renovation to get this hotel ready for the next 10 years. Just a fresh up. But off course the location makes it work. Around the corner is Tawan, and Patpong is just 5 minutes walk. As I just checked in I didn't have a boy over yet. But previous posts about this hotel make it clear absolutely no problem taking boys to your room. So that's perfect! But to be honest after my first impression; with current low hotel rates I think there are better hotel options in this area.

No, and Thailand isn't Pattaya. Nor Bangkok. I couldn't live where P does- quite happily- in a farming community with a 7 11 a local market, a temple and nothing else. Even the internet is refractory. And I know , were I to turn this around, P that wouldn't be happy here. His family and his dogs would be far away. As would his friends. And speakers of Thai. The things I love -Chelsea Football Club, classical music and so on- aren't for him. At his age (nearly forty) how easy would it it be to find a new Thai-speaking friend? My company alone isn't that good! Oddly enough, there is a beautiful Thai temple ten miles away in Wimbledon (near the tennis centre). He'd like that! Anyway, we've talked about both possibilities ad nauseam and as long as I'm lucky enough to be to jump on a plane and arrive fifteen hours later in BKK, and he has the means to leave his farm in the hands of his family to join me, why pursue it?

They may not be numerous but there are. In Pattaya, the cabaret shows at The Venue and Castro draw decent crowds. The difference is that these bars position themselves as showbars and the clients go there wanting/ expecting that. I think their prices are also much lower than the boyticeria prices ( haven't been in lately) so they achieve a high-ish level of customer satisfaction. The boyticeria, on the other hand, charge customers for their shows when customers are looking for sex and do not care much for their shows. It's like @Gaybutton's example of some hotels making all their guests pay for Christmas dinner whether they wish to participate or not. And as @emiel1981 reported above, even if the show price is jusifiably built into the first drink, why is it also in the second drink?

it's one thing to put such stunt but other to record it and make it public. Is global warming sucking oxygen from the air they breathe ?

You are actually right. Today I walked passed Nature Boy and had a short conversation with the person sitting at the door (couldn't really tell if it was a boy, girl or anything in between...). I was told Golden Cock and Nature Boy merged into one bar, in the location of Nature Boy (both bars were already from the same owner). Lighted signs with both bar names are now at the wall. Don't ask me for any details as I didn't go inside because I was in a hurry to get to my other engagements... But wanted to be able to give you guys a quick update.

and rightly so. I most cases we can't go wrong with trying to make boy as comfortable in our presence as possible . After all, even if paid , they are guests in our space. Better they feel , chances for better time with them rises exponentially. Of course we need to remember 'paid ' part and while making our guest comfortable we need to watch for signs of them feeling too comfortable thus taking advantage of our hospitality. If they agreed to something which is very important to us we have an option of enforcing terms of contract or cut agreed or intended compensation. If one is good with skipping kissing, sucking , fucking, showering together or whatever was expected but doesn't work , no harm done as in case above. But if say , hand holding for 1 hr. while watching episode 8 of KinnPorsche was very important to us and was agreed upon explicitly, we should let guy know we don't like it as a minimum and if need be , cut his tip or use my preferred solution - tell him next time he is approaching us that he has no chance of an off. If we still like guy for this or that there's even better idea, forget whole thing and give him second chance. It may work marvelously , for 128th time I repeat that my second worst and the best off were with the same guy. as for us asking juicy details remember that while we have right to be curious , you can exercise your right of telling us only as much as you want including ' none of your business" or simply skip the question.

That was true in July too. Credit to Hotmale. If only more bars followed that example. By the way, did you pay 350 baht or 400 baht for your first drink there? They certainly have, but the role of shows in the bars' business model has changed to dominate the business objective. This makes the boy hunter feel neglected. His interests are not well served. But first, we need to distinguish three types of shows: They are (a) live porn, (b) fancy dancing by boys (or, more often than not, hopelessly amateurish attempts at fancy dancing), and (c) fake singing by fake women (I think someone will rap me for being politically incorrect). Live porn and some degree of fancy dancing goes well with a boyticeria; it complements the business well, since it interests the same kind of customer, heightens the erotic quotient in the bar and lengthens the time he stays in the bar. Fancy dancing should not dominate the show programme otherwise the programme starts to slip into non-erotic mode. Fake singing by fake women is actually counter-productive for boyticerias. Customers aren't in the bars to watch women, real of fake, why waste their time demanding that they watch? The ladyboys tend to be overdressed and the performances are more like cabaret. The nett effect is to lower the erotic quotient, replacing it with bright lights, voluminous costumes and deafening volume. My memory from the days of Twilight and Barbiery in the 1990s was that live porn dominated their show programmes. There were some numbers by fake women, but not enough to seriously alter the tone of the bar. Then Extreme Bar came along (Soi Twilight, early 2000s?) and they introduced fancy dancing. They did not flash anything from under the belt in the entire programme and within a couple of years, the bar went out of business. But the damage was done. The other bars began to "improve" their shows. More fancy dancing, usually with real dancers brought in for the evening to do 2 or 3 numbers (nowadays we still see that in the "B-Boys" break dance numbers), and when bars needed to fill an hour-long programme, more diva items were added. Then, from 2005, Thailand saw huge increases in visitors from Asian countries and Russia. What happened next to the business model of the bars and to pricing is described in my latest post 15 years of price rises. These new visitors to Thailand, while middle-class enough to travel, weren't big spenders like Westerners. Offing boys might have been too costly for most of them. In any case, as I wrote: 6 - 7 years later, these Asian tourists were no longer surging into the Soi Twilight bars. My blogpost tries to explain why. But more damage had been done. Firstly, the shows had been bulked up; they were now too long in duration and too heavy with gatoeys (ladyboys) and secondly, drink prices had gone up to levels that were off-putting for customers who were primarily interested in the available boys and booking one of them out. Worse, as @emiel1981 also noticed, the book-able boys are mostly hidden away during the show. In short: Shows in the form of short bursts of live porn add value to the bars businesses; shows in the form of hour-long wanna-be cabaret subtract value.

How nice would it be to have a bar with goodlooking gay or at least boys willing to go with a male customer in all different categories, so it caters for all tastes. And that they, besides better and more parading around, also somehow manage to deliver a good quality show. That would be the perfect venue in my world. If seducing your customers to off a boy is your main income, I don't understand that when a show starts the boys that are off-able are not "on display" for hours. Let the boy parade be the main thing of the night. In different forms, different outfits during the night. And in between the parading some short showacts. But acts that actual make sense and are fun or erotic. Not the slow moving around (I can't call it dancing) you now see so often. Someone must have told the Thais that's its erotic to see half naked boy do slow-motion movements... But that's so not true... Lol Wouldn't we (and also the woman that come) love it to spice it up a littlebit a la Magic Mike? Modernise it. Put up the speed. As now acts tend to go on and on way too long. Well.. Shall we just start our own bars as we all have so many ideas and know better? Lol Yeah actually he was one of the boys that could be fucked according to papasan. He even double checked with Mr Cutesmile in the bar. Probabaly the boy wanted an off, did see the lack of customers, and agreed to it but actually was not very comfortable with it. Than we can say he shouldn't have agreed on being able to get fucked, but I'm nice guy and consider the boy his feelings and won't push him to do things he's actually not comfortable with. Omg... You guys want all the dirty details? Hahaha... Allright... Massage, kissing, licking, sucking, cuming... But no fucking. 😂😛

I tried to provide insights on a number of occasions on different threads but obviously my comments fell on stony ground. And I'm not going to repeat myself. I know three LTR couples, two of them British/Thai, one of them a US citizen. They are similar- 60+ falang/late thirties or early forties Thais. Both parties seems happy to me. If you keep your eyes open, you'll see such couples in the restaurants and malls of Pattaya. You won't confuse them with falangs with offed guys. It works for some of us. Perhaps it shouldn't, but it does. Don't be dismissive of other peoples' experience and other peoples' lives. And don't confuse sex and love. I've enjoyed both in the last twenty-five years visiting Pattaya. and so I don't.

For me the best options is Furama Silom and Le Siam mainly because you have straight access to the elevator and you can bypass the reception. Furama Silom have specious rooms and lovely rooftop pool and Le Siam has unbeatable location behind Silom mall and footsteps from Sala Deng BTS.

Channel News Asia has posted a list of entry requirements for seven countries at this link: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/covid-19-entry-requirements-tourists-travellers-asia-south-korea-japan-taiwan-malaysia-2922606

Can't wait to read your report on Tawan. Thank you for your real-time live reporting.

You mentioned two important reasons why almost all Falang-Thai relationships failed and even if initially all is fine eventually collapse. First,most of us can't or don't want to relocate to Thailand it's not easy to leave everything behind you and start a new life in another country the same for the Thai boy it's extremely difficult to adapt himself to a completely different culture, food, language and climate even if at the beginning they seems very enthusiastic to live in a new country once they come their dreams shutter to pieces they feel lonely, can't adopt themselves to the food , people, climate and culture and desperate going back to their homeland. so yes it's not practical for most potential couple to become in full time relationship. Second, the Thai culture put commitment to family and society in top priority, Every Thai individual will put family and close friends on first priority even if it will badly harm his own interests, this is why even if falang find a very nice local boy who genuinely loves him and want to be with his family and friends might see his falang boyfriend as potential ATM whom can be used to upgrade their lifestyle and will put hard pressure on to the boy to extract money as much as he can while the relationship are good and ' don't let the cunning falang to use you and eventually throw away and leave you with nothing' the boy is put on a lot of pressure and then troubles start shaking things till the falang is frustrated and telling the boy enough is enough no more money for his family and the relationship is over.

I have stayed at the Tarntawan on and off for about 18 years. So I booked two nights there last week and was appalled. Reception was gloomy, dull and almost deserted. All the helpful staff have gone. I was allocated Room 305 at the back of the hotel. It had a “City View”. In other words there was a brick wall 1 metre away which meant there was no light whatsoever! I couldnt even tell if it was raining. Even during the day you needed all the lights on. The TV didn’t work. There were two remotes (god knows why) but you could only watch one channel. The room was tiny. Probably less than 15 sq m. If I was in the market for bringing an “off” back I would have been ashamed. And finally it was 1200 bt a night...without breakfast. Never again...

some of rooms there have kind of thick glass panels , not really window but still letting in some daylight. I actually liked their well organized rooms with ample desk/ table space running width of the whole room. Some of cheap hotel have their use for me when arriving late or departing late evening / early in the morning. Paying full rate for very reduced room use doesn't make any sense for me so if my flights land say at 3 am or depart at midnight I book for first and last night or two room in one of those cheapies. this way even for half day I still have bed and shower. For me best options in Silom area are Raya, Baan Silom soi 3 and Furama Xclusive Sathorn. I did not try yet new arrivals 56 Suriwong and Ibis Silom. Quarter Silom is excellent but rooms too small for a price so I rather walk to bars from more roomy places

you are right. While we enjoy low prices we need to remember that eventually it will start to bite us back when funds will be to scarce for maintenance , even less basic renovations. That was sad fate of once very agreeable places like Om Yim and Nantra Silom So unfortunately when we are fortunate enough to land a good rate we need to be prepared to compromise on quality. With such mind frame staying in somewhat neglected hotel will be enjoyable enough. While Tarnatwan was never my favorite option I stay there quite a few times. Location can't be bitten indeed , central yet quiet.

Part 6: A rainy day keeps the customers and boys away... It was a rainy Sunday evening yesterday. It was already 10:15pm, and I was looking out of the window of my hotel room waiting for the rain to stop. From the 17th floor of Le Méridien I couldn't really tell how hard it actually rained. So I decided just to give it a go. Patpong 2 is just a very short walk from the hotel anyway. Not too wet I arrived in an empty street where some touts under umbrellas offered me a dry place to shelter. I still didn't go to Hotmale yet the last days so without much chitchat in the street with the tout, I directly walked upstairs. There it seemed the rain had kept everybody away. Both the clients and the boys. I counted 6 customers. And 8 boys on stage. But you only need one nice boy to have a great evening, right? Quality over quantity. Drink 400 baht. Boys on stage wearing jeans and some even sleeveless white shirt with Hotmale logo on it. But I don't complain, as I did see some eyecandy on stage. A very friendly papasan started a nice conversation with me. He also told me 5 of the 8 boys were gay and can be fucked. From these 5 there were at least 3 I could take home because they were my cup of tea... One of them was the whole time smiling at me. He had a very cute and nice smile. If you would visit Hotmale when he's there, you would definitely be able to pick him out of the line of boys directly. He's the one with by far the nicest smile and naughty sparkle in his eyes. I directly felt for it and knew straight away he was going to be my off for tonight. But I like to play hard to get a littlebit. So I teased him, smiled back. But also flirted with some other boys. The show started. Papasan told me gonna be short show because quiet night. I could completely understand. It was a bit awkward for the boys to do a few acts for only a few customers. It started with a very original but strange act: a boy in small underwear and virus ball toys (like on the picture below) attached to his custome came on stage and was chased away by a boy in protective clothing and mouth mask. After 3 acts is was already time for theasr part; the big cock show with 3 boys showing their junk. One of them had I think the biggest cock I've ever seen in Thailand. So if that's your thing you now know where to go... I tipped all 3 guys 100 baht. As soon the show was over and all boys came on stage again I invited Mr Cutesmile over for a drink. During the show some more customers came in and I couldn't have somebody else quickly take him before I could make a move. Tere was nowhere a ladyboy/showgirl to be found in Hotmale. Which was nice for a change after the overkill of ladyboys I witnessed the last two days. Let's not speak about the low quality of the acts, but at least for originality they score a 10 because of the covid act... Lol Mr Cutesmile is from Cambodia and was massageboy in Phnom Penh before. Conversation was a bit difficult because his limited knowledge of the English language and me failing to speak Khmer. Paid my bill (including 500 baht off fee) and went with Mr Cutesmile to 7-eleven to buy a drink and baby oil for the massage. No questions asked by the reception staff of Le Méridien, only a very friendle welcome back greet like always. We shower seperate. I can tell Mr Cutesmile is a bit nervous. So I tell him we start with massage and will see. I assure him we don't need to do anything he doesn't want. Because I got the feeling his nervousness was fueled by the papasan telling him I am top and want to fuck him. This boy was cute enough for massage, some touching, enjoying his body and sucking. And that's what happend. I don't always have to fuck. I actually only enjoy it when the boy that I'm with enjoys it too or at least gives me that impression. Massage skills of Mr Cutesmile are oke. Not too hard, not too soft. Perfect for me. When the deed was done we showered together. After another attempt to have a small conversation (via google translate) it was time to send him on his way...

Part 3: “Massage? Massage sir? Massage? Special massage?” A familiar sound walking in Silom today. Boys outside massage shops saying "Massage? Massage sir? Massage? Special massage? “… I must say it's much less places in Silom where you get this questions while walking the streets then before covid. But still... On Surawong Road between the Tawan soi and Patpong there are a few (mixed staff) massage shops with male crew trying to talk you in. And also when you walk from Tawan to Silom Road, on the second part, this still happens. One of the massage shops with mixed staff on Surawong Road It was only a few times in all those years I came to Bangkok that I went for a massage in an actual shop. I did go a few times for massages when I was in the now closed Babylon Sauna. I liked that place. It looked modern and clean. Nice dark steam rooms where it was always exciting to make your way through it while touching and feeling around you… But somehow in Babylon I always had the feeling that it was more about cruising around, watching and waiting for somebody better or hotter to pass by. There was not that much real action going on. Or it was just me. Maybe I was too shy and never took enough initiative. I must say I think its a shame Babylon is closed. Used to like going there. Anyhow; back to the passage part: I liked it how there was a sign in the room in Babylon where you could book your massage saying “no happy end”. While everybody will know that actually happy end was always possible with their massage boys. I was lucky they always put me in a “more private” part of the massage floor. As I did see that there where also massage tables in places where others could see what was happening when they passed by. Most of the times I wanted a massage in Bangkok, I would go on Grindr and invite one of the many boys offering massages to my hotel room. Sometimes a miss, but most of the times it worked out very well. On my last trip I was in Bangkok twice, as I most of the times did and also this year plan to do. I start my holiday in Bangkok, will travel around and will stay in Bangkok again on my last days. I remember I had the same massage boy coming to my room in the beginning and end of my holiday, as I liked his “services” very much. I found out I still had his number in my phone. Would he still be “in business” Decided to send him a message on WhatsApp. It must have been a sign from above or something that put paths had to cross again, because before he had actually read my massage on whatsapp he found me on grindr and messaged me also. Of course this is not how he sent me his picture. For privacy reasons I've put that smiley there... Anyhow. Arrangements were made quickly. And a few hours later he was in Le Méridien in my room. His price went from 1800 baht before covid to 2000 now. But I found this an acceptable raise given his trackrecord. Massage again was good but relaxing. And also enjoying his sexy body and good sex afterwards was how I remembered it. He's a good bottom that does the exact right amount of moaning while fucking him in different positions. Not too quiet but also not too much and loud like in some porn movies. When guys do that I always think they fake it. Originally he's from the Philippines. Speaks perfect English. Because he couldn't find enough customers anymore during the pandamic to finance his art school, he had to stop studying and is now working in an boring office. He also didn't have the money to go back to his family in the Philippines. He's hoping that in time more tourists like us will find their way back to Bangkok so he can get more customers again and finish his study. After we said goodbye I went for a swim in the hotel pool and some relaxing, reading and writing this report. Wondering what the evening will bring today...

Part 2: First night in the bars... After a quick bite in Central Silom Complex I went for a walk. Clearly it was still too early to hit the bars. Soi4 was empty, apart from some people having dinner. Patpong same story. Empty. I did a quick check on what bars opened up after covid in Patpong2. I can confirm these are all still closed. And no signs suggest it will open soon. Maybe that will have changed end of this month, when I'm back in bangkok also again for a few night. Will see. I walked around to Patpong1. Where the night market used to be. So strange to see this street so empty and dark now. But everywhere it was quiet; also on Silom Road and Surawong Road. This area used to be so lively and buzzing before covid19. When I returned to Patpong 2 around 10pm, it looked like still not much going on. Apart from the patio of Dreamboy: a lot of shirtless boys were hanging around there. All way too busy on their phones to notice me walking by. On the other side of the soi, a tout tried to talk me into Freshboys. And as I set myself a goal on checking as much of the gogo bars as possible, I went in. The bar was packed. When I entered there were around 25 customers. At the beginning of the show (that started around 10:15pm) more guests came in. Till around 35 guests where seated around the stage. I counted only 5 girls, the rest was a good and balance mix of younger Asians and older farangs... The mamasan was fun, lively and not pushy at all. Same for the waiting staff. I've read other trip reports about airco freezing your tits off. That was not the case here tonight. Nice temperature. And also the music was not too loud to my opinion. Could still talk to mamasan en waiters. The wodka-coke costed me 400 baht. Many boys on stage. Must have been around 25 available guys. In all shapes, forms and sizes. Most guys had no or just only small tattoos. Only few boys had massive artwork on their bodies. In general I found the guys on the hunky (slightly muscular) side rather than the twinkly (very slim) side. But as I said, there were boys for every taste available... All wearing white (wide) sport shorts. So no tight underwear. There was one boy with a very intriguing tattoo of antlers on his lower abdomen. They disappeared under his shorts. Was curious to see till where this tattoo went. I was told this boy is gay and "can do everything". So it might be interesting to go back for him another night. The kind of antlers tattoo I'm talking about. But on this internet picture on another part of the male body... The show itself was fun to watch. Kudos for the ladyboy/draq queen. She came back on stage 3 times during the show. In some glamorous outfits. She picked a few good songs, the lipsync was spot on. The special effect at one of the show where spectaculair. She was wearing gloves that actually where on fire. The only little down aide was that she had no background dancers as eye candy. When I left Freshboys she was outside on the balcony so I complemented her with her performances and have 100baht tip. She told me tomorrow she is celebrating her birthday in Freshboys and invited me to come again. Will see what tomorrow brings. After 5 acts, the show paused for around 10 minutes for a boy parade. After that the show continued with more acts. Gogo dancers, candle wax being poured over an oiled up body, a solo act with a good looking guy groping himself and jerking off (without cumming in the end), two guys playing with soap in the shower (including some deep sucking)... It was all there. The big cock parade including the cock-slapping-against-the-pole... And begging for tips at the customers. So fun to see that when a customers gives one of the boys a tip, all other boys quickly gather around the poor customer all asking to also get money... Like bees on honey I would say... Its less fun watching it now I know this. Instead of staring at their cocks I was only looking at their knees. And indeed that's how the sound of impact is made... Of course it ended with a fuck show. With the boys still being connected to each other making a round through the public. There were going to be more acts afyer another break but it was time for me to move to Dreamboy. Another wodka-coke, but this one cost me 450 baht. The midnight show was about to start but I was on time to still have a good look at the boys on offer parading on stage before the show. I can confirm what has been written in earlier trip reports by others (see quote below): the boys here are in general a bit older, have a "rougher" look and quite a few look like they put one a few extra pounds during the covid lockdown. Dreamboy does have a lot of boys on stage (this evening when I was there around 25 and I was told there had been some offs already as I came in just before midnight), but just a few could meet "my standards". But than again, maybe all the in-shape hotties already went to a hotel room with a customer as I arrived a bit late. I counted around 12 guests, with just 2 girls there to watch the show. The show was disappointing. The boys doing the acts where in my opinion not the most pretty ones. Same for their ladyboys/draq queens. When one of them came off the stage to come close to me doing her lipsyncing, I could see her pockmarked face that even a thick layer of make up could not hide. Sorry to say this so directly. But it has to be an honest report with my opinion... Also the songchoice did not help. Where the briljant ladyboy/draqqueen at Freshboys used some showstopping up tempo medleys, in Dreamboy they choose slow diva songs. Before I knew it, it was time for the famous acrobatic fuckshow. I was close to 1am and Dreamboy was about to close. Decided not to off anybody. As I said I was disappointed by the boys on offer tonight. Must say Dreamboy did better for me before covid19. While Freshboys tonight was really good. But off course it's all about what you're looking for and what your individual taste of boys is... Because by now everything was closed already, I couldn't go to another place for a last-minute off. So... I think I have to make up for this tomorrow... But that's for a next report. Hope this was detailed enough for a good report? 😜

Part 1: Traveling to and arriving in Bangkok It was last February I decided to start planning and booking my trip. Qatar Airways was having great deals with free cancellation option. I didn’t want to go to Thailand using any Sandbox- or Quarantine-scheme. Too much of a hassle for me. I thought let’s book the flights for October as I was thinking by than life will be almost “back to normal” again. And when for some reason that would not be the case, I could cancel my flights and get a 100% refund. It was before fuel prices went up and Russia invaded Ukraine. So I was lucky to be able to book business class seats from Amsterdam to Bangkok for only 750 euro per way, so in total it was around 1500 euro. In my opinion, Qatar has one of the best Business Class products in the world. Q-suites. Maybe even the best. Both my Amsterdam-Doha and the Doha-Bangkok flight were planned to be flown with planes that are equipped with Q-suites. So much space and privacy! In my opinion this is almost first class, with your own little cabin that can be closed for ith a sliding door. Love it. And it’s so nice to be able to have a good sleep in flight and arrive in Bangkok relaxed and not too tired. Q-suites cabine of Qatar Airways It was just after I checked in for my flights that I received an email fro Qatar Airways. The aircraft type of the flight Doha-Bangkok would because of "operational reasons" be changed and not have Q-suites on board. Actually, when you Google search, you will find out many complains about this and it seems Qatar Airways is doing this regularly. I was very disappointed that on my 2nd flight I would be in their old Business Class product in a 2-2-2 configuration. Less space, less confort, less privacy. It was a night flight. So they dimmed the cabin nights and actually the entire business class cabin went to sleep. So I was able to get some decent rest during the flight in the end. And the food was still very good, as it was on my first flight that did have the Q-suite expierence. Old Qatar Airways business class cabin, as I was having on my Doha-Bangkok flight My flight touched down in Bangkok just after 1pm. The long walk to immigration followed. I could use the fast-lane and there was only 1 other traveller waiting before me. But also the normal waiting line at immigration for economy class passengers was not long at all. What a difference with pre-covid. I remember extreme long queues there. Within 1hr after arriving, I finished immigration, got my luggage, taken some bahts from the atm, bought and activated a Thai simcard and was on my way to Silom in a taxi. The driver asked me 600 baht including tollway, not using the meter. Thats seemed a fair price for me. As Bolt was charging 500 baht without toll fee. I decided not only to spoil myself with the flight, but also to stay in Le Meridien hotel for the first 3 nights in Bangkok. Let’s say this was my way of celebrating my return to Bangkok… Same as for my flights, I was able to get a very good deal and ended up paying only 75 euro per night. My room in Le Méridien Smooth check-in, beautiful room with bath and seperate shower and view over the city on the 17th floor. You need a keycard to activate the elevator. So can't invite any boys into the room without getting them from the street / reception yourself. That's a small minus for me. As I like to be able to say to a boy I like on Grindr just to come up to my room. View from my room in Le Méridien I was in my room around 3pm and not much later Bangkok greeted me with thunder and rain. Decided to take a little nap. Woke up at 6pm. Took a nice bath while writing this report and to fresh up and get ready to hit the streets for dinner and some quick first bar exploring on my first night in Bangkok...

It can be - depends who you are traveling with 😀

A lot of wisdom in this reply. Thank you very much for this fantastic idea! My fights to Bangkok often arrive at 2:30 a.m. or 6 a.m., then leave around midnight.

as planned KinnPorsche done. Can't comment much in order not to spoil series for future watchers. One thing is sure , packed with action full of unexpected twists and when it slows down , than romantic scenes are starting , not necessarily in full dress ( don't expect too much but still quite a bit of flesh , nice at that, is shown ) Since it's mafia themed expect a lot of dead bodies and blood spilled all over your screen. I expected end to be bit different and we could use perhaps one more episode to carry on with Kim/Porchay and Vegas / Pete motives . My take on Vegas / Pete thing is Stockholm syndrome known to science, victim falls for his/ hers tormentor. Vegas , brutalized whole life by the father become the same brutal as Pete nicely explained to him in their first normal conversation. But he had his moments making me actually bit sorry for him. I liked his and Porsche's acting and I'm thinking about dumping Knock of 'Together with me " fame and falling in love with Porsche Last suggestion , if one can afford it time wise , it's best for binge watching but in that case have your blood pressure pills handy due to rollercoastery action.

These are not three different categories of financial help. These are three different tones in which Bangkok Guy asks for financial help. I am able to identify them because I pay attention. If I were not paying attention I probably would not notice the difference. Fair enough but in the context of my post somewhat redundant. I did say ".. if Bangkok Guy and I decided to go for an actual full time relationship.." I see the connection between Bangkok Guy and myself as a friendship which may progress to a full-blooded relationship at some point or may not. Not having been in this situation before I am playing it by ear.

If my room had all of those issues I would have been at reception asking for a move to a better one. Surely the hotel wasn't full.

France and Italy at least as far as i know plus one of lesser countries, can't recall which. Plus Czechoslovakia, we should remember that until 1948 it was bona fide democracy. On another hand after communism finally collapsed in beginning of 90ties , their share of vote in Czechoslovakia and later in Czech Republic was quite high for a while. Anathema started more or lass after Churchil's Fulton speech. By the way his electoral defeat to Labour right after leading world and UK to win in 2nd World War is somewhat telling. Don't take me as one who is trying to spill communist propaganda here by my comments in this thread just owing to some reasons I may have more nuanced view of communism vs capitalism issue. Communist propaganda claiming all people are even was as fake as capitalist one claiming all have equal opportunity - tell this to people of English or American rust belts. And if this doesn't change sooner or later we will have new Lenin. Good news we are both of age that if will be after we are gone, LOL

Once again, @emiel1981's observations match mine - this time about Tarntawan Hotel. It is habitable, but it's getting really old. The dark wood of the heavy furniture is the one thing I remember most. I found it made the room gloomy, and that's not a mood I want to be in. I also have a personal dislike of bathtubs. A modern shower stall is important to me. preferably one big enough for two. So, except for maybe 2 visits perhaps 10 - 12 years ago, I have not been back.

I like this term!

These responses are why I think it is best to try everything Pattaya has to offer - Boyztown, Sunee Plaza, Jomtien Complex, the apps, just cruising around, venues that cater to everyone, not primarily gays - whatever you can come up with - until you find what works best for you - or if nothing else, the least of the evils. I also always suggest if you see a boy somewhere around town who attracts you, even if you are in a shopping mall or something, just start with hello and a smile. If he rejects you then he rejects you. You'll survive. But sometimes it works. I compare that tactic to fishing. Some will get away, but every once in a while you reel one in. You might consider making some cards or just carrying around a slip of paper with your name and telephone number and handing it to the boy if he seems responsive to your hello approach. It doesn't even have to be your real name. You never know - maybe you'll get a call. And don't forget about boys working in shops, 7-Elevens, waiters in restaurants, delivery boys, etc. The point is there are many more ways than only the bars to meet boys. I actually prefer those ways - I like the challenge of it. Over the years I've had many successes. And if I can do it, for sure so can you, even if you don't speak much Thai. I didn't always speak nearly as much Thai as I can speak now. I realize living here means I have much more time than people on holiday who want to get everything in before they have to return home, but it is an option to try. The days of being really picky seem to be over, hopefully only for the time being. I think if the upcoming high season is really successful, that can be the beginning of a true comeback and perhaps will attract some of those rice farm twinks back to the bars. If the current crop of boys just doesn't suit you, I suppose you'll either have to settle for second best or do without. Even under current circumstances, if there is anywhere better than Thailand to search for your type, I'd like to know where . . .

Some really good information in all the replies here. To tell you the truth, I first started going to Pattaya for the go-go bars. I loved watching the dancers get up on stage in their swim suits and smile at me. Or not. I loved the sleaze factor. The hedonist in me loved the excitement. But over the years Boyztown and Sunee became shadows of what they were. I have no idea why as I really loved the nightlife they provided. But everyone seemed to have migrated down to Jomtien. I've tried to follow them. But I've never had a good time in Jomtien. First of all, there are no sleazy go-go bars. There are only open-air beer bars that, when I sit down at one, make me feel like I myself am on display to be gawked at by all the other tourists walking by. Secondly, despite everyone saying the place is heaven for twink lovers, I've never found that to be true. I have never met -- or even seen -- anyone I'd like to invite back to my hotel room. With all the twink heaven comments persisting, however, I'm nearly convinced that I've just visited Jomtien during slow times of the year. How could my experiences possibly be the exact opposite of everybody else's? Anyway, my thinking is that Jomtien became the hot nighttime spot because of its prices, although I would not get into a debate on the matter with Gaybutton, who made some excellent points earlier in this thread. Plus he always seems to be extremely knowledgable. So when I visit Pattaya in November, I will book a Jomtien hotel for the first time -- at least for the first couple of nights -- and, um, try to have fun.

What you read is the way it was in Pattaya pre-Covid. Not anymore. Boyztown has go-go bars, but they are comparatively expensive and don't appeal to everybody. Sunee Plaza is down to just a couple go-go bars. They too don't appeal to everybody, but are much less expensive. Walking through Sunee Plaza these days is like walking through a darkened dead zone. Loads of bars - most of them closed The women in go-go bars were almost all Chinese. Now there are none. Also, not everybody needs or is all that interested in go-go bars in the first place. I think Jomtien Complex is so much more popular now because there are many more boys working there than Boyztown and Sunee Plaza. Also Jomtien Complex is alive with activity, beer bars, restaurants, close proximity to shops, close proximity to the beach. It simply is much more fun there. While it is true no go-go bars are permitted there (and in all my years here I have never seen a regulation that actually prohibits them), I know of no regulation that says the boys can't take off their shirts if they want to and occasionally some do. People have to accept that much of the Pattaya gay scene paradigm has changed. How much of it and how soon it might change back is another question and remains to be seen. Don't expect much to change any time soon. Anybody besides me remember that crazy nut case, Bad Boy Billy? He swore he was going to buy up all the vacant bars and turn them into go-go sleaze bars. He's another one who disappeared from the scene and the boards. A few years ago he tried to get back on my board, but mean old Gaybutton wouldn't let him. Sometimes I wonder if I made a mistake by that. Oh well - I hope my curmudgeonliness didn't cost Pattaya a bunch of gay sleaze go-go bars that might have put Eros to shame. I also believe that if enough pressure is applied and enough money finds its way into the right hands, the day will come when Jomtien Complex finally does permit go-go bars. The best way for you to research is to check out all three areas for yourself and decide which works best for you.

I am old enough to remember the recession in the UK in the 1970s which lasted virtually the entire decade. The primary cause was the increasing influence of OPEC which started by raising the price of oil by 400%. At the same time, the Conservative government of Edward Heath took on an increasingly militant miners' union. The end result was a 3-day working week and daily electricity cuts. Averge inflation in that entire decade was 13.2%. In 1975 alone inflation reached 24.2%. Between 1973 and 1975 poverty rates doubled. Britain survived but it was only through what might be called a quirk of fate. In the late 1960s the oil producers had discovered oil in the North Sea off Scotland. The UK was to become a nett oil and gas exporter by the end of the 1970s. How deep would the recession have been without the benefit of North Sea oil revenues? As @fedssocr points out, today lots of problems are coming to a head at the same time. With democracies now a den of partisan school bullies with one Republican Trumpist senator in the USA even suggesting last Sunday there will be riots if Trump is indicted - aside: how on earth did Senator John McCain ever find the frightful Linday Graham a close friend? - who is going to lead the world out of the coming crisis?