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It was a fuck up. I started to upgrade the forums. Went to eat, broke a tooth, forgot about the upgrade and then went to dentist today. When I logged in, I saw the boo boo. Sorry.

I did that trip more recently, just before COVID, so it still runs, but I went in the reverse direction. I took a long boat from Luang Prabang upriver to Huay Xai/Chiang Khong, the nearest river landing to Chiang Rai. More accurately, the long boat docked at Huay Xai, which is the town on the Lao side of the Mekong, directly opposite Chiang Khong. From Huay Xai I had to bus over a bridge to Chiang Khong complete with border formalities. The long boat trip took 2 days and 1 night with a sleepover in a village called Pak Beng halfway up the river. From Chiang Khong, I took a bus to Chiang Rai. About 3hours, mountain roads. I'm talking local busses, not tour coaches. You sit tightly with a vegetable seller and a hairdresser on their way to the big city (Chiang Rai). this is not a trip you do with luggage. A backpack is all you can have with you. The river banks can be muddy and steep. Don't imagine pulling a roller suitcase behind you.

Been there, done that, back in 2001, though I don't suppose it's changed much since. If the river level was low, some of the older wooden boats took three days in the upstream direction. In that case, instead of the relative metropolis of Pakbeng you get to stay in two tiny no-name villages. The trip had its moments... Late on the first afternoon we met another boat identical to ours, which had hit a sandbank and sunk. So we stopped for a couple of hours while our boat's crew helped the other crew to rescue their cargo. By the time we moved on, it was dark. Very dark. Those boats have no lights and we now knew that apparently even an experienced crew can run aground, even in broad daylight. It was a welcome relief when we reached Village #1. The evening meal was noodles or rice; breakfast was rice or noodles. The "hotel" was a row of mats. When we reached Pakbeng at midday the following day I chose to leave the wooden boat and complete the journey on a (slightly) faster and stronger steel boat the following day. Meanwhile I enjoyed the UNESCO world heritage delights of Pakbeng: choice of guest houses! private rooms! beds! choice of restaurants! choice of food! electric light (until 9pm)! Slower than usual slow boat up the Mekong. Pakbeng Luang Prabang

Just a word of thanks to @reader for these news updates that are posted from time to time. They keep those of us outside Thailand updated on changes so we're not surprised when we do arrive in Thailand. One small thing about the above news story though: it says "providing a solution to reduce congestion at the main terminal"... But the worst congestion, when it happens, tends to happen at immigration. I don't suppose a satellite terminal does anything for that.

Thanks. And, btw, can I borrow some money for my BF's water buffalo? It was hurt during the dentist appointment as well?

From The Thaiger Suvarnabhumi International Airport, governed by Airports of Thailand (AoT), is set to soft-launch its Satellite 1 (SAT-1) terminal on September 28, following a successful full-scale trial involving 180 mock passengers and their luggage. The trial aimed to evaluate operations at both the SAT-1 satellite passenger terminal and the primary terminal, with Thai Airways offering assistance by supplying cabin crew and aircraft for the process. Kittipong Kittikachorn, the Director of Suvarnabhumi, stated that the trial encompassed a comprehensive operation involving aircraft, incoming and outgoing passengers, transfer passengers, baggage handling systems, and cargo operations. The Immigration Division 2, the Cargo Clearance Customs Bureau, Aeronautical Radio of Thailand and Bangkok Aviation Fuel Services were also present to oversee the operations, he added. Kittipong also revealed that two additional trials are scheduled for the coming days, with Thai AirAsia X and Worldwide Flight Services Bangkok Air Ground Handling Co Ltd conducting one on Tuesday, and Thai Vietjet conducting another on September 20. The latter trial is specifically designed for departing passengers on night flights. The director further elaborated that between September 28 and October 28, the SAT-1 terminal will be open to three airlines: Thai AirAsia X, VietJet Air, and Emirates, during the soft-opening phase. The new terminal is projected to be fully operational by December this year, ultimately providing a solution to reduce congestion at the main terminal. The SAT-1 terminal, which has a capacity of handling 15 million passengers annually, will enable Suvarnabhumi Airport to cater to up to 60 million passengers a year, marking a significant 33% increase. The terminal boasts 28 contact gates, with eight specifically designed to accommodate Code F aircraft (the double-decker A380 superjumbo jets) and the remaining 20 for Code E aircraft (Boeing B747s). The terminal’s four-storey facility spans a total floor area of 216,000 square metres, with two underground floors dedicated to hosting the Automated People Mover (APM) train system and other systems. The APM train system, designed to connect the SAT-1 and the existing passenger terminal, can accommodate 210 passengers per train, or roughly 6,000 passengers per hour. Each trip on the train, which has a maximum speed of 80kph, takes a mere three minutes, Kittikachorn added. The commencement of the SAT-1 terminal will eliminate the need for international passengers to take shuttle buses to their gates, boosting convenience and efficiency, reports Bangkok Post.

After So many years in Thailand, you've perfected the "invent an excuse that's so insane, you have to believe it" 😆

I think you jinxed the website with that comment Latbear4blk. Your comment looks like it was last post before this site was down for 20 hours. Maybe the system was having a sulk?

For those 2 days on the boat, meals took the form of instant noodles and whatever the itinerant vendors sell. In short: it was fun. Hard seats on long boat. But those who swear by Business Class may curse every moment of the trip.

The whole country is just waiting to be discovered. I took a fantastic trip there several years ago now. Started with my second visit to LP and then flew down to Pakse from which I boarded the Vat Phou Mekong River cruise which was excellent. Then I spent a couple of days with a guide and driver visiting various places around central Laos. Beautiful waterfalls. It could be a great ecotourism destination if it had a little more tourism infrastructure in place. It's probably better now than it was 8 years ago. And I'll put in a plug for Big Brother Mouse which is based in LP. They publish books in Lao and some tribal languages to help kids learn to read. And they have opened several schools that offer a much richer education than the regulat state-run schools. www.bigbrothermouse.com If you're in the US they have a 501c3 arm here that makes your donations tax deductible. You can sponsor a book that is ready to be published or just general help.

Hi guys, Semi-recently returned from a short trip to Bangkok and would like to share a few things from what was my 7th trip to Thailand now. Rather than write a day-to-day account of my trip, I will just include an assortment of things I got up to. Arrival Flew into Bangkok on Thailand's flagship airline (Thai Airways) and when I started hearing the familiar sounds of the Thai language, it put me in a good mood as I knew I would be arriving to my happy place soon. I was fed so much food during the flight, however when we arrived into Suvarnabhumi, we had to disembark into a bus to take us to the terminal. Wasn't expecting this from a full service carrier and also considering how big Suvarnabhumi is, but I digress. Immigration didn't take too long and I didn't have checked baggage so I headed straight down to the basement floor to take the airport rail link to Makasan, where I then changed to the MRT Petchaburi to Silom. I managed to successfully use my credit card to go through the gates at the MRT (although I tapped my card on the wrong area at first, until the attendant showed me where to tap, which was very clearly marked and I was very clearly blind. Hotel My hotel of choice for this trip was the Crowne Plaza, not particularly cheap (for me) at nearly 4000 baht per night, but I decided to treat myself. It was a very short walk from Silom MRT, the room itself was quite large, with a decent view and a toilet with an electronic bidet. As I booked direct through IHG, I even received a small toy elephant as a thank you. Breakfast was included, and even though I don't usually eat breakfast, I decided that I would on this trip. The breakfast buffet was quite good quality actually, with many options that catered to all tastes. I felt as though the hotel was not particularly full during my stay as I didn't really see a lot of people around. The hotel was also very guest friendly, and there were absolutely no issues with taking guests back to your room. You do need to go up the elevator to the 23rd floor, to where to reception is and then change to another elevator to get to your room. They are also quite generous with towels - I tipped housekeeping each day, and left a note to ask for an extra towel, and they gave me 4 extra towels (in addition to the regular 2) as well as 6 bottles of water. I remember when I asked for extra towels at the Tarntawan, they were a little apprehensive to give me just one! Bars I only managed to go to one bar this trip - Dreamboys. I usually see my favourite boy at least once per trip, but I never tell him that I'm coming so then it's always a surprise. This time was no exception. And it was quite coincidental this time actually because he had just finished his set in the show, and as he was coming off the stage, I had just come in. So I gave him a quick wave and smile, he did a double take and then joined me in my preferred seating (up the back) a few moments later. We had a drink and went back to the hotel where we had some fun times. He knows what I like, I know what he likes so it's pretty comfortable. The bar wasn't particularly busy the few times I went with probably the exception of a Saturday. My guy even helped me pick some other guys that I wanted to take back, by advising me who was good and who wasn't. I did off another 2 guys from here - one of which was quite attractive, very chatty (very good grasp of the English language), and very decent in bed, although when I paid him his (generous) tip, he was a bit cheeky and ask for and extra 200 baht taxi money, so I just gave him 100. He definitely knows the business and what he is doing, and I will most likely repeat. The other was absolutely beautiful (face and body), didn't speak a lot of English and although he tried his best, just seemed like he didn't have much experience and was at times a bit awkward. Never mind, you win some, you lose some. He was nice though but probably would not repeat. On my final night, I offed my favourite boy one more time and he wanted to sleep over but I said no because I was flying out early the next morning. I'm not really a long-time sort of person, short-time being more preferable. Next time, I have some catching up to do as I want to revisit hotmale, screwboys, possibly moonlight, freshboys, and tawan, and I also want to visit banana as I haven't been there yet. Massage Apart going to Prime for my 1 hour foot/1 hour Thai or 1 hour Thai/1 hour oil (even went to a new building which I hadn't been to before), I visited Kman and Apollo. Kman first. This was the first time I ventured outside the Silom/Sathorn area for a massage. Getting there was pretty straight forward - caught the BTS to Saphan Kwai but somehow I went down the wrong exit onto the wrong side of the road and I only realised when I saw a sign for Gbeat massage (which I knew was on the other side of the road), that I back tracked and went up and back down the correct exit, and found the shop shortly after. I don't usually book anyone when I go for a massage, rather I see who is available at the time. The manager came over with his iPad and showed me who was available, and I chose this guy who was T&B, and then got to choose which oil I would like (not that it really made a difference). I also decided to use the VIP room which was only 100 baht more than the regular room and it has a shower. It was 700 for 90 minutes, with a minimum tip of 900. After following my chosen guy up endless stairs (as is usual in places like these), got to the room and had a quick shower before the massage started. There is an art to a sensual/sexual massage and this guy definitely knows what he is doing. He was naked from the start, there was a lot of body contact, mutual touching, and I was on edge the whole time. I had chosen him as he was T&B as I didn't feel like bottoming that day, but when he asked to fuck me I couldn't resist so I said that I will fuck him first, then he can fuck me to which he happily agreed. It was actually a really nice experience and I would definitely repeat. I ended up tipping him 2000 as he deserved it, and did a hell of a lot more than some guys I've paid 2000+ for. Apollo - this experience was a little less exciting. After making the trip all the way to Bearing BTS, the shop was really easy to find - you can see the sign as you are walking down the stairs. When I walked in, I was met with confusion as to why I was there, but then the manager (or similar) came over and asked me 'boy massage?' to which I answered yes, and all was understood. This place also does legit massages as there are foot massage chairs on the ground floor, as well as Thai massage beds on the next floor (separated by curtains). The oil massage rooms are up another floor. As I didn't book ahead, the manager told me there was only one guy available, but there were a few more that he could call and they can come in about 10 minutes. He asked me if I was a top/bottom and usually I am pretty versatile but today I wanted to be a top, so I narrowed my selection and chose a quite attractive guy, the managed called him and he wanted 2000 baht tip to which I agreed. I was shown where the room was and then to the shower (which is in a little bit of a public area), and then waited for him in the room. Since the aircon was shared with the room next door, I could hear what the people in the next room were up to. Anyway, he arrived and we got started. A lot of the time was spent with dry pressing, where I was wondering if anything was going to happen. Eventually it did, but it wasn't super exciting, and there wasn't much of a build-up, and not especially worth the tip I paid. Would I repeat? With him, probably not, but they do have a line account where they send pictures every day so I guess it all depends who you choose. Plus it is quite far away! And as I mentioned before, you win some, you lose some. I know that every experience is not going to be magical, but it's good to try! Other things Food - some notable places that I ate included Sunrise Tacos (the carne asada fries are quite nice, as is the waiter with the face tattoos), Silom night market (pad krapow moo or gai for 80 baht, cooked right in front of you, and also mango sticky rice yummm), 7-11 (toasted sandwiches and banana cupcakes are great at any time of the day and night), and Coffee Grinder (the cafe coco was quite delicious as were all of the staff). Grindr - only met with one guy from Grindr (not a money boy), he is from Koh Samui and just here for a holiday. I think he must be well off though as he said he had stayed at Crowne Plaza quite recently, and was now staying at the Pullman. He also had no less than 3 cell phones on him that day. Malls - visited Icon Siam and Siam Paragon, and they are pretty much just same same. Currency exchange - X-One on Surawong road is always my place of choice. Conclusion I had a good trip and tried to fit as much in as I could, but I became tired quite a lot. The timezone is not exactly that different to that of my home country, but my sleeping pattern is massively different and wreaks havoc on my body. Anyway, I digress. My next trip will likely be in January and I will spend most of time in Bangkok, but wanting to stay in a slightly different area - anyone stayed at Trinity Silom or Furama Xclusive? Do bar boys walk that far? I also want to spend some time in Pattaya (not Jomtien this time as I never seem to have a great time there), instead I'll explore BoyzTown and massages around there. Classrooms hotel will likely be my hotel of choice (as I remember our esteemed Vinapu recommending it), and just by perusing the website, it is super clear and has all the information that I need. I like clarity like this. I may also spend some time in Phuket because why not. Thanks for reading!

Is there any point in drawing up overall rankings like this? We all have different tastes in men. We weigh factors like cost, language, personal security, differently. Our starting locations vary by thousands of miles ( surprise, some even live in Asia or Australia). Each of us will no doubt have some kind of personal ranking based on our criteria, but trying to develop a master ranking often comes with privileging certain tastes/criteria over others.

the old town of LP is a UNESCO World Heritage site and thus cannot really change much. The changes would likely be on the other sides of the rivers from the town itself.

My experience in Latin America is limited. What I read/hear about the West, prices very high. On the gay forums, there is general agreement that Pattaya is the best place in the world for choice and price. In all my travel in SEAsia I haven't come across anywhere better, and I haven heard or read about anywhere better (by my standards). If you are looking for certain types that can be found easier in Latin America, or it's easier to travel to Latin America (but that would be a different point), then Latin America might top the list. If you take prices out of the equation, then there might be some Asian twinks in London and New York, but much less choice than in Pattaya.

Last trip, I found that you had to tap your MC on a separate machine, by the ticket desk. Why was unclear, but the ordinary gates did not work. I was directed to the machine by the desk, by a kind employee, and that was fine.

Unless you do a lot of business trips and almost live on a plane, I think people seldom eat on planes because they are hungry but because they are bored and it is a welcome change.

I've found that all three of the airlines I've flown post covid (Singapore, ANA and Cathay) arrived in BKK on time, and in one case early. The immigration queues were relatively short and the Air Train got to Silom in good time.

Yes. Difficult to forget, as until you tap the gate doesn't open 😄

From Travel and Leisure In the ancient city of Luang Prabang, even popular spots feel intimate. Boats cruise the Mekong River — almost all head out around golden hour and cruise through twilight — yet it seems as if you’re floating alone on this iconic waterway, which flows from China to Vietnam and through Northern Laos on its way. As I lay on the wooden deck of a traditional slow boat, one that Sofitel Luang Prabang uses for guests, I watched the outline of the hills in the distance, and in the foreground, fishermen standing on their respective sampans. For a moment, time stood still; it was just the fishermen, me, and the Mekong. Visitor numbers have surged here in recent months (mostly due to the border with neighboring China reopening), but Luang Prabang remains relatively under the radar among U.S. travelers. Should someone arrive in the Laotian capital of Vientiane, they can access Luang Prabang via a new high-speed rail link that takes just two hours; the route will soon continue north and up to China. However, if you’re like me, you will fly in from Bangkok. From there, Air Asia and Bangkok Airways offer daily service for the less than two-hour flight to Vientiane. Some 500,000 people, across more than 60 different ethnic groups, call Luang Prabang home, the Khmu, Lao Loum, and Hmong being the largest Indigenous nations. People here live a decidedly laid-back and unhurried life. It’s a stark contrast to, say, Bangkok or Saigon, neighboring Southeast Asian cities that offer international flights to this former royal capital. In early May, the region was hot and steamy, the sky a hazy grayish-blue and permanently on the cusp of a storm that would provide temporary relief. I spent my early mornings and late evenings on the quietest streets of Luang Prabang, which you’ll find on the promontory of the historic district between the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, east of the Royal Palace. These streets contain the largest number of heritage buildings and are a peaceful retreat from the bustle of the markets. The morning market, operating from around 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. daily, is located in a mini-maze of alleys and backstreets near the center of town. It’s the place to be if you want to get a taste of how people here really live. Most of the vendors — who sell everything from grilled sticky rice (khao jee) and mung bean coconut rice cakes to sun-cured pork naem, plus the day’s catch — are set up on the ground. The night market operates from around 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily and is more of a tourist-focused affair, with an array of vendors setting up shop on streets that are closed to cars. While the red and blue tents along the main thoroughfare sell souvenirs and art pieces, the market has street food galore as well, like Laotian baguettes, laap, and green papaya salad. Continues at https://www.travelandleisure.com/how-to-visit-luang-prabang-laos-7555706

Sorry to hear of your troubles TotallyOZ. Hare anything dental related myself!

Welcome to the forum. Just so we're clear: you're visiting Phuket soon and you hope to organize a double-twink orgy, right? Although you didn't explicitly say so, are you asking how to go about organizing one? Or have you already figured it out from previous threads? Your more explicitly stated concern is about safety. Much depends on whether you have a safety box in your apartment or room and whether you have a bed big enough for 3 people. If you don't, you may wish to consider a using cheap room in a separate hotel with multiple beds, and not using your regular room. You need only pay for one night for your party.

Always like to see people starting a wide-ranging discussion thread Premv3. However, as this board is very Thailand focused, it will be interesting to see how many options you get - I think for many it will be Bangkok, Pattaya, Bangkok, Pattaya.... And to be honest I was a bit intimidated by the range and exoticism of your list, LOL. Nevertheless is my list, based on my comparatively restricted travels 1 - Bangkok - Jupiter and Moonlight for gogo bars, and Arena for massage (I go for more hunky guys). In general the range of body types and venues is so varied, and the feeling of safety in the city so good, for the size of it. 2-Pattaya - Boyztown for a Gogo bars, and Jomtien for picking up a guys in the host bar. (I never made much of an effort with the apps in Thailand, as it is so easy to hire "in the flesh" so to speak). 3. Barcelona, and the Thermas sauna. The guys might be of variable physical qualities, but for getting a big bunch of guys in the one place, and for a very reasonable pricing, it’s hard to beat Thermas. 4 . Athens- For finding people on apps (in particular, Hunqz), the best place I found was the Greek capital. Plenty of guys and very reasonable prices. Athens was I found sort of the opposite of Bangkok, in that I found trying to meet guys in hustler bars was not that great, so I shopped on the apps there. You can see my reviews of Athens for further details. Other places we have hired include Istanbul and London. However, although I was happy enough with the guys I got there, I couldn’t really recommend either city as being particularly good for hiring (although both are great in other ways). In London, guys on the apps are a bit too expensive to consider it a "destination" city for escorts. The Villa Giani is worth checking out, although i never actually hired from there. In Istanbul, I visited the Aquarius Sauna, and hired from apps. The Aquarius was a bit grim, and I found that the guys on the Hunqz app a bit expensive, considering it was Turkey.

only works on MRT not BTS. Hopefully they'll update their systems too. I don't know if there are some cards it won't work with other than the fact that is must be a contactless enabled card which most credit cards seem to be these days - at least from American banks. It's great on MRT as you can avoid the lines at the ticket machines and just walk right to through gates.

I fondly recall the boy I'd called down from the stage many years ago at Xboys. Noticing that I'd finished my drink, he offered some of his perfectly mixed coke and ice. He turned out to be my most frequent--and expensive--dessert of the trip.

Sorry! Most expensive dessert wine available!

with all those temples , waterfalls, hills and rivers it's actually plenty to do there at Luang Prabang

while you are right which easily can be proven by watching how many people order food on those flights without free meals , don't forget about those with long connections or long commutes to the airport who find food in airports both expensive and barely edible so yes , sometimes I ate because I was hungry indeed. And generally we humans like to utilize whatever is given to us for free.

she is not only one

in meantime we proletarians are crowded in the cattle class in the back are still fed something , usually edible, oblivious to the deprivations suffered but those rich and (usually) overweight at front or upper deck but consoled by the fact we all arrive more or less at the same time and all in one piece.

I saw the advert on MRT, have to read closely next time. I was assuming that this work only with Thai bank cards, or you have to set it up or register first. I used this in Summer in Brünn (Brno) in Czechia, and not only do they collect the single fares over the day, they calculate if a dayticket would be cheaper than the sum of single tickets and charge whichever is less.

I once ordered the steak on a business class flight to Thailand with Emirates. As I come from the UK I’m always sceptical about the quality of steaks and would never normally order them when eating out. After I had finished it I asked the hostess who had cooked it as I wanted a word with them. Very defensibly she said they all played a part…. I then explained to her that it was the best steak I had ever eaten and asked her to thank the ‘rest of the crew’ who prepared it. I now always order it and it never fails to impress.

Besides Qatar Airways, which I fly more often, Virgin Atlantic used to offer anytime dining option, at least in Upper Class. It’s been years since I’ve flown them though, as the schedules/connections changed and they were no longer convenient. As for the “bottle service”, on South African airways about a decade ago, not only the flight attended let my companion and me sample a few bottles of South African wines (it was a long flight) she gave me several of them that I liked the best to go after we landed. I ended up visiting the winery in the Capetown area afterwords to refill my stock.

Crown fell out and got to be replaced. I hate Dentists more than I do anything. So, going to be a long week. But, at least I was out last week with a friend and he "encouraged" me to go to a weed store and at least I was a bit woozy waiting for dentist.

Hope you're better.

CoM is working ideally and without interruptions. Not only is their traffic exponentially higher than here, but the technical maintenance and support are outstanding.

I flew First class on Qatar a few years ago, and they had Chateau d'Yquem! The stewardess had not heard of it and left me the bottle.....

Hard to believe it was over 30 years ago. I had just moved to Portland. Which is where the film was set, as you know. Gus Van Sant was a groundbreaker. Drugstore Cowboy was another one of his great early films. And, yes, that scene was remarkably tender, and sweet, and also sad. Probably the best part of a very good movie. Although there is also that brief memorable moment on the motorcycle. But only because Keanu looked so incredibly pretty. 😍

About 4 years before "The Celluloid Closet" was released this gem of a film was made, "My Own Private Idaho." For many reasons it strikes a chord with my heart as it was made when I was young and the introduction of gay characters was starting to rise in earnest. Not to forget that the two main protagonists are among my favorites. It may not be an overtly gay movie but the the hints and tender moments make it all the more magical and haunting at the same time. It's portrayal of growing up gay is even more realistic than films made nowadays. A tribute to the both Keeanu Reeves and the sweet, charming angel that is River Phoenix. The campside fire scene is the particularly heartwarming. The exchange was poignant and romantic and profound and intense. 💗Mike Waters: If I had a normal family, and a good upbringing, then I would have been a well-adjusted person. Scott Favor: [Laughs] Depends on what you call normal. Mike Waters: Yeah, it does. Well, you know, normal, like, like a mom and a dad and a dog and shit like that. Normal...normal. Scott Favor: So you didn't have a normal dog? Mike Waters: No, I didn't have a dog. Scott Favor: Didn't have a... a normal dad? Mike Waters: Didn't have a dog or a, or a, or a normal dad. anyway, that's alright. I don't feel sorry for myself, I mean, I feel like I'm, I feel like I'm, you know, well-adjusted. Scott Favor: [Laughs] What's a normal dad? Mike Waters: I don't know. [pauses] I'd like to talk with you. I mean I'd like to, uh, really talk with you. I mean we're talking right now, but, you know. I don't know. I don't feel like I can be... I don't feel like I can be close to you. I mean we're close, you know, right now we're close, but, I mean, you know... Scott Favor: How close, I mean... Mike Waters: I don't know, whatever. Scott Favor: What? Mike Waters: [pause] What do I mean to you? Scott Favor: What do you mean to me? Mike, you're my best friend. Mike Waters: I know, man, I know... I know... I know I'm your friend. We're good friends, and it's good to be, you know, good friends. That's a good thing. Scott Favor: So...? Mike Waters: So I just... [pauses] Mike Waters: That's okay. We can be friends. Scott Favor: [flustered] I only have sex with a guy for money. Mike Waters: Yeah, I know... Scott Favor: And two guys can't love each other. Mike Waters - Yeah. [pauses] Well, I don't know, I mean, I mean for me, I could love someone even if I, you know, wasn't paid for it. [pauses] I love you, and... you don't pay me. Scott Favor: Mike.... Mike Waters: I really wanna kiss you man. [pauses] Mike Waters: Well goodnight man. [pauses again] Mike Waters: I love you, though. [pause] You know that. I do love you. Scott Favor: Alright, come here, Mike. [Pats the ground] Scott Favor: Let's just see. come on, man. I Just wanna see, come on. My Own Private Idaho (1991) - Campfire Scene.mp4

Yes, for business class, Qatar offers dine anytime service, and are consistently good. Saudia offers it too, but the dessert ice cream was all melted when I order it midflight, I am not sure what their problem is, but I was not happy. Etihad does not offer "dine anytime" option officially, but I asked the flight attendant if I can have the meal later mid flight, she said no problem, she wrote down my meal of choice and told me to let her know when I want to eat, it would take 20 minutes to prepare. But mid-flight when I told her I was ready to eat, she came back and apologized that she gave away my prawn dish by mistake. WTF. Unless flying basic business fare with no lounge access, most regular businesses class passengers eat at lounge prior to boarding, some gobble down a full meal and drink at lounge. I don't know how people can continue to eat another full meal in less than an hour onboard the plane. The food quality on business class has certainly gone down hill (on the three airlines mentioned above), but the food is usually better on flights leaving their home based hub.

perhaps better to leave him alone

Update: I've just booked my tickets in and out of BKK and will be there for most of January. Excited!

Instead of buying a token, you just tap your credit card on the reader and off you go. Singapore has this system as well, and it's pretty handy especially as a tourist as you don't have to worry about buying a ticket/token or topping up your card.

I'm in Japan at the moment and it is all over the media. Julie Fujishima controls 100% of the company shares and had promised compensation. At the end of the day, it is just another example of the "casting couch" culture which is also prevalent in the West. But in Japan it is difficult to question those above you. The role of the media is also being questioned as they apparently knew what was going on. It is now being reported that sponsors are abandoning the company. This could be the beginning of the end.

Anyone for a PPE supply contract in the UK? On no sorry, you have to be a friend of government to join the Fast Track lane.......... https://www.transparency.org.uk/track-and-trace-uk-PPE-procurement-corruption-risk-VIP-lane

I notice this in Canada with social media making a big deal about protests and anti-protests attended by about a dozen people attacking and defending trans people and all of them arguably there only to get attention on social media. And unfortunately the trans people have become the lightning rod for all the different subsets of people who hate homosexuals, immigrants, women.... basically anybody who they can blame for their own unsuccessful lives or insecurity. The great majority Canadians continue to dislike confrontation in society and prefer to mind their own business despite their own personal likes and dislikes.

I guess so but run them through dishwasher first

Thank you for very good and comprehensive report. Glad you had a great time there, at end of day it's why we travel to Thailand in the first place. few comments for paragraphs quoted for benefits of readers not familiar with Bangkok : going from /to airport to/from Silom area by public transport there are two options, one you took with change to MRT (underground) at Makasan (advantage - only one change , disadvantage -pretty long walk from Makasan to Petchaburi, covered walkway though , going other way to airport if using that option train may arrive already quite full so danger of standing room only, not that it's long trip , about 25 mins only ). Second option I prefer is to take ARL (airport train all the way to Phaya Thai, and then change into BTS ( overhead rail) to Siam ( just 2 stops ) and then change again ON THE SAME PLATFORM to Sala Daeng station (another two stops ) . Advantage - you can admire view and get/ refresh grasp of the area, got rate on money exachnge counters at Phaya Thai station, disadvantage - 2 changes instead of one. Difference in travel time and price miniscule , if any. Reasons for comment , on last trip when asked on the train by phone wielding couple going to Silom if they should alight at Makasan I suggested my option pointing that I'm going there now they looked at me like I told them to go through some territory untouched by human foot. ............ towel issue - that's probably the difference between 4000 and 1400 hotels. But yes , in cheaper places it may be an issue to get that extra towel if one expects more than one visitor a day. Solution I use if hotel makes it hard or is asking for extra money (50 to 200 ) , if Ii can I pack extra towel or buy cheap one in Silom market and use it myself, treating guest with hotel provided regalia ...... that the first Apollo report if I'm not mistaken so very thank you. Don't be discouraged by so so experience, as they say , one statistic sample is not a basis for scientific hypothesis. Likely reason for confusion is fact you did not book in advance. They have very extensive list of masseurs and respond pretty fast although not as fast as Jey Spa. I had bad luck as two I chose were not available that day so I gave up. It's far indeed , total travelling time from Choing Nonsi to Bearing -40 minutes but if guy one craves is available it will be worth it, if one is tried by such long trek , said Jey is half way through where you can take a travel break and continue after 1-1.50 hrs of massage there. ..... on pain of repeating myself but for benefit of newly arrived readers since Dec 2021 Furama Sathorn Xclusive is my favorite hotel in Silom area. Rooms are big, visitors not bothered with day or night, breakfasts ample , for economizing there's simple restaurant in the soi just across hotel, close to Chong Nonsi BTS and soi 5 market. Never had boy complaining that it's too far to walk, if they have motosai, there's parking. In short , go for it. As for Trinity Silom which is across the street , last time I stay there was in 2002 so will not say anything but there one member who stays there regularly and he may chip in with comments. Can't be bad if he returns, right ? ....... the same with Classrooms, absolutely recommended, around the corner from BoyzTown, discreet card operated entry bypassing reception, rooms big , clan and well appointed , even with cutlery. Copa is close second and bit cheaper but it's location above Boyztown bars may be noisier although I don't recall issues. Ambiance is similar but I don't like their maze of corridors so stay there rarely

Obama is relevent because he used to say 'yes we can" , that's why . He was born in Hawaii which is not part of Ethiopia for good 2127 years if not more. His father was from Kenia, bit closer to your target. Glad to inform you he retired in his country of birth i.e. USA ,no doubt taking your enlightened advice. on topic of entry stamps , you right it can be extended while in country but that's no help to OP as he already left. If one leaves , stamp expires ie. if somebody has stamp till say Sept 1st but leaves Thailand today Aug 26 , can't return after tomorrow on Aug 28 for another few days using Sept 1st stamp, instead will receive another stamp for 30 days from Aug 28. Rest your information about stamp is accurate and confirms what I said in my original post so OP will be doing right thing taking both mine and your advice as they are all the same i.e. one can return to Thailand even day or two after leaving and will receive new 30 days stamp. As for Ethiopia few pictures so you know what you are talking about :

It is almost 2 decades since I spent 4 nights in Luang Prabang - and loved them. It is a completely charming small city but never felt like a city. I flew in on Bangkok Airways. I understand there is a long boat service down the Mekong from Chiang Mai, but that would need to be checked to see if it still runs. Just meandering through the centre with its plethora of small temples and colonial houses was a joy. As was the gentle climb up Pussy Hill (although it is spelled Phousi!) to get an overview of the city. The former Royal Palace is now a Museum. And there is a lovely boat ride about 25 kms up the Mekong to the Pak Ou Caves where there are many hundreds of small Buddha sculptures. I had booked through the long dead Utopia Tours. I had a non-gay guide during two days but frankly a guidebook would have been just as good. One evening I had a gay guide. Funnily, that evening I had had an early dinner in a little restaurant around the corner from my guesthouse and spent the meal lusting after the two cute waiters. I was then amazed when my evening guide arrived. He was one of the waiters! Gay nightlife then was mostly limited to one very large bar cum disco with very few people and one smaller bar, again with few patrons. But I did get a feeling of Luang Prabang being quite cruisy. On my last afternoon before my flight back to Bangkok, I was sitting at one of the tables outside the guesthouse looking at the boat traffic on the Mekong. Soon three cute boys - not sure if they were in the last year at school or first at university but they were in uniform - came and sat nearby. As they were drinking their tea, they obviously were aware that I was looking at them. Soon one came over. He said one of his friends liked me and asked if I lliked him! Of course I did and told him so, but sadly I had absolutely no time to do anything. Bummer! One anecdote. The guesthouse on the banks of the Mekong was quite new. It was the idea of a Lao architect who had spent about 20 years in Sydney stuying and working before returning home. As I returned from sightseeing one afternoon, he told me I had just missed meeting Mick Jagger and his daughter and how he had had a fascinating chat with them. Another bummer! The Rolling Stones had had a concert in Bangkok cancelled when the plane taking all their stage and technical gear from the previous gig in Mumbai had broken down. So Jagger had hired a plane specifically to visit Luang Prabang. Since he was sitting on a table across from the guesthouse, the owner went up to say how nice it was to see him again. It turned out that the guesthouse owner had met Jagger during a concert in Sydney some years earlier. Then he formed part of the security guard. At a rehearsal, seeing that he was Asian Jagger had gone up to him to say the band had run out of pot and was there any way the Lao guy could obtain some more! It turned out that the owner had a friend in the Lao Embassy. So overnight, a stash of pot was sent down in the diplomatic bag!

Sorry, but I also find any face coveting a turn-off. It's like having sex with a guy wearing a paper bag over his head. For me, the face is the second most important part of the guy's body.