Leaderboard

From the Associated Press By YUCHENG TANG BANGKOK (AP) — Xinyu Wen traveled to Thailand in June, planning a two-week vacation around Bangkok's Pride parade. Instead, the 28-year-old stayed a month and a half, as her experience at the parade gave rise to discussions and discoveries in the Thai capital's thriving LBGTQ+ community. LGBTQ+ people from China, frequently scorned and ostracized at home, are coming to Thailand in droves, drawn by the freedom to be themselves. When Wen walked along the parade on the streets in Bangkok, “I felt like I was in a big party or a huge amusement park. We could forget all upsetting things and feel fun-filled,” she said. Bangkok is only a 5-hour flight from Beijing, and Thailand’s tourism authorities actively promote its status as among the most open to LGBTQ+ people in the region. Wen got interested in Thailand when her friend sent her a photo of rainbow-colored, Pride-themed ice cream being sold on the streets. “I wanted to go to Thailand to take a look,” she said. Wen describes herself as queer, which she says means that her partners can be any gender and she can be any gender. At home, Wen said she regularly gets judgmental stares on the street for wearing her hair short like a man’s, and was once asked by her barber: “What happened to your life?” But at the Bangkok Pride parade in June, Wen noticed people confidently wore what they wanted. She was excited to be able to express herself publicly and finally drop her guard. More than that, she said she was also impressed by the protest element to the event, in which people carried signs written in traditional Chinese with slogans like “China has no LGBTQ” and “Freedom is what we deserve.” “I felt a mixed feeling, touched but sad,” she said. Ahead of her trip, she read up on the situation in Thailand, finding reports that showed there is still widespread discrimination, especially in the workplace. Thailand does not recognize same-sex unions or marriages, which also means they're barred from adopting children, and other legal processes that straight couples have access to. Wen arrived at the parade somewhat skeptical. But she ended up finding it empowering. “Although I initially had a critical attitude toward the parade in Bangkok because discrimination against LGBTQ individuals hasn't disappeared, I still felt inspired because the neglected groups and the suppressed feelings matter here.” Owen Zhu, a gay real estate agent in Bangkok who sells houses to Chinese clients, said many are also coming to stay. He estimated some 2/3 of his clients are LGBTQ+, many of whom buy apartments to live in part- or full-time. “Among Chinese gay people, Thailand is called gay’s heaven,” he said, noting that there are many chat groups where gay men from China coordinate trips to Thailand and share information about parties and tickets to events.

Oh, the irony.

From The Nation Pita Limjaroenrat resigned as Move Forward Party leader on Friday, relinquishing his chance of becoming opposition leader. Pita explained in a Facebook post that he was forced to quit after being suspended as an MP pending the Constitutional Court ruling in his media shareholding case. He also pointed out that Move Forward was forced into opposition despite gaining the most votes in the May 14 election. Pita said he decided to quit as party chief after talks with his party's executive committee and MPs. He added that Move Forward must lead the opposition in Parliament to promote change in Thailand, which is not part of government policies. "Hence, I have decided to resign as Move Forward leader to allow the party to choose an MP who is able to become opposition leader in Parliament and party leader in my stead," he said. He also vowed to contine to do his best for Move Forward and the people in order to drive forward reform in Thailand.

I really hate seeing DOM taking advantage of the waiters. In Silver Sand Soi 4 there is a geriatric Australian wearing a black and white button down shit and white shorts who can’t stand straight at 7:30 pm and keeps sticking his hand up the asses of the waiters as he stumbles around dancing on the terrace. I sure hope he isn’t an esteemed member of this group. The waiters look so uncomfortable and it is certainly disgusting to watch.

From CNN Travel It was around sunset on Sunday 3 September in Paros, a popular holiday island in Greece's Cycladic region. A crowd of around 50 were gathered on Parikia beach, close to the island's main port. Behind them, the sky blazed a deep orange over the azure sea. On one side, an iconic Cycladic windmill stood stark against the horizon. On the other, a strip of sun loungers belonging to a beach bar stretched out along the sand. Even if you've never visited Greece, parts of this scene probably sound familiar. However, on this day, there were also a few unusual details. Three of the attendees were holding up a huge sign saying, "Reclaim the Beach". A man with a loudspeaker stood next to them. As the audience watched, he read parts of the Greek constitution aloud, which states that beaches and other natural areas belong to the country's citizens. The protest was part of a campaign that media has dubbed the "beach towel revolt", whereby locals are seeking free access to beaches that have been taken over by beach bars and other businesses offering exorbitantly priced sun loungers and umbrellas. While the movement started in Paros, it has now spread all over Greece and even to neighbouring Turkey, with campaigners demanding space to lay down their towels for free. The protests began on Paros in May 2023 when a group of residents, who were already regularly meeting to talk about environmental issues on the island, began discussing how the spots where people can freely swim and sunbathe (without being forced to pay for a sun lounger) were becoming ever scarcer. It’s one symptom of how the island is increasingly catering to tourists at the expense of locals. Beach-side businesses that erect loungers and umbrellas must apply for licences from the Greek finance minister to use designated parts of the beach. Checks are meant to be carried out regularly to ensure they are not taking up more space than their licences allow. However, protestors allege that these checks are rarely – if ever – carried out. As a result, free spots for towels are now few and far between. Continues https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20230912-what-to-know-about-the-beach-towel-revolt-taking-back-greek-beaches

Knew it wouldn't take you long to pick up on that. 🙂

why ? for me it makes sense that country which is biggest source of tourists arrivals enjoys visa free entry

Ha! You will definitely get the questions about your marital status and whether you are traveling alone. I stayed at a nice little place near Anuradhapura that had very cute staff. One of them was quizzing me with those questions one day and I couldn't quite figure out if he was trying to tell me something. I thought he was adorable and would have definitely been interested in some hanky panky. But they probably have to be careful about fraternizing with the guests. I think the staff were all hospitality students getting experience. It's a beautiful country and I see they are getting back on their feet after their economic meltdown.

Increasingly, as age advances, it's the small things in life that bring joy. Like an informal community of fellow exercisers, canine members included.

That depends how it escalates. The two waiters may not appreciate their assaults trending. In fact they may not appreciate the assault on them being filmed at all given their loss of face.

The Republic of Kazakhstan has now been added along with China to the nations eligible for visa exemption. Tourism ministry expect to receive 130,000 tourists from the country, an increase of 50% over last year.

Well, I wish I knew the answer to that question! But in Sri Lanka it seems like they find you. In Gomez Place it is quite overt, the young guys are there waiting for someone to hire them for a massage. In other places, it’s just a matter of striking up a conversation. Eventually it will lead to the inevitable questions like, “Are you travelling alone?” or “Are you married?” After that it won’t take them long to let you know they are interested. Maybe not explicitly, but with lots of smiles and eye contact. That’s something I really liked about Sri Lankan men.

I knew when planning this trip that it is rainy season in Thailand....but not in Bali and had perfect weather there. Was a rainy night last night, so I stayed in to get some rest for me and my liver, plus the wallet. First 2 nights had fun, X-Boys had a great show and after the show, drop their drink prices to 1oo baht. The place has a fun vibe at that point and some guys dancing naked on stage just being silly. Dream boys drink prices are 150 baht, all night I think and has a good selection of guys. I'm not a huge BBB fan, so haven't been in yet, will probably go to Nice Boys tonight but it looks like a few more days of rain 🙄 Grindr has more ladyboys than anything and a lot in their 30's.... Walked by the massage shops, only 1 or 2 guys in caught my eye in the Jomtien area massage, nothing in Boystown Now it's 7am and I don't know what to do, I generally am never awake at this time EVER, unless I'm just coming in to sleep.....any suggestions? Oh, I was going to get an airbnb on this trip, but last minute changed to 2 rooms at the Ambiance for about the same price. I Still like this hotel, clean rooms, comfy beds and sheets, towels, etc....

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.

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon The news that Britain’s old age pensioners are scheduled to receive an 8.5 percent increase next April, on top of 10.2 percent this year, has staggered foreign expats. Many had their entitlement frozen from the date ceased to be “ordinarily resident” in UK. There are about 500,000 British expats living abroad who are denied annual increases, mostly living in Australia, Canada and New Zealand. But the rule applies to Thailand too. The good news for British-based seniors only is based on the triple lock policy which means that the annual increase in the state pension is the highest of average earnings, inflation or 2.5 percent. Since the decline of Covid, there have been substantial worker settlements in Britain to counter inflation which have resulted in a higher-than-expected average wage. For those receiving the new flat-rate pension, going to those who reached retirement age after April 2016, the total for the year is fast approaching 12,000 pounds. It is well known that there are no rational grounds for uprating the state pensions of those expats caught in the freezing process. They paid national insurance in their working lives and should be covered. Although the British government sometimes talks about “reciprocal agreements” there is no sensible rationale why British pensioners living in Turkey or Serbia or parts of the Caribbean should receive increases when those in Thailand do not. The stark reality is a postal lottery pure and simple. The British Department of Work and Pensions in July 2023 published data which likely explain the political resistance and indifference. The report claims that the cost of uprating the state pension in frozen countries-rate countries is around 4,590 million pounds in the five-year time slot 2023 to 2028. Whilst this is not in fact a huge sum in overall pension expenditure terms, it is designed to be the definitive “sorry folks” argument. Meanwhile, there is a division in the Conservative government whether even the trip-lock should continue as Britain lurches in its post-Brexit financial agony. The main lobby group in Thailand is End Frozen Pensions Asia (Thailand Branch) which is easily found on Facebook and has a useful chat describing members’ campaigning activities. Local Brits feeling aggrieved by the lack of political will in UK to resolve the blatant discrimination should support this non-profitmaking pressure group. And yes, it’s likely to be a long haul.

I've been quite surprised in my last 2-3 visits to Thailand of how much popular Chinese guys are on gay apps. Not just on Blued but even on Grindr which tend to be more used by Thais looking for Westerners, I see every time profiles with "Looking for Chinese only" on them. Have to agree though that a large number of Chinese guys coming from big cities from a middle or upper-middle-class background can be quite sexy and attractive. They definitely take care of themselves and their bodies.

I just have Chrome set to always translate sites into English. You may need to install the Google Translate extension for that to work automatically. Heroes has a lot more nudity on their site than most of these other places

From the Thaiger Free rides are on the horizon for Thailand’s Pink Line mass-transit system in November as announced on the government’s Thai Khu Fah Facebook page. The 34.5-kilometre monorail system is currently undergoing trial runs, a crucial step in the preparation phase before its official launch, as revealed by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA). The Pink Line’s trial runs are divided into two phases, with the first phase covering the stretch from Min Buri station (PK30) in eastern Bangkok to the Government Complex (PK12). This initial phase will continue until October 22. The subsequent phase, which will encompass the entirety of the 30 stations, will run until November 19. These free ride trials were originally announced a month ago with a lead-up to opening the Pink Line full in November, but the launch appears to have been pushed back. Commuters can anticipate free rides on the Pink Line from around mid-November, serving as a one-month trial period before the tentative start of commercial operations on December 18. The Pink Line, providing a crucial link between Min Buri and Nonthaburi, includes interchange stations that facilitate transfers to and from the Purple Line, BTS’s Green Line, and the forthcoming Orange Line. In terms of capacity, the Pink Line will utilise the same monorail train model as the currently operating Yellow Line. Each train can consist of four to seven passenger carriages, with a total capacity of up to 28,000 passengers per hour. The proposed fare structure for the Pink Line indicates a starting tariff of 14 baht, capped at 42 baht. Adjustments to these fares will align with the consumer price index, ensuring affordability for commuters.

White pudding?

From Thai PBS World Phat Kraphao is the most basic dish available at most street food stalls. It is sometimes called the “thoughtless” dish, for people who have no idea what to order and now it has topped the “Best Stir-Fries in the World 2023” list, released by TasteAtlas.com today (Saturday). Another favourite, Pad Thai, was placed 8th with a score of 4.4, while Phat Kraphao scored 4.8. South Korea’s Dak Galbi comes second with 4.7. Other Thai dishes which made it into the top 50 were Phat Si-io (4.3), Khua Kling (4.2) and stir-fried chicken with cashew nuts (3.7). The website features recipes and food reviews from critics around the world. It said that Phat Kraphao is the fourth most commonly ordered dish by foreigners in Thailand. According to the TasteAtlas.com description of Phat Kraphao “this traditional Thai stir-fry combines minced meat or seafood with holy basil and various other ingredients, such as shallots, garlic and chili peppers. The dish is flavoured with soy sauce, sugar and fish sauce and typically comes served with rice, a fried egg and fish sauce on the side.”

they can say whatever they want , I still think chicken with cashew nuts is the best

Interesting that this was your takeaway from the post. Dancing wasn’t the issue. When I saw all of that going on yesterday I actually asked myself … could that be Olddaddy?

The rules have changed several times in the last 20 years. When I started paying NI contributions the pension age was 65 for men and 60 for women. Now my pension age is 67 and for younger people it will be 68 or even older, perhaps even no pension. It's also now 35 years of full NI contributions. You say they are not based on the economy, that may be the case but they most certainly do affect the economy. The cost of pensions due to an aging society is increasingly a larger share of GDP. There is no pension pot, the contributions today pay the pensions today and the cost is rising. The rules are that certain countries get increases and others don't. I'd prefer it simplified so no-one living outside the UK gets the increase. Why? 1) the cost and 2) Increases in cost in those various countries are not linked to UK pay rises or inflation. I get people outside the UK are upset but imagine you are starting out paying tax and NI in the UK, contributing to those increases with no guarantee of ever getting a pension. I feel gyped that my pension age has increased but just have to get on with it. I'm 57 with 41 years of full contributions yet still have over 9 years before I'll be eligible. Why should I be paying for increasing the pensions of people outside the UK who do not contribute in any way to the UK economy?

UK pensions are not basically related to the UK economy or an individual's contribution to it through taxes. Pensions are a specific item under the national insurance scheme which has separate contributions unrelated to specific taxes payable by an individual - if any. If they wish to receive a pension, those working abroad must still pay the national insurance contributions annually. After 40 years of contributions, in the UK they qualify for the full basic state pension along with annal increases. Those living abroad, as noted, have the pension frozen. When I moved abroad to work, pensions for those living overseas were not frozen. It was the government of either Margaret Thatcher or Tony Blair which applied the freeze. Yet, even as one working overseas and continuing to pay my national insurance contributions, I never received any information from any goverment departmant to tell me that my rights had been taken from me. Since then, I have written to various Secretaries of State with responsibility for pensions. Total waste of time! No lobbby group is going to get this through parliament. One of the above governments also stripped UK expats of the right to vote after being abroad for six years. Therefore there is absolutely zero incentive for any future government to pay any attention to that group's demands as lobby groups have zero effect on voting for or against members of parliament. We are in a government-mandated limbo.

I can understand that the leader of the opposition has to be sitting in parliament. But there are lots of cases around the world where the Chairmen of political parties do not sit as MPs.

I haven't been able to find anywhere on those sites to switch to English so I just copy the link into Chrome and use the translate feature in Chrome.

In some Thai venues a situation like this would be very quickly dealt with with a bottle to the head of the twat. Here is a particularly satisfying video of a pair of idiots getting their due for bad behavior. I particularly like how everyone else carries-on with business as usual. The bouncers are a pretty hot bunch as well... Shocking moment British father and son are brutally beaten by bouncers as they are kicked out of a bar in Thailand's 'Sin City' Daily Mail Online (1).mp4

apparently according to what I read on Gaybutton board constitution requires that leader of opposition must be MP, that's the reason for stepping down

or here

in reality it should be fairly easy to catch them , at least those who arrive by air which is majority. Canada is like Brunei, South Korea or Lesotho and has land border with only one country . Records of absence can be obtained from airlines passenger's lists. It's only matter of connecting the dots. Job for AI I guess.

I am Canadian and this is not really my business, but I have concerns about retired Canadian citizens with dual citizenship who move permanently back to their other country where they can live much more comfortably on their government pension. I don't judge them for that, I'd probably do the same thing if I could. But still, it rankles. There are claims that ex-pat citizens return to Canada only to receive free medical treatment. Not sure about that since provinces require people to remain residents to get their government medical insurance. Unless somebody rats them though, if they have an address in Canada it's unlikely anybody in the system would ever know they live abroad.

Brown envelopes galore!!

No point, move along, nothing to see here. Tik Tok? I mean no.... don't do it. don't even have Tik tok on your phone. Go back the day after, buy the boys a drink and let them know someone cares about them Don't do that tick tok shit. no one benefits from that riubbish.

The quicker the better.

They should standardise it and not increase pensions anywhere outside the UK. Why should taxpayers increase pensions for people not contributing to the UK economy?

Find the time to buy them a consensual no strings drink, not that you should have to apologise for anyone else, but it might make thier day to know someone is on thier side.

Even if one has the ability, there is no need of using it!

it's hard not to agree about lottery comment although with option of picking up winning combination. It seems unjust and illogical ( for example in US indexed somebody told me , in Canada not as per list above ) but only UK votes and politicians can solve it. Until then British pensioner's should chose their new home wiser.

even if we are , and in good form, we will not remember that growth projection , which , when one looks at it with cold eye looks quite sensible

We're early risers and my delight - not P's since he needs an hour to shower- is a walk along Jomtien beach. Those who get -up later would be amazed by the number of people who do the same....some joggers, many walkers. This is at 0700 when it is cool and the roads are quiet. I have a canine friend who greets me daily near the gay-beach and with whom I'm always happy to converse. Good preparation for breakfast. And for health.

To answer the original question posed you can have success any night. I have had great fun in “quiet “ nights. It only takes one to make an evening!

It's time for the senile old bastard to retire and turn this mess over to the border czar.

I think I stayed 3 nights at Gomez, just after I arrived in Sri Lanka, and another night before I flew out. It is convenient because it is fairly close to the airport. It’s a great place to relax after a long flight, and get settled in to a new time zone (especially since I flew in from Canada). And I good introduction to Sri Lankan men…. While the hotel is lovely, there isn’t a lot to see in the town of Negombo itself. You really should check out some other places such as Kandy, Galle, Sigiriya, Nnuwara Eliya, Adam’s Peak, etc. Sri Lanka is a really beautiful country with lots of things to see and do (besides the men!)

I'm here now, is worse than what people told me....streets are dead, even on weekends. Talked to a couple of guys on Gay Romeo, one showed up, was obviously on drugs, pills. Sketchy, scratching himself nervously, scars on his legs from scratching, glassy eyes. Of course he denied using drugs, sent him away. Hard to find soda or anything decent to eat..... even at the Hotel National 😲 Was out all night drinking on the Malecon, don't get me wrong, there are some people out but nothing that you would look at twice. I saw 1 guy that looked interesting, was with a group of friends, not even eye contact. only 3 people outside Las Vegas on Fri & Sat night and in the park behind there, a couple of desperate guys that might have been good 15 years ago...... I'm still holding out hope, a friend I've had for 20+ years is 40 yrs old now, been hanging out with him and is still the best thing on offer.

Last night was bored, so went into Las Vegas because a bartender I've known for years told me he'd be working. I posted on my FB that , even in a communist country they allow drag shows, not like in Florida and much of the south trying to eliminate them....think about that 😆 It was pretty empty, but one 22yr old caught my eye, he wanted $40 usd...I told him to remember where he is, CUBA! We agreed on $25 but he was the type that doesn't touch or suck dick, he'll fuck you and you can blow him..... Always amazes me that these guys that aren't gay have a raging hard on before they take off their underwear, lol Since I haven't seen anything else interesting, I'll probably see him again today. Cuba has advanced to where most people have access to internet on their phones, however, slow and unreliable it is....can stay in touch via Whatsapp. Still no plans on returning anytime soon .... will be in Bali, Pattaya, BKK in 10 days

Silom Soi 6 has more shops (six and soon to have seven) male only shops where on any given day you find 60-70 guys available. You’ll find Soi Six on your right just after passing Bangkok Christian Hospital.

Try https://gaythaicool.com/author/gaythaicool/

anyone interested in a 4 hand massage with twins? 27M spa on Twitter @bkboyboy

Would this be any help?