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Day 4 With my pretend BF Nam leaving, I am once again single and excited to explore what this city can offer. One thing I was so curious about is how people in this forum have talked extensively about the different massage shops in the Saphan Kwai neighbourhood. The reviews seems to be a mixed bag but I am curious to try it myself. I exchanged Line message with Kman and 15M. They responded flooding my phone with photos of their lineup for the day. I can easily identify 3-4 guys from each of their offerings so I decided to risk it and go in there without reservation. Given my general lack of sense of direction, I decided to take a grab taxi which, given that it's non peak hours, only cost 130 baht. I am running out of funds so I set the drop off to Saphan Kwai station. Halfway there, it started to rain like crazy I started to worry ill get soaked. Luckily, the rain stopped a few minutes before we arrived. I immediately scanned the area and can't find any bank or ATM machine nearby. I tried my luck climbing up the station hoping there's a machine and there it was. Before dispensing cash, this particular ATM machine quotes an exchange rate and asks you to confirm if you accept it. I usually press "no" and from experience, my online banking statement looks like I saved around 25 to 30 USD from my 10k baht withdrawal. Not an expert so I can't explain why. After placing cash in my wallet, I looked to the right and lo and behold, I saw KMan's signage! So I made my way down the station towards Kman. I was expecting that the place will be on the rough side like Arena but I was wrong. Downstairs was decent, I was given a bottle of water and their iPad to browse through their menu. I chose a masseur named Dang and minutes later he went down to meet me, take my footwear and take me to the room. Disappointingly, the room I was given don't have a private bathroom but luckily it's just opposite my room. Dang just smiled and used his hands to direct me to the shower. He then took a shower and returned to our temporary love nest. He looked at me and started speaking in Thai which I responded with a confused look. We had a good laugh and he said he thought I am Thai. This kinda broke the ice. Dang gave a more than decent massage although he lags behind Knott from S'sense who I think will be the standard for this trip. Saving grace is he's not the type that will spend so much time massaging your feet. He gave each body part generous attention. When it's time for the more interesting part, he asked me to lie on my back and gave me a body to body massage which was actually pleasant. It progressed further from there. He's a bit shy and would constantly look at me sheepishly smiling. Kinda threw me off guard but I decided to ignore it. Tried planting as much kisses as I can and he welcomed it all. "You like to fuck please?" He asked. I chuckled in my head and nodded. How can I say no if he asked so politely! We finished and of course he got more than the minimum tip under his profile. I kinda like this system of having minimum tips as it removes the guesswork and makes the transaction more straightforward. If unsatisfied, Just give the minimum tip and add a bit more if its the other way around. Not quite sure if ill make an effort to come back to this area. It's really out of the way and not worth the travel if you're only visiting one shop. I made a mental note of possibly book a hotel in the area for a day to sample everything Saphan Kwai can offer. Maybe two nights to include a Chatuchak shopping trip? I should have taken the BTS back to my apartment but I wasn't thinking properly in a post coital phase. Got stuck in the grab taxi for 1.5 hours but I entertained myself by browsing through Grindr. Ghanian guy seemed to have seen me online and sent me a Line message. He asked if I want to meet up and I replied ill let him know after dinner what my plans are. He responded cheekily inviting himself to dinner and then back to my place for drinks. He quoted same price as before but told me not to be shy to tip (he's learning from previous experience!). I looked outside and the impending rain looks a bit daunting so I decided to cancel bar plans tonight in favour of my gorgeous Ghanaian mate.

Agree with the recommendation about PJ's Place. Only stayed once but enjoyed it and the owners really looked after their guests. Excellent breakfast cooked to order. It's also relatively close to Adam's Apple. My Way and Circle bar. The owners will also arrange an airport pick-up if you wish. https://pjs-place.com Also not far is the old town bordered by the moat. This is packed with temples from the very old Wat Chedi Luang in the centre - and the large Wat Phra Sing - to many smaller temples in and around the old city, including the relatively unknown Wat Chedi Liam. Well worth exploring over 2 days. In the grounds of Wat Chedi Liam As @vinapu suggested, a trip up the hill to Doi Suthep is a must. You can find cheap songthaews or local drivers prepared to take you up and back after your visit. There are also official taxis which will be considerably more expensive. But the trip is well worth it. Once you arrive, there is a longish staircase before you get to the temple itself. @forky123 has mentioned Doi Inthanon National Park and again I totally agree. Again you'll need transport to get there but it's not too far out of town. Since December is quite recenty after the rainy season, the waterfalls should be spectacular. Doi Inthanon is to the south. Go north and see an orchid farm and take a ride on an elephant around one of the elephant sanctuaries (although the authorities prefer you not to do this!). Also as suggested by @forky123 you can consider a trip to the hilltribes. My one disappointment was the gay bars located in a soi across the road from Le Meridien hotel near the Night Bazaar. But that's just my view!

Spend the evening there. There are lots of bars and places to eat in Jomtien so plan to have your evening meal there then simply stroll around the complex picking up the vibe. Most evenings you are going to see over 100 boys between the various massage shops and bars in the complex. Myself, I often stay in the complex and travel into Pattaya when I want to. Zing Resort and Spa offers really good deals though stay Pool Side unless you are ok with the noise of the bars. Agate is a little more expensive but again enjoyable. One nice thing staying there is the apps are literally full of guys working within 200m of your hotel room. Very handy and avoids off fees.

Given how close Jomtien is to Pattaya I would really take a look at both unlessyou are only there for a day. Why limit your options for the sake of 10B?

From The Thaiger Financial experts are predicting a further depreciation of the baht throughout this month and next, due to the increased volatility in the global money and capital markets. This follows the US Federal Reserve’s recent suggestion of a potential increase in its benchmark interest rate. Poon Panitchpibun, a strategist at Krungthai Global Market, a research centre of Krungthai Bank, noted that the baht opened yesterday, September 21, at 36.25 against the US dollar, a depreciation from the previous day’s close of 36.07. The baht had shown a gradual strengthening, fluctuating between 35.86 to 36.23 per dollar on Wednesday night, before it slipped as the dollar and US 10-year bond yields rose, following the Federal Reserve’s hint at an additional interest rate hike this year and fewer cuts next year. The research unit at Krungthai Bank believes the baht depreciation may be more than expected and stay weaker for longer, due to the Federal Reserve’s commitment to maintaining high interest rates over a prolonged period. The baht could also face pressure from foreign investors selling Thai assets as financial markets continue to exhibit a “risk-off” state, with a short-term rebound unlikely. Previously, the depreciation of the baht almost reached resistance levels, suggesting a possible weakening to a range of 36.50 to 37 against the dollar – a level considered undervalued by analysts. However, the baht could fluctuate sideways or even strengthen if influencing factors change, according to Krungthai Global Markets, which predicts the baht may appreciate to 35.80 to 36 against the dollar. Due to escalating uncertainties both internally and externally, Krungsri has adjusted its baht forecast for the end of this year to 35 baht to the dollar, a weakening from the earlier prediction of 34 baht. --------------------------- Today's cross rates USD 35.99 EUR 38.29 GBP 44.08

A suggestion. One of the most posted topics is the issue of tips. Could the moderator consider a sticky at the top of the Gay Thailand section of the forum that gives the most frequently used range of tips for Bangkok and Pattaya? Obviously these would be average ranges but I think readers would undersand that. It would also save the question being asked and answered so many times.

in Pattaya you may find some in BoyzBoyBoyz bar in Boyztown. In Bangkok don't forget about Moonlight and Jupiter, not just Tawan. No idea about other places you mentioned, others may say something but I'd say if you want pyramids , go to Egypt or Mexico, not Turkmenistan. You interested in churches, go to Europe, Ethiopia or Latin America , not Laos or Saudi Arabia. You like muscles , stay in Bangkok and forget about Hat Yai or Hua Hin.

Although Jomtien does not have go-go bars, the host bars offer many more boys to pick and choose from, so lack of go-go bars is not a problem. There is one bar, DoDo, in Jomtien Complex which does have some dancing boys which is a nice treat. The largest gay scene is in Jomtien Complex, aka Supertown. There are 6 go-go bars in the Boyztown area and 2 go-go bars in Sunee Plaza. I should mention that Jomtien Complex is about a 15 minute ride by Baht Bus(10 Baht) from Pattaya or a short motorbike ride (80Baht) or a Bolt Car ride(100 Baht).

yes, I noticed it yesterday, I can open profiles and see the main picture but can't go any further. And no, I'm not going to pay for any subscription , I rather pay for drink in the bar.

I have been a reader of this forum for many years and have benefited greatly from such rich information from active posters - My holidays to Europe, South America and Asia particularly Thailand have been fun and extra spicy because of info generously shared here. Now I feel compelled to share my recent Thailand experience to hopefully help out and keep the info following. Please note that English is my second language and I would like to apologise in advance for any grammatical and other errors. Please be kind to me ❤️ I spent 12 glorious days in Bangkok but I will only be writing about days with spicy bits so as not to bore you people with my other vanilla shenanigans. Day 1 Arrived at Suvarnabhumi mid morning and immigration lines are flowing smoothly. Quite pleased that they no longer require those arrival cards. I always feel paranoid losing that other half you need to show upon departure. After sorting out Sim card and mobile, I marched straight to the designated airport pick up spot as per email sent by the klook app. Pick-up was efficient and after a couple of minutes, I am already in the middle of Bangkok traffic giddily planning what and where to go next. Check-in with air bnb was straightforward. Maybe because its low season, they allowed early check-in. I'm a bit wary with air bnb's legal status in Thailand. However, I am working remotely and hotel wifi is highly unreliable from experience. After checking-in, I decided to give the classics a try so off to Arena I go. My trifecta used to be Arena, Prince and Hero - still wishing Hero will be back! While walking towards Silom Plaza, I can't help but notice how much cannabis shops have setup and mushroomed everywhere! Not my scene but it was surprising how the number quickly grew since I visited last year. As I enter Arena, things flow like clockwork, The Uncle will ask you to sit by the couch, show you that Dogeared rate sheet and will try to sell you the most expensive package. Why do I have to pay 300thb more just for a different type of oil? I would rather use that to tip my man of the day and get better outcome later. While this is happening, them masseurs will assemble in front trying to get your attention. I always tell myself to calm down and take my time but I always feel low-key flustered with the attention which forces me to hastily make my selection. I chose this cute guy with a toned built. He introduced himself as Tom. He then asked me to shower and he stepped out of the room. I was quite disappointed that he didn't join. He returned with his massage stuff and took a shower before starting the massage. The massage itself was uneventful. It's that usual routine where they seem to focus on your leg area. I was starting to get bored and started yawning (so tired from my 13hr flight) and I think Tom took it as a cue to start the more interesting phase. He compensated well on his lack of massage skills and was quite surprised when he initiated a kiss. His body to body massage is quite good together with other things that comes with it. He then asked if I can make him cum which I gladly obliged. I must say it must be his first one for the day! I left Arena quite satisfied and decided to walk through Surawong to plan what tonight will hold. Had a quick bite at Foodland and took a taxi back to my place for a quick nap. Waking up refreshed, I made my way to Hotmale. I must've arrived too early and the selection that night looks not that promising. I made a mental note to give it another chance and visit it again later. I then went inside screwboys purely out of curiosity. The place was smaller and that night seemed to attract a lot of smokers. I'm not a delicate person but I really struggle with cigarette smoke. There's quite a number of potential offs but I am not in the mood tonight for reason I don't know. I made my way out and had a good yarn with one cute waiter from Laos. We exchanged Line which led to a number of proposals later to meet and be his boyfriend! Decided to call it a night and grab a coffee from Starbucks while waiting for my taxi. Starbucks is now open 24 hours compared to closing at around 8pm last year. Sign that things are indeed normalising? Overall, first night feels like a success even if i am going home alone. My session in Arena I guess is enough to cap off my night.

Tastes differ. There are several posters here who enjoy Jomtien Complex and the type of boys it offers. I have walked that stretch many times over 20 years and have not found it of any interest. Like @moistmango I much prefer the sight of skin in gogo bars (even better if on a beefy lad) - not something on offer in Jomtien. I am also no fan of fem twinks which are disproportionately represented in Jomtien Complex. The key thing about host bars is that the hosts are supposed to engage clients in pleasant, maybe a bit naughty, conversation. This alas is mostly beyond the language skills of these farm boys. So what does one do sitting there, nothing to watch, nothing to converse about? If it floats your boat, good for you, but l would say Jomtien Complex serves a narrow type of client interest. Yet I mostly choose to stay in the Jomtien area. I like the proximity to the beach. Boyztown is just a short songtaew ride away.

During the first couple of days of my trips checking out the Complex I sometimes find difficulty in making the decision as to which bar to sit down at. Early in the evening the boys are concentrating on attracting custom rather than latching onto a potential off. A couple of strolls up and down is needed to assess the attractiveness of the boys, the music being played and if there is a customer there who I know. Later, say 11+ they become somewhat more interested in drink invitations and maybe potential offs. You see more customers having closer contact with the boys possibly cuddling and kissing. I’ve stayed at the Zing a few times, usually in one of the larger rooms, and have never been troubled by bar noise. The pool is of reasonable size allowing a bit of exercise swimming and is very pleasant to sit by during the daytime, possibly with a “boyfriend du jour”.

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon In a surprise move, The Thai prime minister revealed in an interview in New York that smoking pot for leisure needs to be outlawed once again. Srettha Thavisin told Bloomberg Television that the law needs to be rewritten to regulate ganja for medical use only. “There can’t be a middle ground for recreational use,” he concluded. Following the declassification of marijuana as a narcotic last year, around 6,000 “dispensaries” have opened nationwide with most of them not bothering to hide their sales to the smoke-for-leisure Thai and foreign population. The retail outlets are supposed to restrict to 0.2 percent the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol which is what gives inhalers the “high” sensation. But the whole ganja industry in Thailand has a great deal of latitude as there is no comprehensive law in place describing what is legal and what is not. However, many commentators are skeptical that pot leisure smoking will again attract criminal penalties. “Off” Boonchert, who owns several retail outlets in Pattaya, said, “There isn’t a sharp dividing line between medical use and leisure. A man with cancer might also enjoy the puff. One solution might be for customers to sign a paper prior to purchase indicating what illness they have.” He added that the police would not want a return to the bad old days when the weed was sold underground which made it hard to control. Another ambiguity is whether all the groups in the current eleven party coalition will agree on a common policy. The declassification last year was the achievement of health minister Anutin Charnvirakul whose Bhumjaithai party is still in the new government. Anutin has spoken favourably about new rules governing cannabis, but is also on record stating he disagrees the drug could become a narcotic once again. The popularity of Bhumjaithai in last May’s general election was partly due to a pro-weed stance. It will likely take up to a year for a new law to appear in the statute book. The expected clauses will emphasize protection of children and will likely detail new rules for Thai farmers growing cannabis for sale after registration. There will likely too be a ban on smoking cafes and promotional slogans such as “Have a high time here” or “Come to the stars with us”. But it is still far from clear that the selling, purchase and use of cannabis by the public at large will once again automatically attract a prison sentence.

From Thai PBS World Red Line train fare to be reduced to Bt20 by New Year The State Railways of Thailand (SRT) board agreed yesterday (Thursday) to cut the fare on the Taling Chan-Bang Sue-Rangsit Red Line train service to 20 baht, from a maximum of Bt42, tentatively by the New Year. SRT Governor Nirut Maneephan said today that the fare reduction will cost the SRT about 80 million baht in lost revenue annually, which means that the SRT will have to seek compensation from the government. Currently, about 20,000 commuters are using this suburban train service each day, which is 25% of the 80,000 commuters originally estimated, said the governor, adding that he expects the number of commuters using the service will pick up by up to 20% each year. The SRT will submit the board’s decision to the Transport Ministry, to be forwarded to the cabinet for approval, said the governor, adding that he expects the new train fare to become effective around the New Year. Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit has previously said that the government will cut the train fares on the Red and Purple lines to 20 baht as a pilot project, as the government will have to negotiate with the operators of the other mass transit systems to cut the fare prices to 20 baht.

the clock is ticking....stop putting limitations on yourself.

From Thai PBS World Transport ministry will press ahead with the land bridge project, to link a deep-sea port in Ranong on the west coast with a deep-sea port in Chumphon on the east coast by rail and motorway systems, to facilitate goods shipments to destinations beyond Thailand without going through the Straits of Malacca. Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit said it is estimated that the massive project will cost about one trillion baht. Each seaport will be capable of handling 20 million cargo containers, or TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit), per year. Suriya said that the project is now being studied by the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, adding that the Prayut administration had decided that the project will be entirely private sector funded, while the government will provide land for the two deep-sea ports and for the road and rail routes. The transport minister said potential investors from China and France did show interest in the project when it was initiated some years ago, but the ministry has not heard from them since.

Tons of temples to visit within old city walls, trip up to Doi Suthep definitely worth it. I was there few days in December 2021 and liked it. Can recommend Viangbua Mansion , just steps from Adam's Apple go-go. Very spacious rooms with the views.

still has enough of them to keep me occupied and my wallet emptied for couple weeks every year ( 7 weeks, 3 trips so far in 2023 )

that's outright blasphemy and I'm not big fan of Jomtien Complex. Still with so many bars and massages chances you find somebody you like are overwhelming. Heed forky's advice above and just go and at least have a walk.

I do play the same numbers from January 1990 without any hope of winning but some people do and I still keep on my desk photo of my clients who won big back in early 90-ties. Another client of my office before I joined there was part of group of restaurant employees who won really big but since it was split among 30 odd people her share was enough to buy a house but not enough to stop working. My third brush with rich and famous was client of grocery store I used to shop before they closed. manager showed me her and said " she is wife of guy who won big and was in yesterday's paper". My personal best since 1990 was equivalent of about 2000 Baht but it was in days when 1000 baht was good ST tip.

I have 4 different guides to Thailand by different publishers , oldest from 2001, most recent from 2019 and none of them mentions the site . No winder we were in dark. On another hand pictures in google maps are showing site is taken care of. Probably we need to ask ChristianPFC to undertake one if his sightseeing trips there so we are informed before hordes arrive.

Sad to hear that. I enjoyed coffee and chorizos and friendly hallos !!1 when just passing by. Staff was cute and owners friendly ( also cute while ago I'm sure). It was great meeting place, too bad it did not work I wish you luck with future endeavours, hopefully somewhere close and soon.

I had never heard of the place but it does sound fascinating! I read that experts and archaeologists are concerned that the place has no infrastructure to handle the number of tourists who will be trying to go there now. And that it was the most looted site in Thailand during the 70s and 80s so they are worried that this new attention and lack of planning is going to make it a target all over again as there is a large part of the city that has not been excavated.

Everyone's experiences and limits are different. Here in numerical order for short time: 500 is still accepted for street trade (Saran Rom Park) and I do some of my business there. 800 is the minimum tip for 1 hour for most boys in Saphan Khwai and Inthamara massage places, and I do some of my business there. Fee for massage shop separately. 1000 is what I pay for boys from apps in Bangkok or in gogo bars in Pattaya (Winner Boys, Nice Boys). This is my upper limit but many here pay much more regularly. 1500 is the minimum boys in gogo bars in Bangkok ask for and some bars in Pattaya (Toy Boys, Classic Boy Bar former Cupidol). I don't pay that and I don't go there. 2000 seems the average gogo boys in Bangkok ask for. I have been asked for 2500 online once, no sorry. I have been asked for 5000 online once, no sorry. Cute and popular on Twitter, but I have my limits.

I really wouldn't worry about whether boys are offable, it will be very obvious and most are offable for the right price. Prices are negotiable based on lots of different factors including time of year, popularity of the boy, your age and looks, whether his rent is due, what time it is, etc. If you don't like the price move on as there are lots of boys. Yes, there is often an off fee if you take someone from a bar or massage shop. If you don't want to pay one, check for the boys online rather than at their place of work. It's personal preference whether you prefer bars, massage or apps. They all have their pros and cons. I prefer massage then apps and rarely go to the bars these days. Others prefer the bars. It's personal choice, there is no right or wrong. As I said though, don't worry about it. The concerns you have before you go will be swept away once you get there and you'll find your own preferences very quickly.

Charlie, the owner of Dodo and Sunee Intimate bars is joining the management team of M Bar and told me that he will soon fix the air conditioning. It has been very warm inside the bar which has made me avoid going there. One advantage of M Bar besides the boys is the low volume level of the music compared to being blasted by noise in the main Complex Soi most nights.

Thanks for alerting us to this, fedssocr. I had seen some videos by Bangkok Park before, but that example was particularly interesting. I hadn’t expected that he would be so keyed in to the gay historical sites. It was fascinating to see the photographs from the Babylon Bangkok, which I went to once about 10 years ago. And see what the site of it looks like now. If you have any interest in Bangkok history, the other videos in Pat's Vanishing Bangkok series are also worth watching.

that's 21st century technology for you then what we will be talking about ? nothing excites more than other people's money and how they spend it. Then there's danger that some readers will take those amounts as set in stone, sometimes overpaying and at other times depriving themselves great offs over 500 baht

So it could go up, or down, or stay the same. Got it.

From The Nation Ministry readies Thai airports for visa-free influx The Transport Ministry is taking steps to ensure that international airports throughout the country are ready for an expected influx of foreign tourists due to the government’s free visa policy that takes effect on Monday. Visitors from China and Kazakhstan will be allowed to enter Thailand without a visa for five months – until February 29 – under the pilot project. Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit on Friday presided over a meeting with executives of Airports of Thailand (AOT) to discuss measures to facilitate foreign arrivals in the coming weeks, which coincide with China’s National Day holidays on October 1. The ministry estimated that during the free-visa period, average incoming flights from China will increase from 72 to 96 per day, and average Chinese arrivals will increase from 9,680 to 18,656 persons per day. Suriya ordered the AOT and related agencies to prepare personnel and equipment at three key international airports – Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and Phuket – to enhance facilitation of tourists through the immigration process. He also ordered that a single command centre be established at each airport to monitor operations and coordinate with related agencies and airport services. AOT president Kerati Kijmanawat told the meeting that he had ordered the Immigration Bureau to assign officials to all 138 passport checking booths of Suvarnabhumi Airport during rush hours, as well as make sure that all 16 automatic check-in booths are operational. These should enable the airport to process up to 7,140 arrivals per hour, with an average time of passport processing of one minute for each passenger, he said. The AOT has also asked airlines to assign staff to all 302 check-in booths, and will use public announcements to urge passengers to use the automatic systems to speed up the process. As for the outgoing booths, all 69 of them will also be manned by immigration officials during rush hours on top of the 16 automatic channels.

Amazing! Thank you @forky123, @vinapu and @PeterRS your suggestions are most appreciated! I'l certainly check out PJ's place and Viangbua Mansion!

Forgot to add that the weather in December is very pleasant. It should be warm and sunny during the days but could be a bit chilly at night - so a sweater is definitely advised. The crop burning season does not usually start until later in January so no problem with pollution - apart from the usual traffic pollution.

There is a gay massage place in Hat Yai with recent posts on twitter with ID "@gclubspa"

Thailand is not known for muscle hunks. It's better known for ladyboys.

while your list is accurate and comprehensive readers need to be aware that you more or less resident there so your options are much wider than somebody on 1-4 weeks vacations. Simply you had enough time to spread the net. Having a limit is great idea as prevents overheating, specially if somebody is there for first time or after long absence or just a bit drunk.

I watched a utube video of the complex from about a week ago. Very quiet for sure. looked like no customers in Double Shot, with Nick, Sam and a few other workers looking bored. Not sure what time it was, might have been early, as they all had their shirts on. It’s always calmer till about ten. Then it picks up a bit. So not fair to judge without knowing the time. Anyone know the name of the fem boy who runs 69 bar? He’s skinny and colors his hair blonde. He’s Cambodian and I think his name is Sa or Ja.

Thank you for the delicious drinks and narak staff, and I hope you will open again some day! All the best ❤️

Tipping after service is tipping. Tipping before service is bribing. But some people may never understand my point anyway.

Wow, we are touched, really but all your comments. We will post if we open new coffee grinder someday. Ok now let s be fun please, we hate sad moments! And now we re closing we can reveal all what really happen in 2nd floor toilets.... concerned people will recognize each other.... Need to come over here to hear it (even if we know that you really come because of the barista...) Maybe you can take a souvenir as everything is for sale now.... ok, except the barista, we keep him for us....

Day 3 Spent a good part of the early morning catching up with work and by around brunch time, I am having a dilemma which app to order my nourishment from: Grabfood or Grindr. Obviously I chose the latter. The novelty of being able to have such service delivered to your doorstep during a work break is so appealing to me. Since it's a bit early, Grindr was relatively quiet yet the selection is decent. After 40 minutes, I am making my way down to fetch my mid morning snack - a hunky guy from Myanmar. I asked him if we could buy something to eat first before going up. He said yes but I guess it took a while for him to understand given the bewildered look on his face when I started walking towards the street. He started to relax and became more chatty when we enter my apartment. We had the usual conversation exchanges (where you from?, first time in Bangkok?, how long you stay?) while finishing our snacks. He then stood up and asked if he can go shower. With Ghanaian guy using the extra towel last night, I went fiddling through the drawer looking for some fresh towels when I heard the magic words "come with me?" Of course, Who am I to decline? After another steamy session, he stayed for around half an hour more with us cuddled up and him showing me some memes and funny videos some of which I couldn't understand (but gave it a polite chuckle). After he left, I threw the towels in the washer and hang it out to dry for future BFs to use. Definitely a disadvantage of being in an air bnb. Decided to do some retail therapy this time so off I went to platinum mall. Nothing has changed much since I went last year except more and more shops are doing live stream selling while looking after walk-in customers as well. Talk about multitasking! I went straight to the top floor where the food court is and was pleased to see that the lunch swell has finished. There's a couple of stalls that have Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction one of them a Hainanese Chicken stall that I always go to. One order is around 70 baht but serving size is quite small so I always order two and requests that they put it in one plate to make me look less of a glutton. I then paired it with Mango sticky rice and Thai iced tea (a.k.a my Platinum Meal). Old habits are hard to break. After buying a couple of stuff, I went back to the apartment to rest and prepare for the night. Got myself some decent cheese and a bottle of wine which turned out to be a letdown. Any tips where to find good wine here in Bangkok? When the time was ripe, it was decided that freshboys will be the destination tonight. I was careful walking past Screwboys as the guy working there that I met a couple of days back is getting a tad too dramatic with his confessions of love and proposals to be together. When I stopped replying, the messages escalated to another level of drama. I am hoping that the translation app he uses causes this. Stepping inside, the first person to greet me was Nam. He's working in there as a waiter and I did offed him last time I was there. His face brightened up gave me a hug and asked if I remember him. Just for context, while Nam is good-looking, he's not the usual guy you would off especially if youre after a guy with good built (he's medium built with a baby paunch) and he's not as well endowed down there unlike the guys on stage. However, what sets him apart from others in my book is quite personal. He's a dead ringer/doppleganger of my first highschool crush who's also my best friend. The resemblance including the height, built, dimples, playful demeanor is just uncanny. The only and huge difference I know is that my highschool crush is next level conservative and ultra religious. So I guess Nam brings something extra to the table: the fantasy / nostalgia of a previously "forbidden fruit" now within my reach. For some reason, there's still that feeling of giddiness and warmth when Nam sits next to me and showers me with attention. So I stayed there for the whole night. If I have to be honest, this is my least favourite bar and would be in the bottom of my list if Nam is not in there. The only reason for this is it seems that people working there are a tad more "in your face" when asking customers for tips and drinks. I am not being naive and acknowledges that bar workers from Mamasan, touts, waiters, bar guys are after tips and would squeeze out every opportunity to make it happen. Maybe it's just me but I prefer a bit more subtlety rather than for example one of the waiters asking me for tip the moment he puts down my first drink. Or the Mamasan asking "you buy me drink?" After asking my name and where I'm from. But going back to the happy part. I was enjoying the show especially with my imaginary highschool sweetheart Nam, sitting by my side, lots of cuddling, flirting and his hands wandering around my body with his mischievous bedimpled smile convincing me that "we go home together tonight". And we did. At least in Bangkok, this nerdy, socially awkward and closeted highschool guy's dream came true.

PM sees role for Thaksin in new government From The Thaiger Former Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is expected to be granted parole as early as the latter part of February next year, following a reduction of his original eight-year prison term to a single year. This update was provided by a high-ranking official from the Department of Corrections. The 74 year old former prime minister made his way back to Thailand last month, marking an end to 15 years of self-imposed exile. This period of exile followed his ousting from power back in 2006. While he was overseas, Thaksin was declared guilty, in his absence, on three counts relating to the abuse of power, conflict of interest, and malfeasance. Immediately upon his return to Thailand, Thaksin was admitted to a police hospital. He was suffering from high blood pressure and chest pains. He is presently receiving treatment in the same hospital. Sitthi Sutivong, the Deputy Director General of the Corrections Department, provided some insight into the situation. “After serving six months of his sentence, Thaksin will be eligible for parole. This is applicable for prisoners older than 70 or those who are ill.” Sitthi also clarified the process involved in these cases. He stated that each case is assessed individually by the Corrections Department. Furthermore, there is no requirement for a petition to be filed for parole.

From The Thai Enquirer PM’s deputy secretary Natreeya Thaweewong came out to defend why Srettha’s charter flight to the UN General Assembly cost 30 million Baht. Her response came after recent calls by political activist Somchai Srisutthiyakorn to look into why the flight cost so much. She explained that an e-bidding system was used to secure a reasonable price. Thai Airways initially asked for 25 million Baht, but due to increased fuel prices, the cost rose to 30 million. Natreeya broke down the total cost, which included 4.84 million for aircraft expenses, 16.8 million for fuel, 1.47 million for food, 3.06 million for ground services, and 3.8 million for operational costs. Other passengers, including the Prime Minister's daughter and wife, covered their own expenses. The government chose a charter flight to avoid inconveniencing other passengers on a commercial flight. ======================= From the Thai Enquirer A famous Thai journalist Thapanee Eadsrichai (owner of The Reporter & a journalist for Channel 3) came out to praise the fact that Prime Minister Srettha was traveling in ‘Business Class’ in the CHARTERED aircraft and that was because Srettha was trying to save money for the country. The fact of the matter is in a chartered aircraft passengers can sit in the toilet or on the floor if they want (the money is already paid for the entire aircraft anyway). Thapanee says that everyone is travelling in Business class and not 1st class not knowing that there was no 1st class in the aircraft he was traveling in. Thapanee seems not to know that the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner has only 22 business class seats and 234 economy class bringing in a total of 256 seats with no 1st class seats. She said that the Prime Minister chose the 787-8 Dreamliner and had to sit in business class instead of sitting in first class but stated that he did so to save money.

I made it to SOL gogo tonight. Inside basicly same set up as it was with Dreamboys, except all new and modern. And yes, the big pole is still in the middle of the stage. Seating is black vinyl bench type like used at FreshBoys. Then in front of them row of single seats . Couch’s set up along the stage. All seating seemed comfortable. Group of 3 other customers and myself. About 10 guys on stage. Around 25 overall. Rotating fairly quickly. They were wearing white tennis type shorts and button up shirts that were colorful. They looked nice, but if you want to see skin it will be below the knees. 1 guy was shirtless, 1 was unbuttoned. I think they have a ways to go in their talent hiring. But that’s my opinion. We all have different likes and dislikes. No twinks. More mid to upper 20’s . As Vinapu always says, you only need one. There were 2 that got my attention , but a big drop off from there. Drinks 400. I had a coke. Brought glass full but not the rest of can. Half ice, half coke, steep price. Waiter I had spoke no English. Everything on phone. Drink menu, Boy info. Operating hours. New place so really pushing boys and drinks. No customers so lots of waiter hovering . I didn’t go to show. It starts at 10:20. They’re still doing a little work here and there. Outside very generic, inside looks very nice. I guess time will tell.

Day 2.5 To resist the urge of showing up in the bar early, I tried to distract myself by focusing on work and when that proved to be futile, decided to switch to the apps. Grindr got a reasonable buffet of guys with varying rates quoted with the most common ranging from 1500 to 2000. This can be argued as reasonable if you account for savings from not having to pay entrance, drinks and off fee. But where is the fun in that? What caught my fancy was a good drizzling of gorgeous African guys. This reminded me of how much I miss and want to go back to Brazil but plane fare remains laughably high from where I came from (even my SA friends are unable to visit home). I exchanged message with one of them who said he's from Ghana. He quoted 4000 and I responded with a non committal reply as I have plans to be out and about that night. We traded WhatsApp details just in case. When i can no longer contain my excitement, I decided to taxi towards Surawong and treat myself to a foot massage. At least I can enjoy people watching while someone got firm hold of my feet preventing me from marching straight to the bars! After the massage, I decided to head to Tawan. The nice beret wearing Uncle hastily ushered me inside while trying to explain that it's a "BDSM boy show" I responded with a wink and he smiled. The interior did not change since I visited last year. I noticed though that there's a set of stairs leading to a second floor/platform/stage. Not sure if it's new or I didn't notice it previously as I was sitting quite far inside away from the stage last time. One thing I appreciate with Tawan is the fun, friendly and relaxed atmosphere. The guys roam around socialising with guests. I even saw one guest with his hands inside the guy's short for like forever. No judgement but I hope he gets an off or a generous tip! Maybe I'm getting old but I swear Tawan's clientele especially the Asians are getting younger and younger. My gaze was low-key fixated to a couple of cute twunk until I reminded myself my intention of being here. From my peripheral vision I saw a Tawan guy sat beside me but I tried to play it cool. He then introduced himself as Tun (?) and a couple of minutes later, when he starts getting comfy and cheeky, his hand found its way under my shirt giving me massage and whatnots. We kept on chatting during the show reminiscing how the old site across the street was better and how Tawan is now mainly a "show bar" and how rarely they get boy drinks or offed now. I just shrugged my shoulder saying that maybe its low season and hopefully things will be better for him in a few months. He said most guys in the bar goes for around 3500 to 4000 with a few going as low as 3000. I nodded and just gave him a smile. I was really enjoying my time with him when my phone starts beeping. I stepped out and it was the Ghanian guy who suddenly had a change of heart and lowered his rate to 2500. You gotta love lean season! With that information, I tipped my Tawan guy and bid Surawong good night. I was a bit paranoid meeting with this Ghanian guy because I'm in an air bnb outside the Silom area and I'm not sure how the guards will react when I bring a guy to my unit. My fear turned out to be unfounded as we even got a smile and a salute from the one of the security guys when we entered. You gotta love Thailand! In the apartment, we wasted no time and things escalated and got steamy quite quickly. The session was so intense and tender at the same time. He looks much better in person and well built. I could just look at him the whole day. However, there's still that Brasilian or specifically a Carioca "factor" missing from the experience. I can't explain it. We had a good chat after and I was getting wary that the post-play chat is taking quite a while he might be thinking of staying the night? It's a personal policy that I don't let people I met first time via app to stay overnight - only those working in the bars or GP Sauna in Brazil once I have done my due diligence. So I pretended and said that I would like to go out and eat and asked him what his plans are. I think he got my cue and said that he'll be making his way home. I paid as agreed plus a reasonable tip. He's too gorgeous not to be given a tip to be honest. After sending him on his way, I went back to my room and gave myself a high five for a productive day two!

I am making a plea to be more selective in our language when describing relationships. I had a great time for nine years as a butterfly- in fact, there are some activities that I miss, such as bar-hopping. However, then and now are entirely different , not just for me but for my partner, who sees things from what could be called "the other side."

Very handsome guy 🙊

you not alone

Went to Nice Boys Fri night.....had about 10 anorexic looking guys and 2 or 3 decent ones. A group of Europeans came in and put money on the table for the first 3 to cum. One of the guys that came 2nd, was interesting to me, but after he nutted, He looked spent and uninterested ( I can relate)...so much for that. X-Boys were in underwear and they had about 3 or 4 performers that were dancing around naked, not hard. I was interested in one, but apparently not gay and not offable, wtf? I can't remember if Dream Boys were in underwear or not....some might have been, but can't be sure. Tomorrow is my last night, no stand out massages or sex to report on, pretty lame time in Pattaya this trip. I went to Sansuk sauna tonight for my first time ever....was much nicer than I expected based on reviews. About 80 people mixed ages, nothing wow, but I hooked up and got off.

it's amazing that this sort of arguments is repeated world wide whenever there's talk about increasing minimum wage. Not that is does not have some merit but when eventually that rises are implemented promised wave of bankruptcies, flight of foreign investors and general collapse of economy never happens. Extra money made by minimum wage earners return to economy before they say ' thank you boss for the rise"