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I went to Club 117 today (Tuesday) after a long absence. Boys significantly out numbered clients and much of what was available had too much muscle for my taste. I like lean and toned but get turned off once they cross the line into body builder territory. In any case though, there were two that caught my attention but after chatting with them I got the feeling that spending time with them was likely to be a mechanical experience and decided to pass which I guess is what happens as you get older and your Portuguese improves. Both had esposas/namoradas and filhos at home which is a red flag for me. I’m at Etta Bar drinking caipirinhas and listening to lives jazz now and don’t regret my decision at all. I’m definitely getting older….

On a visit to Winner Bar a day or so ago, while sitting outside waiting for a friend, #38 asked me for a drink which I agreed to. I have seen him many times I never did chat with him but found he spoke well and was quite interesting. Then inside the bar I asked the lad with the blue bikini and tattoo on his chest to sit with me. He also was interesting to chat with and discovered he was born in 2000 the year that I first visited Pattaya. Not sure why I never asked either of them to sit with me in the past but will in the future. Very friendly!

You should avoid Celeron processors since they are powerless for modern tasks. As for brands check Chuwi brand. It is less known outside of China, but it is VERY reliable and usually prices are fraction of the same powerful notebooks from more known brands. I use notebooks and tabs from Chuwi for about 5 years already and they are amazing, esp. displays - almost the same quality of pictures as Apple products.

What do you want to use it for? Email and web surfing? Gaming? Work? That will influence my suggestions. I would stick to recognizable brand. My go to brands are Asus and HP. Something like this maybe? https://www.amazon.com/HP-Stream-14-Display-Processor/dp/B0C7P5YJRR/ref=mp_s_a_1_9_maf_1?adgrpid=58920830834&hvadid=675742604799&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9004080&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=b&hvrand=8941681763041221598&hvtargid=kwd-104628199&hydadcr=20131_13388469&keywords=best+laptop+deals&qid=1696987642&refinements=p_n_feature_thirty-three_browse-bin%3A23720418011%2Cp_n_size_browse-bin%3A2423840011&rnid=2242797011&s=pc&sr=1-9&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.c3015c4a-46bb-44b9-81a4-dc28e6d374b3

The penthouse rooms at Ambiance are the best rooms we've ever had in Thailand. Taking breakfast in the morning sun with a view of the sea and at night watching the action below....I wish I was there!

I decided to try Copa Hotel for a change in Boyztown, overall i was happy with the experience. I'm wondering if any of the Boyztown hotels have rooms with a balcony where I don't need to go downstairs to have a cigarette, suggestions welcome if anyone has a tip on that? Second road outside the Boyztown entrance is a mess with construction (still), I swear that last time i was in Pattaya the road works were just 100m up the road, they must be paid by the hour. I spent some nights in Castro for the shows, one of the backup dancers i previously fawned over at the Venue is in the show at Castros now. I didn't try to pursue him with tips this time, he seemed uninterested and I had other interests that needed my attention. I ventured into Toyboys on a few occasions, most nights 10-20 guys on stage, mix of twink and twunk. On the last night i spent there I had been ushered in and sat down with a drink while the stage stands there staring at me, waiters/papasans? constantly asking me who i want and me repeating every minute or two that i'm not sure yet. I eventually called down a guy and ordered him a drink, not 1 minute later a guy I would consider a solid 9/10 struts into the bar putting on his number, he doesn't even get one leg on the stage before I point at the empty side of me. Now i need to break it to the first guy that he no longer is required, i sheepishly deliver the decision with the red note runner-up prize in hand and make my leave with a new shiny regular added to my growing list of repeats. Finally, I spent a few nights with the Winner crew in Sunee. Still no sign of the much rumoured new Sunee venues, but we can live in hope as I see the 7/11 that was closed during covid is back at least. a 7/11 nearby can only mean one thing, there is still life and baht in the area, or hope. Anyway, Winner is still somewhere I have a good time anytime I go. I went there one night telling myself I'm just going for a drink and to chat with the owner and guys for a bit, no offs tonight. Hours later i stumble out drunk after all kinds of rambunctious actions under cushions arm in arm with someone new. That's about it for this instalment of Pattaya, I will be back there sometime soon. I took the Jomtien bus back to Bangkok where I'm currently planning my next steps and chasing down some guys on that hitlist of mine. To be continued..

I was in Pattaya end of July and 1st wk of August. I went online on Grindr and found many willing guys. Turns out all were from Jomtien bars, but they were willing to deal directly with potential customers when they were not working. So there were no off fees. I met several guys that way including two 3-somes. In fact, I didn't visit a single bar this trip. Been-there-done-that on previous trips, but this time there was no problem finding lots of guys solely using Grindr.

You might want to consider an iPad or similar tablet that can connect to cell networks like your phone does. All you'd need to do is put in a Sim card, (or get the agent to do it when you buy the sim) and it'll work just like your phone does. In Thailand with its great network coverage, you'll probabaly find it a lot faster than random Wifi hotspots, and a lot less hassle. Some options: https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-ipad/ipad-10-2/64gb-silver-wifi-cellular https://www.samsung.com/us/tablets/galaxy-tab-s9-fe/buy/ https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/configure/Surface-Go-3/ Edit: You might want to check if your current ipad supports sim cards

I was at 117 in August and there were lots of guys of all shapes, heights etc to suit most tastes. As Mavica says the wait time on a Tuesday can be off putting. I had my best night by far on a Friday at Pointe. Met a very nice GP who had just had 6months in Manchester and so spoke quite good English. He was super horny and we had excellent sex. As with all the GP saunas who is there varies from day to day, and if they are your "type" is luck of the draw. I personally still believe its a enjoyable evening out. Socialising and being teased !!

A Chromebook is a laptop form factor, but instead of running Windows or MacOS it runs ChromeOS. Most of what you do is in the Chrome web browser but you can also install Android apps and use those. I use mine mostly for basic web surfing, email and some YouTube viewing. There is a wide range of prices and hardware specs. My current Chromebook is from Asus but it was more of a high end choice. As noted HP, Acer, Lenovo, and Samsung are all in the Chromebook game.

while rooms at Ambiance are very nice and extremely good value for money , my preference is either Classrooms or Copa as Ambiance convoluted , maze like corridors make strong impression of being fire trap .

Last month when I went to 117 on a Tuesday, it was delightful. Packed and loads of fun.

Hi Londoner, do all of the Ambiance rooms with a balcony have an 'open-plan' balcony / terrace like this picture (i.e. accessible / viewable from other adjacent rooms)? The assumption this is the case generally put me off staying there previously, as I prefer more privacy. I normally stay at / enjoy the Classroom Hotel and their good sized and private terraces.

I am on my third ASUS laptop & my experience has been positive with all 3.

True! I got in at the seniors price but had to pay a great deal more for my partner! Drinks at Vertigo, the open air bar on top of the Banyan Tree Hotel on Sathorn, are not cheap but you get mostly the same view for considerably less than going to the top of Mahanakhon. No glass bottom though 🤣

Celeron is just fine for 99% of users. Chuwi gets pretty bad customer reviews (I've seen a few with 25% of reviews being 1 rated - that is very bad). So for now, this is the only Chewy I am interested in...

+1 on a HP

Depending what you need to do, you might consider a Chromebook. I am using one at this very moment. For things like web surfing and email it's plenty. The brand you linked to I have never heard of. The processor is also fairly low power. But if you aren't doing anything too intensive it might be fine.

We bought our breakfasts. I liked the croissants from Friendship Supermarket, the fruit was available everywhere as was decent (if not exemplary) orange juice. The only minus was the instant coffee in the rooms. However, even in the best hotels we've stayed-in, breakfast coffee is, well, breakfast coffee rather than fresh. Speaking of which, on our first post-Covid visit to Agate the restaurant wasn't open and so we breakfasted in Zing. The coffee there was the best I've had in Thailand for years. Why? simple....we were the only customers in the early morning and so the the coffee was brewed just for us. Charming waitress, too.

top floors , so called penthouse rooms at Copa and Ambiance and all rooms with balcony or terrace at Classrooms

choice may be hidden and when at ATM , specially on the street we want to conduct business fast.

Oh dear. Ex-President Sharpie isn't going to like this... "I'd vote for Biden even if he was dead. And I'm a republican." https://youtu.be/N8ibHZGXcr8

My ex had a saying: "Don't think to much". Recognise your anxiety, and don't let it win. You'll have a good time, and you have plenty of time to explore the bars and find which one you like. Everything will be fine

drinks in Jomtien 100-150, off fee 300-400, tip expected 1000-1500 short time , 2000, may be more for long time in Boyztown drinks in host bars the same as jomtien in go-go 400-500, off fee 500-1000 ( yes , at BoyzBoyzBoyz I was quoted that last time there in May), tips 2000 short time , 3000 long time, BoyzBoyzBoyz boys may ask for more. You are so many days it should not be problem to visit all 6 go-gos in Boyztown plus both in Sunee ( apart from Winners there's also Nice Boys, very progressive bar ) One walk down the aisle at Jomtien complex and you will know which bar or boy gets your attention, if undecided , take a drink in any bar and then make another attempt at survey of realm. After 3 days you will be an expert

It will depend on a lot on what environment (bar or gogo) and types of guys you like, but the good news is that everything is close enough to get from one area to the other any night you want to. Just wave down and hop on a baht bus facing the direction you want and pay the 10 baht to the driver when it stops going the direction you want, it's only about 10 mins from central pattaya to jomtien in low traffic. Jomtien are host bars and massage, so guys will all be sitting in the open and you walk past while they try to pry you into their bar or shop. It can be a little less intimidating than a gogo for newcomers where 10s of guys on stage are staring at you until you bring someone down for a drink. Boyztown is a mix of gogos like dream boys, toyboys and boysboysboys (among others) and some host bars of a similar style to Jomtien but less hosts usually. A benefit i find with Boyztown is it's a lot more central and you have more at your doorstep. Sunee is really down to one gogo (for me) Winner Boys which sits down the mostly dark sunee plaza and can vary night to night but usually 5-10 guys, don't expect the big show stage of boys like in regular gogos. it's a more, umm, intimate environment and usually takes a few drinks flowing to get things interesting. If it's your first time and you have over 2 weeks, i'd split my hotel stays 50/50 between jomtien and boyztown then just take a mototaxi to sunee if you want to go. Not all guys are on the apps, it can be a good way to fill an hour to see whos around, but if you really want to see whats on offer you need to put foot to pavement anytime after about 9pm for most bars and gogos, after 1pm-ish for massage places. The bar that's best is the bar that has the guy who enticed you in for a drink, no one has the same taste as anyone else on here. Drink prices, off fees and tip expectations, just ask the guy. if the price works then go enjoy your time with them.

Lucky me landed in Bangkok on a rainless Thursday night for a weekend fling from Singapore. It had been raining the past three nights and many streets were flooded. Hotmale Beer Bar first floor offers excellent view of the guys at new bar Sol directly facing it opposite. At any one time, about 3 to 5 boys hanging outside for smoke break or dinner when they finish their rotation on stage inside bar. White sleeveless T-shirt and red shorts with large individualised numbers printed on them (similar to sports team shorts) so punters don't have to squint at small red round buttons! Boys are mostly transfers from other bars but all are offable material. Not too old. Average next door slim types. One blonde boy with Korean style haircut was prancing around with shirt unbuttoned showing off his abs. Unfortunately, I didn't enter Sol so I can't report on show. In any case, could not off anyone as I already have longtime Vietnam guy for the night. I call him kon nuoi (godson) and he calls me cha nuoi (godpa). Many people walking up and down the street. Perhaps because rain of past few days had stopped so everyone's dying to get out. And there's a new waiter from Myanmar at Hot Male beer bar first floor. 23 years old. Very very very cute and speaks great English!

Despite having been to the US many times, I am still amazed at this practice and the amounts involved. On the other hand, I have seen Americans get all flustered in Asia when service providers refuse their tips. Once incident I remember: I was once travelling with an American colleague to a secondary city outside Beijing. We were going up to our hotel rooms after check-in, and a bellboy was helping us with our luggage. When we reached our rooms, he offered a tip to the bellboy, who refused it, saying something like "I'm only doing my job, sir." The bellboy's accent was difficult to understand (though I would credit him for speaking in English at all, and in a secondary city too - how many American bellboys in, say, Cincinnati, can speak Chinese?), but I knew what he said. However, my colleague (ike so many Americans) had a hard time dealing with foreign accents, and didn't know what the bellboy said, only that the chap wouldn't take the money. My colleague looked at me and asked in a whisper, "Is it too little?". Yes, that was what crossed his mind! I am much, much happier in countries, like in Asia, where tipping is not expected. Thailand is actually one of those countries. The problem is that the gogobars and massage parlours mis-use the word "tip" to mean service fee. Thus causing much confusion.

They do but not sure horny and salivating customers pay due attention. You right about Japanese bar and this may be source of misunderstanding as some customers familiar with Japanese system may assume in Thailand is the same whatever price is quoted. They may have their own sources, for sure mainland Chinese do as I came across of some of their forums while combing internet. But the same like with our resources , there are many who are not even aware about their existence or if they do, they don't bother to visit I rarely engage mamasans preferring to wave boy over and deal with him myself but sometimes is necessary of just useful to enlist mamasan as well. They may embellish the truth but rarely they outright lie , if only to avoid future problems with unhappy customer. Toy Boys are not my primary destination but from few members I heard the same, boys are catching up with Bangkok and expect 2000 short time, which as you pointing out , for Pattaya is generous and probably can be bargained down as for Nice Boys I agree with your assessment of boys but you bit harsh about customers. One thing is sure , no noisy screaming Asian girls there (so far?) , everybody is there for the same kind of entertainment. I do. I was also reluctant to leave Bangkok's charms for first few trips but then I braved myself and I'm happy I did. My first impression was not even that great but it grew on me with subsequent visits. Even chalked one of my trips as spent more in Pattaya than in Bangkok. My problem with Pattaya is that not being sun and sand person I have problem to make my daytimes interesting there. No problem to go straight away as there's quite frequent bus taking you straight from airport to Jomtien in less then 2 hrs. There is only short walk to Complex bars and hotels from there. Its also great way to go from Pattaya to Bangkok , I always take airport but and from airport train to the center. Much better option than Ekkamai buses from/to North Pattaya bus station as it beats city traffic. Once I managed to amaze Pattaya regular on the bus. He asked me what time is my flight and when I said I'm just going to Bangkok that way he said " great idea , it never crossed my mind" so sometimes simple solutions as still hidden in broad daylight.

good idea , used alredy by many massage places where minimum tip is spelled clearly and pointed out to customers

And that's the problem. Pattaya is holding less and less interest for me. My usual favourites, relatively speaking, are Abomb and Toyboys. BoyzBoyzBoyz used to be on the list but since it has gone hetero, it's been scratched. The other thing about Pattaya is that massage skills tend to be poor. One may be able to get a bigger boy for massage out of the (exaggeration) hundreds sitting outside their shops, but nothing that comes close to Prime in Bangkok (if I want a real massage) or Arena (if my interest is more carnal). The only thing Pattaya has over Bangkok is the beach... But now that the gay area is also disappearing... sigh.

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I visited Soi 13 on Saturday 18:30, June 10. Someone wrote here that it's the best sauna in Asia. I'd say maybe it's the best sauna in the world (Brazilian garoto saunas excluded)! Two non sexual things striked me in the first few minutes. One, everything including the floor is so squeaky clean, everyone is barefooted (maybe footware is prohibited). Two, there are unlimited free light drinks. Lots of young eye candies; didn't notice any attitude. Although, as usual, many walking around stone-faced zombie-like, there's also talk to be seen and heard. I guess it's mostly because friends come together, but - for example - an old local striked up a not-hitting-on-u conversation with me in English at the hot water pool (it's not really a jaccuzi). Better atmosphere. The best feature was the dark room, darkest and most interactive I've ever been to. Can't see a thing, no matter how long I stayed there. At some point I was taken care of by 2 guys. Only after I tried to decipher with my hands who was doing what, I found out that I'm actually part of a fivesome... The dark 'room' is actually a corridor, with 5-6 very small wooden cubicles opening on it's right side. For some reason, two guys making out prefer to do it in the corridor, so most cubicles r empty. By 19:15 there was a jam, everyone stuck together with intense action. Only when I finally got to the end of the corridor for the third time (still erect), I found out that the last cubicle had no back side. It opened into a parallel corridor, which was just as dark and almost empty. I guess most patrons aren't aware of its existence. It's much more conducive to 'normal' dark action. I enjoyed myself immensly. Never had so many anonymous guys take care of me.

Yeah, definitely true. I've had quite a few encounters at Soi13 where I started chitchatting with a guy, some touching and even kissing and then when offering to go to a cabin, he would say: "Oh, but I'm done for the night...just waiting for my friend to finish". That used to be my go-to website for my first couple of trips to Asia. From around 2013 though I started using more travelgayasia.com (now just travelgay.com) as I felt that it had more info and user reviews than utopia, plus the website layout was much better. Once that website decided to go global and not just focus on East and Southeast Asia, around 2018-2019, it started missing a lot of places and saw that the number of reviews went also down. (like the Nadam spa in Saigon that i mention in my other post which is not listed in there, even though it's the most popular sauna atm). As for utopia-asia, I rarely visit it anymore. The UI feels prehistoric (it hasn't changed since I first visited it in 2008). I imagine their website traffic is way below their peak years. If we are talking about Taipei specifically, according to my Taiwan friends, Soi13 is still pretty much the only player in the area (including New Taipei and Taoyuan) and that's why they could raise their price. What the international gay travel websites are missing in Taiwan is the info about the outdoor cruising areas, which even with the high number of love hotels and MTVs are still quite popular in there, including with the young generation. You find them only on local websites (in Mandarin) or from local guys.