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Knowing you’re gay, she may fear that you’ll make a move on her husband if he came to service your unit.

nothing will ever start peace or healing process until last settler and settlement will be removed from West Bank. Blending two nations , each having own scores to settle , using barbed wires will never work, specially not in such cramped, resource poor, place.

Indeed. He represents some of the worse treats of Israeli (and worldwide) politics. However, the harassment and murdering of innocent Palestinians has been Israeli policy long before he came into scene.

This is my first trip after I called it quits in the corporate world. I would've made this the trip earlier but didn't want to burn bridges with my ex-employer. Anyway, let's just jump to Day 1. Day 1: Arrived at the airport around noon. There seems to be a VIP in swampy during my arrival as there was a portion that was cordoned off to the public, and a few camera men on standby. Surprised with the paperless immigration process, this is an improvement - at least in the ecological sense. Took the skytrain to the silom area - where my hotel was located and decided to do some fruit shopping in the basement supermarket of silom complex. They no longer give plastic bags for free, instead they sell it for 1 Baht. I also found an affordable prepaid sim available on AIS shop - 50 baht for the sim, 200 baht for the month long 30GB internet and unlimited wifi for a month. The store clerk mentioned that I can keep the sim active by topping up 20 Baht per month. This seems to be a better deal for me than having to buy the tourist sim every time I come to Thailand. While in the shopping mall, nature called. I was surprised to see quite active cruising happening. Both local and farangs were obviously cruising. Saw a few above average cocks that are surely stage worthy in the nearby bars. At first I thought this would be a good alternative than hitting the bars, but the often interruptions by the cleaners was a downer. I wonder which other places have cruisy facilities in Bangkok? After checking in to my hotel, resting and freshening up, it's time to hit the night life. I tried small Joe salad place just below the BTS station. It seems to be good value for 300 Baht, I had a medium salad and entree. After dinner, I went straight for Tawan. I was surprised to see different handsome touts now welcoming the customers. The owner/cashier is stationed at the entrance to collect the 500 Baht fee. The place was the same as I last visited but with the added 2nd floor of the stage. When show time started, the crowd had ballooned and the crew added plastic stools in front to original setup. The customers' drinks were capriciously placed behind them on the existing small round tables. And as expected, they experienced at least one spillage every night that I was there. I saw some old faces and some new ones. One of my fave muscle guy was on this bulking phase, so not the type that I would off . So after a short hi/hello, he got the point and left me with the other guys sticking by. K who I had the hots for was on form, and he seems to have grown body hairs which is a plus. But I am wary to off him, as I think I would easily fall for him. Some new muscle guys were present, some a few non muscle guy - bordering on the rough looking ones also now part of the rosters. At around 1045pm the show thankfully started without the long welcome to Tawan prologue in 3 different languages. Unfortunately though, it was opened by a traditional Thai dance, and followed by a couple of cabaret acts. I think it was already 11pm when Ten's candle act started, which was followed by the usual muscle show, bdsm, and big cock show then another set of cabaret acts and then culminated with the fuck show and the aborted chuck wow show since there were very few tips despite the large crowd.

Ariel Sharon who led the 1982 massacre of Palestinians in the Lebanon refugee camps deliberately provoked Palestinians when he became leader of Likud. In 2000 he made a visit to the Muslim Shrine which is one of the key cornerstones of the Israeli Palestinian conflict. He made a lengthy and much publicised visit to the Temple Mount, the site of the Dome of the Rock and the third holiest shrine in Islam, known as the Haram al-Sharif to Muslims. The site is also revered by Jews. It was then situated in Arab East Jerusalem, illegally occupied by Israel since 1967. Had it been a wholly private visit, perhaps it would not have provoked much anger. But he made 100% certain it was publicised days in advance and he was surrounded by a media horde as well as over 100 armed police and even more soldiers protecting him. He knew full well that this would goad Palestinians into a major reaction. And he was right. Following the visit, he stated, "What provocation is there when Jews come to visit this place with a message of peace?" Peace? From an acknowledged warmonger, that was a joke! Re the 1982 massacres, an independent UN commission led by Irish diplomat Sean MacBride concluded that the Israeli Defence Forces bore reponsibility. The commission ruled the killings a form of genocide.

Older contractors always travel with young apprentice to handle the dirty chores. Maybe he’ll allow you to explore his tool box.

Same in the US, and then those guns make it to the big cities where they are all but illegal, and used to kill and commit crimes...... they should learn from the US's mistakes.

Indeed. I don't think Hamas is capable of admitting its strategy is never going to work. I vaguely hope that Israel will wake up and realize its strategy isn't either. If at least one of the two parties acts rationally, things might get better, if not good. Getting rid of Netanyahoo would be a good start.

Maybe the reason is very simple she didn't want to be involved because she was worried that you won't be satisfied with her husband service and preferred not to be in embarrassing situation when you are seeing her every day with grumpy look on your face while passing by the reception ...

You got me worried, shortage of tips may be result of Chinese being biggest part of an audience, taking over from more generous farangs. But surely , with lack of tips more progressive parts of the show may be thing of the past. that chicken dish tip seems to be in vogue there recently but to their credits last few times they asked for tip to buy that , few minutes later I actually saw them eating it so at least my money (and hopefully yours ) seems to be spent as intended. One of many nice things about Tawan is that they have good rotation and as you noticed , some guys are coming only on some days. As for massage there , perhaps you came too early as guy who was / is doing that has day time job somewhere in Huyai Kwang which is also sadly reason he is not interested in long time. Happy to hear you have good time there, waiting impatiently for next day's report

Day 2: I awoke early, perhaps not accustomed to the new timezone I am in and the new bed that the hotel provided. I just lay in bed until around 10am and decided to go around Lumpini park to stretch my legs. The major structures in the park seem to be in renovation mode with most of them cordoned off the public. I passed by the public gym, but doesn't seem to have the usual cruisy vibes as years before. After a quick walk around the park, I decided to try my luck again on the silom complex facilities. This time though, I think I was too early for the action. I walked back to the new silom edge building, and found that they offer relatively affordable food court fare in their basement despite the relatively up scale eateries on the other floors. They also have a public shower facilities on the 2nd floor. I had a quick lunch at their basement level for less than 100 baht. I noticed I was running low in cash, so decided to head on to x-one in Suriwong. They have a mobile app, so it was easy to compare the rates of the different money exchange along the way. So far it seems to have the best rate. Along the way, I passed Tawan - they might have stopped their massage services as there was no touts outside at that time. I saw signs for Super A and later nature boy, these bars were reported to open early, but it was close when I passed them around lunch time. Saw the Queen's club has closed down - what a tragedy. Along the way, I passed by a huge local market selling cooked food for take out. I bet these would be more affordable and more authentic than those found in the restaurant malls. After changing my cash to Baht, I was just wondering around the area. I went to silom plaza, but didn't proceed to arena as the greeter was not my type. On a whim, I decided to hop on to the bus to reach the small outlet center in the jewelry bldg in silom for some shopping. Unfortunately, nothing caught my eye, and their "sale" price wasn't really a bargain anymore. As there were a lot of time to spare, I decided to head to Heaven Sauna. It was early afternoon, I paid the 200 Baht entrance fee, and was surprised by the number of people already in the place. There were lots of more mature daddy type or men with bigger builds in there. I saw one perfect bear specimen. I could've been sworn he was a porn actor in farangland, not for his lesser than average junk. The small jacuzzi at the rooftop was no more. Lots of actions happening in the dark room as well as the steam room and private cubicles. A lot to enjoy if you are into mature and bigger built guys. After it got dark, I decided to treat myself to a buffet in holiday inn. Food selection was ok, and the price was not that steep. After an hour of chomping down on the dinner buffet, I decided to go back to Tawan for the show. When I arrived, I was ushered by a handsome tout with a tribal tattoo that spans his forearms. First time seeing him, he was quite professional, not clingy as the guys inside. When I reached inside, I noticed a few of the same customers that were there yesterday. Tonight Mr K, was not present. Mr P though was a surprise appearance, he later told me that he only comes on weekends as he works at a gym. The cute Myanmar or is it Lao guy was also present that day. Even though he was not part of the big cock show, and as mentioned before, I was trapped behind a row of seated customers for the guys in the big cock show to reach me, he was resourceful and got an ample reward for it. The show was mostly the same, but this time the BDSM part has Mr C tied up on a chair on stage and another guy using a vibrator to explore his nether regions. it would've been more effective if you can actually see the vibrator move. The F show also featured a handsome bottom. Not fem at all, which makes it more interesting. I later found out that Tawan is the only bar that still have the F show, it's a shame though that it only last a few minutes. And the tips are not coming in from the audience unlike previous times. So tonight, for the chuck wow portion, there was just enough tip for 1 guy to shoot his load on stage, the other guy had to leave the stage empty handed. On exiting the bar, another tout was tailing me, asking me why I didn't off, and asked if I wanted to off him. I don't seem to recall knowing him, but he said that he worked inside before. He asked for tip to buy chicken from the vendor outside the expanded 7/11. he seems kind enough so I gave a 100 Baht and bid him good night.

From Entertainment.com The lawmaker who authored Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill will serve four months in federal prison for fraud and money laundering. Former Republican state representative Joe Harding was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gainesville last Thursday, according to The Gainesville Sun. He was initially indicted for wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements in connection with COVID-19 relief fraud in December 2022. Specifically, Harding received more than $150,000 in pandemic relief funds that were intended to keep small businesses afloat, submitting numerous loan applications for “dormant” businesses. Although Harding initially claimed that he was not guilty, he pleaded guilty in March, with prosecutors dropping three of the charges in a plea deal. In a press release from the Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney Jason Coody, who announced Harding’s sentence, said that “the theft of any amount of taxpayer funds is inexcusable.” From Russia to Florida, far-right leaders are driving a new wave of legislation that aims to erase LGBTQ\+ people from public life. “However, the defendant’s deceptive acts of diverting emergency financial assistance from small businesses during the pandemic is simply beyond the pale,” Coody said. “Today’s sentence both punishes the defendant’s criminal conduct and should serve as a significant deterrent to others who would selfishly steal from their fellow citizens to unlawfully enrich themselves.”

Bangkok Guy and I took an apartment together this year and it has worked very well, until now. It came about as he planned to move to a larger apartment close to transport and I am now in Bangkok much more frequently so that an apartment makes financial sense versus hotels. So we combined plans and looked for an apartment that suited us both - higher-end for me and location for him. Looking at options in his preferred area we selected an apartment in a new building with fantastic amenities (required by me not by him, but enjoyed by him all the same) that was over twice as much as he had planned to pay but still a good deal for me compared to a hotel. All has been well until about a month ago when I asked on a web call how the apartment was and got some awkward body language. All was not well in paradise. The new Chinese neighbor was too noisy. A friend of his who speaks Chinese asked the neighbor if he could be quieter and the basic response was no, for various reasons. He would really like to change apartments. At first I thought he meant within the building, away from the noisy neighbor. But it turns out he wants to go to another building altogether, with Thai and Falang people not Chinese "This building so many Chinese". He has not gone into detail on what is wrong with 'so many Chinese' apart from a general comment that they talk loudly. The lack of a detailed complaint does not surprise me as I have never known him to go into detail if he does not like something, simply indicating dislike with a general reason is enough. He seems to feel that getting too explicitly negative is bad form. I am surprised as he has friends of different nationalities and his last building had Chinese tenants, maybe just not 'so many'. Since we have not yet been there a year we will loose the deposit, and given how frugal Bangkok Guy is even with my money he must really want out if he is prepared to do that. I have agreed that he can hunt for another apartment and I will look at what he has found when I am next in Bangkok. Hence my question - does anyone have any insight into how Thais view the Chinese? Bangkok Guy is generally very friendly, likes people and gets on well with them. He is sensitive to how polite people are - he was very impressed with how polite the Japanese were when we were in Japan - so all I can come up with is that he finds the Chinese en masse too rude to be in the middle of.

There have been posts over the years about misunderstandings with boys from the bars and other difficulties some have found in communicating with Thais. I have been coming to the country for four decades for work, play and finally living in Bangkok, but still find Thai logic all but impossible to comprehend. The latest incident concerns of all things air conditioning maintenance! For many years I had an annual contract with one company to come to the apartment three times a year to service three units. When they went out of business, I asked our excellent receptionist who speaks pretty good English if she could help find another company. I get on well with her, always give her a Songkran brown envelope and other little gifts from time to time. But after almost a year she could come up with none. A friend who lives in a much more luxurious condo then suggested I try their maintenance company. Although a lot more expensive, they came twice, seemed excellent, but then did not reply to calls. The receptionist tried half a dozen times before finally someone answered. The company had decided to base themselves out of Bangkok, allegedly! In some desperation, last week I did what I should have done almost 2 years ago! I spoke to my neighbours to find out who serviced their units. It is the company run by the husband of our receptionist, they told me! So during all this time when allegedly she and also I have been trying to find an aircon contractor, her husband ran such a company yet she did not tell me! After I approached her about this to see if they could come, I assumed it would be a few weeks later. They turned up the next day, spent much longer than the other companies and as far as i know did an excellent job. So why could she not have told me this before? I'll never understand!

Mine are gone dozen years already but barely day goes without me thinking about them. It was good 5 years after my father died when I still caught myself thinking one day : ' I did not call home for a while"

that doesn't seem to bode well for Thailand's future

Maybe she's met Olddaddy before and doesn't want to take another chance 😝

From Pattaya Mail The ifs and buts of Thailand’s new friendship with Russia By Barry Kenyon The western democracies are still trying to fathom why Pheu Thai party premier Srettha Thavisin had his photo publicly taken with president Putin at the recent belt and road summit in China whilst inviting the Russian leader for a state visit. Critical social media suggest it was a bad idea because Srettha’s international claim to represent democracy and human rights has hit the proverbial iceberg. Not to mention the negative effects on tourism from traditional markets in America, Europe and Australia. On the other hand, international tourist numbers to Thailand has seldom been affected by the domestic situation for more than a few weeks, even post-coup. Examined from a Thai perspective, the issues look different. Thailand has had diplomatic relations with Russia for 125 years and the celebrations last year did not attraction any adverse international comment. Indeed, the last czar Nicholas II is commonly credited with helping to save Thailand from imperialist aggression by foreign powers. In 1996, Russia became a fully-fledged “dialogue partner” with the 10-nation ASEAN group, in which Thailand has the second biggest economy, and in 2004 Russia acceded to the treaty of amity and cooperation in southeast Asia. Russia was silent when the Thai coup if 2014 occurred and, under the leadership of general Prayut Chan-o-cha warm relationships continued. In 2017, both nations drew up a statement of reciprocity which gave Russians and Thais 30 days of visa free travel when travelling to each other’s country (now to be extended to 90 days on a trial basis). As regards Ukraine, Thailand initially voted at the United Nations in March 2022 to condemn Russian aggression, but has abstained from later votes condemning the annexation of the occupied territories. Nor is Thailand a formal state signatory of the international criminal court’s attempt to have Putin arrested if he steps abroad. All these developments occurred well before Srettha became the Thai premier. Putin has also accepted a state visit invitation from Vietnam. In this context, it’s worth remembering that Joe Biden’s trip to Hanoi in 2023 saw an upgrading of ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership between the US and Vietnam. Vietnam’s policy has to be seen in context, namely to avoid being too committed to one side or the other. Similarly, Srettha will visit San Francisco in the United States in November 2023 to attend the summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation. As political analyst Thitinan Pondsudhirak has written, “Srettha has not turned to Putin at the expense of the west. He wants both.” Thai-Russian trade is still relatively small at US$10 billion a year. Thailand’s exports to Russia include vehicles, machinery, electronics, vegetables and fruit, whilst imports are mainly oil, fertilizer and steel. Much of the trade now moves through the port of Vladivostok with its offshore banking facilities designed to offset western economic sanctions and the exclusion of Swift from financial transactions involving Russia. Western commentators can hold up their hands in horror about Thailand’s collaboration with the man who has inflicted so much misery on Ukraine and the world. But Thailand is now led by a real estate tycoon who is an accomplished salesman keen to do business worldwide. His bold aim pure and simple is to generate enough national wealth to ensure Pheu Thai wins the next general election in 2027.

There is also a possibility that she already felt that you have given her so much already, that she doesnt want to further extract more from you by introducing his husband's business. I think most of us will feel ashame when we recieved too much generousity from someone without ever repaying that person.

The spin doctors on both sides will be working overtime. Getting away with it is a different matter if you massacre tens of thousands and more Palestinians just because you want their elected leaders out. And let's not forget. Who insisted that the Palestinians have elections? Filled with his fanciful and ultimately idiotic, hugely expensive for the US taxpayer and ultimately doomed notion that he could bring democracy to a part of the world that had all but never known it, George Bush Jnr. took his crusade to Palestine. He wanted an alternative to Arafat and thought (never bothered to check, though) that most Palestinians agreed. When Mahmoud Abbas succeeded Arafat on his death, Bush pressed even harder for elections. The Israelis did not agree for their government knew there was more than a good chance that Hamas would win. Bush continued his crusade in a meeting with Abbas in Washington on January 2006. He was certain Fatah would win. Bush even pressured Abbas to shift power away from the Palestinian President's office to the Prime Minister's. I have no idea what idiots were staffing the US State Department's Middle East department at the time, but everyone apart from Israel got it hopelessly wrong. As did Abbas. With egg all over his face and in an attempt to spin the result, Bush worked hard to get the international community to confirm the elections were rigged and called for new ones! It all backfired spectacularly. He even had Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice promise Abbas US$86.4 million in aid specifically to bolster forces under his direct control. Whereas Hamas' traditional source of funds from the USA then started to dry up, it turned to Iran. Congress was unhappy and cut the amount to $59 million. Bush then got on to his assumed allies in Egypt, Saudia Arabia, Jordan and the UAE to make up the difference. Anti Hamas actions by the US continued for years. Yet again cavalier US actions and the seemingly inbuilt belief that it knows better have regrettably returned to bite it and its allies.

She told them! I have never passed through reception with a grumpy face - even though there have been times I rather felt like it. I always smile at the receptionist, and as noted always give money at Songkran and other gifts. When I got my Nespresso machine, she got and was delighted with my old coffee maker. When I had a problem with a new but inexpenisve DVD player, she got it and was thrilled with it. I get flowers for her at least twice a year. Etc. And incidentally, the service by her husband's staff was considerably better than any previous contractors! My Thai partner and his friends seem to have an easier job understanding farang logic than I do understanding theirs! As @floridarob points out, after so long I have to be a masochist!

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon An unprecedented boom in the construction of new airports and the refurbishment of existing ones are occurring across south east Asia. The aim is to enable passenger handling in the region to double to 653 million people by the end of the decade. Several countries are competing with each other in the rush to complete, a demand created significantly by the domestic demand from rising middle classes. In Thailand, a satellite terminal opened at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport last month, potentially improving overall capacity by a third once a third runway opens next year. Expansion is also planned at Don Mueang airport, near Bangkok, and U-tapao airport near Rayong whose major expansion awaits the building of a fast-track rail network linking with Bangkok hubs. That railway is still at planning stage as problems persist with the purchase of land. The new Pheu Thai government is also supporting expansion of airports in Phuket, Chiang Mai and other regional centers. Meanwhile, Vietnam is investing US$4 billion to increase capacity at Hanoi’s premier airport to 60 million people, more than twice the current limit. Cambodia has permitted Chinese companies to build new lease-operated airports near Siem Reap (recently opened) and Phnom Penh (optimistically scheduled for completion next year), though they are much further away from the urban centers and will increase passenger costs of travelling downtown by road. A plan to build an underground metro system in Phnom Penh has been delayed to prefer new air facilities. Malaysia and Singapore are both in process of doubling capacity, whilst the Philippines has no fewer than four expansion projects scattered around Manila, almost willy-nilly style. Many of the region’s new airports will incorporate smart technology. For example, Singapore’s building of a new satellite terminal will be a series of sub-terminals to keep passengers separate and at less risk from covid contamination from other flights. Automatic checkins, which minimize contact between ground staff and passengers, are becoming common features and will become universal. With Thailand and Vietnam already operating visa-free travel from China, much of the expansion is expected to increase dramatically flight schedules to and from Chinese cities. Critics point out that the future numbers game may be overblown as estimates are based on the current regional economic climate plus optimistic predictions by aircraft development corporations worldwide. Other variables are the future costs of flying, including tricky ones such as the price of aviation fuel and international political stability, which could throw predictions into disarray. But the countries of south east Asia are now in open competition for massively increased connectivity with air hubs serving both international tourism and economic investment.

After 4 decades, you're still trying to figure out Thai mentality....you masochist 😝

We were in CM nine months ago and return shortly. As I say elsewhere, the lack of Chinese tour -groups has had a big effect. I can't comment on the gay scene but our two favourite restaurants, one of them the celebrated Whole Earth, were closed and haven't re-opened. in fact, we ate much less well than usual. I smile when the airport taxi takes us along the moat to our hotel- so different in atmosphere to Pattaya and Bangkok- while a look of serenity appears on P's face when the stupas of his favourite temples come into view. One of our favourite places in Thailand.

The idea of gay community is important to me. There have been a few very close gay friends in my life in Thailand but sadly, they are no longer with us. As they were much older than me, I was so happy to have them as part of my life and listen to their stories and history. I learned a great deal from conversations and correspondence. The one friend I had in Pattaya passed away a while back and I have had zero desire to visit there since. He was the reason I went to spend long weekends and without that, I find I had rather go to other places. I do think very important to have a wide variety of friends. Most of my friends in most cities are not gay. But, where I spent most of my adult life (New York City), the opposite is true. I still have those gays that are as close as family and I see them often and hang out with them often. Gone are the days of discos and nightclubs and sex clubs, now to the days of brunches without handovers, dinner and the theater, and just getting together to play games (I taught them Rook so they would have a bit of my childhood).

Then there’s always the possibility that she simply enjoys seeing farang befuddled.

He won't come becuase he knows that he will be arrested. That was one reason given for his not attending the BRICS Summit in South Africa recently. Fear of assassination despite an army of security will no doubt also be a concern.

Post trip reflections. Highlights - S'sense is a big winner and a pleasant discovery for this trip. I always tend to go to a no hanky panky spa for a decent massage and then visit another place in search of the fun extras. I am delighted that from experience, both elements are present in S'sense. I always make it a point to avoid recommending a specific guy as experiences and individual connection can vary. However, I would recommend Knott just for his massage skills alone. - Hotmale is another surprise. I am pleased that I gave this place a second chance after a lack lustre experience from my first visit. - My meetups through apps have been consistently pleasant during this trip. While this mode takes heaps of time and effort to weed out time wasters and dodgy characters, it can be worth it. My meetups with non Thailand based MBs thru the app is a new Bangkok experience for me. - Tawan is always a highlight. The unpretentious ,relaxed and friendly atmosphere is something other boy bars are not able to duplicate. - Kman Spa. Another notable discovery this trip. Worth the effort getting there. Looking forward to explore the other establishments in the Saphan Kwai area next time. - LTs: maybe because of the lean season, securing LTs are not as difficult compared to previous experience pre pandemic. Most guys are also not in a hurry to go home the next morning. Maybe it's just my luck this time. Lowlights - Banana bar just didn't tick any of my boxes this time. I'm not sure if its unusual but they only had four performers rotating the whole time I was there. People will take a peek by the door and will instantly walk off. - Fresh boys is always a lowlight for me but I always end up visiting at least once every trip. The lack of subtlety on the part of waiters and Mamasans when asking for tips and drinks can be irritating. I mean asking for tips/drinks within the first minute of conversation? - AirBnB: given its legal status in Thailand, I always second guess and brace myself everytime I bring a boy back. The apartment I rented have posted notices and banners saying that the building is strictly for residential use and not for short rental like air bnb. The notices were written in a way that the renters can get into trouble if they don't report this to building management. But again, this is Thailand. While I didn't have any issues during my previous stay, I'll stick to the usual tried and tested Silom hotels next time. - Jupiter: as advised, I will try to ignore the ice cold standoffish behaviour of the guys next time. I might be in for a surprise. - Dreamboys is a mixed bag for me. While their new place is a definite improvement, both my visits didn't result to an off. Not crossing this off my list and will give it a try next time. Compared from my visit last year, things are really looking very positive. There seems to be no remnants of the pandemic and Silom / Surawong area is bustling with most establishments back to operating till late night / early morning. Overall, this 12 day experience have been pleasant with no major dramatics with any of my off. Fingers crossed it will be like this next time. Thank you for reading my reports and hopefully this will be of help to you guys for your next trip. I am looking forward reading your future reports too!

I consider myself very privileged to have met some of the friendly members on this forum. During my recent weekend trip to Bangkok, I spent so much time chatting with a fellow forum member that I did not visit any gogo bar during the 3 nights! Even though there were 4 gogo bars and lots of fine looking guys around us! We chatted about our lives - the past, present and the inevitable future. The waiters were sensible enough to leave us alone when the topic of conversation became serious and solemn.

Ok, call me sour if you like, but I think the term "Gay Community" is an oxymoron. Perhaps it is a remnant from earlier generations when our tribe had to hide and fear and fret, I don't know. We don't take very good care of "our kind" whether they be the elderly, the disabled, the dispossessed or despairing. Ask yourself the number of gay FRIENDS you actually have. For me I can count them on one hand, with a few fingers to spare. Buddies, many. Sexmates, who counts? Friends, well that's a different matter isn't it.

Now THAT I can understand 🤣

What on God's good earth has that to do with the Israeli Palestinian conflict? You do bring up some weird analogies. As for the Marshall Plan you have clearly forgotten or chosen to forget earlier posts I made on that subject in other threads. On April 20, 2020, in response to one of your threads Cambodia, Vietnam Take Different Paths in which once again you allege that I am anti-American, I wrote the following in response to one of your posts - QUOTE Reader, you make very good points. I am not anti American. But America has made more than its fair share of foreign relations mistakes, just as Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Russia, China and other countries have done over the centuries. But you do twist facts. Yes, under the lend lease program America helped the United Kingdom in World War 2 before Germay declared War on it. Yet the same program provided arms and materiel to the USSR. Roosevelt made it very clear it was in America's interest to do so. Similarly with the Marshall Plan, a truly visionary program that rebuilt western Europe in record time. Again, though, this was primarily in the US interests. America was desperate that the advance of the communist Soviet Union stopped at the soon to be East German border. Without the Marshall Plan, so ravaged was western Europe that the Soviet Union would quickly have been at the Atlantic shoreline. UNQUOTE I could have added that General De Gaulle had stated on the record he would permit such an advance if the strongly anti-colonial USA did not permit the French to resume colonisation of Indo-China! If you choose to believe that the Marshall Plan caused Europe not to recover from the ravages of WWII, that is your problem, not mine.

I ageee, our parents deserve our respect. They did, after all, have some connection to us being at university at all.

Why on earth would I wish to do that? I am based in Thailand not another country. Besides, I have a pretty good idea about the principles of western logic. I studied Greek at school and have a reasonable grasp of Aristotle's theory.

There you go again with the false narrative that the Israelis are bombing Palestinians, or, even more ridiculously, that the goal of the Israelis is to "shock and awe." As my father wisely used to say, there's only been one war which has ever been won with bombing, and that's WWII--and we certainly never want to go there again. Only a fool would believe that a war can be won by bombing. Anyone who looks at the facts rationally and impartially understands that the goal of the Israeli bombing is plain and simple: to take out the Hamas missile sites which are volleying the rockets Hamas sends towards Israeli civilian areas. What you're saying is the complete opposite of the truth. It's Hamas which is (unsuccessfully, of course) trying to "shock and awe" the Israelis by targeting civilian areas. This sharply contrasts Israeli bombing, which targets only military objectives. If Hamas puts these military objectives in areas heavily populated by civilians, that's entirely on them.

Cynically speaking and looking back at recent history you are correct but only for losing side. Winning side will describe it as collateral damage or something equally ear pleasing and will get away with it Israelis are in double unenviable position as in case of mass civilian casualties they risk losing legitimacy , at least in Western world, coming from Jewish people being victims of Holocaust.

Now that you mentioned it ---- even during my visits, none of the Tawan guys I chatted with talked about that upstairs short time room that they also use for massage.

It looks like the bananas are back

Now there's a preposterous "alternative." Lots wrong with it. First of all, planning and arranging for a ground invasion takes a lot of time. It's absurd to imagine that Israel would just let Hamas continue to simply spew missiles towards their territory day after day, while planning a dangerous invasion (oh, and of course ignoring that if the missile sites are left intact, Hamas could easily target the potentially invading forces). Secondly, such an invasion would be extremely dangerous as Hamas is entrenched in cities they know well, and they have tons of tunnels, booby-traps, and so on. Thirdly, and most obviously, who in his right mind would imagine that a ground invasion in and of itself wouldn't result in ample civilian deaths? And, even if Hamas were to somehow wait around and just leave those missiles lying there, the missiles are still in highly populated areas. Missiles are, to put it mildly, explosive. Or do you imagine that Hamas is going to simply hand over the missiles to the ground troops, saying "Here you go!"?????

Great advice indeed, the more so given the terrible and monstrously expensive adventures of the USA after 9/11. A 20-year war in Afghanistan which it lost. A long war against Iraq which not only had nothing to do with 9/11 but which did succeed in encouraging the formation of ISIS, a war that so destablised the region its results are still to be seen today. Re Israel and the situation in which it finds itseIf, without the ultra-right wing Orthodox Israelis and the militant settlers which pull the strings of Netanyahu's governments (although I suspect Netanyahu is himself ultra-right wing) and also pulled those of Ariel Sharon's government, it is unlikely Israel would be facing the mess that it is in. Let's not forget that Netanyahu has preached over and over again the need for security. As the New York Times reported 6 days ago, "Mr. Netanyahu has presented himself as an unflinching supporter of Israeli Security." Yet he has avoided earlier excursions into Gaza despite being fully aware that Iran was propping up Hamas. If his own security people did not tell him, the Americans certainly did. Well, whose government let the country down in such a dreadful way two weeks ago? The odd thing about Netanyahu is that for all his bellicose talk over the years, he has essentially been risk averse. Some suggest this is a result of his older brother Yonatan having been the only Israeli soldier killed during the daring raid on Entebbe airport in 1976. He does not want to be remembered as the Prime Minister who presided over the funerals of masses of young Israelis. Until October 7, the number of israelis killed under Netanyahu's watch has actually been less than under any other Israeli Prime Minister! Despite all his anti-Palestinian rhetoric when in power, he has not made any serious attempt to make peace. Instead, he has spent much time trying to broker diplomatic relations with former foes like Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations, hoping that they would do the job for him. Now with war looming, he has even stepped back and put the decsion in the hands of a war cabinet involving the national government he has established. Essentially it would seem he is at heart something of a loud mouthed coward. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/17/world/middleeast/israel-netanyahu-gaza.html

Do you recall that part of an expressway ran through the taxiway? So when aircraft were moving to or from the runway, the road had to be closed for a few minutes!

Oh, you've forgotten what it's like to be young 😉😝

no , what I believe it's what I stated already. You don't start war with clear aim what you want to achieve and without hope of winning. I don't condone Israel's response but realize it's inevitable. They can't leave such massacre done with glee without response, that's understandable. And it will not solve anything as only thing Palestinians have on their side is time Israeli's treatment of Palestinians in occupied territories as appalling and as harsh as it sounds, they reap what they sow. Nobody can hope for a peace without elementary justice. My visit in Hebron shortly after massacre at Patriarchs' Tomb was one of most traumatic sights I ever saw and it was peaceful day. Go figure when is not

he was too busy protecting illegal settlers on West Bank who are propping his government

These points raised by Barry Kenyon are certainly factors to be considered. On the other hand Singapore in 1970 had its civilian airport based at Paya Lebar. With passenger numbers increasing considerably, especially from the kangaroo route between the UK and Australia, in 1972 a British consultant's Report recommended the rapid expansion of Paya Lebar. But then passenger numbers declined with the soaring international price of oil. It was Lee Kwan Yew who reconised two things. First, with increasing birthrates, the island state would eventually need more land for housing. Second, he considered the huge hike in oil prices a temporary blip. Lee determined that a new airport built on reclaimed land away from urban areas would make SIngapore ready to accommodate what he believed would be an eventual surge in air traffic. Paya Lebar was converted for military use and a start was made on Changi Airport. In its first year of operations with 1 terminal, it handled 12 million passengers. It now has 4 terminals, the more recent ones considered a marvel of airport terminal design being copied by others - notably recently at Doha. Handling capacity is now 85 million passengers. I suspect like Changi future estimates for the new Asian airports are not overblown, certainly in the longer term.

while welcomed I suspect some of those are governments vanity projects and on track of becoming white elephants. High speed railways are great but not on distances where regular , modernized track would do. But I gladly take one from Don Muang to Pattaya just for sake of having fun. Does Cambodia really need two enormous international airports when it takes 6 hours to go by rail from PP to Sukhanoukville or Battambong? Why not making it to 2 or 3 ? But it's certainly not a flashy.

When you enter my apartment first thing you notice is sizable Brazilian painting of naked native girl. You think it makes me straight? Not disputing that most massage guys are straight, often with wife and kids. One always wonders though, how straight is guy who sports erection as soon as he starts massage. Reader hit the nail - no need for gay or straight labels , all that matters is what happens after door are closed. Never lose hope, there was boy I offed quite a few times , so straight that he did not allow even touch his bum. And yet he succumbed to charms of one of our non-contributing members who let me know because was acting on my recommendation to off him and things went too far so to speak. On next trip guy in question actually professed ( we had great chemistry) that he lost his male virginity and was shocked to find out that he actually liked it. Ever since I consider 'straight" sticker useless when comes to working guys.

Their guys are sexy.

New website launched January 2022, covers events, entry requirements and hours of operations. https://elsillonrojoclub.com/

If you are in Fortaleza it's worth to visit Pirata Bar. It is amazing to see all local people dancing and having fun. Also an amazing scenery. The New York Times may have given rave reviews to its Monday night party with a tremendous live show of traditional music and dancing. It’s not a gay bar or even a gay theme night, but it’s something you should definitely do while you’re in Fortaleza. There are plenty of gay boys in Fortaleza that will want to go with you and have a good time. https://www.gayguides.com/listing/pirata/