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With only a few more days left in Bangkok, I thought it might be interesting to a few to pen a few notes. Please forgive that they are unstructured. I hope to understand more from the distinguished posters here present for my next trip or perhaps my last few days here. For context, this is my fourth trip to Bangkok. My first two trips were for weekends and my second was for a week so I do not try to compete with the experience on this forum. I cannot commit to a daily report but I am visiting some other countries in South East Asia during my time away and I will try to do the same while travelling. Before flying from London Heathrow, I jumped at the chance to spend a few days with friends in Oxford as I would be in the UK anyway. I can highly recommend the ‘Oxford Tube’ as a means of transport, which actually a bus! It took me from central London, where I had stayed for two nights of tourism to the beautiful city of Oxford in an hour and a half. Returning from Oxford to Heathrow required a change at Hillingdon station and one more bus for the princely sum of less than 2GBP. Grindr in Oxford was full of handsome, university types and it was interesting to see many described themselves as ‘trans’, ‘non-binary’ or ‘queer’ despite presenting as a masculine. Grindr in London was very busy and it was pan-European in nature, despite Brexit! For those interested, I gathered that the going rate was about 150-200GBP though I did not partake. Eva Air direct to Suvarnabhumi on their business class product was efficient, friendly and comfortable. The food was good, the wine flowed and the flight landed right on time after a good night of sleep. Arrivals was very busy, there was a 10 minute wait at the fast track section but the bags were quick - so quick in fact that most people had not made it through security. I’ve been staying at Le Méridien, and it is good. I like the evening pizza menu and breakfast is very good. I’m not sure there has been much benefit to my suite upgrade, I have barely used the lounge and the men I have brought back to the room have on more than one occasion have been confused about why one person would need so much space (I think even regarding it as an unnecessary extravagance). No problem with guests, key cards required for the lift, friendly staff. Lots of gay folk, as I type from the ground floor I am looking at a middle aged guy European couple walking together wearing rainbow pins and holding hands. Last time I stayed at Raya but I would choose here next time and save a few THB in a standard room. The lounge is very nice and if I have time I will post a picture from the lounge, which I think may be a fair challenge for the ‘best view from a toilet’ posts previously seen on this forum. I am ambitious to become a flâneur (I cannot think of an English equivalent) in my later life and there is no better city than Bangkok to practice. I’ve enjoyed (most of the time) my solitude, thoughts, my wandering, my coffee, my aimlessness and people-watching. Today, for example, consider Soi 4. At around noon, a large gathering of very smartly-dressed business types in designer suits queued for street food. Interested, I wandered down the Soi to see about four carts in front of Banana Bar and other venues in the Soi. It seemed to the most popular place for these hi-so workers for miles. I wonder if these distinguished folk know the depravity that takes place just a few short hours after they have gathered their tasty morsels? I imagine they know all-too-well and care little - and this is why I love Bangkok! I enjoy these aimless considerations. I felt something was ‘off’ about Tawan compared to my previous visits (when this was my favourite bar). I have since read that the papasan in the beret, that I have before met, has recently passed away sadly and this is probably why. Much lenience is required, I suspect he was well-loved by staff. I have not stayed for a show but when visiting earlier in the evening the men working are less likely to sit alongside customers than in my previous visits. Some older Thai men take the place of papasan but do not occupy the attention of customers. The place is looking more dishevelled than before. That has, though, always been part of its charm. I have a fond (?) memory of walking up the stairs from the bar to a room for a massage (if I assure you that it was virtuous, you will not believe me). A large rat ran over my foot, leading to my loud screams and a look of horror at my exclamation from the masseur. Happy memories. I have not found a guy to take home yet from Tawan as their huddle of men now includes a number of twinks, which are not my type. I did have an interesting moment with a man who I think said his name was David. He was my type and I was leaving the bar, having concluded after one drink that enough was enough. He chased me down the road, threw his arms around me and told me he was horny. My intention, of course, was to take a man to the room to discuss neoclassicalism’s influence on 18th century Greek literature so this admission of horny-ness took me rather by surprise. I declined the offer, wrongly now I think about it, as I was in the mindset of marching to HotMale determinedly. I will try Tawan again and hope that this is a temporary situation caused by the loss of a formidable figure. HotMale beer bar is still a good spot with fairly priced drinks, smiling staff and good views. I was surprised to see cannabis being smoked at the tables (only by one group of customers on one day). There is a very handsome man who seems to stay behind the bar there, preparing drinks rather than waiting tables. I have been trying hard to have eye contact with him, succeeding often, but receiving a nonchalant response. Perhaps my portly (read: fat) build is off-putting or the stars just do not align. I will not give up yet. Advice welcome. HotMale’s gogo has been the surprise of my trip, in a good way. The men on stage are keen to smile and engage with eye contact, are engrossed in securing your attention and not on their phones. Though they are thin in number, there is something for everyone and especially for me (preferring 25-45, handsome, not thin, Dadbod or muscular-but-not-too-muscular types). Smoking being allowed will be an irritant for some, but the papasan is flexible about reseating (and it has never been busy enough for this to be a problem). The HotMale ensemble are mostly topless and wearing fetching, pillar-box red sweatpants. The show is awkward when it is quiet but ends well with an explicit fanfare that even would make my old Aunt Agatha blush (and she a woman with a remarkable, audacious character). I had one strange experience with a guy I offed from HotMale when motivated by the aforementioned explicit display. His girth, so to speak, was impressive from a distance. Back in the hotel, just as we made progress with a particularly challenging logarithmic identity, I became distracted. Something about this girth was not quite right. It wasn’t that there were beads or noticeable defects, but the thickness seemed somehow artificial and not in keeping with the rest of the member concerned. He was a good egg, and no harm was done. He showed me his Lao passport which revealed both that he was aged 29 but also that he was considerably more handsome now than when the picture was taken a number of years ago! FreshBoys has the same loud and irritating mamasan and her interest in me has been only for the purpose of generating tips. The men are young, I would say 20-25, predisposed to mobile-phone addiction at all times when not on the stage though smiles are frequent. I am unlikely to revisit but this place will be a gem for some. The new Sol Bar is interesting and I have no conclusions. From a distance (that is to say the HotMale beer bar) the men look handsome on the balcony, are mostly topless and I really like the shorts with numbers on rather than the usual badges. Inside, I had a different experience on my one visit. In some way, the lighting is not flattering and the building looks more downtrodden than when it was Dream Boys. Somehow, I have not yet been able to bring myself to have more than one drink but my reason is not rational and based on some ‘feeling’. I will try again. I have not yet made it to the Dream Boy show but will before I leave and update. I cannot be motivated to go to Jupiter or Moonlight but I must do so because the men are hot and I have seen good reports recently. My struggle is the passive, unsmiling approach I previously saw when visiting. Also, I feel the men are hoping a woman will ‘off’ them, there being so many and the men being straight, and I will therefore be a disappointment. Advice welcome. I would also like advice on the language barrier. I am almost ready to ask the mama/papasans which men speak English well. I think this relates to another problem. My ‘offs’ have been gratifying, but short with little room for conversation. Yesterday, I had to use Google Translate ask the guy if he wanted a drink from the minibar. My ‘offs’ last half an hour usually and I am craving more (they are probably enjoying the easy cash!). Though I don’t want LT, I cannot sleep unless alone. On my first visit a few years ago, I think I got lucky and saw the same man three or four times (now sadly ‘gone’ as per the report of the papasan) and we went for a few drinks before our deliberations on counterurbanisation in the room began. I enjoyed his company and sense of fun. This has not happened naturally for me yet. I would like company than extends beyond 30 minutes in the room talking through a phone. Advice welcome. Although I have adjusted to the jetlag, I do also have a dilemma about adjusting to how late everything happens. I am trying to dine around 2030, as things just don’t begin here until about 2230. I cannot do a 2am finish and a breakfast that finishes at 10am! I need more to be occupied with between 1700-2200 and cannot drink alcohol during this time as I will be drunk by midnight! I will post again and await thoughts and advice eagerly.

Day 6: Went thrift shopping in platinum mall. surprised by the absence of the previous stalls who usually cater for bigger guys. most of the stalls would say xl/xxl cannot fit me, so I didn't try to fit the items for sale. just bought a few items as souviners to be given to friends back home. I also went to central and found a sale on some footwear, quickly video chatted a friend who was into shoes to get his opinion, and bought 2 pairs, 1 for me and 1 for him. I read somewhere that Big C was cruisy, so I tried my luck and BINGO!!! it was scary though as I read there were undercover cops who one might mistaken as a cruiser. it went pretty wild, which was quite worrisome . one guy even has a poppers which I read was supposedly illegal??? I think I have taken over 20k steps today according to my smartwatch. As it was getting dark, I decided I badly need a massage. I went to prime bringing along all the stuffs I bought for the day. I availed of their 90 minute oil massage. I was ushered into a different building as the main one was already full. The massage was ok and relaxing. I would've preferred more heavy pressure, but I was too tired to tell the masseur. I know this is a no hanky panky place, but he seemed ok with my hands grazing his crotch "accidentally" while he massage my forearms. After the massage, he offered me to shower in a separate room and later gave me hot tea and towel. I tipped him 300 baht which he accepted happily. I am not sure if it was too much or too little for a clean massage. After the massage, I took my shopping stuffs and proceeded to Tawan. The very handsome and tall tout with a tribal tattoo on his forearm welcomed me. He could be a model in Moonlight or Jupiter if he wanted to. He asked if I would like to keep my shopping stuffs outside, which I happily agreed to. When I entered the bar, they were about to start the show. As there were already people seated on the front of the stage, they offered me a seat hear the cocktail bar. In hindsight it was a good position as I can freely grope the guys (with tips of course) before they enter the stage. Saw some old timers from yore. Regarding the twinks though, these are not the k-pop cutey or effeminate variety. They are nearing the roughness of the guys in nice guys. After the show, I claimed by shopping bags from Mr. S (the tout that I tipped for the chicken supper earlier in the trip). He offered to bring the bags to Surawong and hailed a taxi for me. After I climb in, I tipped him 100 baht for the nice gesture. Not sure if the taxi driver saw it, but surprisingly the taxi driver was kind enough to bring my bags to the lobby. I felt so rich hahaha. So I tipped him for the extra service. No, it's not what you're thinking.

Thanks for your report. Thirty minutes I would think is the minimum time to expect from a ST bar off. An hour would be more the average. If you’re not happy with time, settle the issue before agreeing to off guy. If language an issue, ask mamasan to explain it to boy. You’re in the massage capital of world and encourage you to take advantage of it. On any given afternoon or evening there are easily a few hundred guys available in the Silom/Soi 6/Surawong rectangle. Most are outside their shops so you can survey many by just slowly walking past shops and see who returns smile. For me, this is far more efficient way of locating mutually acceptable mate for an hour or so than constantly scanning apps. I dumped Grindr from phone earlier this trip because I found myself spending excessive, unproductive time on it. My rationale was that I didn’t travel 24 hours to look at a screen when there are plenty of the real thing at every turn. Enjoy remainder of trip.

I for one gladly pay whatever bars are trying to extort from me since i fund sitting in the room and combing apps much more boring then sipping me Chang in the bars. And if I find someone I know right away who shows at my door. But that's just me

Me too! Bars you know what you’re getting. Last night I checked hornet, a guy looked good, but he was a Lao man I’ve known for years who works in a bar. He used the app that changes his eyes to look younger. So many fakes on the apps. And just a body shot is useless to me, I want to see the face also.

Great report , very thank you ! it seems that recently Tawan undergoes some renaissance on this forum and is mentioned very often. Funny thing we usually heard complains for some members that they don't like their boys becuse tahy are too bid and too old. Nor for a change we hear that is hard suitable bulky off because stable includes twinks. I personally , even if like muscly men , think that those twinks there are adding some spice , variety and value and bar is becoming one with something for everybody while still maintaining it's position as muscle central. As for handsome bartender at hot Male beer bar don't give up, keep smiling in his direction , buy him a drink, force blue or red note into his palm and soon he will talk business. I agree with your assessment of Hot male go-go, almost as friendly as Tawan with somebody for everybody. I like their crew being middle of the road both body and age wise Hope your next visit at Sol will result in more conclusive impression. Do try again as you indicated. Nothing wrong with asking mamasan about English proficiency , I bet they hear it daily. one of approach to guarantee longer session is to start slowly and with non steamy thing, like that drink from minibar. Asking few personal questions about siblings , girl/ boyfriends and where he is from may broke the ice and generate good overture to more dynamic part to follow. as for Jupiter and to lesser degree Moonlight, again I agree that boys sober look is off putting but as soon as you seat them beside they start smiling and talking. Esthetically they are very pleasing so don't allow their somewhat disinterest look discourage you. Regular floor boys at Moonlight are quite friendly looking even when on the stage . Waiting for next installment impatiently

I have returned to Thailand with Eva from London , used my miles to upgrade from their premium economy to royal laurel business class well worth it in my opinion. Staying at Baan Souy again which I suggest is excellent, great rooms, decent location between boys town and jomtien, no problem returning with "company" almost expected, lovely pool and gym and fantastic hosts and team at the hotel, I cant recommend enough! On first evening met a boy from Toy boys I met before, the bar had maybe 30 boys in pants and good mix, I think a drink was about 280 THB but a good bar we had some food at nearby Fra Pattaya always excellent! On Sunday bars all closed for holiday I met my friend from Saturday again, had stacked up the fridge in my room from nearby 7/11 so we enjoyed the amazing pool a few beers at hotel, then walked to nearby market at Jomtien near entrance to jomtien park. If you like excellent Thai food an amazing selection, all good and very cheap, they were also "turning a blind eye" to drink restrictions! So Monday night went to explain little..... Dream boys - maybe 15 boys all in jeans but no shirt and a fair mix but other than one of the slimmer style x boys - again maybe 15 all in pants but more slim type so nothing that appealed to me! New bar site of old Cupid next to panorama maybe 12 boys with a bit of a mix, all in just pants. BOYZ Boyz..... Probably 40 plus but all pretty fully dressed ...... In the main Aimed to be catering for Chinese lady cliental all be it Very welcoming to me! I met a boy from the old Cupid, nice evening but early night as hopefully a friend from Bangkok is arriving Tuesday and joining me for a few days in Pattaya before we both return to Bangkok!

We could have been convinced Mexico was going to pay for it and it was Peso

As with all these things no doubt the final figures will be well and truly fudged to ensure that everyone both saves face AND ends up with a nice healthy profit into the bargain. No doubt a bill of £3.2 billion WILL be presented and paid so the Government can show how hard they had negotiated with their supplier - and then a month or two after that a few quiet bills for "the supply of napkins" or "supply of replacement carpet as ordered" or " repainting of edgings" or some other bullshit bills will be quietly presented and processed for another Billion or two here or there ! They must think we the public don't KNOW their crafty games.

The police decided Halloween would be a good night to roam thru Patpong checking for illegal workers. Police came in from Surawong and workers ran out Silom side. About 9 police gone and most workers returned. Also between about 7-8 there was a power failure. Much of Patpong 2 in the dark. And for those of you that don’t like loud music, there was none for about an hour.

The atrocity of the massacre in israel was horrific in the extreme. Those murderers and terrorists deserve extreme punishment. But the actions of Israel in Gaza, most recently the bombing yesterday of the refugee camp and the deliberate murder of 50 or more innocent civilians, takes punishment way beyond the meaning of the word. Sad to say, Israel has in the past shown a habit of over-reacting to atrocities. The 3-day massacre in 1982 of several thousand Palestinians and Lebanese citizens in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps is perhaps the most notorious. At that time the stated aim was to eradicate the Palestinian Lberation Organisation. It didn't work. It strengthened the PLO. Attempting to get rid of Hamas will not work, either. Yet how many thosands more civilians will die, have their homes, towns and cities destroyed, and their lives made utter misery for years as a result of Israel's actions? I fail to understand one thing. Israel has also been extremely successful at tartgeted individual strikes. After the Munich Olympics massacre, Israel took a great deal of time to assess the situation, build a task force of experts and then set them loose to go into the world and kill the terrorists. To the best of my knowledge, very few - if any at all - civilians were killed in the assassination of the terrorists. All this was later brought to world attention thanks to Steven Spielberg's film Munich. Has Israel had no agents operating in Gaza for years whose specific aim has been to obtain details of precisely where leaders of Hamas are, or are likely to be, or where and how they move around? I fully accept that Hamas has no qualms about hiding amongst civilians and in places like hospitals. But murdering many dozens of civilians to kill one Hamas leader in a massive bomb strike has to be seen as a war crime. It appears to me part of a deliberate attempt to wipe out a population rather than take out one man. Every time an israeli or US politician talks about it being necessary as part of the bigger picture makes me feel sick. As Palestinian casualties rise exponentially in the days to come, the anti-Israel demonstrations around the world will surely only increase, in my view. War is ugly and all wars have their seemingly inexplicable atrocities. The Blitz, the carpet bombing of Coventry, Hamburg, Dresden, Tokyo and the unbelievably horrific rape in Nanjing and other cities in WWII mostly targeted civilians. I do believe that these occurred during the currency of wars between countries. Many will criticise me, but the massacres in israel and Gaza are between large groups of individuals - and this makes it quite different.

There is so much noise coming from all across the opinion spectrum, it is hard to draw conclusions, never mind take a position. I can both sympathize and criticise aspects on all sides - and there are many sides with many stakeholders. It is the proverbial "barrel of fish hooks". Approach with caution. ⚠️

Although it's not surprising, the thing that distresses me is the willingness of so many to put millions of folks in one basket, labelled the 'other', and treat them as objects rather than human beings. We say 'Palestinians' and don't distinguish between zealots who murder Israelis indiscriminately and fathers who are searching for their children in the rubble. We say Israelis and don't distinguish between IDF forces who drop bombs on apartment buildings and protesters who are out in the streets calling for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid. A few weeks ago, I was filled with admiration for the Israeli citizens who were protesting Netanyahu's anti-democratic actions. Many of them are still there, but their voices have been lessened and confused with other Israelis who want to see Gaza obliterated by Israeli hawks. I hope the compassionate Israelis survive this terrible time and grow even stronger. Across many parts of the world, I think we're watching authoritarian followers in action as they let their fear of the 'other' take over their lives and cause them to see other human beings as worthless. Never mind that all major religions, including the ones they follow, are based on love and compassion. About the only generalization I'll make is that people who kill civilians are murderers. I don't care where they live, what religion they follow, or what their genetic heritage is. They're murderers and I won't support them.

Oh my God ! You meant that old guy in thick glasses just died ? He was fixture there for time immemorial and very nice guy at that. That is sad indeed. I like your attitude about comparing prices. You right some are paying too much attention to what in reality is very minor difference in price and even less when they consider transit prices in their own countries. Sure it may be principle but for me seem to be way too principled to look for baht bus across the street for 10 baht when one can be taken to hotel without hassle for 50-60. Comparison of Hot Male with Tawan is brilliant, each bar has own advantages you clearly pointed out . I'm sure boys were grateful if you tipped every one of them for their troubles, likely more boys then spectators on that night. 7/11 and corner of Suriwong and soi Tawan are known places where some Tawan boys are socializing after bar is closed and on more that one occasion I managed to snatch one of them for all night prayers in my room. But they also managed to humiliate me once when three of them summarily refused to go with me , one because he doesn't do long time and other two because they wanted too generous compensation which I politely declined and refused to consider following suggested reduced rate, yes on principle. that sign reader posted must be new as I don't recall it either and must say it's great idea as draws attention no doubt.

I see that Dream Boys Pattaya was raided last night. Gambling and foreign workers were found, but thankfully, no prostitution. The Pattaya News website has a video of it all. Raid was prompted by reports from "a concerned citizen". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V75aC20mMHs&ab_channel=ThePattayaNewsThailand Wonder who the boss pissed off?

Yeah they might - right after they've finished paying for the wall !!! Oh no wait.....funny how that all seemed to just quietly disappear eh and all you hear is Trump shouting about what a great deal he got for the plane, but strangely the wall is never mentioned anymore.

Solid gold toilets and beluga caviar on tap 🤣

Last evening I achieved 55 minutes so you would be proud of me I hope. I scan it and as travel continues forth to other cities I may rely on it more but for now this affliction has not seized me. I am going to try massages more than bars though! Thanks for the tips.

I do agree in this case, since there was no immediate threat. However, in the case of missile launch sites and munitions storage areas placed under schools and hospitals, that's on Hamas, since potentially many Israeli civilian lives are at stake. I would think, however, that taking out dozens of civilians to kill one military leader probably does represent a war crime. If it doesn't, it should. That goes beyond decency. Just because Hamas behaves like animals shouldn't given the IDF the green light to do whatever they feel like with no accountability.

that's lunacy, even Kenyans call it Nairobbery

Not quite. I feed my boys before we go to my room. That way they fed, deprived of chance of asking to go earlier because they are hungry ( some still try though ) and we have chance to talk and smile at each other.

nothing wrong with that, when we were young we got our political ideas from barbers and taxi drivers.

There are some elected politicians who make me cringe every time I see then on television, even before they open their mouths because I know what is coming. This morning, though, on CNN, the awful Senator Lindsay Graham took things to a ridiculous level. He stated that had Trump been President Russia would not have invaded Ukraine and Hamas would not have committed its atrocities in Israel. It reminds me of an old joke originally about a different group of people but let's assume for a bit of fun that they were the three senator amigos - the weird friendship between Graham, John McCain and Joseph Lieberman. The three are on a park bench and discussing the state of the Middle East. McCain: I had a dream last night and in my dream I saw God who said to me: "John McCain you are a true Christian and I believe your views on Israel are correct." Lieberman: How strange! In my dream I also saw God who told me: "Joe, pay no attention to John McCain, Your views on israel are the only ones that matter." Graham: What did I say?

Beautifully written!

Well there are those with longer memories than me with this bar, but it is one that I visit regularly when I am in town, and as recently as last month. As I understood it, the convention always was that you would enter the bar, be shown a seat and a drink order taken for you. Boys would be on stage, some standing looking at you, others seated. In the past they would be wearing loose fitting pants and flashing their cocks to entice you. More recently jeans, but there would still be some with their cocks out. You picked a boy to join you and a drinks order would be taken for him, chances are he would then get his cock out for your inspection and in the hope of persuading you to agree to a 300 baht chuck-wow. Now they have also been entirely happy letting me call boys off stage for a fondle of their goods in exchange for 100 baht tip. In fact the papasan will willingly go and change a 1k baht note for me into 100s for precisely that reason. (some guys offer less than 100 baht - but I have always thought that fair exchange). But normally I come into the bar with at least one other guy, so I am buying 3-4 drinks anyhow and they don't seem to mind about tips as my bin is usually between 1-2k (plus tips on top of that). The boys will obviously welcome the tips, but the bar needs to sell drinks to make any money; and frankly you can't have one without the other! And at the moment guys there is nowhere else in Pattaya where you can have the sort of hands-on fun you can have in Nice Boys; so dip your hands a bit deeper into your pockets and then everyone is happy!

They did a nice job on the lighting and new wall paper. Hoping the new policy doesn’t last long. Went there a few nights ago and one of the workers coming out of 7/11 told me they don’t show anymore. Inside there were about 10 guys with no junk out. Unusual but it stayed that way for the 90 minutes I was there. The owner doesn’t want the guys going up to customers for tips. He wants you to buy a drink or he tells the boy to get back on stage. The boys don’t like this as it cuts into their tips. One guy I tip 100 baht for a minute was with me and ordered back on stage. There’s no way I’m buying him a drink. But I’ll tip him if he wants. The staff inside aren’t strict like the owner. Luckily the owner is usually outside. Obviously they want to sell more drinks and don’t want the customer who buys himself a drink and none for a boy. If you want to put your hands on one you might have to buy another drink.

I don't understand what you mean. You can carry chlamydia, gonorrhea and/or syphilis for weeks / months and even years without knowing and keep on spreading it : sex workers, clients, classic partners, regular or not, ... Some people have symptoms, others don't, After all, syphillis is also known as the great simulator / imitator. Hence the importance of regular testing.

Yep and having had a family member die this very week from picking up a simple infection when in hospital which turned into sepsis - and this after they were flooded with just about every antibiotic humanly possible, I can confirm that antibiotics certainly aren't a get out of jail free card any longer 😞

Why didn't you drop off your shopping stuff at hotel before you go to places like Prime and Tawan. Isn't cumbersome to carry the bags from places to places?

Yep, ok, I think you can safely assume that £ rather than a $ was a simple error on my part as we were talking about Air Force One of course.

Yes I agree with you but I prefer the gay scene at the pre smartphones era it was so thrilling and adventurous and I met so many lovely boys some really boyfriend material, Can't say that about the current gay scene in Thailand very depressing Sunee Plaza and Paradise Complex (Phuket) almost gone Jomtien Complex is not for me , Boyz Town shrinking and expensive, Maybe Patpong kept some of its glory days.

I’m the first to admit that I have only the most vague understanding of cryptocurrencies, and no desire whatsoever to own any, but I was reminded of what Carlie Munger (Warren Buffett’s business partner) opined last year: “Sometimes I call it crypto ‘crappo,’ sometimes I call it ‘crypto s---.’ It’s just ridiculous that anybody would buy this stuff,” Munger, 99, told CNBC’s Becky Quick during a livestream of the event, adding: “It’s totally absolutely crazy, stupid gambling.” From Cryptonews.com Thailand’s second-largest bank, Kasikorn Bank, widely known as K-Bank, has acquired a 97% stake in the parent company of the established Satang crypto exchange. This strategic acquisition comes as K-Bank intensifies its efforts in the cryptocurrency sector, aiming to offer a comprehensive range of crypto services that comply with Thailand’s regulatory framework. The deal, valued at 3.705 billion Thai baht (approximately $102.8 million), was executed through a newly established K-Bank subsidiary known as Unita Capital, Thailand Posts reported. Unita Capital holds a specific mandate to invest in digital assets companies, aligning with K-Bank’s commitment to expanding its presence in the digital asset and cryptocurrency market. Once the transaction concludes, Satang will undergo a rebranding process, emerging as Orbix. This transformation signifies a broader shift in K-Bank’s digital strategy, as Orbix will encompass three additional subsidiaries: Orbix Custodian, Orbix Invest (a digital asset fund manager), and Orbix Technology, a blockchain technology developer. Notably, K-Bank’s rival, Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), has also been actively pursuing opportunities in the web3 and cryptocurrency domains, indicating the growing importance of these areas in the Thai financial landscape.

A good body is expected. But it is always the face that seals the deal for me.

You forgot from parents, but that didnt work well in my case

Yes, "lists" is correct. Not content with just a list of the ten best places to visit, Lonely Planey outdoes its competitors with five separate lists. The Best Travel 2024 list has no less than five different categories - Countries, Regions, Cities, Sustainable Travel and Best Value. Results are in many cases surprising. Best Country is Mongolia. Now I wonder if that country is even included in any other list! Best Region is Western Balkans Trans Dinarica Cycling Route. Well, and what if I don't fancy cycling? You'll probably prefer #5, Southern Thailand. Best City is Nairobi. Huh? Not for gay travellers. it ain't. Homosexuality can be punished by between 5 and 21 years in jail. Stick to #2 which is Paris - as long as you can avoid the bedbugs LOL Best Sustainable Destination is Spain. This is largely because of the country's efforts to expand renewable energy and bring tourism to hitherto emerging areas. I totaly agree with £2 on the list - Argentinean and Chilean Patagonia. Sorry if this is repeating photos, but I utterly adored my trip there way back in 2010. Torres del Paine National Park with great views from the mega-expensive Explora Hotel Guanocos are watching you! Perito Moreno Glacier Best Value is the USA's Mid West. Well I suppose if you take a gun with you, maybe so. The blurb stresses the cities of Chicago, Milwaukee and Detroit. Huh? Chicago is cheap? Not when I have been there! https://edition.cnn.com/travel/lonely-planets-top-places-to-go-in-2024/index.html

100% Clients AND boys have different expectations.....I like to ensure we are on the same page. I've been told from numerous Mamasans that 3 hrs is reasonable for a ST. I've noticed in many places I visit, they are trying to copy western escorts and charge by the hour now....🙄 The only by the hour charge I find reasonable is a massage 😉

Eva ? Definitely YES. I have fondest memories from my flight back home from last pre-covid trip to Thailand. All 4 seats in my row in the middle section were free so I enjoyed first class comfort for economy class price

I think they are a first class airline. Great food and service. They can get a bit pricey, though!

Thanks for your post Flaneur. I'm loving all the new reports on the forum at the moment. I'm heading back to BKK next week after an absence of nearly FOUR years. I'm besides myself with excitement and these reports are getting me into the spirit.

Thanks for writing this report.

Good thing it’s Halloween because this thread getting really scary.

Maybe good news for the boys but bad news for the bars it's the main reason of the bars declining .I am not sure what is better in the past the bar scene was thrilling and lively with lots of venues and boys to choose from but not anymore on the other hand you have now the option to invite boys directly to you 24/7 and avoid the costs of the bar.

because you were at school when she collapsed today is day of those mysterious coincidences for me. Hour or two before I checked forum I got some pictures from Bolonia from my friend visiting there and then I see here exactly the same towers she posted pics off earlier

agree, try to use crowded bus in summertime in some of our countries and soon you realize it's case. Same same when some odor can be sniffed on BTS, invariably is coming from one of ours.

I hate this kind of weak-ass shit. There are thousands and thousands of legitimate arguments to make about US foreign policy through the years. Hell, US actions with the Shah of Iran would be high up the list, and the list is very, very, very long. So when somebody can't be bothered to even make a legitimate argument and just posts weak-ass false memes, it is an insult to the viewers intelligence. I feel no need to validate an underlying truth to somebody who can't be bothered to articulate it themselves.

Since it's factually false, where's the irony? That EM is a liar?

Some lectern! 😳 She says she's not going to use it though, as it could become a distraction. And we wouldn't want that!

The welfare of Palestinians is not a priority for Iran. Iran wants to stir the pot in Gaza and Lebanon. They help keep the cycle going. Regarding Netanyahu, it seems Israelis blame him. Can anyone be surprised how it looks, that a corrupt leader willing to diminish democracy and enrich himself may have taken his eye off the ball?

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!

Correct. Where else to find munitions to old tanks and artillery what Russia took from own reserves where it where sealed for 40-50 years? And it is the same Russia what already 3 years has hypersonic weaponry, the same weaponry what has also China and still hasn't US - all test fails.