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For those of us with home bases in East Asia, Southeast Asia or Australasia, South America is a pain to get to. Hardly any wonder that the last time I was in Brazil was 15 years ago if not more (so long ago, I can't even be sure). This year, I had reason to be in Europe for a month, mostly for family reasons, including attending a heterosexual wedding. Partly to recover from the trauma of that, but also because Brazil is more accesible from Europe, I decided to add four weeks there before flying all the way home. Beginning with this post Virgin Mary and the money pouch, there will be reports over the next few weeks about my time there. In case you're wondering, my habit is to post reports on my own blog because I prefer to write long form, and it takes the better part of a day to draft a post - not something compatible with a discussion forum. Contributors to the Brazil threads on this site have been an immensely helpful resource - thank you very much - and I hope my reports are interesting in their own way.

Aside from the geopolitical issues, the move would be a morale killer for Thai cops who—in my personal experience—do an effective job of patrolling the tourist hotspots. From Thai Enquirer The recent announcement by the government of new Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin that it is considering inviting Chinese police officers to help patrol tourist hotspots in Thailand has sparked a wave of concern and debate. The plan, ostensibly aimed at bolstering security and fostering a sense of safety among the large number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand, raises significant questions about sovereignty, the effectiveness of such measures, and the broader implications for Thailand’s foreign policy, particularly its long-standing ‘bamboo diplomacy’. At the heart of this issue lies the question of sovereignty. Sovereignty, in its most basic sense, is the absolute right of a country to govern itself, free from external interference or control. By inviting foreign law enforcement officers to operate on Thai soil, Thailand risks eroding this fundamental principle. The presence of Chinese police in tourist areas, even if well-intentioned, symbolizes a troubling concession of Thailand’s authority to a foreign power. This move could set a dangerous precedent, where the line between assistance and interference becomes blurred, potentially inviting future compromises on national sovereignty. Moreover, the presence of Chinese police raises practical concerns about the dynamics of law enforcement in Thailand. Policing is not just a matter of maintaining order; it is deeply intertwined with cultural understanding, language, and legal frameworks. Thai police officers are trained to operate within the specific context of Thai society and law. Introducing foreign officers, who may not have the same level of cultural and linguistic proficiency, or understanding of Thai law and norms, could lead to misunderstandings, ineffective policing, and even conflicts with local communities. This scenario is particularly worrying in tourist hotspots, where the interaction between locals, international visitors, and law enforcement is already complex. The plan also stands in stark contrast to Thailand’s traditional approach to foreign policy, often likened to ‘bamboo diplomacy’. This approach, much like the bamboo plant, emphasizes flexibility and resilience, bending with the winds of global change without breaking. It involves skillfully navigating the complex terrain of international relations, maintaining balanced relationships with major powers while fiercely guarding national independence and interests. Inviting Chinese police to operate in Thailand, however, leans too heavily towards one side, potentially compromising the delicate balance Thailand has maintained in its foreign relations. This shift could be perceived as a tilt towards China, potentially alienating other international partners and affecting Thailand’s reputation as an independent and neutral actor on the world stage. Furthermore, this move raises concerns about Thailand’s commitment to human rights and democratic principles. China’s policing methods and its approach to civil liberties are markedly different from those in Thailand. Allowing Chinese police to operate in Thailand could inadvertently endorse these methods, which often involve stringent controls and limited freedoms. This is especially concerning given Thailand’s own journey towards greater democracy and respect for human rights. The presence of Chinese police could undermine these efforts, sending a conflicting message to both the Thai people and the international community. The argument that the presence of Chinese police will make Chinese tourists feel safer is also questionable. Tourist safety is undoubtedly crucial, but it should not come at the cost of national sovereignty or the principles of effective and culturally sensitive policing. There are alternative methods to ensure the safety of tourists, such as increasing the presence of Thai police in these areas, providing them with additional language training, or establishing special tourist police units with expertise in dealing with international visitors. The plan risks exacerbating existing tensions within Thai society. Thailand is a diverse country, with a rich tapestry of cultures and opinions. The presence of foreign police, especially from a country with which Thailand has complex historical and cultural relationships, could be seen as favoritism or external influence, potentially leading to social unrest or a backlash against both the government and Chinese tourists. This initiative could have broader geopolitical implications. In an era where global politics is increasingly characterized by competition and rivalry, particularly between the United States and China, Thailand’s move could be interpreted as taking sides. This perception could affect Thailand’s relations with other countries and its role in regional and global affairs. As a country that has historically prided itself on its diplomatic agility, Thailand risks losing this edge by aligning too closely with one global power. While the intention behind the Thai government’s plan to bring in Chinese police to patrol tourist hotspots may be to enhance security and reassure visitors, the potential costs are too high. This move risks infringing on Thai sovereignty, compromising the effectiveness of law enforcement, contradicting the principles of bamboo diplomacy, and sending mixed messages about Thailand’s commitment to human rights and democratic values. Thailand must find alternative ways to ensure the safety of its visitors while maintaining its sovereignty, respecting its cultural and legal norms, and upholding its proud tradition of balanced and independent foreign policy. The integrity and independence of a nation are its most valuable assets; they must be protected at all costs.

It is up there beyond the clouds, but not easily accessible for us sinners.

I must say that in my recent visit to Taiwan I really enjoyed the safe environment (daily- and nightlife, grindr dates, walk whereever you want, etc.). Being in Colombia is more like a tactical operative mission, which eventually got on my nerves. Taiwan is not particularly drinking, partying and drugs country, which I found refreshing and better for sex (i am not a fan of alcohol and nightclubs). From Europe, both places are the same flight time, so its „meat or fish“ choice, depends on the mood and style I want.

Haven’t posted a feel good animal story in a while but I think this fits the bill. ========== From The Thaiger / Khaosod English The tale of Kanya, the lost wild elephant calf, has come to a joyful conclusion.Found wandering in a rice field in the Bueng Kan province, she has now joined a new family in Chiang Mai. The journey of Kanya, from Bueng Kan to Chiang Mai, is one worth revisiting. Kanya’s story began on the morning of September 12, when villagers found her alone in a rice field near the Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary in Bueng Kan province. Local officials, alongside the central inspection officers of the Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary, located a two-month-old female elephant calf, with no signs of her mother nearby. They set up a temporary enclosure for Kanya, named after the month she was found, and monitored her in hopes her mother would return. However, by the morning of September 13, her mother had not returned. Officials coordinated with veterinarians from the 10th Animal Hospital to examine Kanya and decide on a course of action. Health checks revealed that Kanya was relatively weak, suffering from diarrhoea, battlewounds, and inflammation of the eye tissue. Despite her condition, she was observed calling out for her mother periodically. Around-the-clock care was provided by the team of veterinarians, with her health gradually improving. In early November, Teerapat Trangprakarn, owner of the Patara Elephant Conservation in Chiang Mai, offered to let Kanya live with a mother elephant who had recently given birth. This was coordinated through Kanjana Silpa-archa, allowing Kanya to drink the mother elephant’s milk and consume her dung, crucial for a calf’s immune system development and learning to live independently. Before her relocation, Kanya was closely monitored by a team of veterinarians to ensure she was healthy and ready for the journey. The transfer from Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary in Bueng Kan to the Patara Elephant Conservation in Chiang Mai was meticulously planned, with a vet accompanying her throughout the journey and regular stops every three hours to check her condition. Kanya was prepared for her journey to the elephant farm in Chiang Mai yesterday at 3pm. She swiftly entered the transport vehicle within a minute, accompanied by a convoy of five vehicles, including the Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary head, the Phu Luang Wildlife Research Station, the vehicle carrying Kanya, a team of vets, and the director of the Wildlife Conservation Division. Today, Kanya arrived at the Patara Elephant Conservation farm. She was greeted with milk and six caregivers to prevent attachment to any particular individual. Once she’s familiar with her new surroundings, she will be introduced to her adoptive mother, reported KhaoSod.

If anyone knows of an idyllic country where everything is perfect, just the way you like it, all the time and never disappointing, please share with the rest of us where it is.

I , for one , visit, daily this, Sawatdee & Gaybutton sites as well as ChristianPFC and ShamelessMac blogs. Contribute only here and occasionally on Christian's site. For my travel needs, Kayak for flights and Agoda for hotels seem to be sufficient. I pay very little attention to reviews, be it airlines , hotels, restaurants or indeed boys , spas and bars posted on various sites unless I know reviewer either in person or from contributing here. Sometimes for fun I read reviews of hotels I'm familiar with , either in Thailand or somewhere else and find them all over the place. Food reviews are even less useful as our tastes vary and too sweet for some may be bordering on bitter or sour for others and even if your chicken with cashew nuts may seem too salty, one I order 1 hour later may be just perfect in the same place

I have Jewish relatives, who lost almost all of their family in the Holocaust. They never talked about it. Demons of the past is a good phrase.

They have to a large extent operated under the gaydar. Yet Asia's first-ever Gay Games - known as the Gay Olympics, the week-long annual event marking inclusion and diversity - will end today with a large closing ceremony. 2,400 athletes along with their friends, families and members of Hong Kong's own LGBTQ community will join hands in celebration of a highly successful week to dance to disco music with 'gay' abandon. It was all very different in 2017 when Hong Kong was awarded the Games to join the hosts of previous Games like Paris, Amsterdam and Sydney. There was joy among the gay communities throughout Asia, a joy that in part celebrated Hong Kong's continuing freedoms after its return to mainland China. Then came the massive 2019 protests, the all-encompassing new National Security Law imposed by China making "love China" the flavour not only of the month but all future months and, perhaps even worse for the Gay Games, the closure of Hong Kong with eventually the world's most draconian quarantine regulations as Covid took its toll. As this was going on, a crackdown on LGBTQ activities was underway in China itself. Many felt Hong Kong could never host the Games. Originally planned for 2022, the Games were pushed back a year. But the worry over China's contol of Hong Kong continued. As a contingency, the Games organisers appointed Guadalajara as a co-host. This inevitably resulted in many participants going to Mexico rather than risk going to Kong Kong. Consequently, the numbers taking part in Hong Kong were diminished. But according to reports, all who went had a ball. Few lawmakers in Hong Kong seemed to have a ball, though! Speaking at the opening ceremony last Saturday, just one lawmaker Regina Ip priased the event she claimed "overflowed with passion and a great sense of unity and community." Odd, though, that even though this event brought thousands of participants, the Games were totlly absent from the city's Tourism body's website. Not even one sentence! Even Ms. Ip was called a hypocrite. One of her remarks praised the Hong Kong courts for "numerous judgements" handed down in favour of the LGBTQ community. Activists and lawyers quickly pointed out that Ip's government had opposed each of those judgements, losing in almost every single case. “Why are they still wasting taxpayers’ money fighting these tooth-and-nail litigations when they’re recycling the same arguments and losing?” said Mark Daly, a human rights lawyer who has worked on a number of the cases. But the week of the Games was a joyous occasion for many and proof that not everything in Hong Kong is yet joined at the hip to the mainland. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67366059 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/11/gay-games-hong-kong-china-hostility-gay-transgender

From AFP A French court on Friday handed down jail sentences of up to 10 years in a people smuggling trial over the death of 39 Vietnamese migrants in a refrigerated container on the way to Britain. The bodies of the migrants who suffocated to death -- two of whom were just 15 years old -- were discovered inside the sealed unit at a port near London in October 2019. They had travelled in the truck from northern France to Belgium before crossing the Channel to Britain. Two ringleaders of the operation -- one Romanian and one British -- were convicted at a trial in 2021 in Britain and sentenced to 27 and 20 years in prison respectively. Other suspects, notably the drivers, received 12 to 20 years, while a Belgian court handed a 15-year term to a Vietnamese man for heading the local cell of the network. Of the 19 defendants in the French trial -- who include Vietnamese, French, Chinese, Algerian and Moroccan nationals -- 18 were found guilty. Four of them, all Vietnamese, were found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to nine or 10 years in prison. Four other Vietnamese nationals, two of whom were absent and considered fugitive, were sentenced to between one and 10 years for their role in transporting and housing the migrants.

Excellent point about Taiwanese. It won't be long before we would see tittles "Taiwanese tourist abducted and taken to China by Chinese cops on mission on Pattaya's Beach Rd" Hongkongers are already in so probably not that much concern.

GP, you should not drink under following conditions: 1. On empty stomach 2, when you’re alone 3. when you’re with others

What a nonsensical idea, it's so stupid that I suspect something must be lost in translation. So which law those Chinese cops would follow - Chinese or Thai ? And if say, some ladyboy snatches wallet from Chinese tourist will they be able to arrest Thai on Thai territory ? What about if thief will be some foreigner ? Just ironing such practicalities will be extremely complex, thus impossible without even going into biggies like sovereignty

I only ever bother coming here anymore. And I think I had accounts on most of the ones listed. My guess is that people don't read. And they don't necessarily feel like communicating via this medium. Given how many Youtube channels are devoted to travel if you are just looking for general travel info there are plenty of places to get that info. And probably other media like Instagram or Tiktok get lots of views. The nomadicboys can only cover so much on their own since they can only visit so many hotels I wouldn't expect them to have comprehensive lists or complete venue information. I know most people don't like travelgay.com but I've found it useful from time to time. Keeping venue listings up to date would be a big job probably without much reward. Which is part of why I really appreciate this place and the frequent posters who share information with all of us.

You could learn something from a zombie. 😉

Whjy? Are they in need of 51th state or something? Main beneficiary is Russia because it drew attention from their aggression of Ukraine to the Middle East.

that's nonsense for both ethical and practical reasons. If bar introduced en masse "Thailand first ' policy pretty fast their scenes would be emptying and bar tables will follow. They may be customers who prefer Thais only but I doubt it's massive sentiment. As "foolish" member noted above, being cute counts , not passport or even lack of it. And by the way that policy looked may be good on their sign but in reality there were non-Thais working as well. And sadly, recent purge cleared also few Thais. One who alerted me about being let go was actually Thai

And I'll wager that he's extremely proud of that. Any takers?

Was it 10 years ago? Longer? There was certainly a time when the internet had a considerable number of gay websites focusing primarily on Thailand. Many were informative, some more political in content, some just bitch boards - some providing both interest and amusement. This Board now has a much wider geographical range, but still with quite a number of separate threads on Thailand and others on Asia. To my knowledge there are only two left concentrating on Thailand - sawatdee network and gaybuttonthai. Sawatdee has gone through several incarnations over the years but now seems also to be slipping out of most readers' daily posting. In the last 14 days, it has had no posts for 8 of them. During October there were 16 days with no posts. Yet it is certainly read for, as I write at 11:00 am on Sunday, there are 35 members online and 218 guests. That's considerably more than this site which has 8 members and 200 guests at the same time! Gaybuttonthai is much more concentrated on Pattaya and has far fewer registered members. Now there are 2 online, yet still 121 guests. 11:00 am on a Sunday morning may not be the idea time for checking websites, but there is clearly a readership for all three sites. The key question, I guess, is how likely is it they will all last? Some years ago on his own website, the poster @ChristianPFC compiled a list of 'dead' sites. Among these were gaylilfeinthailand, gaytingtong, gaysexthailand, cruisinggaythailand, gaytouri, baht-stop and bahtstop. Many were very short-lived. Others did not last after their owners died. Since then, yet others seem to continue as websites but often with very little new content. cruisingforsex-asia has been around for many years but its last post was made in May this year. That was a response to a question about Nature Boys raised on 6 November 2009! After 3 years with no activity during covid, activity has slowly picked up - but slow is the operative word! Only a handful of posts in 2023. I raise this merely to ask for how long this and the other two sites can keep operating, the more so with advertising revenues minimal or even non-existent? I wonder if the same is true to a certain extent of gay internet sites, especially those related to gay travel. In theory they should be mushrooming. Are they? Rather like the maps on the free gay magazines that were common in most gay venues in Thailand 10-20 years ago, I guess the problem is how you keep information up to date. Quite a few years ago I remember virtually trashing one such site which clearly had just made-up its supposed travel information about Thailand. The site died soon after. A couple of years or so ago I wrote to the owner of utopia-asia to ask why he did not include arguably the two most popular saunas in Asia in his listings - Hutong in Hong Kong and Soi13in in Taipei. He wrote back that neither had replied to questions he had sent! They are still excluded! Frankly, that is ridiculous! Every other website lists these saunas. It really makes me question what other gay venues utopia-asia deliberately omits because they pissed off the owner. gaytravel.com has been running for more than 20 years. Yet of its travel destinations, the only one in Asia is Phuket! Click on Phuket and it's just one long advertisement for the Sri Panwa luxury hotel! Total waste of time! At least nomadicboys.com has both Thailand and Taiwan as its Asian destinations. The suggestions for both cities are pretty much up to date with a few notable omissions. Worst in both are its hotel recomendations. The top two in Bangkok are the W Hotel and the Mandarin-Oriental! Soon after come the So-Sofitel, the Banyan Tree, Le Meridien, the Peninsula and the St. Regis. To be fair, it also lists the Tarntawan. But why such a cluster of just expensive hotels? I In Taipei it places the Chinese-styled Grand Hotel at the top of its list. Why, considering it is so far from the gay areas and not close to public transport? Beats me. Advertising cash, I expect! thegaypassport.com seems to have upped its game since I last looked 2 or 3 years ago. It at least has better information on a few saunas, but yet again its hotels are almost all top of the range. Since it offers diferent prices from agoda, expedia and hotels.com, I doubt if they get a commission, but could be wrong. Why such expensive hotels are listed when there are plenty of middle and lower priced hotels as members here have noted, again beats me! I expect servers here in Thailand only get a few of the total number of travel sites. Does anyone actually use them, I sometimes wonder? Are there better ones?

This happened one month ago in 1st week of October. I was in Bangkok for a weekend. Took evening flight from Singapore. Once I checked into room at Le Meridien, off I went at 9.30pm to Hotmale Beer Bar downstairs to meet with forum member whom I haven't met for two years ever since Covid. New bar Sol directly opposite had some yummy shirtless guys hanging around once their rotation on stage ended. Was very tempted by blonde guy in photo but surprisingly, I didn't step into any gogo bar during my 3 nights. I shall explain why later. Sorry @vinapu for not being able to report on the show or the guys in Sol.

delete

I repeat, the bars in Taipei are unbelievably small, most of them are in basement unusable for any other commercial purpose. Comander D is in basement, D1 is in basement, Hunt is less than half the size of a 7-11 store. These are all drinking bar with bad sound system and bad music, they don't want people to dance, they don't want people to enjoy the music, they just want people to buy drinks. G* is mostly for the girly bottom boys. Again, with the population count and the average personal income level there, I can't believe this is all Taiwan has to offer. It must be a cultural thing, in the same category as Singapore. But I am glad you are treated well being a rare and desirable "top" guy there. I have visited Taiwan a couple times and I gave you my opinion here being a contributing member on this board, that's all. BTW, Bogota has the famous Teatron club complex of bars and shops, Teatro itself is a huge former theater with multiple dance rooms. Berlin has many dance clubs that are huge warehouse size and are packed with people.

We may not be comparing apples with apples. I think I know which sites you're referring to in Hong Kong and Singapore - those are gay-scene sites. This one is ... not quite. This site is an M2M-sex-buyers site. Nor am I pessimistic about this site's future. Precisely because it is an M2M-sex-buyers site, it will age well. Given human nature, the trade will never disappear, though it may move from place to place and price point to price point. That's not to say that this site has not evolved nor continue to evolve. One day, even when there's AI and sex robots and businesses supplying them, I'll bet there will still be plenty of things to talk about. When I first participated here, the Pattaya threads were as active as the Bangkok threads. Not any more. This seems to reflect, as others have pointed out, the decreasing number of Western retirees spending their golden years (and pensions) in Thailand, with Pattaya being the seaside town of choice. But I don't think the overall traffic to this site has reduced. It may even have grown, though I have no access to site statistics over the long term. So, if traffic has grown, it must mean that enough new members have come in over time too. This, in turn, is the other evolution that I can discern. More and more members are Asian. It's hard to put a number to it, but perhaps one in three or one in four of the active participants may either be Asian or expats living and working in the region. My guess is that there is a growing number of Singaporeans and Malaysians here, partly because these nationals (particularly the former) are comfortable in the English language. I thought there might be more Hongkongers for the same reason, but I don't see evidence of it. I have noticed the increasing number of short trips reported on this site. It indicates they're from the region, and thus able to do a weekend or just a week's trip, rather than travel across multiple time zones to escape winter for three months, which used to be the dominant pattern in years past. In time, as their disposable income rises, we may see more Filipinos and Indians on this site, for many of them too speak English.

The internet has been a boon though it is true that sites and technologies change with head-spinning speed. But I certainly wouldn't want to go back to the Spartacus era. Guide sites are very different animals from forum sites. I am not surprised that they struggle to stay relevant and up to date. It begins with user expectations - that what they see on a guide site should be authoritative, up-to-date, accurate and also comprehensive, covering all the available attractions of a place. It requires a lot of work to maintain a site to meet such standards. Look at the Guide section of this very site (gayguides.com). It has very little that's useful. The write-ups are undated, and for we know, the information about any bar or hotel may be 10 years old. It gets worse when the guide site owners hope to make money or at least recover costs through advertising. There's even more work involved doing sales and keeping up with customer service. Then there's conflict of interest. Do you play down or omit an attraction just because they decline to advertise with you? If you omit, then you're failing the user who expects a comprehensive site. If you don't omit, then those who have hitherto paid to advertise may wonder why they should continue paying. Forum sites depend on the wisdom/intelligence of the masses. It has its pros and cons, as no doubt we all see all too often on this very site (e.g. recent bust-up about antisemitism). But if there is enough participation and contributions, a forum site can go quite far in producing the comprehensive, up-to-date and accurate information that users desire. "Enough participation" means the "network effect" must operate, where users gravitate to a single site and leave the rest in the dust. The more the participation is centred on a single site, the more informative and comprehensive it gets. And, except for the heavylifting done by the moderators (thank you!) it's done free. Seen in this light, the evolution of the online space is only following a natural path.

ever since wars stopped being fought one-on-one every army targets civilians whether intentionally or not. That the nature of modern warfare. ................. Are you sure Arabs are serving in Cahal ? Honest question and I'm quite sure they don't. ............... Soldier is handsome and brave and needs to be said has great sense of humor

There is no mass murdering. Unlike your beloved Hamas, the IDF does not target innocent civilians. Nobody wants to see civilian deaths. Especially the Israelis. And if you want to minimize civilian deaths, tell your buddies in Hamas to stop hiding in hospitals, schools, and residential areas. Until that happens (don't hold your breath since we know what cowards Hamas is), the blame for every Gazan casualty lies at the feet of your friends in Hamas. Gay Israeli soldier proudly displays LGBTQ flag on Gaza soil in war against Hamas https://nypost.com/2023/11/13/news/gay-israeli-solder-yoav-atzmoni-proudly-displays-lgbtq-flag-on-gaza-soil-in-war-against-hamas/ More proof that the IDF, like Israel itself, is the most diverse army in the region., perhaps in the world. Sephardi Jews, Ashkenazi Jews, Muslim Arabs, Christian Arabs, Druze, women, and gays who are out and proud all serve in the IDF Care to speculate on the fate of one of your beloved Hamas soldiers if he displayed the Pride emblem on a Hamas flag?

Agreed. I'm not sure that tourists from mainland China, looking for a relaxing holiday abroad, would appreciate Chinese police looking over their shoulder & supervising their activities in Thailand. More 'limp spaghetti' diplomacy than bamboo!

I am not gonna say anything.

Princess Putin already recaptured his colony in Crimea, which had once been colonized by Crazy Catherine the Greedy for the Russian Empire. But the Princess is now finding it very difficult to colonize the rest of Ukraine. Eventually she will retreat and surrender.

Given that China's century of humiliation included other countries being permitted to have their own nations' cops in quite a few Chinese cities (as well as their own laws, it should be added), I'm surprised it would even consider starting along the same road. And that's before we get down to the nitty gritty of forced deportations! If cops from mainland China are on the streets of Thailand, I can see the number of tourists from Taiwan and Hong Kong dropping very considerably.

The suspects in the crime have been arrested.

at least some justice, sigh

perhaps disbanding those schools would solve such persisting and yet nonsensical problem

As PeterRS mentioned above, many non-registered readers are checking the three Thai gay websites. Their numbers propel the actual readership well beyond the “signed in”. These visitors are primarily interested in scanning for information and have no desire to contribute. Consequently, the sites are more influential than the sum of their members represent.

I think he is disappointed by the massive amount of communication issues?

Turns out on this forum, it is better to be a zombie than to be verbose. 🤔 Count your blessings @Kostik. At least people read what you post before they laugh at it. 😉

no, it was releasing some venom, likely to mitigate gall-bladder pain

Great report from such short trip. Hope your guy lands somewhere , at least he has his day job. I like that tattoo but yes , I would be bit upset if money I send for support went to such vanity but if no conditions were made , after all it was his money. I had the same with certain HC when I learned string on my quite generous tips after we spent few nights together went to eye improving plastic surgery . I did not detect any difference. Why to spend money on brand name Kleins when fake one are quite passable and in reality either hidden or removed beats me but what do I know? That round of drinks looks very generous although I feel sorry for guy's liver if he needs to gulp alcohol to get some cash.

@DOA all you said is speculations or guessings.

If you stick your wallet down the front of your pants you can kill 2 birds with 1 stone!

Dude. Seriously.

Agree that it’s become more expensive to get here but so has every place else. As for being attractive, I don’t think there’s a place in Europe or North America to equal it in available guys or safety.

I was only with my "cha nuoi" for one night. My second night was spent with a new and very charming Myanmar waiter. 22 years only. He speaks good English. In the hotel room, I noticed the counterfeit Calvin Klein briefs he wears. I offered to buy him the original CK briefs when I go to Bangkok again in December. "Size M. Only white colour please, thank you so much," he replied. We had an enjoyable night followed by round two in morning before breakfast. I enjoyed his company so much that I took him off again on my third and final night during this short visit to Bangkok.

is sad but quite often people who went through extreme situations are reluctant to talk about them . I guess it their way of going forward without raising demons of the past. My grandfather , WW I veteran when asked one by us granchildren why he doesn't want to tell us about the war cut us shortly " every guy with gun during war killed many people" and then we never asked again.

From the Hill Five takeaways from a winning election night Democrats saw a successful Election Night on Tuesday, scoring wins in a number of competitive contests. In deep-red Kentucky, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear sailed to reelection, while in Virginia Democrats flipped control of the House of Delegates and maintained control of the state Senate. Abortion rights advocates also saw a number of wins, most notably in Ohio, where voters chose to enshrine abortion protections. Abortion proved to be a top issue for voters on Tuesday over one year out from the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Abortion access advocates saw a major victory in Ohio, where a majority of voters voted “yes” on Issue One, a ballot measure that enshrines abortion rights into the state’s constitution. Ohio was one of several states that rolled back abortion access following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. The state made headlines after a 10-year-old girl was denied an abortion in Ohio and had to travel outside of the state to undergo the procedure. Meanwhile, in Kentucky, Beshear won his reelection bid after he campaigned on expanding abortion access. Beshear’s campaign released an ad showing a prosecutor criticizing the lack of exceptions for rape and incest under Kentucky’s ban on the procedure. His GOP opponent, Attorney General Daniel Cameron,said during the campaign that he would approve legislation that would include rape and incest as exceptions to the ban, but later appeared to tack to the right on the issue. Meanwhile, in Virginia, Democrats maintained their majority in the state Senate and flipped the House of Delegates by largely campaigning in competitive districts on the threat of an abortion ban. The victories for abortion rights advocates, particularly in right-leaning Ohio and Kentucky, are a good sign for Democrats going into 2024. A number of Democratic incumbents and candidates, including Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), have signaled that they plan to campaign on the issue next year. As for Republicans, Tuesday’s results show that they have yet to find a successful message on abortion in a post-Roe World. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) embraced a proposed 15-week ban on abortion with exceptions in the state and a number of down-ballot Republicans followed his lead. But the strategy does not appear to have paid off. Continues at https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4298989-five-takeaways-from-a-winning-election-night-for-democrats/

Democrats, liberals, progressives -- all had great success in the elections on Tuesday, 8 November. 😃 The Biggest Loser was Drumpf himself, as the causes and candidates he supported went down to ignominious defeat. Before I start discussing all of the big wins, let me just post the following report from my favorite columnist. (For those of you who are non-native speakers of English or are simply confused, the following report is SATIRE.) OHIO (The Borowitz Report) Irate Republican officials in Ohio have been crying foul over Tuesday night’s election results, claiming that there were “widespread cases” of women voting across the state. Harland Dorrinson, a G.O.P. operative in Lake County, said that he had “eyewitness accounts” of “swarms of women” standing in long lines outside of polling places. “Many of our poll workers spotted women going into voting booths and literally casting votes,” he said. “These were not isolated incidents.” Dorrinson said the “nightmare scenario” that unfolded on Tuesday has dire implications for both Ohio and the nation. “There is every indication that women meddled in this election,” he said. “What’s to stop them from doing it again in 2024?”

I am not too surprised. It is a question of a) a house divided for democrats vs b) a house on fire for republicans. At least, that is my opinion atm.

Aren't all gyms gay 😝

Hi. You asked for opinions and I will give you mine. First things first: it is your money and your life. You are free to do whatever you want (and face the consequences). Poor guy story is quite well known. From what you described you have a commercial relationship with him. It is ok and quite normal to befriend someone you have a commercial relationship. However, would advise you not to forget that it is a commercial relationship. You bring the money to the table and he brings his friendship/body. Regarding your trip. If you want something more than just his companionship you should talk and reach an agreement beforehand. The shortest path to frustration is to expect something that the other person is not willing to give you. I am sure he wouldn’t be offended. He was a GP and he knows you are interested on him. If he gets mad with you for asking about it beforehand it is a really good sign that you should stop seeing him. enjoy your trip!

Line is primarily a messaging app. You need the other party to give you his contact ID. Line is not a dating app where you can trawl through listings.