Leaderboard

Siam Heritage Hotel -- I just stayed there on the tail end of last trip I booked a room for 2 with breakfast through Agoda. At cheek-in I was alone but was issued two keys, even through I was unaccompanied. I had no problem bringing in ST guests. However, if you bring a guest to breakfast, hotel will require that the guest register .And that can be the only guest you can register during your stay. (since I had booked room for 2, I was not charged any additional fee). On the desk of my room there was a notice that stated that any guest would be assessed a 900 baht fee. It was the same notice that was there about 15 years ago when I last stayed at this place. The rooms are well equipped with comfortable bed, excellent shower for 2 and quiet AC. Ask for a room in the bak that are more distant from noise of Surawong. Small pool and fitness center on top floor (9). ============== Montien Hotel -- Of the hotels mentioned above, I believe the only one with no-guest policy is the Montien. It has a new wing and draws mainly upscale Chinese and Thai-Chinese clientele. =============== Amara Hotel -- No problem at all with guests. Great rooftop pool with plenty of lounge chairs if that's important. Recommended.

I'm in Rio, a programa costs $30-40 usd (1000-1400thb)....I met this one guy that I REALLY like, no off fees, no overpriced drinks...once you make the connection in the sauna and you have his number, no mamasan no drama of friends motobike keys, sick family, dead animals on the farm, no "up to you"....and did I mention frigging incredible sex 😆

No problems whatsoever with 56 Suriwong and Le Siam, my experience is recent ( 2022 and 2023). Member I met in Feb stay in Amara and did not have any problem either landing in his room even guy whom he met in the elevator.

From Pattaya News In a major operation early this morning, December 7th, officials from the Banglamung District Office and Pattaya Police Station raided the “4 Step Tomboy” nightclub on Pattaya Third Road. Acting on orders from Mr. Phisit Sawatdinukul, the Banglamung district chief, Ms. Kamolchanok Konsombat, the district chief secretary, led the operation at around 3:30 AM. The raid was prompted by numerous public complaints alleging that the establishment operated beyond legal hours and permitted the use of illegal narcotics on the premises. Upon arriving at the club, authorities found over 100 patrons dancing to loud music. The officials intervened, stopped the music, illuminated the place, and separated male and female patrons. According to Banglamung district officials, the venue’s floor was strewn with plastic bags containing substances resembling narcotics. Officials also found suspicious plastic bags in garbage bins and suspected that they may have been discarded by the partygoers inside the venue when police raided the club. As a result, the officials ran urine tests on every person in the venue and uncovered that 17 individuals tested positive for illegal drugs – 9 males and 8 females. Further investigation revealed that the establishment also lacked the proper licensing documentation to operate. Those responsible for the nightclub and individuals who tested positive for drugs were apprehended and taken into custody. They will face further investigation and legal proceedings, although they were not immediately identified to the press.

My sentiment exactly. I frequently stay at the Amara and like it very much. No one has ever even hinted disapproval regarding my, ahem, numerous guests.

I can't speak for the hetero side of Pattaya, but "hazy" is too kind for the gay side. A new bar called Classic has taken over the former Cupidol premises, and stocked itself with about 15 fem twinks. Not a single customer inside. The mamasan could barely speak four sentencces of English. S/he was unable to understand a word of what I said, and to everything I tried to say (as simply as possible), the response was "What number you like?" I was out of there in ten minutes having performed my charitiable act for the month. Meanwhile at X-Boys, the off fee has gone up to 800 baht. I thought I had misheard the first time, so I asked a second mamasan and sure enough, she typed "800" on her phone to show me (the music was too loud for speech). At least I made a point to find out - not that I had my eye on any of the boys, all too scrawny and tattooed for my taste. The poor guy to my right later had an argument with the manager over the off fee when he was surprised by the amount being added to his tab. He then said sorry to the boy who had put on his streetclothes, and left the bar alone. You call that "hazy" or "suicidal"?

From Pattaya Mail Myths about Thai expats and those income tax changes starting very soon By Barry Kenyon Most expats in Thailand live on income or capital, or both, built up over many years with tax already paid in the country of passport. They are understandably worried by the imminent change in Thai Revenue practice – it is not a new law passed by parliament – which will potentially tax new and assessable foreign-sourced income beginning in January 2024. Pattaya Mail has received more concerned reader feedback about this issue than any other during 2023. With inauguration day fast approaching, here is our summary for the typical expat who does not indulge in major currency speculation, huge profit-taking from overseas businesses nor off-shore bank accounts hiding their cash. Has the Thai Revenue clarified the position of typical expats? No. It is commonly assumed that the Revenue is mainly interested in rich Thais and foreigners who have manipulated Thai tax rules in the past to avoid payments from overseas. Typical expats with home-country pensions or social security allowances are not part of this agenda, though in theory they could be caught in the crossfire. Talks are continuing between senior accountancy firms, lobby groups and the Revenue about this and other issues. Don’t expect answers any time soon. Will my international cash transfers to Thailand from January 1 2024 be reduced on arrival by a Bank of Thailand tax levy? No. There will not be any changes from current practice. You pay tax in arrears in Thailand by registering at the Revenue for a tax identification number and paying tax due, if any, in the next fiscal year. There is no PAYE procedure in Thailand. The misunderstanding that Thailand will tax international transfers as the cash arrives is a widespread misconception hould I apply for a tax identification number? Not unless you receive an instruction from a government source or the immigration, both very unlikely scenarios. It is almost certain that, at any rate in the early years, tax registration will be voluntary. If you believe you have been taxed already on your cash sent to Thailand, it’s best to do nothing now. There is no need to employ the services of tax accountants if you are a typical expat (unless working here on a work permit which is a separate subject). The tax situation as regards cash sent to Thailand to purchase property is a separate source of ambiguity. Most countries with expats here have a double taxation treaty with Thailand, so is that relevant? That depends on the exact wording of complex documents which differ substantially one from another. Double taxation treaties are designed to be used only in cases where Thailand and the first country cannot agree on who has the right to tax. If Thai Revenue were to clarify unambiguously that previously taxed income would not be retaxed, the issue would largely die. If I need to later, how will I prove that my cash transfers to Thailand have already been taxed? This will vary on an individual basis. An expat’s tax return or the response by the internal revenue service of the first country might suffice, or a simple statement on a tax form might be acceptable. Few experts, if any, believe that the Thai Revenue has the staffing or the expertise to deal with more than 300,000 expats who are tax residents because they spend more than 180 days here in a fiscal year. It bears repeating that the registration process will likely be voluntary. The Thai government is looking for the big fish, Thai or foreign, and not the small fry. What is the Thai government really up to? The new post-coup government simply wants to raise cash, in part to help pay for its populist policies such as the 10,000 baht give away scheme. One can assume that nobody in authority has yet thought seriously about the effects of the change on the expat market here and the potential unpopularity amongst long-term visa holders including one year retirement extensions, Elite and the 10 year Long Term Residence. If you are an expat living in Thailand for at least half the year, without any major financial secrets to keep from Thai Revenue, then it’s best to do nothing until the situation is clearer. That’ll take several months yet. But no point in packing your bags in disgust and leaving for Cambodia. They are a CRS country too.

Being close to power is a big thing for many and it gives them the ability to get some things they want. There will always be someone willing to step into those roles to get more power. But, with Trump, they will get crazier each time and then, watch out, as we will be in for a wild ride.

Ibis Styles Silom is modern, and was fine but the rooms were small. No issue with guests. Furama had nice large rooms but a bit of a walk ~12min from the action but a pleasant walk or quick tuk tuk. Agree with poster about only going for the executive rooms but still very affordable.

From Agence France Presse Beijing, China – China on Thursday slammed what it called the “smearing” of its Belt and Road infrastructure project after Italy said it would withdraw four years after it became the only G7 nation to sign up. An Italian government source confirmed to AFP on Wednesday that Rome had pulled out of the initiative. Proponents of the BRI praise it for bringing resources and economic growth to the Global South. But critics have long pointed to opaque pricing for projects built by Chinese companies, with countries including Malaysia and Myanmar renegotiating deals to bring down costs.

If this is the case, all the more reason for Thailand to hold on to its go-go bars. I said earlier that the country has a lock on the reputation and that's a good thing, akin to having the last credible supply of plutonium. Why would you want to voluntarily destroy it? The Tourism Authority has made no secret that it wants to attract gay tourists for the sake of the pink currency they represent. Keep those bars that have those svelte dancers and the muscle boys. They're good for the economy. I wouldn't put too much faith in Kerr who has probably never stepped inside a go-go bar. But I bet more than a few of these so-called elite purists dress down and sneak into the bars because there's so scientific evidence that the wealthy experience homosexuality in a smaller percentage than the population at large. The gay go-go bar may be the last, best example of true democracy on the planet.

No. What I have written about before - and regret I may have given the wrong impression in my earlier post in this thread - has always centred very specifically on gay go-go bars, and this is what is equally specifically discussed in Mr Kerr's book . These you can find in virtually no other Asian societies. Manila used to have an active gay go-go scene even before Bangkok, but that largely ended decades ago. There are still a few go-go bars, but from what I read on this forum and elsewhere (since it is more than 20 years since I last attended one in Manila), they are not similar to those in Thailand, particularly with the dancers being older and less svelte. And they are certainly not a patch on what Manila used to offer in the late 1970s and 80s. Frankly I know of no such bars in Japan, China, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Laos or Cambodia. Tokyo did 'experiment' with a few such bars years ago, but they proved not to fit with Japanese ideas of what makes a gay night out and were discontinued. As in Thailand, though, there will no doubt be some underground establishments where nudity for boys and customers may be common, but these are never brought to the notice of tourists or even most Japanese. As for other continents, i am sure you must agree that even in Europe we learn of the number of go-go bars and bars where guys would strip off completely now being far fewer that was the case 10 - 15 years ago. Are Prague and Berlin anything like what they used to be like in this respect? I know little of South America, unfortunately, but again from what I read, the 'action' is much more in the saunas than in a go-go type bar. Perhaps some guys who do visit South America regularly can correct this if that is a wrong assumption. So it is the gay go-go bar model which I believe will eventually die out, and it will be for a mix of commercial pressures (like Sunee Plaza) and pressure from the elites in 'society'. Girlie bars will probably continue but be even further restricted re where they can operate. I am certain gay bars as such will always be around in most cities around the world. Even China still has some gay bars and clubs. In Taiwan they are increasing. But this type of gay and other nightlife entertainment is certainly not always dependent on the 'elites'. Tokyo used to boast 400 bars (almost all tiny) in the Shinjuku ni-chome district alone. That number droped by 25% in the last 10 or so years as could be seen pre-covid by the open spaces where buildings have been torn down. That has not been a mandate of any elite. It has been purely commercial pressures. The one area where Tokyo in particular is clamping down on a certain type of nightlife is on the multitude of host clubs principally for young ladies. Japanese lawmakers rarely become involved in nightlife. After all it was the Americans who wrote their constitution! But almost uniquely they have recently become concerned at questionable business practices in host clubs where the object is to relieve young ladies of vast amounts of cash for super expensive drinks like Remy Martin Louis XIII cognac or vintage Cristal champagne, all with a mark-up often in the range of 10 times the actual price. Recently Japanese newpapers have been full of information about one club where a customer attacked the host by stabbing him in the shoulder with a knife, accusing him of having ruined her life. Host bars for women have been around for 60 years but recently the pressure of their pet hosts, especially in the clubs in Kabukicho near Shinjuku, to make them spend such vast amounts has led to some patrons becoming prostitutes to pay for their habit while others find themselves in a rapidly spiralling debt. Some hosts actively encourage the customers to go into sex work. Others have resorted to suicide. These clubs actually operate under a specific section of an entertainment law. Now the Liberal Democratic Party is considering changes that will increase regulation.

From Pattaya News The Marine Department is requesting a budget of 285 million baht to facilitate its ambitious plan to renew the Na Baan Pier on Koh Larn to increase safety and boost Pattaya’s tourism. The major upgrade project for Koh Larn’s pier will be funded over three years and is expected to be fully completed by 2026, according to Mr. Kritphet Chaichuay, Inspector General of the Ministry of Transport and Acting Director-General of the Marine Department. With a total budget of 285 million baht pulled from three fiscal years: 57 million baht in 2024, 114 million baht in 2025, and 114 million baht in 2026, the scheme is expected to be able to support the growing number of Bali Hai Pier visitors, hopefully from 6,000-7,000 visitors currently on weekdays and 8,000-10,000 on weekends to 30,000 per day in the future. The existing pier, established in 1968, will undergo several upgrades including: Demolition of the existing pier and construction of a temporary pier Building of a permanent pier with dimensions of 198 x 14 meters Building of a waiting shelter Construction of six concrete pontoons Construction of two sets of level-adjustable piers

Let's not forget it's not only Trump. Politics in the UK has become a cess pit of lying, factions, mismanagement and backstabbing! France is fractionally less so . . . and so on. The idea of public service clearly went out of the window many decades ago. Now it's what's best for me, me, me and my family and friends. Greed has become the currency of politics in many countries. My own belief is that there are five factors which have led to this situation. One is the extremely limited and often dreadful experience of many who aspire to high office. If Boards of Directors require that the CEOs of major corporations have extensive experience in the companies they will lead, we the public, as the Board of Directors of a country, seem perfectly happy to elect parties with hugely inexperienced leaders that recently in many cases have become jokes. Due diligence in considering those wishing to become parliamentary candidates hardly exists. The electorate increasingly votes for parties and not for individuals who are supposed to represent them. Secondly, the politics of countries which have just two principal parties liable to gain power - like the USA and the UK - works to the massive advantage of the above. Our politics now is basically reduced to "I'm right" - "No, you're not, you're a lying bastard! I'm right" Thirdly, in the USA and UK millions of electors do not even bother to exercise their right to vote. When they do, they are not voting for the most popular choice. They vote for first past the post individuals and parties. Consequently, in the UK at least, the party with the most votes will not always be the party in power. In the 1951 election, the Labour partly won more votes than it had ever gained before. Yet the constituency system meant the Conservative party became the new ruling party. The same 'wrong' party won in 1974. In New Zealand, the elections of 1978 and 1981 returned the party with less total votes. The first past the post congressional and parliamentary system does not work in favour of electors. Proportional representation is the only fair way of conducting elections, even though the mechanics of organising this may be extremely difficult. But that is no reason for not implenting it. Finally, something has to be done to persuade more individuals to exercise their right to vote. After all, milions across the world died in movements to ensure all citizens in future have the right to vote. Some countries have introduced compulsory voting - Australia, Austria, Uruguay, Belgium and several others including Thailand mandate this. One argument against compulsory voting seems to be that it impacts on an individual's freedoms. What a load of nonsense! Freedom comes with responsibility, and is there anything more irresponsible than in deliberately not voting for the individuals who will run your country?

There's some very seasoned cruisers here, not the ship kind.....you think I'm the only one sleeping with the crew...... I did preface it with this: The crew is where the fun is, but you need a longer cruise, 14+days to get to know the right ones 😉

Around 30 years ago, when I was much, much younger, and Pattaya was a gay paradise, my friend and I had nowhere to sit in a bar in Boyztown - was it Throb? too long ago to be sure. We had to share a table with a guy (he was alone) who didn't mind at all. In fact he probably welcomed the company and the opportunity to make conversation. I remember this incident even though it was the last century because it was the first time I had ever met someone with a foot fetish. For the better part of the time in that bar, he went on and on, and my friend and I had little to say in response. Looking back, I should be grateful to him. He opened my then-younger eyes to the fact that all of us have wildly different tastes. Sure, growing up gay, we sort-of know that. Most of my college friends liked pussy, but the very thought of it freaked me out. However, the flip side of that sense of exclusion from the straight fellowship was to seek identity in the gay minority, yet in doing so, I must have somehow assumed that if they're gay like me, their erotic desires must therefore be similar to mine. How wrong I was. I am sure most posters here, in their life journeys, have come to same conclusion, each of us via our individaul learning journeys, though mine was unusual in having been through a baptism of a foot monologue. One of the most fascinating things about this board is that, in the course of members either describing their trip reports or asking questions about what to expect in places they're planning to visit, between the lines in the posts one can sense what their erotic desires are. Having had my eyes opened years ago, I've been watching this space, so to speak, and now may be a good time to throw in some ideas about what I have observed. (I am also nervous about opening this topic because it can get controversial.) Here I am not referring to the appeal of physique, you know, the twink-lovers, hunk-lovers, chubby chasers, etc. There are different ways to look at desire. The first cut I can think of - and the categories are not meant to be exclusive, in fact, there is likely to be a continuum of tastes - goes like this: 1. Those who give more weight to the visual 2. Those who give more weight to the tactile 3. Those looking for a boyfriend experience (the connection of personality) I see Group (1) among the posters whose focus lie in how the boy looks - whether he be twink or twunk or hunk or whatever. This is the market for Moonlight's models, with people ready to pay remium pricing because the guys look a certain way. I also see Group (1) in those posters who've clearly asked for information about satisfying their body worship desires, as well as in those who describe themselves as choosy about a certain "type" of partner. The visual leaves me relatively cold, which also correlates with the fact that I don't have a specific "type" that I am looking for. Instead, I see myself as a Group (2) where the tactile pleasure is more important than the visual.In other words, it doesn't really matter what the sex worker looks like; I want the delirium of hands on body or body pressing body. Members here may have noticed that I write a lot more about massage than about offing gogo boys, for example. Then there are posters here who ask for information about overnights or about going off to an island for a few days with someone (even temporarily) special. I call them Group (3). The boyfriend experience (even if fleeting) is at the centre of desire. Yet another way to slice the pie is like this: 4. Genital focussed sex 5. Warm-body sex Especially on the Latin America forum, many trip reports spotlight either insertive sex or the size of the appendage. There is hardly any description of the body that the cock is joined to. Here and there in the Thailand forum, whenever a boy is mentioned (e.g. because he was advertised on a massage site) the question is quickly Top or Bottom? I may be wrong (since I don't belong to this Group (4) but at least in my imagination, the sex that takes place has a greater emphasis on penetration (one direction or the other). I am Group (5). The size of the appendage has rarely mattered to me (unless it's been disfigured by silicone). I have had great time swith guys (paid and unpaid) who might not have been more than 10 cm (not that I measured). Instead it's the full-body "wrestling" that's been important. As a result, those (usually straight) boys whose idea of servicing a customer is either to stand beside the bed and give a handjob or move into a penetrative position as a matter of course, have always left me utterly frustrated. Are there other categories that others have observed?

Well, I suppose I could just get used to a regular diet of Beluga caviar, Hokkaido scallops, New Zealand lamb, the London Savoy Hotel chef's beef wellington, pavlova, baklava, the best chocolate mousse with a hint of the best cognac, and creme brulee! Roll on winning the lottery! LOL

I agree completely. What I'll never understand is who would ever want to work for Trump. Everyone has got to know that all Trump will do is make the people who work for him try to cover up his mistakes, then get thrown under the bus when they get caught. Surely people have to know Trump will always be the sleaze who will turn on anyone who even helps him. I have no sympathy for the Michael Cohens of the world. MC knew he was dealing with a fraudster and a liar. No boo-hoos when he finds himself in prison, having been even stiffed for his legal bills. Anyone who associates with and assists someone as morally bereft as Trump obviously is should not be surprised when the inevitable happens to him.

TotallyOz, I m really curious: How can one feel safe after being robbed at gun point 3 times? I mean, at the very least u must feel that it can happen again. That's the definition of NOT feeling safe; isnt it? Furthermore, who's to say that on the 4th time the gun won't go on? I've been to brazil 3 times and to clmbia - 4. I like them, not only for the sex. M quite sure that if I was gun robbed once - I wldnt return )-:

From Reuters China on Friday cut visa fees by 25% for travellers from countries including Thailand, Japan, Mexico, Vietnam, and the Philippines from December 11 2023 to December 31 2024, according to statements from the Chinese foreign ministry and embassies. The policy so far covers hundreds of millions of travellers from over a dozen countries and will make it cheaper for them to get a visa to travel to China This is the latest in a slew of measures China has recently taken to increase inbound travel from foreign tourists and business people amid a sputtering recovery in the world's second-largest economy. Last month, China announced to temporarily exempt citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia from needing visas to visit the world’s second-largest economy to boost post-pandemic tourism.

I think it’s somewhat telling that in Brazil the guys will refer to you as their client or customer but in Thailand they are quick to call you their “boyfriend “

Stick to your guns $40usd- 200 reis is the going outcall rate too, don't go throwing money, they'll do more usually just for the asking. Filming the way you want, they may ask for more...but don't go falling in love, because tomorrow is another day, lol

I agree. I am into muscle men which usually cost much more in Thailand than in Brazil.

Very true. I believe that in the USA, on a number of occasions, the candidate with the most votes, eg Hilary Clinton, got the most votes, but lost, due to the outdated electoral college system.

Todays sun is pretty unbearable. Only got better after 4 pm.

Could not agree more. I did once meet a lovely looking guy in Hong Kong who eventually came back to my apartment. But he had some form of body odour that was permanent. No idea what causes that. He had tried all manner of colognes and consulted doctors but nothing worked. Very sad for him.

Visual, good looking guy with great body smiling at me has an access to my heart and a wallet almost immediately.

Indeed, I was in Lux last Friday and Saturday at the end of the afternoon. Did not find the gem I expected. There were a dozen of boys but none I really fancied except one whom I went with 8 years or so ago in Mezzaninu. I went often with him in the past and I still remembered his name and skills. The name is the same and the skills even improved. He saved my Saturday evening which otherwise would have been boring. On Friday, there was a common party between Lux and Indiscretus at the Indiscretus cabaret site. I did not even care to go to Mezzaninu this trip.

And that's fair, but you're presenting this to everyone else like they can just go on a cruise and pick up the first cute waiter or cabin steward that catches their eye.

People that own on The World don't live there 365 days, they stay awhile and go somewhere, usually meeting up with the ship when it's in a port for an event. They align their schedule with things like Carnival in Rio and stay for a few days, not just the day like a commercial cruise liner. I knew a musician that worked there and said some nights he only had about 5 or 6 people he was playing to..... as far as the same boring restaurants, the rooms have kitchens and they can have chefs prepare meals for you....so not boring same restaurants, lol Not once a problem....I'm not new at this, I worked on a cruiseline for a bit (in a senior position) , I know EXACTLY how it works and the logistics of doing it, is why I have been able to do it.....so don't jump to conclusions before knowing the whole story 😉

I like to stay at the Furama Silom 10 minutes walk from Patpong. no problems with guests you can just bypass the reception straight to the elevator. Spacious rooms (better to book their suprier rooms at the higher floors ) nice rooftop pool and decent buffet breakfast.

What a sad and boring little traveler you are!

Whoa a (rare) complement from @scott456! I agree with @scott456 on this one. Money helps a lot, but GPs will account also for your perceived appearance and demeanor. I’ve had many GPs tell me they have refused clients over bad breathe or severe body odor, or any number of other physical attributes or traits they deem as unacceptable to work with. But money can only go so far. I know of a GP who was offered 2000 reias a day for 2 weeks to stay with a client, but quit after 4 days (and got compensated for those 4 days), because the client was super demanding and treated him like an object (and did other stupid things I will not mention). We forget sometimes that this is more or less just work for the boys, and is not always a good time for them, even if it’s a good time for us. It’s hard to be with someone disgusting or disagreeable for 24 hours a day, even if you are well compensated, and especially if the boy has other options, even for less money, but treated much better. @jaymelayu please let us know how you fare! I am sure you will be fine!

I think CNN summed up his life and work succinctly this morning. To many he was revered; to many others he was reviled.But we should not, I suggest, consider his legacy without recalling that his German Jewish family fled to the USA in 1938 after suffering many humiliations at the hands of the Nazis. Nor that he was very much a product of the Cold War during which he was determined to protect American interests. I have read much about his career, mostly those parts which are more reviled today. Of his achievements, there is the ending of the Vietnam War for which he shared the Nobel Peace Prize (although this rather hides his many actions in the pursuit of that war), the major change in policy towards Mao's China, his many attempts to find a solution to the crises in the Middle East, and a gradual detente with the Soviet Union. On the negative side of the balance, I suppose the illegal invasion of Cambodia which resulted in the rise of the Khmer Rouge with the estimated murder of between 1.5 and 2 million Cambodians, and engineering the murder of the elected President and the consequent coup in Chile are the ones that first come to mind. To that and other errors of judgement/deliberate policy decisions we have to add his agreement in advance by promising the USA would not interfere in any way when Pakistan invaded East Pakistan, a war that resulted in savage butchery and the consequent genocide of around 3 million Bengalis. As he said to Nixon when the war ended with the establishment of the state of Bangladesh, "Congratulations, Mr. President. You saved West Pakistan," a reference to a possible invasion by India with assistance from China. The late Christopher Hitchens was no fan of Kissinger. Indeed, one of his books is titled The Trial of Henry Kissinger. As the San Francisco Chronicle reviewer wrote, "he presents damning documentary evidence against Kissinger in case after case." In a two-article piece for The Guardian written in 2001 before some of the documents about Kissinger and the Presidents he worked under were declassified, there is this paragraph about the fact that after leaving office he became a fixture on the lists of those who were desperate to have him as one of their dinner guests - Everybody "knows", after all, that Kissinger inflicted terror and misery and mass death on that country [Cambodia], and great injury to the United States Constitution at the same time. (Everybody also "knows" that other vulnerable nations can lay claim to the same melancholy and hateful distinction, with incremental or "collateral" damage to American democracy keeping pace.) Yet the pudgy man standing in black tie at the Vogue party is not, surely, the man who ordered and sanctioned the destruction of civilian populations, the assassination of inconvenient politicians, the kidnapping and disappearance of soldiers and journalists and clerics who got in his way? Oh, but he is. It's exactly the same man. Later in the article he adds one sentence about Chile - Kissinger once observed that he saw no reason why a certain country should be allowed to "go Marxist" merely because "its people are irresponsible". https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/feb/24/pinochet.bookextracts Another expert who knew him and had been curator of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library said this morning, "Kissinger was a much greater hawk than most realised. His major flaw was that he failed to understand the human consequences of his strategic decisions." I wonder if the world will see his like again, a man with such huge influence on the occupants of the White House.

My preference is Crowne Plaza, just around the corner from all the gay bars and clubs in Soi 4 and Soi 2

People have been predicting that for at least 10 years.

After supper at Foodland Patpong, Z and I went into Dreamboys. It was 11 plus and halfway into their show. Fewer customers and fewer guys working as compared to last Friday night. Show about the same. Z enjoyed watching the energetic dance numbers. He sang along to the songs that the ladyboy diva singers sang. He didn't like the erotic cock dancing and big cock show. When macho man in heels appeared, Z was taken aback at first but he enjoyed it as the performance went on. "You want to tip him?" I asked, holding out a 100-baht note. Z said yes and appreciatively handed the tip to macho man in heels on stage. Z recognised and called out to a Dreamboys guy. "He's my friend. He's from Myanmar." He is one of dancers for Sex Bomb dance and he is a good dancer. We watched him dance and I gave Z a 100-baht note to tip him. I can confirm that Myanmar dancer is not just working at Dreamboys purely as a dancer. He is available for off. He has a number on his white shorts and he went on rotation on stage with the other guys. So it seems that Dreamboys doesn't hire only Thai guys. They have guys from the other countries as well. At 12.15am, the coyote dancing began signalling the start of the 3rd show of the night. Only 6 guys dancing compared to 9 guys on Friday. When they ended, 3 guys received 100-baht tips each while the best 3 dancers received 1000-baht garlands each to applause. Z and I left after coyote dancing. I said bye to him. "See you next year, Myanmar boyfriend," I said to him as I hugged him. "See you next year, Singapore boyfriend," he replied.

You’ve told us that it’s been years since you’ve been in a gay bar and I take you at your word. I’m just winding down a two-month visit. I visit massage shops in Silom or Saphan Kwai daily. Every evening I’m circulating around Silom and have a pretty good handle on the gay scene for lack of a better phrase. The boys I’ve come to know are not here illegally. They make their regular border runs to keep their passports current. The bar scene has evolved. The biggest change was not the result of lack of business but the sale and redevelopment of Soi Twilight. Many of the bars migrated to Patpong 2 and Soi 4. I believe that the bar owners like the variety the ASEAN boys bring to the table. Certainly the customers do. There is certainly no denying that sites like Grindr have altered the dating scene and will continue to do so. But there’ll always be enough of people like me who want to see the product up close and personal. As for the Army hating the gay scene, I don’t buy it. I spent time in the army and found as many opportunities to meet like-minded people as in civilian life—perhaps even more. Think about it. There were 49-60 young men living in tight quarters and training hard together. No body talked about it but they sure as hell did it. I don’t worry about the elites turning on the gay community. All they want is grandchildren and Thai men can provide those and still engage in other pursuits.

Day 7 (Monday) - last full day in Bangkok on this one week trip and what a packed schedule. In morning after breakfast, I went to nearby St Louis Catholic Hospital to pass some money to my cha nuoi (godson). His condition had gotten worse since the last I met him and he had to be admitted to hospital for 2 nights. He had asked me to help him pay part of his hospital bill during his discharge and I said no problem. The hospital is just next to St Louis BTS. Modern and clean. Cha nuoi was staying on 20th floor. I knocked on door of his room and went in. A nurse was helping him take off the IV drip. Two of his Vietnamese friends were there as well to take him back home. One of them works at same packing and delivery business while the other was a stunner! He had tattoos on his left arm and was well-built. I had to ask. "You work in bar?" "Yes," he said in very low sexy voice. "Which bar?" "Jupiter." I was half-expecting that answer. I thanked him for looking out for my cha nuoi and then proceeded to ask him for his Line account. "Ok. No problem. My name is Man. You good friend. You help Tiep (cha nuoi's Vietnamese name) long time." "You good friend. Tiep sick and you help him." I swear cha nuoi was rolling his eyes at my shameless flirting. After the nurse finished her task, she left the room and I passed cha nuoi the money. I said my goodbye and wished him quick recovery and of course I also said goodbye to good friend from Jupiter.

That's the most unsuspicious way to sneak 4 gogo boys into a hotel room!

There are long lists of these people: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspicious_deaths_of_Russian_businesspeople_(2022–2023) "...Ravil Maganov, chairman of the national oil company Lukoil, fell from a Kremlin Hospital window under suspicious circumstances, according to reports: CCTV cameras had been "turned off for repairs", Putin was visiting the hospital the same day, and associates did not believe he was suicidal...". Whether or not you personally witnessed this event is dumb and irrelevant. Do not continue to make a fool of yourself by denying what is documented and common knowledge. You continue to intentionally make false statements of fact, which are easily disproven, and this only makes you come off as a liar. And your continued arrogant refusal to use google translate doesn't make you look any wiser (though at least this time I understood what you were trying to say).

At 9.30pm, I went off to pick up the guys for my blackjack party. I had been in contact with them individually via Line the past few days about the arrangements. I have known them for years and taken them off individually. Now it has become a tradition for me to meet them together. They were all ready for me to pick them up, starting at Banana Bar then Jupiter. Two down, another two to go at Freshboys. I told the first two to get some food from the stalls along Surawong Road while I went up to Freshboys to get the other two. Once our gang of five was complete, we crossed Surawong Road and headed to hotel. We passed by the big Christmas tree at hotel lobby and I asked one of the hotel staff to take a photo of us altogether. In hotel room, we had beer while we played blackjack with me being the dealer. No actual gambling. We used chips and at the end of the game, everyone counted their chips. I gave token cash prize to the guy who won the most. But he had to wear a silly T-shirt out!

Oh! Russia has many ways of eliminating those it sees as some sort of threat to its leaders. There was the poison-tipped umbrella killing of a Bulgarian dissident in London. Being fair that was pre-Putin. Much more recently has been the attempted poisoning in March 2018 of Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury in England by a Novichok nerve agent. It was the first known use of a military grade chemical agent on European soil since WWII. That attempted murder failed when not enough of the poison found its way into their bodily systems. But Russia was accused of attempted murder of double agent Skripal and led to the explusion of an unprecedented 153 Russian diplomats. 28 other countries agreed and all expelled Russian diplomats. In June 2018, two British nationals were also infected with Novichok and also close to Salisbury. One died. He had found a perfume bottle in a litter bin. It was later proved this had been left by the Russians in March. The public enquiry traced the poisonings to Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov. Both were later identified correctly as Russian GRU agents operating under false names. Both are part of the highly secretive Unit 29155 of the GRU. Petrov is in fact Alexander Mishkin and Boshirov as GRU Colonel Anatoliy Vladimirovich Chepiga. It was later discovered that both travelled on passports with just three digits separating the numbers. These fell within the range of a Russian military official earlier expelled from Poland for spying. The nerve agent was identified as Russian Novichok developed by the Soviet Union in 1980 by the Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons along with British laboratories. Vil Mayazaranov, a former Soviet scientist who had helped develop the Novichok range of chemical weapons, stated that hudreds of people would have been effected by residual contamination and the Skripals would be left with debilitating health issues for the rest of their lives. Interestingly the two Russian GRU personnel were interviewed by Russian TV in September. They claimed they had flown to Britain as tourists - for just two days? Who did they expect would believe that? And the only object of their tourism was not to see London or do anything in the UK other than to see Salisbury Cathedral which theyclaimed they had heard was worth visiting! And as if anyone would believe that! They shouldn't because the local street cctv cameras showed they never went near the Cathedral! The BBC traced one of the perpetrators to his home in Moscow. He only said he had been a tourist before shutting the door. The end result was that Putin was furious at the botched attempt to murder Skripal and ordered a purge of senior officials in the GRU. The head of the GRU "died" 2 months later. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/dec/26/skripal-poisonings-bungled-assassination-kremlin-putin-salisbury

Yes, just don’t get caught saying anything favorable of gay rights in Russia. 🙂

You know what they say, you secretly love what you say you hate. You keep trash talking Brazil but you keep going.

You fail to acknowledge that they will be replaced by those who are now a decade younger. That’s how it’s been from day one. The faces will change but the beat goes on. The need for sex and affection is not some passing fad.

I've never understood the foot thing, but I've never really gotten drag either. The older I get the less dogmatic I am about types. However, I would say that I am also visual first - a cute (to me) face and nice haircut get my attention. And a fit athletic body is nice to look at and explore. If I'm paying for it I think I have a bit higher standard when it comes to looks and body. But for sure I'm also very much in the tactile camp when it comes to the sexy things and gravitate more towards massage as well. I've never been into the buttsex thing so that part is all lost on me. But I am happy to oral all day long. There's definitely something to be said for simple cuddling/body contact. I think it's good for your soul and certainly releases lots of endorphins.

From The Nation Giant retail chain Big C is pushing its flagship branch — Big C Rajdamri — in the heart of Bangkok to be Thailand’s No. 1 shopping destination for tourists. The superstore in Pathumwan district features local brand products that make perfect souvenirs in representing Thailand’s charms and uniqueness to global audiences. Located in the heart of the city, opposite CentralWorld shopping mall and near the famous Erawan Shrine, Big C Rajdamri has gained a reputation among foreign tourists as a shopping landmark that offers Thai products and delicacies at affordable prices under one roof. The popularity of Big C Rajdamri has prompted the company to plan the launch of five new “tourist stores” in primary and secondary tourist cities across Thailand, for example, Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai, with each location focusing on products that carry geographical indication (GI) of its respective province.

my thought exactly , you beat me to it by 1 minute. I wanted to say ' relative novelty value" also , again relative shortage of travel information.