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After the above panegyric to FreshBoys, my remaining days/nights in Bangkok settled into a routine. Thursday dinner at Mango Tree, then jazz club, the return to FreshBoys, I like to be with people who are enjoying life on the stage a in the audience, and performers in the audience. Thursday, the break from routine was to schedule as off with Nam for Friday afternoon. Friday afternoon, Nam came to the hotel. He arrived at early for our meet up. He stayed until almost 6! Don’t jumble to any conclusions! The intermingling of limbs was about the length of a massage. After he had expended himself, he rested his head on my arm, then he started snoring, turned over, stopped snoring. Woke up when CoCo arrived bringing his Pattaya backpack. Nam took a shower, three of us chatted about nothing. Nam left, CoCo and I went back for more German food. I said good bye to Pao, Jazz Club, Fresh Boys still full house. Seated tonight on opposite side of house. At end of show rotation, there were 22 boys in place of the 40 at opening. Numerous offs. CoCo and back to hotel for practice for Pattaya. Up in time to find driver from Mike’s arriving early (as anticipated). Arrived Pattaya to find that is the first day of a two day religious festival. No liquor can be sold, no entertainment venues are operating. We go to Dongtan, more folks on the sands. Hotel arranged for dinner for us two. After dinner we walked the darkened and empty Jomtien. I had been complaining from the drive began from Bangkok of a heavy deep chest cough. While not noticed at the beach, it came back with a vengeance once back at The Poseidon. Then came some chills and my mind goes “Damn I’m getting sick again in Thailand” and well damn it. Coco verified I had a termperature. My body made me sleep, cold sweats. My companion responded with hot and cold compresses, went out a found a pharmacy around 2 in the morning. This was repeated on Sunday. Monday the religious holiday was over and we visited Pattaya, the Walking Street, Boys Town, went back to the beach. Still not at 50%. Up Tuesday morning at 4 to catch my flight to Tokyo on my way to Osaka, where I’m writing this. with time changes, it was over 12 hours on airports and planes and waiting. I said a sorrowful good by. Coco was a health hero. I might get sentimental so I’ll stop. Tonight one of the “Japanese Boy Brothels” will enter my experience databank. Will report in the forum.

Everywhere is located near the metro. Have you never seen a Tokyo subway map? 🤣 PS If you need to get cash from an ATM, the 7Bank ones inside 7-11 stores don't charge for using foreign cards.

The most famous gay area in Tokyo is called Shinjuku ni-chome ("knee-chormay"). I've previously stayed at the City Hotel Lonestar, which is situated within the gay area. However, you can not bring guests back to your room. The trip from the airport depends on whether you arrive at Narita Airport - an hour out of the city - or Haneda Airport which is in Tokyo itself. Download an app called Rome2rio. It gives all the options of getting from point A to point B.

It was recently brought to my attention that Vietnam is contemplating (announced back in February 2024) to extend residence visas to 36 months with multiple entries - including for us retirees. The current offering is for a tourist 90 day visa. The PM asked his colleagues to study this idea and to report back to him with their findings by the end of the 2nd quarter 2024. https://visaguide.world/news/vietnam-plans-to-introduce-visas-on-arrival-36-month-multiple-entry-visas/#google_vignette https://vietnamnews.vn/society/1650991/visa-on-arrival-36-month-multiple-entry-visa-on-the-table-gov-t.html Hopefully, soon the Vietnamese government will announce what they decided.

"God wanted Donald Trump to live so he could lose to a Black woman" ~ bumper sticker I saw ~

Unfortunately the article is behind a pay wall (at least in my neck of the woods). https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3271496/singapore-named-safest-city-travellers-manila-1-riskiest In February, Spartacus published its annual "Gay Travel Index" of cities with the best legal and living conditions for gays that appears constructed not by actual travel experience but rather on an 18-point check list that determines rankings of countries worldwide. Canada, Malta, New Zealand, Portugal and Spain round out the top five. But you have to travel down to #54 to find Thailand, #58 Vietnam, #64 is a tie between Singapore and South Korea, followed by #70 Japan and #84 Cambodia. And if that puzzles you, Colombia and Taiwan tied at #13. As I think Vinapu would say, "go and see for yourself." https://spartacus.gayguide.travel/gaytravelindex.pdf

This was my first time using BKK as a transit connection (from Vietnam). Procedure is relatively simple if you follow signs carefully to "Connecting Flights". At entrance to Connecting Flights point you'll be asked to show passport, boarding pass for your inbound flight and documentation for outbound flight. Although they accepted copy off phone, strongly suggest you have printed itinerary available. Once cleared, your bags are inspected and then you take escalator one level to departure concourse air side. Took only a few minutes. Once air side, look for your airline service desk to do standard check in (they're all close by but usually don't open until about 3-4 hours prior to flight). Many of the international airline lounges are located in the general area.

Specially designed for bone spurs?

Harris campaign raised >$125 mil in 3 days. Meanwhile, Trump is panicking and selling sneakers...

yes and in some places don't forget to pack your baseball bat

Visitors to Chiang Mai might like to try New Circle Club Chiang Mai - its in the Chang Phuek area not too far from Adams Apple and a short ride from the old town - there is a Facebook page with photos of available lads. Also there are lads at both Orion and Connections bars in Soi 6 of the Night Bazaar - same soi as Ram Bar. Services negotiable at both bars.

My time in Thailand has been mainly visiting/recreation thus far. Since I plan to retire in Thailand in a few years, I am concerned that I will grow bored after a hectic working life. So was thinking that I may take on additional studies - pursue a doctorate program in Thailand perhaps. Does anyone here have any experience with higher learning institutions in Asia? 1. Is Thailand's universities a good (and relatively cheap) choice? 2. Is it difficult to enroll? 3. Are cute teaching assistants available (just kidding!) I'd appreciate any thoughts you may have!

From Pattaya Mail There was a packed PCEC audience on July 24 to hear and discuss a host of expat subjects. Duncan Foster, company director of MOT’S services on Soi Khaotalo, explained that foreigners attending the immigration bureau have to expect a lot of officer discretion these days. “The immigration bureau nationally issues broad instructions, but each local office uses its discretion about the precise paperwork required,” he pointed out. Duncan, who has 36 years of experience in customer service in UK and Thailand, said it was important to recognize that local immigration offices were in some senses “franchises”, responsible to the government for fee collection and monitoring of foreign visitors. MOT’S has been in business since 2010 and offers a full range of visa services which, he said, are the cheapest and most hospitable in East Pattaya or Dark Side. He also updated the meeting with changing regulations for Thai driving licences. When applying for or renewing a driving licence, applicants must now have a valid visa for at least 15 days beyond the appointment date. Duncan then warned about a common boiler-room scam on the internet which offered to provide driving licences without the applicant needing to appear in-person at the land transportation department. The second speaker, Barry Kenyon, brought the meeting up to date with the latest immigration news about 60 days visa-exempt entries and the Destination Thailand Visa. He said they were proving controversial from a security viewpoint as prior-entry vetting had been largely abandoned, whilst expats wondered if their bureaucratic annual extensions of stay and expensive Elite visas were worth the money. “I doubt we have heard the last of updates to the new initiatives,” Barry said. The audience asked both speakers a variety of questions on their subject matter. These covered the ins and outs of international driving licenses, door to door services for immigration customers, problems relating to the 90 days and TM30 address forms and the different responsibilities of the foreign affairs ministry and the immigration bureau.

tell us something we don't know

As a general rule: if you have both flight in one ticket, and/or your luggage is registered from the start till the end of your final flight, then it is possible. But if your luggage is registered only till airport of transit, then usually they will ask to cross border, pickup luggage and then again to register to flight in main hall. In many airports also exists rule, if your transit time is longer than 8 hours and you don't need local visa for to leave transit zone, then they will push you to leave transit zone and register as regular passenger, esp. if 8 hours are night hours.

Your geography knowledge is expanding....this site is so educational.

I think this is mostly because of the internal conflict going on in Myanmar. It doesn't much reflect the petty or street crime in there. I've only went to Myanmar once, 7 years ago so during their brief "democracy" period, but I remember that it felt really safe, especially considering the level of poverty in there. Remember even Lonely Planet mentioning something along that line. They explained by saying that during the long military junta the punishments were really harsh, even for the pettiest of crime. Well, Manila has definitely more crime than BKK, Phnom Phen, Hanoi or even Jakarta. Remember going there the first time around 15 years ago and making the mistake of staying in Malate/Ermite, having read that it was the gay area. It definitely felty more chaotic, dirty and more dangerous than BKK and PP. Obviously, the jury was lacking any rice queen.

Chicken with nuts plate looks yummy. Vote Trump advice generates urge to vomit though ( not related to dish just consumed)

not a healthy diet

Twice, I was almost "tricked" by Google Calendar. I would enter my flight details in Google Calendar, including flight number, departure terminal and departure time. Years ago, I didn't fully realize that how Calendar worked and I simply entered the time of departure without noting the time zone. E.g. , for the return leg of Bangkok-paris-bangkok, I would enter 21:00h when the booked flight was scheduled to leave paris at 9pm. I was almost caught out. After as several weeks in France, I could not remember details of my return flight. No problem. That's why I had put details into Calendar. Except that, the day of my departure, it showed 15:00h. I cancelled my lunch appointment to rush to the airport but once there I realised it was still departing at 21:00. Google had converted my departure time from 21:00 Bkk to 15:00 Paris!

I bet they are and they should. Now they have their pick who is old, possibly fragile , with doubts sown of how he will perform at end if his demanding term when he will be even older.

Patnawet already explained, my post removed

proof that one can be business genius and still idiot

Conversation between a friend of mine and their departing guest while in a car well on the way to the airport: "which terminal, North or South?" "No, Four". It's a good thing LHR and LGW label their terminals differently, or the mistake might not have been noticed until much too late.

Vance’s comment that one should “Work hard and play by the rules” is laughable, coming from Donald Trump’s running mate. Trump himself is guilty of tax fraud, falsifying business records to influence the 2016 election, illegal acts in operating the now-defunct Trump Foundation, and was found liable for sexual assault. He cheated on all three of his wives - sometimes with the next wife. Quite the rule-follower.

So before you complained that Biden was too OLD..... So now we have someone younger..who is more than well qualified..... So are you now suggesting that a crook and convicted Felon is the better choice than a federal prosecutor who served 4 years as VP. Those are the only 2 choices we have, so i dont understand your argument ? Or is the idea of a Dictator in America more appealing to you and your countries agenda ?

Stephen Colbert to Trump: ‘If you want to steal Biden’s thunder, all you have to do is drop out’

When Trump loses 2024, besides denying his loss, he will undoubtedly blame JD Vance for being too radical for public consumption. Eventhough he will fight to overturn his loss result, JD will go under the bus.... If Trump was smart, he would just slink away..... BUT Trump is not smart, and even as a loser 2.0, he wants to stay top-of-news... His courts cases will allow him to stay in the news.....Nothing will SAVE his dignity, not even condolences from EmmetK. "JD made me Lose !"

Senator Kelly checks all the boxes for me. Border state, swing state, Navy fighter pilot, astronaut, gun control, center right, appeals to independents and moderate Republicans, same age as Harris. (And why of why do I think the Rethuglicans will try to swift boat him...)

wonder no, worry yes. It's always worrying if unpredictable and autocratic country tries to expand it's sphere of influence.

tell them you don't like having suitcase in the same room where you sleep

also Japan and Poland, both above South Africa and Brazil ? and Belarus in level 4- do not travel ? the same level with Yemen, Somalia an Haiti ? To put it politely , that list doesn't look like being exactly accurate

Trump calling Harris dumb as bricks. Nonsense. My dream would be to have Harris challenge Trump to appear on Celebrity Jeopardy with her. Forget the debates, let's have her cream him on US State Capitols, or USA Constitutional Amendments, or Supreme Court Decisions, or USA Allies.

Next week, each day Joy Reid on her show on MSNBC will be dissecting P2025 chapter by chapter. This is what Americans need, so that they understand simply and clearly it full intent. Many of the policies in it are veiled or weighted by language most Americans cant understand... Once its unpacked for them, they will be able to see the damage it proposes.

Like all other bars. Strict Buddha holiday.

Will try to ditch my friends and hop in to have a look tomorrow if possible. Hope the show is good or let me see some dicks. Hahahaha

Ha! and you think you are clumsy. A couple of times (once when I was in CDMX and once in RJ), I bought the right tickets but then got confused about the return date. I did not lost my flights because of the last minute alerts in my phone, but I had to pack in a rush, cancel my plans and dates, and run to the airport. Now I have all my alerts set for 24 hours before.

I think the motives people have for becoming Trumpsters have little to do with affection for the man himself. There's a minority group of wealthy individuals who are interested solely in a candidate who may be good for their business interests. The second and most dominant group are white, working class Americans who seek instant inclusion in a political movement that satisfies their need for being among like-minded individuals. Acceptance is instantaneous and gives their life renewed purpose. It's a waste of time for Democrats to try to present candidates that might attract Trumpsters. The Dems need first to excite their base. Without the votes of the base it's impossible for them to win. They also should seek the dwindling number of undecided voters but the emphasis has to be on the bread and butter democrats. They represent the the population most likely to go to the polls. If early indicators are correct--and I believe they are--Kamala Harris is the best person to do it. I trust her to select a running mate that will boost her party's appeal.

Those people still know right from wrong, so they dont get any pass from me.....It says alot about these people that they choose to ignore, and look the other way for some Fantasy they have about having a BAD BOY in power, who breaks rules, ignores laws, and enriches himself off the backs of others. They emulate that, they are scumbags. Think about it: A Convicted FELON President - Whats wrong with them ? The real problem IS that they are dangerous and we cant ignore them. The bigger the cult becomes, the bigger the problem is.

+1

In Maha massage soi 6 there diminutive guy who looks like miniature of full sized bodybuilder with steely muscles. His name /nick is Nut

I was in Chiang Mai ~6months ago. Adams Apple Bar was good. They had a varied selection of guys when I went; but as with all go-go bars, the guys that are there can change like the tides. For something more along the lines of fun.. I don't think you can go wrong with RAM bar, it's a fantastic show, and different each night. I found myself going back night after night. However, Chiang Mai has an entirely different vibe to Bangkok. Expect things to be much quieter, and much less choice. Don't forget to spend some time during the day exploring the temples and coffee shops.

I'm surprised the golf cart didn't tip over from his extreme gross weight.

While in Marrakech, make sure to spent nights in Jemaa el Fna. So much fun!