vinapu

I just put Hua Hin as idea - it is after all it's Royal family vacationing ground or at least was so must have some charm and class. My only contact with beach in Thailand is when I visit Fresh Beach Boys bar in Soi Twilight so take my advice lightly in sun and sand field. Don't panic about rain - likely it will rain but those are not whole day deluges, rather intensive but usually short. Silom area is the best to stay , wise choice from every angle. If you get nostalgic food wise visit Small Middle East / Africa between sois 3 and 5 on Sukhumvit / BTS Nana /, for while you will feel removed from Bangkok. If inclined for more touristy stuff do not forget about Snake Farm, almost across the street from Soi Twilight, shows at 11 and 2.30, each different. As for more mature boys, try Hotmale bar and Tawan, that one for muscle lowers only. As for sauna and preference for tourists and older men, sounds as invitation to visit Babylon sauna, short taxi hop from Silom.

Whatever you do , you are in for a blast ! I'm last person to give beach advice but try do some research and consider possibly Hua Hin , closer to Bangkok. Do not spread yourself to thin by trying to visit too much, Bangkok can keep you occupied for days on and on. Don't worry about it being dead on weekends, certainly this is not Europe and city is alive 8 days a week, not just 7. City is big but fortunately all things which may interest you / shopping , sights , gay life / are close or well connected with public transport, mainly MRT / underground / and BTS / overhead rail /. Visit to Grand Palace is a must, even if you do not like sightseeing. Go there by river bus-Chao Praya Express , scenic and very cheap instead of taxi trip. Be there early, open at 8.30 as crowds are unbearable from 10.00 on. DO NOT WEAR SHORTS ON TEMPLE VISITS. When using public transport remember again you are not in Europe and tickets for BTS can't be used for MRT or other way around even on adjoining stations so plan accordingly. For shopping try Chatuchak weekend market, just for experience. If luxury shopping is your thing, stretch of Sukhumvit between Siam and Asoke stations will keep you busy and your pocket drained although you may find prices more attractive than in Tel Aviv. If you are coming in Sept or Oct take umbrella with you and be prepared for heavy rains, do not be afraid, will not be raining day long but if it rains it does with gusto! As for food , accommodation, saunas , bars etc., whatever is recommended on this forum will serve you well but go with your guts and try not to spoil your first vacations there with too much of central planning. I would not stay in Khao San area, it may be backpackers heaven but too far from other attractions so you will be spending time and money in taxis. As for non-commerial sex, saunas, Gay Romeo , Grindr and parties other will advise you as this is not my thing. Good you are not familiar with process of taking guys from bars-this you your chance of familiarize yourself and your friend with process, chance most posters here are deprived of because we already used it in the past. Can't express how I envy you. Treat boys well and tip them properly. Ironclad guarantee you will remember fondly you first foray into Bangkok go-go bar for long time. This is what vacations are for-to familiarize yourself with unknown, don't waste vacations on familiar-this would be receipe for boring vacation and boring life. Hope I don't sound to patronizing, my apologies if I do. As for Question 3#, it's fine if you think you prefer tourists than locals, we all have our preferences. But if you are coming by your own admission , for sex among other things do you really need to spent all this time flying from Lod to Swampy to fuck some Canadian or Greek? Local component will not disappoint you, take my word, it's why we are on this forum , not some South Sandwich Island one. Whatever you do make sure you enjoy your time in Thailand and do not forget to report your impressions here after you return. Shalom !

IMHO facial hair was dominant throughout history as it was pretty hard to get rid of until modern razors were invented which made shaving easy and kind of enjoyable. In future it will be probably left to vagaries of fashion and so will be sales of shaving equipment. At the moment beards are "in '' so razor sales are down. Another contributor may be quality, I used to change razors every month or so , now it lasts 3 and with age facial hair is not becoming softer ! Would not dream about leaving home unshaven but I still have my original mustache , never shaved above upper lip in my entire life, just trimmed from time to time. Apparently this is not sign of much of class but who cares? Personally I don't care about other's facial hair but don't like look of unshaven face for day or two, grown beard looks OK . I thank God Thai boys tend to be smooth all over as I do not like body hair on my companions. On another hand I hate clean shaven pubes, way too girly, if I want girl would be camping on other side of Suriwong. According to vivid discussion on the subject I found on Singapore's Blowing Wind gay forum shaving ' there ' is becoming worrying trend / for me at least /, but this is another subject although Rogie started post with 'manhood ' in the title. so I feel still on the subject. So it looks there's no consistency at all in how I look on issue of body hair but at least I consistently I never dilute my gin with anything, not even tonic

Right above SCREWBOYS go-go

Breakfast very basic but good enough, no problem with joiners. Hotel is right beside BBB INN so Soi Twilight is just behind the building ,may be 60 meters not 0.6 km , no need to cross street even. Good value for money

Rogie, you answered my other question before I even asked / access from Thai side /, thank you waiting for pictures Temple features also on new 2000 riel Cambodian banknote and by the way - this is very popular post among visitors to this board, it must be high on google list when one searches 'Preah Vihar" . At the moment there are 6 uses reading, yesterday it was even more when I was typing my post.

No there's no doubt but history of humanity is history of conquer written by the winners. Plenty of nations are sitting on territory robbed from somebody else in distant or not so distant past and likely are not moving anywhere bar the war. And who needs the war other than military-industrial complex like Eisenhower said?

and this is beauty of taxi situation in Bangkok-hell or high water, there's always another on in sight. My first taxi ride in BKK was metered , no problem. It was from Don Muang airport / 2001 / . Few seconds after we start moving driver asked me if I want a girl for massage, 'no , I don't want, I'm tired after long flight", ' you will be sleeping , she will be massaging you', ' no thank you ', " OK, I have a boy for you ', this was our converastion. I'm not making this up. I did not take his offer but still am grateful that he was so forthcoming in introducing joys of Thailand to me. I know right away it will be easy.

Did you go there from Thai or Cambodian side of border? From one can see at miniature park Muang Boran outside of Bangkok site looks very intriguing and well deserving visit

There's easy way to avoid all that frustration we are discussing here. Look around your place, check your closets and ask yourself this question; " do I really need this thing? ", often works miracles both to your well being and contents of your pocket. In connection with original post I noticed that buying shoes for your boy special I noticed this is highly effective way of putting long lasting smile on their faces as long as you do not try to treat purchase as substitute for due tip. For boys with few offs a month this is really big ticket item they sometimes can't afford for a while

Reason of using or not either or both options would be somebody's preference. Often one reads in posts that thanks to GR they don't frequent bars anymore, hence OP wonder how bars are affected. I like anonymity, thrill on approach and instant gratification of go-go scene. Don't like registration, logging-in and all this undressing process on any website, not only sex related. (Ads for hotels I booked for my May trip to SE Asia are still appearing when I go to e-bay for example. It looks that internet forgets nothing) And don't see any value in vacations spent glued to handset or screen. But this is preference , not insistence that bars are better than GR or other way around. I sense that residents or frequent visitors are looking at the issue from different angle than casual and short term visitors. If one is in Bangkok or Pattaya few days likely no day goes without visiting bar, if one lives there it would become bore very fast. To answer initiating post I think bars will carry-on for reasons outlined . But there may be go-go bar admirers which will backstab them by migrating to massage venues. I'm one of them but this is another subject

You are ! your post about Max from Pattaya and his friend Donut in Gay Romeo section of this board in my favorite and hardly day goes without me revisiting it, not so much for narrative but photo you placed. ( I' m not trying to kiss anybody's butt here, although gladly would Donut's )

How much more he wanted that you put yourself through this? On my way from and to airport everywhere I tend to just get over it and tend to pay what I'm quoted . But usually I'm well prepared with what price should be so wouldn't pay too much over the going rate. But this is general, in Bangkok I used taxi to/from airport 3 times in 8 trips, twice it was meter no problem, once paid almost double but was still happy (heavy rain ) You right, once inside you are trapped !

Not necessary weaker position, as Rogie noticed in following post, one inside you are trapped. As for customer /servant part -it's just too much of capitalistic propaganda you are subjected to. Free market-he offers service at stated cost and condition and you are free to take it or look somewhere else. I usually open door, state destination and wait for nod or quotation. If there's no quotation as soon as taxi starts running I indicate need for meter, usually like you I sit at front so just a tap on meter does the trick. Sometimes I doesn't work and we need to stop in order for me to get out, sometimes I just swallow my pride and pay what is asked for or try to haggle. But this is general - in Bangkok really never problem with taxis with exception of really bad weather when I understand driver is taking advantage of. In such a case I'm grateful he was there

Free market at work. Some enterprising guys if they sniff client is new to Thailand and bar scene are trying to extract as much as they can get away with. I personally don't see anything wrong with that. We take for granted that everybody is well informed but not always is a case. Truth is , some people coming for first time is doing proper research of what to expect, bar tips included. So some people don't have a clue and it goes both ways. Some are overpaying because smarties are asking them to , some are surprised that bar fee did not cover everything and they are supposed to pay tip to girl or boy. It's why card with tip indicated as in Vassa bar is a good idea. Not everybody underpaying is a cheap Charlie, some simply don't know. On personal note, when first time there , in 2001 I arrived well researched with on exception- somehow did not picked up that is short time and long time tip. So tipped my first guy long time rate after short time meeting. Good bye kiss I received was by far longest in my life so I smell something went wrong but it was 1000 baht too late.

My apologies for resurrecting old thread but couldn't resist. For years on all boards there's doom and gloom predicting demise of go-go bars but somehow they endure. If there's decline reason for this may be attributed to technology like GR, some cause is industry internal as I have impression that it looks that number of massage places and beer/host bars increased, some may be attributed to worsening economic conditions in the West and to improving ones in Thailand. Also demographic may be culprit with lower number of young people looking for opportunities in the sex industry as other jobs may become available. While Gay Romeo and similar websites are certainly more and more popular for reasons explained in posts above I believe go-go industry will stay here for good while. There's allure in visiting bar and feeding eyes with candy available not to mention more hand-on activities. Thrill of climbing stairs to Hotmale or Dreamboys or sneaking through half-dark alley to Jupiter beats surfing GR 8 days a week, 25 hours a day IMHO. It was Devint week or two ago describing in his post about HERO on this board that on approach he felt like unsupervised child in candy store. Certainly he is not new to the scene so imagine thrill newbie feels. Even fact that bar boys are available only for 5 hours instead of 24 like their GR competitors /?/ adds to the excitement as lots of us deep in our heads have still this residual love of hunt and waiting for prey instead of having it on the plate anytime. Another problem we have with technology is that is ubiquitous and possessive, demanding more of our time and energy. What kind of holidays we have if we can't unglue ourselves from our laptops, cellphones, tablets etc.? Do people really spent 22 hours in the air to get there to sit in the hotel room and surf internet for hook ups and check their phone every 3 minutes? From what one sees around and reads in posts is certainly case with many, I'd say their vacation , their lifestyle, their choice but it will be always those who are crowding Silom's sidewalks and Grand Palace temples and in the evening nervously approaching either side of Suriwong hoping for thrill and rarely disappointed / with thrill arrival , not necessary night's companion /. Is somebody getting this kind of heat under the collar it while logging to his laptop? So I say GR is good for those who like availability and convenience and probably lower costs of company and need to feel connected. And bars are good for those who are looking for thrill and instant gratification plus those like myself who are taking vacation of everthing- home , work, daily worries and rituals and of those handy but pesky electronic devices. As for boys I think internet gave them more choice, broadened their client base for those who couldn't bring themselves to bars or are looking for thrill at 7 a.m. and found their bed empty at that time. (Now you know why I'm in long time camp). And if boys are happy so are we, either nervously squeezing tablet or biting nails before we wade into bar.

When salesperson job slowly converted from lifetime carrier to part time job, knowledge of product evaporated from people's minds. Nowadays salesperson job is not to advise and help clients but to watch they don't steal and to escort them to the cash register. It's nobody's fault, it's just we consumers became less demanding and better informed at the same time. At least this is what I think.

I like the place and always stay there at least 2-3 nights on every trip. Not luxurious but comfortable enough. Location can't be beat for Soi Twilight boy bars / literally behind the hotel / and Patpong 'sighteeing'. Rooms spacious and clean, walk distance to MRT / underground / and BTS / elevated rail /. Two condoms always provided and replenished if used. Usually packet of lube too. A/C powerful yet whisper quiet On busy Rama IV street yet quiet inside. Some may complain about absence of elevator but if one is strong enough to entertain his boy should not have problem climbing one or two flights of stairs. They help you with luggage, good way to get acquainted with a boy and ask for massage if you like him. There are massage boys on site , available almost 7/24. Did not see any at 5 a.m but picked one at 2 a.m . They don't approach you uninvited so don't feel intimidated. Very handy if you did not see anybody interesting in bars and still don't fancy lonely night. Or you don't feel like taking siesta mid-day nap alone. Residents have 20% off the cost of massage, regular is 600 for 1 hr. and 1000 for 2 hrs. Word of warning- boys will talk among themselves about you and tip you left so try to be evenhanded if using their services. Snake farm exactly across the street. You may land there for short time as they have ST rooms for 550 up to 3 hrs. Reception will be holding boy's ID during convention, not sure will call you when boy will be leaving to check if all OK as I have habit of walking them down anyways. Two computers in the lobby available if you forgot your laptop.

Some of those rooms have even mirrors on the walls and ceiling, fond memories ! S/T rooms are slightly cheaper than at BBB Inn.

Did not stay but lunched there and food was excellent. Will return.

Was in Fan Club in May enticed by folder distributed on Silom, great selection of boys, probably more than on the picture above. Not sure it was draw of the luck or their standard but massage part was one of the best I ever had in Bangkok and I was taken excellent care of with afters as well. Nice appointed rooms with private shower and even Listerine provided.

Probably you are right with effect on economy and hotel prices although Bangkok is well endowed with hotels so effect on rates may be minimal. Certainly I do not see how it effects me personally as for me BBB Inn, Take a Nap and the likes is what I call better hotels. Not sure ' most ' in "bad for most of us" in you tittle applies as I don't know hotel spending habits of posters but quite a few mentioned that their preference is spending money on entertainment and boys rather than lodging we really do not spent much time in. Not that I consider spending money on luxurious accommodation on vacation waste as some may consider a little bit of indulgence on holidays well earned and deserved treat for themselves and their companions and for others it may be their preferred lifestyle. Lowering tax on luxury items will certainly help as I'm under impression those goods are already priced competitively compare to Europe and North America. I may be wrong on this one though as I travel light and do not shop that much.

Unfortunately along with gem this is pretty common scam and can be easily avoided if somebody bother to do minimal research of destination is going to. Keeping 4000 pound in the hotel room is pretty stupid but I guess they were not experienced travelers or just got carried over by sight of angelic ladies. What is shocking to me is a first sentence " two elderly visitors " , one is 61 another 63, I'd sue for defamation, oops I forgot they don't have money at the moment

While not as luxurious as , say SENSO, boys are never disappointing. In fact this is first gay place I always visit after arrival in Bangkok, on last trip went there 2 times which is rare for me as I butterfly. Both boys were sweet / James and Dit /

I was there in May, got massage guy assigned for me from rotation and nevertheless left very happy with boy , massage and afters, in fact I offed that guy long time later the same day. No showers in rooms but boy made sure room door were locked when we went to shower. I like inside decorations too. Clear tip system there- minimum tip=cost of massage. Hope to be back there in Nov.