DivineMadman

I have done cleanse/detox stays that have involved some Muay Thai as part of the exercise regime, but I have never done one of the fitness "bootcamps" that I think the OP is referring to. A bit too intense for my taste but for the right person I'm sure it's a great experience. A fun thing about Thailand is that these sorts of places abound. Fitness bootcamp, a week or a month meditating at a forest temple, the pleasure dome of Pattaya. To each his own. I don't think of Bangkok as being a place for these sorts of camps. Certainly Cross Fit classes can be found, but I think the fitness-focussed camps/resorts are elsewhere A quick google search does suggest that they are to be found in Chiang Mai and Phuket (and I'm sure other places). If it's what you want to do then I say go for. Have fun. I've enjoyed the cleanse programs that I've done and always enjoyed meeting the other people in the program. Just a few thoughts that come to my mind: -- I would have an escape plan in mind in case you don't like it. One time I was at a cleanse program and there was a Dutch gent at the same time and he was utterly miserable and lasted, I think, a day and half. Rather than be miserable, he wisely decamped to one of the nearby $15/night beachside bungalows. found a contact who took him foraging for hallucinogenic mushrooms and ended up having a stay much more to his liking. -- You might find that the program is disproportionately women. (If that matters to you.) My non-scientific survey suggests that young women do like to work in a fitness or detox/cleanse program on their holidays, while young men are more inclined to rent and wreck motorbikes with their bros. -- Strictly for me, I would try to match a hardcore exercise program with a cooler location. So maybe January in Chiang Mai? -- You might meet locals working at the camps, but not as participants.

Great adventure report. Thank you for posting.

Seems almost too good to be true, but here is a report that the coach and three "stateless" boys were granted Thai citizenship. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2018/08/08/4-wild-boars-granted-thai-citizenship-official/

I believe that expanding Saphan Taksin to a double track is being planned. (When I don't know.) Personally, I think the worst place is Chong Nonsi any time in the evening rush hour. There is almost always a very long line before you even get to the turnstiles. Makes me feel sorry for all those office workers. The new station between Surasak and Chong Nonsi might help split that horrendous line into two somewhat smaller lines, but of course won't do anything to alleviate the overcrowding of the cars themselves. Still, it's better than taking a taxi....

Scorpion is a beer bar further down Soi Twilight on the "right" side. I think it's an ok place. I don't recommend it highly but don't say to avoid it either. Some years ago there were a few young (but legal) Vietnamese guys who worked there. They did the job they were hired to do and would lure customers into the bar with their youth and cuteness and were happy to sit and chat and get the customers to buy drinks. They were, however, notoriously not-offable. Or if they would go with a customer it was for a very high price and the might be rather limited in what they would do sexually. (Sort of like the models at Moonlight now.) But this, apparently, was a sin that cried to heaven so loud that it still echoes in the hearts of same blue-balled patrons. Why I don't really know, but it is what it is. As others have pointed out, repeatedly, whenever this same shibboleth rears its bitter head, those particular guys are gone. So it's no longer true. Repeat. No longer true. (Dare we say, "Fake News"?) A point that I've made before is that their role as "drink bait" was done with the full understanding of the bar manager, so I don't think it should be used to justify the endless (and IMHO unmerited) anti-Vietnamese comments. Personally, I think we should always assume that the guys working at the bars have a choice on whether or not to go with me or any other customer. Because, you know, they're human and deserve that bit of respect. So if a cute guy is working at a bar but not off-able, it doesn't bother me. They're still eye candy and maybe a pleasant drinking companion. There's a favorite waiter at Maxi's who is marriage material, I put in the same category. But for some it's just the gift of bitterness that keeps on giving. and giving.

It' called Hot Male 2 and yes, it's a host bar. The guys are enthusiastic and happy to drink with you and are affable and off-able. I think main selling point is more comfortable seating than the usual bar stools.

+1

If it's adventures on the non-sexual variety, I highly highly recommend https://www.elephantnaturepark.org

This should be easy. Step 1. Figure out your budget. Step 2. Have fun within your budget. That's all. No need to waste energy on all this fear of over-paying or fear of being "ripped off." Who really gives a shit? You had fun and stayed within your budget. Oh, Step 3 - don't tell other people they were "ripped off."

thank you. I will do that.

Yes, the "confusion" that I refer to is that is that Spa Bangkok in many ways describes itself as members only but they do offer non-member services. So non-member visitors are welcome there. But for longer term visitors, frequent visitors or residents the "membership" packages are the way to go. The tantric package is, I am pretty sure, members only. But in my experience the manager is extraordinarily nice, so maybe he could make an exception for someone. I don't know.

I guess we're all entitled to come at this issue in our own particular way, but to me it seems a very sad way of approaching this: pick a silly number and potentially miss out on something good that only costs another 100-200 baht (or whatever). There are lots of available guys. But they're all different. So rigid commodity pricing doesn't make sense to me. But if it makes you happy, it's your money, so spend it or don't as you wish.

I get several updates a day from DM Spa, so I think it's still open. (Vinapu- that's just the name of the spa, not a pong-a-gram.) They have a great system where the photos show masseur's role preference and what his minimum tip is (some guys have higher minimum tips for themselves, some lower.) I checked and the last update I got from Peak with the Ramkamhaeng Soi 39 address was July 3. So as long as they're still offering I'ld be reluctant to mark them as closed. (And of course I'ld double check the address in case the guys have relocated). It's one of several appointment-only shops, so no real risk of trekking all the way over there on a whim to be disappointed. Personally, I think it's always best to check ahead before going to any of these out-of-the-way places. And with that in mind, I try to avoid spreading rumors that a shop has closed.

I agree. I think the same rules as we would expect the local guys to follow apply to us as well: Accurate recent photo (with face), accurate age, weight and height.

Different people will invariably have different answers on this one. Here's my two cents. In Bangkok it's Hornet, Blued and Grindr. Hornet is still number one. There's some activity on the Romeo/Planet Romeo app but not as much, and most of those guys are also on the other apps. I pretty much ignore it. There's also activity on the others (Jack'd, etc.,) but not as much. If you like spending time on the apps then of course download and try them all. If you want to focus your efforts, in Bangkok it's those big three and I find Hornet more than enough. FYI - Without having done a scientific survey, I think most of the activity in Bangkok is non-commercial. So a little tact is in order or just wait for them to contact you. My only issue with Blued is a lot of contact from guys very, very, very far way. Outside Bangkok -- with the exception Pattaya -- it's the same with I think less Blued activity. (So Hornet and Grindr). In Vietnam and Cambodia and Bali, Hornet works for me. I'm sure Grindr and Blued also, just haven't tried and I'm not really a fan of Grindr anyway I don't spend enough time in Pattaya to venture an opinion.

I've stayed at Baan Souy. It's quite nice and the staff is wonderful and I believe it does very much market itself as a "gay" resort. http://www.baansouy.com Understandably, it has more of a resort vibe than the hotels in the middle of things. The tradeoff is it's not in the middle of the action. I like to walk a lot and I thought it was an ok walk to Jomtien, but for most people car/taxi/motocy is probably a more realistic and pleasant alternative. With most people bouncinging around between Jomtien and the other neighborhoods, it's just another "bounce." Having said all that, when I do go to Pattaya (which is unfortunately not that often) I prefer to stay closer to the action and when I want a resort experience I look elsewhere.

FYI http://bk.asia-city.com/city-living/news/bangkokians-are-taking-to-social-media-to-burn-new-mahakan-fort-park

+1 I found the people living in the fort very friendly and it was a favorite quaint place to visit. I even have a small birdcage made there. (The other product of the community was fireworks, which I thought impractical to purchase.

Actually, Arena is only semi-transparent. The stated minimum tip is expressly just for shower, naked massage and hand job. Anything more is to be negotiated with the masseur.

I'm pretty sure I saw that Moonlight is closed

It's a long holiday weekend, including Monday (the King's birthday (observed)); therefore, you might expect the usual Bangkok long weekend traffic.

OMG - Sorry to hear about it. Hope it wasn't too painful. "Dulee tua eng" (Take Care of Yourself)

Great line from Anthony Bourdain's last interview: "To mistakes -- because that’s the most important part of travel."

LOL. Yes, it was me. We took a cuddle break and the masseur fell sound asleep.

+1