Gaybutton

Gee whiz - Let's see - unable to leave your quarantine room for 14 days (even prisoners often get 1 hour per day outside), having to clean your room yourself, having to change the bedding yourself, having to eat in your room, and then when released you still can't eat in a restaurant, the bars and all entertainment venues are closed, stores and shopping malls are open under restricted hours, you can't stop in anywhere for a cup of coffee unless you take it away, there's nowhere to go to have a nice breakfast, you can't enjoy a glass of wine with your dinner unless you buy a bottle of wine in a shop and eat and drink in your hotel room, if you are not wearing your face mask every time you set foot outside your room you are subject to a 20,000 baht fine, you can't swim in your hotel's pool because the pools are all closed, it is difficult to travel out of the province where you are staying and then return, you can't visit any museums or historical sites, everything closes by 9:00pm - and some even earlier. Other than that, what's the problem . . . ?

Not anymore in Bangkok and Pattaya. As of May 1, a 14 day quarantine is required of all arrivals whether you have been vaccinated or not and you are not permitted to leave your room. I don't know whether going to the hotel restaurant is an exception or if you would be required to use either room service or food delivery service. In my opinion a trip to Thailand is not exactly a bright idea under present circumstances.

I, as most of you know, an already in Thailand as a long term expat resident. From where I sit, the only certainty is uncertainty. Every time I turn around, the rules change and/or the requirements for entering Thailand change. I suppose we all can try to guess when farang can go to Thailand again, for all the good that will do, but I believe it all depends on how well Thailand is able to bring Covid under control and how well, vaccine or no vaccine, other countries bring Covid under control. The next question - even if Thailand were to open for tourists tomorrow, you would be coming to what? The bars are all closed. You already can see most of the available boys on the apps - the rest of them have long since returned to their home provinces and obviously are not going back to Bangkok, Pattaya, or anywhere else to work in the bars if the bars are closed. Another factor the boys have to consider - if the bars reopen, how long will they stay open before yet another shutdown. And how many customers will there be to take them off? You can't drink in bars right now because they're all closed. In restaurants, the ones still open, you can't enjoy a glass of wine with your meal. Just about everything now closes at 9:00pm. Social distancing, wearing face masks, and use of apps such as Thai Chana are all requirements - and if you know what's good for you, you better comply. Many hotels are closed. Even if you make a booking for a hotel, can you be certain it will still be open when you arrive? And they too have their own social distancing rules. And their swimming pools are now closed. For the time being, there are also many rules and regulations if you intend to travel from one province to another, and they all have their own rules. As a long term resident I still am very happy I am in Thailand, but my life, for one, is vastly different from being in Thailand as a tourist. My life is well established. I have no need for most of what farang tourists come to Thailand for. I am sorry for coming across so pessimistically, but this is how I am seeing things appearing to be.

For Indian, my favorite is Masala Twist on Jomtien Second Road, near the immigration office. You can also have their food delivered via Hungry Now. I've done that and the food always arrives in good condition and piping hot. For Chinese, some of the high end hotels offer Chinese food - also high end. They're fine if you're looking for gourmet Chinese such as Peking Duck. I'm looking for plain old American Chinese, especially my favorite - Egg Fu Yung. The only way I've been able to get that is to make it myself at home. The closest I can find is Hungry Panda, on Soi Leng Kee, in the same building where China Garden used to be. Their food is available for delivery via Food Panda. If anyone knows of an American style Chinese Restaurant in Pattaya, please post. I've been looking for years, but so far I haven't found one.

Consider yourself very fortunate. I'll put it this way - Josef Goebbels would have been a great admirer - and vice-versa.

When told Joan Crawford had died, her arch rival, Bette Davis said, "My mother taught me never to say bad of the dead - only good. Joan Crawford is dead. Good!" I think miss Davis might have had similar words for Mr. Limbaugh - if I didn't beat her to it . . .

It has been my experience that the second time is better than the first because the young gent loses any shyness after the first encounter. Along with that, I wonder if he thinks I'm any better the second time . . .

The only unusual thing I can see is that anyone would want to own that contraption in the first place . . .

For most of us, probably everyone reading this, the answer is NOT

I don't dispute they are open. I'm agreeing with you. As I said in my post above, I saw for myself that one was open. Personally I don't give a damn whether they are open or not. I don't use them. In the entire time I've lived in Thailand I've been to a "happy ending" massage a grand total of twice, and that was very many years ago. However, if I was using them, I would want to know, not assume or guess, whether they are open legally. For me, that would be the issue. Legally, fine - use them to your heart's (or groin's) content. If they are open illegally, against the Chonburi governor's orders, obviously people will have to decide for themselves whether the risk is worth it. I'm not sure who to ask to get a reliable answer.

I was in Jomtien Complex today, shortly before noon, and I noticed one gay massage shop open. No customers, but it was open. All I know is among the Chonburi governor's orders (Chonburi is Pattaya's province) is massage shops are closed. You say you've noticed some open and I noticed this one. I have seen nothing to indicate any exceptions to the governor's orders, so I don't know whether these massage shops are operating legally. Those of you who do partake, I have no idea how great a risk that might be, or even if it is a risk at all, but I do know foreigners caught in venues open illegally have been getting arrested right along with the Thais. My guess is the penalty would be a bit more than a mere 'don't do it again'. Until it is known for sure whether these massage shops are open legally or not, my advice would be instead of taking the risk and getting the 'massage' in the shop, arrange to have the boy to come to your room and get your massage there. Maybe it will cost a little more, but at least you won't be in any legal jeopardy. I'd say do that, or just stay in your room and have a self-service massage . . .

I doubt they'll even watch or they'll just shut it off as soon as they realize Schwarzeneggar is speaking against Trump. The fact that anyone would still support Trump and would want him leading the USA - well, I think many of you are aware of my "I Don't Get It" list - and I definitely don't get it. I never understood why anyone ever supported him in the first place.

I am truly upset about this news. He was an important contributor on my board too.

Are you talking about firecat69? What happened? How did you find out?

As it stands right now, the domestic rules are set by the governors or each province, which is why there are different rules in different provinces - and sometimes even within provinces. If the Covid problems escalate, the national government might supersede the current provincial rules. Of course, everyone is hoping it doesn't have to come to that.

Hungry Panda in Pattaya is located at the same site where China Garden used to be on Soi Lengkee. It is also available for delivery on Food Panda. I order from them frequently. Try their General Tso's chicken.

Apparently much more than that has now been shut down in Pattaya: ________________________________________________________________________ Banglamung/Pattaya enters highly controlled status, shutdowns of non essential business, bars, malls, etc By Adam Judd 30 December 2020 The Chonburi Governor released an emergency order this morning effective immediately for the Banglamung/Pattaya area to help control the Covid-19 coronavirus situation. (The order specifically says Banglamung/Pattaya, and not all of Chonburi. More information is coming in on this, the majority of recent cases have been linked to Banglamung. It is UNCLEAR if it will affect all of Chonburi, but is very clear that it affects all of Banglamung and Pattaya City.) This is due to an increasing cluster of infections stemming from an original cluster in Samut Sakhon at a seafood market that then spread through an illegal gambling establishment in Rayong, where some of the gamblers also went to Chonburi. The brief and important details are as follows: -Service venues closed, including bars, nightclubs, karaokes, massage parlors, etc –Restaurants take away only. No dine in service. -Malls, retail, etc closed except for supermarkets, drug stores, banks, mobile phone shops. All non essential closed, like clothes, etc. Supermarkets may sell only essential items (food). -All educational places closed, schools, learning centers, vocational schools, etc. -Leisure locations, like bowling, movie theaters, water parks, tourist attractions, etc. closed -24 hour convenience stores must be closed from 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM. There is NOT a total curfew. -Restaurants in hotels can stay open, however can only serve hotel guests. -Public swimming pools closed (As for condos, it will depend on if your condo juristic division considers the pool public.) -Amulet stores, religious artifact stores, temple stores closed -Pool, snooker, etc. closed -Gyms, fitness closed and similar establishments –Internet and game cafes closed -Close massage shop, spas, beauty clinics. (It did not specifically say hair salon/barber shop, waiting for more information on this) -Public parks, exercise areas, playgrounds and any place where people gather closed. -No parties or gatherings -Beaches were not specifically covered in the order. However, as the previous section on parks said any place where people may gather is closed it is likely they will be affected. The order is until further notice with no expiration date. There is not an alcohol sales ban. There is not a curfew or stay indoors order, although people are encouraged to stay at home. The mask mandate from the previous emergency decree is still in effect and one “could” be charged if found outside without a mask, The Pattaya News notes. Governor Phakarathorn Tienchai approved the order. He is also asking residents to stay put, although there is not a strict order/checkpoints, domestic travel restrictions. This is a developing story, we may add more to this document as information comes in. https://thepattayanews.com/2020/12/30/banglamung-pattaya-enters-highly-controlled-status-shutdowns-of-non-essential-business-bars-malls-etc/

I'm not so sure the answer would be reliable. A go-go bar(s) would draw a lot of business away from the beer bars, so I believe it would be more of an incentive for beer bar owners to want to keep things status quo. Of course, the flip side to that coin would be go-go bars in Jomtien Complex would bring more business to the complex itself, potentially providing more business for the beer bars. In any case, if someone does ask, I wouldn't recommend asking just one bar owner. I'd ask several and see what kind of answers you get. If they all are giving the same answer, then I'd believe that more than the answer from just one of the bar owners. If anyone does start asking, let us know what they tell you.

Perhaps so, but I think that is beside the point. For me, at least, the issue is why there are no go-go bars in Jomtien Complex. For many years I, and probably everyone else reading this, have heard go-go bars are not allowed in Jomtien Complex. Now that this is being discussed, we really don't know if that is true. If it is I, for one, would like to know where it is written that Jomtien Complex can't have go-go bars. And if it is written, who wrote it and why? If it is written, has that ever been challenged? I don't even know why, at the few bars where around midnight the boys take off their shirts, they have to wait until then - or do they? If the bar owner wants to work it that way or the boys themselves choose to do it that way, that's one thing. But if it is because of some other reason, what is that reason? Go-go bars in Jomtien Complex would certainly bring in much more business and could very well lead to the resurrection of the Pattaya gay scene. If that happens - and along with it perhaps the gay section of Dongtan beach actually becomes a gay section again - is anybody here going to object? If it turns out there is nothing to prevent go-go bars in Jomtien Complex, that could mean entirely changing the complex complexion of the complex . . .

It was owned by an American. I don't remember his name. He disappeared (or perhaps escaped) shortly after closing Rock Hard. Monty was Australian. His bars were always simply called Monty's.

I don't know. What I do know is from the street you cannot see inside any go-go bars. At Rock Hard the inside of the bar was clearly visible from the street. The back room was not. But the question remains - if go-go bars are not allowed, why aren't they? Who decides?

That seems logical enough, but we just don't know. As for Jomtien Complex, somebody, or a group of somebodys, had to be the one(s) who decided to prohibit go-go bars in the complex, if indeed go-go bars really are prohibited. I'd like to know who and why, but I don't know how to find out. Of course, as I said in an earlier post, it may turn out there was never any prohibition in the first place and the only reason there are no go-go bars in Jomtien Complex is simply because nobody ever opened one. As for why there are no go-go bars in Jomtien Complex, the only thing we really know is that we don't know. Some of you might remember a short-lived bar called Rock Hard. In the back room, out of sight, there was a tiny go-go area, maybe big enough to hold 6 customers. There were never more than 2 or 3 dancers. That bar didn't last very long. I have no idea whether that had anything to do with why the bar closed, but that's the closest to a go-go bar I ever saw in Jomtien Complex.

If there has been 2 go-go bars all along, then it seems obvious to me they are allowed after all. That puts us right back to the question - why are there no go-go bars in Jomtien Complex? If the answer turns out to be they really are not allowed in the complex, who's not allowing them and why and by what authority?

I've never heard of it, but I looked it up and yes indeed - it is a go-go bar, which makes it all the more curious as to why a girly go-go bar is ok, but not a gay go-go bar in the very same vicinity. I wish whoever owns it would also open a gay go-go bar or two . . .