Gaybutton

Thank you! For about three years I've been trying to remember the name of that bar. Yes, That's it! And your description is exactly the way I remember it. I've always wondered about that clich

Of course, it is best to check what comes out of the machine while you're still standing right there and if a problem occurs, call the bank immediately. You should still call the bank. They might have some way of verifying the mistake and getting your 500 baht back to you. I doubt this was a deliberate rip-off. It seems to me like some sort of glitch in which a 500 baht note got mixed up somehow with the thousand baht notes and you wound up finding it.

Thai language media is reporting that a Sunee Plaza male has been arrested in connection with this death. That's all the information I have. Strange that none of the English language media has said a word about it.

Sure, if you want to be ridiculous. Go ahead then, based on that idea, and explain why Thais build stages for their own performers everywhere you look, including places where the presence of farang would be extremely rare. Explain why, not very many years ago, these bars were fun places to be and the go-go boys were far more enthusiastic than they seem to be now, but the stages and the head levels were precisely the same then as they are today. Head levels had nothing to do with it then, and head levels don't even begin to explain the atmosphere of these bars today. Do you truly believe that if the bars were redone so that the head levels were changed, now the boys would become much more animated?

Sounds good to me . . . All he has to do is cancel the service, after which he opens the same service again. Now he's a new customer.

I have thought about it, and it makes zero sense to me. Where is this idea coming from that being on an elevated stage makes the boys uncomfortable? Since when? Most of the bars have always been like that, even when they used to be fun. Now all of a sudden being elevated on a stage is a problem for the boys? They're perfectly willing to be there, close to naked, many "whipping it out" and masturbating in front of onlookers, and not only willing, but wanting to go with total strangers for sex, but being on an elevated stage is what makes them uncomfortable. Right. Whatever the reason is, that ain't it. I doubt it is even a remote factor.

I don't agree with that idea at all. How, then, do you explain the fact that the Thais themselves build stages for performers for their own shows and performances, even in the most rural areas? Based on what you are saying, I would think they would be more likely to build structures resembling the Colosseum in Rome or ancient Greek theaters. Of course, if your idea is correct, then the solution in the bars is simple. Just switch things around. Put the customer seating on the stage and have the go-go boys dance on the floor . . .

I think that's a decision you have to make on your own. All you'll get from a question like that is "my choice is better than your choice" comments. You'll have some people telling you Bangkok is the best choice, followed by "No. no. Chiang Mai," with others telling you all about how Pattaya is best, and still others telling you why they like their other, lesser known places. How could that help you? You need to spend time in different cities and towns and decide for yourself. If you are unsure where you want to be, then once you come to Thailand, spend some time, better still a few months, in one area, a few months in another area, and so on until you decide "this is the place" or even the possibility of "whoops, Thailand is not for me after all."

Your report is, unfortunately, quite accurate and many of the boys are having problems due to the lack of customers. I believe at least part of the reason is what is being brought out in the 'Missing the "Old Days"' thread, that some bars are very enjoyable and others are just dull and lifeless. Why would some bars be packed and others virtually empty? I would not attribute it to how attractive the boys may or may not be. That's because what constitutes 'attractive' is such an individual thing that there really is no way to say this bar or that bar has unattractive boys. While that may be true for some, those same 'unattractive' boys may be exactly what others are looking for. I truly believe it is the demeanor of the bar itself. Speaking for myself, I don't care how attractive the boys may be, but if the bar is not providing a good time, I leave. I would much rather take my business to a bar that might have boys less attractive to me, but I am enjoying it and having a good time. Very sorry, bar owners, but somehow I don't have a good time in a mausoleum where the music volume is breaking my eardrums. I also don't see how bars that permit their mama-sans to bullshit their customers can expect repeat customers or even first time customers when the word spreads. If it's anything I can't stand, it's when you consult the mama-san, tell her what you want, and she hooks you up with a boy who has no intention of doing any of whatever it was you were looking for. In your case, you were flat out lied to by both the boy and the mama-san. If you happened to be someone here on a short term holiday, one you may have been scrimping and saving for all year, and something like that happens, it can ruin the holiday. One thing is for sure, if you ask a mama-san for something specific, you can bet you'll never hear "not have." I still don't know why the bars insist on employing these mama-sans in the first place. Some are very good and really will hook you up with a boy willing to do whatever it is you are seeking. But they are rare. Actually, for me, willing to do doesn't cut it. To me, that implies reluctance, but he'll grin and bear it for the tip. Thanks, but no thanks. I would want a boy who at least enjoys whatever it is I am seeking and that's what a good mama-san will provide or tell you honestly that none of her boys would want to do that. You would think that during these slow times a bar owner with half a brain would do something to liven up their bar and attract customers - you know, like maybe getting their go-go boys to actually go-go dance? Offering customer incentives? That might be a good start. But doing virtually nothing else other than raising prices seems to be the only thing some of these bars ever try. They've tried that and what is the result? Even smaller customer numbers than before. Works great, doesn't it? Over the years we have made suggestions to the bar owners time and time again and on the "Old Days" thread we're doing it again. Maybe they'll finally listen. But I doubt it. I guess some just won't be happy until the "For Sale or Rent" sign appears on their door.

I use Gay Romeo quite often, but I've never seen that statement. I'm not sure what it is supposed to mean, but it certainly appears to be something negative. I'll look for it and see if I can get anything from the context.

I agree too. The only go-go bar I can think of where the boys are on the same level as the customers is Euro Boys. The key word is "fun." I like the way Pattayamale puts it - that it's more like watching a movie. Somehow, when the boys are on a stage there is a loss of interpersonal contact and relationship. Now that it has been mentioned, I do feel more as if I am watching a performance - that is when the boys actually perform. In most bars it's still boys chatting amongst themselves, staring at themselves in the mirrors, doing only the "one-knee shuffle," making little or no eye contact with the customers, and often looking bored out of their minds. Pattayamale also points out that some bars have the fun feel. Some. Why not all? We've discussed this on the board so many times over the years that I've lost track of how many times it must be by now. The bars are crying for business. And yet the only go-go bar I've seen that is making a genuine effort recently to do something about it is Krazy Dragon. Mark, at least, has sense enough to be trying to give his customers what they want. When we 'spoke' on this very board, Mark got the message and listened. Too many of the other go-go bars have made no changes at all, and they can't figure out why their customer numbers, and amounts spent by the few customers they do get, are continuing to be less and less. If the bars would start making the kinds of changes we keep posting about, I, for one, would be in the bars a hell of a lot more often than I go anymore. And I'll betcha I'm not alone in that. When I go to the bars, I'm hoping to have an enjoyable time. I'm not going to the bars to sit there looking at a meat parade of boys who seem to want to be just about anywhere other than where they are. Sometimes I feel as if "go-go" is the wrong term anymore. It is all too often more like "stop-stop." Once again, bar owners, do something to make your bar a fun place to be - a place customers want to go.

I don't double-book, but I've learned to at least have a list of alternate accommodations and telephone numbers with me when I'm going to stay in a hotel I'm not familiar with or have had problems with before. I always ask to see the room before I part with any money. Unless there is absolutely no other choice, I never advance pay, send a deposit, or anything else that might prevent me from going elsewhere if it turns out I don't like the hotel or the room. Most of the time, when they want a deposit to guarantee the room, I prefer taking my chances, especially if there are plenty of other hotels available. Based on your story, this hotel handed you a load of bullshit that they were totally unwilling to put right and they're not exactly the only hotel that does those kinds of things. In Thailand, a problem can be major holidays such as Christmas or New Year's. Many hotels put on "gala" buffets and they're going to charge you for it whether you want their buffet or not. I can understand why they make it obligatory. They don't want to spend a lot of money putting on a buffet and only a few people show up for it. I don't object to that policy. What I do object to is, as far as I have ever experienced, they never let you know about it in advance. You find out about it only when you're checking in.

And if you were never born, then there never would have been any problems . . .

My car is an automatic . . . All my life in the USA I drove left-hand drive. Now that I've lived in Thailand for several years, I've been driving right-hand drive. That means I've had plenty of experience with both. You know what, for me, is the bottom line? Right or left, it doesn't make the slightest bit of difference.

So what? You could have had "miles to go before you sleep . . . "

Well, as long as he called, did you meet him . . . ?

All I know is I have never seen anyone hanging around washrooms. Even if I did, I doubt I would be so inclined in a toilet. However, if he's interested in coming back to my room with me, that might be a different story. The washroom there offers a wee bit more privacy. Actually, that brings to mind another question. You know those telephone numbers you see written on public toilet stall doors? Anybody ever call any of them?

Yes, it must have been us. We arrived shortly before 7:00pm and were the only ones there for quite some time. And it was Friday evening. Next time, drop in and say hello or even join us. If nothing else, you could have gotten our autographs . . .

Regarding ID, when you opened that account, was that ID your passport? If so, was it a tourist visa or a non-immigrant visa?

Over the years I've seen a lot of posts about sexual encounters in public toilets in Thailand. I even see people post recommendations about which toilets are the best ones to go to. I have nothing against sex in toilets if that's what people want to do, but it definitely isn't for me . . . not my cup of pee. Meanwhile, anyone who knows me knows I've gotta go rather often. I've said many times, if I live in Thailand a few more years there won't be very many toilets left that I haven't "annointed." But to this day I have yet to ever see anyone hanging around toilets looking for sex or looking to do anything other than #1 and #2. Now I'm curious. Have you ever encountered anything in Thai public toilets? If yes, where? Got any good stories to go with those encounters?

I don't suppose he mentioned how passengers were supposed to get to and from the airport, even if any planes were coming and going, did he?

That's for sure. As I said, I'm not going to play private detective. But now I'm very curious as to what is going on and what happened, but I'm not curious enough to spend a lot of time trying to find out. I never met the guy that I know of, so for me it's curiosity, not personal loss. I might agree with you if I thought it was a sleeping dog, but this is all too recent to call it a sleeping dog. I'm sure sooner or later the story of what actually happened will come out.

What is it that they don't let you do? I've never had a work permit and I have never had a problem doing anything with their online banking. Yay! Another Dan Quayle fan. And some people think he can't get elected again . . .

Apparently not. Now I'm wondering what it is to Thais.

I am now convinced the story is true. This morning I got two more confirmations. The victim is Jon Pierre. We had breakfast at the Poseidon this morning, which is just a few doors down from La Dolce Vita. They staff at Poseidon knew about it. I did not know until this morning, but Jon Pierre had actually worked at the Poseidon not long ago. Nobody I've found seems to know anything more, but it still strikes me as mildly strange that nothing has appeared in the media and highly strange that La Dolce Vita was open and operating as if nothing at all had happened.