ggobkk

Always enjoy your reports. Thanks.

I just posted the continuation of my trip in Boy Agencies Osaka Update in the Gay Japan Forum. Hope to return to Thailand before the end of the year. Probably won’t happen and I’ll wait until next spring. So keep the reports, insights, gossip coming.

This is a continuation of my “Return” topic in the Gay Thailand forum. After a ten days in Bangkok and Pattaya, I flew to Japan for another ten day visit, 6 of which were with family and friends. That gave me some time to explore options. I had read the forum topic on boy brothels which intrigued me. I had long ago head of King College but had no experience of it or what are a multitude of others. Without too much exploring I identified the following: chanceosaka,jp kids-jp.com Fragrance-boy.com gym-k.com izakspa.com heroes-Tokyo-jp redline03.com urisen-next.com topboy.yoyyo olive-salon.net/staff jam-so11.com dgdgdg.com (Danshi Gauken) I am sure there are more, just depends on one’s location when in Japan. My travel plans settled me into the Osaka/Kyoto region. I was in Tokyo but only for a lengthy layover on the way from Bangkok to Osaka. After looking at the various sites and I encourage forum members to explore as the majority of the sites provide photos of their “representatives”, details on age, height, weight, penis size and what the guys will get up to or into. Many have info charts to summarize if the subject of the photo will kiss, will fuck, be fucked, do threesomes, whether they smoke or drink, if they will do films, and if they are straight, gay, or bi. As to how well a boy might kiss, fuck, etc there are graphic charts. A circle is a yes, a circle in a circle is a sign of experience. A triangle indicates boy is on a learning curve, an x is no. The sites vary as to how they indicate if a boy is a top or bottom. “Uke” is a bottom. “Maru” and “tachi” are slang for top. Some of the sites will also provide an introduction from the boy, a manager’s view of the boy, and client reviews. Chanceconnects to the boy’s Twitter also gives space to the boy to talk about himself - some are very clear about their erogenous zones. Then there is pricing - it is time based and can range from a hour to overnight. The better sites (my rating) are vey clear about how pricing works, if credit cards(and which ones) are accepted with or without an additional handling charge (as much as 7% at some places). You can book to meet the boy at the agency or at your hotel. Danshi Gauken prices are similar to most give or take a 1,000 JPY. An hour at 14,000 JPY for the office and 13,000 if the boy comes to your hotel. I asked why the difference and was told they don’t have cleaning time/costs for someone going to a hotel. The hour pricing is about $95 USD. Two hours is 19,000 JPY ($129 USD). Overnight /12 hours is 32,000 JPY ($287). One can contrast these prices with Bangkok remembering to add in the off fee and and drinks that may have attached themselves to completing the off. The two hour fee is about 4000 THB. As a culture, Japanese do not expect tips. Your up front cost is also the back end cost (in more ways than one). Whew…got the details out. I used both two hour and three hour bookings as I was testing and exploring. First lesson learned was make sure the agency serves the city your are in. I got caught by the photo and talents of a boy at the frangrance agency. Only to receive a polite explanation that Frangrance didn’t serve Osaka. Second lesson book ahead. Most of the sites similar to some Bangkok massage shops have multiple dozens of photos of boys. Best to check the photos on the “schedule” part of the website to see who is actually available and at what times. These sites will also show the availability for the next several days/nights. Some boys require that they be booked the day before the planned meeting. One of my offs who had this requirement told me it helped him with his own schedule as he was a student and wasn’t into hanging around the agency. The boys I “encountered” were always on time or early. One was arriving at 9:40pm which I thought curious until I realized they had calculated the time the subway would get the boy to my location. He arrived at 9:41. I engaged one boy from kids-japan. This did not go well due to an internal hesitation on my part. The staff at kids-japan are YOUNG, Japanese tend to look young, I thought my choice was a middle schooler and instead of any play took him to lunch. To each his own - this wasn’t mine. Chanceosaka.jp supplied a more mature companion, who was better looking than his photos (this was true in all cases), and more than will willing to indulge me. Skills were superb, no need to play games about kissing or any activities. No Vietnamese cry of “I’m Man”. NOTE: Here’s the scenario as noted in four instances: boy arrives on time or early. Agency has contacted me to confirm boy is coming and ask if a security card is needed for the elevator (this is also a check to see if I was actually in the hotel and in the room I told them). The boy comes in and it’s business. Payment is up front and in cash. Credit cards need to be used at the office. Boy may also be required to call his office to confirm he is with his client. Then it’s shower time. Japanese are very clean and want clients to also be clean. Shower together. It was over 95C every day I was in Japan so shower was also a cooling as well as cleansing. Erotic activities are encouraged, allowed, reciprocated, enhanced while in the shower and they lead to whatever the client indicated he wants. It was in the shower part that I realized kids-japan was too middle school for me. I had one visitor from Danshi Gauken and another from Chance. I really wanted a hook up with one of Chance’s employees “Daiki” but he was booked except for some times that with travel would mean only a handshake could happen. The Chance office manager and I went back and forth about filling a spot in my free time. He suggested I see who was working and interested me and he would check. This worked and an incredibly well hung, tall, and good looking young man knocked on my door a few minutes before the scheduled time. The Danshi Gauken representative was decently hung, incredibly handsome, tall and came with mouth wash, extra towels, and an industrial type lube which I was encouraged to apply generously when it would be needed. Danshi Gauken’s office also impressed me (and it was all email conversations) with their thoroughness and requiring the boy call them when he arrived and was leaving. They also sent a special email requesting I not keep the boy beyond a time when he couldn’t get the last subway train of the night. Given the heat and the crowding in Osaka subway stations, I don’t know what an office experience would be like. My Bangkok experiences lean me toward preferring a crowded group to select from. My Osaka experiences make me rethink. I normally would be wary of choosing from a photo, but the Japanese as a culture are very scrupulous and quality conscious and in the case of Chance and Danshi Gauken the actual was way better than the photos. It’s a different method but the end product was somewhat better than Bangkok as there was no need for in room negotiation and the boys I was with consistently wanted to know that I wanted and how to please me. A final thought not totally related, writing this report caused me to remember some 30 plus years ago in London visiting a house of boys, where one descended a staircase, was checked at the door through a port hole before being admitted, and then after business preliminaries settled, taken to a room when a curtain was drawn to allow me to look at the available boys all shirtless watching television, a boy was selected with no interactions, and I and the boy were taken to a room similar to a hospital room to go our separate ways when finished. Bleak. This was much more fun. In all three full sessions, had the impression I was the center of the experience which was to please/pleasure me.

After a ten days in Bangkok and Pattaya, I flew to Japan for another ten day visit, 6 of which were with family and friends. That gave me some time to explore options. I had read the forum topic on boy brothels which intrigued me. I had long ago head of King College but had no experience of it or what are a multitude of others. Without too much exploring I identified the following: chanceosaka,jp kids-jp.com Fragrance-boy.com gym-k.com izakspa.com heroes-Tokyo-jp redline03.com urisen-next.com topboy.yoyyo olive-salon.net/staff jam-so11.com dgdgdg.com (Danshi Gauken) I am sure there are more, just depends on one’s location when in Japan. My travel plans settled me into the Osaka/Kyoto region. I was in Tokyo but only for a lengthy layover on the way from Bangkok to Osaka. After looking at the various sites and I encourage forum members to explore as the majority of the sites will provide photos of their “representatives”, details on age, height, weight, penis size and what the guys will get up to or into. Many have info charts to summarize if the subject of the photo will kiss, will fuck, be fucked, do threesomes, whether they smoke or drink, if they will do films, and if they are straight, gay, or bi. As to how well a boy might kiss, fuck, etc there can be graphic charts. A circle is a yes, a circle in a circle is a sign of experience. A triangle indicates boy is on a learning curve, an x is no. The sites vary as to how they indicate if a boy is a top or bottom. “Uke” is a bottom. “Maru” and “tachi” are slang for top. Some of the sites will also provide an introduction from the boy, a manager’s view of the boy, and client reviews. One, Chance, also gives space to the boy to talk about himself - some are very clear about their erogenous zones. Then there is pricing - it is time based and can range from a hour to overnight. The better sites (my rating) are vey clear about how pricing works, if credit cards (and which ones) are accepted with or without an additional handling charge (as much as 7% at some places). I used both two hour and three hour bookings as I was testing and exploring. You can book to meet the boy at the agency or at your hotel. Danshi Gauken prices and hour at 14,000 JPY for the office and 13,000 if the boy comes to your hotel. I asked why the difference and was told they don’t have cleaning time/costs for someone going to a hotel. The hour pricing is about $95 USD. Two hours is 19,000 JPY ($129 USD). Overnight /12 hours is 32,000 JPY ($287). One can contrast these prices with Bangkok remembering to add in the off fee and and drinks that may have attached themselves to completing the off. The two hour fee is about 4000 THB. As a culture, Japanese do not expect tips. Your up front cost is also the back end cost (in more ways than one). Whew…got the details out. NOwfor the

While not a weekend, I’ve done a week which includes more than 24 hours of travel time from San Francisco.

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.

It’s now Thursday night and we convene on soi 4. Arrive in time to see Bananas manageres change the base drink price at Banana to 380 THB. Directly across the soi at G’s German Restaurant, Coco and I each choose the pork knuckle special which is a mini-mountain of food. Mostly meat. Good beers, conversation is light and I pick up some of the CoCo background information that I posted early in a reply to vinapu. We joust with Banana’s grabber and catch up on how his son is doing and growing. G’s owner has headed off to Pattaya I so didn’t get more time with him to take in his opinions. Skipping the strudel, we head to the jazz club for an hour of piano and singer melding into classics (e.g“Stardust” ). While at Groovin’ High, the jazz bar, we discussed where to go next. Three clubs still on my list to checkout: Stranger Bar, FreshBoys, & Hot Male. The Stranger Bar has moved from its narrow show case next to (?) Adam Massage to a much bigger appearing from the outside to the left of Jupiter. Decided to start at FreshBoys and depart in time to see Hot Male’s 2nd show. It’s been more than a year since I was at FreshBoys, I have many happy memories and a string of offs from the club’s locations and incarnations on both sides of Surawong. Minh is in his usual spot near to the stairs. I learn that the reason there ares shirtless boys at the top of the steps is both marketing and a cast holding area for the 40 boys in rotation. Inside it’s the same room, same layout, strong sound level, stage filled with boys in alphanumeric rotation 1 to 40 in order, unless someone has been called over for a drink or more. Mamasan sees me and orders boys off the sofa area immediately inside the entrance. We effusively greet one another and she does the same with CoCo. Once seated, I scan the rotation, by the end of a round I realize that over the past four or five years I’ve offed four of the boys and two of the waiters! The vibe in FreshBoys has an energy I haven’t encountered until now. The main seating area appears to be full of both paying customers and boys who are being treated to boy drinks. Seated where we are I see a constant coming and going of drink waiters. Number 40 in rotation is smiling broadly as he moves past. Since he’s handsome borderline cute with a big smile I indicate interest and mamasan has him on the sofa next to me. He’s from VietNam! Drink offered, drink accepted. His name is Nam (I’ll probably be able to remember it). Mamasan is very involved in how the show runs, interacts with the boys and is constantly chatting up the customers (of which there will be a steady flow in the next two hours. Once the rotation ends and the first of the 2 divas comes on stage, many of my ex offs stop by, I’m having a good time, Nam leaves to be in different acts, returns after each, he is first a dancer with a flower lei, then in the two guys and a diva number with each molesting and committing rapine, as clothes are shed. He will also be an a two guys in a shower scene but that will be later, and he’s one of the 9 in the big cock hit the pole festival. Yes, it reads as the same, rotation, diva, act with some sex, rotation, act with naked sex, diva, rotation, shower scene with more but soapy sex, ring the pole, pole ringers circulate for a top to touch their tips, diva and end the show with a rotation for the midnight show. During all this Nam returns to cuddle and unleash his smile. Hands encouraged to wander. I’m capitvated by the room’s vibrant vibe. I think that someone in Management took a pause, looked at what was on hand, and thought about making it flow and come alive. The mamasan is part of that as she is constantly on the move, encouraging the audience to chheer the boys when needed, to leading sing alongside with the grander diva numbers. There is still a crowd when lights come up to signal the end of the first show. Drinks have been mixed and served during the two hours we’ve been there. There might be money being made here. Maybe six boys leaving with customers. CoCo and I say our good byes…shirtless honor guard to the door and outside. Head to Hot Male since it’s right next door. I walk past the entrance - it was too well lit! Inside there are one mamasan and two managers and 20 boys in red trunks and maybe Hot Male logo T-shirt. Notice I have not mentioned the audience numbers. There were none! Guys are good looking, etc. Note: to vinapu, #10 the blonde god we both noticed and exchanged comments about was there! Even knowing I wasn’t going to be caught being the only customers , #IO called him over as he had spotted me when I spotted him (maybe before). A glorious piece of god’s craftsmanship!. I explained I couldn’t stay and gave him a remembrance vinapu tuck. Coco and I leave as the boys begins to perform the show (Indian temple dancers, remember?) One customer has arrived. We go back for a remedial stamp session as I process the last few hours.

Just walked by a construction site that was Dick’s.

After the Jupiter final march out concluded and the show ended to prep for the next one, we lingered which gave CoCo a chance to introduce me to his Burmese compatriots who are working on the runway as models or are in the sport jacket of the night as managers (bar captains). All seemed to be genuinely nice and looking out for each other. Wondering if the Burmese and this era’s Viets? Out of the club, we spend some time talking with folks either or both of us know one way or another. At my hotel we delve into research on stamps from the British period in Malaya. Decently satisfactory practical and theoretical learning. Next morning, (Wednesday for those - like me - trying to keep track of life), CoCo out to his market helper job before breakfast. I skip the hotel’s 249 THB buffet and pick and choose from the carts on Patpong. Back at the hotel it’s time to update this report and answer DMs. I turn on Planet Romeo, I turn off Planet Romeo. All Money Boys! Yes, that’s really not any different than meeting a boy (boys) in the clubs, but I prefer to pick and choose - which, it appears - I’ve already done. Oh, and we are confirmed for Pattaya this weekend. Could be interesting as CoCo says he’s only been there for an overnight tour in a group which went only to Walking Street. He’s not familiar with the beaches, Jomtien, or Boystown. Rest of day is errands, some work on reports for a project at home and continuing investigation of the boy agencies in Osaka. I’ll have four or five nights not committed to my Chinese friends and touring with them and their 8 year old son. The post in the Forum’s Gay Japan section entitled “List of gay brothels…” caught my attention when I was thinking about this trip. As a result, I did and am continuing doing research. Several agencies are only in Osaka (where I be based); some are both local and national. I looked at 15 but narrowed my focus to Fragrance-boy.com and Chancesosaka.jp sites which have English versions, English translations, quality pictures, links to reviews and boy’s twitter, and comments from the boy and the manager. They respond to questions (Chance even sending additional photos). The boy’s work schedule is up for the week ahead, it appears to will be easy (?) to book, pricing is right on the page. What the boys are willing to do or not do and how good they are judged to be at their individual skills, rooms at agency, or at your home, or in a hotel, or a love hotel? - all these non-Thai informational channels have pulled me down a time sucking- hole. Time to pull myself out of this hole, doing something outside in the fresh air, then return to my report. Three items tonight: dinner, drinks, and clubbing.

The One (Tawan) all buttoned up, sign taken in, lights turned off by midnight . Once upon a long time ago, this section of soi 6 and turning toward Golden Cock and beyond was Twilight before Twilight. Now The One is the last vestige. Higher end restaurants, mid level dining, food carts, and a thoroughfare from Grab deliveries that’s how time moves on. Unable to alter the pace of history but honored to have memories.

Spot on!

You, vinapu, nosy.? Not possible! The details on CoCo are part of my reporting journal and are about to emerge. He does have a Burmese name but everyone seems to know him as CoCo. But this much now: He’s 37, from Burma, looks like a brother to the mid-level Broadway American gay actor/singer Telly Leung. CoCo is a certified and very active and creative stamp collector. He’s a very popular denizen of the campus, here. He worked at Jupiter for some time, thus his connection to owners, managers, bar boys, and entertainers. I learned a few things about the fitting of the costumes at Jupiter and Moonlight. For those that don’t need artificial enhancement, the shorts, briefs, undies etc are tailored to enhance nature. CoCo was/is in that category. I was also hoping for more from Jupiter…there were quite a few lookers, some great lookers, but no one I’d consider a stunner - someone to make me pause, look again, and then look one more time. Lots are are at the “look again” level.

Editorial note: I wrote this section of the report, thought I’d hit submit reply, but unable to find it. So…here’s another go… OK, OK! Too much drama, the chalk dust was a metaphor for my loss of will power. Standing outside of Good Boys, Coco and I had a brief conversation about getting together the next night and the where and whens logistics…and that was that… for the moment. He went back to work and I went off to Dream Boys. 600 THB!!! Dream boys back when it was both a destination and the star in the Twilight nights was always pricier than its competitors - but it had upmarket cache. Tonight, I entered a large and what seemed to be an audience starved venue, finding the waiters not so subtlety hawking bottles and settling for getting the customer (me) his watered entry fee libation. Drink delivered, a jacketed manager lingered to provide information on the “artists” and their “talents”. I didn’t conduct any in depth fact checking. The boys (maybe 40 or so) in rotation were visibly not engaged with the audience and definitely on low power. The show was as the boys say “same same” as the same same somewhere else. Here’s something I never thought I’d think or say: BRING BACK MAMA LUCY! When this dynamo was bossing around the boys, the staff and the guests for the pre-Dream Boy owners of the venue things moved, visitors got caught up and pulled into the activity, the sounds, the lighting, the drama, and being instructed to buy Mama Lucy a beverage! The comparison of today to then is stark. Maybe, something after the middle of the show created a WOW! Moment, I don’t know as I was down the stairs, out the door, and back into the “real world” of a Patpong night. I stopped by the street level bar that’s connected to Fresh Boys and had a drink with the waiters. Then back to my hotel to sleep alone. Next morning after breakfast, it was up and out and errand filled. I went to Prime for a foot massage which allowed me to go to Reader’s designated massage value area of Saphan Kwai and a return to KMan spa. When I got to Good Boys, CoCo and two mamasans were outside along with a mix of boys and waiters and girls from the various new clubs and girl bars that have opened in the last year. I paid the off fee (500 THB) and CoCo and I were off for some food and to catch the show at Jupiter. On entering soi 4, we were pulled in quickly with a wai from the Banana greeter/grabber. I began to introduce CoCo but found out there was no need as he was already known and a favorite. Same with the owner of the German restaurant, I was recalled as vinapu’s companion at a dinner, CoCo’’s given a hug and an exchange of stories, repeated experiences as we move toward Jupiter. Pao comes over and greets us both, telling CoCo he’s been away too long (?!!?). We get to Jupiter, I buy the entry/first drink coupon, which is never a real coupon, we’d arrived thirty minutes before show time and are entertained by a singer. CoCo had gotten the host to seat us right behind the primo bottle service tables to the right side of the stage. The area provides a direct view into the dressing and weight rooms. There is a steady stream of Jupitereans dropping by to say hello to CoCo and as they do, I learn some more about my companion. He’d once in the not too distant past been a Jupiterean. During the parade of artists circling and intersecting in and with the audience Coco received a steady stream or fist bumps/Thailand equivalents. I didn’t notice any major changes to the show room since last year. The runway stage is surrounded on tree sides by tables with seating that is occupied by bottle holders, There are three with two patrons each, one with one grande dame presiding, one with three patrons, and one that is filled in with 6 as the show starts - similar I suppose to how the Academy Awards have a pool of extras to fill seats during the show when the stars go to poop, keeping the place looking full. Beyond this first row, the tiered seating to the right and left of the stage is full at about 80%. The seats directly facing the stage but behind the front rows is sparsely seated. Show is/was much as I remembered it. The hula hoop guy which I gushed about several years back is now looking wan and a bit ancient history. There were no real “wows” but no real horrors. Just a well tended to entertainment that attracted more women than men to make up the audience.

Coco leaves pre-morning with thanks…actually with some kicking of myself. Why? Well, when I planned this trip I wrote “BUTTERFLY” 500 times on the blackboard of life. My well tested sense of commitment to a goal was already on FAILURE ALERT advising me that this guy was one who could erase the blackboard. Anyway he was out the door and I had a number of texts from other models who saw me in town. I booked a 2 hour combo Thai/Aroma massage at Prime. Then went shopping at Uniqlo with a stop at the Food Hall for a sit down pasta meal. When in Bangkok eat like a Roman. Back for my pummeling in the best way possible. The Prime empire has expanded. In the late late 90s I had a massage in the Thai style building at the soi 6 turning point, later the building across and to the right was added to the territory,, then the space adjacent that had been used for laundry was remodeled to be several massage rooms, then this space was expanded in the direction of Silom. As Reader mentioned earlier in another topic, 3 Teen Massage shops, 5 or 6 other brands, and the Prime conglomerate the concentration of massage power located on soi 6 is remarkable. For quantity it rivals Saphan Kwai area. After my brutalization at Prime, I responded to a text from CoCo that I was going to give tonight a pass and butterfly some shows and bars solo (MY BLACKBOARD was finger-nailing across my reserves of willpower). I had a pleasant meal and conversation at the French restaurant in Phatphong 2. Then stopped by the Hot Male and Fresh Boys street level bars to say hello and renew old acquaintances. Minh (speaking of old acquaintances) found me and suggested/urged/implored/did the disappointed bit to get me to drop into Fresh Boys. I said maybe later and headed to Hot Male for memories sake from the Twilight Days where I met Van of many memories and PaulSF. As I was about to go up the stairs the Hot Male pusher/greeter/ went after me with a pitch and questions why I wasn’t already there. Very strange behavior. I went up into the club. It’s been spruced up since last year. Sprucing up did not appear to have enhanced audience numbers. I didn’t recognize the mamasan or any of the managers. I backed out saying I’d be back and weaseled out, headed for the Fresh Boys stair to avoid the Hot Make stairs greeter. At FreshBoys, I observed that many of the “models” were seated outdoors shirtless. Enticing and when Minh appeared out of no where I took his suggestion and went in. Same room, same everything as last year. same mamasan - which is a good thing as she has never failed but to be fun in her exchanges with me, somehow always finding a great seat for me adding a few model suggestions tailored to me. 40 models all lined up in neat numerical order for rotation. Almost as many as Good Boys but with a less over whelming effect due to the room’s larger capacity. As the models were in rotation, mamasan and I conferred and two boys came over to keep me company. Neither would work out for an off…and at some point my blackboard collapsed. I tipped the boys, both nice guys, wishing them well in their careers. Telling mamasan that I’d be back to see the full show, I departed, to find Minh to tell me, Caliban that he is, that had told CoCo I was in the ‘hood and steered me to Good Boys where CoCo emerged in a cloud of blackboard chalk dust. Narrative will now pause as I need to run some errands and a rain storm is due.

On Sunday, I took it easy, kept up with attempt on the gauzy haired former president. There were several texts from boys who using the bar boys grapevine learned I was back in town. I went out on Sunday sight inspections of the ‘hood and found several new hotels and restaurants and more massage parlors than I remember from earlier visits. I noticed a definite bias towards Japanese and Indian tourists. Overall things looked cleaner than my most recent memory. As I was leaving Good Boysat 2am, I palmed some baht to CoCo who I’d been steered away from by the Vietnamese conglomerate. He confirmed he’d be at work by replying to my query with “Yes’ and 8:30”. I used the day to get a 2 hour Thai / aroma oil massage at Prime. After a nap, I headed over to soi 4 to visit with Pao my favorite waiter anywhere in the world, we had a mutual hug fest and caught up.. Pao as the host and real time bar and restaurant manager used to supervise, Reader, PaulSF, another former Forum member, and me as PaulSF presided from a prominent table adjacent to Hot Male Bar I & 2, and across from two clubs by a massage service. Right in front of it was the yellow brick road to take the public through Twilight. The bewitching hour arrived and at Good Boys the mamasan called CoCo over to meet and greet, he was surrounded by an uninvited posse of Vietnamese. My escort from last night had advised me whom to invite to join my table which consisted by himself, his bother, and CoCo. After a few awkward moments I told the mamasan that CoCo and I’d be leaving, his clothes changed, off fee paid and we were out the door leaving several long faces behind. Coco has developed English skills so it was easy to learn some things. First we decided that he wasn’t one to hurry an off so he could return to the club. We started toward Jupiter but got “grabbed” from Banana’s “pusher” in chief, who is an old old friend from Twilight days and so went into Banana where with his prodding and a wave to the host CoCo and I were given prime seats. Not That it was difficult as the club was lacking an audience, “sparse” was the reality maybe 20%. Half women. The show was much the same as the one I saw in May 2023. While much the same as last year, the performers go full out which disperses good energy. Drinks were 400, no cover charge. Chatted with the manager who remembered my other visits in other venues. He told me I had excellent taste in men and CoCo was proof. I suggested we head to Moonlight and CoCo agreed saying “we can go to Jupiter tomorrow”. The hook was in and this fish was willing to be pulled in. Guess tomorrow is booked. At Moonlight, first drink still 500 Thai baht. Same mamasan who was in place when it was the old Jupiter. The pre-show rotation of boys was underway and mamasan gave me background information on many of the dancers, telling me to stay with CoCo but maybe add one of Jupiter’s to the mix telling me that based my past likes.. All this while CoCo is filling in the public record on CoCo. He’s Burmese and fled Myanmar to avoid being conscripted. He’s 37, works a morning / day job at a market. He knows many, many folks, one is in the Moonlight rotation CoCo invites him over. I’m unable to tell if this is impress me or the friend. Friend is Burmese, he and Coco drink and catch up with Burmese comings and goings. Mamasan and I discuss the merits of a Laotian who is just now new to the lineup. Friend goes back to the final rotation before the show. With his shirt now off, I can see his large variety of tattoos, repeat “large”. Show begins and it clearly has been redone and rethought. Babe is the best and most polished dancer and is given two spots to shine. Nicky has more stage time and has almost learned to act and emote. What makes it work for him and the audience is that he knows it is a form of farce and they are in on the one together. Fast paced. One or two divas ( my mind blanks at these and I lose count. Mamasan notices that my back is tiring from sitting on a stool close to the stage and confers with CoCo before suggesting we move to a row with backing to the seats but a prominent visual. We move, it was a good idea, and soon many of the performers are smiling and winking at us - seems CoCois a known favorite of theirs. The gentleman and his companion seated next to tell me that I’m blessed” to have such a stunning lover. I refrain from mentioning we’ve only been together maybe all of three hours. I nod and say thanks. This show is working, the main stars have meshed together and made a connection with the audience (about 60% of the house, a third women). When the intros of the main performers are made and each comes out, Babe waves and smiles at CoCo and they share a mutual laugh across the room. When the stars last bow is taken in the center of the house with a shirt strip, Babe ends up in front of us. He’ll return when the lights some up and say hello and (if he even remembers) doesn’t mention our encounter several years back. My opinion based on only two shows so far - Moonlight has got its groove back. CoCo and I walk back to Quarter Silom. We discuss what we saw, overall opinions are similar, CoCo noting that each management sets its priorities, styles, to attract the best audience mix for its economics. He observes that Good Boys likes a full house and fills it with boys who then compete for the patrons who will buy drinks or the boys. Back at the hotel, CoCo is as stunning as people have been informing me all night. He does voice some irritation that it was apparent to him that I was interested in him and could see that the Viet ground forces has me surrounded like Dien BienPhu. Then he notes that he was able to get a full intelligence briefing on what I liked about stamp collecting and that he could teach me some moves I might like to learn. I LEARNED.