Londoner

Yes, there have been losses but the gains are that our commercial transactions are more relaxed and more equal. I feel more comfortable. By the way, returning to the money issue, prices for such encounters have barely risen, at least the ones via the apps.

Correct. The guys were certainly more plentiful- at least twinks were- and my impression is that there were more good-looking ones than now. But perhaps that's my memory playing tricks. No pun intended. In terms of numbers, were the ones from Laos, Cambodia and so on to stay at home, there'd be an obvious shortage. And I don't recall many non-Thais fifteen or twenty years ago. The Thaksin government initiated a lot of reforms and economic improvements in Isaan, resulting in less deprivation. It was then that my boyfriend's village was provided with electricity. He had watched TV by battery previously and done his homework by candle-light.. Secondly, birth-control became easily-available and popular resulting in families which had supported six or seven children in the 80s and 90s were now providing for two or three. This affected the numbers migrating south for work. I'd hazard a guess that this also may be why today's guys are less eager to please; they are not so desperate as their forebears. Returning home without much falang money may not be so devastating as it may have been twenty years ago....and the "home" they return too may be rather better, too.

The problem is the drop in the value of our money, not prices in Thailand. it wasn't long ago that we were getting 73 bht to the pound. If you look at hotel prices, drinks, travel and company and use the exchange rates we had five, ten, fifteen years ago, you'll see this. Two months ago, I paid 80 bht for a Coke in Winners. It was the same as I paid in 1996 in Moonlight and Cockpit. BBB, by the way, charged 100.

No doubt many Britons have been going to Thailand to escape the heat. Now the weather has broken....

Carpe diem.

. If a guy's profile says that he's looking for partners between the ages of 18 and 70 you can be pretty sure he's an MB! In Pattaya, few of those using Romeo or hornet aren't looking for falang money. I prefer Classic Romeo on my lap-top but the new version is better on my tablet....I suspect that it is also better on mobiles. I agree that it offers less guidance when it comes to different physical types.

It's important for us to have regard for the feelings of the Thais we are with; and that includes an "off" as much as a partner. Public displays of affection- involving any sexuality are not readily accepted in Thailand. Come to think of it, I was uncomfortable when I was in a Pattaya host bar and a falang gave his boyfriend a prolonged French kiss I saw the same on Beach Road one Loy Khatong and noticed Thai families (it was a busy night) looking askance and giving the couple a wide birth. I wouldn't consider holding hands with my partner in The Agate; he would be mortified if there were any reaction while I'd be merely angry.

Traveller 123....71 and 35 are our ages too. The prime of life, don't you agree? Sadly, only one of us has kept his looks. Mynakedtop....you need to consider the distance between Baan Souy and restaurants/bars/shops. It is certainly said to be beautiful and up-market....but I don't believe it to be exclusively gay. I've never stayed there so I am ready to be corrected

The Agate was quiet when we were there and we take breakfast early so the opportunities of our coming into contact with unpleasant guests was limited. Only once in Thailand- it was in Chiang Rai many years ago- have we met unwelcoming stares at breakfast. British ones by the way. My Thai boyfriend is as sensitive as me- if not more so- and any such reactions would lead to a cancellation of our bookings.But the staff were ostentatiously friendly and welcoming to a Thai/falang, mixed-age couple. Gay receptionist too.

It is a mistake to assume that all the guys in one establishment behave the same whether it be good or bad. Massage places particularly depend on the competence or otherwise of each individual masseur, there be no entertainment to sweeten the pill of a poor experience.

As a follow -up to my January post about Agate, we stayed there in June and were delighted. So much so that we are booked for both October and January. Better prices are offered by contacting the hotel direct rather than using the agencies. The hotel is unquestionably gay-friendly but mynakedtop is correct in his assertion that we are not a majority there!

I appreciate that there are some who say they prefer straight guys. However, if you are taking one off you must be prepared for an unsatisfactory experience for obvious reasons. Boy69 is spot-on. I'd never consider offing a straight guy. And with so many gay ones available, why take the chance?

No one can be completely safe from all VDs. The most important thing is of course to use condoms for anal sex though I would not participate in oral sex without one. I know this view is not shared by all, but many of us sometimes see small amounts of blood when cleaning our teeth. These indicate the possibility of lesions which themselves suggest that an infection may be transmitted into the blood stream. Thorough washing after sex is obviously helpful.

Me too. "Thailand Fever" by Chris Pirazzi is also worth a look. It is about hetero falang/Thai relationships but some of it- particularly the section about relationships with a partner's family- is useful. It also has Thai translations side-by -side with the text that may help discussions with a partner.

The problems arise when unreasonable expectations are aroused. Some falangs and some Thais-particularly those new to the scene- expect too much from a commercial assignations. It's best to be honest.

Are you referring to encounters in the sauna or to LTRs and Wills? Or perhaps to the Thais say they who only have sex with falangs?

I've been in such a relationship for fifteen years and have no illusions but I learnt a lesson a few years ago when a Pattaya ex-pat, whom I'd known for many years, died. I had regarded his long-term partner as a gold-digger....straight, mercenary, too fond of the whiskey and not even honest. I believed him to be waiting for my friend's demise in the knowledge that he was the sole recipient of the Will. But then it became apparent that there was no money left; it had been spent on medical treatment fees (and much else) after the medical insurance ran-out. The last few months were spent in a public ward in a Pattaya hospital; the partner stayed loyal, right to the end.

That's true....and the older they are, the sooner they'll reap the rewards of the partner's Will. Nevertheless, this does not pertain to what we experience in saunas; that's fun and fun alone. There are a number of mbs I've met over the years, by the way, who insist that they've never had sex with a Thai but identify (and perform) as gay.

Do you think he'd enjoy a couple of hours in Babylon? with other Thais of his age perhaps? or with falangs? Why not ask him? On the other hand, I've met young, cute Thai guys there who actually wanted sex with me....to my amazement. There are certainly some-even if they are a minority- who prefer sex with older falangs. It's even happened to me in London saunas. Very, very occasionally, sad to say. But these guys do exist, not just Thai but Asians from a number of countries.

The drivers tend to be from Isaan, like many of the other people we meet. Red-shirts to a man! And some, as you surmise, are struggling. One diver was telling me how he slept in his car. I was surprised but then recalled that a soi near Babylon is filled with taxis, resting, waiting and being repaired. It seems possible that some of the drivers sleep there.,

Nice was a vibrant place when I was there last month...it even had a few customers, though not as many as Winners. However, I have rarely seen such an ostentatiously straight collection of go go dancers in Thailand , and certainly not in Sunee. In the past , there have usually been a few gay dancers and even, on occasions, ladyboys, but not this time.

10.00 is early for most of the guys on the apps, particularly those who also work in bars so Travellerdave was fortunate.. 15.00 onwards seems to be the most active time.

. Gaybutton should look at today's offerings on his forum, particularly those that refer to "wild dogs" and the proposed use of razor wire. I assume that abidismali's outburst is satirical, mocking the ignorance and prejudices of illiterate red-necks. It certainly made me laugh. He's right; while we opponents of racism have such people as opponents, we cannot fail to win.

Vicious and cheap comment from Gaybutton.... sadly characteristic of someone obsessed by Arabs in Sunee. Comments about Afro-Americans and Jews are rightly considered inappropriate but somehow, anti-Arab prejudice seems acceptable for some.

An interesting discussion. I'd add another factor which makes Thailand a good choice. It relates to safety and confidence. As a regular in Thailand for more than twenty years, I feel entirely safe when offing and meeting via apps...confident that the authorities won't intervene in my pleasure and that the guy I meet, if treated appropriately, will not turn nasty or manipulative. I am happy to pay for this.