Londoner

That was certainly true a year ago....and those roadworks had begun before the Covid period. I'm not saying all is well but our March stay was much better than our November one in this respect, particularly in Second Road. Twenty-five minutes as opposed to forty from the JC to Central in the early evening.

I'd be interested, Foolish, if you have been to Pattaya or Bangkok? The most important thing is not to expect Phuket (specifically Patong) to replicate the sort of scene you find in those two places. It's a good place for beaches- though not the best in my view- and has some good hotels, but you'll be disappointed if you expect to find the extent of gay life available elsewhere.... I found this out as long ago as 1997....which is not say that none exists around the Paradise area. I recall massage joints and a number of bars. So if you go there, explore the possibility of other activities rather than relying on the scene. By the way, prices used to significantly higher than in Pattaya ...but I haven't been there for six years or so.

Some of us are blessed with good looks.....

Yes, I used to find that in Bangkok. not so much in Pattaya where the "walk" is a lot shorter if you're staying in the Boyztown area. What was more concerning was the occasional guy whose good humour and affectionate disposition evaporated by the time we arrived in the hotel room. Perhaps it was the result of getting a closer look at me!

Apologies......I was about to comment that age has certainly vanquished my "adventurous spirit." For thirty plus, I ached for the unusual and the edgy. Travelling for miles through the West African bush with my (very handsome) friend, Ismaila, to visit a celebrated marabout to receive some sort of magical charm. White people didn't go there and the children were so frightened of seeing a white man they ran away. Nevertheless, I was still invited to a circumcision hut where small boys awaited their fate. Both eye -opening and knee- crossing. Later on in Palestine,, confronting settlers in Hebron and callow, aggressive army youths outside Jerusalem who enjoyed sticking guns in my face. And the kindness, even love, I received in the refugee camps. And there I was, driving through West Kingston in Jamaica in the middle of a political gang war (this was the 70s). OK, it was by accident.... we'd taken the wrong turning and had arrived in Trench Town, of Bob Marley fame. That was scary. Later, my spirit somewhat tamed, I was still anxious to visit places off the beaten rack. In Thailand, some of my happiest memories are of when we rented a car and explored the north... places like Mai Salong and Mai Sai. Now, we stay comfortably in tourist hotels in Koh Samui, Chiang Mai and Jomtien. And our journey to Terminus 21 is the furthest we venture. However, I've no doubts "as the days darken around me" that some of my happiest memories (apart from being with P, naturally) are of those places which were difficult to access and had an element of, well, insecurity and chance about them. Places where I was an outsider, though- and this is crucial- where I was warmly welcomed. Indeed, the more disadvantaged the community, the more kindly was I received.

The JC to Central journey in the early evening often took over forty minutes last November owing to the never-ending roadworks. In March it was better, perhaps thirty. Occasionally even less. If you go during the daytime, twenty minutes is the average in my experience. Much the same as the return to the JC. It's a d**n nuisance but we don't find the JC at night as interesting as central Pattaya. However, I must add that the Jomtien promenade at sunset is fun with a couple of decent places to eat as a change from Dick's. Better than Pattaya's in fact. And no business girls. I like seeing the women do their dance-exercises to music- often fifty of them- and admire the occasional elderly falang who tries courageously to participate! I've said before that the atmosphere there is almost Mediterranean. Not just falangs but Thai families.

Yes. The rooms are, if anything better than at Ambiance, including the penthouse ones. A friend stayed there a few years back and his only criticism was that it was more of an apartment block than a hotel in terms of front desk. He was a newbie and liked someone on the desk to review visitor IDs. For my part, I wondered about the noise from down below. But the rooms...yes, excellent. Prices were similar to Ambiance's.

The choice between Jomtien and Boyztown is the big one. Too much to say in a brief post but I recommend you read through many posts on the site which will describe the differences. A couple of suggestions. Why not split the time between the two? We did this a few times And it worked. However, over the twenty-years I've been visiting both my partner and I have become "Jomtien" people, regarding the Agate Hotel in Jomtien Complex as our favourite in Thailand. And it's nowhere near the most expensive. Others feel differently and there are certainly some things in Pattaya we miss. Bear in mind that we're not "bar-goers"; those that are may well think differently. Of course, you can do what we do, that is stay in Jomtien but take the bus into Pattaya in the evening. Floridabob's recommendation is seconded; I stayed at the Ambiance happily for twenty years. We moved to Jomtien because the area became too noisy for us after midnight when our routines changed.

Another of my favourite places! There's also a monkey temple near Ubud where the audacity of the inhabitants is remarkable; audacity and strength. I once saw a tug-of-war between an angry monkey and and even angrier Japanese tourist. The prize? A camera. The tourist won but the monkey escaped with a torn strap. Is this an Asian monkey "thing"? I remember being in Kenya long ago and monkeys used to roam the grounds of the bungalow-style hotel. However, they were relatively tame and would beg for food like dogs, although one did manage to get in to my room once. The Thai/Balinese ones seem particularly aggressive. And confident. Different species?

You were lucky...our walk was barred by hoards of them! But you are lucky to be going to Railay, my favourite beach in Thailand.

Which gang is the West arming? By the way, has anyone tried the walk from Aonang to Railay (Krabi) over the cliff guarded by an army of settler-monkeys?

Thanks! Good to see twinks having a good time! These were the sort of guys who first brought me to Thailand and then demanded that I take early retirement to spend more time there. I could do without the tattoos though....

Thai names are temporary, or so it seems. They can change first names very easily and , when it comes to nicknames, at will. I know a guy who operates with two; a "stage" name and home one. If there was something that would irritate me is when a guy on the scene adopted an English name in the hope of sounding cute; for example "Dream" or "Boy". I would always ask for his "original" name. With a smile of course. And was invariably given it.

Forgive my ignorance- I only use LINE for free calls from the UK- but surely only guys whom you already know and have your ID can contact you on this app?

Joking apart, those of us who suffered adolescence in denial and fear can understand the poignancy of this situation.

Years ago, I'd always end my encounters with a reminder to my Thai partners to wear a condom and I provided them if needed. Three years ago, a friend of my boyfriend, someone whom I've known for over a decade, forty years-old, a university graduate from a middle-class family and not on the scene, was found to be positive. He was quickly medicated. However, two years ago he was taken seriously ill with a series of ailments, one of which was life-threatening. He was in hospital for months. The doctor told him the symptoms were Hiv related. He's better now, but still suffers distressing after effects from his illness. I've never doubted the importance of safe sex but even I was surprised by what happened to him; after all, there is a belief in some quarters that new medication makes the condition manageable, like diabetes 2. I know now that it remains life-threatening, and probably will continue to be so for many years. Sorry for the homily , but I feel passionately about this. I could relate the story of another Thai friend who was diagnosed in 2007 but it is till too painful for me. For heaven's sake, everybody, take care and if you are enjoying the company of Thais on the commercial scene and be aware of their needs too, remembering that sometimes they are desperate for money.

Don't. And as for Hep C, the risk is apparently low but that would be enough for me to insist on a condom. As I always point out when this topic turns-up (annually?), when we engage in unsafe sex, we should be aware of the danger to our partner not just to ourselves. Decades after Hiv/Aids caused such devastation to our community, some still need convincing.

Yes, I meant to add to my description of the Golden Age that I was twenty-five years younger. And had just taken early retirement to spend more time in Thailand. Whatever it was in Pattaya, it was certainly my Golden Age....though, thank heavens, after nine years, I unexpectedly met someone there who provided a new, if different one.

Boyztown was full. You'd struggle to get a seat in BB on Saturday nights. At Panorama, seats in the front three or so rows were invariably full by the early evening. There was an air of vibrancy, movement and excitement quite different to anything visible in the last fifteen years plus. The number of dancers was staggering. BB invariably had up to one hundred. Cockpit forty plus. Toyboys thirty or so. Many punters plus many guys equals vibrant. Or for those of us lucky enough to be there, the Golden Age. Those times have passed. Nevertheless, I still travel there enthusiastically three times a year...well, to Jomtien/Pattaya. And there are many aspects that are better than in those days....restaurants, for example, travel to the airport, a real bug bear in the Golden Age. And the growth of jomtien and improvements to Pattaya's beach. And I forgot, the apps for those who get bored in the afternoons. Read Michael Burchill's book.

Cockpit was the first go go bar I ever visited (1995), and was where I offed my first Thai guy. As previously explained on another thread, the sex wasn't all that successful....but it was the start of a long career- not yet ended, thank heavens- of enjoying the company of Thais. It employed forty or fifty guys, more to my taste than those in the equally-successful BBB across the soi. They actually danced! Yes, really. No standers, no foot-shifters! I loved the atmosphere and, over the next few years until the owner sold-up, I was a regular. Don't get me started on how wonderful Boyztown was in the Golden Age or I won't stop.

Yes he did. He was returning to the US for treatment to his kidneys. Some posters on another forum loathed him, even gloating at his demise. Not that board's finest hour, in my view. He had made enemies when he owned it. We'd often breakfast together at Ambiance. He was good company. He had two rooms there on a long-term rental. Penthouse suites, one for him, the other for whoever his plats de jour were. Note the plural. I knew one of his entourage well, indeed, had been offing him for some years. Whatever other posters said, he was liked by his guys (a big thing for me, much more important than being liked by falang visitors and expats) and this was confirmed by P who knew him by repute and whose judgement I respect.

"Happy Place." Pattayaland Soi 2. It had many good features- clean toilets for one. It was a personal request from Neil to P and me to visit and so we couldn't turn him down although being "past" bars by that time. It must have been the last time the two of us were in a go go bar together! Neil was in poor health and wanted to semi-retire. He left the bar in the hands of an old friend, one of the dancers from Throb. Apparently, this guy rented the premises to associates for out- of- hours parties. Neil was told and, in in the small hours, went there and sacked the mamasan on the spot. He was replaced by yet another friend who had previously been dismissed from Neil's entourage after some unacceptable behaviour ( don't ask) in one of Bangkok's swankiest hotels. Very cute , as I recall. As for the bar, the music was too loud for sensitive souls like me and nor were the guys to to my taste....too macho. Neil put a lot of money into the project.

I've just returned after what must be my eightieth (more or less) trip. And I'm pleased to say that there was no loss of enjoyment, though the twenty hours travel is increasingly stressful. As is the "recovery time"....longer now than it was when I was younger. Of course, a major factor for me is that I have someone I love awaiting me. That reunion is something I look forward to. We continue to take pleasure from the most mundane activities; walking the beach- this time in Lamai ( Koh Samui) as well as Jomtien- deciding where we're having dinner, me watching P make his devotions in the temple, and so on. Even having a shared breakfast. I'm always conscious that I smile more and laugh more when I'm with him. I sometimes wonder whether I'd still be travelling to Pattaya if I was still playing the bar-scene as I was twenty years ago. Reading posts about bars does cause some nostalgia but, overall I think that what I have now is better, though not without the inherent tribulations of a long-distance relationship. Anyway, the good news is that the next trip is only fifteen weeks away. And where to go this time before Jomtien? Krabi? Chiang Mai? Bangkok? Chiang Rai? Decisions, decisions. I am certainly fortunate, and my determination to spend my last years living as disgracefully as possible undiminished. And yes, I suppose I should admit that a particular activity remains fun, just in case the more prurient of our posters were wondering!.

I must add a reflection on the Bangkok/Pattaya conundrum for newbies. For me, Pattaya would be a better place to start if "offing" is your prime purpose. It is smaller, though growing by the day, and I'd bet my bottom dollar that there are more willing professional guys per punter there, encouraged by-another guess of mine - that more of them don't have day-jobs. There's also Jomtien beach; not exactly Phi Phi but pleasant nowadays. It's a good place to spend a sunset hour, as more and more people are discovering. My boyfriend and I ate in The Sandbar a couple of nights back- it also has a bar- and the scene on the promenade outside had an almost Mediterranean feel. Some posters prefer BKK because it has many popular bars which offer the more manly type of guy, in which case BKK is undoubtedly the better bet. But for twinks? and almost twinks? In my view, no contest. By the way, Pattaya is, as Kokopelli says, significantly cheaper.