Londoner

I'm with Ronnie. The minstrel photo is insulting. I recall a wooden effigy of one in, of all places, Krabi. Thais don't understand the history of the struggle. If you ever have the chance to see the musical "The Scotsborough Boys", there's a magnificent (and tear-jerking) scene at the end when the boys reappear on the stage in black-face. One of the great theatrical moments of my life.

"Bai-gan" (or pai-gaan" as I pronounce it) is not rude; it just means "let's go" or something like "we're on our way now." Anyway, that's how the bf and I use it.

The US will attempt to reimpose its criminal classes on the Cubans....you know, Batista's henchmen. Casinos and mafiosi- the American way. I hope that the Cubans will continue to say, "Cuba si, Yankee no!" If the US was ever fortunate enough to elect a government of probity and intellect, it should beg Cuba to teach it how to run a National Health Service.

Boyfriend. I'm too old to give a damn.

To be blunt, I suspect that abidsmalili is too obsessive about Arabs. Their impact on Pattaya life is minimal and on the gay scene almost non-existent. I suppose the fact that I've spent so much time among Arabs (Christian and Muslim) in Palestine makes me less likely to stereotype.

Ten years ago, Pattayaland Soi 2 was packed every night, the area around Penthouse particularly so. Cats' Whiskers and The Classroom always seemed particularly busy- at least from the outside. The area was so popular that it ran its own tuk-tuk service across the city. Now it is a ghost-town. The go-go bars are still there but a glance through the doors will show that they are doing no better than the gay bars in Soi 1.

Fair enough but don't wander the gay areas during the daytime....wait until the lights come on and the guys and punters arrive. My first view of Soi Twilight and Patpong was a terrible disappointment- it was 1100am. Litter-strewn. almost deserted and much of it shuttered. But then I returned at 1900.... That was in 1995 but the same applies today.

I've followed this issue with interest and can sympathise with both sides of the argument. However, there there is one aspect of Kokopelli's last post which deserves to be considered carefully. We know that Thai authorities like a quiet life when it comes to activities which may be termed illegal and so the influence of an agent provocateur, perhaps threatening unwelcome publicity, or perhaps someone with friends in high places, should be taken seriously. However much the authorities would prefer to let sleeping dogs lie, if such a person (or organisation) is determined to make a fuss, and has the means with which to do it, then investigations and possible prosecutions are more likely.

Correct....but you may well get an extra (and heart-felt) kiss if you don't do anal. The majority of guys- not all, I emphasise- prefer to avoid it, even those identifying as bottoms.

Didn't that place appear in the film about Filipino go-go boys, "Midnight Dancers"? I miss the cute guys in the mens' clothing dept. in the Silom Robinsons.

Yes....I remember that, too. On my first visit to Bangkok (as opposed to Pattaya) I'd dine Soi 4 and the song was ubiquitous. It was 1997. I forgot to provide a link to Broken- hearted Woman.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlWcmcw02oc

Easy for me;1996, my first visit to Pattaya. Every bar seemed to be playing a song I later discovered to be called "Broken-hearted woman."

Dylan was a supporter of the vile racist Meir Kahane who inspired the Hebron massacre.

I disagree with that statement but I'll say no more on this forum.

Agreed. And don't make the mistake of thinking that the monarchy is uniformly admired in Thailand. Perhaps it once was but times have changed.

I'm a regular at Ambiance- have been for sixteen years. There are aspects I could criticise but the quality of the cleaning has remained consistently excellent. Helped, no doubt, by the fact that some of the cleaners have been there for as long as I remember.

I agree with traveller123. My boyfriend and I were in Chiang Mai last week- our fifth visit- and enjoyed every minute of it. Temple visits, the royal gardens, the river... Of course, the gay scene there is no longer on our minds, though we did have so-so massages in Paradise (a number of cute guys available there, by the way). My first trips were solo , in the late 90s and Adam's Apple was then in its heyday. Barely a seat available....and many of the audience, students from CMU, were as cute as the dancers. Nowadays what I appreciate about CM, despite its large number of tourists (mainly Chinese- who were 90% of our large hotel) is that it's a Thai city to which tourists are an addition. Without us, there'd be a Chiang Mai. Pattaya, on the other hand , exists only because of the tourists.

Is The Strangers (Soi 4) a host bar? I've been eating at Balcony for a couple of days and my gaze has continually been drawn to some cute guys working there. I'm much too shy to ask them whether they are available! By the way, the selection of hosts in Soi Twilight is a lot better at the moment than on recent visits...in my opinion.

When I was there a few months ago, Oscars had hosts in the afternoon. The Copa guys mentioned above are for massage..

I understood your post perfectly well. You should hear my French! As for my faltering attempts at Thai in public, my boyfriend shrivels in embarrassment.

My boyfriend insists that I speak "proper English" but I find myself reverting to Thinglish constantly....and it take a few days to get over it even I'm back home.

I may have to return to the issue raised by firecat69 if the changes at Tarntawan force me to change after sixteen years' patronage.

The advantage is that you can take a good look before sitting down. The disadvantage is that there aren't so many guys available- though those that are tend to speak some English.

The gogo bars are usually so empty nowadays that a punter is likely to find himself alone or at best with a few others to share the unwanted attention of mamasans. I know when I'm in for a bad time when the doorman sees me about to enter and rushes into the bar clapping his hands to rouse the dancers from their slumbers....and their mobiles. In these circumstances, I feel as if I am the centre of attention and should be the one on the stage. Unbearable! that's why I prefer the host bars in Soi Twilight- where the drinks cost a lot less.

I enjoyed the report, too, particularly since I'll be in Soi Twilight next week for two evenings before my boyfriend joins me. I was wondering whether Classic would be worth a visit but that mamasan has put me off. May I ask blueshrimp whether he saw much activity in the host-bars?