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Not to worry. Neighbors already know.

The following article was first published March 4, 2020 and reposted in today’s edition of Pattaya Mail. From the Pattaya Mail Last week we spoke with a group of Pattaya bargirls. The girl go-go scene is quite visible and known to all. This week we would like to give the men and boys who work in bars an opportunity to tell their side of the story. There is more mystery in their world, and a greater degree of discretion is required. They are hit by a double whammy from society; it’s not okay to be a whore and it’s not okay to be gay. This reporter interviewed three workers from a Pattaya bar. Anu, the oldest was thirty. Looking like an Asian Brad Pitt, he was calm and thoughtful. Torn, 24, was outgoing and higher voltage. He had the look and manner of Tom Cruise, in the movie Cocktail. Chai, 26 dark and muscular, was the most sure of his answers. We spoke in the central Thai dialect. JP: You aren’t what I expected. Are you typical? Torn: You were expecting katoeys?JP: Uh… Torn: Never mind (laughs). Katoeys are very visible. We’re not. JP: Are you gay? Anu: Yes, I am. Torn: So am I Chai: I’m not. JP: You’re sure? Anu: No, he isn’t. He has a wife and kids. JP: I’m confused. Anu: Being gay or straight doesn’t matter. We’re here to make money. Torn: Sometimes straight guys have it easier doing this work. JP: (Looking puzzled) ??? Anu: (thinks) You see, Chai is lucky. He just does his job and goes home. There’s no emotional investment for him. He has a family. Chai: Yeah, right. When I’m finished I leave and forget it. Torn: If you’re gay and do this type of work, you feel like your emotions are in a food processor. We don’t feel being gay is wrong, but in this scene, sometimes we wish we weren’t. JP: Why? Anu: Our customers. Some are very nice, but they get bored with us. JP: May I ask, are you attracted to any of your customers? Torn: Yes. Some of them. JP: Which customers? Anu: Asians. Torn: Yes. Mostly Asians. Chai: Anyone’s fine. As long as they pay. JP: Why Asians? Anu: Because we can relate to them. JP: I don’t understand. Aside from Thais, it must be difficult to communicate with Japanese, Koreans or other Asians. Anu: But they look like us and our cultures are similar. They want fun, so they are kind to us. I also find some of them attractive. JP: Could you explain? Anu: Very simple. We’re gay men. We take all customers, but it’s easier if they’re our type. Torn: Easier? Sure. I remember that Taiwanese guy. You almost went bananas! You JP: I’m in the dark. Anu: I met a very handsome, 25 year old law student from Taiwan. He was very generous and kind. He bought me gold and clothing. I really became infatuated. He even took me to Taiwan. After a week he sent me back here. I couldn’t be a real part of his life. It hurt. JP: What about the Farangs? (Silence). Please be open. What do you think? Torn: We find farangs to be the least desirable type of customer (pause). JP: Why? Anu: Several reasons. Farangs have this idea that 500 Baht is the market rate. They usually give us no more; often less. Also 99.9% of the Farangs who come here are not the least bit attractive. They look down on us. Their attitude’s wrong. Torn: Women bar workers are luckier. They can fake it. If we can’t perform, customers get upset. We usually fantasize. JP: Speaking of the fantastic, do any unusual things happen with customers? Torn: Yeah. I had one who was so afraid of disease; he wore three pairs of surgical gloves and three condoms. Torn: Yes, really. He disinfected himself with Dettol afterwards. He was strange when he first came in. Wouldn’t touch any of the doorknobs. JP: You don’t find Farangs attractive? Chai: Most of the guys don’t. But some only like farangs over forty. They don’t feel the same warmth with young men. Torn: The ones I like usually speak fluent Thai, and don’t like bars. JP: Oh. And you, Chai? Chai: I just think of the money and it works! Anu: Chai’s lucky. No emotional conflicts. JP: Are there any positive points about this work? Chai: For me, the funny things make it bearable. A guy took me to his hotel room. He had a valise full of make-up and women’s clothing. He had me dress up. Imagine me in drag? Ha! He spent the whole night cooing about how beautiful I was. Otherwise, he didn’t touch me. And he gave me three thousand baht. An easy trick. I described the dresses to my wife. She said they sounded dreadful. Anu: The first two years are fun. I was young, fresh and popular. I got taken out almost every night. Customers bought me gifts. I felt really desirable. JP: Why don’t you find other work? Anu: Once you do this for about six months, you’re trapped. We become used to the money. And we can never save any. It comes too easily. JP: Anu, where have you been, aside from Taiwan? Anu: Macao and Belgium. JP: What did you do? Anu:. I did this type of work. My customers were Thai women who worked in bars there. They were lonely for Thai men. I only stayed a month. JP: Why? Anu: Because I’m not attracted to women and they were neurotic. Too many hassles. JP: (to Chai) How does your wife feel about you doing this? Chai: (Laughs) She was the one who told me to do it! She works in a bar herself. She just asks me not to go with women. We hope to save enough to start a business. JP: Do your families know you do this? Torn, Chai: No. Anu: My mother pretends she doesn’t know. My brother is a real bastard. He called me names. I pointed out I was the one who had paid for his education and marriage by selling myself. I told him if he didn’t like it, to leech off someone else! JP: What’s the most difficult thing in your work? Torn: Weirdos! Anu: A lot of Western men are kinky and want us to do things we find distasteful. JP: May I ask what? Anu: Usually sado-masochism and other things. I’m not in to giving and receiving physical pain. And the other things? Think about it. Yuegh! JP: Do you have any future hopes? Anu: A man from France comes here every year on his vacation and always spends it with me. I’m not in love with him. He’s not my type. But I like him as a friend. He promises that he will take me to France to live with him. But it hasn’t happened yet. JP: How long have you known him? Anu: (Smiles ruefully) Seven years. Torn: Anu, you’re a pessimist. I do this because I want experience. Friendly customers are okay. It’s better than loading rice barges. Chai: Yeah, and I’ve had customers help out my family! JP:. I’m sorry for taking up so much of your time. All: That’s okay. There are no customers. JP: When we publish articles we usually have an illustration. How would you like it to be? JP: When we publish articles we usually have an illustration. How would you like it to be? Anu: Maybe you shouldn’t make it look as if we’re all happy. JP: Why? Anu: Chai’s not gay and Torn’s still young. I’m thirty and don’t have as many customers as before. I had a Thai lover for three years, but we separated. I was too old for him. Most gay men like younger people. After our looks go, it’s difficult to find customers or life partners. I’ll not have children, and what would I do at home? The future seems lonely. Torn: (his face is bleak) Why did you have to mention that? JP: I’ll try with the illustration. Anu: Thank-you. JP: Thank you. Torn: Come back and talk again. JP: You want to talk to a farang? Torn You’re not a farang. You’re Thai. Wanna ride home? I’ve got a large motorcycle with a small seat. JP: (JP actually blushes).

From Thai PBS World Two more monkeypox cases confirmed Two more monkeypox cases have been reported in Thailand, bringing total confirmed infections to 10, according to Dr. Opart Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Disease Control Department. Both cases were found in Phuket province, with one being a 37-year-old Thai woman and the other a 54-year-old German man, who had been in close contact with the infected woman. The woman developed a fever, sore throat and muscle pains on September 16th and took medication she bought from a pharmacy, but blisters later appeared on her body. On September 25th she went to a hospital for treatment and lab tests confirmed her monkeypox infection. The German man also developed blisters on September 27th and a hospital test confirmed his infection. Both are now being treated in hospital. Dr. Opart said that Thailand has taken a pro-active approach in dealing with monkeypox, adding that anyone who has been in close contact with anyone suspected of being infected or who has developed symptoms can seek a consultation at their nearest health facility or call the Disease Control Department’s hotline at 1422.

Peter, my dear, this topic was about same sex marriage in Cuba. You authored the very first response to the OP as an excuse to indulge your penchant for bashing America. You’re obsessed with doing that, poor fellow. This was a deliberate attempt to derail the discussion and now you’re dismayed because there are some members who call you out for it.

We always end up at square one, Peter. Whenever England needs help, it will always speed dial Washington. And Washington will respond. That’s the nature of the relationship between these once enemies. There exits no stronger international ties. The rest of your histrionic babble amounts to shit when balanced against that fact.

McDonald’s used to be at the very intersection (with Ronald figure outside). KFC is in same building but storefront faces Silom. I referred to complex as being Silom Edge. It’s actually “Edge Silom.” Bangkok City Administration is doing extensive sidewalk repairs on Silom. Trees are being planted that will eventually provide shade for pedestrians. Be assured all due respect will be accorded heritage site held in high regard by many.

All one, Peter, but nations must now look to the future and decide where they stand In face of aggression at this very moment in Ukraine that also affects the economies of Europe and the wider world. Putin is either stopped in his tracks or he’ll continue his plans for further annexations.

Just the kind of mindset that enabled Hitler and could further enable Putin. It didn’t work for the British in the run up to WWII. Thank God for the tenacity of Churchill. And be grateful that the Ukrainians don’t lack courage.

Pleased to inform readers that I awakened this morning to my second day of rainless and partly overcast skies over Bangkok. The air is cool enough to open the windows and take in a pleasant breeze. The last two evening were perfect for walking. Getting in about 11:45 on Wednesday night, there was only one person in front of me at immigration. Less than three minutes later I was on my way. Spent the first night at The Quarter Silom on Soi Tarntawan. Check in was quick and I immediately messaged my friend to meet me in the lobby. He arrived 15 minutes later and no problem whatsoever bringing him to room (I’d booked for two, including breakfast). Rooms here are tight an compact but very clean with a most comfortable bed and walk in shower. The buffet breakfast offered much more than I expected and we more than satisfied. Checked out at 11:45 and front desk allowed us to check bags while I went to phone store to renew my plan (200 bht per month). It was raining lightly but not enough to keep us from short walk to Airbnb. Rain cleared by evening and we walked around the Silom-Silom rectangle. In anticipation of Vinapu’s impending visit, KFC has opened a new location in the site at Rama 4 and Silom Rd. Once the home of Robinson’s Department store, it now houses Silom Edge, a multi-use complex and the Colonel appears to be among the first occupancies to open. One thing that caught our eye were massage shops that seemed to be doing a good business. Spoke briefly with a few friendly guys on upper Silom and on Soi Six who reported that business has been good. The outdoor food stalls we’re doing a brisk business along Surawong. Stopped for meal at The Beer Garden and waitress remembered I like ice in my Leo. Have a haircut on the agenda today and a trip to Foodland to gather provisions. It’s great to be back.

From Thai News Agency BANGKOK, Sept 30 (TNA) — Twenty-baht polymer banknotes show different serial numbers in Thai and Arabic digits on each bill due to a production flaw but owners can use them or exchange them at banks and financial institutions, according to the Bank of Thailand. BOT deputy governor Vachira Aromdee said the defective banknotes were produced by De La Rue International Limited (DLR) and the central bank already stopped distributing the bills from the company. Initial investigation showed that normal quality control could not detect the mistake, she said. People could use such banknotes and exchange them at banks and specific financial institutions. The BOT was collecting them and trying to solve the problem with DLR which confirmed its best cooperation with the central bank to work out a complete solution, Ms Vachira said. (TNA)

From Thai PBS World In his first reaction to the ruling by the Constitutional Court which reaffirms his premiership, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha pledged to forge ahead with mega-projects initiated by his government. In a post on his Facebook page, Prayut welcomed the ruling and thanked his supporters. “I want to convey my highest regards to the ruling of the Constitutional Court,” he said. Prayut said the one month during which he was suspended from active duty has given him time to reflect on himself. “It makes me realize that I need to spend the limited precious time that this government has left in following up and pushing all the mega-projects that I have initiated to bring prosperity to the country,” he said. It was the first direct message from Prayut to the country since the court suspended him from performing his duty as prime minister on August 24 pending its ruling on his term of office. The court this afternoon concluded that Prayut can continue to complete his tenure which it ruled began in 2017. He said among his priorities are projects to upgrade the country’s communication and digital infrastructure which he said is crucial to the country’s future. “These are projects that no previous administrations had undertaken…I initiated them with thorough consideration for the benefit of the people,” he said. https://www.thaipbsworld.com/prayut-vows-to-push-ahead-with-mega-projects/

There’s no excuse more lame in the face of an enemy like Putin than cowardice. The suffering he’s wrought upon thr people of Ukraine has risen to crimes against humanity. The last thing Ukrainians, and those who’ll follow if Putin isn’t stopped, need are whining pinkos. Does anyone really think Putin appetite will be sated by what he has managed to gain so far. Somehow I just don’t believe he’ll be dissuaded by biting criticism.

If we’re just talking about Cuba then why are we mentioning Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Cambodia and various African countries. The inescapable truth is that when shit hits fan, it will be America that its allies—and once enemies—will call first. And if folks want to pile on, add America’s decision to provide arms and intelligence to Ukraine that’s enabling it to remain in the game against against Putin’s desire to resurrect the Soviet Union peacemeal. Of course America has made its share of stupid choices. But much of the free word continues to depend on its largess to keep sea lanes open and belligerents at bay. When bad guys are at your door, you’re not going to be reciting a litany of past sins to those coming to your rescue.

I understand that America can not do anything right. What I can’t understand is why so many citizens of so many other countries risk life and limb to come to America. Stupid America twice saved Europe from one of its own nations. How dumb was that. Crazy Americans saved much of east Asia from rampaging Japan. FDR and Truman should have been impeached.

As are some others of us. 🤗

Cubans who can actually reach US soil are allowed to remain. Cuban Americans represent one of Florida’s strongest voting blocs. They tend to maintain conservative political positions, including maintaining sanctions against Cuba. This was never more evident when Clinton and Obama made attempts to liberalize relations with the Castro regimes. They must know something about Cuban politics that some do not.

From Pattaya Mail Coming up is the second anniversary of the death of Bernard Trink. For four decades from 1966, his weekly Nite Owl columns appeared in Bangkok World and Bangkok Post. Love him or hate him, he was an institution. Here’s a column he might have written for this week in 2022. Old hands should be able to spot at least 20 Trinkisms. ֍ Down Pattaya way, the Royal Garden mall is putting on a drag cabaret to attract customers, on weekends and public holidays 2 pm. It’s neo-Pattaya, so aimed at families and kids. A sign of the times. ֍ Karaoke bars combine two of the nation’s greatest evils: people who shouldn’t drink with people who shouldn’t sing. ֍ There’s noisy talk of making the new liquor closing time in the gin mills a pre-dawn 4 a.m. That’s gonna upset those saloonkeepers who currently serve till cockcrow. No doubt the constabulary will review the issue via brown envelopes. ֍ A bearded and nude male customer in Bangkok’s Rawhide club joined the demimondaines in their naked shower performance on stage. Most of the imbibers (all male needless to say) immediately asked for their check-bins and promptly left. Nuff said. Continues at https://www.pattayamail.com/alltime/bernard-trinks-nite-owl-recalled-411760

From Thai PBB World Cubans have voted overwhelmingly to legalise same-sex marriage, making the country the 33rd to stop defining marriage as being exclusively between a man and a woman. Cuba’s landmark new family code also allows “altruistic” surrogacy, whereby a woman gives birth to a baby on behalf of another woman or couple but no money changes hands, bar for expenses. Here is a global overview of same-sex marriage and surrogacy: The Netherlands in 2001 became the first country in the world to allow same-sex couples to marry. Since then, 17 European countries have followed: Austria, Belgium, Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Slovenia and Switzerland. Most also allow same-sex couples to adopt. Some countries allow same-sex couples to enter civil partnerships but not to marry, namely the Czech Republic, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Hungary and Italy. Most eastern European countries allow neither gay marriage nor civil partnerships. In Russia, homosexuality was considered a crime up to 1993 and a mental illness until 1999. Now legal, a 2013 law however punishes the promotion of homosexuality among minors. In Hungary, a law passed in 2021 made “promoting” homosexuality or gender change to minors punishable by a fine. Assisted reproduction for lesbian couples is allowed in 12 European countries; the Nordic countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Spain Austria, Ireland and France. Far fewer countries allow surrogate motherhood, with critics slamming the practise, which is permitted in Russia and Ukraine as turning women into “wombs for hire”. “Altruistic” surrogacy is legal in Belgium, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom but France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and a handful of other countries forbid all surrogacy. https://www.thaipbsworld.com/same-sex-marriage-and-surrogacy-where-is-it-legal/

From Thai PBS World The Philippines will deport 40,000 Chinese workers in a crackdown on unlicensed online gaming businesses, an official said Tuesday, after reports of kidnapping, prostitution and murder in the gambling industry. So-called Philippine offshore gaming operators, or POGOs, have boomed since 2016 as former president Rodrigo Duterte pursued closer trade and investment ties with China. But the influx of tens of thousands of Chinese workers in the sector that targets customers in China, where gambling is illegal, has created friction. Many Filipinos complain POGOs have evaded taxes and driven up property rates while not providing job opportunities because not enough locals speak Chinese languages.

From The Thaiger With High Season approaching and the Thai government predicting big numbers, airport expansion plans are being fast-tracked. One of Thailand’s goals as international travel begins to return in greater numbers is to become a transport hub for Southeast Asia. To help realise the goal and make room for an influx of travellers, facilities are being expanded in both domestic and international airports around the country. Smaller regional hubs race to expand and increase their capacity for domestic travellers. Krabi Airport in Southern Thailand will herald travellers to popular tourist destinations outside of Phuket. Khon Kaen Airport in the northeast will expand to accommodate more travellers to Isaan. Mae Sot Airport in the west will bring people to the Burmese border. And the new Betong Airport in the Deep South province of Yala will accommodate passengers near the Malaysian border. BKK angkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport is a primary focus, hoping to boost its hub status with new development. Expansions hope to allow the airport to accommodate up to 120 million passengers each year. The current capacity for the airport is about 45 million people per year, close to the total number of tourists that entered Thailand in 2019 before the pandemic. The airport will expand from 51 to 79 gates with the construction of the satellite Terminal 1. That expansion is expected to be finished this year, along with the addition of a third runway. Other upgrades will be completed over the next several years. DMK The Airports of Thailand is working with the Department of Airports to expand regional airports in central Thailand as well as three major airports. Aside from Suvarnabhumi Airport, the secondary airport serving the greater Bangkok area, Don Mueang International Airport, will see upgrades. U-Tapao Airport in Rayong, the gateway to Pattaya in Chon Buri, it’s under expansion as well. Don Mueang plans to accommodate an extra 18 million travellers each year. They can currently handle 30 million passengers per year. Expansion plans call for 12 new gates for flights to park in a third terminal covering 155,000 square metres of space. The design is already finalized and bidding will begin soon for construction contracts. Continues at https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/tourism/airport-expansion-plans-hastened-across-thailand ================================== Thai Airways releases details of winter flights itinerary Flights scheduled Bangkok-London Heathrow – Two daily flights Bangkok-Paris Charles de Gaulle – Daily flight Bangkok-Zurich – Daily flight Bangkok-Frankfurt – Two daily flights Bangkok-Munich – Daily flight Bangkok-Copenhagen – Daily flight Bangkok-Stockholm – Five flights a week, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday Bangkok-Sydney – Daily flight Bangkok-Melbourne – Daily flight Asia, South East Asia, Middle East Bangkok-Tokyo Narita International Airport – Two daily flights Bangkok-Tokyo Haneda Airport – Daily flight Bangkok-Nagoya – Daily flight Bangkok-Osaka – Daily flight Bangkok-Fukuoka – Daily flight Bangkok-Sapporo – Daily flight starting December 1, 2022 Bangkok-Taipei – Daily flight, increasing to two flights January, 2023 Bangkok-Manila – Two daily flights Bangkok-Seoul – Three daily flights Bangkok-Hong Kong – Two daily flights Bangkok-Singapore – Three daily flights Bangkok-Jakarta – Two daily flights Bangkok-Denpasar – Daily flight Bangkok-Kuala Lumpur – Two daily flights Bangkok-Kolkata – Daily flight starting January 1, 2023 Bangkok-Chennai – Daily flight Bangkok-Hyderbad – Daily flight Bangkok-Bengaluru – Daily flight Bangkok-New Delhi – Daily flight, 22 flights per week Bangkok-Mumbai – Daily flight, increasing to 11 per week January 1, 2023 Bangkok-Dhaka – Daily flights, ten flights per week Bangkok-Lahore – Daily flights, five flights per week, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday Bangkok-Islamabad – Four flights per week, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday Bangkok-Karachi – Daily flight Bangkok-Jeddah – Four flights per week, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday from January 1, 2023 All flights are subject to change. Thai Airways (THAI) announced its winter flights schedule from October 30 to March 25, 2023, with 34 flights slated to take off from Suvarnabhumi Airport Bangkok for destinations to Asia, Europe, and Australia. Thailand’s flag carrier has endured a tough time since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world over two years ago. But THAI recently announced a restructuring plan to get back in the black by renting three more planes and hiring 600 more staff this year.

From Thai PBS World The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has taken steps, including draining water out of canals in and around the city and procuring 2.5 million sandbags to reinforce flood walls, to brace for heavy rain and possible waterway overflows induced by tropical storm Noru, which is expected to hit some north-eastern provinces this Thursday. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said today (Monday) that, according to their scenario planning, the most worrisome aspects of the storm are the runoffs from the Pasak reservoir in Lop Buri and from the Chao Phraya reservoir, which will put pressure on the eastern part of Bangkok and both sides of the Chao Phraya River. Water runoffs from the Pasak reservoir will be drained through the Lam Pla Thio and Phra Ong Chao Chaiyanuchit canals to prevent it from overflowing. He said that water levels in all canals in Bangkok have fallenbelow the control level, after the Drainage and Sewerage Department accelerated efforts to drain water out of them into the Chao Phraya River, increasing their capacity to store more water from anticipated heavy rain this week, adding that 2.5 million sandbags will be available tomorrow and Wednesday and will be sent to reinforce the floodwalls along Chao Phraya River. The governor pointed out that accumulated rainfall in Bangkok for September has, so far, been measured at 744mm, with 922.5mm being recorded in Din Daeng district, despite the fact that Thailand has not yet been hit by a tropical stormthis year. This is a clear sign of climate change and the weather conditions are bound to get more extreme in the future, said Chadchart. He also identified Lat Krabang, Bang Khen, Min Buri and Don Mueang as more vulnerable to flooding than other districts in the capital.

Used to love visiting Portland--20 years ago. No longer tempted.

Of course there's always the time-honored method of getting what you want. Qatar Paid $880 Million In Bribes To FIFA To Secure The 2022 World Cup According to a bombshell report in yesterday’s Sunday Times, the tiny but disproportionately wealthy and influential peninsula state of Qatar bribed FIFA officials to the tune of $880 million in order to secure its bid to play host to the 2022 World Cup. https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-qatar-paid-880-million-bribes-fifa-secure-josh-hammer

Judging from your description and experience, I'd say a bargain.😊

Although the bars need to be aware that they're pushing the envelope at 400 baht per drink, the bottom line will always be supply: are customers willing to pay. If they're still coming through the doors it's an easy equation to resolve. Dreamboys should make for a good case study. Management must be persuaded that the potential represented by the return of Chinese and other north Asian tourists warrants the investment in moving next door to the old Lucky Boys venue. (Personally, I don't know why they'd be eager to alter the seating arrangement because I always considered it to be one of the better ones in town. But that's just me). The big unknown factor is the effects of inflation on whether those tourists will actually arrive in BKK. If they don't materialize in numbers anticipated, Dreamboys will be facing huge overhead. And to profitably operate a bar of that proportion, the number of guys required to fill the stage could easily put pressure on supply. Will they draw boys away from other bars? If not, they'll have to rely on an influx from the provinces and their Thai neighbors. Although Dreamboys is not on my short list of favorite stops, I wish them well because it could become the anchor location for gay Patpong. At the moment, Fresh Boys probably has a manageable overhead. Could it be tempted to relocate across the way to the vacated Dreamboys venue? I kind of doubt it unless they, too, are banking on the great influx of new tourists.