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There are many Vietnamese in Bangkok but the majority are in other lines of work. Those that do work in massage and the bars tend to have a strong following as witnessed by the success of Screwboy. It may take longer to get to know them as individuals but certainly glad that I did.

I can give a thumbs up to K-man spa, a massage shop located a few steps from Saphan Kwai BTS stop. It’s down a small soi on same side of road as Big C (directional on FB site). What I particularly liked was the policy of identifying masseurs’ preferred role (“top” or “top and bottom”) on its FB site. It’s been my experience they serve as good indicator of what customer can actually expect. standard room with massage table with shower down the hall. There’s a small lock box in room. They also offer a VIP room. The room I was taken to was on third floor. Small bottle of water on arrival. Manager shows you those available on tablet. In some cases, boys not on site can be called in. You can also request your choice in advance by phone or email. Shop also operates second site , KK Massage. Most of the guys came from various ASEAN countries. https://www.facebook.com/kmanspamassage/

In the Raya room without actual an actual window they installed an artificial window simply for aesthetics. No, I don’t get it but I’m no interior designer.

Best way to avoid lack of window is personal advance email or call to hotel.

On the insurance front, the requirement remains enshrined in the Thai Pass. The article below lists Thai companies and a easy to navigate interactive tool to help select your preferred option to meet the $10,000 minimum coverages. However, if you’re over 75 expect to find that none are interested in making an offer. The automatic response recommended “try changing your age.” Remember TIT 🙂 US insurance broker Squaremouth does insure those up to 99 and lists multiple companies (including AXA). https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/pr/2318738/thailand-covid-insurance-for-thailand-pass

Although I don’t know how many types of rooms on the 5th, I stayed on that floor the first of three stays and desk clerk took no notice of my guests. All the rooms I stayed in were quite satisfactory. Some rooms do not have a window.

The government has done another about face on outdoor mask wearing. After leading the public to believe that masks would no longer be required in mid-June, the PM is now saying no such plan ever existed. So like the insurance requirement for foreigners and the resilient Thai Pass, The government continues to find ways to limit the tourism it claims it so badly wants to attract

If you get three hours out of a ST off, i tip my cap to you. Marry him 😊

@chum_soccer if the photo you posted above is of a man you communicated with on Grindr, I believe it’s inappropriate to post here without expressed permission of the individual (if even then). Regarding whether anyone had ever paid bht 2000 for short time, be assured that they have. It’s the going rate for offing a guy from a bar in Bkk.

From the Thaiger Starting next month, bus travel enthusiasts in Thailand will have 10 bus route options options in Laos. One of the Thailand-Laos bus routes began earlier this month, from Mukdahan to Savannakhet. Now, the president of Transport Co Ltd, Sanyalux Panwattanalikit, has listed 9 new Thailand-Laos routes starting June 15. The new routes will be: Nong Khai to Vientiane, Udon Thani to Vientiane, Ubon Ratchathani to Pakse, Khon Kaen to Vientiane, Bangkok to Vientiane, Nakhon Phanom to Thakhek, Chiang Rai to Bokeo, Loei to Luang Prabang, and a line running between Udon Thani, Udon Thani International Airport, Nong Khai, and Vang Vieng. To buy tickets for busses from Thailand to Laos, travel nerds can visit https://tcl99web.transport.co.th/Home.

A glance at the headlines in the local media pretty much reflects what members have been saying about conditions they’re observing. The much ballyhooed “reopening” of nightlife in Bangkok and Pattaya this Wednesday is of course welcomed but extending closing times is what’s most needed to truly normalize operations. At least we should see a return to briefs among the stage boys but no second show (well, maybe.Second show on weekends under locally “adaptive” conditions). On the monkey pox front, health minister now says suspected cases actually proved to be herpes.

When I approached Foodland at about 11:30 Friday evening I was surprised to find approximately 80+ young people that I can only describe as a flash mob gathering. Most appeared in their early 20’s and were dressed for the dance floor. They were streaming in and out of Foodland to buy beer and consumed it outside before bewitching hour of midnight. They were loud but otherwise well behaved. Crowd began to dissipate about 12:15, likely headed to the clubs off Silom.

Got massage Friday at a shop on Soi 6. It’s the first on left coming from Silom rd. I believe name is “Relax”. Liked their positive approach. As soon as I made eye contact with one guy, he was out on the street with big smile. One hour oil 500. Only downside was it was on fourth floor. Standard massage table and room was comfortable temperature. Massage and afters fine. Masseur was from Isan and I suspect most of staff were, also. At 10pm all of the foot massage seats on ground floor were occupied. given small bottle of water upon leaving.

Bangkok Post today reporting that Thai Pass may no longer be required of foreigners as of June 1. Also, outdoor mask wearing may not be necessary from mid-June except for certain groups, including 60+ (don’t know how that could reasonably be enforced).

Apologies, I had intended to post above in the new soi 6 bar thread.

Took in the show at New Twilight Tuesday. I was greeted outside and escorted to a front seat on one side of the large stage. The seating very much resembled that of Lucky Boys (comfortably padded black sofa style) with narrow table running along the front. Four dancers performed most of the acts. They’re still learning their moves but moved with energy. Costumes were cabaret style and it appeared to me that management is—at least for the moment—adopting a conservative approach to to the presentation. At one point, attired only in briefs, dancers moved into the audience for up close and personal show. The size of crowd surprised me, considering the quiet and darker soi outside. After I entered, a mixed group of about 10 Asian tourist arrived, swelling the audience to over 40. My pleasant waiter was from Vietnam and sat and chatted with me as his duties allowed. I brought him a beer and tipped him on way out. My overall impression was that this new entry is very reminiscent of Lucky Boys in style, lighting and sound. A gaggle of 17 boys presented themselves in a sort of rotation after the show. I got the impression that, for many, it was their first. Time on a stage. Dressed in jeans, they smiled a lot to each other and the audience. They seemed to be representative of Asean. Generally I’d say they were boy-next-door type who, once they lose their self consciousness of being in the spotlight, will attract more offs. Even the restroom reminded me of Lucy Boys: you share it with staff. Overall, I believe this is going to survive. And that has to be a good thing for the Bangkok gay scene. As I walked away, the veteran mamasan/bartender who’d be familiar to Fans of Golden Cock, smiled at me from his new perch outside Nature Boys and said, “nice to see you, again.”

From the Thaiger Thailand to strictly screen those arriving from countries with Monkeypox Thailand is creating a new emergency centre to monitor the spread of monkeypox, which has now been detected in at least 12 countries, although in very small numbers at this stage. The Bangkok Post reports that Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong, virologist and director-general of the ministry’s Department of Disease Control says Thai health officials are closely monitoring the outbreak, even if the virus has not yet been reported here. According to Dr. Opas, following the recent easing of travel restrictions, Thailand now needs to be on alert, particularly when it comes to visitors from areas in Africa where monkeypox is endemic. To date, the virus has been reported in the US, Australia, and Canada, as well as in several European countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. To date, over 100 cases have been reported in Europe.K The DDC says humans can contract monkeypox through close contact with an infected person or animal. The virus can be found in a variety of rodents and in primates. Human-to-human transmission is limited, but can occur through body fluids, respiratory droplets, and contaminated materials. However, scientists say this virus is unlikely to result in another pandemic. At this stage a lot of the human-to-human transmission has happened through sexual contact. The symptoms of monkeypox include a fever, rash, body aches, fatigue, headache, and swollen lymph nodes, and can last between 2 and 4 weeks. Lesions, the ‘pox’ part of the name, will often fester, then slowly dry up and disappear in between the second and third week. Whilst monkeypox is rarely lethal, one variant of the disease has a fatality rate of around 10%, with deaths mostly occurring as a result of lung or brain inflammation and dehydration.

About half a dozen, as I recall. The standard “ping the pole” routine, Overall a long but fun show. The performers smile easily and are very accessible.

You raise a good point about the economics of operating a low passenger load flight under current conditions: I’d hazard a guess that Singapore it going to test how much premium passengers are willing to pay for convenience. One big advantage of that particular route is the proliferation of well-heeled customers at both ends. Couple that with the carrier’s reputation for excellence and it becomes a case of if anyone can pull it off it’s probably Singapore.

Fresh Boy show last night well attended with about 22 guys on stage representing Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam—all easy on the eyes. Six very energetic dancers. The LB show dancer (widely known for her dazzling costumes) was very well received. Show included all the standard specialty acts, all executed to satisfaction. if non-fem twinks and guy-next-door are your type, you won’t be disappointed. There’s were also three bigger, muscly guys on the menu. There were numerous off during the show (including two waiters). All performers were in jeans but those participating in the acts were in speedos The BC show towels that fell away.

As alluded to by PaulSF earlier this week, it seems the return to normalized nightlife is steadily progressing. As I walked along Thaniya the other night, the ladies of the evening were populating one side of the soi like it was 2019 again. This, I told myself, has to be a very good omen. This morning’s Bangkok Post reinforced this belief. ”The Ministry of Public Health will on Friday propose new Covid-19 zoning with some provinces to be classified as "green zones", according to its permanent secretary, Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit. The ministry's proposal to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) involves the revised zoning of Covid-19 hit provinces only, with surveillance "green zones" added to the current high surveillance "yellow zones" and "blue zones" promoted for tourism in the colour-coded system, he said. Although no further easing of Covid-19 restrictions is proposed by the ministry, the provincial communicable disease committees in "green zones" can consider further relaxations and what activities may resume, he said. When translated into the vernacular, this allows otherwise restricted activities to proceed without violating laws or sensibilities.

The A350 performs the nonstop service between JFK and SIN. Now that it’s avoiding. Russian airspace the duration can be as much as 19 hours. depending on winds aloft. The 380 is filling the seats with Euro-bound and Asian bound travelers. As others have pointed out, Singapore has positioned itself ideally to provide efficient point-to-point and conventional routing through passenger rich heart of Europe. And it’s completive pricing in all classes is filling the seats. My mid-day arrival was swift and efficient. With no checked luggage, I made it from sky bridge to City Line train in about 20 minutes, most of it a welcome stroll through the sorely missed familiarity of Swampy (and I say that with affection). The ride up the escalator at Silom was a near emotional experience after a 26-month period of deprivation.

The A350 is the daily nonstop but Singapore also flies an A380 out of New York that stops in Frankfurt. It was just about full when I flew it this week.

From the BBC Australian flag carrier Qantas made history recently by ferrying passengers nonstop between South America and Australia. The aeroplane – a Boeing 787 Dreamliner – departed Buenos Aires shortly past noon local time. Some 9,300 miles (14.973km) and 17-plus hours later, QF 14 landed in Darwin. In doing so, the carrier set two internal records: longest distance covered and longest time in the air for a commercial flight. Captain Alex Passerini, who commanded QF 14, later said: "Qantas has always stepped up to a challenge, especially when it comes to long-haul travel, and this flight is an excellent example of the capabilities and attention to detail of our flight planning team." Contrary to popular belief, flying for so many hours isn't entirely new. In the 1930s, Pan Am jets hopscotched across the Pacific Ocean with regularity. Passengers on board the Honolulu clipper could expect 20-hour flight times when shuttling between Hawaii and the continental United States. Qantas followed suit a decade later. In 1943, the Flying Kangaroo launched service between Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and Australia, its flying boats taking up to 33 hours to complete the trip. Passengers who did were subsequently admitted to "The Rare and Secret Order of the Double Sunrise", so named because of the two sunrises they would see during the trip. The 21st Century has seen the long-haul, nonstop trend continue. In 2004, Singapore Airlines made headlines when it launched service between New York and Singapore; a 9,500-plus mile (15,289km) haul that can – depending on prevailing winds – take up to 19 hours. Less punishing (though not by much) is Qatar Airways’ Doha to Auckland, New Zealand service which clocks in at 9,000 miles (14,484km). Passengers on board the Boeing 777 cross 10 time zones and virtually the entire length of the Indian Ocean, continental Australia, and the Tasman Sea before arriving in the City of Sails. Trip time? 18 hours. Similar feats of flight are expected later this year when United and American Airlines launch services between the United States and India. Continues at https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220513-how-long-haul-travel-will-change-post-covid

From CNBC The European Union is set to drop its mask mandate for passengers on flights and in airports from Monday, following an update to guidelines for the aviation industry. The recommendation for mandatory wearing of medical masks in airports and on board a flight is being lifted on May 16, EU’s Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said last week, while noting that a face mask is still one of the best protections against the transmission of Covid-19. The updated guidance takes into account the latest developments in the pandemic, “in particular the levels of vaccination and naturally acquired immunity, and the accompanying lifting of restrictions in a growing number of European countries,” the EASA said in a statement. However, individual airlines can still choose to recommend or require mask-wearing on board the EASA said, with rules likely to continue to vary by airline beyond Monday. For example, flights to or from a destination where mask-wearing is still required on public transport should continue to encourage mask wearing, according to the recommendations. Vulnerable passengers should continue to wear a face mask regardless of the rules, the EASA added, and social distancing should be encouraged in indoor areas at the airport where possible.