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It’s probably worth viewing this through a wider lens—the political one. The nation is still experiencing the upheaval of much contested elections and it will be a while before things settle. Individuals, parties and private interests are vying for power and influence. This is nothing new in the history of Thailand, whether the change in government resulted from a coup or elections. If you go back about 16 years, under the Thaksin regime, police staged a very well publicized raid on Babylon sauna. The media was there in force and if I recall correctly the justification was that the premises didn’t have a license to operate as a hotel. But it occurred in the larger context of a “social order” campaign. It came as a surprise to many because the owner was a quite wealthy and influential individual. Popular gay venues have always been popular locations when a point is to be made because few will rise to their defense. It’s perhaps worth noting that the raid on Prince was publicized only in the Thai media. No English language site has reported on it to the best of my knowledge. Similar social movements emerge periodically but particularly when a regime desires to make a point that lends legitimacy to its rule. These events can be popular among certain segments of the population while alienating others. But they all have one thing in common: things tend to regress to the norm in time-honored Thai fashion. Thailand—like many nations—is experiencing its own surge of nationalism. And that nationalism challenges the ASEAN ties built up over time. If history is any predictor, the needle will slowly fluctuate back to the norm, driven by economic and social factors, and of course, politics of the day. It’s probably wise not to make too much or too little of day-to-day events in trying to discern the long-term direction of a government. Successful prior governments have proven adept at maneuvering through political minefields to keep the economy on track and the masses mollified. Until, of course, they don’t.

The new imm hotel received a huge water storage tank the other night.

Maybe, but the “off” experience is more perilous. Lol Btw, noticed you had no qualms about taking US carriers to task but somehow managing to avoid any of the dreaded Euro carriers in your own backyard. A bit myopic, no?

With less competition from the ASEAN countries, the odds are better for the locals. Maybe customers became exasperated with Prince’s practice of adopting the 45-minute “hour.”

You didn’t read what I wrote. I said Jet Blue allows you to carry on (not check) two bags free. This is the same practice for Southwest Airlines, the largest Low cost carrier. They, along with Alaska Air, usually take the top three in passenger satisfaction surveys (and yes they still serve free drinks and snacks). The majors sell their tiered products (pay for only what you want) because passengers may bitch about the add ons but continue to pay for them. It’s charging what the market will bear. Having said that, flying today is little more expensive than it was a decade.ago. That makes the majors profitable without government subsidies. Asian carriers have lower personnel costs with fewer benefits so it’s understandable that they can comp you coke and peanuts . lf you want a smile with your nuts, you’re better off going to Luckyboys.

That’s a lot of crap. US carriers are the most profitable and there plenty of competition. The seat pitch on Jet Blue is among the most generous in economy anywhere and you can carry on two bags free. If you’re headed for Asia, don’t think you can beat the major Asian carriers on price and schedule. And for service, ANA and Singapore stand out among the crowd. For convenience of connections from the US east or west coasts, Cathay Pacific offers the best en-route times to Bangkok.

Malaysia’s struggling flagship carrier has unexpectedly agreed to explore a partnership with its fierce Singaporean competitor While there has been resistance against a future merger on grounds of national pride, some analysts say such an alliance makes good business sense https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3016531/does-singapore-airlines-and-malaysia-airlines-partnership-clear

At the risk of misjudging the readership of a gay Thailand forum, isn’t that among the key reasons this board is so successful? It provides, among other things, erotic thrills. And I don’t think massages are a totally series of random events. Most experienced masseurs learn what works consistently best and tend to repeat the process.

From Bangkok Post (11 May) Bumrungrad admits transfusion the cause in HIV case The Thai Red Cross Society confirmed on Friday that its procedures for collecting and dispensing blood are in line with global standards, as fears of HIV/Aids being accidentally transmitted by the organisation have skyrocketed in the wake of a disclosure by a leading hospital in Bangkok. Bumrungrad International Hospital issued a statement on Thursday claiming one of its patient had become infected with the autoimmune disease from blood given by the society, the country's top blood donor. The Thai Red Cross said that while it followed world best practices, there is a ''window period", usually in the first several weeks, during which a donor may have contracted the disease but it is not yet detectable. It claimed there was no technology in the world able to detect the disease at such an early stage, and urged donors to inform officials of the truth if they have engaged in any risky behavior in the weeks prior to donating Continues at https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1675608/hospital-in-hot-water-over-hiv-case

There's only one way to find that guy. Come on back where you don't have to reset that clock in your head. The boys do it for you.

Excerpted from Coconuts Bangkok (10 May) Prevalence of Unsafe Sex Leads to the Return of Syphilis in Thailand Syphilis is back, and that is very bad, the Department of Disease (DDC) control has warned. The department – assigned to monitor the outbreak – believes the rising rate of syphilis, especially amongst citizens aged 15-24, reflects increasing rates of unsafe sex taking place among young adults. The rate of syphilis infections has been gradually going up since 2013. Just last year, diagnosis increased by 36.9 percent among the age group in question, DDC director-general Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai said Tuesday, according to ThaiPBS. Syphilis is a common sexually transmitted infection spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex. It can also be spread from an infected mother to her unborn baby. Though syphilis is a serious ailment, it can be cured with medication. Without treatment, however, the infection can lead to serious complications and health problems like brain damage, paralysis, and blindness. Syphilis causes sores on the original site of infection, usually around the genitals, mouth, anus or rectum though some patients don’t notice or feel the sores. Continues with chart and links https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/prevalence-of-unsafe-sex-leads-to-the-return-of-syphilis-in-thailand/

One of Bangkok bars is Small's on the restaurant row strip of Soi Suan Plu. On the recommendation of DivineMadman, I visited there with a friend a few trips back and enjoyed the atmosphere as much as the food. It's a reasonable walk from Silom and there's a handful of massage shops in close proximity (AEN and Art Massage to name a few). From Coconuts Bangkok (10 May) ......among the winners of this year’s Asia’s 50 Best Bars The rankings of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2019 were announced at a ceremony in Singapore last night, and seven of our city’s bars made the list this year. Named best hotel bar and best bar of the year by The Bar Awards last month, Bangkok’s oldest jazz establishment The Bamboo Bar continues to lead in these industry awards, at no. 8 (up from no. 9 last year). Also on the list are Thonglor’s theater-themed Backstage Cocktail Bar (no. 20), Silom cocktail lounge Vesper (no. 26) and rum-focused tiki bar Tropic City (no. 31). Craft cocktail venue in Rabbit Hole secured the 34th spot on the list, followed by Soi Suan Phlu jazz bar Smalls at no. 42 and Chinatown’s Teens of Thailand at no. 48. Continues with photos https://coconuts.co/bangkok/food-drink/7-bangkok-bars-among-the-winners-of-this-years-asias-50-best-bars/

From Bangkok Post (10 May) Private hospitals ordered to display medicine prices Starting next week, private hospitals must display the prices of medicines so that consumers can make better-informed decisions prior to purchase, the government said on Friday. As well, private hospitals must give patients the opportunity to buy medicines from pharmacies outside the hospital using prescriptions provided by their doctors. Acting Commerce Minister Chutima Bunyapraphasara made the comment after chairing a meeting of the Central Committee on Prices of Goods and Services, which approved the proposals on Friday. “Prices of medicines must be shown either on the hospital’s website or via QR codes on a chart displayed clearly at the hospital,” she said. Continues at https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1675448/medicine-price-displays-mandatory

From The Nation (9 May) Sophon TV has reported on the state of Pattaya’s beaches and said a 2.6km stretch was a “filthy mess” with a travel operator blaming tourists. “From north to south Pattaya the beach is a disgrace”, according to Sophon TV. “The water is black and horrible.” It said the tide line was strewn with plastic bags, bottles, foam containers and other rubbish. Ladda Limkun, a beach operator, blamed tourists. “People who eat and drink on the beach just don’t clean up after themselves. And tourists on boat trips just toss their trash in the sea, meaning it washes up on the shore. The authorities have been slow to react to the latest eyesore of rubbish,” she added. Continues with photos http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30369106

I've used the SR airport locations a few times in past and the rate rate was good. I only exchanged enough cash to get me through the first night. When I get off the flight, I'm exhausted and just want to get to the hotel. Not a good frame of mind to do a big exchange and then board a crowded train. I try to follow the advice of ggobkk above: take whatever Thai notes I have left at trip's end home with me so I don't have to stop before getting train or taxi on my next arrival.

Seeing that a lot of members responded to your query, think you could (hehehe) see your way clear to tell us where this little bureau just around the corner is, *n? ;)))

The SR card sounds like it may be a good option. Since you'd be loading it with baht for which you got a good exchange rate, it frees you of worries of having too much cash.

I believe the answer to your conundrum is explained by Asnstudent's description of the guy: ".... I chose a super cute shorter boy. Luckily, my boy turned out to be really cute on a closer look with a perfect muscular body when he took his shirt off.. ... the cutest boy I've encountered on this trip, with a baby face, but nice eyebrows, perfectly muscular body, hairy at appropriate places, and very well endowed. ...He was the cutest guy of my trip this time. .... If it was not my last day, i might have asked my masseur's Line info." I think many of us have paid the same--if not more--at least once for the same experience that remains imprinted indelibly in our memory. --------------- You've got to accentuate the positive eliminate the negative Latch on to the affirmative But don't mess with mister inbetween You've got to spread joy up to the maximum Bring gloom down to the minimum have faith, a pandemonium Libel to walk up on the scene Johnny Mercer, 1944

Wherever you use a credit card, be very sure (before you sign the charge slip) that the transaction is denominated in Thai baht (not pounds, euros or dollars). This avoids an additional currency exchange that benefits the vendor's bank and disadvantages you. And be sure you get a receipt of the transaction. SuperRich has two locations in the Silom area. The most convenient is on the third floor of the Silom Complex (adjacent to Saladaeng BTS station) and further down Silom next to the plaza that houses the famous Arena Massage. It's been my experience that you get a slightly better exchange rate at the latter branch, but not worth going out of your way for unless you're doing a large transaction.

Here's one way to put this in context. Many of the staff who work the venues around Silom have their evening meals delivered by vendors who charge about 40 baht. So if you give someone a 20 baht note, it's half the cost of their dinner. If a guy chooses to turn up his nose at this, there are others who won't. That's what separates us from the animals: we take money. As you've learned, having a select stable of regulars is good practice. You know you're already comfortable with each other and and the quality of the experience is predictable. Glad that served you well as your trip draws to a close. Agree that Foodland is a fine choice to get meals to go at a reasonable price that you and your guest will be happy with. And it's a 24/7 operation. As I mentioned in another thread, having you and Gold Member posting great trip reports simultaneously has been a treat. Your keen sense of what engages the reader leaves us always looking forward to more. Thanks for the effort.

Trip reports are the meat and potatoes of the forum and you have served up an overflowing serving. We rarely read reports that feature traveling with partner, traveling with child, traveling with relatives in addition to candid reports of bars, massage shops, eateries and dance venues all packed into one experience. That your thread is running parallel with Asnstudent's excellent report leaves readers with an embarrassment of riches to tweak their time between visits. What also distinguishes your report is that you take us to places that we usually don't hear that much about. You wander regularly off the Silom/Surawong reservation and entertained us with your sharp eye for detail. I echo Divine Madman's recommendation above.

I understand that everybody enjoys getting a bargain but somehow I don't quite equate getting a massage with going to Walmart. Paying a guy 1k to 1.5k to toil over your body for 60-90 minutes and then pleasuring you with a happy ending doesn't seem outrageous. And I can appreciate that some punters prefer the apps to a gay--or non-gay--massage shop. But among the benefits I find of using a shop are the opportunity to see what's available in person and not bringing a stranger into my hotel or apartment. In any case, I can't see myself entering a shop and saying, "I'll give you exactly 840 baht for a handjob and not a satang more."

Above incident serves as a good reminder for all of us. If planning to visit around high-season events, it's worth it to make reservations well in advance. Some booking sites like Agoda allow cancellations within a specified time frame. In any case, it's better than ending up at a place that ties to extort you. Even if you had paid the crazy demand the cash would have never ended up in till but rather in the pockets of front desk staff.

From South China Morning Post (3 May) China’s airlines jostle for position at new mega airport, in rare glimpse into Beijing’s palace intrigue Air China gets a foothold at Daxing International Airport to escalate competition with China Eastern and China Southern Intensive lobbying, high-level horse trading and political manoeuvring are dominating a drama which will help define the future of China’s airline market China’s big three state-owned airlines are engaged in a tussle for the rights to fly into and out of the new mega airport in Beijing, which will be among the world’s biggest when it opens in September. Intensive lobbying, high-level horse trading and political manoeuvring are dominating a drama which will help define the future of the world’s biggest airline market. The three state-owned airlines are scrapping it out for landing slots at Beijing Daxing International Airport, in an episode of palace intrigue which offers a rare glimpse into how politics, state directives and market competition are often woven together in the Chinese economy. Between them, Air China, China Eastern and China Southern Airlines hold two-thirds of China’s civil aviation market. They are vying for premium slots at Daxing, which will launch on September 30. A plan published by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in January showed that China Eastern and China Southern would relocate their flights to the new airport, an 80 billion yuan (US$11.9 billion) mega facility with seven runways. Each would be given 40 per cent of Daxing’s air traffic resources, while Air China would remain at the old Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA), which is in a northeastern suburb of Beijing and which is currently the country’s busiest airport, serving 101 million passengers last year. Continues with many photos https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3008696/chinas-airlines-jostle-position-new-mega-airport-rare-glimpse

The time you were allotted at LuckyBoys was way out of line. I think at least 10 minutes since you had already brought him a drink. In the situation at Moonlight, where you're well known to the mamasans and other staff, you should have been cut more slack. Being a regular has to count for something. If not, there's no reason to develop relationships with mamasans there.