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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.

From Khaosod English (30 Apr.) BANGKOK — The government said Tuesday it has petitioned the United Nations to recognise Thai massage as part of its intangible heritage. Speaking to reporters today, Culture Minister Veera Rojpojanara said UNESCO will convene to make its decision in November. If accepted, Thai massage – or nuad thai – will be Thailand’s second entry in UNESCO’s intangible world heritage list. Last year, the agency granted a similar status to Thai traditional masked dance. “We have already submitted it,” Veera said. “Right now it is under consideration.” He said he has high hopes that UNESCO will recognize Thai massage as an important part of Thai culture. “We have submitted very detailed information,” Veera told reporters. “And we have high expectations, because Thai massage is considered part of Thailand’s unique intangible heritage.” In its submission, the Thai government said there are about 25,000 practitioners of the craft nationwide. It also said Thai massage is a manifestation of folk knowledge of the body’s workings that has been passed down for centuries. “Nuad Thai is considered part of the art, science and culture of Thai traditional healthcare,” the government said in its application. About 50 entries around the world are vying this year for recognition in UNESCO’s prestigious list of intangible heritage – a distinction given to oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festivals and more. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/culture/2019/04/30/govt-hopeful-thai-massage-gets-unesco-recognition/

From Khaosod English (2 May) New Queen Appointed Ahead of Coronation BANGKOK — A former commander of His Majesty the King’s bodyguards was named the new Queen of Thailand today. A royal command issued on Wednesday, just three days before the formal coronation of King Vajiralongkorn is due to take place, announced that the King has married Gen. Suthida Vajiralongkorn na Ayudhya and therefore elevated her to be Queen Suthida. News footage released by the Royal Household Bureau on Wednesday night shows the couple married at Dusit Palace in Bangkok. Little is known about Thailand’s new Queen, though media reports say Suthida has been serving in the Ratchawanlop Guards, a unit of bodyguards protecting the then-Crown Prince, since 2013. She is often seen escorting the King in a number of important state ceremonies. In October 2016, Suthida was awarded the Rattanabhorn Medal by the King for serving as his bodyguard. A year later, he awarded her with another accolade, the Knight Grand Cross of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chomklao. Continues with photos http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2019/05/01/new-queen-appointed-ahead-of-coronation/

Thank you for reporting on what is one of the most discussed guys in recent forum memory who--up until now--was pretty much an enigma. Actually, he will probably remain so because you were wise enough to omit the complete details. Leaving some things to your discretion and our imagination is appreciated as both you your guest deserve some privacy.

From Bangkok Post (29 Apr.) Fresh from his move from the Border Patrol Police Bureau, newly appointed Immigration Bureau (IB) commissioner Pol Lt Gen Sompong Chingduang has given assurances that his performance will be up to scratch in his new role. He told the Bangkok Post the IB's job mainly involves safeguarding national security and providing assistance to tourists. It is necessary for the IB to collaborate and share information with Interpol and the immigration authorities of other countries to keep track of foreign criminal gangs, he said. "We want to assist good tourists who have purchasing power. They bring income to the country. As for security arrangements, we focus on checking backgrounds of various people with Interpol and immigration authorities in other countries,'' Pol Lt Gen Sompong said. The current priority is to crack down on pickpockets from neighbouring countries who target both Thais and foreign travellers during festivals and other key events, Pol Lt Gen Sompong said, adding authorities had also been told to remain on high alert along border areas with natural channels through which these criminals can pass unmonitored. Continues with photos https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/security/1668672

You did yourself proud in saving your baht to buy drinks for those who don't have tits. lol. That bar has the perfect location for observing the comings and goings of DBP, LuckyBoys, Bangkok Massage and the list goes on. They have a few outside tables and many stools only about five meters across the soi from the action. As one veteran member suggested during my last trip, maybe we should just take over those straight bars that suite our purpose.

Just curious, Will, but were they harassing you about being gay or complaining about the goings on across the soi?

From BY Times (26 Apr.) Michael Fesco, whose trendsetting clubs on Fire Island and later in Manhattan gave gay men a place to gather, dance and explore sexually at a time when homosexuality was largely unwelcome in mainstream society, died on April 11 in Palm Springs, Calif. He was 84. His friend Tony Powell, who worked for Mr. Fesco on Sea Tea, a gay party cruise around Manhattan that he began organizing in the 1990s, confirmed the death. Mr. Fesco gave a jolt of energy to the gay scene in 1970, when he opened the Ice Palace in Cherry Grove, a gay community on Fire Island. He had recently visited the Sanctuary, a discothèque on West 43rd Street in Manhattan with a largely gay male clientele. “I said, ‘I’ve just got to do something like this!’ ” Mr. Fesco said in an interview for “Love Saves the Day: A History of American Dance Music Culture, 1970-1979,” a 2003 book by Tim Lawrence. “I sat there in the rafters mesmerized by the people on the dance floor.” Mr. Fesco borrowed the name Ice Palace from an F. Scott Fitzgerald story. “It was always so damn hot in there that I thought a nice, cool name would be psychologically appreciated,” he said. For several years the Ice Palace did booming business. But competition from a nearby establishment, the Sandpiper, made 1973 a rough year for Mr. Fesco, and he began turning his attention to Manhattan; management of the Ice Palace, which is still a popular gathering spot, passed to others. In December 1974 he opened Flamingo in a 10,000-square-foot space in SoHo. Flamingo was a membership club: Purchasing a membership card (the initial price was $35 — about $190 today — though a black market is said to have developed) entitled you to enter and bring a guest. Mr. Fesco employed various theme nights — a “black party,” where everyone would dress in black, a “white party,” where that was the color of the evening, and so on. More important was what was coming out of the speakers. “It was his use of music that set the club apart from the competition,” Get Out! Magazine wrote in 2012. “Flamingo was a Cathedral of Sound and the D.J. led the parishioners through nighttime services.” Flamingo dominated the scene for seven years, until the Saint, an even bigger and flashier club, opened in the East Village. Continues with photos https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/26/obituaries/michael-fesco-dead.htm

The demise of Twilight was indeed the end of an era but the makeover of Patpong 2 is the beginning of a new one. What has taken place in less than few months is remarkable by any measure. From Surawong to Foodland, there seems to be something for everyone. And if you can't find it there, you surely will at Moonlight or Soi 4. Or at the dozens of massage shops within 10 minutes walking distance. My next trip can't some soon enough. A friend sent me this photo (looking toward Silom). The signs say it all.

From Fodor's website (25 Apr.) Thailand’s legendary food will surprise and delight with its variety and freshness. Phenomenal food is easy to find in Southeast Asia, but there’s a reason Thailand is known across the world for its cuisine. From the jungles of the north to the metropolitan bustle of Bangkok on the coast, and on the sun-soaked islands and beaches of the south, the freshness and diversity of Thai dishes will keep you perpetually hungry. Whether you’re an inveterate chowhound or a casual diner, these are some of the best dishes worth seeking out while in Thailand. Continues with the list and photos https://www.fodors.com/world/asia/thailand/experiences/news/15-things-to-eat-and-drink-in-thailand

From Pattaya Mail (26 Apr.) A gay prostitute was arrested for allegedly stealing the wallet of his Pattaya customer. Talang Thamnao, 29, was taken into custody at his home in Phanat Nikhom District with the wallet of Belgian Luc Rapoye, 63, and 100 euros plus 1,500 baht. Rapoye said he was drinking in a bar April 24 when Talang approached him. They adjourned to the Belgian’s hotel room. Talang allegedly took the wallet and ran when his customer went to the restroom. Continues with photo https://www.pattayamail.com/news/robbing-prostitute-arrested-253390

That the migration of bars from Twilight to Patpong 2 has now encouraged others to open new venues n Patpong 1 should be viewed as good news. Some feared that the Patpong strips were too steeped in the tradition of lady bars and wouldn't be welcoming to boy bars. Thanks to risk-taking owners and the pursuit of potential profits, those considerations appear to be put to rest. Let's hope that the owners of these new ventures have the cash on hand to ride out the low season. Attracting clientele and building a reputation takes time. Sure, some will fall short but that would be the case regardless of what the business entailed. The glass seems to be more than half-full at this point, less than a month after just about all of the lights on Twilight have been extinguished for the final time.

From South China Morning Post (24 Apr.) China wants to fund Thailand’s US$12 billion high-speed railway – but is the kingdom on track for more debt than it can handle? The Export-Import Bank of China has offered Thailand a low-interest loan for the construction of a belt and road project linking the country with Kunming and Laos But repayment is just one concern, as analysts are uncertain Bangkok will ever turn a profit from the project Despite Thailand’s vow to rely on domestic funding as it expands its network of high-speed railways, it could soon accept the offer of a low-interest loan from the Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM) – raising concerns about whether the country is on the verge of falling into a debt trap. A memorandum of cooperation between China, Laos and Thailand will be signed during the Belt and Road Frorum, which runs from Thursday to Saturday, cementing a partnership in the pan-Asia rail project that looks to reach the Southeast Asian market via Kunming, in China’s Yunnan province. Thailand recently began construction on a phase of its high-speed railway that links its northeastern region to Kunming via. The route, the first high-speed rail project in Thailand and Laos, is seen as a potential channel for China to transport goods to South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), as well as the Malay Peninsula. But as negotiations and construction progress, concerns are mounting over how the two Southeast Asian countries can take full advantage of the route’s promised economic potential, as well as how to navigate the alleged debt-laden diplomacy in Beijing’s vision to revive the historical Silk Road. Continue with pics and video https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/geopolitics/article/3007551/china-wants-fund-thailands-us12-billion-high-speed-railway

From Bloomberg News (24 Apr.) Baht Falls to Lowest Level Since January (Bloomberg) -- Asia’s best-performing currency in the first quarter is starting to lose its momentum amid Thailand’s political gridlock, a stronger dollar and speculation of dividend-related fund outflows. The baht weakened to as low as 32.049 per dollar, the weakest level since Jan. 9, and falling through the psychological support of 32. It was down 0.2 percent at 32.020 as of 12:22 p.m. in Bangkok, after falling through the 100-day moving average for the first time since mid-December earlier this week. Sentiment for the Thai currency has deteriorated as concerns about political stability linger after the nation held its first general election in March since the 2014 coup. The Office of the Ombudsman said Tuesday that it has accepted a petition seeking a review by a court on whether the election should be annulled. A Pheu Thai party candidate who won a constituency seat in the election will be banned from politics for at least one year for allegedly buying votes, according to the Election Commission. “As for domestic factors, we have hick-ups in the political landscape and also have some of the impact from the dividend season” that contributed to the weaker baht, said Roong Sanguanruang, a market analyst at Bank of Ayudhya Pcl in Bangkok. The decline should be limited as “the fundamentals are still looking sound, if you look at the external position of Thailand,” she said. The bank expects a recovery of the baht to 31.75 by end-June. The baht has weakened 0.9 percent against the dollar this quarter, following a 2.5 percent gain in the first three months of 2019. It has fallen seven of the past 10 years through 2018 in the second quarter partly due to foreign repatriation of Thai dividend payments and a seasonal fall in tourist demand. The amount of dividends to be paid to foreigners in April and May is estimated at 87.6 billion baht ($2.7 billion), about the same as last year, according to estimates by Kasikornbank Pcl. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/thailand-baht-falls-lowest-level-023306031.html

From Bangkok Post (22 Apr.) Thai AirAsia adds Sihanoukville to Cambodia routes Chairs line Ochheuteal beach in Sihanoukville, the seaside beach town in Cambodia. (Post Today photo) Thai AirAsia is to start direct service from Don Mueang airport to the Cambodian beach town of Sihanouk. The airline on Monday announced the new route, to commence on July 1, as part of its strategy to extend its network around the region from its Thai hub at Don Mueang. “The new route is expected to serve the millions of foreign travellers who use Thailand as a hub, while for Thai travellers, Sihanoukville offers an affordable beach and cultural getaway,” Thai AirAsia chief executive officer Santisuk Klongchaiya said. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/tourism-and-transport/1665260/thai-airasia-adds-sihanoukville-to-cambodia-routes

From The Nation (22 Apr.) Cambodia and Thailand reconnected by rail after 45 years Poipet, Cambodia - A railway reconnecting Cambodia and Thailand was officially inaugurated on Monday in a bid to slash travel times and boost trade between the southeast Asian neighbours. The railway would also better link his country to other southeast Asian neighbours and boost economy and trade, he added. Bilateral trade between Thailand and Cambodia currently stands at $6 billion. Cambodia last year re-opened the final stretch of a 370-kilometre (230-mile) railway running from the capital, Phnom Penh, to the Thai border. The Asian Development Bank bankrolled the reconstruction of the link to the tune of $13 million. Much of Cambodia's railways -- built by the French in colonial times -- were damaged by the years of bitter conflict that engulfed the country during the Cold War era. The 48-kilometre (30-mile) section of track near Poipet was destroyed in 1973 while the rest of the track to Phnom Penh had been suspended for over a decade due to its poor condition. The Southeast Asian country has more than 600 kilometres (375 miles) of track extending from its northern border with Thailand to the southern coast. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30368126

The shop opposite Tawan was probably Art Massage. Hope you get to explore it another time. Thanks for initial report. He will make you happy for many minutes, I think.

From Asia Times (April) All aboard Thailand’s decentralization train A group of provincial entrepreneurs, academics and hoteliers in Khon Kaen are bypassing Bangkok to privately develop a light rail line Thailand has made scant progress over the past three decades in spreading power and national budgets outside of the capital Bangkok, a core issue behind the nation’s yawning wealth divide. But now there is a slim hope that the decentralization process has begun, and it has started not in the capital but in the provincial city of Khon Kaen through an independently devised light rail project. “This is decentralization but I don’t want to use that term,” said Suradech Taweesaengsakulthai, president and chief executive officer of CHO Thavee PLC, and a founding member of the Khon Kaen Think Tank (KKTT). Khon Kaen is a medium-sized city with a population about 120,000 in northeastern Thailand, best known for being home to Khon Kaen University and for tourists a tortoise zoo. The KKTT was established four years ago by a group of 20 local entrepreneurs, politicians, hoteliers and academicians fed up with decades of neglect by Bangkok and determined to chart their own course in developing their city. Thailand’s Bangkok-led decentralization efforts have stalled since the late 1990s, when the first decentralization bill was pushed through to create local elected bodies that were supposed to get about 30% of the national budget. The reform was resisted by the central bureaucracy, and under the regime of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha elections for the local bodies were cancelled. The non-elected KKTT has acted independently, with its first achievement being the successful launch of an urban mass transit project suitable for Khon Kaen and other secondary cities. Construction on the project is expected to begin in the last quarter of this year. Bangkok has over the past two decades built up an impressive rapid mass transit system covering almost 100 kilometers, with several extensions to the network now underway. But there are no mass transit systems to date in any of Thailand’s other urban hubs, despite growing problems with congestion, mafia-type public transport monopolies and pollution. The traffic congestion is most noticeable in Thailand’s more popular tourist destinations such as Pattaya, Phuket, Had Yai and Chiang Mai, where local populations vary between 200,000 to 300,000 b Ironically, it has been Khon Kaen City, which attracts few international tourists, that has emerged as a leader in devising its own urban mass transit system – a Light Rail Transit system, or tram, covering 22.6 kilometers of a highway that already cuts through Khon Kaen City. ut also welcome an annual influx of millions of foreign tourists. Continues with photos https://www.asiatimes.com/2019/04/article/all-aboard-thailands-decentralization-train/

When the current location is vacated, seems it might make a prime location for a Maxi's type street bar.

"Twink gay slang for a young man in his late teens to early twenties whose traits may include: general physical attractiveness; little to no body or facial hair; a slim to average build; and a youthful appearance that belies an older chronological age." Wikipedia. If that fits your definition, also, then they can be found at most massage shops with a handful of exceptions such as Arena. In Silom and Surawong, just walk around and you'll find them mixed in with the occasional hunk. There's a chain of places called Art Massage with outlets on both sides of Surawong and at least one on Silom near the BTS stop. Haven't seen any of their shops that didn't have a good twink quota. I think the one on Soi Tarntawan (opposite Tawan bar) might be one of their better offerings. Further down the same soi you'll find Indra Massage that always seems to have a handful of cute guys available. On Silom, just stroll the street from about Burger King to Soi 4 and you find a score of shops. When Bangkok Massage gets its new location fitted out on Patpong 2, check it out and I don't think you'll be disappointed. Forum member Divine Madman is the resident authority on shops all over town. Check out his website for plenty of leads: https://bkkmassages.wordpress.com/shop-specifics/ Also consult the thread "Info on a bunch of BKK massage shops" https://www.gayguides.com/forums/topic/11512-info-on-a-bunch-of-bkk-massage-shops/