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From NHK Newsline Every year, roughly 17,000 people in Thailand die from a rare bile duct cancer. The World Health Organization says this is caused primarily by a popular food in the Mekong region. Chop raw fish, add lime juice, mix with herbs and a dash of spice. That’s all it takes to make a favorite dish in northeastern Thailand, “koi pla.” But this beloved meal actually comes with a high risk of parasites that have taken many lives over the years. It's called a liver fluke, and it can be found in freshwater fish in the Mekong region, such as carp. Once ingested, flukes can survive in bile ducts for over 20 years, and cause inflammation. If left untreated, it can develop into a fatal cancer. In Thailand's northeastern region, locals catching fish in nearby rivers and ponds is a common sight. 3 years ago, doctors gave health checks in this village to residents over 40 years old. Out of about 1000 people, 400 had liver flukes. "We've been eating raw fish for as long as I can remember, and over generations," says a local who was affected. Continues with video https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/editors/1/belovedthaidishposes/

From Reuters BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand’s cabinet approved on Tuesday a high-speed railway project expected to cost about 225 billion baht ($7.22 billion), that will link three airports, a government official said. The approval comes at a time when surging tourist arrivals - now equivalent to more than half of the Thai population - have put some strain on Thai infrastructure. The rail link will connect the two airports in the Bangkok area - Don Mueang International and Suvarnabhumi International - with U-Tapao, built during the Vietnam War in the eastern province of Rayong. The government expects to select winners for the public-private partnership project (PPP) in October and expects it to be in service in 2023, Nathporn Chatusripitak, a spokesman for Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, told reporters. According to a government statement, the cost of the project is about 225 billion baht, slightly higher than 200 billion baht mentioned earlier by officials. “We will wait to see the TOR (terms of reference) of the auction before considering participation because this is a long-term investment,” a spokesperson at CH Karnchang Pcl told Reuters. The firm built a large portion of Bangkok’s metro systems and subsidiary Bangkok Expressway and Metro built and operates expressways and mass transit systems. The high-speed railway is part of the government’s larger transport infrastructure investment action plan worth 2.02 trillion baht, covering rails, roads, airports and seaports. The junta has ramped up infrastructure investment in a bid to boost growth Thailand has lagged regional peers since the army took power in 2014. The finance ministry has forecast economic growth of 4.2 percent this year, after 3.9 percent growth last year, the fastest pace in five years. Infrastructure projects will also help ease pressure from the influx of foreign tourists. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-economy-railway/thailand-approves-7-2-billion-high-speed-rail-project-to-link-airports-idUSKBN1H319F

Anything that preserves the Twilight venues can only be a good thing. Patpong 2 gets a ton of foot traffic. The addition of Fresh Boys would fortify the gay presence and perhaps encourage more.

It seems that it's not just the red light districts that Thailand's leaders have in their cross hairs. And as we look back over the past year, the clues were all too evident. It started with crack downs on street vendors and steadily worked its way toward the nightlife venues. Now the bureaucracy admits that its goal is to make Bangkok resemble Singapore. A post over on the GB site linked to a Washington Post article that walks the reader through their rationale. They seem bent on destroying what makes Bangkok such an attractive place to travelers from around the globe: a budget-wise destination that promised what they can't find elsewhere. So what we see unfolding on Soi Twilight may just be the current chapter in this campaign to remake Bangkok with more malls, more condos and--above all--more high net worth tourists than its city state neighbor to the south. According to the article, leaders feel the pressure to impose their their social order stamp before the promised 2019 elections. Article with video: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/lights-dim-on-bangkoks-nightlife-as-military-tries-to-salvage-legacy/2018/03/23/1e8c6780-2856-11e8-874b-d517e912f125_story.html

The menu and prices are in English; the map is in English. Do you really need an English (or Thai for that matter) description to understand this page? http://www.ganymedespa.com/page-35833.html

Definition from Wikipedia -- A website is a collection of related web pages, including multimedia content, typically identified with a common domain name, and published on at least one web server. Ganymede site contains menu of services, photos, map and hyperlinks to additional pages. Content is similar to many other massage shop websites. Don't know how much more is required to pass muster.

Ganymede now has a website. http://www.ganymedespa.com/

From Thai Visa News PATTAYA:--Pattaya will add more signage to bus stops on Second and Beach roads following complaints they weren’t being used. Anuwat Thongkham, director of the Traffic Department, acknowledged the city has been bombarded by complaints that baht-bus stops the military ordered built are a waste of money and don’t correspond to how people actually use public transport. In its efforts to bring order to the chaotic baht-bus system, the National Council for Peace and Order had Pattaya paint 168 stopping zones on streets across the area. The goal was to have the pickup truck taxis and tour buses stop only in designated areas, not wherever they wanted, as they normally do. That hasn’t happened. Baht buses continue to stop, double-park, pick up and drop off people as they always have. Except for those in front of large shopping malls or office buildings, the stops are ignored. https://news.thaivisa.com/article/18111/signs-to-be-erected-at-ignored-pattaya-bus-stops

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — A Silom drag queen destination is ready to level up its extravaganza-ness and blow a birthday candle or six later this month. For its sixth birthday, The Stranger Bar will throw itself a 69 Anonymousary Partyfeaturing live stage performances from lip-syncing and high-energy dancing to just throwing shade by international and local drag artists. The March 31 party will welcome two special guest drag queens Bernie Barrantes and Brigiding “Gigi” Aricheta who will be flying in from the Philippines. By their sides will be the bar’s nine resident stars: M Stranger Fox, Jaja, Zymone, Kandy, Gisele, Meannie Minaj, Cherilyn, Angele and Ze-pee. DJ So Shine will work the deck. The event starts at 9pm on March 31 and will run until late. The Stranger Bar is located on Soi Silom 4 and can be reached by foot from BTS Sala Daeng. http://www.khaosodenglish.com/featured/2018/03/21/silom-drag-queen-bar-to-throw-hbd-blowout/

Excerpts from Deseret News The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released an artistic rendering of the Bangkok Thailand Temple on Monday. The rendering depicts a six-story, 44,405-square-foot design featuring several spires, according to Mormon Newsroom. The temple will be located on Petchaburi Road in the center of a business and residential area of Bangkok on property the church has owned for a decade. An existing office building there houses the Thailand Bangkok Mission as well as the church’s welfare offices for the country. The property is located near the Makkasen Station of the Airport Rail Link line that runs from the Suvarnabhumi Airport through Bangkok. The property will also be served by a substantially sized underground parking facility. Announced in April 2015 by President Thomas S. Monson, the temple will be the first in Thailand. Church members in the area currently travel over 1,000 miles to the temple in Hong Kong. It is one of 23 temples that have been announced or are currently under construction. After 3 to 4 years of expected construction, the Bangkok Thailand Temple will join the 159 operating temples worldwide. https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900013381/lds-church-releases-artistic-rendering-of-the-bangkok-thailand-temple.html

NOTE -- First time I've seen tourism representing as much as 20% of the Thai economy. From Bloomberg News -- February arrivals from China surge past 1 million to record -- More than 10 million are expected for the whole of 2018 Tourism is the gift that keeps on giving in Thailand, thanks especially to China. Visitors from the world’s most-populous nation surged to a record 1.2 million in February, swelled by the Lunar New Year holiday period, Tourism Ministry data released Wednesday in Bangkok showed. The kingdom expects 38 million tourists overall this year, including more than 10 million from China. Thailand’s relationship with Chinese tourists has sometimes been rocky. Visitor numbers collapsed toward the end of 2016, when the Thai administration cracked down on operators bringing in large groups from China on cut-price holidays. Those curbs were eventually eased and numbers have since rocketed. Tourism is worth about a fifth of the Thai economy and has been an important growth driver for the military government that took power almost four years ago. But the boom is clogging infrastructure and threatens to take a bigger environmental cost on the beaches attracting so many visitors. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-21/chinese-tourists-just-can-t-get-enough-of-thailand

I travel light so I opt for airport link to MRT if it's operating. But if I had more than one roller bag, I take a taxi. Some things I keep in mind: My preferred arrival times are mid-morning and there after. If you take the airport train in bound during the morning rush hours, you'll be extremely cramped and unlikely top get a seat. Likewise, getting a cab at that time would be a nightmare so I'd rather kill a few hours at the airport. In most cases, it's too early to check in to hotels, anyway. If I arrive during the evening rush (as I did during last trip), the crowd will be going against the rush-hour grain and ride was OK. If I have an early evening departure, I try to leave by about 3 p.m. to beat the evening rush.

From Today on line BANGKOK — Thailand’s biggest convenience store chain, 7-Eleven, is to roll out state-of-the-art artificial intelligence technologies, including facial and gesture recognition and behaviour analysis of customers and employees, at the chain’s 11,000 stores. The ubiquitous retailer, whose Thai stores are operated by a unit of the Bangkok-based conglomerate Charoen Pokphand (CP), is to work with Remark Holdings, a Nasdaq-listed AI company with operations in China and the United States. Remark will deploy its KanKan technology, which uses gesture recognition to collect and analyse data points on traffic in stores, staff activities, how long customers linger at specific shelves and even their emotions as they pass through stores. It can identify members of 7-Eleven’s loyalty programme, allowing managers to single them out for promotions. Continues https://www.todayonline.com/world/thai-7-eleven-stores-adopt-facial-recognition-technology

I have to agree with your bottom ranking. In post #69 above, I listed three shops where I had good experiences but did not mention the shop where I had a disappointing experience because I considered the fault to be that of management and not that of the boys. As soon as I was taken to the massage room at Bangkok massage, I noticed a strong smell of stale body odor. I should have asked for a different room on the spot but didn't so I have to assume some of the blame. Although the oil used could have been transmission fluid, the massage itself was satisfactory. But after the shower, the foul odor returned as I toweled off. The towel had not been washed, just dried out after the previous user(s). I immediately returned to the hotel and scrubbed away to remove the lingering odor. The experience left me with a greater appreciation for Divine Madman's attention to those locations that place an emphasis on hygiene. And the lesson learned: if I suspect a problem in this area, raise it immediately. As in all other matters of massage, communications is critical to ultimate satisfaction.

Not exclusively VN guys but a fair number were.

Definitely...and twice on Sundays!

Excerpts from Phuket Gazette The Tourism Authority of Thailand has released a projection which indicates an 18 percent growth in tourism income for the holiday period. The holiday is becoming more popular, not only among foreign tourists, but also among the locals who, with Government endorsement, are extending the annual break either side of the actual April 13 Thai New Year date. The tourism authority says both Thai and foreign tourists are expected to spend nearly 20 billion baht between April 12 to April 16 this year, with domestic tourism set to rise by about 3 million people – a 12 percent increase from last year. Foreign tourists will see more than half a million additional arrivals in comparison to 2017, a growth of 13 percent, according to the TaT. The TAT says the projected growth is due to longer holidays announced by the government, tax rebates for tourists, better confidence in the economy and growth in domestic flights. Forward incoming flight booking growth has come from France, Taiwan, South Korea, Russia, Australia, India, the United States and Japan. ---------------------- NOTE -- A quick check of availability of hotels in Silom area on Agoda website reflects price increases in vicinity of 25-30% over normal during Songkran period.

I would think easiest way would be to go to Jupiter. Member also reports at least one stunner at Moonlight and more likely to follow as they staff up. Dream Boy, according to reports of others, has history of guys you seek.

Massage report from my most recent trip Adam Massage, Soi 4. This place continues to provide consistent service from a group of somewhat older guys, many of whom have been there for several years. The boys, including one who has moved on top another shop, says the owner takes good care of them and they seem to be a happy group. The facilities are well maintained and you can be assured of clean sheets and fresh towels. Never been short changed on the clock. This is a place you should feel free to discuss, in advance, what you're looking for. If the guy you approach can't meet your your needs, he'll recommend a colleague who can. I customarily tip 1200 for one hour. You are offered a small bottle of water and a cup of very good herbal tea after. Nakarat Massage, Soi 4. A somewhat newer entry, the facilities a cut below Adam but nonetheless clean and you can also be assured of fresh sheets and towels. I enjoyed three excellent massages here and tipped 1200 for one hour and 1700 for 90 min. But there's a disappointing backstory. All three massages were performed by Vietnamese guys. But on the evening of March 13, police raided the place and arrested four Viet guys (all since released) and the shop shut down for employing illegal workers. It is now reopened but staffed only by Thais. Best Massage, Silom Plaza (same building as Arena Message). Arrived mid-afternoon and no guys outside. Assigned next guy in rotation who was a hunky Lao guy. He got out of his clothes in a blink of the eye and provided a satisfactory massage. But I became aware of his equipment preparing for afters as he did my back. He followed through with finesse and I left happy. Tipped 1200 for the hour. As i left, noted five guys now outside. No queens here. Overall comments: I can recommend all of the above without reservation. I'll note that I enjoy reversing roles, for 15-20 minutes, and massage the guy. In all messages at all of the above, my efforts were enthusiastically received. I really like that in a masseur and guarantees that I'll return. Now that i'm back home for a few days, I still recall the thrills. We're indeed lucky, lads. At home we may well be considered roadkill. Not so here. Get busy planning your next adventure.

This was the first trip that I spent many evenings with the same guy, a 24-year-old Vietnam guy I had come to know on my previous trip. We became very comfortable with the other's company. Having said that, I still frequented the massage shops I enjoyed in the past plus a new one. (I'll be posting my massage comments in Divine Madman's excellent massage thread in this forum) This was also the first trip where I enjoyed the opportunity to meet three other members: Paulsf, Divine Madman and ggobkk. All are old Bangkok hands and wonderful companions. I spent many evenings with Paul, watching the fascinating comings and goings on Soi Twilight from his regular perch at Maxis. Thanks, Paul, for the memories. Just hope the soi will be there on my next visit. Also hung out at Telephone on Soi 4 where the waiters may not know my name but certainly know what I drink. Great guys all and a good place to meet my favorite guy after he get off work. Since I'm not really a show guy, I leave it up to others comment on that front. However I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the drag queen who appears outside Fresh Boys before the shows in the most extravagant costumes. And she looked remarkably convincing in all of them. And since I was observing her from Paul's table at Maxis, I began to look forward to her nightly excursion across the soi to put hands on a young our waiter who returned the gesture. I can assure readers that's it's still possible to have a great time in Bangkok. Yes, if Twilight becomes a memory, we'll have to worker harder in pursuit of it. but I can't see myself not returning. I very much want to leave this report on a hopeful note so allow me to quote from "One Night in Bangkok": One night in Bangkok makes the hard man humble Not much between despair and ecstasy One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble Can't be too careful with your company I can feel the devil walking next to me

Time used in pursuit of massage never wasted, just invested. Patience rewards the virtuous........and all other intentions.

You have a very sharp eye for talent, Vinapu.

Found the place OK today a little after 3p.m. but was not open. Will be on top of list for next trip. With a new start up, better to heed DM's advice and call ahead. Good landmark to identify private road: look for small blue "taxi" sign and turn left. As DM says, nearly at very end.

Simply because my posting frequency tended to dominate the posts. I felt that my particular style of posting was better suited to a board that generated more posts. My posts were about Thailand were more Bangkok centered where the posts in GB are more Pattaya centric. I have nothing but respect for the contributions GB's board makes to the gay Thai scene. The more boards the better, in my opinion.

The visibility of the gay "scene" has changed all over the globe during the past few decades. Some of it has moved on line but gays now feel more free to congregate in venues that are not exclusive to them. I see no evidence to support the claim that gay tourists are abandoning Bangkok. I do, however, agree that the age of visitors is constantly increasing. Unless you've discovered the fountain of youth, I don't know how this can be avoided. But perhaps you're unique and actually growing younger. I've had the pleasure of meeting three board members during this trip. All are in my age range and are wonderful companions to spend time with at a lively bar. We discuss the guys around us, places we go and things we do. That's something that I've been doing with friends for half a century and counting. The significant influx of Chinese gays, the majority of whom are exercising their freedom at a much younger age than many of us did, are supporting the bars and massage shops. They represent a healthy influence that bodes well for the future of gay Bangkok. This is my 16th year (I've lost count of number of trips) of coming here and this has been one of my most memorable. I regret that you seem to have had different experiences. (And I don't believe that any one of us has missed your point)