reader

When Babylon was in its heyday, I stayed there a few times. As its popularity among locals slipped, so did the quality of services and maintenance. There are far better options for the money in much more convenient locations in Silom and Suriwong area.

The following article from the UK's Telegraph drove home, for me at least, the message that although the incident took place in Indonesia, it's truly an attack our sense of freedom. Like many here I've visited saunas in KL and other southeast Asian cities besides Bangkok. I never actually worried about getting caught up in a raid. But there's at least one westerner (according to the story) who was caught up in this one. We frequently lament how much things have changed since our first trip. But I've never approached my arrivals into Don Mueang or Swampy with anything other than great anticipation. Soi Twilight may be less of a draw and Sunee Plaza may pale in comparison to what it once was, but I'll take Thailand any day and twice on Sundays. From the Telegraph A British national is among 141 men detained by Indonesian police in a raid on a gay sauna in the capital, Jakarta. The men were detained for questioning after police raided what they claimed was a gay sex party promoted as “The Wild One” on Sunday night. Rights activists say it is the latest sign of growing hostility towards homosexuality in the world’s most populous Muslim nation. Lawyers now claim they have been denied access to the men, leading to fears that the police will try to force confessions to be later used against them. Teams of lawyers had descended on the North Jakarta police precinct where the men are being held to offer legal assistance, but to no avail, Ricky Gunawan from the Community Legal Aid Institute told The Telegraph. “It’s been quite difficult to get access in terms of information as well as to get their permission to sign power of attorney…to ensure that their rights are respected in this legal process,” he said. Mr Gunawan claimed this was a common tactic used by Indonesian police immediately after arrest. “Usually this is the time where the people arrested will confess and then the police will use their confessions because there is no lawyer present,” he said. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/22/indonesia-police-arrests-dozens-raid-jakarta-gay-sauna/

From Pattayaone and Thai Visa Figures revealed by the British government show a huge drop of visitors to Thailand in recent years but a massive rise in arrests especially for drugs. Also when taken as a percentage far more British people are dying in Thailand and being hospitalized than compared to just three or four years ago. While the figures worldwide show less overall problems for British embassies and consulates around the world the situation in Thailand is worse. From a high of 906,000 visitors in 2013/14 there were only 432,000 British visitors to Thailand in 2015/16. Yet despite this more than 50% drop in visitors drug arrests soared from 29 to 46 – a massive percentage rise of more than 60%. Total arrests and detentions of Britons in Thailand was also up a quarter last year compared to 2013/14. Article continues with charts http://pattayaone.news/en/brits-behaving-badly/

Photo from NY Times From CNN (CNN)A raid by police on a gym and sauna in the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Sunday evening is being seen by some as the latest evidence of a crackdown on the rights of the country's LGBT population. Police detained 141 men as part of the raid on the establishment in North Jakarta, said Polda Metro Jaya Kombes Argo Yuwono, the head of public relations for the Jakarta Police Department. Ten people have been charged with violating Indonesia's pornography laws, with police pointing to evidence including condoms, CCTV recordings and mattresses. The rest remain detained and are under investigation, though not officially charged, Argo said. The sauna was allegedly holding a sex party, promoted as "The Wild One," for which guests were charged 185,000 Indonesian rupees (US$14) to attend, Argo said. "We are still ... examining the perpetrators one by one, this takes time," Argo told CNN Indonesia Monday. The raid is just the latest in a series of anti-LGBT actions by Indonesian authorities, which Human Rights Watch researcher Andreas Harsono told CNN was having a chilling effect on the community. Article continues with video http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/22/asia/jakarta-sex-party-lgbt/

Photo and excerpts from BBC Two men have been caned in the Indonesian province of Aceh after being caught having sex. The men stood on stage in white gowns praying while a team of hooded men lashed their backs with a cane. The men were sentenced to 85 strokes but the number was reduced by two because they had spent two months in detention. Article continues with video and photos http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39996224

Excerpts from Bangkok Post Authorities say a bomb at a hospital in Bangkok has wounded 21 people. The blast went off at 10am on Monday in the dispensary's waiting room for commissioned officers at Phra Mongkutklao Hospital, an army-run facility which also treats civilians, on Ratchawithi Road in Bangkok, according to Thai media. Lt Gen Saroj Keokajee, commander of the Army Medical Department which supervises the hospital, said in the evening 21 people were wounded. Thirteen of them have already been discharged while the remaining eight are still being monitored at the hospital. Government spokesman Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd said it was too early to tell whether the bombing was linked to the third anniversary of the coup and the National Council for Peace and Order. Thai media reported at 4pm OED officials had found traces of gunpowder in a PVC pipe, which had been hidden in a vase. They also found many nails, supposedly used as shrapnel. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1254259/police-bomb-at-hospital-wounds-more-than-20

From Bangkok Post Three quarters of Thai universities are at risk of closing over the next decade due to low enrolment and increased competition from foreign rivals, an education expert has warned. Arnond Sakworawich, a lecturer in actuarial sciences and risk management at the Graduate School of Applied Statistics of the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida), said he is worried the government's idea to allow institutes of higher education from overseas to create satellite campuses in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) along Thailand's borders would put many Thai universities in danger of shutting down. Mr Arnond said Thailand's higher education market has been shrinking for many years due to a demographic transition from high to low levels of fertility. "There are just 600,000-700,000 babies born in Thailand per year on average now, compared to 1,000,000 per year from 30 years ago. The National Economic and Social Development Board also expects the number the number of Thais in the school-age group (0-21 years) will fall to 20% of the population in 2040, a sharp drop from 62% in 1980," he said. During last year's admission, the universities had vacancies for up to 150,000 prospective students to study various subjects, but only 80,000 applied for the entrance test, he added. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1253922/three-quarters-of-universities-at-risk-of-closure

It's not being a teacher that caused by carnal interest to collapse. It's not being the sexy Asian that did.

No, we might as well call you sugargrandpa as you called yourself on SN. You could no more stack cane as you could stalk Cain. You're way out of your league, Gramps.

Precious gladdy, I'm beginning to think you must be an English teacher for youngsters in the LOS. And not the sexy Asian you lured us with. Think I'm going flaccid.

You have a point there. But if we're going to submit fiction, it should be labeled as such to eliminate confusion. So why not have a new forum for "Member Fiction." It would give members an opportunity to try their hand at creative writing and could prove quite popular. And no other board offers a similar outlet. As all of us oldies should be!

He thinks nothing of misrepresenting himself to fellow members but he takes offense at misspelled words? His sense of values is worshipful. You're saying that members here should read this forum with an automatic acceptance that others are misrepresenting who they are, then why should we believe anything they say? It would be a colossal waste of time. The forum, IMHO, works as well as it does because we have some confidence in the authenticity of the information shared here. If that's how he gets his jollies, then it's the board that loses . He should take that to GR or hornet where that's accepted behavior. The only thing we might agree on is that I don't care who he is either; I do care who he isn't.

Excerpts From Singapore Straits Times A father gives his young son a new motorcycle for his birthday. "Study well... Don't hit anyone," he says. The boy gets on the motorcycle and rides out of the gate, whereupon another rider crashes into him. This road safety awareness video, released by Ramathibodi Hospital's Child Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention Centre (CSIP) last year, has resonated with many in Thailand, where 73 per cent of traffic-related deaths involve motorcycles. Experts said last month that, on average, 5,500 motorcyclists die annually - or 15 deaths a day. The figure continues to climb, making Thailand the world's deadliest country for two-wheelers. The issue returned to the fore this month after two separate motorbike accidents in Phuket killed a pregnant British tourist and seriously injured another British tourist. "If you take motorcycles out of the equation, Thailand's roads will be as safe as (those in) Switzerland, the United States and the United Kingdom," Dr Liviu Vedrasco, health cluster chief at the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Bangkok, told The Sunday Times. In a 2015 report, WHO said there were 26.3 motorcycle-related deaths for every 100,000 people in Thailand, the highest in the world. http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/thailand-deadliest-country-for-motorcyclists

He disrespects the forum by introducing himself as a 24-year-old exchange student from Singapore when he's actually a farang about three times that age living in Bangkok. We expect occasional misrepresentation on dating apps but this ain't no dating app. He certainly attempts to outsmart us all by trying to make us believe he's a young Asian student when he's just another guy like most of us, except he concocted this charade to make himself more desirable. He ridiculed the two gay Indonesians sentenced to caining and then doubled down on it. That seem smart to you?

Crowne Plaza Lumpini top floor lounge.

You're obviously an experienced packer.

Thanks for helping us get a better handle on just what those other issues might be. As usual, your own words--and symbols--speak for themselves.

Ah, gladpuppy, so good to see you back. There seems to be a rising interest in hearing more about your experiences in the Singapore military. You've told us how helpful it's been to you in other aspects of your life so could you--would you--enlighten us about those good times with your "mates," the long, lonely nights in the barracks? Did they treat you to blanket parties and make sure you enjoyed those hot, soapy showers? Did they give you special attention like Russian NCO's are fond of dispensing to worthy underlings? My erection hardens in anticipation.

Yes, where indeed. In his imagination I suspect...like everything else. Meanwhile, we'll have to remain on edge. lol.

Thanks for the tip. Have been to Chatuchak many times but never to Talat Bobae but it's now on itinerary for next trip.

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — Sun, sand, sea and sex are what some might expect when traveling to the Land of Smiles. Behind the infamous prostitution industry are hidden the lives and dreams of workers, all of which a director reflected through documentary theater. It’s been five month since a New York based theater director Jesca Prudencio has been in Thailand after she earned Julie Taymor’s World Theater Fellowship to explore theater scenes abroad for a year. Prudencio chose Thailand as her first destination, not only because she’s a good friend of members of the outstanding physical theater B-Floor, but also because of her interest in the objectification of the body. “Everyone knows there are so many prostitutes in Thailand,” said Prudencio in an interview Wednesday evening. “I’m actually a westerner, unfortunately, that’s a judgment that people have on Bangkok.” Aiming to humanize the infamous stigma through theater, the director collaborated with B-Floor Theater to produce a performance called “Fan: stories from the brothels of Bangkok” for which she and her team did a three-week research on sex workers in several infamous venues such as Boy Town in Silom, Patpong, Nana, Soi Cowboy and Pattaya. “They have no shame in doing this, in being prostitutes,” she said in an interview with two Boy Town’s “money boys” – a term used to describe sex workers. “Because they can make money to pay their bills and they could also possibly find a husband to take them away.” Admission is free and attendance can be booked on line (link in article). A 200 baht donation is suggested by organizers. The performance starts at 4pm Sunday at B-Floor Theater at Pridi Banomyong Institute which is a 10 minute walk from BTS Thong Lo’s Exit No.2. Continues with photos: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/life/arts/2017/05/20/see-dreams-hidden-behind-bangkok-brothels-sunday-show/

Regardless of destination or trip duration, I never check a bag so that limits me to one wheel-on and one smaller item. That means I've got to limit my clothing to to stuff that is washable and relatively quick drying. Shirts are easy to find in this category, especially if you're traveling in hot places like LOS. I pack a few T's but the rest have collars. Pants are the most important item for me and beyond being lightweight and easy to wash, I want a multiple, secure pockets that allow me to carry ID, larger notes and anything else I really don't want to lose. Although I've never been pick-pocketed in Thailand, can't say the same for some Euro and South America destinations (Barcelona and Buenos Aires come to mind). The following meet my needs and have sufficient pockets to accommodate smaller items I may pick up so I don't have to carry bags. Like others have said, appearing GQ acceptable is not on my check list. I seek a balance between utility and comfort. https://www.clothingarts.com/products/pickpocket_proof_adventure_travel_pants?variant=1298674136

The "24-year-old exchange student" would, no doubt, have felt right at home with the brown shirts on Kristallnacht. His oft inappropriate use of the smiley face suggests other issues.

Oh, Gladladdie, what is this I read on a photo section thread that us older guys are being nudged out of contention due of your new obsession with a young Thai who apparently appeals to you on every level. You regale us with descriptions of his beauty as you scrutinize his image. You speculate about what he wears beneath his blue outerwear. You cite the pleasure he takes in smelling red roses. You dwell on his pierced ear and how he arranges his hair. You predict that he attends a techno college and hint that he may be quite young. You even remark on the color of his bulletin board. And now I learn that you are familiar with an act you identify as "stealthing" (which previous to your disclosure I understood was something that only the American air force could manage). I remain, however, committed to winning you over, my Singaporean dreamboat. I will not be dissuaded by your dalliances.

From CNN A Sharia court in Indonesia's conservative Aceh province sentenced two gay men to a public caning Wednesday. The men, ages 20 and 23, were arrested in March by vigilantes within their community in Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh province. They were subsequently found guilty of violating Aceh's strict Islamic laws and were sentenced to 85 lashes, according to Evendi, the head of Sharia law enforcement in Banda Aceh. Khairil Jamal, the lead judge, said that "the court has proven that the defendants without doubt are legally guilty of committing sodomy." Neighbors barged into an apartment with the men and filmed them naked with camera phones, according to rights groups. The videos were shared widely in local media. Gay sex is legal everywhere else in Muslim-majority Indonesia, a nation generally known to be moderate and tolerant. http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/17/asia/gay-men-caning-indonesia-aceh/index.html