Patanawet

Thanks Anddy. My apologies - a brain freeze --- I should have written Burmese.

To answer my own question a bit, I'm told that Luk hasn't been answering his mobile for a while. He is now working in a salon (don't know if his own or another's) on Rama 2 wherever that is. His cute Cambodian co-worker started this week at Cutey Beauty. Price for a haircut in Cutey Beauty is 400 Baht, 100 more than at up2. The owner told me that he gives people with Balcony Club cards 10% discounts but didn't me (maybe because I didn't proffer my card).

All of the above advice is accurate if somewhat variable. Before you go exploring, why not go for an early drink and maybe meal in Silom Soi 4 - the gay soi - and soak up some of the gay Bangkok atmosphere and meet someone to ask their experiences.Then go exploring about 9pm. Balcony pub, Silom soi 4 opens at 5.30pm but is quiet till about 8 then very busy by 10 for their free show at 10:45 with Coyote boys and cabaret. Telephone pub, Connection Bar and Welcome Bar same soi has similar opening times and prices.

Does anyone know what has happened to Luk at up2 hair? His salon closed at the start of this month, shortly after the closure of Purple Dragon next door. I have used Luck and earlier his brother Gun since Amnuay closed his Summer Rain Salon some years ago. I'd love to know where Luk is working now.

I've said it before and probably will again "ask the boy if he'd prefer a tip or a watered down drink" (for which he will get twenty Baht commission). He may be struggling to pay his rent or food and a diluted whisky and coke won't help with that.

Thanks Anddy, that has just worked for me too.

How much whiskey do you think is in the scotch and coke you buy them? Personally, I would ask them do you prefer a drink or a tip? They probably get twenty baht from the drink that you buy them.

In Soi 4, staff in non gogo bars have to be eighteen or over but cannot come into soi to drink until twenty.

There was to be a stopover in Kuwait or some such place.

Thanks Peter, it seemed too good to be true. I'll keep an eye on it. The cheapest Bangkok to London flights that I see at the moment are about 20K.

Can anyone beat the just announced Jazeera Airways service soon to start? On narrow bodied, single aisle, short haul aircraft with one stop at Dubai (?) --- 11,300 Baht return.

Interesting to see that they are not doing this for the convenience of passengers but because they have to have a huge warehouse to (spellcheck tried to change this to 'whorehouse' ) to store the 100 million of forms each year which hardly anyone looks at.

I do an annual check up at Bangkok Christian during their New Year promotion saving two to three thousand Baht. First I consult my sort of G.P. there to see if he recommends any additional blood tests etc.

Yes but it's sign is a big 'W' (for Welcome). It is the ex Balcony second terrace. It houses a tattoo parlour (favoured by Aussie showbiz entrepreneur Molly Meldrum) and has many hosts (Cambodian and Thai). Oh, I see what you mean Kev. No the bar directly opposite Jupiter is an offshoot of Jupiter and is, I think, used as a karaoke but have seldom seen customers in there.

500 Baht at Welcome and many other bars.

Josh, who is 'she'? Are you referring to the 'owner' of Welcome Bar or Banana on 4, the downstairs bar.? There is a familial ownership of Welcome and the upstairs gogo bar now known as Banana Room Club and remotely Fresh Boys on Patpong 2.

No.

Sit outside Balcony just before six and see the waiters rushing to get to work before (I assume) they are fined. They then set out the terrace chairs and tables. Later you can see the 'performers' arrive --- they speedily stride down the soi glancing neither to the left nor to the right.

Indeed it is rude but no more rude than the driver taking me for a mug. Actually having said that, I have rarely had drivers take me for a ride (no pun). Maybe I just live somewhere convenient for them to get a further fare OR maybe the nice smile I give them at first (really).

Yes. As I posted above. I pointed out how crowded it was last night and earlier I said it reopened last Friday.

Agree 100%. Never take a taxi from those parked outside a popular bar area or hotel. As Londoner said don't get in a taxi offering you a fixed price. Open the car door - state your destination and say ""meter". If he says meter no work or any other excuse smile and say "fuck off". If you were talking about taxis from soi 4, cross over Silom and try a taxi from the left hand corner there.

Malaysia is walking distance or a 40 baht taxi ride from Silom and steps away from Babylon. The outside terrace by the fish pond and many of the rooms have been refurbished.

Plus the commission he got from the bars for taking you there. Take care and listen to others. A good bar to try is Lucky boys in Patpong 2. Just politely brush aside the mamasans saying your''re only there for the show and don't want a boy (even if you do). I too liked Fresh boys, especially the waiters near the door. It is loosely family owned by the same people from Banana Room Club and Welcome Bar (host boys) in Silom soi 4.

Flames ? Is than an innuendo? Or should it be flags? If so the flags have been there a while. One is the 'pan sexual' flag and the other is a lesbian flag. Last night Sunday, it was really packed out and some performance still going on when I left the soi at 1:45. They certainly got the word around quickly when they re-opened the other night.

So much to comment on. First, NEVER talk to a tout! This may be why you paid 300 in Super A (that is the price if you go in a tuk tuk . He gets commission for bringing you.) Don't pay more than 150 at Super A. Ask price from doorman and barter if necessary (applies in every bar). Most bars are asking 350 per drink but some like Jupiter and Tawan charge 500. I stayed a few years ago at BBB. Very overpriced. Room clean enough but as stated earlier 'run down'. Cable TV terrible unless you like German or Thai channels or straight porno. Have a look at Malaysia Hotel --- not the gay paradise it was years ago but still very friendly now -- and inexpensive. Search this and other boards for advice and talk to other expats or visitors. Balcony was a good start to talk to people and free cabaret shows on Fridays and Saturdays. As an irrelevant comment --- when Super A was upstairs, I got my feet soaked because the down pipe on the urinal was not connected to anything!. Have fun.