firecat69

Glad to see that HeartBeat is at least surviving. Boys seem to enjoy dancing and that makes it fun plus 200 baht for the drinks is a much fairer price.

Jim, You missed out on 20,000 points with Chase. I signed up for the 50,000 points and a few days later saw an offer for 70,000. I called Chase and a very nice person there told me to call back when I made the minimum spend and she was sure they would give me the extra 20,000 points. I called 2 weeks later and within 48 hours they had credited my account with an extra 20,000 points. I love this company when I call the 800 number I always get a live breathing person instead of a recording and they always are in the USA.

Let's face it your last paragraph is why amount of money spent means nothing. Of course more money is spent in HKG but only because everything is so much more expensive then BKK. . Likewise you could change the statistic to how much that money spent is as a % of the GDP in that city and I am sure BKK would once again be far more effected by those dollars then HKG. And that even allowing for your argument that Chinese are international visitors to HGK which I don't for a moment agree with. The very essence of these statistics are that BKK is gaining international visitors at a faster pace then many of the competing cities. And of course one of the reasons this is happening is that BKK gives you a lot more for your money then the competing cities.

Why are they not working?????

http://c15210660.r60.cf2.rackcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/MasterCard_Global_Destination_Cities_Index_2012.pdf Actually international visitors to BKK spend way more then the same visitors to HKG. Since the statistics reference specifically BKK visitors there is no skewing of the numbers . In fact I find it amazing that HKG is so far down the list on money spent which just strengthens my argument that most visitors to HKG are Chinese and many are there for 2day stop overs during their trip to Macau. The visit is quite easy for them and hardly speaks to HKG as a international visitor destination. Let's remember that what I find amazing is the attraction of a city to foreign visitors. Chinese visiting their own city hardly compares especially when a large % of them are doing it on trips to Macau. It would be like comparing Orlando where millions of Americans visit every year.

Actually I think it does exactly what it is supposed to. It shows how many visitors from outside the country wish to visit a particular city. 60-70% of the visitors to Vegas drive from California. Doesn't mean much to me.( I lived there for 6 years) This index shows how many people want to visit a country and get a passport etc and spend a lot of money just getting to the destination in many cases. From that standpoint I think it is quite amazing that BKK is going to be #1 and I am quite amazed.

According to the Global Destiantion Cities Index BKK will overtake London as the most visited city in the world during 2013. Apparently the rest of the world is discovering what we already know. BKK is a great city and culture for a very reasonable vacation!

Honestly I was not looking for boys although I did look on GayRomeo and found very little of interest. That said I did see a substantial amount of eye candy on the streets but have no idea if any would have been available. I was not going to pay for data so I never turned my phone on with grinder. Afraid this trip is with high school friends of 50 years ago and I am being a good little straight boy well almost anyways. (Budapest)

I fail to see what your question about whether they market themselves as Gay Friendly has to do with them donating money to causes. Should they have to donate money to every group they market their Hotel to? I don't think so . The fact that they make a strong statement means you can expect to be treated as any other couple in one of their properties and not feel any discrimination from staff etc. Plus I see nothing cosmetic about offering equal benefits to same sex couples and consider that a much stronger statment then a few $ given to Gay Charities.

I started this trip in Istanbul with a side trip to Ephesus. I have never been to Istanbul and was more or less overwhelmed by the city. I was there 5 nights and it was not even close to enough time. Built on hills it reminds me of SanFrancisco with very few level streets which is not a good thing when you have bad knees and too much weight. The traffic is non stop seemingly 24 hours a day and there are so many tourists from all parts of the world that your space always feels invaded. That said I will go back someday and try to learn more about the history. There is so much history there and where 2 continents come together and have created wonderful civilizations. It is of course overwhelmingly a Muslim country with over 3500 Mosques and 158 Christian Churches plus 15 synagogues. Yet in many ways it feels much more like a European city and less like any Muslim country I have ever been in. I have attached a few photos just to give you a flavor and will try to post more later when I have had time to catalog them and might even remember what each is. The photos of the ruins are from Ephesus which started as a Greek Civilization and became a Roman city. It is a 1 hour flight and 30 minute bus ride from Istanbul.

Come on FH. I was hoping nobody would notice how much better your photos are then mine and now they know for sure.. Hehehehe In another life I think you were a professional photographer!! At least you couldn't post a better looking Boy!!

I made it pretty clear on Gaybutton how I feel but just to get this thread off to a good start. I fail to see how you were deceived. This is not a GoGo Bar. The boy is a waiter and if the Bar allows and the Boy wants to go off then it is up to him. The customer does not own the Boy for a 100 baht drink. I am pretty sure I know this boy because I met him just before Songkran started about the 12th of April when I was at the end of my trip. He is striking and has a bubbling personality although limited language skills. There was a boy working with him that I know for a long time and he told me that boy was 3 or 4 months away from 18. I think there was a mention of him going home in a few months for new visa and when he returned he might be available. So very simple Bar will take a chance of getting in trouble for having underaged worker but will not take chance for under age off which means SEX. Probably have an agreement with BIB that allow them to be comfortable with letting the Boy attract customers until such time as he is legal. I fail to see any problem here . I bought the boy a drink and tipped him even when I was informed he could not go off.. BIG Deal . The drinks were 110 baht which means even with the tip I barely exceeded the price of 1 drink at a GoGo Bar in Soi Twilight. And I quite enjoyed myself. Ridiculous to complain because he would not go home with you. Many of the discos have Coyote Dancers that will not leave but they will be happy to share your bottle etc. Many of the Boys in Sunee at Beer Bars are not required to go off with a customer. Up to them as it should be. These boys are not pieces of meat to be bought and sold and anyone who thinks that way is a very sad individual. I am not saying this is how Christian thinks but certainly there have been some comments on other Boards that make me wonder how some individuals view the Boys who give many of us so much pleasure.

I noticed very recently in preparing for this trip that Gay Romeo Escort section had a number of desirable boys and in the past nothing of interest. Maybe the new 18 year olds have discovered GayRomeo. There were al least 3 other possibilities to my liking but this one happened to be my favorite and so I grabbed him when he answered . And among all his other attributes his English was excellent from living in the USA when he was very young. After seeing me he was heading to a late night Disco where he dances in a Cage. I assume he is like a Coyote Dancer, so maybe things are changing in Budapest.

Matthias Church at night. Fountain at the Palace and Hero Square

I have some more photos but they are getting partially cut off. Until I can figure why, then I will post some more.

Here are a few photos taken from the Buda side looking down on The Danube and the Parliament Building on the Pest side. Then on the Pest side the Castle District which is a World Heratige Site are photos of Matthias Church ..

Last time I was there was 7 or 8 years ago and the boys were pretty rough and had little interest to me. I just stumbled across this boy on GayRomeo (my Bible) and found a couple of hours away from my very straight friends . He is one of the best I have ever been with!!!

For those of you who like to travel I am currently in Budapest. Beautiful city with reasonable prices and not too crowded. I will post some touring photos later but here are 2 photos of a boy I spent a few hours in bed with which alone would make the trip a WOW.

It appears from posts on other Boards that they are well on their way to failure. Poor service, loud music and average drinks (not doubles). It constantly amazes me the number of people who will spend a fortune on a Bar with no idea how to run it!!

You can always avoid that problem by having your phone with you and telling them you want to test what you are buying!!

I agree..A great card and you actually get a human being in the USA when you call their 800 number!

I also totally agree . These kind of decisions are very personal and usually are made in an environment of religious teachings or not? I find most Gays not to be very religious if at all. I wonder if I am right in this feeling ? I consider all religions to be fairy tales , made up to explain the unexplainable. I was raised a Catholic but have little respect for the institution and in fact I disdain it. I believe the Vatican is responsible for millions of deaths a year and this is not mitigated by any good works they happen to do. I believe religions are responsible for many people fighting to extend their lives when they are in misery and have no chance of getting better. Let me say I respect anyone who has deep religious convictions, I just don't understand how they came to those beliefs. The overwhelming number or religious people did not come to believe independently , they were given their religions by their parents etc. The bottom line is I have very little faith in that kind of faith??

Can't argue with anyone who feels safer by waiting. However if everyone felt that way then just about every new plane in the last 30 years would have bankrupted the airlines due to lack of passengers. I remember all the same arguments on the 747, DC10, Airbus, A380, L1011. All of them had certain advances at their time and some of them were equally revolutionary.

Hey a447a, you are not getting any love over at SGT. Just stay here !!!

I will fly it as soon as I can get on it. I had reservations in B/C with staggered seating for all of this year on ANA and when they went out of service got stuck on UA 2-3-2 seating which is pretty sad B/C. Not worried in the least . I figure this airplane will have more safety checks then any airplane flying . Frankly I am a little bit of a Fatalist. If its your time to go then it won't make any difference what airplane you are on. LOL