TotallyOz

I spoke to friends who live in Pattaya and they have been saying for months that this place was the best. I am glad this is happening because for years, it was the worst. It is nice to believe in redemption.

If a few hundred would help him and you don't mind spending it, give it to him. Then, if he needs more, let him work for it. I don't mind helping someone I believe truly has need but there is a limit. In no circumstance would I lend anyone money. It is either a gift or nothing. That said, I have one Thai guy who asked me for about 1,000 many years ago. I gave it to him. He opened up a small juice cart. That has now turned into a restaurant and all from the 1,000 I gave him. It is one of the very few times where I felt like I had not wasted my money on someone. The rest of the ones, I chalk up to trying to help failures. I am ok with those as well.

That is funny!

The gay bar scene is disappearing all over the world. It has been a slow death. But, I think as acceptance of gays has become more common and the ease gays have for meeting other gays (online), the gay bar scene is less relevant. When I first moved to NYC, there was a bar for blacks, a bar for bears, a bar for leather, a bar for twinks, etc. Naturally, I looked very odd in the black bar and the twink bars. LOL But, I did meet some great guys. Oh, and lets not forget the hooker bars. I loved them but they faded out years back as many escorts took to the Internet.

I had this one pimp coat that was made out of fur and zebra stripped. It was the honest to God's most delicious piece of clothing ever and it was visible 5 blocks away. When she saw it, she said, "are you serious?"

I'll choose the policeman!

This kid started taking a photo every day at the age of 12. It is quite an amazing show.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. He is a great guy and a lovely person. I hope all goes well and he recovers quickly.

I love How to Get Away with Murder. I love Viola Davis. I am so happy she won Best Actress in a Drama. She deserved it. I love the gay themes in this show and the romance between the 2 gay guys. I also love this seasons lesbian romance that might be part of the show. I also had many friends and family members asked me about PrEP since this show. I don't think it has been discussed by other shows. It seems to be a real conversation starter.

I had to watch The Daily Show with a new host. I love Jon Steward and was very worried when he left. I think the Daily Show is important to American politics. I did watch the new show and thought the guy did a great job. He was funny and I laughed a great deal. There was some politics in there. I hope Trevor Noah keeps up with this and does great.

"There's this awful feeling of, 'I'm never going to be able to have a good relationship. No one's ever going to want me'...There was a sense of relief... It's backwards. You've spent so much time terrified that you're going to get it, and then you have it. You don't have to be terrified anymore." I liked his tweet that he was now going to be an activist.

I have friends that have traveled there and say they love it. But, they also like using online dating apps and twinks. So, I guess according to your report, they were in the right place. Thank you for the great report. It is on my to do list.

I rarely see the point of a thread being closed. I am also OK with threads going off point. But, this thread is not deleted. It is still visible to all. And, anyone can start another thread on the subject being discussed. That is also very easy to do. I agree with Z that perhaps it would have been better to split the thread. But, that is also often a hard thing to do with so many posts off topic. What I hate to see if Firecat not sharing his great adventure with us as I logged in each day just to see what he had done (and who he had done).

The older I get, the less bags I travel with. But, I find the older I get, the more Margarita's I need.

Fascinating thread on Reddit. https://np.reddit.com/r/casualiama/comments/3lkw9s/im_a_straight_24_year_old_male_who_is_engaged_to/ I find it interesting as when I was a pimp, I had several stories from my years of the boys taking to the men they met through money. Many expressed the same desires, someone to care for them forever. All knew it was all about money. But, some did fall in love with their suitors. Maybe not the mad passionate love we all think of, but a loving relationship none the less. One friend hooked up with a guy who was in his 70's and was told he would get everything when he died. 20 years later, the guy is in his 90's and I believe my friend will get everything but I don't think it is the life he expected. My story: I met a Thai guy over 10 years ago and we have been together for a long time. He is straight and he is wonderful to me. It was about money and still is but I do believe he genuinely cares for me. I am a big part of his family. But, the money has been constantly flowing and as long as I know what the relationship is and he knows, it is OK with both of us. He has even asked for marriage a few times. But, I am not the marrying type.

Four men were arrested for sex with a 15 year old boy they met on Grindr. The boy told his family and they pressed charges. http://www.hometownlife.com/story/news/local/south-lyon/2015/09/25/gay-hook-teen-leads-charges-men/72796334/

I love the first series and have not been so excited in ages to see another season. This week my wish came true and I was able to see the new show. It had a 2 hour premiere. If you have not seen it, give it a watch. The writing is great and the show is excellent.

LOL I had someone tell me the same thing about my driver in Salvador, Brazil. He was taking me to all the gay saunas in the city and in rough parts of town. I told him it was not safe. He said, he was use to doing it and it was his job and he understood the risks.

I have been to Sao Paulo many times over the years and have several trip reports here. It is my favorite city in Brazil. I like it for both the culture and the boys. Excellent in both areas.

Not so sure the trip is about being vain. Some like adventure and to challenge themselves and really love these challenges. I have a friend that has hiked to all of the 7 major summits and for him, it was to prove he could do it to himself. For me, I would love to helicopter to the top and take some photos. Is that allowed?

The bombing was an isolated incident and I don't think it will stop tourism for the long term. I have spoken to at least 20 people there now and all feel perfectly safe. I had 2 friends from USA in Thailand when the bombing happened and they felt safe as well. Things like this can happen anywhere in the world and most people know this. Thailand does not have the reputation for violence against foreigners. That said, I do think this Junta has hurt tourism and will make it much worst before it gets better.

It is good to hear that Lucky is traveling and sharing his good fortunes with the world. I hope that he is able to get to Thailand some time and that Lurker will be able to report back to us on whether or not he enjoyed that trip or felt safe. Although, I do know the answer to that. Everyone that goes to Thailand feels safe. I have yet to have anyone tell me otherwise. Lurker, thanks for the report. We all wish Lucky well in his travels and adventures. Lucky, thanks for the report. But, as you know, we have some to expect a few photos with Brazil trip reports. Got anything more for us?

Thailand's motion picture association has selected a gay-themed, coming-of-age drama, "How to Win at Checkers (Every Time)," as an entry for the foreign-language category at the Academy Awards. The movie is about an 11-year-old boy named Ek being raised by his gay, older brother in a poor Bangkok suburb. Ek tries to help his brother dodge the country's military draft lottery in the film, which touches on corruption, discrimination and social status in Thai society — and was released while a military government is running the country. The film "has successfully been able to raise issues that people in Thailand don't openly talk about," said Weerasak Kowsurat, secretary-general of the National Federation of Thai Motion Picture and Content Associations. An 8-person committee from the federation chose the film from among 59 contenders on Tuesday and submitted it Thursday as its selection for the Oscars foreign-language category, Weerasak said. http://www.denverpost.com/ci_28869356/thailand-names-gay-themed-drama-oscar-contender

Thank you! As always, excellent advice.