MrBill

Here's a few more. The last one is a bit hard to read, especially if you're not a smart student

I spent 3-4 days a week in NOLA for about a year for work. It is such an awesome place, and like Thailand is full of contradictions (e.g. the French Quarter is all Spanish architecture) Locals told me that Jazz Fest is a better time to visit than Mardi Gras. Most people never get off Bourbon Street which is a shame. If you do go, check out Corner Pocket Bar. Fridays is New Meat night with boys dancing on the bar. Not quite like the bars in BKK or Pattaya, but stuff a few singles in their G-strings and watch their inhibitions fall

"figger" is oft used particularly in the U.S. South. I visit New Orleans often and as a visitor encountering a local you'd likely hear... "I didn't figger y'all was from deese here parts 'cause da way y'all talks."

If you've already completed your trip, I'd be interested in hearing your experience. Personally, I think DTW-SEL-BKK would be a much better option that DTW-NRT-BKK. I always run into long lines for security at NRT. My last trip we arrived in NRT on time with 2 hour transfer window and I ended up boarding the plane as they were closing the doors due to long security lines/ bag inspections.Once I travelled on KE through SEL and it was a breeze changing planes.

Knowing that it was Delta... read "more important to have lay flat seats" as we add more seats we get more revenue, who gives a shit about how far you have to walk to take a shit? I live in a DL hub city and I avoid them as often as possible. I thought NW was bad, but post-merger service and attitude has gotten worse IMO.

One of my greatest travel experiences was in Alabama at the Tutwiler Hotel in Birmingham. I was doing a training session and at lunch in the hotel, someone in the group (of mostly Yankees) asked our waitress, "Who makes the best ribs in Birmingham?" We anticipated she would give the name of a local restaurant where we could go that evening. Surprisingly, her response was, "My mama do!" My colleague, looking for a restaurant name then asked, "Besides your mama, who makes the best ribs?" This time the waitress responded, "I do!" Long story short, she and her mama made ribs and all the 'fixins' for us the next afternoon, having convinced the hotel manager to allow them to use the kitchen facilities after the lunch rush. Awesome meal, and yes there was pee-con pie

Found some pics of my hotel room. From my Samsung camera, not "official Website" photos. Superior Deluxe room.

I stayed at Le Café Royale Hotel for 9 days last December. I was quite satisfied. Prior to booking I sent an email with a few questions. I had an answer in less than 8 hours (there is a 12 hour time difference between Pattaya and Michigan. They accept credit cards at no extra fee (some hotels/guest houses I contacted were cash only or added a fee to use CC's)and check ID's (those were my questions. I reserved a Superior Deluxe room (next up from Standard) and was quite satisfied. There was a large (40 or 42-inch)flat screen TV, fully functional AC, decent hot water in the shower, free Wi-Fi that worked great, large comfortable bed and plenty of bottles of water, the larger (half-liter I think)ones. There was enough room left in the small refrigerator for me to add my own purchases. The staff was incredibly friendly, helpful and spoke good English. They thoroughly checked all visitor ID's and on Tuesday there is a guest happy hour. Anything on their drink menu seemed to be free. No pool and no gym but great location, facilities, staff and the banana pancakes are awesome! I will definitely be back.

Last year I stayed at the Soho Guesthouse because the guesthouse recommended by several GT members was fully booked. First off, make sure the taxi driver knows you want to go to the bar & guesthouse, not the Soho Hotel which is far away. I arrived around 11:00 AM to find the place chained and padlocked. I banged on the grates for about 10 minutes and finally the one staff who lives there heard me and came down. He was a very gregarious and polite young man (and VERY cute) who spoke no English. We finally got me registered and checked in. I should mention that while I arrived in CM, my luggage didn't. The shopping center across the street was a Godsend. That evening I met the owners. I briefly spoke with both independently and 1) asked for assistance in the morning to contact the airline about my lost luggage (one owner is a native Thai speaker), and 2) asked for toilet paper as my room had none. Both owners said no problem, they would take care of both. When I returned from dinner both were gone and no toilet paper. In the morning After returning from breakfast across the street there was a note on my door that read, "Haven't heard from airline. Suggest you call them." I did find the resident staff, grabbed him by the hand and took him to the first floor toilet and pointed to toilet paper. He understood and promptly arrived at my door with two rolls. I should mention that my room came with a private bath, but the bathroom was located outside my room adjacent to the breakfast room, so I had to cross the stairway to get to my bathroom. In spite of being "private" I found cigarette butts and garbage left by other residents in my bathroom. During the 3 days I was there the refrigerator in the breakfast room was never restocked. Some of the jars (such as jams) looked like they had been there for months. For that reason I decided tio eat out rather than avail myself of the included breakfast. The door to the guesthouse are had a lock on it and I was given a key, but it was never locked, so anyone who came into the bar had access to the guesthouse floors. That unnerved me a bit. I asked staff about check out as I needed to be at the airport around 9 AM to fly back to BKK. I was told I needed to settle my bill the night before at the bar, then in the morning, bring my luggage down, unlock the chained/padlocked gate, take my luggage through the gate to the outside, go back and place my keys behind the bar, exit the gate again and re-chain lock the gate. After that first night I never saw the owners again. I would wholeheartedly agree about the relaxing friendly atmosphere of the bar. Staff tried to be helpful though some had very limited English skills. If I return to CM I would definitely visit the bar again for an evening, but I would not stay at the guesthouse again, primarily because of the lack of professionalism/attention of the owners.

The name is G-U-Y Club. I walked past it a couple of times last trip but, like you, didn't stop in. Maybe next trip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQOWU2ZNdss

I also look to see if there is a date stamp on any of their photos. I have encountered photos that date back to 2008! My last trip to Pattaya I offed one boy from Krazy Dragon and the rest were from GR without spending all my time on the computer. Maybe I was fortunate, but all my encounters turned out well with GR guys.

Not sure if thyis belongs here or in Gay Bali topic but it doesn't look like there's been any action there in some time. Starting to plan a birthday trip for late July. Been thinking about a fist trip to Bali. I can get to BKK using miles on Delta. Best fare from BKK is Air Asia which flies out of Don Muang exclusively I read. I also read about free transfers between the two airports. Can anyone confirm? Delta arrives around 23:30. From past trips I know it doesn't make sense to head "downtown" as everything will be closed by the time I get there. Air Asia leaves for Bali the next morning at round 6:30 AM. Is it best to head to DMG that evening and find a place to stay, or stay near BKK and transfer in the Morning? Thanks in advance. KB

I had previously visited the sites you listed. They were what initially peaked my interest in the area.I see a lot of Taiwan guys on Cam4 but they either don't speak English or prefer not to interact with Westerners. HKG looks amazing and more manageable for first-time Western visitors traveling alone (but hjopefully not ending up that way). Thanks again for the info.

Thanks for the clarification and offer for advice. I have a friend who hails from India and whenever he goes home for a visit he always stops for a few days in HKG and always said I should visit. Personally I have no interest in ShenZShen. If I did mainline China I'd opt for Beijing and Shanghai I think. Since I did 2 weeks in Thailand again last Nov. I probably can only afford 7-9 days this year as I get no paid vacation time. I figured I might be able to do split between TPE and HKG or Tokyo. The more I discover, the more TPE/HKG sounds like a better option for traveling alone, if for no other reason, language seemds to be less of a barrier than in Japan. I don't ewant to end up like the Duggers!

I have stopped rersponding to Phil guys on GR. Everyone I chatted with and exchanged messages on GR ultimately asked for money or to be brought to the U.S. Their water buffalo might not have died and mama may not have been in the hospital, but the family always needed money or their tuition was due by the end of the day. I hate to characterize a group of people, but that was my experience, sadly.

This was a great resource. I've been trying to decide if I should visit HKG & TPE this year or tokyo. One thing I don't understand is the connection between HKG and ShenZhen. I read that it was a "special economic zone" and get that it means there are different "rules" but I question the place. I was surfing around gayhk.com and came across a bunch of links for saunas and "clubs" some in HKG and some in ShenZhen. All are in Chinese and difficult to translate, but it looks like some of these clubs in ShenZhen are not shy about advertising boys as young as 15 y/o as "masseurs." I was disappointed to say the least. Surely that can't be the age of consent in China is it? I thought Pattaya got an undeservedly bad rep for a few club owners hiring underage boys... but this is too much even if it is only legitimate massage they do, but I doubt that's the case based on the pics.

Speaking of King of College... As I look through Gay Japanese web sites there seems to be several Host (AKA rent boy) bars in ni-chome. All are, of course, only in Japanese and Google/Bing translations suck. Does anyone know if these host bars, such as Tokyo Kids, Alauada, or Danshi Gakuen, welcome foreigners? Also, does anyone know the meaning of the terms bakkutachi and Bakkuuke? I have deduced that tachi tangle is top and uke tangle is bottom, I think.

I thought I would echo Firecat69's comments about the most beautiful temples...

I wuld have to agree with all said so far. I started my recent tri[p with 2 days in Chiang Mai, definiely not enough. I would re4commend a trip to Doi Suthep and some of the temples in the city. I didn't make it to the waterfalls or elephant sancturay but they are on my nlist for next time. I haven't been to Phuket since before the tsunami, so I can't say anything about current activity, but at that time, I'd had enough after 2 days. I found much nmore I wanted to do in Chiang Mai.

One thing I want to add to my previous reply. Before I left KD with Khun New, he wqs handed a mobile phone by the (I assume) manager. As soon as we got to my room, New said he had to make a call to his friend, but I knew was calling the bar. When we finished our time together and he again placed a call to his friend. I've not encountered that in BKK or Pattaya before, but it does show that the owners are taking an interest in the boys' welfare.

I saw POTO 12 times when it was playing in nearby Toronto. The story, music and special effects were an amazing combo. If I were in Thailand during the run I would definitely find some Thai boyfriends to take. The show is mesmorizing.

I just spent 8 nights at Le Cafe Royale in Boyztown, checking out yesterday. I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed my stay there, and how impressed I was with the whole operation. I checked on all 3 hotels on Soi 3. Sent emails requesting answers to 3 questions: 1) do you check ID for visitors? 2) Can I pay with credit card? 3) What is the penalty for early checkoout? I got a reply from LCR within 3 hours of sending and it came in at what would have been 3 AM Thai time. Responses: 1) Yes we not only check ID but keep them until visitor leaves and guest gives "OK" to release (and they followed this religiously on each and every visitor I had). 2) All major CC except American Express are accepted. 3) No penalty for changing checkout dates, but please give as much advance notice as possible. I honestly don't remember getting replies from either Copa or Ambience, but I would have to look back as I made reservations a couple of months ago. I did rule out some recommended hotels in Day-Night and Sunee areas because of no CC payments and cash payment in advance with no changes allowed. Beyond that, I found the room descriptions and website pictures accurate for LCR. The 32-inch flat screen TVs were a nice touch. AC was quiet and efficient (I hate those units that let the temp rise 10-15 degrees before kicking in). Staff was friendly and helpful. Restaurant is open 24 hours. On Tuesdays they have a guest reception with any drinks on their menu free, except for bottle prices. I had 4 margaritas, menu price 230 bht/each. Cost to me, just a nice tip to my waiters. Rooms range from standard to suites. I chose a Superior room at 1400 bht/night plus tax and was very happy with my accommodation, no noise from the street below or froom the entertainment in the restaurant. I particularly liked the lighting on a dimmer switch. Yesterday, when I checked out, my flight from BKK did not leave until 11:25 PM, so I decided on doing a half-day at Sriracha Tiger Zoo. No problem for late check out and OK to shower and change afterward at no extra charge. if you have a Utopia card LCR offers a 10% discount. http://www.caferoyale-pattaya.com/