Up2u

Yes I remember the story about the Royal Jomtien Resort. The people died (suffocated) because the management locked the fire exit doors fearful that guests would skip without paying their bills. Management was prosecuted if I recall.

Thanks for sharing as the title of this thread certainly perked everyone's interest. It's good to know there is diversity among board members on their likes and dislikes. That said the title in my opinion is false advertising and validates the saying that the size of you know what is inversely proportional to the size of the biceps. Don't get me wrong this man would be a hit at the Castro St fair. I came to Thailand last century when the bars were full of sexy, young, hot, fun lads so forgive me for being nostalgic but taking a little liberty with the Ben Hecht quote, "... Look for it only in books, for it is no more than a dream remembered, a time gone with the wind...”

Divine Madman raises some good points. I also noticed the Finders website overstates TW fees. TW is now back in good graces with the Thai expat community as they have apparently "fixed" their coding issue on foreign transactions that are posted in our Thai bank passbooks. This is critical to us that must prove to Thailand Immigration that monies received are foreign sourced for our annual retirement extensions. If these transfer service companies use intermediary bank is used there could be problems. I personally use Bangkok Bank.

Thanks for that! I hope you got a DVD of the procedure, just as a souvenir, something you go show friends and family or perhaps post on this forum. Joking aside, you do get a DVD from private hospitals here in Thailand.

Germany have subsidized medical care? If I flew to Germany as a tourist would I pay the same in a private hospital?

Re: Reader's recent post, somewhat relevant, https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1503598/fda-pulls-heart-drug-from-shelves

Where was this done?

This survey ranked them #1, I'll have to give them a try. https://bigseventravel.com/2019/04/best-burgers-thailand/

I get my annual checkups at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya (BHP) and is part of the Bangkok Dusit Medical Services group (http://www.bdms.co.th/our-network). The prices at Bumrungrad are often twice the price of of other private hospitals. Looking at the OP's link I would have selected Executive but that excludes the Hg a1c so the price for that would have to be added. Private hospitals have these specials all the time. The BHP special is 1/2 the price of Bumrungrad. For comparison purposes BHP charges 18k THB for a colonoscopy.

First I would establish a Thai bank account, and then investigate and consider TransferWise. Works for the Brits and Americans, no daily limit restrictions,very competitive MID-FX exchange rates, monies are transferred in Thai Baht. Now that expats (Brits and Americans) can no longer use income verification letters, expats are exploring all available funding options for their retirement extensions.

I took my friend there a few years ago. He was happier than a pig rollin in shit..... the place is a bottoms paradise.

Just so people can make an informed decision, the news media here has been reporting raids to illegal hotels, guesthouses and condos in a crackdown and enforcing the > 30 day rule. A registered condominium like View Talay 7 is not a hotel and rentals less than 30 days are illegal. Residents here have been attempting to clamp down on this activity without success but now have backing from the authorities. Airbnb lost a court case in Hua Hin, guesthouses and condos have been raided in Jomtien so progress is being. TiT so changes will not happen overnight but the implementation of the revised Hotel Act has a compliance deadline of 2021 but the crackdown is in progress. You can read about the discussion on the Thaivisa.com Pattaya Forum and this is being discussed on the other gay boards as well.

Not sure when you were last but Center has undergone a major remodeling of the common areas.Be aware that Pattaya and all of Thailand is in a upheaval over illegal hotels, guesthouses and condos with short-term rentals. How all this is will playout is uncertain. The other gay boards and thaivisa have threads on this subject.

I agree, Punya also made a poor business decision although apparently some here might feel otherwise. When I was a tourist travelling here, I came for the young Thai guys not to visit a geriatric sauna or see young Russians (no matter how hot some think they might be).We all abhor discrimination of all types but some confuse race, nationality, ethnicity in discussions regarding dual pricing. Citizenship is the key word and citizenship whether it's Thailand or our home countries has its perks. The farang husband with his Thai wife and family pays full price at Nong Nooch Park but his wife and family pay the Thai price because they are citizens of Thailand. The young Thai bar worker can't afford 235 baht at Sansuk, that's the economic reality, so now we all lose if you want to have fun at Sansuk. The economics are a new Thai college graduate gets a salary of around 16,000 baht and here I am a pensioner from America that gets 10 times that. That's why I want to be generous when tipping (by Thai standards).

Do those that are offended by dual pricing for reasons I try to understand,feel the same way about Sansuk Sauna in Pattaya where Thai pay a lower admission than foreigners and tourists? I think it is a smart business decision to encourage young Thais so the old farangs will follow.

"Question to you guys: do u still tip them for their time eventhough we bought them drinks and it kinda became weird after the negotiation?"...... yes, perhaps that's why they said 1500. If you're in a go-go bar or a drinking bar and you invite a boy to sit with you a tip is in order. I give 100 baht, uninvited guests get nothing. If a boy feels he is getting screwed (figuratively) then you can always offer a few hundred baht for taxi money, a face saving gesture for everyone.

"Soi Twilight in Bangkok soon to become a distant".... that should have read "distant memory" if you can believe the reports which seem to be coming from informed sources.

The Day Night had a very short lifespan but I remember the Belgium who had a vision to challenge BT. He purchased the old Playboy remodeled it and the hotel next door and had a group of businesses with the "Jolly" boys theme. When he had problems with the law the entire area suffered. Their was Lek Boys (late the Bird Cage), World Boys, the original Funny Boys I just to name a few. With Soi Twilight in Bangkok soon to become a distant also, I don't envision the Pattaya gay bar scene finding new legs because of it.

Pattaya is not alone as far as the gay scene vanishing or changing. https://sawatdeenetwork.com/v4/showthread.php?19539-Where-Go-Go-go-now

Somebody needs to do some sit-ups.

It may surprise some that Pattaya does have planning zones and Jomtien as mentioned is not an entertainment zone. As Pattaya develops the pressures to decrease not increase the entertainment zones will grow. There is one go-go bar opposite VT7 on Tappraya that has been there forever and is apparently grandfathered as it is rumored to be police owned. Some may remember the old, short-lived Rock Hard Boys but there show was unadvertised, behind closed doors.

I find it odd a black gay man would support a racist, all for a bonus and a small raise. But, there are black people that do support him(below). And remember who to thank when your Thailand vacation costs more. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/08/23/the-strange-story-of-that-blacks-for-trump-guy-standing-behind-potus-at-his-phoenix-rally/?utm_term=.cfa9f05679c7

Just a marketing gimic..... my friends jokingly say I'll see you in Supertown tonight at 7.

Boat Bakery has been closed for quite some time now.

The likelihood is the hotel staff did not steal anything, their jobs are on the line and checking the minibar is just one of their duties. I inventory the minibar and tell bf everything is off limits except complimentary water. Then a visit to the local 7-11 and replenish the minibar with my own items. Your experience is not unusual when dealing with barboys.