ChristianPFC

I don't know, but I don't think so. There are a few reports of boys who are positive and continue working. Statistically, I must have had contact with dozens who are positive. I don't ask.

Sanam Luang is the name. "Thai masters" an oxymoron? When the Thai do something new that involves engineering or science, there is a good chance it goes wrong (the statues of the Thai kings in Hua Hin or the giant standing Ganesha in Chachoengsao, both had to be put into scaffolding for renovation because there was structural damage shortly after opening). This is a pyre, so everything will be burned in the end. In this case, an ample amount of duct-tape can be used to hold everything together until the main event.

In my experience, there are few Thais (and other SEA) who enjoy traveling the way I do. You can probably find someone to accompany you to a prestigious place (Phuket, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai), but for off-the beaten track, probably little interest. And those few I met who showed an interest, it's rather "Can I go with you?" than "I can show you around!". By now, my knowledge of Thailand is vastly superior to most Thais I have met. But the average tourist might with some luck find a boy who can organize a trip. But keep in mind that most Thais don't like walking, whereas for me everything under 5 km is walking distance. Meet the family ("poverty porn") in the boy's hometown is mildly entertaining once, utterly boring every further time to me. After mostly so-so or poor experiences with Thai boys, I wouldn't want to depend on someone in another country (where I don't speak the language). How did you (numazu and BurBoy) arrange that trip to Burma, I mean in particular getting time off work and making a plan where to go? I have several Burmese and Lao friends, but I don't know if any of them would be interested, able and could get time off work.

Does a bear shit in the woods? Does the Pope read the Bible? (Btw, interesting member name; in German, "Schuft" means "villain", is this intended?)

That probably involves putting a wall back in? The very wall that was removed just a year ago? Like that place, currently Stardust Karaoke, near Sunee, which had wall out - wall in in the last years.

Most saunas have been around for years. In the last 5 years, several closed and only two new opened: Waterboy Onsen and Nake (and Nake is reincarnation of Muffil in new location and new name). "cater almost exclusively to young Thais" I wish they did! But the age average is above 30, which is too old for my taste. Condoms and lube are given with locker in most saunas, or are available on request. Nowadays I avoid dark rooms, so I can't say what goes on in there. It's mostly too dark to see, you would have to grab the cock to feel if a condom is on. I think use of condom is the norm in saunas. Supported by two recent cases in 39 underground, where my partner wanted to fuck me and produced a condom.

This information is specific enough for someone in Chiang Mai to verify or falsify. I would be happy if we could move on from "I'm a 24-year-old Singaporean exchange student in Chiang Mai" - "No, you are not..." - "Yes, I am..." to this kind of post quoted above.

That might be. Actually Thai embassy in Saigon accepts only recent bank book with >20,000 THB, but not cash as proof of funding. Actually I bring both, cash and bank book. But when I entered in Sadao, immigration officer said "Show me the money!" and I don't think she would have accepted bank book.

You mean if asked at immigration to show 20,000, you just go to an ATM and withdraw the money? That thought entered my mind as well (better than carrying 20,000 THB in cash with me, in addition to about 500 Euro or USD depending on where I go), but I forgot once again to check in Suvarnabhumi if there are ATMs before immigration.

How does this happen? I always have a lot of 100 and 20 notes, and reasonable amount of coins. Give them to me. (I'm not trying to increase my count of posts, I'm way above the 100 to see the photo forum already, but when I copy/paste two quotes from different posters in one post, they get mixed up. Hence a separate post for every quote.)

Interesting point. Immigration law says that everyone entering Thailand on visa waiver or tourist visa (?) must have 20,000 THB or equivalent in other common currency on them. To my knowledge, this is only enforced in Sadao (where another Farang passenger on my van was sent back to Malaysia for lack of 20,000 THB in cash). But with my many tourist visas and visa free entries, I don't want to get stuck at immigration for lack of 20,000 THB, so I always take 20,000 THB in cash when I enter Thailand.

All dark colors, so you don't see... (let's not get down that way). I have the impression that talking/writing about my underwear arouses you. Years ago, I was leafing through underwear on sale in Silom, and I almost got a boner. Instead of suppressing this erotic feeling, I should have developed it. Much cheaper than going to the bars!

But you know I'm a cheapskate, I would never do that (charity boxes, give leftover cash to random person), I would cling to the penny/cent/satang.

Probably bought by my mother. Most of my current underwear was bought by my mother. My mother loves buying clothes for me, it makes her happy so I go along. The underwear I wear is merely functional. I always wear underwear, I'm wary of people who don't wear underwear. I think something is not right with them.

The text is probably an automatic translation. Would be interesting for me to read the original in Thai (?). As for who works in the bars and massages, V Club advertises they have models, bodybuilders, students; whenever I walk past a massage near my places manager tells me "new boy" - don't believe any of it.

Sunee has been in decline for years, but still a lot of fun to be had and usually the first place I go to when in Pattaya. The sauna is called Sansuk. (You or someone else misspelt it before multiple times; I didn't comment because I wasn't sure if it's a pun. But here, the OP wouldn't find it searching for "Samsuck".)

I mean I keep cash leftover from trips. I'm not investing in these currencies. But I should exchange it with friends traveling there, to de-clutter my life.

The bag I found in Bangkok. It was lying on the street and had been driven over by several cars or mocy already when I rescued it, and soon later it became my main bag. The watch I'm wearing is inherited from my grandfather. The only thing on my body that I personally selected and bought are my glasses (frames from 2001). Fascinating, from "30 day suspension" to a look into my clothes drawer! But I like these turns in threads.

For general sightseeing see internet. My gay experiences and general observations for Dec 2016 are here: http://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2017/01/gay-places-in-taipei.html http://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2017/01/taiwan-general-impressions.html and those for current trip (May 2016) to be published today and on 18. on my blog. See various threads by fountainhall on this and other forums as well (that's where I got the inspiration to go there). As for country hopping, I loathe it! I have the advantage of speaking Thai, so I can travel cheaply and independently in Thailand, whereas everywhere else I am back to tourist (paying tourist prices, having to rely on people speaking English). But even without the language advantage, I don't like visas and exchanging money and other differences (time zones, driving right or left handed, different power plugs). Visa and visa fees is a big issue for me. Indonesia and Vietnam got on top of my list when they scrapped visa for German citizens some years ago. Else, I would probably have gone to Myanmar. At the moment, I have Euro and US-Dollar, Thai Baht and money from Lao, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia left from previous trips in my room, that's 10 different currencies! I keep it and information leaflets because I might go back some day.

Yes, that's me in the mirror chamber. The mirrors are flat, so there is no distortion. But the shirt I'm wearing is a gift from a friend and it is rather wide, and the shorts I'm wearing are a gift from another friend, and they are 34 inches waist while I'm 32 inch waist, so I need a belt to pull them together, otherwise they would drop to my ankles. I did not consider this when I wore them to the airport, so after taking off the belt for security, I had to hold them with one hand so they don't drop down. (I'm anti-consumerist. Most clothes I wear are from my mother - I don't mean I wear my mother's clothes, I mean my mother bought them for me -, gifts from friends or found.)

For travel outside of Thailand in SEA, I now recommend Taiwan above everywhere else (if commercial sex scene is not important to you, even before Thailand). Phuket and Koh Samui are expensive and touristy. July and August are perfect to visit National Parks in Chaiyaphum, when Siamese Tulips are in bloom. Lopburi and Kanchanaburi worth a few days and not far from Bangkok. For cycling go to Bang Krachao, coming from Klong Toey pier, there is bicycle rent at the pier. More information (places you enjoyed in the past) needed to give more advice.

This picture was on facebook after the recent (a few months ago) crash of a van with another car, killing 25 (!) passengers. My translation: whenever I see this (van), I think of this (coffin). Van is my last option of public transport, but more for lack of space than for safety reasons. When getting on early and asking nicely, I often can get the front seat which has more space and a view. From the back, I can't even see where we are because my head is under the roof.

A few days ago, in National Taiwan Museum. A chamber completely covered in mirrors, except the floor where enlarged microscopic pictures of rocks are displayed. The place for people who don't like opinions other than their own.

I decided against trip insurance. My probability of missing the flight is much less than I would spend for trip insurance.

Hua Hin is certainly worth a visit, or several (but now that a friend has a condo there and I have been multiple times, we have to go on daytrips by car to find interesting stuff). I always go by bus or train, travel time door to door can easily exceed 5 hours. For those on holiday and with more money than time, taxi is a good option. However the train station is worth a look, the most beautiful train station in Thailand with a Royal Waiting Hall. Hua Hin is touristy, Thais and Foreigners, and prices reflect this (but still reasonable, unlike Phuket). For amazingly cheap seafood go to Prachuap Khiri Khan where prices are less than half of what you would pay in Hua Hin (local oysters, 10 for 100 Baht!). That there is less traffic is a rumor that I can't confirm. The traffic intersection Petkasem / Soi 61 / Soi 76 (leading to railway station) is a place to avoid: the electricity/communication lines are full of birds, there is birdshit everywhere and the birds are constantly making noises (they are NOT singing!). I have written on Hua Hin a few times: http://christianpfc.blogspot.com/search/label/Hua%20Hin but there is much more to do (and I have done much more).