Seredipity - January visit - Bangkok, Pattaya, and back

[ggobkk]

This topic title is a really place holder for a complete report.  I'm just back home after twenty-five hours of airports and planes and a subway returning from Bangkok.  I intend to respond to Vinapu's gentle prodding and write a full report (well, maybe not quite full) and begin posting it in the next few days.

 

I put "Seredipity" in the topic title as my original plan for this visit had to be scrapped.  I decided to just go and see what happens..."go with the flow".

 

So before I pass out from lack of sleep: some thanks to the Forum for giving me ideas to find the "flow", both naughty and nice.  Specifically to Vinapu for his comments on The Raya and his report prods, Numazu for travel tips too numerous to enumerate,  Ryanasia for his Pattaya report, Moses for his Siamroads guys, DivineMadman for hanging out with me and for being a Michelin guide to massage, and especially to PaulSF a legend among the boys whose PMs are always a joy.

 

That's it for now...some unpacking of both clothes and memories and I'll put the memories here as they emerge.

[vinapu]

good luck with fighting jet lag, we will be waiting patiently

[ggobkk]

Past is Prologue

 

Let me begin by establishing some background…I’m no youngster.  I first came to Bangkok right out of college, I was in the closet but didn’t even know that I was.  I basically toured the town which thanks to a propensity for war was filled with Americans.  If that isn’t a clue to my age, let’s just say my 50^th college reunion was this past summer making me twice and a couple of years older than Numazu, the Homer and Chaucer of this Forum.

 

My next venture to Bangkok was in the early 90s on a stop-over returning to California from Mumbai.  More out abroad than at home, I ventured from my tourist hotel on the river to the “red light” district.  Enticed by the entreaties of a gaggle of go go boys, I let myself (willingly) be lured into a club.  Other than higher pricing and some nods to safe sex, not much has evolved in the years since.  Boys with numbers, a manager/mamasan, smiling back and forth, choosing, negotiations, room available (for a price); leave, shower together, sex, cuddle, “I can stay”. “be your guide tomorrow”.

 

Time and a decade or so passes, I’m out at home but also overly committed, work at a large non-profit, chairing a couple of community commissions, volunteering in an HIV clinic, involved in a couple of relationships that crash and burn.  Due to the need to sign payrolls or attend a board meeting, my longest and only overseas trip between the nineties and the aughts (1994-2012) was a three-week UK jaunt with cousins and that took a year to plan (involving taking a break from family to be with some ballet boys.  Male dancers and me is a tale for another forum).  During this time my sexually active life was often a weekend with a ballet dancer or two in NYC or while he/they were on tour or with a rent boy here at home, or a relationship starting/ending Bay Area coffee date. 

 

Finally, I retire and there is an explosion in my travel, China, Peru, Costa Rica, London, China (again and again, I like the guy I met in Beijing).  In the back of my mind, though, there’s a memory of Thailand that’s appealing – but would I be just a sex tourist?  Three years ago, I say to hell with the personal imaging, just go.

 

So, I buy a ticket – but just for a week.  It’s around now that I find this Forum and bangkokbois, “Dancing with the Devil in the City of Angels”.  http://bangkokbois.sawatdeenetwork.com/  I do my due diligence, not wanting to act like a newbie.  I learn about check bins, negotiations, sincerity (and the lack of), where the bars and clubs are…make notes, lists, jot down numbers of recommended “offs”.  Reserve a room at the Tarntawan as it’s the most mentioned.

 

Plane arrives late.  Supposed to land at 11pm, but it’s two in the morning plus another hour wait in immigration.  Then taxi to the hotel, streets are mostly deserted.  Except for the multiplicity of 7-11s and Family Marts not a lot of life to be seen from the taxi window, the lights are off on soi Twilight, tuk-tuks are sleep pads for the drivers.  Tarntawan is there with a room and a sweet drink and a shower.  If the plane had been on time, I’d intended to go to Screwboys for the 1am show.  Never happened…I just go to bed.

 

A few hours later, awake, hit the buffet, go for a walk to soi Twilight along what I will come to know as Surawong and Silom.  Wander through soi Twilight and check out the show times.  Tout or two emerge from the shadows to show me around, have clothes made, practice English…back to the hotel and off to the Palace and the Emerald Buddha. 

 

Go to Arena for a massage as recommended in the Forum.  This takes some wandering around as I the neighborhood has changed over the decades.  Needed to figure out how to get across Silom to the Thai Airways building (as I read the directions on the Forum).  Take the escalator and see a group of guys without shirts…suspect that I reached my destination.  I had, inside (this is the old location) about ten guys stand up and show off, I sit with manager/mamsan.  Not sure what I’m looking for.  Pick a guy with a great body and meeting the Vinapu smile rule (I didn’t know about the rule then but it’s part of the natural law, I guess).   Shower together, massage, oh, where is that hand going now?  Thanks to the reading the Forum, it turns out to be great 90 minutes, massage only so-so, but the time was great.

 

Back to hotel, dinner somewhere, head off Dream Boys, 1^st stop it seems for almost all newbies - as I was.  Not knowing the routine, I climb the stairs at least an hour before the posted show time.  This does get me a good seat in the 2^nd row with no one between me and the boys.  Drink, look at the dozens of boys, someone is next to me asking if I like anyone?, how about this guy?, you like?  My brain goes “this must be a mamasan”…go away and let me look for a while.  I do see a cute guy, I smile and he’s next to me…what will become a routine is fresh to me, reading about it is one thing, being in the midst is another.  English is very good, apparently, his German is better he tells me.  “How long you in Bangkok…where you from…where you stay?” What do you do?  “Up to you”, certain activities are mentioned, “Yes”.  Remember to buy him drink (little bit out of sequence, newbie mistake). Pay, check bin total high, then I remember it’s baht and part of the Dream Boys experience is paying and paying.

 

Back to hotel, he’s very attractive, but in bed just sort of so so.  He’s beautiful but we bore each other when not functionally engaged.  Hell, I may bore him even when I’m engaged. It’s a short time, he’s on his way.  Sleep alone.

 

Day two, some touring, catching up on sleep…usual meals…tonight Tawan!  So much Forum discussion, need to see this, not sure about the big muscles, but lots of back and forth on the Forum.  Short line of folks going into the club, lots of seats, can’t quite figure things out, retreat into being an observer.  No mamasan bothering me.  Couple of guys catch my attention, but my gut tells me I’m uncomfortable.  Leave…blaming myself, but I don’t know what I’m blaming myself for…go back to soi Twilight, thinking “this trip is a waste”. 

 

The Hot Male “grabber” pushes me up the steps, o.k., might as well look at another club.  It’s almost show time, seated in the center of the non-smoking side (without giving too much away, over the years this will become a familiar vantage point).  Show then was new to me, held my attention, post show, the boys come on stage.  One with a defined body, good dance moves (remember I’m into dancers), and a smile that crosses the distance catches my attention and removes any thoughts of this being a “waste” of a tip.

 

That’s how I met “Van” the Vietnamese I’ve referred to in other reports as “T”.  The known language dance takes place, “up to you”.  Well, it is up to me, so we agree, off fee paid, and we depart.  He holds my hand as we cross and walk along Surawong.  Chemistry in bed is very good and leisurely.  Short time?  No, a long time!  Actually, a couple of days…

 

The scene is now set…let’s go forward to January 2017

[santosh108]

Thanks so much for  your sincere and wonderful report. Your background is extremely similar to mine in most ways (except for the dancers!).  I am looking forward to being back in Bangkok after over ten years away and your report plus many of the postings have been most helpful in building my confidence that I can still have a good time!

 

Also look forward to meeting some of the members of this group so I can learn and grow in Bangkok and Pattaya.  This is a most useful and supportive site.

[ggobkk]

Up, Up, and Away

 

I tend to plan my travel several months in advance, juggling the imponderables along with the required commitments and throwing higher a desire for the new.  This trip began with all the balls in the air.  Somewhat spurred by Numazu’s report on his sojourn in Cambodia and Vinapu’s exploration of the further reaches of Ankor Wat, I contacted Ya at Siamroads for advice.  The most open period in my calendar was the last two weeks in January.

 

Ya has been a great help in the past both formally as a guide and, informally, as a resource on hotels, transport, restaurants, and what not to miss.  Ya put me in touch with Sareth in Siam Reap and we sketched out a tour to give me an overview.  One rough point was that Sareth was only available for part of my adventure but promised guide(s) who would do him proud.  After Cambodia, I’d have a week in Bangkok to visit with Van, and maybe Yoyo, my boy on the side; as well as a few days in Pattaya.  Hotels were selected, some booked, research begun.

 

This being all set-in motion, I messaged Van, which began a series of back and form Line messages, FB posts, and WeChat.  Basically, they boiled down to the fact that my trip planning had not considered local holidays or his schedule.  The Lunar New Year fell in the middle of my visit.  The Chinese would be celebrating Spring Festival and the Vietnamese going home for Tet.

 

If I was to see Van, only the first part of my visit would work for him as he’d promised his family to be home for Tet, the very time frame I planned to be in the ruins.  I thought quite a bit about this and looked for a way to do everything I wanted to do and do my way.  In a moment of “Ego Flight”, I wondered why Van didn’t understand and just rearrange his family obligations for my sake.

 

I knew once I’d voiced my irritation to myself that my planning rigor hadn’t been connected to Van’s schedule let alone small things like national events.  WeChat heated up with possibilities and calendar back and froths, Van telling me he could stay in Bangkok for the first five nights of my visit and would fly to Hanoi rather than taking the bus.  I reached out to Sareth and Ya and the Ankor Wat journey is now penciled in for late May.  The Poseidon in Jomtien/Pattaya rescheduled my stay, and a room became available at The Raya on Surawong which had been sold out on Agoda.

 

This is where “serendipity” comes into my report, I decided to let the need to plan dissipate and go with the flow be it smooth or through some rapids.  I rush to complete several commitments at home, pack lightly but take a big suitcase, suspecting/knowing/realizing that I will buy “stuff”.  Tell friends and family that I’m leaving the country to miss the Trump Inaugural. Everyone goes along with that, though some wink knowingly at me.

 

Wednesday, January 18, dawns (at 4:25 am it hasn’t yet dawned) when I catch the first subway train to San Francisco airport.  Have breakfast in the United Club, power up my electronics, scoop up read the free newspapers: WS Journal, NY Times, Financial Times, SF Chronicle, and USA Today.  Printed news seems unfamiliar.  I read / skim the same papers every day but in electronic versions.

 

Boarding is on time, I’m in the 747’s Premium Economy and have a window row to myself.  Not bad for a ticket that cost $650 round trip. 

 

Philosophical statement: if I’m automatically seated in Premium Economy without a charge, I’ll use the savings from not paying $3000 more for business class for better hotels or meals, etc. 

 

Plane is about half full.  Cabin attendant in my area, by chance, is someone I know, a PanAm legacy employee from back when United purchased PanAm’s Asia routes.  She lives and is based on Tokyo which is where this leg of my journey is headed.  We catch up and I know I will be well looked after.  She tells me the 747’s will be phased out by the end of the year for Dreamliners.  Something to look forward to.

 

Seat-belted in, flight deck informs passengers that SF air traffic control has put a hold on our departure due to a rain squall descending on the Bay Area.  90 minutes later we taxi and get in line to wait for take-off.  12 plus hours later, plane is landing at Narita. 

 

My layover time is reduced so there isn’t time to catch a shower at the UA Club if I’m going to eat.  I scarf down several pieces of sushi, some noodles, and multiple salmon appetizers.  The next leg of the journey will be on ANA and I’ve learned to avoid its food just as I ignore United’s.

 

Board early with my Star Alliance status and settle into my aisle seat.  As my carry on is minimal, I’m not sure why I board so early, must be something to do with being hit by the oversize carry-ons and backpack slapped when a boarding passenger suddenly turns and his/her backpack contacts my head or aisle side arm. 

 

Seven hours later, touch down at BKK.  I go through my usual non-verbal rant at ANA’s policy of not letting economy passengers disembark until all its business class passengers are off the plane.  Released, I find that the plane is parked at a gate close to immigration!  There goes (thankfully) my exercise.  Go up the slight ramp and find that there are maybe 500 to 600 already in line ahead of me.  Despair! I shuffle along until a security guard comes over, looks at my passport, and sends me to the Thai Airways priority line where I am one of two waiting.  Why?  Have no idea but am grateful.  Next miracle is that my suitcase has already landed.  I have cash left over from my October trip, and grab a taxi.  I text Van and 300 THB and 30 minutes later that taxi pulls up at The Raya and Van is waiting. Summary: Plane lands at11:37pm, arrive hotel 12:20am. 

 

I’ve never been at The Raya before.  Booked based on Vinapu’s description of his stay and other favorable comments.  Van and I register.  I know he will stay for the duration of his time before departing for home, so having him as a registered guest makes it easier to come and go independently. It is also a mark of respect.  Registration is efficient.  Room is on the 7^th floor. And overlooks Soi Twilight.

 

The room has a full kitchen with a dining area as well as a bedroom with a sitting area.  Clean and comfortable.  I ask Van if he wants to eat, tells me he has already eaten.  Ask of he wants to have a drink at HotMale bar or catch the 1am show at Screwboys.  No and no.  I tell him I need to shave as I didn't have time before leaving home, so it’s been two days and I’m scruffy.  He tells me to shave and then we will shower. I shave as he heads to Family Mart for supplies – skin scrubs, body wash, bar soap, water, and Kit Kat bars.

 

He returns and treats me to a long leisurely shower and cleansing with requisite intimacies.  He’s always been in shape but has clearly been working out since I saw him In October.  Impressive.  The glassed-in shower has a rain shower head as well as a handheld…we use both before drying off, Van makes tea for us and we take time to catch up and I’ll thread what’s important into this report.  Right now, we adjourn to the bed and merge back into a routine that we know, like, and are comfortable with.

[ggobkk]

Here are two photos from my room at The Raya of Soi Twilight from above. I couldn't get them to,set up in the report. Something to do with MS Word and iPhotio

[Vessey]

Excellent and entertaining start, thanks,

 

Looking forward to more.

[ChristianPFC]

In a moment of “Ego Flight”, I wondered why Van didn’t understand and just rearrange his family obligations for my sake.

 

Farang customers are at the bottom of the list of priorities.

[spoon]

Vietnamese treat their tet rather serious, as they will pay respect to their ancesters during that time. The country give their citizen 7-9 working days holiday just for this. Ive live in saigon for a year and during tet everything and i mean everything is closed. We have to buy groceries for 2 week in advance just sonwe have enough food to eat lol. There are some foreign own restaurants that is still open after a week or so though

[Alexx]

Really, expecting a Vietnamese to forego Tet with their family is asking a bit much. And considering that someone like Van is probably away most of the year, that's really a time when he should travel back home.

[ggobkk]

Really, expecting a Vietnamese to forego Tet with their family is asking a bit much. And considering that someone like Van is probably away most of the year, that's really a time when he should travel back home.

 

I actually was aware of this and have in past years sent gifts to the families for the celebration.  

 

In my report I  was attempting, and failing at, using irony to show that some farangs, maybe me, disregard / overlook what's important traditionally and culturaaly to others.  

[ggobkk]

First Full Day, settling in, setting out

 

Jet lag is just something to put up with, I gave up on strategies to cope years and years ago.  I just get up and get on with things.  So, now it's 7am and I'm wide awake.  The room is also steamy and not from sex.  Van is not a fan of air conditioning and turns it off during the night.  This is also a precursor to his taking over the bed.  He will turn, and toss, and make a 360 degree navigation of all corners of the bed, including prodding me to the edge.  

 

His subconscious believes that the center of a bed is just a starting point.  I have let my mind imagine what it must be like in the dorm type living arrangement he has in Bangkok with 4 other Vietnamese boys when they sleep.

 

I don't wake him as we each understand that our internal clocks are different for sleeping and for eating. After working until 2 at a club, he'll eat some street food - usually from the chicken and rice  place in the parking lot next to the Kasikorn bank near the bars and then go to bed around 4.  This assumes that he hasn't been off'd - when the timing varies wildly.

 

So I head down to The Raya's breakfast buffet...this is when I notice one of the differences between The Rays and my former home away from home, the Tarntawan.  While, like the Tarntawan in the past, most of the other diners are men, they are all Japanese.  And, they are all dressed for golf!  I will later learn that Japanese golfers book The Raya as it is convenient to the Japanese shops and restaurants situated on Surawong and Soi Thaniya.  Part of the Thaniya building where Cutey and Beauty, the  very gay friendly salon is located is a mecca for the golfer.  Other than a hole-in-one, anything and everything a gofer could want is available there at prices, I'm told, significantly lower than in Japan.

 

​But, I digress, breakfast is sufficient, there's cereal, eggs, some meats, fruit, and six or eight Japanese specific dishes.  The outlier one morning was spaghetti carbonara.

 

Back in the room, Van has now rotated counter clockwise with his head at the foot of the bed, I catch up on email and attempt to avoid theTrump inaugural news from home.

 

As Van is still asleep, this may be the point in this report, to add some more personal details.  Van and i are more "friends with benefits" than enmeshed lovers.  We were way back when, but have moved on.  My body has also moved on, thanks to medical practice and the consequences of listening to doctors.  On the whole I am, for my age, remarkably healthy.  Other than a Pepto Bismol for upset stomach, I take no medications.  According to my doctor, I have the cholesterol of a teenager.  Yet, that same doctor told me that I had a high reading on the test that indicates the possibility of prostate cancer.  Two years back, I heeded her advice and submitted to a prostate biopsy.  

 

In retrospect, this was not a good idea.  Other than a high reading on the PSA test, I had no other symptoms.  The outcome of the biopsy was two fold: one, I simply have a large prostate thus the high reading; two, the cuts and sample removals from the prostate for the biopsy reduced my ability to ejaculate.  It also lessened somewhat my ability to keep my personal flagpole at attention. 

 

Van and I have discussed this and he knows what will work for me and how to get there.  One of the "benefits"of this friend with benefits is to coach others who I might bring back on the lack of cum.  Saves me quite a bit in explanation.

 

O.K.  Now, I've put that out front for perspective.  I'll go out later any but some Thai viagra for psychological support.

 

Van is up by 10:30, no breakfast, we shower together, and go to Cutey and Beauty for haircuts.  After, we wander around the golf shops and Van calls my attention to some golf gloves which he thinks are leather gloves for a motorcycle, which he dreams about saving for.  I explain the difference.  Which gets him started on his wanting to get a leather jacket for the winter after he moves back to Vietnam.  

 

This starts us talking and google translating about his work.  He has a job back in Vietnam that will also bring him to Bangkok.  Not quite clear on what it involves other than clothes.  He worked for the company when last year when the powers that be drove the Vietnamese from the go go bars.  The company offered him full time work and he's taking them up as he doesn't want to continue being a gogo boy. He's just left Hot Male and had been at Fresh Boys.  He say's less money, much less,  but it is stable and he will do his best to work his way up.

 

We check out the gym at the top of the Thaniya Building, it's about $15 per day per person.  Van say's he doesn't like it as it's air-conditioned.  I figure, I'll maybe use it later in my visit (I won't).  Back to the hotel, While waiting for the room to be made up, Tien asks for help in finding the leather jacket he wants.  Upfront, I tell him, I won't buy it for you but will give you an advance against what I will pay for your time.  When he stays with me all day, I give him 3,000 THB per day..  

 

We google and find nothing.  No, actually find several negative comments on different blogs.  I remember that Tony Leather is located between the hotel and son Twilight.  It seems to be all shoes but perhaps the owner can help or discourage.  Entering, I see there is a lightweight leather jacket in the shop window.  To make a long story short, Tony Leather has some jackets in the back, Van likes none of them, and none really fit him, he shows the manager pictures of what he's found on line.  They can make one up for him in day.  Price 12,000 THB.  That would absorb all of what I'd be giving Van.  With kind words we retreat to the hotel.

 

I decide to take a nap.  Before I'm fully asleep, Van sits on the bed and asks if I'd mind if he went back and negotiated withTony Leather.  He suspects (correctly) that the manager saw me and figured the foreigner will pay.  Van intends to go back and say that it's his money not mine and that they need to deal and maybe he'll have them make the jacket.  I agree this is a good plan and I go to sleep.  About an hour later, he nudges me awake.  He has the price at 8,000 THB and would I advance him 4,000 for a deposit.  Done...he goes off to be measured, and I get some more sleep.

 

It's now 6:30 and Van,not having eaten since midnight, is hungry.  I tell him to pick the place.  We wander around Surawong, I mention Madrid, cited by Vinapu for its cashew chicken, I just get a strange look and we march on.  Van likes fish so after lots of consideration selects Happy Beer Garden.  Staff is friendly, mix of tourist and locals.  Can't say I was impressed by the food, but I carefully chose bland things, Van told me the fish which was fresh from a tank was good.  

 

We adjourned to Hot Male Bar, where La the chief "grabber" of customers welcomed us.  Van tells me he's a good guy and watches out for the boys.  Not everyone is like that and he mentions the mamasans who pressure the boys on getting offs and getting customers to buy drinks.  Not to be disrespectful of his reasoning and feelings, but, having managed some things in my life, I can see the mamasan's side.  THB has to come it  the door to keep the lights on inside.  

 

While we are talking, I have my eye on a bar boy working at Banana Bar.  Short and twinky with hair emerging from being blonde.  Van notices and being devoted to making me happy asks if I'm interested.  I say not tonight.

 

We go to X-Boys which since my last visit to Bangkok in October has had some really positive Forum comments.  We're seated in a prime table in front of a group of young Chinese women.  This is a problem as during the rotation, the rotation stops as three of the boys won't budge from preening for the girls.  So there is no rotation in the rotation.  Pay up and move on to Classic Boys.  It's been a long time since I'd been in to see the water act.  Seated front and center.  Usual buy me a drink from the multiplicity of mamasans.  Maybe twenty guys, almost all twink types on stage.  One extremely cute one waring a red ball cap.  Show starts, the three musical numbers are very good.  Also very good is one of the four coyote dancers who back up the singers.  Great smile and   an energetic dancer with sex appeal.  Van notices.  After the show, I go to the toilet.  When I return to my seat, I find Van has pulled the dancer over and was talking with him.  He introduces him and tells me he's already been off'd but would like to see me later in the visit.   Friend with Benefits.  

 

On the  way out of the soi, he introduces me to the twink from Banana Bar, to whom I give a 100 THB.

 

Stop at Family Mart, Van gets some breakfast food for tomorrow.  Back in the room, he decides  he needs more food and goes to the chicken and rice place,  When back and eating, I decide to go out.  Van will watch a movie on my iPad.  He knows from experience I'm looking for something/someone.

 

He's right, I'm going to Screwboys to see if Yoyo is working.  I met Yoyo in September and we has a good time, very good time, and have been exchanging Line messages.  Screwboys is fairly packed and I managed to get a seat way in the back behind some smokers.  One of the mamasans sees this and moves me even further back out of the range of the smoke.  Ask if Yoyo is there...no...is he still at Screwboys?...yes, not there.  Has he left for home for Tetyet?...Yes/No...???

 

Well, Yoyo isn't going to happen, so might as well take a serious look at the guys on stage in their black and white checked shorts.    I watch a couple of rotations.  There must be 30 boys.  #40 catches my eye.  Tall, thin but muscular in the sense of being defined/cut.  Too far away from the stage to smile and make eye contact, so I mention the number to the mamasan who'd gotten me way from the smokers.  And #40 is next to me.  Some, but only some, English.  Up close he is even more handsome and his ab definition is more than rock solid.  My hands are encouraged to wander and he preempts one question by kissing me.

 

Name is "Nguyen", are you Vietnamese?  Yes.  (I seem to have an affinity for Viets: Van, YoYo, and others (see previous reports).  Ask if knows Yoyo.  He says, "yes" but Yoyo not here.  I wonder if this is marketing 101, take me, competition not competing.

What to you do..."Up to you".  I press a bit here, while knowing I have limitations, I like to know the boys are up for a full range of possibilities.  I think I get a "yes, everything".

 

Now, I don't want to take him back to the room as he hasn't been Van vetted.  I check with mamasan, yes, room are available for 500, off is 400, fee is 2000.  Two drinks 700.  This will be a $100 night at the current exchange rate. I ask Nguyen to get dressed.  Mamasan escorts us to the Pavilion Hotel conveniently located right next door.  He goes with us, I assume, as he gets a tip from the hotel. I pay hotel.  Given a room number.  Basic with shower and bed and a 1980's television that doesn't work but is huge.

 

Nguyen and I undress and take a shower together.  His body is breathtaking.  (DivineMadman will meet him later and his comment was "wow").  In bed we check each other out, as I'm about to taste his cock, he says "I know you".  What?  "I've seen your picture, I know it's you".  What picture?  I figure out that Yoyo showed him a photo from Line.  He tells me his impressions of me from what he knows.  I'm a bit baffled, I know there  is a bar boy telegraph about customers, but this is somewhat over and above.

 

I go back to my tasting and sampling, we 69, then back to deep kissing. He tells me that I'm large.  No, I'm  not,  but thanks for lesson 2 from Marketing 101.   I don't attempt to fuck hime, but he takes three of my fingers into himself, lots of cock play, mutual masturbation, I come strongly - an orgasm without cum.  Nguyen doesn't quite understand, but has a major chuck wow release.  We cuddle/spoon for a while, then unsticking from one another take a long shower. No rush.

 

He wants me to have his Line,  don't have my phone.  We go back to Screwboys and he gets some note paper (which is torn from a log of how much money each boy brought in from drinks (it's old but still interesting when I look at it the next day). I wait outside and the mamasan comes out to check how things went.  This is very full service.  Nguyen brings me his screen name andI learn that Nguyen is Uyn (still pronounced "Win").  

 

I return to The Raya where Van is in bed waiting for me.  I tell him checked out the clubs.  He smiles...he knows me. I get in bed, and he wraps himself around me for some spooning.

[vinapu]

 

It's now 6:30 and Van,not having eaten since midnight, is hungry.  I tell him to pick the place.  We wander around Surawong, I mention Madrid, cited by Vinapu for its cashew chicken,

no, vinapu cites Madrid Tavern for the best pizza , his favourite place for  chicken with cashew nuts is Oasis

[paulsf]

Ggobkk, as you know, I know Van quite well and he is good friends with my friend. So I chuckle at the similarities of the boys.

In bed, I have the same problem, he needs to touch every inch of it and I like my 1 spot. Fortunately I have a sofa bed for the real bad nights. The a/c is mine. We have plenty of blankets and he gets them all.

We go to Madrid. My friend wasn't so sure the first time. He had some Thai seafood and was happy. But he got to try pizza for the first time and now likes it a lot. About the only western food he will eat.

 

Great to hear your story

[ggobkk]

no, vinapu cites Madrid Tavern for the best pizza , his favourite place for  chicken with cashew nuts is Oasis

I stand corrected, I knew Madrid was pizza not chicken with cashew nuts.  I'll plead jet lag...I woke up at 3am this morning and decided to write another post. I wanted to credit why I was walking around looking for a restaurant. This was a slip up...I did finally find Madrid...easier to look for and find when the night market isn't in full swing.  Had two meals there during the trip...

[vinapu]

.  I'll plead jet lag...I woke up at 3am this morning and decided to write another post. 

I know your pain, same same with me up to 1 week after return. Lag seems to be worse with age but for compensation those long flights seem to be easier to take , something for something I guess

[steveboy]

----

---  My body has also moved on, thanks to medical practice and the consequences of listening to doctors.  On the whole I am, for my age, remarkably healthy.  Other than a Pepto Bismol for upset stomach, I take no medications.  According to my doctor, I have the cholesterol of a teenager.  Yet, that same doctor told me that I had a high reading on the test that indicates the possibility of prostate cancer.  Two years back, I heeded her advice and submitted to a prostate biopsy.  

 

In retrospect, this was not a good idea.  Other than a high reading on the PSA test, I had no other symptoms.  The outcome of the biopsy was two fold: one, I simply have a large prostate thus the high reading; two, the cuts and sample removals from the prostate for the biopsy reduced my ability to ejaculate.  It also lessened somewhat my ability to keep my personal flagpole at attention. 

----

 

Reading your posts I realize that we have much in common, but this excerpt called my attention for the relevance this has for the not so young gentlemen like me and others.

 

I had also moved on even before retirement thanks to a dedication to exercise and healthy eating. And I take zero medications. And like you, my only encounter with somewhat serious medicine has been... the prostate.   Some time ago my PSA number doubled, crossed the infamous threshold, and I was not urinating well.  So I visited an urologist for a thorough test, and all the minor results came up negative.  But... the high PSA... only a biopsy could answer that !  I decided to wait, and in the meantime I started taking the herbs recommended for the prostate:  saw palmetto, psyllium, beta sitosterol, etc. and my enlarged prostate got better. Six months later and another visit to the urologist, with the same recommendation: Biopsy!  By then I was under pressure by my GP doctor, my urologist, and my MD son.  What if it is a malignant cancer that could metastasize, blah blah blah.  One full year passed in my indecision. At the next visit, the urologist was convincing and I scheduled a biopsy.  A weak before the time I called off the biopsy... indefinitely.  Now two years after the first move, my BPH is well under control by the inexpensive natural herbs, the PSA stopped climbing, and except for the urologist my two other doctors are satisfied and tell me that I made a wise decision.  It is a pity that one has to be put under so much pressure, and I hope one day there will be a much better answer than that from a prostate biopsy.  In the meantime, I am resolved to Use it before I Lose it.  

[ggobkk]

PLAN for the Day - Be a Tourist

 

Looking at my calendar, it tells me I'd planned to be touring in Cambodia - but serendipity has brought me to Bangkok.  The need to be a tourist is great so that's the plan for today, Saturday.  As I wake around 6am, the US has a new president, what could go wrong?

 

I've arranged, thanks to some (a lot) of help from Moses,  for Oh from SiamRoads to give Van and I a tour of Bangkok that will include the Royal Barge Museum and lunch in Chinatown to begin the lunar new year / Spring Festival season.  Plan to be back at the hotel by 4, to allow for a nap, Van to pick up his leather jacket, eat, hang out, and catch the show at Jupiter or Dreamboys, and maybe another venture to Screwboys.

 

Van knows that I'll wake him this morning by 9, so I shower alone and go to have breakfast.  At breakfast, I notice this morning that there are several Japanese families with small children.  The buffet room is a bit more lively this morning, still a few are discussing golf.

 

I have some things to think about, one of which is that I can't find Uyn on Line or Facebook.  The link he gave me doesn't link to anything.  There are too too many Uyn's on FB and Line to sort through them all.  Bummer, I'd wanted to see if he was at work tonight.

 

The other thing is something Van said while we were at Hot Male Bar.  He told me that he knew I was old and would die and he wanted me to know that he would remember me and things he received from me would be kept as special.  My brain bifurcated as this point and that's why I carried over thinking about it to the morning. I guess thinking about a particular inevitable eventuality isn't in my top ten list, but I sensed that Van meant it as a mark of respect.  I took it that way when he said it, but didn't process it fully.  Maybe I still haven't.  

 

Back to the room, quickly check email, wake Van.  His body compass is now pointing east, two hours ago is was almost in circular form.  He's up, showered, makes us both tea in the room's kitchen. We talk about the plan for the day.  I check my email one more time and find a message from DivineMadman suggesting a meet up and a show on Sunday.  I message back a yes and suggest Jupiter.   That means Dreamboys tonight. That means remember to get some THB from the ATM.

 

Oh is on time and in the lobby.  Introductions, discuss the plan, he has some thoughts as we will be close to other sites once we finish with the Royal Barge Museum.  We head out, take the BTS across the river, find a taxi...and the day starts to go off the rails.  Serendipity...serendipity...what ever will be, will be (old Doris day songs come in handy).  Problem..didn't consider that .today is the 100th day since Rama IX left his people.  The whole country it seems is descending on Bangkok.  The fifteen minute taxi ride stretched to 70.  Finally, we get close enough to get out and walk.  Paid driver 160 THB 

 

Using his map app, Oh navigates us under the highway and across a couple of roads into a calm military area, which have being identified and photographed, we cross, pass through some homes, turn a corner, and another corner, we get to the land entrance of The Royal Barge Museum.  This place has been on my Thailand bucket list for twenty years,  it's where the barges used in Royal water processions are maintained, housed, and air and water having negative effects on wood, are constantly being restored.  There is a minimal charge with one interesting rule, only one camera per group.  Oh has a big deal camera and I have an iPhone 6.  Oh is the official photographer.

 

The place is amazing.  It floats with one side open to the water, a channel of Chao Phraya.  I forgot to count h ow many barges were on display but enough to occupy our time for more than an hour.  There was a film about building a new barge to commemorate and participate in the King's 50th year on the throne.

 

 

 

After we finish marveling at the detail, we discuss how to get back on schedule.  I notice that river boats are landing at the museum's dock.  Oh checks and tells me its 2000 THB for three of us, we get a river tour and a stop at the Floating Market.  AND, it will be 20 minutes before the next boat arrives.  I agree, Oh goes back to the original gate to the military complex to retrieve our identifications, Van and I plan with the Royal Barge masters dogs.

 

Boat arrives and speeds off to park to wait for the water gate to open.  Serendipity is now a word for muttering.  Gate opens, dozens of boats exit and we enter and wait for the waterway to fill with other boats before the gate behind is lowered and the one in front raised.

 

Done, I notice the channel is really clogged with debris.  Get to the Floating Market and we have an hour for lunch.  Crowded messy and delightful.  Oh and Van choose food for small feast (700 THB for 3).  Back in the boat and we speed off to another water gate, this one is quick and we are on the river itself.  

 

Definitely more activity and more to see on this stretch of the river.  Final stop of our boat/barge is Wat Arun.  Tour for a while and admire the detail and the amount of maintenance and repair work that is required.  It's now almost 4pm...Chinatown will have to be a carry over for another time along with Oh's other thoughts. Taxi back to the hotel...this time the ride is quick.  I thank Oh and say good bye.  I appreciated his knowledge and flexibility in coping with a city marking its beloved king's death.

 

 

[Guest abang1961]

Honestly Asians don't seem to pick the right words to express our feelings.

We, and I included, at times have a moment of retardation and cannot sprout the right words at the special moment.

 

 

Van meant that you have a special place in his heart, regardless how many years later.

He really appreciates you for taking care of him and gave him that object of his dream - that leather jacket.

Do keep in close contact with him even after your current trip.

[ggobkk]

Honestly Asians don't seem to pick the right words to express our feelings.

We, and I included, at times have a moment of retardation and cannot sprout the right words at the special moment.

 

 

Van meant that you have a special place in his heart, regardless how many years later.

He really appreciates you for taking care of him and gave him that object of his dream - that leather jacket.

Do keep in close contact with him even after your current trip.

 

Thanks, abang1961.  I think everyone has a tendency to struggle to find the right words and sometimes fail.  I really knew what Van was saying and appreciated him for it.  On reflection, I realized his cultural approach to life and death is different than mine...and that for him there is continuity of spirit and that my spirit wold be with him.

 

I hope not to lose touch with him.

[ChristianPFC]

Using his map app, Oh navigates us under the highway and across a couple of roads into a calm military area, which have being identified and photographed, we cross, pass through some homes, turn a corner, and another corner, we get to the land entrance of The Royal Barge Museum.

...

Oh goes back to the original gate to the military complex to retrieve our identifications

I have been to the Royal Barge museum, and arriving on foot (many turns, through slum-like area) it's all open access. Was there any reason other than parking the car that you went into the military area?

 

Recently when passing by bus, I noticed there are barges visible on the western side of the main road (the museum I went to is east). So there might be more than I thought.

 

This is the one I went to:

 

Update: satellite view on google reveals indeed boats in the open on the western side!

 

[numazu]

Great report so far ggobkk . Looks like you had more fun than I did in the bars. Waiting for more!

[ggobkk]

I have been to the Royal Barge museum, and arriving on foot (many turns, through slum-like area) it's all open access. Was there any reason other than parking the car that you went into the military area?

 

Recently when passing by bus, I noticed there are barges visible on the western side of the main road (the museum I went to is east). So there might be more than I thought.

 

 

ChristianPFC - thanks for posting the photo - I'm only having limited success in posting photos - and wanted to show one of the Museum.  

 

We only went through the military area as that was the first  entry point from  where the taxi dropped us off.  I also noticed the barges on the western side and mentioned it to the guide as I thought he was heading in the wrong direction.  He told me it was a training area for the barge masters (???)

[ggobkk]

It's still Saturday

 

At some point I will master moving photos to this report.  I'm writing the posts in MSWord on a MacBook and my photos are in iPhotos, not that I took that many, and the moving parts are not communicating with each other.  

 

So, back to the report, Saturday afternoon, 1st day of the Trump presidency, 100th day in Thailand since King Rama IX passed away.

 

Van and I are back at The Raya.  I decide a nap is in order as I'm adjusting to the time change, Van is excited - in his way - about his jacket.  I wake up around 6:30.  Van is in the kitchen area watching a martial arts film on the iPad.  He sees me and puts on his jacket...the jacket looks great on him and is well made. Tony Leather did a good job and in 24 hours.  Impressed.

 

Before dinner, Van suggests a shower together.  In the shower, there is some play between us, Van suggests I stay in the shower and he shave my chest hair so that I can be smooth like a Viet, as he put it.  I surrender and let him have his fetish.

 

Now smooth, we dry each other off and decide on dinner and what show to see later...get the "up to you"...so I decide on Dick's for dinner.  Not the greatest choice on my part.  Food was only so so, if that.  Not that many eating and after a short while we are the only two in the inside dining room.  Only 6 sitting outside (it's probably 7:30pm).

 

After we finish, we walk toward the soi entrance that is closest to BBB Inn.  Van leads me in the opposite direction from BBB Inn, telling me he wants me to see a temple that is near to where he lives.  As we walk, we pass a development called Ashton, which is going to bring lots of condos to the area.

 

Aside...two blocks of Surawong, from the Le Meridien to the Kasikorn Bank are shrouded in construction wrapping...has the gentrification begun?

 

We get to the temple which is bustling with life not to mention a herd of cows which are being fed with offerings from the public.  We wander around as there is a section for those studying there and several florist shops.  Retracing our steps to soi Twilight, Van tells me more about what he will be doing when he gets home and Tet ended.  He will  back to school, more of a trade school where he will be taking classes in garment manufacturing and learning to drive.  Before coming to Bangkok, he had finished two years of what would be high school in the USA.

 

We go to Hot Male Bar and talk to the bar boys, the blonde twink is still at Banana Bar providing eye candy - he is always looking at this phone.  La, the Hot Male "grabber" has a drink with us.  Business is good but not great, all the bars and clubs are looking forward to the Lunar New Year crowd bringing in business.

 

Van and I decide to go to DreamBoy.  Arriving 30 minutes before show time, we are seated in the 2nd row in the center on the entry  side.  We order Heinekens  (480 THB each).  I start counting boys onstage and stop when it gets to 40+, they are really packed in on stage.  See at least two that are exceptionally off-able.  Watch the crowd come in and by show time there are only a few spots left around the wall.  A Japanese couple (husband and wife) are seated in front of me.  DivineMadman, who is there opposite me (we haven't met yet) will tell me that the  husband looks distinctly uncomfortable and the wife is having a great time.

 

Show is the same as when I saw it in October.  Audience is in to it, especially one of the guys who was pulled up to the stage.  Dream Boys should put him on the payroll...he didn't know what "shy" or "reluctant" mean.

 

Show ends, owner announces bar will close in 10 minutes and exit by the internal staircase bringing us to Bangkok Boys which was full swing.  Easier to get up close and personal with the guys who were on stage upstairs.  Unfortunately, for me, before that can happen, my jet lag crashes into my brain.  I'd wanted to go back on a night prowl and see in Uyn was working at Screwboys - but needed more  sleep.

 

Van and I go back to The Raya, I vow to return to Bangkok Boys and check out my "off-ables"...(This will not happen).  Screwboys 1pm visit also not happening.  No win with Uyn tonight.

 

Go immediately to bed, I think Van watches videos for some time.

 

Sunday morning 

 

I wake up at 5am. Can't find my glasses.  Use the flashlight on my phone...look everywhere, I know i wasted last night, but there room isn't that big!  This is the 2nd morning in a row this has happened!  Frustrating, but I have a spare pair for this kind of situation.   Decide a walk is in order.  So I go out to Surawong, down to Tawan...check out Tarntawan Apartments to see what Lukas has done to decide if it might be a place to stay when I return from my upcoming beach sojourn. Lobby is a bit dark and unwelcoming.  Pictures of rooms on internet were good when I looked last week.  

 

Continue past Prime Massage to Silom.  A few folks waiting for the bus, McDonalds is open.  Makes me think food would be good as I din't finish my meal at Dick's.  To early for hotel buffet.  So I decide to head to FoodLand.  Arrive before the official time for the breakfast special so I wander the food aisles until I can sit and have my eggs, tea, and toast. It's a basic breakfast and meets my early morning needs and at 79 THB true bargain.

 

Heading back to The Raya, I pass the Screwboys Karaoke...not open but now I know where it is.  Uyn's mamasan  had encouraged me to check it out.  Put it on my list (where it still is).

 

Decide that for my return in a week that The Raya will be my base.  Back in the room, it's about 6:30 and Van won't be awake for a couple of hours as he is only across the bed in a diagonal and has further to rotate.  I go online to Agoda and checkout a Raya standard room for the beach return.  It was something like $52 a night!  

 

Decide, I'll give the hotel the opportunity to book me directly and save on the commission to Agoda.  To my surprise, the clerk - even when I show  her the Agoda pricing -will only book me at a rate of $78 a night.  This is crazy - one of the venues I oversaw when working was a small hotel and I always gave the clerks the authority to match rates.  So I go back to the room and book through Agoda.  Thanks Agoda.

 

There is a bit of sunlight now so I look for my glasses.  No luck.  Take a ninety minute nap on the sofa as Van is now rotated to the 7 o'clock position on the bed. He needs to move to about 9 o'clock before he'll wake up.

 

Up from the nap, I go to the hotel buffet and have some tea and toast.  Back in the room, Van is waking, we shower together, enjoyable, making sure to appreciate the mutual deep cleaning.  He knows where my glasses are...on top of the laundry!  I must have been really tired.

 

We head out for Chatuchak weekend market.  I need to get some souvenirs  for folks back home and maybe something for myself.  It's very warm, on the way there on the BTS, Van tells me he still needs to go to the superstore to get presents to take home for Tet.  This had been on the plan for yesterday, but the traffic knocked it off the schedule.  

 

We agree that once we finish Chatuchak, we'll take a taxi to save time.  I wind up only getting a dozen silk scarves at 100THB each.  Van buys a cap to go with his new leather jacket and a couple of T-shirts.  I offer to pay, but he is using his own money.

 

Report interruption - at the end of my October visit, I was checking Van and myself out of the Tarntawan.  I had prepaid for the stay but there were maybe 3,000 THB in charges.  The clerks on duty at 3am couldn't get the machine to accept any of my credit cards. I didn't have enough THB on hand as I still had to pay for the taxi.  Van, without being a part of the back and forth with the desk clerks, took out the money needed from his back pack and paid what was owed.  I was gobsmacked.  While I knew where he had gotten the money from (me), I knew he needed money to go home (see other prior posting about a lost Vietnamese passport) and this 3000THB was a big chunk of it.  There was no hesitation about parting with it to help me.  

 

Outside, as I was getting into my taxi, I thanked him and asked the driver to wait as I hunted through my carry-on for the secret compartment and found a US $100 which I passed on to  Van with my thanks. He didn't know I had it. I think he was relieved but   I had a better appreciation of him and his concern for me which included a silliness to sacrifice.

 

Back to Sunday...

 

From the market, we take a taxi to Tesco Superstore...which has a food court with Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds, etc. etc.  I watch Van buy a bottle of Johnny Walker Red for his father.  The sales clerk is wearing a miniature JW top hat.  Surreal.  Van called the whisky "wine".  Maybe it is...one of my Chinese friends always purchases Jack Daniels as wine for his grandfather.  HVan then packs multiple pounds of candy and cookies into the cart as well as toiletries for his mom.  He pays and we go to the in store food hall for a bit of pork shoulder and rice.  Quite delicious.  First meal, other than breakfast, that I've really liked on this visit.

 

Taxi back to the hotel, once there Van tells me he will to take his purchases back to his dorm and begin packing for Tet.  He also wants to show his roommates his jacket.  I mention that I'll probably go for a massage and join him back at the hotel so that we can meet up with Divine Madman and his friend.

 

We both head out, I've decided that I want to start my massage program with Senso which Vinapu lists as one of his favorites and one that I've never been to.  Arriving about thirty minutes after opening, the mamasan is still putting everything in order, there are five boys working out on the fitness equipment.  2 are perfect for me.  One, Koin, has biggest smile.  That's enough to choose him.

 

1490 THB for 90 minute aroma massage, 1500 THB specified for the tip.  Upstairs, to a large room, with queen size mattress on a raised platform.  Sort of on the floor but slightly elevated.  Room has a separate shower, a sofa, mood lighting, and BelAmiporn playing on the television.  I shower alone, Koin is naked and very handsomely so when I get out of the shower.  He dries me off.  Onto the massage, legs, back, neck, arms, legs, he's hard before I turn over, shoulders.  Turn over, I'm responding.  Extras are well delivered.  Spoon for the few minutes remaining.  He showers with me.  I add 500 to the tip.  

 

Leaving, I see that there are now maybe 7 boys.  

 

Senso delivers a good but pricey experience.  I'd still rate it a bit less than Prince which is my favorite but would and will definitely go back.

 

Walk around Silom eventually getting back to the hotel.  Van not due can until 7pm , so I decide on a nap.

 

At 6:15 Van is back and wakes me...he tells me he's brought a friend...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[steveboy]

I have been to the Royal Barge museum, and arriving on foot (many turns, through slum-like area) it's all open access.

 

Looks like a nice place to visit.  I will look for it in my next trip, maybe an occasion to visit again the National Museum and then take a stroll across the Phraya river to see the barges.  I like the glitz and ornaments, an opportunity to take some new pictures...