November visit - Pattaya then Bangkok

[ggobkk]

Woke up Tuesday morning, realizing that I had less than 40 hours until I headed home.  Had tea with Van as he prepared for work and reminded him that we'd be meeting up tonight with paulsf.  

 

After he left, I went back to sleep for two hours.  Skipped lunch, argued with myself about the merits of Prince, Banana, Senso, and Spa Bangkok.  Decided on Prince arriving shortly after 2.  Maybe a dozen guys in the glass cage/enclosure and two other "guests" making up their mind.  I went with a Burmese boy whose name I could never figure out.  Chose 90 minute massage and did not want the jacuzzi room.  We were both naked throughout, decent massage, and afters.  

 

Back to Surawong and the tailors for a final fitting.  Back to hotel, realizing that I will not get away with just carryon gong home. I'd packed a collapsable bag and will add that to my backpack and carryon and just check everything but the backpack and let it follow me to San Francisco.

 

Van returns from work.  We have time to talk about what he is planning, which is to keep saving, learning a trade, and going home for the rice planting.harvest.  (I am not sure of the seasonal timing and we were using google Translate).  He wants to be able to rent a rice reaper for his father.  I did not sense that he was asking for me to underwrite this as never came up again in conversation.

 

I did ask him if he wanted anything...straight out answer was he'd like a suitcase for when he goes home in two months.  I agree to help with that and we head out to Patpong and the various luggage stalls, shops, etc.  He has become a better bargainer since we first met.  I don't go in the shops with him as that will increase the price, as he tells me (and I know).  He finds one he likes but the price is more than he wants to pay...he walks away.  Tells me the price started at 3000 THB, Finally down to 2200, but he hd firm at 2000.  

 

Said, if o.k., he'll go back after we meet paulsf and bargain again and maybe get the suitcase for 2100.  OK with me.

 

We go to Maxi's to meet paulsf who arrived in Bankgkok earlier in the day...while he hasn't yet made it to Twilight the buzzi is about that the doyen of Twilight is about to appear.  Paulsf is a key part of the glue that holds a good portion of this forum together.  He has been coming for a number of years, stays for a many weeks at a time, and has met many, many of the Forum members.  He keeps in touch with private messages, etc.  He has a dedicated seat at Hot Male Bar, Divine Madman and I noticed that his check bin at the bar is marked #1.

 

Paulsf is also the godfather for the Vietnamese boys who populate the bars and gogos.  

 

Enough said...Van and I were finishing dinner when paulsf arrived and was quickly taken to his seat at Hot Male Bar, some of the boys knew I was there to meet pausf and came over to tell me he was there.  Van and I having finished eating, went and joined him, he came  over to Maxi's with us and joined us for some more food.  He talked with Van about some boys he was wondering about who seemed to have left Bangkok.  The conversation was interrupted by waiters and others wanting to welcome paulsf back.  

 

Van went out to try his suitcase strategy.  Pausf and I started catching up (we were now back at Hot Male Bar).  We talked about politics at home, the whereabouts of this and that forum members, how his health was doing after the long flight, etc.  During this Net from Hot Male Bar #2 was signaling to me.  I told him that maybe tomorrow there'd be some time for us to get together.

 

I'm not sure what the time was when I returned to The Raya.  Van was there with his suitcase.  He got it for 2100 as he'd hoped.

 

I asked if he need anything else.  I know/suspect he has other farangs who help with things...his iPhone is newer than mine and I didn't buy it for him.  He said that he would like...and he types into the translator some text...translator says: "bra".  I looked amazed, he tries again...translator "lingerie".  I am laughing...he is confused, I use translator and ask "ladies underwear?".

 

Quick negative shake of his head...he then points to the shirt he is wearing and makes it clear that is what he is talking about.  It's a black v-neck form fitting shirt from Uniqlo.  Still laughing, I agree  and we decide he will leave work early tomorrow and we can shop in the afternoon.  I mention that I want to off Net tomorrow and we come up with some timing options.

 

We shower together and spend some private time before sleeping.

[vinapu]

 

 

 

 

Paulsf is a key part of the glue that holds a good portion of this forum together.  He has been coming for a number of years, stays for a many weeks at a time, and has met many, many of the Forum members.  He keeps in touch with private messages, etc.  

you got it right !

 

as for suitcase, good luck with one bought in Patpong, I bought 3 over years and none survived more than 2 trips, it's always handle that is broken , may be my bad luck !

[jason1975]

while he hasn't yet made it to Twilight the buzz is about that the doyen of Twilight is about to appear.  Paulsf is a key part of the glue that holds a good portion of this forum together.  He has been coming for a number of years, stays for a many weeks at a time, and has met many, many of the Forum members.  He keeps in touch with private messages, etc.  He has a dedicated seat at Hot Male Bar, Divine Madman and I noticed that his check bin at the bar is marked #1.

 

Paulsf is also the godfather for the Vietnamese boys who populate the bars and gogos.  

 

Enough said...Van and I were finishing dinner when paulsf arrived and was quickly taken to his seat at Hot Male Bar, some of the boys knew I was there to meet pausf and came over to tell me he was there.  Van and I having finished eating, went and joined him, he came  over to Maxi's with us and joined us for some more food.  He talked with Van about some boys he was wondering about who seemed to have left Bangkok.  The conversation was interrupted by waiters and others wanting to welcome paulsf back.

Paulsf is back in Bangkok? Wow! Can't wait to say hi again to him next week.

 

He definitely deserves VVVIP treatment at Hot Male Bar.

[jason1975]

My experience with hotels and booking is to keep trying and to use multiple booking sites.  Rooms are released at various times and some only to a favored site.  I've been told no one was available at The Raya, only to find it available on Agoda two days later.

 

That said, you are look at a high point in high season, good luck and have a great time wherever you settle.

Thanks for the tip. I wasn't able to book a room at The Raya's website for an affordable price. But I managed to find it at Agoda. US$70 per night.

[jason1975]

Skipped lunch, argued with myself about the merits of Prince, Banana, Senso, and Spa Bangkok.  Decided on Prince arriving shortly after 2.

Would love to read about how compared the 4 places before deciding on Prince.

[paulsf]

Jason I’ll only be here till the 21st. Then headed back to the US for Christmas and New Years. Then back in January.

 

A little Twilight update...X-Boys has lowered their drink prices to 350 this week. With 500 off Fees. Don’t know how long it will last or if anyone else will match.

[jason1975]

Jason I’ll only be here till the 21st. Then headed back to the US for Christmas and New Years. Then back in January.

A little Twilight update...X-Boys has lowered their drink prices to 350 this week. With 500 off Fees. Don’t know how long it will last or if anyone else will match.

Shall look for you on 20th when i arrive!

[ggobkk]

Thanks for the tip. I wasn't able to book a room at The Raya's website for an affordable price. But I managed to find it at Agoda. US$70 per night.

 

Not sure how The Raya's booking decisions are made.  Last year, I was staying at the Raya before going to Pattaya.  Decided I'd stay at The Raya when I came back to Bangkok for a few days.  Checked the rate on Agoda, noted it, then went to the desk to see if they would match it...my thought was - hotel doesn't have to pay a commission so should match.  No, not the case, the reception desk held to a higher price and wouldn't match the lower price on Agoda, which I then  booked.  

[ggobkk]

Would love to read about how compared the 4 places before deciding on Prince.

 

I've visited all of the places in the past.  It had been a year since I was at Prince, the others were more recent.  That was what prompted my choice.

[ggobkk]

 

 

y

 

as for suitcase, good luck with one bought in Patpong, I bought 3 over years and none survived more than 2 trips, it's always handle that is broken , may be my bad luck !

 

I don't expect Van will have a lot of luck with his suitcase.  It's the 2nd one I've financed over the past four years.  

[ggobkk]

Final 24 hours in Thailand...up, tea and shower with Van.  He's planning on being back by 3pm so we can shop at Uniqlo.  Decide to eat at the hotel breakfast buffet.  Small accomplishment: I manage to get the toaster to toast evenly and on both sides.  Add an egg and I'm content.

 

Start sorting things for packing...decide it's better to pause and catch up on the news from home and email.

 

Head out at 11 to pick up my clothes from Excelsior tailors, very happy with the suit which the guys then professionally fold so it will fit into my carry-on suitcase without too much wrinkling (note: a steam was still required when I unpacked), shirts looked goog and I held one back from the packaging to wear on the flight home (dark color - no stains will show).  Thanked the guys and told them I'd see them on next visit.

 

Dropped parcel off at hotel, then to Tony's Leather and picked up my shoes.  Fit is excellent, shoes are comfortable.  Leave them at hotel and head out for one last Thai bruising and beating at Prime massage.

 

I get back to hotel as Van returns and we head out to the Siam BTS stop, where I look the wrong way and wind up in the mall across from the Siam Paragon mall.  Takes me more than a moment to adjust as I'm now exploring all the food places.  FIgure out where I went wrong and cross trough the Siam station to Paragon.

 

Uniqlo is the same everywhere...and so easy to find the Airism V-neck section which is what Van's "lingerie" request relly was about.  He picks one shirt, 290THBm I indicate it's ok to get more than one, also suggest maybe something else.  After two visits to the fitting room, Van is done and I pay 1100 THB to Uniqlo.  When I got home I check the price of the Airism V-neck.  Just about the same, probably the same given currency fluctuations.

 

We grab some food in the food court on the lower level and head back.  Van reminds me (he didn't have to) that I wa planning to off Net tonight.  I said it would be an early off as I was planning on meeting paulsf to say goodbye.  We work out the logistics and both head out.  I go to Hot Male Bar 2 and off Ned...he's cute, a bit more of a Twink than my standard selections but he' fun and we've been together before...I'm not into experimenting at the end of a visit.  Enjoy an hour of fun, then a shower together then back to the bar, Ned introduces me to one of the new boys who is from Laos, the three of us hang out, paulsf arrive and joins us.  I'd like to see more of the Laotian who is charming.  I stay, having fun, until pausf had to attend one of the shows.  I have al lingering good bye session with Net and Laotian boy.  Then drop a couple of 100 THB tips to some of the boys upstairs at Hot Male, some other good byes to familiar faces.

 

Back to the room, now I get serious about packing, Van returns.   He wants to know how things went, I tell him, he says he will give me updates on Hack and the Laotian boy (who he doesn't know). We talk, google translate, shower, sleep for two plus hours.

 

Up at 3am, shower together, he insists on shaving me, this is a first, decent job, and my offer to shave him is greeted with a look of horror...since he is Asian there is no need to spend time with razors, etc.

 

Readers, who have stayed with this report since the beginning, will note that a rate for Van's time hasn't been mentioned.  We never discussed one, I give him an envelope and say thanks for spending time with me as we leave the room.  For those who need to know, its a short time off rate multiplied by the number of days together.  

 

Checkout is easy one the desk clerk surveys the mini-bar and makes sure the television remotes haven't been taken.

 

One last private hug and kiss goodbye in the elevator, security guard has a taxi waiting.  Negotiate 500 THB to airport.  Wave goodbye to Van.  Airport is a breeze as I'm still on my business class upgrade and on Thai, which has it's own security and immigration set up.  I check my carry on suitcase and my extra bag.  Keep with me the backpack with my iPad and noise cancelling headphones.  I'm though the process in under ten minutes.

 

Flight to Taiwan, change to Eva (involves an 8 hour layover).  Then easy flight home, great service on Eva.  Land in SFO mid-afternoon.  Clear immigration in 5 minutes, my two bags are among the first dozen to emerge on the conveyor belt, pause at customs to hand in the card from immigration, BART train is waiting, home ninety minutes after the plan landed.  Temperature is 40 degrees F colder than Thailand.

 

That's this report.  Not terribly exciting but definitely enjoyable.

[Alexx]

Yes, definitely sounds like an enjoyable trip, thanks for your reports which were enjoyable to read, too.

[Guest McGarty]

where was that Starbucks?

 

I want to visit there..

[captainmick]

That's this report.  Not terribly exciting but definitely enjoyable.

Thank you gogobkk for a most detailed and thoroughly enjoyable report of your latest trip. Damn kind of you to take the time to do this for your fellow board members benefit. No doubt you are now dreaming of the charming Laotian boy and thinking about booking your next plane ticket........

[farangyai]

Thanks for a very readable fact-filled report.

[ChristianPFC]

After checking out the limousine showrooms  at Paragon we head for the Hotel Kempiniski so Mac can show me the palace of the Princess that is situated in the park by the hotel.  (Landowners privilege, I guess).

Looking at the palace from the Kempinski, I assume? But I have read that the palace is open to public at certain times, but couldn't find out when exactly. I surely want to go!

[ChristianPFC]

A little Twilight update...X-Boys has lowered their drink prices to 350 this week. With 500 off Fees. Don’t know how long it will last or if anyone else will match.

Just a few years back, X-Size (do you mean X-Size or X-Boys?) hat a special drink price 200 instead of 300, and off fee 300.

 

More precisely, that was in Oct 2014 that I made use of their special 200 THB for drink:

http://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2014/10/x-size-wednesday-08102014.html

[Guest]

Airport exchange rates are outstandingly good if you stroll downstairs to the airport rail link. Just over the threshold into the rail area are several booths & the competition seems to result in exceptional rates.

 

I lost just 0.4% from XE mid-market rates.

[vinapu]

Airport exchange rates are outstandingly good if you stroll downstairs to the airport rail link. Just over the threshold into the rail area are several booths & the competition seems to result in exceptional rates.

 

 

problem with those is that  they seem to be open only when train is running i.e. 6-24 and lots of flights are landing past midnight