Jakarta!

[floridarob]

I'll post this here because it's Indonesia....

Been to Bali before and had a great time...this trip I wanted to try Jakarta...I like big cities, Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Bangkok, etc... usually more than beach places as I am a vampire and mostly go out at  night and don't care for beaches.

A german friend of mine explained it pretty well to me, when I went to Bali he described it as openly gay no problem, many gays have been going for years but they are used to white guys (Aussies go A LOT)....He said Jakarta, mostly white business guys with no much time to play around ...So I would be a novelty here and I wouldn't even need to leave my room, they will blow up my phone with messages. He was right....50/50 money guys and guys wanting to hook up...mostly tops.

I just had a 23 yr old guy leave and he came at 1:15 sec's and then again at 3mins, consecutively ....he said he doesn't have gay friends and doesn't do casual hook-ups (who knows)....but I was amazed.

Not many drink alcohol here so is a different vibe, just sober sex.....only my 2nd day so far we'll see what the trend is later....just wish I had the same sex drive as the last guy, lol

[fedssocr]

good for you. 

I spent several days in Yogyakarta a few years ago and really liked it there. Lots of universities there so a pretty youthful vibe. And some stupendous sights to see. I didn't have a lot of free time as I was on a private guided tour. 

Not sure it's a country I'd want to go back to given the current climate. But happy to hear you're having fun

[floridarob]

So, I went to the ONLY gay bar in Jakarta, Apollo bar.....AMAZING.

Too time consuming to post pics....it's late.

 

 

[TotallyOz]

Wow. Thank you for the information. I felt the same in Jordan as I always found sex there easy as not so many openly white guys.  Please share some pics when you get time.

[reader]

Floridarob, It seems that a few posters on Trip Advisor had a good time there also.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294229-d3308315-Reviews-Apollo_Bar_Club-Jakarta_Java.html

Some random pics from the net:

 

[floridarob]

The pics from the internet seem to be a different place, no?

cover charge was like $15 usd...so most of the people were middle class and up....except for me 

[witty]

Fat ladyboys seem to be everywhere! 

[TotallyOz]

42 minutes ago, witty said:

Fat ladyboys seem to be everywhere! 

Old grey-headed men trying to buy love also seem to be everywhere as well. Perhaps the ladyboys are in the middle trying to keep those two groups at bay?

[PeterRS]

With the General Election in April and every party spouting hateful homophobic rhetoric, I would not go near Jakarta or Indonesia in general at least until the outcome of the election is known. When a countrys Defence Minister labels the emerging LGBT community as "an act of war to subtly undermine the sovereignty of the state" and likens it to a form of "nuclear war", thats the time I make sure I do not return. 

Quote

Police have stood by while vigilantes have stormed “gay sex parties”, and have themselves broken up gatherings at spas and hostels, charging some with violating strict pornography laws, and prompting many others to go underground. The authorities have also been clamping down online, blocking many LGBT sites or getting LGBT apps removed by host companies, including dating apps.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-indonesia-lgbt-insight/criminal-code-revamp-plan-sends-chill-through-indonesias-lgbt-community-idUSKBN1FT2IO

[floridarob]

2 hours ago, witty said:

Fat ladyboys seem to be everywhere! 

I have to make a living somehow!

[reader]

Floridarob, these are the links to the pics. They identify the place as the Appollo.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=appollo+club+jakarta&t=ffab&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2Fca%2Ff0%2Ff4%2Fcaf0f4807718fce789198febaf1057a7.jpg

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=appollo+jakarta&t=ffab&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images&iai=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F--SgCZABRdq0%2FUC9O9Dr0U_I%2FAAAAAAAADvw%2FeOPsnb5ABrc%2Fs1600%2Fjakarta%2Bgogo%2Bgay.JPG

Travelgayasia has reviews from 2017-18 about the Appollo:

https://www.travelgayasia.com/jakarta-gay-bars-and-dance-clubs/

[floridarob]

maybe they've remodeled , no center bar like that, is a dance floor....

 

But was a fun week, met some really nice/fun guys....was with one moneyboy (useless) and one massage guy, very nice and good $7usd for massage 14 with ending......took me a week to spend what I usually do in BKK in a day and a half,lol

[Guest]

8 hours ago, witty said:

Fat ladyboys seem to be everywhere! 

I've never understood it.   I'm gay, so I like the MALE body form.  Yet so many gay bars expect us to go along and see ladyboys, often way out of shape as well.   

It's a bit like vegetarian bacon.   If I wanted to eat ****ing bacon, I would be a carnivore.

[TotallyOz]

4 hours ago, z909 said:

I've never understood it.   I'm gay, so I like the MALE body form.  Yet so many gay bars expect us to go along and see ladyboys, often way out of shape as well.   

It's a bit like vegetarian bacon.   If I wanted to eat ****ing bacon, I would be a carnivore.

My point above about ladyboys was a bit subtle and I am not picking on you Z.  However, I never really understand why all gay men can't just accept the YUGE differences in our community.  I don't want sex with ladyboys (most of the time) but they are part of the culture and I welcome them.  I have seen on the forums too many comments that are negative about ladyboys, fem boys, gay boys, etc.  What some like others do not, vice versa.  Coming out in NYC for me was an odd place as things were so segregated.  There were clubs that catered to just gay Latinos or butch lesbians or drag queens, etc. What I have always preferred is a place that is inclusive of all and accepts all.  Ladyboys, fat ladyboys, gay boys, fem boys, manly guys, and not gay boys but gay for pay. All should be openly welcome IMHO. As far as the shape, most people do not like bigger guys or ladyboys. Yet, look at the crowd. It is a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, ages, etc. Each one has their own likes and preferences. Good bars should have something for everyone. But, I would never presume that my type is other people's desired type. If that were the case, Thailand gogo bars would be filled with only tattooed bad boys. 

[vinapu]

4 hours ago, Michael said:

. If that were the case, Thailand gogo bars would be filled with only tattooed bad boys. 

I wouldn't mind

[Guest]

On 2/4/2019 at 4:08 AM, Michael said:

Ladyboys, fat ladyboys, gay boys, fem boys, manly guys, and not gay boys but gay for pay. All should be openly welcome IMHO. As far as the shape, most people do not like bigger guys or ladyboys. Yet, look at the crowd. It is a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, ages, etc. Each one has their own likes and preferences. Good bars should have something for everyone. But, I would never presume that my type is other people's desired type. If that were the case, Thailand gogo bars would be filled with only tattooed bad boys. 

I'm a libetarian at heart and of course insist upon the rights of people to become lady boys and so on (providing it is not at the taxpayers expense).  One lad I know has had breasts fitted and I may well off him again.

I just don't understand why there are so many in gay gogo bars.   I don't see the ladyboy mamasans getting offed and rarely see them hitting it off with clients.  Some of the most successful gogo bars have eliminated them and I'm just surprised that they are so common in the remaining bars.  I suppose we do at least have a choice here.

As for that Jakarta scene, is what's on stage there really what people want in the only gay bar in the city ?   Rather than gay boys going to see hot gay boys, do they really want to go and see cross dressing ?

Perhaps if there is no competition in an enormous city, even this can thrive.  One bar like that in Jakarta may survive, due to lack of competition.  However, if the gay scene was on the scale of Bangkok, I suspect they couldn't keep 20 bars going with that kind of offer.

As for the diversity argument, you could extrapolate the logic and put girls on stage in the bars too.  This may even work as a novelty, but in the majority of cases, a certain level of stratification works.

In the same way you wouldn't put karaoke in Starbucks, or a gogo bar in a church.

[spoon]

My guess is many of the ladyboys in gay gogo bars used to be gogo boys too, before the transition, thus they are sort of kept around rather than being hired from outside. So they find creative ways to justify their existence, in shows, and i see most of them time their shows are funny/comedic and find some bar goers enjoys that as well judging by the laughters and tips. Do they get off, the pretty one might i supposed? I guess from lady boy point of view, what other choices they have in the workforce when they had spent most of their life in gogobars, bars can only have certain number of mamasan, and the ladyboy bars only want the young and beautiful ladyboys. 

I also rather gogobars shows didnt have ladyboy especially the shows are more towards sleazy type. But they are part and parcel of gogobars since forever. I am glad some bars already went away with ladyboys shows, but if they do, ill just pay attentions to boys who sits in amongs the crowd during the show lol

[TotallyOz]

53 minutes ago, z909 said:

I just don't understand why there are so many in gay gogo bars.   I don't see the ladyboy mamasans getting offed and rarely see them hitting it off with clients.  Some of the most successful gogo bars have eliminated them and I'm just surprised that they are so common in the remaining bars.  I suppose we do at least have a choice here.

 

Because they are gay guys.  That is what the clubs are for. Ladyboys are men. They are gay. They want to be there. And, yes they get offed from time to time.  I know as I have offed a lot of them. Sometimes for sex but mostly for fun times drinking and taking care of things. They are as much a part of the gay bar scene as you and I and they make the boys feel comfortable and they help some customers.  Do I like the aggressive ones?  Hell no.  But, I don't like the aggressive guys either (unless they are very aggressive and then I like that).  

[floridarob]

As in Latin culture...I think the drag or ladyboy shows are used as a "pretext" to go to the club....they enjoy seeing the shows.

And as I became  fluent in Spanish and Portuguese , the shows become more entertaining because I understood what they were saying and some are so damn funny.

I don't understand clowns at the circus 

Try explaining to a straight guy why we like cock......

[sglad]

On 2/5/2019 at 10:06 PM, floridarob said:

Try explaining to a straight guy why we like cock......

Hard to do when your mouth is full...

[martinsen]

z909,  I'm 100% with you.  I don't like bars full of drag queens or lady boys.  I find drag shows totally boring and leave when one starts.  Each of us are entitled to our opinions and how we feel about things and I know that you and I are not the only guys who feel this way about this issue.

[westernguy]

It would be great to get some current info about the scene in Jakarta....minus the ladyboys/drag queen scene please.

1.  VPN required for the apps? 2.  Best area of town to stay?  3.  Hotel recommendations?  4.  Any issues around bringing boys back?  5.  Cruising areas of town?

thanks to all who contribute.

[floridarob]

The drag show was just PART of the show, they had gogo's and male dancers also. Is the ONLY gay bar in Jakarta and only open certain days....I would go back in a second, had a lot of fun, but I brought someone with me. People tended to stay in their groups, however did get quite a few messages later and the next day from people that said they say me at the club.

1.I have T-Mobile for my cell phone and seems that it doesn't require VPN in places that the apps are blocked....when I connected to Wifi, I needed a VPN.

2. I stayed in South Jakarta, Kunigan, walking distance to the bar (even though I only went 1 night)...was convenient to restaurants, movies and no one seemed to have a problem fining me...

3. I heard no problems at western hotels, I stayed at AirBnb and no problem at all...weird looks from security, but never said anything.

4. Seems like ALL action is on the apps, doesn't seem to be a "cruising" scene...confirmed with everyone I met.

[pong]

@5-confirm, once there as-think a century ago, before 2000.

YOGYA may, perhaps, still have it-late eves along main drag, Sosro. JKT was never very renowned for it anyway. However, approaches to same effect were/used to be pretty common along the then bekpek-style low-budget cafe's along that area, close by main station/stesyen Gambir. That and along beach on Kuta, Bali.

City of Bandung was (is?_i really dont know, too long ago i was there) was famous for its many, but tiny to small, male massageplaces, effectively acting as hidden BKK-style m4m msg place:= i.e. brothels.

[tony1van]

Thanks for the great info.