Lesson's Learned

[Guest pingalicker]

I spent 7 great weeks in Thailand and Bali this past Oct/Nov 2008. Stayed at Two-Guys guesthouse again, Stewart being a most gracious host and full of valuable info, even for a frequent vistor as myself (7th trip). My favorite bars in Pattaya are Krazy Dragon and Happy boys, but I'm not a drinker, just going for the "entertainment" and scenery. One of my favorite restuarants for farang food is the White Knight buffet, and the foot trafic on the street outside is most entertaining, what a "freak show" at times!

Having left before the airports closed, the only trouble I had was with my rented motobike. My boyfriend warned me several times that he needed a helmet, but I only requested one from the rental place, and ignored his warnings, until one night on the way home from Muay Thai boxing stadium we were stopped by the police and I was given 3 citations. 1: passenger did not have helmet 2: no drivers license (had my stateside license in the hotel though) 3: the registration was expired on the tag on the motobike (this was refunded to me by the rental agency later). I sent my boy to the police station on soi 9 with the baht to cover the fines. He left on the motobike taxi with 3 people on it, two without helmets right in front of the policeman.

Two weeks later I headed out on my motobike to visit Vassa Bar, where my boyfriend works for the first time. Decided to stop and exchange some dollars to baht, so stopped near the intersection of Pattaya 2nd soi and south Pattaya road. I admit I parked at the red/white painted curb near the corner along with other motobikes, but wondered to myself for a split second if this was legal or not, and walked to the money exchange booth. Walked by my bike, into the 7-11 for a pack of smokes and came out to find my motobike gone! There was a pick-up truck rolling along with 6 motobikes in the back of it, one being mine. I was in the 7-11 a total of about 4 minutes. Pleading to the policeman who was hoping on his motorcycle nearby only brought the response of SOI 9! Talked with the boys in the pickup, and discovered my motobike was being taken to the impound lot, but I had to go to soi 9 police station first. So I walked to the bar, explained the situation to the boyfriend, and sent him to the police station with enough baht to cover things on a motobike taxi. Five minutes after he left, I discovered the keys to the motorbike in my pocket!!!! After buying the mamasan (real sweetie) a drink and some of the boys there, my boy came back from the police station and the impound lot, to see me dangling the keys. So off he went again, on the back of a motobike taxi, back to the impound lot. I ended up buying a bottle of whiskey so all the boys could have a drink, and the mamasan another.

Lesson Learned: For some unkown reason I thought I would be overlooked by the policeman for a helmet violation, and I didn't think they enforce the parking laws, but they do. I admit I was wrong both times, it is just that it took some baht and a lot of time to straighten out the situations, which were both of my doings.

Any coments?

Pingalicker

[Guest Astrrro]

I spent 7 great weeks in Thailand and Bali this past Oct/Nov 2008.

 

Hi Pingalicker,

 

Sorry to hear about the hassles you endurred with your motobike but a motorbike story that does not involve an accident is somewhat successful . : - )

 

In the Gay Asia sub-forum there's a Bali thread. Any additional info re the scene or cheap lodging for 1 month appreciated. Cheers.

[Guest pingalicker]

Personal response sent to Astrrro.

Pingalicker

[Guest laurence]

If pingalicker is same as cocksucker, I would love to see your avatar.

[Gaybutton]

Any coments?

Why would you not want to wear a helmet? From the way I read your post, you were more concerned about the police than you were about your own personal safety.

 

I'm sorry you had troubles, but I'm also glad. Maybe next time you'll know better.

 

[Guest lvdkeyes]

Any coments?

Pingalicker

What struck me was you sitting having drinks with the mamasan and boys while you "sent" your "boyfriend" to do all the running around to fix the problems you caused yourself. Is that how to treat a boyfriend?

[Guest MonkeySee]

Lesson Learned: For some unkown reason I thought I would be overlooked by the policeman for a helmet violation, and I didn't think they enforce the parking laws, but they do. I admit I was wrong both times, it is just that it took some baht and a lot of time to straighten out the situations, which were both of my doings.

Any coments?

Pingalicker

I think the cops target farangs. The cops know who has the money. I am also interested in the Bali info if you want to post it on the travel forum. Thanks.

[Guest pingalicker]

I think the cops target farangs. The cops know who has the money. I am also interested in the Bali info if you want to post it on the travel forum. Thanks.

Let me see if I can answer some of your questions. Pinga is spanish for "dick" or "cock". Having lived in South Florida for 24 years I developed a taste for Cuban, and now residing in Las Vegas, like Mexican as well.

I always wear a helmet on a motorbike. Always. When I rented the motorbike they asked me if I wanted one or two helmets. I chose one helmet, as there is limited space under the seat area for purchases, and on this bike, no basket. After the first series of tickets, I went back to the rental place and found room for the 2nd helmet. Although I see many Thai's without helmets all the time, my favorite is women who ride on the back of a motobike taxi with the helmet in their hand! I assume so they will not mess their hair up. I'm not that vain, and always carry a baseball type of hat with me if I do sweat, and my hair gets messed up. Also I like having the full shield type of helmet, as it keeps the wind out of my eyes, that causes my eyes to water, and I have a lot of bugs smack into the shield, saving my face from splatter.

Both times my boyfriend offered to go to the police station for me. Both times he was tipped. The time at the bar I also payed his "off" as of course he had to leave the bar. At the helmet incident area, the police didn't seem to target farang, as they had a lot of Thai's pulled over also. Black guys, white farang, didn't seem to matter. The first thing the policeman did was reach over and pull the keys out of the motobike so I couldn't leave. They easily had 25 motobikes pulled over.

Two years ago I met a Balinese guy on this board, we met in Bangkok and hit it off imediatedly. He had been staying in Bangkok for the past 3 months, we traveled to Koh Samui together and then I bought his return trip ticket to Bali so he could fly with me. He was a great travel guide, in Bali and in BKK also as he speaks Thai pretty good. We are now just friends, not boyfriends, so to speak. He has a job and works 6 days a week in Bali. He also has a motobike, so would come to my hotel after work everyday and we would go out to dinner and then out on the town. But there is not a whole lot of gay life on Bali. There was 4 gay bars, 2 closed (I assume because of no business), one burned down mysteriously after a bad gay newspaper article (I think it was a gay murder by his lover, I think). That leaves one gay bar on Bali, but it is a great bar. Called "Club Mixwell". They have shows nightly I think, with drag queens and some really hot male strippers on stage and on top of the bar as well. I was told by my friend that it gets very crowded, so always arrived early to get a table and a good seat. I was amazed the first time we left the club, it was very crowded inside, but also outside and into the street. There must have been 200 hot Bali Boy's and tourist outside the club and in the street that couldn't get inside. One night my friend called the gay whorehouse, asked how many boys they had there tonight. They said 8, so he took me there, I selected one handsome boy and off we went. Me behind my friend on his motobike, my selection behind their "driver" following us. We went to my hotel, and was told we had approx 1 hour, and then the boy would call his driver and pick him up at the hotel. All went well. My friend told me on the second to last day off my trip there that boys "hang out" across the street from the Mcdonalds on the beach in Kuta, so we went to check this out and, yup, there they were. My friend said they were for hire. Club Mixwell, the gay whorehouse (which is real hush-hush), and the area across from Mickey D's are the only gay "venues" I'm aware of. Of course Bali has much more to offer. I saw on both trips "Farang" with Thai boyfriends there, I assume the Farang brought their Thai boyfriends with them from Thailand. The beaches in Bali are the best in the world as far as I have seen. The Balinese people are very friendly. Everything is priced very reasonable (Lonely Planet says Indonesia is perhaps the least expensive country to visit in Southeast Asia.

Both times I visited Bali I was there for the "Kuta Karnival" and this year it coniciced with the "Asian Beach Games". What a double treat! Surfboard competition everyday, skateboard competition, iron man competitions (held away from the beach at another location which we couldn't find!), a food festival, and ending with a 2 and a half hour parade of some of the most interesting sights (floats, bands, boys on bikes, boys on motorbikes doing tricks, Balinese dancer's, etc) making for a most fun time. The Karnival last 10 days, and it is crowded, but what a great looking crowd! Bali is very safe, I found myself walking on the beach all hours of the day and night, never a worry. I had a great time both times I visited. Loved it. There are a couple of annoyances that I should mention. The local currency is Indo Rupi, exchange rate is approx 10,000 to one USD, making it very difficult to figure out the price of something, as one is dealing with a lot of digits. The infrastucture in Bali is 3rd world. Very very narrow streets. Traffic lights and signs are sometimes obeyed. I have riden motorcycles all my life (I'm 54) but would not rent one in Bali as it is too dangerous. If Thai style driving scares you, you will be absoululty petridfied in Bali. Most of the time the internet works, but not all the time. The locals seem to just take this in stride. The electric power goes off. Twice while I was there last time. No street lights, no traffic signals, but what the heck.

All in all I had a great time both times I visited Bali, if your a beach person this is as close to heaven as one can get on earth. Surfers come from around the world to surf on Bali's fantastic waves, that are always surfable, everyday. Lots and lots of Australians take a holiday there, as it is close for them, and inexpensive. Had a long talk with a woman from Australia on her 32nd (!) visit.

Pingalicker

[Guest MonkeySee]

The local currency is Indo Rupi, exchange rate is approx 10,000 to one USD, making it very difficult to figure out the price of something, as one is dealing with a lot of digits.

Thanks Pingalicker for a detailed and interesting report on Bali. The information is very helpful. The exchange rate for me is very easy if it is 10,000 to one, just move the decimal point over four times (or drop four zero) and there you have it.

[KhorTose]

Thanks Pingakicker for the information. This is one of the best reports I've seen on Bali. The trouble with many third world gay venues in that they change so fast, that what was here this year is gone the next, but for a while this is a pretty good report. How about hotels that are gay friendly or won't mind joiners. Have any tips?

[Guest fountainhall]

there is not a whole lot of gay life on Bali

 

I was last in Bali 4 years ago, but used to visit a lot in the 1980's. Bali seems to have a reputation as a sort of gay heaven. Certainly there are a lot of gay tourists. Many Balinese are extremely beautiful and graceful, they're very friendly and treat visitors with great grace. This is often translated as "he wants me", when in fact Balinese culture and religion, whilst not anti gay, is extremely village and family orientated. As in Thailand, it is quite common to see guys holding hands. 99% of the time this is just a bond of friendship, nothing more. So, whilst there are gay Balinese, many you think may be gay are almost certainly not.

[Guest pingalicker]

Fountianhall is correct in that Bali has a reputation as somewhat of a "gay haven". When the bar boys in Thailand ask me the typical questions "How long you stay Thailand?" I would explain 6 weeks and also go to Bali for 10 days. They all understood and nod their head and would pronouce "Bali, Indoneeesia" with extra emphasis on the eeeesia. Often asking me about Bali, saying many Farang visit Thailand and then go to Bali. I would say, yes, but Bali not same-same Thailand. Have some gay, but not like Thailand. The Bali Boys are beautiful, many many on the beaches everyday. And friendly also. But as far as how many are gay, is difficult to judge. They are very friendly and want to rent you a surf board or give surfing instruction, so will strike up a conversation with a lone tourist such as myself walking by. But there is so much more to do on Bali besides pick up boys. I'm a beach person, so Bali is heaven. My brother and his wife visited Bali for a month, rented a nice home near Ubud up in the hills. The home was beautiful, with a pool, with a full staff of a cook, driver, and cleaning lady, all for a very small amount per day. They are not beach people, only going to Kuta beach once, and prononuced it "Too crowded", but I love a crowd on the beach. They loved their stay in Bali, they are more culture orientated, visiting temples, etc.

My first visit I stayed at the "Adika Sari Bungalows" but was more like a hotel. Very nice, and my Bali friend recomended it as he had other gay friends stay there with "no problems". There were several farang with their Thai boyfriends staying there also. They have since remodeled and their rates went up. This past trip I stayed at the "Bali Padma Hotel" and it was nice, nothing fancy, and we would swim together in the pool, have the free breakfast together, no problems, except awhile back they must have had the bathtubs in the rooms "resurfaced" and the coating didn't stick, coming off in hunks, making for a most unsightly look in the bathroom. Made friends with a surfer boy from the Netherlands staying there, and he said his tub was exactly the same, so I assume they are all like that. It was reasonably priced, included a good free breakfast and the staff was friendly. It's centrally located, a few hundred feet from the Adika Sari hotel and they take reservations on-line. I enjoyed my stay there. All in all Bali is a beautiful place to visit and the locals are very friendly. One other word of advice: Only use the state sponsered "Blue Bird" taxi's. The free lancers will rip you off.

On my first visit flying Thai Airways to Bali the one only annoucement made on the plane was just before landing the pilot spoke on the speaker system saying this and only this in broken English: Please do not bring drug into Bali as penalty is death. Signs in the immagration area upon arrival also state the same. You have been warned.

Pingalicker