Back in Bangkok

[Guest]

6 hours ago, reader said:

Here are some ideas that I believe might succeed in helping to improve the bottom line:

• Early bird 200 baht drinks for first hour every night
• 2-for-1 specials (per customer) Tuesdays through Thursdays
• Beer special of 100 baht beers on Tuesdays through Thursdays
• Off fee of 400 baht Tuesdays though Thursdays
• Last-minute weekend specials

None of these are particularly new ideas. They've been used by bars and clubs around the globe and they frequently persuade undecided customers to give it a try.

Agreed, but firstly, the gogo bars need to provide hot lads in underwear !

 

1   7-Eleven beer costs about 40 baht, just for reference.  Low overheads means a lower price.

2  Beer or host bar prices are typically 70~130 baht.    I accept a higher price because of the location, the hosts, the atmosphere & to meet other customers.

3  Gogo bar prices are typically 200~400 baht.    I accept a higher price to watch cute lads in underwear.     If they don't have cute lads in underwear, the bar has no advantage over host bars, so even the proposed 200 baht "early bird" deal wouldn't entice me.   

 

 

[thaiophilus]

49 minutes ago, Milk78 said:

I might just take a trip on the river. Recommendations very welcome!

Take the Chao Phraya Express (ordinary orange flag, not the tourist boat) from Sathorn (Saphan Taksin BTS) to the end of the line at Nonthaburi, enjoy the scenery on the way, lunch in a riverside restaurant, return. (caveat: I don't know if the tourist-oriented restaurants are currently open but it's a big non-touristy town so you won't starve.)

Cost: 2x15B plus whatever you spend on lunch.

[reader]

I don't disagree, although I suspect it's the bib who are keeping the pants on the boys in some clubs while looking the other way in other, better financed ones. If the owners had their druthers, it would be different, I'm sure.

What the owners need to do is something they've been perennially, inexplicably reluctant to do: adjust prices in relation to demand. 300-450  baht is a range that puts most locals out of contention. That may have worked when 35 million foreigners were arriving in BKK but certainly not today.

The government also has to open the land borders to ASEAN neighbors, making it possible for the guys from the countries to again fill out the stages at places like Freshboys, Screwboys and the yet to reopen Lucky Boy that routinely offered 40-50 boys on weekend nights. Granted, that's something out of the control of the owners. But what's wholly within their control is the price of drinks and offs.

If they can't succeed in bringing bodies in the door, their most important assets--the guys on the stage--can't make any anything, either. The formula to turn this around is to do whatever's necessary to coax in the customer. I remember sitting in Soi 4 late in the evening when the owners of Telephone and Balcony would dispatch waiters to the corner of Silom, carrying signs advertising 59 baht drink prices. They puled in passersby and persuaded current customers to order another. It also created a vibe.

What if the Patpong bars did something like that, say 99 baht drinks for the last hour. It gives the guys who haven't been offed a second chance. That might create a similar vibe.

Maybe Moonlight can still make it with the highest drink prices but they have always had its on unique type of vibe, one that got started when Babe and his peers raised the bar for top of the line boys performing in a real show. I ponied up the 400 and felt I got my money's worth.

But it's clear that Patpong bars can't succeed in the current environment without innovating.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[vinapu]

8 hours ago, Milk78 said:

 

Not entirely sure what my plans are for tomorrow. 

get a boy mid-day and another one for overnight

[Milk78]

12 hours ago, thaiophilus said:

Take the Chao Phraya Express (ordinary orange flag, not the tourist boat) from Sathorn (Saphan Taksin BTS) to the end of the line at Nonthaburi, enjoy the scenery on the way, lunch in a riverside restaurant, return. (caveat: I don't know if the tourist-oriented restaurants are currently open but it's a big non-touristy town so you won't starve.)

Cost: 2x15B plus whatever you spend on lunch.

Thanks! Going to catch it this afternoon. 

[spoon]

14 hours ago, Milk78 said:

OH MY GOD - he was absolutely stunning. @vinapu would have been in heaven. Thai, probably about 30 although i find it very difficult to age Thai guys sometimes, they can have an ageless/ timeless quality to them on occasion. He arrived wearing a muscle vest and my word was it appropriate. I am not sure I have been with someone so ripped and yet almost understated. Perfect sized dick - a notch or two larger than average without getting to the oversize category.  Stunning meet. I don't often do repeats but will definitely seek him out again. He lives behind the hotel so can be at my room door in no more than 15 minutes. Bonus. He also loves overweight white guys, double bonus, and I am very happy to oblige. Not a money boy so brings all the goods for free - what's not to like? For the life of me I have no idea how I almost let this guy slip by....

I want to meet this guy too!! 🥺

[Lucky]

These days the prospect of a high end hotel and a wonderful buffet appeal to me more than a go-go bar. Sad, huh? I always liked the buffet breakfast at Le Meridien and the W.

Who's  better?

[Milk78]

2 hours ago, Lucky said:

These days the prospect of a high end hotel and a wonderful buffet appeal to me more than a go-go bar. Sad, huh? I always liked the buffet breakfast at Le Meridien and the W.

Who's  better?

I haven't had the others. All i can comment on is Banyan Tree. I stuffed my face this morning. Omelette, cold cuts, Thai Chicken red curry and rice, passion fruit, orange juice, coffee. It plenty worked for me...

[Milk78]

A teaser for the next post... 

It is now just past 2am. Wow, just wow. 

That is all. 

When I have had some sleep, I will write it up. 

Night. 

[Ruthrieston]

If you are trying to make me jealous, all I can say is that it is working. (Blowing raspberry..)

[vinapu]

14 hours ago, Lucky said:

These days the prospect of a high end hotel and a wonderful buffet appeal to me more than a go-go bar. Sad, huh? I always liked the buffet breakfast at Le Meridien and the W.

Who's  better?

Foodland Patpong

[paulsf]

I stayed at the Le Meridien Tuesday night for Test and Go.   Had the breakfast buffet in the morning.  Outstanding. I’ll make a repeat visit before trip over. 

[18past19]

1 hour ago, vinapu said:

Foodland Patpong

but it isnt as fun without you. 

[Guest]

5 hours ago, vinapu said:

Foodland Patpong

Stand 7 at the food court in the MBK Centre.   https://goo.gl/maps/HoBNZETJ5dMS9hmx8

 

[Milk78]

It was a lazy start. I have usually been down to breakfast at about 7-7.30am but this morning it was a good couple of hours later before I made it down. Stuffed my face (with food!) and went back to bed. I was still a bit weary and ended up sleeping for another couple of hours. River journey recommendations gratefully received from @thaiophilus I headed to Sathorn Pier at about 3pm. Caught the Orange Flag boat up to Nonthaburi. What excellent value for an hours trip up the river. I didn't stick around long in Nonthaburi. There was a bit more Thai life going about its daily business; plenty of street food. Restaurants mainly closed. I was the only non Thai face around. I had a wander round the market for a little while. I debated whether to get the boat back but in the end elected to jump in a taxi and head back into BKK. 

Another recommendation took me to Siam Paragon and I finally found where all the crowds are! It seems that the majority of the tourist life is zoning in on the sprawling complex. A fair few locals as well as there was some sort of celebrity event going on which had drawn a big crowd and lots of cameras. I am not sure who it was but was told it was a sponsorship event for Under Armour - possibly a Thai football player?  I did spend a little while looking at some of the shops and bought myself some trainers, but the crowds in the food area of both Paragon and the Siam Centre were enough to drive me on to find alternative options.

I ended up back at the Mango Tree and had an excellent meal there. I was flagging a bit though - despite the lazy start. My muscle boy seems to have taken it out of me today! I stopped at the 7-11 and picked up some snacks to take back to the hotel, a contented evening of taking it easy and just watching some Netflix ahead of me. I tried and failed (again!) to get a taxi on Surawong Road - a sign of things and the lack of general footfall in the area I suppose. But no bother as it meant I could again wander down Patpong Alley 2 and past Hot Male, Dream Boys and Fresh Boys - same story and this was a Friday night at 10pm. Soi 4 looked to have a little more life to it, although I didn't go in. I caught a taxi straight away on Silom Road and was back at the hotel shortly thereafter. 

Checked Grindr for messages, mixed a couple of drinks, and settled into watching some Netflix. This was my evening done. 

And then at midnight a message on Grindr pinged through. I wasn't really looking as had had a couple of drinks by this point, it was pushing on for midnight and I wasn't far off going to bed. But of course, I had a look and as soon as you open up the app for a couple of mins messages start coming in. Now my sexual preferences are pretty varied as long as there is a boy involved. I am vers and like to mix it up. A message came through from a blank profile with no pics and very little/ no info in the profile. I would usually just skip this and move on, but he opened with a message that he didn't mind top or bottom, as long as he could "just play with my ass". He sent though some pics and no more than 10 mins later, a very well presented young guy turned up at my room. And wow did he worship my ass - for the best part of an hour and a half, a single minded focus on my ass. It was amazing, there is no other word for it. Maybe not everyone's taste but I loved every single minute of his massaging and exploration. Here was a boy who knew what he liked doing and was very skilled at his chosen task. I could have let him go on all night as he certainly seemed to be enjoying himself but at 2am I resolved to bring things to a close. After a fantastic finish we sat and talked for a bit. His very smart appearance was due to it being his 27th birthday and he had been out celebrating with friends! Their night had finished I think with the bars closing at midnight. He was from Thailand, which I was a little surprised by. His more formal, dressed up look made him appear almost Japanese. Really good, self taught English skills, University educated and working in a call centre for an insurance company. He was nervous for his job as the company is about to lay people off and he had only recently joined so was most at risk. My heart did break a little for him and then I felt guilty about his spending money on a taxi to come over and see me with his job at risk in what has clearly been a difficult time. I offered him money for his taxi home which he initially refused and said I didn't need to pay him - the last thing i wanted to do was offend him but convinced him to take a 100 bht for the journey or at least let me get him a Grab. He smiled and I gave him a red note to get home. Really lovely guy. I hope very much that he is about later on. I might see if he wants to go for dinner.... 

It was well past 2am before I got to bed. I am not really into the tourist attraction thing. I love Thailand and come here for the food, the atmosphere, and the boys. I don't feel a massive pull to go and see a load of temples, but whilst I was on the river I thought that if I was going to do any of the temple highlights now would be the best time. I would probably never get another opportunity like this to have these sites without the crowds. My plans were severely tested by 2am activities but found myself waking unaided at 6am. I really needed more sleep but forced myself up and went down to breakfast. I headed off to Wat Pho and arrived at just before 9am. The place was deserted. There were maybe two other couples there. There was an official guide waiting for some business and booked him for a half hour tour. I think because he had the time as there was no other customers, the tour was more like an hour. He was great. He gave the history of the site and features, reclining Buddha included and introduced me to some monks. I tipped him well. As I was leaving there seemed to be a bit of increase in the number of people coming in but still only a handful at most. 

Made it back to the hotel and have been lounging around every since. Caught up on some sleep and now just contemplating what I am going to get up to this evening. 

This will probably be my last post of this trip. I head up to Chiang Mai tomorrow and my intention is full on relax mode. I met a guy there two years ago and we have stayed in touch since. He is a university student and we are intending to spend a bit more time with each other. 

Surprising things keep happening on this trip though and if anything noteworthy happens I will be sure to let you all know. 

Now, let's just see if last night's boy has any dinner plans..... 

[Milk78]

Thanks for all the recommendations that you sent to me. They have made my trip much more interesting and enjoyable. What a great bunch of people you are! 

[vinapu]

have fun in Chiang Mai

[scott456]

OMG. A whopping 100 baht note.

[Milk78]

27 minutes ago, scott456 said:

OMG. A whopping 100 baht note.

I know. If I had given any more I really think he would have been offended. He didn't want to take that for a 60bht taxi. 

[spoon]

Not surprise to find genuine guys finding fun in bangkok. A diff story for pattaya though

[vinapu]

1 hour ago, Milk78 said:

I know. If I had given any more I really think he would have been offended. He didn't want to take that for a 60bht taxi. 

You got it right, 

I had guys I offed who forcefully insisted on paying  for their own meal we had before heading to the room.

 

[Guest]

2 hours ago, scott456 said:

OMG. A whopping 100 baht note.

Not everyone in Thailand is a prostitute & offering 1000 baht or more to someone who just wants some fun can cause offence.   As Milk78 correctly figured out.

Even I've had some rare instances when traveling around, where guys in their 20s just want some fun and no money.   I've had cash in the top drawer and was carefully watching for any clues they want a tip.

Or to put it another way, if any board member invited someone around for a meal, sex, or whatever, they would probably be offended if the guest offered payment.    One should tread with care.

[paulsf]

I also ran into the Surawong taxi issues this week. The guys at Hot Male told me you have to walk over Silom.  Can still take some time but they show up.  Part of the problem is Surawong is blocked off at Thaniya. You can’t drive out to Rama 4 so taxis avoiding the area. 

[orson]

16 hours ago, paulsf said:

I stayed at the Le Meridien Tuesday night for Test and Go.   Had the breakfast buffet in the morning.  Outstanding. I’ll make a repeat visit before trip over. 

I like the fresh coconut they offer for breakfast pre pandemic 

[Lucky]

There's nothing new about non-escorts being offended at a money offer. My first experience with it was in Acapulco where the guy wouldn't even take taxi money. That was decades ago! (Acapulco is not safe these days!)