A first-timer trip report: October ‘22.

[Ashtaan]

Hi guys,

Although this will be my first post, I’ve lurked here for a few months and gotten a tonne of (hopefully) excellent tips from you all for my first trip to the LOS.  Hoping that my little trip report is both a good exercise to remember my trip by, but also might give back and help others live vicariously, as I did. 

Some context for the trip – I’m from Australia, and lucky enough to be able to travel occasionally for for work, now that our country has opened up again. As far as SEA, I’ve been to Vietnam 10 years ago, but never to Thailand. 

I booked my whole stay at one hotel - the SO/ Bangkok.  Firstly, it looks super nice online, and the number of nights adds up to the exact amount left in my work travel fund – convenient.  Next, it’s near Silom, and whilst not super convenient to the two places I needed to be for work during my stay, it was roughly between the two of them, and close to the MRT, if I get brave.

I had planned to go for a full 2-week stint, but just before I was due to depart, I’m forced to reschedule my departure date for a funeral. After that, the need to ‘get out’ and reset elsewhere is strong.  I am damn glad I’ve got a holiday booked...  

Although I do have travel insurance (to be worked out later after I come back), in the meantime, I worry about how the delayed departure is going to abuse my credit card – if anyone has similar worries in the future, FYI Singapore airlines let me change but charge me a fair bit to do so (the only remaining seat is then an ‘upgrade’ from business to business-flex, so I pay more for the same thing).  Turns out there’s little leniency for the sake of funerals.

On the other hand, my SO/ Bangkok stay was booked as non-refundable, and I expected this to be a completely dead loss, but after I call/email them, they kindly convert the 5 wasted nights into hotel credit (for food, drinks etc.), which I am really grateful for.  At least it’s something!  I figure I can safely drown my worries from the rooftop bar on that credit.

 

Day 0: getting there.

After a rough couple of weeks at home, an all-day couple of flights, I land just before 7pm local time.  Singapore airlines business class is as good as I’ve been told… the food and wine are all delicious.

I follow the very good advice from the forum and grab my bags, then head down to the lower level airport rail and get my local currency from the cheaper downstairs booth.

Go back upstairs and get a cab to my hotel.  The driver and I struggle to communicate, but it works out ok.  By the time I make it to the hotel and up to my room, it’s nearly 9.

The SO/ Bangkok common areas are beautiful and cool and comfy, and the rooms thankfully continue this (nothing worse than a hotel which blows all their money on a lobby then has dingy, crap rooms!).  The rooms are themed with ‘mystical elements’ (e.g. metal, water, wood) and I get assigned a wood room.  I’ve paid for the lowest level of ‘just a room’, but it’s easily as big as a suite in the average Aussie hotel – absolutely huge.  My city-view room also includes a view of the river.  The room itself is very nice – huge bathroom with both a bathtub and a rain shower; beautiful wooden floors and panelling throughout, and plenty of space – definitely enough space to spend over a week and not feel claustrophobic.  Complimentary (non-alcoholic) mini-bar, and a good chocolate and fruit platter shows up ~20 minutes after I get in.

 

The room and view:

I finally get a much-needed shower and then on to the apps.  At home it’s at least 1-2am (4 hour time difference), and I’ve been up since 5am, so I’m wondering if I have the stamina to do anything or have anyone over.  I am considering just going to bed when I get a message.  Do I want a massage and fun for 󠇍1500 baht?  Why even think about it? Yes, I do.  We’ll call him “7-Eleven”, because that’s the symbol he has tattooed on the back of his neck (I don’t bother to ask why…).

He shows up within 20 minutes, and is cuter than advertised.  Heavily tattooed (I don’t have strong opinions on this like some others here do), short and tightly muscled.  Washboard abs and a perky little ass – delicious.  No trouble getting him into the hotel despite having to change elevators via the 9^th floor lobby – nobody said a thing, we just wandered up.  The massage was very good, with good coverage and pressure; relaxing and just therapeutic enough that I don’t fall asleep during.  Afters are great, with a seamless transition, and he was vers as advertised. Afterwards, we have a little chat, and he uses our time to get a little impromptu English pronunciation lesion - gotta love a guy who is still trying to improve himself into the small hours of the morning! He tells me he normally massages at Banyan Tree, so anyone staying there is in for a treat. 
After a 22 or so hour day, thankfully the beds are also great. 😴

[TMax]

Thanks for sharing, a good start.

[pong2]

Wow-there must be 5 elements-as there is also in Chinese astrology (I am metal/steel).

Room does look far better as the one I now sit in at the outskirts of Madrid but may cost even less/night.

And good luck with the rest, after the condoleance, a promising start with surely more & better to follow

[BiggusDikkus]

19 hours ago, Ashtaan said:

I am considering just going to bed when I get a message.  Do I want a massage and fun for 󠇍1500 baht?

I guess the message came via Grindr or a similar app?

[Ashtaan]

Day 1:

Despite my late night, I wake up early enough to be annoying. I guess the 4 hour difference is worse than I’d thought. 
I get up early anyway, and head off to a surprisingly great breakfast buffet. Even though the food is probably cheaper outside the hotel, I refuse to go adventuring before coffee, and getting the breakfast-included room rate is the easiest way to get the bill shifted to work. The spread here is great, and comes with a tree-top view of Lumphini park, so no regrets. 
 

I have work to do today, but given that the front of my trip has been cut short, I decide to show up late. I head out for a walk towards Silom, to try to get a feel for the place. Luckily, it’s not too hot by about 10am. 
On the street, all Thai people walking by me are still wearing masks - I keep my same approach used back home, and take it off for the outdoor stretches, putting it back on whenever I walk inside. The only maskless faces I see though are a couple of Caucasian ones. I grab a local SIM card, and then decide it’s actually too hot to wander around too much without a plan, and I don’t want to show up sweaty to my next destination. 
 

I get a Grab to Tailor On Ten - also recommended on this forum. I’m looking for a new suit, some shirts and a jacket. 
The staff are a little frantic that I’ve shown up without an appointment, given that someone else with a booking was due shortly after I arrived, but rather than reschedule, they decide to find a second staff member out the back to re-measure the other obvious repeat-shopper. The quality of the fabrics seem good, and I’m looking forward to seeing what is made in a week or so. They tell me I will need another 3 fittings, with the initial one 4 days later. The staff are chatty and I somehow manage to have a bit of a conversation about where some of their Aussie wool comes from, despite knowing absolutely nothing about such things. They grill me on whether or not Australia is so full of snakes and spiders that even visiting a Sydney hotel might not be safe… good to know our national anti-tourism campaigns are working. 
 

After the tailor, I get a Grab to Pak Kret for the afternoon of work, which finishes about 4. I had initially planned to hop back to the hotel via VCK (I promised myself I’ll visit this place before I go home), but I decide that by that time the traffic will be a mess, so I go back to the hotel directly. I decide to pay a visit to Sabaidee instead. 
 

On the map, this looks like it’s only a block or so away, but in reality it’s about a 20 minute walk, if you know where you’re going. I spend ages trying to find it, before I realise it’s essentially under a building in a carpark - not exactly where I was planning to find anything at all, but I guess it kinda fits a seedy gay massage shop. 
Inside, the manager shows me about 6 boys who are available. I’m told that it’s 700 baht for the house for an hour massage, plus an 1100 minimum in-room tip. I put two on my short list, and he calls one out for me to check out in person - “Mr Cow”, who is apparently “Man” and “top and bottom”. Mr Cow is definitely my type - somewhere between boy next door and hunk, with big swimmer-type shoulders, so he gets the nod and we go up one level into a dark massage room, with an in-room shower. Once we are both showered, one at a time, he stays naked, which at that point seems a good sign. The massage is so-so, light on pressure, although that’s ok as I’m looking to relax today, rather than have any knots ironed out. At one point, I notice that off to one side of the room, he’s got his phone playing porn, with a Japanese girl getting rammed by two guys playing on silent. 
After the massage itself finishes, he asks “Fuck? No fuck?”, and we move to stage 2. Unfortunately, it seems his obvious straight preference is an impairment, and he is pretty dependent on his phone to keep going. He tries his hardest, though, and manages to get the job done. Stage 2 is ok, but only really because I find him so good looking, rather than anything else. Afterwards, I ask if he likes just girls, or both girls and boys, and get an emphatic “Girls!” followed by an apologetic “boys are ok too”. I give him a couple of hundred extra for his effort. 
 

After I walk home, my plans to go out for the Friday night swiftly fall away as I pass out and sleep right through until 7am the next day. 

[Ashtaan]

6 minutes ago, BiggusDikkus said:

I guess the message came via Grindr or a similar app?

Yes, this one was a Grindr find. 

[fedssocr]

I guess high season has arrived with all of these new trip reports. Enjoying your adventures

[Ashtaan]

Day 2:

Wake up at a blessedly normal local time, and lie in bed for a while idly browsing the apps. I didn’t have a particular plan for a morning delight, but chat briefly to a couple. Then I get a special message… I had been remotely browsing near my hotel from home for a couple of weeks and had an eye kept particularly on a guy I recognised from Emiel’s recent report. A delicious six-pack and a good review, I had planned to hit him up at some point, but fate decided it would be today, because he messaged me first. 2000 for massage and fun - ok! We arrange for him to visit after breakfast. 

No false profile here- just as good, if not better in person. He’s also very friendly and polite. Massage is excellent, great pressure and technique. His profile said vers, but sadly he says he’s shown up unprepared to bottom and promises “next time”. I get his line, and promise to hold him to that… Regardless a very good start to my day. Thanks for the tip, @emiel1981  

 

I hang around the hotel pool for most of the day, then after dinner I get a Grab to Tawan. There’s a huge selection on there for the Saturday night, with 25+, and plenty of customers - enough that the boys keep getting ousted from their chairs to make more room. 
Mostly everyone is in good shape, and pretty huge, with only 2 slimmer guys who would still count as “twunks”. 
Many will be happy to know that jockstraps are still the mainstay, and they look fantastic. 
The off goes to the most enthusiastic of the night, who immediately makes their intentions known. I make them wait though, and say I plan to see the show.

Show is entertaining, although too much drag for what I want for the night. There’s also a good sinuous body paint number, a BDSM spanking show, a few rounds of flexing, and a fuck show, which is pretty hot for a newbie like me. 
I give the bottom a tip which he takes between his teeth whilst being bent over my lap (Jeez..!), then my new friend Ten and I head out. 500 bar fine, 400 per drink, and 2500 for Ten. Then back to the hotel where I definitely get my money’s worth. 
Awkwardly, on getting back we run into 7/11 in the lobby, clearly leaving from another client, although he professes otherwise. He tells me later he’s upset with me- I might have to make it up later  

[yp11]

10 hours ago, Ashtaan said:

Day 2:

Wake up at a blessedly normal local time, and lie in bed for a while idly browsing the apps. I didn’t have a particular plan for a morning delight, but chat briefly to a couple. Then I get a special message… I had been remotely browsing near my hotel from home for a couple of weeks and had an eye kept particularly on a guy I recognised from Emiel’s recent report. A delicious six-pack and a good review, I had planned to hit him up at some point, but fate decided it would be today, because he messaged me first. 2000 for massage and fun - ok! We arrange for him to visit after breakfast. 

No false profile here- just as good, if not better in person. He’s also very friendly and polite. Massage is excellent, great pressure and technique. His profile said vers, but sadly he says he’s shown up unprepared to bottom and promises “next time”. I get his line, and promise to hold him to that… Regardless a very good start to my day. Thanks for the tip, @emiel1981  

 

I hang around the hotel pool for most of the day, then after dinner I get a Grab to Tawan. There’s a huge selection on there for the Saturday night, with 25+, and plenty of customers - enough that the boys keep getting ousted from their chairs to make more room. 
Mostly everyone is in good shape, and pretty huge, with only 2 slimmer guys who would still count as “twunks”. 
Many will be happy to know that jockstraps are still the mainstay, and they look fantastic. 
The off goes to the most enthusiastic of the night, who immediately makes their intentions known. I make them wait though, and say I plan to see the show.

Show is entertaining, although too much drag for what I want for the night. There’s also a good sinuous body paint number, a BDSM spanking show, a few rounds of flexing, and a fuck show, which is pretty hot for a newbie like me. 
I give the bottom a tip which he takes between his teeth whilst being bent over my lap (Jeez..!), then my new friend Ten and I head out. 500 bar fine, 400 per drink, and 2500 for Ten. Then back to the hotel where I definitely get my money’s worth. 
Awkwardly, on getting back we run into 7/11 in the lobby, clearly leaving from another client, although he professes otherwise. He tells me later he’s upset with me- I might have to make it up later  

Sound interesting, so the bottom also a muscular guy? 

I pass by there Sunday night around 1130pm the staff told me show finished and open the door show me a look, plenty of customer inside however only two guys on stage.

[Ashtaan]

1 hour ago, yp11 said:

Sound interesting, so the bottom also a muscular guy?

He wasn’t as big as most of the other guys- but still well muscled, in my opinion. None of the boys could be called “skinny” by any means. 

[sydneyboy1]

This is the second person to write positively about Tawan. It would appear the place has a new lease of life. 

[Gaybutton]

I am always delighted when a first timer's holiday goes well and he is thoroughly enjoying his time in Thailand.  I am truly very happy for you and I certainly hope your first trip to Thailand won't be your last one.

Thank you for your posts and please keep in touch with us once you return home.  Returning home - that's the hard part . . .

[floridarob]

9 hours ago, sydneyboy1 said:

This is the second person to write positively about Tawan. It would appear the place has a new lease of life. 

I was in last week....maybe people are desperate after 2 1/2 yrs......It's depressingly small and I didn't see anyone I'd be interested in for 1000 baht.

There's more to what turned me off and I won't be going back, I might write about it later.

[sydneyboy1]

46 minutes ago, floridarob said:

I was in last week....maybe people are desperate after 2 1/2 yrs......It's depressingly small and I didn't see anyone I'd be interested in for 1000 baht.

There's more to what turned me off and I won't be going back, I might write about it later.

Thank you. My positivity may have been premature.

[floridarob]

1 hour ago, sydneyboy1 said:

Thank you. My positivity may have been premature.

We all have our own taste and buttons to be pushed.....only you can decide for you 😉

[Ashtaan]

1 hour ago, sydneyboy1 said:

Thank you. My positivity may have been premature.

As someone with self-professed no experience, I thought it was pretty good!

I agree the space was far too small, given the number of bodies crammed in, but I never saw it’s glory days with which to compare and miss. 

[Ashtaan]

Day 3:

Today is the last day that I can consider myself free of work, and I mean to make the most of it. 

I take myself out for another fairly directionless walk to enjoy the good weather and get some sun, and end up in Silom. After over an hour, I decide it’s bloody hot, and given that I am sweaty as hell, decide the best way to cool off is to spend 1.5 hours in the air conditioning upstairs at Arena, which is only another 10 minutes walk away. 

It was easier to find than I imagined it would be (definitely easier than Sabaidee), thanks to a big sign up on the balcony that was easily glimpsed from the front of the complex.  The stairs up in the heat were nearly the death of me, but at the top I’m greeted with 9-10 delights who leap up the second I am ushered through the door. The manager takes pity on me and gets me some iced water, sorely needed, and I get to rehydrate and peruse at the same time. 

900 for the house for 1.5 hours cream massage, plus 1200 minimum (although I think this maybe was intended to be per hour) for the boy. 

There are a number of very good options - a couple of the “rough trade” described, but mostly muscled and attractive, late 20s to late 30s I guess. 

I am immediately impressed by a tall swimmer build with a beaming smile and handsome face, and have to say yes. 

Mak (or Mat? I really don’t know) is from Issan, and 28, I’m told as we chat in the room.  He’s even better close-up than downstairs. The room seemed clean (in the darkness at least), with an interior shower. 

 

Mak’s skills were good, and he really took his time to fill in the 90 minutes.

It’s clear for the full duration of our time where things will eventually head, because a sizeable and hard cock is poking me in some place or another for the entire time, or otherwise sitting on my forearm or some other vantage point.
Clearly what I’ve read about the special qualities of Issan boys is all pure truth. I’m treated to a good grope, but careful not to derail the actual massage before it’s time, because it’s genuinely good.
Onwards, we have a very good time, ending with Mak’s ankles behind his ears on the table. He gets a generous tip for his enthusiasm, and I’m back to the hotel for serious recuperation. 

 

Now it was still Sunday night, and I’m not going to waste a weekend evening, so I decide after all the recent good reviews of the Dreamboys full stable and show, I decide that’s where I’m going to spend my evening. I show up way too early at 9:45, but kick back and peruse. 

I found the mamasan not at all pushy, and she applied no pressure to me or other customers that I could see, except for trying to make sure that people were spread out whilst maximising their views- she encouraged me to move at one point, so that there’d be enough room to seat someone next to me, should I choose. 

 

There were plenty to choose from- I guess just under 20 per rotation on stage, of which there were two, so 35-40 or so. All still in the little white shorts, with a good breadth of types. Nobody really huge, but everything from waifish to jock. I made myself a mental short list, but immediately removed one who looked good, but who was playing on his phone genuinely the whole time on stage- if that’s the kind of attention you’re bringing, nah thanks!

 

At one point there was very close to a fight that blew up in the walkway up front between two customers- I was sure for a bit it was going to go to punches and ruin everyone’s night, but thankfully it was calmed down.

 

The show was much more professional and choreographed than Tawan, but honestly less entertaining for it. As soon as it wrapped up, I beckoned over my top selection, #45, a particularly handsome young Cambodian with a total of 1 English word in his possession- “good”. Also not even enough Thai to talk to the taxi driver later (who seemed to think that was pretty funny). We did our best with Google translate, but I later found out that as far as agreed activities, some must’ve been lost in translation, because they weren’t agreeable later on. 

 

500 baht beers, 450 boy drink, and 500 off quickly paid, with boy unable to communicate enough to negotiate a price per se, so later given 2000 with which he seemed happy. 

 

Regardless, a beautiful chap. Would’ve probably gone back for repeated repeats if activities were as (mis) advertised, but oh well.  

[vinapu]

14 hours ago, sydneyboy1 said:

This is the second person to write positively about Tawan. It would appear the place has a new lease of life. 

I may be biased but if I ever say bad word about Tawan you can crucify me or even call me Putin's war supporter, choice is yours. 

[floridarob]

8 hours ago, Ashtaan said:

but I later found out that as far as agreed activities, some must’ve been lost in translation, because they weren’t agreeable later on. 

It's a 2 way street for me....I had 1 bar boy and 1 freelancer last week promising to do things and couldn't....just couldn't. So they broke the deal 1st and seemed surprised I only gave them moto money to get home. Anyone that keeps paying for things and blowing it off to lost in translation, drunk, tired, etc....are perpetuating this problem. We're here for a limited number of nights, in most cases, it's just wasting our time. 

[sydneyboy1]

7 hours ago, vinapu said:

I may be biased but if I ever say bad word about Tawan you can crucify me or even call me Putin's war supporter, choice is yours. 

I used to love the Tawan too. How I remember the place in the early 2000’s. It had a huge smorgasbord of some of the most beautiful men in Thailand. On my last visit the place was tragic. 

[Boy69]

2 hours ago, floridarob said:

It's a 2 way street for me....I had 1 bar boy and 1 freelancer last week promising to do things and couldn't....just couldn't. So they broke the deal 1st and seemed surprised I only gave them moto money to get home. Anyone that keeps paying for things and blowing it off to lost in translation, drunk, tired, etc....are perpetuating this problem. We're here for a limited number of nights, in most cases, it's just wasting our time. 

Yes I agree too many cases of boys promising things which they don't have any intention to fulfill , just a waste of time . maybe by paying them only for transport back will teach them a lesson. 

[vinapu]

On 10/26/2022 at 2:14 AM, sydneyboy1 said:

I used to love the Tawan too...... . On my last visit the place was tragic. 

What happened ? Ceiling collapsed ? 

When I look in the mirror and then at my pics from high school ptom on the wall nearby, then I see tragic. But I carry on and ( so does Tawan. ) 

[vinapu]

On 10/26/2022 at 4:29 AM, Boy69 said:

Yes I agree too many cases of boys promising things which they don't have any intention to fulfill  

Perhaps they really do, but then, when they see us undressed reality strucks and an appetite is really lost? 

[nikba2515]

Newly arrived from Cambodia can be very challenging, I met number of them in Pattaya. Normally, I used body language, pointing to my cock to his behind and his cock to my behind. For kissing, I just kiss them at the bar to try out. Rimming and sucking use the same technique of pointing…all the best and lot of fun. 

[Ashtaan]

7 hours ago, nikba2515 said:

Newly arrived from Cambodia can be very challenging, I met number of them in Pattaya. Normally, I used body language, pointing to my cock to his behind and his cock to my behind. For kissing, I just kiss them at the bar to try out. Rimming and sucking use the same technique of pointing…all the best and lot of fun. 

Yeah, to be honest I thought I’d done a good job trying to communicate; maybe the lad doesn’t deserve the kindness of the benefit of the doubt. But it’s much better for my blood pressure to just move on and not be too annoyed. 

A Google-translated “what can you do when we go together?” came back with a translated reply of “can do anything”. Followed by a top or bottom enquiry for which I was shown a translation as “also”, which I took to mean both, or vers. 
Instead I got a top who also didn’t want to suck.  A small lesson learned, I guess. Maybe I should’ve tried to find a Kmer-speaking mamasan, but I was trying to not involve them 🤷‍♂️