How did you celebrate this New Year period Dec 2022 / Jan 2023 ?

[bkkmfj2648]

Since I am still fairly new here in Thailand as a recent retiree - I would like to share with you my first Thailand New Year's Eve period to get your feedback.

Part ONE - New House Blessing

On 29 December and 30 December - a gay couple (Thai + Lao) that I know bought a new flat in the Life City Park over in Bo Win in Rayong. They can be seen in the below first photo - the one in the green t-shirt making the peace sign and his partner inside the house standing up and pointing.
The monks were coming to the home early on the 30th so they asked me to sleep there on the 29th to guarantee my presence. I still don't have a car or motorcycle and we checked BOLT and its dependability on big distances like this during the crowded holiday period would not guarantee my arrival in time.

So, on the night of the 29th about 30 of their friends and family stopped by or slept there ( 16 people slept in the actual house as they also came from far away ). They finished the food preparation for the next day and we celebrated by eating some of it for dinner on the floor on floor mats. At my age, it takes me some effort to sit like that as my body is now more rigid than when I was young.

Are you able to sit and eat like them on the floor ??

The food was really good and I ate some things that I NEVER have eaten before. They even warned me to NOT use the hot sauce but I insisted on trying it anyway - and yes I sweated after eating it.

Morning came and the 5 monks arrived and they sat in the living room on the floor on special mats that were delivered from the local Buddhist temple. My friends had to move out of the living and dining room areas all of their furniture. Conveniently, as this is a new housing complex, the house immediately next to them is vacant so they used that patio to put all of their furniture. While the monks were praying and blessing inside the house the most important people of the 40 in attendance were busy preparing the monk's meals in special silver ornate metal bowls - also delivered ahead of time from the local Buddhist temple.

The part that most amazed me was the "opening of the third eye" - like right out of a science fiction film - as we don't give much attention to our individual third eyes in our Western world. So, the designated Buddha statue is given to the main primary monk where he makes this statue "operational" by opening up its third eye with a special Buddhist blessing. I believe that the third eye is like an antennae to our higher spiritual being (or creator). While the monk was performing this exercise, the hairs on my arm stood up as I found it so moving. I need to discover more about our dormant Western third eye.

Do any of you reading this use your third eye??

I believe that it is located in the center of your forehead above your nose.

Then the BIG event - the primary main monk got up on a chair above the main entrance of the house to paint / etch with a special golden pen a symbol that, according to my Thai friend, states that this house has been blessed and that evil is not welcome here. This process of etching and then placing seals on the etched insignia took quite a while and the gay couple had to stay on their knees for quite a while to support the chair that the monk was standing on to ensure his safety.

Lastly, the monks then went through each of the rooms sprinkling "holy" spiritual water ( it is probably sacrilegious to use the word holy to describe what I saw in the Buddhist religion ) and then they exited the house to sprinkle this religious water on each of us to bless us. They used a type of bamboo bundle of sticks to do it and I was told that the religious water is prepared back at the Buddhist temple.

 

Have any of you had similar Buddhist monk experiences in your time in Thailand ?


This ends part one of my lead up to my Dec 2022 New Year's celebrations.

Part TWO - Condo holiday party etiquette

About a week ago the condo where I live solicited for donations to pay for a New Year's Day party for the staff (maintenance, security, gardeners, administration, etc.). What I found weird is that the notice was directed towards condo owners. So I felt excluded as I rent here. So I called the number and I spoke to the organizer and she told me - well we don't include renters - as our past experience is that renters don't want to make donations as they are not owners. I asked her if I could make a donation as I am made to feel VERY welcome here by all of the condo complex staff here. She was quite surprised that I even cared about the condo complex building staff - as she said that they even have difficulties in getting donations from the actual condo owners.

The condo staff offer a great service. For example, if I am having difficulties coming home from shopping they are right at the BOLT taxi to help me get into the elevator and up to my condo - you never have to ask them. If they see you coming for the elevator they hold the door open to make sure that you can enter. Two times that I needed maintenance in my condo - the maintenance team was at my condo within 1 to 2 hours after my request. Every day when I go in and out they are always smiling and saying hello.

We used to have this kind of concierge service in our large condo buildings in New York City in the 1970s and 1980s - before the ravages of self-service in the USA came and all of these types of normal services were either taken away as cost cutting measures or made to be very expensive for the select few who could afford them. Living here in a Jomtien condo building is a real treat - especially if you are a baby boomer who remembers the good old days.

Being in the holiday spirit, I decided to take a personal initiative where I would prepare and give each condo staff member a personal card from me saying how much I appreciated their professional service and as a new retiree here that they make me feel special, welcome, and belonging to a great condo complex. Firstly, I had to find money cards. These are easily found back in Europe and in the USA during the holiday season. I had great difficulties finding something equivalent. I traveled over to Pattaya city and walked around until in a Mr. DIY shop at the Pattaya Avenue complex I found ornate Chinese money cards ( as the Chinese New Year will arrive at the end of January ) that were perfect and super cheap. Then onto my home computer to write the perfect thank you message in English and then to translate it from English to Thai and then back from Thai back to English to see what could be tweaked to make sure that I deliver a correct and meaningful message. Then the printing of the messages in both English and Thai that would fit into the size of the small money card envelopes. Then the ironing of the baht bank notes that I collected so that they would feel crisp, clean, and new. And then the assembly of the complete package - illustrated in the below photo collage.

Before heading over to Bo Win for the above mentioned house blessing I went around lunch time downstairs to the main floor where the hive of activity is by our condo workers and I started to distribute them to everyone I could find. And when I could not find someone the staff were already calling them from their work duty station to come to the lobby to collect their holiday note gift. The smiles on their individual faces and kind words in their limited English - truly made my holiday the best!! In fact, one of the security guys - every time he sees me he taps his shirt pocket ( as he showed me that he stored my note in his pocket ) and says thank you - I will never forget you. Truly a blessing to live here as a new retiree.

So, do any of you who live in a large condo building have any similar experiences?

I am curious to know how your condo building team that takes care of you every day is treated.

 

Part THREE - New Year's Eve festivities

Around 10:30pm I headed over to the Jomtien Supertown Complex to join my 2 Thai friends at the massage shop where they work - they had already been drinking for quite a while and kept asking me when am I coming to join them. I wanted to start late as I was sure that I would suffer a hangover the next day. They were already dancing in front of their massage shop and I immediately joined in - and got about 20 minutes of dancing in.

We drank until 11:45pm when we headed over to Dongtan beach to watch the local fireworks and the massive launching of the flying lanterns - the sky was amazingly alit and the beach was full of happy people.

    -->> sorry about the crappy third photo - as Koh Larn is quite far away - my mobile phone camera did not do a good job of capturing the amazing Koh Larn fireworks - but with the naked eye they were still breathtaking.

What was also amazing to note is that there was a dual firework show put on by Pattaya city with simultaneous fireworks on Koh Larn. From Dongtan beach we could see the fantastic (although distant) Koh Larn island fireworks. However, from Dongtan beach it was not possible to see the Pattaya city fireworks due to the curvature of the beach and Pratumnak hill. So we were truly immersed in 2 sets of fireworks and floating lanterns.

We hugged and kissed at the conclusion of the countdown and remained a little while to take in all of the amazing sights.

Then we walked back into the Jomtien Complex and walked through the main covered section which by now was heaving with a TON of people and there was a blockage in the main walkway as The Palace bar had constructed a dance floor that protruded out into the main walkway. You had to kind of climb over one of the edges of the dance floor to proceed to our destination, which was the Coqtale bar to say hello to our friend Paul and then to hopefully dance in the Double Shot bar.

At this end of the complex - near the Poseidon hotel/restaurant the complex had a reasonable noise level and we could truly talk with each other and hear each other. My fantasy to dance in the Double Shot bar was not going to happen as the Double Shot bar was kind of subdued in my opinion ( whereas, on other nights it was more energetic and there were some people dancing ) - so dancing was not on the menu tonight. The only dancing would be to return to the madness of The Palace and the loud noise so we just decided to remain at the Coqtale bar until closing time. Before I knew it, Paul (the bar manager) said to me, hey you need to go as we need to close the bar before the police come. I looked at my phone and it was already 2:30 in the morning. Wow!! the night flew by. So I said good by to everyone and then walked home - and woke up very late the next day with a hangover. Had I been able to dance - I am sure that by dancing I would have burned off some of the excess alcohol and I would have had less of a hangover.

How were all of your New Year's Eve celebrations ?

 

[TMax]

My new years was the same old routine, a good movie a bottle of red wine then sleep. I gave up staying up all night just to see the new year in a long time ago, maybe if I was in Thailand, Philippines or Vietnam I would do something different. The last time I did stay up to celebrate a new year I was in Bangkok and that celebration was two of us screwing the night away😜

[forrestreid]

Firstly, I’d like to thank the OP for another great post about his activities in Thailand.

I was visiting my family for New Year (I live in Ireland).  My sister and sometimes brother usually assemble in my parents house and watch the  rather insipid New Year’s Eve show on we have in Irish TV, and drink a glass of Prosecco at midnight. Then head to bed soon after.

I woke up that morning was a bit of a sore throat. But didn’t take much notice of it. When my my sister arrived she said I should said take a Covid test. I decided to take one just to reassure her (my mother had some to hand). To my horror it turned out to be a positive test.

My first ever positive Covid test after nearly three years of the virus. What an evening to get it! So that was the end of the party, and I had to go home. Ended up ringing in the New Year with a glass of Baileys in my bed…

 

[12is12]

Kudos BKK; u r quite the author! I hope u regard ur posts here as part of ur personal diary, maybe even a first draft of ur autobiography.

Gld for u that u had such wndrfl frst time exprncs. (-:

Sorry I cant contribute anything to ur questionnaire. No buddhist or condo exprnc, and in israel we prfr the hebrew jewish NY.

Now that NY is over, may u have a happy year.

[scott456]

I hate New Year's Eve party.  So I stayed home and slept when people were counting down and supposedly kissing people.

[ichigo]

What a lovely story, thank you for sharing! As for myself, I just went to sleep well before midnight like it was any other day lol.

[vinapu]

14 hours ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

 

Are you able to sit and eat like them on the floor ??

.................

.............

H etc.). What I found weird is that the notice was directed towards condo owners. So I felt excluded as I rent here. So I called the number and I spoke to the organizer and she told me - well we don't include renters - as our past experience is that renters don't want to make donations as they are not owners.

...........

  - and woke up very late the next day with a hangover.

 

1. yes , I can

2. three guys on the first plan with exception of yellow shirt look handsome and highly offable  (if they were in another setting of course)

3. they could use word residents instead to be more inclusive

4.now you know why New Years day is public holiday, to nurse that hangover

 

thank you for the great report and Happy New 2023 to you bkkmfj and all readers and contributors

[vinapu]

as for New Year Eve I stay at home. We had family party as one of us has birthday on  Dec 31st but I voted 124 : 87 to stay home. 

I did nothing special other than calling friend in time zone 6 hour apart and we had video toast, she with Advocat and me with , you guessed it , Gordon Gin. Because of time difference I was still 3 hours in 2022  and she was already 3 hours in 2023.

I stay past midnight but did nothing special at the strike of 12, flush toilet perhaps or made tea, I don't remember .

For me New Year Eve  is when I'm going to airport to fly somewhere for vacation

 

[bkkmfj2648]

1 hour ago, vinapu said:

2. three guys on the first plan with exception of yellow shirt look handsome and highly offable  (if they were in another setting of course)

Your wish is granted Vinapu.  Those 3 guys are in fact ALL offable.  The one with the peace sign I got to know thanks to the guy here in Jomtien that organizes my 4 hands massages for me.  I had a crush on him and through subsequent 4 hand massages without my main guy - I got to know his "partner in crime" - the one standing behind the sliding glass doors.  They do EXCELLENT synchronized 4 hand massages and the ending is like a New Year's Eve firework display  :>))

For the other 2 that you nominated I have not been with them but it was made clear to me that they can be offed  :>))

[vinapu]

now only I need to find where they are toiling and off we go for an off.

I forgot, need to buy plane ticket first

[Shonen]

Another wonderful and detailed post bkk! Thanks for sharing your interesting experience. And great photos.

I like to celebrate everyday and enjoy them all. So New Years I don’t go out of my way on that day.

I played in the billiards competition at 69 bar. Not many participants because of New Years.  Then had some drinks at Dorothy’s Show bar, Jewel Bar and finished at Cockitails bar, the one across from Double Shot.

Met the charming manager, Paul, of that bar. Also two staff members were shirtless like Double Shot does. One of the staff there reminds me of the former King As he  wears glasses similar. He’s very funny.

And had no sex that night as I forgot to go to the bank the day before. Can you imagine, I have to pay for it here,lol.

[MarcSingap]

I spent one week in pattaya for New Year celebrations.

Stayed with my regular Cambodian boy (offed from Banana Room Bangkok) at Avani Resort, really comfortable hotel but with a too small gym for a 5*. Gone to fitness7 150m away and had the pleasure to regularly exercise with Thai boxing guys 🥰. I can confirm Avani hotel policy with joiners : they don't care. We took several boys for 3some and no questions asked.

Very busy period for gogo show boys. I was surprised to find Boyztown quiet at night until 10pm when suddenly many customers arrived (weekdays). The boys at BBB are on stage fully dressed... just no sense. But BBB packed with customers for showtime. Dreamboys much better with boy dressing in chubbies. ABomb same same but few boys and skinny type. Good quality bottle of whisky at 2800 bahts.

At Jontiem Complex busy bars from 9pm. I was surprised to see quite no farangs under 50 (I am 48) and many 70+ with obvious critical obesity matters or barely able to walk without the help of a boy. Maybe all young gay farangs where at the big party in Bangkok (New Year White party). Even at high season a glass of Gin tonic is still at 120 bahts... and as everywhere if you tip the waiter 50 bahts then you ll have a extra strong gin tonic... (something I often do at Dj station).

The fireworks at Pattaya for NYE were amazing. Offed 3 boys from Dreamboys and they were so happy to watch the fireworks instead of waiting for customers in the bar... I recommend to go in group.  Lots of fun.

1st Jan I took the 3 boys and my Cambodian boy to Koh Larn. Again a relaxing and funny day with them. To my surprise the boys told me they were never offed by customer before for beach party... (no sex on the beach of course. Just having friendly fun together).

On Jan 2sd I went at night to a local Karaoke bar in central pattaya with my boy and we were joined by 2 other boys who were in their day off. Lots lots of fun. Some numbered boys are available to come drink and sing with you (250 bahts one hour. No tipping expected). These Thai and Cambodian are crazy about singing. And I could have my favorite French songs. Cheap meals for 4 + 2 large bottles of whisky for 3800 bahts in total. So cheap to have fun from 10pm to 3am. Ended all drunk playing with lady boys...

[12is12]

Do u speak Thai ?

[MarcSingap]

12 hours ago, 12is12 said:

Do u speak Thai ?

Not really good but enough with boys

[12is12]

I envy u

[MarcSingap]

58 minutes ago, 12is12 said:

I envy u

But often not useful as many boys in the gogo bars are not thai anymore. More often fron Cambodia Vietnam and Laos...

[12is12]

When I used ggl trnsltr with them, they prfrd thai.

[MarcSingap]

42 minutes ago, 12is12 said:

When I used ggl trnsltr with them, they prfrd thai.

Google works quite well on Thai... the perfect tool to off boys 😁

[bkkmfj2648]

On 1/4/2023 at 2:07 AM, Shonen said:

Met the charming manager, Paul, of that bar. Also two staff members were shirtless like Double Shot does. One of the staff there reminds me of the former King As he  wears glasses similar. He’s very funny.

I am glad that you met the charming Paul over at the Coqtale bar.

I also have noticed that sometimes Paul's guys are taking off their shirts - perhaps it is a result of the "stiff" competition emanating from the shirtless (after 10pm) Double Shot guys.

Hopefully I will see you soon at the Coqtale bar!

[bkkmfj2648]

On 1/4/2023 at 5:15 AM, MarcSingap said:

The boys at BBB are on stage fully dressed... just no sense. But BBB packed with customers for showtime.

I hate this.  The last several times that I have been there - there were perhaps 20 to 25 guys standing there on stage where only 3 or 4 were shirtless.  And then at the end of the night by closing time - the only remaining guys on the stage are the ones still with there shirts on - as ALL of the shirtless guys had already been offed.

I love BBB --> BUT, the last time I was there in December with fellow member, @spoon the music was truly unbearable - it was so loud I got a bit nauseated - the first time in life that loud music made me this way - I am sure that the decibels were WAY over the permitted limits.

Consequently, I now prefer X-Boys in Pattaya - as the music is played at a more reasonable level and the guys who work there are more willing to be nude and more sexual.  There is even the live fucking show where they fuck in the audience - even on your lap if you let them.....

On 1/4/2023 at 5:15 AM, MarcSingap said:

1st Jan I took the 3 boys and my Cambodian boy to Koh Larn. Again a relaxing and funny day with them. To my surprise the boys told me they were never offed by customer before for beach party... (no sex on the beach of course. Just having friendly fun together).

This is still on my bucket list - to bring a group of fun guys over to Koh Larn to have a day or two of fun.

[vinapu]

13 minutes ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

 

This is still on my bucket list - to bring a group of fun guys over to Koh Larn to have a day or two of fun.

two days are better as it included night between them, you guys need a rest after all that swimming, ahem

[vinapu]

On 1/3/2023 at 5:15 PM, MarcSingap said:

 The boys at BBB are on stage fully dressed... just no sense. But BBB packed with customers for showtime

 

34 minutes ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

The last several times that I have been there - there were perhaps 20 to 25 guys standing there on stage where only 3 or 4 were shirtless.

when I asked in Nov why such inconsistency, never mind lunacy,   one of boys known to me said that it's up to them to be in shirt or bare chested. 

Following night   I offed two guys from there ( in order , not together ). No prize for guessing if night before on the stage they were fully dressed or shirtless.

as for music , I'm not surprised you got nauseated , BBB along with Jupiter and Dreamoys Patpong are worst offenders.

[bkkmfj2648]

5 minutes ago, vinapu said:

No prize for guessing if night before they were fully dressed or shirtless.

I am confused Vinapu -- they were fully dressed in your bed ?  is this a new fetish ?

55555

[vinapu]

14 minutes ago, vinapu said:

No prize for guessing if night before on the stage they were fully dressed or shirtless.

 

corrected as above for better understanding.

 

as for fully dressed  in the room / bed , it's one hell of great pleasure for me to undress guys slowly but surely

[12is12]

2 hours ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

There is even the live fucking show where they fuck in the audience - even on your lap if you let them.

How does this work, gymnastically?