Where should I go for a late-June / early-July trip?

[frazzle]

This covers a few different continents and regions so I just put it here. But feel free to move if needed. I'm a white guy in my late 20s. Origin is the US. I recently got into this hobby, and I'm still overwhelmed by the info (especially in the Thailand section), so I'd love some input from the experts here.

I blocked out two weeks at the end of June and beginning of July. I saw a good deal on RT business class in and out of Manila, and pulled the trigger. My idea was to spend a few days in Manila, fly to Bangkok, and stay there for about a week before returning to Manila and flying home. Now I'm wondering if I put enough thought and research into this and I'm reconsidering Colombia (where I've been twice over the past few months) or another destination like Brazil. 

I generally pay 30% of the time and have sex for free 70% of the time. This time I want to dip my toes in the saunas and bathhouses, since I've never done that before. Even more hedonistic options like an orgy or something would be a plus. I prefer twinks / college aged guys.

Here are my thoughts. Am I missing any important pros / cons of each? Is there one destination that I should be prioritizing over the others?

Thailand (Bangkok or other cities):

Pros: I hear the bath house scene is great; I've been to Bangkok and there's amazing food and a ton of stuff to do; I think English proficiency is higher than Latin America 

Cons: I personally find Thai guys a little less attractive than Filipino / Latin American guys; there seems to be limited guys in general when I check Grindr Explore and Rent Men (is there a Milleroticos equivalent for Bangkok?)

Philippines (Manila):

Pros: Very dense; English speaking; Filipino guys are very attractive; a ton of guys on Grindr readily advertise escorting and the prices are dirt cheap; I've heard Filipinos are generally pretty receptive to white guys, moreso than Colombians and Brazilians

Cons: It seems like the bathhouse scene is underwhelming; I've heard Manila as a city doesn't have much to offer for either food or activities 

Colombia (Medellin):

Pros: Very attractive men; shorter flight

Cons: Have been here before; the bathhouses and paid sex places seem more limited than SE Asia; a smaller population so theoretically fewer options; my Spanish is basic; negotiating with guys off of Milleroticos and Grindr can be a chore; maybe TMI but too many guys I slept with in Colombia did not prepare well for sex

Brazil (Rio and/or SP):

 

Pros: Very attractive men; supposedly a great bathhouse culture; beautiful beaches

Cons: I don't speak any Portuguese; the options on Skokka and some of the escort websites look more limited than what I think is available in SE Asia

[reader]

Will only comment on Bangkok. 

if anything, Thailand—and Bangkok in particular—is renowned for its massage industry. That’s not to say he it doesn’t have a noteworthy sauna scene but it’s a distant second attraction. If you have a fairly good body, you’ll probably have rewarding experience at the at the top saunas where the younger crowds gather. Otherwise, places like 39 Underground and
Heaven saunas might be better choices.

Massage shops on the other hand accommodate all comers. It would be a mistake IMO not to liberally sample the offerings.

[floridarob]

5 hours ago, frazzle said:

I saw a good deal on RT business class in and out of Manila, and pulled the trigger. My idea was to spend a few days in Manila, fly to Bangkok

Stick to this plan since you have the ticket....Colombia and Brasil can be a different trip, like you said a bit closer.

 

 

5 hours ago, frazzle said:

I've heard Filipinos are generally pretty receptive to white guys, moreso than Colombians and Brazilians

Not in my experience... Westerners are held on a higher plateau in developing and third world countries......Take those same nationalities, that have made it to or born in the US,  they might not think much about skin color or where you're from, unless you're rich.....then in that case everyone is looking for a sugar daddy, lol

 

 

5 hours ago, frazzle said:

Cons: I don't speak any Portuguese; the options on Skokka and some of the escort websites look more limited than what I think is available in SE Asia

Brasil: AMAZING sex, fun guys, especially Cariocas (people from Rio)....Food in SP is good, Rio is meh, Rio good touristy stuff, SP big ugly city.

Medellin: I've just recently rediscovered here after many years avoiding it....going back for my 3rd time in the last 4 months, finding more love for Venezuelans but Colombians are good too. Great food options, Airbnb & Hotels a little more than others, not by much, guys are a bargain and well worth it.

Thailand: Fun AMAZING massage, food, Business class flights, hotels, nightlife, too transactional money sex, not cheap after considering off/drinks/tips,  occasionally find good sex, but usually mediocre, guys are nice but too many  seem to have a drama story waiting for the sympathetic Farang to throw money at them like an angel, then they buy an iPhone or splurge drink with their friends....not all, but a majority.

Philippines: Free scene guys are looking for a husband/bf money guys aren't as cheap as you think.....mixed bag. More expensive than other places in Asia in general.

Indonesia: Still the least expensive in my eyes for what you get and most are cut, which is a good change after all these years visiting uncut countries.


These are from my personal experiences and some generalizations as I've been traveling for a long time. Scenes change (Cuba) that used to be amazing and now dismal. I'm going back to Cambodia this year, I haven't been for a long time so can't comment much there, although my last time in PP, I was ready to leave and my only time in Vietnam, I was ready to leave after 2 days there. I live in Mexico and have a lot on my doorstep literally or a short flight away....You're in US, but some Mexico flights can be more than a flight to Colombia , but Mexico city, Monterrey are very gay and not so "touristic" Mexico.

There is no PERFECT place....and if there was, a lot of us would still go looking for the pot of gold somewhere else, lol

[12is12]

You dont need websites in brazil; saunas function as in-the-flesh sites.

PS - wondering why a 20y/o would want to pay sometimes.....

[floridarob]

5 hours ago, 12is12 said:

PS - wondering why a 20y/o would want to pay sometimes.....

I started paying when I was 18 or 19. Cruising the block around the Greyhound station, was less complicated and got what I wanted. I used to go to gay bars too, but I was usually one of the youngest ones there, early 80's, most young people weren't out yet.  Reciprocation wasn't my thing then nor now, I used to walk the block looking for what was available and cars would stop trying to pick me up all the time. Also when I used to go to Cats, Trix or Stellas in NYC, same thing...I had to tell people "I'm shopping not selling!". I was pretty hot back then and never realized it..... I remember like it was yesterday the very first time, every detail. I had the class president from a local high school and twin Puerto Rican brothers that used to work the block....fun but dangerous times, I wasn't into anal back then, luckily, so many died of AIDS, sad.

 

[frazzle]

On 6/3/2024 at 4:56 PM, 12is12 said:

You dont need websites in brazil; saunas function as in-the-flesh sites.

PS - wondering why a 20y/o would want to pay sometimes.....

Have you seen the porn where they pretend to pay the guy before hooking up with him? I figured more people than just me were into this purely for the kink factor lol 

[frazzle]

On 6/3/2024 at 2:07 AM, floridarob said:

Stick to this plan since you have the ticket....Colombia and Brasil can be a different trip, like you said a bit closer.

 

 

Not in my experience... Westerners are held on a higher plateau in developing and third world countries......Take those same nationalities, that have made it to or born in the US,  they might not think much about skin color or where you're from, unless you're rich.....then in that case everyone is looking for a sugar daddy, lol

 

 

Brasil: AMAZING sex, fun guys, especially Cariocas (people from Rio)....Food in SP is good, Rio is meh, Rio good touristy stuff, SP big ugly city.

Medellin: I've just recently rediscovered here after many years avoiding it....going back for my 3rd time in the last 4 months, finding more love for Venezuelans but Colombians are good too. Great food options, Airbnb & Hotels a little more than others, not by much, guys are a bargain and well worth it.

Thailand: Fun AMAZING massage, food, Business class flights, hotels, nightlife, too transactional money sex, not cheap after considering off/drinks/tips,  occasionally find good sex, but usually mediocre, guys are nice but too many  seem to have a drama story waiting for the sympathetic Farang to throw money at them like an angel, then they buy an iPhone or splurge drink with their friends....not all, but a majority.

Philippines: Free scene guys are looking for a husband/bf money guys aren't as cheap as you think.....mixed bag. More expensive than other places in Asia in general.

Indonesia: Still the least expensive in my eyes for what you get and most are cut, which is a good change after all these years visiting uncut countries.


These are from my personal experiences and some generalizations as I've been traveling for a long time. Scenes change (Cuba) that used to be amazing and now dismal. I'm going back to Cambodia this year, I haven't been for a long time so can't comment much there, although my last time in PP, I was ready to leave and my only time in Vietnam, I was ready to leave after 2 days there. I live in Mexico and have a lot on my doorstep literally or a short flight away....You're in US, but some Mexico flights can be more than a flight to Colombia , but Mexico city, Monterrey are very gay and not so "touristic" Mexico.

There is no PERFECT place....and if there was, a lot of us would still go looking for the pot of gold somewhere else, lol

Thanks for this detailed post.

I did impulse buy the tickets but can still get it refunded or just direct it towards another flight.

My experience in Colombia, a lot of guys seemed hostile to foreigners. I've been told I can pass for latino, but when guys found out I was an American some would end the convo. Many had stuff in their bios about no foreigners. This is for free guys btw, obviously not escorts, which is most of my meet ups.

Funny enough, I have been considering Monterrey and Mexico City since they've very close. I've been there before but never done anything on topic. 

[bkkmfj2648]

On 6/4/2024 at 9:52 AM, floridarob said:

I wasn't into anal back then, luckily, so many died of AIDS, sad.

What you say is so true - I lost around 50% of my friends due to AIDS or due to the nasty side effects of AZT (thanks Dr. Fauci).

[floridarob]

7 hours ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

What you say is so true - I lost around 50% of my friends due to AIDS or due to the nasty side effects of AZT (thanks Dr. Fauci).

Would doing nothing have been better? Research has to start somewhere......

https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-aids-hiv-fauci-covid-pandemic-833586389602

[Keithambrose]

13 hours ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

What you say is so true - I lost around 50% of my friends due to AIDS or due to the nasty side effects of AZT (thanks Dr. Fauci).

Perhaps you should have tried bleach?

[bkkmfj2648]

Sorry guys - I will not tolerate these comments!! 

After going to the Sloan Kettering hospital in Manhattan many times during the 1980s and watching your loved friends die in so much pain and agony - often exacerbated by the hostile and caustic AZT, it was too much to bear.  This was well documented in the Dallas Buyers Club movie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dallas_Buyers_Club about all of the less caustic and painful alternatives that were available in Mexico but were blocked in the USA.

After losing 50% of my friends to AIDS in the 1980s and early 1990s, I suffered from "survivor's remorse" and I volunteered my body to science under the experimental clinical trials for Vaxgen in 1997, 1998, and 1999 - where for every 6 months we had to be share with the scientists all of our sexual encounters, types of sex, protected or not, etc. and get injected with the Vaxgen vaccine.  In the year 2000 after the conclusion of the study, we were told that it was only 17% effective and deemed to be a failure.  We were also told if we were in the placebo group or in the non-placebo group - I was in the non-placebo group and I was given a special card to show to the future medical authorities - as I could test false positive for AIDS and I was to show this Vaxgen card so that they would know that it is the result of the vaccine study trials.

I was asked to go onto Denver TV to say why did I volunteer my body for this Vaxgen trial and I responded:

"After watching so many of my friends die from AIDS in such a painful and violent way with AZT - I just had to do something in the memory of my lost friends....."

So, when you JUDGE me because I complain about the insensitivity of Dr. Fauci and the USA blocking the alternative medicines that were available in Mexico at that time, I ask to all of you - what personal sacrifice did you make to help with AIDS research??

[Latbear4blk]

9 minutes ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

what personal sacrifice did you make to help with AIDS research??

I would say it is not of your business, and besides it is irrelevant to the matter discussed. I praise you for your efforts and willingness to support the fight against the pandemic, but whether or not anyone did anything about it is completely irrelevant to determine whether or not they are right or wrong in this discussion.

[Pantherz]

On 6/3/2024 at 5:26 AM, frazzle said:

Philippines (Manila):

Pros: Very dense; English speaking; Filipino guys are very attractive; a ton of guys on Grindr readily advertise escorting and the prices are dirt cheap; I've heard Filipinos are generally pretty receptive to white guys, moreso than Colombians and Brazilians

Cons: It seems like the bathhouse scene is underwhelming; I've heard Manila as a city doesn't have much to offer for either food or activities 

Be careful in the Philippines (as you should everywhere else). New HIV diagnoses among young people continue to rise at an alarming rate, and many do not commence treatment until they start to experience AIDS related symptoms, so you can’t rely on treatment as prevention as a risk mitigator. Cases of other STIs like Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Hepatitis B & C, and HPV are also very much on the rise with very little routine STI testing being done because it isn’t free. 

Here is a recent article that might be of interest: 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1941639/hiv-cases-among-filipinos-continue-to-rise-says-doh/amp

[Latbear4blk]

On 6/3/2024 at 5:56 PM, 12is12 said:

You dont need websites in brazil; saunas function as in-the-flesh sites.

PS - wondering why a 20y/o would want to pay sometimes.....

Like @floridarob, I started paying for sex when I was very young, in my early 20s, even when I was having tons of sex for free with very attractive guys. I wanted the guys, and they would only go with me for money, so I paid them. These guys were street hustlers.

The myth of paid sex being for unattractive men who would not have intercourse otherwise is, as I said, just a myth. 

[Marc in Calif]

On 6/3/2024 at 12:07 AM, floridarob said:

Philippines: Free scene guys are looking for a husband/bf money guys aren't as cheap as you think.....mixed bag. More expensive than other places in Asia in general.

Indonesia: Still the least expensive in my eyes for what you get and most are cut, which is a good change after all these years visiting uncut countries.

Still making broad generalizations based on limited sample sizes, eh!  🤣

For example, these two countries have virtually the same rate of circumsion at 92% (for very different reasons).