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The day started the best way any Bangkok day can start: with Nine. Yes, that Nine. Those of you who've followed my trip reports for a while will know exactly who I mean—my long-standing, tried-and-true favourite. Even back in the days when I wasn’t fully sold on Banana Bar, I still showed up for him. Because Nine? He’s worth it. And of course, he delivered. As always. Same great vibe, same easy charm, same experience that leaves you wondering how he can be effortlessly Delightful.” At this point, we’ve built up a familiarity that just makes everything click. No awkward warm-ups or polite small talk—it’s like catching up with an old friend, if that friend also happens to be very good at massages and even better at everything that comes after. After our usual post-fun breakfast, Nine gave his customary gentle nudge—reminding me I can always text him if I want to meet outside the bar. Just include the off fee if it’s during work hours, and he’s there. I made a mental note. Having a reliable option like Nine on standby? A luxury worth treasuring—especially for those times when you need to recover from a less-than-great massage session or bar off. Feeling recharged and smugly content, I decided to get a jump on my shopping list before the impending Songkran madness turned my plan into a splash zone. Off to Platinum Mall I went, armed with a list, a vague sense of direction, and a wildly optimistic belief that my feet would hold out. Several hours and several bags later, my legs were sending out distress signals. I surrendered, paused for a quick food court lunch, and added in a foot massage for good measure. It helped. Sort of. But my inner hedonist wasn’t quite satisfied. Enter: Prince Spa. But first, coffee. Suan Phlu’s midday heat had me on the verge of dozing off on the sidewalk. That’s when I stumbled across a little gem—Nola Café. Cute, cool, and most importantly: they serve fresh beignets. Now, I don’t know about you, but finding hot, fluffy beignets in Bangkok is like finding a unicorn at the mall. For 245 baht, I was treated to six pillowy beignets, each dusted with just the right amount of powdered sugar, paired with a strong Americano that was basically rocket fuel for the soul. It was the kind of sweet, delicious moment that made me forget about the heat and get a little too comfortable in my food coma. Buzzed and sugar-fueled, I made my way to Prince Spa. You know the ritual—take a seat, sip your drink, stop yourself from choking from your drink and attempt the impossible: picking just one guy from a sea of gorgeous. It’s like being on the judging panel of Thailand’s Next Top Something. Then I spotted him—stocky, toned, with a broad build that reminded me of the Saboten Escorts in Tokyo. I pointed him out, and a moment later, he was striding toward me. “Hi, I’m Maxie,” he said, flashing a smile that could charge your phone. Maxie was, in a word, EXTRA. He’s just full of positivity and cheer, and his vibe? Think overly affectionate golden retriever meets flirty cartoon sidekick. He practically bounced into the shower with me, where he proceeded to turn a simple rinse into an aquatic comedy sketch—splashing, laughing, cheeky little nudges. Then came the massage. And look, “massage” might be generous. It was less “targeted muscle relief” and more “theatre of affection.” Every few minutes, Maxie would pause to nibble, cuddle, tickle, or whisper, “Are you happy?” with the earnestness of someone handing you a newborn puppy. His hands wandered as often as his thoughts, and the whole thing felt like I’d accidentally booked a spa day with an excitable boyfriend. To his credit, he did dial it up during the extras—suddenly shifting gears into something more sensual. But just as quickly, he bounced back to full Maxie-mode: affectionate, giggly, and absolutely incapable of sitting still. It was chaotic. It was oddly wholesome. And honestly? I kind of low key loved it. He’s not someone I’d book when I’m in the mood for quiet, slow-burning intensity. But for a day when you want a bit of light-hearted fun and nonstop serotonin? Maxie’s your guy. He made me laugh, feel doted on, and left me in that weirdly specific post-session state of both relaxed and slightly confused. Back at the hotel, I crashed for a nap—still smiling, slightly ticklish, and with powdered sugar memories lingering in my mind. Next stop: Atlas Bar.

First Impressions of Bangkok Alright, posting from Silom, Bangkok, where I have landed in time for the chaos and glory that is pre-Songkran. So, the moment you step out into Silom, the heat hits you like a very moist wall. It’s not just hot—it’s sultry, sticky, and oddly…promising? Within minutes, you’re surrounded by packs of very attractive, mostly Asian guys (we’re talking the full East Asian fantasy—Taiwanese, Korean, Japanese) in tank tops and gym shorts, strutting around like it’s Milan Fashion Week but with more glistening abs. Everyone’s clearly here for Gcircuit, the pool parties, and the upcoming water-soaked madness of Songkran. The vibe? Flirtatious. Borderline outrageous. Eye contact here isn’t accidental—it’s practically a come-on. I locked eyes with someone who looked like a K-pop backup dancer and briefly forgot how to walk. Soi 2 and Soi 4 are basically catwalks at this point. Locals, expats, and tourists are all out here trying to serve looks, charm, and just enough energy to make you question all your life choices. The energy is sexy but fun—no one’s taking it too seriously, except their gym and beauty routines, clearly. Grindr? A warzone. I opened it once, was met with a wall of shirtless torsos and Gcircuit passes, and promptly closed it for the sake of my self-esteem. (Honestly, I’m about two filtered pics away from uploading a potato with eyes and seeing if it gets more taps.) The bars—Balcony, Telephone, etc.—are already buzzing by 6 PM. Guys spilling into the streets, cocktails in hand, chatting like it’s Pride every night (which, here, it sort of is). There’s something genuinely lovely about it, though—smiles are easy, conversations flow, and for all the hotness on display, it still feels welcoming. You don’t have to be a six-pack-influencer type to feel like you belong. Although, let’s be real, it helps. And you can feel it building—the anticipation. Water guns are popping up everywhere, trucks loaded with buckets are appearing on street corners, and everyone’s gearing up for Bangkok’s biggest gay mess of the year. If this is the pre-party, I’m slightly terrified of what actual Songkran will look like—but also, weirdly excited? So yeah, first impressions: Bangkok feels like a dream… one where everyone is gorgeous, sweaty, and just slightly too cool for me—but in a charming way.

The trip kicked off with two nights in Tokyo, and let’s just say it was planned with a certain kind of experience in mind. I decided to treat myself to a couple of high-quality overnight sessions through Saboten Escorts (https://mens-salon-saboten.com/en/staff/ ) And since I figured I’d be spending most of my nights at their location, I cheekily skipped the hotel and thought I’d rough it by using a train station locker for my stuff. It sounded practical on paper and honestly, kind of adventurous too. That said, reality hit when I realised I’d need to provide a local address on the arrival card. Concerned it might raise some red flags, I played it safe and booked a cheap hostel at the last minute. It worked out well—nothing fancy, but it did the job, and I still ended up saving quite a bit while keeping things simple and efficient. Kenji: And here's Taiga: For both nights, I booked time with Kenji and Taiga, and wow—I lucked out. My sessions ended up being booked in a hotel (Hotel Queen Annex), which might’ve been because the shop itself was fully booked. Whatever the reason, I was grateful. The hotel was spacious and comfortable and both Kenji and Taiga were incredibly warm and eager to please, even with the language barrier. What made the experience even better was the casual time spent outside the room. They were game for dinner and drinks, which made everything feel more relaxed and less transactional. Honestly, it was the perfect combo of physical fun and chill hangout vibes. I’d totally do it again, but two nights feels like the sweet spot—enough to indulge without going overboard. After Tokyo, it was straight to Bangkok. I’ll admit—I was a bit nervous that two intense nights in Japan would burn me out before even hitting Thailand. But the moment I stepped off the plane in Bangkok, I felt this surge of energy. It’s that unexplainable buzz you get just being in this city. Immigration was a breeze—no line at all. I got processed and stamped in literally under two minutes. The baggage carousel, however, wasn’t quite as efficient—it took about 15 to 20 minutes before any bags showed up. Not a big deal though; I used the time to get a local SIM card and pull out some baht from the ATM. By the time I got back, my luggage was already waiting for me. On the way to my hotel via a pre-booked shuttle, I took in the sights and was happy to see things feeling almost back to normal. The driver confirmed that tourism had been a bit slower than usual—probably due to the recent earthquake—but everyone’s optimistic that Songkran will bring a much-needed spike in visitors. Fingers crossed! This time around, I chose to stay outside of Silom, in the Narathiwas area. It’s a quieter, more residential part of Bangkok—not walking distance from a train station, but it has its perks. The area has everything I need within a few minutes’ walk: a 7-11, some okay-ish restaurants, cafes, and even a laundromat. After the buzz and sensory overload of Tokyo, I actually appreciated the slightly slower pace. Once I got to my room, I had that usual Day 3 jet lag creeping in. I was really tempted to just crash, especially after the last two nights of near-zero sleep. The bed looked way too inviting. I gave in and let myself have a proper nap, but not before setting an alarm for 9 PM. Jet lag or not, there’s no way I was going to sleep through my first night in Bangkok!

Now if Dept of Agriculture would have the balls to do the same 🤷‍♂️ Wasn't planned, he was supposed to go to BKK today but stayed in Pattaya one more night, no doubt to meet me 😝 I was out the night before in BKK, didn't sleep until 7am, Mike Taxi to Pattaya at noon and was exhausted when I arrived.... by the time I got settled in and ate, I took a 3 hr nap. I had planned to stay in Boyztown for the night but saw he posted that he was at Cocka2 bar when I woke up and headed over there... I met one of his personalities and we talked about an hour, he's too nice a guy to become my replacement for @gayinpattaya 🤷‍♂️ We talked about Madagascar guys, and I went with one ultimately a while later.... I'd also 100% hang out with @Olddaddy and have drinks again. He says he's top only , Madagascar, not Old daddy , might be possible but I have a feeling he would bottom if asked.... He said it's ok to post his pics here, as he's looking for customers.... we did short time for 1200 thb, we were together over 3-4 hrs, went for drinks, chatted via translator mostly, but I'll go with him again. He's someone I'd expect to see at Bangu sauna outside of Rio, with a bit smaller cock....but was def fun and willing to do everything I asked 😁 His name is Bruno goes by Chocolate on Grindr +66-97-078-6470

Songkran Pool Party at SO/ Bangkok Right, here’s the lowdown on the SO/ Bangkok Songkran pool party—because what better way to celebrate Thai New Year than by half-drowning in overpriced cocktails and being hypnotised by the back muscles of beautiful young Korean men? I dragged my boyfriend of the week along (he had forgotten his flip flops so I gave him a pair of cute hotel slippers 🥰 ). We arrived early, mostly because we’d heard the queue gets biblical and we were determined to snag a decent spot with both shade and a clear view of the pool. Priorities, you know. The first thing we saw upon entering—and I swear I’m not being dramatic—was a vision. A group of young Koreans, sculpted like they’d walked off the cover of Men’s Health: Seoul Edition, standing near the water’s edge in matching swim shorts. And then it happened: he turned around. One of them. His back was… something else entirely. The kind of back that poets would write odes to if they weren’t too distracted by the lower half. Slim but athletic, not bulky—just enough muscle to trace the perfect V. There was this subtle dance happening across his shoulder blades every time he moved, I was so totally mesmerised that I forgot to go to the bar to buy drinks for a second. The crowd was mixed at first—a fairly even ratio of gays, straights, and a few who were clearly just there for the Instagram content. There were a few muscled circuit boys, twinky tourists from Taiwan, a few bears lounging in speedos, and that one older German couple who were clearly having the time of their lives dancing like it was Berghain in 2003. We eventually settled in near a group of Spanish lads from Madrid who were delightfully tipsy and wearing matching metallic short-shorts. One of them, Leo, claimed he’d lost his shirt and his ex in the same afternoon. We chatted about sangria, and which body parts were most likely to get accidentally groped in the pool (all of them). As the sun dropped behind the skyline, the energy shifted. The straights slowly filtered out or huddled awkwardly in corners while the gays fully took over—like glittery aquatic conquistadors. The music went from tropical house to deep-throbbing circuit beats. People started dancing in the water, on the sunbeds, on each other. A few guests had clearly brought go-go boys from the bars and they added just the right amount of campy chaos to the evening. I lost my boyfriend for about twenty minutes and found him being fed tequila by a group of Brazilian boys with bodies that defied biology. In the end, we left soaked, sun-kissed, and just a little bit in love with Songkran (and maybe also with that Korean guy’s back—but let’s not dwell). It was the kind of party that leaves you a bit dazed, a bit deaf, and totally buzzing. Songkran is madness, yes, but if you embrace it—and book a room near the lifts—you’ll have an unforgettable time. Would go again.

Decided to sleep in today to re energise and prepare for the days ahead. Wanting to take it a bit slow but by mid day my feet are itching and the temptation of going out proved to be too compelling.Bangkok isn’t the kind of place that lets you chill for too long anyway—the city calls and you answer. Made my way to Siam Paragon and immediately noticed the festive buzz and Songkran is definitely in the air. The decorations, the crowd, even the music had that extra spark. I wandered around a bit, letting the escalators and connecting walkways carry me from one mall to another. There's something comforting about these mega-malls: cool air, clean spaces, and a constant stream of people doing their own thing. I took my time, soaking in the vibes, enjoying the rhythm of people-watching like it was a low-key sport. Eventually made my way to the food court, where I refueled with something satisfying. After that, I plopped myself down at a Starbucks, cold drink in hand, continuing my quiet observation of the world moving around me. When I had my fill, I decided to try out Nine Spa in Sukhumvit. Messaged via Line and I was provided with their menu of services. One positive I picked up from their pricing is the difference between 1 hour and 1.5 hours massage is only 100 baht. And the minimum tip for 1 and 1.5 hours is the same which is 1000 baht. Unlike other shops that you will end up paying 500 baht or more (as both massage and minimum tip increases), Nine Spa's menu shows more value just for an additional 100 baht Hopped in a taxi, but made the rookie mistake of trusting the app’s pin instead of following Nine Spa’s actual directions. Got dropped off a street away and ended up doing a mini-trek to the place. It's tucked not too far from the Quarter Phrom Phong, just a short walk once you figure out the right alley. When I arrived, I was introduced to my chosen Masseur (Chay) and off we went. Now one negative thing about Nine Spa is that there is no private shower. Lucky my room is basically right next to the shower and there's only two rooms sharing a shower in my floor. Shower room looKs decent and the large bottle of mouthwash a good plus (not all spa have this). When Chay returned to the room he asked me if I want a "clean" massage. I was confused and don't know what to say. Should I be upfront and say I'm not after anything clean at all ? Good thing when I asked him to repeat, he actually meant "cream" massage and showed me a bowl with massage cream on it. Crisis averted! To be honest, I came in with low expectations of the massage component given the price. I was expecting one of those mechanical, let's-get-this-over-with routines. But Chay surprised me. It wasn’t Ssense-level finesse, but the massage had actual technique and effort. Long, deliberate strokes that made me feel like I was in good hands, literally. Then came the fun part. The extras were... thorough. He took his time. Checked in. Looked pleased with himself. After I finished, he cleaned me up, gave me a look, and asked if I could return the favour. Who am I to deny good manners? Let’s just say Chay didn’t hold back. Gave me a surprise ending right across my chest. Cream massage indeed. I nearly clapped. Gave Chay more than the minimum tip. I really wouldn't mind returning to Nine Spa. Sukhumvit is not really my area but there are some nice malls to explore in there that makes the trip worth it. Plus their pricing is competitive with Saphan Kwai shops. Night time came and Banana Club was my destination. As always, performance is on point but one thing I noticed, is that there's a bit more exposure time for their guys now. Their roster have grown and I can see some former hotmale and freshboys guys in their lineup. I locked eyes with my usual guy Nine and he smiled. I motioned him to join me in my seat which he gladly did. "You say you come Sunday I was waiting for you" nine said sulking. It only took a few minutes and he's back to the usual clingy sweet guy especially when I asked him if he wants to go with me. While waiting for a taxi, Nine was full-on affectionate—holding my hand, throwing his arm around me, sneaking in quick kisses. Normally, I’d cringe at that much PDA, but tonight I just rolled with it. No point overthinking when you’re vibing with someone who’s just happy you showed up.

Decided to ease into the day and take it slow—no adventures below the belt, at least while the sun’s up. Figured I owed it to my upper and lower back, which has been quietly screaming since that long-haul economy flight. I’d been bouncing around Bangkok without a proper massage, which in hindsight felt like a form of self-neglect. Found a massage shop not far from the hotel. Nothing shady, just a legit setup with calming music and an actual menu where “oil massage” meant oil massage, not a coded invitation. Signed up for a two-hour oil session with a body scrub thrown in for good measure. The masseuse, bless her, had this perfect balance of grace and power. Those long, slow strokes that coax your muscles into submission, plus the occasional elbow that found every buried knot I didn’t know I had. I came dangerously close to nodding off more than once. When it was over, I floated out of there feeling like I’d been steamed, basted, and reset. My skin was glowing, my jetlag had vanished, and for once my shoulders weren’t attempting to fuse with my ears. Back at the hotel, I just... lounged. Let that post-massage blisd linger. Ignored the growing pile of Line messages from massage shops with tempting offers. But I told myself to chill. I didn’t come all the way to Bangkok just to rush from one boy to another like a horny hummingbird (maybe I do but not on a daily basis? Lol). Sometimes you’ve got to just soak in the stillness. Once evening rolled around, I rallied and headed out to meet @Raposa at Have a Zeed in Silom Complex. First time linking up with a fellow forum member, so I was excited and curious. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but Raposa turned out to be a great guy! easy-going, quick with a joke, and a solid conversationalist. We hit it off immediately, chatting about everything from the quirks of the Bangkok scene to our favorite travel spots. He wasn’t just a fellow forum member------he was someone you’d actually want to hang out with. A perfect balance of laid-back and insightful, which made for an enjoyable dinner and even better company as we swapped stories about past trips, mishaps, and of course, some bar gossip. After dinner, we moved to the bar beneath Hotmale since it's too early to head inside, but the street-side seating is perfect for people-watching. The boys started rolling in, tight tees clinging in all the right places, sneakers hitting the cracked pavement of Patpong with that slow, deliberate swagger. No pretense, just streetwise charm and easy sex appeal, the kind that fits right in with the buzz of motorbikes, neon glare, and the persistent shriek from hustlers trying to reel in a passing tourist. It wasn’t polished. it was raw, alive, and sexy in that unmistakably Bangkok way. Eventually, we wandered over to Dragon and Koi. Chatted with Pi and one of his mates while the shows cycled through their dance routines. Somewhere in between drinks, I got a Line message from James (last night’s boy) saying he’d seen me with a friend and wondered if I wanted company again tonight. I laughed. Sweet guy, but I wasn’t looking to run it back just yet. Variety is kind of the point, isn’t it? We made our way to Good Boy after that. And there he was—---Mai—---sitting right by the door eating dinner like a scene straight out of my dreams. He hadn’t been around during my last visit, so seeing him now was a very unexpected treat. He looked up as we approached, gave a casual smile, and I swear I felt my face flush. It was ridiculous, like I was in some adolescent romcom. There’s just something about him. his energy, that effortless charm that hits me square in the chest. Total schoolboy crush territory, and completely off-limits. The place was packed, and we ended up with one of those horribly positioned tables where you need to rotate your neck like a barn owl to see the stage. I only bothered with the contortions when Mai came out during the Big Cock show. Couldn’t not watch. When he came down after to collect tips, I made sure our table got his attention. Of course I tipped. How could I not? Once my Mai moment was ticked off for the night, it was time to turn my attention elsewhere. Raposa had already locked in his choice and was deep in conversation. Looked like they were either negotiating an off or the merits of neo liberal fiscal policy. I spotted a guy with a warm smile and a relaxed vibe, waved him over mostly to avoid looking like Raposa’s lonely wingman. He introduced himself as Nam, from Vietnam. This trip’s theme,as I will later realise was unintentionally, going to be “Boys from Vietnam and Myanmar,” and I’m not mad about it. Nam didn’t waste any time. He slid in close, his hand casually resting on mine, leaning in to whisper something soft in my ear. A kiss on my neck, a slow, teasing move that made it clear what he was after placing my hands strategically to make his case compelling. There was no talk of long time, just a mutual understanding that tonight was about keeping it simple and easy. After the whirlwind of last night, a quick and uncomplicated encounter seemed more than appealing. Raposa wrapped up his deal around the same time. We paid our off fees, shook hands like soldiers in the trenches, then went our separate ways. Each with a boy on our arm and a story to tell for next time.

Planning to be in Bangkok for Songkran, last minute plans had me on a road trip through Chon Buri and Rayong instead. I was glad to have escaped the insane crowds of perfectly sculpted Chinese muscle gods glistening in sweat and targeted sprays from water guns, aimed at their tight white shorts with nothing underneath. I returned to our beloved city of sin, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit, only to see the crowds dramatically reduced. And hotel rates cut in half. Ah, bliss. i quickly decided to check out Atlas since there is one particular performer from The One and even formerly from Tawan I believe, who I quite like. He’s older, shorter, Thai but gives a mixed vibe almost as if Latino- confirmed, he’s not. Unfortunately he’s not there. The bar is actually quite slow. It’s me and one other table for a while until a few more tables trickle in. Not a great vibe, but the show goes on, and is somewhat enjoyable. None of the guys are my type, even though the mamasan (a very femme, short lil’ dolled up queen) is pushing me towards a young looking boy from Myanmar who she guarantees has a massive tool, wrist thick. Having never been with a boy from Myanmar, and his face being somewhat cute in a ferret type of way, and his pecs quite juicy but soft and undefined. Not an awful prospect, but no. There’s one guy who looks Polynesian who has an amazing body, but he sits apart from the rest of the guys and doesn’t engage in eye contact. I was hoping to feel his bicep in exchange for a tip, but he seems disinterested. A guy on stage is very eager, and making motions toward me and trying to act comedic. He’s older, lean, muscular, okay bulge. He’s always nice to me and I never tip or buy him a drink, and today I reflected on that as he’s one of the few performers who tries to increase the vibe. I pay for my drink (vodka coke) which is 500 THB, leave a 100 THB tip and offered 100 THB during the show to feel someone’s erection. I leave, feeling mixed but not disappointed. Atlas has been better before, a mere month prior. It must be a bad day. I get pulled across the street which I always find to be a confusing mess of bars. I end up in what I assume is Fresh Boys. It’s up some stairs, above what I believe is Good Boys formerly Screw Boys? Please correct me. The entire layout is confusing to my poor stupid little brain. And more to that- what shows on this soi are the best? As of posting, I have one day left- please, share the best! Honestly I’m STUNNED at the lineup here. Immediately I see 17 and 23- both have big ears, lean and entirely ripped bodies with bulging pecs, biceps and impossible thin waists and torsos. The porportions on both are exactly my type. The mamasan here is a a bit pushy, but in a light and funny way. She’s got a bit of a charm. She invites 17 over: I don’t buy him a drink, but I give him a tip, and she nods for him to sit with me. I ask him some questions and find out he’s straight and from Vietnam and I immediately remember my last bar boy experience with a Vietnamese guy which was just blatant ripping off at every corner. I go cold. Ah- okay, not this one. He sits with me for a moment and then leaves. There is a big cock show and 23 is the first on stage. I need him. I motion to him to come for a drink afterward. During the parade where the boys allow you to touch (and the announcer says suck!) I tip him 100 THB and confirm I’m buying him a drink. He sits with me. English is not the best but not bad. He’s from Vietnam. Oh no. Are you straight? Yes. I’m fine with that. I get a sense he’s more honest than the last, but I’m so skeptical. In the end, the prospect of being next to this guy in bed is too much to resist as he’s almost flawlessly my type. And lo and behold; nearly every guy on stage is acceptable to a degree. They hit my specific audience I guess. The best bar lineup yet? After some back and forth, asking about the pricing, and ensuring there’s no ridiculous restrictions or extra charges for simple things, I agree to off him. 400 THB for my drink (vodka coke), 400 THB for his drink, and 500 THB for the off fee. 1300 THB to the bar. As discussed, 2500 THB to the boy at the hotel. I was honestly surprised it wasn’t 3000 THB! He changes and we walk to my hotel. It’s The Quarter Silom which is a great rate during this downtime, at 40 USD. I watch him shower through the frosted glass and then he lays on the bed and turns on straight porn on his phone. I softly lick his nipples which are perky on his bouncy pecs, impressively so for his small frame. He moans whether fake or not, and I work my tongue down his tongue, sucking gently on the crevice where his legs meets his crotch. I place each testicle in my mouth and dance my tongue around them, then lick up the shaft and swallow his cock whole. It’s impressive in its size at around 17cm and slides down a throat with ease. I pull him into my throat again and again by sucking gently, and swirl my tongue while doing so. He pulls my head deeper until he’s fully inside my throat, and I create suction and wiggle my tongue in place. I love sucking him, watching his chiseled abs clench while my hand is behind on his back, above his arched ass. This boys body is absolutely perfect. I’m allowing myself every desire that arises in savouring it. I ask him to fuck me, he places a condom on his rock hard cock, and directs me to the edge of the bed. He slams his cock into my with professional ease, and immediately starts at a rhythm that has my prostate pulsing. Wow. This guy can’t be more than 22 and has a skill like this? I can’t hold it for long and I cum hands free, blowing a load all over my chest after just a few minutes of him slamming my hole. He immediately gets off, removes the condom and showers. So straight, I think to myself. I give him the 2500 thb as agreed and I look for a 500 to tip him with and only have 1000’s. I take a handful of small bills and think to give it to him, but feel it may be insulting, so hesitate. He sees this in my hand and looks down and seems sad to not receive it, and leaves. I vow to return to the bar and tip him properly, as not only did he not rip me off, he provided a good service and that would be rewarded in this type of industry as it’s sorely missing.

Quick update on The Best Bar special Songkran show. Yesterday, Saturday 12 April 2025, on the eve of the official Songkran Festival Day, The Best Bar prepared a special Songkran show. It was pretty full - as a group of about 15 to 18 Chinese tourists were convinced to stop walking about by the lead ladyboy and to sit down and drink and see the show. That lead ladyboy is The Best Bar's lead marketer. My Thai boyfriend explained to me the authenticity of the costumes as being from the Thai Cambodia border region of the type = Siam Apsara - which I had never seen before. Kudos to The Best Bar for this entertaining cultural exchange. ok, ok, ok, I know that most of you horn dogs don't care about the cultural aspects - so let us cut to the erection of our beloved Max - who had to perform all alone, as his sexy dancing accomplice, May Day, did not appear last night. 1744524899440.mp4 So, after midnight, as we transitioned into the next day = Sunday 13 April 2025 - all hell broke out as 2 obnoxious farangs with water guns started to spray the performers on the stage and also us in the audience. Our table of 5 was caught off guard by this surprise, and I got a direct hit into my left weak eye - I am still feeling the effects this morning, of that burning sensation. Luckily, I have some eye medicine that I can treat it with. I was surprised by the reaction of one of my Thai boyfriend's friends - as he calmly emptied out the cold water from our whiskey ice bucked into a glass and then walked over to the 2 obnoxious farangs and dumped ICE COLD water onto the 2 of them - I was ecstatic and so happy that those 2 bitches received their rightful revenge. Then one of the performers who had had enough (as they were sending direct hits of water into her vaginal area and onto her face and eyes as she was trying to bring the show to its conclusion) - and disappeared back stage - but the DJ kept the show performance music going (as to create the illusion that the show was continuing...) and she reappeared with one of those MONSTER super soaker water guns, and hosed down those 2 farang bastards - it was GREAT!!! because they were totally caught off-guard - as none of us expected this type of response. random photo taken from internet to display the super soaker water gun It is one thing to shoot people with water out on the street but in my humble opinion you should NOT do that inside a show venue while a show is going on...... We ask for our check bin and on the way out, we were gently face painted - as per the Songkran tradition and then I asked my boyfriend to accompany me by escaping via the Agate hotel tunnel/passageway out onto the Dongtan beach road entrance to my condo - as the other way in the Supertown complex - versus the Poseidon principal entrance/exit was already in full mayhem, and I was not appropriately dressed to deal with it. So, it was a great night out and I am still soo soo soo happy that those 2 farang assholes got their justly revenge from the Thai community.....

I needed a break from Pattaya last week and the urge to visit Bangkok immediately after the Friday 28 March 2025 earthquake - gave me the excuse to go and visit BKK. I have noticed throughout my life that I seem to be attracted to disasters.... Me at the Costa Concordia disaster in 2012 off the coast of Giglio island in Italy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Concordia_disaster So, I explore Bangkok last week and the only inconvenience due to the earthquake that I experienced, was that I was not allowed to go to the top of the Mahanakhon tower to visit the Skywalk - as it was closed (3 April 2025) for post earthquake damage assessment. I have since learned that some of my friends who have condos in BKK have encountered earthquake damages in their condos that will need to be fixed. One friend is having to pay 250,000 baht to fix cracks in his condo walls. In this trip to BKK, I wanted to have NEW experiences and a visit to Benchakiti Park was on my list. So, on Saturday 5 April 2025 I first visit Lumphini Park looking everywhere for the entrance to Benchakiti Park - as I had read that these 2 parks are now connected. WRONG!! They are NOT connected and I share the below so that you can avoid the long extra walking mistake that I made - indicated in RED below. I had walked the perimeter of Lumphini Park looking for signs / indications of the cutover that I had read about to get to Benchakiti Park. After not finding one, I gave up and just exited Lumphini Park where the RED X is indicated on the below map. I walked upwards on Witthayu Road towards the One Bangkok complex - as it appeared on my Google map as being connected to Benchakiti Park = NOT - there is a certain point where as a pedestrian you cannot walk anymore as the pathway ends and becomes a large entrance only for cars onto a big highway. So, a kind security guard directed me to what I believe was northbound on small tiny roads that eventually entered into a shanty town with streets where cars could not pass - as they were too narrow and only pedestrians and motorbikes could pass in these narrow alleys (it reminded me of my many walks in the back streets of Venice). Unlike in the Philippines - when I entered their shantytowns, I was not afraid - as I am already intune with the local Thai people and their kindness - as we definitely could not understand each other there. I think that the locals understood where I wanted to go (as I presumed that I was not the only lost farang looking for the entrance to the unmarked Benchakiti Park), as they all kept indicating to me which alley way that I needed to meander through to get to the upper pedestrian bridge that connects Witthayu Road with an overpass bridge specifically built that brings you to Benchakiti Park that is elevated over the shanty town. So, the lesson learned for an enjoyable entrance to Benchakiti Park from Lumphini Park is: You need to physically EXIT Lumphini Park at the extreme North East exit (as shown below): and then walk perhaps 100 meters north and you will find a stairway that goes up onto a purposely built pedestrian bridge (I believe that it is called the Green Mile) that will take you over the busy Witthayu Road, over all of the below shanty town, and then over the busy Duang Phithak Road, and by then you are physically in Benchakiti Park. When you arrive to Benchakiti Park - you can stay up on the meandering walkway - which is what I did - OR - you can take the stairs and go down into the park and walk amongst the greenery, streams, swamps, etcetera. There are many placards during the walk to tell you what you are looking at in both Thai and in English. Nice greenery and eye candy down below. I highly recommend a visit to Benchakiti Park, and now you can enjoy it more than I did, as I exhausted my energy levels when I became lost in the intense heat. I would definitely go back - but: using the direct route - to conserve my energy to enjoy the park more, on a more cloudy day to avoid the intense rays of the sun, and, I would venture down from the meandering elevated pedestrian walkway to be up and closer to the nature. https://hikerhero.com/benjakitti-park/ Enjoy!!

Good advice. I am in the process of deciding whether to go ahead with my proposed relocation. I'd hoped that my last few weeks in Jomtien would have given me an answer; but no, they didn't, serving only to raise more issues.. And unlike the poster, I have thirty years of visits and a LTR of twenty years to help me make a decision, not forgetting the massive financial benefits I'd reap by selling my London house. For a UK citizen of my age, the decision to relocate would be the most significant by far since I retired; and if I were to go ahead, there'd be no returning home if things went pear-shaped for financial reasons. Medical issues? even more vIsa changes? banking? another coup and nationalist government in Thailand unfriendly to foreigners? Yes, unlikely but possible. The fact is that if I move to Thailand, I die in Thailand. What became clear a few weeks ago, is that location is one of the most important issues. Jomtien is our preferred location but not anywhere in the vicinity. There are areas that would not be suitable, too far from the sea, isolated in terms of transport, or too "new" and undergoing construction to be to attractive us. So my advice is to do what I am doing; take your time and, for heaven's sake, make a trial run for few months. Not as a tourist but as a resident. Not in a hotel but in a rented condo where you have to look after yourself and sort out your own problems.

I woke up with Nam still fast asleep beside me. I slipped out of bed like a thief in the night, careful not to wake him, and made myself a coffee. I sat on the chair next to the bed, sipping slowly, just watching him. There’s something quietly captivating about seeing someone you were tangled up with the night before sleeping so peacefully—like a living postcard from the night that was. A few minutes later, Nam stirred, opened his eyes, smiled lazily, and beckoned me to come back in. I didn’t need a second invitation. I climbed back into bed, and we melted into each other for a while, just holding, letting the warmth linger. When he finally sat up, I asked what he wanted for breakfast. He declined at first—just coffee, he said. But then his eyes caught the stash of bread on the counter. He pointed and asked if he could have some. Of course. We munched quietly, talked a bit more, and somewhere between the last slice and the last sip, things took a familiar turn again. This time, more than cuddling—slow, lazy touches evolving into something deeper. We exchanged Line before he left. He said I should invite him if I want to “play water” during Songkran. The way he said it, with that little grin, made it sound like the invite might involve more than just water. That afternoon, I wandered over to Arena for a little extracurricular activity. I arrived too early—the lineup looked disappointing in terms of quality and quantity . I was told to come back in an hour, which I did. On round two, the energy picked up. I picked a guy named Tom and we headed to the room. As soon as we got in, he told me to shower first because he needed to get something. He must have sensed my disappointment as he quickly backpedaled with a smile and offered to join me in the shower instead. Much better. Nothing new to report on the Arena front. It’s as solid and predictable as ever—my dependable go-to when I want something quick and uncomplicated. The prices are reasonable, the quality decent, and the location perfect if you’re staying around Silom. Saphan Khwai still wins on variety, but I’ll take Arena’s reliability any day. Afterwards, I made a quick trip to Central Rama 3 to pick up some groceries and supplies, then headed back to the hotel. The rest of the afternoon slipped by without much fuss—just lounging, resting, letting the day exhale. As night rolled in, I had zero plans. I found myself drifting toward Dreamboys, where a tout pulled me in with the usual promise. Same old vibe inside—pulsing music, glowing lights, and some familiar faces back in rotation. Looks like their “Thai-only” phase is over. A few boys I knew from Goodboy who now moved back to Dreamboys came over to say hi, but the mood just wasn’t landing for me. I left in under thirty minutes. I walked back toward Goodboys. Tee and Emma were outside, so I stopped to chat. Tee looked worn out—still clearly recovering. I felt a pang of concern. Inside, the energy was low-key, and Tee led me to my usual spot with my usual Diet Coke. Emma came over and, in classic Emma fashion, immediately asked how things went with Nam. I glanced across the room and spotted Nam already seated with a customer—next to number 42, who I had been eyeing for the night. So much for that plan. Nam walked over to give me a hug and say hi. He said he wasn’t sure if his customer would off him. I nodded, but my eyes had already moved elsewhere. That’s when I saw Min. T’s brother. Cute, sweet, and always a little too shy for me. I’ve seen him many times before, invited him to sit when his brother was around, but never offed him. I used to think pairing two introverts was a bad idea—we’d just end up sitting in silence, awkwardly sipping our drinks. But tonight, Min looked different. More relaxed. Chatty. Even flirtatious. Laughing with other boys, making jokes, clearly more comfortable in his own skin. Something had shifted, and suddenly I couldn’t take my eyes off him. We caught each other’s gaze, and he smiled. I motioned for him to come over. He greeted me with a wai and a hug. “Welcome back,” he said. I asked if he remembered me. He laughed. “You’re brother’s friend.” Not wrong. A moment later, T joined us too—he had just come back from an early off. He plopped down next to us and immediately started joking about making more money tonight. Min, meanwhile, was doing the most. Playfully moving my hands over places usually reserved for later. Flirting without holding back. At one point, he loudly claimed he’s bigger than his brother. T laughed and tossed it back: “He’s offed me before—he can be the judge.” I wanted to crawl under the table. What was this? A family feud with cock measuring as the main event? I don't want to be part of this sibling rivalry! Min left to change into his street clothes while T shifted gears, pretending to be hurt I didn’t tell him I was in town. We made plans to meet the next day for some Songkran fun in Silom. Then Mai—my long-time crush—came down from the Big Cock Show to collect tips. Naturally, I was ready with my wallet. Outside, Min and I waited for our Grab. My phone rang—it was the driver, and I panicked. Min calmly took the phone, answered in Thai, and handled everything like a pro. Turns out he used to sell sugarcane juice on the street and picked up the language that way. Somehow, that made him even hotter. Back at the hotel, we chatted a bit more and eventually undressed without saying much, both of us smiling like we already knew where the night was heading. We took a shower together started with lingering touches turning into kisses. In bed, he was nothing like the shy boy I remembered. He was playful, confident, a little cheeky even teasing me with his mouth, whispering things I didn’t expect from someone who used to barely make eye contact. He took his time, and so did I. It was tender, but not timid. He kissed like he meant it, moved with purpose, responded to every touch with a soft sigh or a smile. When he straddled me, looking down with that mix of sweetness and mischief, I knew I had completely misread him before. Afterwards, we lay there, still skin against skin, the room quiet except for our breathing. He rested his head on my chest, and I just stared at the ceiling, grinning like a fool. I had no idea this was what I’d end up with tonight—but damn, I’m glad I did.

The historical and geopolitical analysis and conversation from this thread is so impressive! Unfortunately, not much I can contribute around the topic. Writing this report while having a foot spa / pedi at a massage shop in Surawong. Gave me some time to do a bit of writing in between whoring! ---------- After James left, I realized how completely drained I was. The moment the door closed behind him, I collapsed onto the bed and sank into a deep, dreamless sleep. It was honestly the reset I didn’t know I needed. As fun as our time was, I really need to start being mindful of my energy. I'm not as young as I used to be—and my body’s definitely not shy about reminding me. Woke up late and slow. Breakfast was just a bunch of random stuff from 7-11—some snacks and whatever looked vaguely breakfast-y—chased down with black coffee. Nothing fancy, but it did the job. Checked work emails just to make sure there were no small fires to put out. Thankfully, it was a quiet inbox. Spent the morning lounging and taking my time. No rush, no noise. Just how I like it sometimes. Sometime in the afternoon, I messaged Ssense and booked Mai for a two-hour session via their Line account. They did what they always do—tried to push the expensive package. I passed. Paying an extra 300 baht just to get rubbed down with fancy oil isn’t worth it to me. Feels like paying more for the same outcome. Got to the place and everything felt familiar. I started to relax and mentally settled into what I expected to be the usual decent experience. The massage itself was fine—same level as before—but it ended way too early. Mai stepped out after about 90 minutes, saying he’d go shower. I figured, sure, he wants to rinse off after the B2B part. But when he came back, he told me to shower, and I noticed he was already tidying up the room, setting it for the next customer. There were still at least 15 minutes left. Just like that, it was done. Tipped the bare minimum and messaged Mr. S about it. He apologized, but I don’t really expect anything to come of it. First time this has happened, and fingers crossed it’s also the last. Headed out after that to Suan Phlu market. Picked up some fruit and grabbed a couple of waterproof bags for Songkran. Afterward, made my way to Icon Siam to kill some time. The Souk Siam food market was lively as ever—this time with a Songkran theme going on. Sat by the waterfront for a while, just enjoying the view and watching the crowd. The mood felt normal again. Seems the recent earthquake has slipped from the forefront of people’s minds. Chatted with the taxi driver on the way there—he brought up the structure collapse in Chatuchak. He said some of the workers who were “missing” might not be under the rubble at all, but are actually undocumented and hiding to avoid being found. Not sure if it’s true or just gossip, so I didn’t say much. Spent the early evening chilling in the hotel. Then, once the timing felt right, I headed over to Good Boy. The Mama San greeted me like an old friend—we sat outside on the couch and had a quick catch-up. Tee the papasan showed up not long after. He looked tired and a little worn out. I asked how he was, and he told me he'd just gotten out of the hospital after a three-month stay. Even showed me a photo. Said he’s trying to live healthier now, but working in a bar makes that an uphill battle. Inside, the show was starting. Same format as always, though the faces had changed—apparently a fresh batch from Laos and Vietnam. One noticeable change: Mai wasn’t in the Big Cock show. That stung. To make it worse, my favorite from last time—Number 7—got scooped up right away. No chance. Double heartbreak. Still, I scanned the lineup and noticed Number 73—cute, with a shy vibe that stood out. I waved him over. Turns out he’s only been working there for a couple of months. Took him a few minutes to open up, but soon enough he was smiling, getting playful, and clearly trying to seal the deal. I found his awkwardness kind of adorable, so I offed him. Wasn’t sure yet if I wanted him for LT. When I asked, he just said, “Up to you,” with that same sheepish smile. We stopped by Foodland after and I asked what he wanted to eat. He just said, “You can order for me.” Again—so unsure of himself but in a sweet way. It made me wonder how many more months he’ll stay that way before the bar life fully gets to him. Back at the hotel, things shifted. He relaxed a lot more and was surprisingly cheeky and passionate once we were alone. The whole thing turned out better than I expected. Afterward, we were curled up in bed and I asked if he wanted to stay the night. Same answer, same shy smile: “Up to you.” And just like that, another Bangkok night ended—with cuddles, quiet, and the buzz of the city outside.

I woke up in a mild panic, thinking I’d slept through my alarm—but nope, it was only 8:45 p.m. Crisis averted. Still plenty of time to get ready before heading out to Surawong. First order of business: a well-deserved foot massage. A little treat to get me in the right mood for the night.It’s one of those simple pleasures that just never gets old. Relaxing, quiet, cheap. Bangkok doing what Bangkok does best. After that, I made my way to Dragon and Koi. It was already past ten, and from the outside, the place looked pretty dead—just a couple of customers inside. Still, I figured why not? Let’s check it out anyway. As soon as I sat down and ordered, one of the hosts came over like clockwork. You know the drill—“Where you from?”, “How long are you in Bangkok?”—the usual icebreakers. But this guy was different. His name was Pi, and he could actually hold a conversation. I was genuinely enjoying our chat, so I offered to buy him drinks. Turns out, Pi is from Myanmar. He used to be a science and math teacher back home and has a Physics degree (which, honestly, blew my mind a little). But because of everything going on politically, he left the country. He doesn’t want to be part of the current regime and ended up in Bangkok, trying to start over. He’s learning Thai and hoping to teach again—either here or when things get better back home. It was a heavy story, but he carried himself with such positivity. I really admired that. We ended up talking about all sorts of things—he showed me pictures from Myanmar’s version of Songkran, and I could see how proud he was. I actually had a great time, and when I left, I made a mental note: I’m coming back here for sure. On the way back, I passed by Atlas around midnight, but it looked kind of dead. So I pulled a U-turn and headed to Hotmale instead. Few customers, which was a relief—I never love being the only one with 10 boys on stage staring you down like you're the last chicken wing at a party. Hotmale had definitely changed since last year. New faces, new performances, and even a couple of drag lip-sync acts thrown in. The red jogging pants were gone (RIP), replaced by white shorts, and in one act, black underwear. No complaints here. I didn’t waste time and invited someone from the stage—James. And guess what? He’s also from Myanmar. I swear I don’t plan this, but I always end up with Burmese guys without realizing it. They’re just… really good-looking, okay? When I asked about long time, James kind of danced around the answer, giving me some vague excuse. I was this close to sending him back, but then I looked at his face again and thought—eh, maybe a short quiet night in with good company isn’t such a bad idea. I already had two consecutive long time offs during this trip so maybe time for a break. So a few minutes later we were in a Grab taxi heading back to my hotel.

I was under the impression that a 'wai' is always initiated by the person with the lower status, and hence, a farang customer in a gogo bar, for example, would never initiate a 'wai' to a gogo boy and would not offer one in return. I just nod to acknowledge the greeting and only 'wai' to someone older - increasingly rare these days! When I returned from Japan to live permanently in Australia my first instict when meeting someone was to bow. If I accidently stood on someone's foot or bumped into them, I'd say 'sorry' and accompany my apology with a bow. It was just something ingrained in me. My friends would have a laugh when they saw me bowing while on the phone to a Japanese person. 'WTF?? You are bowing to someone who can't even see you!' They missed the point. The bow is very closely tied to the language and is automatically triggered by the use of certain phrases in certain situations. You don't even realise you are doing it. So I don't care if people see me bowing in public whilst I'm on the phone. From my perspective, it's perfectly natural. I absolutely LOVE it when a Thai 'wais' me. It is such a calm, gentle, elegant gesture that immediately signals respect.

Just to add to this point, Chengdu has 14 official universities and a further 7 official colleges of some other disciplines. In other words, a huge number of students. Even though I was living closer to the outskirts of the city than the centre, not one of the guys I had the joy of meeting would accept any money for transport. I did enjoy dinner in the hotel with one which naturally I paid for. I wished I could have stayed for a few more days. Chengdu is also a great cultural centre. This is where the wonderful Panda Breeding Center is located where you can see 50 or so of these wonderful creatures, including the rare brown pandas. 90 minutes away is the famous Giant Buddha at Leshan, often cited as one of the wonders of China. Further away and accessible by bus or a short flight is the stunning Jiuzhaigou National Park. If you arrive by air, make sure you have your camera on your lap because the views in the minutes before you arrive at the airport are breathtaking. Sadly mine was in my backpack n the luggage locker. The runway itself is carved out of the top of a mountain and is in itself amazing. The National Park covers two valleys. Go early in the mornng. From the entrance, minibuses drop you off at the main valley at a level of around 4,000 meters after which it is easy to slowly amble down taking in some gorgeous natural wonders. If you are peckish, the cruising minibuses will take you down to the entrance where there are large restaurants and then back up afterwards. The Park suffered major damage in the 2017 earthquake. It was partially reopened the following year and has now been restored to its former glory. The Park is also home to 7 Tibetan villages. But do not attempt to go during or close to one of the country's national holidays when everywhere in the Park is crammed with Chinese!

And this famous comparison, lol

It’s easy to fall into the trap of overcomplicating the situation in Myanmar by relying on experts who emphasize the complexity of the political dynamics, sometimes to elevate their own role in explaining the issue. But, I believe it’s important to encourage more open discussion and learning about Myanmar’s politics. While discussing the country’s politics with locals inside Myanmar may not be advisable, especially considering the risks involved, there’s value in engaging with those who live outside of Myanmar. However, it’s essential to keep in mind that the diaspora has its own perspective, which may not align with the views of those still living under the current regime. What follows is my interpretation of the situation, but I acknowledge there are many other valid perspectives out there, some of which may offer deeper insights. Dragon and Koi It’s important to note that the people you guys have interacted with in places like Dragon and Koi aren’t representative of the average Myanmar citizen. These are middle-class individuals with education and solid English skills, a far cry from the majority of the population. These individuals often don’t need to return to Myanmar to renew their visa exemptions in Thailand; they typically travel to neighboring ASEAN countries like Laos and then return. Furthermore, the military’s conscription efforts mostly target working-class boys, not the educated middle class. There’s a clear class dimension, which shouldn’t be overlooked when we discuss the situation. Ethnic Resistance One of the more complex aspects of the situation is the diverse objectives of the various ethnic resistance organizations (EROs) in Myanmar. Not all of them are focused on overthrowing the military junta. Many of these groups are primarily concerned with securing greater autonomy for their respective ethnic groups, and some even see the Wa state, which is heavily influenced by China, as a model for their future. For instance, the Arakan Army (AA) has long talked about independence, but their leadership seems more pragmatic in recent years, likely recognizing that outright independence may not be feasible. Other EROs are more flexible in their approach and may even shift allegiances depending on their current interests. Some of these groups, however, are far less focused on ideals of democracy and are often criticized for engaging in illegal activities, such as running drug cartels. It’s crucial to understand that not all resistance organizations have the same goals, and the majority aren’t necessarily aligned with the West’s ideal of democracy. Some are willing to negotiate with the junta, and a few might even see collaboration as a means to further their ethnic agendas. The Role of Myanmar’s Neighbors Myanmar’s neighbors, particularly Thailand, China, and India, have no interest in seeing the country fragment in a manner similar to the breakup of Yugoslavia. These countries have historically preferred to engage with Myanmar’s military junta and have tried to manipulate their relationships with ethnic groups to serve their own interests. This geopolitical dimension further complicates the situation, as external powers are often more concerned with maintaining stability and their own influence than with promoting democratic values or supporting the aspirations of Myanmar’s ethnic minorities. British Colonialism The current military junta has been quick to point to British colonialism as the root cause of Myanmar’s political turmoil. While British colonial rule did leave a legacy of exploitation and division, it is misleading to suggest that colonialism is the sole or even the primary cause of the current predicament. The junta’s narrative conveniently ignores decades of their own economic mismanagement, the system of ethnocracy they’ve perpetuated, and their brutal suppression of minority groups. The military coup in 2021 and the subsequent violent response to pro-democracy movements cannot be solely blamed on colonialism. These events reflect deeper issues: the failure of Myanmar’s post-independence political system to develop democratic norms, the entrenched militarization of society, and the dominance of the Bamar-dominated military establishment. The ongoing struggles for democracy and human rights in Myanmar are far more a result of these internal issues than a continuation of colonial legacies. Going forward While British colonialism undoubtedly influenced Myanmar’s early political development, we must understand that the current crisis is the product of a complex mix of factors that extend well beyond colonialism. The post-independence period saw political mismanagement, the disastrous “Burmese socialism” experiment under Ne Win, military domination, and the exacerbation of ethnic divisions—all of which played significant roles in shaping Myanmar’s present political landscape. The Chinese Civil War, which spilled over into Burmese territory, was another crucial event that set the stage for the 1962 military coup. These historical developments, along with the rise of the military as a powerful political force, are much more significant in understanding Myanmar’s current political situation than the distant legacy of British colonial rule. PeterRS points to the civil war as having started decades before 2021. This is true but ignores a unique characteristic of the present situation. This civil war encompasses also the Bamar people, which is the majority ethnic group, against the military. This is unique. Normally the Bamar majority would be relative unaware of the plight of the ethnic minorities prior to 2021. A nation unfinished, not broken Ultimately, Myanmar remains an unfinished country, and there is no single force or leader who can unify it inclusively at present. That being said, the possibility of a more unified, democratic Myanmar in the future is not entirely out of the question. However, this will require addressing the deep-rooted ethnic divisions, the militarized state, and the lack of genuine political reforms that have persisted for decades.

WIth all respect, I think asking any individual barboy about the politics in his country is a really bad idea, especially re Myanmar where the civil war which many commentators talk about as having started after the 2021 coup, actually started with the 1962 coup. Myanmar is a hugely complex country with a hugely complex history. First there are 14 States - not 7. Second, in general terms, they are not fighting each other. The primary objective of all the State militias is to get rid of the ruling junta. Can you imagine any ruling government which continued its air offensive against the militias in the immediate aftermath of the dreadful earthquake last month? Is it any wonder most in that very large country loathe the national government and want change? Third, as I have ponted out before in these forums, Myanmar is made up of 135 different ethnic groups. In terms of population China is 26 times larger but has only 56 different ethnic groups. Each ethnic group in Myanmar has its own objectives, even those belonging to just one State. Fourth, the four States you list are all very different. Shan State is the largest, the closest to the longest part of the border with China and therefore has been historically open to a great deal of Chinese influence. The Shan are a fiercely proud people. The Karens in Kayin State, however, are probably the most western oriented of the States, despite being geographically one of the closest to the east. This is a result of extensive British influence in the colonial period when many British settled there and there remains a higher proportion of Christians than elsewhere. Fifth, in general one reason for the country's problems is the result of the utterly disastrous rule by the British. Colonialism created all manner of problems for many countries during the colonial era. Almost nowhere on the planet did it destroy a country as completely as it did Burma. It never even considered Burma a separate country until 1937. Before then it called Burma a division of India and its capital Rangoon as "a suburb of Madras". Sixth, despite their differences, all Burmese are extremely proud of the country's long history. How many in the west are aware that for a century during the Taungoo Dynasty its Empire was the largest ever in South East Asia, greater even than the much earlier Angkor Empire? Lastly, do you think any of them actually realised the significance of Yugoslavia, a 'country' born out of world War I and kept in place largely as a result of the Cold War before collapsing before any of them were born? Sorry again, but no one from Myanmar can tell you why "this eternal conflict cannot end". That is typical western thinking and I'm certain we'd all love to know. Other than saying everyone wants to get rid of the junta, four guys from four States certainly cannot tell you, so complicated are the reasons for the conflict, the history and the international pieces on that particular chess board. Even once the junta is despatched - if ever Russia, China and other players allow that to happen - there is absolutely no one presently in the country who could unify it. In an earlier thread about the history of the country, I have tried to explain why this is.

I agree that you should give it a trial run before committing to moving there full time. Do a few months and see if you like the place, culture, tropical climate, etc.

Just got back from Santo Domingo and loved it! This was my first time going and I will be back! To start off, Manny Manny MANNY Is the freaking man! He made my trip excellent and I highly recommend his services. He will pick-up/dropoff at the airport, give tours and provide you a LARGE menu of sexy guys. I like to do threesomes/foursomes and he was able to get that set up for me with no issues. If your going to Santo Domingo then contacting Manny is a must. I was in Santos Domingo for 5 days and though Manny guys are great I didn’t want to pay the entire time. I visited Apollo Spa which is a gay sauna and found some pretty sexy guys. On sundays they have a foam party. By the way, I’m a 34 year old black male from the states, a top. The highlight of the trip has to be Esedeku Bar. It’s opened Thursday-Sunday and is the major gay spot in Santo Domingo.They also have a dark room upstairs. ALOT of hot guys. Here I was able meet several local guys, no charge for some hot sex. I would highly recommend this spot. I tried out Marlowes and did enjoy but the selection of guys wasn’t always my type. I would usually hit Marlowes for a pre game and then Esedeku bar. Ill be in Rio Starting May 24, lets have some fun

Check out the possibility of threesomes! I was surprised to find that one of my regulars had the hots for a couple of boys who also worked in his bar. He jumped at the chance to have an excuse to lure them into the room with us, one at a time. Worked quite well both times. I was happy to take the lead in directing interaction between the three of us, knowing full well what this regular lad of mine liked liked. He was super appreciative afterwards. I had started by asking my regular lad which of the other boys in his bar he fancied, and he was also asking me who else l liked. I had been seeing my lad over several trips and he knew that I was talking about experimenting with him rather than looking to replace him! 😅 Will only work in a minority of cases I suspect, but it has to be worth the ask!

I faced this problem occasionally when I was butterflying. Fortunately in "my day" there were plenty of bars ( l'm talking about Pattaya) and no shortage of guys, so if i felt uncomfortable I wouldn't lose out on company. I agree with those who say "tread carefully." If a guy is short of money and sees another dancer chosen by a falang he'd had hopes for owing to a previous "off", he may well react with anger towards his fellow employee. Right or wrong, the guys were (probably still are) in competition. If they see someone else stealing (as it were ) their meal ticket, problems can accrue for both mb and client. Nevertheless, I often saw dancers being very supportive of each other. I have a painful memory- because I come out of it badly- of being in Cockpit and a group of dancers coming to me to ask me to "off" a particular guy. He wasn't attracting customers and had been told by the mamasan that if he failed tonight he'd be sacked. What made this more sad was that he was deaf and so it wasn't so easy for him to relate to punters. I said no because I didn't fancy him. And the fact that I can remember this from nearly thirty years ago illustrates how bad I felt about it afterwards.

Stepping into Atlas felt like walking into a new restaurant that used to be your favorite hole-in-the-wall—you’re hopeful, cautiously excited, and also silently bracing for disappointment. This was my first time visiting, and I had questions. So many questions. What did they do to the space? Was that famously awful pillar finally gone? Would this new incarnation finally live up to the slow-burning hype I’d been feeding for the past few months? At first glance, the place felt vaguely familiar. Despite the change in name and a few cosmetic tweaks—mostly in the form of shirtless, oil-slicked musclemen on the walls—it was still recognizably the old Sol / Dreamboys Bar. The core layout hadn’t shifted much, and I couldn’t decide if that was laziness or just holding onto a blueprint that never quite worked. But fine. I wasn’t there to review their feng shui. I was chasing that elusive Tawan-style magic, hoping to feel that spark that made you grin like an idiot after a couple of overpriced drinks. But then came the first red flag. Or maybe beige flag, since it was more sad than alarming. The place was almost empty. Including myself, there were exactly three customers. One table was occupied by a group of three elderly men, clearly regulars judging by how comfortable they looked. One of them, the oldest, needed help from his companions every time he got up or sat down, and once, be assisted to get him to the toilet. But honestly, I found it touching. If I’m still around and still going out for this kind of whorish fun when I’m his age, I hope I have a pair of devoted partners-in-crime like these two. He wasn’t just getting old,he was doing it in style. The show took its sweet time, only kicking off after eleven like it was waiting for a more enthusiastic crowd that never came. And when it did start, it sort of... flopped in. The guys on stage looked like they were counting down the minutes until they could go home. Zero cheekiness, zero spark. Even the drag performers, usually the reliable saviors of any limp show, were barely going through the motions. At one point, a performer got bent over while another squirted beer from behind him in what I assume was an attempt at humor or eroticism, though it missed both marks and landed somewhere between confusing and mildly unhygienic. But the real gut punch? The lack of connection. Most of the guys there were from Tawan, or at least previously affiliated, but the vibe was nowhere near what Tawan was known for. That casual charm, the way the boys would stroll up, flash a grin, chat you up with zero pressure—it just wasn’t there. Instead, they clustered together in their own little bubble, chattering and giggling while customers sat like forgotten ornaments. And because the space was bigger, that feeling of isolation echoed harder. It was like watching a party from behind soundproof glass. You could see the movement, but none of it reached you. Now to be fair, the new location has promise. It sits in an alley that’s already home to similar venues, meaning curious foot traffic and wandering souls are almost guaranteed. But potential only goes so far when the product still feels like it’s in beta testing. Right now, it reminds me too much of The One bar—empty, awkward, and hoping you’ll stay long enough to convince yourself you’re having a good time. Eventually, out of sheer boredom and the creeping dread that I might actually fall asleep at the bar, I made eye contact with one of the performers. I gave him the look. You know the one. The universal gesture of “save me from this dead air.” He picked up on it immediately and walked over, all smiles. His name was James, and before I could say much of anything, he handed me a business card like we were about to discuss stock options or schedule a team-building workshop. I found it unintentionally charming. James, it turned out, also worked at Prince Spa. And without missing a beat, he launched into his pitch. He told me he could take care of me that night, said it three different ways, and made it clear that this was a limited-time offer. I eventually gave in. Not because I was sold on the sales pitch, but because he was the only one in the whole building who seemed remotely interested in interacting with me. Back at the hotel, we ordered food through Grab. And this is when I discovered that James wasn’t just talkative—he was relentlessly chatty. Every few minutes, he would pause to thank me for calling him over, then launch into a variation of how he just knew I was a kind person with a good heart. I wasn’t sure if this was part of his client engagement strategy or a deeply awkward personality quirk, but whatever it was, it had me smiling politely while internally trying to distract myself. The silver lining, though, was the massage. He really put in the work, clearly trying to make the whole experience as enjoyable as possible. He was attentive, warm, and cheeky in all the right ways. The extras? Also lovely. The only downside was that even after the deed was done, he couldn’t stop talking. I think I fell asleep somewhere between his third story about his coworker and a detailed breakdown of his favorite noodle dish. In the morning, we had a quiet breakfast together. Or at least, I tried to keep it quiet—James was still on his one-man monologue tour. Before heading out, he mentioned Songkran, saying he wanted to play water with me and insisted I call him. I believe he meant well. He’s genuinely nice, and I don’t think there was any game in his words. But there’s only so much constant talking I can take before my brain starts buffering. I didn’t promise anything. Just gave him a vague smile and said we’ll see. We hugged it out, and I watched him disappear down the hallway. Then I went back to my bed, stretched out, and soaked in the beautiful silence of a Bangkok morning. After the underwhelming night and James’ constant verbal fireworks, the stillness felt sacred. Sometimes, the best thing a city can give you is the space to breathe again.

Macaroni has written very well on this, but allow me to expand a little. These differences in mindsets that you describe aren’t merely personal traits but are deeply rooted in historical, economic, and religious contexts. The Western Paradigm is about structure and control ultimately rooted in a monotheistic cultural DNA where God has set down laws of motion which the world operates according to. Thus you have the origin of why Western societies generally operate with a belief in an ordered, predictable world where planning and risk management lead to security. This perspective has been shaped by economic stability with generations of relative economic predictability has created a faith in planning. The mentioned monotheistic influence that emphasises personal responsibility, stewardship of resources, and moral obligations. Institutional trust, that is functioning systems of insurance, pensions, and social safety nets, and finally a long-term orientation: the cultural value of ‘delayed gratification’ and investment in the future which is conditioned by the long era of economic prosperity in the West. The Western mindset often approaches life as a series of challenges to be managed through careful organisation and foresight. In contrast, many Southeast Asian cultures have developed an approach shaped by economic volatility, that is histories of sudden economic shifts, natural disasters and political upheaval. Further influence is provided by Theravada Buddhist philosophy and the teachings of impermanence (anicca), non-attachment, adaptability, and present-moment awareness provide both a spiritual and practical framework for navigating unpredictable environments. Buddhism acknowledges suffering and uncertainty as fundamental aspects of existence rather than anomalies to be eliminated through planning. The focus shifts from controlling future outcomes to cultivating inner peace amidst external chaos. Communal safety nets with its reliance on family and community rather than institutions. While Western systems rely on contractual obligations and institutional stability, Southeast Asian cultures often depend on reciprocal relationships and collective responsibility, where today’s generosity ensures tomorrow’s support. Volatility and poverty that has been conducive to a present orientation that focuses on immediate needs and opportunities in uncertain environments. The focus on immediate needs and opportunities in uncertain environments isn’t short-sightedness but a rational adaptation to contexts where the future is genuinely unpredictable. Living in the moment becomes less about hedonism and more about nimble response to changing circumstances. What may appear as fatalism (“Buddha will provide”) is often a pragmatic response to environments where rigid planning historically proved futile when faced with frequent disruptions. It represents a psychological adaptation that prevents anxiety over factors beyond individual control, while maintaining openness to emerging opportunities and challenges. It’s crucial to understand that Buddhism is not an all-encompassing religion in the way that many Western traditions aim to be. In Asia, religious practices often specialise in specific aspects of life rather than providing comprehensive frameworks for all decisions. For instance, in Japan, Shinto traditions typically govern weddings and celebrations, while Buddhist practices are observed for funerals and ancestral veneration. Across Southeast Asia, aspects of Brahmanism, animism, and localised spiritual practices coexist with Buddhist principles, each addressing different domains of human experience. This religious pluralism creates a complex tapestry of influences rather than a single theological lens through which all decisions are filtered. Even within specific religious traditions, interpretations vary widely. For example, in Korean history, dynasties promoting Confucian values often enacted conservative social policies, while periods of Buddhist influence sometimes allowed for greater social flexibility in areas such as sexual expression and gender roles. In cross cultural relationships it is important to recognise these differences as cultural adaptations rather than personal flaws or moral failings and trying to communicate expectations clearly, particularly regarding financial responsibilities and safety considerations. The approaches have complementary strengths; planning provides security, while adaptability offers resilience in the face of unexpected changes. The latter might not be such a bad thing considering that the next 10 to 20 years will likely be far more unpredictable and volatile than the previous decades, especially in the West.

Not as big a headline as meeting @Olddaddy but eventful no less, lol We three had planned on meeting at the Mexican restaurant in the Jomtien Complex... which we did, but the restaurant is closed on Monday's. There was also a mention of Mano's Cheesesteaks in South Pattaya... they are also closed on Monday, not Sunday. https://www.facebook.com/manoscheesesteaks So we wondered where to go for dinner and all agreed on Dick's Cafe. My last time there was 7 yrs ago... and I remembered why after eating my food, will be another 7 yrs before I give them a try again. We did do a little marching as a tribute to @vinapu yet, since everything is relatively close in the complex, I didn't consider this a training mission/boot camp.... perhaps more like a weekend drill, on a Monday 🤷‍♂️ The service in Dick's was good, the waiter, we'll call him "Donut" because that's what his nametag said, was fun and animated.... but @BjornAgain had a burger, that looked like something from a school cafeteria or the frozen food section of the supermarket. My kaprow was tasteless and I'm sure they don't make it spice on purpose for the falang's. but I asked for it spicy... they charge for each item separate, chicken, rice, egg....total was 260 baht, which costs 70 baht at my favorite place in Pattaya and 140 baht at the Tarntawan, both of those places make a mouthwatering kaprow.... but you pay for Ambiance and location, so if it tasted good, I would have been ok with the price. I'll let you guys guess what @bkkmfj2648 ordered, his previous drill Sgt would be proud, let's put it that way 😝 We talked about a lot of things for an hour or two, I lost track of time but was enjoyable. This is where the real marching came in, because we were on a mission to get the famous Max (not MayDay) contact info.... We MARCHED over to Best Bar in time for the show.... was fun, not very crowded and I liked the waiter, in a friendly manner but I could see us both getting drunk and fighting to be the bottom, lol Max made almost no eye contact when he was performing, was concentrating I'm sure.... then at the very end when they do their final walkthrough, I didn't give Max a chance to pass us by, I asked if my friend could buy him a drink ( I didn't ask bkkmfj2648, I knew he'd agree) and Max said sure.... about this time @BjornAgain was ready to go, you are more farmer's hours than Vampire I think, no? And thanks for the drink, I'm a cheap date 😉 So the excitement began, touching, feeling, joking and when it felt like he was comfortable after his interrogation interview/conversation, I asked if he'd share his Line, which he happily did. He mentioned his other job at some bar dancing and I asked if he goes with customers for sex and he said no, he only dances.... I felt that is a cover story for the bar and on his day off or during the afternoon (he's a vampire too I think, judging by the hour he replied to my message) so I wouldn't expect a morning rendezvous. He seems like the type that would enjoy a "date night" type of offer, not just money and boom boom... and be more for receiving pleasure than giving, my first impressions, subject to change. It was getting late, the complex was officially closing, which means turn off the lights and move it inside, but since it was a Monday, was pretty quite and I went back to Boyztown. Nothing much going on there and I was pretty tired, but wanted a massage.... talked to a guy that works at a shop on 2nd road, he wanted 2k, then 1500... someone behind TukCom said 1200 and he was on his way over. Barely knew massage, but @bkkmfj2648 , he'd be good for edging, his dick started to get hard, was about the size of my thumb and I thought what's the sense, but he insisted, lol That boy tried, I'll give him an A for effort....but not a repeat fo me, unless I want to be edged, which I also like 🥺

ok, mystery resolved thanks to @floridarob Last night I met up for dinner with @BjornAgain and @floridarob. We were supposed to eat at the new Buenas Mexican place in Supertown - but it being Monday night it was closed. So, we ate at Dick's Cafe instead. After Dick's we headed over to The Best Bar to see their show, which include the "sexy boys" segments. Thanks to the assertiveness and forthcoming of @floridarob he was able to get who I thought (previously reported above in this thread) as "May Day", to join us for a drink at the end of the show. Instead we discovered that "May Day" is actually the other guy and the guy that I have been lusting over is MAX. Now, how the hell did I f%^k that one up? Furthermore, our @floridarob "balls of steel" was able to get the LINE contact for MAX for both himself and also for me. My original chicken little strategy was to wait until Max would go sit at the back of the audience area and then to make my move in a discreet way. But in the end, @floridarob way was the easiest and most direct. Now, how to make the next move? After Max chatted with us - it became obvious that he is not a typical MB and instead just loves entertaining audiences with his sexy body. He also works perhaps in another venue up in the North Pattaya area of Naklua with the name of: 69 Show ?? @floridarob did I remember this other venue's name correctly ? https://www.facebook.com/69showpattaya So, he works 4 days in The Best Bar and 2 days at this 69 Show and 1 day off each week. Thanks to @BjornAgain for picking up the bar tab at The Best Bar - I hadn't a clue that you did that until it came time to pay. I enjoyed meeting you and also FloridaRob. Let me buy you that Philly Cheesesteak 🤩

The issue is much bgger than tariffs, and no amount of tinkering with tariff rates will begin to address the real problem. Essentially what has happened is that the US has flipped ideologically, and wants to be: (a) an isolationist power that nevertheless wants to remain the leading military power in the world, yet without getting entangled with alliances ("fortress America"); (b) a self-sufficient economy - because it sees a self-sufficient economy as critical to maintaining its strength and freedom of action. The two aims are not achievable in combination, but the US does not realise that yet. But I shall stick to the economic side in this discussion, which will mostly be about trade flows, reserve currencies and exchange rates. It is not normal for the US Dollar and Western currencies to be so strong We take it for granted that developing countries' currencies should be weak vis-a-vis the USD and western countries' currencies, such that Americans and Europeans end up with huge purchasing power relative to Thais, Brazilians or Vietnamese. It's an abnormal state of affairs that came out of an abnormal period in human history. The West industrialised between 1850 and 1950, while (partly through colonialism) other parts of the world remained agrarian, with a few places becoming mainly diggers of minerals. The West didn't have much need or use for the agricultural or even many of the mineral products from the non-West. Or if it did, then through the power assymetry of colonial empires, it kept the output of the non-West cheap relative to the metropolitan countries like Britain and France. Even during the post-colonial 1950s to 2000, the non-West had healthy demand for products of the West - industrial goods, consumer goods, cultural goods (movies, music) status goods (wines and Porches) and also services from the West (banking, higher education, aviation) - whereas the non-West produced little that was of interest to the West (rice, anyone? coconut, anyone?). This imbalance of desire led to high demand for Western currencies (with which to buy western goods) and low demand for non-Western currencies among westerners. Westerners had no need to hold bahts, pesos, dinars, when they had little of interest to buy things from baht-cuntry, peso-country or dinar-country. As a result Western currencies became high-valued relative to non-West currencies. At the same time, since so much of trade was directed towards to the West (rather than a non-West country trading with another non-West country), holding on to a buffer of Western currency was useful, not only to facilitate the buying of Western goods, but also as a mutually acceptable medium of exchange between 2 non-West countries. The West's aversion to holding rupiahs, rupees, reals, rials and ringgits also meant that even when the West bought stuff from a non-West country, the trade was almost always denominated in a Western currrency. Because of political stability and independent Central Banks in western currencies, there developed trust in the stability of the value of Western currencies. And thus, these trade-accrued buffers of western money held by non-West countries (sometimes indirectly through commercial companies) came to represent a store of value, i.e. reserve holdings. Buffers are not in themselves bad. They lubricate trade, both with the country of the currency, but also with third countries. Of course, the most desired reserve currency (which used to be gold and the Pound Sterling) came to be the US Dollar in the 2nd half of the 20th century. Just about every country in the world holds a buffer reserve of USD. Oh shites, the agrarian countries industrialised The present crisis owes its origins to decades back when several agrarian countries industrialised. Japan led the way, even before 1950, but post-WW2, we can add South Korea, Taiwan, many Latin American countries and many Asean countries as well. India too, though India seems disinclined to participate in the global trading system as much as the others. And of course, there's China. Not only did they begin to produce industrial and consumer goods, many of these countries produced them at far better price-value points than factories in the West. Trade patterns changed. Today the West has a huge appetite for the industrial and consumer products of the non-West. Over decades, the US began to import huge volumes from countries like China, Indonesia, Korea, Mexico, while these countries (as they developed their own domestic industries) had less and less demand for US and Western goods (in general). In certain sectors, US goods still had the competitive or technological edge, but in sector after sector, the US has lost it. These non-West countries were soon selling far more to the US than they were buying from it ---> the trade deficit. Yet, because of the trust in the USD, these non-West exporters were happy to receive payment in USD. But because of the chronic trade deficits year after year, the amounts of USD held by the non-West grew and grew. And for a long while, the US government was happy with that, because they could run a budget deficit and simply borrow China's dollar holdings, Japan's dollar holdings, Singapore's dollar holdings, to finance their budget deficit. Breaking point You guessed it. We're now at breaking point. Borrowings cannot grow indefinitely. Interest paid out to China, Japan, etc keep growing. Somebody somewhere sees the de-industrialisation of the US as a serious threat to its future as a world power. So we see this ideological change: WE MUST RE-INDUSTRIALISE! Trump's tariffs are meant to serve this purpose: to shut down imports into the US. To close the US market off from foreign producers/exporters so as to motivate re-industrialisation. I therefore do not think any tinkering with Vietnam's or Thailand's or Brazil's tariff regimes wil truly mollify the US now. But it won't work, at least not without other consequences Economists are nearly unaminous that the goal of re-industrialisation will not work the way Trump and MAGA imagine. I can think of three big reasons: 1. So long as Trump's and succeeding administrations flip and flop policy-wise (the most likely scenario), no investor will be confident enough to invest/build factories to the scale required for the US to get anywhere near self-sufficiency. 2. In many industries, the US does not have the knowhow to manufacture to the same quality at the same efficiency as producers in other countries, notably Japan, China, Taiwan and Korea. Or Germany for machine tools. In specific sectors, Brazil and Mexico too. Think EV cars, solar panels, robotics, any number of products you find on Walmart or Target stories. Now think about AI in which China just pulled an upset. 3. Even if American factories manage to produce these goods which the US hitherto has imported, they will be produced at a cost that is uncompetitive on the world stage (US wages being one of the reasons... more on this later). So, the US-factories will not be able to sell abroad, thus, not reap economics of scale that spring from serving a larger global market In short, either the aim of US self-sufficiency will not be attained, or it will be attained in a way with a closed market like India's: domestic manufactures for the domestic market, with American consumers paying much higher prices for their US-made equivalents than what people in the rest of the world pay for the best Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Czech, Chilean, Turkish, Brazilian, German, Canadian products. What are the other consequences? If the US becomes more like a closed market with imports strongly inhibited, then countries like China, Germany and Japan that have hitherto accummulated huge USD surpluses held in the US as reserves, will soon stop growing their reserves (since their trade surpluses will vanish). They may even wind them down because the unpredictability of US policy (e.g. after seizing Russian reserves) makes it risky to hold so many US dollars. There is also a real prospect of serious depreciation of the USD. Consider this: the value of a currency vis-a-vis other currencies (i.e. the exchange rate) is a matter of supply and demand. If countries, because of their reduced trade with the US, no longer see the need to hold so much in buffer (since there is less trade to lubricate), if countries fear their reserves being seized, then they will want to offload whatever USD they have down to a safe amount. The offloading (a.k.a. selling pressure) will have an effect on the price of the USD (i.e. the exchange rate versus other currencies). This then becomes a vicious cycle. Imports desired by Americans first have their prices raised because they now come with a 25% (insert percentage here) tax (also known as tariff) payable to the US government. Then as the USD falls in value versus other countries, imports become even more expensive to Americans. If the effect of expensive imports is to reduce trade into the US further, then countries like China, Japan, will want even less to keep holding US dollars. Which then cycles back to downward pressure on the USD. What about financing the US government's deficit? Well, as China's, Japan's and other countries' USD reserves shrink, the US government will have fewer lenders to help it bridge the deficit. Meanwhile the tariffs are going to be such that imports will likely shrink, thus not raising as much revenue as hoped for (at the same time, more Americans will find themselves buying less since they cannot afford imported goods as much as before). Economists have pointed out that even in the best scenario, revenues raised through new tariffs will not be anywhere enough to close the budget deficit. If the US government cannot fund its deficit, it will necessarily have to slash expenditure. Military expenditure. Social spending. Infrastructure maintenance. But won't there be a point when US-made products become competitive on the world market? Yes, in theory. But costs in the US will have to fall very far to get there. Labour cost has to match what factory workers earn sewing Nike shoes in Indonesia, packing corned beef in Brazil, assembling umbrellas in Vietnam and making knock-down furniture in China. Let's use an example that we're familiar with: paid sex. Today, the US has a trade deficit in paid sex. More Americans buy sex from the non-West than non-westerners buy from America (they can't afford it!). In order for a trade balance to be restored, the rentboy in the US has to cost roughly the same as the rentboy in Asia or Latin America since the rentboy in the US probably does not offer any qualitatively better service. I think currently, the price differential is $250 vs $60? i.e. roughly 4 to 1. Probably more. So, to restore trade balance, the USD has to fall to a quarter of its current value before US products/services become as attractive as non-west products/services. In other words, trade balance in paid sex will be restored when the USD is worth 8.50 baht, or 1.40 Brazilian Reals. At that point, we will buy Nike shoes sewn in Massachusetts, hang up Christmas lights made in Arkansas, and fly over to North Carolina for two weeks of debauchery. Mind you, we might stll be flying over in a Chinese-made airliner, watching made-in-Japan holographic movies en-route on our foldable phone made in Syria by a Vietnamese tech company.

"you too big" is a complaint, but it's also a compliment, so there's less loss of face(for both parties) than naming the real reason for refusal, whatever it might be.

Our wonderful @spoon told me about this Kasaimassage Twitter (X) account to check out, as the masseur specializes in: - Cumcontrol - Edging Today, as I am in Bangkok for some days, I wrote to this guy on LINE, as was displayed in his Twitter (X) bio: lin.ee/dSHPVFQF and I chatted with him this morning to make an appointment, which I had today at 4pm. I booked a 90 minute session. The masseur's studio is in the chic and luxurios Noble Ploenchit condo complex at the BTS Ploenchit station ( exit central embassy gate ). He met me in the lobby and took me up to the studio. When the elevator door opened you are in his studio - I was like wow. He is a sexy 28 year old young Thai guy with a nice body. We made some small talk and then I took a shower in his studio before we started. The entire massage is sensual and erotic, where the sensualness slowly increases during the massage. He starts out with his gliding hands and then he eventually transitions to a very nice type of massage oil, that smelled like eucalyptus. He puts your leg in what the Thais refer to as the shape of the number 7, so that he has full access to your genitalia (in a non penetrative manner), to make sure that you are fully stimulated for when he eventually tells you to turn over. Then he starts the cumcontrol in an edging style - in that your now erect cock is stroked in sensual ways that are slowly increased in their timing to bring you to the edge of an orgasm. He is also erotically touching your nipples and balls and groin. Three times I had to make him stop so that I could prolong the pleasure. During our session he got naked during the cock edging part and he let me play with his nipples, stroke and suck his nice cock. Around the 85 minute mark, he edged me over the edge and gave me a very intense orgasm. He is definitely an edging and cumcontrol master. Out of a maximum rating of 10 - I give him a 9.5 rating. I paid 3.000 baht for my 90 minute meeting. He can also organize a 4 hands cumcontrol edging session if you would like. Below is a screen capture of his Twitter (X) account. I asked him if I could publish this in our forum and he said yes. You can see that he is followed by the Thai massage comnunity, that is organizing the first ever MIMA Party on 3 May 2025.

I had literally just got out of the lift in my condo and walked outside when I heard a loud bang. It was the nearby elecricity transformer. I was on my way to do some shopping on SIlom and Sukhumvit. When I got a taxi, the driver was almost screamng at me - "Aftershock! Aftershock?" I stupidly did not understand what he was saying because I had actually felt nothing as I was walking. Then my partner started sending me X videos of water like a waterfall coming from a skyscraper swimming pool, and then another of a tall building under construction that was collapsing. I then realised there had been an earthquake. But that's odd, I thought, because Bangkok is not in an earthquake zone! The traffic was becoming bad and eventually my taxi driver dropped me on Saladaeng Soi 1 saying he had to get home. Not even having had breakfast, I was hungry. The Skytrain and MRT plus shopping malls were closed. Fortunately, market stalls were open, and then I found some guys drinking at a tiny Spanish restaurant on Saladaeng. They told me it was still serving food. I therefore enjoyed an excellent lunch. By this time the internet was working again and I could see that the quake did not occur in or near Bangkok. It was a major 7.7 quake situated close to the surface near Mandalay in Myanmar. That's a big one, bigger than the 6.9 shock I had experienced near San Jose in 1989. It was felt all over west Thailand and in China's Yunnan Province. The only other time I recall Bangkok ever experiencing such a shock from a quake was the one off Aceh Province in indonesia in December 2004. Shopping abandoned, getting home was the problem. Silom was choked with traffic for the most part not moving. Taxis and motorcy taxis were impossible to find. So i walked down Convent and eventually found one motorcy driver on Sathorn prepared to take me the 4 kms or so to my condo. He wanted Bt. 20 more than I offered which i was delighted to agree. Weaving through the enormous traffic jams on both Silom and Nanglingchee was sometimes scary but the driver knew what he was doing. I got back safely - only to find the lifts were still out of action! 8 floors later and an exhausted owner finally was home and ready for whatever water was left in the shower! But still no aftershocks, and I expect there will be none as they will usually be much closer to the quake's epicentre. We would certainly have felt a few by now if we were going to get any.

For me at least, this is as good a Trip Report as I have ever seen on this forum. Great writing style, humerous and entertaining; sexy without being smutty. Happily following now .

I don't know what happened in my brain, but when I read "introducing iPads to the seats", I pictured every seat being cushioned with absorbent anti-incontinence pads. Might not be a bad idea considering the client profile in some bars.

I was there before the 10.30 show start, the place was quite empty, probably around 1/4 full on a Friday night. As the night progress, more people did come in but it was at most around 1/3 of the capacity. On stage, there were only 6 boys available, excluding the models. This does not bode well as the wait staffs outnumber the boys...I asked the mama why there were so little boys and his reason was some of them were taken out by customers but considering it wasn't that late when I arrived, I don't think they had many boys to begin with 😅 BUT worst of all, the boy I wanted to see was off 😔 I stuck around for the first show. The show routine was safe and boring and IMO fail to engage the audience with no wow moment...and it does not seems to be pulling in the crowd. The gay tourists who go to the bars are mainly for the sleaze which moonlight is not providing and the curious tourists who wish to watch a tame show would have a better time at banana club with their well choreographed performance and engaging performers... I visited some of the other bars and Freshboy continued to have the best show and even Hotmale's show have progressed with sucking shows now available. But Moonlight show seems to have stagnated... I recalled the first bar i visited was Moonlight just a couple of years ago and it was packed then...but now they seems to have fallen off the side. Hopefully they could do something to catch up with the rest especially with Jupiter which consistently managed to draw in a strong crowd...

To the OP: Thai attitudes to same sex relationships are social constructs; only loosely related to religion. You would find, for example, very different atttudes in other countries that are as Buddhist as Thailand. You probably come from a country where the dominant religion is that of an Abrahamic religion (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) and societies founded on Abrahamic religions tend ot think (not entirely true) that the teachings of religion are or should be the source of social/moral attitudes. In particular the Abrahamic religions are more sex-obsessed than non-Abrahamic religions – they have a lot to say about sex. It may surprise you that about half the world's population do not subscribe to an Abrahamic religion, and as a general rule, those other religions have little to say about sex or sexually-related relationships. Yet, these societies do have attitudes (and widely varying ones too) about same-sex relationships. And they may well have one attitude to male-male relationships and a very different attitude to a female-female relationship. It is a Western construct to see male-male and female-female relationships as somehow two eggs in the same basket. So whatever attitudes these non-Abrahamic societies have towards gay male relationships (I shall set aside what they think of female-female relationships) don't so much spring from their religion, but are hand-me downs from social conditioning. Another feature that is worth mentioning here is that Thai culture – as with all other traditional Southeast Asian cultures – see gender more than sexual orientation. If your lover is gatoey and you're a cis-gendered male, it is one thing. If both of you are cis-gendered males, then it is seen as a completely different kind of thing. Generally, southeast asian cultures tolerate and to a degree accept transgender identity and they are more familiar, from their socio-historical legacies, with relationships where one partner is transgendered. Doesn't have to be fully transgendered. Effeminacy is similarly tolerated. There are far less socio-historical underpinnings to attitudes towards cisgendered male-male relationships. Historically southeast Asian societies tended not to see these relationships so they haven't built a corpus of social attitudes towards them. What attitudes they hold today are of more modern genesis, which is to say those attitudes have a large dollop of Western influence if one is speaking of urban Thai communities exposed to contemporary Western culture. If one is speaking of rural or small town communities, or even of communities rooted in the shantytowns around Bangkok, then I suspect one may find quite different attitudes, due simply to less exposure to contemporary Western culture. Note: I speak of contemporary western culture. Large swathes of urban elite Sri Lankan society (also a predominantly Buddhist country) have also had their attitudes to cisgendered male-male relationships shaped by exposure to western culture, but in their case, they were largely shaped by western culture of decades ago, resulting in a significant degree of homophobia. Ditto with Korea which is about 50% Buddhist. Arguably Korea is more homophobic than Sri Lanka. Even among the Thai elite that have exposure to contemporary western culture, it is just one strand out of many that meld to form their beliefs. Bear in mind that perhaps half of the Thai elite in Bangkok are ethnically Chinese, and many of their social attitudes are deeply rooted in Chinese social expectations. And here, the strong belief in the traditional family and the responsibility of bearing sons for future generations in order to carry on the family name will likely override whatever crazy western ideas they come across about accepting homosexuality. I speak with some experience on this matter since I have over the years had many local Thai friends who are professionals and business leaders. There have been plenty of opportunity for them to educate me on the very complicated attitudes they encounter. I have no experience with Thai rural or small-town communities in this regard, so I really cannot say how cisgendered male-male relationships will be seen by them. There are some on this board who have boyfriends from Isaan or other small towns, and might have received a warm welcome from the boyfriends' families. However, I would caution that we shouldn't read too much into their particular experiences, since those farang-thai ex-moneyboy relationships are hugely coloured by economics. One characteristic of Thai society (again, nothing at all to do with Buddhism) that may obscure their honest opinions is the tendency to avoid confrontation – fights along Pattaya Beach Road and Soi 6 notwithstanding – and their acute awareness of the need to save face for all around. So even if one encounters a performance of gracious welcome and acceptance, one should always remember it could be just that: a performance. But perhaps that is good enough. If everybody around is placidly polite, does it really matter what they really think? By the same token, you will need to become "Thai" to receive this consideration. That means, you will need to learn to behave their way and not do anything that undermines "face". So you will almost surely have to restrain yourself from overt displays of same-sex affection; if you don't, you won't be seen as giving them due respect, and consequently, they won't feel obliged to return respect to you; which means their polite smile and silence will vanish in a flash, and you may be featured in the next viral video of a farang beaten up by irate Thais.

UPDATE: The Pattaya News in now reporting that he has been located at a hostel in Krabi by police and was in good physical condition.

That was helpful 😂

Sorry to bore, but ----I'll repeat my annual Songkran warnings. DO NOT take passport, credit cards, more cash than you'll need for the day. If you can bear it, leave your phone at home. BEWARE PICKPOCKETS !!!!!! To keep things dry, you can purchase everywhere plastic pouches to hang around your neck but beware the string holding it can be easily cut (maybe tuck inside your shirt). You will never catch any thief. Personally, I scowl at big farang with water tanks strapped to their backs but smile and laugh at locals and children who try to soak me. Renting a motor bike is not a good idea unless you intend to use it only after six or so. Sorry to any locals for whom this advice is 'stating the bleeding obvious'.

Yes, but I almost abandoned Italy in the 8th month - as I was living in the Rome Trastevere neighborhood, with all of the foreign students, where all we did was speak English 24/7 and we did not integrate into the larger Italian society. So, around this time I put an advertisement in some of the local gay publications, that I was looking for an Italian roommate who did not speak much English (as I wanted to force myself to integrate and to learn Italian). I interviewed around 30 Italian guys and only 1 satisfied my requirements. Why? The other 29 were looking to find freedom from living at home with their mothers - BUT - where the expectation was that I would fulfill the roll of their mother - that is; do their laundry, cook for them, do the shopping, and clean the apartment - as they were ALL what the Italians call: Mammoni. Many of them were well into their 40s and their mother's were still taking care of them. The 30th guy, was great - as he was against the concept of "Mammoni", as he was from Sardinia (where his mother was) and wanted to live independently and have a chance to learn some English. I met him in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings to see if we liked each other in all hours of the day. Then the BIG day came to decide if we would be roommates and he took me to Villa Pamphili, where he did his sport training and jogging. He sat me down on one of the lovely park benches and told me that his decision was = NO. I was shocked - we had been hanging out for about 2 weeks to decide if we could be roommates and he was perfect for me. After interviewing 30 guys over this 2 month period I was devastated and I started crying. He said to me, ti prego, smettila! - please stop it. I asked him why he rejected me. He said that I was too American. Now this was early year 2000 and I had sold my house back in Colorado and invested it all into the crazy NASDAQ - Dot-Com bubble, so I was kind of cocky, as I could easily fart money in those years. I was obnoxious. And yes, I was too American. So, I promised him to be less American (that was my goal after all) and I had some help from the universe when the Dot-Com bubble popped in March 2000 - when I lost 90% of my invested assets - which greatly humbled me. Thank GOD that I had found this guy. We lived happily together for 6 years - which were some of the BEST years of my life when I successfully learned to speak Italian, make jokes in Italian, go to cinema and see Italian movies, and dream in Italian. Learning their language gave me additional culture - because I started to use verbs for which we don't have direct equivalents in English - and when you find a verb that helps give words to a feeling that we don't have an easy equivalent in English - it is truly an amazing experience, because it feels that you are now growing with the ability to have feelings that you could not fully have prior. --> I am not good at expressing this experience - but I am sure that many of you who are multi-lingual can understand this <--

My first trip to Thailand was in 1998, and I have been living here since 2011. In earlier years I remember that Thai couples would never even hold hands while walking in public, in more recent years it is a regular thing to see. Presumably culture changes over time. I really love seeing the Tomboys holding hands with their girlfriends these days. Though I am confused by the disappearance of the Tomboy clubs that I used to see on Third Road here in Pattaya, which all seem to have vanished.

Darwin award awaits to be collected when and if he recovers

I already have a Thai boyfriend who keeps vampire operating hours which is a HUGE friction point in our relationship, as I tend to keep farmer operating hours. So, the next boyfriend will need to be more farmer operating hours oriented and in the Las Vegas (Pattaya) of Thailand that is nearly impossible. Before you say that I should change my operating hours to align with the vampire lifestyle that would be a living hell because: 1.) My optimal sex operating hours are between 9am to 9pm. Outside of that range kills the sex for me. 2.) Alcohol - I do not really like alcohol - childhood background where many family dysfunctional members were functional alcoholics in denial and consequently there was lots of physical violence, verbal abuse, and aggressive behaviour. Consequently, when I need to be around many vampires (functional alcoholics) I am in a very uncomfortable space and I can get easily triggered. Unfortunately, many of the local vampires (and even some forum members) are functional alcoholics. Lastly, alcohol kills my ability to have an erection. 3.) Sun - I love the sun. This is why I moved here. The local vampires hate the sun. Let's see what the future will bring me.

Excellent sage advice. Do not stay in a hotel. Renting a local condo in a building in a neighborhood that appeals to you is the BEST option - as you get to "test drive" what day-to-day life would be like. I had come to Pattaya several times over a 10 year period and I always felt the most "at home" in Jomtien - as it answered most of my retirement needs: I could rent a condo with a seaview balcony that overlooks the Gulf of Thailand, Walking distance to many gay bars and gay activities - the Jomtien Complex (aka Supertown) is a 10 minute walk from my condo, there is also Boyztown over in Pattaya City. Access to a gay beach - Dongtan beach is literally in front of my condo with a special beach road gate onto the gay beach, Access to good medical care / hospitals; Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, Pattaya Memorial Hospital, Jomtien Hospital, etc. Walking distance to nearby supermarkets, Good transportation = baht buses (songthaews) for 10 baht each way from Jomtien into South Pattaya, Access to international food, Close enough to an international airport; Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang - are within 2 hours from Pattaya, Access to a big city = Bangkok, Access to nature and clean beaches - Koh Larn is only a 20 to 25 minutes speedboat ride away and Koh Samet is only 2 hours away, and Koh Chang is only 5 hours away. So, I often rented AirBnBs in some of the nearby View Talays and Grand Condotel, and that is where I ended up as I liked the feeling of feeling at home in these condo residences.

Sadly boy drinks in most of the bars in BoyzTown were currently mostly within that 240-300 baht range (September 2024). Four drinks in Toy Boys, for example, was in excess of 1,000 baht. Nice Boys in Sunee Plaza was also around 300 baht. Jomtien boy drinks were still in the 150 baht range. Notwithstanding those prices, if a boy comes to sit with me for a drink and makes an effort to flirt and engage with me, then I usually give them a tip (usually 100 baht) in addition when I leave; more if there was any hands-on activity between us. I can understand why so many now choose to take the risk and find their boys on the Apps., when you can actually spend more money looking for the right boy, than actually paying the lad for sex later!

Introducing Bangkok Boys Step into Bangkok Boys, the newest gem in the city's nightlife which promises to bring a fresh, flirtatious twist to your nights out. Let our handsome, charismatic boys sweep you off your feet in a sultry, neon-lit playground where fantasy meets reality. Whether you're here for a casual drink, an intimate conversation, or just to soak in the sensual atmosphere, every night at Bangkok Boys is an unforgettable experience. What to Expect: Stunning handsome charming boys to take your breath away Energetic performances from our dancers, themed nights, and cheeky games Signature cocktails and affordable drinks A safe, inclusive space to be bold, be seen, and be yourself Ready to play? Bangkok Boys – Feel the Heat. Live the Fantasy. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Thank you. Yes, that's what I've found elsewhere. Though, when I lived in Mexico City I'd get middle of the night calls after bars closed from former tricks looking for a place to crash for the night, or a day or two ... and how they would perform in bed! I turn my cell off at night now, wherever I travel (and at home). My situation is a bit different than most others here. In addition to being 75 y.o. (of which I'm only one of that group here), I've dealt with prostate cancer surgery - and the aftermath. I've gone from a sometimes-versatile anal top to engaging, primarily, giving oral (which I do enjoy). My field of play is narrower, though. My sex drive is less than before. Not to fret though. Some physical/body contact ... sucking some cock ... a bit of kissing ... I'm okay with it. Adapting to my environment. I'm also focused on exploring the culture of the countries I visit, not just the sex opportunities (perish the thought!). Therefore, a tryst before bedtime is satisfying. I enjoyed decades of a very active sex life, wonderful times; literally hundreds of sex partners ... all the while escaping HIV/AIDS during my most prolific years. 😁

I recently discovered ChatGPT's new image generation function which turns photographs into beautiful Japanese anime drawings. I used it to make anime drawings of my time with my guy. 🥰🥰🥰

I concur with the comments written above by @PeterRS and @a-447 regarding the lack of independent thinking and the absolute avoidance of challenging superiors in Japan. I lived in Japan for nearly a decade, and I observed numerous examples of this behavior at work amongst Japanese co-workers over the years, during my time in Japan. And, as @bkkmfj2648 said, this behavior extends to some other countries in Asia as well. A stark example of the consequences of this mindset can be seen in the findings of the Korean Airlines B-747 aircraft that crashed into Nimitz Hill on Guam in 1997, on final approach, killing 228 people on board. The captain of the B-747 made some critical errors, and the two junior flight officers in the cockpit failed to challenge and overrule the captain's flawed decisions, leading to the airliner crashing into the mountain, within sight of the airport. If the First Officer and Flight Engineer had challenged and overruled the Captain, a horrific loss of lives could possibly have been prevented. Below are three key paragraphs from the findings section of the 226 page Aircraft Accident Report from the NTSB: 11. As a result of his confusion and preoccupation with the status of the glideslope, failure to properly cross-check the airplane’s position and altitude with the information on the approach chart, and continuing expectation of a visual approach, the captain lost awareness of flight 801’s position on the instrument landing system localizer-only approach to runway 6L at Guam International Airport and improperly descended below the intermediate approach altitudes of 2,000 and 1,440 feet, which was causal to the accident. 12. The first officer and flight engineer noted the ground proximity warning system (GPWS) callouts and the first officer properly called for a missed approach, but the captain’s failure to react properly to the GPWS minimums callout and the direct challenge from the first officer precluded action that might have prevented the accident. 13. The first officer and flight engineer failed to properly monitor and/or challenge the captain’s performance, which was causal to the accident. https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/accidentreports/reports/aar0001.pdf National Transportation Safety Board. 2000. Controlled Flight Into Terrain, Korean Air Flight 801, Boeing 747-300, HL7468, Nimitz Hill, Guam, August 6, 1997. Aircraft Accident Report NTSB/AAR-00/01. Washington, DC

I still remember the first time I met O. I wandered into Nature Boy and he came over, greeted me with a huge smile and asked if he could sit down. So he pulled up a stool and sat facing me. Within seconds his hand was up my shorts and he had his equipment out on display. - So, you're from Isaan. - Yes. How do you know? I looked down at his cock and we both laughed. There's definately something in the water up there! I love a big, fat uncut cock and I was in heaven as I felt it quickly rising to the occasion. We drank, chatted and groped each other for about an hour and then headed over to the Rose. At that time I was top only, as is O, so no fuck - just suck and 'chuck'. It was a case of wash, rinse and repeat for a number of years - an hour groping in the bar, followed by a session at the Rose. Then I learnt how to bottom. We went to the hotel one night and I asked him to fuck me. He was very surprised at first but before I knew it, the condom we on and he was all lubed up. To be honest, I was terrified at what was about to happen. I had not had a lot of experience as a bottom and had only been topped a few times. The first time was in Japan and the cock was rather small. Now I was facing a monster. O could see I was worried but he assured me I could do it and that he'd take it slowly. And he did. And it was wonderful! And I was in love!!! Of all the guys I've been with in Thailand - and I've met some truly wonderful guys - O's personality has been a stand-out. He is quiet, unassuming, gentle and soft-spoken. He was far from being just a big cock on legs. But on one trip back to Bangkok, I rushed to Nature Boy, only to find that he was now the manager of the bar and could no longer go with customers. I was devastated. I noticed a car parked outside the bar. When he told me it was his, the first thing that came to mind was that he must have a sponsor or a boyfriend now - probably a farang. So now I'm guessing that this is how he has managed to open what at first was just a restaurant, but now seems to have expanded into a karaoke bar as well. I always thought a guy like him would meet someone sooner or later. If I were living in Bangkok I would have certainly asked him to be my boyfriend and would have looked forward to travelling the world together. Guys like O deserve all the good fortune that come their way and I wish him all the best.

Day 23 and 24 Longed for and coveted day for my readers finally arrived and this long reports comes to an end but not before enduring one more day. After breakfast S went to his room and I returned to my hotel supplied condo to do finances. While whole trip was within budget it turned out I’m short of cash for my last day , not really intended to be celibate. But since XOne now is opened on Sundays I marched there to get some much needed baht. When I was in GoodBoys I got a Line of guy who was sitting with me, he made sure to remind me about his desire to make my days even more pleasant than they are , sending me “ when”? messages daily, To this morning message my answer was “ 3pm’ today. I gave him location and at appointed time welcomed him in front of condo building where expressed desire to see how it looks inside so off we went. In fact it did not start well as he asked to smoke on outside patio and did not seem to be in rush to return to the room with impatient me inside, only firm ‘ hey you “ made him thinking I may become serious and it needs to be said all went very well from this point on. I like good looking, muscled guys who are bit talkative and are endowed properly and he possessed all those attributes. I think we had a bit of chemistry and at end of session I was pleasantly surprised how well it went with my initial reservations gone and forgotten. Having arrived on motorbike he did not ask for extra taxi money but being business oriented he ask for a little bit of gas money. I told him I don’t like it, he smiled , I have him 100 baht and got kiss as repayment. I thought silently “ what a fucking charmer he is” . Money and time well spent. Right after he left I went to Madrid Café in Charoen Krung soi 49 as today was my last chance to sample their pizza – they were closed when I went with my friend in the beginning of this trip . Hurrah, it was opened and I like small ritual we have with Jennie, the owner. She asked ‘usual” and soon Chang landed on my table and while after cherry tomato and shallots pizza as well. Mission accomplished, even typing this I miss the place and the pizza. It’s great loss to humanity they are no longer in Patpong. In the evening I went to Banana where again reader , Raposa , 10tazione and me had a drink outside watching the world to go by , then Will went his way and our trio went inside as show started. We got quite a prominent seats in front. #31 I offed in November was looking hopefully at me but I had other solution in mind for my last night. After watching show for about 1 hr, we decided to change scenery and walked to Moonlight where I had designs on M, guy I offed in beginning of this trip already. He was on the stage, smile at me and I wasted no time to point at seat beside me. Seconds later he was there. Even mamasan was surprised with my speed while disappointed that such self service deprived him his tip. Mindful that my night is short I left my friends in the bar hugging them good bye and soon world saw me sitting in the back of new shiny M’s motorbike. Second time with him was even better than first although at one point he was getting itchy to go . That granted me 1 hr. of sleep alone. At 3.30 fast shower , gathering last few unpacked things and at 4 I went out. No taxi in sight in the soi but as soon as I hit Silom one stopped. Seeing senior citizen with luggage he asked first :‘ airport ?’. We agreed on 500 , tolls on him , and we sped toward Swampy. Few hours later I left Thailand for 40Th time taking with me precious memories as well as 5 bars of soap and 6 bags of 3 in1 Khao Son coffee. Having just 1 hr. of sleep actually helped as I slept through most of my first 7 hrs. leg . 31 hrs and 50 minutes after I closed my condo in soi 3 , I opened door to my home. It was almost midnight so good arrival time to bit jet lag and indeed it worked. I had very little of it and it went away after 2-3 days . Did I get withdrawal syndrome after having 11 out of 24 nights celibate, 2 times as much as in all previous trips combined ? Answer is no. I knew it’s coming and reason was , exactly that , reason. I knew that this time finances are limited and I need to stick to limitation. Being always good with that helped. I had great 3 side trips , all in regions I did not visit before and having S with me in Chaing Rai was excellent idea as he is exemplary travel companion, asking for nothing, never complaining and if he was bored, never showed that to me. Glad I finally nailed longed for and coveted Jupiter guy, even if at some cost, but sense of achievement is worth it. Two new finds , M and Good Boys guy proved excellent and promising material for a future as well. Meeting so many members was true highlight of this trip and thank you all for scarifying your precious vacation time to meet . Now counting days to January 2027, my next trip