PeterRS

On the subject of who said what and first, you never provided any facts whatever for your comment about "90% of gays in Taiwan are bottoms." You then later backtracked and claimed it was an "opinion". Funny you did not mention that the first time you made the claim! Later you talked about one of the larger bars being packed with "the girly bottom boys." And you suggested that Taiwanese "just go home and sleep in the evenings." And on what was this opinion based? We can only assume the two visits you then informed readers you had made to Taipei? Well, readers can make their own judgements about how accurate or otherwise that opinion might be!

I just phoned a Taipei friend who in his first relationship (with a fellow Taiwanese) was as a bottom. Now in his marriage (also to a Taiwanese) he is the top - and enjoys it! His view is that there are probably an equal number of each. But he added that the ones more attracted to foreigners may well be more bottom than top. As anyone who goes to gay bars, saunas etc., it's clear that many Taiwanese do not wish to mix and have sex with a foreigner. Could these be mostly tops? My guess is as good as anyone's.

I agree completely and cannot understand why some complain about over pricing. When I first came to Bangkok and started regularly taking boys off in 1981, the expected short-time tips were 500 baht - at least that's what I paid. In those days of the baht being fixed against the US$, that was the equivalent of $20. I find charts of annual inflation rather difficult to read. but I found one which calculates what 500 baht would be worth now after inflation. The rise in prices over that period was 251.02%. By my calculation (and I am no mathematician!) that means the equivalent now would be around 1,750 baht. That today is close to US$50. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, during the same period the inflation calculator shows a rise of 222% in the US$ buying power. What the baht figure does not include, I believe, is the general rise in economic activity in the country and the substantial increase in the number of better paid jobs. As has been suggested in other threads, I assume this must have had some effect resulting in the reduced availability of Thai boys for the gogo bars in particular and consequently off prices and tips. My view therefore is that all factors considered and over the much longer term, the figures illustrate that prices charged by bars for offs and the requested tips by the boys have actually gone down.

FInland is not really cold in the southern parts in the summer. But its really freezing north of the Arctic Circle. I think I have mentioned before that I visited the Soviet Union three times and since then Russia twice. Apart from the weather in what was then Leningrad in late December when milder air had turned the snow into grey slush, I always enjoyed my visits. My first to Red Square with light snow on a February morning was stunning. You could feel the history of that magnificent space. So much to see in Moscow, and I even got to a concert in the famous Tchaikovsy Hall at the Moscow Conservatory. Cocktails with friends in the circular bar atop the Swissotel afterwards were perfect, the more so with so many cute waiters. But I was told by ours that the amazing boys behind the bar who seemed masters at the art of making cocktails were mostly Czech. St. Petersburg was even more stunning when I saw it in beautiful August weather. I wish I had had more than five nights. Although I am a committed Asian lover, some of the University students were extremely attractive. Were the political situation not so difficult, I would certainly return.

Another post by Moses which does not reflect all the facts. And if he had actually read the link he provided he would surely have noted this - "Previously, Russian authorities have not allowed travel from Russia to Finnish border crossing points, if the passenger has not had the required travel documents. In recent months, the actions of the Russian authorities have changed, at least on the border with Southeastern Finland. Unlike before, they have allowed travel despite lack of documents." So, as for the suggestion now that "Russian guards do not interfere", certainly some Russians officials are definitely interfering, for as the above from Moses' own link makes clear, the majority of immigrants which have recently flowed through the four now-closed border crossings had no documents! You cannot leave a country without proper documentation! As stated in the Financial times on November 14 - “The number has grown significantly in a short time,” said Mari Rantanen, Finland’s interior minister. “Russian authorities have changed the way they work to allow travel to Finland despite a lack of documents, which is illegal entry.” https://www.ft.com/content/f25a852d-5074-445b-b088-7989a892c7ff There is also no denying that since near the start of the war in Ukraine, many young Russian men have been using a variety of countries to escape the draft of men into the Soviet army, including Finland. Numbers may have dropped but last year over a 2 weeks period 59,975 Russians crossed into Finland and 23,859 failed to return. No doubt some had visas for Finland and some moved on to other countries. But in such a short space of time it marked a major outflow of Russian citizens. From Sept. 21 to Oct. 5, 59,975 Russians arrived in Finland through the four checkpoints, with many leaving to other European countries, while 36,116 Russians went home, Finnish border guard authority data showed on Oct. 5. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/where-have-russians-been-fleeing-since-mobilisation-began-2022-10-06/ Since the start of the illegal Ukraine War, Forbes estimates that between 600,000 and 1 million citizens fled Russia in 2022 alone. These figures are backed up by popular Russian-language media The Bell and RTVi. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65790759

And how many times do posters here have to write to remind other posters that they do not have read anything that is posted nor agree with points in such posts? If they are bored by one poster's post, move on! And of course @Department_Of_Agriculture failed to note my statement added, "No doubt part of the reason . . ."

I have been to five of the venues mentioned. The list seems pretty much up to date.

Worth a visit every time. There was a problem for a few years prior to covid but oinly because there were so many tour buses packed with Chinese from the mainland seemingly arriving almost every minute. Compared to a decade or more earlier, seeing some of the most popular exhibits - like the exquisite tiny white and green jade cabbage with the two tiny insects on it (as on the cover of the Museum's catalogue) - meant waiting or just barging to the front. Now it is far easier.

Yes, I did realise this. Like Napoleon, one of Hitler's armies got very close to Moscow. Napoleon actually got there but found the inhabitants gone and much of the city on fire. With Remembrance Sunday just a week ago, we should never forget that the Soviets lost more than 25 million people in WWII. They did indeed pay a terrible price.

Apologies - I missed the addition of the earlier half star. The chicken and cashew nuts must be doing a roaring trade.

It's the next big blockbuster from one of the great directors who has not yet won an Oscar. Ridley Scott's 2 hrs 38 minute Napoleon opened in Paris this week to decidedly mixed reviews. The French, perhaps not surprisingly, did not like it much. Le Figaro wrote it should be renamed "Barbie and Ken under the Empire". CG France said there was something "deeply clumsy, unnatural and unintentionally funny" in seeing French soldiers from 1793 shouting "Vive la France" with American acents. American critics have been equally mixed. The entertainment bible Variety claims it is "turgid grime-encrusted spectacle," although adding that it is an undeniably impressive technical achievement. Whoever writes the Roger Ebert column nowadays gives it two stars, saying "it is a deeply shallow screenplay, one that hits major events in the life of its subject with too little passion or purpose." Only the UK critics seem to have taken the film to their hearts - because they beat Napoleon at Waterloo perhaps - the Battle not the London train station? The Guardian calls it "an outrageously enjoyable cavalry charge of a spectacle," while Rupert Murdoch's The Times says it's a"spectacular historical epic." Should be coming to Thailand soon in iMax Theatres and others. https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-67419876

Half star added to 7 becomes 8? What did I miss?

Hero and other massage places would certainly have been a major attraction for guys from other parts of Asia. Many Singaporeans and Malaysians are relatively easy to spot (in terms of conversation) because of the very particular manner of speech and the very common use of some SInglish words. I was only at Hero once because my favourite massage spa ever since the week-end it opened (when I just happened to be staying with friends on Suk 15) was Albury quite nearby. I went frequently until it moved to its location on that street just beyond Emporium and down nearer the Rama 4 end. But I almost always booked my masseur in advance and so rarely mingled with other customers. So I could not offer any conclusion about nationalities. My guess is that of the comments in the extensive Travel Hut section of the Singapore-based Blowing Wind site, by far the majority are about massage and specific masseurs. Very few about gogo bars.

And as one who has been visiting Taipei regularly for decades I echo @Marc in Calif's comments 100%

Well, that sure was one of Hitler's less accurate judgements!

Interesting views - thanks. As for spas, younger Asians are definitely more into spas and dance clubs than they are into offing from bars. They go to bars but more just to see the shows. Not every one of course, but I suspect well over 50%. I haven't been a gogo bar goer for a few years. I wonder what the boys themselves say.

Perfectly understand. But most of the comments I see here from regular posters seem to indicate a greater presence in the gay spots of younger Asians - in my view therefore under 40, although I do accept a 40-year old Asian can sometimes look like a 30 year old foreigner! But I stand by my earlier comments that regrettably I can see no increase in participation by Asians on this site. It will be interesting to find out the views of other regular posters.

Yes, Mr. President! (Although the meaning of "fear" in my post is not quite the same as the use of "fear" in your post 🙏)

Cartoon: Cleveland Plain Dealer

In attempt to halt the surge of asylum seekers fleeing from Russia, Finland has closed 4 of the crossings along its 1,340 km border with Russia. Around 300 have arrived this week alone. No doubt part of the reason is those Russians fearing conscription for the illegal war in Ukraine. Finland has claimed that Russia has deliberately targeted these crossings due to Finand recently joining NATO. TASS, the Soviet New Agency, has quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov as saying - "Russia has never in modern history threatened Finland, we had no reason for any confrontation. Now they have chosen this path. From our point of view, this is a big mistake." Well, it may not have threatened Finland but that did not stop it making Finland part of its Empire for more than a century until 1917. This is perfectly obvious when one just wanders around Helsinki's city centre where you canot miss the Russian-built Uspenski Cathedral to look down over it in 1868. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67459141

Typically known around the region as a form of hot pot, I believe?

I believe your anecdotes are correct. The question is, though; do any of these young Asians contribute to this Board as members? @macaroni21 clearly beliees they do and i sincerely hope he is correct. Unfortunately I regret that through my observations it is not so and that the younger Asian readership of this Board hardly exists. I WISH I could be wrong, and I would love it if the Moderator would confirm from his membership list that I am indeed wrong. But I fear i am not.

Funny you should mention that. Don't you recall a post I made specifically about the maiden flight of a new Russian-made passenger aeroplane which you trashed by saying it was not new - wrong! - and then turned the thread into a diatribe against both Boeing and Airbus. Threads morph often in weird and wonderful ways. But I note you say nothing about the facal expressions of Putin and his minder 🤣

But as was discussed some weeks ago, this has always been the case with a number of airlines, especially BA. When it was started it was something to do with feeding passengers into long haul services and away from their national airlines. But I cannot believe this is the reason for its being continued today. The Japanese airlines regularly did this back in the 1980s and 1990s. Hong Kong to JFK via Tokyo return was often 40% or more cheaper than just Tokyo to JFK in all classes. And in those days you could tear up the HKG/NRT coupons without that affecting the rest of the flight - which of course one can not do today.

Funny how if anyone is terrified it is clearly President Putin. After all, he is guarded day and night and travels on his own special luxurious armoured bulletproof train. All of his residences are lilnked by railway lines enabling him to reach them on this train. With the invasion of Ukraine, he is afrad to travel by plane. Former bodyguards for Russian President Vladimir Putin have gained immense power in exchange for their unquestioned loyalty. Many have also accumulated vast wealth, exemplifying how Russia’s newly ascendant class has exploited a system meant to protect the old. An investigation by Novaya Gazeta, in partnership with the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, shows who paid the price: more than 1,100 ordinary people who had worked for decades on a giant poultry plant outside Moscow. Some were decorated World War II veterans whom the Soviet Union had promised lifetime employment and pensions. But in the newly independent Russian Federation, there can be no such guarantees. During the 1990s, these workers say, a small clique of powerful businessmen and criminals used manipulation, forgery, intimidation, and even beatings to seize their land. The dozens of hectares were then divided into smaller plots and eventually doled out to a cohort newly empowered by Putin: officers in the Federal Guard Service and the Presidential Security Service. The above is part of a long article pubished by Novaya OCCRP, Russia in 2019. In the light of @Moses comments on the looks of those around Biden, who looks terrified here - both men! Putin and Viktor Zolotov, the Director of the National Guard! LOL Photo Credit: The Kremlin https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/a42930300/putin-russian-bulletproof-train/ https://www.europeanpressprize.com/article/putins-bodyguards/