PeterRS

From one who has lambasted me in another form, that is a joke. And for his information since he seems not to know the regulations, the only forum where nudity is permitted is in the photos forum. For a long time member not to know that appears very strange. Many post and comment there. I repeat, 48 out of 67 treads by one poster being about Tunisia in just a six month period is certainly overdoing it. Since @khaolakguy does not agree, perhaps he will enlighten members of other fora with a similar number of separate threads on exactly the same subject matter - in any six month period. Therre are none! Sadly there are lots of countries in a similar situation as Tunisia, very sadly.

Why therefore are they posted on a gay website? 15 separate threads about Tunisia in less than six months seems more than somewhat excessive, the more so when the poster has only made 67 posts so far of which 48 are about Tunisia. As @KeepItReal suggested, he seems to work for the Tunisian Department of Tourism.

For many flying between Europe and Bangkok increasingly a plane change in Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi or now even Oman is necessary. Even though many are keen only to get to their final destination, the possibity for short stopovers is increasingly possible, the more so when some of the wonders of the world are on your doorstep. Some time ago, I wrote a series of articles on an amazing two weeks in Iran, an extraordinariy beautiful country with lovely people. While I would not consider that now in the present political climate, there is another short stopover to one of the unique sights of our world that amazed me. I took the One World airline Royal Jordanian from Bangkok to Amman where I had booked a 3-day stopover specifically for this fabulous site. Petra, "The Rose Red City Half as Old as Time", is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. Although Petra appears in the Old Testament, the city we know today was founded by the Nabateans, nomads, highly skilled stone masons and whose mastery of water resources enabled the city to thrive as one of the old Silk Roads. By the 1st century AD it was a thriving city, but soon integrated into the Roman Empire. As trade routes from Asia moved more seawards, the city all but vanished into obscurity. The lost city was eventually rediscovered by a Swiss disguised as an Arab trader in 1812. Pre-covd it was hosting as many as 1 million visitors a year. Amman to Petra is about 230 kms. My driver/guide was waiting at the airport and pointed out sights on the way, including an old Crusader castle which we visited. I had chosen to stay at a hotel right by the entrance to the site. I was aware that to get there you have to descend around 2 kms. I was much more worried about the climb back up when after a full day sighseeing I knew I would be exhausted. To access the city itself you have to enter the Siq, a split in the rock no more than 3 meters wide You then wander down for 1 .2 km into this cleft with the rock on each side growing larger and larger Eventually you come to the extraordinary carving of the Elephant Rock At one point my guide played a trick on me. He asked me to turn and look at a point near the top of a rock. It was merely a ruse, for when I turned back we we turned a short corner, this is what I saw Within moments the full glory of The Treasury carved out of solid rock was before me. This then is the real start of the journey. As you wander right, you pass a number of buildings, including the remains of a Roman amphitheatre Then a host of caves which were the burial spots for prominent Nabataens Other examples of Roman architcture remain But it is the tombs of the Nabatean royalty that are most magnificent. This was that of the King m Others in the same area are almost as magnificent Guards unobtrusively watch over the city during opening hours Almost most magnificent of all are the colours embedded in the stone After climbing all the way back to the hotel, never has a large glass of cold beer tasted so wonderful! The following day, the guide took us past the Dead Sea (I decided not to take a dip) and then up to Mount Nibo, the mountain which Moses is alleged to have climbed to be nearer to his God as he was dying. Laid out before us in the mist were many well-known cities and landmarks. My trip ended with a tour around some of the sights of Amman, including its still functioning Roman amphitheatre where concerts regularly take place. The three day trip was worth every Baht. I loved it. Next on my list for a Middle East stopover will be Oman which a friend who worked there most of his life tells me is stunningly beautiful. Besides, he told me, there are two sisters who make the most delicious chocolate in the world!

In my youth I only purchased a handful of pop singles and LPs. The Beatles, the Stones, Procul Harem's "Grand Hotel" - the LP purchased solely for their massive hit "A Whiter Shade of Pale" but I soon came to love every song on that album - and of course The Beach Boys. Their songs illuminated the sun and fun of the great California outdoors, such a contrast to what felt like still drab Britain beyond swinging London. RIP

Agree we should celebrate his lfe and work. But expressing sadness is quite a usual remark when anyone dies. In the case of Forsyth, who knows how many more novels he might have written had he lived longer. His last, a sequel to "The Odessa File", is to be published in September. John le Carre's last novel was published when he was 90.

No response yet!

I agree it's not a good idea. It's not her fault that she's askng. I'd be pretty certain it's a result of an instruction from above. So you could ask to see the manager and then ask him.

I know the Aurora can now be seen in quite a number of countries at certain times of year and certain weather conditions. Back in 2014 it seemed the only guaranteed location was northern Scandinavia, a part of the world I knew little about. So I planned a 10 day trip to Norway, Sweden and Finland in late November, both to see lots of sights but particularly the Aurora. I started off in the lovely city of Bergen I was here for just one day before an evening boarding the daily ferry service that runs up and down the Norwegian coast. I spent 4 days on the ferry visiting a lot of coastal towns and with wonderful scenery in the fjords But it was cloudy every day and so no Northern Lights. I got off past the Arctic Circle at the lovely town of Tromso. This was my little hotel Overnight it had snowed and the town was almost obliterated in white From Tromso I flew in a rather roundabout way to the town of Ivalo beyond the Arctic Circle in Finland. I was staying at a lovely little lodge about 40 kms away and virtually miles from anywhere, although it was close to the Russian border. On my first night there were only two other guests - a couple from Hong Kong! This was the lodge at night With the sun being so low in the sky, walking around there were wondeful views. And the sunsets were spectacular There for four nights, the cloudy weather continued and there was little chance of seeing any sign of the Aurora, apart from a hint of it on the first night. But on the final day when I had almost given up hope the sun came out into an almost cloudless sky. We were told by the lodge staff we would definitely have a light show that night. Parked on a frozen lake in -25 degrees C tripods at the ready, I waited with a young Irish couple. Then around 10:30pm what we had all come to see started - a spectacular light show that was to last almost two and a half hours. I had read all about having to adjust ASA settings and the time for exposures, but when I looked at the photos on my camera screen they seemed not to work well. So I abandoned the advice and just busked it. I had to return to Bangkok through Stockholm which is a lovely city. If you visit, you have to go to the Vasa Museum. The warship Vasa sank on her maiden voyage in 1628. It was salvaged in 1961 and moved to its permanent Museum in 1988. It's absolutely stunning and has been seen by over 45 million visitors. And of course you might see a troll or two! Like my trip to South America, this was purely for sightseeing. I was in too many places to consider checking any of the apps or finding a gay pub. And the staff on the ship all seemed to be almost as old as me!! I thoroughly recommend a similar trip, although I'd probably start from Oslo with what seems to be an amazing train trip to Bergen.

Thank you for your post and I do take your points. BUT - and it's a big but - how can you hope to understand the reason for it UNLESS you go back to the very reason for its existence! You say you are not interested in details. This is ALL about details! Why did you not read the earlier posts which I had summarised? Unless you read the three specific posts on the Colombia thread and the unprovoked attack on me made there, you cannot understand the reason for this thread. I have had PMs from posters who did take the trouble to read all the relevant threads and agree with me! I agree. Which is precisely why I have asked for what reason the original attack in the Colombia post was made. I have received no response. A brief one might have sufficed and not only kept the discussion to that particular thread but actually ended it there and then. Again I totally agree with you, Which is why on May 28 I sent @bkkmfj2648 a long PM outlining my feelings about the attack he made and stressing this should not be discussed on the main Board. Two weeks have passed and I have had no PM response. How can one keep an issue between two members if one member does not even respond? Please answer me that. Again I thank you. Following the OP I have posted nothing negative here other than to respond to those who have written negative posts about the OP. If there is no more negative posting by others, you will see no more from me!

I rarely read a book from cover to cover. One exception is what is almost certainly Fosyth's most famous thriller "The Day of the Jackal". When I bought it in 1972 quite literally I could not put it down. I think I finshed it at around 6:30 in the morning. I also enjoyed the subsequent 1973 movie with Edward Fox as the Jackal, athough it is obviously showing its age now. The book was recently made into a 10-part series of 1-hour episodes with Eddie Redmayne as the Jackal. I watched all ten episodes en route to and from London in March. I absolutely loved it. Faster-paced, a much more complex plot and some great visuals as well as acting, I can't wait for the second series which has been promised.

In another thread there are comments about a flower festival in Baguio in The Philippines. Not so well known is the one that has been held annually in Chiang Mai for more than 40 years and has become a major tourist attraction. Held next year for three days in February, the dates have not yet been set but it takes place over a week-end. Apart from seeing an abundance of flowers in the Chiang Mai area, there is always a major float parade on the Saturday. It's a bit like the summer Candle Festival in Ubon Ratchanthani except the floats are made of flowers and not wax. I have not yet attended and so these photos are from the official Flower Festival site.

The choice may seem to be between a £16,000 grant from the rowing site or £100,000 from stripping on the web. But you can strip on the web any time. The Olympics comes around once every four years. Living in such an expensive city as London is also a choice. If his dream truly is the Olympics and that is his passion, he actually has no choice. He has to go for it! If the paddle authorities deny the right for him to appear on Only Fans, he should find other sources of finance like a GoFundMe page or beg, borrow or steal from relatives and friends. Mind you, I reckon that after that excellent TV interview he's going to get a few sponsors coughing up quite a bit of cash for him.

On that long trip I was just an ordinary tourist staying in a variety of guest houses and hotels I had located on the internet. Only one high end hotel to explore the wonderful area around the Torres del Paine mountains, but that cost came along with free gourmet meals, open bar, service of multi-lingual guides and a lot more. It was quite amazing! Travelled everywhere by myself and felt no danger. Perhaps ironically the only panic moment came as I was preparing to depart from the Iguazu Falls to fly back to Buenos Aires and then the hour's transfer to the international airport for a connecting flight over to Santiago. As I was boarding the plane at the tiny airport, we were suddenly all asked to deplane. We were then stuck in the security area with no refreshments and no information. Turned out a small single seater aircraft had crash landed on the single runway. Although I had allowed about six hours for the transfer, I was using mileage tickets and if I missed the Santiago flight the rest of my trip might be cancelled. Thankfuly the authorities scraped that plane off the runway just in time and I made the Santiago flight with just minutes ro spare.

Just as google could answer quite a number of the questions raised by members on this Board, but as you have kindly done they are usually answered with civility.

Just some photos from a month long trip to South America. In all I visited four countries and wish i had had time to visit more. I particularly loved Cusco, the stopping off point for most people visiting Machu Picchu. There are so many valleys around the city that I would love to explore had I enough cash and was a few years younger! Rio with Cocacabana in the background Colonial architecture in Buenos Aires The Dutarte Mausoleum where Eva Peron is buried A small part of the breathtaking iguazu Falls. When Eleanor Roosevelt visited, she is said to have exclaimed, "Poor Niagara!" The Andes towering over Santiago If you fly down from Santiago to Punta Arenas in the far south in the daytime make sure you have a window seat on the left side of the aircraft so that the wonders of the South American Ice Sheet are easily viewed The Perito Moreno Glacier from the air - allegedly one of the few advancing glaciers in the world My favourite shop in Punta Arenas in the far south - a chocolate shop! The amazing Torres de Paine granite mountains A herd of guanaco native to South America About to enjoy a gaucho lunch The huge Perito Moreno Glacier at ground level The multi-colours of buildings in Lima The Cathedral in the town square of Cusco with the city's flag similar to the rainbow-coloured gay flag Finally the sight that everyone comes to see - Machu Picchu

I understand the concern, but while the law is the law in Malaysia it basically covers the Muslim population. In my visits I have only met up with young Chinese and never encountered any problems - and that included visits to the main gay bar Blue Boy and a couple of saunas, one of which has been going for around 30 years. Even once - but ages ago - cruising in a very cruisy shopping mall!

In terms of gay themed movies there is also "A Bigger Splash" - not the more recent one of that name but one about the life of the artist David Hockney made in 1973 and restored in 4K for re-release in 2019. I recall being surprised at one series of shots of two totally naked young men making out on a table. Not surprisingly that gave it an 'X' rating in the UK. Unless you really want to know more about the early life of Hockney, about half the film is a rather boring documentary. But after this move to California, the gay interest picks up, especially in his relationship with his model and muse Peter Schlesinger. His painting A Bigger Splash is arguably his most famous painting. The model is not seen in the painting, but as the film illustrates it was imagined after Schlesinger had dived in naked. Another painting in the same series shows Schlesinger swimming underwater, only the poster puts white shorts on the torso when he was in fact naked. Hockney's painting "A Bigger Splash" Poster featuring Peter Schlesinger Another grainy shot from the movie

Bangkok's humidity stays high virtually year round. But it always feel worse when the outside temperature is slightly lower over the 'summer' period. Only seems to fall a bit in the Nov-Jan months. My thought is it feels worse because of the increasing number of Bangkok's high rise buildings. As in Hong Kong and parts of Tokyo, they prevent air circulation and light breezes from reaching street level.

When i was buying RTW tickets in Bangkok, I'd often be stopped by the customs lot at JFK. I would be directed to a separate line, my bag opened and asked to switch on my computer, although I was never asked to open a photo file. It was clearly because Bangkok was the origin of the ticket and BKK then had a dodgy reputation. Never happened with tickets purchased out of Hong Kong!

As @Moses points out, poisoned drinks are not limited to Laos. Besides, the six who died last year were in the backpackers hangout of Vang Vieng, a known party town about 140 kms south of Luang Prabang. I am not aware there have ever been reports of any similar deaths in Luang Prabang. Vang Vieng is a bit closer to Vientiane and easily accessible as the first major stop on the Laos/China railway. Moral is absolutely don't accept drinks from strangers.

I have never counted the steps up from the street (if that is to what you were referring!!) but doubt there are more than 10-12 of them. Assuming you do not want a private room, all you need do after depositing your shoes, putting in your 10¥ coin, closing the door and taking the key is go to the machine literally across from the recepetion desk. It has a series of press buttoms with a list of prices which covers the cost of the various facilities - from a basic entrance to the washing area, hot/cold tubs, steam room, saunas, rainshower room and other bathing facilities on floor 3 as well as the cruising areas on floors 4 and 5 (all I have ever needed there), to the largest and most expensive private room. I just press the cheapest (provided it is not to suggest I am a student!), pay using ¥, pick up any change and then take the ticket to the reception guys. They take my ticket and shoe locker key in return for which I get the full changing room locker key and a bag with towels. These used also to have bath robes, but seems robes will now cost extra. I always gave them my real name but I expect any name works. After you have bathed from head to toe Japanese stye, the whole of the shower area after you come through the curtain from the bathing area can often be cruisy. I once even had a guy say my name! Turned out he'd been a boyfriend for a couple of years! Try just to get rid of any inhibitions you may have and join the fun. I agree with @joizy that the back section of the steam room furthest from the curtain (it's next to the rainshower room) is where there can often be action between two or more guys. Just be a little careful. It has some dim light and you should note that there is a small step between the front and back sections. On my last visit, the fourth and fifth floors had large open cruising areas, each with some two-tier bunk beds from which you are likely to hear quite a bit of moaning! There are also large mattresses spread on much of the rest of the floor area. These are not separated and so there is often some action going on. As it is pretty dark it is quite difficult to see what action (!) but you are likely to notice that other customers are kneeling around the two guys and just watching. This is perfectly common. Lastly I would say some Japanese are reluctant to go up to a foreigner. If you see someone you like, just move towards him and perhaps gently touch his arm or his thigh. If he backs away, you know for sure he is not interested. On the other hand, if all you want is to relieve yourself of sexual stress, lie down on one of the mattresses and see what happens. Just note that condoms are not all that common.

Roomy sofa seating or banquettes used to be quite common back in olden days. These still enabled lots of chairs to be added for the larger week-end trade. Although not a regular visiting Pattaya, didn't Nice Boys have that sort of seating around the wall areas?

Back in the day, I also hired a Purple Dragon guy for a night tour. Before he came to my very nice guest house on the banks of the Mekong, I had gone around the corner for dinner where the two waiters were quite stunning and i suspected both gay. When my evening guide arrived, I was very pleasantly surprised to see that it was one of the waiters! He took me to the night market (which I had already visited) and then to what he said were a gay bar and a gay disco. Both were virtually empty. I had hoped he might join me in the guest house but for whatever reason he could not. But on my last afternoon as I was sitting having a coffee looking over the river and killing time before going to the airport, a group of senior schoolboys came and sat at an adjoining table. All were cute and we exchanged smiles. After about 5 minutes one came over and asked if I liked the friend he sat next to. He said he liked me! But I had checked out of my room and in any case had no time. But it indicated that there was then certainly some gay activity in LP. I loved my four days in the small city. I wonder how @AndyUK found it.

Purely judging from that video, it seems a little more like a Japanese sauna where the dark areas for action are quite large and open so that other patrons can get up close to inspect if that turns them on! Very few private rooms, it would seem.