vinapu

you just put me to the shame , I phones, motorbikes and houses !. I only buy beer and sometimes breakfast or dinner if they want eat for every boy I spent time with, how cheap one can be? On serious note we can't stop those farangs from living their dreams. They complain on the forums, we dispense advises and the same mistakes are repeated over and over by them and others. Hope springs eternal I guess

Meter should be about 350 plus toll fees if drives takes highway, if you are landing during day / 6-24 / use train to Phaya Thai and then swicht to BTS / elevated railway /, more fun and eye candy

Being still around is cheap price paid for missing Paris. Like all of Europe it easy to explore even in advanced years as distances are short and transport links excellent so one day you will go. And if you can't , there's always Paris, Texas like Rose in Golden Girls used to say.

Is old known truth that for tourists no country is safer than brutal dictatorship as long as we don't cross their imaginative lines Vera, my geography teacher, God let her rest in peace, used to say perfect time to go is now, later there always will be excuses.

I agree with you with whole heart and soul, nothing beats exploring on our own, even if on tours with guide I try to separate myself ASAP at expense of missing some their stories perhaps. Exploring places in company of locals may open some unknown doors but whether we like or not we are forced to look at the place through their eyes. As for cathedrals since I like buildings over forests and lakes I agree with your assessment of Notre Dame in Paris and I like English cathedrals / Lincoln, Durham, York, Winchester, Salisbury, Essex and many others/ better than French ones but nothing beats Haghia Sofia in Istanbul, I'm with Love Thailand on this one. When one realizes that for 926 years this was biggest church in the whole Christendom and is not even church anymore for 546 years and still standing as it was is hard not to be impressed.

UPDATE : serie 11 now available on the site

no, Somalia is outright dangerous with no order and no functioning state, whoever rises first in the morning , he is in charge. No vacations are possible in such a place. In North Korea if you behave and can stand them watching over you , vacations can still be had but cost is pretty steep. And for people who like strange and unexplored places it may be dream vacation the same way like for some people bungee jumping is nerve-calming weekend outing.

thank you for the lead piston, good thing that Pattaya never stops to surprise and entertain, I hope to check it in few months.

My then boss said the same when I was going to Iran and I'm glad I was not that thrifty. Not that I 'm trying to be an advocate for nasty regimes but sometimes picture of place we are given in the West are not exactly what we see when there. No need to go far, before I came to Pattaya I was expecting Sodoma and Gomorrah, only much bigger and I found pretty boring city with few pockets populated by jolly girls and handsome boys but by no means overwhelmed by their presence.

I left boy alone in the room with 7000 baht unsecured in my open day pack, nothing missing but boy was kind of my regular. I carry cards but rarely use them preferring to operate in cash economy, use cards only for big purchases if any or to withdraw money if I run out of my cash. Since dollars or euro are more portable than baht I exchange only what I think I need daily so never big wad of bahts. Koko, while there's logic in your thinking about padlock somehow it works for me , I don't look high roller or gem dealer perhaps and don't use fancy luggage either. Crude padlock shows my lack of sophistication and so far thieves are staying far from me.

Influenced by firecat's comments in "Thai in Egypt" thread and e-mails exchange with another member I have question: Have you ever compiled such a list and if yes, what those places were ?. Did you manage to complete it or you are still working on this list ? I made such a list back when I was still school boy and Johnson was USA's and De Gaulle French president, I still keep copy of it in my papers. I'm counting my blessings because I was able to achieve that childhood dream which at that time for many reasons was just a dream without even distant hope of realizing. My dream places were: 1.Lhasa, Tibet 2.Easter Island, Chile 3.Jerusalem , Israel 4.Pyramids, Egypt 5.Machu Picchu, Peru 6.Angkor Wat , Cambodia 7.Tikal, Guatemala 8.Abu Simbel , Egypt 9.Persepolis, Iran 10.Bagan, Burma / now Myanmar/

Not in Thailand, in fact I don't know anybody who had things stolen from hotel room anywhere in East and South-East Asia, Speaking about padlock - I always lock my suitcase with seriously looking padlock, not that I keep anything precious inside but I guess it shows to staff and visitors I'm serious about my belongings.

If I make reservations for future date or later that day I don't talk to mamasans but to boy directly, it seems to be working. For me it makes sense to hunt for boy I met before but blind date based on picture in the website or somewhere else or even recommendation from others did not work for me in the past and now I abandoned those type of appointments. I had few cases when I was hunting for somebody no-show but in absence of the prey substitute proved to be excellent so now if I want to see boy A and he is not available I hire somebody else and consider this A's loss, not mine. Actually happened to me at Senso last Nov, wanted to see certain M and landed Chai on my lap instead , even now I'm smiling at that memory. That's the reason I still prefer massage places and go-go bars over Romeo's and such.

By end of this year I will be able to update you if they installed safes in the rooms, they may come to the same idea about false economy. For me it's non issue and if pressed I have more confidence in reception safes than room ones for no particular reason since I never had anything stolen from the room anywhere although I know unfortunates who had.

I'm also salivating in hope of getting new trip reports from you, always good read and cute boys. As for planning do what you are comfortable with, I'm on both sides of fence , If I start planning trip usually it doesn't work as I'm easily distracted. If I try to go with the flow I finish up booking appointments with boys right after arrival, at times even days in advance. Gearing for my next trip I know only one thing, my first place I visit will be Arena as usual and then I will see. Good luck firecat !

this would explain why both 'visitors" I had there last Nov turned to be duds, need to repeat an experiment coming Dec and than we can attempt to construct some theory But really I guess visiting boys are busy sizing bulge of your wallet and even don't notice graveyard

Tikal in Guatemala is crown of those IMHO nice alternative but don't forget that at the moment Honduras with t's Copan ruins is most murderous country in the world

No problem and no charge for joiners at Nantra Silom , safes on reception. I personally don't check reviews on Trip Advisor so can't relate. While BBB Inn is not for everybody I like it big time for fun factor and location, no need to cross street to go to soi Twilight and it's joys. Massage boys available 7\24 if one feels lonely or cold or whatever, rooms may be tired but they are clean and a bit spacier than ones at Om Yim. Considering that it doubles as short time hotel is also surprisingly quiet, I usually stay there 2-3 nights at beginning and at end of trip / I change hotels every 2- 3 days wherever I am / Tarntawan is more upscale than others mentioned but also twice as costly, I'm not big fan of overspending on taxis and hotels when travelling but make exception for Tarntawan for it's gay friendliness. Overall of 4 places you mentioned above Om Yim is the best value for money , Malaysia even better but a bit too far

firecat, your post helped me to realize that I should count my blessings because I already chalked off list all my 10 childhood travel dreams , never thought about this , thank you

pyramids aren't going anywhere but we are, I'd go Michael, firecat is right about troubles here and there but tourists are still coming to Egypt and in lower number it means lots of 5 star attractions can be seen without usual crowds. I still fondly remember my flight from LAX to BKK in Nov 2001 when everybody was afraid to fly and I had whole row of seats at my disposal. Troubles in Middle East may mean also that may will become worse and for a while some places may become inaccessible. After all some of us recall times when visiting Angkor was impossible dream when Pol Pot closed Cambodia to the outside world. Not only pyramides but Luxor and Karnak temples, Valley of Kings and Abu Simbel temple are a must in Egypt

Sure bet is not only you feel Swampy is a gateway to some of very good times

I always start with Arena but you go to Hero as it looks your heart is already on it and you will not regret As for bars I'd start with Dreamboys, last time I was there in Nov 2013 out of whole selection it was only one boy I wouldn't off and he was offed very soon so you should find somebody you like

I second Om Yim / 1000 baht / at lower end and Tarntawan / 2000 baht / a bit more classy, other budget option is Nantra Silom in Silom soi 8 / 1000 baht / and BBB Inn / 1320 baht / - where not only you will not have problem with visitors but you don't need any as they have quite a few in-house massage boys, skilled and willing. Other than Hero /Arena/ Senso I'd recommend Adonis and Fan Club in Convent and Banana Club in the same soi where Hero is as well as both Bonny and Bangkok Massage in soi Twilight where most go-go bars are located. Walking along Silom as plenty massage shops are presenting their boys outside and you are spoiled for a choice make sure you visit some Go-go bars in soi Twilight, you have 7 to choose from as well as Jupiter across the street and Screwboys in Patpong itself. Don't miss Tawan if you are into muscle and I guess you are. As for touristy stuff Grand Palace and Vinamek with vincinities are a must, get there by the boat from Saphan Taksin BTS / elevater rail /station, closer to Silom you have Red Cross Snake farm across from BBB INN, one of two such institutions in the world, 2 different shows daily, save a ticket. If you are into shopping, upscale countless malls along Sukhumvit stretch of BTS between Siam and Asok, Chatuchak market on weekends only and street markets along Silom and in Patpong at night but really whole Bangkok is one huge shopping center. For fun try fish massage either in Patpong 1 or Suriwong, 150 baht / 15 mins Other questions ask and we will chip in.

do you remember name of that establishment ? Can you elaborate what made it horrible / selection , massage , cleanliness. etc / use private message if you dont want to go public with your grievances

we can start with continents we are residents of