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I must admit before I leave for Thailand, I make notes on the numbers mentioned by forum members (e.g. VInapu). But once I get there, I forget to reference them. As for myself, I know them in the moment but don't remember the numbers. If it's any help, Hack is one of the coyote dancers - the one's who dance on the corners of the stage. He is also (or was when I was there) the center boy in the hot wax number in the show. Sorry, I can't be of more help.

Yes, 350 was additional to off fee.

It’s now Saturday mid-morning, we are awake, breakfasted, and packed. Housekeeper tip given directly. Hotel bill paid. Say goodbyes and mention possible future visit. Mike’s Pattaya Taxi’s driver is waiting, Of to Bangkok. Fairly quick get away from Pattaya counter balanced by massive traffic jams. Arrive at The Raya after a 2 hour plus drive. (Cost 1200 THB) The hotel reception desk doesn’t ask for my name, just says welcome back and gives me my paperwork as passport copying is done for Van and me. Placed in Room 513 which is right off the lobby. I unpack, Van gathers up his stuff and is going to his room to do laundry. We agree on meeting up around 7 or 8. I need to cover his off fee at Hot Male for the remaining five nights of my visit. Once I unpack and check my cash, I secure half of it in the safe. Off to Excelsior Tailors, which I’ve used for five years, as I need a suit and some shirts. With five days in Bangkok, there is time for more than one quick fitting. Since I stop in, sometimes just to say hello, when I’m in Bangkok, easy greeting and quick catching up. From what is in the “ready (for fitting) area”, it’s clear there are golfers in town. (I will later learn there is a major golf show going on this week which is brining mainly Japanese golfers to Bangkok). I decided I wanted a dark blue double-breasted suit, fabric picked, details discussed (functional button holes, etc.). Swatches for four shirts selected, and an add-on: a pair of gold shorts just like a pair waiting in the “ready area”. Back Monday for a fitting. Now, off to Prime for a foot and Thai massage combo for 500 THB, Senso and Arena can wait…I need a real pummeling to get out the tightness that comes with 20 plus hours on planes and the ride into town. Prime is always successful at that and is again. My extremities seem to move freely, nothing was broken, success. Check my watch and see there is time for a quick drink at Golden Cock…three boys and the bartender. Happy to let me see their privates, tips exchanged. Planning on a return for more extensive fun (unfortunately, this will not happen due to bad scheduling on my part). On the way back to The Raya, engage in conversation with a really cute boy who works at Indra Massage (across from Tawan). Will return I said (note, I did return – twice – but he wasn’t there). Stop for a moment at Tony’s Leather – located between Twilight and The Raya. I’m thinking of getting some shoes to go with my new suit. Not enough time to choose, so another place to go back to. Back at hotel, I check on email and catch up with two forum members to confirm meeting times. Van returns with his laundry done. Dinner? “Up to You”…so we head out to Silom Complex and settle on a restaurant that specializes in Thai Street food. I know it’s absurd…but the food was good, and Van had seconds on one dish. Now, it’s time for Twilight…first stop is Hot Male Bar. Li, the Hot Male Clubs principal grabber/tout, sees me and greets me with a hug. Settle in at the bar where some of the boys from May are still present and ready to remember me. Two young farangs (estimate late 20s) have bought a bottle of Johnny Walker Red and are engaging three of the bar boys in a rock, paper, scissors contest. One of the boys is showing the serious effects of losing. Li comes over and mentions the show upstairs will start in a few minutes, so Van and I head up guided by Li. On the way, Net, a bar boy from Hot Male Bar II, who I offed in the past, sees me and we exchange hugs. He was fun, need to find time…I keep saying that…). Upstairs, the renovations are noticeable. What had been the smokers side of the room is gone and a stage akin to the old Jupiter is now installed there. Mamasan is over in a flash and we are seated in the front with room for the boys who come over to say hello to Van and/or me. Drink fees are now 400 for the first drink and 300 for the second…that’s a per person charge. So, if one buys drinks for three people that will be 1,200. I let the mamasan know that I will off Van or five nights. That’s 2,500 at 500 a night. A year ago, it was 400 a night, in May it was 500 for weekend nights and 400 for other nights. High Season is definitely in the pricing. The boys are in rotation and the overall look is much improved (to my eyes), it no longer has the look of a tattoo parlor graduates with a few others. Nice mix from twinks to swimmers to body builders. Lots of smiling and a few looks of trepidation from the 25 or more on stage. One of the coyotes appeals to me, swimmer who is slightly older appearing than a twink. When the show starts, it’s clear HotMale saw the competition from Jupiter and responded with a choreographed show that is sexier and has a bit of Pattaya's BBB raunchy humor. The candle wax number was led by the coyote boy I’d noticed a few minutes back and did nothing to diminish my interest. I conferred with Van and Peter, another of the boys who I’ve been with. They know my likes/dislikes. They are more than willing to tell me to stay away from some boy temptations, in this case, there was eager support for my interest. After the show ended – this was the first of three nightly shows – so it is shorter and is less hard core – I called the coyote over, his name is Hack and he is from Issan. I had to process that I had selected someone who wasn’t Vietnamese or Cambodian or Burmese(!). We talked a bit, he showed it was a kisser by kissing me. We talked on a rate, 2500, no 2000.ok for short time. As he goes to change, I check with Van who says he will stay at the bar until I text him. Or, I can give the room key to Hack who can bring it back. Interesting sense of cooperation. Pay the bill, give some 100THB tips, and head out with Hack. No security on the 5th floor at The Raya, so no ID given. I had looked at it to check the age. Well, Hack was a dream of an off. Handsome, a male beauty, well proportioned, not shy. Nothing held back and all options available and I chose most of them. We each came, and he had enough reserve power to end with a final chuck wow. After we showered together, I tipped him 350 which was all I had left in my wallet. I was so happy/pleased/confused that I forgot I had put money in the safe. Which may have been a good thing as I might have been tempted to be overly generous. Walked him out and as he went back to Hot Male, I stopped at the ATM, believing I didn’t have any THB. Li told me Van was upstairs in the club and he’d let him know I was here. In the mean time I hooked up for a cuddle with Net at HMB II. Eventually, Van and I went back to The Raya. Security at the street level, and the desk clerk now back on duty on 5th floor. Van has to leave for his day job at 6am, so we google translate back and forth for a while. He asks if Hack make me happy and is happy that I’m happy. He takes a shower and I’m asleep before he gets into bed.

Thanks for the “PM” comments on the format…I agree that the bullet point concept is not a total success, sothere will be more narrative going forward. Regarding exchange rates, I had the “luck” / misfortune of arriving just as the Thai economy posted better than expected results which drove the THB up and the USD$ down. The US Congress psycho drama over taxes was also playing out “will they?” or “won’t they?” which impacted the rates. This is a topic that will come up toward the end of my trip report. Fitful night of only sort of sleeping in between toilet runs…but improvement noted by dawn…perhaps, there was nothing left to give. Imodium definitely kicking in… Decided I could tackle some toast, I went downstairs where Kay, the manager, took my order and inquired after my health – indicating the housekeepers were keeping the desk informed on the guests. Back in the room, I caught up with my email and news – Van woke up around 10 as he’d fallen asleep sometime after 3am. He went out for breakfast after checking on me. When he returned, and I was able to report almost five hours of freedom from bathroom trips and that I was no longer contemplating adult diapers, we discussed the day. Note: My language skills (Thai, Vietnamese) are minimal…this is also true of Van’s English skills…so our discussions are a mix of familiar gestures, some phrases, and lots of google Translate. I remembered that my symptoms set in as we were in a shop looking for sandals, not fully sure of the last 24 hours, I asked if he had the sandals? No. Let’s go to Central World and look around…I was pretty sure I could handle that and knew there were lots of “western” toilets there. Baht bus to Central World…it’s a mall in the style of most malls, just in Pattaya it’s giant sized compared to everything else. When the baht bus turned onto the beach road, I noticed that Van’s eyes grew big at the sight of the activity along the beach and in the water – the parasailers, the boats, etc. So, when we easily and quickly decided that the mall didn’t have any sandals, we adjourned to the beach. I sort of sat and listened to the small waves breaking while trying not to look at the stuff that was washing up on the shore. Van got into a discussion with one of the tattoo artists who tout their skills to the tourists. Van has a shoulder tattoo that has faded and (he tells me) his friends joke about it…so he is definitely interested in what can be done and how to do it and how long. Tattoo tout quotes 3000 THB and two hours. Van looks at me, doesn't ask for money but the look implies he doesn't have that much. I comment that two hours is a long time for me to be away from the hotel. Everyone saves some face and the tattoo tout goes off to look for an American female who will want an ankle engraved. On the way back to the hotel, I mention that I will need to sleep some both due to jet lag and not having had much sleep in the past day and a half. Van will go off and look for sandals in the shops around Jomtien and Dongtan and check out nearby tattoo shops of which there are many along the baht bus route to the beach. When I wake up it’s getting dark, Van is watching a video on You Tube. He shows me his new sandals which clearly look to be sturdier than his borrowed ones. 1400 THB. Over the years, I’ve come to understand he isn’t the best haggler when it comes to bargaining on a price, but he will walk away and keep shopping and comparing prices until he’s found something he likes at a price he likes. He used this approach to get his tattoo improved. The more he shopped around, the more he knew this wasn’t the time or place. He tells me we are going to shower together so that he can clean my up to go out tonight. We do, and he does. Then to the restaurant in the hotel for dinner…he has Thai and I have a pasta…don’t want to push things…body is repairing itself but don’t want to shock it. Walk to the beach then back to Jomtien, it’s about 10pm and the bars are in action. Settle in at @Home. Some initial awkwardness as the bar boys aren’t sure if they should pay attention for future benefit or just let this “couple” have drinks and watch. Watching I see lots of bar boys doing their best to attract what appears to be an aging clientele to have drinks. (Yes, I’m looking in the proverbial mirror). Van has explained (Viet and Cambodian languages have much in common) that it’s ok for them to sit with me, which a couple charmers to. One is from Siem Reap and explains to me the complexity of going back and forth to keep his visa in order. I use the game plan Van and I had devised and off Mr. Siem Reap (hos name sounded like “sigh”), Van stays at the club for now but will walk back to the beach until I message him. Sigh and I head back to The Poseidon, ID checked for age (21) short time price agreed at 1300. Handsome lad, open to all sorts of fun, my body is still recuperating so its all oral and a chuck wow on his part. Add 500 for a tip… I was happy to know I was still functioning as a living person. Texted Van and suggested to meet up at Your Bar…since he can’t read the English signs, I see him wandering around the bars looking for me (at least I think he was looking for me). I picked Your Bar as I always have good time there. I mentioned in the first part of this report that I’d been hoping to find the boy I offed twice back in May…but, again like two nights ago, he wasn’t there. But others told me they remembered me (and as I remembered them), it wasn't a total scam. It’s mostly Cambodian with a few Burma boys. My sought after off is Thai but I think that is an exception. Several drinks later for the bar boys, it’s now Saturday early morning, Van and I went back to the hotel and to sleep. Plan is to leave for Bangkok at noon

Exchange rate was at the airport. I only exchanged $200 USD as I anticipate airport rate will be higher but want enough THB for the first day’s expenses.

November Visit This short - 10 day - end of the month visit while similar in some respects to earlier trips that I’ve reported on was a bit more bland…but I’ll get to that. For a change, I’m using a bullet point system to report rather than my usual narrative. No reason other than to see how it works. · Using miles for a business class round trip, I learned that required me to travel on partner airlines (I’m Star Alliance). Round trip booking: United to Hong Kong, then Thai to Bangkok, and on the way home Thai to Taipei and then Eva to home. This mandated long layovers in Hong Kong and Taipei. · Left San Francisco on 20 November. United Polaris (i.e. business class)…my window seat has no access to the windows due to the design of the cubicle. Doesn’t seem to matter as the windows were shut for the entire flight in the business cabin. · Arrive Hong Kong, no longer stamping passports, just get a sticker that is to be retuned when I depart (no one asked for it when I did depart). Went to a nearby hotel and slept for six hours. · Checking in with Thai airways (the “partner” for the first flight to Bangkok on November 22nd, I am asked to sign a waiver removing Thai from any responsibility if I am not admitted to Thailand. (!) I ask why and am told I don’t have enough space in my passport for the required “chops” aka entry/exit stamps. In my polite voice, I note that I have several blank pages and LEARN that these are not visa pages but endorsement pages…not the same thing. · This is now a concern…so I head to the Thai lounge and have some food and decide it’s up to fate. Board plane for easy flight to Bangkok. · One of the first off of the plane, I enter the immigration area and am astounded to find there is no waiting, I walk up to a booth and hand in my passport. I watch as the agent/officer pages through my passport but soon hear a satisfying sound as he stamps my passport. · Change $200 USD for THB at rate of 32.04…dollar down, trip will be more expensive. · Van, my friend and Hot Male veteran, is waiting as I exit customs. The driver from Mike’s service is also there and we depart for Pattaya (car cost is 1,000 THB). · Arrive at the Poseidon just before noon. The Junior suite I booked is ready and I check us in - 2,000 THB a night. · Van and I shower and spend some time in bed – I mostly sleeping. Nice to be held while I sleep. When we are both awake, we catch up: Van is still working two jobs, garment worker during the day and Hot Male at night. He gets three days a month off from each job, using those days from the garment job for this jaunt to Pattaya, he paid his off fee to Hot Male so he could meet me. (yes, I will reimburse him but note he did not ask to be reimbursed…very possible he knew I’d take care of it…we do go back almost five years). · Agree on some signals that if I want to off someone, how he will know to make himself scarce or helpful. · Go for a walk to Dongtan to see how the reconstruction is going…it’s a Wednesday so the umbrella zones are having their day off. Government has posted signs of what the area will look like (maybe) once it is finished…plan is to install lots of tress to replace the trees that were removed. · Light lunch at Sandbar…discuss plan once we get beyond “it’s up to you”. Boyztown tonight, Sunnee tomorrow, and Jomtien Friday…though Jomtien is our “hood” so it with be a part of each night. · After dinner at Poseidon – one of the reasons I stay at this hotel, this is my fourth visit, is the food. Van tells me his Thai dishes are excellent…I’ve never thought of Thai when choosing a meal there. · Head by Baht Bus to Boyztown, arrive at Oscar’s at 8:45 hoping for a BBB parade. Not tonight…Boyztown looks quiet (it’s a Wednesday), only one Chinese tour group parades past while we’re there. Panorama has lots of vacant seats. Van and I split agreeing to meet up /check in at a certain point. I check out Cupidol and Toyboys…nothing to add to what’s been reported recently. · BBB crowded but some seats, my favorite no longer there. 15% or more female audience. · Meet up with Van and we return to Jomtien and catch the Venture show – sit up close and see how mechanical the staging appears to be. So many dancers surround the lady boy diva, then switch to her other side and repeat the same moves. · Leaving, and heading toward the hotel, Jomtien complex is in full swing, it might be a weekend night rather than a Wednesday midnight. At the Venture end of the soi, in the vicinity of @Home and Your bar, it’s jam packed with boys and customers. Boys seem to be mainly from Cambodia. Check in with a few who tell me they remember me from my visit in May, don’t see the one guy I offed twice back then, so Van and I head back to the Poseidon. The crowded sensation eases as we walk up (or is it down) the street toward the hotel, bars are busy, new ones are being constructed. · Back at hotel, notice there are double glazed doors that have been shut to keep out the street noise…or keep in any sounds the guests and their guest might make(?). In our case, after some basic moves, I fall asleep with Van wrapped around me. · I only sleep a few hours, normal body response to jet lag. I walk to beach and have breakfast at Sandbar. Back to hotel, Van is getting up, he goes out to find some street food for breakfast (directly opposite hotel is the destination). · We head to Dongtan and claim some chairs and chill. Van says he wants to get some sandals as he borrowed the one’s he brought for the trp. He saw a shop on the way to the beach, I offer to go with him. · Once, I stand up on my now Dongtan massaged and beach pedicured feet, I sense something is off about my digestive system. We get to the shop and I tell Van I need to head back to the hotel…he comes with me. · Without going into detail, I spent the rest of Thursday in the room; mainly in the bathroom. For the first time in my life, I totally lost control of my bowels (sorry to be so clear). I was a mess and things were a mess. · Van went out and brought back some Imodium, which over the next 24 hours would lowly sift control back to me. No Sunnee, no dinner, no fun…glad my caretaker was present to worry for me and get the housekeeper to provide an extra cleanup and fresh linens. · To be continued

I was in Pattaya a few days ago. Visiting Jomtien complex, especially in the area near The Venue, @home, and Your bar, one could believe they were in a Cambodian village given the number of bar workers saying they were from Cambodia.

allan1990, you should be at the start of your trip...have a great time. I’m just booking a trip to Cambodia for January and look forward to any report(s) you might post. Enjoy your travels.

Or if you've gone for a massage

Problem for me with phone "ICE" is that a pass code or thumbprint is needed to access my phone. I use a version of newalaan's pocket card.

Timing is part of the search...Banana Club, for instance, has a lunch rush. After it's over, the boys go out for their own lunch, so arriving them might mean there are only a few available. Happened to me in May, only three guys there when I arrived, lucked out with one twink type. On the way out, lunch was over, and there were maybe 20 guys now waiting for customers.

While I don't disagree that Khmer and Myanmar boys are eager to please, I've had fantastic offs with Vietnamese boys from Hotmale (three different guys) and Screwboys (2 different guys), including some three-ways. I've made arrangements to meet up with one of them when I'm in Bangkok next week. On first meeting the guys and arranging the offs I follow advice I first found in the Forum some years back (most of it is from Vinapu): who smiles, discuss explicitly what is expected, using hand gestures if language is an impediment, confirm with mamasan if not convinced, agree on time ST or LT and tip.

Sad...a life gone

I decided that the US's Thanksgiving holiday would be better spent in Pattaya and Bangkok. I'll be in Pattaya 22,23, and 24 November. I'm staying in Jomtien at the Poseidon. Planning on exploring Sunee - which I've not had the chance/opportunity to visit/sample time for on past visits. Then in Bangkok at The Raya from the afternoon of the 25 until I depart on the 30th. Mac from Siamroads has designed some day trips to parts obscure (to me) during the day on 26th and 27th I'd enjoy meeting other Forum members and if schedules might coincide, send me a PM.

Similar to VInapu's experience, I've offed a Hotmale boy for a trip to Pattaya. He asked for the tip at the end of the trip. I agreed but gave him 500 baht so I wouldn't be buying supplies and incidentals.

While a bother of massive proportion for you, it's caution for all travelers. I hope the double cleaning resolves. the situation. At one brief point one of my duties was to manage a small hotel that catered to international travelers, about ten years ago, an overnight guest from introduced bed bugs to the hotel. After many months and tens of thousands of $$ and lots on inconvenience to the guests, the insects moved on or passed away. While there are scammers - i.e. guest who bring bed bugs in plastic baggies to show and complain and not pay, hotels should honor what the guests says and compensate them. I'm still a bit non plussed that you found the marks on theunderside of the mattress, that indicates (to me ) that housekeeping knew there was a problem and ignored it When you return home, repeat all the cautions you have taken in Thailand. Good luck

The air distance / miles sidebar discussin interested me as my approach is “it’s a long flight “. I make the trip from the San Francisco Bay Area three times a year- at least that’s the goal. Air routes are usually great circle and not straight line. I use an on line mileage calculator. It lists Bangkok as 7910 flight miles from San Francisco and a Buenos Aires as 6450 air miles away. No matter what...both are long flights, ...but it’s the destination not the distance.

On my last visit, I had to have medical treatment for an infection on my right arm. I went to the emergency room at Bangkok Christian Hospital on Silom...a short walk from The Raya. World class facility with skilled physicians. If you need to go there have your passport or driver's license as they need one or the other to register you. Based on my experience costs are very low, quality of care is high.

2000 was the pricing quoted in May/June by boy, Worth it.

Thanks, you are the Michelin of massage guides

Have a most enjoyable trip.

To the brushing of teeth caution, add flossing as that may/will cut into the gums.

There is a room upstairs, boys use it to sleep, but make way for customer who want some playtime.

Agree with Vinapu about the money boy...expensive way to fill in the time between flights. Depending on my jet lag, I may just take the MTR into HK proper and have a late dinner/drink, then head back and wait for an Thai or United to open their lounge.

I'm using miles for my next trip (20 Nov) to Thailand from SFO.. The routing puts me into Hong Kong around 9 pm on the 21st. I have a 7am fight to BKK the next morning which means checking in around 5am. As far as I can tell, there's not much to do in the airport after 11pm (I could be wrong). So I'm looking for suggestions...is it worth it to go into HK proper...should I just check into the airport hotel and rest up from the flight to HK and prepare for Pattaya...open to ideas. Any entertainment venues on Lantau? I used Planet Romeo indicating that I was in HK on Lantau Island and got some money boys' hits...one who said he was 20 was very upfront with photos and hispricing at 1490 HK$ was high end.