ggobkk

I just left Bangkok last Friday, gong I was told it would be hot (temperature wise), it was. I was told it would be rainly, it was but only once day and for a short while. There was plenty of "fun" to be had.

Departure day…finally I tend to sleep fitfully the night before a departure, what did I forget to pack, do I need to do this or that. Did I give the extra keys to the house sitter? Finally, I just get up, pre-dawn, it’s June 2nd. Time to play with ANA’s seat selection. I book with United but United only flies the San Francisco to Tokyo leg, ANA is the partner for the Tokyo to Bangkok segment. United allows me to pick my seat at the time I book, not the case with ANA. I’ve learned over time and several trips, to ask United to give me the ANA locator/conformation number. 24 hours prior a flight’s departure, ANA allows online seat selection. My fitful sleep has me up just about when seat selection opens. I quickly grab the center aisle seat immediately behind business class. I see from the configuration that the plane will be a 787. I allow some extra time to get to the airport – this is not a new practice but one ingrained in my DNA. I’m taking public transit (BART for those readers familiar with the San Francisco Bay Area). Traveling east in the morning of June 2nd from California, it will be almost June 4th by the time I get to my hotel in Pattaya. Not a good start the trip as BART is having some sort of sickness, the usual one hour trip takes an extra 40 minutes. I’m somewhat entertained by a fellow airport traveler who keeps asking me if he is on the right train. I assure him he is, point to my bag to show I’m also a traveler. He has two bags and a backpack. During the longer than usual trip, he informs me that as much as he’d like to he can’t share his medicinal marijuana brownies with me…though because I’m a nice guy he’d break the rule, for me. I decline. By the time we get to the transfer point, he is blissed out and has all three of his luggage open with things spread out…I mentioned (warned) two stops prior to the transfer that it was coming up. When it arrives, he comprehends he should do something and knocks his opened luggage onto the floor and then tries to push it out the door. Another passenger (an Asian grandmother type) and I help. I move far away at the transfer point and board the next train. 5 minutes later I’m at United check-in which is very quick and I send one bag onward keeping my backpack with my electronics with me. My TSA pre-check is in order and I’m through security in a few minutes. Perhaps, a good omen to offset the delayed train to the airport. I have an hour until boarding, so I kill time by grabbing all the free newspapers in the United Club and chat up the bartender in the lounge as she makes a Bloody Mary to prepare me for what’s ahead. She’s been there years and we talk about how crowded things are…she believes it’s only temporary as the construction of a new business class lounge is taking up much of the space but once it’s done… I check my email. there is a message from “K”. He tells me he can’t meet me when I arrive in Pattaya as his grandmother has died and he needs to be with his father. I’m a bit bummed because he and I had a very memorable time together in February and he has been texting, sending photos, and calling since then. My natural tendency is to be sympathetic, so I send a condolence reply, and wonder if he is really being polite and not telling me he has had a better offer…sorry, grandma! I head out to the gate, which is at the furthest point in the terminal. Thanks to my recent frequency of living on planes, I board with the first non-military personnel, non-disabled, non-family with children younger than 3 group. I have an aisle seat (center section) in premium economy, Usually, this gives me an empty seat next to me. Not this time. The 747 is FULL. And for trip enhancement, I have a military family with a baby in front of me and two rows up another family with a very unhappy child. Noise cancelling headset goes on and sonic bliss abounds. 450 travelers are boarded, luggage is jammed in, and we depart a few minutes ahead of schedule. I pass on the meal and accept some wine. Flight to Tokyo is unremarkable, the ten hours pass as they always do. Slept some, found a place to stretch, read a couple of books, and thought about how to fill in the time when I arrive in Pattaya as I’d been looking forward to enjoying time with “K”. Tokyo, land, disembark, head to transit security, and the to the United Club. I have almost fours to kill until the ANA flight. Decide a shower is a good idea and it was…the United Club in Tokyo makes things easy for its guests. Refreshed from the shower and a shave, I grab some food, recharge electronics, and have a drink. I let the Poseidon Hotel know that I’m on schedule and to let their driver know. They test back and give me the meeting point. Finally, it’s time to get on to Bangkok, head to ANA’s gates which are a ten-minute walk away. ANA staff bow and then check passports and boarding cards, my seat is as booked many hours earlier. And, no one is in the seat next to me. Good leg room, after take-off, I decline the food offers and go to sleep. Sleep for about four hours, wake and check the monitor and learn we will be landing at 10:40pm instead of 11:10. That’s a plus! Well, so much for positive thinking, the plane now shudders a bit, there is a loud crack, and the pilots maneuvers us through a powerful squall. It’s easy to head the rain beating down and with the larger 878 windows see the lightning flashes. The monitor slowly shows the early arrival move to a late arrival…my mind goes not to possible flight problems but to the logistics of when I’ll now get to Pattaya..given that the Thai immigration welcoming lines are still ahead and it’s a long drive to Pattaya. Well, whatever will be…will be. Finally land at 11:30 in a rainstorm. Oh…the gate’s not ready! Another 20 minutes’ delay. Then ANA plays its status game and block those of us in economy from getting off the plane until all of the business class folks are long gone. Mad dash to immigration and…much to my surprise I’m third in line. I almost had to shake myself to comprehend this…and there are at least six agents waiting to assist! Then 2nd miracle – my checked luggage is the second bag on the conveyor belt. No need to stop to change money as I kept a supply from my last visit. Head to the meeting point, driver is there, he parks me in a spot away from the rain while he gets the car. Depart from the airport at 12:10 am June 4th. This is close to the time I’d hoped to be departing when I thought about the trip back at home. Drive was “interesting” as the rain kept cascading onto the roads. Not many cars out and about but the driver used his windshield wipers almost until we arrived at The Poseidon, lots of puddles and ponds of water on the road, kudos to the driver. Arrive at the Poseidon around 1:45am. Tip the driver and thank him. Hotel has all the paperwork ready, doesn't require a credit card, and puts me in room 24. This is one of the rooms with a pool sized Jacuzzi tube. I decide that since “K” isn’t here, I’ll venture out and see what’s happening in Jomtien tonight. Well, thanks to the rain, not much is happening. Two boys are sitting together as one bar, but the bar is shut as are the other bars. Just before, I get to where the street turns toward the Agate Hotel, there is revelry at Your Place. It’s one of the boy’s birthday and the celebrations are at full strength. The revelers call me to join them, which I do. More than a dozen boys, most shirtless, some in underwear, and two in dresses. I see only two other farangs both up and dancing. I sit at the edge of the festivities and order a beer, I’m quickly joined by one, then two, then a mamasan (one of the ones in a dress), then a couple more. Drinks are 100 baht, so I offer to buy some drinks and relax and allow myself to begin to take in the varying activities going on and take in the caresses from all sides. Chat up the mamasan, wish the birthday boy, whose underwear is disappearing, and let the infectiousness wash over me. I notice a good-looking guy with a killer smile watching smiling at me (Vinapu rule). He is one of the few if not the only one to be wearing a shirt. I invite him over to sit next to me and to have a drink. Neither of us speaks the other’s language. English / Cambodian. He is very tall and loves rubbing his hands over my arms and legs. Is there a spark? Well there is that smile and his killer looks and, as I noticed when he moved to sit next to me, he’s tall. Brief negotiations, short time agreed upon, and we are off. He gets applause as we hear out, the mamasan told me the next day, that Tien, his name, is very new and the others were encouraging him. Bar tab was 1200 which included the off fee and 8 or 9 drinks. Back to the hotel, his ID left at desk, up to the room. He is more impressive naked than dressed. And his charm and abilities made for a very fun, enjoyable, and pleasant almost two hours of exploring and experimenting. A wonderful way to relieve the travel travails. Welcome to Thailand.

I’m now home and as the fog of jet lag slowly lifts, it’s time to either wait on a reminder from Vinapu to not keep the Forum waiting or get on with writing up my notes from my June 2 to June 16 visit to Thailand. Some background (for those who might like some) here is my report from my last visit. http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/topic/10783-seredipity-january-visit-bangkok-pattaya-and-back/ This June's was a trip that was both sort of planned and sort of just happened. I looked at my calendar and noticed that it was filling in with this and that and the time window to return to Thailand was limited. So, even knowing that June is low season due to the weather (rainy and hot), I had two weeks without commitments here at home (northern California), and booked a flight on United from San Francisco to Bangkok via Tokyo. Then I got in touch with Siam Roads my "go to tour company" to see what short run tours would be possible. My thinking was to fly in to BKK, arriving late at night, go to Pattaya for a couple of days to purge the jet lag, then meet up with one of the guides and go exploring for a few days, then to Bangkok and meet up with Van (see earlier report/s) and do the butterfly bit. Ya of Siam Roads, known to many on the Forum, threw off a range of ideas for a three/four-day tour in the north. We had previously toured in Laos and Chiang Mai. Somewhere in the back and forth I mentioned that all I knew about the area I learned from the ancient movie “The Bridge on the River Kwai”. That reference helped to focus my thinking and was made a destination, I also (foolishly as it will turn out) suggested a night or two on a floating hotel. Ya pulled all sorts of things together, hotel options, dates, etc. He only had a limited time frame to work in as he would be finishing a tour and needing to begin another to Bali so the dates began to fill in. Mac from Siam Roads, also well-known on this Forum joined in the planning and messaged me about a couple of tour possibilities based out of Bangkok. We agreed to talk once I was in Thailand. While all of this was going back and forth, I was in the midst of a lot of long haul travel, back from Thailand in February, I was in Washington and Chicago in March, then a visit to Italy focused on a week in Rome in April, then a week in the UK for a wedding. Note, I had a truly fantastic night with an Italian moneyboy in London.. It was via an app and I didn’t expect much and was more than pleasantly surprised…also it reminded me of that Thailand had much to offer beyond educational touring (LOL). I was only home for a week before June 2, my departure arrive, and I was heading west to Bangkok, my body clock needing a reset…onward

Artbox is closed at the moment but will reopen in time for your visit.

I visited two weeks ago and the noise from the tree removal and the trucks coming and going was enough to drive me away. As the old growth trees were cut up, trucks with palm trees for planting were arriving. I gave up on beach time and went for a Thai massage at the blind Institute.

I've noticed that since the recent suspensions have been in place, there is more activity in the Forum...more posts and replies. A few weeks ago, I'd hit the "new content" button and find little that was new, not the case now.

Jasper should be the Forum's club reviewer. Agree with all he says, visited Jupiter 2018 last week and other than noting the place was packed for the 10:15 show and much of the audience appeared to be Chinese who arrived as a group and were seated in the first row surrounding the stage.

It may be a generational thing, as Numazu speculates. This past trip, I was surprised by the number of boys wanting to have a photo taken of them! I tell them I'll take the photo with teir phone. I checked my iPhone after I started reading this thread and find that I have several thousand photos in the cloud. Looking at the earliest ones, I find that what's in the photo doesn't always match my memory. I prefer the memory to the actuality. Yes, it's generational.

I spent last week at The Raya. No hassle on guests as long as they leave their identification at the desk while "visiting". When checking for a hotel, check several websites, the prices can vary. Agoda has been good for booking The Raya. I used to stay at Tarntawan but moved on when it was sold. New management caters to small groups...the former manager now runs Tartawan Apartments nearby. You might check that out. Agree with Vipanu's market information. MBK is worth the trip as it doesn't have the international big names that one finds at Siam Paragon or Central World (and every shopping mall in the world!) Last week, I had massages at Arena and Senso...both were excellent, Senso slightly more expensive. Arean had more masseurs to choose from, many more. Not sure what "stocky" means to you. Tawan has body builder types, there were two of that caliber at HotMale last week. Enjoy your visit...

Dynamic pricing, that curse for sporting events and theater, where prices ratchet up when there is greater demand, may be infecting the pricing of offs. On Monday an off at Hotmale was 400 baht, on Thursday at Hot Male Bar#2 an off was 500. The captain/mamasan said it went to 600 for Friday and Saturday. And was in effect at Hot Males two bars and Gogol. That's one company, didn't check on any others. Not a happy camer here.

Saw the Boys 66 show two nights ago...won't add anything to Jasper's spot on report other than noting there were only 12 in the audience

A personal story. While traveling last week in the north of Thailand, I cut my right forearm while loading my backpack into a sort of baht bus. The cut also pulled back a flap of skin. I did basic first aid. When I returned to Bangkok, the wound was still oozing blood and the skin tag was dead but attached. I went to the emergency room at the Christian Hospital on Silom. An hour later, I emerged with a large bandage, a cleaned and disinfected wound site, skin tag removed, a tetanus shot, a bag of capsules to prevent infection, back up pain pills,. The service from the greeting, to the taking of vitals, the medical consult, the procedure, the pharmacy, and the payment checkout was of a very high order. The cost 1,995 THB. That's less than my out of pocket cost at home just to go to the emergency room and I have great in-depth insurance. My travel insurance will reimburse me for the 1,995 THB. I'm relating this positive experience as a way of indicating that things happen at home and during travel.

Agree Jomtien seems more alive than the Boyztown clubs. Just left Pattaya yesterday. The old growth trees are being cut down and replaced with a promenade of palm trees. The destruction was from the main road to in front of BB Inn and the Sandpiper.

Somehow this is not a surprise. After landing this past Saturday, plane was put on hold for forty minutes waiting for a gate to open.

Lots of good advice and insight in this thread. I fell and cut my head open a few years back. Nothing serious but convinced me to buy insurance for future trips. I get an annual policy as I travel internationally six or seven times a year. There are brokers who will craft a policy to meet individual needs. NY Times travel wrote about this last year.

You should have a great time. I'm in Bangkok now and at The Raya. It's a great location. Also post closer to your departure to see who's in town.

Love the pacing of the reports. It's understood that the boys in a club talk about their customers. And that's a benefit is you receive a good grade. Bad grade = shun-vile. I've personally learned that the boys from, say Vietnam, talk cross club. Last visit, my regular Van learned that I'd offed another Viet, Nuguyen, from Screwboys. All was not lost as Van decided to put the three of us together. Why do I mention this...well, Numazu is hinting that he has intent to dazzle some boys from Myanmar but keep BurBoy out of the picture. All I can say is good luck.

I've arrived after 26 hours in transit of one form or another. That said, I'm traveling with my iPad and no keyboard. To write a full - but never as full as Numazu report - I need a keyboard. So,e highlights from the past two days: marijuana brownies on the airport train, 787 and lightning, no immigration line, 3am Jomtien birthday party with 3 farang guests, and a dozen or more shirtless boys, some in underwear...oh and two in ball gowns...and the smiling 6ft Cambodian boy... I may post some more coming attraction teasers...let's see what happens between now and the keyboard.

If other forum members are in Pattaya on the 4th or 5th, or in Bangkok from the 10th to 15th and would like to meet up "PM" me. Apprecation Thanks, Numzau for putting your toes back into the Forum with a trip report. You've encouraged me to also begin my own report - though I haven't left yet. Prelude Having unpacked both my luggage and my jet lag from last week's to the UK to attend a wedding, I've just finished packing for a less formal and warmer and wetter climate. I'm looking forward to a rest with a sensual side. It seems to me that I've been living on planes since March when I went to both D.C. and Chicago (separate slogs) from SFO; then in April I was in Italy, then back to the Bay Area for some meetings, then to London and Bolton(!), back to the Bay Area and anticipating another 22 hours of travel before being able to let things go. I leave the US tomorrow ( Friday ) and, after a stopover in Tokyo, arrive in Bangkok late Saturday night. I have a ride booked to Pattaya, where - if mutual planning actually works - I'll be met by a favorite of mine from last trip. We spent two amazing nights together on my last visit celebrating Chinese New Year. I'm in Jomtien/Pattaya for Sunday, Monday, and part of Tuesday. Ideal is to spend the days at the beach, have a massage, dine very well at The Poseidon, then after a temptation walk around Jomtien head into town and visit Boyztown venues and/or Sunee Plaza. If the Jomtien temptation is too powerful, then plans may be redrawn. On the 6th, I head to Bangkok to meet up with Van (see earlier reports) to celebrate some recent achievements of his...then the next day I head out with Ya from Siam Roads to explore Chonburi and stay at a floating hotel near the River Kwai bridge. Back to Bangkok for the weekend and following week...have some plans to check out new and old Jupiter, revisit Arena, and Senso, sit at Paulsf's seat at Hotmale Bar...and just go with the flow for the week. To be continued...

Welcome back, Numazu! And, welcome back Trip Reports.

Wander and have fun...I have a compressed three night, two and a half day visit coming up. Based on earlier visits, a lot can be "accomplished" in a short time.

Te US $ is up against the THB in today's trading. But the THB is strong against other currencies.

What's "Old" Jupiter's name now?

One of the boys at Hotmale once said (asked) "Baby" (!/?) as he rubbed my belly...after many decades of living, as Vessey notes, it's hard to put things in reverse. Instead, I continue to enjoy food, but do my best to walk several miles a day, do some serious stretching in the mornings, and not get too hung up on body image. Though Vessey's self description of being being a bouncy castle is something to contemplate.

Thanks, Serendipity for the update. I hope to check out the new and the old Jupiter in the next two weeks. 250 baht for drinks...seems almost reasonable when compared to Twilight...must be an opening gambit.