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After my Bangkok visit back in May, while knowing I’d return, I wasn’t sure when that would be. http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/topic/10372-bangkok-visit-may-5-12/?do=findComment&comment=91403 As fate/luck/opportunity found synchronicity, I was able to adjust a planned trip to Beijing and inserted 5 days on Thailand between two weekends in the Chinese capital. I arrived in China on September 1st in midafternoon with almost no wait at immigration (!). The Regent Hotel is my Beijing base camp had sent a car to meet me at the airport. The car had limited wi-fi capability but even that made my phone an inbox for new, never met, friends from Blued and Jack’d to send me very overt greetings. Ignoring those that started with “Daddy” on something similar (Yes, I’m just over 70 but that’s not my scene), I considered some of the other but then just put the phone down, unpacked, decided not to get on the subway at rush hour for shopping which could wait until the next morning. I had a drink and a light supper in the hotel’s club. Back in the room, I let jet lag take over and went to bed, I slept or three hours waking up for a full day in California. Looking at my phone which was now brimming with more welcomes and some unsolicited second and third messages, I came across an offer of a massage from someone whose photo depicted a cute, trim, and smiling young man. He wrote that he was not a MB. Well, I’m wide awake, a massage might get the kinks out of my back from 13 hours of sitting on a plane. I decided that an offer to have a massage from a cute 20 something was an excellent idea. Since his Jack’d page clearly said he wasn’t a MB, I assumed it was likely he was but, even if not, I could use the massage. He arrived within 30 minutes and was almost as cute as his photo. The massage was good and he remained clothed while working on my back. Once I turned over, he asked if he could take off his shirt, then his pants, then…for 300 yuan he became a money boy. He had a trim athlete’s body and we had a great and mutually satisfying time. When we unstuck ourselves, we exchanged WeChat links. I didn’t ask him to stay as he works in an upscale spa where much of the “best” business is done late at night. I then attempted to get a few more hours sleep. The next three days were spent with friends, their family doings, some shopping, lots of dining around…not much of it relevant to this report. On Monday, the 5th, I left most of my luggage with the hotel concierge, and took my carry-on to the airport. There Thai Air told me the flight was delayed by an hour. A bit frustrating as I was planning to meet up with T, my faithful friend (see earlier report) who used to work at Hot Male but was purged for being Vietnamese. The purge happened after I left Bankgok in May. I’d arranged for T to come from Vietnam and to meet up with Ya of Siam Roads in Bangkok. They were to pick me up at the airport for a trip/tour to Pattaya. Ya was doing this as a favor as he already had a tour client for Pattaya. I sent Ya a text about the delay and was assured all would work out. No one told Thai Airways that things would work out…the departure time was listed and turned out to be the boarding time. The Airbus was full, mainly with Chinese taking package tours in Thailand. Many just sat in whatever seat they liked which caused a further delay as the crew had to be Thai-polite but still put them in the correct seats. As we finally started to taxi from the gate, one of my neighbors decided to stand on his seat to get some necessity from the overhead and the crew just let him. Eventually, the plane landed and parked at the furthest possible gate from immigration. I bolted along the walkways and first good sign of the day was #2 in iine. My Thailand report will begin in my next posting. I’m not attempting to mimic Numazu’s cliff hanger postings, but do see that it makes an easier read if the posts are not overly long.

Once something has closed for more than a moment will a reopening capture the magic of the former self?

Patience, one and all, a suspense master is at work...

As I've said before in this forum and mentioned to you in person last week when our paths crossed, your reports are among the most read features found here. I believe because you have a sharp eye and a descriptive writing style. And, most importantly (to me) is your empathy and insight into the native boys.

Yes, welcome...additional updates will be welcome

Chinese app Blued works great in China and outside of China will quickly link to visiting Chinese. Seems that the Thai money boys also populate Blued.

This needs to be hardwired into all of us...

Ryan is a jerk. Michael Phelps was a jerk, figured things out, and is now on top of his world. Ryan will probably not meet justice in Brazil but his endorsement future will suck air.

I've been pleased by the siamroad guides. Especially adaptive when the weather changes and shuts down my plans. I'll be interested in your reports on Sareth as I'm thinking of a similar trip to Ankor early 2017.

Here's the link to ChristianPFC listing http://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2015/02/gay-forums-blogs-guides-and-encounters.html

I link to three sites, this one, gaybutton and sawatdee network. This one seems to be the most helpful when information is needed. Members seem to want to help. Gaybutton (to me) has a lot of information on Pattaya and has had some interesting extend travel pieces. It has a good search function. I seem to recall that it almost closed down and then came back strong after a regroup. There are times when it does not seem to have much activity. (My impression) Sawatdee has also been revamped. I believe Moses, who is on this board had a big hand in keeping it going. It was the home of the bangkokbois blog which introduced scores and scores of farangs to the boys of Bangkok. and drew lots of numbers to the site. When the author died the site needed the revamping it received. It has some strengths and sometimes can be kidnapped by ongoing back and forth point scoring. If I remember ChristianPFC posted a list of sites from over the years...I believe it can be found on his homepage.

At least, get in some pool time and then give him the bus ticket. Think its good that you are helping out.

Decided that I didn't want to be constrained by the schedule and agenda of the television network here in the USA (NBC), so I watched almost everything on an iPad app. It also had the advantage of not having to listen to the expert commentators tell me how much they knew. Very enjoyable so far. Agree with Ryanasia regarding the pool chemicals. I suspect some one told some one else to make sure the appropriate ones were added and never checked - so extra chemicals added, none added, or wrong ones.

Numazu - Paulsf's information agrees with what I know. Just two places at the moment. One can assume/hope/wish/be deluded enough to think that unlike Zika this is a trend that will spread.

Cracks in the crackdown...I received a Line message from a Vietnamese who had been let go by Hotmale when the crackdown on non-Thais began. He wanted to let me know that he was now at Fresh Boys. I checked with another member of the Forum who is an expert on such things and he had also heard that at least two clubs were bringing back the Vietnamese. Passing this along and wondering if things were on "hold" until after the election. No, it couldn't be that...

I suspect we will learn much from the replies to your queries and the reports (please) of your adventures. Hope our paths cross as I'll be in Bangkok in three weeks. Fun journey!

Preparing for a short trip to Pattaya and Bangkok the first week in September, I checked out the usual apps (Jack'd, Hornet, Romeo, and Blued. Most of them temporarily showed me as being in one or the other of the towns. I quickly had multiple messages of interest. Maybe it's a visitors' bureau gambit (lol).

Some time back, I volunteered at the local health department's HIV test clinic. I would provide counseling and also give the results of the tests. My experience agrees with Vinapu Every now and then partners came in who were "monogamous" and every now and then one of the other tested positive while the other didn't. As confidentiality was required, we insisted partners receive their results together.

Quote about "old soldiers never die, they fade away" was from General Douglas MacArthur the great prima donna of generals who was fired by Truman. That noted, it is a very appropriate quote.

Good coverage on BBC and France 24. Very little on US news so far. BBC reports two arrested, but that could be police public relations (round up all the usual suspects).

You fit in and are more than welcome...

In the San Francisco Bay area, restaurants are raising salaries and moving to a no tip policy. Prices are going up as a result. This practice is not yet widespread but as the wage rate moves toward a legislated $15 USD/hr, tipping practices will change.

This is very helpful as (prior to reading Moses' posts), I'd booked BB for a two night stay in October. Now I need to remember to book Nick for a massage.

Negative reviews...one person's negative review can be another's plus. I was booking a cruise to Alaska and trying to determine which cruise line was right for me and my friend. Saw a review headline "Don't sail on Holland America Line". Reading the review which was from a youth, I learned that Holland America was not for kids as there was nothing for them to do and there were few people their age on the ship. This negative review caused me to book on HAL and take a restful cruise.

Reading your report and recalling the silences that are an essential part of the important partings. Thanks.