Londoner

The sooner the better. I've only got three weeks here this trip. And I like the fish cakes, too.

Maybe, but Dick's and I go back a long way. Twenty plus years.The BKK Dick's was a favourite for years, replaced in our affections by the JC one when we changed our location. As Oscar Wilde nearly said, to lose one gay restaurant is unfortunate but to lose two sounds like carelessness. And so I hope Kokopelli3 is right,.

Twenty plus hours travelling, looking forward to my chicken and cashew nuts at Dick's. And it's closed. Refurbishment or forever?

I suspect paracetamol will also be found in the medications I mentioned. Checking ingredients is always important. I once bought travel sickness tablets in a Pattaya pharmacy only to find when I checked back at my hotel against my existing regular medication that they were possibly harmful. In terms of prevention, a travel specialist doctor advised the use of tea-tree oil for the journey. A little in each nostril- not an unpleasant smell in my view- may help. I used it regularly both ways.

My commiserations. This was frequently an issue for me and particularly galling if suffered on the outward leg. On the positive side, my partner introduced me to some popular local medications which helped. "TiffY"? "XZY"?....these are approximations from memory. Speak to your local pharmacist but check carefully if you are already on any other medications.

With so many decent places available in the area that welcome guests, I'd not risk the embarrassment of being told "no". Nor having to sneak someone in. And remember, it would be an embarrassment for your guest, too. The first night in Thailand is always special for me, too....chicken and cashew nuts and squid salad at Balcony! That's a tradition dating back to 1997.

In 1995, there were two designated gay massage places, as I recall. The one I tried was in North Pattaya and was called "Nobody Massage" if memory serves. One of the ways that Pattaya improved over the years was by providing opportunities for afternoon sanuk. I used to hate waiting until 2100 for the go go bars to open.

Michael Burchall writes about his first visit to Thailand in 1985. At least one bar, Gentleman's Club was operating then but Boyztown itself wasn't. Jim Lumsden and his partners were its architects. And it grew quickly.

I have honestly, scouts' honour, never heard a sound in my room in Tarntawan and have stayed in both the Silom and Suwawong-facing rooms. Fifty visits. At least.

Not directly relevant, but I have two books which provide some background to the Pattaya gay scene of the past; Michael Burchall's "Boyztown", fascinating stories of the early days of our favourite area, and Dennis Dessnap's "What's sex got to do with it?" The first was privately-published, as far as I can see, while the other names The Syden Press as its publisher. You may be lucky and find second-hand copies. Regarding Youtube, there are clips of road trips through the city on a split-screen, one from circa 1980, the other from about 2020.

On my first visit to Thailand, I used Lonely Planet as my non-gay guide book. i recall the description of BKK's Dusit as a "great hotel in a lousy location." "Lousy"? Silom/Rama 4? It transpired when the next edition appeared that "lousy" was a printing error (perhaps a malicious one) and the correct word was "busy." I think we can all agree on that. I wonder if Dusit sued? Thai hoteliers are quick with recourse to lawyers, as I recall. And perhaps a proof -reader lost his/her job!

There have been discussions elsewhere about an alleged "decline" of the JC. Some bars seem to have closed since last year, but the number of places operating, as well as new places opening suggest that this is not the case. Indeed, if you compare this map with ones from a decade ago of Boyztown and Sunee, it looks as if there are more gay venues available now than there were then. Particularly welcome are massage joints providing services in the afternoons. With good restaurants, both Thai and European as well as popular hotels, the lack of go go bars shouldn't discourage anyone from staying here.

I love walking....but on Thai pavements? no thanks. However, my 0630 walk on Jomtien beach in the morning cool, when the monks are doing their rounds and the workers are getting their businesses ready, is one of the many joys of my times there.

Nearly two hundred assassinated while reporting, and families killed too. Remember Shireen Abu Alkeh in Jenin. Even so, the pen is mightier than the sword.

This sounds outlandish, but I once had a drink in a short-lived bar called Four Seasons in Boyztown. And I didn't off anyone. Twelve, yes twelve, years later, I was in Chiang Mai when I was approached by a stranger who said he recognised me from his time as mamasan at Four Seasons.

Nor mine. But I'd be amazed if there are many hotels in tourist area of 3* or "better" that don't have a dozen or so English Language channels. BBC, Sky, the French/ English one, Al Jazeera/English (the only news to trust these days!) and sometimes CNN. Even Fox, heaven help us, if you want homophobia and racism in your diet. Plus movie channels with subtitles at least.

Tomtravel's comment certainly accords with my experience. P's life as a farmer and mine as a retired man whose interests in London are cultural and political have plenty enough in common to make our three annual meetings more than successful. I would not wish him to lose his farm , not to mention his contacts with family, his four dogs and his Buddhist life-style; nor would I welcome living in such an isolated environment. A third of the year together works fine for us.

It looks beautiful; probably less so if you are a Burmese fisherman.

This subject attracted some interest in a more general discussion of Bangkok. So here goes. What are posters' preferences for breakfast? Room only plus 7 11? or , ahem, a certain place in Patpong? or a lavish spread? I only have daily company when i'm in Thailand and so I particularly enjoy a relaxed breakfast with P. And quickie reviews? Tarntawan's breakfast is always enjoyed, particularly since it changed to a buffet plus cooked options. Agate is fine for P, who always chooses Thai options, and we like eating opposite the waterfall. The most disappointing? Aonang Villas in Krabi, the most expensive hotel we've ever stayed in. Limited and over-priced. Very over-priced. The best setting? Golden Beach, also in Krabi. Almost on the beach. I only eat what used to be called a continental-style breakfast- that is, no cooked dishes- but I still want the use of a decent toaster and a variety of jams and fruit juices. The best ? Chiang Mai's Amora, a 4* place near Thapae. Larger than any other places we stay in and so with a lot of customers and consequently an enormous choice. And well-priced, too. A final question; is there anywhere in Thailand where you can get decent bacon? and, more importantly for me, top-quality coffee? The best I 've had was in a gay guesthouse in Patong, the Rendezvous. French ownership , predictably. And, surprisingly, Zing in JC where we ate on a few occasions when Agate wasn't offering breakfast. Charming service, too.

Any comments from recent visitors as to how busy it is nowadays? and the Thai/falang ratio? What has happened to Punya? a nice guy.

Too true. It won't. For my US friends, here's what your greatest (gay) poet had to say, possibly recalling the boy he met in New Orleans.... "How sweet the silent backward tracings! The wanderings as in dreams- the meditation of old times renewed...." Walt Whitman

Were your friends charged joiners' fees?

Maybe it's because it was named after the River Gambia? In fact, human settlement is concentrated around it. The country is a very odd shape, surrounded by the francophone Senegal where the population is of the same two tribes. Wolof and Mandinka, I think.The vagaries of colonialism! The Gambia was Kunte Kinte's home (alleged) as we older gentleman may recall.

We were welcomed by the Gambian beach boys-or "bumsters" as they were known. They offered their services as tour guides, sold woodcarvings....and often themselves. There were no gay bars and so the beach was the only cruising area available. Any single man out walking was a target. I'm talking about the 90s.... it was risky enough then, but the scene is long dead. I was a regular until Thailand opened my eyes as to what could be appreciated without fear of the police. Only once did I go to a guy's room for pleasure and, my goodness, he was cute, but the experience persuaded me that it was not worth the danger.

BBB was never a favourite of mine- I was always more interested in twinks and, anyway, I found the rotation of guys much too slow. There were sometimes sixty or more and it took hours to view the whole stable. And more drinks! However, there's one thing that seems to have been forgotten; it was the first Pattaya bar I can remember where women were much in evidence.... not just for looking but for offing. Not many, but enough to draw comment in those conservative days. I remember one seasoned US guy who'd "seen it all" since the early days of Boyztown complaining that these women were responsible for a recent rise in the number of STDs! Has any other poster been to The Gambia? There (as well as in Haiti, apparently) sex-tourism is primarily for women seeking young male companionship....and young males seeking marriage and emigration in return for favours. There were also opportunities for such as I in the 90s. Pretty dangerous behavior which makes me shudder in retrospect.