Londoner

I'm now charged 100 bht for Babylon to Tarntawan- much the same distance as your Sathorn-Silom trip.- and that's a 40% increase over the past two years. There is a strict rotation among the motor-cy taxi drivers, as I found out on my first visit when I decided that I wanted to choose a mature rider. Having approached the oldest , he motioned to a one who was barely pubescent and had yet to learn the meaning of fear.

There are also many who are married....their wives must know and, to some extent, approve.

My bf- whom I'd met in a bar - was once called a prostitute (in Thai) by some young guys while we were going to eat in Central, Pattaya. He was furious and told me that the word was inappropriate. On the other hand, he said, "bar-boy" was was entirely acceptable.

Any concerns regarding the ages of the guys at Power Boys?

Is his desire to go with you due to his hope that this will become a LTR? And is that something that you are considering? Or is he just looking for a holiday (nothing wrong with that) and perhaps to meet-up with some friends- many Cambodians are in Pattaya. Will you book two rooms at Ambiance? If you plan to "off" other guys, this would make it much easier. But be up-front with him. Tell him honestly (as far as the language problems allow) what you are offering. It's not fair to raise expectations that cannot be met. If you tell him, he may prefer to stay in BKK....this is high-season, after all. And, of course, be sure the money angle is explained....and then fulfilled.

It never lost it, even with an Afro-American president. In fact, the more successful individuals "make it", the more virulent the racism becomes. That is the story of the past ten years.

I'm with Ronnie. The minstrel photo is insulting. I recall a wooden effigy of one in, of all places, Krabi. Thais don't understand the history of the struggle. If you ever have the chance to see the musical "The Scotsborough Boys", there's a magnificent (and tear-jerking) scene at the end when the boys reappear on the stage in black-face. One of the great theatrical moments of my life.

"Bai-gan" (or pai-gaan" as I pronounce it) is not rude; it just means "let's go" or something like "we're on our way now." Anyway, that's how the bf and I use it.

The US will attempt to reimpose its criminal classes on the Cubans....you know, Batista's henchmen. Casinos and mafiosi- the American way. I hope that the Cubans will continue to say, "Cuba si, Yankee no!" If the US was ever fortunate enough to elect a government of probity and intellect, it should beg Cuba to teach it how to run a National Health Service.

Boyfriend. I'm too old to give a damn.

To be blunt, I suspect that abidsmalili is too obsessive about Arabs. Their impact on Pattaya life is minimal and on the gay scene almost non-existent. I suppose the fact that I've spent so much time among Arabs (Christian and Muslim) in Palestine makes me less likely to stereotype.

Ten years ago, Pattayaland Soi 2 was packed every night, the area around Penthouse particularly so. Cats' Whiskers and The Classroom always seemed particularly busy- at least from the outside. The area was so popular that it ran its own tuk-tuk service across the city. Now it is a ghost-town. The go-go bars are still there but a glance through the doors will show that they are doing no better than the gay bars in Soi 1.

Fair enough but don't wander the gay areas during the daytime....wait until the lights come on and the guys and punters arrive. My first view of Soi Twilight and Patpong was a terrible disappointment- it was 1100am. Litter-strewn. almost deserted and much of it shuttered. But then I returned at 1900.... That was in 1995 but the same applies today.

I've followed this issue with interest and can sympathise with both sides of the argument. However, there there is one aspect of Kokopelli's last post which deserves to be considered carefully. We know that Thai authorities like a quiet life when it comes to activities which may be termed illegal and so the influence of an agent provocateur, perhaps threatening unwelcome publicity, or perhaps someone with friends in high places, should be taken seriously. However much the authorities would prefer to let sleeping dogs lie, if such a person (or organisation) is determined to make a fuss, and has the means with which to do it, then investigations and possible prosecutions are more likely.

Correct....but you may well get an extra (and heart-felt) kiss if you don't do anal. The majority of guys- not all, I emphasise- prefer to avoid it, even those identifying as bottoms.

Didn't that place appear in the film about Filipino go-go boys, "Midnight Dancers"? I miss the cute guys in the mens' clothing dept. in the Silom Robinsons.

Yes....I remember that, too. On my first visit to Bangkok (as opposed to Pattaya) I'd dine Soi 4 and the song was ubiquitous. It was 1997. I forgot to provide a link to Broken- hearted Woman.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlWcmcw02oc

Easy for me;1996, my first visit to Pattaya. Every bar seemed to be playing a song I later discovered to be called "Broken-hearted woman."

Dylan was a supporter of the vile racist Meir Kahane who inspired the Hebron massacre.

I disagree with that statement but I'll say no more on this forum.

Agreed. And don't make the mistake of thinking that the monarchy is uniformly admired in Thailand. Perhaps it once was but times have changed.

I'm a regular at Ambiance- have been for sixteen years. There are aspects I could criticise but the quality of the cleaning has remained consistently excellent. Helped, no doubt, by the fact that some of the cleaners have been there for as long as I remember.

I agree with traveller123. My boyfriend and I were in Chiang Mai last week- our fifth visit- and enjoyed every minute of it. Temple visits, the royal gardens, the river... Of course, the gay scene there is no longer on our minds, though we did have so-so massages in Paradise (a number of cute guys available there, by the way). My first trips were solo , in the late 90s and Adam's Apple was then in its heyday. Barely a seat available....and many of the audience, students from CMU, were as cute as the dancers. Nowadays what I appreciate about CM, despite its large number of tourists (mainly Chinese- who were 90% of our large hotel) is that it's a Thai city to which tourists are an addition. Without us, there'd be a Chiang Mai. Pattaya, on the other hand , exists only because of the tourists.

Is The Strangers (Soi 4) a host bar? I've been eating at Balcony for a couple of days and my gaze has continually been drawn to some cute guys working there. I'm much too shy to ask them whether they are available! By the way, the selection of hosts in Soi Twilight is a lot better at the moment than on recent visits...in my opinion.

When I was there a few months ago, Oscars had hosts in the afternoon. The Copa guys mentioned above are for massage..