Londoner

Two of my Romeo assignations in June were with guys whose photos had been effectively improved by some sort of photo-shop app. One of them was barely recognisable. Nevertheless, I stuck to my rules and paid them their money. I wouldn't turn them away. And yes, on more than a few occasions the my visitor looked better in the flesh than in the photo. This happens when they choose photos (presumably from LINE or Facebook) in which they are pulling silly faces.

A few years ago, my boyfriend (with support) built a house on land next to his parents' home. I was staggered by the number of rituals that were followed before he moved in. He's a devout Buddhist and so I wasn't surprised by a dozen monks being present at the dedication (I have photos of the occasion). What surprised me were the superstitions (which I regard as quite separate to Buddhism) related to the land surrounding the house, particularly the boundaries and the trees which were festooned with ribbons. By the way, a few years ago the evening performances at Dreamboys in Pattaya began with a ceremonial banging on the door with a huge wooden phallus..superstitions relating to first customers at commercial sites are common. There's some interesting stuff about this in "Very Thai" by Phiip Cornwel- Smith (River Books), an invaluable guide to Thai culture.

Yes; it has happened to me and yes, it is the negative about hiring on-line.... caveat emptor. I give the basic 1000 to avoid trouble and try to take a "win some/lose some" attitude. I'm on holiday to enjoy myself and am willing to pay that amount to avoid unpleasantness. The only times when I've refused to engage with a visitor is when the guy looks too young, whatever his ID claims. In such cases (there have been two) I again give 1000 but send him on his way.

In my two decades of visits to Pattaya I cannot recall a single time that I was told by a potential "off" at a bar how much he wanted. And in that same period, only once was my payment after the meeting (always just a little above average) met with disappointment. Very rarely, a potential Planet Romeo guy has asked how much I'll pay. An offer of 1000 bht has always secured a visit. These are short-time prices of course; Traveller Dave is probably correct.

A scam? It's your choice whether you leave the coins. A scam surely should involve some form of subterfuge.

The guys I met in Pattaya just after the Junta's coup were all Redshirts. Unsurprising....most of them are from Isaan and all of them are working class. I'm amused by Abeng's conviction that the junta is pro-gay. Since when did a military government anywhere in the world support human rights for minorities? Perhaps he should listen to Thais more? Many are frightened of course so they keep their beliefs to themselves.

Agreed.....I wonder how any of the victims are drunk when the alleged crime takes place?

I stayed there on my visit to Pattaya. However, I was too shy to bring a friend back to my room and, finding the short-time rooms on offer less than satisfactory, all my further visits have been based in Boyztown.

I'm sure many of us can guess who the late owner of another forum was....and, if I'm correct, he certainly needed a wheelchair for that long walk.

Twenty years, sixty plus trips and, so far, no scams. I did have my passport stolen on my way to Bangkok....but that was at Heathrow Airport. I've found Thais very honest. I dropped a wallet in Blue Star Go Go (where Dreamboys is now in Soi Twilight) and one of the dancers ran along the soi to hand it back to me.

The problem is that the small soi leading into Boyztown (where Panorama stands) is blocked by motor cys at night so there's no entry. Taxis have to load and unload at the 2nd Road entrance after 1900..

The first responsibility of any falang in his (or her) dealings with young hotel staff is not to do anything that puts their employment in jeopardy. I've been propositioned twice by cute hotel staff, in Bali and in Luxor, Egypt. I've often wondered what would have happened had I responded but I'm always conscious of the dangers in terms of the employment and, in the case of Egypt, the law.

My boyfriend has never kissed me, other than a peck on the cheek. He claims that it's "not Thai". Many MBs have , of course, and so I am aware that his view is not shared by all. A couple of years ago, he met an old acquaintance in Boyztown working at Scandric. He had the impression that he was short of money for dinner so gave him some. The guy kissed him and my boyfriend was hugely embarrassed...."He thinks I'm a falang!" he said. I think you'll find that other falangs in LTRs ( I'm not suggesting the majority of us) have boyfriends with similar views.

Fascinating. I must record that it was young man at Amsterdam's Blue Boy who told me about Pattaya, leading to my first visit more than twenty years ago....the first of many. He was a black British student studying law. Time with the guys at that bar were always measured to the minute. We had twenty minutes to chat after the act and he told me about a client who had just returned from Thailand. I returned home and booked up a holiday there. I owe him a great deal.

The relationship I have with my boyfriend no longer involves sex. I look after him financially, ensuring that he has a decent home and a job which he finds satisfying because I love him. When we meet and travel around Asia (three times a year) we both employ MBs, at least in Pattaya where we always stay for a week or so. Thais make a very clear distinction between love and sex and we decided together and for a number of good reasons that our relationship would flourish without sex. And so it has proved.

Hollande "left-wing"? Are you posting from the USA where a national health service is regarded as ungodly and socialist- in some quarters.. And I suppose Bernie Sanders is "extreme left" ?

Gerefan clearly doesn't live in London. My car is of no use if I wish to go to the theatre or concert hall....prohibitive charge to enter the city, parking about £5 plus an hour. I find the free train services infinitely preferable.

How terrible the deaths of our brothers and sisters in France are....so different to the hundreds of thousands of brown-skinned people we killed in Iraq and more recently, Libya.

The real danger in Boyztown. is crossing 2nd Road. Almost as dangerous is the bus or taxi journey from the airport. Some hotels are not safe due to poor fire escape provision. Anything else pales into insignificance.

Nor do I blame them. Many years ago, I had a relationship with a guy in West Africa whose living conditions were far worse than those of my boyfriend when I first met him. He was just the same in this respect as the Thai guys. One of the issues that always haunts these relationships is that for someone from a very poor background, the fact that we are there in their country means that we are richer beyond their wildest dreams. They are often incapable of making a distinction between the "wealth" that we typical falangs have and the extravagant riches of a millionaire. It took me years to persuade P. that, though I can afford to make a big difference to his life, back home I have to spend my pension with care. And worse; I drive a second hand Ford Focus. Of course, we're not that different. How do we judge with any degree of accuracy the difference between a wealthy banker who owns an expensive London home and drives a Ferrari and that of a Premiership footballer who owns a country estate as well- and a fleet of Ferraris? For me, the first is rich beyond my dreams....just as the second is too.

Yes. Plenty of saunas here in the UK. At fifty-five, you'll do fine.

I'm not convinced by Bucknaway's views on "experience". Some people haven't got many trips experience of Thailand; they have one trip's experience repeated over and over again.

I asked my partner of twelve years- an ex-money boy in Pattaya- about this very issue three weeks ago when I was in Thailand. Specifically, I asked how much he would pay a a guy from Planet Romeo or Hornet if he were to arrange a meeting at our hotel. His answer was definitive; 1000 bht. I taxed him on this; he's thirty-three and very attractive. Surely, I said, someone who looks like you wouldn't have to pay the same as an ageing falang? surely the guys on Hornet et al would be happy to accept a lower amount from you? His answer was much the same as Firecat's; the guys are making money to pay rent ,pay for food and often to send money home. "Fun" doesn't pay the rent.. I've learnt a lot about his two years in Pattaya. He is now doing well financially in the north of the country but being the guy that I love, he has an understanding of the situation our Pattaya friends are in. He finds the concept of under-paying distasteful and alien to his religious beliefs.....however cute we think we are. Or in my case, not at all. At the same time, he speaks with some affection of those years. In particular, he's grateful for the comradeship; the way the bar-boys looked after each other. Those who'd been successful one night would buy dinner for his friends, they'd borrow money in extremis- in general terms they'd look after each other. Particularly newbies. He would appreciate Firecat's comments. He speaks from experience. And my own two decades of visiting support him.

My boyfriend and I stay in CM at least once a year....and we both love it. However, my preference is for Chiang Rai. I prefer the market and the day-trips available are, if anything, better than CM's.

No Brall 3, I am not in Pattaya now....but I was two weeks ago. And I'm missing it already. I visit three times a year, every year. If you ask one of the guys he will understandably give you the top price. If you were to say to him something like "1000 baht OK for you?" he'd be delighted.That is the going-price, though the straight guys at BBB may be disappointed. I never asked; I gave at the end of the session. It was 1000 basic, plus 200/300 for tax and dinner. Never any complaints. i can tell you that this remains the rate. I know guys on the scene.