reader

table service by waiters who are as sweet as the cheesecake 👍

It was a welcome sight last night when I was again greeted by the “S and M” tout on Patpong 2. The bar has reopened as has the one adjacent to it on the Silom end of Soi after a month’ or so closure.

Looks like hotel rates will begin reflecting monsoon season next week with many popular value locations on Agoda listing in the 800-1500 range. international brands (ie, Meridien) still asking big bucks. But there are bargains to be had elsewhere.

They’re all versatile

From CNN Workers move blocks of ice into a storage unit at a fresh market during heat wave conditions in Bangkok Every day, countless mopeds criss-cross the congested city of Hanoi, in Vietnam, with commuters traveling to work or motorbike taxis dropping off everything from parcels to cooked food and clients. One of them is Phong, 42, who starts his shift at 5 a.m. to beat the rush hour, navigating the dense swarm of mopeds and drives for over 12 hours a day with little rest. But an unprecedented heat wave that engulfed his country in the past two months has made Phong’s job even more arduous. To get through the heat of the day, he equipped himself with a hat, wet handkerchiefs and several bottles of water – precautions that provided little relief as recorded daytime temperatures soared to more than 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). The average May temperature in Hanoi is 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit). “If I get a heatstroke, I would be forced to suspend driving to recover,” he told CNN. “But I cannot afford it.”  Phong, who declined to give his surname, said he carries a tiny umbrella to protect his phone, the main tool he uses for work as a driver for the ride-hailing platform Grab, along with his bike. If the phone breaks, he misses out on much-needed income. “I was worried that the battery would overheat once exposed to the sun,” he said. Nearby in the same city, sanitation worker Dinh Van Hung, 53, toils all day cleaning garbage from the bustling streets of Hanoi’s central Dong Da district. Workers like them make up the backbone of many societies but are disproportionately affected by extreme weather events, with dangerously high temperatures greatly impacting their health and the already precarious nature of their professions. April and May are typically the hottest months of the year in Southeast Asia, as temperatures rise before monsoon rains bring some relief. But this year, they reached levels never experienced before in most countries of the region, including tourism hotspots Thailand and Vietnam.  Thailand saw its hottest day in history at 45.4 degrees Celsius (114 degrees Fahrenheit) on April 15, while neighboring Laos topped out at 43.5 degrees Celsius (110 degrees Fahrenheit) for two consecutive days in May, and Vietnam’s all-time record was broken in early May with 44.2 degrees Celsius (112 degrees Fahrenheit), according to analysis of weather stations data by a climatologist and weather historian Maximiliano Herrera. Herrera described it as “the most brutal never-ending heat wave” that has continued into June. On June 1, Vietnam broke the record for its hottest June day in history with 43.8 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit) – with 29 days of the month to go. In a recent report from the World Weather Attribution (WWA), an international coalition of scientists said the April heat wave in Southeast Asia was a once-in-200-years event that would have been “virtually impossible” without human-caused climate change.

From the Daily Mail Three gay men from Thailand have tied the knot in what is thought to be the world's first three-way same-sex marriage. Happy newlyweds Joke, 29, Bell, 21 and Art, 26, took the plunge on Valentine's Day after exchanging their vows in a fairy-tale ceremony at their home in Uthai Thani Province, Thailand. The three blushing grooms are thought to be the world's only wedded male threesome and have since become internet sensations after photos from their big day went viral.

Everything is complicated. Stop using it as a fall back excuse. From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon To judge from the optimistic comments of prospective prime minister Pita Limjaroenrat of the Move Forward party, securing gay marriage in Thailand should be a piece of cake. In a sense, he’s right. The military-backed government of General Prayut Chan-o-cha two years ago agreed legislation in principle. But the two bills in question, one guaranteeing marriage equality, but the other proposing a diluted civil partnership arrangement, were referred to parliamentary sub-committees and had not reported by the time of the May 2023 general election. Gay rights advocate Mookdapa Yanguenpradorn argues that the answer can only be marriage equality. The civil union alternative falls short by legal definition, by failing to recognize pre-marriage gay engagements and by declining access to spousal benefits such as tax deductions and government pensions. So what’s the problem? In November 2021 the constitution court ruled that only a man and a woman could register a marriage, adding that supporters of gay marriage would need to amend section 1448 of the civil and criminal code. Gay activists in Thailand are obviously aware of the need to amend the constitution at the time of writing the marriage equality bill, but challenges would be likely to delay the process substantially. Another issue is whether one of the partners in Thai gay marriage can be a foreigner. Taiwan, the first state in Asia to recognize same-sex marriages, initially restricted participation by foreigners to those countries which also recognized those unions. However, the nationality rule was rescinded in January 2023. The government of Vietnam in 2013 attempted gay rights legislation, even suggesting that two foreign persons might register their union in Vietnam, but all parliamentary moves on the entire subject were dropped the following year. Khun Pita recently promised he would achieve his gay marriage aims in time for the world pride event to be held in Bangkok in 2028. He may not be far out with that prediction. Separately, Thailand’s gay population has not yet been hit by the internal rifts and disputes which have hit the movement in Europe and the United States. The acronym LGBTQQIP2SAA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, pansexual, two-spirit, asexual and ally), incorporates any form of non-traditional sexual identity. Not everyone likes that. Some gay activists believe that the all-embracing definition is too radical and counter-productive. Can a transgender male-female woman actually be a lesbian? Is it appropriate to incorporate asexual people, who don’t fancy anybody, with pansexuals who are sort of the opposite? Should individuals be able legally to declare their own gender identity at birth rather than being told what it is? Should we scrap the terms male and female altogether? Sooner or later, these cantankerous debates will hit the gay movement in Thailand. Or, if you prefer, the alternative sexuality movement.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) hosted the ‘Amazing Thailand Festival 2023’ in New York City over the weekend of 3-4 June at the iconic The Oculus Plaza World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, to raise awareness in the North American market of the Thai soft-power elements and a multitude of meaningful travel experiences in Thailand. Throughout two days, the festival featured a plethora of performances including traditional folk dances, Thai drag shows, puppetry, Muay Thai demonstrations, and fashion shows of Thai fabric which features Miss Universe Thailand 2022 and Miss Thailand 2023 – all while offering food and drink inspired by Thailand’s iconic street food markets. To add to the fun atmosphere, there were workshops of Khon mask painting, gold imprinting and traditional umbrella painting which showcase the tradition Thai arts.

Not a problem for most, but some may need encouragement in form of phone porn. I think as whole you be surprised and pleased with their ability to perform.

You’ll be more than satisfied with the average size you’ll encounter. Wouldn’t even bother bringing it up. If you want him to cum, that’s certainly something you can discuss beforehand. Some may want an extra few hundred baht. But it’s been my experience that many will climax if they feel at ease without negotiations.

I’m not a big drinker and frequently order water. I’ll pay the same thing but get what I want. Or drink what the boys do at most bars: ice with a splash of coke.

From the BBC Once a poor fishing town, Torremolinos became an unlikely LGBTQ+ haven in the midst of a fascist regime. The walkway outside Mariquita Copas, a hole-in-the-wall bar in Torremolinos' main "gaybourhood", La Nogalera, glowed blue. The makeshift drinking terrace I was sitting at was surrounded by palm-filled squares in the heart of southern Spain's Costa del Sol, a few blocks up from the Mediterranean. As I sipped a beer on my first night in town, I surveyed the scene: pedestrians holding shopping bags had stopped to chat; a man and woman sat entwined on a bench; and gay locals clinked cocktail glasses. In the midst of it all was a bearded drag artist, outlandishly tall in knee-length platform boots, leather cap and skin-tight camouflage bodysuit. This, I soon realised, was just another night in Torremolinos. Of course, it wasn't always this way. Until now, I'd been blissfully ignorant of Torremolinos' important role in Spain's LGBTQ+ history. But, as I was about to learn, not only did the country's first gay-friendly bar open here back in 1962, it was also where Spain's gay rights movement began – rather violently. Why Torremolinos? Let's start, as we Brits like to, with the weather. Originally a poor fishing village, Torremolinos' sub-tropical climate – among the warmest in Spain – was key in its metamorphosis into a resort during the 1950s. With Francisco Franco's fascist government keen to encourage hotel construction to kickstart Spain's war-decimated economy, by 1959 the town boasted the country's first five-star hotel (Hotel Pez Espada). Celebrities followed, from Brigitte Bardot, Greta Garbo and Pablo Picasso to Grace Jones, Frank Sinatra and John Lennon – a golden era commemorated in the town's Ruta del Murales street-art trail, which was unveiled in 2022. Aided by the rise of charter flights in the late 1950s, the increasingly cosmopolitan and liberal town began attracting artists, musicians, writers and queer visitors, too. Despite the fact that homosexuality was still considered a crime under Franco's regime, in 1962, a British gay couple opened Tony's Bar on the narrow L-shaped alleyway Pasaje Begoña. "Although Tony's cannot be defined as a 'gay bar' as we understand it today, it was a place where the owners were gay and allowed the clientele freedom," said Jorge M Pérez, the president of Pasaje Begoña Association, which was founded in 2018 with the aim of "recovering the memory of this emblematic place and rescuing this forgotten chapter in the history of Spain". Tony's was an instant smash and over the next few years, it inspired a slew of other establishments catering to the gay community. What was once a sleepy fishing community soon transformed into a queer hub known for its inclusivity and hedonism. There was, for example, the often-raided La Sirena (nicknamed "The Sissy Bar"); Bar Tabarín, the first to host nude shows; Pourquoi Pas, the town's first lesbian club (still operating as an LGBTQ+ bar); and jazz venue The Blue Note, owned by the Dutch lesbian singer Pia Beck. Continues at https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20230605-torremolinos-where-spains-gay-rights-movement-began

Cannabis shops popping up everywhere. While walking on Sukhumvit Soi 11 Sunday night, carts offering cannabis seemed almost as frequent as food carts. I think this craze must be peaking.

From Thai PBS World The history of Thailand’s holy-day alcohol ban – and why it could soon be lifted The Move Forward Party has offered a trickle of hope to drinkers who have long agonized over the alcohol ban imposed during religious holidays. The ban will be banished if it forms the new government, the party has promised. “Scrapping the prohibition is one of our policies,” affirmed Amarat Chokepamitkul, who was elected as a party-list MP for Move Forward when it scored a shock win in the May 14 national poll. She highlighted the policy after the ban was enforced for Visakha Bucha Day last Saturday, when Thailand’s normally buzzing nightlife fell silent, along with countless cash registers around the country. Thai authorities prohibit the distribution of alcoholic drinks on five religious holidays, including Visakha Bucha, which marks the birth, death and enlightenment of Lord Buddha. Abstaining from intoxicants such as alcohol is one of the Five Precepts that all Buddhists are encouraged to follow. However, while most Thais are Buddhists, the country is also home to other faiths, and to people who profess no faith at all. Meanwhile, not all Buddhists willingly agree to abstain from alcohol on their holy days. Taopiphop Limjittrakorn, who was elected as a Bangkok MP under the Move Forward banner, says the government should function as a secular state rather than imposing the ideals of one religion on all people in Thailand. “Don’t forget that we are a multicultural country,” he emphasizes. In his view, the ban also violates people’s freedom of faith and of occupation, both of which are enshrined in the Constitution.

Think of preparing for your trip as you would preparing to buy a new car. Read about what others have experienced and use it to help shape where you want to go and what you want to do. And all that information is contained in this website, mostly in venue and trip reports and reviews. There’s a wealth of information at your fingertips.

Tens of thousands of people from around the world, including the leaders of the Move Forward and Pheu Thai parties, joined “Bangkok Pride Parade 2023” on Sunday (June 4). “Pride Month 2023”, a worldwide celebration, is currently held each year in the month of June to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, New York when LGBTQ+ individuals faced systemic discrimination and oppression. The Bangkok Pride Parade 2023 on Sunday started from the Pathumwan intersection and headed towards the Siam Center shopping area, from where the activities moved towards CentralWorld in Ratchaprasong. The parade enjoyed the support of numerous top Thai politicians, including prime minister-in-waiting and Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat, and the Pheu Thai Party’s prime minister candidates, Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Chonlanan Srikaew. The group of Thai politicians, which also included Pheu Thai’s Nattawut Saikuar, Thai Sang Thai’s Sita Divari and Bangkok Governor Chatchart Sittipunt, also offered flowers in front of Pathum Wanaram Rachaworawihan temple to commemorate the victims who lost their lives during the 2010 crackdown on red-shirt protesters. Continues with photos https://www.nationthailand.com/lifestyle/entertainment/40028260

The stuff that will haunt your dreams.

Richard Barrow takes us along for a ride on the new line. Next best thing to being there. If you’re a fan of Richard Barrow, you’ll want to check out this recent profile piece appearing in the.South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3222779/it-has-just-exploded-thailand-train-blogger-richard-barrow-his-long-and-exciting-journey

This is from memory so I’m paraphrasing but I believe that the Kinsey Report said that 10% of men acknowledged participating, to point of climax, with another male at least once.

That would dissuade me. I think I’d just show up cold and take my chances.

From The Nation Both foreign and domestic tourists can request a refund if they cancel trips within Thailand, but full refunds require that they cancel at least 30 days in advance, the Department of Tourism said on Wednesday in response to questions from tourists. Tourists have been asking the department, which is under the Ministry of Tourism, whether they can get refunds on tour packages and how they can file complaints if they do not receive refunds from tour operators. Tourists can receive refunds based on how far in advance they cancel their trips, the department said in a Facebook post. It outlined its policy on cancellations: Travellers can receive a 100% refund if they cancel a trip 30 days in advance. Travellers can receive a 50% refund if they cancel their trip 15 days in advance. Tour operators do not have to pay refunds to travellers who cancel trips less than 15 days in advance. Tour operators have to pay a 100% refund to travellers if a trip is cancelled, even if the cancellation is not their fault. Refunds will be paid after expenses, such as visa fees and ticket deposits (plane, train, and boat tickets), are deducted. Tour operators have to show evidence of other expenses. If other expenses are higher than the paid service fees, tour operators cannot ask travellers to pay the difference. Tourists can file complaints with the Department of Tourism if they have not received a refund or received an incomplete refund. The department can be contacted by telephone during working hours (02-219-4025) or through its call centre (02-401-1111) at any time.

Saturday June 3 is Visakha Bucha Celebration, a holy day in the Thai calendar. There will be no sale of alcohol from 11.59 pm on Friday June 2 for a full 24 hours.

I’ve been following this shop on Line and find myself impressed with videos. LINE: Apollo Massage BTS Bearing

UPDATE: It has been confirmed that the Yellow Line monorail will open for service from Samrong Station to Hua Mak Station, a total of 13 stations, on Saturday and then they will gradually increase the number of stations. Opening time is expected to be 9am-8pm. Stations Open: The 13 stations that will be open to the public for trial use, consist of Samrong Station, Thipawan Station, Si Thepha Station, Si Dan Station, Si Bearing Station, Si La Sal Station Sri Iam Station, Si Udom Station, Suan Luang Rama 9 Station, Srinakarin 38 Station, Si Nut Station, Kelantan Station and Hua Mak Station. News reports also stated that the MRT Yellow Line Project Lat Phrao - Samrong, a distance of 30.4 kilometers (km), is the first monorail line in Thailand with 23 stations. The Yellow Line electric train route starts at Ratchada-Lat Phrao intersection, runs along Lat Phrao Road until Bang Kapi Intersection and turns right onto Srinakarin Road, passing Si Nut, Sri Udom, Sri Iam intersections until reaching Sri Thepha intersection. Then turns right onto Thepharak Road. It ends at the intersection of Sukhumvit Road at Samrong station