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From VN Express The Cambodian Ministry of Tourism confirmed it does not require tourists to show $1,000 to $2,000 in cash upon entering the country. The clarification comes after a number of airline employees asked tourists to show they had $1,000 or $2,000 in cash before boarding flights bound for the country, the Khmer Times reported, citing a source in the ministry.

From Thai PBS World Navy divers search sunken HTMS Sukhothai for missing crew A team of 53 navy divers and medical personnel dove down to the sunken HTMS Sukhothai today (Sunday), to find out whether any of the missing crew members are trapped in the ship. Captain Pongsak Ramnut, chief of the diving and demolition division of the Naval Ordnance Department, led the mission. Before the mission, he said that all the divers had been warned not to dive too close to the sunken ship, because it is unstable and could move if struck by a strong current. All divers, he added, were told to take their own safety as their first priority, because the Royal Thai Navy does not want to see any further loss of life. The sunken ship rests at a depth of about 40 metres, off Bang Saphan district of Prachuap Khiri Khan. Sea conditions remain rough and the currents are strong, which could pose problems for the divers, he said. The search for missing crew continues for the seventh day today and the focus has now turned to the area around the site of the sunken vessel, where eight bodies have been recovered in the past two days, leaving 14 still unaccounted for.

Thanks for the detailed report on Dreamboy. I never tire of reminding folks that the waiters from Freshboys, and staff from Hot Male beer bar (as Vinapu duly noted), are offable. And in my experience, a lot of fun in and out of the room.

I believe your number for Freshboys is quite low, although probably about right for Hot Male show bar (some nights the HM beer bar below has more 🙂) As for massage shops in Silom-Surawong, I think your way on the low side. On Silom Soi 6 alone you can find 70+ guys working in the six shops on any given day. Being friendly with a handful of them, each guy averages at least a few customers per day and sometimes 3-4 in high season. Add to that all the other shops in the area and you're easily in the 250-300 zone. Speaking from my not inconsiderable contribution to the effort, I agree that locals make up the bulk of the customer base in Saphan Kwai but I don't see how that reflects on the go-go bar business. Two different types of business. Many guys patronize both.

Best English has always been spoken in Brooklyn.

Strongly agree. It would provide another opportunity for those would-be inductees for Putin's war to escape.

@ichigo don't forget waiters at Freshboys are also offable (600 baht fee, others 500).

I should have specified the Myanmar guys who work Hot Male beer bar. 🙂

I've had enjoyable experiences at the Paradise Massage and the Ma Ha Massage on Soi 6 (right side coming from Silom Rd.) Recommend talking with prospective masseur before committing to avoid disappointment. If you want your pick of the crop, the early bird gets the worm. Do NOT fret about being awkward or only customer at the time. You'll be in better position to see what guys direct smiles your way. And don't be hesitant to smile back at those who ring your bell.

From Vientiane Times VIENTIANE ( Vientiane Times/ANN) — A Russian airline is eyeing Laos as a new potential regional hub — thanks to ongoing international developments, according to a top company official."Given the current international environment, Laos is now a new potential hub for the airline," the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the RUSASIA, Mr Roman A. Virich, said in Vientiane. The top manager of the Russian company, which operates Ural Airlines, spoke in an exclusive interview with Vientiane Times on December 19. He discussed his airline's business strategy and performance of the first Vladivostok- Vientiane flight. Mr Virich said that the Lao government's policy to transform this landlocked nation into a land-linked nation and the limitation of flights from Russia to Asean has provided a great opportunity for the company to launch the Russia-Lao connection. Ural Airlines launched the Vladivostok- Vientiane flight in October, becoming the first civilian flight between the two countries.Lao and Russian policymakers believe that the establishment of an air connection between the two countries would promote tourist exchanges and economic cooperation between the two nations. It takes six hours for the 168-seat airbus to connect the Laos and Russian cities. "Apart from promoting the Laos- Russia tourist exchange, we expect to fly international passengers who want to travel from the Asean countries to Russia and vice versa," he said, adding that passengers from Vietnam, Thailand, and other countries who are suffering due to the limitation of fights to Russia can now catch a flight from Vientiane. When asked about the performance of the Vladivostok- Vientiane flight, Mr Virich said that the company is satisfied with the growing list of passengers, adding that the company is planning to increase one more flight in the near future. "There will be two flights between Vladivostok and Vientiane in a week in the near future to meet the growing demand of passengers," Mr Virich said, the Vladivostok- Vientiane flight, Mr Virich said that the company is satisfied with the growing list of passengers, adding that the company is planning to increase one more flight in the near future."There will be two flights between Vladivostok and Vientiane in a week in the near future to meet the growing demand of passengers," Mr Virich said, adding that the airline believes that the additional flight would make a significant contribution towards the Laos- Russia economic cooperation and tourist exchange.

I agree most of the Viet guys I meet have some decent English ability. Especially the waiters at Freshboys. Met quite a few guys from Myanmar working massage in Saphan Kwai who had limited English but those who worked in Patpong bars tended to be more conversational. Depending on how long they've been working in bkk, I found that Lao and Thai guys had enough English to make themselves understood. Same I think for Cambodians.

Since I was intimate with numerous guys (mostly in massage situations) during my seven-week stay, I wasn't surprised to develop flu-like symptoms. Just saw it as inevitable given that--short of wearing a mask and maintaining some distance--to avoid airborne viruses in sexual situations. There's no free lunch, I guess. 😊

From Thai PBS World Six more bodies found floating in Gulf of Thailand The team searching for crew, missing from the sunken HTMS Sukhothai, found six more bodies drifting at sea off the Bang Saphan district of Prachuap Khiri Khan today (Saturday), reducing those still unaccounted for to 16, according to the Royal Thai Navy. The remains were recovered by naval vessels and taken ashore for identification by forensic science officials, he said. Six bodies have, so far, been confirmed as members of the crew of the ill-fated HTMS Sukhothai and seven other bodies, including one which was discovered at sea yesterday evening, are in the process of being identified, which will take 3-4 days. RTN Spokesman Admiral Monthatphalin said that 76 crew members have been rescued, out of a ship’s compliment of 105. He said that divers from HTMS Kraburi have been sent to search for missing crew, who might be trapped inside the sunken ship, and to survey the vessel ahead of a salvage operation adding, however, that strong undersea currents are hampering dive operations.

I agree. In my experience, guys are much more willing to discuss their personal background (family and other jobs) but I don't recall any having talked about customers other than commenting on where they come from. Most guys seem more interested in the guy they're with at the moment. And that's fine with me.

I take an Airbnb apartment and stay exclusively in Bangkok for 30-day minimum. Have been coming to Thailand for 20 years and have done my share of traveling throughout the region. I've come to know bkk and chose to spend all of my time there (I acknowledge I'm in the minority). As for the number of gay international tourists, your estimate is better than mine. As for the number of gay local residents, I wouldn't hazards a guess. My experience is that many men--from throughout East Asia--who'd never identify as "gay" will on occasion engage in sex with men. That's one of the reasons I keep returning. From the owners' business standpoint, drinks represent their main income source. Off fees are a distant second. For the performers, it's just the opposite, as you suggest. How a customer decides whether to off a guy varies. Personally, I make that that decision early on based on one simple criteria (does he smile specifically at me more than once) and one slightly complex factor (a combination of curb appeal and sexiness that translates into the promise of a satisfying experience). Since I've been doing this for many years, I've tweaked the methodology to an automatic response that's more instinctive than objective.

When the China tourists return in force, and we witness their effect on the bars, we'll be able to draw some demonstrable conclusions. But as Vinapu observes above, the rest is just speculation as to what formula works for the greater number of customers. Meanwhile, we have no choice but to accept that the Bangkok and Pattaya of 20 years ago are not coming back. We are free, of course, to vote with our feet in the belief it will teach the owners a lesson, but I don't believe they're conditioned to heed our complaints. Nevertheless if that's the course we wish to go, we also deny ourselves what we came to Thailand for in the first place. I'm simply grateful that the remaining bars are still open at all. Bitching about what once was doesn't seem like a productive use of my time.

Toward the end of my last trip (mid-November) I came down with similar symptoms. Didn't go to hospital because my number one guy had similar condition a month before and it lasted about 3-4 days. That's how mine went, too. Wasn't debilitating but didn't want to pass it on to anyone so I just got a lot of rest.

I find that being able to have a conversation with a guy is an opportunity not to be wasted. Not only does it break the ice, it gives him a chance to relate to me in a non-sexual way that I very much crave. I want to know something about his life away from the bar or the shop. I want make a connection beyond the obvious.

I'm sad to report that the Wildlife Development Center reports that the baby elephant being treated for injuries and kidney failure has died. Many readers were moved by the account of efforts to save the animal which had been found abandoned and airlifted to the center for treatment. The around the clock care staff and volunteers provided assured the calf that it was not alone as it struggled for life. To me, that is in keeping with the true message of the holidays. As we all get older, I think we pray that we're not alone and abandoned when our time is accomplished.

From Coconuts Bangkok A number of places are scaling down New Year’s celebrations due to the condition of a key royal. Several localities from Pattaya to Chiang Mai have said they would tone down celebrations or cancel them amid fears over the health of Princess Bajrakitiyabha, the eldest child of King Vajiralongkorn who suffered a major health emergency earlier this month. In the coastal enclave of Pattaya, the authorities yesterday announced that they would cancel New Year’s Eve fireworks but allow live music and flea markets to be held. he provincial authorities had already canceled Chonburi’s New Year’s Eve party and replaced it with a Buddhist alms-giving ceremony on New Year’s Day. It did not name the specific reason. Royal Park Rajapruek, a botanical garden in Chiang Mai, announced a day after the Princess collapsed in central Thailand that it would postpone its New Year’s events, dubbed The Night of Flora Fest, originally set for Dec. 23 to Jan. 2, until further notice. The palace has said that the princess lost consciousness during a military K-9 training exercise and is in a “stable” condition though she requires equipment to remain alive. Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha has said there are no plans to cancel New Year’s festivities but encouraged people to pray for the princess’ health and recovery. The Court of Justice office on Monday circulated a letter instructing its offices to pray rather than party for a speedy recovery of Princess Bajrakitiyabha. The Ministry of Education on Thursday followed suit.

I think it's the promise of sex. I don't need to see naked or scantily clad guys on stage. That's what my room is for.

...not to mention several thousand massage boys.

From Channel News Asia Adapting Asia Pacific tourism to a post-pandemic future JOONDALUP, Australia: The Asia Pacific tourism industry was thriving before the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by strong demand from Chinese tourists with increasing disposable incomes. Pre-pandemic, Chinese tourists’ arrival to the Asia Pacific region was forecast to increase to 150 million by 2020, with an aggregate expenditure of US$230 billion. But this did not materialise due to pandemic-related travel restrictions that still affect Chinese tourists today. Historically, Chinese tourists tended to travel as part of package trips involving group tours with multiple destination stops. This trend is changing as younger Chinese tourists favour more independent forms of travel that allow greater flexibility. But the thriving tourism industry was completely disrupted by the pandemic. The Asia Pacific suffered an 84 per cent plunge in overseas visitors and recorded a 300 million decrease in tourist arrivals. This led to a massive slowdown in the aviation, hotel, restaurant and tourism industries that still lingers today. Continues at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/china-hong-kong-travel-visitor-asia-tourism-covid-19-outbreak-3159991

From Channel News Asia BioNTech said on Thursday (Dec 22) it had shipped 11,500 doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to China to be administered initially to German expatriates, marking the first foreign coronavirus vaccines to be sent to the country. BioNTech said the delivery, which landed in China on Wednesday, contained both the original COVID-19 vaccine targeting the original strain of the coronavirus, and its updated vaccine targeting the BA.4/BA.5 subvariants of Omicron. "The arrival of the vaccine doses on the Chinese Mainland is a great milestone for us as joint partners with Fosun Pharma and our efforts to address this pandemic," said Sean Marett, BioNTech's chief business and commercial officer. The vaccines are expected to be available in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenyang and Chengdu, BioNTech said. The group is working with Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical to deliver the shots to greater China.

I think well have to wait until Chinese tourists return in numbers rivaling pre-covid days. They were frequently the lifeblood of the gay show bars in Bangkok at least and I'd imagine big players in the Chiang Mai and Pattaya scenes. While it's obvious that older farangs are no longer exerting the influence they once did for a variety of reasons well described above, they're still much sought after in the message shops. And the reasons are far less complex to comprehend: they tip consistently well.