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Trust me. Some of the guys who ping you aren’t necessarily gay; they’re self-employed business men.

Thankfully the same rules of engagement don’t apply in BKK 😊

You may have better luck if you widen your search a bit. If you did, my answer would be (1) Silom Road and (2) Surawong Road. The methodology is incredibly simple: scan for passing eye contact. Since long before Stonewall, gay men have been meeting other men mostly by eye contact. It’s brief but let’s you know there’s interest. It may well be a MB emitting what we now call gaydar. He’s essentially “pinging” us as we are “pinging” him. Last time I was pinged was last night about 9:45 when I was walking with a friend on Silom near Burger King. Even if it doesn’t lead anywhere it really boosts your spirits. You may not find your Thai boxer but a chance encounter can be a lot less time consuming and possibly exciting.

From CNN Once primarily sold in markets and beauty stores, skin-lightening products have exploded in their availability online and today, they are pervasive on every major social media platform. On Facebook and Instagram, vendors hawk creams and serums that promise lighter skin yet offer scant information about the products themselves, while on YouTube and TikTok you can find thousands of tutorials by people promoting potent products or home remedies without qualifications that support their claims. On TikTok alone, the hashtag #skinwhitening has over 254 million views, while #skinlightening has another 62 million. "Social media has become the most powerful tool right now for the sale of skin-lightening products," says Dr. Anita Benson, Nigeria-based dermatologist and founder of the Embrace Melanin Initiative to combat colorism and harmful skin-lightening practices in Africa. Over the years, Benson has treated many people experiencing skin issues following the use and misuse of skin-whitening products, including many women who have purchased them on social media. She is concerned that social media platforms are helping people perpetuate colorist ideals -- the belief that lighter skin is associated with beauty, success and often also wealth -- and that they are now also providing a marketplace for the products to act on these ideals. Previous research on other forms of media show a strong influence on colorism, explained Amanda Raffoul, a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard's public health incubator STRIPED, who is studying the way these products are promoted on TikTok. "But there's little known about how (skin-lightening) products are promoted across social media platforms," she told CNN. Though the broader impact remains to be seen, experts like Benson are alarmed by what they are currently witnessing firsthand. She points to last year's #glowupchallenge -- a hashtag with over 4 billion views on TikTok -- as an example in which users compared before-and-after images of themselves. Many posts that Benson saw showed people becoming lighter skinned and she believes such appearance-based viral challenges have made bleaching (whitening) products "more popular and more acceptable." Influencing power Also making the practice, and products, more acceptable are social media influencers, many of whom are paid to advertise skin-lightening cosmetics, pills and injections -- though some may be pressured into doing so, as BuzzFeed News reported in 2020. For example, one of the leading live streamers on Chinese social media platform Douyin, Li Jiaqi, has promoted skin lightening to his 44.8 million followers, while another popular streamer, Luo Wangyu, has advised his 19.4 million followers that "to achieve whiter skin, you need to both whiten your skin and get rid of the yellow." Nigerian influencer Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, known as Bobrisky, promotes an aspirational lifestyle using Lagos-based skin lightening brands to her 4.5 million Instagram followers and 1 million followers on Snapchat.  Back in 2018, American reality star Blac Chyna, who has over 16 million followers on Instagram, faced backlash when she announced that she was partnering with the brand Whitenicious on a brightening cream. Although that post was deleted, the celebrity has maintained a partnership with the company and the Whitenicious x Blac Chyna collection continues to sell a range of "brightening" products while the company more broadly promotes skin lightening on its Instagram account. Many products advertised as skin whiteners and lighteners contain mercury, hydroquinone or corticosteroids, which are potentially toxic and can impact a person's health. A quick search on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube turns up a number of posts, and sometimes entire business pages, selling or promoting the use of products that have been flagged by researchers at Minnesota's Health Department in the US or by the Zero Mercury Working Groupas containing high levels of mercury. Mercury can have multiple negative health consequences, including neurological and cardiovascular damage. Continues at https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/skin-whitening-products-social-media-as-equals-intl-cmd/index.html

+1 The time, effort and money spent on this experience was good investment because it will, going forward, save you the same many times over. I’ve learned never to push the envelope. If I don’t see interest on the face of potential off from first eye contact, I just narrow my list. That’s why I believe in-person venues will always beat the apps. I still maintain overall that I’ve had the highest ratio of good times to so-so experiences in massage shops than in the bars. For whatever reason, the conditions in the shops seem to work to my advantage more often than not. Maybe it’s the fact that you’re both alone in room and good chance that both of you are naked. That’s always a good start to me. And it’s a reasonable outlay. You’re committed to paying one fixed cost and one variable (tip) cost. No drinks to buy and no off fee. But that’s me. It may not work as as well for others.

That’s not your profile. It’s profile for those you don’t want to meet. Lol 😆 Twinks, sure, but why do they have to be skinny? I think Vinapu’s right: improved nutrition is responsible for decline.

I think you’d be better off on the apps. Bangkok is a great town and one of its assets is that it welcomes all comers into its bars, whether predominantly gay or predominantly straight. And neither do they employ weight restrictions. You have just a good of chance of finding the overweight as you do the underweight. On the apps you can discriminate till you heart’s content.

From Bangkok Post The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Friday agreed to ease the requirement for wearing a face mask, making it purely voluntary outdoors or in uncrowded places. The CCSA meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, agreed that this and other easing of Covid-19 controls would take effect when published in the Royal Gazette. A spokesman earlier said the target date for the changes was July 1. The planned relaxation of Covid-19 controls are: - Redesignating all 77 provinces nationwide as green Covid surveilance zones. Currently there are 14 green, 46 yellow high sureillance provinces and 17 blue or tourism "sandbox'' provinces; - Extending the closing hours of nightspots, pubs, bars, karaoke shopsbars and similar venues from midnight to 2am; and, - Allowing people to go unmasked on a voluntary basis when they are in low-risk areas, uncrowded areas or outdoors, across the country. Face mask wearing will still be required in crowded and poorly ventilated areas such as public transport, and markets and concert venues. Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the CCSA, said the prime minister thanked people for their full cooperation in wearing masks. However, further cooperation was still needed. Gen Prayut said most people still wore face masks, as they recognised their usefulness, said Dr Taweesilp.

Yes, that’s the massage I had today. It was wholly pleasant and satisfactory. It was my intent to share that experience with forum readers. Nothing more, nothing less.

I was the one who had the massage today and it felt great. And you’re trying to me how I felt. That’s pretty presumptuous for someone who not inside my skin, Spoon.

From the Tourism Authority of Thailand PRESS RELEASE: Thailand’s Centre of COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) today approved the removal of the Thailand Pass registration scheme and an US$10,000 health insurance requirement for foreign visitors, effective 1 July, 2022 https://-pass-re

Simple. Use the hands in the same manner as you would in an oil massage just sans the oil. Not difficult. Thai massage doesn’t use oil but it’s a very different technique.

Made my first visit to I-Come massage, a shop operated by those folks who bring us K-Man and KK massage. Located on Soi Suan Plu (diagonally opposite Convent Road) off Sathorn, it’s about a 20-minute walk from Silom. I was greeted by an Isan guy, Bee, who immediately understood what I wanted when I told him I didn’t want oil on this hot and sticky afternoon. This surprised me because most guys automatically revert to Thai massage when I say that. The room was on the third floor with a new, round shower stall with warm water. As we got to talking, he told me used to work at the since closed Nakarat shop on Soi 4. That had been my favorite shop and was known for its stable of Thai, Vietnamese and Lao guys. Things began to click for me when he told me he remembered four of the Viet guys (among others) that I used to use there. Bee, who only returned to Bangkok three weeks earlier, has a wonderfully firm body that you can only get from doing hard manual labor. It cried out to be massaged and that’s what I spent 10 minutes doing. Bottle of water on arrival (and much appreciated after the walk over). I’m happy to give this shop—and this guy—a thumbs up.👍 Facebook link below. You can request bookings on line. https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Health-Spa/I-Come-Massage-107877260701650/

From the Thaiger Crowds of eager Laotian tourists are flocking to Thailand now that Thailand and Laos have eased travel restrictions this month. Deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek said yesterday that the checkpoint in Nong Khai, which borders Laos in Northeastern Thailand, is now the fourth most popular entry point into Thailand. The top 3 most popular entry points are Suvarnabhumi and Phuket airports, and the crossing in Sadao, in southern Songkhla, which borders Malaysia. Laotian tourists are largely arriving in the Kingdom for shopping and travel, especially in the north-eastern Nong Khai province. Thailand and Laos have been working to repair economic activities along the border, and checkpoints have also been reopened to promote tourism and trade in these spots: the fourth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge in Chiang Khong district of Chiang Rai, the third Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge as well as the municipality pier in Nakhon and in Ubon Ratchathani’s Sirindhorn district. Thailand’s commerce minister has also asked the Foreign Affairs Ministry to propose to Laos that another five checkpoints be reopened in Chiang Rai. Rachada said that many checkpoints opened are crowded with people and cars.

Afraid I’ve exhausted my interest in “model” bars like Moonlight and Jupiter. Content now to leave my memories of Moonlight to those days when Babe was actually that.

From Bangkok Post Russian detained in Pattaya over death of transgender lover Police in Pattaya have detained a Russian man whose transgender girlfriend was found slain in a locked room at her house in Prasat district of Surin on Wednesday. The man, whose name was not known, was reportedly tracked down by the signal from the mobile phone he allegedly took from his dead lover. He was about 30 years old. He was arrested on Wednesday night and was being taken back to the lower northeastern province for DNA testing. If his sample matched evidence found at the scene, he would be formally arrested and charged with murder, reports said. The body of Thiraphong Lamluea, 31, was found inside a closed room at her two-storey house in tambon Kang-an around 4.30pm on Wednesday. She had three children and Thiraphong was the eldest and the main breadwinner of the family. He had been romantically involved with a Russian man for 6-7 months. They met in Phuket.

From Bangkok Post Most Covid controls to be lifted The Public Health Ministry expects the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration to lift nearly all Covid-19 restrictions nationwide, meaning the virtual full-scale resumption of business and other activities including entertainment. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Thursday that he expected the CCSA to announce nationwide green Covid-19 zones on Friday and also set the date for the relaxation to begin. As for the use of face masks, Mr Anutin said the Public Health Ministry would not announce a complete end to face mask use on Friday. Officials would consider lifting the requirement in particular areas. Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control, said the Public Health Ministry would on Friday propose the CCSA impose green zones nationwide and in practice there would not be any restrictions on business and other activities. Health authorities had no concerns about the operation of pubs, bars and karaoke shops. The number of serious Covid-19 cases dependent on ventilators had dropped to 200-300, he said. On the use of face masks, Dr Opas said the Public Health Ministry had never arrested anyone who failed to wear a face mask. It only recommended people wear masks as long as they could do so, he said. The ministry suggested people remove face masks while eating, when alone or a fair distance away from others, or when outdoors or in well-ventilated places, Dr Opas said.

Violence against gays takes multiple forms but the most damaging in the long term, I think, is ostracism from family and former friends. That’s how many of us found our way to Thailand and can not imagine a life now that doesn’t include it. As I sat in a non-gay bar the other evening with a much younger man, both enjoying the music and atmosphere, no one took notice that was evident to me. That itself was worth the long trip and cost of getting here in the first place. To me, that was what I truly yearned for.

Once the runner up behind exports, tourism is now being hailed as the “key engine supporting Thailand’s economic recovery.” An article in the Bangkok Post cites a report by Siam Commercial Bank, upgrading its forecast for foreign tourist arrivals to 7.4 million this year. Although this represents an increase of 1.7 million, it still falls far shor of the 40 million who visited in 2019.

If you have a very quick trigger, some guys may fall back on old proverb: you come, I go. I think it’s a wise practice to pace yourself—and your partner—to avoid premature climax.

From Bangkok Posr The government will temporarily halt the need for international passengers to fill out TM 6 immigration forms to ease passenger congestion at international airports. Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday this would reduce the process for foreign visitors as they were already required to fill out many forms upon arrival. It will also help alleviate congestion as international arrival numbers have increased, he added. Gen Prayut said authorities will evaluate the outcome of the announcement and consider if it needs to be revised, especially if they are unable to trace passengers. The Interior Ministry will expedite the drafting of the announcement, which is expected to finish in a week. Deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul said foreign travellers who enter Thailand bey land or sea will still be required to fill out the form. The move will save around 45.5 million baht a year in printing costs for an estimated 65 million TM 6 forms, she said. Immigration police can still collect data on arrivals via the biometric systems at airports, while other travel data can be collected from airlines, Ms Traisuree said. Thais have not needed to fill out a TM 6 since 2017.

USD 35.05 EUR 36.48 GBP 41.97

Police came through Patpong 2 tonight and informed all businesses that they must close at stroke of midnight for the next three nights. Foodland only exception.

The future is impenetrable, said the Buddha.

From The Nation President Xi Jinping’s order to ruthlessly lockdown Shanghai, China’s financial hub, has resulted in heavy damage to the country’s economy – but also unprecedented criticism of Xi’s zero-Covid policy by his No 2, Li Keqiang. The criticism by Premier Li, who heads the State Council and is the second most powerful person in China, signals a major rift within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Speaking two weeks ago at a meeting of over 100,000 local officials, Premier Li said Xi’s zero-Covid policy was leading the country towards disaster by banning over 25 million people in Shanghai from leaving their homes for almost three months. Analysts speculate that Li’s criticism stems from a deep disagreement within the CCP. In an earlier teleconference meeting of the State Council, Li declared China’s economy is facing a bigger challenge than when Covid-19 started spreading in early 2020. He said the rate of capital outflow was unprecedented, while foreign investors who once believed in the government’s disease control measures are now fed up with lockdown policies that were crippling manufacturing. This had resulted in many multinational corporations halting operations or moving out of China entirely, he added. The criticism of China’s president is shocking and unprecedented in the history of the CCP, though it has made few headlines in the foreign press. Analysts calculate that the true aim of Xi’s zero-Covid policy is not to curb infections but to cement his power after the constitution was amended to allow him to remain as president for life instead of just two terms. They believe Xi is using this policy to show that he is putting the people first by slashing the infection rate. After all, a communist party governs by forcing people to follow the rules rather than giving them options. https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/perspective/40016547