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Absolutely fascinating post. Had no idea there was a Muay Thai school especially for Brazilian fighters. I watch MT bouts on local TV channel whenever I'm in BKK.

Torrential rains Wednesday evening flooded many parts of Bangkok. By 10:30 p.m., water reached over the sidewalk levels on in Surawong and Silom. From Bangkok Post Sukhumvit Road in Samut Prakan province is flooded after a downpour on Wednesday night. (Photo: Sutthiwit Chaiyutworakan) The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department has warned 32 provinces of possible flash flooding and runoff, as heavy rain continues to pound most parts of the country. The department said on its website on Thursday that sudden floods and runoff were possible throughout most of the northern and northeastern regions, which were most at risk. The Meteorological Department's Thursday forecast is for heavy rain until Sunday, including Greater Bangkok. In the capital, rain was likely over 80% of the city until Saturday, with rain easing off from Sunday. Heavy overnight rain caused several areas of Bangkok to be flooded, disrupting traffic during the morning rush hours.

From The Thaiger British Airways isn’t heading back to Bangkok until at least next year. Tour operators were hoping the British flagship carrier would be adding regular flights again between Heathrow and Bangkok in time for Thailand’s high season, just when the winter kicks in in the UK. British Airways was originally set to resume flights in November this year but has now reviewed this decision and made no commitment to restarting services between Heathrow and Suvarnabhumi. BA says that Bangkok, and Thailand, “is not top of BA’s list for resumption, as it is predominantly low-yield tourist traffic”. (Low-yield traffic are passengers who are predominantly chasing the lowest fares and spend the least per seat on an aircraft.) They also cited the “stiff price competition from the Middle East carriers – Qatar, Emirates and Etihad” – who are already flying either daily or multiple fleets per week. But BA is selling Bangkok flights with a OneWorld partner, with connections in Doha using Qatar Airways. “We regularly keep our extensive global network under review, and we’ve taken the decision to extend the suspension of our Bangkok service.” Meanwhile, Thailand will lose another UK connection in August. Budget airline Scoot, which began flying Gatwick-Bangkok-Singapore in March, will suspend services on August 21., But the Singapore-based budget airline says they are planning to return to regular UK – Thailand flights at the end of October. But these flights have not been confirmed at this time and are not currently available for bookings. Only Thai Airways and Taiwan’s EVA Air offering non-stop services between Bangkok and London’s Heathrow.

Today's Bangkok Post carried a long article about Benjakitti Park and other locations around the city where a wide variety of outdoor activities are planned. A forest in the heart of the city It seems like our lives are getting back to normal as Thailand transitioned to a post-pandemic state this month, allowing residents to stop wearing masks outdoors. Tourists are also no longer required to apply for the Thailand Pass and purchase Covid-19 insurance. To get people out of their homes, the Krungthep Klang Plaeng festival has converted a number of residential, recreational and entertainment venues into outdoor cinemas this month. This follows the successful return of Music In The Park after a two-year hiatus. As part of the 12 month, 12 festival project, the project is a collaboration between the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), Film Archive Thailand, Thai Film Director Association and Outdoor Cinema Association to support the Thai film industry and boost the local economy. "The project's goal is to provide income for neighbourhood vendors, so each day we'll select two spots among Bangkok's well-known landmarks and open spaces both in the city's core and its outer suburbs. This is a parallel strategy for promoting various locations and giving inspiration for movie locations," said Minrayaporn Somnongkham, secretary of the Thai Film Director Association. https://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/2350544/a-forest-in-the-heart-of-the-city

I wholeheartedly agree with these comments. You're treating him as an individual and, as you say, showing him respect. You travel a long way to be with these guys and I'm sure they appreciate the way you take care of them.

Practicing patience is good for you. You pride yourself in having the last word, the final say. And always getting the best price possible out of an off.

You make it abundantly clear that the boy who got his cock sucked for 10 minutes got fair compensation based on the daily minimum wage for a laborer. You can't honestly compare engaging in public sex with everyday labor. It's a ridiculous comparison yet you insist on using it as a logical rationalization. You imply that those who pay above your formula are overpaying. You appear to view the boys who work in bars purely as service providers. You don't appreciate that guys who agree to have sex for money are engaging in something entirely different than everyday labor. They are putting their bodies and the minds at our disposal for our pleasure. And when you refer to his pay as x times the minimum wage you belittle just how much he is actually doing for us. And what he's doing goes far beyond that. Why else would be travel great distances and endure much inconvenience in order to be able to be with that boy, in that bar, at that moment? Forget what others say they pay at this bar or another. Forgo the formulas and "going rates." Treat each guy as the individual he is. Disregard those who complain that "you're ruining it for the rest us" by paying more than the going rates.

I believe you have me confused with someone else. I've never been to Prague, Rio or Barcelona and have no basis or experience to discuss those locations. I have, however, been coming three times a year to Thailand since 2002 (less the covid period when it was closed). Almost all of my time is spent In BKK. You certainly have a good handle on Pattaya and I defer to your familiarity with those bars.

USD 36.71 EUR 37.34 GBP 43.92

For once in this thread I have to agree with z909. He'll troll you to forever if he catches you paying above scale.

You're quite fond of tossing around "prostitution". Is that your way of characterizing the boys so it's easier to think of them in as a commodity? What do you care if they earn 1500 of 15,000. What business is it of yours? You speak of multiples as if you were evaluating a prospective stock buy. Start thinking of them as humans and not numbers to be acquired for the lowest price. You're doing an adequate job of attacking yourself. You don't need my help.

Using the minimum wage as the basis for compensation for the highly personal nature of providing sexual services makes no sense whatsoever to me. For the record, I believe that Olddaddy was attempting to be fair in how much he paid the young man. What I find disappointing is that he felt concerned about over paying and violating some vague limitations people refer to in Pattaya. I think people should feel free to pay as much as they wish without fear or favor.

I never said "bad". You're the first one to suggest that. And how does the fact that I've posted 4k times relate to this discussion?

In other words, what's the most I wrangle out of you guys for my 300? You left out the part about 20 minutes of deep kissing. Is there a special rate you can recommend for that? They are professionals because they accept money. Fine. But lets not lose sight that we're professional "johns" because the transaction would be impossible without our active participation. And you suggest that we should consider the average minimum wage in Thailand when computing compensation. This may come as a complete shock, but the average laborer in Thailand doesn't routinely deep kiss and get sucked by johns in public in the course of a day's work.

"Over the odds"? He's not at the track, betting on the outcome of a race.. He's sexually servicing--and being serviced by--by a young man. I don't think this is something to be reduced to a mathematical equation. But let's for the sake of argument pretend that it is. You deep kiss a 60+ guy in a bar for 20 minutes in front of your peers and strangers. How much do you think you'd deserve? Probably north of $35. You may try to fool yourself with terms like "business model" but their are other terms applicable in this situation.

I think the lad did a bit more than chatting and looking cute. Isn't making a guy who provided you with good service happy the whole idea in a mutually beneficial arrangement?

From Bangkok Post The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine has launched a book detailing 162 old remedies that have cannabis as an ingredient, the country’s first of its kind. Deputy director-general Kwanchai Wisitthanon said on Wednesday that the department had been compiling information since 2019, following the Public Health Ministry’s policy to use cannabis for medical purposes. The department had made preparations for the ministry’s unlocking of cannabis with the main objective to give people access to the plant, Dr Kwanchai said. It was important that cannabis be used correctly and properly, to prevent danger that may arise from cannabis consumption and misuse. With this in mind, the department has produced a textbook titled "National Thai Traditional Remedies with Ganja". It was the country’s first textbook on Thai traditional remedies containing cannabis, he said. It has already been announced in the Royal Gazette that the book was useful for the Public Health Ministry and for people’s healthcare. The book contains 162 remedies with cannabis as an ingredient. The book, in Thai, is available to read on the department’s website.

The governor does not seem intimidated by the Health Ministry, saying yesterday that he would not cancel the open air film festival.

I visited K-Man on two occasions and each time made my selection from a tablet. Both guys arrived in a reasonable amount of time and both were "T & B" who lived up to their descriptions. I consider this shop the most reliable in BKK at the moment. K-Man is sponsored by the same folks who run KK Massage.

+1 You incurred no off fee and you didn't even have to leave the premises to satisfy yourself. I think the last thing on my mind would be fear of overpaying him.

The sex shows have moved to the New Twilight Bar just around the corner. Scantily clad boys perform every act imaginable. Everyone's raving about it.

From Channel News Asia VANCOUVER, Canada: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s initial easing of COVID-19 restrictions was dramatically reversed following the arrival of Omicron in late November 2021. He most notably shut down the Japanese border – bucking the trend of reopening in East Asia and causing consternation abroad. Kishida has responded cautiously to domestic and foreign pressure to reopen Japan’s borders since April. Japan reopened its borders to holders of long-term visitor, business or student visas on Jun 1, as well as to tourists on authorised package tours. Independent tourists are not yet granted entry, although they can be expected to be allowed back by autumn. The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, Wada Kouichi, stated there had only been 1,300 entry visa requests for travel purposes in Japan as of Jun 15. This is despite Japan having its lowest exchange rate in 24 years (136 yen to US$1). Indeed, Japan’s current border rules for foreign tourists are the most restrictive in Asia with the exception of China. But Kishida’s COVID-19 policy response and his slow reopening have earned public support. This is no easy task in a country that has been sensitive to rising cases and experienced shortcomings like the government’s inability to provide enough hospital beds. The latest polls indicate broad support for Kishida’s approach – with COVID-19 becoming less of a salient issue for the now delayed Upper House elections in light of the Jul 8 shooting of former prime minister Shinzo Abe. Continues at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/japan-travel-rules-tourist-group-covid-19-wave-vaccine-kishida-abe-2817761

From The Thaiger / Belfast Telegraph British hero hails US film director’s depiction of Thai cave rescue Cave hero Richard Stanton believes movie director Ron Howard was the perfect choice to capture the raw emotion of the dramatic rescue of 12 boys and their soccer coach from a flooded grotto in Thailand. The Oscar-winning filmmaker has retold the climactic tale from four years ago of the cave rescue in a new movie, “Thirteen Lives,” which premiered last night in the UK. Howard also directed the Oscar-winning Apollo 13 starring Tom Hanks. “As far as I was concerned, Apollo 13 was a fantastic film, very relevant, real-life dramatic rescue, just like Thailand, so it was the perfect choice of director from our point of view.” Ron Howard and Richard Stanton The 61 year old cave diver, who was awarded an MBE for his heroic act, recalled how he did not have time for emotion as he and his friend John Volanthen set about rescuing the boys, aged between 11 and 16, and their 25-year-old coach, from the Tham Luang cave in northern Thailand’s Chiang Rai in June 2018 after monsoon rains flooded the tunnels and trapped them underground. “When we arrived in Thailand, it was completely chaotic. It was clear that we had previous experience that could probably make a difference. “It was like something none of us had ever experienced before, we really did write the operational manuals as we went along. We didn’t have time to be thinking about anything but the nuts and bolts of the rescue, not necessarily emotions.” The film stars Viggo Mortensen and Colin Farrell as British divers Stanton and Volanthen, with Joel Edgerton taking on the role of Harry Harris. Thai actors and amateurs were cast in supporting roles while most of the young boys playing the members of the “Wild Boar” football team had no acting experience. Stanton admitted he is happy with how the movie portrayed the rescue. “I think it’s good for people to know what happened. It’s not a documentary, but it’s pretty much true to life.” The movie is to be released in the US and British cinemas on July 29 before it is launched globally on Amazon Prime Video on August 5.

Your observations about guys hanging out on Silom coincide with what I was seeing before I left. The new massage shop is a great find. Location is good because it's just around corner form massage alley (Soi 6).

Richard Barrow takes readers on a trip to the famous Railroad Market. Using photos and a video clip, he tells us how to make the trip and what to expect on arrival in a manner his fans have come to expect from the full-time teacher and part time Thailand promoter. https://www.richardbarrow.com/2022/06/day-trip-to-the-market-on-the-railway-tracks/