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I want to put in a word for the minority here. Like others posters, it’s always an unexpected pleasure to come across particularly well-endowed lads in any venue or circumstance. But it’s never been a deal breaker for me. Regardless of dimensions, it is the guy the equipment is attached to is always top in my mind. A bright personality, easy smile and ability to communicate (even in a language I don’t speak) will win the day—or at least the off. I can always find large specimens at home. What I cannot find at home is what brings me halfway around the world. As soon as I clear the gate on arrival, I’m immediately reassured. By the time I’m on the air link train, I once again feel in my true element. So I raise a glass to you average (or as one poster use to say “standard Thai issue”) guys. May you always be there in abundance.

From the BBC The men who Leonardo da Vinci loved We know a great deal about Leonardo da Vinci’s interests in botany and human anatomy; about his explorations of flight, of war machines and the flow of water; of his skills as a painter, and even his reputation for leaving projects unfinished. But what do we know of the man, of his passions, of Leonardo in love? Da Vinci left nothing that could be read directly as a diary or journal: his interest was in the outer, rather than the inner, world. Nevertheless, writers, from the 16th-Century biographer Giorgio Vasari to Sigmund Freud, have scoured the thousands of pages of written notes left by Da Vinci for clues. Five hundred years after his death – with exhibitions around Europe celebrating his art, engineering, science and ideas – a new opera celebrates a more private side of the Renaissance master. The work of composer Alex Mills and librettist Brian Mullin, Leonardo focuses on the relationship between the great artist and two of his assistants. Gian Giacomo Caprotti – known by Da Vinci as Salaí aka ‘Little Devil’ – was a boy from a poor background who entered the workshop aged 10 in 1490, when the master was in his late 30s. He immediately made an impression as a troublemaker: Mullin found frequent references to Salaí stealing from him and his guests, or eating more than his master thought respectable. “He [was] a young working-class boy, and evidently very hard to handle, but he ended up staying with Leonardo for 25 years,” says Mullin. Francesco Melzi came into Leonardo’s life in around 1505. This young man, by contrast, was from a noble Milanese family, and developed a role in the workshop akin to private secretary. He and Leonardo soon developed a closer intimacy that Mills and Mullin liken to father and son. Melzi was, as Mullin notes, “completely different from Salaí in his social standing and his demeanour.” No cheeky nicknames for the aristocratic Melzi: he was addressed by Leonardo as ‘Master Francesco’. While Mills’s music for Leonardo is of course contemporary, it has been scored for a viol consort - that is, an ensemble of players of the viol, a stringed instrument evocative of the early 16th Century. Mullin’s libretto is drawn almost entirely from historical sources, most important of which were Da Vinci’s own notebooks, which the left-handed artist wrote in mirror script. The opera charts the “shifting triangle that Leonardo had with these two young men,” says Mullin. “Leonardo moves from one relationship to the other, and Salaí gets a bit pushed out.” Late in life Leonardo moved to France, with both male companions in attendance, but Salaí returned to Milan, and was not there at the master’s bedside when he died in 1519. “Leonardo leaves him very little: he’s left only half a vineyard, which is odd,” says Mullin. Melzi, by contrast, inherited Leonardo’s notebooks and many of his paintings. “It seems there was a private drama that had been playing out from one figure to another.” http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20191107-the-men-who-leonardo-da-vinci-loved

From Bangkok Post Rivers, lakes and canals around the country will be illuminated by candlelight as Thais release a series of lotus-inspired floats in order to ask forgiveness from the Water Goddess for their infringements during the much-loved Loy Krathong Festival. If you wish to join in with the celebrations, here are several venues offering a wide choice of cultural performances, traditional rituals, fireworks and creative workshops from tomorrow until Monday. Bangkok From Nov 9 to 11, the Tourism Authority of Thailand will turn Santi Chaiprakan Park into an entertainment hub for its "Delightful Colour Of The River, Loy Krathong Festival". Visitors can walk through a colourful water tunnel, then take a front-row seat to watch a traditional fireworks show. There will be a pavilion full of fun cultural activities for all the family, including creative workshops on how to make a krathong with natural materials, cooking traditional Thai delicacies, arranging floral garlands, carving fruit and banana stalks and making khon masks. About Santi Chaiprakan Park https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santichaiprakarn_Park Elsewhere about Thailand https://www.bangkokpost.com/life/social-and-lifestyle/1789954/loy-krathong-around-thailand#cxrecs_s

Judging by what I’ve observed—and practiced—at Luckyboys and others places, the incremental red notes the guys collect in tips are becoming an ever increasing share of their overall income. They realize that they can easily cover their daily living expenses (food, transportation and time with friends after work) by sitting with a handful of customers and sharing small talk and some physical contact for short periods. It’s a win-win for all concerned. The customer gets a nice experience (and the opportunity to interview different guys), the bar gets the drink income and the boy gets tips—and a possible off on a return visit. No, it doesn’t provide same same financial punch that a ST offers but it does cover some costs. Waiters long ago figured this out and acquire a more consistent income along with the possibility of the occasional off. And for me at least it’s a lot more entertaining than scanning through the on-line offerings.

Most Bangkok hotels do not. Offs generally are aware of those that do (I.e., Tarntawan). The minority that do will have a conspicuous notice in lobby or your room. Don’t complicate your vacation with trying to create lists in advance. I’d just assume that they don’t.

From Bloomberg News Southeast Asian Neighbors Detain Exiles Cambodia has sent troops to its border and called on neighboring countries to arrest exiled dissidents after accusing them of plotting a coup, just as the European Union prepares to decide on maintaining trade privileges that are keeping the Southeast Asian nation’s biggest industry afloat. Malaysian authorities on Thursday detained Mu Sochua, vice president of the banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, at Kuala Lumpur airport following a request from Prime Minister Hun Sen’s administration. The Cambodian leader, in power since 1985, has promised to “use weapons of all kinds” to stop a group led by top opposition figure Sam Rainsy from returning to Cambodia on Saturday, the country’s independence day. Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha ordered customs to deny Sam Rainsy’s entry due to the “rules” of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. On Thursday, he posted a picture of himself packing his bags as he prepared to board a plane from Paris to Bangkok. Both he and Mu Sochua have been in exile for four years. Cambodia has dispatched the military to “maintain peace and stability,” government spokesman Phay Siphan said, adding that the arrests would be “positive” if true. “The Cambodian government has informed all Asean nations that those people are organized crime,” he said. “They are leading a coup d’etat, so the Cambodian government informed all Asean members. And they all decided together to keep peace stability, so those people have become persona non-grata.” The detention comes shortly before Europe is expected to issue a decision on whether or not to pull Cambodia’s preferential tariff status due to its deteriorating rights situation, a move that could devastate its economy. The EU is Cambodia’s largest trading partner, accounting for 45% of all exports in 2018. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-11-07/southeast-asia-helps-hun-sen-round-up-dissidents-pressuring-eu

Don’t see many farangs reading it, either. Like the boys, their minds may be occupied with other interests.

From Bloomberg Financial The Bank of Thailand cut its benchmark interest rate for the second time in three months and said it will ease rules on outflows to curb a surging currency. Five of the seven Monetary Policy Committee members voted to cut the key rate by a quarter-percentage point to 1.25%, the central bank said in a statement. That matches a record low and was in line with the forecasts of 16 of the 26 economists in a Bloomberg survey. Officials told reporters in Bangkok that the central bank is worried about the strength of the baht, which may continue to weigh on the economy. The bank will ease rules on outflows and consider further steps to rein in the currency, they said. The baht extended losses, falling as much as 0.7% to 30.399 per dollar, and was at 30.327 as of 3 p.m. in Bangkok. Thai authorities are stepping up monetary and fiscal support to spur an economy that’s on course for its weakest growth in five years in 2019. The baht has gained more than 8% against the dollar in the past year, the best performer in emerging markets, curbing exports and tourism in the trade-reliant nation. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-11-06/thailand-cuts-interest-rate-to-record-low-to-rein-in-currency

So you don’t think killing everyone in the lorry qualifies as sufficiently unwelcoming?

This may come as a complete shock to you, 909, but most of the Vietnamese working in Thailand are employed in work other than gogo bars. And of course your basing this on your personal experience of having visited the impoverished provinces where the 39 deceased Vietnamese came from.

From CNN Police believe all 39 victims found inside Essex truck were Vietnamese CNN)The 39 people found dead in the back in the back of a truck in Englandlast month are believed to be Vietnamese nationals, Essex Police said in a statement Friday. "At this time, we believe the victims are Vietnamese nationals, and we are in contact with the Vietnamese Government," Assistant Chief Constable Tim Smith said in the statement. He added that police were in "direct contact with a number of families in Vietnam and the UK, and we believe we have identified families for some of the victims whose journey ended in tragedy on our shores." The development comes a week after 39 people were found dead in the back of a refrigerated lorry in a UK industrial park in Grays, Essex, 20 miles east of London. https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/01/uk/essex-truck-deaths-arrests-vietnam-gbr-intl/index.html

So now your major concern is that the perpetrators aren’t overcharged. Your sympathy for them, Hank, overwhelms me The perpetrators placed living souls inside a sealed, refrigerated container and drove them around until they died due to lack of oxygen. Along comes Hank now with his “nothing to see here” defense of those responsible. Your intent is as transparent as glass. You’re making the leap to the blame the victim side.

If I was like Hank I’d say this is the last thing I’ll have to say on the subject. But he went on to do just the opposite. Why was I not surprised. He won’t tire of defending his description of the murder victims as illegals nor will I tire of calling him on it when he does. It was as disrespectful the first time he said it as it was the last time. And I have no doubt whatsoever that he’ll go on using it. I was fully amendable to Peter’s suggestion that we abandon this thread and use the original one but Hank persisted in pursuing this platform.

Hank, you just keep doubling down on the illegal aspect. You were well aware that there was already a thread stared on this topic. But you chose to start a new one to get the word illegals out front and use it as a platform for your personal political motive. If you want to discuss UK immigration issues, I have no problem with it. Start a legitimate thread about it. But don’t do on the backs of 39 murder victims. It was disrespectful in particular to the Vietnamese.

It was the lack of respect in the OP’s message that prompted my response. It’s far from petty nitpicking when poster associates the dead with a proclivity for prostitution and branding them “illegals” instead of the victims of a vicious crime. I didn’t misquote him. I used his direct quotes. I agree with your suggestion that the thread in Gay Asia forum is more appropriate. I’m certainly willing to do just that.

Oh, it’s the big picture you suggest that I concern myself with. Guess that must be illegal immigration and not the truly horrible manner of their death at the hands of smugglers who are legal citizens. Think I get it. Gee, Hank, for someone who claims to know “at least two if not more” boys and girls from the Thai bar scene, your comments seem....how can I say this succinctly...void of compassion for these folks? And for some reason, you felt compelled to call attention to the fact that the impoverished Vietnamese prostitute themselves (or as you succinctly said, “sell their bodies”). Yes, think I’m beginning to see your big picture more clearly now. Thanks for clarifying things, Hank. There nothing like getting the facts from the horse’s mouth.

Did you take some perverse pleasure in labeling the deceased Vietnamese as “illegals” in your headline? I believe they deserve some final dignity, not a political broadside.

A few Vietnam guys who work in bkk tell me they fear that there are more than two from their country who may be among the dead in the horrific trailer tragedy unfolding in the UK. From the BBC An hour's drive inland from the French coast, a dozen Vietnamese men nurse tea over a smoking campfire, as they wait for a phone call from the man they call "the boss". An Afghan man, they say, who opens trailers in the lorry-park nearby and shuts them inside. Duc paid €30,000 ($33,200; £25,000) for a prepaid journey from Vietnam to London - via Russia, Poland, Germany and France. It was organised, he says, by a Vietnamese contact back home. "I have some Vietnamese friends in UK, who will help me find jobs when I get there," he told me. "These friends help me get on lorries or container trucks to go across the border." Security is much less tight in the nearby lorry park than around the ports further north. But few people here have managed to get past the border controls. We were told there is a two-tier system in operation here; that those who pay more for their passage to Britain don't have to chance their luck in the lorries outside, but use this base as a transit camp before being escorted on the final leg of their journey. Duc tells me he needs a job in the UK to pay back the loan for his journey. "We can do anything," he says, "construction work, nail bars, restaurants or other jobs." A report by one of France's biggest charities described smugglers telling Vietnamese migrants that refrigerated lorries gave them more chance of avoiding detection, and giving each of them an aluminium bag to put over their heads while passing through scanners at the border. No one here had heard about the 39 people found dead this week. This journey is about freedom, one said. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50190199

From CNN Under Xi's rule, what is China's image of the 'ideal' man? Continues with photos and graphics https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/china-masculinity-intl-hnk/index.html

Wish I had thought of that...

Foreigners are gradually coming to acknowledge that the heyday for their currencies vs the baht is not about to return anytime soon. To what degree this affects individuals readers depends on many factors but all will feel the pinch. Struggling to hold above 30, the dollar is the bell weather exchange rate that captures the trend. How individuals choose to adapt will very greatly by circumstance. But all except for the truly financially independent will likely be trying to control those expenses that cannot be avoided (travel, accommodations, food). The good news on the first two is that they’re price elastic, fluctuating depending on supply and demand. And food costs are really a function on where and what we choose to consume. Not price elastic are entertainment and health care. In Bangkok, a typical Patpong ST off will set you back about 3,000 baht with a drink, off fee and tips. And that’s a minimum. A 1-hour massage and tip ranges between 1500 to 2000 and a 90-minute 1900 to 2500 depending on venue.(these are just averages). None of these prices are particularly new. We’ve been paying them for a while now. What is new is that we have gradually less with which to cover them when we leave the currency exchange booth. Personally, it continues to be my intent to spend as much time as I can afford in multiple annual trips to Bkk. I don’t travel to other international destinations unless they’ve in SE Asia. By this stage of my life I’ve seen as much of the rest of the world as I care to. I’m content and comfortable in bkk. But I know that some adjustments will need to be made. From Bangkok Post Rate cut will not slow baht appreciation The Bank of Thailand's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) could cut the policy rate another 25 basis points before year-end, but the move is not expected to rein in the baht's rising strength, says Kasikornbank (KBank). "Another possible rate cut this year is not anticipated to mitigate the baht appreciation significantly," said Kobsidthi Silpachai, head of capital markets research at KBank. "The move would alleviate the pressure [for lower interest rates] in an environment where global central banks have been cutting their benchmark interest rates." The seven-member MPC slashed the policy interest rate by 25 basis points to 1.5% in August, the first cut in more than four years, to boost Thailand's lethargic economic conditions. The seven-member MPC slashed the policy interest rate by 25 basis points to 1.5% in August, the first cut in more than four years, to boost Thailand's lethargic economic conditions. The current rate is only 25 basis points higher than the Bank of Thailand's record low of 1.25% during the 2009 global financial crisis. The MPC will continue adopting a data-dependent approach to deliberate the monetary policy outlook, while the need to preserve policy space to cushion against possible future risks is necessary, according to the latest edited MPC minutes published on Sept 25. The baht's value is projected to continue appreciating, possibly dropping under 30 per US dollar in the middle of next year, said Mr Kobsidthi. Factors supporting the outlook are investors' appetite for safe-haven assets, Thailand's current account surplus and a possible upgrade of the country's sovereign credit rating by international credit rating agencies, he said. "The baht's value could touch 29.70 during the first half of 2020 and continue appreciating to 29.20-29.30 in the second half," said Mr Kobsidthi. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1779294/rate-cut-will-not-slow-baht-appreciation

From Very Well Health If you want to reduce your risk of prostate cancer, research suggests that you may want to make more frequent date nights in bed, or simply engage in more self-pleasure. A study from the Boston University of Public Health found that more frequent ejaculation correlated with a lower incidence of a prostate cancer diagnosis. Specifically, the study spanned 18 years and looked at men between the ages of 20—29 years as well as 40—49 years. Men in the younger group who ejaculated 21 or more times per month dropped their risk of prostate cancer by 19 percent compared to those who ejaculated between four and seven times per month. And men in the older group received, even more, benefit from more regular orgasms: Those who ejaculated at least 21 times per month reduced their risk by 22 percent. Study authors concluded that even if you're not able to have that many orgasms each month, ejaculation seems to have a protective effect on the prostate—so simply having more orgasms can lower your risk of prostate cancer. In the past, there was a suggested link between greater sexual activity and increased incidents of prostate cancer because of higher levels of the male hormone testosterone and its effect on promoting cancer cell growth. However, enough studies have shown the opposite relationship—that sex lowers your risk—that many experts believe the more sex you have, the better. https://www.verywellhealth.com/reduced-risk-prostate-cancer-with-regular-ejaculation-2328515

From Bangkok Post Thai Airways at risk of closure, president says Thai Airways International (THAI) president Sumeth Damrongchaitham said on Tuesday that staff must cooperate with the airline's rehabilitation efforts because it is in a crisis and faces possible closure. He sent his message to THAI executives during a training session at the airline's headquarters. "Today I want staff to be united to overcome the obstacles. Otherwise, the national airline must close down. There is still time for a solution, but there is not much time," Mr Sumeth said. "The competition is very fierce this year," Mr Sumeth said. "THAI is really in a crisis. Next year it must do its best. If staff are still unaware and do nothing, they will not have enough time to fight back. Today very little time remains. Today there is no comfort zone. Everyone will die if the vessel sinks," . THAI would cut costs by reducing the salaries of managerial staff and following a zero inventory policy at its catering department, he said. He said that THAI had lost its market leadership on several routes to competitors, citing northern routes that had generated a third of THAI's revenue but were now dominated by low-cost airlines. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1777704/thai-airways-at-risk-of-closure-president-says#cxrecs_s

+1

Somehow his rationale for canceling doesn’t ring true. This has been a very well attended event in recent years. From Coconuts Bangkok Today marks the end of an era with tragic news for those thirsty for seasonal, open-air beer drinking: There will be no more lan beer, or beer garden, at CentralWorld. The popular al fresco event, which usually takes place at the end of the year in the mall’s outdoor plaza by Ratchaprasong intersection will come to an end after decades it first took place. A great hangout to sip beer, enjoy live music and cool weather, the event is reliably packed with patrons. The reason given for canceling it was “changing consumer lifestyles,” according to Nattakit Tangpoonsinthana, executive vice president of marketing for mall owner Central Pattana. “Most people don’t drink at the beer garden anymore. The world has been changing fast,” Nattakit said. “We cannot do the same thing anymore, but we need to adapt ourselves to the new way consumers live so they choose to come to our event.” https://coconuts.co/bangkok/lifestyle/bye-bye-beer-garden-centralworld-cancels-popular-sud-soaked-tradition/