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From Pattaya One Two more high speed catamarans will soon be plying the Pattaya to Hua Hin route after the successful introduction of the service that began in February. Sophon Cable reported on Facebook that “Royal 2” and “Royal 3” are set to join the original “Royal 1” service after checks have been made of the boats. The two new boats have virtually the same specifications as “Royal 1” but are in fact a little larger. They can each carry 350-360 passengers. Ekachai said that after seaworthiness checks have been completed it will be decided what schedule the new boats will follow that will best suit the needs of the travelling public. He expected things to be ready for the service to be expanded to three boats later this month. http://pattayaone.news/en/patta-hua-hin-ferry/

Excerpts from Buriram Times A poll about attitudes to prostitution clearly shows that Thais believe that when foreigners think of Thailand, they think of sex. A whopping 58% of Thais asked in the Bansomdej poll said that foreigners see Thailand as a leading sex destination of the world. The poll asked 1,158 Thai people in Bangkok their opinions and came in the wake of comments in foreign media about places like Pattaya and the sex scandal developing in Mae Hong Sorn. The survey showed that people believed that the trade was shifting from traditional places to the internet with more than 61% saying they had seen evidence of the Thai sex trade online. Nearly 53% believed it was time to invoke the powers of Article 44 to curb the trade. More than half of the people polled, 53%, said that they were aware of prostitution in Thailand in some way. In public the majority of those still see prostitutes touting for business in the capital at places like Lumpini Park or Wong Wian Yai in Thonburi. Others see the trade at cafes and karaoke, or know of it in massage establishments of both the soapy and traditional kind or through the internet. Some 61% of people online saw evidence of the Thai sex trade there. Asked why people turn to the sex trade 30% said it was economic hardship, 25% thought people were tricked or forced into it, 21% said poverty in families was to blame while nearly 12% pointed to greed and consumerism. The results of the poll taken between April 26-28th were announced on Saturday. (Source:Daily News) http://www.buriramtimes.com/thais-believe-foreigners-see-thailand-place-sex/

Thanks for the lead, Christian. I searched this forum for "Saranrom" and was amazed by the number of threads and posts. If you were referring to an outside source article, could you find a link? After a few hours of reading I have no regrets that a never bothered to pay it a visit. It seems to be high risk in several categories. Your escape from the guy with the machete sealed it! I do miss the guys who used to populate the stretch of Rama IV between Silom and Surawong, most asking 500 if I recall. But have seen very few there in recent years. On another note, agree with those who posted that guys from other SE Asian countries tend to form informal groups to look out for each other.

From NYTimes HANOI, Vietnam — As strips of tofu sizzle beside her in a vat of oil, Nguyen Thu Hong listens for police sirens. Police raids on sidewalk vendors have escalated sharply in downtown Hanoi since March, she said, and officers fine her about $9, or two days’ earnings, for the crime of selling bun dau mam tom — vermicelli rice noodles with tofu and fermented shrimp paste — from a plastic table beside an empty storefront. “Most Vietnamese live by what they do on the sidewalk, so you can’t just take that away,” she said. “More regulations would be fine, but what the cops are doing now feels too extreme.” Southeast Asia is famous for its street food, delighting tourists and locals alike with tasty, inexpensive dishes like spicy som tam (green papaya salad) in Bangkok or sizzling banh xeo crepes in Ho Chi Minh City. But major cities in three countries are strengthening campaigns to clear the sidewalks, driving thousands of food vendors into the shadows and threatening a culinary tradition. Officials say the campaigns in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia are largely aimed at promoting public order and food safety. In Bangkok, the military junta has been clearing vendors from spots where pedestrians have complained about littering, sidewalk congestion and vermin, officials said, and plans to move some into designated areas that would be more hygienic. “Bangkok wasn’t so crowded and congested” when the 1992 law regulating street vendors came into effect, said Vallop Suwandee, the chairman of advisers to Bangkok’s governor. “But now it is, so we have to reorganize and reorder public spaces.” According to government data, Bangkok now has fewer than 11,000 licensed vendors, about half the number it had two years ago. Continues https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/29/world/asia/sidewalk-food-vendors-hanoi-bangkok-jakarta.html

Tell them to explore this long-time and well-followed site and let them make up their own minds: www.stickmanweekly.com

Inspired by the wildly popular thread Abhorrent behavior on Twilight, my original intent was to research the history of male sex workers organizing in some sort of association that address issues we've been reading and posting about. The first evidence I came across is Scarlet Men, a group working out of Australia. Topics on its website include "client control", "keeping it up" and "spit or swallow". http://www.scarletalliance.org.au/scarletmen/ But the more I Googled the less evidence I found of sex worker unions in what I admit was a less than exhaustive search. However, I did come across some associated links that might interest some here. Here's a photo essay from Slate, "The Sex workers of Thailand," featuring mostly males from the period 2007-2012. http://www.slate.com/blogs/behold/2014/01/09/gerry_yaum_photographs_sex_workers_in_pattaya_thailand_in_his_exhibition.html The more I read the more I was persuaded that males are far less likely to organize themselves in the way females have. The idea of operating largely on their own appeals to them. Even those working out of a bar still seem to value their independence. The bar may be the venue that brings the client and provider together, but the compensation--and any attendant risks--are shared by the individuals. This article about the street scene in Mexico City portrays the lone hustler. https://news.vice.com/article/mexico-citys-male-hustlers-inside-the-rough-lives-of-the-good-vibe-guys For those who wish to pursue the topic. here's a review of the book "Male Sex Work and Society." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/07/male-sex-work-and-society_n_5766774.html

Been using the shop on second floor on Silom (up same stairway used to reach the internet place). It's on right right between Silom Center and Soi Saladaeng. It's an old fashioned shop with 4-5 chairs and same barbers as my first cut years ago. Think it was 160 bht last time.

Excerpts from Pattaya One Calls have been made to clear up a notorious area of Pattaya after a man tried to rape a 14 year old girl near some toilets. The area in question is beneath the overpass leading to Bali Hai port at the foot of Pratumnak Hill. Yesterday police received a frantic call from an 18 year old woman who had been waiting for her 14 year old sister outside some toilets. A man produced what she thought was a knife and threatened her. She ran off to alert people nearby while the man – aged about 30 – broke down the door of the toilets and threatened the 14 year old inside ordering her to remove her clothing. But she fought back and screamed causing the man to flee while police were alerted. After a manhunt in the Pratumnak Hill area the man was found in some undergrowth sniffing glue. He was named as Burapha Suchart, 32, who described himself as a trader in second hand goods. He said he did not use a knife – it was a stick covered in a cloth made to look like a weapon. http://pattayaone.news/en/pratumnak-area-rape/

Don't doubt that at all. Purpose of my post to lend a bit of humor to the thread. View your post of this incident in the same way because it made me laugh.

We have here another interesting case that balances as much as on what we know as what we don't. On good authority we know that a farang of demonstrated endurance performed, for a captive audience, with much gusto. We are informed, however, that reward proffered was deemed insufficient by the audience and, presumably, the recipient of said services. What don't we know? Did the serviced individual deliver on his end of the bargain. Was there--how can I put this--physical evidence? What it comes down to, in the end, is getting both sides of any story is no easy task.

The Rubyfruit--and the much more numerous male-dominated bars--represented a time and place in Manhattan when smart phones were unknown and you had to actually go outside to meet people. And what grand choices there were! I'd trade all my devices (and years) for them in a heartbeat. The apps have created a new but, IMHO, a comparatively sterile atmosphere.

From Wikipedia Farang (Thai: ฝรั่ง [faràŋ], colloquially [falàŋ]) is a generic Thai word for someone of European ancestry, no matter where they may come from. The Royal Institute Dictionary 1999, the official dictionary of Thai words, defines the word as "a person of white race". Edmund Roberts, US envoy in 1833, defined the term as "Frank (or European)."[2] People of mixed sub-Saharan African-European descent were called farang dam (Thai: ฝรั่งดำ; 'black farang') to distinguish them from white people. This began during the Vietnam War, when the United States military maintained bases in Thailand. The practice continues in present-day Bangkok. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farang

Free will? You're a philosopher, z909. Descartes would be on your side. Otherness? You're a philosopher and a sociologist, Thaiophilus. Foucault would be your guy. Actually, I think a gay forum is an ideal place for such discussion.

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — Getting between downtown to Don Mueang International Airport will become easier when two new airport shuttle routes launch Monday. For 30 baht, travel between the airport and two new destinations: Lumphini Park downtown and Sanam Luang in the old quarter. The A3 service will stop at Lumphini Park, Ratchaprasong, Pratunam and Din Daeng before heading to the airport by tollway. The A4 line runs between the airport and Sanam Luang (Royal Grounds), stopping at Khaosan Road, the Democracy Monument, the Phanfa Bridge, Lan Luang, Yommarat, Tha Prachan and Tha Chang along the way. The two lines come two years after the introduction of bus routes between the Bangkok Bus Terminal (A1) and Victory Monument (A2). They are more affordable options than the Airport Limo Bus service, which can be booked online for 150 baht per person. The routes launch May 1 and will operate 7am to 11pm daily. At the airport, find the buses outside Terminal 1’s exit No. 6 or exit No. 12 in Terminal 2 http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/transpo/2017/04/28/new-shuttle-routes-don-mueang-airport-open-monday/

Not really. You don't decide to be gay but you do decide to be a lady boy.

I think the moderation in tone of the last five posts reflects credit on the posters and helps all of us view this unfortunate incident more objectively. We may never know the other side but the discussion caused us to contemplate how we might react if we found ourselves in a similar situation.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, boys consider going the ladyboy route may want to take a long look at this one from Pattaya One. What may seem like a good idea at 18 may be less appealing three decades later when the lady boy transitions into lady man. From Pattaya One A plucky German tourist made a citizen’s arrest on a baht bus in Pattaya after a lady boy stole money from his pocket. Fifty nine year old Thomas Broschart was on his way back to his hotel on the baht bus in North Pattaya when it stopped to pick up a lady boy, reported Chonburi News As the bus moved along the lady boy made advances to the tourist and tried to get very close to him. But the game German noticed that the lady boy had lifted some money from his pocket and he grabbed the man’s arm and held on tight. He then notified the cops. The lady boy – 50 year old Penphat Suphaphat – was still under arrest when the cops arrived at the Pla Loma (Dolphin) Roundabout. http://pattayaone.news/en/plucky-german-tourist-foils-pattaya-lady-boy-pickpocket/

Really unusual incident. Don't recall anything quite as dramatic before, especially on Twilight. On my last trip, I frequently had a beer outside Dick's. On quite a few nights a middle age farang would come along and, uninvited, plonk down on a bench at Bonny's massage. Although all the boys seemed to know him, I never saw him take anyone upstairs. He'd just launch into stream-of-consciousness ramblings involving past wrongs done to him over time. The guys just listened and didn't seem to participate. Once or twice a night he'd dart across the street to the pool room to use the rest room. On the way in and out he'd loudly berate the boys at the tables. They just ignored him. He'd return to Bonny's and pick up where he left off. He'd occasionally harangue the customer hawkers outside Dream Boys. After about 45 minutes he'd leave. It puzzled me why no one confronted him but the more I thought about it the more I realized that ignoring him was a more Thai way of dealing with bad behavior--at least in a public place.

From the Financial Times Thailand is experiencing a tourism boom: great news for the ruling military junta, as revenue lines their pockets, but bad news for locals and the environment. The number of visitors is expected to rise to 60 million each year by 2030, the Financial Times reported, almost double the number of people who visited last year (32.6 million). There are concerns that local infrastructure, like airports and motorways, will be put under strain as more tourists flood the country. For the last ten years the number of Europeans visiting Thailand has steadily increased. In 2016, around one million Brits visited the ‘Land of Smiles,’ but the real influx is from China and Russia. The increase in Chinese tourists from 15.9 million in 2010 to 32.6 million last year was partly down to a 2012 film called Lost in Thailand, an immensely popular road trip movie, the FT reported. Thailand’s tourist industry faces “trouble” without urgent investment to cope with an expected near-doubling of visitors to 60m by 2030, a top official has warned. The Southeast Asian kingdom must press ahead with plans to expand ports, airports and railways to deal with a holidaymaker surge that has propped up the spluttering economy but put a growing strain on infrastructure, said Pongpanu Svetarundra, permanent secretary to the tourism ministry. The visitor boom partly reflects explosive travel growth among newly wealthy Chinese. The rush has delivered the ruling military junta in Bangkok a much-needed financial boost but left airports and other choke points buckling under the strain. Mr Pongpanu told the Financial Times “everyone is starting to get a little bit worried” by the impact of annual visitor numbers that have more than doubled in the past six years, with the tourism sector now accounting for almost a fifth of the economy. “If we don’t do anything, we will get into trouble,” Mr Pongpanu said, adding that his ministry was lobbying the transport department to push ahead with infrastructure plans. “The congestion will be more and more. This is why it’s the most opportune moment to talk of upgrading, investment and expansion of existing facilities.” Government figures suggest the sector accounts directly and indirectly for about 17.7 per cent of gross domestic product, while some international estimates put the number as high as 20 per cent, Mr Pongpanu said. He acknowledged the potential pitfalls of overdependence on the industry.

Although I rarely do LT I make exceptions if I really enjoy his company (attitude, mostly) and if he's the one to suggest it. I agree that most Bangkok guys don't for a variety of reasons. That they can pass on the extra cash says something about the overall rise in their income that allows them to make decisions based on opportunity costs. If they stay overnight with me they can't meet friends for some after work sanuk. Or they simply prefer their own place for the night, whether it's a shared room, space above their bar or home with the wife. I have to remind myself that this is often a second job and they need the sleep--something very high on any Thai's punch list. Watched this recent report about the rising fortunes of Thailand's northeast region from where many of the guys who populate the bars and massage shops come. It suggests to me that job opportunities at home may slow the migration to Bangkok and Pattaya. From NHK Newsline https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/editors/1/brighterfutureonthehorizon/

For years it's been generally accepted that tourism represents 10% of the Thai economy. However, this article from The Financial Times suggests that it's now twice that figure. Tourism has doubled in the past six years and officials claim it should reach 60 million annually by 2030, straining the industry and infrastructure to keep pace. https://www.ft.com/content/a6ba9aa0-2983-11e7-9ec8-168383da43b7

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — Sweat, heat and the press of crowds on lengthy journeys is the experience of traveling Thailand by train. For director Sompot Chidgasornpongse, it’s the perfect allegory for Thai society. It took Sompot almost eight years observing and recording the mundane lives aboard several passenger cars – how they talk, walk, glance and sleep – to produce his debut documentary “Railway Sleepers.” “During the time spent on a train, a communal area is created, as strangers have to sit face-to-face across from one another. This transient moment replicates what happens in Thailand,” Sompot said. Inspired by the curious nature of a Mexican boy sitting across him during a train trip in the United States, Sompot intended to film lives aboard Thai trains for his master’s thesis for the California Institute of the Arts. He said people’s lives intertwine and connect through the railway: frequent commuters, tourists, vendors, officers, soldiers and monks. All separated are into three classes by ticket price. It’s a timeless hierarchy that, like the tracks, runs parallel to society. "Railway Sleepers"is showing in Thai with English subtitles once daily at SFW CentralWorld and SF Maya Chiangmai. Article with photos continues http://www.khaosodenglish.com/life/arts/2017/04/25/society-railway-sleepers-resigned-long-uncomfortable-journey/

From Pattaya One Recent reports from locals have promoted police to investigate an area in South Pattaya in which they believe is being used by gay men as a midnight sex den. Several reports have been made regarding the area, which is located up on Pratumnak Hill, but also know as Sor Tor Lor. Police finally decided to act once pictures started appearing online showing lots of used condoms scattered all over the floor and in the bushes. One comment from the facebook post read: “What a mess. This is Pratumnak Hill tourist area, Pattaya. It has become an outdoor sex location for gays at night”. The area is hugely popular with many locals and tourists because of the nice views it offers over Pattaya, but also for it’s exercise facilities. Joggers and walkers looking to keep fit can often be found in and around the area and there are also a few weigh stations too. Recently however, there seems to be an increasing number of homosexual men appearing in the area, especially at night. Many locals turned a blind eye at first, thinking that they had come to exercise just like everyone else however, it is now clear for all to see that they were coming for a slightly different form of exercise. Photos at link http://pattayaone.news/en/pattaya-midnight-sex-den/

I've come to think of it as meaning "man" does not play feminine role. In the west it would probably be understood as "straight 8" but available. Have also learned that interaction that follows may vary depending upon circumstances (me, him, incentive). I found that it's not particularly helpful (for me, anyway) to ask a guy I'm interested in if he's gay.

There's a thread on My Hero. Reviews of new place begin on page 3 (post #58): http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/topic/10617-hero-massage/page-3