hank75

randomly they were giving these out for free in Koh Samui. I grabbed a pack but thought I would find them unpalatable…. ended up eating all 3. Thanks for the tip I can buy them in 7-11.

The Sun has reported that young Russian men working in Pattaya's nightlife district say they left home partly because they fear being called up to fight in Ukraine. The newspaper spoke to Sam, 23, from Moscow, and Ilya, 25, from St Petersburg, at a club on Walking Street. Both said they preferred work in Pattaya to the prospect of military service in Russia. Sam, who had arrived in Pattaya three weeks earlier after first going to Bangkok, performs as a pole dancer at the venue. He said people his age were frightened they could be sent to fight and said he had buried friends and relatives during the war. "Everything is so hard back home and every one of my age is terrified that they will be sent to fight," Sam told The Sun. He said he believed the conflict would not end until 2034, without explaining why he expected it to last that long. Work and life on Walking Street The Big Tool club is on Walking Street, at the centre of Pattaya's extensive red-light district. The venue employs men and women, and attracts male and female customers, according to the newspaper. Sam said customers could buy drinks from a menu with prices reaching 1,390 baht. Ilya said he worked six days a week, with the club open until 3.30am, and offered hotel visits for 10,000 baht. Commercial sex remains illegal in Thailand, even though nightlife and entertainment venues are highly visible in Pattaya and other tourist areas. Visitors and foreign residents should be aware that the law can be enforced, and that arrangements made through bars can carry legal, financial and personal-safety risks. Ilya told the newspaper that Russia had changed sharply in recent years, claiming there was now "no money, no work and no hope". He said he would "definitely have to join the army" if he returned home, and added that he valued the freedom to be himself in Pattaya. Yana, 26, a dancer from Vladivostok, told The Sun that many men at the club were from Russia or Turkey. She said Russian men would rather be in Thailand than risk ending up in the army and then at the front. Thailand's growing Russian community Russia last ordered a major mobilisation in September 2022, calling up 300,000 reservists after battlefield setbacks. The Sun said Moscow has since relied on recruitment incentives, particularly in poorer regions, while dismissing rumours of another imminent call-up. The report cited Ukraine's claim that Russia is suffering around 1,000 casualties a day, while stating that Russia is desperate to replace losses. It also said that, in the four months shortly after the war began, 233,000 Russians arrived in Phuket, according to the local airport. Sam summed up his decision simply: "Why would I want to join the army and fight and die when I can be in Pattaya having fun?" The original source article published by The Sun is behind a paywall so I copied this over from another forum.

I give him the odd 30 seconds here and there because of how earnest he is but I don’t find his content great…too many sponsored reviews and his “the best in Bangkok” are not the best, neither are his “hidden gems” hidden nor gems but the usual places covered by foreign influencers.

$10 a day covers 3 meals a day and then some in the countryside. In Phnom Penh a basic office salary is $400-600 a month. An ex-regular of mine is in a tough situation (long story but this is the first time he’s asked in over 2 years) and needed some help even paying for food, so I sent him $200 last week. I calculated this should tide him over 2 weeks since he is staying with friends at the moment. When I was in Koh Samui recently I saw a job offer for a kitchen hand at 12,000 baht per month. Wages in Thailand aren’t much higher. I will add that the intention for this position was clearly to be fulfilled by some desperate, uneducated Myanmar citizen fleeing the civil war. I don’t know how I feel about that. @jimmie50 have a safe, good flight and congratulations on your new Cambodia chapter.

Lamai is actually very popular for travellers who want to avoid the overly touristic and congested hub of Chaweng and experience what’s closer to the real Koh Samui. Probably not at all good for finding gay nightlife though.

150% correct. A friend of mine decided to stay in an ultra luxury riverside hotel in Bangkok and wanted to treat himself to a Grindr hookup . After opening the app to his horror he discovered all his sparse hits were from very unattractive guys residing in the surrounding, poorer riverside area. He hightailed it back to Silom. The hotel was luxury but the boys were not.

I was on the Gulf islands recently. The people I saw were in descending order White people Myanmar people, receptionists, waiters, bellboys, chefs, basically every service role Thai people, few and far between A smattering of Asian and other tourists If I closed my eyes I could imagine I was in Magaluf or Brisbane

Or the bars brighter?

Hmm no I don’t think they’re after a full on sugar daddy, some of these are young guys with proper jobs. But for sure they’re interested to “marry upwards”

Many of my farang friends don’t believe me when I tell them there is a real market for mature farangs in Bangkok (and not in a paying sense) but it’s true

I’ve always felt trepidation about booking Airbnb since they’re not exactly legal for short stays but they’re certainly cost efficient if nothing goes wrong. Plus I like having a bit more space and staying in a more residential location. Would you recommend it?

I thought he looked quite cute here lol that innocent face

Sorry I just can’t seem to figure out how to insert pictures correctly in this new forum….hope it worked out. Anyway that is the boy in question so no need for a thousand words!

I am too, you’re usually not allowed to take photos of the floor boys. Maybe they liked you or you were a generous tipper