tm_nyc

If the Arena news is true, that is very sad indeed. The end of an era in BKK.

As of August 1, people doing the Phuket Sandbox will be allowed to travel to Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan & Koh Tao after 7 days on Phuket. For everywhere else in Thailand, the 14 day Phuket quarantine is still in effect. https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/sandboxers-can-travel-to-specified-islands-and-beaches-after-7-days-in-phuket

My understanding is that Mexico is experiencing another wave of covid & cases are rising, owing to the Delta variant. Mexico State is 'green' but Mexico City is currently 'yellow' & will be moving to 'orange' next week. In other words, the covid situation is worsening in CDMX. Someone please correct me if I have got this wrong. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-23/covid-explodes-in-cancun-and-los-cabos-as-third-wave-hits-mexico

Interesting. I keep an eye on the NYC-BKK air fares on kayak & they have remained pretty stable for months. However, I was not aware of the rescheduling issue. Not surprising as the demand for flights to SE Asia is probably not that strong right now.

Like everyone else, I am rooting for Thailand to re-open & am hoping that they get all the details right. But, by upping the Phuket quarantine from 7 to 14 days &, now, keeping the bars & entertainment venues closed, they are treating potential visitors, who have ALL been vaccinated, like it's last December & the vaccine doesn't exist.

Thanks, XClay, your description of the local talent in Athens is pretty much exactly what I had hoped!

Thanks! An excellent post (even if it's less than what Santiogodc experienced). Glad to hear that you were 'stimulating the local economy' in Athens. Can you say anything about the age & general type (or types) of guys that you encountered?

Everything in Costa Rica is open right now but... they have been experiencing a major surge in CV19 cases in the last month. So, it's an unpredictable situation. Funny, I was just looking at CR yesterday.

I agree. TAT tends to be highly optimistic about these matters. I am hoping to get back to Thailand in the Fall but it's not looking good at this point.

The good news from Greece is that they are re-opening to foreign visitors (including from the US, EU & UK) who have been vaccinated or who have had a covid test. However, they still have a lot of covid cases so there is a lockdown & a curfew but the Greeks are planning to start lifting the restrictions in May. I doubt that the Kosmopolit Cinema is open right now.

This old queen likes that Bentley a lot, especially in that paint color, but I agree that it does seem rather showy for HRH.

I watch the Thaiger's daily video on Youtube too. Definitely an interesting way to keep in touch with what's going on in Thailand on a daily basis.

Great stories... I am looking forward to a return visit to Egypt so I would definitely like to hear more!

I am in the US & have been vaccinated so the 7-day quarantine option is starting to look more appealing to me. So I am thinking about returning in September, maybe. And, yes, a deserted beach with a cute guy sounds very attractive!

It's positive news but there are still a lot of unanswered questions. Does 'vaccinated persons' still mean people who have been vaccinated within 3 months or has that requirement been dropped? Will it be possible to change planes in Bangkok to get to Phuket (or wherever) or does it have to be a direct flight from outside Thailand?

Very nice photos, z909! As for the cars, I prefer the looks of the Jaguar but for a car that would actually run, I agree that the Traction Avant is preferable. Also, I'd like to hear more about the traditional Lao sauna.

Thanks for posting the beautiful photos. Nice reminder of what a wonderful place LP is. As for Vientiane, I only visited there once & thought that there wasn't much there, gay or otherwise, to see & do. Maybe I should give it another try.

Very interesting! Since you mention it, what about ordinary male hammam in Turkey? Some things I have seen online refer to 'gay-friendly hammam' in Istanbul & (maybe) Ankara. Is discreet action possible? I understand that massage may not take place in a private room & that, of course, puts a damper on things.

I have to agree. Havana is a very interesting place to visit but the idea that it's a hot gay travel destination is an urban myth. I was there in 2016 & there was very little going on near La Rampa. There was some kind of rent boy scene in the Parque Central however.

Has anyone tried the Lumpini Youth Center & Sports Club? It's located inside Lumpini Park, near the Rama IV/Silom Rd entrance. It's open to all ages, membership is cheap (40 THB per year?) but they may require a medical certificate. I think christianpfc has written about it on his blog. Also, in Lumpini Park, don't forget the outdoor pumping iron 'ghetto gym'.

Wow, Santiaodc, thanks for another amazing set of posts!

Thank you for another excellent report! I am looking forward to a return to Istanbul when things become a little bit closer to normal. I have read that Izmir has a small gay scene & Bodrum has a very small scene. Any experience with them?

Funny! A Chevy Cruze would also work as well as any brand of pickup.

Thanks, Santiaodc, for another very interesting & informative set of posts! As for Luxor, I would say that novice visitors should be prepared for a whole lot of touristic hassle, every day & pretty much everywhere in Luxor. If you relax & see it all as a game, maybe you can have some fun but I found it a bit overwhelming at first. Question: any experiences/comments regarding Alexandria?

The vaccine passport would be in the form of an app or a card or document of some kind. Nothing has been decided or fixed yet.