TALES from a GAY LIFE (mostly in Asia) – Part 2

[PeterRS]

In those pre-internet days, almost the only gay information for those visiting Thailand was to be found in the thick Spartacus Guide, filled with AYOR against many venues it listed. On a one night stopover from Europe in my first year living in Asia, I had stupidly booked a hotel far from Suriwong. In those days the only way to the city was either a taxi or a THAI minibus. The latter were filled on a first-come-first-served basis And they stopped at the nearest hotel first. As luck would have it, I was the last. And the hotel was prepaid! Thankfully there was a tout outside. Normally I do not go near them, but I just had one night and had no clue where I was! For little more than Bt. 400 total I had a long tuktuk ride to the grotty Stockholm bar at the Lumphini Park end of what is now very upscale Langsuan, a drink, the services of 2 boys upstairs and their drinks. I was staggered both at what I was doing and at the cheap price.

Before I returned the following Easter, I had discovered Manila. Coco Bananas was the place to be and I met a delightful Filipino, Armando, whom I was to meet again several times. The true sleaze bar then was 690 Retiro Strip, a barn-like place with catwalks and what usually seemed like 150 boys. When getting a taxi, all you needed to say was “690” and the driver knew exactly where to take you. The lovely Philippine Plaza hotel on the bay was where all manner of gays stayed. Breakfast would be heaving with them accompanied by their boys du jour - or that should probably be boys de la nuit!

But it was my Easter that filled all my fantasies of Bangkok. I stayed in the then ultra-cheap Rose hotel in a room accompanied by around 50 cockroaches. Thanks to a quick exit and a can of something, they all met their maker and I was blissfully alone. Armed with my Guide, on my first night I found one of what I always felt to be one the city’s finest gogo bars, Apollo. A small bar with a catwalk located at the right end of Soi 4 on the first level above where the restaurant Sphinx used to be, I absolutely loved it. That was the first of what must have been at least 50+ visits. There were not many boys - if memory is not playing tricks, not more than about 15 or so - but every single one of them seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves and forever smiling at the punters. Like many it had a room or two upstairs where I was a regular with most of the boys, often more than once - although always solo. I have never been into the group thing.

Whilst I spent almost every evening in the Apollo, I also ventured out occasionally. But all I can recall is one host bar on the upstairs level of Patpong 2 and another opposite an entrance to the Ambassador Hotel. No recollection of either name.

As my long weekends in Bangkok continued, I discovered Twilight in the Soi we called by the same name. Utterly different from Apollo, it was sleaze. It was managed by two ageing ladyboys who, I thought, rather strictly controlled their 100 or so young charges. The long bar was to the left as you entered upstairs, with on the right just behind it a tiny stage where four boys would strut their stuff. I always preferred sitting at the left end of the bar. At around 9:30ish, an order would be barked whereupon pants would disappear and dancing would be in the nude. Mind you, that had been true at Apollo as well - the nudity I mean, there was no need for any barking as the boys knew their timetable.

Sitting as I did on the left of the bar in Twilight, I could still see the boys on stage, many of whom seemed somewhat shy and covered their assets with their briefs. But crouched behind the bar right in front of me were the next four boys due to hit the stage, and in their nakedness were always doing their best to get a bit of life into their reluctant dicks. After a few minutes on stage, the four boys would parade through the onlookers and take up positions merely standing on a mirrored pillar. The four in front of me would then move to the stage. Not much hanky-panky seemed to be going on within the bar itself, unless you visited the rest room or sat on one of the darkened banquettes around two of the sides. 

At the weekend there would be fucking shows. These required some agility from the boys who would start onstage, clamber over on to the top of the bar and then wend their way along it. Another reason for sitting at the bar! There would rarely be many customers during the week. At the weekends it was packed. As more punters arrived, a small rather wizened man would be filling the empty floor space with yet more folding chairs.

I do not recall when Apollo died, but I expect it was soon after Barbiery opened across Suriwong from Twilight. With 100 boys mostly of the twink variety, as in Apollo but much less so in Twilight, they almost all seemed to be having a great deal of fun. And they were fun to watch, especially in the variety of their show items. Naked boys covered in soap suds, acrobatic displays, ultra violet displays of painting on nude bodies - and more including the de rigeur fucking shows with the coupled moving around the audience. The bar had seating on three sides with as many other seats as possible added at weekends for punters who by and large were Thais. I doubt if anyone left that bar without a smile on their faces. And the boys I offed were all both fun and by and large gave the impression of being experienced.

[macaroni21]

You started on your Bangkok life earlier than I did. I don't remember Stockholm or Apollo bars. I do remember Twilight with the stage behind the bar and a second stage in the middle of the room built around a mirrored pillar. I also remember Barbiery. They were as you described. 

In addition to these two, my earliest memories also include Tawan, Jupiter and City Boys in Sukhumvit. Let me see if I can find some time to write about them.

It's interesting you mentioned the differences in crowd sizes between weekdays and weekends. I remember that too. In those days, the gogo bars had local Thais making up maybe 2/3 of their clientele (thus weekend highs). That made for a healthier and more stable customer base compared to today's bars that depend 100% on tourism (mostly because of their ridiculous prices).

[PeterRS]

1 hour ago, macaroni21 said:

my earliest memories also include Tawan, Jupiter and City Boys in Sukhumvit. Let me see if I can find some time to write about them.

It's interesting you mentioned the differences in crowd sizes between weekdays and weekends. I remember that too. In those days, the gogo bars had local Thais making up maybe 2/3 of their clientele (thus weekend highs). That made for a healthier and more stable customer base compared to today's bars that depend 100% on tourism (mostly because of their ridiculous prices).

I only made two visits to Tawan but enjoyed neither, only because I am not in the slightest interested in muscle. Although I did have friends who loved that bar. On the few occasions we visited Jupiter it always seemed to be full. Again, though, the entertainment was not for me.

The fact that Thais have all but disappeared from the bars is no doubt one reason for their problems. Another little anecdote. I used to visit Tops market on the ground floor in Central Chidlom weekly. There was one aggressively beautiful cashier and I'd always aim for his line. I would always smile at him, but rarely had any recognition back. One afternoon the boy doing the packing having clearly seen lust in my eyes lent over and asked, "Do you want him?" I was so shocked by the question that instead of saying "Of course" or some such approval, I just clammed up, paid my bill and left. Afterwards I kicked myelf for being so stupid.

A few weeks later I was in one of the Twilight bars when i happened to see this lovely boy in the audience. I was about to go up to him when I noticed that he was with a big, considerably fat and much older Thai who was paying their bill before they left. Again I kicked myself. But I never saw him again. One of the many who got away!

[reader]

1 hour ago, macaroni21 said:

Thais making up maybe 2/3 of their clientele (thus weekend highs). That made for a healthier and more stable customer base compared to today's bars that depend 100% on tourism (mostly because of their ridiculous prices).

Can assure you that Thai customers are still offing guys from bars in Bangkok because my guy is one of them.

[PeterRS]

16 minutes ago, reader said:

Can assure you that Thai customers are still offing guys from bars in Bangkok because my guy is one of them.

I have no doubt at all you are correct. The only point that I was trying to make and backed up by @macaroni21's comment is that Thais used to make up a large majority of the punters during the period we were discussing - at least 65-70%. That surely cannot be the case now - or are we wrong?

[reader]

Not delicate question and no need to apologize. Works on stage in a bar and he and others get offed by guys from around world, including local Thais.  It’s incorrect to believe that Thais are no longer in the mix.

I’ve seen three shows so far this trip and shows played to full house on two occasions and nearly full on another. 

It’s my observation that for westerners it’s the boys who are the drawing card and the shows are secondary reason for attending. With Asians, it’s the show that draws them in and it’s the boys who take over from there. 

The more successful bars at the moment are those that create a balanced presentation of erotica, song and dance and lots of talent regularly appearing on stage. 

 

 

[reader]

27 minutes ago, PeterRS said:

The only point that I was trying to make and backed up by @macaroni21's comment is that Thais used to make up a large majority of the punters during the period we were discussing - at least 65-70%.

Those are days that were well before I first came to Bangkok. I don’t doubt that Thais were in the majority but that’s to be expected because Bangkok was not the major international tourist hub it is today. 

As for comment above citing “ridiculous” prices as a factors for keeping Thais away, two points come to mind.

First, many Thais are wealthier than we tend to think. This isn’t the Thailand of two or three decades ago.

Second, the tip for an off varies but in most bars it’s 2500.  That’s roughly $75. If punters think that’s unreasonable, ask how much we’d charge to have sex with a clone of ourselves. 🙂

[PeterRS]

33 minutes ago, reader said:

Not delicate question and no need to apologize.

I need here to apologise. My original response was slightly more personal. After posting I felt it was overly delicate and a little unfair. So obviously after you had read it I deleted the part to which you have responded. Just so that your reply does not appear somewhat strange. My fault!

[a-447]

On 2/20/2025 at 2:29 PM, reader said:

That’s roughly $75. If punters think that’s unreasonable, ask how much we’d charge to have sex with a clone of ourselves. 🙂

I couldn't agree more.

It's for that reason that I don't bother to bargain with the guys. 

I still find it beyond my comprehension how they can even get it up, let alone give us the boyfriend experience.

At one stage I feared my sex life was over - and then I discovered the delights of Thailand and surrounding countries.

I will be forever grateful and will never complain about the cost.

[Olddaddy]

2 hours ago, a-447 said:

I couldn't agree more.

It's for that reason that I don't bother to bargain with the guys. 

I still find it beyond my comprehension how they can even get it up, let alone give us the boyfriend experience.

At one stage I feared my sex life was over - and then I discovered the delights of Thailand and surrounding countries.

I will be forever grateful and will never complain about the cost.

Maybe for you , but for some of us we have less money than you

I work hard for my $$$ too so I will continue to haggle