April 2025 Bangkok Trip Report

[vinapu]

7 hours ago, Raposa said:

I am always celibate on my trips 😁

Until you find somebody suitable I gather ?

[PeterRS]

To round off my contribution to the Myanmar debate, let me just thank @Raposa for his contribution, something I should have done yesterday. He clearly knows a lot more about the country than I had at first assumed and I should have recognised that. I hope others may now know at least a little more about that blighted country, how complex the situation is there, and how difficult a solution to the ending of endless civil war and leading the country forward will be.

I do hope that anyone interested in learning more will read Thant Myint-U's excellent "Hidden History of Burma." As one reviewer wrote: "Thant Myint-U is the one indispensable author on Burma. This is an accessible, understated but powerful story of modern Burma's journey from hope to tragedy." If ordered through the UK or USA amazon sites, there is a Kindle edition at £5.03 or $8.51.

[a-447]

I came for the trip report but got a couple of valuable history lessons about a country I am not particularly familiar with, despite 2 trips there,

They made great reading.

Thanks.

[floridarob]

7 hours ago, a-447 said:

I came for the trip report but got a couple of valuable history lessons about a country I am not particularly familiar with, despite 2 trips there,

So somethings can go off topic without having to beep beep, to put it back on track 👍

[vinapu]

beep, beep

[a-447]

9 hours ago, floridarob said:

So somethings can go off topic without having to beep beep, to put it back on track 👍

Yep, that's fine by me.

Unless the topic is exhausted, it will eventually return to the OP.

[CallMeLee]

Decided to sleep in today to re energise and prepare for the days ahead. Wanting to take it a bit slow but by mid day my feet are itching and the temptation of going out proved to be too compelling.Bangkok isn’t the kind of place that lets you chill for too long anyway—the city calls and you answer.

Made my way to Siam Paragon and immediately noticed the festive buzz and Songkran is definitely in the air. The decorations, the crowd, even the music had that extra spark. I wandered around a bit, letting the escalators and connecting walkways carry me from one mall to another. There's something comforting about these mega-malls: cool air, clean spaces, and a constant stream of people doing their own thing. I took my time, soaking in the vibes, enjoying the rhythm of people-watching like it was a low-key sport.

Eventually made my way to the food court, where I refueled with something satisfying. After that, I plopped myself down at a Starbucks, cold drink in hand, continuing my quiet observation of the world moving around me.

When I had my fill, I decided to try out Nine Spa in Sukhumvit. Messaged via Line and I was provided with their menu of services. One positive I picked up from their pricing is the difference between 1 hour and 1.5 hours massage is only 100 baht. And the minimum tip for 1 and 1.5 hours is the same which is 1000 baht. Unlike other shops that you will end up paying 500 baht or more (as both massage and minimum tip increases), Nine Spa's menu shows more value just for an additional 100 baht 

Hopped in a taxi, but made the rookie mistake of trusting the app’s pin instead of following Nine Spa’s actual directions. Got dropped off a street away and ended up doing a mini-trek to the place. It's tucked not too far from the Quarter Phrom Phong, just a short walk once you figure out the right alley.

When I arrived, I was introduced to my chosen Masseur (Chay) and off we went. 

Now one negative thing about Nine Spa is that there is no private shower. Lucky my room is basically right next to the shower and there's only two rooms sharing a shower in my floor. Shower room looKs decent and the large bottle of mouthwash a good plus (not all spa have this).

When Chay returned to the room he asked me if I want a "clean" massage. I was confused and don't know what to say. Should I be upfront and say I'm not after anything clean at all ? Good thing when I asked him to repeat, he actually meant "cream" massage and showed me a bowl with massage cream on it. Crisis averted!

To be honest, I came in with low expectations of the massage component given the price. I was expecting one of those mechanical, let's-get-this-over-with routines. But Chay surprised me. It wasn’t Ssense-level finesse, but the massage had actual technique and effort. Long, deliberate strokes that made me feel like I was in good hands, literally.

Then came the fun part. The extras were... thorough. He took his time. Checked in. Looked pleased with himself. After I finished, he cleaned me up, gave me a look, and asked if I could return the favour. Who am I to deny good manners? Let’s just say Chay didn’t hold back. Gave me a surprise ending right across my chest. Cream massage indeed. I nearly clapped.

Gave Chay more than the minimum tip. I really wouldn't mind returning to Nine Spa. Sukhumvit is not really my area but there are some nice malls to explore in there that makes the trip worth it. Plus their pricing is competitive with Saphan Kwai shops.

Night time came and Banana Club was my destination. As always, performance is on point but one thing I noticed, is that there's a bit more exposure time for their guys now. Their roster have grown and I can see some former hotmale and freshboys guys in their lineup.

I locked eyes with my usual guy Nine and he smiled. I motioned him to join me in my seat which he gladly did. "You say you come Sunday I was waiting for you" nine said sulking. It only took a few minutes and he's back to the usual clingy sweet guy especially when I asked him if he wants to go with me.

While waiting for a taxi, Nine was full-on affectionate—holding my hand, throwing his arm around me, sneaking in quick kisses. Normally, I’d cringe at that much PDA, but tonight I just rolled with it. No point overthinking when you’re vibing with someone who’s just happy you showed up.

[TMax]

It's good to see Nine Spa is still producing the goods, when I first went there I printed out their directions on how to get there from BTS Phrom Pong and gave them to the motorbike taxi rider who then proceeded to get lost and took me on a tour before finally arriving (lucky I went earlier just in case and now I know it's easier to walk from the BTS). On one trip there I tried their 4 hands massage, which was very good and the afters even better. 

[Slut1215]

On 4/8/2025 at 1:29 PM, CallMeLee said:

I woke up in a mild panic, thinking I’d slept through my alarm—but nope, it was only 8:45 p.m. Crisis averted. Still plenty of time to get ready before heading out to Surawong.

First order of business: a well-deserved foot massage. A little treat to get me in the right mood for the night.It’s one of those simple pleasures that just never gets old. Relaxing, quiet, cheap. Bangkok doing what Bangkok does best.

After that, I made my way to Dragon and Koi. It was already past ten, and from the outside, the place looked pretty dead—just a couple of customers inside. Still, I figured why not? Let’s check it out anyway.

As soon as I sat down and ordered, one of the hosts came over like clockwork. You know the drill—“Where you from?”, “How long are you in Bangkok?”—the usual icebreakers. But this guy was different. His name was Pi, and he could actually hold a conversation. I was genuinely enjoying our chat, so I offered to buy him drinks.

Turns out, Pi is from Myanmar. He used to be a science and math teacher back home and has a Physics degree (which, honestly, blew my mind a little). But because of everything going on politically, he left the country. He doesn’t want to be part of the current regime and ended up in Bangkok, trying to start over. He’s learning Thai and hoping to teach again—either here or when things get better back home. It was a heavy story, but he carried himself with such positivity. I really admired that. We ended up talking about all sorts of things—he showed me pictures from Myanmar’s version of Songkran, and I could see how proud he was. I actually had a great time, and when I left, I made a mental note: I’m coming back here for sure.

On the way back, I passed by Atlas around midnight, but it looked kind of dead. So I pulled a U-turn and headed to Hotmale instead. Few customers, which was a relief—I never love being the only one with 10 boys on stage staring you down like you're the last chicken wing at a party.

Hotmale had definitely changed since last year. New faces, new performances, and even a couple of drag lip-sync acts thrown in. The red jogging pants were gone (RIP), replaced by white shorts, and in one act, black underwear. No complaints here.

I didn’t waste time and invited someone from the stage—James. And guess what? He’s also from Myanmar. I swear I don’t plan this, but I always end up with Burmese guys without realizing it. They’re just… really good-looking, okay?

When I asked about long time, James kind of danced around the answer, giving me some vague excuse. I was this close to sending him back, but then I looked at his face again and thought—eh, maybe a short quiet night in with good company isn’t such a bad idea. I already had two consecutive long time offs during this trip so maybe time for a break.

So  a few minutes later we were in a Grab taxi heading back to my hotel.

Yep i totally get it, just like how i never fail to instinctively pick northern guys. I swear its coincidental...thats where my friends call me Queen of the North

[mikeyrke]

Thank you for updating us with the trip information. I love getting to read about all the experiences and hope to take some trips myself in the next couple years. 

[Keithambrose]

1 hour ago, mikeyrke said:

Thank you for updating us with the trip information. I love getting to read about all the experiences and hope to take some trips myself in the next couple years. 

Looks like I can squeeze in 3 days, at end of June! 

[Raposa]

On 4/9/2025 at 11:47 PM, khaolakguy said:

What learned people we are lucky enough to have on this forum. Thank you for your Burmese history lessons. Much appreciated.

Just goes to show that there is never only one version of history, but it is always good to find a common narrative, where possible. No one interpretation of historical events is ever 100% correct.

I do not think it is so much about accuracy, except in instances where history is being deliberately distorted for political purposes, which happens a lot. Rather it is about interpretation and which sources you consult. 

Take this forum for example, if a future historian would consult this forum and go through all decades worth of posts they would have a ton of accurate and interesting information on the bar and massage scene, but relatively little on the more recents happening on White Party, Gcircuit and home parties that accompany those events, and which for other demographics are very important. So not so much about accuracy but about which sources you consult. 

@PeterRS Thank you for your words. U Thant Myint has written very good and accessible books that I don’t hesitate to recommend. However he writes from a liberal, majority Bamar perspective and he is not as good when covering minority issues. For the ethnic minority perspective I prefer to read others.

[bkkmfj2648]

2 hours ago, Raposa said:

but relatively little on the more recents happening on White Party, Gcircuit and home parties that accompany those events, and which for other demographics are very important.

I would say that this is a reflection of the aging of our forum membership?

In my young physically fit days, I used to occassionally attend White Parties and GCircuit events.

[spoon]

3 hours ago, Raposa said:

more recents happening on White Party, Gcircuit and home parties that accompany those events,

Fortunately, reports of these events are predominantly in every other websites, blogs, social medias, and news. Individual accounts are form social medias such as ig, thread, x, fb, and chat groups such as telegram, whatapps, lines.

What this forum provides are more of the things that shouldnt be prominently featured in mainstream media.

[jason1975]

29 minutes ago, spoon said:

Fortunately, reports of these events are predominantly in every other websites, blogs, social medias, and news. Individual accounts are form social medias such as ig, thread, x, fb, and chat groups such as telegram, whatapps, lines.

What this forum provides are more of the things that shouldnt be prominently featured in mainstream media.

Yes, this forum is for reading about slutty adventures of forum members!

[Raposa]

My point was methodological, and using this forum as an example was for illustrative purposes. There are dangers to choosing a familiar example, I however don’t wish to further derail this thread.

[CallMeLee]

The day started the best way any Bangkok day can start: with Nine. Yes, that Nine. Those of you who've followed my trip reports for a while will know exactly who I mean—my long-standing, tried-and-true favourite. Even back in the days when I wasn’t fully sold on Banana Bar, I still showed up for him. Because Nine? He’s worth it.

And of course, he delivered. As always. Same great vibe, same easy charm, same experience that leaves you wondering how he can be effortlessly Delightful.” At this point, we’ve built up a familiarity that just makes everything click. No awkward warm-ups or polite small talk—it’s like catching up with an old friend, if that friend also happens to be very good at massages and even better at everything that comes after.

After our usual post-fun breakfast, Nine gave his customary gentle nudge—reminding me I can always text him if I want to meet outside the bar. Just include the off fee if it’s during work hours, and he’s there. I made a mental note. Having a reliable option like Nine on standby? A luxury worth treasuring—especially for those times when you need to recover from a less-than-great massage session or bar off.

Feeling recharged and smugly content, I decided to get a jump on my shopping list before the impending Songkran madness turned my plan into a splash zone. Off to Platinum Mall I went, armed with a list, a vague sense of direction, and a wildly optimistic belief that my feet would hold out.

Several hours and several bags later, my legs were sending out distress signals. I surrendered, paused for a quick food court lunch, and added in a foot massage for good measure. It helped. Sort of. But my inner hedonist wasn’t quite satisfied.

Enter: Prince Spa.

But first, coffee. Suan Phlu’s midday heat had me on the verge of dozing off on the sidewalk. That’s when I stumbled across a little gem—Nola Café.  Cute, cool, and most importantly: they serve fresh beignets. Now, I don’t know about you, but finding hot, fluffy beignets in Bangkok is like finding a unicorn at the mall. For 245 baht, I was treated to six pillowy beignets, each dusted with just the right amount of powdered sugar, paired with a strong Americano that was basically rocket fuel for the soul. It was the kind of sweet, delicious moment that made me forget about the heat and get a little too comfortable in my food coma.

Buzzed and sugar-fueled, I made my way to Prince Spa. You know the ritual—take a seat, sip your drink, stop yourself from choking from your drink and attempt the impossible: picking just one guy from a sea of gorgeous. It’s like being on the judging panel of Thailand’s Next Top Something. Then I spotted him—stocky, toned, with a broad build that reminded me of the Saboten Escorts in Tokyo. I pointed him out, and a moment later, he was striding toward me.

“Hi, I’m Maxie,” he said, flashing a smile that could charge your phone.

Maxie was, in a word, EXTRA. He’s just full of positivity and cheer, and his vibe? Think overly affectionate golden retriever meets flirty cartoon sidekick. He practically bounced into the shower with me, where he proceeded to turn a simple rinse into an aquatic comedy sketch—splashing, laughing, cheeky little nudges.

Then came the massage. And look, “massage” might be generous. It was less “targeted muscle relief” and more “theatre of affection.” Every few minutes, Maxie would pause to nibble, cuddle, tickle, or whisper, “Are you happy?” with the earnestness of someone handing you a newborn puppy. His hands wandered as often as his thoughts, and the whole thing felt like I’d accidentally booked a spa day with an excitable boyfriend.

To his credit, he did dial it up during the extras—suddenly shifting gears into something more sensual. But just as quickly, he bounced back to full Maxie-mode: affectionate, giggly, and absolutely incapable of sitting still. It was chaotic. It was oddly wholesome. And honestly? I kind of low key loved it.

He’s not someone I’d book when I’m in the mood for quiet, slow-burning intensity. But for a day when you want a bit of light-hearted fun and nonstop serotonin? Maxie’s your guy. He made me laugh, feel doted on, and left me in that weirdly specific post-session state of both relaxed and slightly confused.

Back at the hotel, I crashed for a nap—still smiling, slightly ticklish, and with powdered sugar memories lingering in my mind.

Next stop: Atlas Bar. 

[reader]

11 minutes ago, CallMeLee said:

Yes, that Nine. Those of you who've followed my trip reports for a while will know exactly who I mean—my long-standing, tried-and-true favourite. Even back in the days when I wasn’t fully sold on Banana Bar, I still showed up for him. Because Nine? He’s worth it.

I know and agree.

[Kiwi306]

Thank you for your report, written so eloquently.

Your reference to Soi Suan Phlu brought back many memories. There used to be an exclusively gay guesthouse called the Aquarius, which was off Soi Suan Phlu. I stayed there twice. It was walking distance to Silom, but also an easy stroll to the much loved and sadly missed Babylon Sauna. I wonder if anyone from the forum ever stayed at the Aquarius.

I can't wait to read your report about the Atlas Bar.

[Patanawet]

On 4/13/2025 at 12:29 PM, jason1975 said:

Yes, this forum is for reading about slutty adventures of forum members!

bless 'em.

[CallMeLee]

Stepping into Atlas felt like walking into a new restaurant that used to be your favorite hole-in-the-wall—you’re hopeful, cautiously excited, and also silently bracing for disappointment. This was my first time visiting, and I had questions. So many questions. What did they do to the space? Was that famously awful pillar finally gone? Would this new incarnation finally live up to the slow-burning hype I’d been feeding for the past few months?

At first glance, the place felt vaguely familiar. Despite the change in name and a few cosmetic tweaks—mostly in the form of shirtless, oil-slicked musclemen on the walls—it was still recognizably the old Sol / Dreamboys  Bar. The core layout hadn’t shifted much, and I couldn’t decide if that was laziness or just holding onto a blueprint that never quite worked. But fine. I wasn’t there to review their feng shui. I was chasing that elusive Tawan-style magic, hoping to feel that spark that made you grin like an idiot after a couple of overpriced drinks.

But then came the first red flag. Or maybe beige flag, since it was more sad than alarming. The place was almost empty. Including myself, there were exactly three customers. One table was occupied by a group of three elderly men, clearly regulars judging by how comfortable they looked. One of them, the oldest, needed help from his companions every time he got up or sat down, and once, be assisted to get him to the toilet. But honestly, I found it touching. If I’m still around and still going out for this kind of whorish fun when I’m his age, I hope I have a pair of devoted partners-in-crime like these two. He wasn’t just getting old,he was doing it in style.

The show took its sweet time, only kicking off after eleven like it was waiting for a more enthusiastic crowd that never came. And when it did start, it sort of... flopped in. The guys on stage looked like they were counting down the minutes until they could go home. Zero cheekiness, zero spark. Even the drag performers, usually the reliable saviors of any limp show, were barely going through the motions. At one point, a performer got bent over while another squirted beer from behind him in what I assume was an attempt at humor or eroticism, though it missed both marks and landed somewhere between confusing and mildly unhygienic.

But the real gut punch? The lack of connection. Most of the guys there were from Tawan, or at least previously affiliated, but the vibe was nowhere near what Tawan was known for. That casual charm, the way the boys would stroll up, flash a grin, chat you up with zero pressure—it just wasn’t there. Instead, they clustered together in their own little bubble, chattering and giggling while customers sat like forgotten ornaments. And because the space was bigger, that feeling of isolation echoed harder. It was like watching a party from behind soundproof glass. You could see the movement, but none of it reached you.

Now to be fair, the new location has promise. It sits in an alley that’s already home to similar venues, meaning curious foot traffic and wandering souls are almost guaranteed. But potential only goes so far when the product still feels like it’s in beta testing. Right now, it reminds me too much of The One bar—empty, awkward, and hoping you’ll stay long enough to convince yourself you’re having a good time.

Eventually, out of sheer boredom and the creeping dread that I might actually fall asleep at the bar, I made eye contact with one of the performers. I gave him the look. You know the one. The universal gesture of “save me from this dead air.” He picked up on it immediately and walked over, all smiles. His name was James, and before I could say much of anything, he handed me a business card like we were about to discuss stock options or schedule a team-building workshop. I found it unintentionally charming.

 

James, it turned out, also worked at Prince Spa. And without missing a beat, he launched into his pitch. He told me he could take care of me that night, said it three different ways, and made it clear that this was a limited-time offer. I eventually gave in. Not because I was sold on the sales pitch, but because he was the only one in the whole building who seemed remotely interested in interacting with me.

Back at the hotel, we ordered food through Grab. And this is when I discovered that James wasn’t just talkative—he was relentlessly chatty. Every few minutes, he would pause to thank me for calling him over, then launch into a variation of how he just knew I was a kind person with a good heart. I wasn’t sure if this was part of his client engagement strategy or a deeply awkward personality quirk, but whatever it was, it had me smiling politely while internally trying to distract myself.

The silver lining, though, was the massage. He really put in the work, clearly trying to make the whole experience as enjoyable as possible. He was attentive, warm, and cheeky in all the right ways. The extras? Also lovely. The only downside was that even after the deed was done, he couldn’t stop talking. I think I fell asleep somewhere between his third story about his coworker and a detailed breakdown of his favorite noodle dish.

In the morning, we had a quiet breakfast together. Or at least, I tried to keep it quiet—James was still on his one-man monologue tour. Before heading out, he mentioned Songkran, saying he wanted to play water with me and insisted I call him. I believe he meant well. He’s genuinely nice, and I don’t think there was any game in his words. But there’s only so much constant talking I can take before my brain starts buffering.

I didn’t promise anything. Just gave him a vague smile and said we’ll see. We hugged it out, and I watched him disappear down the hallway. Then I went back to my bed, stretched out, and soaked in the beautiful silence of a Bangkok morning.

After the underwhelming night and James’ constant verbal fireworks, the stillness felt sacred. Sometimes, the best thing a city can give you is the space to breathe again.

[ichigo]

@CallMeLee I'm really digging the poetic style in which you write your reports, it's enjoyable to read.

Such a shame about Atlas - the previous 2 times I've visited (in Dec and Jan), whilst not totally full, had a really good vibe about it. And I think a few forum members have met James - he gave me his business card also but I didn't off him yet, but he seemed quite genuine when we conversed, so perhaps next time if he is still there.

1 hour ago, CallMeLee said:

One of them, the oldest, needed help from his companions every time he got up or sat down, and once, be assisted to get him to the toilet. But honestly, I found it touching.

The bar boys can also be quite caring - I witnessed in the Jomtien Complex an elderly man in a gopher scooter (?) ride up to the bar, in which a couple of bar boys helped get him out and seated onto a chair. I thought that was quite lovely.

[jason1975]

Love your writing style @CallMeLee Descriptive and poetic. Maybe a professional writer? 🤣

Nevertheless, thank you for writing your trip report. I agree with your observations about Atlas. The space is too big for such a niche bar.

[Foolish]

2 hours ago, CallMeLee said:

But then came the first red flag. Or maybe beige flag, since it was more sad than alarming. The place was almost empty.

I had a different experience yesterday night. I was there around 1130pm after a disappointing visit to Moonlight and the place was packed. I was late but managed to catch the fuck show 😲

The crowd did begin to dissipate after that but judging from what I caught, i will be back again to catch the full show 🤭

[vinapu]

28 minutes ago, Foolish said:

I had a different experience yesterday night. I was there around 1130pm after a disappointing visit to Moonlight and the place was packed. I was late but managed to catch the fuck show 😲

The crowd did begin to dissipate after that but judging from what I caught, i will be back again to catch the full show 🤭

would be nice to hear what was so disappointing at Moonlight.

Difference in crowds at Atlas could be attributed to different day of week.

2 hours ago, CallMeLee said:

 

 

James, it turned out, also worked at Prince Spa........

The silver lining, though, was the massage. He really put in the work, clearly trying to make the whole experience as enjoyable as possible. He was attentive, warm, and cheeky in all the right ways. The extras? Also lovely.

not surprising considering that he is Arena veteran where I saw him  for fist time back in 2013 !

Yes , he talks constantly but there's certain charm in that as it still better than silent sandbag some of the boys are trying to be.