Gay Pattaya

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Although prostitution between consenting adults has been illegal in Thailand since the 1960s, Pattayans have always known that the many laws covering sex for hire, brothels, backroom frolics, pimps and soapy massages are to be taken with a pinch of salt. Some of the arrests over the years have been quite bizarre. A raid on a Pattaya club hosting “indecent displays” resulted in the arrest of two stage-hands playing backgammon, whilst a buxom maiden detained for “provocative dancing in the nude” was released after arguing successfully that she was not naked after all. She was wearing a top hat. Currently, there is mega-agitat…

From Pattaya Mail After China approved overseas group tours to resume to several countries including Thailand from Feb 6, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has seen about 25-30 per cent of Chinese tour group bookings. TAT deputy governor of marketing for Asia and South Pacific, Thanet Phetsuwan said that Thailand is among 20 countries approved by China for outbound tour groups. The TAT joined hands with leading Chinese tour agencies to prepare for tour package sales in major cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Kunming next month. It is expected to clearly see an increase in arrivals of Chinese tour groups from March or April. Currently, …

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon A random survey of 100 Pattaya expats has thrown up suggestions to reduce overcrowding at immigration offices and transportation offices. The questionnaire survey was conducted publicly in Jomtien, and also with members of local expat clubs, during the period January 18-20. The research arose after many expats complained about the surge in international tourist arrivals, partly due to increased flights landing at neighboring U-tapao airport, which has resulted in complaints about the ability of local bureaucracies to handle the tourist boom. Almost all those surveyed were dismayed by the ongoing queues at local immigration …

I’m visiting for 10 days. Does anyone have any up to date recommendations for massage places or boy bars/bars with rooms in the Jomtien Complex? Thanks x

From Pattaya News Two Russian tourists filed police reports in separate cases yesterday, January 8th, claiming their money secured in safe boxes at the same Pattaya hotel had disappeared. The first victim, Mr. Oleg Gipke, came to report the case at the Pattaya police station at 10 PM. He told the police that he was staying at a hotel in Pattaya and kept his 5,000 dollars in a safe box provided by the hotel. Pattaya Police withheld the name of the hotel pending a further legal investigation. Mr. Gipke said that on January 4th, he noticed an irregularity with the safe though he did not describe the nature of that irregularity. He then opened the safe, cou…

From Pattaya News By Tanakorn Panyadee Pattaya Tourist Police were satisfied after finding no illegal prostitutes during yesterday’s tour around risky spots. The inspection, which aimed to stifle illegal prostitution and came after complaints from concerned citizens claiming prostitutes were operating in Pattaya, took place at midnight on January 14th and was led by Pol. Lt. Col. Pichaya Kheawpluang. The police patrolled around risky spots such as Beach Road and Walking Street to look for suspects and put flyers on venues’ front gates to warn tourists to “Be aware of their belongings and don’t trust strangers.” Tourist Police identified risky pl…

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Marlowe Malhotra, who runs Vicky Travel, reckons that the boom times are returning to Pattaya. “International air fares to and from Thailand are at last slowly coming down,” he says, “whilst the massively expanded U-tapao airport is providing fast motorway links to both Bangkok and Pattaya.” A Pattaya businessman since the 1970s, Marlowe expects Thailand as a whole to see 25 million visitors in 2023, with at least 9 million homing in on Pattaya. The biggest factor, according to Marlowe, is the abolition of the requirement for tourists to show health and insurance documentation to get into Thailand. “There was some confusion…

From Pattaya Mail By Warapun Jaikusol Pattaya Thais may still be wearing masks nearly all the time, but they’re using condoms less than before Covid-19. Nurse Nakanya Jantrakard of Pattaya’s Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Department, said both reported cases of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases have increased since 2019. While protection from the coronavirus seems forefront in the minds of Thais, particularly young ones, protection against sexually transmitted viruses and bacterial infections doesn’t seem as important now. Sex workers reportedly are using condoms less in the bedroom as well, but afterward are sure to mask u…

From Pattaya News Chonburi Police Region 2 is hunting down a mysterious murderer who shot and killed a retired British engineer yesterday, January 5th. The gruesome shooting occurred while the victim, Mr. Neil Lewis Roger, was traveling home on his red Scoopy I motorbike in Soi Khao Makok 1 in the Huai Yai subdistrict of Banglamung district, Chonburi. The 70-year-old was shot four times and passed away instantly on the spot. Pol. Lt. Col. Ittipon told The Pattaya News the motive behind the murder still cannot be disclosed, but he assured the media that the case is progressing well. He said authorities are gathering all types of evidence including three gun s…

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon The demand for Russian flights to U-tapao airport, neighboring Pattaya, is being described as insatiable. Almost daily, Air Azov and Red Wings are now delivering 2,000-plus passengers on six charter flights from various Russian cities including Moscow, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk and even Kazan which is the country’s fifth largest urban complex and situated by the Volga. These arrivals are on top of daily, multiple scheduled flights to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport. Most Russians will return after their vacation, but a sizeable minority is here to stay as long as possible as retirees or entrepreneurs. Some younger men and tho…

From The Thaiger The Thai Hotels Association last night reported that tourists from India are cancelling trips to Thailand in their droves after their government insisted that returning travellers produce a negative Covid-19 test before reentering the country. The new mandate has come as a shock to Indian holidaymakers as the rest of the world contemplates what to do with returning Chinese tourists. China announced last month it is reopening its borders to foreign travellers on Sunday, January 8 and scrapping quarantine rules.The Thai Hotels Association last night reported that tourists from India are cancelling trips to Thailand in their droves after their gove…

From The News Hour (PBS /USA) In one of the world's most popular sex tourism destinations, sex workers, nonprofit organizations and politicians are part of a growing movement to decriminalize the industry. It's an attempt to help sex workers earn basic rights and protections. Special correspondent Neha Wadekar reports from Thailand. Continues with video: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/movement-in-thailand-aims-to-help-sex-workers-earn-basic-rights-and-protections

From Pattaya News It seems that Pattaya authorities have changed their mind and will go ahead with the firework display at the New Year countdown celebration on December 31st. According to a Facebook post from the Pattaya Mayor, the New Year celebration will include national-level fireworks displays but only on December 31st in Pattaya and Koh Larn. The fireworks will be prohibited only from December 29th to 30th as per the previous announcement. Apart from this, the authorities said the countdown event in Pattaya will feature concerts and other activities such as shopping and eating as usual.

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon As UK vacationers return to Thailand in big numbers, an old problem has resurfaced with new urgency. What happens when you owe a lot of money and have run out of cash in the Land of Smiles? The most recently publicized case is Wolverhampton social worker Jo Hoffman whose face is smashed after a horrible scooter accident. The estimated medical bill is 50,000 pounds with only a third so far raised via gofundme, the best-known crowd cash-raising platform. Her case is far from unique as a cursory glance at Google will reveal. 2022 is the worst year in recent memory. There are currently at least seven British accident casualties…

From Pattaya News A Russian basketball prodigy raised in Pattaya, Mr. Alexey Sobolev, passed away at the young age of 19 years old after he was electrocuted by a defective lighting pole at a basketball court in the Banglamung district. Sawang Boriboon rescuers came to Mr. Sobolev’s aide at 10 PM on December 15th when they were notified that the Russian teen passed out after touching a faulty lighting pole. Mr. Sobolev, a well-respected member of Pattaya’s basketball community, was barely breathing while lying on a basketball court in Soi Sukhumvit Pattaya 15 in front of Pattaya Technical College in Chonburi’s Nong Pla Lai subdistrict. After administeri…

From Pattaya Mail North Americans are expected to power a resurgence of western visitors to Thailand in 2023. Thitiporn Maneenate, director of the Americas region for the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said that arrivals from the U.S. and Canada have risen steadily throughout the final months of this year and are expected to remain strong throughout North America’s winter. Thitiporn attributed the growth to wintery conditions, holidays and pent-up desire to travel after the coronavirus pandemic. Air Canada on Dec. 3 launched nonstop service between Vancouver and Bangkok using Boeing 787-9 aircraft that can carry 298 passengers. Other airlines also have…

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Following the investigations by Thai police commissioner-general Damrongsak Kittiprapas into Chinese mafias operating locally, Thai language schools nationwide are not able to obtain student visa extensions for any nationality at immigration bureaux until further notice. Thai authorities had expressed serious disquiet after revelations that Chinese expats had influenced adult learning centers to issue false statements of academic progress by individual enrollers. A Pattaya school principal said, “We have been told that, in the future, detailed records of language improvement must be kept on individual foreigners.” An American st…

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Last month’s commencement of twice-daily Azur Air charter flights from eleven Russian cities, including Siberia, to U-tapao Airport (near Pattaya) has outpaced all expectations. The provincial airport is processing nearly 5,000 Russian arrivals weekly. These flights are in addition to popular Aeroflot routes from Moscow and other urban centers to Bangkok and Phuket as well as multiple connecting flights from and to the Middle East. Just under one and a half million Russians visited Thailand in pre-pandemic 2019 and many travel experts expect to reach or beat that annual figure as early as January 2023. At least a third will…

From Pattaya News More than 60 cafes and food stalls are set to join the Pattaya Coffee on the Beach Festival 2022 from December 10th to 11th. Hosted on North Pattaya Beach, the event is a must for coffee lovers and foodies as this time the organizers say the event will be packed with over 60 street food stalls, cafes, and activities. To heat up the atmosphere, the coffee cafes will be competing in the CBC King of Coffee Championship 2022 contest to win a reward of 200,000 baht. You can join in and grab a cub of joe from 8 AM to 8 PM this weekend. Check out the location here.

From Pattaya News Russian tourists are now visiting Pattaya daily as direct flights have now arrived at the U-Tapao Airport for the first time since before the Covid-19 pandemic. The Pattaya City Mayor Poramese Ngampiches and the director of the U-Tapao International Airport Admiral Rapeepong welcomed Russian tourists at the airport yesterday morning (November 26th). Admiral Rapeepong told the Pattaya News. “There were 236 passengers on the first direct flight from the Azur Airline from Tolmachevo. They received souvenirs and warm welcoming from the airport.” Mr. Sanpetch Supabowornsatean, the President of the Thai Hotels Association – Eastern Chapter told t…

From Pattaya Mail December will see the launch of the annual Naklua Walk & Eat and the return of the Wonderfruit festival. Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet said Nov. 30 that the Naklua walking street would run weekends from Dec. 10 to Jan. 29 in Naklua Old Town and help promote the community’s seafood and entertainment activities. Tourists can see, shop, eat and share in activities. Pattaya has been busily renovating parks and markets with plans to have them complete by January, but one thing that won’t be done is the bird-watching walkway linking the Lan Po Market and Long bridges.

My Pattaya reports are aimed at newbies by a newbie (third time in Thailand, first time in P), so please read and react with that spirit in mind. I decided to offer them thematically rather than chronologically, bcs I think it's more useful for searching info. The hotels: I botched my hotel reservations. Won't bore u with the humiliating story, but it explains why I m able to comment about a number of hotels. Spent 1st night at Avani - $100. The resort justifies the rate; great brkfst buffet. Cmfrtbl 6 mnts walk to Boyz Town. Then moved to Jomtien's Agate. Even though I had been following the forum and researching ahead, I was surprised a…

My Pattaya reports are aimed at newbies by a newbie (third time in Thailand, first time in P), so please read (and react?) with that spirit in mind. I decided to offer them thematically rather than chronologically, bcs I think it's more useful for searching info. Mike's taxi service was rcmndd here, and m happy to rcmnd it forward. Online rgstration easy and user-friendly. 1000 baht. I also established in advance whatsapp contact with him, just to b on the safe side; he readily obliged me. Arriving 14:45 in a small plane from Siem Reap and with only a carry-on trolley, I whisked thru. Per email instruction, I proceeded to exit gate 3. At first I…

Should have posted this invitation earlier. )-: M here since ystrdy until Tuesday. Wld b happy to meet up with forum mmbrs. (-:

From Pattaya News Pattaya City has released a schedule for the Pattaya International Fireworks Festival on November 25th to November 26th, 2022. November 25th showtimes: At 7:00 P.M.: The event begins At 7:15 P.M.: Opening ceremony by the Pattaya City Mayor Poramet Ngampichet followed by the Chonburi Governor At 7:30 P.M.: The first fireworks show from Belgium At 7:45 P.M.: The second fireworks show from the Philippines At 8:00 P.M.: Concert from Aof Pongsak At 9:15 P.M.: The third fireworks show from Malaysia At 9:30 P.M.: The fourth fireworks show from Canada At 9:45 P.M. Concert from Three Man Down band At 10:45 P.M…