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First day (Sunday) I was finally in Salvador on scheduled time despite all the previous ordeal, Sunday morning. At the airport, I waited for Fernando, my local guide, for 15 minutes. By the way, I can recommend Fernando’s services with no hesitation. I am very thankful to all the friends here in the forums who directed me to him. Fernando is a sophisticated local guy, able to communicate perfectly in Spanish and English. Besides, being an educated man, his Portuguese is clear and well articulate, and so easier to understand if you are into learning the local language as I am. Fernando allowed me to share his contact information: Fernando Bingre. WhatsApp: +5571-9-9730-8999; Mobile 5571-9-9944-0612; email: fernandobingre@hotmail.com. His blog: www.fernandobingre-salvadortourguide.blogspot.com.br I did not explore the airport at my arrival, but I was struck by the lack of A/C. However, surprisingly considering that the temperature was near 30C, I was not suffering and not sweating. Soon Fernando was introducing me to his driver, Magno. Magno drove us through the beautiful avenue leaving the airport and around during my first two days in the city. He is a Black, very shy and soft speaking (I mean he almost whispers his words) young gay man. It was really hard to understand his Portuguese, my Portuguese is beyond poor, and communicating was a challenge every time we wanted to include him in the conversation. Nevertheless, we overcame the challenge and had fun since the very beginning. That is perhaps what is at the core of Brazilian charm, their natural passion for enjoying life. We laughed a lot since the very beginning making jokes with the double meaning in Argentine slang of the verb “chupar”. In Portuguese, as in English, it means to suck. In Argentina it also means to drink alcoholic beverages, from beer and up. Magno would move away from his whispering way of talking and laugh loudly every time we would play with variations of “vamos a chupar con los amigos”. They drove me first to my hotel, the Village Novo Beach, right at Praia de Barra, considered one of the best beaches in the planet. Check in was not until 2PM (we were at 10AM), so I left my bags at the hotel office and was able to confirm something I was expecting. The room upgrade I requested by phone was not possible because all of the rooms with balcony and a beach view were taken. I would not say it was bad news because I was ready for it. Once again, I was surprised at the lack of A/C in the hotel lobby and dinning room, and at the same time, at my comfort with the hot temperatures. It is good news when you learned that you have not been fully americanized, that you are still able to adapt and embrace the local ways. After dropping my bags and switching to tropical outfit in a bathroom, Fernando and Magno took me to my first field trip. We spent the morning and the first hours of the afternoon exploring the African Market and the famous Pelourinho. Fernando is very knowledgeable and tough me a lot about the local history. I am not going to try to describe the city, as the web is full of pictures and descriptions much better than anything I could attempt here. Perhaps you may be more interested in my personal experience. I suspect my impression may be quite different if we compare it against an American or European’s experience. When I researched Salvador during my prepping, most of the blogs and websites I studied were written by First World travelers, and they all seemed to be struck and fascinated by how exotic for them the culture was. Indeed I am charmed by the differences between my background and the specific religious and cultural syncretism you experience in Bahia, but at the same time I feel warmly welcome and captivated by the countless similarities between life here and my years living in the Argentinean northeast. Do not misunderstand me. Both cultures and geographies are very different and contrasting, but at the same time share core experiences and characteristics that make it easy to us to communicate at a profound level. Perhaps the strongest and deepest commonality is our mindset towards leisure, work, and enjoying life. If you have ever read Max Weber’s “Protestant Ethics and the Spirit of Capitalism”, when you visit Brazil and Hispanic America you may have and insightful experience, gaining self knowledge from the contrast. Besides that core commonality, I was faced repeatedly with situations and sights that reminded me of my childhood and adolescence. The mix of smells in the African Market was different but brought me back to many open markets in Corrientes, with flies and roaches around the fresh food. Te geography of “morros” and ocean was strikingly different, but the architecture full of different colonial styles, barroco, art nouveau, and art deco, mixed with more modern and contemporaneous buildings was relatable. The famous Pelourinho, with its colorful colonial times houses reminded me of many different places in Argentina’s inner country and even of Buenos Aires city, like Caminito. I am having an exotic experience enjoying the particular and unique traits of the local culture, but at the same time part of me is feeling at home. I am realizing that even when I feel fully integrated and well adapted to American culture, I am still a Third World (forgive me for the cold war times nomenclature) citizen. I feel more at home here than in Washington DC or New York, even when my ability to communicate in the local language is extremely limited. I am writing this at the beginning of my third day here, so I may still change my mind. One of the things I was specially concerned about was the insecurity and crime situation. So far, I have not felt threatened or in danger in any moment, even when I have been walking around by myself at the late evening and night (Fernando and Magno escorted me only in the morning and the early afternoon). I have also been observing the interactions in the rambla in Praia da Barra, and all of them seem friendly with not signs of violence altogether. Based in my observations and Fernando and Magno’s advice, the precautions you should take are not different than in any other big city. Avoid dark and low pedestrian traffic areas, do not show off your expensive electronics, do not wear jewelry or expensive watches. All things I never do, not out of fear but because since I exited adolescence, I have found them to be of questionable good taste. After touring the old city, Fernando and Magno dropped me at my hotel, where I finally checked in. If you are the kind of traveler who likes the international hotels fully standardized, the Village Novo may not be a good match for you. It is a small establishment with no central A/C and with many flaws. There is no hot water until about 8 AM and it is over about 6PM. There is no phone in the room and the wifi is not reliable. Some of the lights in the room do not work, and there is no coffee maker. The building is the product of merging two old three stories houses. It looks like it has been recently refurnished, but respecting the local color. Everything looks authentic and old style. The floor tides, the stairs (no elevator of course), the furniture, everything looks old although very well kept and perfectly clean. I got one of the standards rooms, that is actually roomie than many of the rooms I have gotten in 4 stars American hotels. You walk into a small reception with storage shelves, an electronic safe, and a mini fridge. To the left I have a bathroom with a nice shower. To the right the bedroom, with a comfortable king size bed, wooden furniture and a flat screen TV. There is a very small windows with no view. There is an A/C unit in the room, the kind called “split” that I understand is an Israeli technology not very popular in the States but standard in South America. I heard it is superior to American big A/C units regarding energy saving and performance. Anyway, as I am trying to adapt and embrace the local ways instead of pretending the locals to cater to me, I have kept the A/C unit off as much as possible. Which means I have not used it beyond a few hours when I would come back exhausted from one of our field trips. I have been able to sleep very comfortably without A/C, only the ceiling fan, which was cooling enough to make me cover with a sheet. After taking a shower with refreshing cold water and having a power nap, I was ready for my first Brazilian sauna experience. I chose Planetario, nowadays Club 11. Although public transportation seems to work perfectly fine, Uber is very cheap and I am only using their services. My Uber dropped me in the corner shown in the map, but I could not find the sauna. I called another Uber (I am paying for roaming) and ended at Sauna Fox. I am leaving the details of my sauna experience for I LIKE PINGA. Let me just say that I had a great time, and played with two beautiful boys, both Sotero Politanos (which is how the Salvador born is called). The first one asked me for 80 rials for a full service as a passivo and I did not negotiate and ended paying him 100. He was great. The second one asked me for 130 with a full service as an ativo, I counter-offered 80 for a session with no penetration, and he immediately accepted. I spent about 4 hours in the place, had these two boys, drank many beers (I was inviting my first one with his drinks as he stayed hanging up and making out with me the whole night, and introduced me to his local clients to make friends. One of the rooms I rented was the deluxe suite. When I check out, the bill was 135 Rials. I walked out to called my Uber, but a taxi driver was chatting with the security guy and offered me the ride for 20 rials. I took it and returned to my hotel about 10:30 PM. It was Sunday night and the rambla in front of the hotel was full of excitement and hot young men. However, this old man was absolutely exhausted. My stamina is not like @Tomcal's, @numazu1's, or @Tartegogo's, after a day of exploring the city by walk, and having sex twice, I was dying. I went straight to my room to sleep, exhausted but happy ending my first day.

He got charged with fondoling a minor. He show back with this video.

I am going to risk sounding preachy ... a MacBook Air costs about 10,000 reais there. Please exercise caution using your PC out in the open while drinking and distracted with offers to join you in your room. And do lock it in the safe if you host.

Day 10: Business up front, Party in the Back As far as I know the majority of the direct flights from Brazil to the USA (Miami, Atlanta, New York, Houston, LAX) depart at night. I don’t know if I like this schedule or not. On the one hand it is pretty cool to have late night departures because you can have a last minute victory lap at the sauna before heading out to the airport. But on the other hand I do feel a little bit of anxiety throughout the majority of the day of the flight. I've always lived in mortal fear of missing my flight, anywhere I am. Having to wait for it all day, even if I was doing something fun, kind of takes away from the fun because I keep checking my cellphone for the time. But there was still a lot of day, and a lot of boy, to get through today. My flight is at 11:15 PM tonight, which meant I had till possibly 8:00 PM to enjoy Thiago, and some boys at the sauna, tonight. The whole day meant looking at my cellphone to see if I had the time to do things. Not good. Thiago though, was hell-bent on doing one big thing with me today. After going through all the Sao Paulo tourist sites on google, we decide on visiting the Sao Paulo aquarium. I can’t tell you how many successful dates I’ve had in the aquariums in the USA, so I thought that this was a good choice for us. And good ole Thiago. He still knew how to pace things. He knew the last time we can have sex is this morning, since in the afternoon, he will need all the strength he can get for the long sauna night ahead. Starting in bed, working our way to the shower, having some slap and tickle while soaping up (this is all we can do, he was too tall for me to have any good sex in the shower), and then settling at the bed to have some sex. From what he tells me, he enjoys bottoming with me, and bottoming in general, as he doesn’t get to do it often, as everyone wants him to top. I can only oblige, though maneuvering his long, muscular legs is not an easy feat. In the end he cums, while I am lying on my back and him towering over me, feeding me his cum while I feast at the sight of him up above. Bliss. We hurry up and shower again, have a quick coffee and pastries at the padaria nearby, and then head over to the Sao Paulo aquarium. The entrance fee was US $30, which I found steep for something to do in Brazil, and Thiago thought it was oddly expensive as well. He insisted to go do something less expensive, but I told him since we were here, we might as well go. I knew he wanted to go, so I pay up and we enter. We encounter the usual fish, rays, seascapes and other staples of any aquarium: But then we enter a space where more land-based critters reside, including meerkats, kangaroos, and the Aquarium's centerpiece, two adorable polar bears: I like these kinds of dates, as it shows if a person is in my wheelhouse: learning something with someone you are also trying to learn something about. Thiago is up for the task: his University learning and natural curiosity showed throughout the three hours we were there. It does help that someone that handsome can also geek out on nerdy things like what Brazil’s different biospheres are, or knowing how Australia’s species evolved to what they are. He tried to remember what he learned from his biology classes, as did I, though it is a longer time ago for me than for him. Oh well. I wouldn’t say I’d wholly recommend the aquarium just because of the expensive price, but for me it was worth it in the end. After the aquarium we get back Shopping Cidade on Paulista to have our late lunch, and then strolled on Paulista, since today was Sunday and the street is closed to cars so pedestrians and bicyclists can have free reign over the popular street. At 2:30 PM we headed back to the hotel to pack, shower and say our intimate goodbyes before we both head to the sauna. Thank goodness for late check-out at the Intercontinental. Thiago only packed a back-pack, and was going to the bus station after the sauna tonight, so he can bring all his stuff to the sauna. I had a big suitcase, so I will have to store my bag at the concierge to pick up after the sauna. We get to the sauna at around 5 PM, and my countdown starts. At this point I am thinking I have till about 8:00 PM to stay at the sauna, which gives me time to Uber it to Intercon to retrieve my bag, and then head over to Guarulhos with some time to spare if traffic doesn’t fuck things up for me. 3 solid hours in a sauna is of course plenty of time, but since I had to be mindful about my time, it felt shorter than it actually was. After our usual welcome drink and scoping out the current scene (him for customers, me for boys), I bid Thiago a warm farewell and thanked him for the wonderful time today. I wish that he got as many customers as he needed tonight. He bids me farewell as well, and tells me to not spend too much money on boys. I promise him I will not. We part ways to get what we wanted out of the evening. Hopefully I get as much sex as I can with giving as little money as I can give, so I have money for more boys, and Thiago can get as much money as he can with giving as little sex as he can give, so he has energy for more customers. It’s a game that’s played all night long, by everyone in the sauna. Some win more than others, but in the end, hopefully everyone gets what they want. It didn’t take me long to spot my potential boy #1 for the night. He was sitting in one of the tables, just alone playing with his phone. From afar he looked like any average white boy I encounter at home. But up close, he was stunning. Natural looking body with abs, porcelain white skin, dark blonde hair. “Oi,” I say, and he looks up. The boy looked 15. He smiles and puts down his phone. “Tudo bem?” he asks. I point to the seat next to him. He nods and we size each other up. He was gorgeous, innocent face, but you kind of knew he knew all the tricks of the trade. His name is Miguel, just 18. Another University student. Just been in SP for a month. He’s not a regular at the sauna, but goes if he needs to buy clothes or new gear. He suggests us leaving the sauna to have dinner and then go back to my hotel for a fuck, and then go out to a club to round out the night (The Week was his choice). Sounds nice of course. I told him I couldn’t, since I was leaving tonight for the USA. “Take me with you,” he jokes. He says he is slight and can fit in my suitcase. No doubt he could. We get to the topic of sex. Does everything. More of a top but open to bottoming, but has never done it with a customer. Quoted 250 reals. I stood by my firm 150 reals with gozar. Seems to work with the boys. At the room, he suggests to shower first so we can do “whatever we wanted.” And that’s what exactly happened. I like a boy who takes initiative. He rims me first, telling me that he wanted to do this badly. I didn’t mind. After warming up the oven he puts on a condom. I didn’t tell him I also preferred to top but that hardly mattered now. He fucks me for a while until he was close. He takes the condom off. Some more foreplay. His ass tasted amazing. Tight and hairless. The body works for me. Amazing to the touch. He sits on me and proceeds to thrust. My first time in a sauna room to be fully versatile. I consider this a triumph. I cum fast, due so much sensory overload. It takes him a while to cum because he said that happens when he gets fucked. It was worth the wait. He cums everywhere, his hair, the bed, me, the wall. We cuddle for a while, cum getting everywhere but we didn’t mind. And then we shower and exchange info and such. Next time, I’ll get my hands on him to have a full weekend. I give him his 150, and a 20 to pay for his entrance. I look at my cellphone. It was 7 PM! I had an hour left. Time flies when you’re having fun. I could not find Thiago, which is good because it meant he was with a customer. Halfway through my beer I spot a boy who was tall and inviting. He was not gym buff but had a natural fit body. He spots me staring so he pretends to adjust his towel so he can show me what he got. Giant dick alert. I wave him over and he sits with me. 24 years old. Smoldering Latin look. I give his cock a tug. He says it grows to 26 cm, and thick. Only a top, kisses, he says. I was running out of time. So I hurriedly accept. 150 with cum, as usual. It is good to have the price set before starting. The actual programa was nothing to write home about. Kissing was not as good as promised (more nibble than kiss), foreplay not much better. But with him I imagine everything is forgiven once a customer sees the dick. That was his selling point. He was very pretty, so his face can also sell, and he was tall and had a nice body, so he had a lot going for him. But the dick just overshadowed everything else. No doubt the biggest I’ve seen, and the thickness is a sight to behold. I played with it. He struggled to cum, looking at the straight porn the whole time. It was fine. The dick made up for it. Showered with him afterwards, so I don’t smell like boy on my flight. Paid 150, not a repeat for sure, but the perverse sight of his gigantic dick was worth the price of admission, so I had that memory to carry me over the continent on my way back home. Thiago still was nowhere to be found, but he messaged me saying he was in a programa, and to message him to tell him I was leaving. I told him I was leaving. Relunctantly. The night was still young. But vacations have to end. Uber to Intercon, then to GRU. Got to airport with an hour to spare. Slept really well in the plane, well-earned from the gymnastics from earlier. Thanks again for the lovely time Brazil. I’ll see you again soon. Really really soon, apparently.

Unfortunately for you, I’ve never really known the cruising / hustler scene of Salvador, even the Barra section by the Porto da Barra beach, to be anything at all like what you are describing that you hope it to be. Meaning, if you’re passively sitting outside your restaurant hotel overlooking the beach and the pedestrian walkway, expecting young men looking for trinkets to approach you, I think you are going to be waiting a lonnnnnnnnnnng time. And looking “gayer” will not exactly make it happen any more quickly for you. The Bahia just ain’t that kind of party. I am pretty sure that I discussed this in a previous post, and that you were a part of that conversation. I do wish you luck in your pursuits. Keep us posted.

Lesson from Tomcal: Sauna will watch your luggage, seems weird but is safe , I've done it at Lagoa & Fragata, makes those last minutes last a little longer

Two things before you go further: (1) You were probably better served going to Fox instead of (Planetario) Clube 11 on Sunday, as Sunday is one of Fox’s better nights (unless things have changed). (2) “Hakuna matata” is a Swahili phrase that is very popular in Kenya and almost all of East Africa. It has no Polynesian origins. In fact, Disney is now facing a major backlash by East African nations for its trademark registration of the phrase in its animated film, “The Lion King”. https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4957382

"Hakuna matata" is a Swahili language phrase from East Africa meaning "no trouble". The word "hakuna" means "there is not here" while "matata" means "problems".

It's a lovely ad. Maybe next year I will do my Christmas shopping at Sainsbury's! Especially if that cute guy is my salesman!

Second day (Monday) I am writing the reports on my first and second days here on Tuesday, my third day. I was planning to go to the saunas, or explore the difference between sauna GPs and escorts advertising in the web by hiring one, but I definitely need a day of resting and enjoying myself. This morning I enjoyed the beach and now I am drinking and writing and enjoying the view from the hotel restaurant. I will not have much to report about today, and one of my ways to relax and enjoy myself is writing and catching up with this traveling log. Hopefully, I will also post something in the blog, although I am not confident about the unreliable wifi of the hotel. So let’s get devoted to caipiroska and writing. Yesterday Fernando and Magno picked me up at 8:30 AM. I got up very earlier to enjoy the hotel buffet breakfast (not as good as the description in their website) but good enough. I even had time to do some writing before they picked me up. Our destination was a beach town north of Salvador, called Arembepe, where a famous Hippie Village is located. It was a one hour ride more or less. Arembepe town was very active with visitors doing shopping and walking around, besides coming to and from the beach. We just took a quick look and headed out of the town, to the Aldeia Hippie. We were specially enjoying the place and the nice weather knowing that Salvador was under heavy tropical rain. We did have many clouds, but they helped to protect us from the sun and made the temperature more agreeable to walk in the open. The whole area of Arembepe, including the Aldeia Hippie is under strict environmental protection rules. Most of the beach in Arembepe is out of reach for vehicles, something I highly appreciated. Right by the entrance to the Aldeia, there is a station of a Project to protect turtles, I immediately remembered @TotallyOz and his love for a similar place on the other side of the peninsula. Unfortunately the station was closed. I loved our walk through the Aldeia, although we all were surprised when we found out that apparently Christian Evangelics (you know, those loving Christians who support Trump and Bolsonaro) have settle in there with very visible signs and murals speaking of their love for Jesus. Fernando had no idea about it, they were not there the last time he visited. We were not the first celebrities visiting the Aldeia hippie. Hakuma Matata, Fernando told me, is a Polynesian expression related to relaxing and enjoying life. Very Polynesian and Brazilian. The guy in the left is Fernando, the fat guy in the right is some stupid tourist getting in our pictures. There you have Magno. He is not a dwarf. We just wanted to take a picture of that giant hamac, so big that makes him look tiny. One of my favorite moments was when we chilled in a little river inside the Aldeia. The stream was not strong, no deep, the water was not cold, and we swam and hanged out there for a while. When I say “we”, I mean Fernando and I. Magno was always in his phone, he never joined us in the water. I loved that the bottom was clean sand, as I am used to dirtier materials when you step in a river. I grew up by a wonderful river, the Parana. I have always felt more comfortable around fresh than around sea water. There is something on the power of the ocean that scares me. When I am in a river I feel more in control, I can even drink the water and swim like a whale (considering my size), specially in a small stream like that one. I do like the ocean, but its power is beyond any fantasy of control. You just have to be continuously struggling with the water trying to take you away. We arrived to the little river relatively early and the only ones close to us were the members of one of the families inhabiting the Aldeia. Peace would not last. Slowly more people started to arrive. Some of them with their boom boxes contaminating the place. We decided to leave. After enjoying the fresh water tiny beach, we returned to Arembepe town, this time to the huge ocean beach. This one was the thicker out of all the beaches I have seen so far. Salvador has very thin beaches, but they are never ending. Arembepe beach is massive. After walking through the area full of chairs and food and drinks kiosks, Fernando and I got in the water while Magno stayed behind watching out our stuff and diving in is phone. This was my first experience in a tropical beach. I expected the water to be warmer, but it was indeed the warmest sea I have never swam in. We did not stayed long, as I was afraid of the sun. My very white skin is extremely sensitive and I did mot want to spend not even a minute feeling sick because of too much sun. IMG_1645.MOV In our way to the beach and back to the town, we enjoyed the effects of environmental protection. The whole area is full of wild fauna, and we were specially charmed by super tiny toads and crabs. I hope you can see the mini crabs moving in the clip. Adorable. IMG_1643.MOV Fernando recommended a home made food restaurant and we sat to have lunch. I tried a delicious peixe frito (fresh fish). I think it was mackerel, bit I am not sure. Fernando, Magno, and the fat bald guy sneaking in our pictures and eating our food. I was back at my hotel at 3PM. I said goodbye to Fernando and Magno, as I was not hiring their services anymore. Fernando told me he wanted to invite me to know their neighborhood, so I may see him again. I will see Magno for sure, because I am calling him to take me to the airport on January 2. I was very tired. Besides all of the exploring and the intense previous day, I think I never recovered from the stress and anxiety before the trip and all the troubles during the flights from DC. Despite feeling no energy, I did not want to let another day without visiting Planetario. Again, expect a full report about saunas in I LIKE PINGA. In few words, I have mixed feelings about the place but will be there again tomorrow. The building is great, I like it better than Fox, but the lack of AC was this time unbearable. It was almost like being in the steam room all the time. There were less than 10 clients and probably 20 boys. My plan was just having a drink and socializing, but a 23 y.o. boy kidnapped me. The suite where we fucked was not as good as the one in Fox. I also noticed the boys were far more aggressive there than in Fox, although that can probably be explained by the lack of clients. After fucking with my boy and dodging all the other ones that were jumping to get me, I took an Uber and returned to the hotel. Again, happy but exhausted. I was sleeping by 10 PM, no Christmas Eve for me. IMG_1646.MOV

That was exactly what confused me. I would walk the street with the numbers going up, so I would walk back before reaching 11. Before dropping me at the hotel yesterday, Magno and Fernando showed me the building, so I was able to go there yesterday night, I am posting the report of yesterday in a second.

This has been a debate for years. They initially did not like the name MaleEscortReview.com. Why? It was not the site they wanted to go to. Now there is an issue with the word boy. However, every one of them that have that issue was OK with the word Rentboy. IMHO no difference. But, you are right, many will not give Spacey a second chance. I will and not because he is a great actor (he is) but because he has not been proven to be guilty of anything yet. Yes, he made advances. Yes, he was a prick at times. But, does it rise to the level of career ending? Not from what I have heard. But, perhaps I have not heard the whole story.

I had a gastric sleeve done at Bumrungrad in December 2017. I thought others might like to hear my experience. First, I spent a lot of time researching and talking to my doctor. He recommended a surgeon for me and I met with him. I liked him and we set a date for the preoperative procedures which included sending a camera down my throat and heart exam, etc. The throat exam was done under anesthesia and thus I remember nothing. But, all the doctors I met with signed off on the procedure so it was a go. The cost for the surgery was estimated at 650,000-700,000 Thai-Baht which included 4 nights in the hospital. The procedure itself took 2 hours. I was in the post op room for 2 more hours and then in my room. The doctors and nurses took great care of me in the room. The first night was very uncomfortable but not a great deal of pain. They did have me on pain killers. It was hard to sleep though although I felt I got more sleep in those 4 days than ever in my life. I had two doctors that checked in on me daily. The nurses were never more than one minute away if I pressed the button. They were professional and the room was great. I opted for a single room and it had a table and chairs and a sofa. It allowed me to move from my bed to different places in the room during the day to sit and read email, etc. The hospital Internet was great and never went down. The food was very bland as I was on an all liquid diet but that was expected. When the doctor released me, I felt fine and no pain. I had to go back to the doctor two times the first week to have the stitches removed and get checked. All was good and after those two visits, I was told to come back in one month. They put me on an all liquid diet and it has been fine. After 2 weeks of surgery I lost 25 pounds. Last week was the 4 month mark and I have lost 100 pounds since December. It has been an easy transition and much easier than I expected. I had little pain and little discomfort after a week or two. I have adjusted to real food but smaller portions. I am now swimming one hour per day and it has been healthy for me. I walk much better and am so much more active. My sex drive is up and I decided to start PrEP as there are just too many sexy Thai guys that need my assistance. My pants sizes are down and I feel better than I have in many years. It was a very good gamble for me to get the surgery. I am quite happy with the results. I can't express how much I recommend Bumrungrad. If others are interested in the doctor's name, PM me and I'll be happy to share. He not only did a great job but he made it easier than expected and I have had 3 friends use him and all had excellent experiences.

Thanks, I am not hosting. Do not worry, I would not have my laptop out if I were not sure it was safe. That is a picture from this morning. I do not have my laptop out now.

TRUMP AND SYRIA: ONE REASON I'M NOT A LIBERAL. The Vietnam War and 'counter-insurgency warfare' designed by Cold War liberals left a bitter legacy. I'm not into humanitarian interventions, especially in the Middle East. I prefer the 'non-interference in each other's internal affairs' of the Five Principle of Peaceful Coexistence. 'Morning Joe' has been wall-to-wall in favor of keeping our troops in Syria. Not me. I'm for bringing them all home now. Trump has his reasons and I have mine, and they are not the same. Trump has likely made a pressured deal with Turkey who wants US troops out of the way so they can go all out against the Kurds. I'm all for the Kurds, and have been for 50 years. They are constantly betrayed by superpower allies. They will find new ones, and fight on. My reasons are that there is no justice in continuing the war in Syria, the US should have never intervened in the first place. So I draw a line between the antiwar forces and Trump, but I also draw one against the liberal interventionists who would have us s continue the bloodshed by our hands.

I am sitting in my hotel restaurant right in the rambla at praia da barra, waiting for the famous boys that will try to hook up. So far, I only got a beautiful lady, Sarah, a street vendor who forced me to buy her peanuts and wanted me to take her to my hotel room. What a failure. I am trying to look gayer, crossing my legs and posing in a more faggy way, but so far I have not luck. This is LIFE report, happening right now. Wish me luck, the caipiroskas are about to knock me out.

As he should be. Who would want to share Christmas with him? He's plotting what else he can do for Putin and how else he can screw our allies. But at least he gave us that tax cut. I haven't seen any savings yet from it, and I don't expect to. Luckily I don't own stocks.

The street numbers are fucked for Clube P11 ... the address is 11 Jose Duarte but logically it should be about #91. In truth, there is no logic when you scan on Streetview. The evens and odds do not seem to remain on the same side. It is about 10 buildings south of Joana Angelica, on the west side of Jose Duarte. I also had difficulties the first time but had a picture in my head.

At the 12 month anniversary of my surgery, I have lost 175 pounds. I feel healthier than ever and now have more energy and power. I took a trip to the ancient city last week and felt it was the best I have made ever. Spending time with family at Xmas I have also found that I have more energy and can do more with them. The one-year milestone was a big one for me. I hope I can continue to sustain this for another few years.

Does the clap count as one of those seldom gotten urinary tract infections?

Spacey is wealthy and doesn't need to work another day. But, as an artist, this video reminds us that he has a talent. To cut off that talent so abruptly must hurt a lot. He talks about people rushing to judgment without any facts, without any evidence. He plays a character rather than himself. Why? The statements of his multiple accusers are evidence. Whether it's he said, she said doesn't matter. Statements are admissible in court, where they might be established as facts. That's the benefit of a public trial where a person who said something must now bring the facts that support it. They get cross-examined, and their statements are entered only in accordance with the rules of law. No hearsay, for example. So Spacey is right that no facts have been established. But we do have multiple statements. Most of those will never see a courtroom due to the statue of limitations. But people are entitled to their opinions, whether based on a statement or a fact. Too bad for him, because the statements alone, even outside a court of law, cumulatively make a case against Spacey that many, if not most, find credible. So there are courts of law and courts of public opinion. He's already lost in the latter. It will be interesting to see if he takes the latest case all the way to trial.

Should read "he shot back." Sorry dudes, I'm a few gin and tonics into the evening.

Lucky. I had something similar in Sept, Rio-SãoP-Canada, 50 minutes connection due to a delay, but minus bag retrieval and plus a seemingly endless sprint between terminals following Customs. I was stunned to make it as the gate was closing, and that my bag made the transfer. There were airline agents along the route encouraging us. And it would have been too late at night to visit Lagoa courtesy of the airline. Also recently a 30 minutes connection Panama City, but had to be bussed a few kms from tarmac to Tocumen terminal (construction/closures), and then mad dash to the Brazil departure gate. Again, shocked my bag made the transfer.

I've been meaning to watch this series on John Adams. Thanks for the clip to whet my appetite.

Lookin, historically folks have often confused aggressive bombast forcefully delivered with strength and decisiveness. The man on a white horse formula has played well from Greek populists to Huey Long. Clinton's failure to respond effectively in the debates when Trump took to roaming around the stage and looming over her was a disaster. I swear ever since I first saw Trump puffing himself up, pooching out his lips, shouting what ever slogan popped into his head, all I've been able to see was il Duce.

Are they really your friends? I ask, because in English you use that word with much more lightness than we do in Spanish. I hope you meant acquaintances. If someone watches that video and does not see how Pelosi was the only adult in the cage trying to make the two stupid orangutans stop punching each other, I would completely lose my intellectual respect for that person. That blindness can only be explained by hopeless stupidity.

Funny, the design looks like a step-sister to BoyToy. The color palette is god-awful pukey. The white background here is so much easier to read, easier on the eyes. Like I said, Daddy has no design skill. Too many limitations in pre-packaged software. I really love the bullshit "I-am-leader-hear-me-roar" bullet points. Her love of the "grinch" makes me think she doesn't enjoy Christmas much. Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love giving gifts.

Congrats for the weight loss, @TotallyOz!

Thanks. I feel much better but it is not my goal weight. I have about 60 - 70 more pounds to loose and it will go much slower now. But, truly there was no inconvenience after the surgery except for the liquid diet the first month which I had a Vitamix and blended my food.

Congratulations, Oz. You must look great after a 100 pound weight loss. Is that the desired weight, or do you expect to lose any more? I also appreciate the info about the procedure. I have been thinking of it myself, but am probably not eligible ...yet!