anddy

look at bright side, you survived to tell the tale

speaking of road safety in taxis, this would be a prime example: driver watching youtube while driving.
Happened just yesterday. 
 

speaking of road safety in taxis, this would be a prime example: driver watching youtube while driving.
Happened just yesterday. 
 

when I was at Moonlight a few weeks ago, and another few weeks prior to that, some models seemed to have lost their muscles and either became just slimmer, or the muscles turned into fat, or both. Not so attractive to the muscle-lovers here I presume. The super muscly "floor boy" A, on the other hand, is in outstanding shape. 

all Saunas of the R3 group (Sauna Mania, R3 Sauna, BKP, Baan JV) are open and do NOT have any age or nationality discrimination any more. Maybe Covid brought them to their senses. It's cheap too, Mania is 100 or 120 only
As for going naked in Bangkok, Onsens (Yunomori Sukhumvit/Rama 4 and Sathorn Soi 10, Let's Relax Thonglor, Panpuri) are obvious places as nudity is mandatory there. While not gay, there is always eye candy and some gays will often be there. Panpuri seems more gay than others. 

when I was at Moonlight a few weeks ago, and another few weeks prior to that, some models seemed to have lost their muscles and either became just slimmer, or the muscles turned into fat, or both. Not so attractive to the muscle-lovers here I presume. The super muscly "floor boy" A, on the other hand, is in outstanding shape. 

@PeterRS I really really recommend online over the somewhat convenient 90day service by Elite, because Elite require you to provide a truckload of paper documents, including a TM30 confirmation, which in reality nobody cares about AT ALL at immigration, especially not for 90day. In the (new) online system you need virtually nothing, not even the TM6 landing card number (as in the old online system). It really couldn't be any easier. 
One has to register for the system once, gets a non-changeable password to login and from there it's all smooth sailing.

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@PeterRS I really really recommend online over the somewhat convenient 90day service by Elite, because Elite require you to provide a truckload of paper documents, including a TM30 confirmation, which in reality nobody cares about AT ALL at immigration, especially not for 90day. In the (new) online system you need virtually nothing, not even the TM6 landing card number (as in the old online system). It really couldn't be any easier. 
One has to register for the system once, gets a non-changeable password to login and from there it's all smooth sailing.

@PeterRS I really really recommend online over the somewhat convenient 90day service by Elite, because Elite require you to provide a truckload of paper documents, including a TM30 confirmation, which in reality nobody cares about AT ALL at immigration, especially not for 90day. In the (new) online system you need virtually nothing, not even the TM6 landing card number (as in the old online system). It really couldn't be any easier. 
One has to register for the system once, gets a non-changeable password to login and from there it's all smooth sailing.

When entering Israel, all passengers get tested in TLV airport upon arrival and must quarantine until they get their results. That is perfect time for me to start writing.
Intro – 8th trip report (and 8th visit) to my favorite city in the world. 37yo Israeli. Last trip was for the White Party of New Year’s Eve 2020 with my husband. I remember that before we flew to BKK on the end of Dec 2019, reports were starting to come about some virus in China. I couldn’t imagine back then that this virus will make me separate from BKK for such a long time. More than 2 years and 4 Pfizer vaccines later I booked this solo long weekend, to see if even after Covid changed a lot in the world, the BKK magic is still there. And it is still there 😊
Bureaucracy – Once I booked my first night directly (Grand Hyatt Erawan) and got the authorization I submitted all documents online and Thai pass was approved in less than 24 hours. Since this trip was exactly 5 days, I did not need a second PCR. And also, they now dropped the second test anyways. I found the whole procedure friendly and fast.
Flight – One of the unfortunate results of Covid is of course the chaos of booking flights. We used to have 3(!) TLV-BKK direct flights a day. Now we have once a week, and 3 times a week TLV-HKT (Phuket) -BKK. None of the direct options suited my very specific flight schedule requirements so I booked Turkish Airlines with an Istanbul connection (650 USD). This is a 14 hour journey with the main leg being over night which is exactly one of my firmest requirements of a flight to BKK. A couple of days before the flight, when the probability of me actually taking that flight was high, I found that business class fare declined dramatically so I upgraded (Additional 1600 USD). The TLV-IST leg in both directions was a full flight and the IST-BKK flight was half full in both directions. Flights were great, slept great and woke up refreshed. Suvarnabhumi was kind of empty and I was out in no time.
Hotel – Grand Hyatt Erawan (9400 THB test & go package with fast PCR) – Not my preferred location. Hotel lacks character but they did supply the only thing that I really wanted them to – a really fast PCR result. On my way to the hotel, we stopped by Medpark Hospital for a drive thru test – 16:18 was the swab time. At 17:41 the phone rang with the negative results. They did what they promised they would and that was great. They were also very generous with a 4PM checkout time to match my next hotel check in. Breakfast was OK.
After that I went for a stroll in Silom. Soi 4 seemed pleasantly crowded. Some places closed; others opened instead. All and all, I was surprised to see a lively scene, not far from the way it used to be. I enjoyed my walking thru the different streets and venues and waited for 22:30 for the show at Tawan to start. Tawan was a sad place that Thursday night. As some photos here show, it is forth of its original size – and the stage has almost no accessories or decorations. Actually, that night there was not even a show, just 4 guys going up and down the stage for an audience of 3 people. Guys on stage are not my type, some are off season, some are in no season, but as Vinapu said – it only takes one guy. And that guy was there – I think his name was Nut but I’m not sure. A Lean bodybuilder classic type. I didn’t want to leave Silom as I wanted to party later that night so it was coinvent that they offered a room. 2800 THB later (500 off, 300 room, 2K for the guy) and we were at their room which was descent enough for the muscle worship session I wanted. He supplied it to the max and I left there very happy for myself but sad for that establishment. I do think/hope that they will improve as more and more tourists come. After that went to DJ station, which was not full as it used to be but also not empty. Music there is still shit 😊. GOD was closed that night which disappointed me but I knew it would open for the weekend so I called it a night.
Will continue soon.

I did the same a year ago. Convenience and peace of mind has a lot of value, so I don't regret the expense at all. 
However, it does not absolve us from the idiotic 90 day reporting. But that is WAY less of a nuisance than all the other stuff, as it can be done online in a matter of a couple of minutes. I've done it since it became relevant for me with covid and has worked like a charm (except one time when the system was down for some weeks or even month. The new system they introduced I think in December is even much much easier to use than the old one, so doing that is even more convenient than the other option to avoid an unnecessary trip to Chaengwattana, i.e. have the Elite people do it for you, That involves a trip too (to their office, twice). When the system was down last year I had them do it, but for me that trip is negligible as it is a 3 minute walk from me 😉
Anyway online is THE way to go with that. 2 minutes on the couch.

I did the same a year ago. Convenience and peace of mind has a lot of value, so I don't regret the expense at all. 
However, it does not absolve us from the idiotic 90 day reporting. But that is WAY less of a nuisance than all the other stuff, as it can be done online in a matter of a couple of minutes. I've done it since it became relevant for me with covid and has worked like a charm (except one time when the system was down for some weeks or even month. The new system they introduced I think in December is even much much easier to use than the old one, so doing that is even more convenient than the other option to avoid an unnecessary trip to Chaengwattana, i.e. have the Elite people do it for you, That involves a trip too (to their office, twice). When the system was down last year I had them do it, but for me that trip is negligible as it is a 3 minute walk from me 😉
Anyway online is THE way to go with that. 2 minutes on the couch.

not at all. Since we here in this forum all know all the bars, I suspect it was maybe shot in one of the girlie gogo bars. Same same but different...
testBKK has been around for many years. It's not a clinic per-se, but kind of an educational campaign for sexual health. They often had booths at big gay events such as the circuit parties as well as Songkran, handing out freebies with their logo on it (including tons of condoms, needless to say). 

Sauna Mania, R3, BKP, Bann JV are all open as usual (all part of the Mania/R3 group, that's why I mention those four)

not at all. Since we here in this forum all know all the bars, I suspect it was maybe shot in one of the girlie gogo bars. Same same but different...
testBKK has been around for many years. It's not a clinic per-se, but kind of an educational campaign for sexual health. They often had booths at big gay events such as the circuit parties as well as Songkran, handing out freebies with their logo on it (including tons of condoms, needless to say). 

not at all. Since we here in this forum all know all the bars, I suspect it was maybe shot in one of the girlie gogo bars. Same same but different...
testBKK has been around for many years. It's not a clinic per-se, but kind of an educational campaign for sexual health. They often had booths at big gay events such as the circuit parties as well as Songkran, handing out freebies with their logo on it (including tons of condoms, needless to say). 

Sauna Mania, R3, BKP, Bann JV are all open as usual (all part of the Mania/R3 group, that's why I mention those four)

Zee is cute indeed !

I've heard of Dragonfly, but not stayed there. There are a few other naturist resorts around the country and most (Dragonfly not anymore) are members of Naturist Association of Thailand, run by a nice Danish guy out of his own naturist resort in Bangkok called Barefeet Resort. They are all gay friendly. I have recently stayed at Peace Blue Resort in Phuket.
https://thailandnaturist.com/all-naturist-resorts/
Apart from that, there is the Gay Homestay in Phuket (https://phuketgayhomestay.com/ ) and the Club One Seven in Chiang Mai (https://cluboneseven.net), which are both clothing optional (I have recently stayed at the Phuket one) 

I've heard of Dragonfly, but not stayed there. There are a few other naturist resorts around the country and most (Dragonfly not anymore) are members of Naturist Association of Thailand, run by a nice Danish guy out of his own naturist resort in Bangkok called Barefeet Resort. They are all gay friendly. I have recently stayed at Peace Blue Resort in Phuket.
https://thailandnaturist.com/all-naturist-resorts/
Apart from that, there is the Gay Homestay in Phuket (https://phuketgayhomestay.com/ ) and the Club One Seven in Chiang Mai (https://cluboneseven.net), which are both clothing optional (I have recently stayed at the Phuket one) 

just came back to the forum after a hiatus of a few months (for no particular reason) and found your post here @tallamerica. When are you due to arrive?
I have lived here in Bangkok for 8 years now and instead of written advice here I could offer you to meet up with me for coffee or a drink or dinner or something to talk about things. Since you said you're very new too gay settings I might be your guide, so to speak, to make you more comfortable than going alone. The same goes for a sauna visit. I have occasionally done such things with visitors from various countries before.
Feel free to PM me if you're interested. 

just came back to the forum after a hiatus of a few months (for no particular reason) and found your post here @tallamerica. When are you due to arrive?
I have lived here in Bangkok for 8 years now and instead of written advice here I could offer you to meet up with me for coffee or a drink or dinner or something to talk about things. Since you said you're very new too gay settings I might be your guide, so to speak, to make you more comfortable than going alone. The same goes for a sauna visit. I have occasionally done such things with visitors from various countries before.
Feel free to PM me if you're interested. 

just came back to the forum after a hiatus of a few months (for no particular reason) and found your post here @tallamerica. When are you due to arrive?
I have lived here in Bangkok for 8 years now and instead of written advice here I could offer you to meet up with me for coffee or a drink or dinner or something to talk about things. Since you said you're very new too gay settings I might be your guide, so to speak, to make you more comfortable than going alone. The same goes for a sauna visit. I have occasionally done such things with visitors from various countries before.
Feel free to PM me if you're interested. 

Yes, in principle such tourist tax is no big deal. Even German seaside resorts towns have (or sued to have) local tourism taxes collected through hotels. 
It might even be a good thing **IF** the money is being put to good use such as maintenance of national parks, keeping islands and beaches clean, improving tourist infrastructure, include a tourist health insurance etc etc. That's a HUGE "if" obviously, especially in Thailand. I think everyone ahs a good idea where large chunks of such money would end up.... Especially now that in the latest proposal such uses have been omitted as this damning editorial in teh Bangkok Post points out:
https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/2195359/tourist-fee-could-be-nail-in-coffin
However, this being Thailand, the last word is far from having been spoken and the whole thing will go through countless more iterations and might eventually be scrapped entirely for the time being, considering the timing is incredibly poor. In booming times, go for it, but when the revival of tourism is the highest priority for the sector then WTF.