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vinapu

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Posts posted by vinapu

  1. Was that the Akbil that attaches to a keyring?  Worked well for me a few years back. Or have they moved on?

     

    The Japanese PASMO or SUICA cards seem to be the best I have seen so far.  

    The same cards work on buses, many different train companies (every one I tried), the Tokyo Underground and for purchases in shops. That's how it should be.

    Charge your card, then swipe it over every single ticket barrier you come to and go straight through. 

     

    Ideally, one should be able to use the Thai equivalent for the airport rail link, the BTS, the metro & the local buses.

    Akbil is gone, now it's called Istanbulcard and looks like credit card but places you can reload it are still called Akbil Dolum.

     

    We can only hope one day we will be able to use the same card for all BKK modes of public transport.

  2. I got a Rabbit card last year. I prefer a stored value card so that I don't have to fool around with getting change or standing in line at the ticket machine. You don't need to attach it to a day pass type of thing. It just deducts each trip's cost as you go. Topping up is easy but I think the minimum amount to add is 100 baht. I'm just used to using that sort of thing here at home. I also have one from Taipei. Picked one up in HK last year for their system too even though I don't really intend to return. They don't cost much money. I suppose if you are pinching every penny you might not want to get one. But I like them.

    stored value cards are really good idea for reasons you described but in BKK  of limited use since  all modes of transport have own fare structure and Rabbit Card is good for BTS but useless for MRT , BRT busses etc. It's why I did not bother in last few years.

     

    I have one from Istanbul where you can use her for everything including intercontinental ferries from Europe to Asia and back.

  3. thank you for update, I did not use regular City link to/from airport this time so was quoting from memory.

     

    Rabbitcard is more of value for commuters than tourists but it depends where is  one's hotel, even daily card at 130 I found not that great value for touristy needs,  for example Sala Daeng to Asoke is 31 baht one way so one needs to travel extensively throughout the day to squeeze value out of daily card.

     

    But is handy to beat rush time crowds if front of ticket vending machines   , slide card od off you go.

     

    BTS is victim it's own success and at evening rush extremely crowded at times -  was left at platform to wait for next train on quite of few occasions. To get at rush time from Silom to Sukhumvit or other way nothing beats motorsai as long as one has will in order and funeral expenses / body transportation covered by the insurance. But thrill is better than Las Vegas rollercoasters  

    1. avoid  connecting through Shanghai, in May I was supposed to pick up my language like at final destination and go thorough  boarding process  again including immigration. Granted it was well organized and I was escorted through process as I did not have a visa but still nerve wracking experience for 1 hr 40 minutes connection.
    2.  
    3. Only good thing was that I was warned about procedure  when boarding originally and even agent asked me question ' where you will be picking up your language" to make sure I understand process. This was Air Canada / Thai connection , both Star alliance so supposed to ne seamless but not at that airport, be warned.

    Never had issues at Narita / Tokyo but always surprised how crappy duty free shops  there are, poor relative to Swampy or Incheon / Seoul/ . 

  4. Thanks Vinapu for that great article.

     

    I agree completely with you about Banana, in the past few years it's the only place I visit when in Bangkok. Mr Kevin is a great wealth of information and I have the same guy every time I visit.

     

    Looking forward to my week there over Christmas and then a fortnight in Pattaya when your article will be of much value.

    I did not spent much time in Pattaya regretfully but definitely recommend massages at Magnolia and with Wat at Derby Massage , Jomtien complex. Liked show at BBB and line-up of boys at ABomb too   

  5. Great great great report! I hope you will try Albury and V Club 7 in your next adventure in Bangkok. PS: i am a Senso fan, but lately the number of boys has dwindled down, some have ran off working in other massage places. Bummer!

    I will. You may be right about boys at Senso, with their prices it may be not enough traffic, I met on eat FanCLUB -former A from Senso  now Man / that's his nick /  there.  

    I was disappointed as none of three boys I was salivating over their website was available when there but still they had impressive line up - 6 boys only at 4 p.m. all 1 st class look wise.

    I see some justification for their prices , the same goes with Dreamboys.

  6. Thank you very much, comprehensive by my standards. Can't ask for more detail.

     

     

    Trying to pay back for all info I got from this board over the years when I was reader only. I hope old hands like it but really write with newbies in mind.  

     

    Traveler by heart I'm always thrilled to compare place I read about with real when finally there. 

    Your standards are very high so thank you for a compliment.

     

    I have different method of accounting and spending control though. I count money in the morning when boy left, compare to previous day count - this way I know what I spent, doesn't matter it was beer , pear or condom.   

     

    When leaving room I have always fixed amount of cash on me- to avoid overspending when excited or losing everything to theft or neglect.    In LOS it's 4200 during day, 400 more when hitting bars at night.

  7. Good extensive report, indeed approaching shamefullMack. How dit you find these places?

    That personal experience can differ I can confirm. I was not so happy with Hero, nor with dirty unkempt Arena.

    In the more Thai style places you do not discuss tips, for Thai the stated min. is simply the tip expected.

    If you come back, my rec. would be a little further along Sukhumvit; Albury, Jey. Banana is just 1 of many in the tourist zone Sukhumvit, but has indeed a very informative owner, a Singy guy named Calvin.

    Cleanliness was generally very good, in few  places  / Sun, X-size Massage / showers could be cleaner  , I guess I have higher tolerance for dirt backpacking thorough Thirld World countries for most of my vacations during quite a long  life. Sheets and towels always clean everywhere - this I'd notice. 

     

    Arena saw better days but since I like the place I may overlook peeling paint in the lobby.

     

    General impression I have is that lower the price , less kempt place is, there's logic in it, right. Notable exception - Bangkok Massage and Magnolia which may be pricey for PTY but not compared to BKK.

     

    If tips were discussed it was  when boy offered extra and stated price, few times I asked boys how much they want but answer was always expected  ''up to you".

    One of Pattaya  massage boys quoted 5000 for long time out of blue, settled fast for half which was too much for PTY but I was kind of salivating over prospective night together and felt generous. Turned out dud with nice body though.

     

    Only disagreement over tip was my last night off where boy clearly was expecting more than 3000 offered but I stand my ground. This is my personal max for long time never crossed so far.

        

    You are right -stated minimum it's what they universally expect , tested this few times and watched face expression. But if I'm happy I pay more and others should too IMHO specially if full monty is included in the package. Short time with massage boy should be about the same like with go-go. He is not parading in his speedos but works hard for  his tip- as noted , not even one massage was 'pat of the cat ' quality. And need to put up with farangs wandering hands too

     

    Generally I feel blessed as rarely I have price arguments and only once in 9 trips it turned heated / this trip with one of Dreamboys, details in Off to Thailand thread /.

     

    I'm not one of those tourists who are  infesting markets all over the world squeezing last halfpenny out of locals for sake of getting best available deal  for cola or mango trying to get lowest local price, neither I'm stupid first timer willing to pay $ 4 for banana just because I'm asked.  

     

    I will follow your Sukhumvit recommendation in future, was in Albury at old soi 11 location few years back and on this trip all 4 places I visited in the area I left smiling and happy.

    Calvin at Banana is really classy owner - I think he takes good care of his boys. I liked his comment that tip for longer time should be higher to be fair to everybody and when I told him I'm happy with repeat  with one of his boys he mused that I should try others too. 

  8. Great report Vinapu, Iiteraly hooked on reading your posts and I'm quite sad to reach the end of your final report :(

    Do massage places allow couples to book a VIP room with 3 masseurs I.e. if I walk in with a buddy of mine can we ask go be in the same room?

    Also, when you say showers are outside of the room does that mean other clients will be walking by?

    I also wanted you to ask a silly question since I have a strong undies fetish, would the boys accept it if I offer to buy their undies? I know it might sound stupid but it's just a question I always had in mind.

    I have been to Senso before and enjoyed the massage and happy ending, I visited urban male though and my experience was somewhat ordinary.

    Thanks again for the great reporting!

    If you are sad just imagine how sad was I when boarding plane to return exactly 1 week ago ! But hope of return some day keeps me breathing.

    As for your question I don 't see any problem as long as they will have boys willing to work together. Some VIP or even ordinary rooms are quite spacious. From what I saw  certainly Hero, Magnolia and Magic Hands  had rooms spacious enough.

     

    But this is question you need to ask directly when there as some boys are not as adventurous. One of my regular boys rejected flat out idea of 4 hands massage even with boy from another place and you don't want to force boys to do things they don't like even if they agree out of need for money as this is not a receipt for good encounter.

     

    Showers outside of room exactly mean they possibly you may cross your path with another clients but where's problem? You will be draped in towel anyway and so will them. Likely they saw you in the lobby minutes ago anyways. You will not be showering with them,. Usually if there's congestion boys are keeping their clients in room /cubicle until shower will become available so discretion is maintained somehow.

     

    As for your fetish question there's  nothing stupid , likely boys saw and heard it all and much more, just ask the boy. I can see they will be happy to trade undies for cash. I'd have pair of new ones just in case they agree right away so you can give them something to were till end of working day.  Word of warning-Thai boys are extremely clean so if you are looking for "man scent " on their undies you may arrange for this beforehand so they will wear it for a while.

     

    On occasion when I'm getting close to their undies they always and I do it often as I consider boy in undies more sexy than plain naked , their garments smell fresh and clean even at end of day.

     

     

    Your comment  just placed UrbanMale on my list of places to visit on my next trip.

  9.  

    I kind of love the idea of staying at the BBB guesthouse and being immersed in that entire world.  I think the opportunity to see the people in the halls who are actively engaged in the sex side of thailand would be awesome.

     

    You will find BBB quite a normal hotel, just staffed entirely by the men. It's  not that sleaze is poking out of every corner there. You will see massage boys in the lobby but for days on you may not to see this farang  / Thai boy pair on the corridors or lobby.

    I found it quite discrete, it's why I love the place. But is good for immersion as Soi Twilight, center of gay Bangkok is just behind the hotel , no need to cross the street even,

  10. I guess I forgot to mention it, but already visited Magnolia for another session with Wow. Great massage. Nothing special in terms of extra services (not really his thing) which I don't mind in the least. I go to Magnolia for a great, professional massage by a very sexy naked man. He doesn't mind me getting touchy, but full sex is not on the agenda.

     

    Didn't see the owner this time, but still very nice service.

    I'm sorry again I missed Wow when there, not that my boy Nam lacked any attributes. Again Magnolia is an excellent place and a must to any Pattaya visitor 

  11. Thanks for the excellent report.

     

    I have sometimes found that problem too & would like to find some way to avoid it.

    Am tempted to bring something with antiseptic properties, like tea tree oil.

    They wouldn't mind if you bring your own oil or cream, my favourite is peppermint for it's cooling feeling and a nice tingle in more sensitive areas. Some places had no-fragrance  cream or baby oil / Magnolia /  when asked .

  12. Keep it going, you will have breather when you return home, it's just to far to waste vacations there for a breathers IMHO. And don't forget about us when you have a time. If you visit Magnolia Spa tell then one guy from this forum enjoyed it immensely, true bright and classy spot on Pattaya gay map.

  13. Likely they were out of place, boy's club in middle of girlie bars, confusing to prospective patrons as to what segment of market they were catering for - straight ladies of gay men.

     

    Sad news for me as wanted but did not manage to visit them during my brief stay in PTY last month, saw their location in the morning and found it  kind of exotic at that location..

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