ggobkk

Speaking of Soda Massage, last Saturday afternoon, i counted 34 boys waiting for customers. With three other shops/maybe four, with their own contingents only steps away. Best addition to the complex is the self serve laundromat.

Couldn’t agree more. My main goal was to get to China where my economy fare was $2K+. It was cheaper to go to Beijing via Bangkok and return home via Bangkok (home is San Francisco area). Just checked and saw that fall and winter fares are declining slightly. Even more than slightly forBeijing but that has no value for this forum

I spent the past weekend in Jomtien. I arrived round midnight Thursday after a long travel day from China. Not having been in Pattaya since November 2019 I was pleasantly surprised by the number of bars are the number of people. I offed a boy, had a pleasant time, went to sleep. Thinking about it the next day, I didn’t recall a noticeable number of customers as opposed to the number of boys - but thought it was almost 2pm closing time when I was out and about. I was staying at the Poseidon where there were very few guests (early morning there were few empty key slots in the key rack. Went to the beach stand #28 where there were four occupied chairs. Friday evening I had dinner with a long time friend at Poseidon’s Wine Cellar which has been remodeled during Covid. Restaurant full both indoor space and the patio. Upscale money boys with many of the guests (unprovable observation but based on haircuts and watches/clothes worn). So when I ventured out after dinner where it was bustlingly crowded it was a jolt to see lots of boys on phones and only clusters of customers. Saturday was a repeat of Friday. At dinner my friend reported that Songkran had been very very busy. He’s one of the organizers for Jomtien Pride and would agree that much is hoped for that weekend. He noted that it was exceptionally hot this year and international tourists were down as well as Thai weekenders. For years he was in the travel business and still keeps up. He said the lack of Chinese tourists was significant. I can attest having come via China that direct flights from Beijing are at most two a day. I didn’t go into Boys Town so can’t comment of that part of town.

The Prince…many happy memories

I made a choice in writing the post not to name/number him. He is not the only boy over the last decade who didn’t have a clock and whose watch was from the night market and doesn’t work once it leaves the vendor. Since no upfront cash was involved added to a store of experience. However, I am able to post that #95 waiter (Taron Edgerton) was a more than satisfactory substitution.

Tomorrow (Thursday) at dawn I fly to Beijing for a week of catching up with special friends. I wont know if the Forum is accessible from within the Great Wall of internet curbs. So, I will post a run down of Tuesday and as much as possible about today, Wednesday, that I can write before going off to meet esteemed forum guru reader who has only this afternoon arrived from his secret location in the US. Backing up to Tuesday. This to my mind was a day of being disappointed by others. Originally, I had rescheduled my guided tour of some sites that had been morphing over the past 4 years. Guide due at 9am. 9:30 no show, no message, no call. Grrrrrrr. So I went to my hangout, Coffee Grinder Silom and was cheered up by the infectious camaraderie. I did some walking around this time looking up to observe how Bangkok was expanding upwards. Then knowing I had a 3pm appointment to meet one of the waiters from Freshboys, I did some preliminary packing, adding a Patpong knockoff backpack duffle bag to store things I wont need in China that would add weight needlessly to travels. I’d already decided to return to Quarter Silom when I come back from Beijing via a stop in Pattaya and the hotel tells me with a smile that they will store my knockoff luggage. 3pm arrives and….grrrrr. What is it with me today, did I turn into a toad? No show again, I text and retext. Repeat the morning remedy with a smoothy at Coffee Grinder and a massage at Prime. Around 6pm, 3pm-er is texting that he overslept and could I come tonight and take him from the club. I say no, gently remind him that the idea was me to avoid the 800 THB off fee. I go Silom Center for some exercise and to extract some baht from an ATM. The One currency exchange at Siam Heritage wouldn’t change my $100 US bills as they had the blue laser tag line down the center. Confused as newer Thai currency also has a similar laser line. Cash is one thing, ATMs are another. I like the one at the bank in Silom Center as a human banker will break the larger notes into smaller. I am now getting texts from another Freshboys waiter I know. This one looks like a Vietnamese version of Taron Edgerton (mea culpa, looking for looks). We arrange to end the evening together. As I’m on Silom, I drop by Circus and have a drink with Pao as he works a sparsely populated section. Customers come in, I say good bye and walk over to Hot Male Bar where the Laotian will lavish much needed attention on me. Which they do. The no-show waiter comes over as does the soon to be my evening guest. No-show suggests he get it right on Wednesday. Suspecting that saying yes is easier than arguing as he doesn’t seem to be able to function in the afternoon. Freshboys Mamasan sees her staff in the Hot Male Bar tells them to leave me alone and has a drink, downing a Leo in one swig! Impressed the Laos (and me). I tell tonight’s entertainment that I am going to checkout the show at Moonlight and will come back and off him. He offers to join me, I decline as I want to get there early to check out the rotation as many Forum reports mention that its not what it used to be. Forum is correct. 18 - 20 boys in the rotation, three at a time. A mamasan who once worked with Lucy at the bar across from Maxi’s on Twilight becomes my guide telling me who speaks English, who will do this or that or both. Guys are in long pants and wearing. black Moonlight T shirts. Three of the guys wear glasses. Three cheers for the myopic (I one of them). One guy, from the far south of Thailand, appeals to me. Mamasan has him come over and Huc (#38) reeks of charm,smiles broadly, and is well constructed on the tall side. After some conversation, I tell him, I’m already committed for tonight. I give him some red notes and receive a hug and a kiss. He is off, Iask Mamasan where the crowd is as it is almost 10 and it’s more than sparse. Guess I should have checked with Google and not the Hot Male Laotians as Moonlioght has a 10:30 show time…Mamasan says it really starts at 10:45. I decide to leave and pick up my waiter. At Freshboys, I decide to watch the end of the rotation and with my waiter now seated next to me, and my no-show hovering, I see #7 (see Sunday’s report). Smile and he joins our grouping which includes visits from Mamasan. #7 still is as striking as before and still as young looking. Decide I will survive without some diva acts and pole ringing cocks, I say good bye to #7 and as I go to give him some red notes, he nudges my hand away and says “no, you have good heart, thanks” and returns to the rotation. Waiter Taron Edgerton and I depart. He also knows the hotel. We have a moderately active time together and I receive a massage post release. In normal Viet style there are something’s he wouldn’t do, I knew that would be the case, so a good time was had by all. As he was leaving, in trueVIet style, he asked if I could give him some extra baht so he might attend a basketball tournament in Cambodia. In my style, I said, sorry but no. And I went to bed.

In my return to Bangkok report on the main Thailand forum, I praised the gay friendly Coffee Grinder Silom. I repeat my comments here. The shop is located immediately to the left of Tawan, I found it to be friendly,welcoming, incredibly clean, and managed with an ebullient charm by Paco and Phillipe. Pastries are made in house and change daily. The cafe also features made to order churros. I can’t say enough good things about the artistry of the barista - who has won me over to his iced green tea with honey and in heat of the afternoon a fruit smoothy. Coffeegrindersilom@gmail.com.

The Coffee Grinder is next to the relocated Tawan. The Tawan men and boys are friendly to Phillipe and Paco. They keep the coffee shop open until 9 just prior to bewitching hour. They told me this morning that they have four rooms in their building that can be rented. One can wonder and speculate (and probably be correct) on what the rooms were used for in the past.

My body decided I need to sleep in after I’d said good bye to #10 Sam. When I did wake up - thanks to the miracle of jet lag it was still only mid morning. I had breakfast in the hotel - fairly standard but I noticed that there is some experimenting such as cheesy potatoes, Italian chicken, etc. The western basics are never warm enough scrambled eggs and Thai versions of corn flakes and puffed rice. The main thing on my schedule today was originally a tour but since my four hand massage had been confirmed, I put off the tour until tomorrow (Tuesday). Guide was happy as he had another client who wanted his services. WIn/Win. My toes and feet were showing some wear and tear and when I was at MBK I wandered about looking for the shop that was my Bangko base for pedicures. Gone, gone due to covid. So I did what any responsible pedicure-ist would do, I asked Google. He/She/It/They made suggestions and one, Nailosophy, was nearby on a Sala Daeng side alley. I walked into a small crowded shop. The manageress, a bubbly young woman, welcomed me and plunked my now shoeless and sockless feet into some bubbly hot water. I, the only male in the vicinity, was then ignored for 20 minutes while the staff worked with four other clients who were in various stages of selecting polish for their nails (hand and toes) and the designs and colors of said extremities. In addition all had their attention drawn to televised election results. I mention this as whenever the video showed Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the party that used orange as its color, was shown, an almost sexual sign went up from the the depths. I suspect the fact that Pita is handsome and sexy might have had something to do with the reaction as a “desire” for change. Eventually, my feet were tended to and my nails were added to the options for improvement and the cost was 700 THB about a third of such service at home. Recommended. On much improved feet I wandered around checking out the marijuana shops - the number of them and the size and location. Coming from Berkeley, a California city that 20 years ago instructed its police not to enforce marijuana prohibitions and was one of the first to approve sales and shops, I was still surprised by how the shops here seemed to be everywhere. It might be the “hood” but it’s there. Wondering what passengers on flights from Thailand were now screened for. Must drive the drug sniffing dogs to madness. The rest of the day was another nap, some swimming, and a return to Coffee Grinder - which was closed but the owners were doing some clean up so there was a chance to learn some more. The owner/managers are a couple Phillipe and Paco from France. Phillipe is the baker who creates various fresh pasties and cakes and encourages his customers to try some on the spot fried bread options (tastes way better than I can describe it). Note this shop became my morning staple for a beverage and pastry and an afternoon stop for a smoothy. As the sun went down, I headed to K-Man Spa via BTS for my meet up with Sun. There had been some back and forth as to confirming that the third would be Fin. Neither Sun nor I were confused but the Spa texted to make sure what I was looking for could be arranged. Finally, Sun explained to the manager that the shop would get the business but the arrangements had been made without their active involvement I arrived, Sun was waiting, the manager on duty explained the charges (1000 THB for a couples room for 2 hours, tips up to me). Once in the room, I had a shower (down hall), passing one other client and therapist on their way to their space. Fin arrived. Massage begins….and, like a bad dramatist, I will draw the curtain on our activities. I have a limited imagination but will note nothing was left to the imagination and I also had a good massage. One of the only times I’ve been exhausted by a massage. For the accountants - I tipped each what I paid #10 Sam for short time. THB well spent. Back to Silom with the intention of catching either Moonlight or Jupiter’s show. It started to rain as I exited the BTS. Reaching soi 4, I decided to get out of the rain and get some food. Three steps into the soi and the champion grabber grabbed me and took me to Circus telling me that Pao was back. Long timers on this forum, will recall an earlier time when there was a place called Twilight and at the fulcrum point was a drinks and food spot called Maxi’s. Positioned so that both public and employees of the many clubs and venues would pass by, smile to regulars at Maxi’s, chat, have dinks bought for them and by them. Delightfully presiding over Maxi’s was the owner assisted by his waiters led by Pao. Not only was Pao a source of information, a postal box to pass messages to regulars, but he was so incredibly handsome and sexy in the most down to earth manner. He was, damn it, straight. I know I lusted after him more than any off. Then Twilight began to evaporate, Maxi’s announced its closing and Pao told the customers that he had invested in a farm back at home where his parents and son lived and would return there. We lost touch, Covid came, word drifted that Pao was back in Bangkok as his farm had failed because of covid preventing him from transporting his fruit and produce. I’d mentioned this on Sunday to the grabber, who told me that Pao was working on soi 4 but was back at home as his father was sick with cancer. (Amazing what one can learn from folks!!). That lengthy preamble out of the way, the grabber propelled me to Circus and a reunion (joyful) with Pao. I realize such stream of consciousness babbling on my part isn’t what readers necessarily want to know. BUT for many years, this man was the center point information, hospitality, charm, and steady handsome integrity. (And lust object). We had a great time catching up while he was tending to his job. Thank the rain gods for having me turn on soi 4. Leaving I thanked the grabber who propelled me into Banana, business is business. Same positive welcome, reinforced by the tips I’d left the night before. Better seating, completely different show than the one I’d seen the night before. Lots more male to male lip syncing, plots,etc. As two staff placed my hands on their private places, I could see the room was again full, significant number of women. One table ofAsian high rollers (bottle service) was occupying Madam Lucy’s time and attention but not completely as she spotted me and was over for a kiss. Knowing the drill, but not resisting,I knew a tip would be expected. It was given once I freed my hands. This had been an extraordinary several hours. Exceptionally exceptional massage service. Reuniting with Pao, then some enjoyable time at Banana. On my way back to the hotel, I thought I should get the number of my Sunday night off from Freshboys, I did, it is #7. Quan one of the waiters at Freshboys offered to go to my hotel. We go back with some history and arranged an afternoon meet - which avoids the higher off fee for waiters (800 THB). Immediately went to sleep once I was in my room. So exhausted physically buy buoyed by finding Pao, I fell asleep/passed out.

Thanks for the comment. I tend to write my stream of words in one go and hit send. The James Beard Reference continues a tradition of honoring Foodland for its 24 service and great pricing. When after almost two decades of being away, I was pulled into the life of Bangkok by a blog post called “Dancing with the Devil in the City of Angels”. It can still be found on the blog Sawatdee Gay Thailand and still has relevant information. Also know that certain forum members have met up when travel coincides with life and certain references are like inside baseball. I plead guilty. If you have time, it can be enlightening to look up trip reports from Vinapu and Numazu (who frustratingly stops reports in mid dramatic moment) If there is confusion where clarity would help, DM me

The rate I mentioned was for a much in demand diamond among gems. Other short time pricing in Bangkok seems to hover around 2000 THB. I’m told that Tawan is asking 4000. I will do my best to check that out. A decade ago I recall that 1200 was common.

Sorry, an internet interruption stopped my progress…so I went out to lunch back where I left off Rafael (#10) told me his name is Sam. He is from Cambodia (what other ASEAN natives do I need for a conference?). He is ruggedly gorgeous with a generous smile. I never connected with #15 but tipped him and thanked him for sitting with me. Sam agreed quickly to my offer to check out my hotel. We stopped at the new 7-11 and he picked up some food and water. Nice time getting to know one another in the room while he was eating. He laughs and smiles a lot. He, as with my first off of the evening, knew the hotel and how everything worked. He asked what I wanted to do, and I told him my evening so far and said I’d like him to take care of me. Which he did very well - after we were both exhausted there was no rush to leave. So ends Sunday.

It is Monday morning and my scheduled activity has been postponed. Which gives me some time to describe Sunday. I woke early after an almost normal night’s sleep. Must have been the one hour massage with Sun and two more at Prime. I opened the Forum and responded to comments and questions and also to the private messages. It appears that Sun has provided favorable moments for a number of us! I also read TotallyOz’s summary of the clubs and decided he was setting a trail that I might follow. Awake, I had the breakfast at the hotel buffet. Many nice touches but the scrambled eggs are cold. This morning I dined it ting buy the windows that look out on the pool. Some very nice eye candy. But reality intervenes and I headed to the BTS and went to Mo Chit for the weekend market. It’’s only 9:30am and it is very HOT (in the heat sense). Picked up a few scarves and trinkets for folks back home. When the BTS stopped at Siam, I decided rather than an immediate transfer I’d walk around Siam Paragon. A few empty spaces, amazing display of automotive extravagance. Back on the way to the hotel, I stopped off at Coffee Grinder (see above) and had another smoothie. Several tables of folks, very gay. One gentleman and his extremely handsome and fit young companion, a table of friends of the managers and the usual cute staff. Some gay cutting up and cheerful banter. I was there for more than an hour and suspect I’ll be back. Rain started around 4 or 5 and I went out to change some $$. The hotel staff insisted I take an umbrella as it might rain again…it did. Since I was out and about without having had lunch I went to the James Beard Award winner restaurant known to many of us, and dined for a pittance. They have lowered the breakfast cost to 84 THB for early risers. After returning to the hotel and returning the umbrella, I set out to check out some clubs projecting to visit all the major ones by Wednesday (reminder this is Sunday May14th). But before I went out I was caught up with watching the election results come in and how they are reported. Not understanding the politics, let alone the language, I guessed at who might be from what party. Around 8pm, I decided it was time to get going. On my way to the Street of Boys, I passed a voting station where the ballots were being counted in the open for all to witness. Participatory democracy in action. On entering the street I was spotted by the Lao who has long been associated with Hot Male and known by sight to many of us. He introduced me to his co workers and I bought some drinks. One of the grabbers/hosts from Freshboys remembered me and joined us. The uniforms have been up scaled from black shirt and pants to colorful vests and ties. He told me that the show would start around 10 but that the boys were on stage. Since I really don’t care about the show, unless it is happening, I went up. The Mamasan called me by my name and ushered me to a center seat. House was about two thirds full. Large contingent of boys in white shorts and shirtless. Mamasan chatted about the changes covid made and that it was nice to see the old timers return (my term as I am old with a repeat history of visits). If you read above about my terminated negotiation with”Bird” you might remember that I am a sucker for the handsome. Well, or maybe WELL, one boy in the rotation met my visual high standard criteria. Mamasan always alert to a sale/pleasing a customer answered pertinent questions. Gay - yes. Does A & B - yes. I invited him to join me and he confirmed all the Mamasan told me. I asked his age as he looked VERY young. He said 23 and ID confirmed this. HIs name was head as Wile. Struck by his handsomeness I forgot even think about remembering his number. I asked for certain services, he smiled, and agreement reached. His short time was 2500 THB. A bit more than I am used to but I was momentarily in passionate love, We escaped to Quarter Silom, where he knew the layout of the hotel, how the various bits and pieces of the room worked. I played voyeur as he hadn’t lowered the shade covering the glass wall between the bathroom and the rest of the room. He is from Myanmar - and is incredibly well endowed. I mention this most of the Myanmar spa photos on the forum from Myanmar show the well endowed. Maybe they aren’t phot shopped. He certainly wasn’t. He proved that he did A+B+etc. It was a very good time that I’d be happy to repeat. In a moment of post activity bliss we were discussing stamps and he asked where I was from. I told him, he then said he has customers from the US, China, Japan, Singapore, Germany, Turkey, India, Cambodia, Vietnam, Dubai, and some others he couldn’t remember their countries. Yes, clearly he has reason to know my hotel and probably manny others. Class act. He departed (probably for another immediate off) and I opened my IPad to find a message from a distinguished Forum member who also was an admirer of Sun going back to when he was at Bangkok Massage. We chatted and I mentioned that I was hoping to hear from Sun about a 4 hand massage. Distinguished Forum Member (DFM) said he would Line Sun and vouch for me. Ten minutes later we were all tasking and options for a third party were narrowed and one selected, he confirmed and DFM detailed his experiences and approved the choice. All arranged. Thank you Forum for helping. It is barely 10pm so I head out to check out Jupiter. Never got that far, when I reached Banana the grabber grabbed me and gave me. Hug and kiss. We go way back from when he has the same same task for Hot Male on Twilight. Given the reception at Freshboys and here, I was pleased but realized I wan;t anonymous and the word (whatever that is) would be out among the boys. So I was ushered into the remodeled (from my last trip) Banana and turned over to a Papasan who remembered me from Hot Male on Twilight. Two of the boy from the rotation came over remembering me and I remembered them. Both Viets. I bought them drinks and chatted as much as possible (my Apple Watch was warning me that the decibel level is so high that I could go damage my hearing if exposed for too long. Banana did. Really nice rethink of its space. What was the upper level with its own show is now the prep area for the performers, The outdoor area was enclosed creating a large indoor space with room for stage with a staircase for the performers to enter from. Shower was in progress, handsome Canadian gymnast (who I would have offed but he was already claimed), lots of lip synching, some diva singing. House was packed with maybe 30 percent female audience. Sitting with my Viet friends there was lots of room for hand action. The Papasan in regular attendance recalling earlier visits he remembered me from. Lucy did not even acknowledge me but then she was busy as more women were arriving around the time the rotation started up again and dealing with a very intoxicated woman who passed out for all to see and the wait staff to move to the bar area. Boys in white shorts and shirtless for the rotation, several appealed to me. Banana has really upped its game. When I left the house was packed, boys were being offed, and more folks coming in. While enjoying the handsy hands on experience, decided to head out to Screwboys. I tipped the Viets, thanked the Papasan, and tipped the greeter/grabber promising to return. On to Screwboys. Once in it was funereal. Only two tables of customers and 8 boys many looking the worse for wear. If the devoted reader scrolls back to my mention of a couple at the coffee shop earlier in the day, it was touch on the fact that they were one of the other tables. The young companion recognized me, smiled, and offered a vodka shot. I declined and he wrapped a banknote around the shot glass and invited the performers to drink. This was more interesting than anything on stage. Another place where the Mamasan reminded me of former visits and promised to let Yoyo know I had stopped by. He isn’t working there, not sure if he is working anywhere. I bolted without finishing my drink. Went up stairs to Hot Male. No one here recognized me. NIce change. Given a center seawhile the rotation was. In progress prior to the start of mid-night show. The guys were in jeans and some were shirtless. Very masculine appearing group. One of the guys on my entering struck me as looking like Rafael Nadal. Tall and well formed. Another also appealed to me. I asked the waiter to give each a red note. He confused who was to get what to the amusement of the boys and the other waiters. When the rotation ended both came over and sat with me. Rafael (#1

And we all are grateful you are still here…except you’re not here in Bangkok which would make many things better.

Soi 4…I stand corrected as my hotel is part of soi 6.

Now, where did I leave off? Oh, right, I was in recovery from Sun’s ministrations. Today was still Saturday which was part of the election eve shut down of bars - the bars were ok to open but couldn’t sell alcohol. Anticipating this I had been in Romeo dialogue with a money boy about sharing the bar shutdown - thinking we could learn about stamp collecting. This conversation was going well until I enquirer as to his desired level of recompense. I decided to go solo. Yes, I have a weakness for the well formed who are handsome, Unlike, Vinapu who tells us he likes axe-murder types, I have a weakness for other types. “Bird” posted a series of photos to me that showed he was capable of being photographed. Our video call confirmed it. But his idea of recompense was at the level I put out for an evening with Babe (yes, that one) prior to his surgical procedures. So my night was now open and i did what any rational jet lagged massaged to bliss guy would do. I took a nap. I woke about three hours later and decided since I was staying next to Prime Massage what better to do for myself than two hours of foot and Thai massage. No wait, excellent idea, I complimented myself during the foot massage, then as my back was bent and my limbs pulled from their sockets, I knew it was the right choice. Leaving, I strolled to the areas where I’d normally go in the evening. Dark, dark, dark. From Surawong to Silom on what I term the street of boys, only the French Kiss restaurant, the marijuana shop, and the NY TImes Best of Bangkok restaurant were open. Only the dining spot had any customers. I wandered over to soi 6 which was dark. Only the massage shop on the left hand side was open with 6 boys looking at their phones. I had dinner at the German Restaurant and great conversation with the owner. There were two other customers inside with the air conditioning, and several outside in the heat. I saw numerous tourists, locals, voyeurs taking pictures of the darkened street. I returned to Quarter Silom alone to learn from @UberFacts that May is International Masturbation Month. So I celebrated.

It is definitely new. Unquestionably gay, flag, management team check all the boxes. And the young wait staff are very cute. It’s my refuge when the temperature hits the mid 30s (94F) and the drinks are cool Sign of change as i remember this location as having been a gay club with boys wearing numbers and then pre-Covid as a massage shop.

Your impatient patience was noted and a report has been filed. I probably misnumbered one of our rules.

I had a non-Turkey Thanksgiving celebration with Reader in 2019. I departed the next morning intent on returning in April. And 1257 days after that meal I’ve retuned to a familiar but slightly different world. It’s not as different as when I did a return in 2012 after a more than a decade disappearance. I landed at Swampy at 4:58 AM. After walking a mile or so from the gate, I cleared immigration in about three minutes. I didn’t have to resort to the special one for diplomats, monks, and the aging. My suitcase was the actual last bag off the plane so that added an increasingly stressful moment to what had been n easy but long journey. As I needed to add a visit to Beijing to this trip, my routing from California to Bangkok took me east via Zurich and on to Thailand. So I was in an aisle seat on a 777-ER on United and then on Thai from Zurich. Total time in the air 21 hours with a two hour Swiss layover. So bag on trolley I walked out into the terminal, after noting the increased number of communications services that has moved into the arrivals area. They outnumber the money changers. And there were even more of them in the public areas. I checked with the limo service to see what one would cost and 1700 THB was quoted. I continued to the taxi rank. (VInapu, I couldn’t use the rail line as my suitcase is one of the big ones - needed for brining tea to China). Once in the taxi, the driver started negotiations. We settled on 600 THB which covered the tolls. Following reports, comments, and gossip on the Forum I booked Quarter Silom, paying for my room from the night before my arrival so I could check in when I arrived. The driver after making a U-turn in a pedestrian crossing on Silom entered Soi 6 even at this early in the day had two way traffic which blocked our progress. Then arrival at the hotel. Very austere and up to date looking. Check-in went smoothly, into room, moderate in size compared to The Raya. I resisted the need to sleep, took a shower, and headed down for buffet breakfast which was similar to every other one in the world. I checked email and some headlines…found too many of one and too much I didn’t want to know in the other. I decided to go for. Walking look around. I headed toward Surawong noting that this stretch of road looked remarkably cleaner than I remembered. Where are the massage parlors, Tawan is much smaller and advertising it’s Tawan BDSM location across the street. There is an upscale definitely gay friendly (note flag) coffee shop directly across from Tawan. (Coffee Grinder Silom). The 7-11 mentioned in another section of the forum has absorbed the amulet shop and the entrance to the Tarntawan Apartments. The pharmacy that was just before turning the corner is gone with contractors working. Suspect it wont be a massage venue. So many new building and/or business switches along Surawong. Still many massage parlors along the way some in what were restaurants, small businesses. Note: Checking exchange rates the shop in front of the Siam Heritage hotel was at 34.6 to the $ which was the best I’d seen.. Airport shops were at 32. At MBK it was in the 33 range. I tuned in to see if pay homage to Screwboys. Which, when I was arriving via Tokyo back in the pre-Covid days was usually the only place open when I arrived. Thought fondly of Yoyo my companion of many moments. Then to Hot Male road where the first sign of life was Vinapu’s breakfast location for sending his journeymen stamp collectors on their way. I noted that much of the space from the entry down the may is taken by Mary Jane - not sure (at this hour) what it does ( other than the Mary Jane connection) and then my eyes shook my brain awake and started to spot the number of marijuana businesses. There is one big change. Over on Silom, I saw huge construction projects and altered much of what I remembered. The Dusit Thani project which was beginning in 2019 is still underway and will further upscale the area. I guess that sums up what I was seeing an upscaling of familiar haunts. I got on the BTS and went to MBK to both check out the exchange rates (see above) and to browse. Prior to leaving home I was scrolling the forums for insights on massage spas etc. One that kept being mentioned was Kman Spa (K-Man?). So, I diverted my return to Silom to check out its location. Reader sent me a link with some location information. NOTE: the material from the spa says to get off at 2 at Saphan Kwai and enter the 2nd alley. This does not tell you that once you land of the street level turn immediately left and then walk into the alley that’s right there. I didn’t and had a long stroll until I asked google. My original intent was to just find the location so I wouldn’t waste time when I would come by after LINE-ing on who was available. However, i had spent so much time looking for K-Man, that it was now just after 12 noon and the shop was open. I went in and introduced my self to the manager. He told me who was still working there from the photo gallery that it on their blog spot, I said I’d like to set up a massage with one of my favorites from the gallery. If that worked out then maybe arrange a 4 hand massage, as the video on the web, was “intriguing” (ask “hot”). While all this is going on, boys/men are arriving. One of them from a room overlooking the lobby starts to smile (Vinapu rule V-64a) and play visual games. To cut to the chase, I decide to have a massage and not wait to hear from the “favorites”. The massager of the moment was Mr Sam who introduced himself to me as Sun. A twink from Laos. Massage room two floors up, shower down the hall. I showered and then he did, dropping his towel when he returned from the shower. Yes he could massage with some degree of excellence but neither of us waited long for what is euphemistically known as “afters”. Quite a bit of “aftering” requiring some tasty cleanup and then back to finishing the massage. What a great way to spend the lunch hour!. One thing to note: Mr Sam’s photos on the Spa’s site would not cause me to want to book him which would have been my loss. He knows his business (as we negotiated a tip for special “after” services). He began his trade at Bangkok Massage on Twilight but he doesn’t look old enough to have been there - but the highest authority (Reader) confirms. Sun and I exchanged Lines and as he is a 4 hand veteran asked him to suggest another therapist to join him in caring for me. And with that…I will conclude this installment of my report as it is already too long.

I did some duty free shopping in Zurich waiting for my flight. Seems like in room entertaining election Eve.

Just finished packing for my first cross ocean trip since December 2020. I arrive Bangkok early on the 13th. The last day of the election campaign is the 14th. Siam Roads guide, Mac, reminds me that there are no alcohol sales from the 13th until the close of the polls. Any one able to advise if the clubs will be open on the 13th and/or 14th? I'll assume massage locations recommended on the Forum will be operating. If any forum member is in town, I'll be in Bangkok from the 13th to morning of the 18th. I'll return for a week on 19 May.

The Romeo app has a reputation for money boys finding their wallet mates.

Our Board's wise stamp collector and Michelin undercover taster knows from great experience and experimentation of what he writes/speaks. Have fun gytis123, we all have had a first time in Bangkok (even vinapu). You might even write a report. Have a great time

The NEW Screwboys has only been open for a few evenings...looking at the boys pictured on FB one can sense they are reverting to the historic type of boys...slightly less twinky than Freshboys and less compact male than HotMale. I arrive two weeks from this morning and will do a personal survey.

lots of photos on Winner Boys Pattaya Facebook page.