colmx

Suggest you stay elsewhere. The building site on old Soi Twilight is working noisily from 07.00 to 19.00 so if you are unlucky enough to get a room on that side of the building (60% chance from memory) then you will not be getting much sleep

I had an unusual itinerary where I flew Air Asia to Bangkok from Kuala Lumpur. Air Asia uses Don Muang airport. I seldom have reason to go through Don Muang - must have been at least 10 - 12 years since I last did, coming in from Chiang Mai. At that time, there was no easy rail connection to get downtown from Don Muang. But now there is the Red Line connecting the airport to the spanking new Krungthep Apiwat central rail hub.
I made a careful note of how I got from Don Muang to Sukhumvit-Asok (where my hotel was) by rail. Possibly this may be useful information for others. It took me 1 hr 15 minutes between exiting the Customs gate after landing and reaching Sukhumvit MRT station (Blue line).
The same blue MRT line continues to Silom and Samyan MRT station. Just add a few minutes more.
The first step is to get from the International terminal of Don Muang airport to Don Muang train station (run by the State Railway of Thailand SRT). It's a bit of a walk (15 minutes), but nearly all in airconditioned comfort. I had to go southwards from Terminal 1 (International) via the full length of Terminal 2 (domestic)  till I reached the south end of Terminal 2. Then there is a bridge over the highway; the bridge connects to Don Muang train station.
For an overview, here is a sketch map:

 
First, walk to the south end of Terminal 1. There, near a money changer and a 7-eleven store, you'll see a sign saying "SRT Red Line".
 

The route takes you past nice toilets. A good spot to get a leak before the long trip downtown. Every now and then, there's a sign, assuring you that you're going in the right direction.
 

Then you enter Terminal 2

Keep walking, Look carefully, and there are signs indicating "Red Line".

Finally, at the southernmost end of Terminal 2, it said to go up an escalator.

At the top of the escalator, more convenience. There's a Magic Food Court.

Finally, you turn right and get to a pedestrian bridge that crosses the highway. In fact, you can already see the elevated train station at the upper right corner of the window.

At Don Muang train station, tickets to Krungthep Apiwat station (20 baht) can be bought either from machines or a manned counter. I had to struggle a bit with the machines. They just wouldn't accept my 20-baht notes (tried several times). I had to insert a 100-baht note, but then it gave me eight 10-baht coins in change.

This is the platform level of Don Muang train station. Take care that you're on the right platform for the train going to Krungthep Apiwat. The station is not the final stop for the trains; they run north to Rangsit as well as south to Krungthep Apiwat and beyond. Take the south-bound.

Inside of a carriage. Lots of room for luggage. I don't know if it can get crowded at other times, though. There seems to be a train every 15 minutes or so.

On reaching Krungthep Apiwat after only 15-16 minutes, you can't miss the signs for the MRT blue line.

You will need to exit the SRT fare gate, go through an underground tunnel to get to Bang Sue MRT station. Including buying an MRT ticket at Bang Sue, it took me about 8 minutes' walking. (the fare to Sukhumvit station was 41 baht). Then take care again to board at the correct platform.  That they have mounted a big sign suggests that many people make mistakes.
 

The blue line took 23 minutes to get from Bang Sue to Sukhumvit station. Total time = 1 hour, 15 minutes. Total cost = 20 baht + 41 baht = 61 baht. Precisely because my hotel was in the Sukhumvit area, notorious for choked traffic, I was glad I didn't have to rely on taxis. Taxis might also have cost me 7 - 8 times more, and I don't know how much in tolls might be involved.
 
 


Hmmm... two pictures seem to be repeated at the bottom of the post.  don't know how to remove them without screwing up everything else. Please ignore. the last two pics.

I started at 5 am and did not have a heart to wake you up that early. 
As for trip reports I usually put them together after returning home which won't be any time soon

where is the trip report! (and you never DM'ed me to be your tour guide!)

where is the trip report! (and you never DM'ed me to be your tour guide!)

By the time I would arrive I would need 10 hours of sleep

Your driver should have taken a right at the overpass intersection and taken Third road all the way to Naklua, driving the same route the pattaya mayor does (his offices are next to Terminal 21)

Pattaya traffic is only a problem if you are on a songtaew, it turns left at the Bali Hai Overpass and gets stuck in traffic at the lead up to marine hotel
If you are in a bolt tell them to turn right at the overpass and then get to Pattaya Tai by Sophon market intersection or through soi yensabai, soi day night or soi Holywood. Takes no more than 10 mins Jomtien to Boystown 

Sure, but if you make any money by extorting the scammers...you owe me half!

For the last few years I get these almost every day when home in Ireland on Hornet/Jack'd
Fit Asian guy in early thirties, that is visiting for his business, always moves straight to conversation about what i do for work and him explaining that he is in investments/property/crypto and wants to exchange WhatsApp.
I usually tell them that i work in computer crime and fraud detection for Europol... for some unknown reason they suddenly lose interest!  

For the last few years I get these almost every day when home in Ireland on Hornet/Jack'd
Fit Asian guy in early thirties, that is visiting for his business, always moves straight to conversation about what i do for work and him explaining that he is in investments/property/crypto and wants to exchange WhatsApp.
I usually tell them that i work in computer crime and fraud detection for Europol... for some unknown reason they suddenly lose interest!  

For the last few years I get these almost every day when home in Ireland on Hornet/Jack'd
Fit Asian guy in early thirties, that is visiting for his business, always moves straight to conversation about what i do for work and him explaining that he is in investments/property/crypto and wants to exchange WhatsApp.
I usually tell them that i work in computer crime and fraud detection for Europol... for some unknown reason they suddenly lose interest!  

Hi Bert, plenty of guys on the apps (Grindr being most popular) or Hunqz.
Torremolinos is the gay capital of Costa del Sol - they have gay hotels, gay bars, saunas etc. - so much that a couple of blocks are called Boyz Town. It's not really a town, just a block or two.
The standard going rate is 100 Eur - and all those guys on apps also circulate around the gay bars in Boyz Town. Before covid, there was a bit of an escort cruising scene on a pedestrian sidewalk along the sea as the sidewalk curves around a big rock - there's a gay bar and a gay beach hut there. There were some Moroccan immigrants there and other guys that didn't mind a lower fee - however I did not see that anymore in my several visits since 2020.
Malaga and other places along the coast have guys too, but escorts (and gays generally) congregate in Torremolinos mostly. Go online, then go to the bars - and there are lots of escorts in Torremolinos. I'd say 80% of them are on meth which is now by far the most popular party drug on that coast.

Pattaya traffic is only a problem if you are on a songtaew, it turns left at the Bali Hai Overpass and gets stuck in traffic at the lead up to marine hotel
If you are in a bolt tell them to turn right at the overpass and then get to Pattaya Tai by Sophon market intersection or through soi yensabai, soi day night or soi Holywood. Takes no more than 10 mins Jomtien to Boystown 

For the last few years I get these almost every day when home in Ireland on Hornet/Jack'd
Fit Asian guy in early thirties, that is visiting for his business, always moves straight to conversation about what i do for work and him explaining that he is in investments/property/crypto and wants to exchange WhatsApp.
I usually tell them that i work in computer crime and fraud detection for Europol... for some unknown reason they suddenly lose interest!  

For the last few years I get these almost every day when home in Ireland on Hornet/Jack'd
Fit Asian guy in early thirties, that is visiting for his business, always moves straight to conversation about what i do for work and him explaining that he is in investments/property/crypto and wants to exchange WhatsApp.
I usually tell them that i work in computer crime and fraud detection for Europol... for some unknown reason they suddenly lose interest!  

May I steal that idea - I will go with Interpol, just for variety! Lol

For the last few years I get these almost every day when home in Ireland on Hornet/Jack'd
Fit Asian guy in early thirties, that is visiting for his business, always moves straight to conversation about what i do for work and him explaining that he is in investments/property/crypto and wants to exchange WhatsApp.
I usually tell them that i work in computer crime and fraud detection for Europol... for some unknown reason they suddenly lose interest!  

For the last few years I get these almost every day when home in Ireland on Hornet/Jack'd
Fit Asian guy in early thirties, that is visiting for his business, always moves straight to conversation about what i do for work and him explaining that he is in investments/property/crypto and wants to exchange WhatsApp.
I usually tell them that i work in computer crime and fraud detection for Europol... for some unknown reason they suddenly lose interest!  

I see that Anutin has come out to criticise the recriminalisation of cannabis. Remind me, whose family own a large number of cannabis  farms?

We did this during Songkran, rented our usual condo near Sinlapin Issan, but also booked a room in the agate for 7 nights, we could then choose where we would sleep depending on where the night took us. In the end, we only slept in Agate 1 of the 7 nights, but did use it plenty of times as a staging area for clean toilets, hot showers and wardrobe changes!
I would not really consider the HI Express on Soi Buakow to be near BT, it is in the middle of the straight district and the roads from there (Soi 15 or the one that is like the surface of the moon) are not pedestrian friendly so i would recommend finding somewhere else to stay

Suggest you stay elsewhere. The building site on old Soi Twilight is working noisily from 07.00 to 19.00 so if you are unlucky enough to get a room on that side of the building (60% chance from memory) then you will not be getting much sleep

Pattaya traffic is only a problem if you are on a songtaew, it turns left at the Bali Hai Overpass and gets stuck in traffic at the lead up to marine hotel
If you are in a bolt tell them to turn right at the overpass and then get to Pattaya Tai by Sophon market intersection or through soi yensabai, soi day night or soi Holywood. Takes no more than 10 mins Jomtien to Boystown 

I found my masseurs in the apps:
HeeSay and in Grindr
Note that the word "massage" is an illegal word to use within the HeeSay app - so everybody just uses a different version - I used "maxsage" and I had no issues with the HeeSay chat monitors and the Vietnamese audience was able to understand what I was looking for.
I am a 4 hands massage afficionado and I had difficulties to arrange those in my AirBnB room - as the Vietnamese are much more conservative than their Thai counterparts - as they still need to hide what they do - as they are all expected to get married by their traditional conservative families.  I told all of the guys who complained to me about this to find and marry an open minded lesbian who has the same predicament - which will allow:
 - the family to be happy with the desired facade,
- they can live their lives with their respective man-to-man and woman-to-woman partners,
- and if needed to produce children for their respective families - then it would be easier to organize within this open minded facade family structure
Almost ALL of the conservative Vietnamese that I told this to - were like WOW - now how do I find an open minded lesbian?
None of them knew of any lesbian bars, or apps where lesbians can meet.  Is there a lesbian life in Vietnam?  Thailand ?
They all envied the openness of Thai society - as the gay Vietnamese community was very interested in the Thai government's idea to legalize same sex marriages.
I digressed - too much free time as a retiree....
For 4 hands massages - I used this massage shop = "Spa 4 some" which is located at:  43 Tân Thái 6, Mân Thái, Sơn Trà, Đà Nẵng, Vietnam
The contact details for this unique massage shop are:
  local phone number: 0363 640 356
WhatsApp number:  +84363640356
email:  bkhanhkaka@gmail.com
The owner, (I do not remember his name) is very nice and he contacted me via Grindr and proposed his massage shop to me.  Normally I don't frequent massage shops as I like to order in - and since this was difficult to arrange for the above stated reasons, I agreed to go to his shop.  He has 6 guys that he works with and he arranged for me to have 2 of them (site unseen - as I wanted a surprise) for my 4 hands 90 minute meeting for a charge of 1.400.000 VND - approximately 2.000 baht - 50% of the price that I normally pay back in Thailand - so, Vietnam is so much cheaper because of the poorly performing VND (Dong) currency.
The meeting was very good - professional 4 hands massage with a nice smooth transition into the elongated happy ending phase - I was a very happy customer.
Lastly, the local guys in the chats use a slightly different mechanism to identify that they are for hire:
 - the most frequent one is CB or CallBoy or Call Boy - for our Thai equivalent of MB - Money Boy
- for massage - they tend to use variations of Massa or Mass or some other iteration
You will figure it all out as each country has its hidden secrets to discover :>) which is the joy of why we like to travel and discover.