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With only a few more days left in Bangkok, I thought it might be interesting to a few to pen a few notes.  Please forgive that they are unstructured.  I hope to understand more from the distinguished posters here present for my next trip or perhaps my last few days here. For context, this is my fourth trip to Bangkok.  My first two trips were for weekends and my second was for a week so I do not try to compete with the experience on this forum.  I cannot commit to a daily report but I am visiting some other countries in South East Asia during my time away and I will try to do the same while travelling.  
 
Before flying from London Heathrow, I jumped at the chance to spend a few days with friends in Oxford as I would be in the UK anyway.  I can highly recommend the ‘Oxford Tube’ as a means of transport, which actually a bus!  It took me from central London, where I had stayed for two nights of tourism to the beautiful city of Oxford in an hour and a half.  Returning from Oxford to Heathrow required a change at Hillingdon station and one more bus for the princely sum of less than 2GBP.  Grindr in Oxford was full of handsome, university types and it was interesting to see many described themselves as ‘trans’, ‘non-binary’ or ‘queer’ despite presenting as a masculine.  Grindr in London was very busy and it was pan-European in nature, despite Brexit!  For those interested, I gathered that the going rate was about 150-200GBP though I did not partake.  
 
Eva Air direct to Suvarnabhumi on their business class product was efficient, friendly and comfortable.  The food was good, the wine flowed and the flight landed right on time after a good night of sleep.  Arrivals was very busy, there was a 10 minute wait at the fast track section but the bags were quick - so quick in fact that most people had not made it through security. 
 
I’ve been staying at Le Méridien, and it is good.  I like the evening pizza menu and breakfast is very good.  I’m not sure there has been much benefit to my suite upgrade, I have barely used the lounge and the men I have brought back to the room have on more than one occasion have been confused about why one person would need so much space (I think even regarding it as an unnecessary extravagance).  No problem with guests, key cards required for the lift, friendly staff.  Lots of gay folk, as I type from the ground floor I am looking at a middle aged guy European couple walking together wearing rainbow pins and holding hands.  Last time I stayed at Raya but I would choose here next time and save a few THB in a standard room.  The lounge is very nice and if I have time I will post a picture from the lounge, which I think may be a fair challenge for the ‘best view from a toilet’ posts previously seen on this forum.    
 
I am ambitious to become a flâneur (I cannot think of an English equivalent) in my later life and there is no better city than Bangkok to practice.  I’ve enjoyed (most of the time) my solitude, thoughts, my wandering, my coffee, my aimlessness and people-watching.  Today, for example, consider Soi 4.  At around noon, a large gathering of very smartly-dressed business types in designer suits queued for street food.  Interested, I wandered down the Soi to see about four carts in front of Banana Bar and other venues in the Soi.  It seemed to the most popular place for these hi-so workers for miles.  I wonder if these distinguished folk know the depravity that takes place just a few short hours after they have gathered their tasty morsels?  I imagine they know all-too-well and care little - and this is why I love Bangkok! I enjoy these aimless considerations.  
 
I felt something was ‘off’ about Tawan compared to my previous visits (when this was my favourite bar).  I have since read that the papasan in the beret, that I have before met, has recently passed away sadly and this is probably why. Much lenience is required, I suspect he was well-loved by staff. I have not stayed for a show but when visiting earlier in the evening the men working are less likely to sit alongside customers than in my previous visits.  Some older Thai men take the place of papasan but do not occupy the attention of customers. The place is looking more dishevelled than before.  That has, though, always been part of its charm.  I have a fond (?) memory of walking up the stairs from the bar to a room for a massage (if I assure you that it was virtuous, you will not believe me).  A large rat ran over my foot, leading to my loud screams and a look of horror at my exclamation from the masseur.  Happy memories.  
 
I have not found a guy to take home yet from Tawan as their huddle of men now includes a number of twinks, which are not my type.  I did have an interesting moment with a man who I think said his name was David.  He was my type and I was leaving the bar, having concluded after one drink that enough was enough.  He chased me down the road, threw his arms around me and told me he was horny.  My intention, of course, was to take a man to the room to discuss neoclassicalism’s influence on 18th century Greek literature so this admission of horny-ness took me rather by surprise.  I declined the offer, wrongly now I think about it, as I was in the mindset of marching to HotMale determinedly.  I will try Tawan again and hope that this is a temporary situation caused by the loss of a formidable figure.  
 
HotMale beer bar is still a good spot with fairly priced drinks, smiling staff and good views.  I was surprised to see cannabis being smoked at the tables (only by one group of customers on one day).  There is a very handsome man who seems to stay behind the bar there, preparing drinks rather than waiting tables.  I have been trying hard to have eye contact with him, succeeding often, but receiving a nonchalant response.  Perhaps my portly (read: fat) build is off-putting or the stars just do not align.  I will not give up yet.  Advice welcome.  
 
HotMale’s gogo has been the surprise of my trip, in a good way.  The men on stage are keen to smile and engage with eye contact, are engrossed in securing your attention and not on their phones.  Though they are thin in number, there is something for everyone and especially for me (preferring 25-45, handsome, not thin, Dadbod or muscular-but-not-too-muscular types).  Smoking being allowed will be an irritant for some, but the papasan is flexible about reseating (and it has never been busy enough for this to be a problem). 
 
The HotMale ensemble are mostly topless and wearing fetching, pillar-box red sweatpants.  The show is awkward when it is quiet but ends well with an explicit fanfare that even would make my old Aunt Agatha blush (and she a woman with a remarkable, audacious character).  I had one strange experience with a guy I offed from HotMale when motivated by the aforementioned explicit display.  His girth, so to speak, was impressive from a distance.  Back in the hotel, just as we made progress with a particularly challenging logarithmic identity, I became distracted.  Something about this girth was not quite right.  It wasn’t that there were beads or noticeable defects, but the thickness seemed somehow artificial and not in keeping with the rest of the member concerned.  He was a good egg, and no harm was done.  He showed me his Lao passport which revealed both that he was aged 29 but also that he was considerably more handsome now than when the picture was taken a number of years ago!  
 
FreshBoys has the same loud and irritating mamasan and her interest in me has been only for the purpose of generating tips.  The men are young, I would say 20-25, predisposed to mobile-phone addiction at all times when not on the stage though smiles are frequent.  I am unlikely to revisit but this place will be a gem for some.  
 
The new Sol Bar is interesting and I have no conclusions.  From a distance (that is to say the HotMale beer bar) the men look handsome on the balcony, are mostly topless and I really like the shorts with numbers on rather than the usual badges.  Inside, I had a different experience on my one visit.  In some way, the lighting is not flattering and the building looks more downtrodden than when it was Dream Boys.  Somehow, I have not yet been able to bring myself to have more than one drink but my reason is not rational and based on some ‘feeling’.  I will try again.  
 
I have not yet made it to the Dream Boy show but will before I leave and update.  I cannot be motivated to go to Jupiter or Moonlight but I must do so because the men are hot and I have seen good reports recently.  My struggle is the passive, unsmiling approach I previously saw when visiting.  Also, I feel the men are hoping a woman will ‘off’ them, there being so many and the men being straight, and I will therefore be a disappointment.  Advice welcome.
 
I would also like advice on the language barrier.  I am almost ready to ask the mama/papasans which men speak English well.  I think this relates to another problem.  My ‘offs’ have been gratifying, but short with little room for conversation.  Yesterday, I had to use Google Translate ask the guy if he wanted a drink from the minibar.  My ‘offs’ last half an hour usually and I am craving more (they are probably enjoying the easy cash!). Though I don’t want LT, I cannot sleep unless alone.   
 
On my first visit a few years ago, I think I got lucky and saw the same man three or four times (now sadly ‘gone’ as per the report of the papasan) and we went for a few drinks before our deliberations on counterurbanisation in the room began.  I enjoyed his company and sense of fun.  This has not happened naturally for me yet. I would like company than extends beyond 30 minutes in the room talking through a phone. Advice welcome.
 
Although I have adjusted to the jetlag, I do also have a dilemma about adjusting to how late everything happens.  I am trying to dine around 2030, as things just don’t begin here until about 2230.  I cannot do a 2am finish and a breakfast that finishes at 10am!  I need more to be occupied with between 1700-2200 and cannot drink alcohol during this time as I will be drunk by midnight!  
 
I will post again and await thoughts and advice eagerly.  
 

I had wanted to meet two guys from Moonlight and Tawan after reading positive reports about them from fellow forum members but I was kept occupied by the good company at Hotmale Beer Bar downstairs. In a first for me, on my last night, I bought a round of drinks for the staff and even included a small tip. Very friendly welcoming staff and excellent service.

My nights were spent chatting with fellow forum member at Hotmale Beer Bar downstairs. During the day, I went for massages including a visit to Arena. "I'm Jack from Chiang Mai. Nice to meet you," says the guy I picked from the lineup. His strokes were a bit rough for my taste but he was eager to earn his tip. He was naked from the start and allowed me to feel his firm abs throughout. "Massage finish. I fuck you now?" he asked. I said no fuck because I had discovered he had mooks in his dick. "I suck you?" he then asked. I said yes and he gave a really good blowjob. I asked him to cum together with me and he obliged by shooting three waves of thick creamy load onto me. After that, he helped to shower me in ensuite toilet.

I was only with my "cha nuoi" for one night. My second night was spent with a new and very charming Myanmar waiter. 22 years only. He speaks good English. In the hotel room, I noticed the counterfeit Calvin Klein briefs he wears. I offered to buy him the original CK briefs when I go to Bangkok again in December. "Size M. Only white colour please, thank you so much," he replied. We had an enjoyable night followed by round two in morning before breakfast. I enjoyed his company so much that I took him off again on my third and final night during this short visit to Bangkok.

Besides fellow forum member, I also got reacquainted with a Vietnamese guy that I knew from the days of Soi Twilight. He decided to go back to Ha Tinh in Vietnam about one year before Covid and I had been sending him money and supporting him. I call him "cha nuoi" (godson) while he calls me "kon nuoi" (godpa). He was doing ok for a while with the money I sent him but Covid hit and things really went bad in Ha Tinh. He struggled to find full time job after Covid and had to take on odd jobs to survive. Finally, he decided to come to Bangkok to work. He didn't want to work at gogo bar so he is working in packing and delivery in day. But it only pays 600 baht per day so at night, he turns up at Dreamboys and gets 200 baht for going on stage. He says he rarely gets customers because there are so many guys on stage and he is older than the rest (he's only 27!) I told him that there's guys older than him at Dreamboys! He also theorises that it's because he's so dark due to working in the sun. He meets me at Hotmale Beer Bar downstairs. He had texted me in advance: "You no go my bar. Today I no go work so you no need buy drink and pay bar money take me hotel". Once in hotel, I had a shock. There were elaborate tattoos on his back. He didn't have them before. "Why you no tell me?" I asked. He admitted sheepishly that he thought I might not like them. But I think he's indirectly admitting that he felt guilty for spending the money I sent to him in Vietnam on such tattoos. "It's ok. You are my cha nuoi." And with that, we spent the night 5 years after we last saw each other.

This happened one month ago in 1st week of October. I was in Bangkok for a weekend. Took evening flight from Singapore. Once I checked into room at Le Meridien, off I went at 9.30pm to Hotmale Beer Bar downstairs to meet with forum member whom I haven't met for two years ever since Covid. New bar Sol directly opposite had some yummy shirtless guys hanging around once their rotation on stage ended. Was very tempted by blonde guy in photo but surprisingly, I didn't step into any gogo bar during my 3 nights. I shall explain why later. Sorry @vinapu for not being able to report on the show or the guys in Sol.
 

Was he the Mandarin-speaking Caucasian fellow who used to emcee/provide commentary for the shows at the old DB? That dude was hilarious. When a particularly big drag queen came thundering down the spiral staircase, the flimsy stage shuddering with her every step, he would recite in a complete monotone, in near pitch-perfect Mandarin: "Here comes the big elephant. <pause> Here comes the big elephant." I had to lower my head to hide my laughter, for fear that the drag queen in question would leap off the catwalk to beat the sh*t out of me. 

Day 7: I decided to have a leisurely buffet breakfast today. i can't believe i stayed almost 2 hours just lounging around the breakfast table. I see a lot of tourist fall for ordering a coconut. but it takes a lot of space, i prefer to just ask for coconut water.  I choices are not that extensive, but it food items were quality. As i failed to get anything for me in yesterday's trip to platinum mall, i made my way to MBK. I was surprised how the mall has changed. The japanese department store was gone. A whole floor has been transformed to a sea of stalls selling mobile phones. The chinese stalls selling foodstuffs were also missing. Walked around looking for shops that sells those bigger sized clothing. I didn't find XXL, but found Export Shop which sells similar clothing (bigger sized export overruns). I realised it wasn't really cheap, but i bought a few for a souvenir of this trip.
After MBK, i walked around the Museum in front of it and later to the 2 other malls near it before reaching siam paragon just in time for dinner.  i tried a few of the multi year michelin awarded stalls. a bit disappointed with the pad thai, and the curry was just ok for me - maybe the crispy noodles made a textural difference from the usual. Bottomline - don't trust michelin to judge what is a good asian dish. 
After dinner, i went to dreamboys via the front entrance. i was surprised there were no touts. Maybe it was a slow night being a weekday. Inside i was ushered to the very front row, it's a good thing i am tall so the performers were still at my eyelevel. they have a few groups already lounging on the upper curved booths, most with whiskey service. this place seemed to be designed for large groups in mind as the 3rd level are all booths. that can accomodate around 8 people.
There was some go go dancing in between the parade of boys. The guys were wearing white trunks. The show itself was a combination of lots of cabaret with the usual sexy show - but no f**k show. Before the actual show started, went to the rest room. When i got out, i met an guy i used to off in Tawan - Mr. O. Asked him to sit with me to catch. up. I noticed that they sexy show has a fair bit of a similarity with the old tawan shows. Now i don't know if who copied who, or if there was indeed some copying involved. I also learned that the german owner has already returned to his motherland, so dreamboys is now owned bTheny a thai. He mentioned there have a lot of non-thai boys, and pointed to a few.
Then there was this customer who arrived with 2 guys dressed in security shirt. i don't know if it was all for show or if he was indeed some hi-so customer. The "guards" later left after he was seated. The guy who used to be the odd man out in the old dreamboy, seemed to have cleaned up pretty well. He was of course the star of the big cock show. he seemed to have judged my interest, and later sat with me without invitation. i bought him a drink, for a quick chat and grope. but his junk has returned to normal size. alas, it was all for show - i suspect they use a pump of something.
After the show, decided to call it a night and took a taxi back to the hotel.

Day 6: Went thrift shopping in platinum mall. surprised by the absence of the previous stalls who usually cater for bigger guys.  most of the stalls would say xl/xxl cannot fit me, so I didn't try to fit the items for sale. just bought a few items as souviners to be given to friends back home. I also went to central and found a sale on some footwear, quickly video chatted a friend who was into shoes to get his opinion, and bought 2 pairs, 1 for me and 1 for him.
I read somewhere that Big C was cruisy, so I tried my luck and BINGO!!! it was scary though as I read there were undercover cops who one might mistaken as a cruiser. it went pretty wild, which was quite worrisome . one guy even has a poppers which I read was supposedly illegal??? 
I think I have taken over 20k steps today according to my smartwatch. As it was getting dark, I decided I badly need a massage. I went to prime bringing along all  the stuffs I bought for the day. I availed of  their 90 minute oil massage. I was ushered into a different building as the main one was already full. The massage was ok and relaxing. I would've preferred more heavy pressure, but I was too tired to tell the masseur. I know this is a no hanky panky place, but he seemed ok with my hands grazing his crotch "accidentally" while he massage my forearms. After the massage, he offered me to shower in a separate room and later gave me hot tea and towel. I tipped him 300 baht which he accepted happily. I am not sure if it was too much or too little for a clean massage.
After the massage, I took my shopping stuffs and proceeded to Tawan. The very handsome and tall tout with a tribal tattoo on his forearm welcomed me. He could be a model in Moonlight or Jupiter if he wanted to. He asked if I would like to keep my shopping stuffs outside, which I happily agreed to. When I entered the bar, they were about to start the show. As there were already people seated on the front of the stage, they offered me a seat hear the cocktail bar. In hindsight it was a good position as I can freely grope the guys (with tips of course)  before they enter the stage. Saw some old timers from yore. Regarding the twinks though, these are not the k-pop cutey or effeminate variety. They are nearing the roughness of the guys in nice guys.
After the show, I claimed by shopping bags from Mr. S (the tout that I tipped for the chicken supper earlier in the trip). He offered to bring the bags to Surawong and hailed a taxi for me. After I climb in, I tipped him 100 baht for the nice gesture. Not sure if the taxi driver saw it, but surprisingly the taxi driver was kind enough to bring my bags to the lobby. I felt so rich hahaha. So I tipped him for the extra service. No, it's not what you're thinking.
 

Day 5: Trip back to Bangkok was uneventful. I used a motorcycle taxi to go to the north Pattaya bus terminal for 60 Baht - more expensive than the baht bus I took when I arrived. This might trigger some folks because of their principle. but I find it, when vacationing, don't let these little matters ruin your stay and just use the Thai's mai pen rai attitude and go with the flow.
I decided to skip Tawan tonight and go to other bars in patpong. And based on responses from this board i.e. @vinapu I went straight to hotmale around 930pm. On the way to hot male, I passed by that small soi going to moonlight, and there was the tout which I recognised as one of the guys in Tawan. He has matured a bit, but still very handsome. I had some small talk with him as it seemed to be a slow night before moving on to Hotmale.
I was shocked by the stark contrast this bar (Hotmale) has with Tawan. They guys acted professionally - you can't see any of them on their phones. I later found out they deposit their phones in a tray similar to that of high school students in Korea before going on stage. So what you see on stage are guys fully focused on flirting with the audience. They also wear red sweat pants whereas Tawan guys mostly wear sexy bikinis with some wearing jockstraps with the occasional dare of going au naturel.  They also don't go to the audience uninvited unlike Tawan, so getting to know them a bit better before you actually invite them for a drink is impossible.  it was a weekday so there were less than 5 of us. it was a bit awkward for me looking their way as they flirt with me to invite them to sit with me. but I was there for 1 thing only - big cock show. 
The show started promptly at 1030pm. I was actually starting to think they wouldn't have any show as there were only 5 people in the audience. There were some amateurish acts that they accomplished. it was painful to watch the guy doing the soccer theme number as one can see he was truly doing his best, but he was no dancer and the choreography was forced. after all these song and dance number, I thought that that was it - no nudity, just a bunch of sexy show. but I was wrong, they're last number was indeed what I was waiting for. they have Indian costume for reasons that escapes me, but their big cocks are in full attention. they did go around the audience, so I asked the mamasan to quickly change the 1000 baht bill I have. he was quick to do it and the guys started to line up to me as there were only a couple in the audience that was interested on a quick see.  after all has been inspected, they all went up to stage for a final bow.
I decided to go back to the hotel, I passed by the 7/11 and found some of the Tawan guys sitting around the area as the Tawan has also closed for the night. Mr N recognised me and meekly asked if I wanted to treat them for some supper -  that was what I understand from his broken English. I wasn't really sleepy despite the trip from Pattaya, so I said yes and he called a couple of his chums to go with us. During supper, he dropped a bomb that the long time manager (beret guy) has just died and that in 3 days it will be cremated in the temple. After supper we went our separate ways with a promise that I will be at Tawan tomorrow.

Day 4: Woke up early around 7am and decided to walk to the beach. when I reached there, I saw the people starting to setup their sun lounges. this is where Pattaya beats the Philippines. they are way more organised, so more people can enjoy the place at a budget. I didn't noticed that I reached the central festival mall on my walk, it was still closed so I decided to have breakfast at the Hilton. I sat outside to enjoy the view as it wasn't too hot. I didn't realise this place can be really busy, good thing they have a small marker to show that the table is occupied so that a lone diner like me won't be surprised that his table is taken when one get's replishment from the buffet. Good variety of food and some fresh juices and salads. It was worth the 700 Baht.
After breakfast went back to my hotel and enjoy the swimming pool and the pool bar. Then lunch at terminal 21 again, where I found the  PadThai station was value for money. Also found the a good deal of 1 kilo dehydrated strawberries for 500 Baht on the ground floor pop up stalls. Was planning to go to jomtien but it rained in the afternoon so just took a nap. 
In the evening, I started my trek to nice boys. when I reached there, there were already 3 customers on the benches near the door, so the mamasan offered me the bench further from the door. the advantage was I got more privacy, the disadvantage was it didn't provide good lighting on the guys on stage. the guys on stage recognised me and started to flirt. I called the guy I had with yesterday for another round of fun. after that I tried the chuck wow contest, unfortunately it lasted less than a minute. with a guy I didn't see near the sofa was already ready to shoot. but he showed me the evidence before taking the reward. I was hoping the lone chubby guy to get the reward, so I was a bit disappointed, but it is what it is.  I decided to take another guy to sit with me. most of the guys in nice guy don't speak Thai, so you either have to use google translate or the mamasans. it seems business is picking up for nice boys, at least before the 1030pm, as there were multiple customers coming in and out when I was there for about an hour. I don't know the scene after that, where I suspect most of the punters are in boyztown for the shows. there was also a VIP customer who went straight to the booth and have a whisky prepared for him - and all the guys were greeting him when he arrived. I wonder if he is in this forum.
 A quick motorcycle ride to BBB. this time the matured lady mamasan seemed to recognise me from last night, and ushered me to the table right in front of the stage. I think I figured out the formula that BBB is taking. They are playing both as a hosto bar, where guys are fully clothed and plays hosts for you to table them and order drink$, plus their show has enough variety to those looking for cabaret and more explicit stuffs. it reminds me of a show place in Las Vegas where the performer plays a medly of songs, with such a variety, the chances of you not liking a song in the whole performance is slim.
Unfortunately, again no muscle hunk in sight tonight in BBB. The bboy hunk this time performed with a special underwear with a ludicrous thin prosthetic. it was a waste, if he could've found one with a mildly normal sized dildo on that underwear. he could do a solo act, and blow the Tawan guys off. But alas it was not to be, maybe it was a sign that he is not offable so just make the act funny rather than sexy.
I noticed some of the performers don't have condoms, just rubber bands to act as cock rings. I asked one of the guys if he could come with me after the show. I thought he said yes, but after the show, he was with his buds on the terrace having drinks. I don't know if there was something wrong with the translation. I decided to call it a night a rode the baht bus back to my hotel. i didn't get to sleep with the guy, but overall and enjoyable night.

From Pattaya Mail
By Barry Kenyon
Premier Srettha Thavisin has promised to push for parliamentary approval next year of three separate bills to legislate for gay marriage, lawful prostitution and gender choice. All subjects were approved in principle by the previous military-backed administration of General Prayut, but they then became stuck in committee and the thorny run-up to the 2023 general election.
 
The gay reform will change section 1448 of the civil and criminal code so that marriage is no longer restricted to Thai men and women but will be available regardless of gender. The implication is that gay couples will have exactly the same rights in law as heterosexuals, including pensions and adoption issues. Same sex marriage between a Thai national and a foreigner has yet to be clarified.
For the first time since the 1960s, adult prostitution will become legitimate as sex workers (female or male) will be legal professionals who will have the same rights and responsibilities as all other Thais in lawful employment. The implications of the legislation for Thailand’s nitery entertainment businesses, including go go bars and their working practices, have still to be demystified.
The third bill will concern gender identity and will oblige official certificates (for example ID cards and passports) to accept the gender that a Thai individual identifies as, whether male or female or other. Srettha said that he intends to push for all three major reforms to be passed simultaneously under one heading. Parliamentary approval for the trio of issues is certain as the largest parties, including Pheu Thai and Move Forward, are already committed to support the reforms. Once the laws are changed, Thailand will have the most liberal legal environment in Asia for the subjects identified.
 

A good body is expected. But it is always the face that seals the deal for me.

Well there are those with longer memories than me with this bar, but it is one that I visit regularly when I am in town, and as recently as last month.
As I understood it, the convention always was that you would enter the bar, be shown a seat and a drink order taken for you.  Boys would be on stage, some standing looking at you, others seated. In the past they would be wearing loose fitting pants and flashing their cocks to entice you. More recently jeans, but there would still be some with their cocks out.
You picked a boy to join you and a drinks order would be taken for him, chances are he would then get his cock out for your inspection and in the hope of persuading you to agree to a 300 baht chuck-wow. 
Now they have also been entirely happy letting me call boys off stage for a fondle of their goods in exchange for 100 baht tip. In fact the papasan will willingly go and change a 1k baht note for me into 100s for precisely that reason.  (some guys offer less than 100 baht - but I have always thought that fair exchange). 
But normally I come into the bar with at least one other guy, so I am buying 3-4 drinks anyhow and they don't seem to mind about tips as my bin is usually between 1-2k (plus tips on top of that). 
The boys will obviously welcome the tips, but the bar needs to sell drinks to make any money; and frankly you can't have one without the other! And at the moment guys there is nowhere else in Pattaya where you can have the sort of hands-on fun you can have in Nice Boys; so dip your hands a bit deeper into your pockets and then everyone is happy!
 

not that you have much options, they may not let to leave for a while.
If you are sitting with boy I suggest you remove your hand from his undies immediately

I cannot recall your post about the purge and when it happened. The fact is that Thai boys have been leaving the go-go bars to be replaced by others from neighbouring countries for a considerable number of years. I guess the purge @vinapu refers to is something that happened post the government's Social Order campaigns at the start of the 2000s because I do not recall many boys being non-Thais even for a few years after that time. I do remember, though, (I'm guessing around 2008-10) there was a lot of chatter in Dick's Cafe about a very handsome young Vietnamese who worked in a beer bar (Scorpion?) a little futher up the Soi. But for whatever reason he was not affable!
On the other hand, the gradually booming economy made working in other jobs more attractive to many of the upcountry lads who were the usual recruiting ground for go-go bar boys. And my guess is that barring a desperate slide in the economy, bars will continue having to rely mostly on non-Thais.

that's  bonus for those in bar and boy's company already

A new lady bar opened Friday night, promising Thailand’s most endangered species.

 
“Virgin” is situated directly opposite the Foodland restaurant.
Regardless of the nature of the business, always find it encouraging when any new venue opens in Patpong.
 

 

From Pattaya Mail
Jomtien Beach in Pattaya, celebrated for its tranquil coastal beauty, faces a growing challenge jeopardizing its serenity. On Oct 19, concerns escalated as both local and international visitors reported disruptive beach parties persisting into the early morning.
At sunrise, the usual sounds of waves and birdsong were replaced by the noise of rowdy gatherings. Complaints detailed young people on the beachfront engaging in alcohol-fueled revelry with loud music, creating an unwelcome routine extending from evening to early morning. The distressing situation includes participants openly urinating in public, disregarding fellow tourists and beachgoers seeking a peaceful experience by the shore.
Thai and foreign tourists, anticipating a serene morning at Jomtien Beach, now encounter disruptions from intoxicated individuals and raucous gatherings. Adding to the issue, beachside vendors exacerbate the disturbance by renting Bluetooth speakers and offering chair rental services. Some vendors openly sell alcoholic beverages, apparently avoiding law enforcement intervention.
Unlike nearby Bangsaen Beach, where authorities proactively deter gatherings and alcohol consumption, Jomtien Beach has become a hub for unruly parties. Law enforcement at Jomtien Beach typically responds reactively to specific complaints, leading to frustration among beachgoers. Concerns are mounting among local residents and tourists that these disturbances may escalate into criminal activities. Calls for increased police presence and stricter regulations echo through the community to preserve Jomtien Beach’s peaceful and safe reputation.
 

From Pattaya Mail
PATTAYA, Thailand – In the early hours of October 23, a potentially tragic incident took a heartening turn when the Pattaya Sea Rescue and Community Safety Unit responded to a distress call from worried tourists. The call reported a person attempting suicide by walking into the sea at Pattaya Beach, near the Pattaya Police Station.
 
Onlookers, mostly tourists, witnessed the distressing scene as a young woman, identified as 24-year-old Rattanaporn, entered the sea, emotionally distraught. Acting swiftly, a courageous local teenager, 17-year-old Parit Yunkrathok, jumped into the water and heroically brought her back to safety.
Following the rescue, local sea rescue teams and volunteer medical teams arrived, finding Rattanaporn emotionally shaken but physically unharmed. Police officers and community volunteers joined forces to provide initial psychological support to the distressed woman, who revealed that her actions
Further investigation unveiled that Parit, the young hero, had earlier noticed the distressed woman while hanging out with friends on the beach. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, he swiftly entered the water, successfully rescuing her. After bringing her back to shore, Parit promptly called for assistance from local authorities.
Responding police officers helped calm Rattanaporn and suggested a heartfelt conversation with her boyfriend, who was invited to the scene to resolve their relationship issues. The incident concluded without harm or complications, thanks to Parit’s bravery and the quick response from local authorities in de-escalating the situation.

Excited by Aussie's post about the two poles erected in BN Bar, I have been sitting opposite like a dog waiting for a bone, but so far no bone.
Hopefully, the boys will spring into action sooner or later, until then the poles will continue to act as ceiling supports.
The Complex continues to be awash with rumours of "The Return to Sunnee Plaza" with several bar owners being name-checked as potential movers. All will become clear by the time high season returns, I am assured.
The Complex itself is awash with boys, as noted by previous posters, and that's no bad thing. What is perhaps noteworthy is that the influx of boys is concentrated among the bars with young Thai owners, such as BN, 69 and Sunnee/Dodo Bars. The hobby bars owned by retirees are clearly lagging behind as they continue to try to pass off middle-aged bar staff as "boys".
As a regular low season visitor, this year does not appear to be exceptionally quiet, despite some reports to the contrary, but perhaps the customers are more spread out among the many available bars. 
Word of the day: The standard collective nouns for a group of boys are: a blush of boys a leer of boys a passel of boys and a rascal of boys.

Post trip reflections.
Highlights
- S'sense is a big winner and a pleasant discovery for this trip. I always tend to go to a no hanky panky spa for a decent massage and then visit another place in search of the fun extras. I am delighted that from experience, both elements are present in S'sense. 
I always make it a point to avoid  recommending a specific guy as experiences and individual connection can vary. However, I would recommend Knott just for his massage skills alone.
 
- Hotmale is another surprise. I am pleased that I gave this place a second chance after a lack lustre experience from my first visit. 
- My meetups through apps have been consistently pleasant during this trip. While this mode takes heaps of time and effort to weed out time wasters and dodgy characters, it can be worth it. My meetups with non Thailand based MBs thru the app is a new Bangkok experience  for me.
- Tawan is always a highlight. The unpretentious ,relaxed and friendly atmosphere is something other boy bars are not able to duplicate.
- Kman Spa. Another notable discovery this trip. Worth the effort getting there. Looking forward to explore the other establishments in the Saphan Kwai area next time.
- LTs: maybe because of the lean season, securing LTs are not as difficult compared to previous experience pre pandemic. Most guys are also not in a hurry to go home the next morning. Maybe it's just my luck this time.

Lowlights 
- Banana bar just didn't tick any of my boxes this time. I'm not sure if its unusual but they only had four performers rotating the whole time I was there. People will take a peek by the door and will instantly walk off.
- Fresh boys is always a lowlight for me but I always end up visiting at least once every trip. The lack of subtlety on the part of waiters and Mamasans when asking for tips and drinks can be  irritating. I mean asking for tips/drinks within the first minute of conversation?
- AirBnB: given its legal status in Thailand, I always second guess and brace myself everytime I bring a boy back. The apartment I rented have posted notices and banners saying that the building is strictly for residential use and not for short rental like air bnb. The notices were written in a way that the renters can get into trouble if they don't report this to building management. But again, this is Thailand. While I didn't have any issues during my previous stay, I'll stick to the usual tried and tested Silom hotels next time.
- Jupiter: as advised,  I will try to ignore the ice cold standoffish behaviour of the guys next time. I might be in for a surprise.
- Dreamboys is a mixed bag for me. While their new place is a definite improvement, both my visits didn't result to an off. Not crossing this off my list and will give it a try next time.

Compared from my visit last year, things are really looking very positive. There seems to be no remnants of the pandemic and Silom / Surawong area is bustling with most establishments back to operating till late night / early morning. Overall, this 12 day experience have been pleasant with no major dramatics with any of my off. Fingers crossed it will be like this next time.
Thank you for reading my reports and hopefully this will be of help to you guys for your next trip. I am looking forward reading your future reports too!
 

Day 3: trip to Pattaya. I was wondering which bus station would be more convenient for me mo chit or ekkamai, but decided on the later as I was nearer from the number of BTS station. I learned my lesson before on taking the vans which does not stop by the north Pattaya bus terminal, so I only take the rai reung (???) bus. the seats were a little worn out with the seat pockets missing, but everything else was working. I was surprised to learn they have a toilet at the end of the bus. After reaching north Pattaya bus station I switch to the songthew pickup trucks. this part was funny, as people were going up for the ride and later going down after deciding they have better options. I was charged 50 Baht to my hotel at the start of Beach Road, but the 3 south asian guys were haggling with the driver to lower it to 30 Baht. Then there's a family of 3 that the driver was charging 250 Baht, which I assume because their destination was further away.  Wish they was just a standard price for this to avoid all these hassles. 
After settling to my hotel, I went to terminal 21 for some grub. I was surprised by the affordable prices at pier 21. I didn't expect a high end mall to have affordable food court prices. Checked out their facilities but no action to report on. In the evening, I walked around boyztown, and only the 2 bars near BBB , and BBB themselves seems to have guys on stage. X-boys and A-bomb seems to do an on-demand thing - that's how bad the customer distribution is, at least during my stay in Pattaya. 
I walked to sunee at reached nice boys around 930pm. when I arrived there were already 4 customers with few of boys seated with the customers. the farang customer was quite generous with tips, which I think might have increased the boy's expectations for the tips. but no matter it was still cheaper than Bangkok. A quick fondle for 100 Baht, and if he sits and comes 500 Baht, plus a couple of drinks. Maybe it would normalise as before when there are fewer customers. After enjoying the guy's show, I took the motorcycle taxi (40 Baht) to boyztown to catch the 1030pm show.
I miscalculated the time to reach boyztown, so I arrived a bit early. I decided to survey the other soi for the other gaybars, but it was almost the same when I visited a few hours before. I decided to enter the BBB, and as a lone non-farang customer was given the seat at the back. unfortunately, there was no muscle boy on stage that night. I tried to message muscle guys before, but his messaging app was set on quiet mode. there was one buff guy in the bboy group, but I doubt that he can be offed. the Kpop looking guys was popular with the group of ladies though, and was asked to sit with them. they stopped giving the complimentary pop corn, instead they have a guy selling snacks (nuts/chips) at around 100 Baht. They have a tad more cabaret acts than what I liked, some of them lip-syncing to slow songs - so it was a bore. I noticed that the performers with their cocks out, go around the audience after every performance - not just after the big cock show, but after every performance. so even when I was at the back, they didn't neglect me and my 100 Baht tips. it was also here when I noticed a performer approached me with a 20 Baht tip in his hat - did I tip too much?
After the 1230am show BBB bar closed and they invited customers to move to Boystation which they market as a disco. I took the song teow back to my hotel for 100 Baht, with the driver originally asking for 150. 

They did it this summer when I made my "every few years I have to check out Tawan" visit
Only few visitors and 2 guys for chuck wow. They collected money for first guy and guy came. Then they collected for second guy but not enough so 2nd guy did not come. But they did not give the money back ... not really nice.
Will go there again, but my visiting interval increased by a few years.

Day 2: I awoke early, perhaps not accustomed to the new timezone I am in and the new bed that the hotel provided. I just lay in bed until around 10am and decided to go around Lumpini park to stretch my legs. The major structures in the park seem to be in renovation mode with most of them cordoned off the public. I passed by the public gym, but doesn't seem to have the usual cruisy vibes as years before. After a quick walk around the park, I decided to try my luck again on the silom complex facilities. This time though, I think I was too early for the action. I walked back to the new silom edge building, and found that they offer relatively affordable food court fare in their basement despite the relatively up scale eateries on the other floors.  They also have a public shower facilities on the 2nd floor. I had a quick lunch at their basement level for less than 100 baht. 
I noticed I was running low in cash, so decided to head on to x-one in Suriwong. They have a mobile app, so it was easy to compare the rates of the different money exchange along the way. So far it seems to have the best rate. Along the way, I passed Tawan - they might have stopped their massage services as there was no touts outside at that time.  I saw signs for Super A and later nature boy, these bars were reported to open early, but it was close when I passed them around lunch time. Saw the Queen's club has closed down - what a tragedy. Along the way, I passed by a huge local market selling cooked food for take out. I bet these would be more affordable and more authentic than those found in the restaurant malls.
After changing my cash to Baht, I was just wondering around the area. I went to silom plaza, but didn't proceed to arena as the greeter was not my type. On a whim, I decided to hop on to the bus to reach the small outlet center in the jewelry bldg in silom for some shopping. Unfortunately, nothing caught my eye, and their "sale" price wasn't really a bargain anymore. As there were a lot of time to spare, I decided to head to Heaven Sauna. It was early afternoon, I paid the 200 Baht entrance fee, and was surprised by the number of people already in the place.
There were lots of more mature daddy type or men with bigger builds in there. I saw one perfect bear specimen. I could've been sworn he was a porn actor in farangland, not for his lesser than average junk. The small jacuzzi at the rooftop was no more. Lots of actions happening in the dark room as well as the steam room and private cubicles. A lot to enjoy if you are into mature and bigger built guys. 
After it got dark, I decided to treat myself to a buffet in holiday inn. Food selection was ok, and the price was not that steep. After an hour of chomping down on the dinner buffet, I decided to go back to Tawan for the show. When I arrived, I was ushered by a handsome tout with a tribal tattoo that spans his forearms. First time seeing him, he was quite professional, not clingy as the guys inside. When I reached inside, I noticed a few of the same customers that were there yesterday. Tonight Mr K, was not present. Mr P though was a surprise appearance, he later told me that he only comes on weekends as he works at a gym. The cute Myanmar or is it Lao guy was also present that day. Even though he was not part of the big cock show, and as mentioned before, I was trapped behind a row of seated customers for the guys in the big cock show to reach me, he was resourceful and got an ample reward for it. The show was mostly the same, but this time the BDSM part has Mr C tied up on a chair on stage and another guy using a vibrator to explore his nether regions. it would've been more effective if you can actually see the vibrator move. The F show also featured a handsome bottom. Not fem at all, which makes it more interesting. I later found out that Tawan is the only bar that still have the F show, it's a shame though that it only last a few minutes. And the tips are not coming in from the audience unlike previous times. So tonight, for the chuck wow portion, there was just enough tip for 1 guy to shoot his load on stage, the other guy had to leave the stage empty handed.
On exiting the bar, another tout was tailing me, asking me why I didn't off, and asked if I wanted to off him. I don't seem to recall knowing him, but he said that he worked inside before. He asked for tip to buy chicken from the vendor outside the expanded 7/11. he seems kind enough so I gave a 100 Baht and bid him good night.