Ruthrieston

Traveling, renovate my house, rebuild my old motorcycles, learn languages like Spanish, workout, hiking, cooking for friends, gardening...  during work, I was often too exhausted to get things done, even if I had had time to do so. Not necessarily Thailand related, I know.

Retirement, unlike working,  is about being rather  than doing. 

On my first visit to Thailand, I was 38. On my last visit, I am 76. My stamina was reduced, as was my libido, but I still had a great time in Bangkok. It was my first visit to Taipei and I liked it okay, especially the area round their skyscraper Taipei 101.
I was shown so much respect. In both places. people volunteered their seats to me- yes, I look old!. It happened many times. And I went to massage parlors where  I was treated with great respect and even admiration. Yes, the guys paid attention to my old body, but rather than criticize or avoid, I received admiration for my current shape and accolades for what they could see of my years of body building. I do look fit for a man my age,, having lost 50 pounds in the last two years.
In Brazil in September at a sauna, a boy said to me with seemingly great sincerity "You are so handsome!" I immediately laughed, but in retrospect, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I wonder who the passengers were, and if they were targeted / murdered by the Putin regime.

I like this thread, it covers what's on my mind at the moment. I'm taking early retirement this February and I'm thinking a lot about what to do next. I don't think I could be in Jomtien for more than a few weeks. I'm an engineer and I also have a part-time mandate that I can do remotely. Nevertheless, I am relatively sure that I will get bored over time. I would probably become lethargic and an alcoholic over time. Even having fun with boys would probably get boring 🙂 . I will probably do it in such a way that I will escape the beautiful but cold Switzerland for about 3 - 4 months, travel around Thailand a bit and then stay in a rather quiet place like Hua Hin. Of course with a detour to BKK and Pattaya  from time to time🙂
In two days in Jomtien... I'm looking forward to it
 

I'm a little on the fence with surrogacy.
Like sex work, it can represent financial indepdendence for women (and men, but lets focus on women for now). But it can also be extremely exploitative, and turn women into slaves used for their bodies. 
I think surrogacy laws should protect the surrogate mother as the priority, and provision whatever clauses are needed to protect such women from exploitation.
But I'd urge any couple seeking surrogacy to re-consider adoption instead. There are many children in this world who do not have parents, and we have many would be parents without children.

A reminder to be kind. One member banned for 60 plus days for abusive behavior. No need to attack anyone here.

From Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
On the small Thai island of Koh Samui, Niall Harbison sets out every day to feed dozens and dozens of street dogs.
Hearing the familiar sound of his moped, "they all come running out, wagging tails and they're delighted," said Harbison, author of Hope: How Street Dogs Taught Me the Meaning of Life.
"They're like, 'Oh there's the little Irishman coming.'"
Harbison's book details his efforts to feed, sterilize and rehome some of the 6,000 stray dogs on Koh Samui, a fraction of the estimated 1.6 million stray dogs in Thailand. Videos of the dogs he rescues from abuse and malnourishment have gained him more than a million followers online.
But while he's been busily saving dogs, he says those dogs have also saved him. Harbison moved to Thailand in 2018 amid a deteriorating addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs.
"There's a good chance I'd be dead, I'd say. I'm not even joking … I was addicted to Valium, and I was drinking three bottles of wine a day," he told The Current's Matt Galloway.
Years before he moved to Thailand, Harbison was a private chef on the yacht of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, serving celebrity guests like Bono. In 2009, he pivoted to media and marketing, setting up and later selling two social media companies.
Beneath that success, Harbison was dealing with depression and anxiety, and using alcohol to cope. His move to Koh Samui was partly in search of a healthier life, but by the end of 2020, he landed in the ICU after a heavy binge of alcohol and prescription drugs.
Harbison lay in that hospital bed over New Year's Eve, convinced he was dying as he listened to the fireworks outside.
"I just said, 'God, there has to be something more to life than what I lived, there has to be something that has some meaning,'" he said.
After three days in hospital, Harbison was discharged in early January 2021 to recover at home. He spent the year rebuilding his health, and thinking about what is important to him in life.
While out walking one day in early 2022, he stopped to feed some dogs in the jungle. He came back the next day to feed them again — and soon it was a daily ritual, feeding more and more dogs as weeks turned into months.
Continues with photos and video
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/niall-harbison-thailand-street-dogs-1.7074526

We Britons are world-champions at being embarrassed. And running away from trouble. I just covered-up and scarpered back to my hotel.

I had a similar problem in Pattaya on my last visit.
For a numbet of years I would have a massage by the same guy every day of my holiday. When Covid struck he returned home and I thought I'd never see him again.
Then on my first night, as I walked through Boyztown, I heard my name being called. I turned around to see him rushing up to me.
I was really happy to connect with him, and he was happy because his walking atm had arrived.
He gave me a long sob-story - some of which was no doubt true- and told me he was desperately in need of money. So I said I'd be back around midnight and he could come back to my hotel. When I went to pick him up, he was sitting drinking with his friends at the massage place. He told me he was to drunk to do anything.
But.,.but...I told you I would come and pick you up tonight! Never mind. I'll see you tomorrow night.
Same,same. Sorry, I'm drinking with my friends.
Next day I get a request for 3000 baht.
When I explained that I wasn't a charity and that he'd have to earn it- I had already given him 2 chances to make some money  - he got very angry and stormed off. 
We never spoke again.

The cost of sanuk in Thailand? Here's my take.
I learnt all about Pattaya and the gay scene from a rent-boy in Amsterdam's Blue Boy.Yes, a brothel. 
Those who recall the scene will remember that clients paid for an hour and, when the time was up, the front desk would phone....and that was it, even if you were in the middle of a happy moment.
On the occasion I'm recalling, we'd finished early (please avoid any sarcasm!) and my partner, a painfully-cute British Black guy, to fill up the hour talked to me about the scene in Pattaya. I booked my first visit on my return home.  And so yes, the last thirty years of my life has been the consequence of that encounter.
Ex-punters will also  remember that, back in the late 90s, the cost of an hour at Blue Boy, and the other similar establishments,  was £100 plus. Six months in Pattaya later I was paying the equivalent of £20. 
I've just checked a couple agencies in London on-line. The cost of an hour here? between £150 and £200.
 
 

Really? I always thought about myself as being priceless.

I don't think I can be considered stingy by any measure unless I really run out of money and limit on my line of credit but in my book if price was agreed it not up to boy to ask for more. Only exception I can envision is  if he went, and quite far at that, outsulide of his limits ( my very recent case, boy never kissed but this time he planted one on me right away saying " this is my New Year gift to you"). 
So I,d condider  boy requesting more than agreed as  not being  fair. Not necessarily cross him over but playing trick would be noted  and on subsequent occasion I, d mention in no uncertain times that I did ot like it. 
Stuff from 7/11 on another hand I consider outside of compensation scope regardless if it was the  boy who asked to buy something or me suggested I can buy something for him. 
 

I recall a guy I took from Toyboys when I was a player on Pattaya scene. It must have been the early 2000s. After I'd paid him, he told me that he was going to dinner because he hadn't eaten for two days....business in Boyztown had been slow.
A few minutes later, I left the hotel to go to 7 11 and there he was , sitting outside Toyboys with a large plate of food and some fruit. In those days, there were a number of food vendors in the area. He waved to me and pointed at the food, as if I could miss it. Sentimental old man I may be, but I was happy for him.
Two or three years later, when the" Kamphaet Three" as I call them came to Pattaya, one of whom was P., I learnt that the guys on the scene took care of each other in times of hardship. If one of the Three had  enjoyed a successful liaison  (financially!), it was accepted that he'd buy dinner for all.... the reason was that the guys were living and existing from day to day. As an example of this, P didn't have enough money for the bus fare to see his beloved parents at Songkran, indeed hadn't seen them for a year.
I cannot say if this is still true today but I suspect that that some guys are in difficulties. When I last walked through the Jomtien Complex in November there were barely fifteen falang punters. And many guys. Of course, there are the  apps , so who knows?
Nevertheless, I learnt from my relationship  that what we can give can make a huge difference, whether it be a much-needed meal, or a bus ride home. And yes, OK,  perhaps a pair of trainers  of a much-valued brand....that too. 
So I'm with Olddaddy.

I do and I know I,m ugly but still happy with what I see. I. e. mirror fogging with my own breath
 
 
 
 
 
 

Hot Male at 9.15, just after Foodland inspection very quiet. Few farangs holding court and soon after they took 4 or 5 boys with them. Guy I was hoping to see was there so I grabbed him right away even if there was no competition in the audience. 
By time we finished our drinks and took off two farangs showed up  ( separately), gulped their drinks and left empty handed. Nobody in the audience when we  we're leaving at 10 pm so it looked as quiet night and still quite a few offs. 
New Foodland this morning at 8 am was soo packed that we managed to get only last remaining table,  in the corner so conductive to not so accidental knee touching and similar sinister moves. 
I, m surprised that is more hot than last January but still at least some breeze in the morning pretending to be cool with some degree of success. 

I paid repeated visit to Moonlight last night. Arrived at 10 pm to a almost empty bar even if it was half an hour before show. But models and floor boys soldered on regadless. By 11 filled up nicely to about half capacity.
Show quite decent. There, s new model,I guess his nick is  Sam or similar. Several new, floor boys, as well. Lack of crowds did not mean disaster as some high spending farang was holding court and was distributing tips by a handfull.
Boy I was, sitting with and subseqently took with me to help with dishes was asked by said farang to join for round of drinks. Asked my permission and said for 15 minutes only. I agreed and it was a good move costing me nothing. After 15 minutes, and gulping 2 or 3 shoots he was clutching in his fist no less than 900. 
So it seems that sparse crowd doesn,t mean financial disaster. All depends. On another hand during my time there I. E. 10 to 11.45 my off was only one and I was, sitting in good position to see comings and goings through the door. 
Raya has breakfast again at 250 per person if not included in the rate. Buffet style and all dishes very tasty. Pleased to see that guy I remember from my first stay there good 10 years ago is still working there although I have an impression he looks like 10 years older but what do I know? 

There,s similarly tittled thread already but I could, t find it so started new one.
Arrived early evening yesterday. Decimated by long trip and jet lag still managed to do short survey of realm. Area much busier than in July, my last time here. A lot of young farangs. One visitor on Patpong market was, so stunning that I almost pretended to tipple over something, just to hang on to him for brief moment to keep my balance but regained my composure and dropped idea. 
Patpong market and soi 4 fairly busy. 
With another member visited Jupiter. House half full just be fore show  started but filled in with big group of visitors soon after. Show pretty brief, I think just 4 numbers but two erections visible. Mao, heavily tattooed hunk who left to Moonlight while ago is back. Three walkabout, first in briefs, no numbers, second in white shorts, no numbers and last one in black jeans, with numbers although quite a few of the guys did not have one meaning thay are already booked. 
During walkabout I tipped 2 best looking guys and expected as minimum acknowledging nod or smile during  next walk but no. I was like transparent. So same old there, handsome but disinterested guys. Good for them  but I took off for Moonlight.
As it was 11.45 crowd was thinning, few  floor boys still available and few modes, dressed already. Hoping to see one of three guys but to if them did ot show up tonight and third one, while sitting was, already booked by some Asian, as attractive as himself. 
Off to Hot Male beer bar, quite a crowd. Got myself a drink, invited one of their boys for his but he was, still doing some errands prompting comment from one of the patrons " you bought him drink and have nothing to show for it".
Lost all hope for warm bed tonight but there, s still Suriwong where I spotted guy I offed in the past few times. 
Bingo! 
So to summarize, Patpong still alive and presents a lot of opportunities. 

Five people were killed on board the coast guard aircraft, officials said.

great news all passengers and crew got out safely

This, along with the earthquake yesterday, has locals wondering if these are portents of what's to come in Japan in 2024.
I was down near Mt Fuji when the earthquake struck and although I didn't feel anything at all, my train back to Tokyo was cancelled and it took an extra hour to get back home.
Knowing Japan,they'll have the airport opened by  tomorrow. They don't mess around here.

I appreciate the variety on this site, just as I enjoy the variety of experiences offered by my many (eighty plus) trips to Thailand. I suspect that, were reports from bars the only content, I'd be  an occasional visitor only and not a contributor.
But they're not. We explore issues that are more applicable to the wonderful times I spend there...tourism and hotels, eating-out, travel, culture, history Including that of the gay scene, politics and the joys and tribulations of relationships with our beautiful hosts.
Regarding that final one, this is the only forum on which I can discuss my own relationship openly and without provoking rancour. And that's precious to me.
 

I'll have to see if I can find the more recent version. Still spine tingling
 

You guys are funny
So my hotel booked me a taxi to Jomtien. 1200baht, seemed like a good deal to me, especially since the trip back to BKK was 1600.
So on arrival at Jomtien, I check into hotel, and go for a little wander to find the beach and see the area. On walking past one of the massage shops in the complex, I'm grabbed at by multiple boys... clearly the boys are far more forward here! I carry on walking trying to smile and shake my head and say no.
On my return, I spy out Sophia's thai, and a couple cafe/resturants opposite, and make note for food later. My favourite thai food is 'pad gra pow'... and if you ask for not spicy, they simply leave out all of the chillis, If you ask for a little spice, you get all of the spice.
So my first night, I go around the Complex, checking out all the bars. It's busy because its christmas eve, seems like everyone is out. As I'm wandering through several of the bar boys try to grab me to pull me into their bars. One even gives me a bear hug and wont let me past. I was cold sober at this point, and I'm a pretty shy reserved guy. Stangers grabbing and hugging me uninvited is not what I call fun.
I eventually find a bar that looks a bit quiter with a good seat to people watch. After some time, I get a message from the boys I saw it BBK, they're sitting at the bar nearby and invite me over. I sit for drinks and get to know them all better. At the end of the night, I go back with one, I'll call him M, and M certainly wasn't just a beautiful face. He was defintely worth every baht of his tip. He leaves after, and I go to sleep satisfied.
The next morning I take a little trip over to Terminal 21 to wander the mall and see if there is any good sales on. I find a couple of nice things, and head back to the complex. After a swim and a rest, I'm ready for night 2. I run the massage shop gauntlet again to get some food, then I decide to go to the Venue for the show. After enjoying the awesome show, I end up back drinking with M and his friends. I go back to hotel alone though.
The following day I spend relaxing by at the beach and by the pool, and of the evening, I eat then join M and friends for drinks. We end up playing drinking games, and M asks me to take him back to the hotel, and thats where we go. After some good times were had, we both head back to join the others for more drinking and games. M wants to stay with me the night, and I say yes. I leave to your imaginations what we got up to.
At this point, M is starting to refer to me as his bf... which would suprise none of the more experienced members here I'm sure.
It's my last full day in Thailand, and I spend most of it with M, relaxing at the beach and having lunch. Of the evening, we part company for a while, before meeting up again. I want to see the Venue show again, and M comes along. He's really not into the show at all, but I'm enjoying it... technical issues and all
My last night I spend alone as I needed to be up early for the flight home.
 
I had thought this would be my last ever trip to LoS... but I think I've been convinced that there is still much more for me to enjoy there.
 
Thanks for reading

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year fellow posters. I hope that the spirit of the season brings us to a renewed sense of peace, particularly on the message board where cantankerous is a rising attitude. I am no angel, but I would like to ask everyone to tone down any hostility toward a fellow poster.
Merry Christmas @Olddaddy!!!