tm_nyc

At least once during every trip I succumb to the siren call of the Roadhouse BBQ (Surawong at Rama IV) for what I consider the best burger in town. But what I particularly find attractive is the price. For what you'd be asked to fork over at Burger King down the road for their top of the line burger you get something much tastier and substantial.
I think of it as a frugal man's luxury.
It comes with cole slaw for 325 baht. But what makes it special is the generous paddy of Wagyu beef cooked expertly to order. You can get fries for 75 baht but I'd opt to pair it with the bacon baked beans for 80.
What's a burger without beer and the pints starts as low as 130 for a Chiang and 140 for my favorite draft from Japan.
The atmosphere lives up the name: dark wood, spacious seating and coupled with friendly service.
 

I'm currently in Chengdu and was searching for gay venues in English on bing and in Chinese on baidu. Few results. I went to MC bar and sauna and a local told me they closed two years ago. I went to Tata bar and there is now a different business, which was not open Friday night around 9. How to find gay venues?
Gay online dating similar. I scrolled down on blued a bit, and when I reached 610 km distance, there is a message "There are no more guys, please check it later." Is there an international version of blued which I am using, and a local one they are using?
(Taking advantage of 15 days visa free for Germans and various others. Gayguides is not blocked in China.)

From Pattaya Mail

Scheduled to unfold from April 5 to 6 at the G Floor Activity Area of Royal Garden Plaza Pattaya, this year’s convention adopts the theme “Colours of the Butterfly’s Journey.” The concept symbolizes the life stories of tattoo artists, mirroring their transformation from apprentices to skilled artisans. Like butterflies, they infuse vibrant hues into the world, each stroke representing a stage in their metamorphosis.
The event will draw skilled tattoo artists from both Thailand and across the globe, converging to showcase their artistry on skin. Participants will engage in knowledge exchange and explore various tattoo styles, spanning historical traditions to contemporary innovations. Moreover, aspiring tattoo artists will have the opportunity to exhibit their talents, enriching the convention’s diverse tapestry.

From The Nation

 
Ko Muang Phet, a magnificent albino buffalo owned by Damrongsak Morakot in Phetchaburi province, recently made headlines when it was bought for a whopping 18 million baht. Renowned for its striking beauty and colossal size, the buffalo is known for its remarkable breeding capability because 90% of its offspring will be born with albino traits. This means, nine of 10 calves produced will be albino, which makes it a significant asset in the buffalo breeding industry.
Adding to its fame, Ko Muang Phet also made a mark in the entertainment world, starring as the character Ai Khlaow’s buffalo in the most recent version of the popular “Mon Rak Luk Thung” TV drama.
Despite being just about five years old and standing at an impressive height of 180 centimetres, Ko Muang Phet has earned the title of Thailand’s top giant breeding buffalo, remaining undefeated in competitions for years.

Indeed, I have had that experience. Wherever possible I book directly with airlines' sites. But these aggregators are good for finding out which airlines fly to the the destinations I am looking at and for price comparisons.

I'm always a bit leery of booking flights with these sort of sites. If anything goes wrong with your flights having to contact them for customer service might be difficult.

NOTE -- Was Barry K reading Vinapu's mind--or recent post--about Pattaya, and Soi 6 in particular?
From Pattaya Mail
By Barry Kenyon
Stickman Bangkok, the leading bar and club commentator since 1998, claims boldly that Pattaya has shaken off its seedy reputation. In his weekly online article, for March 10, he argues Pattaya is moving rapidly towards diversification and respectability. What was once a playground for middle-aged white men is now very much a family holiday destination.
For Stickman, Peak Pattaya was from 1998 to 2010 when the resort had transformed from something of a backwater beach destination to a developed (but not over-developed) resort which managed to maintain the old vibes but with more choices of places to go, shop and sleep. It was still a place dominated by middle-aged white men. Today, Stickman concludes, Pattaya is bland by comparison and not anymore off-beat or risque.
Most old timers in Pattaya are going to agree with Stickman who, like Martin Luther at the time of the Reformation, said aloud what lots of people were thinking anyhow. Today’s Pattaya is a concrete jungle, as everyone sees on arrival, and is no longer a bargain for the economy tourist. The sex-dominated districts, such as Soi Six and Soi Buakhao, are fewer in number and probably less fun than they once were. Mobile phones have replaced furtive glances as you pass by.
The Walking Street has changed beyond all recognition, more upmarket and with a future likely dominated by Indian dance clubs and bars essentially catering for Asian travellers. Stickman does not mention the gay scene centered on Jomtien Complex and Boyztown – he usually claims his readers wouldn’t be interested – but the changes there are significant too. Pickup bars and gogo joints have largely been superseded by businesses offering entertaining drag shows, which even your grandmother might enjoy, and relaxing venues where social rather than sexual intercourse seems to be the dominant conversation. Still, they are busy most nights.
Putting the sex back in Pattaya, as you might say, isn’t an option. The Thai government is currently busy offering visa free travel to the diverse mega-markets of Russia, China and India amongst others. As Thailand’s birth rate continues to decline, largely because of the expense of raising families, young Thais have better options than selling their bodies. Pattaya’s successful MICE market (meetings and conventions etc.), the expanding five-star accommodation options, the much misunderstood Eastern Economic Corridor, the diversification of entertainment facilities catering for families (amongst lots of other factors) all point to a future very different from 15 years ago.
Nostalgia for the past, of course, is a privilege of advancing years. Stickman acknowledges that, recalling some of the great characters of the past such as Glitterman who rode a beautifully decorated bicycle around Pattaya, or the guy with the parrot which he even took into the immigration bureau to renew his visa, or the lady who covered herself with tarantulas to shock first time visitors. All gone. Perhaps too sex in Pattaya will wither on the vine. Check out Stickman’s article on https://www.stickmanbangkok.com and decide for yourself.
====================
From Pattaya Mail
Parliamentary delegation surveys EEC, highlights U-Tapao Airport’s strategic role
A high-profile delegation led by Krumanit Sangpoom, Chairman of the Land Transportation Committee of the House of Representatives, embarked on a comprehensive tour of key infrastructure sites within the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) on March 10. The deputation, aimed to gain valuable insights, receive briefings, and engage in discussions regarding the development of this vital economic zone in Thailand’s eastern region.
The visit, facilitated by members of the committee, encompassed three significant locations integral to the EEC’s development trajectory: Laem Chabang Port, U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport in Ban Chang District, Rayong Province, and the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate Office. Throughout the visit, the delegation actively participated in discussions and exchanged viewpoints with relevant authorities, addressing the progress, challenges, and obstacles encountered in advancing the EEC’s infrastructure and economic landscape.
The valuable insights and feedback garnered during the visit, encompassing assessments of existing services, identification of areas for enhancement, and strategies for bolstering capacity, will be presented to the Cabinet for deliberation and subsequent action. The delegation reiterated its unwavering commitment to fostering the development of the EEC, acknowledging its pivotal role in shaping Thailand’s future economic trajectory. Furthermore, the strategic positioning of U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport was underscored, highlighting its potential to accommodate a significant share of visitors alongside Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang International Airports in the foreseeable future.

In Cartagena, you have to remember that this is really three cities -- the old Walled city and next-door Getsemani, the Hotels along the water in Bocagrande and the suburban outpost of El Castillo, and the main city of Cartagena proper (including the Manga neighbourhood).
You want to spend time in the Walled City, walk around and soak in the ambience. Grab a drink at Cafe del Mar and watch the sun set.  Visit Gabriel Garcia Marquez's former home.  Have lunch by the pool at the Santa Clara hotel (a former monastery).  Explore the graffiti covered streets of Getsemani and walk under the hanging umbrellas that protect you from the sun.
As others have pointed out, the beaches along Bocagrande are not great. The best beach is in El Castillo next to the Hilton hotel. It is a public beach so feel free to set up there. Otherwise, you can grab a day charter from Muelle de la Bodegita where dozens of companies will sell you packages for day trips to Cholón (over priced but popular), Playa Blanca and Barú.  There are tons of shops, restaurants and smaller bars in Bocagrande-El Castillo, which becomes very lively in the evening.
You are definitely going to want to go out at least once. There are dozens of rooftop bars/clubs in the walled city. The best known are Alquímico, Tsunami, and Ajeno.  The scene at Donde Fidel (on the street across from the Hard Rock) is fun and you will get different entertainment looking for tips.
As far as Baranquilla goes, it is not well developed for tourism. It actually came into existence because of its location on the Magdelana river so it has extensive history and interesting culture.  Unless you are very comfortable with the language and know some locals, there is little to see and do outside of Carnaval each year.  The suggestions to explore Tayrona and Santa Marta are good ones since both are relatively close.  You may also want to just spend more time exploring the many sites around Cartagena such as El Tutumo (mud volcano -- fun half day outing), see the flamingos at the Avario nacional de Barú, swim with photoplankton at night in Barú, learn about AfroColombian culture with a day trip to San Basilio del Palenque, or tour the mangroves outside Cartagena.  There are many other options to see - do so I encourage you to keep exploring the many possibilities for your trip here.  Enjoy your time in Colombia.

It's been 23 months since the last post (April 2022) in this subforum, about a jazz festival in Hua Hin. Doesn't look like many members go to this beach town. I passed through the town one afternoon on my way back to Bangkok from further south and took some pictures. Didn't spot anything gay, but the place has a nice relaxing feel to it.
https://shamelessmacktwo.travel.blog/2024/03/10/passing-through-hua-hin/

From VN EXpress
The Indonesian air safety agency has called for better pilot fatigue monitoring mechanisms after an investigation revealed that both pilots of a commercial aircraft had recently fallen asleep in-flight.
A pilot and co-pilot were simultaneously asleep for approximately 28 minutes during a Batik Air flight from south-east Sulawesi to the capital Jakarta on Jan. 25, a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) said.
The report, seen by AFP on March 8, was uploaded to the agency’s website in late February.
Indonesia is a vast archipelago with a poor air safety record despite relying heavily on air transport to connect its thousands of islands.
One of the pilots had not rested adequately the night before the flight, the report said.
The incident resulted in a series of navigation errors, but the Airbus A320’s 153 passengers and four flight attendants were unharmed during the flight, which lasted two hours and 35 minutes.
About half an hour after the plane took off, the captain asked permission from his second-in-command to rest for a while, with the request being granted.
The co-pilot then took over command of the aircraft, but also inadvertently fell asleep, the report said.
"The second-in-command had one-month old twin babies. His wife took care of the babies, and he assisted while at home," the report said.
A few minutes after the last recorded transmission by the co-pilot, the area control centre in Jakarta tried to contact the aircraft. It received no answer.
Twenty-eight minutes after the last recorded transmission, the pilot woke up and realised his co-pilot was asleep and that the aircraft was not on the correct flight path.
He immediately woke his colleague up, responded to the calls from Jakarta and corrected the flight path, the report said.
The plane landed safely after the incident.
Investigators did not identify the pilots, but said they were both Indonesians and were aged 32 and 28.
KNKT urged Batik Air to create detailed procedures to conduct proper and regular cockpit checks and to ensure that pilots and cabin crew were well-rested before their flights.
    The report, seen by AFP on March 8, was uploaded to the agency’s website in late February.
Indonesia is a vast archipelago with a poor air safety record despite relying heavily on air transport to connect its thousands of islands.
One of the pilots had not rested adequately the night before the flight, the report said.
The incident resulted in a series of navigation errors, but the Airbus A320’s 153 passengers and four flight attendants were unharmed during the flight, which lasted two hours and 35 minutes.
About half an hour after the plane took off, the captain asked permission from his second-in-command to rest for a while, with the request being granted.
The co-pilot then took over command of the aircraft, but also inadvertently fell asleep, the report said.
"The second-in-command had one-month old twin babies. His wife took care of the babies, and he assisted while at home," the report said.
A few minutes after the last recorded transmission by the co-pilot, the area control centre in Jakarta tried to contact the aircraft. It received no answer.

From Thai Enquirer and other sources

Six people were arrested after attempting to smuggle 87 animals stuffed in luggage through Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand.
Five men and one women, all of whom are Indian nationals, were arrested by Thailand's Customs Department after officials found their luggage suspicious during a security check, reported The Independent.
The group was allegedly trying to smuggle the creatures to Mumbai, India.
According to the Thai Enquirer, the animals seized include:
29 lizards, such as black-throated monitors 21 snakes, including corn snakes and red bamboo rat snakes 15 birds, such as the bird of paradise and parrots Seven monitor lizards Four chameleons Two squirrels Two bats Two cotton-top tamarins One fishing cat One red panda One Sulawesi bear cuscus One frog One rat

NOTE -- I highlighted the sentence about street food because I saw that in evidence nightly on Patpong One nightly on recent trip.
From Tourism Authority of Thailand
A Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) survey has revealed that foreign tourists have increased their spending on accommodation post-pandemic, showing a preference for luxury hotels or resorts despite higher airfares.
The survey, which involved 30,054 tourists in 2023, highlighted that average spending per trip rose to 50,900 baht, up from previous years. Accommodation costs accounted for a significant portion of this expenditure, averaging 23,518 baht per trip.
The survey also showed a shift in dining preferences among tourists, with an increase in those opting for street food, rising from 63% to 77.3%. This change has led to a decrease in the average spending on food and beverage to 4,094 baht, down from 5,875 baht in 2019.
Café hopping has emerged as a new trend, increasing in popularity among tourists. The TAT observed spending patterns among different nationalities, with tourists from the Middle East being the biggest spenders, followed by visitors from Oceania, the US, and Europe.
The survey highlighted the evolving landscape of travel bookings, with a majority of individual travelers (53.7%) using online platforms for trip arrangements. Despite this, travel agents and tour operators still play a significant role in the industry.

This is very interesting. It's a site for Asian travellers (I suspect majority Japanese) judging by the handles used by those posting comments, and by the fact that it offers automatic translation into Japanese, Mainland Chinese, Taiwanese Chinese, Korean and English (cool use of technology). I think it charges businesses for advertising/listing.
It's great to see sites catering to Asian travellers. They are the one who will keep gay businesses in Asia alive and well.
 

I saw this today and it seems very comprehensive and current. I’m not going to search whether it’s been previously posted.
If you go to the main menu you can link to Pattaya, Chiang Mai, or Phuket.
https://gayandasia.com/en/bangkok
 

I agree with @12is12  You've written the post in a manner that simply recounts the facts and lets the facts speak for themselves. Indeed, it serves as a cautionary tale for others.  You've also been very fair by describing how the mamasan resolved the matter promptly and satisfactorily. Thank you.
What remains as a bit of a  mystery is how the upfront payment of 1500 baht for "tip" was even requested in the bar itself before you set off for your hotel. Was it condoned by the mamasan? Paid to the mamasan/bar cashier? Or paid to another boy for "safekeeping" for Jack? If the latter, it would be suspicious.
That said, over 20 years ago, I did have a similar experience, where a bar on Sukhumvit Soi 23 (Bangkok) told me that their practice was to collect the tip in the bar itself before the boy goes off with me. I thought it strange then, but the bar manager explained it something along these lines: (a) the boy should have no reason to ask for more money at the end of the session, (b) if the boy does not perform, come back to the bar the next evening and let us know; we will not transfer the pre-deposited tip to the boy.
In that instance, the boy did well and I had no reason to go back to the back the next evening. But till now, it remained the only time ever that I have encountered such a practice of collecting the tip upfront.
So, what I am saying is that this practice of collecting the tip upfront may be rare, but is not unknown. And if the bar is a reputed one (which Circle Pub seems to be), it may be for a good reason - as your own experience has shown.
 

Let me summarize my recent trip. I had a long weekend trip to Lisbon and I was going to attend an event there with my friends so I did not have a lot of time to explore but I had a good grasp of the market. As usual in Europe, hunqz was the most reliable bet but I haven't hired from hunqz for some time. I know that some of the escorts can delete their reviews so I did not find those reviews very useful and that's why I moved away from hunqz. On the surface you find many guys on hunqz but after digging a little bit I realized that it didn't have many guys of my liking. It's not as extensive as Barcelona. But still some options. I also realized that guys in Lisbon are much slower than the guys in Barcelona where I usually get a very quick reply if I contact them through their ad or hunqz website. Most guys quote 100, some 80 (outcalls extra Uber), I got one 120, 150, 200!!! Weirdly the highest two offers were the ugliest 😂 120 was an Argentinian guy who claimed he lost his reviews so smelled a bit fishy and I didn't try. For me bigger sized guys are a problem so it restricted my search quite a bit. Many Brazilians with xx+ so I had to exclude them. I found an African guy who looked like Caribbean or North African. He was 180 + in height and had a very nice well-defined body, not too mascular, very balanced body huge thighs and legs so he was my type in terms of looks and body. He also had a very nice attitude when we messaged: very efficient communication easy to chat upfront about the rates and pictures. So I decided to hire immediately even though he didn't have any reviews. I went to his place and he looked like his at pictures, although a bit balding. I made sure that kissing was okay and everything, so when I arrived we made out and he started having trouble with erection, and of course, when guys have erection problems things get quite ugly. He started telling me that this was his first time and he decided to do it because his friends said he should do it to get extra money and he thought it was easy and the funniest part was that he said he was so confused at the moment when he made out with me and he is straight 😂 well at least he was honest and still had a nice attitude so I decided to end it and pay him 50e, although technically speaking I always say no pay if erection problem. How do you guys deal with erection problems with escorts? I am usually more of a bottom when I hire so erection is essential for me. Without it I don't see any point of hiring them.
For the second one, I wanted to go for a reliable hire so someone with a lot of positive comments, so ended up with a Brazilian guy. He was a bit short but nice muscular body, very chill and relaxed. We started from a massage, which usually is mediocre in my past experience outside of Asia but he was quite good. Then we finished the deeds without any issues, nice kisser and average size, which is perfect for me. If you are interested in this guy, message me in private but he is not for the size queens. 
I also noticed there are some local sites like classificadosx and vivastreet when I googled. Some of them list their prices on their ad so I contacted a few but nothing came out fruitful. On these websites I saw some Portuguese guys so I was curious. Weirdly their rates were lower but all of them except one did not go through. And I didn't have time to meet with the one I managed to chat theough. It was on my day of departure and his place was far from the airport. 
One interesting incident is that some Brazilians advertise with the same number and same rate but different profiles. Maybe they are staying together but I didn't quite understand what they are up to. There were two hot guys and one tranny using the same location and numbers. Two guys advertise it as 50e for 1h but as soon as you contact them they will increase their rate to 100e, which is still fine but it didn't sit well with me. Something was sketchy so I googled the number and some hunqz profiles came up and they didn't have any reviews either. So I didn't bother to explore more but they were not the nicest people with communicate with. Be careful about these guys. They are very obvious on the platform.
Overall, online hiring was a bit time consuming compared to sauna hires. I always had a very nice impression about Brazilians because they deliver and they are very passionate in sex and have nice looks but in Lisbon I realized that most of my positive impressions came from sauna hires. In Lisbon I ran into some difficult Brazilians when I tried to hire online but I realized that I had the same issue with the Brazilians in London as well. So I kinda paused and said wait, maybe I am so biased because of my sauna experience with them 😆
So this was my hiring but I will follow up with non hiring part. 
 

From The Thaiger
An unnamed Thai police officer revealed that his superiors attempted to suppress a story about the arrest of a British backpacker for selling Category 1 drugs on a notorious island in Thailand.
Andrew Brett was arrested on Thursday, February 29, for allegedly selling ecstasy and LSD to other foreign tourists at the Ecco Bar on Koh Tao island in the southern province of Surat Thani. The Thai officer, who wished to remain anonymous, informed a reporter that the police had been monitoring the drug dealer for several months before they swooped to nab him.
The Thai cop made known they wanted to conceal the crime because the drug dealing took place on the notorious Koh Tao island, widely known as Death Island.
Following a tip-off from a concerned patron, police initiated an investigation into allegations that the British man was distributing drugs at the bar. After monitoring his activities for five months, officers finally apprehended him on his way to the establishment on February 29. Among his belongings, officers allegedly discovered 0.54 grammes of ecstasy in a plastic bag, along with 25 ecstasy pills and 75 LSD sheets, locally known as magic paper.
According to police reports, Brett would leave his apartment daily at 8pm to sell drugs to customers at the Ecco Bar, a short distance from Sairee Beach where British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were tragically killed in 2014.
The police officer revealed that the case had been kept confidential for several months. Subsequently, they stated that orders had been given to “suppress the case”’to safeguard the island’s notorious mafia-like reputation.
“The suspect admitted that all the narcotics found belonged to him. He said he sold ecstasy pills to tourists for 1,000 baht each, while the LSD paper was sold at 100 baht each.”
Brett has been charged with possession of Category I narcotics for distribution and now faces a potential punishment of up to life imprisonment or even the death penalty, depending on the severity of the case.
Koh Tao earned the nickname Death Island following the tragic murders of British backpackers Witheridge and Miller in 2014. Subsequent incidents of tourist deaths have raised concerns, with several cases remaining unexplained.
Authors, documentary makers, and researchers have attributed these incidents to corrupt Thai police and a powerful group of local families controlling the island, accused of covering up the murders, reported The Daily Mail.
 
 
 
 

From Thai News Agency 
BANGKOK, March 5 (TNA) – Thai transgender women gathered in Bangkok downtown last night to reclaim dignity for their peers following an incident where four Thai transgender women were allegedly assaulted by a group of 20 Filipino transgender women.
A thousand of Thai transgender women gathered outside a hotel in Soi Sukhumvit 11 where the Filipino transgender women involving in the brawl were staying.
According to a victim’s friend, the incident occurred around 5 a.m. on Monday outside a restaurant near the BTS Nana Station. They encountered a group of Filipino transgender women with whom they had a previous conflict. A verbal exchange ensued before turning physical outside the restaurant.
The Filipino group reportedly consisted of around 20 people, while only four Thai transgender women were present, resulting in injuries to the latter.
The incident was later shared on social media by Filipino transgender women, causing Thai transgenders to feel humiliated. This created a significant uproar among Thai transgender community. In response, they gathered at a hotel where the Filipino transgender women involved in the case resided, hoping to resolve the issue and reclaim their dignity.
Around 10 p.m., police deployed forces to maintain order at the gathering point in Soi Sukhumvit 11 to prevent further escalation and escorted three Filipino transgender women for questioning at the Lumpini Police Station.
Shortly after, about 100 transgender women expressed solidarity with their peers, gathering outside the police station to monitor developments in the case.
Thai transgender women, claiming to be victims, also provided statements to the police.
Pol. Col. Yingyos Suwanno, chief of Lumpini Police Station emphasized fairness in their investigation for both parties. Once the culprits are identified, they will be summoned for further questioning. Authorities will also scrutinize the purpose of entry into Thailand for foreign nationals involved.

From Thai PBS World

A large group of Thai LGBTQ+ people rallied in front of a hotel in Sukhumvit Soi 11 in Bangkok late Monday night, reportedly to confront a group of Filipino LGBTQ+ people following a violent incident early yesterday involving members of the two groups in front of a food shop near the Nana BTS station.
A member of the Thai group alleged that about 20 Filipino LGBTQ+ members attacked four Thais and then posted a clip of the incident on social media, in a way they considered to be an insult to the Thais. Two Thais were injured in the incident.
They said that the rally was intended defend the dignity of Thai LGBTQ+ people.
Officers from Lumpini police station were dispatched to the scene, to prevent the confrontation from intensifying, and invited the two groups to the police station to settle their dispute, with the promise of justice for both sides.
Pol Col Yingyos Suwanno, the police superintendent, reportedly said that he would check the papers of the Filipinos, to find out if they have work permits.
He then urged the Thais to disperse, a request with which they complied.

I am more concerned about short transit times than about overnight flights. Nowadays, some airports can be terribly congested and there are infinite reasons for delays. I've had an occasion when I had to run to the departing gate because the arriving flight was late. I made it and was proud of myself. But at the final destination, I was told my luggage didn't make it. "Maybe it will arrive tomorrow".
So if needed to avoid a short transit time, I would even choose an overnight flight.
 

Hi gay fellow travellers
I really enjoyed reading all the stories and travel report from this community. Now I want to share my experience in Saigon 5 years ago.
I rented an airbnb with street door access 2 floors. I used 2nd floor for my own rest and the first floor dedicated for escort use luckily there was a bed and bathroom on each floor.
There was a website called https://www.ngaytho.me/diendan/
You check what they offer and talk to the mamasan via a local chat app called Zalo, tell the mamasan who you want and where do you want to meet. Mamasan is good at communicating in English even if you have trouble you can still use google translate for scheduling. I picked one guy and he came to my airbnb. The service was ok and i remembered it was around 1 million VND. The website has been changed so much snd the going price ranging from 1.2 million to 2 million now. I have not contacted any of the mamasan since then, but i am sure you will get a similar experience. Also please be aware of the boys may use photo editing to their pictures. So the one who appears on the website may be slightly different than what you see in person. I paid the guy in cash.
For gay suana, i went to several but i cannot recall all of them. Of all, Nadam spa was the best and i am still thinking going back. Design was very traditional chinese, erotic but not too overwhelming. The maze also very flirting. 
My trip then went all the way up to hanoi. You can tell the more north you go, the more socialism it feels. I did not recall good experience there.
This was my past experience and hope it helps for you.
AsianExplorer 
 

The Pet Shop Boys have release a new single called Loneliness
As a song it is fairly similar to pretty much all their other songs, and a similar theme, but if you are of a certain age like me who was in my teens in the late Eighties/Nineties, it is an irresistably nostalgic listen.
And the video for it has a nice story-line and some very cute men (sometimes wearing very little), so even if you are not into the Pet Shop Boys it might be worth a click:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUVfoybVqIg&t=314s&ab_channel=PetShopBoys
 
 

From Pattaya News
Pattaya is experiencing a surge in tourism, with hotels exceeding 90% room occupancy driven by an influx of visitors from China, Russia, and India, alongside a rise in domestic tourism.
According to Mr. Sanphet Supabawornsathien, president of the Eastern Thai Hotel Association, this positive trend is fueled by several factors. Russian tourists, seeking respite from the cold and the ongoing war with Ukraine, have chosen Pattaya as their destination, leading to increased flight frequency since late January.
This resurgence is further bolstered by the return of Chinese tourists, who began visiting Pattaya earlier this year. Indian tourists are also contributing to the tourism boom. Notably, while domestic Thai tourists were relatively scarce in January, their numbers have significantly risen during recent long weekends, indicating a growing domestic travel interest in Pattaya.
Mr. Sanphet noted a shift in booking behavior among Thai tourists, who are now making last-minute reservations as opposed to the traditional advance booking pattern. This trend is reflected in his own hotel chain, where room reservations have increased by over 200 rooms on average, signifying a citywide occupancy rate of more than 90%.

Why couldn’t they have managed to charge the real perp.
From Thai PBS World
The Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) has agreed to indict former police chief, Pol Gen Somyot Poompanmuang, former deputy attorney-general, Nate Naksuk, and six other individuals with malfeasance in office for allegedly helping Red Bull heir Vorayuth Yoovidhya to evade prosecution following a fatal hit-and-run incident in 2012.
The six other individuals are Pol Maj-Gen Thawatchai Mekprasetsook, a former divisional commander, Pol Col Veeradol Thaptimdee, a former enquiry officer at Thonglor police station, public prosecutor Chainarong Sangthongaram,Deputy Professor Dr. Saiprasit Kerdniyom, Thanit Buakhiewand Chuchai Lertpongadisorn.
OAG spokesman Prayut Bejraguna said that they also decided to retain four other suspects as prosecution witnesses. They are Pol Col Vivat Sitthisoradej, Air Marshal Chakkrit Thanomkulavutr, Pol Lt-Col Pannaphon Namuang and Air Marshal Surachate Thongsaluay.
Five other suspects were cleared of any wrongdoing by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), which investigated the case. They are Pol Lt-Col Songvuth Charoenvichayadej, Voraphol Soktiyanurak, Usa Chusin and Natnjcha Thongchuen.
 

I stayed at the Birdcage back in November.  It has a mixed M/F staff so is maybe 'gay-friendly', but all the staff were all very pleasant to deal with.  I liked the location, my room was very comfortable & the garden/pool/restaurant is great.