Olddaddy

I became a new retiree in Pattaya in September 2022 - but I have been visiting since 2014 off and on.
So, I cannot speak for what has happened in the last 20 years.
But I can share an observation that any of us visiting or living here has probably noticed - the distribution of people on the online apps (Grindr, Hornet, HeeSay, Romeo, etc.) - which in my opinion has shifted:
From Asians and Farangs
TO Russians, Asians, and Farangs
I would venture to say that the Russians represent between 30% to 40% of the online community in Grindr and Hornet.  In Romeo - predominantly a Farang and somewhat Asian hangout place it has shrunk in popularity but has not see this big influx of Russians.  Regarding HeeSay (formerly BLUED), I am a new member - and I see a small farang representation and a much bigger Asian representation.
Do you all think this shift in what we see of "who is online" is representative of what is happening in Pattaya in 2024?
Regarding the 3 forums - you can definitely see that they are shrinking and dying off.  What they have been replaced with I am not sure that there are any other social media vehicles that fill the role that these 3 forums did (Gaybutton, Sawatdee Gay Thailand, and GayGuides).

I read this 3 times, I don't understand anything you are trying to say....maybe it's me, I'm just waking up 🙄

it was me who said the  exact same words until my first trip to songkran in 2023. the trip completely changed my mind. but as a matter of fact, i didnt participate in water fights during daytime. what i enjoyed the most was their parties at night. water, music and EtOH everywhere until 1-2 am in the morning. heat was much more bearable at night especially with water and also perfect for my jetlag.

Same as you I don't like crowds.
Last time I was in Songkran was 2014 , didn't enjoy being shot in the eye by high powered water guns by drunken young farangs 

......and the traffic? what's the latest on the roadworks? I understand Beach Road is affected.

Absolutely inappropriate then. Yeah, I'd be making complaints.
 

No, he does not look underage. He does use Botox, so he doesn't have wrinkles, but he definitely doesn't look under 18. He's 6' 4" (1.93 m) tall. In the 3 years we've been together, we've traveled extensively, probably in close to 100 hotels, and never previously been questioneed.

Perhaps be pleased that they thought your fiance was underage, I wouldn't mind being thought to be a lot younger than my age! It happens sometimes! But I agree that checking is sensible. 

This gay-straight debate is a bit useless. For some people fucking is not a big deal, it feels good, sometimes you can get money for that. Some people can avoid hunger doing so, hunger is a horrible feeling, people do everything to avoid that.
I can eat with chopsticks, for fun or to be in line with the restaurant culture, no big deal, I dont care. But you would not say, I am a bit Asian or I am not 100% European. Its pointless. I just eat with chopsticks. Culturally I have nothing to do with Asia. 
Its the question, whom you wanna fuck in your night dreams - that would answer, if one likes more men or woman or both.

I just looked it up and it looks like it was filmed in New York City. They should film a sequel in Bangkok.

The rats we saw in Surawong three weeks ago were congregated in piles of food refuse from street vendors' stalls. There may be issues with refuse collection.

Just a note: I have my share of young people (college age) surrounding me when I work. Sometimes, we are in luxury hotels and airport hotels. Many of the male interns are straight (I don't always know for sure), and some are very handsome and young looking. Even my son is handsome and young looking, and we are often together, sharing the same room (he's straight, and most people don't think we are related). On occasion, I have noticed some people looking at me(us) with questioning eyes. My son has been carded, but nothing more. One time, in a hospital emergency room, a nurse asked me if my son was hurting me at home. I was a bit stunned by the question, and I responded, "Does that sweet, loving face look angry to you?," as I pointed his way. "Sorry, we have to ask." she answered.
For some reason, Sound of Freedom is a controversial film, probably something to do with Christian funding. The movie is based on Tim Ballard's story, who was a U.S. government agent, working on child sex trafficking cases. His secret trip to Columbia is covered in the film. It's not an easy film to watch, but I recommend it. It's difficult for me to believe that such extreme evil exists in our world, but it does. We need to be aware.
 

This is what Unicorn (OP) may mean and if it is then it's shocking and homophobic 
Look I had a few problems checking into hotels with my Filipino BF , not a great deal just some had signs up they don't accept "unmarried" couples etc 

Noobie here, so plz have patience. Awesome detailed report. Thanks for posting locations and your feedback. Invaluable info as I plan my first trip.

If your fiance genuinely looks like he might be underage to someone who has just met him, then I would suggest that you take the sour with the sweet. In all other ways you've got the best of both worlds, and it is important that those who would traffick children are stopped.
If your fiance in no way looks like he might be underage, then I would share with your indignation and insult, and make an appropriate complaint about how their policy has been misused to humilate you.

I'm very used to people mistaking my fiance for my son. But we checked into a hotel yesterday, and she asked how old he was (he's 30) because she was concerned I might be trafficking in minors! Have any of you been subjected to such humiliation? 😤

Well you had a go at the bloke because he wasn't happy  with the reception asking if he was a child trafficker so tell us what issue you had with the young person and we can decide about you 
 

If she had said that to me i would of told her to mind her own business 
I would of found that offensive to be told that 
Different laws , different states ,what age is a minor legally anyway , I think it's 16 right 

No, this was at our airport hotel in Los Angeles

Haven’t seen it this busy since before Covid and it’s only a Tuesday! Taiwanese actors are filming a movie next to Sol. Speaking of Sol what is it like? Cute guys sitting out front. Any tips?

I watch a Scottish vlogger that runs a hoof trimming company.
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/business/farming/5511148/the-hoof-gp-how-graeme-parker-has-become-a-global-internet-sensation/
The HoofGP on YouTube 

 

Thank you Vessey for the photos, particularly appreciated by such as I, whose bar-going days are over. Happy memories of  twink-bars.....the photos we usually see tend to be of "the other sort" of bar. Cockpit, Moonlight, City, Sawatdee and (for personal reasons) the old Dream Boys. They cheered me up on a grey London morning.

Same as you I don't like crowds.
Last time I was in Songkran was 2014 , didn't enjoy being shot in the eye by high powered water guns by drunken young farangs 

I expect I've said this before but the traditional Thai Songkran is a beautiful festival, just as Loy Kratong often is now, at least it was on Jomtien beach this year. The tender sprinkling of water on grandparents and washing of Buddha images; quiet reverence and respect. Very Thai.
Songkran's degeneration into an orgy of water fights and rowdiness is sad for some of us, something I experienced once and never again. Is this the result or a bi-product of tourism? Or would it have happened without us? 
By the way, does anyone recall the scandal of  an embassy official's wife - Norwegian?- slapping a child  who squirted water in her face in Pattaya?  

At first, I really enjoyed songkran, especially the party atmosphere in Silom.
I looked forward to visiting Thailand every April and especially remember a wonderful time I had in Pattaya.
A few friends from Eros suggested I come with them for some fun, so I bought the biggest supersoaker I could find and got right into it. We dropped by every 7/11 and I bought beers and snacks for everyone.
But I started getting annoyed when farang would start songkran a few days earlier when I was not prepared to get wet.  So I decided I'd had enough and decided to give songkran a miss.
I would divide my time in April between Bangkok and Pattaya and was able to escape songkran due to the differing dates in both cities..I'd hang around in Pattaya until the 18th and then head up to Bangkok where it had already finished.
Last year I took part in the celebrations in Bangkok for the first time in years. I had a great time with some friends from Golden Cock and Natureboys outside the bar.
I was planning to go back this year but am now going to Japan instead.