I have been grateful to learn so much from the reviews of others over the years. Now I have just returned from my most recent visit to Bangkok, I thought I would share my experiences with everyone.
It is certainly a time of change around the gogo bar scene in Bangkok just at the moment. I will include my observations of some of the new bars, alongside the old.
Day 1
Flight arrived at 7pm. Quickly through fast-track immigration and bags rapidly available. Traffic into the city was terrible. This might be usual on a Friday night or possibly because of the celebrations for the Kings coronation over the weekend. Settled into hotel in Silom close to the scene. Tired, but feel like a beer and a quick look round the bars to get settled in. First visit to Lucky Boys. Arrive as the show is drawing to a close with big cock show boys walking around the crowd seeking tips for a quick feel. A big barn of a place and it is packed. Lots of staff around who find me a seat. Good layout, with a mix of booth style seating for groups and other individual or small seating areas. Lots of boys. Mostly twinks. Place empties fast at the end of the show. Not in the mood for an off, so finish drink and go back to hotel. Left with the impression that Lucky Boys has quickly established itself as the leading bar amongst the new group on Soi 1. They have probably taken lots of business from the old Dreamboys. I wonder if they will be able to sustain this longer term? Back to hotel and a lengthy sleep.
Day 2
Late breakfast then a couple of hours at the hotel pool. Mid-afternoon decide to go for a massage. Keen to try 'Magic Touch by the Tree' based upon some very positive recent reviews. Arrive around 3pm. Easy to find and nice venue - clean and nicely decorated. No choice of masseur as I hadn't booked in advance and I am allocated to the next masseur on their rotation system. No problem with this in principle if all the masseurs have the same skills. Take 90 mins scrub and oil massage. Huge disappointment. Whilst masseur was friendly and attractive, his massage skills were average to poor and not a sensuous experience at all. He remained in his clothes throughout. Only towards the end did he offer me the 'special' service and suggested I'd like to tip him 2000Bht. Politely declined! He's going to have to work much harder for a tip anywhere near that size. So I leave unsatisfied, but with further opportunities ahead over the next week. I have no reason not to believe the earlier positive reviews of Magic Touch. I guess I was just unlucky in the selection of the masseur. But I'm not sure I'll go back, which is a pity given the convenient location close to my hotel.
In the evening I decide to try more of the new bars - Hotmale and then Freshboys. Both bars a decent size and familiar layouts to the previous bars - with main stage area and tiered seating around 3 sides. Good number of boys in both bars - again mostly twinks - and the shows were the usual range of acts including fucking shows at the end. Freshboys has a fun group of waiters who seem to be competing with the stage boys for drinks and possible offs (the waiters all have numbers) from customers. There was lots of amusing interactions going on with the waiters. I found the waiters more attractive than the stage boys. After the 12 Midnight show, I offed my favourite waiter - back to hotel together for a couple of hours of fun. It made up for the poor massage experience earlier.
Day 3 onwards to follow soon ...........