macaroni21

The data for the graphic-map seems to be taken from this table: https://pophealthmetrics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12963-016-0073-5/tables/1
How exactly this article got its estimates (and that's the word they used) is unclear. Frankly, not only Thailand, (23%)  but I also find the percentages for China (14%), Hong Kong (28%) and Japan (9%) hard to believe. Way too high.

What? 

What? 

What? 

What? 

I think this question has been overlooked: should parents have the right to make such decisions for children?
Here's an analogous question: are parents allowed to tattoo their children?

I think this question has been overlooked: should parents have the right to make such decisions for children?
Here's an analogous question: are parents allowed to tattoo their children?

I think this question has been overlooked: should parents have the right to make such decisions for children?
Here's an analogous question: are parents allowed to tattoo their children?

So, the next time we use OneSpa's rooms, we may meet a woman in the corridor? Or we may hear a woman moaning away in the next room? 
Hmmm. I think I will pass

The data for the graphic-map seems to be taken from this table: https://pophealthmetrics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12963-016-0073-5/tables/1
How exactly this article got its estimates (and that's the word they used) is unclear. Frankly, not only Thailand, (23%)  but I also find the percentages for China (14%), Hong Kong (28%) and Japan (9%) hard to believe. Way too high.

I have read that even in the African countries without a high Muslim population there has been a push to circumcise boys and men because it was seen as offering some protection against HIV. How much protection, I don't know. 

Hahaha. Basically, this update from the authorities sounds like "Nothing to see here, folks. Move on."

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 would also add that if a bar has a significant number of Japanese customers, it will make sense to collect the tip upfront. This is the practice in Japan, and so, Japanese customers would be more comfortable about it because it signals to them that the bar management takes responsibility for the quality of services provided. It's kind of opposite to the situation where a bar says, what happens after you leave the bar is between you and boy (both in terms of service and remuneration) and we wash our hands of it.

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.
 

Hahaha. Basically, this update from the authorities sounds like "Nothing to see here, folks. Move on."

Hmmm... The clues:
1. Soi Nana.
2. Five a.m.
3. Ability to mobilise 100 sisters within a day.
Professional jealousy perhaps?

Ladyboys are also mentioned here quite a lot. Read the threads about robbing on Pattaya Beach Road and the latest one about an afray in Soi Nana 🤣

Ladyboys are also mentioned here quite a lot. Read the threads about robbing on Pattaya Beach Road and the latest one about an afray in Soi Nana 🤣

Ladyboys are also mentioned here quite a lot. Read the threads about robbing on Pattaya Beach Road and the latest one about an afray in Soi Nana 🤣

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 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.
 

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.
 

I would also add that if a bar has a significant number of Japanese customers, it will make sense to collect the tip upfront. This is the practice in Japan, and so, Japanese customers would be more comfortable about it because it signals to them that the bar management takes responsibility for the quality of services provided. It's kind of opposite to the situation where a bar says, what happens after you leave the bar is between you and boy (both in terms of service and remuneration) and we wash our hands of it.

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.