chancellor

Poy Sang Long is a Shan buddhist ceremony with a long tradition and which many of the Shan boys do to make merit for their parents and elders.  Typically it's a 3 or 4 day ceremony and, until the boys are ordained, they're not allowed to touch the ground.  After their heads are shaved, they're dressed up in all kinds of silks and finery as well as facial makeup, all to have them mimic the Buddha himself (before Buddha was an ascetic, he was the son of a king and had all the riches and finery one could imagine).  The most colorful and public portion of the ceremony occurs early in the morning for two days when the boys are paraded around the temple grounds (and sometimes outside the temple) on the shoulders of their male relatives (or, occasionally, on a pony or even a palaquin).
 
The last day is the "ordination" day and the boys are stripped of all their finery, don the saffron robes, and enter the temple as novices.  Most of the boys stay at the temple for 1-3 weeks although a very small minority might actually become formal monks for life.
 
Mae Hong Song supposedly has the largest concentration of Shan here in Thailand and their Poy Sang Long ceremonies are purported to be fairly grandiose; however, here in Chiangmai, there is a sizable Shan population and similar ceremonies are held each year (between the middle of March and April, the precise dates either set by the phase of the moon or by the discretionary choice of the temple elders) at the two local Shan temples, Wat Guu Tao and Wat Pa Pao.  The Poy Sang Long ceremonies at Wat Guu Tao were held this year during the last week of March and about 70 boys were invested as novices.  I'll attempt to attach a few photos of that event.
 

By the way, talking about seniors, it is worth remembering that if you are in the otherwise unfortunate position of being 70 or over, you can use the special immigration processing section for persons variously handicapped by age or infirmity on the check-in floor of Suvarnaphumi instead of shuffling, goosey-gander-like through that upstairs and downstairs nightmare of shoving and elbowing through regular immigration and security. It is the one advantage that I can think of in being of - ahem! - that age - although, I must say, I did have the satisfaction of the immigration officer challenging my eligibility on the last occasion and my having to point out to him the date of my birth on my passport. It's probably a better idea to ask when you check in for the special pass that they give out to enable use of that facility.

Moderator, can't you do something about this pain in the arse? His gratuitous sniping is neither clever nor amusing nor contributory.

Moderator, can't you do something about this pain in the arse? His gratuitous sniping is neither clever nor amusing nor contributory.

Moderator, can't you do something about this pain in the arse? His gratuitous sniping is neither clever nor amusing nor contributory.

Moderator, can't you do something about this pain in the arse? His gratuitous sniping is neither clever nor amusing nor contributory.

Moderator, can't you do something about this pain in the arse? His gratuitous sniping is neither clever nor amusing nor contributory.

Moderator, can't you do something about this pain in the arse? His gratuitous sniping is neither clever nor amusing nor contributory.

Moderator, can't you do something about this pain in the arse? His gratuitous sniping is neither clever nor amusing nor contributory.

I don't really know what this is all about, but one thing I am certain of is that sglad is someone whose first language is English in which he or she has been educated to a high degree. Even well-educated English-speakers don't know what the subjunctive is let alone when to use it - nor do they put hyphens between their compound adjectives. The perfection of his composition betrays him. But as I said, I don't know what the significance of that might be. Perhaps he could share his CV with us.

re the original question about free pick ups in DJ Station: 
ever since I traveled to Thailand for the first time in 2000 (at age 36) I went to DJ on every trip to Thailand which was almost every year since, sometimes twice. I always found it exceedingly easy to pick up guys there, or indeed, be picked up by THEM. In all those years, I never went to Thailand for the commercial sex, and didn't make use of it with the exception of sometimes a HE at a legit massage shop. I did try the full service gay shops (like Arena, Adonis, and the like) a few times in the early years to satisfy the curiosity, but no more than maybe 3 or 4 times. DJ and PlanetRomeo (I didn't have a smartphone until I moved here lol) were the usual places where I met my tricks.
 
And even today at age 50+ it is not difficult to pick up guys at DJ, or be picked up (only I seldom go now because I'm lazy lol). Two recent examples from within the last 18 months or so:
 
1. Went to DJ on a Monday night (with a guy from KL I showed around town, but nothing more). It got reasonably crowded by 1am, but no guys looked attractive to be - with ONE notable exception, an unbelievably beautiful guy with model looks, probably early 20s, drinking and hanging out with his Thai friends, exactly the scenario OP described. Well I didn't make ANY attempts to flirt or get his attention as I saw no chance (him being by far the most beautiful boy in the club) and him being with his friends (me not wanting to interfere). What happened? Later into the night out of the blue he approaches me and shouts in my ear "I like you". Well, the rest is history lol. In fact he even has come to see me a few times after that.
 
2. Went to DJ forgot what day and with who. Saw a very sexy Thai guy (ok this one mid to late 20s), with his friends, drinking. Flirted with him by making frequent eye contact. When the club started to close asked him " you want to come with me?" -  and he did. Hot hot night and morning
 
Another very recent story: had a young-ish (30 or so) and good looking Filipino friend visit a month or so ago. He spent some nights in my condo, but then moved to a hotel with his Pinoy friend from Singapore. We all went out to DJ, and my friend picked up an older (around 60) farang, simply because he does like older farangs. 
 
So bottom line is: if you have decent looks and appear friendly and approachable, it WILL be easy at DJ. 
 
 
On the massage question: I only go to the normal shops, not the gay full-service shops vinapu frequents. In the normal shops, no need to state "no HE" up front, as technically it is to supposed to happen. When they offer it (or just proceed as sometimes happen) I don't want to for whatever reason, I decline in a friendly but firm manner, and it will be accepted. Whereas in the full-service shops it is par for the course, making it highly unusual for nothing to happen. 
As for the tip, vinapu (correct me if I'm wrong) tips 1000/hr because it is at the full service shops. I don't recall vinapu ever going to a "legit" shop, so I don't know if he would apply the same tip policy. I guess not as boy won't even be naked there. At a legit shop a "normal" tip is totally sufficient when no HE takes place ("normal" being open to individual interpretation, but certainly not being 1000/hr)
 
@vinapu, forgive me to quote you and write about your tipping habits here, but I have a feeling I know them so well from all your reports and meeting you in person a few times . Please do correct any mistakes I may have made!
 
Lastly a quick comment on Christian's post about DJ and GOD: entry is actually free, but they have a minimum consumption of 150 (1 drink, weekdays) or 300 (2 drinks, weekends) Baht. By charging that up front it looks and feels like an entry fee, but economically it is not. 

Get the ferry from Saphan Taksin and go up the river to Thewes ferry stop. (A long way). Don't miss the stop or you'll end up in Ayutthaya. A little bit further on, on the next promontory, you can see it from the ferry stop, is Steve's Restaurant. Go for lunch: fabulous trip, food and location. It is tricky to get to - you almost have to walk through the neighbours' kitchens - so look at Steve's website for directions. And don't forget the trail of breadcrumbs so you can find your way back. The starting point is to go out of the ferry wharf inland and turn left over the bridge that you'll see then double back. Afterwards, have a look at the beautiful Wat nearby and the creepy timber museum the name of which eludes me. You can go back down the river or get a cab to Hua Lamphong which is not far and get the train from there. 

Compliments to ryanasia on this post - interesting , candid, pertinent, informative

This is the best post I have read on this board - with respect to all the other excellent posters.

The man in your picture would be pretty well known to devotees of the Tawan Bar. I bumped into him in the lobby of Tarntawan Place last November on his way to see a customer, so I assume he is still, in some measure, available. He is an extremely nice and dignified man - not to say very handsome and, though not tall, an most imposing presence. I do not think he was coming from Tawan so I doubt you will find him there now.  I recall some years ago spending a week with him and the (then and now) love of my life, another famous muscleboy from Tawan, giving me a very stern lecture about how ill-mannered it was considered for me to blow my nose at the dinner table (it was the massive infusion of chili what caused it!) I have never ever done it in Thailand since. So there is one little point of etiquette for you on your first visit: don't blow your nose at the dinner table, however pressing the need! Good luck on your adventures; Tawan rarely disappoints.

The man in your picture would be pretty well known to devotees of the Tawan Bar. I bumped into him in the lobby of Tarntawan Place last November on his way to see a customer, so I assume he is still, in some measure, available. He is an extremely nice and dignified man - not to say very handsome and, though not tall, an most imposing presence. I do not think he was coming from Tawan so I doubt you will find him there now.  I recall some years ago spending a week with him and the (then and now) love of my life, another famous muscleboy from Tawan, giving me a very stern lecture about how ill-mannered it was considered for me to blow my nose at the dinner table (it was the massive infusion of chili what caused it!) I have never ever done it in Thailand since. So there is one little point of etiquette for you on your first visit: don't blow your nose at the dinner table, however pressing the need! Good luck on your adventures; Tawan rarely disappoints.

Uniman is the old B and N Massage place.  I have loved that place for years and years and years. I use to have a massage guy there named Mr. K.  I would see him on each and every trip and while the minimum tip was less, I always have him a 3k baht time.  Yes, I know some will complain and say I overpaid.  I always thought I underpaid as he was fucking amazing sex and everything was perfection.  I must have seen him at least 200 times over the years and then he moved to a gogo bar and then he disappeared. 
 
Anyway, Uniman has seen better days as it looks like the same furniture as 10 years ago.  The bar is the same.
 
The selection of boys is not as good as Hero but it only takes one and I found my one this week.  He was a very sexy guy in his 20's (maybe early 30's).  He has a nice body and a handsome face.
 
The massage was excellent and the sex was good.  All in all, I am always glad I go back to this place even though the rooms are far superior at Hero and the boys are in more abundance is other place.  I like the laid back easy going atmosphere here.  According to the mamasan, the majority of customers are Asian and not Western. 
 
Sukhumvit plaza, between Sois 10 and 12 on the South side of Sukhumvit.  Uniman is on the 4th Floor right to the right of the elevators.  Go inside and relax.  The massage was 600 bath and the tip minimum was 800 for soft and 1000 for hard.  I didn't ask what those meant as I assumed that 1,000 was for full sex?
 
If you are in Bangkok, this place is always worth a try. You never know what you may find!