PeterRS

In recent decades the world has seen several figures who have deserved iconic status for their efforts to extol the virtues of peace. Not all have been the equivalent of angels throughout their lives but the good they have brought the world has been in most cases extraordinary. Who could suffer in jail for almost a third of ther lives like Nelson Mandela and yet still emerge to unite a nation? Another leader was surely the late Pope Francis, a man who brought light into life for many in our world despite having to battle constantly with the ingrained conservatism of his Curia and the long-term effects of the pedophile scandals of the Catholic Church. But is anyone more revered than the Dalai Lama? A smiling figure who has been so dominant in the world for all of our lives. Yesterday he celebrated his 90th birthday. And as has dogged his life for much of the last two decades, the issue of his successor remains in doubt. Since the 17th century, the figure of the Dalai Lama has been a symbol of the unification of the state of Tibet. Having been part of China since invasion by the Mongols (known as the Yuan Dynasty) around 1245, that domination over the country lasted little more than 100 years. With the Yuan Dynasty on the decline, Tibet was to all intents and purposes independent for the next 400 years with the Dalai Lama effectively as its head of state. But it was not to last. The south west of China had long been one vast land without specific borders. Only in 1724 were lines of demarcation drawn and agreed for the provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, Qinghai and Tibet. Tibet then became part of China's Qing Dynasty for nearly 200 years until its collapse at the end of China's imperial rule early in the 20th century. For the next 40 years, Tibet achieved another period of near independence, although Britain and Russia hovered hoping to exert greater influence. During this time, post imperial China was far too consumed by warlords fighting other warlords for Tibet to be on their horizon. After Mao's takover, though, Tibet expelled the few Chinese that remained within the country. Mao not only considered Tibet part of Chinese territory, he was as concerned about the country's borders as President Xi is today. To world condemnation, he sent troops in to the country. In 1959. Tibet then signed the Seventeen Point Agreement which formalised Chinese rule in Tibet. Immediately before then, the CIA had dropped guerrilla forces into the country in an attempt to fight off Chinese forces. Most were never seen again. China's actions in destroying thousands of monasteries and other actions have been equally condemned worldwide, but there was nothing the rest of the world could do to stop it. With the signing of the 1959 Agreement, the Dalai Lama fled over the mountains with many of his followers where they received sanctuary in India. That has been his base ever since. More recently he has tried to appease the leaders in Beijing by claiming that Tibet does not want independence, merely autonomy. This and future talks have resulted in the lead balloon analogy. So the question remains: when His Holiness passes from this earth, who becomes the 15th Dalai Lama. China has said it is up to its government to make the appointment. In the mid-1970s, the present Dalai Lama stated it was possible he would be the last of the line. This infuriated many of his followers. More recently he has changed that view and confirmed there will be a new Dalai Lama after his death. But who will appoint him? The second most important figure in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition is the Panchen Lama. In 1995 the Dalai Lama declared the name of the 11th Panchen Lama. Three days later the six-year old boy was kidnapped by the Chinese government and remains forcibly detained with his family in an unknown location. All China will reveal is that he received a University education, is now living peacefully and does not wish to be disturbed. For now, I fear all the world can do is wait and hope. And extend our gratitude and our best wishes for the health of His Holiness.

So many people and different events, I'm not sure I even understand it all. I do get the implication that the "former friend of my husband (Randy)" is not in fact "former" but in fact remains in fact a friend. In general I agree with @vinapu. Although sometimes when doors are open to apologies, they can lead to other unwanted events.

I already made a post about this and could not agree with you more. The appointment of Merrick Garland and the absolute failure of Biden to do anything at all to push him on the various Trump cases is, in my view, the reason Trump is in power now.

I think that may be a very incorrect comment. Although I only went past that area once in a car, my friend and I definitely saw no underage guys that evening. There were around 12 guys, most looking considerably older than early 20s and none that we would consider even approaching. I know that the poster @ChristianPFC has written about this area some years ago and mentioned it in his blog. Again I do not think underage has ever been mentioned. The concern around there has been drugs and definitely AYOR.

Yes - a large bar at the end of the Soi, run by Lex Masuda or a name like that.

Out of curiosity where was Sweet Cigar?

I have no idea why Hero closed given its popularity. I could not believe it would be a result of location but then Albury was very close by and it also had to move. I wonder if that area was redeveloped? Sadly Albury moved to the other side of Suk towards the end of a soi close to Rama IV. In that location it just died.

I also did not have much success there but loved the jacuzzi on the roof. I think I am right in saying it was the third or fourth sauna to open - Volt off Asoke was the first. One problem was Obelisks was a tall narrow building and so not much on each floor. That either meant continually clambering up and down a massive number of stairs or waiting, often for a long time, for the one lift to arrive. I could never remember the number of times I sat on that terrace with my vodka tonic and one of the guys I had earlier met just watching so many other handsome guys walking past from the showers at the right end to the stairs in the centre (and also on the left?). That original Babylon was a wonderful hang out for so many of us.

I have been many times to KL over the years and enjoy it. But never for more than 4 or 5 nights and often having taken the bus up from Singapore. Personally I would say 4 weeks is much too long for that one city. Also, I have usually gone to the gay bar and sauna rather than find MBs. I have found the apps busy but again I have been looking for Chinese guys rather than the broader selection of Malays and Indians and others. The shopping mall Sungei Wang always used to be quite cruisy, but I am talking about quite a few years ago. I would definitely travel around. In Johor in the far south just across from Singapore there are several gay venues and I assume the apps will be pretty busy. I would also go up to Penang where i know there are (or used to be a few years ago) massage spas with mostly Chinese masseurs from mainland China. Malacca is historically interesting but no idea what gay life there mght be there. I believe @spoon is Malaysian. He should be able to give you more details and advice.

I also stayed there several times around that time. I found the double lifts slightly intimidating having to change at the lobby area and so never took a boy back. On my last morning as I was checking out, the desk clerk said a bathrobe was missing from the room. Had I any idea where it might be? On saying 'no', he asked if they could check my luggage in case I had "inadvertently" placed it there. I thought this was a disgraceful question, but let them open my case, whereafter they sincerely apologised. Even though they gave me a voucher for a one-night free stay, I never stayed with them again.

Just a bit of fun. A question for everyone re Bangkok, old timers and newbies. If asked to recall your two favourite gogo bars, saunas and massage spas from your visits to (or living in) Bangkok, which would you choose with just a few words on each? I think I am correct in saying there is at least one member here from the early 1970s and a lot more from the 2000s onwards. Maybe there were out of the way venues that most of us missed. I'll start this ball rolling, although I have noted some favourites in older threads. Dates are appox. when I first patronised them. Gogo: Apollo (early 1980s), small but with great guys, always smiling, nudity - Barbiery on Suriwong (mid 1980s), 100 or so guys, always enjoying themselves, nudity, great variety in shows Sauna: Original Babylon (late 1980s), new, classy, mostly young Thai guys, great cruising bar - Chakran off Soi Aree (late 1990s), Moroccan theme, packed with young Thais, nice bar area, huge jacuzzi outside huge dark room, with eventually BKK's first all-nude area Massage Spa: Albury (late 1990s), popular, great guys, excellent massages and afters - Aqua off Sathorn Soi 9 (early 2000s), lovely premises with bar and food, great guys. mostly vg massages and afters.

Perhaps it's appropriate than some sort of 10-year milestone has been reached. it was only in 2015 that the up-scale Shibuya ward in Tokyo introduced a same-sex partnership system. Now 529 other local governments have implemented a smiliar system. Little more than 7% remain. But the benefits for Japan's gay couples remain poor compared to other countries. Japan remains the only country in the Group of 7 not to have legalised gay marriage. So far, while the current partnership certification system gives LGBT couples certain rights and access to a limited number of public services, they are still not legally valid! Yet a collaborative study by Shibuya Ward and Nijiiro Diversity, a nonprofit organization supporting the rights of LGBT people, points out that in its first survey in 2017 only six local governments had adopted the scheme. So there has been a great deal of progress particularly in the Japanese view of gay people. And with a number of law suits now under way challenging the lack of legal recognition of same-sex marriage as a violation of the right to equality under the country's Constitution, perhaps more changes might soon be on the way. On the other hand, given the tortoise-like movement of official Japan, maybe that is much too optimistic a hope. https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250630/p2g/00m/0na/037000c

Even though Singapore finally got rid of the old colonial Article 377A of the penal code which basically criminalised homosexuality nearly three years ago, the Singapore government still forbids Gay Pride Parades. In their place, the annual gay Pink Dot celebration confined by the government to a relatively small park in the city was once again this year a big success last week-end. Turn-out was large despite very heavy showers earlier in the day. Pink Dot has always been a family affair and familes were again very much in evidence this year. So too were three MPs from the Workers' Party and two belonging to the ruling PAP party. Speaking to the media, PAP parliamentarian Alex Yeo said he was “very happy” to be at the rally to engage and listen to the concerns of the LGBTQ community. “They are part of the Singaporean community, very important part of our community, our overall social compact in our community. And so therefore we are very happy to be here,” Mr Yeo said. Yet Pink Dot still seems to be a big embarrassment to the Singapore government. That government has gone out of its way to attract many dozens of international companies with special tax relief and other fiscal measures to make it the financial and business hub of Asia. It regularly spends hundreds of milions of $$ bringing top international events to Singapore - e.g. Taylor Swift's recent S. E. Asian tour concerts were restricted to Singapore and no other country can afford all the hooplah of an F1 race - because it realised attracting executives from multi-national companies would require the same sort of experiences they could get in major western capitals. Many of those top international companies used to sponsor Pink Dot. Yet a few years ago, the government even banned international companies from sponsoring. Local companies stepped into the breach. This year 65 helped sponsor the event. As usual, a number of local organisations, including church groups, registered objections. Protect Singapore - which describes itself as a group that aims to protect the values of marriage, family, children and conscience - released a scorecard grading politicians based on their stances towards LGBTQ issues. The scorecard is to "help you evaluate whether your MP supports your values", said the group in a Facebook post. Among the grading criteria includes never attending Pink Dot. Photo: Pink Dot SG https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/pink-dot-rally-thousands-support-lgbtq-community-5209151 https://pinkdot.sg/2025/06/thank-you-to-our-131-pink-dot-17-sponsors/

Haven't journalists and others been trying to find this out now for quite a few years? And yet they have come up with nothing concrete. Lots of rumours, some or more probably true. But you'd think someone, somewhere should have been able to come up with a nugget of truth. Did no one in Biden's administration have the ability and contacts - and cash - to dig deeper? More up to date, how was it that the world's richest man had such faith in Taco Don that he quickly fell into bed with him? Ego? Hubris? Ambition? Naivety? Did he not realise what had happened to so many other Trump camp followers who from being the greatest quickly became scum? Will he seriously now put up his cash to oust those voting for Trump's beloved Bill?

Pink for the upper. How about trying tartan for below LOL

You gave that post a laughing emoji. Why! What do you find so funny about the endemic corruption in Thailand, especially among politicians and others in power?

Thailand's political farce just becomes even more unbelievable. The new Prime Minister, deputy prime minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, will rule over parliament for all of - wait for it - 24 hours. He will then be replaced by incoming Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. I would try to explain the reason but just find it some form of Thai jiggery-pokery. Roll on a new election!

Why do you keep barking up a tree that has no branches? It appears you simply cannot read what I have written. The statement was far from unwise. It is the truth and I am perfectly happy for it to be left on the Board. If the moderator wishes to take it down, I will naturally accept his decision. As I trust you will if he decides to leave it up.

I only knew him as Dr. Phil whom I would only very occasionally see in a daytime talk show when in the US. He appeared friendly and was I believe popular. Now no more, in large part thanks to Trump whom he endorsed. Well, no thanks to Trump really, because Dr. Phil was one of his major supporters. 18 months ago he formed Merit Street Media (MSM) with an agenda not all that dissimilar to parts of Fox News. A Dr.Phil-type show was the backbone of its broadcasting. To finance the venture, Dr. Phil went into partnership with another of Trump's glorious army, Trinity Broadcasting which is best known for its Christian programming. Two Trump acolytes. What could go possibly wrong? A great deal apparently. Just days ago MSM filed for bankruptcy. OMG! How could that happen? Well, MSM is suing Trinity for abuse of power and breach of their agreement on the basis of Trinity's failure to provide agreed access to its national distribution network. Not mentioned in the suit but clearly a part of the proceedings, MSM had a deal with the Professional Bull Riders Association. Well, that kind of fits, doesn't it? Trump, church, bulls! A bit like Fox! MSM apparently purchased the rights to air the Bull Riders on its channels, but the Bull Riders claim they pulled those rights because they had received no fees from MSM since November 2024. Clearly an unholy Trumpian mess! https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/dr-phil-merit-street-media-bankruptcy-1236305002/

Thanks for posting - looks nice.

After all the priase for the movie "Oppenheimer", one director claims it rather missed the boat with certain omissions. He intends to rectify them. While praising Chritopher Nolan's multilpe award winning movie, James Cameron has called it a "moral cop out". He feels Nolan should have spent more of the film on the after effects in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. "I felt that it dodged the subject," he claims. My own view is that "Oppenheimer" was about the making and internal political consequences of the bomb rather than its effects. Cameron, though, is ploughing ahead with another bomb movie adapted from a forthcoming non-fiction book "Ghosts of Hiroshima" which brings together testimonies from victims and survivors. Although we have seen endless videos of the scenes on the ground after the bombs dropped, I wonder how Cameron will treat the subject without making today's audiences feel almost sick. Still, Spielberg made the Nazi concentration camps into an engrossing movie which had audiences in tears but hardly sick.

Although slightly off topic, this is horribly similar to the gangs who murdered gay guys in Sydney. Most occurred in 1989 and 1990, although the rampage went on for years before and after. Police estimate that as many as 88 gay men were thrown off cliffs to their deaths. Some were just teenagers and most of the gang members were school-age teenagers. At the time, the police wrote off the deaths as suicides. Some of The Alexandra Eight, The Bondi Boys, The Tamarama Three and various other unnamed gangs were eventually caught and jailed. Today there is a memorial to the victims in Marks Park near Bondi Beach.

The very first time my boyfriend even went near to a gay bar was when his close friend suggested they go to Soi 4 to see what it was like. Both boys are cute and they chose to sit at the bar. Soon an elderly farang came over and asked how much they would charge if he took both of them off for the night. They were shocked and quickly left. When he told me later, I said the way to get rid of unwanted advances was very simple. Just tell them, "You can't afford us. It's Bt. 20,000 for the night - each!"

Weren't the tears usually followed by Jim suggesting she sing a song to lighten the mood? That usually seeemed to me the reason for the tears in the first place 🤣

What nonsense! Everyone in Thailand was made perfectly well aware that Thaksin bribed his way to power. He was ultra-ambitious, having been Deputy PM he wanted the top job. The facts could not be more simple. In order to hide his massive wealth, he parked US$50 million of his assets with his housekeeping staff and drivers who then technically owned them. They later publicly alleged they knew nothing about this! Thaksin was accused of massive corruption. The case was referred to the National Anti Corruption Commission. It voted 17-1 that he had deliberately filed a false declaration of assets and was guilty of corruption. 17- 1 against! Not a close run thing. Not 10-8 or 11-7. A virtually unanimous decision. But the case had to be referred to the Constitutional Court. Before the Constitutional Court, Thaksin argued that the handing over of US$50 million to his staff and not declaring it was "an honest mistake". Huh? How do you divest yourself of such a massive - repeat "massive" - amount of money and actually believe you had made an "honest" mistake? That is pure b/s and almost everyone in Thailand agreed. But - when appearing before the Constitutional Court, the ruling was 8-7 in his favour. How on earth does a 17-1 majority in the Corruption Court suddenly become a 7-8 minority? Through corruption. It was perfectly well known at the time - and @khaolakguy was either blind or one of the army of fans of Thaksin not to be even aware of it. But it was some time later stated in the media that some members of the Constitutional Court had been bribed - primarily because Thaksin was a hugely popular figure in Thailand. Indeed many regared him as the coutry's saviour after the July 1997 economic debacle. Had they voted against him, the country would have been in uproar. So - you had corruption and vast popularity. As I stated earlier, it is very, very difficult to find on the internet items from a quarter of a century ago. Besides, that Constitutional Court was abolished in 2006. I am not prepared to spend hours and hours trying to find more information for @khaolakguy whose eyes and ears appear to have been closed at the time. But there is another point that has escaped @khaolakguy. Perhaps he can explain to readers why four of the Consitutional Court judges were then dismissed? This from Thaksin's wikipedia entry - "there is still a part of society that is skeptical of the court's decision and sees Thaksin as disrupting the justice process, leading to the complaint and removal of four Constitutional Court judges." Let me repeat - "leading to the complaint and removal of four Constitutional Court judges". If he wants exact details of these evictions, he can find them here - พ.ต.ท.ทักษิณถูกมองว่าแทรกแทรงกระบวนการยุติธรรม Now @khaolakguy, please withdraw your stupid allegations.