PeterRS

The only point I'd add is once again fairly general elsewhere. If you happen to let you hand stray a little and touch the leg of a cute Asian you have an eye on, should he brush it off it means he is not interested. So just pass on to the next guy.

Another video. It is certainly tiny compared to Babylon. Also it is a more Japanese-style onsen even though there are obviously parts more common to saunas everywhere! I do like the idea of the neon wristbands.

I dont think anyone posted it. We all prety much knew it was going to happen. Hopefully the Shinawatra influence is now at an end. Hopefully, too, a way will be found for Pita Limjaroenkul and his party to return to parliament to do the job they were elected to do two years ago before the elite found a way of getting rid of them. I suspect they could actually effect some real change in the country.

Alexander the Great would have been proud of you!

From: The Guardian 1 September

Have you any suggestions? The democratic party did not recognise that Biden's presidency was one of the worst in its totality, they failed to see what everyone else was seeing that Biden was pretty close to a dementia candidate and backed him, they failed to realise it was only a close group of Biden loyalists who told lies after lies about his health, and actually believed his mantra that only he could beat Trump. They were in a political la-la-land that made it certain Trump would win. Now, almost 10 months after Trump won and more than 7 since his inauguration, they are in some biblical wilderness seemingly dependent only on Ghislaine Maxwell to get them out of the woods. I am not American and my attention to American politics is what I occasionally read on various internet sources. But I see a political party totally glued to doing nothing. Who do those supposed leaders think they are? Have they not heard of a democratic opposition? Indeed, where are their leaders? I read about Kamala Harris thinking about running again. That will be another major disaster. Chuck Schumer? A nonentity. Seriously, does the party not accept that it needs a credible leader who will actually LEAD - and take on Trump issue by issue. Or are they all cowering at the certainty that Trump will go at them hammer and tongs. Don't they accept that have to stand up and FIGHT? The Democrats appear to this outsider as a bunch of firghtened wimps, hoping against hope that the Repulicans will turn against Trump or that someone will do a Lee Harvey Oswald and bump him off. But if the latter happens, the good Lord help the world when J D Vance becomes an even worse President.

Thinking more on the subject, it seems to me in my advancing years that texting is in large part responsible for what is gradually becoming a lost art - conversation. I don't mean as in the great conversationalists of past centuries. Merely the art of considering in a meaningful way what somone says and responding in a similarly meaningful way. With texting. as indeed in chat rooms like this one, what can be quite a complicated subject is usually reduced to a few lines - or even just a few words. The danger then is that whereas instead of a proper conversation the entirety of which has been properly considered prior to a response being delivered, texters jump to conclusions. And in too many instances these conclusions are based on instant reactions which can often be inaccurate rather than a consideration of the subject matter as a whole. Clearly I do not mean those simple texts like, "Fancy a drink tonight?" "Free to go to Banana Bar?" etc. I do mean those slightly longer texts where some topic important to the texter, however accurate or not, is written and which deserves a considered reply. "Fuck off!" may not be a common response but words to that effect certainly seem to be on the few occasions I look at instagram or other social media. These last few days there have been a number of anger issues exhibited at the US Tennis Open which have drawn millions of short texts - players smashing rackets, one player - one of the recognised angry mob - even attempting to argue during a match screaming at the umpire and forcing a 6-minute delay while his opponent was on match point, one player trying to force an argument at the net at the end of a match. The last hapened during a match won by the German Daniel Altmeier against one of the acknowledged angry brigade, Stefanos Tsitsipas. Altmeier refused to be drawn into a shouting match and walked away. As he said at the end, "“Even if I would have lost, I would not enter discussions because it’s just like heat of the moment." It is that issue of sensibility that in my view gets lost in a great many texts. Replies too often lack that essence of sensibility. In our fast moving world, taking time to think, to consider before acting is fast being lost. I fear we are breeding a "Fuck you!" generation.

In the context of body odour, why does anyone think men's colognes, aftershaves and deodorants are so incredibly popular? Partly because they make us smell more attractive to others - certainly more attractive than our own BO. And we have to be honest. Like it or not we all have BO.

OMG! The balcony might collapse! LOL

I almost titled this "Raunchy Sexual Experience" but felt that might be too limiting. Most of us here will have enjoyed many sexual trysts not just in Thailand but also in other parts of the world. I expect, too, that at least some will remain in our minds as among the great experiences of our lives, be you older or younger. Talking with friends the other evening, we were trying to recall if there was one experience that outclassed all the others and that when the time comes for us to shuffle off this mortal coil (well, bringing a quote from Hamlet into the thread might raise the tone if just a little ), we will take with us to the next world. The older one gets, I am sure the more difficult it becomes if only because so many trysts have been in their own way incredibly memorable. I have written a few months ago in a series of long posts about many of my own adventures, from the cutest Indonesian in an Amsterdam sauna, a night spent with as cute a Vietnamese whom I'd met in a Paris sauna who lived in the poshest of circles being the boyfriend of a very rich Frenchman who lived in one of the most elegant addresses in the city (thankfully the French guy was in the USA for 3 weeks!) or the first nights of sleepless passion with a Japanese in Tokyo. The one I might remember most? So hard to pick just one. But I would choose another Tokyo adventure. Armed with the Spartacus Guide - those of us of a certain age before the internet will recall that this thick tome was amost the only Guide which purportedly provided information on most of the world's gay venues - I happened to find a sauna in one of Tokyo's trendiest districts, Shibuya - not known then for gay hang outs. It was up a hill in a small building with a few floors and a roof terrace. I happened upon the most delightful young Chinese. We soon found our way into a smallish room and started what became a long session of love making. After some time, he suggested we go up to the roof and continue there. That even longer session quite literally under the stars was just something I could not forget even if I tried. Naturally it is not the sky or the stars I remember. It is merely the most beautiful face and body of someone who seemed as enrapt as I. Ah! What a memory!

I managed to avoid most of these, partly because I'd always try to start the week-ends earlier by getting the first flight out on Friday mornings and arrive back in Hong Kong early evening Sundays. Besides, my Sunday Bangkok routine used to end with a long massage before I left for the airport. So apart from topping up the alcohol level with a couple of vodkas on the plane, I rarely suffered the Monday morning hangover, thankfully.

Do you know if there is any reason for so many using drugs? Did you detect any sense of helplessness? No jobs? I wonder why so many are addicted.

The balcony hammocks are ready. Do you take tea or coffee in the mornings? Or something stronger? There used to be quite a few gays in my condo. On my floor 4 of the 6 apartments were occupied by gay guys. Sadly times have changed and I am the only one left. So a morning quickie will be out of the question, sorry.

So true. Over 20 years I was taking week's vacations and long weekends in Bangkok more often than I can possibly remember. Those were great days.

Well, I do fall into that elderly category. I suppose I have views both for and against. Firstly, I am surprised it has taken the world so long to discover that smartphones can do so much. Twenty years ago almost to the month when on a regular visit to Tokyo, I fell for a young Japanese student. Happily I was visiting Japan monthly and so we met over many months. He, like most Japanese it seemed, had a flip phone which seemed to do everything. Perhaps surprising to some he did not use it much for texting. He still preferred aural communication. But he used it for virtually everything else including payments, booking train tickets, paying at convenience stores, checking latest timetables etc. I never thought this would catch on elsewhere. Wrong! Now, with many in Bangkok using phones for payments, I am frequently somewhat pissed off when checking out at a supermarket. I have lost count of the number of times when a customer before me seemingly has to open several pages before she (almost always a woman) gets the right one to pay for her purchases. This usually takes between 2 and 3 times longer than paying by cash or with a credit/debit card. That certainly pisses me off. On the other hand, the more recent automatic check out machines make it easier. But even these go wrong more often that they should, especially on items which have been discounted. But that's another story.

Sure - he can keep the crows company!! LOL

If taxis are going to all those in Bangkok who have me on ignore, I'd better just get a motorcy or walk! Either that or get @Olddaddy to give me a piggyback. 😃

In a region already hard hit in the last couple of days from torrential rains from the dying Typhoon Kajiki, expect more bad weather over the weekend. Four pepole were killed in Chiang Mai and another in Mae Hon Son in weather-related incidents in recent days. Now tropical depression 20W presently off the South China Sea is tracking westwards and is expected to hit the north and east of Thailand over the week-end. https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40054722

I don't really understand that comment. You mean they might be going to visit friends or pick up friends? Of course that could be a possibility - but six taxis all going to pick up friends at the same time? No way. I realise that taxi drivers particularly in Bangkok want long rides. They have to make money. If they stop, wind down the window, find out where you are going and then say "no", I kind of understand. Simply not stopping is frankly unacceptable. It is also illegal. Each taxi used to have a complaints number pasted to the back of the front passenger seat and, assuming you actually get inside, they can be reported to the relevant taxi authority. Even if you don't get inside, as long as you are quick off the mark, you can take a photo of the licence plate, one of your watch to denote time and one of the area. That can also be reported. I can't imagine many will be bothered with that route, unless stuck in a monsoon storm. I do accept that fares are low! But when taxi fares last went up, that came with a warning from the relevant authority that taxi drivers had to realise they are providing a public service and not stopping or not taking a passenger where they want to go could find the driver facing a penalty. As I have stated, the situation has actually got worse. Although it probably doesn't concern readers of this board so much, it certainly affects residents and tourists from countries where English is rarely spoken.

It's definitely a result of diet and all the heavy spices most Indians like to consume. That translates into sweat in the same way that those from other countries' sweat smells to a certain extent of what they eat. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-7-different-foods-affect-your-body-odor

I'll have the money boys - you can keep the crows and cobras. This is a photo of the bugger who woke me at 5:50 this morning.

I can't imagine any of the women that seem to make up the audience in that bar would have much attractuion for you either, dear @vinapu!

Oh! Come now! I am sure @Olddaddy has certain hidden charms - only I cannot offhand think what they might be!

All those reasons are in themselves perhaps understandable. However - 1. As far as my own location in a Bangkok residential district is concerned, not to stop for a prospective passenger laden with supermarket shopping bags is hardly going to be a "scam". 2. Already hired is a valid excuse, and the use of more "In Use" illuminated signs will help that. Again, though, there are with respect not enough people hiring taxis in my area - almost everyone has cars! 3. I know only too well from decades in Hong Kong that many taxis drivers are on shifts and have to return to a point of origin at a certain time to hand the taxi over to other drivers. Try getting a taxi in Hong Kong between 4pm and 5pm. Good luck! But to suggest that six empty taxis all passing by at 2:00 pm in the afternoon is stretching that argument too far, the more so when the 7th gladly stops! 4. I have never once had an issue with communication. I know my address in Thai and how to get there by the quickest route. I have seen quite a number of tourists, especially those from the sub-continent, trying unsuccessfully to communicate with a driver. When a driver winds won the passenger window to find out where I am going, I have found at least 90% know exactly where it is without my explaining. 5. The "culture" factor certainly could be a factor, especially with drivers not born in Bangkok. But I do not accept this as a valid argument when six empty taxis simply pass me by. As I said in my original post, the stuation is getting worse.

I have enjoyed many of director Ridley Scott's movies. Now 87 he is still directing movies and is even in the planning stage for a Gladiator 3. Years earlier he became known for turning down a $20 million fee to direct Terminator 3. How many more years will be in front of him, not even he knows. But in a Q&A session in today's Guardian the first question is "Who's up there?" We may all have different views on who/what's up there, if anything, but we surely cannot disagree with his comments about the disaster we have made of our world. I am glad I have no children and am concerned about what kind of world my nephew's two teenage boys will inherit. "Who’s up there. He’d better show himself shortly, because we’re getting into a terrible mess down here. I mean, we are the fucking plague, 7.5 billion people, we can’t handle the planet. As you get older, you do wonder: is it going to be a guy with a long beard and long, flowing white robes, or is it just going to be a void? I don’t dwell on it." https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/aug/28/i-turned-down-20m-to-do-terminator-3-i-cant-be-bought-dude-ridley-scott-on-directing-daleks-and-cherry-jam