vinapu

Well, in less than 24 hours I will be in the air from Denver to SF and beginning my next adventure.  I have just a couple of last minute errands to run this morning and then need to finish packing.  Unfortunately, it does not seem like the last bit of work on the fence project is going to be completed by the time I arrive.  This does not surprise me.  Weather has been a big factor as they have received a lot of rain this week so work has been difficult to complete.  They even hired an extra person a couple of days this week to help.  I asked Cam how much they pay the extra help hourly and he said in Cambodia they pay by the day, not hourly, and for construction like this it depends on their experience.  The helper is a friend of his who is currently unemployed and has no construction experience, so they pay him $10 USD per day.  I must admit I was a little taken aback by such a small amount, but was careful not to criticize or say anything other than to simply acknowledge what Cam said.  He said for someone that has experience, knows what they are doing and needed minimal instruction or supervision they would pay $15 USD daily.  Compare that to general labor construction workers in the US who probably make around $30 USD PER HOUR!   As I said, I made no comment and showed no reaction being careful not to offend Cam or his brother (yes, we were on video chat).  The friend was happy to have an opportunity to work and was happy with the pay.  I know Cam is feeling a little pressure to finish as much of the project as possible before heading to Siem Reap to meet me on Sunday.  He also has a good heart and was trying to help out his friend.  Who am I to judge.  It is not my place to question.  I am just excited to begin the journey and reunite with Cam.  The last few weeks have not gone by fast enough for me.  My posts will most likely be few and far between for the next week or so.  Cam is already making plans of all the things he wants to show me in and around Siem Reap before we continue the adventure in Battambang.  It sounds like the first week in Cambodia will be a busy one.

my rimming day is Friday so shower is done deal. Joking aside indeed hygiene issues may be reason that some guys are reported as underperforming
.............
Boys switched numbers as it often happens and macaroni's #86 is not the same like mine
..................
as for emojis don't take my comments too seriously and feel free to use them as much as you like. True , I don't like them as I find reading distracted by emojis planted here and there , but definitely NOT to a degree of restricting freedom of expression.
as for sarcasm , for conversation is like vinegar for some dishes , used in moderation enlivens them , used excessively may spoil original taste☺️👍🙋‍♂️🛀🫙

Oh I don't think he could look bad. He's a stunner. Just the pic doesn't do him justice. He made my jaw drop. In a city filled with hundreds of entertainers, he really just took 100% of my attention that night. And I wasn't even buzzed lol.

The pillar was blocking the view so I asked AI to remove them!

I think I know the videographer. Small world, isn't it? ☺️
Pattaya can get really busy during the high season. I think I like it better like this. Clear skies, fresh air although the Supertown boys tell me it rains quite often (which helps to clean the air). If you've been to KL in the last week or so, you'll understand why fresh, clean air has become such a valuable commodity.

When you say Pattaya - does that also include Jomtien?
if yes, there are many m2m massage shops in the Jomtien Complex, aka Supertown that are physically within the complex and also out on the exterior road (Thappraya) that circumvents the complex on the outer perimeter.
Sudjai is the newest addition to the complex:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61591910247066
Regarding the areas near Tukcom and Boyztown I am not aware of any new m2m shops.
Supertown MAP
Those entities displayed in green on the above map are the massage shops.

I don't know that Chiang Mai has one central area like Silom in Bangkok where you can find most of the gay venues. To begin with, there are not nearly as many venues and they tend to be more spread out. For many people, the draw for Chiang Mai is a milder climate and overall a different vibe from the big city life in Bangkok. There truly is something magical about Bangkok in general. With the exception of my last three trips to Thailand over the last 12 months, I never stayed in Silom before. I was always there visiting my Thai friends (straight family) and stayed in one of their rental units...far, far away from Silom. Even though I didn't have the 'gay experience', there is just something unique and magical about Bangkok for me regardless of what area I am in. The sights, the smells, the people...I truly love every minute of my time there. Being able to experience Silom the last few times...I was just like you...the kid in the candy store for the very first time. I was born and raised in Ohio...small town of around 7,000 people. I hated it. I am definitely a big city guy and tend to thrive off that energy. I am also not a beach person, so Koh Samui would be a nice place to visit for a couple of days, but I would never survive a week there. As for the weather in Bangkok, it you can survive the heat and humidity in Florida during the months of August and September...the heat in Bangkok will not be a problem. I guess you have a couple of options...as long is they don't involve losing a lot of money, that is...you could shorten your time in Koh Samui and head on up to Chiang Mai earlier. That would require changing reservations and possibly losing money on the Airbnb where you are currently staying. I doubt a refund is possible now. Possibly a slight change fee in airfare as well. Otherwise, enjoy the island life for a week. As others have mentioned, I would encourage you to rent a motorbike and go exploring. Don't depend on Grab. That will be costly and also limiting in your ability to get out and go whenever and wherever you want. I don't know what your plans are when you get to Chiang Mai, but I would highly recommend that you hire a local guide. Several forum members, myself included, have hired Woody via Siam Roads. Woody is gay, originally from Myanmar but lived for many years in Chiang Mai and knows the area well. He and his partner own and operate a massage shop...Classic House. He has a car and can show you the usual tourist sites, but can also provide information and guidance about living in Chiang Mai in general. You can find both Siam Roads and Classic House online via Google Search, but to book his tour service you need to go through Siam Roads. Just a friendly suggestion.

It's fascinating to see how first-time visitors react to Thailand (or Asia), and the above observation is a gem. What you have stumbled upon is the huge cultural difference between White societies and their cultural values and Southeast Asian (or East Asian more generally). Westerners see a tan as beautiful and desirable, but darker skin tone has the opposite value in many Asian societies. Westerners flock to tropical beaches to get that tan; Asians mostly avoid the sun like the plague, As a result, tropical beach islands are playgrounds for Western tourists, while Asians see no value going there. Of course there are exceptions (the younger Japanese do like a tan too, I've noticed) and I risk over-generalising.
It's been explained to me by my Chinese friends that traditionally, tanned skin was associated with manual, agricultural labour, whereas the upper class had little need to be exposed to the elements. Consequently, fairer complexion was associated with elite status. Tanned leathery skin = low class. Whether this was the same rationalisation in Thai society, I don't know. I wouldn't assume so; there may be quite different aetiology.
In Indian society, skin tone is strongly associated with caste.
I think it was @bkkmfj2648 who mentioned several times a group of Thai lads playing beach volleyball at night. I've seen the same in Bali, whereas in the West, choosing to play beach volleyball at night would be seen as weird. In Bali, the beaches are populated by white bodies roasting away in the daytime. Around 5 or 6pm, they pack up and leave. Then the Asians and Indonesians (domestic tourists, and Indonesia has a huge domestic tourism industry) arrive. Their idea of beach fun is sunset and the hours after.
In Australia, skin cancer is a common topic of conversation. It doesn't seem to be a topic in East Asia, and that's probably because they have spent a lifetime avoiding the sun.

Outch - this tidbit of information tells me that your AirBnB choice is far from the fun Chaweng Beach area where the Pride Bar is and also many PLUs.
Any reason as to why you chose an AirBnB so far away?
In Bangkok you chose an AirBnB right smack in the middle of the gay zone (Silom).
If I were in your shoes - I would rent a motorbike so that you can get the most from your stay in Koh Samui. I have been several times - but you will need a way to move yourself around to see everything either by hiring a tour guide or renting a motorbike to see everything.

I asked the Internet what might be the cause. There are several possibilities.
One option is to clear your browser's cache and cookies. But since the problem happens on multiple browsers, this may not work for your issue.
Another answer I found is the upload option may automatically disappear when a user crosses a certain quota. This would answer why you experience the same issue on all browsers.
There were several other potential fixes listed. You might try sleuthing the Internet for answers.
Did you try opening a new account to confirm the issue is not account related? Not sure if this is against the rules, multiple account profiles.

I have arrived on the island. After 2 weeks in Bangkok, this is quite the change of pace. To be 100% honest, I'm not quite feeling Koh Samui yet.

The first weird vibe was when I got to my gate at the airport. It felt like I was tricked and being flown back to the US. Everyone was pasty white. Not an Asian in sight. I don't wanna sound racist, but I don't wanna see the albinos. My buddy thinks it's The White Lotus effect. I'll admit I sat through every episode of that show and loved it... but I don't think it influenced my decision to come to Thailand.
After arriving, it felt like Koh Samui is Thailand's answer to Santa Marta or Cartagena in Colombia. Poor neighborhoods until you get where the whiteys are... then it's beautiful. I hate that contrast. That said, I'm not staying in the most touristy of areas. I'm at an Airbnb 20 steps from the beach in what feels like a hybrid local neighborhood but the neighborhood is all ex Pats.
The guys hitting on me on Grindr are decidedly less enticing than they were in Bangkok. Too bad because now I don't have gogo bars or massage parlors to relieve me of my tensions. There are massage parlors all over... but not of my persuasion. And the one gay bar seems to be a $15 Grab each way... and it doesn't look to be all that wild. Can anyone vouch for Pride Bar being worth $30 in Grab fare?
As you can probably tell, I'm a little uncertain about this part of my Thailand trip. I booked it because the guy who did a YouTube channel I watched a lot this past year about Americans and Canadians moving to Thailand left Bangkok for this place. But I'm definitely have 'Kok withdrawal symptoms. We'll see if they subside.

When I am in Bangkok for a week or more, I stay at Airbnb at Oasis condo in Soi 3. Several units available by different landlords. At less than US$40 per night, it's really affordable. I love the pool on rooftop and I enjoy the convenience of their own laundry machines. But for weekend trips, I stay at hotels. More comfortable setting to be with my guy. 🥰

I always prefer Airbnb, with one exception: Las Vegas. In Vegas, the hotel is 1/2 the experience. But especially in foreign countries, staying at a Hilton just seems so lame. To each his own. But this Airbnb was like $35-40 a night I think... right in the heart of Silom, quiet, comfortable. And it was no problem entertaining. And boy did I. 😜
The reviews system on Airbnb gives good peace of mind. I can count on one hand the number of bad Airbnb experiences I've had... and I've probably used 100 Airbnbs since it became a thing from Europe to US cities to South America.

My situation is different since both guys I connected with knew I'm a temp. But yeah neither of them were looking for sugar. #1 as I call him the Japanese teacher... he insisted on paying equally. If I tried to pay for 2 meals in a row, he wasn't having it. Now again, these were both finite little mini-relationships so no long term plans were ever in the works. But both guys were super attracted... I guess I still got a little left in the tank. In the US I'm invisible. But in Bangkok, I was blown away by the attention I was getting from guys of the caliber I was seeing. Both of the two I spent time with had good jobs and most importantly, amazing abs.

Real market for rich mature retired farangs for a "husband" (and not in paying per meet but doesnt mean its cheaper sense)

stop  thinking about old days , long gone. Think about future , like coffin or urn problems

remember, one statistic sample is not base to formulate hypothesis. Even if you did not like a venue it could be simply bad timing or that one and only boy happened to have day off on the night you visited .
On another hand If you really find place or guy you like a lot,  I'd say utilize an opportunity  to the max instead of trying to find another Shangri-la

you are such free spender !

If you stay home you would probably save a lot of more

Well, gentlemen, that’ll put a wrap on this part of the trip. I’m at BKK getting ready to head to the island. Thanks for all the insight both before and once I got here. I definitely had a lot more fun because of all you guys. Was great to meet a couple of you. Hope to shake hands and have a beer with the rest of you at some point. One of my biggest regrets? Not spending more time on the rooftop of my Airbnb. I finally went up last night. It’s beautiful. Last night I booked the same place for my last couple weeks here.
I’ll be posting my Koh Samui adventures over in that board. Then I’ll start a “Adventures of a Bangkok Sophomore” post when I return in October 😉

If you stay home you would probably save a lot of more

@aaroninatl ... Does Grinder #1 know you are returning to Bangkok for two weeks before returning to the US? If not, might I suggest you keep that under wraps for now. Grinder #2 will be back in Cambodia, so no worries there, but if #1 knows you are returning and when...that might tend to complicate your time in the bars, massages, and offs during your last two weeks. It really all depends on what you want to experience those last two weeks in BKK...more of the boyfriend experience, or more of the footloose and fancy free experience.

just off him next time you are in Jupiter

1500 baht for 1 hr