Gaybutton

For most of us, probably everyone reading this, the answer is NOT

I don't dispute they are open. I'm agreeing with you. As I said in my post above, I saw for myself that one was open. Personally I don't give a damn whether they are open or not. I don't use them. In the entire time I've lived in Thailand I've been to a "happy ending" massage a grand total of twice, and that was very many years ago. However, if I was using them, I would want to know, not assume or guess, whether they are open legally. For me, that would be the issue. Legally, fine - use them to your heart's (or groin's) content. If they are open illegally, against the Chonburi governor's orders, obviously people will have to decide for themselves whether the risk is worth it. I'm not sure who to ask to get a reliable answer.

I was in Jomtien Complex today, shortly before noon, and I noticed one gay massage shop open. No customers, but it was open. All I know is among the Chonburi governor's orders (Chonburi is Pattaya's province) is massage shops are closed. You say you've noticed some open and I noticed this one. I have seen nothing to indicate any exceptions to the governor's orders, so I don't know whether these massage shops are operating legally. Those of you who do partake, I have no idea how great a risk that might be, or even if it is a risk at all, but I do know foreigners caught in venues open illegally have been getting arrested right along with the Thais. My guess is the penalty would be a bit more than a mere 'don't do it again'. Until it is known for sure whether these massage shops are open legally or not, my advice would be instead of taking the risk and getting the 'massage' in the shop, arrange to have the boy to come to your room and get your massage there. Maybe it will cost a little more, but at least you won't be in any legal jeopardy. I'd say do that, or just stay in your room and have a self-service massage . . .

I doubt they'll even watch or they'll just shut it off as soon as they realize Schwarzeneggar is speaking against Trump. The fact that anyone would still support Trump and would want him leading the USA - well, I think many of you are aware of my "I Don't Get It" list - and I definitely don't get it. I never understood why anyone ever supported him in the first place.

I am truly upset about this news. He was an important contributor on my board too.

Are you talking about firecat69? What happened? How did you find out?

As it stands right now, the domestic rules are set by the governors or each province, which is why there are different rules in different provinces - and sometimes even within provinces. If the Covid problems escalate, the national government might supersede the current provincial rules. Of course, everyone is hoping it doesn't have to come to that.

Hungry Panda in Pattaya is located at the same site where China Garden used to be on Soi Lengkee. It is also available for delivery on Food Panda. I order from them frequently. Try their General Tso's chicken.

Apparently much more than that has now been shut down in Pattaya: ________________________________________________________________________ Banglamung/Pattaya enters highly controlled status, shutdowns of non essential business, bars, malls, etc By Adam Judd 30 December 2020 The Chonburi Governor released an emergency order this morning effective immediately for the Banglamung/Pattaya area to help control the Covid-19 coronavirus situation. (The order specifically says Banglamung/Pattaya, and not all of Chonburi. More information is coming in on this, the majority of recent cases have been linked to Banglamung. It is UNCLEAR if it will affect all of Chonburi, but is very clear that it affects all of Banglamung and Pattaya City.) This is due to an increasing cluster of infections stemming from an original cluster in Samut Sakhon at a seafood market that then spread through an illegal gambling establishment in Rayong, where some of the gamblers also went to Chonburi. The brief and important details are as follows: -Service venues closed, including bars, nightclubs, karaokes, massage parlors, etc –Restaurants take away only. No dine in service. -Malls, retail, etc closed except for supermarkets, drug stores, banks, mobile phone shops. All non essential closed, like clothes, etc. Supermarkets may sell only essential items (food). -All educational places closed, schools, learning centers, vocational schools, etc. -Leisure locations, like bowling, movie theaters, water parks, tourist attractions, etc. closed -24 hour convenience stores must be closed from 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM. There is NOT a total curfew. -Restaurants in hotels can stay open, however can only serve hotel guests. -Public swimming pools closed (As for condos, it will depend on if your condo juristic division considers the pool public.) -Amulet stores, religious artifact stores, temple stores closed -Pool, snooker, etc. closed -Gyms, fitness closed and similar establishments –Internet and game cafes closed -Close massage shop, spas, beauty clinics. (It did not specifically say hair salon/barber shop, waiting for more information on this) -Public parks, exercise areas, playgrounds and any place where people gather closed. -No parties or gatherings -Beaches were not specifically covered in the order. However, as the previous section on parks said any place where people may gather is closed it is likely they will be affected. The order is until further notice with no expiration date. There is not an alcohol sales ban. There is not a curfew or stay indoors order, although people are encouraged to stay at home. The mask mandate from the previous emergency decree is still in effect and one “could” be charged if found outside without a mask, The Pattaya News notes. Governor Phakarathorn Tienchai approved the order. He is also asking residents to stay put, although there is not a strict order/checkpoints, domestic travel restrictions. This is a developing story, we may add more to this document as information comes in. https://thepattayanews.com/2020/12/30/banglamung-pattaya-enters-highly-controlled-status-shutdowns-of-non-essential-business-bars-malls-etc/

I'm not so sure the answer would be reliable. A go-go bar(s) would draw a lot of business away from the beer bars, so I believe it would be more of an incentive for beer bar owners to want to keep things status quo. Of course, the flip side to that coin would be go-go bars in Jomtien Complex would bring more business to the complex itself, potentially providing more business for the beer bars. In any case, if someone does ask, I wouldn't recommend asking just one bar owner. I'd ask several and see what kind of answers you get. If they all are giving the same answer, then I'd believe that more than the answer from just one of the bar owners. If anyone does start asking, let us know what they tell you.

Perhaps so, but I think that is beside the point. For me, at least, the issue is why there are no go-go bars in Jomtien Complex. For many years I, and probably everyone else reading this, have heard go-go bars are not allowed in Jomtien Complex. Now that this is being discussed, we really don't know if that is true. If it is I, for one, would like to know where it is written that Jomtien Complex can't have go-go bars. And if it is written, who wrote it and why? If it is written, has that ever been challenged? I don't even know why, at the few bars where around midnight the boys take off their shirts, they have to wait until then - or do they? If the bar owner wants to work it that way or the boys themselves choose to do it that way, that's one thing. But if it is because of some other reason, what is that reason? Go-go bars in Jomtien Complex would certainly bring in much more business and could very well lead to the resurrection of the Pattaya gay scene. If that happens - and along with it perhaps the gay section of Dongtan beach actually becomes a gay section again - is anybody here going to object? If it turns out there is nothing to prevent go-go bars in Jomtien Complex, that could mean entirely changing the complex complexion of the complex . . .

It was owned by an American. I don't remember his name. He disappeared (or perhaps escaped) shortly after closing Rock Hard. Monty was Australian. His bars were always simply called Monty's.

I don't know. What I do know is from the street you cannot see inside any go-go bars. At Rock Hard the inside of the bar was clearly visible from the street. The back room was not. But the question remains - if go-go bars are not allowed, why aren't they? Who decides?

That seems logical enough, but we just don't know. As for Jomtien Complex, somebody, or a group of somebodys, had to be the one(s) who decided to prohibit go-go bars in the complex, if indeed go-go bars really are prohibited. I'd like to know who and why, but I don't know how to find out. Of course, as I said in an earlier post, it may turn out there was never any prohibition in the first place and the only reason there are no go-go bars in Jomtien Complex is simply because nobody ever opened one. As for why there are no go-go bars in Jomtien Complex, the only thing we really know is that we don't know. Some of you might remember a short-lived bar called Rock Hard. In the back room, out of sight, there was a tiny go-go area, maybe big enough to hold 6 customers. There were never more than 2 or 3 dancers. That bar didn't last very long. I have no idea whether that had anything to do with why the bar closed, but that's the closest to a go-go bar I ever saw in Jomtien Complex.

If there has been 2 go-go bars all along, then it seems obvious to me they are allowed after all. That puts us right back to the question - why are there no go-go bars in Jomtien Complex? If the answer turns out to be they really are not allowed in the complex, who's not allowing them and why and by what authority?

I've never heard of it, but I looked it up and yes indeed - it is a go-go bar, which makes it all the more curious as to why a girly go-go bar is ok, but not a gay go-go bar in the very same vicinity. I wish whoever owns it would also open a gay go-go bar or two . . .

For years I've heard about those girly go-go bars. And for years, try as I might, I've never been able to spot them. Maybe I'm just blind or something, but do those bars actually exist or is it nothing more than gossip simply believed to be fact? Does anyone know the names of any go-go bars around the Jomtien Complex vicinity or just where they are? Has anyone been to them? Better still, does anyone have a photo of them? After all these years of hearing about them, I think it's high time to verify. Boy69 wrote, "I understood that Jomtien area is classified as residential one so gogo bars are not allowed." That's another one that I don't know whether it's true or not. If it is a residential area, other than the Jomtien Complex condotel, where are the residences? All I see is bars, restaurants, and a few massages. That doesn't sound very residential to me, especially since virtually everything in the area is commercial. I would find it difficult to believe, without seeing documented verification, that the existence of the condotel is the reason no go-go bars are allowed. In other words, for quite a long time we have all been told these stories and accepted them as true, but I have yet to see verification of any of them. If go-go bars really are prohibited in Jomtien Complex, I'd like to know the real reason why and who made that decision, under what authority. And if prohibition of go-go bars in Jomtien Complex is genuine, I wonder if it has ever been challenged in court.

I think it depends on where you are and what you're looking for. For me, the Boystown-Sunee Plaza area is not central at all. As an expat living on "The Dark Side" I drive to get there. Finding a place to park anywhere near Boystown is next to impossible these days, even with the Covid crisis going on. Unless a parking space is available in the parking lot at Sunee Plaza, finding a place to park is also next to impossible. There have been times I finally found a parking place so far from them that I had to take a motorbike taxi from where I parked to the bars. No thanks, especially during rainy season. Meanwhile, for me I have never had a problem finding a place to park when going to Jomtien Complex. For me, Jomtien Complex is the central location. Also, I lost interest in the go-go bars a long time ago. Sunee Plaza's Winner Bar charges reasonable prices, but the Boystown bars? Forget it. I won't pay those prices to see boys who are of no interest to me in the first place. The prices at every bar in Jomtien Complex are fair and reasonable. I've never felt overcharged or ripped off in Jomtien Complex. I can't say the same for Boystown. As firecat69 says, it would nice if there were go-go bars in Jomtien Complex. Over the years I've heard two stories about why no go-go bars are there. One story is there is some sort of city ordinance against it - although I've never heard a credible explanation as to why and have never seen any documentation that shows such an ordinance actually exists. The other story is the Jomtien Complex bar owners have an agreement about not having go-go bars there because that would generate unfair competition and draw too much business away from all the beer bars. That story is second and third hand. I've never heard it from any of the bar owners. I have no idea which story is true or even if either one of them is the real story. All I know for sure is, for whatever reason, there are no go-go bars in Jomtien Complex and none are expected. But for all I know, maybe there is nothing at all to prevent go-go bars in Jomtien Complex and the only reason there aren't any is simply because nobody ever opened one. So, those of you who cherish the go-go bars, let's hope the remaining Pattaya go-go bars will survive. If they don't, the end of the era of Pattaya gay go-go bars may already be imminent.

At least the Chinese tourists never invaded Jomtien Complex. If Jomtien Complex survives, I hope it stays that way.

In Pattaya, the only gay venue area doing relatively well is Jomtien Complex. No go-go bars, but most of the beer bars are open and plenty of boys. Not that many customers, but it does seem to be enough, so far, to sustain those bars. In my opinion, the beginning of the end for Sunee Plaza was the day Michael and Thomas left Corner bar. It has been a steady downhill ride ever since. For Boystown, I believe the beginning of the end was when Jim Lumsden left. I understand now even his Baan Souy resort is up for sale. If it sells, I have no idea what Jim's plans are after that. Apparently between Bangkok and Pattaya, now Jomtien Complex is the last relatively thriving and surviving gay venue area. If Jomtien Complex fails too, as Jimmy Durante once said, "Then we're all in the ter-let." My hopes are pinned on an eventual comeback.

I was hoping Bangkok's go-go bars would have a better chance of surviving. Apparently not. Obviously a business cannot make it very long if there are few or no customers. And with the situation now, it's going to be much longer before the bars have much of a chance of customers coming. My guess is many of the boys are going to give it up and return home, if they haven't already.

This is very bad news. With only a few expats as bar customers, to tell the truth I'm surprised some of these bars were able to last as long as they did. And this latest round of Covid outbreak is not going to help anything. I hope once unencumbered tourism opens up again, and it's anybody's guess when that might be or even if that might be, there will still be at least a few go-go bars left. At least the hook-up apps work and are filled with willing young gents. Once this is over, that very well may be the way to find boys. There is always the hope that the go-go bars will eventually reopen or some of the bars manage to get sold and new owners will reopen them. Hopefully, if gay farang holiday makers do start returning, there will be a gay paradise resurrection. If that does happen, who knows - maybe the gay scene will eventually be better than it ever was. I think many of us remember the days when the most difficult decisions of the evening were where to eat, which bars to visit, and which boy to "off". Now, not very much to have to decide. I hope for a gay scene comeback - and quickly. I just hope Boystown won't eventually turn into Girlie Bars Town.

That's the bright side . . . ? As for going to The Dollhouse, I'll have to take your word for it. Maybe they get away with it if certain members of the constabulary are somehow getting something more than just a mere pittance of tea money . . .

Please enlighten me. I know of no Pattaya go-go bars where the girls are fully nude. As far as I know, those same powers-that-be prudes put the kibosh on that years ago.