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I made it to Bangkok mid-day, yesterday, Saturday...which was Visalia Buddha Day. As FloridaRob noted elsewhere in the Forum that translates into NO ALCOHOL until midnight. I flew in on Thai airways from Hong Kong. I arrived in Hong Kong from San Francisco Friday evening. I stayed at the Regal Airport Hotel which is a walkway away from Terminal 1. It’s decent and seems to house tourists like me who don’t want to wander around the terminal and sleep on benches waiting for their connection, it also houses flight crews from a roster of airlines. Note: Romeo and Blued were filled with what looked to be flight attendants. Rant - periodically in this trip report, I may use the space to vent. Here is the first one - I was pleased to note that I was upgraded on the flight to HK...this was the second time in a week, having received the same courtesy going to London 6 days prior. Nice, but with the lay-flat seats, it’s claustrophobic! I was never comfortable in the flat bed as I’m a side sleeper. The UA beds are designed for those who sleep on their backs. Back in the days without cubbyhole business seating, the seats reclined but not into beds, I was always able to sleep...Actually, once I turned the bed into more of a recliner I slept. One more addition to this rant: is there a rule that window shades should be down throughout the flight. Only three were up even for landing. Increases my sense of being in a cave...and unlike the Thai soccer boys, not sure of a rescue. Rave - rants should be offset by raves. This rave is for my fellow Forum members. BiggusDikkus’s reminiscence of his tour led visit to Galaxy Boys, reminded me of how much reading this Forum and taking in the advice helped when I returned to Thailand after a two decade absence. Examples from the first hours of this trip. As I report on my visit, I’ll note where there was a Forum insight. Thai’s flight from HK was comfortable and all the window shades were up. I had a row to myself, the 777-300 was only half full. One incredibly handsome, sexy guy, a row over. BUT he was with his wife/girl friend and the mother of one of them was in Business. Enjoyable eye candy. Arriving close to on time, it was a good half mile to immigration. Incredibly handsome guy and family sped by in a cart. My mind goes to Crazy Rich Asians. Get to immigration and it is jammed. Forum Rave note; a few years back one of the Forum members, perhaps PaulSF, told me about the priority channel...which is for diplomats, monks, and folks over 70. I’m in one of those categories and was the only one using the channel. Note - if it hasn’t been mentioned already, immigration is collecting fingerprint scans as part of the arrival process. My luggage was arriving at the carrousel just as I did. Incredibly handsome guy was there with two assistants pulling luggage. Then I noticed that the mom was in a wheelchair...explaining the ride from the plane and the need for the help with luggage he’s still handsome... Forum rave = this was one of the very rate times I’ve arrived when the trains are running to the City. I carefully followed the directions provided more than once by Vinapu. Go to level B, use the machines, take the token, but (Forum rave) find the currency exchange as noted. My rate was 31.71 to the dollar. Took the train, changed as instructed in the Forum, using escalators and lifts, only had to tote my bag and backpack down some steps at Sala Daeng to use the escalator in the Thania Building. 90 minutes after landing I was wheeling my suitcase. Into the Tarntawan and greeted by the desk staff, one of whom has been there since the Lukas era. I had been assigned to my favorite room on the 5th floor. It’s a two room set up and has many happy memories for me of good times and many boys. I unpacked, put my important things in the safe. After washing up, I went to Prime Massage. It was 5pm and I was told I could reserve for 6pm. OK...I used the time to check for neighborhood changes. There is a hotel complex being created in the space between the Tarntawan and the apartment building across from Prime. Last year, I read the sign wrong and told DivineMadman it was an expansion of the hospital. Wrong.No construction was visible. Went to Soi 4 where the massage boys were out from both Adam and Nikrat. Tempting. I located Banana Bar on 4 but saw it would be closed tonight due to the no alcohol holiday. Tables were being set up at Telephone I checked in with my workout shirt vendor who will pull some shirts in my size for me to pick up later. Now to Patpong 2...things seem concentrated what with Screwboys and DreamBoiz on the street level, and Lucky Boys, Fresh Boys, Hot Male one flight up. Could be tricky for members who are agility shy. Back to Prime for a luxurious one hour foot massage, followed by a classic “it will feel better once the pain stops” Thai massage. Just what I need as I’d been in planes for more than forty hours in the past ten days. Masseur was Yo and I’d like to have him for another pain session. It was now 8:30 so I sought out some street food and went looking around. The Forum has a report that there were two new male bars on Patpong 1. I found Banana and let the Mamasan pull me in with a severely discounted drink price of 200...remember no alcohol so $6 for a coke...interesting set up, with what looks to be a stage in a triangular shaped room. 6 boys, all twinks. One other boy was the music master and energizer bunny. Mamasan told me she had a room upstairs. I enjoyed talking with her and about the month they had been open. Could use more business. It was too early for an off so I noted that the Udon Thani energizer was a future possibility. As I left, I was grabbed by a tout, I thought he might be from the other new gay bar...he wasn’t and I didn’t take up[ his offer for a reduced rate for watching pole dancing. I later learn the other new gay bar on Patpong 1 is right next door to Banana. I decided it was time to head over to Patpong 2...Moonlight was closed for the holy day and so was Hot Male, which I learned after I’d climbed the stairs. The grabber for Lucky Boys moved in before the Dream Bois grabber. Up a flight of brightly lit stairs, entrance lobby is brightly lit and seems to be the location for the toilets/changing areas. Let into the main room, who was there to greet me but Mamasan Lucy! Quickly she ushered me to a table with a clear view of the stage and a drink order given (350 tonight as its no alcohol until midnight). I immediately noticed no one was on the stage but there are a lot of guys in the room all are still dressed and wearing numbers as are the waiters. (Forum confirmation. = the waiters are offable). There are some other customers, two of whom are female. Lucy knows why I’m there, so I can’t pull any of Vinapu’s Mamasan brush offs. We talk, she brings over a Cambodian boy, 23 years old. I buy him a drink, we talk - we have nothing in common. There is an announcement of some sort and all the boys stand up and move to the changing areas. At 9pm, the boys, other than the waiters, move into performance wear, or lack of. Lots of smiles to me, I’m one of the few possible customers at this hour on a holy day, so I don’t put it down to my innate charm. About 30 boys take to stage with at least a dozen waiting for stage space to open up. I should note that it’s a really impressive space and well designed. But, I digress. Lucy’s chosen returns in his boxers and knowing he isn’t going to be my choice, tells me about some of the boys on stage as I indicate who looks attractive to me. Guys range between twinks and lightly muscled guys. He suggests a couple of guys - he favors Cambodians (surprise). Lucy checks in, She brings over one of the boys I was interested in. I give Mr. Cambodia 100 THB and thank him. He gives me a kiss. New guy is handsome, good tight musculature, and Vietnamese. I ask about what he likes/is willing to do. Note: he’s Vietnamese, so I’m pretty sure of the answer...to my surprise he is willing to do even less than most Vietnamese. Another 100 and thank you for your time. While my inquisition was taking place, many of the others boys swan by and blow kisses and some rub my back. Lucy brings over #22. Name is Hab. 24. Cambodian. Good English. Says in English he does everything. Lucy confirms. I like his look and his answers, so I tell him to get dressed. While he is dressing one of the waiters comes over and tells me that I will like Hab. Waiter is from Cambodia! Hab returns, I settle up. Off fee is 400. Short time agreed at 2000. Note: Lucky Boys has an accounting system. Each successive slip in the check bin, increases the total charged. So while there were multiple slips in the bin, only the most recent was the one for payment. After, Lucy insists on giving me a goodbye kiss, Hab and I leave for the Tarntawan. We pause at DreamBois for a look. Really small, shirtless guy on stage. Make a mental note to return. Back in the room at the Tarntawan he was everything he promised and more. Attentive, submissive, dominant, as needed or wished. I finished before he did and his cumshot was enormous spraying him and me. After a shower, we settled back for some in bed bonding. He left when it was time to catch his 3am visa run bus. I recommend Hab...note if you ever off him, his erogenous zone is his left nipple. I know, I know more information than is needed. All in all, not a bad first day in Bangkok. Actually, it was a great day. Please excuse typos etc as I writing this on an ipad - which limits my ability to check things.

Observation...if BiggusDikkus was paying 2000 THB for an off two decades ago...given inflation, currency fluctuations, etc...today’s prices are a bargain.

I remember Galaxy Boys...a few years before OP...it was my first Thai off experience. I believe I did everything wrong and it still turned out all right. Galaxy Boys also had rooms on the premises.

Reporting from the Tarntawan...arrived yesterday, little has changed...though there are numbers stuck on the chairs in the lobby dining area. The mantra is that all the changes will be done within two months! I had to check but this is Thailand...I haven’t seen the manager but if I do I’ll ask some questions about the scale of the changes and if the type of clients they hope to attract. As to pricing comps, I stayed last November at the Bandara Suites which is closer to Babylon and Prince. Pricing was similar to Tarntawan and The Raya...it has two pools and a decent hotel gym.

I’d enjoy knowing more about your first trip AND your current trip...

I plead jet lag and not divine intervention..."god is good" is what I'd intended... So I genuflect to sglad for his proofreading skills.

I've meet the Manager who is personable and was frustrated by the infrastructure. forum posters have commented on the air conditioning (cold and very cold) and I've wondered at the biological resource the room carpet provided. It appears that due to the luck of the calendar, I'll be one of the last of the Forum members to stay there as my reservation runs until the 27th. I can only hope that the services are maintained in the last days. I do have good memories of the Tarntawan and its welcoming policies for offs and mostly god memories of the offs. So, I join in Vinapu's hope for discounts and a more functional hotel but with the same "guest" policies.

I received this email Greeting from the Tarntawan Hotel Surawong Bangkok !! We are delighted that you have chosen to stay at Tarntawan Hotel Surawong Bangkok and we trust you are enjoying the hotel’s services and facilities. In this connection, we would like to advise you that, after delivering gracious service and memorable experiences for the past several years, we have decided that it is time for an extensive renovation and revitalization of this iconic property. As such, the hotel will temporarily close for business at the end of May 2019 to carry out the necessary work until 15 July 2019, when it will be reopened under the “imm Hotel Brand” with a new name: “imm Hotel Surawong”. We are very grateful for the many years of support all our esteemed guests have given us. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you for your kind understanding and cooperation and we trust we will meet again as we embark on the next chapter of this remarkable story. Please follow the project’s progress at www.immhotelsurawong.com and https://www.imperialhotels.com For any other queries or concerns, please feel able to reach out to me directly at below shown number.

Actually, this is a preliminary notice prior to a report. I leave tomorrow for a 2 weeks in Thailand, I'll stop in Hong Kong on Friday and get to Swampy mid-day Saturday. I'll be in Bangkok for 8 days and then six days in Pattaya, staying in Jomtien. Any forum members who might want to meet up send me a PM. I've been in touch with two members and we have hazy tentative plans about meeting. Today, began with a bit of controlled horror - I woke to a buzzing on my wrist as my watch replayed a text from my bank saying there had been an unauthorized charge. After the call and agreement that I'd not authorized a charge in Cyprus, my card was cancelled with a new one being sent. Pain in the... as this is my principal card for purchases. But there are other cards so I'm substituting. Then I visited the dentist to have repairs made to two teeth. Back at home, a call from my credit union telling me they had a charge from Cyprus! This is the card I use at ATMs when I travel as it has no fees. Ugh...this is not my day and it's only 11am. The credit union is a ten minute walk from where I live and I head there as the notice I'd received was automated, and wanted too too many codes and waiting times on hold to accomplish anything. At the office, the manager said hello and how could he help. I told him, and he helped. In a few minutes, I had a new ATM card and withdrew cash to change at the rail station at BKK. I'm looking forward to a rest from dealing with effects of Cypriots getting my card information and a respite from seeming constant traveling: Mid-April I flew to China, then back to the Bay Area, then on to the UK. From where I returned yesterday to attend two meetings. Tomorrow off to Thailand via HK. I'm looking forward to inspecting and evaluating and enjoying the revitalized entertainment zone(s) and having some massages. Sorry to be missing PaulSF and DivineMadman who have lef to rest up for their next sojourns in Thailand. Not sure if I report from the scene or when I return in June...but I swear to the spirit of Vinapu that I will report. PS: Some good news...United Airlines just called to tell me I'd been upgraded for the flight to Hong Kong.

If this does happen (it is Thailand, after all), I doubt it will be quickly copied by other countries. It's a reasonable idea that will be opposed by pharma and hospital accounting offices.

Great report...looking forward to the updates. LOL about the Freshboys waiters...and glad there are no numbers on the mamasans!

Alex is right..."New Screwboys" dates to 2013 and is the Screwboys we all talk about. Screwboys also has a karaoke further down the soi. I reconfirmed with one of th guys who works there.

When I use Planet Romeo, I look at the activity tag page. I don't use the traveler page as it seems to have algo-limitations. I do use the activity page and what I've noticed is the number of accounts that appear depends on the time of day. I checked last night in preparation for my visit next week and found hundreds of Bangkok active romeos, most with multiple photos.

Cash is king, when I my supply runs out, I use an ATM...the charge is noticeable, but is the same whether I withdraw 1000 baht or 20,000 baht, so I tend to take out what I believe will get me through my visit. Whatever remains, I just take home to bring back on the next trip. Helps to encourage me to return. Recommendation for Super Rich is a good one. I don't know the exchange in the BTS, and have used the one located directly across from where Twilight once was.

I foresee real estate speculation forthcoming on the forum

Thaipuan is out with a new edition...translation: a new map of the Surawong/Silom clubs (well most of them) showing locations. If your're not in a club to pick up a free copy the online version is at thaipuan.com. Site has photos of Moonlight's Babe (in two adverts). The model of the month is exceptional.

God save the Queen!

I’ll join with DivineMadman and Reader...thanks.

Paulfort is asking about the Tawana which is on the LeMeridian side of Surawong

Thanks for the update from an honored source.

His Instagram seems to indicate he's in the navy reserve for his required service. Some of the other photos indicate that he likes a fine life style and no line of work...telltale signs.

In my opinion, you were short changed on time to consider an off at Lucky Boys. Even if the mamasan had transferred the boy to you from another table. The mamasan would not have done that if a commitment had already been made by anyone at the other table. I share Vinapu's option of signaling the boy myself. They have their eyes on the room and will quickly move to your side. Now, my comments are based on multiple experiences up to last November. Things may have changed since then...Moonlight is a bit more restrictive as they have their stars with higher priced options and the other boys off the stageo sit off to the side, At Twilight's HotMale, where I was (am?) friendly with two of the mamasans, I've locked onto a boy who was sitting with someone, the mamasans told me to wait and see if my choice was offed. If he wasn't then he'd be brought over. In Jupiter, I've both signaled a boy from the stage and asked a mamasan to laser light another. In many years of going to the clubs, I've never been given a time limit to decide. Note for historical record - at HotMale once I liked a boy but he was offed by the guy he was with...later, after we'd met, I knew the guy was offed by PaulSF...

In preparing for my upcoming trip, the memories of the last trip, enhance my enjoyment in organizing my planning and remind me to leave plenty of room for serendipity to occur. In about two weeks, I’ll be exploring the new venues and catching up with friends/boys/forum members.

Massage = cultural obligation.

Thanks...happy you’re happy and appreciate allowing our imaginations to continue on. Enjoy the rest of your visit.