ggobkk

Great report

This question wouldn't have to be asked if PaulSF was on duty at HM Bar...but he decided it was time to take a sabbatical in the USA. This is a topic close to his heart and I'm sure is being kept informed and hopefully will comment. I had a message from my Vietnamese friend, Van (see trip reports)..I asked if business had been good during the high season and his reply was that the police were active in Twilight and he'd been off work for the past three days while the police were around. This seems to happen regularly and is usually directed toward non-Thai bar and go-go "artists". Update with current information...

Newscene - your reports are rivaling the Forum's best. I certainly twig on the learning aspect of discovery and experimenting and mild disappointment when things aren't as hoped for/anticipated. Your next visit to Bangkok will profit from the willingness to learn you show in this visit.

Enjoyed your narrative of discovery about the availability of the boys at HM2. I've off'd one of the "waiters" there on each of my last two trips. Both times they were affectionate and accomplished between / on top of the sheets. Surprised he didn't seem pleased with 3000 bhat + taxi money. Maybe the high season is spoiling the boys. I note that the off fee has increased by 100 since November.

Very enjoyable reports...the Prime "floaters" never fit. But Prime massage is almost always a winner.

DivineMadman your blog is the Michelin guide to massage. I have filed away the spreadsheet and printed the blog and put it in my “next trip file”. Thanks and Happy 2018.

I’ve used P.T. Taxi service and Mikes Pattaya taxi. Both responsible and on time for trips to/from Bangkok/Pattaya. Prices in the 1100 to 1200 range.

Moses - Please wish the Siamroads guys a Happy New Year and let them know the help, assistance, suggestions, guiding and problem solving hey provided me on recent trips was valued and is happily remembered!

Thanks for your report...feel free to update at your convenience (or whim)

Thanks for the reports

Thanks for your report and your style in touring and treating the guys - including the Hot Male promotor.

Joy...

Since your main off is aware that you are having short times before meeting him at 11, the word will be out that you are available to others. It may mark you as generous, but that will only increase interest in you. As I've reported, I usually off the same boy for my stays in a similar way...he has put out the word and often suggests friends to me for some of the short times. He doesn't appear to look at me as either boyfriend or sugar daddy, merely as a break in routine and a larger bed fora few nights.

Tarntawan Apartments are managed by Lukas, who used to manage the Tarntawan Hotel and hosted the cocktail parties mentioned in reader's report. Rates are friendly, though I have yet to stay there.

Final 24 hours in Thailand...up, tea and shower with Van. He's planning on being back by 3pm so we can shop at Uniqlo. Decide to eat at the hotel breakfast buffet. Small accomplishment: I manage to get the toaster to toast evenly and on both sides. Add an egg and I'm content. Start sorting things for packing...decide it's better to pause and catch up on the news from home and email. Head out at 11 to pick up my clothes from Excelsior tailors, very happy with the suit which the guys then professionally fold so it will fit into my carry-on suitcase without too much wrinkling (note: a steam was still required when I unpacked), shirts looked goog and I held one back from the packaging to wear on the flight home (dark color - no stains will show). Thanked the guys and told them I'd see them on next visit. Dropped parcel off at hotel, then to Tony's Leather and picked up my shoes. Fit is excellent, shoes are comfortable. Leave them at hotel and head out for one last Thai bruising and beating at Prime massage. I get back to hotel as Van returns and we head out to the Siam BTS stop, where I look the wrong way and wind up in the mall across from the Siam Paragon mall. Takes me more than a moment to adjust as I'm now exploring all the food places. FIgure out where I went wrong and cross trough the Siam station to Paragon. Uniqlo is the same everywhere...and so easy to find the Airism V-neck section which is what Van's "lingerie" request relly was about. He picks one shirt, 290THBm I indicate it's ok to get more than one, also suggest maybe something else. After two visits to the fitting room, Van is done and I pay 1100 THB to Uniqlo. When I got home I check the price of the Airism V-neck. Just about the same, probably the same given currency fluctuations. We grab some food in the food court on the lower level and head back. Van reminds me (he didn't have to) that I wa planning to off Net tonight. I said it would be an early off as I was planning on meeting paulsf to say goodbye. We work out the logistics and both head out. I go to Hot Male Bar 2 and off Ned...he's cute, a bit more of a Twink than my standard selections but he' fun and we've been together before...I'm not into experimenting at the end of a visit. Enjoy an hour of fun, then a shower together then back to the bar, Ned introduces me to one of the new boys who is from Laos, the three of us hang out, paulsf arrive and joins us. I'd like to see more of the Laotian who is charming. I stay, having fun, until pausf had to attend one of the shows. I have al lingering good bye session with Net and Laotian boy. Then drop a couple of 100 THB tips to some of the boys upstairs at Hot Male, some other good byes to familiar faces. Back to the room, now I get serious about packing, Van returns. He wants to know how things went, I tell him, he says he will give me updates on Hack and the Laotian boy (who he doesn't know). We talk, google translate, shower, sleep for two plus hours. Up at 3am, shower together, he insists on shaving me, this is a first, decent job, and my offer to shave him is greeted with a look of horror...since he is Asian there is no need to spend time with razors, etc. Readers, who have stayed with this report since the beginning, will note that a rate for Van's time hasn't been mentioned. We never discussed one, I give him an envelope and say thanks for spending time with me as we leave the room. For those who need to know, its a short time off rate multiplied by the number of days together. Checkout is easy one the desk clerk surveys the mini-bar and makes sure the television remotes haven't been taken. One last private hug and kiss goodbye in the elevator, security guard has a taxi waiting. Negotiate 500 THB to airport. Wave goodbye to Van. Airport is a breeze as I'm still on my business class upgrade and on Thai, which has it's own security and immigration set up. I check my carry on suitcase and my extra bag. Keep with me the backpack with my iPad and noise cancelling headphones. I'm though the process in under ten minutes. Flight to Taiwan, change to Eva (involves an 8 hour layover). Then easy flight home, great service on Eva. Land in SFO mid-afternoon. Clear immigration in 5 minutes, my two bags are among the first dozen to emerge on the conveyor belt, pause at customs to hand in the card from immigration, BART train is waiting, home ninety minutes after the plan landed. Temperature is 40 degrees F colder than Thailand. That's this report. Not terribly exciting but definitely enjoyable.

I don't expect Van will have a lot of luck with his suitcase. It's the 2nd one I've financed over the past four years.

I've visited all of the places in the past. It had been a year since I was at Prince, the others were more recent. That was what prompted my choice.

Not sure how The Raya's booking decisions are made. Last year, I was staying at the Raya before going to Pattaya. Decided I'd stay at The Raya when I came back to Bangkok for a few days. Checked the rate on Agoda, noted it, then went to the desk to see if they would match it...my thought was - hotel doesn't have to pay a commission so should match. No, not the case, the reception desk held to a higher price and wouldn't match the lower price on Agoda, which I then booked.

Woke up Tuesday morning, realizing that I had less than 40 hours until I headed home. Had tea with Van as he prepared for work and reminded him that we'd be meeting up tonight with paulsf. After he left, I went back to sleep for two hours. Skipped lunch, argued with myself about the merits of Prince, Banana, Senso, and Spa Bangkok. Decided on Prince arriving shortly after 2. Maybe a dozen guys in the glass cage/enclosure and two other "guests" making up their mind. I went with a Burmese boy whose name I could never figure out. Chose 90 minute massage and did not want the jacuzzi room. We were both naked throughout, decent massage, and afters. Back to Surawong and the tailors for a final fitting. Back to hotel, realizing that I will not get away with just carryon gong home. I'd packed a collapsable bag and will add that to my backpack and carryon and just check everything but the backpack and let it follow me to San Francisco. Van returns from work. We have time to talk about what he is planning, which is to keep saving, learning a trade, and going home for the rice planting.harvest. (I am not sure of the seasonal timing and we were using google Translate). He wants to be able to rent a rice reaper for his father. I did not sense that he was asking for me to underwrite this as never came up again in conversation. I did ask him if he wanted anything...straight out answer was he'd like a suitcase for when he goes home in two months. I agree to help with that and we head out to Patpong and the various luggage stalls, shops, etc. He has become a better bargainer since we first met. I don't go in the shops with him as that will increase the price, as he tells me (and I know). He finds one he likes but the price is more than he wants to pay...he walks away. Tells me the price started at 3000 THB, Finally down to 2200, but he hd firm at 2000. Said, if o.k., he'll go back after we meet paulsf and bargain again and maybe get the suitcase for 2100. OK with me. We go to Maxi's to meet paulsf who arrived in Bankgkok earlier in the day...while he hasn't yet made it to Twilight the buzzi is about that the doyen of Twilight is about to appear. Paulsf is a key part of the glue that holds a good portion of this forum together. He has been coming for a number of years, stays for a many weeks at a time, and has met many, many of the Forum members. He keeps in touch with private messages, etc. He has a dedicated seat at Hot Male Bar, Divine Madman and I noticed that his check bin at the bar is marked #1. Paulsf is also the godfather for the Vietnamese boys who populate the bars and gogos. Enough said...Van and I were finishing dinner when paulsf arrived and was quickly taken to his seat at Hot Male Bar, some of the boys knew I was there to meet pausf and came over to tell me he was there. Van and I having finished eating, went and joined him, he came over to Maxi's with us and joined us for some more food. He talked with Van about some boys he was wondering about who seemed to have left Bangkok. The conversation was interrupted by waiters and others wanting to welcome paulsf back. Van went out to try his suitcase strategy. Pausf and I started catching up (we were now back at Hot Male Bar). We talked about politics at home, the whereabouts of this and that forum members, how his health was doing after the long flight, etc. During this Net from Hot Male Bar #2 was signaling to me. I told him that maybe tomorrow there'd be some time for us to get together. I'm not sure what the time was when I returned to The Raya. Van was there with his suitcase. He got it for 2100 as he'd hoped. I asked if he need anything else. I know/suspect he has other farangs who help with things...his iPhone is newer than mine and I didn't buy it for him. He said that he would like...and he types into the translator some text...translator says: "bra". I looked amazed, he tries again...translator "lingerie". I am laughing...he is confused, I use translator and ask "ladies underwear?". Quick negative shake of his head...he then points to the shirt he is wearing and makes it clear that is what he is talking about. It's a black v-neck form fitting shirt from Uniqlo. Still laughing, I agree and we decide he will leave work early tomorrow and we can shop in the afternoon. I mention that I want to off Net tomorrow and we come up with some timing options. We shower together and spend some private time before sleeping.

Maybe they should say “male walking street”.

Luang Prabang is such a special place...very glad you have a guide there. Siamroads guided me when I went there for Buddhist New Year...truly memorable.

Excellent report...Thai Hotmale gogo dancer...wonder if we offed the same guy.

Thanks for referencing my mention of Excelsior. I like them but always caution to spend time with the fitting and don’t hesitate to get a second fitting. Also, know what you want...there are as many types of suiting as there are food stalls on Surawong. I’ve tried a few of the tailors along Surawong, usually I start with a shirt order and a pair of pants. That said...a suit purchase in a Thailand can be at a cost that when compared to home, even at M&S, can underwrite /justify a trip to Thailand. Numazu uses a tailor n Pattaya and mentioned the shop in a report last year.

Monday morning…Van up early and out for work. Too early for the buffet, so I go out to Foodland which remains filling and a good value. Stop at Starbucks for a tea…not a good value, but… Meet Mac from Siamroads at 9:30. Short half day shopping and temple tour is the plan. I mention I’m having dinner at the Dusit Thani and confirm with him my planned routing. He tells me a way to remember a short cut that will save me some time. We head out by taxi to the Grand Hyatt hotel which has easy access to the Erawan Shrine. Pause at the shrine to think about those killed and injured in the terrorist bombing at the shrine a while back. Mac gives me the history of the shrine and what it represents. Then to Central World and on to Siam Paragon. I learn about the Crown Estate and who owns the underlying land in this area…no wonder the Thai Royals are the richest in the world. After checking out the limousine showrooms at Paragon we head for the Hotel Kempiniski so Mac can show me the palace of the Princess that is situated in the park by the hotel. (Landowners privilege, I guess). Check my watch and notice it’s almost 1pm and not sure where the time has gone. We try to get a taxi at the hotel…and after a bit of a wait, the doorman tells us we’d do better catching the BRT. Back at the hotel, I settle up with Mac and thank him, suggest that, if he doesn’t already, should upsell more – i.e. suggest other tours, make connections through Moses for drivers etc. Hope to see him on my next trip. Head out for the tailor for a fitting of my suit and shirts. Some adjustments needed, and I ask for a button hole in the lapel, in case I’m ever given a medal or need it for a flower at a wedding. Trial shirt is billowy (too much material) and gets lot of pinning to mark the changes. Head out for Indra to see if the massage boy who intrigued me is working…no, not until tonight. Decide to just go straight ahead to Prime and indulge in a 2-hour Thai massage. The luck of the draw gives me a young and incredibly fit masseur who uses the full two hours to mash me into a pulp. At the end, once I decide to stand, I feel incredible. Hotel, text Van to remind him I will be out tonight. Replies he will meet me at the hotel. Go downstairs to Tony’s Leather to consider some shoes. Tony’s not only sells shoes but will make them to measure. I’ve had a leather jacket made there in the past and need some new dressy formal shoes to go with the suit that is being made up at Excelsior. Go around and round on shape, style, and then the bargaining on price. My feet are measured, and an outline of my foot taken as the bargaining continues. Finally settle on an amount that translates into USD$ 110. Somewhat pricey but 1/10 of the price I’ve paid in the first world for handmade shoes (this is when I had some wherewithal before I retired) and about half the price of store bought shoes in California and no 10% sales tax. Change and head for the rooftop restaurant at the Dusit Thani. The hotel is one of those mid 20th century classic hotels. Lots of public spaces – which are empty tonight. The phase that suits is “you could fire a cannon here and not hit anyone”. The Dusit Thani is scheduled to be taken down and the site redeveloped as condos, hotel, shopping, etc. Rumors abound, as they always do in Thailand, about who owns it and who benefits…the goal tonight is to eat and remember. On the way to the rooftop restaurant, the elevator stops for a guest and I can see that the walls would need painting and the carpet is in dire need of cleaning…but why bother if it’s all coming down. Divine Madman is ensconced at a table surveying the city below, I join him, and we begin with a drink to salute one another and the time that’s passed since we met up last spring. Talking and dining and another round of good drinks, the time flies by… Delightful evening…afterward, we head in our separate directions with agreement to meet up again, maybe this visit, maybe the next. Head over to Hot Male…the last show is ending, and it has a very hard-core element. I’m placed in a back row as the first few rows are occupied by women and the guys naked in trench coats are swinging their erectness in the faces of the gals. Much screaming and fondling. Hack has joined me for some private fondling here in the back, tell him we will use another hotel tonight (Van is asleep at The Raya) so we adjourn to the hotel next to Screwboys that specializes in short stays. Hack is as handsome as before and as seductive. I allow myself to be seduced. I head back to the Raya around 2am.

My experience with hotels and booking is to keep trying and to use multiple booking sites. Rooms are released at various times and some only to a favored site. I've been told no one was available at The Raya, only to find it available on Agoda two days later. That said, you are look at a high point in high season, good luck and have a great time wherever you settle.