ggobkk

Not sure what to say here. I enjoy Numazu's reports and having met him and Burboy know they are a great pairing. I've also met DivineMadman and know that he is thoughtful and one who looks out for and protects the boys. Which is what I belive he was doing when he called the face pictures out to Numazu, who followed up by obscuring the faces. About this point, things on this post deteriorated. So I hope Numazu's suspense laden tour of the top 3000 eating places in Myanmar and Thailand continues.

A traveler's truth that should be in the gay trip advisor

Anyone panning to travel to Bangkok and Thailand in December should be aware of the ceremonies surrounding the late King's cremation. This article summarizes the current plans. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1208069/royal-funeral-planned-for-late-december I was planning a trip between Christmas and New Year's. May reconsider...

Thanks...I'll need to add a new destination to my travel plans

Repeating a suggestion made by Vinapu that I've adopted: when booking a hotel, book a double. Saves some problems if hotel has a guest policy

Kasikorn

Monday morning, hotel buffet...everything is the same but different. I was away 4 days and the powers that be completely reorganized the placement of the various dishes, the coffee, the tea, and the toaster. With nothing on my agenda, I decide to explore...I wind up at Central World, had ice tea, did some shopping, and lunch at Greyhound, which was only passable (660 BHT). Check my phone and find several messages from "K" and an update from Van who send me a photo of him working in the fields at his parents. After exiting the BTS I walked along Silom and found myself again at Prime and again I took the 2 hour Thai massage to release my inner masochist. After going back to the hotel and spend some private time thinking of my parents as today would have been their 75 wedding anniversary. i post a reminiscence on FB. After some quiet time, I head out for dinner at Maxi's and to see what the evening brings. I head to Family Mart so a few things, coming out as 'm going in is Dave, my off from last night. He stops me and aks if I coming back to Fresh Boys and to off him. I tell him I have other plans. He is still cute, but not cute enough for another off. As i round the corner to enter Soi Twilight, La, HotMale's man on the street. sees me and puts me (no resistance) in a chair at the bar. I tell him, I'm on my way to eat, Noom hears me and finds a menu, I enjoy the give and take with boys, so I order. I let the results pass...the food came from one of the carts and was delivered to the bar. Ask La about the HotMale show, he (of course) recommends it but is honest and says tonight is quiet. I translate this to mean it will be a short show as not too many customers. I go up, the mamasan is back from a day off, usual treatment, usual seat. I notice two boys who take my interest, one is tall with a Chinese cast to his features, the other #4 is a coyote, the one will the mop of hair I saw last night. Mamasan asks if I want to talk to him, I say, yes but after his rotation on sage ends, when it does, mamasan brings over the coyote who has taken over #4 's spot on stage. Misunderstanding. Once ocrrected, #4 joins me, his name is "T". What is is with names this trip? Cee, "K", and now "T". Early on, I seemed to always select Vietnames boys, now it's the alphabet. I also remember a prior report where I went out of my way to identify boys and forum members with code letters. Maybe this is payback. T has no English and with the help of the mamasan and Google translate, I learn he's 19 (check ID) and fresh from Issan. He is cuddly and his mane of hair - these two things combined with his youth bring to my mind a comparison with a young puppy. He is eager to please and I'm willing to let him please me. We adjourn to the hotel. Stop at reception for ID drop off, up to room, T showers and invites me to join him, he has a dancer's body, lithe, defined, we dry each other off, and adjourn to his task of pleasing me, which he does. After I am finished, he chuck wows...it takes more than several minutes and he wants me to bite his nipples and chest to bring him off. Which happens. He then cuddles and falls asleep his head on my chest. After a while, I wake him, he says he'll stay all night. Not sure why, but I said it was best to leave. I'm still trying to figure out why I decided to not have an overnight guest. T takes a shower, gives me a kiss. Leaves. A few minutes later, he knocks on the door...how does he get to reception. I tell him to take the elevator to the 4th floor. Goodbye. Another few minutes, another knock. He can't get there, elevator doesn't work (!). I dress, and we head out. He stops at the service elevator and shows me it doesn't work. I lead him further on to the hotel elevator, which he now remembers. The expression on his face was one of surprised joy. We get the ID and I take him down to Surawong. I think to myself, that was fun, maybe a repeat tomorrow. Tuesday. Last day in Bangkok. Repeat of yesterday, breakfast, Siam Paragon instead of Central World, massage at Prime for two hours. Back at Hotel "K" video calls me from his home and e proceeds to introduce me to his parents who are also on the call (!). DInner at Maxi's, meet up with DivineMadman where we share notes, joke with the bar boys. He departs to prepare for his trip and I head up to HotMale to off "T". Mamasan tells me it's T's night off and tries to interest me in another boy /boys. Not interested. It's now almost 11 and I'm scheduled to leave the hotel in 4 hours to catch my plane to Tokyo to connect with the flight to San Francisco. Decide, no new boy. T would have been o.k. as I know he's a good time but I don't want rush the last hours with someone I don't already know. Go to bed...alarm at 3. Shower, shave, check to make sure everything is packed. Down to reception, room check, all is clear, hotel gets me a taxi. Some negotiation, no meter, but says 400 THB ok. I paid something close to that for a metered trip from the airport when I arrived. Quick trip, though at at first by a different route than I'm accustomed to. At airport, ANA staff makes their bow to the passengers and I check my bags to San Francisco, security, and a really long line (it's 4am) for immigration. Clear, go ANA lounge and create a breakfast, onto plane, fall asleep, Tokyo. Get a shower and shave at the United Club, have a beer and some snacks - food not great in lounge but is better than what I will get on plane. Board and learn that I have a center row (a 4 seater) to myself. Wake up 2 hours outside of the Bay Area. Skip the breakfast offered and think about what the last two weeks has been like. Can't get my head around it...I think, well, Vinapu prods me to write a report..maybe that will make things understandable. And so ends this trip report with a hope for another visit.

Looking at my notes for this trip, I wrote this..."said goodbye to "K", some sleep, a gentle morning." Wake, make some tea, journal the last two days (and nights), the interactions with "K" and acknowledging some powerful feelings that I thought were long gone from my experiences. After a shower, pack up, double check that everything is accounted for, leave a tip for the housekeepers. Down to breakfast where Kaye of the Poseidon seats me and takes my breakfast order. It seems that in Jomtien/Pattaya Kaye and "K" have been my special supports. As I wait for breakfast, two guys who are in the room below me (we pass on the stairs at least once a day) come in for breakfast and we share a table. They weren't at the managers cocktail party last night so there's been no chance to talk other than to say hello on the stairs. And, given that this is my serendipity trip, it's perfectly understandable that I discover they leave near me (in California 40 miles is "near"). They drive to Berkeley where I live to go to the theatre, so we share thoughts on what we've seen and they ask about restaurants in town. I try to stay current on the comings and goings of the restaurants and food trucks in my food obsessed home town. Time slips away, and it's almost 11. My new neighbors are heading out to the airport, and I need to get to the tailors. Which I do, shirts are ready. I try one on and it's a great fit. I do realize that at this point, if it wasn't a good fit there's not too much I can do. I return to the hotel, tell Kaye I'll have one bag for him to bring down, climb the 60 steps one last time, Kaye comes up and takes my suitcase down, I follow with my electronics bag and a smaller carry-all. PT Taxi is again early, I say good bye to my California neighbors, who are waiting for their driver. I tip Kaye and promise to return...hope I keep that promise...and I'm off. Unlike the journey to Pattaya, the return to Bangkok is relatively quick and I'm at The Raya by 2. Easy check-in. This time I'm in a Standard room on the 6th floor. Good size, comfortable. I'll later learn it could use another light and the air conditioning likes to revert to cold at its convenience. At check-in the clerk started by welcoming me back. Computer is definitely working. Unpack clothes that I'll (maybe) need the next two and a half days and then repack the remainder. At about 4pm, I head out to Prime for a two hour Thai massage (500 THB). Note to self: Self, when having a Thai massage, especially a two hour work-over, make sure to use the toilet before. There's sufficient pressure use in a Thai massage that having pressure in one's bladder is not an enhancement. Other that as noted to self, it was an exceptional massage. Between my grunts, I was able to let my thoughts roam over the past few days...nothing processed as a full thought, but there was a sense that my world was a bit more openly enhanced. Went for a walk, saw on my phone that Divine Madman was proposing a meet up to which I agreed. Decided to have a snack at Madrid, ordered the pizza, and observed that same women were still sitting around in their assigned sots, bar, cashier, kitchen, server inside and server outside. There were two other customers, server outside seemed to be delivering pizzas along the soi as she keep leaving with pizzas and no one was dining outside Back to the hotel, than over to HotMale Bar where DivineMadMan and I arrive at almost the same time. Noom is all over me, I act as if I can't remember him, two other bar boys join us. DivineMadman tells me that when PaulSF is in residence he is given Check bin #1. We both hope the tradition will carry on when he arrives on Wednesday. (DivineMadman PM's me that it did). I fill him in on my time in Pattaya, he is negotiating with his friend about leaving with him on his visa run and will be going to X-Boys to negotiate if there are to be off fees as that's where his friend works. He asks if I'd like to join them and go to Maggie Choo's for the show. I pass, I want to check out some clubs, maybe see if my Classic Boys dancer who I was eyeing last week is around. Note: I should have gone with DivineMadman. Go upstairs to HotMale to say hello to the mamasan, who's not there -seems it's his night off, but I'm taken to the usual seat, order a drink, note there are maybe ten customers, see one guy who looks interesting (he has a full head of hair, I realize that is a miserable description, but his hair is grown out and I think of a mop), but he's with a customer. Since there are few customers, the 9:30 show last about 12 minutes. I take my leave. I next stop in FreshBoys. The mamasans are still if full Chinese dress coming out of the new year. I order a 7-up which is delivered and spilled on my as it is set down. Apologies interrupted by one mamsan sitting down and asking for a drink and then asking if I saw anyone I liked. I said no to the drink and that I hadn't had time to check out the boys. Very few customers, so a series of boys sit down on my let side in a rotation they only understood. Mamasan is still on my right telling me about the boys. I'm not sure if I'm irritated or amused by all of this Suspect is amusing for me to see how irritated I might get to be...at somepoint after having chased away four boys, Dave, a 19 year old from Cambodia, takes his rotation. He is cute, nice body, kisses in the club, I but him a drink which sets up wails from a couple of the guys I'd sent away. (Over acting but amusing). Mamsan tells me Dave is new, does everything (doesn't everyone until they get to the room?). My resistance is worn down by Dave's smile, his kisses, my pants being still wet from the 7-Up, and wanting to get away from the mamasan. If Dave hadn't been so cute, I'd have just bailed. I didn't, I paid up (500 off, 800 for two drinks). Dave and I go to The Raya, stop at the desk where they take his ID and i double check it to makes sure he is 19. He is. Offer him a shower, he washes up but no shower, his clothes are off, underwear removed as he gets into the bed. Very nice body, good abs, he's compact, maybe 5 and 1/2 feet tall. As, I thought, he does everything, ...but. He kisses and sucks but not a bottom. I'm not a bottom tonight, still tender there from "K". We take advantage of what he will do and then he has a spectacular chuck wow. I almost wanted to applaud. Something about being 19, I guess. We stick together for maybe 20 minutes and he gets up to go, offer the shower again, no. Pay him 2000 and take him to the desk for his ID. Look at my watch it's 11:30. Dave and I were together just about an hour. I return to the room, take a shower, think about FreshBoys and activities in the room. Maybe I'm jaded but other than having somewhat intimate contact with a really attractive 19 year old , I'd have had more fun at was less fun at Maggie Choo's. Waled around, thought about Screwboys...but just retuned to the hotel, fought with the air conditioning and went to bed.

Paulsf and I know many of the same Vietnamese boys. They are a bit wary as many have been burned by farangs, but when they begin to trust (as they do Pausf) they are open and fun and even thoughtful toward you.

"K" sent me a good night text just before I turned off the light and went to sleep. When I woke iI shook my head a bit to savor the memories of the previous night. Then it was time for the "routine", breakfast, shower, beach time. I was seated next to a couple from Australia/Britain/Thailand. The husband mentioned Donald Trump and we were off to the conversational races. No I could not explain him...then the wife, who was sitting next to me, and I had a good time sharing our world views. Wandered back after lunch to the hotel, after a shower and catching up on email and the news from home, I went back to the tailors to pick up my clothes...whoops pants ready but shirts aren't finished. Tomorrow by noon. Impossible, I leave for Bangkok at noon and need to pack the shirts. Back and forth, agree on 11. Take the pants to the hotel. Try them on...they fit quite well. It's now after 6 and the Poseidon management is hosting a cocktail party for its guests. About ten are sitting around a table on the terrace, Kaye is serving red and white wine, there is a platter of snacks. Only two others are English by birth speakers, rest find German to be the native tongue. One is a Thai boy who is with one of the other guests. Enjoyable hour and then some talking about the world, changes in the hotel business, the chef joins us and eats some of the snacks...I take this to be a good sign. We adjourn the wine party, some of us go in to the dining room for dinner. Again, meal is top notch. I dined on a Dutch version of French onion soup, beef stroganoff, and creme brûlée, washed down with a red wine. After a visit to my room, I head back via baht bus to Boyztown...still want to see Cupidol and ToyBoys. As I turn into the soi, it apparent that this is the night the New Year will be/is being celebrated. Red is predominant color and Chinese clothing is worn by the staff in many of the bars. As I'm marking the difference from last night, I'm grabbed in a hug from behind. It's "K", he was hoping (assumed) I'd be back...I probably knew I'd be to see him but didn't want to admit the possibility that he might not be there/already be with someone. Not the case, clearly. He grabs by hand and takes me over toward Panorama. "K" instigates several minutes of a display of public affection that are captured by the camera phones of many tourists. We retreat into Panorama, where "K" turns his charm to full blast and I begin to melt. There is a full blown battle between two teams of Chinese dragon dancers. Each dragon enters into each bar and collects some tribute and provides a blaze of color and activity. "K" tells me there is no BBB parade tonight - it will be all dragons until show time. We head into the head (naval term - look it up) where head is a distinct possibility, but jsut some shared intimacies happen. Note, I really wanted to write we headed into the head for some head...I guess sort of did. "K" takes a ton of selfies of the two of us, shows me photos of his family, his home, and some of Pattaya. We agree to meet up after the show. I'm taking a pass on the show, give him the baht for his off fee - to keep the mamasans from booking him. He heads into BBB for the show and I checkout Toy Boys, maybe six good looking guys acting as customer bait in front, inside, it's a nice set up, comfortable seating arranged in a semi-circle/U shape around the stage, maybe fifteen boys on stage, all in white underwear. No distinct type to the undies, maybe the boys supply their own. One or two cuties, I have a drink and watch. Walkover to Cupidol which is jammed and after looking in and feeling crushed by the crowd, I go to Oscars for an ice tea wand wait for "K". He's not hungry so we head to Jomtien. Folks, it's basically a repeat of last night but on a slower get to know you better speed. I can contemplate how beautifully and classically handsome he is. "K" stays until sunup. All morning, I'll be getting copies of the selfies of us that he took. My serendipity has made for two special nights. Nights that won't just disappear as part of some trying to remember what happened on a trip. It's now Sunday, return to Bangkok...that will be in the next post.

Eurasian, take a look at Numazu's very first post of this report...it is the last day of his visit and his parting with BurBoy...he wrote that as a prelude.

The report is a masterwork of pacing, timing, suspense, color, intimacy, and travelogue. Given the reader numbers your report is incredibly and deservedly popular. But stepping back just a bit, DivineMadman raises a question (existential? who knows?). Honesty is in the life of the beholder. One's belief in one's one honesty may not be shared by others. I wish only good things for all mentioned in this report. A personal concern is that Numazu may find that neither boyfriend is happy/comfortable and he may be the one who has a hard landing. Life is complicated that's why it's destination and way stations are unknowable. But, shout out to Numazu, you have to LIVE it and he's doing that.

If there is a "pink tax" it's based on comparing what's charged at one hotel to another's charge. Recently, I made a decision on staying at the Poseidon in Jomtien Complex or the Copa in Boyztown on a recent visit to Pattaya. I was able to check out each hotel. Poseidon was more expensive, I decided to stay there due to the quality of the service, the room type, and the overall ambiance. Now that's comparing one gay friendly hotel to another. Comparing a gay friendly hotel to one that is isn't specifically in that category shows a range of prices...I did this recently when booking in Bangkok. When the prices were similar, I went with the non-specific hotel based on the room type, location, etc., etc. I do factor in if there might be a joiner fee or if there has been a report on this or other forums (forii?) of homophobia. Forky123 is right on...it's supply and demand.

It is a real NEW Year Stepping back in time, a second, and a few months. I mentioned in my last report posting that there had been one BoyzBoyzBoyz boy that I was really interested in back in September. I recall he was wearing glasses, sitting shirtless at a table before joining the 9pm parade, And I recall a moment of unrestrained wanting on my part...nothing ever came of it as he was off'd within seconds of coming on stage prior to the show's start. So, I'm sitting up front at Oscar's waiting for the parade, wondering a bit if that guy with the glasses is still working, but don't see him. The parade starts as the music revs up. Where are the boys? There are only about twenty parading, and half of those are waiters or mamasans. What's up. Looking at the boys who are marching...I snap some pictures. I see a guy, without glasses, but in every other way, he looks like my remembered lust object. As the parade ends, he splits off and joins some folks who wave to him from Panorama. I close out my check bin at Oscars and go for a short walk before turning back for the show at BBB. The guy is now right in front of the entrance. Nothing ventured, nothing gained (right?). I say in passing, "you are really handsome" adapting the Vinapu rule of awarding 100THB to the one(s) impressing him in the bars, I hand him 100THB. He accepts it with a killer smile, takes me by the hand and leads me into the club. My brain is not properly processing but is working on the premise that he is someone who also brings customers into the club...some what similar to those who stop folks in Soi Twilight. Not the case here, he leads me in, gets me seat in the center, on the cross aisle, brushes away a mamasan who'd like me seated somewhere else, and then he sits with me. Tells me he is "K", shows me that "K" is his number in the club. This makes me even more sure this is the guy from September who was a letter man. I ask if he wants a drink, yes...I'm not sure how it starts but he leans into me, kisses me, hugs me, rubs my leg and nearby area, brings my hand to him. This is one hour before the show... We continue in this manner as the club begins to fill. There are maybe 40 or more boys on the stage, 6 dancing on side podiums, and maybe six or seven more in situations such as "K" with customers. Notice only a few women on this visit, very different from my last visit when the first three rows seemed to be all women. Anyway, "K" continues to excite, using eyes, mouth, hands, and closeness. He knows exactly what he is selling, and knows that he has a buyer for whatever he is selling. Mamasan comes over...some negotiations, we reach agreement. Off fee is 500, short time is 2000. Ask "K" if he'd like to go with me after the show (mamsan #1 said he was in the show and needed to stay to the end). Yes, back to sealing it with a kiss and a grope on his part. Another mamasan (#2) comes over and tells "K" that another customer wants him...too late. "K" stays with me until 10 minutes before show when he goes backstage to change. Mamasan #1 sits with me, tells me "K" is always off'd before the show starts. He's in several acts. They have almost 60 boys tonight. Only those with a number of letter showing are still available. Mamasan #1 tells me that she just got an off fee of 800 for one of the dancers, points him out, he is with three Chinese men, he is tall and handsome, he leaves with one of the Chinese. Show starts, and only the drumming number has been added to what I remember from my previous visit. "K is a masked head giving cowboy, the bottom in the balloon number, struts in the behind the curtain shower scene, and holds the drum for the drummer. As the boys leave the stage, they pass by where I'm sitting on the way to backstage. "K" stops, kisses me, and signals he will change and return. Which he does quickly and takes my hand and guides me out of BBB. He holds my hand as we exit Boyztown. I suggest a taxi, he's says no, baht bus in fine. So we walk to the bus and he continues to hold my hand even beyond the day friendly area. The baht bus drops us off at the entrance to Jomtien Complex. At hotel, ID drop off, sixty steps to the room, we do our best to communicate, each have some water, "K" checks out the room. I suggest a shower. Yes. This is where it gets tricky to write this report, as he removes his clothes and is naked preparing to enter the show, I lose my vocabulary to describe how beautiful he is. Handsome face, a gymnast's body, incredibly well endowed. While not good at comparing, he certainly seems to have the largest cock I've encountered in all my trips to Thailand. Yet all seems in proportion. Joining him in the shower, he kisses and hugs, we wash each other. As we begin to dry off, his kisses grow deeper, then he kneels and begins the most intense samoke I've had in years. He is definitely and experienced artist in this category. I let him lead me to the bed where he reveals more artistic skills. He is also a stage manager as condoms and lube are at hand, I'm not sure how to proceed as I can't close my hand around his shaft. After several attempts and position changes, he does gain entry...but his size makes it uncomfortable. We shift and I finger him, play with and tongue his ass. He offers it to me, I decline as I have already had two orgasms and can't hold my own. He spends some time kissing and exploring my body with his tongue. Then takes a condom, makes it into a three fingered glove, lubes it, and fingers me while sucking me off. After this, we cuddle in the bed. It's now almost 3am, we've been together since just after the 9pm parade. We shower together, he dresses, I put on a robe, We take each others picture, and a joint selfie. I pay him adding 500. I say good bye telling him that he was spectacular. Twenty minutes later he is sending me messages. My brain tells me that "K" is a skilled seducer, it also analyzes that the last few hours contained some of the best balanced and sared sex I've had in many a long time. Definitely did "Ring" in the Lunar New Year! Oh, and as he left, he put on his glasses...

Here's another Japanese site that has been around for quite awhile. King of College http://www.kocnet.jp/profile/boys.html

As mentioned by others the photographs add a level of enjoyment and help to turn voyeurs ("boyeurs") into voyagers. Great fun. Question: are you using only your phone as a camera? The clarity seems much sharper than that of most phone cameras. My miserable photography skills are shown in my current report and I'd like to improve for my planned May excursion.

Shout out to PaulSF...our eyes and ears on Soi Twilight!

This was posted on another Forum by arsenal. Seems there's a crackdown on Pattaya hotels that don't have a license. Only a small proportion of hotels are legally licensed. Those that are legal complained that they were being undercut on prices. So it goes... http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1198985/30-pattaya-hotels-closed-for-not-having-licences

ChristianPFC has posted some great photos of the Royal Barge Museum on his blog http://christianpfc.blogspot.com/ Worth a look.

A few more parade pictures. Sorry about the lighting...

It's Friday morning in Pattaya. It's also the last day of the Year of the Monkey for those who use lunar calendars. That means tonight will be New Year's eve in a town filled with Chinese tourists, judging by the crowds at yesterday's elephant show. Nothing booked in advance for today. Breakfast on the Poseidon's terrace where I can watch the street wake up. Then to Dongtan Beach, then... Tonight there is an owner's reception here at the hotel for the guests. After that my brain has penciled in dinner and then the baht bus to Boyztown. Well the beach part went according to plan. I am not a big sun worshipper. My ancestors all are Northern Europeans who live in cloudy and rainy places with little sunshine. (Scotland/UK border area, Ireland, and Sweden). In point of fact I attract sunburn. But this is not a problem at Dongtan as the seating sections have plenty of umbrellas. I go to the section beyond the restrooms. I was introduced to this "camp" ground by Ya of Siamroads last fall. Lounge chair in the shade, internet available, though I didn't bring phone or iPad. Cool drink and time to watch the crowds pass by. This section is gay friendly and welcoming to others. Usual vendors, massage options (feet, shoulders, whole body). Decide a whole body massage is a good idea...find a cute "therapist" and I punk down on the sand. Relaxing, no special effects as this is very public. Back to my shady spot, a watermelon drink of some sort, more people watching. It's amazing how much male flesh can be stuffed into a minuscule bikini suit. The overhang is larger than the suit. Then there is the tall and lanky male model type who is the direct opposite...cheers to both guys as it takes all types to make up the world. After about 4 hours, I head back to the hotel, stopping at Tinnie's for a sandwich. Realize I should have some extra BHT for New Year's eve so find an ATM and thicken my wallet. Back at the hotel, after a shower, I check the news from home. The Posiedon channel list includes the BBC and CNN but only gets Fox in the English category. I pull in what I want on my iPad. Donald Trump is still President. Realize the room hasn't been made up, mention it at the desk as I go to the tailor, Siam Next Fashion, for my fitting. The sample shirt is fine, though I suggest that it seems full in the body. The tailor politely and diplomatically notes that I am also a bit full in the body. Problem with material for one of the pairs of pants - no longer available. I choose another material/color and try on the sample pair that's been made up. Needs a tweak here and there and it will be good to go. The guys who work there are good salesmen, the workmanship seems above average, so I look at some more shirting material and...when I leave the shop will have added a pair of corduroy pants and 6 more shirts to my buying spree. ( 9 shirts and 3 pairs of pants will cost 6400 THB). Back to the hotel, my room has been cleaned and serviced, down to the bar have a drink with another guest. Debate with myself if I really want to go to Boyztown tonight as Jomtien Complex has worked well so far. Go to the hotel restaurant for dinner. Dining room is still being set up, decide that's a sign (from whom I don't know) and will to eat in/near Boyztown and then catch the BoyzBoyzBoyz parade at 9 and the show and then check out some of the other bars that have been mentioned in the forum. Anticipate finding someone to wish a Happy Rooster New Year. On the baht bus I see a huge line up of tourist buses...count 18 lines up on one side of the road and at least 12 on the other. Similar to how the elephants paraded yesterday. Get off the bus at the stop light near Boyztown, cross the street and start looking for some food...nothing I see has any great appeal (I think about what I'm missing back at the hotel) Walk around the Boyztown area. It's 7:30 and so things are pretty quiet. Surprised that while the BoyzBoyzBoyz (BBB) parade is at 9, the show isn't until 10:30. How will I fill in the time? (Silly me, I definitely will) Oscar's had the greatest concentration of bar boys and they are happy to tell me that they have food (from another restaurant). There is a seat available in the front row directly across from the BBB gym. There seems to be a rotation of boys sitting next to me, the food comes and I invite Pik to seat and have a drink. I'm having a canned Lipton tea (100 THB), he has a hot tea (150 THB) I guess heating the water and cleaning the tea pot and cup is the reason for the additional 50 THB)...LOL. Pik and I observe the differing types coming through the soi and returning again and again, an Asian couple (male/female), a western couple (m/m), a scraggly bearded "prophet type" seeming to want to call down angels to clean up sin, a guy with edema enlarges legs struggles by, falls, and the bar boys help him up, others join me in the seats at Oscar's and both Copa and Panorama begin to fill. My meal comes (o.k....but...), a couple of BBB boys are now using the gym. This was a good place to sit...feeling good and double up on the tea. In September when I first visited Boyztown, I sat with Van and Ya at the Castro bar to experience the sites and sounds. There was one shirtless boy at a table finishing his food. He was wearing glasses - which maybe drew my attention to him. Don't see him among the boys circulating prior to the parade. In the back on my mind, I think there was the thought that he might still be working here. I thought about offing him last fall, even though I was with Van - he was on stage when we were seated, and before we even ordered out drinks he was off'd. By that I mean he was called from the stage by a mamasan, went into the audience, came back in a few minutes but now without his letter badge. I remember he had a letter and not a number. Maybe he'll be inside. If he is, I need to move faster as he was a 10 out of 10 on my scale. I look around at the decorations for the Lunar New Year' There is an ancestor table on the soi between the Ambiance and BBB. It is gradually disassembled as the crowds grow. Decorations are mainly red lanterns. Just after 9 the music revs up and the parade begins... Fun...wait a minute, I think that's the guy I remember...

There was a report on another forum that the Tarntawan now has a joiners fee. There wasn't when I stayed there in October and I didn't stay there last month so I don't know if the report is accurate. I recognize that this reply to the topic is sort of based on not so certain hearsay there is the possibility that something or maybe nothing has changed. LOL

Photo from the elephant show

Sorry, folks...I'm still experimenting with inserting photos...I didn't leave space to continue my report, so now to get back on track...the main building was constructed in the early 1980s as s means of highlighting traditional Thai crafts. The carvings relate to teachings from ancient days. The scale is, in President Trump's word "huge". Best and I spent almost two hours at the Sanctuary, we took in the half hour culture show and had a fruit drink. I declined the elephant ride and the carriage ride. Two things of note: to get to the Sanctuary, one has to descent a stairway build into the hillside At the bottom guests are given construction hard hats - as a portion of the sanctuary is always under rehabilitation, the other is that it's quite a climb going back up the hill. Luckily I have my Poseidon Hotel climbing experience to guide me. Best shows me the carving areas, we are too late or too early for a demonstration...so we head out to the car. Where to next? Best and the driver devise a passenger's eye view of downtown Pattaya with Walking Street and the beach as a focal point. There is some back and forth between Best and the driver, some question about food....I'm not hungry, maybe later. So we head out to Nong Nooch - where we visit the gardens, impressive, take in the the Thai culture show, which happens in a Vegas style show room with Vegas style pacing and costuming. It's sort of like a local version of where Elton John appears at Caesar's Palace. Seats were assigned and when we got to ours, someone was already in them. The usher decided not to argue with those in our seats and moved us up to some up front reserved seating. The show only lasted 30 minutes, I liked it but wondered why for such a short show there were maybe 2,000 Chinese tourists in the hall. (The parking lot was a sea of tour buses - which is not normally a good sign for me. So we exit and are not directed to an exit but to an arena for an elephant show. I'm sort of conflicted as I grew up on the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey circus with its elephants. And as I was leaving for Thailand it was announced that RB B&B was closing down as they no longer had an elephant show - due to clams about cruelty to animals. The area is filled with elephants of all sizes and ages. They are positioned so that audience members may have photos taken (on sale in the lobby on the way out) riding the elephants or being picked up by their trunks. For the purchase of some bananas, one can feed the elephants (pictures available in the lobby). The elephants are skilled at taking gratuities and passing them to the trainers. Eventually, there is a formal show. The informal show of the interactions between elephants and picture taking audience members is another type of show and quite amusing. Most of those interacting with the elephants are Chinese. I looked at the crowd and could only identify about a dozen western farangs. The format show is very similar to what I remember from the circus; this one also had elephants playing football/soccer. Best alerted me that the show would end in a few minutes, so we headed out and got some food from a stall and watched the crowd emerge with souvenir elephants, photos, being met by maybe 100 guides with recognition flags or poles. They then moved onto the food stalls or waited in line to ride the elephants. Best and I watched. It was now approaching mid afternoon, so we headed back into town after a pause to admire the Nong Nooch gardens - very few tourists here. We go back to the hotel. I pay the driver. Best hasn't forgotten my wanting/needing to check out the Copa and suggests it might be a good idea to show me how the baht bus system works from Jomtien. So we head out, when not being a guide and a student, Best works in a guest house. He very familiar with Boyztown and when we get there shows me some short cuts for navigating in the area. I check out the Copa and decide on staying at Poseidon. We head back to Jomtien. I thank Best and pay him his fee. He offers to meet me in Boyztown the next night - I'd told him I'd be staying in Jomtien tonight and enjoy Boyztown on Lunar New Year's eve and New Year's day. I give a "maybe" and I'll text. Before climbing up to my room, I walk around the complex and notice a tailor shop nearby. There is an interesting Thai style shirt hanging outside. As i look at it, one of the staff comes out and starts talking to me, I go in and look at the fabric. Thirty minutes later, I'm being measured to some shirts and two pairs of pants. I'm getting three Thai silk shirts made to measure with an average pricing of about $20 each. The pants are in the same price range. At home the shirts would be 3x the price and the pants would be $50 if they were off the rack and fit me badly. I agree to return for a fitting check the next day. Back at the hotel, I follow pretty much the previous night pattern, dinner (this time sitting with some other guests I met in the lobby), then a short nap and a shower, stroll (cruise?) the complex, run into Cee from last night, he gives me a hug and kiss and invites me to a party. I decline and go to @Home. It is some sort of Bingo night. Large crowd, lots of boys. Jan, a Cambodian, joins me. I like him. I buy him a drink, after a while we have a meeting of the minds, which a bit later leads to a stair climb and a meeting of our bodies. Nothing extraordinary but pleasant. After some post exercise cuddling, he returns to work and I have a glass of wine in the hotel bar, and then retire for the night. I remember before turning off the light to cancel the Copa reservation.

Wake up...it's about 7. Think a bit about yesterday, the frustration with how long it took to get to Pattaya, the out of service internet, etc. Make notes about what went wrong, realize that I'd wanted to visit the tailor Numazu mentioned, but couldn't pull up the details on my phone or iPad without wifi. Grumble, grumble...then I made notes about what went right: the Poseidon, it's restaurant, it's staff, my room (those steps get easier and easier and are probably good for my hamstrings). Cee when I brought him to the room was impressed...probably more by the hot tub. Cee is also on the list of what went right. Gentle meeting of two mature guys. I go downstairs and learn from Kaye that the restaurant doesn't open until 9! Realization dawns that this is a beach resort, no one needs to get up early in an area where the nights are designed to be late. Go for a walk to the beach. Have to make a decision about tomorrow - it will be Chinese New Year's eve. I've made a booking at the Copa in Boyztown. Figured (when I was back in the US) that I'd be closer to / right on top of the action if I was at the Copa...but i sure like where I am. Decide that as part of my tour today, there will be a Boyztown stop so I can check out the Copa. I've already asked the Poseidon if I can extend, so I need to decide within the Copa cancellation period what to do. It's now nine o'clock and I have the eggs and bacon with a basket of pastries. Orange juice and tea complete the repast. Go back up to the room to grab my phone for possible photos (I've been catching up on Numazu's and Vinapu's reports, both of which have photos. Maybe I'll take some today. I've no idea where we are going. I booked with SiamRoads (thanks, Moses). Best is to be my guide and Moses reminds me that he is a new guide. Best, who arrives right on the dot of the agreed 10 am time, also tells me that I am only his second tour. He didn't quite believe me when I told him on the phone that the tour today was up to him. I said, I know little about Pattaya and only about more about Jomtien. He makes some suggestions, I say "up to you". It's fun for me saying the same thing I tend to hear from the boys. I mention that I need to check out the Copa but other than that I just want to be a tourist. He checks if I'd prefer a taxi or a car. We settle on a car and he makes the arrangements. We head off for our first destiniation which turns out to be the Sanctuary of Truth. Figure that's a good place to be at a time where the US President is in a world of alternative facts. I didn't know what to expect, so when we arrived and the driver parked and we began walking though some pretty dull flat open space, I wan't very hopeful. Then we turned a corner and from the top of a hill saw