Londoner

I'm still in communication with the best masseur I ever met; Copa, circa 2003. We reminiscence about those times- he loved his years in Boyztown. He was cute, affectionate, technically proficient and so he made a decent living. He's forty-three now and, sadly, has a rather humdrum job in Chonburi. One of the good things about masseurs back then, pre SM days, was that you could have a good time in the afternoons: go go bars opened at 2100.

Perhaps we could now consider how a Thai guy on the scene finds a real falang boy friend? And at the risk of being repetitive, I note again that the Class of 2005 at Pattaya Dreamboys produced many successes, four of whom I've met.

The more that US ships and military personnel get as far away as possible from the Middle East, the better. Best of all, go home.

Yes; I reported last year that he helped me with an adjustment, refusing to accept payment for twenty minutes plus work. My experience led my partner, who was due to buy a new pair of spectacles in Pattaya Tai, to use his services instead. He was very pleased with the service he received; and the price. A guy like that , working alone, deserves customers.

independent.co.uk/asia/southeast-asia/pattaya-thailand-abraham-lincoln-navy-b3042837.html Plus ca change when it comes to UK media.

Yes. Better educated. Physically healthier thanks to better medical care at home. And more confident.

I was brought-up as a Methodist and "signed the pledge" when I was eight years-old. My parents discovered that I was a reprobate when, on "vacs" from university, I completed a boozy night with my friends by being sick all over my bedroom. God bless them both; my mother quietly cleaned-up and my father never even mentioned it. I have now taken-up my "pledge " again; I blame Thailand. It was my habit to have a Singha at Panorama before going to dinner with P. One of the reasons for this was that he habitually spends an hour preparing for the event and I lose patience. That one Singha was a joy; I would watch the cute guys saunter past on the way to their go go bars, often waving and sharing suggestive pleasantries. I would muse that, were I to attain Heaven, my preference would be to relive that hour or so through eternity....together with an evening with P in the offing. And then, age setting in, more and more I found that even one beer was having an effect on me and not a pleasant one; perhaps my eight year-self (not to mention my twenty year old one) was saying, "No mate; alcohol isn't for you." A glass of wine, an occasional cognac, a glass of beer here in the coolness of the UK; no problem. But not in Thailand where, thank heavens, I have other interests.

When I reported the incident-with some embarrassment- at the local Cop-Shop, I was told that one of the offenders-a portly guy- had a nick-name there; "Pavarotti"!

The only time I have been scammed was in Prague, long ago. Two policemen approached and told me to be careful because there was a problem with counterfeit notes prevalent in tourist areas. They checked mine and told me that they were fine. An hour later, I was paying for a beer in a pub when I noticed that half of my cash was gone. Half, I emphasise. They weren't policeman.

Thailand scams are having repercussions on the ease with which I can send money through my bank to my partner, although I've been doing so without any problem for decades. And also on the availability of my email account when I'm in Thailand. ....or so I am informed by bank and email provider.

Ask yourself whether you would have dealt with British or Australian people in the same way.

To be more specific, his achievements include a significant contribution to the rise in popularity of classical music across Asia.

I'm not sure that Peter would thank me but I can say now that he is a well-known and distinguished person with an enviable reputation and significant cultural achievements. Not just in Asia but across the world.

Disappointing. PeterRS2 will be missed, particularly since his contributions are so knowledgeable and distinctive. There is , or should be, a place for different perspectives and I find those which deal with political , social, or cultural issues more to my taste than bar reports. I also particularly enjoy his photographs of parts of Thailand I do not know. I am of the same generation as Peter; I sometimes feel out of place among younger people who have "grown-up" with sites like this one. Our language is different, as are our experiences and our interests. There should be room for us all. I have left two other gay Thailand sites owing to persistent racism from a minority of contributors and so this one is my "last hurrah"; I wish it to continue to be inclusive of age, taste and style. And- here's an odd word- respectful.

Thanks. I enjoy those panoramic views. Even now, I recall my first day in Bangkok thirty years ago and the wonder of my first view of the city at night from the tenth floor of my hotel.

Thanks Vessey. Netflix is presenting "The Life of Chuck". Worth a look. Its message is that our lives are finite and so we should strive to enjoy every minute. It's not profound but it is certainly apposite to those of us who are ageing but can still find joy in Thailand. And expect to do until (referencing the film's abiding image) the lights flicker -out.

Readers who aren't British may not have heard of George Best, a great footballer of the 1960s, who became a wealthy playboy and drank himself to death, more or less. In his last weeks on earth a reporter asked him what had happened to all the money he made. "I spent it on sex and booze," he said. " The rest I wasted."

Is that clear, blue sea really Pattaya?

Any views on gun-ownership in Thailand? Apparently, a firearm can be found in as many as twenty percent of homes, some licensed, others not. This is far higher than in any other Asian country. Why?

Apologies; typo.

I'm ot willing to begin a

Coincidentally- sorry, I'm joining this thread late- have any posters who have reached eighty in the UK found the sudden rise in the cost of premiums astonishingly large? For my thirty years of travel to Thailand, my insurance has been covered by my bank card which provides insurance through a large UK company. When I reach eighty- alas, not too far in the future- I find that it will cost me over £1000 a year for the same cover for my three trips, despite being in the flower of youth, health- wise. Well, almost.

My career as a student of the Thai language ended when I mistakenly used a colloquial term for penis in a restaurant when ordering food. Although the recollection of this event kept both my partner and our taxi-driver in hysterics- dangerously so- all the way from the airport to Pattaya, I was never allowed to order in Thai again.

I remember this bar well. I used to compare and contrast it with Throb in Pattaya where the show included more comedy and the dancing was less professional. I'm not surprised to learn That X-treme's dancers were professionals; their routines were complicated and no doubt exacting to learn. I recall feeling rather sad that they didn't attract better audiences.

I particularly like their dancing in traditional dress. I remember that, for a very short time, Throb had this on its menu. Too rare, in my view....I find it charming. By the way, I note how hard the guys work. I see them arriving at around 1600 to prepare. As MauRICE says, I wouldn't assume that that they are looking for customers. If you haven't seen them, there are plenty of videos on YouTube.