ichigo

Apart from New Guy Bar (https://maps.app.goo.gl/5vNTKjUMffYTFyZz5) which you already mentioned, I also found Buddy Boy Bar (https://maps.app.goo.gl/sKXWJSAP1at4xfw88) which is quite close to the train station. In terms of the Shangri-La, since it is my first time there, I found everything excellent from the staff to the rooms. I can only compare it to Shangri-La in Sydney and Fiji though. I didn't try any of the restaurants or breakfast at the hotel (preferring to eat out), the level of staff engagement I found quite high from the doormen when I arrived to the staff at the check-in counter and even though the rooms can feel a little dated, there is still a level of luxury. I would have to agree with the river view - I liked it a lot.

Thanks for the update @Department_Of_Agriculture, it's looking great and I'm glad the reopening is coming to fruition. Chok dee to them!

Yes I absolutely will! Need to make some money first haha

Glad to have met you again and hope to see you in the near future!

Aunty Vin! Love it! 😁

Yes you can see IconSiam and lots of river traffic. Even more interesting at night when the party boats go past, and the small boats that belong to the Peninsula are super cute when lit up. IMG_4053.MOV

He really is a gem Hope to see you next time!

I arrived back home yesterday so this is my last instalment. The last part of my trip was in Bangkok and to be honest, did not go quite to plan. I ended up getting sick - firstly with common cold symptoms, which then turned into a flu which thankfully only lasted a day or two, but then back to a cold, a day or so of diarrhoea, plus this awful persistent cough (possibly due to the air pollution?). It was only on my last 3 days I was feeling better. I purposely didn't meet with any bar or massage boys during the time I was sick as I did not want to pass on my sickness as I'm sure they don't any health benefits and if they become sick then it would deprive them of the chance to make money. Near the end of my trip I met up with 3 guys - my favourite Hotmale guy who I saw at the beginning of my trip who I like quite a lot. When we are together he is focused on me and makes me feel like I'm the only one (I know I'm not!) and we have a nice connection - whether real or fabricated, I don't mind as he makes our time together enjoyable. I definitely will be seeing him again next time. Another guy I met up with was at Prince (and he used to work at Atlas) - I admired his enthusiasm and friendly nature, however I felt like the sex itself, whilst satisfying, was just 'okay'. I also paid over the minimum but he still cheekily asked for more. He didn't short me on time however. Probably won't repeat. And another guy I met up with is ex-Senso, but came to my hotel room. It was good and he is very sexy, but I didn't quite feel the spark that we had on our very first meeting. I would likely try again through. Other than that, I met up with numerous forum members at various places - G's, Banana (both outside and inside), Connections and Sarica. It was nice to hang out and thank you for being a part of my trip. The guy doing the shower show at Banana, even though a little older, was incredibly sexy and with a huge dong. I also visited some bars - Hotmale, Goodboys (quite a lot of talent here - I tipped one of the condomless big cock show performers and a geeky guy wearing glasses, as well as another guy I had met maybe 2 years ago but I'm sure he didn't remember me), and Dreamboys as it would have been rude not to say hi to my regular there (when I say regular, it's like once a year regular). He was happy to see me but sad I wasn't taking him off that night. And even though I haven't been there for a year, the mamasan remembered my drink order and where I like to sit. There are a lot of choices here and I ended up tipping this very cute twinky guy that kinda looks Japanese. In terms of hotels, I stayed at three - Firstly, The Quarter Sala Daeng - I booked a standard room for quite a good price however upon arrival, I didn't like it as it was so small. The next day I enquired about upgrading and they were able to offer a Deluxe Suite (I think) for an extra 400 THB per night (usual is 600 THB per night). I thought this was a good deal so I took it and was comfortable for the rest of my trip. It is located about a 10-15 minute walk from the fun places and it was kinda nice staying a little further away. I then changed to the Shangri-La - there are two wings and I stayed in the Krungthep Wing, which is smaller and a little quieter than the main Shangri-La Wing, however all rooms here have balconies looking out onto the Chao Phraya River. There were also some random fireworks shows which was enjoyable. Whilst the hotel is a little older, it has this 'grandeur' feeling about it and I quite liked it. Wasn't a fan of the European-style bidet, however I quite liked staying here. Extremely close to the BTS, lots of places to eat around the hotel and there is also a bag/body scanner every time you enter, similar to an airport. The minibar is also complimentary and they left so much bottles of water in my room, at one point I counted 10. Would I stay here again? Absolutely. And lastly Crowne Plaza. This is my favourite hotel in the area. The standard rooms are still roomy, the location is unbeatable and it still feels quite new even though it is not. Wasn't the biggest fan of the bathtub/shower combination however other than that, it was a comfortable stay. I even was able to receive a complimentary 14:00 checkout as I am an IHG member, however I did not even book through IHG. A little on the pricier side though. And just like that, my trip came to an end. I was planning on coming back in a year's time, however I may consider coming earlier to make up for the missed time when I was unwell. But then again, just being in Thailand, even whilst sick, is still a pleasure. Thanks for reading!

I didn't see it whilst wandering down soi 6 last night.. so probably no.

Some recent updates. I try to visit at least one new place each time I come to Thailand, and this time I had decided on Hua Hin. There is a bus that can take you from North Pattaya Bus Station directly to Hua Hin Bus Station, but only runs once a day, departing at 15:30. The cost is 473 THB (plus 50 THB online booking fee) and is a similar bus I took to Pattaya that had a comfortable 1-2 seat configuration. The bus left exactly on time and took just under 4.5 hours to arrive. Upon arrival, as the bus station is a little far from the centre, you can take a shuttle (minibus) that will take you to the clock tower for free, or if you pay 100 THB, the minibus will drop you off at your hotel. I chose the latter. I decided on the Hilton as it was well-located and had a nice sea view. The room was big and well-decorated, however there was no bum gun (which always disappoints me when I come across this at hotels in Thailand) and there was construction during the day in the block next door. Around the general area there were numerous restaurants and bars and it felt quite busy whilst I was there. In my last post I noted how the apps were relatively quiet whilst I was in Jomtien, however whilst in Hua Hin, it was a complete opposite. I was getting messages constantly (particularly on Hornet), but whether they were from moneyboys or just horny boys, I'm not sure. Maybe both. One profile piqued my interest - he sent me a message looking for sex, but his profile stated that he was a driver and tour guide, so I made contact and ended up booking a tour with him for the following day. His English was limited but we got by. The day trip was to Phetchaburi, which is about an hour from Hua Hin, and he took me to a number of temples (where he taught me how to 'make merit'), Khao Luang Cave, Laem Phak Bia Environmental Research Development Project (where I rode a bike for the first time in many many years), and some cafes and restaurants. When I've engaged a private tour guide in the past, I was always responsible for paying for the guide's meals etc. but when I tried, he insisted on paying his own way. The tour itself only cost 1300 THB which seemed quite low, so I gave him an extra 500 THB which he was surprised and extremely thankful for. Thinking back on it now, it still seems a bit low considering he was driving me around all day (and comparing it to other tours I've taken in the past where I've paid more for less). I guess the only thing is that due to the language barrier, he couldn't really explain a lot of the detail at the places we visited. He also mentioned that I was his first foreign customer. Whilst driving back to my hotel, considering the app where we first made contact, I invited him to come up to my hotel and you all know what happened next. Sweet guy though and he offered to drive me to the train station the next day where he bought me an iced tea and waited with me for over an hour for the train to come. I think I will go back to Hua Hin at some stage as there is more to explore that I didn't quite get to. Through my research I know that there are 2 gay bars in the area, but I did not patronise either. The train trip back to Bangkok was pretty uneventful, however upon boarding, I seemed to be in the carriage with all the people who insisted on bringing their big suitcases with them (to which there was limited space to store them) so I had to wait in the aisle for a while, whilst people were organising their suitcases as I could not get to my seat. The train was a little late departing Hua Hin and late coming into Krung Thep Aphiwat, but it was a comfortable journey and looking out the window at the countryside is always nice.

Nice to have met you!

Final thoughts for the Pattaya leg of my trip. Whilst I like visiting Pattaya and enjoying the relaxing nature of it, I think my heart is in Bangkok where I prefer the energy that the city has to offer (not that I am super energetic). I also found it interesting that the apps (Grindr/Hornet) were relatively quiet for me, compared to other reports that I've read where they found it to be quite busy. I can only hypothesise but I feel the lack of messages I receive are due to - I look young for my age (even though I am not) - in an area where the main demographic are older caucasian males, I may be looked over in favour of older caucasian males (and I mean no disrespect when I say this). In fact, I did receive a few messages from said demographic, whilst flattering, I am more into Thai (and surrounding area) guys. - I get mistaken for being Thai - not all the time, but maybe another reason why I get looked over. - I am just ugly hahah Of the messages that I did get, there were the usual faceless profiles which I ignore, as well as some guys who aren't really my type. I mean, yes I could have been more proactive and messaged guys myself, but when there are quite a number of guys with services to offer, I would expect some offers? That being said, I was always accosted by the massage guys in the two shops near Agate, and also Soda, and whilst walking down the street with the bars, I had some interest there. So not all hope is lost. But I think I find the guys in general are just a bit too twinky for my tastes. All in all, I did have an enjoyable time and everything that I have mentioned above won't stop me from visiting again.

The guys I met with whilst in Jomtien: Bar Boy 1: I met this guy on my last trip in January 2025 who gave me a bit of a 'boyfriend experience'. We were in contact throughout the year and he really likes me but I don't feel the same which is why I had to limit my interactions with him after a while as it became too much for me. I do enjoy hanging out with him and consider him a friend. I didn't tell him I was coming to Jomtien so the night I turned up to his bar unannounced, he was so excited and had to stop himself from crying. It was a nice reunion and I had a drink at his bar each night whilst I was there to support him and the bar. To be honest, the more someone attaches himself to me (outside the bedroom), the more uncomfortable and less attracted I feel (I'm weird I know) so when he asked if he could spend a night with me, the answer was always 'maybe'. I eventually came clean and told him that I didn't want to sleep with him and that I know he likes me a lot but it made me uncomfortable, and I just wanted to be his friend. He was surprisingly fine with it and he said he already knew, which to be honest, felt like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders. We also had lunch together once and went together to The Venue to watch the show which was good and had many creative costumes. Massage Boy 1: I also met this guy in January 2025 and have been intermittently in contact. I also did not let him know I was coming, so as I was on my way to 7-11, I walked past his massage shop, noticed him and smiled and continued on my way. Then came the flurry of messages 'are you in Pattaya?', 'you just walked past me' etc. so later on I had a foot massage from him, and in the following days, 2 oil massages (once where he topped me, which he was very good at, and once where he bottomed, which he was not as good, but still enjoyable). I also had a Thai massage from him where I wasn't expecting anything, but still ended up with a handjob. He is a really sweet guy and very passionate when it came down to it. Grindr guy: So whilst sitting outside my hotel room, I often saw a shirtless guy 2 doors down outside his room smoking and didn't think much of it until he messaged me on Grindr and I found out it was said guy. He knew it was me, but I didn't make the connection. Anyway, we had a very brief hook-up as he was on his way to Sansuk but in that short amount of time, the experience was actually quite good. He was here on holiday and works in Bangkok, so I will explore that avenue when I return. Bar Boy 2: Okay so Bar Boy 1 went home a day before I left but I went back to his bar anyway to have a drink, and decided to buy a drink for another guy who I had seen working during the times I visited the bar. He was quite friendly and bubbly, and turns out is the same age as me (he showed me his license). Had been working in the bar for 2 months just to make some money as he was going back home soon. He said he could come back with me to the hotel and so he did, but I was not prepared for what was to come. So you know those silicone implants (or whatever they are) that some guys seem to have? Well he had that, and it looked really awful, his dick was nearly in the shape of a ball. I didn't say anything but I really feel for the guy as I don't know if he was hard or soft or how he could even masturbate. Anyway, we just had some light fun and he happily went off on his way. I was just kinda shocked! Earlier in the evening I also bought a drink for another guy (in the same bar) who wasn't doing much, turns out he has lived in Pattaya for 7 years and used to work in Toyboys. Massage Boy 2: I found this guy on Grindr and messaged him as he looked friendly and nice. He worked at one of the mixed-gender massage shops outside the complex so I booked for a massage and it was completely normal. No sensual and no afters. I think the venue was not conducive to extras anyway as the massage beds were partitioned with curtains rather than walls. Although it probably hasn't stopped people in the past.

I'm now on the other side of the gulf, in Hua Hin, so I'll update about my Pattaya (specifically Jomtien) leg of my trip. On departure day, I firstly dropped off my suitcase at the hotel I will be staying at when I return to Bangkok and then made my way to Suvarnabhumi airport where I caught the Bell Travel Service bus. You can book online and it cost 325 THB (including online booking fee). I like to take this bus as when you arrive at North Pattaya Bus Station, you are then transferred to a mini bus which will take you directly to your hotel. The bus is big and comfortable with a 1-2 seating configuration. From Suvarnabhumi to the bus station took just over an hour and a half and I was at my hotel about an hour later as I was the last to be dropped off after the other passengers were dropped off first. My hotel of choice in Jomtien was Zing and I had booked a Deluxe Twin (thinking back on it now, not sure why, but it was probably the cheapest option at the time) however when I arrived, they ran out of my room type and upgraded me to one of their Pool Suites which is their biggest room type. It was on the ground floor just in front of the pool and had a separate living room and bedroom. Obviously it doesn't have a private balcony which is what I had wanted, however the spaciousness of the room more than made up for it, and I was thankful for this free upgrade. Also, depending on where your room is, you need to walk through the outdoor section of the restaurant to get to your room which may be slightly awkward. Other things worth mentioning: Beach: I hung out at Dongtan Beach most days (except Wednesday when the beach concessions are closed). I sat at no. 20 once, and no. 28 for the rest of the times (as these are well-marked with a rainbow flag and seem to be popular among the gay clientele) and you can order lunch from one of the nearby restaurants who will then deliver it straight to your chair. Drinks and coconuts are also available and there are many passing vendors selling all manner of things. No. 28 is run by a good looking guy from Myanmar. Food: As I love eating, these are some places that I tried - - Coqtales Restaurant - this is a relatively new place just in front of Zing (and presumably related to the Coqtales bar) that has both Thai and farang food for reasonable prices. I had my favourite pad kapao gai with egg for only 80 THB - I've eaten this dish a lot around Thailand and this place was one of the best I've tasted. - Friendly Burgers - reasonably priced burgers, fries etc. that taste decent. - Sophia's - really tasty food, I had the moo krob with kale and it did not disappoint. - Pizza Lovely - thin crust and tasty pizzas here, not super cheap with a pepperoni pizza costing 189 THB, but it was good. - โอต่อง（โค้งดงตาล）- this place is near the 7-11 across from Dongtan Beach and they serve the best khao man gai I have tasted in Thailand (and for only 50 THB). They were always busy around lunch hours. Barber: I had a haircut at at GLAM Barbers and the guy that did my hair was quite meticulous and did a really good job. When I went, I had to wait about an hour, and even when I was getting my hair cut, there were a few people waiting. A regular haircut cost 160 THB and a fade haircut will cost 200 THB. I didn't venture into Boyztown or Sunee Plaza as I was in relaxation mode and too lazy to move from Jomtien Complex. More in the next post.

This one at Zing

You make a fair point, I use 'forum member' in case they don't want to be identified and while yes I consider them a friend, I just use 'forum member' due to the context of writing in this forum.

Happy to report that I landed in my happy place this past Friday after a year's absence and also recently worked out that this is my 10th trip to Thailand. Plane touched down at 15:30, lots of people at immigration and by the time I was done, my suitcase was already at the luggage carousel. Caught the ARL (credit card is now accepted) to Makkasan and then transferred to MRT Phetchaburi and rode until Sam Yan where it was a brief walk to the Raya. I was in my room just before 18:00. Unfortunately I was allocated a room on the 5th floor, where the reception is, but I would find out that this wouldn't be an issue. The room itself is large and had a window overlooking what was Soi Twilight but is now a condo building (?), but there were 3 air-conditioning units in front of the window which blocked the view somewhat. Slightly concerning was all the black mould in the bathroom. Went to Foodland for some Pad Kaprao (which I can order in Thai now but still stumble every time despite saying it in my head numerous times) and then 7-11 for some supplies and later in the evening met forum member for drinks at Unicorn bar in Soi 4 before moving on to Hotmale. There was a guy there who was one of my favourites from last trip, who forum member also highly rated, however when we arrived, he was already with a customer and left the bar shortly after. He gave me a knowing smile when he saw me and I would later find out that he did recognise me when he saw me but couldn't remember my name (on LINE), but to be fair, I couldn't quite remember his face whilst I was away from Thailand. There was another guy from Hotmale who was incredibly sexy (I really am bad with remembering numbers, but he had a buzz cut and nice body) who I tipped later. The next day I got some testing done at Pulse, who are a little more on the pricier side, however I went there as my usual place (Pribta Tangerine) was closed for a few days over new years. The whole process ran very smoothly and quickly and all staff members spoke quite clear English. I also checked out the new Central Park mall briefly before going to Silom Complex to have lunch at Have a Zeed, which was quite tasty and highly recommended. Exchanged some cash at X-One which is my go to for currency exchange. I also tried to make an appointment at Prime for the following day, however the following day was already fully booked - damn the numerous white party gays with their beautiful bodies taking up all the massage appointments haha. Organised to see my Hotmale boy this evening incase he was booked again, and he said he would come to me at midnight. In the meantime, I met up with same forum member for dinner at G's (which was quite busy and am always amused at the very large plates they serve the schnitzel on), a foot massage just across the soi at Adam and then to Freshboys to watch the show. There were quite a number of boys in the rotation, many who I probably would be happy to go with, however I felt the quality of the show was not as good as it used to be. I arrived back at my hotel before midnight and my Hotmale boy came along shortly after and he was as excellent as last time, if not better. What I like about him is he really gets into it which makes the whole experience quite enjoyable, and he can flip-flop which is a big plus in my books. He was also quite chatty this time, probably because he is more familiar with me now. The next day I decided to try S'Sense as I wanted something sensual and not full service. Booking through LINE was easy and they were very responsive, and it was about a 20 minute walk from Sala Daeng. It is a quite nice place where there is the front building as well as two additional buildings in an alley behind. The massage itself was decent and the therapist was well-trained however it was not really that sensual, but there were afters which involved some body sliding, mutual touching and a handjob. Mixed opinions on this place, but I may check it out again at some point (once I explore other places first). The masseur was pleasant enough though with a nice body. Later in the evening I met with same forum member for some dinner and drinks at Connections in Soi 4 before heading to Dreamboys. I have a regular there but he wasn't at the bar that night, which I didn't mind as it gave me the opportunity to ogle all the guys on display. There were quite a number of guys there, many I could have gone with, and also confirmed that myself and forum member have the exact same type haha. Overall, all three bars that we visited had a decent amount of customers on each night. I'm in Pattaya now so I'll update on that at a later date. It's so good to be back here though.

Thanks for the info!

I stayed at Pullman Bangkok Hotel G for new year 2025 and whilst it was a little further back from the river, the fireworks were still visible (would be better closer I think). I'll be staying at Shangri-la (Krungthep wing) shortly where each room has a balcony with a river view, so I'll let you know how that goes. Another option you may consider are hotels that are near to Central World as there are fireworks there as well I believe.

I think you need to be, especially for new year's. And especially for hotels on the river where the price gets quite inflated.

Do you guys just catch a grab/bolt from outside of the bar in boyztown? I've noticed that beach road can get quite hectic in terms of traffic and the one-way roads don't help in this instance.

I agree! And not only that, but apart from 7-11, I always feel like a dick if I have to pay for something relatively small with a 1000 baht note.

Skin treatments, dental appointments, and the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre at National Stadium BTS is also worth checking out. Lots of markets to also check out - in particular Chatuchak weekend market is very very large.

3000 THB is $142.50 AUD.. where in Australia is it cheaper?!

I love hearing the Thai English accent, I think it is so cute. Ask them to say 'strawberry' ☺️