hank75

You are right. I am ageing. Was typing while on a plane and skipped my morning coffee and somehow I managed to mix Songkran up with Tet. Applogies to OP. I still think an extended Thai holiday is more enjoyable than splitting off to HCM edit: just discovered it’s not possible to edit old posts, even to remove factual inaccuracies? I shall in the future desist from posting when I’m functioning on minimal sleep, no caffeine and bored in the airport

I believe the panic over jet fuel in Vietnam has subsided and there is government commitment to keeping state airlines running. Travel insurance is a must. That said I’m in agreement to cut your losses and do an extended Thailand trip. You’ve cancelled the two more enjoyable cities (Hanoi and Danang). HCM isn’t that enjoyable by comparison and five nights is a very long time for that city. You are also going right before Tet. Traffic is usually terrible and there may be some closures as people try to go back to their hometowns early due to fuel shortages. Look up Vietnam travel forums for more accurate news but I found this post (in reference to Tet 2026 but before the war started) Visiting HCMC right before Tet is definitely an interesting time, and your concern about shops closing down is valid. Many local, family-run businesses, especially smaller shops and street food vendors, will indeed start closing a few days before Tet to prepare for the holiday and travel back to their hometowns. This means that the vibrant street life you might expect for casual eating and shopping could be noticeably quieter in many areas. Major shopping malls and larger supermarkets will likely remain open longer, possibly with reduced hours as Tet approaches, but the atmosphere will be very focused on holiday preparations rather than regular commerce. Dining can also become a bit trickier, as many local eateries will be closed. However, there are still options, especially in tourist-focused areas or larger hotels, but you might need to be more intentional about where you go. If you're looking to still experience the food scene or find specific shopping experiences, sometimes looking into pre-arranged activities can be helpful during this period. You might find services that specifically cater to visitors during the Tet period, like food tours or private shopping experiences with local guides who know what's open. Platforms like Viator are often used to find and book various tours and activities, and they list operators with reviews, which can give you confidence in what you're booking, especially when many local businesses are winding down. It's really about managing expectations and being prepared for a different kind of HCMC experience. God bless. Unless you’re thoroughly bored of Thailand there are so many great cities to explore and if you don’t want to fly, Pattaya and Koh Samet are a great combination.

It’s a very special hotel that only Olddady can reside at, TART-awan

In preparation for Songkran, Moonlight has theirs models dancing along Silom Road and parading down Thaniya and the BTS steps. Some new faces (one guy has an attractive smile and even more attractive body), many old ones. Babe still managing to cling on to his position as the star. Nicky visibly thicker around the middle. No Joey. Videos can be viewed on Facebook.

With your love of Vietnam guys, why do you not go directly to Vietnam especially since I’m sure you may know some boys who have retired back there? Genuinely curious.

sex shit and shower?

I only go out in Bangkok. At home especially on weekdays I try to be home, eat and sleep as early as possible. In Bangkok if I have company whether personal friends or a boy, I time my evening to have dinner, a drink somewhere maybe Soi 4, and then a bar in time for the show. I enjoy people watching. If I’m alone I have something light at or near the hotel. If I’m at Le Meridien I cobble together a meal at the lounge. It gets harder and harder with every passing year to not simply fall asleep and instead shower and dress for the bars. I often give in to temptation and just Line a regular boy to come over from his bar. If it’s a non-bar night but I have a boy with me, I enjoy going somewhere like mookata, so he can order in Thai and I get a local experience that I couldn’t have on my own. Bonus: it’s often a buffet so boy can eat his heart out without damage to my pocket. The best places often have a massive queue so we start early, at 5.30 or 6 pm. That leaves plenty of time at night for fun and the mookata reek means showering together is compulsory. A win-win.

Remembering the monumental Buddhas of Bamiyan, dating to 6th century and formerly the largest ever standing Buddhas in the world. The larger was 180 feet tall, the smaller was 125 feet and both stood at an elevation of 8,200 feet. To visitors it must have looked as though they reached to the heavens. Thoroughly destroyed -or as one website expresses it “erased” - by the Taliban in 2001. A travesty.

Clearly a Gen Z dance move

A smart move. A friend was searching for alternative flights from New York to Europe and back to Asia (due to a hard to adjust schedule) and has to pay something like $10,000 extra Others in my work and social circles are predicting this could drag on for another five, six weeks. Not being American I have no insight as to which way policy will swing.

Congratulations on finding a fast alternative to your flight, and all the pieces of good luck that followed: room ready, great freelancer. May the rest of your trip continue on this note. I can imagine your relief and exhilaration on arriving smoothly with no further interruptions. I flew out of Suvarnabhumi on Sunday and there was a sad line up of lonely planes stranded in the middle of the air field: Qatar and Etihad being the most numerous, followed by Gulf Air, El Al Israel and AirArabia.

This is excellent and one of my go-to places. There is one in Park Silom which is never more than half full, even during peak times.

I hope you and your family stay safe during these trying times En route to Suvarnabhumi now hoping for no travel disruptions or people being stranded at airport.

I especially enjoy those featuring the travelling knee. Will it make a return, do you think?

I usually wear contact lenses but prefer glasses in the evenings to give my eyes a rest. As I recently had a new pair made I now travel with two pairs just in case of above scenario. Have just been told I have long sightedness setting in and soon I may need reading glasses which brings me up to three pairs. Such is the rapid onset of age. Highly recommend making a spare pair of glasses if you rely on them. Owndays has locations in Bangkok and they can produce a new pair for you in an hour. Quality is good too.

Digressing slightly but I remember you posted some personal pics in a trip report (with face covered) and you are a very nice looking guy. No reason at all to be body conscious. I hope you will get to return to Thailand soon.

I thought they had all left but Amen (extreme right) is back. His younger brother is at Jupiter too.

Maybe they’re checking to see if you’re really blind so they can nick your wallet

I have seen plenty of older gents in GOD too having a great time. The only thing is you may get approached by money boys instead of regular guys hooking up with each other. But why not, many of them are cute and willing, and more likely to be a university student turning tricks than a go go boy.

Yes I was certain he was a nun, since I met him mere steps away from Soi Convent

I actually prefer this. Once the boy is selected and comes down for a drink, smiles are usually out and you can tell who is enthused about being offed. Those that aren’t are sent back. Works for me. Worst off I’ve ever had from Jupiter was a new boy who smiled from the stage, later on I discovered he grinned at all and sundry with no discrimination. Didn’t exactly make me feel special.

Thanks for photos, looks very promising! Edit: then I scrolled further, read the reviews….which do not

that’s not him because they said yes 👆

Again I can only speak from my own experience. I’ve always been very well treated and made to feel welcome, even when I was new. Apart from lady boss who’s a piece of work. Oh I reached for….something else. And again when the boy was within reach.

Thanks yes I reread OP’s post. To @zombie I hope my post clears it up somewhat. I would never trust gossip from another bar. Just go in person and assess the rate and goods yourself. I don’t disagree at all, l haven’t been on the receiving end of any attitude but I can see that a more relaxed bar would be preferable to some. They were justified in the pre Covid years when the bar was so busy you couldn’t get a seat and the line up was the best in Patpong. If you look at the photos I posted…the stunners were there some 6 years ago. Only a few of them are left and they work irregularly. I continue to go due to possibly misplaced nostalgia (and some other more practical considerations) but I am in full agreement the quality has dropped off significantly. It used to be that 90% of the line up were tremendously attractive with sculpted abs pecs and biceps for miles. The first catwalk of the evening, with Mr Arm leading the pack could make you dizzy.