Archchan

His last post was on Saturday morning board time , which means Friday afternoon at where he lived  so it looks it was sudden. 
He was always an advocate for fair treatment of boys and basher of cheap Charlies.
Rest in peace 

Do you stay alone in your home country?  Do you have a large network of friends, close family you see often?
Is your religious organization, church, temple, mosque important to you?  Some miss national spectator sports, sporting
clubs ,bowling, golf, swimming, hiking ,bridge, poker group, casinos, etc.  
if you have nothing keeping you, and if you are lonely in your home country,  try 6 months or so.  Only you know your situation and only you can decide.
 
 

Perhaps worth keeping in mind that businesses have been allowed to re-open -- but only under the "new normal" rules.   Screening, social distancing, masks (duh), limitations on number of customers allowed in at any time, plexiglass dividers between tables, etc.   (I assume everyone has seen the pictures).  Barbers have to wear masks and shields.  Some mainstream massage shops are already planning for that to be required.  
In China, Shanghai Disneyland is reopening and tickets sold out almost immediately.  But there will be all the usual health precautions and more, and right now limited to only 30% of capacity.  
Personally I think this is being handled quite well by the Thai authorities.  There will always be slip-ups and it will take some time for the real "now normal" to evolve, but they're good, small steps forward.
Here's what we might expect from one of the better-known legit(-ish) massage places.  

Londoner's/Vinapu's advice on a trial period is very important.
Consider your life beyond the sexual entertainment, do you make friends easily (I live in Isaan where there are drawbacks, my partner of 11 years is wonderful but I miss having mature gay friends and meeting them for dinner at home and in restaurants), there are opportunities in Pattaya to socialise and eg to play bridge, don't laugh but do you want a dog(s) which may not be allowed in a condo.

A trial period is essential. At least six months, preferably more.  I considered it sixteen years ago when the pound was worth 73 bht. I'm pleased  I remained in London and continued to travel for holidays, grateful that I could afford to do so. 
Returning to your question, one of the major issues for me was exactly what you mentioned. I only knew one expat (he has since died) and, to be blunt, the posts I read on a gay forum (not this one) suggested that I'd never fit in. Some of the attitudes were genuinely appalling to someone who has lived in a liberal, multi-cultural city all his life. I appreciate that this was not true of others but feared that expat life may not be for me.
So you are right to take into account what sort of social life you'd have in Pattaya, as well as obvious things like finance, weather,  health and the political situation, remembering that if you sell-up at home, you may find it financially problematical to return if things don't turn -out well.

Of you can stand year round heat and you think you can go without family and friends in your home country I'd say try to stay at least one year and then you will see.
Getting new friends  can be fun.
Don't burn any bridges at home until you decision is solid

Having retired now and having a room in Jomptien which I usually visit twice a year I have the option of moving to Pattaya permanently. 
The question is should I ? Wondering how many others stay alone in Thailand and does it work for you ? Do you get lonely or have you adjusted ?
I realize we are all different but would be interested in thoughts of others and particularly if you are already in Thailand.
Follow these forums regularly  and have gained a lot of help from many here over the past year. Thanks to all who post such great reports and information.
 

My preference is for reception to hold ID cards of visitors having first checked age and validity. That doesn't mean that joiners are "bothered"; in my experience they expect this process.. I also appreciate the phone call from reception when he leaves, checking that  all is  OK.  

A few changes have been made and more are on the way.
1. I have merged the Michael, GayThailand, and Scooby accounts to be Michael as I needed to get notifications of replies to some content that I have not gotten.
2. We are purging all members who have not logged in in the last few years. Our database will dwindle to low numbers as anyone now logged in in past 3 years will be deleted from site. So, if you see something like guest_Richard, you will know that the member has not logged in for a while and thus, removed from the site.
3. We are cleaning up the front end and back end over the next few weeks. Lots of work but I think a much better system coming.
4. All porn is removed or being removed and replaced with other items.
5. More things to follow but I know some will notice some changes so wanted to give all a heads up. Thanks for being a member of the site!

I love guys who are glued to their foreskins.

Z, I have noticed this trend as well. When they pull out a camera, I gently take it and set it by the bed.
When I see them bring it into the bedroom, I gently take it and set it beside the bed. If they reach for it, I gently say no.
Like you, this is worrisome and I try to stop it from happening but have noticed this more often.

It was the smell of the carpets that announced my arrival in Thailand. Distinctive to say the least. My seventieth visit in ten weeks....they must have done something right.  

It's not a golden rule. Some boys that avoided making an eye contact  were great and even developed to LT it turned out that they were too shine to make a straight eye contact with me. In the contrary some of the boys that did make eye contact and showed enthusiasm turned to be a disaster in bed they just knew how to 'sell' themself for an off.
It's very difficult to predict how the boy will turn out to be from first impression.

great idea for both of you.
I learned when taking boy somewhere  for more than few hours it's very important to give him and myself some breathing space, reunion after couple of hours  is always sweeter

where's disagreement ?
by the way whole point of discussion is to see where people agree and where they differ, otherwise we will have just 'yes, yes , yes ' festival.
My point was 2 headed:
first - while memories are precious , dwelling on them may make one bitter and disappointed that's is over instead of focusing how we can have fun  now and in future.
For me best venue I ever set foot in Thailand was now defunct Aqua Spa, yet it' s gone and even my best memories will not resurrect it so i found Arena , Senso, Tawan , Moonlight , BBB and list goes and and on.
 
Second - while scene is changed and shrunken there's still more than I can absorb during my pilgrimage, there are 15 boy  bars in BKK , at one  a night during 2 weeks foray it will be still one neglected. And just along Suriwong there's more places that we need for 1 massage a day during the same period. 
So instead looking for half empty part of glass why not enjoy well filled full half ? That IS my point

be nice !

I wish I can agree with you but I don't. Years ago Pattaya have had 4 gay complexes Day Night coplex vanished,Sunee Plaza is bleeding( I doubt it can survive if the business will not improve soon),Boyz Town is very quiet only Jomtien complex is doing well at the moment.
Dongtan beach was almost exclusively gay oriented with many young Thai boys seeking for clients and male masseurs doing massage on the beach and keeping you company but not anymore.
Years ago quality and quantity of the boys was much bigger and their services were much cheaper. In the past Pattaya was gay heaven I could easily stay there weeks but sadly the gay scene shrinked badly and at my last trip last year after one week became bored this is why in my next trip planning to visit nearby places like Ko Samet , Kanchanaburi and Hua Hin. However Thailand is still my favourite destination in the world the low leaving costs,the gay friendly atmosphere and the kindness of the Thai people make it wonderful experience for me every time I come.

There is no doubt that the gay scene has shrunk in the last few years - that is quite plain from the closed bars in BT and Sunee and the trend for OUR beach to become less gay. The obvious reason is that Thailand is no longer inexpensive with the large increase in the value of the baht. When I discovered Pattaya 20 years ago I got 70 baht for £1.00 and usually paid boys 1000 for a night in my bed ie around £13 - the same boy would cost maybe 2000 at 40 ie £50 today. Thailand has changed and there are far more opportunities for young guys than working in the rice fields. 
But I very much agree with Vinapu that Thailand and Pattaya in particular is still a great place for a gay tourist, like myself, on a two/three week holiday who is attracted to Asian boys.  Of course many gays come to Thailand with partners or are not sex tourists and do not frequent the bars. 
 

The Chinese are keeping the BOY bars in business.  The older gay farangs are few and far between.  Panorama was in death 
throes for a long time before closing as their customer base dried up.  Many nights Panorama had no customers.  The
day of the older gay farang has passed.  As an older gay farang, I’m thrilled that the Chinese Women and men are keeping
the boy bars busy and staying open.  I’m seeing more gay Chinese men as well this year.

But, I emphasise, not "gay" business. My suspicion is that, if it thrives, and  the successfully-expanding Ambiance becomes even more reliant on the Chinese/Asian market,  the "Boyztown" sign will soon be taken -down as an embarrassment. Perhaps it doesn't matter; it makes commercial sense.
Nevertheless, it is sad for my generation. Back in 1995  I recall the sheer joy of sitting in Panorama surrounded by guys just like me, watching the go go dancers saunter past on the way to work. I'd never felt so much at home. 

Ari Soi 4.  Connected with/same entrance as Chakran Sauna.

HOT MALE !!!!!
5 reasons
1) No ladyboy singing.
2) Lots of cocks on display.
3) Real fucking.
4) Boys with smiles.
5) Mamasans who are not pushy.
And a 6th reason is customers who strip naked and join in the show! 
I kid you not! Andy and I just witnessed it tonight.
By the way, entry is by coupon. 350 baht for one drink. Off fee is 500 baht.

Good luck Spoon , hope you meet up with some great people , unfortunately a lot of the gay guys who are of mature aged ( myself included)  can be paranoid when it comes to meeting people.
I find it so different to the straight farangs who socialise together in bars , a lot of times I see gay farangs  sitting by themselves