Lucky

I added a post about this in the Pub, where we talk about the Renaissance hotel. It's security checks made clear that the Thai government's insistence that there was no threat were pretty hollow. The Thai government was clearly pissed that the US issued the warning, and shortly thereafter, they recognized Palestine, perhaps in retaliation.

Ah, 444. Firecat had told me to check him out as I was bound to like him. So three nights I went to the bar where he worked, but he was not there. Thus, when firecat came to town, I asked him to go with me. Sure enough, 444 was there, and yes, I liked his look. He turned out to be a quite pleasant guy, and I had my hopes up for a renewal of old Thailand memories. But not to be. 444 was as eager as he could be, just not hard. I am sure that he is straight, so imagine what it must be like to go to work every night with the expectation that you will be hired to do things you don't enjoy. But, as they say, your mileage may vary, and no doubt firecat will bring out the best in him. I did tip him extra since I made him sit through the show for 40 minutes even after he confessed that it did not interest him. I liked it, though. Nude dancers, break dancers, clothed dancers who could really dance, one of whom had the most charming smile. I would have hired him just to see him smile at me.

Now I am less happy with the hotel. When checking out, I verified that I owed nothing, but now see that they added a $63 charge to my bill. I don't owe it, but have to go through the hassle of contesting it.

Most dragons breathe fire, don't they? Now having read your review, I see that he does not kiss or engage in anal sex. He only receives masturbation and oral sex. Yet you enjoy him enough to see him 3 times, so he must have special skills that appeal to you. Thanks for the review.

Oz asks how my visit compared with my 13 previous ones, and the answer is easy. I don't think any visit compares with your first one, where it is all new and you are amazed at all the available boys. Thailand has changed a lot since my first visit in 1987. No longer so demure a people, they have risen up in protest, both as red shirts and as yellow shirts. Their economy has taken off. So many can now afford a motorbike, the luxury malls are a beacon of capitalism, and materialism. So, what was in some ways a more innocent country has given way to a more confident people who no longer look the same at the farang as they might have in the past. Which isn't to say that things are worse for the farang. The bars still proliferate in the areas we know. But it is all more commercial than before. (Those luxury malls are very busy.) I remember a time when money wasn't such a big factor. Perhaps it was because I was younger, guys used to approach me on the street with no desire other than to practice their English. The one who said he wanted to do so on this visit was an older man, who really didn't need the practice, but just wanted to make conversation and give his opinions. I didn't have the pressure of needing to cram in as much sex as I could. Age has taken care of some of that, but my tastes have also become more limited. I don't care for skinny guys, and I don't enjoy being with guys who look 14, even if older in fact. The guys in Bangkok appealed to me the most, as big cities are more appealing to me anyway. Pattaya has many charms, and a great beach. Well, the beach is in Jomtien, but I stay in Pattaya. But those damn baht buses are not comfortable in any way. Cheap, though. I paid the same amount in 1987 as I did this year. The same at the beach. For a dollar, you get an umbrella, two chairs, and bar service. The cost of an hour's pleasure was about $20 in 1987, and at has risen a whopping 50% or more today. Is that a deterrent? Hardly! (Do the math, it's about ten dollars!) No where can one find the quality and the quantity of available men that you do in Thailand. Plus there is so much else to do. What was missing? In my heyday, as it were, I learned a little Thai and developed some friendships. A guy would be interested in your company for several days. That's what I was hoping to find this trip, but did not. Of course it could have happened, it just didn't. And I have forgotten much of the Thai I learned. For the first time, I had boys complain. a) you didn't let me fuck you. letter following a*)) I want to come inside you even if you say no. c) you didn't tip enough for that wasted half hour massage. I want double. It was my first experience with a guy lying to justify more money, and it was disturbing. Another guy could not get hard. It made me wonder why he was in the bar business. But I did have the traditional great experiences too- guys who were happy to have been selected and worked hard to please. I would still hope that the few negative experiences were a rare aberration to my history of good ones. (The letter following a types out like this: ) But I did enjoy so much else. I walked until I had no water left inside me. The people watching is beyond compare. The shopping constantly entertaining. The architecture amazing. The river life fascinating. And where else can you stay in five star hotels for a $100 a night? Although I do travel well by myself, I also enjoy having someone else along. In Pattaya, firecat69 and I enjoyed an evening out, and it was quite fun. He knows a lot of people and I saw things I would not have seen otherwise. The same was true last year when Oz took me around Pattaya. Living there opens many doors that the short time visitor doesn't get to see. On the other hand, at the beer bar we went to, one table was filled with white-haired old men and not a Thai at the table. If I want a table full of white haired old men I don't have to leave town! I'd like to think that if I lived in Thailand my life would include a multitude of Thai friends. (Firecat seemed to have many of them!) So, when am I going back? Who knows. I never plan the return trips, they just happen. I did have some unexpected pain problems on this one, and the pain meds caused increased sweating. In the humidity of Thailand, you don't want more sweating. I would like to go back right before Christmas, when, at the winter equinox, the temperatures actually fall under 70 at night. The Thais put on their leather jackets, and build fires. I just enjoy. But I did enjoy this visit, it just wasn't in the top 4 of my 14. So I have reason to go back and see what I can improve.

Let's see, I went to Rio on a tour. They took us to Sugar Loaf and then the Christ statue. Afterward we did a walking tour of a favela. The next day we went downtown and saw the historic buildings and the gaudy new cathedral. At nightime we went to Ipanema for shopping. Finally, on the 3d day, I asked the guide why we didn't see any of the famous sauna boys, Oh, he said, tomcal is in town, they are all busy! Nice reports, tomcal. We can all envy your stamina and the strength of the dollar- well, at least your dollar!

hehe...they are reed thin oldsters who no doubt sit at the buffet and wonder how those Americans can put away so much food. We hear about Asian reticence, Asian manners, Asian respect for elders, but what we have are normal people who observe and judge like everyone else, but don't always express their opinions. In this case they did, even after I showed them a courtesy, but it was good natured and I really took no offense. Now, can we expect hitoallusa at the Palm Springs Weekend? Last year you said you would come but for a trip to Japan...

A sad state of affairs, huh, Simon? Since you seem to have self-appointed yourself the dragon of MER, why not give us examples of posting that you find constructive and inviting of other members participation? So far we have seen you trash others with some degree of skill, but not much else. Well, you do kiss up to management when it suits you...I mean, they have let you keep your "voice" here despite getting called on the carpet more than most other newbies do. We do agree that the website cannot thrive when the only ones responding to threads are the original poster and the guy who sees fit to criticize everyone else. But if all you can do is trash people, then your presence here contributes nothing over the long run. I'd rather post with Scott Adler.

Wow. Not a soul here interested in Chinese New Year? Or is the Expatriation of the forum moving threads down so fast that no one gets to see them? Ironically, it was EXPAT himself who posted on this last year.

Thanks for the encouraging comments. In my mind, I am working on two final posts for this thread, but damn I need some sleep first. I have been up for 32 hours straight now and endured 3 flights. LAX was an absolute nightmare as we went through customs and then had to re-go a security check. But the lines were enormous. Only for the grace of one kind soul who let me cut the line did I make my connecting flight home. 4 passengers did not.

Could it be that this hotel has made a special offer with the full knowledge that it might be a target of terrorists? The US Embassy recently issues a warning to Americans in Bangkok that there was clear and credible evidence that they could be subject to terrorist activity directed specifically against Americans, with the weekend of Friday the 13th being thought to be a possible target date. One of the 3 venues that worried the Embassy was on Sukhumvit Road. As is the Renaissance. Well, the Thai government was quite upset with the US warning. The Yankees had held off for weeks in an attempt to work with the Thais, who were afraid that any warning would deter tourism. They made statements to the effect that no terrorists would act in Thailand, because the government had such matters under firm control. This kind of head in the sand approach worried the Americans and the Israelis, who had developed the original intelligence. Once the Americans issued the warning, the Thais quickly arrested a subject and declared that no threats were now expected as the arrested man said that they had been canceled. Yes, we were to believe the terrorist here. But wait. Soon a raid on his business turned up tons of potential bomb making material. He claimed to be a mere hairdresser, and many believed him when he said that he was being set up. How does all of this relate to the Renaissance? Well, they must not believe that the threat is over. I ended my Bangkok visit by staying there, and ingress and egress were strictly limited. Anyone, guests included, entering had to go through a metal detector and have all of their bags inspected, even if checking in or returning from shopping. I got my room for $91 a night, without breakfast, but they did offer a 20% discount on same. The breakfast was very good, the bed very comfortable, the decor dated, and the terrorists very quiet.

That is true, but there was also less reader participation than for last year. Reader participation, of course, prompts more interest in writing the vignettes. Last year's stories were new, so that probably made for more interest as well. But I am now back in the USA, operating on adrenaline. I will write some more about the trip when I get recharged.

Chinese New Year is on Monday, January 23d, and decorations are everywhere in Bangkok, which has a large Chinese population. I plan to go to Chinatown today. Last weekend it was quite festive and will no doubt be more so today. The local mall, hardly your basic strip mall, but an extravagant ode to luxury, is having a show this afternoon featuring Chinese dancers, acrobats, and Chinese opera performances. So, Happy New Year to all. Give your local Chinese friend a hug and tell him Gung Hay Fat Choy.

What? It is time for another Palm Springs Weekend? Geez, now I really do have to kick the diet up a notch. On the elevator today I kindly allowed an elderly Asian couple to board first. The man was apparently trying to say he liked my shirt. When I took notice, he pointed at my belly, stroking his own as if to indicate pregnant. So I Politely laughed, whereupon he took the liberty of raising two fingers, suggesting I was having twins. So much for Asian reticence! At any rate, all of me is happy to hear that Oliver has the 8th Annual Palm Springs Weekend underway. It must sound especially appealing to those shoveling snow today.

Thankfully the show at Happy Boys in Pattaya included that old-fashioned Thai erotic dance that I used to like so much. And the 3 guys performing it did it naked with erections. Thus very erotic. A poster writing about his Columbia trip mentions the difficulty of writing any lengthy report on the IPad. Even though I am much better with it than I was two weeks ago, I will save my final report for my return. It is Chinese New Year weekend. There are festivities about town, and I plan to attend some, hoping to capture some in video, a first for me on the IPad, so wish me well. I will write more from the comfort of my PC.

That settles it, then! We need a Ricky Gervais thread! Recently several members made well-intentioned statements about posting a bit more, but, instead, we get posts wondering where everyone is. For me, the subjects that engage me are not represented as much as I would like. One answer, of course, is to post them myself, but that's hardly engaging. Another answer is to study up on the topics that are represented, but then, if they interested me enough to study up, well, then I would be studied up. Ultimately the conclusion seems to be what others have chosen, and that is to post hwhen something interests me and otherwise find other areas to express my interests. Go with the flow, let the message center reach its natural level of interest, and then either be engaged or not. Not well-spoken? Hey, I just woke up.

The shopping centers in the Siam area of Bangkok are enormous and impressive. You will never again think of Thailand as a third world country once you have seen them, and another and another. They are lined up along Sukhumvit Road, and there is simply no way I can convey to you the enormity of all of that luxury. And the crowds. The economy here has to be booming. But with each boom in the economy, there come several more motorbikes. These are truly a scourge, unless, of course, you are riding one. These same friendly people whom you encounter become horrors when driving a motorbike. It becomes very hard just to cross a street. And, I would not want to ride one, nor drive one, as it takes more fortitude than I think I have. But, for now, I am out of Bangkok, mixing it up with the Russians in. Pattaya. A Swiiss woman -yes, I asked- tonight thought I was Rus, but I assured her that I was Amee, as she calls it.. I guess I need not worry if I look Rus. Those terrorists will pass me by. But tonight I shared a baht bus with the cutest Russian guy. I was hoping that the twists and turns of the road would bring us close together, but no such luck for Lucky. The people watching here is quite intriguing. Today a hunky man, who appeared to be Arab, strolled into the mall, showing off his gym toned body by wearing a tight tank top. Yet the woman he was with was covered head to toe in a burka. At least, I think she is a woman. Can't make assumptions, can we? But I spend a great deal of time people watching. Maybe that's why the bars are so fascinating.

Actually, the excellent tutorial was by firecat69, who is very knowledgeable on all things Thailand, and one of those upon whom I rely for advice. My Thai experience, while it began 25 years ago, may not be as up to date as his. But I will say that there is something for everyone and that you will find tops if you so desire, but more likely bottoms. If you want to be a butterfly, and go for one man to the next, well, then, yes, stay in the heart of things. But you can meet people anywhere. The Thais are friendly and often outgoing. In the past, bars have often had a convenience room, such as it is. But I haven't seen one in years. They were most often pretty ratty. Massage parlors, of course, are more often on site than off. But I think you will prefer the comfort of your own room, should you choose a place that allows guests. Most gay places do. And, don't forget, there are many excellent tourist attractions. They became that way because they are truly interesting or offer something for the tourist to experience, such as a crocodile farm, that he will not see at home. You can spend all day touring wats, or temples. And if massage appeals to you, then you could spend all day getting massaged without ever taking your clothes off. Thai massage gets more enjoyable the more you experience it. Foot masseurs are everywhere. And, if you are a butterfly, then by all means visit a butterfly farm.

If you have a script by which you expect things to happen, be prepared for things to go off script. Sometimes for the better, sometimes not. But the adventure of wondering what might happen rather than knowing for sure can add to the fun.

The Tebow HATRED? Are we going to let that pass without comment? Michael Medved wants to say that those who think Tebow is a showboat are HATING him? That's discourse? Can we not point out hypocrisy without being accused of hatred? It's not like he lost a game because of this.

Say, did anyone here about that cruise ship sinking in Italy? Or didn't that merit a breaking news lead into the Golden Globes? The way I hear it, the ship is like totally destroyed and some people had to cancel their plans. Didn't it make the news in the states? It 's like, what I hear is that the captain was showboating and went off course. And the cruise was only 3 hours underway! Bummer. I'd ask for my money back. My point, of course, is that there are 5 or so threads on the Golden Globes, but the news doesn't merit any discussion anymore. Would more news equal more threads, or is it all in your definition of news? I mean, people died, the country's reputation takes a hit, the Communists are rioting because they are not getting capitalist material goods, children are forced into slave labor so we can get them, and none of it is interesting enough to discuss here? It's enough to make me go on vacation! BTW, I am not saying that the Golden Globes don't merit discussion. It's the lack of discussion on other subjects that makes me curious.

I see the Fries. I see the guy. But I don't see the site making millions

Granted that the Golden Globes are of some interest - I remember when they were created by Pia Zadora's husband as an excuse to give her an award- there is other news, and even those away from the daily papers are noticing. Steve Jobs was lionized after his death, but now apple is revealing ways in which it mistreated it's foreign workers. Yet their phones are so in demand, thousands lined up at the opening of the Beijing store, only to be turned away when it was announced that the store wouldn't open that day after all. Apparently they didn't have enough phones and were afraid of rioting, which they got anyway. The Chinese still love their apples. 4 Marines pissed on Taliban corpses, and not a word here? No indignation? No leering over the idea that 4 Marines had their dicks out in front of each other? No jokes about a pissing contest? On the other hand, the USS Abraham Lincoln is in Pattaya, with 6000 personnel on shore leave, and I didn't see a one in the gay bar district, not to mention having his dick out. Oh, where have I gone wrong? There were 4 potential Posts here, and I only used up one!

Goldwater, who was seen as such a conservative and out of the mainstream, would probably be considered a moderate today. I doubt that he would have the time of day for the Tea Party. And yes, I was old enough to follow that race.

What was a big story last night seems downgraded today, with not much to be fiound. Oh, well.