mauRICE

You forgot the Jackie O headscarf and sunglasses. 😏 Make that a Hermes headscarf.

😯 Meanwhile, how's he going to explain it to his wife?!

Have you got a GP or specialist that you regularly go to in Thailand? It might be a good idea to ask them as I've seen medical insurance brochures at clinic counters.

Yikes, that's peak Chinese New Year travel season! Chinese New Year Eve falls on 16 February 2026 and the celebrations thereafter will go on for about two weeks for the mainlanders and about a week for the Southeast Asian diaspora.

AI?

No idea where you can meet them but broadly speaking, if they're financially independent, they'll be looking for younger Thai guys in their twenties. A friend of mine, 45, who's American partner passed away of old age three months ago and left him a significant amount of money, has found himself a sweet young thang of 21 from Isaan and is supporting him. I've seen this time and time again and sometimes they don't even wait for their farang partners to die! So you might be in luck if you're a SYT yourself! Incidentally, I noticed you posed a similar question in November last year. Is this a yearly ritual?

Tutted the Dowager Countess. 🙄

What is it like in Patong now? I haven't been in ages.

They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions...as is the road to Silom/Patpong/Pattaya/Jomtien Complex etc. If it's any consolation, in my long association with the Land of Smiles, I've not seen a single case of someone being refused "help" in this way ending up in the streets. They just move on to another host. Good luck and I hope you enjoy the rest of of your holiday! PS Check out the fruit carts you see on the streets. Some of them may have lamood.

I think most Chiang Mai locals would say Songkran is the busiest time of the year with the days lasting longer. That said, there was a huge influx of visitors during Loy Kratong last year and most of my Chiang Mai friends chose to stay home during the festivities. I'm happy for the business owners; a friend who runs a coffeeshop says business has been brisk these past few weeks. The snowbirds from Japan, Europe, etc are back early.

Out of curiosity, what bank does he work at? Did he show you his bank ID? How do you know he's supporting his parents? Because he told you? How do you even know he has parents? What massage shop does he work at? Have you been there? How did he manage his rent before you arrived? How is he going to manage his rent next month? And the month after that? Did you even know his full name and where he lived before you sent him the money? Consider the 10,000 baht you gave him as tip for the few days he was with you and move on. He has. Enjoy Chiang Mai. I hear it's been raining every day for the past few days.

You're welcome. Ohh he's quite purdy in the middle pic with straight hair and without a shirt on but why oh why did he have turn into a young Liberace wannabe with that suit and curly bouffant?

El que hambre tiene, en pan piensa Aah, were you born in Spain or a Spanish-speaking country? I would have guessed that too.

Please delete.

Urologist would have been my guess. 🤣

He should move to Pattaya; he'd get plenty of business - and won't even have to wait until they're dead. Why, Jomtien Complex alone...

Bad timing perhaps but no, I don't think you were rude. He could have just offered you a lame excuse and changed the topic. This kind of snappy response is not that uncommon in that generation - they seem to think they're in a sitcom or soap opera and with so much time spent on social media and in virtual reality these days, more and more seem to straddle the real and virtual worlds. They struggle with basic social graces which they haven't been taught and thus have never learned. Just a few years ago, the kids would snap back with a "what-ever" whenever they were stumped for a logical response. Remember that? Secondly, it's quite possible that you caught him in a lie. Perhaps he wasn't a magician at all or a rookie who was not quite up to the level of the Magic Castle - and felt that you had painted him into a corner. Some people love to talk themselves up especially at parties when they've had a few (this is one of the reasons why I avoid farang in Thailand!) and I wouldn't give the encounter any further thought.

OMG! They dare ask you about Bangkok gay go go bars and massage parlours at parties? 😮 Now that's truly beyond the pale. 😠 I hope on Monday you don't tell them who's got the biggest cock at Moonlight, just to teach them a lesson!😡

@jimmie50 Thank you for the trip reports. It's probably an oversight on your part but I'm sure you'd like to give credit to the Unesco website where you "borrowed" the above two paragraphs from word for word. Out of curiosity, have your guides mentioned the strong Khmer influence in early Thai history? I'm wondering whether such things are being censored in the current climate.

You think so? If I as a gay man had to have sex with a woman for money - and assuming I had the choice - I think I'd rather have it with a slender, petite and beautiful woman. It would make the job "easier" for me. This would be under the assumption that all other factors were to remain equal viz money, time and level of participation.

It's ละมุด (lamood) or sapodilla, a tropical fruit known commonly as chiku in Malaysia and other parts of Southeast Asia. The evergreen tree, which also produces chicle the latex used to make chewing gum, was originally brought over from Mexico and Central America to the Philippines by the Spaniards. I have a tree back home right beside the soursop (I bet you don't know that one either!), both of which are popular with the squirrels and an annoying woodpecker (at least I think it's a woodpecker). The birds, squirrels and civet cats get to enjoy the papayas, bananas, custard apples, chikus, soursop, mangoes and rose apples in my garden before I do! 😅

You might also consider wearing a luminous armband or a flashing bracelet when walking in the dark especially if you're wearing dark coloured clothes.

Are you at Ramkhamkaeng or Assumption by any chance? The Hua Mak/Ramkhamkaeng area is thriving with uni students and has got a youthful vibe. Plenty of inexpensive food options and small pubs - some with live bands - where the students like to hang out. And being at uni means they'll have at least some English. Assumption has got a large number of international students and lecturers too. You said you're new to the area so give yourself a bit of time. All you need is to make one new friend to get you started and then take it from there. Good luck!

Thai government clarifies no ban on public festivities during the mourning period for the Queen Mother Saturday, 25 Oct 20259:16 PM MYT ANN BANGKOK (Bernama): The Thai government has clarified that it is not prohibiting private sector or public festivities during the national mourning period to honour the passing of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother. Government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat said the government wishes to avoid any misunderstanding and to emphasise that no order has been issued to ban events or festivities organised by the private sector or the general public. Unlike government agencies, the private sector and the public are only requested to exercise discretion and adjust their activities appropriately in accordance with Thai traditions and culture. "This is to prevent unnecessary disruption to the economy or financial burdens on organisers if events are suddenly cancelled," he said in a statement on Saturday. Siripong explained that events such as ordination ceremonies, weddings, and traditional functions may still proceed. However, organisers should ensure that they are conducted respectfully and appropriately. Nevertheless, Siripong said Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has called on all Thais to unite in expressing their deepest condolences on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, and to channel their loyalty and devotion as moral support for His Majesty the King and all members of the royal family. He added that the government would ensure that the royal funeral is conducted with the highest honour and in full accordance with royal tradition. "The prime minister calls upon all Thais to come together in unity, love, and loyalty during this period of national mourning, and to offer these sentiments as moral strength for His Majesty the King and the royal family," he said. Earlier, the Bureau of the Royal Household announced that Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, aged 93, passed away on Friday evening. His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn has instructed the bureau to organise Her Majesty's royal funeral with the highest honours, in accordance with royal tradition. The royal procession of the Queen Mother's remains to the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall within the Grand Palace is scheduled to take place at 4 pm (Thai time) on Sunday. - Bernama

The Palace has further announced that Her Majesty Queen Sirikit the Queen Mother, passed away on October 24, 2025. His Majesty the King has issued a royal command instructing the Bureau of the Royal Household to administer the royal funeral with the highest royal honors in accordance with royal tradition. Her body will be enshrined at Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace. His Majesty has graciously ordered all members of the Royal Family and courtiers to mourn for one year, commencing on the date of her death.