hojacat

In Cambodia, Siem Reap, at upscale Viroths Hotel, they bring the boy up to your room!

Thanks for your recommendations in Cebu. Never been there and plan maybe 3-4 trips while in Manila. My tip usually when looking for Airbnbs in other Asian countries is to filter by 'Self Check-in` as it means that the reception is not involved with guests coming in and out but looks guest registering might du rigeur in the Philippines. As you said it tends be a bit embarrassing checking guests both for me and the guy visiting me, especially since I average 3-4 guys per night and sometimes I tend to have 2-3 guys at the same time😅.

Was in Amsterdam during the pride weekend. Everywhere was superbusy. Long lines especially at NZ and Church. 
At NZ there was a line pretty much from 2:00PM till 2:00AM. had to wait at least 1-1.5 hours to get in. not sure if it was because of pride but I paid 28 euro each time I went. Last time I was there (around 4 years ago) I remember it being only around 20. The line at Church was even worse as the place is small and it would completely fool so you had to wait for people going out. The price I think was around 16 euro. They had different themes each night. 
Went to Dirty Dicks. The entrance is technically free but you have to order a drink. Overall didn't enjoy it that much. Too small and the crowd was not of my taste. Visited also Free Willie, which actually was the only when you didn't have to pay for entrance. Wasn't bad but for some reason not much action going on.
Overall though it was a great weekend. Had so much fun and boys. Because it was the world pride it was much busier than usual and probably the most Asians I have seen at a pride in Europe. Almost a mini Taipei pride😆

Thanks for your recommendations in Cebu. Never been there and plan maybe 3-4 trips while in Manila. My tip usually when looking for Airbnbs in other Asian countries is to filter by 'Self Check-in` as it means that the reception is not involved with guests coming in and out but looks guest registering might du rigeur in the Philippines. As you said it tends be a bit embarrassing checking guests both for me and the guy visiting me, especially since I average 3-4 guys per night and sometimes I tend to have 2-3 guys at the same time😅.

Was in Amsterdam during the pride weekend. Everywhere was superbusy. Long lines especially at NZ and Church. 
At NZ there was a line pretty much from 2:00PM till 2:00AM. had to wait at least 1-1.5 hours to get in. not sure if it was because of pride but I paid 28 euro each time I went. Last time I was there (around 4 years ago) I remember it being only around 20. The line at Church was even worse as the place is small and it would completely fool so you had to wait for people going out. The price I think was around 16 euro. They had different themes each night. 
Went to Dirty Dicks. The entrance is technically free but you have to order a drink. Overall didn't enjoy it that much. Too small and the crowd was not of my taste. Visited also Free Willie, which actually was the only when you didn't have to pay for entrance. Wasn't bad but for some reason not much action going on.
Overall though it was a great weekend. Had so much fun and boys. Because it was the world pride it was much busier than usual and probably the most Asians I have seen at a pride in Europe. Almost a mini Taipei pride😆

I would just say that gay saunas in SK are no that good, even though Korea is known for its sauna culture (a bit similar in this to Scandinavian countries) The sauans tend to be quite small and the best ones have usually a Korean-only policy (though they do make exceptions). On the bright side, there is a lot of group happening in there.
Usually guys on Grindr are the ones looking for foreigners. How much lucky you will be depends a lot on your body type.
Koreans are bit obsessed with height. So tall guy (meaning 190cm and up) have definitely very high chance of success.
Fit or muscular guys also get extra points. Being overweight is really looked down.
Personally, having visited SK a few times in the last 15 years from when I was in college to now being in my mid-30s, being just 175cm though very slim and with a bit of a baby face, I'm always surprised of the amount of activity I get there.
Worth of note is how good of a place ICN airport is as a hookup spot. As the main hall is on the upper floor and you access the gates by going one floor down and 2-3 gates will have their own bathroom, usually after 8PM lots of them are empty so is a good place for some action. I got lucky the last two times I transited through there, so even if you aren't going into the city, keep your apps open if you're in the airport.
 

If you are going to be on a weekend and are into saunas, don't miss going to Soi 13 in. It's in my opinion the best gay sauna in Asia.
3-stories with great facilities and the crowd is mostly slim and muscular young twinks and jocks. Plus, every night is naked night so there is so much eye candy going around.
The peak is usually between 6:30-9:00 PM, as local guys get a discount if they enter before 7:30PM.
I really enjoyed going there for Taipei pride the last two years before Covid. I would stay from 6:30-11:00PM. I think around 400-500 guys would pass on each night during those hours and not just Taiwanese but from all over East and Southeast Asia. It was pretty much non-stop fun. Really looking forward to do it again in 2023.

According to a good Taiwanese friend I talked with during Pride weekend, Hans Men's Spa is starting to become popular with the younger crowd. This is all thanks to the foolish price policy followed by the owner of Soi 13: people with a Taiwanese ID pay 300 NTD between 6:30 PM–7:00 PM and 11:30 PM–12:30 AM, but everyone pays 1,000 NTD at any other time—a significant sum for younger guys.   My friend, who is in his early 30s with a very attractive body and face, now prefers Hans over Soi 13 since he tends to go out late at night. I still haven't checked out Hans myself as I continue to go to Soi 13. Between 7 PM–9 PM on a weekend, there is still a pretty good number of twinks there. However, even during Pride weekend—though attendance was higher than normal—I think the crowd might have been smaller compared to both Hutong in Hong Kong and Keybox in Singapore on a Saturday night (when I went last Saturday at around 8 PM, I couldn't believe I had to wait 20 minutes in line just to get in; the line stretched outside!). Btw, @PeterRS, is the price for Hans still around 340 NTD?

Just to clarify, entry at Soi13 is technically 1000 NTD for everyone, but there's a discount period between 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM and I think again from 11:00 PM – 12:30 AM, where people with a Taiwanese ID only pay 300 NTD. Because of that, the place is usually pretty dead before 6 PM. The real peak hits around 7 PM—it gets quite crowded then—but by 9 PM, people start leaving, and it quiets down fast. Even though there's a late-night discount, I’ve noticed it doesn’t really draw a big crowd.
Before COVID, entry was just 600 NTD. After Taiwan reopened, they bumped it up to 800 NTD. I went during Pride last year and it was 1000 NTD. Thought maybe it was a Pride weekend thing, but I went back again in January and April, and it was still 1000. That pretty much makes Soi13 the second most expensive sauna in Asia, right behind Hutong in Hong Kong (258 HKD). It's actually more expensive than Kaikan in Tokyo, Daikichi in Osaka, or even KeyBox in Singapore.
As a foreigner, the only way to pay less is to buy coupon tickets—10 for 6000 NTD. . I'm not sure if they all have to be used within one year. You can also try to buy a single ticket from a friend; they’ll still accept it even if you’re not local.
Honestly, it feels like Soi13 is capitalizing on not having a real competitor right now. Kind of ironic considering they originally started out as the cheaper alternative to Aniki, which at the time of closing was also charging 1000 NTD. The pricing system now makes it only really "worth it" during that small discounted window, which means I’m super time-conscious when I’m with a guy there—if you spend too long with one guy, the place might be dead by the time you're free again.
Silver lining: by 9:30 PM you know it’s probably not worth staying, so if I’m not satisfied, I’ll usually just head over to Commander D or The Hunt. Honestly, Soi13 needs a better promo system if they want to attract younger guys. For example, Hutong only charges guys under 25 40 HKD, and on Mondays they get in free.

Just to clarify, entry at Soi13 is technically 1000 NTD for everyone, but there's a discount period between 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM and I think again from 11:00 PM – 12:30 AM, where people with a Taiwanese ID only pay 300 NTD. Because of that, the place is usually pretty dead before 6 PM. The real peak hits around 7 PM—it gets quite crowded then—but by 9 PM, people start leaving, and it quiets down fast. Even though there's a late-night discount, I’ve noticed it doesn’t really draw a big crowd.
Before COVID, entry was just 600 NTD. After Taiwan reopened, they bumped it up to 800 NTD. I went during Pride last year and it was 1000 NTD. Thought maybe it was a Pride weekend thing, but I went back again in January and April, and it was still 1000. That pretty much makes Soi13 the second most expensive sauna in Asia, right behind Hutong in Hong Kong (258 HKD). It's actually more expensive than Kaikan in Tokyo, Daikichi in Osaka, or even KeyBox in Singapore.
As a foreigner, the only way to pay less is to buy coupon tickets—10 for 6000 NTD. . I'm not sure if they all have to be used within one year. You can also try to buy a single ticket from a friend; they’ll still accept it even if you’re not local.
Honestly, it feels like Soi13 is capitalizing on not having a real competitor right now. Kind of ironic considering they originally started out as the cheaper alternative to Aniki, which at the time of closing was also charging 1000 NTD. The pricing system now makes it only really "worth it" during that small discounted window, which means I’m super time-conscious when I’m with a guy there—if you spend too long with one guy, the place might be dead by the time you're free again.
Silver lining: by 9:30 PM you know it’s probably not worth staying, so if I’m not satisfied, I’ll usually just head over to Commander D or The Hunt. Honestly, Soi13 needs a better promo system if they want to attract younger guys. For example, Hutong only charges guys under 25 40 HKD, and on Mondays they get in free.

Just to clarify, entry at Soi13 is technically 1000 NTD for everyone, but there's a discount period between 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM and I think again from 11:00 PM – 12:30 AM, where people with a Taiwanese ID only pay 300 NTD. Because of that, the place is usually pretty dead before 6 PM. The real peak hits around 7 PM—it gets quite crowded then—but by 9 PM, people start leaving, and it quiets down fast. Even though there's a late-night discount, I’ve noticed it doesn’t really draw a big crowd.
Before COVID, entry was just 600 NTD. After Taiwan reopened, they bumped it up to 800 NTD. I went during Pride last year and it was 1000 NTD. Thought maybe it was a Pride weekend thing, but I went back again in January and April, and it was still 1000. That pretty much makes Soi13 the second most expensive sauna in Asia, right behind Hutong in Hong Kong (258 HKD). It's actually more expensive than Kaikan in Tokyo, Daikichi in Osaka, or even KeyBox in Singapore.
As a foreigner, the only way to pay less is to buy coupon tickets—10 for 6000 NTD. . I'm not sure if they all have to be used within one year. You can also try to buy a single ticket from a friend; they’ll still accept it even if you’re not local.
Honestly, it feels like Soi13 is capitalizing on not having a real competitor right now. Kind of ironic considering they originally started out as the cheaper alternative to Aniki, which at the time of closing was also charging 1000 NTD. The pricing system now makes it only really "worth it" during that small discounted window, which means I’m super time-conscious when I’m with a guy there—if you spend too long with one guy, the place might be dead by the time you're free again.
Silver lining: by 9:30 PM you know it’s probably not worth staying, so if I’m not satisfied, I’ll usually just head over to Commander D or The Hunt. Honestly, Soi13 needs a better promo system if they want to attract younger guys. For example, Hutong only charges guys under 25 40 HKD, and on Mondays they get in free.

Oh yeah, the old Rainbow sauna in Taipei. Brings back good memories. I went there a few times during my first visit to Taiwan in 2011. The facilities were kinda basic and a bit old, but there were lots of young twinks among the crowd. I was in my early 20s so didn't have any problems getting in or finding action once there. I remember people were actually very friendly as I was a bit shy. I was pretty much still a newbie when it came to gay saunas at that time. I had just been to two of them the year before in Seoul. You're absolutely right that the location of Soi 13 in is not that of Rainbow. I was told that the building of Soi 13 in used to be a karaoke bar before, and that explains the layout of the cabins and the cruising area in the lower floor.
Also remember that Aniki sauna was all the rage 10 years ago, as the facilities were all brand new and the crowd tended to be younger and more muscular, albeit it was much pricier than Rainbow. I went a few times and it was truly a lot of fun. I think the last time was in 2016. Taiwanese friends told me that in the last few years it had become just a shell of its past self. The facilities were deteriorating fast, the crowd became much smaller but it still continued to have a higher entrance fee that Soi 13in. Read that it closed at the end of 2020. I guess, it means that the crowds at Soi 13 in will be even bigger now.
I agree with @PeterRS  about the friendliness of Taiwanese guy. Way more than Singaporeans or Hong-kongese imo. Good advice about Commander D (or just CD as local boys call it).  I would also recommend another bar called the Hunt, especially on their towel night. You pretty much are given a towel when you get in and that's how you go around the bar. They have a dark room, which gets really steamy:). I was surprised to see it referenced in a gay Taiwanese movie called "The Story the Stone" (a modern gay retelling of one of the greatest classics of Chinese literature).
For apps, beside Grindr and Blued, I would also suggest Hornet. It's quite popular in Taiwan and in a few other Asian countries.

One advantage of paying at the reception instead of using the machine is that you can use your credit card if needed. One great thing about gay saunas in Japan is that, despite the various restrictions—and sometimes stricter ones for foreigners—the entry fee is the same for both locals and foreigners. This is quite different from much of the rest of Asia, where dual pricing is common in places like Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Singapore.
The receptionist at Kaikan in Shinjuku has always been kind to me, though I'm not sure if it's the same person working in the afternoons. For some reason, I tend to visit saunas in Japan after 10 or 10:30 PM, thinking that's when Japanese guests usually go—unlike in other parts of Asia, where peak hours are typically between 7 and 9 PM. I should probably try going earlier sometime; if I’m not mistaken, the entry fee is even cheaper before 9 PM.
Two other places I’d recommend in Tokyo are Body Breath and J-Spark. I’m not sure how "daddy"-friendly they are, but they’re worth checking out.
However, on my last trip to Japan this April, my favorite was definitely Daikichi in Osaka. I’m not sure if it was due to the Expo in town, but the crowd was fantastic—lots of young twinks, both Japanese and foreign. It almost felt like the old Hokuoukan, which sadly closed around two years ago.

One advantage of paying at the reception instead of using the machine is that you can use your credit card if needed. One great thing about gay saunas in Japan is that, despite the various restrictions—and sometimes stricter ones for foreigners—the entry fee is the same for both locals and foreigners. This is quite different from much of the rest of Asia, where dual pricing is common in places like Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Singapore.
The receptionist at Kaikan in Shinjuku has always been kind to me, though I'm not sure if it's the same person working in the afternoons. For some reason, I tend to visit saunas in Japan after 10 or 10:30 PM, thinking that's when Japanese guests usually go—unlike in other parts of Asia, where peak hours are typically between 7 and 9 PM. I should probably try going earlier sometime; if I’m not mistaken, the entry fee is even cheaper before 9 PM.
Two other places I’d recommend in Tokyo are Body Breath and J-Spark. I’m not sure how "daddy"-friendly they are, but they’re worth checking out.
However, on my last trip to Japan this April, my favorite was definitely Daikichi in Osaka. I’m not sure if it was due to the Expo in town, but the crowd was fantastic—lots of young twinks, both Japanese and foreign. It almost felt like the old Hokuoukan, which sadly closed around two years ago.

No, it has nothing to do with COVID. Late February to early March is when Sydney traditionally hosts its gay pride event, officially known as the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
The WorldPride event that took place during the COVID emergency was held in Copenhagen, in mid-August. I remember Denmark had lifted most restrictions, including the mask mandate, just a week before Pride. People were happy simply to gather in groups again, but the event was overall much more toned down compared to the one before it in New York City and the one after in Sydney.
June is when the Stonewall Riots occurred in NYC, which is why most cities hold their Pride parades during that month. However, some major gay destinations celebrate Pride in other months—for example, Berlin Pride is at the end of July, and Amsterdam Pride is in early August. I assume Tokyo and Bangkok want to align with the "June Pride Month" theme and have scheduled their parades accordingly. For Tokyo, even though it can be a bit hot, the weather is still manageable. But for Bangkok, it would definitely make more sense to host Pride at a different time of year.
At least I'm glad Taipei continues to hold its Pride at the end of October. Even though there's always a risk of rain, it's a much nicer experience to walk in cooler weather than if it were held in June.

Well, if a beautiful city like Cape Town, despite its serious public safety issues, can host a WorldPride, Tokyo definitely has the infrastructure and capabilities to host such an event. Keep in mind also that WorldPrides haven't always been hosted in super gay-friendly places. I was a middle school student in Italy when the first WorldPride took place in Rome in 2000, which was a Jubilee year. Besides the expected criticism from the Catholic Church, both the Prime Minister and the Mayor of Rome, though both belonging to left-wing parties, ended up being against the parade. The former said that a gay pride event in a Jubilee year was very inappropriate but that unfortunately he couldn't block it because of the Constitution, and the latter rescinded the city's financial support, though it was then partially restored. However, he insisted that the organizers couldn't use the city's logo for any event.
The next one in Jerusalem was even more problematic, and I think there were even doubts about the personal safety of the attendees at one point.
Why hasn't Tokyo decided to apply for WorldPride? I need to ask my friends in Tokyo more about this, but I would speculate that either there isn't a local gay organization big enough to pursue the candidacy, or if there is, the whole Kaohsiung Pride controversy might have caused them to view InterPride, the organization that assigns the event, with a more doubtful eye. They might think it's an organization with a political agenda that goes beyond gay rights.
Personally, I have been to the last three WorldPrides (NYC, Copenhagen, and Sydney) but I'm going to skip the one in DC. I think the one next year in Amsterdam might be more interesting

I'm only at 5. This year will be my 6th.
 

I never experienced a hotel in Taiwan where you even had to check in any of your guests, let alone not being allowed to have them in. In most of them you will have to pick up the guy at the lobby since key is required to access your floor, but other than no restrictions on who you can have in your room.

I never experienced a hotel in Taiwan where you even had to check in any of your guests, let alone not being allowed to have them in. In most of them you will have to pick up the guy at the lobby since key is required to access your floor, but other than no restrictions on who you can have in your room.

The address is: No. 17, Quanyuan Road, Beitou District, Taipei City, exit 1 of Xinbeitou MRT. I think the entrance fee was just 250, if I remember correctly.
Of course it's an American company. You can download either in Thailand or Taiwan. it will use the same language as set up in your Google Play or iOS app store.
 
That's what just my friend has told me. I've only been to emperor twice. I usually go to hot springs when I'm in Taiwan in January and/or March, other times is kinda too hot for me to go to a hot spring.
I'm usually a more "straight-to-the-point" type of a guy, so going to a place where I have to wonder if one is gay or not, if it's an appropriate time to touch him or not, ends up being annoying and even a bit boring. I know though that for a lot of people that's what all the thrill is about.
I much prefer going to an explicit gay sauna, which I only judge it by the size, age and quality of the crowd that attracts. it's true that same gay saunas have also good facilities, but that's more of an afterthought. Going to the right day and time on soi13 provides a high number of hot twink bodies which you can see, hear and feel right away.
If I'm going to a hot spring or spa to relax that the cleanliness and comfort of the facilities is the number one criteria and based on that there is much better both in Beitou and Taipei in general than Emperor, so I usually go to other ones.

The address is: No. 17, Quanyuan Road, Beitou District, Taipei City, exit 1 of Xinbeitou MRT. I think the entrance fee was just 250, if I remember correctly.
Of course it's an American company. You can download either in Thailand or Taiwan. it will use the same language as set up in your Google Play or iOS app store.
 
That's what just my friend has told me. I've only been to emperor twice. I usually go to hot springs when I'm in Taiwan in January and/or March, other times is kinda too hot for me to go to a hot spring.
I'm usually a more "straight-to-the-point" type of a guy, so going to a place where I have to wonder if one is gay or not, if it's an appropriate time to touch him or not, ends up being annoying and even a bit boring. I know though that for a lot of people that's what all the thrill is about.
I much prefer going to an explicit gay sauna, which I only judge it by the size, age and quality of the crowd that attracts. it's true that same gay saunas have also good facilities, but that's more of an afterthought. Going to the right day and time on soi13 provides a high number of hot twink bodies which you can see, hear and feel right away.
If I'm going to a hot spring or spa to relax that the cleanliness and comfort of the facilities is the number one criteria and based on that there is much better both in Beitou and Taipei in general than Emperor, so I usually go to other ones.

Just take an Uber, at least on your way back. it's never more than 300NTD. According to my friend who goes there often, the best time to go is actually Thursday night, even more than on a weekend. I also would recommend another place called Shan Yue Hot Spring which is 2 minutes walk from XinBeitou station. I think it's popular with gays on Friday and Saturday nights. I went on a Friday night with a Taiwanese friend. Would suggest going around 8-8:30pm. Most of the action actually happens after 10 when the place doesn't accept new customers but the one already present can stay. It's more like an hotel with a man-made sauna but the crowd is really hot, like 90 percent all twinks and jocks between 20-35. I was the only westerner. Didn't play because we left around 9:30 but got the line of one guy which I met later at my hotel and also a guy I hit up later on Grindr told me that he had seen me there. It's not exclusively gay, but they are at least 3/4 of the customers in there.

I have stayed a few times with the last being just in March at an Airbnb in HCMC called Soho Hotel and Residencies. It's a high rise near the walking street. I would say around 50 percent of the building is occupied with short-term guests. You can book through Airbnb, Bookings, Agoda or they even have their own website. I think based on where you book you might even have daily cleaning included. I have booked through Airbnb, so never got it but I have seen the cleaning lady going into some rooms. Think next time might ask the host if they can provide it cause after just the third night my bedsheets show the signs of the high activity level I have on my bed. Checking in has always been super easy. Just walk in straight to the mailbox, get the elevator key and then use a code provided for the apartment's door. Never had to check in or register any of my guests and I have brought people over pretty much every hour of the day or night, from 8:00am-5:00am. they even have free parking, which is pretty useful. 
I usually book a studio apartment, but it's quite spacious, offers great views and even has a washing machine. I hope that because it's registered also as an hotel they will continue operating in the same way. I don't really wanna use an hotel again in HCMC or Vietnam for that matter. The boutique ones are not that good and the one from international chains have too many restrictions when it comes to guests.
In Phnom Phen have used kinda the same type of place the last three times. It's called M residences. It's a high rise and they offer both short-term and long-term apartments. There also have never had an issues with bringing guys at my place.
As for Bangkok, I only did it three times in late 2019 and early 2020. I stayed at this place called Klass Silom. As mentioned in here, you had to go through the garage to get in as the front gate would open only by scanning your fingerprints. During the check-in you would had to wait for someone to go in so you could get inside and then get the key in the mailbox. I remember the last time, even the garage was not accessible anymore, so you actually had to wait each time for someone to get in through the main gate so you could also sneak in. Needless to say, that was my last time in there as hotel rates also were quite cheap once Bangkok reopened after Covid.
Now though as rates keep going up, I wouldn't mind exploring again the possibility of staying at an Airbnb. Does anyone have any good recommendation for places at Silom?

Yeah, I just discovered it by chance on libgenesis. if anyone is interested reading the book they can message me directly and I can provide the link for downloading the book for free. I'm sure you and others who have lived those years would also find interesting the chapters about Thailand and Japan, the other two Asian countries he covers in that book. Personally I also found amusing his chapter about Montevideo, which is a city I plan to visit this August.
 
Was his English name Sam Sasha by any chance? The author mentions meeting this guy called by that name, who had studied at the University of Texas and in Germany and who had written a book called 25 questions about homosexuality and another one that was a compilation of Chinese historical documents about same-sex love, but never provides the name of the latter book.
Yes and I think for the better. I belong to another generation so have known only the HK of the last 10 years but reading that book didn't match the impression of some people in here of how good the old times in HK were compared to nowadays. Honestly, I'm quite happy to be able to discover HK and other Asian cities during these times compared to 30-40, or I would say even 20 years ago.

or you can go for an Airbnb, especially in PP. There plenty of new towers in there to choose from, and some of them even offer daily housekeeping service, which resolves one of the weakest points of choosing an Airbnb imo (it feels so good to have new sheets and towels when you get back from lunch after having fun with a local twink).
Never had any questions asked about bringing visitors and I had guys come and go from my room even at 3-4 AM and sometimes more than one guy at the same time😃