Enchanted_Elixir

Ok, the Thai economy is not doing the best, yet the Thai Bath is strong, let me point to a few explanations. A weak US dollar, a big part of the baht’s strength comes from the fact that the dollar is weak, it is the world’s reserve currency after all. The THB looks stronger by comparison. Strong gold prices + Thailand’s gold flows. The Thai economy has significant gold related activity and gold-related flows. Gold prices are at an all time high, and this generates foreign exchange flows (people converting into THB) which pushes up the THB. Gold holds a deep cultural significance in Thai society, where it is used for savings, a vehicle for passing down inherited wealth and for religious purposes. The country is one of the top 10 gold markets in the world. Capital inflows: Thailand is seeing more money flowing in than going out, which supports the currency. Exports + services + investment. Money from scam centres in neighbouring countries are also laundered in Thailand. Regional currency dynamics, much of the strength is not linked to Thailand’s economy itself but because other dynamics changed (dollar, yen, gold). Also neighboring countries have a high demand for THB, especially Myanmar.

Just to provide some context, most of the Crown Jewels of France no longer exist. Taken apart during the 1790s, the remaining ones purposefully destroyed by the republican government after 1870 as a response to the conflict with the royalist factions. So unless returned, the materials from that era gone forever.

I get the instinct. Fabergé eggs feel like beauty weaponised by wealth. But beauty isn’t owned by oligarchs. It is a school for the senses, and the poor deserve admission first. Think of a flat with a cracked wall, a rickety table, a kettle on. Hang a small painting. Lay a clean cloth. Light a candle. These are not distractions from material need. They are forms that teach attention, patience, and care. Form educates desire before slogans do. If you want solidarity, start with a room that makes friendship easy. I’m no defender of luxury baubles. Craft over spectacle. A hand-thrown mug, a well-mended coat, a parish banner carried through the estate on a feast day. These “useless” things are in fact useful. They bind a street. They tutor the gaze. They make fidelity imaginable. The market sells us décor as mood. But common life needs «liturgy». Weekly meals, shared tools, a wall everyone helps repaint, a mural the children touch up each term. Beauty becomes a public good when it shows up in durable forms that ordinary people can use and keep.

Welcome to Bangkok, @ZSTOYTRA You’ve landed in just the right city, and honestly, in the right phase of life. There’s something about Bangkok that rewards curiosity, boldness, and good skincare. First things first: download LINE. It’s the app here, more than just texting, it’s your ticket to the social scene. Now, hop on Grindr (yes, again) but use it strategically. Go into chatting mode and start connecting with guys in the Bang Rak area. Be friendly, flirty, maybe swap a few pics (we all do it), and you might just get invited into some private LINE groups. Many are in Thai, but there are a few English-speaking ones hosted by internationally-minded locals, and those are gold. That’s where you find out about off-grid events: private parties, group trips to onsens, clubbing nights, chillouts at Kaikan Onsen (people literally spend the whole day there). It’s social, a bit steamy, and surprisingly supportive. Your scene at this stage? Clubbing, saunas, and onsens tend to be the holy trinity for the 30s crowd, with the occasional massage added in for good measure. Around New Year’s, things explode with the White Party, even if circuit raves aren’t your thing, the energy spills over. Bars, lounges, even cafés start throwing their own spin-off events. Early January is a mad, sexy rush of packed venues, beach bodies, and terrible decisions. In short: lean in. Since you’ve made the leap, new city, new continent, why not lean into a health glow-up, too? Gyms here are plentiful and cheap, and personal trainers are surprisingly affordable. Skip the fried street food every now and then (just… not the mango sticky rice, let’s be reasonable). Surround yourself with guys who prioritise their health, it’s contagious in the best way. If you’ve got the budget, GLP-1 meds like Wegovy or Mounjaro are available too. No shame in a little modern chemistry if you’re doing it safely and with goals in mind. You’re at an age where your body wants to bounce back, give it the support it needs now, and your 40-year-old self will buy you dinner in gratitude later. In short: Put yourself out there. Be open. Build habits and friendships that fuel the best version of you. Bangkok can be a playground or a pressure cooker, the difference is mindset. Good luck, have fun, and maybe we’ll see you at the next pool party. Just look for the guy in sunglasses trying very hard not to stare. 💦👀✨

Thanks @jimmie50 for such an unfiltered review of Phoenix.

He’s a cutie and he’s on Hornet too. I have yet to be disappointed at Jey Spa.

Mr. Boss can be seen in full action here on X (make sure you are logged in on X first.) https://x.com/rubfin2rubfin/status/1977360855906877571?s=61&t=SsPuhwR7PT9SKfSlpkJZOA

No need for the website or Line anyway, you just go there and choose your guy from behind the glass no prebooking required. The mamasan will answer any of your queries regarding boy e.g. T only or T/B.

I have a working theory: the old raunchy go go bar (that is the heavy object of nostalgia on this forum) was a form that trained a certain kind of desire. It relied on darkness, anonymity, ritual cues, and a margin of social risk. Over the past 15 years that form has been hollowed out by three converging forces: First, assimilation into respectable public life. As gay life has become more tolerated and assimilated into respectable society, the tolerance for transgressive spaces shrinks. The scene does not vanish. It is reformatted to fit bourgeois sensibilities, also in Thailand were especially Pattaya wants to be seen as respectable and not as sin city. Second, the phone replaced the bar as the organiser of eros. Grindr and Hornet turned chance into filtering. The bar became a lobby for pre-arranged meets rather than a theatre of discovery. Add CCTV, pocket cameras, and permanent searchability. People grow cautious. What once happened in the shadows now risks a screenshot. Third, gentrification and liability. Rising rents favour clean, bright venues that maximise covers. The desire did not die. It migrated. You see it in private parties (called homepas in Thailand), pop-up nights, encrypted groups, and exclusive, ticketed hotel gatherings with stricter boundaries, and of course in massage shops. When forms change, meanings shift. Raunch retreats from the public square to curated enclaves, and the culture loses one of its old training grounds for spontaneity and risk. The paradox of success is that it dissolves the very scene that made the success possible.

Thank you @jason1975 I suggest you can also experiment by including a historical subprompt in your instructions to the AI. Let the AI also document how a member’s posts reflect the forum’s different preoccupations over time, whether those are visa issues, inflation, the decay of the bar scene, LINE issues, these often colour a poster’s persona more than they realise. That way you get not just a profile but a time capsule and a sense of development in posting patterns.

Thanks for the report. One favourite among some forum members is TongTong and he has been discussed here before:

Updates from Bangkok (before golden week): Freshboys Solid ensemble of boys and 80% full. Their show has improved in quality too. My estimate was about 50% mainland Chinese clients, the rest were diaspora Chinese and the occasional farang. Good Boys 50% full (lots of farangs here). Their ensemble of boys have IMHO lost its competitive edge vis-à-vis Freshboys above. Some unfit boys and there was quite frankly one that I wondered what was doing on stage. One of the boys confirmed that the boy in question was new and never had had a customer yet. Mamasan was setting him up for failure. The show is still plagued by too many drag shows. Goodboys need to improve to remain competitive.

More is available, but it the type of shop that won’t discuss this openly so it is up to the masseur to offer this in the privacy of the massage room. They have OF stars on staff.

Generally; top only, no kissing, sex a bit mechanical. However, some gays would list as top only because they don’t want to put in the preparation necessary for bottoming. Some do it because they don’t want to assume want is considered a submissive role. Some straights list as versatile because their wish to increase their market share and their dicks are too small to be competitive as exclusive tops.

Yes, the POC lounge is still there, checked yesterday.

The dance choreography at Toolbox has changed into a more glamorous style. Decided to give Paradise massage another try. I got the masseur «Heng» who gave fabulous service for a B2B. For those traveling here, downloading Telegram is as useful here as Line is to Thailand. I don’t stay at A&P, Rambutan next door I find more value for money and you can book massages at A&P next door easily. A&P has a niche in that you seldom can go wrong there if you are after a good massage in addition to extras. Massages at Hatha Khmer are only so so, then again you don’t go there for the massages.

The Prince

Massage Spots Ah Ram Massage Not much buzz about this place on this forum, but it delivers on the essentials. Solid selection of boys, mostly twunks with a touch of variety and decent massage skills. It’s clear, though, that the real emphasis is on extras. Rooms are large, private, and all en suite, which adds comfort to the overall experience. Quietly reliable. A&P (Arthur & Paul Hotel) Undisputed highlight. Located within the boutique Arthur & Paul hotel, this is where you go for an actual massage that also happens to be sensual and beautifully done. Fewer boys to choose from, mostly lean twunks, but all high calibre. Upscale, clean, and discreet. Prices are higher, but worth every riel. Paradise Massage Skip the foot massage unless you like being lightly patted for 30 minutes. Technique was minimal at best. On the plus side, the place is clean and fairly priced, and the 1-hour oil massage looked far better—most clients come for that. Boys are mostly twinks, friendly but young and inexperienced. Choose wisely. Hatha Khmer Classic behind-the-glass setup. Tucked-away location, a bit sketchy but intriguing. Massage quality is secondary—it’s more about the boy you pick. And that choice really matters: experiences here range from disappointing to excellent. It is possible to find gold, but manage expectations. Don’t bother booking more than 60 minutes—sessions often end early regardless. Bars & Nightlife AsianCam New on the scene (around 6 months old). Host bar vibe with no stage show, slightly away from the main cluster. Boys are polite and polished, but the place feels a little quiet unless you come with a group. Still finding its crowd. Space Hair Bar Popular haunt for hunk lovers. Mostly Cambodian hunks, very host bar energy. Great fun if you lean towards more masculine local types. Definitely not subtle, but always lively. Toolbox Come for the boy dance show at 10:30pm, it’s the main draw. The rest of the night can feel slow, especially during low season. Crowd is a mix of twinks and local expats. Drinks are fine, vibe is low-key. Worth your time. Hotels Novotel New and good upscale option. Suites are great with fantastic views. Close to a cluster of restaurants and some night life. Not fat from the gay spots. The bar «mob» nearby is popular among the youngish crowd and you might consider taking your date there. Sun and Moon Urban Hotel Economical option that is right in the middle of the action. However it feels a bit worn down now and could use a face lift. Very guest friendly hotel, but will insist on registering your guest with their ID. Tl;Dr Phnom Penh offers a relaxed, slightly unpredictable gay scene. If you’re after polish, go to A&P. If you’re after adventure, try Hatha. The bar scene is small but varied, with some new players worth checking out. It’s not Bangkok or Rio de Janeiro, but then again, that’s kind of the point.

Avarin, Green, even at Olivia in Suriwong you can get lucky, and I would add Chaichana which is located the same street as the Patpong night market too. At Avarin they can be cheeky 😉 if you want the foot massage to develop further you usually need to book 1 hour oil afterwards.

The new airport is very clean and a huge upgrade from the previous airport. However, the airport is too big at present for the volume of traffic to PP so expect to walk for a long while until you reach immigration. I am conflicted, I miss the convenience and intimacy of the old airport but recognise the need for a change and upgrade.