TotallyOz

Well, I spent the day trying to find the way to get stats. Here they are to date for July and August. Remember, this for only for August to this date and we still have 25 percent of the month to go. July New Topics 135 August New Topics 217 July Posts: 953 August Posts: 1934 July Thread Views: 18388 August Thread Views: 20859

Brasilia is considered one of the world’s most modern cities – with very good reason. Unlike most modern metropolises, Brasilia is less than 50 years old. The first residents began moving into this planned community in 1960 – and the city has simply kept growing since. Before Brasilia spread its wings, Rio de Janeiro was the capital city of Brazil. But in the 1950s President Juscelino Kubitschek ordered the government to build a new capital – and so the city was born. One important warning if you are into partying hard on your vacation – Brasilia has almost no night life at all. In fact, in a continent full of various American icons, Brasilia has only one McDonald’s and the streets are virtually empty at night. Because the city was planned as a serious national capital – and an antidote to the fast times of Rio de Janeiro and Saul Paolo there was not a lot of thought put into where to build bars, restaurants or clubs. That said, Brasilia can be fun for a short excursion. There are wonderful examples of beautiful modern architecture, alternative religions abound and crime is almost non existent. Brasilia is not a great place for a long term stay – but it can be a great break if you have been partying hard for a long time and want to rest your body before the next round of clubbing in one of the more party friendly cities throughout Brazil. It took 41 months to plan and build Brasilia – which was originally designed for roughly 500,000 residents. The city proved more popular than expected, however, and today more than 2 million people call Brasilia their home. The result is one of the most modern cities in the world – and one of the few where less than half the population was born there. Slightly higher than 40 percent of the population moved to Brasilia from other less wealthy sections of Brazil and South America. This is good news for vacationers and travelers alike – because it means that the local population is used to constantly welcoming new people to Brasilia – after all most of the people you meet were recently new comers themselves. While you are not likely to find a plethora of gay bars or clubs in Brasilia, the fact that almost the entire population is new to the area means that there is a high level of tolerance for gay and lesbian travelers. You won’t have to worry about getting gay bashed in Brasilia – provided you can keep from getting bored or stir-crazy. The bad news is that because Brasilia grew so quickly the government was not able to build as much of an infrastructure as the city needs. In other words public transportation is very crowded and the roads are almost always in some state of perpetual traffic jam. Brasilia is also one of the most educated cities in South America. Unlike many Third World cites that are plagued by illiteracy and the poverty that accompanies it, almost 94 percent of the Brasilia population can read and write. This has helped them support a growing arts and culture program, generate good jobs and sustain long term economic growth. As the city has grown, housing has become a problem. The city is still expanding but construction can not possible keep up with how fast Brasilia is expanding. While still reasonable by American standards, housing prices are higher in Brasilia than just about any place else in South America. That means if you are planning to move to South America instead of just travel through, Brasilia will be one of the most expensive places for you to buy a house or condo. On the other hand, Brasilia is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Unlike cities that have grown up naturally, Brasilia was planned with meticulous care. There are many beautiful parks. Air pollution is almost non existent and the buildings are literally stunning. Lucio Costa was given the job in the 1950s to make Brasilia a reality through the Plano Piloto. He ended up designing a city plan in the shape of a butterfly that was broken down into many different types of architectural and commercial zones – to make living in Brasilia as comfortable as possible. Despite his butterfly intentions, most modern Brasilia residents describe their city which was eventually architecturally designed by Oscar Niemeyer as looking like an airplane – with the main government buildings in the “fuselage” and the rest of the city radiating out from the wings. If you are interested in mysticism or alternative religions, Brasilia may be your favorite tourist destination in the world. When the city was being designed the government offered land to any “spiritual group” that applied and could prove even minimum membership rates. The result is that while the rest of South America is staunchly Catholic, Brasilia is home to dozens and dozens of new age and old school religious sects. Many of these groups think that the creation of Brasilia is the dawn of the new age where people will live together in harmony. Other groups consider Brasilia to be the new Atlantis or the modern reconstruction of Ancient Egypt. These groups are helped by a prophecy given to a Brazilian monk in 1883. That monk was told by god that, “a grand civilization will appear, a Promised Land flowing with milk and honey." Many relgious groups now believe that Brasilia is that civilization. This has spawned of the most intersting tourist sites in Brasilia – the Legion of Goodwill Temple. This structure is a seven story, seven sided pyramid topped by a giant crystal. Another amusing religious tourist attraction is the Valley of the Dawn. Vistors here can see religous women wearing cone hats, purple dresses, veils and sliber tiaras. The biggest complaint people have over the city that Niemeyer eventually created is that while many of the buildings are stunning – many are not particularly functional. In an attempt to make a capital city that would a showcase to the rest of the world, Niemeyer was much more concerned with erecting beautiful buildings than he was in how people would actually live, work and build lives with their families in his new city. One of the most spectacular places to visit is the Television Tower in the center of the fuselage. From the top of this gorgeous tower you can see spectacular views of Brasilia and the satellite cites that have spawned around its original construction. One of the problems with the original city design is that the 1950s were the age of the automobile – and the city planners assumed that people would want to drive everywhere. As such, they did not put a lot of thought to how pedestrians might get from place to place in Brasilia. For that reason, many of the sites and places you will want to go to will be located very far away from each other. Even with a car the traffic can make going from Point A to Point B a pain in the ass – so we recommend using the new underground train system to get you from place to place. Be warned however that this subway system is still under construction and will not be able to take you everywhere. Simply be patient and allow a lot of time to make any appointments you may have. As a tourist, Brasilia will be one of the safest places you will ever visit. Housing prices have caused most of the poor to flee the city to the outlying districts and muggings, break in and thefts occur at a much lower rate than in other South American cities where poor people live near the city centers. One of the more popular tourist sites is the Brasilia Zoo, located near the airport. It is filled with interesting examples of wildlife native to the region. For people watching the best place to go is the 'Parque da Cidade', which is a gigantic central park filled with cute guys running, cycling, jogging and playing various games. The park is a real treat if you have gotten tired of the urban landscape and travelling to and fro in the subway system. If you like to dance, you will want to be one of the thousands of people who flock every year to the Brasilia Music Festival. Held in early September, this festival brings some of the most talented hip hop and techno musicians and DJs in the world together to play for the people who want to get out and shake their asses to the beat. Of course, given that the rest of the year Brasilia is a sleepy city, you might want to plan on catching a quick flight to Rio as soon as the festival is over. If you are able to rent a car, you can have a great sight seeing adventure simply by driving out to the outlying areas and seeing how people live away from the city. Unlike other cities, it is the suburbs where people tend to spread their wings at night and have fun. If you are patient and keep your eyes open you will find bars and clubs in the towns and villages a few kilometers outside of town. While Brasilia is a not a 24 hour party town, like many other Brazilian cities, you can see interesting sites and pass a few days here easily. Sometimes it’s nice to take a break during your vacation – and Brasilia is the perfect place.

If you would get down to Rio, we might be taking something else right out of your mouth!

This is very true if you fly coach. If you are like me and want a business class ticket, the prices keep going on. The last rate I paid with Delta was 3,000 for a full coach fare that I could use a certificate to upgrade to Business. This is my preferred way to travel and I use to get this same ticket for about 1700. It keeps going on. The highest I have paid is 3700. That rate caused me to check on the LA to Bangkok non stop from Thai Airways which is fantastic. I love the plane and the no stops. The Premium Economy is only a few hundred more than the coach and totally worth it. I don't think anyone in this tread said someone was attracted to anyone who looks 12. I think Firecat was stating that Thais look younger than they are. My boyfriend of many years looks the same today as when I met him. He has not aged at all. I do not find anything wrong with someone liking the looks of a twink or an 18 year old. The test is if they are or should be comfortable walking down the street with someone. All of my BF experiences in Thailand have passed that test over and over. None of them look underage. All are over 18 with ID's to match. I also would never take anyone from a bar that I did not feel comfortable walking down the street with. I know that is not the case for everyone. Again, I think your opinion is just that. I disagree with it. I do not see Pattaya as the city you think it is. I don't see the young boys that you did. I have not had your experiences with these people. And, likewise, you have not had mine. In both case, we seem to both stand by what we believe. I still say that Pattaya is not a haven for people who like under 12 year olds. I have NEVER seen that. I have seen 16 and 17 year old in the past. But, that is not the scene you were describing. And, of recent dates, I have not see those ages in the bars or on the streets. I will not argue with you. You have your thoughts about Pattaya. I appreciate your perspective. I just don't agree with it (at least for the past year). I don't think he was directing that at you as much as to most that travels to Pattaya. Having known Firecat for a long time, I can say without hesitation that his tastes are for those in the 20's.

I have been with one of these guys. But, I thought they were at 117 when I saw him. I loved the tats.

I love Italian food. I have tried many places in Pattaya and most are OK to eat at. Few of them are exceptional. Max is a hotel / restaurant. They have a place right off of Soi Post Office in Pattaya. The food is good. The prices are reasonable. I ate the Lasagna and my friend had the Seafood Pasta. We both enjoyed our food. The plates were around 250 baht each. I also had the Caramel Creme. It was mediocre at best. It is hard to find good deserts in Pattaya. I did like our main courses and I did like the Shrimp Cocktail. The service was good and we had the constant attention of our waiter. Max is a place I will go back again. http://www.mrmaxservice.com/

I had a user tell me they hate coming into the site with the popup on the front of the site. While I don't think this is a distraction to many it may be to some. So, I have asked that the programmers build a entrance that will allow users to bypass this popup by scrolling down a bit more and entering the site a different way. Some have said the tabs on the left side are annoying. Personally, I like them as do many with larger screens. But, I have asked the programmers to try to find a way to fix them and we are working on it. We work hard to try to make the site as user friendly as possible. If you see in our comments section of the forum, if you have problems, please let us know. We do try our best to accommodate users and make them as comfortable as possible. We appreciate all your support and patronage. Keep your suggestions coming!

I do understand your reaction. I have never seen what you describe. I stayed at the Marriott and never had anything close to that seen anywhere I have been and I would have been disgusted as well. 2 years is a long time and from my experience the city is MUCH cleaned up at this point. That does not mean it will stay that way. But, it is now catering to family tourists and the things you mention, I don't see. The new mall is the largest mall on any ocean front property in Asia. A new Holiday Inn. A new Hilton this year. A new Sheraton. The list can go on. With all those places now calling Pattaya home, there is little of the old Pattaya you experienced left. As I said, I don't discount what you saw. I simply say I don't see it now.

Danilo is one of my best finds in Brazil. I met him on Copa many years ago and he was with a BF. His English was so good and he was a real gay boy and I got him a job with some friends as a guide and his business took off. His business has taken off so much that he now does work for different embassy's, etc. He is really busy. Sorry he flaked. I have seen him on about every trip I make to Brazil. I find him a great guide and a wonderful person. That said, young gay boys flake. sucks when it happens to you, I know. Sao Paulo is one of the greatest gay cities on earth. Simply amazing!

NAB is the gay dance club in Pattaya. I struggled to get the BF to go as he is really into his new online game. Once we got there, the place was standing room only. Beautiful dancers. Great music. Private rooms upstairs for rent at 1k baht. The dance floor was packed and the place had people crowded out the doors. I now know where everyone goes after midnight! The rain caught us on the way back and were were totally soaked. But, NAB is a must for those that can do the late night scene.

Having stayed at this hotel over 200 nights over the many years, this is not a surprise to me. The hotel is great but surrounded by a very dangerous flavela. I love the hotel and the beach. The Fashion Mall is also right there. It was the most exclusive mall in Rio for a bit. Several years ago bullets from the flavella flew into the mall. I hope the hotel does not loose business over this but I am sure it will.

TY, with the low rates (prepayments) I am sure they are doing a bulk business and can afford a supersonic jet.

No matter what the plus side is, they say since 2007. But, the domain name is only registered since 2009. Odd IMHO. And, for my city, there are quite a few guys that I don't know. As I am in no where in Thailand, I know every cute boy in a 40 mile radius. So, this is also fishy. IMHO Anyone smell a cupcake?

I think we like the same kind of guys. 90 percent of the time.

LOL Well, right now it would be no problem. But, as many of us that spend a great deal of time here expect that there will be problems again between the Red Shirts and the Yellow Shirts. It is obvious that this will happens as the Red's were silenced and jailed while the Yellow's did the same thing a few years back and got a Get out of Jail card. This has a lot to do with those that support the Yellows are in power and are back by the military and the monarchy. The Reds on the other had are IMHO the people's party. But, like ANY group in Thailand there are corrupt officials in it. Their former leader, Thaskin, was correct. But, so were his opponents. I don't think a foreigner will have any problems wearing any shirt. But, if you go in the middle of any political protest and are wearing the wrong color, you may find yourself with a Heineken bottle on the head.

It has been suggested by many that we have a Meet and Greet for the members here. As the website has gone through many changes over the past few weeks, I thought I'd get a head start on a party. The tenor of the other posts about a meet and greet seemed to suggest that if someone wanted to have a party, set a time and date and whoever wants to show up and show up. On Saturday night, August 28th, we will have a Forum Meet and Greet at YaYa bar in Soi Sunee Plaza. We choose YaYa as they have been posting here and I have been to the bar several times and think they have a great thing going and I'd like to support their efforts. The owner Ya is a great host, he is gay and he is a nice guy. The bar has all over 18 staff and is very clean and kept up well. The night is simple. The time is 6-8. There will be appetizers available from a local restaurant. It is not a full 7-course dinner but if you like Thai food and snack food, we will have it there for you. It is free for those in attendance at YaYa that night. The food if provided by the new owners of the Gay Thailand website. If you are a poster on this forum, just show up, tell me your posting name and I'll buy you the first drink or two. If you have guests that are not posters on this forum, you are on own your own to buy them drinks. Sorry, but I have to limit things and make them as easy as possible. I know that some will not be comfortable letting me know who you are, and if that is the case, simply show up and buy your own drink. The bar is totally open to all and not all the customers will be there for the Meet and Greet. However, for those that want a few drinks, you will need to tell us who you are. The reason I choose to do it this way is simple. I have attended events in the past and many were in attendance and taking free drinks who did not even post on the forums. I am not interested in paying for those people. Sorry, but as I am helping to host this and I'll be the one paying for the drinks, these are my rules. Again, that does not preclude anyone from showing up, having drinks and great conversations. I am not sure how long I'll be in Thailand so I am doing this last minute. If you are not in the area, I hope we are able to do it again and we will be able to meet up then. If it is successful, we will try to do it in other cities with a little more notice. I hope everyone is able to join in the fun! Added on 27: Just to clarify a few things as some questions have come to me from others. This is a very casual Meet and Greet. I'll have some food that is being delivered but unless I get a good count of people who send PM's or say here they are coming, I'm only ordering food for about 20 people as we have been told by 10 so far they are coming. It is not a full dinner but more appetizers and snack food with some Thai food mixed in for those that like Thai food. If there are going to be more, please post here you are coming or send me a PM. The drinks are NOT free for everyone all night. If you approach me and tell me you are a poster here, I'll buy you a drink. If you do not approach me, you need to buy your own drink. If you bring friends, that is fine too but they are responsible for their drinks. I have talked to Ya and he knows that if I tell him I'll get someone a drink, he will put that bill into my bin. If not, you have your own bin and you'll need to pay for that. I assume there are going to be 10-20 people in attendance and that is what I am planning for. I hope more than that come but if so, please tell me today or tomorrow so we can adjust our order! Thanks.

No, I was not saying you lied. I was under the impression you had not been in the last year. If I was wrong, then I do apologize. If my impression was right, then things have changed a great deal in the last year. I would have agreed with your assessment a few years ago. In fact, my first visit to Pattaya, I was disgusted. I just happen to meet a boy in Bangkok that was from Pattaya and he was my BF for a few years and I moved to Pattaya for him. I got to know a different side of Pattaya living here for as long as I have. Our definitions may be different. I define young by someone under 18. By my definition, there are few in Pattaya gogo bars under that age. If you go to Sunee, you will now find only one bar with those under that age and they are few and far between. The police have clamped down a great deal and for those of us that love Pattaya, we are happy that the underage scene is being cleaned up. FWIW

Nice Ass. I loved the Rainbow Flag ass.

Koh Samui is a unique Thailand experience. Far smaller than the mainland city of Bangkok, the islanders are still adapting to the modern influx of tourists. As recently as the 1980s there were almost no western visitors. Today, the island sees thousands of tourists a year, but has still kept in touch with small town island life. This is not the place to go if you are looking for a typical tourist experience. Rather, it is a great destination when you want to get away from it all, look at the beautiful waters and simply relax. Most of the Koh Samui population is Buddhist, although there is also a high percentage of Muslims as well. There are roughly 40,000 full time inhabitants. Not much history is known of the island, as the people are legendary for not keeping extensive written records and follow a “take life as it comes” philosophy that does not leave much room for reflection on the past. The city name comes from the Chinese word for ‘safe harbor’ and legend has it that these protected waters were often used as a sanctuary by voyagers and fisherman throughout the generations. Other than tourism, coconut and rubber farming are the main industries and the interior of the island has the densest population of coconut trees of anywhere on Earth. Most tourists spend their days on the beach, or hiking through the beautiful hills - yet there are other attractions for days when you want to take pictures or learn more about the culture. There are three main temples that you will want to visit; Wat Samret, Laem Sor Chedi and Wat Khun Aram. Like most temples in Thailand you are asked to dress respectfully whenever you visit and avoid flip flops and bathing attire. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the temples here is that they are home to mummified monks that are more than 20 years old. Monks are revered in Thailand and this is how the islanders have chosen to honor their memory. The monks are still clothed and are amazingly well preserved. Heaven’s Garden is another popular tourist attraction. Located in the center of the island it was the inspiration of a local artist, Nim Thongsuk, who decided one day to sculpt his vision of the afterlife. All of the sculptures are based on characters from Buddhist scriptures. Some are so small that many people do not notice them at first glance, while some are huge and seem to tower over visitors. The Secret Hall of Buddhas, located in the temple Wat Samret, will take your breath away. You will have to politely ask a monk to unlock the door for you if you want to see the white marble Buddha that is believed to be at least three centuries old. Surrounding this beautiful icon are dozens of other ancient Buddha images that will delight you. If you can climb 163 steps you will find four huge footprints of Buddha in the southeast corner of Koh Samui. They are located next to a butterfly garden and once you have made the climb you will be able to see beautiful vistas that make this excursion more than worth the effort. The northwest corner of the island has a much more eccentric sight - a coconut tree that has naturally grown to look like an eight-headed man. You’ll need to wear strong boots to make it into the woods, but this tree is must for anyone who loves to take pictures to bring back home to their friends and family. Finally the Hin Ta and Hin Yai rocks are natural creations called the “Grandmother and Grandfather” rocks. The wind has naturally eroded these rocks so that they look like giant reproductions of male and female genitalia! Due to the crystal clear waters, many people come to Koh Samui to scuba or snorkel and check out the cool coral and exotic fish in the sea. This has become so popular that there now exists a gay only scuba and snorkel outlet - Rainbow Scuba. These guys can set you up with any sort of water adventure you desire, and even offer classes to get you certified so you can scuba. They rent good kayaks as well as scuba and snorkel gear. Of course, once you have seen the sights and bronzed on the beach during the day, you will want to head out and take advantage of the nightlife. While there are far fewer gay bars and go gos than in the larger cities, there is certainly enough to make any trip worthwhile. Unlike Bangkok most of the boys that are available work freelance - meaning they are not associated with a particular bar. You will have to negotiate with them on your own, but they should not be any more expensive than typical Bangkok mainland boys. Who would have thought that great reggae and gay rapstas could be found on an Island in Thailand? If that sounds like your kind of exotic pleasures, the Reggae Pub has it all for any visit you might want to take to the dark side. Every now and then we get tired of hiring the freelance boys in the various gay bars and simply want to cruise around. When you are in the mood to find some random guys you will want to head over to the Chaweng Beach after dark - this is the local headquarters for cruising and hustlers. Some people like to come to Koh Samui and explore the island on their own. Other people are more comfortable with a guide and a group of people. While its true that you will not find the variety of gay erotic fun in Koh Samui as you would in Bangkok and Phuket, the establishments that are here should more than suit any of your needs. Koh Samui is not where you want to go if you are looking to be in a bustling metropolis. Instead, it’s your headquarters when you want to get away from it all, commune with nature and just kick back and take life as it comes. We’d love to see you there! cc TotallyOz 2005-2010

Bangkok, known as the City of Angels is the center of gay life in Asia. From bears to twinks to every shape size and age of man or boy in between, this the place to go if you want to show your pride, mingle with guys and find some hot exotic romance. Still Bangkok has much more to offer than just hot nights. This is a city with a rich culture and history; so you can dive into the local culture during the day, eat wonderful meals at night and make the most of your vacation. One of the most popular destinations is the Damnoen Saduak floating market. You can sample local food while an experienced guide will take you on a boat ride through the canals where you can purchase tons of souvenirs for friends and family back home. No trip to Bangkok is complete without a bike tour through the city and its outskirts. Whether you take a guided tour, or decide to tool around on your own bike, this is the best way to be mobile and discover the life of the normal residents of Thailand. Temples abound in Thailand and will thrill nearly any western visitor with their splendor. Wat Trimitr,Wat Po and Wat Banjamaborpitr are three of the most beautiful. Plan to bring your camera and try to bring a local guide so you can learn the rich history and nuance of each and every place of worship. The Grand Palace is the most popular tourist destination in the city. For centuries it was the residence of Thailand’s powerful kings. Make sure you take time to see the Reception Palace, the Funeral Palace, The Throne Hall and the beautiful revered Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Just be prepared; the Thais take their temples seriously and will not let you inside if you are wearing shorts or flip flops. If you want to be a little bit less active you can always take an overnight in a converted rice barge. The most popular cruises leave from Bangkok and travel to the ancient capital of Ayuthaya. When you are done sightseeing Thailand offers nearly every type of cuisine from traditional Thai food to classic Western cuisine. No matter what your tastes, you should be able to satisfy your hunger before your night on the town! Still many guys go to Thailand for one main reason, to meet and mingle with eligible single guys. There is nothing wrong with that - everyone likes a little exotic nighttime fun on their vacations; after all when you are far away from home you can easily let yourself be free and assume that what goes down in Bangkok stays in Bangkok no matter who it is that you go down on. When you first get to the city you will want to spend your evenings partying along Surawong Road - the capital of gay nightlife in this capital city. Many of the taverns, go-go bars and sexy discos are located in the infamous Boy Plaza where the action is hot and the boys are cool. As you head down to get down check out Future Boys, The Boys Bangkok and Dream Boy; three of the best all boy go-go bars in the world competing against each other in Boy Plaza. Both bars open at 8 p.m. and have shows starting at 10:30 p.m. If you are feeling like a little switch hitting check out Kings Castle No. 3. This club has plenty of lovely things - some of them are actual genetic girls, while others have a little extra meat under their skirts. They are all so beautiful you won’t know which is which until they come up and get down and dirty. Not for everyone but if you are into this type of thing you know who you are! Do you like muscles? If a strong man is your thing then check out the Tawan Club. This is one of the longest running clubs in Bangkok and has all the delts, pecs and six packs a muscle hunter could ever hope to bag! For those nights where you just want to eat and drink in a friendly setting check out Silom 4 a wonderful gay area with bistros with cold drinks and good food where you can chill out and talk with other cool guys! Petchaburi Road features gay karaoke and good drinks. If that’s your thing, you’ll have a great night belting out the classics! The Sapan Kwai and Kao San Road areas of the city feature gay venues that cater almost exclusively to local Thais. These are nowhere near as western friendly as the other gay sections of town, but the brave Anglo will probably be able to have some fun. Nearly all of the bars in both of these sections have hosts, cabarets and go-go dancers are much rarer. The Ramkhamhaeng section is the last of the gay friendly parts of the city. Of course, like any city, the hot spots in Bangkok come and go constantly. What’s cool today might not be hot tomorrow and new places are popping up all the time. These venues are great places to start your gay Bangkok adventures but be sure to keep your ears open and get ready to find fun new spaces with all your new boy friends! The best thing about Bangkok is that it is ever changing. You need to keep a close look at this site and the bars and clubs and accommodations area. New arenas come and go and we try our best to keep this part of the site as updated as possible. We can wait to see you show your pride in Bangkok! cc TotallyOz 2005-2010

You have an amazing collection. Have you considered opening up your own dating service? There are a few I REALLY want to get in touch with.

A friend in Thailand suggested a Brazilian place today. I was told it was very Brazilian. I didn't really think so and I remembered writing this a few years back. Man, do I miss the great food down in gay Brazil and especially the all you can places!

A Little History on Rio de Janeiro – Where The Gays Play If you are looking for a gay friendly foreign vacation where the nights are hot and the guys hotter, Rio de Janeiro may be the place for you. The American Dollar goes a long way here and the Cariocas, as the locals call themselves, are very welcoming to gay and transgendered people from around the world. Of course, the main attraction here are the local men, who tend to be tall, dark and in shape – which you have to be if you are going to spend as much time on the beach as these people do. There is so much going on at the beaches and in the plethora of gay night spots that you will want to spend at least a week or two in Rio – a city of more than 7 million people! The term you will probably hear most as a gay man in Rio de Janeiro is “Barbie.” That is what the locals call gay men who spend a good deal of time in the gym (think Chelsea boys.) Beaches During the day you will want to lay out in the sand – particularly if you have spent the night partying at any of the number of bars and discos that rock late into the night. The hottest people in the coolest fashions can be found at the Praia de Ipanema beach where you can rent a beach chair and chill out with hotties from around the world. If you get turned on, head on over to the section by Rua Farme de Amoedo where the cruising is competitive and intense. On all sections of the beach you can buy cold drinks including beer, and souvenir hawkers will be constantly milling about – but will leave you alone if you ask them to. The Copacabana Beach is a hot meat market both day and night – with tons of hot international studs for your eye candy. There is a constant stream of cute roller bladders and sunbathers to make your fantasies come alive. A lot of the guys here – particularly the younger, attractive ones – are really rent boys, so be sure you know what you are getting into before you take anyone home. On the other hand, there are plenty of studly tourists here as well. The prime cruising spot on the Copacabana is in front of the Copacabana Plaza. The 18 kilometer Barra da Tijuca is where you can find some of the rougher waters for windsurfing and body boarding. It’s not as gay as some of the other beaches – but you can’t cruise every day can you? It is the longest beach in the city and has a lot of kiosks for snacks. Grumari beach is the place for all you nudists to go. It is a clothing option surfer’s paradise and an environmentally protected zone. It is also the main set for many television shows and movies set in Brazil. One beach to consider avoiding is Leblon – as it is used primarily by local residents and is not that tourist friendly. Clubs Most of the clubs in Rio don’t open or get interesting until midnight or much later. So, if you are looking to mingle once the sun goes down, your best bet will be to check out the gay bar scene. The locals don’t eat dinner until around 8 or 9 p.m. so figure that even the pubs won’t get that busy until 10 or so. In all the bars, the beer is good and you should try a caipirinha, the most popular local drink. One thing that disappoints some American gays is the lack of fetish, leather or other kink specific bars and clubs. Because the local people believe in inclusion, they have yet to set up the culture to accommodate specific desires in specific bars. Therefore, each bar you go to is apt to have a mix of bears, twinks, leather boys, and so on. You just have to keep your eye out for what you are looking for and you will find it! The hottest concentration of gay bars and clubs is at Rua Teixeira de Melo near the Farme gay beach cruising area. Like the beach, the competition for men is very intense – you need to dress your best unless you are ready to go home all by yourself. Bofetada, on Farme itself, is one of the bars that starts getting busy early on, almost as soon as people start getting off the beach. This is a great place to go if you are looking to hook up before dinner, or if you are new to the area and want to meet other guys to cruise with during your vacation. While in the area, check out Galeria Cafe (with DJs every single night of the week) and Spin or Dama de Ferro, on Rua Vinicius de Morais corner of Lagoa which cater to the same crowd of vacationing and expatriate artists, sun worshipers, and party boys. If you spent your day around the Copacabana, you might want to visit the nearby Blue Angle bar. The nearby Copa has hot waiters, but no sign on the door. Instead look for velvet red curtains and a hostess, and you will be on your way. This place is very trendy, so you need to look cool if you want to be taken seriously by anyone inside – or even manage to get a drink! Just look at the signs (and the people walking inside) to make sure you have not arrived on lesbian night! Across the street from the Copacabana is the Rainbow, which has drag shows and karaoke at night – it can be a little silly, but if you like it that way, give it a shot! Those of you who like things down, dirty and a little seedy will be interested in Corujinha, which is near the Copa, but nowhere near as exclusive, trendy or slick. Maxim’s is a nearby bar with a mix company of gays and gay friendly straights. This is the place to go if girly boys are your thing or if you are looking to pick up a hustler. This area is known for tourist rips offs, so be very careful of yourself and your surroundings if you decide to get your wild on in this area. The subtly named Gay Kiosk Rainbow is easy to find because it sits underneath a giant rainbow flag. Sometimes the owners are in drag; sometimes they are not! If it’s getting close to midnight and you haven’t gotten laid yet, it’s time to hit the dance floor and shake your booty with the brown Brazilian boy toys! The hottest place to go is right inside the Copacabana, Posto 6. It’s built in a renovated movie theater and has drag shows, DJs from around the world, theme nights and pretty much anything else you can imagine. They can pack in more than a 1,000 people ready to party and cruise until dawn! Those of you who like things new and trendy can visit Breeze at Rua Paul Redfern, but check your calendar – it’s only open Friday through Monday. If you like a little rough trade from the lower socioeconomic side, Cabare Casanova on Avenue Mem de Sá can be a cheap evening to sweat it out with the locals. Some of us like our club scene a little tackier. For those among you (you know who you are) plan at least one visit to Star Club and leave your conservative friends behind! Foxfobox on Rua Siqueira Campos is the center of the gay techno crowd and is open from Thursday through Saturday. The only club open seven nights a week is located in the Serzedelo Correa Square . This smaller, neighborhood club, has been serving the gay and lesbian communities for more than 15 years. Sex Hotels Once you score in Rio de Janeiro you will need some place to take your new playmate. Because there is a great deal of poverty in Rio, there are a lot of hustlers and thieves, so it’s not a great idea to take your date back to your own hotel room and put your valuables at risk. That’s why there are many “sex hotels” throughout the city where men can take there dates for a few hours after they hit the bars or clubs. We recommend using them unless you have a good reason to trust your new found friend. Finding a gay friendly sex hotel is not difficult – most of them are so obvious as to be embarrassing. They surround nearly every gay bar in the city and rent rooms for six hours or less. Most of the “in the know” tourists seek out the ones around Av. Gomes Freire or the Copacabana. Saunas, Bath Houses, and Rent Boys Saunas and bathhouses are as common in Rio as they are in any gay friendly large city. As you would expect, a good number of the local clients are married men looking for a little extra curricular fun. There is also a fair share of rent boys to be found, so as you would on the beach, make sure you understand what you are getting into before you get started. For the most part you can expect to spend between $30 and $60 for an encounter with male escort at any of the bathhouses you find. Near the Copacabana you can look for the Le Boy Fitness and Pointe 202. Point is mostly a muscle bar now and while I like this occasionally, I find the massive build of some not to my liking. But, if muscles are your thing, this is the place for you. If you have spent your day by Ipanema, keep your eyes open for Nova Leblon and Studio 64. My all time favorite is Club 117. Hot boys. More twinks. Great parties. Free Cabine nights. Meio Mundo on Rua Teófilo Otona is known to have some of the best escorts at any of the bathhouses around. Meio Mundo is larger now that the next door building was added to the original building. The selection of garotos is generally good but not always like you can find at Clube 117. Safety No matter what you do in Rio de Janeiro, always practice safe sex. If anything, this is truer in Rio than it is in North America, as the sheer number of hustlers around have made sex riskier here than in many other places you may visit. In Rio you should also be careful if a stranger hands you a drink. It is somewhat common here for thieves to slip drugs into a tourist’s beer and then rob him. In general it is a good idea to not wear your expensive jewelry (including your watch) when you go out at night – do you really need to know what time it is when you go on vacation? You should also avoid drugs at all costs when you are in Brazil. The penalties are harsh and the American Embassy might not be able to give you that much help if you are busted. That said, if you are careful, Rio de Janeiro could end up becoming one of the hottest vacations you ever take. You can cruise the clubs and bars all night and then sleep off your sex induced hangover on any number of sandy beaches! 1. Don’t carry you passport with you. Once you get to your hotel, have them make a copy for you and carry that with you. That is sufficient should you need it while you are away from the hotel and if you lost the original, it is a true pain in the ass. 2. Avoid using cash machines outside of banks and malls. I had one bad experience with this last year. Now, I use the ATM in my hotel or exchange my money at the banks or exchange booths. 3. I avoid using my Credit Cards as much as possible other than my hotel or bank or ATM machine. Last year, after a shopping trip to a very upscale mall in Sao Paulo, I got back to the US only to have over 20k charged to my card. Needless to say, it was a pain in the ass to get it all straightened out. 4. Don’t take a lot of money with you. Plan your day, take only what you need. Take ONE ATM card if you need more. Leave the remainder in the safe in your hotel. 5. Don’t wear expensive watches or jewelry. Keep them in the safe in your hotel. These things get noticed by the wrong people very fast. 6. If you take a camera with you, keep it in a bag that is not obviously a camera bag. Keep it with you at all times. 7. When you go to the beach, only take what you need. Don’t take things that are not needed. Don’t leave your possession alone unattended. 8. When you are in a sauna, keep an eye on your locker and check back into that room occasionally. I don’t leave very valuable things in my locker. 9. When you take a boy into a cabin for a programa, when you shower, take your clothes with you. There are hooks in the bathrooms for these items and it is just a smart thing to do to keep your things with you at all times. 10. When you are at a bar or disco, don’t leave your drink unattended. Don’t accept drinks from others. When you get a drink, keep your hand over the top of it. This way, no one can put anything into the drink that will cause you to loose you common sense. 11. If you are into the street trade, don’t take someone from the street that one of your friends doesn’t know. Be very careful. A lot of the guys from the street are great fun but you should exercise caution. One thing that I learned on my first trip to Brazil is that I would not go with someone from outside of Curijina’s or anywhere unless someone knew the guy. I try to stick to this rule. 12. Most hotels won’t let you have a guest in your room unless they have a copy of their ID. This is a good thing and for your protection. Always make sure that your visitor has proper ID and when you get to your hotel, walk them over to the front desk to leave a copy of the ID as required. 13. If you are new to Brazil, don’t walk around at night unless you are accompanied. I suggest taking a taxi. It is very inexpensive to take taxis in Brazil and it may keep you safe. 14. All the saunas provide condom and lube to you. It is wise to use them here. The rate of HIV is high and you need to protect yourself. 15. Ask your hotel for suggestions on restaurants and venues. They know many good ones and they may help you to find something you have not heard mentioned before. 16. When you leave the sauna, see all the charges to you bill and make sure they are correct. 17. A few simple words in Portuguese is very helpful. If you have Itunes, download the Portuguese Language guide. It is quiet good and just listening to it on your plane ride down is useful. 18. I have a hotel taxi pick me up at the airport. I find it more comfortable for me as I arrive with my computers and cameras. 19. Brazil really is paradise. Have a great time. Be safe. Be smart. (this was written about 5 years ago. If you have suggestions, PM me with revisions). Thanks. Oz

Sometimes you want to get it on with a man. Sometimes a girl seems like a good idea. Sometimes both have their own unique appeal. Gay or straight we all have a desire to try something a little different. That's what makes Thailand a great place to visit – you can literally have your boobs and eat cock too! Perhaps the most celebrated part of Thailand's gay culture are the famous "Ladyboys" that can be found in even the smallest rural villages. While Ladyboys are similar to Western transvestites, there are some huge cultural differences. The most important difference comes from Thai history and traditions. According to legends from Northern Thailand, the first man and woman had three children, a boy, a girl and a "third sex." Today the "third sex" is considered to be the Ladyboys – which may explain why there are at least 180,000 of these "girls" spread throughout Thailand. Other legends say that Ladyboys are actually the reincarnation of men who made love to many, many women in a former lifetime – so that they now permanently carry the spirit of women in their bodies. Katoey Toys! Referred to in Thailand as Katoey, these "girls" are certainly no drag queens. In most cases a lot of care and time has been spent to make sure these guys look like real women – and not the exaggerated female stereotypes common in American drag shows. While these girls all have hot cocks under their skirts many have realized that size matters everywhere – and have larger than life boobs to complete their picture of a feminine ideal Ladyboys are, in general, an accepted and respected part of Thai society. In most cases they don't suffer anywhere near as much prejudice as their western counterparts and are usually almost fully accepted as the women they are trying to be. Let Them Entertain You! Many of the Katoey perform in the cabaret shows that have become hugely popular in Thailand's gay bars. The best Ladyboy cabaret shows can be found in Pattaya, the beach town south of Bangkok. Some of the larger Katoey shows literally feature dozens, if not hundreds of Ladyboys for your eye candy. There are also many escort agencies that offer Ladyboys on demand. You can find them in our listings or by checking out advertisements at many of the local gay establishments. Tips And Tricks For Chicks With Dicks! You need to be a little careful when dealing with Ladyboys outside of a supervised host bar. In Pattaya in particular there have been cases of Ladyboys who troll the beaches at night in order to mug tourists when they have their pants down. Don't let this get you down! Most Ladyboys are nice people. There are just a few rotten apples in any barrel! Another important thing to keep in mind is that not all Ladyboys are bottoms. Some can top with the best of them, so when you first start talking with an attractive he/she you should make your preferences known – so that you don't get more than you bargained for out of the experience! Also be aware that some Ladyboys are full on transsexuals and may have either taken hormones, been castrated or both. Figuring out what type of Ladyboy you are talking to can often be part of the fun. In general if you are in a gay bar talking to a feminine looking thing, you can assume that the girl was a boy at one time and may be now. Guessing before you take off her skit can be a challenge, because the Thai male body type lends itself very well to creating a feminine mystique. Host Bars Ladies More often than not Ladyboys can be rented out for a night of fun in the host bars – and surprisingly enough are popular entertainers for both gay and straight audiences! Because Thailand society treats Ladyboys with respect, you should as well. Just because you are paying for their time does not give you a license to abuse, insult or treat them any differently than you would like to be treated. Ladyboys are people too! Many Ladyboys suffered severe financial hardship when the tsunami cut into Thailand tourism. Often Ladyboys have families to support – so we encourage you to be generous if you should find yourself out on a date with a "girl" with something extra between her legs! For many of us to visit here often, the loving nature of the Ladyboys is a big appeal to visit Thailand. Many of the will take in the boys who first come to work on the bars and take care of them. The people of Thailand are very accepting of homosexuality and Ladyboys. Please leave your prejudices and misconceptions about Ladyboys or Dragqueens in your home country. They are truly one of the most amazing parts of Thai culture and deserve your respect! cc: 2005-1010 Totally Oz