paulsf

When I first started coming to Thailand, I spent most of my time in Pattaya. Then when I met my bf, last year, I had no need to look for anything and we have just hung in Bangkok. This trip I'm on my own and have stayed in Bangkok because I have a lot of friends here. I could find what I want, if I put a little effort into it, but I sit and start talking with friends and end up stuck to a bar stool for the evening. Tonight I came in a bit earlier than past nights as the rain started around 10pm and I just didn't want to deal with it tonight. Tomorrow's Friday so we will see what developes.

Now that I've been here for a week, things are a little more routine. Around the corner for coffee in the morning, then back to the pool for a bit of book reading. Little afternoon nap. I'm usually in bed by 11pm at home, but it's been more like 3am here. Dinner around 6, then it's off to the bright lights of Bangkok nightlife. I was concerned about this trip being in the rainy season, but not really an issue. The last 2 nights, we got real soakers. For about 30 minutes between 8 and 10. Otherwise really nothing. But we had more rain the last 2 nights than California has had in 3 years. Feels strange going out for the evening wearing flip flops and walking in water up to your ankles. But has it positives as you get to see a lot of boys in there skin tight wet shirts. It amazes me to watch the street vendors in a matter of seconds erect the plastic tents and cover over their booths or stoves and tables. We are so spoiled that it rains, and we just stay in our houses or nice offices and try to figure how to get to the car, with out getting a drop of rain on ourselves. These people, don't miss a beat. They can't afford to. I love the people driving down the street on motorcycles using umbrellas. But they are very resourceful people. I've been having a bit of a problem finding my evening entertainment this week. There are a lot of hot boys around. But a real excess of straight boys. I have no problem with that if they are willing to put out a bit. I am hardly demanding as the years roll on, but seems they all just want to be the top and nothing more. I'm not playing bottom now, so that has eliminated most of them. I did pick up a boy last night at the bar. He is 21 and really cute boy. Straight, but I have know him for a bit and we talked it out. He was willing to do anything except bottom, so that worked. I always say I like guys under 6' . He was 5'2" This kid could have won the big cock contest. Suckrates would have been happy. Of course when you 7 or 8" on someone around 5', it makes it look even bigger. I had wanted to put a 3 way together this trip, but with the shortage of gay receivers, it's not working out. Hoping more boys will be working the weekend and I'll have something to report. There is a real shortage of tourism here. There were complaining about the lack of tourist when I was here during the spring protest, but it is worst now. I see very few westerners. Most of them live here, or are Australian. Winter down under, so some come here. Reading the papers, the government knows tourism is an issue. There really aren't any issues going on that should keep the tourist away, so hopefully when the rain ends in a month,they will start to come back. 5:30pm and the sun is still shining. Looks like no rain tonight. So time to head off to dinner and then see what kind of trouble I can get myself into.

And I thought it rained hard in Bangkok last night. Not even close to that.

Saturday night turned out to be a lot of fun. Not in a sexual kind of fun night, but a night where everyone just seemed to be in very good moods. I was really concerned about rain at this time of the year, but it hasn't happened yet. A 2 minute shower twice. So Saturday night I was surprised to see so many people out. Lots of traffic, restaurants doing ok, very busy for low season. I went to Soi Twilight to hang with my friends. Low season also brings lower temperatures. It has been really pleasant at night to hang at the outdoor bars. I don't usually go to the shows because I have seen then so often and drinks are expensive. But with the Govt crackdown , they have had to take out the fuck part of the shows. Hot Male is doing 3 shows a night, because they are shorter now. Most other clubs are still 2 shows. I understand upstair show clubs have to be closed at 1am, so noticed some shows are now midnight rather 12:30. I decided to go to the 10:30 show at Hot Male. It started off with a couple of traditional Thai dances. Boys wearing thongs with little wrap around skirts. Then they had hot wax show, fluorescent painted boys dance. They did a number with 2 boys wearing jeans and vest. Like each other , undress, suck each other off. So yes, there is full nudity. Big cock show. So much for little Asian theory. Then of course they had the obligatory drag queen. Not usually my thing, but as I said earlier, people were in good moods. She found a few Taiwanese boys to lock in on, and it was hilarious. My best friend manages things at the bar downstairs and half way through the show, he came up and sat with me. So I got a lot of translation. Drinks were 320 compared to 100 outside. When my friend sat down, he ordered a beer. They didn't put slip in the bin. I thought that's good, because I would have had to pay for it. When the show was over. We were talking to a Mamasan that I am friends with, and the bin disappeared. Free is rare in Thailand, but it was appreciated. After the show, I went down to Dicks for a bite to eat. Other shows going on, so I was the only customer. Fast service. They were busier after shows got out. Went back to Hot Male to hang for awhile . Good crowd. I've seen less in high season. The boys were just all in very good moods. They were playful, seductive, putting on their best, I need to make some money tonight faces. Again it amazes how these boys remember things from past trips. I had 2 boys ask me "where is your American friend." That being TotallyOz. We hung there a couple of times this past summer. Oz you do make an impression with these boys wish I could be as playful. Midnight is usually the end of the evening for me, but ended up staying till 2. Just a lot of laughs being had. They stay open till 3am on weekends and usually little earlier weekdays. Another, how do they remember. Went to get taxi back to my apt. Driver walks up and says, I will take you. You live at xxxx. I said yes. He said he took me a couple times this past summers then he asked me were my Vietnamese friend was. Wow. I still use the, I don't remember what I had for breakfast line. It's 6:30am Monday as I type. Just a beautiful sunrise. I have a top floor, corner apt. Great view of sunrise, and sunset. But starting cloudless, which means hot. So I guess it's off to the pool, some shopping and a massage.

Travel to Bangkok is quite affordable right now. I work hard to find the deals. Being retired now, allows you to fly mid week, and to stay longer on trips. With American Airlines new flight to Hong Kong and Cathay Pacific new services being added . Newark and Boston, fares are being held down. I only paid $1100.00 this trip. For my October trip I got AA's $750 fare out of LAX. I practically earn enough miles for a free ticket with a paid ticket. I also had over a million miles saved from when I travelled for work. So I mix paid trips and mileage trips. I started using Airbnb this year. That has save a lot of money. Half or more what hotels cost. Though there are some pretty good hotel deals right now as tourist aren't here because of the Govt issues. It cost a lot less to eat here, if you deal with street food. All in all it doesn't cost much more to be here for a month than being at home. Weather here is a few degrees cooler than Florida.

I can't see it has affected gay life at all. Other than...They are not allowed to do fuck shows on stage. I will probably go to a show tomorrow, just to see what is going on on stage. Just hate paying 100 baht outdoors and 350 indoors. They other thing is the 30 day visa runs. Not allowed anymore. This affects lots of boys that have to be legal to work in the clubs. This has affected me this trip as the boy I have been seeing for the last year, is Vietnamese. He went to do run a few weeks ago and can't get back for several months. This will affect lots go guys that come to play. Get visa before you leave home, or stay less than 30 days. Had an interesting taxi encounter today. Govt crackdown on taxi meters and refusing fares. Went to Siam Paragon grocery shopping. When I went to get taxi it started to rain. They have line with a guy that tells driver where u are going. Took 5 before anyone would take me. Then the guy I got didn't turn on meter, so I asked him to. He asked how much I wanted to pay. Truthfully is was pouring and rush hour traffic. I would have paid anything. But told him to tell me how much he wanted. I said meter says 0, so I pay 0. Him not happy with my sense of humor. Half way he finally turns on meter. Hits 100 when I get to my apt. I give him hundred and get out. He starts yelling 200 cause meter not working. It is about 200 at rush hour. My apart has 3 security guards that know me and they came to taxi when they saw me getting out. I was going to give driver the other 100, but he saw security and hit the gas. Wish I could call the General and tell him, not all taxis are obeying his rules. Tuk tuks are another story . This city is overrun by them, until now. You hardly can find one. The General wants them insured and licensed. Only about 20%seem to be. There is a lot behind me where 100's are parked. There is a stand up the street from here. usually you can find 20 of them, went by tonight and only 1. People are out and about. You can tell it is low season, but Siam Paragon was packed today. Tonight Soi Twilight had a decent crowd tonight. No rain helps get people out. The General has also got the street vendors to organize themselves a bit, so now you can walk down a sidewalk a bit easier. My boy story tonight is half a disaster. Because my BF is stuck in Hanoi, I am free to play this trip. Last night I say a boy that is a bartender. He is really hot. He works out a bit everyday and has a nice chest and arms. Kind of like the high school quarterback. I just really wanted to see him naked, and that's about all that happened. I'm spoiled by my BF. He loves being naked. If I had a body like him, I guess I would be to. We walk in the door, the clothes go flying than we play in the shower and if I have any energy left we take it to the bed. Very affectionate, loves kissing. This boy tonight, went into the bathroom, locked the door, took a shower. Comes out, I shower, he is sitting on bed when I arrive. Asks if he should JO. I say ok, and he doesn't even take off the towel. Hummm, this isn't working. I didn't need lots of sex, but I wanted to see his body and play with it a bit. I finally just grabbed the towel off of him and he got the message. He is a straight boy, or as they say bi. I knew this going in so knew it would only go so far. He is also only 19 and new at this. He loosened up a bit and we both got off. Then back to bathroom, locked door, took shower and came out dressed. He was happy with what I paid him, which is a lot less than my BF gets. All in all, I wasn't expecting much, got a little less. It will cost him in the long run. I am really attracted to him, but can't pay for so little again. He could have made a lot of money while I'm here. So left with an early evening I sit here and post. Hope I have something to talk about tomorrow.

Made it to Bangkok yesterday. The older I get, the longer this trip gets. I flew from Ft.Lauderdale to Dallas and then Dallas to Hong Kong on Americans new service there. Finishing up the day with Cathay to Bangkok. I was pleasantly surprised by American. I flew in Business. The seats are about the same as those on Cathay. Window seats are all single, so lots of privacy. I'm not a person that needs lots of service. I just want to read my book, or watch a movie. But while not Cathay service where FA's are always there, it was really up there. Dinner after takeoff, snack 1/2 way and breakfast on arrival. A good supply of decent snacks were always available. Arrived in Hong Kong on time and headed to the Wing lounge for shower and clean cloths. I had a 4 hour layover, that turned to about 5 hours due to bad weather. When I flew Cathay to Bangkok in May, the flights were light. Last night was full, at 10pm. Are people returning to Bangkok? Getting a taxi at 1am was no issue. Usually takes me 1-1/2 hours to walk off plane to my apartment. Last night 1 hour 10 minutes. No one at immigration and my bag was first out. No taxi lines and no traffic. After 35 hours of travel, that bed looked great. This is the middle of the rainy season, but all I have seen so far is a lot of clouds and some sun. Did rain last night for a little bit, but I was already in bed. Looking out my windo now, it's looking like a pool day. I went out to Soi Twilight last night to see some of my friends. There have been some changes to the shows at the clubs because of the new Thai dictatorship govt. I didn't go to a show as I have seen many, but will in the next few nights just to see how they have changed. My friend said they just can't do fuck shows. Last night was Thursday and I was surprised to see how busy it was. This is my 3rd trip this year, and I have noticed a bit of boy turnover. I hang out at Hot Male a lot, and tonight they had 5 new boys working the outdoor bar. When I walked in, I became everybody's best friend right away. I asked my friend why was I so popular? He said, because you are American. There aren't a lot of Americans visiting, but they are the only ones that spend money and tip. I didn't disappoint I planned on spending less this trip, but was there for 3 hours and bought a lot of drinks. Thinking $75.00 or so, but only $30.00. They were drinking more beer than whiskey. Surprised, but happy. Thai boys like the expensive stuff. Told my friend not tonight, they ATM card is closed. I was pleasantly surprised at the quantity and quality of the boys. I will do a bit more exploring now that the weekend is here. Just need to get myself on the right time zone. More to come (I hope) trip reports are not my strong point

Soi twilight shows are still tame. I didn't go to see one as I have seen many, but will someday this week, just to see what they are like. But my friend said, just no fuck shows. Taxi to my apartment is 40 baht, so yes, 100 is high. But they always ask for 100 in that area at night. You look at what is going on in Russia with their little dictatorship and it is all over the press . But here, you have to dig to find out that anything is happening. I just got here yesterday, so I'm still a bit off schedule, but I must have turned 7 tv channels at news time before I saw a story on the General. I did catch an interview on BBC with a Thai commentator who said he thinks this will last about 2 years before people really start getting involved.

Interestingly, I just came in from Soi Twilight. I asked a couple of boys what they thought and they didn't have any idea of it happening. Most of them are there to make a living and if it doesn't directly affect them , they don't care much about politics. So much for metered taxis. Leaving, the first 2 asked for 100. 3rd used meter.

I live in Ft.Lauderdale and would love to meet up with for a drink....But I'm sitting in the airport in Dallas about to board my flight to Hong Kong and on to Bangkok. Have a great time. Had lots of rain, but it's supposed to be a hot sunny week.

Paris hotel rooms are small. I can't imagine how small budget hotel rooms must be. With the luggage you carry, you would need 2 rooms, one for you and one for luggage.

Oz, would you settle for a gift certificate to Hero?

I don't get it. You people come over here, because you don't have a place to play right now. You don't like 1 person here, and demand his removable by ownership. The infighting over there is much worse than it ever is here. Are you just bored and lonely and bring this stuff over here till you get your playpen back. Things have been quite pleasant here, till this thread showed up.

I suppose it's only the American embargo that has held the Cuban people back, the Castros have had nothing to do with it.

As long as you realize Deej is never wrong, you won't have any problems with him. The first week the site comes back up will be insufferable, with the begging for $$$$ and ass kissing.

Vermont is particularly inviting in winter, when the temp is 10 below and snow is up to you shoulders, and the the spring runoff has a river running thru your living room. But August and September are beautiful.

I've also been reading every post. I'm headed back to Bangkok next month and your stories make me want to leave sooner.

I have two friends that work on Soi Twilight, that have left Bangkok and gone home to their family's. They can't even make enough money to eat. They said they will come back when the tourist return. And they are not alone. Sounds like lots of boys are looking for work elsewhere.

Using Airbnb you can get 1 bedroom or studio apt for less than $50.00 per night.

Well if we could have it at the poolside cabana atTotallyOz's hotel, I'm in. If he can get the same wait staff and poolside eye candy we had a couple of weeks ago, I'm doubly in...

I agree. If I've come all that way to go to Hero, I'm not going to stop a block early unless I see something that is really going to make me stop short. I also won't go to massage places that don't have private showers.

I got to watch a couple of episodes of Orphan Black while in Bangkok last month, and really liked it. Now I have to go back and watch season one before I watch the rest of season two. Graceland starts it's second season next week. Can be a bit violent but I really got into it. Even though it's based in Los Angeles, it's filmed here in Miami.

Thanks for the update. Per phone conversations with my friend, some of the places on Soi Twilight have been trying to stay open the last few nights. But as TotallyOz has reported, there are no customers. The Bangkok Post is now reporting that the curfew is being modified starting tomorrow night (wed) from 12:01 - 4am. It will help the nightlife a bit, but tourist are just going to stop going to Thailand till things get sorted out. I just got back from about 6 weeks in Bangkok last week. Several weeks ago I was looking at airfares for Oct/Nov time frame. Fares were running around $1400. Now I'm looking to buy and many of those same dates are in the low $2000's The fuel surcharges are starting to kick in again as oil stays above $100 a barrel. If this keeps up, Thai tourism will be further hurt.

I feel bad for all the people that work nights. Bangkok is close to being a 24 hour city. I just got back Tuesday, so just missed the curfew. But I figure I spend 90% of my money after 8pm. I hit up the 7-11 across the street from the apartment where I stay almost every night when I come in between 12 and 2am. The place is packed. They have to be taking big hits. I just talked to my boy and he said he has not made a dime all week, as there are just no customers. Fortunately for him, I left him with enough money to get thru a couple months.

I can't answer for the service or massage, but I have been hanging out on Soi Twilight the last couple of nights, and there are several boys that I would have no problem hiring. Lots of boys sitting out front the the massage places, with lots of cuteness.