dapitt

I can assure you the concern is no longer underage sex. The elites loathe the idea that the country is still called the sex capital of Asia and they want rid of it. This is not new. I believe it was started by the first Thaksin regime 20 years ago with the Social Order campaigns. Poll after poll found these were very popular in both the cities and the countryside. As you suggest, what rich Thai guy wants quizzical looks when he is shopping in Paris or New York? The irony is that behind closed doors the Thais are as randy as everyone everywhere and have opportunities for sexual adventures that are probably more adventurous than those available for foreigners.. They just object very strongly to the label.

A very good friend of mine and a long time poster on this board passed away in the USA. Firecat traveled with me to several continents and I have never met someone kinder to the boys he met. He is going to be greatly missed!

It is disgusting and horrible. America is now a true disgrace when it comes to democracy and free elections. For years, American sent observers to other countries to ensure fair elections as that was our hallmark. However, now, other countries want to send observers to America. My, on my, how the tides have turned.

You clearly are unable to read, unfortunately. Look at Florida. That is as hot as it gets in Thailand for most of the year. 15,185 deaths and total of 729,000 cases - and counting.  If heat kills the virus, why is it spreading like wildfire in a very hot country like india? If the virus loves cold weather, why does New Zealand only have 25 deaths. That country, please remember, was just going in to its winter when the virus appeared. It has still not reached its summer there. 
The reason for countries like Taiwan, Vietnam and Thailand, all dependent on huge numbers of Chinese tourists, having so relatively few cases is not related to weather. I wlll omit mention of your half-assed put-down re half-failed states. Instead I will again let facts speak for themselves.
Vietnam:  95.54 million population - 35 deaths
Thailand: 69.43 million population - 59  deaths
Taiwan: 23.78 million population - 7 deaths
USA: 328.2 million population - 219,686 deaths
The reasons for asian countries having vastly fewer deaths than western countries is perfectly simple. They identified and understood the threat as soon as it appeared. As early as February at least two of the above had put in place mask wearing, use of hand sanitisers, temperature checks and contact tracing. By late March, all three Asian countries locked down. In Thailand we had to use a phone app when entering and exiting every building to make tracing simple. Only take out food was available. In early May, there was a gradual opening up. Now we had to use the phone app not only when entering a shopping mall but also again when one of its eating places, shops and supermarkets.
I realise only too well how frustrating it is for so many stuck in other parts of the world who are unable to make their regular visits to Thailand. Rather than direct criticism at half-failed states, i suggest you write to your own government representatives to find out why they sat on their fat behinds and did nothing until it was too late. 

I hope so. I have certainly tried everything on earth to find one that I was interested in inviting. This last weekend I did a staycation at a hotel nearer the gay area and gave several a test run. OK. Well, more than several. And, this lad is the only one that cranked my tractor enough for an immediate repeat.

I have to laugh just a little bit at Michaels Post. Having know him for close to 20 years and having traveled with him to a few countries , I can say none of the replies to his questions have even come close to what he has already thought as a minimum. Not only that the boy is likely to never be treated any better and feel less like a money boy than when he makes this trip with Michael.
Also if the boy is smart and treats Michael less as a client but as a friend he likely will get considerably more than the amount agreed upon. 
Hopefully Michael has found the Boy he deserves for this trip!!!!!
 
 

As it happens, I also had a colonoscopy and an endoscopy at Bumrungrad apparently just a few days after Michael.  I concur fully with his evaluation of the hospital. Excellent in all regards.  I also live in Chiang Mai and am familiar with the two facilities you've mentioned.  For me, it is an easy call to decide in favor of having most of my medical appointments in Bangkok at Bumrungrad. Quite satisfied and pleased with them.

Having had several colonoscopies over the years, the worst thing is the preparation to cleanse the colon. The actual procedure is quick and painless and over in a short time. The anesthesia has always been Propofol , which is highly effective. 
Hopefully Michael's post will encourage others to have a colonoscopy; it can save your life.
 

I hate sports. Well, I did before today. Now, I think I'm interested again.

Most - if not all - visitors to Bangkok at some point come across the work of the man featured in this video.  I usually try to take pictures of his work when I find them walking around town.  
I met him one night rather late (or early in the morning, depending on how you view it), when I was walking home.  He was diligently at work, but when I said hello he looked up and said hello back with a nice smile.  A magic Bangkok moment.  
COVID Thailand Aid (formerly COVID Bangkok Aid) is an organization that I've tried to help in a small way.   Their focus is to help the elderly poor and others most at risk.  I hope they keep an eye out for Khun Pichai.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/covidthailandaid/
 
 

Katherine Hoover, a composer and flutist who wrote not only for her instrument but also for strings, piano, woodwinds, full orchestra and voice, died on Friday in Manhattan. She was 80.
Her best-known work, though, was probably “Kokopeli” (1990), a piece for flute that was inspired, as were a number of her other compositions, by American Indian music and culture.
 
 
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/26/obituaries/katherine-hoover-dead.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fobituaries&action=click&contentCollection=obituaries&regi
   

Kind of a blanket condemnation of the transport system in CM because you had to wait 10 minutes once?
 
I will grant it's become difficult to cross over the outer moat roads (we call farther-out roads the ring roads) excepting at the corners, near Thaphae Gate, at the southwest pedestrian overpass, or at the push-button light across from the market by Chang Phuak Gate.  I cross the outer moat roads at least a few times a week at the corners and have no difficulty at all (sometimes I do have to wait 3-4 minutes especially on the north end).  
 
You're lucky to have crossed Rama 4 in Bangkok and lived to tell the story.  I wouldn't have the nerve to try that. 

Come on, Christian, a bit over the top.  I go lots of places via the Songteaws for 30 baht (regardless of distance).  And Grab, although a bit more expensive than when Uber ruled the streets prior to March of this year, is still relatively cheap.  Plus now we have the various inter-city bus lines that are cheap as hell and air-conditioned (although not exactly screaming fast to get where you want to go).  You spend $100 (?) to fly up here, another 700-1000 baht for a hotel,  and then decide not to come because somebody wants ninety cents to a couple of dollars to haul you around?
 
I know we both walk a lot....but to suggest that the situation for pedestrians is worse in CM than Bangkok is simply nuts.  

Only two:
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Chiang Mai, Thailand. But I have been (overnight in a hotel or at a friend's place) to 52 out of 77 provinces in Thailand.

Wow. That is impressive!

Poy Sang Long is a Shan buddhist ceremony with a long tradition and which many of the Shan boys do to make merit for their parents and elders.  Typically it's a 3 or 4 day ceremony and, until the boys are ordained, they're not allowed to touch the ground.  After their heads are shaved, they're dressed up in all kinds of silks and finery as well as facial makeup, all to have them mimic the Buddha himself (before Buddha was an ascetic, he was the son of a king and had all the riches and finery one could imagine).  The most colorful and public portion of the ceremony occurs early in the morning for two days when the boys are paraded around the temple grounds (and sometimes outside the temple) on the shoulders of their male relatives (or, occasionally, on a pony or even a palaquin).
 
The last day is the "ordination" day and the boys are stripped of all their finery, don the saffron robes, and enter the temple as novices.  Most of the boys stay at the temple for 1-3 weeks although a very small minority might actually become formal monks for life.
 
Mae Hong Song supposedly has the largest concentration of Shan here in Thailand and their Poy Sang Long ceremonies are purported to be fairly grandiose; however, here in Chiangmai, there is a sizable Shan population and similar ceremonies are held each year (between the middle of March and April, the precise dates either set by the phase of the moon or by the discretionary choice of the temple elders) at the two local Shan temples, Wat Guu Tao and Wat Pa Pao.  The Poy Sang Long ceremonies at Wat Guu Tao were held this year during the last week of March and about 70 boys were invested as novices.  I'll attempt to attach a few photos of that event.
 

A dozen or so years ago, I was visiting Luang Prabang and sitting in a fancy resort lobby waiting for a ride.  There also was a group of about 30 older people (70+?) in the lobby who began to take a group photo.  As they were struggling to get everyone in the photo without excluding the photo taker, I offered to help them out and take the photos.  They were nice enough about it and subsequently began to talk about why they were there.  Turned out they were Morman missionaries based in Phnom Penh but were just in Luang Prabang for a weekend vacation.
 
While I didn't react to them, I began a slow burn....wondering why the hell the Mormans couldn't find 144,000 "souls" to save in Utah and then leave the Buddhists of Cambodia (or anywhere else) the hell alone.
 
I recognize the concept of freedom of religion (from my point of view, everyone has to right to believe whatever fairy tale they wish), but it simply grates the hell out of me when church groups from the west go seeking to instruct the "natives" anywhere that their fairy tale is the one and only true one. To me, it smacks of cultural colonialism and why nations allow it ("it" not referring to the right to practice any religion you want but referring to allowing foreign missionary groups to actively proselytize in their country) is beyond me.  
 
So, bottom line, interesting architecture or not, I wish they'd stay in Utah. 

Speaking English is a business decision for the boys.  It is a good one for them and to help them to advance this helps their life and your life.  I agree that I should learn to speak theirs. But, I can't.  I'm dumb that way. But, I have tried. 
 
I had a boy in Brazil for many years that I truly adored.  I met him when he was 18.  He just turned 18 and started working at a sauna the week I met him.  He spoke great English.  I was a bit shocked.  I asked him about this and he told me that he started working in a bookstore when he was 15 and used all his money to learn English. Why?  He said he knew his only way out of the Flavela was to learn English and work in the sauna. It worked great for him. 
 
When I was in Brazil, he was with me 24/7.  I had a better time with him than just about anyone. But, when away, he never asked for money other than going to school.  He wanted to learn German and French and another language.  He did.  He then moved to Switzerland and worked in a sauna there making much more money.  His languages opened up his life.
 
For most of us, the cost of a school is very little money and totally worth the chance to help a guy you really like.  I say go for it!

Gaybutton doesn't come over as a nice man to me. My God what a horrible personality.

I was advised that the lease is legally binding, however this is Thailand and one should be aware that a land owner could make life unpleasant or even worse.
It will make some members laugh, but I am a trusting individual and, in my case, believe my partner when he said if we ever separate he would sell the land and expect me to make him a financial settlement based on the length of our relationship.
He has told me many times that because I looked after him and his family when he needed it, he will always look after me.
My oft repeated mantra of taking relationships slowly and making sure you have met the right guy is why I totally believe him.

Speaking about stupid questions by US border service. In beginning of July I was entering USA to attend my friend funeral, barrage of questions included : ' you are renting or living in your own home' and  ' whom you are living with at home".
 
Compare it to landing in any European country where usually question is 'how are you"
 
In Soviet times I was in USSR four times, none of entry subjected my to even remotely similar investigation.
 
I wonder if Americans realize how  much their cherished freedoms are curbed in recent years and how brainwashed they become if they think this is right?   

Rather classy that James and Outwebmaster haven't responded in kind to the nasty manner in which GB has attempted, ad nauseum, to make his point. 

Something on the Internet is inaccurate?  Holy Shit.  Let me call the New York Times.
 
Maps are hard and difficult to do in Thailand as businesses come and go VERY fast and it is impossible to keep up with the data. Even if someone visits in Dec, things really change by April.  So, it means almost having an impossible task.  Relying on readers to give input is the best way for them to go.  And, if you value their site, you will contribute and give them better info.  If you don't give a rats ass about their site then take it and shove it and let them do their thing.
 
If they get good detail and don't use it, that is on them and is bad business.  If they take it and make the site better, then it is a valuable commodity for the gay Thailand community. 
 
Does anyone need to be nasty to them just because they don't update their maps.  Holy Shit.  Not me.  I have better things to do with my time.  But, for those of you that don't, enjoy.  

I like that airport, in the afternoon you have even a chance to listen to live music and see Korean folk performances. If you are in transit and have enough time there are several options to take a free tour of various places around the airport and Seoul city itself.

I was there on Tuesday, thanks God airport  was warm as temperature outside was below freezing when we arrived from BKK.
 
I like leg room in economy in Korean Air. When they served some kind of Korean dish they even had printed instruction how to prepare it. And it's only airline I know where you make your own tea - they pour water and hand you tea bag instead treating you with some tepid brown water called tea as other airlines do , at least in economy.