TMax

Plenty to do in the city but alas I am country, why I loved travel to Thailand, it gave me a chance to let loose a bit.

What's gay life like where I am? Dead, living in a country town in Western Australia and being attracted mostly to Asian guys means I miss out badly. No gay saunas, no gay bars, no gay escorts and virtually no gay activity at all. The only upside is good internet and lots of porn, tsk tsk. The apps are still online but very little of interest for me in my region and even for a Thai massage by a Thai guy (with the only extra a happy ending) is a good 1.5 hours drive each way. Oh course this means that if I ever get to travel back to Bangkok I will be letting loose and having one hell of a mighty time.

There are talks at the moment of a possible vaccine travel bubble without quarantine between Australia and Singapore for later this year, I wouldn't mind it and even if I had to self isolate at home for a week or two on return would be fine. Possible travel bubble Aust - Singapore

G's on Silom soi 4 has become a favorite of mine, especially on my first night in, kind of became a ritual that after checking into the hotel I would head over to Senso and after a couple of hours there would enjoy a meal and beer at G's. My other favorite, although not gay owned that I know of, is The Mango Tree on Soi Tantawan.

Been very lucky here because the federal government closed the international borders at the start of the pandemic, life is almost normal with most infections being returning Australians in quarantine (those that were stranded overseas at the start of the pandemic) but the main restriction being international travel. So being free for me means being able to get to Thailand (or even Singapore) again and when I am set free to travel I shall be having fun fun fun with the masseurs in Bangkok (or Singapore).

I wasn't really a fan of the gogo bars, mostly turned off by loud music and at times pushy people but I do hope they survive but it may take some tweaking for that to be. The beer bars are much better for me, where I can sit and enjoy a drink and a chat with the guys and I can see (hope) they also survive long term. For me I believe my favorite places, the massage parlors, will continue but how many and the quality is the question. Already it appears that 2 of my favourites have closed permanently, according to Google search but looking forward to the day I can return and have some fun and hopefully a decent massage as well.

On a good note for Australians, the second vaccine has now been approved for use, Pfizer was the first one and now Astrazeneca make up the two so far. Doesn't mean anything for international travel though but at least it's a start.

Hasn't the government backflipped on private hospitals buying the vaccines now? Had read the PM had said it was fine but that appears to have been revoked about a week later. If it didn't interfere with the government's program it shouldn't be a problem. Not being there I'm only getting bits of the news online and knowing how quick things change there anything is possible. Possible block to private hospitals sourcing vaccine

Massage fun

I watched the video and have to agree with him, he put it so well, unfortunately from what I have read today and yesterday it looks like there is going to be big trouble coming both before and on inauguration day. Link below to a news story below, just an example of what I have read recently, I think the National guards are going to be in high demand Disturbing news story

Starting to get quite serious there now

This looks like the latest on Bangkok. The list of venues ordered to close around Bangkok include… entertainment venues (bars and nightclubs), water parks, amusement parks, playgrounds, children’s play equipment in markets, snooker tables, arcade venues, flea markets, game cafes, internet cafes, cockfighting grounds, other animal fighting grounds (huh?!). The list also includes nurseries and childcare facilities, elderly nursing homes, boxing stadiums, martial arts schools, gyms, horse racing tracks, soapie massage, massage parlours, all sports stadiums, gymnasiums, banquet and conference rooms, amulet and religious stores, preschools, child development centres, tattoo shops and acupuncture shops. Some of these locations, like nurseries and some schools had already been closed by previous orders. A representative of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration says the “additional measures” of closing some high risk venues and adding further restrictions will remain in force “until further notice”. Shopping centres and department stores will be allowed to stay open at this stage but will screen all customers upon entry. The fate of the city’s restaurants is being discussed today by the CCSA with a proposal on the table to restrict restaurant in high risk zones to take-away services only. The BMA is asking the CCSA not to take this additional measure at this stage. “If approved the mandatory food takeaway order may come into effect on Monday so owners have some time to prepare themselves.”

It looks like the Astrazeneca / Oxford University vaccine is proving itself, this is good for Australians (and me) as we have a license to produce it in Melbourne, they also believe it will be effective against the new strain in the UK. In another article it said they may be rolling it out in the UK within days, it's just waiting for it to be approved. This is also the one that the Australian government has said it will be sharing with others in the region to help them out. *********** LONDON — The COVID-19 vaccine developed by the British drug group AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford has achieved a “winning formula” for efficacy, the company’s chief executive said on Sunday. The vaccine, currently being evaluated by Britain’s independent medicines regulator, provides “100 percent protection” against severe COVID disease requiring hospitalization, Pascal Soriot said in an interview with the Sunday Times newspaper. He added he believes trials will show his firm has achieved a vaccine efficacy equal to Pfizer-BioNTech at 95 percent and Moderna at 94.5 percent.

From what I have been following and as some doctors are explaining, whether they are right or not only time will tell but to them it's how it's looking at the moment Basically these generation 1 vaccines at present appear to stop the disease but not stop the actual infection (it's like they have split the virus into 2 categories, infection and disease), so a vaccinated person may still get the virus but will only get a mild infection (sort of like a bad cold) and not get the severe illness. They aren't too sure yet just how effective the gen 1 vaccines are in stopping people actually getting the virus as that is still reliant on the testing and are saying that the future gen 2 and gen 3 vaccines will most likely be the ones to prevent infection (much like a flu shot).

I'm hoping late 2021 if these vaccines are any good but realistically looking at sometime 2022 and will be really hanging out for a fun trip then.

I think my last visit to Arena was mid afternoon on a Thursday (far too long ago now), there was a good 12 to 15 guys to choose from and the mere mention that I was looking for a top saw quite a few hands go up

I love Arena for a bit of rough and ready (oh god but my last visit there was so enjoyably intense to say the least), Senso has become a favourite and I hope their closure is only temporary, Prince is another favourite with only good service experienced there, mixed reviews of Bangkok massage with nothing really negative just that some times so much better than others but I always left happy. Can't wait until we can get back there so I can check out some of the other places.

On the Google it has Senso as permanently closed (I really hope it's only temporary) now and their website is temporarily unavailable, great pity if it is permanent

They definitely need some form of longer term visa / retirement visa, that could attract a lot of people seeking an alternative to Thailand. Love Vietnam but longing for that long term visa

Looks to me that it's always at a certain time of year that it gets bad, I notice during the holiday period when a lot of people left the city for the 7 day break the air cleared up but then upon their return it got bad again, added to all the burning off of crops and bush-land elsewhere and it blowing intro Thailand doesn't help much

I can help a little here 1. yes, every time I have been to The Prince the masseur has bee naked from the start of the massage 2. for massage rate it's best to look on their website but for tip I usually give 1500 / 2000 for 90 minute / 2hr massage and afters 3. if the masseur is willing HE can be just about anything (see below point as well) 4. yes but it depends on the guy you choose, best to let them know up front what you expect and want

I love it at Prince spa and always return there. May be a little more expensive than other places (certainly not the most expensive) but I have always received good value there and most certainly very good afters which was not restricted to just a HJ. Will be back there in June to once again partake in their pleasures

I hope the fun is never diminished, for me, I'm not so much into the bars but more into the short fun times at the gay massage places. Just started planning for my 2019 mid year trip and am hoping the fun continues.

Just want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and I hope it's a great one

Merry Christmas sglad and to all members