Hi, I have read up the thread on this. The saranrom park and area near the grand palace. Are these places still active? Is it advisable to walk there alone at night?

It's still active but not cruisy as it used to be. Peak time is around mid night when boys finish their time in pubs/bars. It's ok to walk around but, as other places, do not bring phone / money...and it's ok.

One more thing, some boys get drunk at that time it's advisable not to get in any problems with them. Simply, keep smiling and use your common sense.

We've read warnings by some of our own members about this area.  This documentary film from 2010 will should serve to discourage anyone from becoming involved.

 

http://www.shatterthelookingglass.com/underage-documentary-film/

The subject has been discussed in multiple threads, the most recent information here https://sawatdeenetwork.com/v4/showthread.php?17271-Saranrom-Park-news and on my blog. But the link by reader is new to me. As far as I can judge, those times are over.

actually there was an announcement today that Saranrom Park will be closed to the public, effective immediately. The new King takes it back to himself, like so many other things, including Dusit Zoo. What he wants with all these things is his secret I guess.... 

 

Source: https://www.thairath.co.th/content/1382810 (in Thai)

I feel sorry for the people who came there for escaping the heat and the noise in the area.

 

However this should not have any effect on the street trade as the boys use(d) to stand outside of the park which is closed at night.

actually there was an announcement today that Saranrom Park will be closed to the public, effective immediately.

 

I used to go to Saranrom Park on occasion.  That was years ago.  Ever since the advent of the gay hook-up apps I no longer found it necessary and I'd say it's been around 6 years, maybe more, since the last time I went..  I have no idea whether a visit to the park is still worth it, but it for sure was then.  If you've never been there you might want to give it a try.  I never felt in any way unsafe there at any time of night. 

 

At the time, the action would start about 10:00pm.  It was pointless to go much before 10:00pm because only a few boys were there any earlier.  The action seemed to escalate about 10:00pm and peak between midnight and 2:00am.

 

At the time, the going rate the boys would ask for was 500 baht.  I have no idea what the rate is now, but I believe the reason for the inexpensive rate was the customer base was mostly older Thais seeking boys and the presence of farang was unusual.  Thais are not about to pay the prices farang are used to paying.

 

I remember one time I went and there were loads of boys around the Grand Palace, Saranrom Park, and the road between the two.  It seemed to me there must have been at least 100 of them that night and I am not exaggerating.  If anything, I am underestimating.

 

If Saranrom Park is now closed to the public, that shouldn't matter to either the boys or potential customers.  When I would go, the boys were never actually in the park at all.  They plied their trade around the perimeter of the park.  That makes sense because most of their Thai customers would just drive their cars in circles around the park until they spotted a boy they wanted.  There were plenty to choose from.  They rarely parked and got out of their cars, so there would be no reason for the boys to actually be inside the park.

 

One thing I never knew, and still don't know, is how cruising action first got started at Saranrom Park or how long ago that was.  What I am curious about is whether there are other similar cruise areas in Bangkok that we just don't know about yet.  It would seem to me that in a city the size of Bangkok, there probably are.  Your job - find them . . .

I went their once several years back.     There were not that many boys and certainly not a nice selection of twinks like you might find in the gogo bars.     Eventually I found one who just about came up to standard.   I think we agreed 500.   I also paid for the taxi & the drive in short time hotel, which was on the other side of the river.

 

Back then, I would say the better options were cruising the Silom Centre and going to the gogo bars.     Now I would say it's the phone apps and the gogo bars.

 

 

Back then, I would say the better options were cruising the Silom Centre

  Hotel?

The park itself closes sharp at 21.00. Warnings and guards start pushing people out by 20.50. One of the cadet-training institutions of the Thai army is just opposite, as is Wat Pho. There is also a fitness area just beside main entry.

Indeed-most of the guys (just read another thread which suggested to stop using the word BOY) stand along the canal, also -when its busy-in side streets beside Wat Pho. Until 3-4 years ago there was a lively night-market along the side of the canal toward Sanam Luang, spilling out (as all Thai markets tend to do after some time) on the holy grounds. Some stalls also sold naughty DVDs (20 bt/piece and labelled poh) and ditto underwear. So you could first look at what to do later on.

A station of the extension of the MRT=rot faay fah taay din is already there and due to open late '19. Also Museum Siam-open again and free for any senior >60.

BTW: the other side of that same road still has and was/is famous for elderly Thai ladies offering exactly the same for str8-also going price haa roi. There are several short-time HTLs just 1 street further on, most also with sitting and expecting ladies in front, but indeed, somehow most of the guys seemed to prefer a HTL further on in Samsen or Thonburi.

And just around the corner was famous for katoeys, which most likely was-a very long time ago-the starting point of it all. Some in groups who can be even more pesky as in Soi Nana or along Pattaya beach.

And for khun lung GB: yes, the ''going rate'' there is still 500 for ''everything'', though i guess that by now one would need some persuasion as for what can be done for that note. Not very much out of the range that many of the mostly Thai m2m massageshops in suburbia also stipulate (for less as every-thing though). (PS; one also does not need to pay for taxi/tuk back to working space-most likely he has an accord with the driver about that).

  Hotel?

no , Silom Centre is that mall adjacent to Sala Daeng BTS 

no , Silom Centre is that mall adjacent to Sala Daeng BTS 

Sure you don't mean Silom Complex?

Sure you don't mean Silom Complex?

you are right and I was wrong

Peak time is around mid night when boys finish their time in pubs/bars.

The boys I met there came from all walks of live, but the majority was lo-so (low-society). The activity there is not linked to any opening or closing time.

What I am curious about is whether there are other similar cruise areas in Bangkok that we just don't know about yet.  It would seem to me that in a city the size of Bangkok, there probably are.  Your job - find them . . .

I don't think so. I met boys there (Saran Rom) who came from as far as Samrong. Anyway, with the decline of Saranrom, and in general all venue/location bases gay entertainment (sex cinemas, saunas), with maybe the exception of male massage (or is it just a fluctuation and number of opening businesses is the same as number of closing businesses) I don't think there is any gay activity that has escaped my intensive search.

 the decline of Saranrom

 

That brings to mind my next question.  Given that the most people who go to Saranrom are not farang, but older Thais looking for boys, then if Saranrom is declining available boy numbers, where now do the older Thais go to look for boys?

Apps?

By chance, I just passed there (Eastern side of Klong Lot at 21:45) by taxi and counted 10 boys, who looked available, and it looked very promising. I should have gotten out of the taxi for a closer inspection!

By chance, I just passed there (Eastern side of Klong Lot at 21:45) by taxi and counted 10 boys, who looked available, and it looked very promising. I should have gotten out of the taxi for a closer inspection!

You got that right !

By chance, I just passed there (Eastern side of Klong Lot at 21:45) by taxi and counted 10 boys, who looked available, and it looked very promising. I should have gotten out of the taxi for a closer inspection!

I'm utterly flabbergasted that you did not. Please tell me you're not slowing down. You're one of my heroes......

Didn't even know he was back in Thailand.

I thought he had left for Taiwan or Germany.

I was there a month back and talked to several guys. One guy really peaked my interest and I took him with me. He was great.  There were over 15 other guys working and near 11 PM. I was driving but had a Thai guy with me to interpret and that was needed as the English was very poor. However, the guy was stellar and the time was well worth it.  He only asked for 500 baht and I tipped even more.  I have seen him 2 times since and now he just comes to my place. He is former military and great body. 

I was there a month back and talked to several guys. One guy really peaked my interest and I took him with me. He was great.  There were over 15 other guys working and near 11 PM. I was driving but had a Thai guy with me to interpret and that was needed as the English was very poor. However, the guy was stellar and the time was well worth it.  He only asked for 500 baht and I tipped even more.  I have seen him 2 times since and now he just comes to my place. He is former military and great body. 

sounds great.

I have a technical question, so to speak: You say "took him with me"- to where? Your place? Or a short time hotel? Are there any in the area?

There is former Ruen Rom hotel, now S Hotel 1962 nearby, and several more who rent rooms short time in the 200 to 300 THB range.

 

I'm utterly flabbergasted that you did not. Please tell me you're not slowing down. You're one of my heroes......

Yes. I'm slowing down.

 

That day, I left my room 4 pm for 39 underground sauna (where I saw one awesome and several okay boys, but none of them was interested), then met a friend in Pinklao, but on that night he was not in the mood for sex, so I went home. I had two chances, none of them materialized.

 

Didn't even know he was back in Thailand.

I thought he had left for Taiwan or Germany.

That was earlier this year.

sounds great.

I have a technical question, so to speak: You say "took him with me"- to where? Your place? Or a short time hotel? Are there any in the area?

 

Yes, I took him to my apartment.