Bangkok trip report: 10 Days of Bliss.

[vinapu]

1 hour ago, jason1975 said:

Google Translate is clever at translating!

obviously neither you nor Google Translate ever saw my handwriting

[vinapu]

1 hour ago, jason1975 said:

Joey is really wow! But my heart belongs to Boss and Mean. So so handsome the Moonlight models! 🥰🥰🥰

take Boss, I will take Mean

[mauRICE]

1 hour ago, floridarob said:

However,  missing the Secretary-General..... only speculation on when he might "unexpectedly" show up...... I feel like the date is getting closer.

You don't know? He's already there as the Ghost of Christmas Present, whispering in everyone's ear not to be "scroogy".

[BjornAgain]

On 12/23/2025 at 11:26 AM, spoon said:

That is true. Another downside of hilton garden inn is there is no free upgrade offer. Price wise though, its definitely the cheapest. Ive yet to try it but reviews seems to be more on the negative, (poor maintenance, aging hotel, etc)

Would disagree, been using it for the last 2 years, always book a King Deluxe and get upgraded to a King Deluxe Suite.

The hotel was formerly a NovaTel, which the local Hilton Franchisee took over and carried out some basic re-branding on the outside as well as the reception area. Starting March / April next year they will be carrying out further refurbishment so expect prices to rise. Did notice last week the bathroom floor mat still had a large "N" on it.

While not in Silom, the new Hilton Metropolis Suites just off Sukhumvit Soi 39 also is even better value for money. Again an ex NovaTel bought by the same Franchisee. Admittedly no Exec lounge, resturant or bar, but no issues bringing fellow philatelists to admire your collection in your spacious studio or 1 bedroom apartment!

For absolute value for money, then the Garden Inn down in Rayong. Was paying 1200THB a night and getting upgraded to a suite. Night life was a bit thin on the ground,  but a cheap way to build your points.

[xpaulo]

On 12/22/2025 at 9:37 PM, jason1975 said:

trip reports weeks after 

Ha, ha... I find it disconcerting that as time goes by my recollection of an event or incident changes substantially to the point that sometimes the villain of the story is a person who wasn't even there, but rather a person I have a grudge against. I had an excellent memory when I was young. I won a current events quiz panel in grade 6, the others were all grade sevens. It was one the few times I remember my mother being proud of me. Now I'm a washed up boy genius.

 

[spoon]

14 minutes ago, BjornAgain said:

Would disagree, been using it for the last 2 years, always book a King Deluxe and get upgraded to a King Deluxe Suite.

The hotel was formerly a NovaTel, which the local Hilton Franchisee took over and carried out some basic re-branding on the outside as well as the reception area. Starting March / April next year they will be carrying out further refurbishment so expect prices to rise. Did notice last week the bathroom floor mat still had a large "N" on it.

While not in Silom, the new Hilton Metropolis Suites just off Sukhumvit Soi 39 also is even better value for money. Again an ex NovaTel bought by the same Franchisee. Admittedly no Exec lounge, resturant or bar, but no issues bringing fellow philatelists to admire your collection in your spacious studio or 1 bedroom apartment!

For absolute value for money, then the Garden Inn down in Rayong. Was paying 1200THB a night and getting upgraded to a suite. Night life was a bit thin on the ground,  but a cheap way to build your points.

Good to know that upgrades still offered in garden inn franchise. However, in the hilton app, that is not written, so i suppose it will depends on the discretion of the hotel to give upgrades. As comparison, hilton hotel and resorts clearly stated upgrades as one of the benefits. I can even checked my upgrades in the apps few days prior to my check in date.

 

[spoon]

1 hour ago, jason1975 said:

 

 

Thanks for the links for others to compare accounts of the same nights from different perspectives. 

[spoon]

55 minutes ago, vinapu said:

take Boss, I will take Mean

If my memory is correct, Mean was also absent during my first visit to moonlight. But tiger and nut is there and there are also few more new models from my two visits there, bringing the total models count to around 14 if im not mistaken. Fear not, Mean was there during my second visit, after apparently a long absence

Not all models will be available every night as most of you know already

[BjornAgain]

4 minutes ago, spoon said:

Good to know that upgrades still offered in garden inn franchise. However, in the hilton app, that is not written, so i suppose it will depends on the discretion of the hotel to give upgrades. As comparison, hilton hotel and resorts clearly stated upgrades as one of the benefits...

 

Agree, it's also about relationships. Arrived dishevelled last Wednesday having survived the Pattaya bus, and a 1 hour 45 minute Bolt taxi from Ekkamai, walking up to reception, and was greeted as if Pierce Brosnan in Die Another Day arriving at the Rubyeon Royale Hotel in Hong Kong, until the manager saw me, "Open the Presidential Suite".

 

[mauRICE]

31 minutes ago, BjornAgain said:

Agree, it's also about relationships. Arrived dishevelled last Wednesday having survived the Pattaya bus, and a 1 hour 45 minute Bolt taxi from Ekkamai, walking up to reception, and was greeted as if Pierce Brosnan in Die Another Day arriving at the Rubyeon Royale Hotel in Hong Kong, until the manager saw me, "Open the Presidential Suite".

Now, now, no need to be modest - in the staff's eyes you probably looked like Halle Berry emerging from the water in Die Another Day. 😉

[vinapu]

8 hours ago, xpaulo said:

 I had an excellent memory when I was young.

 

and then First World War happened ?

[vinapu]

7 hours ago, mauRICE said:

no need to be modest -

sure , never hurts to flash that golden tooth at front

[spoon]

Day 3 - The luck continues, or does it?

From this day onwards, no specific notes were taken, so itll be a recount from my text messages, and mostly from memories.

My guy left after breakfast together at the hotel buffet. I needed to change money at superrich, so we walked together to the nearby branch at Sukhumvit MRT. While location is convenient, rate isnt as good as x-one nor the silom plaza superrich branch so I change a bit of cash here. There are several other exchange place nearby but rates for MYR-Baht isnt any better. 

Back to hotel to catch up with sleeping and then woke up around 2 or so and get ready to head to Prime for an hour foot massage. Forum member told me he is at MBK shopping when asked about dinner plan for tonight and he wont be able to join. I told him im at Prime now for foot massage and having late lunch later if he wanted to join for a chat. We met at 90gram at Quarter Silom for a chat of world politics.

Back to hotel to enjoy the lounge until its time to head out for dinner tonight. Tonight dinner is only us 3 malaysian, my friend who travelled with me and another friend i know from telegram group who used to work in bangkok. We decided to try Central park again and this time browsing through their food court area, where almost 70% of the stalls here have michelin labels. I didnt eat much since im still full from late lunch and titbits in the lounge so I just order a drink, while my friends ordered crab fried rice and fried rice with fish.

Tonight, we decided to go to dreamboy. But since its still early, we parked ourselves at midnight bar. I always have a thing for one of their waiter. He was fun and flirty but ive yet to off him. He is very popular anyway and for me, he is still a borderline case. But i still enjoys his attention at the bar. My KL friend went up to freshboy as he already arrange a boy to off tonight. Meanwhile we go to dreamboy around 10.30pm for the show and see their line up.

We took the seat at the very back and center, so we got a good look at the stage. Pretty impressive numbers of guys available to choose from. Perhaps the most boys in all bars in Bkk. All kind of guys too, from twinks, to average, muscular and geriatric. My friend didnt see anyone to his liking though, and im not surprise as that has always been my experience before as well. Lots of guys of all different type but none Id take.

However, I have received intel that a guy i really like from FB moved here, so I tried to look if he is around and lo and behold, i saw him when its in between shows and guys started to rotate on the stage. However, while he looks very impressive and stands out in FB, here, he looks small indeed in comparison to his peers in the line up. 

Without much hesitation, I called mamasan and told his number to come join me for a drink. The usual conversation ensued. Asked if he will go with me to my hotel, he said yes. Asked if he will do long time with me, and im surprised that he didnt hesitate to say yes. Reiterate that will he stay with me until breakfast and he repeated yes.

Why am I surprised? Because the last conversation we had in FB, he flatly said no long time to me. This time, I did told him that i know him from FB before, though he cant recall me. Cant recall much of dreamboy shows, as we left around 11 pm so we didnt see much of their shows.

Anyway, happy that im all set for the night, so I asked my friend if he wants to stay at dreamboy or move somewhere else. He said move elsewhere and we land on Banana Bar. Told my KL friend that we are heading there and he met us there as well. He told us that his guy were not at the bar and he told him if he is still interested, to meet him at banana. His guy show up 15 mins later. He actually went with another customer for short time off before. 

At banana bar, we each has our own bench, and each of us has a guy sitting with us, all from different bars. Me with dream boy guy my KL friend with FB guy, and the other friend, a guy from banana. We stay for a while as we always enjoyed the show here long enough to see their boy line up and big cock shows  I counter around 8 guys. Of course their shows are mostly done by their very beautiful ladyboys (my guy definitely enjoys seeing them) and a dance crew (some of them can be off as well albeit at higher price).

We left for supper at silom edge and each of us depart back to our hotel with taxi/bolt. I ordered my bolt and off we go, 3 of us, me and my guy with my friend since he can save few baht taking grab from sukhumvit instead. So we say good bye to my KL friend . At my hotel entrance, I also said goodbye to my friend as he ordered his grab.

As we entered my hotel, my guy asked if he can use my phone charger, I said yes. As I reach my pocket to grab my phone, I suddenly realized that it is not there..... 

[vinapu]

3 hours ago, spoon said:

Why am I surprised? Because the last conversation we had in FB, he flatly said no long time to me.

......................

As we entered my hotel, my guy asked if he can use my phone charger, I said yes. As I reach my pocket to grab my phone, I suddenly realized that it is not there..... 

quite possible market forces at work

...........

I like that suspension at end of post., makes readers itching for more

[jason1975]

2 hours ago, vinapu said:

I like that suspension at end of post., makes readers itching for more

@spoon is a good storyteller!

[jason1975]

2 hours ago, vinapu said:

quite possible market forces at work

I agree. But it is good for us customers!

[daydreamer]

12 hours ago, spoon said:

I needed to change money at superrich, so we walked together to the nearby branch at Sukhumvit MRT. While location is convenient, rate isnt as good as x-one nor the silom plaza superrich branch so I change a bit of cash here. There are several other exchange place nearby but rates for MYR-Baht isnt any better.

@spoon, if you find yourself in Sukhumvit in the future, you may want to exchange money at Vasu money exchange, located at the corner of Sukhumvit Road and Soi 7/1, right near to BTS Nana Exit 1.  

They have been in that location for decades, and the exchange rates they offer are equivalent (within a couple satang) to X-One and the Silom Plaza Superrich branch.

https://www.vasuexchange.co.th/

 

[hank75]

12 hours ago, spoon said:

As I reach my pocket to grab my phone, I suddenly realized that it is not there..... 

A cliffhanger ending indeed…

12 hours ago, spoon said:

Asked if he will do long time with me, and im surprised that he didnt hesitate to say yes. Reiterate that will he stay with me until breakfast and he repeated yes.

Why am I surprised? Because the last conversation we had in FB, he flatly said no long time to me.

Another explanation could be that he has the chance to meet you in person at the bar and negotiate the off face to face, which inspired confidence in agreeing to long time? Going to the bar in person, “investing” in the cover, off fee, mamasan tip probably indicated you were a serious customer as opposed to a random on FB that he has never met before. And he probably liked what he saw as well.

Think there are very few boys who would agree to long time just based on first FB or Grindr chat. 

 

[spoon]

1 minute ago, hank75 said:

A cliffhanger ending indeed…

Another explanation could be that he has the chance to meet you in person at the bar and negotiate the off face to face, which inspired confidence in agreeing to long time? Going to the bar in person, “investing” in the cover, off fee, mamasan tip probably indicated you were a serious customer as opposed to a random on FB that he has never met before. And he probably liked what he saw as well.

Think there are very few boys who would agree to long time just based on first FB or Grindr chat. 

 

Sorry for the misunderstanding. What i meant when i say last conversation in FB, i meant to say freshboys. I can see why its confusing hehe. The guy moved from freshboys to dreamboy. 

[hank75]

18 minutes ago, spoon said:

Sorry for the misunderstanding. What i meant when i say last conversation in FB, i meant to say freshboys. I can see why its confusing hehe. The guy moved from freshboys to dreamboy. 

Haha ok this makes sense to me now. My mistake. I have a friend who enjoys chatting to MBs on Facebook and has successfully arranged offs and “dates” with them for his trips. Of course he can meet them at their bars too but it gives him something to do while he’s not in Thailand and builds a nice sense of anticipation of having a new boy waiting for him. 

[spoon]

Day 3.95 - The unmitigated disaster.

I immediately asked my guy if he saw my phone, and he said no. I saw one phone on the table and it was his phone. I checked my small backpack thoroughly and its not there. My last recollection was of course i used my phone to book my bolt, and its not with me now, so it can only mean i left it in the bolt car!

At this time, my guy is already in the bathroom ready to shower. I told him I would go downstairs to find my phone. In my mind, I was hoping that the driver realized that my phone was left in his car and already gave it to the concierge for me to collect. 

Alas, when i reached the reception, I asked if anyone leave my phone with them or concierge and they said no. My heart sank, and thoughts running through my head of what will happen if I lost my phone, at the beginning of my trip too.

I then told the reception that I believed I left my phone in the bolt car. She asked me if i remember the car plate number. I told her i dont, i can maybe remember the number but not the thai character for sure. The receptionist asked where did the car dropped me, and i told her near the entrance to to hotel lobby, and not at the street. So she called the security and asked them if they can see the security camera footage if they can identify the car plate number. She asked me what time the car dropped me and if i recall the car color and make. I told her its a black toyota vios.

While they are helping me with this, she asked me if i can wait and sit at the lounge chair. After few minutes waiting, i thought of an idea. I went back to the receptionist and asked if she has a line. Asked her to find my line account but unfortunately, she couldnt find it using both my phone number or user id. Not the first time i had this issue, especially when exchanging contacts with guys, and best way to bypass this is by sharing QR code. Well, since i did not have my phone with me, that wont work. 

I then asked if she has whatapps, and unfortunately she doesnt have one. I then asked if she can try to call my phone using my phone number, which is a malaysian phone number, so it will be an international call. I of course said I will pay any charges incur. She tried that as well but apparently had issues getting through the operator. 

After trying for a while, she then asked he colleague if she has whatapps and to my relief, she said yes. I gave her my phone number for her to add my whatapps account and ask her if she can call my phone. She called, and no one answer. She called again, the same. At this point, I am totally at lost already. Not to mention, i have a hunky guy waiting for me in my room. Ill just have to accept that chances of recovering my phone are slim now. 

Before I went upstair, i checked again with reception if there is any update on the security camera, and she said not yet. But then, she asked me if the phone number i shared with her is the one i used for my bolt account. I said yes. She told me she is reporting my incident with bolt. And hope that bolt will respond soon. My experience with customer service have been a mixed bag, so I didnt get my hopes up that they will respond anytime soon, seeing its now maybe 2am. Having half accepted my fate, I thanked the receptionist, the security and the concierge for their help, and went back to my room. 

I guess as i aged, I tend to get better control of my emotion and learnt to accept things that is out of my control. Ive done all i could, and now, its up to the universe to do its thing. While the memory of tonight is somewhat tainted, my session with my guy actually went great. Even though language is a bit of barrier, I think we had good chemistry. He stays until breakfast and before he left, i asked him if he can let his friend (who went with my friend) knows that i lost my phone and I will meet him later at dinner as per agreed before. 

 

[spoon]

2 hours ago, daydreamer said:

@spoon, if you find yourself in Sukhumvit in the future, you may want to exchange money at Vasu money exchange, located at the corner of Sukhumvit Road and Soi 7/1, right near to BTS Nana Exit 1.  

They have been in that location for decades, and the exchange rates they offer are equivalent (within a couple satang) to X-One and the Silom Plaza Superrich branch.

https://www.vasuexchange.co.th/

 

Thanks for the tips! I just checked the website for today's rate, it is better than mrt sukhumvit branch 7.6 vs vasu 7.63, but silom plaza gives 7.65, so is Xone. This is rate for MYR-Bath, so RM 1 will give me 7.65 baht. Definitely a worthy branch to consider when staying at sukhumvit area!

[jason1975]

5 hours ago, hank75 said:

Haha ok this makes sense to me now. My mistake. I have a friend who enjoys chatting to MBs on Facebook and has successfully arranged offs and “dates” with them for his trips. Of course he can meet them at their bars too but it gives him something to do while he’s not in Thailand and builds a nice sense of anticipation of having a new boy waiting for him. 

 

Understandable that you thought that FB = Facebook as it is globally accepted shortform.

But when it comes to bars in Bangkok, regulars tend to use the following short form for the bars

FB - Freshboys

DB - Dreamboys

GB - Good Boy

[jason1975]

6 hours ago, spoon said:

I guess as i aged, I tend to get better control of my emotion and learnt to accept things that is out of my control. Ive done all i could, and now, its up to the universe to do its thing. While the memory of tonight is somewhat tainted, my session with my guy actually went great. Even though language is a bit of barrier, I think we had good chemistry.

If I had been in your situation, I wouldn't be in the mood to do anything. Kudos to you for keeping a cool head!

[floridarob]

6 hours ago, spoon said:

Having half accepted my fate, I thanked the receptionist, the security and the concierge for their help, and went back to my room. 

I have faith you'll get your phone back....use another phone to log into your Bolt account and go from there.