Adventures of a Bangkok Rookie August 2026

[aaroninatl]

The first 24 hours have gone by and this city has not disappointed. As expected, I made all of these plans and did all this research and then just ended up improvising on my first night. This experience is so overwhelming. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna be living here within a year.

I arrived at midnight and hastily made my way to immigration to try not to get in the back of the line. It didn't matter much. The line was about 15 minutes at the most. After two days of trying to sleep on airplanes and getting maybe two hours combined in 10 minute increments, I got into my Airbnb at 2 AM. I was so wired and excited I still ended up taking a walk around the neighborhood. I knew I would feel safe and I did even at 4 AM in the middle of the week. There were street markets at that hour... that blew me away.

I walked around this afternoon and got introduced to the massage scene. After doing a few laps around Si Lom, I ended up at 19 massage. Kit was my choice. Excellent massage the extras were OK. I'm a pretty easy customer in that. I don't go the full way with escorts or the like. Room charge was 700. I tipped him 1000 which probably was excessive. I have an appointment tomorrow at Ssence with Kairo. 

I was so mesmerized walking around tonight that I almost didn't even go to a go-go bar. A couple weeks ago a few of you got on my case that I was over planning and singling out whatever bar would be my best bet for the first night. As I imagined I would, I ended up not even making it to the one I planned. I think fresh boy was the one I ended up at.  The stage shows were much more involved than I thought they would be. I guess I'm used to American strip clubs where they just shuffle from 1 foot to the other.  Between the choreography and playfulness on stage, I was pretty impressed.  

After reading about all these meals at Foodland, you guys have had I think my expectations I might've been a little high lol. I didn't have a meal though so I can't judge. But I popped in a couple times.  I haven't done anything touristy yet got plenty of time to do that.  If anyone's in town hit me up! 

[aaroninatl]

Pardon the weird comma placements and awkward sentence endings.  I used Siri.  She's clearly an American public education gal.

[aaroninatl]

Other random first impressions...

- Wow there really are that many 7 Elevens.
- Didn't need bug spray today.  
- Was that a rat or a cat?  Sounds like a Dr Seuss line but holy f the rats here are enormous.
- Grindr options for an old fart like me are amazing... but I'm sure many are eventual Money Boys.
- Americans don't use air conditioning. We refrigerate ourselves. It's weird how low the ACs are here to this yank.
- Was stoked to see fried apple pies at mcDonalds. Until I saw the flavors: pineapple or corn. 

[12is12]

I love ur newbie's enthusiasm and impressions, especially the one about not being sure which bar u ended up at.....   (-:

[jason1975]

Welcome to Bangkok!

[aaroninatl]

3 hours ago, 12is12 said:

I love ur newbie's enthusiasm and impressions, especially the one about not being sure which bar u ended up at.....   (-:

I was thinking about that last night. I hope I don't get jaded and bored with Thailand. That has already happened in the other cities I visit for this kind of fun like Fort Lauderdale and Montreal.  My primary reason for the trip wasn't really even for this. I'm semi retired right now and looking for countries to live for maybe two or three years at a time.  Then I got reading these boards.  My priority is still my priority, but a little fun... or a lot of fun will be had. When you visit any of those other cities, the fun is concentrated to one particular experience. Here it's just overwhelming the choices you have never end. I'm only 24 hours in.  I've seen maybe .001% of this city.  And it's already almost too much.  

By the way, I can confirm it was freshboy. I saw a flyer post in a different thread and that's definitely where I spent an hour or so last night.  I'm assuming I was talking with the mamasan.  He mentioned there will be 40 dancers tonight.  There were probably 20 or 25 last night ... at least a half dozen I would gladly spend time with.