Adventures of a Bangkok Rookie August 2026

[jason1975]

22 minutes ago, ichigo said:

My 'favourite' from Hotmale told me he worked at Freshboy for a very short amount of time and although there are many customers, there weren't that many offs, which is why he moved to Hotmale. I found that quite interesting. 

What your guy said is true. Freshboy has many customers but they go mainly to watch the shows.

In current low season, out of 30 to 40 guys working in a night, seldom are there more than 10 guys offed. In high season, the percentage is comfortably more than 50%.

Even with few offs during this low season, the guys can still get by from boy drinks and customer's tips.

Even though customers don't have intetion to off anyone, they like to invite guys to sit and drink with them while they watch the show.

[aaroninatl]

8 minutes ago, jason1975 said:

Even though customers don't have intetion to off anyone, they like to invite guys to sit and drink with them while they watch the show.

I was wondering how that all worked.  I assumed if you buy them a drink they hang with you for a period of time but not the night. Wow.  That would be rude... totally sabotages their chances of making money.  I knew I had no intentions of offing last night that's why I tipped the guy I liked on stage.  

[jason1975]

Just now, aaroninatl said:

I was wondering how that all worked.  I assumed if you buy them a drink they hang with you for a period of time but not the night. Wow.  That would be rude... totally sabotages their chances of making money.  I knew I had no intentions of offing last night that's why I tipped the guy I liked on stage.  

It's OK for a guy to sit with customer and watch one show. There are three shows every night. After the show, the guys politely tell customer they have to go back on stage (unless customer buys them another boy drink or off them)

[aaroninatl]

Sunday update:  I'll save ya time... no scene stuff to talk about today... so far at least.

Spent the day with the guy I met on Grindr.  Found a solid American style breakfast spot near my Airbnb.  After we had some fun at said Airbnb and then made our way back to where we went yesterday for that market for the Muy Thai fights at Channel 7.  Good time but holy crap... if you're claustrophobic, I'd pass.  I'm not and it was almost too much for me.  Energy was crazy in that place.  Some of the fighters were rather hot too.  Always a bonus.

I hadn't checked out one of the infamous hyped up malls I'd been hearing about for months before this trip.  Well dang it.  Now I get the hype.  We stopped at the one off the Siam BTS stop... not icon the other one.  The one with the aquarium.  Ok the aquarium was way overpriced but the mall itself really is spectacular.  The smells are wonderful inside.  The place is beautiful... even the bathrooms were like works of art.

Just got back to my Airbnb and am trying to muster up the energy to head over to Hotmale.  it's 8:15pm now.  Should probably get my butt outta bed and off this laptop if Im going to do this.

[a-447]

46 minutes ago, aaroninatl said:

I was wondering how that all worked.  I assumed if you buy them a drink they hang with you for a period of time but not the night. Wow.  That would be rude... totally sabotages their chances of making money.  I knew I had no intentions of offing last night that's why I tipped the guy I liked on stage.  

If I know beforehand that I have other arrangements for the night and won't be offing the guy drinking with me, I tell him that if a previous customer comes in, he can leave me and go sit with him in order to get an off.

Surprisingly, no guy has ever taken me up on the offer.

[jason1975]

6 hours ago, aaroninatl said:

 After we had some fun at said Airbnb and then made our way back to where we went yesterday for that market for the Muy Thai fights at Channel 7.  Good time but holy crap... if you're claustrophobic, I'd pass.  I'm not and it was almost too much for me.  Energy was crazy in that place.  Some of the fighters were rather hot too. 

Wow. I haven't been to Channel 7 muay thai. Interesting day time date activity! I've only been to Rajadamnern Stadium and Lumpinee Stadium in evenings.

[aaroninatl]

16 minutes ago, jason1975 said:

Wow. I haven't been to Channel 7 muay thai. Interesting day time date activity! I've only been to Rajadamnern Stadium and Lumpinee Stadium in evenings.

I’m gonna try to do that also before I leave. That’s definitely the big spot.  The channel 7 thing sounds like a decade long tradition from what I read.  It’s a lot more raw.  The crowd is full of gambling guys going out of their minds.  Just be sure to get there at least an hour early.  We probably got the last of the seats left.  Also, there is a dress code, believe it or not.  Because it’s televised it’s almost like a temple visit.  Collars are necessary.  Pants.  No toes showing.  There was an enterprising couple of shops that would rent you what you need.  I had to buy those elephant pants.  They charge ฿60 for the rental. When you return them, you get 50 back.  I kept them as a souvenir lol

[aaroninatl]

Sunday night update.
There was no-show at Hotmale. At least for me.  I fell asleep shortly after 9 PM after that last post.  Fail. I’ll try again tonight.  😆

[jason1975]

1 minute ago, aaroninatl said:

Sunday night update.
There was no-show at Hotmale. At least for me.  I fell asleep shortly after 9 PM after that last post.  Fail. I’ll try again tonight.  😆

It's understandable that you would be tired after an interesting day of activities with your new boyfriend!

[aaroninatl]

4 minutes ago, jason1975 said:

It's understandable that you would be tired after an interesting day of activities with your new boyfriend!

Yeah, it was definitely a long day. And I didn’t get a chance to do my pre-going out nap. Holy crap I feel old saying that. Tried to shake myself out of it and just get up. Wasn’t happening.  I think the final thought was I’m here for another 10 days and then two weeks in October.  I’ll get there. Maybe even tonight. 
 

The annoying thing is now it’s 3 AM and I’m up. Hoping I can fall back asleep.  Gotta get this pattern set.  

[vinapu]

9 hours ago, aaroninatl said:

 I knew I had no intentions of offing last night that's why I tipped the guy I liked on stage.  

very wise as it signalizes an interest for future, next time you are in the bar , at least one smile will be directed at you immediately.

[vinapu]

1 hour ago, aaroninatl said:

Sunday night update.
There was no-show at Hotmale. At least for me.  I fell asleep shortly after 9 PM after that last post.  Fail. I’ll try again tonight.  😆

funny thing, when I was reading that :

9 hours ago, aaroninatl said:

 am trying to muster up the energy to head over to Hotmale.  it's 8:15pm now.  Should probably get my butt outta bed and off this laptop if I'm going to do this.

 

I was tempted to comment  ' you better do it now otherwise you will fall asleep " but decided to read thread till end first.

Sadly it looks I was suspecting correctly . How? because it happened to me more than once in the past

[jimmie50]

2 hours ago, aaroninatl said:

Sunday night update.
There was no-show at Hotmale. At least for me.  I fell asleep shortly after 9 PM after that last post.  Fail. I’ll try again tonight.

You have plenty of time to take in all of the sights and sounds.  No need to try and do it all within the first couple of days. I understand it can be intoxicating once there, but you also need to listen to your body and get some rest.  What works for  me may not work for others, but in all of my various trips to Thailand to visit my friends...and more recently for my own pleasure (lol)...I have learned when flying from the US to schedule my arrival in the morning sometime before 12noon.  I then stay busy the rest of the day until what would be a reasonable bed time that first night.  I usually am able to fall asleep easily because I am so tired and wake up the next morning refreshed and ready to go.  My body clock seems to adjust pretty quickly for me following that routine.  I have planned the same for my upcoming trip to Cambodia.  Unfortunately, the same does not work in reverse for me.  It takes me several days when I get back to Denver to recover from the jet lag.  

[aaroninatl]

2 hours ago, jimmie50 said:

You have plenty of time to take in all of the sights and sounds.  No need to try and do it all within the first couple of days. I understand it can be intoxicating once , but you also need to listen to your body and get some rest.  

You know, it’s all your fault… all you guys. After reading so many of these posts over the past few months before my trip you got me way too excited so it’s all your fault.  Thanks for all the great information you guys have posted over the years.  It intimidating going to a new city for a first time. I can navigate you through the scenes In Montréal, Fort Lauderdale, Prague, London, Bogota, Medellin. I know them all like the back of my hand.  So it’s exciting, but challenging roaming here for the first time. There is that kid in the candy store factor.  My eyes are wide and I can’t wait to experience everything for the first time.  I have a total of about four weeks in Bangkok, two in the front two in the back end of the trip.  But there is that drive to get everything in as fast as possible.  But definitely glad I ended up just taking it easy last night when we got back. 
 

This Shark still has some miles to swim. Seriously though if you guys go to that mall aquarium, don’t buy the ticket.  We had fun, but was way overpriced.  

[vinapu]

there's no trip like first trip , glad you are experiencing that excitement we are already deprived of

[aaroninatl]

27 minutes ago, vinapu said:

there's no trip like first trip , glad you are experiencing that excitement we are already deprived of

yeah I tried to especially enjoy these moments the first few days.  With all the cities I visit, it's like that.. you chase that initial high.  The honeymoon phase winds down.  Already I'm mellowing.  But I know the moment I get back to the US I'm going to miss this.  I am pretty certain I'll be living somewhere in Thailand by next year.

[jason1975]

1 hour ago, vinapu said:

there's no trip like first trip , glad you are experiencing that excitement we are already deprived of

Yes. Many of us are currently deprived but thanks for sharing your excitement with us @aaroninatl

[aaroninatl]

First meal at Foodland. 

I know I didn't do it the proper way bringing a guy from the bars with me. In time.

Had the American breakfast with an iced coffee.  Passed my test.  Quick and cheap.

[aaroninatl]

For anyone needing a new wallpaper. 

I liked this perspective with 3 of the bars in one.  Hotmale on the right and Fresh in the background.

[aaroninatl]

I’m pretty sure I’ve seen it open at night. I’ve walked by but during the daylight looks pretty quiet and empty.  But I don’t think it’s closed.  Someone asked about this bar in another thread.  Going to try to check it out tonight.