Last treats in Bangkok

Coming back from Pattaya at noon, I had only thirty-three hours left before leaving my hotel room for the airport ... making the best of the little time available was an obvious necessity. As soon as I had unpacked, I quickly proceeded to the Sutthisan massage shops for a third visit.

K Way gay massage ... how dare they !

These three shops are clustered along Sutthisan, about 1 km from the Saphan Khwai intersection (walking is not pleasant because of uneven sidewalks and heavy traffic) ; the shop frontages are difficult to spot as they are very discreet and their name is sometimes not written or only in thai : City Spa, Inthara Spa and Home Spa in that order when coming from Saphan Kwai. They have the same owner, who has just bought a fourth place (former Vanda Spa) which he has very boldly named K-Why (only thai language on the window) ! I hope that the local police will be lenient enough !

Similar to the first two times, I went to Home Spa but this time I was shown a tablet with pictures of the boys ; on my former visits they just opened a venetian blind for me to choose among more than 20 boys. I had already made a short list of the guys I wanted with their name, and the short list was long enough to get one of the chosen lads .. easier at 4 pm than two hours later I guess.

These shops do not always get good reviews on the Thai Massage website : their Line accounts show very promising boys, some of them videoed during sexy training sessions, or even in full hard action ... So expectations from the customers are great and many complain that the boy they had chosen was not available, or that the service was not satisfying.

Korn (from Line account)

I could have complained too : my first boy (on my first day in Bangkok) did a good massage but was not interested into further action, but at least he had been OK for cuddling and hugging ; the second one did not even accept close contact fearing getting dirty from the oil he had generously smeared over my body ! But his body was so perfect that I still have a good memory of him ; he had worked in the buff from the beginning, seemingly in compliance with the shop policy.

This third boy fully made up for the former ones. Korn, a 19 years old Thai Yai massaged me strongly enough until he began to work my back sitting naked on my butt. This is a situation when I am sorry to tell I usually lose completely my mind, and he responded with great talent. Of course he was duly rewarded and I will for sure go again with him if by chance he is still there next time - a very unlikely possibility as there seems to be a high turn-over among the boys in these shops.

I was smiling all the way back to my hotel despite this evening being the last one for this trip.

Pattaya routine ... I like !

As soon as I arrived in Pattaya, I found myself embracing the daily routine : lazying two hours at the hotel roofpool, then having a nice 150 THB all-you-can-eat breakfeast at Apex Hotel (Mike Shopping Mall area) followed by sitting for 4/5 hours at Dong Tan beach : as a mountain boy I am never tired of gazing at the sea view. Coming back to my room, I would usually do some shopping or read magazines on my phone.

Another day in Pattaya

Only from 6,00 pm would the sechedule vary a little, with visits to different restaurants depending on the mood of the day : alone, I prefer to go to Kiss Restaurant or Salt and Pepper where lonely farangs are the norm, while I would treat my boy du jour to Oh-Aharn ; there I was surprised to find empty seats much more easily than before, even at peak hour.

In the evening, we are still spoilt for choice in Pattaya from massage shops to open-air bars and gogo-shows, but I did not visit a lot. I gave a second chance to Nice Boys but to no avail, and I just realise now that I did not enter any Boyztown bar, doing little more than a quick stroll in the area. I gave Sunee Plaza a short visit, as I had been lured into an almost desert The One Bar by a nice face - who disappeared as soon as I sat down ! Finally Jomtian Complex was once again the place to be, with BC Bar and @Home being the most welcoming. Some more remote places could give interesting results with some luck and some patience, like the new Akha Bar which just opened between Zing and Agate hotels ; a pity the boys there seemed more interested in chatting together than welcoming cuistomers, so that I will never know if they really are hilltribe Akha boys - not that it would matter !

I had two great massages in 41 Massage (former Somjit, near Tuk.Com) with very handsome young guys from Nong Khai ... nice experiences which make me more and more attracted to massage shops for meeting boys, especially as the queue system is now mostly a thing of the past. Compared with the bars, massage shops avoid all the trouble with drinks, mamasan, off, sleeping with a complete stranger and so on, and there are a lot of gems to be found.

Labanoon concert

Finally, I made my yearly pilgrimage to The Venue for their show, as well-done as ever. And above all I had the pleasure to make a dream come true : attending a live Labanoon concert. I am a fan of this group from southern Thailand and love their music more than any other thai artist (look thung artists apart). They came to Pattaya for Loy Krathong and I did not miss the chance, along with a cambodian boy who is a fan too. Despite a long wait, a huge crowd (99 % thai) took part and a great time was had by all.

Now back to Bangkok for two days (and one night !) before the unavoidable flight back home, where the daily routine will be MUCH more boring than in Pattaya !

Misfortunes and second thoughts

There had been this bad fall last year when visiting the Saranrom area ... and this year a pain (which passed quickly) in my foot when staying in Salaya, probably due to too many beers in Hua Hin. At the time, I was beginning mulling over the appropriateness to visit Thailand again, as a trip without beer could be quite boring and not really worth the effort and the money.

And here I was at 4,30 in the morning in my Jomthian hotel room, desperately trying to evacuate all the liquid (Red, soda, Coke, thank you !) I had taken during a long night in Tamnan Chon with three cambodian young men ... The night had been great, but ended in the Pattaya Memorial Hospital emergency service where a very efficient staff took good care of me. Some visits and medication later, everything is OK now but I must confess that my brain has been thinking hard for the three days I had to haul around a not so discreet medical device : should I come back to Thailand again ? Would'not I be better at home skipping the long flight and taking good care of my mother ?

I had scheduled only two days in Jomthian and planned to go back to Bangkok for some days, as well as a short trip to Udon and Nong Bua Lamphu ..; finally I cancelled everything and am now staying in my usual South Pattaya hotel : closer to the Hospital where I have to meet the doctor once again, and to the many facilities that I miss when staying in Jomthian : cheap laundry, eateries of all kinds, markets, commercial centers and so on.

Pattaya seems to be much quieter than usual, although Soi Buakhao is still brimming with girlie bars and massage shops, and the usual bunch of farangs going along with them. I cannot say the same about Sunee Plaza where for the first time in my life I could feel the sad demise of this place where I have had so many great times before. The closing of Sky Bar, the quite ordinary selection of boys in Nice Bar, and these dark and desert sois, were now too hard to bear. As for Jomtian beach, it also seemed very quiet to me, at least in my concession which is a little farther than the most attended ones.

Finally I made up with Pattaya in a dark corner of Day&Night area where I was walking glancing at the boys on offer in front of the massage shops. Win, a 19/y old from Khorat had ventured out of his place to improve his chances of hitting on a customer and accosted me .. bingo ! he was exactly the kind of boy I was looking for : eager, dark-skinned and available. Massage was OK and the boy was not shy and ready for everything. One hour later I was already thinking of my next trip to Thailand !

Happening city

The second part of my stay was much more usual than the ten days of road-tripping I had spent in the south. But who could say that a visit to Pattaya is uneventful ? As always, every day brought its share of unforgettable events.

I spent most of my days lazying in the sun and despite Jomtien Beach being mostly quiet, It was a surprise never to get bored sitting many hours in the same chair, just looking at the world going by and at the sea. And even when the beach is closed, merely walking along the streets is a nice way to spend some time.

Being alone for most of my time helped a lot, although I sometimes surprised myself to miss my boyfriend. However the boy from Udon Thani had found the right words to join me for three days ; he wanted to visit Koh Larn, which was a quite satisfactory reason for me to accept. He did not show the slightest interest in visiting the gay scene so at least I would not be held morally responsible for a new isan boy falling into the sex industry. Once again we had some great times together, as he is completely unashamed when it comes to sex. Unfortunately he had once again some friends to visit, and I had to spend the third night alone, exactly like what happened last year in Hua Hin. To his credit, I must say we quickly made up for the lost time just before he went back home.

Nice masseur in Pattaya

I also had a great surprise when walking along the backstreets of the Tuk.com area ; the massage boy I had missed last year was sitting in front of one of the shops (a shop which has both girls and boys on offer). Speaking frankly, I knew from his Facebook that he was in town but did not expect to find him so easily. I asked for a boy and as he was the only one, I quickly found myself in a private cubicle with this boy of my dreams. The massage was so-so but he quickly noticed my, say, emotion, as soon as he had finished the back part. The price was easily agreed upon (1500 THB if he stripped off completely) and finally I could hug this really handsome young isan boy that I had been drooling over since some months.

I did not visit a lot of bars as I quickly found what I was looking for. In Jomtien, I saw that BC Bar had been deprived of most of its boys who had joined another place in the Complex ; the place to go for nice khmer boys is now @Home Bar further down the soi, and also the Question Mark Bar which seems to welcome new lads on a regular basis. These Cambodian boys are not really experienced and not as good actors as their thai counterparts, but in Jomtien Complex they are almost the only way to go if you are into manly and handsome boys.

I never forget to pay a visit to soi Sunee where Sky Bar stays a welcoming place along with the Red Ting Tong Bar. I did not really like the gogo bars there, including the new Winner Boys where the atmosphere and the prices are quite interesting but the boys definitely too girlish for my taste. And finally I could not miss going to the Cupidol Bar which is doing so well according to the forums ; they are right, they offer a nice selection of boys which should content everyone’s taste.

Happy end

The last days in Bangkok were once again spent on updating my blog, as I do not really have time to write it when I am in Pattaya or elsewhere. I could type it in my hotel room but it is too much of a hassle with the need to have a swift wifi connection, a big screen for the many windows I have to open (including some much needed French/English dictionaries), and a nice keyboard with visible keys as I use the QWERTY lay-out only in Thailand. So what is best than a good old computer to work efficiently ? And what is nicer than seeking inspiration while ogling at the incredibly cute young clerk managing the store down the corner from my hotel … A pity that I have only a few hours left, I would happily have handed my calling card to him, his broad smiles had let me hoping for the best.

Bangkok Boyztown

When I am alone at night in Bangkok, I often ride the long journey from Saphan Kwai to Soi Twilight where I feel much more at ease eating alone at Dick's Café. Everyone knows that Soi Twilight at night is a show by itself, with all the touts, the boys and the tourists happily mingling in a festive atmosphere. This makes for an almost free entertainment which widely outperforms the shows offered at an outrageous price in the local bars, before heading to a beer bar or giving the eye to massage boys eagerly waiting for a customer.

However I had not found someone to my taste (or had not looked carefully enough), so I decided on the last night to have a meal at the famous Hotel Malaysia where I used to stay in my first years in Thailand (before a Saphan Kwai boy convinced me to choose a place closer to his bar). En route to Soi Ngam Duplee, I knew that there were some massage places along Rama IV and along the soi and that I should walk on the (dangerous) left side of the soi to have a closer look at the boys.

I did not have to go further than the former Lomchey shop, which has been now renamed as Zee Massage : half a dozen of boys were there, most of all worth a second look. I did not have the time to choose and was immediately assigned a fresh isan lad who had just come two weeks ago. He explained me later that the customer could choose his masseur when entering, otherwise he would get the first boy on the queue … no problem, I would have taken him anyway (my boot-licker side …). Before doing any inappropriate gesture, the boy also explained me that it would have been better value to pay 500 baths to the shop (the price for a one hour oil massage) and take a boy for the night … first time I hear a massage boy advertising an "off" out of his place ! From this point there was no doubt that there would be more to the massage, which he delivered in a very nice way. Much better – although less classy - than the neighbouring "Magic Hands" which I had visited some years ago and where the boy did nothing despite obvious hints that I wanted more. Depends on the boy or on the shop, I don't know.

Legendary coffe shop in Hotel Malaysia

The meal at Malaysia Hotel was satisfying, but I was rather surprised to see many girls and even a group of locals, when the dining room was usually filled with farangs with their boy(s). I could not even smell the unmistakable odour of the place, which I can swear was still there last year, and saw that they have renovated their façade. Hoping that these facts do not convey a trend towards the standardization of this former cult hotel, overloaded with souvenirs for I guess a lot of people like us.

Back to sprawling Bangkok

Bus rides from Pattaya to Bangkok are not what they used to be : no more stops in every hamlet along the route, but a smooth trip of two hours – traffic jams in Bangkok allowing – and here you are in Morchit close to everything in Bangkok. I know many well-to-do farangs would not be caught dead in a vehicle that they deem unworthy of their self-assigned social position   ...  more power to them ! As for me, I like this way of transportation which is quick, safer than these dreadful vans, and cheap. And by the way the news that Morchit Bus Terminal would stay in Jatujak was greeted as the best news of my holiday !

With only two days and a half left in Bangkok, I had to plan things very carefully so that I could pile up as many sights, odors, information, before going back home. Boys being also part of the collection although I was looking for quality more than for quantity … and my favorite Chang Beer too as it is still impossible to find it in my area.

Huge shopping mall in Bangkok outskirts

I spent the afternoon checking the new Purple Line train which goes a very long way from downtown Bangkok until the end of the Bangkok metropolis in Nonthaburi province. The trains do not have a lot of users, due to a very poorly planned link with the existing MRT network : from Bang Sue station which is the end of the present MRT line, you have for now to hop on a (free) bus to Tao Pun, which is the temporary end of the Purple Line. Although operated by MRT which also runs the underground Blue Line in Bangkok, the Purple Line is entirely an elevated train from Tao Pun onwards to its last station.

With few people, no advertising darkening the windows (probably not for long !) and very friendly fares, the travellers can have apleasant exerience enjoying an unobstructed view over the Nonthaburi area ; the suburban landscape is rather non-descript but many shopping malls dot the route. I visited the Central Plaza Westgate easily reached from the penultimate station (Talat Bang Yai) : a really huge shopping center which would deserve a further visit when students are not at school and hang out in the place, or only for some hours of shopping and eating, or … both !

New condos all over the place

The Purple Line also allows a very convenient access to some gay massage places in the area like iSpa, 88 Massage, Pakin Spa, BodySlide, HiClub and probably much more … a whole new world opening for massage addicts. For real estate developers too : you could spot every station from from afar only looking at the new condo developments which spring up like mushrooms … not sure every one is sold though …

Two days left and still so many things to do …

Pattaya the way I like it

Years follow one another but don't look alike. I was in Pattaya last year at the same time (early November) and did not like it ; but I really enjoyed my time this year. With less tourists around, and especially at the beach, Pattaya is a nice place to be, which I had forgotten.

Sure a construction site going on near my hotel had been a disappointment on arrival, not too much because of noise but as it could mean less privacy and a less sunny rooftop swimming pool in the future ; then hotel rooms in Pattaya are not used mostly for looking at the landscape. Which was more rewarding was the always welcoming staff and the fact that the customer base still includes mostly well-behaved farangs despite low prices and a good location.

When I had spent only two afternoons in an overcrowded Dong Tan Beach last year, I found myself happily stuck in my usual concession almost every day. The operation is rather small and quiet, and we were blessed this year by the daily attendance of the young son of the operator's girlfriend : a gorgeous 14 y/o isan boy, who spent most of his days lazily playing with his phone... an obviously elusive dream for still some years to come. Cuties were few and far between and as always ice-cream sellers were at the top of the list as far as looks – and sales success – were concerned.

With the boyfriend in tow, it was difficult to elaborate scenarios to lure boys to my room … I would have liked to give my calling card to some waiters or sellers but what about setting anything up if they had called me back ? This obviously spoilt part of my stay, and I will make it clear that my next stay in Pattaya will be entirely on my own. Not that I did not appreciate my friend's presence in our evening escapades which lead us to Sky Boy Bar, Oh Aharn Restaurant or to the always great show in The Venue Jomtien. We also tripped to Kor Lan where beaches are also closed on Wednesday but has some private spaces where sunbeds can be rented.

Quiet Wednesday in Koh Larn

We also went to a boy karaoke along with three of his friends and a boy offed from Sky Bar. This shop is located near the Pattaya Tai / Pattaya 3 crossing on a soi linking with Soi Ko Pai 4. Every hour or so, a full staff of about 20 boys goes on the scene and every table is strongly pushed to ask for 1 or 2 of them to join, with a fee of 200 THB added to the bill. The boys go from very cute to ordinary, and from shy to eager, which makes a rather pleasant although expensive experience. My boyfriend and the Sky Bar boy agreed on letting me sleep with the latter, which I did not even really intended to do, but I happily obliged while my boyfriend went to another place with his friends.

Besides this I paid some visits to Good Boys, Nice Boys, Vassa, 360 Bar, with no real interest for what was on offer. Sunee Plaza was mostly very quiet as described on the boards, and I visited only some beer bars, chatting or not with the boys. One of them in in Diamond Bar was especially friendly, and very straightforward about what he would do in bed, but not my type. And I never forgot to stop in one of the Jomtien Complex beer bars where I still have some naughty target to hit.

Not being able to off anyone in my room, I fell back again on the massage places, and must say that I was rather delighted by the two boys I chose (separately) in Ice Massage (next door to Salt and Pepper Restaurant). The first one immediately took good care of my rear part, making sure that my hand was pressing his package, and the second one – a brow skinned young lad from Ubon – took off his clothes immediately to his briefs, and after some light massage, insisted on my crotch ; this obviously lead to more nudity, two happily erect dicks, and even passionate French kissing which is a rare occurrence in this kind of places.

I finally convinced my friend to go back home for preparing the reopening of his business, which will leave me by myself for five or six nights between Pattaya and Bangkok.

Saphan Kwai massage shops

Samuel Johnson could have said it : "when a man is tired of Bangkok, he is tired of life". Eleven nights and a half in Bangkok versus only nine in Pattaya : if that is an indicator, no doubt I would lean towards the Big Mango against Sin City every time the usual fruitless quarrel rears its head. Between my trips, I spend more and more time around my homely hotel room in Saphan Kwai, and this for one plain reason : I feel really good there.

Most of my days were spent going here and there in Bangkok ; when in Farangland, I live in a quiet - albeit very scenic – place, so any reason is a good reason to partake in the vibrant Bangkok life among thousands of people. When enough is enough, I then come back to Saphan Khwai, often being the only farang left in the BTS train after Phayathai station (except on week-ends). And from the station, it's then a rather circuitous route to my room, in order to see what's is on offer in front of the many massage shops now operating in the area.

Waiting for a customer

I did not visit all of them, and this was probably wise as I read in a thai forum that not all provide extra services. Most have a queue system, so you will go with the boy whose turn has come ; however you usually can insist on choosing the boy you prefer, or even ask for one you know from a previous visit or from someone's advise. Do know that except in Nine Spa, there is no privacy if you ask for a thai massage or foot massage. Other kinds will entitle you to a more or less private room, but usually with light partitions not going up to the ceiling (common air-conditioned system). If you have time on your hands, it has been suggested that you ask for a foot massage first, just to see how things are working and which boys meet your requirements.

The places I visited were all clean, welcoming and charged reasonable rates especially before 5pm. So from Saphan Kwai BTS station (exit n°1) and going back towards Pradiphat Road, you will pass by these shops :
> Amor Spa and Am Fine under exit n° 1 : two adjacent places, one small and the other larger where I could saw some handsome lads but did not enter.
> Going on along Phahonyothin, enter the second soi on the right leading to 39 Underground Sauna : again two adjacent boy-only places on your right with many cute guys : I-Sabay and Romphruk. I went twice to the latter, which has mostly vietnamese boys ; extra-service proposed and tip agreed, and then the boy will more or less accept to be in the nude
> Turn left, pass by Phahon Theater (another infamous gay place by all accounts), you will find Pailin on your left. Few boys in front of the shop but it seems busy inside ; strict queue system I am said, including girls.
> Follow the very narrow pathway and then turn left back to Phahonyothin : facing Big C you will pass by Noble Spa, and then Sabaidee just at the corner of Pradiphat Road : these are shops with both boys and girls and a queue system as well, but you could probably avoid it if you order an oil massage and ask to choose – especially in the last one where I had only a nice foot massage by a nice girl.
> Cross the road and go to Big C, follow the car entrance and exit on the right of the mall and then turn right on the Soi leading south to Suthisan Road : you will reach Seven Massage who has just relocated in a subsoi here. Boy-only place where I did not had enough time to go, but looks promising and very professionnal.

Will extras be part of the game ?

And finally there is of course Nine Spa in the Liberty Garden Hotel, the only place which comes close to a real gay massage shop with private rooms and slightly higher prices ; here, extra services are part of the game, possibly including hard ones. You choose your boy from a tablet which shows their pictures. The cashier is not always available and as he is the only one you can see in the flesh (so he has a definite advantage over others), you could regret it at first. Most of their boys are nowadays hill-tribe boys from Tak province ; I highly recommend Phet who knows perfectly how to make you shiver with pleasure along the whole process, bringing you like in a trance when serious things begin.

The premises will undergo a complete renovation, and the shop will have to move near the BTS station – but I still do not know exactly where. If I don't get any information before my next trip, be sure I will comb the entire area until I can find it !

... and Pattaya nights

The bar scene in Pattaya was not as depressing as the New Dongtan Beach, except for the Sunee Plaza gay area shrinking every year. Nice Boys was the bar where I felt the better, but I did not have time to visit neither Eros Boys nor Good Boys – although there was this dark-skinned blond-haired lad that did not seem shy at all. Sitting in the very welcoming Sky Bar was the closest I came to this den of debauchery.

Beer bars were loaded with too many gay boys and lady boys for my taste, so I spent most of my time in Jomtien Complex. In BC Bar, the boys are clearly on the male side, besides being generally very cute and eager. Sorry I had not kept up learning khmer language, but I found their english not bad at all and there is always someone speaking english or thai to help you. I took one to my room, and another in one of their rooms above the bar : not a loss of time if you want to know. I was just lucky that the boys I fancied were not already busy with customers.

Kawai Boys in Pattaya

Boyztown had also some interesting staff especially in Kawai Boys which I liked very much – but once again I did not visit all places. Let's just say that the level of drink prices does not always match the cuteness ratio : I was really disappointed in Toy Boys, but that is probably only a matter of personal taste.

As for the massage places, I tried only the one facing Bordeaux Restaurant, among the six or seven shops scattered around the Tuk.com area. I asked to choose my masseur and had the chance to be treated by an absolute delight : Kaow, a young (legal) boy from Nakhon Phanom, who gave me a strong and skillful massage ; unlike most masseurs, he was not reluctant at all when it came to kissing and to wanking himself to completion. He is now back home but will come back after the rice harvesting I guess.

And finally I went to a gay karaoke suggested by my boyfriend who had joined me on my last day in Pattaya. The place is in fact the Royal House Message in Day 1 Night Area, which turns into a karaoke at night. There is a whole line of boys that you can call to your table every half-hour or so, for a 200 THB fee (of which the boy gets 100), pleasant, though there is some pressure to call each time the shift is over. I paid 1700 THB for a red Label bottle, mixers included, and of course some tips to the boys and the waiters. This can make the night out a little bit expensive, but the atmosphere was good and a good time was had by all. This is a rather thai for thai place, so very few gay guys in sight, which I liked.

And that was all for Pattaya for this trip : a rather quiet Pattaya, which keeps all its appeal at night but where I will have to be more inventive for filling my afternoons in the future.

Unimpressed

After a short warming up in Bangkok, the first part of my trip was dedicated to the north : not really a free choice, as my boyfriend lives and works there. However I had kept two days for myself, in order to check the situation in Chiang Mai.

Well I am sorry to say that the scene in the Rose of the North did not really impress me, knowing that such a claim cannot be asserted through a two-days stay. I visited most bars in Soi 6, thanks to the very accurate map provided on the Chiang Mai news website (link on the right) : most have a good atmosphere, the boys are welcoming and nice, but not in great numbers. And the sleaze factor which was permeating the famous alley facing the D2 hotel has gone : very few rough guys, and only some neat and tidy young men eager to find company for a night or support for life.

I visited only two bars in the Chang Phuak area. Freeguys was a favourite of mine, but has now turned to a host bar with karaoke late evening. The light is too weak so you simply cannot see clearly the boys : a pity as some could be very interesting ; 200 bahts for a drink seem a little bit steep in these conditions. Adam’s Apple is little bit more welcoming but I did not stay for the 22.30 show, and the boys there are really into muscle, which is not really my thing.

Staff in former Freeguys bar

Once again I was more lucky with the massage boys. I went exploring Chiang Mai Land village where there are at least three shops with boys. Despite the early hour, Sixty Nine club seemed to have already many lads available, judging from the number of motorbikes parked in front. However I wanted to try 333 Club, which is on the main street (but will change location very soon). Only three boys had arrived, most of them come only at about 7 o’clock, I chose Bank who first massaged my legs, and quickly asked me to turn over ; it did not take long for him to got to the main part, which he did skillfully despite being rather young. I asked him to take off what was still hiding his nudity, which he obliged and we ended cuddling together, as I could not take my hands off his silk-like skin.

Some further days would probably have allowed me to know the scene better, at least by visiting at more suitable times ; I have always been surprised by the fact that Chiang Mai seems to welcome newcomers rather reluctantly, and that you need more time for being acknowledged by the boys.

Starting full speed

Here I am again… looking at my usual hotel room and thinking that it is like my second home, which I think of almost everyday when in my country.

As expected, travelling with an arabic company was much more bearable than with the european ones. Two hours walking and sitting in Doha Airport in the middle of the trip was just what was needed for some relaxation. The second leg to Bangkok was flown in an Airbus A-800, which really offers more comfort and room even in Y class.

Leaving the airport, I had to remind my taxi driver to turn the meter on, which he obliged, and he was then very delightful and chatty. I told him about the best way to go to Saphan Khwai : the shortest route is not always the quickest.

Unfortunately I felt very quickly the effects of an old sore which could greatly disturb my trip. Long and too fast walks in the airports had awakened an old heel tendinitis which could bring me to cancel some trips. I had to go to a clinic where I was prescribed some medicine which will at least allow me to walk more or less normally.

As a consequence, I did not even visit the Silom area during my first three nights in Bangkok. From my hotel, most Saphan Kwai venues are within easy reach, and then I had already two appointments with Facebook “friends”. At first I went to Be High bar, still there but with only three boys on this Wednesday evening ; unfortunately the young captain/manager is not available. All bars were very quiet and the owners quite pessimistic. However a new place has just opened, another karaoke called D-door (or something like that), next door to Haven in Soi Kawtei (where most boys bars are). There are still some cuties to be found in Saphan Khwai, like this 18 y/o karen boy, not shy and whom I will take to my room for sure.

But the main change in Saphan Khwai is the increasing number of massage places with boys ; there are two of them just under the BTS station, three more in the backsois near the infamous Phahol Cinema, and Seven which has just moved to the area behind the Big C parking exit. Add some places with both boys and girls, and Nine Spa in the Liberty Garden court, and that gives about 10 shops within in a very small area.

Available 7/11 boy

My first appointment was with a dark-skinned 19 y/o from Bang Na, who was OK to spend the night with me. As soon as I saw him approaching among the crowds of travelers leaving the BTS station, I knew I would like him : tall, dark-skinned and lean, so meeting exactly my specifications, and of course looking much better than on the pictures. He was a nice boy, not too much engrossed in his mobile phone, but was reluctant to kissing. I hope to see him again in Pattaya, where he would like to work in Toy Boys, where he would be undoubtedly very successful. No picture allowed for this little gem.

On the following day, I had a long bus ride to Minburi, where I had another appointment with a boy working in a 7/11 shop. I had reserved a room in a local hotel where he showed up on time. He did not loose time to open his trousers, and I must say that I liked what I saw …. Believe me, you are surely not cheated on quantity when you buy a sausage in his 7/11 outlet ! I went back to Saphan Khwai for sleeping, letting him make good use of the room with one of his boy- or girl-friend.

Time for another round

Touring Thailand in good company

Still three days … and I will escape the cold here in Europe for another one-month stay in Thailand. My boyfriend is now working and cannot leave, so we will have only four or five days together in the northern area where he is living. That will leave me a lot of free time to spend on my own : for my homework, Facebook, gay websites and forums were used much more than tourist guides !

My calendar has already some firm appointments, mostly in Bangkok. At first there will be this dark-skinned student who proposed his services on some appropriate Facebook group ; actually, he is the reason why I decided to come a little earlier than previously planned. I will meet him in Bangkok and if we get along well, I will invite him one or two days in Pattaya - where he already seems to stay more often than your usual broke student ... "I like the sea", he tells me.

There will be a promising Seven Eleven boy too (a fantasy come true !), whom I will meet in a far away suburb, fee and appointment already set. And also this pretty - legal - young thing who worked in a Sri Racha pub when we got acquainted, and has since moved to Chainat. We never chatted about sex with him, so it will be part of the thrill to get him into my room ; if this fails, I will have at least added a new province to my list !

I have also booked a three-days trip to Udon Thani, as there seemed to be some interesting lads in the area ; however most were underage, including a Nong Khai student who had been pledging his love daily for one month and has then disappeared – he has since entered a mor-lam group as a dancer. So I am still eagerly looking for someone, knowing that all bars in town have now closed. I will perhaps stay one night in neighbouring Nong Bua Lamphu, where I can only hope to be lucky.

Sure I know that inviting Facebook boys could be at best deceptive, at worst dangerous. But who could resist the continuous flow of cuties appearing daily on the social networks ? And then I regard it as a way to pay off all the time and efforts I put in learning thai ...

Massage boys bunch in Sukhumwit shop (Thailand Gay Guide)

During my extensive researches, I was also happy to discover how many new massage places open – and close – all over Thailand . I will try some, thanks to a japanese website (listed on the right), which gives detailed maps and enough information in english. According to a thai forum, there are added services offered in many ordinary massage shops, just like in Pattaya, including in some shops I had passed by daily in my beloved Saphan Khwai area - unaware of their mere presence.

Chiangmailand massage joints look promising too, so Chiang Mai should keep me very busy for the two days I will spend there alone.The huge information available on the Chiang Mai News website (listed aside too) will be put to good use for sure !

Thailand has always something new and promising to offer ; why should I be jaded going there for my 29th trip ?

Staffing problems

During my final days in Bangkok, I took some time to visit the Saphan Kwai bars which are close to my hotel. What struck me was the poor number of boys staffing each bar I went to. In Charmming, there was even no boy available at all when I went, prompting me to turn my heels back without even ordering a drink – something I usually hate to do … Perhaps I want there too early : the boys now are very lax with working hours and often do not show up before ten o’clock … perhaps they are too busy to check their Romeo account ?

Be High gogo bar has been renovated and looks better than before. Still few boys, and still approaching even when uninvited, but the captain/waiter/mamasan is a cute young isan lad, who said me not to be available until bar closure. Drink 150 THB.

Not many boys in the other bars, and not really attractive in my opinion. I wonder if they do not keep the most handsome ones for their regular customers, as I saw very cute ones sitting in front of some places but not going inside to take care of customers … Perhaps I should have given some more time to visit Heaven Karaoke, who seem to have some well-hidden cuties ?

Times must be difficult as I saw big smiles and welcoming words from some bars owners that had ignored me before. Oasis at the end of the soi is now a TV repair shop, Waterloo is definitely a karaoke bar but massage is available on the premisess. Nothing changed for Adam, Street Boy, Staxx, Heaven and U-Turn ; one of the owners confirmed me that staffing was their main problem, due to social networks which boys prefer to use to make contact with potential customers. They now hire boys from Burma and Laos too, despite their patronage being mostly thai.

On a better note, I went two more times to Nine Spa (left when entering Liberty Garden Hotel from Pradiphat Road) : this is the place where boys have their pictures shown to you on a tablet. Second time was with Laem, and on the third time I wanted to choose a new boy but immediately changed my mind when I saw Song (that I had chosen on the first time) in the flesh. Both were very skilled at their massage, and at ending it in the happiest way. Rooms are clean and have their own (cold or lukewarm) shower, prices are very reasonable. From the pictures on the tablet, and some I could see « live », I can confirm that this shop is right on if you like your masseur young and slim. Curiously enough, they do not advertise much although they had a page in Thaimassageboy website some months ago.

A stop in Magic Hands near Malaysia Hotel did not turn out as good. I had no choice of the boy, and although he was nice, I could see clearly his face only when going to the post-massage shower. He had not given any clue to a happy ending and even did not agree to my invitation to shower together. However the premises are nice and clean and will deserve a further visit.

Back to farangland now, only to see the euro in free fall against the baht and the US dollar (used in Cambodia and Laos). This will lead me to more frugal choices – if possible ! - for my next visits to the area, even if I had secured some provisions to my Kasikorn account when euro had still a reasonable value.

Enticing massage shops

I spent nine nights in Pattaya and what struck me first when arriving was the low numbers of cars in the streets, a clear signal of low tourist numbers. Low numbers at Jomtien Beach too with full ranks of empty chairs, and tiny attendance in most bars I went.

I visited many of them, both in Boyztown and Sunee Plaza ; no great atmosphere in most except in Eros Boys where I had hardly stepped into the bar that a young cutie from Surin pounced on me – and I was the one thinking that Eros boys were not known as the most handsome in town !

The last den of sleaze remains Good Boys bar, where I had long chats with one of the boys here ; finally we could go behind the screens, at my request, as this one was not keen on having a private encounter – and a higher tip. No jerking-off contest that night (ten contenders and reward 500 have I been said), but more than one cubicle was the scene of very intimate activities.

On a different note, for the first time since eighteen years I was treated to a round of drinks by the owner of a Sunee Plaza bar ; this was in Sky Bar, where Tam and me spent some time – but not that much - chatting and looking the world go by. A kind attention which is for me the best incentive to go back if the place is nice, which it is.

To find more life, we had to go to Jomtien where the bars were very well attended ; however the cutest boys were already looked after by regular customers. Lack of Cambodian boys who had fled the country due to a groundless rumour, was also obvious as they are usually a nice addition to the place. And we did not forget our usual visit to see the show in The Venue, as good as ever.

Among a deserted Sunee Plaza, I indulged only once into closer encounters, and it was in Happy Boys where I chose to try their massage service – at least this is the way they call it. When I think of it, I remember having had more pleasure roaming the Day and Night area and looking at the massage boys, than visiting Soi Sunee. They have really hot guys there, and at least three shops are now boy-only places. In Relax@Me, a sturdy 20 y/o from Udon managed to get me to visit three times – good chemistry was enough.

It seems that I am now more and more enticed by the massage shops rather than the bars : everything is so more convenient with on-site activities : no need to care about
transportation, meals, hiding the money ... and telling lies to the boyfriend to have the hotel room vacant ...

More to Siem Reap than the temples

Besides being the mandatory entry point to the Angkor Complex temples, Siem Reap is also fast becoming the hip capital of Cambodia, with a thriving nightlife ; surprisingly enough, gay tourism is an integral part of this development, although with a limited numbers of bars and accomodation.

Most farang-oriented nightlife is concentrated in Pub Street area which is the local Khao San Road. Truth to be said, I did not really appreciate it : very commercial, full of the same young farang you can find in Pai, Vang Vien or Kho Phangan - but to each its own. At least this produces a very lively atmosphere where people seem to really enjoy themselves - I could not help thinking of Pattaya which seems to have lost part of this kind of customer base.

The Linga Bar is the only real gay bar in the place with a high-end and trendy atmosphere and some freelancers. We ended our evenings there trying out many of their cocktails ; however we were not impressed at all by the 10.30 week-end show. Pity we could not attend the other one in the Station Wine Bar - said to be much better at least for now.

"good massage, special massage Sir ...."

I was more interested by the massage places which are located on the edge of Pub Street area and along the sois leading to Siem Reap Night Market. No boy-only place but these shops advertise cheap service ; rather young boys and girls try agressively to lure you into, strongly hinting at happy endings. No private room or private bathroom however, so I wonder what happens when there are more than one customer at the same time - not mentioning risks of theft.

I went twice with a sweet 19 y/o local guy with a face to die for, and not shy at all when it came to kissing, hugging and more. Massage was really too light but he was eager to please, very loving and careful. I bought a shirt for him only to have change enough for paying the massage fee (he had a good tip too), which made him very fond of me. Sorry for him, but there are so many other gorgeous boys in this area that I would have liked to try them all.

There are gay-only massage places too, including nearby Hatha Blue Khmer, which I did not try although the boys standing in front were very inviting. Moreover, boys on the street and some tuk-tuk drivers seem readily available for everything, and there is probably a more discreet scene to be explored  : sure I have to go back one day - preferably alone and without any commitment...

Changing, but same-same

I liked my ten days in Pattaya, not more than usually but not less. My boyfriend staid with me everyday but this was not a burden : it seemed I have met again the smiling boy I saw for the first time ten years ago, with the added bonus that he has now fully acknowledged the fact that I had to be alone and free for some evenings.

Apart from the above lao boy, I did not take advantage of this freedom, and we spent most of the evenings together, first in a good restaurant and then either looking for the never disappointing show in The Venue, or sipping some gin tonic in Sky Bar, facing the now forgotten Threezone Bar where we met on the first time. To tell the truth, I liked to be there too because this place offers unobstructed views over the almost opposite Good Boys Beer Bar, allowing me to inspect the boys for a possible visit (which did not come).

Escapade to Hat Sai Kaew (thanks GB for the tip)

I also had enough time to visit most of the gogobars in Sunee Plaza and Boyztown ; for the first time I found that the latter won hands down regarding the quality of boys on display. I liked the staff in X-Boys Land, but hated the mamasan who came begging me to invite a boy as "they have nothing to eat, no customer, never seen that in Pattaya" and so on. Most inappropriate as I was with my boyfriend. And still more uncalled for when I knew that they asked an outrageous 260 THB for a drink.

In Sunee plaza, I went to Eros Boys Bar just to see how a sleazy bar looks like (there are not a lot remaining these days …) and once again was ensnared by one of the waiters, whose invitation to go in a side room I could not resist – just like last year. I visited every gogo bar and some beer bars, but was mostly disappointed by what I saw ... low season I guess ... 

As for the massage places, it came as a surprise that that the "traditional" gay shops like Blue House had very few staff on duty, when other places in the Tuk.com area were brimmed with beautiful young men (and girls for some). On one night I passed in front of Apple Massage – facing Bordeaux Restaurant – very late at night and a handsome lad called me. I obliged but another boy told him that it was not his turn ; despite this, I think I could have taken the first one but in order to avoid an incident, I chose both. Not a big deal at 200 THB for one session (plus tips), and as the place was void of other customers, there was no restraint in the action – except they did not take out their clothes. I took him alone some days later, again in an empty room, and this time he stripped immediately and went directly to the deed. These places would be a huge hit with more private rooms, and if the customer was sure that he could choose his partner without it turning into a tragedy.

Beach seller taking a break in Jomtien (not the one I tell about)

But we come to Pattaya for the beaches (and the temples), right ? I found myself completely comfortable with the atmosphere in Jomtien, in one of the smallest and quietest concessions far from the hustle of the red/orange/yellow chairs. I did not even have to complain about the Russians which I found much more polite and respectful than some depict them. Not a lot of Thai boys for sure but still some sellers which would have more success selling their ass than what they offer - sorry to tell it downright so, although most of these guys have probably got it since long.

I had the chance to meet again Phat, who was a very shy rookie when I first met him five years ago (see below : "beach seller", October 2008) ; just coming back from two years in the army, he has now turned into a wonderful young man. I only noticed that he would not mind at all a massage session in my room .. what a change since 2008 when it was so difficult to convince him to come and still more difficult to make him strip off … 

So much for this 2013 trip, the last one during my working days ... Next year will be another life, but I still do not know what it will look like.

Longer stays

It was good to be in Bangkok again. Sure the place is hot and overcrowded but there is always something to do there - the first being updating the blog after one week in the sticks.

I always find myself promising to spend more time in the capital, but I say the same about spending more time in Pattaya and also spending more time in the provinces. So I guess the problem could only be solved by a so much awaited retirement, which is not within sight for the time being. This time however, one week in the South and in the Northeast was enough, probably due to the fact I had packed to many things into a too short period of time.

I could not help but going again to the infamous Soi Anuman Ratchathon area, and if I managed to avoid Nature Boy, I was more than happy to enter the Nice Boys Bar. Not for the many questionable boys hanging about there, but for the boys on the scene who were rather intersting to say the least. I did not take one but chatted for a long time with a tall slim dark-skinned guy who was hiding behind the others.

In fact I had reserved my evening for the Boys Bangkok 2011 Massage Shop (under Super A Bar) where I had been so impressed by the overall cuteness of the staff. The best was still the one I had already taken - although I do not like to choose a boy for massaging more than once. And so we went up stairs with Bank, his stunning smile and his good skills for everything you want in a boy massage place (including massage).

On the next day, I went checking the situation in the Saranrom area, as I had not read anything new about it since a long time. I am happy to say that even on a Sunday evening, the place had many guys of all ages and all shapes, in fact more than I had seen last year. As usual you have to be cautious enough and also to know that the truth at, say, 10 pm, may be very different thirty minutes later. Most potential customers use a car or a taxi to drive around the place but as a pedestrian I was welcomed by most boys.

The other places I visited were Solid Bar in Silom and Charmming Bar in Saphan Kwai where they have every day a steady flow of nice young men.

Pattaya will follow and I am already sure that the place is far from dead despite all comments that you can read here and there on the boards.

Possibly best gay bar in Thailand

I came into Phuket being a little bit worried about the scene in the middle of the low season, and my first steps into Paradise Complex seemed to confirm this : few people and few boys in the open-air bars.

So I am delighted to tell that after a first evening, things are much better than expected. First there are a lot of gay places now, open-air bars, massage places and gogo bars. The boys are there and if they are probably in fewer numbers than in the winter, they still outnumber the customers.

I began the evening with a massage in Spartacus Bar, where they had many boys on the premises ; one of them was so insistent on providing a massage, and so good at selling his services, that I could not resist. The place is not really designed as a massage place with very little privacy in the rooms, but that could be more exciting for some …

I made a quick visit to Tangmo Bar where I had memories of a place filled with nice boys … it seems to have changed for the worst, but this was perhaps only one bad evening, or perhaps there was not anyone meeting my requirements.

I left then for a small place which has opened probably not a very long time ago ; one row for the customers on the length of the bar, facing the scene where the boys were dancing in two shifts. The place is called “Yes !’ Bar and is located on the main way to Paradise Hotels (which is now the way out). The first impression was great with probably one of the best mix of boys for everyone’s taste, two funny captains, and a boy which I thought was the usual underage boy hanging out in street clothes ; he told me he was in fact the mamasan and that he was 20 years old – which I still not really believe. No pressure from him, no boring words, a very cute face – I would vote him without any hesitation as the cutest and nicest mamasan in Thailand.

Yes Bar! in Phuket

The better came with the show : not a cabaret show like those you usually find in the Phuket bars, not a sex show with the usual tricks, but an absolute success. The actors were some of their own gogoboys, and when you find that the one you had fancied will be part of the show, this is a first good news. When you then see that all acts are perfectly laid out, totally innovative, with good looking boys, a communicative atmosphere, you think you have had a good evening. They have made the traditional candle show a feast for the eye, and if only one boy could be seen in the nude (and not in the in-your-face way), the whole performance was an hymn to the young male beauty.

When I think of all the shows I have already seen in Thailand (be it in Adam’s Apple in Chiang Mai or of course the Soi Twilight ones), I can only conclude that I have never been fascinated by any show like this before. The conclusion is simple : nice mamasan + great looking boys for everyone’s taste + innovative and wonderfully performed show ; this bar has to be one of the best (or possibly the best) in Thailand now. As my Michelin guide says : “vaut le detour”.

Life starts again

Yes life has just started again. I have been in Thailand since 24 hours and it is as if I had never left. My hotel has the same outdated charm as ever and the boys seem to be cuter every year ... don't tell me about being bored, I will be if Thailand turn into a new Singapore, and I hope it will never happen.

The flight with Swiss was a delight as I was lucky enough to have two seats for myself (some empty seats on the flight, which I have rarely seen before). And at the airport, I had just showed up when an immigration booth just opened in front of me .. good things can happen for me too.

As I had just left from work to go to the airport (with only two hours to have a meal, a shower, and finish packing my bags), no wonder I was quite tired for my first night in Bangkok. So I immediately went where I had dreamed to go : have a massage in Silom. In fact I wanted badly to try the new place below Super A and God I was not disappointed ; the staff is made only of gorgeous boys, and you would need more time than I have to try them all. I chose a young man from Bangkok who began with an almost serious massage, but the situation quickly changed as I felt his cock more and more close to my skin until he put it just in my willing hand. What could I do ? He had the face of an idol, he did not mind French kissing and he was the perfect introduction to three weeks in Thailand.

After this I went to Dick's Cafe just to see more cute faces in the massage places around and to tatse my fist Chang Classic since such a long time. Back to Saphan Kwai then with a short stay in Street Boy where I could not see many street boys that I like so much. And then I went to Be High which had about six very macho boys, including a young lad just arrived from isaan but with too many tatoos on his skin. I had a long chat with a young man from the north and he was very happy to tell me about his life which began in the Shan State in Burma.

To-day will be another day to get used to my new life in the three forthcoming weeks. Tam will come visit me during his weekly free day along with Phi Khor from Threezone Bar and it should be a nice evening. And to-morrow back to scouring the country for new places and new boys : I am booked on a flight to Hat Yai where I should stay for one or two nights.

Bangkok hunting

Bangkok is the place where I like to drop my suitcases between two trips in Pattaya or in the provinces ; this is why I usually spend at least seven or eight nights there in total during a one month stay in Thailand. I know many do not like the hectic pace of life in the big city, but Bangkok has really a lot to offer be it during the day or at night. During these two days between dusty Isaan and hot Pattaya, I could do some shopping, update my laundry – and my blog … - and sleep in after six tiring days.

I could not ignore the bars and divided my time between Patphong and Saphan Kwai. In Patphong, Tam brought me to Dream Boys, and I have to thank him for this as I would not go alone in the Soi Twilight places mostly because of their outrageous prices (300 THB for a beer). We loved the show (with a lot of nudity and explicit sex), and some of the boys, but were a little bit upset to be invited to go downstairs in Boys Bangkok at the end of the show. Alone I could then visit Nice Boys – nothing to write home about -, Solid Boys which had only six boys, and My Way which was too dark to see anything except some young faces : they could well have been the jailbait that a recent thread talked about.

In Saphan Kwai I turned up once again into my favourite Street Boy where the new owner seems to have good ideas to revive the place, including hiring some nice guys (and, I was told, proposing some dancing on Friday and Saturday nights). On the contrary I entered the neighbouring Adam just to be completely ignored by anyone, so another place to avoid in the future. Most bars seemed to have less boys than last year and the mamasan in Heaven did not even invite me to go inside although I have been knowing him for some time now : "only two boys to-night" he told me.

And then there are the massage places which could keep you busy for many months. Bangkok is thriving with new places in every nook and cranny of the town, most being in the grey area between authentic massage shops, and sex places – which is what makes them attractive. However selecting a place on the net – for example from the very good Thai Massage Boy website http://www.thaimassageboy.com/homepage/ is too uncertain because the boy you had picked from their website could well not be there or already busy. You cannot risk to loose an entire evening going for example to Nonthaburi when you have too little time. I had read about a place which had got good reviews on a thai webboard and was opportunely located in Saphan Kwai : it is curiously called "Pruksa Bureau Massage" and is hidden in a small soi along Phahonyothin Road – near the north west exit of Saphan Kwai BTS station, same soi as Samsara Spa. The experience was good and cheap but I could chose from only two boys and the one I picked was more into massage than into anything else ; however I know that some extra service can be had in this place like in most others.

rent-boy near Saranrom Park

And to confirm the general dwindling of the number of boys selling themselves – a rather good news for Thailand if not for us -, I had another trip to the Saranrom area and found very few rent-boys although I went at the suitable time (about 10 / 11 pm). The area east of Wat Phra Kaew was almost deserted problably due to the closing of the road running along the Defence Ministry, making driving around Saranrom impossible. The boys were standing mostly south and west of the Wat Phra Kaew coumpounds, which is a poorly lit and more dangerous looking area. I asked the taxi driver do go on although there were some nice and desirable guys as usual, but clearly more scattered than before.

So all in all a rather ordinary time in Bangkok but with more time on my hands I would probably have found beautiful surprises …