April 9th, 2006, 09:12
Regular readers of Silom's Blog http://gaythailand.blogspot.com/ will know that I once posted there, taking issue with Silom's view of price inflation in Thailand, and he came up with a Thai Rent Boy Index based on my comments. For those unable to make it over to Silom's Blog to fossick through the Comments, here is my latest post (unlike certain other people I won't be posting here and on Another Site)
At great personal expense I have been conducting research into variants and embellishments for the Thai Rent Boy Index. Dream Boy has cut their fixed charge for Fri/Sat night entry from 300 baht (and free drink) to 270 baht (and free drink). It is unclear whether this is a 10% "low season" discount. However the boy I "offed" last night, while giving no 10% discount himself, was perfectly happy with 1500 baht so there's no movement on price inflation there
There is, however, movement on the Marble House Standard Two-Hour (no sex please) Massage Index. This stood at 300 baht for many, many years but moved up 10% around about the time when the new millenium was ushered in. When I first started living in Bangkok (1988) there was Marble House and there was Bodie Care and that was about it. Now you can't move in Soi Wall Street Inn without some pushy madam trying to tempt you inside, and the footpaths of both Silom and Suriwong abound with price lists and (somewhat desultory) touts. I expect therefore that the MHSTHMI has been somewhat limited in upwards movement by increased competition
Yesterday however I noticed a new price list at Marble House reception. 400 baht, or a smidgin over 21% - but the first rise in roughly 5 years, and only a 33% increase over the 1988 price (if my memory is correct - and it may not be). Oh, and the Index will have to be re-named. Marble House is now Tsukuba Kenkou Center and does seem to have more Japanese customers. (My regular masseur told me "Japanese no good" but that cannot have been a racist comment since, as we know, racism is a vice solely of white middle-aged men). And if you're after a good massage (no sex please) #21 is my recommendation. Mr Jed. The Index is henceforth known as the TKCSTHMI - a bit of a mouthful (somewhat like last night's boy) - but there you are
At great personal expense I have been conducting research into variants and embellishments for the Thai Rent Boy Index. Dream Boy has cut their fixed charge for Fri/Sat night entry from 300 baht (and free drink) to 270 baht (and free drink). It is unclear whether this is a 10% "low season" discount. However the boy I "offed" last night, while giving no 10% discount himself, was perfectly happy with 1500 baht so there's no movement on price inflation there
There is, however, movement on the Marble House Standard Two-Hour (no sex please) Massage Index. This stood at 300 baht for many, many years but moved up 10% around about the time when the new millenium was ushered in. When I first started living in Bangkok (1988) there was Marble House and there was Bodie Care and that was about it. Now you can't move in Soi Wall Street Inn without some pushy madam trying to tempt you inside, and the footpaths of both Silom and Suriwong abound with price lists and (somewhat desultory) touts. I expect therefore that the MHSTHMI has been somewhat limited in upwards movement by increased competition
Yesterday however I noticed a new price list at Marble House reception. 400 baht, or a smidgin over 21% - but the first rise in roughly 5 years, and only a 33% increase over the 1988 price (if my memory is correct - and it may not be). Oh, and the Index will have to be re-named. Marble House is now Tsukuba Kenkou Center and does seem to have more Japanese customers. (My regular masseur told me "Japanese no good" but that cannot have been a racist comment since, as we know, racism is a vice solely of white middle-aged men). And if you're after a good massage (no sex please) #21 is my recommendation. Mr Jed. The Index is henceforth known as the TKCSTHMI - a bit of a mouthful (somewhat like last night's boy) - but there you are