Gay bars for Thais only?

[neoncrusade]

I'm only about 4 months away now from selling my house in the UK and moving out to LOS (Land of Scams).

As I am sorting thru all my shit here I have just come across the book that initiated my first trip to Thailand back in the early 90's...a book called 'Trees in the same forest' The Men of Thailand revisited book 1.

Re-reading, I was intrigued by this: 'Gay bars most frequented by the Thai are very different than those tourists visit, and many falang are repelled by them. Some feel that barboys are meat-racked, because they sit along a wall in street clothes. Whereas some Thai feel ashamed of GoGo bars where boys are nearly or completely nude.

Have I missed something here? The only bar in Pattaya I ever remember where boys were in street clothes was Adam & Eve. Are there other bars that catered (or still do) to Thai patrons only? I know that there are plenty of girly bars aimed primarily at Thais ( you know the ones I mean...small shop fronts with lots of pink neon strip lights). Is there still, or has there ever been a gay equivalent?

[Narakmak]

Host bars in Saphan Kwai Bangkok for example. Some real choice young men there, for sure. Yes you have missed something.

[Marsilius]

The majority of bars in Bangkok's Saphan Kwai district are of the clothed "host bar" variety. Madam Ed's (used to be called Adam & Eve) is the only one I can think of in Pattaya.

[pong]

as above-but as you noted, your book (I have it too-plus later edtions) is now nearly 20 yrs old. There used to be the odd bar even barring those nasty stinky white farang-but that has all ceased last century. In fact most of those bars have closed altogether. And if you move to Thailand you should have noted that PTY is not a prime example of Thai habits-rather the opposite.
As has also ben reported here more as once, the new media, with sites like gayromeo and the like, seem to have taken over much of the trade. Also in big city BKK the nr of gay sauna's has mushroomed-well over 40 now. As have those all-in massageplaces (all in= not for the price-a big tip is expected for the extra) that deliver more as just that massage. But there is still the odd Sapan Kwai with clothed, but off-able bar-boys, offering karaOK to entertain you. In those massageplaces you usually also get a ''meatrack'' of boys to choose from. They may be fully or half clothed, but in general Thai rely on advice of the receptionist

Before the coming of the internet back in the 1990's Thai's ran escort agency's using Thai Magazines etc.. to advertise. Some of the more savvy ones would send a guy around to your apartemnt on a motorbike with an album of photographs so you could chose who you wanted, the escort agency would then send him/her around charging a fixed fee for either short or longtime. These were initially set up for the Thai punters but also catered for farangs who latched on to them.

As already pointed out most of the Thai style bars (boys were always wearing their street clothes sitting around inside) were located either in the Saphan Khwai area and the Sois off Sukhumvit Road. I never heard of or experienced any bar that refused farangs or made them feel unwelcome. One of the oldest that comes to mind going back to the middle, late 1980's in Bangkok was Big Boy Bar Sukhumvit Soi 11.

I also knew Eric Allyn (Men Of Thailand author) who was a true Gentleman and treated everyone with the greatest of respect when compiling information for his book.

[stevehadders]

I remember on my first visit to Chiang Mai I was told about such bars - for Thais mainly, and had boys in their street clothes......although I never visited - I was told that the Thai customers wanted discretion, and didn't really appreciate farangs in their midst (which I can fully understand :) )

[llz]

The Saphan Kwai concept (boys in their street clothes sitting in front of the customers) is still living and well, and some gems are sometimes hidden among the staff.
The same format is found in the less touristy places all over Thailand : in Hat Yai, Udon Thani, Phitsanuloke (this one still to be checked by me), and probably some other towns, the bars have the same model with case-by-case special rules (for example in Hat Yai, the tip for the boy must be paid upfront to the bar). In these places, farangs are usually quite welcomed.
And then there are the houses of boys which are more or less off limits for us ; I know there are (or have been) such places in Chiang Mai, Lampang, Ubon Ratchathani, Ratchaburi and probably many other towns. I almost never went to these places and would not even dare to tell anything about them.

I almost never went to these places and would not even dare to tell anything about them.

llz "I almost never went to these places" did you or didn't you? Rumours abound in Thailand as well as many other places about what kind of places are hidden away, but one rarely if ever hears of such places from a trusted source. It's like the Russian Go-Go Boys in Pattaya, that one was doing the rounds back in the late eighties if not earlier.

[Beachlover]

I was intrigued by this: 'Gay bars most frequented by the Thai are very different than those tourists visit, and many falang are repelled by them. Some feel that barboys are meat-racked, because they sit along a wall in street clothes. Whereas some Thai feel ashamed of GoGo bars where boys are nearly or completely nude.
I think you should distinguish that you (and this book) aren't referring to "gay bars" in general, but specifically, "prostitute bars", "commercial sex bars" or "gogo bars".


I'm only about 4 months away now from selling my house in the UK and moving out to LOS...
Cool... good luck with it!

[DamienZ]

Re-reading, I was intrigued by this: 'Gay bars most frequented by the Thai are very different than those tourists visit, and many falang are repelled by them. Some feel that barboys are meat-racked, because they sit along a wall in street clothes. Whereas some Thai feel ashamed of GoGo bars where boys are nearly or completely nude.

Have I missed something here? The only bar in Pattaya I ever remember where boys were in street clothes was Adam & Eve. Are there other bars that catered (or still do) to Thai patrons only? I know that there are plenty of girly bars aimed primarily at Thais ( you know the ones I mean...small shop fronts with lots of pink neon strip lights). Is there still, or has there ever been a gay equivalent?


Cool post.
I admit that I have only limited experience in host bars. However on those nights when I have felt adventurous, I have on occasion gone off the beaten path to a few "sticky" spa's. I mention this because I sense an underlying theme to your post. That of culture and human behavior in general. This is just a personal observation but in retrospect, I really cannot now find any fault (though I resented the hell out of it at first), with the inherent tendency of the Thai to "limit" foreign participation to major cities and venues. Many cultures have a way of protecting and isolating themselves from the "eyes of conquest" and all that it entails. Having culturaly exclusive bars, spas, and other venues where social ritual is exclusive is not unsual, and as a matter of course would be the norm. I mean honestly, can you blame the Thai? This might sound off topic and out there, maybe a little too academic, but give it a thought when you feel a twinge of resentment or you feel that you have missed something. Best of luck on your reallocation! Keep an open mind and heart and all will be just ducky! Right?

:hello2:

[llz]

llz "I almost never went to these places" did you or didn't you?
I ... did.

[Brisboy82]

The vast vast majority of the gay scene is for Thais only and is located far from the farang oriented gay scene. Even saphan Kwai although more local is relatively foreigner friendly compared to the Thai only scene.

[bucknaway]

Seem's that these places are not necessarily Thai Only, but simply not well known of by non-Thai.

I have gone in many places that have been described as for Japanese only and been treated very well. Also I have gone to places said to be very sticky and was mostly a Thai 4 Thai place only to be chased out due to too much unwanted attention and advances.

Even here in Delaware, I have been places where the customers are mainly Black. Some of my white friends would whisper that the bar was for black guys. After they visited the bar with me, they often wanted to go back again due to all the positive attention they received.

I will even admit that I enjoy being the only gay black guy in a bar full of Asian's and white guys... If they want a black guy, who are they going to pick? :dontknow:

Hey! Pick me! I am the only gay black American guy around for a mile! :rolling:

[DamienZ]

I will even admit that I enjoy being the only gay black guy in a bar full of Asian's and white guys... If they want a black guy, who are they going to pick?

I hear in certain circles that....
"Once you go black, you never go back!"
:headbang:

[bucknaway]

I will even admit that I enjoy being the only gay black guy in a bar full of Asian's and white guys... If they want a black guy, who are they going to pick?

I hear in certain circles that....
"Once you go black, you never go back!"
:headbang:

It's true for me, I went black when I was born and stuck with it! :rolling:

One thing I think was funny was that there was one Thai guy I use to talk to on gay.com I wanted to meet him so much! But he would always tell me that he was not into black guys but that didn't stop me from trying. I never did get to meet him that trip because he just was not interested. Once I returned home I saw him online and he wanted to know if I was still in Thailand and wanted to know if I was the guy he saw around Bangkok. Turns out I was the guy he saw and now he wanted to meet me! LOL

Well, we did meet on my return to Thailand as I still lusted for him. I did things to him that would make Angels gasp and Porn Star blush. It started with a massage and ended with him asking where I learned to do the things I did... :bis:

Well we met on and off during my time there and I returned home. Once I was home I got a message from him asking me when I will return. He also wanted to know if I knew any other black guys for him. I was a bit surprised and had to ask. I thought you didn't like black guys? His answer was the best compliment anyone has ever given me!

He told me that after being with me, I changed his mind and now black guys are his favorite! :notworthy:

[Brad the Impala]

Re-reading, I was intrigued by this: 'Gay bars most frequented by the Thai are very different than those tourists visit, and many falang are repelled by them. Some feel that barboys are meat-racked, because they sit along a wall in street clothes. Whereas some Thai feel ashamed of GoGo bars where boys are nearly or completely nude.


I think that opinion must be based on some misconception as nothing could be more like a meat market than a parade of guys in their underwear on a stage! In host bars guys are only lined up along a wall in their street clothes, in order to leave the booths or tables free for the customers who can then invite one or usually more to join him for an evening of drinking and fun, during which they can get to know the guys, and decide if and with whom to take things further. Drinks would be cheaper than in a gogo bar, and the simplest and normal way is to order a bottle and mixers.

[netrix]

I think you should distinguish that you (and this book) aren't referring to "gay bars" in general, but specifically, "prostitute bars", "commercial sex bars" or "gogo bars".


yep. outside of silom and the farang touristy gogo scene, there's Ramkhamhaeng (Lamsalee) and Kamphaeng Pet Road.
lots of univ guys, mostly thai for thai but polite casual foreigners are usually welcome. no money boy scene. not even
the DJ station crowd looking for a farang. its thai gay guys having fun being themselves without worrying about the
moneyboy stigma.

[bucknaway]

I think we are misunderstanding the situation. Just because some guys are not going into the tourist area to have fun does not mean that they are sticky. There are some very good reasons for them not to go into the tourist spots and they are the same reasons that kept me out of the tourist spots here in my own state.

Tourist spots are too crowded, too expensive, filled with guys looking to wear your body out and leave without taking the time to learn your name. The area may be too high profile and they are still living a secret and not to mention that they may not like the tourist area at all and prefer to party in a less commercial area that plays music that they like. I am sure there could be a whole host of reasons why they don't want to be in the tourist spots. I am sure that there are a few that only are interested in the fellow countrymen also and there is nothing wrong with that.

[thonglor55]

... filled with guys {who} leave without taking the time to learn your name.And this is a problem??

[MARK]

Host bars in Saphan Kwai Bangkok for example. Some real choice young men there, for sure. Yes you have missed something.


Glad to see you are in a good mood today :hello1: Brothels replaced by Host bars much nicer Real choice of young men what an improvement on whores.

Graded A+ for using nice words see you can do it when you try. :hello1:

[cameroncat]

If I want to go out, my Thai friends will go with me to DJ's or Telephone Bar etc. But If I don't go, they go to Thai clubs like "Fake Club" where farangs are few and far between. That's OK with me because I really don't like the Thai style clubs (where you sit around a small table and drink and don't interact with any other patrons).

[martin911]

I'm only about 4 months away now from selling my house in the UK and moving out to LOS (Land of Scams).

As I am sorting thru all my shit here I have just come across the book that initiated my first trip to Thailand back in the early 90's...a book called 'Trees in the same forest' The Men of Thailand revisited book 1.

Re-reading, I was intrigued by this: 'Gay bars most frequented by the Thai are very different than those tourists visit, and many falang are repelled by them. Some feel that barboys are meat-racked, because they sit along a wall in street clothes. Whereas some Thai feel ashamed of GoGo bars where boys are nearly or completely nude.

Have I missed something here? The only bar in Pattaya I ever remember where boys were in street clothes was Adam & Eve. Are there other bars that catered (or still do) to Thai patrons only? I know that there are plenty of girly bars aimed primarily at Thais ( you know the ones I mean...small shop fronts with lots of pink neon strip lights). Is there still, or has there ever been a gay equivalent?


I dont think that there are any gay bars that are for Thais only in the strictest sense (in Bkk and Ptt) --

There are a huge amount of gay areas outside of the Silom area ( rachada,ot to kor ,Lad prao etc )-- - --and while it might be difficult for a farang to make contact (as most Thais there have little or no english ) the places are very farang friendly (but not many farang go there )---- the guys there (mostly students/young workers ) make u feel welcome !!!

I have never ever been made feel unwelcome in any of the above mentioned places i have been to --Indeed in one place a few weeks ago (Kar Dae ,late nite spot off Rachada )the guy i was with was pissed off with all the attention i was getting,no one was interestined in him lol

My advice is to Explore the areas outside Silom ( that club i mentioned is only a 15 min (early morn time )from my hotel in Satorn )--but bring a thai friend with you because unless u speak Thai it will be harder to pick up -but not impossible !!

[Brisboy82]

I think it would be pretty naive to think that so many Thais would be interested in farangs if economic factors were taken out of the equation.

[Smiles]

" ... There are a huge amount of gay areas outside of the Silom area ( rachada,ot to kor ,Lad prao etc )-- - --and while it might be difficult for a farang to make contact (as most Thais there have little or no english ) the places are very farang friendly (but not many farang go there )---- the guys there (mostly students/young workers ) make u feel welcome ... `
I`m certain you are right.
Do you have more specific information on such places. I`ve heard about this Other World before but I`ve never attempted any investigation, but wouldn`t mind attempting it. I have my own translator in tow :blackeye:

[neoncrusade]

Thanks for some interesting posts guys. Like Smiles I will be heading off to some of these areas outside of Silom with one of my Thai friends as translator. It's a shame that Pattaya doesn't seem to have anything similar. Gogo bars with boys running around in nothing but their knickers is so pass├й!

[bao-bao]

I'm remembering Rice Queen Diary doing a couple of informative posts about this at one point, but the site is now blank and only showing a simple headline - and I'm not having much luck with the cache for it.

Perhaps one of our more prolific info Googlers like Beachlover could find it.

[Beachlover]

I never read that blog so no idea what to search for... but stick "site:www.ricequeendiary.com" (or whatever the URL is) in the front of your search to bring up results from ONLY that site.


I hear in certain circles that....
"Once you go black, you never go back!"
I went black once. He was very hot and it was lots of fun but I still prefer Asians.

I would say, my first preference is Asian, followed by Latin (have only been with ONE Latin guy and oh my god...), then black, then Caucasian.

After my one Latin experience, I was very tempted to say "once you go Latin, you never go back!" but I'm back with an Asian guy now.

[neoncrusade]

I would say, my first preference is Asian, followed by Latin (have only been with ONE Latin guy and oh my god...), then black, then Caucasian.

After my one Latin experience, I was very tempted to say "once you go Latin, you never go back!" but I'm back with an Asian guy now.My first preference Asian, second Black/Latin, last white.........

Blacks I love (skin like black satin)..Latin, so sexy....Mexicans...oh my god!...you can keep white guys!!

[Brisboy82]

I never read that blog so no idea what to search for... but stick "site:www.ricequeendiary.com" (or whatever the URL is) in the front of your search to bring up results from ONLY that site.


I hear in certain circles that....
"Once you go black, you never go back!"
I went black once. He was very hot and it was lots of fun but I still prefer Asians.

I would say, my first preference is Asian, followed by Latin (have only been with ONE Latin guy and oh my god...), then black, then Caucasian.

After my one Latin experience, I was very tempted to say "once you go Latin, you never go back!" but I'm back with an Asian guy now.

Same preference list. Extremely rare that I would ever find any white guy attractive but those other groups can catch my eye. Asians first of course!

[Beachlover]

Yeah, I feel the same as the two posters above about Caucasians. Very little attraction. Not attraction to Indians either. But all that's just personal preference for sexual attraction. I get long great with all races otherwise.


Latin, so sexy
Yeah! It's not just their looks and body either. It can be their mannerisms and the way they act.

Have to admit, I was a bit outside my usual comfort zone (with Asians) when I went out with an Argentinian guy for a while. The language accent, culture and mannerisms of Latin guys are so different from Asians. It took a while to tune in and be more perceptive with him but it was exciting! Kept me on my feet and oh my god... he was hot!