newalaan2
February 25th, 2013, 03:54
I always appreciate when others post their experiences of visits and updates of the gay scene in Thailand and so always try to post some kind of info after a visit. I visited over the last month and did notice some changes here and there.
Arsenal brought up the subject not that long ago of XBoys/men Pattaya giving back min Bt50 change when paying the bill, they are still following this policy. But actually worse than this is Tangmo Gogo, Paradise, Patong. When I handed over Bt1000 to pay Bt200 bill I received only Bt100 notes...this is now the policy. The mamasan I have known for years admitted that it is deliberate and that they expect/hope for Bt100 tip on top of the Bt200 for the Bt40 worth of beer served. Success rate of Bt100 tips? very high according to the mamasan as there was alot of asian visitors due to chinese new year and they are well known for taking the easy route when faced up with possible contentious issues such as not having reasonably small notes to give as tips, so most just leave the Bt100. So a one drink visit for many was Bt300 for water/coke/beer etc..inc tip.
Outrageous claimed I to the mamasan, but he said most asians will not, unlike westerners, have the strength of mind to take the change in Bt100's from the folder and replace it with a smaller tip from their wallet/pocket. I found it very easy as the policy gave me the motivation, they were lucky to get Bt20 given the blatent attempt at gouging. Drinks at Tangmo Bt200 inside, which was fair enough given bars with shows in Pattaya are now at that level and Bt140 out on terrace.
Phuket was as usual great for a short break. Booked with Nokair a good while back so about Bt3500 return. Paradise was very busy all nights I was there but that was over a weekend. Every outside bar with terrace was packed, on the Sat night at 10pm hardly a seat to be had in the main soi. I was surprised that Tangmo has a fuck show now, and despite the drink/tip costs it was packed every show. In fact on the saturday had the mamasan not seen me and managed to carve out a seat at the front i would have been turned away...unheard of on previous visits. MyWay was ok until (as usual when there is a crowd)the owner took the mic and from then on it was downhill all the way and a case of finishing the drinks as quick as possible and out.
Of the other bars, visited Passport for the first time in years, it was awful, half dozen boys who dance on 2 small podiums 2 at a time when a customer enters, if a boy is not taken to sit within a minute the boys just lazily plonk themselves on a sofa and virtually ignore the customers, unfortunately a couple did try to engage me, but they were tattood-covered mean looking types who held no interest for me but even when this was conveyed they persisited, one in particular was without doubt high-as-a-kite, exaggerated movements, wide eyed stares, nervous repetitive leg, arm movements. But I smiled drank up and got out, good enough reason for another 5 years before a visit.
Kiss bar is now closed but Boat Bar very busy as usual outside, Chic bar nice decor, Sundowners lounges great places to people watch, Connect terrace too was busy. Went to SoFa(r) club/disco prev Galaxy, was ok...but enjoyed the smaller club next door "Sanuk" which had a live band segemnt and the DJ played popular rather than dance tunes, backed up with a good few screens with an accompanying video of the song. Nice cute waiters, mixed gay/straight with waiters def more gay in mannerisms. Also had an evening outside Paradise to soi bangla etc.. Tai Pan and some smaller mixed places, there was a good vibe around the nightlife there.
No incidents whatsoever during the days we were there, (Note:Kjun12) used Tuktuk only the night we went to the clubs at Bt150 for 3 of us from Paradise. Tons of young attractive western gays in Paradise, but mostly in their own company pairs/groups and all bar owners/mamasans said they were not offing boys from the bars. Few Russians in Paradise so no controversial incidents to report compared to previous visits.
Pattaya.
Stayed at Baan Dok Mai for first 3 days, then Mosaik. Again repeating previous reports on these places but just to update that Baan Dok Mai remains a great value accommodation, top floor rooms large with balcony, the day I arrived there was a problem with water heater which had to be replaced, Warwick the owner was happy to hurry to find someone to install it instantly, but it was very hot and cool shower for a day was fine, so I said next day would be ok, and as per promise new heater installed and running perfectly by the time I got back from the beach next day. Good food at attached eaterie and very reasonably priced drinks. Still highly recommended.
Mosaik, was very busy so had to take a Studio Deluxe rather than a larger Prestige Studio but as usual pristine with everything working perfectly, microwave and coookware on request. Security looked after pickup outside Mosaik. Usual high quality of apartments and service.
Managed to get round a few of the agogos this visit as I made an early visit to Happy Place and 'M' the owner and sometime showman said he had stopped appearing in the shows and was keeping a close eye on the running of the bar but has good trusted staff and although steady the night i visited was not wildly busy at 10.30pm so when I said I was visiting a few of the pattayaland bars he was happy to get a break from his bar and accompany me around a few giving him a chance to 'check out' the opposition while keeping in touch with his bar by mobile. We went to Funny Boys first, nice usual welcome here, and very busy, how they manage to get a consistantly large stable of guys here I do not know, and some very cute, nice guys in the mix. Next Toyboys, M's old haunt, great welcome from the mamasan known to us for many years and insisted on covering our bill, which was a very generous gesture. As per my last visit here 3 months ago, a good number of guys here and a couple of stunners, very attractive boys. They certainly have found their 'groove' again as it was well attended even at 11.30pm. They have been very consistant over the last year. Good to see.
Wild West boys had show in progress and was just ok. Not that many boys available here, but we had a good laugh with the waiters who were on good form. Then a surprise...a visit to ABomb where I have not been for 5 or more years, but still a couple of old friends here. But just as I remembered it, manly-men catering to a few asian females, but caught up with friends, so a worthwhile and enjoyable visit....but doubt if i'll be back, the guys there just not my style and no show to attract. Checked out a few places around Walking St after 'M's bar closed and finished off a great night around 3am.
On another night a visit to BzBzBz was a pleasant surprise, it's a bar which i usually find nothing to interest me and only go at the request of others,... but this time the much updated show was excellent in parts, there was a Lady Gaga and rap-style segments which were very proffessional and upbeat and rightly got a loud ovation from the quite large audience for the later show. Drink price set here at Bt200 for standard drinks. My visit to Xboys/men old Davids was disappointing as it was outwith showtime and boys here not of interest to me, but waiters were good fun, so tips to them and Bt20 to the folder to replace the min Bt50 denominations change inside. Point of principal.
The BT terrace bars were all busy too, even later in the evening, Panorama had a few new (to me) waiters, and Oscars had the usual few very cute waiters, Serene which i did not sit at was packed with Russian types the nights we went to BT and looked quite busy. The showbar next to Panorama was also well attended with show in progress.
Late night venues....Made my first visit to TamNan Issan in Pattaya and had Beer tower here and great fun night, packed with gay boys and a few straights, whereas the Bkk version was packed with mixed/straight and although alot of gays not as big a percentage as Pattaya. Good band, singers etc... good food and fun waiters, great night! Also on the subject of Issan music we also attended the saisam/3rd road outdoor Issan show. We went about 10.30pm, again my first visit to a Pattaya Issan concert, (have attended many around Thailand) The skies had opened earlier in the evening about 8-9pm with torrential rain, so we were fearing the worst regarding the ground conditions, entrance Bt120 each with free stool, and although there were large pools of water the rest of the ground was not as wet/muddy as I expected to find, and plenty places to park our stools, beer inside Bt50 per can of Leo, didn't try any of the LaoDong Ya alcohol though. A few fast food carts and excellent atmosphere, with the largest collection of gay/femme/katoey boys I have seen in one place. There were a few westerners here all appeared to be regular visitors as they seemed to be comfortable with their surroundings, but did see some westerners obviously new to the scene. Many boys from the sunee beerbars here so lots of interaction and fun was had. Great night. Songtaew outside back to Wat-chai Bt120 at 1am.
NAB was my first visit since it's refurbishment and apart from the moving of the entrance, not too much change inside. Got a good table and we did enjoy ourselves due to a combination of the company we were with and interaction from those around us and who knew the BT mamasan who joined us after work. But as per another thread where "thrillbill" mentioned the pricing here, we did think the bill steep at Bt3300 for one Red/nibbles/ice/mixers for four of us, not grudging it as we had a great time just a tad surprised. The visit to Tam Nan Chon was a let down though, we had been drinking beer at some of the BT bars and my bf and 2 friends all wanted a beer tower as they couldn't look at whiskey, very few tables at 1am but we found a great table on the front raised part, but even though the waiter took our order for a beer tower some management jobsworth said the table was slightly larger than the very rear ones and so was only for whiskey! But we always buy lots of food as well as the beer tower which we would probably have 2 so we need room! but he was awkward with one of our friends and would not budge with the whiskey-only lark so we left, and headed almost next door at Tawan Daeng, beer tower no problem any table, great food, with the place busy, good band and a mixed crowd, excellent waiters. Made up for the TamNanChon disappointment.
Enough already. I'll post sunee and other stuff later. I'll PM back the guys who asked questions from the other thread on Sunee/clean up.
Arsenal brought up the subject not that long ago of XBoys/men Pattaya giving back min Bt50 change when paying the bill, they are still following this policy. But actually worse than this is Tangmo Gogo, Paradise, Patong. When I handed over Bt1000 to pay Bt200 bill I received only Bt100 notes...this is now the policy. The mamasan I have known for years admitted that it is deliberate and that they expect/hope for Bt100 tip on top of the Bt200 for the Bt40 worth of beer served. Success rate of Bt100 tips? very high according to the mamasan as there was alot of asian visitors due to chinese new year and they are well known for taking the easy route when faced up with possible contentious issues such as not having reasonably small notes to give as tips, so most just leave the Bt100. So a one drink visit for many was Bt300 for water/coke/beer etc..inc tip.
Outrageous claimed I to the mamasan, but he said most asians will not, unlike westerners, have the strength of mind to take the change in Bt100's from the folder and replace it with a smaller tip from their wallet/pocket. I found it very easy as the policy gave me the motivation, they were lucky to get Bt20 given the blatent attempt at gouging. Drinks at Tangmo Bt200 inside, which was fair enough given bars with shows in Pattaya are now at that level and Bt140 out on terrace.
Phuket was as usual great for a short break. Booked with Nokair a good while back so about Bt3500 return. Paradise was very busy all nights I was there but that was over a weekend. Every outside bar with terrace was packed, on the Sat night at 10pm hardly a seat to be had in the main soi. I was surprised that Tangmo has a fuck show now, and despite the drink/tip costs it was packed every show. In fact on the saturday had the mamasan not seen me and managed to carve out a seat at the front i would have been turned away...unheard of on previous visits. MyWay was ok until (as usual when there is a crowd)the owner took the mic and from then on it was downhill all the way and a case of finishing the drinks as quick as possible and out.
Of the other bars, visited Passport for the first time in years, it was awful, half dozen boys who dance on 2 small podiums 2 at a time when a customer enters, if a boy is not taken to sit within a minute the boys just lazily plonk themselves on a sofa and virtually ignore the customers, unfortunately a couple did try to engage me, but they were tattood-covered mean looking types who held no interest for me but even when this was conveyed they persisited, one in particular was without doubt high-as-a-kite, exaggerated movements, wide eyed stares, nervous repetitive leg, arm movements. But I smiled drank up and got out, good enough reason for another 5 years before a visit.
Kiss bar is now closed but Boat Bar very busy as usual outside, Chic bar nice decor, Sundowners lounges great places to people watch, Connect terrace too was busy. Went to SoFa(r) club/disco prev Galaxy, was ok...but enjoyed the smaller club next door "Sanuk" which had a live band segemnt and the DJ played popular rather than dance tunes, backed up with a good few screens with an accompanying video of the song. Nice cute waiters, mixed gay/straight with waiters def more gay in mannerisms. Also had an evening outside Paradise to soi bangla etc.. Tai Pan and some smaller mixed places, there was a good vibe around the nightlife there.
No incidents whatsoever during the days we were there, (Note:Kjun12) used Tuktuk only the night we went to the clubs at Bt150 for 3 of us from Paradise. Tons of young attractive western gays in Paradise, but mostly in their own company pairs/groups and all bar owners/mamasans said they were not offing boys from the bars. Few Russians in Paradise so no controversial incidents to report compared to previous visits.
Pattaya.
Stayed at Baan Dok Mai for first 3 days, then Mosaik. Again repeating previous reports on these places but just to update that Baan Dok Mai remains a great value accommodation, top floor rooms large with balcony, the day I arrived there was a problem with water heater which had to be replaced, Warwick the owner was happy to hurry to find someone to install it instantly, but it was very hot and cool shower for a day was fine, so I said next day would be ok, and as per promise new heater installed and running perfectly by the time I got back from the beach next day. Good food at attached eaterie and very reasonably priced drinks. Still highly recommended.
Mosaik, was very busy so had to take a Studio Deluxe rather than a larger Prestige Studio but as usual pristine with everything working perfectly, microwave and coookware on request. Security looked after pickup outside Mosaik. Usual high quality of apartments and service.
Managed to get round a few of the agogos this visit as I made an early visit to Happy Place and 'M' the owner and sometime showman said he had stopped appearing in the shows and was keeping a close eye on the running of the bar but has good trusted staff and although steady the night i visited was not wildly busy at 10.30pm so when I said I was visiting a few of the pattayaland bars he was happy to get a break from his bar and accompany me around a few giving him a chance to 'check out' the opposition while keeping in touch with his bar by mobile. We went to Funny Boys first, nice usual welcome here, and very busy, how they manage to get a consistantly large stable of guys here I do not know, and some very cute, nice guys in the mix. Next Toyboys, M's old haunt, great welcome from the mamasan known to us for many years and insisted on covering our bill, which was a very generous gesture. As per my last visit here 3 months ago, a good number of guys here and a couple of stunners, very attractive boys. They certainly have found their 'groove' again as it was well attended even at 11.30pm. They have been very consistant over the last year. Good to see.
Wild West boys had show in progress and was just ok. Not that many boys available here, but we had a good laugh with the waiters who were on good form. Then a surprise...a visit to ABomb where I have not been for 5 or more years, but still a couple of old friends here. But just as I remembered it, manly-men catering to a few asian females, but caught up with friends, so a worthwhile and enjoyable visit....but doubt if i'll be back, the guys there just not my style and no show to attract. Checked out a few places around Walking St after 'M's bar closed and finished off a great night around 3am.
On another night a visit to BzBzBz was a pleasant surprise, it's a bar which i usually find nothing to interest me and only go at the request of others,... but this time the much updated show was excellent in parts, there was a Lady Gaga and rap-style segments which were very proffessional and upbeat and rightly got a loud ovation from the quite large audience for the later show. Drink price set here at Bt200 for standard drinks. My visit to Xboys/men old Davids was disappointing as it was outwith showtime and boys here not of interest to me, but waiters were good fun, so tips to them and Bt20 to the folder to replace the min Bt50 denominations change inside. Point of principal.
The BT terrace bars were all busy too, even later in the evening, Panorama had a few new (to me) waiters, and Oscars had the usual few very cute waiters, Serene which i did not sit at was packed with Russian types the nights we went to BT and looked quite busy. The showbar next to Panorama was also well attended with show in progress.
Late night venues....Made my first visit to TamNan Issan in Pattaya and had Beer tower here and great fun night, packed with gay boys and a few straights, whereas the Bkk version was packed with mixed/straight and although alot of gays not as big a percentage as Pattaya. Good band, singers etc... good food and fun waiters, great night! Also on the subject of Issan music we also attended the saisam/3rd road outdoor Issan show. We went about 10.30pm, again my first visit to a Pattaya Issan concert, (have attended many around Thailand) The skies had opened earlier in the evening about 8-9pm with torrential rain, so we were fearing the worst regarding the ground conditions, entrance Bt120 each with free stool, and although there were large pools of water the rest of the ground was not as wet/muddy as I expected to find, and plenty places to park our stools, beer inside Bt50 per can of Leo, didn't try any of the LaoDong Ya alcohol though. A few fast food carts and excellent atmosphere, with the largest collection of gay/femme/katoey boys I have seen in one place. There were a few westerners here all appeared to be regular visitors as they seemed to be comfortable with their surroundings, but did see some westerners obviously new to the scene. Many boys from the sunee beerbars here so lots of interaction and fun was had. Great night. Songtaew outside back to Wat-chai Bt120 at 1am.
NAB was my first visit since it's refurbishment and apart from the moving of the entrance, not too much change inside. Got a good table and we did enjoy ourselves due to a combination of the company we were with and interaction from those around us and who knew the BT mamasan who joined us after work. But as per another thread where "thrillbill" mentioned the pricing here, we did think the bill steep at Bt3300 for one Red/nibbles/ice/mixers for four of us, not grudging it as we had a great time just a tad surprised. The visit to Tam Nan Chon was a let down though, we had been drinking beer at some of the BT bars and my bf and 2 friends all wanted a beer tower as they couldn't look at whiskey, very few tables at 1am but we found a great table on the front raised part, but even though the waiter took our order for a beer tower some management jobsworth said the table was slightly larger than the very rear ones and so was only for whiskey! But we always buy lots of food as well as the beer tower which we would probably have 2 so we need room! but he was awkward with one of our friends and would not budge with the whiskey-only lark so we left, and headed almost next door at Tawan Daeng, beer tower no problem any table, great food, with the place busy, good band and a mixed crowd, excellent waiters. Made up for the TamNanChon disappointment.
Enough already. I'll post sunee and other stuff later. I'll PM back the guys who asked questions from the other thread on Sunee/clean up.