Updates/Notes from a recent Thailand trip.

[newalaan2]

That’s such splendid piece and the final push necessary to revisit the forgotten place. Please enlighten me nevertheless: what are the man-boy challenge mentioned at Nice Boys?

No big issues as such, just general observations when chatting to Beer, the owner. He has always gone out of his way to take me aside for a general chit-chat about other bars and his. We have known each other for so many years we find it difficult to put a first date on it, certainly a dozen years or more. We usually sit outside behind the doormen after I have paid a visit inside with him. He is normally 'sighing' about this and that as you would do as a bar operator, this time he was 'sighing' more than usual but not in a negative way, as he is happy that customers are coming regularly but needs a reliable stable of lads to service them and keep them coming. Apparently getting man-boys to turn up regularly and on time daily is a bit like herding cats....when he gets them there it's fine as they just get on with what they are good at. But he's got to work hard to get them there in the first place for various reasons.

Then there are the alfa-male internal conflicts between 'personalities', recruiting new reliable lads and then holding on to them when you have customers willing to visit your bar is probably the main challenge. Gay/Femme/twinky boys tend to rely on each other become friends easily and bond, man-boys often see each other as rivals and don't particularly like being told what to do in this day and age. Of course there are the common-for-bar-industry challenges along with that in the form of hard drinking and 'stimulants' not in themselves serious but more just not helping with the reliability aspect. But I think Beer is doing a great job this past while, his bar is popular with good reviews and more Asian customers are dropping by with iPhone in hand and google maps finding their way there, and this all against the difficulties of the GoGo Bar Vs Online Apps.

As the man-boys are straight I think some are uncomfortable being manhandled by the customers.
Many have trouble getting it up on stage, even watching straight porn. Being watched by a group of men would make it even harder - getting an erection, I mean, not the cock! And you notice that when called over by a customer for a grope, the hard-on wilts in the hand and by the time he's gone back to the stage he has to get it up all over again. I can see why some guys may look for alternative employment. So keeping the boys is probably the problem. The Korean guy who was sitting next to me said the guys he'd offed from there couldn't get it up in the room. No good for a bottom.

I thought about offing a guy but if he can't get it up for a reasonably attractive middle-aged guy, what hope would I have?!

I don't think that being 'manhandled' is an issue at all. The boys who are shy simply don't offer the goods up as readily as some, but tips for manhandling is what it's about, also some boys are not that bothered if they're taken off or not, if the drink and tips are flowing many are perfectly happy with their 'live for the moment' attitude to enjoy the sanook as long as there's enough tip money to survive, and here as in Winner I see many farang customers very generous in tips and drinks. Most boys are well up for gropes as that is where the tips are, which is another slight bug-bear of Beer's, small but frustrating is that he needs to keep on top of the way they present themselves on stage sometimes. Other GoGos like BBB, Cupidol, Toyboys, Dreamboys etc have a fairly strict rotation and place on stage which the boys themselves police, but in Nice Boys if there is a generous customer at one side of the stage the boys have the habit of clustering over near that customer often leaving 4-5 customers at the other side with no attention, well that was a reason for a few 'sighs' the night I visited and caught up with him. Haha.

As for not 'keeping it up' on stage, i'm amazed at how well they do manage it, if they're on stage at 9pm and you visit 10pm, or 11pm or 12am or 1am that's a long time to have to keep getting it up on demand depending on customers numbers over that time. I don't think the boys of Nice Boys get 'anything' up based on the age or looks of a male customer, Korean or not, if they're straight no other male is going to do the trick, their youth of naturally having erections every 2 minutes along with closed-eyes fantasies and porn coupled with what ever they've drank/taken should normally do it...however what they've drank/taken can easily work against them later in the evening! The drink is what often gives the place it's unique 'fun factor' so it's a fine line between just enough and too much!

[arsenal]

Nice Boys. Probably unique, not just in Pattaya but the world. Unless someone knows different. Which, I'd love to hear about if you do.

[newalaan2]

If nothing else this trip was a stark reminder, if any was needed, as to the full extent of the rapidly changing landscape with regard to gay areas previously dominated by farang customers. Jomtien is the main Farang hang-out area in terms of numbers, but in the Pattaya/Silom/Surawong areas traditionally frequented by Farang (apart from Soi 4 Silom which is still Farang central and Sunee, Pattaya) often it was a case of spot the farang. One weekend night in Soi2 Silom/DJ Station it was jam-packed absolutely full to capacity virtually all customers were from one or other Asian countries. In the whole time we were there, not just DJ itself but some of the other small clubs we were in on the Soi I saw no more than a dozen other farangs over the age of 30.

However with so many closures around Pattaya at least it gives a chance for the remaining bars to continue trading by attracting a share of what's left of the farang custom still available. That is the situation in sunee really, less bars maybe but serving a dwindling customer base which isn't going to grow anytime soon as long as boys and their farang customers continue down the online apps route to market, so that might just balance out. Winner and Nice Boys Gogo hopefully will continue to survive/thrive ok due to their popular business models being good enough to encourage customers to go out of their way and make it over to Sunee.

The other bars which will probably survive are those with the reputation for, or the will/ability to attract Asian customers. The three busiest gogos in BT/Pattaya have a pretty soild Asian customer base, be it Chinese, Korean, Japanese as well as a good percentage of females in that mix. BBB, Toyboys and XBoys all have two things in common 95% Asian custom with few farang and solid female following. The bars who never tapped into or had exposure to the Asian market have already gone, I think Dreamboys and Cupidol are getting away with it due to Prisma, 360, Kawaii, Vassa etc etc closing and managing to mop up any farang business which is around. BBB and XBoys are also showbars which helps. That said, bars in which I am surrounded by Asian, often remarkably young looking Asian customers is no bad thing with regard to the more-than-acceptable wall to wall eye candy!

Anyway...…..to continue the pattaya visit, which will now be 2-3 weeks out of date! The previous part-one post I declared only 6 agogo bars left in the PL1-3 Sois, but I missed one! as I completely forgot about our visit to gogo no.7 Castro Show Bar. First time we'd visited here since it's moved from Cupidol spot, show was just ok though no lack of effort, but the surprise was that they had gogo boys on stage just as Copa/Slash had when ran by Kevin all those years ago, maybe 8-10 lads, god knows how they get customers though because as soon as the show was over 90% of the small audience left immediately. We stayed on as late in for the show part and noted a couple of quite attractive/cute lads here. Note: Good to hear BT has livened up a bit since I returned home according to Gerefan2.

Late night fun......again Walking Street was the popular choice. Lucifer 2-3 nights, actually I don't care all that much for it, but bf and friends really like it, the music is unnecessarily over loud for me inside, but a compromise is reached by settling down near the entrance where there are high stools with bar top and a pretty good band playing, I just found out on this visit that this area is actually Music Café so I was happy to park up there with bf's couple of friends and farang friend with occasional forays into the main venue area. The Stones House music bar at the start of Walking St again was another favourite, superb live band playing mostly old/new Thai pop/rock with some Issan/Morlam tunes now and again, great vibe/atmosphere this time not spoiled by the over-the-top fussy waiting staff who are waaaay to eager to renew your drink. I always thought drinks here were all around the Bt200 mark, but took the time to actually look at a bill for once as payment is expected per order rather than shoved in a 'bin' and a bottle Chang with Vod/coke was Bt315 (150+165?). As I say only negative is the pressure from waiters constantly hovering to push another drink after you have taken but 2 sips of your recently delivered one's, however on this visit the waiter who assigned himself to our table was very cute. less 'straight acting' than some of the other waiters and seemed as happy to dance around with us as we were to have him there.

Over at Zab Issan Music Bar I would have liked to say it was the usual party-atmosphere there, but although usual top-notch band and singers the atmosphere was a bit lacking due to low customer numbers, it's usually packed later on with happy-drunk Thai/Farang/gay/female/tom-dee customers but sparce crowd when we visited, but we still enjoyed every visit. Of course there were the usual 2-3 visits to Marine Disco same as ever, a loud noise catering to the straight crowd with a few gay lads and ladyboys milling around. Guaranteed early morning finish 4-6am if you're in the mood for a full night of festivities and close to Wat Chai eateries as wellas our Mosaik Apt near TukCom, so very handy in terms of staggering distance. The reason for typing 2-3 when describing visit to venues as opposed to precise number is that I can never truly remember actual number of visits to each place, after a few nights in Pattaya some things just kinda...merge into others.

Once again Sinlapin Issan was best late night venue/club...by far. But one night I did the 'up to you' on my bf and paid the price for that generous lapse of judgement as we landed up at Hollywood for the first time in a very very long time and it'll be a very very long time before I venture back. It was awful! Over-the-top fawning by staff, and there was a fucking lot of them! heaps more than used to be, virtually a Captain and waiter per (small) table with a ridiculously high level of service, all unnecessary of course but is the Asian way after all. When our farang friend's announced trip to the toilet was overheard by our Captain he 'insisted' on accompanying him to and from said convenience, even though it's a perfectly straightforward manoeuvre, but I did notice this happening all the times I visited the rest room, with various Captains and waiters convened in the toilet seating area awaiting their charges while various massages and hand washing pampering were accepted by said customers as it would be simply too rude to refuse and therefore Bt100 tips here and there, and then more tips tips tips to Captains et-all for...well nothing really. Bottle of Red and Smirnoff together Bt3,000 at entrance with usual drink-selection drama and payment before somebody takes your bottles and leads you into the venue only to pass you and your bottles on to yet another individual who then seeks the advice of yet another to assign you to a table in the back-of-beyond...where upon we ignore the Asian etiquette take the bottles ourselves and lead the 'leader' down to the front area where we can see the band/show but where there are 'apparently' no available tables according to our glorious leader, slip Bt100 to the nearest Captain and two (sml) tables are magically created out of nowhere...that's how ya do it! the 'traditional' way, none of this new-fangled polite Asian nonsense.

The two very cute light skinned Asian lads next to us seemed quite bewildered that one minute they were engaged in a rock/paper/sissors routine for very expensive top shelf Brandy and Whisky shots, looked up and suddenly we were there! six of us as if beamed down. It was the only plus point of this place...….the speed at which the tables appeared and our 2 bottles along with six glasses, ice, mixers and snax were in place. Band was to be 'my' highlight as bf knows the live music section is all that matters for me, and the mere 45 mins they were playing was a heap of non-descript Korean/Thai/jap 'pop' then the DJ took over...but really....what a load of shite! Even I can appreciate dance/club tunes but this was a mish-mash of Asian Hip-Hop style throw away tunes at it's worst..and at a loud loud loud volume. The place was jam packed, so much so you were lucky to find space to actually dance, which I suppose saved some energy and embarrassment and more time to drink and help numb the brain, also our farang friend and I managed to invent a new sign language which could be understood well enough by all that at 1.30am it was time to 'move on' as the 'farangs' had had enough.

Upsticks and 10 mins later arrived at NAB which was surprisingly packed too! but again managed to get a decent table. Had taken our unfinished Red and Smirnff at Bt300 corkage, but have no idea what anything cost in here as we were well oiled and just coughed up for the tab presented to us which according to our 'NOT MOW!' bfs had all or some of our 'original' signatures and were absolutely correct even though read upside down (true!). But had great fun here, toilets as ever offering up loads of approaches and flirting, not much changed really at NAB and on a busy night still well worth a visit. Lots and lots of very fit-looking non-Thai Asians here too so the eye-candy is still excellent. Only saw one other farang here...and he was with us! spot the farang? again.

So, yes, Sinlapin Issan still tops for the kind of late night fun I personally like...e.g. live band, show, and no Hip-Hop/Rap and from the vantage point of our table on the raised area near the front of the venue looking back down at the crowd and it was just a sea of gay lads! a few females, man-boys and ladyboys of course but mainly groups of gay lads out for fun. Not only lads you don't see around the host and gogo bars but also tons that you do! if a lone farang is looking for a hook-up here I would estimate the success rate at 99% (christianpfc aside) depending on your 'condition' that is. I really did want to give Tam Nan Issan another try for old times sake but the convenience of Sinlapin so close to Sth Pattaya and no will to go from others trumped any ideas I had in that direction. Visited here about 5 times in our short stay in Pattaya. Food here excellent as always, Vodka from 7-11 bt100 corkage, but we did take Sinlapin's own Blend285 as everyone trusts their origin. Despite no beer towers on the night we were all on beer half a dozen Changs at Bt120? at a time was the equivalent of tower costs with more beer volume so that went down well too. Treated the 5 or so 'bored' lads/waiters and 'boss' at Diamond Bar to an evening here for little cost one night as I was in the mood and the bf knackered back in the room, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Guys who work together in a bar really make it a fun/funny night when you get them away from the bar and out for a bit of freedom with some booze.

Mosaik again! was the lodging for 2nd part of Pattaya stay. Didn't encounter another westerner here either the whole time we were there as is the norm nowadays. All Arabs, Koreans, Chinese and Indian. Upgraded to a 2-bedroom unit as our Prestige Studio was required for short term nightly-stay hotel-style customers as once again it was full to capacity a few of the nights we were there (this in low season!) so was happy with that. Just as a side note...I met a guy from Brighton on the Songtaew on Soi Baukow one afternoon and while discussing accommodation found that after years of staying at Mosaik he moved to other digs as he was under the impression there were now no kitchen facilities there. So just to advise, there are still apartments (F block) with full kitchen room and those without a built-in hob (he was correct that many rooms had these removed) you can request a plug-in hob, microwave and kitchen utensils delivered to your room as they all still have sinks and worktops. Have already booked here for September/October as good rooms are now very hard to come by less than 3 months in advance at any time of year low or high season, a couple of our favourite rooms now booked 6 months-1 year in advance and with 6 months rental period.

Food choices...well as per previous reports we mostly ate at the Apartment as bf is good cook and we can make the food we particularly like, with all necessary ingredients available a few metres down the soi at Tops Supermarket, even with good range of western choices, and good range of fresh meat, veg and fruit. Very disappointed as mentioned on another thread that Deli Diner was closed for 'low season' and one of these cocktail/shots bars with cheap Thai booze already set-up on it's veranda. Did try Petite Planet on occasion and offerings here were adequate in both portion and quality. Spent a bit more time in MK style eateries and a rare trip to Fuji. MK in Silom Central now a real D.I.Y affair. At the door you have to take a ticket from a machine, wait in the Q and when your number is called you are led to your table then left alone to navigate the order screen thankfully in English as well as Thai, go through the menus clicking your desired choices and portion size, then when the 'order' button is pushed receive your food as and when and in no particular order, there is human interaction but little/no 'speak'. Was even allowed entry with my Amazon Coffee in hand, unlike The Pattaya Beer Garden whose waiter stopped me at the entrance on one of our visits in a flap as if I was about to commit mass murder declaring that it was a no-go area for quality take-out coffee ordering me to deposit said hot coffee on a shelf at the entrance where I could retrieve it after my meal to enjoy cold. We about turned and settled at the Chinese Duck restaurant opposite Bamboo Bar , not sure of actual name, but bf declared the food as more than acceptable. We had used Pattaya Beer Garden on a different day when slightly overcast and it was great, good views over bay and food was decent/acceptable with relaxed atmosphere.

Well that's about it, much of it on repeat as per previous trips but updated to 'recent' and again more for the benefit of any readers considering a Thailand trip or indeed any who have booked and might be interested in the current situation on the ground prior to arrival. Any specific questions just ask.

[arsenal]

Great stuff yet again Newalaan. Diid I read it correctly, that Castro Bar now has go go boys? And are they wearing briefs?

[gerefan2]

Yes new Alan, Castro gogo Boys is news to me too. I just walk past it as I hate shows and never give it a second look.
Are the gogo boys there prior to the show or after, or both?

I will check it out this evening!

[Smiles]

'Sinlapin Issan'

We rarely go into Pattaya anymore -- normally stick around Jomtien -- but I admit to missing Isaan/Lao music joints.
Anyone out there with a location map on this one? Next Jomtien landing we'll try it out.
I really miss the long-gone 'Charm Esarn' -- it was quite charming in a grungy kind of way -- out on South Pattaya Rd.

Thanks again for the usual Tolstoy-istic tome on your travels. They are hard to beat.

[newalaan2]

Yes new Alan, Castro gogo Boys is news to me too. I just walk past it as I hate shows and never give it a second look.
Are the gogo boys there prior to the show or after, or both? I will check it out this evening!

Great stuff yet again Newalaan. Diid I read it correctly, that Castro Bar now has go go boys? And are they wearing briefs?

Yikes! With two experienced regular Pattaya visitors not having come across gogo boys in Castro, now i'm begining to have second thoughts...did I just fall into some kinda time-lapse dream while enduring the boredom of a Katoey Boa and feathers show? Like Gerefan we've never visited Castro before because I don't care for these type of shows but bf suggested a visit for 'old times sake'. I'm sure gogo boys came on at the end of the show because I just thought..how odd.....virtually all the audience left so what chance have any of these guys got of an off......or was it part of the show at the end? Am I mixing up between Castro and XBoys? I cant even blame the drink as we were out late and it was about the second stop of the night, I remember we also went to Castro because the Soi was very very quiet late on and there wasn't that many places to choose from before we headed to Walking Street.

Yes Gerefan2 please visit Castro as soon as poss and report back. I can't even remember how much drinks were at Castro as bf tends to check-bin when out together. Well I remember the swimming show tank was still there behind the performers so if Gerefan reports that no such thing still exists then I'll blame the lapse on 'Pattaya Syndrome'.

[newalaan2]

We rarely go into Pattaya anymore -- normally stick around Jomtien -- but I admit to missing Isaan/Lao music joints.
Anyone out there with a location map on this one? Next Jomtien landing we'll try it out.
I really miss the long-gone 'Charm Esarn' -- it was quite charming in a grungy kind of way -- out on South Pattaya Rd.

One of my first 'exposures' to the Issan/Morlam music thing was Charm Esarn and has stuck with me ever since, I did actually forget the exact location of Charm Esarn because in the very early days I had yet to find my bearings around Pattaya and just turned up at places on the back of a motorbike without noting the route, Colmx was kind enough to remind me a bit more about the place as usually it was a later-in-the-evening joint so therefore already well whisky'd up by the time we got there.

Sorry, no map for Sinlapin Issan, but if you do have a Jomtien visit it is definitely well worth a night of the trip to find the place. If you're not a beer or whisky drinker and have other preferences.....Vodka, Gin, Rum it's no problem to turn up here with your own liquor at only Bt100 corkage. A place not hard on the wallet either, snack food excellent pork etc.... all good stuff not just the coated gristle you get in some places. Sinlapin also has that 'basic charm' unfussy, laid-back atmosphere I always associate with places from the past....like Kumpan, original Tawan Daengs etc..

[Moses]

Usually Isaan "concerts" are going here 12.941099, 100.893888

[gerefan2]

Moses, that is not the place where Sinlapin Isaan is located.

Smiles...it’s easy to find. I’m afraid I don’t have a map. I think one was published here some time ago.

Coming from Jomtien join 3 rd road at the flyover and follow it towards Pattaya Tai. You,will see it on the left just after another big place called Pump. It is about 500 metres BEFORE you reach Pattaya Tai. Well lit up, biggish car park and Thai signs.