Quite a few men - both Th. & farang - with whom I've spoken have said to me that they prefered the original 'Babylon Sauna.' as being smaller, more intimate & friendly.
'bye..

I totally agree, but I am sure thousands don't!

The original Babylon (especially rooftop bar area ) is fondly remembered by many cruisers from that era. When the new one opened CFS posters at the time seemed to favour Babylon Mark 1 with many prepared to jump ship to the then new Chakran.

You can't buy atmosphere.

I've stopped going to Babylon 2. The original was much more fun...more intriguing layout, better dark areas, and the roof top garden a great place to smile and say "sawasdii Krub"

(Although I must admit I love the pool at B2)

Ah, Sukothai sauna & massage. The first time I went there the 50 year old ChineseThai owner made me an offer of money for 1 hour, I forget how much, but I didn't take up his offer. I also have great memories of the many cute massage boys there, particulalrly one guy, early twenties, Chula student, delightful personality, beautiful body, good English (in those days my Thai was just starting). I made many bookings for this guy and I was never disappointed. I wonder where he is today?

I didn't go to opening night or 3rd night of the original Babylon, my first visit was maybe one month after it opened, and we had to line up downstairs for quite a while for the next lockers to be vacant.

I went at least twice a week for a couple of years I guess. On most visits I had a problem with an enormous German man, I guess mid fifties, beautiful body, very handsome man. He was posted to Bkk for his work but had no interest whatever in Asian man - farang only. He would follow and annoy every farang in the place. What the farang looked like didn't matter, he was desperate for a farang and he had little success. As already said, the roof garden was quite a sight. Many money boys, many with great bodies, many with several foreigners on a string. When Bayblon closed most would reappear at Harry's bar.

I agree old babylon was much better than the new, but each to their own opinion.

A few other long gone saunas:

Kinky Club (later Uomo)

The Colony (a personal favorite)

Monsieur

Segmented (more of a massage parlor)

one on Sukhumvit 40 the name of which escapes me at the moment (Sparks or something like that?)

Never understood why City of Angels Silom location wasn't more succesful.Handily located near Soi 4 and twilight it was my first encounter with nakded zone - now they are quite common.Was it before its time ?Sauna Mania which is similarly located in a handy position and is not too different, is making money hand over fist if a recent Friday visit is anything to go by.

I can't write that I remember 'City of Angels.' loc'n. as given in the immediately above posting; but later on didn't it move to Charoen Krung 52. or thereabouts - not too far from Robinson's BangRak, (nrest. BTS.: Saphan Taksin, [S6.],),? I don't believe that it remained open in that loc'n. too much longer after the move?
'bye..

It was originally located over the Robinsons Department Store at the corner of Silom and Rama IV.

As yes - thanks for your reply and reminder about 'CoA.' sauna and its loc'n..
In fact the ent'ce. was on Rama IV. rd. - the same ent'ce. as that for the offices in the tower block adjacent to R'sons's..
I daresay that I visited it maybe twice and don't recall feeling all that enchanted by it - but time dims one's memories: both pleasant and unpleasant.
'bye..

City of Angels
 

Ah...you've brought back memories. I vistsed the CoA at Rama IV maybe 3 or 4 times, and always it seemed under-patronised. I don't really know what was wrong with it except perhaps that the sharing the elevator with the office crowd might have put a lot of people off.

I visited its later incarnation at Saphan Taksin once. Its location - 2 joined rowhouses with a sort-of roof terrace, if I remember correctly - looked more promising, but inside, it was quite very cheaply finished, and so became run down very quickly.

Sloot - Our views about 'CofA.' sauna, both in Silom Tower and off Charoen Krung rd. agree.
You may well be correct about the sharing of the elevators with the office crowd?
'bye..

> later in Soi 4 Jasmin , belonged to Charley , a Chinese Thai , who also was as an actor in Good Morning Vietnam .

What's his name in "Good Morning Vietnam"?

Other long gone saunas:

- COLOSSUS, which was a fully equipped sauna inviting regular patrons, plus they had massage boys available 'with extras' located on Vipavidee Rangsit Road, about halfway between downtown and Don Muang airport, fairly poorly set up.

- BOSS, exact same comment as for Colussus, located down a small dead end Soi off Soi Asoke.

- OTOKO, exact same comment again except the set up was fairly good, located in a small sub Soi between Silom and Sathorn Road, about level with Narai Hotel. Had lots of hot masseurs in it's day, lots of good memories. Can't recall actual prices but can recall their charges and expected tips were very low. I went their often with 2other farang for the whole afternoon, perhaps 5 or 6 hours, and we all had most of the available boys.

Sorry , I dont know and cannot find it . He plays the role of a teacher