-- Perhaps our esteemed Moderators - for whom no-one has an higher regard than I do - would consided offering a suitable prize for the most original caption? ;)

-- I would not wish to seem to be a pedant, (really? you must be joking!), but is that the generally accepted version of the correct spelling for a piece of artillery?
-- Bibi. --

I'll ask DF later today about how that goes in Sakorn Nakorn-after all he went to see the family a few weeks ago.
Just 1 more hint: (I think from the gay branch on thaivisa): the local barber will know-the advice was to invest 20/30 bt in a haircut and ask-this of course also assumes you speak enough Thai-and invariably the local scene will be unfolded.

sorry about the time in between/but I also travelled back home in EUR in this time and dont have any chance to open this site at any place.
So as promised I questioned DF about the meeting palces in Sak Nakorn (and also Nakorn phanom) where he did Matayom,. This was not as easy as I had thought/had to refrase 3 times, it went like this`
1.I cannot do that there/I stay with mae and phee chai and anybody know me (my comment/ he had not been home for 2 yrs/but mae ran a shop)
2.SN no have bar gay/only Udorn/have 2 or 3/with gogo and karaoke.
3.Oh, you mean like that. No place/it just happens. But you know me/I no katoey-ladyboy, I gay. (Yes, I was fully aware of that since 7 yrs'. Maybe in the park/maybe in the sports/maybe on the street.
Ladyboy/you can go to near the park/evening/or in NP along the river-walk (that seems reasonable).
It seems thus that its the old fashioned pattern of a ´´real male´´ seeking a ladyboy for relief. Gays in the way we use it are rare/and in fact any single farang male will assumed to be looking for someone/any place/any time/or else he would have his (Thai) wife with him, nah.

updates?
 

Any news from upcountry lately? Wondering if anyone has been to Udon Thani, Phitsanulok, Lopburi, Khon Kaen, or anywhere else in the northern extremities. I'm itching to get out of Bangkok, but the idea of Pattaya, Phuket or Samui doesn't appeal to me.

Action in the backblocks
 

I visit many areas where there is no gay scene like we see in Pattaya, Bangkok etc

If you make the effort and keep alert you will find some action anywhere in Thailand. It is more than a challenge than just paying for it in the gay towns.

Last month in Korat I went to the straight disco and spotted a cute guy close by and said "hello" when I noticed he was looking my way fairly often. One needs to be careful anywhere and I don't want a beating for making advances to a totally str8 guy but I just kept chatting with him when he passed by and by the end of the night he was in my bed.

It is hit and miss because I have been there on other nights and there was more chance of a marriage proposal from all the ladies looking for a farang husband. In any case the Thais at these places are always friendly to me and I seem to have an enjoyable night out.

Some of the tuk tuk drivers seem to know if there is any action available, that nice looking guy sitting next to you on the bus or passing by in the shopping centre could be keen. There are many gay waiters in the restaurants. Just smile and strike up a conversation with them, even with the language barrier you will soon find out if there is any interest, just don't push it.

There is no guarantee of any action in the back blocks but it is fun trying. I would not go there with the expectation of getting any fun but you may get a nice surprise. It's a change from the big cities and there are some amazing historical sights and natural wonders which includes the always present boy eye candy to be seen everywhere in Thailand.

Luckily, I think that's mostly a Western concept. Never heard of it happening here.

Yes I have never felt threatened. I guess I should have said that maybe I am just a bit more careful in how I approach the guys than in places like Pattaya.

There are many so called str8 guys that are open to some fun in the rural areas and I did take notice of how the locals reacted when the cute guy started hugging me and getting up close at the Korat disco. Nobody seemed to care and the two big tough looking guys that I had been drinking with were still saying cheers to me and clicking their glasses with mine. It would never happen in my home town.

-- For those Gentle Readers living outside of The Kingdom, who might be unable to obtain the various freebie mags., the flg. info. about KORAT*, the Gateway to I-San, might be helpful when considering your future and upcountry vacations -

1.- BAAN KHUN CHAI.;
- Reportedly a newly opened SPA. with various kinds of massage ... selection of handsome masseurs ... .
- tel.: (081)-646 1319..

2.- X-SIZE - The 'Coyote.' Boy;
- Reportedly a newly opened pub. complete with sound & light system ... many shows ...cute coyote boys, handsome dancers, cabaret show and much, much more.
- tel.: (081)-6461319..

- source: Freebie & monthly mag. Variety - VIII. #76..

--* KORAT is approx. 160M NE. by road from BKK.;
- KORAT does not have its own functioning airport, the nearest airport is at BURIRAM - BFV.;
- KORAT is a rly. junc. town.

-- Usual disclaimers. --

to add to Aussieguy-a simliar report from the gay section of thaivisa said it was best to visit a Barbershop-any will do-and ask. They are supposed to invariably know the meetign palces. And yes-as how the Thai look at it-haircutmen are a real gay profession. With just the mildest form of local know how threat of a beat-up are very, very slim to negligible in Thailand. Some assistance in pinting to someone else or even pushing a willing friend into is more likely to happen.

Nice surprise
 

Recently I had to work for a few days in Khon Kaen, I found the address of Dolphins, then, on the street I asked a very masculine very hot young man, turned out to be 19 years old local uni student studying engineering, to give me some directions to get the the Dolphins address.

His response in excellent English was "What is Dolphins?" I explained it was a gay massage shop. He asked me to explain further which I did including the 'extra service' factor, the tipping routine etc.

His next response was "If I give you a massage will you give me the tip?"

Fifteen minutes later we were all showered and in action in my hotel, massage was OK and sex was excellent and he wanted to try the bottom role.

We enjoyed repeat sessions for the 4 evenings I had to stay there, including dinner and some interesting conversations.

After the second evening I asked him if he was gay or straight?

His response was "I can't answer your question, because I don't think in terms of gay or straight. I like sex and I want to experience and enjoy every form of sex with both men and women and with all age groups."

Third and fourth night also very enjoyable but he declined any tip.

I asked him if he had any local 'sex buddies'? His reply was "You mean other boys", I said yes, and he continued to tell me "Yes, I have sex parties in my room every week with about 4 other student friends, and he emphahsised that they are all 'men', who enjoy everything."

So, we should be hanging out on that street looking for a very hot, masculine guy, eh? He sounds like fun!

I guess you didn't bother to go to Dolphins in the end. I went a couple of years ago, found it welcoming but there was just one massage guy...about 23...passable but completely non-erotic massage, so I didn't bother to push it any further.
Reminded me a bit of the sauna on the river in Chiang Mai(forget name) and Babylon and Candle T Spa who all deliver massage in a very gay environment but for some strange reason, consider sex to be beneath them....so I tend to rely on "non-sex" massage places where at least you have a chance of something fresh and mutually enjoyed.

About 15 years ago, most saunas had massage service with happy ending. Guess the sauna owners dropped the service due to the high "fees" demanded by Thailand's finest, probably the same amount as the massage parlours where the service are provided by men for men. :p

-- Today, (12th.), forenoon I was chatting with a Pattaya-based Aussie. who likes to visit 'UP Country.'. He recommended the flg. -

1.- KORAT, (aka. Nakon R'sima.), wch. is approx. 160M. NE. from BKK.as the crow flies:
1.1.- CHAROEN HOTEL., nr. to ROBINSON'S; no problems with bringing back companions;
1.2.- CENTRALWORLD., (ex-Big C.?), cruisy;
1.3.- BOY BOY., (?), Karaoke bar;

2.- UDON THANI, approx. 350M. NExN. from BKK.:
2.1.- THE MALL., cruisy.

I queried about the need for us farangs to speak Thai? He replied that many of the younger men - above the legal age, of course - can manage enough basic English to make themselves u'stood..

I think your friend must be making a mistake.
Boy Boy Bar, Charoen Hotel and Centralworld are located in Udon Thani - Boy Boy karaoke bar was still going last year and I think it is still there (near old Bus Station).
And The Mall is in Khorat where there was a Buddy Boys Bar which seems to have closed in 2008.