-- Tku. for yr. corr'n. wch. I'll check with my informant the next that that we'll meet.

There was a time -- in Bangkok though -- that I attended a grand restaurant opening and there were extra catering staff were outsourced for the gig. I engaged in convesation with a very cute staff. Though busy, he was happy to get the attention, and soon I couldn't resist fondling his arms, ears and chest while he continued his work. His supervisors obviously noticed but did not seem to mind too much. Now and then, they just gave him orders, such as "put the salad plates here" and "cut some more bread there". The guests also saw "us" but they too didn't bother.

Did you get to home base with that cute guy? I think they'll let you do this, but whether it results in anything is questionable. I've talked to cute Thai waiters here in the U.S., gotten their e-mail addresses, written (feeling sure that they were interested in meeting) and they never respond. It seems that they politely put up with it, but secretly reject it.

My first Thai b.f. (from 1992 here in the U.S.) said that although farangs THINK that Thai are totally accepting of gay people, it's really NOT accepted. I've heard this over and over again from Thai people (in Bangkok). Also, that theme is present in Thai gay movies (gay Thai teenagers getting beaten up at school and called "fag" (and other similar themes)). I don't think gay people are REALLY accepted in Thailand--it just seems that way to foreigners. My perception of Thailand is that things are very much more complicated than farangs think--and there is a very complicated greed/money mentality even when we don't suspect it. The very low wages, the social structure (where merit does not matter as much as family or connections)--all contribute to a very GRIM life of extremely complicated interactions among Thai--and complicated (and intricate) money (and kickback) systems. I also suspect that everything has hidden (and complicated) kickbacks involved.

This is largely true, but not entirely so. You just have to look at the number of gays who appear on television and the way this is accepted by Thai society. A lot of guys I have met over the years are openly gay and that is fully accepted by their families and the family's friends. There was even a gossip article in one of Bangkok's English newpapers yesterday about a famous lesbian and her latest 'marriage' to a previously straight actress. But generally speaking, Thailand is a very conservative society.

Now THAT is totally true - the rules of Thai society and Thai logic defeat most westerners, so it's usually best just to accept life in Thailand for what it is and not to try and understand why it is so.

The lives lead by the majority may seem grim to westerners, but when this is all you know and this is your country, it may not seem so bad. Corruption in particular in an evil which helps ensure that wealth does not trickle down to the countryside. Yet, the vast majority who live in the country seem to accept and participate in that corruption. So its roots worm their way deep into Thai society. Again, I think wantasian's comment is a general truth, but "grim" would hardly describe the life lead by many millions of Thais.

Some very wise words. Thanks.

After a recent trip to Isaan in general and Udon Thani in particular, I can report on some interesting places. I discovered two pleasant massage places in Udon. One is called Gentle and the other is Bandung Spa (sister of the one in Prapadaeng, Thonburi(Bangkok).
The boss of Bandung Spa is EXTREMEY pleasant, cute and loveable...more so than all the boys...but being a professional, I merely invited him for dinner at Sizzlers, rather than let rip inside his underwear. His name is Bank and he hails from Maharsarakham.
You can check out the boys and a map at:
hi5 - bandung Udon or
hi5 - bandung Udon

I picked the boy called Gear (picture on the web site).
Went upstairs and into a room with mattress on the floor. Then went to a shower alone and then back to the room where Gear came after his shower. He did a good oil massage (about Bht500 for 90 minutes) while naked and soon his dick was rigid and was looking for someplace to put it. He tasted lovely and really was a very happy sex partner. A good atmosphere but not too many boys to choose from...although Bank would arrange pretty much what made you happy if you were there for a long stay.

Later I visited Gentle massage:
Gentle

While driving there, I passed a boy karaoke joint called City Man, but boys outside didn't seem too interested in me and me not in them:(.
Gentle is good with another helpful, but not sexy boss. The boy I wanted from the picture album was sick and others were away home. But next day I had Jack...a very good boy. My picture picks, M and Q, were still away. Apparently they are brothers and can work together well. Similar set up to Bandung with boys massaging naked and doing whatever was required. There is a good farang restaurant next door doing big breakfasts and some UK deli stuff.
After the massage at 1:30 pm, I asked the boss about evening activity and he directed me to The Boy Zone which is almost at the junction of Adunyadet and Phon Phisai Roads. It's a small shop house with boys sitting outside in the evening. There is a large straight karaoke house opposite. On the very corner is an excellent short-time hotel with big ceiling mirror and hi-fi etc and porno movies...all for Bht240. You drive in and immediately an obliging gentleman draws a blind behind the car in a covered carport. You walk directly into the room from the car.
Anyhow, the bar was ok..some pleasant street-types with whom you can snuggle and grope in the bar or take to the motel. Bht80 for drinks and Bht250 off. I didn't off from there. But while in Central Plaza (ex-Robinsons), I was courted by a public health university student who was keen to chat and show me Udon. The short-time motel was part of the route I chose. He was pretty much a besotted virgin I found. Very pleasant young guy with dark, smooth skin. His dick was above average size and rearing to go from the initial contact. I really enjoyed his company and although he didn't know any short-time places or even that they existed, he handled to motel well.
Apart from all the above, Udon is a very desirable place with a Carrefour and at least three Tescos and even a new Jeffer. It's a real up and coming town for expats and with the super new Central in Khon Kaen (equally as good, if not better than the new Pattaya one) just down the road, its a lot of fun.

Thanks for rejuvenating this thread.

Kanchanaburi can now be added to the list of provinces where gay nightspots can be found: the first bar (with karaoke and off) opened there a couple months ago according to my sources.

It's on the river road a km or two south of the River Kwai Bridge, on the bend in the road next to a nice vegetarian restaurant.

Not sure of the name.

-- 'Vaut le detour.' as Le Guide Michelin might advise.
- For a farang who possesses but one word of Lao-speak - and not much more for Thai-speak - how is UDON for Ahng-grit-speak?

I'm not even sure of your "ahng-grit-speak", sextile...even I as a native speaker sometimes have trouble deciphering your posts!

-- I do not speak English as I write it in these threads; in fact most of the abreviations that I use are those that I've met along life's way and wch. I use as possibly most of the readers are native speakers of English, who - even if they don't recognise the abreviation - should be able to make an informed guess from the context.
- When I speak and/or write to non-native speakers/readers then of course I do try and write correct English as a courtesy to them, (and also to save them from writing such replies as above: ;) ! ,.

spa bandung in udon, but is there a sauna like The Beach or is it a massage joint?

I figured/hoped that, Sexy. Just jerkin' your chain.

at least there was no mention of the "glans"

Egads, glad I'm not the only one who hates that term!

Spa Bandung is just a massage joint. But there is a Beach just 115 kms from Udon in Khon Kaen.

English is widely spoken in Udon... in fact more so than some joints in Bangkok.