I think Om Yim Lodge is far more convenient for getting around than either Malaysia or Pinnacle. Chong Nonsi skytrain station is literally a stone's throw from Om Yim, whereas it's half a hike from Malaysia or Pinnacle to Lumpini subway station, and then the subway system does not take you to places that interest tourists.

Also, Phoenixstorm said at the start that he's keen on supporting gay businesses. In that case, Om Yim should win hands down. Pinnacle is definitely not gay and Malaysia may be full of gay clients but I doubt if the owners are.

See my blogpost about Om Yim which gives you links to Om Yim's website and to maps.

I see from Om Yim's website that the current rate for rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors (i.e. 3rd and 4th levels) is 1090 baht, inclusive of breakfast. I believe this is quite competitive.

Arena Massage is just round the corner from Om Yim - no more than a 3 minute walk without even having to cross a road.

One word of caution - if you're elderly or very overweight and cannot manage stairs then Om Yim isn't for you. It has no elevator.

__________________
My Shameless Thai blog: shamelessmack.wordpress.com

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Tarntawan Place is quite well appointed, not overpriced by U.S. standards, and very convenient to Patpong and Soi Twilight if you and your guests don't mind the guests' having to deposit their ID cards with the elevator attendant. Some people think that's a fine security precaution. Some guests, especially prouder or middle-class ones, have been known to resist on the ground of privacy. Free wi-fi. Apparently gay-owned. Tarntawan Place Hotel - Home Page!

Another very convenient and fairly affordable place is Saladang Place, which rents spacious though sometimes slightly run-down serviced apartments with great views right behind the Dusit Thani Hotel, near the corner of Saladang Road and Silom Road--convenient not only to Patpong but also to the skytrain station. However, it may be a problem to bring in guests. Wi-fi at a moderate charge. Apparently not gay-owned. SalaDang Place

Both places definitely charge more than Malaysia, Pinnacle, or Om Yim--maybe two or three times as much--but depending on your budget and your priorities, they may make up for it in convenience and amenities. On the other hand, plenty of people find the cheaper places adequate.

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I agree with the above: any of the other places mentioned would be better than either the Pinnacle or Malaysia.

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Never stayed at Pinnacle, but have been past it several times. It's only a 3 minute walk to Lumphini station.

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Thanks for the tips guys! I am going to shoot for the ohm with pinnacle being a backup in case its booked.

Now that I have bangkok covered. What part of thailand do you suggest I explore?

I would definitely like a contrast to bangkok but I still would like a gay scene to explore along with the sightseeing.

any suggestions?

I have two weeks in total I was thinking of staying in bangkok 6 nights. Do you think I could experience the major sights in the city in less time?

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If these proud middle-class guests are popping in for a couple of hours in the sack, their objections would seem somewhat hollow. If they're actual friends staying the night, then they should register as is required of anyone spending a night in a hotel room.

My friend has never had to leave an ID with security since he is always a registered guest. Simple really.

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If you spend much of the night experiencing the bars and shows and BOYS, you'll probably be in no condition to spend much of the day traipsing about.

There are some well organized bus tours that will get you to Wat Arun, the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, etc. Probably not the most leisurely way to see them, but you'll hit the more popular places and will manage them in just a few days.

That's only skimming the surface, but usually during one's first visit to Bangkok the gogo bars, massage venues and the BOYS will be the main attraction and what lives on in your memory after you've left (and count the days until you get back).

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I see. If you want to have short-time sex, you should be willing to make a written and potentially nonconfidential record of it.

In other words, popping in for a couple of hours in the sack is just as disgusting as being a Nature Boy client ("I've never been to Nature Boy and just realized how blessed I've been"--Kaojai, 17th July), so such a person has a lot of nerve to think he has any claim to privacy. Not to mention that if he's Thai he couldn't be middle-class or proud in the first place.

I get your point.

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Hi, it really depends on what you are into...

Here's one possible day's Bangkok itinerary:

1. Wake up and have breakfast. If you are going to stay 6 days in the Omyim, I suggest you skip their breakfast one day and skit over to the Little Home Bakery restaurant on the opposite side of the road. They have a lovely breakfast set which I think is fantastic value for money, and you can have fluffy pancakes with your butter scrambled eggs if you are so inclined. Just use the pedestrian or BTS bridge immediately in front of the OmYim to cross to the other side, and shoot for the McDonald's sign. The Little Home Bakery is just next door on the ground floor of a skyscraper.

2. After a lovely breakfast...Head over to MBK (take skytrain to BTS station National Stadium) and browse the 3rd to 5th floors of small stalls selling a dizzy array of cheap clothes, mobile phone/accessories, and computer games. If you like, go into Tokyu department store and see what's on sale.

3. Time flies, and its time for late lunch. Head on to the 6th floor food court, and exchange a 100THB (150THB if you really big eater or hungry) worth of paper vouchers. Again, if you are first-timer, a dizzing array of delectable local food. Try the sinfully good "Pork Leg Rice", "Braised Beef Soup (or yeah, there's also penis and testicles), chicken rice, fried noodles, oyster omelete, blah blah blah. Endless choice! You should have money left over (yes! believe it!) and you can get refund at a separate booth at the back of the food court.

4. Oh, before eating lunch go to the 7th floor cineplex and check out the latest hollywood movies, and buy the next show that suits your time. Why? You get to experience a world-class movie theatre at a great price. Also, there is a Thai culture thing new to you: the movie-goers will pay respect to the King just prior to the movie starting. Remember to stand up too as it is considered very rude not to pay respects to the king. Shows typically start after 15-20 mins worth of commercials and movie trailers from the official start time stated on your ticket, so you can factor this before going for your lunch.

5. After the show, its probably 5PM now... Take the skytrain back to Sala Daeng station (one before Chong Nonsi which is where the OmYim is at). Along both sides, you have foot massage places. Just pick one that you like or have a good vibe and give it a try. In the mood for a sensual massage? Well, instead of foot massage you can check out the other gay massage parlors mentioned in this forum. But, I suggest try a one hour foot massage or a two hour thai massage first, since you can go to one of the gogo bars along Surawong next, after dinner.

6. After the massage (7-8PM?), head on to Surawong Road and have dinner at Mango Tree. Its a good restaurant to try with Thai food, slightly tweaked for tourists but still good enough to be authentic thai. In the mood for seafood? Try the Somboon Seafood restaurant along Surawong road. But, if you are alone you'd probably want to bring a friend or two to company you for dinner and share the food. Want some simpler fare? Walk along Silom road to the side street in front of the California Wow Fitness centre. Very good and very cheap wanton noodles, pork leg rice and fish maw soup..

7. If you are alone and want to eat in the restaurant, you can always pick up a boy from one of the gogo bars to join you for dinner. If you are shy, you can visit the gogobar afterwards. As they say, "its up to you". Since you are first timer in Bangkok, I think you are likely to go to a bar after dinner. Since you are in Surawong, Tawan bar (well known for their bodybuilders) is the nearest bar. If you want a bigger variety, just walk further down to Soi Twilight opposite the famous Patpong.

8. Shows at Tawan start from 10:30PM, or you can refer to the other posts in this forum by Sextile for the rest of the bars.

9. After the first show, its likely 11:30PM or near midnight. Fancy the bodybuilder who sat down next to you in Tawan? Or the cute boy in the other bar? Choice is all yours to bring them back to your room for further cultural exchange. Hee Hee... Remember, please practice safe s-ex-change.

10. Hey, its probably 1AM now. Catch a well deserved rest. Tomorrow, you can start again!

11. Oh.. wait. Peckish? Want supper? Take a taxi from the front of Omyim to Chinatown. Again, excellent street food or seafood restaurant awaits you.

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Six nights should be enough to give you an introduction to Bangkok's chief sights - the temples, palaces, river and the main downtown districts, yet leave 4 - 5 evenings free for entertainment of the erotic variety.

You may want to add 1 or 2 nights at the tail end of the trip so you don't have to rush from another city directly to Bangkok airport.

It depends on what balance of real Thailand versus gay scene you want. Options with easy transportation from Bangkok:

Chiang Mai - temples, mountains, more "real" small-city Thailand compared to options 2 and 3 below. Small gay scene, not quite geared to tourists.

Phuket - good beaches, enjoyable boat excursions to islands; Patong town itself is not "real" Thailand - it's a tourist trap. Small gay scene entirely geared to tourists.

Pattaya - a farang bubble and cheap charlie tourist trap, a passable beach at Jomtien, but the entire place is really just a whore den. Most self-respecting Thais wouldn't want to be caught dead in Pattaya.

You could cram in two of these three options within your remaining time, with 3 or 4 nights each. Depending on how energetic a traveller you are, you may consider this do-able or not.

__________________
My Shameless Thai blog: shamelessmack.wordpress.com

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speaking of erotic exploits I have a few quick questions about ettiquette:

in bars off rates will be posted or told to me by the mamasan?

If a guy sits with me what is the amount for an expected tip?

if i take a guy home i'm assuming the expected tip is 1000 baht?

massage places

massage prices should be posted. expected min tip posted. if not i should just assume its 1000 baht?

thanks guys!

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[/i]

-- Based on my experiences & views -
1.1.- Expect that the 'Off fee.' will be told to you; expect to pay between 300-400.Bh. for an ordinary a go-go dancer. You would be asked to pay more were you to take-out a waiter or a bar-captain. You would be unlikely to be able to take-out one of the major performers - at least not until after the final performance.
1.2.- Generally buy him a drink, (for which he gets a commission -although some boyz have been known to decline a drink and to accept the cash equivalent instead.), and a further 100.Bh. for just his company. Some bars - SOLID BAR - have, shall we say, 'An half-way house.' where you can be more intimate - but not full intimacy - with the boi but without taking him out, for which a larger TIP. would be expected. Of course you can gracefully wave-away a boi.
1.3.- Depends upon 'How long.' and 'What he's prepared to do.'.
1.3.1.- Short time & just an hand-job: 500.Bh.;
1.3.2.- Short time & fuller intimacy: 1,000.Bh.;
1.3.3.- All night: at least 1,500.Bh..
- NB.: A prewarned person would check either with the boi or with the M'san. as to how long and what the boi is prepared to do before taking him out! Do not be shy when talking about these matters withy the M'san.. Better to resolve these matters first of all in the bar rather than in your bed-room!
- Some boyz have been known to prefer a short time - and hopefully to remain fresh - so as to secure a 2nd., (or even a 3rd.), trick that very evening.
- Were you to take him to your accomodation for some distance from his bar then you might be asked for taxi-fare also! Some overnighters are offered a b'fast., too..

2.1.- Most massage parlors have a printed 'Menu.' of services, times and prices.
- Some parlors - like SENSO - have a printed MINIMUM TIPs' policy; other parlors leave it to the customer. There are also the location of the parlor, its general condition, the chemistry and inter-action between the masseur and you to bear in mind and so on and so forth - so many, and often sub-conscious and/or contradictory, influences at work on you, dear customer!
- But let's say for a good and 60 mins'. massage and an hand-job I'd be prepared to pay not more than 1K.Bh..

-- NB.: There have been many previous postings about TIPs. to boyz, about which nearly everyone has his own thoughts, and sometimes at odds with other respondents!
- The above are merely a tentative guide and are not graven in stone. Bottom line is that you should remember that while you're dealing with a fellow human-being yet the TIP. etc. 'Are up to you.'.
-- E&OE.. --

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On a recent visit to Solid, the 'half-way house' was no more. They have taken out all the furniture and there was nothing there.

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Also depends on the venue somewhat. A superstar at Jupiter would expect more than a waif at Solid, or a streetwalker.

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In my experience the Superstar at Jupiter will be worth 1/2 of the waif at Solid unless of course you like to pay for admiration of his body.

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