I have a rather odd question. I (37 year old Australian) have lived in Thailand for many years but have never ventured into a gay sauna. I have an athletic physique and am not unattractive - but am quite shy. I was wondering whether someone could give me an idea about the lighting in gay saunas in Bangkok. Is the lighting somewhat subdued throughout or are there some areas brightly lit and others darker? For my first sauna experience I would prefer a sauna with more flattering lighting options. I don't need it to be pitch black, obviously, but would feel more comfortable visiting a venue without harsh lighting. I recently visited a sex club in Melbourne on their naked night and had a great time. The lighting was such that one could see well but it was dim throughout. Something like that would be ideal.

Other than Babylon, which I fear may be too "in your face" for my first sauna experience, are there any other saunas in Bangkok where an athletic caucasian might have some fun? I had read somewhere that other than Babylon the other saunas tend to be popular with locals with enjoy the attentions of other locals.

I am sorry if this is a silly question and I hope that the responses, if any, will be kind-hearted. Thank you in advance for any insights you can provide into the lighting in some of Bangkok's saunas.

JJ

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If you go to Sauna Mania or Underground 39, you will find large dark areas, Also they have theme nights, like underwear night or naked night. They can be fun, but they have mostly Thai guys visiting these saunas, but if you are in good shape, you can be lucky.

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Thank you, Gorcum, for taking the time to reply. Further reading seems to indicate that Underground 39 might be a good choice for my first gay sauna experience in Thailand. Can anyone who has been there confirm the absence of bright flood-lit areas? The roof top area, especially on naked night, also sounds interesting at dusk.

Now I just need to pluck up the courage to actually go!

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Sauna Mania (near Silom) is very dimly lit in most areas (the walls are even painted black on the maze floor--and most windows are painted over).

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cannot rec Sa=mania at all-sticky rice Chinese,
AS others ahve said-its mainly mixed-and never really very bright. In the cabins its often possible to turn off lights-and thats a Thai favorite.
The sauna you mention is IMHo Und. 69-and quite near to Sapan kwai BTS-stop. As he name says-its mainly UNDERground-well, kind of halfway.
Fairly mixed reports for it about success for white people-and athletic forms are by many Thai and Asians also looked at differently. Personally-as these theme nights are suddenly some fashion thing-I rec taking some extra underwear-for the case its Underwear eve. The most I hate are ''small towel'' nights-when you cannot even dry off properly due to the size of towel.

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That is interesting about Sauna Mania. I think I had read somewhere else that it may not be too friendly to caucasian patrons. One person in particular, and I must admit I do not know the details, was apparently told by staff that it was a sauna "for Thai, not farang". One cannot know if this account is accurate, of course.

It does not look like there is much to choose from.

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Sauna Mania is more thai than farang. And Thai guys go look for other Thais, But usually in the dark areas you can get lucky also in groups.

I never had a staff member tell me that farang are not welcome, staff was always friendly to me.

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Well I found Underground 39 (and its nearby friend Farose I) unbearable, too. Sauana Mania was bad, too--but at least it was in a convenient location. Underground 39 and Farose1 seemed to have especially bitchy bad attitudes. (Underground 39 also seemed to have more like the useless bitchy smoker stereotype.)

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At the risk of being boring, I'd recommend Babylon for your first BKK sauna. At least it has an outdoor pool, bars, restaurant and thai massage with extensive cruising areas (after 5pm) 2 steam rooms, 2 saunas, well equiped gym and even if u don't score you will find people to chat to around the bar areas.

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There is plenty of space in Babylon for guys of all shapes and sizes.

It continues to be popular with muscle Asians and their muscular admirers especially earlier on the sunny afternoons around the pool/gym area. I find the playspaces after 8pm a little too much of a "free for all" when the denizens of the dark emerge from the shadows to grab/grope anything or anyone they can. Most of the muscle boys would head back in the evenings to their hotels for their disco naps before heading out to DJ or G.O.D anyway.

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-- Seconded.
- BABYLON SAUNA* also has the advantage of being MORE farang friendly - always an help for one's first time visit to a new locality.

-* addr.: 34, Soi Nandha - off S. Sathorn soi 1., (aka. Soi JUSMAG.),
Khet Sathorn, BKK. 10120.;
- tel.: (02)-679 7984.;
- web. > Babylon Sauna Bed & Breakfast <
- hrs.: 10.30.-22.30.hrs..
- temp'y. adm'n.: 130.Bh., while sw. pool being repaired.

-- However, should you feel intimidated by such a large sauna then why not consider the flg. one:
HEAVEN SAUNA..
- addr.: BIS. Bldg., phase 2., 4fl.;
119, Tnn. Mahesak,
Bang rak, BKK. 10500.;
- nrest. landmark - Holiday Inn Silom;
- tel.: n/k.;
- web: > New Page 1 <
- adm'n.: n/k.;
- hrs.: n/k..
-- From memory it has rec'd. not unfavorable write-ups in CFS.
- Reportedly popular with jnr. mngrs., younger business-types and suchlike.

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Thank you to all who have responded to what may seem a rather odd topic. I did consider Babylon, and do understand that it is farang-friendly, but I am far too shy to attend such a large, glamorous establishment. I am also not the least bit interested in outdoor swimming pools, gyms, restaurants, and the like - although I understand that these amenities may appeal to many. All I want really is a dimly lit but not pitch black place where one can roam about and perhaps enjoy and encounter or two, whether it be one on one or in a group setting.

I speak Thai but one assumes in a sauna setting that is neither here nor there.

At this juncture, I am leaning towards Sauna Mania for two reasons - one report of it being dimly lit throughout and the second being its convenient location.

Has anyone else anything to say about this or any of the other places mentioned here?

Again, many thanks to all for keeping this forum alive and always interesting.

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-- It is some long time since I've visited SAUNA MANIA - and I'm aware that over time places can & do change, (Temora mutantur nos ... .), - but on my last two visits I found it v. much Thais for Thais.

-- However, if 'Location, location, location.' - a la Mr. C. Hilton. - concerns you then why not look-in at the flg. sauna -
STYLE BANGKOK,
- addr.: Tnn. Si Lom, soi 2/1.,
Khet Bang rak, BKK. 10500.;
- loc'n.: in same sub-soi as GOD. and @RICHARD'S;
- BTS./MRT.: Sala DAENG, (S2.)/Silom;
- tel. for MORE info.: (02)-632 8793.;
- web: No web-site;
- hrs.: 14.-02.oo. daily;
- adm'n.: presently 100.Bh.;
- Receptionist, charming & young man, spoke enough English for the post;
- Reportedly there is a roof-top & mini-bar that serves free drinks all night, ('I don't mind if I do.'),.

-- See advert. in monthly & freebie. mag. Variety. - IX:80., (apr. '10.),;
- See article, (Thai & Eng.), & advert. in Variety. - IX:81..

-- E&OE. as I have not visited -- Usual disclaimer. --

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You should go for Babylon - you can avoid the pool and other "bright areas". It is very friendly and there are plenty of areas which are very dimly lit. You won't have a problem and at least your patronage is wanted and appreciated. Why go somewhere where some people don't really want to see you? Try Babylon - you won't regret it.

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If you go to Sauna Mania, be prepared for non-stop rejection (often of a sneering/mentally sadistic type). Like Sextile, I'd recommend Heaven Sauna as a second choice after Babylon. Babylon is not "intimidating" (or fancy-shmantzy) in any way inside upstairs in the "rooms" area. I just don't want to see you get hurt emotionally and then think that all the Bangkok saunas are miserable. Too bad GSM is not open again yet. As an example in Mania, I was in the dark "mattress" room sitting on the mattress, and someone walked by and I touched his leg. He grabbed my hand very nasty and shoved it away. I then got angry and reached over and slapped his ass. He then came over and stared down at me (like he wanted to have a fight). Many of the Thai in Mania, etc. seem to HATE the farangs in there. I probably shouldn't have touched the guy, but then, again, I think he over-reacted. I've had similar altercations in other saunas. Often the Thai love to tease the farang and see if they can get a reaction.

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