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Occasionally I run across a blog that I can not get enough of. I quickly devour every page and then get pissed that new entries are so slow in coming. This isn’t one of those. That’s possibly not the greatest recommendation you’ve read here. But I wouldn’t bother providing a link if it wasn’t worth reading at all. Wandering Froward is about a 40-something gay American who cashed in his life in the U.S. and moved to Thailand to start enjoying life again. His posts are well-written, short – something I aspire to as one of my New Year’s resolutions for 2013 (Oh, damn, make that 2014) – honest, straightforward, and often funny. There is good info and insights for both touri and those considering the expat life. And he trashes Pattaya. Spend some time clicking through past posts, you’ll be glad you did.
In honor of tomorrow being National Bean Day: Did you know that the average person farts 14 times each day? Or that due to the chemical composition of farts, you can not suffocate in a chamber filled with your own farts? Your Farts: The Facts is an educational infographic filled with fart-related data. Hey, as long as people are referring to you as an old fart, you might as well know exactly what they are talking about.
Whodathunk? Christian PFC is the passenger of choice according to a survey of 700 international cabin crew members. The survey looks at the most annoying habits of air passengers. I’m still looking for a survey that looks at the most annoying habits of cabin crew members . . .
Um, okay . . . Bloggers tend to specialize in specific areas that interest them, so you have Thailand-related blogs that cover the commercial sex industry, tourism, shopping, dining and/or cooking . . . if nothing else it’s interesting to see what it is about the Land Of Smiles that engages someone enough to blog about it. Many have written a post about Bangkok’s soi dogs. They are an integral part of the city’s landscape and hard to miss. Bangkok Street Dogs takes their story to new heights, each post is an ‘introduction’ to a different soi dog that often reads like a hook-up site for canines. I’m not surprised the blog is now defunct. I am surprised it stayed operable for 5 years.
There are a small handful of photographers specializing in the male body whose work is instantly identifiable. Bruce Weber and Rick Day are good examples. Bangkok based photographer Haruehun Airry’s hot male torso shots (with pubes) are becoming his iconic look, and his Asian models look damn good. This link takes you to a shot of hunky Jason Chee, but there’s hours of eye candy fun on the photographer’s blog.
One of the first things you learn even as an amateur photographer is to pay attention to the background in your shots. It’s too easy to snap a picture of your friend that ends up looking like he has a tree growing out of his head. Then there are those photos that would be improved by the appearance of nothing more than a strange tree-like growth as in these hilarious 10 Portraits Ruined By The Mirror.
Free magazines covering the gay scene in Thailand tend to come and go. The latest making a stab at coming is OUT in Thailand, which has been around for a while now. You can occasionally find a copy at your favorite gay venue while in Thailand, but up until now the on-line edition required registration to view. And ya know, I really can’t be bothered. But now you can read both the current and past issues without registering – and even the display ads can be of interest.
Who is your favorite Batman? If you said Adam West, you are not only dating yourself but your taste in men really sucks. Holy Hard-On Batman! Here is a shot of every single actor who has played the live action superhero morphed into one perfect bat-specimen..
You’ve probably heard by now that Vietnam is an emerging market. For a communist country, capitalism is making a steady inroad. The good news is that along with the rest of the country’s economy, male prostitution is on an upswing too. There’s even a gay ‘love market’ operating in Da Nang . . . (If you prefer a ‘how-to’ instead of a ‘what’ this article posing as a ‘how not to’ covers the nuts and bolts of prostitution in the backpacker area of Saigon – the part of the story you are interested in is at the end.)
Noom is in a bit of a quandary. He wants to go with me on my next visit to Angkor Wat and I can’t blame him, the ancient temples just outside of Siem Reap are truly amazing. But his pride in Thailand demands that I instead check out the Khmer ruins within his country’s borders first (which he’d like to see, too. And which, btw, are THAI not Khmer!!). We spent an hour flipping through guide books at Asia Books one afternoon so that he could pinpoint the spot and engage my interest. Of more interest at the time was how pissed he was that all the guide books listed Phanom Rung Historical Park in the wrong place (the books listed it as being located on the Khorat Plateau, Noom assumed they meant in Korat and obviously since Noom is Thai and whoever wrote the books isn’t they were wrong). But at least he knew of the site which is probably yet another to add to the list of Places In Thailand Jabba Has Never Hear Of.
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Alex said:
Your Vietnam links come just at the right time, thanks a lot! I’ll head there in about two weeks. If everything else (GayRomeo, Grindr) fails, I might end up with one of these male prostitutes. 😉
The first few times I came to Bangkok, I always felt sorry for the Soi dogs and I couldn’t understand the indifference of these heartless locals towards them. Now I hardly ever take any notice of them anymore myself. You know that you’ve been in Thailand for too long, when… …you feel indifferent towards the Soi dogs!
Bangkokbois said:
Yeah the soi dog life is ruff.
(sorry)
tim said:
some people are just being amazing … and as he likes to say not in a good way ..
what a prick that 40 something american is … and what a load of shit he writes about pattaya … ok its not the worlds best place .. but then you’ve spent the last 2 years on this blog making sure everyone knows that …
but he takes it to a whole new level ..
where do you start with his bullshit ? well really theres no need to is there ?
just accept that from the first letter to the last, its a total pile of shite.
Bangkokbois said:
See what happens when you get respectable Tim?
🙂
You may not, and obviously don’t, agree with this blogger’s opinion of Pattaya, but that doesn’t make it any less valid. He posted his opinion based on a visit he made. And it is one shared by many. Face it, Pattaya’s rep is not a good one.
He is no more a fan of the commercial sex industry in Bangkok. And again, his comments are his opinion. I don’t share them, but am interested in hearing his viewpoint. I thought it was refreshing to hear from an older farang who chose Thailand as his home who does not spend his time at the bars. Reading about the stuff he went through getting set-up is interesting too – even though I have no intention of making that move. And he has written about visits to some of the smaller less known islands down south, too, which you seldom hear about. You don’t have to agree with everything the man says for his blog to be worth reading. But you do have to keep an open mind and realize that other people view life differently than you do.
You’ve bitched about the boring who-I-had-fuck-me-last-night trip reports on the boards, well here’s a blog where you don’t get that. But do get one man’s experiences and views of the country. So . . . . .????
Alex said:
I’ve read that post and I couldn’t find any fault with his description of Pattaya, except for the ridiculous statement that it’s MORE expensive than Bangkok. It looks like an honest account of an uninitiated first-timer’s visit. He clearly didn’t know what to expect and was shocked by what he saw.
This “didn’t know what to expect” seems to be a recurring theme in his blog though. For example, I fail to understand why he hadn’t checked about the visa situation in Thailand before he made the move. Most of what he wrote about that early on is nonsense, and he could have saved himself time and money… But okay, this way he had to be more adventurous, and maybe that was his ultimate goal.
All in all, I think that blog is a good find. If for nothing else than for reminding me to visit Ko Lipe some time; that’s something I had forgotten about.
Bangkokbois said:
I thought the same thing Alex, especially since he’s peddling a ‘how to’ book. But there are a lot of people who would do the same as he did, fly off blindly and deal with the details later. So maybe his recounting of what he faced is just what’s needed for that segment of possible expats. And I really can’t fault him, I am unable to just land somewhere and then start looking for lodging – maybe that too is an adventure, but it’s also a waste of time and you open yourself to being scammed. But there are tons of folk who do just that.
I think that’s partially why I’ve enjoyed reading through his blog. It’s familiar and yet comes from a totally different perspective than mine.
tim said:
ive read a few of his other posts also .. as you say pretty intresting reading .. its just your link took us to the pattay bitch page ..
its things like beer 3 times the price of bangkok … let me know where in bangkok i can get a large beer for less than 30 baht in a beer bar am im there !!
when you get people who go to places with a pre conceived idea as to what to expect its pointless going .. from reading his view on pattaya he had no intention of enjoying it what so ever..
almost sick 3 times while out with his younger boyfriend in sunee (he fitted in well im sure) yet felt that the older guys with their turns for the night were enough to spew over ..
the russains he has about right … but on of his bucket list was to visit russia . which hes done !!!
i agree with you pattayas reputation isnt the best in the world , im sure he would have read enough about it before going there to know he wouldnt like it .. so in all honesty he gave himself no chance what so ever to like it ..
again with the russians .. im not over keen on them .. but i have no intention of going to russia to prove myself right.
Bangkokbois said:
I’m glad you took the time to read beyond the page I linked to. I somehow managed to link to the most offensive post when I introduced Guttersnipe Da’s blog too . . . I just don’t know why that always happens!
🙂
You do have a valid point about preconceived ideas, people tend to do internet research before visiting a place these days and it is easy to fall prey to that mind-set. Better to keep others’ opinions in mind to avoid known problems, but remain open to experiencing the place through your own eyes and tastes.
xiandarkthorne said:
I used to wonder why people hated Pattaya AND Sunee so much….nowadays, I just feel thankful that people who hate Pattaya and Sunee bitch so much about it all over the place so that more ike them will stay away and leave the rest of us who do like those places to enjoy ourselves in peace. There’s something to be said for getting older after all…
Bangkokbois said:
As many people as there are who hate the place, there’s more that view it as a paradise. Otherwise it wouldn’t still be there nor would it be growing as it has. I think anyone should go and make their own mind up and not rely on what other’s think. I’m glad Pattaya is what it is. Otherwise I wouldn’t have such an obvious target for the brunt of my jokes. At the same time I think those who try to defend what is not defensible about the place do as much damage to its rep as those who put it down. It’s as if they are ashamed and can’t bring themselves to admit what the town’s true essence and reason for being is. So good on you XD for embracing the city for what it is – I’m sure you enjoy it to its fullest.
Xian Darkthorne said:
No, no, I don’t enjoy – or at least I have been too lazy to do so – ALL of Pattaya. I have only had the opportunity to enjoy Jomtien beach and some of Sunee’s cutest pubic relations providers. I have never been to Boyztown, Pattayaland or any of the other recreational areas so frequently listed alongside Sunee.
Bangkokbois said:
Well geeze, you aren’t helping the local economy much then.
You expect the poor boys to live off Jabba’s miserly tips?
Sounds like you need to be getting on a plane . . .
Glenn said:
Phnom Rung is very nice. Phimai is definitely worth a visit too. Good little museum near the ruins as well. There’s another big Khmer temple in that area as well. I have to dig out my book to find the name. According to TAT’s little I-San booklet it is Prasat Hin Mueng Tam
Bangkokbois said:
Thanks for looking up the Prasat Hin Mueng Tam tip Glenn. I’m starting to lean more toward a short week there than Siem Reap again (it’s more my quandry than Noom’s).
Glenn said:
If you go to Phimai you might also enjoy the Ban Prasat Archaeological site which is nearby http://www.tourismthailand.org/See-and-Do/Sights-and-Attractions-Detail/Ban-Prasat-Archaeological-Site–521
Glenn said:
This website has a little more info http://www.isaan.com/en/about/nakhon-ratchasima-korat/attractions/ban-prasat.html Looks very interesting.
Bangkokbois said:
Thanks for the links Glenn. Looks like a great area to visit with plenty of old Khmer temples. Now I just need to figure out if Noom would prefer an inside-Thailand trip or one to Cambodia. Shame that ‘up to you’ thingy doesn’t work in the farang to Thai direction too.
ceejay said:
From memory (it’s four years since I’ve been there) Phanom Rung and Muang Tam are part of the same historical park, and the ticket you buy to get into Phanom Rung is good for Muang Tam as well. They are certainly very close together.
If you’re driving from Bangkok, it’s an awful long way. Diverting via Phimai and spending the night there works well, so long as you don’t stay in the Phimai Hotel, which was the worst I have have ever been in.
Ever thought of visiting the Surin Elephant Roundup? It’s a lot of fun, and Surin is a good base for visiting both Phanom Rung and Wat Lan Khuad (the million bottle temple) near Khun Han in Srisaketh. You would have to wait until early November though.
Bangkokbois said:
Thanks for the info ceejay, especially on the hotel to avoid. I’m thinking more of a long slow visit over several days rather than a straight drive through, so that helps. I considered holding off for the elephant round-up, but if I put the excursion off until November it probably won’t happen ‘cuz some other area will have grabbed my interest by then.
Hendrikbkk said:
The elephant festival in Surin is worth a trip, but book a hotel room early otherwise you end up with overcharged rooms or somewhere outside of Surin.
I visited the elephant festival a few years ago and asked a friend, who is from Surin to join me. I asked him how long the trip would be and he said at least 12 hours. So we drove out of Bangkok at 6 in the morning, arriving in Surin just after noon the same day, just a bit more then 6 hours! Thank god I didn’t let him read the map…
Bangkokbois said:
lol
Well, yes, it would be a 12 hour trip with a Thai reading a map!
Stry said:
Incredible ass on the dude in the first photo. And yes, the boxers being peeled down and off frame those glutes just right. Draws you right in.
Bangkokbois said:
Makes you wonder what comes first. Having an incredible ass or knowing how to expose an incredible ass.
I love philosophical questions . . .
Jason Stearns said:
Thanks for the nice mention about my blog (though, I’m 38–not 40-something yet). =) Sorry I didn’t thank you sooner, I was visiting Petchabun and some other places in Thailand before making a trip back home to visit my family.
Bangkokbois said:
Thanks Jason.
Sorry for adding the extra years to your age.
I’ve enjoyed reading your blog – lots of good info on the parts of Thailand touri don’t often see.
Keep up the good work!