Changes in Bangkok 2020-2021
A report about changes in Bangkok that happened during my 20 months absence 1apr2020-10dec2021. Some of them were already in progress when I left Bangkok. It will take me months to get around to see all changes in person. Changes in gay venues will be reported separately.
First impression, after coming from a bustling Phnom Penh, was: where is everyone? It seem half of Bangkok has gone back to their home provinces. Considerably fewer people, cars and mocy than before Covid. There was so little traffic, a dog was lying on Sribampen road (Maderla on the left, Trajai Steakhouse on the right, Malaysia hotel at the end):
I have to say I enjoy the peace and quiet. But it's not sustainable. Many shops closed temporarily or permanently, and those remaining seem to be doing poor business.
Demolition
Dusit Thani now completely demolished, an empty plot of land before construction starts.
Scala cinema is gone. They hid their crime behind a corrugated iron wall with no gap at the bottom to look in, and too high to look over. But at the gate there was a small gap, enough for me to look in and see the demolition site, but too small to take a picture.
Construction
Entire new shopping centers. When I left there was an empty space temporarily used for parking, now there is The ParQ (North-West corner of Klong Toey intersection). One Bankok construction is progressing. Aerial picture by a friend's drone:
Lumpini Park on the left, Rama IV road at the bottom. The triangular structure on the right will become Thailand's tallest building at 430 meters. https://onebangkok.com/en/News/get_content_news/1425 The entire complex will have 278 elevators and escalators. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/pr/2096531/one-bangkok-thailands-largest-fully-integrated-district
New Queen Sirikit Center structure complete.
The Quarter (hotel in Soi Than Tawan off Surawong) now operating. Another entrance is in Silom Soi 6.
Kronos office building in North Sathorn Road. I was walking elsewhere and spotted that conical brown roof with green copper pinnacle that I haven't seen before.
AUA Language Center Ratchadamri new building with ornamental brick. Siamscape Shopping Center ornamental brick as well. A welcome addition. Ornamental brick was sorely missing in Bangkok's architecture.
New Parks
Benjakitti Park extended to area that used to be Tobacco Monopoly of Thailand. Aerial view (from West to East) of Benjakitti Park and new Queen Sirikit Center:
Chong Nonsi Park (directly West of BTS Chong Nonsi) open. Aerial view (BTS on the right side cut off).
Chao Phraya Sky Park. A bridge over Chao Phraya was built near Memorial Bridge, but then the project was abandoned and in 2020 converted to a public park.
Chulalongkorn Centennial Park completed.
Phatumwananurak Park in Pratunam has been completed in 2018 but never been opened to public. https://landprocessdesign.wixsite.com/landprocess/pathumwananurak-parkx
Former Hippodrome in Pitsanulok Road demolished and currently construction site for Rama 9 Memorial Park.
Public transport
There are new bus stops with written display of lines that stop there and electrical display of waiting time for bus (destination switch between English and Thai). The bus stops have free WiFi and USB charging. The wall with plants next to old bus stops were removed.
BTS and MRT extensions. New red line to Taling Chan and Rangsit. Sukumvit Line extended North to Khukhot and East to Kheha (Samut Prakarn, open since 2019 but I haven't made it there yet).
Trains still depart from Hua Lampong. But Bang Sue central station is now in operation and will soon take over. A look along platform while waiting for red line train:
Fewer taxis. In front of Malaysia or Ibis hotel I would have to wait for minutes to get a taxi.
Rotary Parking Carousel ? at Wat Hua Lampong and elsewhere.
Restaurants
Moonhouse, which had the Tom Kha Gai I liked most https://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2014/03/words-of-praise-tom-kha-gai-at-moon.html, is permanently gone. But this loss is partially replaced by delicious Khao Soi ข้าวซอย at KAOSOI TOOK TOOK Kor ข้าวซอยถูกทุกข้อ in Suan Phlu. Update: Zest (Sribampen corner to Yen Agat) has Tom Kha Gai as delicious as Moonhouse.
Many restaurants with reduced menus (both food and drink) and they don't have everything in stock. In some cases, half the menu is crossed out as not available, in other cases after placing my order staff comes back from kitchen and tells me the item is not available.
Occupancy in mid-class restaurants 10-20%. Often I'm the only customer, but food delivery some activity with restaurants setting up tabled for delivery drivers to wait for the order, and outside apartment buildings drop-off tables.
Various changes
In 2020, the highest number of 7-Eleven I came across was in the 15,000. Now I spotted some in the 17,000. But some branches closed temporarily (view blocked with paper all over the window from inside, but outside still signs), and some closed permanently (windows clear and everything inside removed). Now there are small 7-Eleven automats in various locations.
Southern Bus Station and MBK about 20% of shops gone and a lot of empty space for rent. Customer numbers down.
My favorite cat in Sathorn (often on a table at an unnamed restaurant in Soi Sribampen) has died.
In my room, water, fridge, aircon all fine after 20 months of absence. Some dust, spiders and spider poo. I caught about 30 spiders and re-settled them in the hallway. What did they eat all the time? Clothes and papers bleached from sun. Of course I know better than leaving stuff by the window, but I didn't expect to be away for 20 months.
Copyright 2022 ChristianPFC
Thursday, 27 January 2022
Changes in Bangkok 2020-2021
Friday, 21 January 2022
Quiz: What purpose?
Quiz: What purpose?
Crocodile stuffed animal. What is the purpose?
Solution in a week. There is no prize.
Copyright 2022 ChristianPFC
Crocodile stuffed animal. What is the purpose?
Solution in a week. There is no prize.
Copyright 2022 ChristianPFC
Tuesday, 11 January 2022
Gay activities Oct2021
Gay activities Oct2021
Fri1oct2021 Phnom Penh
Phearum comes to my room for fun.
Sat2oct2021 Phnom Penh
Nico comes to my room for fun and chat.
When I go out for dinner, by chance cross paths with a German friend in company of another friend M on their way dinner, I join. Interesting conversation and M knows a bar nearby that is open.
Nameless ? bar through corridor and upstairs. No signs, I would have not have found this place on my own. Cute young owner and cute staff. They close 22 and German friend and I leave for second dinner for German friend.
Then to Wat Botum Park. 23:20 medium activity, some boys smile back when we pass, but groups of girls (German friend’s area of interest) don’t notice us. Shirtless boys playing ballgame, interesting! But then 23:30 light rain, boys dress, about half of people in park leave. German friend gets a tuktuk, I walk home. Two boys sitting on a bench invite me for beer, I refuse beer but join for chat. One split up with his boyfriend, looks okay. The other asks for my facebook, then messages me wants to meet, but he is not my type. Overall promising, should go there more often!
(Update: several more visits over the following weeks, but nothing materialized.)
Sun3oct2021 Phnom Penh
Ladyboy on Grindr cancels because he thinks I will not like him in real (“I tell you before meet my voice like girl n everyone here they do not like me”, “They call me lady boy”, “I’m ugly in real”).
For religious holidays, people give away free food at riverside out of a car or tuktuk. Quite a commotion, feeding stray cats in the temple is more civilized. Scenes like the last flight of US Air Force out of Kabul. At the end, homeless ? poke hand into open car window, and adult rips the food out of child’s hand.
Kit agrees on 10 USD and meet 21. I’m waiting for him on main road, then he cancels 21:22 for overtime at work. I go back to my room, then 21:29 says he can come, then cancel again.
Mon4oct2021 Phnom Penh
Kit arrives by tuktuk, I go down to pay 0.75 USD to driver. A poor start: he lives only 500 m away (easy walking distance by my standards) and does not have money for tuktuk. Poor English, used translation (fooled me once again). Face, body, attitude okay. Skin brown warm dry throughout. A bit too much pubic hair and hair on balls and butt crack. Poor activities, basically no response. A bit ticklish when I kiss his neck. Medium size dick, glans uncovered, gets hard quickly from stroking. Hugging in bed, then ask him for massage of my back, does it okay. No kissing, sucking, he didn’t touch me at all. No repeat. 10 USD waste of time and money.
Tue5oct2021 Phnom Penh
Heco Boy 2 comes to my room, 20 USD well deserved.
Wed6oct2021 Phnom Penh
Oudong boy slim in private pictures (no face, no tattoo), then sends me picture with tattoo, but refuses to do videochat. Meet 11:45 on road. I can see facial hair on side of face. In my room without mask same impression: looks like a hobo, old and beard. What have I gotten myself into?
But then in bed, great activities! Hands at beginning cold, then entire body warm dry throughout. Whenever our skin touched, it felt good. Gives me good back massage. We would spend several hours in bed. Repeat. Had I seen him on videochat, I would have made an excuse not to meet.
Fri8oct2021 Phnom Penh
Horthy suddenly free and wants to meet, so I invite him to come to my room. I go down to meet him and pay 2.50 USD to driver. My beard is no problem. Nice body, but short of being on the fat side. Face fat but still I like his neck and shoulders. Warm dry skin throughout, but complains my room is too hot. Small cock, glans bent down, glans big nice to suck. Asks me to finger him, and when he cums with my finger still in his ass I can feel sphincter contracting.
Then hug and rest. I ask about his social media profiles, he says he does not use social media, but I saw him on Facebook and Instagram on his phone. I have no other way than Blued to contact him, and not even a picture of him, that’s why I want his social media.
We had agreed on 20 USD for 2 hours, but he wants to leave earlier. Discuss how long 2 hours is, starting from his arrival 11:05. He wants to leave 12:30 and suggests 15 USD which I gladly accept. And another 1.75 USD for tuktuk return.
Takes initiative in bed, has character (other than him being an unreliable and greedy, there is something that attracts me, but I can’t name it). Repeat.
For each time we met, there are several cancelations from his side, or no show, or some bullshit. (Update: I’m back in Thailand and he messages me he misses me and asks if I can come back to Phnom Penh tomorrow so we can meet. Absurd!)
Jane comes to my room for fun and stays over night.
Sat9-14oct2021 Phnom Penh
No gay activities. It doesn’t get any sexier than watching two flies have sex on my balcony:
Tue12oct2021 Phnom Penh to Kampot
Originally I wanted to go to Siem Reap (closed for Covid) or Kratie and Mondulkiri (no public transport, and showing up with my luggage at taxi stand and haggle over price is not my style), but go to Kampot again.
Thu14oct2021 Kampot
Kim comes to my room and we have a good time.
Fri15oct2021 Kampot
Hong (repeat from 28jul2021) arrives 15:25 (date was 15:00, I sent reminder 14:52). Pick him up downstairs. To my room, get nude and to bed. Tells me he has to leave at 4 (fine with me, but normally would be too short). A bit on fat side, but brown skin, not too much body hair, skin temperature okay throughout. Ticklish on neck, armpit and buttcrack. I have an okay time. 10 USD (he tried for 15, but we had agreed on 10 online) bye 16:05 downstairs. I don’t know what attracted me to him when we first met, but now it’s gone. No repeat.
Tue19oct2021 Kampot to Kep
Lea from Kampot, but today in Kep with friends. Meet on beach, walk around, then to my room. Activities okay, but a bit pale and fat. No repeat.
Sat23oct2021 Kep to Kampot
Sun24oct2021 Kampot
At Than Sour waterpark 16:10-17:48. Swim over to Daung Te. Group of boys invite me for beer. Drink one can of Cambodia Beer on invitation by boys. About 10 boys, half of them cute, and one girl. One asks me for facebook (later ask him on messenger: he likes girls). Sitting fully dressed at table. Before we leave have another look at Daung Te, boys in water shirtless (but still trousers) nice bodies. No masks at waterpark.
Sat30oct2021 Kampot
Beaz from Kep cancels dinner for 19 (after I remind him 18:30).
Sun31oct2021 Kampot
No gay activities for 12 days. A new record?
I have two regulars in Kampot, but didn’t feel like meeting any of them. One boy who was spectacular when we first met didn’t reply to my messages. Recruiting new boys failed for various reasons.
Summary Oct2021
6 Free sex: Phearum, Nico, Oudong boy, Jane, Kim Kampot, Lea in Kep.
4 Paid sex: Kit 10 USD (+0.75 tuktuk), Heco Boy 2 20 USD, Horthy 15 USD (+2.50+1.75 tuktuk), Hong 10 USD = 55 USD.
4 Canceled by boy: Ladyboy on Grindr, Kit, Kit, Beaz from Kep.
7 Repeat: Phearum, Nico, Heco Boy 2, Oudong boy, Horthy, Jane, Kim Kampot.
3 No repeat: Kit, Hong, Lea in Kep.
7 Old: Phearum, Nico, Heco Boy 2, Horthy, Jane, Kim Kampot, Hong.
3 New: Kit, Oudong boy, Lea in Kep.
Copyright 2022 ChristianPFC
Fri1oct2021 Phnom Penh
Phearum comes to my room for fun.
Sat2oct2021 Phnom Penh
Nico comes to my room for fun and chat.
When I go out for dinner, by chance cross paths with a German friend in company of another friend M on their way dinner, I join. Interesting conversation and M knows a bar nearby that is open.
Nameless ? bar through corridor and upstairs. No signs, I would have not have found this place on my own. Cute young owner and cute staff. They close 22 and German friend and I leave for second dinner for German friend.
Then to Wat Botum Park. 23:20 medium activity, some boys smile back when we pass, but groups of girls (German friend’s area of interest) don’t notice us. Shirtless boys playing ballgame, interesting! But then 23:30 light rain, boys dress, about half of people in park leave. German friend gets a tuktuk, I walk home. Two boys sitting on a bench invite me for beer, I refuse beer but join for chat. One split up with his boyfriend, looks okay. The other asks for my facebook, then messages me wants to meet, but he is not my type. Overall promising, should go there more often!
(Update: several more visits over the following weeks, but nothing materialized.)
Sun3oct2021 Phnom Penh
Ladyboy on Grindr cancels because he thinks I will not like him in real (“I tell you before meet my voice like girl n everyone here they do not like me”, “They call me lady boy”, “I’m ugly in real”).
For religious holidays, people give away free food at riverside out of a car or tuktuk. Quite a commotion, feeding stray cats in the temple is more civilized. Scenes like the last flight of US Air Force out of Kabul. At the end, homeless ? poke hand into open car window, and adult rips the food out of child’s hand.
Kit agrees on 10 USD and meet 21. I’m waiting for him on main road, then he cancels 21:22 for overtime at work. I go back to my room, then 21:29 says he can come, then cancel again.
Mon4oct2021 Phnom Penh
Kit arrives by tuktuk, I go down to pay 0.75 USD to driver. A poor start: he lives only 500 m away (easy walking distance by my standards) and does not have money for tuktuk. Poor English, used translation (fooled me once again). Face, body, attitude okay. Skin brown warm dry throughout. A bit too much pubic hair and hair on balls and butt crack. Poor activities, basically no response. A bit ticklish when I kiss his neck. Medium size dick, glans uncovered, gets hard quickly from stroking. Hugging in bed, then ask him for massage of my back, does it okay. No kissing, sucking, he didn’t touch me at all. No repeat. 10 USD waste of time and money.
Tue5oct2021 Phnom Penh
Heco Boy 2 comes to my room, 20 USD well deserved.
Wed6oct2021 Phnom Penh
Oudong boy slim in private pictures (no face, no tattoo), then sends me picture with tattoo, but refuses to do videochat. Meet 11:45 on road. I can see facial hair on side of face. In my room without mask same impression: looks like a hobo, old and beard. What have I gotten myself into?
But then in bed, great activities! Hands at beginning cold, then entire body warm dry throughout. Whenever our skin touched, it felt good. Gives me good back massage. We would spend several hours in bed. Repeat. Had I seen him on videochat, I would have made an excuse not to meet.
Fri8oct2021 Phnom Penh
Horthy suddenly free and wants to meet, so I invite him to come to my room. I go down to meet him and pay 2.50 USD to driver. My beard is no problem. Nice body, but short of being on the fat side. Face fat but still I like his neck and shoulders. Warm dry skin throughout, but complains my room is too hot. Small cock, glans bent down, glans big nice to suck. Asks me to finger him, and when he cums with my finger still in his ass I can feel sphincter contracting.
Then hug and rest. I ask about his social media profiles, he says he does not use social media, but I saw him on Facebook and Instagram on his phone. I have no other way than Blued to contact him, and not even a picture of him, that’s why I want his social media.
We had agreed on 20 USD for 2 hours, but he wants to leave earlier. Discuss how long 2 hours is, starting from his arrival 11:05. He wants to leave 12:30 and suggests 15 USD which I gladly accept. And another 1.75 USD for tuktuk return.
Takes initiative in bed, has character (other than him being an unreliable and greedy, there is something that attracts me, but I can’t name it). Repeat.
For each time we met, there are several cancelations from his side, or no show, or some bullshit. (Update: I’m back in Thailand and he messages me he misses me and asks if I can come back to Phnom Penh tomorrow so we can meet. Absurd!)
Jane comes to my room for fun and stays over night.
Sat9-14oct2021 Phnom Penh
No gay activities. It doesn’t get any sexier than watching two flies have sex on my balcony:
Tue12oct2021 Phnom Penh to Kampot
Originally I wanted to go to Siem Reap (closed for Covid) or Kratie and Mondulkiri (no public transport, and showing up with my luggage at taxi stand and haggle over price is not my style), but go to Kampot again.
Thu14oct2021 Kampot
Kim comes to my room and we have a good time.
Fri15oct2021 Kampot
Hong (repeat from 28jul2021) arrives 15:25 (date was 15:00, I sent reminder 14:52). Pick him up downstairs. To my room, get nude and to bed. Tells me he has to leave at 4 (fine with me, but normally would be too short). A bit on fat side, but brown skin, not too much body hair, skin temperature okay throughout. Ticklish on neck, armpit and buttcrack. I have an okay time. 10 USD (he tried for 15, but we had agreed on 10 online) bye 16:05 downstairs. I don’t know what attracted me to him when we first met, but now it’s gone. No repeat.
Tue19oct2021 Kampot to Kep
Lea from Kampot, but today in Kep with friends. Meet on beach, walk around, then to my room. Activities okay, but a bit pale and fat. No repeat.
Sat23oct2021 Kep to Kampot
Sun24oct2021 Kampot
At Than Sour waterpark 16:10-17:48. Swim over to Daung Te. Group of boys invite me for beer. Drink one can of Cambodia Beer on invitation by boys. About 10 boys, half of them cute, and one girl. One asks me for facebook (later ask him on messenger: he likes girls). Sitting fully dressed at table. Before we leave have another look at Daung Te, boys in water shirtless (but still trousers) nice bodies. No masks at waterpark.
Sat30oct2021 Kampot
Beaz from Kep cancels dinner for 19 (after I remind him 18:30).
Sun31oct2021 Kampot
No gay activities for 12 days. A new record?
I have two regulars in Kampot, but didn’t feel like meeting any of them. One boy who was spectacular when we first met didn’t reply to my messages. Recruiting new boys failed for various reasons.
Summary Oct2021
6 Free sex: Phearum, Nico, Oudong boy, Jane, Kim Kampot, Lea in Kep.
4 Paid sex: Kit 10 USD (+0.75 tuktuk), Heco Boy 2 20 USD, Horthy 15 USD (+2.50+1.75 tuktuk), Hong 10 USD = 55 USD.
4 Canceled by boy: Ladyboy on Grindr, Kit, Kit, Beaz from Kep.
7 Repeat: Phearum, Nico, Heco Boy 2, Oudong boy, Horthy, Jane, Kim Kampot.
3 No repeat: Kit, Hong, Lea in Kep.
7 Old: Phearum, Nico, Heco Boy 2, Horthy, Jane, Kim Kampot, Hong.
3 New: Kit, Oudong boy, Lea in Kep.
Copyright 2022 ChristianPFC
Wednesday, 5 January 2022
Euro Park in Phnom Penh
Euro Park in Phnom Penh
There is a new housing/retail/entertainment project Borey Peng Huoth on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, with a park with miniatures of famous buildings of Europe (Eiffel Tower and Big Ben) and Australia (Sydney Opera House). At the time of visit (Sep2021) some shops open, but most places completed but not occupied.
One Eiffel tower about 3 stories high complete, elsewhere are foundations for an even bigger one.
This is what it will look like when completed. Main building still under construction.
In central Phnom Penh, on Diamond Island / Koh Pich, there is The Élysée which imitates Parisian architecture and has a building clearly inspired by Arc de Triomphe. Surrounding buildings as well inspired by Paris. Ready to move in, but most places vacant.
The above answers the question who is copying other coutries’ national monuments.
New Thai temple sparks controversy over claims it imitates Angkor Wat - Cambodia to send inspectors to see if site is too similar to 12th-century complex that is a national symbol
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/27/new-thai-temple-controversy-claims-imitates-angkor-wat Fri 27 Aug 2021
A new Thai temple bears a likeness to Angkor Wat, and Cambodian internet users are not happy about it - Pictures of a structure under scaffolding in Thailand were posted online, and commentators in Cambodia were quick to condemn its likeness to their pride and joy - Cultural and political tensions between the two countries have long been complicated when it comes to temples and claims over their sovereignty (8 Sep, 2021)
https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3147949/angkor-wat-temple-copycat-thailand-sparks-cambodian
Anyway, a miniature of Angkor Wat has been in the Royal Palace for long time (when part of Cambodia, including Angkor Wat, was under Thai rule), and another one in Mini Siam / Mini World in Pattaya.
Update:
Controversy expected as replica of world renown Angkor Wat built in Da Nang’s theme park (February 3, 2022) https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501018373/controversy-expected-as-replica-of-world-renown-angkor-wat-built-in-da-nangs-theme-park/
Copyright 2022 ChristianPFC except “I love Paris”
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