Monday, 12 June 2017

Abandoned giant gate on Pahonyothin

Abandoned giant gate on Pahonyothin

On Pahonyothin road, eastern side, between km 43 and 44
in Pathum Thani province
14.089951,100.618758 = 14°05'23.8"N 100°37'07.5"E

Aerial picture by a friend's drone (the globular building of Wat Phra Dhammakaya is visible on the right on the horizon):



The benefits of driving with your own car (in this case my friend's car): you can stop wherever you want. I have driven past on bus and noticed this gate many times, but can't stop! The road that leads through the gate has a sign "private road", but was open.

Southern side of the gate has empty space on ground level (used as shelter for mocy taxi station):

  
Northern side has entrance and stairways leading to two floors of usable space, with a bridge to southern side that has two floors of usable space as well, judging by windows. The door was closed, but not locked, however when I wanted to get in mocy drivers from other side beckoned me not to get in, so I don't know what's inside.


Neither did I see any sign that would say where this gate is leading. If you follow that road for 2.5 km, you end at a side entrance of Wat Phra Dhammakaya วัดพระธรรมกาย (but if it belonged to them, it wouldn't be abandoned). However 1.3 km inward is Nop Phadol Craftsmanship Shop Garage ร้านนพดลการช่าง which looks similar in style and seems partially abandoned.

Copyright 2017 ChristianPFC

Friday, 9 June 2017

Dating Thai boys (53) A friend in need

Dating Thai boys (53) A friend in need

English: “A friend in need is a friend indeed.”
German: “Freunde in der Not kommen hundert auf ein Lot.”
French: „L'ami dans le besoin est un ami en effet.“
Thai: เพื่อนกินหาง่าย เพื่อนตายหายาก 
(A fair-weather friend is easy to find, a real friend is hard to find)

เพื่อนกิน pêuan gin fair-weather friend; false friend
http://www.thai2english.com/dictionary/1379821.html
(literally: friend to eat together, i.e. someone who is your friend as long as there is food on the table, like a "drinking buddy" in the West)
เพื่อนตาย pêuan dtaai real friend; true friend
(dtaai like in "die, death", but not to be taken literally, only figuratively - info from a Thai friend)

On a similar note, weddings between Thai and Farang are not closed with "...in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health..." but "...as long as the (Farang's) money lasts...".
Some of my Thai “friends” remember me only when they have a problem and need my help (money). As help is usually a one-way road http://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2017/05/dating-thai-boys-52-bfc4in2017-ton.html, I’m nowadays reticent to to go out of my way to help someone. Here some cases in chronological order.
-----
“Headache Boy” (exBFC3in2014, the boy who gave me more headaches than orgasms: http://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2014/12/dating-thai-boys-21-week-with-headache.html). I think the day after we met (Aug 2015), a call from Sanam Luang, he got hit by students from a rivaling school (?) and needs my help (my money?) urgently. I was home (Sathorn) with nothing important to do, and infatuated from recent encounter, I jump in a taxi to go there, and find him with no signs of injury or emergency. 
-----
In the course of 2016, I had given up on JJ Bangna. The sex was just not worth the endless chat and drama and no-shows and misbehavior*. JJ has not messaged me for half a year, but now:

*Complete disrespect and lack of decency. I invited JJ to Hua Hin and paid him 1000 Baht. We were lying in bed, and I indicated by some gropes that I would be up for sex, but he had over one hour calls and chats (writing) with other Farang (next customer?), I could read part of that conversation looking over his shoulder, the Farang were in Pattaya or Bangkok!

2017/04/29(Sat)
15:40 JJ Hi
15:40 JJ Hi
15:54 Christian Hello
15:55 JJ You have money for me 500?i give you back when my mom come
15:58 Christian I don't lend money any more. I never get it back.
15:59 Christian But you can come for sex, I can pay you 500.
(Stop talking about the bush. Just say it how it is!)
15:59 Christian I'm in my room in Sathorn, where are you?
15:59 JJ Now I in police station
(This is general. When a specific location is required as answer, I get stuff like “in my friend’s room”, “police station”, etc.)
16:00 Christian Where?
16:02 JJ [Photo] (Police station, but no name or location!)
16:03 JJ You can help me one time?
16:05 JJ [Sticker]
(He is still unaware that “police station” is insufficient for his location!)
16:09 Christian Where?
16:10 JJ Bangna
16:10 JJ You can help me ?when my mom come I give you back or I can go meet you for sex
16:17 JJ [Sticker]
16:18 Christian I can't go to Bangna now. Where is your boyfriend? Can he help you?
16:19 JJ Him not in Thai
16:20 JJ You can not help me?
16:20 JJ [Sticker]
16:20 JJ if ok 
16:20 JJ [Sticker]
16:20 Christian Sorry, cannot.
16:27 JJ Ok

And now he thinks I go to Bangna police station to pay 500 Baht fine for him for a “Thank you. Bye.” No sorry. Judging by his facebook, he got out of the police station quick. The few real friends I have, I would have gone to Bangna to help them.
-----
Burmese Woman however is different. In a remote Burmese refuge village in deepest Tak province (details of travelling there here: http://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2017/04/bus-bangkok-to-nu-po-and-back.html and some day I might post about my stay there), I found a sincere person! (Actually we first met in 2013 in Lak Si, that remote refuge village is for dramatic effect.) So when she called me on Fri 12may2017, saying that she just came back to Bangkok (4 days before?), and stays with friends in Rama 2 near Bang Bon Market, and has no money for food, I calculated what other activities I can combine the trip with, and went there to give her 500 Baht (after some chat – we had last met in Dec 2016 – and checking if there are any cute boys around). I’m sure she would do the same for me.

Better than having the money stolen by some greedy Thai boy, or losing value in Europe (inflation rate higher than interest).
-----
After entire year of 2016 without any sign of life, German speaking boy Top http://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2015/11/trip-to-nakon-nayok-with-some-thai.html is back on facebook. Suddenly, on 24may2017, message and call:

11/11/2015 12:18am 
CPFC: Hello
11/11/2015 9:53am 
CPFC: Guten Morgen.
(messages not read until now)

24/05/2017 Tue 8:43pm 
Top is waving at you!
Top Hallo
CPFC Hello
Top called you. (At least a few sentences of introduction before coming to the point: he needs money for food. I'm on my way home walking, so tell him I will call back from my room, that gives me time to think as well. While walking, the following messages come in:)
Tue 8:48pm
Top: Es tut mir leid für alles, was kommt durch. Ich hoffe, sie wird mir verzeihen. Ich werde um Hilfe bitten, von ihr etwa 500 Baht, ich hoffe, sie wird nicht, mir zu helfen verweigern. (While his spoken German is ok, written is rather idiosyncratic, but somehow cute, and I get the message. I leave it as it is, sorry for my readers who don't speak German. But if you follow the forums, there is a member pong, his English is comparable.)
CPFC: Moment (still walking home)
Top: Sie würde mir jetzt helfen. Ich bin hungrig Ich würde auf sie legen Geld zu essen. Ich verstehe nicht,
You called Top (Call him from my room. Agree on sending money online. Ask about his car: the bank took it when he was unable to pay the monthly rates.)
Tuesday 9:08pm
Top: (his bank account details) Sie übertragen mir 500 Baht Sie. Mehr als das kann ich nicht die ATM schlagen warten. Warten Sie, es zu essen. Denn jetzt mein Magen wirklich hungrig. 
CPFC: (picture of online banking screen)
Top: Danke für die Hilfe
CPFC: Bitte. Gute Nacht.
Tue 10:42pm
Top: Vielen Dank für das Geld zu kommen, Jetzt esse ich, dann bin ich sehr dankbar. Ich hielt jeden Sonntag Wenn sie mich gerade erst kennengelernt hatte. Ich liege, dann sie tat, wenn sie gut schlafen würde. Ich werde eine gute Nacht.

26/05/2017 Fri 6:38am
Top: Hallo Was magch du
CPFC: Was machst du? Schlafen.
Fri 8:43am
Top  called you. (Invitation to join on a trip to his home province Petchabun. Or to hit me up for money once we are on the way? But on the proposed dates I have another plan already. But in principle: yes. Forgot to ask how he gets there, now that the bank took his car. And I would to make a plan and make sure we stick to it, unlike Nakon Nayok 2015 with irregular eating and sleeping times. And no “meet the parents” poverty porn trip)
-----
It all makes no sense: JJ Bangna is slim and brown and gay (but a bit too hairy) and we had sex, but I don't go to rescue him from Bangna police station (because I know he is only interested in me when he is horny, needs money or is bored). Burmese Woman and Top, I wouldn't touch them with a barge barge (sexually), but drive there or send money online. But I have a better feeling than with JJ Bangna. And they even said thank you!

Copyright 2017 ChristianPFC

Tuesday, 6 June 2017

Big Bad Wolf Children's Book Sale in IMPCACT

Big Bad Wolf Children's Book Sale in IMPCACT

The book sale took place in IMPACT Muang Thong Thani (Impact forum hall 9) from 10-19feb2017. https://www.bigbadwolfbooks.com/th/english/







But unlike book expos in QSNCC or second hand book sale at Neilson Hays library, there was nothing for me here.

I haven't been to IMPACT before, so I took this occasion to investigate public transport: bus 166 aircon from Victory Monument (north-west side; but there are two different buses of line 166, one goes to Government Complex, the other to IMPACT, ask or read the Thai sign), but not on the shortest way, instead going on Chaeng Wattana all the way to Chao Phraya and then doing a U-turn), 18 Baht, 12:24-13:28.

But the objective of this post is to protest against the vilification of certain animals.

While I have no compassion for illegal immigrants http://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-truth-about-european-migrant-crisis.html, I pity the mistreated and vilified animals. Human like and dislike of animals is completely misguided.

Why are wolves, sharks and rats bad, whereas pigeons are good? Especially pigeons are glorified as a symbol of peace, while I think they are vile creatures, shitting everywhere, fluttering around, making noise, carrying diseases. Similar for monkeys in urban areas: there is nothing cute about them.

My translation: One of the most dangerous animals in the world. Year after year causes innumerable grief and millions of deaths. On the left, a murdered wolf.


Source: facebook

Pigeon shit in a wat. Many places now have pigeon deterrents or nets to prevent access.



Here I observed a monkey damaging a car (and various scratches upon close inspection):




If you have ever been in Lopburi Prang Sam Yot, you will see what damage and dirt monkeys can cause.

I don't care about rats and cockroaches, but dislike pigeons and monkeys in an urban environment (in the wild it's fine with me). Feeding pigeons should be outlawed (actually there are signs "don't feed the pigeons" at various places, but people feed them nonetheless; a better approach than just putting up signs would be to catch the pigeons and use them as food). Whereas feeding fish at temples or elsewhere is fine for me, assuming they are used as food later.


Make merit by releasing birds, fish, snakes, turtles, frogs at temples. I disapprove of that.

Feeding stray dogs or cats is a way to make merit, birth control obviously is not. I don't know what happens with all the offspring, but guess most of them die from accidents or diseases. But then I very rarely see a corpse, guess that's where rats come in.


While the intentions are good, the outcome is negative.

Shows with tigers, elephants, snakes. I guess money comes first, and the line of mistreating the animals is often crossed. I don't go to or recommend such shows. 

Copyright 2017 ChristianPFC except picture from facebook

Saturday, 3 June 2017

Normal saunas in Thailand

Normal saunas in Thailand 

There are currently 23 gay saunas in Bangkok and 8 more in rest of Thailand, and over the years I found 5 normal saunas (for lack of a better name to distinguish them from gay saunas, where sex plays an important part).  

New Sathorn Sauna Saphan Khu Alley
13.721939, 100.547510 = 13°43'19.0"N 100°32'51.0"E
I have been once, basic but clean and well maintained. There are signs in Thai language on Sri Bam Pen road, without these I wouldn't have known about this place, about 5 minutes walk from Malaysia hotel, but in a dead-end part of the soi.

Silom Sauna in Soi Sri Bam Pen 
13.718827, 100.550534 = 13°43'07.8"N 100°33'01.9"E
I have been once, basic but clean and well maintained.
http://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2014/09/silom-sauna-in-sathorn-sri-bam-pen.html
Entry 200 Baht.

Silom Sauna in Sukhumvit Soi 22
13.725891, 100.565814 = 13°43'33.2"N 100°33'56.9"E
(halfway between Sukumvit road and Rama 4 road) 
Entry 200 Baht, open 12-24. 

These two are on google maps, but no others of this chain (?).

Language note: silom สีลม sĕe lom means "windmill". Silom road is named after the windmills that used to be there, there is one metal windmill at the canal.

Elsewhere in Thailand
Some Wats have a steam room / herbal steam sauna attached:
 
Tak Mae Sot Wat Manee Praison วัดมณีไพรสณฑ์
16.717227, 98.573902 = 16°43'02.0"N 98°34'26.1"E
When I passed, I asked for opening times: 1-7 pm.


Pathum Thani Wat Chedi Hoi วัดเจดีย์หอย 
14.114025, 100.385188 = 14°06'50.5"N 100°23'06.7"E
The text on the wall says open 10:30 - 17:00 every day.
 

Copyright 2017 ChristianPFC

Tuesday, 30 May 2017

Bangkok gay saunas 2017

Bangkok gay saunas 2017

This year, I will try to visit all gay saunas in Bangkok (realistic) and Thailand (optimistic). Will update as I progress.

Updated and extended from:
Alphabetic list (disregarding numbers, articles, punctuation marks, “sauna” in name) of currently operating gay saunas with websites (only own website or facebook, not counting entries on other websites; “offline” means nothing comes, “overtaken” means other stuff is displayed, date is when I first noticed) and landline phone number and date of my last visit:

1 Babylon (Sathorn Soi 1) 2jun2017
http://www.babylonbangkok.com/en/facilities/facilities-sauna 

2 Beach Resort (Sukhumvit Soi 71) 02-392-4783 23apr2017
http://www.thebeach-g-thailand.com/thebeachresort.html 
update 25aug2017: went to new location in Sukhumvit Soi 71 Soi 10 Yaek 10; website taken over, domain for sale; new phone number 02-711-1240

3 Chakran ฉกรรจ์ (BTS Ari, Soi Ari) 15jun2017, 25jun2017
02-279-1359 02-278-5310
http://www.chakransauna.net/ 
update may2018, dual pricing see here: http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/topic/11722-dual-pricing/

4 Cruising (Pahonyothin opposite Major Cineplex Ratchayothin)
http://cruisingsauna.com/ 02-930-3538 11mar2017

5 Dejavu (Ladprao Soi 122) Thu 9feb2017
http://www.saunabangkok.com/index.php (with Cruising)

6 Farose 1 (BTS Saphan Kwai, Pradipat Soi 19) Sat 7jan2017
http://www.farosesaunabkk.com/cont_ram.html
(one website for both branches)

7 Farose 2 (Ramkhamhaeng Soi 21)
02-319-4054 Thu 8apr2017 Sat 27may2017
http://www.farosesaunabkk.com/index_eng.htm 

8 Grey Gymnastics (Soi Ronachai 2 near Samsen railway station) 02-279-3807 Sun 21may2017
https://www.facebook.com/pages/GG-Sauna/712815285398351 

9 Heaven (Silom / Mahesak) 02-266-9092 Fri 26may2017
http://heavensauna.com/ 

10 Macho (Borommaratchachonnani Soi 15 behind Central Pinklao) Fri 17mar2017
https://www.facebook.com/saunamacho1 

11 Male Box (Rama II Soi 52 next to Central Rama II, opposite Big C and HomePro) 02-848-1190 Sat 8apr2017
no website but:
https://www.travelgayasia.com/venue/male-box/ 

12 Mania (Silom Soi Convent) Thu 23mar2017
http://www.saunamania.net/ (23mar2017 overtaken)

closed for good Men Factory (Silom Soi 2/1)
https://www.facebook.com/menfactory 

13 Mind (Sukhumvit Soi 48) 02-391-9317 Fri 27jan2017
http://www.mindsaunaformen.com/ (28jan2017 overtaken)
update 30jan2018: closed for good

14 M-Place (Tiwanon Road Nonthaburi)
02-951-4918 Thu 9feb2017
www.mplace4men.com 

Muffil see Nake.

15 Nake (Happyland / Ladprao / The Mall Bangkapi)
02-047-8938 Thu 8apr2017 Sat 27may2017
(Muffil in Ladprao Soi 113 closed in Aug 2016, successor Nake opened in Sep 2016)
http://www.gthai.net/nakesauna/ 

16 Orion (Boromratchachonani behind Lotus Pinklao) 02-884-6090 Fri17mar2017
changed name to Warm Up (I noticed 17mar2017)
https://www.facebook.com/somkiart.phasuksathaporn 

17 Paradise (Bang Khen) Fri 13jan2017
https://www.facebook.com/saunaparadise 

18 Phoenix (former EDOK, Taksin road Soi LG near Soi 14) http://www.phoenixsauna.net/
02-465-6566 Thu 8apr2017

19 Pumarin (Phahon Yothin Soi 72, near Zeer Rangsit)
02-531-0280 Sat 11feb2017
http://www.thepumarin.com/sauna (22mar2017 offline)
http://www.r3sauna.com/ 
update 2nov2018: was closed after police raid, re-opened as Ratchada sauna http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/topic/12063-bkk-massage-newbie/#entry127067

21 Safe House (Sukhumvit 78) Sat 1jul2017
http://www.gthai.net/safehouse/ 
update 30jan2018: closed for good

22 39 underground (Pahonyothin BTS Saphan Kwai)
11mar2017, 21may2017

Warm Up see Orion

23 Waterboy Onsen 02-870-0266 Sat 8apr2017 

Update June 2018: three new venues
https://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2018/06/gay-activities-jun-2018-thailand.html

M-Place is in Nonthaburi province, Pumarin is in Pathum Thani province, Safe House in Samut Prakan province, but all filed under Bangkok because they are easily accessible from Bangkok.
 
While others usually grab my cock (in passing or in dark room), I touch abdomen between navel and waistband to check body fat and body hair and skin temperature all in one go.

About one third of gay saunas in Bangkok has one cute staff whom I would chose over any customer.

The following table is an update of

http://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2015/09/bangkok-gay-saunas-update-sep-2015.html 

Distance by air in km from Malaysia hotel with indication of direction.
Entry price in Baht for weekdays and medium age (price can vary: young/old, weekday/weekend, early/late, special events, membership). Price in brackets is the price I paid, but it might be weekend price, will check for weekday price. Some places have higher prices for over 50 year olds: 300 Baht at Nake, R3, Macho X, Sauna Mania.
Opening times on weekdays (in 24 hour format, minutes omitted in case of full hour). 
Towel quality. Chakran gets downgraded from good to soso in towel because they have “small towel” days. Same for Sauna Mania, different towel size on different days.
Food or Drink available. M-Place had free guava (as long as lasts, about 30 minutes) on two visits, Male Box and 39 underground have free cookies. Farose 2 has free buffet and free drinks (soft drinks and whisky), Babylon, Chakran, Grey Gym and Heaven have a restaurant (abbreviated rst in table), most have free drinking water.
Size of sauna. Small, medium or large by my estimation of square meters. You could expect 20, 50, 100 customers.
Pool or Jacuzzi. Farose 2 sauna has a pool, but I have only once in over 10 visits seen someone using it. (Jacuzzi) means there is a Jacuzzi, but it was not in operation when I visited.
Access. Ease of accessibility by public transport (NOT distance from central Bangkok), signage and is there anything else around? 39 underground gets good because easily accessible from BTS and food stall and massage parlors around. R3 gets soso despite walking distance to MRT because you have to follow detailed instructions to find it.

I could add condom/lube/poppers to indicate availability of these items. Theme days or underwear or towel. I guess small towel in some places is to enforce underwear.

Distance
Price
Open
Towel
Food/Drink
Size
Pool
Access
Babylon
0.5 W
230
10:30-22:30
good
rst/water
big
yes
good
BeachR
5.8 E
119
15-6
good
rst/
big
yes
soso
Chakran
6.7 N
230
15-23:30
soso
rst/water
big
yes
soso
Cruising
12.3 N
129


no/free
medium
no
good
Dejavu
10.4 NE
140
16-2
soso
/free
medium
(Jacuzzi)
soso
Farose1
7.9 N
120

poor
free/free
medium
Jacuzzi
soso
Farose2
7.9 NE
170
15-6
soso
free/free
big
(yes)
poor
GreyGym
6.4 NW
170

good
rst/water
small
no
soso
Heaven
2.9 W
150
13-23:30
good
rst/water
medium
Jacuzzi
soso
Macho
8.7 NW
160
14-1
poor
(free)/water
medium
no
good
MaleBox
13.4 W
200

soso
(free)/yes
small
(Jacuzzi)
good
Mania
1.5 W
200
15-6
soso
no/water
medium
no
good
Mind
5.2 E
140
15-24
soso
no/water
medium
no
good
M-Place
15.1 N
100
15-23
good
(free)/free
small
no
poor
Nake
11.6 NE
140

poor
(some)/wtr
medium
no
soso
Orion
9.5 NW
150
14-1
good
no/
medium
no
good
Paradise
14.8 N
140
14-2
poor
/free
medium
Jacuzzi
soso
Phoenix
6.2 W
120
17-24


small
no
good
Pumarin
27.8 N
160
16-24


medium
Jacuzzi
poor
R3
4.6 NE
160
throughout
good
no/water
medium
Jacuzzi
soso
SafeHouse
9.4 SE
99
19-1
good
no/pay
small
no
poor
39underg
7.9 N
160

so-so
(yes)/water
big
no
good
Waterboy
8.6 SW
170

so-so

medium
Jacuzzi
medium

Copyright 2017 ChristianPFC