I have been looking forward to writing this section and reliving the wonderful experience of entering this captivating domain.
I visited Thailand in Feb 2011. After hearing raves about this gay friendly utopia, I mulled it over for a year or so and after an extended period of intense frugality checked it out.
So what is so wonderful about Thailand, (previously known as Siam). The weather is a good place to start. As soon as you step out of the airport you are enveloped with an immediate warm effulgence. This will endure until you reluctantly pass through these doors again to depart.
Everyday year- round the temperature is mid 30s dropping to mid 20s at night. When it rains, it is often a heavy quick deluge, with the sun chasing back out again in minutes to reclaim the day.
Venerating the sun as I do, Florida was always a place I like to visit when living in Canada. But Thailand's somewhat closer proximity to the equator affords an even more friendly and consistent temperament, especially when visiting from the U.K. and likely leaving behind a damp and chilly environment.
In Thailand a different outlook on life is quickly apparent. Ordinary citizens are noticeably bustling with zealous activity, in their endeavour to improve their situation. The diseases of Welfare and Health & Safety, did not catch up with them yet. ( News Item. Health and Safety U.K. proposing to disarm Grandma with a ban on knittiing needles in old people's homes.) TRUE
The U.K. and N.America cultures vaunt their social programs to protect and coddle their unfortunates and then search for answers to meet the resulting obesity epidemic engulfing the populace. In Thailand it is up to the individual to create his destiny. If he is successful, it won't be stolen from him to support the one that does not want to make the effort.
The elderly are not excluded from this concept. The Thai culture opine the elderly are the responsibility of the family. Consequently every child has an ingrained understanding of his obligation to his parents. A proportion of his earnings will be prioritized for this purpose. How about that for procreation motivation ?
To keep the record straight I am not against the original concept of the Welfare System, in as much as, of course people that can not care for themselves should be helped. But it has grown into a monster in the Western World, to the degree incentive is destroyed, encouraging people to hold their hand out rather than break out a sweat.
First impressions suggest the Thai are generally happy and friendly people. I find a large proportion of the populace to be strikingly good looking, both male and female. Usually somewhat smaller stature than us, with their beautiful tans, dark hair a alluring brown eyes.
A friendly "Hi" in passing a stranger, will likely be reciprocated with that infectious smile. In contrast a similar salutation here in the U.K. especially male/male could be expected to incite at best a scowl or a more dour outcome.
Another glaring differential is the type of traffic on the street. The Thai take innovation to a new level in utilizing small vehicles, for commercial transportation.
Taxis are not limited to three or four wheels. On many street corners you will see a group of motorcycles awaiting your direction. There are only two seats but the rear one is elongated to accommodate two passengers. Now that's a ride.
When sitting on the back I found it wise not too watch where you are going. The driver is going to slip through gaps that aren't there. But it's fast, it's cheap and it's fun, even with three up.
I just love their urban transportation systems. Every city is serviced by hundreds of pick up trucks, called Baht Bus. The Baht is the Thai currency, currently worth just under 50 to the pound sterling. You ride as far as you want for 20 baht.
The pick up box is fitted with a canopy and bench seats along the sides with chrome racks. As many as 20 people can pack into the baht bus, including a few hanging on, on the rear step. The bus stop is where you want it to be. You stand on the side of the road and hold your hand out to get on. Ring the bell when you want to get off and go pay the driver.
Vendors wind their way between the deck chairs on the beach, offering super deals from souvenirs to watches or tasty treats. Some tourists find them annoying, I admire their entrepreneur attitude. Others push overladen carts along the beach road, with everything imaginable for sale.
The soft sandy beaches are larger, with more gradual slopes into the water, for timid swimmers.
Waiters will roam the beach offering menus from a nearby restaurant. You can order drinks and full course meals and partake without leaving the deck chair. Seafood is a big speciality such as squid, octopus among other exotic specimens.
An esplanade of shops and stalls expand the diversity of goods available.
In this picture can be seen the Copa Hotel and cabaret bar. The Cafe le Royale Hotel with piano bar. The Boyz Boyz Boyz night club. The largest hotel The Ambiance is opposite the Cafe le Royale. In addition there are many Go Go Bars, Beer Bars, smaller hotels and guest houses. All of these establishments cater 100% to a gay clientele.
In addition there are two other gay business communities. Sunnee Plaza, comprising several city blocks, with an assortment of Gay Go Go bars/clubs and host bars plus hotels, is about ten minutes away. Neighboring Jomtein beach with similar amenities and a proliferation of Gay guest houses, a further twenty minutes. Jomtein also boasts a gay beach.
When I touched down into this gay smorgasbord, I was totally overwhelmed.
Dealing with gay and age prejudice most of my life, suddenly I find myself in an environment where OLD and GAY is fine, in fact even revered. I would have been ecstatic to find even just one gay business anywhere in my life time of travels, that would offer me a similar opportunity to socialize with attractive young men, in a safe environment, either in later years or when I was myself a young (ageing) man.
Now such opportunities are all around me.
Go Go bars really appeal to me. You have the mix of great music, dance, cute guys and friendly atmosphere. I like the idea that each performer acts spontaneously to their interpretation of the music. Unlike cabarets that are organized with choreography.
Each Go Go bar has 10 or 12 performers, with larger bars 40 or more on staff. The only place I have previously found anything remotely close to anything like this, on a tiny scale, was Remington's in Toronto. But as they only feature muscle guys, it was of no interest to me.
I checked into the Ambiance Hotel in Boyz Town, which is aptly named and ventured out to investigate if this scenario is legitimate. One has a nagging sense that this just can't be real. I must be dreaming.
With lacklustre experience in this extraordinary environment, I may have been somewhat insecure, resulting in failing to prioritize. An extended ascetic period may also have encouraged me to place more importance on returning to the security of the hotel room with company, rather than enjoying the excitement of the environment.
With a history of becoming too emotionally involved on an individual basis, I made an effort not to spend too much time with any one person. Having learned this can be expensive and poignant, I needed to protect myself from painful repercussions.
Just around the corner from Boyz Town is a large bar also aptly named, " Happy Place" bustling with activity and a stage packed with guys gyrating to the pulsating rhythm from the sound system. One young man caught my attention. Not the greatest looking guy in the place but a very cheerful disposition and looked like a lot of fun. We struck up a conversation and decided to head to the hotel.
Walking under the Boyz Town signs between the rows of patron filled balconies, I felt quite conspicuous when he wrapped his two arms around my left arm, with a big smile on his face. I am normally adverse to P.D.A. but this location is not normal. (Public Display of Affection) Nobody seemed to take a scrap of notice.
Over the following days I indulged myself investigating this unbelievable array of mesmerizing establishments here in Boyz Town and Sunnee Plaze. Some locations where reposeful and seductive, others loud and flamboyant, but all where very entertaining.
On the return flight to the U.K. I was flying higher than the 33,000 ft of the aircraft. I was in a daze. Was I about to wake up from this wonderful dream ?
The photos I had taken reassure me, this really did happen.