Bwana_LB

Hang out in the restrooms at the rear of the plane and you'll find out.

Unfortunately, the Chicago Polaris Club has been closed for a while for renovations. Returning from Europe last month I connected at ORD, and we were directed to the regular United Club which was completely overcrowded due to the closing of the Polaris Lounge. It looked like they were many months away from reopening it.

All three major US carriers suck. Who sucks the worst depends on the day of the week. I had an excellent business class flight on United from SFO to Amsterdam last month (on a 787-9), with access to their excellent Polaris Club in SFO. Three weeks later I flew to Rio on United, again in business, but on a particularly horrible 767, and the Polaris Club at LAX was so crowded I couldn't even find a seat, and finally went to the regular United Club. My only option for a direct flight from LAX to BKK is United, so that's what I'll take. In the past I had to fly United to NRT and either ANA or TG on to BKK. 22-24 hours, whereas the new route through HKG will be 20 hours. Still a long, long flight.

From United Airlines: "United will be the only U.S. airline to offer daily flights to Bangkok starting October 26. The flights will operate on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner." The flights are not non-stop, but out of LAX the flight is "direct" with a 2-hr stop in HKG. United flights from other cities will connect with the flight originating from LAX. I normally don't book this far in advance but there was a very good fare available. The LAX flight leaves in the evening (roughly 11:00p) and arrives in BKK at about 11a. Seems it will be possible to get a good sleep overnight on the HKG-bound portion. Luckily I have an upgrade that will get me into business/Polaris for the entire trip. I haven't seen anything from Delta or American as to whether they plan direct flights to BKK.

Well, it's FAR from "not the cheapest" (that's what "substantially more" means). As far as I can tell, it's one of the most expensive, charging almost double what the discount pharmacies charge. For years many have recommended Chula Bhaesaj Drug Store on Rama IV. I've used it and found it to offer both the largest inventory and probably the lowest prices. You can find pretty much any drug there, things that the little Sukhumvit pharmacies won't have. The only drawback is that the lines can be a bit long, as it's not far from a major hospital. https://www.thebigchilli.com/feature-stories/bangkok-pharmacy-with-a-cure-for-a-tight-budget It's a short walk from the Sala Daeng BTS station, and convenient to Patpong

Pulse was charging *substantially more* for PrEP prescriptions than almost everywhere else.

While I can see the value of this, I prefer a fresh start with a new number each visit. There's always a clingy few I never want to have contact with again.

Hmmmm. The restaurant and pool are the two main reasons I stoped booking at Citrus Soi 6. The pool is tiny, has inadequate seating, and is in the shade much of the day. The restaurant is as average as average can be. I like the exec rooms just fine...lots of furniture to put to creative uses with the girls, and the showers are large enough for two to play in.

I'm a bit shocked at how high prices have climbed at Citrus Suites Soi 6. I'm always in town during January and February and have typically paid about US$85 for an Executive Suite. Now they are going for close to $120. Similar climbs in prices elsewhere, though. I did get a good price at the Mercure on Soi 11 for this January, but since my reservation prices have increased by about 30%.

(Copied from elsewhere. No indication of how long approval might take or cost, but this is a huge improvement on the best PrEP available now) Gilead, a California based pharmaceutical company, announced on Thursday (20 June 2024) that it was ending the phase 3, blinded clinical trial of its new, twice-a-year shot for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV, lenacapavir, because it is too effective. In this sort of clinical trial, some participants are randomly assigned to the new intervention that's under investigation (i.e. lenacapavir) and some are randomly assigned to the current standard of care (i.e. Truvada or Descovy, PrEP pills that must be taken every day). Why? Because it would be unethical to use placebo when we know that once-daily PrEP pills do prevent HIV. The trial is also "blinded" to prevent investigator bias from influencing the results – to the maximum extent practicable, the investigators carrying out the research do not know, while the trial is being carried out, which participants are getting which treatment, nor do they know how effective those treatments are. But an Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) has access to all of the data. The IDMC can see, while the trial is ongoing, which participants have gotten which interventions, and they can see how effective those interventions are. The IDMC saw that none of the 2,134 women who received the twice-yearly injection of lenacapavir developed HIV. 0 cases of HIV in any of the participants assigned to lenacapavir. There were 16 cases of HIV in the 1,068 women assigned to Truvada. There were 39 cases of HIV in the 2,136 women assigned to Descovy. At that point, the IDMC has an ethical duty to recommend the blinded trial be stopped, and all of the participants assigned to Truvada and Descovy be offered lenacapavir. Why? Because they know lenacapavir works, it is superior to either Truvada or Descovy, and once that fact has been established, it would be unethical to deny participants the option to receive the more effective PrEP option of lenacapavir. Lenacapavir is not the first injectable PrEP agent. FDA approved "apretude" in 2021; it must be injected every other month. The game changing nature of lenacapavir is that it only requires two injections per year in order to achieve 100% efficacy.

I've never heard of a pharmacy declining to sell w/o a prescription. LB Pharmacy on lower Suk certainly will sell you any basic prescription.

I had stomach and bowel issues with Truvada. I quite taking it and decided to just be extra vigilant about being covered at the appropriate times. I have not tried Descovy, but have friends who said they had similar stomach and bowel issues.

It took me years to get over that Rolex I purchased at the corner of Soi 4 and Soi 6.

That's the place. Not surprised it's gone. I think the hotel was a bit bothered to learn that they were hosting a club full of working girls.