Bwana_LB

"Plenty of people?" Sorry. Now, unlike Oliver I've seen these assholes. I lived in Charlottesville. But they got their asses handed to them, verbally by counter-protestors and legally by the courts.

Long gone. These freak shows were actually more common in a handful of bars in Phuket/Patong Beach. Curiosity got the better of me and I took in a show in Phuket. Ping pong balls, razor blades, and 50 yards of yarn emerged from pussies you would never want to explore. Other pussies smoked cigarettes and tried (and failed) to blow smoke rings, and fired ping pong balls and darts at targets. Weird? Yes. But also surprisingly boring.

The LAX-BKK itinerary that cost me US$896 a year ago now goes for $1659. I cashed in some FF miles rather than pay that. My usual flight to Rio, typically about $869, is now $1880. Sucks.

I've stayed at Citrus Suites Soi 6 the last few times in BKK. Aside from a mediocre breakfast buffet, it has a lot going for it. Location is hard to beat.

If you show up at night with fewer than two ladyboys, they might suggest you find another hotel. Not that you asked, but few of us stay at the Nana Hotel, because it's a bit of a dump.

Yes. It's their HQ clinic.

That's consistent with my experience. All the hotels I looked into required direct contact with the hotel for ASQ bookings. The hotels had information about the ASQ bookings on their own websites but required that I book the reservation via email with their reservation service rather than through their online systems. It seems that Agoda and other booking services cannot provide the documentation required to complete the Thailand Pass application process.

Still available at every pharmacy.

Phuket's LB scene is small (and smaller than it once was); the scene in Koh Samui is minuscule. Samui is a lovely place for some R&R but a lousy place for chasing LBs, IMHO. That said, both Phuket and Samui are lovely places to hang out on relatively uncrowded and unpolluted beaches (unlike Pattaya), so if you want a little time to de-stress and just chill, both are fine options.

I'm also a fan of Big Dogs, for the same reasons as OTS, who I've joined at the Big Dogs rail to watch the talent arrive.

I'm not sure this is a fair statement. There's no empirical evidence that this is the case. Teno-Em, the Thai generic version of Truvada, has been found to pass chemical equivalence tests, and clinical trials have found its effectiveness identical to Truvada. Gilead would love people to believe that generics are not as effective, but there's no evidence for that claim. If you're more comfortable taking the branded version, go for it, but evidence does not indicate that it's either more powerful (they are chemically identical) or more reliable (the equivalence testing samples from many batches).

Yes. Physicians will tell you to take PrEP for 7 days before any protection is effective. Then take daily, and take for at least 2 days after your last sexual encounter. https://www.pulse-clinic.com/prep/how-to-take-prep/

I've not stayed there, but the Indian restaurant on the top floor is first class. I visit often.

Thanks. I'm actually in the market for Tafero-Em. Teno-Em has the nasty kidney-liver side effects that I'm trying to avoid. I'll check Chula pharmacy in case they also carry Tafero-Em.

Thanks. I am hoping to avoid the generic versions of Truvada, as they have much stronger effects on liver and kidney functioning. I may check with the pharmacy that's around the corner from the Pulse clinic.

A question: do most of the BKK pharmacies carry PrEP drugs? I checked with PULSE Clinic on their price for Tafero-Em (emtricitabine 200mg + tenofovir alafenamide 25mg) and they quoted 2,200 baht per bottle, which is double what it costs via mail in the US. I'm hoping I can find it for closer to the US$35 price. If not, is there a recommended pharmacy that would have a variety of PrEP drugs?

Had no charge at Citrus Suites Soi 6 for two guests.

Many thanks, SAG and OTS. I think the absence of a pool would be a deal-breaker for me. Schlepping across the way to use a pool doesn't really work, as I have enjoyed running from my room to the jacuzzi with my LB guests in the evening at the Soi 6 location. Weather permitting, I'm poolside reading and listening to music for an hour or two every day.

Can anyone compare the Citrus Suites 11 and 13 with Citrus Suites Soi 6? I'm fond of the Soi 6 location; just a short walk to Chaos 9, Nana, and CIRB as well as the Be there soon. . Thanks.

Heartbreaking that Gaggan has closed. It was exceptional (although I never felt it was a top 10 in the world restaurant). I come to BKK frequently, and generally avoid Pattaya. The main reason for preferring BKK is restaurants. BKK has so many fabulous places for food. It's become a foodie vacation destination. Nothing beats having a world-class meal followed by a world-class LB for dessert.

Let's see...CIB, no need for an "air"plane...could it possibly, maybe be...ummmmm...Airlin?

The Nana clinic is not open yet. It's under construction. For now, stick with the Silom clinic: https://www.pulse-clinic.com/silom/

Yes. However, if you ask the desk to send your guest up, they will do so without your having to come downstairs. Frankly, I prefer this added level of security. At the Majestic Grande, I had a couple of ladyboys who had been to my room early in my visit show up uninvited/unannounced later. Not at all cool.

It does have a nice gun, put to use daily.

Just finishing a 7-night stay at the Citrus Suites Soi 6. Overall, my impressions are very positive. I was upgraded to an executive suite, which is quite spacious. Lots of pictures to follow. My room was on the backside of the hotel, so virtually no noise from Soi 6. The walks from the hotel to NEP, Chaos 9 and CIB are all short and easily done. Never saw the need for a taxi, and the girls I brought back were fine with the short walk. And speaking of girls, there were no issues bringing the girls up to the room. We'd drop her ID off at the desk and hop on the elevator located directly across from the desk. The executive suite has two rooms--living room and bedroom--separated by a bathroom. Both the living and bed areas have their own AC units which are controlled with an LED touchpad. There's a door that can be closed between the living and bedroom areas. The living area has a decent LED TV, a medium-sized refrigerator, and lots of seating and lighting options. I made good use of the chairs in front of the one large mirror with a couple of the girls. The bathroom has both a shower and a tub. I had no issues with water flow or temperature with the shower. The amenities provided (shampoo/conditioner, bath gel, etc.) are basic, but I bring my own, so not a demerit as far as I'm concerned. The generously large bed was very comfortable, and I'm picky about beds. There was a second smaller LED TV in the bedroom. Again, lots of lighting options for setting the mood. Additionally, there is a desk and chair, and lots of plugs and a dedicated USB port for all the devices we bring. I often run short of plugs for my e-goodies, but not here. The view from my room (8th floor) was uninspiring, but not something I care about. I use the room for sleeping and fucking, and I'm out and about the rest of the time. The pool area on the 10th floor is small, but had the advantage of being barely used by others. There were umbrellas and lounge chairs and towels. One night my guest and I went up and jumped into the jacuzzi, having the place to ourselves. The hotel staff seemed attentive. I didn't place many demands on them, but all my requests were immediately respond to. I tipped the housekeeping staff daily and asked for extra towel...no problem. They left me 6 towels every day. I was a bit disappointed with the breakfast buffet. After having stayed at the Majestic Grande for the past 10 years, this buffet seemed fairly basic. They do have a chef making eggs to order, but the rest of the buffet is run of the mill. By my last two mornings I was heading out to have breakfast elsewhere (expensive, but the JW Marriott has a great buffet). I would happily return to this hotel. For my purposes, the location can't be beat. It's a short walk to my favorite LB shopping locations, and a quick walk to the Nana BTS station. There are some fabulous restaurants in the basement and on the 6th floor of Central Embassy, which is just a 10-15 minute walk away (if you like serious Neapolitan-style pizza, Peppina is the real deal, with 4 locations in BKK).