soiboy

It is evolution, but different avenues to meet working girls is only part of the equation. Larger economic and tourist trends are at work. I saw the beginnings of the proverbial "writing on the wall" a few months ago when I was on Soi 4 eating an early (i.e., pre-mongering) dinner at a favorite place, the Bustop, when I saw directly across the street workmen putting the final touches on a couple of joined Middle Eastern restaurants. The Muslim Quarter has been expanding outward from Soi Arab for years. Other than gawking, the red light district of Nana has little to offer the Muslim families...well, until the indentured servant (i.e., "wife") goes to sleep and the sheik of the manor waddles out the hotel door in all his excessive body hair glory to play... Evolution takes time, though. I'm not sure the time is right just now for the demise of Nana, so in the end I think a deal will be struck with the bar owners. But, the writing is on the wall...

LurSaluces - Your friend gets 12000 baht per month salary from the bar? That's a huge monthly bar salary for a LB. Is that what the GGs get as their monthly salary as well? Finally, how does that bar stay in business? What's their secret? lol

Most of the time it's for simple drug possession, usually ice. I know girls who are sweethearts who don't actually use drugs much but who got caught up in a bust and paid the price in baht and a radical haircut. Still, I do look somewhat askance at the closely cropped ones I don't know, wondering what crime they committed. Also, I just don't like the closely cropped look. It can't be easy coming back to work with a monkey house haircut. Therefore, I propose a ruling whereby LBs who have done their time have a probationary period after their release, the duration of which being determined by their rate of hair growth. Until their hair is at least 3 inches long, the stage at which some sort of more sophisticated styling can be done, they are limited to charging 500 baht ST and 1000 baht LT. Typically, human hair grows at a rate of about 1/2 inch per month. So, roughly a 6 month probationary period on average. This would encourage patronage of the miscreants who would otherwise be avoided by most customers. This in turn would lead to a more rapid and secure reintegration of them into society following their release. The soiboy is really just looking after their welfare, with an eye on the greater social good of course...honest...

In the words of the great John McEnroe, "You cannot be serious!"

Well, sure, SiamSam. YOU guys know, but as best I can tell THEY don't know! lol And, actually, I recently did visit Wat Arun......with a sweet LB, of course, but it was still a visit to a Wat, dammit!

In the US I don't think there is necessarily that much instant association of "Thailand" with "sex with bargirls", let alone with ladyboys. The work and social demographic I'm in would more likely associate Thailand with Ankor Wat, exotic cuisine, etc. Also, several other factors come into play. First, most of my trips to LOS are a few days to a week at a time on the front and rear ends of business travel to other countries in the region, so those stays go unnoticed unless I bring them up. Second, many colleagues in my office have likes for particular places that their particular assignments take them through. For example, one guy is married to a German woman so he typically takes the European route to spend time with her and in-laws, etc. Since its pretty much the same distance and airfare to get to the other side of the world from the eastern US there is no particular interest in anybody's particular routing. Third, with respect to ladyboys, that issue never comes up - everyone in my work and social sphere knows the basics of my life, that I was married twice, have been happily single for a long time, have no children and have no interest in starting a family at this point. I have also at times shown up at social functions with a date (I still like women!) so that deflects the whole sexual orientation thing a good bit. A few times someone has inquired with a wink and a nudge about how beautiful Thai women are, and I just reply with a wink and a nudge that some certainly are. Of course, I don't elaborate on who those "some" might be, however! lol Fourth, everyone knows I learned to SCUBA dive in Thailand many years ago and really enjoy it, so spending time in Phuket a couple of times a year isn't given a second glance. So, it really depends upon your circumstances as to whether or not anyone in your home life even takes any notice of your being in Thailand, let alone running amok with ladyboys.

lol I admit, I was almost finished reading it before it dawned on me that this may be some sort of Thai "Onion" article. Nicely done. Actually, it is the farangs who do their weekly shopping all at once that annoy me. As sweetie says when we are looking for a line to get into to check out, "That line have too many big cart."

Based on what I have gleaned over the years directly from bar girls I agree with donnykey. For example, a few months ago a girl from a popular LB bar in BKK told me that the salary is 6000 baht per month, and a LB working at small mixed bar in Pattaya told me the salary is 2000 baht a month (but that includes a room, albeit a very basic shared room with no aircon). Any salary that our girls make can only be viewed as being a very rudimentary safety net.

At least it's better than "client", a term used by high-end escorts and which has always sounded too coldly corporate to me. What really drives the point home about it being a business transaction is when you walk into a place to see a girl that you've been with before and want to see again, but the mamasan or another girl says, "She with a customer. Wait." The soiboy does not do "wait"...

As with so many questions, the answer varies according to each person's circumstances, tastes, desires, etc. And so while it is interesting to read each person's answer, there is no one correct answer. I enjoy my career, it pays well, and it involves lots of travel that for the last 15 years has taken me through Thailand often. I also like where I live and have many hobbies and interests besides scuba diving and spending time with ladyboys, my two principal activities in Thailand. It's actually looking like I might have a full summer at home this year, a thought that I don't want to jinx by thinking about it too much! A summer of outdoor activities at home, motorcycle touring, golf and maybe taking in a few baseball games sounds just fine to me. I'll see my sweeties later in the fall. Although I could retire now I'd be stupid to do so since I have a nice balance of home and travel as it is. When I do retire I'll spend more time in Thailand, but I'll also spend more time more time at home pursuing other interests.

I think there is some confusion. I am not planning on moving to Thailand.

That's an idea, but I'd rather not risk being caught in a lie since I'm not actually planning on moving to Thailand. I'm thinking of pointing out all the 30 day on arrival visas in my passport (six in just the last 12 months) and explaining that I do have a permanent address in Thailand (using sweetie's apartment address) but can usually only spend a week or two at a time each visit, and that a Thai bank account would be very helpful to me. Maybe they will go for it, maybe not.

I've been derelict in my bank account opening reporting duty the last couple of days. Many apologies. A day spent lounging in bed with sweetie eating fried pineapple and giving each other blowjobs, followed by a day spent at the beach with sweetie and two LB girlfriends. (Ah, the sweet aroma of coconut oil on log legged ladyboys stretched out in the sun.) They were good girls, so I treated them to Swensen's afterward. It's mango month at Swensen's. I love mango ice cream. But, I digress. Now back to the important matter of getting a Thai bank account that I don't really need. I took xyzzy's advice and went to the small Bangkok Bank branch across from Pooks on Soi Buakhao. I said to a teller that I would like to open an account. She asked if I had my passport. My heart skipped a beat as I pulled my passport out of my pocket as fast as I could. She then said, "Good. You need to go to immigration office in Jomtien with your passport to get a letter." Arrrrgh! Crestfallen. I then asked about after I got the letter how much it would cost for the ATM card. She said "300 baht, and 500 baht deposit." No mention was made of the 2500 baht insurance fee that Kasikorn Bank wanted. So, it seems that a trip to the immigration office is the next step. I have a feeling, though, that they will open my passport and see the 30 day on arrival visa and say that that is not good enough, and that I need a non-immigrant visa. I've run out of time on this trip, though, so that will have to wait until later in May when I am back. If anyone goes to the immigration office with the 30 day on arrival visa let us know what they say. It seems that there were a few lucky people who squeeked through and got bank accounts as the new rules were being implemented, but now it looks like all banks are pretty well informed about the new rules.

What did each bank say about the cost of the ATM card and the insurance fee?

I've strolled through Boyz Town and Sunee Plaza once and a while to see if anything interesting pops up, so to speak. Nothing thus far. For me to be attracted to a gay boy he would have to be so feminine in looks and manner that he might as well be, well, a ladyboy in the making. Similarly, I'll once in a while peruse twink porn, but even there nothing really gets my motor running. In fact, there has only been one gay porn twink who has ever really done anything for me. A cute little waif named Roxy Red. He is out of the porn business now, and not surprisingly bending gender lines by being, basically, a very femmy femboy ladyboy. I like to imagine that he has been swooped up by some rich Hollywood producer to have as his play thing. I like to imagine me being that rich Hollywood producer. Watching my little Roxy washing my yellow Cayman S in the driveway of my Malibu house. Wearing nothing but Daisy Duke cut-offs. His cute little lines pressed against the curves of my Porsche... I have a very vivid imagination. Yes, if I ever see a Roxy Red lookalike I'll cross that line. Until then I'll remain a heterosexual cocksucker...

I'll try some different branches and let you know. The document affirming a Thai address sounds easy enough to get, but if they need some visa other than the 30 day on arrival visa then that is a no go. Likewise, that 2500 baht insurance fee (and, yes, it is an annual fee!) is a no go for me. It wouldn't hurt to have a few hundred dollars in baht squirreled away in a Thai account, replenishing as needed, and avoiding 180 baht withdrawl fees each ATM visit, but not for 2500 baht a year. I'd pay a one-time 800 baht fee for the card, but anything else is a rip-off.

Thanks! I'll try Bangkok bank next.

With Pattaya sweetie in tow to serve translator duty, I went out today to try and open a Kasikorn bank account. First stop was the branch on Soi Buakhao near the little Tesco, market, and R-Con entrance. The nice lady said that the "package" was ATM card for 800 baht, 2500 for insurance, minimum 10000 baht deposit, and a verification of Thai address I needed to obtain from some office in Jomtien. Strike one. Second stop was the branch not too far away on Pattaya Klang between Second road and Beach road. The nice assistant at the door first asked to see my passport to see what sort of visa I have. I have only ever gotten the standard 30 days on arrival visa since I've never been able to spend more that a month at a time in LOS. I was told that I need a non-immigrant visa, and that that was the new law. No further discussion as to what the account would cost to open if I had the correct visa. Strike two. So, it appears that things have tightened up recently and the branches are all on basically the same page now?

I had a passing professional acquaintance with a guy who transitioned in his early 60s. I found out later from a friend of hers that she waited until then because she was retired and her parents were dead; she just didn't want to deal with the whole "coming out" thing to co-workers and close family. Sad to live so many years not being true to oneself.

With regard to AIS, either they now have an agreement with AT&T, or I just never noticed it before. When I got back home last week I turned on my "Thailand" phone to check its battery level. I noticed on the screen that instead of saying "no service" where it says "AIS" when in Thailand it now said "AT&T". That got me curious so I called Pattaya sweetie's number. Sure enough the number rang and sweetie answered the phone and immediately said rather abruptly, "Where are you?" I said, "I'm home! My phone works from America! Aren't you happy to hear from me?" There was a pause. She was suspicious that I had pulled a fast one and was still in Thailand! "Why I see your number? You still in Thailand?", she warily asked. I was half way through trying to explain that AIS and AT&T must have a deal now together, but the phone call ended and I got a message that I was out of time. I knew I only had about 120 baht left, and we had only been talking about 3 minutes or so, so the charges are expensive at ~30-40 baht a minute. I quickly called her back from my home phone and that assured her that I was indeed home as that number appeared on her screen. Whew!

OK, this what sweetie wrote to me this morning (adorable misspellings unedited): Good morning good morning!!! Hi [soiboy] yes I had a good sleep last night and hope you too, yes I away dream of you!!! Ok first I can top up in 7-11 and put your number on machine and tell catcher how much you want to top up Second is buy card for ais. or what ever for your phone use and if ais. First you have to put *120* and put code on card or do what that card say ok? So, she apparently goes to a 7-11 and buys a certain amount of top up, but needs to type my number into some keypad first because it is not her number she is topping up. I think I've noticed these keypads at the cash registers. I had thought that for AIS there was a particular "star" number that you dialed when you wanted to top up a number other than the one you are calling from, then enter that number and then enter the long code number for that particular baht/time purchase, but I guess not. (Ahhh, she dreams of me... lol)

The strong dollar right now is not necessarily a good thing. Foreign orders for US products, especially big products (e.g., heavy construction equipment such as Caterpillar), are down (although there are exceptions such as Boeing). That's why the stock market has been in this crazy fluctuation mode for three or four months now with the DOW just bouncing back and forth between 17,000 and 18,000. Very skittish, due in large part most recently to the European economies tanking and falling global oil prices. When 2015 1st quarter earnings reports come out in April it could go below 17,000, unless countered by early seasonal housing starts, etc. And, to make matters worse for us American mongers, because the baht is propped up by dollar reserves, we see no benefit at the currency exchange windows in LOS! Unfortunate goings on all around now in world economies. And, what the hell, let's throw in Putin's ongoing aggression toward Ukraine, ISIS, possible power struggles in Saudi Arabia, fall of the Yemeni government, disenfranchised Muslims in Europe...Yikes! Does this list have an end?!

I will email a sweetie who has done this for me before and ask exactly how she does this. I'll let you know.

I also have a AIS SIM in my inexpensive phone I use only in Thailand. I've had the same number for two years, doing what xyzzy does. I've discovered that when my 30 days are up, the phone number is still active and people can call me but I can't make calls. I get a message saying that I need to top up to make calls. I know that I have gone at least up to a month with the phone in this status before topping up to reactivate my ability to make calls. I don't know how long you can go like this before you finally lose that SIM's number altogether and need to get a new SIM. Also, anyone in Thailand with your phone number can top that number up for you before you arrive. This can be handy as you have a fully working phone the minute you touch down in Thailand. Of course, if you email someone to top up your phone for you they will logically assume that you will see them on your upcoming trip. There is "explaining" to do if this turns out not to be the case. It's not important for me to go into further details about this...

I've struck a compromise - I have a main sweetie I spend all my time with in one city, and audition potential sweeties in other towns. I've just been looking at a map of Thailand...so many towns, so little time...