Rickshaw

That's 9000+ baht a day excluding hotel.... I am seriously impressed! I find that 4 - 5000 per day including hotel is roughly what I spend per day, averaged over my entire trip, excluding airfares and I am not aware of being excessively cautious or stingy. I am not trying to be deliberately offensive, but I am finding it difficult to see how you can spend that much, day in, day out. Is it possible for you to break that down into broad categories so I can get a feel for how the other half live? (I am of the opinion that it is entirely up to each individual how much they spend - I wasn't there to help them earn it and so I have no relevant views on how they spend it, but I am genuinely curious how you can spend that much daily).

Just to let everyone know - Ice is the proud owner of a pair of silicon tits. And when I say proud, I mean proud.

Love the emoticon - but isn't she a little rotund for you....? See y'all in nine days.

True enough - but the retired King is currently married to four stunning looking sisters so it's not entirely straightforward in the relationship stakes (four wives, one mother-in-law.....and can you imagine the negotiations as to which sister shares his bed on any given night?).

Not Bhutan? Until 1960ish, they had no roads, cars (obviously), airports, telephone, television, radio or a national unit of money. When China invaded Tibet, they realised that self imposed isolation was no defence and embarked on a programme of development which resulted in the absolute rule by the monachy being replaced by a modern state with democracy, health care, education, communication links and a considerable uplifting of the wellbeing of the general populace. The second king, who took the throne after his father died, was only 17, but drove through all the changes that had been planned and then, in the early 2000s, abdicated in favour of his son who he perceived to be more modern and in tune with the changing world. The people adore both the retired king and the present one. However, and the point of this post, is that one of the governing rules of the government is the idea of they choose policies which increase the "Gross Domestic Happiness". When I first read about this, I was highly sceptical but I have just spent 20 days going everywhere where foreigners are allowed to go -and where my age allows - Bhutan has some serious hills (point of info - the elevation starts at 150 metres and tops at over 7500!). I saw no hovels (unlike, say Nepal), malnutrition or begging; everybody greeted me with a smile, most were incredibly helpful. There was plenty of evidence of wealth trickling down. We saw several Ministers just walking about, accessible to everyone and whilst standing in one town, the King and Queen appeared on a walkabout, saw us and he came straight over to introduce himself and ask how we were enjoying our trip. So there you have it - a developing nation with the politicians and hierachy accessible to everyone, with wealth being passed about, with policies designed to help the majority and impressively beautiful into the bargain (name another country with 70% forest cover remaining, snowcapped mountains and semitropical valleys). Maybe they are not happy as defined by the Wall Street web site- but they do seem content which counts for a lot. And having worked or travelled in all ten of the identified countries, I prefer Bhutan!

Apparently the Japanese think that Westerners all have BO and this is particularly noticeable when travelling on the subway- but luckily (or so I am reassured), the men find our smell sexually stimulating... Mind you, I am not sure what Japanese men don't find sexually stimulating

Sorry - you are absolutely right; it's just past Stringfellows heading towards the beach. Kookai is also fun to take out after hours - just don't believe her when she says that she wants to go to an LB bar!

My epithany was a night last February, walking down the road back to the apartment in the warm moist air, arm draped around a beautiful ladyboy, looking at the full moon and eating fried insects.... Yep, I thought, you could say that I am getting into this life.

Thai Airways have a special on at the moment - LHR - BKK for around £620 which is the cheapest non-stop I can find. So I've booked it for three weeks time.... Summat to look forward to.

My experience is that there are some freelancers but not many and when I was there (February 2012) none who floated my boat but as I say in my diving report (in the forum section), I couldn't really see their faces since away from the bars, the lighting was too poor!

Yes - looks and is grotty although there is a bar next door which looks promising about 7 at night. Nina starts about 5 at night usually, but appears to be erratic in her timekeeping!

Thank you for that fair and courteous answer. I think that I was focusing on the economic aspects of their lives, not so much the social ones given that economic aspects loom even larger when you exist on the breadline as so many Philippinos do. My feeling is that they are a long way behind their Thai bretheren in being accepted as potential equals in the world of work and even Thai Lbs are discriminated against in the workplace. Anyway, food for thought and on my next trip, further investigation (one of the great advantages of the Philippines is that you can have this sort of discussion with most people given that English is pretty well spoken and understood).

Thinking about it, that's an unfair comment - what you perceive as crusty is in reality the rubbed off patina of the pearls of wisdom that us oldies hand out.

Well, there's good news and better news... Her birthday is 12 November 1993 which makes her 18 already. Sorry for the bum information, I guess I forgot what year it was (wait 'till you get old before waving brickbats!). Apologies to anyone who missed out because I said she was only 17. The better news is that her mother refused to pay for the nose job so she remains both cute and available to any monger in town now. That is, after me, of course.

So you have met Thaibound....!

I was there yesterday and whilst the girls are quite fit, there are a couple of minor problems 1. it is quite small (smaller than Stringfellows) which meand that the girls are in your face and, believe it or not, it is difficult to see them all. This minor beef is compounded by 2. the lighting or to be precise, the spot lighting on the girls dancing. They are positioned so that they shine in the eyes of the punters which makes seeing more than the one in front of you even more difficult! Minor beefs - it is a lot more civilised than any of the nana bars and, as I say, the girls last night were very fit. Beer is 150 baht a bottle. I didn't buy any ladydrinks since I had brought my own lb (who is even fitter than the dancers in my opinion!).

This is all very strange! My impression, gained from two trips in the past two years, is that they are not accepted here at all, mainly due to the Catholicism of the general population. For example, many bars won't allow them in, they can't get decent jobs (which is why so many work in call centres for a pittance, even by Philipino standards) and no Philippino male will consider a relationship with them - a quick shag, yes, but nothing more. My impression (and I emphasise, it is only an impression and I could well be totally wrong)is reinforced by what I have read into the like of Stealth007's reports. Again, I might be reading into them my own prejudices, but I don't think so. It's interesting that two people can reach such different conclusions (again, I emphasise that I am not saying you are wrong - one of us must be, but it could well be me!). Two other points: 1000 pesos is the going rate for LT. Knowing my financial position and having an idea of theirs, I tend to give 1500 provided they were enthusiastic (which so far, they have been) on the basis that I can easily afford to drop another $11 per night - it will make no difference to me, but will make a hell of a difference to them and if anyone is diving, please add your comments about dive areas to the thread called Diving in the Philippines so we can build a useable database for the diving pervert community (it's in the Lounge area so I won't give a link).

Are they running on the 20th? If not, I'm going to have to change my plans.

IM(less than)HO, he is a boy with a little bit of glitter and lipstick. Doesn't make him one of ours, although PDogg would disagree (according to him, said femboy/boy is up for a little hanky panky in the bog. He certainly followed me in and looked hopeful when I was having a piss!).

Just before I left Pattaya a couple of weeks ago, my condo was due for its regular cleaning. This time, only one of normal two cleaners turned up. She told me that "her friend was sad". On enquiring why, I was told that her son aged about 10 or so had been shot and killed the day before. I couldn't break the language barrier to find out more. The statistics are quite sobering - the Philippines, known as being a violent society in 2008 had 6.4 murders per 100,000 head of population; Thailand had 5.8 per 100,000 head of population (UN figures)which given the different reporting standards may not be that much different. The main point is that it is largely Thai on Thai, rather than involving farangs but it is a violent society despite us thinking what Bumblebee so accurately describes as an adult Disneyland

Funnily enough, it wasn't exactly the pavement I was pounding.....As for research, having met many of the forum members, I am now prepared to sacrifice my time and body to advance the collective information pool. It is only through personal sacrifice that civilisation as we know it will advance and if I won't do it, who would? And the answer is November 17! (unless I am getting her confused with some other person - I do remember thinking when I saw her ID card that November was a long way away, so I think that this is correct). Anyway, just check her ID card. Don't ask her - she told me that she was 22 and I believed her, naughty little minx! I'm going back in a week's time (2 weeks at home, grey, damp, miserable. More than enough) and if I get the chance, I'll check and report back. Yet another example of my altruism coming out. If I carry on like this, I'll be eligible for canonisation.

Finally for the time being, I must report on an lb massage parlour on Second road, just before the Pattaya Tai crossroads. Facing Pattaya Tai i.e. facing the on-coming traffic, it is on the right hand hand side, just before Mike's something or rather (not mall). An absolutely stunning girl named Beer (no photos I am afraid - I didn't have my camera with me and I didn't go back for reasons which might become clear). Nice body i.e. slim with boobs, young, sweet face. I went in, stripped off and she joined me. After a perfunctary back massage, she threw herself onto the mattress (no table) and announced that she didn't like massage and I should massage her instead. "Different" I said to myself as I peeled her kit off. I grabbed the oil bottle, but she stopped me with "I don't like oil". OK, so a rub. I get horny and decide to grab a condom, whereupon she said that she didn't do bom-bom. So there you have it. A massage girl who doesn't like massage, oil or bom-bom. I suggested to her that she might be in the wrong job, but that comment went over her head. You might have better luck than me, but there again, you might not.

Number 3 is Na; she works out of the massage parlour which you reach by coming out of 13/2 onto Second Road, turn right and after the corner bar, there is a seating area for masseurs. She works there. The parlour is actually quite nice, unlike most. Na is a little bit beefy (although the photo emphasises this aspect too much - she is much better looking than this photo indicates). Very nice tits. More importantly, she gives a good massage, will happily give any variety of happy endings (although she does not top), her English is average and she is a sweet lady. She is also available for take away! Oh yes - the room is in the Penthouse Hotel; get the pink artex with a dancing pole in the room (there was also one in the bathroom complete with flashing lights.....). Whilst staying there, I got the worst chest infection that I have had for many years. Possibly coincidental, but I think not.

Number two is Nina who works out of a flea pit massage parlour cum bar on Soi Bukhao between Soi Diana and Soi LK Metro on the opposite side of the road. The massage parlour normally has a couple of old ladies trying to entice customers. Nina stands out like a beacon. She looks spectacular. However, don't use the facilities - phone her to come to your hotel or some other place. Now, Nina cannot massage to save her life; however, her other talents and enthusiasm more than make up for this omission unless you actually want a massage. Great body, OK English, no conversation and the reason for this is that she is only 17. You have been warned - I realised this when I looked at her ID card when I escorted her back to the security booth at my condos. Up to you but many hotels won't let her in. In theory, she starts work at about 5pm; when I talked to her, she was pissed off that she had a customer at 5am, but nobody was around at 6am, so presumably she works 12 hour days as a mimimum with a variable getting up time as a result. She is happy to take phone bookings, but she won't go to grotty hotels for safety reasons and good hotels won't let her in, so you might be in a bit of a quandry how to meet her if you are staying at either end of the spectrum of accommodation. Nice kid - out of action until about 20 April 'cos she is having her nose done. God knows why. Her phone number is 0834528377 (she is happy for me to post this number)

Number one is Kookai who works out of Ratree massage parlour half way down 13/2, opposite another massage with a couple of lb masseurs as well, but not tested by your 'umble servant. The picture is taken from Deepthroat's visit report - as far as I know, he did not roadtest her since she isn't really his type as far as I can work out. Unlike many, she can actually do a reasonable massage, although I had to persuade her to give me a massage before the added extras. The first time I went to see her, I spent 15 minutes chatting to her outside her shop before we went inside. I stripped off, lay face down on the massage table, she very quietly entered the room and the first indication that I had of her presence was her tongue licking my arse! She has a reasonably sized cock and is keen to use it - you need to make that clear early on if that is not your scene. She is a very nice lady, good implants, tall, quite reasonable English and is a good looker as well. Recommended. Highly.