Mr. Smooth

Great post, maipenrai! I would bet that many here, especially gentleman of a certain age, would agree with your synopsis of their own "hunting" adventures while in Pattaya. Your description above pretty much fits me to a T.

According to the CDC, in America, the average number of comorbidities a person had been diagnosed with who died of Covid, was 2.8. That was for people 65 years old and up, who made up 75% of the deaths attributed to Covid. So, with this group of people is such a bad way, they were goners eventually. Their bodies too weak to fight Covid in such a state. But what I found so curious, is that, at least when the media was concerned, what happened to all the people who would have ordinarily died due to heart disease? Or some other ailment that all of a sudden, never got any play. Each day it was Covid...Covid...Covid. Nobody seemed to die from any other cause except Covid! There were death counts on a couple of cable news channels and fforest was right about hospitals being compensated quite handsomely for every death they determined was due to Covid. Why those numbers weren't scrutinized more is beyond me. When the government is paying you according to how many deaths are determined to be the cause, then people get greedy. Even hospital administrators. So you had stories of people dying in accidents but when brought to the hospital, they would be tested, and come up positive for Covid whether they may have had any symptoms at all, but their death would be put down as due to Covid. At best, for 100s of thousands, maybe millions around the world, Covid might have been a contributor but not the chief reason. Ah well, lots of gargle under the bridge now.

Ah....gotta use similar bar fine tactics that the major players on WS use, to discourage the staff from all leaving with a customer too early. Will there be a drop in the bf amount once it reaches a certain time at night, such as after midnight, or 1 am? Could I assume that overall drink prices will be a bit higher than next door as well? Not to worry Phil, if I visit LePub, I'll stop in the new place as well. At least you won't have a long commute from one bar to the other as I'm sure your presence will now be split between the two places.

This reminds me of one time many years ago while talking with a Canadian expat over a few beers. He said he would never live in any condo building above the 5th or 6th floor, no matter how gorgeous the view might be up on the 10th or 18th or 24th floor. When I asked him why, he said it's because the firefighters equipment, ladders and so forth, would only reach as high up as the 5th or 6th floor and that was it. If a fire broke out in the lower floors, then they might be able to limit the damage done and people could escape unharmed. But if it was high up, 15 or 20 floors or more, in some "Towering Inferno", scenario, you were basically f***d. I would sure hope that the interior sprinkler systems in those buildings, especially the older ones, are inspected regularly and in good working order. I've never skydived and have no knowledge of how much elevation, at a minimum, is required in order to open a parachute for you to land safely on the ground below, but I would imagine if ever trying to escape from a high rise fire, even if taking a leap off the rooftop from 27 or 30 floors up, the velocity of the fall would have you go splat on the concrete below before that chute fully opens even if pulling the ripcord a millisecond after taking that leap.

This was major news in the Sacramento area naturally and a sense of relief from the residents, as well as appreciation for LE, once the guy was arrested. For myself, it hurts for me when a local law enforcement officer....police, Deputy Sherriff, Highway Patrol, is killed in the line of duty and it's announced that the dead officer leaves behind a wife and however many kids. My father was a cop for nearly 30 years and as a youngster, I just took it for granted he would come home after his shift. Only when I was older did it hit me what could happen, and it's heartbreaking to know those kids won't ever have their father coming home again. What did affect me the most in recent times I guess was that among the 13 dead US servicemen and women in Afghanistan during the withdraw of American forces in August of 2021, was a young woman just a few years out of high school serving her country, who had lived and went to school not 10 minutes away from my house. I know it's different being in the military from just an innocent civilian being shot to death for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but still, that hit me, as well as the community up here, pretty hard.

There had to be calls notifying the fire dept within seconds that a fire had broken out among the cluster of power lines. Whether a construction worker, passerby, vendor.....somebody.....to let them know and they should have responded much faster than they did. No excuse for such lackadaisical response time.

Watching that video, I can't believe it took firefighters so long to reach the scene and begin to put out the fire. I'm just glad that the damage done wasn't worse.

Happened to me for the first, and to the best of my knowledge, only, time at the old Blues Bar where Lam Morrison played. I'm at the urinal doing my thing when I felt hands suddenly massaging my shoulders. I quickly pivoted to let the young man know that would not be necessary and he backed off. I have no clue as to why a bathroom attendant would even think something like that would be welcomed by a customer who just wants to drain the lizard and get back out to his table with minimal fuss.

I saw this story and could only feel sadness and heartbreak for the family and their loved ones. That lasted not very long until the devastating and horrific news about the massacre that happened in Thailand a few hours later. All those little children.....gone. Evil is all around us. You can only hope and pray it doesn't find you or your own loved ones. Tragedy, despair, fury, gut wrenching, agony, retribution, vengeance....human horrors like these transcend the gamut of human emotions. Along with all these, you always find yourself asking, "Why?" If I ever find the answer, I'll be sure to let you know.

Gotta admit, Soi Pothole has become a destination spot, with all the attention the usual vloggers have given it over the past few months. Even the one with the "boring" voice. I think I know who it was that others were talking about. The guy would make an excellent ASMR artist, as his very gentle tone would knock me out in under 20 minutes. Seems there are several bars that have the same Soi 6 format, and all things considered, very reasonable with drink prices and bar fines. I'll definitely be taking a jaunt down that soi more than once when I get back. Plus, always a nice pint of Guinness at Maggie Mays, which is a good enough reason to visit the soi on it's own!

Will you be in Pattaya during the first half of January or in parts up country? If in Patts, maybe we can meet up in LePub like last time some night. Still recall that evening at Phil's back in March of 2018 or maybe 2019. Great fun. Hope a bunch of the fellas will be around then, be great to meet 'em.

My last time in Thailand, August 2019, I stayed here my last couple of nights before flying back home. Loved the location, maybe 150 feet to the entrance of Nana Plaza, and after about 7 pm, would see all the FLers standing on the sidewalk out front of the lobby just waiting for a customer. What I liked about it was that off to the left, there is an access lane that goes to the back where the elevator was to take you upstairs to your room, as I had requested a room in the back away from the street noise as much as possible. I took a couple of FLers to my room using that access, no need to go through the lobby and front desk. Would have booked again for a couple nights in January, but at the time they weren't listed on Agoda, so reserved a hotel just across Sukumvit Rd and up a side soi, but still within a 3-4 minute walk from Nana and all the classic bars in the area.

Judge went to high school about a 40 minute drive from my house. Great player, seems to have a decent attitude. Not a Yankee fan but damn, I can't help but admire historic accomplishments in sports. To be tied with the immortal Ruth, what a season this guy has had. Roger Maris....you're on deck!

I had no idea about Aerosmith being the only band in rock and roll history to have been together 50 years with all the original members still intact! Despite all the drugs and alcohol abuse back in the 70's and 80's, and I'm sure since then, quite an achievement to still be alive, never mind still relevant in the music world. I imagine Tyler can still hit the high notes in "Dream On"? Fantastic pics, and once again, you and the Mrs make a very elegant couple. Glad you enjoyed the visit. I'll be having a look around Las Vegas soon enough for a potential residency of another kind and see what sort of an impression I get. Of course, mine won't be along the Strip.

I wrote that I DO take my phone, plus the money I think will sufficient for the night.

Yeah, you could do that too I guess. My problem is, I never carry my wallet around with me either! When leaving the room for the night, all I take with me is my phone and an amount of cash I think would last me for the night, and then just a bit more than that. In Kenya, I normally left to go out with about $8-10,000 KES...roughly $75-90 USD. Dinner and a tip might run 700-1000 KES with a beer. Afterward, those 500 ml sized bottles of beer were generally 250 shillings at a pub up to 300 at a nice lounge. Thats plenty of money for 7-8 beers plus buying a few for any women that caught my eye, in addition to tipping the staff and security guys at various spots, who always appreciated it. If needing a ride back when calling it a night, that was only 100 shillings. A check of my pockets in the morning would reveal still having 3000-3500 KES left. And if I did have company that night, she might get 2500 of that. All in a days work as I might have $30,000 to 40,000 KES in my safe for my future endeavors.

It is as safe as anywhere I have ever traveled to, if not more. Several times I am the only white person at a pub and am treated with kindness and respect by staff and other customers might feel inclined to start up a conversation. And if there are any ladies nearby, more times than not, I'll catch them looking at me with a friendly expression. And the boda boda (motorbike) taxis are always nearby to get you home if needing a ride. There is absolutely nothing to be concerned about, even walking alone at night. My experience, even if the only white face on the road walking to another pub, or even back to my apt, I've yet to have any problems. My passport never left my room safe once I checked into my apt. If it makes you feel better, you can have the hotel reception desk run off a second copy for you after they keep one for their records, and keep that copy on you when out and about, but I never have worried about it. But just in case something happens, like a medical emergency, it's probably not a bad idea to carry a copy with you. I very well just might start doing that going forward.

With all due respect to Whitney Houston, who was mentioned earlier, I've seen stunners in Kenya that would make her look like a plate of warmed over goulash. A deceased Welshmen who went by the nickname of "Bugle", due to a prominent nose, who I first met at the Shamrock Bar in Pattaya in the mid to late 90's, once told me that some years before, he worked for a French oil company as a foreman in the Nigerian Delta. The men working under him were all paid a $10 USD per diem "allowance" in addition to their salary. When he asked what that was for, the guy who was interviewing him said that he hoped he wouldn't be offended, but that the men on their off-duty time, were known to have a drink and "enjoy" themselves with the local lasses. Sure enough, when he told me how gorgeous some of these Nigerian women looked, he mentioned that even Naomie Campbell, who was probably the top black model then, couldn't even compare with many of them.

Vlogger "Rides 4 Kickz" with his latest video from a couple days ago. Looks fantastic!

When I was first deciding on what country in Africa to visit, the one factor that had to be a necessity, was that it be an English-speaking country. Besides Kenya, my other choice was Ghana. I've seen pics, read up on nightlife, accommodations, the beach areas (Labadi Beach I believe is the primary public beach in Accra), women, the cost, etc...and whenever it is that I decide to give West Africa a go, Ghana will more than likely be the destination.

As the days passed, I settled in to a nice routine. Get cleaned up, out the gate of the complex only to be met by a couple boda boda drivers waiting to drop me off at a local coffee shop run by a German expat who had been living there for 12 years. When I told one guy where I was going, he asked, "the coffee shop across from the church?" I replied yes. He said, "Oh, you are going to see the c**t." I nearly fell off the bike. "So that is what you call him? A c**t?" The driver replied yes. From that day on, whenever he would roll up outside the gate of the apartment in the late morning to give me a ride, I would say, "I'm off to have coffee with the c**t." Nothing like starting the day off with a good laugh. A late afternoon swim might be on tap before going out to dinner and making the rounds of the local pubs. And along the paved back road that started and ended off the main highway about 500 yards apart, but which made an almost perfect three sided pathway, each close to a mile in length, there were about 35 pubs of various sizes lined along the roadside around the path. Some were in small clusters of 3 or 4, one next to the other. Some were more spread out, maybe at about a seventy-five yard interval, while still others were stand alone that might also include a small liquor store off to the side for take away customers. It was along these roadside pubs that one could stop in and have a nice chat with the locals, and maybe even get the number from a barmaid. I definitely added to my whatsapp contacts in this manner from several stops along the way in the evening. It was a totally different experience sitting with the locals, learning about their lives, paying their prices for a beer, all the while keeping one eye on the lady behind the pub, or maybe exchange a few words when coming over to clear a table of empty bottles and glasses or bring over a new round. In the evening, while a few local customers would be holding court, I would grab a seat outside at a plastic table and offer to buy a drink for the service girl when ordering and she would then sit down between checking on other customers, and we would have a nice chat. It would pay off by arranging plans to get together, sometimes after the pub closed but usually on a night off, or paying a visit to my apartment before she had to go to work. In a couple cases, the bars these girls worked at were not 50 feet apart, so I would play it off if one saw me from a distance, wave to them and motion that I was coming over soon. At an appointed time, security might knock on my door with a guest, and after exchanging pleasantries, would get into it. What would follow was a caressing of skin, a swirling of limbs, an exchange of fluids in which these young Kenyan ladies spared no effort to please me, enhancing an already well-deserved reputation of sexual performance as if it was their birth right. My final week was a whirlwind of desires fulfilled, of promises made and kept, and of a return next year that I assured each lady was imminent. They would all be sad at my departure, and I wasn't too thrilled either, knowing a 40 plus hour trip awaited me until I arrived back at my front door. But the memories of the time I'd spent with each of them would sustain me and make the long trip home just a little more tolerable. Kenya did not disappoint. In ten trips it never has. It's a beautiful place filled with friendly people eager to make your acquaintance, wanting to know about your country while being proud to show off theirs. The food, the beach, the music, the culture......the women. All plentiful and waiting for those who are ready to experience all of them. I've been enjoying this country for a decade with no plans to stop. And for anyone who is ready to step out of their comfort zone and experience something new, to allow themselves to fall prey to the charms and beauty of this African jewel, then I encourage those ready and willing, to do so. It's all good. Or, as the locals might say......"Hakuna Matata"

Watched much of the coverage over here in America, Her Majesty seemed to be a woman from another age. Among the final threads remaining that connected the current generation with the WWII generation. The dignity and grace she maintained for seven decades as Queen, through good times and bad, the devotion so many felt toward her, and now the sadness being felt by so many at her passing, considering the world in which we live now, it's probably safe to say the likes of Queen Elizabeth will not come this way again. Condolences to my UK friends and members here on the board on such a somber occasion. Now she belongs to the ages.

For the last 4-5 years, I've stayed at the Prestige Apartments. These are fully furnished 1 bdrm apts, with aircon and ceiling fans, electronic safes, 2 pools, 24 hr reception, security is very good, and any outside guests must have an ID to be allowed inside the property. I posted pics of my apt in my previous Kenya trip report. In addition, it is under ownership by an Indian-Muslim family, but they are very cool and treat me as family since I've been a returning customer. As such, there is no alcohol sold at the restaurant and none is allowed to be consumed in the pool areas. But there is no problem with purchasing from an outside store or shop and drinking inside your apt. There is also the Mona Lisa Hotel, which I haven't stayed at in about 5 years, Prime Comfort Apts, Jambo Travelers Hotel among others. You can find a list on Tripadvisor or just google "Mtwapa hotels and apts", and you'll find just about every accommodation available. On this last trip, Prestige gave me a rate for a 1 bdrm at 2500 shillings per night, which equaled roughly $21.50 USD per night. But this was pretty much the low season. It would be higher from about November through March or so. And if it's just a standard room you want, they expanded a few years ago by adding on two floors with just regular rooms, but all with tv, aircon, fan, room safe and double bed. Those run about 2,000 KES per night, or about $17 USD, in the low season.

One of the things I greatly admire about the Kenyan people is their ability and attitude when it comes to hard work and hustling up work to earn any money they can. One of my favorite pubs in Mtwapa is the "Eagles Nest", an upstairs place that offers a nice view of the street life below, the comings and goings of the people as they move about getting from place to place or in making the rounds with their goods using their own manpower to bring their bounty to the people. While perched up along the railing of the Eagles Nest having an afternoon beer, you could observe down on the street a guy pushing a lorry full of coconuts with a noise maker attached to the wheel which would alert people with each turn of that he was around. This gent in particular, despite the tough task at hand, pushed his goods down the road with a smile on his face and good humor in his heart, stopping to have a quick word with a local, tourist or expat, many that he knew and they knew him. The banter back and forth was always friendly and even if a sale wasn't made, he would say goodbye with a hopeful, "Maybe tomorrow my friend", and make his way on down the road. Not long after, another cart would appear, this one full of a variety of fresh produce. Every couple of days, I might stop by a shop where the lady would prepare a delicious fruit juice drink, made from her purchase of produce from this cart. On a warm afternoon, a cold and tasty fruit juice drink was just the ticket to offer relief, and a slight break from the Tusker beer. These people would push their carts 6 days a week, from early morning through late afternoon, and it only served to remind me how hard life can be for the people to earn a living. Even if working at a hotel reception desk, the people I might talk to about their jobs would tell me of the 14 or 16 hours they might be on duty for at a given time, like the young lady at the hotel in Nairobi I was at who started her shift at 6 pm and would not be relieved until 8 am the following morning. Not every day, but a couple days each week, that was the schedule. And when I offered my sympathy to their plight, they would just chalk it up to, "It's Kenya", and do what was necessary to survive. My world, by comparison, was a cakewalk. Though they work damn hard and put in long hours, they are a happy people, by and large, and when they have the time, they enjoy a good time. As do the local police. They would make their nightly rounds collecting their take from the pub owners along the road who didn't pay a full license to sell liquor and beer after 11 pm. The nightly harvest would begin as the clock struck 11, and the police jeep would drive up to the pub, stop and chat for a minute or two with the owner or manager, then move along to the next pub maybe not even 75 yards down the road. I asked the owner of one about it and was very open. Since they did not have a license to sell alcohol after 11 pm, if they didn't pay the cops, they would have to close at that time. By making a nightly contribution of 200 shillings, about $1.90 USD, that would free them to stay open till 2 or 3 am, or later if there were customers, so the pay out to the cops was well worth it to have the opportunity to sell alcohol another 3-4 hours, or more. So the cops make money and look the other way while the unlicensed pub owner stays open to make his or her money, and the taxes on the sale of that beer and booze into the late night hours, makes money for the government. So everyone is happy. Just the way things get done. A couple of pics of the road just down from my apartment to show the contrast of the area by day and night. Where the goat herd was walking about 1 pm was almost in the same spot 12 hours later where a group of boda boda taxi drivers lined up like something out of The Magnificent Seven, waiting for a passenger to be shuffled off to the next pub or their room. They kept a sharp eye out for any patron paying their bill and getting ready to leave, as they might start up their motorbike and race each other to the pub in the hope to secure that next fare. All nice guys who got to know me after a few days and always called out, "You good"?, when approaching, wondering if I needed a ride. One night, I bought them all Cokes from the pub just across the street and down about 50 meters from this pic, and after each one walked out of the pub with a bottle of Coke, to a man, and all unfailingly polite, would stop to shake my hand and say, "Thank you." Was my pleasure, fellas!

After a week in Diani, I checked out and returned to Mtwapa, north of Mombasa, and what might be considered the Pattaya of Kenya, though on a much smaller, less in your face, scale. This is where I've been coming each trip since the beginning and I have been there enough times to be somewhat known among the locals and expat crowd. Causaurina is the primary disco-club to find the hookers and would always have it's share of mzungus and expats coming in by midnight to check out the merchandise available. While it can be a fun night out, my own deal was in finding a nice young lady who worked at a pub as a server or bartender, or even in meeting someone who worked at a shop of some kind during the day selling clothes, trinkets, produce or whatever. There was always some eager young lady working at a salon, asking me if I wanted to come inside and chat even though I had no intention of getting a haircut or manicure/pedicure. Just local ladies on the lookout for a white man and doing their best "come hither" motion to attract my attention before continuing down the road. And there was the beach, with one of my favorite spots to go, The Big Tree Beach Bar and Restaurant. I took Milly there, and enjoyed a pizza, drinks and then a nice walk on the beach with the tide out several hundred yards. But as with Diani Beach, the breeze off the Indian Ocean carried the sound of the breakwater ashore from over a mile away. Arriving here about 1 in the afternoon, it was easy to lose all track of time with the gentle ebb and flow of the passing scene, the combination of an ocean breeze, the sand and sea, the local music keeping an easy rhythm that was at once enchanting and hypnotic, and before I knew it, it was after 4 and time to get back for couple hours back at the apartment with Milly before she had to get home to prepare dinner for her mother and brother, as they all lived together and she took it upon herself to do the cooking. While I'm sure whatever she cooked was delicious, I found myself going back to the Safari Inn, a favorite restaurant for many years, and ordering up their cordon bleu dish. The day, and those that would come after, couldn't have gone any better.