Thailand is home to a vibrant and active gay scene that suits nearly every desire. There is the slow pace of the villages, where foreigners are welcomed with open arms in true Land of Smiles fashion, and there is the sexually charged atmosphere of Bangkok and Pattaya where your inhibitions are free to run wild. To be honest, there is everything in between in Thailand that will likely have you coming back for more every year. Most visitors arriving to Thailand will begin in Bangkok, and there is plenty to see and do. Head over to the nightlife action in the Silom area, where you will find a healthy mix of go-go clubs, host beer bars, and cruising areas. The action really heats up late night with gay discos abounding, such as the world famous DJ Station and G.O.D. If you are looking for sun and surf to round our your days, head over to Pattaya or Phuket, where you are sure to find ample time during the day to relax and gear up for the parties that Thailand is known for.
If you are going to go through all of this expense and time to prepare for a trip, it would be helpful to be aware of some events in Thailand so that you can plan your dates accordingly. There are some lovely festivals, for gays and straights alike, that can prove to be the highlight of your trip. At the same time, there are a few holidays where things, including gay nightlife across the country, grinds to a halt giving the feel to the average tourist that they are in a monastery for a few days. You want to avoid those times. This posting is devoted to all things gay in Thailand, and how to prepare for your upcoming trip.
This is the Land of Smiles. The dream paradise. It’s possibly the most liberated country on earth for gay and trans-gendered people. Whatever type of visit you want you can find it here. If you want quiet beach holidays, look no further than Phuket or Koh Samui, If you want a beach in the day and extreme fun at night, Phuket or Pattaya would fill the bill. For a big city experience try Bangkok. And for cool calm charm there’s Chiang Mai.
The rest of the country is loaded with small towns and places, a few of which (like Hua Hin and Udon Thani) have a small number of gay bars, but all are gay friendly and tolerant of our way of life.
In this weeks postings, you will find all the information on this amazing country. There are plenty of bars and clubs for the night time and we have tried to list them all. It’s an un-enviable job as they frequently close and new ones open in their place.
If you’ve never been to Thailand before, you’re in for a treat. The boys are welcoming and will love to have your company. You won’t have any problems meeting them – there are plenty of them around.
Thailand’s climate is tropical, high both in temperature and humidity, and dominated by monsoons. April and May are the hottest months of the year, when even the locals are moved to complain about the heat. June sees the beginning of the South West Monsoon, and brings with it the rainy season, which continues intermittently until the end of October.
From November to the end of February the climate is much less trying with a cooling North East breeze and a reduction in the humidity level. This is also the main tourist season, and the best time to visit Thailand.
The north and north-east are generally cooler than Bangkok in winter, and hotter in summer. In the far north, around Mae Hong Son temperatures can occasionally drop as low as 20C.
For the Western visitor there is no such thing as “cool”. Just cooler than “hot” and “drier than humid”, so light cotton clothing is the order of the day. Don’t worry about bringing too much clothing with you, as almost everything can be purchased locally, at a fraction of the price you will pay at home. Do remember that the tropical sun can be quite fierce so a hat is useful, and don’t forget to use some good sunscreen.
When in, Thailand you should really consider taking some fabulous day tours, either by yourself or with a special companion. While in Bangkok, for example, plan a visit to the world’s largest weekend market. That is right – this is one shopping adventure that you will want to write home about. The market itself is aptly named the Chatuchak Weekend Market, and it covers roughly 27 Acres of land space. Throughout this expanse of land is more than 15,000 different shopping stalls, divided into 27 distinct sections. In fact, the market is so large that you might want to plan both a Saturday and Sunday excursion there just to make sure you have time to see it all, and of course that you do not miss out on any bargains that just must be had.
Many mistakenly think that this market just sells cheap goods from other countries, or knock offs of luxury items, but this is actually not true. While many of those items can certainly be found at the market, there is much more to it than that. The Chatuchak Weekend Market contains various handicrafts, arts, and other items that are made throughout nearly every region throughout Thailand. You see, the country of Thailand may seem relatively small geographically when compared to some other nations in the world, but upon further discovery this is really not true. The Land of Smiles is comprised of various groups that have slightly different cultures, traditions, foods, and ways of life. There are, as a result, handicrafts and goods that are native to each respective part of Thailand. So, a visit to the weekend market is similar to seeing various parts of Thailand, all right within Bangkok proper. What could be easier and more fun than that?
For those who really enjoy seeing the real Thailand and not just the tourist traps, you will be pleased to note that the Chatuchak Weekend Market is equally popular with Thais and Tourists alike. In fact it is estimated that only about 30% of the visitors each weekend day, Saturday and Sunday, is tourist. There are nearly 200,000 people that tour the stalls of the market each day it is open, so your interaction with the Thai people will be plentiful. The great thing about this component of the market is that you will typically find more Thai prices here than at other areas in Bangkok that cater more to the tourist crowd. This means that you will almost certainly find those bargains you crave, at a fraction of the price you would get elsewhere. Beyond this, however, is the experience of shopping at the world’s largest outdoor weekend market. In addition to the handicrafts from across Thailand, on a recent visit I ran across amulets for Buddhism, different pieces and styles of wood furniture, hand made flowers crafted out of silk, various types of ceramic pieces, artifacts and souvenirs from other countries, and so much more. In short, the Chatuchak Weekend Market should be a great weekend day trip for you to take in the shopping sites of Bangkok, and still have the evening to out to one of many entertainment venues on offer.
So, dive right into this week’s posts. You will learn about the major destinations that many gays find to be heaven on Asian earth, learn about various venues and entertainment options, and get some insider advice. What are you waiting for? Start looking up plane fares and planning your dates today!
Same-sex sexual activity legal | Yes |
Equal age of consent | Yes |
Anti-discrimination laws in employment | Yes |
Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services | Yes |
Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas | Yes |
Same-sex marriage | No |
Recognition of same-sex couples | No |
Stepchild adoption by same-sex couples | No |
Joint adoption by same-sex couples | No |
Gays, lesbians and bisexuals allowed to serve in the military | Yes |
Transgender allowed to serve in the military | Yes |
Right to change legal gender | Yes |
Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples | No |