Departing for gay Russia, my love

What is the contrary of “Njet”?

By Suzy Size, gay Russia

Being back in good old Pattaya for quite a short time, Suzy Size could not but notice certain changes to the worse. When she went to the beach, she saw that the Palm Beach Inn had closed down. Not that your heroine ever had a drink there, after another hard day at her Jomtien office, but it always looked inviting for a sun downer when she passed by. And now this possibility has vanished for ever. Another well known and once popular gay restaurant had to close down, the Luxor. Pattaya is really empty, few tourist here presently and this is no wonder after the demonstrations that downed the Asian meeting in Pattaya, the closure of the airport last December and the world economic crisis.

On the other hand, a new fine dining restaurant has opened and is called Alois. It is located in the former premises of Icon the Showbar on Thappraya Road and the faces of the owners must look familiar to the customers of Brunos. And this is no wonder. They are former employees of Brunos and have mimicked that long established restaurant in many ways, including logo, menu and interior design. The name is a tribute to Alois X. Fassbind who was a gay Pattaya pioneer until his early death in 1998. Alois was a very funny chap and able hotelier who opened Brunos with his gay partner Bruno Forrer who has also died in the meantime. Suzy had a nice farewell Pattaya dinner at Alois together with her buddy Stefan. Food, atmosphere and service were excellent and your heroine will be back at new, but still familiar Alois which is truly gay owned and managed. But Suzy has to skip the Memorial Charity Dinner at Alois (due to her Russian engagement) which will take place August 2nd, the date when Fassbind died. The culinary delight menu is 1500 Baht of which 500 Baht will go to the Fassbind Foundation. Suzy wishes the Alois crew the best of luck with their venture in a very difficult general environment. Have a look at their Website (which is still work in progress), you can naturally click through from the Pink Pages of Sticky Rice Gay Guide Asia and Gay Guide World.

Suzy tried to buy a guidebook for Russia in Pattaya, but could not see any at the Bookstore in Jomtien. When she asked the funny girl just said: “Njet” which produced a laughter in your heroine. What is the contrary of “Njet”? Suzy hopes to learn that word in Russia… She tried several other bookstores – there are not that many in Pattaya as you might have guessed, gay fellow sex tourist – but only could find a guidebook for Moscow and one for St. Petersburg. A bit expensive to buy two such books, but fine, those are the only places in Russia Suzy want to visit on her next adventure trip which is part of the Gay World Friendship Tour. Thanks to Patrick from Houston who just sent 50 US $ as support those two books could be easily financed. He wrote such a nice mail too, vain Suzy has to quote it fully:

Suzy,

I have been reading your Blogs for a couple of years or more. I really enjoy them, especially the ones from places where I have been. In October 2006, I went to Hong Kong, where my Chinese boyfriend lives now, after six years in school in the States living with me. I have made three trips to HKG since then and we have traveled to Taipei, Macau, Shanghai and Bangkok. I could not agree more with your Blog on Macau! Taipei was pretty dull as a gay destination. We did not visit gay venues in Shanghai, but we did meet new friends in People's Park. We loved Bangkok!!! Tawan Bar and their shows are the hottest! Sauna Mania has everything you could want in a sauna (boys) and the facilities are great, too. I have just now contributed to Suzy Size World Friendship Tour. A little late, I know, but better now than never. I keep looking for a picture of the traveling, ageing, gray, er, gay heroine - Suzy - but she never appears in the pictures.

Well, thank you for your interesting accounts of your travels. I look forward to reading more and, someday, returning to Thailand. By the way, I just returned to the States from my first trip to Paris and Barcelona, accompanied by an American traveling buddy of mine. Paris, OY! Why did I wait so long?!

Patrick

So please do the same as Patrick, unknown friends out there, and finally send some dough, Russia is going to be expensive. And – remember? - it feels so good to do good.

As you might know by now, fellow gay sex tourist to Asia or even the whole gay World, Suzy Size travels an awful lot these days. For that reason, she did not renew her one year retirement visa to Thailand when it expired in April. And this proved to be an obstacle when your heroine tried to get a visa to Russia at the embassy in Bangkok. But first, your restless heroine had to find out where that embassy is located: 78 Sap Road, that was easy with the internet. But where is that darn Sap Road? Never heard of it. Stan, the Russian Webmaster of Sticky Rice knew the answer. When you go down Suriwong Road from Rama IV, turn right at the first red light intersection, the Russian embassy is on the left side about 30 meters in Sap Road. Suzy had downloaded the visa forms from the website and handed all over to the girl at the relevant counter who called in an official who – in essence – said Njet. They could not give Suzy a visa because of her bad reputation, but because she was only as tourist in Thailand. She should apply for a visa in her homeland Switzerland. But Suzy had brought the expired retirement visa and argued vividly that she really was residing in this fair kingdom for the last 18 years. And – contrary to Thai officials Russians are used to arguments – he finally agreed to give your heroine that precious visa to Russia. He had to add, that this was the first and last time, to regain some of his self esteem as an official, but that was fine, a typical act of face saving. But then the girl – who had taken over again – wanted to see a certain form, an invitation by some organization in Russia some sort of guarantee. Suzy had no clue what they meant. But – as always in Thailand – when there is a problem, there is also a solution. A certain Thai gentleman offered his services. He needed 4500 Baht for that “invitation” and it would take 15 minutes. Suzy made that deal, what choice did she have? That precious form arrived soon after and her visa could be processed for another 2000 Baht (roughly) in one week.

If only Suzy had known Dimitry then, she could have saved that money for worthier causes, for instance a well bestowed Russian escort.

But Suzy was going to meet Dimitry only after her arrival in Moscow…

Suzy Size will travel to gay Moscow now. Read next week exclusively on Sticky Rice Gay Guide Asia and Gay Guide World about that very important trip.

Support the Suzy Size World Friendship Tour – pay on-line now

It feels so good to do good

Suzy Size likes her tours all over the world so much, she now plans to go on an eternal World Friendship Tour for Sticky Rice Gay Guide Asia and Gay Guide World. Well, eternal is a long time – contrary to short time – and our heroine needs some funds for this unique venture, the boys are costly, you know. Support your heroine and pay on-line with your credit card. Any amount of 20 US $ and above welcome. If you commit 100 US $ or above you will get a dinner invitation at Castelgandolfo, the Suzy Size residence slightly outside Pattaya and an interesting plant. It feels so good to do good!

Suzy Size thanks thee an awful lot and is mighty proud of you.