news

Love it or hate it, Songkran is over for another year, Bangkok is sweltering in one of the hottest hot seasons ever and the rainy season is rapidly approaching, but who cares about the weather - the scene is hotter then ever as well so there is lots to do to distract you from the heat!

There was the usual Songkran madness around the the country. In Bangkok the Silom area has always been a fairly wet area to be day or night, and once again this year Soi 4 was a nightly battleground, and Pattaya/Jomtien carried on their extra few days finishing ion the 19th, meaning almost a week of wetness - but only suring the day thankfully, after-hours play being banned by the local council! Phuket and Chiang Mai also had their fun, the moat around the city walls in Chiang mai left almost dry after being extensively dipped into by revillers! Most sensible people of course left the country or spent the time curled up with a good book or DVD! The only bright spot this year was that the government crackdown on drunk driving, speeding, etc, did actualy manage to reduce the holiday road carnage!

In amounst all the water madness the Pattaya Gay Festival 2004 got on with its fundraising - more than 80,000 Baht at Disco Divas at Boyz Boyz Boyz, and almost 230,000 Baht at the dinner at Bruno's. And a first this year - a soi party in Jomtien Complex hosted by the Jomtien venues. The party was a great success attracting more than 300 people to see the shows and the sexy swimwaer contest, raising almost 50,000 Baht in the process, and is set to become a regular festival event. Throb/Splash rounded off the month in royal style celebrating the birthdays of Kevin and Mark and also raising 25,000 Baht for PGF. Coming up in May in Pattaya is the PGF dinner at Mata Hari. Full details are in the calendar here and on the new 2004 PGF web site. Pictures from all the recent events are on boxer's website.

Songkran in Bangkok saw most venues holding Songkran parties, and Babylon took full advantage of the "wet" theme with pool and foam parties and special shows evey night of the festival! Their next foam party will be at the end of May, dates should be posted soon and weekly underwear parties and special shows will continue in May. May will also be a busy time in SIlom Soi 4 with Balcony's 6th birthday party on the 6th, the Bangkok Pride Soi 4 Pink Party on the 13th and Miss Telephone on the 20th. Full details are in the calendar here and on the new 2004 BPC web site.

Elsewhere around the scene, comings and goings in Duangthawee Plaza saw the closure of Blue Star and the opening of Fresh Boyz and if you need to keep fit in Pattaya check out the Ambiance group's new Boyz Sauna and Gym - see the directory listings for all the latest venue changes!