Gay Tokyo – The Hornet

gay Tokyo

Tokyo is an extraordinary place — where else can you find ancient shrines and temples hidden within one of the world’s most modern city? The host of 2020 Summer Olympics, that’s where. Tokyo is all about the hustle and bustle, and so is Gay Tokyo. For the first time visitor, Tokyo can be overwhelming with its bright lights, tall skyscrapers and massive crowds.

But as busy as it is, there’s much to explore — ancient history, the freshest and most beautifully prepared food and, of course, the Tokyo nightlife. From its high energy clubs to the cozy dive bars, it’s easy to party till dawn.

And if that weren’t enough, Japan is one of the gay rights leaders in Asia. Even though Japanese culture is typically conservative with strict social norms, Japan (along with Taiwan) is one of the few Asian countries genuinely accepting of its gay communities. An increasing number of districts across Japan have legalized gay civil unions. Two of them are in Tokyo: Shibuya and Setagaya. With this progressive attitude, Tokyo is a top gay destination.

By Charles Thompson-Wang – Full Story at The Hornet

TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD: Meeting Old and New Friends

Alexis RayOn our last driving trip to California we enjoyed seeing old friends and meeting new ones. We have known the Countess Alexis Del Lago for 18 years. Unfortunately time has taken it’s toll with her and she has had some health issues including a stroke, but she is still going.

In the past she has entertained in New York City years ago.  A great video on her is:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rSnHG_htY4    Another wonderful video was made by Craig Calman:  http://worldofwonder.net/meet-the-legendary-and-reclusive-alexis-del-lago/.

She invited us to her apartment in West Hollywood this time where we reminisced about old times and a glorious past. At least she has had a glorious past which is more than we can say about a lot of people. Live well Countess !

The next day we had breakfast with the noted Hollywood Agent, Budd Burton Moss.   Among his many entertainers that we agent for was Rita Hayworth plus many more !   He and his wife have lived in Beverly Hill, California forever.  We had breakfast at the famous La Conversation Bakery/Cafe, which has been around for more than 30 years there.

You can either enjoy your meal inside or sit on their front patio and watch the people walk by.   http://www.laconversationbakery.com/   Last year Budd Burton Moss came out with his biography which we wrote up,
https://www.purpleroofs.com/gay-travel-blog/2017/06/summer-reads-traveling-fabulous-gay-world-hollywood-sometimes-reality-better-dream.html   He is in his 80’s and knows all the good stories and tales about ‘Old Hollywood’.

Ray and JewelerOn to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills with all of it’s glitz and glamour.   We walked by one store, looked in and knew we had to enter. Peter Marco ‘Extraordinary Jewels’ is the place and located at 252 North Rodeo Drive.  Peter is the owner and he dresses the part!   When you are one of the finest jewelry stores in California why not dress the part ?  Who wants to buy a diamond ring or jewelry from someone wearing bluejeans ? Peter has a flawless reputation for selling the finest diamonds.  No trip to Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive would be complete without visiting his shop.  His website is:  www.petermarco.com

ariz paulDriving home thru Arizona we always stop and see our friend, Paul Winer who owns the Reader’s Oasis Used Book Store in Quartzsite, Arizona located on Interstate 10.  One does not need an address to find the store, however it is located at 690 East Main St.  Quartzsite is just a very small town, population around 3,500 however in the months of January and February, RV’ers  descend on the town.

Paul and his wife have owned the bookstore for many years.  He offers a huge selection of used books in every subject matter.  Thousands of tourists a year stop to see him and his store. Paul is a VERY interesting guy and he is also a “NUDIST”.  The only thing he wears is his cowboy hat, a Turquoise blossom necklace and a ‘penis’  sock. Yep,  you read that correctly.  His wife is always fully dressed.

So when you go in, forget about the world and visit with Paul.  He also sings and plays the piano.  Here are a couple of videos to check out on him:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_ZvmTCBn4M    and also
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X9Ob7Y88sQ

Don and RayAlways remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone!

TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning, Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from coast to coast (And now legally married).

Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/

Las Vegas Gay Travel Resources

Gay Schöneberg – Gay Star News

gay Schöneberg - pixabay

Schöneberg is the heart of the gay playground that is Berlin, Germany.

We meet locals Ralf and Gunter Bauer who share their tips on how to experience Schöneberg like a local:

How long have you lived in Schöneberg?

We moved to Schöneberg two and a half years ago from Kreuzberg. We lived in Kreuzberg for over 10 years, but our closest friends always lived in Schöneberg.

What are your favorite gay bars in Schöneberg?

Hafen – we always meet our closest friends there to celebrate birthdays.

La Cocotte, which has a French kitchen – led by good friends.

Café Bério – a great café not only for breakfast and cakes, but to meet everyone who walks along, shopping or cruising.

GMF – the Sunday tea dance party, the hottest in the city, with two levels, good house music and cute boys.

By Gareth Johnson – Full Story at Gay Star News

Germany Gay Travel Resources

Paris Gay Games – Summer 2018

Paris Gay Games 2018

The world’s LGBTQ communities will come together this August in beautiful Paris, for the 10th iteration of the Gay Games. Already, Paris has 5,000 athletes registered—a higher amount than previous hosts have reported this early in the process. Athletics and aquatics are the most popular sports, and golf is already sold out.

Organizers say they have more than 800 volunteers and a large number of organizational partners helping with Gay Games 10. They are confident in attracting more participants than previous hosts. The maximum capacity is 15,000 participants, and Paris officials say they expect 40,000 visitors—and some 300,000 spectators.

We spoke with Manuel Picaud, the co-président of Paris 2018, to get the scoop on the event.

TP: How will the Paris Gay Games differ from past iterations of the Games?

MP: Paris 2018 will host the first Gay Games in a French-speaking country—the same country where the Olympics were born. France is very passionate about sports. It will also be the site of the Olympics in 2024, the Rugby World Cup in 2023, the Golf Ryder Cup in 2018 and the Women’s World Championship of Soccer or Handball in 2019.

Gay Games in Paris will also be for the first time in a real capital city, in a city of culture and of art de vivre. Paris 2018–Gay Games 10 is also organized by a federation of organizations that has never been seen before. That means organizers have huge experience with organizing large sporting and cultural events like the International Tournament of Paris for 15 years.

And many national sports federations are committed to the success of the Gay Games. Finally, never has a city had such institutional support even from the President of the Republic (high patronage), the national and regional governments and, of course, the City of Paris.

By Paul Heney – Full Story at Travel Pulse

Paris Gay Travel Resources

Gay Brisbane – Gay Star News

Gay Brisbane

Living Gay Brisbane is a young gay guy living in Brisbane – the capital of the Australian state of Queensland. On his blog, Living Gay Brisbane shares personal and lifestyle stories.

We caught up with Living Gay Brisbane for some local insights into how to get the most out of a visit to one of Australia’s most vibrant and exciting cities.

How long have you lived in Brisbane?

I’ve lived in Brisbane for three years now. When I first moved here I was still in the closet, and very unsure about myself. Luckily I’ve come a long way since then.

What’s it like, living in Brisbane?

I’m very confident about being a gay man in Brisbane now. In my experience, it’s a very safe and accepting place.

In the recent postal survey on marriage equality, Brisbane returned an 80 percent response in favour or marriage equality.

By Gareth Johnson – Full Story at Gay Star News

Brisbane Gay Travel Resources

Santiago de Compostela in Spain – Carlos Melia

Santiago de Compostela

Two weeks ago, I joined a week trip by Relais & Chateaux Hotels and Restaruants, to visit all their current properties in Galicia, Spain and all over Portugal. Our first stop was Santiago de Compostela at A Quinta da Auga Hotel & Spa. This is my report on that first night.

A Quinta da Auga charm and boutique hotel, with a luxury Spa and gastronomic restaurant to discover the luxury and the beauty of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia. A Quinta da Auga, the only Hotel Spa Relais & Châteaux of Galicia, is one of the hotels with more charm of Santiago de Compostela. A Quinta da Auga design hotel stands out by his carefull restorage and decoration, a unique 5 stars Spa and the high quality of The Filigrana Restaurant a real Relais & Châteaux gastronomic experience through the “Galicia Haute Cuisine”.

Our stay and visit, was warmly hosted and coordinated by no other than Mamma Luisa and her charming daughter Luisa – owners of A Quinta da Auga. These two ladies are the sweetest ever, and if you are lucky enough to meet them, they will make your stay even more special. But I must say that their energy and hospitality, extends to all their staff. THANK YOU Mamma Luisa, looking forward seeing you soon again, in Compostela or anywhere in the world.

Authored By Carlos Melia – See the Full Story at The Carlos Melia Blog

Click here for Spain gay travel resources.

Gay Bogota – New Now Next

Gay Bogota

The latest issue of gay travel mag Elska presents the Colombian capital as a “stunning, modern, cosmopolitan, and safe city full of open and positive people.”

Each issue of Elska magazine introduces us to gay men from a different city. Past issues have focused on Brussels, Tapei, Cardiff, and even Mumbai.

But the latest issue, shot in Bogota, Colombia, is the first in Latin America—and the one editor-photographer Liam Campbell says he’s the most eager to come back to.

“I did a bit of research on LGBT rights, availability of queer spaces, and also just talked to people from the region, and Bogotá seemed to come out as the gayest city on the continent,” says Elska editor and chief photographer Liam Campbell. “So that’s why we decided to make Bogotá our first venture into the region, and it really turned out to be a great decision. It’s a stunning, modern, cosmopolitan, and safe city full of open and positive people.”

By Dan Avery – Full Story at New Now Next

Colombia Gay Travel Resources

Amsterdam in the Morning – Keep Calm and Wander

Amsterdam in the Morning - Keep Calm and Wander

In my previous blog post, I talked about what Amsterdam looks like without the tourists. This is part 2 of the post – and a continuation of my morning stroll. You might not like waking up early in the morning but it’s worth it. You’ll see more of Amsterdam when there are no tourists around.

Though you won’t be able to see museums and art galleries, walking around the city in the morning is far more rewarding than doing it when tourists are everywhere. Don’t worry about getting lost – enjoy being lost. It’s a small city, so you’ll always find a way to get back where you started. You might be surprised what you can find in the city’s little corners.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Amsterdam Gay Travel Resources

Lesbian Travel: Ice Hotels – Go Girlfriend

ice hotels

When it comes to where you rest your head, how adventurous are you?

It takes more than 15,000 tons of snow and 5,000 tons of ice to build Canada’s Ice Hotel (Quebec). The Swedish ICE HOTEL in Lapland requires a colossal 30,000 tons of snow and 10,000 tons of ice. Every year both need to be completely rebuilt. An exercise in stupidity or a constantly evolving masterpiece?

Ice Hotel Quebec

More beautiful than a scene from the “Tales of Narnia,” Canada’s Ice Hotel first opened its doors in 2000, and more than 80,000 people have slept there since then – though curious gawkers come by the hundreds of thousands.

If you’re brave enough to stay the night, expect dinner and breakfast at nearby Hotel Valcartier (where you can also have a “Warm Night” experience), access to the nordic-style hot tubs and sauna, an arctic sleeping bag, blanket and pillow. You can choose between a room with a fireplace or one without, but you can’t have a door – curtains provide privacy. Room rates start at $300US per person per night.

By Julia Rosien – Full Story at Go Girlfriend

Pandora Boxx on Gay Los Angeles – Gay Star News

Pandora Box

Pandora Boxx has been one of the stars to emerge from the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race. A frequent flyer who jets around the world to perform, we recently caught up with Pandora to swap travel stories and talk wedding plans.

What would your travel tips be for someone visiting LA?

There’s so much to do in LA! Just plan enough time because traffic can be a bitch. Choose someplace either right near the places you want to visit, or someplace centrally located so it’s easier to get around.

If you love the gay scene, then the strip in West Hollywood has a bunch of gay bars all within walking distance. Downtown LA also has a great gay scene now. People should definitely check out my favourite bar in LA which is Precinct DTLA.
There’s so many choices for food here too, some of my favourites are Hugo’s, Rosa Mexicano – the fresh guacamole is the best, Quarters for Korean BBQ, and Tatsu Ramen.

There’s also so many brunches to choose from, but I’m a queen so I have to recommend checking out a drag queen brunch. A lot of my LA gal pals host a drag queen brunch, so make sure to check out where Jasmine Masters, Ongina, Mayhem Miller, Wendy Ho, Allusia Alusia, Misty Violet, and Vicky Vox will be. They know where the party is at!

By Gareth Johnson – Full Story at Gay Star News

Los Angeles Gay Travel Resources