Best Sydney Gay Bars, Clubs and Nightlife – The Nomadic Boys

Best Sydney Gay Bars, Clubs and Nightlife - The Nomadic Boys

On our Sydney trip, we dove straight into the gay scene around Oxford Street where the only thing sharper than the contour lines is the wit of the queens!

In a city where even the seagulls have perfected the art of a well-executed death drop, choosing the best drag shows is like picking your favorite child – impossible, but you secretly have one. So, grab your sequined cape, because Seby and I are about to guide you through the rhinestone-studded labyrinth of performances that had us clapping so hard, we almost spilled our cosmos!

Best Sydney Gay Bars, Clubs and Nightlife

From dazzling queens that could outshine the Sydney Opera House to performances so fierce they could make a kangaroo blush, we’ve left no rhinestone unturned in our quest to tell you about the best drag shows in Sydney…it’s also why we rate Sydney as one of the most gay friendly cities in the world. So buckle up, darlings as we take you to the best Sydney gay bars, on a journey more extravagant than a drag queen’s wardrobe…

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Sydney Gay Travel Resources

Gay Egypt: Safe for LGBTQ+ Travelers? – The Nomadic Boys

The Nomadic Boys at the Giza Pyramids in gay Egypt

Is it Safe to Visit Gay Egypt?

For years we’ve both wanted to visit the pyramids of Giza and immerse ourselves in the remnants of what was once an incredible Kingdom.

For Seby in particular, visiting gay Egypt has always been a lifelong ambition. Since he was a little boy he’s been obsessed with Ancient Egypt, carrying an Ankh (the hieroglyphic symbol for ‘life’) in his wallet to watch over him. He’s even decorated his entire left arm and torso with beautiful intricate tattoos of Ancient Egyptian symbols.

However, Egypt is not the most welcoming destination for gay travelers by a long shot. Whilst they don’t have an explicit anti-gay law in place, the government and local police find other ways to target and harass the local LGBTQ community even using Grindr to target/arrest gay guys…yes really!

Following our experience traveling as a gay couple in Egypt, we can confidently say it’s actually fine…BUT!

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Egypt Gay Travel Resources

Visiting Gay Bologna, Italy’s Foodie Capital – Nomadic Boys

gay Bologna - Nomadic Boys

Visiting Gay Bologna, Italy’s Foodie Capital

‘The foodie paradise of Italy!’

That’s what everyone said to us about gay Bologna and the surrounding region of Emilia Romagna. After a week’s fill of freshly made tortellini, ragu, lasagne, tagliatelle, tortelloni, passatelli, cannelloni, lasagne… we can totally see why!

Bologna is also famous for its long corridors of porticos, the result of a large student population over centuries.

It all began in 1088 when the University of Bologna was founded. The city quickly attracted thousands of students who still today descend on the city each year.

As the student population continued to grow in Bologna over the last 10 centuries, business owners realized they could extend the upper floors of their properties outwards to accommodate more of them.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Bologna Gay Travel Resources

Nomadic Boys: Finding Mongolia’s Only Gay Bar

Hanzo - Mongolia's only gay bar - Nomadic Boys

For as long as I’ve known my crazy Stefan he’s always been harping on about Mongolia.

He spends hours reading historical fiction about the Genghis Khan dynasty or watching documentaries about Kublai Khan. Although it was the Netflix Marco Polo series (starring the very handsome Italian actor Lorenzo Richelmy) that created Stefan’s ultimate wanderlust for the land of the Mongols and therefore inspired our Mongolia trip.

We visited Mongolia during our big Asia trip in July when the famous Naadam Festival was taking place. This is the Mongolian Olympics, but instead of taking place every 4 years, it happens in July. It’s the country’s biggest event with a dramatic, colorful opening ceremony before the focus turns to the three traditional games featured in the competition: horse riding, wrestling, and archery.

Hanzo – Mongolia’s Only Gay Bar

We must have spent around 25 minutes walking up and down those ugly Soviet blocks looking for Hanzo, Mongolia’s only gay bar. There was no signage, nothing recognizable anywhere to help us locate it.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Mongolia Gay Travel Resources

The Varosi Ghost Town in Cyprus – Nomadic Boys

Varosi Ghost Town - The Nomadic Boys

Visiting the Varosi Ghost Town in Cyprus

“That would have been my home if things turned out differently”.

Staring at the dilapidated and abandoned buildings in the Varosi ghost town of Famagusta in Northern Cyprus, my uncle points at a specific block of apartments set right on the beachfront (cordoned off by the Turkish military) and told me it belonged to my family.

In an alternative reality, this would have been where I would have grown up.

Every time I see the famed ghost town in Northern Cyprus I always wonder, “What if the Turkish invasion had worked out differently and I grew up herea as a gay man on the Famagusta beachfront instead of suburbia North London?”

In the summer of 1974, Turkish troops invaded Northern Cyprus and displaced 170,000 Greek Cypriots, which included all of my family. Most displaced Greek Cypriots either moved to Southern Cyprus or to the UK (Cyprus was a former British colony). My family was part of the large influx of Greek Cypriot refugees that fled to London.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Cyprus Gay Travel Resources

Visiting Gay Milan, A First Timer’s Guide – The Nomadic Boys

Visiting Gay Milan, A First Timer's Guide - The Nomadic Boys

Visiting Gay Milan, A First Timer’s Guide

Followers of UK/Canada Drag Race will relate…one of our favorites drag queens always inspired a sort of spiritual gay wanderlust to the Italian fashion capital.

And for good reason. Gay Milan is world famous for its fashion. It’s a global capital when it comes to its runways and catwalks. What we didn’t know is that Milan also has a pretty epic gay scene – the largest and best in all of Italy and one of our favorites gay friendly cities in Europe.

Hop off at the Puerto Venezia metro stop, dolled up with rainbows, and head up to the streets around Lecco – gayness is everywhere! On weekends these streets come alive as the LGBTQ community comes together and creates a fabulous street party. That’s why we love it. Few gay scenes we’ve experienced have such a vibe outside of Pride.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Milan Gay Travel Resources

Gay Bangkok for First Timers – The Nomadic Boys

Gay Bangkok for First Timers - The Nomadic Boys

Our guide to gay Bangkok 2023 has all the information you need including the best gay hotels to stay, gay bars, where to play and practical safety tips.

Gay Bangkok Guide for First Time Visitors

“OMG Stefan, we almost hit that car…I can’t…I’m going to keep my eyes firmly closed! Just let me know when we’ve arrived safely at Stranger Bar while I pray to the gay gods for safe passage…”

Nothing beats the rush of adrenaline as we whizzed through the CRAZY traffic jams of Bangkok hanging on for dear life inside a cutesy tuk-tuk with its driver smiling at these two hysterical giggling foreigners in the back…

We both love it – the feeling of the humid, almost putrid air hitting your face as you swerve from one end of the street to the other, car horns manically beeping at each other.

We’ll be frank, Bangkok is by no means a pretty city. Our initial reaction on our first visit was: what a hot mess! It’s polluted, it’s dirty, rats compete for space on the busy pavements, the traffic is mad, and concrete blocks line the streets as far as your eyes can see.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Thailand Gay Travel Resources

Hanging Out in Gay Albania – The Nomadic Boys

Hanging Out in Gay Albania - The Nomadic Boys

The Best Things to See and Do in Gay Albania

Albania. One of Europe’s best-kept secrets. Though something tells us this is about to change…

With a landscape filled with white sand beaches, fairytale-like castles, and a history that is as fiery as a Real Housewives reunion, is it any wonder gay Albania is fast becoming a must-visit for LGBTQ+ travelers? It’s a wonderful mix of the modern world, with a super chic capital city full of hip bars and clubs, as well as a natural landscape that rivals the French Riviera.

Albanian society may not be as liberal as their neighbors in Greece, but it’s by no means as rigid as places like Serbia or Russia (although that ain’t a tall order…).

Tirana, the capital, hosts an annual Pride event featuring activities throughout the city and a massive parade. However, there are no official gay bars or clubs in Tirana. That being said, there have been major strides toward acceptance in recent years, especially after the country overthrew communist rule in the early 1990s. We found most Albanians we met to be very friendly, and eager to make us feel welcome as a queer couple, particularly the younger generations.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Gay Life in Italy – The Nomadic Boys

Gay Life in Italy - Marco from Puglia - The Nomadic Boys

Marco From Puglia on Gay Life in Italy

Whenever we come to Italy, our gaydar is always in a state of flummox! Every other guy here is ripped to perfection and dressed immaculately. Personal space isn’t an issue with Italians – it’s easy to misconstrue innocent friendly warm gestures. Not that we’re complaining!

We always welcome a trip to the bel paese. We love it and always leave wanting to return – from our first year anniversary in Venice, our gay road trip in Puglia, the glorious Amalfi coast, exploring historical Rome, and partying in the exciting gay scene of Milan. The Italian cities and countryside simply tick every box.

But, when it comes to LGBTQ rights here, it is lagging behind its West European neighbors. For example, Italy has not yet introduced LGBTQ+ equality (although civil unions were introduced in 2016) and anti-discrimination laws have not been applied nationwide. This is not to say that this beautiful country is in any way a dangerous place for queer travelers – quite the contrary! This place offers so much for LGBTQ travelers and welcomes them with open arms. So what is gay life in Italy really like?

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Italy Gay Travel Resources

Visiting Gay Johannesburg – The Nomadic Boys

Visiting Gay Johannesburg - The Nomadic Boys

Visiting Gay Johannesburg With the Nomadic Boys

In our guide to gay Johannesburg, we’re sharing the best of the best of the gay scene, safe places to stay and top things to do.

“Guys don’t go to Johannesburg…you’ll get mugged or shot at!”

…so said many of our friends across our social media channels. We touched down at Tambo airport feeling quite tentative about our trip here. But as with many big cities we’ve been to on our travels with big “warning signs” from fellow travelers (Rio, Delhi, Buenos Aires, to name a few), we were absolutely fine.

Jo’burg is like any big major city. Of course, it has its problems, and you should avoid certain areas, lock up your valuables in your hotel room’s safe, and keep your phone in your pocket out of harm’s reach. But with basic common sense, your trip will be worry-free. This was our experience, despite being on our guard from the moment we arrived.

Johannesburg is a fascinating city to explore, and a complete contrast to Cape Town. It’s gritty, edgy, raw, tough, full of green spaces.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Johannesburg Gay Travel Resources