Identities

Lesbian Thailand – Once Upon a Journey

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Thailand is our favorite country in the world to travel to! It’s such a diverse country that has beautiful islands, adventurous jungles, stunning temples, and delicious foods; we can’t get enough of it. Thai people are super friendly and welcoming, it’s accurately called the land of smiles.

Also important: in Thailand, we can truly by ourselves as a lesbian couple. It’s no problem to walk hand in hand, cuddle and/or kiss on the streets. In this blog post, we will tell you all about lesbian Thailand: the best places to visit, our favorite things to do, and practical information for lesbian travelers.

Lesbian Thailand – Where To Go?

Thailand is a much-visited country, but besides popular destinations like Bangkok and Phuket, there are still many hidden gems to explore in this beautiful country. The (gay) hub of Asia, Bangkok, can’t be missed during your Thailand trip, though we will also tell you about the lesser-visited places.

Bangkok

Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand. We absolutely love this busy and dirty (sometimes smelly) city, though we can see why many people hate it. You really need to know where to go in this big city! Besides the famous sightseeing spots Wat Arun, Wat Pho, Lumphini Park, and the many markets, there is a large gay scene.

By Maartje and Roxanne – Full Story at Once Upon a Journey

Lesbian Thailand Travel Resources

Gay Cologne – The Nomadic Boys

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Gay Cologne - The Nomadic Boys

Under the constant shadow of the Kölner Dom, Cologne (Köln in German) is a city shrouded in mystique and wonder.

Simply walking through the Old Town is enough to convince you of the wonders Cologne has to offer. With its unique architecture, quaint shops and ancient buildings, it feels like a place from a bygone era. Yet, it is pulsing with so much life and so much modernity that it doesn’t for a second feel like you are stuck in the past.

An artistic city, Cologne is in many ways a cultural hub. With art, literature and music bursting from every street corner, anyone with any creative inclinations would find it hard not to be inspired. It’s also a university town, so expect to see lots of young crowds in their early 20s, wandering around with big eyes filled with dreams and aspirations. This could mainly be due to the amount of caffeine millennials are drinking these days though…

Cologne is vying with the gay scene of Berlin to become the undisputed gay capital of Germany, and for good reason! With gay clubs and bars dotted across the city, LGBTQ folk have such a vivacious and vibrant selection to choose from when going on a night out. Cologne is well known for having the most pubs per person in all of Germany, so one thing is for sure, the locals love a drink! We sure did, as you can see in our Vlog of Cologne:

On top of this, there are so many gay friendly spaces, from restaurants to hotels, plus many queer-centric events held throughout the year. Cologne is also one of the few cities in the world to have a memorial sculpture for LGBTQ victims of the Holocaust. This is our comprehensive travel guide to Cologne, including the best gay bars, clubs, events, hotels to stay in and so much more.

How friendly is gay Cologne?

The people of Cologne are well known for their liberal attitudes, open minds and something called joie de vivre, which basically means ‘joy of life’. To put it simply, the locals are welcoming to all people, as long as they themselves are friendly and laidback. 

There are plenty of LGBTQ events throughout the year, so like it or not, locals are all too aware of the big gay presence that Cologne holds. There is Cologne Pride in June, Carnival in February and to top it all off, the Heavenue Gay Christmas market in December. Plus, with two gay scenes, on either side of the Rhine river, and a young population, there is nothing but acceptance for our homosexual family here! 

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Germany Gay Travel Resources

Seven Great Places in New Orleans (Outside the French Quarter) – Keep Calm and Wander

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Image credit: Anne Ganucheau

It’s hard to think about New Orleans without immediately conjuring images of the French Quarter in your mind. The Big Easy’s historic hub is picture-perfect: Creole-style buildings railed with ornate iron balconies line the streets while roving jazz bands and happy party-goers join in a colorful parade of humanity.

It sounds like a great place to visit, and it is. But Louisiana’s largest city shouldn’t be defined by the 422 acres comprising the French Quarter. 

To show love for the Big Easy’s underhyped hot spots, here’s a look at 7 Great Places in New Orleans – outside the French Quarter – that you should check out the next time you visit. 

Great Places in New Orleans – Audubon Park

You’re committing a grave injustice if you don’t visit lush Audubon Park while in New Orleans. One of the most unique green spaces in the country, the park is filled with hundred-year-old oak trees, expansive lagoons, and beautifully dripping strands of Spanish moss.   

While the scenery is breathtaking—you could easily spend an entire day just relaxing in nature here—John James Audubon’s namesake park offers awesome activities for recreation-seekers.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

New Orleans Gay Travel Resources

Mauger Estate B&B – Lesbian Owned Bed & Breakfast in Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Mauger Estate B&B - Lesbian Owned Bed & Breakfast in Albuquerque, New Mexico

MAUGER ESTATE B&B: COME HOME ON VACATION – LESBIAN OWNED

Native to Albuquerque Leigh and Stephanie are the proud new owners of the Mauger Estate Bed and Breakfast. The Mauger (pronounced Major) is a wonderfully intimate, restored Queen Anne residence, where high ceilings and rich woodwork offer an old-fashioned, one of a kind experience.

The Mauger Estate B&B is Albuquerque’s most centrally located bed & breakfast. Located less that half a mile off historical Route 66, the Mauger Estate B&B is in the heart of the downtown business district, blocks from the Convention Center, and one mile from Historic Old Town.

Our homemade breakfasts, outstanding customer service, knowledgeable staff, and our extremely high standards of cleanliness makes for a memorable stay with us.

The beds are comfy with high quality linens and fluffy pillows. Feel at home in our home. This historic property features private bathrooms, daily breakfast, evening refreshments, free WiFi, mini fridge and coffee pot, and free parking. We love our K-9 family and we know you love yours, we have one room available on the property with a private fenced court yard and doggie door. Please confirm availability before booking.

See the Mauger Estate B&B Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Albuquerque Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals

La Dauphine – Gay Owned Bed & Breakfast in New Orleans, Louisiana

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La Dauphine - Gay Owned Bed & Breakfast in New Orleans, Louisiana

LA DAUHPHINE: FAUBOURG MARIGNY 4 BLOCKS TO FRENCH QTR

You might have heard people say that New Orleans is like San Francisco, Savannah, Charleston, Paris, or Marseilles. It’s not. The biggest difference is that the streets are exploding with live music all year round. You’ve never seen such “street theater.” Our most cherished visitors come for our food, music, architecture, history, artists, and writers. The ambiance is most like the French Caribbean.

We live in the old French area, much like my Creole ancestors did, coming from France and Spain in 1715 and 1793, respectively. My mother and father grew up speaking French just a few houses away from us. Our district, Faubourg Marigny, is a quieter version of the adjacent French Quarter-the main difference being that you can actually sleep at night here. It’s the safe, artist/gay residential area with about 70 bed and breakfasts. The city attracts one million visitors each month, so accommodations fill up quickly.

See the La Dauphine Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

New Orleans Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals

Gay North Wales – The Globetrotter Guys

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Gay North Wales - The Globetrotter Guys

North Wales is fast becoming the adventure capital of the UK. Despite this being my home town, I had never truly appreciated what was available. Having the chance to experience North Wales as a tourist was an eye-opening experience and I am very excited to share some of the best things to do in North Wales with you.

We spent 48 hours in North Wales this winter with Visit Conwy to showcase the best things to do in North Wales for a weekend away.

One minute we were driving through the lush green countryside and half an hour later we found ourselves zip-lining though a deep underground mine! Our time here was exhilarating to say the least!

We loved the fact that even though it was winter, we could still just get wrapped up in our cosy winter jackets and have an amazing weekend away full of activities, adventure, scenic beauty and some good food to top it off!

Below you will find our 2-day North Wales Itinerary and a list of the best things to do in North Wales.

About Gay North Wales and How to Get Here

North Wales has so much to offer including dramatic coastlines, rolling green hills, beautiful beaches, adventure activities, plenty of castles and a rich historical culture.

By Sion & Ben – Full Story at the Globtrotter Guys

Wales Gay Travel Resources

Gay India – The Nomadic Boys

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Gay India - The Nomadic Boys

Touchdown in Delhi, the first thing we see are men walking the streets holding hands…

This is a tradition so deep-rooted in the culture of India: men are very docile around each other, whether straight or gay. It’s not a sexual thing, simply one of those cultural norms that caught our eyes!

India is often a monstrous feat for tourists. It’s so big, so full of culture, so diverse, that it’s impossible to decide where to visit if you’re going for a short trip. Which is why we didn’t just go for a short trip; we went on a month-long journey covering as much as we could from north to south. From cruising along the backwaters of Kerala, taking in the sounds of wild birds and air whistling through the trees, the Ghats of Varanasi, to the fiery food, that would burn the tongue of any ole’ Westerner (where the hottest spice we’re used to is salt!), India sets out to transform your perception of the world.

What called us to gay India in the first place? Was it the Taj Mahal, with its monumental appearance, a marble fortress set against the dazzling blue sky? Perhaps it was the jumbled landscape, with the extremes of sparse open fields lying next to a never-ending jungle, that lies adjacent to a labyrinth of a city filled with delicious smells, ancient temples and busy markets? Or the people: full of colour, sass, lots of head wobbling and plenty of smiles.

Famous for their unwavering hospitality, Indian people welcome tourists with an open embrace. Everywhere we went, we were met with smiling eyes and greetings of warmth. Chatting to merchants in the street we got to hear all sorts of fascinating stories about their local lives. The hustle and bustle, people brushing past you in tight quarters, and avoiding pickpockets were no mean feat but when matched with the gentle and beautiful hearts of the majority of Indians, it’s all so worth it.

All About Gay India

To learn more about all things tourist-y, food-y, and party-gay-centric around India, check out our ultimate gay country guide right here!

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

India Gay Travel Resources

Rothenburg and Munich – Dolly Travels

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Rothenburg and Munich - Dolly Travels

Today we have to leave lively Munich and fly home. What a marvelous trip this has been.

As I told you on Thursday, eight of us left the ship in Nürnberg, boarded a bus bound for Munich. When we left the ship, we were greeted with snow on the ground all around us. However, although there were big grey clouds overhead, we did not get any snow. There was plenty of the stuff on the meadows and fields as we drove to Rothenburg.

Once we got to that little town, there was still snow on the roofs and some on the ground. I was so happy that we got to visit Rothenburg, as it is the ultimate Christmas village.

By Dolly – Full Story at the Dolly Travels

Germany Gay Travel Resources

India Gay Life – The Nomadic Boys

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India Gay Life - The Nomadic Boys

After a decade of backflipping in and out the closet with its anti-gay laws (the Delhi High Court repealed them in 2009 but in 2013 the Supreme Court reintroduced them), in September 2018, the Supreme Court finally repealed them once and for all in a landmark decision.

This was huge! Remember, this is a country with a population of almost 1.5 billion people. That’s a vast proportion of the world’s LGBTQ population – and these guys are super active!

Day by day the Indian LGBTQ population is growing more and more confident. All the main Indian cities have a gay scene, particularly in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore, which have their own gay pride parades, weekly gay parties and even LGBTQ film festivals. It’s for this reason we rate India as one of the most gay friendly countries in Asia.

However, Indian society remains very conservative. Indian men are expected to marry a woman and have lots of children to please their family so as to avoid being ostracised by their local community. Because of this, we found that a large part of India gay life is still underground. We suggest using gay dating apps like Grindr to tap into the local LGBTQ community, as we found out in our gay night out in Delhi. This is where we met up with our buddy Raj from Delhi to find out more about what it’s like growing up gay in India

Raj requested his identity be kept anonymous, so we have used the name “Raj” as his alias. Raj also has a lifestyle blog about his relationship with his boyfriend and their life in Delhi, which we recommend checking out.

Hi Raj, where are you from and what do you do?

Namaste Nomadic Boys – welcome to India and to Delhi! I am Raj, a 28 years old trainee doctor, born and raised in Delhi. I live in Delhi with my boyfriend, Rhys (also an alias name), who I met at university. We’ve been together for over a decade.

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

India Gay Travel Resources

China’s Leaning Tower – Keep Calm and Wander

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China's Leaning Tower - Keep Calm and Wander

The Yunyansi Pagoda on Tiger Hill in Suzhou is China’s Leaning Tower of Pisa. Well, you won’t really notice it if you’re not standing on the right side below the tower.

I went there with no idea that this was a leaning pagoda. I gradually noticed it as I went around the structure. The photos below don’t really give justice, but you’ve got to see it yourself if you’re intrigued.

The pagoda is sitting on Tiger Hill, a tourist attraction in Suzhou. There are a few hills in the area with other interesting sites to visit. However, the leaning Yunyansi Pagoda is the most visited one.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

China Gay Travel Resources