Budapest Turkish Bath Part 1: My Travel Blog

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I recently went to my first Turkish baths on a trip to Eastern Europe during summer

vacation. I have been to gay saunas and bathhouses before, and also to bathhouses and spas in Austria, Japan, and other places. But it was my first time to go to an actual Turkish bath. My trip to Eastern Europe was a lot of fun. It was on this trip that I was able to visit the Kiraly Baths in Budapest, which seems to open daily, but Tues/Thurs/Sat are men-only days. Women have Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. 

A bathing suit is required  -- maybe because this was Hungary or maybe all Turkish baths require them. It was also a very old place-- dating back hundreds of years to the Ottoman empire. It was cheap enough -- 4-5 dollars to get in - although I did not realize that there was a 3-hour time limit - so I had to pay extra when I left. Things are pretty conservative - since it is Turkish and is also a straight men's bath for relaxing and

health / therapy. 

But don't think for a minute that sex between men doesn't happen, and besides it was a great opportunity for flashing. I was very glad to get the experience. I really did not know what it was actually going to be like -- so I did get my expectations up too high .. however, overall, I was very pleased with the experience.



After you pay cashier, you drop you ticket off with the guy at the inner door and are directed to the men's dressing room. Inside, there are separate cubicles where you undress and where you leave your belongs.

That was a bit disappointing because I thought that there would be ample opportunity to flash (or to see guys undressing).

An attendant has a separate key to double lock your cubicle (supposedly to prevent theft - but more likely to prevent guys from inviting another into his rather spacious cubicle for sex.)





Also they mark the time you enter on the cubicle door, so they know how long you have stayed (and thus can charge you extra -- which I figure goes directly into the attendant's pocket).

When I was at the cashier's, I had thought about getting an oil massage, but figured the baths themselves would be relaxing enough. I hadn't realized that the masseurs were in
need of work and had a trick to get customers. A big guy in late 20s wrapped in a towel was the first to greet me when I climbed the stairs and entered the men's dressing room. He pointed out an empty cubicle and asked me to change and to leave my things. When I came out he was back, and then directed me back into a side room off just off of the rest area -- a large room with 20 or more lounge chairs. The cubicle attendant showed up then and double locked the door.
 
The masseurs seem to have a ruse to give an unsuspecting customer a

massage, but in my case, I was vaguely aware of the trick and knew they would probably charge me extra for a massage, but it was just 5-6 dollars extra so really would be worth it. What convinced me was the fact that when we got back to the massage room there was another guy getting one from an older masseur. The guy getting a massage was on his back and had on his swim trunks.
 
My masseur asked me to lie down on the table and when I started climb up, he said, "Take off you swim pants." When I sort of hesitated and looked over to double check the other guy and his masseur, the big guy reached up and pulled down one said of my trunks and repeated, "Take these off, please." I was immediately convinced that this was an excellent chance to flash and to feel great while it happened. 

I stripped and tossed my trunks aside and got up on the table face down and buttocks up. My cock swelled up just a bit once it was free and being observed so I adjusted it backward (so as to be seen). My masseur started immediately rubbing my legs and moved up calves to thighs and then my butt. It was a turn-on to be the only one lying there naked.. my masseur had a towel around his waist and so did the other one; the guy on thenext table was an older gentleman, so I figured that my masseur was being selective and wanted a chance to see the goodies on a young more fit guy-- not his typical client on a Tuesday afternoon (or maybe he know intuitively that I would not refuse the chance to be massaged in the nude).
 

Of course, I got a semi-boner as he worked my legs and came up to my hamstrings and then my buttocks. After about 5 minutes, he asked "do you want some oil" - -I think this was the way to confirm my permission to give a full massage because when I said yes, he added, "it will take about 30 minutes, OK?" So I knew by then it would cost me, but it was worth it (and not much anyway). It felt cool being kind of seduced into getting a massage and having it done in the nude when other guys came in and out of the adjoining room made it a rare treat for it to be totally acceptable to be naked and even erect in front of several men.

After he worked his way up to my head and neck, he asked me to turn over. I knew it was not use concealing my boner - I was not fully hard, but did become so once I was turned over and knew he could see me and so could anybody else who entered the rest-area immediately adjoining (no door just an open archway between the rooms).

That was truly hot and exciting.. but after a few more minutes the massage got me relaxed and my erection cooled down to a less obvious state of excitement. Before long the massage was over and he then said it was finished and then asked for the 3300 forints for the oil massage (same price as was listed at the cashier's when I came in). 

No complaints from me.. it was a very hot experience -- sort like being force stripped and teased into sexual excitement and then out of it.. a truly Turkish afternoon delight. 

I will tell more about my trip to the Kiraly Baths later and my other flashing exploits this summer in other blog entries later.

Japanese Society in Cameo: Glimpsed from snapshots of guys in a hot spring

This entry is a related follow-up to the previous post and also earlier on my Kelly's Second Life (blog). It was sparked in part because I had recently given the issues involved some deep thought, but also because I'm fascinated by scenes depicted in these photos: guys being naked around other clothed (semi-naked), and nude guys - especially here in Japan, where I am a member of an extreme social/racial minority: foreign white gay married father among 125 million Japanese.

[ This entry was also posted one of my other blogs: Otoko - The Japanese Male and on my Tribe and JustUsBoys blogs. The reason for that is because nowadays I never know when my blog and my user id will be deleted without warning. Yahoo! is infamous for doing so, but I've recognized recently that Google may being trying to 'clean up' its own house - so to speak. Dozens (that I know) of amateur 'monetized' blogs with explicit sexual gay content have disappeared from Blogspot in the last few weeks.]

Some of these photos of Japanese men emerge from a hot springs (mineral baths) or 'onsen' were highlighted on ********** not long ago. I can't resist showing them again. It's just THE Japanese thing to do - and seems to be especially popular with groups of male college friends, intramural sports teams, or company excursions. They usually spend a night or two at the hot spring resort - one of the most famous - as well as accessible to Tokyo - is Hakone (near the Mt. Fuji Lakes area). Invariably, they have a nice meal - (that's a whole other story) and gulped down lots of beer, sake, and even whiskey or strong imported Chinese liquor.

They're all wearing the traditional 'yukata' - thin, cotton kimono-like coat - with (hopefully) nothing on underneath. When the alcohol, good food and camaraderie take effect, they start dancing sometimes in the buff or provocatively draped, they sing (karaoke) or do stunts (handstands, etc), and then everybody heads down to the communal baths in the resorts - usually downstairs and many times facing outdoors - a river, wooded stream or even the ocean. Those who can no longer stand - due to the alcohol- might be helped by to their rooms, and fondled or groped or even much more (I only know what I would be doing if my buddy had passed out half naked). Back in the baths, the antics usually escalate - naked men are scrubbing each other's back, and there's the relentless teasing about the size of somebody's dick (often teased that he's too big), and sooner of later somebody passes out from heat exhaustion and too much liquor. A few erections may emerge from under the suds or hidden while squatting in the thigh-deeper hot pools of volcanic mineral waters.

All in all.. it's a great time for everyone.

Japanese men are horny a whole lot of the time and - in my opinion - the repressive nature of their society actually only deepens and heightens the sexual tensions for the average company worker. The stress of so many social and work responsibilities is sometimes almost too much to bear: 'fetch this' and 'do this now' is the only thing workers hear all day and half the night since they almost always work overtime for NO (or little) pay.

Without much recourse or with little leeway for arguing back, they submissively accept what they have to do, and go about it quietly (or at least only mutter out of earshot) or complain to their 'real' friends later.

All this comes bubbling to the surface when the drinks and relaxation reach the max at big group parties out in the country.

The months of repressed desire also come bubbling to their consciousness - well.. at least it would in mind. Japanese men are generally dissuaded from 'flirting' in public - especially in an office situation. In fact, it use to be true that inter-office affairs and romantic relationships were so frowned upon that a worker risked getting transferred or - in the worse case - fired for dating a co-worker. It really is much less true nowadays because of the changes occurring in the society and in the economy. However, to some extent interoffice romance is discouraged. In that kind of environment, young men (ages 22- 35) before marriage didn't have many avenues for sexual or romantic release -except Japanese anime and pornography, and the nightly jerk-off once they crawled in to bed after midnight when they got home from a couple of 'mandatory' rounds a the local pub with the office gang - that often included their immediate superior (who was bucking for promotion or for leverage to support his pet projects).


The trips to the onsen (hot spring resorts) and the pub crawls after working later are rather like R & R for the troops in an army that's on dangerous duty. This was (and still is in some cases) the Civilian Military - (Japan Incorporated) because that was exactly how the typical Japanese factory or company used to operate. The new ones were the recruits -- called upon to have to endure all kinds of hardships (working 12-16 hour days for example was expected), so these 'trips' were probably a natural way to help relieve a lot of stress.. some of it under the belt line - so to speak.

There is no doubt in my mind that many a young company employee (male or perhaps more so the females) was 'defrocked' while on one of these onsen excursions organized by his (her) company or social group.

The situation has ameliorated to some extent. It is not easy to determine how much though. Japan still has the highest rates of suicide of any industrialized (first world) nation, and the numbers continue to swell. Over 30,000 per year end their lives and by estimates, nearly 4 times as many try to do so.

Japanese has a massive social networking infrastructure long, long before the days of the Internet - or Facebook. I could write a book on this and related topics... but - in reality - much of it is coming to an end. Today's young people do not want to participate to the same degree as before. The number of 'freeters' - young people who refuse to get a full-time job, who often still live at home on their parents' dime, and are content with having little money - but lots of freedom and tons of free time to work part-time at as many as 3 jobs, quit when they get tired of one, go out with friends to sing karaoke or drink or just hang out, and play PS3 games or windowshop all night long.

 

 

Making a visit to Japan: Gay men's perspectives

This blog entry was created in response to the posting (just below) on a gay message board. I often get inspired to write a long article once I've taken on the task of responding to someone's request for information (Photo: In Wolverine's latest X-men movie, there are many scenes of a hot springs bath in Japan.)

13 Jan 2015, 06:44   I am planning a trip to Japan for 8 days. Thinking about  getting the  unlimited rail ticket to see more than just Tokyo. Has anyone  done it  before, or do you have some suggestions?
     
 
 13 Jan 2015, 15:13  The Japan Rail pass is an excellent value.  There are so many places worth seeing. At this time of year  (winter), the hot springs are great value.
 There are lots to choose from, but if you like an outdoor bath surrounded by  snow,  head north from Tokyo to the Tohoku area. I once went to a hot  spring  with a geyser just a couple of meters from the outdoor bath and  snow all  around. I think it was in Miyagi prefecture, but I can't  remember the  name of it right now.  If you hate the cold, head to Kyushu: Nagasaki and Kagoshima and Kunisaki peninsula. For culture and history, check out Kyoto and Nara, only a fairly short train ride apart, and not so far from Osaka and Kobe.

 
 A lot of the Japanese hot springs are in hotels, so  they're for the  hotel guests, but they often have day visitor rates for people not staying at the hotel who just want to use the hot springs.  Of course, there are some baths run by local  city or town  administrations. These don't usually have much of a rest  area, just a  space for changing.

 But there's a big variety in style and cost, so  look around. Ask a  information offices (at railway stations etc). Last  time I was in Japan back in autumn, there were a lot of flyers offering  inexpensive packages at  hot spring hotels. It's worth checking each  place out a bit before  committing yourself.

   I just tried searching for "japan hot spring guide" on amazon.com, and it looks as though they have some useful options.
     
23 Jan 2015, 10:01
    If you visit Nikko (Toshogun Shrine, Chuzenji Lake and falls), or  Hakone, a lake near the foot of Mt. Fuji,  both of which are just a  couple of hours by train from Tokyo, you can still have time to squeeze  in a quick visit to a hot springs.   Some of the onsen resorts  nationwide  have outdoor hot spring baths, called 'rotenburo,' which  gives you the thrill of being naked outside, relaxing in the hot water,  and getting to see nude Japanese men (most often draping the ubiquitous  long hand towel in front).

Actually, a few public baths still  operate in major cities (and smaller towns) where you can can get nearly  the same experience for under $5.  Take your own towel, and toiletries.  

 
Japanese love bathing in groups so much  that many hotels in urban areas have 'ofuro' which they call 'onsen'  (hot mineral springs) - although the water is usually piped in or the  minerals are added on

site.

   You can get the feel of what a traditional hot springs bath is like  without having to go so far afield. In a few cases, there are 'onsen' in  urban areas, and also at ski resorts or recreation areas where you  might be going to visit anyway.


Actually, a few public baths still  operate in major cities (and smaller towns) where you can can get nearly  the same experience for under $5.  Take your own towel, and toiletries.  

Finally, if you're interested in having or seeing gay sex. You  might consider visiting one of the all-male saunas in either Tokyo or  Osaka (there may be some in smaller cities as well). In Tokyo, 24-Kaikan  is the most famous, and the one is Shinjuku 3 (san)-chome is clean and  active. It's also a hotel so you could even stay the night  - although  there are shared bunk bed rooms which your $24 locker (12 hour stay)  will allow you to rest. There is a large Japanese style bath in most all  the sauna, but also showers stalls with glory holes.  The largest one  in Osaka is called Hokuokan, and could be said to be bigger than Tokyo's 24 Kaikan gay bathhouse.

  I have written about the baths, saunas, onsen (hot springs), and  collected what others have said here　before (because it disappears) on  one of my blogs. You can find links to those two gay saunas mentioned,  and more detailed information by going to blog:
 http://sunbuns.blogspot.com  

To find that entry and others about Japan in my blog, type 'key words'  in the top left-hand search box, such as, Tokyo, Japan, sauna, onsen,  etc   .
There are actually several different entries.  One explains about the gay scene in Tokyo.

The  photo here isn't mine, but represents how Japanese men, especially young and  frisky ones, like to play around in the onsen spa resorts. You can  often find groups of friends, college students, or company employees in  the onsen; they make the trip to build up group cohesion and camaraderie  - which can be a highly homoerotic situation (at least from a gay's man  perspective).

Enjoy your visit...

Kelly

 

A night of splendid sexual and erotic stimulation: Atlanta Flex and Swinging Richard's

I just got back home from an extended vacation/business/family visit. I was able to visit several cool places and some gay saunas & bath houses, too. 

Most recently was Flex Atlanta. Abe (above) reports that the one is Phoenix was too dark for his tastes; however, Flex Atlanta was quite different. Actually, it was one of the more exciting ones I've been to in a while - although it was just a Tuesday night in Atlanta. 

I was impressed most by the size and layout of the place. For me, being able to sunbathe nude and erect, or to have sex outdoors is a big turn on. 

Flex Atlanta is a little known enclave that can boast an outdoors lawn with chaise lounges just next to a busy expressway (I-75) and almost in the shadow for the Olympic Torch Monument and several skyscrapers. I did wonder a bit if the people in the high rises could (or would) actually be looking down on Flex's sexual garden. The staff was helpful and friendly; there was free Internet access (although I don't think free wifi), and both a gym and pool (although the water condition was excellent it was nice to swim in later March, and sunbathe naked in the afternoon. The place didn't get hopping but it had free parking and also in-out privileges, twice in the 8-hour that your entrance fee pays for. There's an Arby's at the corner so you can get food before entering or take a break to go for take out. 

The cost was quite good too compared to other baths. ($15 or $20 rooms, $10 lockers but 50% off on Tuesdays) although there is an additional day membership (or longer

more economical ones, too). There is a large glory hole section, a lounge and exercise gym, but not much secluded open space to watch the 3-4 porn videos constantly playing except in the hallways. The showers, steam and dry saunas are adequate but a bit old and most people wore sandals because I suspect that athlete's foot fungus abounds. There are many places to sit either except inside the saunas or outside, although there is a small semi-secluded smoking area near the entrance. 
It's really worth a try if you are in the Atlanta area. I am wondering now if they will rent out the facility or at least parts of it for a private gatherings, like an club orgy or maybe a CMNM sexual role-play event - just a thought. 

However, what makes it a must-return sexual rendezvous for me was the fact that I could stay the night and also use one of my two out privileges (leaving the place without giving up the room) and visit Swinging Richard's all-male strip bar about 15 minutes away by car. Tuesdays is also reduced entry to Swinging Richard's and you'll more then enjoy the hot beefy hunks, chocolate skinned thugs, manly dudes and cute twinks who dance until very late (3 am?) and eager offer to give you public lap dances at your table, semi-private and also very private lap dances. 

 

I have to say that I really appreciate the dance naked Tucker. He wasn't all that young but he seemed so totally genuine and liked what he was doing unlike several of the male dancers. Tucker has an unbelievable smile and charm about him that have kept up his popularity even while his body is showing the signs of advancing

gradually to his middle years. More importantly, he has a good personality and seems to know how to please men without being condescending or pretentious. I wasn't drunk at all so I'm NOT raving about Tucker from the effects of a drunk stupor. There were also quite a few men of color: Black, Hispanic and maybe even Middle Eastern (or Greek). Tucker is blond, VGL, and white, but I don't hold that against him (smile). The two young 18+ twinks were really hot, but once I had tasted Tucker's manly desires (no I didn't go for the private lap dance ($140 minimum for 15 minutes), I simply could not even look at the other boys, except, of course, when they were on stage in various stages of undress until full nudity (some of the dancers did not go for the Full Monty). I hope Tucker hears about this and reads my review. Contact me if you do. I'd love to take a raincheck on a separate date with you, Tucker. 


Read more reviews elsewhere about Swinging Richard's. I thoroughly enjoyed being rubbed and fondled by a naked hunky man in the VIP lounge. Yes, it's all about cash.. but I admit that it was incredibly fun spending it in this way. I was certainly heated up by the time I returned for a late-night fuck-a-thon back again at Flex. Not surprisingly, there was plenty of sexually unsatisfied men who had hung around until 8am so that I had plenty of reason to get up and get more action from 6am-8am the day I left Atlanta fully satisfied with many blowjobs (given and gotten) and plenty of ass too (yes, both ways). The guy who brought me off early Wed morning wanted to get fucked through a glory hole. I'm glad he did because I had done the same thing with a stocky Mexican dude in the outdoor garden 8 hours earlier. 
 
I can't wait to plan another sex trip to Atlanta again. Want join me this summer, July and August 2015?