My Gay Travel Guide - Page 3 of 21 - hand-picked gay travel info, stories & tips

It’s easy to view all gay pride events as big parties where everyone is welcome and no one ever feels unsafe, especially if you’ve only ever experienced ones in Europe or North America.

There are plenty of other places around the world where people are not so lucky, and still face varying degrees of intolerance towards celebrating pride, or indeed cannot celebrate at all (I’m looking at you, Russia).

Here are three countries where pride events are still in their infancy, and could do with all the support they can get.

Bolivia

Considering it is one of South America’s least developed countries, Bolivia is surprisingly accepting of diversity. Even the name of the country celebrates the fact: Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia (The Plurnational State of Bolivia). There are currently no specific protections for LGBT people in the country, but activist groups are pushing for non-discrimination laws to explicitly include them.

The de facto capital, La Paz, has had a pride parade (lead by the mayor) in recent years, but the lesser touristed city in the centre of the country, Cochabamba, has a relatively strong (for a city of just 600,000) pride parade held in June that’s only been going since 2010.

Uganda

The situation for LGBT people in Uganda is among the worst in the world, but recently a law against “promoting homosexuality” was overturned and activists in the country were allowed to hold their first ever pride event earlier this year in Entebbe, a city on Lake Victoria, outside the capital.

Though only attended by just over 100 people, there was no violence or protest and hopefully will be able to repeat it next year. There’s still a long way to go in Uganda to achieving equality for the LGBT community, but this marks a great step in the right direction.

Serbia

Public opinion of homosexuality in Serbia is pretty dismal and violence towards the LGBT community is unfortunately common. However, 2014 saw the first time in four years that a pride event has been held in Belgrade since participants were attacked by protestors during the 2010 event.

This year, there was some violence at the parade itself, but the strong police presence contained and charged perpetrators. Undoubtedly this move to reinstate the event is related to Serbia’s desire to join the EU, but nonetheless, is a good thing for the LGBT community there and will hopefully continue.

There are many obvious advantages of travelling as a couple: you spend less proportionately on accommodation than if you’re travelling alone, you can share carrying stuff you both use meaning you have less in your backpack each, you can look out for each other’s stuff on travel days and you have someone to talk to on those long bus, plane or train journeys, among others.

But there are also some less obvious advantages specific to travelling as a same sex couple. Of course not every single moment of your travels with your partner will be all rainbows and unicorns, but here are some of the more subtle benefits.

Share clothes

Assuming that you and your partner are a roughly similar size and have similar styles and tastes in clothing, this could be the greatest advantage of travelling as a same sex couple. Being able to share clothes means fewer things to pack in the first place, making your packs smaller and easier to carry on as hand luggage on flights, which in turn could save you money.

Sleep together

If you’re choosing to stay in dorm rooms on your travels, you won’t be separated by hostels that require male and female guests to sleep in different rooms, meaning one of you can keep an eye on your stuff while the other uses the bathroom without having to worry about locking everything away in your locker, for example.

Meet other LGBT people and allies

Being an openly gay couple on the road, you’re likely to attract the attention (and friendship) of other gay, lesbian, trans, queer and and gay-friendly people who are also travelling. If you’re used to having a large, open LGBTQI community back home, but are travelling to a more conservative region of the world where such communities are not well established, having this kind of travellers’ camaraderie with like-minded people may become very valuable, especially on long term travels.

Pass for siblings

At first, I wasn’t sure there was a positive way to spin this assumption that my husband and I have often been the subject of, but if you are in a conservative country where being openly gay is not acceptable or could even be dangerous but still want to share a double bed in a hotel, it may prove useful. If you and your partner are physically similar enough, you might be able to convince people that you’re siblings and that your interest in sharing a double room is simply to save money!

Have you ever wondered what it is like having a beard? Do people will perceive you in a different way?- Those were things I asked myself during the last few weeks. An answer to these questions would only be possible by experimenting. That’s why no razor will be seen at my place for the next weeks.

Being labeled as a ‘twink’ wasn’t bothering me at all, I enjoyed myself and took advantage of it. The number of guys asking to get twinks is just ridiculous, there seem to be people focused/obssesed with it. It doesn’t mean the opposite with beards, speacially in Berlin, which I like calling ” The City of all beards” – Hipsters with all types of beards, leather guys with beards (obviously), and of course the regular population wishing to have the genes to get one.

By having said that, I don’t mean to offend anyone. Just to clarify that having a beard doesn’t make you more of a men. Unfortunately gay society stigmatizes each one of us, and doesn’t really offer as much freedom as it declares. This feeling made me want to see how it feels like being on other side of the river, meaning: Growing a Beard.

At the beginnning I didn’t really think this would change a lot the public I usually attract. To my surprise, it did. On the train I would get more eye-contact with guys that were normally out of my league. It has to do with the fact most guys here have a beardm sounds like a cliché, but that’s how it is. 5 days have gone by, growing a beard sounds like a plan to me! One that will probably take about 3 weeks to happen…

Not worrying about shaving is nice, it saves also 10 minutes of your day. Doesn’t make you much more of a men but it will make you look much more masculine ( exception: very querky bearded guys ) - Guys seem to be into it, so let’s go for it. A follow-up story will be posted in about 2 weeks, just to let you know further results of it.

On this edition of What’s The T?, I settle down and have a virtual natter with Jaime of Breakaway Backpacker. Hailing from Houston, Texas, Jaime’s travels have taken him to countries as far-flung as Egypt, India and Nicaragua, and he’s shared his tales of volcano boarding, inappropriate antics on buses, and getting naked in hostels over on his blog. Known for his toe-touch photos around the world, Jaime is a colourful character for sure. Jaime and me talk everything from first trips and gay destinations to using protection and twerking to Nicki Minaj’s ‘Anaconda’.

1. How old were you when you took your first international trip?

I was just a baby, honestly jaja. My parents are from Mexico so I would spend my summers & most holidays in Mexico. I know most people may not count that, but I think that is what influenced me to want to travel. I was always curious as a kid how crossing a border, an imaginary line could make two places so different. I would always wonder why as soon as I crossed into Mexico things didn’t look like they did in the USA. That’s something that still blows my mind today when I cross any two borders. Anyway as an adult not including Mexico my first international trip was actually my two year trip around the world. My first stop was Costa Rica and that was the first time I had ever traveled alone, backpacked or stayed in a hostel.

2. Have you ever travelled to any ‘gay’ destinations before?

I don’t like calling any destination a “gay” destination because any destination could honestly be gay depending on what you are looking for. For me Cairo is a “gay” destination, but know it’s not for others. Anyway I know what you mean and yes I have I think the most “gay” was Amsterdam and was actually during pride. Oh that was fun!

Cairo Street Art — Street art in Cairo. Photo by Jaime Davila.

3. What’s the best pride celebration you’ve ever been to?

Oops should have read this before replying to your previous question! One of the best I have ever been to is Amsterdam’s Pride. It’s just so huge and on floats. I mean it’s a parade on water… so awesome. Plus I’ll never forget the moment a boat came that had a huge banner on it saying “Celebrating 10 Years of Marriage”. When I saw that I got tears in my eyes because I was so happy for them but at the same time felt crushed because here they are celebrating 10 years… A decade of marriage, and back at home the majority of the US we are still fighting for that right.

4. Everyone has a travel romance story to share, but I’m bored of those. Have you ever met a guy where things went disastrously wrong?

Do small penises count as disastrously wrong? Seriously… I’m no size queen, but damn it’s just such a huge turn off when you meet a beautiful man… finally get in his pants and well yeah it’s like WTF… that’s it?

5. Sounds like you’re a size queen to me. Moving swiftly on, are there any destinations that, as a gay man, you’d simply refuse to travel to?

Not really… gay men exist in every country on Earth and unfortunately some are governed by ridiculous governments. We shouldn’t allow a repressive government stop us from visiting any destination. As a traveler you have to be able to separate the locals from the government and try to do your best to understand the situation in each country.

6. Everyone is always talking about ‘hidden gems’ and getting ‘off the beaten path’ when they travel, but what touristy spots have you absolutely loved?

I absolutely love Barcelona and couldn’t care less what anyone thinks. Everything about Barcelona is touristy, but for good reason. Barcelona is an absolutely amazing city filled with so much to see and do.

7. And, erm…what’s your ‘hidden gem’ recommendation?

Playa del Carmen. I know it may not sound like a hidden gem, but I don’t think many people realize how amazing it is. Staying in Playa del Carmen, even if it’s on the touristy 5th Ave, is a million times better than staying in Cancun or in a hotel resort. When you are in Playa del Carmen you are literally a short distance from so many amazing things you can do all on your own by taking the local transportation, “collectivos”. It is also a beach town that you can easily do on a budget. Just walk two to four streets away from 5th Ave and you can eat with the locals and get some great food at cheap prices. This is a city I want to live in one day and think I will.

Jaime Davila at Tulum — Jaime at Tulum, near Playa del Carmen.

8. You only have room in your bag to pack one: condoms or lube?

NO GLOVE… NO LOVE. Of course the condoms because you can always use spit as lube! But no seriously you should always use protection so I’d prefer a bag full condoms than lube.

9. You’re known for being completely open on your blog, but have alluded to the fact that you don’t share everything there as family members read your site. Can you share anything here that you haven’t been able to write about on your blog?

Oh man… why did you have to ask that? I do have a few stories I haven’t shared on my blog, because they are like real crazy. Yes more so than my “Hand Job” story. I don’t think I can… I just can’t even!

10. Would you ever consider dating a guy who has no desire to travel?

I kinda already did and am okay with it. As long as he trusts me enough to allow me to travel on my own when I want then I’ll be just fine. I trust myself on the road alone when I am in a relationship. I don’t trust myself on the road when I’m single. Obviously though I would love for him to want to travel somewhat because I would love to share those experiences with the man I love.

11. Tell us your favourite pick-up line.

I don’t think I have one. I always start with “How are you doing?” I know very lame, but yeah just start with that and then go straight for the info I need to know if this will work out or not…lol!!!

12. Has that pick-up line ever worked?

Yes my lame pick-up line has worked. On more than like a lot of occasions…lol!!!

13. You’re also known for your round-the-world toe touches. What’s your favourite toe-touch photo?

I have 2 favorite photos: one in front of the Step Pyramid in Egypt and one in front of Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque) in Turkey. They are my favorite because a friend I met on the road actually took both of them and he’s an awesome photographer. Of all of them they look the best!

Toe touch at Istanbul's Blue Mosque. — Toe touch at Istanbul’s Blue Mosque.

14. Have you ever considered a gimmick other than the toe touches? Like short videos of dancing to Nicki Minaj’s ‘Anaconda’ around the globe?

Bajajaja I freaking hate that song & nope I haven’t thought of any other gimmicks. That one happened by accident & works great so will just keep that one.

15. You’re on your second round-the-world trip at the moment. Tell us what you’ve got in store in the upcoming months for us, and how we can follow along!

Well ummm my second round-the-world trip is currently on pause since I have returned home to work for 3 months. This post will explain it all “Yes I am home and no nothing bad happened. So yeah right now I will be in Houston for the next 3 months but don’t worry come January 1, 2015 I will be on my way to South America and continue it.

Thanks for that, Jaime! If you’re keen on following Jaime’s round-the-world adventures, make sure you stay up-to-date with him on his blog, Breakaway Backpacker, follow @babackpacker on Twitter, and @breakawaybackpacker on Instagram. Make sure you stay tuned for the next edition of What’s The T?, when another travel blogger will give you their top tips and dish the dirt.

On the surface, Seoul may not seem to have a whole lot to offer gay travellers. Scratch below the surface, and you’ll find the same. The South Korean capital isn’t a gay destination like, say, Bangkok, or Taipei, or Hong Kong. Gay men don’t flock there for the nightlife, or open attitudes, but rather to absorb the culture, history, and a whole lot of delicious food - Korean BBQ or bibimbap, anyone? But, that’s not to say that Seoul has absolutely nothing to offer gay travellers: you just have to know where to look. So, if you’re a gay traveller heading for Seoul, where should you head to to make the most out of your time in the Korean capital?

Bar Hopping Mayhem: Homo Hill, Itaewon

I kid you not, the centre of gay nightlife in Seoul is called Homo Hill, and it’s located right next to Hooker Hill, in the Itaewon neighbourhood. Homo Hill is exactly as it sounds - a hill flanked by a few gay bars, and it can get pretty crowded at the weekends. Queen is often packed with guys shuffling awkwardly on the dancefloor - expect to literally have to push people out of the way to get to the bar. Soho plays good music, but the lingering staff who will hover mere inches from you until you order a drink (or if you need a refill) can make things uncomfortable. Keep dancing and you won’t get bothered. Eat Me is a great little place for a more relaxed atmosphere, ditto Always Homme. The crowd is a good mix of foreigners and locals, and if you’re a non-Asian looking to meet a guy, this is the area you need to head to. Show up after you’ve already had a drink or two, and you should be able to handle the assault on your senses that some bars dish out.

A Closeted Reality: Jongno 3-Ga

Jongno 3-Ga is Seoul’s other gay neighbourhood, and things are a lot more low-key than in Homo Hill. Bars have blacked out windows, and you wouldn’t know that most of them are gay bars if you walked past them - but that’s how the people who frequent those bars like it. Mainly for Korean men who are attracted to other Koreans and Asian guys, non-Asian foreigners aren’t likely to get lucky in these bars. Then again, there’s no dancing, and most of the bars are sit-down places where you order food with friends, or sing karaoke, but it does offer a glimpse into what life is like for Korea’s mostly closeted gay population. Be aware that a lot of the guys who go to the Jongno 3-Ga neighbourhood are married, so make sure you check the ring finger before chatting someone up. Keep it classy.

Open Minds and Open Bars: Hongdae

Not a gay neighbourhood per se, Hongdae (short for Hongik Daehakgyo, or Hongik University) is a hip district full of artists, musicians, students and cool kids who are more open-minded than your average Seoulite. If hitting the gay bars isn’t your thing, then make sure you check out the cafes and street food in the neighbourhood, and check out Club FF for their live bands and the free drink hour. Yes you read that right. And no, FF doesn’t stand for what you’re thinking of.

Women’s U, Men’s Fashion: I-Dae

Pronounced “ee-day”, this neighbourhood is located in the vicinity of Ewha Women’s University. What would gay men want with an all-female university, though? One word: shopping. Sure, Myeongdong might be the main shopping district, but it’s just chain stores that you’ll find in any country in the world, all the while being jabbed by the elbows of swarms of shoppers. Instead, head to I-Dae, where you can check out Korean fashion and haggle with the stall owners. There are plenty of menswear shops, plus great snacks to be had if you need a break between bargaining. Head straight out of Ewha Women’s University subway exit one (it’s on line 2) and keep an eye for a market area on your right.

Pyeongchang-dong: Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous

A little-visited neighbourhood in Seoul, yet one for those that like a taste of the high-life, Pyeongchang-dong is home to the richest and most famous citizens of the Korean capital, something that is evident in the grand western-style mansions - some of the homes look like they came straight out of Beverly Hills. The setting for many Korean dramas, the area is also home to art galleries, boutiques and luxurious cafes. Walk around and try and guess who lives in which home - you may even catch a quick glimpse of an idol getting hustled into a chauffeur-driven car.

Podcasts are a great way to pass long journeys, whether you’re on a train, bus, boat or plane, especially if you get easily motion sick and don’t want to read a book. You also have the added advantage of being able to watch the scenery go by as you listen. And what’s more, they’re free!

There are so many podcasts out there, it can be hard to know where to start if you’re new to the medium, so here are my top picks for gay, gay-friendly and gay-adjacent podcasts.

The Savage Lovecast

Dan Savage, a gay author, journalist and LGBTQ activist, hosts this weekly (pre-recorded) sex and relationship advice show, where anyone can call in with problems and he dispenses sane, helpful, often witty, occasionally heart-felt advice.

He also starts the show with a rant on a recent issue that can or could affect anyone from the LGBT community, women, parents or liberals, and his opinions are some of the most balanced, well-argued out there. As a bonus, he sometimes talks about his monogamish relationship with his hot husband, Terry Miller.

Out in the Vineyard Radio

Mark Vogler and Gary Saperstein present this weekly show from Sonoma County, California and cover what’s going on in wine country and wine-related events, LGBT news from around the US and the world, celebrity gossip, sometimes with guests. If you’re a wine lover, this one is definitely for you!

Throwing Shade

Hosted by Erin Gibson and Bryan Safi, this comedy podcast takes a “weekly look at all the issues important to ladies and gays and treat them with much less respect than they deserve”. This the kind of podcast I can’t listen to in public without breaking out in to seemingly unprovoked laughter.

Erin and Bryan riff off each other perfectly, making for a hilarious and tangential commentary on current events and news stories. While it’s mostly a giggle fest, they also present well thought out and intelligent arguments on relevant topics and occasionally have guests.

Gay Ambitions

Paul Collanton, a Denverite working in marketing, brings us interesting and insightful interviews with entrepreneurs and business people from the LGBT community on his bimonthly podcast. On his associated blog, he also recommends apps useful to the aspiring entrepreneur, publishes inspirational quotes and recaps interesting articles relating to LGBT and business issues.

Travelling as a same sex couple, there’s often the concern of what to do about asking for a room with a double bed in hotels or hostels. If you’re planning to sleep in dorms, this probably won’t be a problem, but if you and your partner want a private room, you’ll no doubt have to deal with this issue at some point in your travels together, depending where in the world you are travelling.

Here’s some basic advice on how to handle it.

Be prepared for assumptions and mistakes

If you’ve booked your accommodation online and specifically selected a double rather than twin room, or made a special request stating that you’d like one bed not two, be prepared that when you turn up to check in to the hotel or hostel, the receptionist may assume that this booking was a mistake and will instead give you a twin room, even without asking. This has happened to me in Austria even in higher end places.

This isn’t ideal, but in cultures where it is uncommon to see people openly in same sex relationships, it will probably be seen be the receptionist as a favour. You can either simply roll with this, or (which I would prefer) you can say something to check, nonchalantly, that you indeed will get a double bed before you’re given the key or taken to your room.

Display that you are a couple to reinforce your preference

If you’re turning up at a place without a reservation in a country where being openly homosexual won’t put you in danger, as well as of course simply saying “we’d like a double room with one bed not two”, use body language as well as words to indicate your couple status.

That may mean holding hands, putting your arm over your partner’s shoulder, or using the appropriate or your preferred word to refer to your partner (boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife) in the context of the query to make it super clear. Whatever is natural for you as a couple.

Finally, stay calm

If you follow all of the advice above and you are given a room you didn’t ask for, or you are misunderstood and shown a twin room, don’t get angry (or at least don’t show your anger). If this is a language problem, try again and using simpler words, stating clearly what it is you want and don’t want. Failing that, resort to body language again and hope for the best. And adding a smile probably won’t hurt either!

Unfortunately, all of this advice is given with the caveat that you do not risk your personal safety by openly displaying your sexuality in countries where being gay is illegal.

In the first of this new series over here at My Gay Travel Guide, I sit down and talk about what’s the T - with T meaning travel, in this case - with LGBT travellers. First up? It’s the uber stylish DJ Yabis from Dream Euro Trip. Hailing from the Philippines, DJ has become known for his fun, fresh outlook, personable nature, and effortless cool. I reeled in DJ for a natter, and he shares his thoughts on everything from hidden gems and what to see in his home country, to packing and licking a guy’s ear. Whatever floats your boat, I guess!

1. How old were you when you took your first international trip?

I was 22 when I took my first trip abroad. I went to Bangkok with my friends.

2. Have you ever travelled to any ‘gay’ destinations before?

Yes. I’ve travelled to Mykonos only because my Greek friends have a summer house there and we went together with their group of friends. It’s a pretty gay destination though and I loved every minute of it.

3. What’s the best pride celebration you’ve ever been to?

It’s a difficult question to answer. Most of the pride parades I’ve been to are special in their own way.

I love Stockholm Pride because Swedish men are the prettiest and the parade itself is massive with great after parties. Cologne Pride is the biggest in Germany and I’ve always loved my Germans. Antwerp Pride was super fun and gay as it happened at the same time as the World Out Games. Dresden Pride was smaller and feels very local.

4. Everyone has a travel romance story to share, but I’m bored of those. Have you ever met a guy while travelling and things have gone disastrously wrong?

Of course. First thing I can think of was this beautiful guy I met in Barcelona. I was in a normal club (by that I mean not a gay club) and I was alone. I was sitting and busy on my phone when he sat beside me. I noticed he was alone and he was looking at me every now and then.

He was really beautiful and I was a bit bored so I said hello. He was nice and we started talking, you know just the normal where are you from what are you doing here alone kind of questions.

At this point I was not sure if he’s gay or not. I was just talking to him because he was drop-dead gorgeous and was interesting.

I learned that he’s not Spanish and that he lives in another city. He just came to visit Barcelona and he was staying with his friends. He claimed that his friends were also in the club with him. He looked Persian or Turkish and he has a glowing tan.

And then the conversation made a different turn:

Gorgeous guy: C’mon you can ask me anything. Don’t be shy.

Me: Huh? What do you mean?

GG: You can ask me anything you want.

Me: (sensing he is edging me on, I came closer to his ear and smelled him and whispered) You smell so good. You wanna have fun? (I’m brave like this haha)

GG: Tell me more.

Me: I want to undress you.

GG: (looks at me and smiles) Go on.

Me: (licking his ears lightly and curious where this was leading) you know…

GG: Tell me.

Me: You wanna go to my room and have fun now? My hotel is a few blocks from here.

GG: (suddenly changes mood) I have some friends here. I can’t leave right now.

Me: C’mon you can meet them later

GG: I can’t. Just give me your number we can meet tomorrow.

Me: I’m flying out tomorrow (this is a lie). Let’s go now.

GG: No give me your number let’s meet tomorrow.

Me: (I give him my number) Don’t be boring. Come. It will be fun.

GG: I’m not gay.

Me: It doesn’t matter. I know you want to have some fun.

GG: I can’t leave my friends. Let’s meet tomorrow. I can meet you here at 12 noon.

Me: No let’s go now.

GG: Let’s meet tomorrow.

Me: Alright. Let’s go get a drink.

I did not take him home and I did not meet him the next day as I asked him to delete my number after. I still don’t know what he was up to. I was a bit scared because he might be a thief or something and has other ulterior motives. But I pushed it and wanted to see where it was going.

5. Smart yet a little skanky. Anyway, are there any destinations that, as a gay man, you’d simply refuse to travel to?

Yep. Right now I have no interest in traveling to Russia. The visa is already difficult enough to organize. I don’t need to be subjected to homophobic and racist situations when I get there.

6. Everyone is always talking about ‘hidden gems’ and getting ‘off the beaten path’ when they travel, but what touristy spot have you absolutely loved?

I absolutely loved all the touristy spots in Florence. The city just blew me away with its beauty!

7. And, erm…what’s your ‘hidden gem’ recommendation?

Hidden gem is very relative. What might be considered hidden by some might not be by others. I would say Ponza island in Italy is a hidden gem but it’s popular among Romans and people in the area.

8. Since you hail from the Philippines, if I only had a week in your country, where would you tell me to visit?

Depends what you like. But if you want a true tropical experience I would say Camiguin island. It has everything: white beaches, hot springs, cold springs, great diving spots, volcanoes, waterfalls, great food, friendly locals, and it’s very low-key.

9. What essentials (apart from tech stuff and gadgets) do you always pack in your carry on?

A good book or a magazine. I like reading when I’m in transit.

10. You’re known for always being stylish on the road. What’s your top tip for packing light but still being chic?

Pack clothes that you can mix and match easily. And of course, pack only your best and favorite clothes <3

11. You only have room in your bag for one: tailored shorts or a straw hat?

Tailored shorts. You can also buy a hat! ;D

12. That’s cheating! Hmph. Anyhow, I’ll forgive you. Let’s move on to everyone’s favourite topic - alcohol! What cocktail do you want to order?

I like my vodka cranberry.

13. That’s not really a cocktail, but whatever. Now we’re tipsy and I’ve seen a cute guy. What pick-up line should I use on him?

I’m bad with pick up lines!

14. You’re a terrible wingman. It’s the next morning and we’re hungover. What’s your remedy for this?

Good kissing and a cup of coffee.

15. I hope you brush your teeth first. Moving swiftly on, tell us more about your upcoming travels this year, and what destinations we can follow you to!

I’m heading to Italy and maybe Paris to visit some friends, then I’m off to the Philippines to celebrate my birthday on the beach. I’ll stay until January and celebrate Christmas with family and NYE with friends on the beach on Boracay island.

I wish I could join DJ with his celebrations! If you want to know more about DJ, you can follow him on Twitter and Instagram where he’s @dreameurotrip, and like his page on Facebook. Of course, you can read all about his adventures on his blog Dream Euro Trip too, where DJ waxes lyrical about everything from style to city breaks, Berlin to Beyoncé, and getting that ever elusive Schengen visa.

Let’s pretend you are a visitor or a local, Friday is around the corner and you don’t know what to do! Berlin offers you many options to enjoy yourself in the not-so-German-city. Here’s the list you of things you can do on Friday in Berlin. From going for a walk in Tempelhof, until waking in Saturday not knowing where you are, but realising you just had your best night ever. That’s what you come to Berlin for, to live it’s wildness and let yourself to be taken by it.

There are some tips I can give to those trying to figure out what to do in Berlin on a friday night. This city can be wild, so be prepared to see very drunk people walking down the streets, strangers being more than friendly with you and of course cute guys being more friendly than usual… Now that the Autumn has started in Berlin, I would recommend you to wear something quite warm because you will chance from Bar to Bar, and believe me, you don’t want to get frozen in Berlin.

1. EAT SOMETHING BEFORE YOU START

We all know how important it is to eat something before drinking Alcohol, that’s why I have selected the coolest place where you can get some fast food. This will your help your stomach and mind to resist the process of living your first night in Berlin.

Fräulein Burger

Let the P.A.R.T.Y begin

How about starting with a drink? - Something you have to learn in Berlin is to use the distances between places the right way, that means you can walk from Fräulein Burger,to the Liberate Bar. The Liberate is a bar located 3 minutes away from Hackesher Mark, the cocktails are prepared with meticulosity to give their guests a 1A experience.
There is not way you are visiting Berlin and you don’t go to Kreuzberg. Known for it’s diversity of people, this place is a must during your visit. If you happen to go there, you can go to the Roses Bar, a place with a rich history and considered to be one of the first gay friendly places founded around the area.

Now that you’ve seen a bit of Berlin on a friday night, it’s time for you to keep moving. FYI, in Berlin the party begins between 1 or 2 am… Let me begin with some of the most famous places to party here in Berlin.

Homopatik

This is the party to go to! For Berliners, tourists, trend setters/fashionistos, heterosexuals and of course gay. I’ve been there only one time. Will recommend it to my friends once they come to Berlin and be like ‘ What to do in Berlin today?’

Berghain

As you may know, I like Berghain. It’s darkness it’s something that makes me feel comfortable, the way you can feel so alone but being surrounded by many people, the music itself that makes your body move on a Friday night in Berlin. I took the time to write a guide about the THINGS TO DO IN BERGHAIN and HOW TO GET INTO BERGHAIN, feel free to check it out and let me know if it helped you to have a nice evening in the city that never sleeps!

Enjoy your time in Berlin !

Picture from 76 crimes.com

Gay marriage seems to be a big deal nowadays, more and more couples are somehow trying to have the same settled lifestyle straight people has, by that I mean getting married and having children/adopting. As the gay population keeps getting the chance to be more opened about their sexuality (in some countries), we keep on pushing the lines to allow ourself to get all the rights as every person should have, no matter what their sexual orientation is.

Here’s a list with some of the countries where gay marriage is legal.

The Netherlands: April 1, 2001

Belgium: June 1, 2003

Spain: July 3, 2005

Canada: July 20, 2005

South Africa: November 30, 2006

Norway: January 1, 2009

Sweden: May 1, 2009

Portugal: June 5, 2010

Iceland: June 27, 2010

Argentina: July 22, 2010

Denmark: June 15,2012

Brazil: May 14, 2013

France: May 29, 2013

Uruguay: August 5, 2013

New Zealand: August 19, 2013

United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland)

Luxembourg: June 18, 2014

It looks like some sides of the world are moving forward and seem to be leaving behind the old traditions of only seeing men and women together as the ideal way of growing up a family. It surprises me that countries like Colombia(where I come from) have actually legalized gay marriage and even in the last few weeks parent from the same sex can start adopting children! It makes me glad to see how progressive some countries are being… However, I can’t stop thinking about all those countries where people are being tortured and put under pressure for just being different.

Here’s a list with the countries where homosexuality is illegal:

Africa

1 Algeria
2 Angola
3 Botswana
4 Burundi
5 Cameroon
6 Comoros
7 Egypt
8 Eritrea
9 Ethiopia
10 Gambia
10 Ghana
12 Guinea
13 Kenya
14 Lesotho
15 Liberia
16 Libya
17 Malawi (enforcement of law suspended)
18 Mauritania
19 Mauritius
20 Morocco
21 Mozambique
22 Namibia
23 Nigeria
24 Sao Tome
25 Senegal
26 Seychelles
27 Sierra Leone
28 Somalia
29 South Sudan
30 Sudan
31 Swaziland
32 Tanzania
33 Togo
34 Tunisia
35 Uganda
36 Zambia

37 Zimbabwe38 Afghanistan

39 Bangladesh
40 Bhutan
41 Brunei
42 India
43 Iran
44 Kuwait
45 Lebanon (law ruled invalid in one court)
46 Malaysia
47 Maldives
48 Myanmar
49 Oman
50 Pakistan
51 Palestine/Gaza Strip
52 Qatar
53 Saudi Arabia
54 Singapore
55 Sri Lanka
56 Syria
57 Turkmenistan
58 United Arab Emirates
59 Uzbekistan
60 Yemen

61 Antigua & Barbuda
62 Barbados
63 Belize
64 Dominica (But see “Dominica leader: No enforcement of anti-gay law” )
65 Grenada
66 Guyana
67 Jamaica
68 St Kitts & Nevis
69 St Lucia
70 St Vincent & the Grenadines
71 Trinidad & Tobago

72 Cook Islands
73 Indonesia (Aceh Province and South Sumatra)
74 Kirbati
75 Nauru
76 Palau
77 Papua New Guinea
78 Samoa
79 Solomon Islands
80 Tonga
81 Tuvalu

See the difference? 20 - 81, seems like we have a long way to go…