San Francisco Chronicle, Sep 28, 2006
It culls "best of" listings from earlier Utopia guides to China, Southeast Asia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, and Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. The addition of Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines and Sri Lanka results in an encyclopedic resource for gay and lesbian travelers.
The book focuses strictly on the gay scene, assuming that readers will do their homework with a good general guide. Despite a smattering of ads playing up washboard abs or mounds of soap suds, Utopia's declared purpose is positive alternatives, so listings steer clear of prostitutes and pornography. The book describes bars, discos, cabarets and spas, noting whether the place is gay friendly, gay only or mixed.
Comments from Utopia members enliven the listings enormously ("It's a straight place, but lately not that straight," "On the side of the temple, in the afternoons, some men are always there to meet other men," "Beware of hustlers in Rizal Park.")
Country sections begin with cultural tips and attitudes toward homosexuality, including advisories when appropriate. Even where homosexuality is under wraps or even illegal -- Laos, Malaysia, Burma, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam -- these resources can lead to a good time for visitors who respect local customs.
As with many resources for gays and lesbians, information is skewed toward gay men. This one, though, includes a chapter for women with nearly 40 pages of general information, women's nights at clubs, organizations and Internet links, organized by country and city.
