Apartment Decorating Faux Pas

When I first moved into my new apartment a year ago, a lovely boy named Jay moved in also. He was a great kid and was excited as I was to participate in decorating the one room studio. Everytime either of us went out, we usually came home with something for the place. One time he returned with 2 beautiful candles for the headboard shelf. This went on for a couple of weeks.

I know almost every Thai home has a picture of the king promenantly displayed. I down loaded several picture of the king relating to his people. I bought a frame to mount a collage of the pictures. Jay walked in as I was about to crop some of the pictures to better fit their place in the frame. He was horrified. "Can not cut pictures of king". I tried to explain that I wasn't cutting the king, only extranious things. One of those extranious things, Jay pointed out, happened to be the queen. I waited until he wasn't around to crop the pictures and, later, he was very happy with the result but not where I put the frame, high up beside the front door. "What's wrong", I asked. "King looking into toilet" The frame was facing the doorway to the washroom and that was not good. We moved the picture.

A few nights later Jay seemed distant - not his usual free expression self. No sex that night. Nor the next. The following night I was a little insistant. He cuddled and as I lowered his briefs he pulled the sheet over us. He did the same the next night as if he was shy or embarrassed of his nakedness. Finally I asked him what's wrong. He pointed to the little golden Buddha I had bought and placed on the high shelf opposite the bed. "Buddha watching!" I got up and moved the Buddha to a place where he couldn't see the bed and all was right with the world.

Getting to know Thai beliefs and customs is a wonderful journey.

Trip to Khlong Yai - The good and bad

Trip to Khlong Yai � The Good and the Bad
Part 1.

Many times in Thailand I have found myself wondering, �How did I get myself into this?� Last fall, Bop, one of my English students mentioned that his family was going home for a few days and would I, and my wallet, like to come along. I am eager to experience �real� Thai life and wanted to go but as it was near the end of my 3 month stay, I was short of cash. I asked him to help me work out a budget for the trip so I could decide if I had enough funds. This process befuddled him as expected but we decided, with mama�s approval, that 8000 Baht would be sufficient. Plans were made, a date set and soon we were trundling down the highway towards Trat and beyond to Khlong Yai. Never in my 20 years of coming to Thailand have I learned more in such a short time � 5 days.

I met the family 2 years ago when I befriended At at Jomtien beach. He was a really nice young man who worked in a gogo bar but wanted to move on to something else. He was keen on learning English so I volunteered to teach him. He became proficient enough that he got a job in a restaurant. Through him I met the rest of the family.





I would teach at the family�s room in Pattaya. His younger brothers decided that they wanted to study as well. Bop and Pond worked in the same bar as At. A few weeks before the trip, I was invited to Bop�s 18th birthday party. Great fun.





The mother and father were quite friendly to me and we got on well. It was strange at first because they were very supportive of their 3 sons working in a gogo. Over time I realized they were a very happy and close family so who was I, a sex tourist, to judge.




Pond and O were the 2 younger brothers. O stayed with family in Khlong Yai most of the time attending school. I wondered if his fate was to be dancing on a stage in Sunee sometime in the future.






At the last minute, At said he couldn�t get the time off work but he said that Bop would look after me in every way. At�s place was taken by Jen, a gatoey, who was introduced as the boy�s �sister� and she did stay in the family compound of 5 houses in Khlong Yai. With father and me in front, mother and Pond behind and Bop and Jen riding in the box, we headed off to their home which I had estimated via Google Maps should take 3 hours. Ah, but not so. Why? In short form:
1. the truck needed water every 20 minutes
2. father needed to pee every 20 minutes but never sincronized with truck watering.
3. we needed to stop to eat, twice
4. mother and my wallet needed to buy fruit, especially durian and there were many, many fruit markets and road side stalls between Rayong and Trat and mother had to stop at almost all. She had a weighted stick with her with which to tap every durian at every market along the way. Of course the fruit stops rarely coinsided with the other stops.
Half way there a rain shower struck and, even though the truck had a canvass canope much of the luggage had to be moved inside. They needed the room for all the fruit anyway. Bop and Pond squabbled over who should ride inside and, in the end, they both squeezed in with mother and the luggage. Pond perched like a vulcher on the console between Father and me. He got sleepy and slowly slumped over on to me and onto my lap.

Six and a half hours later we arrive in Khlong Yai. This is a fishing town on the narrow slice of land between Cambodia and the sea in the extreme south east. Koh Chang can be seen across the crystal clean water. The coast line is beautiful, dotted with many secluded beach coves and backed by rolling hills.


At my urging it had been decided that I would stay at an air-conditioned bungalow or hotel in town. As we drew near the town, I ask about the bungalow and the mother got on the phone. To make a long story short, they told me that neither the bungalow nor the hotel would allow a farang to stay there with a Thai companion. I hadn�t planned on a companion but didn�t argue the point. Up to them.

Arriving at the family�s compound, I was warmly received by members of the extended family. A covered central area was surrounded by five houses. Bop�s 2 bedroom house was modern, large and nicely furnished. The family share this house with the mother�s brother, his wife and young daughter. I estimate there were 16 living in the compound.





The family was headed by grandmother. She worked hard and barked out orders which the young�uns seemed to ignore. Living in grandmother�s house was a mentally handicapped girl who was always peering out to see what was happening. She seemed to be ignored and encouraged to stay hidden.





The family had a business of cleaning, sorting and drilling holes in seashells. Except for Bop and Pond, all members worked from sunrise to sunset; even the children when they came home from school. In the evening everyone helped out preparing the meal. Every night we were there and huge feast was prepared with the main dish some kind of seafood. It was wonderful.








Both Pond and Bop did not participate in any of the business work or household chores yet they were treated as �hi-sos�. Their wishes were everyone�s commands. I could only speculate why this was so. One time I tried to embarrass Bop into helping a girl cleaning the dishes. He just laughed so I got up and, making a joke of it, went and squatted down to help the girl finish the dishes. This provoked gales of laughter from the family.


After the meal a sound system appeared and Issan music was played. Bop and family had gone to an Issan concert with me therefore they knew I like to dance. Well when I got up and danced, peels of laughter echoed through the neighbourhood and, then and there, I was accepted into the group. I was even able to entice the retarded girl to come out and dance with me.


When bedtime neared, we were sitting in the living room. I asked Bop where I would sleep. He simply pointed to the ceramic tiles on the floor beside my chair. I gave a surprised look that must have been noticed by everyone and they all started jabbering in Thai and pointing to the farang. Finally the uncle got up and asked if I like �air�? �Very much�, I replied. He said, �We have�, and showed me to his bedroom which had air and a nice big bed and its own TV. I was over the top in my thank yous. He said, �No problem� and grabbed a couple of blankets and pillows and placed them on the floor beside the bed indicating that was for me. Well at least it was cool.


Uncle and Wife

I went and showered and stuff and when I returned to the room, there was uncle, his wife and their little girl in the bed watching soaps. I smiled shyly, stripped to my boxers and lay down on the floor. I was beginning to doze off, when the door opened and in came Bop in his tight whities. He proceeded to climb under my covers and snuggle up close to me, giggling quietly. In the morning I noticed something hanging in the corner I hadn�t seen before. It was a police uniform. The uncle was a part-time policeman. Only in Thailand�.sleep with the family in their bedroom�.sleep with their, just turned, 18 year old nephew and the uncle was a cop. I really didn�t know what to think but I decided to simply go with the flow. Needless to say, John Thomas did not stand at attention that night or the next 4.

Trip to Khlong Yai - Part 2

Part 2

The next morning I woke up when the uncle�s family got up. Once they left the room I cuddled with Bop to try and wake him to no avail but I lay there for another hour just holding him. I had slept well but now my back and side and neck was sore. I rose, showered and dressed and went out into the compound to find the family hard a work. Mother saw me and come over with a bowl with some creamy rice in the bottom, topped with something soft, smooth and yellow. I shouldn�t have smelled it. DURIAN!!. Mother stood there watch me expectantly. Was she doing this to the farang purposely? On the spoon I took a little durian and a lot of rice. Surprise! It didn�t taste half bad and mother�s face broke into a big grin. I finished the bowl then asked if there was any hot water available as I showed them the package of pre-mixed coffee I had brought. Grandmother waved me over to her house where she had an electric hot water thermos. She looked at the package and poured 2 cups of hot water. I produced another package and the two of us sat in the morning sun enjoying our coffee while the others worked around us. We met each morning for our private coffee break.

When Bop and Pond finally daned to join us, they explained they were going to go on one of the motorcycles and get something to eat. Returning an hour later, Bop came to me and asked if it was alright if he could go and visit some of his friends. �No problem.� I said, and off he went. At least he asked and it was only natural he would want to see his friends. I made myself busy asking all sorts of questions about the work with the shells and understood about 1/10th of the answers. I had a couple of novels to read also.

By now it was after noon and I was bored and hungry with no sign of food coming. I decided to go for a stroll through the town. It was Saturday and young O was off from school and playing in the street. �Bai nai?, he called. �To look around a get something to eat� �Bai duey?�, he asked. �Sure, you can be my guide� He took the task seriously and showed me his school, 2 wats, the bank, snooker hall and finally the market. I noticed one of the straps on his flip-flops kept coming detached. I pointed to some new ones and he nodded enthusiastically. In the end he acquired, � length camouflage pants, a t-shirt, 3 pairs of underwear, a hat and a small, 70baht battery-powered game. As we neared his house, I gave him 100 baht telling him it was payment for being a good guide. He entered the compound in triumph but the family was concerned over my whereabouts.






Out of the blue it was announced that we the family were going to Cambodia to shop and buy food for dinner. �I don�t have a visa!� �No problem�, I was assured and into the truck we got. For 30 minutes we drove through lush, rolling hills along the coast passing picturesque, deserted beaches. There was a lot of road construction to make the two lanes into four.

We arrive at the small fishing village of Hat Lek that boasts a large market straddling the highway. As far as I can recon, it�s a special economic zone situated between the Thai and Cambodian custom houses. There were good bargains so my wallet was very busy. Among the food and other household supplies, the boys bought fishing rods. I discovered the reason for the road widening. Just on the other side of the boarder, a new casino had just opened for business. Immediately I remembered those secluded beach coves we passes and I thought of the possibilities if only I had enough money.


From Hat Lek pier looking into Cambodia and the casino.



Back at the house I sat down with Bop and indicated to him that my money was disappearing faster than our budget expected. I took out what remained of the 8000 baht, added another 1000 and told him to give it to mama so she could pay for the rest of the trip. �No no!�, he yelled. He said mama was a cheat and it would be better to give it to papa. He did and that was the last of my money worries.

That night we feasted on the crabs purchased in Hat Lek. Bop went out with his friends and I slept alone on the floor. I was a little more comfortable as I bought one of those mattresses in a bag.

The next morning I noticed no one was working. There was excitement in the air in the compound. A bleary-eyed Bop explained we were all going to the beach. I had about two minutes to prepare before the trucks pulled out. I always seemed to what was happening.
The back of one truck was filled with Bop and Pond�s friends � many of which I recognized from Bop�s gogo bar.




It was 20 minute drive back towards Trat to get to Muk Kaew Beach. This beach was spectacular. Soft white sand stretched as far as the eye could see and the ocean looked clear and clean. We commandeered 2 covered platforms � one for the adults and one for the young�uns. I was conflicted as to where to sit so I headed for a swim. Heavenly!











When I got back each platform had their own bottles of whiskey, mixers, ice and small snacks. Lively chatter, music, singing filled the scene as sanook broke out all over. Then the food began to arrive. So much food from the beach concession. It was a great time!





One strange event occurred later in the afternoon. I noticed 15 year old Pond and 10 year old O sitting cross legged on the platform with glasses and whiskey bottle between them. Everyone was laughing and enjoying the situation�even the uncle policeman. The 2 boys were engaged in a rock,paper,sissors game where the consequence of losing a throw was to guzzle the glass of whiskey/coke. In a short amount of time both boys were falling down drunk. Again I was unsure how to respond so I just smiled and went for my 7th swim.






The following day was a slow rising day for almost everyone. In the morning O and me watched a dvd movie on my computer then read my novel until Bop got up. I was hoping he could show me around the town on the motorbike, however he announced he wanted to go and play snooker with his friends. ��Bai duey�, I asked wanting to go with him. �Oh no! Not good!�, he exclaimed and others nearby nodded their agreement. Again, long story short, they did not want a farang wandering the town with young people. My mouth dropped open. I was aghast and embarrassed. But then again, we weren�t in Pattaya anymore Toto. Thinking back, I remembered some boys yelling remarks a O when he guided me around � remarks that I could see upset him but I didn�t put 2 and 2 together then. That was when I decided I wouldn�t be returning to Khlong Yai for a long time. The father stepped in and solved the matter by saying he would go as well so I could go two. Snooker wasn�t much fun that day.

That night the weather turned and it was decided we would head home the next day. I was ready for my own bed. In the morning we had a quick eat then packed up the truck. Four of Bop�s friends from the bar arrived and I realized they were going to hitch a ride back to Pattaya so again we�d be cramped in the truck. Luggage in, people in, tip to grandmother, thankyous to all and papa began turning the truck around to leave. I�m hoping for a quicker ride home. Not to be.

The aunt rushed up to the truck and spoke to mama. A yelling match broke out that lasted 15 minutes in the hot sun. In the end, everyone got out of the truck and the luggage removed then 8 potato sacks filled with processed shells were brought to be delivered in Ban Phe�only 60 kilometres off course. Before we were cramped, now it seemed impossible but not quite. In Ban Phe it took 30 minutes to find the store that sold shell curtains.

Half way back near Chantabury we turned off the highway. �Now what�, I mumbled into sleeping, Pond�s hair. �Waterfall�, Bop happily announced, �You did say you wanted to see a waterfall.� That was 7 days ago, now I just wanted to see my bed. Nevertheless we arrived at Phliu Waterfall National Park and I must say it was worth the stop no matter the situation. You could spend a whole day here wandering the trails, marvelling at the many waterfalls and swimming in the many pools. But the highlight was the vegetable-eating protected fish that filled every pool. Throw in a long bean and the fish swarmed like a school of piranha. But better than that, you could swim with the fish and have them jostle around and over you as you fed them. Amazing!!








On this trip there were many moments that perplexed, annoyed and upset me. There were many moments fill with happiness and sanook. Good or bad it was all an interesting educational experience I won�t forget but I wouldn�t want to repeat. But I probably will.

What's He Doing?

Hearing a commotion out on my balcony, I discovered my current bedfellow of 3 weeks bending over the wall.





Ignoring my questions, he pushed past me into the apartment and scrounged around for bits of string which he tied together then back out to the balcony. Suspecting something interesting, I grabbed my camera and followed.





He proceeded to bend a fork into a hook and tied it to the end of the string. This was lowered over the side. Of course!! Fishing!! Except we were 1.5 kilometres away from any source of water that would support fish.





Carefully he reeled in the string. From the depths below my 2nd floor apartment, he pulled up his Bt59 songkran shirt I had bought for him the day before. Apparently it had blown off the drying rack. His face displayed a huge smile of success while I admired such ingenuity.

Reincarnation

In Buddhist dharma about reincarnation, I am unsure if you can choose the form in which you will return after death. Nevertheless, after last night, I believe I have discovered something I would certainly enjoy being.

It was my 2nd night back in Pattaya and for the 2nd night the same boy was sharing my bed. I met him on my last trip but I have to say he’s become a lot more "experienced" in the past 3 months. Even if he’s simply acting, he has learned how to move his body in wonderfully erotic ways, how to moan and cry out seductively and how to gently embrace and come down after a mutual happy ending. Usually I find such a treasure just before I’m scheduled to return to farangland.

But back to reincarnation . As my body’s biological clock is getting accustomed to the time change, I woke up very early without hope of returning to sleep. I sat up and looked over at the half-smile face of innocence and fell in love again. It has always been a particular pleasure of mine to surreptitiously study a sleeping young man; marvel at the colour and sheen of his skin, its smoothness, its aroma, its flaws and blemishes that make him unique, the individual eye lashes, the way sculpted muscles twitch in his sleep, all the details of how his back transitions through an impossible slim waist to a subtle V leading to that inviting crevice which disappears beneath the black, Boss underwear.

But again I digress. I have decided I want to return as the bed-bolster on the bed of a young Thai guy. I am so envious of the way, while sleeping; he holds and caresses that pillow. The way he wraps his legs around it. The way his hips gently thrust causing his butt to rhythmically dimple. Simply bliss!




Unfortunately the bolster has no awareness of the joys it should be experiencing and that’s the pity. Therefore I should want to return as a fully aware pillow. Anyone have any ideas of how I can insure this? Maybe I should go the to wat and speak with a wise monk. Or, better yet, maybe I can ask the BoyWonder if tonight I can replace the inanimate pillow.

But for now it’s time to indulge another of my passions and gently awaken the handsome sleeper with a few well placed lip caresses to those places previously studied untouched.

It’s so nice to be home.

Three Friends

Three Friends Across the table at TNT Bar, three Sunee guys captured my attention, Which neither nearby friends nor the blast of karaoke could divert. Their stunning youth was illustrated in their handsome faces, trim bodies, Skin that shone with highlights and a sparkle of eye created by the joy of togetherness. They joked and laughed and sang and swayed as one to the music. They were friends but more � so much more. They sat so close as if separation was taboo. Even in wild musical gesticulation, hand and faces and bodies Instinctually sought intimacy with the others. Fingers intertwined, the leg of one hung over the leg of the other, A whisper in the ear meant a cheek to cheek caress and, constantly, Hands explored the hot bodies of his friends. This was not sexual. None of these intimacies were planned or deliberate. There was no thought to the actions. There was no response expected from the other. These were natural movements of obvious endearment. This was gay love as I have never witnessed before. As the party ended, I wanted to weep for my long-passed youth unfulfilled. Weep for a time when feelings between a bed buddy and myself were unexpressed. When such intimacy was secret, feared and ignored. But that was long ago and this was now. Tomorrow, those three gods of the openness of love and close friendship Will still greet me warmly within the walls of Sunee. And I will again be revitalized and renewed.

Bali Hai Sunset Restaurant

A while back  I invited Neung (my satin skinned doll) and his ladyboy lover, Sang to join me at a new restaurant located on the point of land between Bali Hai Pier and the Royal Cliff Hotel near the lighthouse. Neung and Sang are one of the most lovely and friendly couples I've ever met.




The setting on the water is wonderful. We arrived at 5:00pm and the balmy breeze was a welcome relief to the day's heat. The view across the water to Koh Larn and the sound of the wave slapping the rocks was very romantic. The seating area is totally open with large umbrellas and canvas covers. It is simply but effectively decorated to show a muted elegance. I suggest it must be one of the most romantic spots in Pattaya especially as the sun is setting.




The staff was attentive and seemed well trained although one Thai dish was temporarily forgotten. After we ordered, we wandered down the convenient and well built stone stairs to the beach. No sitting around trying to hold a Thai/English conversation while waiting for the food to arrive.

Back at the table over drinks, I presented Neung with a Bt169 fishing rod from Big C. I thought it would be kind of a joke gift but you would have thought I had given him a 2 bhat gold necklace. The hug and kiss was unexpected and lovely. He spent the next 15 minutes carefully putting it together.




The staff balanced the delivery of my farang order and the Thai dishes. My tasty mushroom soup arrived quickly followed by the Tom Yum Goong and rice. My salad had a good selection of greens and a choice of two prepared dressings. The rest of the Thai dishes arrived at the same time as my salmon steak. The salmon was a touch over done but stil delicious and I had to fight for a few scraps after forcing Neung and Sang to try some. The Thai food was a worthy substitute.

Before ice cream we again ventured seaside so Neung could try out his fishing skills. Almost immediately he hooked onto something very large and the excitement almost tumbled him off his rocky perch. However the immovable nature of the catch lead us to realize that he had attached himself to the bottom of the Gulf of Siam.




All in all it was an entertaining and romantic evening even if the sunset was somewhat subdued. The salmon steak 4 course set meal, 3 thai dishes, 3 beers and 2 sprites came to Bt1200 tip included. It's a place I would definitely go to again with the right person(s).