Sexcapade

We had been friends on Facebook since at least two years, and his account was even deleted because of too daring pictures ... Noy (name withheld) is a 20 y/o local boy and lives with his family near the cambodian border in Chanthaburi province.

Boy in Chanthaburi

I had planned to see him in his province and he was OK for a meeting. Due to my health problem, I had cancelled the date but finally decided to go and see him on another day, as he was available anytime. Sure I wondered whether it was really worthwhile to spend so much time in a bus for so little time in a bed, but going to the provinces always provides good times and much stronger memories than another day in Bangkok or Pattaya.

So after a 4 hours bus trip, I arrived in Chanthaburi where I had reserved a room in KP Grand Hotel, the highest building in town with all the amenities for only 900 THB. Location was the closest I could find to Robinson Department Store, which like Tuk.com in Pattaya is the favorite meeting place in Chanthaburi. Noy had not forgotten the appointment but of course we met only at 16.20 for an appointment at 15.00 ... never mind, on this Sunday afternoon, the constant flow of brown-skinned local boys provided a lot of eye candy while waiting.

After a light meal, we headed straight to the hotel as it was clear I wanted to know him more. His boy-next-door face and boyish attitude did not disappoint and I was already drooling over his body in the lift. Unfortunately he was much shier in the room than when posting pictures on Facebook and sex was only so-so. Which did not prevent me to give a nice tip and a small gift for his birthday, as promised some days before. He left in the early evening and I reluctantly let him go back home : 60 km on a motorbike under a steady rain was not really the wisest thing to do but he could not spend the night with me (or did not want to).

Was I disappointed ? Not at all, I had been craving for this boy since our first chat and I enjoyed both the company and the sight. And I liked the trip to Chanthaburi, which is really a nice town, and one of the most underrated provinces in Thailand.

Being alone again after he left, I treated myself to a nice meal in an almost desert restaurant room and tried the local speciality : kaeng muu chamuang (a curry of pork with chamuang leaves) ... aroy ! . And before going back to Bangkok, I did not miss a visit to the old town and to the Cathedral where I could bless Our Lady for the good news I had just got about my mother's health. 

Old Chanthaburi town

Isaan Tour, grande finale

I finally escaped Yasothon and arrived safely in Kalasin after a quick bus change in Roi Et. Curiously enough, no minivan in this area but good old buses which provide more security and more space too. In Kalasin, I had reserved a room in Phaiboon Place, which is a good enough place for the price (550 THB) and mostly for its very convenient location close to the bus station.

Kalasin boy

Kalasin is said to produce some of the cutest boys and girls in Thailand (along with Phayao in the north). After a short stroll in town and to the local plaza, I would not dare contest it. Much more lively than Yasothon too, even if being there on a Saturday makes a difference. My planned encounter with a local lad met my expectations, except for the fact that the boy could not stay very long with me. So all my proposals to have a meal together were turned down and we immediately headed for the room where this 19 y/o country boy was really brilliant : once again I could not stop looking at his incredibly cute face after the deed was done. He had come from his place (30 km away) with a friend and had to go back soon, loaded with a nice if not huge tip.

On the road again on Sunday with a longer trip to Udon Thani, again on a minivan whose driver was cautious enough on the narrow roads through the rice fields. As no room was available in my usual Charoen Hotel, I had reserved for two nights in Kavinburi Hotel in the same area : new hotel, so well-equipped and welcoming but where everything is really small : room, bathroom, swimming pool.

My young student friend was already on his way when I arrived and he was soon knocking on the door. As he entered, he immediately closed the curtains and took off his clothes almost without one word : he too had very little time as the last bus to the University left only two hours after. We made the better of it, and he took some unusual initiatives probably knowing he had to pass this exam too so that he could get further financial rewards. He comes form a very poor family and does well enough at his studies, so I try to help him as much as I can - which is not a lot. Result : exam passed with distinction !

Friend in Udon Thani

He could not come with me on the following day (Monday), which I spent mostly at the swimming pool and walking in the streets. Atmosphere in the UD Town food area and market was as good as ever, and I knew that I could have found many other willing boys to share my bed if I had wanted so. Udon, a place to consider for a possible relocation to Thailand ?

I flew back to Bangkok with regrets but also some excitation as I had already made up my mind to meet my new-found sex machine again.

Isaan trip

Dark-skinned boy in Surin

Leaving Bangkok and arriving in the heart of isan is always a shock, especially when the destination is the Buriram airport, which has been built in the middle of nowhere 20 km north of the town.

I had planned to spend my first night in Isaan in the Surin town where I had never gone. But a 19 y/o boy that I had contacted on a Gay Surin Facebook group was in fact working in Satuk, Buriram province, just where the Buriram airport is located. So rather than spending seven hours on a bus (there is no flight to Surin), I had thought it would be a good idea to fly and see him directly in his place. What I had not forecast was the change of schedule by Nok Air which made me arrive at 17.00 in Satuk, so that the whole day was anyway wasted.

This boy had seduced me not so much by his money problems (debts, low wage, broken phone, you guess it), but by his good looks and easy-going attitude. Dark-skinned like everyone in this part of Isaan, he was as usual cuter in the flesh than on the pictures. He was woking part-time in the local Tesco-Lotus and badly needed money as he had no-one of the (few) benefits that regular workers may enjoy.

Unfortunately he was not in a good shape : cold temperature had taken its toll on him and he clearly had caught a cold. We had a meal on the bank of the river and then he went to bed with me, where things were quickly done, in a good enough way when compared to professionals... Tip rather high but I guess there are probably not many chances to sell this kind of services in these small towns.

He left for his work at 7 in the morning, and I could go on with my isan trip. Traveling here is quite easy as main towns are connected by frequent van services. My second stop was in Surin, where I had no appointment and spent my time walking the streets and enjoying the swimming pool. My hotel was the excellent Thong Tharin, right in the middle of the local nightlife ; fun here is 100 % lady-oriented, but I understand there is an all male massage shop in the eastern outskirts of town. Romeo did not provide anything and anyway I already had my fix of Surin boys

I had a nice impression of my two next stops which were in Si Saket and Amnat Charoen, both low-profile towns with a lively and friendly atmosphere. Amnat Charoen is basically a crossroad but the central place hosts a nice night market where all the local talents gather providing unlimited eye candy. No appointment there as well, I preferred to enjoy the atmosphere on my own.

Tacky

Now in Yasothon which some label as the most boring town in Isaan – and they are probably right : no department store in town, no decent night market, large streets lined by shops selling car batteries and motorbikes, and I had foolishly planned two days here ! By chance there is a very quiet internet shop near my hotel (RP City, big and clean rooms for 500 THB) and that is enough to keep me busy for some hours after having visited the Big Toad park which is the tacky symbol of the town (five floors and a nice viewpoint from inside the mouth).

Next two days will be busier with a young man available for everything in Kalasin and then my horny student in Udon Thani.

Local attractions

Still two days and I will board a plane which will lead me to Thailand for a 32nd trip ... Once again, it will be a one-month only stay - I would not dare call it a holiday as I am now retired and every day is holiday time ... At least if I forget all commitments that I still have in Farangland, the main one being taking care of my beloved mother.

Date arranged in ... isaan !

As usual most of my trip has been planned : hotels, transport, and even the "friends" I will meet. Does careful planning removes the charm of uncertainty ? Planning only means having lines on a map going from point A to point B on which day. And avoiding to be at the wrong place on the wrong day, for example arriving in Pattaya on the Chinese New Year's Day ... What will happen in A or in B remains to be seen.

However I had too many contacts on Facebook not to make some of them come true. And their locations built the frame for my oncoming trip - the only other requirement being to visit, even shortly, provinces that I never went to. And this gave a road trip that I am very excited to make : flight to Satuk in Buriram province to meet a dark-skinned clerk in the local department store, then one-night stands in Surin, Si Saket and Amnat Charoen. Yasothon is scheduled for two days which could be too much ... or not, but when on the road I like to sit down somewhere, if only to take care of the laundry !

It will then be a short jump to Kalasin that I went through many years ago promising to come again due to the cuteness of the local lads .. good idea, I should sample one of them who promised to come to my place for some fun (and of course other rewards). Final days in Udon Thani where I will meet my young friend of two years. Oops .. for those who never go out of Pattaya, perhaps I should make clear that all these beautiful (?) towns mentionned above are located in the North-East of Thailand ?

I will not forget Bangkok and Pattaya and also have some dates there ; seems to me there will be no need to go to any bar for finding company, but of course I will go. And if I have some time left, I finally could know a little bit more about a boy house in Ang Thong province which advertises on some Facebook groups. Not sure I will have the energy to visit.

Gay Phuket changes ... or not ?

In the middle of my trip from the South back to Bangkok, I found it was a good idea to spend some days in Phuket where I had not set a food since many years – except as a landing point on the road to Koh Yao two years ago. After a rather tiring journey from Trang, I arrived in the new Bus Terminal from where it was still a 35 minutes taxi drive to Patong for a reasonable 450 THB fare. I had chosen not to stay in my usual Rendez-Vous Hotel due to a a much cheaper option in the neighboring Adonis Guesthouse – a nice place too and still more quiet than Rendez-Vous.

After six years, the scene in Phuket has changed of course but not so much. Most venues are still located along the way out from Paradise Hotel, offering some thrill to the busloads of tourists going out of their hotel. Much happens on the street with regular parades of gogo boys and lady boys praising their venue. The boys are mostly masculine and well-built men with very few twinks, and prices remain fair but vary from one place to another : I paid 120 THB for a Chang Beer in one bar and 200 THB for the same in the next one.

Taengmo is across the street from its former location and is now Mo2, and My Way has morphed into Yes ! Bar with three stages and the same good atmosphere I had met in the namesake six years ago. Passport is still there bit not really worth going in of you are on a tight schedule. And then there is Zag and Boat Bar which is known for the shows - that I was not persistent enough to wait for. The soi has many beer bars too which offer fresh air, pleasant company and a view over the continuous flow of boys, tourists and customers doing their own things.

Massage places are booming all over the Complex and many offer a very good selection of boys ; they are more hidden along the side alleys and some offer both boys and girls. A special mention goes to Kai boys which is both a beer bar and a massage shop facing the Rendez-Vous Hotel ; like in the Sunee Plaza beer bars, the hardest is to pick the right boy and bringing him to your table, as many are busy with their mobile phones and will not even care to look at a new customer.

Phuket beach ... the way I like it !

As for the beach, the new regulation allowing the sundecks back was a fantastic news. The chairs were much less packed than in Jomtien, with quite friendly prices (100 THB for a sun lounge) ; the gay beach is no more but did it ever exist ?

After Phuket, back to the sticks with two very friendly towns ; Ranong and Chumphon. Ranong is basically one street with all the banks and a surprisingly vibrant nightlife due to more and more backpackers on their way to the new-found paradise (Koh Phayam) – but you just have to stick to the thai places if you want to avoid them. One or two days more would have been nice to visit the local hot springs. After a very scenic drive over the Kra isthmus, Chumphon would be my last stop before the long bus journey back to an overcrowded and over-heated Bangkok. At least I will not have to pack and unpack my luggage every day any more …

Road trip to the south

I has been a long time since I did not undertake a long trip on my own in Thailand. The last ones were on a private car and with my boyfriend, with all the advantages and drawbacks involved. So relying only on public transportation, it had to be a little bit more constrained but at least I could go wherever I wanted. The aim was to go to Hat Yai and then slowly coming back to Bangkok with stopovers all along the way, and with the added bonus to increase the number of thai provinces where I have spent at last one night.

And so I arrive in Hat Yai which was a nice introduction to the south, being an always buzzing city full of hotel, restaurants and commercial centers. Unfortunately the same cannot be said about gay places and especially gay bars. From the four that were still there ten years ago, only one still remains open after the recent closure of Buddy Boys. City Man seems to do quite well as there were some customers every time I went there, and some boys were offed. There are six or seven manly lads working there, and on some evenings the bar even maintains the old format of the local bars ; a short gogo show where the most daring boys strip to their underwear and dance more or less energetically. The owner is a very playful and welcoming isan guy who will be more than happy to chat with you ; I was explained that the vanishing value of the malay currency had taken its toll on the businesses in Hat Yai and especially on the bars – a speech that we are used to hear to as far as euro or pound are concerned too.

Surprising cable car in the tropics

For the rest, I was curious try the newest tourist attraction in Hat Yai which is a cable car bringing you to the top of a hill (where in fact the view is less spectacular than from the foot …). I had dealt with ski resorts for most of my working life and so was curious to see how they had set this out … This cable car is part of a big park which lays a few kilometers away from downtown Hat Yai, and has also a huge standing Buddha and a nice viewpoint over the area.

After Hat Yai I visited Satun, a mostly moslim town which has however a nice atmosphere and a surprising fine French restaurant. Another day was for Phattalung where I climbed upon the Khao Ok Thalu, a steep ride to a hole in the mountain with one again nice views on the countryside ; unlike the Tham Sua Krabi, no one there except a couple of teens who seemed to be looking for a quiet place for whatever reason. And then it was one night in Trang, another welcoming with its night market and smiling locals.

Too handsome for me

Unfortunately I could not secure any contact through Facebook with any local lad before ; the only one was an isan boy lost in Hat Yai for his studies who was OK for having a meal with me (which in my mind could have lead to more). I must say he was so handsome that I finally did not contact him, and will only leave his beautiful face for you (and me) to dream about. I hope some more fun in Phuket where I will stay three nights.

New trip ahead

When working, I could not understand that a pensioner could claim having no free time. I have to admit now that this is exactly what happened to me since my last trip in November, due to activities of various kinds, both leisure and family duties. Of course I could not update the blog, and had anyway not a lot to tell about.

With many Facebook accounts and groups having been hugely toned down due to a relentless control by the Zuckerberg's vice squad, no bawdy activity and only some new boys who could be interested by a meeting ; most are clearly looking for a longer and rewarding commitment that simply does not interest me any more.

Affectionate isan boy

The young Udon Thani beauty could be one of them ; after a very short but very hot encounter in an Udon Thani rest room and some days together in Hua Hin last October, I can say that he could already be a keek (thai language for boyfriend number 2 ...). But I am not really interested in meeting him too often despite a lean body that I like and the kind of boy-next-door face that I cherish (picture to the right by special permission from him). Our meetings were nice, he is a very affectionate lad but unfortunately he is bottom only when I prefer all kinds of activities.  I helped him a little for his studies but told him that I cannot and do not want to support him full-time, which he understands.

However he is very keen on continuing his studies ; he told me he could even go all the way to selling himself, but how many customers could he find in a remote place in isan ? I do not know if I should encourage him in this way and wonder what I would answer if he asked me to put him up some days when I am in Pattaya.

The matter could happen very soon as students will soon begin a long holiday, and I will myself soon trip again to Thailand ; to tell you the truth, this is not really a mere coincidence. My schedule is not very busy except for a ten days trip to south Thailand where I will visit some provinces I never travelled. I should also stay three nights in Phuket, and so am very happy about the new regulations about sundecks on the beach. The remaining twenty days or so will be spent between Bangkok and Pattaya, making the most of what is left of the scene after these rumors of crackdown and regulations.

Keeping up with the times

Not one post since last March did not mean that I am not interested any more in going to Thailand. In fact my mind was in Thailand more often than suitable, thanks to daily contacts with real or virtual friends through Facebook. And now there is only one week left before it will be my body's turn to arrive in Bangkok.

Social media allowed me to stay in touch with the two Udon Thani boys I met last time, and a trip to Udon is already in the pipeline. The guy I met for only a short talk seems to be interested by a new meeting, which will probably take place in a hotel room as he is not shy at all (he had worked in a pub in Sri Racha when only 17 y/o, and he is now 19). I am much more involved with the second one ; he is clearly looking for money, but I cannot forget the short but hot encounter we had in the Central Plaza restrooms. I will invite him for three days in Bangkok and Hua Hin, a short trip which hopefully will allow him to forget a very oppressive atmosphere at home. Not that we will sleep in separate beds of course. I only fear to feel not at ease to have a rather young (but legal) guy in tow and I guess he will be labelled as my step-son on more than a few times.

The links I had with my boyfriend have distended somewhat ; I had given him much more money than I can afford, to set up his own business (a country karaoke in his home village), and simply get bored to have to give more. I guess we will meet only for two or three days, possibly for Songkran, and then will stay friends. The responsability I felt for him was too much of a burden – financially and emotionnally – and I do not want to have it any more.

Besides Pattaya, the agenda also shows a short trip to Suphanburi and Ang Thong (floods allowing), just to discover new places and, why not, new opportunities to meet boys. Ang Thong seems to have something particular about rent boys that I would like to discover : some one recruits boys in the 14/21 y/o range on Facebook for a high-paying job opportunity in this town and I guess it has nothing to do with rice harvesting.

Generally speaking, many boys seem to sell services on Facebook in this times, especially during October when they are on school holidays. I already have some contacts and hope to jump on more chances when being in Thailand … like a cutie sending a message like … "I go Bangkok to-night, have nowhere to go, who can help me ?". Or like this boy from Roi Et who just now answered "jack-off together" when I asked him what a tourist could do in his town (now in the process of getting further ...).

For sure I like the bars and the strolling along the Saranrom streets but, hey, you have to keep up with the times

New-found freedom

I love my boyfriend and have great times together. And he is always the one I am thinking of when I feel lonely. However I must say that this holiday so far has been great, thanks to the fact that I have been on my own most of the time. No more constraint for meeting boys, for elaborating plans, for early appointments : this is something I appreciate still more than what I thought.

I used this new-found freedom wisely but firmly. I can now contemplate handling a calling card with my phone number to this waiter in my favorite restaurant, and even if the chances to have him in my room are thin, feeling it IS possible is priceless. I must also thank Christianpfc, the well-known blogger that I had the chance to meet for the first time in the flesh (and in the restaurant above). Speaking with him strengthened my impression that everything is possible, and that luck, patience and perseverance could bring you much satisfaction when it comes to thai boys.

Ultimate goal : bringing cute thai boys into my room

Incidentally, lack of stamina due to weariness can be easily overcome by chemical aid. Finding easily the magic bullets could be a chore, but a friend of a friend of my neighbor told me about a shop in Sukhumwit where everything can be found for a reasonable price : very nice for my peace of mind in the very unlikely case I should need them.

So you guess than I have a great trip so far, with new outlooks opening up every day. See you to-morrow in Pattaya where I hope the mess on the beach will not put me off …. Otherwise there always will be Sihanoukville or ….UdonThani !

Short break with my boyfriend

The touristy part of this trip has been reduced to his minimum, as my boyfriend has just opened a karaoke in his home village and of course he has to make the shop turn.

The income is not great, purchasing power upcountry is not very high and the average bill does not reach the Pattaya levels for sure. Some week evenings can be very depressing, while Friday and Sunday allow more people to come. Those who had a chance to go to this kind of places know that the comfort is not great, but a lot of sanuk can be had. Of course some foreign sponsor helped him to start the activity, without hoping a huge return except giving a boy the opportunity to earn a decent living.

Tha Ton bridge

He could find an uncle to replace him for four days, so we met in Chiang Mai and a short drive with his car brought us to a very nice first stay in Tha Ton close to the burmese border. This place is known for its temple, which offers great views all over the region. We then went to the Tachilek market in Burma for some shopping.

No stop in Chiang Rai, so no update on the local scene, and it was then Phayao and its lake - still one of the best-kept secrets in Thailand.

And I could finally reach his home in Phrae province and see how the bar looked like : a small place in the middle of the rice fields along the local main road, with nice (female) staff and fresh beer.

It was already time to hop on the plane from Phrae and go back - alone - to Bangkok for some days.

Time for another round

Touring Thailand in good company

Still three days … and I will escape the cold here in Europe for another one-month stay in Thailand. My boyfriend is now working and cannot leave, so we will have only four or five days together in the northern area where he is living. That will leave me a lot of free time to spend on my own : for my homework, Facebook, gay websites and forums were used much more than tourist guides !

My calendar has already some firm appointments, mostly in Bangkok. At first there will be this dark-skinned student who proposed his services on some appropriate Facebook group ; actually, he is the reason why I decided to come a little earlier than previously planned. I will meet him in Bangkok and if we get along well, I will invite him one or two days in Pattaya - where he already seems to stay more often than your usual broke student ... "I like the sea", he tells me.

There will be a promising Seven Eleven boy too (a fantasy come true !), whom I will meet in a far away suburb, fee and appointment already set. And also this pretty - legal - young thing who worked in a Sri Racha pub when we got acquainted, and has since moved to Chainat. We never chatted about sex with him, so it will be part of the thrill to get him into my room ; if this fails, I will have at least added a new province to my list !

I have also booked a three-days trip to Udon Thani, as there seemed to be some interesting lads in the area ; however most were underage, including a Nong Khai student who had been pledging his love daily for one month and has then disappeared – he has since entered a mor-lam group as a dancer. So I am still eagerly looking for someone, knowing that all bars in town have now closed. I will perhaps stay one night in neighbouring Nong Bua Lamphu, where I can only hope to be lucky.

Sure I know that inviting Facebook boys could be at best deceptive, at worst dangerous. But who could resist the continuous flow of cuties appearing daily on the social networks ? And then I regard it as a way to pay off all the time and efforts I put in learning thai ...

Massage boys bunch in Sukhumwit shop (Thailand Gay Guide)

During my extensive researches, I was also happy to discover how many new massage places open – and close – all over Thailand . I will try some, thanks to a japanese website (listed on the right), which gives detailed maps and enough information in english. According to a thai forum, there are added services offered in many ordinary massage shops, just like in Pattaya, including in some shops I had passed by daily in my beloved Saphan Khwai area - unaware of their mere presence.

Chiangmailand massage joints look promising too, so Chiang Mai should keep me very busy for the two days I will spend there alone.The huge information available on the Chiang Mai News website (listed aside too) will be put to good use for sure !

Thailand has always something new and promising to offer ; why should I be jaded going there for my 29th trip ?

Cannot wait

I am still there and well, thank you. No new entry since my return : this can only be explained by the fact that, not being in Thailand, I had nothing interesting to share. Not that I have more now, except that a new trip is in sight.

I did not want to visit again in October/November, as this is the time I used to go when I was still running the rat race. However sometimes you just cannot wait any longer, and that is what has just happened. I am tired to chat with the boys on Facebook and telling them "sorry now not in Thailand, I will go soon". Now I do not tell anything but will warn them few days before I land again in Bangkok.

I love your wallet

Chatting with the boys on Facebook is another very addictive activity when stuck in Farangland. And looking for new ones is still better. It seems there is a never-ending flow of new young guys accepting to chat (thai language only), and not refusing an encounter or more. Most are real cuties, at least most are much better-looking than the guys in the bars … and we all know that in real life asian boys are still more lovely than on their pictures. You just have to escape those who want upfront money to be transferred for some reason, those who look for lifelong love (read : fat wallet), and of course the usual cheaters.

I remember old times when only getting some written news material from Thailand was a bliss ; now we can chat (and sometimes much more) daily with the nicest boys on earth. I can only tell myself that internet is definitely not so bad …


So I will land around October 20th for one month (still some commitments at home). For the first time in my life, I will fly with one of the Middle-Eastern carriers. Not that I like it but I really found my last return flight very tiresome (12 hours 30 in cattle class) and I love the idea of splitting the journey in two : 7 + 7 hours looks definitely much nicer than 13 + 1.

The news about the bombings in Ratchaprasong are a further incentive to go to Thailand again, if only to show that we love the country and want to support it in these sad times.

Charming Chanthaburi province

Facebook and then a very detailed report on Christian’s blog had drawn my attention to a tourist attraction very popular among thais and looking rather spectacular : Khao Khitchakut in Chantaburi province. So when my boyfriend suggested we could go there, I accepted immediately. 

Khao Khitchakut is technically the name of a district and of a National Park ; its main attraction is located on a mountaintop and is the site of a Buddha footprint, and also offers many rock formations in all shapes. It is open only for two months in the year (grossly from mid January to mid March), so it attracts a lot of people – mainly thai. Moreover it is open day and night, and requires some physical effort.

Going there from Pattaya, logistics were rather easy to arrange : rent a car for two days, reserve a room in downtown Chantaburi and here we are, leaving Pattaya at 3 in the morning (the witching hour …), the boyfriend driving under the shrewd guidance of this sleepy farang. 

Up to Buddha footprint

Two hours and a half of rather quiet roads later, we arrive at Wat Pluang, where the pilgrimage begins. In the middle of the mountains, we land in a small village brimming with touts, restaurants, souvenir shops, people going and coming back … business seems to be good there ! We then have to sit on a four-wheeled car, and then another, which climb very steep and bumpy trails where we mostly try to keep seated without pressing our neighbours or falling on the side … great fun, reminding af an amusement park. From then it is still a 1 or 2 km walk along well-maintained stairs, lined with bells, rocks sprinkled with yellow flowers left by pilgrims, and small shrines .. in the morning mist, all this combine to provide a very poetic backdrop. 

We finally reach the holy print, at the food of a huge boulder perched atop the mountain, where we join the huge mass of pilgrims of all ages, chanting, praying, making offerings in the middle of nowhere ; we can only be impressed by an atmosphere tinged with sharing, faith and mystery.

Masses of pilgrims near Buddha footprint

Some more kilometers of rather slippery trails lead us to Pha Deng, where we write our wishes on a red piece of cloth that we then attach to a tree. And then it is the way back, with the trip down on the 4D pick-ups, still more spectacular in daylight. 

We spend the rest of the day in downtown Chanthaburi, resting in our hotel (World Travel Lodge, excellent), visiting the delightful old town and the massive catholic cathedral, and having a meal along the river where local students like to gather after school.

The following day sees us in the Phliu waterfall wich is another famous attraction for thai tourists, as they love splurging in fresh water and offering food to the fat fishes living in the stream. Finally we come back to Pattaya along the little-known and quiet Chantaburi beaches, not forgetting a seafood meal on Suan Son Beach (Rayong province) where tourists are really few and far between despite the hot sun and nice landscapes. 

Real Thailand (facing Koh Samet)

All in all a worthwhile trip in what some call the real Thailand (an expression that I do not like, is not Soi Sunee real Thailand too ? ), allowing me to log another province on my lifelong mission to sleep – local boy alongside not required - in each one of the 77 thai provinces (now 36 and counting). 

Further information on Christian's blog

http://christianpfc.blogspot.fr/2014/03/khao-khitchakut-national-park.html

Magic southern islands

Due to work commitments, I never had the chance until now to visit Thailand during the best time of the year, that is January and February. Eighteen years of frustration have at last been compensated by a stay in the southern islands with my boyfriend. I just realise that for the first time in my life I have been able to enjoy a continuous sunny weather for more than three weeks, which never happens in the mountainous part of France where I live.

No gay adventure this time except the strong relation I have been in with my boyfriend since almost eleven years. Southern Thailand being mostly Moslim, no place for adventures, and anyway cute southern boys are not in great numbers – although those who have a nice face are really to die for. No sign of availability either.

Sunrise on Koh Yao

We spent three nights in the little known Koh Yao Noi island, in Phang Nga province, where the muslim inhabitants could until now maintain a low-profile tourism with few very expansive resorts and many middle-range family operations. You do not go there for the beaches as the water is generally shallow, but for the atmosphere, the simple and tasty seafood, and the landscapes. We took a boat tour to some of the many islands, some of them offering fantastic views, rode mountain bikes along deserted local roads, and spent a lot of time doing nothing, which is really not boring at all in this kind of place.

We had arrived through Phuket airport, and left to Krabi where I had planned a four day stay in Koh Lanta, renting a car from Krabi airport. This stay coinciding with both Valentine's Day and my own birthday, I had chosen to splurge on a rather expensive (by my standards) beachfront bungalow on the quiet Klong Nin beach. Everything went smooth, sunsets were beautiful as promised, and beaches large enough for everyone. If French tourists were a majority in Koh Yao, German ones seemed to prefer Koh Lanta.

In Krabi mainland, we visited some interesting waterfalls, along with the Emerald Pool much appreciated by farang youths escaping the cold season during their winter break. And I was also very proud to see my boyfriend able to climb the 1267 staircases leading to the summit of Wat Tham Sua, from where the view over Krabi town is impressive.

Exhausted boyfriend looking towards Krabi town

That was the touristy part of my trip, which I like almost as much as the fun part. Now back to more carnal pleasures with about two weeks to be shared between Bangkok and the unavoidable Pattaya.

Wintertime fun ahead

You never know what a holiday in Thailand will bring to you. However on the eve of leaving for my 28th stay in Thailand – the first in winter -, I am sure there will be many great times and, still more, the continuous impression of feeling good, wherever I am, whatever I do.

Unfortunately this trip begins amid a very bad atmosphere in Europe, due to the horrible crimes in Paris, and also to widespread worries about the economic situation. The value of euro has lost more than 17 % against thai bahts since my last trip in June, which will probably cause some unwanted limitations. I had booked flights and some hotel rooms and sent money before the freefall but, not being thai, I always think that what I spend to-day will have to be replaced next year probably at a higher rate.

Siem Reap again ...

The program for this five-weeks trip includes four days in Siem Reap, which I am eagerly looking forward to. I will go there alone, and have not planned any visit to the main temples – I already saw them last June in a more quiet atmosphere. So the days will be filled with resting, enjoying the guesthouse, perhaps biking, and of course admiring the local talent. I have been rather diligent at my khmer lessons but this will probably not be enough for having long chats in the local language ; at least I should find further incentive to go on learning.

In Thailand I will trip with my boyfriend to Southern islands. This has been a long dream of me but until now I had never been able to come to Thailand in winter, when the weather is at its best in the area. We will avoid Phuket as the beach situation there seems to be hopeless, but I could have the opportunity to spend one night in Ao Nang, where two low-key boy bars are supposed to be open.

For the remaining three weeks, both Bangkok and Pattaya are on the map. Depending on the atmosphere in the beachside resort, and most of all at the Jomtian beach, I could stay longer in the capital or in some other towns that I never visited.

If I needed only one reason to be happy to go back, it would be enough to have a glance out of the window and see snow falling with more to come at the end of the week. Finally these winters in Europe will not be missed !

One month in Thailand : a financial record

It has been a long time since I wrote a financial record of my Thailand trips. Boring for some, I know, but it could bring some useful information to others, especially newcomers.

Every time I come back to my room, I enter every expense I had and make sure that no one has been omitted by checking the money left ; it also makes it easy to be sure that I have not been cheated or stolen. Expenses are split into six or seven main categories, without being too fussy about it. Dividing every amount by the number of nights spent in Thailand (and Cambodia for this time) gives an average daily amount which allows an easy comparison for different trips. So nothing exceptional here.

For this trip, I managed to stay very low on accomodation with 865 THB/night, tips for staff and cleaning ladies included. As I doubled payed four nights being too lazy to pack and unpack for short side trips, the true expense would have been 760 THB/night. Not that I stay only in dumps : all hotels I staid in Thailand had A/C, fridge and swimming pool ; I simply do not like to pay more than I should.

Eating and drinking (outside entertainment places) amounted to an average 1 200 THB/night, including what I pay at the beach. This is a lot, but my boyfriend who often shares my meals, eats well and drinks good, like my nephew whom I treated twice to dinner.

Transportation accounted for 784 THB a day ; this an highly variable item, which reaches summits with car rentals or expensive flights. No one of them this time, flights to Cambodia were rather cheap although for two travellers : boyfriend and me.

I spent 734 THB/night in gay bars and discos, a constantly decreasing amount since many years, due to both me and my boyfriend getting older. However I gave tips to boys for chatting, massaging and “taking care” for as much as 1 021 THB/night, boyfriend not included. Most of these well-deserved rewards went to the Khorat devil and to massage boys, whose talents I often used.


Finally everyday expenses (newspapers, laundry, pharmacy, personal care, phone cards ...) reached 481 THB/day. Clothes and a new mid-range smartphone are not included in this record, as these are purchases which I will keep for use in my home country.

So I spent as much as 5 123 THB/day, of which 38 THB/day unaccounted-for. What I gave to my boyfriend adds up, as well as the flight costs. I guess I will have to adjust a little and I have a clear view on which item I need to cut back, but how to do it ?

Non-essential

If I were an american or malaysian citizen, I would be supposed to consider cancelling any non-essential travel to Thailand. Anyway I obviously do not feel concerned : like the former 26 trips since 1996, this one cannot be postponed by any means.

Flights and hotels in Cambodia are booked, with three nights in Pnom Penh and four in Siem Reap with my boyfriend. Nice to know that the most famous tourist place in Cambodia is also home to a vibrant gay nightlife, at least by local standards. I am really looking forward at staying in Siem Reap after reading the excellent blog of an Australian expat living there (link updated on the right column) : a lot of information, nice pictures and clearly an invitation to know the place better.

I started to learn cambodian, just in case I love the country but I did not perform well ; this language has a really difficult alphabet and very few in common with thai language except for the figures and some rare words. It stroke me to see on Facebook that many local youngsters write their own language in phonetic English rather than using khmer spelling … very sad if you ask me.

However the faces and attitudes of khmer boys look 100 % asian which I will not lament … What do you think of the nice young thing on this picture from Facebook ?


Besides this one week-trip with my boyfriend, and the mandatory stay in Pattaya, I will allow a rather long time in Bangkok – demonstrations allowing. Thanks to Nok Air nice promotions, I jumped at the chance of doing a sidetrip to Hat Yai as no one seems to be able to update on the scene down there … And there will be another one to Hua Hin with the increasingly naughty Khorat boy, with whom many chats on Facebook thave turned rather lewd recently…

And they would like me to cancel such a nice program ?

Oh and by the way this is post #200 on this blog ... thank you for your reading and your support and good luck to all of you

In the sticks (2)

From Phrae onwards, the route took us into the remotest parts of Thailand, following the lao border until we reach Chiang Rai.

The first day ended in Pua district, Nan Province. We visited some more wats in Nan town at first and then the Bua Thong wat in the countryside. Although not being crazy about visiting temples, I must say that I loved to visit them ; in this area, they are built in the thai-lue style : rather small compared to others but many offer beautiful murals, and they are also remarkably shaped, the model being Wat Phumin in Nan town.

We visited another waterfall but I can say that there is some deceit to label this Silaphet Waterfall in Pua District as a waterfall. It was more a resting place with many selling stands and some running water. I guess the locals have found the right idea to bring some tourists to their place, hiring another cute male guide to promote it on Youtube, see at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAbAp23I-fY

Bathroom at Huanam Homestay, Pua district, Nan province

Our resort for the next two nights was very close, and it would have to be the highlight of our trip. Tam being mad at eating mushrooms, had found this Mushroom Farm homestay, and I decently could not refused him to go there. A nice although rustic place in the middle of nature, overlooking rice fields at the foot of the mountains, and of course mushrooms on the menu for two days. And two gorgeous local boys as waiters, which I would not complain about. (google "Huanam homestay" for reference).

The next day was a trip to the Doi Phuka National Parks, where we did not see a lot of people as the roads here are rather challenging and there are very few facilities. We made our way to Bor Klua, along a spectacular route with some viewpoints unfortunately obscured by a persistent fog. After a never-ending 72 km in the middle of nowhere, our next stop was the Huay Kone border point where there is nothing to see unless you come here on the day when there is the thai-lao market.

Phu Sang Waterfall, Phayao province

We left the Nan Province along another scenic route, this one in a much better condition running across Phu Langka National Park. We reached then the Phayao Province with a very nice stop at Phu Sang waterfall, the only waterfall with hot water which is of course a favorite playing ground for the local kids. The aim of the day was one of the numerous resorts on the Phu Chi Fah mountain ; we could not help going to the Phu Chi Fah summit as soon as possible, only to find another very foggy landscape.

With a bright sky on the following day, we got up at 5 am like every one … at least like the few tourists being there on that weekday. We were lucky enough to see the top of the mountain in a clear sky and also to see the sea of clouds of which the thais are very fond of. Unfortunately the fog rose up again suddenly hiding the rising sun, so everyone was a little bit disappointed about their trip. No great views either at the neighboring Pha Tang viewpoint, where you walk along the lao border (or inside lao territory, who knows ?) near a village inhabited by chinese people.

Love nest on Phu Chi Fah

We finally found clearer skies when going back to the Maekhong valley, an area I cannot get tired of seeing. And we took the time to visit again the famous White Temple south of Chiang Rai town as well as the spectacular Khun Korn Waterfall, where Tam showed unusual qualities as a hiker ; the three kilometers we had to walk along a convenient footpath were worth the effort, as the water was in full swing after the rainy season.



And then it was back to reality in the hot and bustling Chiang Rai town. The local Tesco Lotus was a mandatory visit after so many days in the country, and a huge pizza a well-deserved reward. The beer we had in the only remaining boy bar in Chiang Rai (Regency Bar facing Wangcome hotel, half a dozen of decent guys on duty) was like a transition to the new part of my stay : Bangkok, Pattaya, and its famous dens of iniquity...

Up to Phu Chi Fah, VERY early in the morning

In the sticks (1)

I had spent more time preparing my trip to the North than listing all the gay venues that I should not miss … perhaps I am becoming older or I like more being with my boyfriend than roaming the bars ? True but I akso happen to love Thailand and discovering everything this country offers.

Up to Phu Hin Rongkla National Park

This trip brought whatever I was awaiting, except some nice weather. Tam enjoyed every second of it, as he likes to drive a car (I left him driving all the time, as he is of course used to drive on the left side of the road, and he drives quite well). His smile was a reward in itself, he still has the most beautiful smile in Thailand when he is happy. And like every thai he likes to show where he has gone tripping, which he regularly made through his Facebook and his Line accounts. By the way he allowed me to post his picture on my blog so he will now appear here and there.

After an uneventful flight with Nok Air (1000 TH all flights if booked at a certain period in July ...), we took delivery of our rental car - Toyota Vigo 4x4 - from the Budget desk in the Phitsanuloke airport. Unfortunately it was a rainy and foggy day which made the landscapes in the Khao Kho mountain (Petchabun province) almost invisible. We could just enjoy the new wat being built on a hill along the famous Route 12 to Lomsak, which will probably become another well-known touristy attraction in the few years to come - some russian tourists were already there !.

Pha Chu Thong

The weather on the second day was thankfully better and after a long drive up into the mountains we got to the Phu Hin Rongkla National Park which is known as a battleground between the thai Governmemt and the communist rebels from 1967 to 1982. The highlight is the Pha Chu Thong where the thai flag has since long replaced the red flag. Beautiful landscapes and views all the way up and down.

We then arrived in Uttaradit for the night, after a visit to the Chat Trakan waterfall ; the waterfall offers spectacular views but the beautiful boy who served as a guide on a Youtube video was nowhere to be seen. We arrived there along with a group of young (male) cyclists coming from Phitsanuloke Uni. Look at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv43xcAFR-0 for the waterfall (or the boy).

Uttaradit is a lively town with very welcoming people. Our hotel was the Siharat Hotel (see Agoda for prices), which offers one of the best quality/price ratios in Thailand, as well as good eating places and a commercial center nearby.

Boyfriend in Sri Sichanalai

On the following day, Tam had the good idea to visit the Sri Satchanalai historic park rather than the Sirikit Dam. Many wats in a very quiet atmosphere, and all can be easily accessed by a car which was good news for a somewhat lazy boyfriend.

We then headed for another waterfall in Phrae, Tam's native province, just beyond the iconic Cho Hae wat. The evening took place in a local karaoke with local boys, including a beautiful guy (Tam's nephew) due to enter the army three days later.

Or tourist ?

Cute boat competitor in Nong Khai

No Camfrog boy in Nong Khai, just the wish to look at the Mae Khong river, and add another province to the list of the places I have spent at least one night (28 and counting ...). And also to try the ”Oasis Bar” which advertises itself as being the only gay bar in town.

However I was lucky enough to stay in Nong Khai just when the Boat Races took place, which prompted me to stay two nights instead of the one that I had planned. It is not possible to stay blind at the sight of these 40 + teams of brown-skinned and well-toned men doing their best for defending their province (the one I could snap above is for me an absolute cutie). The banks of the river were full of people looking at the races, many of them being groups of young local students offering one of the most beautiful sight I had ever seen in Thailand.

Oasis Bar in Nong Khai

As for the bar, forget finding a boy there : it is mostly a nice place to hang out in a good atmosphere close to the Maekhong river (breathtaking views at sunset). Do not fancy the gorgeous 17 y/o lad you could meet there, he is not available and not only for legal reasons. And do not trust the map on their website : the bar is still further downstream among other bars and restaurants between Soi Pho Sri 3 and Pho Sri 4, named from the neighbouring Pho Sri temple ; you will probably have to hire a tuk-tuk to go there.

Udon Thani was my last stop in Isan before flying back to Bangkok. I was rather disappointed by the place but I had probably not enough time to visit it. Boyzone Bar was not bad with a good bunch of boys but the owner told me he could close at the end of the year due to the lack of customers, which he explained by the new internet networks allowing people to meet boys everywhere merely  by contacting them on-line.

The other Bar (City Man) is still there but as I finished paying 90 THB for a 30 THB Coke I had ordered (mamasan drink ?), I guess its reputation as a place cheating customers is still justified (and I had to stop a boy from bringing me another bottle I had not ordered).

So much for Isan, and back to normal life with some days in Bangkok.