splinter1949

My husband and I were watching Drag Race: Philippines with a friend (who's 35). They panned on one of the judges, BJ Pascual, and I exclaimed "Wow! He's so hot!". The friend said "Unicorn, he's a twink!". I replied "You're just saying that because you're in your mid 30s, and now think men in their 30s are twinks...". BJ Pascual is actually turning 39 this winter. I've always considered twinks to be lanky men in the 18-25 age range. But I've noticed that many of our friends in their 30s like to think of themselves as twinks (although the 35 year-old friend is too buffed to think of himself as a twink). About two years ago, one of a married couple turned 30, and his husband threw him a "funeral" birthday party, in which we were all to wear black, to celebrate the "death of twinkdom" for the birthday husband. I guess the other husband was tired of his 30 year-old man referring to himself as a twink.
So does your view of who's a twink expand as you get older? Do you believe a man in his 30s can be a twink? It definitely went against my grain to refer to BJ Pascual as a twink...

Here he is several years ago:

about week ago bkkmfj and me decided to have a dinner there and were very warmly welcomed by Guido himself. We were surprised how spacious place is and how busy it was on Monday night, definitely more than half of tables were occupied. Menu is the same like in soi 4 location and so are prices.
What I liked was that place is divided to separate sections so party mat seat in the middle of courtyard or some quiet corner. Toilet facilities are spacious and impressive too.
all in all, very welcomed addition to Pattaya dining scene.

Thanks for the update. I do wish you all the best with your upcoming cardiac surgery and recovery.

Quick update...just been exploring Battambang city and getting acclimated to the environment here. We took a ride on the motorbike out into the countryside two days ago...got around 20 km out and then a downpour. Got absolutely soaked. Only had those flimsy plastic rain covers available from most roadside stands and not much else for protection. I guess I have been lucky, as this is the first time since I have been here that we got caught in a rainstorm while on the motorbike. Just reinforced my thoughts about purchasing a car once I am living here full time. Think I really prefer the protection it provides on several fronts. Needless to say, we never reached our destination and ended up returning to the Airbnb. We were headed to Snoueng to visit the 11th-century temple ruin Prasat Steung along the road from Battambang to Pailin. I think the next time we attempt this I will suggest we just hire taxi or car for the trip.
Meeting with a real estate agent tomorrow morning to investigate apartment options in the area. Hope we are successful in finding a place. If we can find something in a good area that we both like I am willing to go ahead and put a deposit down now to secure it. That will allow Cam to have access after I return to Denver. He might want to come and visit family or friends...or just simply need a break from his family during the construction project. I have already made it clear there are to be no guests other than family and definitely no parties. lol.
Need to give a brief update regarding my health...it seems I am going to need to cut my trip short by about one week. I knew this might happen, as did Cam. We have been very open about the situation. I am going to be having heart surgery December 1. They need to do some preliminary tests and other things in preparation for the surgery that requires me to be back a little earlier than I had planned...mainly because of the Thanksgiving holiday in US. This is something that needs to be taken care of before making the move to Cambodia, and the timing works out with Cam's construction schedule because the cardiologist estimates the recovery period to be approximately three months. Cam's estimate for construction is two months...lol...my estimate is three. I think it will end up being four based upon the experience with building the new fence.

Those ae the only two "Kit"s I have, although I do have a Kittikun Tansuhas. Born February 3, 1992 in Chiang Mai, he's a model who won the title of Mister International Thailand 2016. In 2017, he began appearing as contestant on the first season of the modeling reality show The Face Men Thailand.

I guess he was 22 for this photo...

Today I decided to try something a little different. My partner went to the sauna, which I didn’t realize used to beElegantz. Ii went to D’ Paradise SPA Seminyak. It is a little off the main road and the road leading to it seems a little sketch, but it opens up into a somewhat nicer little area. Very small place with a few massage beds and a few guys working.70 minutes. Start on stomach. Teasing. The guy placed his crotch in my hand. And all the typical gay stuff right off the bat. But when I turned over, I had a very very long edging session that seemed more like a lingnam massage might be like which I’ve never had before. It was great. The practitioner wasn’t particularly good looking but oh my God he had so many techniques to use on me. That was fun and worth it. This was my last erotic massage in Bali. The next morning I got up early and had a 4 massage at.Jari Menari before going to the airport for my flight on China Airlines back home

Some of the treats that I recently discovered for breakfast since arriving in Battambang now have Khmer names to go with them.  lol.  It took a bit of coercing from Cam and the server to be able to figure things out, but I eventually got there. I wanted to know their names so that I could order them in other places as well, or at least see if they were on the list of items available.
Nom Cheung Chrouk is the one that looks similar to a muffin but is deep-fried.  While it is savory, it does have some sort of glaze on it that is sweet.  The English name would put some people off from trying…Pig Trotter Cake or Crispy Pork Feet Cake.  However, rest assured there is no meat inside whatsoever…only chives and various types of onion…no pork.  Not sure why the English name?!?  According to AI/Google it is because it looks similar to a pig’s foot.  My grandfather loved to eat pickled pig’s feet and always had a jar sitting on the table at lunch time.  The cake doesn’t look anything like what I remember a pig’s foot to look like.
Nom Kong is the one that looks like a donut but is very chewy like Japanese mochi.  It is also deep-fried and then has this sweet topping that gets hard and crunchy and is sprinkled with sesame seeds.  This one in particular is very dangerous for me as it is so delicious.  I could eat two every morning for breakfast and would gain so much weight.  I believe the hard crunchy top contains honey…not sure what else.
Nom Ka Chai is the one similar in size and shape to a hockey puck…maybe not that large and is the fried chive cake.  I have had something similar in Chinese Dim Sum restaurants, but never this large.  While we ate them for breakfast, I think for me it would be more of an afternoon or late night snack.  You will notice a pattern here…all of these are deep-friend delicacies.
Nom Pot Pham Chien is the last one I have tried so far.  This is a fried sweet corn cake made from freshly roasted corn either shaved or cut off the ear and combined with some type of flour and other ingredients then formed into a patty or pancake.  Reminds me of something similar you find in southeast US called corn fritters. The version we had contained some green onion, carrot and I believe or at least hope it was minced shrimp and not something more sinister or disgusting.  lol.  One of those things I am probably better off not knowing what it actually is and just allow myself to assume it is shrimp.

Today was all about taking care of business.  I opened a bank account at ACLEDA.  I chose this bank because this is the bank that Cam uses.  Cam is also on my account.  I have a similar arrangement in Denver where my sister and youngest nephew are both on my accounts there.  Just on the outside chance that something were to happen to me and I became incapacitated, I want someone to be able to access the account and handle matters if it becomes necessary.  I will be able to move money from my US bank account to the Cambodian bank account as needed, but that can only be done through the US account…not in reverse…so Cam does not have access to those accounts.  I anticipated that question would be coming from forum members.  lol.  The bank account was relatively easy to set up using my passport, the ER visa, and the current Airbnb address.  I was able to show an online receipt through the Airbnb website that satisfied the residency requirement as far as the bank was concerned.  You can actually open the account with $0 money, but I chose to deposit $50 USD.
Went to Metfone, again chosen because Cam and his family all use this company, as it was time to re-up the next month on my cell/data plan.  Inquired about an annual plan, but nothing like that is offered.  Everything is month to month.  However, since I have the ER visa, my rate was a little bit less, and the months I am out of the country I only need to pay $1 monthly to keep the account active.  This can be done with a transfer via my phone from the ACLEDA bank account directly to Metfone.  Quick and easy.
Checked out two different hospitals in Battambang…Handa Medical Center and Sovann Polyclinic.  Both are accustomed to dealing with international patients and have English speaking staff available.  Both are private, though, as the public institutions are not recommended by expats living there.  Handa and Sovann will do for routine visits and to get my prescriptions.  Emergencies in a pinch.  Anything other than that will require a trip to Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, or Bangkok.  I already knew that.  Both facilities are decent and similar to what I experienced in Bangkok.  Checked with the pharmacy at both places, giving them a list of my medications and the dosage for each one.  Both places were very nice and took time to check the list carefully.  It seems all of my current medications will be available here with the exception of one heart medication and my inhaler for asthma.  They have a different but comparable inhaler…but no alternative for the one heart medication.  I will need to discuss the medications with my doctor back in Denver to see what else we might be able to use instead of the one not available at all.  Overall, though, it was a very positive experience and I don’t think my medications will be too much of an issue.  Once I return, I will need to decide on which medical center I prefer and make an appointment to be seen by one of the doctors who will write the prescriptions.
Planning to meet with a real estate agent next week to look at some possible apartments.  AC is definitely at the top of my list, followed by washer.  Swimming pool would be nice, but not a requirement.  Secured parking for the motorbike is at the top of Cam’s list.  Not sure why…is theft an issue here?  Would be nice to have an actual stove top in the kitchen instead of a single hot plate, but that is not a deal breaker.  I can always buy a second hot plate if necessary.  Not sure how well equipped the kitchen will be until we actually start visiting potential places. 
In the meantime, having a family dinner tonight at the aunt and uncle’s house.  They are not as warm and fuzzy towards me as Cam’s immediate family.  Cannot pinpoint any one thing…just my overall vibe.  Welcoming the stranger to their home…okay…but definitely get a feeling of disapproval regarding me and Cam.  I had seen photos of them before from when their daughter got married recently.  They also looked very stiff and conservative in their photos.  Don’t think they will be folks that we spend a lot of time with, even though they are in Battambang. His cousin’s are okay, though…around the same age as Cam and his youngest sister…25-35 range.

Oh wait, I can copy and paste after all:
Muscle Ranking
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Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Muscle Ranking is a gay massage service in Shinjuku. Our private studio is a one-minute walk from Shinjuku-sanchome Station (Exit E1), right beside Ni-chome, Tokyo's gay district.
No Japanese needed. Non-Japanese guests are welcome and the entire booking can be handled in English. English-speaking therapists can be requested.
Our therapists are working GOGO boys and well-known muscular content creators. Both incall (our private studio) and outcall (your hotel) are available, and same-day bookings are accepted.
Prices (tax included)
Standard: 60 min ¥11,000 / 90 min ¥13,000 / 120 min ¥16,000 / 150 min ¥19,000 / 180 min ¥22,000
Four-hand (two therapists): 60 min ¥20,000 / 90 min ¥24,000 / 120 min ¥30,000 / 150 min ¥36,000 / 180 min ¥42,000
Overnight: 10 hours ¥33,000 / 12 hours ¥35,000
Private charter: 12 hours ¥55,000 / 24 hours ¥70,000
Additional fees
Private room: ¥3,000 (standard courses), ¥5,000 (overnight), ¥10,000 (charter)
Outcall: ¥2,000 (¥4,000 for four-hand), within 30 minutes of Shinjuku Station; further areas quoted separately
Some therapists have an individual rank fee, shown on their profile page
Same-day booking: no extra charge at present
Payment: cash only (Japanese yen), paid before the session starts. We cannot accept credit cards, so please bring cash.
Facilities Our private studio has a double bed, a massage bed, a play mat, a shower, a toilet and a hair dryer. Bath towels, body soap, shampoo and mouthwash are provided. We also operate a private gym with free weights and strength-training machines.
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Well, we have finally arrived in Battambang. Trip wasn’t too bad.  Three motorbikes…Cam/me, mother/father, and sister.  Took around 90 minutes, although Cam says it is doable within 60 minutes.  However, we stopped twice along the way.  Road isn’t too bad, and fortunately it did not rain.  Battambang reminds me of this quaint, sleepy small town.  It makes me think about Mark Twain stories that describe life in sleepy river towns of the southern US.  Depending on which travel website or guidebook you read, some list Battambang as the second largest city in Cambodia while others list it as number three. No idea what the actual population is, but it does not have a big city vibe to it.  While I did not see an overwhelming number of tourists in the city of Siem Reap itself, the temples were definitely busy.  In Cam’s hometown, I was definitely the token foreigner.  Not a single other Caucasian within miles of the place.  Battambang does not seem to attract many foreigners, either.  We have seen a few, but not many.  Traffic for me was not a problem in Siem Reap, and doesn’t seem to be a concern here as well.  The biggest issue regarding traffic everywhere is there are simply too many vehicles and too little infrastructure.  I would hope some of the two lane roads and streets will be widened to allow for better flow, but that takes time and money.  I do enjoy the French colonial architecture, and there seems to be a very active art scene here with a  number of galleries and museums.  Have not done any of the touristy type things just yet.  Already discovered a great place for breakfast near the Airbnb that has these most delicious treats that look like donuts but are chewy similar to Japanese mochi and have a sticky coating covered in sesame seeds.  So yummy.  Also tried their version of a chive dumpling and something similar to an empanada that contains ground pork, chives, and jicama among other things.  Found a modern supermarket where I will probably do most of my grocery shopping.  Cam will probably prefer the local markets, but the western part of me likes the shiny and new appearance of the more modern supermarket.
Airbnb turned out to be exactly as described with the exception of the swimming pool.  The photos of the pool online make it look very large, when in reality it is more like a kiddie pool…just for wading and cooling off, but no laps or diving whatsoever.  It was nice to be able to sleep in an actual bed last night without mosquito netting with a working AC unit.  AC is only in the bedroom, but we have two fans in the living area to keep air circulating.  That must be a thing here in Cambodia.  Unlike Bangkok, where the entire unit has AC, it only seems to be available in the bedrooms in Cambodia.  Kitchen is small, but I have come to expect that of most Asian kitchens.  I was also able to take a nice, long hot shower instead of scooping water from water storage to get myself wet and rinse, as well as a standard toilet.  Funny thing about the toilet, though…the toilet is standard, but the toilet seat is from a different toilet that is more oval and elongated. lol.  Cam makes fun of me for wanting to take a hot shower but keeping the AC on all night long at full blast to stay cool.  I guess that is somewhat of a contradiction.  It was nice to finally be reunited with some of my belongings as well.  The larger bag had gone to Battambang when I first arrived…taken by a friend of Cam’s who drives a delivery truck.  I was not sure what condition it would be in, but it had been safely stored and everything in order just like when I first arrived at the airport.

Thank you for sharing. An interesting situation indeed. Does Cam have any gay friends? I don't know about rural Cambodia but in rural Thai villages the gay boys will get together, drink and be Mary/merry. Often there are mixed gatherings, with straights, gays, ladyboys, ladyboys-in-waiting and everything else in-between coming together. They drink, eat, play cards, chequers and takraw.
I practised family law for ten years and one thing I noticed again and again from relationships that have broken down is that one party is upset with the other party for not meeting their expectations, to put it mildly, to the point where the aggrieved party felt that they've put up with enough and the relationship have simply reached a brick wall and they couldn't go on.
When we delved deeper we often found that the problems had started from early on in the relationship, which the aggrieved spouse had failed to communicate to their partner and possibly have corrected. The aggrieved spouse simply accepted the behaviour of the other spouse, let them make the decisions, refused to ask questions, always giving in - slowly but surely allowing the other spouse to assume that his/her behaviour was okay and no adjustments on their part were necessary. In other words, norms were being established and consolidated in the relationship. It gets worse when they have children because the aggrieved spouse will use the kids as a crutch and an excuse not to "rock the boat" for the sake of the children.
Relationship norms once established are very difficult to reverse or correct. By the time the aggrieved party comes to us it is usually too late and separation - and ultimately dissolution - is often the wisest course of action. And the most common thing the opposing party says in their defence is, "Why are you complaining now? You were okay with it for the last ten years so why make noise now?" And they would be right, although I would never tell that to my client.

While someone may crash at our apartment on a rare occasion, the plan is to just get a one bedroom similar to what we have been doing on Airbnb rentals. So there will not be a lot of extra room. They are pretty much accustomed to staying with his mother's sister whenever they visit Battambang, so hopefully that will continue. I wouldn't really mind if someone stayed with us...just not the entire brood at one time.
All five siblings look very similar. The three girls are very much like their mother. Even though there is a gap of some 13 or 14 years between Cam and his brother, they really could be twins. They look alike and from a profile definitely have their father's features. Face on I do see their mother, just like the sisters. While it is always a possibility that they are not all biologically related, I don't believe that is the case. His parents have been together some 40 years. Those are rather personal questions that I may be curious about, but would never ask. Same as with his sister who is the seamstress. She and her husband are separated. They have three young boys elementary age. The sister lives with the grandmother. The boys live with their father. She does occasionally have them, but not often. No idea what the story is there, even though I am curious about the situation. I know Cam will sometimes go and visit the boys at school and treat them to like pizza or ice cream, but she did not have them over Pchum Ben and, as far as I know, did not go to see them or spend time with them. Again, while I may g very curious, Cam doesn't talk about the situation so I don't ask any questions. If and when he is ready to share the story with me, I will simply listen but not offer any comments or suggestions other than to provide empathy.

I'm trying to convince Reader to post again, giving the reason mentioned here....in the meantime he texted me this, since I asked for an update on the masaasge places since I'm fixing ( @BjornAgain a Texan expression for ya) to head to that side of the world.


About Sun Massage on Silom Soi 6 (first shop on right as you enter from Silom rd.). It's my favorite in Silom because of the variety of nationalities represented (Lao, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thai). Unlike most other shops that tend to be single origin, Sun features an ASEAN approach. Many downright handsome guys of all types with the bodies to match. Rooms have massage tables and en suite shower. One hour 500 baht shop fee.
In Saphan Kwai, you can count on frequent turnover as newbies arrive and some rotate home. The wealth of talent remains impressive. If you venture out to shops on Sutthisan road, you become aware your in a thickly settled neighborhood environment that I find fun to experience. Plenty of good food vendors and small eateries in welcoming atmosphere.
The first you come to One Spa. It's a 24/7 operation on four floors. Rooms run from basic mattress on floor to VIP and some LT suites. Usually a half dozen or so guys hanging around. 450 baht shop fee for standard room.
In addition to the well publicized shops that post regularly on LINE, there's an assortment of local Thai shops that function pretty much the same with all Thai staffs. I've sampled a few and found that you can have good results but recommend a bit more discretion. I believe the best way to proceed with these shops is look for a guy you like and don't be afraid to smile first. It it's returned, you're on your way to a new adventure.
The first local shop I tried is on the short Soi leading to STARS massage. It on your right side and there always some cute guys outside.
The second is on the same Soi where Loveboy is located. Actually there are two on right side and frequently guys are hanging around outside. I stumbled upon the first guy when I was headed to LB and returned his smile.
At the end of that Soi you'll find 39 Underground Sauna. This is very popular with locals and there's no restrictions on clientele. Although I haven't used it, have read favorable reviews on forum of those who did.
Just to right of sauna entrance is a coffee shop known as 39 Hornet. Operated by same owner as sauna, it serves up fine coffees and pastry. And if you venture upstairs you find yourself in a maze that kindled memories of Babylon's legendary Garden of Earthly Delights but minus the naked part. It's pitch black except when you go to third floor where it opens into a veranda of sorts facing rear of building.
One last note. If I owe anything to my sauna success it's this: don't hesitate to make the first move. Otherwise you risk wasting precious time.

Rather makes the point that Vinapu makes, that we all have different likes and dislikes. Rather unnecessarily rude, I thought.

Some general observations…Cam’s hometown is definitely very rural and much different from Siem Reap.  Siem Reap was very different from Bangkok.  Bangkok definitely has that big city vibe going on all the time.  Things are new and modern.  You have many more conveniences that western folks are accustomed to.  Siem Reap strikes me as a large city by Cambodian standards but with a small town feeling.  Things are more laid back there.  There are some very nice and large hotels in Siem Reap, but when we would ride past you never saw any vehicles or customers.  They always looked deserted.  I wouldn’t say that Siem Reap itself was inundated with tourists.  The larger and more popular temples were definitely busy, but the city itself was rather quiet.  Even Pub Street area was more quiet that I expected.  Probably the busiest of any place outside of the temples would be the night market along the river.
When driving around Cam’s hometown…well, for that matter, anywhere in Cambodia…you pass by cart or stall after stall side by side and all of them selling exactly the same items.  I am curious as to how any of them actually make any money. Given the fact there are so many with precisely the same goods, how does one even decide which stall provides the best food or price?  I suppose people either have their favorite stall or perhaps go to one operated by a friend or family member.  But to the general public passing by, there really is nothing to make one distinct from the other.  Cam has certain places he goes for certain things.  It certainly isn’t one stop shopping for him.  If we are buying pork, we go to one specific stall.  If we are buying beer, we go to one particular mini-market.  If we are getting fruit, he has one particular stall in the market he prefers.  Not really sure how he has determined which will be his favorite place to shop for certain things.  Sometimes it is just better not to ask too many questions.  lol. One more interesting thing about the stalls...especially since Cam wants to learn to be a barber as a skill and have his own shop. While driving around the countryside, we will see what is nothing more than a 3-sided shed with a roof that contains one lonely barber chair. These seem to dot the countryside just as the food stalls do.
I have decided that regardless of where you are in Cambodia and what type of vehicle you drive, Cambodians do not know the purpose or how to use their side mirrors or rear view mirrors!  They have no peripheral vision.  LOL.  Every vehicle, regardless of size or number of wheels, must come with a hammock.  No exceptions to this rule.  Going the opposite direction from the rest of traffic on the opposite is standard operating procedure.  They have also never heard of the rule that pedestrians have the right away.  I know the traffic and crossing streets in Thailand has been a topic in a number of posts, but in Thailand I never felt unsafe.  I do not feel safe walking anywhere in Cambodia.  In fact, I was literally run over by a remork in the local market.  If there are traffic laws, I don’t believe anyone is aware of them.  We were in a remork just the other day with his mother and there was a barricade indicating the road was closed.  People simply went around the barricade as if it didn’t exist.  Stop signs…must be for decoration.  Traffic signals…look at the pretty lights.  Pretty sure nobody has ever been issued a traffic ticket for a moving violation in Cambodia.  If that were the case, anyone with access to a vehicle should have received at the minimum ten traffic tickets in their lifetime.  Drivers on motorbikes and bicycles are supposed to wear helmets.  It is not required for passengers.  I would guess at least 50% of the drivers do not wear helmets…more so in rural areas.  Cam doesn’t wear one at his parents, nor do any of the other guys.  His mother and one sister will wear a helmet, but that is all.  He does wear it when we were traveling long distance.  I insisted he get a helmet for me, and I think he does try to be more careful when I am riding with him.  The roads are pretty rough in some areas, but it wasn’t too bad riding on the back for an extended period of time.  I did ask him to stop probably more often than he would normally just to give my back a rest.  No idea what the road to Battambang from his hometown will be like, but I assume I will find out sometime next week.

Am posting some photos of the wire mesh panels being installed and the completed fence.  They need to lay a row of brick under the door frame, but otherwise it is pretty much done.  Next project is to tear down the old chicken coop and prepare that area for the relocation of the current house.  Let me tell you a little about the current house.  Initially it was approximately 2 feet off the ground, so slightly elevated, and about 10 square meters.  It was built 40 years ago.  20 years ago they raised the house to the current level, probably around 10 feet above ground level and build a 10 square meter addition doubling their space.  Keep in mind that this is the home where his parents raised five children.  Cam just turned 29, so that means he would have been around 9 years old when they added the space.  The kitchen is open air but located under the new addition.  The bathroom is basically an outhouse.  It has concrete walls and a door for privacy and the more traditional Asian squat toilet.  Baths are from a large storage tank using a plastic bin and scooping water to get yourself wet and to rinse.  His parents do not have indoor plumbing…even in the kitchen.  There are many large clay pots behind the house that catch rainwater that is used for cooking, washing clothes, bathing, etc.
So, once the chicken coop has been taken down and the area prepared for the current house, they will begin the process of dismantling the current house and reassembling it where the chicken coop once stood.  If you recall, I mentioned that his mother consulted a fortune teller about the best day to begin construction of the new house.  The date was December 8.  As it turns out, according to their beliefs and customs, the moving of the current house is included within the construction period.  That means they can take down the chicken coop in advance, but the actual dismantling and relocation of the current house begins with that December 8 date.  In my mind, I assumed they would have everything moved and be ready to actually begin with the new house construction.  Not how things work here.  lol.
On a positive note…not that anything has really been negative…the oldest grandchild is an exceptionally smart young lady who has worked very hard in her studies.  She has learned not only Khmer but English and Chinese.  We have been able to have some decent conversations allowing her to get some first-hand experience practicing her English skills and she has taught me a few phrases in Khmer.  Keep in mind she is only 12 years old, so the conversations are just very casual.  I think the oldest two grandkids are more aware and may ask their parents questions in private about their Uncle Cam and his American friend, but nothing is said out loud in front of either of us that I am aware of or that Cam has let on to me.
In general, my experience at the farm and now staying more than one week with Cam’s parents brings back memories of my childhood when I would go to church camp or my family would go camping.  That was the only way we could afford to take vacations when I was little, so cold showers and pit toilets were the norm.  Also reminds me of high school days when we would travel with the youth group from church to remote areas of Belize on work missions.  I might be older and prefer at least 3 star accommodations, but you learn to adjust your expectations based upon your situation.  As if have said several times before…the things we do for love.  lol
Cam’s family has been very welcoming and gone out of their way to make sure I feel included.  Cam remains very attentive and has no care or worry about family reactions when he gets touchy-feely with me.  There also seems to be no reaction from them…it seems to be accepted as natural.  What is said to him in Khmer in private may be altogether different, but I don’t think so.  I have not picked up on any negative vibes whatsoever.   In reality, they may have picked up on some negative vibes from me regarding the consumption of alcohol.  The cases of beer consumed by this group over the course of 9 or 10 days is staggering.  At least when around me Cam has been drinking less….5 or 6 cans instead of 10 or 12.  That is in one sitting…not one day.  I gave up trying to count how many cans in one day, because it happens at lunch, dinner, and karaoke time in the evening.
Oh…regarding the ring, he proudly wears it on left hand ring finger and shows it off.  Once he put it on he hasn’t taken it off.  Following the advice of esteemed forum members, I have tried not to think too much into it but rather treat it as has been suggested…special gift from special friend…and leave it at that.  I don’t ask him questions about its meaning.
You are correct in that the entire family only gets together a couple of times each year for Cambodian New Year and for Pchum Ben. The beer is usually Cambodia or Hanuman. Have not seen them with Ganzberg or Krud. Cam will drink Angkor by the bottle sometimes when we are grabbing a bite to eat.

Quick update…still in Cam’s hometown.  As I suspected, nothing has gone according to plan…at least my plan.  lol.  There are so many things to unpack and report on here that it will probably take several days for me to gather my thoughts and post something.  I am still alive, although I am about reaching my limit of family time.  lol.  Growing up in a small family, I have not had the experience of so many people for an extended period of time in very close quarters.  Five siblings, three spouses, two parents, and 14 children ranging in age from 8 months up to 12 years old.  Keep in mind the house is small and elevated.  The inside is primarily for sleeping at night.  Because it is so small, mostly the females and children sleep there…plus me and Cam.  When I say wall to wall people…I mean that literally.  The males are sleeping in hammocks hanging from the rafters below the house.  This is also the hang out area during the day, the area where we eat and drink…and speaking of drinking, I have come to believe the entire family is a bunch of alcoholics.  I have never seen people go through so many cases of beer in one day.  Without stopping to think, they finish one can and immediately open another.  No pause or hesitation whatsoever.  Needless to say, Cam and I have had a couple of conversations about the excessive drinking among all of the adults and he has tried to refrain or limit his consumption…at least when I am looking. lol.  Please don’t misunderstand…I am not a teatotaler and have had my share of alcohol over the years.  I do not drink now due to medication I take for my heart and both my primary doctor and the cardiologist have warned me not to drink because of the medication.  Even in my college days, I never consumed alcohol like these people have the last week. We are talking 10 or 12 cans at lunch time alone per person.  I am surprised they don’t all pass out within a couple of hours, but by dinner time it starts all over again and then with karaoke in the evening.
Since Pchum Ben is a Buddhist holiday, I assumed it would be more mellow and reserved…religious in nature.  Yes, we go to temple every day.  Yes we make food offerings to the monks.  But once we return to the house from the temple or pagoda as they call it, it is like the gates of hell have opened up and swallowed everyone.  Even though the official public holiday is three days (October 10-12), Cam’s entire family is here for an entire week.  I expected them all to return to their respective homes on Monday, the last official day of the public holiday, and then we would travel to Battambang on Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest.  I also expected the holiday to be much more conservative as a Buddhist holiday, but this place is really party central.  I have no clue if other families celebrate in the same manner.  Since this is my first time to be in Cambodia or experience this holiday, I have no comparison.  If nothing else, with the entire family here for one week the males have been able to complete the fence project.  It actually turned out quite nice.  I had my doubts initially, and was not very sure how they planned to use the rolls of wire mesh.  As it turns out, they built frames…sort of like a picture window frame…and stretched the wire mesh around the steel frame to make a panel.  Then they installed the panel on the upper portion of the brick wall and between the concrete posts.  Using the steel they also made a door frame and a framed wire mesh door that will open, close and lock on the very back wall.
I can tell Cam’s mother enjoys having the family here, but she is very tired.  His sister’s all help with meal preparation, as does the brother’s wife, but it is still a lot of extra work for his mother.  Her health is not the best, so I do worry about her doing too much.  I said something to Cam a couple of times, and he, too has noticed how tired she is the longer everyone is here.  I don’t know if he has quietly said something to his siblings or not.  Yesterday he said to me she was not well.  When I asked him this morning he only said better.  The two oldest grandchildren help out some as well.  The others are more in the way than anything.  They are too little to notice what is happening.  I guess since all of the siblings except the seamstress have their own business they are able to simply close up for the week.  In fact, many businesses are closed over the official three days.  It was quite strange going to the local market to find many stalls closed.

Well, he posted on social media to clear up any rumors....



Why I Left Silom Soi 4?
I didn't initially plan to make a public post about this, but given the amount of gossip, rumors, and direct messages I've been receiving, I feel it’s time to set the record straight regarding my departure from the venues in Silom Soi 4.
During the pandemic, while working in Thailand and running a back-office operation for my Australian software company, I stepped in to financially back some Thai friends. The goal was to help them take over two iconic locations that were at risk of closing. My intention was simple: provide the capital for them to run their own business downstairs, while I ran my separate software company upstairs.
I want to make one thing absolutely clear: I was strictly an investor and a shareholder. I was never the owner, director, or manager of these businesses. I had no control over the bank accounts, the accounting, or the hiring and firing of staff. My industry is software, not hospitality, and I made that boundary clear from day one.
While I provided the funding and tried to offer business guidance, the daily operations were entirely up to the Thai management. Unfortunately, internal infighting, severe accounting issues, and management disputes eventually made the situation unmanageable. When key managers resigned, the remaining staff were ill-equipped to run the business or get the finances in order for a potential sale.
Despite my best efforts to help them resolve these issues, my advice was repeatedly ignored. It became impossible to encourage the management to simply show up on time and take their own business seriously. I realized I was stuck trying to fix a conflict that was not of my doing.
Beyond the internal politics, the reality of the area is also changing. Much like the old Soi Twilight, it is highly likely that Soi 4 will face closure or major redevelopment soon. Operating businesses on strict, year-to-year leases with zero long-term security makes it a highly unstable environment. You never know if you will even have a lease the following year.
To answer the question people keep asking me—"Did you sell and how much did you make?"—the answer is no. They were not my businesses to sell. I wasn't a director, I had no right to control the final decisions, and my advice was no longer being heard.
I made the conscious decision to remove myself from an unmanageable situation. Unfortunately, I lost my entire investment in the process and received nothing back.
While I take pride in the financial support and mentorship I offered to help save those locations during a difficult time, that chapter is now completely finished and I have moved on with my life.

I am with Telstra in Australia.
When I travel overseas I pay a $10 fee / day for their global roaming service.
This allows me to access everything I can in Australia, including YouTube, Facebook, etc in China.
I've been told that this possible because all internet traffic first goes through Sydney, whereas the hotel wifi goes through the local internet provider.

I was back from shopping at 1pm and waited for forum member staying at same Raya Hotel to arrive from airport. Flight delay so ended up I only met him at 4pm. Happy reunion and we went to newly reopened Sarika after renovation. The place has a totally different vibe. It previously had tourists having quiet meals but now it has become a hangout place for young Thai people who gather for drinks and cakes. Trendy aesthetics in the furnishings designed for phototaking and posting on social media. Forum member tried chicken cashew nut and unfortunately declared that it was not as good as before the restaurant's renovation.

I spoke to Reader and he texted me this the other day:


Saphan Kwai indeed going strong as @macaroni21 says. I'm up there about five times weekly when I'm in town. Here's a capsule report:
It's about a 25-minute trip from Sala Deang (47 baht each way with change of train at Siam). Lots of ice candy both ways.
My most frequent stop is LoveBoy (formerly Phetboy) Massage. Large roster of Lao, Myanmar, Thai and occasional Vietnam guys.
Second favorite is 15M Masssage with somewhat smaller but well curated selection.
Third is Star Masssage with not dissimilar crew.
All of the above are no more than 5 minute walk from BTS stop. Loveboy and 15M shop fee is 400 for one-hour oil. Minimum tip is 1,000 baht with a handful a boy higher. Fee to the shop is 400 baht.
Star shop fee starts at 500 and escalates with type of room. Minimum tip also 1,000.
Loveboy is open 24/7 and other two I believe close at midnight.
It's been my experience that Loveboy and 15M are most likely to have guys hanging around shop during evening hours. Star not so much.
You can reserve guy you see on websites on same day without paying deposit.
Other shops I've visited include One Spa (15 minute walk), KMan Spa (5 minute walk), 27M, Home Spa and Phoenix (all about 25 minute walk). Shop fees range from 450-500) with minimum tips in1000 to 1200 range.
There's another small shop, BT House, about a 20 minute walk, on same road (Sutthisan).
I encourage visitors to sample the shops in Saphan Kwai.
And for the record, my favorite shop in Silom is Sun Massage on Silom soi 6.
Hope that helps!
Thanks to Floridarob for passing it along.

My flight was scheduled to leave Changi at 1225. But the departure was pushed back 4 times to 1730 and the plane eventually took off at 1900.
Landed at 2000. The egate was a breeze and I was at the carousel under 5 minutes. Was surprised to see about 3 flights listed on the same belt. As the night progresses, at least another 4 or 5 flights were shown on the same belt.
Giving credence to the reports that other airlines were prioritised over Thai, we saw flights from China getting their luggage ahead of us. Throughout this time, no announcements, signs or staffs were stationed to advise passengers on what to do next.
I waited for around 2 hours before deciding to head to the baggage service to see what they can do. But the queue was extremely long and I had to give up. I finally saw a staff member going around with a qr code to get passengers to scan and fill a baggage delivery report. When i asked her if this means, we can leave the airport and will get our luggage by delivery, she said she don't know...i tried filling up the report but there wasn't any acknowledgement email or a tracking number. Therefore I decided to wait a bit more...
Around 0000, I finally can't wait any longer so I decided to join the q at the baggage service with several other passengers on the same flight. In the queue, we managed to speak to one staff who was walking around helping customers and only got an update that the luggage is still being delayed. When i asked about the form I filled up earlier, she say she wasn't briefed about it and didn't know what would happen...so we decided to continue to q.
Around 0100, someone finally came distributing some water. At this time we had gone 5 hours with no water or any refreshments since there weren't even any vending machines...
Around 0245, right when we were at the end of the q, someone from the same flight came to tell us that our luggage were finally coming out. I got mine around 0300.
Tried to get a Grab or Bolt but there weren't any drivers accepting. Joined the taxi queue but it was packed too. After an hour, I finally managed to get a ride on Bolt and reached my hotel around 0440 exhausted...
Throughout the whole adventure, Thai Airways and the Airport did not provide any updates or provided conflicting information which weren't better than no information...the airport had insufficient seats for all the passengers and many had to sit on the floor or trolleys. No refreshments were distributed until many hours later. Frankly the firing of Thai's CEO is justified for his failure in crisis management. I would also fire the CEO of the airport too...

I think to some extent it's chance. There are a lot of shops on Surawong, or Silom. On Surawong, for example, opposite the Meridien, there is a row of 'legitimate ' shops, with foot massage on ground floor. Urban Thai, Olivia, etc. I had a great experience at Green massage, where they wear orange shirts! You pick a good looking guy, see if he smiles at you, ask if he does body massage. I did, and we went to the rooms upstairs. I didn't put on the flimsy underwear, something of a hint, and waited. Within 15 mins, full enthusiastic sex! I was lucky.

If you walk down soi Tarntawan, past Mango Tree restaurant, towards Silom, there is a row of gay massage shops, in all of which, massage is secondary! I haven't tried them, there are reviews on here, I gather in some you can't choose the masseur. But they are open at 11.30 in the morning, as I discovered when walking past! Some good looking guys.

Great report @Thefiloboy

I am currently in Egypt, and have just finished three lovely days in Cairo, so I hope it’s ok that I add my observations here instead of starting a new thread. My other destination in Egypt is the Siwa Oasis and with a population of just 25K, I don’t expect much to happen here in terms of gaying around.
Due to a delay, I arrived in Cairo well after midnight. Getting an Uber from the airport is easy and cheap so save yourself the hassle of haggling with any of the drivers that will approach you as you wait at the luggage belt and exit the terminal.
Based on previous posts here about Cairo, I had chosen to book the Marriott in Zamalek as it seems members have found it easy to have guests. I also received a helpful message from a forum member suggesting it could be quite cruisy at the hotel. I had no problems having guests and I actually did score a cruising related hook-up.
Grindr lit up as a Christmas tree as soon as I opened the app. I think as a foreigner I had several things working in my favor. Facepic and distance and to a lesser extent age visible on your settings set you out from most of the other profiles. But in particular, it is the probability that you may host that makes you popular with the local talent.
I received a lot of expiring pics of mostly cocks, bodies and sometimes faces, and it was a bit of a challenge keeping track of so many messages. My solution was to not engage with more than two or three at a time and delete messages or block profiles that I was not interested in pursuing and to only open the app when I had time to engage.
My efforts resulted in 4 hook ups. First was a late twenties semi-chubby young professional. We met for a bite to eat before getting an Uber back to the Marriott. He instructed me what to say in case his presence was questioned by security, but no-one batted an eye lid. Nice sex and pleasant pillow talk.
Second was a late thirties or early forties slim guy who, as it turned out, had actually come all the way from somewhere half way between Alexandria and Cairo just to see me. Before he came and before I knew how far he had come, I had declined his proposal of him spending the whole night, but I still felt a little bad sending him on his way in the middle of the night. The sex was not very interesting to me, neither was the conversation. I met him outside the main gate and he walked in with me.
Third was an early thirties guy who had a business somewhere in the neighborhood and was familiar enough with the Marriott to suggest we meet inside the hotel in the Garden Promenade Cafe. I think that is the least conspicuous way of meeting someone at the Marriott but guys unfamiliar with the place or 5 star hotels in general will probably prefer to walk in with you. Sex and conversation were both good.
Fourth was an early twenties slim guy. I was a little worried that someone so young would seem out of place to security, but again no issues. I met him outside the main gate. He didn’t speak much English, but the sex was very passionate. He was definitely the most memorable experience of the four.
The Marriott has two gates, so if you feel embarrassed walking in with a guy more than once a day, you can switch between gates, but really no one seems to mind. It seems the hotel exists outside the norms that govern Egyptian society. Besides my own escapades, I helped a couple of working ladies in the elevator accessing their desired floor with my key card and I also noticed a similar lady in the Lobby trying to make eye contact with me as I was killing time after check out.
Speaking of killing time after check out. That is when the successful cruising hook up took place. After spending time at the pool I used the spa facilities to freshen up. There is a jacuzzi, a sauna and a steam room besides the showers and the gym. I met a muscular guy a few years older than me. He looked at me and chatted with me, so I was pretty sure something would transpire if I followed him into the steam room. So that's what I did and we had some side fun. 
None of the hook ups were transactional. I did ask the youngest if he needed money for a taxi, but he declined. They were all tops as were probably 9 out of ten of guys I communicated with on Grindr. 
I may have a little extra to report from Cairo when I return there after Siwa.
Btw, hook ups or no hook ups, the Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum are well worth a visit and I have also enjoyed the city in general.