vinapu

Day 15 , off to Sukhotai No rush morning , we went for breakfast quite late, again no problem with guest as my reservation was for two as always. My flight to Sukhotai was at 15.30 from Swampy so no rush checking out , in fact I did it exactly at 12. 00 , by the book. Since it was domestic flight I had plenty of time at the airport where K joined me in the waiting area.. Bangkok Airways is only airline flying there with 2 flights a day I either direction , one in the morning and another one in the afternoon. Ticket was roughly 100$ return and flight was by turboprop , it took about 70 minutes to get there but Bangkok Airways being ‘Asia’s boutique airline” as they put in their commercials treated us with full meal. This is what I saw from my window seat Sukhotai is cute small airport as one can imagine with just 2 landings and take offs a day but has all necessary amenities traveler may need including restaurant , gift shop, public toilets and for those bored waiting for their flight mini Zoo right beside and exhibition of live size dinosaurs in front of the airport complex. There were taxis , public bus to New Sukhotai for 18 baht and well as door r to door van, option we opted for at 300 baht per person. Since its about 30 km to Old Sukhotai where ruins are it took about 1 hr to get there and it was getting dark already when we arrived. My hotel of choice was Thai Thai, highly recommended place of bungalows in the garden at 1200 a night. My friend decided on going bit to late but his hotel turned out to be immediately across the street or rather small side alley we were delivered to. Nice touch on check in was that I got all information I possibly could look for in print. Where are stops for local busses and their prices, cost of renting bicycles or cars for sightseeing, price list for private tours to nearby attractions of Kamphaeng Phet and Si Satchanalai-Chaliang historical parks. Location of the pool and local restaurants it was all there and also information about option how to get back to the airport. I even commented – you answered all my questions before I managed to ask them which was exactly what happened. To top it up I got also very handy map of local attractions attached here ( keep in mind is not up to scale ). After settling in , K and I went to the center for a dinner and ice cream from 7/11, walked along local night market , localized entry to central complex and returned to our room for well deserved rest before tomorrow’s expected sightseeing onslaught.

that is sad but very common part of living in 21st century

welcome to the forum, thank you for report and we hope for more impressions reported

first one returned after some absence as I had pleasure to meet him there in the past

while not questioning your and professor's findings I's like to bring to your and everybody else's attention fact that those youngsters will be paying us a pensions and placing us in nursing homes they will run so be nice to them. I, being also of proper age, remember when we kids start switching to ball pens from ordinary , ink feeded ones , that was supposed to crook both of our characters and our limbs, we were supposed to get blind from watching 'Bonanza ' on TV, using make up was sure thing to turn our classmates girls tnto hookers and other horrors which never materialized. It was neatly summarized by my godmother who commented when I was about 30 ' I was thinking big zero will grow of you but now look !" . Travelling on underground recently I noticed that it was mostly younger people who were immersed in paperbacks and newspapers while us oldies were exclusively on our phones, fact that was also noticed and commented but soccer-mom type lady standing beside .

terrible part of history is not chasing you there, it's not like skulls are strewn all over the place. In fact only thing which may remind you about horrors are tour vans and busses with '" Killing Fileds" signs. As I mentioned people maimed by mines are very rate sight those days. Glorious part of history ie Angkor ruins are easy to explore with good infrastructure, surely with bit of walking involved but surely rewarding and easy to get to. 1 hr flight from Bangkok and one is there. Take you know whom and go

did you try to bring somebody in ? Location in one of the best one can ask for

I'm proletarian, I don't like tittles

thank you for correcting me but still I wonder all the same : Israel 'reconsider travel" , Belarus "do not travel". I understand that Belarus may be not considered as predictable as Israel but travel there as in any place, in this case small place with war going on brings real , not Department of the State's cooked danger

Bokassa would be happy you still remember him

I found it strange that Belarus is on 'do not travel list " and Israel with real war there is only on ' exercise caution "

I believe you are correct, but it may backfire as from many comments I heard during week there people seem to know very well of what is going on.

that is outright sin

Cambodia's part of the trip is here: https://www.gayguides.com/forums/topic/41671-phnom-penh-angkor-koh-ker-and-sambor-prey-kuk-trip-to-cambodia-in-jan-2024/page/2/ Day 14 -back in Thailand Air Asia flight to Don Muang departed on time and flight was uneventful but seats were very cramped. I guess that’s the price for cheap flight. I paid 2/3 of price of ½ hr flight from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. Immigration was breeze although approaching it I saw mob unloading from another plane so I guess it was lucky timing. SRT to Bang Sue and from there MRT to Sam Yan from where short walk to Siam Heritage on Suriwong. Since I’m only 1 night in Bangkok I decided to check it. Never stay there as hotel had reputation for being guest unfriendly and I’m happy to report it must be thing of the past. No problem at all, actually now if you have card you bypass reception are and go to the elevators directly. Room was quite big and comfortable and furnished nicely . I liked having real desk there. After setting in I went to XOne and at 4 pm on Monday I had shock , I was long line up outside , when I pulled number I realized there are 10 numbers ahead of me to be taken. But look at exchange rates cheered me and fast at that. From there to Foodland to eat something. At 19.30 I was supposed to meet forrestreid , that’s our first meet but we already had Line contact so it was easy. Over beer in Balcony we decided to check Banana so off we went. It was early but there were 4 guys on the stage including very handsome but never seen #31. Mamasan seeing our interest explained that he is new so as welcome treat I performed world acclaimed Vinapu Tuck on him with red note and soon after forrestreid called him over to offer him a drink. We know that boys and mamasans have good memory but this time even I was shocked. At one point another boy entered and mamas an told me pointing at him said “ you had him before”. I looked and recognized Vu Thy immediately but still it was at end of Jan of 2023, one year and three trips ago. And it was just only one off, short time at that and I’m not that frequent visitor to Banana as I’m at Tawan , Moonlight or Hot Male. But truth is he remembered that unless he mixed me with somebody else. Anyways another red note changed ownership for old times sake. In meantime , after a while forrestreid send his companion back to the stage and we walked to Tawan as planned before. Crowd there was sparse, probably more boys than customers but shortly it started to fill up and one of newcomers was K, my friend from Taiwan who decided to accompany to for 3 days trip to Sukhotai tomorrow . He managed to get seat on the same flight but couldn’t get room in my hotel , got place one across the street he told me . Of course boys there as always tried to extract some deserved and undeserved tips but today I decided to hold the purse’s strings prompting comment from one of the boys ‘ you always had good heart, what happened ? “ but seeing my stern face expression he rushed to exclaim ‘ you still have good heart” , what a relief ! After the show we parted ways and I went to S’s bar to see if he arrived but they told me he is not working today. Good news so I promptly fired message “are we sleeping together ?” , Confirmation came within seconds, I sent him location and told him I will be waiting in front of hotel. While waiting some disheveled passerby stopped asking for some money for food. I was surprised because his English was quite good . It looked he came to Bangkok looking for good luck but not necessarily got it. Gave him 100 , he was more then happy as ass soon as he said his thank yous and left taxi stopped with S emerging all in smiles . It was plain that he is very grateful for vacations and now for an off. Surely he expected kind of payday too as we agreed he will be paid when we return. Four nights is Siem Reap plus tonight , it was a bit, but well deserved. Like one of my forum friend says ‘it’s good to stick to our winners”

this report is to be continued here upon return to Thailand https://www.gayguides.com/forums/topic/41442-better-to-be-retired-than-retarded-thailand-and-cambodia-in-january-2024-trip-report-brief-but-long/page/2/#comment-375528

I don't mind to have stacks of US currency in any denomination in every empty space of my house but still firmly believe newly issued Tonga money , just as an example, look more modern and are better secured than those valuable American retros

Day 13. For today’s trip Christian PFC , famous blogger https://christianpfc.blogspot.com/ who happened to be in Siem Reap at this time is joining S and me for the trip. Destination of Koh Ker and on our way back -Bang Melea. As before, we departed at 8 on the dot and it’s about 2 hrs. drive to Koh Ker. Admission 15 $. Temple is very unusual for Angkor temples as it’s pyramid shaped and would not be out of place in Chitzen Itza or other Mayan sites. Of course we climbed it as first step, wise move as more tourists arrived. After surveying pyramid and main temple underneath we surveyed about 10 smaller temples in the surrounding forest , all accessible by the vehicle. Then returned to main temple area for a lunch and on our way back checked another 2 or 3, last of them close to the exit Prasat Pram turned out to be second best to main temple only. Then to Bang Melea. Last time I was there my time was spoiled by 2 busloads of Chinese tourist who behaved below any standards, screaming and climbing ruins even where prohibited. This time , in the afternoon , just before closing time it was much more serene and most tourists at that time seemed to be locals. It used to be 5$ admission but now Bang Melea is included in Angkor ticket. Do not even try to arrive without one as guards were quite adamant to require one and even if they let you go , there’s another ticket check at main complex . Unfortunately that was our Christian’s fate but he patiently waited for s and me having driver as companion. Bang Melea is perhaps most atmospheric from all Angkor temples, specially if not crowded with it labyrinthine construction and deep shade from trees growing on the stones . Back in Siem Reap I secured our driver for trip to the airport tomorrow and three of us went for pizza to Pub street. Today is my last day in Cambodia and I was proud of my budgeting. After putting aside some money for the maid in hotel and for driver for the fare tomorrow I was left with 1$ and 1000 riels . For said dollar I bought my last Hanuman Black and 1000 riels took home as memento. As for entrainment, again some whispers on balcony while emptying that hanuman and another one I had in the refrigerator already. Nosy person should ask what about S ? Shouldn’t you give him at least that 1000 riels? Relax , all was fixed in advance as he preferred to be compensated in baht and in Bangkok. Day 14 After breakfast we parted ways , S went to see his folks with plan to come to Bangkok in the evening and I at 9 jumped into car and went in style to the airport. In 45 minutes I was there, this time admitted to the departure area. Since Keithambrose already placed pictures above no need for repeat but I need to mention I notices that all signs in departure are were in English and Chinese, nothing in Khmer in their own country !

Argentinian 1000 peso ( about 1 $ at current rates ) also has 3-D , certainly it helps with prevention but as original post attests doesn't scare much of potential counterfeiters. UV glow helps in bank setting but not in ordinary place where money is exchanged, how me as shopper will get that UV illumination. it always was to some degree, I'd not be so alarmed as part of it may be deliberate panic in order to force or at least gently pull population toward cashless payments, both cost saving for banks and enabling greater control over how and where we spend our money, growing and scary trend

no need , I guess we got what did you mean.

you telling us at times it good not to be an American, do you?

You are on something. One of reasons US currency is so often counterfeited is not only fact that currency is so powerful and portable i.e. easily exchanged almost everywhere but also what it seems to me bit irrational attachment of American public to looks of their physical money which is basically 19th century design still in use more than 100 year later with only few modifications like all those hi-tech laser printers and copiers were never invented. I'd venture that it's harder to counterfeit new 20 baht note than 100 newest bill. I get it that familiarity of design gives some comfort along he fact the currency looks extremely stable if one can buy chewing gum paying with say 1934 issuer dollar bill but crooks are immune to sentiments of even 300 odd million nation. In May 2022 I was exchanging some money in Kuala Lumpur and in front of me was guy trying to exchange 100 $ into ringgit only to have 4 ( in words FOUR ) bills rejected for some tears or numbers written on them. I'm fairly sure his belief in USD universal acceptance was shattered . I know the feeling - in 2006 in Ukrainian village of Chotym famous for enormous castle I wanted to buy some folk art craft. I run out of hrivnyas (Ukrainian currency to this day ) so offered new shiny 20$ bill. To my shock it was declined by the seller. Our guide explained that he was not sure if note was real or fake. When I told this to my mom I remember her comment " if they don't want dollar there it's end of the world I know"

fact that country is considered hostile by government , media or even wide public doesn't mean is dangerous to travel to. Very little danger awaits American travelling to Iran , Cuba or North Korea as long as they behave and stay away from political and religious matter as all guests everywhere should. Flying bombs, excessive criminal activity and shark infested waters are what makes places dangerous to travel to , not fact that they have spat with our government.

one and half more days in Cambodia and we return here

not sure it's only young adults. At end of 2023 I was on the trip with friend whose absolutely first thing after entering hotel room, restaurant and any other place with free wi-fi was to check what's new on his media. I was amazed but at the same time happy - no lineup to the washroom.

stop complaining , they will be paying you your pension