vinapu

Day 8 My room was booked without breakfast so in the morning I purchased breakfast coupon for $8, princely sum in Cambodia and went to sister venue OK Boutique around the corner where breakfasts are served on top floor with beautiful view over central Phnom Penh. Yesterday I purchased tour to Killing Fields. Very sobering place where mass executions were conducted by Khmer Rouge. I was there on my first Cambodia trip in 2001 and wanted to see what changed during those years. They were supposed to pick me up at 10.00 , I was waiting on steps of my hotel and when I got impatient 45 minutes later guide finally appeared to pick me up. We went to few other hotels to pick up other tourists as well as picked up few at another sobering place – infamous S-21 Tuol Sleng prison. Killing Fields are on the outskirts of Phnom Penh and while 23 years ago road leading there was atrocious , now is paved all the way. Another thing I noticed is absence beggars without limbs , victims on landmines. Them they were I ubiquitous all over Cambodian cities , now is rarity to see one. I wonder what happened as a lot of them then were quite young. One hopes they were taken care of somehow. On the road they played movie about Pol Pot life , rise and fall, very objective and hiding nothing. Including my Cambodian pet peeve- fact that after Vietnamese removed Khmer Rouge, their atrocities were will known and 2 million skulls strewn in the countryside and still Thailand and West supported their regime of so called Democratic Kampuchea on international stage including UN seat. If we think that politics are dirty there’s no place better to contemplate it than Cambodia. Centre point of the place is temple -like monument with skulls on shelves, new thing there is another monument picture of which I show below. Sadly, that place along with Tuol Sleng are a must visit at least once to understand better what happened in Cambodia but also to appreciate how far country moved from that horror although past is still present and oddly house of Ta Mok, one of Pol Pot’s bloody henchmen in Anlong Veng close to Thai border is still place which I was told some locals still visit with reverence. I remember talking to some journalist well versed with SE Asia affairs in mid-80ties and he told me that thanks to Khmer Rouge and their killing spree Cambodia is only country in the region without problem of grandchildren still toiling in half slavery to pay debts their grandparents took to pay for their wedding. That would explain Ta Mok nostalgy I’d say. It was nice to return to vibrant city , after a bit of rest and my obligatory mid-day tea I decided to try massage at Arthur and Paul gay hotel. Inspiration came from one of our tour participants being picked up and dropped there. It looked as classy place so I said to myself “about time to see and try”. For 8000 riels (2 $) tuk -tuk took me there. I was hoping guy I spotted on Grindr, hunky hunk working there will be present but unfortunately no. 1.5 hr massage fee was 28$ , certainly well above Cambodian standard. There were 4 guys available, none of them close to my type but all smiling so I picked up one whose smile was widest. Room quite spiffy but container with soap in the shower was empty , not for that price thought I. After morning experience certainly I was not in the mood to complain or get sour about anything. Massage was skilled but when temperature raised and was time for masseur to remove his excessive clothing i.e. undies and towel he quoted me tip of 40$ , again quite a sum for Cambodia but if one gets massages in classy places must be prepared to pay thought I and agreed. At least I’m glad I tried the place. Next time I will be trying to secure that hunk I guess. Right beside Artur and Paul is Rambutan, popular in gay circles with rooms about half price of those at A $ &P but still twice as much I’m paying at my OK Palace . I did not need an accommodation but after running whole day on breakfast and bottle of Hanuman Black beer I gulped on my way from Killing Fields not at 6 ot 7 pm I was hungry so decided to eat there. Another tourist place with prices to match , 15$ I paid for dinner I summarized in my diary as ‘; money not spent well” . Upon return I alighted on Pasteur street and then walked to soi where my friend told me Toolbox bar was resurrected and asked me if that is true. Indeed I found it, from info I got it’s just across the soi whom old location but inside was nobody and outside was sitting lone twink , not exactly of my type but for those venturing there I confirm , Toolbox was resurrected. It was short walk to my hotel from there and when passing Saravoan Royal Palace hotel on street 178 I thought I have stroke . Warsaw ? Polish place that far ? Indeed it was newly opened restaurant so for those craving Central and Eastern European food there place for you and very easy to find – right beside old location of Blue Chili bar and 200 meters from National Museum. Price list looked quite human so I took note where I will have my dinner tomorrow. Too bad I overspent at Rambutan when I could have likely better food ( I love schnitzels an European soups) for ½ price and steps from my hotel. In the room I freshened up , took shower to remove oil after that massage , packed my pockets with money – you know my system perhaps ,50 $ this pocket, two 20$ in another few 10 , 5 and 1 in third one, some 20000 riels here and some 10000 there . This way I don’t need to show wad of money when tipping or paying bill. This all in preparation for another fun evening at Spice Hair bar. Walked there and when arrived, I guess it was 21.00 or 21.30 there were no customers but 7 guys on duty already. How do I know? Because seeing them unemployed I took pity and ordered 8 drinks. You should hear an applause , probably heard as far as Sum and Moon hotel which is next door to the bar. Fun started , luck had it that two guys I liked the most positioned themselves beside me and soon after bar started filling up with patrons and few more boys. Guys made sure I’m entertained, I stole kiss or 4 from guy on my left, made discretely sure that guy on my right is not a girl by strategic hand placement and it was well understood by asking question where’s my hotel. Hour or two later he expressed curiosity to check if I have balcony and view from it which led to suggestion he is willing to check it after bar closes on his way home. I explained to him that in case he will feel tired there’s sofa in the room which led to an instruction where I’m supposed to wait for him. Around 1 at night I left , waited where instructed which took a while because as I said earlier, guys there must stay on duty as long as bar is opened . Knowing procedure it was sweet waiting. Soon after were at hotel. No fuss over bringing guest that late, no questions asked. In the room he notices sofa is not comfortable enough but bed is big and shyly ( ok, not) suggested we share it which we did in gusto. Fabulous 2 or 3 hours, when he left it was still dark, earlier in the bar he offered some plausible explanation why he can’t stay till morning so I was Ok with that , if only because he offered time compensation “ if you want I can come at 1 tomorrow “ which felt like Christmas day for me.

I agree about lovely hosts, I like part when after buying so many drinks for boys and myself that offer me free shoot or drink, shoot of gin is my choice. Clientele still seems to be mixed although some guys very straight acting may still be gay, not that I care much as long as they keep bar running. Guys still are not offable and can't leave premises as long as bar is opened. What they do in their free time doesn't seem to be owner's business. as for gay/ straight divide I have my doubts as always how straight is a guy who lets you to hold on his cock under the table for even brief moment .Likely they treat this as a work and don't care about the labels.

sure, I'm shocked too, wateeeer please !!!

Thailand is too hot and too far from my folks to move there permanently. I'm not worried about boredom in retirement , apart from Thai boys I have another costly and time consuming hobby.

A recently removed himself from the scene and may be available only for those who have his contact.

each country has own regulations when comes to drugs but from your adventure one thing is sure - if one has to have diarrhea it is better to have it in Thailand then Germany

sure but also less time and energy to see them. Again , longer you wait for future , shorter she become I know because indeed I was working well past 65. Older we are those long flights and resulting jet lags are serving us less and less. Retirement decision is very personal depending on circumstances and can't be copied from others . we need carefully consider where we are. But once decision is made my advice will be - stick to whatever you resolved and don't look back.

You can see owner in pink shirt in the third row on the left Staff turnaround is fast but pool of talent seems to be hard to exhaust. Discreet groping is available and so is stealing kiss or 7. Make sure you oil everything with drinks and discreetly placed tip . as I said, I wish we have such bar in Bangkok or even Pattaya.

go and not only because Space hair boys Angkor ruins are absolutely awe inspiring

obviously and we have it in writing above you did not read my Cambodia trip reports from Oct 2022 and Jan 2023

my mirror usually does the same job for me

this is continuation of trip report from Thailand section at this link: https://www.gayguides.com/forums/topic/41442-better-to-be-retired-than-retarded-thailand-and-cambodia-in-january-2024-trip-report-brief-but-long/#comment-374666 Day 7 , Phnom Penh part. I had e-visa so immigration was breeze. I exchanged some money into riels as airport rates are only minimally lower than city ones ( 4000 vs 4065 for 1 USD). Some people don’t bother and are using dollars since Cambodia is practically dual currency country and is not unusual to pay 10 $ invoice with 6$ and 16000 riels ( 4 $) for example. Some places are quoting prices in riels , other in dollars but both currencies are accepted everywhere and only exceptions I know is visa on arrival and tickets to Angkor ruins where one must pay in USD exclusively. If you decide to bring dollars just make sure notes are intact without any tears , pinholes and writings on them, I saw 1 dollar banknotes rejected because of those infractions. I prefer to use riels with exception of big ticket items like boys’ tips as getting change from 50 or 100 $ bill may be problematic in country where dinner cost 5 $ and haircut 2$. Other airport purchase was SIM card for 1 week , it was 7$ if I recall correctly and then tuk-tuk to hotel for 9$. Those who want to save money on getting to hotel solution is to take bus from airport parking lot for 1000 or 2000 or leave airport area and get one of the waiting tuk-tuks outside for something like 5-7$ but I did not bother. Room was not ready so I went to Dolce Vita for lunch and returned in 1 hr to find everything ready. I stay in OK Palace hotel, twin of OK Boutique in the same soi where I stay last time. Entry to the hotel is palatial and so is room. Both hotels are in street 19Z, appendix like short soi across from National Museum and walking distance to Royal Palace and whole central area including my Phnom Penh headquarters Space Hair bar. hotel's entry view from the window sleeping machine and the room In the room I noticed I forgot phone charger in Bangkok and girl on reception suggested I go to Kandal Market where there are phone shops. Bingo indeed. Instead of walking 10 minutes I took tuk tuk for whopping 4000 and returned in style by cycle rikshaw for the same amount. After setting in I walked around admiring smells and sounds , bought tour to Killing Fields for tomorrow and at around 21.00 I walked to 136 street to my headquarters – Space Hair bar. I wish we had something like that in Bangkok although they operate on different formula . Staff are exclusively hunky and in shape – see sample from their recent Facebook. Almost all guys from the picture were present on at least one of three nights I visited there. As always almost means one was absent and that one was precisely one I wanted to see as we met already quite closely before. But if I don’t have what I like , I like what I have. Boys there are only to accompany you for drinks and talk. Forget about offs and off fees. Surely if you have designs on one or more you must be very , very discreet and be prepared for meeting absolutely outside working hours. Boss there , while very sympathetic is also very strict and serious about those rules. Cambodian Prince I had debacle with last year was fired on the spot for leaving 1 hr. earlier than scheduled and apparently only because he got drunk Drinks are not expensive 4-6 $ but if you get heated like me , they add up but this is cost of fun. Some guys are somewhat touchy-feely , others less so, kiss or 7 can be stolen after few rounds of drinks , hand and knee holding is available and generally is a lot of fun. Guys are not pushing you for drinks and absolutely no word of ‘ tip’ is spoken but obviously depending on time they sat with you and how long you were holding their knee or hand you should tip them. I gave 5- 10 $ to those few who sat with me for prolonged time. Drinks are what oils bar keep in mind so when boy empties his buy him another one or he may choose to, leave your table. But there are absolutely no situations like I had sometimes in Thai bars when boy gulped his drink in on ego and was looking for another one. It’s why I wish we have such bar in Bangkok. Easy , pleasant and no hard sell tactics. Not only boys got plenty of drinks but also myself so when I was leaving at about 2 am I was quite drunk and 90$ lighter , not to mention about 100 000 distributed for tips. But it was fun worth of every minute and every penny spent. Unfortunately I went home empty handed so to speak. I had designs on one of their boys but neither one of us was brave enough to start serious discussion. Before I went to bed for fun I checked Grindr and had “ Hi “ from quite attractive looking guy but had that senior moment and did not realize that this guy ( I’m notoriously bad reading people from pictures ) was indeed one I had designs on in bar. It only dawned on my next day in the afternoon. But by then damage was done. Not only I spent night in cold bed but also he figured out that I rejected him and was doing his best to show that he cooled to me. Oh well, lesson learned

Day 7 , Bangkok part A wanted to go home at 7. Normally I’d be bit upset considering his compensation but today it worked for me as I’m on the move. We went for breakfast to new Foodland in Park Silom, not as crowded as on another day but still very well patronized for that early hour. Total bill 500 , out of it 83 was my discounted American breakfast. Those muscly semi gods are not company for penny pinching seniors. Then we parted our ways , I returned to hotel and packed since today I’m starting Cambodian part of my trip. Most of goodies I simply tucked in suitcase and left in the hotel where I’m returning in about 11 days. What I thought I need for Cambodia I packed into travel bag and took with me. Travelling lightly at cost of making daily laundry is how I like to move around.. My flight to Phnom Penh was from Swampy so BTS to Phaya Thai and ARL to Swampy from there. Lines to immigration and security attested than tourism rebounded big time. Flight with Lanmei Airlines was short and uneventful and 1 hour later I landed in Phnom Penh. This trip report will be continued in Cambodia section for benefit of those readers who are interested more in that country than Thailand. Then we return here to continue Thai part , particularly trip to Sukhotai and Kamphaeng Phet. this report is continued in Cambodia section at this link : https://www.gayguides.com/forums/topic/41671-phnom-penh-angkor-koh-ker-and-sambor-prey-kuk-trip-to-cambodia-in-jan-2024/

really ? how much is the short time ?

slavery was abolished more than 150 years ago. On serious note decision to retire will come naturally based on my experience . I was not planning although I'm well past retirement age, then it dawned on me that time is running out like somebody commented on another forum - longer you save for the future , shorter that future becomes.

spot on my friend, spot on plus I still feel a bit jet laggy so have time in times when normally I'd be asleep.

whole interview is just fake news, table is waaaaaay too short

good fences are making good neighbours

Day 6 Solitary breakfast at Foodland Patpong generated comment from one of servers ‘ alone today? “ . I was about to answer ‘ none of you f….ng business “ but fortunately Guardian Angel restrained me and I said nothing. Certainly we are much less anonymous on the scene than we wish for and then we think we are. Not sure it’s good or bad but it’s good to be aware about the fact. After breakfast I joined my friend for some sightseeing of Sukhumvit area. We visited new mall Em Something at soi 22. I was not impressed but my friend was. I don’t fly that far to wander through the malls , no matter how shiny. But at least I kept him from s Silom area and possible chance meeting of boy loudly asking “ Can I sleep with you tonight?”. Mindful that I expect guest in the afternoon I was thinking how to part our ways but fate was on my side, friend ate something unfriendly for breakfast and decided to retire to his room to cure both diarrhea and jet lag and I went to hotel on my way stopped at KFC of all places because N , my guest loves their stuff so I bought big bucket and as soon as I got it message on Line arrived with N asking to buy some KFC stuff for him as he is on his way. Perfect timing. N works nights so arrangements we have is whenever he feels like seeing me during day ( translation : can use some money ) he tells me day ahead he can come and if I’m free I tell him yes, see you tomorrow . If I have another plans I tell him no, next time . No fuss, clean and clear arrangement. He is great guy who reads me very well and has only one fault – doesn’t kiss. He is not only one who don’t although his lips are particularly kissable and is shame they are so wasted So we had few hours of fun and all started shockingly, yes as soon as we closed door and embraced he planted sophisticated and long lasting kiss on me. I almost fainted or may be I did , just don’t remember ? After I got my breath again he told me ‘this is my new year gift to you “ . How not to like such considerate guy ? So we had quite a nice and long, no rush session this afternoon . No we did not spent all that time eating from that bucket but certainly we tasted a bit. Rest I suggested he can take and treat his friends at work which it turned out was exactly he wanted to ask me. No doubt we understand each other very well. Since his English is good we can always break sinful activities with some sophisticated conversation. At 19.00 he declared it’s time to say good bye as he doesn’t want to be late at work . asked about my trip plans and promised to see me again before I go home “ but no kiss , I kiss you again next trip “ . I’m clinging to that promise expectantly as it was truly nice surprise. I have somebody else coming tonight so just to make sure I went to Thainya to exchange some money. Normally I do it at XOne but today was Sunday and they are closed . Jewelry shop at end of Thainya on the left coming from Sala Daeng is open daily till late and they have pretty good rates so if readers are in need of money exchange late or on Sunday that is the place to go.. I noticed that on Sundays those booths in the area which are opened have rates quite uncompetitive – market economy in situation when most are closed. When I returned to hotel I met K , my Taiwan friend who arrived yesterday and is staying in the same hotel . We exchanged news and upon learning I’m going to Sukhotai after returning from Cambodia he expressed intention of going there as well so I furnished him with info about flight I’m taking and hotel I’m staying there. At 22.00 I was supposed to meet A, muscle semi god who seems to have left scene recently. I did not see him in his bar , when asked mamasan there answer was very vague ‘ we don’t know if he returns and when ’. Nevertheless Line contact worked and he was free tonight. He changed his hairstyle and was actually him who first spotted me approaching although there’s no chance in hell I would miss such hunk sitting / standing / walking anywhere. We went to restaurant to eat something, bill was quite high but blame is on me as I was one to pick up that place. I tried to find out what is his reason for such departure from the scene but my joking question ‘ do you have boyfriend or girlfriend now ? ‘ was met with but reluctant answer “ I know many people ‘ so I left my curiosity unsatisfied. He looked good and happy so I guess he has it good and I’m happy for him. Boyfriend , girlfriend or monk , in the room he was great as always and seemed as happy as I was so another 6th overnight meeting this trip was chalked off as ‘outstanding ‘. For tip he asked it should be I thought but at least he delivered big and in style.

not impossible if one recalls how Pirozhin of Wagner group (in)fame died. One wonders if taking that sum out of country in cash was reported properly to the Thai authorities. I'm pretty sure there's limit of how much one can take without reporting that.

specially now when shaving razors need not to be sharpened now and then like in days past

yes , Thailand is not as calm as it appears when we wander Silom area sois

When I was there last week there were also some movements in former Bangkok Massage under Dreamboys. It looked like store (7/11 ?) being inserted. Do you see something there? I ask because it was also talk about movie being filmed there so it could be just movie set.

go and you won't regret , just stay in the 1st floor

Day 5 At first day did not look good for me. At midnight I got message that my friend from hometown arrived in BKK which I expected and wants to meet in the morning which I did not expect. He is one of those types who talk first , think later so is better to keep him away from personal affairs as he may be random source of unwelcome leaks. After my Tawan guest left I dressed and went to meet my friend. Since it was his first visit in several years and he is fan of public transport we made tours of new subways , monorails , red line DMK which took sus better part of day and finally we landed at Madid Tavern to treat ourselves with pizzas. There he confessed that we need to part ways as he feels sleepy after long flight and I skillfully pretended I’m so disappointed but of course as victim of jet lags myself I understand. So with sunset I regained my freedom. There’s another arrival I’m expecting today , that is K , my friend from Taiwan but he is safe bet and big fan of Tawan boys. He told me will be staying in the same hotel I do. N, guy not from the scene I met few times before and who was away to see his parents for last week sent me also a message hat he returned and is free tomorrow afternoon and if I want , he may visit me in my room. My plan for tonight was to repeat meeting with Y and went to Moonlight to pick him up. Fortunately he was still free , as a bonus he was not hungry so I decided to skip the show and we went straight to my room for another, this trip 5th fabulous session. It was supposed to be long time , till breakfast, but in the middle of the night his phone rung and female voice was heard. Bit embarrassed he told me it’s his sister who just arrived at Mor Chit called and wants him to go there and pick her up . We had similar situation in July but then he knew and informed me in advance, this time is was bit of surprise. I don’t think he staged it , after all we met quite a few times in last few trips so he should know there's no need for stories and he suggested that I shave 2000 baht ! of his agreed tip for letting him go early. That was fair and I did not make any fuss over it giving him benefit of doubt while seeing glass half full – finally I get some decent sleep.