jimmie50

Correct. It will be interesting for sure...as well as a challenge. Am I up for it...only time will tell.

Good question...not a clue, although he does have family there and also some friends. There are a couple of cousins his age he is close to...perhaps some of them?!? Not sure what either of us will be doing once there in regards to staying busy and interacting with others. Definitely will be a learning experience.

That was life in Bangkok, and he did not have a group of friends there who would play sports. I was referring to life now in Cambodia...and the work I meant was the construction work they are doing at the family home. His schedule at home is totally different from what it was in Bangkok working at the club. At home he is up around 6:30am and they usually are starting to work by 7am. They will take breaks throughout the day, but in general they finish working for the day around 4pm. He will shower and then meet his friends at a nearby field where they play sports. They maybe play for around 90 minutes. Sometimes they will sit around after the game talking and drink a beer, but he is almost always home by 7pm. So very different from what his life was like in Bangkok. And there is always family around visiting. He loves having fun with the nieces and nephews. His friends are actual friends he has known and grown up with and people he says he can genuinely count on if he ever needed anything. Just like he is helping his friend out by paying him to help with the fence project at the moment. While the Cambodian group of guys back in Bangkok do refer to each other as 'friends', Cam says they are not true friends but merely acquaintances. It is interesting to me the influence the environment and his peers have on him and the difference between his life in Bangkok and his life back home in Cambodia. I refer to it as the nature of the beast, so to speak. Working at the club, drinking with customers, and hanging out with his Cambodian buddies...they were always drinking and quite heavily...not just beer, but lots of hard liquor nightly. He would also smoke (vape) in Bangkok. Back at home, when he is hanging out with his lifelong friends they may have one or two beers but it is not an every day occurrence and never any late nights. Even when family comes to visit, they only drink beer and then it is only one or two at the most. He has not smoked since he has been back home. I suppose it is a perfect example of how peer pressure or our environment influences what we do.

Be aware when you talk about football anywhere outside of the US the rest of the world is talking about soccer. Even in sports bars you will need to be specific and ask for 'American football' or they will put on a soccer game or refer you to a soccer game. lol. Cam goes to play sports with friends in the evenings. He is always playing volleyball or, in his words, 'football'. In American English he is talking soccer. I am constantly being corrected by him when I say...oh, you mean soccer. He replies, no...football. LOL.

I really do appreciate the leading/looping questions from you and also floridarob. It does cause me to pause and think things through more carefully. I am trying to enter into this adventure with eyes wide open and no blinders on. One step at a time. So far things have been very positive between me and Cam. I do thank you for being protective...I can sometimes be a little naive or too trusting.

It was great meeting up with you, your boyfriend, and your Denver friend. I certainly never expected anyone from the forum to actually connect with me on my home turf in Denver. This isn't exactly a main destination for folks! lol. There is something about the posts forum members make and the camaraderie that develops from our mutual interest that we begin to form a vision in our minds of who the person is and what they might look like. I knew right away when floridarob walked in the door of the restaurant that it was him and was exactly as I had imagined. His charming personality and wit you experience online is exactly what you get in person, too. He and I are very similar in that we sometimes like to 'poke the bear' in our posts. lol. It was nice to hear him describe other forum members he has met in person...far more than I have...since he is a long time member. As he said, the time flew by and it was like meeting an old friend and catching up. Wonderful evening. I cannot say how much longer I will actually be in Denver, but if anyone ever passes through please let me know. Would be great to connect with other forum members as well. I probably have a better chance of meeting others once in Cambodia. While Battambang may not be a huge attraction, Siem Reap is only 90 minutes away by motorbike and I also want to explore Phnom Penh once I am in Cambodia. Give a shout out if you are traveling in Cambodia and we can meet there.

I am only speaking from my personal experience, but the site actually loads much faster for me now. After the site was hacked, it was always very slow to load when it got up and running again. Sometimes it would not load at all. At least for me it is now super fast. As for the format and navigation, I am a member of another forum (although I am not very active there) that uses the same program/software. It has not been a huge adjustment for me, but I am probably in the minority on this. I am sure all of these changes are somehow connected to the site being hacked and the need to upgrade. Nobody likes change...in any part of our lives. Sometimes these things are inevitable.

Well, in less than 24 hours I will be in the air from Denver to SF and beginning my next adventure. I have just a couple of last minute errands to run this morning and then need to finish packing. Unfortunately, it does not seem like the last bit of work on the fence project is going to be completed by the time I arrive. This does not surprise me. Weather has been a big factor as they have received a lot of rain this week so work has been difficult to complete. They even hired an extra person a couple of days this week to help. I asked Cam how much they pay the extra help hourly and he said in Cambodia they pay by the day, not hourly, and for construction like this it depends on their experience. The helper is a friend of his who is currently unemployed and has no construction experience, so they pay him $10 USD per day. I must admit I was a little taken aback by such a small amount, but was careful not to criticize or say anything other than to simply acknowledge what Cam said. He said for someone that has experience, knows what they are doing and needed minimal instruction or supervision they would pay $15 USD daily. Compare that to general labor construction workers in the US who probably make around $30 USD PER HOUR! As I said, I made no comment and showed no reaction being careful not to offend Cam or his brother (yes, we were on video chat). The friend was happy to have an opportunity to work and was happy with the pay. I know Cam is feeling a little pressure to finish as much of the project as possible before heading to Siem Reap to meet me on Sunday. He also has a good heart and was trying to help out his friend. Who am I to judge. It is not my place to question. I am just excited to begin the journey and reunite with Cam. The last few weeks have not gone by fast enough for me. My posts will most likely be few and far between for the next week or so. Cam is already making plans of all the things he wants to show me in and around Siem Reap before we continue the adventure in Battambang. It sounds like the first week in Cambodia will be a busy one.

I don't know that Chiang Mai has one central area like Silom in Bangkok where you can find most of the gay venues. To begin with, there are not nearly as many venues and they tend to be more spread out. For many people, the draw for Chiang Mai is a milder climate and overall a different vibe from the big city life in Bangkok. There truly is something magical about Bangkok in general. With the exception of my last three trips to Thailand over the last 12 months, I never stayed in Silom before. I was always there visiting my Thai friends (straight family) and stayed in one of their rental units...far, far away from Silom. Even though I didn't have the 'gay experience', there is just something unique and magical about Bangkok for me regardless of what area I am in. The sights, the smells, the people...I truly love every minute of my time there. Being able to experience Silom the last few times...I was just like you...the kid in the candy store for the very first time. I was born and raised in Ohio...small town of around 7,000 people. I hated it. I am definitely a big city guy and tend to thrive off that energy. I am also not a beach person, so Koh Samui would be a nice place to visit for a couple of days, but I would never survive a week there. As for the weather in Bangkok, it you can survive the heat and humidity in Florida during the months of August and September...the heat in Bangkok will not be a problem. I guess you have a couple of options...as long is they don't involve losing a lot of money, that is...you could shorten your time in Koh Samui and head on up to Chiang Mai earlier. That would require changing reservations and possibly losing money on the Airbnb where you are currently staying. I doubt a refund is possible now. Possibly a slight change fee in airfare as well. Otherwise, enjoy the island life for a week. As others have mentioned, I would encourage you to rent a motorbike and go exploring. Don't depend on Grab. That will be costly and also limiting in your ability to get out and go whenever and wherever you want. I don't know what your plans are when you get to Chiang Mai, but I would highly recommend that you hire a local guide. Several forum members, myself included, have hired Woody via Siam Roads. Woody is gay, originally from Myanmar but lived for many years in Chiang Mai and knows the area well. He and his partner own and operate a massage shop...Classic House. He has a car and can show you the usual tourist sites, but can also provide information and guidance about living in Chiang Mai in general. You can find both Siam Roads and Classic House online via Google Search, but to book his tour service you need to go through Siam Roads. Just a friendly suggestion.

This was true in California in the high school where I worked. 80% of the student population was Asian...predominantly from China and Taiwan. The students and their families avoided long time exposure to the sun and would often be seen with umbrellas for protection. I also know this to be true with Cam. He is outside working in the sun all day long and often complains about how hot it is. But when we are chatting, I also see that he is wearing long pants, long sleeve shirt, and some type of jungle-style hat that has a flap covering the back of his neck...all to avoid the sun. He enjoys playing sports with his friends when not working...but it is always after 5pm when they play. Never in the heat of the day. As you said...Westerners would be out there in the heat of the day playing volleyball with shirts off and wearing shorts...minimal clothing to enjoy the sun and get the tan. Cam and his friends go out much later in the day and early evening for the specific purpose of avoiding the sun.

@aaroninatl ... Does Grinder #1 know you are returning to Bangkok for two weeks before returning to the US? If not, might I suggest you keep that under wraps for now. Grinder #2 will be back in Cambodia, so no worries there, but if #1 knows you are returning and when...that might tend to complicate your time in the bars, massages, and offs during your last two weeks. It really all depends on what you want to experience those last two weeks in BKK...more of the boyfriend experience, or more of the footloose and fancy free experience.

I would be one of those. It isn't just the cover. I realize that technically the drink minimum at the other clubs is the same thing as a cover charge. It is the fact that I have to pay in advance even for my drinks. I prefer to enjoy the show and my time with some handsome young man without being nagged for payment every time a drink is ordered. Most of the bars you clear your tab for the evening when you are ready to depart. It is just an annoyance for me...and the principle. You and I may like the same kind of guys, but we are truly on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to the clubs. Jupiter and Moonlight are the very last two on my list of favorites. LOL.

Given the current tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, I am surprised he was able to cross the border. He must have flown to Bangkok as air travel is still possible. Land borders are all closed. Where is he from in Cambodia?

Was one of the most horrific experiences I have ever had flying on that turbo prop. Scarred me for life. I would never fly anywhere if that was the only thing available. Yes...I am a drama queen! LOL. Regarding the 5am departure...I could have taken a later flight to SF from Denver, but then I run the risk of not making the connection. I book the flight from Denver to SF as a separate ticket...not part of the overall round trip. It is much cheaper that way heading to Asia from Denver. There are many more airlines from the West Coast that fly to Asia so the competition brings better prices. I always check LA, SF, and Seattle before booking. In order to be safe, the 5am flight is first flight out in the morning so usually no delays and on time arrival at SF. Next flight out would only give me about one hour layover...but the risk is too high for me to be comfortable about making the connection. Others might not mind, but for me the risk is too great.

T-minus five days and counting. Depart Denver at 5am Friday for San Francisco. Three hour layover in SF before the twenty hour flight from SF to Singapore. A long layover in Singapore, unfortunately, but I am okay with that. It was my choice in order to avoid the prop jet from Bangkok to Siem Reap. After my experience flying that contraption in Taiwan, I swore I would never set foot on one again. So I will get to enjoy ten hours overnight in the beautiful Singapore airport. Between the long flight, long layover, and time difference with Denver and Siem Reap, I actually will not arrive on the ground in Cambodia until Sunday around 9:45am. Cam is actually driving up to Siem Reap on Saturday since my flight arrives so early on Sunday morning. He will check in to the Airbnb and stay there Saturday night, then ride with their driver in the van to the airport. So glad the Airbnb provides transportation to/from the airport. One less thing to worry about, and they had no issue if Cam rode along with them. We will spend a few days in Siem Reap before heading down to Battambang. I am not overly optimistic that they are going to be able to complete the fence project before I arrive. They have been getting a fair amount of rain where he lives which has restricted some of their time to work. The frame work of steel is all finished and the footers all poured. They still need to put up the wooden molds for the columns and pour that concrete, then lay the brick. The rest of the family may need to finish the project without Cam. The alternative would be for us to travel to his hometown from Battambang and stay for several days with his family so that they can finish. I certainly am up for that challenge, but that is entirely up to him if we do that. I think he mentioned it in passing to see what my reaction would be…which I had none other than to say that was fine with me. No problem. His decision. So far, the most challenging thing about everything has been finding A4 paper to print out the Khmer E-Visa…well, aside from being separated from Cam. That was definitely the most challenging!!! Foreign Ministry was very specific in their directions…two copies, one for entry and one for exit, on A4 paper. It seems, as with most things, there is a standard international version and then the US version. US just has to be different with everything. :( Standard size here is 8.5 x 11. Nobody stocks A4 paper, so I had to order online and get it delivered. I wanted to leave nothing to chance. If Cambodian Foreign Ministry says A4, then that is what it will be. lol. I want no glitches on my arrival.

He has looted everything else...why should this be any different?!?

Regarding the visa process, you can get a visa on arrival at the three international airports, but you can also apply in advance online for the tourist visa. If you choose tourist visa, it is initially for 30 days and can be extended one time for an additional 30 days. That is it. After the extension you must leave the country. Cambodia has a daily fine of $10 USD if you overstay the visa. If the overstay is 30 days or less you can take care of this at the airport on leaving. Payment must be in cash...exact amount...they do not make change...USD only. If your stay is more than 30 days, you must travel to Phnom Penh and clear the account at the general immigration office. A tourist visa cannot be exchanged for another type of visa. If you are planning to stay in Cambodia for an extended period of time, as I am, then you want to apply for the E-class visa. This is initially good for 30 days, but during that time you apply for the Retirement Visa Extension. Better to do it soon after your arrival rather than wait until closer to the end of your 30 days. Processing times can be anywhere from one week to ten days. If you use an agency, it seems to go faster...they have connections. lol. The online application is easy and does not take long at all to complete. Just check and double check before submitting that you entered all of the information correctly. You pay online as well via credit/debit card. Cost for the E-class visa is $35. Not sure about the Tourist visa. They say it takes approximately 3 business days to process the application. They will send you an initial email once you submit the application with payment. I received my approval and visa within 24 hours, so it was very fast and efficient.

I hope this is the case, but I am not overly optimistic this will do any good until 2028. The orange bobble head does as he damn well pleases without any regard for laws, rules or regulations. Even if the courts rule against him, it is almost always too late as the damage is already done. Perfect example of this is the destruction of the East Wing of the White House. Never bothered to consult Congress. Just did it. And construction of the new monstrosity is so far along that even if the courts ruled against him...what then...tear the thing down? Another example is the sculpture garden. According to Dept of Interior and National Park Service...it is just an idea. However, in reality, they have already removed more than 60 trees and started pouring concrete pads for statues and a gazebo. Our court system is overwhelmed with lawsuits from various groups and organizations against all of these, but simply move too slow to make any difference.

Rather than pay 7700 Baht for six hours, if I had a long delay or layover I would go to the hotel on airport property...I believe it is now a Hyatt property. Their current nightly rate is $115 USD or approximately 3800 Baht. Very convenient and very nice property. I have stayed there before overnight when I had an early morning flight and I did not want my friends to have to get up in the wee hours of the morning to take me to the airport.

You are in excellent hands. I know your local legend...have met in Pattaya before. He is wise and all-knowing of the scene there.

You can actually apply online now for the initial E-class visa which is good initially for 30 days. You then apply for the ER extension once you have arrived. It can be done on your own, but most people in the online expat groups recommend using an agent as it makes the process much smoother and faster. They offer a 3-month, 6-month and 12-month ER visa extension. The 3-month is only single entry, though, so it is better to apply for 6 or 12 month as they allow for multiple entries. Additional cost is relatively inexpensive for the longer term visa. Renewal seems to be very easy, as well. Since we plan to settle in Battambang, I am not sure about availability of housing. This may be true in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap...possibly Sihanoukville, but based upon our experience trying to find a decent Airbnb listing in Battambang, it may be challenging for us to find an apartment for rent. I am expecting this to be a challenge. I was not aware of this. Thank you for that information. Will need to investigate ASAP. This will probably be helpful in Siem Reap. Not sure about Battambang, though. It isn't exactly a major tourist hub in Cambodia.

+1

To be honest, I was sort of expecting something like that once I got back in Denver. I had prepared myself for it mentally. Been pleasantly surprised...and grateful that it hasn't happened. I do know that Cam was fairly frugal in Bangkok and most of his money was sent home to his mother. He has said on numerous occasions to me that she is quite the saver, which is how they have accumulated a substantial portion for the new house. I also know that all of the siblings have full time jobs, as do the in-laws. I imagine all of these things have something to do with it.

Doesn't sound as though it will be very high on the list. I was disappointed in his ranking of Hotmale, but then again, I am partial and show favoritism. Guess why?!? LOL.

I agree there are a couple of guys in the show who probably should consider retiring. I am not a huge fan of drag, but do enjoy the show at Banana Bar. If you hang around long enough for the parade of number guys on stage, there should be some twinks in that group...perhaps even the ones you spotted out and about in Banana Bar t-shirts. Prior to Cam, I have found several there who are to my liking and even taken one off a couple of times. None of them are actually in the show...just what I refer to as number boys who parade on stage between shows.