Love Interest 2026 Update

[jimmie50]

Greetings, All!  This will come as no surprise to some of you, and others may be shocked.  Currently back in Bangkok and planning to be here for approximately three months.  That will all depend on if my request for a 30-day visa extension is approved the end of June after the initial 60-days.  I made the decision for several reasons.  First, since I am retired and have no real commitments or obligations to keep me in Denver other than family, I decided there is no reason to wait until November.  In addition, it is low season so not nearly as many tourists.  When checking airfares, I actually found better prices now versus later in the year due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.  Since there seems to be no end in sight and jet fuel prices are skyrocketing, airfares listed for the fall are astronomical.  Of course, the single most important reason is I missed Cam and really wanted to spend some long term quality time with him.  We were both anxious to spend time together sooner rather than later.  We have been texting multiple times each day ever since I returned to Denver, and video call at least once a day, if not more. There was really no strong, compelling reason to wait until late in 2026.

My posts will not be as often as my previous trips to Thailand, nor as detailed.  Only a few select friends, immediate family, and one or two forum members know of my location.  I have zero plans to see my Thai friends.  There will be no visits to massage shops; no contact via Line with regulars I saw previously…including Paradise guy.  I doubt we will visit any of the bars and will probably avoid Silom as much as possible.  Cam made the necessary arrangements with the bar to be off during my entire visit.  Thanks to forum members for setting me straight about off fees for something long term, no money was provided to Hotmale. lol.  However, I did give Mamasan a nice tip to offer our thanks for his support of Cam.  After I returned to Denver, Cam made the decision on his own without any prompting from me to discuss with Mamasan that he no longer wanted to go with customers for off’s, but would only go for drinks.  He explained that we were together now and that he would be returning to Cambodia after my visit and I would most likely be joining him there.  Mamasan agreed to that request.  It only presented a problem with one customer, which speaks more about the customer’s character than anything about Cam.  Customer knew from Mamasan that Cam would only go with him for a drink…nothing more.  After one hour of drinking, customer decided he wanted more from Cam.  Cam said ‘no’, and politely told the man he was leaving.  Man would not even give Cam any money after he spent one hour with him for drinks. Cam didn’t care about the money, and left to go back to his room.  So, I felt a generous tip was in order for Mamasan since he was so supportive of Cam’s decision.

This trip is all about spending quality time together and getting to know each other better.  We are staying in an Airbnb away from the Silom area for the duration of the trip.  We have some side trips planned as well, including a trip to Pattaya and Chiang Mai for a few days.  Cam has been to Pattaya one time, but really enjoys the beach so we definitely want to go there.  He has never been to Chiang Mai, so that will be a new adventure.  Keeping in mind Cam’s status, all of our accommodations are through Airbnb and all of our travel is via private car service.  We may even do a little exploring around Bangkok and visit Ayutthaya.  Cam has never really ventured outside of Silom very much and experienced other parts of the city.  Again, please do not expect daily updates as I have done on my previous trips.  This visit is totally different from past experiences.

[hank75]

Delighted to hear all has gone well for you and Cam, and he seems as committed as you are. Wishing both of you the best. 

[FunFifties]

Enjoy! I hope you will share some impressions of what it is like to live a more settled life in Thailand for a 2-3 month period. It is something I hope to do on a regular basis in a not too distant future, so would appreciate your thoughts and experiences in that regard. 

[jason1975]

What a shock! We could have met for drinks or a meal together yesterday if I had known you were in Bangkok @jimmie50. I am now at airport. End of weekend trip.

I am happy for you and your guy. Wishing you great times and unforgettable experiences.

I will be in Bangkok again in 2 weeks time, for Pride Parade on Sunday 31 May, which travels along Silom Road.

[khaolakguy]

Thanks for the update, wishing you both well on your journey.

[floridarob]

21 hours ago, jimmie50 said:

There will be no visits to massage shops; no contact via Line with regulars I saw previously…including Paradise guy.  I doubt we will visit any of the bars and will probably avoid Silom as much as possible.

We'll all keep our fingers crossed for you.... 3 months is a long time 😉

[Keithambrose]

22 minutes ago, floridarob said:

We'll all keep our fingers crossed for you.... 3 months is a long time 😉

Yup, let's hope...

[kram987]

3 hours ago, floridarob said:

We'll all keep our fingers crossed for you.... 3 months is a long time 😉

+1

[jimmie50]

On 5/17/2026 at 2:18 PM, jason1975 said:

We could have met for drinks or a meal together yesterday if I had known you were in Bangkok

A belated Happy Birthday, Jason!   Well, as I said, we are keeping a low profile and avoiding Silom area in general.  No need to be around there since we are not participating in any of the extra-curricular activities.  Did not realize it was pride in Bangkok.  That will be something to discuss with Cam to see if he is interested in checking out the parade or other events.  Have my doubts, but open to the possibility if he is interested.  

[jimmie50]

Airline Info:  Wanted to share that for this trip I booked travel with StarLux Airlines.  It is a luxury, premium Taiwanese airline.  I think they were founded around 2018 by someone who used to be with Eva Airlines.  Their prices from the US are fairly competitive.  It was recommended to me by a friend who lives in San Francisco and has flown with them a number of times now to Asia.  I would also add my recommendation.  Service was outstanding, food was better than most, and truly felt spoiled and pampered in business class.  Very comfortable and will definitely fly with them again.  This trip was SFO to Taipei (11 hours), 3 hour layover, then Taipei to Bangkok (4 hours).  All Airbus fleet...mostly A350's on long hauls.  As I did on my last few trips, timed my arrival in Bangkok for noon, then made sure I stayed up and active the rest of the day until a somewhat regular bedtime.  No jet lag the next day.  

Immigration News: No line whatsoever at section for Seniors and Disabled Persons.  Walked right up to the first available officer.  No real problems and received 60 day visa.  However, he noticed my other recent trips and provided me with some friendly advice...not a warning.  He explained that the government was in the process of reducing the 60 day visa to a 30 day visa and it would probably happen soon.  If, on any future trips I was thinking of staying longer than 30 days I might want to consider applying for a different type of visa.  So, it sounds as if the 30 day tourist visa is a done deal with only the target date to be announced.  If things go well with me and Cam this trip, that won't be a concern for us anyway.  When I return to Denver the end of July, Cam will be returning to his hometown in Cambodia at the same time.  My next trip will be to Siem Reap, so any visit to Bangkok will simply be a layover between the two cities.  I won't even need a visa for that.  

[Min]

On 5/17/2026 at 11:57 AM, jimmie50 said:

I made the decision for several reasons.  First, since I am retired and have no real commitments or obligations to keep me in Denver other than family, I decided there is no reason to wait until November.  In addition, it is low season so not nearly as many tourists.  When checking airfares, I actually found better prices now versus later in the year due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.  Since there seems to be no end in sight and jet fuel prices are skyrocketing, airfares listed for the fall are astronomical. 

Why bothered with all of these. We all know why you can't wait to come back 😄

[jason1975]

2 hours ago, jimmie50 said:

Did not realize it was pride in Bangkok.  That will be something to discuss with Cam to see if he is interested in checking out the parade or other events.  Have my doubts, but open to the possibility if he is interested.  

Another forum member and I will be there that afternoon cheering the parade participants. I think it's wonderful there is a parade!

[bkkmfj2648]

For those who will be in Pattaya - there will be a Gay Pride parade on Saturday 27 June.

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/Prpattayacity/posts/พัทยาเดินหน้า-pattaya-international-pride-2026-จัดยิ่งใหญ่ริมชายหาด-2628-มิยนี้-/1400999792051925/

 

[jimmie50]

Well, I did manage to avoid Songkran, which I had no desire to experience.  Perhaps because of my age, but hearing @Enchanted_Elixir describe what it was like while attempting to roam the streets of Silom only reinforced my desire to avoid those festivities.  Unfortunately, it seems I will be present for Pride celebrations in June.  Please do not misunderstand that statement…I am supportive of LGBTQ+ rights and am proud to be an out gay man. I only say ‘unfortunately’ because over the years I have participated in literally hundreds of pride events all over the US, from March on Washington two times to annual festivals in most major US cities including New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, San Diego, etc.  I have been a member of organizing committees and always played an active role within the gay community wherever I lived.  My mantra these days is more about…been there, done that.  Not knowing what Cam’s level of participation in Pride has been, I will most likely defer to him.  If he wants to join in the festivities, then we will.  If he wants to escape the city during those few days, I am perfectly okay with that as well.

Been going back and reading old posts in the Gay Cambodia section to see what information I can glean.  That section doesn’t seem to be nearly as active as Gay Thailand, so there are not many current posts.  Still some solid and valuable information.  Cam’s family lives very close to Siem Reap, so he feels it would be better for me if we lived in the city.  He can commute easily by motorbike to the family farm.  I want to educate myself as much as possible about Cambodian history, culture, gay life in addition to the traditions of Cam and his family.  At the moment, my biggest concern is how I will be received by his family.  One of the interesting things I have learned about Cam during this visit is he actually has two sets of Cambodian friends in Bangkok. One group of friends also work in the bars and they have been unable to make the necessary visa runs since the border conflict began.  These are the friends he goes with after work to grab a bite to eat or they go drinking.  I think there are five friends in this group.  Prior to Bangkok, he only knew one of these five back in Cambodia.  His other group of friends either have jobs in construction or some type of service industry.  They all have current visas.  There are four or five in this group and they all knew each other back in Cambodia.  They come from the same general area.  This second group does not know about his job in the bar.  They are under the impression he still works construction or food service.  When they get together, it is usually away from Silom.  They enjoy a meal together or will play pool somewhere that requires him to take MRT.  He is concerned that if anyone in this second group of friends were to find out…word would quickly get back to Cambodia and possibly his family.  His family is under the impression the money he sends home comes from his construction or food service job.  Really not all that different from me and my friends who were closeted for years and led double lives.  Cam doesn’t think his parents would have a problem with him being gay or bisexual.  They would not be happy with the actual job and the way he is earning the money.  For my part, I am more concerned what they are going to think about him living with a man more than twice his age...even older than his parents.  

Been researching the retirement visa available in Cambodia and from what I have read it seems relatively easy to get and to renew annually.  Would certainly appreciate any information forum members can provide who have visited Cambodia before, or perhaps have considered retiring there.  Interested in what medical care is like.  Need to focus on the Siem Reap area.  

[Marc308]

Gosh I don't know what information I can offer: Cambodia has been through a lot -- Pol Pot massacres, Vietnamese invasion, Chinese invasion, brutal French colonialism, American carpet bombing and mining. The financial system is pretty messed up -- with the USD becoming the de facto Cambodian currency, and its own currency being considered chump change alas. The psyche of the country is badly bruised, you can kind of feel it there. The current generation (Cam's generation) is trying to reset but until their parents and grandparents pass on, it will remain. I don't know how anybody who lived through the "Killing Fields" can brush it off, they are trying. Maybe this will help you understand Cam's parents when you meet them.

You can expect to find parents who love their son unconditionally, and support him in whatever life he chooses. They thank him for sending money to them regularly (which helps them survive). They of course wish for a good life for him. That all said, if you can remain deeply respectful of them, they are unlikely to resent you. In fact they are mostly likely to make you feel comfortable and welcome in their home. My advice is to practice "strategic ambiguity" when it comes to your relationship with Cam, calling him a dear friend, someone you trust and value, and someone you enjoy staying with. They will understand (probably more than you ever will know). 

Good luck! You are about to undertake a great adventure. 

 

[PeterRS]

Small gifts for the family members will certainly be welcome and a mark of respect. This includes for children as well as parents, aunts and uncles. You will no doubt need Cam's advice on this in terms of the nature of the gifts. He may suggest they are not necessary but I think as with Thai families they'll certainly help get a relationship off to a solid footing. 

[hank75]

1 hour ago, PeterRS said:

Small gifts for the family members will certainly be welcome and a mark of respect. This includes for children as well as parents, aunts and uncles. You will no doubt need Cam's advice on this in terms of the nature of the gifts. He may suggest they are not necessary but I think as with Thai families they'll certainly help get a relationship off to a solid footing. 

Would add to this the importance of establishing yourself as “partner” or “dear friend” (as suggested above) - anything that implies even footing, or as balanced as it can get in a fundamentally unbalanced situation. Not “sugar daddy” “customer” as the latter is then expected to contribute refrigerators and motorcycles, if not immediately, almost certainly at some point in the future. As well as the being the financial cushion for unexpected medical expenses. Again speaking from personal experience. Occasionally I do wonder what ever happened to that motorcycle. Wouldn’t recommend it. 

[jimmie50]

Had an interesting, serious conversation with Cam today that was totally unexpected at this time while our relationship is developing.  However, opportunity presented itself in an unusual way and I wanted to take advantage of the situation.  Cam has a friend from his hometown in Cambodia who now lives and works in Sydney, Australia.  He is legally married to his husband.  He and Cam are fairly close friends and keep in touch.  They were chatting online and it was rather late in Bangkok, so I knew Sydney was three hours later and it was wee hours of the morning there.  As we were going to bed, I just casually asked him what his friends husband thought about the chatting taking place in the middle of the night.  He proceeded to explain that both of them have their own homes.  Even though they are married, they literally do not live together on a full time basis.  They do things together as a couple, but do not sleep together every night.  He said even when they travel they often book separate hotel rooms.  They have been together for a number of years now.  My general comment was I thought that was a strange relationship for a married couple.  It seems more like a new relationship at the beginning stages of dating before they decide to move in together.  Anyway, that allowed me to open that proverbial can of worms about what our life together might look like in Siem Reap.  As it turns out, we are both on the same page as to what we want and what our expectations are.  Regarding his friend, he said every person and every relationship is different and the parties involved need to determine what it is they want and what works best for them.  I agree with that, and stated very clearly that the type of relationship his friend has is not what I am looking for and I would not move halfway around the world for that.  I said while he may get together with friends and family that sometimes includes me and sometimes doesn’t, and I will hopefully meet some new friends to hang out with that may include him sometimes, I was not going to be sitting alone in an apartment in Siem Reap waiting for him to make time to visit me for a few hours each week.  My expectations are we look for apartments together, we primarily live together and we are sleeping together every night.  His friends/family would be on the receiving end of occasional visits each week for a few hours.  Fortunately, both of our expectations regarding this are in sync.  While he wants to build his parents the new house along with his siblings, he has no desire to live with his parents.  The new house will only have two bedrooms…one for the parents and the other for any of the 14 grandchildren that spend the night.  It was a really good conversation and sharing of ideas.  This was definitely an area of concern for me, and I am very much relieved and more optimistic that we are headed in the right direction.  We’ve even been sharing family photos from our childhood.  Of course, given the age difference, many of my old photos are in black and white and taken with a 35mm camera. All of his photos are in color and taken with a phone. lol.

He also shared during the conversation that he has told his mother about me, and his plan to live with me in Siem Reap.  At least according to him, she has been very accepting of this and has not expressed any concerns.  I do not believe he has used the word ‘partner’ or ‘boyfriend’ when explaining the relationship, but more likely used ’special friend’ or ‘dear friend’.  This has been mentioned by some forum members as a good work around.  His mother is anxious to meet me and has even invited me to stay with them my first few nights in Cambodia until we can find a place in Siem Reap.  Cam is close to both parents, but more so his mother.  No idea if any conversation has taken place between his mother and father regarding me or the special friendship.  Cam tends to only share such things with his mother and one sister he is especially close to.  As for being seen as a walking Western ATM, the only money I have ever given Cam was the agreed upon amount on my previous trip where we spent an entire week together.  I assume most of that money went home to his family, but sure that my name was not attached to it in any way since his parents are not even aware of how he earns the money he sends home.  As I stated in a previous post, they are under the impression he is still working construction or food service.  That isn’t to say in the future it is a potential problem, but as of now is not a concern.  Briefly talked about the need to bring gifts for family members.  He said parents, siblings and their spouses, and grandchildren were enough.  No need to include extended family. He also suggested waiting until I am in Siem Reap and we can go shopping there together to purchase for the family rather than bringing things from the US.  He thought it was too many people and too much ‘stuff’ I would need to travel with, and they would be happy with anything.  Not sure I feel quite right about waiting to purchase in Siem Reap, but will ultimately defer to him.

[jimmie50]

On 5/21/2026 at 8:34 AM, Marc308 said:

You can expect to find parents who love their son unconditionally, and support him in whatever life he chooses. They thank him for sending money to them regularly (which helps them survive). They of course wish for a good life for him. That all said, if you can remain deeply respectful of them, they are unlikely to resent you. In fact they are mostly likely to make you feel comfortable and welcome in their home. My advice is to practice "strategic ambiguity" when it comes to your relationship with Cam, calling him a dear friend, someone you trust and value, and someone you enjoy staying with. They will understand (probably more than you ever will know). 

This definitely appears to be the case based upon conversations he has had with his mother about me and about us living together in Siem Reap.  I was also in a 10-year relationship with someone from Taiwan.  We even lived in Taiwan for a year.  I understand the need to be respectful and discreet.  That was many years ago, but I remember well the need to be very 'strategic', as you put it.  

[jimmie50]

On 5/21/2026 at 11:52 AM, hank75 said:

Not “sugar daddy” “customer” as the latter is then expected to contribute refrigerators and motorcycles, if not immediately, almost certainly at some point in the future. As well as the being the financial cushion for unexpected medical expenses.

Since his parents believe the money he sends home comes from a construction or food service job, I don't believe sugar daddy or customer would even remotely enter any conversation.  There is also no directly link to me in regards to any money he has sent home.  I do understand the need to keep things on a somewhat level playing field in regards to his family.  I don't believe it is any concern initially, but that could always change.