Love Interest 2026 Update

[Marc308]

Peter, your advice is very sensible. A visit to Pulse Clinic would make a lot of sense. 

But, regarding A/C, we have to remember that much of the world exists without A/C, and it feels very uncomfortable to some. They shiver, wrap themselves in swaddling clothes, and chatter their teeth sometimes. Seriously. And the opposite is true -- have you given a Thai boy a "hot shower"? You would think you were trying to scald them to death, as many are only used to room temperature showers with water scooped from the catchment tank near their home. 

 

 

[Mavica]

8 minutes ago, Marc308 said:

 ... many are only used to room temperature showers ... 

 

In both Mexico and Ireland where I've lived or traveled, room/air temperature shower water is the norm.  When I was living in Mexico City, I successfully fixated on elements of the military and those wonderful young men preferred room temperature showers because their barracks didn't have heated water.  In Ireland, an uncle of mine I'd stay with didn't have heated water and I bathed outdoors, taking water from a 55 gal. drum below a gutter downspout. Ouch!  Nowadays, though, my family there has heated water.  When I visit certain parts of Mexico the water is unheated, even today (Pacific Coast, mostly).

[hank75]

1 hour ago, PeterRS said:

I have a western friend who years ago had a much younger Thai bf. He had a small problem with a tooth. My friend took him to a dentist and it was discovered that he needed a considerable range of dental procedures.

I had a similar experience. My current regular guy has an extremely perfect set of teeth. When I first saw him on stage I was convinced he had veneers, since they  are far cheaper in Thailand.

After some time together I discovered he actually had incredibly poor dental hygiene, would only give his teeth a perfunctory swipe with the hotel toothbrush. When I went for a professional clean, I insisted he get one too and then it transpired he had never used dental floss in his life. 

[vinapu]

Just now, Marc308 said:

Peter, your advice is very sensible. A visit to Pulse Clinic would make a lot of sense. 

But, regarding A/C, we have to remember that much of the world exists without A/C, and it feels very uncomfortable to some.

 

 

Indeed, many people set temperatures too low and constant moving between 20 degrees room and 34 degrees outside invites trouble. I usually set it at 26 and still had occasional boy complaining that it's too cold. 

[Keithambrose]

44 minutes ago, vinapu said:

Indeed, many people set temperatures too low and constant moving between 20 degrees room and 34 degrees outside invites trouble. I usually set it at 26 and still had occasional boy complaining that it's too cold. 

Oh dear, I like it at 18 for sleeping!

[jimmie50]

First of all, thanks to everyone for your concern about Cam.  He is finally filling better, although not 100%, but has gone to the gym this afternoon for a short workout.  I cautioned him not to overdo it.  After three days of being cooped up in the condo with each other, we were about to go a little crazy.  Getting outside and getting a little fresh air will do him some good as well (if you can call Bangkok air fresh).  A little sunshine will do him some good as well.  

It is a struggle between us to find a balance on the A/C.  I am accustomed to central heat/air conditioning back in Denver.  I am always careful to make sure any place I book when I travel has A/C as one of the minimum requirements.  Cam, on the other hand, has never had A/C at home, nor anywhere he has lived in Bangkok.  The only place he has A/C on a regular basis was at the bar when he went to work.  We had sort of settled on 23 degrees as being comfortable for both of us all the time, but since he got sick I have bumped that up to 25.  That works for him and is tolerable for me, so we will probably leave it there.  

I also appreciate everyone's concern regarding Cam's overall health.  While he said he had never been to see a doctor even as a child, I don't know what the standard practice is, if any, in Cambodia regarding childhood vaccinations.  No idea if his mother took him to see a doctor or not, and he was too little to remember.  Prescriptions are not needed to get some medications in Cambodia or Thailand as they are in the US, so he has always been able to just pick up anything he needed previously for colds.  He was fortunate enough not to get Covid.  He easily purchased an antibiotic for this cold over the counter along with the other medications recommended by the pharmacist.  

There are certain things I do know about his overall health.  He has always practiced safe sex with me.  I know he takes Prep.  He has told me that he would never go with any customer who refused to use any protection.  He has told me stories of getting dressed and walking out on customers who insisted no condom regardless of the money.  I know he and two of his Cambodian friends who also work in bars get tested at Pulse every three months.  I have seen him on video chat waiting for his number to be called at the clinic and then he has showed me his test results.  I have also shared my test results with him...we are both negative.  From this standpoint, I am very comfortable with the situation.  As I said to @bkkmfj2648, Cam probably is taking on more of a risk given my age and various ailments versus his health status.  Still, at some point it would be a good idea to try to persuade him to get a complete physical.  Perhaps after I meet his family and am able to connect with his mother and/or sister, we can all work on him regarding making an appointment.  

[jimmie50]

5 hours ago, Marc308 said:

Asian "medicine" can appear quite bizarre at times to a Western viewer. Just go with the flow and smile. 

I experienced this first hand with my Taiwanese boyfriend and his family.  Many times during that ten year period my theme song was 'smile and go with the flow'.  Often was given some pretty nasty stuff to try when I was sick and they tried to 'heal me' with the Chinese medicines.  My ex and his brother both had Master's degrees in engineering, and his sister a Master's in Business...so all very well educated...but when sick would also go to the Chinese medicines first.  

[spoon]

Seeing cam is doing the test regularly, and practise safe sex, even taking prep (kudos to cam!) when he says no doctor, he probably means his sickness is not serious that needs a doctor visit, especially if a doctor visits will results in the same advise, for a flu, take wide range antibiotic and over the counter flu/cough medicine to treat the symptoms. Visit to doctor will just add unnecessary cost (consultant fee, plus usually more inflated price for the medicines compare to pharmacy), and given his status in  thailand, might also means he need to show his id, so he probably wont be comfortable for a normal flu.

Early on, when you posted about this, it does sounds like he avoid doctors totally. But he seems to be very responsible for his sex health so i sure hope if he got a more serious illness, visit to a doctor wont be a no no. 

 

[hank75]

1 hour ago, spoon said:

and given his status in  thailand, might also means he need to show his id, so he probably wont be comfortable for a normal flu.

This sounds most likely. 

Additionally they have probably been accustomed since young to toughing out minor ailments. My ex Cambodian guy did visit the doctor in Cambodia for anything that dragged on. But generally these guys are young, fit, exercise often so they bounce back fast. Wish I could claim the same. 

Also has anyone tried the generic cough and cold medications or antibiotics that can be purchased over the counter in Thailand? They are far stronger than anything I’ve ever taken, in most countries they would be prescription only and last resort. I can’t remember the name of what I took, it was recommended to me by a pharmacist and it knocked me out cold.

 

[PeterRS]

22 hours ago, Marc308 said:

regarding A/C, we have to remember that much of the world exists without A/C, and it feels very uncomfortable to some. They shiver, wrap themselves in swaddling clothes, and chatter their teeth sometimes. Seriously. And the opposite is true -- have you given a Thai boy a "hot shower"? You would think you were trying to scald them to death

Having spent more than half my life in Asia, I started all those decades ago with the air con on all the time I was in the apartment (although in Hong Kong that basically meant from May to October rather than the entire year). The same was true in Tokyo although there dehumidifiers were also essential in summer and heating and humidifiers in winter!

With Bangkok as my home base for 25 years, I have gradually changed my habits. I only use a fan during the day when I am working. Air con is on only at night and I have crept the temperature up to 25 degrees. I still need warm showers but my bf from a good family in Myanmar always insists on cold showers.

That reminds me a little of my regular visits (10 of them) to a little basic hotel outside Ubud in Bali in the first half of the 1980s. No proper showers. Only buckets with holes and a rope, the hope being that there would still be enough water in the bucket by the time it was above your head. At that age it actually seemed quite fun!

[jimmie50]

3 hours ago, PeterRS said:

With Bangkok as my home base for 25 years, I have gradually changed my habits. I only use a fan during the day when I am working. Air con is on only at night and I have crept the temperature up to 25 degrees. I still need warm showers but my bf from a good family in Myanmar always insists on cold showers.

We leave the A/C on all the time when we are at the condo, but have adjusted the temp to 25 degrees for now.  A bit warm for me, but want to make sure I don't freeze Cam out or cause his cold to linger on.  He is much improved and almost 100% today.  Going out soon to do some grocery shopping at the supermarket.  As for shower...we like to shower together (more my preference than his), so we start out with warm to hot for me, then midway dial that back so it is colder for him.  He much prefers cold showers, and is accustomed to that from home as well as his room in Bangkok where he was living.  

When we would go to visit my ex-boyfriend's parents in Taiwan, they had no hot water, nor a shower.  You basically filled up a large wash tub with water, sat on a stool in the middle of the bathroom floor, used a smaller scoop to get yourself wet, then soap up, and use the scoop again to rinse.  At least in our apartment in Taipei we had a standup shower and lukewarm water.  I enjoyed visiting his parents, and they were always very nice to me, but always hated the bath experience.  Felt like I was 10 or 11 years old and back in summer camp.  

[PeterRS]

6 hours ago, jimmie50 said:

As for shower...we like to shower together (more my preference than his), so we start out with warm to hot for me, then midway dial that back so it is colder for him.  He much prefers cold showers, and is accustomed to that from home as well as his room in Bangkok where he was living.

I have always loved giving gentle massages when showering with my partner. But while I can stand a cold shower for a short time, that is not nearly long enough to give a massage. So with my present partner the massage has to wait till we're in bed 🤪

[jimmie50]

Cam has finished all of the medication and is back to ‘normal’ 100% now.  We managed to survive this minor bump in the road without too much drama.  We have gotten into a somewhat normal daily routine…wake up, shower together, go get breakfast at the nearby market (must be about 40 food booths under one roof), go window shopping someplace nearby (usually a mall) or grocery shopping, have a light snack and then Cam goes to the gym for two hours while I work on preparing some dinner most nights, chill out watching television together (mostly in Khmer…but very predictable and easy to figure out the plot), shower together again, then some play time before sleep.  Actually a very simple routine that we are both happy with.  Cam does not miss the bar scene at all and is very happy to be away from that.  I even ask if he wants to go for a drink with his Cambodian friends at any of the clubs or to see one of the shows and he says he has no interest in doing that.  He certainly gets no arguments from me on that front.  Just like an old married couple I guess. lol.

I don’t wish to share too much as I don’t want to jinx things, but so far things have been going well.  Other than learning to be around each other when he was sick and simply wanted to be left alone…I would say we have done remarkably well.  He is very attentive and also what I call very touchy, feely towards me all of the time…even out in public.  We have had some good discussions about life together in Cambodia and been making some preliminary plans.  I have also had to do some investigation into questions that have come up during our conversations.  As of now, it looks like I will return to Denver in late July for approximately five or six weeks to take care of medical appointments and financial matters.  Plan to fly from Denver on September 1 to Siem Reap.  That was a bit of a challenge.  Most airlines will fly as far as Bangkok, then I have to book a separate flight with some regional carrier directly to get from Bangkok to Siem Reap.  Could not book direct through United, Cathay Pacific, Starlux, EVA, China Airlines, ANA, etc…or any of the usual airlines I prefer for travel to Asia. Everything put me at Suvarnabhumi and then booking with Bangkok Airways…twin turbo prop plane.  No thank you!  Been there, done that.  Never again.  Open to other recommendations from those of you who have visited Cambodia before from Thailand.  There must be other options besides Bangkok Airways.  Finally was able to book with Singapore Airlines from San Francisco to Singapore, then Singapore direct to Siem Reap via 737.  Had to book separately for flight from Denver to SF on United.  Done that before, so no big deal.  Will apply for a 30-day Ordinary E-Class visa online through the Cambodian eVisa Portal prior to arrival…not a tourist visa.  These are different.  Once I arrive in Cambodia, I will need to go to the Immigration Department in Siem Reap and convert the E-Class Visa to an ER (retirement) Visa Extension of Stay for 12 months which allows multiple entries and no limit on the number of times it can be renewed.  There is also no money required as a deposit for the visa…just a government fee.  I only need to provide proof of a minimum monthly income of $1500 USD.  I should also be able to open a bank account with the retirement visa, and three different banks have been recommended.  One of those is the same bank that Cam uses, so I will probably opt for that one…at least initially.

Rented an apartment in Siem Reap for the first month via Airbnb.  That will give us time to go looking for an apartment in Battambang.  Will either rent a motorbike or may consider buying one.  Cam’s parents have a motorbike, but they will not be in Siem Reap or Battambang but his home town.  In addition, they will need their motorbike for daily use so not an option for us to have in Siem Reap.  Would consider renting a car, but foreigners cannot drive a rental car without Cambodian license.  Also cannot drive motorbike over 125cc without Cambodian license.  Once we have actually found an apartment in Battambang I will need to get the Cambodian license.  Finding an apartment to rent will probably be the biggest challenge, and we might need to use the services of a real estate agent.  I will only need my passport and the retirement visa in order to rent.  Most places will be similar to the US in asking for some type of deposit.  I have already been warned to make sure and get a written contract…not verbal agreement.  The landlord is legally required to register us in the Foreigners' Presence Control System (FPCS) upon move-in, which tracks foreign nationals staying in the country.  I will also need to get established with a doctor.  I cannot order my usual 3-month supply of medications online and have my sister ship them to me from Denver to Cambodia.  They are very strict about pharmaceuticals and will most likely be confiscated.  FedEx, UPS and DHL are all very reluctant to accept any pharmaceuticals for shipment.  Instead, it was recommended to me via online expat community to provide a list of medications, dosage, and reason for medication from my US doctor to a doctor in Cambodia and have them write new prescriptions for me that can be filled on a regular basis there.

[ichigo]

1 hour ago, jimmie50 said:

Open to other recommendations from those of you who have visited Cambodia before from Thailand.

I find that https://www.flightconnections.com is quite useful in checking what flight paths exist from different airports worldwide.

[Keithambrose]

2 hours ago, jimmie50 said:

Cam has finished all of the medication and is back to ‘normal’ 100% now.  We managed to survive this minor bump in the road without too much drama.  We have gotten into a somewhat normal daily routine…wake up, shower together, go get breakfast at the nearby market (must be about 40 food booths under one roof), go window shopping someplace nearby (usually a mall) or grocery shopping, have a light snack and then Cam goes to the gym for two hours while I work on preparing some dinner most nights, chill out watching television together (mostly in Khmer…but very predictable and easy to figure out the plot), shower together again, then some play time before sleep.  Actually a very simple routine that we are both happy with.  Cam does not miss the bar scene at all and is very happy to be away from that.  I even ask if he wants to go for a drink with his Cambodian friends at any of the clubs or to see one of the shows and he says he has no interest in doing that.  He certainly gets no arguments from me on that front.  Just like an old married couple I guess. lol.

I don’t wish to share too much as I don’t want to jinx things, but so far things have been going well.  Other than learning to be around each other when he was sick and simply wanted to be left alone…I would say we have done remarkably well.  He is very attentive and also what I call very touchy, feely towards me all of the time…even out in public.  We have had some good discussions about life together in Cambodia and been making some preliminary plans.  I have also had to do some investigation into questions that have come up during our conversations.  As of now, it looks like I will return to Denver in late July for approximately five or six weeks to take care of medical appointments and financial matters.  Plan to fly from Denver on September 1 to Siem Reap.  That was a bit of a challenge.  Most airlines will fly as far as Bangkok, then I have to book a separate flight with some regional carrier directly to get from Bangkok to Siem Reap.  Could not book direct through United, Cathay Pacific, Starlux, EVA, China Airlines, ANA, etc…or any of the usual airlines I prefer for travel to Asia. Everything put me at Suvarnabhumi and then booking with Bangkok Airways…twin turbo prop plane.  No thank you!  Been there, done that.  Never again.  Open to other recommendations from those of you who have visited Cambodia before from Thailand.  There must be other options besides Bangkok Airways.  Finally was able to book with Singapore Airlines from San Francisco to Singapore, then Singapore direct to Siem Reap via 737.  Had to book separately for flight from Denver to SF on United.  Done that before, so no big deal.  Will apply for a 30-day Ordinary E-Class visa online through the Cambodian eVisa Portal prior to arrival…not a tourist visa.  These are different.  Once I arrive in Cambodia, I will need to go to the Immigration Department in Siem Reap and convert the E-Class Visa to an ER (retirement) Visa Extension of Stay for 12 months which allows multiple entries and no limit on the number of times it can be renewed.  There is also no money required as a deposit for the visa…just a government fee.  I only need to provide proof of a minimum monthly income of $1500 USD.  I should also be able to open a bank account with the retirement visa, and three different banks have been recommended.  One of those is the same bank that Cam uses, so I will probably opt for that one…at least initially.

Rented an apartment in Siem Reap for the first month via Airbnb.  That will give us time to go looking for an apartment in Battambang.  Will either rent a motorbike or may consider buying one.  Cam’s parents have a motorbike, but they will not be in Siem Reap or Battambang but his home town.  In addition, they will need their motorbike for daily use so not an option for us to have in Siem Reap.  Would consider renting a car, but foreigners cannot drive a rental car without Cambodian license.  Also cannot drive motorbike over 125cc without Cambodian license.  Once we have actually found an apartment in Battambang I will need to get the Cambodian license.  Finding an apartment to rent will probably be the biggest challenge, and we might need to use the services of a real estate agent.  I will only need my passport and the retirement visa in order to rent.  Most places will be similar to the US in asking for some type of deposit.  I have already been warned to make sure and get a written contract…not verbal agreement.  The landlord is legally required to register us in the Foreigners' Presence Control System (FPCS) upon move-in, which tracks foreign nationals staying in the country.  I will also need to get established with a doctor.  I cannot order my usual 3-month supply of medications online and have my sister ship them to me from Denver to Cambodia.  They are very strict about pharmaceuticals and will most likely be confiscated.  FedEx, UPS and DHL are all very reluctant to accept any pharmaceuticals for shipment.  Instead, it was recommended to me via online expat community to provide a list of medications, dosage, and reason for medication from my US doctor to a doctor in Cambodia and have them write new prescriptions for me that can be filled on a regular basis there.

Personally,  i have always found Bangkok Airways  perfectly fine to Siem Reap. Sometimes  they fly a 737. Air Asia fly from Don Muang, but I have avoided them!

[khaolakguy]

jimmie50, That all sounds great, thanks for the updates.

[Travelingguy]

I have flown the ATR plane that Bangkok Airways flies and did not mind the flight.  My flight was operated by Lao Airways and the flight attendant was so handsome and his jump seat was right in front of me. 

I would fly that model plane again.  I am sorry that you did not have a good flight.

[Keithambrose]

27 minutes ago, Travelingguy said:

I have flown the ATR plane that Bangkok Airways flies and did not mind the flight.  My flight was operated by Lao Airways and the flight attendant was so handsome and his jump seat was right in front of me. 

I would fly that model plane again.  I am sorry that you did not have a good flight.

I agree re flight attendant!!

[captainmick]

20 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

Personally,  i have always found Bangkok Airways  perfectly fine to Siem Reap. Sometimes  they fly a 737. Air Asia fly from Don Muang, but I have avoided them!

Bangkok Airways fortunately don’t have any 737s in their fleet.  I avoid the dreaded Being 737 like the plague. I agree the Bangkok Airways turbo props are absolutely fine.

The current fleet comprises of 1 Airbus 320s, 11 Airbus 319s and 10 ATR72-600s

[jimmie50]

I should clarify that my bad experience on the ATR72 turbo prop was not on Bangkok Airways.  I have never been on Bangkok Airways before.  Nothing against the airline at all.  It was a small Taiwanese airline and I was flying from Taipei to Tainan.  My ex had booked the flight as we were going to visit his parents.  Flying from Don Muang isn't an option since the international flights from San Francisco all come into Suvarnabhumi.  That needs to be my transfer point...although on the Singapore Airlines flight I will miss Swampy altogether and go directly to Siem Reap.  I like that option better, even though it is a little more expensive.  Not enough to dissuade me from booking.  

[jimmie50]

Question for those of you who have been to Cambodia before...how widely accepted are credit cards?  When shopping at Tops, Big C or Foodland...or when dining out at a nicer restaurant...I usually use my Visa card.  Cam has said most places will accept US currency or Riel...but no need to exchange much currency in advance or upon first arriving there.  He has no idea about the use of credit cards, though.  I am suspicious that 'cash is king', so to speak, and I will find very few places that accept credit cards.  I will need to set up international transfer from my US bank to the Cambodian bank once I have opened an account there.  That way I can transfer money back and forth without difficulty (hopefully, he says...lol).  

[Tomtravel]

CC were accepted in hotels, 7/11 or alternatives and nicer food and drink establishments. I am sure in shopping centers too.

One idea for your time in US. Read a few books about Cambodia, they will reveal some insights about the society. Realism is good when you plan to stay there longer and create (join) a family. Both books end with a hope that maybe the young generation could make Cambodia a better place. And indeed its a very youthful country. My young friend complained he has limited access to the older gay guys.

Sebastian Strangio

Hun Sen's Cambodia (English Edition)

 

Joel Brinkley

Cambodia's Curse: The Modern History of a Troubled Land (English Edition)

 

[Keithambrose]

4 hours ago, captainmick said:

Bangkok Airways fortunately don’t have any 737s in their fleet.  I avoid the dreaded Being 737 like the plague. I agree the Bangkok Airways turbo props are absolutely fine.

The current fleet comprises of 1 Airbus 320s, 11 Airbus 319s and 10 ATR72-600s

Oh, ok, must have been an Airbus.  Wasn't every day.

[floridarob]

On 6/9/2026 at 3:55 AM, jimmie50 said:

I don’t wish to share too much as I don’t want to jinx things

🤞

[Keithambrose]

11 hours ago, jimmie50 said:

Question for those of you who have been to Cambodia before...how widely accepted are credit cards?  When shopping at Tops, Big C or Foodland...or when dining out at a nicer restaurant...I usually use my Visa card.  Cam has said most places will accept US currency or Riel...but no need to exchange much currency in advance or upon first arriving there.  He has no idea about the use of credit cards, though.  I am suspicious that 'cash is king', so to speak, and I will find very few places that accept credit cards.  I will need to set up international transfer from my US bank to the Cambodian bank once I have opened an account there.  That way I can transfer money back and forth without difficulty (hopefully, he says...lol).  

I used credit cards all the time in Siem Reap. For cash, USD is accepted everywhere, but if change is small amount, say less than 10 USD, it is sually given in Riel.