I have arrived on the island. After 2 weeks in Bangkok, this is quite the change of pace. To be 100% honest, I'm not quite feeling Koh Samui yet.

The first weird vibe was when I got to my gate at the airport. It felt like I was tricked and being flown back to the US. Everyone was pasty white. Not an Asian in sight. I don't wanna sound racist, but I don't wanna see the albinos. My buddy thinks it's The White Lotus effect. I'll admit I sat through every episode of that show and loved it... but I don't think it influenced my decision to come to Thailand.

After arriving, it felt like Koh Samui is Thailand's answer to Santa Marta or Cartagena in Colombia. Poor neighborhoods until you get where the whiteys are... then it's beautiful. I hate that contrast. That said, I'm not staying in the most touristy of areas. I'm at an Airbnb 20 steps from the beach in what feels like a hybrid local neighborhood but the neighborhood is all ex Pats.

The guys hitting on me on Grindr are decidedly less enticing than they were in Bangkok. Too bad because now I don't have gogo bars or massage parlors to relieve me of my tensions. There are massage parlors all over... but not of my persuasion. And the one gay bar seems to be a $15 Grab each way... and it doesn't look to be all that wild. Can anyone vouch for Pride Bar being worth $30 in Grab fare?

As you can probably tell, I'm a little uncertain about this part of my Thailand trip. I booked it because the guy who did a YouTube channel I watched a lot this past year about Americans and Canadians moving to Thailand left Bangkok for this place. But I'm definitely have 'Kok withdrawal symptoms. We'll see if they subside.

24 minutes ago, aaroninatl said:

And the one gay bar seems to be a $15 Grab each way... and it doesn't look to be all that wild. Can anyone vouch for Pride Bar being worth $30 in Grab fare?

Outch - this tidbit of information tells me that your AirBnB choice is far from the fun Chaweng Beach area where the Pride Bar is and also many PLUs.

Any reason as to why you chose an AirBnB so far away?

In Bangkok you chose an AirBnB right smack in the middle of the gay zone (Silom).

If I were in your shoes - I would rent a motorbike so that you can get the most from your stay in Koh Samui. I have been several times - but you will need a way to move yourself around to see everything either by hiring a tour guide or renting a motorbike to see everything.

59 minutes ago, aaroninatl said:

It felt like I was tricked and being flown back to the US. Everyone was pasty white. Not an Asian in sight. I don't wanna sound racist, but I don't wanna see the albinos.

I was on the Gulf islands recently. The people I saw were in descending order

1. White people

2. Myanmar people, receptionists, waiters, bellboys, chefs, basically every service role

3. Thai people, few and far between

4. A smattering of Asian and other tourists

If I closed my eyes I could imagine I was in Magaluf or Brisbane

51 minutes ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

Outch - this tidbit of information tells me that your AirBnB choice is far from the fun Chaweng Beach area where the Pride Bar is and also many PLUs.

Any reason as to why you chose an AirBnB so far away?

In Bangkok you chose an AirBnB right smack in the middle of the gay zone (Silom).

If I were in your shoes - I would rent a motorbike so that you can get the most from your stay in Koh Samui. I have been several times - but you will need a way to move yourself around to see everything either by hiring a tour guide or renting a motorbike to see everything.

OK Jedi you're dealing with a rookie here. What's a PLU? lol

I chose an area where the biggest concentration of Airbnbs were... usually a good way to decide. Plus the reviews for this place were among the best. It's Lamai Beach where I am. Just did a more extensive walk around the area... it's definitely a tourist spot, but still kind of local/indy vibes to it... no Hiltons or anything like that.

What are the things in Chaweng that are must-see? The beach here is very nice. I'm just missing the adrenaline of Bangkok. I've just gotta realize nothing's going to match that. Once I de-'Kok my brain and appreciate the chill beach island life, I'll be good. But Koh Samui after Bangkok is like having a glass of milk after downing 10 Red Bulls.

PLU = People Like Us - as in part of the LGBTQ+ community

I asked Grok what is there for PLUs in Lamai Beach. It basically says that Lamai is the honeymoon place of Koh Samui - but your 2 Grindr candidates are back in BKK.

Here is what Grok replied:

2 minutes ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

PLU = People Like Us - as in part of the LGBTQ+ community

Aaaaaaah ok. I'm not like most in the LGBTQ+ community so that's probably why I didn't know it. lol My friends have dubbed me the homophobic homo.

The AI makes sense. I could see this being a couples getaway spot. Lots of boutique hotels. Unfortunately the guys on Grindr tapping me here are more along the lines of what I'd get back in the US. The 'Kok spoiled me.

Did a little reading and apparently this was the hub before Samui built up that Chataweng area. I don't necessarily need to be near the gays though. When I booked this trip months ago it was to see if I liked living in various parts of Thailand. This was a contender back then mostly because of that YouTube guy I mentioned loving it so much. He might've even been the reason I picked Lamai Beach. Don't remember... this was back in March when I booked all this. But yeah, guys were never the focal point of this trip... it just became that way in Bangkok lol. Bangkok was originally just my landing point when I got to Thailand. I booked 2 weeks just because I'd never been and knew there was fun to be had. But it wasn't originally a place I ever considered living seriously. Then I got to Bangkok and that changed real quick.

18 minutes ago, aaroninatl said:

I don't necessarily need to be near the gays though.

I am confused. Your AirBnB in Bangkok was in the BKK gay ghetto = Silom.

All of the guy attention that you got in BKK came within radius of your Grindr free (or subscription) plan - as displayed to you on your Grindr screen.

All of those blessings were because you were in Silom and not in Lak Si or some other far away part of the BKK metropolis.

Consequently, by being in Lamai many of the potential guys that might interest you probably won't appear on your Grindr display because you are too far from where their profiles are located??

Dude my first page of Grindr search results has guys who aren't even on this island lol. Ah well. I'm just going to enjoy the place for probably why I booked it ... chill island beach vibes. Again, this trip wasn't intended to be all about bedroom debauchery. It just kind of went that way in Bangkok haha.