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I am in Bangkok. I do not personally see the need for masks. However, it is the law and it is the norm and I wear them everywhere. This is not my country and I owe respect to those that are Thai. My feelings are irrelevant. I have seen many eye rolls at foreigners who take off the masks. For those that wish to follow the norms in the USA, feel free and go to USA and do that. But, when in Thailand, respect their rules and norms.

Don't be an idiot. I am expressing my opinion.

Part 24: Second chance on the cute waiter in Pattaya... After 5 nights in Bangkok it was time to move to Pattaya for the last few days of my stay in Thailand. On Tuesday night I fly back to The Netherlands. I booked a car with Mikepattaya. From my hotel in Silom to Jomtien Complex it was 1200 baht. Because I was curious I checked prices in the Bolt app just before the driver picked me up. I was shocked to see Bolt was so much more expensive than the taxi service of Mike Pattaya... Because most of the time Bolt is cheaper. See screenshot: I was meeting @bkkmfj2648 for dinner and to catch up about our adventures and gossip. We than went to Boyztown. As you can read in part 15 of my trip report I had some unfinished business in Boyz Boyz Boyz with a waiter I had the hots for but didn't off last time because I thought with asking 3000 baht they were ripping me off / overpricing. I got a lot of reactions from you guys about this. Understanding the higher rate because he is waiter and not barboy, and also tips about how to deal with this as maybe the fact that a papasan was involved the price was inflated by the papasan. We arrived in Boyztown around 10pm. Had a quick look already in Boyz Boyz Boyz but is was very quiet. Only 2 customers sitting inside already. So we decided to sit down on the terrace of Castro first. Plan was to do a bit of people watching. But there was not much to see... Also on the terraces and in the street only few people this Sunday night. It was 11:30pm when we went in at Boyz Boyz Boyz again. Surprisingly the bar was full of guests. While we didn't see much people entering from our spot on the terrace. The guests somehow seemed to be appeared from nowhere... I was happy to see the cute waiter was on duty. We got seated and drinks were ordered. Cute waiter was busy attending two seperate groups of customers. Drinking a lot of shots from them. When I went to the bathroom, he also came to pee. And that was when he recognized me. This was my chance. So I directly asked him if he wanted to come back to my hotel with me. He checked what I wanted. I asked whats he having in the menu... Kissing oke sucking oke. No fucking. So actually same info as he gave last time. Perfect. He told me he is very shy guy. And he actually only went home with customer one time before. Not only because he is shy, but also because he is afraid of what customers would want to do with him. I comforted him that I was oke with what he just said, so that I would not expect fucking. Back in the bar, he came sit with us. Time to talk business. Reminder: last time, via papasan, they asked 3000 baht for me to take him to my hotel. Now, speaking directly to cute waiter, he lowered his price to 2000 baht without me having even to negotiate. Oke. That's a deal! In the meantime another waiter/papasan plus a mamasan had started talking to @bkkmfj2648. Trying to convince him to also take a boy home. Already being a bit drunk, he felt for buying both the papasan and the mamasan a drink on his costs. Soon we decided to leave as it was going to costs too much money to continue this way.... Hahaha. Arrived in Agate hotel, cute waiter and I sit down on the balcony for some smalltalk and he wanted to smoke / vape. His English was good enough to have a nice conversation. He is from Bangkok (his mother, cat and dog still live there) but came to Pattaya because according to him more work here. His tactics in the bar: just being cute and go for the groups of customers and try to get as many drinks and shots from them as possible, so he can live form the drink incentives and tips he's earning. He is gay but not on Grindr or any other app bevause he is "afraid" of the gays in Pattaya. After work time he likes to hang out with friends at the beach in Jomtien. For even more drinking. Time to take a shower together. Now cute waiter wasn't so shy anymore. We soaped each others bodies. And started kissing. To the bed. More kissing. With tongue. He was pretty good. And also he sucked good, eager and deep. Again: nothing shy about this boy in bed... His shyness had completely disappeared. He even went naked on the balcony of my hotel room to smoke / vape. According to cute waiter it was because when he is with somebody he likes, he is not shy at all. Only when there are many people (and his friends) around, like in the bar. You know how they always say you should never meet your hero as chances are it wil only be disappointing? Well... I had doubts about going back to cute waiter after the failed try to off him last time. What if he's not interested anymore? Or he is disappointing in bed because I have high expectations because I think he is so cute? I'm glad I did go back for him and had the guts to try to off him again. As it turned out I could make a good deal with him and also the time spent with him was very nice, enjoyable and horny.

For several reasons I still wear the mask. For me, I wear it because nearly all the Thais wear it and I live here. Even though the mask is no longer required in public, so many places still require it that it seems pointless to me to try avoiding it. Also, I have become so used to wearing the mask that now I feel uncomfortable and awkward if I'm not wearing it. It's not hurting anything, so I wear it. I take it off when driving my car or entering a restaurant. Other than that, most of the time it's on. One other little thing - with a face that looks like mine, I'm doing the world a favor by covering it up with the mask. A few others around here might be kind enough to consider doing the same . . . "I know I'm ugly. On Halloween when I open the door, the kids give me candy." - Rodney Dangerfield

Just returned from Thailand. I preferred to respect their fondness for mask wearing where it makes sense - indoors, transportation, crowded soi. But not elsewhere. Saw some Thai people climbing Phu Chi Fah in a mask at dawn! Seeing ferang on the BTS maskless seemed so disrespectful.

As visitors to their country we should respect their wishes vis à vis masks. What we do in our own country is our own business. Farang disregarding local sentiment is not a good look for us Imho.

I feel naked without a mask, weird. People complain about wearing a mask, yet wear clothes....I feel it's more a political statement than anything else....I don't get it 😏

From Thai PBS World The Philippines will deport 40,000 Chinese workers in a crackdown on unlicensed online gaming businesses, an official said Tuesday, after reports of kidnapping, prostitution and murder in the gambling industry. So-called Philippine offshore gaming operators, or POGOs, have boomed since 2016 as former president Rodrigo Duterte pursued closer trade and investment ties with China. But the influx of tens of thousands of Chinese workers in the sector that targets customers in China, where gambling is illegal, has created friction. Many Filipinos complain POGOs have evaded taxes and driven up property rates while not providing job opportunities because not enough locals speak Chinese languages.

Has COVID left Thailand? If not, wear a mask!

In Pattaya, I haven't worn one at all in 2 months. It's a thing of the past. I was in a Pharmacy yesterday and the nice lady smiled, and I could see it! Fantastic. A few of us expats commented the other night that were was only 1 "expat" who walks through Jomtien Complex masked up. He stands out like a sore thumb. It is true that maybe 50-70% of Thais are still wearing them indoors (shopping malls, ect). Take a short walk through Central, and you won't see many, if any foreigners with one. Having said all this, I hear in Bangkok it's very different and mask use is still near universal. A good reason to stay away from Bangkok.

Thanks for the night out again, Emiel. At our pre warmup dinner at Natans in Jomtien, our time together went too fast. We had SO much gossip to catch up on. Note to the other readers - it is really cool to meet up with members because you can get ALL of the juicy details and if the person with whom you are meeting with is willing - you can see the HOT HOT HOT photos of the guys that were encountered. I can ascertain that ALL of Emiel's conquests were definitely hotties, especially those 6 pack abs guys. The waitress at Natans was trying to be very descrete when I was observing the Phuket African HOT naked photo that I almost dropped Emiel's phone when I realized that her neck was stretched as far as possible to see that lovely cock that I was observing. As Emiel mentioned in his report, he saved me from over accomodating the papasan and mamasan requests to celebrate in drinks Emiel's success in offing the cute Boyz Town waiter. Truly, everyone was happy.

I knew in advance that Thailand still has a Covid mask requirement in place but, traveling from the US, I was still a little surprised that virtually all the Thais I see in Bangkok are wearing masks. At the same time, many/most of the farang I encounter are not. Personally, I would much rather not wear a mask but I do because it feels a little disrespectful not to. I am curious to know what other members are doing. Yes, I understand that many Asian countries (starting with China) have not lifted Covid restrictions as quickly as the US & Europe. No, I absolutely do not want to re-open the discussion of the pros & cons of how different countries have responded to the pandemic.

A fire broke out at Theatrón in Bogotá last night. Over 4000 patrons were evacuated but no injuries were noted. The fire was reported early at 9:30pm before the club gets crowded. Anyone traveling to Bogotá can expect the club to be closed for a week according to the management. Story in Spanish here: https://www.bluradio.com/blu360/bogota/video-por-alerta-de-incendio-evacuan-theatron-una-de-las-discotecas-mas-grandes-de-bogota-so35

It's been some years since I have been to Thailand thanks to the Covid lockdowns, but even before then I found myself guarding my wallet while visiting the bars in Bangkok. The prices of 400 per drink was a bit expensive in my opinion. When people here in the USA ask me about the nightlife in Thailand I don't hide the price for the mandatory drink. Sure, a limited number reduce the price for the 2nd drink but I can only remember once place doing that in Bangkok. I show them the webpages of guys and the bar shenanigans captured by hidden camera and posted on the porn sites. When I am asked about Brazil, I can't help but gush on how attractive the common citizen is there. Even the homeless guys look like they could be representatives for Calvin Klein. The gay bars have cheap drink prices but they charge an entrance fee. The saunas are wild and I have been to some in Sao Paulo and Rio that put what you see on porn sites to shame. Thailand has Walking Street. Rio has Lapa. If I had to choose a street to party on, it would be the Lapa area. Lapa is a Gay/Straight party zone with bars and saunas peppered all around. If you are shopping. Thailand has it all over Rio in my opinion. Sure Rio has markets similar to JJ Market, but Bangkok beats Rio in shopping period. Transportation? Thailand... Bangkok has the Sky Train and Rio has the Subway. Thailand has motorcycle taxi's, Tuktuks, Taxi's and Uber type apps. Brazil has Taxi's, Motor cycle taxis in limited areas and Uber type apps. I have to give the win to Brazil for Transport of tourist if only for the no-haggle cheap taxi rides you get using the apps like 99 and Uber. I hear Thailand has a new app that make hiring any type taxi a cheap and painless process but I have not been there to experience that yet. The guys. Depends on what you like. If you like masculine guys with big dicks and plump asses wearing flipflops, you will love Brazil. If you like lean guys, with slight size bodies, sculped legs and solid asses standing on flipflops, you will love Thailand. Cost of guys? Brazil wins.... (My opinion). Food? Thailand wins! I have never heard anyone say they go to Brazil for the food... Thailand wins. AirB&B Rentals... Thailand wins. I've stayed in places in Thailand for $30 a night that can't be beat! I am not complaining about the AirB&B's in Brazil but they can't hold a candle to Thailand accommodations. As I write this I am packing my bags to return to Brazil. Brazil is a non-stop hump fest of beautiful guy after handsome guy, but Thailand has that certain allure that can't be duplicated in a Latin country. And often when I leave Brazil, I am often spent and ready to relax every part of my body by going home. When I am leaving Thailand, I often don't want to go. It's hard to say goodbye to an easy breakfast morning under the umbrellas on the beach. The waves whispering its lazy arrival to the sands of the beach. The toned guys in speedos hoping for your attention. The cute touts offering trinkets while your eyes buy every curve and bulge of their flesh. It's hard to say goodbye to the freshly made street food, the smiles of guys you have not had a chance to get to, or one of the many bars you never visited but promised you would. The musical singsong of love promises even when they forget your name.. Thailand is hard to say goodbye to for me. Brazil... Lets just say on my last day in Brazil I often throw away my leftover condoms as if I never need to have sex again. Is gay nightlife too expensive in Thailand? Yes. But that is not a good reason to stay away.

Well, then I will repeat yet another story that all farang pass on to one-another: Thai canNOT read maps. None. Either. Never learnt that. Still some can produce really good maps, like even at the BMTA (the BKK buses)-but thats only for insiders. BTW-would google really disclose as to where/when there are those giant traffic jams? Most days they are on the same spots at the same times-and very hard to escape. Cabbies (the more experienced ones) in general do know some bypasses etc-but of course not in all of BKK.

Given descriptions of the complex I suspect one of the stripper themes could be switched up. STOP, DROP your panties, and ROLL over. ;>I FullSizeRender.MOV

On a related topic why oh why don’t more Bangkok taxi drivers use Google maps? Traffic congestion changes all the time. I missed a local flight because the taxi driver insisted on using his own routing which lost us 45 mins vs. Google maps.

I sometimes wore a mask in Bangkok prior to the pandemic, and when I was there in June/July I also wore a mask. For me I liked the added benefit of providing me with kinda a sense of anonymity and also because I look ethnically ambiguous I just kinda blend in when wearing a mask, often being mistaken for a local.

Not all tops, not all gay for pay......even the ones that say they are only tops, when they are behind closed doors, say they do everything. I know lots of tops that travel to Latin America....bottoms outnumber tops, just abut everywhere, everyone knows that. Easier to find a horny bottom on the apps for free than a top too.....

This is a good question and I genuinely don't know either, so would appreciate information from those who have experience with Brazil and/or Colombia. From my occasional glance at the Latin American sections of this forum, it seems to me that there is a lot of focus on muscularity and above all, the size of dick, which on the face of it, suggests that the keen visitors to these places are largely bottoms looking for tops. So the question is: would tops looking for bottoms find Latin American saunas, massage or other possible gay-for-pay places too frustrating? This may be a factor in how some members here prefer Thailand. I don't really know but it seems to me to be worth an honest (and respectful) discussion.

Living in Bangkok with the high levels of pollution wearing a mask makes sense.

Even before Covid many locals wear masks in Bangkok because of the air pollution so it's not uncommon there.

Personally I wear mask in Thailand in airplane, skytrain, metro. But not anymore in other places. Not in street, not in restaurants or bars and not even in shopping malls. It is correct all Thai still where their masks EVERYWHERE. But I can't be bothered anymore. Full vaxed, new less harmful variants... There must be a point to live our lives again as much "normal" as possible.

I wonder which restricting plan this one is. No. 6, 11, 18? Every time there is a new President, lo and behold there is a new restructring plan. And they never work!!

Did you wait till he ended his shift to go with you to Agate or you off him from BBB and paid a bar fine ?

Good for u Emiel! Nothing ventured - nothing gained. Is there an ID process at the Agate? Additional pay for bringing guests? Is the hotel quiet, despite the noisy complex?

Same here and many family and friends think I am a dinosaur because I am not on facebook. I am from an age when Privacy was an important possession to be protected.

So good to know that there is a sound safety plan in place! Otherwise, look at me in December:

Brazil has a racist and homophobic PM, backed by deranged US-style- evangelicals. I've always wanted to go, ever since I saw Black Orpheus fifty years ago.... but I'll stick toThailand.

A thoughtful analysis. I have been to both Thailand and Brazil. One thing. Thailand is infinitely safer. Brazil has a crime problem.

Qantas at #5 is being very generous, I would place them well outside the top 10 now. Of late their maintenance, cleaning and on time departures has deteriorated greatly and their lost luggage percentage has skyrocketed. Domestically their meals are about 1% above garbage, it never was the best but now even worse. What can be the cause of such a deterioration? To put it simply, senior management is the cause, they are driven by cost cutting to the extreme and yet they give themselves (top executives and the board) ridiculous pay rises and bonuses whilst sacking their workers and outsourcing to the cheapest possible alternatives. With so many airlines above them and those improving their services I see a rather bleak future for Qantas. I really feel for their employees as they have to put up with all the cost cutting and rubbish handed down (more like thrown at them) by management. Sorry, rant over.

Part 22: Visiting the bars again... It was not raining at 9:30pm. But just to be sure I decided to take my umbrella. I wouldn't get stuck somewhere again for hours when it would start raining again, like yesterday evening... I first did a quick walk around to see what the atmosphere was tonight. I looked like everybody stayed in yesterday and was desperate to go out now. It was more busy than any other night in Bangkok I was out this trip. Heading into Patpong 2 and one boy from Freshboys recognized me. "you like muscled gay boys, we have tonight!" and he also remembered me falling down the stairs the last time I was there: I told him I was waiting for a friend. On grindr is was chatting with a guy from Indonesia. His first time in Bangkok and was excited to go to the gogo boybars for the first time. But also scared to go alone. So I offered to go together and show him around. When he arrived we went into Freshboys first. Ten good-looking boys on stage in white sportshorts, no shorts. Same like last time I was here, and also the show was almost the same with the same acts. My stalker guy had sent me message on grindr that he now works in banana, so I knew is was "safe" for me to come to freshboys without this guy asking for my attention and an off. The 10 boys on stage where all more hunk than twink. If you really like skinny boys, this was not the place for you that night. For me on the other hand there were at least 4 that could be offed by me. But. The night in young and I still need to show Indonesian boy the other bars. When we came outside, we see that it started raining very hard. Good thing is that you don't need to get wet to go from Freshboys to Hotmale... You just walk through covered. In hotmale I counted 12 guys on stage. More of them than on my last visit were shirtless. Still wearing pants instead of just underwear, but at least some more skinny was visible on stage. As last time almost all boys wear pants and shirt. My off from last time, Mr Cutesmile, was also on stage shirtless. When he reconized me he had that price winning smile again on his face and he kept looking at me. So I invited him over and directly told him I was not going to take him to my hotel room tonight because I was showing my new Indonesian friends around and also I like butterflying. But I bought him a drink and gave him 200 baht extra tip for his time during which we touched and he massaged me a bit. Boydrink in Hotmale is as expensive as your own first drink: 400 baht. I'm not very generous in general with boydrinks. But i always thought a boydrink is often a bit cheaper than your own first drink? There was another boy on stage that I had the hots for. A bit muscled off course my type of guy. But soon he disappeared off stage, came back fully dressed and left the bar. Probabaly got an off via an app or something. It was still raining hard. But only a short run across the street to DreamBoy was oke not to get too wet. When I walked in there was some nasty odour. Like sewage smell. I noticed the same already few weeks ago when I was there. But it seems to be a recurring problem there. Drinks cost 450 baht, just a bit more expensive than the other bars in the Soi. Around 20 boys on stage in jeans and shirtless. Most of them a bit on the rough side with their appearance. Also this was how I remember it from last time, and I reported about that also. Tonight in DreamBoy was the first time during this holiday that the music was really too loud in a bar in my opinion. In Freshboys we already did see some sucking in the shower during their show. In Hotmale we were in time for the big cock show. But the Indonesian guy was really chocked bt the acrobatic fucking in the DreamBoy show. Haha. Poor kid. First time in gogo boy bar... Somehow I always find the unreachable guys the most attractive. It's always the top/men that I want. Because I am top myself. Or in this case in DreamBoy: the unavailable sexy DJ/light operator. Partly dyed blonde hair, wearing a cap. Shirtless. Hot body. But never goes home with (male) customer. I know some of you will say: they all have their price... But didn't try any further after this info from papasan. I can only hope that when DreamBoy moves to the new location, the seating will be better. This giant pole in the middle is blocking view on part of the stage from almost everywhere you sit. Can't really remember how the seating was in the old Luckyboys location where DreamBoy is moving to soon. Before we knew it, show was over and it was just 20 minutes before 1am. Closing time of the bars in Patpong 2 still 1am.Thay sign announcing late show in Freshboys is indeed old sign. The papasan became very pushy in DreamBoy asking me which guy can take care of me tonight. I hate it when they become so pushy. Doesn't work for me. So instead of taking a guy from the bar I decided to see if a nice bottom I was chatting with earlier, was still available and online on grindr. He actually was. After waiting around 15 minutes for the rain to calm down a bit, it was time to get the umbrella out and walk back to hotel. Where only 5 minutes later my bottom for the night also arrived. So in the end, a very nice night. Even in spite of the rain.

Part 21: Stuck in rainy Bangkok... Yesterday evening just after I left my hotel to go for dinner, it started to rain. Decided to quickly find a dry place to shelter. So I went to Telephone Pub in Soi 4. Here I could have something to eat, drink, watch what happens in the soi and wait for the rain to hopefully stop falling soon. Stuck in Telephone Bar because of the rain But that didn't happen. It rained hard. And for a long time. The streets started to flood. Food thing the terraces of the bars are a bit higher than the street itself. So I ended up being stuck in Telephone bar for a good two hours until it started to rain less and it was oke to try to run in between the raindrops to another place. By that time the rain had killed my mood. So also that night no naughty bar visits for me... Another drink on the terrace and than an early night for me this time. During daytime I like to be out and about, walking around Bangkok with some music or podcast on my headphones. Today I decided to check out the “Green Mile Bangkok”. This elevated walking path connects two of Bangkok’s big parks, Lumpini Park and Benjakitti Park. The latter one recently had a new expansion: the Benjakitti Forest Park. It’s a beautifully designed urban wetland, with skywalks and paths running through and over a manmade nature reserve. It really looks nice. Benjakitti Forest Park The Green Mile itself is a fun place to stroll along and look down to watch daily life pass by. It gives you another look at Bangkok. Not the concrete urban jungle of skyscrapers, but old houses here for decades and more recent shacks in varying states of disrepair, backdropped by the spires of modern Bangkok. The Green Mile While I'm writing this, I am chilling at the rooftop hotel pool. And whatever happens tonight, rain or no rain, I will have to visit the gogo bars! I only have two night left in Bangkok and can't leave without my fair share of naughty bar visits... Lol

From Khaosod / Thaiger A man who lost his job in the southern province of Songkhla decided to walk all the way back home to Buriram in northeast Thailand. After 12 days of walking, the 42 year old man stumbled across an army barracks in Phatthalung province, the next province along, on Sunday. The soldiers took care of him and paid for his train ticket back to Isaan. Buriram-born Choi moved to Songkhla about seven months ago to work at a rubber plantation in Na Thawi district. He planned on making money to send home to his family back home in Isaan. At first, he made around 300 baht per day cutting down rubber trees. As the months passed by, Choi said that work became scarce and he was hardly making any money at all. He wasn’t sending money back home as planned and he missed his 11 year old daughter and grandma, so he decided to return home on September 5. However, Choi had no money or phone, so he was forced to undertake the journey – which would take at least 18 hours to drive – on foot. Choi walked 300 kilometres in 12 days, sleeping at temples along the way, where Buddhist monks gave him food and water. In the almost two weeks he spent walking, he only crossed one provincial border. On Sunday, he stumbled across an army barracks in Phatthalung province and stopped to ask for some water. At first, the soldiers thought he was a criminal of some sort and brought him in for questioning. The army told Choi that they would pay for his plane ticket to fly back home to Buriram. However, Choi said he wasn’t sure how to take a plane. Instead, the army gave him 1000 baht cash and dropped him off at the train station. Choi took a 13 hour train all the way from Phatthalung to Hua Lamphong Railway Station in Bangkok. From there, he took an eight hour train from Bangkok to Buriram. Upon arrival in Buriram, Choi’s 81 year old grandma La tied string around his Choi’s wrist as a gesture of gratitude. La said she felt pity that her grandson had walked 300 kilometres across southern Thailand. La thanked the army for helping Choi and wondered how long it would have taken him to get home if he walked the whole journey. The distance between Songkhla and Buriram is 1,350 kilometres.

Yes indeed!

Till this date I am still thinking about the boy I had in Phuket . It was a good 10 over years ago .I was alone on the beautiful island and I want to the shopping center ( can't recall the name ) the one that was located on the middle of nowhere. Near phuket town .a big shopping area . Anyway .I was just walking around aimlessly when I saw this super handsome sale person in a shoe shop . I just need to go in and check him up . He spoke ok English and I brought a pair of shoe ( which i dont need ) from him and after I lied to him that it was my first time on the island and would be great if he can join me for dinner and drink later that night ..he agreed and we exchange number . He arrived at my hotel lobby with his girlfriend..I didn't show my disappointment and we went ahead for dinner at patong area ..after that we went for drink in one of the pubs nearby . That's when his girlfriend said she need to go off first to my delight.. so the boy stay. And I get to know him better ..I recall he was 20 . From Phuket ..and he mention that he needed to earn money badly for whatever reason I can't recall ..anyway after few drink I had the courage to propose to him that he spend the night over with me and i will pay him. It took him awhile to said yes ..and without wasting time we finish our drink and walk back to my room. . I took off his shirt the moment I closed the door and I was sooo super excited to see a solid 6 packs ..wow ..he was perfect..young . Super fit and super handsome.. I went straight to kiss him on the mouth and he didn't stop me ..I tasted his whole body beforw I led him to the bed . He just lay there and let me do my things ..I blow him and he was hard almost immediately.. I remember asking him if he was gay ..but he assure me he is not ..it didn't took him long to cum ..he rejected my request to blow me ..and I understand..it was already great that I have his body for my enjoyment .. He came to me for the next few nights after his work ... and allow me to used his body for money .. He was really the best boy I had till now .. But when I try to connect with him on my next trip to phuket ..he was gone ..change his number and when I went to the shop to look for him . The staffs told me he has left and they had no idea how to contact him Felt sad ..but am also grateful that I had him atleast for a few nights . Hope he is doing well now ..

That was the smart thing to do and is what I always recommend. If serious about moving to Thailand, if possible try a long term stay first before committing and make sure to leave yourself an escape route in case it doesn't work out. Thailand is not for everybody. People very quickly find out that actually living in Thailand is very different from a holiday in Thailand. You did it just right. People like me are living in Thailand because it did work out and we are here because we want to be here - and wanting to be here is a far cry from finding yourself stuck here. It is reminiscent of that old saying - "It's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there." Folks, if you are serious about wanting to live in Thailand, make sure you are doing your thinking with your head, not your crotch.

no? You choose how to live your life. I will choose how to live mine.