traveller123

Was it this temple/wat. I visited it a couple of years ago and it was very impressive, I don't know if the information was correct but I was told it had been financed by the Thai Royal Family. https://www.renown-travel.com/temples/phra-maha-chedi-chai-mongkol.html

Thanks for your report. Sounds like you had a great time, just what you deserved for treating the guys well.

Yes I live 9 km from Surin Town. No I am not implying there are any gay bars in Surin. There was some talk on Surinfarang which is a forum for expats (straight and myself and one other gay guy) about a gay bar opening on the entertainment street called "Mens Bar", we have driven past it a few times and seen one guy sat outside with approx 6 girls. If there is an out and out gay bar I am unaware of it. Incidentally although my partner is straight looking but open about being gay, I am pretty sure that he wouldn't visit a gay bar in Surin if one existed although he enjoys visiting the bars in Pattaya and Bangkok. When you visit Surin if you fancy meeting up for dinner let me know

I live in a village near to Surin and I think it has been 40 degrees + for going on 6 weeks. It is not my favourite time of the year and this year the heat has been exceptional. My partner and I had a 6 day trip to Koh Chang at the end of April and it was wonderful about 8 degrees cooler than Surin, but unfortunately I don't think there were any gay bars.

I agree it is a crazy and annoying price structure. I don't know what would happen if you take the outward flight and then don't show for the return, but be aware airlines cancel all remaining flights on the booking after a no show so never be tempted to miss the outward flight expecting to be able to take the return

It is also worth checking on an airlines own site. I notice Cathay Pacific in particular often have cheaper flights booking direct with them.

Yes it was very noticeable when my partner lived with me in England and we came back for holidays that he never greeted his sister who he is very close to with a hug or kiss. He is not shy, as I said, he always greeted me at the airport with a big hug, guess at home he was just following Thai ways.

Nice to hear someone having quality time and enjoying that time with their 'man" Great to read the reports from members enjoying their holidays with a series of guys but I also enjoy reading about people happy to chill out with one guy. Before I retired and moved permanently to Thailand it used to give me a real emotional high when I flew into BKK and my bf was there waiting for me. A couple of times I had been chatting to people on the plane without the fact that I am gay arising and it was quite amusing to see the look on their faces when my partner charged over to me in arrivals and gave me a big hug.

I don't know if I am in a minority of one but I like neither of the above two guys. Take the average of the two guys and you have my perfect man. (Posted before Alizizou's post and edited)

Smiles, thanks for providing the link to your report. I found it very interesting and perhaps it will help me when my 32 year old partner tells me he would like to go and become a monk for a month or so.

Looking forward to some great photos from your safari

Anonone, I was so sorry to read your report. I have been with my Thai partner for 7 years and I know how devastated I would be if we split. I suspect you have enough experience in these matters to know that when you return to Thailand take it slowly very slowly in looking for a relationship. I firmly believe there are a fair number of good gay Thai guys out there looking for a loving relationship along with the professionals looking for a good living (nothing wrong in that as long as we are aware of it)

Getting back to the original question. I live with my Thai partner of seven years in an Isaan village and I have just asked my partner "in a rural village how much should it cost to be a monk". His reply was about 50,000 baht in a normal village situation where you invite family, friends and near neighbours to the party. He said in a village people would help to cook the food, perhaps there would be a DJ type person for music and for each table of eight people you would provide a bottle of thai whisky, soda, 2 big bottles of beer and a bottle of coke or fanta. The attendees would give an envelope containing cash to offset the cost. He was open mouthed when I said -not 300,000. If the boyfriend comes from a wealthy Bangkok family I guess you can understand 300,000 but in that situation his family would be paying. As a comparison three years ago we had a party for our new house. My partner asked me if he could make it a special party because we could not marry. It was a spectacular day and evening with a stage with entertainers, outside caterers with good food, flowers, ribbon decorations and over 300 people attended. My partner excelled himself in arranging it all it was really the works. The net cost after the envelopes was 100,000 baht but it was (in my opinion) a top notch affair

I understand that Thais do not need a visa to visit South Africa. Can anyone confirm if this is correct?

Remember Chatuchak is only open at the weekend. Abang's comments on Chatuchak are "spot on", it is amazing but stay hydrated with plenty of drinks.

One more piece of advice. I went to Bali in June for 8 days, overnight in August my Thai bank account was emptied of approx 70,000 baht in multi cash withdrawals of approx 5,300 Thai baht. I always thought I was prudent using my bank cards and followed advice about shielding your card, looking if the ATM looks dodgy etc. My Thai bank wouldn't confirm for sure my card had been cloned in Bali but did say it was a very common problem on Bali. Fortunately my bank eventually refunded me but take great care with your cards.

Should you want a tour guide in Bali, I can recommend a a great guy. He is gay but straight looking/acting, French but speaks perfect English and a really nice guy. I went with my Thai partner last June and wanted a guide for 4 days. Before arriving in Bali he had asked us what we wanted to do and see and he then suggested some itineraries. He really made our holiday and he is young enough to organise hikes up mountains etc or more leisurely days out.

Happy birthday, you are still a young man

Sometimes you see bitching etc on this site by some individuals and then you see a thread like this where members take the time to post detailed and helpful advice to fellow members. It makes you appreciate there are a lot of good guys on this forum. Happy Songkran everybody.

The Royal Palace and Temples will insist you wear long pants but they will loan you something to wear over your shorts to conform. In the locations of the gay bars it is not unusual to see guys holding hands but you don't see it away from those areas. My own opinion is that Thais are quite conservative in public displays of affection.

It is difficult to remember it is purely a commercial transaction, most guys seem able to make you feel special even when you are an old farang like myself. Guess that's what makes it all so amazing, it must be a Thai thing as my partner of over 7 years still makes me feel special.

April is a very hot month in Thailand. Here in rural Isaan it is currently 40+. I don't need hot water for bathing the cold water is running warm.

Copa may have closed but nobody can take away your memories. Incidentally my partner and I had a weeks holiday in Pattaya over Christmas and had a drink in Copa. It was dead, about 4 or 5 other customers, no water show, it seemed so run down in contrast to previous visits there.

I certainly didn't write it and I hope the last two lines make that clear (I copied and pasted the article in it's entirety). I am always aware that my language skills are zilch so I just enjoyed the read and didn't worry about the English grammar or spelling. I thought it might sound familiar and bring back memories to those of us who have made a similar trip to boyfriend's village.

I have been caught out by UK companies applying the 90 day rule to Pay As You Go. Landed at Manchester airport switched on my mobile to call the car hire company and it didn't work, as I found out later because I hadn't used it for 3 months and my number had been terminated