Bangkok/Phnom Penh/Siem Reap Trip Report: The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same

[vinapu]

. I'm glad you guys are patient with me .

Patient?  We are waiting impatiently  for a next installment 

[Alexx]

numazu, wonderful reporting as always, it's a joy to read about your exploits again.

 

I think an important aspect regarding the Khmer Rouge era vs. contemporary Cambodia is that Cambodia's population is very young and has grown a lot since back then. Young Cambodians have no first-hand knowledge of the horrors and older Cambodians often aren't too keen to share their - often traumatic - experiences from what I've heard. Vietnam is somewhat similar in that regard, many Americans are surprised that they don't encounter a lot of resentment there (often actually quite the opposite), despite the horrors of the "American War". Not dwelling on the past and eagerly embracing what the future has in store seems to be the mantra of the young generation in both countries.

[ggobkk]

I once posted that you were pacing your stories to enhance the suspense.  

 

Now that I just finished crafting postings about my recent visit to Bangkok I have an increased appreciation for the time and skillful effort you put into your descriptions;  setting both a tone and a mood that puts the reader into your shoes, bars, tuk tuks, and voyeuristically your beds.  The quality of your writing is both smile inducing and compelling. 

 

Take your time in bringing the story along its path.

[numazu]

Day 3.4: A Taste of Jomtien in Phnom Penh

 

The Killing Fields is definitely a must-see when in Phnom Penh, but is not for the faint of heart. Cambodia Boy (CB) is a fun-loving boy, so after a few minutes in the condo cuddling, CB drags me from my fetal position and tells me that he is hungry and we are having dinner. I eventually stand and we leave the condo and walk to the riverside again. After a few blocks CB chooses a traditional Khmer restaurant this time with a nice façade, by the riverside. We again go to the second floor, but we see that the seats with nice views are taken. So we choose a table in an area without any customers.

 

We put our orders in and asked for waters as well. While we wait, we admire the décor in the restaurant. Lots of Khmer imagery and paintings. There was also a hat exhibit in the near wall where we were, and CB immediately goes to the hats and tries all of them on, to my delight. I took a few photos, because he looked so cute with his boyish enthusiasm. He is very successful in cheering me up again.

 

The food comes (seafood fried rice, a pork stew with veggies and some stir fry chicken. CB likes eating family style so we share everything:

 

 

Everything was so delicious. We talk about what we can do tonight and about the drive to Siem Reap tomorrow. He suggests going to bed early tonight because of the drive, but he knows it is not going to happen. I tell him I want to go back to Space Hair because I just had a ton of fun there last night.  The owner of Space Hair, Javier, told me yesterday that today was his day off, but his boyfriend should be there. He wanted me to meet the boyfriend and I am curious to meet him as well. I promised him that I will come back.

 

We finish dinner and head back to the condo to relax.  Its around 7:30 PM so we had time for some shenanigans. Nothing too earth shattering, just some deep kissing and chuck-wowing. CB kisses like a champ, and likes to nibble on my mouth as well as push his tongue down my throat. We take off all our clothes and kiss and jack off, and cum and wipe down and get under the covers and sleep.

 

The alarm wakes us up at 9:30 and we get ready for the night ahead. We shower together, nothing sexual, but its more fun to shower with a friend. As we get dressed he asks me if I was looking to get another boy tonight. I tell him yes but I did not know where to find a boy. I could go online in the apps but that would too time consuming, and it takes me away from enjoying my night. He told me I can probably get one of the boys at Space Hair to go home with me.

 

I ask him if this was really possible? I told him that I did not know how the offing situation was here in Cambodia. He says that it should be the same in Thailand, but more discreet. He says I should feel out the boy I am interested in to see if he is willing to have sex for money. He is sure that most of the boys can will be available for money. It just depends on what I wanted to happen.

 

At this point I would be OK if I didn’t off anyone, and just content with present company. But one thing I am open to is experiences, and offing someone in Cambodia would be both a fact-finding mission for myself, as well as satisfy my sexual urges. I probably wont be able to find anyone else that would be more compatible with my sexual needs than CB, so anyone I get would be just be borne of curiousity more than horniness.

 

We get to Space Hair around 10:30 PM. The bar was in full swing, so all the tables in front were occupied, and some patrons were also in the back tables as well. Not bad for a Tuesday night. One of the waitstaff I haven’t seen before greeted us and told us to sit by him and one other Khmer woman in a table up front. Me and CB take the two chairs in the table and get situated. The greeter gave us a menu and we get our drinks (espresso martini and gin and tonic). Military Guy (MilGuy), who is now in a sharp button down and pants, takes our drinks to us, sets it down, and then leans his 6 foot + frame to hug me and CB.

 

The greeter then introduced himself as the boyfriend of Javier. I greeted him warmly and commented on how fun their bar is. He asked me about how my stay was in Cambodia so far, and I told him about our activities so far: the great food, the condo, Killing Fields. It was nice recounting the stay so far with him, and I was quietly cursing myself for shortening my PP stay hastily because of my previous travel woes. I see CB begins to talk to the Khmer woman in our table and we were all having a good time just talking, enjoying the cool night, and savoring the alcohol.

 

The owner’s boyfriend leaves the table to tend to some bar business, and immediately MilGuy goes to my side and hugs me again. Picking up where he left off, he engulfs me in his arms and asks me and CB about our day. We talk about PP and the Killing Fields for a while. One of the farang in another table (an Aussie), overhears my Killing Fields conversation and asks me about it. I convince him to give it a try tomorrow and some information on how to get there and getting a tuktuk.

 

While I was talking to the Aussie, CB and MilGuy were talking in Khmer. Was CB trying to see if MilGuy would be open to go home with me? I wasn’t sure. But pretty soon CB finished his drink and gets on a call with a Khmer friend. After the call he asks me if he could see his friends while I hang out here in the bar. I tell him no problem. Maybe he now knows that MilGuy is game to be offed so he is trying to help a brother out by leaving and getting me alone with MilGuy?

 

CB stands up and tells me to call him if I ever need him. I tell him of course. He leaves and immediately another hot muscular waitstaff who wasn’t there last night, sits with us and talks to me. He is very handsome and was wearing one of those tank tops with a deep neckline and deep arm holes as well, revealing a very chiseled torso. I comment that his body looked amazing and what he was wearing complemented his body. He responds by taking off the tiny tank top to reveal a perfect torso. Not to be outdone, MilGuy takes off his button down and reveals his perfect torso. I ask them if they wanted drinks and they both say yes. Both give their order to Chef Guy and soon they both were drinking with me. I ordered another martini and the combination of hot boys and alcohol made for a potent mix of fun. After taking more photos they sadly put their tops back on, to my dismay.

 

After some flirtation and conversation, Javier, the bar owner, arrives and greets me and the boys. I stand up to hug him. I ask him why he was here on his day off? He said he came because his BF texted him that I was there so he wanted to say hi. He really didn’t live far from the bar so it was easy for him to come and check things out. I talk to him for a few minutes. MilGuy and TankTop guy leave the table to tend to other customers, but would sit down once in a while in my table for a flirt or two.

 

I get into a conversation with the Khmer woman in my table who apparently was hanging out with her other Khmer friends in the other table. There was a Khmer lady boy, and Khmer guy and two waitstaff in the other table. She and I talked about the impeding long drive to Siem Reap tomorrow. She gave me some tips on where to go that was interesting on the way to Siem Reap. She asked me if I was Thai. I told her no, American. She was surprised.

 

A young British straight couple came in and got seated next to my table. They order drinks and they both talk to me extensively after they find out I was American. We talk about travel in the area and how great the people were. It was close to 12 midnight and almost everyone in the bar was well lubricated with alcohol. This really was a cool place to just wittle the night away. I thought about other gay bars in PP that maybe I should check out. But I eventually never do because I am having too much fun here.

 

While I was talking to the couple, and getting straddled by MilGuy, and sometimes by TankTop Guy, I see CB come in the bar with two of his friends. The get seated in the same table as the British couple and they order drinks. I turn my attention to CB and ask him what was up. He told me his friends wanted to check out Space Hair, as well as meet me. I reposition myself to talk to them. MilGuy leaves to do some business so I was able to talk to CB and his friends.

 

It turns out they were all Pattaya money boys, working in the same Jomtien bar where CB works at. I ask them why there were in PP. They all say in unison “Low Season.” I ask them when they were coming back and they tell me maybe October or November. One of them was looking for a job in PP. The other said his BF lived in PP so he was there to also see the BF. They get their drinks and get mine refilled as well.  I tell them I am paying for their drinks. They all thank me, and I thank them for taking care of CB while he was in PP.

 

CB’s friends, like CB, were cute. Not as cute as CB in my eyes (its hard to surpass), but they were cute. They were all probably CB’s age or a little bit older. One of them had an amazing body, the other one had darker skin and had a striking nose that framed his whole face well. Amazing body guy tells me "You are handsome guy". I thank him and think he probably is trying to make a sale. You can take a Jomtien boy out of Pattaya, but you can’t take the Pattaya out of a Jomtien boy.

 

He then tells me that CB loves me a lot. CB shoots him an angry look and chastises him in Khmer. CB then tells me he is only joking and says he is already drunk.  We all laugh and I tell them because they were Jomtien boys that they know how to drink a lot. They told me they have already started drinking at their place because CB brought some beers to their room. I raise my glass and we all toast to the night.

 

They then ask me about Siem Reap and what I wanted to do there. I told him CB was the boss, but also that I got Sareth, the Siem Reap tour guide via Siamroads, to go with us to Angkor Wat so I can get some more help exploring the amazing temples in Siem Reap. They told me they had some friends there who were also Pattaya boys as well.

 

Maybe it was the copious amounts of alcohol, maybe because I liked CB a lot, but I spontaneously I ask both of them if they wanted to go with us to Siem Reap with CB and I. CB was kind of surprised by this and asked me if I was sure. I tell CB why not? These were your best friends, and I am sure you would like them to be there for extra company. CB tells me we can talk about it later but his friends tell me they weren’t doing anything in PP so a couple of days in Siem Reap would actually be fun.

 

It was close to 1 AM and CB and his friends finish their drinks. CB tells me they were going back to his friends’ room to hangout. He asks me if I had company in the bar. I tell him maybe MilGuy will be my company for a while. CB says good choice and tells me to again to contact him if I needed him, anytime. They all stand up to leave and I get hugs from everyone. The British couple leave as well and soon I was alone in my table.

 

I wasn’t alone for long of course. The three Khmer boys who just left were immediately replaced by another set of Khmer guys: MilGuy, Chef Guy and Tank Top guy.

 

It is 1:30 AM, and the night is young.

 

To be continued…

[eurasian]

Numazu thanks for the great report , looking forward to Siem Reap and Bangkok trip reports . 

[Moses]

Thank you Your posts are lively and amazing

[farangyai]

Great post.  This brings back fond memories of my visits to PP.  I found the people very sweet and the food excellent.  From your photos it looks like the riverfront has been significantly modernized also.  I thought the boys were especially handsome but there was no club there when I visited.

Thanks for the pics as well.  It adds a lot to your post.

[numazu]

Day 3.8: Straight Boys, Gay Boys

 

I did the math, I slept a total of 11 hours today. This is why I felt bright-eyed and bushy tailed at 1:30 AM. And frisky. And horny. It’s probably because I’ve had six Khmer boys  in total that I was flirting with, the three Jomtien boys that just left, and the three Phnom Penh boys who took their places in my table. I ordered another drink (my fourth) as the bar winds down. Chef Guy takes my order and comes back with it.

 

MilGuy was a Khmer guy in his mid-20s, and has been the most present in my Space Hair odyssey. He was there when I first sat down last night, and danced with me at the gay dance club Heart of Darkness. He is here again, closer than ever, and engulfing me in his 6+ foot frame, long arms and broad shoulders. He’s had his arm around me in different parts of the night. And right now, with the other guys, TankTop Guy and Chef Guy in my table, he is the one on my side.

 

I casually ask him how long he has been working here. Not long, he said. He has told me he was straight yesterday, but I ask him today if it bothers him that gay guys ogle over him, touch his body, and ask him to sit with them. He said he enjoys the attention and the company, and has gotten used to how to flirt and serve drinks and make people happy. I ask him if he was interested in earning more money in Thailand by moving there and being a money boy. He said he was definitely interested and actually he was talking to my CB about it. Like having sex with male customers, I then question him. Sure, he said, he can probably do it. He has not done it before but thinks that it will be relatively easier than being a laborer in PP.

 

Now of course, I usually don’t believe the boys in Thailand who tell me that it is their first time with a guy, or having sex, etc. It’s usually an illusion they want to project to a customer. But for some reason I believe that MilGuy has not done this before, that he is straight, and trust his instinct that he will not a have a problem performing around other guys. I then ask the million-dollar question: do you want to go home with me and have sex with me? With no hesitation he says “Yes!” emphatically, and hugs me for effect. Part of me wants to have sex with me, because he is handsome, muscularly fit, and has a humble country thing going for him, but also I wanted to successfully say I have “offed” someone in PP. I am doing this for all of you guys here in the forums lol. For research purposes, of course .

 

With all the customers except for myself in the bar, and my drink finished, Javier, the owner of Space Hair, tells me that they are going to start closing up the bar. I tell MilGuy I was going to settle the bill.  Chef Guy hands me a bill for $57.  I figure drinks for CB and his friends, drinks for the boys, and my own (4?) drinks, and the dollar total was a steal. I give Chef Guy $60 and tell him to keep the rest. He hugs me and takes my money.

 

The boys then start taking the chairs and tables from the front patio and putting them inside the bar. I stand to let them complete their job. Javier and I then go out in the curb and talk about the process of closing up shop. Apparently the bar is also a salon by day, though it is by appointment only, and his boyfriend is the only hairstylist for now. The process of turning the bar into a salon involved taking the whole front patio out, with its modular parts, and revealing a sidewalk that matches all the other day business next door. It was an impressive process. The patio disappears; the plants in the periphery are now the main front door decorations for the salon. A lot of thought was made to make this transition easy every single day.

 

While in the curb and now bigger sidewalk, Javier and I talk about his boyfriend: how hard he works, and how proactive he is in making sure the salon and the bar is promoted in social media and other places, as well as how the hotel next door has attracted a bigger gay clientele since Space Hair has moved in next door, and the possibility of maybe joining forces for the hotel and the bar to be more “gay-visible”, packaging their synergy to a more affluent gay tourist population. I told him I will repay his hospitality by telling my upwardly mobile gay friends to stop by his bar when the visit PP.

 

He asks me if I wanted to go to Heart of Darkness again. His boyfriend is now here, and he feels better, and it looked like I have a connection with MilGuy. I said of course, I had a lot of fun last night, so lets replicate it, now that I have MilGuy for the night. Javier barks a few orders to the boys, and pretty soon he gets a tuktuk to whisk me, Javier, his BF, and another boy, to the club. MilGuy shouts to me that he will be riding with another boy on his motorbike. So there is a gaggle of us, again, going to the club.

 

We get to the club, the same club helper rushes to Javier and helps everyone out. We get the same table with the same great vantage point (Javier’s table, perhaps?), and Javier orders drinks and some cocktail snacks for everyone. The gin and food come and pretty soon we are drinking merrily to the night:

 

 

I Line CB that we are at Heart of Darkness, as well as I was with MilGuy. I get an “OK” emoji from him. MilGuy, myself, Javier’s BF, and two other Space Hair boys all get to the dance floor and dance our hearts out to great dance pop songs. Some photos in the club:

 

 

 

 

 

 

A mirror ball, tasteful décor, and a bunch of cute Khmers, dancing their hearts out in the darkness of the Heart of Darkness.

 

MilGuy was game for all of this, dancing to the beat, and not having a care in the world. Or maybe he does but is not showing it. The others were also having fun, and the combination of booze and good beats made everyone more carefree than usual. I was definitely in the same headspace.  As much as I love going to DJ Station in Bangkok, with its equally pulsing beats and great space, I’ve always found myself sandwiched between a couple of hundred or five of Asia’s most energetic gay guys, all jostling for attention in the hopes of landing the perfect guy that night. Heart of Darkness could pass for any Bangkok, or name-your-urban-city gay dance club, with its own share of cute boys, but the crowds are more sparse, the prices less extortionary, and the vibe more laid back.

 

The Space Hair boys who came with us were Super Drunk guy and another guy who I haven’t seen before. He was more game than the others, more touchy-feely, and a better dancer. Gay, perhaps, but cute like the others. He was trying to make the moves on me, the other boys, and the other patrons of the club. While I have made my choice for the night, he would definitely do on another night.

 

At 3:30 AM I decide that it is time for MilGuy and I to know each other better. I pull him aside and let him know I was ready to leave. I go to our table and tell Javier it was time for me to make an exit. Javier and his BF thank me for patronizing the bar and buying his calendar. I offer to pay for the drinks and again he says no. I give $5 each to the other boys who came with us and I got hugs as well.

 

MilGuy and I leave and he calls a tuktuk. I then freeze, I don’t now the way home or what to say to the tuktuk driver since I relied on CB to get home all this time. I tell MilGuy this, MilGuy says not to worry, CB told him where the condo was. Damn that CB really thinks of everything. We get on the tuktuk and pretty soon we were at the condo. MilGuy tells me how much to pay the driver and I hand him $2 and he gives it to the driver.

 

We get to the condo and MilGuy admires the décor and the furnishings. I sit on the day bed and don’t know what to say next. MilGuy goes upstairs to look at the bedroom. He says the bed is huge, and then he takes off his shirt, revealing his muscular torso. We talk for a bit about what he is used to in terms of living quarters, and how many boys he shares a room with. I offer him some snacks that CB and I buy, but he said he wasn’t hungry. He did take a bottled water in the refrigerator though, and almost finished the bottle.

 

I suggested that he shower, and show him the bathroom. I ask him if I could watch him shower. He tells me why not shower together? I like the sound of that. He takes off all his clothes, and I take off mine. It was a shower for one, and with his height and musculature we were a tight fit, but it was enough to be able to clean each other, but uncomfortable for any sexual fun. We got wet, soaped each other down, and laughed the whole time because of how cramped it was. I took his cock and slowly massaged it. It didn’t take a much before it grew probably four times the size of it soft. Man that was a big cock. And really really thick. The foreskin wrapped the cock whole, and it was almost too small for the cock it was covering inside. I’m always glad when the cock is proportionate to the height of the guy. The cock looked big on him, even at 6+ feet.

 

I was careful to clean his cock and his ass, as I wanted to explore all that. After showering, I hand him a towel and he dries himself with his back towards me. I don’t know why he all of a sudden became modest. I dry first and leave the bathroom to go to the bedroom upstairs. I made sure the condom supply was there but I doubt it was going to be used. After a few minutes he comes up with his cock still hard and protruding from his lanky frame.

 

I ask him to lay down to be comfortable. He seemed nervous but was still smiling. I ask if he was OK and he said yes, but was honest enough to say he wasn’t sure what he could do for me. I tell him not to worry and just sit back and relax. I was going to have sex with a straight boy, apparently his first time with a customer, so being as laid back as possible was key. I massage his cock until it was full strength again. I put it in my mouth, the parts that I could fit in. After a while I got tired. It was just too thick for any long time sucking. But it felt good in my mouth, my hand, and he tasted great as well. I looked at him and he was just looking down, smiling at what I was doing.

 

I tell him to turn around so I can see his ass. He shows me his perfect mounds and I part the cheeks. The hole was just excellent. I put my tongue in there, and soon my whole face. I took my time, and he was appropriately moaning, hopefully in pleasure. I knew I wasn’t going to get to fuck this, so this is the next best thing.

 

After all this I tell him to lay on his back, and I lay with him and look at him. I ask him how he was with all that. He said it was actually pretty fun and he could cum that way. I joke with him that if he was moving to Thailand for more money, he probably needs to be comfortable with getting all that done to him by guys. He says it was fine, but he was not sure if he could do it just anyone yet. He said he got comfortable with me in the two nights we hung out so it was easy for him to be with me now. He was not sure about other guys.

 

Maybe what he said was the truth, maybe he was saying it for a bigger tip, but that moment I believed him. I ask him what would it take for him to cum. He said he can just chuck-wow and he can do it. I offer use of my ipad for videos but he says he’ll be fine. So he starts jacking off, and I do as well. Just seeing his muscular tall frame, jacking off that large cock, was worth the price of admission. After 5 minutes he cums, a lot, and the bed is again stained. He laughs and gives me a pat on the chest. I cum soon after and then he gets up to get some tissues in the bathroom. I wait and then he gets back with the tissues and wipes me down.

 

Instead of showering he puts back his clothes on and lays back down. I do the same and then text CB and ask what he was doing. After 5 minutes he replies and says he was just waiting for my Line text. I tell him he can come back so we can sleep and get ready for Siem Reap. He tells me he is leaving right away to go back to the condo.

 

MilGuy was on his phone as well and asks me if I needed him to stay the night. I say no, CB was coming back now. I reach for my wallet and hand him $50. I figure accompanying me all night, going to the club, and a short time chuck wow is all worth that. He takes it graciously and we exchange Line. He says he will wait for CB to come so I will not be alone. I tell him I wanted to go to the convenience store across the street to get some snacks. He goes with me and I buy my stuff. We wait on the seats in front of the store for CB, and we just talk about PP and Bangkok.

 

After 5 minutes I see CB driving a motorbike with 2 of his friends in the back riding with him, and they stop in front of the condo.  I found it funny that three Pattaya boys can fit in that motorbike. CB sees us and walks towards us. CB and MilGuy exchange a few words in Khmer before switching to English to talk to me. MilGuy thanks me for the time and he hails a motorbike taxi and he is off to go home. I then talk to CB’s friends who were just waiting in the curb and ask them what they did all night. They said they just drank all night. I ask them if they still wanted to go to SIem Reap with me. They said yes. CB then tells me to go back to the condo so we can get some sleep.

 

As we return to the condo, CB asks me for all the details of the off with MilGuy. He asked about everything, the sex, the dick size, how good he was, how hot the sex was, and how much I paid. I told him everything, no reason to keep anything from him. CB then asks me if I really wanted his friends to come to Siem Reap with us. I told him yes, and then asked him if it was OK if they could join in my fun. He said yes, he assumed I wanted them for sex and not to just be there because they were his friends, I tell him it’s a combination of the two. I wanted him to spend time with his friends, but also it could be a threesome/foursome situation for myself. I assured him that I will pay them for their time, their food, and their lodging, same deal if I was in Pattaya with them.

 

In the condo he calls his friends and talks to them in Khmer. After the call he says that they agreed to go to Siem Reap with us. So I guess I will be bringing three Jomtien boys with me to Siem Reap.

 

So tomorrow, Siem Reap, with three Khmer boys.

[vinapu]

you are getting better and better with every post. I guess you had not only fun being there but also have fun writing to us.

 

Thank you

[numazu]

Day 4.0: Little Highways, Big Dreams

 

The theme for this trip has seemingly been change. Changes in fortune for a farang meant I got my Myanmar boy back. A change in my first flight meant reducing my time in Cambodia. And the appearance of other Jomtien boys in my travels made my change my companion count for Siem Reap. With all this change, one thing had to remain the same for me: my openness to experience everything. Instead of being too conservative about choosing what to do next or whether to fold in fear in the face of adverse change, I have instead, been game and open to everything that came my way, and that’s probably why it took me 12 or so posts to describe what happened to me in the course of only 3 days. In the face of so much change, I made the most of everything, saying yes to almost anything and anyone, and being open to whatever was put on my lap.

 

So seeing that I had the opportunity to get two more boys in my entourage in Cambodia, best friends of my beloved of the moment, Cambodia Boy (CB), and being cute and sexy in their own right, I took it. Sure, it was going to cost me more money, more mouths to feed for 2 days, more whims I have to sastisfy, but someday, when I am old and gray, and cannot do this anymore, I will not be looking back at this point in my life wondering, boy, I wish I invited those two extra boys with me. I bet that would be fun. I chose to find out what would happen if I did. Now, you are about to find out as well.

 

It was again 5 AM when CB and myself wound down and got to sleep. The alarm cruelly wakes us up at 8:30 AM. The car service was picking us up at 9:30 – 10, and we had to leave the condo unit, so we had to pack up our stuff and clean up. I wake up and look to my left, CB is still sound asleep. He looks so peaceful. I kiss his forehead and hug him. I stand up and head to the bathroom and do my business and shower. I put on a tank top and shorts and style my hair and get ready for the day. I go up to the bedroom and see CB still asleep. I lay beside him and spoon him till he woke up. He says “Good morning” and hugs me back. I tell him the time and remind him that we have to leave. He reluctantly stands up and texts a few people (his friends and the driver, he says).

 

For $20-$30 a night this condo was a good deal. Comfortable beds, basic but complete amenities, cold aircon, and strategically located close to Space Hair and the riverfront, it was definitely a great AirBNB find. Plus, I was able to bring anyone I wanted to the condo, without any hotel receptionist or guard being all up in my business. One drawback to this property would probably be that it did not have a safe to store my passport and money for safekeeping, but then again CB was my only overnight guest, and I trusted him implicitly, so I did not need a safe. Lone travellers interested in long time offs probably will need the safe, and I recommend that you have one if you are with strangers.

 

I Line the owner and tell him we are leaving, and asked him where we could leave the keys. He answers after a few minutes and told us he was coming to the condo to get the keys and say hi. He said if he wasn’t there before we left, we can just leave the keys in the mailbox up front. I pack up, throwing away a lot of candy wrappers, browns paper bags and plastic bags, and probably 10 empty water bottles. A third of my trip is done, there are still 7 nights to go.

 

CB emerges from the bathroom naked and looking sexy. I squeeze his cock, but I know there is not time to have sex right now. He draws me close and we kiss. This is probably the last time we will be alone together before 2 other Khmers crash our party. He’s definitely been open to whatever I throw at him all this time, but then again, I’ve had time in the last year to get to know him more and see his limits, so I knew this trip was going to be a success.

 

We finish packing and talk for a while before we get a knock on the door. It was the owner saying hi. He enters and thanks us for the business. I compliment him on the great property, and assure him that there will be future stays from me. We talk for a few minutes about my future trips, Siem Reap and Bangkok, before I tell him we have to go. We get to the convenience store across the street and I see CB’s friends already there, sitting on the seats in front of the store.

 

Fit Khmer (FK) was wearing a ballcap put on backwards, and he looked younger that his late 20s. The other friend, lets call him Gorgeous Khmer (GK) because of his striking looks and big nose, was listening to music, but when he saw us come, he quickly takes off his earphone and hugs me. FK takes my backpack, and GK takes my roller bag. I guess with these many boys I don’t need to carry any bags at all. I ask how everyone was doing, I get numerous responses of “No sleep” or “Drink too much” or “Hungry”. I suggested that we buy some snacks in the store, so we do and get a few things like chips, waters, pastries and gum. I pay of course.

 

CB tells me that the car service is coming. He asks me where I would like to sit in the car. I told him I wanted him by my side, so I’ll choose to ride in the back on the right side. He conveys this information to everyone, and FK says he will sit in the front. Pretty soon we get our car:

 

 

It was good enough for the ride to SR, and we all fit, but I am guessing a bigger van would be better to get for a journey with 3 boys and myself. CB told me the price was $100 for the ride, and we can make stops on the way if we wanted. I thought the price was reasonable considering we will be in the car for 4.5 hours, and we were 4 people. I imagine I would be paying half the total for 4 people if we all take a bus or van, so I was not too worried about the price. And definitely cheaper than flying.

 

We all pile in the car. The driver talks to me in Thai(?). I answer I am american. CB explains to him in Khmer and the driver apologizes and talks to me a bit in English. I tell him its ok and laugh it off. He says once we were outside Phnom Penh he needs to get gas for the car, but it was included in the fare. I nod yes and off we go. I close my eyes for a bit sleep, and pretty soon the three boys get into a lively discussion, in Khmer. The driver laughs at the conversation, perhaps the boys were hamming it up for the driver. I did not mind not understanding anything they were saying, and I was content in just being in the background.

 

CB makes it a point to ask me, numerous times in the trip, in English, if I was OK. It was very  considerate for him to ask me. I assured him everytime that yes, I was very much OK. GK in the opposite side of CB, also asks me if I was OK numerous times. FK, in the drivers seat, sometimes talks to me in English, perhaps explaining to me what the current conversation was. Overall, it was pretty nice and laid back drive. I ate some of the snacks that I bought. CB tells me that he asked the driver to stop at some point to have lunch, to assure me I will not go hungry the whole ride.

 

As we leave PP and enter the countryside, I notice that the there are no big freeways or highways in Cambodia, at least not like that in Bangkok. Most of the time we were in a 2-lane highway, and there were barely any vehicles in the route with us. It made the drive more peaceful and worry-free, and it was nice to see Cambodia this way. As expected, everything looked very rural and undeveloped, perhaps not for long if progress was on the way in a few years. I see numerous signs telling us the miles to go to get to Siem Reap. I google map where we are and I get this:

 

 

4.5 hours of this is not bad. I wonder if busses or vans are more comfortable than the cramped quarters of a car with 5 people. But this was at least a little bit faster.

 

We pass by villages and towns and I check out the boys who littered the roads, usually shirtless, either walking, selling some food, or just hanging out. I often wonder how those boys get from the streets of Cambodia to the bars of Pattaya, like the three boys in the car have done. I know CB’s story, an all too typical story of soul-crushing poverty. I wonder what FK and GK’s stories were.

 

We get to Skun, a village 40 miles north of Phnom Penh, and a popular stopover for travellers making the trek between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. FK asks me if I like Cambodian food, and I tell him I like it and hopefully we are eating some for lunch. He said yes, he knew of this restaurant along the highway that also had toilets. We get to the restaurant:

 

 

The boys head to the toilets to pee, and I do the same. When I was done, GK takes my hand and leads me to the food, displayed up front:

 

 

 

GK explains to me the various dishes displayed. Some chicken, beef and fish, some soups and vegetables.  And baguettes of course. All look yummy. I tell GK that they can just order what they wanted and I’ll eat it. GK leads me to a table where he barks some orders to the waitstaff, and pretty soon we get some glasses and some tea. The tea was poured over ice so it was some kind of iced tea. The taste of the tea and coolness of the ice was a welcoming sensation from the hot day.

 

Once all the food was decided, CB sits beside me, and FK and GK sits also. The driver sits in the far end of the table, and nods to me in acknowledgement. Pretty soon we get served:

 

 

 

Everyone was hungry, including myself, so it was a free for all. Everyone was happy, joking, and talking in Khmer. Having dined with CB before, I knew he was going to serve me my food. And he did, explaining what the dish was every time he gave me a portion. The fun was very yummy, and it hit the spot for me. The restaurant did not have aircon, and we were the only customers that time, but I was having a lot of fun. I did not understand anything the boys and driver were saying, but it didn’t matter.

 

After eating everyone got sleepy. The driver turned up the air a bit and it made everyone comfortable enough o sleep. CB, sitting in the middle, puts his head on my shoulder to sleep. I rest my head on the window and I try to get some shut-eye. Everyone seems to do the same. The familiar jagged Khmer tones that I have gotten used to have ceased, as everyone is tired from the little sleep we’ve all had the night before. The driver carries along as he takes us to Siem Reap.

 

One after another, we pass by villages and towns along the way. And then, all of a sudden, we pass by bigger buildings and see more people. I see signage for Siem Reap and Angkor Wat. It was almost 3 PM, and we have arrived.

 

Siem Reap awaits…

[musgrave]

I enjoyed reading about the dynamics within the groups - CB going with his friends when you went to the club, the interaction between the guys (don't you wish sometimes you were fluent in Khmer or Thai ),   the seating arrangements on the car trip, the eating arrangements - including the seating of the driver, the individual boys attention to you - asking if you were ok.  will be interesting reading to see how SR played out with all them along. 

 

Baguettes in Cambodia , bread rolls in Vietnam - to die for

 

cheers

 

 

[numazu]

numazu, wonderful reporting as always, it's a joy to read about your exploits again.

 

I once posted that you were pacing your stories to enhance the suspense.  

 

Take your time in bringing the story along its path.

 

 

Numazu thanks for the great report , looking forward to Siem Reap and Bangkok trip reports . 

 

Thanks guys! Like I said earlier, feedback, positive or negative, means a lot to me, and makes me want to write more. It was an awesome vacation and there is a lot to write about. I am also leaving a lot out, some too personal, but I think what I put out there is good enough.

 

Great post.  This brings back fond memories of my visits to PP.  I found the people very sweet and the food excellent.  From your photos it looks like the riverfront has been significantly modernized also.  I thought the boys were especially handsome but there was no club there when I visited.

Thanks for the pics as well.  It adds a lot to your post.

 

 

It will be amazing to see the progress PP will go through in the next decade. I'd like to at least make it a point to stop by, even just for a couple of days, to check out the progress and changes, make note of the prices of the food and drinks with the progress, as well as sample the boys and night life.

 

you are getting better and better with every post. I guess you had not only fun being there but also have fun writing to us.

 

Thank you

 

 

Yes, its hard to believe, but writing about the experience is almost as fun as going through it. It gets to me relive the awesome times that were had.  It extends the vacation for me. I've been in the USA for 15 days now but the vacation is still very much alive in my head through my storytelling and rereading what I've written. Unfortunately recounting the details sometimes makes me realize that I've could've made better decisions in certain things, but overall I think writing about this is a net positive for me. As paulsf says, it is a form of therapy for me. I'm glad you guys enjoy it.

 

I enjoyed reading about the dynamics within the groups - CB going with his friends when you went to the club, the interaction between the guys (don't you wish sometimes you were fluent in Khmer or Thai ),   the seating arrangements on the car trip, the eating arrangements - including the seating of the driver, the individual boys attention to you - asking if you were ok.  will be interesting reading to see how SR played out with all them along. 

 

Baguettes in Cambodia , bread rolls in Vietnam - to die for

 

cheers

 

 

I think if it were a different group of boys, like if it was just 3 boys I picked out randomly, it wouldn't have worked. But CB is (now) and long-time and familiar friend, so I know him almost inside out, so choosing his best friends to come with us was a no-brainer. He trusts them, so I didn't have anything to worry about.  

 

Yes, the bread is to die for. Can't wait to go to Vietnam to try their version of baguettes there. So much to explore in the Indochinese Peninsula! 

 

And guys, is it just me, or has the forum been relatively silent these past few days? 

[ichigo]

Your boys are so sweet!

[vinapu]

 

Siem Reap awaits…

... and us for  a next installment

[Guest whall]

More! More! I want to get to SR!

[vinapu]

 

 

And guys, is it just me, or has the forum been relatively silent these past few days? 

I guess we are waiting for a next chapter of your exploits. Now you are in Siem Reap and this is real purpose of Cambodia trip for most travellers

[vinapu]

More! More! I want to get to SR!

buy a ticket and fly !

[numazu]

Day 4.3: Four's Company

 

Looking at Siem Reap and the buildings that we pass by in the car, there were really no remarkable structures or obvious landmarks. I was expecting some kind of organized infrastructure because of the popularity of the city for tourists who come for Angkor Wat. But maybe that’s how Cambodia is right now. It’s part of its charm. The impressive structures of Angkor Wat are what counts anyhow.

 

When my flight got cancelled and I was rescheduling my trip, I asked CB if spending 2 days in PP and another 2 days in SR is too short. Maybe I should use all 4 days in SR instead, going to the temples on multiple days. CB said he knows me well, and he knew I would be bored with SR after a few days. I guess the only side of me he saw was the hedonistic side: getting boys, long nights, and lots of booze. Maybe he did not think I would find Angkor Wat interesting. I stuck with the 2 days from his suggestion.

 

It's mid-afternoon when we get to the city center. The streets were full of locals, tourists, and tuktuks moving around. Fit Khmer (FK) tells the driver where to turn to get to the Rambutan Hotel. He has been to this hotel before. We turn into a narrower street away from the business and I see signage for Rambutan Hotel. I take a crisp $100 bill from my wallet and give it to CB. We get out of the car, FK and Gorgeous Khmer (GK) take both my bags and their own bags, CB pays the driver, and we all head over to the hotel.

 

So I was able to rebook the Rambutan from 3 nights to 2 nights in the midst of my rescheduling. It was for their two-bed (one queen size and one single bed), 3 people occupancy suite for $60 a night. My problem? We were 4 people total. I could probably just say we were 3 people and be done with it, and discreetly go in and out of the hotel with all 4 of us, but I did not want to do that. I’d rather get another room and get all of us 4 registered, since they were part of my party. Yes, another change in my plans, I have to adapt.

 

I tell the boys to sit on the lobby chairs by the side while I sort things out with the hotel staff. I get greeted by the head hotel staff at check-in. I give the manager my passport and let him look for my reservation. He greets me by name and first thing he says is I got upgraded to the Deluxe Villa, which is two floors, with the same number of beds. The first floor has the beds and bathroom, the second floor is a private terrace with a shower, tub and lounge chairs. I thanked him for the upgrade, but I told him that we were 4 total people. Was it possible to fit 4 people in the room, I ask.

 

He told me it was not possible, as 3 people were the maximum occupancy for their rooms, but he could get me another room, a suite with a queen-sized bed for a discount. Without any hesitation I say yes. I point to the rest of my party (to the boys) and one of the staff asks the boys, in Khmer, for ID as well. The manager says something to the other staff there, and pretty soon me and the boys get cold drinks and cool moist towels to wipe our brows with. The extra room was about $45, so at $105 total for two rooms, it was still a reasonable price for me.

 

I tell CB about the two rooms, and he instantly tells me that “We all stay in one room, right?” I say yes we all will, but now the staff needs to show us both our rooms. So why don’t we go to the Villa room, and let FK and GK go to the other room. One of the staff shows us our villa, another staff member takes FK and GK to the other room. Both rooms were on opposite sides of the hotel complex.

 

CB and I get to the somewhat steep stairs to get to our room. The staff member unlocks the room and reveals a pretty nice and well put-together room. I see a queen sized bed and a single bed in the first floor of the room. Website photo:

 

 

She then shows us both the upstairs that has the private terrace with the shower, tub and lounges. Website photo:

 

 

 

The boy pictured is not included in the room. I however, came prepared on brought three of my own.

 

We say goodbye to the staff member. CB then tells me he will be back and leaves the room. After 10 minutes he comes back with FK and GK with their luggage. He really wanted all of us in one room like one big happy family. Fine with me . The boys talk in Khmer about the room, checking out the bathroom, the furniture, amenities, and the terrace upstairs. The jagged Khmer tones come back. After a while it was just white noise to me.

 

They talk for a while, and then they switch to English to ask me what I wanted to do. I told them I wasn’t sure, and then asked them what they wanted to do. CB tells me I am the boss. I tell him that is not true, I think you are the boss. Everyone laughs, and then after a few suggestions, we all decide that we are all hungry. The meal in Skun was 4 hours ago, and now we were ready to eat again. I mention that we do have a dinner set up with Sareth, the Siam Roads gay tourist guide, so we can just get snacks for now. CB agrees, and barks some orders to FK. CB then gives FK some money. FK nods to everything CB was saying, and then he goes to me and kisses me on the lips, telling me “I go outside.”

 

When FK leaves I ask CB where he was going. CB says he told FK to get some snacks and drinks. CB then suggests that we take a shower together after the long drive. GK says he will use the shower in the terrace. I say OK to CB, but why together? CB says he wanted to be alone and be “sweet” with me before eating. I will not say no to that.

 

We get in the bathroom and take off all our clothes. He turns on the shower and we find the soap and shampoo. We start kissing and we kiss under the stream of water coming out of the shower. CB starts soaping me up and then tells me that he cannot have sex with his friends. He says that both are OK having sex with each other but he cannot be there with us. I tell him this is fine. I understand that he doesn’t see his friends that way, but why are his friends OK with having sex with each other? He says that they where boyfriends before, so they have done it before together. He only knows them as friends, so it was awkward for him to have sex with them.

 

I told him I was fine with this. CB tells me to just tell him when I wanted to have fun with them so he can tell them. We kiss and do a soap down and just be tender with each other. No cumming really, just some alone time. We finish and towel down and emerge from the bathroom in towels. I see GK in a towel as well, laying down on the single bed, texting. CB and I modestly put on clothes in GK’s presence. And then we hear a large noise outside. GK shouts “Oh no rain. FK is outside.” He hurriedly puts on clothes and heads outside.

 

After 5 minutes we get a slightly wet GK and FK back in the room with some plastic bags. Food has come! GK unwraps the food and I see 4 baguettes wrapped in paper, as well as some waters and candies and gum. FK says that the baguettes have “Pâté” in it. Very French. The boys sit on the floor to start eating. CB tells me to sit down so we can eat. I do, almost giddy that I get invited to this picnic. I get handed one baguette. I unwrap it and bite into it. This was awesome. The baguette was very fresh, and the pâté was kind of sweet. The boys tore into the food, and were laughing and talking in Khmer. Photos with incriminating tattoos taken out:

 

 

 

We finish up and the boys clean up the wrappers. FK takes off all his clothes, revealing his sinewy lean physique, and goes to the bathroom to shower. CB asks me what I wanted to do next. I tell CB since it was raining outside, we really can’t go out and explore. And I told him I was a little bit tired still since napping in the car wasn’t ideal. CB suggest we all nap for a couple of hours before dinner. I told him that was a great idea. We can be fresh for undoubtedly the long night ahead, and we can at least conserve energy because tomorrow is a long day for Angkor Wat sightseeing.

 

CB and I get situated in the queen sized bed. GK lays back on the single bed, and FK emerges in a towel from his shower. He puts on some boxers and lays beside GK. The aircon is turned on up high so the room was cool, so everyone was under the covers pretty soon. I Facebook message Sareth that we will be looking at meeting around 7:30 PM for dinner tonight. I set the alarm for 6:45 PM and try to get some shut-eye.

 

The alarm comes and everyone stirs awake. I tell CB that Sareth will be waiting for us at 7:30. CB tells the boys in Khmer and soon everyone was getting ready. We wash our faces, style our hair, put on cologne. FK is very shirtless and is proud of his abs while he is getting ready. GK is styling his long locks to a trendy style, showing his striking features even more. And CB, the fairest of them all, takes all the time in the world to get ready. It takes a lot of effort to look that good, and all the effort shows in how he looks. Eventually it was obvious to me that everyone was dressing up the same: long sleeved button-down shirts, stylish jeans, and smart shoes. I hate that I only took with me universal farang wear: t-shirt and shorts.

 

While we all wait for CB to get ready, FK puts his arm around me and asks me a few questions about myself. My work, my city in the USA, my hobbies, my favorite food. CB shouts something in Khmer to FK but he ignores CB. I answer gamely, and GK listens as well. They ask me how long I have been going to Thailand and I tell them. They ask me if I liked Cambodia, I tell them very much so, the locations, the food, and the boys. CB then asks me something interesting, who do I like more, Thais or Khmers?

 

I tell them, of course, that I like Khmers more, lying a little bit. In reality I really have no preference. And then I tell them why. I told them they were cuter, more fun-loving, and more truthful. This was of course, lifted verbatim from CB’s own words. One night after he had to share with me with another Thai boy, he asked me why I liked Thais. He said Thais will say anything to get our money. They will tell you: you are handsome man, sexy, and good in bed. CB, however, says that he will always tell the truth to me. And he does. Sometimes brutally so. But I rely on him to be honest with me every time. I count on him to do so while we are together.

 

I look at the time, it was 7:45. I tell the boys to hurry. I text Sareth and tell him we are late, obviously. He says it was fine, he was just hanging out at the hotel lobby talking to the staff. The boys hurry up and soon we are all heading down the stairs to meet Sareth. We see Sareth, sitting down, texting on his phone.

 

The boys then say hi to Sareth, and Sareth stands up and greets everyone. He then tells me that “I think we will need a van tomorrow, instead of the car I got.” I tell him this is fine. We were all in a car for 5 hours today, so a van would be better. After some small talk we head out of the hotel.

 

The boys then excitedly talk to Sareth in Khmer. I wonder what they were talking about.

 

To be continued…

[traveller123]

An interesting question to ask CB.

My part of Isaan is Khmer heritage and the villagers speak a form of Khmer language and many (including my partner) look more Khmer than Thai.

Presumably CB has come across similar lads, does he consider they fit his description of Thais or does he think they act like Cambodians?

 

My partner and I have made several trips to Siem Reap as it is a shorter trip than driving to Bangkok or Pattaya and it always amuses me when people assume he is Khmer and he with a little indignation informs them "No, I am Thai"

 

Can I add my thanks for your fantastic, well crafted reports and taking what must be a fair amount of time to write them

[ChristianPFC]

Great reports, keep them coming! I couldn't ask for more detail.

But it should be "lie/lies" in all the following:
I ask him to lay down to be comfortable.
After all this I tell him to lay on his back, and I lay with him and look at him.
he puts back his clothes on and lays back down.

and many more

 

(although "and I lay with him and look at him."

can be saved by changing it to "and I lay with him and looked at him.")

 

... my visits to PP. ... and the food excellent.

 

My memories are the opposite. When I eat something that contains chicken in Cambodia, there are usually bone splinters and cartilage. I very rarely have this in Thailand. Strangely, street food seems to be more expensive in Cambodia than in Thailand, average 2 USD versus 40 or 45 THB, but that might just be because I don't speak the language and don't know dishes and prices for Khmer food.

[vinapu]

again , thank you for very detailed and very entertaining report.

 

I envy you your excellent experience with  Cambodian boys, I wish I could second that but perhaps it  was just my bad luck.

 

Now we are for a treat I hope- stolen kisses among ruins

 

Your reports are making me addictive  to checking forum few times a day and my guess will be , I'm not alone here

[Guest 2guys]

Nope you are not alone in checking often only for the next episode of this story.

[ggobkk]

 

 

Your reports are making me addictive  to checking forum few times a day and my guess will be , I'm not alone here

You are not alone....

[farangyai]

I also like the level of detail about the interactions within the group.  I think it makes it a very special experience.Great storytelling job.

[numazu]

Day 4.6: You Reap What You Siem

 

Any trip to Siem Reap of course meant going to Angkor Wat, so a month ago I immediately thought of getting the tour guide for Siem Reap in SiamRoads, Sareth:

 

 

There are ways to get hold of him through the website of course, but I contacted Ya, the Bangkok Siam Roads tour guide, instead. I’ve used his services a number of times in the past, and since then I’ve been in constant contact with him through Line, and talk to him from time to time. I felt Ya out, how was Sareth? Ya said he was very good and he was actually meeting Sareth for the first time in early September. He was going to Thailand. Ya immediately got me and Sareth in a group text and I talked to him from there. After asking me what I wanted from the tour, I was able to construct an itinerary with him, going to Kompong Kleang to visit the floating villages, as well as Tonle Sap Lake, on Day 1, and then Angkor Wat park and three temples on Day 2.

 

Unfortunately, I had to cancel a day each for PP and SR, so that meant cancelling the Day 1 itinerary, and sticking to the Angkor Wat day. Sareth was pretty understanding about the situation. Now as I write this I wish I did not shorten Cambodia, and just reduced the Bangkok days, but oh well. There will be other opportunities in the future to get to Cambodia for sure.

 

Sareth and I have been texting regurlarly on the lead up to the Siem Reap trip. He was usually just checking in to see if I arrived to the destination for the day, and how I was and what I was doing. I threw him a curveball of cancelling Tonle Sap, and now, I threw him another curveball, my party grew from 2 to 4. He was able to deftly change our vehicle from a car to a van. I then explained to him who I was with in all honesty: 3 Pattaya money boys. No judgements from him, and just clear acknowledgements (OK maybe some personal remarks, but I will keep this between me and Sareth ).

 

When we meet with Sareth, the boys eagerly peppered him with questions, in Khmer. I was curious as to what they were talking about. CB tells me they were asking him about his business, how much it pays, what kind of education it takes for one to be a tour guide, etc. Sareth looks at me and asks me, in English, if it was OK for them to talk to me in Khmer the whole time. I told him, of course, I don’t mind. They were curious about you.

 

Sareth held on to ask questions from the Khmer trio till he thought he was being rude to me and then started talking to me. I appreciated the effort but really, I’d rather everyone be themselves around me, so everyone is comfortable. Cambodia Boy (CB) knows this about me, and Fit Khmer (FK) and Gorgeous Khmer (GK) most probably were prompted by CB about this.

 

Sareth asks me what kind of food I like. I tell him I do not have any preferences in food, so my rule is when I am in a new place, I try the local cuisine. He suggests a restaurant in the popular part of town. We start walking there and everyone seems to be in a good mood. They go back and forth in Khmer and English, and I more or less get the gist of what everyone was talking about. FK keeps me close and puts an arm around me like he usually likes to do, as if to show me I am always part of the group even if only Khmer was being uttered. CB was always shy when it comes to public affection, but FK seems to not have any qualms about it. I didn’t mind the contact of course.

 

We duck into an alleyway appropriately called “The Alley”, and stopped at the restaurant "Purple Mangosteen", which I understand was also a hotel. Sareth is greeted by the staff and we get seated on one of the tables at the outside of the restaurant. The boys and Sareth grab hold of the menu and rattle furiously in Khmer about the food choices. I wasn’t asked what I wanted but I trusted their judgment, especially CB because he knows what I liked (which is everything). After ordering Sareth shows me the food items on the menu that they ordered. Five dishes to be shared family style with everyone.

 

While we waited for our food, GK, in broken English, asks Sareth about what we can do as far as nightlife in Siem Reap. He told us there are a few choices we have in SR but it is not like Bangkok, of course. I do hope Cambodia does not have a complex with respect to being compared to Thailand. The boys, especially CB, seem to be explaining how things that are in Cambodia in terms of Thailand. Maybe because I am familiar with Thailand that they have to do this. I am sure the deep-seated, centuries-old, animosity between the two countries extend to having pride over their own countries, regardless of whether things are smaller or less sophisticated etc. Regardless, things were described to me in Thailand terms again - the good: cheaper, less crowded, more laid back; the bad: less choices, no gogo boys, less crowded.

 

I tell Sareth (and the boys) about my impressions of Phnom Penh. They were actually eager to listen to what I had to say about their beloved PP. All I had was good things to say, which was the god honest’s truth. Charming, relaxed, enjoyable, cheaper compared to USA, will go again in a heartbeat. CB unleashes some Khmer ode after that, and then explains to me that he was talking about my infatuation with Space Hair. I then show them photos of the boys. They quickly understand my infatuation.

 

Soon the food arrives, and it is a nice feast for five hungry boys:

 

 

CB, as he always does, serves me. Rice, some curry, some chicken, some beef, some veggies. All yummy again, of course. Most of the conversations going forward were in Khmer, with some whispers in English from CB. Sareth tells me about tomorrow’s itinerary, but reminds me that it is my tour, so it can be as short or long as I want, and can start anytime, to consider the possibly late night we will be having tonight. I tell Sareth we can play it by ear, but I tell him I do want to sample the gay entertainment in the city.

 

We finish eating and Sareth asks for the check. Sareth gives me the bill and I ask if they accept credit cards. Sareth says yes so I give him my card without looking at the bill.  He takes it to the cashier inside and sits back down. One of the staff gives the credit card slip to me. I looked at the price -  I was scandalized by the amount: $12.50. All that, and drinks, for $12.50? Is that possible? Sareth says he was given a 50% discount for being a loyal customer. This was tremendously cheap. I couldn’t get that cheap price for a proper sit-down meal for one person here back home, let alone for 5 people (I checked my credit card statement online just now to double check the amount, yep, it was $12.50). I put a $2 tip in the check book and left it on the table.

 

We start our trek to our first bar. On the way we pass by Pub Street, the “Walking Street” of SR, without the streetwalkers, I guess:

 

 

 

It was alive with activity and tourists, pretty good for Tuesday night in low season. It got us in the mood for the bar we were going to: Barcode, a gay bar. Sareth says it was a favorite first bar of the night for bar hoppers in SR. It is a nice place to get a first drink, and they have a little show that is earlier than the other bars. We get there and, apart from one customer sitting on the bar on his laptop (?), we were the only ones there. But it was only 9 PM, so it is early. We sat on one of the loungers and looked at the drink menu. About 5 minutes, a party of five Khmers came in and sat on the adjacent loungers.

 

I tell CB my drink order and he orders for me. The boys order as well. We have some pleasant conversation. It was a very nice bar. The lighting was pretty chill for relaxing. The lounges and chairs were pretty well situated and ideal for socializing. We get all our drinks, and mine was a little bit on the weak side. Sareth tells me the show usually starts at 9:30 PM. The show starts, and it’s the very familiar lady boy show:

 

 

Nothing too remarkable. I forgot what she was lip-syncing to. But perhaps because I was talking to the boys that’s why I don’t remember.

 

At 9:45 PM, Sareth says we should probably go to another bar, a more popular one, called Station Wine Bar. We drink up, I pay for everything ($18 for 5 drinks) and we leave. It was a short walk to the next bar. At the door, they have this signage:

 

 

Looks promising. We get in and there were probably 4 other customers in the bar. Very quiet again but it was low season. We get seated in good seats next to the stage. There was a mezzanine up above, and I see some lady boys in sequined gowns, and a few good looking boys. They were waiting for the 10 PM start of their show. I tell CB again I wanted a rum and coke. Everyone orders and we get out drinks pretty quickly. I eye some of the waiters, some of them were pretty good looking, my type.

 

The show starts with a good-looking shirtless boy lip-syncing to a boy ballad. He knew all the words, and was emoting with the music. But of course the main attraction was his pretty face and nice torso:

 

 

Next was a lady boy singing “Halo” by Beyonce. She was pretty good. Lots of emotion and was mouthing the words pretty well. There wasn’t a case of “lip-syncing with an accent”, a phenomenon I see in Thailand, wherein the ladyboy cant seem to mouth the English words well, and instead it looks like she was singing with her accent. She was pretty funny too. One customer gave her a dollar:

 

 

Next was a princess-looking lady boy who sang a J-pop song:

 

 

While she was singing, all three Khmer boys were singing with her. All three knew the words being sung. I found this funny. I videoed some of it, obviously cant share it here. CB Lines me a link to the YouTube video. The song is ‪赤いスイートピー - 松田聖子. Apparently it’s a very famous J-pop song in Cambodia:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COYNJQMiqz0

 

After that, a solo dance number from good-looking guy:

 

 

A duo number with another shirtless Khmer:

 

 

And another duo shirtless number:

 

 

BONUS: a link to a video clip I took of the number. Click on the link to go to the clip: https://vid.me/Zvcs

 

And everyone gets onstage for a last number:

 

 

Overall, it was a pretty fun time. The numbers were pretty well-crafted, the music pretty catchy and lively, the talent good-looking and entertaining, and all the customers were enraptured by the entertainment.  The drinks were pretty good as well, and everyone was in a great mood. The show finished around 10:45 PM. We started talking about our next plan for the night. Everyone clearly did not want the night to end just yet. So we finish our drinks and I pay the bill ($22 for 5 drinks) and we head out of the bar, in great spirits.

 

We all almost skipped to our next destination…

 

To be continued