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

[baobao]

I love your one liners - did you take creative writing course?

That line's been around - attributed to different people in different forms - for decades. Most recent I'd heard was in John Lennon's song in 1980.

 

Numazu does have a flair for spinning a tale, though. Your "creative writing" guess may be closer to the truth than you think.

 

I'm enjoying the pictures - thanks!

[vinapu]

That line's been around - attributed to different people in different forms - for decades. Most recent I'd heard was in John Lennon's song in 1980.

 

that's fine but as long as I'm concerned for me it will be attributed to numazu since I heard it from him first

[numazu]

Day 2.8: Fast Times in Little Indochina

 

After a lovely walk with Cambodia Boy (CB) along the Tonle Sap riverside in Phnom Penh, we look for dinner. I tell CB that it was “up to you”, since you know where to eat and I am paying and I know you like posting your food on Facebook so I’ll let you decide. He asks if I like pizza. A weird choice but I say yes.  We head over to Pizza Company Riverside, located of course by the river.  A google search image, in case you wanted to see what it looked like:

 

 

We enter and he guides me to the 2^nd floor and it has great views of the river. Seems like everyone was Khmer (or at least, Asian) in the restaurant, and mostly larger parties probably celebrating a birthday or anniversary. We sit and get our menus. He asks what I wanted. I tell him “up to you” and just order what he wanted. He gets some waters, a large seafood pizza and some cheesy garlic bread. Pizza is the last food I thought I’d eat while in Cambodia, but I will do what the boy wants. The food comes and CB takes photos with me, without me, with the food, without the food etc. He posts it on facebook (I find out later that some of the photos on facebook had me in it. I didn’t care, but he didn’t tag me), and we finally eat. It actually was pretty good pizza, considering where I was and my expectations.

 

We talk about what we can do tonight. I tell him I want to check out one of the gay bars in PP tonight. I mention a few options I’ve seen in the internet. He has not checked out any of them so he can’t say anything about them. I ask him if he can stand having one more boy go with us tonight. He says he doesn’t mind, but if he doesn’t like the boy he won’t have sex with him. I tell him I will do the same.

 

Two weeks ago I did the Fake GPS thing and turned on Grindr. I shared this on another post:

OK so I did the fake GPS thing to Phnom Penh (location set at the city center) and turned on both Grindr and PlanetRomeo. I did not get a lot of hits in PlanetRomeo, but with Grindr, wow my app lit up like a Christmas tree. Most of the hits were from Khmers 20-30, and most of them are cute, and none felt like they were money boys from the conversation. Most were looking for friends and sex as well, and conversations were very friendly and the english very good. Too bad I am not there yet as most wanted to meet soon after the conversation got serious. Had some ask me for my Line and the conversations continued there. Some offered to go with me to the bars. This might be one avenue I'll discover more maybe in December. This September trip is all about sight seeing, and I wouldn't want to troll online too much.

 

I asked one of the guys that wanted to meet for his Line and we continued our conversation there. He is super cute, totally my type, and had very good English. He is 19, 5’8, and from his photos had a lean muscular body with visible abs and great legs. After a few days of talking it turns out that he was looking for me to pay him. He said he wasn’t a money boy but needed some money to live for a while because he didn’t have a job at the moment. This did not discourage me, and I asked him how much. He says any tip amount will do, he just needs help. I accept this and make a note to see him. Even with CB with me, this Grindr Khmer (GK) looked like what a perfect boy for me would look like. Young handsome face, lean muscular frame, great English, and can do everything.

 

Some screenshots of my Fake GPS Grindr conversations:

 

 

 

After dinner we walk back to the condo, but not before stopping to a convenience store across the street from the condo, to get waters, snacks, and to top off CB’s phone. At the condo I Line GK if he can meet tonight. He said yes and will just shower and can meet soon. I then call him and talk to him a little bit, and then give the phone to CB to let him give GK directions to the condo. CB and I cuddle and look at music videos online and then I get a call on Line from GK an hour and a half later. I tell CB I will get GK outside. CB says he will take a shower to get ready for tonight.

 

I meet GK and was bowled over on how cute he is. A little darker skinned than his photos online (damn those photoshopping and their obsession with whiter skin), but everything else was what was advertised. Very handsome, lean muscular, and a great smile. I let him in the condo.

CB is showering, but I see I get a Line from him earlier. He tells me to watch out for our belongings because we do not know this boy if he is good or not. I reply a “thank you” to him even if he can’t see it now because he is showering. I never worry about CB and my money, valuables and passport. I have come to trust him. GK of course is different. I sit down on the day bed and GK does the same. I hug him and he gives me a tentative hug. I start talking to him with some small talk to just make him comfortable.

 

CB emerges from the bathroom fully clothed and sees GK. They speak in Khmer for a bit before going back to English so I can understand. I tell CB I will shower as well and they can continue to speak in Khmer. I shower quickly and when I come out I see CB and GK talking in Khmer pretty extensively. I do not mind them doing so as I prepare for the night out as well. Pretty soon they switch to English and we talk about where to go tonight. I propose we go to Space Hair.

 

CB knew where it was, and it was only two blocks from the condo. We all walk there and find the bar. The bar is kind of small-ish. Totally not the expanse that I am used to with the Soi 4 beer bars. And probably a quarter to half of the size of a typical Jomtien bar. We get there and there were about 6 customers scattered on 3 tables in the patio area. There were more tables inside the bar but it seems no one wants to sit there. And the famous wait staff was there. Oh boy they were very hot. My criteria of handsome, lean musculature and charming English conversation were passed and exceeded by almost all the staff there.

 

I guess it was uniform theme tonight, because there were boys dressed in “military” uniforms (sleeveless fatigues and shorts), some in a boxer’s shorts (always good), another in a chef costume (which is just an apron, chef’s hat and shorts, no top). Quite a quirky way to do costumes but it worked for me because there was plenty of flesh exposed. One of the military boys went to our table and got us menus. I point to my usual first drink, the espresso martini, to wake me up and to get me in the mood for the night. Individual drinks ranged from $3 to $8 and had a good variety. CB got a gin and tonic and GK got a beer.

 

We get our drinks served by the sexy chef. And then the military guy sat down next to CB and asked us where we came from. CB and GK answer in Khmer, and I tell him I am from America. He was surprised, and he said he thought I was Thai. We all talk in English for a minute before Military guy (MilGuy) sits next to me and puts his arm around me. At 6’0 it was easy for him to engulf me in his arms so I kind of liked it. He then asks CB what he did in Thailand. CB sighed a little bit and then anwered in Khmer. They go back and forth for a while in Khmer. CB then tells me, in English, that he told MilGuy that he was a money boy in Pattaya. I found  his honesty interesting but I guess they both did one thing in common; they both sit down with farang serving them drinks for tips.

 

While CB and MilGuy continued talking in Khmer, I turn my attention to GK. He was fairly quiet and probably intimidated by the situation. If he was being truthful in our conversations, he is not used to this kind of atmosphere. I try to ask him questions about his life, his situation, and his interests. I get a lot of the same stories that come with poverty. He is from the outskirts of PP and moved in the city center in search of opportunity. He was able to get a few odd jobs here and there but it never really got him the money he needed to go to school. He needed some money to go back to parents that is why he asked me for some money. He really doesn’t expect me to but would appreciate it if I did.

 

Its now close to 11 and CB sees me in deep conversation with GK, all the while MilGuy had his arm around me the whole time. I have gotten used to MilGuy’s body scent and slight sweat that got on me. It was hot actually. He was giving me small massages on my back and shoulders as well. CB tells me that if it was OK, he will see his friends for a while. Having two guys on me already I tell him of course. I think this was his way of telling me I can play around for a while. He finished his drink and says a few words to GK before leaving.

 

When he leaves two other waitstaff sits in my table: the sexy chef and some other hot boy who was super drunk. Super drunk boy was talking to me in slurred words, and I gamely answer him. He tells me he has had a ton to drink tonight because it was his day off. He went to work just to get drunk. He was very touchy feely and I was loving the attention. There were now three boys on me. This is fun.

 

Super drunk boy then goes to the other table and starts humping an equally drunk Caucasian girl. I see him have some flirty fun with the drunk lady. MilGuy then left for a bit to go tend to new customers that came in. I then inquire about their calendar:

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/torsten-hojer/meet-the-khmer-muscle-boy_b_10939164.html

 

My primary goal in going to this bar was to buy this calendar, but the boys being flirty was an extra treat. They had a promotion for the calendar: it is $20 with free two drinks. So my $5 dollar drink make the calendar $10. I am OK with that. I ask sexy chef if he could get one for me. He obliges and comes back with a copy. Some shots of the calendar:

 

 

 

MilGuy comes back and continues putting his arm around me. He is very inviting. I have to make a decision. Should I order another drink? I do not want to drag this night on without CB. I wanted to get GK on my bed and unwrap what it looks like a very nice body. I tell MilGuy I am leaving but will come back in a bit. He hands Sexy Chef the check bin and Sexy Chef tells me my total: $24.50. The calendar, two free drinks and another drink. Seems fine to me. I give Sexy Chef $27 and tell him the rest is his. I give MilGuy $3 for being with me this whole time and he thanks me. I tell GK we are going back to the condo. I take my sexy calendar and go back to the condo.

 

At the condo GK hugs me and starts kissing me. He was shy with other people but in close quarters got down to business. I tell him we should shower together and he obliges. We both undress and I finally get to see what I have been waiting for. His lean muscular body was worth the wait. The sight of abs, a nice chest, narrow waist, and powerful legs got me hot. And a very big pubic bush. Probably never trims down there but it was working for me. We get in the shower and I start soaping him down. I stroke his now hard cock and peel back the foreskin to reveal a large mushroom head. Fucking hot. He finds my lips and starts deep kissing me. This kid knows how to kiss, and loves to do it. I turn him around and clean his ass and hole. I wanted to eat him out, and a lot.

 

After showering we towel down and go upstairs to the main bedroom. The sheets were already cum stained and will be stained some more. I lay down and he lays down with me and starts kissing me again. We deep kiss for a while, with me fingering his hole. I put my right pointer finger in his mouth to moisten it, and then I insert the finger in his hole deep. He gasps at first, and then moans with pleasure. After kissing I suck his big mushroom head and he likes it. And then my main event. I lift up his large thighs to expose his ass. I put my tongue in his hole and it was all warm and inviting. I take my time eating him out. It’s amazing. I jack him off while I eat him out.

 

I push his head on my cock and sucks me for a while. I then get the condoms and put one on and lube up. He lays on his back and lifts up his thighs. I put it in, and he cries out a bit from pain. He is not used to being fucked. I try to work in my head and he looked like he was in pain. I am patient and eventually I get the whole thing in. I thrust for a bit but I am distressed by his pained face. I slowly pull out and kiss him deeply. I take the condom out and start chuck-wowing. “Finish?” he asks. I nod, and I say lets come together. We lay down side-by-side, kissing each other deeply, my arms around his head to angle his face to mine, his cock pointing to my thigh. We deep kiss for a while and pretty soon he cums all over my thigh, and most of it runs down to the bed (more stains). I keep kissing him till I cum as well for the second time today on this bed. I try to muffle my screams because it is 12 midnight and I do not want to disturb the neighbors.

 

I am covered in cum (I always seem to find myself in this situation). I try to not spill more cum on the bed and head over to the bathroom. I tell GK to go with me to the bathroom. We shower again together, continuing to kiss in the bathroom. Towel down, dress up, and we were ready again for the night. I ask him if he was hungry but he said he wasn’t. I ask him if he can have one more drink with me. He says yes.

 

 

So we go back to Space Hair. The night is not over. Far from it.

 

To be continued...

[Wheelz]

What is this Grindr GPS hack?  I can't get mine to show anything except where I am right now!  Pls explain??

[Alexx]

Has been discussed recently, you need an app that can fake the GPS location (search "fake GPS") to trick Grindr into thinking you are somewhere else. Works great.

[firecat69]

Grindr is so far behind . Hornet and Jack'd you can search anywhere you want regardless of where you are.

[numazu]

Day 2.9: The Heart of Darkness

 

I send Cambodia Boy (CB) a Line saying I am done with Grindr Kid (GK), but we are going back to Space Hair for another drink because it was just 12 midnight. CB replies and tells me to just call him if I needed him. He was just with his friends. GK and I leave the condo to go back to Space Hair. Military Guy (MilGuy) was still there and greeted us warmly. I get another espresso martini (I am up for more!). GK gets another beer. MilGuy resumes cuddling with me at the bar. This bar is fun.

 

And then Javier, the owner, introduces himself. He thanks me for buying his calendar. I complement him on his amazing bar. We talk for a bit about our own personal stories: where we were from, what I did for a living, what he did before owning a Khmer gay bar, how awesome Khmers are, and of course, how hot his staff were. He tells me a little bit about each one and about his boyfriend. It was as fun talking to him as it was to talk to the boys.

 

We then talk about the Huffington Post article about his calendar and his bar, and how much business he got from people reading that article. He is very thankful for all the travellers who have come to his bar because of the article. He said the bar is luckily lucrative enough for him to continue on operating it. And even in the low season he always has customers. We are both in our 30s, and I tell him I thought that he has this all figured out. He lives in paradise surrounded by beautiful boys and gets to boss them around. I wish I did that too, but I guess I am choosing a different path in life, and I am not ready to leave home just yet. I am content with just visiting SE Asia once in a while.

 

Javier calls on some of the boys to come over to pose. He tells me their names but I forget, mesmerized by the abs and muscles. I do take a photo:

 

 

I am having too much fun, talking to Javier and flirting with MilGuy and the others boys. MilGuy leaves my side to go back into the bar to tend to business. I then notice GK by my side. I feel bad for ignoring him so I give him a squeeze. He gives me a little smile. I then turn my attention to him and ask him if he was OK. He said he was. I then fish out $40 in my wallet and hand it to him. I whisper to him, thanking him for his time, and he can leave and go about his night anytime he wants to. He smiles and thanks me and says he will stay for a while.  Javier then talks to him for a little bit.

 

At this point I Line CB and tell him I am at Space Hair and if he was free I’d love him to come back and meet us here. He replies and says he will be there soon. Meanwhile MilGuy comes back and continues to cuddle with me. His scent intensifies with more sweat he gets, and it is very hot to be engulfed in it. Super Drunk guy comes back and then takes off his shirt and starts grinding his chest on me. I did not mind that at all. Nice pecs and a six pack grinding on you can’t really be all that bad. But he was really really drunk, and he starts asking me questions but slurs every other word. I just play along and admire his bare muscular torso near me.

 

At 1 AM CB comes back with all this happening. He sits on my table and Sexy Chef and Super Drunk guy leave to make room for him. He asks for a drink (some juice thing) and get served by MilGuy. CB and GK talk a little bit in Khmer. It was at this point GK whispers in my ear and tells me he is leaving. I hug him goodbye and walk with him down to the curb. I tell him to take care of himself and thank him for the good time. He says his thanks and says goodbye and I see him hail a motorbike to get home.

 

I get back to my party and see CB and MilGuy talking in Khmer. I get back to my seat and MilGuy straddles me again. Javier comes back and talk to me for a while. It was 1:15 AM and the bar was winding down on this Monday night. There was one farang still there with a Khmer date, and they were being flirted on by a staff member. Javier then asks me if I have been to Heart of Darkness, the only gay Phnom Penh dance club. I tell him no but would love to go. He tells me too bad his boyfriend is off tonight but if I wanted to go he can get some of the boys to go with me and CB. I thought this was an excellent idea.

 

Its close to 2 AM and Javier motions to the staff to start closing up. He motions for two boys to prepare to go to the club. And then he tells MilGuy to come too. As the rest of the staff close up shop, he gets a tuktuk. Myself, CB, Javier, and MilGuy get into the tuktuk. Some of the others boys get on motorbikes. 5 minutes later we get off at the club.

 

One of the staff greets Javier and Javier motions to the staff in my direction. The staff also greets me and actually helps me off the tuktuk. The club was not packed but had a number of mostly Khmers in the premises. The staff gets us to our table and Javier whispers something to the staff and he goes back to the bar. After that a bottle of whiskey appears with some cokes and soda water. Our glasses get filled and we all toast to a good night ahead.

 

CB gets into it, taking a huge swig of his drink before taking my hand to the dance floor. MilGuy and two other boys join us to dance. This is fun. Five hot Khmer boys dancing with me in the club. The music was pretty universal pop dance music, and I am having a lot of fun dancing with the young(er) folk. Javier was just by the table smoking. I mention him to join us, and he whispers to me that he is actually sick, but still wanted to come here because it was my first time. I told him he didn’t have to do that. I hug him and go back to the boys to dance.

 

The place was actually pretty nice. It has high ceilings and the décor is pretty trendy. The drinks were great and most of the revelers were pretty cute. Some of them even joined our party and we all had a good time. 14 hours of being in Phnom Penh and I already felt that I could be at home here.

 

CB was having a blast. Dancing freely and drinking as well. I was having drinks as well and it enhanced the fun. MilGuy was dancing as well but not as touchy-feely as before in the pub. It didn’t really bother me as no one was touchy-feely with all the dancing. It was hot to see the boys dancing with abandon, and looking like having a good time. Once in a while I would talk to Javier to see if he was doing OK.

 

At 3:30 AM I decide that I had enough. There was some touring to do tomorrow. I ask CB if I need to tip the boys. He told me he doesn’t know, but up to me. Maybe it is good. So I give $3 to the three boys who danced with us, including MilGuy. So MilGuy has gotten $6 from me tonight. I get a hug from everyone. I go back to Javier and ask how much I own for the drinks. He tells me it is on him and to now worry about it. I hug him and CB hugs him as well. I tell Javier I will come back to his bar tomorrow.

 

We leave the club and CB looks for a good tuktuk. We get on the tuktuk and CB gives the driver directions in Khmer and then we all leave the club area. CB then tells me he told the driver to take the long way to tour the city at night. This was a treat.

 

I was not sure what roads we got on, but from the mapped geotagged photos:

 

 

we went from the Heart of Darkness to the Independence Monument, circling the casino Nagaworld and going back to the condo. Some photos from the Phnom Penh Nighttime Tour by Tuktuk:

 

 

 

 

Before we got to the condo we stopped by for some food. CB just chooses a roadside stall with food he grew up eating. He asks me what I liked and I tell him to just get anything he think would be good:

 

 

We also stop by the convenience store to get more food.  Back at the condo we partake of the feast. Some spicy fish and veggies with tofu and rice and everything tasted great and hit the spot. We ate all the fish before I was able to take photo of it, but whatever:

 

 

After eating I hug CB and thank him for the amazing day. He asks me if I had a good time today and I tell him I had the best time. Phnom Penh is a blast so far, but I think it wouldn’t be as fun as it has been without CB by my side.

 

Tomorrow, more Phnom Penh.

[witty]

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Are the boys in Cambodia getting smaller tips from you compared to their counterparts in Thailand?

Any reason for this perception?

[ct2005]

I am also interested in knowing the going rates for tipping the boys in PP.

I assume the currency is in USD and it seems comparable to Thailand.

From Numazu's post,

$3 dollar = 100 Baht (normal tip)

$40 dollar = 1400 Baht (Short time off fee similar to pattaya)

 

Is it that nobody gives tip in VND?

[Guest abang1961]

If a taxi ride from the airport to city centre of Ho Chi Minh is about VND 200.000 (slightly around USD 10)..go figure whether you want to give your guys in VND..how many zeros are there?

[Guest]

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Are the boys in Cambodia getting smaller tips from you compared to their counterparts in Thailand?

Any reason for this perception?

People have to consider adjusting tips according to the country they are in.

What you get in Thailand for 1-1500 baht cannot be had in Europe for that, so we pay a lot more. Likewise, regular pay in Cambodia is a lot less than in Thailand, so it should not be assumed the going rate is the same.

 

However my tips in Cambodia have been close to what I have paid in Thailand.

 

And thanks for the trip report. These reports have it all, good writing, night time city shots & boy pics.

[witty]

Be generous guys.

Make your new companion in Vietnam an instant millionaire.

[witty]

.

[ct2005]

I am also interested in knowing the going rates for tipping the boys in PP.

I assume the currency is in USD and it seems comparable to Thailand.

From Numazu's post,

$3 dollar = 100 Baht (normal tip)

$40 dollar = 1400 Baht (Short time off fee similar to pattaya)

 

Is it that nobody gives tip in VND?

Oops ... it should be KHR currency, not VND .

[numazu]

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Are the boys in Cambodia getting smaller tips from you compared to their counterparts in Thailand?

Any reason for this perception?

 

From ct2005 below, I tried to at least match what I usually pay in Thailand. A boy sitting with me in a gogo bar or beer bar will get at least 100 baht. And I usually pay 1500 baht for short time in Pattaya. CB has told me that tips are usually lower in Cambodia than in Thailand, that is why the Khmer boys go to Thailand, that and there are more customers.

 

$3 dollar = 100 Baht (normal tip)

$40 dollar = 1400 Baht (Short time off fee similar to pattaya)

 

Is it that nobody gives tip in VND?

 

 

Oops ... it should be KHR currency, not VND .

 

Cambodia is a dual currency economy so shops take both U.S. dollars or Cambodian Riels. ATMs also usually give out US dollars. And 1 dollar is easier to give out than a bunch of Riels. CB told me to take a lot of 1 and 5 dollar bills to pay for food, drinks and boys. Its difficult to take 100 one dollar bills than 1 100 dollar bill, but I managed to take 50 one dollar bills and a bunch of 5's, so I freely gave them as tips.

 

People have to consider adjusting tips according to the country they are in.

What you get in Thailand for 1-1500 baht cannot be had in Europe for that, so we pay a lot more. Likewise, regular pay in Cambodia is a lot less than in Thailand, so it should not be assumed the going rate is the same.

 

However my tips in Cambodia have been close to what I have paid in Thailand.

 

And thanks for the trip report. These reports have it all, good writing, night time city shots & boy pics.

 

 

Thanks z909 for the great compliments. I take a ton of photos when on travel so it is easy for me to share them here. I hope that other trip reports also have photos, but appreciate any reports that appear here because i think a lot of us are curious on how others experience the countries we go to.

 

I feel that there are less established tip amounts in Cambodia than in Thailand, where Bangkok and Pattaya tips generally fall into known ranges and widely known here in the forums. Like I said earlier, CB said that tips in Cambodia usually are less than in Bangkok and Pattaya, but like you, I tipped close to what I do in Thailand, at least in Pattaya.

 

Be generous guys.

Make your new companion in Vietnam an instant millionaire.

 

 

I want to go to Vietnam next, as well as Laos. Myanmar is already scheduled for December. I think I need to find a Viet or Lao boy to fall in love with and they can be a personal tour guide like CB was for me for Cambodia, and what BurBoy will be for Myanmar in December.

[Guest RickSJ]

I have been addicted to your storytelling since your last trip report in July. I have one question though - and I not questioning about your ability to perform - but sometimes you regaled us about engaging with 2-3 partners a day, how do you find the stamina and libido to keep up with those young friends? Do you use the pill? I'm about your age and admittedly my libido level isn't the same as when I was in 20s anymore.

[emailbroken]

Be generous guys.

Make your new companion in Vietnam an instant millionaire.

I think this is a very good approach.  I like that without breaking your own bank you can make someone a little better off.

[Guest]

Grindr is so far behind . Hornet and Jack'd you can search anywhere you want regardless of where you are.

 

Correct. 

However, as an analogy, my local pub has more features & functionality than the typical gogo bar.  It just lacks the available boys.

 

It can be the same with the apps.......   In some parts of the world Grindr is very popular and has a much higher density of users than some of the others.  So I'm forced to use it, simply because of the "network effect". 

I don't bother with it in Pattaya though.

[vinapu]

Space Hair boys from your picture are amazing    , particularly one in the white shorts

[ggobkk]

Space Hair boys from your picture are amazing    , particularly one in the white shorts

 

Space Hair boys amazing and as  Vinapu often reminds us, some may prefer the white shorts, some (me) may prefer the red shorts.  For the record (mine) red and white have the best smiles.

[numazu]

Day 3.0: Baguettes with a side of genocide

 

We go to bed probably around 5 AM. Cambodia Boy (CB) and I talk some more, and he had to go through his beauty regimen as well, which took some time. We cuddled and went to bed. Fast forward to 2 PM the next day. I forget to set the alarm. I wake up in a jolt and slightly panicked about the time. I go to the bathroom to pee and shower. I get out and CB was awake on the phone speaking in Khmer. When he finishes his phone conversation I ask who he was talking to. He said he called the tuktuk driver from yesterday to tell him to pick us up to go to the Killing Fields in Choeung Ek. He tells me he is showering but says that we don’t have a lot of time because the Choeung Ek site closes at 5 PM.

 

We are both leaving for Siem Reap tomorrow so understandably if I wanted to see the Killing Fields, which is a must for me if I ever find myself in Phnom Penh, I needed to do it today. Kudos to CB for being mindful of the time. It’s a fairly morbid thing to do on one’s holiday, visit the sites were million of people were tortured, killed and buried, but when I asked CB at the beginning what we can do in Phnom Penh, the first things he said was go to the Killing Fields. He is acutely aware of the draw of this site, its impact it has on his people, and the importance of the message it sends to everyone who dares to visit.

 

CB finishes showering and gets dressed. He gets a phone call and it was the tuktuk driver, telling us he is here. He takes both our sunglasses with him and we leave the condo and get on the tuktuk. CB barks a few directions to the driver and we are on our way. CB, having known for quite a while now, knows that breakfast is important to me. So the tuktuk driver drives for a few meters before stopping at a bakery:

 

CB tells me to sit tight while he gets us a little bit to eat on the way to the Killing fields site. He rushes to the counter (CB not pictured):

 

He comes back with a plastic bag. Inside were some water bottles, a couple of meat sandwiches, and my first brush of Cambodia’s Frenchness: a freshly baked baguette:

 

I held the baguette in my hands, it felt so warm and inviting. I quickly partake in it and give some to CB. The driver continues on his drive and we begin stuffing our faces with pretty awesome Khmer treats. Eating it in a tuktuk in motion and sharing it with a handsome Khmer boy just added to the experience. This Phnom Penh experience is pretty good so far.

 

After ravenously finishing our breakfast, CB hands me my sunglasses and puts on his own. He tells me even if it has rained there probably will be dust along the route so it’s a good idea to protect our eyes. This boy thinks of everything. We continue on the long slog to Choeung Ek.

 

On the way, CB tells me a little bit about the few times he has come to the site. He tells me whenever he comes he feels very sad. “Cambodia killing Cambodia so bad,” he tells me. “My country hurt by bad guy.” I share with him the little bit of information I know about this recent dark time for Cambodia. I tell him about other genocides across the world, and assure him that, while horrible, this was not solely a Cambodian phenomenon. Humans have been killing other humans since the dawn of humanity. Pretty heavy stuff for a sex tourist holiday, but it was appropriate conversation for the place we were about to visit.

 

It was a long tuktuk ride, but I really didn’t mind seeing Phnom Penh and its outskirts this way. The small highway was a little but dusty but the ride was comfortable. Small houses littered the countryside. Most of the area is still fairly undeveloped and rural. But to me it was part of its charm. Maybe PP shouldn’t grow into the metropolis it aspires to be. Maybe staying small and humble is the way to go. If this was Bangkok we would be ensnared in one of its famous traffic gridlocks by now. Instead we are cruising along quite nicely in a tuktuk.

 

After 40 or so minutes we get to Choeung Ek, one of the sites of a memorial for the people who suffered under the Khmer Rouge. I was expecting a huge crowd but instead I felt I was the only one there. CB directs me to the cashier were you get a ticket and the audio tour. I pay $6 and get asked what language I preferred. CB answers for me and gets handed the headphones and audio player.

 

The whole site is basically a walking tour. There are stops that you can go to that correspond to the audio. With every stop there is a landmark or exhibit that you can stop to read, as well as listen to the corresponding audio. The walk is not very strenuous and everyone can make the whole loop. I don’t remember how many stops it has, but the narration is compelling and the story it tries to tell is important. It’s a monumental task to be able to humanize such unspeakable horror, but they did a good job telling stories of the victims, survivors, and even the villains of the piece.

 

Here is a sample of an audio tour stop (which is s Truck Stop):

 

And here is CB intently reading the English side of every exhibit. The opposite side has the Khmer translation. While reading the english side, he asks me to mouth out certain words he can’t quite read:

 

One of many disturbingly banal signs scattered around the site:

 

As well as one of many gravesites in the area, with tributes from visitors:

 

I lucked out because of the recent rains because it made it a little bit cooler to walk around the site. It was very peaceful that afternoon. CB was always behind me, on hand if I had any questions. We get to the little lake that you walk around and it was a place for some contemplation and solace, and to listen to the various stories of the people affected by the mass murder that occurred here, in the audio tour. Strolling by the tall trees that were all over the walking trail makes you almost forget that this is where people, even babies, were tortured. It is incredibly moving to just spend time here, and as gruesome and morbid it is for bones to be littered around the are, or the skulls and bones to be displayed in various corners of the site, it is no match for what my mind had imagined the horrors to be.

 

How appropriate that we end our tour with a magnificent view of the sun setting and peaking behind the Buddhist memorial stupa. We end the tour with hope, and thank our lucky stars that we are still alive:

 

I return the headphones and player to the guards there. CB leads me to a little café in the site and asks me if I was hungry. I said sure so CB gets me an ice cream cone. We spot the driver and get back on the tuktuk. We were mostly silent on the way back, lost in our own thoughts and contemplation.

 

Pretty soon we get a jolt of civilization again, as we get back to the busy-ness of the Phnom Penh city center:

 

Traffic in Phnom Penh is a chaotic scene, but it shows me how alive and resilient PP's people are, even with so much death and destruction they had to endure.

 

It’s 5:30 PM when we get back to the condo. I send some photos of the Killing Fields tour to my BF and describe how it was in the site. I then join a relaxing CB and we cuddle by the day bed. I hold him tight, he responds in kind.

 

To be continued...

[anddy]

As always,  great and enthralling report, even with less sex and even some very serious topic.

 

Day 3.0: Baguettes with a side of genocide

... go to the Killing Fields. He is acutely aware of the draw of this site, its impact it has on his people, and the importance of the message it sends to everyone who dares to visit.

 

I have to admit when I was in PP many years ago I couldn't muster the courage to visit the Killing Fields - but that was only after visiting the possibly even more gruesome Toul Sleng Prison in PP itself. It is where many (most?) people where first held and tortured before eventually being sent off to the killings fields (if they hadn't died in the prison itself. The prison had pictures of victims as well as, well perpetrators, and some of the instruments used for torture, showed the ways people were held in the cells. etc etc. It didn't have an audio guide then (maybe it does now), but it made for an extremely chilling experience, and the imagination of the unspeakable agony suffered by the victims there for no reason whatsoever left me so emotionally drained that I was unable to take the next step to visit the Killing Fields. Though not having visited the latter, based on numazu's report and the admittedly few pictures I have a feeling that the Toul Sleng Prison is actually a more intense and depressing experience than the more famous Killing Fields. I would recommend that to anyone interested in this important part of Cambodian history. 

 

As for the villains, as numazu puts it, they too, may have gone through their own agonies.  The whole Khmer Rouge era has not been discussed in Cambodia for a very long time, and to the outsider it may seem odd that they don't want to come to grips with their ugly past. But after seeing an excellent Cambodian film dealing with the subject I can understand why. The story, or rather peoples' roles in it, are way more complex than just putting people in the two convenient boxes of the "good guys (the victims) and the "bad guys" (those who did  the torturing and killing). The film I saw was named "The Last Reel" and screened at the Luang Prabang international film festival in December 2015. Unfortunately, I have no idea where one could get a chance to see that film now. A quick youtube search didn't turn anything up other than the trailer, but maybe it is hidden somewhere....

 

For anyone interested, I can highly recommend that annual film festival for SE-Asian films in Luang Prabang. For info see www.lpfilmfest.org.Of course, not only such serious stuff there at the festival, much fun can be had as well!

 

Apologies for the lengthy off-topic but the intense memories were brought back by numazu's story and I felt compelled to add to it. 

 

Now back to the fun, and big thanks to numazu to again taking the time to write another outstanding report.

 

P.S.

Space Hair calendar and boys are outstanding, too!

[Guest whall]

Oh. I'll have to see if I can find that movie. I want to do a lot of research before I go.

[chancellor]

Read the book "First They Killed My Father" if you want to know what it was like to be there.

[numazu]

I have been addicted to your storytelling since your last trip report in July. I have one question though - and I not questioning about your ability to perform - but sometimes you regaled us about engaging with 2-3 partners a day, how do you find the stamina and libido to keep up with those young friends? Do you use the pill? I'm about your age and admittedly my libido level isn't the same as when I was in 20s anymore.

 

Good question! I've always had a healthy libido which accounts for me and my BF's difference in sexual needs. 3 partners a day is fairly rare but it happens and normally anal only happens once, but I can easily cum 3 times a day. I don't use the pill because those boys are hot enough to stimulate anyone without aid lol. Seriously tho, I think sleep is better than the pill (at least for me) to regenerate my sexual drive and enables me to have multiple partners a day. When in Thailand, I love me a disco nap, which allows me to have the energy to be on the prowl at night and get my freak on.

 

With that said, BurBoy who is only 22, exceeds me in sex drive. I can hardly keep up and it seems like he is always hard. Which is not a bad thing per se.

 

It can be the same with the apps.......   In some parts of the world Grindr is very popular and has a much higher density of users than some of the others.  So I'm forced to use it, simply because of the "network effect". 

I don't bother with it in Pattaya though.

 

 

Here at home Grindr is enough to be able to meet guys on a regular basis, and I don't have a reason to check any other app. I've had good luck on PlanetRomeo, but usually Grindr has been good enough.

 

 

Space Hair boys from your picture are amazing    , particularly one in the white shorts

 

 

Space Hair boys amazing and as  Vinapu often reminds us, some may prefer the white shorts, some (me) may prefer the red shorts.  For the record (mine) red and white have the best smiles.

 

 

Space Hair calendar and boys are outstanding, too!

 

Yes, these boys are awesome, and a lot more approachable I feel, than the same quality boys in Thailand. The one in the white is a sweetheart, and those pecs and abs are rock hard, as I have felt them up a few times .

 

Though not having visited the latter, based on numazu's report and the admittedly few pictures I have a feeling that the Toul Sleng Prison is actually a more intense and depressing experience than the more famous Killing Fields. I would recommend that to anyone interested in this important part of Cambodian history. 

 

 

Thanks for sharing anddy. I did not have time to check out Toul Sleng prison as I ran out of time. Looks like I missed more of the story but I am glad that you made me aware of it. Definitely something to check out on a future PP trip. 

 

Thanks for all the great complements so far guys. Positive feedback fuels my desire to write more. I can't believe I was able to stretch one day in five posts. But I did do a lot this trip. I'm glad you guys are patient with me .