What makes Thailand so special for you?

[Guest snapshot]

The reasons Thailand is special to me have evolved over time... 

 

Since being gay is such a moot point there, Thailand is where I first truly felt completely at home with my sexuality and I have since carried that normality to all other parts of my life and other countries I spend time in when wise. 

 

I found Thai guys totally charming, friendly and so approachable, not to mention pretty good looking. For some reason, I am really popular with Thai guys. So I had a lot of fun there and with a lot of Thais I met in my home city  and occasionally in other cities too.

 

Since then, I've been with guys from lots of countries in Asia and South America. But there comes a time when you want to settle down with the one guy who is special and able to be your life partner. And while I could've ended up with someone from any country, I ended up with a Thai who is sorted, well educated and from a wonderful, loving family. 

 

So now, Thailand is special to me most of all because that's where my second family is. It's still a lot of fun. I still love that as a same-sex couple, we don't get a second glance anywhere we go. I don't think I'll ever feel entirely at home there because it is a bit messed up in some ways, and even my partner feels more at home in Australia now, but it'll be a 3rd or 4th home for us and it's where his family are established. 

[Guest timmberty]

the expression, those who have it dont feel the need to show it off ..

and those who dont have it make the most noise, seem to fit certain people like a glove ..

unless you walk down the road holding hands kissing each other why would you get a second look ... you are the same age are you not ... people would think you are mates .. or do you have a t-shirt that says *this is my thai boyfriend hes quite educated and unlike many thais, not a jungle boy*

2 family 3 or 4 homes low end 5 star hotels to high end 5 star hotels ..

you will be needing to use your other hand soon!!

[Guest Jovianmoon]

Wow, I wish I was so amazingly rich, young, popular, and stunningly handsome just like Beachlover snapshot.

 

Now then, back to reality (and the topic).

 

You know I've never quite been able to pin down why I keep going back to Thailand. There are lots of little things. The food, for one. xiandarkthorne mentioned great Thai food, and I totally agree, but I would also add great and very reasonably priced Japanese food (particularly sashimi and sushi). 

 

I have to also admit that Thailand is an affordable holiday, but that can't be the most important reason. Since April 2011, every time I think about an overseas trip I think about going somewhere else for a change and every time I end up back at the Thai Airways website booking tickets to Bangkok.

 

I do have a good time and always meet interesting people, that's the most important thing I suppose. 

 

There. I've just answered my own question 

 

Cheers.

[Guest timmberty]

the reason i like thailand is simple ... i can be myself ..

unlike many people if i see an old guy with a young guy or girl i dont give a damn .. some people almost throw up ... beyond me as to why ... these are the same people who would be jealous of a film star going out with someone 40 or 50 years younger than them,,

[TotallyOz]

So now, Thailand is special to me most of all because that's where my second family is. It's still a lot of fun. I still love that as a same-sex couple, we don't get a second glance anywhere we go. I don't think I'll ever feel entirely at home there because it is a bit messed up in some ways, and even my partner feels more at home in Australia now, but it'll be a 3rd or 4th home for us and it's where his family are established. 

 

I think you summed up my feelings as well.  It is where my second family is.  I didn't really think of it that way until you said that.  Thanks. 

[TotallyOz]

the expression, those who have it dont feel the need to show it off ..

and those who dont have it make the most noise, seem to fit certain people like a glove ..

unless you walk down the road holding hands kissing each other why would you get a second look ... you are the same age are you not ... people would think you are mates .. or do you have a t-shirt that says *this is my thai boyfriend hes quite educated and unlike many thais, not a jungle boy*

2 family 3 or 4 homes low end 5 star hotels to high end 5 star hotels ..

you will be needing to use your other hand soon!!

 

I don't really get this.  It is very common for many people to have lived in many homes.  I didn't read this as the poster owned 3 or 4 homes.  I read it as he has lived in that many.  Perhaps I am wrong but then again, perhaps you are wrong?

 

People get so testy when someone talks about the nice things in life they have or the nice hotels they have been able to stay in.  I remember when I first came on these boards that many were very offended at some of the ways I spent my money.  So much so, I stopped making many posts about things I do in my life as to not get someone upset.  Yes, I know insane right?

 

I am often jealous of FH's ability to see the world like I have not been able to see.  I say jealous but it is not something I begrudge him. I am happy for him.  I just wish I had his stamina and travel schedule.

 

We all bring such different experiences to the table and have a great place to share it. When someone makes a post like the one above, I have to roll my eyes and just wonder why. 

 

Peace, love and power to the people!

[Guest timmberty]

when i read posts like that .. i think back to other things that poster has mentioned .. and i do tend to have a good memory .. the trouble with people who dont always tell the truth is trying to remember the lies ..

i am far from jealous of anyone on these boards .. and i agree with you different views of life are wonderful .. i could spend time in these wonderful hotels you talk about , but that isnt my style .. not because i couldnt afford it (well not for the odd night) but i wouldnt enjoy the company of such people who stay there .. they are just not my kinda people ..

im glad you enjoy such places .. more power to you .. but when people feel the need to lie about such things i go onto gaybutton and add it to his .. i dont get it list.

may i just add i dont know who owns this board .. but it does seem to have the best reputation out of them all .. which is great .. until you consider the owner probably gains an extra star to his hotel stays,where ever he is in the world thru the boys in the adverts at the top .. selling their bodies for cam sex .. maybe a reputation not 100% deserved ?? i have no idea .. what do you think ?

[Guest thaiworthy]

OK, since you brought it up, I'll respond.

"I don't really get this. It is very common for many people to have lived in many homes. I didn't read this as the poster owned 3 or 4 homes. I read it as he has lived in that many. Perhaps I am wrong but then again, perhaps you are wrong?"

I get this just fine. I read it the same way timmberty did. 3rd or 4th home means the first two are still existing. Consider the history of the real poster and the following statement made in another thread:

"I've never had anything stolen from my room safe or room either... and last year I spent a bit over 200 nights in hotels and serviced apartments and usually carrying several thousand dollars, laptop, hard drives, multiple phones and other valuables."

At the risk of offending you, I can't agree with you. I can't believe you are comparing yourself to him. Even you don't travel over 200 nights a year and don't carry several thousand dollars on your person. There are credit cards for that. Who is he trying to impress? Certainly not me!

Yes, we do have different experiences to bring to the table. I quite agree. And if the experiences were real, I would have no complaint. No one is begrudging anyone anything, except braggadocio because it is insulting to our intelligence when we know better. That is a bold slap in the face to me. And to compare Fountainhall with Beachlover is an insult. I don't think you are really jealous of Fountainhall, you admire him. Beachlover is trying to arouse jealousy, not admiration, which is a big difference. When did you ever see Fountainhall make a statement like the one above?

I applaud you for championing the underdog, but in my opinion this person is not the individual who is entitled to it. It really isn't even necessary. He happily engages his own battles. Fast on the heels of HeyGay's departure, his strategy is not untimely. What is the purpose behind posting incidental comments on all these old threads if not to petition your sympathetic ear?  Pretty amazing strategy, but why now I wonder?

When you make a post like the one above, I too have to roll my eyes and wonder.

Have a nice day, wherever you are. Peace, love and respect to the other people on this board.

[TotallyOz]

Even you don't travel over 200 nights a year

LOL You don't know me very well. I would say that my first year in Thailand that I spent well over 200 nights at the Intercontinental Hotel in Bangkok but then many would consider me a braggart. So, I'll just say that I do know people that spend this many nights in hotels. I know many that do.

And to compare Fountainhall with Beachlover is an insult.

I didn't compare anyone. You did. Shame on you!

When you make a post like the one above, I too have to roll my eyes and wonder why.

I understand that. All I ask is that when someone else posts something nasty and unkind about anyone that you at least understand why I roll my eyes. I find those things as simply unnecessary.

 

 

 

We all live such different lives and we can all learn from each other. I guess I just have a much higher desire to learn from everyone than most people do.

[Guest thaiworthy]

"I didn't compare anyone. Shame on you!"

 

Not anyone? You just now indicated that you travel just as much as BL. So it seems you accept the comparison you made to yourself, but not the one you made to Fountainhall. Could it be you are rejecting the FH comparison because it doesn't support your argument?

 

 

"I guess I just have a much higher desire to learn from everyone than most people do."

 

Yes, you do. But I admire you for that, not jealous of you for it. I hope that never changes.

[Guest fountainhall]

I don't really get this.  It is very common for many people to have lived in many homes.  I didn't read this as the poster owned 3 or 4 homes.  I read it as he has lived in that many.

 

Like the other two posters, I read it quite differently. I don't see that it can apply to the 3rd or 4th home in which the poster has lived, since he specifically states "for us". And since the poster admits that he won't ever feel entirely at home here and his partner feels more at home in Australia, Michael's interpretation is - with respect - even less tenuous.

 

Since the issue of my travel has been brought into this thread, it seems to be common knowledge that I travel a lot and have travelled a lot. That’s very largely due to nature of the business I am in and the companies I have worked for. Without finding myself unexpectedly based in Asia more than 3 decades ago, much of that would never have happened. So I have been lucky.

 

Spending 200 nights on the road in one year, though, is hard and I think I have only done that twice. 100 - 150 more regularly, and averaging out somewhere around 90. But that experience certainly made me think about the remark on the other thread “What makes Thailand so special for you?” brought up by thaiworthy and referred to by Michael.

 

 ‘Snapshot’, on 06 January 2013 - 07:42 PM, said:.

. . last year I spent a bit over 200 nights in hotels and serviced apartments and usually carrying several thousand dollars . . .

 

Personally, I think the safe is mainly for stuff you access frequently like a small stockpile of cash, passport, laptop, wallet, watch etc. The rest goes into my locked suitcase. 

 

I would never dream of carrying several thousand dollars in cash, even on a long trip with several stops in different countries. Years ago, I would carry cards and travellers cheques. With cards offering direct access to one’s accounts and then computerised banking, more recently access to cash overseas has become so much easier.

 

When I do have some cash with me, it will be split between the hotel safe and a little stashed where I reckon any thief would be hard-pressed to find it without trashing the room. A larger amount that is not needed for a few days goes into the hotel’s own safety deposit boxes.

 

Assuming therefore he does not walk about with several thousand dollars on his person, putting that amount of cash into a locked suitcase would seem less secure than a hotel room safe to me. Even the hardshell cases I normally travel with offer only minimal security to say nothing of being extremely portable. But to each his own.

 

As for MIchael being "jealous" of me, he did add "his ability to see the world like I have not been able to see." I am grateful to thaiworthy for being in my corner, as it were. But I am sure Michael did not intend this to read resentful or bitter. He is, I suggest, perhaps using "jealous" to mean envious that I travel to some more interesting and different parts of the world than are on his own travel itinerary - alluding to some of the travel  blog-type posts I have made here over the years.

 

The discussions are now becoming heated! A sign of things to come, perhaps?

[Bob]

The discussions are now becoming heated! A sign of things to come, perhaps?

Hopefully not.  But I'd note that our two regulars are perhaps not recognizing that others are dredging up old posts (several yesterday that were 3-10 months old) and making repeatedly irrelevant comments (why this thread has anything to do with disliking other posters that "lie" is beyond me) that are stirring the pot. Just be aware. 

[Pat]

Thailand is Ok .I like to visit but there are better places for me,Brazil for one  and Prague is great.

[Guest fountainhall]

Just be aware. 

 

Indeed! A timely reminder - to all! 

[Guest fountainhall]

Thailand is Ok .I like to visit but there are better places for me,Brazil for one  and Prague is great.

 

I agree about Prague, but my experience of Brazil is limited to a few days in Rio and Manaus. I loved Rio and wished I could have spent more time seeing other parts of the country. Can I ask what makes it special for you - apart from the guys?

[Guest thaiworthy]

I would like to visit Prague and Brazil. And perhaps the Phillippines as well, maybe Manila and Cebu.

[KhorTose]

I would love to go back to Australia and take the train across the country, spending a week in Sydney and Perth on top of the train trip. 

[KhorTose]

I understand that. All I ask is that when someone else posts something nasty and unkind about anyone that you at least understand why I roll my eyes. I find those things as simply unnecessary.

 

 

 

We have all received this message from you repeatedly, but as for me, I choose not to agree with you in this particular instance.

[firecat69]

It does seem that Snapshot is just dredging up old posts so he can spout off with out starting his own. Frankly I just ignore all his posts since I am suspicious of why he is here and so no reason to read old topics that have been discussed fully.  That is what the search feature is for.

 

For those of you that are suspicious of Michael spending 200 nights in a Hotel during the year, You are barking up the wrong tree.  It is not that hard to spend that and more in Hotels when you don't have a Home.

 

Unless Michael is in Thailand long term, he does not have a home therefore Hotels and serviced apartments are his home.

 

Plus I know many businessman who spend 200 nights on the road . Not that hard to imagine.

[Guest abang]

This comes from a Singaporean who needs only 2 short hours of flying to Thailand.

When I was much younger, an overseas vacation usually means Malaysia, my neighbour.

 

As I grew older and wiser, I ventured beyond Malaysia and that's how I discover Thailand.

Baby steps, I discover Hatyai and Phuket, southern Thailand.

Unlike Malaysia where I can communicate in English, Chinese or Malay, the Thai language is really FOREIGN.

That's the first lure towards Thailand.

 

Once I entered the kingdom, I am transformed to a land where I am no better than any other foreigners.

The Thai writings became incomprehensible - that's charming.

 

The food (pungent ones) were frightening but the smiles on stall keepers werent.

The Thais I met some twenty years ago are the same I encounter now.

 

Thailand is always the refuge, the place I go whenever I need to recharge.

(sorry, Hong Kong is losing its shine on me..)

[Rogie]

When I was much younger, an overseas vacation usually means Malaysia, my neighbour.

 

How about Sumatra Abang? That's very close, another neighbour surely.

[Guest timmberty]

i dont think anyone one here has a problem with michael spending 200+ nights out in hotels

id much rather be at home to tell you the truth ..

what people do have problems with is posters posting total rubbish...

something our dear friend beachy has been doing for a long long time ..

i guess it would be far better to ignor him as the members of sgt now do ..

that seems to keep him away from there.

[Guest abang]

I have a little 'open' secret...

I go to Thailand to look for Gay White Men.

Yes, I am giving competition to the Thai boys.

 

Just a curious point of observation/personal experience:

I stayed at the infamous Hotel Malaysia back in the late 90s and early 2000s.

I was such a BIG tease that the farangs gave me a second look.

I would be wearing the skimpiest swimwear tolerable - naked if I could!

 

 

This incident was memorable because of the Thai's attitude and probably, aptitude.

I was having breakfast when the farang at the next table gave me a wave.

He showed the 'Welcome to my table' sign and I bravely walked over.

 

After the usual pleasantries, we engaged in a good conversation in English and neglected their poor escort/lover. The young chap was unable to understand a single word but his facial expression spoke volume.

 

The drama unfolded as he told us to walk out of the restaurant to continue our conversation as he needs a quiet place to eat! That was a sign of insecurity! I wasnt (and never intended) stealing the man from him but since we were enjoying our conversation over breakfast, the farang was quite taken aback. He told the boy to leave the restaurant immediately as he was embarrassed.

 

No, nothing happened to us although we bumped into each other at the breakfast table almost daily during the remaining days of our stay there.

 

So, Thailand is amazing!

[KhorTose]

I have a little 'open' secret...

I go to Thailand to look for Gay White Men.

Yes, I am giving competition to the Thai boys.

Having read your post, I find that in the charming department you would definitely be serious competition for any Thai boys.  Do keep posting, I like your style.

[Guest Jovianmoon]

I would love to go back to Australia and take the train across the country, spending a week in Sydney and Perth on top of the train trip. 

 

I really think you only need a few days at most for Perth, but then I live here and am a bit cynical.

 

Perth has very hot weather in summer (sometimes intolerable, like today it was 40 celsius) and the coast has really nice long white sandy beaches, if you don't mind rip currents and somewhat unfriendly sharks