My First Time In Thailand
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Love Happens! This is the third in my series of stories about first time experiences in the Land of Smiles. If you have a story to tell about your first time in Thailand, please email editor@spicemag.net. I would love to interview you. For this installment, I interview “Sam,” a retired expat living in Pattaya.
After some investigation, Sam decided to check out the Land of Smiles. He closed his bar, obtained a three-month visa, and flew to Bangkok where he stayed at a gay guesthouse, the Aquarius. There, he ran into an Australian tourist who was attending school to become certified to teach English to Thai students. Sam decided to check this out, enrolled in the class, and moved to an apartment complex near the school with his friend. Part of the program involved volunteering to teach conversational English to Thai students several evenings. Two of the young men Sam worked with, Nit and Aek, were studying to become hair stylists and wanted to improve their English skills so they could communicate with their farang customers. They were, obviously, gay, but Sam kept communications on a professional level. On the King’s Birthday, Sam’s friend talked him into going to the Babylon Sauna that was having a big party. At first Sam was reluctant to go, as his image of the customers in gay saunas was a bunch of old, fat people. Imagine his shock and delight seeing all the beautiful, practically naked, Thai, young men who were at the Babylon. At that time, to enter the disco area, one had to shed his towel and wear a skimpy, sheer cloth around the waist. Most of the young guys were not at all shy and were happy to display their wares. Can you picture Nit’s and Aek’s surprise when they spotted their teacher standing in an alcove? At first they ran into a bathroom to hide, but then came out to talk with Sam. It hadn’t even occurred to them that he was gay.
Finally, it was time for Sam to return home. Following a tearful farewell, Sam promised to return as soon as possible. After tying up loose ends in the USA, such as selling his house, Sam, true to his word, came back to Bangkok and reconnected with Nit. By now, it was a foregone conclusion that they would be together.
The older man and his youthful partner toured all over Thailand to choose the ideal spot for Sam to retire and for them to build a life together. After investigating various locations like Chiang Mai and Phuket, they settled on Pattaya. Sam was attracted by the large farang population—people with whom to socialize; Nit had several Thai, volleyball friends. They went house hunting thinking a small home with a couple of bedrooms and a garden would be ideal. Instead, they bought a ten-room, double-townhouse, and opened a small, gay guesthouse!
While lots of changes have taken place in the intervening years, Sam is still in Pattaya, and Nit is still with him, managing the business. Love happens!