newalaan2
June 19th, 2014, 10:28
Just on a visit to Bfs home in Issan, 80km outside Khon Kaen. Just a few observations, bits'n'pieces..
One gay lad in the village has asked us to take him with us when we head to Pattaya for a weeks fun, as he wants to try working the bars. He will of course be a waiter in a restaurant or hotel receptionist, the exact story for the folks back home has yet to be formalised. There seems to be a few different perspectives about what can be done to address the lack of money at the moment. This lad reckons there are more prospects in Pattaya.
Yet another village lad, one of the first to make Pattaya a full time career 4 years ago has decided to stay in Issan after his trip home at April New Year. He has done the hedonistic lifestyle with bar work, recreational drugs, thai giks and all the ups-and-downs that is Pattaya, and has been informed by friends/bar workers that pickings in Pattaya are slim at the moment, so his efforts are better served on the family farm. He will wait for an upturn in Pattaya fortunes.
This is Red Shirt heartland, but the feeling is that the military are at least settling things, and a calming influence on the country with daily news stories of mafia's being dismantled, fair pricing being introduced etc.. and the locals are swallowing it all up. A chat yesterday with a few of the family threw up the fact that while many are Red Shirt supporters some very ardent, they are distancing themselves from the 'Taksin' element, viewing him and his family as a hindrance and embarrassment now, because the opposition use him as the examples of Red Shirt negativity, it is I was told a misconception that they all "love" Taksin. But there is still a definite 'them and us' 'have and not have' Red and Yellow.....how long the military can 'keep the peace' is anyone's guess.
Loan sharking and gold shops still seem the rising Issan (and elsewhere?) 'industries', bf tells me there is a huge demand for borrowing short term cash. The UK has the term "pay day" loan for this, where you borrow between weekly wage packets for a few days or a week. One week seems to be the norm in Issan and anyone known to have money will be approached by a borrower who will ask for Bt1000 and OFFER bt100 for a week's loan. That's 10% per week interest. That is the accepted level for borrowers and obviously makes the lenders delighted. The slow flow of money from tourist areas down the line to Issan IS having some effect.
Local business owners (shops/tradres)who previously left loaning the 'professionals' are now in the market due to demand. Most small shops have a 'side trade' as does anyone with a known regular cash surplus. No 'enforcing' necessary, these are long time residents with regular income who are seeking out short term loans and so money is repaid on the dot, and strangely is (even with that massive interest rate) appreciated by the borrowers. Virtually all of this is on the quiet, no mafiosa going round on the high-powered motocys with covered faces and leather pouches, borrowers turn up with the interest and it is quietly put into the cash drawer in the shop as if he was buying a pack of ciggs.
Another 'new industry' is local coffee shops. When I first started coming to bfs village about 7 years ago the nearest town had one Caf├й serving lattes etc, there are now about 20, all small establishments dotted around the back streets, usually just single units converted with 4-6 tables, and menu of hot and iced coffees with various western style cakes and muffins. Largest clientele are older school students and college age students, who like/need meeting places but don't need/want alcohol, it's like the UK/USA 60's coffee houses and folk clubs all over again, but many normal folks who want a bit of HiSo in their Issan town are also enjoying an mid-morning/afternoon coffee and cake.
There are gay lads all over the place in Issan. Yesterday we made a trip to Khon Kaen city. Just outside bfs town we stopped for diesel, there were about 10 lads sitting around the 7-11 and food outlets at the 'pump' "katoey!!" (single/plural term used for obviously gay lads) declared bf.....and yes def all gay, with lovely (knowing) smiles from them as they note bf and I 'together' buying up fruit snacks, a couple even managing some English interaction. Off they went in a Song Taew with booming music dressed up in shorts and football tops as well as pink sparkly lycra tops and the occasional "smile if you've fucked today' tee shirt, along with dodgy looking hair-doos for their volleyball game somewhere.
Headed to 'Pratunam' in KK, the local market for local people, jeans Bt200 up, teeshirts Bt100 up, decent quality and different designs, many gay lads in pairs and groups walking around, and many working in the shops/units also. The gay lads are so obvious you don't even think about it as you stroll around. Many give an extra big smile and if browsing in the same shop/vicinity they think nothing of initiating chat. Simple stuff like "which jeans you like?" mostly in Thai but often they will try English. For those in decent shape and bored with the Pattaya routine and not desperate for hook ups (i.e. not too disappointed if none materialise) you can still enjoy a lot of flirting and fun just by taking a day trip to central Khon Kaen during a visit to the North East.
Many gay lads also in Tesco Lotus and Big C too just like Pattaya, some will even 'show' (exaggerated movements and looks) to get a response. The CD/DVD outlets are great places to meet and chat with gay lads, just pick up a cd and ask a guy you have presumed to be gay if it is good or not, tell him you like X or Y, and they will chat away. Some basic Thai essential, but too much and you will regarded with suspicion.
Have upgraded my local Resort room from standard (Bt350 night) to VIP room (Bt500 per night) as it has WiFi included, is nicer with better bathroom fittings and French doors leading out to an area at the back with shrubbery table/chairs and great view across the country plains. I flirt between here (esp when we want a bit of peace)and bfs home which now has aircon installed in his room. Ice, water, fresh towels and duvet/cover provided daily with huge smiles.The attached Resort karaoke and eating huts serve superb thai food, everything is absolutely delicious and cheap. I now have only thai food for breakfast something I don't have when in Pattaya/Bkk.
Wake up with morning sun streaming in the gaps in the window and French door curtains, chirping birds and distant motorcycle engines, bf snoring in the background and aircon at only at 26c. Sit outside with glass of juice and catch up with Internet and plan the day ahead. Bliss!
As usual, apologies for rambling style and grammatical errors (corrections not necessary Christianpfc).
One gay lad in the village has asked us to take him with us when we head to Pattaya for a weeks fun, as he wants to try working the bars. He will of course be a waiter in a restaurant or hotel receptionist, the exact story for the folks back home has yet to be formalised. There seems to be a few different perspectives about what can be done to address the lack of money at the moment. This lad reckons there are more prospects in Pattaya.
Yet another village lad, one of the first to make Pattaya a full time career 4 years ago has decided to stay in Issan after his trip home at April New Year. He has done the hedonistic lifestyle with bar work, recreational drugs, thai giks and all the ups-and-downs that is Pattaya, and has been informed by friends/bar workers that pickings in Pattaya are slim at the moment, so his efforts are better served on the family farm. He will wait for an upturn in Pattaya fortunes.
This is Red Shirt heartland, but the feeling is that the military are at least settling things, and a calming influence on the country with daily news stories of mafia's being dismantled, fair pricing being introduced etc.. and the locals are swallowing it all up. A chat yesterday with a few of the family threw up the fact that while many are Red Shirt supporters some very ardent, they are distancing themselves from the 'Taksin' element, viewing him and his family as a hindrance and embarrassment now, because the opposition use him as the examples of Red Shirt negativity, it is I was told a misconception that they all "love" Taksin. But there is still a definite 'them and us' 'have and not have' Red and Yellow.....how long the military can 'keep the peace' is anyone's guess.
Loan sharking and gold shops still seem the rising Issan (and elsewhere?) 'industries', bf tells me there is a huge demand for borrowing short term cash. The UK has the term "pay day" loan for this, where you borrow between weekly wage packets for a few days or a week. One week seems to be the norm in Issan and anyone known to have money will be approached by a borrower who will ask for Bt1000 and OFFER bt100 for a week's loan. That's 10% per week interest. That is the accepted level for borrowers and obviously makes the lenders delighted. The slow flow of money from tourist areas down the line to Issan IS having some effect.
Local business owners (shops/tradres)who previously left loaning the 'professionals' are now in the market due to demand. Most small shops have a 'side trade' as does anyone with a known regular cash surplus. No 'enforcing' necessary, these are long time residents with regular income who are seeking out short term loans and so money is repaid on the dot, and strangely is (even with that massive interest rate) appreciated by the borrowers. Virtually all of this is on the quiet, no mafiosa going round on the high-powered motocys with covered faces and leather pouches, borrowers turn up with the interest and it is quietly put into the cash drawer in the shop as if he was buying a pack of ciggs.
Another 'new industry' is local coffee shops. When I first started coming to bfs village about 7 years ago the nearest town had one Caf├й serving lattes etc, there are now about 20, all small establishments dotted around the back streets, usually just single units converted with 4-6 tables, and menu of hot and iced coffees with various western style cakes and muffins. Largest clientele are older school students and college age students, who like/need meeting places but don't need/want alcohol, it's like the UK/USA 60's coffee houses and folk clubs all over again, but many normal folks who want a bit of HiSo in their Issan town are also enjoying an mid-morning/afternoon coffee and cake.
There are gay lads all over the place in Issan. Yesterday we made a trip to Khon Kaen city. Just outside bfs town we stopped for diesel, there were about 10 lads sitting around the 7-11 and food outlets at the 'pump' "katoey!!" (single/plural term used for obviously gay lads) declared bf.....and yes def all gay, with lovely (knowing) smiles from them as they note bf and I 'together' buying up fruit snacks, a couple even managing some English interaction. Off they went in a Song Taew with booming music dressed up in shorts and football tops as well as pink sparkly lycra tops and the occasional "smile if you've fucked today' tee shirt, along with dodgy looking hair-doos for their volleyball game somewhere.
Headed to 'Pratunam' in KK, the local market for local people, jeans Bt200 up, teeshirts Bt100 up, decent quality and different designs, many gay lads in pairs and groups walking around, and many working in the shops/units also. The gay lads are so obvious you don't even think about it as you stroll around. Many give an extra big smile and if browsing in the same shop/vicinity they think nothing of initiating chat. Simple stuff like "which jeans you like?" mostly in Thai but often they will try English. For those in decent shape and bored with the Pattaya routine and not desperate for hook ups (i.e. not too disappointed if none materialise) you can still enjoy a lot of flirting and fun just by taking a day trip to central Khon Kaen during a visit to the North East.
Many gay lads also in Tesco Lotus and Big C too just like Pattaya, some will even 'show' (exaggerated movements and looks) to get a response. The CD/DVD outlets are great places to meet and chat with gay lads, just pick up a cd and ask a guy you have presumed to be gay if it is good or not, tell him you like X or Y, and they will chat away. Some basic Thai essential, but too much and you will regarded with suspicion.
Have upgraded my local Resort room from standard (Bt350 night) to VIP room (Bt500 per night) as it has WiFi included, is nicer with better bathroom fittings and French doors leading out to an area at the back with shrubbery table/chairs and great view across the country plains. I flirt between here (esp when we want a bit of peace)and bfs home which now has aircon installed in his room. Ice, water, fresh towels and duvet/cover provided daily with huge smiles.The attached Resort karaoke and eating huts serve superb thai food, everything is absolutely delicious and cheap. I now have only thai food for breakfast something I don't have when in Pattaya/Bkk.
Wake up with morning sun streaming in the gaps in the window and French door curtains, chirping birds and distant motorcycle engines, bf snoring in the background and aircon at only at 26c. Sit outside with glass of juice and catch up with Internet and plan the day ahead. Bliss!
As usual, apologies for rambling style and grammatical errors (corrections not necessary Christianpfc).