The majority of Thai working boys come from rural agricultural areas in the Kingdom which covers about half of Thailand - with a high percentage coming from the Isaan region which is about the size of England just to give you an idea.
These rural areas are poor by anyone's standards - where most families live near the farmlands where they work in jungle settings - typically performing general labor as pickers and/or planters. As most know this is backbreaking work...long hours standing in mud under scorching heat...earning well-below minimum wages. The average family dwelling is a one or two room shack...no furniture...sleep on mats...rain water for showers...maybe electricity - maybe not.
One Isaan family I grew fond of lived in an old dilapidated rice storage bin with a broken door and a mud floor. I'm pleased to say that they don't anymore - because I tore the storage bin down and built them a new two story 3 bedroom home.
The first time a farang hands a new working boy in town a thousand baht tip - it's quite possibly the most money he's ever held in his hand before. Where a 1,500 baht tip is more than any 5 adults in his village earn per day slaving in the fields.
The majority of working boys from Laos and Cambodia come from the same level of poverty if not worse - with those countries being among the poorest in the world. In Laos the minimum wage is equivalent to around 90 Thai baht/day. So just imagine what handing a boy from Laos 1,000 baht is like in his mind.
Contrary to what others may have experienced I honestly don't ever recall a working boy (regardless of his nationality) telling me he was poor. I've heard every other excuse in the book for trying to get money, but not the "I'm poor" line. Most wouldn't say that as a matter of pride, thus the reason many of them opt to tell stories instead...sometimes true - sometimes not, e.g., my motorbike is broken, I need room rent, I have to go to dentist, my mothers sick, my sister needs money to go to school, and the list goes on.
Understanding them as I do has always made being generous so easy.
Boys
Re: Boys
The first time I visited my Thai boyfriend’s home village in Ratchaburi, twenty seven years ago, I was the first Farang most of the inhabitants had ever seen. They all came out and stared at me and I felt very out of place as at six foot tall I was the tallest person there by far. I needed a pee, after the long journey from Bangkok, and I was directed to behind a piece of corrugated sheet. As I stood there I looked up and saw a crowd of people all looking over at me and grinning.
I’m due to return for a short visit in around two weeks on my way to Hua Hin. It’s changed a lot and I’ve since paid for my boyfriend’s mother to have a plumbed-in loo but it’s still a very poor area.
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Gaybutton
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Re: Boys
You want to trade places with me? I may not always be the tallest person there, but most of the time I'm definitely the oldest (and all too often also the fattest) . . .
Re: Boys
Well, I remember one Lao lad tell me he's from a poor family. Shortly after, he shows me a picture of the family house.
It's bigger than mine and mine is larger than average....
I tell him " your house is bigger than mine and you have aircon, which I don't have"
"He says you don't need aircon in England, because it's cold"
You can't get much past a bar boy these days. At least not these well travelled internet savvy lads from Laos and Cambodia
It's bigger than mine and mine is larger than average....
I tell him " your house is bigger than mine and you have aircon, which I don't have"
"He says you don't need aircon in England, because it's cold"
You can't get much past a bar boy these days. At least not these well travelled internet savvy lads from Laos and Cambodia
Re: Boys
If I’m with my Thai boyfriend I would certainly be the tallest but not, these days, the fattest. Since I retired my weight has gone down whereas his has gone up fairly dramatically in recent years (he’s 48). We are now within a kilo of each other and I like to think I’m about the right weight but he’s definitely “tubby”.
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Gaybutton
- Posts: 23445
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Re: Boys
I'm embarrassed to say, that makes two of us. And considering the average size of Thais, I also make two of them . . .
Those enormous aging farang often seen at the beach clad only in their micro size thongs - well, I wouldn't do that and I don't think I'm quite that size just yet even if I wanted to, but I wouldn't be surprised to hear someone say, "Whadya mean you're not that size yet!?!?" I wonder if Lazada sells those micro thongs . . .
Re: Boys
I used to reside part-time near the town of Kantharalak on the Thai/Cambodian border in a previous chapter of my life where my nickname was "Suung" (meaning tall) - which they still call me today when I go there to visit. I'm 6'4" and by far the tallest person in town.
My very first visit to Kantharalak was around 2002 to visit my boyfriend at the times family. They lived (and still live) in a remote jungle village about 7 kms from town and work as farm laborers. My last visit was in December of last year and the town itself has grown - but with no real significant changes. The village where my friends reside is almost identical to what it was 22 years ago just to give you an idea.
Jai (my partner) and I will be heading up to Isaan in a few weeks as we do every year to spend the holidays with his family in Buriram. At some point I'll grab my backpack and head a few hours down the road to Kantharalak where I still feel at home with my old friends. One of the many things I love about the Thais is that they never forget...and once you've bonded with them - that bond is for life.
Enjoy your return to Ratchaburi the max.
Re: Boys
Another stunning lad from Hornet today.
Slim, cute, age 22 and he has wonderful smile. His pictures were hot, but he's even better in the flesh. He was also very attentive and didn't rush.
I tipped him more than had been promised and he was worth every single baht.
[For those unfamiliar with modern online dating, yes the boys usually ask how much one will tip and I would recommend the customer should also ask what the lad likes doing. If the customer has preferences.]
I'm spoilt for choice here. Loads of cute boys on the apps, more cute boys in Jomtien and even Boyztown was better than expected.
I expect I can filter some out. I asked one "do you like *******" and he replied "a little". With so much competition, I don't need to go there.
Slim, cute, age 22 and he has wonderful smile. His pictures were hot, but he's even better in the flesh. He was also very attentive and didn't rush.
I tipped him more than had been promised and he was worth every single baht.
[For those unfamiliar with modern online dating, yes the boys usually ask how much one will tip and I would recommend the customer should also ask what the lad likes doing. If the customer has preferences.]
I'm spoilt for choice here. Loads of cute boys on the apps, more cute boys in Jomtien and even Boyztown was better than expected.
I expect I can filter some out. I asked one "do you like *******" and he replied "a little". With so much competition, I don't need to go there.