Thailand Adventures and a Lasting Love

Here is a story of a trip I took to Thailand back in March 2019. It was the first time I’d ever taken a trip to Asia. I was unsure if it was safe to travel alone to Bangkok, so because of this, I never visited Thailand until I was 56.

One day I watched a video about Thailand, and after also watching many other videos, I was finally convinced that Thailand is worth a visit. What I was worried about now makes me laugh. I know I am the most dangerous person to myself in any country.

I watched a lot of YouTube videos prior to my first trip ever to Thailand to check out all the scams and how things really operated especially videos on how massage and bar girls operated with bar fines. I thought I should prepare for everything I may face so that I don’t get cheated like some first time visitors to Thailand.

Chiang Mai: Smoke, Sightseeing and Relaxation

I first traveled to Chiang Mai but was so beat from work and travel that I had wanted nothing more than to relax rather than party. Back then, the crop burning season was well underway, and thick smoke was so bad that some days you could not see the ground in front of you. This wasn’t an ideal situation to be in, but I still spent about four days in Chiang Mai.

I enjoyed a lot of tasty Thai food, and on the days that smoke was not at its worst, I visited some historic sites and the Elephant Nature Park. I was so tired that I did not even entertain the idea of going out to look for female company.

I was still tired but feeling a lot more rested, so I made my way to Phuket to begin the second part of my adventure.

Arriving in Patong

I’d lined up a driver at Phuket Airport so that I knew the price of the fare before arriving again, not wanting to be ripped off by random taxi drivers. I booked into a pretty decent accommodation. The hotel was called The Gig Hotel, located in Soi San Sabai, Patong. The hotel was not cheap but very comfortable and very close to all the bars and restaurants.

The other great thing about this location was that I was not going to get scammed by any taxi drivers or have to walk home drunk and alone everything was well within walking distance.

The next day I woke up fresh, had a full English breakfast, and wandered around a local mall. Around noon, I decided to head over to Walking Street and have a beer.

The Kangaroo Bar and the Aussie Guys

I took a stool in a bar called the Kangaroo Bar, which had plenty of pretty girls working in the bar. I pretty much took the rest of the day in my stride, eventually heading back to my hotel for dinner.

Earlier in the day, I had wandered around several local bars, but the Kangaroo Bar was my favorite, so decided to go back at around 8:30 p.m. I was sitting alone watching a bunch of the girls chatting up four Australian guys on a table opposite to mine.

So I say to one of the guys, “I am new to Thailand. How does it all work in the bars with the ladies?”

All four told me that they come to Patong three times a year for a blowout and fun and all four were divorced. These guys were friendly and asked me to join them, and then proceeded to tell me everything I needed to know about bars and the girls.

I asked them, “How could I tell the difference between real girls and ladyboys?”

They all just laughed, and one of them said to me, “If you’re in your room and your lady of choice wrestles you to the ground and gets you in a headlock you’re pretty much done for.” To which the other three guys found extremely funny and all laughed again.

I liked this group of Aussie guys. They were fun.

Not long after this, I was joined at my table by a nice looking girl called Bun (that’s B U N). And to this day, I look at a photo of her that I had taken on my phone and think to myself: why did I not invite her back to my hotel room for drinks?

Susie Wong’s Go-Go Bar

I told the Aussie guys I really wanted to visit a go go bar as I had never been in one. They said, “We’ll take you to Susie Wong’s go go bar it’s close by.” They told me that they would drag me out after an hour or so so I don’t get into any trouble being new to the bar scene.

The go go bar was something else really wild. I think if I put into words what I’ve seen inside, YouTube would take down your channel, haha. But let’s just say it was not for me. It was not for the faint hearted.

A little later, the Aussie guys said, “Let’s go bar hopping.” We visited a much quieter bar with some bar girls that were much less aggressive. These girls were not as pretty, and I was not into taking any of them back to my hotel for drinks.

I blew it with Bun who was the choice of the night at the Kangaroo Bar and I regret it to this day, as something really clicked between us. I later found out that Bun had gone home alone on her motorbike at the end of the evening.

On my next trip to Phuket six months later, I actually went back to the Kangaroo Bar to look for Bun but I never saw her again.

My last real relationship with a woman was back in 2012. I was divorced from a crazy Jamaican exotic dancer that I met, got pregnant a month later, married, and moved to Canada. That story is way more complicated than my Thailand story so I thought I’m overdue for some fun.

Meeting Rak, the Massage Lady

Anyway, back to Patong. It was time to track down some female company. At the time, I did not talk to very beautiful girls as I was a bit overweight and only had the confidence to speak to average looking girls.

On the morning of day three, I decided to eat someplace new and stumbled into the International Cafe and Guest House. I met the owner of this small hotel with only six rooms, but had an eatery which boasted a good English breakfast. The guy running the hotel was a guy from New Zealand. The food was awesome, by the way.

The owner told me that it wasn’t great owning a business in Patong because it’s hard work and he made very little money.

After breakfast, I said my goodbyes and headed back to my hotel. On route, I was pulled aside by a massage girl with a card displaying prices and this was only 9:40 a.m.! Speaking with this massage lady actually boosted my ego and made me feel human again, as she made me promise to come back even if I did not want a massage right now.

I did go back to her massage shop later in the day. The massage lady was called Rak (that’s R A K). Although not the most stunning looking lady in the world, she was very polite and pleasant to speak with. I had a very nice massage and that was all but spoke a lot with Rak.

So after my massage, I asked Rak if she could show me around and maybe go on a few trips with me. Of course, she said yes she would like to accompany me.

Rak told me that I would have to pay the massage shop owner for taking Rak out of the shop, and I would have to pay Rak her daily rate. The owner of the small hotel told me that I should not pay more than 2,200 baht per day. Rak told me that she wanted 3,000 baht a day but that would be for the full 24 hours of each day.

I decided to pay whatever rate she wanted, as she was very nice and I wanted to enjoy my time on the island with a nice, friendly lady. And anyway, I was on holiday so what did it matter?

Tiger Kingdom in Phuket

The owner of the small hotel had arranged a driver for me and a list of places to visit. I arranged to meet Rak the following day. We headed down the road for about 20 minutes, and soon I was holding hands in the car with this nice looking lady in her 30s.

We only traveled for about 15 to 20 minutes when we got to a place called Tiger Kingdom in Phuket, which I thought was a regular zoo but with tigers. I soon realized that you can pay to go into the tiger cage with the tigers. So I was like, “Holy moly!”

The lady at the desk shows me a glossy photo of three sizes of tigers small, medium, and large. I thought I’d better pick medium in case we got attacked, lol. I took my tickets, had our photo taken, and proceeded to head out for the tiger cage.

Rak was not scared at all. We were let into the cage with a guy holding a small stick. I remember thinking at the time: what does he think he’s going to do with that small stick if the tigers attack? I asked him if the tigers had ever attacked a tourist. His reply was: “Tigers no like farang” with a big smile on his face.

It was an awesome experience that I won’t ever forget and would only experience in wonderful Thailand.

The Big Buddha and the Gift Shop

We had the driver booked for the entire day, so next it was off to see the Big Buddha and the monks. Rak told me that I had to give some money to the monks for good luck and also $7 for new sunglasses for Rak, as she had broken hers. I thought this very convenient at the time, as we just happened to be standing in the gift shop.

After we came away from the Big Buddha, I told my driver I wanted to go back to my hotel to cool down and that I’d had enough for one day. I asked Rak if she wanted to go for a swim at my hotel, and she said yes but of course she did not have a swimming costume, so I would have to buy one for her. No surprises there.

I bought one from a place called Wicked Weasel they sell risky swimwear for women. I hoped that Rak would wear it. She looked at the swimsuit and said, “No way” she was too shy. That day I realized that Thai women are shy about some things, which baffled me since they work in the tourist industry with a lot of men like me.

So we headed off to the pool. I went in for a swim while Rak stayed in the shade sipping on a cold drink. I later found out that Thais don’t like to get darker by being under the sun.

After the pool, we headed to my room, took a shower, and had some very minor aerobics. Was this a taste of things to come? I asked myself. Remember, I had never been to Thailand before.

So we went to dinner, and after dinner I asked Rak if she would like to stay for the night. She said yes.

Rak was really very nice company, so I decided to stay with her for several more days. Same routine off to her massage shop, pay her boss the fee, and off we went. I stayed with Rak for most of the next few days, but sadly I had to say goodbye as I had a prepaid flight to Bangkok and resisted the urge to ask her to join me.

Bangkok: The Bombardment Begins

I arrived in Bangkok and stayed in the area near Soi Cowboy. I couldn’t believe it I had just landed in Bangkok, and Rak was bombarding me with text messages. Her messages said something along the lines of: “Buy me ticket to Bangkok. I come take care of you, tilak.”

I thought to myself, “No way I’m in Bangkok. A lot to explore.” So I just sent one text message saying, “Sorry, but no.” I was planning to head out to Soi Cowboy for a night of fun and was feeling well rested with a good mindset.

A few hours after Rak’s text message, I received another from her which said she’s flying to Bangkok and will I pick her up in two days at the airport. I told her I was very low on money and I could not afford to pay her any money. But still, she said she is coming she’s coming anyway. And like a fool, I agreed.

Soi Cowboy and May

I went to Soi Cowboy at 7:30 p.m. to avoid any drunks which was a mistake, as it was far too early. I entered a go go bar on Soi Cowboy, and no one was there just two men and a lot of dancers. There were like 13 girls and three of us.

I sat down, and before I could even order a drink, a girl called May (M A Y) jumped into my lap. May starts asking for drinks, which I knew is how she makes her money. She was very aggressive in nature but very cute and naughty looking.

It wasn’t too long before the mamasan came over begging a drink. I was like, “Whatever,” and bought her one. Soon after that, May calls over another couple of girls and tries to get me to buy them a drink. I finally said no.

I decided to go bar hopping with May instead. So I asked her how much it would cost to take her out of the bar so that she could come drinking with me in other bars. In the end, I now know that I paid way too much to get her out of the bar but I paid what they were asking, and we went off to another bar area away from Soi Cowboy called Nana Plaza.

The driver suggested that I take May to a much nicer area and not Nana Plaza. By this point, I was thinking, “Why had I bar fined her?” But I agreed with the driver which was a big mistake but told him that I would need him to stop at a cash machine along the way.

I loaded up on funds and took out 20,000 baht. I paid May for her time while still in the taxi in advance which was a typical rookie mistake. And that was not the only mistake I made. May wanted 3,500 baht, which I paid her anyway.

I was now well prepared with ample funds. Let’s see what the night turns out to be like.

The Mystery Nightclub

I look out of the taxi window and realize that we are driving in a part of Bangkok unknown to me. I do not even know where we ended up but it was in an industrial area somewhere. I thought, “No way am I going to let the taxi driver leave me here.” So I said to him, “I will hire you for the whole night, and you can take me back to my hotel later.” To which he agreed.

May led me to some kind of entertainment venue. I had to pay an admission fee for only me at the entrance, and the doormen asked me for a tip. Wow the scams continue. So I gave them both 200 baht each.

We were then escorted to a VIP table which I didn’t even ask for. Another red flag I should have noticed. Then the bar manager Peter, his name came over and introduced himself to me and put his hand out for a tip, lol. There goes another 200 baht.

They then said, “You can only order bottle service at VIP tables.” So I ordered a bottle of vodka and some mixers. They had me pulling out cash every other minute but I did not care at this point. Don’t ask me why I don’t know why myself.

May was really excited and wouldn’t leave me alone stroking my hands, giving me a massage at the table, cuddling up close. She could see that big payday at the end of the night even though I had already given her 3,500 baht in the taxi already.

We had a few drinks and moved tables closer to the dance floor as May wanted this. I might also mention that I had taken the taxi driver in with us, and I was feeding vodkas to him but he was sipping his drink, not knocking it back like they normally do. Thank heavens.

The Money Explosion

After a while, the vodka and mixers ran out, and the girl that was our waitress went off to the bar to get another bottle with mixers. She told me it was 1,600 baht. I’m like, “Well, okay,” and pulled out my Belgian money clip from my front pocket in the dark of the nightclub.

My money clip which had around 22,000 baht in it suddenly exploded upon it leaving my pocket. All of my money went onto the floor in the dark. I was in shock for a few seconds.

Suddenly, the two big doormen were on their knees picking up my cash with flashlights. I was like, “Heck I can see me being taken into a dark back room and robbed.”

But to my shock and disbelief, they picked up every note, handed them to me, and bowed. I thanked them and again tipped both of them well at least this time they deserved a tip. But I was a little scared that they would demand a lot more, so I gave them 800 baht and told them to share it between the two of them.

I was not even very drunk, so I thought, “Time to leave.” I told my taxi guy, “We are leaving in 30 seconds. On my signal, tell her we are leaving.”

He whispered in her ear, “We are leaving.” She grabbed the vodka bottle still half full shoved it in her purse. We made for the door, made it to the taxi, and to my great relief, nothing happened and I was safe. I was videotaping our departure in case I got stopped by thugs in the alley.

We went back to Soi Cowboy to May’s bar. I got stung for even more drinks and decided it’s time to leave. I had made up my mind to leave May behind and even though I had paid in full for her to come back to my room for drinks, I had visions of her robbing me when I was asleep and me waking up alone with no money.

It was nearly 3 a.m., and I had enough of May’s scams. I left and headed for my hotel without the girl named May. She earned a good night from me and from the bar drinks, and I was happy to be heading to my room alone.

I wasn’t long back in my room when May started texting me asking me to come back to her bar. But I just thought, “No, sorry the cash cow has gone home, and the gravy train has left the station.”

I ended up paying my driver 3,000 baht for around five hours of his time. Perhaps people will say I paid him far too much. But think about this: he had seen my cash at the nightclub. He could have called a few of his friends, told them to lay in wait, driven me to a quiet area, and robbed me. He didn’t. He got me home safely and for that, I am grateful and willingly parted with my cash.

Looking back, I had a great night. But I had to laugh, because the next day the taxi driver texts me and asked me if I needed a ride.

The following day I rested, and the day after that I went to the airport to pick up Rak who was arriving from Phuket.

That part of this story will be Part Two of my dumb adventures in Thailand. Of course, additional scamming carried on with Rak in Bangkok when we resumed our fun and my remaining days in Thailand but nothing too bad. Rak did not quote me a rate or demand money, but it was the usual request for clothes, a plane ticket home, and a cheap cell phone. Let’s just say Rak did okay.

I had been in touch with Rak when back home in Canada, but she disappeared for a couple of weeks not replying to my messages then she reappeared like nothing had happened. I’m sure she already had a new boyfriend in Phuket.

All the best, Dean.

A Successful Relationship from Phuket to Melbourne

Between this time, I had booked another flight back to Phuket in November. I tried to cancel the flight but could not get a refund. Then a close friend of mine said he would come with me to Phuket so we could play golf and go to Thai cooking school.

The Thai guy I mentioned earlier said to me, “What happened with that girl back in August?” I told him what happened. He said he was sorry to hear that. He then tried matchmaking me with a waitress who was also the restaurant’s accountant.

When I went back to Australia, I kept in contact with her on Skype and by phone, and a relationship developed between us.

I then went back to Phuket in February 2012. She booked me into a guest house next to the bar opposite where me and my friends stayed it’s owned by a Swiss guy and his Thai wife. (His wife works very long hours as an accountant as well.)

I found the lady I was with to be very hot headed but never once did she ask me for any money. She actually paid for the accommodation during my time there. It was my birthday she took me out for dinner, then we celebrated at my Thai friend’s restaurant.

The next day, she was supposed to finish work at 5 p.m., but her boss let her finish early about 11 a.m. So she took me to Nai Yang Beach near Phuket Airport for lunch, then dropped me off for the flight back to Melbourne.

I then went back again in May 2012. This time, I stayed at her house in Kathu. She owned a two story townhouse in an estate. I stayed there for two nights, then we drove to Krabi for three nights.

During this time, she was so relaxed and calm. We spent some time at a Mexican restaurant managed by an expat Aussie I met back in Patong in 2011.

When we got back to Phuket, she started with the angry attitude again. The last day I was there, I had a go at her, saying, “What is your problem?” I was going to go and get a taxi to the airport, but she drove me instead and was crying when I went through immigration.

After I got home, we both decided to end the relationship after five months in August 2012.

A Thai Dating Site Leads to a Different Kind of Girl

I decided to go on a Thai dating site. I looked up this girl’s profile she already lived in Australia, in Melbourne. So I sent her a message. She replied. Then after a week, I gave her my phone number, and she gave me hers.

I made it clear that I did not want children as I had two children from my previous marriage. She said that this is okay.

Then after a month, we first met physically for lunch in Melbourne. She had lived in Australia first studying hairdressing, and then she was studying business management that’s when I met her.

We had another date the next day lunch, movie, then dinner. Her English was great, but I had to teach her Aussie slang.

I follow Australian rules football, and my team were playing in the elimination final. I told her this. She said, “There is a sports bar here we could watch the match and have a drink or two.” By the last quarter, my team were getting beat she was laughing.

The next weekend on the Saturday, we went for a drive and a picnic to country Victoria. It was then that romance started to develop between us.

In the November that year, she was going back to Thailand for three weeks to visit family. I thought to myself: if I’m going to have a long term commitment to this girl, I need to visit her family. So I took a week off work, and I was able to get on the same flight as her.

When I told her this, she was absolutely excited that I was making the effort to visit her family. I spent a week in Bangkok meeting her family. They are lovely people they would not let me pay for anything, and still do not to this day.

The relationship developed between us. Then in February, I asked her to marry me. She said yes.

We were married in June 2013 and are still as happy as when we first met.

Building a Life Together in Australia

I was renting a house, and she was renting a flat with two other students. In 2013, she moved in with me.

A year later, we decided to buy a house together. We did not have enough deposit to avoid the lender’s mortgage insurance we needed at least a 20% deposit. She said, “No problem.”

One of her sisters and her husband in Bangkok run a very successful wholesale hardware business they are very wealthy. She spoke to her sister, and she lent us 80,000 Australian dollars to avoid the LMI. She said she is not in a hurry for the money just to pay it back when we could afford it and the exchange rate was good.

We go back to Thailand every year. In 2014, we went to Japan and had a great time there, and also attended my sister in law’s wedding in Bangkok.

In early 2017, my father in law became very sick and was in hospital. My wife went back to Thailand to visit him I could not go at that time because of work commitments, but we were planning to go in April 2018.

My father in law’s illness got worse. My wife said she was going back again that was in September 2017. When I saw the photos of him, I said, “I’m coming too.”

I’m glad I did, because six weeks later we were back in Thailand for his funeral.

A Five-Day Funeral and a Great Honour

The funeral went on for five days. A family made a request of me for the last day of the funeral ceremony to be ordained as a monk.

It is Thai custom that the oldest male and the youngest male of the family perform the role of a monk for the cremation ceremony. The oldest in the family my brother in law was recovering from a motorcycle accident, so his son performed the role on his behalf. The rest of the siblings are all girls, with my wife being the youngest. So being the spouse of my wife, the family asked me to perform this role.

They were surprised how well I adapted to the role and are forever grateful.

The current restrictions are making it very hard for us missing family very much also my friends in Patong. As both of us work in public health service, we still have our jobs, at least.

In closing: I picked the right soulmate to be with for the rest of my life. The right one is out there for you you just need to be careful and make the right choices.