Comparing Pattaya and Hua Hin as a Long-Term Base
I want to tell you a story that happened in September of 2023. This time I was in Isan for a short holiday, and one of my favorite cities is Buriram. I have visited this city many times, so I know where to go for the nightlife.
On my last evening in Buriram, I was in the famous Bamboo Bar for dinner and a cold Chang beer. There were also two English guys about 35 years old with one Thai lady of around 30 years of age. Both men were wearing Arsenal t-shirts and were very focused on an Arsenal football match being played on one of the TVs.
About 2 hours later, I was at the Speed Disc, which is a 2-minute walk from the Bamboo Bar, and I saw the Thai lady with one of the English men there too. They recognized me and beckoned me to have a drink at their table. The lady started to dance against my body and used her hand to check out my private parts without any shame, even in front of her boyfriend or the other guests.
At one point, the English guy raised his hand with three fingers. I thought he meant 3,000 baht, but he actually meant that the lady also wanted me to join them for a threesome.
I politely declined, but afterwards I often thought about whether I should have done it. Still, every time I hear the name Arsenal on TV, I think of that night in Buriram.
“I’m 65 and I left the US for Thailand 22 months ago. I lived a year in Jomtien and when that lease expired, I moved to Hua Hin for a change of pace.”
Viewers who have lived in Southeast Asia longer than I have will already know a lot of the things I’m about to say, but everyone is different, as are their expectations. And of course, you have viewers who have not visited the region or have never been to these two cities.
When I first moved from the US, I lived near Wetherspoons in central Pattaya for 3 months while looking for condos. My apartment preferences and the units I was shown by various companies were in Klang, Jomtien, and Pratumnak where it is a bit quieter than Soi Buakhao. But I learned a lot about the customs and cultures, at least in the tourist zones, by living what other YouTubers call “close to the action.”
Action indeed. Even for a guy like me who lived in Miami Beach after the pandemic, there is only one central Pattaya.
Even I, who does not drink and has never been to a go-go bar, was only on Soi 6 once during the daytime on the way back from the post office, and Walking Street once because a baht bus driver dropped me nearby. I still got the Line ID contact info from more than 400 girls in the first 3 months. Most of them were very beautiful by Western standards.
Why Dating Outside the Bars Felt Different in Hua Hin
When the experiences were new, I invited girls to my room. When I found a condo, I did this less often. One reason was because most of my walks were in Jomtien, and another was due to the security concerns over who you bring into your condo, or even letting them know where you live. Of course, when you live here, you are not on holiday anymore.
Dating girls who were not freelancers had its limits. The girls had busy work schedules, or they went back to their hometowns for months at a time, or bounced from job to job. If I found out girls were freelancing after a few Line messages, I would only invite them over more than once if they had some personality beyond the bedroom. I count a couple of massage girls in this category.
Even that got old for me, being a stubborn American who likes a real connection sometimes. Not a girlfriend or wife, but also not pure acting. There is only so far it can go unless the aerobics are really compatible, and there are also budget constraints.
Settling into Hua Hin After Leaving Jomtien
Since I relocated to Hua Hin, I doubt I have asked three girls for their Line IDs. I do not play pool as often as I did in Jomtien because I know more people there, though I do not drink. Yes, there are massage girls in Hua Hin, but I am hesitant to repeat a Pattaya pattern. I have not really chatted up many women here with regular jobs, and Thai Friendly in Hua Hin does not offer much more than what I already see during my walks or shopping trips.
As for Siem Reap in Cambodia, I have visited every 2 months for about a year. I have never been inside a massage parlor there, have not asked any girl for her WhatsApp or Telegram, and though I have halfheartedly scrolled Thai Friendly, the pickings seem slim. It is too bad because the women are attractive and many speak almost English without an accent. But I am usually only there for 4 days on average.
Oddly enough, unlike Bangkok, Hua Hin, and Pattaya, men in Siem Reap, including strangers, tuk-tuk drivers, and guys hanging around Pub Street, often ask me if I am looking for women or some substance or other when I walk by. I’ve never had a Thai guy do that.
Questioning Whether to Stay in Hua Hin or Move Again
I’m not sure if I will finish my entire lease in Hua Hin. Not because it’s boring, but because my real estate company is somewhat inattentive, and because in the low season I can find a deal practically overlooking Jomtien Beach. In high season, the cost of goods and services is much more expensive in Hua Hin, including haircuts, massages, and even the baht bus. I know it is only 20 baht, but Pattaya has been 10 baht for as long as anyone can remember.
There are also fewer street food choices and stores, except for the wonderful night market, and none of the high-rise condos are located directly on the beach. I think if I could walk straight out to the beach, I might stay, since I already know ladies in Jomtien and Pattaya, seeking true romance would not be a concern. Worst-case scenario, I could purchase the fake kind. I just did not want to live in that environment two years back to back.
Thai friends and a lot of expats, if I move back, will assume I did so out of boredom. But I am paying 2,000 baht more per month in rent than I was in Jomtien, and I was just really getting into the pool there.
Story 3: A Month in Thailand and the Woman He Could Not Forget
“This story goes back around 10 years. One of my friends, we are both in our 50s, had been traveling to Thailand regularly.”
At some point, he met a woman who, in his words, brought joy and companionship into his life. They had a stable relationship, no kids, no drama, and they were still together, living in Norway and returning to Thailand every year. He told me I had to come along sometime, and the timing was just right because I had a design job that only required my laptop and an internet connection. So I figured, why not spend a month working remotely in Thailand?
We flew to Bangkok in January. Warm tropical air greeted us as we stepped out of the aircraft. The airport itself was like any big airport with announcements echoing through the speakers and crowds going in all directions. But once I stepped outside and saw the taxis, palm trees, and golden light, I felt free. I couldn’t help but smile when I read an online newspaper that back home there was a snowstorm and traffic chaos. That gave me a lot of joy.
Exploring Bangkok Before Travelling South to Hua Hin
My friend headed straight to Hua Hin where he had a newly built apartment. I decided to stay in Bangkok for a few days to explore the city. The first thing I did was find a restaurant. I had heard so much about Thai cuisine, especially the seafood. I ordered something that looked both fancy and expensive. And as we all know, expensive must mean good, right? Well, not always. I got a whole fish steamed, surrounded by boiled vegetables served in what looked like a soup pot. It was bland, not bad, but very plain. A bit disappointing, to be honest. I felt savage ripping out meat from a dead fish.
Later, I visited Chatuchak weekend market. I took the sky train and wandered for hours. So many stores, so many items, yet not a single pushy vendor. As a middle-aged man, I don’t need souvenirs. I have everything I need, food and love. I have plenty of the first, but not so much of the second.
A Bangkok Massage Takes an Unexpected Turn
Back at the hotel, I rested and prepared for the evening. I’d heard about Thai massages, of course. Who hadn’t? I walked around and eventually came across a small alleyway. A woman stood there. She was beautiful with long hair and kind brown eyes, a little younger than me, maybe, but with a warm smile. She asked if I wanted a massage, and I said yes, thrilled that someone would ask me for that.
She led me upstairs to a narrow hallway with several small rooms. I was told to undress and take a shower. She undressed as well and joined me. The way she lathered me up, it felt like her life depended on doing it. It was honestly memorable.
After the shower, there may have been some massage, but not much. She went straight for the main event, if you know what I mean. It had been weeks since my last aerobic session, so let’s just say I didn’t last very long. I was dizzy afterwards. I remember she treated my deposit like it was made of gold, carefully carrying it away and even showing it to another woman down the hallway. It was bizarre. Maybe they had some sort of deposit bank going on. Who knows? I may have a couple of kids in Thailand. Who knows about that either?
I tipped her with everything I had in my wallet. I hadn’t expected things to escalate so quickly.
Searching Bangkok for Live Music Before Travelling South
That night, I tried to explore Bangkok a bit more, but I quickly found it rather dull, at least where I was. I clearly hadn’t done my research. I rode the sky train back and forth, but stations were nearly empty. Eventually, I noticed a building with lights and music. I followed the sound and found a small bar where a band was playing covers of The Police, one favorite band of mine. They were thrilled to have at least one fan: me, a foreigner, drinking too many beers and walking on the moon.
After their set, they invited me to a nearby bar, and we had more drinks, more dancing, more fun. I think I only danced with the band. Eventually, they hailed a taxi and sent me back to my hotel. In the back seat, I watched the city lights blur past like it was a scene from Star Trek.
As we neared the hotel, the driver suddenly stopped about 100 feet away, even though he could have gone right up to the entrance. I paid and got out. As the taxi pulled away, I realized why he had stopped. There were at least 20 women dressed to impress, waving and calling out to me. I froze. They were all beautiful, glamorous, and just 5 meters away. But I folded my hands in the traditional wai, bowed politely, pointed to myself and then to the hotel. I was far too drunk and far too cautious to consider anything else. And honestly, I don’t think I had the courage either.
A Last-Minute Ride from Bangkok to Hua Hin
The next morning was ordinary, some shopping, and then I figured it was time to head to Hua Hin. I’d barely stood outside the hotel for 2 minutes when a car pulled up and asked where I was going. “Hua Hin,” I said. We agreed on a price, and boom, we were on the highway. That ride, I don’t know for sure, but I suspect he was the same driver as before. He drove like he was chasing a Guinness World Record. We were going 140 km per hour on average, weaving between cars like they were standing still. At one point, we passed a car accident, smoke coming from the wreck, but this didn’t slow him down one bit. I arrived in Hua Hin in one piece.
Hua Hin Massages and a Lesson in Local Etiquette
I met up with my friend and his girlfriend. They told me more about Thai massage etiquette, like how not wearing underwear under the towel was a signal for a happy ending. And yes, I do love a happy ending.
One evening, we walked through the adult entertainment district. My friend and his girlfriend walked ahead while I stayed a little bit behind. I didn’t feel like sitting down at any bar, I knew that could lead to a very long night. I found a small massage place. The woman working there was well-built, and she offered a massage which went straight to the main event again. I didn’t complain in that moment. I felt inspired, not quite gymnastics, but almost.
I had a good routine. I’d wake up, check my emails from work in Norway, do 3 hours of design work, then head out for lunch, usually just outside the gated community where we stayed. Thai food and a cold beer. Norway was still asleep. I’d finish everything by dinner and then send my work back.
There were many massages that month. I became a bit of a regular.
Meeting a Woman in a Hua Hin Shoe Store
My friend and his partner took me sightseeing, too. I remember a Buddha park we visited, it felt like we were the only ones there. As we walked, I heard a voice from a souvenir store say, “Why do you walk alone?” I’ll never forget that, girl. Why was I walking alone? She must have thought I was a handsome man.
Today, I know that would have been no problem to just walk up to her and have a chat. You can go to Thailand and spend weeks without really connecting with a single local person. I remember going into a shoe store once. It was huge with two street entrances and at least 10 employees. When I entered, they all gathered on the other side of the shop like I was carrying the plague. I walked around, and they moved diagonally to stay away from me. Anyway, they didn’t have shoes over size 42. I wear 44. So I left.
A Scooter Trip to Koh Lanta and a Risky New Romance
After 2 weeks of working, eating, and massages, I decided to go on an adventure. I took a train down to Trang with no clue where I’d sleep that night. I found a small hot room and barely slept. Next morning, I took the boat to Koh Lanta, a beautiful island, small, full of tourists and good vibes. I found a cheap room, skipped the air conditioning to save money. I should have paid extra for the AC, but that would have doubled the room cost.
I signed up for a dive trip. I already had my diving certificate. Since I didn’t want to dive alone, I hired a guide. He was a British guy, friendly and professional. The dive went well. Later, much later back in Norway, I read in the news that that same guy had been accused of murdering some tourists. And here I was worrying about contagious diseases.
One evening, I was riding my rented scooter near the harbor and looking for a massage place. I couldn’t find one, but I struck up a conversation with a girl outside a shop. She was so kind, so beautiful, I instantly melted. If it’s possible to fall in love in a moment, I think I did.
She placed her hands on the back of my scooter. Even though I’m a bit slow sometimes, I understood she wanted to come with me. But then I noticed another hand, an elderly woman, probably her grandmother, standing behind her. It was clear my granddaughter is not going anywhere. What was I thinking? A man in his 50s and a girl maybe in her 20s. I understood the situation, and I drove off.
I ended up at the top of the mountains above Koh Lanta, parked the scooter, and gazed out over the ocean under a full moon. It was beautiful. I just wished I wasn’t alone. There was space for two on that scooter.
Now, looking back, and I get it. Grandma probably wanted some money before letting her granddaughter go. If I wasn’t so slow, I could have been up there with her enjoying the view, not alone. And she was so beautiful. I wouldn’t have cared about any diseases in the world. But that’s what happens when you don’t know, or you don’t dare.
Koh Lanta and the Full Moon Party
I spent a week on Koh Lanta. It was hot. I remember lying on the floor staring out into the night sky and the full moon above. I had no idea that right beside my island, Koh Phangan was hosting the legendary Full Moon Party, a place I would have loved had I only known.
I plan to return someday. I’m older now, but still healthy and full of curiosity. This story might be the most tame one ever, but again, it is just a story about how if you don’t do anything, nothing will happen. Yes, it is entirely possible to wander through Thailand for a single month without having a single romance with a Thai girl.
Story 4: How a Thai Cashier Became a Wife
“I was married for 16 years and decided to get divorced because life was awful and I thought I would end up in a box.”
So I had to decide what I wanted to do once I left my wife. I decided that I wanted to travel. Soon afterwards I was doing singles holidays from the Canaries to the Caribbean. At the time I thought Thailand was full of sleaze, so no way that I was going to travel there. At the time, I was involved in online dating, but I always found that the women on dating sites were looking for the next best thing, and nothing worked out apart from the odd romance.
After a while, I joined an internet site called Companions to Travel. After a few weeks, this lady called Sue contacted me and asked if I would join her on a holiday to Thailand via Dubai, where she wanted to spend 24 hours. So without ever meeting Sue, we booked a flight to Thailand with Emirates and arranged to meet at Glasgow airport. It was an amazing experience. We had only spoken on the phone and sent photos via email.
So we are now on our way to Thailand with a transfer in Dubai. On the flight from Dubai to Bangkok, Sue decided to have a sleep. When she woke up, she asked if there was any sign of breakfast. I told Sue that she had missed it because she was asleep. Sue was not happy with me. So much for my jokes.
Meeting Josh on the Flight to Phuket
Anyway, 3 days in Bangkok and then a flight to Phuket for around 7 days. On the flight, we sat next to an American guy who I will call Josh. Honestly, he started to talk to the pair of us and tell us about our lives, and he knew everything about us, our jobs and personal stuff that no one could ever know. It was shocking.
Anyway, we said our goodbyes at the airport and off to the hotel. What we found was amazing. We would meet Josh in the strangest of places in Patong, in our hotel reception, even though he wasn’t staying there. There was a fortune teller stand where he was sitting chatting away to the fortune teller. Josh just had this gift. He could tell your life story just by magic. And I witnessed it when I had the odd night out with him and he was talking to the girls.
This story is absolutely true. We went out to an Italian restaurant in Patong that he had visited a couple of years before. Josh asked the lady if her husband was still around. She informed Josh that he had passed away recently. What was amazing is that Josh had told her on his last visit that her husband would not be around much longer and that he had an illness. Writing this story is bringing it all back to me.
What the Bar Girls Revealed About Protecting Their Money
Anyway, Sue and I used to chat with a few girls in the bars and spent time with them. The girls used to tell us their secrets of bar girls and the ways to drain a man’s wallet. They also told us about the sponsors. Some girls had four or five men sending them money and how it was difficult in keeping the men secret from each other. I just thought, these girls are just conning men out of their money. I was only on holiday to have a break and was not interested in going out with bar girls. I was enjoying time with my travel companion, Sue, and yes, we had separate rooms.
The holiday soon came to an end. I had another holiday with Sue in Egypt, which was okay, but we ended up falling out. She was a control freak once I got to know her. But I still kept in touch with Josh, who lives in the USA.
A Kuala Lumpur Scam Tests His Travel Plans
About six months later, I decided that I would have a good holiday in Asia, starting in Kuala Lumpur, then Patong in Phuket, and Bangkok before heading home. I had been introduced by email to a lady called Da who lived in Kuala Lumpur by my American friend Josh. Da arranged to pick me up at 7:00 p.m. on the day I arrived to show me the sights. I arrived at the hotel at 4:00 p.m. The next thing I was asleep. The phone rang, it was Da. I told her I had fallen asleep and said, “I will be right down.”
Da had her own 4×4 pickup truck. We said our hellos and she did a full tour of KL at night. She then had a surprise for me. She took me to this club where a lady was having a birthday party in the VIP area. So here I was drinking and eating for free with total strangers. I got a lot of attention from the ladies, and I arranged to go out for dinner the following night with the birthday lady.
The following day, I did the sights, went up the tall communications tower, and after that I was back in town near to my hotel when the heavens opened up. It was like a monsoon. While sheltering from the rain, I got talking to a Malaysian lady who started to tell me that her daughter was going to the UK. She had won a place at Lancaster University, but she was scared about going. This lady told me that her husband was a chef and would I like to go to their house the following day for a meal to meet her daughter and to explain what to expect in the UK and Lancaster. Well, I said yes.
That evening, I was out with the birthday girl and I told her that I was going out for dinner with a family whose daughter was going to the UK. The birthday girl told me not to go and that it was all a scam and it’s about gambling.
The following afternoon, I was in the mall and I spotted the lady and two guys getting out of an old Proton car. I thought, “This looks dodgy.” So I decided to hide in the shopping mall until they left. I must have been in there for over an hour, and I noticed that the car had gone. So I made my way to the exit. I could not believe it, the lady was waiting for me and said, “We have been looking for you.” She was not happy.
The Family Dinner That Was Not What It Seemed
Rather than say I wasn’t going, I got into the back of this old Proton and was driven out of the city with this lady and two men. I asked if their daughter was in the house waiting. They told me that she had to go to the hospital and that she would be back later that day, but not to worry because her husband had cooked a nice meal for me. I explained that I had to be back at the hotel at 7:00 p.m. because I was going out for a meal with friends and that I didn’t really want to eat too much.
We arrived at the house. They offered me a drink, but I said no due to what they might put in it. I asked what time their daughter would arrive, but I did not get an answer. They told me that her uncle was upstairs and that he would like to have a chat with me. So he came down the stairs and started to ask about what I did and if I’d ever been to casinos. I told him that I never gambled and that I had never been to a casino. He then started to explain that he worked in a casino and with the help of me, we could win a lot of money together.
I told him, “No, I’m not interested.” And I told the family that I didn’t believe their daughter was coming and that I wanted to be driven back to my hotel. They were not happy, but they agreed. So we got back in the car, and they called into a petrol station. They filled up the car and told me that I had to pay for the fuel since they were driving me back. I reluctantly agreed.
I got back to the hotel, but I could not believe what had happened and how easy it was to get sucked into a risky situation. The lady knew I was from the UK, but she didn’t know from where. For her to start talking about Lancaster University, which is close to where I live, was convincing, and I guess she got lucky with her choice of city.
I did not let it ruin my night. I was out that night again with Da and her friends, and the following day I was off to Phuket.
Getting to Know Bun at the Cashier’s Counter
Now I am on my own and I can enjoy myself. I like my own company and I enjoy watching the world go by. It was just a matter of going out, enjoying good Thai food, drinking, chatting with other people, and enjoying the beach.
One day, I decided to walk up a side soi where there were a few bars, and a lady shouted, “Hello, welcome, handsome man. Come inside, please take a seat.” But I walked on. I don’t know why, but the girl who had shouted welcome to me stuck in my mind. Later that night, I decided to visit her bar. She was now working behind the bar and it turned out that she was a cashier. The bar girls were hanging around me, but I wasn’t interested in any of them, and I left.
The following afternoon, I went back to the same bar. The cashier remembered me and we had a good chat. She was setting the bar up, arranging the bottles and the bar stools. After that, she started praying to the little Buddhist shrine behind the bar, probably hoping that they would be busy that night. I had one drink and then I left.
That evening, I was back at the bar and I got talking to an English guy whose wife used to work in the bar but was now living in the UK. They asked me if I was interested in any of the bar girls. I said the only girl I was interested in was the cashier. They said, “No chance. She is too shy and won’t go out with customers.” I thought, “Never mind,” and carried on drinking.
The following night I was back at the hotel, and the English guy said that him and his wife were going to the beach the following day with the cashier and would I like to come along? I said yes. And I guess the rest is history.
Discovering Bun’s Exhausting Work Schedule
I found out that the cashier, who I will call Bun, was cooking breakfasts and other meals from 7:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., and then she had to go and open up the bar. The more I heard, the more I was shocked. She told me that sometimes she would close up and fall asleep behind the bar. Honestly, the person who she was working for treated her like a slave. She only had a few hours of sleep a night, and this was 7 days a week.
We didn’t spend an awful lot of time with her, but I told her that she should consider moving on from that boss. The reason why she was there in the first place was to escape her ex-husband, who was violent, and she had to get out of her village. He gambled their money away, drank, and went with other women.
My holiday came to an end, and within no time at all, I found myself back in the UK and back at work. I would phone Bun every day, and I arranged another holiday with her. She was still working at the same bar and at the restaurant during the day.
Helping Bun Pay Off Her Motorbike
I arranged to meet Josh in Patong. He was in Asia for 6 months during the winter months in the US. We were having a good time telling the girls their fortunes, and I now had a drinking partner. I could see that Bun was very tired due to the amount of work she did. I asked her why she just didn’t go back home. She told me that she had bought a motorbike on a 4-year payment plan, so she had to carry on working to pay off the loan.
I asked her how much was outstanding on her motorbike. She told me about 25,000 baht, but she had only 12,000 baht in her bank account. I offered to give her the rest towards paying off her bike. Bun and I headed off to the motorcycle dealership and we paid the bike off. We didn’t really spend much time together due to her constant work, but I did give her a treat when I left, I bought her a watch that she still has and gave her about 4,000 baht. And then it was time to head back home.
We kept in touch, and Bun told me after she was paid she was going to escape her boss and go back home to her village. She arranged to send her motorbike back to her village and was getting the bus back home. I must say, in all this time, Bun never once asked me for money. It was me who offered.
The Visa Problems That Delayed Their Life Together
After a few months, I was back in Thailand, and we arranged to have a holiday in Bangkok. It was at the time that the airport was shut down due to the yellow shirts demonstrating everywhere in the city. I got an extra week for free. Bun was now working for her auntie in Bangkok, cooking for the family. Bun was a self-trained cook. Her family had good money and her salary was okay with less hours.
During this holiday, Bun mentioned that her family were not happy because I never sent or gave her any money apart from when I was leaving at the airport. I would tell her, “Look, if we are getting on so well, maybe one day you won’t need me to give you money because you might be living in the UK, and that is much better than me sending you money.” The problem was that Bun was also losing face to her family as I appeared to be a boyfriend who did not take care of her financially.
I tried to arrange a visa for Bun to visit me in the UK, but the application was turned down. Bun stopped working for her family and took a job in a food court in Pattaya, working 12-hour days; she lived in a room with three other girls and tried her best to be frugal and save money. Bun was a hard worker, and she was also supporting a son who was going to school, with high hopes of him going to university.
I tried again to get Bun a visa to visit me in the UK, and this time the application was successful. Bun now had a visa that allowed her to visit the UK for up to 6 months.
Bun Adjusts to Life in the United Kingdom
Bun arrived in the UK in October. It was a totally different climate to what she was used to, but she was seeing a brand new world. Everything we take for granted amazed her. She had never seen sheep in the fields or drinking water coming from the tap. My life turned upside down with Bun. She would put toothpaste on my brush. I had fresh clothes to wear laid out on the end of the bed. She cooked meals when I finished work along with a cold can of beer. I was waited on hand and foot.
The morning came when Bun was returning to Thailand. I had just finished night shift and was tired. I contacted Emirates and changed her flight to the last day of her 6-month holiday visa, and I also booked myself on the same flight. We decided to have a two-week holiday in Pattaya together.
A few holidays later, I managed to get Bun another UK visa. And to cut a long story short, at the end of her holiday, I asked Bun to marry me while on holiday in Manchester, and she said yes.
Completing the Marriage Paperwork and Wedding in Thailand
So it was all planning, marriage visas to change, and we arrived in Bangkok. I had to go to the British Embassy to get the marriage papers, then off down the road to get them translated, then off to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for more papers translated. The following day, we were married. I sent all the paperwork in for the marriage visa, and we went on a honeymoon to Koh Samui.
Now it was a waiting game for the marriage visa, and I had to go back home. It was strange leaving my wife alone at Bangkok airport. Anyways, 2 weeks later, Bun was granted a marriage visa, and I was off to Thailand to bring her back home to the UK. Bun was happy to be called Mrs. Smith, and she was also happy to be back in our house that she now calls home.
During the last 10 years since getting married, Bun looked after my mother who passed away from cancer. She looked after me after a stroke. I’m okay now, but I retired at 53, and Bun now works in a supermarket and is the breadwinner in our household.
I have to say that I am one of the lucky ones. I never used to send money to Thailand, and the money that I did give Bun was small, but I always told her, if we hit it off, she would have a good life in the end. Bun never sends money to Thailand. Her family are doing okay with the family business. We are planning on Bun becoming a British citizen, which will be good for her if anything ever happens to me.
