I write these reports as a way to process the trip, to burn in my memories and sometimes in the process, especially with the feedback, I learn something new. I don't normally sit around and intellectualize about stuff, but these trips are so precious to me that I really like to come home and squeeze every bit color out of these memories and lock them in. For me alot of this is about making good memories.
I was sort of flamed on another board and the poster said (in response to post one):
Your story is so old, it creaks. The pictures of the Isaan village are a nice touch. I can't remember when I've seen a sorrier looking Isaan shithole. I'd be interested in your friend's story. Then again, maybe not. From the pics alone, I'm sure his story is pretty cliche, too.
It never ceases to amaze me that Farang boneheads continue to come here and want to be with these village idiots.
I took exception to his characterization of "village idiots" and responded so.
More importantly to me, though, is that I don't crap on anyone elses way of doing things (as long as they're not hurting anyone) and it takes all kinds in this world.
I've done "body count" trips, and have managed a fair number, though you serious body count guys blow me away
I've done the daily butterfly trip and have had a wonderful time.
I've done cheap (in China), stayed in some pretty raunchy places (China, Philippines) as well as some pretty swanky places (China, Philippines, Thailand).
Personally I believe there's really no right and wrong way to do it, as long as it makes the person doing it happy. Some people are most happy when they bargain hunt and it would make their day if they could find a girl to go for 200 baht. Other guys...the process of doing that would ruin their day.
Some trips I'm a total butterfly and really get bored easily, and this trip I really wanted to relax if I found a good one to hang with. I was very lucky, blessed even, to find someone that I got along with, never gave me one moment of grief, and could get along with pretty much anyone that we ran across. A great companion. We stay in touch still, though we are NOT romantic
The desire to sponsor the first day girl, was the culmination of something I had been building up in my mind all year. I'm not looking for a girlfriend or even someone to save. It was just a one-off thing that I'm glad I was cured of. It was a kind of "I don't want this to happen, but I'm hoping it will" kind of thing. Conflicted, illogical, stupid, but there it was. If she had lived up to expectations, I would have been happy to travel down that route. As it is, looking back, I'm happy- maybe happier - now.
Money. Everyone is different and when I retire, it'll certainly be different than it is now. Much of my costs can be attributed to three factors. Expensive hotels, expensive food (sometimes), and threesomes double my largest daily cost (next to hotels). I'm very comfortable with more middle of the road hotels, and don't really need to eat at the fancy schmancy places - though I enjoy them - so I think I can save a bit there. Threesomes...don't know if I will do anything about that. When they happen they can be alot of fun. This particular trip wasn't a problem, but it was a little over what I had planned. If I knock a thousand off (simple by changing hotels) then I'm in a very comfortable place.
On gift buying. I have a friend that buys stuff I think is crazy... designer jeans, vaurnet sunglasses stuff like that and takes them into China on his trips and gives them away to his one night girlfriends there. It's crazy to me, because they seem just as happy if you let them pick a $1.99 pair of knockoffs from the display at the store in China. But it makes him happy and he can afford it so what can I say? It's something he does to make HIM happy.
For me, I usually don't act like Santa Claus. I'm not scrooge either. Maybe a lucky stone bracelet, something like that and we're good to go. This trip I felt like pampering someone a little bit and who knows how connected it is, but I was really taken care of well in return. The total value of the items really wasn't all that much, and I'm still good with my golden rule.
Ken's golden rule: No trips to the gold store
hehe
I think if I added everything I bought for everyone on this trip, it was still much, much cheaper than even a small trip to the gold store.
Tips
I usually tie them to how happy I am and how hard I think the girls tried, then offset it a little bit with how much they asked me to get them stuff and if I got it for them. Mostly we were in the 2k range. The threesome in bangkok left a couple hours earlier than I wanted, but it was fine since I wanted sleep. They worked non-stop until they left so I gave them 1.5k (bangkok). Da, I regret not giving her a tiny bit more but for some weird reason 2K LT I could have gone another 500 with her and never noticed the difference. Could be why she didn't want to come back early for the dinner cruise, though. Bartendee? I forgot now.
Trip reports and time warps.
I spent 13 nights in LOS. I can account for one day of no report because I arrived late that night and slept. Two more days disappeared and I can isolate those to Pattaya. What happened? I don't know...I suspect it was more barhopping, movies, mall, rest, hotel. Two nights disappeared...
Next Trip
I've been barely back a week (I had travelled on from LOS to HK, Macau, and China with family for a week and a half) and i'm still jet lagged and already I want to be back in LOS. As far as I know I'm good to go for February and will be staying longer. Knowing this I'm going to trim the budget a little bit, as I'll have just as much fun doing some other things I think. I enjoyed Beam and can't wait to see her again, if she's free, but at the same time I think it's going to be time to butterfly a bit again. It was kind of funny, Beam told me a few of the girls who know i'm a butterfly from previous trips were asking her why I wasn't changing up on this trip
Not sure what I'll do yet, but I'm sure whatever I plan will fall apart and then work out fine I'll post replies to myself if I remember whatever else it was that I forgot.
Thanks again for allowing me to share.