Gay Boy Thailand

Hard at work in Jakarta

Chalerm is affectionate and happy. He has been on Thai television again in his role as social activist and minor celebrity.

Chalerm’s aunt is coming to Bangkok to go to a hospital. I am not sure what is wrong with her. I will meet and greet her. Her daughter, Chalerm’s Cousin When, is living in Bangkok already.

—

Security guards and taxi drivers in Bangkok are listening to stirring speeches on the radio. Last time they did that a military coup followed. What will happen now? Will Thaksin go to prison? “They” are out to get him. Meanwhile the Thaksinites have provided free bus and rail transport to the masses in an effort to remind them who they should support.

—

I have been reading about Jakarta, the city I visited with moderate success last month. Should I give Jakarta another chance? I didn’t like Bangkok either at first. Cities like these are an acquired taste.

I read that Jakarta is not as dangerous as it looks. Sure, there are scary Mafia types on the streets but they are controlled criminals, not running wild criminals. Or so I read on the web.

Men on the street

I also realised that I have a favourite group of locals, the Sundan. The young man I took back to my room to give a massage must have been a Sundan. The Sundan people live around Jakarta and compared with other groups on Java they have gentler temperament, lighter skin and their own language and traditions. Many of them look more Thai than Malay. There are 30 million Sundans so one can hardly call them a small minority.

The worst part of my last trip was getting sick from the food. Ex-pats in Jakarta say they get the Jakarta belly often when they move there and even after years of living in Indonesia they still get sick now and then.

I booked a flight to good old Malaysia for my next visa run. Malaysia is cleaner and better organised. Indonesia can wait till I feel more adventurous again.