A little nip-tuck and Thai hospitality

Last night Allen and I went to Silom Soi 4, the place to be in Bangkok if you're a guy and you're gay. For someone who's neither, it was still a mighty fine place to kick back. Bars and restaurants line the street, most of the seating outside. Lanterns and strings of lights hang over head. Pretty boys parade. First-rate scenery all around. A guy Allen just started going out with, Bomb, joined us and couldn't have been any sweeter. (Allen dates the nicest guys and I get attached. It's a pattern.) We talked about plastic surgery—he's had his nose done—and how cheap it is here. This really is the place to come have "work done". It's especially popular for sex reassignment surgeries. Only $1,500 for the whole shebang. And it must be quality work—some of the Thai "katoeys" put other women, including myself, to shame. But I digress ... Back to Bomb, who's only altered his nose. He taught me some new Thai (I love you is chun ruk koon, sounds like raccoon) and invited me to call him anytime I wanted to learn more. I assumed he meant the every-now-and-then call. Then he said he's available to talk on the phone in the evenings and could talk about two hours a night. Two hours a night! I found this so amusing because it's a perfect, slightly extreme, example of Thai hospitality. Many Thais are so excited to show foreigners their country and language, they'll go above and beyond what a Westerner could imagine doing. It's very endearing, and inspiring. Or maybe it just means this guy needs more hobbies—but I'll go with inspiring. At the moment, Allen probably wanted to slap me, but all I could say was ... yes, I said it ... I know, I'm a dork ... "you're the Bomb."