I'm seriously considering a move from Chiang Mai. Maybe to Hua Hin, Songkhla, Phuket. Question is: what are my chances of finding same-gender companionship, whether young or old, longterm or shortterm, paid or unpaid?

I have a friend who moved to Hua Hin and seems to find it pretty much as easy as CMai in most of the above categories. What about other beach towns?

I'd like to know more about Hua Hin too...

ChrisP

I might be opening a can of worms (or worse) with this reply but to answer PeaceBlondie's question: what are my chances of finding same-gender companionship, whether young or old, longterm or shortterm, paid or unpaid? ...

I found my young, same-sex, long-term companion in Pattaya. He is from a remote village in Issan.

The question then becomes: Is it the person you are seeking or where are they from? I think in my case it was me being in the right place at the right time.

A quick web search turned up a number of pages on Hua Lin. One I liked listed bars, attractions, maps etc and can be found here:

/mods edit , no commercial links

All I can say, PeaceBlondie is: Start looking and keep your options open. I hope you find the right person.

Peter

I lived in Hua Hin for 6 months ... no problems finding guys to spend time with. The bars there are dreadful but some of the guys are nice. The lifestyle was way too laid back for me. Had to come to BKK to see a movie in Eng at a proper theater.

I did have several dates come down from BKK for a weekend etc which was nice as at the time my Thai was VERY limited as was the English of the guys I met down there.

I'm not sure Songkhla is a good idea.. what with the "unrest" going on in the South...!

ChrisP

No, ChrisP - Songklha isn't the far far south. They had one bomb last month, nothing to ignore. But 12 million New Yorkers didn't leave the city after two very big bombs. I used to do volunteer work in a conflict zone; I doubt that any part of Thailand counts for that (although the three southernmost provinces aren't safe, apparently).

jdinasia, thanks for that opinion on Hua Hin - it agrees with what my former neighbor reported after moving there.

^ Ok.. I thought Songkhla was in one of the 3 Southern Provinces.

ChrisP

Close, but no exploding cigar.

Songkla is indeed in a far south province. Look at a map. It is, however, a Thai Bhuddist controlled city in an Islamic area. I spent some time there a few years ago and had a wonderful time. The seafood was out of this world (I think it is the largest fishing port in Thailand) but the port area smell will make you wretch. There are intersting old areas to walk around, and the beach area is picturesque, though not a great beach. The people seemed much more reserved than other parts of Thailand, and there was clearly more wealth there (many colleges, etc.). I would imagine you would have to be resourceful to meet local young men, and would be better off looking for them by visiting Hat Yai, the big city to the south. I would also consider that Songkla, being a richer Bhuddist city in the Muslim south, is a pretty likely violence target area.

I live on Koh Samui - does that qualify as the seaside? There are certainly many sincere genuine gay Thai young men living and working here. I have met the love of my life here (4 months together !!) - so I am living proof

In my experience I think the hotel trade brings in a large number of gay staff. Especially on an island like Samui where most of the working population have come from elesewhere in Thailand.

Good Luck where ever you decide to settle