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Posted

It's time to ask a favour and ask TV's Gay Forum members to put on their 'thinking caps.'

A bit of background: I have been having a LDR (long distance relationship) with my Thai boyfriend for the past 15 months. I have visited twice and I am going back next month in August - and I will be there for his birthday. He turns 21 next month. Is turning 21 a special event for Thai guys?

We have just finished building a house for both of us in his Issan village. He is working 2 jobs in Bangkok (a laundry by day and a waiter at a Thai kareoke bar at night) as he wants to be semi-independent.

When I met his parents last time, I asked him what gift I should take them. I thought all Thais liked whiskey. I was told NO, it will kill them - as they are old people. I found out what they most wanted was - wait for it ... rice! Talk about taking coals to Newcastle ... taking rice to Issan.

My bf made a big deal of selecting thebestbag of rice and we presented it to his parents, who were honestly thrilled.

Now comes the question: What to get him for his 21st birthday. I could get him another mobile phone, some cash or even a gold bracelet or necklace ... but I want to give him something special - maybe something for our home.

I have a budget of up to 6000 baht (200 Australian dollars). Should I get something from Australia or buy something in Thailand when I arrive?

Any suggestions?

Peter

Posted (edited)
Now comes the question: What to get him for his 21st birthday. I could get him another mobile phone, some cash or even a gold bracelet or necklace ... but I want to give him something special - maybe something for our home.

I have a budget of up to 6000 baht (200 Australian dollars). Should I get something from Australia or buy something in Thailand when I arrive?

Any suggestions?

Peter

Is turning 21 a special event for Thai guys?

>>> i dont think so

What to get him for his 21st birthday. I could get him another mobile phone, some cash or even a gold bracelet or necklace ... but I want to give him something special

>>> if u ask me in girl 's thought .. what i want in my birthday , i wish i 'd see someone i love in that day ... no need to give me any gift.. coz the best thing..is you (i mean bf) ..maybe just hug , romantic dinner and spent time together ..what's a wonderful world

well ..maybe too girlish ..for you

maybe you ask yourself what do you want most in your birthday .. when you know your answer .. i think its his answer also

Regards

Bambi

Edited by BambinA
Posted

Bambi I think any man who is your boyfriend is very lucky to have such a genuine, considerate and lovely woman like yourself. :o

Pete, I think the best gift would be something personal... Perhaps a photo of you both enlarged and in a nice frame, or even an oil painting or characature of you both.

Posted (edited)
Bambi I think any man who is your boyfriend is very lucky to have such a genuine, considerate and lovely woman like yourself. :o

thanks scampy

All that matter's is

That you treat me right

Give me all the things I need

That money can't buy yeah

lol .. big arse singer - J.LO -Love Don't Cost A Thing

ps ...

JENNIFER LOPEZ - Love Don't Cost A Thing Lyrics

[1] - You think you gotta keep me iced

You don't

You think I'm gonna spend your cash

I won't

Even if you were broke

My love don't cost a thing

Think I wanna drive your Benz

I don't

If I wanna floss I got my own

Even if you were broke

My love don't cost a thing

When you rolled up in the Escalade

Saw that truck you gave to the valet

Knew that it was game when you looked at me

Pulling up your sleeve so I could see the Rolley bling

Saw you later in the corner booth

Raising up a toast so I would notice you

But your heart's a mess

Think you outta know

Doesn't matter if you're balling out of control

[2] - All that matter's is

That you treat me right

Give me all the things I need

That money can't buy yeah

[Repeat 1]

When I took a chance

Thought you'd understand

Baby credit cards aren't romance

So you're tryna buy what's already yours

What I need from is not available in stores

Seen a side of you that I really feel

Doing way too much, never keep it real

If it doesn't change, gotta hit the road

Now I'm leaving, where's my keys?

I've got to go

[Repeat 2]

[Repeat 1]

A thing, a thing, a thing

Yeah, yeah, yeah

You think the money that you make

Can substitute the time you take

Take the keys here to my heart

Then you can win my heart, and get what's in my heart

I think you need to take some time

To show me that your love is true

There's more than dollar signs in you

Then you can win my heart, and get what's in my heart

[Repeat 1 till end]

Edited by BambinA
Posted
It's time to ask a favour and ask TV's Gay Forum members to put on their 'thinking caps.'

A bit of background: I have been having a LDR (long distance relationship) with my Thai boyfriend for the past 15 months. I have visited twice and I am going back next month in August - and I will be there for his birthday. He turns 21 next month. Is turning 21 a special event for Thai guys?

We have just finished building a house for both of us in his Issan village. He is working 2 jobs in Bangkok (a laundry by day and a waiter at a Thai kareoke bar at night) as he wants to be semi-independent.

When I met his parents last time, I asked him what gift I should take them. I thought all Thais liked whiskey. I was told NO, it will kill them - as they are old people. I found out what they most wanted was - wait for it ... rice! Talk about taking coals to Newcastle ... taking rice to Issan.

My bf made a big deal of selecting thebestbag of rice and we presented it to his parents, who were honestly thrilled.

Now comes the question: What to get him for his 21st birthday. I could get him another mobile phone, some cash or even a gold bracelet or necklace ... but I want to give him something special - maybe something for our home.

I have a budget of up to 6000 baht (200 Australian dollars). Should I get something from Australia or buy something in Thailand when I arrive?

Any suggestions?

Peter

Hi Peter,

I think something special is something personal for him - not for your joint home. The new mobile isn't a bad idea - most Thai's love their mobiles - but it will have to be a good notch or two above what he's got now (smaller, with camera, more games etc) and that could come in over your budget - depends what he's got now, of course.

How about a smart watch? I imagine you already know his taste, so you'll know whether to go stylewise for something in stainless steel, gold, sleek/modern or more ornate. Best if it's one that wouldn't be available in Thailand - and not a fake!

Or - does he have a particular interest/hobby that could give you an idea for something connected to that?

Hope that helps - and it sounds like you're both lucky guys.

Enjoy.

Steve

Posted
Pete, I think the best gift would be something personal... Perhaps a photo of you both enlarged and in a nice frame, or even an oil painting or characature of you both.
Oh, no no, no. TGS proves once again why he would make a terrible boyfriend for 'love that dare not speak its name'
How about a smart watch?

Mmmmmm......no, (but not bad)

What I want you to get is an Eternity Ring, diamond studded, (not big stones, just small ones). You should get something satisfactory for 6000 baht

Posted

Peter991: I asked "my Thai" from Issan and his reply:

21st birthday is special because you become l"egal" at that age, but subject to Army induction. Can get into disco, bars and karioke for the first time. I would view it as we do in the west and "make it special" for him.

"Show off" in the good sense of the word comes through to me as the present of choice so:

1. Definitely from Australia and obviously so.

2. Something that can be worn and that screams its from Australia or overseas and bought there.

3. If he is always "cold" as mine is or wanting to stay out of the sun, a jacket would be top choice. There are many expensive jackets that cleaarly indicate they are from Australia. Do not buy a jacket, regardless of how it "screams" Australia, if it was made in Thailand. An inside lable indicating Australian origin would be a plus.

4. I bought a 12USD watch in Australia for my Thai in our first month together, and although it has been replaced bya much showier and more expensive watch since, he still wears the old one with the worn off "gold". When asked to "surrender" the watch or put it away, a look of horrow covers his face.

Follow your instincts of what to buy just add the cache of it being impoted from Australia and something he can "show off" when in use.

Posted

I gave my BF one of those Monk baskets so he could take to a Temple and present to the monks on his birthday. This allows him to make merit on his birth date and is very important for Budhists. On someones birthday in Thailand it usually gains them more face if they can give gifts to the temple or to their friends. It sounded weird to me, the birthday boy taking several of his close friends out to a nice dinner and HE pays for it all... but that's the way it is done.

By giving him a monk's basket you are reenforcing the fact that you understand his culture. That is more important than a watch or ring in a relationship. If your BF only wants the gold... I would reevaluate the relationship.

Just my 2 satangs worth.

ajarntrade

Posted

20's more of a big deal than 21 ..... and still not a huge deal. I doubt strangers would have a better idea of what to buy your BF than you have already.

A friend of mine took his friend to a special Thai place that the friend had never been before and made a nice weekend out of it. (Grand Palace, Wat Po etc .... then massages nice Thai dinners and nice hotels ... ) it was a greatly appreciated day ....

(I was the tour guide ... can you imagine?)

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

I think that every 21-year-old would just LOVE to have a portable MP3 player. If you boyfriend works at a laundry he could possibly listen to some music even while working which makes it sooo much more fun! :D

iPod shuffle seems to cost a$ 149-199 at Australian Apple Store so it falls within your price range. iPod mini is more expensive but you get a free engraving which is very nice (don't know about delivery times though). Of course there are several other brands on the market also.

Then again - and this ruins my idea now - he would need to use a computer somewhere to upload music to the MP3 player. :o

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Hope this helps:

- Most Thais are not very interested in something from 'Australia' (or whatever the friends home country is).

_ Thais, mostly, would prefer:

- - - Something which shows status

- - - Something which builds security (e.g. Gold)

Good luck

Posted

Thanks to everybody for their suggestions. I bought by Thai BF a soft toy Kangaroo (which he adores), a 1 baht gold necklace with a heart on it and a I-phone, so we can keep in touch. The I-phone plays VDO and MP3s.

It was only a short holiday this time but I must return to work tomorrow and he returned to work straight away so we can both save for his tourist visa to Australia in Feb 2006, when he will (hopefully) be visiting Australia for 3 months.

Peter

Posted

Peter: It is not too early to strart documenting your relationship in anticipation of your visa application.

Start collecting pictures, letters, receipts, his pay stubs, etc. for your visa application in February. Good luck.

Posted
For any Thai, there are three answers.

GOLD,  GOLD and of course GOLD.

Without a question. That it the number 1 gift, by a long way.

6000 will buy 75 satang, Gold is now about 8000 per baht.

If its that special it should be a 3 - 5 baht chain around the neck, 1 or 2 baht for the necklace, and the remainder for the gold to carry the amulet after you get the "blessing" from the monk.

Posted

The gold thing may be true to a lot of thai women (but I know many who don't wear it) but for thai men, both straight & gay I know, it doens't seem to be a high priority. My husband wont wear any jewlery & doesn't even wear a wedding ring (neither did I until recently btw :D ) For birthdays I buy the hubby golf stuff & last year he got a keyboard as they incorp his 2 great loves :o Sounds like you covered all options Peter & I'm glad he like them but a house sounds like a bloody good pressie to me :D And good luck with the visa process.

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