Stickman Readers' Submissions August 19th, 2004

Leaving Asia

A company transfer has required me to return to the U.S.A. to live and work. I've had weeks of regrets about this and many sleepless nights. But, I'm not financially set to retire just yet so I have no option but to return to the West. A life
long retirement check is important and it must not be sacrificed for a few years of life in Asia. I believe if I returned to LOS in five years it will be much the same. After all, I've been in Asia for 11 years and not much has changed in
LOS over the years. The girls are still there. Every year the Isaan girls flock into Bangkok. Fresh and sweet. All looking for a "sponsor". And all tuned into the Internet for the farang traveler who falls in love with them. I've
known some girls who juggle 10 or more farangs on the Internet all sending money to their "true love". Hell, I was even pumping a girl in Phuket when she got a mobile phone call from her "boyfriend" in the UK and as I was pumping
away she told him she was at home being a good girl…send more money honey. I don't blame these girls for this. I know a farang who married a Thai model only to find that she was screwing around on him. He had a good paying job in Bangkok
and she had all she needed. Nonetheless, she had a couple of boyfriends in tow. So sad. He divorced her.

As I contemplated the move, I thought about the 11 years I spent in SE Asia. Singapore to be exact. A short hop to LOS. I looked at all the visa stamps for Thailand in my passport and even thought of some of the immigration officers I got
to know at the Bangkok airport over the years. They knew me well. I thought about Soi 4, Soi 33, Soi Cowboy, Patpong, Pattaya, Phuket (Nui Beach) and all the fun I had in those places. I also thought about the Thai girl I fell in love with and
who succeeded in taking a good deal of money from me over the years. She married an American farang and now lives in Vietnam with a baby. That could have been me and I'm grateful that it wasn't. I'm sure the guy's life is miserable
and a money drain. We must all keep in mind that any girl gets old after a spell…having sex with her that is. Personally, I was tired of the 10+ girl (I thought a 10+) after a few years. A sixth grade education from Narathewat and me with an
MBA. Not a whole lot to talk about after sex. It does get old. No worries there. But, I'm a sucker for love, brown skin, big brown cow eyes. Eating nice pussy. All and all, it was just another of life's experiences. It all comes to and
end. Nothing lasts forever.

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Will I ever return to Asia and Thailand in the future? I don't know. I already feel the tug to return and I haven't even left yet! But, you know, the past few years I was going up to Bangkok and LOS from Singapore not at all frequently and when
I did I very seldom bar fined. I liked chatting to the girls but it was all the same game. I could do that at Orchard Towers in Singapore. I saw a lot of the Soi 4 girls working there from time to time. I'm not criticizing any of this. I'm
just saying that it's just the way it is. I'm only 54 and there's a lot of life ahead of me. A lot of the world to see yet. I don't feel old or think old. A few years in the States may just resolve in my mind that my life belongs
in Thailand. Maybe it won't. But, I won't know that for certain unless I give the States a try again and at least a test run. Like I said, I have no options. I'm not set to retire. I don't have the money. In a few years I may.

I have noticed over the recent years that many farangs have left LOS for home. Do we all return to our roots? Not all of us. But, some of us have. The question is why? Do we burn out with the place? The people? The culture? I really don't
have any answers for that. I do know that Sunbelt Asia lists many businesses up for sale and state that the owner wishes to "return to his homeland to pursue new business ventures". Is that a hint? I don't know.

I had a Thai romance and it cost me plenty. I wonder what my life would be like today had I not gotten away and free earlier. Had I kept my head about me I would have paid off a house in Hawaii and now be enjoying a US$1200 a month income.
But, I fell for it all. Personally, I think I would be a mess both emotionally and financially had I hung in there with that Thai beauty. With this move I hope to find myself and ascertain if LOS is my ultimate destination in life or just a passing
fancy. After all, life is short.

So long Asia. It was a nice ride for 11 years. I'm off to Atlanta, Georgia. It's only 30 hours, a couple of meals, a few movies and few beers away from LOS. I'm not out of touch. Let's see what's in the stars for
my future.

Stickman’s thoughts:

You’ve got the guts to do what many people are too scared to do, or just haven’t realised what they should be doing. Retirement creeps up on all of us eventually. Good on you.


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