Divorce
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They said Alex is a nice chap—an American gay man who lives in a rented house with his young male Thai partner, Ae. Alex’s story begins here. What follows is a carousel of characters—each navigating Thai life in their own way, with humour, hesitation, or quiet resolve. Alex inherited some money from his mum when…
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Part 9 of 14 in the Behind the Bamboo Curtain series of where Derek “escapes ” to Thailand. Observing and Integrating Some expats rush in. Others wait, observe, and learn. In this section, we meet those who’ve taken a slower path—cautious, curious, and quietly adapting to life in Thailand. Although I feel happily married in…
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Part 7 of 14 in the Behind the Bamboo Curtain series on Derek’s Escape to Thailand. With the exception of breakfast, we seldom had a meal at home, as Toy preferred to go out for meals. Before she met me, it would have been at a roadside stall .This is where most Thais eat and the staple…
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Beyond the Bamboo Curtain It seemed like longer, but Toy and I had been together for only nine days. Were we going too fast? Was I going too fast? Did I know enough about her after such a short time? Much of what I’d gleaned about Thailand had come from internet forums and from Richard’s…
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Part 3: A Thai Thief I had crammed a lot into my first five days in Thailand. I had been puzzled and perhaps confused by some of the differences I noticed between Thai and Western ways. Although the people seemed happy and relaxed, maybe there was something being concealed behind the smile that was on…
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Part 1 We’re Airborne This is the first in a 14-part series tracing Derek’s journey through the subtle, often unseen layers of Thai society. Each instalment offers a glimpse behind the bamboo curtain—where social cues, quiet tensions, and unspoken hierarchies shape daily life. We begin mid-air, with altitude and anticipation, as Derek’s story takes flight.…