I like to think that I'm a (gay) man of the world. I've had a few boyfriends, and more than a few encounters with a varied selection men from all over the world, with a reasonable selection of activities too. So I don't think that anyone could call me naïve. Nonetheless, when I checked into a hotel with boyfriend K today, I didn't immediately realise what the following notice meant at the hotel reception:
"You do understand it, don't you?" asks boyfriend K with a cheeky tone in his voice, "the English is a bit weird!"
"Well, I saw on the hotel's website that they charge extra for 3 people in a room," I reply after reading it very quickly.
"Hang on," I continue, "what is a joiner visitor? A friend who arrives late?"
"Don't forget that we're staying in Pattaya tonight," replies boyfriend K helpfully.
For readers who may not know, Pattaya became famous during the Vietnam war as a place American solders went for prostitutes. And even though the Vietnam war ended a long time ago, the business continued.
"Wow," I say feeling very stupid, "I've never seen that before in a hotel, a policy about bringing someone back for the night!"
And when we get to our room, there's something else that I've never seen before in a hotel. A packet of condoms for sale in the bedroom, prominently visible, and proudly displayed on the mini-bar price list.
"Actually I remember now that one of my friends warned me about this," I say to boyfriend K after the baggage porter has left, "he told me that he always feels a bit dirty after a visit to Pattaya!"
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