VIETNAM - 1967
PART 18
Remember - This story takes place in 1967, when there was no AIDS or HIV; thus unprotected sex was OK. This story contains consensual sex between Male Adults. If you are not 18 - DO NOT READ THIS STORY. If this type of story is not acceptable where you live, DO NOT READ THIS STORY. Please send a contribution to NIFTY to keep this site up and free.
Please Note: The "chemical helpers" listed in this, and the following chapters, did not exist in 1967. They are a product of the author's imagination.
In 1967, the most dangerous STDs were Syphilis and Gonorrhea, which could be cured by penicillin, or the new antibiotics. Condoms were not needed for gay sex.
Tom was surprised that the Merchant Tour cost about ¼ of what the other tours cost. He asked the Hotel Manager why. He explained that the merchants chipped in and sponsored the tours. They made their profit selling things, and the amount charged the tourists paid for the driver, the rental/purchase of the van, and fuel.
Tom called the listed number and, like the previous day, was told that a driver would pick them up in ½ hour, and to pay the driver. Thai merchants were organized to take advantage of the presence of American Soldiers on R & R from Vietnam! They would not "Rip Off" the Americans, just sell them product, making a reasonable profit on the sale, and enjoying the "Haggle." Tom and John sat in the lobby, waiting to be picked up.
Sure enough, in about ½ an hour, a young Thai man came into the lobby, and went to the registration desk. The Hotel Manager and the Thai stranger came over to Tom and John. "This is James," the manager reported. "He will take you on the Merchants Tour." They engaged in the usual greetings; Tom and John paid the driver, and "James" escorted them out to the modern air conditioned van. The driver gave them a paper on which was listed (In English) the names of the stores they would be visiting. They got in the van. The driver went to the driver's seat, and the van took off!
They drove off and began picking up other soldiers on R & R, in "Hotel Row." After the last pick up, the van took off for a 15 minute drive through the city. Downtown Bangkok was like any modern city. The streets were paved, and there were Traffic lights. Eventually, they stopped and the driver parked in an area with many Jewelry Shoppes. The driver announced that they would be there for an hour and a half, and then drive to the next area.
Tom and John acted like sophisticated tourists. They went into each store without buying anything. The first store was all pearls, the next store was gemstones, the third store was all gold. After that they lost track of the number of stores. Each store specialized in one aspect of jewelry. Tom and John met and talked about which store they wanted to go back to. First, they went to the Pearl store and they purchased necklaces of graduated pearls, for their mothers. The prices, after haggling, were the cheapest outside of Japan, and way cheaper than they could buy stateside. They next went to the gem store.
Tom picked out a teardrop shaped Australian Fire opal and said he wanted a ring made out of the stone. The shop owner measured his finger, and suggested a white gold thick band, open behind the stone, would be most appropriate; and he said he would deliver the finished ring to the Hotel. The Thai people were so honest that Tom did not doubt that the ring would be delivered to the hotel.
They purchased some assorted gemstones, including natural Star Sapphires. They then went to the gold shop, and John purchased a masculine chain necklace made of pure gold. They then went back to the parked van. When all the soldiers had reboarded the van, the driver started up and drove to the next location.
The next area in the city was a number of fabric stores, mostly featuring "Raw Silk," along with an assortment of other fabrics. Tom and John were getting used to haggling, and the final costs were dirt cheap by American standards. They purchased an assortment of fabric yardage, and the shop owners said they would deliver the goods to their hotel. They were pleased to see a chart of how much fabric was needed for each style of western dress; and the chart was in English!
They returned to the van and proceeded to the next shopping area, which was mostly tailors. They made the rounds, then returned to one store where Tom ordered a western style suit. He picked out a fabric: Emerald Green Raw Silk and Mohair. The Thai tailor measured Tom's body. The tailor used a string into which he tied knots representing specific measurements. The tailor said he would deliver the finished suit to the hotel the next day.
The next area they were driven to was shops that sold souvenirs. The stores had a mixture of goods designed to catch the eyes of Americans. Tom bought a cast chess set. One side was bronze, while the other side was the same bronze figures plated with nickel. John purchased a wooden hand carved Buddha, and a teak statue of fucking elephants with ivory tusks.
Tom and John met next to the van and determined how much money they should retain and how much they had left that they could spend. John stayed in the van while Tom went back to one store and purchased souvenirs for relatives. It became obvious that the van driver knew American buying habits. When all the passengers had returned to the van, the van driver asked if anyone wanted to go back to any of the shops they had been to. Several of the passengers said they would like to go back to the Jewelry area. The van took off back to the jewelry area. When they got there, some of the "Tourists" got off and went into a store. John and Tom stayed in the van. When the last person returned, the van drove back to Hotel Row, dropping off people. When they got to their hotel, Tom and John got off. Tom slipped a dollar bill to the driver. They went into the lobby, then into the restaurant. They ordered Hamburgers and Fries. When they finished, they went back to their room.
Once in their room, Tom and John took off their civilian clothes, which they neatly put on Tom's bed. They put their souvenirs in the closet. They lay on John's bed in just their boxers, and they went to sleep!