Gay visit

I bid farewell to the 'couple', wishing them all the best and safe journeys. It's funny how you can grow attach to people within just three days. A part of me was sad to see them go, disappointed and unwilling. It's been a short three days, but at the same time long and memorable.

It's really been a while since I've seen 'him', a gay friend I got to know through someone else, and one of the few gays I know. When I was wandering around Asia last year, he was so generous to let me stay at his place for a long time. We've been traveling together before, and it's always such a wild and fun time together, so when he said he's coming to Europe for a visit, I of course was more than happy to make sure he stopped by.


And this time he didn't come alone. 'She' is a colleague of his, and is the first lesbian I've ever met in my whole life. Butch, short-hair, tom-boy with attitude was what I was expecting. Stereotypes, of course. Instead she was extremely friendly and warm person with whom I soon hit it off.

We cycled, we laughed, joked, as we toured the cities and countryside and cruised the beach. There's plenty to see and do, and we made full use of the time together, rushing from place to place, clicking with our cameras at the strange and unique moments and sights. This was the first time I took people around who were gay, and I could so freely take them wander the streets and alleys of gay areas of A(mster)dam. Normally, I'd be so frightened to go into a gay bar by myself, but with them I felt more at ease. And we sat on the terrace during happy hour and watched people go by. And a visit to A'dam could not be complete without visiting the rich cultural educational heritage that the city's many sex shops had to offer. So we ventured into countless shops, next to window-girls in the famous Red Light District, and amazed ourselves with the bizarre and outrageous things that were for sale... Dildo's, whips, different types of fetishes, different ways of sex, from orgy to donkey, bi to pie, from piss to vomit... You name it, it was there. There were even cabins for rent, for those in need of instant... relief.

Exhausted, bedazzled and shivering from the cold and rain, we'd drag ourselves home. But the night never ended so early. We enjoyed a ritual of watching porn passionate adult entertainment on TV. Adult entertainment here is not for the faint-hearted. It's hardcore, fully exposed and 'anything-goes' and no taboos. We giggled ourselves silly lounging in the livingroom in the early hours of the morning, remote control at the ready, watching the people in action, while constantly adjusting the volume, afraid that the high-pitched groaning and moaning would wake up people sleeping upstairs and excite the cat. Satisfied, we'd retire to bed and sleep, while it clapped with thunder and echoed with rain.



Of course, amid all the madness and fun, there were precious little moments for heart-to-heart talks. About life, about work, about future... and about love. Being older, and wiser, they had much I could learn from, much I could cherish, much that could calm my restless mind. He and she has been/is in relationships. I could not but tell them how much I envied them, and how much I miss what they have. But they reassured me, told me what I often try to tell myself...

... love will come, love will come. No need to seek it, it will come for those willing and able to wait. It's a miraculous thing, and even more so how the universe works. No need to crave for things, just think of it, and forget that longing. Somehow, with positive thoughts and a positive mind, what you want will come to one, one way or another. Just do your best, live life to the fullest, and give. And you will be given.

I hugged and kissed the 'couple' goodbye at the airport terminal, and watched them slowly move on and away. We'll see one another someday, that's for sure. Until then, I can treasure the precious memories of our times together. Until then, I have the wise words they shared to take me forward.