Kong-Phiwit hugging special, Boy the cleaner, James Ruangsak shines

Kong, Phiwit

My God – not another hug!

I could barely watch gay lovers Kong and Phiwit last night. After a promising start, their one-on-one encounters are now predictable and tedious.

I lost count of how many times Kong rushed into Phiwit’s arms, one rib-crunching embrace after another. Kong’s family have discovered he is gay and that he and Phiwit like each other.

That probably wouldn’t matter so much, except that Phiwit is also brother-in-law to a woman who, six years before, killed Kong’s elder sister.

Kong’s surviving sister, Kaew, is appalled that he has knowingly struck up a relationship with Phiwit, given the family history.

The knowledge must be kept from their mother at all costs, she says, or Mum could take another dramatic star turn (encounter with hospital bed) for the worse.

Improbable secrets fuel this family drama. They keep us watching, though as the secrets unfold one by one, there’s precious little of interest to watch.

Kong and Phiwit are supporting players in the channel 5 drama, Tomorrow, I'll Still Love You, though were given a generous amount of screen time last night.

The highlight of silliness was a scene in the middle of a street where Phiwit has clasped Kong’s hand in a stand of gay unity. ‘He’s with me!’ he’s saying, as family members try to drag them apart.

We end up with a push-me-pull-you style tug-of-war, with Phiwit at one end being pulled by his family, and Kong at the other end being pulled in the opposite direction by his. Come on, people – this is embarrassing to watch!

Kong and Phiwit are separated. Kong sheds tears, as he does often these days. Phiwit turns up at his place to meet him. Kaew tries to force them apart again, and slaps Kong’s face. 

Tired of family squabbles getting in the way of true love, Kong leaves in Phiwit’s car. Having spurned their families, they are now gay lovers on the run. Back at Phiwit’s place, Kong collapses into his arms for yet another man hug.

In danger of being overlooked in all this Kong/Phiwit drama is the role played by excellent James Ruangsak.

He plays Phipat, the ratbag husband of the woman who killed Kong’s sister, and elder brother to the hapless Phiwit.

When Phiwit grabs Kong’s hand, Phipat looks askance at this appalling display of gay affection between Kong and his brother, as if he can’t believe his straight blinkered eyes. It was a classic moment, one of the best in the series so far.

The boys hold hands, Kaew, Phit look askance

For more of James, see below.
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Boy

If the Kong/Phiwit gay scenes look sterile, it’s because they are ‘cleaned’ first by Exact Entertainment head 'Boy' Takonkiat Weerawan, who directs the drama (news reports say).

They are mere plot devices, designed to draw attention to the female lead.

They are not allowed to show flamboyant gay body language, or draw too close, as director Boy won't allow it.

In Thai TV dramas, gays are usually portrayed as figures of fun. Were they to start looking too gay in the conventional sense, viewers might get turned off. They could also detract from the leads.

In an interview with Matichon newspaper, Boy sheds light on his thinking behind the characters in Tomorrow, I'll Still Love You (พรุ่งนี้ก็รักเธอ). The story is about leads Por and Kaew, a couple who loved each other, but who circumstances forced apart.

When they are reunited years later, one obstacle after another comes in the way of their love.

Kong and Phiwit are the supporting duo. Director Boy says he could have chosen a straight couple as the second leads, but went for a gay coupling, as they are rarely seen on Thai TV.

Kong falls in love with Phiwit, yes, but is really there to cause problems for female lead Kaew. His relationship with Phiwit, brother-in-law to the woman who killed her sister, causes her headaches.

‘Kong is there to draw sympathy to Kaew,’ he says. 'He also poses another obstacle for her to confront.'

Describing the gay relationship between Phiwit and Kong, the director says they start off as friends. In a playful way, Phiwit shows he is interested, while Kong fobs off his advances.

They end up falling for each other, but signs of gay love or affection between the two are kept to a minimum, as is any sign that gay matters might come before family.

Director Boy notes that in the closing episodes the pair end up pulling away from the embrace of their families, when their families indicate that they cannot accept their love.

He says he is not trying to send any messages about the way gays are treated by society, but notes that while straight couples swear and curse, and slap each other about, these two treat each other well.

Society dislikes gays, he reckons, and we will feel sorry for this couple by the end. However, we will also know that their love was the sweetest of the relationships portrayed in the series, he says. The Kong-Phiwit coupling emerges as the ‘cleanest’(seen in the most positive light) of all. The Matichon piece is here [link harvested - it died].
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James Ruangsak

Singer/actor James Ruangsak shines as the bad guy in Tomorrow, I’ll Still Love You.

Next up, he plays a ladyboy-mother in the gay stage show, La Cage Aux Folles, opening next year.

James, in La Cage Aux Foles

He appeared before the cameras yesterday as he performed in rehearsals the gay anthem, I Am What I Am.

I can barely tell it’s James. Later, he talks about his role as a ladyboy, who in the show has a teenage child.

The director, he says, gives him advice on how to carry himself, and totter about in high-heels. The romantic comedy, in which he plays a stage diva, opens in May.

Tea for two, ice-cream maker rocks, home-baked bread feeler, Kong/Phiwit clock ticking

Maiyuu has bought a new tea set – two cups, saucers, a strainer, and a teapot. Needless to say, we also have the tea – chrysanthemum, and lavender.

‘Unlike other teas, these will help give you a good sleep if you drink them before bed,’ he said.

At night, Mauyuu makes a pot. He adds honey, and serves.

I had hoped to bring you pictures of his piping-hot tea, but they will have to wait, as I keep forgetting to take the pictures at night when he has made a brew.
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We also have a new ice-cream maker. As I write, Maiyuu is whipping up a batch of strawberry sherbet ice-cream. I tried his plain strawberry ice-cream this morning, which he makes with milk and cream. It tastes just like the street-bought stuff, only not as oily or greasy. Pictures coming soon.
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Overseas, my parents have bought a bread-maker on e-Bay. I asked Maiyuu if he would be interested in buying one for us. He has baked his own bread in the past, though we don’t have a machine made for the task.

So far, he is unenthusiastic.

I asked if he had heard of e-Bay; No. I have seen a Thai version of e-Bay on the net, but don’t know anyone who shops on it.

By the looks of it, e-Bay has yet to take off here as it has in the West.
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Kong and Phiwit, your time is running out!

The Channel 5 drama, Tomorrow, I’ll Still Love You airs again tonight.

Writing at the Pantip webboard, one fan says the series has less than two weeks to go. Gay lovers Kong and Phiwit, who play supporting roles, get a few minutes of airtime in each episode, perhaps half an hour in total.

However, the two are involved in the thick of the drama – Kong’s sister sees the pair holding hands, which is their tender coming-out statement to the world.

One lad gets hits by a car, and I'm told they even share a kiss. Stay tuned.

Lonely ham and cheese

Maiyuu went out last night, and is still not back this morning, which is forcing me to fend for myself.

He left a love note - ‘Dearest BF, I’m going out with so-and-so. I love you so much’ – and a dish of pork fried rice.

This morning the fried rice is gone; hunger and restlessness are setting in.

I have made myself a ham and cheese sandwich, with mayonnaise. I can find little else in the fridge worth eating.

Never mind. Today I start work early, so can look forward to the company of my colleagues at work, if not that of my boyfriend at home.

As for food, the change will do me good. Normally Maiyuu keeps me fed all day before I start work, which means I seldom have to rely on myself.

I have often wondered how the other half live. Now is my chance to find out.

Kong, Phiwit: Pseudo-intimo shoulder snuggle

Just kiss him and get it over with, for goodness sake!

Phiwit and his partner Kong share an intimate moment on the beach in the latest episode of the channel 5 drama, Tomorrow, I’ll Still Love You.

Kong declares that his life has never been the same since his sister died six years before.

Phiwit reminds him that this is the here and now, and that he will never leave Kong, so he can stop worrying.

‘Now that I have you, I’m even more scared,’ says Kong.

‘Why be scared? I haven’t done anything to you.’

‘I’m scared of losing you,’ says Kong.

Phiwit jumps back into reliable big-brother role, as he has done so many times in the past.

‘I’m like the sand on that beach, which never leaves the shore.

‘If you never leave me, I will never abandon you.’

They look at each other’s lips, gaze into each other’s faces for what seems an age – but the kiss never gets hatched. It’s still at the brooding stage.

Kong leans into Phiwit, who is taken by surprise.

Kong rests his head against Phiwit’s shoulder, and closes his eyes for a moment, as he lets the waves wash his cares away.

And?

Nothing.

We’re still waiting for the kiss which may, or may never arrive.

And it’s all getting a bit much. Fans praise director 'Boy' Takonkiat Weerawan for portraying these two as just another couple, little different from a man and a woman in the first bloom of love.

Yet last night’s episode felt like a blast back to the past. The family drama which propels this story is rocketing along, but has left this pair in its wake.

They appear as mere observers to the main action playing out between an ever-growing number of cast members: Mum, her daughter, her boyfriend, Phiwit’s scheming brother...

When Phiwit and Kong wander off the beach and rejoin everyone else at the holiday home in Rayong, no one cares. Increasingly, neither do we.

If director Boy really is intent on portraying this soap opera couple as like an ordinary pair of gay lovers, then a little more enthusiasm and commitment is required.

In short, get into it! Start nuzzling, kissing, or whatever you hi-so types do!

‘These two understand each other, and are ready to face down obstacles they meet together...that’s already love writ large,’ writes one fan at the Pantip webboard.

เพียงแค่คนสองคนเข้าใจกัน และ พร้อมที่จะฝ่าฟันอุปสรรค์ไปพร้อมๆกัน
นั่นก็คือความรักที่ยิ่งใหญ่มากๆแล้ว

Maybe for you dear, but the rest of us are starting to wonder... 

Is Phiwit there as a potential boyfriend, or really just a caring elder brother?

Does Kong want someone to love him, or just an emotional crutch?

Two figures of fun, a fat ladyboy with a deep voice and a young dark-skinned whipper-snapper whose relation to the family eludes me, spot Kong and Phiwit on the beach.

‘You’ve been with Kong since childhood, how come you never spotted he was gay?’ asks Whipper-Snapper.

'Sometimes it takes a big event such as this one to occur before you really see it,' replies Deep Voice.

Another supporting character, human relations manager to leading man Por, spots them on the beach, and is shocked.

At first he contemplates telling Kaew, elder sister to Kong, that her brother is gay, but fat ladyboy and whippersnapper talk him out of it.

‘Our family has suffered enough. Mum could take another turn for the worse, and Kong could take his own life!' says Deep Voice.

Yes, yes. Blah, blah.

The series airs again tonight. An extensive collection of clips from the series, some with English sub-titles, is here. Some have been blocked on copyright grounds.

Old man's wavering, Maiyuu the door-breaker

I feel a boat trip coming on.

I want to go to Pin Khlao, to relax, and watch attractive Thais pass by.

It's a rundown part of Bangkok, true, but close to the Chao Phraya river, which I love. It is also close to a couple of universities, so has a good social 'cohort', as a demographer might say.

Part of me wants to throw a few books into a bag and take off, knowing I probably won't get home for another 10 hours.

Another part of me is more cautious. The old man in me wants me to go to bed and take a rest.

It's the same, cautious old-man part of me which says that if I go across the river for the day, as my naughty half would like, I will end up spending too much money.

After I get up from my sleep, my old man voice says, it will be too late to do anything. 'So, go to bed now,' it says.

The boyfriend says I should go out if feel the urge. 'No matter whether you go out or not, you will still spend money,' he says.

Actually, I suspect Maiyuu would get lonely if I disappeared for the day. He's just not saying.

Sigh!

I have old man's indecision. What to do?

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Boyfriend Maiyuu locked himself out of his bedroom yesterday, and spent three hours hammering away at the door, trying to break the lock.

His door has a push-button lock which stuck itself in lock mode a few months ago.

He took precautions to make sure the door could not slam shut while he was outside the room, but yesterday they came awry when the scarf he tied around the door to stop it closing properly came free.

A gust of wind came, and Bang! He was locked out.

When I left for work, Maiyuu had been trying to prise open the door with all the household tools he could find. They still weren’t enough, so finally he called someone from the office, who brought a large car-jack type thing for forcing open the door. It worked.

Now the door has a nasty hole in it where the door handle used to be. Being an elegant creature, I want that hole filled again as soon as possible. It is upsetting my sense of room harmony.