Fahrenheit – My 1st Bathhouse Experience

April 1, 2009 - first day of my 2 month vacation in the Philippines. After 5 hours of my landing in NAIA, my cousin Charlie asks me to prepare for a night-out of a lifetime. Although I’m still in the middle of a jet lag, my excitement to feel the air of the home country after 2 years fuelled me to a highest power.

We took taxi from the house and LRT. OMG! That was my first time to ride a train. The feeling was overwhelming and people rushing through it were rewarding to look at. My heart was full of joy that I almost cry. At last, I’m home.

After 5-6 stations from North Edsa, we stepped out from the train, a jeep ride and a 5 minutes walk. We enter a red gate and security approached and greets us. We headed to their reception and we were welcome by their staff on a black sando and short. I feel like we will be entering a gay bar with ago go boys dancing. After registration (Charlie is already a member) and payments, we were ask to deposit our valuables and went in. Fahrenheit Café and Fitness Center, wow! It sounds that we will be entering a gym or will have a massage but I am wandering, at 11pm?

Empty dance floor and 2 guys sitting on the bar was the first scene. Charlie led me to a TV room with M2M porno playing on the screen. He asks me to take a sit and rest but I was so excited to roam around. We went down through stairs and were greeted by another staff. He asked the key that the reception gave us and led us to our respective locker room. I was very eager but cautious, excited and yet conscious. I observed keenly what others are doing. People around the place stare at me like their prey. I took off my shirt and pants and wrap around the small towel on my waist with my underwear on but Charlie instructed me to take off everything. Hmmm… the towel doesn’t even cover everything but I know the party will about to begin.

First 20 minutes inside the bathhouse I spend it at the gym. There, I saw gay guys sweating while lifting weights. The muscles on their biceps are less big than the muscles I found on their lower body covered by the small towel (you know!). I am wondering how big their manhood will take if it’s on, or they just doing a trick to catch someone. A guy full of sweat crosses behind me and let his body touch my back that pisses me off. I was not on my sex mode yet, even if Brad Pitt will do the same will not turn you on. I want to wipe my back with my towel but I will be naked in front of everybody if I do so. I rushed to the nearest shower and had my back washed. I went back to the gym and started to do my routine without any sexual intentions to others. Stretching, lifting weights and some cardio exercise that my sweat came out all over. I realized why the guy earlier let his body touch my back. You feel hot if your sweat is coming out while others are staring especially when you are almost naked. When you conclude that those stares are your signal for a prospect, you will let your body touch with them. There were 3 different invitations to me to go up in the dark room for sex but was so tired from a long flight. I just want to know the place and above all, soul searching. I want to talk to PLU on their experiences. I step out from the area and had a quick shower. Charlie saw me and drags me for a drink.

In less than 30 minutes I find myself holding the 4th bottle of San Mig Light. I was full of inhibitions inside the bathhouse and I want to lessen it by drinking beer. From there I met different PLU. Miguel who is on his early 40’s, a lawyer and a father of 2. He used to visit bathhouse every time he has appointment in the city. For him, being a father never lessens his being gay but of course he has to be discreet for his family. Having children of his own give him a sense of direction. I met Lito, single and on his late 30's. He works as an administrative officer in Canada and like me; he is in the Philippines for vacation. According to him, you have to be very fit in order to enjoy bathhouse in Canada. He was a little bit chubby so every time he visit bath house in Canada, he feels discriminated as he said. I also came to talk to the bartender, the only straight person present on the bar I assumed. He is one of the pioneering staff of Fahrenheit. He is also on his late 30's and a father of 2 too. At first he find it awkward to work surrounded with gay people but as the years goes by he enjoys it that made him stay in the establishment for 5 years (as what I recall). Ken a 24 year-old call center agent. He look like a celebrity physically, his face and his body was very enticing to the point I open the conversation with him how much he charge for a sex not thinking that I was in a gays haven. But his reply turns me off. When he opens his mouth for a word, the pitch was so high like a diva. Tag-lish conversation from him also feels me inconvenient, full of pretension.

From bar, I decided to roam around the place. There I found bodies lean towards other: couple, trio or even orgy up to 5 members. I don’t feel to join them because I have mix emotions. I am scared that I might be infected with STD and tired of 14 hours flight from Dubai-Singapore-Manila. I went to Jacuzzi for a quick plunge and headed to the cubicle in dark room and fall asleep.

When i woke up i went down to the bar, Lito from Canada approached me and said: “Hoy! Saan ka galing? Alam mo bang tatlong beses ka nang pinatawag (over paging system). Julius pala pangalan mo at hindi Ryan” and he smiled. I look at the wall and find out that it was already 2:30am. Charlie came from my back on his clothes and asks: “Nakarami ka ba? ang tagal mo ah!” I apologized and went to the changing room. I want to tell him that nothing happened sexually on my first visit in bathhouse.

We left the place full of happiness. The area was full of energy and very fulfilling that you will enter an establishment where you belong... no matter if you are KAPUSO or KAPAMILYA. The important thing is self-acceptance by merely entering the palce and get connected…