Joe, 31, is affectionately referred to as the temple's resident movie star, since he's quite good-looking! Joe has been living at the temple for four months. Like Wee, he helps Dr Alongkot with the daily chores of the temple and is never that far away from the monk.
''The first thing I want to say is that I want to be good at English. I have lots of English textbooks and magazines. I try to read them everyday. I want to be able to speak English as well as I speak Thai. The problem is, I'm afraid I'll die from AIDS before I reach that point! Well ... that's life!
''My health is very important to me. I lift weights and go running every day. I run seven times around the crematorium, which is about four km. I read a lot about herbal medicine and alternative healing. I think I'm in the middle stages of AIDS. You can see lesions all over my body.
''I guess I've led an interesting life. I used to work at an illegal casino in Bangkok! It was run by a local influential mafia-type, and I was his right-hand man. I never killed anybody or roughed anybody up or anything like that; in fact I fell into the job by accident. I had finished technical school (majoring in mechanics) when I visited a friend who was working at the casino. He wasn't there, but they told me they were looking for staff. The pay was good; eight hour shifts, and it wasn't dangerous since the cops were in on the whole thing. I worked at the chit counter exchanging money, as well as collecting guns from people who came in.
''As I said, the money was good. I have to admit I slept around, but I always used protection. Sometimes, though, the condom broke. That's how I got AIDS, I guess.
''I had a regular girlfriend and we were living together when I decided it was time to quit the casino and get a proper job. I applied to be a policeman. I passed all the tests ... except the blood test. I was HIV positive. I nearly collapsed on the spot. That was six years ago. Since then my girlfriend got tested and she's HIV too. But she doesn't show any outward signs. She's still working in the personnel department of a milk factory in Bangkok.
''She comes to visit me now and again. In February she came. It's always great to see her and I wish she could live with me here, but I have to accept her decision. She says she wants to continue to work until she starts showing outward signs.''
[Wee] [Mai] [Gob] [Joe] [Oo-an] [Nick] [Dtee] [Gern]