Wee is 27 years old and has been at the temple for four months. He assumes the job of Dr Alongkot's right-hand man. If you visit the temple, you'll see Wee immediately; he's the smartly-dressed flamboyant guy who receives guests and who invariably is dressed in purple.
''I was a teacher at a government school in Bangkok when I found out I was HIV positive in August. I'm gay and was living in a stable relationship with my boyfriend. I loved him a lot.
''Then last June when I went the local public swimming pool, this guy came over and chatted me up. At first I didn't think anything of it, but he persisted. I saw him again and again at the pool. Finally we had sex. There was nothing emotional about it; my heart was still with my boyfriend. We had unprotected sex two or three times. That was it. Then it was all over.
''Three months later I went for a check-up. I was HIV positive.
''Yes, I was shocked. But after I got over that, I resolved to live my life to the fullest and dedicated myself to teaching people about AIDS. I don't want people to make the same mistake I did. In a funny way, I think I'm lucky to be HIV positive. Because now I can put my life towards a better purpose. I can actually prevent others from getting HIV.
''I still keep in contact with my boyfriend. He isn't HIV positive, thank God. I don't see the guy I had the affair with, though. I don't know if he knows he has the virus.
''I don't have any outward symptoms of AIDS. My health is good, and I try to keep it that way. Though I did have a bit of a cold in the middle of February, but it seems everybody had a cold in Thailand at that time! I spend all my time at the temple. The gates close at 10 pm at night. There is no drinking or smoking here. That's no problem for me, because I don't drink or smoke anyway.
''Please come and visit me! I do great massages. You can't miss me; I'm the guy dressed in purple (my favourite colour) running around looking as though I'm about to collapse from all the work! It's all an act, I assure you.''
[Wee] [Mai] [Gob] [Joe] [Oo-an] [Nick] [Dtee] [Gern]