You(r) Tuber Vol 1.

8 Chop-khun and His Camping Trip

 

"Hello, everyone! Right now, we're about to head to Suan Phueng in Ratchaburi. This is a short trip where I'll take you to experience a riverside camping vibe. But this time, I'm only bringing myself and a few clothes because the accommodation here has everything prepared for us. If you're someone who wants to try this kind of trip but doesn't have time to prepare camping gear like me, you definitely shouldn't miss this video!"

 

Chop-khun, dressed in a white T-shirt and long denim overalls, glanced away from the camera to start the car.

 

"This is my first trip of the year, so I'm a little excited. Let's head out and see what the accommodation will be like." He smiled at the camera before beginning the journey.

 

"Perfect, that was great," Intouch, sitting beside him, complimented after turning off the camera. 

 

Chop-khun's tone was natural and noticeably less stiff compared to his first video. "If you want to add anything while driving, just let me know. I'll capture some footage of you driving, too."

 

"Alright," Chop-khun felt a warm sense of pride from the praise. All the solo practice he'd been doing, and even practising with Kati, seemed to be paying off. 

 

They'd agreed that this video would have a cinematic style, like a short film, with beautiful visuals and clear, natural sounds. There might be some talking in the video, but they planned to add voice-overs during post-production. The footage they'd shoot over the next two days and one night wouldn't all be used; they'd select only some parts for the final cut.

 

"Should we listen to some music?" Chop-khun initiated another conversation. Truthfully, he wasn't uncomfortable, but the silence, filled only with the hum of the air conditioner, felt a bit too quiet.

 

"Sure, that sounds good."

 

"Can you pick a song for me?" Chop-khun unlocked his phone with his finger and handed it to Intouch. "You can open Spotify. Thanks."

 

"Do you have a specific genre you like?" Intouch asked as he scrolled through playlists.

 

"I usually listen to almost everything. Just pick something you like; I'm good with anything."

 

"Alright." Intouch selected a chill R&B playlist and placed the phone back in its spot.

 

After a while, Intouch noticed Chop-khun's fingers tapping the steering wheel in rhythm with the music. When ‘At My Worst by Pink Sweat started playing, the cameraman picked up his camera to capture the driver subtly bobbing his head and swaying to the beat. 

 

Intouch smiled faintly when he heard Chop-khun humming along softly to the song. He wasn't sure if Chop-khun was less nervous around him now or if the quiet atmosphere had made him forget that someone else was in the car.

 

"Have you ever wanted to try making a video that tells a story from your own perspective?" Intouch asked as the song ended.

 

"Hmm, if I have the time, I want to try. But usually, I'm so busy. You've seen it, right? Most of the videos on my channel are filmed at home. I've never really done an outdoor shoot like this before."

 

Intouch thought about the videos Chop-khun had uploaded to his channel. Typically, they featured him playing the piano, singing, or sometimes drawing in his beautifully decorated studio. Other times, it was a quiet hour-long video of him reading in the living room with Kati lounging nearby. 

 

The first video Intouch had watched on the channel was one where Chop-khun organised his fridge, which was mostly filled with ice cream, snacks, strawberry milk, and ready-to-eat meals. In all of these videos, his face was never shown.

 

Although the videos were solo projects, Chop-khun had a knack for creativity, filming from multiple angles and editing them together to make the content engaging. Plus, his artistic touch-colour tones, video decorations, storytelling, and sound choices- gave his videos a unique charm that was soothing and pleasant, much like the channel owner's overall vibe.

 

"Do you want to start experimenting with this video?" Intouch glanced at the driver.

 

"Do you think that's a good idea? I'm not sure how it'll turn out." Chop-khun felt uncertain about filming with his severely limited knowledge, especially alongside a skilled videographer like Intouch.

 

"If you really want to try, I can help guide you. Your past videos were already great. If you take this seriously and learn a bit more about cameras, I think you could do an amazing job. Plus, having your perspective in future videos would add variety to the camera angles. Why not start with something simple, like filming while picking out snacks?"

 

What should I do? Initially, he'd told Intouch that he wanted footage of himself picking out snacks so viewers could feel like they were part of the journey. Intouch was supposed to film him. But now, with this intriguing suggestion, Chop-khun's mind raced. 

 

Opportunities to learn from someone as talented as Intouch didn't come often. If he let this chance slip away just because of self-doubt, it'd be a real shame. Besides, if he did well, it'd indeed give the overall video more diverse angles, just as Intouch had said. The only concern was whether he'd end up wasting Intouch's time.

 

"I'm worried I'll just waste your time, In."

 

"Not at all. We're working together anyway. If you have any questions, just ask me."

 

The casual tone, paired with the sincerity in Intouch's voice, helped Chop-khun make up his mind. Alright, let's give it a shot.

 

"Okay, I'll give it a try. Please guide me." 

 

Chop-khun slowed the car as he approached a yellow traffic light. "So you want me to be your guide for this trip?"

 

The slender driver turned his gaze from the road to glance at the man who'd suddenly cracked a deadpan joke. Before he could process how to respond, Intouch continued with another joke.

 

"Just kidding. Unless you actually want me to."

 

"You're more playful than I thought," Chop-khun remarked, hearing a soft chuckle from Intouch before the cameraman began explaining the basics of camera usage and filming techniques to the amateur.

 

When they arrived at a gas station, Chop-khun took the latest GoPro model from Intouch, mounted on a small tripod. After spending a bit more time understanding the camera's functions with Intouch's help, he stepped out of the car and headed toward the convenience store.

 

Chop-khun felt a bit guilty about using Intouch's camera. Initially, he'd planned to use his own mirrorless camera, but Intouch insisted he try one of his cameras to experiment with different styles. He chose this one because he'd used an older model before. Besides... Chop-khun couldn't bring himself to use any of the other cameras, knowing how expensive they were. If he accidentally dropped one, it'd be a disaster; his wallet would definitely take a hit. Still, Intouch didn't seem to mind at all. He was too generous.

 

"Do you want anything? This one's really good," Chop-khun said, panning the camera to follow his hand as he picked up three or four chocolate bars and placed them in the basket. He made sure not to capture anyone else's face in the store, including Intouch's, showing only the other man's hand holding the basket. 

 

The conversation during filming wasn't an issue since the audio would be removed during editing to speed up this segment and keep the video concise.

 

"Go ahead. I don't eat sweets," Intouch replied, shaking his head and holding the basket for the smaller man to keep adding snacks. Chop-khun nodded, noticing from Intouch's fit physique that he likely took good care of his health.

 

"How about some bread?"

 

"That one's fine."

 

Chop-khun grabbed two tuna-filled bread rolls that Intouch pointed to and placed them in the basket.

 

"In, this one's really good. Have you tried it?" Chop-khun pointed to a bag of crispy banana chips.

 

"Never. Just one bag is fine. I'll try yours."

 

"Good point. We mightn't finish it all." 

 

Chop-khun returned one bag to the shelf before continuing to pick out snacks. Even though the snacks were tempting, Chop-khun didn't forget to pan the camera across the shelves as he made his selections. 

 

After adding a few more items to the now-overflowing basket, the snack-picking spree was complete. The two of them each ate a tuna bread roll to tide them over before getting back on the road.

 

"Are you thirsty, Khun?"

 

"Can you grab me some water?" Chop-khun chuckled softly as Intouch's voice overlapped with his mid-sentence. "I'm actually really thirsty."

 

Intouch reached into the bag, grabbed a bottle of water, twisted off the cap, inserted a straw, and held it up to the driver's lips.

 

"I'll hold it for you."

 

"Thanks." Chop-khun glanced briefly at the sharp features of Intouch's face before taking several sips. Normally, the drive from Bangkok to Suan Phueng didn't take long. However, since Intouch had to stop along the way to capture roadside footage and get drone shots at scenic spots, in line with the road trip concept Chop-khun had planned, the journey took longer than usual.

 

"Take a look. Do you like it?" Chop-khun leaned over to view the screen in Intouch's hands while parked by the roadside. It was a drone shot of their car driving down a road lined with lush trees.

 

"It's beautiful. I really like it. The camera angle feels like it's straight out of a movie." 

 

Chop-khun beamed, tilting his head to look up at Intouch. "Do you like it? Do you want to reshoot?"

 

Intouch shifted his gaze from the clip to meet the wide, brown eyes staring back at him. Their faces were only a hand's width apart, shoulders unintentionally touching as they both focused on the video.

 

"No, I like it," Intouch paused briefly. "If you like it too, shall we continue?"

 

".."

 

Chop-khun pulled back and cleared his throat awkwardly, realising they'd been getting too close and staring at each other for too long. They were so close that he could distinctly catch the scent of Intouch's cologne.

 

"Right, let's keep going. Are you feeling hot, In?"

 

"A little," Intouch replied with a small smile, noticing how Chop-khun's pale cheeks had turned as red as a tomato.

 

"I'll turn up the AC."

 

So it wasn't just me who felt the air suddenly get warmer, right? Maybe the cool air from the AC would help cool down the heat rising to my face.

 

As they drove on, the car was filled only with the sound of soft international music and the GPS giving directions. It didn't take long for them to arrive at their destination around 1 PM. Hunger led them to the accommodation's dining area to grab a meal before checking in.

 

"Once I've unpacked, I'll take a walk around the place to scout the area, and then we can start filming," Intouch said.

 

"Okay," Chop-khun nodded, carrying his bag to Tent No. 2, while Intouch headed to Tent No. 3, which was right next door.

 

The accommodation featured white bell tents set up under thatched roofs. In front of each tent were two camping chairs and a small table. When Chop-khun unzipped his tent, he saw two mattresses placed side by side on the floor in the centre. A single round light hung from above, and the only amenity was an air conditioner. Everything was clean and satisfactory.

 

After placing his bag in a corner of the tent, Chop-khun stepped outside. After a brief exploration of the area, he returned to sit on the chair in front of his tent, mentally rehearsing what he'd say while waiting for Intouch to finish scouting the filming locations. It wasn't long before Intouch returned and began setting up the equipment for the next shoot.

 

"Let me know when you're ready," Intouch said.

 

"I'm ready. Let's start," Chop-khun replied.

 

"We've arrived at our accommodation now. As you can see, it's surrounded by nature... There's even a stream nearby. But first, let me show you the tent I booked." 

 

Chop-khun was now outside of his tent. He unzipped the tent for Intouch to capture the interior. After filming the tent and providing details, Chop-khun led the way to the next spot, with Intouch following behind with the camera.

 

"Over there is the shared bathroom area. They're separated into men's and women's sections. I've already checked it out; it's very clean and has plenty of stalls. You won't have to fight over them since there aren't many accommodations here. If you're interested in staying here, you might need to book in advance. I was really lucky to get a spot this time. I'll include the accommodation details below the video as usual." Chop-khun added when they walked past the shared bathroom.

 

They continued walking on the dirt path until the sound of flowing water became clearer. Chop-khun couldn't hide his excitement when he saw the clear stream ahead. It'd been a long time since he'd experienced such a relaxing atmosphere. The gentle breeze and the shade from the large trees made the weather much cooler than he'd expected

 

"The water is so cold," Chop-khun said to the camera, splashing the water playfully. "This is the stream where you can swim. The water is so clear it's tempting to jump right in. There are already some tourists swimming over there, but I'll save my swim for tomorrow." He didn't say much more, letting Intouch capture the stream and the natural sounds as they'd planned.

 

The filming paused there as Intouch went off to capture more footage of the surrounding area. Meanwhile, Chop-khun returned to his tent to grab his art supplies and his own camera before heading back to a quiet spot under the trees by the stream.

 

Chop-khun spread out a white cloth on the green grass, setting up his camera to focus only on his sketchbook, watercolour supplies, and his hands. He decided to try filming outdoors as Intouch had suggested. He wasn't sure if the footage would be usable, but he figured he'd record it first and ask Intouch later.

 

"The weather is really nice right now. The breeze is cool, and it's so relaxing to draw while listening to the sound of the water. But honestly, I don't even know what to draw yet." Chop-khun said to the camera, brushing his lower lip with his finger absentmindedly. 

 

His brown eyes drifted toward the stream for a moment. Once an idea came to him, his slender hands began mixing colours and sketching quietly.

 

Over an hour passed before Intouch returned to the quiet stream area, camera in hand. Scanning the area, he spotted Chop-khun lying on his stomach, sketching on the white cloth with a relaxed demeanour. His legs, clad in denim overalls, swung back and forth in the air. His brown bangs swayed gently in the breeze. The clear stream in the background, paired with the soft sunlight on the artist's skin, created a serene, picturesque scene.

 

The composition was perfect: the lighting, the natural vibe- it was so beautiful that Intouch couldn't resist capturing it for the video. He raised his camera and began filming the scene as he had envisioned it, then walked closer to Chop-khun. As he approached, he heard the soft voice speaking to the camera set up on a tripod.

 

"I haven't had barbecue pork in so long. All I can think about right now is the barbecue buffet I'll be eating tonight. I love this, this, and this."

 

Intouch couldn't help but smile as he saw the cute BBQ buffet in a cute drawing style. The details were spot-on and colourful. Chop-khun enthusiastically narrated while pointing at the illustrated pork slices.

 

"It's starting to get late. I'm going to take a shower now. See you all tonight at dinner time," Chop-khun said, ending the clip as he noticed Intouch. He sat up and stretched lazily. 

 

"Are you done filming?"

 

"Yes. Are you heading back to the tent, Khun?"

 

"Let me pack up first. You can go rest if you want. Let's meet up again in the evening."

 

"It's okay. I'll wait."

 

"The atmosphere right now is amazing-cool breeze and barbecue pork," Chop-khun said, holding up a perfectly grilled piece of pork to the camera before dipping it into the seafood sauce and taking a bite. "It's so good. The sauce here is incredible." His eyes widened in delight as he gave a thumbs-up to the camera. 

 

"But don't forget, everyone, when eating barbecue, always use separate chopsticks for raw and cooked food. Never mix them."

 

After finishing his advice, the hungry man quickly grabbed two or three more pieces of pork and popped them into his mouth.

 

"Other guests are starting to arrive now. I don't want to disturb them by talking too much. Stay tuned for more beautiful footage from our cameraman," Chop-khun whispered to the camera before continuing to grill meat while Intouch captured more footage of the barbecue scene.

 

"Do you want to eat first, In?"

 

"No, it's okay. I want to capture the sunset atmosphere. You go ahead and eat."

 

"What do you like to eat? Not pork belly, right?" Chop-khun asked, flipping the meat on the grill while glancing at the man across from him.

 

"Right, no pork belly. I can eat everything else," Intouch replied, focusing his camera on the sizzling meat before shifting to capture Chop-khun's concentrated grilling.

 

"In, which sauce do you want?"

 

"Sukiyaki sauce."

 

Noticing that Intouch hadn't eaten anything since the afternoon and was still holding the camera with both hands, Chop-khun unwrapped a new pair of chopsticks. He picked up a perfectly grilled piece of pork, dipped it generously in the orange sukiyaki sauce, and held it up to Intouch's mouth.

 

"Here, you gave me water earlier, so I'm giving you pork in return."

 

"Thank you."

 

And that wasn't the last bite Intouch was fed. Chop-khun alternated between feeding himself and the cameraman, knowing that Intouch was just as hungry as he was. Intouch took several more bites before finally turning off his camera, satisfied with the footage he'd captured of the surroundings.

 

By now, the sky was completely dark. The only light came from the campfire in the centre of the area and the stage lights. Musicians were setting up on stage, and the barbecue trays had been cleared away by the staff. The table was now adorned with three or four bottles of beer and a glass tealight candle placed in the centre.

 

"Have you put on mosquito repellent?" Intouch asked the person who'd moved to sit beside him for a better view of the stage.

 

"I have. What about you, In? I brought extra if you need it."

 

"I've already applied it. Thanks." Intouch replied, I'll film again when the band starts playing. Do you want me to capture anything else, Khun?"

 

"No, just the atmosphere is fine."

 

"Alright."

 

"Oh, how's your cat doing? I meant to ask this morning," Chop-khun asked, taking the glass of ice Intouch handed him and pouring beer into both their glasses.

 

"Much better. The wound is starting to heal. Just a few more vet visits and she'd be all good," Intouch replied, taking a sip of his beer.

 

"What's her personality like? Is she playful?"

 

"Depends on her mood. Usually, she's affectionate and playful since she's still young. But if she smells a dog, she won't come near me."

 

"Oh, so that's why you don't get too close to Kati. You're afraid your cat will get upset," Chop-khun laughed, recalling how his dog and Intouch interacted. He'd initially thought Intouch didn't like dogs.

 

"Exactly. But I think it's time Fancy started getting used to Kati's scent. Just in case they meet one day," Intouch said with a soft, deep voice and a faint smile.

 

This was the first time Chop-khun had ever seen such a smile from Intouch, not to mention those dazzling, sparkling eyes!

 

The air was cool and pleasant, yet somehow Chop-khun's face felt warm all over once more.