Dating, travel & field notes

Aydin
de la Cruz

Dating, cities, books, appetite & chemistry.

Single, curious, frequently traveling, and generally more interested in chemistry than checklists. I write about dating, attraction, travel, books, restaurants, and the strange things people reveal when they think they are only making conversation.

A rooftop cocktail table overlooking Bangkok at dusk
Bangkok, after dark. Field notes tend to begin here.
Aydin de la Cruz seated at a bar
The short version

Yes, this is a dating page.

Single. Interested in women, including trans women.
I like intelligent conversation, humor, travel, good food, dark bars, books, and people who are more interesting than their profiles.
I am not looking to rush anyone into a relationship. I am interested in meeting people, enjoying the chemistry, and seeing what develops.
Latest dating note

The second drink.

The first drink gets you through the introduction. The second one usually means neither person needs emergency extraction.

Aydin de la Cruz seated at a bar
Dating Notes · September 9, 2026

The Second Drink

The first drink is logistical. The second is a decision. Notes on first-date reconnaissance, accumulating attraction, and the moment two strangers decide they would rather stay.

Read the essay →
“The first drink tells you whether the date is working. The second tells you whether either of you cares what time it is.” The Second Drink
What lives here

More than a profile.

The point is dating. The rest is context: the cities, books, meals, conversations and questionable decisions that make someone worth dating.

Dating

Chemistry, attraction & what happens next

First dates, second drinks, flirting, travel, modern ambiguity, and the person whose geography is wrong.

Latest Dating Note →
Field Notes

Bangkok after dark

Two dates, three meals at the same restaurant, and considerably more dentistry than any sensible vacation requires.

Read the Bangkok Field Note →
Book Notes · 3 reviews

Books worth arguing with

From 1901 courtship to 1946 mate selection to modern flirting, with opinions attached and no star ratings.

Read Book Notes →
Found me on X?

Say hello.

Book recommendation, restaurant tip, interesting disagreement, or a reason we should meet when geography cooperates. All are acceptable opening moves.

Flirt with me on X →