Bangkok Blogs

It is perhaps apt that one of the most popular ladyboy-centred night clubs in Nana Plaza (one of three major prostitution areas aimed at the foreigners in Bangkok) is called ‘Obsessions’.

I’m not one to dictate how others should consensually enjoy themselves. I manage to find many of these ‘katoeys’ (the Thai slang word for ladyboy) attractive. They’re not like transvestites in the West. I used to live next door to one in Rotterdam. Mr. Jones, a large man with a heavy Welsh accent, could often be seen leaving the house with a brown wig and makeup on come the weekend.

It might have been the hair style or perhaps the stockings, but the thing that finally set my eyebrows rising was the miniature poodle running along behind him. That, I said to myself, is not normal.

In Bangkok, the liklihood is that you will have no such clear indication of the sex of an individual. Sure, but you can tell the difference right? You’ve heard about other people getting it wrong, but that would never happen to you. Think again! Statistics, my friend. Statistics.

Nowadays, if you’re partying anywhere near a popular part of Sukhumvit Road (the main ‘drag’ so to speak) in Bangkok, you will be in close proximity to at least one, if not several, ladyboys. They are such a well established sub-culture now thanks in part to the tolerant nature of other Thais that avoiding them, should you wish to, is impossible.

But this is just the flaunty types. The ones of dubious reputation. This says nothing of the swathes of respectable, working ‘office ladyboys’ who often even fooled their employer. I say ‘fooled’ only because the english language lacks any better term in this case. They’re not out to hurt anyone.

My good friend Nat was reminiscing with me the other day:

“Ah but Jon! If I look like a poo-ying (girl) and talk like a poo-ying, smell like one and smile like one - who is to say I am not?”

My initial reaction was to point out her apalling argument, but I let it go. The Thai attitude mirrors this. Who really cares? Unless you’re hopping into bed with her, she fits the role of ‘girl’ just as well as any other. Next year, she will have saved enough cash to even do the first bit pretty convincingly, so she tells me with a certain glea.

I often get annoyed by the comments from some expats in Bangkok regarding ladyboys. Too many of my fellow westerners have had limited experience. They see ladyboys as a by-product of the sex industry and rarely encounter any outside of it. This leads to grossly ignorant thoughts.

Incase you’re wondering, the Thai’s have a more respectful term for ladyboys. They call them ‘women of the second type.’ I don’t know about you, but I find that rather charming.