It has long been said, quite correctly in my opinion, that we farangs will never truly be accepted here in Thailand - only tolerated. Ocassionally we catch a glimpse of the real Thailand - the real lives of the Thais - but it is usually by accident. We can never fully integrate here, because we are not Thai, and the first thing a Thai thinks when they see us is not “man”, “handsome”, “ugly”, “smart”, “tall” or anything else. It is “farang”.
I took a Nana Plaza showgirl out for her birthday recently - we have a casual relationship, which is by far the best kind of relationship to have in Bangkok - in my opinion. After the regular bars closed, we had to find an after-hours place. And I would never have found the one her friend took us to.
After winding through side-sois and dead ends, we finally came to a garden gate in a tiny residential soi. A single shifty-looking Thai guy guarded the entrance. He looked surprised to see me, but since I was with a known regular, he nodded us through - finger held to lips to indicate that we should be silent.
We tiptoed through someone’s garden, past rooms containing sleeping families, and eventually found ourselves in a surprisingly well-fitted Thai disco. Which on closer inspection was full of disconcertingly well-presented Thai guys.
Yes, they had taken me to an underground Thai gay bar. But hey, this is Bangkok. One can hardly be judgemental in this city. A sizeable amount of Red Label later, all was good. A towering katoey (ladyboy) attended to our drinks, and a constant trickle of Thai guys came over in turn to shake hands with (and wai) the farang.
I was effectively a curiousity, to be pointed at, sniffed, prodded and otherwise investigated (but not seduced, I hasten to add). And of course fleeced for cash - I doubt anyone else’s bar bill was as hefty as mine. Still, it was my girl’s birthday, and I got to see yet another element of Bangkok that I would never have found alone.
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@SBS-
When I hear the phrase, “Behind the Curtain” there is usually a conotation of something being learned or understood that previously was not. After reading your article, what new insights did you learn or were you just commenting on it being a new experience?
I, myself, peeked behing the curtain with 4 coyote dancers this weekend and listening to them, seeing what they really thought and talking with them was quite the learning experience…just interested to know you gleaned from the Bday party at the poof disco.
View all comments by Indu WangZi
Actually, I wrote this one - couple of years ago now.
It was interesting to learn that gogo girls were just as keen as we are to spend their evening flirting with attractive members of the opposite sex whose role is to flirt in return and to pretend to like them.
Also, the door to the club was, uh, behind a curtain…
“Gay disco” is a little misleading actually, it was more of a lounge bar where handsome young Thai gentlemen could be rented by anyone with the money. Most of the customers present seemed to be Thai men, but there were also a few groups of girls.
I think I could have done a rather better job of the article.
View all comments by Bangkok Bad Boy
@Indu - What did you learn that was MORE shocking/interesting by gossiping with a gang of bitches (or hearing what they wanted to tell you) then BBB did going to an underground fag-farm in out in the boonies? Im dying to know
View all comments by Young Penfold