I've been meaning to write this entry for a long time now. It seems I just never got around to it. So, more than half a year late, here's the account of my trip to Thailand.
Before starting at my new job, I wanted to get away on a trip. I thought about Argentina for a while and then ended buying a ticket for Bangkok two days before leaving. After all, I might as well enjoy the cheaper tickets and shorter flights to Asia I can get from Vancouver.
I stayed in the Nana district in Bangkok. It's one of the hot spots of the city. Full of people selling bunches of stuff on the streets (including sex) and activity all around the clock. A few blocks from my hotel, there was this "entertainment complex" composed of dozens of prostitution bars. I went to take a look. I never had so much attention in my life. All the girls wanted me to be their next customer. I actually bought one a drink to ask about her life.
I asked her if she wasn't disgusted by her job sometimes. She didn't seem to be. "What about when you get a really old, ugly and fat customer?", I asked. She said she didn't mind that and that she's happy as long as the customer is a nice person. I didn't quite understand, so I asked her what she meant by that. Then, she told me some customers had beaten her up, raped her and such... Also, since there are so many working girls, they must always struggle to be chosen. I knew it sucks to be a prostitute, but not to what extent. I thanked her for the conversation. As I was leaving, she said "Wanna fuck?". I politely declined. "What about a blowjob?", she insisted. Pretty direct. Just like the people on the streets asking me if I want a girl, a guy, a ladyboy or a "ping pong show".
The next day, I woke up (alone, mind you) to the sound of a himam calling the faithful to prayer. Nana has a large Arabic population. I explored Bangkok some more. Although it was February, the temperature was well above 30 degrees Celsius. I saw many local attractions and did lots of people-watching.
I took a cab to see an attraction. The driver tried to pull the old "I didn't understand you wanted to go to point A, I took you to point B instead, which is three times further" trick on me. I told him to take me to my desired destination and that we'd discuss the issue of remuneration once there. The normal trip would have cost me something like 60 bahts (less than 2$). The driver, "because of his good will", told me he'd let me pay "only" 100 bahts for the whole trip, including the detour he forced upon me. I told him I'd give him 50 bahts. I wanted him to make less money out of me than he would have if he had been honest. He said no. Then, I pointed out that his taxi number was on display and that I would report him to the tourist police. He freaked out and lowered his price to 83 bahts. I was shocked by his cockiness. The situation was getting a bit more tense and I got out of the cab, extended a 100 bath bill (my smallest bill) to the driver and told him to give me a 50 if he wanted any money at all. He insisted on not going below 83. I started shouting at him and I was getting very irritated. I told him to get out of the cab and come get his money. I must have looked pretty threatening because I never saw a cab driver go away so fast without being paid.
The next day, I went to Ayutthaya (the old capital) to see ruins of temples. Back in Bangkok, I explored the city's dodgy side again. This time, I got to talk to a ladyboy. I asked "her" about her life. She got her share of abuse too. I noticed she had a bunch of circular scars. She told me they were cigarette burns from her ex-boyfriend. The guy used to beat her too. I asked her how her job was doing. Apparently not too well. The supply of ladyboys far exceeds the demand. Sometimes, they go weeks without a customer. Also, STD's are always a concern. If they do catch something, they can't let those who hire them find out. I then asked the ladyboy which she enjoyed more: "getting it" or "giving it". The answer came without hesitation: she's a taker. She likes getting it, except when she's sick and gets gastro-intestinal problems. And you tought having sex with a menstruated woman was gross!
The following day, I went to the floating market about an hour north of Bangkok. A gecko fell out of the blue on me. It didn't freak out when I held it. It was my pet while I was being paddled around the market. It took us forever to get back to Bangkok as the tour guides insisted on bringing us to a bunch of places where people sell us crap so that they could get a cut. Four Brits and I just decided to squeeze in a cab to get back faster. It wasn't that faster as the traffic jams in Bangkok are insane. Try not to get sick or injured during rush hour as cars don't even yield to ambulances!
That same day, I went to Pattaya. I thought Bangkok was pretty crazy, but Pattaya has to be the most hardcore place I've ever been to. Imagine the decadence and chaos of Vegas, but without the puritanism of America or the regulations of first-world countries. I've never seen a place in my life so eager to help you indulge in whatever debauchery you fancy. The many bars there will try anything to get potential patrons' attention. Most will post attractive females at their entrance to lure customers in. Others will have free shows such as live muay thai fights or dozens of naked women dancing.
Prostitution is no less intense in its competition for you attention and money. I can't count how many times I was solicited by girls or pimps. If you make eye contact with any of them, expect to be hassled in a major way by that individual. Once, I glimpsed at a girl and she wouldn't let me go. Because I was ignoring her, she literally jumped on me. I found this amusing and walked with her around my neck for a few blocks while she was telling me how she wanted me to fuck her!
Thailand is a warm country with warm people. It's not all messed up as this blog entry might lead to believe. But, it's more fun to write/read about the sensational stuff. For another perspective on my trip, you'll be able to take a look at my pics when I finally put them online.
