Gmac is right. I carry my Bangkok mindset with me here in Patong. But this is just a 48 hour weekend trip. It is not long enough to get the feel of a new place.
Chalerm went to meet a local Aids activist yesterday. The activist worked in a bar and Chalerm got free drinks and he got to see a show for free in another bar. The two of them went to a hospital in Phuket town. Chalerm calls himself a human rights activist now. He met with a human rights group from Farangland a while ago.
This started when the Thai army put the stamp “permanent mental disorder” in his service book. Chalerm was not pleased. He had showed up in high heels and with makeup to avoid the military, but he didn’t like the wording they used to dismiss him. Several television appearances, meetings and official promises later the matter is still not resolved. The military said it would change practice, but when is anything final in this country?
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I ended up speaking to the old hookers on the beach again last night. They had a child there, a small boy. His clothes had holes. The women first told me he was an orphan and that they were housing him. Later another woman told me the kid had parents, but the mother worked in a bar and her new husband didn’t like the stepson. I watched the kid collect bottles from trash cans. He made 20 baht from this, which he gave to one of the women. Then he went playing in the sand.
Late at night the beach became ladyboy territory. I spoke to one who said she was 43. She had not had a customer for five days.
An Indian gentleman was loitering on the beach. He had a beard and a Sikh turban. The ladyboys gossiped about him.
- Him want lady free! they said. - Him dirty. Him not wash one week. Him only spray perfume, no shower. No good. Dirty.
- If he was young and handsome maybe he could get it for free, I said.
- Haha! Yes. But him old. No han-sam.
The 43-year old ladyboy refused to have anything to do with the Indian. But a younger ladyboy waved to him and they went behind a stack of beach chairs.
- 500 baht, said the ladyboys knowingly.
August 26th, 2007 at 11:37 pm
SF, I’m very impressed that Chalerm has decided to take on the Thai military over their ridiculous labeling of gay people or ladyboys as having a “permanent mental disorder.” Unfortunately, I think it reflects the mindset of many Thais when it comes to gay people. I know Thailand is renowed for its openess to gays. But I have always felt an undercurrent of disdain from some Thais when they see an openly gay person. Have you also sensed this? Or is it become my partner is a ladyboy?
August 27th, 2007 at 2:26 am
Gmac, you know Thais say women are the hind legs of the elephant. Men are the front legs. Where does that leave the ladyboys?
The Thai tolerance isn’t always accepting, it can be more of a “we mind our own business” attitude. It is true that some Thais look down on open gay displays, or on ladyboys. Old school thinking is that it doesn’t matter who you have in your bed, but you should keep up appearances in public. Doing it is not the scandal. The scandal is showing it.
They might also look down on any Thai who is with a foreigner. Or on dark-skinned farmer boys or whatever.
There are some petty minds here.
August 27th, 2007 at 6:59 am
Yes, I agree with you SF about open gay displays. My ladyboy and I go to great lengths to act properly in public…no hand-holding, hugging or kissing. Of course, that even extends to hetero couples as well. You might see younger Thais kissing in public, but not often and never would you see older Thais show any affection to each other in public. I respect their customs but it is interesting to read their eyes.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:14 am
”
SF: “petty minds”….
R: I’ll say!!!!!”
Well the expression “Don’t get caught with your
pants down” sums it up….it does not say don’t
pull your pants down (and do something with them down, etc)… it only says don’t get caught doing it….!!!! This is not a Thai expression, but fits
to a degree….so, this system is not only a Thai
system…. maybe they are just better at it!!!!
:-)
August 27th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
Thais behave properly in public. How many hetero couples do you see holding hands even in Bangkok? Westerners talk about everything but do little, Thais do everything but talk little. This is a Thai comment on Western/Thai sex behaviour. It bears out my experience there and in Laos.
August 30th, 2007 at 4:07 am
My thai bf is not pleased. Since reading this post I have decided his permanent state of mind is ‘ permanent mental disorder ‘ .
That would explain many things. Not a serious disorder, but a disorder never the less.
He has been a changed person of late however. No strange behaviour at all. Maybe years of residence in farangland have mellowed him.
We did make our relationship permanent recently. We had a civil partnership ceremony. Thaiboy in a suit. Looked fantastic.
I’ll have to be a good boy now on return trips. Sorry - we will have to be good.