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Bangkok Baby Loving the Loveless Ladyboys Of Bangkok By David Bonnie She walks in beauty Insensible to its lie Or to time's mortal clock Which having no master Counts out her days, remorseless If doffing her mirror as Easily as her mood Was of the rage amongst her kin She would know not pain Nor suffer times cruel passage Finding instead in my eyes Her beauty ageless and within Bangkok Baby-A Love Story The sound of a farang shouting at a bar girl who has poured too much coke in his drink makes you look to your left and the Big Dog bar. The girl speaks no English so perhaps this is among her first weeks in Bangkok. Music is playing very loudly in the bar, ‘ I met a gin soaked barroom queen in Memphis, she tried to take me upstairs for a ride’. The girl looks frightened. The smoke of the barbecue’s mixes with the stink of the rotting garbage, stale sweat and piss. Decay, degradation and the faces of the Thai vendors and motorcycle taxi drivers are etched into the grey concrete at the entrance to Soi 4 like an ancient economic truth. Their look is not envious, nor jealous and not full of hate; but the look of those trapped in the waking dream world of constant and chronic poverty. They are the faces of the drowned and drowning. ‘It’s the ho, o, o, nky tonk women, give me, give, give me the honky tonk blues’. This is Bangkok. This is Nana. But you are looking past the messy third-world order of cracked and dirty tarmac and paving slabs that border the car park. You have lived long enough to know that under the surface of things lays the dream reality that you seek. Bangkok; full of men and women with plans to escape back to Surin, Korat, Leeds or Texas; just as soon as they have enough money or less desire. But what you see is something tender in the way Bangkok holds its residents. In the impossibly beautiful bodies and faces of the Ladyboys arriving as dusk sets in, in their eyes, in the way they hold themselves, in their gaze, you see a story. And then, just as night arrives you see them at the entrance to the plaza. A man is on his knees at the feet of a Ladyboy. She is 6 feet tall and her face has the kind of dark beauty that can destroy worlds. You cannot hear his words but the sounds he makes are more animal than human. Even on his knees the man still has a stiff pride, the quality of an iron weathervane, always pointing towards her, his North. His supplication, his willingness to beg comes from strength not weakness. He does not see the people that flow around him. The Ladyboy holds her arms across her chest as she looks down at him. Her face is set like a beautiful oriental mask; without expression. She turns on a heel and walks away. He screams after her, ‘ Faridaaa’. She does not slow her stride as she walks towards you but as the rain explodes onto the street you see a single tear run down her face. Then she is gone. This is the foretelling of a future that has been waiting to happen for so long. I cannot say what happens to the man you saw or the Ladyboy. I can only tell you how it began. This is a love story of Bangkok.

Hello again...yes, I have been upcountry, but now I'm back. I have just finished the manuscript for another book and although I'm sure the editor will want me to do this and that, I can now devote more time to the ladyboy book. Sorry, I don't think it a good idea to reveal the names of those being considered for inclusion. I'm confident of several but they may change their minds, or something may not work out the way we all hope as we go forward. Let me say that some of those you suggested have been interviewed at least once. Once I have a dozen or so, my photographer will return from Hawaii, we'll prepare at least two full text and photo profiles for the proposal and then nail down the book deal. This is a book that could be available in about a year, but no sooner. Good books take time. Meanwhile, I'm still asking for nominations. Keep in mind that I'm not looking for a good time (although I've rarely run away from one) but, first and foremost, a good story. Thanks again for your interest and support. If you see me in the bars, come up and say hi....Jerry

@Rickshaw, I have been meaning to comment on this...I think it is possible that both our observations are correct. It is true that there is rampant discrimination against the transpinay community. If you are male, you can't wear long hair to school, and many colleges require men to have short hair as well. The ladyboys also have a very difficult time finding real employment beyond their traditional fields of beauty parlors, entertainment, and sex work. So all is not a bed of roses for ladyboys in the Philippines. That being said...they are everywhere...and nobody raises an eyebrow about them living their lives in the cities or the villages. They go to church (Catholic Churchs), and are integral parts of their extended families, often being the primary care givers for the young/minor children for their parents, brothers/sisters-in-law who have to work outside of the house. (CAN YOU IMAGINE A CROSS-DRESSER BEING ALLOWED TO BABY SIT IN THE U.S.A.!) Although most straight men just joke around with them, filipino women seem to almost gravitate to them as arbiters of all things feminine for advice and guidance. Unfortunately, there are no legal protections for transgender in Philippines and this not likely to change because of the double standard of the Catholic Church which allows them to attend services and function in the community, but advocates against their legal rights. So, all and all it is mixed bag....but that being said...given the full integration of the Bakla/Bayot into their families and village life, I continue to say that ladyboys are fully part of the fabric of life in the philippines, albeit and admittedly second class citizens... PS..I have posted a picture from one of my friends facebook page of barangay life with ladyboys, men, women, children all together. This doesn't happen in the west AT ALL. Cheers.

The world lost a great musician & spirit today. I saw him way back in the day & last year & many times in between & he always delivered the goods. His band last year kicked as much as The Band did in '69 & he was obviously having the time of his life while battling on. I had actually noted on my calendar his next gig here in a few months, so I'm glad I caught him in recent years.

I am already in a flutter B B, thank's TG925 for the great shot's and info on the VJ Internet Bar.

VJ Internet Bar, Queenpark Plaza, 14/3 Sukhumvit Soi 22, Bangkok The last few shots above and the ones below are Photos Nam and Aom who are both regulars at the VJ Internet Bar and good friends of Tee::

VJ Internet Bar, Queenpark Plaza, 14/3 Sukhumvit Soi 22, Bangkok Photos of Tee aka Tiny, Bar Owner/Manager (not in chronological order)

Lulz, Pdogg, you talking about them practicing volleyball or what oine experiences walking down 6/1 in the late afternoon? And yes, BB, thanks for dusting off those cracking photos. Oa always cracks me up; subtlety is simply not in her repertoire. :lol:

Once again, thanks for the help all. Mademoiselle Sonya, being the classy dame she is, agreed to buy the tickets provided I would pay her back once I got into town; I don't even have to be arsed to wire her the money in advance (so her low season must not be too low, heh heh). Rxpharm, you are on top of things; we'd all be lost without you. :D Again, if anyone attending wants to meet up before or after for drinks, let me know. -4:17 P.S. While we're at it, here she is with some of the local Tiffany girls from last October ... (she's the one without feathers)

Guys went there early March. Straight in first night from LHR. Majestic Grande, went out for an early with TT at Guess. Big Dogs watched the flow into Nana. Met my straight mates about 9.30 up to Cowboy did the usual including 5 Star great little GG rock bar, listened to free bird & stairway to heaven. Went in there about midnight as a "well I've been to enough GG bars with you guys I've heard about this new bar maybe we could have a look at it" . Went in, yes it is small and you feel that you are on stage with the spotlights but its is very clean & smart. I quite liked the intimacy, christ we are not watching a football game. With them being close means you are close to the goods. I don't have a problem with that. It was great to have a LB bar in Cowboy. Pricey yes and the girls think they also should be getting away with trumpy prices. New bar bla bla bla. Anyhow first time back after a year. I lasted 10 mins. Sat down with my chums couldn't see the wood for the trees. A guy was sitting in the corner by us. A cracker sat next too him and I thought typical missed that one. Well he didn't respond Rabbit with light between his eyes syndrome. She moved away as she did I leant forwards grabbed he hand and within another 10 we off on our heels up cowboy. Pitta was here name, long black trouseled hair. Lovely body donned an all in one T shirt sleeveless type dress. I love it when they don't bother with a bra the Bristols were pert as combination locks. Took her back to the loom, via Guess she was sadly crap at pool, but last rinse and a jelly to get the JT functioning guaranteed. LT so evening & morning. Great performer and a beauty. I can recommend the place if you are in Cowboy. But not a cheap joint however when you have just landed it worked and did what it was meant to do. Interesting to see a LB in Cowboy. My feeling is that the LB persuasions becoming more acceptable and straight younger guys with the advent also of hangover II are tipping there toe in the ocean. I can see these bars spreading more into the GG zones. Am I right in saying this is a first for Cowboy.

Get to Pook Swan Bar, facing the Bar walk right, then take the first left, Baby Boom will be there.

And some of the night time pictures when things calmed down, but by not by a big margin.....

Some of the girls during the daytime fun on crazy day.

That was FUN!!! I followed PD's suggestions in post #117 and had a BLAST!!! Wherever there was a preponderance of Thais, it was the most fun. May the fun waters of Songkran refresh all the bros' dreams! :thumbsu:

Has I've been away for a while here's one I've been saving up 'Baby Huey' with 'Hard times' "Eatin' spam, oreos and drinkin' Thunderbird wine" is probably what did him in, baby"... lyrics don't get much etter than that, just a shame he actually died himself not long after he wrote it! Shame about the sound quality too, but it was all I could find on Youtube.

well, used to be they hung out on the bridge, then the cops moved em and they settled in a park at the base of the bridge. Last time I was there seems they did not hang out there so much, but towards evening on a weekend, I bet they still do. I got my own now, so I don't go lookin. One in the pic is one of her friends that was at a wedding she took me too...does makeup for them. Musta been at least 4 there and later on at a Leo "concert" there were probably more like 8 or 10. Time before last I only had to hang outside at my Highway 5 guesthouse to see them walking by towards the bridge/park. I know they are there tho :) I'm thinkin we need to start a ladyboy finishing school. Pursat draws em from all around it in the country. Ladyboy GUESTHOUSE !!!! One in Snooky, one in PP? I'd favor one in Pursat too. Teach em some english, Cooking, Etiquette, fashion seminars. Oh and a bar in each guesthouse. Imagine, you board a mini van with ladyboy "stewardess" drive across the border and hit Snooky and relax...at the ladyboy guesthouse :) Might not get much farther for some days hahaha. Seriously, this is a great idea I think. Lord knows the thai girls are not gonna go over and help these girls out. I'm seriously gonna scope out Pursat for this idea. And talk with my girl. As soon as I find someone who speaks khmer AND english :) These girls need to organize some.

Been filling dance floors since the mid 70's Jim...'When the Fuel Runs Out' by 'Executive Suite' was a really big hit on the dance floors around my way from when I was a kid up until my early twenties & I probably haven't heard it for all of thirty or so years now, a great walk down memory lane... Another brilliant choice mate! @Hefe, I pretty certain that Eric Clapton did actually quote Feddie King has his greatest influence. Nice to see you posting again Katana & thanks to KoyKaeng for joining us too! BTW, I'm pretty sure that 'Tainted Love' was posted before, but it's well worth listening to again, superb track mate! Right, on with the show, a little commercial maybe? but I've always liked this & it always puts a smile on my face, here's 'The Spinners' with 'Games People Play'. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQTXo6KGTJc Here's another commercial one, 'Tavares' & 'It only takes a Minute Girl'... Shame this YouTubed version has had the funk knocked out of it, but I think that can be said of practically any funky tracks anyone's posted, I suppose you need to have a music system or at least be able to pump the bass up to do these sort of tracks any justice. Anyway, it's better than a kick in the spuds, I suppose? Just one more, I love this bloke, commercial as fuck again, I know, but this is such a cool version... Here he is... The late, great, Ottis Redding with Try a Little Tenderness... I still can't forgive that fat Irish prick in the Commitments for totally destroying this track, but anyway he's not famous anymore, but Ottis still is! This is the last one now, back into obscurity with a track for Jim 'Seven Days is too Long', Chuck Woods... This was the original 'Move over Rover' track. Fuck it, I ain't finished yet! This is for Pad Thai Boy who should stop lurking & post, here's 'Bell' by 'Al Green'... He'll probably use a load of bad language on me for posting this. Keep em' coming lads! :)