Patong and Soi Bangla and environs go hand in hand to conjure up images of sizzling nightlife anchored by go-go bars, beer bars and girls, girls, girls and lady boys or "katoey". This is an area that most tourists find fascinating for the craziest reasons. This is an area where hammer a nail into a block of wood, connect four. hang and wakie, the hanging bell, jenga, bar fine - yes bar fine, lady drink, ping pong show, go-go bars, katoey are "lingua franca". This was the last evening in Patong and I just had to take a look - here is what I found. The major tourist destinations in Thailand are known for their sizzling nightlife which is the best in Asia and arguably anywhere.This is due to the preponderance of young beautiful Thai women and an economy that makes the sex trade and all that goes with it a ready avenue to earn a living. While an old dude like myself can still get looks in Thailand for the reasons described above in Japan where I went following Southeast Asia no woman would look at me - different country, different culture, different economy same old me.

• published: 23 Aug 2013
• views: 166