What a coincidence! I had Chicken Bangkok for lunch!

I cannot keep up with your travels. Whenever I think you're in the USA, you're in Thailand. And whenever I think you're in Thailand, you're in England.

God knows where you are when I think you're in England.

On Koh Phangan there is a ladyboy madly in love with me, her name is Jasmine and she totally cracks me up! She works in the bar of a resort next to where I live and whenever I go there with friends to drink a beer, she is flirting with me in the most theatrical ways.....it's so funny!

What a coincidence! I had Chicken Bangkok for lunch!

abierman said:

Do you live there permanently now? I thought you were just vacationing?
Are you happy so far?

KoolEaze said:

I am on a break.....I have quit my job in Holland last summer and went to Thailand to do a divemaster course, the highest level of recreational diving. The dive-center I am with offered me a diving job for the high-season, starting coming month! Right now I am back in Holland for a couple of weeks, I will return to Thailand early December and stay until late April! Good times!

abierman said:

what's a good month to visit Thailand?

ZombieKitten said:

Anytime from December through April.....it is the so-called 'cool-season', which means it is nice & hot, but not unbearably hot! Flights are also most expensive during this period, it is the high-season!

KoolEaze said:

I am on a break.....I have quit my job in Holland last summer and went to Thailand to do a divemaster course, the highest level of recreational diving. The dive-center I am with offered me a diving job for the high-season, starting coming month! Right now I am back in Holland for a couple of weeks, I will return to Thailand early December and stay until late April! Good times!

You're not teaching spelling are you?

NDRU said:

OMG, I'm getting shit on facebook about that too.

Imago said:

And rightfully so! Wednessday.And all those mixed up "there" "their" "they´re" mistakes.
But don´t take it too seriously,we got so much love for you that we don´t want you to get into trouble because of your spelling, that´s all.
[Edited 11/23/09 15:56pm]

First of all, awesome thread. There's so much more to go into about these issues and how they're viewed in Thailand (about the tolerance, acceptance, but also disappointment you touched upon) but it could go on and on and on. You just about nailed the general differences here.

That was also a great point you made about how integrated they are, work-wise. Mon's make-up artist and stylist for the wedding was a ladyboy, as was the owner of the bridal shop in charge of the dresses and photography. There are some places they won't be found working, like the ones you mentioned, but in general they can work pretty much anywhere, and most importantly, be a ladyboy as they want to be in the workplace without any problems. They can work in office jobs and dress in womens' clothes, no matter that their ID card says they're male. There are ladyboys around here in the restaurants, in hotels we've been to waiting tables, behind the bar, on reception or wherever. A lot work in the service industry, nobody bats an eyelid, and they're just like any other female worker. Working on the cosmetic counters in department stores too, or in any shop really, and you just don't think about it after a while.

About the word 'katoey', it's not used in a derogatory way. The way to know this is to think about the terms used as insults in English and compare them to Thai insults. In the west you'll hear 'fag', 'gay' etc. as insults but not in Thailand. They usually say 'ai' (hey) either bitch, prick, buffalo, animal, or crazy but nobody goes around saying 'ai gay' or 'ai katoey'. They just don't. I think that actually says a hell of a lot.

The girl who did Mon's make-up and hair. Just found a pic


[Edited 11/15/09 17:01pm]

thanks for the story dan.

KoolEaze said:

Fauxie said:

What's really strange is that my Uni is a Catholic one, and there is no homophobia on campus either. The tolerance that is pervasive towards homosexuals in Thai culture is not challenged by any of the staff or 'Christians' here. It's just something they accept as "Thai" and not something that is even debated.



I think in the larger, general Thai population, if Parents where dissapointed and upset with their sons being Ladyboys or gay, and they sought advice from the Monks, the monks would ask them "What would Buddha do?"
And of course, the Buddha would have said that the right thing to do is show compassion.

So without being to anti-Christian, I do feel that the religious foundation in the Country is largely responsible for some of the tolerance.

Fauxie said:

What's really strange is that my Uni is a Catholic one, and there is no homophobia on campus either. The tolerance that is pervasive towards homosexuals in Thai culture is not challenged by any of the staff or 'Christians' here. It's just something they accept as "Thai" and not something that is even debated.



I think in the larger, general Thai population, if Parents where dissapointed and upset with their sons being Ladyboys or gay, and they sought advice from the Monks, the monks would ask them "What would Buddha do?"
And of course, the Buddha would have said that the right thing to do is show compassion.

So without being to anti-Christian, I do feel that the religious foundation in the Country is largely responsible for some of the tolerance.

"What would Buddha do?"
And of course, the Buddha would have said that the right thing to do is show compassion.

So without being to anti-Christian, I do feel that the religious foundation in the Country is largely responsible for some of the tolerance.

abierman said:

Wow, now there are THREE things I´m envious about...and I´m not talking about your Ferrari.


Nice to hear that things are going so smoothly for you these days. Keep on having a great time.

KoolEaze said:

I don't own a Ferrari, I only know people who do.....therefore I get to drive them!

What three things are you envious about???