…on the Skytrain! (Who knew fast food burgers were so popular in Thailand??)

We love the graphics at this Korean food market in Bangkok…

Nearly thirty years ago, a group of 15 or 20 visitors to a little-known Thai beach threw a little party to celebrate the beauty of the evening’s full moon. Today, anywhere from 10,000 to 30,000 people flock to Haad Rin, a little beach on the island of Ko Pha Ngan, to do the same—every time there is a full moon.

With the beach already buzzing full of people and small lamps, the party officially begins at dusk, when the golden moon rises over the white sands of Haad Rin. Over the next several hours, until the sun rises again, the beach turns into an all-out dance floor, as the DJ lineup switches things up from trance, to techno, to drum-and-bass, to reggae, to pop—pretty much any and everything to keep the crowd moving. Some will take a break to eat (there are beach vendors selling all kinds of yummy foods), perhaps take a dip into the warm Gulf of Thailand, or even shoot some of the impromptu fireworks you are bound to see.

All you’ve heard about conservative Thai culture doesn’t apply here—and that’s not surprising considering that very few partygoers are actually Thai. Pretty much anything goes, although police have made an effort in recent years to curb some of the rampant drug use that the party had become known for.

But while you have to keep your wits about you—Thai drug laws are strict (or, more likely, you’ll be expected to pay a hefty bribe) and the parties are often marred with petty theft—the Full Moon party is truly something to experience, unlike anything you’ve seen before or will likely see again.

Spotted in a guestbook at a temple in greater BKK!

Thailand’s association with the sex trade is well documented: it has been estimated that 10 percent of tourist dollars spent in the country support this. It is also well known that transvestites are common here—it became international news when a school in Northeast Thailand installed a bathroom for transgender students, of which it estimated 200 of its 2,600 students were.

While prostitution used to be (and still is) solicited on the streets of Bangkok, the digital era has allowed these connections to happen virtually as well. Visitors to Thailand often arrange escapades with escorts before they arrive, or in some cases, just arrange to marry their “mail order bride” and come to swoop her away. I find these men both pretty much disgusting and pretty easy to spot in the Suvarnabhumi Airport immigration hall—based strictly on appearance and the look on their faces.

But I digress, this post is supposed to be funny. See, after you get through that immigration line and walk into the arrivals hall, you may have to pick your jaw up off the floor at the sight of the beautiful women waiting there. In many cases, these women are dressed up as if heading to a club—heavy makeup, tall stilettos, tight dresses—and waiting for their special (mostly pre-arranged) boo to walk through those doors.

The question I’ve always had is, how many of these were actually born as women? And how many of the guys who fly 6,000 miles to see them ever find out—or care?

Now that I’ve been through Suvarnabhumi several times, I believe I have discovered a little trick to be able to tell. See, most Thai women are fairly petite—this is not the Netherlands and there aren’t too many women approaching 6 feet, or 2 meters, here. Also, most petite women also have petite feet, and this is where I scratch my head a bit.

See, the “women” who appear to be most done up, dressed sexiest and, quite frankly, the most strikingly beautiful—they are the most likely to have once been men. Look down at the feet, and if the whole package says “woman” and then the shoes are size 44, you may want to think twice. Unless, of course, that’s your thing.

Bangkok Airport–Full of Smiles

The walk to BKK Arrivals…the last steps before a surprise?

Scene of some interesting exchanges

Asian household!