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Ladyboys

Thailand's katoeys are some of the most beautiful - and convincing - transvestites in the world, mostly accepted and embraced by a highly tolerant Thai society. Some families even believe that katoeys bring good luck to them, an enlightened attitude that was boosted by several Thai movies in the past two decades dedicated to katoey themes.

'Beautiful Boxer', for example, tells the true story of a Thai kickboxing champion who became a woman, adored by fans and feared by rivals. Gender reassignment surgery in Thailand is also legendary - not only for the outstanding surgical standards that are maintained, but also because it is one of the most cost-effective places in the world to have it done.

But, back to the ladyboy shows. Most of the performers have had breast implant surgery, and are saving for the 'final curtain' on their manhood.

Some shows won't allow them to perform after they've become women, as they won't technically be ladyboys anymore. This rule, however, is not strictly enforced - especially if a performer is a hot favourite with the audience. As a result, Bangkok boasts some of the most famous and fabulous ladyboy shows in the world. These cabaret-like shows pay tribute to the cr-me de la cr-me of the female persona; from Hollywood glam and disco diva to mythical creatures and legends of the Orient, in shows that feature spectacular extravaganza-type sets and costumes. To add some fun, comedy skits are normally thrown in too.

These fascinating and highly artistic performers captivate audiences with their charm, unique creativity and flawless female impersonations. A ladyboy show promises an evening of polished and most enjoyable entertainment for the whole family.

About Ladyboy

Typically, katoeys dress and live as women. They undergo hormone replacement therapy, most have breast implants, and eventually have genital reassignment surgery done. They go to great lengths to conceal any tell-tale signs of masculinity, including surgery to reduce the size of the Adam's apple and other medical procedures to shape their bodies more like those of women (jawbone, hips, buttocks) - even voice chord surgery.

Katoeys are fully integrated in and accepted by Thai society, even on the countryside. Those who don't work in restaurants, bars and cabaret shows hold regular jobs like nurses, secretaries, beauticians, stylists, and some even become popular TV stars.

Many become prostitutes though; the most beautiful ones count among the highest paid sex workers in Thailand. It is believed that the acceptance they enjoy in society is due to the nature of the surrounding Buddhist culture, which places a high value on tolerance. Thais believe that being a katoey is the result of transgressions in past lives (the notion of Karma), and that katoeys deserve pity rather than blame. Sadly, legal recognition of katoeys is non-existent in Thailand. Even after genital reassignment surgery they are not allowed to change their legal sex. Katoeys often belong to lower social classes, and their suicide rate is significantly higher than that of any other segment of the Thai population. Still, many go on to make their mark.

Ladyboy Shows

Ladyboy shows offer some of the finest night-time entertainment in Bangkok with shows that are jam-packed with glitz, glam and a touch of humour. The performers are world-class and the draw-card for busloads of tourists every night. We have selected Bangkok's best ladyboy venues for you. Most have at least three shows every night, and after the shows you'd be able to take photographs of your favourite performers

Calypso Cabaret

Founded in 1988, Calypso Cabaret has long been hailed as one of the cabaret show pioneers in Thailand. Conveniently located in the Asia Hotel and easily accessible by BTS (Rajchathewi), Calypso Cabaret delivers extravagant Broadway-style shows, as well as Thai classical dance, a comical Geisha repertoire, Chinese ballads and much more.

Two performances are held every night (20:15 and 21:45).

Location: Ratchadaphisek

Golden Dome Cabaret

Located in the Ratchada area. The best way to get there is by taking the subway (MRT) and getting off at Sutthisan station. From there you can either catch a taxi or just walk up Sutthisan Road (which should take 10 to 15 minutes). Golden Dome is at the end of the road.

Three shows are held daily (17:00, 19:00 and 22:00).

Location: Ratchadaphisek

Mambo Cabaret

Said to host the 'Queen' of the drag shows, Mambo Cabaret has all the glitz and glamour that one would expect of a ladyboy cabaret. The show is professional, polished and entertaining.

As with most of the other shows, you will also get a chance to take a photo with the performers afterwards (expect to pay for this privilege). The venue is in the former Washington Theater between Sukhumvit Soi 22 and 24.

Show times are at at 20:30 and 22:00 every night.

Location: Sukhumvit

Ladyboy's Gogo Bar

Unlike formal ladyboy shows, ladyboy bars are venues where socializing takes precedence over performing. Ladyboy bars are a mixed bag, where being hustled for a drink is all part of the good-natured fun. If you’re easily shocked or offended, we’d recommend a formal ladyboy show instead. Looking for a hot time and a good story? OK, go to a ladyboy bar, and be prepared for anything!

There are too many ladyboy bars in Bangkok to count, but the following are among the most notable.

Obsession bar

Obsessions is a bar with 100% lady boy bar with a large following. Careful though the "ladies" inside do get quite aggressive.

Location: Street level Nana entertainment Plaza on Sukhumvit

Casanova Bar

Casanova is a standard size Gogo bar (I talk about the bar itself here, not the features of the “hostesses”), not small like Temptations but not huge like Cascade either. Nice couches in front of the stage. The bar is large enough to not feel embarrassed but small enough to see everything in the bar.

This night they had something like 10 to 12 “ladies” and… no punter! And as I said, the “ladies” here can be very pushy. In my opinion this is not a place for a first timer or a curious adventurer.

Price scheme is basically the same as in Cascade: Lady (Boy) Drink 150 baht, BF 600 baht, ST room 300 baht and ST 1500.

Casanova Gogo bar is located on the second floor of Nana Plaza, in the corner, on the left hand side. Probably the only Gogo bar with a front door.

Location: Second level Nana entertainment Plaza on Sukhumvit

Temptations bar

Compare to Cascade and even to standard Gogos, Temptations is a very small Gogo bar, with the width of a corridor only, seats on the side and a narrow stage in the middle. And the bar at the back. It reminded me of 5 Star Gogo bar, actually, but without the live band. And with the katoeys!

There are not that many Lady Boys there, maybe 10 or 12, but they’re all yours!

When I went there, there were only 2 or 3 punters, which considering the size of the bar was not that bad. All Farangs, whereas Cascade customers where all Asians. Do they have Farang friendly Ladyboy Gogo and Asian friendly Ladyboy Gogo or was it just a coincidence? I don’t know.

The drawback with a small Lady Boy Gogo bar is the same as with a small girl Gogo bar: the choice is very limited and one can’t get in or stay in without being noticed. Therefore it is a bit more intimidating than a large place.

Once again, as I did in Cascade, I invited one of these ladies for a drink (not sure I will do that every time though!). That’s why I’m able to confirm that a Lady Drink at Temptations costs 130 baht, which was 5 baht cheaper than the bottle of Singha beer that I bought for me. BF costs 600 and I was quoted 1500 ST and 3000 LT which I politely declined.

Temptations Lady Boy Gogo bar is located on the second floor of Nana Plaza, on the right side.

Location: Second level Nana entertainment Plaza on Sukhumvit

Cascade bar

Cascade is a huge bar with a cave theme (looks like a cave) and loaded with around 100 Lady Boys. All in bikini. Going there alone was for me a bit of a challenge, but they are not too pushy and the whole thing was rather a funny experience.

I have to mention that among the dozens of LB in this bar there is none that I really found attractive. I mean, sometimes in the street I turn around on a girl which is not a girl but looks like a stunning girl. Well, this did not happen in Cascade. For me.

About prices: a Singha beer bottle at Cascade costs 135 baht, a Lady (Boy) Drink 150 baht, the BF 600 baht. The LB of my choice (yes, I have even chosen one and asked about the price) quoted 1500 baht ST and 3000 baht LT. There is a ST room in Cascade, but I did not understand if you have to pay an extra 600 baht to go in or if this is included with the BF (I didn’t dare to ask again as I was not really interested anyway).

Cascade is located on the third floor of Nana Plaza. On the right hand side (top right corner).

Location: Second level Nana entertainment Plaza on Sukhumvit

King's 3

Unlike King’s Castle 1 and King’s Castle 2, Kink Castle 3 is a Lady Boy Go-Go bar on Patpong soi 1. Compare to Nana Plaza Lady Boy Go-Go bars I found King’s Castle 3 more fun, more in a party mood, with more clients and not only Asian clients.

The Go-Go bar looks like every girl Go-Go bar with a central stage and seats on the side. No specific theme here. 20 or 30 LB take turn on the stage or hang around with the clients.

From what I’ve seen, there is also a higher proportion of LB that have had the cut operation and most of them look more feminine than in other LB bars.

A good place for your first LB experience.

As for every LB bars, there is a ST room upstairs. BF costs 500 baht, the room 300, and the LB of my dreams (only in my dreams) quoted me 2000 for ST! This could obviously be negotiated down at 1500, but you never know until you actually pay, right? And I didn’t.

Location: Patpong 1 in Silom & Sathorn

Guess Bar

Guess Bar reminds me of the (empty) beer bars that still try to survive on Sukhumvit soi 22. This is basically a very common beer bar with a pool table, except that they tried to give it a kind of cosy look with a few couches and pillows and a dim lightning. And except that unlike the bars on soi 22, it is full of Lady Boys!

Maybe I went there too early and on a quiet day, but it was yes very quiet. 7 to 10 Lady Boys around the pool table or hanging around and one or 2 customers seating and drinking.

The problem with a pool table is that it only keeps busy 2 persons. Unlike the stage of the go-go bar which can give something to do to 10 or more. Therefore, most of the Lady Boys at Guess Bar have nothing to do and jump on the first (only?) customer they see. And some are very long to understand that “No, thanks” means “No. Thanks!”.

To sum it up, neither the place, nor the people, make it a very enjoyable experience. The good news is that a Singha beer bottle costs only 100 baht. A Lady Drink 110 baht. And BF 500 baht. One Lady Boy (not pretty at all) insisted to seat with me and I questioned her about the rates before dismissing her (yes I know it is not very nice but I was in no mood to pay a Lady Drink).

She quoted me 2000 ST and 4000 LT! Looks like these rates are beginning to be the standard offer in all places in Bangkok and for all genders nowadays! I didn’t try to negotiate though.

In my opinion Guess Bar is for people who already have a bit experience with Lady Boys and know what they are looking for. If you are a first timer or just curious, I would rather recommend King’s Castle III in Patpong or Cascade in Nana Plaza.

Location: Sukhumvit soi 22 on Sukhumvit

Gay Places

Thailand is a highly tolerant country where sexual preference is regarded as a personal choice when it comes to homosexuality. Gays, lesbians and transsexuals are all accepted as part of the Thai way, inspired by the teachings of Buddhism. Gay harassment is virtually non-existent. Thai people - both gay and straight - are also known for their sweet, friendly and polite natures. All of this have contributed to making Thailand a prime gay tourist destination, with Bangkok often being dubbed as the gay capital of Asia.

To celebrate this diversity and freedom, gay pride events are held annually in the three major tourist destinations: Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket. The first Bangkok Gay Festival was organised in the Silom and Surawong area in 1999.

The inaugural event was the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, with participants dressed in extravagant, over-the-top and flamboyant costumes, cheered on by thousands of spectators. The lavish parade and decorated floats attracted both local and international crowds. Definitely a feast for the eyes, Bangkok Gay Pride usually takes place in late October or early November in the Silom area. Make sure you're close to the action; staying in hotels around the Silom area will guarantee you a front seat!

Bangkok gay nightlife is as fun, exciting and wild as the straight scene (if not more). Wide-ranging gay venues in Bangkok offer everything from gay-friendly hotels and guest houses to pubs, clubs, bars, karaoke venues, ladyboy cabarets, go-go bars, massage parlours and saunas.

But before you do so, it's important to take note of a few things. As is always the case when you're traveling in a foreign country, it is vital to comply to the laws of the land. Firstly, the punishment for drug offences are severe in Thailand. So too sexual liaisons with under-aged persons. At the same time, be street-wise. The same traps that can be found in the gay scene of any other big city also apply to Bangkok.

With its infamous Soi 2 and Soi 4, Silom is considered the main gay area of Bangkok. While Soi 2 caters exclusively to those who like to shake their 'thang' with dance clubs like DJ Station, Freeman and Expresso, Soi 4 offers a more relaxed atmosphere with pubs, bars and restaurants such as Balcony Bar, Telephone Pub and Sphinx.

Most foreigners tend to flock around this area more than others. Both Soi 2 and Soi 4 are located conveniently close to BTS (Sala Daeng) and MRT (Silom) stations. Snugged between Robinson department store and Burger King, the tiny alley of Soi 2 is easily missed unless you're looking for it.

Soi 4 is just a short walk from Soi 2, directly opposite Soi Convent (look out for California WOW Fitness). If you want to experience something a little more adventurous, the nearby Suriwong and Patpong areas reveal a naughtier side of things.

Other notable areas include the Soi Ramkhamhaeng 89/2, or 'Lamsalee'. Many dance clubs can be found here and, due to lower drink prices, most of their customers are Thai university students. The area behind Chutuchak Weekend Market is also a small clutter of gay-dedicated establishments. There are also bars and saunas along the Saphan Kwai and Sukhumvit areas. But, unlike Silom, these areas are less frequented by tourists and cater for a largely local clientele.

Tapas

On groovy and predominantly gay Soi 4, this chic Moroccan grotto is the place to go for Balearic house music. Set in an atmospheric two-storey venue, it attracts a straight, hip and beautiful crowd, the occasional celebrity just itching to be spotted. Live percussionists perform twice a week.

While a great price to chill during the week, it's usually hot and heaving on weekends, especially upstairs. Should the interior's charm turn to claustrophobia, head for the al fresco area out front with its rattan chairs, chatty cocktail enthusiasts and processions of toned men and other night creatures.
Open: 20:00 - 01:00
Location: 114/17 Silom Soi 4, Sala Daeng on Silom

Telephone

One of the oldest and most notorious gay bars in Bangkok, the crowd is pre dominantly gay, it is also considered a meeting point for revelers of all sexual preferences. The bar boasts a unique communication concept.  Every table has a telephone, if you wish to speak to a friend across the bar or at the first floor restaurant simply pick up the phone dial the prominently displayed number and hey presto your connected. It also has free Wi-Fi.
Open: 18:00- 02:00
Location: Silom Soi 4 on Silom

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