Thailand: Where any man can be a God

Are you a nerd, dork, geek, overweight, old, impotent, or maybe you’re just shy or wanting to brush up on your skills, ahem… in bed? Well then, Thailand is the place for you, although I’m sure you already knew that. As long as you have a hefty bank account and a thick wallet, you can find sex anywhere. It doesn’t matter if you were a nobody back home, or the CEO of a well known company, a father of 2, or a husband to a loving wife, in the land of smiles, everyone is on an even playing field. Thai women, most coming from very poor backgrounds, have realized how easily they can sell their bodies for a good chunk of change. They stand outside in clad dresses, showing off their assets for men to pick up as if picking up a steak from the butcher. These women will make you feel like you’re the best lover they’ve ever had. Even if you know it’s all for show, the feeling is still appreciated and for the most part, feels sincere. Most would feel pity for these women for having to give up their bodies to men, but if you turn your head slightly, you will see that these women are in a place of power. They know that men come to Thailand looking for a night of cheap thrills and instead of giving up their bodies for free… they make these men pay a fee. No, it’s not the Thai women I feel bad for… they can fend for themselves, it’s the girlfriends, children and wives of these men back home. Most men and I say most because there are a lot of men who truly fall in love and appreciate these women, but they are few and far between. Anyway, most men probably go by the code “what happens in Thailand, stays in Thailand.” Not to say women don’t cheat in Thailand as well, but I’ve seen firsthand, men cheating on their girlfriends and wives just moments after showing me pictures of their wives and children. That literally makes me sick to my stomach. How easily these men can forget about the vows they made, and for what? A quickie in the bathroom of some cheap motel that they have to pay for themselves? How do they look at themselves in the mirror the next day?

The conversations I’ve witnessed about men bragging of their latest Thai conquest is sick. Now, if you’re single and in need of some quick action, by all means, go at it, if you want to pay for sex, then I’m not one to advise otherwise… but for these men who are quote unquote “devoted” and “committed” I ask you to think about what you’re sacrificing for a quick and meaningless lay. Women aren’t stupid… it’s becoming more and more noticed the reasons why many men come to Thailand… and if it’s not you’re first reason, it’s certainly on the list. And another thing, just because these Thai girls are willing to give it up for a few baht does NOT mean every other women is. As I was sitting at a table drinking a beer, two guys behind me (maybe a foot and a half away) were discussing which one of them was going to “take” me home. Neither of these men asked for MY opinion, no, they just assumed one of the would “conquer” me. And that same night, a guy comes up to me and whispers into my ear, “I’ve never had a Korean girl” as if he’s saying, “I’ve never tried kimchi before”… are you kidding?! How vile and disgusting can you get!? Girls, watch out, and guys, keep it in your pants unless asked otherwise.

Hippies: A Trend or a Lifestyle?

Throughout my travels in Asia, I’ve come across many “hippies” as you might call them. They either have dreadlocks wrapped up in some kind of hair band, have shaved heads (mostly women), and they’re usually wearing earthy colors tones, no brand names, come across very friendly and serene, never to raise their voices or lose their temper and are usually vegetarian/pescetarian. As I’m sitting in what can only be described as a “hippie” guesthouse, listening to a mix of easy reggae and jazz while surrounded by a multitude of wicker lanterns, stones, dangling jeweled art, various plants and a variety of different styled wooden tables covered with Thai printed cloth. I see a woman to my right with a shaved head, her large bottle of nameless water, a shirt probably made out of recyclable material, cliché Thai pants, and a look on her face that says, “my aura is a magical place.” Is she a hippie for life? Or a hippie until she wants to go back home to her life surrounded by Abercrombie jeans and a J.Crew t-shirt? I must say, it’s getting harder and harder to tell, but then again, does it really matter? I have my share of “hippie” esque friends and I love them to death. I don’t look at them and wonder how long it took them to put together their “look.” To them, it’s not a look, it’s who they are. They didn’t choose this lifestyle to “fit in” or because they thought it was “cool,” it was natural to them. The general theme of “hippies” as far as I’ve found is “one love.” If it was good enough for Bob, it’s good enough for me. “One love” doesn’t sound half bad anyway!

Thailand is the motherland of hippies and hippie wannabes. The streets are filled with people, probably just passing through but wanting a little taste of the “hippie” lifestyle. So they go down to Khaosan Rd. and get dreads done, or possibly shave their head if they’re feeling extra ambitious. They trade their make-up in for the au natural look, buy some Thai pants off the street for 80baht and throw on a plain colored tank top, kick off their shoes and fake Armani bag, take a seat, and watch and learn… They feel like they’re fitting in with the crowd, because come on, everyone in Thailand is a hippie at heart. To be honest, it’s a lot more comfortable than jeans and a button-up shirt, and high heeled shoes, you don’t have to worry about your hair being perfectly combed and straightened, or take the time to put on make-up just to watch it melt off, and shaving your legs becomes an unnecessary chore. Plus, these pants are seriously the most comfortable pants you’ll ever wear! In addition to all that, vegetarian food is amazing! Like they say, “when in Rome.” A lot of what I’ve said can be looked at as stereotypical and I’m sure there are some people out there who may disagree with what I say… but that’s ok. I’m here to be the absolutely truth about anything, I’m just here to blog about my adventures. I truthfully don’t think I could play off the “hippie” look for life, but look me up after my first year here and I might be whistling a different tune… Couldn’t you see me with dreads one day? It’s crossed my mind… =)