Bangkok

Strange things

Floating markets

Patpong

History lessons #1

History lessons #2

History lessons #3

History lessons #4

Tribe

Patpong is the seamy quarter of Bangkok, the red light district which comes alive at night and attracts a strange group of people.

In January 2001, we had a long and passionate discussion with friends in France: should we or not visit Patpong? By doing so were we giving our approval to the fresh meat market? Seen from Montauban, this district looked diabolical and painted in unreal colours, peopled with ogres buying innocent and defenceless bodies for cash.

It seems to me that Patpong is much more complex than that. The ogres are certainly there, but they are part of a larger picture painted with very human desires and needs.

Prostitution is everywhere in Thailand. It represents an immense source of revenue for the country. 75% of Thai men visit a prostitute twice a week on average and it is impossible to count the number of sexual tourists flown in by charter.

It is a provocating business and shows itself in Bangkok without reserve, but each and every village has a brother, far from the usual circuits of sexual tourism. We have been told that it is in these brothels the conditions are truly inhuman. At the end of the day, Patpong seems squeaky clean when compared to that mysterious subterranean world…

Paedophilia has pretty much been wiped off the map and government measures to curtail it seem to have worked. This disgusting practice has moved on to poorer pastures, India, Cambodia, Brazil.

We were surprised to read a book and see a documentary about love stories in Patpong…Many Westerners (here, we’re called ‘Farang’.) go back home after their holidays leaving their hearts in a Bangkok gogo bar. These are often uncomfortable men, clumsy in love and friendship. They are especially very naive frustrated guys who have seen their wildest dreams come true in the arms of a young exotic beauty. Desperate love letters rain down on Patpong. International money orders as well. Some of these stories even finish in marriage.

I have the impression that most of these girls are not forced into this kind of work, in Patpong at least. They make a lot of money, support their families, pay for their brothers’ university education. On the other hand, many of them fall into drug abuse or loose much of their money in gambling. In the book and the documentary it was clearly out of the question that these girls look for work as cashiers, clerks or secretaries. Much too boring and badly paid…

The Thais have bought the consumer society dream hook, line and sinker. People are no longer satisfied with the simple life. Having a television, a stereo and a motorcycle is the absolute minimum if one is to be respected by one’s neighbours.

In the crowded streets of Patpong there are hundreds of bars. You can see the stages upon which the girls dance, a number tacked onto their bikini. Once called by a client they are invited to drink and for this they receive a commission. The men can then give the bar a leaving fee and take the girl off to an island for a few days or back to his hotel for the night after having discussed fees with the girl.

On the second floor, according to brochures distributed on the street in every European language, you can go to a show and watch "Pussy smoking cigarette", or "Pussy throwing darts".

In the middle of the streets, a night market takes up all available space. Gadgets, plastic art, clothing…nothing sexy at all about it. There are a lot of tourists, young and old, single and couples, buyers and gawkers…

The first time you walk through these streets you are amazed by the presentation of girls like bits of meat at the butcher’s. It makes the carnival (carnival: farewell to flesh in Latin!) atmosphere even more difficult to take. To think that every girl on the dance floor is a world unto herself. Each one is a world, a life to develop a story to be told. It is hard to take.

Some farangs go back again and again because the place is fascinating even if the first time you’re seized by emotion. "The call of the cunt", as Eric put it so well. And then again, it’s just so damned easy.

From being contrite onlookers they become actors in this game and feel a little less guilty about it all. After all, the trick lasts all night and that gives them all the time they need to get to know the girl and give what they consider to be a little bit of tenderness.

Many end up getting quite attached to one girl and if they’re young they are sure to leave behind as much cash as their innocence allows.

In Thailand, the expectations of both parties are more confused than anywhere else because this business involves a strange mixture of cash, sentiment, and sex.

Marie-Do