The Neon Lights of Pattaya

Pattaya is world renowned as a prime destination for its legendary go-go bars and cabaret shows performed by kathoeys (as they call transsexuals in Thailand). Pattaya is trying hard to change its image as a sex paradise to a resort town, which might explain why our board meeting was held there last weekend.

A bit of history I caught in some brochure: the city’s white sand beaches, facing the mesmerizing emerald waters of the Gulf of Thailand, attracted American G.I.s during the Vietnam War who spent their precious R&R in the area. As in the case of Angeles City in the Philippines, prostitution tends to thrive in these types of places, which is no different from the case of Pattaya. Because of its proximity to Bangkok, Pattaya eventually gained a good reputation less for being a resort town and more of a place where one’s sexual fantasies can run wild.

On our first night, after the board meeting, we watched the Alcazar drag show. Hordes of tourists – mostly Koreans, Chinese, and Westerners – were waiting outside the venue, which looks like a large theatre. On that Friday evening, Alcazar had three shows (one hour each show), and judging by the overflowing crowd, it would be an understatement to call the show popular. We soon found ourselves inside the large theatre packed with tourists ready to watch the world-renowned show.

For the next hour we were treated to a dizzying parade of transsexuals donning feathers, overflowing cleavages, and towering legs. They were endlessly lip-synching to a good mix of of Korean, Thai, English, Indian, and Chinese songs, which speaks of the variety of their repertoire. I did not expect that though coz I thought it would be Western musicals galore and some Madonna and Mariah in drag. I was quite disappointed. Hehehehe. I think performing three times a night can take a toll on these “girls”. Some backup dancers looked bored under their feather headdresses.

The lavish sets were astounding though. As in haler, seryoso ang mga lola ko. Theatre kung theatre (how British ang spelling) ang drama! There were even moving ramps, dancers popping out from the floor, Chinese fighters flying in the air (a la Crouching Tiger), video walls, and huge copies of Italian sculptures.

My absolute favourite was the Dreamgirls part. I had an actual orgasm in the freaking theatre. Divine!!!

The next evening we were taken to one of the more popular streets in Pattaya where seafood restaurants sit side by side with go-go bars. It was a dizzying place full of girls standing outside the neon-lit bars advertising their shows inside. Until now I’m not sure how to make sense of the place really. The girls are sold like merchandise. It was sleaze central, a Disneyland for sex. I’m not sure how a city can cope with such a not so ideal image. Besides, Pattaya is a nightmare for its unregulated tourism. Like hotels are practically scrambling over every decent space in the area. Think Puerto Galera and multiply that a thousand times. Horrendous!