Thailand is unfortunately often linked with the sex industry. but we can assure you that the girls in the bars don't comply with the stereotype Europeans have on their minds.
Here are two stories that really are fairly typical.
The first one happened in Chiang Mai when we travelled by land. We were at "Linda's Bar" around 8:00 PM. The owner is a Swiss. His story is fairly straightforward: he was a doctor, he joined a NGO, then, while in Thailand, he decided that an early retirement sounded like a good idea. He is married to a Thai (since 8 years) and they manage the bar together.
"My wife is from Sukhothai and she is the one who asked local girls if they wanted to come and work in our bar" he told us.
Around 9:00 PM, three young guys (Dutch) turned up and decided to sip a few beers in the company of the girls. One of them (probably not knowing the tradition) rang the bell which meant that he gets to pay a drink to all the girls.
When the bill came, the guy with the biggest muscles decided he wouldn't pay and walk straight to the owner directly followed by the two others.
In less than a second, they were surrounded by the girls. Moreover, one of them was standing on the bar holding a stool, another one ready to throw a very heavy ashtray and the third one was ready to beat any of the three with a stick.
Our 3 Dutchmen decided that retreat would be best (without paying even their own drinks).
The owner said "I don't care as long as nobody gets hurt and nothing gets broken but, did you see my girls? They are wonderful!".
We must admit that we in admiration. Those tiny girls (women should we say since none of them is under 20) were really defending their place of work with all their harts.
The second story is the story of Gigi at the "Chichi's Bar" in Patong.
Although most girls speak a very basic English, Gigi speaks a perfect English. She is from Bangkok. She is the "mamasan", the one who controls the other girls. Her objective is to earn enough money to travel. In the meantime, she sends money every month to her family as all of the girls do. She told us that she was making more money by being a hostess and "mamasan" here that her sister who works for a bank in Bangkok for 325 euros a month.
Girls in bar are primarily hostesses who have to make sure the customers drink. Should a customer want "more", the girls are the one to decide if they are willing or not.
Should it happen, the customer must pay a fixed sum to the bar to have the girl going with him since the bar will loose money in the meantime.
We are far from the horror stories told by the press.
Well, we must also admit that we do read in the press here about the police arresting locals for detaining young girls from Laos, Burma or Vietnam and forcing them into prostitution. Those are sad stories that we hope to read less and less.
Dancing the night away on the counters or podiums in Patong's bars.
Playing Line-Up 4 is one of the favourite games at bars
Khatoys from Europe are also welcome in Patong. Gigi is dancing with... her.
