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As a lover of phuket maybe I can't really comment about Pattaya but there was a 'sensational expose' in the Sunday World (one of Ireland's finest rags) today about Pattaya, described in the article as as "the Sodom and Gomorrah of the Worlds sex industry".
Having seen and heard all of the many TV and radio ads over the last few days, I picked up a copy of the paper today expecting to see a revelation of Irish people who were found to be physically abusing (to the point of murder) Thai girls and boys or who were involved in pimping or drug pushing.
Instead I was presented with a front page headline and a two page spread about an Irish Guy who is on trial in Thailand for the murder of a Thai girl. Apparently he had broken up with his Thai GF and, as revenge, had picked up a prostitute. Unfortunately, in the course or aftermath of a bizarre bondage session, he proceeded to attack the poor girl 22 times with a knife and a hammer. Now don't get me wrong, this is all very shocking stuff and worthy of reporting but it seems strange to me that it was marketed as a story about "Thailand's sordid sex indusrty"....I mean, this was really a story about love an betrayal and a guy who lost the plot....could have happened anywhere and probably happens in the UK and Ireland a number of times every year.
Interestingly, the article also mentions the recent crackdown and arrest of LB prostitutes in pattaya. According to the article the deputy national commander of the tourist police described the operation as "purely a preventative exercise in advance of the forthcoming Chinese New Year celebrations.We are arresting them before anything happens to protect the tourists " The Police Colonel said they had arrested 70 prostitutes and that "the girls will be fined 500 baht and then they will be released. If we catch them again the fine will go up". Having said that, the Colonel also claimed that there were only 500 vice workers in Pattaya....
In the midst of a serious article, the funniest moment for me was where the journalist 'discovered' that "The Sunday World found exectly the same sort of bars in Patpong"....a Pulitzer prize for that man !!!
However the most ironic comment and one that I hope will not be lost on the publishers was where the journalist revealed that "Sadly for Thailand, it is these sex haunts that grab the headlines rather than the incredible friendliness of the people, the stunning scenery and the beautiful islands".
I eagerly await the next Sunday World (or other publication) article that represents Thailand and/or other SE Asian countries in a positive light...maybe then these countries can start to build tourist economies to match their natural resources.
Having seen and heard all of the many TV and radio ads over the last few days, I picked up a copy of the paper today expecting to see a revelation of Irish people who were found to be physically abusing (to the point of murder) Thai girls and boys or who were involved in pimping or drug pushing.
Instead I was presented with a front page headline and a two page spread about an Irish Guy who is on trial in Thailand for the murder of a Thai girl. Apparently he had broken up with his Thai GF and, as revenge, had picked up a prostitute. Unfortunately, in the course or aftermath of a bizarre bondage session, he proceeded to attack the poor girl 22 times with a knife and a hammer. Now don't get me wrong, this is all very shocking stuff and worthy of reporting but it seems strange to me that it was marketed as a story about "Thailand's sordid sex indusrty"....I mean, this was really a story about love an betrayal and a guy who lost the plot....could have happened anywhere and probably happens in the UK and Ireland a number of times every year.
Interestingly, the article also mentions the recent crackdown and arrest of LB prostitutes in pattaya. According to the article the deputy national commander of the tourist police described the operation as "purely a preventative exercise in advance of the forthcoming Chinese New Year celebrations.We are arresting them before anything happens to protect the tourists " The Police Colonel said they had arrested 70 prostitutes and that "the girls will be fined 500 baht and then they will be released. If we catch them again the fine will go up". Having said that, the Colonel also claimed that there were only 500 vice workers in Pattaya....
In the midst of a serious article, the funniest moment for me was where the journalist 'discovered' that "The Sunday World found exectly the same sort of bars in Patpong"....a Pulitzer prize for that man !!!
However the most ironic comment and one that I hope will not be lost on the publishers was where the journalist revealed that "Sadly for Thailand, it is these sex haunts that grab the headlines rather than the incredible friendliness of the people, the stunning scenery and the beautiful islands".
I eagerly await the next Sunday World (or other publication) article that represents Thailand and/or other SE Asian countries in a positive light...maybe then these countries can start to build tourist economies to match their natural resources.
But of course!! 
for one of the shows at 10:30 there were four girls dancing and one sitting on each side of me and i was the *only* customer in the place. 
. lek looked on quite askance and said to me 'i never do that!'. i asked 'never? really?'. she squeezed my excited parts and said 'not in bar! so...we go now?' and we did.
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