It could be argued that Pattaya, rather than Bangkok,
deserves the title Thailand’s Naughtiest City.
Certainly its reputation for non-stop partying
and sexy nightlife grows yearly. It’s all based
on customer choice.
Where to Find
Sexy Nightlife in Pattaya
Take a stroll down Walking
Street in South Pattaya, a pedestrianised
precinct from early evening till morning. Packed
with go-go bars, massage parlours, restaurants
and beer joints, the scene is crowded and noisy
and gives the casual punter an idea of what is
on offer. The ubiquitous girlie and gay bars are
there, but alongside these there is are Irish
pubs and lots of loud discos.
Away from South Pattaya, beer
bars, restaurants and streetside hostelries can
be found, where drinking and chatting are the
order of the evening (especially around Sois 7
and 8 in Central Pattaya). More relaxed than the
frenetic scene in South Pattaya, customers can
still find companionship at the bar for the
price of a drink.
Transexual
Cabarets at Alcazar and Tiffany
North Pattaya is the quietest
area, but it has the famous Alcazar and Tiffany
Cabarets, which feature transexuals dressed to
kill. Both these cabaret houses are immensely
popular with Thai and foreign tourists, who come
to marvel at the glittering costumes and the
quite fantastic-looking transexuals.
In the less than 100 bars in
the area, many are pub-restaurants providing
music from western rock to Thai folk and trendy
pop to country music, all provided by local
bands and singers.
Gay NightLife
in Pattaya
Boyz Town is favourite for the
gay nightlife scene and this area of gay go-go
bars and beer halls can be found around Sois
Pattaya 1 and 3. Soi 3 is credited with being
the largest concentrated gay area in Thailand
with male go-go bars and nightclubs catering to
Thais and foreigners.
A quieter area can be found at
the nearby Sunee Plaza. An even quieter one is
just out to town at Jomtien Beach where the
scene is more mixed than in Pattaya.
Pattaya’s Gay
Scene
Homosexuality is accept
throughout Thailand with minimum of fuss or
prejudice, and Pattaya is proof of this, even if
it can sometimes feel a trifle overdone and too
rich for some people’s taste. However, areas for
the sex trade are well sign-posted, and it is
almost impossible to wander in unexpectedly and
be shocked. The people involved in the scene are
invariably friendly, reflecting the liberal and
tolerant nature of the people.
There are homosexuals who
offer their services through the go-go bars, but
these are not necessarily prostitutes or rent
boys. Often a gay Thai male is just interested
in finding a partner. Again, not all male
escorts/prostitutes are gay. Sometimes it’s a
mere matter of making a living.
Katoeys or Ladyboys
There are also the ladyboys
(Thailand’s transexuals, transgenders) who are
flamboyant and extravagant, OTT in every sense
of the word. They provide a dramatic background
to the gay and lesbian scene with their
confident and well groomed appearance.
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