Steve wanted to go to one of the night markets. As dusk settled, we headed out from the hotel for the Patpong market, just a short walk from the Dusit Thani. Supposedly, this market had cleaned up it's seedy reputation. Well, let's just say that in Thailand, it appears you can buy, or at least rent, anything...
As we approached the vendors, there were quite a variety of merchandise on display. I, of the bed-breaking fame, am certainly no prude, but sex toys sold on the sidewalk? Hmmm... Then a fellow approaches me with a bunch of laminated pages. You would NOT believe what was on the pages! Graphic pictures of sex acts. Man/woman, woman/woman, man/man and assorted beasts - an absolutely menu of depravity. I'm talking about things that I would seriously like to UNSEE.
Okay, so now I know. Politely decline and don't look. It's not rocket surgery. The market itself consists of a center aisle and two outside rows. It seems to be an unspoken rule that the sex vendors stay to the outside rows, so the center aisle is pretty hassle free. OF course, sometimes the merchandise you want is on the outside. I was negotiating for a silk robe for our daughter. As I finished the transaction, I glanced back at my husband. He was talking to a Thai gentleman who was holding one of the "menus" and he had a goofy grin on his face. AFter 20 years, I know when I've been the end of a joke... The conversation went like this:
THai Guy - Ping Pong Show? Only 100 baht! (you'll need to look that up, I will NOT describe it).
Steve - No thank you.
Thai Guy - Ping Pont Show! 100 BAHT!!
Steve - No. I"m not going to pay for that. My wife can do that and I don't have to pay at all (for the record,
I DO NOT HAVE CARNAL KNOWLEDGE OF the PING PONG BALL!!!)
Thai Guy - Really? She want job? WE pay her good!
When Steve relayed this to me (and told me what t he ping pong ball show was) I laughed so hard I nearly split a gut!
Welcome to Thailand!
angela