Calypso Cabaret (3 pics)

[Naang Faa]

In my opinion "Thai style dating" protcols don't really apply to ladyboys, none of whom I have met being chaste virgins. I would run a mile of one of them suggested that she bring along her mates. A sure sign they are blood suckers.

You must know by now it is the norm for ladyboys to eat in a social group whether your paying or
not,it's hardly blood sucking if they do things the Thai way..
the Mambo girls are fun,i went out with them in Liverpool (of all places) when they were touring
the UK last year...
x

[kahuna]

(Naang Faa @ Mar. 26 2008,16:06) You must know by now it is the norm for ladyboys to eat in a social group

Sorry off topic...but just an aside...

Not just ladyboys...for most if not all Thais a meal is much more than just the taking of food...In Isaan where many of the girls come from, you would be stoned to death if you got caught eating alone...And they gather for food 3, 4 or more times a day...The meals are not generally huge affairs...they can be  shared plastic bag of papaya, some vegies and sticky rice....but folks turn up all times of the day with bags of shit to eat...and they share and they chat...They are also highly offended if, even as a falang, you don't participate...

[doug]

(trobriand @ Mar. 26 2008,13:25) In my opinion "Thai style dating" protcols don't really apply to ladyboys, none of whom I have met being chaste virgins. I would run a mile of one of them suggested that she bring along her mates. A sure sign they are blood suckers.

It would be a big mistake to make inferences about Thai culture based on the bar scene.

First off, it's not a coincidence that many of the girls working in the p4p scene are from the "non-Thai" ethnic areas of Thailand (like Isaan or the South).

So just because some poorly educated hill-tribe farmers up north think it's OK to send their daughters down to the Big Mango to "support" their family, that doesn't mean that Central Thais or Lanna Thais are going to make the same rationalizations for their daughters (or sons if they happen to be ladyboys).

Thais in general tend to be very conservative when it comes to dating, especially with their daughters (and that includes ladyboys). Normally kids go out as groups, and only start solo-dating during or after university (and usually someone from their gang of friends). The rare times that a girl dates someone outside of her "gang", a chaperone is almost always required to "guard her honor", in the most cheesy 1950's-morality kind of way.

Farang generally don't get a chance to experience this for two reasons: 1 ) most of the "good girls" are already taken. We didn't go to high school or even elementary school here, so we have zero chance of dating one of those girls because we were never part of her gang growing up, 2 ) we tend to get distracted by all the other girls throwing themselves at us. Some girls want a visa, some girls want a wallet, some girls want a "faithful man", some girls are hot for white skin, and some girls actually just like us for who we are as people (and not WHAT we are as a stereotype). Regardless, most of these girls are "on the fringe". Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying they are "bad girls". Just not "the norm".

Frankly, any girl over 23 years old who hasn't been dating the same guy for 9 or 10 years is NOT normal in Thailand. Again, don't misunderstand. By "not normal" I don't mean "bad", I'm talking numbers here not value judgments, OK?

If you think this doesn't apply to ladyboys, you're wrong. I know many "normal" ladyboys who are subject to the same strict rules as girls. They have curfews, live with their parents, aren't allowed to solo-date, and have had the same boyfriend for many years.

Do you honestly think you're going to run into a ladyboy like that on Sukhumvit?? Fawn bai ter!! Girls like that go straight from their university/job back home to their parents' house where they spend 2 to 3 hours a night studying/working. When they do go out, they go out with their friends to nice, trendy restaurants on hidden back-sois out in the suburbs that you'd never find in a million years.

My only mistake was assuming that since the Calypso girl was not "in the p4p scene" that she might be a "normal Thai girl", like the ones I described above. So I tolerated the five-pounds-of-seafood-eating "chaperones" because I've dated "normal" Thai girls before and there was always a cousin, aunt, or a few co-workers tagging along to "guard her honor".

Group dating is the norm in Thailand, and people really only solo-date after they are a well-established couple on a track towards marriage. Of course, I'm speaking in generalities, so I'm sure you can think of plenty of exceptions to this "rule", but if you ask anyone who's spent a good amount of time OFF Sukhumvit, you'll find that they'll back me up on this.

So just because none of the girls you've met were "chaste virgins", doesn't mean you've met girls who are actually "normal" by Thai standards. Trust me, if you didn't grow up in this country and go to high school or university here, then you have very little chance of meeting a "normal girl" (unless you happen to meet her while she's studying overseas).

But I guarantee that if you ever did get lucky and meet a "proper Thai ladyboy" (like a Nong Poy-style girl), you'd be taking a whole gang of chaperones out with you every time you met her. And you can just forget about "getting any", because you wouldn't even be allowed to drop her off at her parents' house (the neighbors would gossip if she was since outside the house IN THE DARK with a MAN).

Try to imagine a school dance in 8th grade in the 1950's. That's datting in Thailand.

[trobriand]

(Naang Faa @ Mar. 26 2008,16:06) You must know by now it is the norm for ladyboys to eat in a social group whether your paying or
not

In Isaan where many of the girls come from, you would be stoned to death if you got caught eating alone..

The truth of the matter is I know sweet fuck all!

But patience boys, I am learning.

I now know if I see an Isaan GG or LB eating alone I should immediately sit down, let them buy me dinner, and take me home for a shag afterward, because they are in imminent danger of being stoned to death and would welcome my attentions.

and if I happen to stumble on a lone ladyboy eating alone I have been extremely fortunate to catch sight of a rare subspecies of ladyboy known as Katoy Kin Kundeow !

[stogie bear]

It would be a big mistake to make inferences about Thai culture based on the bar scene...

Great post, doug. As usual you seem to have things nailed.

[farang_oz]

The first photo was taken when all the lights were turned off so we could not see the ladyboys topless.

[farang_oz]

Few more.

[doug]

(farang_oz @ Mar. 28 2008,09:09) The first photo was taken when all the lights were turned off so we could not see the ladyboys topless.

Ah, there's Real.

In the middle of that topless pic. With the gold ribbon on her neck.

She used to be carried out on that tray too, but it looks like a different girl is doing that now.

What can I say, I was foolishly smitten. She's very passable even without stage make-up, and LOOKS like a nice, sweet girl.

Alas, she loved money more than me

[rossi]

Ah, there's Real.

In the middle of that topless pic. With the gold ribbon on her neck.

Wow, can't blame you for choosing her, she was the one that my eyes zoomed in on when I looked at that pic, before reading your post. Shame she turned out to be not worth the pursuing.

[doug]

(rossi @ Mar. 29 2008,09:51)

Ah, there's Real.

In the middle of that topless pic.  With the gold ribbon on her neck.

Wow, can't blame you for choosing her, she was the one that my eyes zoomed in on when I looked at that pic, before reading your post.  Shame she turned out to be not worth the pursuing.

Yeah, like I said, I was disappointed.

I thought she was a new performer because she looked so young, but actually she's been working there for 9 years and she's almost 30 years old.

Still looking hot, though. Too bad she looks at every white guy as a free meal ticket, I was seriously considering dating her (for real), until I got wise to her game.

Sigh...

[Looker]

(doug @ Mar. 29 2008,00:55) In the middle of that topless pic.  With the gold ribbon on her neck.

She looks like one of my secretaries..really!!!
Sorry for not wanting to post her pic but you would be shocked about the resemblance.

[rxpharm]

Seeing as how this is supposed to be the Picture Post Forum, I think I'll add a few more Calypso photos from July 2007, including a few more of the lovely Real (she told me her name is Lio - but whatever!).

By the way don't assume all showgirls would be difficult to date - but be aware the approach needs to be different than dating a bar girl.

[rxpharm]

Calypso management frowns on their staff "dating" or harassing customers for photo tips - if you have ever been to another cabaret show, you will notice that the Calypso staff never ask for a Baht amount - they only ask you take their photo and hope you will tip them whereas the other cabaret showgirls will request around 100 Baht for a photo. If you want to date a Calypso showgirl, you need to slip them your mobile number during the photos after the end of the show or wait around for them after the last show is done.

[rxpharm]

Also not all showgirls will date - so you may not always get a response with the telephone number method or waiting for them after the show.

If you are only in LOS for a short period of time, you are probably going to have an easier time with the bars.

[mesmer]

(rxpharm @ Mar. 30 2008,04:04) Calypso management frowns on their staff "dating" or harassing customers for photo tips - if you have ever been to another cabaret show, you will notice that the Calypso staff never ask for a Baht amount - they only ask you take their photo and hope you will tip them whereas the other cabaret showgirls will request around 100 Baht for a photo. If you want to date a Calypso showgirl, you need to slip them your mobile number during the photos after the end of the show or wait around for them after the last show is done.

great photos rxpharm many thanks - did you ever go to the mambo show? I wanna marry the lead girl there - gouy or whatever her name is - she is absolutely my dream woman