Issan

[rob69in]

Gunslinger,

your thread & report is a reminder of visits I made years ago, in the mid 80's, I think it might break my heart to go back & see the real LOS again. I have seen alot of shit in my miserable existance, especially while serving 23yrs with the Brit Army, but it seems to have a much greater effect when you actually have a bit of concern & respect for the people of the land you are in.

I wondered how long it would be before someone from the forum wandered off into the "wilderness" & saw the real LOS & reported it. I reckon it will be quite a wake up call for a few members

I have included a picture that some may find inapropriate for this thread & certainly not the position the LOS is in at the moment, but it might just be a reality check for some who turn up in the LOS without a shread of concern or respect for there rented company, & jolt them into thinking about the real situation for some of the LB's.

Well done Gunslinger..... respect

[ShockToe]

(rob69in @ Jan. 23 2007,22:35) I wondered how long it would be before someone from the forum wandered off into the "wilderness" & saw the real LOS & reported it. I reckon it will be quite a wake up call for a few members

In my limited experience over the past five years of living/staying/visiting in Issan I can honestly say that the people are very happy. No one is starving, there is really good access to education (of course most of the LB's effectively drop out of school by Mathayom 3/age 15) and health care and social services.

Much of the local economy is based on agriculture, so the fortunes of many are tied to the vagaries of the weather, commodities markets and foreign trade agreements. Many may be poor but they are rich in many other ways.

The term "The Land of Smiles" is much over-used, but in Issan I mostly see genuine smiles much of the time.

The man in the attached picture is ~ 85, dirt-poor and happy. Go figure.

[rob69in]

I am really glad to hear these things, I am a cynical old git with little sympathy for many peoples & countries, but as you may have guessed I have more than a little softspot for the LOS.

I purposely have not ventured out into the countryside for fear of what I might see, having been there before, perhaps I should take another look.

[gunslinger]

How many times have you pointed to a scar on a Thai girl/LB and have been met with the one word answer "motorcycle", this was going through my mind I was bombing throught these pitch black lanes on the back of one.
                             The journey takes about 20 minutes , then we arrive at this place in the middle of nowhere, it was basically a field with a stage in it.
                            So I roll up with 16 ladyboys in tow, its 20 Baht to get in "15 ladyboys, one ladyboy sherpa and one neutral observer please"
                             I pay the dosh and they all march in, Issan music is the order of the day again, and as soon as we get in they cant help themsleves and start dancing, I should say at this point that a non-Thai should under no circumstances attempt the jigging up and down dance to Issan music, as they look like a complete faggot or a simpleton or both. I have learnt my lesson before so I just observe.
 

[gunslinger]

This whole thing is a bit surreal, I'm in the middle of nowhere in pitch black, with 16 ladyboys watching an Issan music show, whats even more strange is that its Chrismas Day, 5 years previously I was watching TV with the potential in-laws drinking tea wanting to throw myself under a bus
It is a party here but really its more of a show/dancing/singing contest. Everyone is having a really good time, i wonder over to the edge of the field to take a piss, as i walk back 2 guys are tailing me muttering something, as soon as I get back to where the others are, as soonn as I get back to them , these guys look and run.
I start to laugh and then look to see nobody else is laughing with me. All i get is stern faces, in the darkness and after my 100 Pipers I seem to have wandered into a rival LB clique...

[gunslinger]

A hand comes out of the darkness and I get dragged back to the right gang. whats really bizarre is the dead eye looks between the 2 groups of ladyboys from different villages. Its like being in a movie.
It's here that I realise that even at a tender age, when you get ladyboys in large numbers, nobody fucks with them. Guys as well as girls give them space. I get a few guys giving me mild grief but as soon as they see who i am with they back off.
The music aint for everyone but, im used to it by now, and I'm now used to the Thai obsession with dance/singing contests. To be honest I could have stayed there forever.unforunately I couldn't the next day we were heading for the Thai-Laos border, which is a story in itself
These young ladyboys were full of life and great to watch, before they got corrupted by one thing or another, they absolutely adored having their picture taken. Which was the most difficult thing about this. I guess you would like to see what they look like.
They would all pose together and I did not really take any pictures of individuals, as i said this wasn't really the aim of this trip, and as they are just kids at the end of the day and are not working, I thought it wouldnt be right to post pictures of them, some of them wiil end up in Bangkok by the law of averages but I'm not going to encourage that, I told them to stay in school.
The next time i go there (next month) I will try and craft a tasteful shot.

[69billy]

gunslinger..Don't be a spoil sport..
Some of as like to see the LBs in there true selves...

[Guest]

Gunsliger - I sit here in a cold city suburb in the UK with a hangover from hell and find myself full of emotions reading yr thread, first of all a wanting for that flexible Thai life with a cute LB in tow....then humour as you have me laughin ith the exploits (which is fukin killin my headache).,....then a wanting to experience the real Thailand.... not the in yer face BKK, Pattaya or Phuket..... I really am so interested to travel NE, tempting to pack that rucksack now BUT WAIT, safety factor and communication is a must and you seem to have found a healthy balance here with your 'guide'

I bet there are so many members here longin to follow in yr footsteps....... I plan on spending maybe 4-6 weeks in LOS after my termination date comes thr' as I have just been made redundant. I am starting up a business in the UK that will allow more flexibility to travel to and fro LOS until the point where i may reside there, however b4 i start this new venture i will take the opportunity to get some quality travel time in LOS.

Keep up the stories on the thread.....I can close my eyes now and imaging myself on the back of the motorbike with cute LB up front, clutching that cheap whisky and lookin forward to party party...... OUCH !, rude awakenin, here I am in blighty and forecast of snow....

Again, top thread gunslinger !!!

[dummy_plug]

One of the best reads - EVER! I hope our pal Gunslinger makes a return trip and continues to share his adventures off the beaten track.

[vangough05]

It certainly rates up there with the greatest.
I prefer Gunslinger's type of reports then the slam bang thank you mamme in your face stuff

[Guest]

For the people who never've been there - you got to see it once. Issan is the best part of Thailand (when your thoughts are not interfered by hormone ).
This brings back memory. man, big time. Especially the pictures.
For whatever reasons, we can not break out of our cycles and live happily like that 85 year poor man ..........

[Guest]

GunSlinger,

Great Report.

Is it possible to make a trip like this on your own (knowing virtually no Thai) or only possible with ladyboy guide?

[rxpharm]

(monitor25 @ Mar. 22 2007,20:28) GunSlinger,

Great Report.

Is it possible to make a trip like this on your own (knowing virtually no Thai) or only possible with ladyboy guide?

Monitor25, if you read Gunslinger's report he recommends that a guide is required, and not just any lb guide, but one from that area.

If you attempt this on your own, without knowing Thai, you will unlikely be able to meet lbs who will take you to activities as Gunslinger's guide was able to.

The odds of you having an experience like this without a local guide and without knowing Thai are like getting struck by lightning twice and winning the lottery.

If you went on your own, you would likely find it a boring trip. The local lbs would probably not take you around, if they could understand enough English. You might be lucky and run into a "working" lb visiting home, but she would likely be tied up with family obligations.

[BigTel]

Gunslinger Thank you for a beautiful report, it was inspirational.

[gunslinger]

Later this month I will head back up to Issan, there is a "Young Ladyboy Contest", and well, as awful as it sounds I thought i had better go up and have a look.
                   Yes I will be posting pictures of them this time.