Explore Thailand: Made in Thailand

Welcome to another gripping installment of our Thailand Adventure.

Today you will hear about Patong night life, and see a short clip of the Moulin Rose Cabaret we attended last night.

You are welcome to skip this post as it is a little risque and contains language and scenes that may offend, parental guidance is advised.

You have been warned.

Heading into Patong, home of prickly heat:

Boarding the night shuttle into Patong we are accompanied by two ageing overweight Swedes one of whom is escorted by a beautiful Thai lady and get this, her teenage daughter. Sigh. Bec can’t contain her disbelief and nudges Geoff. Talk about awkward. You hear about this sort of thing but seeing it in real life...is disturbing. There is more of a Muslim presence down hear & at night you can hear the prayers on a speaker next to the hotel.

We arrive at the infamous Bangla Road & are about to enter a world we have never experienced.

Neon Lights are blazing, the techno bass is thumping, and young women are dancing on tables wearing very little. We deflect the tireless Ping Pong hustlers by lying “seen it already ta”.

Fighting our way through the lager louts, we initially head down the wrong Soi (Street) and Geoff is propositioned many times. His arm is still sore from being tugged. Ouch.

Near the end of Soi Crocodile we can hear music & laughter. Are we in the right place? It turns out we are early for the 9:30 show & as we enter there are dozens of Japanese leaving. The waiter fetches two Singhas & we take our seats in the dim bar.

Minutes later the show kicks off with the curtains opening to an eruption of feathers & glitter. Yikes.

It’s total shock & awe for the first few numbers – the costumes are stunning & the routines athletic. Divas are kicking chairs & performing gymnastics in platform stilettos.

Then, Rebecca & Geoff are singled out for special attention with Bec being coerced into spanking a ladyboy & Geoff gets pink lipstick smeared on his forehead. Get back Jo-jo!

There were hilarious songs too, including a Marylin Monroe impression & a over the top rendition of “I want to know what love is” by Foreigner. She(?) stole the show with ‘emo’ facial expressions & hand gestures.

The show was pure burlesque – teasing galore but nothing too sleazy. The disguises are remarkable & until you hear them speak, many Kartoey could fool the most doubtful skeptic. Surgical procedures available include shaving of the Adams apple.

Afterwards of course we are invited to take photos & make a monetary gift for the lady ;-)

We’ve now left Patong & tuk-tukd to Kata beach which is much quieter. Our hotel is nestled in the hillside jungle & at dusk you can see Dragon-flies the size of a small bird. Geoff gave Bec a killer fright by saying “Uh oh keep very still there’s a huge bug on your head” Punked!

Heheh, nothing a little Tiger balm can’t handle.