the third sex

An out-of-town friend wanted to go to Silom Soi 4 the other evening. A regular visitor to Bangkok, and a ladyboy addict, he had been reading up on Soi 4 on the internet, and was keen to see the place.

Although Soi 4 is right next to Patpong, and is often regarded as part of that district, it is not part of the Patpong estate and has nothing to do with the Patpong family. The land in fact is owned by the family who have the house at the end of Soi 4: the soi is a cul-de-sac, and at the end is a wall and a large set of gates. At some point in the past, the family decided to put shophouses along the entrance to their property, and it became a centre for gay bars when Rome, a gay disco, opened there in the late 70s.

These days, although there is an overall gayness to the outlets in the soi, it does attract a very mixed clientele. At the far end, there is Noriega, a small bar with live music that is the HQ of the Hash House Harriers: consequently, you get a substantial number of the hairy-arsed types battling their way through the crowds of young and pretty boys that are trying to drum up business for the other outlets, the majority of which are restaurant-bars with outdoor seating.

In fact, the overwhelming influence here is the femboy. The young guys working in the bars tend towards the type that wears makeup, or who are distinctly non-macho. Anyone wanting a bit more masculinity heads for Soi Twilight, on the other side of Surawong Road.

Femboys have become more numerous and a lot more visible in Thailand in recent years. Some femboys go on and embrace the full ladyboy culture, but many prefer to stay as they are, and they can be very sensual. There are a few pictured on the main site. Toto, for example, and Sunee. I find them intriguing, with their blend of the male and female.

I sat with my out-of-town friend at the outdoor area of one of the Soi 4 bars, and watched the parade go by. It was early evening, and he wanted to look rather than indulge in any action: and in fact we soon went on to Patpong. Having outdoor seating is a major advantage, as there is no traffic in the soi. In fact, gay or straight, young or old, this is a great place for anyone to hang out.