Northern Thailand - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 820

Over the last few years, ga ̀ ·teu·i (transgender; also spelt kathoey ) cabaret has emerged to
become a staple of the Bangkok tourist circuit. Calypso Bangkok MAP GOOGLE MAP ( 0
2688 1415; www.calypsocabaret.com ; Asiatique, Soi 72-76, Th Charoen Krung; admission 1200B;
show times 8.15pm & 9.45pm; shuttle ferry from Tha Sathon (Central Pier)) , Mambo Cabaret ( 0
2294 7381; www.mambocabaret.com ; 59/28 Yannawa Tat Mai; tickets 800-1000B; show times 7.15pm
& 8.30pm; Chong Nonsi exit 2 taxi) and Playhouse Theater Cabaret MAP GOOGLE MAP ( 0
2215 0571; www.playhousethailand.com ; basement, Asia Hotel, 296 Th Phayathai; admission 1200B;
show times 8.15pm & 9.45pm; Ratchathewi exit 1) all host choreographed stage shows featur-
ing Broadway high kicks and lip-synched pop tunes by the most well-endowed dudes
you'll find anywhere.

Go-Go Bars
Although technically illegal, prostitution is fully 'out' in Bangkok, and the influence of
organised crime and healthy kickbacks means that it will be a long while before the exist-
ing laws are ever enforced. Yet, despite the image presented by much of the Western me-
dia, the underlying atmosphere of Bangkok's red-light districts is not necessarily one of il-
licitness and exploitation (although these do inevitably exist), but rather tackiness and
boredom.
Patpong MAP GOOGLE MAP (Soi Patpong 1 & 2, Th Silom; 4pm-2am; Si Lom exit 2,
Sala Daeng exit 1) , arguably one of the world's most famous red-light districts, earned its no-
toriety during the 1980s for its wild sex shows involving everything from ping-pong balls
to razors to midgets on motorbikes. Today it is more of a circus for curious spectators than
sexual deviants. These days, Soi Cowboy MAP GOOGLE MAP (btwn Soi 21 (Asoke) & Soi 23, Th
Sukhumvit; Asok exit 3) and Nana Entertainment Plaza MAP 4pm-2am; Sukhumvit exit 2,

Nana exit 2) are the real scenes of

GOOGLE MAP (Soi 4 (Nana Tai), Th Sukhumvit;

4pm-2am;

sex for hire.

Live Music

Brick Bar
MAP GOOGLE MAP

LIVE MUSIC

( www.brickbarkhaosan.com ; basement, Buddy Lodge, 265 Th Khao San; 8pm-2am; Tha Phra Athit
(Banglamphu)) This basement pub, one of our fave destinations in Bangkok for live music,
hosts a nightly revolving cast of bands for an almost exclusively Thai crowd - most of
whom will end up dancing on the tables.