The world economy seems to be slowing down and the U.S. is especially weak.  The U.S. dollar has recently weakened significantly against the Thai baht. This has had a major impact on many people including those of us living in Paradise. Most of my money is invested in the U.S., and many of my mates either have their money there, or are working at a job where they are being paid in dollars.  The British pound has also weakened against the baht recently.  Well, Khun Nana is here to tell you that some major sacrifices are taking place in light of these most sobering recent events.  

Chatting with an American friend over a cold brew at Lucky Luke’s beer bar in Nana Plaza last night reminded me of just how severely some locals are being impacted.  My mate Big Earl and I were relaxing, watching the parade of lovelies come and go from their nightly “duties” and enjoying the attention of the gals we had sitting on our respective laps. Earl began telling me of the many recent sacrifices he has had to make because of his weakened financial position.  Not only is he an American and therefore feeling very poor when cashing in his dollars for baht, but he also retired from a somewhat modest position and really is on a very meager budget to begin with.  I must say I was shocked and horrified by the extreme measures he has had to take in order to live on his recently reduced income.  

With a sober expression Earl said “mate, I have had to cut back from 4 full-time girlfriends down to only 3.”  I wasn’t really feeling a lot of sympathy.  After all, Earl is 57 and overweight, and all 4 of his ladies are under 25 and drop dead gorgeous.  He could be doing worse.  However, the tale turned even uglier. “It’s not just that.  I can survive on 3 ladies for a while since I also short-time a couple newbies a week out of the Plaza to break the monotony,  and also go to that massage place on Ratchada for a soapy and roll in the hay every week.  The worst part is that I have had to give up my daily 2 hour massage!”    

I gasped upon hearing this terrible news.  It’s alright to make certain sacrifices, but a daily massage is a birthright for heaven’s sake.  Earl continued on “well I didn’t really give up the massage.  I just used to pay double the cost of the massage in order for the gal to come to my room.  Now I have to get dressed and walk all the way around the corner from my apartment and receive my massage at the shop.”  This guy really is hurting.  I offered to buy him a cold beer to help soothe the pain.  “Mate, if things get any worse, I am going to have to make the ULTIMATE sacrifice.” I cringed upon thinking that he was referring to returning to America to work.  “Yes mate, if push comes to shove I may have to fire my maid and clean my own room!”  

Now I want to say to all my readers and friends across this great planet, no matter how tough life may seem at times, just remember the extreme hardship that my mate Big Earl is suffering through.  My deepest sympathies go out to my mate Big Earl.  Keep your chin up, things can only get better.

 I was watching the excellent film “Memoirs of a Geisha” the other day and there was one scene in particular that reminded me so much of the naughty nightlife in Bangkok.  A young girl of perhaps 7 years of age has been given to a Geisha house when her parents are just too poor to feed her.  This takes place in 1930’s Japan but the scene was just so much like one that must play out in Thailand hundreds of times a month, although I would say with somewhat older girls these days.  This girl has no idea why she is there or what she is there to do.  At the moment she is down on her hands and knees and scrubbing the floor and basically working her fingers to the bone like some sort of indentured slave.  She is chatting with a slightly older girl (perhaps 10 years of age) and the older gal says “if you are lucky, when you are older mama will train you to be a Geisha.”  She responds “what does a Geisha do?” without even looking up from her chores.  The older gal says “They drink sake and sleep till noon!”  The little 7 year old lass stops in her tracks and looks up with amazement.  It is such a precious moment.  Of course, in Bangkok bar gals drink whiskey and sleep till 5pm! 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK comes from my mate Len who lives in Bangkok but originally hails from Arizona.  “Never in my life have I seen so many guys fall for gals who are transparently predatory.”  Yes, some guys must enjoy the pain.  My mates and I enjoy the nice girls more, but to each his own. 

I have another great quote which I heard from a stranger while watching the parade of beauties file into Nana Plaza this week.  When he commented on one gal and I was forced to tell him it was a Katoey (lady boy) he said “any place in my country that guy would be the best looking gal in the room.” 

It’s getting hotter and hotter in Bangkok and you know what that means?  It means in a month or so high season will be over and all of us will suddenly become much, much handsomer!  I can’t wait!

Read Khun Lee’s other WoWasis columns for more advice on navigating the adult dating scene through the backstreets of Bangkok