Two nights in Bangkok: The spectrum of Thailand’s sex industry
BANGKOK — At around 11 pm, the door knocked. “I think that’s Pop,” my friend Natalie said. She opened the door and he entered the apartment.
He had a bob haircut, and smiled big, like he was trying to suffocate me with it. “Is Pop a nickname?” I asked him. “Yes,” he said, still smiling and bobbing his head up and down. “It’s short for Popcorn.” Oh, of course. “What do you guys want to do tonight?” I had spent most of the day touring Bangkok’s many temples. “Let’s do something fun.
What’s the craziest thing you’ve experienced living here?” Pop’s eyes lit up. He stared at Natalie and snickeringly mumbled something in Thai, which made Natalie laugh. “What?
What is it? Include me!” Pop turned back to me and explained that he had recently heard of a gay brothel, where all the men stand on a stage and you can point a laser to indicate which one you want. “Well, that does sound like a unique experience … Are we allowed to go and just talk to them,” I asked. “I don’t see why not.” Pop googled the place, but it was closed for the night. “I have another idea.
