Well, to continue the madness from another thread, here's a guide to spotting the trannies in Asia. In Thailand, they're called "katoeys", and sometimes, one needs a damn good eye to differentiate one from what one might think is a Thai babe. Here's a brief list, helpful, but not all inclusive:
Always remember the "too good to be true" rule. If it's too good to be true, it ain't. Caution and suspicion, avoidance of too much mind impairment alcohol, investigation, evaluation, and listening to your gut feelings is important when traveling through Asia.
- Beauty: Surprisingly, katoeys tend to be better looking than the average Thai woman. Same is true in China, though transvestitism does not seem to be as prevalent in China and Vietnam as it is in Thailand. The Thai's tend to be more tolerant of others, regardless of their practices. Katoeys will go to great lengths surgery wise to alter their appearance, from usually very poor breast surgery, vagina creation (Thailand is world famous for its plastic surgeons who perform transsexual operations), to facial reconstruction with silicone implants, and also, shaving of the larynx to destroy the obvious "male adam's apple". Sometimes, the only way physically to tell the difference between a katoey and a woman, is to take a peek down yonder. Even then, because of the advances in sexual surgery in Thailand, it has to be a damn good peek. Their surgery is good, but it is really impossible to accurately create genuine appearing female sex organs using inverted male ones.
- Hair: Some katoeys will have evidence of facial hair; it can be quite difficult to destroy the beginnings of a beard at times. Katoeys can have long luxurious hair, and at times, that is a dead give away that what you're dealing with is male: katoeys tend to grow their hair long, and take good care of it. Thai women can't be bothered usually with long hair; it's too hot, and it costs too much to buy the shampoo necessary to take care of it. Thai women, being more practical and less concerned about their looks, tend to have shorter hair. So, long hair, and a possible tell tale five o'clock shadow on the face, are giveaways.
- Body appearance: sometimes the masculine body is too difficult to hide. Remember, a male pelvis is tilted differently, and is narrower than a female pelvis. Hip implants are sometimes difficult to get or, when gotten, just don't look right. Any "female" with narrow hips and large breasts, though desirable in western culture, is just a freak of nature or "not genuine" in Asia.
- Mannerisms: Katoeys go to great lengths to look female, and, also, act female. Any creature using make up constantly, admiring itself in the mirror, using exaggerated feminine type moves with hands and legs and hips, clothing that looks expensive or "too sexy", and, cigarette smoking, well, you've been warned. Smoking in China is popular among men, and not popular among women outside of the large cities; historically, women who smoke tend to be prostitutes, so any woman in her right mind not wanting to be thought of as a prostitute, won't smoke. It's a stigma, one which is currently starting to be lost. In large cities, it's not as clear cut. In Thailand and Vietnam, women tend not to smoke. If a woman smokes, she's either very westernized, very loose, or, more than likely, not a woman.
- Height: Most Asian women, as in the US, tend to be shorter than their male counterparts. If you're looking up at what you think is a loose babe, it's a guy.
- Sexual activity: Katoeys are far more open about sex and offering it, then women. Most, if not all, Thai women, even those that are outright prostitutes, are not aggressive towards the opposite sex. Any "woman" that approaches you, grabs you, makes suggestive commentary, or wants to get you into the sack within too short a time with no "price to pay", be careful. Most Thai women, even if they do function as prostitutes (and a lot do, to pay for school, family, etc), want a little bit of class added to the evening. Not so with katoeys. Aggression is most definitely a warning sign.
- Male sexual organs: Not all katoeys can afford the transgender surgery; so members can be found where members usually hang out. Be aware that duct tape and other methods of hiding or suspending the little guy is used. Katoeys can wear the skimpiest of outfits and still hide what they're trying to hide.
- Aggression: Aggression with these people not only includes sexual aggression: use of illicit drugs is rampant among this population, and rage / aggression / assault and other criminal activities are common with this group. If you're going to get mugged in Thailand, more than likely it will be by a guy in high heels. And, unless you're trained and in good shape, they will kick your ass. They can be very mean, aggressive, sordid types.
- Clothing: Thai women tend not to spend their hard earned money on expensive clothing and other apparel. The wealthier ones in the large cities will dress well; in the provinces, common clothing is common. If it's very well dressed, it's a warning sign.
- Pack mentality: One thing seems to be common among katoeys: like German submarines, they travel in packs, and they tend not to inhabit bars and such where regular women hang out. They usually have their own bars, or their own bar areas, or they pick a place in the street, like a street corner, or, someplace where there is a lot of foot traffic. Thai women are not as forward, they inhabit bars and nightclubs, and tend not to pick a spot on the street to advertise their wares. (If they do, they're way too aggressive, and god knows what diseases they're carrying). Katoeys travel in packs, constantly interact with each other in overly feminine appearing ways. Women just hang out, drink, and act civil.
- Sex: Anybody who wants to "do it" in the dark, well, boy you made a mistake...
- Disease: Be aware that katoeys, as well as the usual Thai prostitutes, tend to carry all sorts of sexually transmitted diseases. The women tend to be more careful about using protection; the katoeys, as the gays in the western countries, tend to be less careful, and tend to have more diverse diseases, such as AIDS. Whether it is a lack of education, or just a "laissez fare" attitude, I'm not sure. But bad things, like Hepatitis C, AIDS, gonorrhea, syphilis, and herpes tend to run rampant in these populations.
Always remember the "too good to be true" rule. If it's too good to be true, it ain't. Caution and suspicion, avoidance of too much mind impairment alcohol, investigation, evaluation, and listening to your gut feelings is important when traveling through Asia.
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