Thailand’s association with the sex trade is well documented: it has been estimated that 10 percent of tourist dollars spent in the country support this. It is also well known that transvestites are common here—it became international news when a school in Northeast Thailand installed a bathroom for transgender students, of which it estimated 200 of its 2,600 students were.

While prostitution used to be (and still is) solicited on the streets of Bangkok, the digital era has allowed these connections to happen virtually as well. Visitors to Thailand often arrange escapades with escorts before they arrive, or in some cases, just arrange to marry their “mail order bride” and come to swoop her away. I find these men both pretty much disgusting and pretty easy to spot in the Suvarnabhumi Airport immigration hall—based strictly on appearance and the look on their faces.

But I digress, this post is supposed to be funny. See, after you get through that immigration line and walk into the arrivals hall, you may have to pick your jaw up off the floor at the sight of the beautiful women waiting there. In many cases, these women are dressed up as if heading to a club—heavy makeup, tall stilettos, tight dresses—and waiting for their special (mostly pre-arranged) boo to walk through those doors.

The question I’ve always had is, how many of these were actually born as women? And how many of the guys who fly 6,000 miles to see them ever find out—or care?

Now that I’ve been through Suvarnabhumi several times, I believe I have discovered a little trick to be able to tell. See, most Thai women are fairly petite—this is not the Netherlands and there aren’t too many women approaching 6 feet, or 2 meters, here. Also, most petite women also have petite feet, and this is where I scratch my head a bit.

See, the “women” who appear to be most done up, dressed sexiest and, quite frankly, the most strikingly beautiful—they are the most likely to have once been men. Look down at the feet, and if the whole package says “woman” and then the shoes are size 44, you may want to think twice. Unless, of course, that’s your thing.

Bangkok Airport–Full of Smiles

The walk to BKK Arrivals…the last steps before a surprise?

Scene of some interesting exchanges