Gays can be divided into four main groups:

And the group who are most familiar to resident ex-pats and visitors alike - the guys who spend much of their time in the bars, clubs and discos of Silom/Suriwong in Bangkok, Patong in Phuket; and South Pattaya.

This latter group is divided into ‘money boys’ and the guys just out for fun, but it can often be difficult to tell who is who. Thai guys are extremely streetwise and adept at using visitors to their advantage. Money boys can both be guys working in the massage parlors or go-go bars, or ‘freelancers’ working the pubs and bars in search of a trick.

Many waiters in gay pubs and restaurants are ‘on the make’ in one way or the other, and often have a string of foreign so-called boyfriends spending generously, but who are completely unaware of the existence of each other. Can you imagine how a waiter earning about 5,000 baht per month can afford to wear gold necklaces, gold rings or genuine designer clothes? These guys are very, very street wise and extremely well practised in charming the money out of you - Mom needs an operation, or my wallet was stolen and I can’t pay the rent. (see The Wallet)

The two groups of the middle class and the poor are very dfficult for foreigners to penetrate (sic). The poor guys usually can’t speak English and can’t afford to go a disco or drink in a bar, while the monied middle class tend to steer clear of known gay haunts used by foreigners.