just where do they go as the years roll by?

For example in a bar in Bangkok called Guess there is probably one of the most spectacular line ups of lbs in the world. All i would say in their early 20's. However it is tremendously difficulty for me to visualise these lbs in their 40's,50's etc(as opposed to visualzing women). Someone told me that by the age of 50, some 50% of lbs have committed suicide? any truth in such a horrifying statistic?

Are they 'taken back' by their families in their birth village? or are they shunned? and just survive as best they can?

thanks wap

I heard there was one living in the belltower of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.

One - a friend of my wife - had a hair-dressing business in Soi Yamoto.

Can't call it a beauty salon 'coz he/she was the ugliest 50-year-old Katoey I have ever sen.

Not been down there lately, though.

Come to think of it, I heard of another one who lives in the catacombs under the Paris Opera. Not sure why so many choose France.

On another board, a few years ago, someone posted a pic of 60 yrs old katoey.

You would never have said it was a lady boy at any stage. They age as men.

Oh, that one was in "married" to a Brit. Now they can sit at the porch and chat like 2 old geezers.

For each of us individually, the answer to the question depends on how we define "ladyboy" in the first place. I've never seen a ladyboy in Pattaya; perhaps a special species of LB is common there. Let's see: there was the waitress at the beach restaurant in south Hua Hin; nice lady, over 30. There's a tuk-tuk driver in Chiang Mai...no; she's a lesbian.

I understand that they become older women. Maybe they wait on tables, as waitresses. Teach school, direct traffic, sell som tam on the sidewalk, stay home with their male husbands, all the things that other Thai women do. And I'm not talking about transgendered men, either.

I've lived here for over four years, as a gay man, and really cannot remember meeting more than 2 or 3 older khatoeys. I suspect they've been those ladies in dresses with the low voices, who simply behave like your mother and your old maid sister.

its an interesting question. my hunch is that most just go back to being men. certainly in ladyboy capital of the world i rarely if ever see an old bird like that.

dont they marry some guy on pattaya-chat? those guys seem to really have a nut for them birds.

honestly though - i think if they make the full transition then as pblondie said they are integrated. its the sex workers thats are the curiosity. i bet many go abroad for work as showgirls, find guys and live happily ever after.

I think they go to Afghanistan !

I think they go to Afghanistan !

I see a lot of these in royal garden these days.Wondered already why there were so many muslims at once.Now the secret is unveiled

It's still school holiday time around the Gulf.

Heard a rumour today (from a good Arabic-speaking source) that any Saudi wishing to visit Thailand must submit an application in writing to the Saudi Gov't requesting permission. Then apply for the Thai visa.

Wonder if they're reviving old animosities. (circa 1980's)

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.php?o...&Itemid=146

Edited August 7, 200718 yr by Humphrey Bear

I think they go to Afghanistan !

I see a lot of these in royal garden these days.Wondered already why there were so many muslims at once.Now the secret is unveiled

They alternatively they get by as Ninja's

Edited August 8, 200718 yr by skippybangkok

Come to think of it, I heard of another one who lives in the catacombs under the Paris Opera. Not sure why so many choose France.

Maybe for the good literature?

They have their comedy boobs removed and return to looking like men. Proving that it is just a sick fashion and not some kind of gender mix up.

Thai doctors should be more responsible and not be so quick to disfigure young men with mental problems.

Come to think of it, I heard of another one who lives in the catacombs under the Paris Opera. Not sure why so many choose France.

Maybe for the good literature?

That could explain it. I know another one has been successful in Hollywood as an actor, starring in some horror flicks wearing a hockey mask.

Heard a rumour today (from a good Arabic-speaking source) that any Saudi wishing to visit Thailand must submit an application in writing to the Saudi Gov't requesting permission. Then apply for the Thai visa.

It's been illegal for Saudis to travel to Thailand without permission for many years. Maybe only recently enforcing the rules, but even when Saudi Airlines flew to BKK (up until about 4 years ago), a Saudi couldn't go into a SA booking office and book a flight without his permission note.

So the answer is they age like men and return to life as a male after some point?

There are 2 that own a travel agent in Sukhumvit soi 39, without the flamboyant attire.

I bought a book some time ago titled "Ladyboys". Its basically an interview with several LB's of different ages and backgrounds and life stories. Some young, some old. Some wonderful stories, some sad. Also has several photographs. The old ladyboys just looked like old ladies. I think you wouldnt be able to tell well at all really.

Ladyboys

by Susan Aldous with Pornchai Sereemongkonpol

This extraordinary book is an intimate portrait of Thailand’s ladyboys: the men who have chosen to become women. Funny, passionate, angry and provocative, Ladyboys is a no-holds-barred look at the secret lives of Thailand’s transsexual men. The book offers intimate details of the lives that they’ve never publicly revealed. They talk about the choices they’ve made, their relationships, families, frustrations and hopes. The stories include those of an exotic cabaret performer, a sex worker and even a Muay Thai boxing champion. Ladyboys will leave you amused, saddened, and entertained.

As a side note Susan Aldous is also the "Angel of Bang Kwang Prison". Pretty amazing lady really.

Old ladyboys never die, they simply homo-genize

Found one.

In our little village outside Udorn, One is a male barber and another is a female noodle shop owner.

Neither are very attractive.

its an interesting question. my hunch is that most just go back to being men. certainly in ladyboy capital of the world i rarely if ever see an old bird like that.

dont they marry some guy on pattaya-chat? those guys seem to really have a nut for them birds.

honestly though - i think if they make the full transition then as pblondie said they are integrated. its the sex workers thats are the curiosity. i bet many go abroad for work as showgirls, find guys and live happily ever after.

While it is true that a "ladyboy" is technically a man who appears as a woman, for whatever reason, I presume the OP is referring to the whole spectrum of transgendered males, including those that have been taking hormone treatment for many years, and those that have had partial or full surgical treatment. In the case of the last 2 categories, they actually believe themselves to be female, and therefore would be unable to simply revert to "being men".

Actually, it is an interesting question, along with "where do old bargirls go"? Surely they can't all get married to a farang?

I once saw an "old" ladyboy selling fruit in bars around Pattaya. S/he looked rather pathetic.

There is an aging Kathoey restaurant owner near one of the bus stations in Chaiyaphum. Always very nice and polite but certainly did not keep her looks. In the right, (wrong), light you could be mistaken that one of her parents was an orangutan!

Heard a rumour today (from a good Arabic-speaking source) that any Saudi wishing to visit Thailand must submit an application in writing to the Saudi Gov't requesting permission. Then apply for the Thai visa.

It's been illegal for Saudis to travel to Thailand without permission for many years. Maybe only recently enforcing the rules, but even when Saudi Airlines flew to BKK (up until about 4 years ago), a Saudi couldn't go into a SA booking office and book a flight without his permission note.

It is my understanding that saudis were stopped going to Thailand after the gem scam many years ago, when a Thai worker stole millions of $ worth of gems from a saudi prince, and the Thai police returned fake ones to saudi. Since then a few saudi diplomats were assasinated in Thailand, and the police still will not apprehend the real culprits, probably as it was the police themselves involved ( one policeman is currently in jail, but doubtless there are others still out there ).

All Thai workers were expelled from saudi, with the loss of untold revenue to Thailand, showing once again the true character of some of the higher echelons of Thai society.

I didn't know that Saudia had stopped flying to Thailand. I used to fly here with them, but no saudis were allowed off, and flew on to KL.

It had to qualify as one of the worst airlines in the world, despite unlimited money. They even censored Mrs Doubtfire, completely destroying the movie! However, as hardly anyone flew with them it was almost always possible to get a full central row to sleep on.

As far as i'm aware, any Saudi wanting to fly to Thailand just has to drive across the border to Bahrain or Qatar and get on a plane there. (I'm happy to be corrected if wrong).

There is an aging Kathoey restaurant owner near one of the bus stations in Chaiyaphum. Always very nice and polite but certainly did not keep her looks. In the right, (wrong), light you could be mistaken that one of her parents was an orangutan!

Who keeps their looks as they age? When they ply their trade they wear a ton of makeup and most wouldn't look that good to start with anyway.

Edited October 28, 200916 yr by tropo

There is an aging Kathoey restaurant owner near one of the bus stations in Chaiyaphum. Always very nice and polite but certainly did not keep her looks. In the right, (wrong), light you could be mistaken that one of her parents was an orangutan!

Who keeps their looks as they age? When they ply their trade they wear a ton of makeup and most wouldn't look that good to start with anyway.

If by "ply their trade" you mean prostitution, maybe that only refers to the katoeys you know in Pattaya.

As far as i'm aware, any Saudi wanting to fly to Thailand just has to drive across the border to Bahrain or Qatar and get on a plane there. (I'm happy to be corrected if wrong).

I have known Saudis that tried this, going the Bahrain route. When they return from Bahrain, their passports are searched for Thai entry/exit stamps. When found they are generally jailed for a couple of days and then released.

I thought the rules for travel to Thailand had recently been relaxed but I have been gone for over one year so am not completely up to date on the current events in Saudi.

just where do they go as the years roll by?

For example in a bar in Bangkok called Guess there is probably one of the most spectacular line ups of lbs in the world. All i would say in their early 20's. However it is tremendously difficulty for me to visualise these lbs in their 40's,50's etc(as opposed to visualzing women). Someone told me that by the age of 50, some 50% of lbs have committed suicide? any truth in such a horrifying statistic?

Are they 'taken back' by their families in their birth village? or are they shunned? and just survive as best they can?

thanks wap

They put some clothes on, have their implants removed and go back to being blokes again (assuming they still have a 'gonk).

Edited October 29, 200916 yr by JimsKnight