Do any of you know about these ethnically diverse somewhat Northern border towns illicit activities. I am sure with the lack of tourism except the odd trekkers and what have you it's more tempered down as sex work, or bars friendly to foreigners go, but I am curious. Those of you who live in LOS. I would like to hear about the industry that is focused in these areas, if existing.
Would it probably be catered towards Thai men, and farang exclusionary. Would I be in kind of a forget about it, with regard to even making contact situation, because I speak elementary Thai, which is some.
No doubt what is there will reveal itself over time, but since some of these towns are black market heavy it would seem to get into that border town melting pot spirit it might be only appropriate for some prurient interests to be catered to as well. I work in the border towns of both Mae Sai and Mae Sot every 6 weeks or so. There is no Sanuk scene that is farang orientated - can't say about Mae Hong or Tat.
They range from the two hundred baht Burma girls for the truck drivers, to the expensive karaoke bar singers for business men. I would not say that these places and girls are, quote "farang exclusionary" by design, but they are by default. Good Thai skills will be needed - don't count on anyone in the MP's and Karaoke bars in these border towns on speaking English - which is enough to keep the tourists away in itself.
You will be the only farang in these places and the Thais may well wonder what your doing there. If you mean Tak, then Mae Sot is your best bet for sanuk, but the Amphur Muang does have a couple of karaoke brothels. In Mae Hong Son itself, there is a small red-light area to the west of town on the very edge, straight out past Mae Hong Son Guest House; also some seedy-looking joints along the bypass road that avoids the downtown section. Mae Sariang has one or two seedy places that seem to specialize in a truck-driver clientele.
