Ladyboys

Let me start by giving you a moment to ponder the photo to the left. Go ahead. Take your time....

{Cue Jeopardy music}

Ahem. Excuse me. I can hear the questions swirling around in your head. So let's discuss those now. Do you remember the game "Slug Bug?" It was that game where you'd ride around in the car and anytime you saw a Volkswagen Beetle, you'd slug your friend on the arm or in the face until they shouted out the color of the car you had seen. Or maybe you played the game that took you through the letters of the alphabet as you searched for words on billboards and street signs that began with the next letter in the alphabet. A-Austin, B-Bold, C-Car, D-Dog... L-Ladyboy... X- {cue Jeopardy music again).

We created a new game while in Thailand. The game is not called "Slug Bug," it's called "Was that lady really a lady because it sure looked a lot like a dude dressed as a lady." You see, there is actually a prominent 3rd gender in Thailand commonly referred to as "ladyboys"---Men dressed as or converted to women. Bathrooms are marked for men, women, and ladyboys. Okay, not really. That's a joke. But seriously, there are a lot of ladyboys in Thailand. I'd venture to say that ladyboys are about as common a sight as Volkswagen Beetles are in the USA. Although you're much more likely to misidentify a ladyboy than a Volkswagen. Some of the ladyboys have done an impressive job at changing their gender. They actually look like women. A butch voice or a bulging Adam's Apple may be the only clues to her dudeness.

So next time you're in Thailand, please partake in our new game. Be sure to snap a photo for proof and keep a tally of your sightings. The current record for one trip to Thailand stands at 37 and is held by our friend John D. Congrats, John. You've won a coveted DVD of the SNL skits "It's Pat." Enjoy!