Gay Bangkok, Thailand

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Asia is coming out of itself recently and developing many different gay and lesbian attractions. But Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, continues to top the list as Asia's premier gay destination. Gay travel to Bangkok is now beginning to shed its seedy image and is rapidly becoming more upscale just as its LGBT clientele becomes more sophisticated.

Silom is the neighborhood known for its welcome to the LGBT community. It contains a famous street, Soi 2, which is considered the center of dance clubs. Soi 4 is more mellow with its restaurants and elegant lounges. But gay visitors will feel comfortable in many areas of Bangkok. There's the student hangout of Sol Ramkhamhaeng 892 also known as Lamsalee, or two areas of bars and saunas, Saphan Kwai and Sukhimvit. Of course, Surawong Road is home to the go-go-boy-bars of the past. And there are some glamorous lesbian bars around the city too.

In the daytime, Bangkok is considered a shopper's paradise. There are modern glass and chrome malls and all-day outdoor markets, depending on what you want to purchase. On the weekend at Chatuchak market, local designers and artists present their wares.

Bangkok's many indoor malls house designer fashion stores, worldwide brands, book nooks, stores with speciality items, stands bearing unique and modern accessories and every kind of goods for the home, for children, and for the office. There's the legendary MBK mall, the sophisticated Emporium, the trendy Siam Discovery and the Siam Paragon. A recent addition to this group is the newly renovated CentralWorld, officially the largest shopping mall in Southeast Asia.

Gay travel in Bangkok is always welcoming experience, but there are certain social "don'ts" that should be followed no matter who you are. Feet on the table is not considered proper behavior, neither is sitting cross-legged in public, like on a train. And shoes should be taken off when entering a Thai house or a temple. Once inside a temple, sit facing the Buddha, but not pointing your feet at the statue. This means you should sit Indian-style or on your legs.

Americans use a fork and knife to eat, while Thais use a fork and a spoon. Chopsticks are used for eating noodles. Most Thais eat together and share dishes. If you see a serving spoon on your plate, you can use it to select your share. You're not expected to pile your plate, though, but just to take a bit or two at a time. When paying for something, hand the money directly to the person who served you. If you throw it down on the table, it will be considered rude.

Thai food is not just spicy it's very spicy and not subtle at all. You'll be treated to tons of garlic, a lot of sour lime juice and spicy chilies. Some visitors say the Thai street food is extremely tasty and safe to eat.

You can enhance your gay travel to Bangkok, Thailand in just about every way, by getting more discounts, nicer receptions, and a greater welcome if you can string a few Thai phrases together. Thais may even say that you "poot tai geng (speak Thai well) even if you only have a very limited knowledge. But barring learning the language, it pays in Bangkok to just be nice.