Within thirty seconds of walking down the soi, the "recruitment" begins. Guys in suits hold laminated menus. Girls in bikinis wave from the doorways. And yes, you will see stunningly beautiful ladyboys standing next to the "gogo" bars, working the foot traffic.
Yes, even if you aren't "into" that scene. Soi Cowboy is a human zoo. The ladyboys are part of the fabric of Bangkok nightlife. They are often the funniest, loudest, and most charismatic people on the street. soi cowboy bangkok ladyboy
A lot of newbies ask me: "How can you tell?" Honestly? Sometimes you can’t. Sometimes you can (shoulders, adams apple, hands). But here is the golden rule of Soi Cowboy: Do not ask. Asking "Are you a ladyboy?" is considered incredibly rude. If you are interested, assume they are female until proven otherwise. If you are not interested, a polite "No thank you" and moving your hand away is enough. Within thirty seconds of walking down the soi,