So here we are in Thailand. Spent a couple days in Bangkok with the gang then 15 of us headed down to Phuket-a beautiful and wonderful place that got filled with the ugliness of the world.
This month were working with SHE ministries helping to get women out of prostitution and allow them to have a different life by teaching them English and providing an alternative job/life skill.
Phuket is beautiful. Beaches everywhere. Mountains/hills that lead directly to the beaches. Google it. So naturally its a tourist attraction, but is rapidly growing in sex tourism. The streets in Patong are lined with bar after bar after bar after bar and each one of them have women in prostitution. They're the bartenders, the entertainment, the dancer, the conversation, the sex.
It's hard to see the men, some are young and some are old. Some people are here with their family. I saw one mom force their little 5ish year old girl to take pictures with the 'ladyboys'-the men that are now women dressed up in some feathery show some skin outfits..and all I could think of was 'get your kid out of this!!' I see old men that are having sex with people their daughters age and maybe even their granddaughters age. I see young dudes with their buddies with just the next vacation holiday.
But mostly I see there are no smiles. We went in the day to see what it was like when all the bars were closed and walked around for a while, did not see anyone smiling. The chaos of the night, there was still this unfulfilling air about the place.
Most of the girls are here working because they have no other work and need money for survival. One girl I talked to has been here for two months and she came down from the north to help make money or her little daughter back home, and she'll go back soon. Sex for money is life for her, the best option she had. On top of all this, I am reading a book called SEX SLAVES and I have a feeling my hatred towards this hushed up scandalized life will only continue to grow.
On a lighter note, the gang went and spent Christmas Eve on the beach yesterday (different than the beach with all the sex) and it was glorious. I got my sunburn, I got my sand, I got my saltiness. Therapy for me.
Missing everyone back home, love to all..Merry Christmas.
