LatASIA

There was a survey released this week that showed that young Thais are very image conscious.  Apparently Thai boys and girls love to get their look just right and this includes ensuring that you have got the right designer brands around you.

Those of you who have been to Bangkok will know that whether it is a Mont Blanc pen, Louis Vutton bag, Gucci sunglasses or Prada shoes, Bangkok has it all - either in the high class Gaysorn Shopping Mall or down at Patpong night market!

Thailand receives an enormous amount of aid from bodies such as the World Bank, The Global Fund and countless NGOs.  There is a real need for this money as the country has an enormous amount of poor people as well as a large amount of refugees from Burma and Laos (ethnic Hmong).  Many Thai citizens are denied basic human rights from their own government because their parents failed to register their birth.  The Thai authorities and businesses love their paperwork and countless rubber stamping of documents (as anyone who has applied for a work permit can tell you).

Despite the widespread poverty in Thailand, it is actually a very rich country that has enjoyed impressive growth in GDP over the last 30 years.  Unfortunately that wealth seems to have been grabbed by a small amount of Bangkokians, whilst the remaining 90% of the country find that they are actually worse off, in real terms, than they were 60 years ago when Thailand had a simple economy built on agriculture.

Young, rich Bangkokians love their shopping.  Every designer brand you can think of is here, with some of the biggest, sparkliest and enormous shopping malls that you will find in Asia if not the world.  So Rich Thai kids love to buy the best and they also love to pay far too much for it - often paying double what you would pay in Europe (or on the internet) for the same item.  If it isn't ridiculously overpriced then the rich kids don't want it!

For the poor kids, they too want to have the best brands but have to make do with counterfeit goods.  Apparently they want the counterfeit equivalent and there is just an unspoken understanding that no-one ever raises the fact that it is a cheap counterfeit.

Image is definitely everything.  No problem with that.  They are just the same as kids everywhere else in the world.  My only reservation is why a country with enormous amounts of wealth should be freely given money to combat health and education issues amongst its own people.  In my experience, many of those who have come from families with money would rather blow THB5000 on a game of cards with their friends than give THB1000 to a project helping poor Thai kids to have shelter, food and education.  Maybe it is time for the Thais to use some of the countries enormous wealth to look after all Thais and not just those fortunate to be born into the right families in Bangkok.

Anyway, enough of that.  Here is a photoset that was sent to me by a Thai friend who suggested that I ad the pictures to the site.  Apparently the Thai boy is quite famous here, though I have not got a clue who he is.

Anyone know?  Until I find out, enjoy!

 Sexy Thai Boy Posing For The CameraBangkok is full of good looking people like this Thai boy!Many Older Caucasian Men are in Thailand to find young Thai boys and girls who are themselves interested in meeting 'farangs'!A trip on Bangkok's Sky Train will quickly show you that this is a city full of good looking boys.Thai boys are just as concerned about their appearance as Thai girls are. Thai boys spend as much time on their image as girls do!Whilst the US might have been the first to coin the phrase "Metrosexual", Thai boys have taken it to a new level and the city is definitely full of "Metrosexual" boys.Homoeroticism is everywhere in Bangkok. It can be difficult to distinguish hetrosexual from metrosexual and homosexual. Your gaydar will definitely be scrambled by interference here in Bangkok!