- 1 week ago
Thailand.The.Dark.Side.of.Paradise.S01E01
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00:00everyone is coming to Thailand now with
00:06flawless beaches this is my paradise
00:09bustling cities and hedonistic parties
00:13more of us are embracing this right of
00:19passage than ever before so I'm
00:25traveling from the capital Bangkok to
00:28exotic islands to understand why we're
00:33coming and what we're looking for a
00:39lifestyle where you're not only free to
00:41be a man you're encouraged to do so I've
00:43never been backpacking so I'm going to
00:46throw myself into everything on offer
00:48feel the connection with your breasts
00:50with your female body and meet those
00:52building a whole new life here I
00:54decided just to sell everything buy one
00:56way ticket and just come here and try and
00:57make it work to find out if it lives up to
01:00the hype I've been in Thailand for less
01:02than 24 hours and I've clearly got
01:05arrested and if there's another side to
01:07this paradise he smashed bottle and then
01:10stabbed me in the neck my brother was
01:14murdered it wasn't an accident like most Brits I'm
01:23starting my Thai adventure in the capital
01:25Bangkok most travelers stop here for at
01:30least a few days to soak up the mix of
01:32ancient temples vibrant street markets and of
01:39course the city's infamous nightlife the sex industry is something that I'm
01:45particularly interested in looking into because it's something that comes hand in
01:49hand with Bangkok people will talk about the women and the shows and it seems people come here to have these experiences and I think it would be interesting to find out how much of that is true
02:02but first I'm heading to one of the most famous streets in Asia where travelers come to party 24-7 backpacker hotspot Khao San Road
02:17I want to have the authentic backpackers experience you know I went straight
02:23into work when I was 18 I never took a year out I never stayed in a hostel so
02:28it's going to be a new experience for me
02:33also one of the reasons why I wanted to come here now is because I have no
02:38responsibilities sorry I'm a free bird a free woman
02:46revolution is a party hostel attracting travelers from around the world
02:51hi welcome to revolution thank you do you have a reservation yes I do amazing there you are now you'd like to follow me to your room
03:0121 year old Chloe is one of the British reps who look after guests in exchange for free accommodation
03:06okay so here we have the eight bed dorms these are 14 pounds per night 14 pounds a night
03:14well that's cheap when it's low season the prices maybe come down to about eight pounds a night
03:18okay wow I've decided to splash out an extra 22 pounds for one of the hostel's 18 en suite rooms
03:26of course you have just the bathroom there and towels just there it may be quite loud here because it is on Koh San Road
03:33which is the loudest road on Bangkok and people are partying until super super early in the morning
03:38I should say hopefully I'll be okay fingers crossed see you later this is not even 40 pounds a night
03:46I mean that is so cheap and you get an ensuite because I think that's probably one of the things I'll struggle with
03:52imagine you had a dorm of loads of dudes smelly dudes
04:03the hostel has its own bar and restaurant and it hosts nightly events from karaoke to tipsy bingo
04:10hello it's up to the reps to show the guests a good time this is Finn's fourth stint in Thailand
04:24you're right you're in Bangkok right now do you know what the ritual is for evolution it's a shot
04:28you've got to do a shot come on oh I'll have a taste of it but it's a free shot that's what matters most
04:32tonight Finn's offered to take me on a pub crawl let's get the shot let's go let's get the shot
04:45Zara Zara you're here you're in Thailand fine
04:56welcome to Thailand thank you so much that was delightful spicy on my lungs
04:59oh you're wimps that was fine
05:06right so are you keen for Khao San or what I'm very keen
05:10just around the corner the Khao San road is packed with bars clubs and massage parlours
05:17oh my god it's loud it's a hedonistic paradise for Brits abroad
05:22are these legit massage shots uh yes and no what do you mean by that like happy ending could be
05:33prominent there could be we're right we're on Khao San so happy ending could happen if they are
05:39what is a happy ending oh come on with a hand job oh these are spiders okay
05:46okay
05:50oh
06:02i've never seen anything like it in my life
06:14I can't even explain this place, it's like so humid, but humid with all the people, it's pretty wild.
06:24There's lots of cannabis stalls and shops around, which I wasn't expecting.
06:29You can literally smell weed the moment you get onto Koh Sam Road, like it's everywhere.
06:35And you can see why loads of young people want to come over here.
06:38In summer 2025, Thailand announced plans to make cannabis illegal.
06:43But at the start of the year when I'm filming, it's decriminalised and a large part of the country's appeal for many travellers.
06:50So tell me what you're all here for.
06:54Escape from home life in the UK.
06:57Cost of living is very expensive and you get so much more of your money out here.
07:01And a lot of people I know are still living at home with their parents and trying to save to move out.
07:07So this is a nice break from that, even just the accessibility of weed.
07:13Similar things.
07:15People call it like the Amsterdam of Asia.
07:18Really?
07:18Are the drugs really accessible here?
07:21I've heard so, yeah.
07:22Even a lot of the bars here, they all have signs, laughing gas, X-Men Abab.
07:27That's all illegal.
07:28And there's police up and down that street.
07:30There's like two languages of Thailand, Thai and money.
07:33So as long as you've got enough money, you get away with anything here.
07:36Interesting.
07:37And what do you mean by that?
07:38Do you mean you could pay someone off?
07:40You could pay the police off?
07:41Yeah.
07:42It is really bad.
07:44Is there anything I need to be cautious of?
07:45Any scams that have happened to them?
07:48So I have one that didn't happen to me personally, but it did happen to one of my friends.
07:54He went for a massage.
07:56He got offered a happy ending.
07:58He did accept it.
07:59The lady left the room.
08:02He was blindfolded.
08:03A child came in and performed a sexual act on him.
08:07The masseuse recorded it.
08:09Used it to blackmailing for money.
08:11And he gave the money, obviously, because of the horrible situation he was put in.
08:16But if he hadn't, they were going to go to the police with the video footage.
08:20I guess there's always things that goes on behind closed doors, right, that you just don't know about.
08:24So you've always just got to be super careful and mindful.
08:28It sounds like you could easily get caught out here in Bangkok.
08:32But for some, the spectacle of the sex industry is one of the highlights of their trip.
08:39I've bumped into Jack and Luxie, who've been here travelling for the last three weeks.
08:44How are you enjoying Thailand? Tell me about it.
08:47It's amazing. It's like Benidorm on steroids.
08:50What does that mean?
08:50Cheap, cheerful, full of women.
08:52If you're a single lad, get yourself down to where you're made.
08:55Okay. So where have you guys just been?
08:58Soy.
08:59Soy.
08:59It's just basically a strip.
09:02Go-go bar, go-go bar, go-go bar.
09:04Hundreds of women, all naked, dancing.
09:07If you really want to, you're a CD.
09:08You're going to have to pay your money and take them back.
09:10I'm not into that, mate.
09:12It's like Ā£10.
09:14A tenner for what?
09:15It's like a tenner for the full night, basically.
09:17For a full night?
09:17Yeah.
09:18Ā£10?
09:18Depending on the girl.
09:20It's part of the culture, isn't it?
09:23I'm going to follow Jack and Luxie's recommendation
09:26and head to Soy Cowboy,
09:28one of the most famous red-light districts in the city.
09:31The crowds of tourists here might not realise
09:38that prostitution is actually illegal in Thailand.
09:43And filming anything on these streets is strictly forbidden.
09:46Pray for your rest in peace
09:47But after months of negotiation,
09:51we've been allowed in to film.
09:53Wow.
10:10This is so intense.
10:17Bye!
10:17Hi!
10:25Stunning, girl.
10:26I genuinely have never seen anything like this in my life,
10:29and I'm seeing a lot of women on the street
10:31trying to pull guys in, touching guys, trying to get them in.
10:36It's quite a lot.
10:38And it's very different from the Coast Sand Road
10:40because Coast Sand Road is lively, lots of people partying,
10:43whereas this feels the music's playing,
10:46but the energy is lower,
10:48and it feels like people are here for a purpose a bit more,
10:52which is a bit seedy, if I'm honest.
10:55There's a few police officers round here as well.
10:59So, behind every single front of the bar,
11:03there's a curtain or a door.
11:05There's obviously a lot that goes on behind this curtain
11:08and you have to pay entry to get in.
11:11Some people here are actively looking for a sexual encounter.
11:15But others come to watch a sex show
11:18or just check out the infamous area.
11:21I've found a Brit tourist, Josh.
11:24What are you here for?
11:26Stag do.
11:27A stag do, OK.
11:29So, it's like the first of our boys just getting married,
11:31so we just went a bit mad.
11:32OK.
11:33It's just so not...
11:34Like, you don't see this at home.
11:35I know.
11:36You don't see this on a normal Spain holiday or Magaluf or whatever.
11:39It's an experience.
11:40Like, you have to see it, I guess,
11:41but you wouldn't want to get too drunk and lose yourself.
11:44Yeah.
11:45Yeah.
11:46But...
11:47Went in Rome.
11:48How far would you go?
11:49I mean, I don't want anything.
11:51I mean, I've got a girlfriend anyway.
11:53But regardless, I wouldn't do it.
11:54Maybe that's...
11:55I mean, everyone's got that bit of interest that, like...
11:57It's the intrigue, I think.
11:58Yeah, yeah, of course it is.
11:59That drags a lot of people.
12:00There's a curtain.
12:01What the hell's happening behind that curtain?
12:02There's some level of intrigue.
12:04Like, they've got to be intrigued to go in there.
12:06Wow.
12:07We've got the police, like, stalking us right now.
12:11Yeah, no, it's true.
12:12Sorry, we'll let you get back to your friends.
12:14No, no, no.
12:15I'm getting the feeling that our presence is not welcome here.
12:19But what I really want to do is try and talk to one of the sex workers
12:23to understand what life is like for the women that work here.
12:29I don't even know which girls are sex workers.
12:32And the bar owners are not making it easy for me to find out.
12:36I wonder why we can't go any further.
12:38Can we not go any further?
12:39Yeah.
12:40Hey, you can move there.
12:42Why?
12:43You can move there.
12:45OK.
12:46Um, I don't know if this guy owns this club here,
12:49but he's told us to move away and not film in a public area.
12:54Move there.
12:55And that is.
12:56Oh, my goodness me.
12:57That's not right here.
12:59OK, we're going.
13:00Now we come.
13:01OK.
13:02Oh, my God.
13:09Clearly, like, we are not wanted here.
13:12What?
13:13No.
13:14No.
13:15OK.
13:16Oh, my God.
13:17So, one of our, um, crew just had an ashtray thrown at their heads.
13:22So, it's an incredibly hostile environment.
13:25OK.
13:26It feels like our agreement with the bar owners has changed.
13:33We're told to stop filming now.
13:36Um.
13:37The police have detained part of our crew and demand to see what we filmed.
13:45They insist our footage must be deleted, but we refuse.
13:52Our security team decides we must leave the area immediately.
13:57We have to get out of here as soon as possible because they wanted to see all of our footage and we don't want to lose what we've captured for tonight, so we've got to get out of here quite quickly.
14:10But the police follow us to our van.
14:11But the police follow us to our van.
14:16It's driving by.
14:17It's driving by.
14:18Because the police have threatened to actually arrest a few of our crew members, um, for filming, even though we have a permit to film.
14:26We paid for the permit, so we should technically be allowed to film here.
14:31It's only him.
14:32Yeah.
14:33At the police station, just you and me, just show him, and then all the shots that he wants us to release.
14:41We can do that tomorrow.
14:42We can come, we can bring the tapes in there.
14:45It feels really odd that the police aren't unbiased in this situation, you know.
14:50They are very much on the sides of the people who are doing the illegal activities.
14:56Like, they're on the sides of these illegal bars.
14:59Yeah, tomorrow.
15:00You keep this, and then I will bring it to him.
15:03Understood.
15:04The police have finally agreed to let us leave, as long as we bring the footage to the police station tomorrow.
15:11That whole ordeal was pretty terrifying.
15:19I've been in Thailand for less than 24 hours, and I've nearly got arrested.
15:26Like, what's happening?
15:28I feel absolutely shattered.
15:29Last night was just really overwhelming in a lot of different ways.
15:33Seeing the police standing outside the bars.
15:34You know, being threatened by the police.
15:35I feel absolutely shattered.
15:38Last night was just really overwhelming in a lot of different ways.
15:59Seeing the police standing outside the bars, you know, being threatened to be arrested.
16:03I mean, that is, like, so scary.
16:06I can really see now how easy it is for travellers to find themselves in trouble here.
16:12But actually, it's made me more intrigued about the sex industry here.
16:19I do want to go back.
16:21I want to speak to a sex worker, actually, and find out what are the realities of working on that strip,
16:28and why there's so much kind of red tape around it.
16:32It's almost hidden in plain sight.
16:35And they want you to know about it, but they don't want you to know about it.
16:39And it feels like the authorities acknowledge it.
16:48I'm starting to learn that Bangkok is a city full of contradictions.
16:56I've also heard that loads of Brits are heading here to pursue the dream of a luxury lifestyle.
17:02And I'm keen to meet people choosing to settle here in Bangkok for good.
17:09So I found this guy called Mike.
17:11He has over 400,000 followers on TikTok.
17:14And he's kind of centering his content around his life here in Thailand,
17:19what it's like to live over here in Bangkok.
17:22And he seems to be the king of the condo tours.
17:26How much do you pay for rent in Bangkok?
17:2820,000 baht per month.
17:29Is there any chance I could get, like, a house tour?
17:32Wait. Oh, my...
17:33Oh, my gosh, dude.
17:34This is incredible.
17:36I really want to meet him and chat to him about what it's like being a Brit living over here in Thailand
17:41and see what the draw of Bangkok is.
17:4328-year-old content creator Mike grew up in Kent.
17:52Hi, Mike.
17:53Hey.
17:54Hi, lovely to meet you.
17:55And lived in London before moving to Bangkok.
17:58Like the view?
17:59Yes, insane.
18:00I didn't know places like this existed in Bangkok.
18:03He's offered to show me around Park Origin Tonglor,
18:06one of the most luxurious complexes in the city.
18:10It looks absolutely incredible.
18:12And they actually have three paws, and this is the smallest one.
18:15What?
18:16This is the smallest one?
18:19What brought you to Bangkok and to Thailand?
18:22I actually came here on a layover.
18:24On a layover?
18:25Yeah, so I was planning to go to Malilla in the Philippines,
18:27and I booked...
18:29Because it was cheaper to come to Bangkok first,
18:31so I saw a flight for, like, Ā£300.
18:33I was like, why not spend three days here,
18:35have some nice Pad Thai massage.
18:37And I did, like, a TikTok video flying from, like, London to Bangkok,
18:41just for fun.
18:42Mm.
18:43And it got 200,000 views.
18:44Wow.
18:45Like, in the first day,
18:46and I've never had that much attention in my life.
18:48I was like, I need to carry on.
18:50Yeah.
18:51And it got to day three,
18:52when I was about to take my flight,
18:54and I was like, I should extend one more week.
18:56And that three days lasted...
18:58Well, it's been two years now, actually.
19:00Oh, my God, that's amazing.
19:01Yeah.
19:02And now I do content full-time.
19:07Off the viral success of his video,
19:09Mike has been able to set up a whole new career in Bangkok,
19:13showcasing an aspirational luxury lifestyle.
19:17Oh, wow, that's a stunning gym.
19:19One of the gyms.
19:20So, there's actually a golf simulator.
19:22A golf simulator?
19:23What?
19:24Thank you so much, right?
19:26Apparently, you just got a straight arm.
19:28I believe in you.
19:30Oh!
19:34Right, I've got to get this.
19:36Oh!
19:37That wasn't bad.
19:38That was...
19:39I'm just going to say it.
19:40I'm a golfer now.
19:43I've never seen anything like this before.
19:45You have so many things you don't need.
19:47This is extra.
19:48I would argue you need this, though.
19:49OK.
19:52This luxury lifestyle is something I can definitely get on board with.
19:56And what's most appealing is that it also appears affordable.
20:02Pool area?
20:04A one-bedroom apartment starts at only Ā£600 a month.
20:08How is your lifestyle different here to what it's like in the UK?
20:14I'm more carefree and I don't really have to think about money as much.
20:19Before I was an influencer here, I was an editor in the UK.
20:22And I was making, like, Ā£300 a week just editing, like, 9-hour, 10-hour days.
20:28And I had to spend on rent, on food and, you know, going out and stuff in the UK.
20:34So that money would go very quickly.
20:36Yeah.
20:37Yeah.
20:38And if you don't mind me asking, how much do you make from your content?
20:41It's always over Ā£10,000 a month now.
20:43Wow.
20:44Yeah.
20:45I don't really have financial burden anymore.
20:47Whereas in the UK, I really did.
20:49Really?
20:50Yeah.
20:51I've always wanted to live a life like this.
20:52And it was so hard to kind of achieve this lifestyle in England.
20:56So coming here just, it makes complete sense for me.
21:00Yeah.
21:01Yeah.
21:02This place is, it's like I'm living a dream here.
21:05It's incredible.
21:06Yeah.
21:07Yeah.
21:08Being free from money worries feels totally out of reach for a lot of us in the UK right
21:13now.
21:15Maybe Bangkok is a place where you can do or be anything you want.
21:23Emma.
21:24Hi.
21:25Hi.
21:26Good to see you.
21:27Hi.
21:28How are you?
21:29Good.
21:30But for those just starting out here with limited income, the dream does come with compromises.
21:35So, this is the flat.
21:38I mean, this is a lot smaller than I was expecting.
21:41Yeah.
21:42Emma from Yorkshire and Terry from Essex moved here three months ago.
21:47They rent a 35 square metre apartment on Park Origin's 20th floor.
21:52That's a toss up.
21:53You go for a smaller living space, nicer amenities, or you go further out, slightly older building,
21:59bigger living space, but not the same amenities.
22:02So, yeah, we went with the first and yeah, this is our home.
22:06Do you enjoy it?
22:07Do you enjoy living here?
22:08Yeah.
22:09Yeah.
22:10We've met loads of people.
22:11I think that that's the main thing.
22:12And it's a really good location.
22:13Yeah.
22:14I've only literally been here like a couple of days now.
22:17And I feel like I've seen the Koh Sam Road.
22:19Yeah, it was quite fun to be honest.
22:22I had a really good night.
22:23Oh, that's good.
22:24So, do you know anything else about the night scene in Bangkok?
22:27Not at all.
22:28Not at all?
22:29Have you not been to any rooftop bars?
22:30No.
22:31Okay.
22:32Shall we?
22:33We'll take it to a rooftop bar.
22:34Okay.
22:35It's really good.
22:36Yeah.
22:46More and more of us are being drawn to Bangkok for the bougie VIP lifestyle it offers.
22:53Emma and Terry met when travelling and are both now working out here to fund their new life.
23:00How does your life compare here to what it was like back in the UK?
23:08I'm hot every day.
23:09I love it.
23:10So, yeah.
23:11Much better here, isn't it?
23:12Yeah, much better.
23:13I think just the cost of living out here.
23:15I mean, our apartment is like...
23:17We pay Ā£3.50 each in parts.
23:18Yes.
23:19Yeah, so...
23:20Ā£3.50 each.
23:21Yeah.
23:22Being able to experience living in Bangkok and travelling and being able to go to an island on a weekend,
23:27that's absolutely insane, isn't it?
23:29Mm.
23:30And I wouldn't stop it for the world.
23:32How easy is it for young Brits to come over here to Thailand and to get a job?
23:36Really hard.
23:37If you're wanting to work in Thailand for a Thai company, it is near on impossible unless you're a teacher.
23:43So, how do you fund your life over here?
23:46So, I am self-employed.
23:48So, I've got my digital nomad visa.
23:51So, with that I do UGC, content creation.
23:54Yeah.
23:55So, and I'm trying to build up my Instagram as well.
23:58Mm-hmm.
23:59When we first came out, I had Ā£15,000.
24:01And at the moment, just over Ā£28,000.
24:05So, it's almost doubled.
24:07And in terms of my income, probably around like Ā£2,000 to Ā£4,000 a month, maybe a little bit less.
24:14It's quite like an up and down industry, isn't it?
24:17Does that feel like a risk?
24:18Yes and no.
24:19I used to work in finance before, like a few years ago.
24:22You used to work in a bank.
24:23Oh, really?
24:24Yeah.
24:25So, I don't think we'd be unemployable because we've taken this route and say it hasn't worked out.
24:30It's a risk, but it's a risk that we're both willing to take.
24:33Yeah.
24:34And you know, if we had to go home, I wouldn't want to, but fine, we'd go home.
24:37If we had to go home, you'd just save up and run away again.
24:40Yeah.
24:41Yeah, definitely.
24:42There is something quite intoxicating about this city.
24:49And I'm starting to believe that you really can reinvent yourself here.
24:57I've decided to head back to the Khao San Road.
25:02After my experience with the police, I'm really confused about how the law works here.
25:08And how Brits are meant to navigate it.
25:11So, I'm spending the night with the Thai police force who are planning a drugs raid.
25:19Tonight's raid is a huge operation involving more than 50 officers from multiple agencies.
25:20Oh, my goodness.
25:21Oh, my goodness.
25:22Oh, my goodness.
25:23Oh, my goodness.
25:24Oh, my goodness.
25:25Let's go.
25:26Let's go.
25:27Great.
25:28Let's go.
25:29Great.
25:30Let's go.
25:31Let's go.
25:32Let's go.
25:33Let's go.
25:34Let's go.
25:35Let's go.
25:36Let's go.
25:37Great.
25:39I wouldn't say this is the most subtle undercover operation I've ever seen in my life.
25:41Let's go.
25:42Let's go.
25:43Let's go.
25:44Let's go.
25:45Let's go.
25:46Let's go.
25:47I wonder where we're going.
25:48I have no idea.
25:49Oh, my God.
25:50They're flashing the lights.
25:51Oh, my God.
25:52They're flashing the lights.
25:53Oh, my God.
25:54Oh, my God.
25:55Oh, my God.
25:56I wouldn't say this is the most subtle undercover operation I've ever seen in my life.
26:13I wonder where we're going. I have no idea. Oh my God, they're flashing the lights.
26:16They're flashing their lights for people.
26:18Okay, this is the first place.
26:26This is the first place I've ever seen in my life.
26:31I'm going to take a look at the camera.
26:33I'm going to take a look at the camera.
26:35I'm going to take a look at the camera.
26:37I'm going to take a look at the camera.
26:41There's people leaving.
26:43I've been there.
26:50In Thailand, the police can force you to take a urine test
26:54without any evidence you've taken drugs.
27:02If anyone is positive for drugs,
27:04they could be arrested and face time in rehab or prison.
27:09OK, they're doing the first urine sample.
27:23They look like little COVID tests actually, but they are drugs tests.
27:29What kind of drugs here are illegal?
27:32All the drugs that are illegal in another country is illegal.
27:39It's the same in Thailand, except the cannabis.
27:41OK, ice, cocaine, methamphetamine, everything is totally illegal.
27:53OK, here's another sample coming out.
27:54Imagine if you had done drugs.
27:57Are you feeling OK about the test?
27:59Yeah, I don't take this drug.
28:00You haven't taken any drugs?
28:02I smoke in Australia, but not the wrong drug.
28:06Not here.
28:07OK.
28:11So, no positives so far.
28:13You already had a test.
28:14It means you're good, you're fine.
28:16Woo!
28:17Have a good night.
28:18Bye-bye.
28:19Bye-bye.
28:20Bye-bye.
28:21Bye-bye.
28:22Bye-bye.
28:23Bye-bye.
28:25Everyone's been negative so far, which is interesting.
28:26We moved to the second location.
28:28OK, second location, let's go.
28:41So far, the police haven't tested any Brits.
28:44How are you feeling about the police coming in here
28:46and doing the drugs testing?
28:48I feel like that's OK.
28:50I understand with it.
28:52I've not also been in this country the whole time.
28:56Right, OK.
28:57Oh, so you're worried that something could show up from another country?
29:01Yes.
29:02That's right.
29:03Right.
29:04I understand.
29:05I understand.
29:06Are you worried about what could happen, then, if they find anything?
29:08Well, I guess that's what happened.
29:10That's what happened.
29:11That's what happened.
29:12That's what happened.
29:13That's what happened.
29:14Oh, yeah, good job.
29:18I've been here.
29:19Indian.
29:20Indian.
29:21How long have you been in Thailand?
29:23I've been here three days.
29:25Three days.
29:26I was here before, a couple of weeks ago.
29:28But I went to Cambodia and then I came back.
29:31And now I'm in Thailand.
29:33Thailand.
29:34Thailand.
29:35Beautiful country.
29:35Beautiful country.
29:39Welcome to Thailand.
29:40There were no arrests tonight, but some close calls.
29:51Maybe these raids are more about keeping tourists on their toes.
29:55A lot of tourists, they get the message that you could have fun while just taking the alcohol only, but not drugs.
30:02Yeah.
30:04I'm pretty shocked that the police can force you to take a urine test.
30:08And I don't reckon many know that.
30:12This country seems to offer freedoms that you would never find back home.
30:16But one wrong move could put you in real trouble real fast.
30:38So, I'm heading over to the British Embassy now because, obviously, when Brits get in trouble, the first place they're going to go to is the Embassy.
30:52And I'm keen to find out what the UK officials in Thailand can do to help.
30:56Real British.
31:02Big Ben.
31:04I've been given special permission by the Ambassador to meet the Embassy's consular team.
31:09Nice to meet you.
31:10Nice to meet you.
31:11How are you?
31:12Right, come on, guys.
31:13Here we go.
31:14They're the busiest in the world, helping over 2,000 Brits a year.
31:21Is there an element of maybe people coming over here and not fully understanding the law and what they can and can't do?
31:28So, we have seen a significant increase in our cases since cannabis has been legalised here.
31:35Wow.
31:36That is mainly people exporting it.
31:40So, they will attempt to take a couple of cases back to the UK.
31:43And if they then get stopped at the airport, obviously, then they are arrested.
31:48They're not arrested for the cannabis, they're arrested for not having an export licence.
31:54Okay.
31:55But the worst misconception is that we can get people out of prison.
31:58I mean, that is the one where, you know, people will say, but I'm British, you're the British Embassy.
32:04You know, you get me out of prison.
32:06And it's definitely a no.
32:08So, I read in the paper about a young British national who's involved with both exporting cannabis
32:13and then decided to start importing Class A drugs.
32:17What do you know about that case?
32:18Yep.
32:19We actually just attended his first court appointment last Friday.
32:23And we are quite concerned regarding outcome of the case.
32:26Really?
32:27What do you mean by concerned?
32:28With drug smuggling cases in Thailand, the sentence could be death penalty?
32:35Wow.
32:36So, the threshold for death penalty is quite low in Thailand.
32:3910 to 15 kilos of Class 1, which I think in this case was above that, yeah.
32:44Wow, okay.
32:45That is a worry then.
32:46Yeah.
32:47I think I was a bit naive and I had the assumption that if I got in any trouble, I could run to the Embassy,
32:56speak to some British people and they could keep me safe.
32:59But actually, there's no magic wand that they can wave.
33:02I'm definitely going to stay on the side of the law here.
33:05I'm even going to make sure my seatbelt's buckled up in the car.
33:12This afternoon, I've been invited to shadow Sam from the consular team.
33:16He's been called to the Immigration Detention Centre to help British nationals who have been locked up for overstaying their visas.
33:29I've seen people today.
33:30And the staff sent me a message this morning to say, a new arrival, can you come down and see them?
33:34I'm going into these not pleasant places to see people in distress, so it can be quite difficult.
33:42Recently, someone allegedly smuggled a camera inside a detention centre and police station, revealing horrendous conditions and overcrowding.
33:55I've seen people in the detention centre.
33:57It varies, really.
33:58We could have people who have maybe overstayed their visa by a day, two days.
34:02If they'll have money, they will maybe just stop it.
34:04A checkpoint, like, oh, you've overstayed, now you need to come here.
34:07Those people can tend to get themselves out of trouble quite quickly.
34:10However, the majority are in there because they had no money,
34:14or else they could have just paid the fine and left.
34:16They really have nothing.
34:17I think the earliest one we've had was two minutes.
34:20Two minutes overstayed.
34:21Two minutes overstayed and they were...
34:23Yeah, and they had no cash left.
34:24Oh, my God.
34:25And they ended up being detained there for two weeks before being deported.
34:28Wow.
34:29Yeah, and going to places outside the detention centre,
34:33possibly the worst place that British National could be in Thailand, so...
34:36Really?
34:37You know, you could be in there with anyone, to be honest.
34:39Just say, for example, a murderer, when their sentence is finished and it's time to be deported,
34:44they'll go to the detention centre.
34:46So they'll all be kept in the same room, so if you oversee your visa by one day,
34:49you could be in with someone who's just served ten years for murder.
34:53Wow.
34:54So we try and offer as much support as we can.
34:56We're just arriving now, Zora.
34:58OK.
34:59So, as you'll see behind, we're just going to go through that little gate there,
35:02and that's where the detention centre is.
35:04The detention centre have refused me entry with a camera, but I've seen an opportunity.
35:18While I've been waiting here, a whole van of people has basically just turned up.
35:23It's a bit like a cage, actually, on the back of a vehicle.
35:26And it looks like they're waiting to go into the detention centre.
35:30I might try and talk to some of them and see if anyone speaks English.
35:34Hi.
35:35Does anyone speak English?
35:36A little bit.
35:37You speak English.
35:38What are you here for?
35:39Expired visa.
35:40Expired visa.
35:41OK.
35:42But stay in hospital and that's why I forget to extend visa.
35:44Oh, wow.
35:45Not well.
35:46So what...
35:47So what...
35:48Just after surgery, that's why...
35:49Oh, so you had surgery.
35:50And you forgot to remember...
35:51Last month, 10 January, I stay in Bangkok Hospital.
35:53But you've got to stay a night here, minimum.
35:54Yeah.
35:55Have you heard about what you're working on?
35:56I'm in a hospital, so I'm in a hospital.
35:57I mean, what you're working on here?
35:58I'm in a hospital, but I'm in a hospital.
35:59No, I'm in a hospital.
36:00No, not well.
36:01No, no.
36:02No, no.
36:03So what...
36:04No, no.
36:05No, no.
36:06No, no.
36:07No, no.
36:08No, no.
36:09No, no.
36:10No, no.
36:11No, no.
36:12No, no.
36:13No, no.
36:15It's not what it's like. No.
36:17I don't know.
36:18No.
36:19Well, hopefully you'll be out soon.
36:21Hmm?
36:22Hopefully you'll be out soon.
36:24I don't know.
36:25You don't know.
36:26I think it's mostly, um...
36:29No filming, OK.
36:31Are you saying no?
36:32Are you saying no, no, no?
36:34Yeah, no, yeah.
36:39It feels like Thailand is full of double standards.
36:45Some police seem to turn a blind eye to the illegal sex industry.
36:51But if you overstay your visa, even by two minutes,
36:54and can't pay the fine, then you're put in jail.
36:59Maybe here, money really does talk.
37:08Since I got here, I've been trying to talk to a sex worker
37:11to understand what their life is like.
37:15I've decided to return to the red light district
37:18as I've finally managed to get access inside a bar.
37:23Do you know what?
37:24There is a little bit of, like, adrenaline that started to pump
37:26because the last time we were there,
37:28myself and all the crew nearly got arrested.
37:31Bangkok's world-famous ping-pong shows
37:34attract a big tourist crowd.
37:36Who come to see various objects propelled from vaginas
37:42with dazzling accuracy.
37:45I'm feeling a bit conflicted about going.
37:48But I want to really get an understanding of what this industry is
37:51and what it feels like from the inside.
37:53Shows last about 15 minutes.
37:57The bar have allowed me to watch
37:59as long as we don't record anything behind the curtain.
38:03Is it all right to sit here? Is that OK?
38:06Yes.
38:07Amazing, thank you.
38:08Can you sit down, girls?
38:09Fellow audience members Robin, Finlay and Rosie join for a debrief.
38:13I think, like, going in we were like, is it OK?
38:14Do you know what I mean?
38:15Yeah, I felt the same, honestly.
38:16Like, do they want to be there?
38:17They're sitting there, we can't watch them and not clap.
38:18That's not what I mean.
38:19Yeah, when the ping-pongs are coming out of the vagina,
38:20you want to go, whoo!
38:21Yeah, you can't do.
38:22What made you guys want to come to the show in the first place?
38:24Well, me and my friend came last year and we told our friends about it.
38:27She's not me.
38:28I think people talk about it a lot, there's a lot of, like, controversy about it.
38:29I guess see it for yourself.
38:30Did you see them checking their watches?
38:31No.
38:32They were, like, dancing on the straight face but then they were checking their watches.
38:35It's quite sad.
38:36Yeah, and they're sitting there and they're sitting there.
38:37We can't watch them and not clap.
38:38It's not what I mean.
38:39Yeah, when the ping-pongs are coming out of the vagina, you wanna go, whoo!
38:41Yeah!
38:42You do, too!
38:43But, like, what made you guys want to come to the show in the first place?
38:44Well, me and my friend came last year.
38:45And we told our friends about it.
38:46She's not me.
38:47I think people talk about it a lot.
38:48Like, I guess see it for yourself.
38:50Did you see them checking their watches?
38:52No.
38:53They were like dancing and the straight face,
38:55but then they were like checking their watches.
38:57It's quite sad.
38:58Yeah.
38:59It's like, how many times a night do you do this?
39:01I will be honest, I went to the bathroom
39:03and I was washing my hands
39:04and she was washing her ping pong balls
39:06at the same time as I was washing my hands.
39:08And it was quite the experience.
39:09I was like, this is brilliant.
39:10Oh my God.
39:11Would it be rude to go up to them and just be like,
39:14oh, are you happy?
39:16Like, I know, I'm hoping to speak to someone actually.
39:19Like, I really want to find someone who works along this strip
39:23so I can get a better understanding
39:24of like what their lives are actually like
39:26and whether they enjoy this work or they don't.
39:32The girls who work here seem very reluctant
39:35to speak on camera.
39:38It's weird when you come to Thailand,
39:39you realize nothing really makes sense.
39:43Everything you see is a walking contradiction.
39:46The sex shows are illegal,
39:47yet there's police monitoring the perimeters
39:50outside the sex shows,
39:52chatting to the owners of the bars
39:55that are doing the shows.
39:56Like, it doesn't make any sense.
40:00There must be something in it for both of them.
40:04I've finally found a sex worker willing to talk to me.
40:07I'm meeting her in a hotel near to the strip.
40:13To protect her from the authorities,
40:15we've concealed her identity.
40:18Thank you so much for agreeing to meet me.
40:20I really, really appreciate your time.
40:22Yeah.
40:22Um, can you tell me a bit about the work that you do?
40:27Yes.
40:27Yes.
40:28I work in a club.
40:30I be a dancer.
40:31You're a dancer?
40:32Yes.
40:33And are you involved in the sex work as well,
40:36in the sex industry?
40:38Yes.
40:38So, how does it work practically then?
40:40So, would you meet a customer at the bar,
40:43and then would you come back to a hotel like this?
40:47I see.
41:08So, the sex comes later on in the evening.
41:11Who decides on the price?
41:12I'm alone.
41:14I'm alone.
41:14Can you say no to a customer?
41:25Do you have a lot of British customers?
41:34Yes.
41:37Wow, so lots of teenagers, British teenagers.
41:41Yes.
41:44So, you've had fathers where they want their sons
42:15to train their brothers and sisters to the same thing.
42:17I still have the children.
42:18I've said three days later,
42:19I used to spend the weekend doing something.
42:21I've just heard about the second week.
42:22I was 12 months after doing at the time.
42:23I bÄdÄ around for 20,000.
42:24I was on for a half year,
42:25I used to put the second week.
42:26But I was just a half hour.
42:27I need to have to earn more than 25,000.
42:28So, if I was 12 years later,
42:29I could earn more than 25,000.
42:30If I was only on for 25,000,
42:31I had no chance to have that.
42:33It's slightly jarring to hear about the young Brits and their dads are paying the sex worker to kind of teach their sons the ropes.
42:44It's a bit weird.
42:47But you've got to have so much respect for these women and the risks they take night on night to earn a living for themselves and their families.
42:56Next, I'm going island hopping in search of paradise.
43:00This feels like a spiritual place.
43:03Doing some gentle squeeze and releasing of your yoni.
43:09I uncover the sex capital of Asia.
43:1270 bars, 30 girls in each bar. A lot more going on here than in Bangkok.
43:17And one of the world's biggest beach parties.
43:22Oh, my God.
43:23You'd lose a lot of blood. If I hit the jugular, you know, I would have died in 20 minutes.
43:30So I'm going out.
43:31I want to wait.
43:32I want to wait.
43:33Oh.
43:35I want to wait for that summer forever.
43:37Get this place in the morning.
43:38I want to wait for these drinks with you.
43:40amumuamē« is feeling broken.
43:42I want to wait for you.
43:44It is.
43:46It is.
43:48For the chiffon that people were Hoodedheart.
43:51Floods come down even before.
43:53Oh.
43:55I want to wait.
43:55Transcription by CastingWords
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