- 4 months ago
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
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
00:48fear of connection with your breasts with
00:50your female body and meet those building
00:52a whole new life here I decided just to
00:55sell everything by one way ticket and
00:56just come here and try and make it work
00:58to find out if it lives up to the hype
01:01I've been in Thailand for less than 24
01:03hours and I've nearly got arrested and if
01:06there's another side to this paradise he
01:09smashed bottle and then stabbed me in the
01:11neck my brother was murdered it wasn't an
01:15accident like most Brits I'm starting my Thai
01:24adventure in the capital Bangkok most
01:29travelers stop here for at least a few
01:31days to soak up the mix of ancient
01:33temples vibrant street markets and of course the
01:40city's infamous nightlife the sex industry is
01:45something that I'm particularly interested in
01:47looking into because it's something that comes
01:49hand-in-hand with Bangkok people will talk about the
01:53women and the shows and it seems people come here to have these experiences and I
01:59think it would be interesting to find out how much of that is true
02:07but first I'm heading to one of the most famous streets in Asia where travelers come to party 24
02:137 backpacker hotspot cowsan Road I want to have the authentic backpackers
02:21experience you know I went straight into work when I was 18 I never took a year
02:25out I never stayed in a hostel so it's going to be a new experience for me
02:34also 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
02:53you have a reservation yes I do amazing yeah you are no
03:0021 year old Chloe is one of the British reps who look after guests in exchange for
03:06free accommodation okay so here we have eight bed dorms these are 14 pounds per
03:12night 14 pounds a night oh that's cheap when it's low season the prices maybe
03:17come down to about eight pounds a night okay well I've decided to splash out an
03:22extra 22 pounds for one of the hostel was 18 en suite rooms of course you have
03:27just the bathroom there and towels just there it may be quite loud here because
03:32it is on Koh San Road which is the loudest road on Bangkok people are partying until
03:37super super early in the morning I should say hopefully I'll be okay fingers
03:41cross see you later this is not even 40 pounds a night I mean that is so cheap and
03:48you get an en suite because I think that's probably one of the things I would struggle
03:52with imagine 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
04:10it's up to the reps to show the guests a good time this is Finn's fourth stint in Thailand you're
04:24right you're in Bangkok right now do you know what a ritual is for evolution it's a shop you've got to do
04:29a shop come on oh I'll have a taste of it but it's a free shot that's what matters most tonight Finn's
04:34offered to take me on a pub crawl let's get the shot let's go let's get the shot
04:40no no no no no I can't do it
04:43Zara Zara you're here you're in Thailand
04:48fine
04:49three two
04:51welcome to Thailand thank you so much that was delightful spicy on my lungs man
05:00oh you're wimps that was fine
05:02right so are you keen for Khao San or what
05:07I'm very keen
05:10just round 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
05:39ask politely what is a happy ending oh come on with a hand job
05:45oh
05:51oh
05:55I've never seen anything like it in my life!
06:18I 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.
06:53Escape 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.
07:06So this is a nice break from that.
07:09Even just the accessibility of weed and similar things.
07:14People call it like the Amsterdam of Asia.
07:17Really?
07:18Okay.
07:19Are the drugs really accessible here?
07:20I've heard so, yeah.
07:22Even a lot of the bars here, they all have signs, laughing gas, eggs, man, a bath.
07:26That's all illegal.
07:27And there's police up and down that street.
07:29There's like two languages of Thailand.
07:31Thai and money.
07:32So as long as you've got enough money, you get away with anything here.
07:35Interesting.
07:36And what do you mean by that?
07:37Do you mean you could pay someone off?
07:38You could pay the police off?
07:39Yeah.
07:40It is really bad.
07:41Is there anything I need to be cautious of?
07:45How many like 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.
07:55He got offered a happy ending.
07:57He did accept it.
07:59The lady left the room.
08:02He was blindfolded.
08:03A child came in and like 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.
08:23So you've always just got to be like 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.
08:46It's amazing.
08:47It's like Benidorm on steroids.
08:49And what does that mean?
08:50Cheap, cheerful, full of women.
08:52If you're a single lad, get yourself down to where you're made.
08:55OK.
08:56So where have you guys just been?
08:58Soy.
08:59Soy Koba.
09:00It's just basically a strip, go-go bar, go-go bar, go-go bar.
09:04Hundreds of women, all naked, dancing.
09:07If you really want to get a CD, you can actually pay your money and take them back.
09:10I'm not into that, mate.
09:12It's like £10.
09:13The ten of for what?
09:15It's like ten of for the full night, basically.
09:17For a full night?
09:18Yeah.
09:19Ten quid?
09:20Depending on the girl.
09:21It's part of the culture, isn't it?
09:23I'm going to follow Jack and Luxie's recommendation and head to Soy Cowboy, one of the most famous red light districts in the city.
09:36The crowds of tourists here might not realise that prostitution is actually illegal in Thailand.
09:42And filming anything on these streets is strictly forbidden.
09:49But after months of negotiation, we've been allowed in to film.
09:53Wow.
10:10This is so intense.
10:14Stunning, girl.
10:15I genuinely have never seen anything like this in my life.
10:29And I'm seeing a lot of women on the street trying 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 because the Coast Sand Road is lively.
10:43Lots of people partying.
10:44Whereas this feels, the music's playing, but 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 around here as well.
10:59So, behind every single front of the bar, there's a curtain or a door.
11:05There's obviously a lot that goes on behind this curtain and you have to pay entry to get in.
11:12Some people here are actively looking for a sexual encounter.
11:16But others come to watch a sex show.
11:19Or just check out the infamous area.
11:22I've found a Brit tourist, Josh.
11:25What are you here for?
11:27A stag do.
11:28A stag do, okay.
11:30So, it's like the first of our boys just getting married, so we just went a bit mad.
11:32Okay.
11:34It's just so, it's just so not, like you don't see this at home.
11:36I know.
11:37You don't see this on a normal Spain holiday or Magaluf or whatever.
11:40It's an experience, like you have to see it, I guess, but you wouldn't want to get too drunk and lose yourself.
11:45Yeah.
11:47But, went in Rome.
11:49How far would you go?
11:50I mean, I don't want anything.
11:52I mean, I've got a girlfriend anyway.
11:54But regardless, I wouldn't do it.
11:55Maybe that's...
11:56I 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, like there's a curtain on, what the hell's happening behind that curtain?
12:02It's some level of intrigue, like they've got to be intrigued to go in there.
12:07Wow.
12:09We've got the police like stalking us right now.
12:12Yeah, no worries.
12:13Sorry, we'll let you get back to your friends.
12:14No, no worries.
12:16I'm getting the feeling that our presence is not welcome here.
12:20But 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.
12:33And the bar owners are not making it easy for me to find out.
12:37I wonder why we can't go any further.
12:38Can we not go any further?
12:40Yeah.
12:41Hey, you can move there.
12:43Why?
12:44You can move there.
12:45Yeah.
12:46OK.
12:47I don't know if this guy owns this club here, but he's told us to move away and not film in a public area.
12:56Oh, my goodness me.
12:59OK, we're going.
13:01OK.
13:09My God.
13:11Clearly, like, we are not wanted here.
13:13No.
13:14No.
13:15OK.
13:16Oh, my God.
13:17So, one of our crew just had an ashtray thrown at their head.
13:22So, it's an incredibly hostile environment.
13:29It feels like our agreement with the bar owners has changed.
13:34We're told to stop filming now.
13:38Police have detained part of our crew and demand to see what we filmed.
13:43They insist our footage must be deleted, but we refuse.
13:53Our security team decides we must leave the area immediately.
13:58We have to get out of here as soon as possible because they wanted to see all of our footage.
14:03And we don't want to lose what we've captured for tonight.
14:06So, we've got to get out of here quite quickly.
14:15But the police follow us to our van.
14:17It's driving the van.
14:18It's really dicey because the police have threatened to actually arrest a few of our crew members for filming, even though we have a permit to film.
14:27We've paid for the permit, so we should technically be allowed to film.
14:30It's only him.
14:32Yeah.
14:36At 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.
14:43We can come, we can bring the tape in.
14:45It feels really odd that the police aren't unbiased in this situation.
14:50You know, they 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.
15:01You keep this and then I will bring it to him.
15:04Understood.
15:05The police have finally agreed to let us leave.
15:08As long as we bring the footage to the police station tomorrow.
15:18That whole ordeal was pretty terrifying.
15:21I've been in Thailand for less than 24 hours and I've nearly got arrested.
15:25Like, what's happening?
15:49I feel absolutely shattered.
15:51Last 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.
16:04I mean, that is, like, so scary.
16:07I can really see now how easy it is for travellers to find themselves in trouble here.
16:15But, actually, it's made me more intrigued about the sex industry here.
16:20I do want to go back.
16:22I want to speak to a sex worker, actually, and find out what are the realities of working on that strip.
16:29And why there's so much kind of red tape around it.
16:33It's almost hidden in plain sight.
16:36And they want you to know about it, but they don't want you to know about it.
16:40And it feels like the authorities acknowledge it.
16:42I'm starting to learn that Bangkok is a city full of contradictions.
16:57I'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, what it's like to live over here in Bangkok.
17:23And he seems to be the king of the condo tours.
17:27How much do you pay for rent in Bangkok?
17:2920,000 baht per month.
17:31Is there any chance I could get, like, a house tour?
17:33Wait. Oh, my God. Oh, my gosh, dude.
17:35This 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 and see what the draw of Bangkok is.
17:5028-year-old content creator Mike grew up in Kent.
17:53Hi, Mike.
17:54Hey.
17:55Lovely to meet you.
17:56And lived in London before moving to Bangkok.
17:59You like the view?
18:00Yeah, it's insane.
18:01I didn't know places like this existed in Bangkok.
18:04He's offered to show me around Park Origin Tonglor, one of the most luxurious complexes in the city.
18:11It looks absolutely incredible.
18:13And they actually have three paws, and this is the smallest one.
18:17What? This is the smallest one?
18:20What brought you to Bangkok and to Thailand?
18:23I actually came here on a layover.
18:25On a layover?
18:26Yeah, so I was planning to go to Manila in Philippines, and I booked...
18:29Because it was cheaper to come to Bangkok first.
18:32So I saw a flight for like £300.
18:34I was like, why not?
18:35Spend three days here.
18:36Have some nice pad thai massage.
18:38And I did like a TikTok video flying from like London to Bangkok just for fun.
18:43Mm.
18:44And it got 200,000 views.
18:45Wow.
18:46Like in the first day, and I've never had that much attention in my life.
18:49I was like, I need to carry on.
18:50Yeah.
18:51And it got to day three when I was about to take my flight.
18:54And I was like, I should extend one more week.
18:57And that three days lasted, well, it's been two years now.
19:00Oh my God, that's amazing.
19:02Yeah, and now I do content full time.
19:07Off the viral success of his video, Mike has been able to set up a whole new career in Bangkok,
19:14showcasing an aspirational luxury lifestyle.
19:18Oh wow, that's a stunning gym.
19:20One of the gyms.
19:21So there's actually a golf simulator.
19:23A golf simulator?
19:24What?
19:26Thank you so much.
19:27Right, apparently you just got a straight arm.
19:29I believe in you.
19:31Oh.
19:34Right, I've got to get this.
19:37Oh, that wasn't bad.
19:38That was...
19:39I was just going to say it, I'm a golfer now.
19:43I've never seen anything like this before.
19:45There are so many things you don't need.
19:47This is extra.
19:48I would argue you need this though.
19:50OK.
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 £600 a month.
20:09How is your lifestyle different here to what it's like in the UK?
20:13I'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 and I was making like £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 so that money would go very quickly.
20:37Yeah.
20:38And if you don't mind me asking, how much do you make from your content?
20:41It's always over £10,000 a month now.
20:43Wow.
20:44Yeah.
20:45Yeah, I 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 and 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.
21:06Mm.
21:07Yeah.
21:09Being free from money worries feels totally out of reach for a lot of us in the UK right now.
21:15Maybe Bangkok is a place where you can do or be anything you want.
21:24Emma.
21:25Hi.
21:26Good to see you.
21:27Hi, how are you?
21:28Good.
21:29But for those just starting out here with limited income, the dream does come with compromises.
21:36So, this is the flat.
21:38I mean, this is a lot smaller than I was expecting.
21:42Yeah.
21:43Emma from Yorkshire and Terry from Essex moved here three months ago.
21:48They rent a 35 square metre apartment on Park Origin's 20th floor.
21:52That's a toss up, you go for a smaller living space, nicer amenities or you go further out, slightly older building, bigger living space but not the same amenities.
22:03So, yeah, we went with the first and yeah, this is our home.
22:07Do you enjoy it?
22:08Do you enjoy living here?
22:09Yeah.
22:10Yeah, we've met loads of people and I think that that's the main thing.
22:12And it's a really good location.
22:13Yeah, I've only literally been here like a couple of days now and I feel like I've seen the Koh Sam Road.
22:21Yeah, it was quite fun to be honest.
22:23I had a really good night.
22:24Oh, that's good.
22:25So, do you know anything else about the night scene in Bangkok?
22:28Not at all.
22:29Not at all?
22:30Have you not been to any rooftop bars?
22:31No.
22:32OK, shall we?
22:33We'll take it to a rooftop bar.
22:34OK.
22:35It's really good.
22:36Amazing.
22:37Can you go for the menu?
22:38More and more of us are being drawn to Bangkok for the bougie VIP lifestyle it offers.
22:54Emma and Terry met when travelling and are both now working out here to fund their new life.
23:01How does your life compare here to what it was like back in the UK?
23:08I'm hot every day.
23:10I love it.
23:11So, yeah.
23:12Much better here, isn't it?
23:13Yeah, much better.
23:14I think just the cost of living out here.
23:16I mean, our apartment is like...
23:17We pay £3.50 each in pounds.
23:19Yeah, so...
23:20£330 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?
23:30And 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?
23:37Really hard.
23:38If you're wanting to work in Thailand for a Thai company, it is near on impossible unless you're a teacher.
23:44So, how do you fund your life over here?
23:47So, I am self-employed.
23:49So, I've got my digital nomad visa.
23:51So, with that I do UGC, content creation.
23:55Yeah.
23:56And I'm trying to build up my Instagram as well.
23:58Mm-hmm.
23:59When I first came out, I had £15,000.
24:01And at the moment, just over £28,000.
24:05So, it's almost doubled.
24:07And in terms of my income, probably around, like, £2k to £4k a month.
24:13Maybe 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, like...
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.
24:38If we had to go home, you'd just save up and run away again.
24:40Yeah.
24:41Yeah, definitely.
24:47There is something quite intoxicating about this city.
24:51And I'm starting to believe that you really can reinvent yourself here.
24:58I've decided to head back to the Khao San Road.
25:03After my experience with the police, I'm really confused about how the law works here.
25:08and how Brits are meant to navigate it.
25:14So, I'm spending the night with the Thai police force who are planning a drugs raid.
25:20Tonight's raid is a huge operation involving more than 50 officers from multiple agencies.
25:33Oh, my goodness.
25:34Oh, my goodness.
25:35Let's go.
25:36Great.
25:37Let's go.
25:38Great.
25:39I wouldn't say this is the most subtle under-cover operation I've ever seen in my life.
25:40It's going to be a bit more than 50 officers from multiple agencies.
25:42I'm getting a bit more than 50 officers from multiple agencies.
25:43Help!
25:44Help!
25:45Help!
25:46Help!
25:47Help!
25:48Oh, my goodness.
25:49Let's go.
25:50Great.
25:51Let's go, great.
26:03I wouldn't say this is the most subtle
26:06undercover operation I've ever seen in my life.
26:13I wonder where we're going. I have no idea.
26:15Oh, my God, they're flashing the lights.
26:16They're flashing their lights for people.
26:18OK, this is the first place.
26:21This is the second place.
26:22This is the second place.
26:29This is the second place.
26:30This is the second place.
26:31This is the second place.
26:33We're driving down the street.
26:35There's a second spot.
26:37It's the second place so that we will continue to train a 변thin day.
26:41There's people leaving.
26:43I'm not per se.
26:48Or an other place.
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, they could be arrested
27:06and face time in rehab or prison.
27:19OK, they're doing their first urine sample.
27:23They look like little COVID tests, actually, but they are drugs tests.
27:29What kind of drugs here are illegal?
27:33All the drugs that are illegal in another country
27:37are illegal, the same in Thailand, except cannabis.
27:41Ice, cocaine, methamphetamine, everything is totally illegal.
27:49OK, here's another sample coming out.
27:56Imagine if you had done drugs.
27:58Are you feeling OK about the test?
28:00Yeah, I don't take this drug.
28:01You haven't taken any drugs?
28:02I smoke in Australia, but not the wrong drug.
28:07OK.
28:11So, no positives so far.
28:14You already passed the test.
28:15It means you're good, you're fine.
28:17No!
28:18Have a good night.
28:25Everyone's been negative so far, which is interesting.
28:27We moved to the second location.
28:28OK.
28:29Second location, let's go.
28:30So far, the police haven't tested any Brits.
28:43How are you feeling about the police coming in here and doing the drugs testing?
28:45I feel like that's OK.
28:46I understand a bit.
28:47I've also been in this country the whole time.
28:48Right, OK.
28:49Oh, so you're worried that something could show up from another country?
29:02Yes.
29:03That's right.
29:04I understand.
29:05Yeah.
29:06Are you worried about what could happen, then, if they find anything?
29:08Well, I guess that's what happens, what happens.
29:12How long have you been in Thailand?
29:13I've been here three days.
29:14I was here before a couple of weeks ago, but I went to Cambodia and then I came back.
29:31Oh, I've come back.
29:32And now I'mView from Thailand.
29:33Thailand.
29:35It's a country.
29:35Good tour.
29:40Welcome to Thailand.
29:42Thank you, bye-bye.
29:43There were no arrests tonight, but some close calls.
29:52Maybe these raids are more about keeping tourists on their toes.
29:55A lot of tourists, they get the message that you could have fun just taking the alcohol
30:01only, but not drunk.
30:02Yeah.
30:03I'm pretty shocked that the police can force you to take a urine test, and I don't reckon
30:09many 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.
31:12How are you?
31:13Right.
31:14Come on, guys.
31:15Here we go.
31:16They're the busiest in the world, helping over 2000 Brits a year.
31:20Is there an element of maybe people coming over here and not fully understanding the law and
31:26what they can and can't do?
31:29So, we have seen a significant increase in our cases since cannabis has been legalized
31:35here.
31:36Wow.
31:37It's mainly people exporting it.
31:40So, they will attempt to take a couple of cases back to the UK.
31:44And if they then get stopped at the airport, obviously then they are arrested.
31:49They're not arrested for the cannabis.
31:51They're arrested for not having an export license.
31:53Okay.
31:54But the worst misconception is that we can get people out of prison.
31:59That 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.
32:07And it's definitely a no.
32:09So I read in the paper about a young British national who's involved with both exporting
32:13cannabis and then decided to start importing Class A drugs.
32:17Do you know about that case?
32:18Yep.
32:19We actually just attended his first court appointment last Friday and we are quite concerned regarding
32:26outcome of the case.
32:27Really?
32:28What do you mean by concerned?
32:29With 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, 10 to 15 kilos of Class 1,
32:42which I think in this case was above that, yeah.
32:45Wow.
32:46Okay.
32:47That is a worry then.
32:48I think I was a bit naive and I had the assumption that if I got in any trouble, I could run to
32:55the embassy, speak to some British people and they could keep me safe.
32:59But actually, there's no magic wand that they can wave.
33:03I'm definitely going to stay on the side of the law here.
33:06I'm even going to make sure my seatbelt's buckled up in the car.
33:13This 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've been
33:23locked up for overstaying their visas.
33:26We're seeing two people today and the staff sent me a message this morning to say a new arrival.
33:33Can you come down and see them?
33:34We're going into these not pleasant places to see people in distress, so it can be quite difficult.
33:40Recently, someone allegedly smuggled a camera inside a detention centre and police station,
33:49revealing horrendous conditions and overcrowding.
33:53What states do you find people in when they're in the detention centre?
33:58It varies, really.
33:59We could have people who have maybe overstayed their visa by a day, two days.
34:02If they'll have money, they were maybe just stopped at a checkpoint, like, oh, you've overstayed,
34:06now 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, or else they could have just
34:15paid the fine and left.
34:16They really have nothing.
34:18I think the earliest one we've had was two minutes, two minutes overstayed.
34:22Two minutes overstayed and they were...
34:24Yeah, and they had no cash left.
34:25Oh, my God.
34:26And they ended up being detained there for two weeks before being deported.
34:29Wow.
34:30Yeah.
34:31And going to places like the detention centre, possibly the worst place a British national
34:35could be in Thailand, so...
34:37Really?
34:38You know, you could be in there with anyone, to be honest.
34:40Just 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 a visa by one day, you could
34:50be 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.
35:05The 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.
35:43Hi.
35:44Does anyone speak English?
35:45You speak English.
35:46What are you here for?
35:48Expired visa.
35:49Expired visa.
35:50OK.
35:51But stay in hospital, and that's why I forget to extend visa.
35:55Oh, wow.
35:56Not well.
35:57So what?
35:58Just after surgery, that's why.
35:59Oh, so you had surgery.
36:00Yeah.
36:01Last month, 10 of January, I stayed in Bangkok Hospital.
36:03But you've got to stay a night here, minimum.
36:04Yeah.
36:05Have you heard about what it's like?
36:06No.
36:07I don't know.
36:08Yeah, it's always all.
36:09Yeah, it's always all.
36:10Yeah, it's always all.
36:11Yeah, it's always all.
36:12Yeah.
36:13Yeah.
36:14Yeah.
36:15Yeah.
36:16No.
36:17Yeah, it's always all.
36:18No.
36:19Well, hopefully, you'll be out soon.
36:21Hmm?
36:22Hopefully, you'll be out soon.
36:23I don't know.
36:24You don't know.
36:25I think it's mostly, um...
36:28No filming.
36:29No filming.
36:30OK.
36:31You're saying no.
36:32You're saying no, no, no.
36:39It feels like Thailand is full of double standards.
36:42Some police seem to turn a blind eye to the illegal sex industry.
36:50But if you overstay your visa, even by two minutes, and can't pay the fine, then you're
36:55put in jail.
36:58Maybe here, money really does talk.
37:01Since I got here, I've been trying to talk to a sex worker to understand what their life
37:14is like.
37:15I've decided to return to the red light district, as I've finally managed to get access inside
37:21a bar.
37:23Do you know what? There is a little bit of, like, adrenaline that started to pump.
37:26Because the last time we were there, myself and all the crew nearly got arrested.
37:31Bangkok's world-famous ping-pong shows attract a big tourist crowd.
37:40Who come to see various objects propelled from vaginas with dazzling accuracy.
37:45I'm feeling a bit conflicted about going, but I want to really get an understanding of
37:50what this industry is and what it feels like from the inside.
37:55Shows last about 15 minutes.
37:58The bar have allowed me to watch, as long as we don't record anything behind the curtain.
38:03Is it alright to sit here? Is that okay? Yes. Amazing, thank you. Can you sit down, girls?
38:13Fellow audience members Robin, Finlay and Rosie join for a debrief.
38:18I think, like, going in, we were like, is it okay? Do you know what I mean?
38:23Yeah, I felt the same, honestly.
38:25Like, do they want to be there? They're sitting there, we can't watch them and not clap.
38:29It's not what I mean. Yeah, when the ping-pongs are coming out of the vagina, you want to go,
38:33Woo! Yeah, you do!
38:35What made you guys want to come to the show in the first place?
38:38Well, me and my friend came last year.
38:41And we told our friend about it, she's not me.
38:44I think people talk about it a lot. There's a lot of, like, controversy about it.
38:47So, I guess, see it for yourself. Did you see them checking their watches?
38:51No! They were, like, dancing and the straight face,
38:54but then they were, like, checking their watches.
38:56It's quite sad, yeah.
38:58How many times a night do you do this?
39:00I will be honest, I went to the bathroom and I was washing my hands
39:03and she was washing her ping-pong balls at the same time as I was washing my hands.
39:07And it was quite the experience. I was like, this is brilliant.
39:09Oh, my God. Would it be rude to go up to them and just be like,
39:13Oh, are you happy? Like...
39:15I know. I'm hoping to speak to someone, actually.
39:18Like, I really want to find someone who works along this strip
39:21so I can get a better understanding of, like, what their lives are actually like
39:25and whether they enjoy this work or they don't.
39:31The girls who work here seem very reluctant to speak on camera.
39:35It's weird. When you come to Thailand, you realise nothing really makes sense.
39:41Everything you see is a walking contradiction.
39:45The sex shows are illegal, yet there's police monitoring the perimeters outside the sex shows,
39:51chatting to the owners of the bars that are doing the shows.
39:55Like, it doesn't make any sense.
39:57There must be something in it for both of them.
40:03I've finally found a sex worker willing to talk to me.
40:08I'm meeting her in a hotel near to the strip.
40:12To protect her from the authorities, we've concealed her identity.
40:17Thank you so much for agreeing to meet me.
40:19Yeah. I really, really appreciate your time.
40:21Yeah.
40:22Can you tell me a bit about the work that you do?
40:26Yes. Yes. I work in a club. I be a dancer.
40:30You're a dancer?
40:31Yes.
40:32And are you involved in the sex work as well, in the sex industry?
40:37Yes.
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. So the sex comes later on in the evening?
40:48Yes. Yes.
40:49Who decides on the price?
40:50Can you say no to a customer?
40:51Yes.
40:52Can you say no to a customer?
40:53Yes.
40:54Yes.
40:55Yes.
40:56Yes.
40:57Do you have a lot of British customers?
40:58Yes.
40:59Yes.
41:00Yes.
41:01Yes.
41:02Yes.
41:03Yes.
41:04Yes.
41:05Yes.
41:06Yes.
41:07Yes.
41:08Yes.
41:09Yes.
41:10Yes.
41:11So lots of teenagers, British teenagers.
41:12Yes.
41:13Yes.
41:14Yes.
41:15They are a young, but they are like a child.
41:16Yes.
41:17Yes.
41:18Yes.
41:19Yes.
41:20However, many of these teenagers are a young, as they eat.
41:21Yes.
41:22Yes.
41:23Yes.
41:24Yes.
41:25Yes.
41:26Yes.
41:27Yes.
41:28Yes.
41:29Yes.
41:30Yes.
41:31Yes.
41:32Yes.
41:33Yes.
41:34Yes.
41:35Yes.
41:36Yes.
41:37Yes.
41:38Yes.
41:39Yes.
41:40Yes.
41:41So you've had fathers where they want their sons to learn about sex?
41:56What made you want to choose to do sex work?
42:11It's slightly jarring to hear about the young Brits and their dads are paying the sex worker
42:40to teach their sons the ropes. It's a bit weird. But you've got to have so much respect for
42:49these women and the risks they take, night on night, to earn a living for themselves
42:53and 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.
43:07I 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.
43:20Oh my gosh.
43:23You'd lose a lot of blood.
43:24If I ate the jugular, you know, I would have died in 20 minutes.
43:27You'd lose a little bit of bits.
43:31You're good with us.
43:32If you don't have some clusters, pin calls comes?
43:33Although in the search geo, you just split your toes.
43:35You've got a government or you're about the community.
43:36How does that mean that you look a lot bigger than masuk?
43:38You've got a rupee looking назвant.
43:44Multiple Speaker Feldman guerrewood.
43:46All right.
43:47All right.
43:48All right.
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