Somehow a Japanese tourists waist pack (bum bag, fanny pack) slipped off while being accosted by a ladyboy in Patong Beach on Soi Bangla Road. These things happen more than you might guess. I mean, like every night! Be very careful around ladyboys in Thailand, many of them resort to thievery because they cannot make enough money to survive providing services to men who enjoy their company.
There are many really nice and moral ladyboys too – but – just be careful, many people in the nightlife scene are on drugs and will do anything for money – men, women, ladyboys, and toms.
If you lost something in Phuket – Let Us Know Now! >
Tokyo to Patong Beach Paradise – “Hey, where’s my waist pack?”
Mio had been looking forward to his trip to Phuket for months. After years of working long hours in Tokyo, he finally had a chance to unwind, and he couldn’t think of a better place to let loose than Patong Beach. Known for its nightlife, particularly along Soi Bangla, Patong was famous for its clubs, bars, and wild parties. Mio wasn’t usually the type to indulge in this kind of scene, but this trip was an exception. He was determined to have fun, and that’s exactly what he set out to do.
The first night, Mio and his friends hit the bars along Soi Bangla. The street was alive with neon lights, loud music, and people from all over the world. Drinks flowed freely as the group moved from one bar to the next, laughing and enjoying the electric atmosphere. As the night wore on, Mio found himself separated from his friends for a short time, lost in the crowd but too tipsy to care.
That’s when he met her—or rather, when she approached him. Tall, with long hair, and dressed in a tight-fitting and very low-cut dress, she stood out even in the chaos of Soi Bangla. She flashed a wide smile at Mio and sauntered up to him. His senses were dulled by the alcohol, and before he knew it, they were chatting and laughing like old friends. She was flirtatious, complimenting him and giggling at his jokes, even though they weren’t particularly funny.
They walked over to a bar just meters away and sat down at the bar for a drink Mio paid for.
But something about her seemed off. As they talked, Mio noticed she kept leaning in closer, her hands brushing against him. He felt flattered at first, but then her touch became more insistent. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but something wasn’t right. It didn’t take long for him to realize what was happening. He stood up to go to the restroom and his new friend stood and hugged him really tight like they were a couple.
Then, suddenly, she was gone. Mio looked around, confused, but she had vanished into the crowd as quickly as she had appeared.
Feeling nature call, he nearly ran to the restroom and took care of business.
Coming back to his chair at the bar, panic set in!
His waist pack was gone. His heart pounded as he checked and rechecked, hoping it had somehow slipped off or that he had misplaced it. But it was nowhere to be found.
The waist pack wasn’t just an accessory. It held his cash, credit cards, and his passport. He cursed under his breath, feeling both angry and embarrassed. How could he have been so careless? And how was he going to explain this to his friends? They would never let him live it down. Not wanting to deal with the shame, Mio decided to keep the whole thing to himself. Maybe, he thought, he could fix this on his own.
The next morning, Mio’s hangover was nothing compared to the dread he felt when he woke up. His mind was foggy, but the memory of what happened last night was crystal clear. He spent the day in a daze, trying to figure out what to do. He considered going to the police, but he was too embarrassed to admit that he had been conned so easily. Instead, he wandered aimlessly around Patong, hoping he might spot the ladyboy or his missing waist pack.
As the afternoon stretched on, Mio was beginning to lose hope when his phone rang. He didn’t recognize the number, but he answered it anyway.
“Kun Mio?” came a woman’s voice, sounding uncertain.
“Yes, this is Mio,” he replied, surprised.
“This is Jariya. I’m the bartender from last night. Do you remember?”
Mio racked his brain but couldn’t quite place her. He had talked to so many people during the night, most of it was a blur. “Uh, maybe? What’s this about?”
“I saw what happened last night,” Jariya continued. “With the ladyboy.”
Mio’s stomach dropped. LADYBOY!
He had been hoping to keep the whole thing a secret, but now it seemed like at least one person knew.
“Don’t worry,” Jariya added quickly, sensing his discomfort. “I didn’t tell anyone. But I saw her take your waist pack. I got in touch with her, and she agreed to give it back. But only if I promised not to tell the police.”
Mio’s relief was immediate, but it was quickly followed by suspicion. “Is it… everything still there?”
Jariya hesitated. “I don’t know. I didn’t look inside. But you can come pick it up. I’ll have it at the bar around 5 pm.”
“Thank you,” Mio said, though the uncertainty gnawed at him. “I’ll be there.”
When Mio arrived at the bar that evening, he was nervous. Jariya was waiting for him, holding the familiar waist pack. His relief was palpable, but it was quickly replaced by tension when he saw who else was sitting at the bar.
The ladyboy, the one who had stolen his waist pack, was there too. She glanced at him, a sly smile on her lips, but said nothing. Mio’s stomach churned with a mix of anger and embarrassment. He wanted to say something, to confront her, but the words caught in his throat.
Jariya stepped in, her tone apologetic but firm. “Here’s your waist pack, Mio. Like I said, I didn’t look inside.”
Mio took the pack and immediately opened it. His passport and credit cards were still there, but as he rifled through the contents, his heart sank. Some of the cash was missing. He counted it quickly, realizing that a significant chunk had been taken.
“What happened to the money?” he asked, looking up at Jariya, though his eyes flicked nervously to the ladyboy.
Jariya avoided his gaze. “I don’t know. She gave it back to me like this.”
The ladyboy continued to sip her drink, cool and unfazed by the situation. It was clear to Mio that she wasn’t going to admit to anything. She had taken what she wanted, and now she was just sitting there, daring him to do something about it.
Mio felt a wave of helplessness. What could he do? The ladyboy had stolen from him, but he was in a foreign country, with no real way to get justice. He could go to the police, but without solid evidence or witnesses willing to speak up, it was unlikely they would do anything. Plus, there was the promise Jariya had made to keep the ladyboy’s name out of it.
“Thank you,” Mio finally said to Jariya, though his voice was heavy with disappointment. “I appreciate your help.”
Jariya nodded, looking somewhat relieved that he wasn’t making a scene. “I’m sorry it turned out this way,” she said softly.
Mio turned to leave, casting one last glance at the ladyboy. She met his eyes with a cold, unreadable expression. It was clear she felt no remorse, and Mio knew there was nothing more to be done.
As he walked back to his hotel, Mio’s mind was racing. He replayed the events of the night over and over, berating himself for being so gullible. But he also knew that dwelling on it wouldn’t change what happened. Accidents happen, he reminded himself. Sometimes, you just have to accept the loss and move on.
By the time he reached his hotel, Mio had made peace with the situation. He was still upset about the missing money, but at least he had his passport and cards back. It could have been worse.
The rest of his time in Phuket was much more subdued. He stuck close to his friends and kept a careful eye on his belongings. When it was finally time to leave, he was more than ready to go home.
As he sat on the plane back to Tokyo, Mio reflected on the trip. He knew he’d be more careful in the future, but he also realized that sometimes, no matter how cautious you are, things can still go wrong. It was a hard lesson, but one he wouldn’t soon forget.
And if anyone asked about his time in Patong, he’d just smile and say, “It was… an experience.”
***
Theft in the nightlife areas is very common in Thailand and there are some expert thieves who will rob you blind. There are many scams to be aware of, and you should suspect anyone who comes on too strong, bumps into you, or is close enough to dose your drink with something.
Go in a group and stay in a group. Don’t go off by yourself or you are more at risk. That’s women AND men too!
If you lost something in Phuket – Let Us Know Now! >