Thailand is known for its sex industry. It is quite common to see a "No prostitutes or drugs" sign on your room door. Or the more delicate, "Your Thai friends are not allowed in the rooms." In the case of The Five Star Guest House where I am staying in Chiang Mai, the sign read, "No Lady Joiner".

I really hadn't seen much of the lady joiner action. A few older men with young Thai women here and there. Then the other night Tina and I walked down Loi Kroh Rd which is apparently where one goes to pick up a lady joiner in Chiang Mai. It is just a row of bars with mostly young hip Thai women, or in a couple of cases men, in them.

After that I noticed the lady joiner action everywhere. I hate to assume that every white man with a Thai woman is paying for sex, but more often then not that is the case. Tina and I were in a collective taxi with two men and their lady joiners. Tina commented that if you are paying for sex shouldn't you at least be able to afford a tuk tuk? Perhaps the lady joiner pays and gets to keep what is not spent was my response.

Last night I sat next to a man and his lady joiner at dinner. Once you get an eye for it, you see pairs walking down the street.

I hadn't expected these men and their lady joiners to be out and about together. I didn't realize there was a companionship aspect to the whole business. I thought it would be in clubs/bars and brothels.

I mean wouldn't it be better to keep your business to yourself instead of parading around town making it very obvious to everyone that you pay for sex? More specifically, that you flew half way around the world to pay for sex.