Most people visit Thailand to see temples and palaces, indulge in food, shop, get massages, or head to (crowded) beaches. But after several trips to Thailand, I decided to try something different—something unique to Thailand, like watching shows. Now, don’t get the wrong idea I’m not talking about those infamous “adult” shows in Patpong. Although I have seen one before (which led to my first book being banned for detailing what I saw there), there are other shows in Thailand that are truly worth seeing.
Thailand is famous for its ladyboys, but they don’t hide it—instead, it’s turned into a lucrative tourist attraction. Out of curiosity, I watched a ladyboy show at Calypso Cabaret in Bangkok a few years ago. Don’t think these ladyboys are like those you see at traffic intersections or dark parks; these Thai ladyboys are beautiful and talented. The show was funny, a parody of Hollywood stars, although far from resembling them, as their transgender surgeries weren’t quite perfect. Just last week, I watched another ladyboy cabaret called Tiffany’s Show in Pattaya, which claims to be “The Original Transvestite Show” since 1974. The difference here is that Tiffany’s theater is three times bigger, and the show is more cultural and serious. The costumes were like carnival attire, with tall feathered headpieces and sequined outfits, and the stage settings varied according to the theme. To cater to the audience, they also performed Korean, Chinese, Russian, and Indian dances and songs—representing the top four tourist origins in Thailand. I did get a bit bored during the 1.5-hour show, but as soon as I stepped outside, I was stunned by how gorgeous and slender the ladyboys were! The transformation was flawless: small jaws, sharp noses, large breasts, no hair, and even their Adam’s apples were gone. I’ve never seen ladyboys as “perfect” as those. It’s said that Tiffany’s ladyboys are the most beautiful in Thailand, and every year they hold a Miss Tiffany competition to crown the next stage star.
For a real cultural show (not involving ladyboys), there’s the “Siam Niramit” in Bangkok, titled “Journey to the Enchanted Kingdom of Siam.” The theater stage is one of the largest in the world, even holding a Guinness World Record for the highest stage. The theater seats 2,000 people. Like at a cinema in Thailand, before the show begins, the audience must stand and watch a film about the King while the national anthem plays. The show is divided into three parts that tell the story of Thailand’s history, beliefs, and various festivals. For 80 minutes, you’re entertained with drama, dance, music, interactive comedy performed by hundreds of people, complete with changing stage settings (there’s even swimming and rain on stage), music, lighting, and subtitles in six languages. The performers dance on stage, among the audience, and even fly through the air. It’s spectacular!
There’s a similar show in Phuket called Phuket FantaSea. This Cultural Theme Park is massive, five times bigger than Dunia Fantasi (Dufan). Along the way, there are buildings housing museums, souvenir shops, a white tiger enclosure, and even a street carnival. I had buffet dinner in their enormous restaurant, which seats 4,000 people. The food was abundant and luxurious, like in a five-star hotel, including unlimited sashimi. The 3,000-seat theater, called the Palace of Elephants, is adorned with 999 carvings and statues of elephants. Before entering, performers dressed in traditional attire and animals are available for photos. The show, titled “Fantasy of a Kingdom,” lasts 75 minutes and tells the tale of the Prince of Kamala. Unlike Siam Niramit, this show is more modern, with ballet, circus acts, magic, acrobatics, and 4D effects. Animals also perform, including birds, chickens, goats, buffalo, tigers, and dozens of elephants. It’s incredibly cool!
Tickets for these shows aren’t cheap, but they’re totally worth it. With affordable flight options now available, you can allocate some budget for these shows. It’s much better than my experience 8 years ago on my first trip to Thailand when flight tickets were still expensive because budget airlines didn’t exist yet, so I had to endure a grueling overland journey from Malaysia. I was so exhausted that I only sought out free entertainment. But now, it’s a great deal—there’s a direct flight from Jakarta with Air Asia to Bangkok and Phuket. Plus, starting November 7, 2010, Air Asia launched direct flights from Surabaya to Bangkok four times a week… with promotional fares starting at just Rp 150,000!