Behold a story as old as time. Man needs sex. Woman needs money. The story involves Viagra pills and some terminology. You need to understand the meaning of “bar fine” and lady drink”. And then you’re for tequila shots and groping. This article summarizes what goes on in Asia’s finest lady bars.
The first thing to know is the typical clientele that frequent these places. The stereotypical man who goes here is called a “monger”. Mongers are usually retired divorcees from America, Europe or Australia. Their hobbies include day-drinking, watching sports and shagging hookers.
Related: Monger In Asia Guide—Culture, Locations, Risks, And Experiences
Newbie monger guide to Asia
“Loose Larry” is a monger based in Pattaya. Most evenings he enjoys a few cocktails to “get in the mood” before doing whatever he feels like. “The girls are young, feminine and attentive here. I didn’t get a lot of that back home, but there’s plenty of that here.”
He says that the biggest concerns are STDs and getting ripped off. The solutions: “Wear a condom, and don’t be stupid.”
Courtesy of Loose Larry, here are the essentials about Southeast Asian girlie bars:
Bargirl areas in Southeast Asia
For newbies, Larry recommends a choice of either the Philippines or Southeast Asia. Larry recommends the latter because of easier access to more variety. “Traveling in the Philippines isn’t expensive, but many delays and hassles. A 45-minute flight takes six hours door-to-door. It’s exhausting after a while.”
That’s why Pattaya, Bangkok and Phnom Penh serve as his preferred Golden Triangle of love. In Pattaya, it’s Soi 6. When in Bangkok, he likes Soi Nana and Soi Cowboy on Friday nights. In Phnom Penh, he recommends Street 136.
Prostitutes in bars
According to Larry, “there isn’t a single prostitute working anywhere in Asia.” He insists that no sex goes in in these bars. “Come in and have some drinks. Girls will try to sit with you in exchange for a few drinks.”
The average lady drink costs around $5. It’s usually a shot of beer mixed with water. “If you get drunk enough, it’s easy to spend a few hundred dollars in a night on lady drinks.”
In case of a “special connection” with a bargirl, you can ask her out on a “date”. if she agrees, you pay the bar a “fine” to let her go.
Larry says that what happens after that is anybody’s guess. “The might go bowling, or maybe to the movies.”
Bargirls in East Asia
East Asia bargirls in Japan, South Korea, and China mainly cater to locals. Only a few specialty places admit foreigners. In South Korea, foreigners in Itaewon have access to “juicy bars”. These bars employ hostesses fluent in English. In exchange for a shot of orange juice, they will sit with you while you drink. Larry says “these girls are entertainers, and very good at it. You get good vibes and laughs with really pretty girls.” Despite the lack of sex, he highly recommends trying if you ever go to Seoul.
In China, Larry warns not to try getting lucky in a KTV. “Every foreigner is A sucker in a Chinese KTV. You’ll get badly overcharged, the girls don’t speak English and won’t do anything except drink.” He suggests that the better option in China is to go to a neighborhood brothel. “First you have a steam bath, then a massage. Then you choose a girl and do your thing. It’s tidy.”
He also suggests keeping an eye out for barbershop poles. Those usually indicate houses of ill-repute. Larry is not a fan. “You choose whichever girl is working. She will take you to a room, hike up her skirt and wait for you to finish.”
As for Japan, Larry says the sex industry is mainly closed to foreigners. “There’s plenty of sex clubs in plain view, but they won’t speak English.”
Bargirl pricing in Asia
According to Larry, the rates in Pattaya are a good indicator of prices across the region. Here are some USD prices from Larry:
- Can of beer: $5
- Lady drink: $5
- Bar fine: $10-$15
- Short-time date with a girl: $50
- Slumber party sleepover with a girl: $100
Types of bars
Broadly speaking, there are two types of bars. The first is a “show style” bar that’s common in Thailand. Larry’s comment: “Walk in, order a beer and watch the show. All the dancers have numbers. If you see one you like, order her by her number from the waitress.”
The other style is the regular bar style. Larry says this is the prevalent type in Cambodia. “it’s just a regular bar, with girls willing to let you buy them lady drinks.” Larry warns that it’s possible to fail in these bars even with a million dollars in your pocket.
“If you are surly, smelly, ugly or creepy, they might refuse to go with you.” As a result, Larry suggests that socially awkward types try the show-style bars in Bangkok to get started. All you need to do is walk in, order a beer and wait for the action to come to you.