I'm approaching this subject from an adult and serious standpoint. I'm a male, in my early 20's and I plan on travelling around the world this fall. The purpose of my trip is to learn, and expand my horizons as a person. I do realize that there is a "sex industry" in parts of the world, especially in South East Asia, one of the places that I plan on visiting. I'm very new at travelling, and I don't really know what to expect yet. Honestly, are there sexual encounters, and how do you deal with these situations if they come about? Is it best to just steer clear of the whole situation, whether it be encounters with prostitues or even casual encounters with locals or fellow travellers? Just how careful do you need to be? Honestly, sexual temptation is inevitable in any human being, and I'm wondering about how to deal with this, if it were to happen, like a said, from a serious standpoint. Any comments/critiscims will be greatly appreciated...In a respectable mannor. Thanks, and happy/safe travells to all.

It's out there.

Be very serious about AIDS. Get yourself a good AIDS education before you leave. Do not leave without condoms even if you make a firm commitment never to need them.

I have no idea whether people pair up more frequent on the road or at home. Doubt that anyone does. Some people clearly find others to spend time with, some don't.

Prostitution is more open in some Asian countries than in most western countries. You will most likely have to look around for it if your you are interested. It's much, much lower key now in Bangkok than it was 10-15 years ago.

Just remember that many prostitues are in that line of work because they don't have a lot of other options. They don't exactly have control over their bodies and to what they get exposed in many cases.

A little common sense goes a long way.

bob
[url} www.pbase.com\bobtrips [/url]
Photos from Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand

I hope you will not be exploiting children (young boys and girls are the prostitutes there)in the process - I've heard of some pleasure-gardens cities/countries - but i won't disclose them here for not endorsing this sort of rape.
Aren't there any networks you can research? Massage parlours a hint if you are looking for older adult women/men.Even in Rguides warn serious travelers about those resort towns....

What's wrong with hookers in your backyard to expand your tactile horizons?

Is it the exotic, colonialist, Orientalist lure of Asia? pick up a book and learn.

I hear there is a crackdown on European pedophiles by local ngos and corrupt cops (for a price since they are in cohoots with the pimps and they want to extort Western debauched Criminals when being arrested, detained and his privacy revealed).They don't care for their own nationals' welfare in anycase - afterall, their impoverished parents dumped these kids there for a sum.Slavery bonds.
Aids is a huge factor in Thailand.Anyway, they export these victims to the West too....

it's really sad. This is the worst type of tourism industry and shouldn't be legitimised in forums such as this for veritable travelers. Sure, sexual hi-jinx can be had anywhere.At least, you are honest and not masquerading.
The U.N. is trying to curb this - at least at that conference in Sweden. It's just economic exploitation at all levels.

[This message was edited by samnite on August 19, 2002 at 11:13 PM.]

Thanks for your respectable response, Bob. I appreciate you taking the time to present a few of your thoughts on this specific subject.

On the other hand, I have no idea where Sam was headed with the pedophilia topic. It lost me after the first few words. Especially after I made it a specific point that the intent of my travels in not based around sexual characteristics. It just baffles me. My intent is to broaden my horizons, and grow as a person. It is to have the chance to leave my "comfort zone" and experience how other people live throughout the world, and there is not better time than now (in my young age) to do it. I am a Westerner, and I must admit, I know I take even simple things for granted at times in everyday life. An over-whelming majority of the people in this world don't have the opportunities that we/I can enjoy. I'm getting a little off track here, but I'm just trying to exemplify my intents.

As far as the child sex industry in Asia goes, I very unfortunately do realize it exhists, and it disgusts, mortifies, and deeply saddens me to have to cope with the fact that fellow human beings are being exposed to this kind of treatment worldwide. I am a complete human rights advocate, and any such situation is intolerable in all possible ways.

All of these horrendous "sex tourists" as they are so called, should be caught, prosecuted and punished extensively and accordingly. As I stated before, any such act is absolutely intolerable and unacceptable.

Now, back to my main point/topic of this message conversation. You ask why I don't research this subject (sex and travelling) more on my own, and in more detail. Well, there's a very simple, simple answer to that question, Sam. AGAIN, sexual correspondance is not my purpose of this trip, and as a result, I spend my time reading and studying about the things that are REALLY important to me. Examples include where to stay, what to do, or how to get around. Or perhaps the demographics of the area, and the cultural makeup. In other words, to make things simple, I neither have the time nor want to spend the time researching such a subject in depth. However, I do realize that the chance of sexual encounter amoung mature adults inevidably exhists, and I was looking for realistic responses from experienced travellers on how to deal with such situations.

On a closing note, I thank you again, Bob, for your time and thoughts, and if any other travellers have information on the subject, I would appreciate your input also. But, and a big BUT on this one, please don't waste my time with responses similar to Sam's. I do realize that that kind of garbage goes on, but lets try to be normal adults/human beings here. Thanks, and happy/safe travels to all!

i am sorry if i slightly insinuated that you were a pede or perv...but that bob's directness didn't address your question to avoid it.your question was vague so i was mislead.
i misinterpreted your noble intentions.

i just added that element if other persons on-line were seeking that kind of info.

so you want to avoid it/hassles/jailtime altogether?

you're life as an ascetic should provide all the answers in your spiritual growth journey....

i did give your scenarios to avoid hassles....i dunno if locals masquerade as "friends"....

i just presented a real industry that no one should be caught in....especially naive young ones.

i am sure as a male-- situations will be presented...as you suggested.

Now, let's see if anyone can tell you how to avoid the in-your-face proposition which can hamper your spiritual journey and dampen your spirits on the way....

again, these are in cities and resorts....and you are bound to have run-ins. I saw it in Havana.Just say no and not insult the person -- wasting time in idle chat if you aren't willing to be their client--they get peeved.they are human beings afterall.I saw a man waste 30 minutes leading one on and then he insulted her,"I never paid for sex." She moved on to the next guy at the bar.

Tip: they swarm and surround the moneyed-male tourist.young and old...saw it at the hotels and streets.

Sorry for the misunderstanding but i thought it should be addressed....it's the responsible thing to do - even those seeking paid or free hi-jinx should be aware of machinations of this type.
Even pervs hide under the illusory "normal/adult" etiquette...that's how they pass themselves around as normal.
i apologise again.
go to Lhasa, Tibet. Do the Chinese authority have it controlled there -- repression?

[This message was edited by samnite on August 21, 2002 at 02:56 PM.]

thought this ARTICLE was appropriate on the topic. Check out the sex column in the Hour by Josey Vogels on backpackers and sex---the collect the flag is new...sex and hostels...
funny stuff. www.hour.ca

THE END OF THE ARTICLE WRITTEN BY JOSEY VOGELS.

THat was the end of the article....i copied and pasted it.
MY SWAN SONG and reply to you:

BOB TRIPS - you are nasty.
What did i do to deserve that? (i recently defended those who end off with signatury websites like yours - see advertising section)
i just wanted to share this with backpackers...
seek help - you're not nice.
what was my crime? i just was advocating for children here and adding the backpackers' etiquette on the matter.

I have seen your photographs- excellent..
But otherwise, you are cold being (colder than infra-red film, colder than an Ansell Adams print)for attacking me especially after i apologised to the guy.


I had enough of these websites with self-interested individuals.At least at lonely planet, people are transparent and mean.

Thanks for being the nail....
Why help individuals?

[This message was edited by samnite on August 29, 2002 at 11:36 PM.]

[This message was edited by samnite on August 29, 2002 at 11:37 PM.]

seek help.

bob
www.pbase.com\bobtrips
Photos from Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand

Sam~
I don't really understand what the problem is between you and Bob, so I'll just stay out of it, but I must say, this article you have found is very interesting. For those of you who haven't read it, read it. For those of you that have, I'm sure you enjoyed it. It's somewhat surprising. Anyways...Here's the direct link. It's easier to get there clicking on this one. Haha. Funny stuff. The "birds and the bees" of backpacking.
http://www.hour.ca/columns/c_messy.asp