Warren Olson's Blog: Investigation Asia
May 9, 2016
Lady-boy's
A number of cases I looked into featured the (in)famous Thai Katooeys (full op) or lady-boys. Before you laugh at the clients concerned, try the test on the INVESTIGATION ASIA face-book page.
Spotting a ‘Lady-boy’ or Katooey is often down to gut instinct and a case of the old if "she looks too good to be true" – she/he probably is ! A tall leggy brunette in stilettos, dressed to kill and waltzing along for all to admire is often a Ladyboy. They tend to have an exhibitionist nature so they love to have people look at them.
If there's some doubt and you are a fully heterosexual guy who is really only interested in the real and original thing, then here are a few general pointers:
1. SHOULDERS : Men's are usually square and noticeably wider than the rest of the body
2. FEET : A Ladyboy will want to wear sexy shoes – be sure to take a look at the size!!
3. ADAMS APPLE : but that is now being rearranged by the surgeons
4. VOICE ; The biggest giveaway, so listen carefully to your host. Katooey’s are very adept at disguising the voice, but it is one small giveaway – a bit gruff?
5. THE WALK : There's often an exaggerated swing of the hips to compensate for the fact that their hips aren't as wide as they should be and that skirt will usually finish just below the waist.
These are the usual aspects to look at ; without of course going for a closer inspection !
There are two less known differences between males and females, but these are not so easy to spot. Men have a straight wrist, whereas a female’s is slightly angled. More evident may be the elbow joint. A males arm (held out as if throwing a straight right ! ) is exactly that –straight.
A women’s arm however will bend back slightly past the 180 degree mark at the elbow.
As time goes by, the advancements in cosmetic surgery have improved markedly and it's very difficult to spot the boys from the girls and the Ladyboy – or the true Katoey, the one who has gone the whole way and been to the surgeon for a restructure not only to breasts but lower down.
Thailand is home to some of the world’s best trans-gender surgeons, many based in Phuket.
Their expertise doesn't come cheap but there are people who will pay enormous sums to get what they want, which may well be to be the most glamourous looking female possible.
Another fact about the Kingdom is that is has a very high percentage of females compared with males, and that leads to a high number of people who are sort of 'in between' – the third sex.
Take a close look at any department store cosmetics counter and you won’t often be absolutely sure if the person behind the counter is male or female.
Spotting a ‘Lady-boy’ or Katooey is often down to gut instinct and a case of the old if "she looks too good to be true" – she/he probably is ! A tall leggy brunette in stilettos, dressed to kill and waltzing along for all to admire is often a Ladyboy. They tend to have an exhibitionist nature so they love to have people look at them.
If there's some doubt and you are a fully heterosexual guy who is really only interested in the real and original thing, then here are a few general pointers:
1. SHOULDERS : Men's are usually square and noticeably wider than the rest of the body
2. FEET : A Ladyboy will want to wear sexy shoes – be sure to take a look at the size!!
3. ADAMS APPLE : but that is now being rearranged by the surgeons
4. VOICE ; The biggest giveaway, so listen carefully to your host. Katooey’s are very adept at disguising the voice, but it is one small giveaway – a bit gruff?
5. THE WALK : There's often an exaggerated swing of the hips to compensate for the fact that their hips aren't as wide as they should be and that skirt will usually finish just below the waist.
These are the usual aspects to look at ; without of course going for a closer inspection !
There are two less known differences between males and females, but these are not so easy to spot. Men have a straight wrist, whereas a female’s is slightly angled. More evident may be the elbow joint. A males arm (held out as if throwing a straight right ! ) is exactly that –straight.
A women’s arm however will bend back slightly past the 180 degree mark at the elbow.
As time goes by, the advancements in cosmetic surgery have improved markedly and it's very difficult to spot the boys from the girls and the Ladyboy – or the true Katoey, the one who has gone the whole way and been to the surgeon for a restructure not only to breasts but lower down.
Thailand is home to some of the world’s best trans-gender surgeons, many based in Phuket.
Their expertise doesn't come cheap but there are people who will pay enormous sums to get what they want, which may well be to be the most glamourous looking female possible.
Another fact about the Kingdom is that is has a very high percentage of females compared with males, and that leads to a high number of people who are sort of 'in between' – the third sex.
Take a close look at any department store cosmetics counter and you won’t often be absolutely sure if the person behind the counter is male or female.
May 2, 2016
Investigation Asia
Just released my new book :
In the mid 1990’s I founded THAI PRIVATE EYE, a Private Detective agency that over the ensuing decade would become the best known of its type in South East Asia. During that time numerous articles and interviews with me were written which became the basis for a bestselling book entitled Confessions of a Bangkok Private eye. This book was written shortly after my daughter was born in Bangkok when I realised that being shot at, receiving death threats and occasionally falsely incarcerated were not ideal hazards for a devoted father to deal with. I realised it was repatriation time, for my daughter’s well-being as much as my own. Returning to clean green New Zealand I completed a degree in the field of Intelligence Analysis and Transnational crime along with the requisite research paper and in between raising my daughter did some writing.
Finally I have completed INVESTIGATION - ASIA.
This is a work I trust not only entertaining ( many of the cases read like fiction but are recorded exactly as they unfolded ) but one also beneficial to a new generation of travellers heading eastwards be it for business or pleasure. Detailing the scams, pitfalls, people and places to either avoid or look out for in their South East Asian sojourns I trust the book will help enrich the journey and save some from learning lessons the hard way as I had to prior to the days of blogs, chat rooms and easily accessible on-line information.
While many of the cases in INVESTIGATION - ASIA date back over a decade, the majority of places, facts and events remain current. The insight given into the culture and attitudes of the Thai people amongst whom I worked and lived (being the first Westerner to manage the then only international standard hotel in the country’s vast North-Eastern region) for many years clarifies a people who for the most part are both warm and endearing. It was the connections I made at this hotel, along with gaining a fluency in Thai and Khmen that would prove so beneficial to me later when I ventured into the Investigation business.
Again I emphasise that all the cases detailed in the book are factual. The only alterations are in instances where to protect the innocent (and guilty) some names and nationalities have been altered and occasionally I have moulded two or three similar investigations together. For the most part however, what you read is exactly how things transpired.
In the mid 1990’s I founded THAI PRIVATE EYE, a Private Detective agency that over the ensuing decade would become the best known of its type in South East Asia. During that time numerous articles and interviews with me were written which became the basis for a bestselling book entitled Confessions of a Bangkok Private eye. This book was written shortly after my daughter was born in Bangkok when I realised that being shot at, receiving death threats and occasionally falsely incarcerated were not ideal hazards for a devoted father to deal with. I realised it was repatriation time, for my daughter’s well-being as much as my own. Returning to clean green New Zealand I completed a degree in the field of Intelligence Analysis and Transnational crime along with the requisite research paper and in between raising my daughter did some writing.
Finally I have completed INVESTIGATION - ASIA.
This is a work I trust not only entertaining ( many of the cases read like fiction but are recorded exactly as they unfolded ) but one also beneficial to a new generation of travellers heading eastwards be it for business or pleasure. Detailing the scams, pitfalls, people and places to either avoid or look out for in their South East Asian sojourns I trust the book will help enrich the journey and save some from learning lessons the hard way as I had to prior to the days of blogs, chat rooms and easily accessible on-line information.
While many of the cases in INVESTIGATION - ASIA date back over a decade, the majority of places, facts and events remain current. The insight given into the culture and attitudes of the Thai people amongst whom I worked and lived (being the first Westerner to manage the then only international standard hotel in the country’s vast North-Eastern region) for many years clarifies a people who for the most part are both warm and endearing. It was the connections I made at this hotel, along with gaining a fluency in Thai and Khmen that would prove so beneficial to me later when I ventured into the Investigation business.
Again I emphasise that all the cases detailed in the book are factual. The only alterations are in instances where to protect the innocent (and guilty) some names and nationalities have been altered and occasionally I have moulded two or three similar investigations together. For the most part however, what you read is exactly how things transpired.
April 17, 2016
Outback Cambodia
Over the weekend I read Lawrence Osborne's Hunters in the Dark. Beautifully written this gives a great account of rural Cambodia, one can almost smell the frangipani on every page! I found the plot a little slow - but it did remind me that I'm still struggling along with my latest novel 'The Khmer Legacy' and fast moving plots do not always spring readily to the writer mind. Perhaps I should combine with Lawrence to see the book finished :)
His descriptions of Pailin and other Khmer Rouge haunts that make up part of my tale are great, and to date I do have a fast moving ( if unfinished) plot !
His descriptions of Pailin and other Khmer Rouge haunts that make up part of my tale are great, and to date I do have a fast moving ( if unfinished) plot !
April 14, 2016
Songkran - not a happy event for all.
So this week marks the wonderful SONGKRAN or Thai New Year - where traditionally all who are able will travel home, generally upcountry - to wash away the old year ( read giant water-fight) and welcome in the new. The key word here, is TRAVEL ; and sadly even at the best of times the crowded Thai roads are notoriously dangerous. Add to the mix a holiday period, plenty of alcohol usually in the form of powerful home brewed rice whiskey ( names like Sath-O, Sip-et Sua (11 tigers) or the traditional See-sip degree (40 degree) all spring to mind ; Result is a horrific road toll, that currently is around the 100 deaths a day mark for the 7 day period.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/break...
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/break...
Investigation Asia
Tales, comments, cases, quotes and observations from the time I was one of the more renowned Private Investigators based in South East Asia.
These days semi-retired back in my Native New Zealand - I st ...more
These days semi-retired back in my Native New Zealand - I st ...more
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