Yala is a Sexy Town

*all photos copyright *

Surprisingly saucy stage show at the local Galaxy Disco in Yala. August, 2008. For a small town in the grip of an insurgency with strong ethnic and ultra-conservative religious overtones, the stage shows at BOTH space-themed discos are surprisingly sexy.

And now for something completely different...

I love stereotypes and I often help perpetuate them.

If a journalist goes to the southern border provinces what will they focus on? Muslims, soldiers, insurgents, roadblocks, birds in cages, mosques, bla, bla, bla.

But, beyond the confines of stereotypes, the world - and in this case, Southern Thailand - is much more than the stereotypes that journalists are often required to chase.

Case in point: the city of Yala - in the center of a four year long insurgency - is also a thriving university town and a generally cool place to visit.

Sure, check stops, soldiers, and brooding mood of violence can be noticed but that is about 10% of the story.

The rest is vibrant multicultural life that should get as much attention as the stale 'insurgency' story.

And that is it, a sexy picture and a different view from the southern border provinces that usually produces images of Muslims, soldiers, insurgents, roadblocks, birds in cages, mosques, bla, bla, bla...