Comments on: Mixed Relationships in Asia – a Status Quo

By: Ryan

Ryan — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:39:14 +0000

True, human trafficking and sexual slavery is alive and well all over the world, not just Asia. Korean mafias traffic their own women to Canada, US (A lot of women arrested in NYC for prostitution are of Korean ethnicity), and Australia (I found a brothel in Sydney if I can remember it right that prides itself from being all Korean). Korean prostitutes are even being sold in Manila (for about 5,000 Pesos, one can get two Korean ‘teenagers’). It is a sad, sad, sad thing- but what can you do? The Korean government itself encourage their women to prostitute themselves to American soldiers to help prop up its dollar reserves after the wake of a devastating war in the 50s.

Elsewhere, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian, Cambodian, Indian, Filipina, Russian and Sri Lankan women are trafficked – Russian women command higher prices and Thai women are the cheapest. These women are kept in hotels in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

All in all, in the context of the article, there is still a lot of way to go before the East and West come to terms with a mixed relationship. It is almost as demeaning to matured Western men to go into well known sex tourism spot like Thailand to be considered as a pervert as it is for Asian women who are seen as you know what that goes out with these same Western men however genuine their relationships might be…

Sigh. Oh well, human civilization has a long way to go…

By: KiwiNomad

KiwiNomad — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:24:30 +0000

Ryan, agreed… We were forced to close our bar in Labuan because we WOULDN’T put the girls in there! Our place was a haven for expats because they could take their wives/girlfriends in there without being hassled by the mama-san or the girls touting (oblivious to the wife/GF). There are approx 900 “legal GRO’s” in Labuan and probably as many without permits or with fake ones (ie shop assistant/restaurant waitress)
Immigration Enforcement, in both KK and Labuan, aare in league with the traffickers. its onlywhen KL Imigresen comes checking that some get nailed, literally and figuratively.
I am not sure if we are getting off track here but the subject sure kicked off some lively comments!

By: Ryan

Ryan — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:28:12 +0000

Just an article I found -Thai Families Selling their Children to the Sex Trade

http://www.lilith-ezine.com/articles/sex/Thai-Families-Selling-Children-to-Sex-Trade.html

By: Ryan

Ryan — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:20:30 +0000

Hi KiwiNomad, I am dating a part Maori myself. But yeah, I agree, Rose Hancock did not give Filipinas a great image in Oz. Re: Asian bar girl stereotypes in NZ and Malaysia, I am not very surprised – NZ is a pretty conservative society (I’ve heard a lot of discrimination not only to Asians but also to the LGBT community there..) There’s quite a number of Filipina prostitutes in Labuan (Malaysia) which is just across Brunei as some Filipinos told me while I was traveling there last year. But yeah, Malays in Malaysia are notorious for being racists not just to Filipinos but also to other Malaysians of Indian and Chinese ethnicities. I noticed that Malays in Malaysia are a lazy bunch and two Malays tried to scam me and tried to mug me on a busy street at 9AM just as I came out of a money changer. That said, Malaysia is not the rightful owner of Sabah, but that is another story.

By: KiwiNomad

KiwiNomad — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:59:54 +0000

Wow,what a column! Thanks Chris, Chris Simpson, Ryan and other conributors.
As the name suggests I am a Kiwi by birth (I don’t consider myself as a Pakeha or Maori), educated in the US, and I am also an Australian citizen, but none of these places I call home.
My “asawa” is a Filipina. We met a decade ago in Brunei, so therefore you couldn’t consider her to be a “bar-girl”. In Malaysia she is automatically labelled as a bar-girl by any Malay and specially Immigration (even though she uses an ASEAN Business Travellers Card). At home (Philippines) we are treated regally, but not because she “got her white-guy”, but because of who SHE is.
In NZ she blends in well (the light skin and a touch of tan helps – until she speaks!!) but in OZ its back to being a “bar-girl” again. Rose Hancock has a lot to answer for!! For those that dont know the name – Google it).
We will be setting up a new business in Indonesia soon, Who knows what attitude that will bring,but thats is all part of this life we chose so good or bad we just take it in our stride and to hell with what people think! It’s worked well for us.
And yes we have had the extended family looking for handouts and a free ride, but one thingmy wife learned to tellthem early was “NO – either work for it or bleed off someone else!”
Chris- arrived in NZ two days ago and was metby southerly winds from Antarctica. Day temps less than 20c are murder after 20+ years of being so close to the equator!!! See you in Bali

By: Chris Simpson

Chris Simpson — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:25:57 +0000

sorry mistype from September 20 to end of October.

By: Chris Simpson

Chris Simpson — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:23:06 +0000

Hi Chris and thanks!
I haven’t just tried I am doing it.
I work extremely hard in Australia for 2 months and get a month to 6 weeks in Philippines for my trouble.
My wife has chosen to be there while our bub is born due to family support and safety. Where I work is very dangerous for everyone; remote aboriginal communities. But I love it. I know how to survive here.
I’m having trouble with my outloook Chris please email me and we can touch base privately. I will be back in PI from 9/20 to 1/11 if you want to just chill out on the beach and have some fum I would be happy to look after you!
Our home is in San Antonio Zambales about 120km north of Manila’
Cheers!

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:51:12 +0000

Chris Simpson, thanks for this interesting and qualified comment! It looks like only who have tried to live in a mixed relationship and was able to harvest the true values of understanding and best of both worlds, can understand what it really means. The world will suddenly be more colorful and some doors may open that will stay closed otherwise. Glad to have you on board!

By: Chris Simpson

Chris Simpson — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:27:05 +0000

Mmmm? not getting into that 1!
1 thing easily forgotten by westerners is their very priveleged position economicly in the world. Where I work in Australia I read recently that a person with any job here is in the top 1% of the world in real terms of buying power for hours worked. Even on welfare aussies are in the top 3%.
This huge inequality has massive social ramifications.
One of these is that a westerner is a prized partner in most of the world.
The squabbling about this or that country being better or more beautiful is a bit narrow minded. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I work with people from all over Asia and Africa who have been able to get to Australia by their profession and readiness to work in remote parts of the country. I have never met 1 of these who can’t see the privelege.
Many Australians are capable of complaining about low wages and high costs.
Asian and African workers know the reality of poverty. They also know the global value of money.
It is not uncommon to meet a mixed couple here who are both highly skilled dedicated workers here and able to support family back in Asia or Africa.
These people are usually very happy with life and grateful for the opportunity they have in it.
I can see the poverty in Asia every time I am there; I am not blind or looking through rose coloured glasses.
But the triumph of human nature is evident in the smiles and happiness of the people despite grinding poverty.
Those who think the whole world should be as rich as Monaco (or ever will be) are deluded. Those who can see the beauty of every country and it’s people have a real chance to have a happy life.
By being married to an Asian lady I have access to both of our countries and so does she. the best of both worlds for both of us.
The cynical attitude expressed by some people is showing both their ignorance and unhappiness. My advice would be to forget what you think you know about these places and people, stop making judgements based on socio-economics and look at the deeper truth of this miraculous life we are all sharing for a too short time. Find out how you can enjoy it rather than being upset with others who may be happier than you.
If you are married to someone of your own race good on you; I don’t hold that against you, I wish you every happiness in life.
If you feel it’s necessary to pull me down because of my choice of wife/ life partner; that is your problem.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:07:24 +0000

Come on guys, what is that good for? I know you want to defend your country, but do you seriously think that one country’s people are better than the other in general? There are black, white and thankfully colored sheep in all of them.

Please take off your one-sided shades and let it rest until somebody comes up with something substantial towards the topic!