Strange Encounters

Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Kota Kinabalu (KK for short) is a scary place at night sometimes. Streets are empty with just some cars or scooters speeding past. Still, it's not a wild cowboy town like Kuala Terengganu. There just seem to be a lot of dark parking lots. And in the parking lots things happen that happen in dark parking lots around the world. Just with a slight twist.
I'm not talking about the packs of stray dogs that raced past me on my last evening yesterday. I'm talking about Malaysian ladyboys. I had seen them in Thailand. In Malaysia with its Muslim society this was new. I guess it is the oldest profession in the world. No religion or society will ever change that. Walking around the parking lots at night (something I do sometimes to clear my head before going to sleep) seems to be the agreed invitation. The thing is that here in Malaysia they don't seem to make an effort to conceal their gender very much. I still remember the first encounter about three days ago when a shape emerged from the shadows cast by the dim street lights. He already whispered/mumbled something as he approached but I had no idea what he wanted. Then he came into view, dressed like a female but the face distinctly male, longish, pock-marked. I almost jumped when he came into full view. The situation was just eerie, like some strange apparition you'd expect in a film that you may not want to see more clearly, his voice a soft but insistent whisper. If I wanted "ice cream", he asked. I wonder if my thoughts and feelings showed on my face. "Ice cream", huh? I extracted myself as fast as possible. I wasn't afraid but I've rarely ever been as uncomfortable in somebody's presence. I wonder if he attracts many customers. Yesterday a younger, slightly more feminine boy offered me if "I wanted to try it" but was very apologetic and polite when I said no. I wonder what situation you have to be in to go out and ask random men if they would like you to give them a blowjob or have sex with them. It's not a cowboy town here. Still, at night it's a very strange place.