Irony, Cambodia style

I was in a "hostess bar" in Phnom Penh. These are bars that cater to tourists and ex-pats. The concept is simple since the clientele isn't concerned about atmosphere or decor: Beer, whiskey and dozens of young girls to flirt with customers. If there's a girl you fancy you can pay the "bar fine" and leave with her, if she is so inclined.

These places can be fun every once in a while, if you're in the right mood. Even then the conversation gets old pretty quickly.

Where you from? You have girlfren? Why you no have girlfren? You so handsome! Etc. Etc.

Every bar has its share of ladyboys. I'm working on a blog post on this quintessential SE Asia phenomenon, but for now all you need to know is that a ladyboy can be anything from a man who dresses like a woman to a man who has undergone a full sex change. Sometimes they're easy to spot. Sometimes they're not...

This particular bar had a larger than usual contingent of ladyboys. They all have the same favorite song. When it came on they would all stop whatever they were doing and belt it out.

The song: Beyonce's "If I Were A Boy".

A roomful of men who want to be women singing a song by a woman wondering what it would be like to be a man...