Some time spent on the beaches of Thailand taught me that not all ladies are created equally in the eyes of man. That is to say, not all ladies have the same body parts. The "lady-boys" or "Katoys" of Thailand have fooled more than one drunk tourist and even a beauty pageant judge into thinking that they were 100% female. Except for a few body parts that may be "hanging out" in the "katoys", it is my contention that they are 100% female and quite possibly identify with their gender as females much or more so than I do. The fact that they are about a million times hotter and sexier than I ever was does not hurt my contention that they are truly female either.

For one, they take much more pride in their appearance than I ever have. Although they could possibly get by with less makeup than other transvestites in the west due to their rather delicate features, they usually go full-out and take their make-up seriously (a hard thing to do in the humid streets of Bangkok or hot beaches of Phuket). They are always dressed to the nines in nice dresses and high-heels, while many of the "real" girls in Thailand are more likely to dress more casually (but also very nicely) in jeans and flip-flops and totally out-class the average foreign backpacker in terms of style and looks. 

Secondly, they know how to walk the walk. If you are unsure if you are following a katoy or a natural-born female, check out the walk. There is more swing to their hips than you will find in a typical runway show (and unlike some models of Internet fame), they are unlikely to fall or totter on their high-heels.

Third, they talk the talk. Because I’m a girl, they have never been particularly  interested in me or my conversational skills, but they have been some of the biggest flirts with the men I know who were traveling in Thailand, putting their girlfriends and wives to shame in the fine art of courtesan skills.

Much like the geishas of old-days in Japan, the Thai lady-boys have their art nailed down to a hard science. Because of their usually small size, they are also more passable as females than their western counterparts (I have never seen a Katoy wearing size 13 shoes), and because they have the natural friendliness of the Thais in general, they are delightful to be around.

All of the above, of course, does not necessarily mean that every male backpacker or tourist will appreciate them fully.  Think  of “The Crying Game” and you will have the larger picture of that reality.