They’re the prettiest girls you’ve ever seen, they have ample bosoms and killer cheek bones, and they are dressed to kill. The only thing is, they aren’t girls: they’re all boys, and they’re here to take you on a colorful trip into the wonderful world of cabaret… Thai style. It’s unlike anything you will have ever seen before.

Bangkok is famed for its ladyboys. They are an oft-misunderstood enigma, eternally perplexing to outsiders looking in. It’s no surprise that the City of Angels is home to some of the most revered ladyboy shows in the world, not least of all because a Bangkok ladyboy tends to look a lot better than from anywhere else in the world. You’ll be caught unaware: could they really be boys? They all are, and most of them are yet to take the plunge, so to speak, and become “all” woman.

If you’ve never seen a cabaret show then you must. Try and avoid the smaller, backroom shows as they are not a patch on the overblown, extravagant visual feasts that the larger versions offer. One of the easiest shows to reach in Bangkok is the Ratchada Cabaret Show, to which most hotels can usually offer transfers. Expect to pay around 1,000 baht per ticket, but it’s well worth it.

As you approach the building you’ll be greeted by an ensemble of pretty young creatures just dying to meet you. They’ll try and get you take a photograph with them, but be warned, because if you do so you are obliged to offer a tip (normally around 100 baht). Refusing to tip will result in some awkward moments and possibly even an altercation. It’s tradition that people give money to any ladyboy they touch at one of these shows. Word to the wise: don’t mess with ladyboys.

The theatres are huge, and Ratchada is no exception. As you sit down you’ll start to think you could be waiting for a West End performance… that is until the curtain goes up. Lavish costumes, skillfully choreographed dance steps, and more make up than is humanly conceivable create an electric atmosphere as the show begins to unfold. Elements of comedy are mixed in with adventure and fantasy. The funnier moments are really something, with the protagonist usually taking on the form of an unsightly, overweight woman (except she’s a man).

During the performance, the ladyboys will often venture into the crowd to seek affection and applause. Give them a smile and they will bat their eyelids back at you. It’s a lot of fun. At some point at least one member of the crowd is forced to take to the stage and join in with some of the antics. Don’t be afraid if it’s you; they won’t bite… at least not unless you ask them to.

The musical numbers are lip-synched and give the whole occasion an edge that is so ridiculous it becomes adorable. The level of intricacy that the dances go into is unbelievable. The attention to detail in everything shows weeks of hard, dedicated work.

Other shows in Bangkok include the Golden Dome Cabaret Show on Ratchadapisek soi 18, the Calypso Cabaret Show at the Asia Hotel and Mambo Cabaret on Washington Square. Expect to see lots of flesh, lots of lip stick, and lots of hilarity. It’s certainly an alternative way to spend an evening. Leave all apprehension and reservations at the door, please.