While the Thai police have reminded their US visitors that prostitution is technically illegal in Thailand, there are actually thought to be 25,000 to 50,000 sex workers in the city. Many of them work in Soi 6, where they stand outside the bars imploring men to come inside. The many cannabis shops in Pattaya are also off-limits to US crew members, along with sea-sports like paragliding and jet-skis.
US Naval Attache Kristopher Robinson rebuffed questions from the BBC about activities that soldiers were banned from doing. Instead, he said the US troops would “conduct themselves in accordance with US law, US naval regulations, and the laws of Thailand”. “We’re trying to give the sailors as much opportunity for rest as they can,” he said.
