Red light districts

During the Vietnam War, Hong Kong was a favoured place for R&R (rest and recuperation) for American soldiers, and before them, the sailors got boozed-up in Wan Chai district in downtown Hong Kong. Like other R&R places (like Singapore, Tokyo and Taipei) Hong Kong has pulled its act together. Today, the bars in Wan Chai are mostly drinking pubs with the occasional bargirl, while the red-light district has moved to other parts, like Mong Kok across the bay, and has become less obvious. The only thing you see from the street are signs offering girls of any colour.

The Istedgade area is Copenhagen's red light district. Though it used to be a lot rougher, the part closest to the main train station is still seedy with plenty of porn shops, drug addicts, and prostitutes. However, the other end near Enghave Plads has transformed into a hip neighbourhood with cocktail bars, indy fashion shops, and gourmet burger joints. It's a real vibrant area, day and night, and is surprisingly safe to stroll through – just stay clear of the hookers and drunks (some pickpockets pretend to be drunks).

Chow Kit is a bustling market area with both shops and markets. The morning markets deals mainly with fresh food, while the evening markets is more clothes (both new and secondhand) and random knickknacks. It's foremost for locals, so the prices are general lower than touristy China Town - if you are able to find something to your liking. A visit to Chow Kit is also a chance to get a glimpse of Kuala Lumpur's seedy side, for it doubles as one of Kuala Lumpur's red-light districts. The sleazy parts are along Jalan Chow Kit, Jalan Raja Laut and the back alleys off Jalan Haji Taib, but don't expect to see more than sad looking working girls waiting outside scruffy hotels - remember, Kuala Lumpur is not Bangkok.

In the good old days, Singapore was the Amsterdam of the East. Today, drunken sailors have been overtaken by mad shopping tourists, and most of the old red-light district has morphed itself into seafood restaurants and fancy clubs. One of the remaining areas is Geylang, where prostitution is apparently still legal. Here, working girls chat local men up in the many outdoor Chinese restaurants or work out of brothels or clubs. It's a peek behind the facade of conservative Singapore - and please let it be with that.

Somehow Bangkok's strip joints have turned into a tourist attraction for almost everyone, families being the only exception. Skip Patpong (the place for ping-pong-banana shows) and go to the dragon's den, Nana Plaza. It is the real thing without the sleazy touts and money demanding bouncers and some places actually feature choreographed shows. Some come just for drinking, others want to see what those ladyboys are about (yes they are here too), while others again almost feel obligated to experience Bangkok's nightlife once in their life, and then of course there are also those who consider it their second home. Whatever group you belong to, Nana Square will provide in its own calmly chaotic way.