| "This is a jio-dien," Zack said.
'It literally means beer-store. They treat you like a king." Zack and I were walking down an alley off of Nan King. I was taking snaps shots in my giddy tourist way. Men were coming out of these small 'padded pubs' some with women on arm. I have never been to one, but guys always love to tell me all about the illicit pleasures of jo-diens.
"They bow alot,
pour your drinks, offer you wet naps. And for this you can expect to pay $2000NT an hour. Per girl, per person."
Young men usually get initiated into this experience during their mandatory army sentence. As has been admitted to me- this is often their 'first time' sexual experience. " Your girl may be the 'new innocent' type who is not so comfortable with her job- or at least pretends to not be for the pleasure of her client. Or she may be the 'experienced type' who takes the intitiative and encourages you to have a good time." "It is important to pair clients and the right girls up - taking this into consideration." The mayor of Taipei has been starting to crack down on this 'tradition.' It is seen as 'uneducated' and a clear sign that Taiwan is not a '1st' world power. Recently there have been sit in protests by prostitutes. For so long it was not exactly legal- but it was allowed. The crackdown the mayor is proposing will not obliterate prostitution, but it will make it harder for the girls to get a fair working situation. "Of course if you find you don't like the girl you're with- you can ask the madam to bring in a few more to choose from. A line up of five at a time come into your room. 'no' 'no' 'no' until finally you find the one you want to sit with." It is a normal part of business dealings to go and schmooze clients at a jo-dien. Of course 'clients' and 'business' means men- not women. |