It is that time of the year again when the Thai army needs to replenish its ranks with some raw recruits.
So they go out to the amphers and tambons of the countryside to find those willing, and not so willing to become the defenders of the nation.
The occasion of the draft is always full of Thai lady boys asking to be made exempt from military service.
Today in Phayao and Phitsanuloke many “type two women” turned up with doctor’s certificates and stories to convince the sergeant majors why they should be left out of the army.
In Phayao men from two tambons or sub-districts filled a gym at a downtown school. The army will be choosing 729 over the next week. Some want to enlist while others will see if they get the red or black straw.
Red blooded male Watcharaphon Chaphotham, 20 from Maeka wanted to be a soldier and serve his country.
But Niphon Chompoo, 21, just wanted to be a woman and left alone by the army. He found it awfully exciting, however, as the army examiner agreed that they were better off without him.
Over in Phitsanuloke a 600-seater downtown sports centre was full to the rafters with the keen and the nervous and all their relatives and better halves.
Lady boys Theerawat, 24, Witthanin and Danai, both 21, said they had been to see their doctors who agreed to give them certificates that said there was a discrepancy with the sex stated on their birth certificates and what was actually the case.
It was noted that the lady boys on this the second day were better looking than on the first, on Sunday.