A "No Bikinis" sign on a Thai beach prompted a considerable debate last week although it appears to be little more than a storm in a B-cup. The sign appeared on Koh Samae San, a small Chon Buri island owned by the Thai Navy which apparently disapproves of this type of swimwear.
In a slightly confusing statement the Navy said it wasn't actually a ban but simply an attempt to dissuade beachgoers from wearing bikinis, to respect "Thai culture". The sign has since been removed.
It is a reminder, paradoxical though it may seem, that Thailand is very conservative in many respects despite the obvious contradictions. Samae San is a small island and if the Navy doesn't approve of bikinis that's their choice. There are plenty of other beaches where bikinis are not seen as a threat to society.
