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Bangkok's Night Scene In Review
Bangkok's Bareback Riders
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Somewhat by accident, we find ourselves in possession of several recent reports on surging Sexually Transmitted Disease in Thailand, and two separate reports from male Expat visitors which allow as how they, by choice, engage in highly risky sexual practices when frequenting Bangkok's Night Entertainment Areas. Both men indicate that when engaging local sex workers, they never use condoms unless they absolutely have to. Both men claim to be heterosexual. Coincidentally, both men claim they get regular blood checks, and that they have never tested HIV-positive. Both men, however, will admit off the record to having contracted other sexually transmittable diseases. (!)
Bangkok, being no different than any other mega-metropolis on this planet, we neither apologize for, nor endorse the behavior of visitors or the locals when it comes to sexual practices. As an historical Website, it is not MIDNITE HOUR's intent to moralize, or preach on the necessity of condom use, or even to 'spread awareness' on Sexually Transmitted Diseases. It is our intent, however, to provide the statistical realities regarding having unprotected sex while visiting Bangkok's Night Entertainment Areas as it relates to a chronic, and historically significant blight on the Night Entertainment Scene.
On interviewing the two abovementioned gentlemen, MIDNITE HOUR's first (slightly loaded) question was, "In that you endeavor not to use condoms unless your partner insists, don't you find it extremely difficult finding women to sleep with?" And while we were, of course, fully prepared to hear that they in fact do find women who will participate without condom protection, we were not in the least prepared for one gentleman's answer. He replied by producing a bound notebook of what he called his "Offs" (Local slang for girls who have been 'bought out' of their bars for the evening.) He had meticulously recorded the names, dates and workplaces of one hundred-and-one of his last 'ladies of the night'. In addition, he faithfully recorded whether they immediately agreed to sleep with him, or whether they had to be 'talked out of' using a condom, or whether they flatly refused to sleep with him without the use of a condom. We confess were initially a bit dubious; these specific statistics wouldn't be kept unless there was an agenda of some kind. So we asked him why he would keep these particular statistics - to which he replied he had been intending to publish his results elsewhere on web boards, or (somewhere else) for a long time, to prove, somehow, that 'bareback riding' was in fact "safe". While we might question his logic, his motives and his conclusions, it would in fact be irrelevant to the purposes of this article He has allowed a (partial) reprint of his journal (please click the link below) - I think you will be as surprised as we were.
BANGKOK EYES will be the first to point out that one hundred and one sexual encounters does not constitute the basis for a completely accurate statistical analysis (Confidence Limits are too great), or an epidemiological study. Nevertheless, it is interesting to note that both gentlemen interviewed by us had surprisingly similar results. And, as you can see if you clicked on the full report, the response was fairly consistent regardless of type or location of venue the gentleman was frequenting when the encounter was made.
With regards to "controls on the experiment", we at MIDNITE HOUR have taken the attached record at face value, but as a "reality check" we have also conducted our own surveys within the Night Entertainment Venues here in Bangkok. It may not be surprising to note that when the sex worker is interviewed in her place of employment, the ratio of those saying they would not go with a condomless customer rises to almost 82 percent. This separate study is also likely not precise, as almost always the girls have been instructed by the mamasans not to go with a customer without a condom (and usually bring their own condoms along if they accompany a customer out of the bar). However all indications are that asking a sex worker, while in her place of employment, if she would go without a condom is like asking her if she steals wallets - her answer is likely going to be, "No", - the answer she thinks you want to hear. MIDNITE HOUR's other observations tend to compound the problem. Even if the average Expat on the prowl normally uses condoms, we have had many reports (from both the girls and the men) of condoms not being used if, for example, the men see the same bar girl on a "regular basis" and grow to believe it is safe. Or alternately, if, when the couple get back to the hotel room, they are too drunk, they just plain forget. It appears that there are in fact several good reasons why Socially Transmittable Disease is not only a chronic (historical) problem, but is in fact on the increase. So, as you have seen above, if you have come to Bangkok to play, or if you are planning to do so, there is still only one safe way. But assuming an adult readership, we will let you come to your own conclusions.
begin here MIDNITE HOUR presents the NEWS on the Bangkok Night Scene; - the 'history-in-the-making' for all major Night Entertainment Areas - for the month ending 1 June, 2005 :
PATPONG
I
The Pussy Collection is closed. Again. Since they relocated to their new digs next to Randy's Gold Finger's in September 2001, they have been closed down twice previously - once in May 2003 for three months, and again in October 2003 for five months. Door touts on the street advise that they are closed for "renovations"... Right....but let's not start chiselling the epitaph just yet - because after they cure what's really ailing them, they will be back.
MAP PATPONG I
PATPONG
II
Back full throttle after exactly thirty days' renovating is the Swing Club (located upstairs on The Ramp). Although our jaundiced eye wasn't able to see just what got renovated, we're glad to see this old Patpong II veteran back in action. Karaoke Lounge remains the operant descriptor. Welcome back to the vale of tears.
MAP PATPONG I I The Bua Luang Target closed down for the second time in 3 months this last May for (-you guessed it-) more renovations. But all is well with the world, because they are already back open again, and looking as busy as ever. Their sister Night Venue the IT Room, just upstairs, has yet to put out any neon, but at least for the first time since they started renovations both places look good to keep on keeping on. It looks like the Bua Luang group are going to retain these two venues as their 'flagship' operation, however, as they have just closed a couple of their original Night Venues - see immediately below. PATPONG I I Both the Hong Aharn Bua Luang (a restaurant), and the Bua Luang Karaoke on the 3rd floor, Cosmo's Stairwell, have closed their doors - and this time it looks like they won't be answering the bell for the next round. This leaves them with only the Bua Luang Beauty Parlor there in the stairwell next to the Patpong Snooker. We have never understood how anyone could do business in a dingy stairwell - it seems a minor miracle that they have stayed in business this long. PATPONG I I
NANA
PLAZA
News that isn't really news is that the Rainbow 4 opened on schedule on 6 May in the old Woodstock and Rosemary digs. And it and lived up to expectations - a very large, glitzy A-Go-Go bar. They are currently staffed with dancers, khon serbs, etc, from the now renovating Rainbow (1). The floor manager advises that this new bar will be the Rainbow Group's flagship, and the downstairs bar will have to recruit all new staff when they reopen in a couple, three days, because the people they have on board now are staying put. Let the good times roll. NANA PLAZA
MAP
As mentioned above the Rainbow (Rainbow 1) is closed, but only for a few more days. But as they have been left to their own devices vis-a-vis restaffing, they have stretched a banner across the entrance to Nana Plaza which in addition to announcing the 3 June reopening (in English, Chinese and Japanese), they seek dancers and staff of every description. Interested parties are to apply in person at Rainbow 3 on the second floor. It will be interesting to see how all this comes together - the oldest bar in the Plaza, having just been renovated, is basically a brand new bar and will have a brand new team to run it - who have never worked together before. NANA PLAZA
SOI
COWBOY
Opening (softly) this May was the Deja Vu - as promised by them. But the red carpet comes rolling out onto the Soi on 4 June, when they have the party balloons, snacks and Rock 'n Roll all over everywhere. Here's "the skinny" - on 4th June, they open the upstairs half of the bar - which features yet another "Peek-A-Boo" glass A-Go-Go floor, allowing the downstairs crowd to check the colorfulness or the colorlessness of the bikinis.
MAP
SOI
DEAD
ARTISTS(Soi 33)
The Matrix, down in the basement next to the Londoner Brew Pub at the top of the Soi is now much more than just a black-light bowling alley. They are now claiming to be a restaurant and a Pub. We saw no evidence of the restaurant, although they were serving food and drink to the bowlers. But it was the Pub that caught our eye, complete with large reproduced photos from the film The Matrix. Well appointed and roomy with a snooker table for those interested. They claimed to have a live band - (but not on Friday night???) However, the staff seemed less than friendly, and there were no customers. Hmmmm, ...staff unfriendly, ...no customers, ...do we connect the dots?
MAP SOIDEADARTISTS The Venus Club, only just opened in March of this year, had what appeared to be a Vargas nude incorporated into their sign. At the time we posed the question, "A Sign Too Far?". Apparently so; apparently the Sign Gestapos, with nothing on their schedule but more free time, had a little chat with the management, and they came to an understanding. The understanding went like this - we will do it the Sign Gestapos' way - or not at all.
Entering the Ambiguous Massage Parlor milieu is the Arsom Babai, deep in Sub-Soi 5, down near the Buongiorno. Previously fairly straight-laced, they now seem to be coming closer to a 'full service' massage. Welcome to the nightworld. SOIDEADARTISTS Opening right about.....now - just between the Sa Thai Massage and the Po Massage will be yet another ambiguous massage. The workmen we spoke to were in a bit of a frenzy trying to make schedule, but were kind enough to take a break and kindly inform us that even they didn't know what the name of the new Night Venue would be. We'll have to get back to you with the full report next month. SOIDEADARTISTS
SOI
KATOEY
Hopefully, we can be forgiven for thinking that another bar had opened up on Soi Katoey (Silom Soi 4), but in fact it was yet another of the elaborate promotions which from time to time occupy that Soi. Malibu was the name of the drink - silly us. SOIKATOEY
MAP
Slow to focus, we finally realized that the two large signboards we were staring at were artfully rendered numeral 1's. -And that, together, they made a giant "eleven". -And that "eleven" is the number of years the Tapas Room Club has been open. -And that the hundreds of people milling about us were there to help them celebrate their anniversary. May the rock still rock, and the roll still roll. SOIKATOEY
QUEEN'S
PARK
PLAZA
You may remember MIDNITE HOUR mentioning a couple months back that The Corner, a Pub-style bar, was built on spec by Corner Bar back in, well, the corner. They were hoping to find a buyer after-the-fact - risky behavior in these troubled Night Entertainment times. But they did in fact find a buyer. Making their debut this month is the X-Bar, full of good people and quite a few customers. Pool Bar - Lounge is the prime agendum. May there always be a chinchoke in their corner.
MAP QUEEN'SPARKPLAZA ...Not to be confused with 2 Corner, which is not in any corner. This last month, they have put in windows and airconditioning. Should serve them well for the rest of this hot season and the upcoming rainy season. ...And the partying didn't even slow down. QUEEN'SPARKPLAZA Gone but not gone, On The Rocks (whose darkened doorway was piled high with old rattan furniture last month) has popped back up out of it's coffin and continues to march. It doesn't look like they renovated, but the place sure looks cleaner - maybe it was new furniture? Let 'er rip, then, gentlemen... QUEEN'SPARKPLAZA Christina Bar, which has been around since Queen's Park Plaza went critical, has had a burnt out bit of neon hanging out there for two months. Each time we walk by, there are only a couple of customers - quite a bit different from times past. The place looks dead. While not wanting to force our ideas of "cause and effect" on others, perhaps if customers saw a sign that was brightly advertising the place, they might be more inclined to think the place was open.... QUEEN'SPARKPLAZA New Friends, one of the original bars in the Plaza has found a way out from under it all. They have sold out, lock, stock and chrome barstool to Angel, who have only been in operation for a few days, and don't yet have their neon nailed up. We don't yet know if this is the same Angel from Asoke Plaza, or if it is Angel from the top of Soi 22, or if it is a brand-new Angel. Nevertheless, welcome to the long uphill. QUEEN'SPARKPLAZA
WASHINGTON
SQUARE
The Crystal Pub spends about half it's time closed - for whatever reason. Just about the time they start building up a little good will and a few return customers, they lock up and turn off the lights for a month or two. Last Friday night, when we went by for a beer, they were - you guessed it - closed again. That ain't the way to get 'er done, son. Maybe they need to talk to the local Mor Feng Shui - change the plumbing around, or something. We are not going to be guileless enough to write the obit on this one just yet, as they have a habit of popping back up out of their coffin just when you least expect it.
MAP WASHINGTONSQUARE
SUKHUMVIT
1
PLAZA
The Hello Bar - their neon shingle already tacked up above the door at the end of the previous month, had plans to switch on the lights by 4th of May. We are pleased to see that this has happened as scheduled - resulting in a large, comfortably air conditioned Pool Bar ( -where the Mae Mai Karaoke used to be). And, yes, this is the same Hello Bar that closed down operations in Tobacco Road (Soi Zero) in June 2004. Welcome back to the vicissitudes.
SUKHUMVIT1PLAZA
MAP
Also mentioned in our last issue as "under construction", the 2 D Bar nailed up their new neon shingle and rolled out the red carpet early this May. Bar Beer, of course, the modus operandi. They are located on the 2nd floor. Let's welcome them as they step into the line of fire. SUKHUMVIT1PLAZA
The surprise entry -we didn't even see this one coming- was the Revolution Salsa Bar at the far rear on the ground floor. The Revolution comes from all the Che Guiverra posters, the Salsa comes from the music. We have no idea where the noisy ESPN Sports Channel television comes from... Nevertheless, a small, dimly lit Lounge Bar with reasonable prices... Welcome to the night follies. SUKHUMVIT1PLAZA
The shroud has been pulled around the Junk Bar, 2nd floor - the cozy Pool Bar appears to have gone the way of the dodo. They did have a rap samak duan sign Scotch-taped to the window, however it was for staffing up their new neighbor, the 2 D Bar (mentioned above). In that all the fixtures are still in situ, this looks more like playing 'possum than an actual fatality, So we will report back next month to see if the Junk Bar suddenly finds the wherewithal to reincarnate... SUKHUMVIT1PLAZA In earlier editions, MIDNITE HOUR noted that the 3rd floor of this Plaza was being renovated into what might best be described as a Short-Time Hotel. Our suspicions were confirmed this last month as the "Welcome To Guest House" opened with limited fanfare. (Great shades of Welcome To Meeting that preceded the opening of Check Inn 99 for several years along Sukhumvit!) May the night demons hector them less severely... SUKHUMVIT1PLAZA
TOBACCO
ROAD
New Lucky Lukes, with emphasis on the "New", seems to be doing a little better for itself. Formerly a single loc bar beer, it has expanded into the adjacent loc (the former Hello Bar which closed in June 2004). It's new double-wide area accomodating another pool table. Keep on keeping on.
MAP TOBACCOROAD(SOI ZERO)
SOI
EDEN
My Typewriter Made Me Do It Department. The photo we should have put up last month for the Maxim's bar beer can be found just below. Got to be more careful. Maxim's is located at the very far end of the Soi - it's tiny, but just keep walking - you'll walk right into it. Pump up the volume. SOIEDEN
SOIEDEN
MAP We were so sure that Tequila Dragon was going to miss roll call this month that we pre-wrote this month's entry bemoaning it's late opening... Well we had to tear up all the old copy and rewrite it, as come 28 May, there was more than enough red carpet rolled out onto the Soi, more than enough party balloons to go around, and more than enough free eats and drinks. A practiced eye would tell you that many millions of baht went into making this the nicest Nitespot on Soi Eden. SOIEDEN
OTHER
NIGHTSPOTS
OF
NOTE
Sin is another Night Venue that would qualify for "Night Entertainment Complex". It is, however, probably better described as an exclusive Pool Hall with bars. The rooftop bar is open-air, and by both choice and luck, it is ideally situated to catch the cool evening breezes - one of the few non-air conditioned spots to get out of the Bangkok heat once the sun has gone down. Sin is located on Sukhumvit Soi 4, inside the Rajah Hotel Complex.
RAJAHHOTEL- SOI 4 Easy Square has been in it's death throes for months, but the Hang Out Pool Bar & Lounge kept on hanging in there, as the walls were falling down around them - literally. We don't know whether they settled their tea-money battle with the primary land lease holder or not, but in early May, the Hang Out vacated premises (full story, pics above). Greener pastures, ladies. EASYSQUARE
NO
NEWS
IS
GOOD
NEWS
DEPT.
(No news)
--- Datzit Fernow William R. Morledge
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