ould we be correct in saying that Thailand's two "Wars on Drugs" were coincidentally under the two Thaksin administrations? The first was conceived, implemented and overseen by Thaksin himself - and he can be proud that he was directly responsible for the extrajudicial killing of approximately 2,200 suspects and bystanders, the youngest being a 9-year-old boy. The second war, under sister Thaksin is being administered by Uber-Minister Chalerm, who has so far unsuccessfully tried to convince the general public that anyone convicted of a drug offense should be executed within two weeks (thereby denying them any legal appeal). This second War on Drugs seems tame by comparison.... but, sad to say, it is not. Repeat, it is not.
The above examples excluded, most would consider that any 'War on Drugs' is, by it's very nature, a good thing. Any attempt to remove highly addictive substances (and the follow-on tragedies) from the reaches of the young - (pre-responsible & irresponsible) seems to most of us to be a noble endeavor; self-defining down to it's very roots. And Thailand's laws regarding the manufacture, transport, distribution, sale and use appear to be within the norms of the civilized world. The rub, however, lies in the implementation (read; 'law enforcement').
The assumption would be made that the laws against drug abuse would be enforced across the board by Bangkok's Finest, and that such drug abuse by the citizenry could, and would be eventually suppressed. However those of you who have spent any time in Bangkok would, with a skeptical eye, tend to say such an assumption might be dangerous. Those of you having been here even longer would have seen your skepticism turn to downright cynicism.
Follows is a typical example: Two uniformed policemen entered a two storey massage parlor which offers Thai traditional massage, foot massage, oil massage, manicures and facial massage. They announced that they were carrying out their duties under the current drug suppression initiative, and they would perform urine tests on all the masseuses immediately. They came without warning, and they came without warrants. The girls were sent into the toilet to provide urine specimens which the police tested with a chemical there on the premises.
Note: If urine turns purple from exposure to the police-provided chemical, that individual would be taken to the police station for having tested positive for amphetamine-class drug use. The massage parlor would then be further searched - to include the 'baskets' of the masseuses which have such things as Ya Mong, a Tiger-Balm type ointment, and oils, etc. If the police were to find unused condoms in any of the baskets, the masseuses would be taken down to the Cop Shop to face the charge of prostitution. The massage parlor management would also be charged with running a house of prostitution (prostitution being at least technically illegal in Thailand).
In this example, police found two masseuses testing positive for amphetamines, one of whom had an unused condom in her basket. They were taken to the local Soh Noh (Police Station). The owner of the massage parlor was told to follow them down to the police station immediately on her own - to deal with the 'house-of-prostitution' accusation. Meanwhile, on arrival at the station, the two girls were lectured by a police officer, and advised that they would need to contact a parent or relative to come down to get them, and to pay the prakarn (translates as 'insurance'). Or they could wait for the massage parlor owner to show up, and after they finished with her, the massage parlor owner, if she had a kind heart, would pay the prakarn for them. This 'insurance' ostensibly insures that they will 'be good girls, and not do it again'.
When the owner of the massage parlor arrived, she slipped a white envelope under the table to the appointed person to take care of what was then a 'suspicion' of running a house of prostitution, and she also paid the prakarn for her two masseuses. She was told, however that they, the Men In Too-Tight Uniforms would be back regularly, monthly, to recheck to insure there had been no backsliding. When they also told her that their regular visits would protect her from having to pay anything to other police, she understood clearly that there would forever be a monthly payoff. (WTF ?What other police? - you say. - More on that later....)
The masseuses using amphetamines, on the other hand, got their slap on the hand, a scolding and sent on their way. No professional counseling, no arrest, no receipt for payment of "guarantee", no being sent off to a rehab center where they would be counseled while 'drying out'. It almost sounds like a good deal for them. Almost - as in Too-Good-To-Be-True. In that they are in-and-out of the Cop Shop so quickly, they didn't even miss one hit of amphetamines. Recidivism, if you could even call it that, in these cases is virtually total. The girls, already addicted, continue using. But this is not an agony-aunt appeal against the use of scourge amphetamines, this is business. The police now have a slightly longer list of users that they can count on catching next time around - and the time after that. And they will catch them, most of the time, either in the shop, or on their way home at 02:00 hours in the morning, two to a motorcycle. Time for the next prakarn payment.
We wish this were the end of it, but it is not. The girls, and others who get found out by the police as 'using' have another option after having paid the first prakarn - they can inform to the police who their supplier is. Another one-way-street, unfortunately. Because then they are permanently 'on the hook' to provide information to Bangkok's Finest. And the next time they are caught using, they will usually 'get a pass' if they can provide a fresh name - an old name will not get them much. Many girls caught up in this endless cycle are able to 'get off the hook' by offering sexual favors to individual policemen. It goes without saying that the amphetamine suppliers outed by the users are destined to experience similar shake-downs.
As referred to above, when the police appear at the massage parlor each month to receive their 'song suay' (their under-the-table white envelope), they again reassure the proprietor that they will not be bothered by other police, such as the nok khrueang baap (plain clothes police), or their sai tamruaj (informers), nor will they be bothered by the Settakit police (...'Settakit' is the short name, and literally means 'economy' or 'economic'). Plain clothes police duties include checking to insure shops are not employing Burmese, Cambodians, farang working behind the bar, etc., where the Settakit Police are concerned primarily with making sure your shop lights go out at 02:00 a.m., and insure that push-cart stalls don't park in front of your front door. It is not the scope of this article to examine the activities of either the nok khruang baap or the Settakit
Police, suffice it to say the uniformed Bangkok's Finest's assurances to the shopowners aside, many shops are required to make monthly payments to all three branches of the police.
As can be seen, the net result of these activities is to expand the police knowledge of the various Night Entertainment drug scenes, both expat and local, and to use it as a trickle-up money stream. These practices quite obviously have absolutely no effect on reducing drug use or drug sales in the Night Entertainment domain. Further, in that there is no motivation to change this system, it will not change, regardless of the intentions of any central government, or any legislated act.
We take care to point out that, while the above practices are widespread in the Bangkok and Phra Pradaeng areas, this is not to imply every police district employs these methods. In fact, there are very effective police initiatives (primarily in the countryside) which combat drug use in underage persons, to include counseling, periodic re-testing, education and employment opportunities.
We would like to thank the myriad amphetamine users, non-users and shop and Nitespot operators and the all-knowing mama-sans for their anonymous participation in the sourcing / preparation of this article.
"Saphan Loy" Rags Us Unmercifully
BANGKOK'S "LENNY BRUCE" UNLEASHED
A relatively new blog, Saphan Loy, which means, generally, 'an overhead footbridge', has mercilessly ravaged poor old Midnight Hour - and, by the way, a lot of other Bangkok nightlife websites and personalities. Causing amusement amongst the 'civilians', and many a bulge-necked hate-brace amongst it's "victims", it is in fact a welcome occurrence on the Bangkok Scene. Many of us, the long-term Thailand residents, tend to take it for granted that we are the 'experts' on the scene. When, in fact, the opposite is almost universally true. For the most part, we have become complacent - visiting the same bars, same massage parlors, same restaurants - all with the same friends. We have stagnated. And Saphan Loy causes, if nothing else, introspection in it's victims - and introspection is good for the soul - especially the 'creative soul'. (Or perhaps creating a soul where there was none).
In his all-too-short lifetime, Lenny Bruce, the real one, saw that there were "shirts needing unstuffing, egos needing deflating", and spared no amount of invective in doing just that. It eventually came to the point that stage and screen celebrities felt neglected, felt they hadn't really 'made it', if Lenny hadn't ripped them a new one. There might be a lesson in there somewhere. All said and done -love it or hate it- Saphan Loy's 'saving grace' is "original content" - missing to a great degree on the WWW these days. Some of us may want to reflect - free speech is a right.
Below we reprint every scarifying, crushing, scorching word:
S A P H A N L O Y T h e v i e w f r o m a b o v e .
Bangkok Eyesore Revisited
Recently, Saphan Loy paid a visit to William R. Morledge to see how his little corner of Bangkok has been and to determine via textual analysis whether he has kicked his Ketamine habit. What we discovered there, in that luridly designed throwback to the dawn of World Wide Web page construction, was that it is clear that the Ketamine has taken its toll, and much like Dean Barrett (another geriatric “webmaster”), whose rants about Muslims are bizarre reminders of his mental deterioration, has resorted to a long paranoid essay on the arrival of “Big Brother”, the collection of online data in vast server farms, and the ability of the television set to transmit signals directly to his brain.
The content of the latest Morledge essay is in striking contrast to the normally banal photographs of neon signs that had been his hallmark for many years. It indicates to Saphan Loy that, in effect, his mental illness has had a sudden onset, and it is only a matter of time before he is transferred to the funny farm where he may spend the remainder of his days heavily medicated, drooling, staring at his shoes, and cutting his salisbury steak with a plastic, unserrated knife.
Just who is this Morledge character? William R. Morledge is an example of what naturally happens after prolonged exposure to the red light districts of Thailand. It may even be the result of tertiary syphilis, which attacks the brain of the infected individual in its final, untreated stages. One wonders, really, if Morledge, Dean Barrett, Big Baby Kenny Ng, Stephen Blather, and Chris Coles have formed a support group for those coping with the disease, as their collective output seems to show clear signs of the affliction.
Nonetheless, there is something intrinsically disturbing when one stumbles upon the website of a deranged “webmaster”, to use Stickman’s oft-repeated phrase. Since websites and blogs about Thai red light districts are often the haunt of the lonely, the unstable, and the sociopathic, when their creators evidence the kind of madness found at Bangkok Eyesore, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise. After all, one can sustain a lifestyle predicated on congress with people in an illegal transnational sex trade for only so long. But in our years of reportage on the red light bloggers, “webmasters”, scribblers, dabblers, peddlers, doodlers, barkers, punters, pushers, bunglers, and farters, William R. Morledge is illustrating the rule rather than the exception.
MPChuwit Kamolwisit walks out of the Court of Appeals a free man this September - at least for the foreseeable future.
This month, uber-hypocrite politician Chuwit Kamolwisit, former owner of a string of brothel-massage parlors in the Rachadapisek area was convicted of destroying over 100 tourist venues, 60 of which were bars, in January of 2003.
Affectionately known amongst locals as 'Sia Ang' (roughly : 'Uncle Hot-tub'), Chuwit and his band of marauders organized, implemented and oversaw the pre-dawn destruction of privately owned-and-built facilities constructed on his own land. The land itself was leased out through an intentionally complex arrangement of shell companies (with names such as; Tisco PLC, the Silver Star Co., the Sukhumvit Silver Stars Co., and BTR Holdings, the Nickel Co., the General Guard Co. and Ideal Service Corp.).
Together with thousands of other photographs, reports in the international and local Press, and the recent inconclusive legal decisions, this photo stands as a permanent monument to the evil and violence that can be perpetrated by the wealthy and influential in Thailand - without fear of punishment. Of the many establishments smashed that fateful night in Sukhumvit Square, many were owned by expatriates. The international community would do well to remember that just below that thin veneer, just behind that smile, the real hard-ball world of patronage, influence, corruption and nepotism reign supreme.
Initially acquitted, but not exonerated, in 2006 by the Criminal Court, this latest review and conviction by the Court of Appeals found Chuwit and 65 of the 131 defendants guilty of using force to evict bar owners from the property. Chuwit and several others were sentenced to 5 years in jail.
Really? 'Dis Thailan' you know suh.'
Chuwit walked out of court on his own recognizance - on bail, but not even having to post bail money, due to his being an active MP during an active session of Parliament. He will remain on bail pending a review by the Supreme Court, which court will also shortly be receiving his appeal.
Midnight Hour's original story on this bold-faced atrocity appears in our February 2003 edition <link>
and we have been updating through the years as the story continues to unfold.
I visited Bangkok a few times in the early 80s during a work assignment for a multi-national in Kuwait. I was introduced to the delights of the city by a Swedish work colleague, including the Red Diamond Bar in Soi Cowboy run by Swede Tor Erickson. My favourite "bars" were the two Loretta's and, latterly, The Black Cat.
Do you have any information on the fate of them?
Cheers,
B.P.
Greetings, B.P.,
Your email brings back a lot of memories - the Loretta's and the Cowboy "Cat" bars. Also, Pink Pussycat and Top Cat - all good bars.
The Loretta's - didn't make it into the '90's. I remember we used to change the pronunciation to "Roletta's" after we heard some of the dancers mispronounce the name.
The Red Diamond survived until May of 1993. Currently Fanny's occupies those premises. We used to joke about how the Red Diamond always smelled like stale beer, cigarette smoke and piss, even when they were airing out the place the following morning with desk fans. But that didn't stop us from going back the next night. The Pink Pussycat lasted until September of 93, when it changed hands (and was never the same afterwards), becoming the New Pink Pussycat. The other "Cat" bars didn't make it into the 90's.
We can answer virtually any (reasonable) question on the Expat Night Entertainment Scene in
Bangkok - be it Historical or very recent. Send us an e-mail and
we will do our best to answer you soonest.
The Asia Herb Association has opened it's fourth branch on Patpong I. It offers full "spa" services, however the prices are slightly higher than some nearby venues offering similar. They are located just past Mizu's on the Suriwong side. This is a Japanese company. May they persevere.
PATPONG I
Radio City has been a 'dead man walking' for six months - unable to offer live music, they have just been idling along, seats along the street-front taken up by the local touts. They finally did the right thing, and called it quits. May they find things more to their liking a little further on down the road a piece.
- File photos
PATPONG I
The upstairs Night Bar was gone, but not gone - and are once again touting people to go on up to pay for 'shows'.....
Glamour On Silom -as they now like to be known, popped back up out of their crypt and are boogie-ing the nights away much as before. Welcome back to the tussle.
- File photo
PATPONG II
Last weekend, the King's Castle 2 was having a "Fancy Variety Contest" - which translates as their transgenders dressing as outrageously as the law would allow, and parading back and forth in Soi
Bookstore. A big attraction to Asian tourists, who congregated in groves....... As Bernard Trink would say, "Any comment would be superfluous".........
The Cocktail Club which took over from Crazy Jack's Shadow Bar in December 2002 has gone the way of the Hesperornis. It looks like renovations are already under way.....
Opening up last week in the old Rajah's Tailors is the Zen Bar. Or is it the Zen Bar? The patches on the khon serb's shirts say Zen Bar, all right, but if one were to leave by the Nana Plaza entrance -instead of the street entrance- and happened to look up, one would see yet another sign: The Lounge. The name is also in Thai - telltale as to the actual name of the Nitespot. Regardless, a comfortable new bar, and the beer is cold. There's good rockin' tonight.
NANA PLAZA
The 3rd floor Carnival is no more, having plummeted headlong into the abyss. This coincides with the alleged NEP pull out of the Crown Group, due to steeper rents. No sign of renovations at this juncture. Let's wait for the rest of the story.....
NANA PLAZA
As noted last month, Pretty Lady took over the Red Lips. However, this does not seem to be the end of the story - it appears renovations are continuing to both venues, and the neon has been removed. Let's wait and see - a "new" bar coming?
It's A Go-Go al fresco at Strikers, and judging from the response, very popular, indeed. Hmmm... A Go-Go dancers silhouetted against a giant projection screen - very impressive: we are likely to see a lot more of this. Rock on....
SOI NANA
Missed on our original survey of the Soi last month, there is a massage parlor, the Nana Condo Massage, on an upper floor of the condo. Located almost immediately across from Hillary 1. No photo available.
The Sugar Bowl Bar & Restaurant has finally got some new neon up large enough to be read by passers-by. Looking good, at that.... May they keep on keeping on.
Like something from a Frank Miller graphic novel, Lips has thrown up some totally eye-catching neon. Although they had their soft opening a couple weeks back (in the old Papa digs), their formal grand opening was this last week. Let the good times roll.
SOI DEAD ARTISTS - SOI 33
What last month was Hibiki Nippon Karaoke is now Mirai Club. Still, obviously, oriented to the Japanese customer. Wish them good fortunes and long lives.
SOI DEAD ARTISTS - SOI 33
The Tsubaki Executive Japanese Club apparently feeling the competition from the new next door Mirai Club, has put up some impressive new neon of their own.
SOI DEAD ARTISTS - SOI 33
The Dark Side - located in the now-extinct Cheers Pub digs is a transgenderite bar - Soi Dead Artists' first such... Welcome to the neon roulette.
SOI DEAD ARTISTS - SOI 33
The Stone II Karaoke - located in the back corner of the parking lot behind Bar Fly has, it seems, tanked. 'Better luck next time, baby'.
Washington Square has for some time been at a 'less-than-critical mass' level, however, this month, the hammer has come down heavily, taking out the biggest half of the remaining inventory. Midnight Hour will continue to track that area on a case-by-case basis, and will report any additional closures of existing bars as they occur.
Dubliner, the ever popular Irish Pub (and breakfast-hangover spot) has cashed in their chips and headed for higher ground. We saw no notes on the door indicating relocation - hopefully such will eventuate in the near future.
- File photo
WASHINGTON SQUARE
The Sportsman Bar & Restaurant, located in the old Washington Theater building, is closing up shop, but will be reopening soon in Trendy Plaza on Sukhumvit Soi 13. We hope to have photos of the new place next issue. Keep on truckin'....
- File photo
WASHINGTON SQUARE
The 52 Bar has finally called it quits - at least for Washington Square. They are, at least regards some staff, related to the 'new' B 52 Bar in Queen's Park Plaza.
- File photo
WASHINGTON SQUARE
The Hare & Hound, having relocated from Soi Cowboy in September 2003, has turned out the light at the end of the tunnel. We wish them a soft landing, wherever, whenever.....
The Superior Bar has gone through three neon-changes in three months - finally coming up with something others can actually see. Modus operandistatus quo ante. We wish them constancy.
QUEEN'S PARK PLAZA
The B 52 Barbar beer has reopened in full stride - they have found a comfortable niche just behind Crazy Girl on the right hand side. You may see some familiar faces from the old Texas Lone Star while you are there.... Welcome them back to the machine.
Pop Quiz: "How can you tell if a young lady is from Dr BJ's Salon or the next-door Dr BJ's Nuru?" Answer: The 'Nuru' girls have the "bunny ears". (Everybody knows that........ !)
(BTW, it looks as if there will be some more Dr BJs next door - why, if we're not careful, the Soi could get a 'reputation'....)
SOI EDEN - Soi 7/1 Sukhumvit
The long dead Siam Smile is undergoing furious renovations. A name-change is certain, however will it end up being a "Night Entertainment Venue"? ....To be continued.....
The Balls The Sports Bar, at the Rama IV end of the Twilight Zone has gone 'blue'. Can't say it's done much for business, though. Maybe it's just the rainy season.....
Bangkok Eyes jumps back in time to have a look at who was new - and who was through. We'll be willing to bet that many of you "Old Bangkok Hands" will be reminded of some bars you'd almost forgotten. (We also will be willing to bet you WON'T EVEN REMEMBER an even greater number....)
10 YEARS AGO :
October
The 2nd floor
Queen's Castle (near Madrid) changed it's name to New Queen's Castle, however nothing else changed. That location is currently occupied by Show Girls pay-for-show bar.
PATPONG 1 - October 2002
The
Queen's Castle opened on the 2nd floor in the old Pussy Galore show bar digs. That location is currently occupied by the Nice (II) Massage.
PATPONG 1 - October 2002
Shark opened in the old Juke's New A Gogo Duck. It is still there today.
SOI COWBOY - October 2002
Dundee opened in the old Honey Moon digs, which closed the month before. It is still there today.
SOI COWBOY - October 2002
Tony's closed, and put up a "For Sale" sign. It would reopen soon after that.
SOI COWBOY - October 2002
The second floor Spider's Web closed down for renovations. It would eventually be absorbed into today's Rainbow 4.
NANA PLAZA - October 2002
Secrets, on the second floor, opened up in the Hollywood Stars Bar digs, which had just closed down. It would eventually be absorbed by today's Angel Witch.
NANA PLAZA - October 2002
The Om Trance Club closed it's doors for renovation. It was located in the current upstairs Bearbie Bar Karaoke digs.
SOI KATOEY - October 2002
The Anego opened in the rear of 33 Complex. It is a restaurant today.
SOI DEAD ARTISTS (Soi 33)- October 2002
The Bar Za Bar on Sub-Soi 4 reopened. It would only stay open briefly before closing again. There is currently no entertainment venue at that location.
SOI DEAD ARTISTS (Soi 33)- October 2002
The Top Secret opened new next to today's Popeye 2 Bar. It only recently closed, giving way to today's Tuk-Tuk Bar.
QUEEN'S PARK PLAZA - October 2002
The Why Not closed, as the next-door No ! Bra began renovations which would absorb it. There is no Nitespot at that location presently.
QUEEN'S PARK PLAZA - October 2002
The One More Bar opened new in what is now the 3-Sister Bar.
QUEEN'S PARK PLAZA - October 2002
The Monkey Bizness reopened after a brief closure. It is still there today.
QUEEN'S PARK PLAZA - October 2002
The Coconat Globe Bar closed again. Those digs currently held down by VL Internet Bar.
QUEEN'S PARK PLAZA - October 2002
The Hideaway Pub at the rear opened in what was the Long Island Club. It is still there today.
Asoke Corner / Asoke Plaza
Night Entertainment Area :
-CLOSED DOWN-
( March 2000 - February 2005 )
Ten years ago this month, the following bars transitioned in Asoke Plaza / Asoke Corner (formerly Cowboy Annex).
* Internet @ Route 23 (in the back 'Corner') - REOPENED * Bottleneck (between 'Corner' & 'Annex') - REOPENED * Fantasy Thailand (in the 4-Pak) - REOPENED * Princess Bar (in the Corner on Soi 23) - CLOSED * Isisdur (in the 4-Pak) - CLOSED
ASOKE PLAZA / ASOKE CORNER PLAZA - October 2002
CLINTON PLAZA - 2002
Clinton Plaza
Night Entertainment Area
:
-CLOSED DOWN-
( November 1998 - 7 June 2003 )
Ten years ago this month, the following bars transitioned in Clinton Plaza.
* Charlie's Angels
(in the main bldg.) - CLOSED * Checkpoint Charlie's (Exhibition) - (outside against the main bldg.). - CLOSED * You & Me
(outside against the main bldg.) - CLOSED * Suzy & Crazy Bar (outside against the back wall.). - CLOSED
CLINTON PLAZA - October 2002
SUKHUMVIT SQUARE - 2002
Sukhumvit Square
Night Entertainment Area
:
-CLOSED DOWN-
( January 2002 - 26 January 2003 )
Ten years ago this month, the following bars transitioned in Sukhumvit Square.
* Little Shinjuku Bar Beer (In the rear) - CLOSED * The House Bar (In the rear) - NEWLY OPENED
SUKHUMVIT SQUARE - October 2002
TOBACCO ROAD - 2002
Tobacco Road (Soi Zero)
Night Entertainment Area
:
-CLOSED DOWN-
( ~ December 1988 - 9 June 2006 )
Archives
October's Nightlife News 
SOI NANA - (SUKHUMVIT SOI 4)
ould we be correct in saying that Thailand's two "Wars on Drugs" were coincidentally under the two Thak
sin administrations? The first was conceived, implemented and overseen by Thak
PATPONG I 
2002 - 2012, BANGKOK EYES / bangkokeyes.com
