The Thermae around 1980, that is to say, the original Thermae, was much the same as today's, and also much not the same.   It had it's share of hangers - a more diverse mix of humanity would have been hard to find.

   And the Thermae's hangers were from the extreme category of 'diverse'.   There was 'Policeman's Corner' at the back on the right where the cops occasionally hung around for a free coffee, offering in exchange some implied 'security'.   There was Nok Lek Corner where the 'Prime Minister' herself usually held court just adjacent to Policeman's corner.   A well known restaurateur (The Cock 'N Bull) hung right at the rear doorway, at the foot of the steps going up to the kitchen/ toilet.   And then there were the jukebox hangers.   And there was the old crone with the beehive hair spray hairdo who hung most nights just downstairs (the front entrance stairs).   But all these hangers were on the periphery, lurking at the edges of the main Coffee Shop area.   That area, or at least a part of it, was reserved every night, subtly, firmly, by the waiters themselves for Bad Company.

      Bad Company was a group of young ladies who garnered one, or sometimes two center tables (depending on how many showed up that night).   They would straggle in throughout the evening, one or two at a time, and if no center table were free, they would wait on the sidelines until one became vacant - whereupon the waiters came to clean, and then hold the table for them.   But then Bad Company didn't hog the tables, you were welcome to join them, whether you knew them or not.   They would usually order Singh or a couple ban of Mehkong, a bucket of ice and Cokes.   Their intent was to kick back and relax, and relate the recent gossip going around, and tales of men they had met.

      While the Bad Company ladies were freelancers by strictest definition, their object -while holding down their Thermae table- was not searching out customers.   They were there to smoke, drink and enjoy whoever's company.   Until whatever time.   Remembering, of course, that the Thermae closed when all the customers went home, or 06:00 hours, whichever came first.   We recall many an early morning having sat at the Bad Company table for hours, chatting with Bad Company and whoever else joined us.   (Looking back, I honestly don't know how we stood the cigarette smoke.)   Periodically someone would buy a round of iced coffees or beer, or whatever; Bad Company rarely ran out of anything to drink, usually only paying the first round themselves.

      At some point in the wee hours the Bad Company girls would stray up the Thermae stairs and out - either with someone or alone.   If they were with someone, they would either go with that person for the night, or for that matter, for the week, or invite their new found friend to stay with them at their room.   Or if they were with a long-time acquaintance, perhaps take them home on the back of their motorbike to the family home in the suburbs to stay the night - or for what remained of it.....

       However, the only constant is change, and as they say, 'times have changed'.   For one thing, Bangkok does not any longer have an all-night freelancer Nitespot, where any properly deported girl can come in off the street and either buy a drink, or not, while she 'shops'.

      But the greater change, the sea-change, is that of the attitude of the ladies of the evening.   The above account, the brief thumbnail of the Bad Company, is but one illustrative story of the endless accounts we hear regularly from other long term residents and frequent returnee expats.   Today's missing element is the friendship, the deciding to head out as a group, farang and Thai together, to go bowling on Petchburi Road, or to go to a temple the following day together.   Or maybe just go play cards back at someone's room, etc, etc.   Today, the ladies will go to your hotel with you for an hour, provided your hotel is next door or just around the corner.   Otherwise, they will take you to the short-time hotel nearest their Nitespot.   Only those expats who have experienced those earlier decades of Bangkok's Nightlife will know with certainty that it was not the same as today's "Scene".   Whether or not you think yesteryear was "better" is entirely up to you.

- Above photos taken at Thermae Coffee Shop - 1980.  

Let the March 2015 Follies begin...
BANKOK EYES' Expat Night Scene.

   PATPONG  1

MAP