'Rachada' for short, Rachadapisek Road Night Entertainment Area is a giant.   This is a 'thumbnail' history of that giant - a giant in more than one sense.   But a decade ago, it was yet an even bigger giant.   Then again, three decades ago it was known more for a few restaurants, while Night Entertainment there was almost unheard of.

         Back in the 1980's there was talk of developing Rachada into a super-sized Night Entertainment Area.   Some said it was primed and ready for exploitation - land was relatively inexpensive, and access -such things as parking- would be no problem.   They said it could be even bigger than Petchburi's Golden Mile of the 1960's -70's era.   Others said, 'Where are you going to get staff for all this?'    The industry (Patpong, Cowboy, Nana) was already stretched to the limit for decent looking, attractive staff - there was just not that much talent around.   SuperStar Frank said it would be no problem, the girls could be found - Trink said, "From where, Frank?"

         The question of course is no longer moot - Rachada's build-up started slowly, and gained momentum.   They were building up, not only in the Night Entertainment realm, but generally.   The Nitescene was, however, abuilding like the Winchester Castle.   -But, there was a catch.   Virtually all the entertainment development was geared for the local Thais, and later started catering to the Japanese and Taiwanese as well.   Western expats, while welcome, were not catered to - it was not an extension of the A Go-Go scene by any means.

         The development on Rachada in the 80's and 90's initially was more a continuation of the Steam-Job / Blow-Bath Massage Parlor which, as noted, did start in the Sukhumvit / Petchburi areas in the 60's, to include the requisite coffee shop and barber shop.    But it didn't stop there.   There was a Thai 'entertainment revolution' afoot.....

         Let's hit the 'Rewind' button.   In the early pre-A Go-Go days, Expat entertainment was mostly lounges and bars, and hotel coffee shops.   On the other hand, Thai Night Entertainment in those ancient times consisted of corner coffee and/ or tea shops, often with additional entertainment upstairs, barber shops (also with additional entertainment available) and dance halls, like the Prasithipol on Charoen Krung Rd where you would buy dance tickets, and a bottle of Mehkong.   There were also the shady places in Yao Warat like the Texas Cafe (& Massage) and a few small waterfont bars in Khlong Toey.   Other than that, a Thai might elect to drink with friends on a street corner.

         With the rise of the Golden Mile, the Expat-oriented Steam & Creams and A Go-Go on the Patpongs, all that changed.   Expat Night Entertainment was suddenly far superior, far more attractive than it's Thai counterpart.   Most Western expats found themselves bored with the 'inferior' Thai Night Entertainment Scene.

          - But that was then, that was before the rise of the giant, the rise of Rachada.   At first, the Rachada Steam & Cream massage parlors were mirrors of their predecessors on Sukhumvit, Sri Ayuthaya and Petchburi Roads, but soon "bigger" became "better" - and additional services were added to attract and keep customers.   Often these new, ever larger structures would incorporate Karaoke bars and lounge bars, should one not want to rush right in for a 'massage'.   The Thai Steam & Cream massage parlors of old were evolving, morphing into super-sized Night Entertainment Complexes.   Today, one might find Steam & Cream massage, a Thai traditional massage, a coffee shop, a karaoke, a lounge bar, a men's club replete with 'Coyotes', a barber shop, and 'suites' (ST rooms by any other name) all in one mega-Entertainment complex.   We don't mention 'gaming rooms' here... ahennnh...   Today a Thai on a binge could enter one of these establishments, and not leave for days.   Two examples of this style of mega-multi entertainment complex found on Rachada are The Lord Palace and the Casablanca.

         The Expat Nitescene has by no means, been standing still.   However, the "Day Of The A Go-Go" is on the wane.   On the other hand, expat Pubs and Clubs have become more popular.   Discotheques are still with us, but not in any big way.   The smaller multi-service massage parlors, found on virtually every soi, are the answer to many Expat Nighttime requirements.   But there is nothing in the Expat Nightscene, or even on the horizon, that compares to the once-inferior, now far-superior Thai Night Entertainment Scene.   (It is interesting to note that a great number of Expats we meet are unaware, or unwilling to admit that Expat Entertainment now plays second-fiddle, or perhaps third-fiddle to Thai Entertainment.)

            In a parallel development during the same period, on Rachada Sois 4, 6, and 8, the Thai Nitescene developed in yet another direction.   By early 2000's there were dozens of clubs, music bars, Thai-style pubs and discos.   Again, Expats were welcome, but unless accompanied by their Thai counterpart, found that 'the scene' was not all that interesting.

            This 'Rachada Model' of Thai Entertainment, the large-scale Entertainment Emporium, has spread like wildfire throughout Bangkok - RCA and Sri Nakarin Road are two prime examples among the many.   Rachada itself, in recent years has diminished in activity to a degree, and there are much fewer Nitespots than earlier, but it is still a major player on the Bangkok scene.   Yes, Rachada is still a giant, it is just not the giant it once was - it once boasted over one hundred Night Entertainment Venues (confirmed estimates), but is now down to less than half that.   The relatively diminutive Sois 4, 6, and 8 once hosted 33 Venues alone (now down to four).   Still a giant, if somewhat diminished, but it is the giant that spawned the mega-giant of Thai Night Entertainment that is found in Bangkok today.

November's Thai Smile is in the round.

What's your sign? A SAPPHIRE CLUB BY ANY OTHER NAME Hello,       You guys did an excellent job on the Pattaya Walking Street map (last month -ed).   One correction I'd like to mention is that where you have Smile on Soi 15, it is actually the Sapphire Club. M.Y.

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

   PATPONG  1

MAP

Graffiti at the beach...
SAMUI's HOTELS UP IN ARMS