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BANGKOK EYES PRESENTS -
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 As Thailand's rainy season phased into the cool season, the rivers forming much of the border with Burma slowed to a trickle, thereby facilitating illegal border-crossings by Burmese looking for work in Thailand. To compound matters, Thai fishing boat owners in the Gulf were hiring illegal Burmese fishermen, scores of whom were found to be infected. Needless to say, Thailand's 'isolation bubble' had been thoroughly popped. Coronavirus cases started showing up slowly at first, then became a torrent. Aggravating the problem, the Burmese, afraid of retribution and repatriation, were lying about their origins and prior whereabouts, making back-tracing nearly impossible.
The above chart shows clearly the upward trending of the new wave of Covid-19 now hitting Thailand. Only a month ago, the announcements of coming vaccines and virtually nonexistent local Coronavirus figures were cultivating a "light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel mentality". Now, once again, Thailand's Nightlife, hotels and economy in general are in a state of disarray - bars are closing, the few hotels that have reopened are experiencing cancellations. Currently, no reasonable projections can be made as to when the Coronavirus (and the even-more destructive effects of 'Coronaphobia') will subside to a semblance of normalcy. Should Thailand's return to normalcy, in particular, 'tourism' be delayed much longer, many more Nitespots and hotels will not be able to survive.
 
As we enter the New Year, citizenry of the world continues to be cowed by the Coronavirus-Coronaphobia double-whammy imposed by the authorities of virtually all countries. It goes without saying that universal border lock-downs - without also taking into account that body of current epidemiological science will continue to destroy tourism worldwide. We at Bangkok Eyes continue to monitor the Coronavirus situation locally and abroad in order to provide our readers (in particular, those planning to travel to Thailand), with current cautionary data, and to provide realistic expectations as to timeframe(s) for a safe reopening of Thailand's Night Entertainment Scene.
*We note the local Thai Night Entertainment Areas are open and doing reasonably well, as, of course, their main source of custom is not foreign tourism. (Examples of local Thai Nitespot Areas: Sri Nakarin South, Soi Thonglor, Soi Udomsuk, Soi Ekamai, RCA.)
 
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Let the January 2021 Follies
begin-
This month we enter Bangkok Night Entertainment's most chaotic period since its exp losive growth in the 1960s. But this current period is no 'growth period', it is in fact, just the opposite. With Thailand entering its "Second Wave" of the Coronavirus Pandemic, we could in fact be seeing the beginning of the end. On the one hand, we don't want to come off as melodramatic purveyors of doom, but on the other hand we are now in a position where there is no certain end in sight to the 'entertainment blight'. While the coming vaccines will offer a yet-to-be determined amount of relief, we neither know the extent of that relief, nor how soon it will be realized to that extent. If in fact we do not see a near-complete return to normal tourism before the end of the year, it could be too late for most of Bangkok's Nitespots. This month, due to many Night Entertainment Venues being closed due to the 'selective' mandatory lockdown until 4 January, or, closing traditionally over New Year's, or, just plain gone out of business for economic reasons, we will be reporting Venue closures without comment, unless we know the specific details of the closure. Should those closed venues reopen at a future date, we will provide a full report.
Would anyone have imagined a year ago that the below photograph would portray Patpong 1 Road on New Year's Eve 2021? The entire street had one A Go-Go bar open (Kiss), one massage parlor (Hanuman Massage), one bar beer (SuperStar) beer bar and one Restaurant Lounge (Madrid). The street is in almost complete darkness, and at this juncture, we cannot say with any degree of confidence if, or when things will improve.
 PATPONG 1 The Safari Bar Disco - Go Go recently reclosed after having opened successfully for three weekends in a row in December. They are planning to reopen 16 January. A wait-and-see item...
PATPONG 1 The Black Pagoda continues to innovate - with varied entertainment (in spite of the Coronavirus) - not to mention their excellent ad graphics. Don't miss their Sunday Special... Located up on the 3rd level, just above the Patpong Museum.
PATPONG 2 The evolution of A Go-Go in Bangkok from 1967's The Naturist - to the Grand Prix's fully clothed A Go-Go behind a beaded curtain in 1969, to the introduction of bikinis and the 'chrome pole', to today's straight-out 'Pole Dancing' - and professional pole dancers for hire... The beat goes on... Below is a sampling of pole dancing at the Black Pagoda / Club Black this pre-Christmas season.
VIDEO CLIP
PATPONG 2 New Closures, Patpong 2 Road, regardless of causes, during the month of December 2020.
* Bada Bing
* Glamour
* Bangkok Massage
* (An unnamed Pool Bar)
* Dream Boy Paradise
* Dream Boy Bangkok
* Top Less Pool Bar / Thai Room
* Tavern Two (Tony & Tooey)
* Screw Boy
* Pink Panther / The Pink Beer Bar
* Matador (Linda) - On The Ramp
PATPONG 2
VIDEO CLIP
Soi Cowboy on New Year's Eve - partly open, mostly locked down. The video clip below shows Shark having a tailgate party for staff (and any customers that came along - outside seating only).
SOI COWBOY
Soi Cowboy - New Year's Eve was more a hodge-podge of staff parties in the front, open areas of bars (which were technically closed until 4 January). Only Country Road, the Five Star, the Oasis and The Corner (Live Music) were full-on busines as usual.
SOI COWBOY
New Closures, Soi Cowboy, regardless of causes, during the month of December 2020. Note : many of these bars were "half open" celebrating New Year's in the open 'bar beer' areas with staff parties.
* Spritz
* Moonshine
* Jungle Jim's
* Suzie Wong
* Cowboy 2
* Cactus Club
* Toy Bar
* Lucky Star - Long Gun
* Penny Black
* @ Corner
* Baccara
* Shark
* Sunshine
* Lighthouse
* Sam's 2000
* Tilac
SOI COWBOY
"Happy New Year" in Nana Plaza 2021. The only Nitespot open inside was the ground-level Nana Beer Garden in the central courtyard. The 'epitaph drear'? See the brief video clip below... We'll be updating next round...
VIDEO CLIP
It looks for all the world that the Rainbow 2 will be reopening in its old location (after a couple of months down time, and without any neon). A lot will depend, of course, on when Nana Plaza reopens...
NANA PLAZA
The Nitespots fronting on Nana Plaza were open during the New Year's period. Let 'em rock. Hopefully things will remain unchanged....
NANA PLAZA
It looks like what was the Rainbow 1 is finished with its remodelling, and getting ready to open. Staff on the ground say the new name will have the word, "Random" in it...
NANA PLAZA
If, and when the new bar that replaced Diamonds Bangkok reopens, we shall advise... NANA PLAZA
New Year's Eve saw Soi Nana (Soi 4 Sukhumvit) unchanged from the previous month, with the exception of the reopening of Pine 26 Club. In keeping with our ad-hoc 'Pandemic' policy, we are keeping Pine 26's status as "Open Sometimes". So while we still can, let the good times roll...
SOI NANA - (SOI 4 SUKHUMVIT) Soi Katoey (Silom Soi 4) was one of (only) two Expat Night Entertainment Area in Bangkok on New Year's Eve where every bar was open; there were no changes from last month's survey. Business as usual, in spite of any partial lockdown edicts by the authorities over the New Near Holidays.
SOI KATOEY
A pic for the Archives. The J. Star opened last month, in spite of the Pandemic, and are somehow keeping busy. Gotsta get paid.
SOI 22
Re-openings, Soi 22 during the month of December 2020.
* Terminal 69 - a bar beer at the top of the Soi, (no sign).
* Shag Bar - a bar beer at the top of the Soi, (no sign).
SOI 22
New Closures, Soi 22, regardless of causes, during the month of December 2020.
* Happy Bar
* Bit Style Massage
* (Unnamed venue)
* Ampa
* Chawang Massg
* Paradise Massg - in Soi Lemongrass.
* Honey Bee - in Soi Lemongrass.
* Rita Massg - in Soi Lemongrass.
* Bangkok Passion Massg - in Soi Lemongrass.
* Exotic Bangkok Massg - in Soi Hana.
* Hana Massg - in Soi Hana.
* Dolla Massg - in Soi Hana.
* The Connection
* Am's Bar
* SMCTM Men's Society - in Soi Titanium.
* Siri Massg
* Bar Black Pinkie
SOI 22
The brand-new Hillary 11 has opened in the recently-closed (and recently completely renovated) Marshmallow Kitchen & Bar. Located at the end of Soi Ambassador where it 'T's off left and right. The nicest 'Hillary' yet... Welcome to the machine...
SOI AMBASSADOR
(Sukhumvit Soi 11) For the last few months we have tracked the three makeshift bar beers (the Tewly Cocktail 'group') that had appeared from seemingly nowhere in the now vacant land near to where Cheap Charlie's used to stand. This last month, a fourth (nameless) bar beer sprouted like a dragon's tooth... Welcome them to the sharkpool. We find ourselves wondering how many such temporary Nitespots will pop up (before the developers commence with their 'improvements')...
SOI AMBASSADOR
(Sukhumvit Soi 11) New Closures, Soi Ambassador (Sukhumvit Soi 11), regardless of causes, during the month of December 2020.
* Sugar Late Night
* Bafros
* Praew Spa 2
* Baan Puan Massage
* Crave - in Aloft Hotel.
* Levels - in Aloft Hotel.
* Insanity
* Phoenix Massg - in a small side-soi.
* Chaba Massage
* Mon Spa - in Soi Havana Social.
* Brew Beers & Ciders - CLOSED permanently.
* Bai Po Massage - in Soi 11/1
* Niraon Massage - in Soi 11/1
SOI AMBASSADOR
(Sukhumvit Soi 11)  SOI 7 PLAZA
(AKA "Nana Plaza @ 7")
Last month we noted the opening of the new, and signless, Heaven bar beer. This month they have 'signed-up', so-to-speak... A pic for the archives, may they continue to rock & roll...
SOI 7 PLAZA
New Closures, Soi 7 Plaza, regardless of causes, during the month of December 2020.
* Meaw Meaw - CLOSED permanently, area absorbed by Big B's Bar.
SOI 7 PLAZA
The Dream Heaven Nuru Nuru Gel specialty massage (previously located in the front of the S-33 Compact Hotel) has relocated to the top of Subsoi 4. Modus operandi unchanged.
SOI DEAD
ARTISTS (Sukhumvit 33) The 666 Class specialty massage has taken over from Hera's Massage specialty massage, which has just closed. Rub-a-dub-dub...
SOI DEAD
ARTISTS (Sukhumvit 33) New Closures, Soi Ambassador (Sukhumvit Soi 33), regardless of causes, during the month of December 2020.
* 33 Society - (OPEN SOMETIMES)
* Dozo - In S-33 Compact Hotel. * Tsubaki Expatriate Japanese Club 2 - In Subsoi 6. * Tsubaki 33 - In Subsoi 6. * Tokyo - Reopened in December, but reclosed. * Daisy Dream Massage - In Subsoi 3. * Survey Entertainment * Akane Fashion Massage * Tenderloins / Bistro 33 * 7 Heaven - In Subsoi Pan Pan. * Club Kitty - In Subsoi Pan Pan. * RIP - In Subsoi Pan Pan. SOI DEAD ARTISTS (Sukhumvit 33) An Archive photo of the Magic Table, one of the more popular bars on Soi Eden. This last month, Soi Eden's inventory changed neither up nor down (one of only 2 Expat Nitespot Areas that remained unchanged.)
SOI EDEN (Sukhumvit 7 / 1)
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January's Nitelife News 
