Sukhumvit road east of the Chalerm Mahanakhon Expressway.

Has anyone noticed any significant decrease in night life action in any of the popular go-go areas (i.e. Nana, Soi Cowboy, etc.) due to the recent curfew crack down? I would appreciate any info since I am planning a trip in the spring to BKK and Pattaya.

Yes, most definitely the decrease is significant. Not only are places closing by 2am, and many times as early as 12:30am (can never figure out why they are so inconsistent and seemingly random about this), but the sex shows and even topless dancing is now hidden!

Several times I've seen a show stop or a stage full of girls run into the dressing room in a flash after a lookout has given the signal that the police are in the area. Then all the dancers sitting around dressed get up on stage so everything looks legitimate. Yes, they are trying to get around the crackdown, but it's not working very well. Many places don't even try to do these little tricks for fear of heavy fines.

This is not the same scene I found in Thailand just 3 months ago. Don't get me wrong though. I still believe this is the best place to come. You can read that two ways.

Frenchie,

Well, this is a disturbing development. I have been looking forward to my upcoming Thailand trip for months! ... (prog)

This is disturbing to me also. Booked my first trip to Thailand for early October. Hope it blows over by then. Was going to split my week between BK and Pattaya ... maybe I should plan on more time in Pataya?

If you're disturbed by the 2 a.m. closing, going to Pattaya won't help. Check out the August 24th article in the Pattaya Mail newspaper:

http://www.pattayamail.com/421/news.htm#hd2

Personally, I'm not too upset by the 2 a.m. closing. By 9 p.m., I've already picked my girl(s) for the night.

The early closing is a government decree. I posted an article from the Bangkok newspaper in the Thailand section if you are interested.

Yujin is right, the 2am closing time is in effect in Pattaya as well. It's not the closing time that's killing me as much as the overall crackdown. Girls don't dance topless anymore. It's hard to believe this is Thailand! The scene is so very different from what it was just 3 months ago.

There is talk about major rezonings as well. The government is itching to close down Clinton Plaza and maybe even make the bars in Soi Cowboy close. Patpong will probably stay, but it's the worst location with all that street market shit outside in the street. They want to rezone Pattaya, too. Bars are spread all over this town and any massive relocations would kill off most of the small operations.

The prime minister, Taksin, was prosecuted for tax evasion and that kept him busy for awhile. Just a few weeks ago the constitutional court found him innocent by a vote of 5 to 4. He was clearly guilty, but the people have high hopes that he will help Thailand recover and so he was let off for political reasons. Everyone here knows this.

After his acquittal the first thing he did was assemble his cabinet for a meeting in Pattaya for strategy. Why Pattaya? Probably because he wanted to point out the extent of the sex business and issue his own new directives to curb sex tourism. Immediately after this meeting the crackdowns became almost excessive. The police don't like these crackdowns either because they get payoffs from the bars, but now too much money is being lost.

When a government is in trouble the best thing it can do is go to war to redirect criticsm and unite the people. This is a war of the government against the sex industry. Only political pressure against Taksin will change things, in my opinion.

Frenchie:
That's a great, concise, and overall well described posting of the situation. Nice job.

Thanks for the feedback. I only wish I had better news to report about the current situation here.

I can say this, things have definitely changed for the worse, but even with these problems I still think it's the best place on earth to find incredible women for such little money.

The government has no credibility regarding corruption and so I suspect that some of the big players in the adult entertainment business will be able to avoid a complete closure using payoffs. Still, if these crackdowns kill of most of the smaller places then Patpong and the big bars will take advantage of the monopoly and raise prices.

If things go too far everyone will have to start vacationing in Cambodia and the Philippines.

Frenchie

do you think they are going after the thai bars also, or just the high profile places?

from what I have seen/heard the small "thai only" bars are much sleezier than the ones everyone knows about. ( I find it hard to beleive it is a "moral" issue, at least in thailand with the way things work)

Imho, probably just for show, and maybe the farang owned bars will suffer the most.

Whats the word from Phuket? I plan to be there early Nov. I hope it is still fun.


we shall see

(Taksin kee pet, or so he thinks)

At first I thought it was about police not getting their payoffs and then showing muscle by closing places early. Now I see that all of the places, Thai and farang are suffering.

Part of this is a moral issue. Most westerners don't understand that Thais are very conservative. Girls don't dance on the streets in g-strings in Bangkok. It all happens in dark clubs. Many of the girls don't want to do this work, but they have to. It's a very complex issue with a complex history. When my trip is finished I will take some time to write more on this.

The new Prime Minister is using this moral issue to appeal to the vast majority of conservative Thais. He also argues that the image of Thailand overseas is dominated by the sex trade. I have to agree on this point. We can blame shitty western media for cranking out the odd story about Thai brothels whenever ratings need a boost. They misrepresent most of what's happening over here and as a consequence, most foreigners believe this is a nation of sex crazed prostitutes. The government wants to clean up Thailand's image to promote tourism. They believe the "sex tourists" are only a small percentage of the visitors here and so by killing off the sex business they will lose some undesireables and gain many more family groups visiting for the beaches and culture.

I can't comment on Phuket since I have never been there. Early November should be busy and I bet you'll have a great time. Just take some time out during the day to post something here for everyone. Okay, I have to go hit the bars now and grab a couple ladies!

Frenchie:

good insite on things there.

I will try to post some stuff in Nov. but my usual
plan is to get on irc if I get time>

"Okay, I have to go hit the bars now and grab a couple
ladies!"


thai girls are like potatoe chips, bet u can't eat just one.

Have fun, u lucky dog.

ta see dang

Frenchie:
2 Weeks from today I leave LAX and arrive in the LOS! It's a dream trip for sure! I just hope it doesn't all end before I get there! Just kidding.... I really doubt it will, I think from what all I've read, this will in time blow over and things eventually will adjust. I don't know if you'll still be there when I arrive but if so, maybe we can throw back a cold one or two...
Cheers
Elfman

Elfman36

I hope you find time to get to Phuket, much more relaxed there ( IMHO).


just be sure to start out early and make ur choices to allow for whatever closing times are at the time.

( still no restrictions on what you do once you get to ur room) ((( not yet anyway))


Whatever happens, still is way ahead of staying here and dreaming of being there.


snauk yai

Elfman36,

I think there's still fun to be had... I'm off to BKK this coming Monday. I saw the responses to your post on nanaplaza.com by several of the expatriates and it looks like Bangkok is still the same - just closes down earlier. I'm looking on the bright side of this issue: I have more time to play with my Thai honeys back at the hotel ... (prog)

prog - you have the right perspective. if nana plaza is closing early, i haven't noticed/it has bothered me. plenty of time to grab a chick and head back to the hotel.

i like g-spot the best, then rainbow 2. also, if/when the bars and discos close (the nana disco did close at about 2 am on my first night) all the chicks just hang on the street. on my first night i dragged out a chick from rainbow. she left at 3 am. i then proceeded over to nana disco to find that it was closed. i was able to choose a freelancer out of a crowd of at least 20 girls (and i think there were more sitting in the lobby of the hotel).

so, i'm sure that things have changed based on what i read here from BKK veterans. however, there is still plenty of action at this point.

Last week we closed the bars without connecting with anyone. There is an open-air bar with a boxing ring on Soi4 (Hillary Bar I think) just down the street from the Nana Hotel. The place was crowded with chicks looking for someone. My expat friend went up to two that were together and asked if they wanted to go with us. They hesitated and he just moved on to the next two. They agreed and he asked me if they were OK with me and which one I wanted and we were off. I had a pretty, very slender one with nice breasts. No mention of a price. I gave her 1000 baht when she left the next morning.

I have been hanging out at Nana Plaza and recommend Hog's Breath, the girls at the bar outside of the Voodoo gogo place and Big Dog. You can sit at the rail and checkout the traffic going into the plaza and down the street. An Australian expat at Hog's Breath (Russel) told me that he had a friend that has come to Bangkok 4 times and has never been anywhere but the Nana Plaza.

Rock Hard has been pretty good of late, with excellent music, and a nice line-up of friendly girls. Maybe not some of the stunners of, say,G-Spot, but a nice, mid-range go go. Lolipop is in the same category, in my book.

froggo

Keep up the good work froggo!

Harry

I will do my best, Harry. Thanks for the thumbs up.

Off again for my rounds tomorrow night, so we will see how things go. It is "beer garden" season in Bangkok now, so that is likely where I will begin.

For those unfamilar with Bangkok, Nov - Feb brings "cool" weather to the capital, and the Thais take advantage of this by enjoying themselves at beer gardens all over the city. These beer gardens are a nice place to drink a few cold ones, check out all the office girls, and prepare yourself for a night of debauchery. That is, if you do not meet a lass at the gardens, which is quite possible.

The biggest of these beers gardens is right in front of the World Trade Center. I highly recommend it.

So, that is on the agenda - plan to pop into Nana and then the "off-and-on" Clinton plaza - will let you know how things are in those parts.

Cheers,

froggo

Froggo,

WTC? What Soi is that on? Have you tried the BG on Soi 7 or the Bamboo Bar on Soi 3 (I think)?

Yes, have tried the Soi 3 and 7 offerings, but we are talking about a different breed of beer garden here. The places you speak of are populated with freelance bargirls, and operate year round.

Seasonal beer gardens, such as the one at WTC, are for the general Thai (and foreign) population. They are all over the place, with the biggest being at WTC. The WTC garden has three stages for music, lots of draft beer stations, etc.

The WTC is located on Rajadamri Road, just across from the Sogo Dept Store and the Hyattt Erawan Hotel. Very central.

Makes for a good warm up before you do your serious hunting.

Hope that helps.

froggo

Bad news at Nana Plaza last night. The topless and nude bars are bikini bars of late. Pretty soon they may be burqa bars. It's still the place to meet pretty women, but you see more flesh at a California beach than at Nana Plaza last night. I hope this prudery ends soon.

Doug,

Personally, I don't think this crackdown is going to let up. Many people have told me it will and that we need to remember that TIT (This is Thailand). I don't think so - not this time. My feeling is that the sex trade is going to come to an end sometime in the not-so-far future in Thailand. Cheer up guys - there's plenty of other places to go! ... (prog)

Guys, tell us more! Should I still come out for my first trip in Jan.? I'm scared that the paradise described will be a let-down. Should I fear?

Rasta,

GO!!!! I don't think that it all will be over, done and gone in two months. Even a declining sex scene in LOS will be mind blowing if you never have been there. I went during the monsoons and when all this trouble was first starting hoping for the best ... started planning my second trip the moment I got back. Don't worry ... the girls will take the bikini off once you have them bar fined.
Be sure to visit Eden's Club. It's not a bar it's not a gogo, I can only describe it as a whore house where the girls try to f**k you to death for 90 minutes non stop. (unless you beg for them to stop) Girls line up in bikini and you take your pick. Once you get to the room you are going to wish that you have had a good breakfast so be sure and eat your "weedies" (sorry, couldn't resist the pun)

P.S. I will be arriving BKK late night Jan 23 offer of a beer still stands.

Just read a bit more about the latest crackdowns in Stickman's most resent Weekly Report, 12/2.
www.chopsticks.net/stickman/

Sounds like there is still plenty of action but that might not be the case for NEXT High Season ... I'm still going back at least one more time, but got my sights on Rio as well. (sigh...will it never end?)

Rastaman,

Yes, go anyway!! There's still a lot of stuff to do. My advice to you is do a lot of short time stuff in Bangkok and get down to Pattaya or Phuket for the all night action (IMHO). It is a little weird seeing everything shutdown so early but just be sure to pick up you girl(s) earlier. Hopefully you'll still be able to see at least one sex show at either Patong or NEP. I still haven't figured out how the one girl was able to pour a bottle of water into her pussy, then fill another bottle up with coke. Also, that razor blade trick was pretty amazing. No, shooting darts at balloons from their pussies was better, wait, no the flying banana, no the.....

You get the idea. Have fun in the LoS... (prog)

All I can say is phew! Thanks, guys! I feel much better. I hope, too, that I can catch a show like that. I want to see a live sex show or something very exotic like that. This is what I would expect from my first visit to Bangkok and Thailand in general.

The initial plan is for the first 3 nights in BKK, then 3 nights still undecided then 1 nite back in BKK then fly out early. I have an offer from a fellow monger to meet up in Vietnam and that sounds intruiging, but a little scary by myself. So Phuket is sounding pretty good. I guess I should do some more reading and decide on which and how I am going to get there...

Go to Pattaya!! It's a 2.5 hour drive south of Bangkok. I had a private driver/car and it only cost 1000 baht. I'm sure you can go a lot cheaper if you use public transportation. The beer bars are great and very cheap. A typical beer bar barfine is 200 baht. The girls will go down to as low as 500-750 baht for all night but most will quote around 1000-1500. I did a "tequila girl" from Rodeo. She rocked my world (see my trip reports from last Sept)... Enjoy... (prog)

Go to Thailand, Rastaman!! Sex is not in anyway affected by the bar body coverups. You can still definitely see enough that you won't end up with some chick with stretchmarks and a loose belly.
I never cared for the vagina magic shows after I saw the first one. I just like watching naked dancers. I can't see anything objectionable about
nudity, but that seems to be targeted. Only street
prostitution draws any police or government interest. Girls who get arrested get fined 500 baht
($11), but pimps face jail time and heavy fines.

Just go - I live here and there is not many problems with the bars - just adjust your pussy time clock a bit and you'll be fine.

Newsflash-
Angel Witch was closed last week but has been open since at least Saturday. Reopening means entire Nana Plaza is open.
Mini-tour-
Stopped last night in Lollipop, Bottoms Up, and Red Lips, first three on ground floor on left hand side as you walk in. Scary lineup,no need to visit again in near future.

Voodoo, forth on left, had good lineup but attractive lady on stage metamorphed to probable katooey sitting next to me. Exit Voodoo.

Jumped over Obsessions (katooey bar) to enter Rainbow 2. Plenty of ladies, decent lineup, didn't notice anything that stood out.

Tired of hitting everything and buying drink everywhere, so went to Playskool. Smaller but packed, popular place. Several standouts and above averages with many decents.

Always same katooey pleading me to come in to bar facing escalator after riding to second floor. Think I have seen cute ladies but never have gone in because they have katooey working door.

Fantasia on left side had one cute door lady but otherwise unimpressive lineup.

G-spot, last on right side in back another one of the larger places with huge lineup and above average ladies.

Up to floor 3, Hollywood Strip on left side has been my favorite Nana Plaza hangout. Great show/dancers, lots of space, and above average lineup with some standouts.

Hollywood 2 next door has some nice ladies as well and shares dancers but is very small and often packed.

Carnival on right side opposite Hollywood Strip seems to fluctuate. Saw some knockouts last week. Went in a couple days recently for piss poor lineup. I still like the place.

Maybe will hit some of the other places before I leave Bangkok.

***NEWSFLASH***

According to Stickman's Weekly from two weeks ago, Nana bar owners are now making XEROX COPIES OF IDs FROM ALL CUSTOMERS WHO BARFINE A GIRL!!!

Their justification is "well, our girls have to sometimes leave their ID with the hotel front desk, so we'll require it from all customers."

IMHO, this is unacceptable. I will not barfine any Nana girl whose club demands to keep a copy of my ID. I will not slip down that slippery slope, if you know what I mean. Fuck it. I'll be on the bus to Pattaya if I run into this next month, which I fully expect to.

I'm just a little pissed.

If you scroll down the article, you will notice that his was given misinformation and that the policy does not exist...yet

Whew! Needless to say, I was not happy. My temperature is now down to a mild fever. If this ever does come about, then refer to my reaction above.

If it ever comes about, it wouldn't last, at least that's my opinion. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Managed to beat closing time by 45 min after arriving in BBK very late friday night. Was back for a slower paced look around saturday night. Plenty of bare boobies at NEP. Looks to be 100% open with many cuties to be found. Found two short time gals in two nights, paid 1500 & 2000 ... less than asking price in both cases. Bar fines seem to be 600Baht all around and not flexible.

Mcdijj,

Are you seeing more flexibility in pricing now that high season is over? I was (sort of) expecting to be able to bargain more in April than in January.

Your thoughts?

Hmmm, $50 for LT, well, that's why I like Angeles City better, just $20 LT.

Bingo,

OK, now you've got me looking at travelocity to Angeles City. Thanks alot, dude!

LOL

Indyla, I'd recommend an "open jaw" r/t. That is to say: LA or SF to Thailand, Philippines back to LA or SF. Go to Bangkok -->Pattaya, then book a o/w flight for about $175 (Egypt Air) to Manila and head to Angeles City. Buy your o/w ticket right away in Bkk for Manila, Egypt Air books fast because they are $50 cheaper than Thai or Luftansa Air. Suggested time in each: Bkk 4 days, Pattaya 6 days, AC remaining days.... After 10 days in AC, it may get boring but you'll still be sad to leave!

Bingo,

Sounds like a tasty menu for Thanksgiving!

That's a good time to go too, not too hot. I was in both the Phils. and Thailand then, much better to go then than during the very hot summer months.

So many places to go >sigh<

Grass is greener syndrome, well that can be ok, it's nice to keep looking yonder but surely you can find something you like in NEP, Soi Cowboy, Angeles City, etc. It's all a matter of knowing where to look to find the most girls of the type you like best. I like long black haired girls, so the Filipina generally fits that bill, and communication is less of a problem there too.

When I went to Thailand in the early 90's, Nana was the preferred place to go, no barkers like at Patpong, now it is just like or nearly like Patpong.... yuck. Also, they filled in the whole horse shoe area with bars making it a bit claustrophoic, which was my big grip about Patpong. Soi Cowboy, on the otherhand, is still a nice relaxed place to go, the only barkers there are pretty ladies ;-) Some still maintain the prettier girls work at Patpong, or Nana, but I think that is truly questionable. Then there is Pattaya, land of the beer bars! Yeah, some nice go-go bars, but I bet you'll have a funner time roaming the beer bars.

Hi Guys (and ladies),

I am new here, but I would like to introduce myself by posting a few pictures I took at NEP this Songkran 2002. I hope you enjoy them.

Greetings,
Xharly

Where are they?