Thailand Night Fever

October 15, 2008

: AFTER DARK ASIA VOLUME 7 IS ON SALE NOW

NIGHTMARE ON NANA STREET

There is something strange stirring amidst the humid night air… No, it’s not the tom yam gung I ate earlier… Oh, I know what it is! The ghouls and ghosts are ready to come out of hibernation for Halloween. For the big boys and girls, there is no better place to enjoy Halloween than Thailand. It is a lot of fun and it will most certainly cheer up what has been a horrible October. It will help to erode the apprehensive atmosphere. Furthermore, it will remind us all that life is too short to be taken too seriously.

Do you know this? There is always a farang plonker who says to me, “When is Halloween?” Bless ‘em! It comes as no surprise that it is on October 31st, the same as every year. This year “fright night” falls on a Friday. I am reminding some of you in advance, so that you can plan your holidays accordingly. Be afraid, be very afraid!

ANGELWITCH GO-GO BAR – NEW-2-VIEW

Both Angelwitch Bangkok and Pattaya will be decorated especially for the Halloween Party. There will be special shows and lots of creatures of the night to entertain you.

In Angelwitch this week, two new arrivals in particular definitely deserve a mention. Both of these new-2-view go-go dancers are gifts from Mother Nature. Make sure that you keen dolly bird watchers survey the scene for #49 and #54. Both of them are pretty and petite. And, as an added bonus, they are farang friendly too.

Also in Angelwitch, look out for the Spiderman Show. It consists of an innovative use of the Angelwitch “C” Factor – creativity, choreography, costumes, colours and concept.

DON'T MISS THE BEST HALLOWEEN PARTY IN THAILAND - FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31

CHEERS AND BEERS

Probably one of the greatest actors of his time, Robert De Niro, played an excellent role in “The Deer Hunter.” Well guys, here in downtown Bangkok, Dave The Rave is “The Beer Hunter!”

Finally, we see the return of Beer Lao. OK, this might not rock your world, but it sure does please Beer Lao fans. If you were not aware, Beer Lao was unavailable for a while. The reasons why the Beer Lao supply train stopped is another one of those Asiatic idiosyncrasies. Anyway, enough small talk, the important thing is that Beer Lao is back. Here’s to beers and cheers!

PATTAYA – PLEASURE PLAYGROUND

Just when some Pattaya bars think it cannot get any worse, the Thai authorities create another crackdown. Down in Soi 6 (otherwise know as Soi Sex), there has been a clamping of operating hours. Currently the afternoon opening hours are axed. The boys in brown told the bars in Soi 6 that they must open from 6:00pm until 1:00am. This is a harsh blow to what was a daytime haven for some afternoon activity. Apparently, so far the authorities targeted Soi 6, Soi 7 and Soi 8.

Unfortunately, bar trade in Pattaya has taken a nosedive. Only a minority of elite bars are unaffected. The knock-on affect from the political problems in Bangkok has created another headache for Pattaya. Pattaya is certainly not alone, as Thailand is suffering a nationwide problem. With both internal and external problems, Pattaya is really suffering. Almost every person that I have spoken to has waved goodbye to any hope of a particularly profitable high season. The damage is done.

NOVEMBER BAR CLOSURES

Next month due to a Royal Funeral, it is most likely that the bars and other nightlife venues will have to close nationwide. Police sources have revealed that they think the closure dates will be November 14th, 15th and 16th. However, at this time these dates have NOT been confirmed 100%. I will keep you informed and please look out for last minute updates closer to the time.

BAR CODE — FIGHT OR FLIGHT

Recently in Soi Cowboy, a farang man was set upon by a gang of Thai men from Baccara Bar. Fortunately, he was a mountain of a man compared to the Thais who attacked him. Although they could not get the better of him, onlookers persuaded him to walk away. Previous to this fight, two rival Soi Cowboy go-go bars started a bottle battle. Beer bottles were sent hurling across the street from bar to bar. Utter insanity! Unfortunately, there is much more violence in Pattaya. On many occasions, I have witnessed foreigners starting the fights and not the Thais. Many reports on the internet do not reflect the fact that crazy foreigners were to blame. Afterwards they falsely claim to be the victim and not the aggressor. It is all just so unnecessary. Is this how civilized people enjoy their holidays? It is also a fact that many of these hooligans are Europeans. As though Pattaya doesn’t have enough problems to deal with!

ENTRANCE TO NANA ENTERTAINMENT PLAZA BANGKOK

I have worked in the bar and nightclub business for 25 years. I spent a total of 15 years supervising pubs and clubs in England. For the past 10 years, I have managed go-go bars in Bangkok. During the 15 years in British pubs and clubs, I have seen more mindless violence than I care to remember. Even to this day, I still do not understand the real reasons behind this gratuitous hostility. In the social world of pubs and clubs, violence is most unwarranted. This especially applies to Thailand’s nightlife areas, because they are overflowing with dolly birds. There’s never truer words spoken when a man says, “I’m a lover not a fighter.” This especially applies, when an enraged bargirl screams, “I boxing you if you no love me!” Don’t you just love this humorous contradiction? Mind you, it’s not very funny, if you are on the receiving end of this particular bargirlism!

Joking aside, violence can put a stop to an argument, but it rarely solves anything. In fact, even more hatred might emerge and then, revenge will take it to another level. An argument and then a fight in a pub, sometimes leads to an innocent family getting their house firebombed. In violent parts of Britain, this is no exaggeration.

Most Thais that I know do not like confrontation. However, if push comes to shove, we sometimes see the mighty wrath of the Thais. In the red-light districts, you do not always see people at their best. When a situation turns violent, sometimes the Thais take no prisoners. The Thais have home advantage and they exploit this to an extreme. You can forget the macho one-on-one Muay Thai fights. On the harsh city streets there is often only one rule; win at all costs. In the concrete arena, some Thais will attack like gangs of rabid beasts! They will accumulate as many bodies and weapons as they can to defeat the enemy. What I find sickening are the cowardly thugs. Even though gangs of Thais clearly outnumber the foreigners, they arm themselves with weapons. Remember, we are outnumbered by a more than just a few million. The Thais are no different to many foreigners; they fiercely protect their territory and their own people. Similar to any war of attrition, you might win a battle, but you won’t win the war.

Before you swallow the bitter pill of being beaten to a pulp, remember that prevention is better than cure. Forget ego and macho, because it is better to be safe than sorry. After 25 years in the nightlife business, I can tell you, it is the wise man that walks away. In the meantime, endeavour to be a lover not a fighter.