Filipina Girl
No real post here. I just wanted to share a photo of a lovely Filipina on the resort island of Boracay.
Saturday, February 19, 2005
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Patpong, Nana Plaza, and Soi Cowboy
Bangkok has three major entertainment areas as well as a scattering of other establishments: Patpong Road, Nana Plaza, and Soi Cowboy. Here is a general description of each (more detailed of each area will be done later.)
Patpong Road is perhaps the most famous of the three. Located between Silom and Surowong Roads next to the Saladaeng Skytrain station, it is easily accessible and quite popular with tourists. Touts will approach any falang (foreigner) at all hours offering “massage” service, but the real action does not start until later. Around 4:00 PM each day, vendors will pull stands and products out of bins and set up along Silom and in the middle of Patpong. When set up, these stalls, which offer everything from clothing to handicrafts to cd’s to watches, passage down Patpong can be rather crowded. Along the edge of the street are the bars. Each bar has its own touts who extol either the drink prices, the beauty of its dancers, or the sexual acts which can be viewed within.
Generally speaking, Patpong is crowded, hectic, dirty and commercial. While worth a gander for first-timers to Thailand just for the experience. However, for a good sexual or titillating experience, pass it up. The girls in the bar are among the most lackadaisical in Thailand, and the massage parlors offered are sorry, over-priced affairs.
As a note, one block back towards the Sky Train station is another road without stalls and with girls in gowns in front of a large number of bars. Unless you are Asian, do not bother. These bars cater to the Japanese market, and non-Asians are not served.
(photo from The girls of Nana Plaza)
Nana Plaza is located off Sukhumvit Road on Soi 4 near the Nana Plaza Skytrain station. Actually called Nana Entertainment Plaza, it is a three-story building with an enclosed courtyard. The entire building and courtyard are full of bars. Most are of the go-go type with female dancers, but a few feature ladyboys. There is one pub (Woodstock) and perhaps the best burgers in Bangkok in the first grill in the center of the courtyard.
Nana Plaza is far less hectic than Patpong, and the girls tend to have more fun. Still somewhat commercial, they can never-the-less let their hair down and have fun. If you are lucky enough to be there during a holiday, such as Songkran (in early April) the girls can really let loose and have fun. Nana is a good destination merely to watch dancers or to go with a group of guys.
Soi Cowboy is further down Sukhumvit just past the Asoke Skytrain station (connecting Asoke Road and Soi 23). Soi Cowboy is about 300 yards long and has maybe 45 bars. Soi Cowboy tends to be cheaper than Nana or Patpong, and the scene less hectic. The bars are less pushy as are the girls. While a few bars until recently had a small amount of nudity, these now seem to toe-the-line, and skimpy costumes, bikinis, or lingerie are the norm.
Soi Cowboy is the destination of choice for most falangs living in Bangkok. It is great for a quick beer, for an entertaining night out, or to find a girl for the night.
Nightlife is not limited to these three areas. Between Soi Cowboy and Nana are places like Eden, Thermae Coffee Shop, and Lolitas. On Ratchadapisek Road are a cluster of high end massage parlors. And even in Pin Klao, there are places like Valentines. Future posts will discuss specific places as well as each of the above three destinations in detail.
Patpong Road is perhaps the most famous of the three. Located between Silom and Surowong Roads next to the Saladaeng Skytrain station, it is easily accessible and quite popular with tourists. Touts will approach any falang (foreigner) at all hours offering “massage” service, but the real action does not start until later. Around 4:00 PM each day, vendors will pull stands and products out of bins and set up along Silom and in the middle of Patpong. When set up, these stalls, which offer everything from clothing to handicrafts to cd’s to watches, passage down Patpong can be rather crowded. Along the edge of the street are the bars. Each bar has its own touts who extol either the drink prices, the beauty of its dancers, or the sexual acts which can be viewed within.
Generally speaking, Patpong is crowded, hectic, dirty and commercial. While worth a gander for first-timers to Thailand just for the experience. However, for a good sexual or titillating experience, pass it up. The girls in the bar are among the most lackadaisical in Thailand, and the massage parlors offered are sorry, over-priced affairs.
As a note, one block back towards the Sky Train station is another road without stalls and with girls in gowns in front of a large number of bars. Unless you are Asian, do not bother. These bars cater to the Japanese market, and non-Asians are not served.
(photo from The girls of Nana Plaza)Nana Plaza is located off Sukhumvit Road on Soi 4 near the Nana Plaza Skytrain station. Actually called Nana Entertainment Plaza, it is a three-story building with an enclosed courtyard. The entire building and courtyard are full of bars. Most are of the go-go type with female dancers, but a few feature ladyboys. There is one pub (Woodstock) and perhaps the best burgers in Bangkok in the first grill in the center of the courtyard.
Nana Plaza is far less hectic than Patpong, and the girls tend to have more fun. Still somewhat commercial, they can never-the-less let their hair down and have fun. If you are lucky enough to be there during a holiday, such as Songkran (in early April) the girls can really let loose and have fun. Nana is a good destination merely to watch dancers or to go with a group of guys.
Soi Cowboy is further down Sukhumvit just past the Asoke Skytrain station (connecting Asoke Road and Soi 23). Soi Cowboy is about 300 yards long and has maybe 45 bars. Soi Cowboy tends to be cheaper than Nana or Patpong, and the scene less hectic. The bars are less pushy as are the girls. While a few bars until recently had a small amount of nudity, these now seem to toe-the-line, and skimpy costumes, bikinis, or lingerie are the norm.
Soi Cowboy is the destination of choice for most falangs living in Bangkok. It is great for a quick beer, for an entertaining night out, or to find a girl for the night.
Nightlife is not limited to these three areas. Between Soi Cowboy and Nana are places like Eden, Thermae Coffee Shop, and Lolitas. On Ratchadapisek Road are a cluster of high end massage parlors. And even in Pin Klao, there are places like Valentines. Future posts will discuss specific places as well as each of the above three destinations in detail.
