The FARANG Speaks 2 Much

World Cup is in full swing, school is back in session but the nightlife refuses to relent. That’s a good thing - being back in school that is, otherwise I would party all night and never get out of bed. So this brings me to Starbucks in the mornings to study and scout the local talent. Yes folks - Bangkok Baristas have been known to serve more than coffee on occasion. So there I was studying away in Starbucks and I heard it - the loudest, most annoying voice ripping through the normally serene Starbucks like a scud missile in Iraq. Not only was she loud and annoying but she was telling her male companion(who looked just as terrified as the rest of us Latte sipping innocent bystanders) how much she disliked people who said bad things about George Bush.

Here we go. I remember these types. The card carrying Americans who would normally be the loudest people on the Hong Kong metro arguing with each other as to why the rest of the world could possibly be upset with George Bush. Does this really need explaining? I for one, being an American, know perfectly well why people are upset with Georgie and I cannot find any reason to disagree with them. I think the front page of the most recent AWSJ sums it up well:

"There is perhaps only one democratically elected president in the world who can envy U.S. President George W. Bush’s dismal approval ratings: Taiwan’s Chen Shui-Bian."

There u have it. Why am I bringing any of this up? I was just happy to know that later I was going to be cruising the Bangkok nightlife with some friends hunting down some lovely Thai birds. I suddenly felt so lucky and at the same time so bad for the fellow who was having to endure his morning cup of coffee listening to that chick. Gotta love Thailand. Anyway - on to the bar buzz…

Shark is happening on Soi Cowboy. They are not playing quite the good music they were a few weeks back but the bevy of girls is awesome and the other night I was told there were 6 more new girls added that very day. I found one of them and she was cool. Young. Fresh on the scene.

Qbar. I hate it. Hate it and won’t go back. Stopped in the other night on a Wednesday because my friend could not go to Bed Supperclub. His gay lover(on the side) forbade him from Wednesday nights at Bed but will save that for another post. So by default, since we were already on Soi 11, we stumbled into Qbar. 800 baht cover charge on a Wednesday night. I was in sticker shock. 2 lame drinks and in fact when I requested my drink to be made with Absolut they asked for an extra 40 baht. What? So 800 baht gets me what these days? Snobby bartenders who think they are too cool to provide decent service? Stuck up freelance Thai girls who think every guy in the club is a FOB? Please girls. DJ? Well - there was one but frankly I could have plugged in my iPod and done a better job since what he was playing was not even danceable. This is my take on Qbar. The owner has made it. Qbar is busy even when it sucks. So now he has decided to take it to a new level by charging insane prices just to see how many idiots will walk off the street and pay it thinking that they are too cool to suspect that their money may not be buying them much of an experience at all. Well he got me this time but I won’t do it again. Go to Bed. Much better. More later on Bed.

Sin club on Soi 4 is back to staying open late. Music was lame last trip and they still don’t have the freelancer activity like Nana or Soi Tunnel. Go tunnel. Long live the tunnel. The freebie pull ratio in the Tunnel is high. My friend has a perfect tactic. Say u have no money but u have a place to stay. Not even a big place but a place none the less. Then fawn all over her until u are both good and wasted. Take her home. Rinse. Repeat. We love the Tunnel.

Suzie Wongs’ has shows. Long Gun has shows. Last week I gave the nod to Suzie. This week I am giving it to Long Gun. There 4 girl get all the way naked show is great. A must see. At least until there is something better to see. Tough life. I will keep looking for something better.

Grottino. We talked about it before. Toxic mentioned it was going to be the after hours place for World Cup. Love u all at Toxic but Grottino sucks. Sorry folks. Sometimes we make mistakes.

Enjoy…