Had a quick run of things last night given this is one of the last weekends of drinking prior to all the election madness. As a reminder there won’t be drinks served from the 14th at 6pm until 16th at midnight. Then again from the 22nd at 6pm until the 23rd at midnight. From what I can tell it will be enforced across all of Thailand and in Pattaya as well.Talking to a few go-go owners it looks as if many go-gos will shut since they can’t show or serve booze. Might as well take a holiday is what many bar owners are saying. So apart from the no drinking expect some random closures around town.
First stop last night was Tilac. Tilac has been completely remodeled with the new outside sign age and the inside being redone as well. Looks pretty good. The new seat and bench coverings are quite gaudy and I think out of place but the new lighting and multiple go-go platforms scattered throughout the room are nice. I was there pretty early in the night so the drinking was cheap but the place was close to empty. The music was a mix of techno and house/pop and I was quite enjoying it. I think they must have upgraded the sound system as well since it sounded awesome. Loud but with nice bass. Only issue with Tilac is that there are very few hotties in there. I can see myself going back but the eye candy is not up to snuff.
Got to Shark bar around 9 this time. Got a seat and admired the lineup. So many good looking girls, great happy hour prices and awesome music. Someone makes a point of getting fresh UK/US top pop songs which are fun to listen to but more importantly - the girls are into it as well. This makes all the difference with the girls enjoying the songs and actually dancing a bit on the stage. I easily saw 10 girls I would barfine at first glance. Shark is great but go early. I noticed dancers from playskool, r2 and voodoo on the stage. The exodus continues. I also was getting the horn for the Shark service girls - also some cuties.
Stopped into Apache Coyote or is it Coyote Apache. Nothing really to write home about but the lineup is almost always naked, the music is older rock and the drinks are decently priced. I chatted up a couple of younger cuties who I recognized from Sip-Saen - the after hours spot off of Petchaburi Road. I don’t think Apache will ever be pumping but it may be a hangout for some Cowboy regulars.
Then popped into De JaVu. IMHO - out of the GBWML this is the best one. Music is cool and there is always plenty of nudity and some hotties but the issue is that the drinks prices and the barfines are just too much. Same with all the bars in the GBWML.
A few Nana rumors for u. Take them or leave ‘em. Temptations, the ladyboy bar on the second floor, is in the process of being sold. Say what u will as to why but my bet is the owner wants to get out of some of his Nana bars and pump up his Cowboy operations. My advice to the boys buying the place is to keep it a ladyboy bar. Supposedly Mandarin and Mandarin Table Dance have yet to handover the astronomical key money required to stay in Nana. Who knows how that will play out. Will landlords take a reduction versus no key money or will the place shutdown?
Keeping with the theme of election month I bring you an interview with Democratic Party leader - Abhisit Vejjajiva. Great questions by Crispin of the Asia Times and some interesting predictions to boot. Should be an interesting month.
Funny times in America with NY starting to feel the hurt but with Google and Apple stock going strong I know a lot of folks are going to be happy to spend their web 2.0 wealth on some nice Manhattan pads recently vacated by out of work sub-prime mortgage wizards.
what’s the source of 14/th/15th/16th of December? I can’t find these dates on any other blog sites…. Thanks, Raoul
View all comments by Raoul
r - the source is the police. All registered voters have to vote in their home province. So the weekend before the vote is their chance to go upcountry and vote.
There are some other rumors floating around that they are worried about protesting that weekend as well so hence the no alcohol.
http://www.2thebigmango.com/?p=559
These dates are pretty much assured at this point and I know some go-go owners are thinking of closing.
r - no reason to read other blogs now is there?
joking.
View all comments by smitty
Don’t worry about it Raoul.
None of the “rumors” recounted here ever turn out to be true.
View all comments by Jack Dawson
r - u r probably new here so don’t mind JD.
we already got our letter from the police for the no alcohol dates but they appear to not be asking people to close. Just to not serve booze. I talked to one of the major bar owners on cowboy last night and he is considering closing since some of his employees need to vote and generally without booze the takings in go-gos are pretty low.
This also happened last election but for not as many days.
Also some of the pattaya websites are also announcing the same dates. This is an election thing so pretty widely known throughout town. I am sure there will be places to drink and they may even change the hours but who knows.
jd - thanks for being so attentive though. we appreciate it.
View all comments by smitty
The Crispin interview of Abhisit can hardly be counted among his more incisive reporting jobs, can it? First he fills the air with softball questions, then he lets Abhisit get away with painting every difficult question over with royal yellow cliches about how much Thais love their king rather than insisting he be responsive. Even by normal standards of lame political reporting, it’s among the worst drivel I ever read.
Crispin should be ashamed of himself. He has no trouble pissing on the Thai provincial politicians, but an Oxford educated guy makes him roll up in a ball and begin to whimper.
View all comments by Old Asia Hand
oah - sure but it kind of shows u what we are dealing with. I think he sidestepped a lot of the questions but they usually do. I am not sure what I would ask these people since most of the time I doubt they will answer the question truthfully. Sean may not have done a great job but at the same time Abhisit does not come away looking too impressive in his own right. I think enough of the right questions were asked but Abhisit chose to dance around them.
View all comments by smitty
Yeah, don’t forget these were the guys who scuppered the system in the first place by refusing to participate in the snap election that TRT called.
Snap elections are a staple of the parliamentary system, a basic and entirely legitimate tactic of the majority party that has been used everywhere since the inception of parliamentary government. Abhisit and the Democrats refused to participate in the election called by TRT on the grounds that…uh, they would have gotten their asses kicked. And that was the end of elected government in Thailand from then until now.
Are these pussies only champions of democratically elected governments when the elections are rigged in their favor? Like, by letting the military and the palace try to wipe out the major party before you actually compete with them maybe? Sort of looks that way. That’s the question Crispin should have asked.
View all comments by Old Asia Hand
Straight question to you chaps: What, aside from a successfully rigged election, could stop the rubber from hitting the road at some point the week after, say, um, Wan Kitmat?
View all comments by thongsuk
@JD: I dunno, there was a rumour here that the Big Mango was gonna close, and it did. But they were pretty late finding out about it… only reported it two days ahead of the actual event.
@Thongsuk: are you showing off your in depth familiarity with Passat Isaan again?!
View all comments by werewolf
I never understood the Thai logic, that bars cannot sell alcohol to a farang customer prior to the elections.
View all comments by hanuman
I never understood the farang logic that Thailand should make laws or make exceptions to laws specifically for the benefit of farangs.
View all comments by John Brown
ww: Passat Issan? Is that some kind of farm cart ;-?
View all comments by thongsuk
I don’t think that there is a law in Thailand banning alcohol prior to the elections.
View all comments by hanuman
And what about the exception Thai law seems to make when a farang is involved in an accident on the road.
View all comments by hanuman
hanuman
Dec 10th, 2007 at 1:16 am
I don’t think that there is a law in Thailand banning alcohol prior to the elections.
There are no laws in Thailand at all about anything. Just the whims of whoever has seized control for the moment.
View all comments by Old Asia Hand
oah - true but let’s not pretend that the TRT is innocent. Please. It is all a mess with neither side really aiming for democracy and with the TRT pretending to care about the people but focusing most on making themselves richer. The democratic party on pretending to shoot for a democracy but all really royalists at heart. The asian godfathers book covers this well and although corruption is all over asia - there is a good comparison of the SE asian model of government versus the east asian model of government. Which has done better for the people. I still reckon the TRT style is worse but it seems to get by here.
ww - we got the rumor on the mango pretty late but it was true.
I find it funny that people think these election related no drinking things are rumors I would need to trump. Like I really want a bunch of no drinking days.
h - this is not a law but understand for example, prostitution is illegal, but it happens. These alcohol bans are not rooted in law. This is handed down by the police - which I am sure it is requested of them by the government. Pretty much as good as law around here. Had a buddy serving once during one of these no alcohol days. They shut his bar down and arrested him. The farang manager. Lots of hours at the police station and I recall 50,000 baht to get out. Not really worth it just to allow a few farangs to get drunk on a day when they said no drinking.
This farang/local BS does get to me. John b - I think u miss one of the issues. Why is it the curfews are properly enforced in the farang zones but one can cruise the side sois of ratchada and find clubs open all night full of underage girls? If I recall the curfews were started to protect the thais. Not the farang. Even the late night thai venues stay open past the late night farang venues. I think they should have farang zones that stay open late and properly enforce the thai areas since the point was to keep the young thais from drinking all night and getting laid versus going to bed and going to school. Why should it matter how late a tourist stays up drinking? They are on holiday.
View all comments by smitty
@smitty: underrage girls aren’t allowed to vote, and so who cares if they party all night?
View all comments by Combover
I forgot to add before that I discovered prostitution was legal in Turkey. Big Shock, and they say the Muslim are far behind us?
Back to elections, as far as I can remember only 7/11 and Family Mart stop selling alcohol, but all the other keep selling it in the Farang zone. Patpong gogo’s are normally open too. I went last time and had a lady drink for the girl and me. My friend and I were the only 2 people in an Gogo packed with nice girls (Elec Blue).
PS I’m halfway through the Suez Canal and getting closer everyday.
View all comments by Young Royal
yr - yeah - the muslim world is pretty 2 faced all in all.
actually last election there was no booze to. so I think this year will be the same for the most part. for the election stuff they are pretty tight. Patpong was closed last election but they let nana open up later. the difference this year is the pre election weekend on top of the normal election days.
u swimming the suez?
View all comments by smitty
what!! a whole weekend with no gogo bars open? What will all these blog writes do for stories?
View all comments by MSB
I think it is important to also point out here that this will be the first election transitioning a military government to a “democratically” elected one in over a decade. I wasn’t interested in Thai politics 15 years ago, but I would expect that the Thai “elite” realize that the world will be watching, especially in light of the recent pressure/tensions in Burma to do the same.
I would therefore expect a greater enforcement of whatever laws, rules, policies, etc etc… than has been seen in the recent past.
So load up your fridges now. hehe
View all comments by John Brown
Lolitas should be booming… er… so to speak.
I wonder if the member clubs will be open? One argument would be that they’re not selling alcohol… simply serving what’s already been bought and paid for. hmmmm…..
View all comments by werewolf
from what I know no one has be told to close but some of the go-go owners think they will be told to last minute. All of this could change - it has been know before for the police to come in the night before and ask for money to stay open. That happened to nana one night.
The few go-go owners I talked to figure business will be so bad that they might as well close. I have also heard that some pubs may serve in the evening.
We shall see - like JB said. This is all be watched a little more closely than normal so some are deciding to be more cautious than normal.
WW - I was going to make some calls to see about the g clubs. being prepaid and all….
msb - we got stories… walking soi 4 home last night I saw this ladyboy and then….
View all comments by smitty
Re: Advanced/absentee voting 15 & 16 December.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/specials/ourvote2007/contentdetail.php?id=305
While early absentee/advanced voting has occurred in the past I do not recall an associated alcohol ban, only the night before and day of, the actual election.
View all comments by Mark
I also do not call the associated alcohol ban last time but they seem to be worried about things this year.All I can say is I was chatting with our police contact for silom area who assured us it was real and Ihave heard similar things from folks in Lumpini. Once again they are not asking for closures. Just no booze.
View all comments by smitty
I’m having a party this weekend at my condo and every girl in my phone book is invited. I have 5 bottles of whiskey and 3 bottles of vodka and a bottle of Korean soju to boot. Happy absentee voting.
View all comments by cougar
LOL Smitty, no not swimming actually am on one of the largest private yachts in the world. It’s in the Top 20 as much as I can say.
It’s Thailand you won’t need to stock your fridges, I bet there will be a couple of gogo opens in one of the areas and you’ll be able to buy drink somewhere easily. IMHO
View all comments by Young Royal
cougar - all girls together in the same place, are you trying to start WWIII?
View all comments by Orion
yr - I am done shedding a tear for u when u grips about not being in bkk. please…
View all comments by smitty
could some1 tell me what GBWML means?
View all comments by Penfold
that is my acronym for the bars owned by a certain guy. if u notice all his bars have a serious amount of lights. so it is - the group of bars with many lights.
View all comments by smitty
We talking bout the towel head guy?
With regards to the new big mango, will it be same kinda gig as before (winning formula and all?)
Im back in Feb for good and need somewhere to NOT to watch england play whenever you pull your fingers out and reopen
View all comments by Penfold
penfold: Thanks for the kind words. We will certainly try to keep the friendly environment with good service and try to do it better but the Mango Girls part is up in the air because it will tie into where we end up. We hope to have an announcement before the end of the year.
View all comments by pmmp
p - quite possibly.
The new mango will be the same but different. Really depends on the venue we land.
View all comments by smitty
Cool stuff im buzzing for it
All the old big mango needed was UFC PPVs live……..and Ladyboys - lots of em!
In all seriousness you guys ever thought of setting up a football team in the local expat league?
View all comments by Penfold
Mango Dudes.. I hope Penfold was joking about the LB’s?
Not sure I’ll be a customer if you fill it with girls who are ‘packin meat’
As for the Football Team… is that real football? Or Soccer?
View all comments by Day Walker
DW: I don’t think it was a joke, unless it’s his favorite joke. Penfold is never shy about discussing his passion for Thailand’s third sex.
View all comments by werewolf
Im as seirous as cancer
How about just a token LB? They have no such thing as ‘equal opportunities’ in Thailand?
View all comments by Penfold
What about a compromise?! pmmp in lipstick?
View all comments by Day Walker
I can assure we won’t have a ladyboy boy. That much I am clear on. Until we lock down a venue we won’t be saying much about the concept but it will be some of the same same but different.
View all comments by smitty
Penfold? How ’bout leaving us a token “hetero’s” only bar or two ;-?
View all comments by thongsuk
Some of you will remember the early days of the Mango when our Mamasan was a six foot Ladyboy named Gay. She was a friend of a friend and we thought she would bring in girls and keep them in check. She didn’t.
She did however offer customers a “wanna see my tool in the 2nd floor bathroom for 200 baht?” deal that was popular with guys like daywalker and other “cock curious” customers. Despite that we had to let her go. Sorry, Penfold.
View all comments by pmmp
pmmp… Still, it was good that you carried on the ‘wanna see my tool for 200bht’… I hear that you carried that service over to ‘The Bridge’?!…..
View all comments by Day Walker
That was a special deal for Jonas only.
View all comments by pmmp
That’s the last time I barfine Jonas. The slut.
View all comments by Day Walker
Some bars were open last night on Patpong 2. Electric Blue was still throbbing (as was I)and serving alcohol at 3.30am, and so was the place around the corner, whose name I cannot recall.
View all comments by Combover
“Some of you will remember the early days of the Mango when our Mamasan was a six foot Ladyboy named Gay.”
I remember it well. I had to stop going into the Mango until that experiment came to an end… I felt ‘icky’ just being in the same room with that guy. I’d be pleased if Gay remains the first and last ladyboy to work in Big Mango.
View all comments by werewolf
aaaahhhhh… the ‘good old days’…… when pmmp used to be polite to customers, Jonas was awake/sober, Smitty had ‘normal’ hair, and the Mango girls were not slumped on a bar stool.
Look forward to seeing those days again at Mango II?!
View all comments by Daywalker
@smitty - was the ‘quite possibly’ re: ladyboys at the big mango? (id drop literally dozens of baht a night) or the football……………sorry - SOCCER Usounds a tad gay) team?
i played for tottenham and aston villa when i was 16 (although thats not saying much) and know my way round a football pitch. Maybe you could allow a few mango girls as physios?…… groin strain any1?
View all comments by Penfold