From time to time their is a trend among conversations with tourists and expats that Bangkok just isn’t what it used to be. As with any place over time, nothing stays constant, and everything gets more expensive - that is inevitable. However I think some people do make a valid point that if all you see of Thailand while in Bangkok is Sukhumvit, Patpong, Cowboy and the other main Farang oriented bar areas then one might assume that the place is not what it used to be. Having lived here a while myself I have my days where these same places either drive me nuts or offer little enjoyment. Of course if all one wants is the working girl scene, some drinks, and ease of use - which I am not saying anything against - then read no further but getting off the beaten path from time to time can renew one’s enchantment with Thailand.
I was actually on cowboy getting a drink and got a phone call from another member club girl asking if I was free, but of course I replied. She wanted to know if I played snooker or not. I said I can play decent pool but have never tried snooker although I was keen on giving it a shot. She asked if I would mind meeting her out but I needed to take a longer than usual taxi ride. I am personally up for exploring anyway so I jumped at the chance. The destination was the New York snooker club in Bankae.
We whipped down Rama 3 and then crossed onto Taksin road and after that I lost track. The taxi ride was 160 baht but once you get out that far it feels like the world changes. After you get past the last remnants of tall office buildings and new apartment complexes the landscape gets somewhat less tall but no less dense. There are more trees, canals and a hell of a lot less Farang.
The snooker club was totally non-descript and could use a paint job but the snooker tables were decent and the food was amazing. I was the only Farang in there but the attitude was basically like I did not exist except for the few people that I was introduced to. They expected I did not speak any Thai so as they conversed around me it was not until I commented on something that everyone busted up laughing knowing I understood what they were saying.
The thing you sense right away is that feeling that some people describe when they reminisce about the Thailand of yesteryear - the attitude. These people were not after anything, they were not milking me, and they were genuinely glad to hang out and converse with no pretenses. Sure - if you speak no Thai at all then this probably holds no appeal since they all spoke very little English but if you have some Thai capabilities these little dalliances with outer Bangkok can be quite fun and rewarding.
Some stats about the snooker club to give u a sense of the difference between outer Bangkok and central Bangkok. The place is open 24 hours. If no one is in the bar the night shift staff sleep, watch TV or practice snooker. They serve booze around the clock. I noticed policeman coming in from time to time but not with the same intent that they do in Bangkok(usually looking for money) - these guys came into the snooker club to eat, drink, play snooker or check in with the staff. did not see any Hello Kitty armbands either. The tables are rented by the hour with a computer system controlling the timing. I thought this was so funny given the remote location of the place but the staff wants to ensure the customers they are not overcharging. When the staff turns on the pool table light it triggers a visible timer on the light for the customer to see and the computer tracks it as well. When you finish the game - they turn off the light and the computer calculates your pool bill. 80 baht an hour.
Let me detail the bill to give u a drastic sense of the difference in prices as compared to Bangkok:
- 2 hours of snooker
- 3 large bottles of Leo beer
- 1 small bottle of Sangsom
- 1 dinner. Thai food. very tasty
- All the ice we needed
- Mixers for the Sangsom
- Great service
Total = 570 baht
They thought my 30 baht tip was generous and nobody groveled or griped for more. We ended the night around 3:00 a.m. and I headed home. Yes - there were no hotties to barfine or dirty tales of picking up but it was a refreshing experience and resembles the normal aspects of Thailand that one might want to check out from time to time.
On the way there and back though I was amazed out how many places that I probably should check out for other forms of entertainment. Beer bars, coyote places, small karaoke places, Thai pubs and some large snooker halls that advertised having pool, coyote girls and a bar beer. My guess tells me that some of these girls are available for takeout or on-site action. I also think there might be some cute service girls to get to know as well.
As a sidenote - with the BTS line extending, I think there will be more areas popping up of interest. Past the Sursak station is the new Taksin station. Bankae is only a 10-15 ride past Taksin BTS. The station looked amazing and you could already see signs of development going on. Good stuff. Bangkok is just too BIG.
I guess I will have to keep exploring…
Great blog - have read pretty much all of it while at “work”, since I handed my notice in 4 weeks ago! Am coming to Thailand for the first time in a couple of weeks with some friends, and although i’m not sure how much time we’ll be spending in Bangkok, a trip to the Big Mango is definitely on the cards. Keep up the good work!
View all comments by Chris
chris - that is what work is for. beautiful.
we will keep the beer cold and the girls warm for u.
thanks for reading and all we ask is a post a week.
share with your friends…
View all comments by smitty
very nice story. you guys have done a fantastic job at providing a great variety of different topics to blog about.
View all comments by kallah
Nice experience. It can make an interesting night when Thai girls take you to places outside the farang cruising track.
I rarely get over to the Thonburi side of Bangkok. I assume the New York snooker club in Bankae has no common ownership with the New York Pool Bar on Sukhumvit Soi 71.
Nice to have good drinks, a couple of hours of sport, and pleasant company for under 1,000 baht. Hard to find this combination in the farang ghetto.
View all comments by DJ
Even further on that road have a look at the “melrose plaza” massage parlour no pressure cool prices and farang free. It’s on petkasen road bankae, a 80-90 bahts taxi drive from taksin bridge.
View all comments by RRR
I’m very envious. Just the kind of shit that I enjoy too, but rarely get the opportunity as even a regular visitor.
View all comments by Combover
rrr - thanks. will check it out. this is what makes the blog so cool. expanding my field of reference.
dj - no relation. i think the bar on 71 sucks. fyi
k - thanks!
May be out tonight looking for another new place not yet talked about.
View all comments by smitty
Bangkae? Isn’t that on the Myanmar border?
View all comments by Jack Dawson
เขียนดีมากครับ. Nice story. Learning the language is vital for people to have rewarding experiences like this.
I’m always surprised that after a night of eating and drinking with a group of 6 Thais that the bill rarely goes above 1200THB. ว้าว! I’d be happy to pay all or the majority of it, but my offer is always rejected and the bill is divided between everyone.
p.s. - an added bonus is that these places usually have waitresses and beer promotion girls that are smoking hot!
View all comments by SiamSquare
I decided to have this experience last night, after feeling tired of the go-go scene - I ended up out in the middle of nowhere (can’t spell the name) after spending time in a pub I ended up just sitting at a picnic table with a big group of Thai girls and guys at an apartment block, laughing, joking and drinking until the sun came up. A very refreshing change. For those whose Thai is not entirely up to scratch, I highly recommend brushing up on it. No pressure, no begging for money. Although I didn’t get up to anything naughty, I did make a whole bunch of Thai ‘brothers’ and ’sisters’ who refused to let me pay for anything more than my share.
View all comments by Jase
JD - Bangkae is on the other side of the river, East of Thon buri, about 12 or so kilometres from the Saphan Taksin BTS station
View all comments by Jase
You can certainly have a great time outside the farang zones but you still have to be a little careful if a working girl wants to take you outside the zone. You never know what her intentions are.
When I first moved here a GoGo girl I was somewhat seeing took me a few times to her friends Karaoke bar in the Suthisan area. I basically ended up sponsoring a party for the whole bar, food, beer, whiskey and whatever else. For me, fresh off the boat, I had an AMAZING time though. Everybody got s—faced and sang and danced until the wee hours. I knew absolutely no Thai at the time either. In fact, I remember her friend greeting me with “Sabai Di Mai?” and I said “What?”. Inebriation breaks down all language barriers I guess.
The whole bill was about 8000 baht and my tip of 500 baht for the bar was almost rejected as too much. At the time I had to make sure with my girlfriend that the bill was right. I felt guilty that it was so little. I mean, they were crating in the booze along with about 20 plates of food.
In retrospect I can see that they were milking the fat wallet newbie farang BUT it was some of the best fun I’ve ever had.
So, I guess “be careful” is a bit harsh. There’s definitely a good time to be had outside the zones.
View all comments by pmmp
Over the years I have cultivated a few ‘Good Thai Girl’ friends and had a number of trips away from the centre to places where I was the only Farang around - I don’t have a good grasp of the language but despite that have always had a good time and have found other Thais to be friendly. One memorable trip was to a party to celebrate the opening of a B&B establishment off some main road in the middle of nowhere some two and a half hours drive north out of BKK. Apart from having to drink whisky with the men so that I would ‘fit in’ I had a fab time. I was encouraged to do some Farang dancing and responded with my semi-inebriated version of a ‘Status Quo’ dance that seemed to make much more sense back when I had long hair. It was received which much applause and mickey taking. A number of the local lasses pressed their phone numbers on me much to the annoyance of the friend who had taken me there. But she need not have worried - as I spoke virtually no Thai and the girls there spoke no English, it was a somewhat pointless exercise.
I strongly recommend finding ways to get away from the tourist areas from time to time - it broadens your perspective.
View all comments by doctorbond
You would be surprised whats over here in Thonburi and Bankea. We have the Melrose Plaza that does have extra service massage, nearer to Ratchada you will see Venus massage and coyote bar on the right. If you turn left at Ratchada you will have several bars and coyotes clubs, and two mps within one kilometer. If you turn left toward Thonburi at the first bridge you have a new mp coyote bar on the left. Just over the bridge on the left is snow White 1, still further is Thonburi Plaza that has awsome entertainment and women from top to bottom of the 10 story building. MP is on the 9th floor, 2000 all inclusive. Disco in the basement, The Lounge, and the Posiden Pub. All have take away if you are interested. Continue south just past the Mall on the left and to the right of Lumpini Condos is the Krungthon Plaza. Girls are available on all floors and this includes two karaoke bars, a MP on the 2nd floor, and even in the restaurant. If you are looking for some very attractive freelancers just circle the Taksin Monument around 10 pm at night. Yes, the river is good and this side is a neglected oasis.
View all comments by terry
not surprised - that is why I go over there.
what street are u making your left and rights from?
u should do a detailed write up for all of us.
been to thonburi plaza - but what is the new coyote bar?
sounds like we need a night of exploration.
shine some more details on the area terry!
View all comments by sideshowBOB
also what mall and what street is this?
Continue south just past the Mall on the left and to the right of Lumpini Condos is the Krungthon Plaza.
View all comments by sideshowBOB