Bangkok. In my mind there is no better city in the world but it all depends on personal tastes - let me be clear about my personal tastes. I love to be around as many gorgeous women as possible while going throughout my day-to-day shit. I get a haircut and a shave - might as well have it done by a team of young Thai girls. Get a foot massage - no reason not too choose a cute Thai girl. Need an accountant for your business - yes, plenty of accountants are girls since they are usually the only ones going to school. Need a programmer? Yup, you can probably find a Thai girl with the skills. That is the beauty of Bangkok - you are constantly surrounded by gorgeous women who don’t mind eye contact, random conversations and good perv or 2. Last night I met Jake Needham for dinner at the New York Steak House in the JW Marriott. Apart from the cooks and the manager, everyone working there was a beautiful Thai girl speaking polished English carrying out their serving duties with grace and confidence. I fell in love multiple times throughout the evening.
More on dinner in a moment.
New question in the forum that I have no answer to. Anyone?
Thanks to all the folks who keep putting reviews in. We appreciate it.
Politics. I miss US politics a bit but not for the normal reasons. I miss small town USA freedom of speech. Check the photo for a perfect example. As for Thai politics? I predict stormy seas ahead. The lunatic Samak appears to be backing down a bit but if he had gone ahead trying to appoint himself to administer the military I would have bet for another coup. Either way I don’t see smooth sailing.
I stopped in for breakfast at the Tavern the other morning. As a breakfast joint I would say this is a pretty good choice. The menu was good, the pancakes were awesome, the service was good and I enjoyed chilling and reading the paper. I could have done without the Shania Twain CD on repeat and the endless bar chatter about where to get the cheapest beer but I would only really go there for breakfast. Maybe it is an age thing - I don’t know. I will be back for more breakfast though and to chat up one of the service girls.
I always enjoy checking out who is linking to the blog. I think one of the joys in running the blog is finding out who is linking to you and what they are saying. I knew the post by On Nutter yesterday would attract attention. Before I get to that though:
Here is an inbound from HK.
If I was still the old Spike, then The FARANG Speaks 2 Much would be one of my favorite blogs. These days I read it as an exercise in nostalgia.
I am not sure what he means but I will take it as a compliment.
Pattayarag discussing our hook up in Pattaya. thx Ed.
I knew the ladyboy links would be the most passionate. Here is the ladyboy forums talking about the On Nutter post. Personally I think they are a little uptight and going a bit overboard but each to his own. Here is what I don’t get about the ladyboy fans. They assume that everyone else should understand and feel the same way they do about ladyboys. I felt there was nothing negative in On Nutter’s post at all. In fact it was a candid view of HIS experience. Sure - Bang is a bargirl but where else is one suppose to go to find a ladyboy. The makeup counter at Siam Paragon? I doubt they would be as open and available as a bargirl to an interview.
Point being. I am not into ladyboys but I have no issues with those who are but if I was looking it into I probably would have followed a similar path to On Nutter’s. The idea that we would know where to find a freelancer ladyboy or a non-bargirl ladyboy is silly to me because I would not even know where to start. On top of that to deny that there are never any issues with ladboys is utter bullshit. I have been accosted a few times by ladies while walking home on soi 4, minding my own business, and all of these “ladies” were of the ladyboy variety. Not girls. Does this mean all ladyboys are a problem - not at all but Ihave never been accosted by a regular girl. Go figure.
Bottom line is this - I invite someone passionate about ladyboys to write something up to help us who are not passionate about ladyboys to better understand and broaden our horizons. The comments on the ladyboy forum make no sense at all and in no way help people to get a better understanding of a world some of us have no intention of exploring but are open to other’s opinions of it. On the flipside of this - bashing those who are into ladyboys or the ladyboys themselves won’t be tolerated.
Back to dinner. The New York Steak House is amazing. Expensive, but amazing. A small restaurant that resembles more of a gentleman’s club than anything else with the bold use of wood, big black chairs and of course the entire service staff being Thai girls dressed in button up shirts, long aprons and strategically places suspenders. I was in heaven the moment the hostess greeted us. Say what u will - I have lived all over but there is nothing as amazing as confident bilingual Thai women working as service staff in classy joints. To me Bangkok stands alone in this regard and is one of the reasons I stay here.
The food was amazing but even more so was involvement of the staff and the production of the meal. Martinis are brought to the table while the waitress finishes shaking the drink and pours it into your glass. I could not take my eyes off of the - waitress. The caesar salad is also made at the table by another waitress with assistance from yet another. Just gorgeous waitresses everywhere u look. They spoke impeccable english but easily switched to Thai if you talked to them in Thai. My hair went over well and I felt like I could have bagged a number had I really tried. Point is - the overall experience at the Steak House is top notch but of course expensive. My suggestion is for a real special boys night out - go to the Steak House but whatever you do don’t take a girl with you and please don’t take a barfine with u.
Soon. My thoughts on bi-sexual Thai girls, the Economist on prostitution and the filthy rich.
A few minutes in those “ladyboy forums” comments and their unnecessarily vicious attacks on On Nutter’s piece, their over-the-top attitude and their “if only you weren’t so phobic” posturing, I felt like I was dealing with militant gays.
If the truth be told, I probably was.
In my work here I have met three “non-professional” ladyboys.
In day to day life here I have encountered salespeople, cosmeticians and office workers who’ve adopted the LB life choice. Unfortunately, I am more familiar with the LB version that chases you down the soi trying to grab your falafel.
So uncouth.
Initially disarming in ANY situation, the LB’s I found most engaging and most interesting have not been individuals whose entire identity was LB. One, an administrator in a one of Thailand’s power companies, was willing, for example, to reveal his preference for Mr. or Ms. in professional correspondence. Answer? “I prefer khun. For me it’s friendlier, don’t you think?” Wow. AFTER the LB semiotics had been settled a real person.
Some subtle humor and intellect. . . . a rare delight.
Further conversation convinced all present that he was an effective management figure in his organization whose superior interpersonal skills had been indispensable back when computers were introduced into the organization. His questions to me and others about OUR lives were EQUALLY engaging . . . . his conversation civil and lively.
Other LB’s, mostly in sales positions, (i.e. one, a men’s barber) or occupations for which they were compensated for aspects of their existence and identity outside of a cliche predilection for a female persona, were similarly engaging. They were likable as people.
However, because we are mainly exposed to LB “cartoons’ and MY own preferences are limited to Thai women in their thirties, (a personal perversion perhaps?) I find the LB topic only mildly interesting.
The intellectually violent attacks on On Nutter’s honest effort fascinated me, however. These personal attacks were completely uncalled for but they DID reveal a lot about the complainants.
In fact these comments bore striking similarity to the drunken remarks made by three UK farangette tourists last nite in the Long Gun bog.
)
At around 1:30 am, three of them were ass-perched against the basins, staring at me while I used the Long Gun’s splendid stainless steel trough. Thank god I had a decent stream going before I noticed what they were actually doing. (At my age, I can be a little old fashioned and cutting my ritual short would have been most embarrassing.
A little wasted myself, I turned and cracked something like, “Hmmm. Hangin’ out in the ‘Men’s’, are we? This’ll definitely be one for the dinner table when ya get back to the UK, right?”
(Got sneers for that one and a jet of cigarettes smoke . . . cigar would have been interesting . . . but cigarette?)
“Actually, you’re in the Ladies’ said one.” (Not bad, not bad
“What’s THIS then, dear, I said, as I shook off discretely and folded the old lad back into place, nodding towards the Long Gun’s magnificent stainless pissoire.
“Care to have a go?”
These interpersonal tectonics but minuscule stitches in the fascinating fabric of Bangkok’s expat life.
View all comments by Prufrock
just a little something I found on soapies:
http://www.bangkokcompanies.com/categories/thai_companies_p752.htm
View all comments by But Different
The New York Steak House sounds good but an indication of cost wouldn’t go astray.
View all comments by Wombat
Salad, steak, one side dish (potato or veg), one mixed drink, and coffee for two. No wine.
B7000 plus change.
I’m being perfectly serious here.
View all comments by Old Asia Hand
OR, get a big bowl of soup, a bottle of coke, condoms, a threesome, a blow job at Star of Light and one at Lolita’s, a happy ending massage, and a couple of bottles of water.
View all comments by pmmp
7000 bht ?
Are thses guys in on the Yahoo takeover as well ?
Who’s got 7000 bht to spend on a steak….?
Not me, that’s for sure.
View all comments by bo
Never eaten at the steakhouse at the Marriott so I cannot comment on the value that 7 pan baht meal. I will say that Chokchai offers an excellent steak. You can do a large New York Strip with sides, beer, and delicious home made ice cream for around a grand a person.
Not the same type of restaurant, but Chokchai is a screaming deal. Cuter service girl, as well. Don’t hold your breath for english skills beyond “what would you like some drinks?”
View all comments by Paul
Well that’s it then. Afternoon spa Session at S. Botan and a New York Strip at Chokchai. A set of Thai language vowel cards and seven year old’s version of Cinderella (in Thai) might come in handy as well.
View all comments by Prufrock
to be clear folks - I was invited to dinner by someone who has a VIP card that gets us 50% off of dinner. so there.
anyway - back in the real world u have never gone to a big steak house in NY or Chicago or wherever and had a big, expensive steak dinner? Well i have. Maybe once a year but NY steak house in bkk is one of those places. It was also full and without reservations u cannot be seated.
martinis - 350 baht
salas - 500 baht
steak - 1000 - 8,000 baht depending on which one
food and service was amazing.
some of the best I have had in Thailand.
chokchai is okay but no comparison really but neither is the price. I have eaten at CC twice. Once was amazing and another time both the service and food was bad. To me that is what u will get with thais running the place. No where near the quality or level of service as a 5 star joint being managed by a farang. Still - NY steak house is serving USDA beef which I still think is the tastiest ever.
I get confused why every experience in thailand has to be cheap or it is somehow silly. I digress though - since some people still think a girl working at forte is no different than a girl working at NEP. I think there are some arguments just not worth fighting for because they seem so silly.
View all comments by smitty
The scratch Ceasar. Sounds good, smitty.
)
Did her tits jiggle under that crisp white blouse while she was bruising the Romaine? It’s a critical part of the experience
(sorry I love it when that happens . . . . .just had to ask
View all comments by Prufrock
the caesar was awesome.
They wear long sleeve, button up shirts. black. with suspenders. There was nothing to see but it was still quite sexy.
View all comments by smitty
When you say “suspenders”, I assume you’re speaking American English, rather than English English?
American suspenders:
http://www.varsityvests.com/ProductImages/Texas_university/Texas_suspenders_orange.jpg
English suspenders:
http://www.raasti.com/wp-content/photos/Sexy_Secretary_Stockings_Suspenders_Panyhose_Nylons.jpg
Big difference
View all comments by TAFKABBB
american - they wear pants by the way.
View all comments by smitty
Jesus! Was reading about the filthy rich thais chucking money around. Now reading about filthy rich farang throwing big steak money around. Yep, bangkok still amazes me. Can you wear flip flops to go there?
View all comments by ex uk
uk - u can wear your flip flops because due to your english accent they won’t let u in no matter what u are wearing.
View all comments by smitty
smitty,
You mentioned 2 books worth reading re-supergirls the real story, can’t find your thread? was around Patpong at the time It all went “down the tube” new some of the players, and still do, some are still around in BKK. The book will be a mind blower though…..
View all comments by Laocowboy
l- reefer men was the book about the supergirls clan
View all comments by smitty
‘Reefer Men’ is a very, very strange book. Reads smoothly, sounds very convincing, but some of the reportage that you can confirm is simply pure crap at the most fundamental level.
One example of many: did you know that North Vietnamese regulars fought “some of the bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War” against the American army around Nakhon Phanom in northeast Thailand? No? Well, neither does anyone else.
When the background of a book is so sloppily rendered, even stupidly rendered, it does make you wonder about how inaccurate the sexy stuff may be no matter how convincing it sounds.
View all comments by Old Asia Hand
oah - the asia times talked about the facts being kind of messes up in places and how it was over sensationalized in others but I think it would be a fun read. Can u mail over your used copy?
View all comments by smitty