This is an excellent summary of the black farce that is Thai politics.
Blog: Philip Golingai
Post: Planning a coup? Here’s how
Link: http://philipgolingai.blogspot.com/2008/12/planning-coup-heres-how.html
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Wednesday, 24 December 2008
Monday, 22 December 2008
Peak Season Bar Fines
On Saturday we were stripped of girls by midnight - so yesterday we moved, as every year to High Season Bar Fines.
The intention is to keep girls in the bar whilst still allowing them to earn their "tips".
The intention is to keep girls in the bar whilst still allowing them to earn their "tips".
So now, the Bar Fine is 300 BAHT as normal - but 500 BAHT for a " Long Time" before midnight.
This will continue until mid February.
Nightlife Update
A friend, Chris, arrived back in town so we went on a quick tour around - he needed a girl and I always welcome a chance to see what's going on.
He had a list that he had culled off the internet forums - luckily, one of the first was What's Up - so it took about 2 milliseconds to choose this as our first point of call. The second we walked in, he knew why. The place just has energy - I nearly had my genitals ripped off as I walked in (actually it really hurt) and Chris quickly acknowledged that the music was good - but the place was too small. I only knew a couple of the girls - my favourites being on "holiday" i.e. Barfined already.
But we had a long list. Back into Walking Street. We went into a new one - Air Port. The service girls wore very smart air hostess gear, but there was nothing else remarkable about it. I think they had a Jacussi and a bit of whipping going on in the back - but frankly, after What's Up....
On to one under Polo with a very forgettable name - where we came across an extraordinary girl squatting naked on a table mat, complete with whip and attitude. Perfect body (she would have rattled), delicate tattoo covering her cesarian scar. Big bluey/black eyes (the eyeshadow). 27 and not from Isaan. I would have ended my search there and then - but no, Chris likes them young. We moved on.
He had never been to Happy - practically a Pattaya Institution. A real disappointment. Happy is owned by the same people as the Beach and Peppermint (the one next to Marine 1). The girls and atmosphere wax and wane - but the service is always impeccable. Until tonight. No one met us at the door, no one helped us find a table or wanted an order. So we walked round and right out again.
Another brief stop at Goodfellas. This place has made a big splash and is above Soi Lucky Star (the one opposite Marine ). Frankly, except for the promotion and probably huge investment in décor it's essentially the same as it's predecessor - and just as empty. I think the concept is a cool hangout with food, pool and music. But it misses out on the essential Pattaya ingredient - girls. I don't think there is anywhere in Pattaya that is sucessful without girls, with the obvoius exception of the shirt-lifters places - so lets change that to Sex. We didn't waste time buying a drink.
Then a long walk up to Utopia. I wanted to check my impressions and get some input from Chris. It didn't disappoint. The girls were just a friendly (more so as I was alone) - and crazy. Chris found a pretty young thing - and with his night secured, we left her and went on to Casino.
I was feeling pretty ill and looking forward to a day off the booze the next day (first day off for 8 days) so we threw a few lady drinks around (they are only 95 baht - and the girl gets 50 baht of it) and I was in my bed by 2am. Chris went on the Shark before going back to Utopia - but he can report on that.
Incidentally, Shark now has a rear entrance (off the soi with the Beach, Angel Witch and What's Up) - so there are now 3 ways of escape should there be anyone on Soi Diamond you don't want to see!
He had a list that he had culled off the internet forums - luckily, one of the first was What's Up - so it took about 2 milliseconds to choose this as our first point of call. The second we walked in, he knew why. The place just has energy - I nearly had my genitals ripped off as I walked in (actually it really hurt) and Chris quickly acknowledged that the music was good - but the place was too small. I only knew a couple of the girls - my favourites being on "holiday" i.e. Barfined already.
But we had a long list. Back into Walking Street. We went into a new one - Air Port. The service girls wore very smart air hostess gear, but there was nothing else remarkable about it. I think they had a Jacussi and a bit of whipping going on in the back - but frankly, after What's Up....
On to one under Polo with a very forgettable name - where we came across an extraordinary girl squatting naked on a table mat, complete with whip and attitude. Perfect body (she would have rattled), delicate tattoo covering her cesarian scar. Big bluey/black eyes (the eyeshadow). 27 and not from Isaan. I would have ended my search there and then - but no, Chris likes them young. We moved on.
He had never been to Happy - practically a Pattaya Institution. A real disappointment. Happy is owned by the same people as the Beach and Peppermint (the one next to Marine 1). The girls and atmosphere wax and wane - but the service is always impeccable. Until tonight. No one met us at the door, no one helped us find a table or wanted an order. So we walked round and right out again.
Another brief stop at Goodfellas. This place has made a big splash and is above Soi Lucky Star (the one opposite Marine ). Frankly, except for the promotion and probably huge investment in décor it's essentially the same as it's predecessor - and just as empty. I think the concept is a cool hangout with food, pool and music. But it misses out on the essential Pattaya ingredient - girls. I don't think there is anywhere in Pattaya that is sucessful without girls, with the obvoius exception of the shirt-lifters places - so lets change that to Sex. We didn't waste time buying a drink.
Then a long walk up to Utopia. I wanted to check my impressions and get some input from Chris. It didn't disappoint. The girls were just a friendly (more so as I was alone) - and crazy. Chris found a pretty young thing - and with his night secured, we left her and went on to Casino.
I was feeling pretty ill and looking forward to a day off the booze the next day (first day off for 8 days) so we threw a few lady drinks around (they are only 95 baht - and the girl gets 50 baht of it) and I was in my bed by 2am. Chris went on the Shark before going back to Utopia - but he can report on that.
Incidentally, Shark now has a rear entrance (off the soi with the Beach, Angel Witch and What's Up) - so there are now 3 ways of escape should there be anyone on Soi Diamond you don't want to see!
Sunday, 14 December 2008
Two new (for me) venues
Last night went out to two very different venues.
The first was the entirely misnamed "DJ Bar' in the Centre Point Complex at the bottom of Soi 8. Misnamed because their only point of interest is their live group! Who were excellent (but of course too loud).
Having been surrounded by demented live groups in Soi 2 for 2 years (we had one of our own for 8 months), I'm not a fan of mispronounced and timed West Coast Rock music ..... no please don't sing Hotel California ....! But these guys were excellent - the lead guitar was as good as I've ever heard - that guy could really make his instrument sing! They played Floyd's Brick in the Wall and the initial instrumental was extraordinary.
Better than Blues Factory? Well the bar certainly wasn't - but the band probably was. The guys I was with were plotting to move them to another location.
But for the time being, check them out at the DJ Bar - Soi 8.
Whilst I was there I was introduced to Steve, a Dubliner who having had a bar in Sirene for a couple of years has now invested heavily in Utopia.
It's on the corner of the new street just along from Covent Garden. He explained that it was an open bar with a few Coyotes downstairs and a Go Go upstairs. I was cynical - upstairs places just never seem to work - but we went along for a look. By now it was pretty late - we were pretty pissed and Anna needed guidance - so we didn't really notice the downstairs bar - we went straight upstairs.
Wow!
The sound system needed work - but lets face it - most people are only interested in the Tottie. And they were lovely.
It was a Sunday, Spurs had just played Man U - so I guess they had had a quiet night - but they were pretty, generous with their smiles and very attentive close up. There wasn't a fat one there.
I was with Anna and still got a bollocking for playing with the girls - it just wasn't possible not to!
Utopia will definitely be a venue for the next Go Go "One and Go" crawl.
The first was the entirely misnamed "DJ Bar' in the Centre Point Complex at the bottom of Soi 8. Misnamed because their only point of interest is their live group! Who were excellent (but of course too loud).
Having been surrounded by demented live groups in Soi 2 for 2 years (we had one of our own for 8 months), I'm not a fan of mispronounced and timed West Coast Rock music ..... no please don't sing Hotel California ....! But these guys were excellent - the lead guitar was as good as I've ever heard - that guy could really make his instrument sing! They played Floyd's Brick in the Wall and the initial instrumental was extraordinary.
Better than Blues Factory? Well the bar certainly wasn't - but the band probably was. The guys I was with were plotting to move them to another location.
But for the time being, check them out at the DJ Bar - Soi 8.
Whilst I was there I was introduced to Steve, a Dubliner who having had a bar in Sirene for a couple of years has now invested heavily in Utopia.
It's on the corner of the new street just along from Covent Garden. He explained that it was an open bar with a few Coyotes downstairs and a Go Go upstairs. I was cynical - upstairs places just never seem to work - but we went along for a look. By now it was pretty late - we were pretty pissed and Anna needed guidance - so we didn't really notice the downstairs bar - we went straight upstairs.
Wow!
The sound system needed work - but lets face it - most people are only interested in the Tottie. And they were lovely.
It was a Sunday, Spurs had just played Man U - so I guess they had had a quiet night - but they were pretty, generous with their smiles and very attentive close up. There wasn't a fat one there.
I was with Anna and still got a bollocking for playing with the girls - it just wasn't possible not to!
Utopia will definitely be a venue for the next Go Go "One and Go" crawl.
Thursday, 11 December 2008
The Butterfly Challenge
This has been knocking around for a few months - but we are finally introducing it today.
If you Bar Fine 10 different girls from Anna Jet - I (Peter), will pay the Bar Fine for the 11th.
That's simple isn't it?
How will it work?
Why?
Well, to be honest, I can only think of 2-3 guys who will take up the challenge (you know who you are). So really it's just a bit of fun - but you do get a memento!
What is much more important is the message this scheme sends to our girls. We have always stressed that you are the customer - and come first (no pun intended).
If you want a girlfriend - you'll have one, if you want to Butterfly .... then that's fine too. Better that you Butterfly with a girl's friends in the bar than go elsewhere.
It's also really important for the guys who stay with us. Maybe I should extend the scheme? "Take a different AJ girl every night of your stay and I'll pay your rent?" Mmmm. What do you think? A Unique Selling Proposition or what?
We work hard to help you enjoy your holiday - and your dime. But we do ask that you are straight with the girls. If you are a Butterfly, make it clear from the outset. Don't make empty promises just because it's the first time you've emptied your sack for months!
If you Bar Fine 10 different girls from Anna Jet - I (Peter), will pay the Bar Fine for the 11th.
That's simple isn't it?
How will it work?
- When you pay "Bar" you will be given a copy of the girl's name card.
- This way you will still know her name the next morning!
- Collect 10 cards with different names - pick Number 11 and show the 10 cards to the cashier.
- No time limits. (But do remember my days are numbered!)
- Remember, this only covers the Bar Fine, the girl will still expect a generous "tip"!
Why?
Well, to be honest, I can only think of 2-3 guys who will take up the challenge (you know who you are). So really it's just a bit of fun - but you do get a memento!
What is much more important is the message this scheme sends to our girls. We have always stressed that you are the customer - and come first (no pun intended).
If you want a girlfriend - you'll have one, if you want to Butterfly .... then that's fine too. Better that you Butterfly with a girl's friends in the bar than go elsewhere.
It's also really important for the guys who stay with us. Maybe I should extend the scheme? "Take a different AJ girl every night of your stay and I'll pay your rent?" Mmmm. What do you think? A Unique Selling Proposition or what?
We work hard to help you enjoy your holiday - and your dime. But we do ask that you are straight with the girls. If you are a Butterfly, make it clear from the outset. Don't make empty promises just because it's the first time you've emptied your sack for months!
Monday, 8 December 2008
Camillian Social Centre Rayong
Every fortnight Anna meets with the girls - three of the items always on the agenda:
- Never Give it away - we will do it for you!
- Use Condoms!
- Ensure you are checked every month!
We finally managed to get down to Rayong in November and were very impressed by the work they are doing.
The Centre opened in 1995 and initially concentrated on "Palliative Care" ie treating people who were in the critical and terminal stages of AIDS. In 12 years they have treated 1493 people who arrived at this stage - managing to rehabilitate 698 of them back into society. We were told that nowadays, given the right drug therapies, diet and environment, AIDS was now a chronic - but not necessarily terminal disease.
The work of the Centre has broadened and they provide care, particularly to children, for people living with HIV/AIDS.
The Children receive the correct Drug Therapies, Diet and Environment. Some have to be educated within the Centre, but many are well enough to attend local Thai schools and mix with other children.
As they grow older they move on to a purpose built Independent Living Centre where they are still supervised and provided for but do their own chores and maintain the home.
Whilst many young adults are now able to find work outside the Centre and join mainstream society there are some who move on to a self supporting farm about 40 kms from the Centre.
They work closely with the Thai Health services and nowadays receive a small proportion of their expenditure from the Government. The rest of the money comes from groups of donors in Italy and England.
We had collected around 30,000 baht from Anna's Party and chipped in a further 5000 - but when we saw just what a good job the centre was doing we managed to get that up to 42,000 with some extra help from Colin and Trevor who came with us. Thank you everyone.
If you would like to help the Camillian Centre then there are a number of ways to do so:
- We have a collection box in the bar
- Pay Direct in a bank in Thailand: St Camillus Foundation of Thailand: Bank of Ayudhya, Map Ta-Phut, Rayong. No: 229-1-29336-3
- Consider sponsorship: UK http://www.pattayaorphange.org.uk. France: www.orphelineatpattayacv.org
- Alternatively - take a few hours out - and go and visit the Centre. We will happily put you in touch and assist you to organise Taxis etc. (I may even take you there myself). You can join them for lunch, Thai and Italian! But do take your wallet!
You can look at the work of the Centre here: http://www.camillian-rayong.org/
We also agreed to sponsor a girl on an ongoing basis because what places like this really need are regular monthly donations allowing them to budget and plan.
Our guide was Paul, I asked him how he got involved? "I couldn't think of anything better to do with my time".
Paul, I couldn't agree with you more!
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