Ping Pong at Patpong

Am I ever getting out of Bangkok? YES! I am leaving today actually, on the night train to Trang. I think it’s about a 15 or 16 hour train ride to the south and from there I will take a boat to Ko Lanta…so if all goes well I will be back on the beach tomorrow!

I’ve had a good time here in Bangkok these last few days. I managed to see a few more movies (In the Bedroon, John Q, Life as a House), and do more shopping as well. I finally checked out the famous weekend market in Bangkok but must admit that I was not impressed. I found it to be TOO big, too hot, too crowded, and lacking real bargains. I was there for almost 5 hours and still saw less than a 1/3 of what was there. And there were just too many vendors selling the same exact thing – I mean how many Chang beer t-shirts, chopsticks, and thai silk cushions can you really buy?

That was Saturday. Sunday I was going to go back but could not muster the strength to deal with the crowds and the heat again so I hung out in the air-con shopping malls instead.

Yesterday I finally met up with my American friend Brent and his brother who had just come back to Bangkok from a liveaboard dive trip in Phuket. Brent is leaving tomorrow after having spent almost a year travelling in SE Asia. And get this, just before he left last year, he broke up with his girlfriend of 12 years and quit his stiff Wall Street job of over 6 years to travel the world by himself. If that doesn’t show you that anyone can break free from the corporate world and ties at home to do what they really want then I don’t know what!

Anyway, last night Brent, his brother and I went to see some Thai boxing where they basically kick and punch the shit out of each other. There are no’above the belt’ rules in Thai boxing so it can be pretty full-on. Three fights was more than enough for me.

After that we went to the famous Patpong district of Bangkok. I’m sure all you men at home have heard about it, but for the ladies, well that is the most famous sex bar neighborhood in Bangkok and possibliy even the world. You have to go just to say you went kind-of-thing. Well, it was interesting I have to say. We saw several of the live shows – involving ping pong balls, darts, firecrackers, bottle openers and bottles of soda, raw eggs, and razor blades. Sorry but you will have to use your imagination for the details. There were a lot of’katoys’ in the shows – men who had gotten a full sex-change operation, and I can tell you that the doctors seem to be doing a pretty good job. We spent most of our time discussing which ones we thought were katoys and which ones were real women.

Another great thing about the Patpong district is the night market and I did find a some good deals there. That is THE place to buy your fake Rolex, Tag, Cartier, or Gucci watch in addition to your fake handbag, wallet, and sneakers. I found a nice Mont Blanc pen for $6 which I thought was a pretty good deal considering the guy started me at over $30.

So now it’s a few last minute errands and then off to the train station for me. I am hoping for good weather and no crowds in the south. Can’t wait to see another sunset on Ko Lanta!!!

Watch out for the motorbikes at Charlies, an outdoor bar in Bangkok

Charlies is known for having the cheapest beer in town!

Add comment March 26th, 2002