Bangkok, Night I

[BiggusDikkus]

It was 5:30 a.m. Tokyo time when my alarm went off but it was easy to climb out of bed. With purpose. I was leaving for Bangkok later that day and I still had to pack. It wasn't until 8:30 p.m. that I was able to check into my hotel. That's 10:30 Tokyo time. I was hungry and tired, not to mention sweaty, having had to walk and lug my suitcase for the last kilometer or so.

I did not go straight up to my room to shave, shower and get myself ready for a Friday night on Silom. “Or maybe on Patpong,” I thought to myself.  “Patpong is supposed to be getting busy with gay bars now that Soi Twilight has turned out the lights.” Before I could take a look around, I needed some calories. So I broke one of my Cardinal rules of traveling in Thailand — I ate dinner in the hotel's restaurant.

Side note: I was the only solo diner in the place but I was mostly doing the same thing everyone else in the restaurant was, using my phone to scroll through my social media accounts. Even couples fed their smartphone addictions rather than make conversation. So rather than feel lonely, I was part of the club.

I was also feeling my age. I didn't get up to my room, unpacked and showered until after 10. I was exhausted; there would be no Friday night out in Bangkok for me. All I could do was crawl in bed and let memories of my first trip to this megacity unspool in my head. That night I also broke a Cardinal rule. Was it really 23 years earlier? Must've been. Like tonight, it was a Friday, but when I arrived at my hotel much further into the night, I was exploding with energy. I just had to wash up, pull on a pair of designer jeans and a Calvin Klein T-shirt and find my way to the fabled Silom Soi 4, to Telephone, to Rome and so many other bars and clubs I had only read or heard about. Could I find the soi on my own? I probably could have squeezed my guide book, “The Men of Thailand,” into a pocket, but I wasn't going to embarrass myself. I wasn't going to look like a foolish tourist. And besides, how hard could it be? One alley over from Patpong, TMOT told me. And my hotel was a 10-minute walk down Surawong from Patpong. It would be easy.

So off I went. I would sate my hunger at a street food stall on Patpong. I was going to get the full Bangkok experience. Then, finally, I began making my way to Soi 4. As I recall now, I was almost at a jog. And maybe my haste was my problem. I ended up making some wrong turns. As everyone knows, there are two Patpongs, but I let this slip my mind. When I finally did turn into Soi 4, well, that's when I broke that Cardinal rule. Only I did not realize it until several long minutes later.

”Are you looking for the gay bars?” someone asked. How did he know? That's exactly what I had been trying to do for, what, 15 minutes? Was I on the wrong street? Again? How many wrong streets could there be? I had initially missed Soi 4 and not realized it until I saw a sign for Soi 2. Surely I didn't double back too far. At least I hadn't got all the way back to Patpong. And who is my interrogator? A gay basher? I don't think I would admit to a stranger back home that I was looking for “the gay bars,” but this is Bangkok, and TMOT, while perhaps failing to give more specific directions to Soi 4, did insist that gays are not harassed in Bangkok, that even taxi drivers wouldn't think twice if I told them to take me to “the gay bars.” So I could tell this guy the truth, whoever he is.

”Yes,” I managed to say. He smiled. He knew the answer. So at least “The Men of Thailand” was right about Thais not being prejudiced against gays. I felt braver. I could safely add to my one-word reply. “Do you know where Telephone is? Is this Soi 4?”

”Follow me,” I remember him saying. “I'll take you there.” So off we went, back out of the alley I was sure was Soi 4. Apparently I had been wrong again. When we got to Silom, we turned right. We walked past the nicknack stalls of the night market. We walked by the first Patpong soi that I had missed earlier in the night. We passed the next Patpong street. Is that really a Christian bookstore on the corner? Odd place for a Christian bookstore. And aren't we going in the wrong direction? Or maybe that was my mistake all along. I was supposed to take a right at the end of Patpong, not a left. Wow, that would have saved me a lot of time. I could already be in Telephone, flirting with a cute local. Or maybe Rome. I really want to go to Rome. I've heard so much about it. The best gay nightclub in Asia, they were calling it.

My new best friend then brought me out of my own thoughts.

”Where are you from?” he asked. I told him. “How many times have you been to Thailand?” “When did you arrive?” “How long are you staying?”

Hey wait a minute, I thought. How far are we going to walk? One alley over from Patpong, right? And this neighborhood doesn't really look like a nighttime entertainment district anymore. In fact, we seem to be passing a hospital. A Christian hospital. I didn't realize there was such a big Christian influence in Thailand.

My inner monologue is often over active. It also has the ability to make the exact same sound as a needle being dragged across a vinyl record when it's about to change topics.

“Who is this guy I'm with?” I finally thought. I didn't actually ask that question out loud but I could see a little anxiety in his face as he noted my own.

”Just a little bit more,” he assured me as we turned right onto I don't know what street — a street that did not have nearly as many Friday night revelers on it as the street where I had met ...

Who? Who the hell is this guy? And then it hit me. “Oh, no!” my inner monologue screamed. “I broke the TMOT Cardinal rule — ‘DON'T GO WITH TOUTS!’”

”Obviously we're not going to Soi 4,” I managed to say with a snarl. “Where are we going?”

”A gay bar,” the tout answered. “Trust me. You'll like it.”

He was practiced. He recognized that I was about to turn back, so he turned into a desperate conversationalist, keeping me stupidly talking to him as we continued turning corners and walking down poorly lit streets until we were there ...

Under a sign that read, Galaxy Boys. We walked up to the second floor and into a very dark, very uncrowded bar that had at least a dozen go-go dancers. All young, maybe late teens, early 20s. All with perfectly lean but beautifully defined bodies. All with smooth, bronze skin. All with long, lithe legs. All with supple calf muscles that took shape much higher toward the knee than I had ever seen before. All dressed in nothing but bikini bottoms. And those smiles!

 The walls appeared to be black, and there was little light, only dim beams that lit the boys on the stage. The ones in the shadows were pulling out their little soldiers and rubbing them until they stood at attention. The achievement of a full erection would bring a broad smile and a glance my way.

The tout was right, I kind of did like this place. In fact, I was entranced. There's something to say for sleazy bars. Especially when no one sees you walking into one. I ordered a beer and sat back while the tout walked toward the entrance where he engaged the manager, at least I think she was the manager, in an animated conversation.

More of the dancers smiled my way. I smiled back, unsure what else to do.

You can probably guess the next several events. The manager and tout would return. The manager would insist one of the boys come down and sit with me. He put his hand on my thigh, and one of my hands on his thigh. His skin was warm, smooth, a little damp. I found myself in the same conversation I had been in minutes earlier with the tout. The go-go dancer took my hand and placed it further up his thigh, so that my pinky was rubbing his cock. He giggled when my head turned, betraying my startlement.

”I like you,” he said without pronouncing the k. I stared into his eyes, and as I searched for the proper response — Was there one? — he began to kiss me. It wasn't a peck, but a full, lips locked, open-mouthed, gentle jaw movement kiss that my tongue remembers well to this day.

”I like you, too,” I said, pronouncing the k and figuring I might as well state the obvious. “I'm also hard as a rock.”

I don't think he understood that but the tout and manager seemed to know that the time to pounce was right and they were back at my sofa with a 2,200-baht bill.

”For one beer?” I sneered.

”No for boy off too. And must pay boy another 2,000 baht at hotel.”

Apparently it had already been decided that I was taking the best kiss I had ever had back to my hotel. But I balked. I was on my way to Soi 4, remember.

I never made it to my intended destination that night. I left Galaxy Boys and returned to my hotel as it had been ordained for me.

...

I'm not sure what will come next, a report on Night II of my most recent trip to Bangkok, or me reminiscing about that first trip 23 years ago.

[DivineMadman]

Delightful!

 

[ggobkk]

I’d enjoy knowing more about your first trip AND your current trip...

[colmx]

Great Stuff!

Almost feels exactly the same as my first night in Bkk! Except that was in 2000 and Galaxy boys was probably gone then...

Instead your tout (and it undoubtedly was!) took me to BoyZone on Silom Soi 3

[rollingstone]

Sir, you wrote very well. Share more stories of your current trip please.

[manuelmendez]

Look like anxious way story telling on 1st night at BKK. Good experience though. 

[Boy69]

I never knew there is a bar called Galaxy boys .where is it exactly?

[vinapu]

35 minutes ago, Boy69 said:

I never knew there is a bar called Galaxy boys .where is it exactly?

long gone , I think it was in the same soi where Golden Cock and Super A still are but I may be wrong.

OP is just recalling his first trip 23 years ago

[ggobkk]

I remember Galaxy Boys...a few years before OP...it was my first Thai off experience.  I believe I did everything wrong and it still turned out all right.  Galaxy Boys also had rooms on the premises.  

[ggobkk]

Observation...if BiggusDikkus was paying 2000 THB for an off two decades ago...given inflation, currency fluctuations, etc...today’s prices are a bargain.

[Guest]

4 hours ago, ggobkk said:

Observation...if BiggusDikkus was paying 2000 THB for an off two decades ago...given inflation, currency fluctuations, etc...today’s prices are a bargain.

Observation:    This is neither a statistically significant sample size nor a rational way in which to assess if today's prices are a bargain.   

     ONE person paying what might have been a very generous price 20 years ago is no way to assess current pricing.       

     Fresh Boys charged me 1000 for 2 drinks and an off on my last visit.    By current Bangkok standards, this is almost bargain territory.  

    2200 for the off and one drink is nearer to extortion, although nevertheless it makes a very good trip report.

 

 

[BiggusDikkus]

On 5/19/2019 at 7:33 AM, Boy69 said:

I never knew there is a bar called Galaxy boys .where is it exactly?

I would later look for it, on several occasions, but without much success.

That first night in Bangkok, as I was leaving Galaxy Boys, I was told to go in the opposite direction from how we arrived. As it turned out, the soi the bar was on met up with Surawong, maybe a block and a half from the hotel I was staying at.

Also as it turned out, I had been on Soi 4 when the tout led me away. I found that out the very next night, when I had to find Telephone to meet a Japanese friend who was also traveling in Thailand for the first time. This night, I arrived a bit early. I didn't want to repeat my mistakes of the previous night, regardless of how adventurous they turned out.

So I was better prepared when the same tout approached me again. I gave him a firm no.

This time instead of craning my head and looking at the businesses as I passed by I would look ahead of me, and sure enough, there was Telephone, not far up the soi, on the left. How could I have missed it last night?

But before I could step inside I was again waylaid. This time by something or someone tugging at the cuff of one of my pant legs. I looked down. It was a little boy. He looked barely old enought to walk but he must have also been able to run. How else could have he sneaked up on me? When I stopped to look down and met his gaze, he bowed, his hands together, in what I had read was a wai. I was gonna ignore him and just head to Telephone, mindful of what had happened the night before when I had allowed myself to be so easily swayed. But something about that small, barefooted kid tugged at my heart. I got to wondering how old he was. Couldn't've been much more than 3, if that. And then my over-active mind stirred up recollections of what I might have been doing on a Saturday night when I was 3. I pictured myself sitting on a carpeted floor, in a converted garage, watching a black and white TV with my brothers and sisters, none of whom were hungry that night, none of whom had ever known what hunger must feel like. I had a fortunate middle-class upbringing. And now in my early 30s I was able to travel to an exotic destination half way around the world from where I had grown up. Why was I fortunate to enjoy this little boy's country while he was in the street begging?

So I decided to reach into my pocket, dig out some change and drop it into his hands. Then I had a second thought. I pulled out my wallet, squatted down so the two of us, the fortunate tourist and the hungry native, might be face to face. I peeled off a couple 100-baht notes, folded them up and handed them over. As soon as I did, the little boy did the fastest 180 I'd ever seen and scampered away with surprising speed until he was safe at the feet of his mother, tugging at the hem of her skirt.

I remained in a squatting position, rather shocked that I didn't get even a “thank you.” I felt almost wounded not getting one. And now I would have to stand up and let everyone in this crowded street see my embarrassment, gawk at the gullible tourist. My Bangkok trip was not turning out how I had planned.

Still squatting and looking toward where the little boy had run, I decided to stand up and to walk as quickly as possible to the door of Telephone. I had already spotted the entrance before I felt the tugging at my leg. Now it promised me sanctuary from the stares and snickering of bystanders.

So I stood up, ready too make a beeline for my goal when the most surprising and gratifying thing happened.

Everyone sitting down at the outside tables along Soi 4 had apparently been watching my encounter because they broke into applause. I looked around. So many young smiling Thai faces. I paused to soak up the Saturday night energy, which had suddenly turned very positive. I smiled back, then walked into Telephone.

That great energy would last. It turned into one of the greatest nights of my life, one that would not end until 5am. Really, though, it did not end until two Sundays later, when it was time to go back home.

I had a late flight, after midnight, so in the afternoon, with a few hours to spare, I thought I'd go look for Galaxy Boys. It seemed fitting to spend my last night in Bangkok — after saying goodbye and exchanging phone numbers with all the people I had met during my stay — in the same bar where I had spent my first night. That same sleazy bar I had never told anybody about.

I got lost, though, and could not find it. Still, there's a story from my search that still rattles around my mind on a daily basis. Perhaps that story will be my next entry in this thread.

[BiggusDikkus]

16 hours ago, ggobkk said:

Observation...if BiggusDikkus was paying 2000 THB for an off two decades ago...given inflation, currency fluctuations, etc...today’s prices are a bargain.

I don't think it was an off fee, at least not the whole thing. I'm sure the tout made off with at least 1,000 baht. And I am also sure that I bought a drink for the guy who came to sit with me. I probably bought more drinks than that. But not 2,200 baht worth, and I never signaled that I would “off” the boy from Isaan. But it was clear to me that I would be paying at least 2,200 baht before I could leave, not that any threats were ever made. It was more like persistent pressure.

 

[llz]

Nostalgia anyone ? (TMOT th edition, 1997) (Galaxy bar n° 17 in the down right corner of the main map)

(sorry, cannot figure how to lay out pictures in a better way)

TMOT was wrong with their directions : going west on Surawong, you would have

to turn left (and not right) in the subsoi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CurtisD]

Biggus, 

I greatly enjoyed your reminiscence of your first time in Bangkok and it made me think that a thread on 'First Encounters' might be entertaining.

Following your lead I have written up my first trip to Bangkok but do not want to divert this thread if you plan to use it for a report on your current trip. 

If you plan to use this thread to write up your current trip, let me know and I will start a new thread on First Encounters. 

On the other hand, if it is ok with you to divert this thread to First Encounters, with your permission I will add a report on my first ever trip to Bangkok here.

Best regards, CD

 

 

[BiggusDikkus]

On 5/18/2019 at 8:34 PM, rollingstone said:

Sir, you wrote very well. Share more stories of your current trip please.

Thank you very much. I will try to get to my latest trip, but perhaps a bit later. To tell you the truth, it was not very exciting.

[BiggusDikkus]

23 minutes ago, CurtisD said:

Biggus, 

I greatly enjoyed your reminiscence of your first time in Bangkok and it made me think that a thread on 'First Encounters' might be entertaining.

Following your lead I have written up my first trip to Bangkok but do not want to divert this thread if you plan to use it for a report on your current trip. 

If you plan to use this thread to write up your current trip, let me know and I will start a new thread on First Encounters. 

On the other hand, if it is ok with you to divert this thread to First Encounters, with your permission I will add a report on my first ever trip to Bangkok here.

Best regards, CD

 

 

Please start a thread on first encounters. It's a great idea! I plan to make at least two more somewhat lengthy additions to this thread, one regarding my last night in Bangkok back in 1996, and one about my most recent trip.