What you don’t know about Patpong

[reader]

The Madrid gets mentioned in this account of the history of Patpong.

From CNN

Bangkok (CNN) — Prostitution, the CIA, the Vietnam War and Chinese immigration are all on display in a new museum dedicated to one of Bangkok's most famous red light nightlife zones, Patpong Road.

 

Alongside "Triple X," "fetish" and kinky cabaret exhibits are tamer displays highlighting David Bowie's 1983 visit to Bangkok, as well as other bits of pop culture, including a nod to "The Deer Hunter" -- a 1978 war drama starring Robert De Niro that included scenes reportedly shot in former Patpong bar Mississippi Queen. 

 

But documenting Patpong's unofficial ties to the US Central Intelligence Agency's deadly activities in Laos during the US-Vietnam War in the 1960s until 1974 is the museum's most fascinating purpose.

 

The 300-square-meter Patpong Museum, which opened in October, reveals why Americans fighting communists on battlefields flocked to Patpong for business, friendship and hedonistic trysts during the war. 

 

It also shows how Patpong evolved over time to attract hundreds of thousands of tourists and expats, before most of the action moved across town to bars elsewhere in Bangkok -- namely Soi Cowboy and the Nana Entertainment Plaza.

 

The museum's founder and curator, Michael Messner, tells CNN Travel he founded the space to document and display the area's fascinating history up to the present day, and include the many details that no one knows have gone into creating such unusual facilities, businesses and venues.

 

"I'd say today everybody knows Patpong," says Messner. "But nobody really knows what Patpong is about. People associate it with a very narrow segment today, and it would be 'Patpong ping-pong,' something like this. And we'll get to ping-pong, we'll show that too, but there is so much more."

 

Patpong Road's origins date back to a Chinese immigrant, Luang Patpongpanich, who purchased the land when it was a banana plantation. 

The museum displays two heavy rice bags connected by a bamboo pole for visitors to lift, a way to experience the burden felt by laborers shouldering 35-kilogram loads.

 

During World War II, Patpongpanich's son Udon reportedly studied in America, where he joined Washington's newly created Office of Strategic Services (OSS) which eventually morphed into the CIA. 

 

The OSS trained Udom to be a Seri Thai ("Free Thai") insurgent against Japan's occupation of Thailand, according to museum information, which is supported by a three-page story in Asia Magazine dated May 5, 1985 which includes an interview with Udom, and also in a 1996 obituary in London's Guardian newspaper. 

 

But the war ended before he returned home.

 

After Udom arrived in Bangkok, he transformed his family's land into Patpong Road and lined it with shop houses, which he rented to his OSS and CIA friends, Messner says.

 

"Mizu's Kitchen is the first food and beverage place in Patpong, run by a Japanese ex-soldier who was part of the occupational force but he liked it here so much that he wanted to stay," he reveals.

 

"The Foreign Correspondents' Club's first office or first meeting place was actually at Mizu's Kitchen. It just closed its doors this year, about three months ago, and we rescued the signage outside," Messner adds, gesturing at its weather-beaten sign.

 

Other Patpong tenants during those years, according to museum exhibits, included the US Information Service library and "a CIA safe house" above the Madrid Bar where, in later years, retired CIA officials reportedly drank and met buddies. 

 

Alongside these bits of info, the museum displays photos of late CIA officer Jack Shirley taken in the Madrid Bar, which is still open.

 

Patpong Museum, Building 5, 2nd floor below Black Pagoda Bar, Patpong Soi 2. Open daily, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; (+66) 91 887 6829. Tickets are 350 baht ($11) for visitors and include headphones offering narration in English, Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish. The entrance fee includes one free beer or soft drink. Museum souvenirs are on sale.

 

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/patpong-museum-bangkok/index.html

 

 

 

[vinapu]

now I know where to start next trip

[neddy]

Thanks for describing this reader.

 

I agree with vinapu; something worth a visit.

[spoon]

Yup! We all desperately need day activity in silom and glad to see they add a new one

[anddy]

saw this too, the ever resourceful reader of course beat me to it to post it here  

Will certainly check out the museum in due course

[reader]

Visited the museum today and give it 5 out of 5 stars.

Located directly opposite the entrance to Foodland, it occupies the space above the Black Pagoda. The 350 entrance fee includes a drink of your choice (soft, beer or mixed) in a bar dedicated to the Grand Prix, said to be the first go-go bar in Bangkok.

A former Patpong bar owner who helped the founder research and develop the concept was on hand to explain many of the exhibits and answer questions. In addition, the bartender is a lively Thai guy who took part in Woodstock in 1969. He’s an old Patpong hand and a delight to chat with.

They have plans for periodic theme events they hope will encourage visitors to return. 

I was there about 90 minutes and thoroughly enjoyed myself. It does was it set out to do with a mix of history and whimsy. 

 

 

 

 

 

[anddy]

walked past the other night and asked the friendly Black Pagoda ladies about it. They gave me this brochure:

 

[spoon]

Virtual reality xxx show! Wonder if they have the gay version or not lol

[anddy]

3 minutes ago, spoon said:

Virtual reality xxx show! Wonder if they have the gay version or not lol

was wondering, too, if they covered any gay parts, but I don't believe so. @reader would be able to tell, or me when I finally visit. Kinda wouldn't make that much sense to have it actually, as the history the museum focuses on didn't have that (yet).

[reader]

You’re right, Andy. The museum is focused on the historical aspect of Patpong at the moment.

I did, however, have a discussion with my tour guide about recent developments on the Surawong end of Patpong 2. Although he acknowledged that he was well aware of the clubs that migrated over from Twlight, he’s still trying to figure out how they’ll affect the zone going forward. 

He was surprised to hear that so many females were drawn to the male venues. I told him that I viewed it as a transition of Patpong that’s definitely bringing more foot traffic that benefits all tenants. 

Since, like all museums, its looking to broaden its appeal to residents as well as tourists, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it planned an event that looked at the changing face of Patpong. 

[vinapu]

11 hours ago, reader said:

 

Since, like all museums, its looking to broaden its appeal to residents as well as tourists, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it planned an event that looked at the changing face of Patpong. 

hopefully one day we will learn that staff is offable and off fee covers admission price

[anddy]

https://bk.asia-city.com/bangkok-places/museum/patpong-museum