Guest fountainhall Posted January 9, 2011 Posted January 9, 2011 On another thread, some of us have been fondly remembering the bars of yesteryear. What, I wonder, of the sauna scene,a nd how does it compare to the saunas of today? I so rarely visit Bangkok saunas now, I am way out of date. My last visit to Babylon must have been 18 months or so ago, and I did not enjoy it. In fact, I have never enjoyed the 'new' Babylon nearly as much as I did the old one at the top of the soi, the building now occupied by Pandanus restaurant. Just as Twilight was on my bar list, so Babylon would be on my 'other activities' list. Thinking way back, I can recall Volt which was somewhere off Asoke, and the ten-storied Obelisk with the jacuzzi on the top floor. With only one lift, it was a great work-out for your leg muscles! Another was in a little soi off Ploenchit, not far from what is now the Holiday Inn hotel, but I cannot recall the name. At Christmas in 1986 I hooked up with a young Thai there. He was working at the Regent Hotel (now the Four Seasons). He is still at the hotel and we wink when we see each other. I know it was 1986 because we continued to see each other and went to the fascinating Royal Barge Procession later the following year, held as part of the King's 60th birthday celebrations. (How the memory can recall such insignificant things and not many of the more important ones, beats me!) Heaven, close to the older Holiday Inn at the bottom of Silom, has been around for a long time, and I recall some very good times there. My favourite, though, was always Chakran off Soi Aree. Its Moroccan theme, lovely little pool and poolside bar, big jacuzzi, and the cruising area on the top floor were always filled with great young Thais, many of whom were perfectly happy to hook up with older farang. I now learn that Chakran is about half the size it used to be, the other now taken up by the relocated V Club massage. I guess it is victim to the seemingly dozens of newer saunas that have opened up, largely in the Ramkhamhaeng and Ladphrao districts, establishments which seem to cater almost exclusively for younger Thais seeking younger Thais. Have any posters been to some of the latest ones? I pass Sauna Mania sometimes and wonder if it is as 'sticky Thai' as the reports tell. But I have never ventured out much beyond the city centre. Ramkhamhaeng must be teeming with masses of students from the two Universities in that area, and I assume many must patronise the saunas. Are any worth a visit? Quote
pong Posted January 9, 2011 Posted January 9, 2011 hello, khun FH. I've visted while in BKK (where am not now-to return in about 120 days) about 6 or 7 this year, mainly suburban ones, and SMania. intended to jot something about it in another forum, but still not found time nor stamina. I do not have many remembrances from the days of yore-as I simply did not went then, except the old Babylon. By now there must be around 40 (see listings on dragoncastle or tmmsociety) and they are spread all over BKK untill the furthest outposts. But what is there to write about? A sauna is a sauna-they all look more or less same-same. Do not expect the luxury of Babylon, but lower prices (sometimes down to 99 bt in slack hours). Do not expect to many patrons-20 is already a big crowd. Do not expect too much eye-candy, mid-age Thais are more the norm. Often in small groups who know one antoher, like is also the case in many bars. Often free drinks, booze and sometimes even food. And -fairly often- a tendency to watch and peep-if at all possible (even if this involves standing on chairs or whatever can be moved to it! There may ba a TV or screen-and it will often show str8 poh. Rumor mill has it also that Chakran has moved into the ThaiforThai only mentality, or just for hansum boys who only like to get admired. Next question is then : is it all worth it? Well-if you stay long time in BKK and know your way around and are not averse to travel-or have to go somewhere anyway, it may add a little cheap fun. But it is never garanteed, you just take your chances. More amazing is that so few sauna's exist and have made it in the porvinces: only a very few larger towns, like CMai, Khon Khaen, Ubon (or closed?) and a doubtful one in Phuket are listed, plus Pattaya. (if you do staistics: the ratio of sauna vs. nr of people ir around the same then though-these towns have 2k people-for 1 sauna-and BKK has roughly 40 for at least 8 million people-or 1 sauna per 1k males). Quote
