Around the traps in Southeast Asia: Part 30

 

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Singapore – Phuket – Bangkok – Vientiane – The Rock Viewpoint

 

Singapore

 

 

The Lion City: After another largely forgettable six-week work stint in Saudi Arabia, I had three days in the Lion City before heading home to Phuket. These days my forays into Singapore are mainly about shopping and sorting out the odd glitch I always seem to be getting with HSBC Banking services. I had three days booked at the Holiday Inn Orchard City Centre, on Cavenagh Road. It’s a hotel I’ve used on many previous visits. Mainly because of its central location to downtown Orchard Road, and the convenience of having the Cuppage Bar Area nearby. If you’re in Singapore and looking for some good pub food (steaks and burgers), and a reasonably priced cold pint, head to HARRY’S BAR at Cuppage.

Brix Reopened: As luck would have it, this recent trip to Singapore coincided with the reopening of the BRIX NIGHTCLUB in the basement of the Hyatt Hotel, on Scotts Road. This bastion of the expat nightlife scene had been closed for two years, due to the refurbishment of the hotel. With its reopening occurring just a few days before I landed in town, I was keen to check it out and see what changes had been made. Much to my disappointment, there were none. Unfortunately, none of the millions spent on the hotel above had trickled down to the basement. It was still the same old dimly lit, retro 90s atmosphere. The only thing which had changed, was the increase in the entry fee. A night out, and a few drinks in Singapore, can be expensive. And getting into Brix is no exception. The SGD 45 entrance fee buys you one drink. After that, a half pint of Tiger or Heineken is an additional SGD 24.

The Vietnam Hustle: The primary attraction of Brix continues to be the dollar-hungry Vietnamese working girls. With the reopening, a lot of the ladies who were doing tricks at the IPANEMA BAR have quickly relocated back to Brix. Being a bit more of an upmarket location, Brix also has more upmarket prices. Ladies who were asking SGD 300 for a short time at Ipanema Bar, our now asking 400 – 500 at Brix. For anyone considering spending that much on a Brix girl, be warned there’s an additional hustle which the Vietnamese specialise in, once your back at the hotel room. The request for “taxi money.” This is an on sell which they try to tack on to the agreed amount for their services. It’s normally a request for an additional SGD 30 – 50, which they ask for as you’re handing over the pre-arranged fee. I never paid it. Simply because I was forewarned about the scam and always made sure I only ever had the agreed upon fee in my wallet. “Sorry, no have. Wallet empty.” If they make a song and dance about it, simply show them the door. Or intimate you’re going to call hotel security.

 

Phuket

 

 

The Rainy Season: I arrived back in Phuket towards the end of July. As my flight touched down, it was heavily overcast, and I was expecting the worst. The clips I’d seen on YouTube, of cars floating off in the deluge, had me thinking it wasn’t an ideal time to be arriving back on the Pearl of the Andaman. Fortunately, the floods had receded, and the roads were largely back to normal. The manager of my Condo Building told me they’d had ten days of constant rain where they didn’t see the sun, at the beginning of the month. Thankfully it had cleared up and the weather remained largely rain free for almost a week after I arrived back.

A crowded August: Whatever thoughts I had of the low season being a relatively quieter time of the year were soon squashed by the traffic jams out on the roads once more. August is the time of the year when the Arab, Indian, and Chinese tourists arrive en masse. The traffic on the roads into and out of Patong were once again back to high-season levels. Although it was noticeable that Patong was the only beach area which was heavily crowded. Elsewhere on the island it was a lot quieter. For one reason or another the Arab, Indian, and Chinese crowd seem to make Patong their base and don’t travel far from there. Possibly because, for the Arabs and Indians at least, Patong is the only place which has restaurants that cater to their dining needs.

 

 

Along the strip: Soi Bangla continues to be the epicentre of a night out, with a few drinks, on Phuket Island. It’s a place I largely avoid, save for my once weekly foray into the crowded chaos. On Saturday afternoons I’ll make my way to the AUSSIE SPORTS BAR, to watch a bit of NRL, have an Aussie steak, and then amble over to the KANGAROO BAR for a few quiet drinks. The Kangaroo bar has some great sidewalk seating, to watch the evening’s chaos unfold (after 6 pm both ends of the Soi are closed off and it becomes a walking street). It’s also one of the few pubs on the strip which sells BEER LAO DARK which, if you’re a Beer Lao aficionado, is a great drop. And at 99 THB a bottle, it’s also great value.

 

 

An icon on the strip: The Kangaroo Bar continues to be the most popular street side bar on Soi Bangla and has been since I first dropped in there, some 30 years ago. Why this continues to be so, is probably due to a combination of factors. The drink prices aren’t any different to the bars next door, so the packed atmosphere is probably more to do with the large numbers of Australians who gather there and most importantly, for a good pub atmosphere, the music. Some may say it’s the girls, but the reality is they’re no different to the girls you see in any of the other bars along the Soi. Same drinks hustle and same lines of BS. The fact is that Aussie bands, over the years (80’s and 90’s) have pumped out excellent pub music – think AC/DC and Cold Chisel. It’s the music that gets your toes tapping, once you’re warmed up on a few drinks, and creates a convivial atmosphere.

 

 

The girls: As mentioned the girls working in most of the bars along the strip have similar background stories (supporting families up in Isarn) and the same rehearsed lines of BS for extracting drinks out of you. TBH, I don’t have any personal axe to grind against them. I understand their tough existence and the fact they’re just trying to make a living, with whatever means at their disposal. At the end of the day, it’s up to the individual punter to maintain control over his financial resources. A lady drink along the strip is a standard 250 THB and of that, the girls get 70 THB. It’s certainly a tough way to earn a living. Getting sloshed every night on rot gut tequila isn’t something I’d want to try, even for just one night.

The Go-go bars: Across the road from the Kangaroo Bar, and down a few meters to the right, is the go-go bar strip. Soi Sea Dragon is a U-shaped loop with go-go bars along the outer edges, and open beer bars down the centre. Due to the high heat and humidity of Phuket, I’ve never bothered to sit down at one of these open beer bars. After a couple of hours sitting at the Kangaroo Bar, I’ll make a bee line for either SUZY WONG’S or the DEVILS PLAYGROUND (Suzy Wong’s 2), for some air-conditioned comfort.

 

 

Susy Wong’s (aka Suzy Wong’s 1) and the Devils Playground (aka Suzy Wong’s 2) are part of the same organisation. With the external decorations to each premises, one must wonder if the owner is Chinese. The difference between the two venues being the Devils Playground is a bit more spacious, has a larger dance platform, and the punters can sit a bit further away from the action. Suzy Wong’s 1 is smaller and cozier, and the seating is closer to the dance platform. Another difference is the ass smacking theme of Suzy Wong’s 1. This is advertised on a neon billboard outside the premises and is something which has been the appeal of the venue for as long as I can remember. The girls all carry a half meter length that soft piping insulation and at various times through their dance bracket, will start whacking each other on the backside. If you’re seated around the dance platform, they may offer you the chance of whacking their bared buttocks. All in all, it’s a good bit of harmless fun and it adds to the entertainment appeal of the place. Lady drinks in both locations are 250 THB. A standard beer is 190 THB.

 

Bangkok

 

 

Krung Thep: After a couple of weeks decompressing in Phuket, it was time head to the Big Mango. I had several things planned during my four days stay, not the least being a meet up with Mr. Stickman. On arrival at Suvarnabhumi the usual nonsense with the taxis got things off to a bad start. For anyone coming here in 2024, be aware the taxi drivers are now just throwing a price at you (I got quoted 750 THB) instead of using the meter. TBH this still isn’t a huge amount of money. It’s just their assumption that you’ll accept whatever price they throw at you. I’d confidently predict that in another twelve months, taxi drivers at Suvarnabhumi will be quoting 1000 THB for a ride into town. With the ever-increasing numbers of people flying into Bangkok, this is not beyond the realms of possibility.

It’s damned hot: Once you arrive in the Big Mango something which becomes immediately noticeable is how damn hot the place is, compared with Phuket. There are no cooling sea breezes swirling around the high-rise buildings. Bangkok is an overheated concrete jungle. If you’re moving around the city, during the daytime, the airconditioned respite of the BTS system is a welcome relief.

Getting around Bangkok: Speaking of the city’s public transportation system (the BTS and MRT) here’s a couple of tips if you’re at the Asoke / Sukhumvit junction at the wrong time of day (late afternoon). After waiting in line for what seems an eternity at the BTS ticket counter (while groups of Chinese tourists try to use their scan apps to buy tickets) do yourself a favour and buy a multi-day ticket to avoid a repeat of the same situation. You’ll need to scan a bar code, on the ticket office window, to make the purchase. The extra time taken is well worth it to avoid the groups of Chinese, Arabs, and Indians who always never seem to know exactly what they want, or what their intended destination is. If you’re using the MRT at Asoke Junction, you’ll need to descend below street level (down the escalator) to get to the ticketing area which, any time after midday is packed with people waiting in rows to make their purchase. Here’s the tip, walk 120 meters to the far end of the ticketing level and buy your tickets at the counter there. It’s always empty.

The August influx: As with Phuket, August is the month of the Arab influx. They’re normally in Thailand during the hottest time of the year in the middle east. Many are quite wealthy. As I was checking into the Holiday Inn, down at Ratchaprasong, I heard the counter staff ask an Arab couple if they were staying until the end of the month. Considering it was only the 12^th of August, and room rates are around 6000 THB per night, that’s a fair chunk of cash to be laying out for accommodation. The Arabs generally aren’t outdoors or beach people. They seem to spend most of their time at upmarket shopping malls in Bangkok. Such as this new hi-so mall at Ratchaprasong with its Louis Vuitton Café.

 

 

Sukhumvit nightlife: As mentioned, my primary reason for being in Bangkok was to meet up with Mr. Stickman. I was also keen to check out the situation with the nightlife venues along lower Sukhumvit, as I hadn’t been in town for nearly nine months. My first stop was an old favourite, OSKARS BISTRO on Soi Eleven. This is basically a warmup joint where you indulge in some tasty French Fusion style food, while enjoying a wine or a beer, and eyeing up the attractive freelancers sat around the bar. If you want a seat along the bar, on the ground floor, get there early (by 8 PM) otherwise you’ll be ushered to the upstairs bar, which doesn’t seem to have the same vibe. As the night goes on the music, which is predominantly a fusion of house, techno, and jazz, pumps while the floor area fills with freelancers. Oskars normally empties by midnight with most people heading for either LEVELS, across the road, or HAVANA CLUB, around the corner. If you decide to take a freelancer out of Oskars, the current pricing regime is 5000 THB for an ST, and 8000 THB for an LT. Unfortunately, this appears to be the standard pricing range for freelancers, in clubs, all around Bangkok now.

The Havana Club: This is a late-night venue at the far end of Sukhumvit Soi Eleven. For anyone who knows this Soi, it’s down a small lane which is opposite the Villa Supermarket. It generally doesn’t get going till after midnight, when Oskars and some of the other warm-up spots nearby, empty out. The venue is an old building (a 2-storey house) which has been gutted of fixtures and fittings, and now has a rustic look with exposed bricks and woodwork. Because it was once a house the floor space isn’t all that big. It could be described as cozy and if you arrive there after 1 am, you’ll be elbowing your way to the bar (on the ground level). There’s a DJ tucked away in a corner at ground level and the music could best be described as Latino style house and techno. If you don’t like being packed into a place where ordering a drink, or doing a toilet run becomes a mission, you’re better off giving it a miss.

The Mixx Discotheque: This is another old favourite of mine and one of the reasons I like staying at the nearby Holiday Inn. If I roll out of Mixx at around 2 am, it’s only a short walk back to the hotel. The nightclub is in the basement of the INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL. To get there, from anywhere along Sukhumvit, simply jump in a taxi and say “Mixx.” The drivers all know where it is because they get paid a 100 THB commission for every punter they drop off. The entrance fee is currently 300 THB and for that you get one drink.

 

 

Inside Mixx: Entering the place is a bit bizarre. There’s a double set of fire doors to push through to reach the bar area. The Club itself has a bit of a retro/noir look about it. There’s a large Michael Angelo type painting on the ceiling, red velvet drapes everywhere, and imitation crystal chandeliers for lighting. Compared with other venues, the place is quite spacious. There’s a large dance floor with a DJ’s stand behind, and a small dance platform to either side, for the continuous stream of inhouse dancers. As you enter the premises, there’s a long bar on the left, where most of the punters and freelance hookers congregate.

Prices: The place is a bit of an international meat market. There are some Thai ladies to be seen, but there’s also plenty of Russians, Vietnamese, and Africans. If you buy a drink for a girl, it’s roughly 300 THB. A standard beer is 250 THB. The pricing scheme for some companionship for the evening is as described earlier in the submission. I asked a couple of ladies what their ST price was, and both said, “5000 THB.” I can’t help thinking there’s widespread collusion these days, regarding freelancer prices. Something else to keep in mind, if you’re planning to go there, is that many of the Thai ladies, aren’t ladies. For the experienced eye, it’s not hard to discern. For the inexperienced, if you don’t want more than you bargained for, take a Russian or a Vietnamese lass.

Nana Plaza: I hadn’t been to the Plaza for several years. Mainly because I’d got to a point in life where I’d rather go to freelancer venues, where there’s less hustle, when looking for a bit of companionship for the night. Still, after all the talk on this site about Billboard and Butterflies, I was keen for a bit of a recon. Both bars are on the third floor of the Plaza, and directly opposite each other. Note: Billboard is on the left, as you enter the plaza, and up two flights of stairs.

Billboard: I dropped into Billboard at around 10 pm, and the place was heaving. This is a largish venue with a couple of sizeable pole platforms. The one I was seated near was a revolving carousel which seemed to be packed with shapely, attractive ladies. It was quite interesting to watch. After a few revolutions, a few girls made their way on to the platform to start their bracket. The girls who came off, for one reason or another, made their way up a flight of stairs I was sitting next to. As they were coming and going, I got an up-close look at the merchandise. For anyone who’s keen on go-go bars, take it as a given, there’s some very attractive ladies working in Billboard. I didn’t ask about prices for bar fines or short times. I just assumed they’d be in line with most of the other go-go bars in town.

Butterflies: As mentioned, this venue is located opposite Billboard and on the same level of Nana Plaza. Being a sister bar of Billboard, I was expecting the ladies to be of a similar standard. Unfortunately, they aren’t. I dropped in at around 11 pm and there were noticeably less punters there than Billboard. There was also less ladies and, of the ones who were on the pole platform, quite a few were looking a bit porky. The one positive about the place is it’s a bit more spacious than Billboard and not as dimly lit.

Soi 8: For anyone wanting some decent western food, and an early evening drink, I highly recommend the VIVA SPORTS BAR on Soi 8. This corner bar is an open-air styled venue which promotes itself as a Tapas Bar, but also has great Aussie steaks and New Zealand lamb chops.

 

 

Vientiane

 

  

About: The rainy season in Laos is normally a time which I tend avoid. Compared with Phuket, it’s much shorter. It starts around the beginning of June and is normally finished by late October. The rainy season in Laos tends to be short and intense with rain periods every day. For outdoor activities such as caving, trekking, and motorbike touring, it’s not the best time year to be there. For anyone wanting to look at waterfalls, then it’s the best time to be there. The waterfalls in places such as the Bolaven Plateau and The Four Thousand islands are in full flow and provide a spectacular sightseeing experience between July and October.

Vientiane: I hadn’t been to Vientiane during the rainy season previously. I had a three day stay planned before heading down to the ROCK VIEWPOINT in Khammouane Province. There was a couple of sightseeing attractions I wanted to check out, having not visited on previous occasions. I was keen to look at the TAT LUANG BUDDHIST TEMPLE, one of the most popular tourist attractions in town. Getting there from the riverfront area is quite easy. You can get a tuk-tuk (round trip) for 300k Laotian Kip (LAK) or approx. US 12.50. I made my tour in the late afternoon, to avoid the worst of the heat and the crowds which tend to hit the place in the mornings. The entry fee is 30k (LAK) for foreigners.

 

 

Wat Tat Luang: This is an interesting Buddhist Temple site. It’s a largish square structure, completely coated in gold paint, with a myriad of vertical spires. The structure is inside a walled compound which allows you to do a complete circuit around it. Although the structure has entry points, it’s closed off to public access. All you can do is walk around it and take photos. Along the inside of the surrounding walls are an array of Buddhist Statues, and rocks which appear to have some historical significance for the site.

Surrounding Temples: Outside the main Tat Lunag structure are several additional temples and Buddhist monuments, worth spending some time checking out. To the North of Tat Luang is another large Buddhist Temple (TAT LUANG NEUA) with ornate architecture and gold artwork. To the south is TAT LUANG TAI, another ornate Buddhist Temple with a RECLINING BUDDHA nearby.

Along the riverfront: This is always a good place for a late afternoon walk. In the rainy season, be sure to take an umbrella with you. There’s a promenade which runs for approximately two km along the river. It starts opposite the night market and runs south down to the large statue of KING ANOUVONG, a hero in Lao history who apparently defeated the Thai in battle. The walkway/promenade continues past the statue down to the bend in the Mekong River. During my walk it was quite noticeable the Mekong was well up on its dry season levels. The muddy brown expanse had inundated the low-lying sand banks.

 

The Rock Half Day Challenge 

 

The Rock Viewpoint update: The rainy season (aka the Green Season) is probably not the best time to be visiting this adventure activities base, operated by GREEN DISCOVERY LAOS. The site is in a mountainous area (Phouphaman) along highway # 8, on the road to Lak Xao, and as such is inundated by monsoonal rains between June and October. Having said that, it’s not raining all the time. For anyone keen to get down there in the Green Season, it’s normally fine in the afternoons. Click this LINK to continue reading an in-depth report on the Rock Viewpoint and the half day challenge.

Additionally, click on this LINK for a highlights reel of the zip-line circuit.

Until next time, safe travels.

 

Mega