An End To Songkran

Songkran had swept over Thailand and everything was wet. It was Sunday night now, and all that was left were a few diehard Thai's and a couple of over-eager foreigners. Things were settling down and drying out. Not us though.

Kids throwing water during Songkran

My friend John from Europe had called me the previous night and had arranged to meet me Sunday night after his flight in from Koh Samui, he had spent Songkran on the islands, and had a few days in Bangkok before heading back North. I in turn had called on my American comrade, Chad from the journey to Laos, and his girlfriend, to meet us at Immortal.

John arrived shortly after me, and we quickly opened a bottle of Thai whiskey. Chad and his girlfriend arrived after the second round, and promptly added another bottle to the fray. He had brought one of his other friends along as well - Will.

Chad explained to me that Will was feeling a bit down after a fight with his girlfriend, and needed a bit of cheering up. He strongly hinted that what Will needed was a trip down to Nana, as I had vividly described the spoils that Nana offers to Chad when we were in Laos, and I quickly got the picture.

John is European so I knew he wasn't going to object, but nevertheless put the idea to the table. The idea was greeted enthusiastically, so we proceeded to finish both bottles, and ventured forth to find a taxi.

Mario, our Italian comrade from Laos, had been informed of our little get together earlier, and made a surprise appearance at the Victory Monument BTS, along with his zealous Catholic Filipino girlfriend, and her church friends.

We realised that if we revealed our plans too soon they would quickly shy away and draw our unwitting Italian comrade away from the temptations we would subject him to, so we concealed our plans. I suggested in an offhand manner that I knew of a great little Australian bar down at the end of Soi 4, and although their suspicions were aroused, they seemed to relax after I allayed their cynicism.

The entrance to Nana Plaza

As we passed the entrance to Nana plaza, Chad and I simply picked Mario up and marched inside. They had little choice but to follow. Mario was sputtering with fear, insistent that his girlfriend would murder him for this. We acted without mercy and made our way up to the second floor and into Angelwitch, carrying a distressed Italian.

For all his worries, the girls seemed to enjoy the show. Mario was however convinced that this was all an act, and he would answer for his supposed crimes later that night. He eventually wriggled free from between Chad and myself, and escaped. His girlfriend and her friends stayed for another show while he waited outside, frantically trying to avoid eye contact with the girls and Kathoeys beckoning him inside.

His party eventually collected themselves, thanked us for a great evening, and dragged our poor Italian friend off to the dog box.

My guests were still enjoying themselves though, so the night wasn't over yet. I had planned to drag them to Billboard next to see how long they would take to figure out the difference, but received a spanking on the way there. My guests seemed to enjoy it, so we entered Spanky's instead.

It wasn't long and myself, Chad and John were up on the stage dancing with the girls, noone seemed to mind. Chad and I sat down again, but John seemed mesmerized and just sat down on the stage and folded his legs, alternating his time between staring at the dancing girls around him and sipping his Singha.

The girls seemed amused by him as his facial expression was frozen the entire time. They started playing a game trying to get him to smile or frown or do something other than stare almost past them with the expression of a blind man. Occasionally, when the girls weren't looking he would look over at us and throw a big smile and attempt to give two thumbs up, almost dropping his beer on the stage.

The mama-san wasn't too impressed by this and we were asked to leave. Will was disappointed as he was busy enjoying a 'free' dance from a girl who was expecting a lady drink. Confusion ensued, so I quickly ordered and paid for a one before words were exchanged and we left.

Will, Chad and the girl thanked us for a great evening, but they had work in the morning and it was way past their bedtime. I had no commitments on Monday and John was on holiday, so there was no way we were going to bed now. We decided to go to Wong's, Bangkok's favourite little dive.

We started to walk in the direction of the BTS out of instinct, not realising it would be closed already, talking and laughing without a care in the world. As we walked past one of Sukhumvit's many mobile beer bars John suggested we make a pit stop, so we did.

There are many little bars like this along Sukhumvit

We sat down and were immediately served by a rather stunning post-op Kathoey. John doesn't seem to have a very good eye for these kinds of things though, and seemed a bit oblivious to this. It wasn't long though before John got bored with the conversation. She and I had hit it off, and he got up to see if he could strike up a similar spark with one of the other "girls".

I had no interest in doing anything other than talking, but this girl had other plans, and asked if she could come with us. I responded by explaining I don't do bar fines, and she said no problem, she just wanted company.

The three of us took a taxi to John's hotel. He had offered that I could stay there earlier, and he didn't mind that I was bringing a friend. We received a few funny looks walking into the hotel, as one always does, but we ignored it and took the elevator up.

Once inside the apartment John poured us some whiskey's, and my new friend leant over and started to kiss me. My hands slid up the inside of her thighs, feeling warmth... I took a sip of my whiskey.

The next thing I knew John was naked behind her, and before I knew what had happened the two of them were on top of each other in bed.

I watched them for awhile and then retrieved my cigarettes and whiskey, opened the sliding door and stepped out on the balcony. I gave one last look back at them and slid the door closed, drowning out their noise with the early morning traffic of Sukhumvit.

Bangkok waking up...

Across the way I could see another red eyed foreigner, drink in hand, having a late night smoke. I wondered to myself what he had done that night, and what he had seen. I wondered if he too was visiting his homophobic friend from Europe - blissfully unaware behind him - closed off by a glass pane and the sound of the morning traffic, staring at the sea of activity in the streets below as the lights of the city faded and the sun rose, and I felt an odd kind of kinship with him.

To Laos and Back Again Pt. 1

I left Bangkok at 21h30 Wednesday night.

I was seated next to a cute Thai speaking Chinese girl. My Thai isn't good enough for a prolonged conversation and I can barely count in Mandarin anymore, so it was a rather quiet trip.

We arrived in Laos early in the morning and headed straight to the embassy. After some paperwork, we moved on towards the hotel.

After brunch, a shower and a short nap, I joined in a prolonged game of basketball in the heat of Laos. I though at first that the heat would finish me off rather quickly, but I got used to it rather quickly and found it rather enjoyable.

By now it was almost 3pm, so I headed back for another (desperately needed) shower.

A troupe of four was formed, consisting of myself, Chad the American, Mario the Italian, and Manuel the Fillipino.

We piled into the free van from the hotel into downtown Vientiane.

First stop was the midtown market, and we were quite surprised to find that everything was priced at about half of what it would cost in Thailand.

I can only stand so much market trawling though, so I rallied the troops and we decided that now is the time for beerlao, and settled into the first little place sporting the yellow banner indicating the availability of beerlao.

Beerlao is a very light but refreshing lager, brewed from the finest international malts and loas-cally produced rice.

The sun was setting slowly on the four of us, enjoying that fresh beerlao for the first time, and gearing up for a long night in Vientiane.
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Piece of my mind

Girlfriend was partying it up in Khaosan with Roommate.
The rooftop bar Gazebo was relaunching itself after renovations, and they were running a free drinks party. I'll likely be checking it out when I get back from Laos.

Now an 80 baht taxi fare away, I was at the Demonic concert press release at Immortal Bar. There was a free bar that night, and I had taken great advantage of that.

Girl and her friend Piece were both prancing around the bar getting up to pranks. They had finished their wai daeng(red wine) and had moved onto a bottle of Jack Daniels. Girl and Jack never really got along, so it wasn't long before she was asleep on the couch.

Girlfriend had told me that Piece was a good kisser, and I was drunk, and I was curious. I asked her if she remembered what I told her when she went with Girlfriend into the bathrooms, and she said she did. I asked her to do it again. She thought for a moment and went to go wait in the bathroom.

A few moments later I followed her, trying my best not to make it too obvious. I had always felt that Piece was disappointed that night we met that I preferred Girl over her, and I confirmed my suspicions as I embraced her. We fell backwards into a stall, my hands running under over her ass and sliding under her shirt.

I stopped for a second to look at her, and she knelt over and started to undo my belt. Somehow through the haze of liquor I woke up and stopped her. She looked up at me, confused. I explained to her that I just wanted to kiss her, taste her, and doing anything more would only serve to piss Girl off.

I was still drunk and veracious... and could barely help myself as I lifted her up and pressed her against the wall, spreading her legs over my shoulders and burying my head in her thighs.

By the time we got back to the party Girl had started to wake up, and had received a second wind. After almost downing another whiskey, she proceeded to sneak up behind the bassist on stage - who was in the middle of a solo - and and pulled his pants down. Dedicated man that, as he just continued playing and laughing.

I admit that I have a rather odd sense of morality, and I couldn't just leave things like that - with my sexual deviancy I find that honesty is required on all matters, so I told Girl about the bathroom incident with Piece.

She was not impressed, but she said she was okay with it. She doesn't mind sharing a man, just not with her friends - but as long as there was no penetration is was okay. Looking back however, I still think that's where we started to drift apart.

The rest of the night is a bit of a blur, but an hour or so later, Girl and I headed back to her place and spent three sweaty hours together before collapsing in a tired pile.

I said goodnight to Girlfriend via BBM, and drifted to sleep.

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Demonic Concert Press Release

Last night I went to the press release of the Demonic Metal Concert, hosted by Immortal Bar.

Metal colors were flying high, and the place was pretty packed. After many wai's, handshakes and hugs, I proceeded to acquire my preferred brand of whiskey, along with a bucket of Ice and a bottle of mineral water.

I was late, as I tend to be, but due to technical difficulties, they were running a little bit behind as well.

The event eventually kicked off though as Guru Singh and Lakfah Sarsakul of Immortal Productions took to the stage. After a few jokes and a look at past demonic concerts, the final line up and event details were announced.

Then one of the house bands took to the stage, bringing us some epic metal covers.

Throughout the night the band would pause between songs and ask questions relating to the Demonic concert. Your prize for the correct answer being a free ticket and a Demonic poster. This competition brought out a small friendly cat-fight between some of the more spirited girls.

Well, that's it for the press release... Now let me tell you what happened for the rest of the night...
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Driving in Thailand

There's nothing like the sound of a big crash to wake you up on the highway.

The other morning I was sleeping in the back of the van we take to work, as I do everyday.

ZzzZZzzZZzzZzz...
*CRASH!!!!*

A Thai had driven into the back of the van, DIRECTLY under where my head was resting.

Driving here is certainly interesting. Even though there is a stringent set of traffic laws, they're actually more of a guideline than anything else.

Take the first time I took a motorcycle taxi for instance... The driver was weaving through peak traffic, at a speed of about 10km's / hour, while TEXTING - steering the motorcycle with his knees.

No, I was not very comfortable. Surprisingly, you do become used to it, and I caught myself thinking that this kid could probably outride most bikers I know.

When driving in Thailand, you're pretty much EXPECTING others to do whatever they please, which means you end up paying a lot more attention when driving. Since the other drivers expect the same of you, they are also in this alert state... most of the time.

There was the time where our taxi driver kept falling asleep behind the wheel on the way to Khaosan. He probably had a very long shift... Crazy bastard would drive about 5 metres, we'd wake him up... 3 metres... wake him up. Longest trip to Khaosan ever...

To conclude, traffic in Thailand brings up for me the image of a column of ants.

It might be messy, but it works. If you're awake...
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Prelude to Laos, beerlao, and lao-lao...

Well, it's that time of the year.

The end of this visa is approaching quickly, so it's time to start planning a trip up north.

I have one more week left in Thailand, and then it's off for a holiday in Laos. I've been hearing some interesting things about Laos, and even though a week in Vientiane sipping beerlao and lao-lao would give me a chance to catch up on some overdue writing... the temptation of Vang Vieng has caught my attention.

Word of mouth to mouth certainly has that effect.

Pictures and article to follow in a few weeks.

Ménagerie à trois Part 2

Skip forward to the weekend. It's Saturday now. I head down to my "local" (+-1 hour by bus) watering hole.

The owner and owners of other local businesses are receiving blessings from Monks today. I assume this is a continuation from Makha Bukha, so the place is quite busy. I grab a bottle of whiskey and let them do their thing. Eating, drinking and much talking ensue - in some bastardized hybrid of Thai & English. Thaigrish? Thaigrit? Mai bpen lai.

I am sitting with a large group of Thai friends, one of which is a particularly foxy Thai lady in red. Si-DAAAEENG girl! You all know her as "Girl" (or you will when I get around to writing that entry...).

I have been informed prior to my arrival in that refreshingly blunt way that one does in a non-native language that no carnal activities will be taking place for the next several days. It seems "the painters are in..." - and the paint matches the colour of her dress.

The Blackberry goes crazy. It's my girlfriend. She's bored.

Am I still at the pub or am I coming home?
I'm still at the pub.
Is Girl there?
Yes.
Can I come join you guys, I still wanna meet her.
Yes.
 [An hour passes]
Do they have vodka?
Yes.
Shall I bring you some Shark?
YES!
I'm here.

I go over to Girl. Girl, my girlfriend is on her way. She should be here in a few minutes. She wants to meet you. I've never seen an expression like that on her face - it's that typical look of a deer trapped in headlights.
She composes herself almost instantly. "Ok." I don't believe her.

Girlfriend arrives. Everyone greets her enthusiastically, and I lead her over to the bar.

Girlfriend, this is Girl. Girl, this is Girlfriend.
Very nice to meet you.

I can taste the awkwardness in the air, and it tastes awkward.
I love every second of it.

Girl scurries off and goes and sits with another group. Girlfriend and I move back to the large table.

We drink, we chat, we laugh - an hour passes as I give Girl some time to think this all through. I beckon her over to the bar.

Girlfriend knows what happened Girl, and she's fine with it. There's no reason to be freaked out.
Ok.
Trust me. She likes you by the way.
Ok, I'm not nervous. I come drink with you.

She joins the large table again and the two of them start chatting. More time passes. It's getting late now, I don't think the buses are running anymore.

Girl's friend Peace arrives. Girlfriend thinks that Peace is very attractive, so I run off to go work some behind the scenes magic. As Peace once told me, in that refreshingly blunt way that one does in a non-native language, "No, I'm a homo. I like boy but like girl more."

Few minutes later, Girlfriend goes to the bathroom. Peace follows her. I wonder how long they'll be kissing.
I sit down next to Girl and I just smile. She beckons as if to ask... "Yes." She nods in understanding.

Later that night we're all sitting at the large table again, a few of the Thai's passed out on couches and benches around the bar. It's really late now, and I don't feel like paying 300 baht for a taxi home at one in the morning.

I was about to ask, but Girl offers. You want to stay at my place?

We settle the bill and head downstairs, walking down the road chatting. It's not far.

As we walk into the apartment I throw my stuff down on the dresser and strip, I really need a shower.
Girl shyly takes a shower after me, and then Girlfriend.

While she's in the shower I grab Girl on the balcony overlooking the Bangkok skyline where we smoke. We kiss until she can't take it anymore, "No, don't make me horny! I said no sex!" I take a drag of the Marlboro, slowly exhaling with a playfully wicked smile adorning my face.

 

We fall asleep listening to Nina Simone and the Clash.

Girl on my right, Girlfriend on my left.
Right hand on one ass, left hand on another, erect cock in the middle, staring idly at the roof.

What use is having two lovers when their periods are always synched...

Ménagerie à trois Part 1

Well this week has definitely been one for the books.
We'll start at the beginning.

After work on Tuesday, I get home in a bit of a rush. Wednesday was Makha Bucha day (Makha Bucha commemorates the unique event when 1,250 of the Lord Buddha’s disciples spontaneously gathered to hear him preach.), so the girlfriend and I had last minute plans to get out of the city. We rushed to pack an overnight bag, and were out of the house in about 20 minutes.

From home to Future Park, we grab a van to Prachin Buri for 160 Baht (80 each). Two of our old university friends live in Prachin Buri, and as it turns out, one of them was celebrating his birthday.

Prachin Buri Main Road

We arrived in Prachin Buri around 20:00, sat down at a local cafe and ordered a drink while the girlfriend called the friend to come fetch us. It was dark, late, and while my Thai is good enough to get by in Bangkok, it's not nearly good enough for Prachin Buri. We underestimated how small the town was though, as I was about 3 sips into my beer when I heard my name being called from behind.

After enthusiastic greetings, introductions (he had brought an American friend along to eliminate the need for two trips on the motorcycle.) and them generously helping me finish the yai bia Singha, we set off for party supplies.

Party Supplies

1 Large Russian Vodka
10 cans of Shark
1 Large Thai Whiskey
2 1.5l Pepsi's
4 Packets of Marlboro
3 bags of ice

We were set.

So off we ride, for all of two minutes, to come to the house. The party was already in full-swing.
The party made for a weird mix, 3 Thai speaking falang, 8 Thai's and us. Everyone was speaking Thai of course, with the occasional English and some Dutch thrown in here and there.

Not long in, we night had devolved into a drinking game from back home which we have been introducing the Thai's to. Needless to say, we were getting hammered.

By the end of the night, we were carrying Mattayom students out of the house and into the car, and not long after it was just me, Girlfriend, and the birthday boy. She and I had made a bet before to see how long it would take him to suggest a threesome, and we were quite entertained by his mulling on how to approach this subject.

The Devil's Threeway

Eventually he threw his hands into the air and proclaimed "Fuckit. We're all adults here. What would you say to some no strings attached fun?" We laughed and explained that I had won the bet.

We all moved up to the bedroom, and I quickly nipped off to the bathroom. By the time I emerged they had already gotten started, so after a quick strip I jumped in as well. As Murphy would have it however, I had imbibed a bit too vodka/wine/whiskey, and was left flacid as a... thing that is flacid?

A thing that is flacid.

Mai bpen lai, whatever. My fireworks might be wet and sizzled, but that's no reason to spoil her fun. So I concentrate on enhancing her pleasure, and about two hours later, we all emerge for a cigarette on the balcony. Not that I deserved mine... :(

Girl, Part I

Today was just one of those days...

It was going to be another Saturday night in Sukhumvit, but I wasn't having any of it.
So I slipped off from the group to enjoy a cold Singha whilst listening to some lovely metal.

It was early, probably around 4pm... The bar was quiet, and the Iron Maiden was soothing.
The only other patron was a beautiful young thai girl.

It wasn't very long before she invited me to come sit with her. Ah! She speaks English.

I sat down across from her and we started to talk. Art, music, literature, tattoo's, wine and traveling. She was the most enjoyable company. It started to get later and more customers were arriving. Her friends arrived, and she was quite surprised to learn that I already knew some of them.

The beer was abandoned and a bottle of whiskey joined us at the table.

I kept feeling a warm leg brushing up against mine, and occasionally a hand would brush up against mine.

My Blackberry was buzzing with messages, and I had to go.

I said my goodbye's, and got up to leave.

We walked down the stairs for a private goodbye, and once out of prying eyes I slipped my arms around her, pushed myself up against her and kissed her.

After awhile I stopped, smiled and said goodbye, leaving a beautiful young thai girl frustrated and confused.

I walked to the end of the soi clouded by her scent. My lips wet with desire.

I found it...

Before I arrived in Thailand, I had spent hours researching Bangkok, and compiled a list of interesting things to see and do. The most prominent entry on that list has a big fat question mark next to where I normally write the address. I need to find it.

I first hear of the bar whilst browsing through a forum for expats in Thailand. It's a huge bar in Khaosan that plays metal over the weekends. I spent hours patrolling Khaosan, asking around. Noone seems to have heard of it. I find an address for the venue on another forum, but it leads me to an empty road in Lad Prao.

Eventually I come across a map. Now the bar is in Victory Monument. Girlfriend is going out on another clubbing spree, and I have no inclination to join. I go alone.

I spent about an hour walking up and down the road leading to Victory, trying to find soi leading to this elusive house of metal. Soi Boon Chus Ri yu-nai khrap? An old Thai lady lights up - she knows where it is. Thong pai, thong pai. I walk straight ahead, and find the soi. In the distance, I hear faint traces of Black Metal.

I FOUND IT!

It begins...

I'm getting tired of the noise of Sukhumvit and RCA.

Insomnia, Glow, Titanium, LED, Route 66...
These are the places I am being dragged to. It started off innocently enough.

When Girlfriend arrived in Bangkok she was introduced to a group of fun loving expats who would go clubbing every Friday.

It's an outrageous group of people from America, England, Spain, Germany, The Netherlands, France, Norway, Finland, Japan, China, India, Australia and now South Africa.

Every Friday the group will create a schedule and meet up for a bar crawl.

First stop, a casual venue to imbibe in the first few drinks of the evening in a social way.

Second stop, the first club of the night. Dance the night away.

The third stop is normally the highlight of their evening, as they go to the most outrageous party happening in Bangkok on the night.

Fourth stop is normally Insomnia, to refuel at the diner and dance a little more before 3am.

Then it's onto Wong's or Spicy till you crawl into bed anytime between 6 and 11 am.

While we've certainly met some interesting people and made some new friends, I need my people, I need my scene - and it's about damn time I find it.