RAWBangkok

I witnessed two scenes this weekend that struck me as worthy of being put on film as “Bangkok experiences”. The first would have been a few seconds in a television commercial, the second, a few minutes in a Hollywood movie. One of the scenes was in Sukhumvit, where I have returned to live after a short 9-month absence. The other scene was in the Ratchada area, which I have recently abandoned to return to the comforts of ‘my’ Sukhumvit.

The Commercial

One of this weekend’s entertaining features was the Bangkok Music Festival, with live music on offer at various spots around the city. As I passed Benjasiri Park tonight a live band was playing a free concert for a large crowd. At the front of the park the ‘dancing fountain’ was sending up it’s attractive sprays of water, and a few meters away the blue lights of the large Christmas displays were lit up in front of the Emporium Shopping Center.

As I passed, a small Thai man sitting astride the neck of a large elephant ambled by with the spray of the water and the glittering Christmas lights in the background, with all the energy of the live concert in the air.

Somehow it was a “Kodak moment” that felt like it needed to be captured in video. Unfortunately it was captured only in my own mind and memory; I doubt that my words can do justice to how this vignette seemed to capture the throbbing life of Sukhumvit that makes me happy to call it “home”.

The Movie Scene

Well, I was inspired by the movie Bangkok Dangerous to go see the Caribbean Club not far from the Thailand Cultural Center in the Ratchada area. The club looked great in the movie, and I wanted to see if it was as special as it seemed.

I have to say that I wasn’t disappointed by what was on offer.

The Caribbean Club is large – a bit bigger than the Sky Club where I am a member – and decently appointed, though it is not as plush as some other Thai clubs I’ve been to.

The most notable feature is probably the high quality choreographed shows with fancy costumes on the large stage that are reminiscent of some that I’ve seen in Las Vegas. These special shows last for around an hour in the neighborhood of 11 p.m.

The rest of the time the live entertainment consists, like all member clubs, of a live band alternating with coyote dancers.

The club has more than it’s fair share of very attractive women, but the one I found most stunning was named Spy. Her best feature was a head of long, thick, glossy hair that framed her face and fell most of the way down her back. She is blessed with a pretty face and a fleshy and well-formed body that maker her coyote dancing a pleasure to watch.

I went with a friend of mine, Terry, who has been my companion on several nights out in Bangkok, though he is only an occasional visitor here.

Terry chose his own girl early in the evening – a small girl who spoke very good English, laughed as lot (showing off a mouth full of braces), and was energetic and flirty. Terry had a great time with this brassy lass all night, and we stayed until closing time, which is a bit past 3 a.m. on Saturday nights.

Everything that I saw in the movie Bangkok Dangerous proved true in real life. Beautiful girls, high energy atmosphere, attentive service, choreographed dancing and a certain ‘buzz’ that makes for a great night.

Be warned: a night out in a club like this if you are not a member can get pricey. Terry covered the bill on Saturday night, but it came in at an impressive 10,000 baht, which is a bit rich for my blood, especially for a night that ends up with me not getting laid. But if roughly US$300 doesn’t put a huge dent in your wallet, then for 5 hours of live music, whiskey, food, tequila shots and fun female company for two people I can’t say it’s bad value. (In fact, we killed only half the bottle of whiskey, so Terry’s next trip in should be about 3 or 4,000 baht less expensive).

I’ve spent a lot more money for a lot less fun back in the US and Australia.

The only blot on the night was when I asked to see a mamasan to arrange a girl for the evening.

A few minutes later an odd looking girl crept up behind me, and without saying anything at all, laid her head on my shoulder. I was a little creeped out, but managed to ignore her, and she soon went away.

Soon she returned with another creepy looking girl; the two were ugly girls in matching brown winter coats and scarves who told me they were my ‘mamasan’ and that they worked as a team. Okay. At least they seemed to have started talking now.

They asked me if I was interested in a lady. “Maybe” was my reply.

“No, no, Lady! Lady, I said” shouted one of the gruesome twins.

“Maybe, maybe” I shouted back at her.

We were off to a very bad start.

One of the two then asked me where I was from. “Australia” I replied.

The two stood staring stupidly at me like a pair of particularly dull-witted cows at the slaughterhouse. After a few minutes they seemed to drift away, having never really offered to do anything to help me.

I have to contrast this with the professional mamasan that typically inhabits member clubs. Normally they are relatively young, and typically very attractive. They are typically dressed in either a professional suit or something a bit more fashionable. Typically they are very sexy.

Invariably the mamasans I have met in other member clubs have talked to me, explaining the setup of the club, the costs, the services. They have asked me what kind of girl I liked, and other questions, like whether or not it was necessary for the girl to speak English. Since they are the sales team for the club they typically would explain the benefits of membership.

Usually, after ten minutes or so, with some rapport established, they offer to help me select a girl for the evening.

On return visits, the mamasan always remembers me. She escorts me to my table, sits with me, makes smalltalk and updates me on the club and the girls, and often dips into my whiskey bottle as she has a few drinks with me.

Comparing the mamasans I’ve met at clubs like Sapranos, The Pent, Sky Club and Resort with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum at Caribbean Club is like comparing, say, a brand new Ferrari with… oh, I dunno… a ten-year old Yugo.

The mamasan twins were a disaster.

This was strange, because in every other way the Caribbean Club delivered a product that was equal or superior to the other clubs I mentioned; more girls and better choreographed shows probably being the club’s strongest points.

So, mamasans aside, if you like member clubs then Caribbean Club gets a rating of Shit hOt, and is definitely worth a visit. Personally, I was pretty captivated by the Coyote dancer named Spy, and I know Terry was very happy with his choice of hostess for the evening.

For a good night out in Bangkok when your not looking for a budget-experience I highly recommend the Caribbean Club – it’s Hollywood-movie quality entertainment.