"A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for." - Grace Murray Hopper

A Tuk-Tuk Named Desire

Made my first foray into the city proper, and after inhaling some of the worst air I've ever had the misfortune to inhale, and surviving a wild careering ride across the city in a tuk-tuk, arrived at the night market at Potpong, in the heart of Bangkok's commercial district. It is a very touristy area with families going to all the outdoor shops and trinket traps. There are two parts, Patpong 1 and Patpong 2. Patpong 1 is located next to the night market, a crowded chaotic place, full of hustlers and touts for the local sex-bars. At each side of the night market there are gogo bars, massage parlours, beer bars, discos, blowjob bars and bars with upstairs sex shows. Patpong 2 is largely free of the market and has a greater variety of bars with some open air beer bars, gogo bars, and even a couple of gay bars. One street nearby, Soi Thaniya, is reserved for Japanese, as I was told several times as I walked along it.

As I toured some of the gogo bars I was approached by many girls, charging around 2,000 baht short time and 4,000 baht long time, which would work out at about 100 Euros a night (depending on bargaining skills), plus the barfine of around 400 baht and tips for whomever might be involved. Beers cost from around 50-100 baht, depending on the establishment. I didn't visit any of the sex shows, but had been told that all kinds of prices could be demanded there for the entrance, and it's easy to get ripped off on drink prices.

There were a number of Katoeys, or lady boys, strolling around, but I didn't go into any of their bars. They have a reputation for getting aggressive if things are not going their way.

So I spent the evening exploring the neighbourhood. All in all a little sleazier than I had expected—this has to be the low end of the market!