Woody Woodpecker

After a few years absence due to covid, it’s back Sundays until March 10th, and ABSOLUTELY FREE.  It’s now moved back to Lumpini Park, where it had been on the campus of Chulalonghorn University, which had better acoustics.  The started every concert with the William Tell Overture.  Outstanding! 🎻🎺 🎶🎹🎼👍

https://www.timeout.com/bangkok/news/the-royal-bangkok-symphony-orchestra-are-thrilled-to-present-the-31st-season-of-concert-in-the-park-011024

I remember 20 years ago, GoGos on Soi Pattayaland in Pattaya were open on religious holidays without serving alcohol, but you could still bar fine (before the area became gay).  This was perfectly acceptable to local authorities.

10 hours ago, Herbby said:

Some do. But most don’t and just have a night off.

There may be more this year with the later closing times.

It doesn’t hurt to go a day without alcohol.

Better be on your best behavior those last few days 😉

2 minutes ago, playnice said:

Thanks for the reply 

I heard that if you get caught by police for anything you could jail time.. is that true?

They’ll put you in the Immigration Detention Center until they can deport you.

1 hour ago, stoneloz said:

The bar scene isn't great if that's your thing, but it has a fairly good local massage scene with some excellent options. I've spent a lot of the past 18 months up there for work and when you get away from the tourist areas there's some fun to be had.

Take a look at CNXseed website for the local scene and also Chiang Mai Locator for the more expat scene.

I've written considerably about Chiang Mai on here, but I think most might be in the advance section. If you have access, take a look, I posted an update about a week ago.

https://bangkok-addicts.com/topic/10676-chiang-mai/

What about Sayuri soapy massage across the river?  Is this place still around?

Chiang Mai is worth visiting for their excellent zoo and other attractions.  Mongering is available but nowhere near the levels of Bangkok and Pattaya.  They have a few soapys, a few gogo bars, and a bar scene on Loi Kroh road.

I recommend the Raming Lodge for accommodations, good location and has a nice mongering ring to it.

If you like music check out the North Gate Jazz Coop. 
https://web.facebook.com/northgate.jazzcoop

Majestic Suites has rooms on the 5th floor overlooking the Plaza, this photo from 2010:

Most of my stays there weren't recent, but I paid 944 baht for a room in November 2020, 750 baht two weeks later, and 570 baht in February 2021 (without international travel due to covid).

Sounds like the New York’s Finest Taxi Service, from the movie The Usual Suspects.

I once flew a trans-Atlantic flight to Amsterdam that arrived early, before 6 AM.  There were no Immigration Officers on duty, maybe still having their coffee, so the entire flight walked in without being checked or stamped.

7 hours ago, bgtp said:

You’re wrong about there not being a bottomless coffee cup. Breakfast Story has it. Funny you mention Buddy’s as the top of the soi I like to stay on has both a Buddy’s and a Breakfast Story, the latter being directly above the former. I’ll give Buddy’s a try for breakfast some morning on my next visit.

I didn’t realize Breakfast Story offered that option. I would rate their breakfasts better than Buddys.

A discussion of American breakfast should include Buddy's Bar and Grill, four locations, this one at Soi 8.  I live near by, just a stones throw.

They also do a British breakfast (The Full Monty), and a Mexican breakfast, besides French toast and pancakes. (Unfortunately, IHOP didn't survive covid). Here's the Corned Beef Hash and eggs. Canter's Deli it wasn't, but I don't expect to find corned beef like that in Thailand. My biggest complaint was the dry toast, and the bottomless coffee cup isn't available anywhere in the Kingdom. 

10 hours ago, dodi44 said:

Nice pictures. I'm going to have to take my camera to the land of smiles if I stay long enough to do non mongering activities.

 Best to use your phone camera for photos of bar fines, girls can become intimidated when you pull out a speed light. 

For Christmas Day (today), I considered Bourbon Street for 999++, but don't do buffets. Hemingway on Soi 11 offered a 3-course for 1200++,with optional free-flow for extra 999++ (a no-brainer), but I opted for Fitzgeralds on Soi Nana. Cod Chowder with Butterball turkey and honey glazed ham (was only interested in turkey), Saved 100 by skipping desert.

Next stop, Soi Cowboy. Merry Christmas! 

9 minutes ago, NanAtSOL said:

How was the burger?

It was just OK

This is what I had yesterday, crab and avocado salad with a dozen raw oysters and a few glasses of white wine, at Viva on Sukhumvit Soi 8.

Later went over to Nana Burger for something to soak up the alcohol. 

Haven't decided where I'll go today yet. Anyone have a special meal planned? 

Here's the Breakfast Story omlette, from the Soi 11 location. 

On 8/15/2020 at 5:30 PM, Pattayabobb said:

Just discovered Bourbon Street and i had a great dinner.  really enjoyed it.  i hadn't even thought of it for breakfast.  i will have to check it out.

As far as I know, Bourbon Street is the only place in Thailand you can get Crab Cake Eggs Benedict.

Here's a new place, Molino, just opened on Soi 11.  Had lunch there, a fish taco and a gringo taco, with passion fruit margaritas (buy one, get one free). It was tasty, thankfully the fried fish was cod and not Pangasius, and the margaritas had enough tequila to cop a good buzz. They're also open for breakfast.

3 hours ago, plahgat said:

Is that from the Soi 4 entrance? Did you try to walk through or did the guard stop you?

Yes, and the guard may hassle you if you look like you don’t know where you’re going.  I didn’t walk through as there’s nothing on Soi 2 of interest to me but I did see others walking through.

This is how it looks this afternoon, without Annie's and The Mexican. 

This alley had been closed for the past couple years due to construction but it’s open now.  You can walk to the Doubletree from Soi 4 past this new Hotel Maison.

Thanks for your review.  I wondered about this place because I lived next door at the Trendy for seven years.  They refurbished the lobby 3-4 years ago, looks far better than it used to.  I usually stayed at Majestic Suites or Raumchit Plaza when booking a room at this price point.

I stayed there May of last year, paid 1175 per night without breakfast.  Great location but the rooms are very small. 

11 hours ago, Gianni said:

@Woody Woodpecker how about the local offerings?