rott

You would not know a dizzy intellectual height if you fell off one. You probably think it ia a rooftop cigar bar.

And as for dichotomy you would be on one side and a Soi 4 drinker on the other. (I passed "O" Level English Language in the years before they began throwing certificates round like confetti).

Sometimes mate I place my tongue in my cheek for days at a time!

Er................Oh right.................. I see.

A pitch black day for the sexpat community in Bangkok

Stupid comment that really.

Obviously never been in the bar.

That was one good thing about Jools, because it didn't look like all the other bars on your first look in the door it didn't attract the 'can't enjoy a beer in Bangkok unless I'm looking at tits type' .

It took a while before you could 'settle in' to Jools, especially when Dave was holding court.

Did have some weird characters, anyone remember Jeff who spent a while carrying a skull about with him. When sober a very nice guy but when had a few changed completely but still never ever became the nasty character that most expats seem to do nowadays, just got a bit crazier/silly.

I still keep in regular contact with a few guys I met in there though most have moved to other countries.

Haven't found another bar like it.

Us legendary boozers found it rather tame at times.

A few good evenings back in the day though I must admit.

Occasionally smokie you get it right. This is not one of those occasions however.

A "legendary boozer"who likes the bars of four and five star hotels, and recommends the middle class gentility of Hemingways found Jools tame at times??

Well anywhere that is open fifteen or sixteen hours a day is bound to have it's quiet moments. But I have known few places that beat Jools in it's prime for humour and repartee. Perhaps I should try Hemingways again.

I would also be a "legendary boozer" if I did not have such a low tolerance for alcohol.

The well known boozer on Soi Nana will be shutting it's doors in a few months time

where will all the rats go to

Perhaps you would care to explain.

Really gonna change lower suk, aren't they

I don't have a problem with it. They have some OK pubs around there anyway, you can get a beer cheaper in those places than in the beer bars of Nana anyway and not much interested in the bar girls and all that stuff

It would appear that changes are on the way.

Some on here probably won't be happy until the area is full of gospel halls I reckon.

Once again, the ridiculous, childish false dichotomy that anyone who doesn't pay for sex must be a religious prude. Rather than just a normal guy.

Once again, the ridiculous, childish false dichotomy that anyone having a drink in Soi 4 must be there to pay for sex. Rather than just a normal guy who likes to have a few (or more than a few) beers and goes to a bar like Jools because (a) he enjoys the craic with like minded people and ( he enjoys the absence of the sleeveless, sweaty armpit types with great fat guts and Bobby Charlton haircuts who infest the bars at the top of the Soi.

Really gonna change lower suk, aren't they

I don't have a problem with it. They have some OK pubs around there anyway, you can get a beer cheaper in those places than in the beer bars of Nana anyway and not much interested in the bar girls and all that stuff

It would appear that changes are on the way.

Some on here probably won't be happy until the area is full of gospel halls I reckon.

Once again, the ridiculous, childish false dichotomy that anyone who doesn't pay for sex must be a religious prude. Rather than just a normal guy.

Once again, the ridiculous, childish false dichotomy that anyone having a drink in Soi 4 must be there to pay for sex. Rather than just a normal guy who likes to have a few (or more than a few) beers and goes to a bar like Jools because (a) he enjoys the craic with like minded people and ( he enjoys the absence of the sleeveless, sweaty armpit types with great fat guts and Bobby Charlton haircuts who infest the bars at the top of the Soi.

Is it just Newcastle jokes, or is anyone up for grabs?

A pound coin was thrown onto the pitch at Ibrox. Police are trying to determine whether it was a missile or a takeover bid.

That is not funny.

Furthermore those who gave it a like have been duly noted for future reference.

The well known boozer on Soi Nana will be shutting it's doors in a few months time, apparently due to (again) an unrealistic rent increase.

Very sad. Sign of the times I suppose.

The Nana plaza shutdown thread will be interesting when it gets demolished..only a matter of time really. Bangkok is evolving and will be very interesting to see it in 10 years time

Yeah that whole part of town is on borrowed time for sure. No doubt somebody will make the case for it as a unique cultural icon.

Yeah perhaps one day somebody will realise that all the parts of Bangkok that made it interesting have gone, to be replaced by hotels that nobody stays in because there's nothing interesting there anymore. It is unique, if only you had the wit to see it.

How is that Dinosaur place doing by the way ?? Can't say I've noticed people queueing round the block.

Good post Agent Sumo. People use the term 'racism' without much thought these days and probably don't know the meaning of 'xenophobia'.

Renting out a house in Pattaya, twice Indians came to look and twice my wife shooed them away without letting them come through the gate. As would most Thais I know. Racism to me. And racism it would be called in the UK if it happened there.

A few seasons ago an Everton fan who called a black French player a "French Burstard" (from far back in the seating) was reported and subsequently banned for racism. Pity he failed to explain that it was only xenophobia. No doubt then all would have been forgiven.

But! But! They called me farang and charged me a pound extra to enter a national park!

Boo Hoo

I left UK/US/Europe/ Australia because of the political correctness gone-mad but, in the case of the word 'farang', Thailand should make an exception because, to my misplaced Western sense of superiority, it's an inconvenient reminder that my exchange rate wealth doesn't automatically buy me respect.

I think he was being ironic Sumo.

It was a very interesting doc. I lost concentration at the last bit when they were looking at the blood tests, the binge drinker was sky high on a few bits compared to his "steadier" brother, does anyone remember what they are please??

Depends on what you mean by nearby grankboy. Any British or Irish bar in central Bangkok will do a good one, some are better than others it is a matter of opinion, but none of them are cheap.

If you are travelling from the UK or even Issan this may be of some use, if from Bang Na not really.

Yeah, London beats Bangkok for eye candy for sure.

Well I said you'd like Lewisham.

You don't 'have' to see that side of Thailand at all. I've been coming here for fifteen years and never felt the need to.

As for the idea that it's part of Thai culture? That's funny.

If it isn't Thai then where did they import it from?? It is unique to Bangkok, in the same way that much of Pattaya is unique to Pattaya. Both are unique to Thailand.

If you've never felt the need to go, well good for you, you would probably enjoy Warrington New Town or Lewisham.

"Today while waiting for a bus to get back home I saw a bunch of Thai ladies flagging a cab and getting flat out refused by I'd say 80% of the drivers".

That 80% figure is meaningless without knowing how many taxis were involved.

"If you are an Indian customer it's much worse. You'd have to negotiate the price."

Says who? Did you witness the much worse situation of Indians having to negotiate the price? Why is it much worse for Indians to have to negotiate than Thai girls?

I have seen severe racism against Indians in Bkk. One example: I went to one of those money changer windows on the street on SUkumvit. I changed a 100 dollar traveler's check. No problem, quick and easy. Behind me was an Indian man. He was well dressed and very polite, almost self effacing. When I was finished with my transaction and the Indian stepped to the window, the woman inside simply pretended he was not there. He politely spoke to get her attention, she still acted as though he was invisible. She just looked down at her paperwork, and scribbled on it as though there was nobody at the window.

Thais tend to have severe racist attitudes.

I must be one of the dodgy ones, I seem to feel right at home in Nana. Now Patpong, not so much. I enjoy having a variety of places to play pool, and just watch the panorama of interesting sights. Of course, I don't have to live there.

Now that is a hole,Patpong.Walk through once ever 10 years for old times sake,are the memories,free beer for 2 hour, happy hour.

Patpong still has many lovely old bars, pity the customers have largely moved on and the new kids on the block prefer the cod-Irish pubs and the sports bars with dozens of TVs. Just like 'ome.

Deja vous.

I'm from California but I've often thought Florida might be someplace I would like to try.

I've heard some folks put it in the "horrible" category though, but some folks seem to like it there. That's how it goes I guess.

I was speaking to someone who winters in Stuart, Florida and then generally returns to his home in the New York area, so I looked Stuart up on the net.

There are one bedroom condo's of roughly 700 sq feet available for around $50,000, with what I took to be a monthly charge of $240 and annual taxes of $600. This seems affordable unless I am missing something.

Or does this class as a "horrible" place or any better or worse than most of Florida. (I am a Brit with limited experience of the U.S.A.).

Went to Safari for the first time and found it exactly as described on here. Friendly, relaxed, honest and nobody bothers you (unless you want them to).

Forgot to add that it probably has the cleanest and best toilets in Patpong. Can be important at times.

It's more like Utopia according to Fred.

Went to Safari for the first time and found it exactly as described on here. Friendly, relaxed, honest and nobody bothers you (unless you want them to).

You lads seem to enjoy putting the boot in.

. Well done Hammers.

<deleted>.

I notice that in the codes at the back of my Kasikorn savings passbook there is one "HC = Housing Cheque", does anybody know the story here, who pays to whom and in what circumstances ??

Thanks in advance for any replies.

That was my thinking Fred, it would be better than nothing, I understand that they do a full school curriculum.