Legendary nightlife columnist Bernard Trink dead at 89

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

3 hours ago, holy cow cm said:

Tavern and Blue sky and yes, those were the real days of the untamed Bangkok and Thailand. It is a crumbling shell of itself now. If I could be transported back to a time of my life, it would be back then when Bangkok was just so off the 24 hour wonderful unadulterated wall. 

If I had a time machine I would travel back to the old Thermae and to when Patpong was at its best. I miss those times so very much, nothing today will come close to that period. I meet Bernard many times in the bars and I also stopped buying Bangkok post when his weekly column was not more there.

[couchpotato]

28 minutes ago, HiSoLowSoNoSo said:

If I had a time machine I would travel back to the old Thermae and to when Patpong was at its best. I miss those times so very much, nothing today will come close to that period. I meet Bernard many times in the bars and I also stopped buying Bangkok post when his weekly column was not more there.

I know everyone has their favourite times, but the 70's/early 80's in Patpong really was the best.  Park your car anywhere, no vendors and lots of characters (all written about by Mr Trink).

Plus of course the Mississippi Queen (and the Twins), Madrid in the daytime, 3M hotel and the kangaroo upstairs. 

I was part owner of the "Pit Stop' next to the Grand Prix for 2-3 years, and Trink would pop in every so often to find fodder for his columns.

So bringing his name to forefront this week, has dredged up some great memories.

 

Edited October 12, 2020 by couchpotato

[SantiSuk]

Pity there's none of his copy presented here to give us Johnny-come-latelies a smell of the good ole days!

[couchpotato]

1 minute ago, SantiSuk said:

Pity there's none of his copy presented here to give us Johnny-come-latelies a smell of the good ole days!

Look at post #12 dude--you'll get the idea.

[Nout]

9 hours ago, TaoNow said:

I worked on HIV prevention in Thailand full-time in the late 1980s and 1990s. 

 

Bernard Trink couldn't understand why HIV wasn't "mowing down the bar girls in Patpong."

 

That led hiim to believe that commercial sex wasn't a serious risk for HIV, and that condoms were not needed for commercial sex or were not effective prevention.

 

Although the readership of Night Owl wasn't our "target poulation," it was still incredibly frustrating to have a columnist in Thailand's major English-language daily newspaper spout these untruths or myths about how HIV was spreading in the country.

 

The point is, Trink never had a good understanding of commercial sex in Thailand outside the ex-pat bar zones of Patpong, Pattaya, Nana, and Cowboy.  He probably didn't even understand the bar girl scene that well either since he didn't seem to know much Thai language, despite all his years here.

 

One Postbag contributer pointed out, accurately, that Trink as "Night Owl, was actually a pimp, since he made his living telling punters where to find commercial sex and how much to pay.

 

'Nuff said.

Rubbish. He had more compassion    love and knowledge than any overpaid sanctimonious overpaid interfering NGO like you. You are lying about his position.

[mbenson]

1 hour ago, couchpotato said:

Plus of course the Mississippi Queen (and the Twins)

Rolling Stone magazine did a piece about them around the time that the barge was interecepted on the west coast of the US. I read the story then went down to the bar. Sure enough, there were the twins posing in front of a confederate flag in a large back-lit transparency. They had pictures of Montagnard soldiers on the wall too. Great story. I was honored to be there. And thanks to the Scottish guy he kept ringing the bell.
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1988/10/01/Encounter-Bay-smugglers-plead-guilty/5705591681600/

[charmonman]

11 hours ago, Phuketshrew said:

RIP Bernard. I didn't realize that I was also from a bygone era. Whatever happened to Edith Clampton and khun Hazel?

555! I remember Edith Clampton!

[mbenson]

He would frequently start his column off with a longer piece about some atrocity that Thais had committed like a wife betraying her farang husband, or a farang boss trying to help a Thai girl by giving her a job in his company only stirring up resentment among the Thai employees with a "rumor" about an affair getting back to the guy's wife. Some of those stories have stayed with me as illustrations of what could happen... 

 

Sometimes his writing was unintendedly funny. Once he was writing about a new place that was to open up and he said, "food is on tap..." I always found that to be kind of funny. 

 

However, like many folks here, I looked forward to his column and absolutely loved reading it. He'd tell you were the clip joints were in Patpong, and about special things like the motorcycle show at Supergirls.

[ericthai]

10 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

There was nothing like and likely never will be again.

 

It was in a word, incredible.

I hate to sound nostalgic, but you guys are right those were the days. The girls weren't as money grabbing as they are now and they acted like a girl friend. Most of the time the girl would end up hanging out with me the next day for no extra charge.  (sometimes it was hard to get rid of them...lol)  

[AndyFoxy]

18 hours ago, TaoNow said:

I worked on HIV prevention in Thailand full-time in the late 1980s and 1990s. 

 

Bernard Trink couldn't understand why HIV wasn't "mowing down the bar girls in Patpong."

 

That led hiim to believe that commercial sex wasn't a serious risk for HIV, and that condoms were not needed for commercial sex or were not effective prevention.

 

Although the readership of Night Owl wasn't our "target poulation," it was still incredibly frustrating to have a columnist in Thailand's major English-language daily newspaper spout these untruths or myths about how HIV was spreading in the country.

 

The point is, Trink never had a good understanding of commercial sex in Thailand outside the ex-pat bar zones of Patpong, Pattaya, Nana, and Cowboy.  He probably didn't even understand the bar girl scene that well either since he didn't seem to know much Thai language, despite all his years here.

 

One Postbag contributer pointed out, accurately, that Trink as "Night Owl, was actually a pimp, since he made his living telling punters where to find commercial sex and how much to pay.

 

'Nuff said.

You sound like the life of the party.

[thaibeachlovers]

13 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

I met Bernard often when I was a regular in Patpong and Soi Cowboy in the 90's and 00's. He was always interesting company and his wife Aree was always polite and pleasant. 

 

He was a throwback but those were the days when Bangkok really was the wild, 24 hour party city that it had the reputation for. 

 

Now? A shadow of its former self. Most of the characters are dead or gone and they have managed to rid the city of most of the bars that were worth visiting.

 

RIP Bernard and RIP Bangkok. 

They wanted to get rid of the farang nite scene- well they got their wish 555555555555555555555555.

[ratcatcher]

11 hours ago, SantiSuk said:

Pity there's none of his copy presented here to give us Johnny-come-latelies a smell of the good ole days!

https://www.oocities.org/doxyblue/alltrink.html

 

Copy before, it may be deleted..

[Orton Rd]

Anyone know what area of Bkk he lived in?

[holy cow cm]

13 hours ago, HiSoLowSoNoSo said:

If I had a time machine I would travel back to the old Thermae and to when Patpong was at its best. I miss those times so very much, nothing today will come close to that period. I meet Bernard many times in the bars and I also stopped buying Bangkok post when his weekly column was not more there.

Yeah, nothing like those wild west in the east times of Bangkok and never will be ever ever again. Old Thermae was off the hook, same as Patpong and Nana.

[Stargeezr]

RIP Mr. Trink.  You were from the old Era, like Benny Hill and some of the other

colourful characters of old. I only started reading the Bangkok Post in the mid 90s

so I did not see any of his earlier writings. His material was appreciated, and it gave the

Bangkok Post good flavor.  I just hope Mr. Rooster is still young enough to keep his column

going, for lots of years to come.   I am getting old and there seems to be less and less of the               old guard, old era, old school boys around.

Geezer

[ratcatcher]

On 10/13/2020 at 10:38 AM, ratcatcher said:

https://www.oocities.org/doxyblue/alltrink.html

 

Copy before, it may be deleted..

https://www.google.com/search?q=bernard+trink&sxsrf=ALeKk01O-UnUGPI7TPwuWESdDmEKVjNaWA:1602649794981&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi9n-rdn7PsAhXfIbcAHfFKC50Q_AUoAXoECAQQAw&biw=1536&bih=722

[BKKBike09]

On 10/13/2020 at 12:22 PM, holy cow cm said:

Yeah, nothing like those wild west in the east times of Bangkok and never will be ever ever again. Old Thermae was off the hook, same as Patpong and Nana.

Thermae was a cracking place to hit around 3-4 am. Fantastic mix of people. On one occasion at the tail end of the 80s the friend I was with pointed out a bloke in a booth with two hotties and said "That's [protect]. He always takes two girls and has them smear him with marmalade and then lick it off". I was in awe, mainly because I earned so little at the time that marmalade would have been a luxury. Best Foods pineapple jam was more the level of it.

 

Another time, an inebriated policeman took a disliking to the friend I was with. With the studious care that only the very drunk can manage, he extracted a bullet from the loops on his gun belt and then proceeded to gently tap my friend on the forehead with it, while telling him "I not like you". We decided to leave. Via the toilets, as one did.

[holy cow cm]

1 hour ago, BKKBike09 said:

Thermae was a cracking place to hit around 3-4 am. Fantastic mix of people. On one occasion at the tail end of the 80s the friend I was with pointed out a bloke in a booth with two hotties and said "That's [protect]. He always takes two girls and has them smear him with marmalade and then lick it off". I was in awe, mainly because I earned so little at the time that marmalade would have been a luxury. Best Foods pineapple jam was more the level of it.

 

Another time, an inebriated policeman took a disliking to the friend I was with. With the studious care that only the very drunk can manage, he extracted a bullet from the loops on his gun belt and then proceeded to gently tap my friend on the forehead with it, while telling him "I not like you". We decided to leave. Via the toilets, as one did.

Yes it was quite the life of 24hr go crazy fun of the funnest city back then. There is nothing to compare with those times. Thermae certainly was nicknamed the cop shop and if the Go Go bar I was at over at Nana didn't close late like 3 or 4 then I was over at Thermae doing the scene. I also hung out a lot over at Patpong as that too was a 24hr heaven of h-el-l. Easily part of the funnest unadulterated unleashed time of my life. During those times I would stay at the Crown hotel off of Soi 6, and that restaurant was wall to wall guys and gals still drinking at 6am getting some food before hitting the hay. Just amazing. I saw Bernard out and about many times doing his thing as we all seemed to be at one place or the other at times being in the scene. Still some fun now and then if I hav e friends come, but it never is like those days of out of control too much wild fun.

[off road pat]

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Posted October 12

I started to enjoy his column from the first time I opened the Bangkok post the early days I came here. I learned so much of it, As English was not my first language I learned so much more English and the meaning of Sarcasm from "Night Owl" . Thank you for the pleasure you gave me reading it . I hope you enjoyed your life as much as you seemed to. Rest In Peace Night Owl !!!

Edited October 18, 2020 by off road pat

[off road pat]

On 10/13/2020 at 5:38 AM, ratcatcher said:

https://www.oocities.org/doxyblue/alltrink.html

 

Copy before, it may be deleted..

Thank You for sharing this very interesting information !!!

[off road pat]

On 10/14/2020 at 10:57 AM, holy cow cm said:

Yes it was quite the life of 24hr go crazy fun of the funnest city back then. There is nothing to compare with those times. Thermae certainly was nicknamed the cop shop and if the Go Go bar I was at over at Nana didn't close late like 3 or 4 then I was over at Thermae doing the scene. I also hung out a lot over at Patpong as that too was a 24hr heaven of h-el-l. Easily part of the funnest unadulterated unleashed time of my life. During those times I would stay at the Crown hotel off of Soi 6, and that restaurant was wall to wall guys and gals still drinking at 6am getting some food before hitting the hay. Just amazing. I saw Bernard out and about many times doing his thing as we all seemed to be at one place or the other at times being in the scene. Still some fun now and then if I hav e friends come, but it never is like those days of out of control too much wild fun.

Hm,...I Stayed at the Crown Hotel many times as it was a short walking distance to Nana and not so far to Soi Cowboy,....But Thermae was for very late night,...mostly for people who where unsuccessful in pulling a girl for the night, which was really hard to do, as for Anybody with a bit of looks or enough money could go home with the girl of his dreams in Bangkok. All the girls who didn't had a customer or wanted more came to Thermae !!! This was really one of the wildest places I ever saw !,...The first thing that made it so special was that you came in the back way at the parking through the toilets and then the kitchen to end up the dance floor,..!?!?!

[balo]

It would be interesting to read his old articles back in the 1970's and 80's. If anyone have kept some of the old newspapers and want to upload. 

[holy cow cm]

2 hours ago, off road pat said:

Hm,...I Stayed at the Crown Hotel many times as it was a short walking distance to Nana and not so far to Soi Cowboy,....But Thermae was for very late night,...mostly for people who where unsuccessful in pulling a girl for the night, which was really hard to do, as for Anybody with a bit of looks or enough money could go home with the girl of his dreams in Bangkok. All the girls who didn't had a customer or wanted more came to Thermae !!! This was really one of the wildest places I ever saw !,...The first thing that made it so special was that you came in the back way at the parking through the toilets and then the kitchen to end up the dance floor,..!?!?!

Yep. The old Thermae. Only thing missing was a code word and secret handshake. And if you were back in those days at the Crown then you know how off the hook packed that place was early morning in the restaurant. Wall to wall guys with girls packed. Loved that place back then. BTW.  The old lady owner is still there but the business has even before cv19 dropped off. She is still way cool. 

[josephbloggs]

I had no issue with his writing about the night trade, but I have never understood the adulation of the man or his column.  The quality of his writing was extremely poor and his column was mainly a re-hashed selection of emailed chain "jokes" and pathetic one liners sent in by readers.  Nothing of interest, nothing of substance, just a load of copy and paste rubbish.

And let's not forget the real reason he was axed was because of his continued (almost weekly) pushing of his dangerous and irresponsible notion that HIV did not lead to AIDS and you therefore did not need to use condoms with prostitutes except to protect against pregnancy or minor irritating STDs.  He should have been sacked the very first time he stated this as fact in a national newspaper but they let it continue for a long long time for some strange reason.

The fact that grown adults on this forum still use his TIT and 'Nuff Said is pretty sad really in my opinion.  

I am sure he was a lovely man in person and may he rest in peace, but a great writer, a great columnist, a great talent he was not.  

 

Edited October 18, 2020 by josephbloggs

[pedro01]

On 10/12/2020 at 1:31 PM, TaoNow said:

I worked on HIV prevention in Thailand full-time in the late 1980s and 1990s. 

 

Bernard Trink couldn't understand why HIV wasn't "mowing down the bar girls in Patpong."

 

That led hiim to believe that commercial sex wasn't a serious risk for HIV, and that condoms were not needed for commercial sex or were not effective prevention.

 

Although the readership of Night Owl wasn't our "target poulation," it was still incredibly frustrating to have a columnist in Thailand's major English-language daily newspaper spout these untruths or myths about how HIV was spreading in the country.

 

The point is, Trink never had a good understanding of commercial sex in Thailand outside the ex-pat bar zones of Patpong, Pattaya, Nana, and Cowboy.  He probably didn't even understand the bar girl scene that well either since he didn't seem to know much Thai language, despite all his years here.

 

One Postbag contributer pointed out, accurately, that Trink as "Night Owl, was actually a pimp, since he made his living telling punters where to find commercial sex and how much to pay.

 

'Nuff said.

To say Bernard didn't know the scene is ludicrous. 

 

I knew more demimondaines that could spot him at Nana, Cowboy etc than expats. 

 

In fact when I met him it was at Nana (Roadhouse) and only because a gal pointed him out. 

 

They knew him, what he did and always vied for his attention. After all which demimondaines didn't want a mention? It was good for business. 

 

I myself was merely there for research purposes. 

[pedro01]

Back on the days I can't remember Nana closing. 

 

One night I has my drink spiked in one bar. Not sure what the effect wS supposed to be (apparently it was GHB) but actual results were an extended short time and back to a bar. At 8am on the way out I bumped into 3 expats that had pulled an all nighter and were on their way in. Of course they dragged me back in. Only real problem I had was calling in work to tell them I was sick. 

 

What a Tuesday night that was! 

[holy cow cm]

2 hours ago, pedro01 said:

Back on the days I can't remember Nana closing. 

 

One night I has my drink spiked in one bar. Not sure what the effect wS supposed to be (apparently it was GHB) but actual results were an extended short time and back to a bar. At 8am on the way out I bumped into 3 expats that had pulled an all nighter and were on their way in. Of course they dragged me back in. Only real problem I had was calling in work to tell them I was sick. 

 

What a Tuesday night that was! 

Yes there were a lot of drinks being spiked back then. All different additives and effects on people.

[ExpatOilWorker]

On 10/13/2020 at 10:38 AM, ratcatcher said:

https://www.oocities.org/doxyblue/alltrink.html

 

Copy before, it may be deleted..

The link loaded fine a few days ago,but now I get: This page is an outdated user generated.....

 

Is it working for others or is there another site?

[off road pat]

19 hours ago, holy cow cm said:

Yep. The old Thermae. Only thing missing was a code word and secret handshake. And if you were back in those days at the Crown then you know how off the hook packed that place was early morning in the restaurant. Wall to wall guys with girls packed. Loved that place back then. BTW.  The old lady owner is still there but the business has even before cv19 dropped off. She is still way cool. 

Yep, The Crown, New name is (S6) it has lost most of it's charm/attraction,...But is still one of the cheapest places around. By the way Khun "Pachit" (The old Lady) is not the owner, she's the manager.

The owners (Family) are Chinese descendants and the man owner died a few years ago. His wife was running the restaurant, but I haven't seen her for a long time. There son is sometimes at the desk . But I think they have a other hotel in Pattaya as well.

[holy cow cm]

1 hour ago, off road pat said:

Yep, The Crown, New name is (S6) it has lost most of it's charm/attraction,...But is still one of the cheapest places around. By the way Khun "Pachit" (The old Lady) is not the owner, she's the manager.

The owners (Family) are Chinese descendants and the man owner died a few years ago. His wife was running the restaurant, but I haven't seen her for a long time. There son is sometimes at the desk . But I think they have a other hotel in Pattaya as well.

So sounds like you still stay there time to time.

Yes it is still the cheapest around, I think about 1000 baht per night. I stayed there a few and a couple of years ago with different friends from the US who were on a budget and who wanted to have fun in Bangkok. I always thought she was the owner and part of the family and the Mercedes parked outside was hers. Sweet old gal. Still worth a stay there if in the area and extreme comfort is not your quest. Anyway, her and I still remember each other, and I have seen the son. Now there is, or before CV 19 was a short time place almost directly right outside with gals you pick and take up for a bang if that is your thing. Just before it leads out to Soi 8. 

 

Yes, it was something back in the day there at the Crown and has lost some appeal as you said, but then again so has Bangkok over the years as well.