The Old Peak Bar Center Is No More.

[gotlost]

Looking from Chang Klang Road towards the old entrance.

Looking east towards Chang Klang Road. The Plaza can be seen on the right and the D2 is out of site to the right.

The land is still owned by Central. As to their plans let the rumors begin.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Sad. Always sad to see bars go. Even though they never really worked there, and they've been closed for a long time already. But it's the principle of it: sad day when a bar goes away.

[ThaiWx]

Progress, have to make way for the new cell phone and car accessories shops. (agreed, it's sad to see the old CM landmarks go).

[isanbirder]

What you should be regretting is the old section of the Night Bazaar (it had its own name, which I forget) which preceded the Peak and the plywood shacks, bars and handicrafts shops, surrounding it. This was the kind of old market with forgotten corners where you could find all sorts of surprising things. This was really part of old Chiangmai; the Peak was not.

[jaideeguy]

Is the Peak bar that had the rock climbing wall for family and extreme adventurest freaks and funny mix of transvestite bars right next door??

[Ulysses G.]

Chiang Mai lost its last bit of style when they knocked down the girlie-bars that used to be right on top of the (somewhat) open sewers in the old Night Bazaar building.

[uptheos]

Chiang Mai lost its last bit of style when they knocked down the girlie-bars that used to be right on top of the (somewhat) open sewers in the old Night Bazaar building.

You mean that long, dark narrow walkway?

I wondered what that perfume was.

Edited January 31, 2011 by uptheos

[Ulysses G.]

One side of the building was mostly straight bars and one side was mostly gay, but they both had sewers with plenty of big airholes running underneath the walkway/seating area.

Those were the days.

[uptheos]

One side of the building was mostly straight bars and one side was mostly gay, but they both had sewers with plenty of big airholes running underneath the walkway/seating area.

Those were the days.

Airholes underneath and airheads above, I remember it well...where DID all the sleaze go?

Edited January 31, 2011 by uptheos

[WinnieTheKhwai]

I liked that alley because it looked so hidden, especially when coming from the Chang Klan road side.   When taking guests/visitors I always made sure to enter from that side, which was like entering a secret realm.

Good times.

Let's do a topic on the Olde Bar Beer Centre next.

[anonymouse]

I liked that alley because it looked so hidden, especially when coming from the Chang Klan road side.   When taking guests/visitors I always made sure to enter from that side, which was like entering a secret realm.

Good times.

Let's do a topic on the Olde Bar Beer Centre next.

I have many fond memories of those bars as well in the days when I was young and single.

The Olde Bar Beer Centre still exists [or did a year or so back] but if you venture into it now its like entering some sort of post apocalyptic movie set where huge cockroaches and a handful of zombies are all that have survived.

[dave2]

ug.

re ... One side of the building was mostly straight bars and one side was mostly gay

i recon there must have been 50 bars in there six yers ago and ive often wondered where on earth did all the people who worked there go ?

wtk .... Let's do a topic on the Olde Bar Beer Centre next

which one ? : )

dave2

ps.... the true blue bar then gatehouse bar is now called thapae tavern

[Blinky Bill]

One side of the building was mostly straight bars and one side was mostly gay, but they both had sewers with plenty of big airholes running underneath the walkway/seating area.

Those were the days.

Those airholes were great for taking a leak into, Ewe Gee. Saved a long walk to the toilets at the rear.

I recall some years ago during a heavy session standing at the top of the small flight stairs midway down the alley and taking aim at one of those airholes. Upon realeasing the flow who should walk around the corner? The wife!! She wasn't impressed by my display.

And I agree, The Peak was certainly no landmark.

[Ulysses G.]

huge cockroaches.

Is that a reference to the more attractive demimondaines in Bar Beer Center?

[Ulysses G.]

Those airholes were great for taking a leak into, Ewe Gee. Saved a long walk to the toilets at the rear.

You always were quite the Gent.

[Gonzo the Face]

Aaahhhh yes.... the old bar beer center, with the bullet hole roof ventilation....

before there was any thing calle Loi Kroi ceptin for the street itself....

before when there was Dominos and the devilish David.....

before even David and Shane did the 'Up to You' in the back of Dominos.....

before when you could walk into the BBC and be almost guaranteed of seeing Abe ,Andy, Skipper {may they rest in peace} and other of our old mates in residence

... lets hear it for the real and true CM Arts Center.....

sorry for the little sidetrack, but just the mention of 'the sewers' brought back the memory of old

Edited January 31, 2011 by Gonzo the Face

[gotlost]

Is the Peak bar that had the rock climbing wall for family and extreme adventurest freaks and funny mix of transvestite bars right next door??

This is the location. The second photo was taken where the wall was.

[jayjay0]

Every thing is relevant. Old timers here say the Peak was not a land mark and cite some thing else as being a land mark. They forget that there was people ahead of them that would say that was not a land mark some thing else was. These people are stuck in the past. And I note it is a drinking past. For some it is not just a pass it is today also. I can relate. I went through a period of life in Seattle and later Vancouver BC where directions to a job site started out with a bar.

The peak was a true land mark that normal people could relate to. I for one will miss it. It has a sentimental value to it. I met my wife there.

It is completely gone now only rubble survives. A friend of mine with a shop on Chang Klan told me the talk is going to be another anahason market.

three years ago before it was closed down talk was it was going to be a hotel. That the owner of the La Meridian was trying to buy up all the land in the night Bazaar area and turn Anahson into a casino.

Let the rumors roll.

[uptheos]

Aaahhhh yes.... the old bar beer center, with the bullet hole roof ventilation....

before there was any thing calle Loi Kroi ceptin for the street itself....

before when there was Dominos and the devilish David.....

before even David and Shane did the 'Up to You' in the back of Dominos.....

before when you could walk into the BBC and be almost guaranteed of seeing Abe ,Andy, Skipper {may they rest in peace} and other of our old mates in residence

... lets hear it for the real and true CM Arts Center.....

sorry for the little sidetrack, but just the mention of 'the sewers' brought back the memory of old

I heard David has been residing in some mountainous area for a while - anyone know?

I used to like Up 2 You as you could sit and see the talent wandering in and maybe even give a nod and a wink.

Edited January 31, 2011 by uptheos

[uptheos]

Those airholes were great for taking a leak into, Ewe Gee. Saved a long walk to the toilets at the rear.

You always were quite the Gent.

But apparently not in the Gents

[Blinky Bill]

Aaahhhh yes.... the old bar beer center, with the bullet hole roof ventilation....

before there was any thing calle Loi Kroi ceptin for the street itself....

before when there was Dominos and the devilish David.....

before even David and Shane did the 'Up to You' in the back of Dominos.....

before when you could walk into the BBC and be almost guaranteed of seeing Abe ,Andy, Skipper {may they rest in peace} and other of our old mates in residence

... lets hear it for the real and true CM Arts Center.....

sorry for the little sidetrack, but just the mention of 'the sewers' brought back the memory of old

I heard David has been residing in some mountainous area for a while - anyone know?

I used to like Up 2 You as you could sit and see the talent wandering in and maybe even give a nod and a wink.

David was in China for a number of years but now in Laos I believe.

Gonzo, you didn't mention Rudi, Nu's ex. He came to a grizzly end on a business trip back to Munich, some of his associates caught up with him. Then there were the DEA boys flashing their shooters about in the face of Canadian Joe, they were back in the US within a week of that little incident. Fun daze!!

[Ulysses G.]

Then there were the DEA boys flashing their shooters about in the face of Canadian Joe, they were back in the US within a week of that little incident. Fun daze!!

I heard that the DEA objected to having blind kids do Moi Thai fighting on stage for the amusement of the local expats. What spoil sports!

[Blinky Bill]

Then there were the DEA boys flashing their shooters about in the face of Canadian Joe, they were back in the US within a week of that little incident. Fun daze!!

I heard that the DEA objected to having blind kids do Moi Thai fighting on stage for the amusement of the local expats. What spoil sports!

I like girlie Moi Thai, Ewe Gee.

Check it out here!!

[Johpa]

What you should be regretting is the old section of the Night Bazaar (it had its own name, which I forget) which preceded the Peak and the plywood shacks, bars and handicrafts shops, surrounding it. This was the kind of old market with forgotten corners where you could find all sorts of surprising things. This was really part of old Chiangmai; the Peak was not.

I am of the same sentiment. At one time the old, original, multi-level night market was a lively place filled by local shop owners where one could find true antiques, true little treasures, and true handicrafts. Later, in the basement, it became one of the few places to place an international phone call in the evening hours. The bars came later, as did the change to mass produced handicrafts and the selling of tourist crap ad nauseum. But last November I visited and the place was a ghost town. For all intents and purposes, the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is now finally gone and too few of us here remember just how truly unique was this cultural institution of Chiang Mai at one time.