Backpacker Bars

[kerryk]

I have been to that area where Rasta café (now Babylon). Salsa café and Utopia are for the past couple of nights. Has anyone ever eaten at Utopia? Last night they were packed but I couldn’t really figure out why. The game was on and they had a band playing old Eagles tunes at the same time. Kind of an odd mix. That whole area seems like an odd mix of places. Didn’t see any old guys just backpacker types. Is it always like that? Are there a lot of fight problems?

[chanchao]

> Last night they were packed but I couldn’t really figure out why.

> Didn’t see any old guys just backpacker types.

You basically answered your own question: Start an all you can eat buffet in a backpacker area and your place is guaranteed to be packed. Ok you're not making that much money as all your guests keep stuffing pork chops down their fisherman's pants to take home, but, at least you're packed.

Cheers,

Chanchao

[jackr]

I've been there a couple of times. The food is ok and the beer cheap and cheerful, but yeah, always the backpacker clientelle, which doesn't bother me actually, although I don't think I could handle a full nights worth of it.

[meadish_sweetball]

Are there a lot of fight problems?

Did you see lots of fights when you were there?

[Loaded]

that area seems to attract female expats more than the guys. I guess because all those rasta guys hit on the farang females and there aren't too many Thai women for the guys.

Personally, the thought of spending an evening listening to Bob marley and/or the Eagles surrounded by plastic Thai rastas who act as if they are the dog's <deleted> doesn't appeal to me.

[chanchao]

And.. those bars are KhaoSan-esque in the way they view service... Or rather, don't view service. If you want a drink you better walk up to the bar, order and pay right away.

Walked out the first time when this became apparent. Still, some places have OK bands, and at least you're not in between the Thai yuppies at Good View or all the pubs & theqs.

Kind of miss the Forest Drunk place... It went downhill real fast, but there were a couple of months when it was a VERY enjoyable place, with cheap weird drinks. (Cocktails that involved pounding stuff in a som tam mortar before adding the liquor. ) And Thai-cool-dude staff who ALSO managed to be polite, also to Thai people visiting. My wife normally has a healthy suspicion against people who try to look like Ad Karabao, but if they are fun, pleasant and polite then the ice melts real fast.

Edited June 28, 2006 by chanchao

[j_mack]

I have been to that area where Rasta café (now Babylon). Salsa café and Utopia are for the past couple of nights. Has anyone ever eaten at Utopia? Last night they were packed but I couldn’t really figure out why. The game was on and they had a band playing old Eagles tunes at the same time. Kind of an odd mix. That whole area seems like an odd mix of places. Didn’t see any old guys just backpacker types. Is it always like that? Are there a lot of fight problems?

The food was good and fair priced / self serve all you can eat can be spoilt by starving Hippi type Backpacker who live on 2 minute Noodells for most of there life, then discover a ''all you can stuff ya face on''

But yes nice staff and they have don the building up over my last few months Ive noticed

[Ulysses G.]

I have been to that area where Rasta café (now Babylon). Salsa café and Utopia are for the past couple of nights. Has anyone ever eaten at Utopia? Last night they were packed but I couldn’t really figure out why.

They are cheap and known for it.

[rob69]

I find the area makes a refreshing change sometimes, the atmosphere round the bars in that area is fairly easy going. As for fights i havent seen that many in that area, its usually a thai girl fighting with her thai boyfriend (then making up 10 minutes later)!! The prices are cheap (for us foreigners), mind you can get a large chang in most small thai bars (the outside type) for 40-50 Baht, whereas near Rasta/etc they all go for 70.

[Johpa]

Personally, the thought of spending an evening listening to Bob marley and/or the Eagles surrounded by plastic Thai rastas who act as if they are the dog's <deleted> doesn't appeal to me.

Actually it sounds like some decent cheap entertainment. I find both Thai rastas and Farang rastas to be equally amusing. I am sure that I amused some folks when I was much younger and walked around the city wearing my hill tribe garb. At least I did not walk around bare foot. And I still like to listen to Bob Marley.

Yep, might be better than encountering some Farang who has been in town a few too many years, who acts as if they are the dog's kallom and is loath to interact with any other Farang who is not speaking Thai at the moment.

[chanchao]

> might be better than encountering some Farang who has been in town a

> few too many years, who acts as if they are the dog's kallom and is loath to

> interact with any other Farang who is not speaking Thai at the moment.

Ah, good point you raise there. Surely nobody would deny though that it would be good form, when approaching another Farang in Chiang Mai, to start out speaking Thai first rather than a random European language, say English.

Then if it turns out that communication is easier in some European language, then there's nothing wrong with proceeding in that language.

Or when I see you wearing your Karen garb, a cheerful " Ghaw ler ah gay? " would be good to use instead of Thai.

Cheers,

Chanchao

Edited June 29, 2006 by chanchao

[The Dan Sai Kid]

I have been to the Rasta Alley loads of times - my friend has the Salsa Kitchen - the only time that I've seen fights is when some of the local schools have a rumble!

[kerryk]

Are there a lot of fight problems?

Did you see lots of fights when you were there?

No, I did not see any behavior that was out of line. Everyone seemed happy. One Farang guy was getting a little perturbed because a Thai guy was talking to his Thai girlfriend. But then the girl explained the guy was not interested in her. He was a gay guy and wanted the Farangs phone number.

I saw a lot of unescorted young Farang women. One was even rolling her own tobacco cigarettes. There were a few Thai Rasta guys but they seem well behaved. After the places closed down we went to Spicy and it seemed the entire crowd from Rasta Alley had moved there.

[ThaiPauly]

Time to put on my "Rasta" Wig (If I can get the fleas and mites out of it)

Sounds like fun

Edited June 29, 2006 by ThaiPauly

[Ulysses G.]

Time to put on my "Rasta" Wig (If I can get the fleas and mites out of it)

You will fit in better in that area with the fleas and mites.

[Maejo Man]

Time to put on my "Rasta" Wig

I might join you TP, as I owe you a jug of suds and we can discuss grills

[jackr]

Time to put on my "Rasta" Wig (If I can get the fleas and mites out of it)

Sounds like fun

Same area where we took Jock to see his wedding band the first time he came up, TP. Alright for a change of scenery.

[lamphun]

Time to put on my "Rasta" Wig (If I can get the fleas and mites out of it)

Sounds like fun

Same area where we took Jock to see his wedding band the first time he came up, TP. Alright for a change of scenery.

That little area seems to have taken off.

[tigerbeer]

went there last night and wouldnt go back there again.

[chuchok]

Time to put on my "Rasta" Wig

I might join you TP, as I owe you a jug of suds and we can discuss girls

[Maejo Man]

Time to put on my "Rasta" Wig

I might join you TP, as I owe you a jug of suds and we can discuss girls

I actually did mean GRILLS Chuchok Wasn't a typo

[meadish_sweetball]

went there last night and wouldnt go back there again.

Funny! So did I - and I think I will go back some time.