Patanawet

I didn't say that you did say that.

During lockdown it was NOT a gogo bar. It opened upstairs as a 'restaurant' with loud singing.

It was not operating as a gogo bar during lockdown. At one stage it opened as a 'restaurant' with 'singalong". Of course not a karaoke because that would have been naughty.

My memory is a bit fogged due to Singha beer but as I recall: The ground floor premises was originally a Tapas. Welcome bar (next to Telephone and rented from Balcony) then, or later, rented the upstairs room and opened it as a small gogo bar, named Banana Room. It also had ladyboy shows but they weren't happy because the low ceiling spoiled their headdresses. At some stage Tapas became Banana Bar. The upstairs was Banana Room Club (still to this day owned by the owner of the now defunct Welcome bar). I never found out if Banana was connected to Twilight Banana. For a long time the downstairs was being renovated, then lockdown. At some time during the last two years, upstairs operated as a 'restaurant' where people could sing along . Recently, another renovation downstairs and a bright new terrace and name 'Banana Room'. I can't comment on the activities as I haven't ventured in. Tomorrow maybe. Sorry if some of my sequence of events is a bit confused. Please correct where appropriate.

Good thing it's closed. It was notorious for having young 'boxers' further into the bar.

Apparently, he was spotted at the parade waving a rainbow flag.

Fresh Boys, Dream Boys etc. in Patpong 2 not Silom soi 2. The photos are from Silom Soi 4 last night. Last night a squad of BIB came to Silom soi 4 and took photos ('look boss we're here and few customers') outside the ex Welcome bar. They strode off and soon later, the local soi policeman (not present at the photo op) rushed to every bar insisting that they close at midnight sharp.

In Bangkok, Mondays are quiet but the worst night was always Tuesdays.

Unrealistic that he had a wife or that she didn't know about his night job. BOTH completely believable.

Some relaxation BUT only till midnight because, as we all know, Covid comes out at midnight.

Ye gods, Serene? I last heard of Serene from a waiter at the bar. He told me that as the rooms were falling into dis-repair, other rooms were being cannibalised to compensate. Now, this was a few years ago and the situation may have changed since then. Maybe a recent stayer can report? It surely is handy for BoyzTown.

Silom itself is gradually getting it's stalls back in the evening -- the other weekend I spotted that the original Aussiebum (etc.) underwear stall is back as is the shirt stall on the corner of soi4 after 2 years and a stall selling items that I daren't ask as to their purpose. Also, Silom is so busy in the morning and lunchtime with food stalls for the local workers.

Of course it was a tourist trap there BUT as a local there for 20+ years, I did shop there and YES I do miss it.

I seem to remember, 20+ years ago, visiting a Blue Elephant Thai restaurant in South London. It had a stream running through it with a bridge-- or maybe my memory is embellishing that bit. At that time I worked in Soho and a section of the area was closed off by the police with a 'bomb scare' -- it turned out to be the local Thai restaurant frying chilli's or shrimp paste

Reply from ex Super A doorman: "19:09 New Twilight is open opposite Nature Boy, 19:10 All other bars in in that area are closed."

Yes, it's many years since we had to climb the rickety wrought iron stairs. It moved downstairs years ago. I've messaged the former doorman to see if it's still open downstairs. I was a little shocked upstairs when I went for a pee and discovered that the downpipe on the urinal was connected to nothing. My pee was soaking my shoes.

You've exactly sussed out all my euphemisms. Oh my misplaced bracket, it should have read "(22 years in Bangkok)". I don't think I was ever "22 years old". And well and truly farang.

Ha ha. I'm trying to imagine activities 'beyond' Nice etc but then I'm a shrinking violet, relative newbie (22 years), here in Bangkok. Do have a good time here. By 10 weeks hopefully things will have eased. Biggest problem now is early closing times (technically(!) midnight. And boys partially clothed but I read that activities like 'races' 'size' 'mutual comforting' (sorry, acute shyness has overcome me) are still happening. The other problem is the Thai concept of bumping up prices to compensate for fewer customers. Now in Patpong 2 -- average Baht 450-500 per drink Silom soi4 much cheaper but none of the aforementioned activities that I've seen -- and I've looked, believe me. Some activity in Soi 6. Again do enjoy your stay and take care.

Don't get out much these days then Londoner? -- just search the threads -- especially Pattaya.

The wonderful French restaurant, Le Bouchon which used to be hidden away on Patpong 2 for 20 years or more closed a few months ago. Rumours have it that it has re-opened on Sathorn soi 1 in an ex-Babylon building --- true or not?

One of the original waiters/ mamasans from the very start of Screw Boys in all of it's movements, Lek, was a guest waiter at Connections bar recently for a birthday party.

Welcome back. Don't forget most bars (sorry restaurants) close at 23:00.

Worth a visit to the top floors (7th and 8th?) of the Helix section of Emquartier. Literally dozens of restaurants arranged round a helix climbing the two floors. Also on the same floors, I think, are the amazing gardens, to be honest, I never found the gardens but saw photos from a friend who did. The ground floor has inside and outside coffee shops including a(n) Harrod's Ice Cream Parlour.

Don't be silly.