Patanawet

At least two of the bars have made it for 20-30 years, so they must have done something right.

So Rob, the answer to your question is they have 352 days left until they become renewable at New Year AT THE FAMILIES' DISCRETION!

Oh, Pao is my favourite.

As I stated, Key money in soi 4 is paid annually and the amount depends on how many shop house widths you rent. ALSO leases (and key money are ANNUAL and renewable at New Year.

According to Google:- Key money in Thailand can be legal, but it's not always clear what it is or how it's calculated. It's often demanded in cash, and landlords may not declare it to the tax authorities.

ALL premises on Soi 4 are on annual leases (payable to 'the family', and always have been. 'Key money' is paid once a year at New Year. It has nothing to do with lease, rent or additional 'side payments'. Last year, PRIDE itself was offered for sale to include all floors including the 3rd (U.S.) floor which the present owner used for his financial businesses. He has now moved this to Park Silom. Original ad, last year, later withdrawn:- (Strange because this link states " NOTE: Sale does not include Circus Bar and Restaurant. ") Last year:- BUT latest is this:- Owning a bar in Thailand is a serious undertaking to be done by people familiar with Thai business practices in particular the licensing trade. Many practices here can be an anathema to those brought up in more 'organised' societies'. You are not going to change them, it is their country! When I first moved here 25+ years ago, I bought a book called something like 'Doing business in Thailand as a foreigner'. No idea if it is still published. If you still want to go ahead, try chatting to owners of SUCESSFUL bars. Then approach. Cameron with serious enquiries rather than occasional visitors who think it would be a nice idea. And finally, get a Thai manager familiar with the scene who you would trust with your life. (and a similar Thai lawyer.).

S & M invitation?

Woops I mis read that as 'hairy breasts'.

12is12 well done for your report. Sadly I find it difficult to plough through with many whole words being substituted by single letters or worse, numbers. This style is a dated throwback to when we were limited to the number of characters we were allowed. Others consider it laziness. What a pity, when it would have been an enjoyable read. Again, thanks for a good report, keep them coming. Edit PS, no idea why this has come up 'bold'. Not intended.

Hmmm. Comment not necessary!

English is routinely taught in most Thai state schools (albeit badly if by a Thai teacher). If fact, my other half was taught in a temple up to university entrance level.

just mime it then wag finger.

How about the new huge Foodland In the complex opposite Soi 4 (ex Boots) I forget the name(Park Silom?).

I may have been mistaken over all these years but I had assumed it was a LoSo hotel for the lady bars.

Stop it Min! I'm earing my lunch.

I'm spending CHRISTMAS at home here in Bangkok with dinner at Balcony Pub. CHRISTMAS here is not 'rammed' but New Year's Eve certainly will be.

Vinapu, have you looked at the exchange rates recently or the U.K. freezing pensions at the rate that pertained at the date of retirement?

Have a look at Bangkok Post on line today!!! Monday the 9th of December.

Perleeeeze --- I'm eating lunch.

You--- spring chicken.

I remember Vichai. Some of my Thai friends were working/visiting in Garden and Harries and were raided by the police one night. All were taken to the police station and herded into a cell overnight, Vichai included. Vichai demanded cushions to sit on on the floor and was surrounded like a queen. The ground floor of Robinson's was 'Dairy Queen' and was a notorious area for young, probably illegal, boys.

Ye gods Mavica -- how old ARE you? Must be as old as me! Harry's was my first bar as well. Some sort of show with the 'showboys' dancing in the grubbiest shoes I've seen. The 'ladies' in the show were about as classy as the boys shoes -- but a lot of fun. At two o/clock Harries closed and we were all ushered through a door at the back into another VERY late bar -- damn the name has just escaped me. (Ciro???) Next floor up was full of very young lads doing what seemed like 'line dancing'. Then above that Harry had a gym. A few doors away was Charlies Bar. Very long and narrow --- at the end away from the soi was classical music videos. At the soi end was the owner and cash till and porno (for those days) videos. The owner ,who talked the hind legs off a donkey was Charlie, who's claim to fame was that he appeared in 'Good Morning Vietnam' as an extra as a doctor, with about 2 lines of dialogue. When Ciros finally closed it was all over to the 24 hour bars at Malaysia Hotel till the early daylight hours.

Which soi 3 is this? What was the price?