Archive for 2007

Christmas Day Thailand Night Fever

Tuesday, December 25th, 2007

As we come to the end of 2007, I have decided to select various pieces from the Dave The Rave Bangkok Blog over the past year…

THE ORIGINS AND REASONS BEHIND “THAILAND NIGHT FEVER.”
                                
Asian Babe - ThailandNovember 2006 – Hold tight riders, here we go!  This is the very first edition of “Thailand Night Fever” the Thailand nightlife newsletter from yours truly Dave the Rave – the Go-Go Guru.  Not only will you get my reviews and reports, rants and raves, but all kinds of related topics and eventually photos too.  Yes, you heard me right it will include photos of Thailand’s nightlife, and that means Thai babes too.  From my notes, quotes and anecdotes, comes this review column and I will endeavour to report objectively and with a true sense of accuracy.  My goal is just two words – informative and entertaining. (more…)

Merry Christmas From Dave The Rave

Sunday, December 23rd, 2007

HOT IN THE CITY

After Dark Asia Magazine ThailandI would like to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas.  Wherever you may be for Christmas this year, I hope you have a pleasant time.  Whether you are partying in Thailand, or spending quality time with your families, I sincerely wish you all the best.  It certainly does not feel like the Christmas climate here in Bangkok.  I thought it was supposed to be the cool season and yet, even the Thais are complaining how scorching HOT it is.  In the afternoons the temperatures have soared.  I suppose you could say that in Bangkok it is a “white hot” Christmas!

FESTIVE FEAST IN THE CATHOUSE

On Christmas Eve only, the Cathouse is offering a Special Christmas Buffet.  Just a reminder to you non-churchgoers that means December 24th!  The generous folks at the Cathouse will present a festive feast that is a remarkably good meal deal for ONLY 250 Baht per person.  The way the owner Willem is going, he will go down in history as one of the most generous Dutchmen of all time!

THE CATHOUSE CHRISTMAS BUFFET MENU

COLD PLATE STARTERS – mixed green salad with several dressings, marinated salmon, steamed Vienna sausages, and a selection Of Cheese.

MAIN DISHES – steamed pork loin and sauerkraut, beef stew, roast beef in red wine sauce and red cabbage, turkey and honey glazed ham.

SIDE DISHES – baked potatoes with cheese, half boiled eggs garnished with various dressings, cranberry sauce and fresh bread.

THAI FOOD – green chicken curry, chicken with cashew nuts, tom yam gung (hot and sour prawn soup), spicy pork with lemon, fried and steamed rice.

DESSERTS – ice cream, apple strudel, and mixed fruit salad.

The Christmas buffet will be served from 5:00pm until 8:00pm.  Enjoy! 

*The Cathouse is located directly above Big Dogs Bar in Nana Plaza.*

Shakerz Coyote Club - Soi Nana - Bangkok - Thailand

CHRISTMAS EVE AND NEW YEAR’S EVE BARFINES

Be prepared that the bar fines on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve will be higher than normal nights.  This will vary from venue-to-venue and also depend on the time of night.  Expect go-go bars in Bangkok to charge anywhere from 1,000 Baht up to 2,000 Baht.  If any establishment tries to go above this level, I think they will commit financial suicide!

PARTY ON PEOPLE

All of the go-go bars, beer bars, pubs and clubs, right across Thailand are open tonight.  The Elections will be over and everywhere will should be selling alcohol from 6:00pm.  Hooray!

Bangkok’s Bars Open 21st & 23rd

Friday, December 21st, 2007

Asian Babe - Bangkok - ThailandHere is an update about the Thai Elections.  Tonight Friday, December 21st, the go-go bars, pubs and clubs are open right across Thailand.  So guys, go out and enjoy your Friday night.  Tomorrom is looking doubtful that many bars will be open at all across Thailand. But, go-go bars will be open in Bangkok.  The Thai authorities in their infinite wisdom have declared December 22nd a NO ALCOHOL day.  Various sources have reported to me that it is VERY DANGEROUS for any bar to attempt to sell alcohol on December 22nd.  However, if you look around you might get lucky.  The actual Election Day is December 23rd, but the bars in Bangkok will be serving alcohol on that evening.  It is predicted that early in the evening all establishments in Bangkok can serve alcohol, because the Elections will thankfully be over.  Pattaya has been hit hard this December as all bars will be forced to close a total of 4 days this month.  Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai will be very pleased to see the back end of Thailand’s tourism turmoil.

As disgruntled as some people are, it is very important for Thailand to vote in a civilian government.  All in all, we only have one more NO ALCOHOL day to get through in Bangkok and then it will be a case of party on people!

Christmas Night Fever

Wednesday, December 19th, 2007

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

MBK Shopping Complex - Bangkok - ThailandIt is the season to be jolly, or is it?  The whole Christmas carnival is an extremely expensive affair in Farangland, amid this modern age of extortion.  Some families put money aside all year just for a short, but painfully costly Christmas.  Of course, not wishing to put a total negative spin on it, the kids love it.  I dare say the BIG kids love it too!  Dads’ have a legitimate excuse to get smashed drunk and mums’ have a license to put a large dent in the family bank account.  A lot of kids’ nowadays do not ask what gifts they are getting, but instead unashamedly demand what they want.  I think it is all one BIG consumer racket.  When you consider all the time, money and effort, it is remarkable that this if for only two days.  However, in saying that it is one time of year that farang families get together.  Although I am obviously not a fan of the commercial side of Christmas, I do miss Christmas Day with my family.  I really should make the effort to go back to England for Christmas one of these years…

*Photo of MBK with kind permission of Stickman* (more…)

Thailand Nightlife Update

Sunday, December 16th, 2007

GOOD NEWS FOR A BOOZE CRUISE

Tiger Beer In ThailandFollowing the recent dry spell across Thailand, we are now green for go!  Tonight marks the return of alcohol and more importantly the tourist areas can open their bars.  Pattaya Police in particular, took harsh measures by immediately closing any go-go bar that attempted to open on Friday night.  As one established Pattaya go-go bar owner said to me, “The Pattaya go-go bar owners will lose five nights takings this December.”  This is a crushing blow to some bars in Pattaya that are quite clearly struggling.  Not to mention all the poor farangs who have flown across the world to party in Thailand.  Anyway, the bars right across Thailand will be open and serving alcohol from tonight (December 16th).  All together now lads, “HOORAY!” 

There is a catch to this though.  Officially speaking, alcohol is NOT supposed to be served until 10:00pm tonight.  Let us hope that the boys in brown will let the “booze cruise” kick off earlier at around 9:00pm.

REMINDER FOR DECEMBER 22nd AND DECEMBER 23rd

Angelwitch Go-Go Bar - Nana Plaza - ThailandSorry to say that next week on December 22nd and December 23rd, these are most likely to be “NO ALCOHOL” nights.  December 23rd is the BIG ONE because this is the day of the Thai Elections.  Thank the Lord when all this nonsense is over!  As you know, millions of people from all corners of the globe fly to Thailand.  Not surprisingly, all of us farangs are totally baffled, because we know we cannot vote.  Furthermore, most of us would have no intentions to vote even if we could.  Why should Westerners have to suffer the ban on alcohol?  The Thai authorities really dropped a clanger this year. 

BATTLE OF THE TITANS

Moving on to a much more exciting subject than politics; tonight there are two HUGE English Premier League football matches.  It is the Battle Of The Titans!  The mighty reds both face off in another epic encounter, as the English Premiership Champions Manchester United take on Liverpool at Anfield.  Meanwhile in the capital there is a London derby match where Premier League leaders Arsenal host Chelsea.  Both of these matches have the potential to be full of end-to-end electrifying action…

THAILAND TIME KICK OFF…

LIVERPOOL V MANCHESTER UNITED  -  20:30

ARSENAL V CHELSEA  -  22:30

WHERE DO I WATCH THE FOOTBALL IN BANGKOK?

Big Dogs (Nana Plaza), Londoner Brew Pub or The Office (Sukhumvit, Soi 33), Bully’s Pub (next to JW Marriott Hotel), Bull’s Head Pub (Sukhumvit, Soi 33/1), Shadow Sports Bar (Soi Cowboy), Chequers Bar, Hanrahan’s Irish Pub, or Finnegan’s Irish Pub (Soi Nana), Gulliver’s Travellers Tavern (Sukhumvit, Soi 5), or Woodstock Bar (44 Soi Thonglor 13).

Get ready for the Battle Of The Titans.  HERE WE GO!