Here is another variation of my many taxi driver episodes. This was when I was up in Rachadapiesek road, an area around 10km from Silom. Rachada is lined with clubs and entertainment venues, but I have never been to any of them. I was however curious to see what was on offer.
Rachada is made for suburban Thais who arrive in their cars. Hence there are lots of roads and parking spaces, and far to walk between the different nightspots.
I gave up walking and stopped a taxi. I explained in broken Thai that I wanted to look around the area. The driver had trouble understanding this. Which particular club did I want to go to? Karaoke, massage, disco or pub? I said I only wanted to see the different places, not go in.
The driver kept returning to the subject of where I wanted to go. He pulled up at Hollywood Disco even if I had told him to stay in the soi and not enter their grounds. A doorman came over and the driver complained to him that the farang didn’t want to go in. The two of them whispered in a conspiratorial tone.
Next he took me to places with names like Cleopatra and Caesar. At every place he urged me to get out of the taxi and enter the establishment. I kept telling him I was only looking. I had thought that we had language problems, but as it turned out he understood me perfectly. It was just that he didn’t like what I said.
- I am getting angry, said the driver.
- Why?
- The meter is slow. I am not getting any money.
I looked at the meter. It showed 55 baht. This looked reasonable for the short while he had been driving me around.
- How about this one? the driver asked and pulled up in front of a karaoke place.
- Keep going, I said.
The driver started complaining again. I began to suspect what his problem was.
- Why are you angry? I asked him. – Is it because you want the kickback from the doormen once I go in?
- Yes, said the driver without any trace of shame.
- How much do you get? 100 baht?
- Yes, said the driver again.
The driver was full of righteous anger. To me this was Mafioso activity, selling his taxi passengers to nightspots and thereby inflating prices, but in his eyes I was the bad guy, spoiling his business. In no way did it appear to him that what he did was questionable.
I had enough of him. I put 55 baht on the armrest next to the driver, and he stopped.
- So you will take this one? said the driver. – Good!
I was outside a row of “karaoke palace” places. They were huge buildings with lots of glitter and neon lights. The combined touts and doormen surrounded me, telling me to come inside. I was not interested.
My taxi driver drove behind me in the soi at crawling speed, watching and waiting to see which “palace” I would enter. But I didn’t enter any of them. Instead I went to the main road and flagged down another taxi. My original driver took off in a hurry, probably shaking his head over the strange farang who denied him an honest living.
August 20th, 2006 at 11:26 am
These days my bf and his his gay friends seem to hit the Rachada discos in preference to the other more obviously gay possibilities (Soi 4, Khao San etc). Sometimes it’s Hollywood, but just as often it’s someplace else there. The bottom line is that they are going to dance, not hook up. Of course in Thailand, being obviously gay in a largely straight disco is not an issue.
August 20th, 2006 at 5:31 pm
Agree with the taxi driver. You where a pain in the a… Farang doesn’t know what he wants, doesn’t know where to go. You know the game - schouldn’t be any surprice that he gets money from the night clubs. There is something strange about ur mentality: You put ur self in situations where u see ur self as a victim but in fact u create and provoke the situation ur self. You know the games so why not play along or stay away.
August 20th, 2006 at 11:15 pm
HELP!!!
I have been to Hollywood several times with Thai friends. but I never know where it is exactly. I know, I know, just ask the taxi driver.
But help me. On my map, Ratchadaphisek Rd becomes Asok Rd at Phiraram 9 Rd, so it must be North of there. So what is the cross road? Thiamruammit Rd??
You are correct, so many “glittering” clubs. Feels like visiting Las Vegas!!! UGH!!!
Take care…
August 21st, 2006 at 1:50 am
forget hollywood, G-Star is very near and full of gay Thais, lol
August 21st, 2006 at 12:15 pm
Sometimes I wonder if we live in the same city. I take taxis a lot here as they are so cheap compared to other countries, and 9 times out of ten I get a friendly person who is happy to chat and shows no signs of the negative behaviour you often describe. Last Saturday, for example, a local tuk-tuk driver refused to accept any money from me even though he is as poor as a church mouse; he says he can’t charge people he knows and likes. Perhaps it has something to do with visiting certain night-time places? Try Sam Rong again and see how nice the locals are as you broaden your knowledge of real Thai life. Sorry if this sounds “boring”…..; to me it is pleasant and makes me feel like home. Best wishes, Real Thailand.
August 21st, 2006 at 2:12 pm
Mr. Real Thailand
95% of my taxi drivers are nice. This proves that I am more popular than you are. But it is the remaining 5% and their various tricks that produce un-boring posts.
August 21st, 2006 at 3:14 pm
and un-necessary generalisations…..stemming from the fact that you keep describing the activities of the tricky ones without giving the 95 % as you call it their fair due.
August 21st, 2006 at 5:38 pm
Should I also post pictures of the 95% of Thai boys who are not model material? Just to give them their fair due?
August 21st, 2006 at 6:31 pm
Why not? Your concept of what is beautiful is fine but somewhat one-dimensional. How about boys with soul? Boys with great heart? Boys marked by life?
Just a suggestion; this is your blog, and you must decide.
August 21st, 2006 at 9:05 pm
If I began posting pictures of “boys marked by life” you would ask why I dwelled on the ugly when there is so much beauty in Thailand.
August 21st, 2006 at 10:20 pm
Your pics show us the stunning beauty, so there is no reason for me to write that. But as we all know, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder; sometimes it is in a certain look or expression. This country is so replete with faces that tell a thousand stories, I think it would add a certain dimension to your photographic work if you were to broaden your presentation of Thai boys. Up to you entirely; ps, I’m not negative for the sake of being negative, just wishing to add a different point of view from time to time. If I did not like your blog I would not read it. Chok dee , Real Thailand.
August 23rd, 2006 at 6:03 am
Just a personal note ………my favourite Thai guys are over 35 years old but it is difficult to find fotos of them anywhere on the internet……..I even am attracted to guys in their 50’s. I guess I am just weird!