|
|
|
Our Kind Of Art II
- CHRIS COLES' NOIR PERSPECTIVE
|
THROUGH THE NEON & BLACK-LIGHT
LOOKING-GLASS WITH CHRIS COLES
|
Bangkok's nightworld expands undiminishingly, and has done so in three dimensions for several decades - there is no end in sight. It has become a fathomless, garish world, the dynamics of which are no longer capable of being comprehended by a single person, or organization or government entity. More complex than any single living organism, the Bangkok Night Scene has, like the fictional SkyNet in the Terminator series, begun to function independently, both inside, and outside the boundaries of society's manmade laws, ordinances and norms.
Bangkok's Nightworld complexities can be seen, in parts, by anyone venturing into the streets after dark, however, a holistic comprehension shall remain beyond the pale. The Night Scene 'whole' is now made up of too many 'parts' - many of these parts coming into contact with the other parts, and many not. The immensity and complexity of Bangkok's Nightworld is such that no two individuals perceive the Bangkok Nightlife Scene in the same way. It is more likely than not that individuals living in, or coming to Bangkok will not be exposed to all, or even some, of the same things - and will almost certainly carry away with them entirely different views of Bangkok's Night Scene - it has become that big - that multi-faceted.
While self-annointed "Old-Bangkok-Hands" will tend to be skeptical of this view, they are in fact, the first to be lulled into a simplistic view of 'The Scene'. To illustrate : - the Khao Sarn Road crowd, with their Lonely Planets in hand, often do not see any other 'Bangkok Nightlife'. There are those who prefer the laid-back bar beer scene, with a regimen of darts and pool, and there are those who are exclusively "pub people". The drug dealers and pushers live in their own stratum of the Nightscene, as do the street hookers, who rarely or never mix with other Nightlife strata. The gays see only their gay world within the Nightlife Scene, never needing to leave Soi Twilight, Soi Katoey and the like. The mainstream "Bangkok Bar Scene" boys see their own "Bangkok", as do Bangkok's police, as do the night street vendors and sidewalk barkeeps. Then there are the "party" crowds who, by design, keep to themselves and their soft drugs and orgies - their 'Bangkok Nights' being separate and apart from the others. There are also those who prefer the specialty massage parlors over the bars, and spend virtually all their (night) time at these venues.
And there are others who only see, physically, a small part of Bangkok's Nightlife; one soi, or perhaps two or three sois in a given neighborhood (such as Washington Square, or Rachada, or RCA, or Suthisarn, or Jatujak). And there are those from Germany who see and know one 'Nighttime Bangkok', while those from Nigeria see and know another -almost exclusively. While it serves no purpose to ennumerate each and every aspect of Bangkok's Night Scene, it should also be noted that there are some individuals who 'partake' of more than one of the above. However it becomes abundantly apparent that it is physically impossible to partake of the entire "Scene" in all its forms and in all it's localities.
And while there is no finite, all encompassing definition of this potentially dangerous, high-energy morass of boozers, soft and hard drug addicts and traffickers, whoremongers and whores, gays and straights, pedophiles and child prostitutes, scammers and hustlers and pickpockets, drug-you-and-rob-you katoeys, liars, human traffickers, bent and honest cops, dishonest and honest taxi drivers (and etc), Bangkok's Nightlife denizens do exist, do adapt, and do develop an overall sense of how to, and how not to, navigate through much of our midnight jungle. It is, rather, this navigational sense -this ability to remain functional in a darker world where cause-and-effect is often not obvious- that defines the "Bangkok noir".
One such denizen of Bangkok's 'electric nights' is an expatriate American artist by the name of Chris Coles, whose paintings you are now viewing. His total immersion in Bangkok's Nightlife Scene preceded his current series of 'noir' paintings - his absorbtion of that around him was, and is, complete to the extent that he "sees" each of his subjects as though illuminated in neon and black-light. Originally, these paintings were thought to be "weird", however, because his unique surrealism keeps this one hook in reality (abundantly apparent to Bangkok's like-minded denizens), the interest in this one-of-a-kind artist and his works continues to grow. A recent showing of his works at Liam's Gallery in Pattaya was more than modestly successful - one local expat now owns two of Coles' works, and others are considering it prudent to add one to their personal collections. But regardless of who owns, or doesn't own whatever, Chris Coles' Nightscene works are the real deal - a part and parcel of Bangkok's neon circus.
All artwork remains the sole property of Chris Coles; reproductions thereof require prior permission.
|
|
Bangkok Eyes
Celebrates our
Eighth Anniversary
this month.
Thanking you kindly for your support.
|
|
|
- In the LAND OF SMILES -
|
|
This month's Thai Smile Award goes to a young lady who hopes one day to be a model.
|
|
|
Historical Minutiae Dept.
|
|
Noir Pub & The Noir
- A KHLONG BRIDGE TOO FAR
Hello Boge,
Where is Noir Pub? I was told that it was on Soi Mahadthai, Ramkhumheang. (I will be coming from Thong Lo.) Planning on going to see Kai-Jo Brothers on Saturday. What is your take on the place, Good, Bad or the Ugly?
One other quick question, what do you think of Titanium and the ridiculous price tag for their Bar Fine?
Thank you again,
J.
|
Greetings J,
You will pardon me if I get the feeling you are attempting to get a free bit of fluff for the Noir on Bangkok Eyes - we noticed your unique spelling of 'Ramkhumhaeng' and 'Kai-Jo' matched the Google listings. -Not that we mind giving a nod to a Night Entertainment Venue / Entertainment Group worth their salt...
The Noir Pub is located on Soi 65, Ramkhamheng Rd. It can also be accessed from Soi 122, Laad Phrao Rd, but it is a much longer journey. (Note: Ramkhamheng 65 and Laad Phrao 122 are actually the same soi: "Mahadthai 1".) -Getting there: - coming from Ramkhamheng, turn into Soi 65, and cross the bridge over the khlong. Continue on for about 700 meters, and the Noir will be on your left. The neon is unavoidable.
The Noir is an upbeat Thai yuppie 'Pub', well-appointed, with an outdoor area in front. While it is a modern and pleasant Nitespot, it is located too far outside the usual expat Night Entertainment areas to be a draw for the farang community; it is not located near other Night Entertainment Venues. It is virtually a necessity to drive there, or go by taxi (about 90 baht from Sukhumvit). Expats speaking Thai would have a distinct advantage. -Not to be confused with the Noir Pub on Pattaya 3 Road in Pattaya....
With regards your comment on the ridiculous price tag for the barfine at the Titanium (Sukhumvit Soi 22), we referred your question to our SEA resident derelict, Melvin Egger, who is the sole survivor of 100-P Alley in Saigon from the 1960's - 1970's. He replies: -
|
"The lovliest ladies-of-the-evening ever - barring the Magic Fingers Massage on Plantation Road (Saigon, 1971) - were in the Thermae Coffee Shop. Barfine? We doan need no steenking barfine...."
|
 SUKHUMVIT SOI 22
(Please note, Melvin's comments do not necessarily reflect those of the management....)
Best,
'Boge' Hartman
|
? ASK
US (ALMOST) ANYTHING !
|
|
We can answer virtually any (reasonable) question on the Expat Night Entertainment Scene in
Bangkok - be it Historical or very recent. Send us an e-mail and
we will do our best to answer you soonest.
|
'Boge' Hartman
Historical Research
|
|
* Zootramp Publications
|
 TOP
|
Let the February 2010 Follies begin...
BANKOK EYES' Expat Night Scene.
|
The King's Lounge (above the King's Corner) is closed for renovations for the umpteenth time (we have lost count). Judging by the amount of bags of cement and sand, they are going to be busy for some time to come. They have removed the old neon, indicating there may be a name-change in the offing - we'll keep an eyeball peeled.....
PATPONG I
The Bada Bing ! are using large flat-screen LCDs to advertise what goes on within. What is the world coming to? The Bada Bing ! doesn't really get rocking until after 22:00 hours, but then it gets down to business. Let the good times roll.
PATPONG II
The Black Pagoda are going to have a rocking-good time come 5 February, and you are all invited. It promises to be a real wang-dang-doodle of an evening. We were supposed to receive some promotional material to onpass to all, but they, perhaps, got busy. (Third floor - on the bridge above Cosmos.)
PATPONG II
Having opened and closed several times over the last two years, the Royal Salute Cocktail Lounge, located on 'The Ramp', is once again open. Historically, one of the older Patpong II bars, we hope this time around they will stay ahead of the power curve. Welcome them back to Sin City.
PATPONG II
We snapped this pic of the Kiss to update our neon archives. The Kiss and this group of bars consistently have great neon....
SOI COWBOY
This gentleman is selling hostess dresses from a pushcart outside Fanny's. We're left pretty much speechless....
SOI COWBOY
This is a 'for-the-archives' shot of the Villa Bar's Thai sign. On processing, we found more interest in the reflections....
NANA PLAZA
The Hollywood Inn has put up some new neon to -perhaps not too subtly- remind us of what kind of hotel it is. May they perservere.
NANA PLAZA
The Sphinx have more or less 'legitimized' their take-over of the outdoor area immediately across the soi from them (in front of the unoccupied building that once housed the original Rome Club).
SOI KATOEY
The For Fun, after having opened a month ago, have continued their expansion onto their front verandah, and on out into the street.... The rock still rocks.
SOI KATOEY
As promised last month, we confirm that Bar Fly BKK opened at the beginning of last month. When we passed by the other night, it looked like there was a party going on.... The Modus operandi of the Bar Fly unchanged from it's predecessor. Keep up the good works.
SOI DEAD ARTISTS - SOI 33
Last month we noted that the Kocho Ran (Asakuri & Massage) had opened up on both the ground floor and the upper level. It appears they have finished fitting out the downstairs, and it now serves as their 'coffee shop'. Keep on keeping on....
SOI DEAD ARTISTS - SOI 33
A personable, and cute-as-a-bug greeter beckons us in for a drink on Soi Dead Artists last night....
|
"Doll in a teacup she were-
...An' I learned about women from 'er."
-Rudyard Kipling
|
|
SOI DEAD ARTISTS - SOI 33
The Nippon-oriented Joy is, for whatever reasons, in lock-down mode. As we suspect a temporary closure, we will check back next time, and get back atcha. (Second floor, Peep Inn Park).
SOI DEAD ARTISTS - SOI 33
The Zoo Japanese venue (2nd floor, Peep Inn Park) has, we are pleased to report, popped back out of it's crypt, and it is business as usual. Welcome back to the big uphill.
SOI DEAD ARTISTS - SOI 33
The Bali Beach Bar has taken over lock, stock, and chrome barstool from the Bali Hugh this last month; the Bali Hugh partners having scattered to the four winds. We welcome the Bali Beach (new owners and staff) to the vicissitudes. While they have yet to nail up any new neon, we have been assured the new sign, when it does arrive, will look similar to the below. (Located a few doors down from the Dubliner Pub on Sukhumvit, with a second egress at the rear into Washington Square.)
WASHINGTON SQUARE
The V J Internet is now also a bar. We stopped by for a drink the other night, and found they actually have an Internet room at the rear. Welcome them to the sharkpool.
QUEEN'S PARK PLAZA SOI 22
The Boo Sa Bar, which we reported as closed last month, obviously had no intention of staying that way. The place was packed when we passed by last night. Welcome back to partytown.
SOI EDEN SUKHUMVIT SOI 7/1
The Blue Lightning Bar has reopened under new management - as, last month, we intimated it might. Lounge - Poolbar the operative descriptor. Welcome them to the neon machine.
SOI EDEN SUKHUMVIT SOI 7/1
The The Ring was, according to their management, supposed to be renamed Geisha this month. For whatever reason, that did not happen. You can still find the same good service within - using it's original name....
SOI EDEN SUKHUMVIT SOI 7/1
Future Boy's new sign looks like crap - they would do better to leave it turned off. It is either "art" or they are renovating it. Time will tell.
SOI TWILIGHT
! ORDER NOW !
|
|
Archives
link> for use of the 'candle'.
2002 - 2010, BANGKOK EYES / bangkokeyes.com
February's Nightlife News 
PATPONG I 
