Skybars and Hookers

Bangkok nightlife:

First the good, the clean, the svelte, the exclusive, the swanky, wonderful, elegant Sirocco Sky Bar at Lebua State Tower. 64th floor, wonderful views, attentive service, cozy atmosphere, skyhigh prices.
The views from Sirocco are absolutely gorgeous. No wonder they chose this location to film parts of Hangover II. It is fantastic and gives you a great impression of the vastness of the city. In every direction theres lights, lights, lights and even more lights. And there you think that Bangkok has energy delivery problems. It's definitely not visible from here.
After we've finally appropriately dressed up for LeBua we are warmly welcome, ushered into a golden elevator up to the 64th floor and shown to seats outside by one of the 8 well dressed ladies that greet you by the lift.
True to form I order a Hangovertini. The prices rival fancy places in Europe but hey, the view is worth it. Along with the drinks you get some olives and pistachios with free refills, if you ask kindly.
The famous part with the staircase is on the other side. It's great for taking pictures, but the music is more classic and for dinners not as laid back as on the other side. And the drinks area is standing online, without tables. So the 2nd Hangovertini is again on the comfy side. We are welcomed back immediately as if we are old friends of the staff. Gotta love that! Another Hangovertini for me! Hey, I am not gonna do that very often.
The waiter is kind enough to type the recipe of the Hangovertini up for me, so now I just need to find a bar close by with reasonable prices that mixes it up there for me. If anyone is interested... I am gonna be kind enough to share it:
For one Hangovertini you need:
Martini Rosso
Green Tea Liquor
Scotch Whiskey
Fresh apple juice
Rosemary honey
So next time you invite me over... stock up ;-)

The more interesting part of the night leads us to the Sukhumvit area. This is were many, let's call them ladeyyys operate. The cab driver doesn't take us straight there but drops us off at a nightclub instead. The nightclub pays the taxi driver to drop people off there since they need to pay entrance fee there. As we decide not to go in the taxi driver runs after us. Udo wants to check it out anyway so I head off with Markus to discover the 'dirty' secrets of Bangkok.
Turns out they are not that dirty after all. Just the usual outline of hookers, ladyboys and the punters that go along with that. Apparently its a little late already and the place has died down somehow. And since there's not much business to be had from the women walking through the area its fairly uneventful. Man walking alone would have a much more hmmmm enticing experience.
Massage parlors are still open in the middle of the night, the markets are closing down, only a few more dildos and viagras to be had on the street stalls. The hookers grabbing some food at the street vendors. Business seems to be slow tonight.
The typical punter looks like you would imagine. Older, receding hairline ( Rsl remember that one :D ), beer belly, bermuda shorts and open shirt. I overhear one of them negotiating with two, very good looking, ladyboys. Next time I should just fetch my dinner hear and eat very slowly for the perfect people watching perspective.
The only really dirty moment are ladies sitting on bar stools, legs wide spread with no underwear on. Not that sweet. But still that's the Bangkok one would imagine. How we know it from movies, songs and crazy stories. It still exists. In a more confined space but its there. Nothing to worry about. I felt safe at all times. Great moment was also a Tuk Tuk driver in the best of his body language describing what happens at the ominous Ping Pong shows. For all of you that know, let your imagination go wild.
Let's hope that was only the first of many interesting, and safe, trips to the real Bangkok...