Changes in Bangkok

[holy cow cm 6,399]

18 hours ago, brakar said:

Some pictures taken on my first trip to Bangkok in july 1998. The area around Sukhumvit/Nana.

 

I long for those days before 2000 again. Only if I could go back into the past.

[Hanuman2547 283]

Bangkok has changed a lot over the years as have most other large mega-cities.  The move from the backpacker area of Soi Ngam Dupli, and Soi Sribamphen, which forms a T-intersection with Soi Ngam Dupli to Khao San Road.  Buying the Bangkok Post for 8 baht.  No internet, no expressways, no MRT or BTS.  No malls yet but Siam Square was the place to go.  There were taxis but no meters.  The list just goes on and on.  

[CG1 Blue 4,633]

I'm a relative newbie compared to most of you guys, first visit being in 2001. I'd love to have seen the place back in the 70s, 80s and 90s. But for what it's worth I miss:

 

Gullivers on Khao San Road

Nana Hotel disco for after hours (followed by Climax, Ambassador Hotel suk soi 11, now also closed)

Muzik Cafe, Patpong - like a cave inside, great live band, filled up from midnight. Still there but virtually empty every night. 

The old beer gardens (I think only 1 remains now, on Soi 7?)

 

 

[lopburi3 7,565]

4 hours ago, Hanuman2547 said:

Bangkok has changed a lot over the years as have most other large mega-cities.  The move from the backpacker area of Soi Ngam Dupli, and Soi Sribamphen, which forms a T-intersection with Soi Ngam Dupli to Khao San Road.  Buying the Bangkok Post for 8 baht.  No internet, no expressways, no MRT or BTS.  No malls yet but Siam Square was the place to go.  There were taxis but no meters.  The list just goes on and on.  

Actually the taxis had meters but drivers normally used them to hang their hats - you always had to bargain a price before travel.  Siam Square was indeed the organized area with the 3 most modern movie theaters of the time and home of the original Neil's Tavern (from 1969) for some great steaks.

[bkk6060 5,822]

I like bkk.  Still some good spots.

I do miss Washington Square bars. My first true nasty in bar experience.  Got all torn down a few years back.

Edited October 16 by bkk6060

[Destiny1990 5,037]

Back in the nineties in Bangkok I do remember that my libido was higher. 

[ballpoint 10,031]

On 10/15/2019 at 3:41 PM, brakar said:

Some pictures taken on my first trip to Bangkok in july 1998. The area around Sukhumvit/Nana.

 

Well, the price of petrol has certainly changed.  

[ballpoint 10,031]

Anyone else ever go to the Nasa disco, or rather "spaceadrome" out on Ramkamhaeng road back in the late 80s/early 90s?  It was world famous back in the day, with the NYT even writing a piece on it: 

 

"The National Aeronautics and Space Administration may have its troubles at home, but over here on the other side of the world, NASA is the hottest name in town. NASA is a discotheque. No, a "spaceadrome"--a $3.85 million hangar-size contraption resting on moon-landing legs on the outskirts of Bangkok. It takes a lot to attract the attention of Bangkok's residents, who live in a world of pleasure palaces that leave no sense untempted. But NASA has in two months managed to become the place that everybody has to visit--5,000 or more people on weekends. Everybody includes diplomats, film stars, business leaders, politicians and a few titled people. The very, very V.I.P. merit a booth of black glass so they can see and not be seen".

 

When I was living in Singapore from 87 - 90 I used to come to Thailand fairly regularly for work, and it was the in place to go for a night out.  People back in Singapore who had never even been to Bangkok would ask about it.  The two things I remember most are, at midnight a big spaceship would descend from the ceiling, and it was the first ever place I went to with a guy handing out hot towels, and providing shoulder massages, in the toilets. 

 

This was taken in 2005, when it had been closed down for a number of years.  

 

It was torn down shortly after, but the name lives on in the Nasa Vegas complex across the road from where it used to be.

 

When I moved here full time in 1990, the next place to go was Narcissus, off Soi 23, which was open till 6am, and a lot closer to stagger home from. Now it's called Narz, I believe, but I haven't been there for at least 20 years.

 

 

 

 

[Twigtom 10]

Some pictures taken on my first trip to Bangkok in july 1998. The area around Sukhumvit/Nana.
 

Used to be able to drive into Nana square and park the car


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[Neeranam 4,930]

What about Bobbys bar in Pat Pong?

[Neeranam 4,930]

Does anyone remember the hole in the wall bar on KSR? A few ceazy nights there. 

[Neeranam 4,930]

Beer chang was stronger than it is today.

[josephbloggs 1,522]

1 hour ago, Neeranam said:

Does anyone remember the hole in the wall bar on KSR? A few ceazy nights there. 

Yes, and what about the Star Bar?  Rooftop.  Outrageous.  1995/1996.

[Neeranam 4,930]

1 hour ago, josephbloggs said:

Yes, and what about the Star Bar?  Rooftop.  Outrageous.  1995/1996.

Yeah, that rooftop was a laugh. On the corner wasnt it? Or just round the corner, near where a normal Western pub came.

[Hanuman2547 283]

10 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

Actually the taxis had meters but drivers normally used them to hang their hats - you always had to bargain a price before travel. 

No meters back in the late 70's early 80's.  According to the Bangkok Post, taxi meters were first used in 1992.  I thought it was 1990 but it was a welcome relief once they were up and operating and more commonplace.......provided you could get them to use them!