March 29th, 2008, 09:34
When was go-go dancing abolished in gay bars?
I've just spent two nights in Bangkok, visiting six bars in the Soi Twilight area. Each advertised itself as a go-go bar; none would have passed muster under the Trades' Description Act. The dancers were largely immobile, occasionally twitching or transferring weight from one foot to the other; go-go dancing, such as can still seen in the girlie bars? I don't think so.
Perhaps the intention is to emulate the human statues of Barcelona's Ramblas; perhaps it is a response to punters' demands ("We don't want dancing; give us human statues with their hands clasped behind their backs. Please!")
Or perhaps not.
Of course, dancing can still be seen in the exotic shows on offer; snake-dancing. Last night, one bar's show consisted almost entirely of variations on this theme- snake dancing in the shower and in the dry; snake-dancing with candles and without; snake-dancing under a mosquito net and outside it. By the time the climax of the show came (a desultory jerk-off contest) I'd lost the will to live. Perhaps some find snake -dancing sexy and aesthetically-pleasing. Perhaps some of us don't.
It was the climax for the performers, that is; for me, the climax was paying the check-bin- 240 bht for an orange juice.
The most enjoyable hour for me was in The Boys of Bangkok. Alas, no movement discernible but there were some cute guys on show. What a pity they were covered from shoulder to calf with tattoos, hiding the beautiful, silken skin provided by the Lord Buddha. Perhaps a punter had said," I find your smooth skin boring; why not ask your kid brother to draw some pictures on you with his biro? That'll make you sexier."
Or perhaps not.
I've just spent two nights in Bangkok, visiting six bars in the Soi Twilight area. Each advertised itself as a go-go bar; none would have passed muster under the Trades' Description Act. The dancers were largely immobile, occasionally twitching or transferring weight from one foot to the other; go-go dancing, such as can still seen in the girlie bars? I don't think so.
Perhaps the intention is to emulate the human statues of Barcelona's Ramblas; perhaps it is a response to punters' demands ("We don't want dancing; give us human statues with their hands clasped behind their backs. Please!")
Or perhaps not.
Of course, dancing can still be seen in the exotic shows on offer; snake-dancing. Last night, one bar's show consisted almost entirely of variations on this theme- snake dancing in the shower and in the dry; snake-dancing with candles and without; snake-dancing under a mosquito net and outside it. By the time the climax of the show came (a desultory jerk-off contest) I'd lost the will to live. Perhaps some find snake -dancing sexy and aesthetically-pleasing. Perhaps some of us don't.
It was the climax for the performers, that is; for me, the climax was paying the check-bin- 240 bht for an orange juice.
The most enjoyable hour for me was in The Boys of Bangkok. Alas, no movement discernible but there were some cute guys on show. What a pity they were covered from shoulder to calf with tattoos, hiding the beautiful, silken skin provided by the Lord Buddha. Perhaps a punter had said," I find your smooth skin boring; why not ask your kid brother to draw some pictures on you with his biro? That'll make you sexier."
Or perhaps not.