I haven't been out to Saphan Kwai for quite a few years. When I first went in 1993 there were about ten bars (mostly of the host variety) operating over two or three streets. I thought of spending an hour or two out there on my next Christmas visit - but is there any scene left in Saphan Kwai at all now, or has the curse of social media infected the area with a case of terminal Sunnee-itis?
"The fruits of peace and tranquility... are the greatest goods... while those of its opposite, strife, are unbearable evils. Hence we ought to wish for peace, to seek it if we do not already have it, to conserve it once it is attained, and to repel with all our strength the strife which is opposed to it. To this end individual[s]... and in even greater degree groups and communities are obliged to help one another... from the bond or law of human society." [Marsilio dei Mainardini (c.1275-1342), Defensor Pacis]
Hopefully Christian can comment. His blog references to Saphan Kwai bars have been infrequent in recent years, so I suspect there is nothing left. https://christianpfc.blogspot.com/search?q=saphan+kwai
"In the land of the blind the one eyed man is king"
I just arrived in Saphan Kwai which is my usual place when staying in Bangkok.
There are five bars left in Pradiphat soi 20 and probably another one further away (was still open last year, did not check yet); Adam and Heaven seem to be closed definitely. All bars very quiet on week days.
Many massage male-only massage places however mostly near BTS station in the subsois west of Phahonyothin Rd.
More on my blog at : llz.blogspot.com
AdamKY (April 16th, 2021), christianpfc (October 19th, 2019), goji (October 18th, 2019), Marsilius (October 20th, 2019)
Thank you for the update. I checked your blog (https://llz.blogspot.com/) and it implies these are Karaoke bars. Is that correct ? Are there any redeeming features to compensate for the Karaoke ?Originally Posted by llz
If we get a cute host singing in his underwear or less, I might just tolerate low volume Karaoke.
I see some Karaoke places at Soi 20 on google maps. Some nice plants lining part of the street too.
https://goo.gl/maps/Ws8Ds7dGQtBcrKmF9
With the closure of the only gogo bar (Be High) there some years ago, there is little reason for me to go to that area (Pradipat Soi 20) for gay entertainment.
However, yesterday I had a good reason, to meet llz, and we did a survey of what's left: Charmming (two m) closed for good. Talent closed for good. Five bars remain: D Door, Stax (now only one x, used to be two), Waterloo, U-Turn and Adam. These are all karaoke bar, and staff I saw was not my type.
There is other gay entertainment in that area (all easily accessible from BTS Saphan Khwai): 39 underground sauna, Phahon theater and various all male massage places.
Last edited by christianpfc; October 20th, 2019 at 23:33.
llz (October 23rd, 2019)
Thanks very much for the very useful info. As I am not sure of your personal tastes in such matters, could you just explain what "type" the guys there are?
"The fruits of peace and tranquility... are the greatest goods... while those of its opposite, strife, are unbearable evils. Hence we ought to wish for peace, to seek it if we do not already have it, to conserve it once it is attained, and to repel with all our strength the strife which is opposed to it. To this end individual[s]... and in even greater degree groups and communities are obliged to help one another... from the bond or law of human society." [Marsilio dei Mainardini (c.1275-1342), Defensor Pacis]
Thanks to previous posts, we know Saphan Kwai has gay Karaoke bars.
What's on offer in such bars ?
Do we get fully clothed boys screeching to some Asian Karaoke tracks ?
Or is there something that might actually make it worth visiting ?
I appreciate that we are not the main target market for this.
Very average faces and bodies, as far as I could see (low light and fully dressed), looking closer to 30 than to 20. Anyway, there was little activity (few boys and no customers) when we passed 9pm, and as far as I know (from where?) karaoke get busy late, which is past my bedtime.
Yes, fully clothes outside and inside.
Not worth visiting for me.
However, years ago, I spotted one very cute boy outside and took him inside for chat and to exchange contact information, but online communication was slow, and later I found that he is hilltribe and can read/write neither English nor Thai. He then was at Hotmale gogo, the first time I saw his gorgeous body, and in 2017 (?) I finally got him at hotmale massage for a bargain of 400 for 1 hour oil massage and 600 minimum tip.
Massage and happy ending was so-so, but the whole episode show that it's not worth jumping in squares (figuratively for me going to Saphan Khwai to pick him up at the bar, because I can't get him to come to my room by online chat), or paying through the nose (500 ? off fee and 1500 minimum tip at Hotmale gogo), but sometimes good things come to those who wait.
As Silom does not have a lot of interest for me any more, I will try to visit some of the Saphan Khwai bars.
Yesterday I went into Stax and spoke for a long time with one of the resident boys, a very nice guy from Mae Sot. He explained me that there could be up to 20 boys on some Sunday evenings. And even during week days boys do not come before 22.00 / 23.00. In fact five guys arrived together at about 22.00, all of them hill tribe boys (of the Lisu variety) and quite interesting from what I saw. I did not stay later as I was quite tired after three days traveling in slow trains and cramped minivans.
Speaking thai is definitely a big plus but I guess that it would be possible to fimnd so;e decent english6speaking boy.
More on my blog at : llz.blogspot.com
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