Brief Encounter,

According to some of the dancers at Dream Boys, about 3-4 weeks ago, the police raided Future Boys during one of their sex shows. (How they could EVER get past all of the touts is beyond me....) So, since that raid, the shows have calmed down quite a bit. But, this is cyclical. It happens all the time. The bold shows will be off for awhile...the owners will then pay the police what they are demanding...and everything will go back to normal.

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"Normal" changes over time too. Things may arrive at a new modus vivendi, but it may not be quite like the old.

The above few posts together seem to be revealing what is really happening. Right in the middle of the low season, the police decide they need to increase their cut of the business. They raid and threaten to continue raiding until owners pay up the new "tax". To balance the budget, bar owners raise the off fee and cut back on show costs.

A new modus vivendi will indeed be arrived at in time, but it will be different in some way from the old. Costs will be higher and the reputation for show-reliability damaged.

By "reliability", I mean the certainty in visitors' minds as to whether, when they come to Bangkok, they'd get the kind of "interesting" shows they are looking forward to. A visitor who has only a few days in Bangkok will be greatly disappointed if he does not get any show, and this disappointment will factor into his decision whether to make a next trip or go somewhere else.

Both cost-wise and reliability-wise, there will be a tipping point. Perhaps 500 baht as the off fee is something people will get used to. Perhaps 600. But common sense tells us, it cannot be going up 100 baht every year without there being some long-term repercussions. There will be a tipping point somewhere though you won't know until you've hit it.

Same with the reliability reputation. How much damage can it take without long term effects?

The greed of the police may well be slowly killing the business.

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Greed is what makes this game go 'round. People want the police to look the other way when it comes to what are clearly 100% illegal activities -- but expect them to do it on the cheap. Vice always comes at a cost -- and that cost is rarely cheap. Enjoy it now, at whatever price, because one day it will no longer be there.

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During this time Jupiter and X have had "reveal all"shows,though not special shows.

One wonders if the police excuse isn't just being trotted out by staff.I simply don't know but I think some businesses like to experiment with meaness,oops,rational economics a lot.And that new sign outside about amalgamations of shows would have to be organised a little ahead of the current situation.The anxiety about small crowds was palpable the week before the crackdown.

keeping an open mind.

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I have only just read the bar review that casino 100 posted on 30 May and was surprised to read that the mamasan Lek (he of the outsize jacket!) was said to have left. I too thought him a very nice man, and on my previous visits to Bangkok found Solid one of the happiest places to go for a drink and company.

During my last visit in the first 3 weeks of May I spent only a day or two in Bangkok, but I made a point of popping in to Solid to say hello to him. I saw immediately there were only 5 or 6 boys there, and when Lek came up to me I told him I'd called in specially to see him and have a drink with him. Though smiling in welcome, he was very subdued and looked pale. Eventually he told me he had had a heart attack, nearly died, that now he was back, but 'live with medicine'. I did not ask too many questions, but I'd be inclined to think that the decline of Solid was linked to his illness. The few boys did a bit of energetic dancing for me, but I was not looking to take anyone off, and kept the smiles on their faces with tips all round.

When I left, Lek became quite emotional when thanking me for coming to see him and saying goodbye.

So, I am looking for news. Casino100 posted on 30 May, about 10 days after my visit; but he may have been reporting about a much earlier date - that is before I revisited Solid. Perhaps Lek went back to work after casino's visit. Or perhaps...

Does anyone on the spot have any news about the nicest mamasan I have ever come across?

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I'm hopeless at names...but have visited Solid (and its predecor which used to be opposite Tawan Bar) for many years. The very skinny mama-san (he of the oversized jacket who I first met at the previous bar) was indeed very ill and disappeared for a few months last year. He's still there, but the other very nice mamasan (slightly moon faced and always smiling ) has returned to his home in the south of Thailand (I think he was called Lek?)
I was there about 10 days ago and offed quite a tall and well built boy - not a typical Solid twink. He was very sweet and Solid will remain a favourite as long as can rasie a smile!!

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-- Y'day., (sat.), evening - after a supper in DICK'S. CAFE., (LESS than a dozen of us in there at around 21hrs.), I spoke with my young friend Khun Man of FRESH BEACH BOYS, who confirmed that his a go-go bar was not having any f*cking shows for the present; I didn't ask him for the reason why not.
-- Bibi.. --

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Papillon: Regarding Lek of Solid Bar.
I just saw your message. I was in the Solid Bar on May 14 or 15. That was when I was told that Lek had returned to his home.
So hope that helps with the mystery.

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I attended the 10.30 show at Dream Boys last night. Although the crowd was quite sparse (no more than 35 of us at show time), they did a one-hour show. There was no fucking show at all, but the big cock show was done naked. They had 14 lads who displayed their goods. Also, a bunch of katoeys did a modeling stint which concluded with all of them naked...and hard.

Drinks cost THB 250 each...and there are signs to that affect posted everywhere.

Elsewhere, I tried the new bar called Siam Angel Boys. One time in there will be enough for me. There were only 2 of us customers and approximately 20 lads. Tattos everywhere seemed to be the order of the day. And, the place was quite loud. However, my orange juice (fresh squeezed at that) was only THB 200.

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