Dances at Vimanmek
Hanoman, the white monkey from the Ramakien
Martial art demonstration
 
Full-out demonstration
Fine dancing at Vimanmek
Dancers at a halt in the back
Curious litle girl sitting next to me
 
The full dancing team
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The costumes and styles presented are varied, and the dancing done by women, men and young girls. It is not very elaboarate, but entertaining, as is the martial arts demonstration. All goes by quickly in half an hour, and gives a good overview although it doesn't compare with what I saw in Indonesia. It is time for me to head to the week-end market of Chatuchak in the north, where I'm supposed to meet Michel to explore this vast bazar where one can find anything. This time, taxi and metro are very fast so I wait a while before calling Michel to know what's keeping him. He is stuck in his car by traffic, in particular because of a heavy rain shower that just dropped. I start wandering in the market, in the plant section and then through the clothes shops. It is hot and humid, full of people, and I'm not looking for anything particular but find a few things to purchase. The place is quite tiresome because of the crowd, so I just go to see the sad domestic animals before escaping to the skytrain to catch my breath, and go home to rest. When I call Michel, he meets up with me as he's just arrived, more than two hours after schedule... that's Bangkok at its worst. He comes home after having made some good purchases while I managed to go for a late nap. It's Saturday night and we've planned to go to the infamous bars of PathPong, the red light district famous all over the world for the prostitution of all kinds that it hosts. Before that, we go have dinner in a charming restaurant not far: colonial style, green and spacious, excellent dishes, and nice decoration enhance my discovery of many local specialties. I'm delighted by this meal, one of the best in a long time, and I'm ready for the evening. All around the street of Path Pong, sellers of all sorts of junk target the foreigners who come to this night scene. Most of all, there are copies of luxury brands, and Michel shows me some shops, as well as famous bars, through the doors of which we can see women in bikinis dancing on the scene. People try to bring us in by showing menus with all sorts of fantasy names and prices listing what we can expect. Michel prefers to go further for a more quiet "sociological" experience. He takes me to a bar on the 2nd floor where we can get a drink and be harassed less, and where one is not made to feel he mus t leave after half an hour unless he has consumed the flesh on offer. Barely seated, a chubby naked girl sits next to Michel, and a young cute girl and fluorescent yellow bikini between us. He's explained to me how it works: they get a commission on our drinks, more on the ones we buy them, and expect at least a tip for their time if we don't take them for more. They have no wages contrarily to others who have been here longer and are more in charge of orders and managing everything. We see the manager - a Westerner whom Michel's girl tells us he's burnt out all his money to the point of needing this job to live in Bangkok. Michel talks a little to the girl on his left, who is shielding him from other more pushy girls: he will giver her a tip in return for a peaceful evening. The young one between us is getting bored and impatient - I think she's meant for Michel since I avoid everyone so as not to give them a lead. She tells him she likes me etc. as a girl (maybe a transvestite but I doubt so) comes facing me and tries to provoke me with gestures and by announcing a price for a blow job. She laughs at what she call my shyness, and provokes me even more, while another girl rubs leans against me on my right, completely dressed as she is a waitress. On the scene a few meters away are completely naked women, with their top tucked away to show their breast and their underwear tied around their thigh. They try to draw attention, by moving to the fast music and provocative but often grotesque games. As they leave the scene, they dress and then return shortly, in this place where there are far more women than customers. Michel has a good laugh and tells me anecdotes as well as explaining what is going on and who is who. The 20 year old next to me tries harder but is frustrated, and goes off to dance. There she is all naked and clumsy, younger than the more experienced and less stuck up ones. As they walk by, one can see how used up and tired they are - needless to say that everything is on sale around here but that it's a buyer's market given the abundance of offer. So people are sometimes tired, harassing, or even harsh and rude from running after dollars so much, especially at the end of the month to pay the rent. We stop after two beers and I manage to push off proposals from all over, while Michel has shown the efficiency of his calm and nice shield. I understand how some young expatriates and tourists lose their mind here as the pressure and temptation are so present, but I can't forget it's a meat market, be it behind the charming mask it tries to show. As it goes, the girl sulks when we leave her just a tip recommended by Michel whilst the others salute us - they have more experience to judge who will pay what and how much. We go out in the crowd of an evening at its climax, between girl bars, music bars for foreigners especially and all these street sellers with so much merchandise. Michel sees his usual tuk-tuk driver with whom the price is settled. We et back in five minutes and this wraps up a unique experience in the first row for the best and worst of Thailand.
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Bangkok 