My Story

**Clockwork Orange** · 25-10-2007, 07:00 PM

I arrived at Charles De Gaul airport on the train, just before midnight.

As I wandered around the airport, there were television screens showing Paris in flames - something to do with employment law riots. I decided to forget about getting a hotel & get on a plane out of there.

I had no idea where to go, so I studied the departure screens, looking for a suitably exotic destination. I had the money & freedom to go anywhere in the world & decided on Bangkok.

Within the hour I was in the air on a very nice Air France flight, which cost me 1200 Euros for a three-week return. I had never been on a plane so long in my life & was glad when we finally touched down almost fourteen hours later.

Coming out of Don Muang airport I called a friend with some experience of Thailand. “I’m in Bangkok, where should I go?” I asked.

“Get in a taxi right outside the door & ask them to take you to Pattaya. Don’t go into Bangkok - everything’s twice the price & it’s like London. Find a place called the Sabai Inn on Soi 2 & call me when you’re there” he replied.

With that in mind I changed just £80 at the money exchange, figuring it was a good idea not to have too much Baht, as that way I couldn’t lose or be scammed out of too much & asked a taxi to take me into Bangkok. I hadn’t come halfway across the world not to have a butchers at this famous city.

I had no idea where I was going & was enjoying taking in the sights of this brand-new city, amused by the driver’s limited English vocabulary “You want lady? Lady? Ha ha! Lady!” or something like that, when we pulled up at the Bangkok Condotel.

**Clockwork Orange** · 25-10-2007, 07:20 PM

Mr Prapan, the taxi driver, was all smiles as he led me into the reception area. Here, an older lady - also grinning - walked me to the reception desk & we went through the motions of checking in. I believe I paid 1200 Baht for the one night, which I think included a small deposit.

As the older lady showed me to my room, she asked if I would like some company, or words to that effect. I did, so gave her the 2000 Baht she asked for & jumped in the shower, awaiting the arrival of whatever was coming up soon, as the older lady had put it.

To cut a long story short, a nice-enough girl came to my room, we did the business & it was amongst the best drug-free sex I have ever had.

After getting rid of her (no easy task, as I had assumed the 2000 Baht went to the girl & thought she was taking the piss asking for more money, when, on reflection, she was actually asking for a tip) I left the hotel & jumped straight into a tuk-tuk, asking the driver to take me where the action was.

The journey was great, an experience in itself & one of my fondest memories of Thailand is taking in the sights in the back of what is basically a three-wheeled moped with a maniac at the wheel.

We eventually stopped at a place called the Embassy Club.

**Clockwork Orange** · 25-10-2007, 07:55 PM

I offered the driver some money, but he indicated he would wait for me outside. I tried to push some money onto him but he wouldn't have any of it so I walked up to the door of the club, where some bloke in a shirt & tie gestured for me to walk with him.

I had no idea where I was, but gathered from the assortment of girls behing the giant glass wall wearing numbers that it was a knocking shop. It was very tastefully done out & I sat in a cresent-shaped booth facing the ladies & ordered a Coke (I had earlier decided getting pissed wasn't a good idea).

After five or ten minutes of trying not to gorp at the women the bloke in the tie came up & asked me which lady I had chosen. I hadn't chosen any. I was feeling a little stupid, truth be told, as I had wanted to visit a club or pub in the first place. I asked him how much & he told me 3000 Baht.

This was my cue to leave. I only had about that much in my pocket. I tried to explain I was too tired to take a girl & that I wanted to pay for the Coke. He wasn't having any of it, but eventually he grumbled "40 Baht" & I paid then left.

The driver was still outside & this time I explained, gesturing a drinking motion, that I wanted to go to a club.

We set off again & while I still had no idea where I was going, we came across an outside area full of foreigners drinking & I asked him to stop. At least I could see people having a drink & that was really all I wanted to do.

I had no idea at this point I was outside Nana Plaza.

**in4zip** · 25-10-2007, 07:57 PM

Orange, on TD always make short stories long, never the other way round
melius abundare, quam deficere whatever the fok that means

**stroller** · 25-10-2007, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by Clockwork Orange

At least I could see people having a drink & that was really all I wanted to do.

Sure.
Where are the pics?

**Propagator** · 25-10-2007, 08:11 PM

Wheres the pictures?

oops stroller beat me to it

**Clockwork Orange** · 25-10-2007, 08:18 PM

This is where I made my first of many mistakes.

I like a bit of a smoke & asked the driver if he could get me any. The language barrier took a bit of breaking down but we got there in the end. He wanted me to go with him to get some, but being wary of my friend's warning that Bangkok can be like London I suggested he go & get it then bring it back to me. He seemed unhappy but agreed to meet me at one of the bars outside Nana.

I forget the name of the bar but ordered a Coke & sat on a stool near the road, waiting for my delivery. Half an hour went by, in which I was a little shocked by the young kids mooching up & down peddling chewing gum & such.

This being my first night in Thailand I didn't know where to buy Rizla papers, so showed one of the kids my almost-empty packet & he snatched them out of my hand, returning moments later with a fresh packet. I gave him 100 Baht for them & he seemed happy enough.

The tuk-tuks going passed all looked the same to me & I had forgot what the driver looked like by the time he came back. He beeped his horn & waved me over & I guessed that was him. As I got in he set off round the corner & asked for 1000 Baht. I asked him to show me the shit. He asked for 1000 Baht. I asked him to show me the shit. It was stalemate.

This went on for a while until eventualy he passed me two cigs, screwed shut at the end. I opened the cigs & could only see tobacco. Aware I was being scammed I got out of the tuk & asked him, once again, to show me the shit. He drove off, shouting something I couldn't understand & I head back to the bar I had just left.

Looking back, things could have turned out so differently.

**chinthee** · 25-10-2007, 08:21 PM

^ Good story so far RL. Keep it up.

**November Rain** · 25-10-2007, 08:23 PM

Well, I like the narrative, CO. Always preferred my books without pictures. Maybe something to do with being able to read & having an imagination??

**Clockwork Orange** · 25-10-2007, 08:24 PM

I'm trying to do the pics now but my CD tray won't open. I can't even force it open with a knife. Anyone know why that would be?

**chinthee** · 25-10-2007, 08:25 PM

Open a paper clip, there is a small hole you can push the clip end in and open it easily. don't force it.

**Clockwork Orange** · 25-10-2007, 08:28 PM

^

Cheers

Imageshack's playing up now. I'll get back to this later.

**jizzybloke** · 25-10-2007, 08:43 PM

The start sounds promising, CO don't take this the wrong way but you seem like one of those blokes that could get into trouble in an empty room

**kayo** · 25-10-2007, 08:45 PM

good reading co.

**Jet Gorgon** · 26-10-2007, 11:18 AM

Good story.

**tiswas** · 26-10-2007, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by Clockwork Orange

This is where I made my first of many mistakes.

I like a bit of a smoke & asked the driver if he could get me any. The language barrier took a bit of breaking down but we got there in the end. He wanted me to go with him to get some, but being wary of my friend's warning that Bangkok can be like London I suggested he go & get it then bring it back to me. He seemed unhappy but agreed to meet me at one of the bars outside Nana.

I forget the name of the bar but ordered a Coke & sat on a stool near the road, waiting for my delivery. Half an hour went by, in which I was a little shocked by the young kids mooching up & down peddling chewing gum & such.

This being my first night in Thailand I didn't know where to buy Rizla papers, so showed one of the kids my almost-empty packet & he snatched them out of my hand, returning moments later with a fresh packet. I gave him 100 Baht for them & he seemed happy enough.

The tuk-tuks going passed all looked the same to me & I had forgot what the driver looked like by the time he came back. He beeped his horn & waved me over & I guessed that was him. As I got in he set off round the corner & asked for 1000 Baht. I asked him to show me the shit. He asked for 1000 Baht. I asked him to show me the shit. It was stalemate.

This went on for a while until eventualy he passed me two cigs, screwed shut at the end. I opened the cigs & could only see tobacco. Aware I was being scammed I got out of the tuk & asked him, once again, to show me the shit. He drove off, shouting something I couldn't understand & I head back to the bar I had just left.

Looking back, things could have turned out so differently.

I'm surprised he just pissed off without any cash. These maniacs are the most expensive thing in BKK even on short rides.

Good story so far BTW

Let's hear more.

**sabang** · 26-10-2007, 02:29 PM

It's funny how one ones first travelling experiences really, looking back in it, seem a series of blunders. You don't even know how little you know until much later. That was my story anyway- yet it all seems to turn out OK in the end.

Next chapter, please.

**Clockwork Orange** · 26-10-2007, 04:12 PM

I sat in the bar watching people go by. It was sweltering, despite the late hour. The sights & sounds that are familiar to us now were then, to me, a complete surprise. The beggars, the heat, the mix of farangs, insect vendors, hawkers, hookers, food carts & an air of caution everywhere.

Before long I was in Nana Plaza. I had never heard of it, but it looked like my kind of place.

**Clockwork Orange** · 26-10-2007, 04:28 PM

**Clockwork Orange** · 26-10-2007, 04:29 PM

**Clockwork Orange** · 26-10-2007, 04:33 PM

**stroller** · 26-10-2007, 04:42 PM

So, did you manage to have a quiet beer and get back to the hotel before midnight?

**Clockwork Orange** · 26-10-2007, 05:14 PM

I had a wander around, avoiding the doorstaff pulling curtains aside, trying to tempt you into their place. I was green & they could tell simply by looking at me - I must have been the only farang for fifty miles wearing a coat (I had my travellers cheques in a special pocket & wasn't going to leave them at the hotel - cut the trip real short if I lost every penny I had).

Eventually I find myself in a gogo & before I know it I'm sat with a couple of hot chicks, being expertly relieved of about 400 Baht a round (I'm on Coke) while I take a ganders at the girls on the stage, about fifteen altogether, doing that shuffling thing that they do, none of them even topless. I declined all offers of a short-time as I knew my cash wouldn't stretch to it, but didn't let on I hardly had any money.

In no time I was down to my last 200 Baht it & was time to go back to the hotel.

Panic set in when, as I showed the hotel's card to the mototaxi lads with my 200 Baht, they started laughing & just went back to what they were doing, which wasn't very much from what I could see. I didn't have enough money to get back to the hotel. How was I to know what the going rate was? I hadn't even paid for the one that brought me here.

I tried a few different people & after fifteen minutes of flapping around I found a mototaxi who would take me. The ride back was quite a trip. It seemed I had travelled a long way while I had been pre-occupied taking in the sights earlier. It's easy to get lost in Bangkok. I have no idea if he was milking it or whether he really was doing me a favour by taking me so far.

Back at the hotel I turned my attention back to getting something to smoke & changed £20 into Baht at reception. It was late & I didn't care about the dirty look I was getting from the guy behind the desk.

2am I left the hotel & hit the pavement, looking to buy some drugs.

**DrAndy** · 26-10-2007, 05:22 PM

gosh Richard, when did all this happen?

have you bought a better camera, those pics make me dizzy?

**Clockwork Orange** · 26-10-2007, 05:37 PM

^

This is a trip report. A tale of a newbie in Thaland. The camera shots get a lot better.

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