Thread: Bangkok Then And Now (1984-2011)

The second pic is the Montien Hotel on Surawongse. Not much changed here at all

1984



2011

Taken standing in Patpong 1. Looking at it now, he's in slightly the wrong location. You can see the Goldfingers sign minus the Singha Beer addition further down the soi. Soma dditional storeys have been added to one of the buildings. We think the tall building at the end of the soi is the same but has been refurbished.

1984



2011

Next we have Patpong 1 taken from the surawongse end. Again the large building on the left side we think is the same building which has been refurbished and reclad. In 1984 there were several airlines along here, KLM can be seen in the right forground and in later pics we will JAL and Saudi Airlines. I also remember coming to Thai Airways on Silom years ago.

1984



2011

Great pix.

Harold Stephens once bemoaned that why he first went to Bkk decades ago he took the usual photos of temples and Buddhas, (which are still there), but wishes that he'd simply turned around and taken pictures of the street life and ordinary buildings.

The next pic is taken on Silom on the corner of Soi Sala Daeng looking South. The building in the foreground hasn't changed much at all. Of course the big addition is the Sky Train on the right of the picture.

1984



2011

I have many many pictures like this, particularly in Phuket. Sadly my negatives are all in storage and I won't be able to access them until I return to the UK and take possession of my house.....

Grumpy Bill has been working through these pics and has many many more to go......

Originally Posted by Bobcock

The first picture is a legendary building.... Kanit House, home to Charles Sobhraj. It has now been demolished. We know he lived on the top floor and had two adjacent apartments.

That psycho married a 20 year old Nepalese girl a few years ago. I am waiting to read that he escaped from prison again.

Nice thread Bob and I have a lot of memories of Bangkok then and now especially where I lived around the Onnut/ Pravait area. It went from a huge quite rice paddy into a overcrowded mess.

I especially remember being on the corner of Asoke and Sukhumvit at about 3 in the morning, the Seafood market on the corner with the big Neon sign.

How that area has changed.

Originally Posted by chitown

That psycho married a 20 year old Nepalese girl a few years ago. I am waiting to read that he escaped from prison again.

[sarcasm]he's great isn't he, one of the worlds great characters....[/sarcasm]

He definately looks like he could be DJ Pat's father....

Originally Posted by Bobcock

Originally Posted by chitown

That psycho married a 20 year old Nepalese girl a few years ago. I am waiting to read that he escaped from prison again.

[sarcasm]he's great isn't he, one of the worlds great characters....[/sarcasm]

He definately looks like he could be DJ Pat's father....

I could see that - Charles spinning a few records with his long lost son

From the same location. Note the second building on the left was being constructed at the time. Good view of the shitty old taxis of the day. Few and far between I never ever used one. In those days tuk tuk drivers were considered more trustworthy.

1984



2011

Interesting pictures, especially since I spent a fair amount of time in Patpong between 1984-86. I didn't see myself in any the the shots, so I guess I am safe at the moment.
Seriously, I did take some pics of my trips during that time and if I can find them, I will post a few.

Originally Posted by Bobcock

Taken standing in Patpong 1. Looking at it now, he's in slightly the wrong location. You can see the Goldfingers sign minus the Singha Beer addition further down the soi. Soma dditional storeys have been added to one of the buildings. We think the tall building at the end of the soi is the same but has been refurbished.

1984



2011

It was only last night that I was sat at a table and we were trying to figure out when the United Center (Building in the background) went up. The furthest back anyone at the table could remember was 1992 and they said it was there then.

So it must have gone up between 1984 and 1992.

^ Funny how the Bond movie theme still persists, Pussy Galore in '84 and Gold Finger's in the latter.

Sadly Patpong is dying and seems to be a mere shell of what it was just 6 years ago, when I first came here. Many of the bars have closed, the girls in those that are still open now wear full bikini tops and bottoms while dancing and the numbers of white male foreigners have gone down to a fraction of what it was.
Then there's the mentality which says we have fewer customers so we need to thoroughly rip off those few we still have.

Originally Posted by Bobcock

The first pictures are taken in 1984. Last weekend he went out and tried to take a picture from the same spot.

I have a book that does just that. (currently forget the name, it might be something as obvious as Bangokok then and now.

Love the concept.

Originally Posted by Bobcock

I have many many pictures like this, particularly in Phuket. Sadly my negatives are all in storage and I won't be able to access them until I return to the UK and take possession of my house.....

Please do.

Originally Posted by Bobcock

Last one for a while, Bill will work on these whilst I am away and I'll add more when I return.

Tell Bill thanks!

Originally Posted by BobR

Sadly Patpong is dying and seems to be a mere shell of what it was just 6 years ago, when I first came here. Many of the bars have closed, the girls in those that are still open now wear full bikini tops and bottoms while dancing and the numbers of white male foreigners have gone down to a fraction of what it was.

Why is that sad ? Is that all Bangkok is to you ?

Originally Posted by Bobcock

This one needs no 'now'. It would be impossible to stand where this was taken.

Take one standing slightly back from that location, (or one from the skytrain station overlooking it. Still worth the pic imho.

Originally Posted by BobR

Sadly Patpong is dying and seems to be a mere shell of what it was just 6 years ago...

You gotta go back further than that like to when the Mississippi Queen closed down.

The Vibe in Patpong changed around that time...

I love these kinds of pictures. More please!

Thanks Grumpy Bill, for the photo`s, and Thanks Bobcock for taking the time, and anyone else who contributes. Looking forward to more.

I've arrived in Wales.... Had an email from Bill already telling me he is working on more..... Probably have more ready when I return on the 10th.

Btw Saw the Burg Khalifa in Dubai earlier, just a short while after take-off, it is fucking incredible. I've seen many of the worlds tallest buildings, but that was breathtaking even from a distance.

Nice pics Bob, apart from Sobrhaj

He's a fukkin serial killer,I hope he rots in hell.

I never understood the fascination with scum. If it was your family would you buy the books ?

But he lives on through Pat's music, so i hear