The weird and crazy world of Thailand is tilted even more by Christmas, yes, that western Judeo-Christian “celebration”.
I thought I’d escape that mass marketer’s dream but the season with all the trimmings can be found throughout Southeast Asia.
I was disabused of the notion that I could live in blissful ignorance of the season that’s so in your face in the west from October to January when I lived here in the City of Angels in 2008-09.
Sorry, but I have had enough. However, I’m standing knee deep in the Red Green Season in most un-Christmas-like temperatures hovering in the low 30s -- that's Celsius. I couldn’t resist that crack at you who are knee deep in snow.
Below are a few photographic examples of Christmas themes in Bangkok and Pattaya, but with a Thai twist.
PICTURE DESCRIPTIONS:
Top: Already 20% discount on ladies' Christmas caps and ladies sexy seasonal wear at this shop near my apartment. Of course, you will see these clothing items mostly adorning bar girls all over town. My home which is located off Ratchadapisek Road, is in one of several areas noteworthy for having a lot of cheap apartments occupied by the many bar girls in the city.
The "next month" being November, the beginning of the high season. Since the sign is in the men's/women's/bar girls' toilet, you can't say you were not warned. Of course, this just adds to the continuing theme of rising prices in Thailand.
This sign along the MRT subway exit corridor at Pahon Yothin gave me a bit of a shiver, seeing a snowman, Thai style. But it would soon be warm as I walked toward the escalator, which leads up into the 33+ C day in Bangkok.
A bakery shop on South Pattaya Road in Pattaya goes all Red Green in its attempt to catch the eye of passing foreigners.
The students are out of school for the season now and ready to party, filling the entry stairs to the Londoner last Wednesday night. It was 2-for-1 night. Concidence? (Poor iPhone photo -- again! Hoping to get iPhone 4 next month!)
The Cosmos bar in Patpong 2 was swinging on a Friday night, namely Christmas Eve. One of its pleasant oddities is the lip-synch karaoke style musical entertainment that will break out at any moment. Done by bar staff. Thai-owned and run (easy-going owner is there every night and a real gentleman) is an old style bar with small square bar, surrounded by banquettes each holding about four foreigners or six to eight Thai girls. Love the place.
Also love the coyote dance bar Mojo's on soi 33 Sukhumvit. It's not to some people's taste, but the dancing to OK to very good live bands and CD music is well choreographed and adds lots of visual stimulation to the evening. Kind of pricey too but hey, the dancers can dance and are hot on and off stage.
Went to all of these venues on Christmas week. Kind of beats the cold plunge into the car and road rage drive to Yorkdale Mall and the seasonal shopping frenzy.
