I walked up front with Chris, who was giving me the "low down" on the Soi Cowboy etiquette (if there is such a thing) with Andy, Neil & Rich behind us. The streets seemed easier to negotiate now, but i put that down to the gradual dulling of Singha beer as the traffic hadnt really dissapated that much. We walked for about 5 or so minutes & Glory Be we arrived at the bottom (or top depending on which way you tackle it) of Soi Cowboy.
Soi Cowboy is a vibrant, pulsating, hubbub. There were more people in this one street than i had seen put together since we left the "Sports" bar. All at once all & sundry were vying for our attention trying to get us in one bar or another. All the bars on the street have a curtain rather than a doorway & all will welcome you in, the curtain is a nice touch, it promises privacy yet a touch of the unknown. There were ladies on the street trying their best to outdo their neighbours from the next bar & entice us into their place but my guide knew where we were going. We went into "Long Gun" & all of a sudden my eyes opened wide.
The place was alive, buzzing & clearly a good stop for weary travellers such as myself. Inside was heady mix of rock music, dancing ladies, alcohol & punters. I had never seen anything like it! We sat down & within moments i was talking to 2 ladies who worked there, we had a drink together & enjoyed the show. The lady on the stage was smoking 2 cigarettes at once, but not out of her mouth, when i saw this my jaw dropped big time & Chris and Rich spotted this. "The look on your face" they both said. It wasnt the fact as where she was smoking the fags from but the fact i wasnt allowed to smoke in the bar myself! The act continued with some "banana launching/catching" & then culminated in balloons being passed around & "popped" with great precision by the girl on stage firing projectiles into the crowd. After that, and to top it all, most of the girls there all got on stage & danced to "All my life" by the Foo Fighters, one of my favourite songs. Phew, that was enough for me by now so i retired to my hotel with "Cowgirl" to take a break.
Upon arrival at the Furama the concierge gave me a smile & opened the taxi door. When inside my room "Cowgirl2 decided to raid my mini bar & i was down by one bottle of beer & a pack of roasted cashew nuts. About 1 hour later i dropped "Cowgirl" off to meet her friends & returned to Soi Cowboy.
I couldnt find the lads at first so took a breather & went to the "Ship Inn" for a quiet drink. Whilst i was there i heard a tremendous, tumultuous racket. This turned out to be a blind lady walking down the street with a karaoke machine strapped to her body whilst a man with no legs crawled after her. The money i gave them is insignificant to us westerners but hopefully put food on their table for a week or so. We really dont know how lucky we are.
Anyway, i made one last attempt to find the lads and struck lucky in "Country Roads". They were all there large as life & my return met with cheers of adulation. I'd found them & was delighted as id have gone home if i hadnt have found them. Andy suggested i sing in the bar but i wasnt really up for it, however, he sang "Delilah" & i wasnt prepared to leave the challenge there. I got up there and did the old classic "Mustang Sally" but this time with a live band behind me (i've sung it loads but only on karaoke) & i was (if i say it myself) brilliant. I got off the stage to a massive round of applause and much recognition, especially from John & Dennis two american chaps. I was buzzing & when the man at the end of the bar pointed to a large sweet jar containing money i thought i must have won some sort of talent contest.
Man points to jar
Me - "Is that for me?"
Man nods head
Me - "Is that for me are you sure?"
Man nods head
Me "Really, is that for me?"
Man nods head and points to jar.
Me "Really, all that money for me?"
Man nods head.
Hell, i took all the money (except coins) from the jar & went back to the lads, what with me winning the (or so i thought) talent contest. About 30 seconds later i got a tap on the shoulder from a guy saying i had taken the bands "tip" jar. Luckily he saw the funny side & i returned the tips, how was i to know i thought i'd won something!
Anyway, that seemed a lucky escape so i thought id go outside for a cigarette, where i met "Op" a very nice lady who arranged a street BBQ for us consisiting of chicken, liver & something else no one dare touch (lord knows what it was). Whilst i was getting to know Op the lads made their way home (saying they would meet me at 4pm at my hotel the next day, very important this) & so i was left on my own. I was worried, my first day in Bangkok & i was left to fend for myself. Thankfully Op was not only great at BBQs she also had excellent navigational skills & made sure i got home OK, very nice of her i thought. We arrived at the hotel at about 4am, same concierge, bigger smile!
Anyway, taking into account "Cowgirl" if i was a cat i'd be dead. Could i rustle enough strength to carry on into the next day? The lads will expect it, but then again the days events had tired me out. Forget it im, out again tonight, testing the delights of Patpong!
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