PAT PONG....you make me love Thailand

In 1992, I was sent to undertake three months course at AIT (Asian Institue of Technology)....can't exactly remember the time, I believe it must be June or July. At that time, there was this political problem in Thailand...a struggle between Sucinda (PM) and Chamlong Sri Muang (opposition). Not much lecture was on...classes used to be cancelled because of traffic problem....lectures got stucked. AIT was about 40 miles north of Bangkok..

(2) For being hyper active, and feel bored in Campus, I invited MyFriends to have a tour to Bangkok....but none have good gut! So I made it solo. Take a bus and drop off at the Central Railway Station.....knowing no where to go...but with a cheap camera hangging on my neck...I asked a tut tut (tricyle) to send me to any famous tourist area.....sure it is the Pat Pong....what there...lots of handycraft...an elephant craft filled my head....love to have and brought back one....

(3) It was still early noon, the night stalls selling all those crafts had not been set up. They only begin their business at about 4.00 pm....so I just strolled along those Pat Pong Street...and...here come a bandit!!!!!!!

(4) A young seem nice man approach me...good afternoon sir,...yes you Malay...yes..ohhhooo, Malay vely good, vely good people....sir come see my bar, pointing at his Pink (your color dear) Panther Bar...trying and pulling my arm to join him...I refused....but he never gave up....doesn't matter where I go under that hot sun along Pat Pong...he continued to persuade....don't wolly, MyBar..vely good, good show...you come, you see, no good, no pay.....waaaaaa...that sound good...let just try...I walk in.....without thinking...and he was happy.....

(5) With a hand clap...a glass of soft drink served....the show begin...amazing, and I was alone..the show...oppp...not too much to the details....girls..girls...n ballons, girls shooting the ballons....with plastic straw darts......(the bullet I believe must be green beans)...not with their mouth (what in your mind?)....and I began feelig uncomfortable...the smell, the light, the....scene...wanna leave...probably 20 mins or so....asking for the bill...

(6) Why sir...why so early...stay..stay, more good show...Malay good, must help Thai...its OK...I need the bill...I could see a sign of frustration and anger...oppp...yes...this your bill 1000....well, that is only RM100.00 then..I placed 10 pieces of BT100.000 in the tray....

(7) No sir..this is not BT1000.00, it is U$1000.00....I'm in deep trouble now, that would amount to BT25,000.00 (RM2500.00). I don't have that much cash...only few BT100 and few RM50.00 notes...I begin to argue...and more seemn nice young men surrounding me...god, I'm sweating....they began to go and take out anything from my pocket....the money....my Credit Card, My Traveller Cheque Book....all out...all in cash were only about RM1,000.00...still short of RM1,500.00

(8) They forced me to cash my credit card. Took me to a Farmacy Store down stair...asking to cash at least another Bt 20,000.00....these guys had turned greedy...and rough...I followed their instruction, but fortunately....the Farmacy man refused to let me cash my credit card...I need a way out...I felt something cold over my back...a knife I believe....god should I landed this way, my mind wondering!

(9) Thanks to my military training mind, suddenly I said why not let me cash my Traveller Cheque at a hotel just accross the road, ....they seem to refused..they begin to argue among themselves...five of them...at that little opening I made a very quick move, just snashed my wallet, the Cheque Book, the Credit Card from one of them...and at great speed.....without giving a left-right look, dashed accross that traffic packed road and landed myself at the hotel lobby (can't remember the name)....but sincerely still wanting to cash my traveller cheque and pay them off...cleared my trouble..

(10) The hotel cashier calm me down, get my story right..and gave me a cool drink. They asked me to wait...a liitle moment later, two tourist came and again I have to repeat my story....and I keep wanting to cash my Traveller Cheque and pay them off....I wanna be free and safe.

(11) Nicely, the police explain that was not necessary....they will guide me back to the Bar, and collect the money that they had taken from me...and just pay what I believe was the right fee....well...RM1000.00 is BT 10,000.00...that is too much for a show that I don't like...so I asked the police is BT2000.00 good...that up to you they said..and it was settled that way....angrily I memorised the name and the location of this Pink Panther Bar....next time I'm gonna come back...

(12) I get the police to help me get a cap...and shook hand with them with each given...BT3000.00 as an appreciation....all thru' the journey I was silent...thinking...dear, I was just six months married and have not even have chance..to be with my wife (the day after the marriage she left for long study)....ohhh how if god was not with me...I would be not known where about was I...just like those other stories used to happen among foreign tourists at this notoriuos Pat Pong.....coned and killed...

(13) I have never visited Bangkok again since.....but I love the Thai massage at Wat Parakaew (?)....will meet them again probably...n the PINK (?) Panther Bar!