siam-storm FLIP

on by the girls to “Buy me this darling.” The customer would be
promised undying, everlasting love. At least until his money ran out.
The atmosphere of Soi 8 was indescribable. Young men, old men with
big beaming smiles sat at the bars playing bar games, Connect Four,
Jenga, Swallow the Sausage. There was the occasional crash of wood
heard as a foreigner lost at Jenga, and yet again had to ring the bell. An
occasional holiday couple walked past, with the husband’s head bent
down looking at the floor while his wife glared at him, ensuring that he
wasn’t peeking at the girls.
The lads positioned themselves at one of Nick’s regular bars. He said
hello to Wan, the mamasan, bar manager. He introduced Stu and Spock,
who could only manage a grunt as they tried to take in the never before
experienced sights and sounds. Wan gave instructions to two women,
who went to a large freezer and removed two small packages. They
went over to Stu and Spock, popped open a ‘pah-yen’, cold towel, and
proceeded to rub the ice-cold towel over Stu and Spock’s neck and
arms. The two lads cooed with satisfaction, as the heat was intense for
them, even at night. They weren’t prepared for Thailand’s heat, so the
pah-yen provided a welcome relief.
Three bottles of ice-cold beer were placed in front of them, along with a
small wooden pot containing their bill. They took a long slow mouthful
of their amber fluid, followed rapidly by several more. They bought
drinks for the two girls who had wiped them down and while Nick
spoke with the mamasan, the two lads made small talk with their newly
acquired companions. The women asked where they came from, how
long they planned to stay, and did they have ladies? They seemed to
show more interest when the two lads said they did not have ladies.
However, they became disappointed when the woman with Spock
asked,