MBK Shopping Mall in Bangkok, Thailand

มาบุญครอ / MAH BOONKRUNG (MBK) / BANGKOK'S SHOPPING UTOPIA

Muslim Prayer Rooms
FIRST IMPRESSIONS ALWAYS MEAN SO MUCH. Looking back on it now, my first trip to MBK in Bangkok back at the end of 1992 was a turning point in my life, and was a key step on the road which led me to become an Asian citizen. It was late 1992, and I was en route to Egypt and Israel and the Middle East with my man Garnet Mae, and we had a couple of days to kill in Bangkok, awaiting our Turkish Airlines flight. Arriving in the dead of night at Bangkok's old international airport, we decided to head in to the famous (infamous) Khao San Road guesthouse area. With a mad Englishman and Irishman to split the taxi ride. It was my first night in Asia, and everything about the place crazed/amazed me. The traffic, the way the taxi driver raced down the road as if he were on a deathwish, and we didn't even have functional seatbelts to wear! The traffic, whole families hanging out of the back of pick up trucks (they may well have been SpaceCabs, or maybe it was too early for the SpaceCab revolution?) Tonnes of families on the streets, and it was nearly midnight (us kids would have been back home in bed at the same time.) Gridlock in the middle of the night downtown, and what made the ride even more surreal, was that the taxi was an exact replica of my Mum and Dad's own car, a blue Holden Commodore (I guess both were German Golf rip-offs.) But my Dad never gunned it down crowded highways, the way that Thai taxi driver did. I hung on to the roof strap for dear life, as we thundered past ever more shabby and colorful districts, the streets swinging with lights. Trees groaning with lights, and above that, on the facades of buildings, bright neon lights advertising Japanese and American companies. We were all convinced that the taxi driver was going to try to rip us off. When he finally pulled up on the kerb and said we had arrived at Khao San Road, none of us believed him. When I got out of the car, I was stunned to see a common criminal being led down the street, shirtless and wearing handcuffs, by the Thai police. And I thought to myself: What kind of country is this? Little did I know at the time, that at the head of Khao San Road lies a massive local police station. Anyway, having spent nearly 8 years in Asia now, guys in handcuffs don't phase me any longer. I have even worn them myself, on the odd occasion, and played the role of the scary criminal, on the great stage of life. I have loosened up, and Khao San Road no longer scares me. But does it still interest me? That is the great question, as I await my next visit there, in August 2008.

Bangkok's legendary Mah Boon Krong (MBK) has two food courts: Fifth Food Avenue on the fifth floor, and the more frenetic MBK Food Centre on the sixth. One of the most popular shopping malls among locals and tourists, MBK's food halls are geared to keep these hungry shoppers energized at any time of the day or night... Fuji: Siam Paragon; other outlets in Central World, MBK Centre, Silom Complex and The Emporium.
Why is it that the best Bangkok food blogs are written by Malaysians? I guess it is because Thai's don't usually write their blogs in English for me to read, and Malaysia is so close to Bangkok, just down the peninsula. Here is one kicking Malaysian food blog I found tonight, about a Japanese restaurant in MBK, Bangkok, Thailand -- Ipoh Mali Talak Sombong. Ipohwav writes: "It's not that I don't like Japanese food but more often, I found that the pricing here in KL are exorbitant. I seldom patronise sushi chains eventhough I have yet to try out Genki and Sakae because I see them as some expensive fast food joints. Japanese buffet doesn't work for me too as I feel it lack the sense of authenticity. So, to cut it short, I haven't been to Jogoya, Fukuya, Kampachi, Yo! Sushi, Shogun, Umai-ya, Ninja Jones and so on...
"So hard please hor? Then where does my second post came from?
"Fuji.
"No no, stop flipping the Yellow Pages, you won't find it there. I came across this popular Japanese food joint in Bangkok last month on my second night in Siam Paragon. This was my third Bangkok trip and this time, we spent less time on the streets and explored the eateries in the malls instead. This particular outlet was 100% occupied when we arrived and we had to waited about 20 minutes to get a table while perusing the menu.
"If I could, I would have just keep one set of their menu and bring it back. It's so attractive! Every item were arranged nicely with gorgeous pictures (first reason to make you salivate), details and pricing. We had a hard time deciding on what to order, seriously (even with the extra 20 minutes waiting time + 'deciding time' was not enough). We finally settled for Alaska Salmon Roll (190 Baht). Very fresh and everything were rolled up nicely, plus no clumpy gohan.
"The Gyoza Ramen Set (150 Baht) doesn't look appetising (my fault) but it's good actually. The soup was very flavourful and ramen were cooked al dente. The gyozas were also nicely pan fried, with not so thick wrapping skin so you can still get the crispy sensation and juicy pork filling.
"Fuji Japanese Restaurant Same level as the food court with big aquariums Business hour: Mon - Fri: 10.30am - 10.00pm, Sat - Sun: 10.00am - 10.00pm Website: http://www.fuji.co.th/wwwfuji/ (Outlets also located in )."

Just Cook It writes: "Here you can sample sushi, Indian food, Greek grilled meats, Middle Eastern kebabs and, of course, Thai cuisine. Of the two floors the lower one is a slightly more formal and expensive affair where food and drink is paid for on a swipe card and the balance settled on exit.
"We picked two curries and watched them being made in the open kitchen, one of six each with a team of chefs sweating over woks, burners, ovens, rotisseries and pans. Our steaming food was presented to us and we were shown to a selection of condiments with which to flavour our lunch as we saw fit. Thai cuisine is about balancing acidity, saltiness, sweetness and heat and virtually everywhere you eat you see this philosophy borne out in the same way: four containers holding white vinegar (with chilli), fish sauce (with chilli) sugar (without chilli) and, yup, chilli.
"I spooned some of each into a dedicated sauce tray and we took a seat close to the bar, for obvious reasons. Despite my affinity for street food and desire to embrace the culture of wherever I happen to be as wholeheartedly as possible, there was a real element of luxury in eating sat at a table in an air-conditioned shopping centre as opposed to huddled on a pavement with the heat and dirt from a thousand cars enveloping your being. And the food here was good. It was fresh, tasty, as spicy as you want it to be and wonderfully satisfying, especially when washed down with an icy cool Singha. Perfect fuel for exploring the shops, of which there were hundreds..."
Sizzler: .
Sukishi: 7th floor, MBK Center (Zone Bowling.) Phone: (66-2) 216 3569.
Japanese cuisine.
As the name suggests, this is a fusion of sushi and suki hot plate Japanese food. Some of the dishes on offer include prawn steak, asparagus batayaki, California maki (California roll) and salmon sashimi. Wrote Rukiko in her diary after she dined here: "สำหรับวันนี้ว่าด้วยเรื่องของวันหยุด
"วันหยุด โดยปกติเราจะทำอะไรกันบ้าง
"1. รับประทานอาหารนอกบ้าน
"2. จับจ่ายใช้สอยสินค้าประเภทต่างๆ
"3. รับชมภาพยนตร์
"4. เที่ยวตามสถานที่ต่างๆ
"5. อยู่บ้านเฉยๆ
"6. นอน Zzzzzzz
"แต่ในบางครั้ง ในวันหยุด เราก็อาจจะมีกิจกรรมที่ไม่คาดคิดได้ อย่างเช่น การไปงานบวช งานแต่งงาน เป็นต้น
"ในวันนี้ก็เช่นกัน เราได้รับเชิญไปงานบวชของน้องคนนึง เมื่อวานก็ได้จัดแจงโทรไปสอบเส้นทางการเดินรถเป็นที่เรียบร้อย โดยตกลงกันว่าเราจะต้องตื่นตั้งแต่ 6 โมง และพร้อมในเวลา 6.50 น..."

Stickman says: "There are many food halls located in shopping centres all over Bangkok. Meals in food halls usually range from about 25 - 60 baht with most meals around 30 - 40 baht. I've never figured out why, but the dishes served in food halls never seem to be quite as tasty as those served at vendors based outside, on the street. Maybe it is just that with the outside vendors, you get a free dose of pollution with your meal?"

Also from Stickman (and this rule applies at the MBK Food Court, where it is illegal to buy an alcoholic drink between the hours of 2pm and 5pm): "In 2005 legislation was passed which made the sale of alcohol in supermarkets, minimarts and the like prohibited between 2 and 5 PM, unless you buy 10 litres or more! Yes, this was all rather unusual, and you will see signs in most convenience stores and supermarkets stating clearly that they cannot sell alcohol between the hours of 2 - 5 PM."

"Luckily over the years in the West Banglamphu area (between Khao San Road and the Chao Phraya) a lot of previously private houses opened their doors to guests. But now, as with Khao San Road in the past, the money-driven boom continues there as well. Construction in the last couple of years has left us with Mango Lagoon Place, Rambuttri Village Inn, Lamphu Place to name a few.
"As the western area has boomed so has Khao San itself. D&D reinvented itself, Buddy went seriously upmarket, and a whole host of fairly featureless "backpacker factories" appeared on the scenes -- Budget Guesthouse, Kawin, Mom's, Siam Oriental and all the Sawasdee hotels (many of which were older hotels which Sawasdee bought out and rebranded). And still the backpackers come.
"As the guesthouses changed so did the food and shopping -- McDonalds, Burger King, Starbucks, Boots, 7-eleven, Asia Books, Coffee World sprung up like mushrooms in the wet season. The number of streetside bars exploded, today converted VW buses provide mobile drinking spots stocked with "60B super strong cocktails". Although you can still get fake student ID's and press cards, they're now a small portion of the market, pushed aside by throbbing pirated CD and DVD stalls.
"And the internet cafes -- the biggest scrouge of all. Today you'll often see guesthouses replacing their common areas with computer terminals. The punters sit there, logged onto Lonely Planet, Rough Guides (or perhaps even Travelfish!) getting the hows, whats, wheres and whens to get to the next beach, mountain or river, when often they could just ask the person sitting next to them!
"If you're on a budget, you can still take the ten minute walk up to the National Library area, where small family-run operations such as the Sawatdee (opened for business in 1980!), Shanti Lodge, Tavee amongst others continue to trundle on. These places represent far better value than most of the options on Khao San Road. But if you really want to stay on Khao San Road and want to do so in an old style place, consider Prakorb's, Little Joe's or Di-O's, while if you're willing to spend more, Shambara remains our favourite. Further afield, don't forget the Soi Ngam Dulpi area where the guesthouses are within easy walking distance of the newly ope..."

Otaku goes on killing spree in crowded Akihabara street, Tokyo, Japan

Another arrival in Khao San Road via Suvarnabhumi: Setew writes: "Last time we were in Bangkok we hated it and it was tough to see how moving from one of the world's most polluted cities to another of the world's most populated cites was going to be an improvement. However, from the second we disembarked we were struck by the wealth, cleanliness and orderliness of Bangkok airport. Clear signs directed us through spotless, carpeted hallways and soothing music eased our tensions as we waited in line for immigration. The smiling and laughing officials cheerfully went through their work and congratulated me on Barbara's beauty, leaving us both beaming as we walked away to reclaim our luggage.

"We made our way directly to Khao San Road, marvelling at the affluence of a city that just three years ago we thought to be a squalid open sewer; the roads were smooth with frequent flyovers, the taxis were air conditioned and there were BMWs everywhere. Khao San Road, a tightly packed area of Bangkok that almost exclusively caters to the budget traveller, provides little in the way of a cultural experience and is either a tourist hell or a Mecca depending your perspective. From where we were standing it was a paradise.

"The streets are lined with every convenience: tasty chicken skewers, fresh cut pineapple, charcoal roasted corn on the cod, pad thai, freshly squeezed orange juice, noodles, star shaped burgers and barbequed fish all available for 25 cents. In what little available space is left between the shops and the roads are semi-permanent stalls that sell all travellers' wants; from cheap strappy sun wear to endless displays of $4 CDs. Restaurants ply their trade as much by the latest Hollywood film that is showing on their 14 television screens as the food that they sell.

"Later as night begins to settle it becomes the New Orleans of Asia. Strong beer combined with super-heated capitalism and a dash of corruption has nubile Thai women selling beer and liquor out of a flower power painted VW vans. Small stalls spring up selling margaritas and white russians for those that can't make the 20 meters till the next bar without further intoxication. Beer in hand, like an "Access all areas" badge, one can move from club to bar on the assumption that if you bought one you're likely to buy another.

"While this was obviously not Thailand proper, we relished the moment, conversation bubbling out of us, glad not to have to cross the culture divide for just a few days. We were drunk on the elation of how easy everything was. We felt giddy just like when you return from a two-week camping trip to rediscover hot water and clean linen..."

Next Week & Beyond: april 6 thurs Karl Bartos [Germany] at Bed Supperclub; 20+, 1,000 (incl/2drinks); 10pm april 7-8 fri-sat Lanta Beach Beat w/ Modern Dog [acoustic], Tul & Pump Apartmentkhunpa, DJs Nor, Funky Gangster, Galactic Soul at Twin Lotus Resort & Spa, Costa Lanta, Ko Lanta (Krabi); a/a, B800 (2day), B500 (1day), 6.30pm april 8 sat Kings of the Jungle w/ Shy Fx [UK], MC Skibadee [UK], The Specialist at Club Astra; 20+, B600 (incl/drink), 10pm april 10 mon Fat Awards at Thai Cultural Centre Outdoor Amphitheatre; a/a, free, 4pm april 13 thurs DJ Tiesto at Narcissus, Sukhumvit Soi 23; 20+, B800/advanced, B1,000/door [incl/drink], 10.30pm april 13 thurs Water Fight Day I: Die Young [USA], Born From Pain, Crying Blood, Cousin Killer, Exorcist, Lost at Immortal Bar; a/a, B150/day; B200/2day, 3pm april 14 fri Water Fight Day II: Die Young [USA], Malex, Carnivora, Voiceless of Fear, A Zero, Interzept, Low Fat at Immortal Bar; a/a, B150/day; B200/2day, 3pm april 20 thurs DJ Suv [UK] at Q Bar; 20+, B600/before 11pm, B800/after 11pm (incl/2drinks), 11pm april 22 sat Acid Lilly at Club Astra [bar]; 20+, B150, 9pm april 21 fri Panda Records ‘Backbeat ’90s’ at 3Some; 20+, B150 [incl drink], 9pm april 27 thurs Peter Hook [UK] at Time Out, RCA [next to Astra]; price/time tba april 29 R.A.M.B.O [USA] at Rock Pub; a/a, price/time tba april 30 R.A.M.B.O [USA] at Immortal Bar; a/a, price/time tba- VENUE INFO: 3Some 29/67 Block C, Royal City Avenue, next to Club Astra (02-203 1782) 20+ About Cafe 402-408 Thanon Maitreejitr, Promprab, nr Hualamphong SRT Stn & Wong Wien 22, Bangkok (02-623 1742, www.yipintsoi.com/~aara) a/a [open for special events only] Club Astra Block C, Royal City Avenue, Bangkok (02-622 2572, 09-497 8422, www.club-astra.com) 20+ DDM 1 Thanon Chao Fah, in townhouse next to National Gallery, Bangkok (05-144 9133) 20+ Immortal Bar Fl 1 Bayon Bldg, 249 Thanon Khao San, beside MiniMart, Bangkok (no phone, immortalmetalbar@hotmail.com) 20+ Saxophone Pub & Restaurant 3/8 Thanon Phayathai, nr Victory Monument BTS Stn, Bangkok (02-246 5472, 02-248 2100) a/a Spoon Ground Floor, U Chu Liang (HSBC) Bldg, corner Saladaeng & Rama IV (02-641 5394, 01-254 6690) a/a Tapas 114/17 Silom Soi 4, nr Saladaeng BTS Stn, Bangkok (02-234 4737, www.tapas-room.com) 20+ Thai Cultural Center [Suan Wattanatam] Thanon Thiem Rua Mit, btwn Thanon Ratchadapisek & Rama IX, Bangkok (02-247 0028) a/a ------------------------------------------------------- WEBSITES Thai Band Sites Acid Lilly http://www.acidlily.net/ Apartmentkhunpa http://users.cjb.net/apartmentkhunpa/ Bear Garden http://bear-garden.pandarecords.com Bikini http://www.geocities.com/bikiniband/ Blissonic http://www.blissonic.com/ Brandnew Sunset http://www.brandnewsunset.com/ Disorder http://www.disorderband.com/ The Eastbound Downers http://www.eastbound-downers.com/ Ebola http://www.ebolasound.com/ Futon/Rehab http://www.xfuton.com/ Flure http://flure.chubbyque.com/ The Heretic Angels http://www.hereticangels.com/ Modern Dog http://www.moderndog.biz/ Neuter Lover http://www.en-light.com/ Scrubb http://www.scrubbband.com/ Surrender of Divinity http://www.unholyhorde.com/sod/ System Sucker http://www.geocities.com/system_sucker/ Winky http://www.thai.to/winkys/ Thai Bands on Myspace.com Acid Lily http://www.myspace.com/acidlily Adenalyne http://www.myspace.com/adenalyne Bangkok Alcohol http://www.myspace.com/bangkokalcohol Born From Pain http://www.myspace.com/xbornfrompainx Born Stubborn http://www.myspace.com/bornstubbornband Brand New Sunset http://www.myspace.com/brandnewsunset Crux http://www.myspace.com/cruxband The Darlings http://www.myspace.com/thedarlings The Eastbound Downers http://www.myspace.com/theeastbounddowners First Lady http://www.myspace.com/firstladyband Futon http://www.myspace.com/ilovefuton Gramaphone Children http://www.myspace.com/gramaphonechildren Groundxero http://www.myspace.com/groundxerosound Late http://www.myspace.com/bandlate Left of Me http://www.myspace.com/leftofme Lucifer Sam http://www.myspace.com/lucifersamkhonkaenagencyl Manee http://www.myspace.com/happymanee Neuter Lover http://www.myspace.com/neuterlover Predict From Star http://www.myspace.com/predictfromstar Sleep Inn http://www.myspace.com/sleepinn Snail http://www.myspace.com/snailband Stage Clear http://www.myspace.com/stageclear Sweet Mullet http://www.myspace.com/sweetmullet Victory of Loser http://www.myspace.com/victoryofloser Parties/Nights Dude/Sweet http://www.dudesweet.org/ so::on http://so-on.hp.infoseek.co.jp/ Labels/Distribution Bakery Music http://www.bakerymusic.com/ Banana Records http://www.bananarecord.net/ Black Sheep http://www.blacksheeprecord.com/ Element of Life http://www.ifrance.com/djdot/ Elephant Eye Records http://www.elephanteyerecords.com/ Groovalax http://www.groovalax.com/ Hualampong Riddim http://www.hualampongriddim.com/ Indy Cafe http://www.indycafe.com/ Jazzbah Records http://www.jazzbah.com/ Love Is http://www.loveis-music.com/www/ New Destiny Records http://www.newdestinyrec.com/ Pakkred Hardcore http://www.pkxhc.com/ Panda Records http://www.wearepanda.com/pandarecords/ Small Room Records http://www.smallroom.co.th/ Online Magazines Music Express http://www.geocities.com/music_expressmag/ Supersweet http://www.dudesweet.org/ Thai Emo Sounds http://www.emo.shows.it/ Online Radio Idea Radio http://www.idea-radio.com/ CD Retail e-Thai CD.com http://www.ethaicd.com/ Jedi Music http://www.jedimusic.com/ Tickets Thai Ticketmaster http://www.thaiticketmaster.com/ Radio Click Radio http://www.thisisclick.com/ General Bangkok Recorder http://www.bangkokrecorder.com/ Bangkok Spin http://forum.bangkokspin.com/ City Blue http://www.cityblue.net/ Cool Voice http://www.coolvoice.com/ Metal Thai http://www.metalthai.com/ Siam Moshpit http://www.siammoshpit.tk/ Thai Poppers Paradise http://www.thaipoppers.com/ Outside Thailand Audioreload (shows in Singapore) http://www.audioreload.com/ Independent Bands Malaysia http://www.i-bands.net/ Malscene (shows in Malaysia) http://www.malscene.net/ ------------------------------------------------------- Susan Orlean says on The Place to Disappear: "In 1985, Bonny and Anek Rakisaraseree noticed how many budget travellers-mostly young French and Australian men-were drifting around Bangkok, so they opened Bonny Guest House, the first on Khao San catering to foreign wanderers. Locals were not even permitted to rent rooms. Dozens of other guesthouses opened soon afterward, most with forbidding signs in the lobby saying "Not allow any Thais to go upstairs." Drugs were fantastically cheap and available and quietly tolerated, despite wishful signs saying "We do not welcome use or possession of heroin in guesthouse." More than a third of Thailand's seven million annual visitors are young, and undoubtedly many of them pass some time on Khao San. Some are Americans, but even more of them are from other countries: Australians having what they call their "o-s experience," their overseas experience, which begins in Sydney and ends six or eight months later with requisite "Rough Guide" and "Lonely Planet"-advised stops in Goa for Christmas and in Nepal for a winter trek and in Angkor Wat for sunrise; hordes of Israelis, fresh out of the Army-so many, in fact, that the best kosher food and the only Hebrew bookstore in Thailand are on Khao San Road. There are such large crowds of Japanese kids that a few guesthouses are de-facto Japanese only, and you can buy a logo T-shirt of any Japanese baseball team from the venders on the road. There are French and German and British and Canadians. Altogether, they have turned Khao San into a new sort of place-not really Thai anymore, barely Asian, overwhelmingly young, palpably transient, and anchored in the world by the Internet, where there is no actual time and no actual location. Khao San has the best foreign bookstores in Thailand, thanks to the books that backpackers sell before heading home, and it probably has the fewest prostitutes in Bangkok, partly because the guesthouses frown on overnight Thai guests, and partly because, one backpacker explained to me, most of the travellers would rather have sex with each other than with someone for hire. Khao San is now the travel hub for half the world, a place that prospers on the desire to be someplace else. The cheapest tickets on the most hair-raising of airlines can be bought in the scores of bucket shops that have collected in the neighborhood. Airlines you've never heard of, flying routes you never imagined, for prices you only dream of are the staple of Khao San travel agencies. The first time I ever heard of Khao San Road was from an American backpacker whom I met on a Bhutanese airline flight from Calcutta to Bangkok. He'd bought his ticket on Khao San Road. "I told the travel agent I didn't care how or when I got there," he said. "As long as it was cheap, I was ready to go." I have a persistent fantasy that involves Khao San. In it, a middle-aged middlebrow middle manager from Phoenix is deposited at the western end of the road, near the Chanasongkhran police booth. He is a shocking sight, dressed in a blue business suit and a red tie and a white Oxford shirt, carrying a Hartmann briefcase, and wearing a Timex. He wanders through the snarl of peddlers' carts and trinket booths. First, he discards his suit for batik drawstring trousers and a hemp vest and a Che Guevara T-shirt, or knock-off Timberland cargo shorts and a Japanimation tank top, and he sells his Timex to a guy with a sign that says "We buy something/camera/tent/sleeping bag/walkman/backpack/Swiss knife." He then gets a leather thong bracelet for one wrist and a silver cuff for the other, stops at Golden Lotus Tattoo for a few Chinese characters on his shoulder, gets his eyebrow pierced at Herbal House Healthy Center, has blond extensions braided into his hair, trades his briefcase for a Stssy backpack and a Hmong fabric waistpack, watches twenty minutes of "The Phantom Menace" or "The Blair Witch Project" at Buddy Beer, goes into Hello Internet Caf and registers as "zenmasterbob" on hotmail.com, falls in love with a Norwegian aromatherapist he meets in the communal shower at Joe Guest House, takes off with her on a trek through East Timor, and is never seen again. To be removed from this list, please respond with the subject header ‘remove’ To add yourself or a friend to this list, respond with subject header ‘add’ BARS
Dong Dea Moon:
Booma at Thai Visa wrote: "There is good bar that always plays drum and bass down Rambuttri (the road down the side of the temple at the bottom of Khoa san) it is called Dong Dea Moon, go through the restaurant and upstairs. Nice little place with free pool, loud music and balcony where you can watch the mayhem on the street below. They also run DDM (differant venue) at weekends look out for flyers on KSR."

Khao San Rd's official website reported: "Immortal Bar presents GAMMALUX ・瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹a unique German rock band, live in Rock Thai-German. The rhythm section beats the sound straight into the brains of the audiences. Nobody can take away from the unique sound of GAMMALUX, which involves elements from rock, grunge, emo and punk. After 4,000 miles on the road during their US-tour 2005 wit shows in Los Angeles, Montere, Reno, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tuscon and San Diego. GAMMALUX has been on a Tour to China in October/November 2006. GAMMALUX was rocking all over China for three weeks in such cities as Beijing, Hongkong, Shanghai, Cheng Du and Xi誕n. In Spring 2007 will be the next big project of GAMMALUX: They gonna tour all over in such countries like China, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. Don稚 miss one of their show!!! @ IMMORTAL BAR, KHAOSAN RD., BKK Sun 13 May 2007 Begin : 8 pm. Ticket : ゜ 160 Available from: IMMORTAL BAR, KHAOSAN RD. Special for buyers of advance tickets, get free!!! vcd live Water War VI (per one ticket) More info : + 6681-7500591, fight_tribe@yahoo.com Visit & listen @ www.myspace.com/gammalux Show time: ・瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹8 pm. ABUSE THE YOUTH (grunge rock) ・瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹9 pm.KRASON (rage rock) ・瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹10 pm. FEEL THE PAIN (metal) ・瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹11 pm. GAMMALUX (German rock) ・瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹瘢雹12 pm ROLL FACTOR (hard rock)..." The scene is well underground, but you can listen to the D and the B probably up to 2-3 nights a week. Major places to reprzent - Democ (near Khao San) - Astra (RCA) - Q Bar (hard to believe, but Nookie is playing there this Oct 29!) - not often - some places around Tong lor from time to time - other khao san rd places from time to time Best thing is to get in tight with the two crews who are making the DnB scene here: Homebass Communications: DJ Wen and DJ Dragon would be the founders of the scene here; both Thai and well versed in DnB they DJ well and Dragon could hold his own against most of the big names that have come out here (and well better than pikers like Michey Finn) - play the full gambit from the hospital records soft stuff to full on pressure RAM stuff The guy in Siam Square whose name I cannot remember - he is the other one; DJ Paul I think maybe? is his name, also a good DJ and brings regional guys over; he brought over Makoto a while back this year (who was great). Name is ....recordings; man it is frustrating not to remember! They both play regularly, but you need to get to know them to find out when . The whole scene is tight, so you see the same people again and again; befriend a few and you'll find a ton of overseas udjakated Thais innit who are on the whole not full of s&*t like the people who go and listen to losers like Judge Jules. Then you can enjoy whenever you want. Of course, if you cannot wait, then 1xtra is the place to go online; I have driven my staff mad already with repeating DJ Flight's show like 5 times in the week :-) About Cafe 402-408 Thanon Maitreejitr, Promprab, nr Hualamphong SRT Stn & Wong Wien 22, Bangkok (02-623 1742, www.yipintsoi.com/~aara) a/a [open for special events only] Bed Supperclub 26 Sukumvit Soi 11, nr Nana BTS Stn, Bangkok (02-651 3537, www.bedsupperclub.com) 20+ Café Democ south corner Thanon Ratchadamnoen Klang, Democracy Monument, Bangkok (02-622 2571) 20+ Club Astra Block C, Royal City Avenue, Bangkok (02-622 2572, 09-497 8422, www.club-astra.com) 20+ DDM 1 Thanon Chao Fah, in townhouse next to National Gallery, Bangkok (05-144 9133) 20+ Immortal Bar Fl 1 Bayon Bldg, 249 Thanon Khao San, beside MiniMart, Bangkok (no phone, immortalmetalbar@hotmail.com) 20+ Impact Arena Muang Thong Thani 99 Thanon Popular, Muang Thong Thani (02-504 5050, www.impact.co.th) a/a Noriega’s 106/108 Silom Soi 4, Bangkok (02-233 2813) 20+ Plaa Dib 1/1 Areesamphan Soi 7, Phaholyothin (02-279 8185) a/a Q Bar 34 Sukhumvit Soi 11, nr Nana BTS Stn, Bangkok (02-252 3274, www.qbarbangkok.com) 20+ Rock Pub 93/26-28 Hollywood Street, Thanon Payathai, opp Asia Hotel, Ratchatewi BTS Stn (02-208 9664) a/a Santichaiprakarn Park [Phra Sumen Fort] Corner of Thanon Phra Athit & Phra Sumen, near Banglamphu Express Boat pier, Bangkok (no phone) a/a Saxophone Pub & Restaurant 3/8 Thanon Phayathai, nr Victory Monument BTS Stn, Bangkok (02-246 5472, 02-248 2100) a/a Spoon Ground Floor, U Chu Liang (HSBC) Bldg, corner Saladaeng & Rama IV (02-641 5394, 01-254 6690) a/a Tapas 114/17 Silom Soi 4, nr Saladaeng BTS Stn, Bangkok (02-234 4737, www.tapas-room.com) 20+ Thai Cultural Center [Suan Wattanatam] Thanon Thiem Rua Mit, btwn Thanon Ratchadapisek & Rama IX, Bangkok (02-247 0028) a/a

Antonio Pineda from MagickPapers writes some flowery prose, but he does seem to be having fun over there in Bangkok, so he can be excused. Pineda recently (May 30 2008) called in on DJ Amnesty and crew at Sri Poom Expresso Bar. "DJ Manow is taking me to witness the first live broadcast of Underground Bangkok Radio," Pineda writes. "DJ Amnesty, a cool Brit dude is the featured artiste on location at the Sri Poom Expresso Bar. The broadcasts will promote the talents of the best young Thai and international DJS representing the best elements of the electronic music scene. DJ MANOW leads me down the road in his hood, past the Blues Bar and a brace of hip restaurants until we hit the site of the broadcast. The scene of the crime is chilled out downstairs, DJ Apple a cool Thai bloke is behind a turntable. We ascend the circular stairway to the second floor.
"DJ Amnesty is setting up shop for the two hour broadcast. The studio is remarkable for a collection of 1940s radios and tv sets encased in old mahogany woodwork of yore. A large window overlooks the street, on view is the cool street vibe. The players arrive on the set. Daryl is in the house, a hip Brit who is on the UB Radio team. The Mellow Mushroom Crew headed by Mark Weinstein join DJ Manow, bottles of Chang and Heiniken appear on the tables. Pierre a minamalist DJ from India talks trash and DJ Amnesty kicks the show into overdrive. He consecrates the event mixing and rapping, doing voiceovers as the flow of avant garde house-trance-minamalist-trip hop burns the airwaves.
"Blue lightning flashes outside as rain crashes against the windows creating a percussive effect as the raindrops add a naturalistic beat to the raging dance music on air. Downstairs an eclectic audience is gathered around the bar seeking refuge from the monsoon rain. Amnesty is toasting and roasting, the electronic music scene in Bangkok is attracting name DJS from all over the world. Venues like Culture Club, 808 in the RCA complex, Q-Bar, Bed Supper Club and a host of others are bringing it on..."