Saturday, April 19, 2008

I get my kicks above the waistline, Sunshine.

Night-time in Bangkok is a lot of things. I know people who have a passionate love affair with the darkened city. I know people who curse its existence. I can understand both. But over the past six months, I find myself continuing to return. It's lure is incredibly enticing, it's attractions plentiful and ubiquitous. Last night was no different.

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A truck-bar parked on Sukhumvit Soi 11 with a billboard backdrop

It's been hot. It is summertime in Thailand and the heat during the day is so unbearable, its presence so strong that sometimes nearly nothing else appears to exist. The sunset is a welcoming opportunity to walk the streets in moderate comfort--although last night seemed an exception. The warmth of the day continued to press on towards midnight, inviting my jeans to melt into the flesh of my legs, my shirt to form a film of liquid on the outside of my upper body. So, instead of going somewhere with the soothing arms of air conditioning, I met my friends, as planned, at the outdoors venue Nest.

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Singing...

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...and music at Nest

It's a pretty new spot. I enjoyed it during their opening and now, about a month later, it feels even better. As I've mentioned, it's outside. Nest resides at the top of Le Fenix Hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 11, just across the street from the famed Q Bar. The decor is modern, pathways and bits of lawn accentuating the fact that you are under the stars. The space is spotted with beds, hammocks, and things loungy. Not to mention lots of very powerful fans to cool you on nights like these. It helped, actually. And for the time spent there I could concentrate on listening to great live music and not on the slow, steady trickle down my back.

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Everyone polished of their lemongrass caipariƱas and soda

Taking the pics of the truck-bar on the way to Nest inspired me to visit one of the favorite street watering holes in the area. Yeah, it's outside, but since the sweat already started, why not?

Volkbar parks itself just down the street on Sukhumvit between Soi 1 and Soi 3. They've got some decent drinks served in plastic cups for an easy 70 baht a piece (that's just a bit more than two bucks, man). And the setting couldn't be better--out on the street on the popular Sukhumvit Rd.

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Street drinking in style: Volkbar

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At a red light one minute and serving thirsty customers the next

Owner Lew and her assistant Pok, who are also a couple, bought the old VW van outside the city, remodeled it, and now, surprisingly, drink less than they did before. They do have to drive away after work, after all. It's about midnight that they stay open with their lights on, but can hang around for up to an hour and half after that, depending on when the cops tell them to close up shop.

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Thomas and Pok drive a good drink

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Lew shaking one up in the van

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Strong and cheap drinks

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Seated and served on the sidewalk on Sukhumvit Rd


Thanks for reading. And if you find yourself in Bangkok, enjoy. But, please, sip slowly.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

After I drank your glasses at barsu and interview you at The Sala (for publishing in Volume Magazine). It was great time to discover many new tastes by cocktail.Cuz It's not my culture.

Then, I'd read your space for inspiring in my drink. ( And for friends) It's quite good.

But I didn't khow you come back in April.( hope you had good time,I assumed from your block :)

Finally,If i wanna read your basicly recipe. Could I find that things from?
Could you answer me on my email : nnp_biz@hotmail.com


Noyna

About this blog:

This weblog is intended for responsible legal drinkers of legal drinking age and older.   It's about cocktails.  It's about spirits. It's about mixing things up, pouring them into a martini glass or over the rocks, and taking a sip.  Sipping slowly.  If you're under the drinking age of your locale or simply not interested in consuming alcohol, please take a look at my non-alcoholic blog: sip.  In the meantime, please be rational when it comes to drinking.  It's simple, really.  Just sip slowly.