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| Southeast Asia |
| Party's over in Patpong |
| 2010-04-21 |
| [Straits Times] BORED bar girls have been abandoned by customers in Bangkok's notorious red-light district, now festooned with razor wire after armed troops descended to block anti-government protests. The usual crowds of sex tourists, curious holidaymakers and expatriate regulars have evaporated from the Patpong nightlife strip, replaced by troops patrolling its neon-lit alleys armed with assault rifles. 'I've owned this bar for five years and this is the worst business ever,' said Pungpoyn Thambun, 40, at Kiss bar where only a handful of clients were watching women writhe on stage in bikinis. 'Because of the Red Shirts, many foreigners don't come here. Business is no good,' she said under the flashing disco lights. Me love you long time. You party? Heavily armed Thai security forces swooped on central Bangkok on Monday, taking positions to block 'Red Shirt' protesters from bringing their month-long anti-government campaign to the capital's financial hub. The troops spilled over into the nearby Patpong strip, which after dark is usually heaving with touts enticing passers-by into colourfully named go-go bars like Super Pussy and Bada Bing. I wouldn't think you'd have to entice any guy into a bar called Super Pussy... It is also home to a famous night market, well patronised by tourists including families who spend the evening browsing the stalls of knock-off handbags and pirated DVDs. But on Monday night the market was closed and about half of the bars were shuttered as the intimidating knots of soldiers, rows of military trucks and piles of riot shields repelled the usual crowds. |
| Posted by:Fred |