Economically speaking, one could just write it off as an upturn. But looking
closer and talking to vendors, one finds that "proximity" and "competition"
have a lot to do with it.
As the newer, swankier and terribly less affordable bars, restaurants and other
businesses have popped up, it has given the old mainstay vendors, shops and
guesthouses the opportunity to re-evaluate their pricing, in many cases leading
them to decide that prices can increase. They are still priced well below the
upper-class establishments, so they maintain their competitive foothold.
For now business continues to boom, so everyone is generally happy. Except,
possibly, for the experienced budget traveler who finds himself digging deeper
into his money belt to make ends meet.
The Boom-Boom of the Boom
By and large, Khaosan has been ignored by the sex industry, until now. In the
past a wayward but well-informed traveler might be in the know that by going to
a bar like Gulliver's at the Samsen Road end of Khaosan he might cross paths
with a keen freelance girl looking for some action.
Five years back, other than Gulliver's, the only establishment that had a range
of freelancers was Buddy Beer Lounge. The problem with Buddy's is that it was
and is priced outside the average traveler's budget, both for beer and the
company of a lady.
Other freelancers roamed about Khaosan and the only other notable stopping
point was Khaosan Center - a guesthouse, bar, restaurant, and pool hall all
rolled into one. They are still there, of course, because of a tried and true
formula of attracting customers - but the prices are on an upswing.
With the increasing prices along today's Khaosan Road, more pristine
entertainment and accommodation venues are dealing with the influx of another
type of entrepreneur. Women working as PGs (promotion girls) are now quite
common compared with years past.
PGs are usually exceptionally attractive, and it is their job to stand outside
a particular bar and reel punters inside. They will often follow up with a
cute, cooing and flirtatious bid to get you to buy the product that they are
the PG for (they make a few baht based on sales). The girls are often paid a
basic salary to support their commission-based work.
Recently the number of PGs on Khaosan has increased, and the bars employing
them have begun to dominate the well-heeled-punters market. On a recent visit,
a PG grabbed my hand and led me to her bar. With her tiny and amazingly tight
Tiger Beer ensemble, it was hard to dismiss her promotional technique.
Led into the bar and seated with her, I made her day by purchasing a Tiger
beer. Then she asked if I would buy her a drink. I agreed, if for no other
reason than it appeared she could use some extra cash to buy a pair of panties.
The price was astonishing - okay, not as bad as a night out in Hong Kong or New
York, but still not what a veteran of Khaosan Road might expect. I took stock
of the people in the bar; it was surprisingly empty compared with the first few
times I went there years ago. But what it had lost in volume it had made up in
price.
I also could not help but notice that Pla the PG hadn't moved on; she was
slowly enjoying her drink and her hand was headed north along my thigh.
Usually PGs get the customer, try to push a certain drink - maybe ask for a
lady's drink, which cost a bit more to cover her commission - and then move on
to the next prospective punter. So the attention she was providing was unusual.
Her motives were quickly revealed. Pla was, of course, a good, all-around
salesperson, and was offering herself should I feel in the market for
companionship. As equations began to fill my head, balancing monetary
calculations and the proximity of the Thai wife, I was relieved when Pla
excused herself.
"You want beautiful girls, better prices, head to Gulliver's," the bartender
said, having obviously taken much more of an interest in the conversation than
I had thought.
"Why? How much is it here?" I asked.
"Four hundred baht bar fine, then maybe 2,000 for the girl. Short time, long
time up to the girl," he answered.
That added up to US$75, which seemed expensive for this neighborhood. In fact,
it was more expensive than making your way to Soi Cowboy, Nana or Patpong,
Bangkok's more notorious sexual marketplaces, and finding a girl yourself. This
was shrugged off by the barman: "PG girls are better than sex workers," he
said. "Have better time."
Back to the Boom
The changing business environment is driving much of the other changes being
experienced on Khaosan Road. Once the haven for budget farangs (foreigners)
backpacking their way across Asia, this required stop is pricing itself out of
the market for the people who helped to create it.
Almost a quarter of Khaosan Road on its northern side has been leveled to make
way for new construction. Conversations with cops, longtime vendors and Thais
shed no light on what this project will ultimately be. Nonetheless the
magnitude of the project and real estate the developers have acquired to
undertake the project would seem to indicate something grand.
It doesn't matter if this is to be the Four Seasons Khaosan (which it won't be,
of course) or if it is the usual array of Thai-style buildings accommodating
various new guesthouses, restaurants and bars. The effect will be the same -
prices will rise all around.
The other booming trade is, of course, the boom-boom trade. If the sex industry
continues to seep into the fringes of this former backpacker haven, this too
will affect prices and the social demographic of Khaosan.
Pricing yourself out of the market that made you famous or degenerating into
another red-light district - while hoping for a more upwardly mobile customer -
will only result in ostracizing the core tourist demographic. Backpackers on a
budget already have a few choices for a night out on the town - they are called
Patpong, Soi Cowboy and Nana Plaza.
The backpacker district of Khaosan can improve itself while adhering to the
principles and demographics that made it is a "must stop" venue without
catering to or embracing the sex industry or allowing new developments to price
it out of the market.
But the question now is: "Will it?"
Copyright 2007 Asian Sex Gazette.
