I also visited a 2nd floor show in Patpong and exactly the same thing happened to me! It's a truly criminal scam but I think the owners are police so they get away with it. This has never happened to me in Pattaya, Soi Cowboy or NEP.

Advice to anyone visiting Thailand, do your homework and read up about the Land of Smiles, things are allways what they seem?

I wish I read that before, I had to pay 1300b as well, it was supposed to be 200b. Never go there again

Although these scams have been a long time in operation, should it ever happen again, simply call the Tourist Police. Most times even the threat of this will change the situation quickly. Many year ago when I first arrived in Thailand I was taken into this kind of trap as well and made it clear I would be seeking the Tourist Police for assistance . The quickly allowed me to pay the right price for the drinks and got me out of the place fast.

we went to pat pong to check it out and there was lots of people showing us cards with ping pong shows and all sorts of other stuff and we were really not interested at first but curiousity got the better of us and also the fact that there were lots of man trying to lure us to check out these shows. so we followed this man to see what the fuss is all about.

these men lured us by telling us it's a free show, free entrance and all you have to do is buy a drink for 100 baht each.. there was 4 of us. 2 guys and 2 girls.

..so as we entered we were showned where to sit and the ladies showed us a drink menu (without prices) and then we ordered the drinks. when we got our drinks and we were not asked to pay it yet then a few mins later these 3 ladies came up to us to see if we would buy them drinks. we didn't really want to buy them any but we asked them how much for drinks because if it was reasonable then we would have considered buying for them and they told us it was 200 baht a drink and our alarm bells started ringing and i thought to myself this sounds & feels funny.

..anyway we told them no because it was expensive(our excuse to get them to move along). they said no it's not expensive and after a few minutes of them trying to get drinks out of us and us telling them no then they said it was ok and they walked away.

..then a few mins later these 2 butch ladies came up to us and said everyone had to pay 300 baht each and that would make it 1200 baht total and we were very shocked. we told them the men said it was free show and only 100 baht for the drinks and they said no and insisted that we had to pay.

we got really angry and actually got quite fired up and loudly told them we were not paying that because the man told us it was a free show and only 100 baht for drinks and we're going now. they would not let us go and stood in front of us and repeatedly said to us to calm down and just pay us. so the four of us said we're only paying 100 baht each. we slammed the 400 baht on the table, sculled our drinks down and left the premises giving those a-holes dirty looks.

anyway that was just a quick note on our experience in pat pong. don't be scammed by these people. better yet don't go there.

apart from that incident the rest of our trip was excellent.

I was scammed for 500 baht for just a glass of coke.Best is to avoid going there.

We got scammed too in PatPong last week where we went there for holiday and there was a guy claiming himself the manager of the bar for the ping pong show and we only need to pay 100 Baht for a drink(either coke,singha..etc) and he said it won't charge us any entertainment fees except for the drinks. He persuaded us won't be too long.. Just have a look won't take us >5 minutes... So, at the end we entered the bar and initially we found it was very disgusting as i'm a lady and went with my bf but if we think it is an experience to gone through then we forwarded ourselves and ordered 1 Heineken 1 Coke. Same tactics, 2 girls came along and asked us to treat them a drink and we rejected them and they looks angry too. They left their left-over drinks (orange) on our table. We quickly finished off our drinks and before asking for bill, there was a waitress came over and show us her fingertips (money money)..Since we are leaving too, so we pay her 100 100=200Baht. You know what!!! She asked for 1000Baht.Oh gosh..!! Our blood pressure went up and felt scammed already. Same explanation given, 400b for the show each pax and we were arguing that the previous so called manager said no charges.. Argue and argue.. finally.. we gave up as they don't seem to understand English further other than 'money' and 'pay'.... We were very angry and trying to look for that guy around.. Not more than 5 minutes, we managed to hold of him and asking him why he charged us.. then, he said, he only said free for first 5 minutes.. He twisted his words around where we have no choice as all this were planned nicely already and we were being tricked already. Speechless on 'Thais' after my first ever trip to Bangkok, Thailand. Disappointed on their moralities as they are famous with their religion 'Buddhist' and yet they could do such a things!!! Never taught in any religious before.

18 years ago on the first night of my first trip to Thailand I got caught in exactly the same go go bar bill padding scam that has been operating for decades before I got there. In my case I did not insult them or shout at them, I stayed calm and called for the tourist police but they would not let me leave and would not let me open the door to leave the bar. The little manager dude came over to me (I am a big guy) and started trying to hit me in front of many staff and customers. I was only 20 years of age and didn't know if they would pull a knife or gun on me so I backed down and paid the 2000 Baht. It was a shocking way to learn about Thai culture and in the countless dozen times since then that go go bar staff have tried to scam me I just laugh and walk out. The same thing never happened to me again.

The main rule to remember down Patpong is that any Go Go Bar that visibly displays the Kings Group logo on the outside will never scam you ever. All other Go Go Bars will try it on anybody they like any time they feel like it. Good Luck.

Don't ever listen to touts at patpong if you want an annoying-free time. My experience of red light district at patpong is filled by dishonesty, rudeness, cheating. A sinful place. A waiteress will help herself to the tips without us knowing. Giving you back the change of 800 bhat and she help herself with 100 bhat and left on the tray is 700 bhat.

When you ask where is the other 100 bhat, she smile at you and say it is tip. That is my impression.

I am taking my first trip to Thailand--hoping to visit Bangkok and Pattaya. I have been reading up on information and am concerned about getting scammed and maybe missing some of the "best stuff." A buddy of mine and I are going together--neither of us has been there before. Any advice?

Hey dude i m in Bangkok rgt nw, i don't drink. Can anyone tell me will they charge me even if i don't drink.

This has happened to me many times in the 7 years I've lived here. It's always a hassle, but when she tells you the 'new' price, I say that the guy outside told us only 100B, so that's what we're paying. She then says that he doesn't work for this bar, to which I reply "How is that my problem? And if he doesn't work here, how come he told us to come here?" The trump card is to tell them you're going to the tourist police on the corner of the soi - they really don't like people to make waves. Don't back down - the firmer you are about getting the authorities involved, the more likely they are to leave you alone.
Or you could just avoid the whole thing - seeing pot-bellied 40 year old mothers shove ping pong balls in themselves is really depressing and not at all titilating.

Why take any notice of anyone offering anything. Bound to be dodgy in any country.

it's simple guys. don't touch your drink until you get the bill and pay for it before you start to drink. 'clipping' died down for a while but is coming back due to the dwindling number of tourists. if you get given another bill later just walk away, you have paid. they will not come after you, they may puff out their chests, but at the end of the day they can not do anything or you can call the tourist police and they will have to pay large fines. these people make a lot of money by scaring people, not by beating them up.

another approach is if you find a decent tuk-tuk driver, they can help you out...for a small fee. but the fee could be as easy as paying them for the round trip (which you'd probably pay someone for that trip anyway) and then buying their drinks. the drivers are probably going to rip you off either way. but if you become "theirs", they can help you out from worse rip offs. be sure not to pay in advance tho. that way they want to keep you as their customer. of course still take precautions and be on your toes with them.

Such bars are centers of rip off, not only in Thailand, but in the whole world. In the past I wandered into such bars in London and in Munich. A Pound 100 is lost there as easily as Baht 600 in Bangkok.

What beats me is that some tourists walk into a Bangkok bar that has “Sex Shows” and actually think that they get away with paying Baht 100 for a drink. Isn’t that seriously naïve? Even, if the guy who takes them there gives them the wrong price, a bit of common sense should prevail. Maybe they should have taken a training course at their “Sex Bars” at home.

The sex shows in Silom are pathetic, and the prices, as stated, a rip off with respect to the show. However, the bars’ target is not getting money by providing good shows, but getting money through overpricing and intimidation. Since only about 2 out of 10 visitors of such bars in London, Munich, Bangkok, and elsewhere, are drunken bumpkins, and the majority tourists, a repeat visit is highly unlikely. Hence, they grab what they can while the tourists are in the establishment.

Clubs with some real sex shows in Bangkok easily cost from Baht 1,500 upwards per person, and they offer good shows.

not only are they a rip off the "sex show" girls, are all fat, ugly and old!!!!! go to nana instead, they might rip u off still, but at least the girls there are 10 times better than patpong.

Atli,
Give me one good reason why those tourists in BKK are seriously naive? And if you are scammed in London, Munich bars, you are not naive? Try to put yourself in shoes of those unsuspecting tourists, who arrived in LOS two days ago, they have no idea about beer price LOS, they are able to get decent meals for 40THB that would cost 10USD in their countries. Just by comparison 100THB sounds fair price with show. Also you are being shown a printed menu before you enter. FYI.. there are bars in Bangkok where you can get beer for around 100THB with show.

60 baht for a Singha at a go go place? Ummm ... never ever! Usually, it's from 200 baht for the first drink *including* the show ... and you are welcome to buy drinks for the girls or boys, respectively ... 500 baht per drink ... no way! Nowhere in BKK ...

I was also scammed at patpong a yr ago, it's on the 2nd level.Avoid anything 2nd level if you're to visit such places and try to go to somewhere more open and not so enclosed, such that you are able to "escape" or shout for help.

They have their own accompliances stationed everywhere in patpong.eventhough you are away from the 2nd level pub, they will have someone stationed away and bring you back to the same place. That's how i got cheated.

It's the same old scam. they told me that the drinks was 100 baht.So we ordered 2 beer and the bill came up to 1200baht, claiming that it's 600baht for 1 beer.

We refused to pay 1200baht, so we shoved them 500 baht, expecting change from them. But they continued to haggle with us and this big tall man was blocking the entrance. We forced our way out and ran down the stairs.And some man continued to shout at us.

The girls performing will ask for tips each time they performed a task. If you refuse to give them tips, they will give you an unhappy face.

My advice is to avoid visiting such places.If you do want to try going such places, try somewhere open, lots of people and less sleazy.

Adam: Should have read this. But we managed to bargain our way out of the 700 baht live show charge, since we're just student.s

Ivan: yea.

Please do not misunderstand. Thai scammers are absolutely non-religious people. True religious people will never have scamming as an occupation. In Buddhism, there are occupations considered unsuitable and actions that are considered improper. Telling lies and deceiving others is against one of the most basic Buddhist precepts, definitely a 'no-no'.

However as you might guess in occupations like tourism or sex show industry deceptions has become way of making profit, but that has nothing to do with religion. Religious people certainly don't work at strip shows or scamming shops and they don't play blackjack.

Patpong is a greasy place and if your not educated your gonna get ripped off. And its not just Patpong, many all night bars (usually run by cops/gangs) will try this with farangs. Girls in these bars are probably either one of two things - extremely poor Thai women, usually with a family to support or illegal immigrants from Laos, Cambodia, Burma etc.

Many, if not not most, of the immigrants are brought here under false pretenses and are no more than sex slaves. The poor Thai women may be ripping you off, but its not to buy gas for her hummer or to fund her European vacation - its to feed herself, her immediate and extended family.
The people running these girls and bars are generally dangerous criminals, and have close links to the police, or at least one or two officers.

Now anyone going to Patpong, isn't going for the ambiance or the nice family atmosphere, so I don't understand why we keep hearing 'curiosity got the better of me' :-) Since the U.S. went there on their leave from the Vietnam war its been a notorious red light district. Anyone going to Patpong should be aware of the problems these girls face, and they should also be aware that they are possibly contributing towards the success of the modern day sex slave trade. Also, if you think that your getting a good deal in Patpong, then use your common sense and please, don't be so naive. If you go to these places, and you get ripped off, then you have only yourself to blame. Its not a reflection of Thai culture in any way. I've had to help people in these situations (both native and foreign -relative to location) in many countries over the past 20 years and the story is always the same.

If you want to get greasy then be prepared to deal with dishonest people and stop whinging about it !

Go to The Penthouse, it is on the 2nd floor on the right hand side next to a luggage/bag shop if you are approaching the main Soi Patpong from Silom road. They will sell you coupons upfront for 2 drinks including the shows, 300 baht if I remember correctly at the 2nd floor entrance.

The shows are decent and bargirls don't hassle you for drinks. It's one of the older establishments popular with locals since they have a good reputation for not scamming clients.

Avoid the other places that have touts with pricelists outside. You are heading for trouble and more than you can handle. A friend of mine lost his teeth when he decided not to pay the inflated tab. The local police will not help you since most of these scammers pay them off monthly.

Oh my god !! These type of scams are horrible, it is much worse than the Philipines and Mexico.
Some of the stories I was reading it makes me think twice about going to Patpong.
Nanna in Bangkok wan not too bad, and Chiang mai it's OK I think except for a kareoke bar, Where at the door of place they told me that it was 500 baht just to have a private room and have the girl sing for you.
But when I got the bill they charge for plus this and plus that. At the end it was like bout 1,100 baht.
The so called maddam came in with 2 guys not bigger than myself , I stand up and ask bout the charges
I think she felt that the situation could get out of control if those guys harrased me , so she asked them to leave and have to settle for 800 bath.
I do not really know what is better? to pay before or for the said price , but they still will write another receipt for the extra charges as they please when the show it's over.

The best way is to make a friend in Thailand so they can take you around like I did. That way you can not get ripped off. I know you will have to pay for his or her food drinks etc. but for a piece of mind it's much better this way.

Good luck to all of you, that are going to Thailand for the first time, just use a lot of common sense. If the price for "Tuk Tuk" or the "Show girls", Drinks is too good to be true , your should know better that you will get scammed.

I have just returned from Patpong, and to be honest, if I was a tourist, just do not go there, it is dirty and smelly and the girls were not nice, and more than a fair share of touts. If you want to see the bar scene go to Nana or Soi Cowboy, its much better and no hassle.

suprise suprise we got done last night, same old story, ask how much a drink is...100baht, ok, go in, the shows free, then 12 girls come and sit round you, you buy them all a drink for 100 baht each..cheap enough and being polite, then a few minutes later your handed the bill of 4000 baht.... nice. Makes my blood boil, we'll be using the 'we are calling the tourist police' line from now on. And also a good thing is to never trust a tuk tuk driver, we wasted a day on one! grrrrr!

I went to BKK many times n e last trip was in last Nov with my hubby n my son who was 2 yrs old @ tat time. We past by Patong n as mentioned above, alot of guys were outside showing us menus with drink costing only 100Bahts. There were gals wearing bikinis dancing on bar-top.
We were quite interested but bcoz of our son we did not went in. The guys who show us e menu even welcome us to bring our baby in coz we r permitted to do so.
Thank God I drop e idea n pulled my hubby away as its too smoky for a 2 yrs old child. But we intend to go ourselves e next trip not bringing our son. But after I read e above comments,e more I will avoid tat place in e future.Its so horrible...
Thanks for sharing!

i stayed at at a five star hotel near patpong.Now been a seasoned traveller i went to one of the stalls on the road leading to patpong and asked a old wizened boy selling some trinkets {tourist crap].What the score was regarding what was what in the hood,and added i would buy him a fine seafood dinner if he gave me the correct lowdown on the lay of the land.Well he took me to one of the finest seafood restaurants and we had a feast for next to nothing.Then he phoned somebody and ten minutes later i had a choice of three fine pieces of arm candy.The whole evening was great.ALLWAYS SUSS OUT THE LAY OF THE LAND.DONT WALK IN BLIND.

Your the absolute best, if there was a prize for talking crap, you would win.

my bf n I had the same experience in Wild Cat too. there was this boy who led us there by telling that the show is free and we only need to pay 100Bht each for the drink. When we were up, we saw the same thing like what JAY described. One an old woman came to us and ask us to hold a balloon.. The lady on the stage then used something on her pussy to blast the balloon from the stage. When this was done, all the ladies on the stage clap. Right after that, the same old woman came to us to collect tips 400Bht each. We were very surprised as we didnt know that we have to pay this much of tips. Not too long after that, the big size lady boy ( i think is the same person as in the story of JAY) came to us with a bill of 3000Bht!!!!! 3000Bht??? We asked why is the bill cost so much? The lady boy said, that's for the beer and the show. Then we argued with them that we were only told to pay 100Bht each. The lady boy said he did not know who told us and where is the guy from. We know that all these is just a trap. They just want us to go up to the shop for them to con us. At the moment we dont really have so much of money with us, the lady boy insisted us to go to ATM to withdraw money for them. We told them we dont have ATM card that can be used here. We only have 2000Bht with us, if we gave them all we wont be able to pay the taxi to go back to our hotel. Without thinking they just took all our money away... :(
After a while they came to us giving us back 200Bht and tell us that's enough for us to go back. We were very depressed and left the shop.
All along the way where we wanted to walk out of the area, they were so many ppl approaching us telling that it is only 100Bht for drinks and shows... We got so fedup, we told the ppl who approach us on how we were forced to pay all our money. One suggested us to report to police... When we were walking to the police booth another lady approach us, we told her that we are not interested and we want to go to the police, she was shocked and asked us what happened. We told her, then she said she will get someone to settle for us... Another man came to us, n ask us to lead him to the shop we went.... When we were up there, this guy talk to the lady boy in Thai very loudly. I dont know what they talk about... And finally they told us the tips can not be refunded but for the bill that we have paid they are willing to refund us 800Bht as they have paid us 200 Bht earlier for the taxi ride. So in total we got back 1000Bht. But still 1400Bht has gone for the beers n the tips... so sad... We will nvr go back to Patpong again...

so sorry for you all i had this same thing happen to me but i only ended up paying 300 baht for me and my girlfriend. we had a bill of 3200 baht brought to us and my gf went crazy at them i was supprised usualy i like to do the talking but she was fed up with all the scams in patpong markets . expecially all the shows. we were told 100 baht a drink 2 drinks is all we needed and the show was free. when we sat down about 8 ladies came and joind out table and all brought a drink they tried to charge us each drink and tips but we didnt agree for the ladies to get drinks they still tried to charge us tho. its sad but many many people end up getting ripped off daily with these shows, just raise more awareness amoung friends and family who will be traveling there. so in the end we payed 300 baht and walked out. we said 100 baht each drink and 100 bath tip, 300 take it or leave it,.

soi cowboy and nana are better, too many cunts hassle you down patpong, although its obviously still totally possible to get burnt in the other go-go areas also. On a number of occasions when i have been out on drinking sessions with a couple of mates in BKK we have been presented with large bills though to be honest we have probably drank at lot, its still obvious the bills has been jacked up some what, most of the time were too loaded to care too much and just pay up, though the best way to avoid this is to pay for every drinks/round as they come so you can keep track of them all, however another way is to also check each drinks slip as they are popped into the little holder, a farang friend of mine who has been living it BKK for some years also takes a pen from his pocket and signs every new slip in front of the waitress as they are being palced in the holder, it alows any non-signed ones to be later disputed as not being yours, though more importantly it shows the staff that you are just aware of the potential scam and they will generally pick on a more easily dupped target!

OOOOPsss, shit ...if i had read this before, i havent have gone there in the first place, i was also duped for 2400 Baht and you know what i had was only 3 drinks.. it was at some second floor ping pong bar in bkk.

This scam has been going on in Patpong for at least the past 20 years. It was documented in many of the books about Patpong. I got taken once myself on my first visit. The answer to this is to find a tourist police (not local police), there are usually several around Patpong. Have them accompany you back to the bar, they'll get your money back, fine the bar and close the damn place down for several days.

Never go to a sex show with your wife.

DO NOT PAY! This is a common scam. Again, Thais are like dogs, they bark a lot. This happened to me the first time I went to one. I had read about it. I made it very clear I was not paying. The lady manager got in front of me and I kept walking pushing her with my chest and yelling "move". A bunch of guys came towards me and I started screaming at them. When they thought I was mad they let me go. They are cowards. The second time was a few weeks ago. A friend of mine was in town and wanted to see the show. I warned him that there could be an uncomfortable moment when we left. Same story, I ended up arguing with this lady manager who wanted us to pay 500 baht for the show. By this time I have been living here for a while and I yelled at her in Thai, while a fat girl with incredible aim kept shooting ping pall balls at my forehead with her pussy! Anyway, they saw our attitude and did not make a move when we left. In the way down we saw a group of Indian guys being touted upstairs. I told them not to go. They left too. Once in the street the tout kept yelling at me that i was a bad man. I walked to him and slowly walked on him pushing him with my chest until he fell on some chairs. I love doing this to them. Almost all the upstairs bars are the same. They are not worth going. The girls are all fat and ugly and everyone keeps begging for money.

Geez, I can't believe the amount of people that have been over charged/ripped off in Patpong, please remember, nothing is ever free. I confused as to why some of you people don't read up on this area before you go sniffing around for some action?

I visit patpong all the time, mainly because I live close. All the ground floor bars will not scam you. I have been to all. Just remember never go to an upstairs bar and never go with a tout. You are surrounded by bars so you don't need anyone to show you where to have a beer.

Right. I and my friend were scammed, too, in Patpong. In Pattaya, I was frightened by the shout of the bar girl and so ran away with my friend. On the contrary, Chiangmai bars were pleasant - except that they keep on asking for tips and complaining of their poverty and needs and wants. I give them a few bucks now and then but they keep on with their requests for tips, for this and that, maybe, dad is in hospital etc.

Is that scam still in place? Jee, they did that to me there 15 years ago! The joint I visited, was indeed on the second floor, if my memory is well, left hand side!

Can't believe they can go on like ages and nobody ever complained....

And that there were no reports of fights!

I'm curious as to know why a lot of the poor souls who have been apparantely scammed come to Bangkok in the first place, would it be to see the wonderful architecture, breath the clean air, eat at McDonalds whilst watching the smooth flowing traffic of Bangkok?

Yeah yeah same old scam.I went with my cambodian girlfriend,downstairs they assured me that a beer was 100 baht,once sitting down it became 300 baht.When the girls asked for drinks we told them to piss off.
The show as so disgusting that we stayed and watched right to the end,just to make sure that we were totally disgusted.
I didnt mind paying nearly $20 for the experience of a filthy show and being scammed in bangkok,I mean this is being the true tourist,isnt it?

All of you travellers looking for some good time with girls in Thailand, whatever you do, never trust any of the Tuk Tuk drivers that are everywhere showing you pictures of girls in massage parlors and offering you an all-too-good-to-believe price. These massage parlors are scams. The price that the Tuk Tuk driver offers you is never available. There are no girls like those in the pictures and the girls in those places tend to have a bad attitude. If you decide to go, do not give any money to the Tuk Tuk driver. Remember he is getting his commission from the club. If you want girls, they are anywhere in Sukhumvit. No need to go to a massage parlor. Those girls have no idea about giving massages anyway.

Hello, I have recently returned back home to Sydney after a 2 week holiday in South East Asia, Overall experience has been great with the exception on my last day in Bangkok, 15/08/08,The little lane between Patpong 1 and Patpong 2 (around the corner they sell bags closest to Slilom road) a tout forced me to go and see a "show" up stairs, i nicely hesitated and said "no im shopping," then he said "just to have a look for one second and you dont need to pay for anything and dont need to drink and there is an Australian comedian who is doing a show right now",found it hard to believe as there was no ads or sign but was eager to see,

Went upstairs and as soon as i reached top, someone from behind pushed me inside the go go bar, then i was sucked in to some dirty filthy disgusting sex shows with grandmothers performing, at that point i got sucked in, i wanted to leave, then the tout who sucked me in started to yell in Thai to some middle aged thai man, (the club's manager) and demanded i pay a covercharge, i asked what for? then he said you are in my club and you have to pay as the sign says (500 baht), i told him that the sign was not displayed outside, then he laughed and started to speak in Thai with the lying Tout, Manager demanded i pay 1000 since its a fine for violating the rules, i told him i didnt have that money, then he asked whats inside your bag, (i had 2 cameras digitalcam and another a hd video recorder, unlucky no power on both aftera whole day of us), I told him ok i got some money but this ismy only money, he demanded i handed it over, and he asked for more, at this point i became abit scared because the guy who pushed me in was right behind me along with the tout on the side who lead me in.

So I gave the manager 1000 baht, he then asked I also pay 1000 baht to the ticket desk which was on the left hand side of the entrance, and then i also had to pay 1000 baht to the tout and the guy behind me aswell.

Thats a total of 4000 baht, then i was escorted to a seat and was told to watch the show after the show i could leave, then a fat lady came in and ask i get a drink, i told her no because i dont drink, so she sent me a bottle water and asked that i pay 1000 baht for it, i said no. then 2 girls came from both sides and locked me in and grabbed my shopping and ask i pay them 1000 for tip each (3000), I would then get my shopping bag back, unfortunately it was the remaining money i had in my shoulder bag i was really forced to give. They threw my shopping bag back to me, right after they did , noticed the door was clear so i made a run for the exit and went to the Sky Train station for help.

Spoke to the security guard at Sala Daeng, who was limited in english and he approached a group of young people who happened to speak fluent english and kindly helped me throughout the night. Who assisted me to go the police station and became my translators to the local police officers in the station which was like 5 minutes away by motorbike in Patpong where I went to make a report. I was so shocked that I didn't want to return back to the area, Police asked me if I wanted to get my money back, i told them it didnt really matter as long as I lived and besides I still had money back in my hotel which was enough for me to get back to the airport. I did not get the name of the place but I can remember the exact location of the bar. I told police that I will point out the place but will not go inside or near it. Police told me it was fine and that I had to meet another patrol in the area so I can show them where it was and explained to them what happened briefly.

A detective then kindly took me back to little station in Patpong where i met 2 police officers who asked me to show me where the place was, and then they asked me to come with them and said there would be no problem we are police officers. I told them i will only point where it is and I will leave. I then walked down along Patpong 2 with the police officers and right in the corner i pointed out to the police officer that that was the place where the incident occured. So i left it at that and ran to nearest cab to take me back to the hotel.

Shopping at Naraya .. Patpong .. girl was shoving ping pong balls in her pussy (what were you thinking?)

Spend some time outside your "tourist beach resorts" and you will see the pain that is Thailand.

Advice to first time visitors to Thailand, do your homework and read up about " The Land of Smiles", things are NOT what they seem?

"Free enterprise" = scams are alive and well in Thailand ..... be careful

Never go to upstairs bars in Patpong.I would think the other bars would want the scam joints closed since it ruins the whole area.Haven't been to Pat Pong in years, still live here.

Sometimes the ingenuousness help
I was in Patpong and one man said to me come upstairs the show is free and you pay just a drink
Ok i was upstaids and I stay almost 1 hour, i was seen all kind of shows and drink at list 3 beers.
At the and I expect to pay only the 3 beers but one man come to me and said "you must pay 1500B for show", after 3 minutes of discussion was no way to pay only a beers and coming another man.
So i said "I will not pay for show thank you for a beers" and I run away very fast downstairs.
Seems like they do not axpect such a reaction an I was free on street immediatly I lived Patpong to Hotel
Free full show and free drink
Goodby Patpong

Will definataly avoid Patpong but are Nana and Soi cowboy ok? We were there last year but did ground floor bars at Nana and cowboy only, to be honest wanted to see a show out of curiousity but was too scared to go upstairs( read reviews befre we went). In Bangkok again this year and wouldnt mind a look, Hotel near Nana so might just go in with 500 baht and when its gone its gone? Opinions please

DONT TALK TO TOUTS. wALK PAST TOUTS. IGNORE THEM.
DONT RIDE IN TUK TUK'S. FLAG DOWN A TAXI IN MOTION.

Radio city will give you a discount if you show them any evidence you are in the tourist industry. Ive visited that place for years and have never been ripped off. The Thai 'Elvis' and 'Tom Jones' are great entertainment and put on a great show. If you get a chance to meet the owner you know you are in safe hands. The beer is reasonably priced.

Hi Ted, yes Nana and Soi cowboy are fine, I have never had any trouble there from touts. Just avaoid Patpong, and ignore touts and tuk tuk drivers.

In the legitimate bars ie in Nana plaza, Soi Cowboy etc once you order a drink you will get a slip which will be put in a plastic cup where you are sitting ,check the slip as soon as it is presented. You will not be charged extra for shows. The price of your drink is entry fee enough.

You are sure to be asked by one or more of the girls in most of the bars to buy them a drink which they get a small commision on, this shoud be around the 100 - 150 baht mark. It is up to you whether you buy a girl a drink or not.

A good rule is the if they ask rudely or persistantly they dont get one, except if you take a shine to someone in particular then 100 baht is small compensation for some nice company and if you like someone why not offer them a drink?

The girls have to make a quota of lady drinks per month, it is legitamate and it is part of the bar structure and girls job not a scam and totally above board. They solicit drinks from customers inbetween 15 minutes periods of dancing.

Patpong really isnt worth bothering about for nightlife, quite frankly the atmosphere stinks in comparison to the safer areas of Nana and Cowboy. There is great nightlife in Bangkok at Nana and Soi Cowboy, both well established and both are within easy reach of the sky train BTS system. Nana plaza is on soi 4 sukhumvit and Soi Cowboy near soi 23 sukvumvit Asok.

After the BTS finishes at midnight move away from the bar areas when you are going to your hotel and flag down a moving taxi somewhere on the Sukhumvit road as scam taxi merchants are stopped and parked up waiting to rip people off with the no meter scam.

You really dont need touts to show you anything in Bangkok, there are massage places and bars everywhere at reasonable prices. Pick up one of the city guide booklets at your hotel they are published every month, also the Bts Skytrain map has many entertainment ideas in the adverts on the back of their maps.

exactly same thing happened to us... we went in and he told us no cover charge and 100 baht beers however when we asked for the bill to leave they told us 300 baht cover charge and 200 baht beers... we just paid to avoid any kind of trouble but it is just so unjust how they can get away with it

because Chelsea they are Thai but boy have they a surprise in store for them, people are sick of Thailand and its rotten apples and credit crunch is coming their way big time lol

I was having a drink along Silom 4 the other night when I got talking to some package tourists. There were three of them, they were English, two guy and a girl in their twenties. They told me this story.

Earlier they had gone to Patpong to try to go to a Ping Pong show but each time they tried to go in had met someone on the way out, a victim of the old 2000 baht drink) rip off, who had warned them not to go in.

They had persevered and kept trying bars, but finally gave up when an incident that sent shivers down my spine occurred.

They tried the small innocuous upstairs bar in the road that joins Patpong 1 to Patpong 2, but had yet again met a ripped off punter on the way out. This was was rather a large muscular guy, they kind you wouldn't want to be on the opposite side to in a fight, they described him as. He was shaking. Apparent what had happened when he had disputed the overpriced bill, one of the staff had come up behind him with a knife and held it at his throat to allow others to remove the contents of his wallet.

It is easy for us to be a little cynical about tourists who dare to do even the slightest piece of resert before going to Patpong and fall for the upstairs show con. The upstairs shows are even semi legal as the customers have ordered drinks without asking the price when the menues showing the over inflated prices will be produced in line with Thai law if requested. So refusing to pay your bill is a rather tricly question, and one for the police. Anyone threatened by a knife at the throat has just become a victim of a major crime incident.

It's sad for Thailand's sake to hear stories of people getting ripped off in Patpong. Good advice appears to be to pay up and try getting your money back with the help of the Tourist Police. There is a Police Safety Zone (hut) at the corner of Patpong 2 and Surawong Rd (if my memory serves me - please correct me if I'm wrong).

My experience in an upstairs bar in Patpong is a little different from previous stories.

My Thai wife and I were in Bangkok the middle of 2008. Her cousin told me that he wanted to take me to Patpong to see the 'special' show. I had heard about Patpong and having never been there before was eager to go with him.

On the night, we met a friend of his at Patpong and the 3 of us made our way upstairs and into a rather ordinary looking, dimly lit bar. There was a small semi-circle stage with 5 young, slim, topless girls squirming about poles.

We sat towards the back of the bar, ordered 3 beers and directed our attention to the stage. There is apparently 2 or 3 shifts of girls who take turns to get up on the stage and pole dance. The girls not dancing replace their bikini tops and sit amongst the audience. Between each shift one of the girls strips completely and performs one the many eye-popping 'tricks'. eg: lies on her back and using her vagina, shoots ping pong balls or bananas out into the audience, . Quite a site to see.

All the girls performing in the bar were attrctive young ladies. Early in the evening one of these young ladies approached us with a 'tip box' with 100baht written on it. Apparently this is split between all the girls and helps make up their wages. I gladly donated to it and in return unexpectedly received a small lap dance. I didn't refuse her in case I offended her. She was very nice and not at all offensive.

Later another young lady sat down next to me and started chatting to me. She was very nice, very respectful and not at all pushy. After a while she asked if I would buy her a drink in which I did. Her friend also came up to us and I also bought her a drink. I think this was 150baht for the 2. My new lady-friend let me taste her drink and it was definately a spirit. Her friend told me that hers was a Tequila.

After a couple of hours watching the show and the 3 of us having 3 beers each, we stood up, said goodbye to everyone and walked out. The bill total - zero.
It happens that my wife's cousin's friend with us was a policeman.

Still, we had a great night. A good experience in my opinion even if you have to pay 1 or 2000 baht. I'm sure a similar Sydney strip show with drinks would cost about the same. The problem as I see it is the dishonesty in getting people into the bars.

It doesn't have to be a second floor bar. I was once scammed like that in Patpong on a first-floor bar almost exactly the same way.

Walking out of that first floor bar wasn't difficult for me, even though the owner and some of the girls tried to stop me. I guess they didn't want a fight, so they let me go. I gave 40B to a girl at the door and took a taxi from there back to my hotel as soon as I could.

This incident made me think that Bangkok wasn't entirely safe for people like me. So I took a bus to Pattaya the next day and stayed there for the rest of my vacation.

I've visited Thailand many times since then. But I've never stayed in Bangkok again. Pattaya was my favorite place.

Which shows that scams like this do a lot of damage to the local tourist industry in Bangkok. There are plenty of places in Thailand for tourists to go to. And if tourists have trouble in Bangkok. Then they will go elsewhere, just as I went.

I wish i had read up on the internet about these scams i got him with all of them......

4 of us went to patpong markets were lured in by Thugs to a sex show.
he said just buy one drink each 100BHT and thats all....

The ladys were old and ugly and we didnt want to be there .... we thought we would stay and watch a little bit of the show. after 2 minutes of being there about 8 girls head to our table and ask if we can buy them a drink we refuse but 1 of my friends offered one pretty looking girl a drink that was the signal. all 8 came back with drinks placed them on the table , what looked like Orange fanta. tokk 1 sip and didnt touch them agian i was thinking they were there on drinks. when we tried to leave as they were all asking for tips and other crap. we were presented for a bill 10,000 baht ...Thats 2500 baht each for the show and drinks for the girls...

we refused and made our way towards the door where we were met by a group of Thai Thugs. I explained that the guy that brought us in told us 100 bht a drink so should be 500 bht including the one girls drink my friend agreed to... they said this guy didnt work for them and we made a mistake... (funny the guy walked us upstairs and in to the place personally). after alot of arguing i relised yelling was getting us no where.... all 4 of us steped back and wispered on 3 run. we made a run for it pushing these guys out of the way we made a break for it in the markets and never returend to this area. to much scum there..we are not small guys either they had guts trying to keep us there we just didnt really want to end up in a thai prison for the night)...

basically the same scam I saw in China just a few months ago ... in Shanghai ... near People's Park ...

get talked into going to a KTV (video karaoke) room for cheap drinks ... where a girl will soon join each of you in the room ...

within 2 minutes they bring you a nice fancy plate of fruit ... after ordering one (low-cost) drink ...

they will do everything they can to leave after serving the dish all while you are complaining ("hey ... how much is that" ... "we did NOT order that ..." ... "not paying forit!" ... they will give you the impression the food is free if order ladies drinks, etc.

before you know it you are told you owe a huge bill ... thousands of yuan ... for food, ladies drinks, etc ... even if you do not touch the food! or buy the ladies drinks ... that especially pisses them off .. haha

the really irate yet beautiful leader of the gang ... a woman ... especially after her skinny male bartender and other ladies joined the room ... now clearly outnumbering my male friend and I .. threatened "we are going to put you in the hospital!" ... no joke ...

after arguing for at least a minute ... i realized that nothing was going to happen ... especially looking at their faces ... and realized standing in a room with just 4 women and 1 weak looking Chinese man ... i simply got very angry realizing it was such an obvious scam ... especially after the "leader" continued to repeat the fact that they "should put us in the hospital" ...

I told them I had no money ... pulled out and empty pocket ... and started telling them maybe I will put them in the hospital ... while walking out of the room and down the hall ... I kinda lost control (my friend had already left his room after dropping 200 yuan on table and was down the stairs and outside waitinfg for me as I made my own way out) ... and said I was coming back with my gun (and most Asians assume all Americans own guns ... haha) ... and was going to "fu** all of them up" ...

haha ... after leaving .. they were the only ones any longer afraid ...

tourists beware of Shanghai ....

The same thing happens at Karaoke in Chiang Mai exactly as you have described, mainly targetting Japanese and at typically Japanese prices ouch!

500 baht for a beer $15 US is not uncommon (small heineken) at these places and of course company often unasked for is extra, fruit is extra, ice is extra, everything extra extra plus tip.

Japanese being polite will pay the price asked but any farang who argues usually will be threatened with violence if they dont cough up.

Be careful when out on the town if you like Karaoke in Chiang Mai it could put you in a difficult situation with organised criminals waiting for you to make one wrong move.

My husband and I recently got ripped off for 3,300 bht at a 2nd floor bar, ping-pong show in Patpong. We were so frightened by them crowding round us that we just paid it and got out. That was on the 2nd night of our holiday as well and really put a damper on things. Really wish I'd know about the scam now.

Shellie,

Those scam bars are run by the Police. You can see them drinking in there free.


Now you know.

Not run by the police. But they get free drinks so they dont make trouble. Most bars give free drinks to the police. Besides usely the bars pay them regulairly. If they refuse to pay drugs will be found in the bar, or there will be complaints about noice. The police will close it at prime time, take away musicequipment CD and so on.

shellie, why would you want to see a women do this? Have you bought any the ping pong balls recently?

Why wouldnt Shellie want to see a show? it is a good modern outlook that the woman can join her partner as well, Desmond time you came up with the times, thousands of women like to accompany their men, you obviously an old man with vintage ideas! Get a grip man. Go Shellie go

Too bad more people don't think of this:

Patpong is a greasy place and if your not educated your gonna get ripped off. And its not just Patpong, many all night bars (usually run by cops/gangs) will try this with farangs. Girls in these bars are probably either one of two things - extremely poor Thai women, usually with a family to support or illegal immigrants from Laos, Cambodia, Burma etc.

Many, if not not most, of the immigrants are brought here under false pretenses and are no more than sex slaves. The poor Thai women may be ripping you off, but its not to buy gas for her hummer or to fund her European vacation - its to feed herself, her immediate and extended family.
The people running these girls and bars are generally dangerous criminals, and have close links to the police, or at least one or two officers.

Now anyone going to Patpong, isn't going for the ambiance or the nice family atmosphere, so I don't understand why we keep hearing 'curiosity got the better of me' :-) Since the U.S. went there on their leave from the Vietnam war its been a notorious red light district. Anyone going to Patpong should be aware of the problems these girls face, and they should also be aware that they are possibly contributing towards the success of the modern day sex slave trade. Also, if you think that your getting a good deal in Patpong, then use your common sense and please, don't be so naive. If you go to these places, and you get ripped off, then you have only yourself to blame. Its not a reflection of Thai culture in any way. I've had to help people in these situations (both native and foreign -relative to location) in many countries over the past 20 years and the story is always the same.

If you want to get greasy then be prepared to deal with dishonest people and stop whinging about it !

I agree with whats written above. If one wants to buy women one has to be prepared for this kind of problems. Not only in Thailand. Even this is a "know how" Of course if you want to learn it. Its not like buying,lets say, an overcoat with three days back garantee in an Australian shop

And in case you only go there for curiousity,well, curiousity killed the cat. Curiousity is one of the main reasons of tourist accidents. If you dont go there to pay for women, just stay away.

It's a tourist destination. An industry that Thailand depends on.
Ripping of tourists night after night is permitted by the Police.

The Police Chief in that district should be arrested and thrown in jail for participating in the scam.
These bars have Police support.

I personally wouldnt like to see these shows, women can be denegrated enough without wanting to pay some pimps to see these poor women.

Personally I do not think they are that bad. Find the files you are looking for at http://all-shares.com the most comprehensive source for free-to-try files downloads on the Web

Patpong in Bangkok is totally avoidable - scams are waiting to happen to people who take things at face value or believe what any of the touts are saying - almost 80% of the people who go to these places ( sex shows & bars with girls ) - get ripped off - its the same story going on for years - the best place to be is Pattaya - Truly Heaven - was there for more than a week - no hassels - you get your money's worth - whatever you want to spend it on - Truly - but Patpong is almost certain to give you a bad experience if you intend to be just a little bit adventurous

Bars run by Police are robbing tourists.
Been that way for years.
Who you going to call when you get robbed in Thailand?

Ghostbusters!?

Eddie, would you take you're wife, mother or sister to see a woman blow darts from her gash?

Bars, owned by cops have this porn, live on stage.
Then, they rob you.
Real nice tourist destination.

(Maria) I find your termanology strange to say the least,all humans are different whatever takes your fancy, yes no problem, I have no issue with live sex shows at all, as long as the women are willing and they get a decent salary. Sex in the open is better than smut under the bed

Eddie, how do you know the women taking part in these shows are willing and are receiving a fair salary for what they have to do? By the way, I don't believe you would go and watch your your mum, sister, girlfriend, boyfriend or granny starring in a live sex show?

A successful bargirl can make more than a supreme court judge.
Believe me, there is no shortage of volunteers.
Dancing, getting drunk, having sex...and getting paid to do it. A 21 year olds dream job.

Maria, this forum is about Scams please keep to the subject and stop trying to procoke childish arguements, get a life please

*provoke

My wife and myself have been coming to Bangkok for 5 years and never scamed in Patpong, until tonight.... 100Bath a drink story, payment time 4900 Bath for old ladies ?

Worst was I did not have change for the 200Bath, ended up fisically forcing our out way out of the Bar, down the stairs. Not paying for the drinks and definately not giving the 1000Bath, will never see the change.

Looks like the world economy (and lately, Thailand Politics) is really ripping into the Go-Go bar economy and tourist numbers ??

These scams will eventually cause the death or slow decline of the Patpong area, if more touring companies exclude it from there iternaries. (Ours did already). As all merchandise is available in other more decent places (MBK, etc.), and the reputation of the touring company is at risk with the Patpong area.

That's my 2cent of advice.

Eddie, you are a hypocrite and sexual deviant.

Maria, I cant see whay you are turning this forum into a slanging match, I do not see any sexual deviancy in what he has written. I think your retorts are better suited for Thai visa forum where the men would be delighted to see what your writing

Khun Issan, did you read Eddie's previous comments, this man goes to see shows where women do unusual things with their vaginas!

roger, I have taken the liberty of cutting and pasting "written by Eddie, Thu 16 Apr 2009 03:02:16 CDT
(Maria) I find your termanology strange to say the least,all humans are different whatever takes your fancy, yes no problem, I have no issue with live sex shows at all, as long as the women are willing and they get a decent salary. Sex in the open is better than smut under the bed
I see no reference with Eddie's comments as to what these women are doing, he apparently has no issuses with the women doing live shows apparently. Whilst this wouldnt be my taste to see these shows, I feel that "sex crimes" are lower in places like Holland when things are above board and freely available. What does disturb me is when the pimps are involved and the girls are not offered medical care or their freedom. Roger, this country is predominately an agricultural country and there was never a need for sex shows etc the girls made their living on the land, unfortunately tourisim has encouraged these ventures. Personally I think there are many other avenues to be concerned about i.e. peadaphilia, welfare of children, animals, scamming and lastly but not least, I think education and welfare is the way to go to encourage a healthier wiser country!.BUT, I firmly advocate that soft porn magazines, titilating shows are a necessity to keep our children and streets safer. It would be interesting to have other men's points of views, sorry if I offend!

Tourists go to Thailand and spend money.
Hotels, restaurants, transport etc.
A big chunk of the Thai economy.
Tourists don't want to go to places that have a bad reputation.
Travelers can now research the destination online and not in the guidebooks.
The truth is now out there about Thailand.
The question is... will Thailand do something to protect visitors or will they keep ignoring the problems?

USA, its all about the "have it now mentality" despite all the consequences, nothing better than to see a Thai tending her vegetables, & plants lovingly. Feeding her live stock because he/she knows this will yield some income for the future. My friend who is a tuk tuk driver would give you more than you gave, such a generous and intelligent person . The amount of farang that come repeatedly back from all over the world, he is there to meet and take care for the duration of your stay. But this man despite his 40 odd years is intelligent, genuine and hard working and it brings such shame upon him when he sees his collegues literally trying to rob farang who are crossing the border.
Mrs Pighoglet would also be ashamed of her fellow countrymen on many occasions and I would love to say that education would be an end to all problems in the LOS but corruption prevails from up to down.
We need the back packers who contribute to a certain market and we also need the working class/middleclass to keep the hotels and restaurants afloat, they all contribute to the national economy but if you cant guarantee "safety" then you will notice the downslide in visitors.

Khun Issan, what does the title of this forum say? Eddie knows exactly what these girls have to do with the following items:table tennis balls, darts, cigarettes, would you like me to continue?

Roger,the above has nothing to do with scams, what Eddie does or doesnt know isnt any concern to me!

Khun Issan, so why write two paragraphs defending the beast?

Roger, thank you for understanding what I'm saying, it looks to me like Eddie and his friend Khun Issan are missing the point?

I also would like to agree with Maria, why do people want to go and watch such shows! Would they go and watch these sorts of shows in their own countries?

Bangkok has a worldwide reputation for smut....tour busses drop off groups at these places. Pushy touts on every corner block the pathway and shove a sex brochure in your face. The BMA rents the footpaths to vendors selling child pornography.

The point is, the rip off places are run by the Police.
Thai Police would never shut down a place that makes that kind of money and they could care less about their countries reputation.

Very true Bangkok guy. The country's reputation is in tatters.

Khun Issan, are you still working in Patpong, I was wondering if you enjoyed the work and if the pay was good?

Khun Issan, I forgot to add, Eddie mentions above that you are the prolapsing Queen, what in the Hell is prolapsing?

As a doctor I've seen a few cases of prolapsing (Rectal prolapse)! But for reasons of dignity, I'll pass on the causes?

Prolapse of the... I just don't find that funny, honestly, ha, ha, ha...

Same old story with us. We (three of us) were lured to one of these bars on the second floor. As usual it was 100 bhats with a beer...when the bills came up, it was 3500 bhats for three beers...It was 1000 bhats each for the show, 300 for the drinks, and 200 for don't know wot..bargaining got us down to 3000 and realized there was nothing much we cud do....The question is if thailand is to be a tourist destination, will someone do something to protect its tourists being ripped off

seems like that Maria is one of these over weight western women that has a hang up about asian women. Sour bitter sour pussssy

@Thomas, LURED, yeah right, you wanted a to see a bit of TITILATION and you sure did have to PAY for it!

We were ripped off in Pat Pong last night. We were told that cover was free and drinks were 100 baht. I had been to a show before and we paid a nominal fee and had to tip the girls heavily. This was different. My husband and I only stayed 10 minutes. The show was boring, so we decided to leave. We had bought 3 drinks (100 each). We expected to pay 300 since we had been there such a short time. The waitress came with a bill for 3200 baht. Ridiculous. The owner physically pushed me and then my husband when we refused to pay. Then, they blockaded the door. I have never had such a horrible experience!!!!!!!!!!

@Tracy Stevens, how much?

Same same, 100B a drink promise downstairs, bill in the end included 1200B each for watching the show. We (2 females) kinda expected anything could happen as we didnt get a slip in the jug when we ordered the drinks. But since we had such a nice, scam-free experience with similar promises/drink prices at a gay soi the night before, we thought we could get by in Patpong too. Anyhow, when we were about to leave (10 min into the show) we were surrounded buy mamasan and fat bargirls, and ended up being stranded in the bar for abt 20 min. Though my friend was ready to pay the 2400B plus 200B for the drinks and get out, I definitely wasnt gonna pay more than the 200B and assumed they play to scare. I told them Im calling the tourist police, they immediately turned up the music so that I hear nothing on the phone. Then I tried to push them around but being only 45kg myself this was a rather stupid idea. Tried to run around behind the stage to get out another way but I guess since we didnt tip the girls nor bought them drinks they all pushed me back. A funny scene, in retrospect. They called up scary-looking guys they claimed were maffia. Reasoning didnt help. What did, in the end, is I texted a friend and made sure they see it, and they suddenly let us go with only paying the 200B for the drinks.

The show was a waste of money anyhow, bored to death fat girls pulling out ten meters worth of christmas lighting from down under, and shooting bananas at the audience. Still, the Patpong scene is a must see when in BKK.

why would i want to pay for christmas lighting being pulled from down under, i would have thought with imagination you coudl have seen this for free in your own bedroom silly people, anway better than gerbils being put up the rectum hahahahahahha

Degradation to women isnt me cup of tea, whatever happened to trooooooooo lurveeeeeeeeeeeeee

Should be noted that Thai Police drink free in these bars.

hey all. well same old story some female tout with decent communicable english came up to me and my 2 other friends and tried means and ways to convince us to visit her 3rd storey bar up along patpong.

we rejected her politely at first, telling her that we wish to roam around on our own. she was pretty nice but VERY persistent. kept telling us that some of the gogo bars over there had ladyboys but the one that she was bringing us to was 100% females only. we didnt follow her and headed for a gogo bar at the first level, it was king castle or something, couldnt remember the name exactly. we stayed there for 20 minutes thereabout when she suddenly appeared in the bar where we were at and asked if we were done with the bar, and if we were ready to head to her bar. we had a brief chat. i asked about her family, whether she was married ( i had no ill intentions at all she looked like a granny to me ), how many kids she had etc. convinced that she was pretty trustworthy and was trying very hard to make a living (guess these people earns some commission from bringing customers into bars) i thought we would just entertain her and check the bar out, maybe buy a drink or 2.

wrong move.

same old story they blocked the doors and didnt allow us to leave unless we cough up some ridiculous amount of money. i was with 2 other friends who were peeved by the obvious scam but were clear headed enough to advise me to pay the 'ransom' and leave safely. at one point of time i tried to walk towards to door, but was stopped physically by this bulky lady. she threatened to call her manager ( i suppose she'll call for some tough looking thugs ) if we didnt pay. during the 15 minute faceoff some other tourists walked into the bar. whenever there were customers, the DJ up the volume of the music and we were refrained from talking to the tourists. i had wanted to warn them and at the same time seek help. at the point in time i didnt know about the tourist police, neither did my friends. i fking hated the attitude and treatment i was given. i told my friends i wanted to hire thugs to try smashing their place.

bottom line is, whether you agree with me or not, thailand is an impoverished country with people caring for only money. i guess you cannot trust anyone.

oh wait. have i mentioned we almost got extorted by the police as well? therefore the statement above is all-thai-encompassing. i think you shouldnt even trust the police.

we were in a taxi when we were stopped with by a road block set up by the police. the rotten policeman spoke to the driver initially and checked his license. i was at the back of cab directly behind the driver. the cabby crushed a 100baht note and stuffed it into the hands of the policeman and he gladly accepted it without hesitation. conversing in thai, i think he asked where we were from cause i heard the cabby mentioning "singapore". after like 2 3 minutes, he turned to my friend sitting in the front without the seatbelt, he asked in his rubbish retarded spoken english where we were from. after a few more random questions, he suddenly said "you no seatbelt, pay ... 500 baht". my friend persistently refused in a polite manner and smiled throughout the ordeal. he then asked for passport but we didnt had it with us. we wouldnt have surrendered it anyway, knowing we might have to pay even more to redeem it ultimately. after preying on my friend for a good 5 minutes, he walked towards the back and started his crap on me. similarly he asked for my passport. i said i didnt have it with me he could come to the hotel with us to check our passports if he liked. he then said " your friend no seatbelt, you no passport, pay 500 baht". i was really disgusted. these people are donning uniform but they have zero pride. i looked away not wanting to carry on the elementary level of conversational english. he then asked as though to tell me 500baht is a minimal amount, "singapore no seatbelt how much?", and smirked. i smiled and ignored him. i had wanted to tell him, back in here if the passenger at the front seat was without a seatbelt while on the move, the driver gets fined for not instructing him to do so. i realised they not only are greedy, corrupt as they were but also smart-alecs. strangely enough, he walked away after trying to get some money from me for 3 minutes without giving us any trouble. we had to pay the driver the 100baht he gave to the corrupt officer, on top of what the meter reads. we're not misers and we understand that thais are generally poor people. we always dish out ~50 baht tips for good service or when the driver uses the meter.

while not suggesting the entire of their officials are corrupt, i am deeply deeply disgusted by the police. now that im home, i realised (from forums like this) that such extortions and requests for "tea money" are common.

the next time i travel around in thailand i'll bring a electric gun with me (sold in markets in thailand) to fend off any thugs trying to rip me off. for those travelling in thailand soon i hope you do not encounter any of these nonsense. good luck.(:

Now that you realized you got ripped off, think again before you cause to much of a fuss.

If you have a problem in any bar outside of your hometown local bar, it is best to cut your losses and get out.

This happen to someone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkEXfp-JTTE

Patpong is the armpit of Bangkok. Loso Thai people run the business in Patpong. There is know reason to eat, shop or drink there unless you want to see these sex shows and get ripped off.
Go to Soi cowboy or/and Soi Nana for the gogo shows (though, not likely to see a banana...). MBK or Pratunam for shopping and anywhere/everywhere for eating and drinking.

The Thai smile has many different meanings and they are not all good.