Bay Ta Ra—Bar Ta Le

The scene: Hip glass building brings a bit of seaside ambiance to the crammed street of Khao San with its vivid blue pool surrounded by a bar and beach chairs. Seating in air-con comfort or on the second floor patio.

The food: The menu is designed to suit a more mature and less price-conscious crowd, and most dishes are toned down to cater to farang followers. But you can rely on fast and friendly service, so go ahead and try the signature Kai Bay Ta Ra (deep-fried chicken nuggets with house sauce). A small selection of wines is on offer.

The music: Acoustic easy-listening tunes early on and then things get wilder later as a resident DJ spins hip hop hits. He’s followed by a full band performing both Thai and English pop songs.

Noise level: Easy, like a sea breeze.

100 Soi Rambutri, Jakraphong Rd., 02-281-2899, 08-6323-5403. Open daily 6pm-1am.

Connection Bar

The scene: Two-story watering-hole with chic décor of watercolor paintings and dim lighting. The crowd is a mix of office workers and artsy types.

The food: The food is not as tempting as the décor, but there are still some good bets like hor mok talay (steamed curried seafood cake wrapped in banana leaf), lard tod (deep-fried larb balls) and kiew hor larb (crispy deep-fried wontons with larb filling).

The music: A spicy variety, from blues to bossa-nova, with three bands nightly from 8:30pm-midnight. Owner and singer Peet Peera steps up to the mic from time to time. Art Vacation croons easy-listening and jazz tunes every Thursday at 8:30pm. On Saturday, go Latin with some upbeat flamenco.

Noise level: Conversational, suitable for making new connections.
396/4 Narathiwat-Ractchanakarin Rd., 02-285-3238. Open daily 6pm-1am.

Dailicious

The scene: White and airy two-story house has high ceilings, clear glass walls and contemporary minimalist decoration.

The food: Dailicious lives up to its name, which means “daily delicious.” The prices are a bit on the high side (starting around B150), but the Thai dishes like green curry omelet and deep-fried shrimp spring rolls are tasty.

The music: Bands serve up Thai, English as well as a few Korean hits, Wed-Sat, 8:30pm onwards. Song requests are welcomed.

Noise level: A bit heavy. Can you read lips?

102 Narathiwat Rd., 02-676-4646. Open Sun-Thu 5:30pm-midnight, Fri-Sat 5:30pm-1am.

Provence

The scene: Located in a high-end shopping mall, this favorite lunch spot of khunying and khunnai resembles an outdoor café with its giant white umbrellas, green trees and cascading waterfall.

The food: Despite the name, Provence is known for its Thai recipes, not French—in particular kuay tiew rueh served in a huge bowl with beef and fish balls (B100).

The music: A pianist serenades the diners daily, noon-2pm and 3-6pm, performing a repertoire of international and Chinese tunes, along with the King’s musical compositions. Requests are welcomed.

Noise level: Soft, like the elegant customers.

G/F, Peninsula Plaza, Ratchadamri Rd., 02-652-1399. Open daily 11am-8pm.

Roadhouse Barbecue

The scene: Farang haunt Roadhouse Barbecue borrows a host of American traditions, including a log-cabin (or something like that) theme and a throw-your-peanut-shells-on-the-floor policy. Live music downstairs; sports bar on the third floor.

The food: Stick to the killer Buffalo Wings or the ribs, and wash it all down with one of the house or imported beers on the coldest taps in town. Ladies get 50% off food and house cocktails on Wednesdays.

The music: Every Thursday and Saturday, The Mandarin take the stage delivering familiar 80s hits and anything you request from 7:30pm onwards. Local expat band The Fugitives belt out classic rock, blues and pop covers every Friday, 9pm onwards.

Noise level: The Mandarin aren’t so loud, but the Fugitives can get pretty rowdy. Plus they have a horn section.

942/1-4 Rama 4 Rd., on the corner of Suriyawongse Rd., 02-236-8010, www.roadhousebarbecue.com. Open daily noon-1am.

To-Sit Pier 92

The scene: Decorated in a Mediterranean-style, this well-known riverside hangout offers both an air-conditioned dining space and an even more appealing riverside terrace.

The food: Delicious Thai fare is served ultra fast by the friendly servers. Try kaeng som cha-om kai (spicy soup with shrimp, eggs, veggies) and larb muu tord. There’s also a sushi bar if Japanese is your thing.

The music: Three bands perform acoustic Thai pop hits nightly, 9:30pm-1am.

Noise level: Not ear pier-cing. Sorry.
115 Charunsanitwong Soi 92, 02-879-1717. Open daily 4pm-1am.

Vientiane Kitchen

The scene: This open-air eatery oozes rustic Isaan charm with colorful paper lanterns, potted plants, bamboo furniture and servers in traditional costume. A great place to take international guests.

The food: The menu offers familiar hot and spicy dishes like somtum pla raa and soup nor mai (fermented bamboo shoot salad) prepared in authentic Vientiane-style. There’s also a selection of unusual items such as a hot veggie soup with ant’s eggs and miang khao pun (steamed catfish wrapped in lettuce leaves).

The music: Lively pong lang performances nightly, 7-10pm, then things get more raucous as a band churns out upcountry requests. If you book a table for 10 to celebrate a birthday party, they will perform a bai sri dance and even serve you a complimentary Thai dessert.

Noise level: Conversation is possible, but those pretty dancers can be distracting.

8 Sukhumvit Soi 36, 02-258-6171, www.vientiane-kitchen.com. Open daily noon-midnight.

Ad Here

13 Samsen Rd., Phranakorn, 08-9769-4613. Open daily 6pm-noon.
This Banglampoo bar hosts live blues and jazz by energetic local musicians nightly. Unlike most jazz bars, this watering hole is petite, cozy and a little bit grimy—just the way the regulars like it. It’s a great place to meet other down-to-Earth music lovers without having to put on shoes or damage your wallet.

Bamboo Bar

Oriental Hotel, 48 Oriental Avenue, 02-659-9000 ext 7690/1. Open Sun-Thu 11-1am, Fri-Sat 11-2am.
Sheri Elle White from St Louis, Missouri, performs smooth and sassy jazz amidst the Bamboo Bar’s Colonial elegance and refined atmosphere. Hear her from 10pm until close, Mon-Sat, through 30 Jun.

Diplomat Bar

Conrad Hotel, All Seasons Place, 87 Wireless Rd., 02-690-9999. Open Sun-Thu 10-1am, Fri-Sat 10-2am. BTS Ploenchit.
This swanky lobby bar attracts a mixed crowd of in-house guests and locals. From Apr 19, hear accomplished American singer Cheryl Hayes, who was the opening act at Bangkok’s Royale Jazz Festival (Mon-Fri 7:30pm, Sat 9:45pm. Through Jul 8). Happy hour 4-6pm: buy 1, get 1 free.

Saxophone

3/8 Phya Thai Rd., 02-245-3592. Open daily 6pm-2am. BTS Victory Monument.
This bastion of jazz and blues may be getting on in years but it’s certainly got charm. The real aficionados head for the downstairs stage, while drinkers and billiards players casually check out the action from the mezzanine. Jazz Mon-Thu; blues Fri-Sun.

Legendary Touch

For the ultimate in football delusion, step into the shoes of Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho. Of course, at B62,000 they’re not exactly geared towards the favelas children who will make up tomorrow’s Brazil National Team—why you probably won’t even want to get them muddied at all! What shame. With their distinctive design based on Ronaldinho’s personal instructions, these shoes could truly possess the power to remote control the ball into the goal. At Nike shops and authorized dealers. (Try Sport Revolution, 1/F, Siam Center, 02-662-4036/7. Open daily 10:30am-10:00pm.)

Ni Hau!

Learn to speak basic Mandarin Chinese and enjoy a delicious meal at the same time. A bright buy-one-get-another idea from The China House, The Oriental Hotel (48 Oriental Avenue, 02-659-9000. www.mandarinoriental.com) costs you B1,150 for a three-course meal—dim sum, soup and noodles—plus fruit and Chinese tea. Each topic of conversation is selected and monitored by the Centre Art & Language Academy (CALA). Book now at 02-659-9000 ext Public Relations.

Not exactly known for their healthy eating habits, last year Americans began waging war against an unhealthy enemy: trans fat. Fast-food franchises KFC and Wendy’s will only use trans fat-free oil in their restaurants in the US, and Starbucks has been phasing out the use of trans fats in its coffee shops. And New York City became the first city to ban the use of trans fats—starting with trans fat in frying oil in July and then one year later NYC restaurants will be required to be completely free of trans fat.

Good Fat, Bad Fat

There are many types of fat in the food that we eat. Some are good, and some can be dangerous. Trans fat is one of the dangerous ones. A small amount of trans fat can be found naturally in animal-based food, such as meat or milk. But the trans fat we’re talking about is liquid oil that has been made solid by adding hydrogen, as in the case of shortening and margarine. The use of trans fats prolong a product’s shelf life. Trans fats are commonly found in processed snack foods like crackers, cookies, cakes and deep-fried foods.

What Trans-Fat Will Do to You

Trans-fat increases lipoprotein (a.k.a. LDL or bad cholesterol), tyglycerides and insulin levels, while it decreases HDL (good) cholesterol in your body. According to many studies, large amounts of trans-fat increase your chances and severity of coronary heart disease, heart attacks and diabetes.

Avoiding Trans-Fat

Most industrially-processed foods are huge sources of trans-fat. In some countries, food labels will warn you when a product contains trans fat. Consumers should also look out for: “hydrogenated vegetable oil,” “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil” or “shortening.” Unfortunately in Thailand, the law does not require such detailed labels.
With the help of Nantaya Jongjaithet, a medical nutritionist from the Nutrition Division of the Ministry of Public Health, we came up with a few suggestions.

Avoid:

• Margarine
• Mass-produced cakes, cookies, crackers, pies, bread
• Deep-fried food (there are 3.5g of trans fat in a small portion of McDonald’s french fries), potato chips
• Creamy salad dressing
• Instant noodles (most contain trans fat)
• “Bad” Oils like coconut, palm

Stick to:

• Vegetables and fruits
• Grilled and stir-fried food
• Noodles and soups (but not instant noodles)
• “Good” Oils like corn, soybean, sunflower, olive, canola
 

More Ways to Die Eating

Water

Just when you think you’re drinking the healthiest thing in the world, you could be slowly draining yourself of minerals. According to some researchers, water purified by reverse osmosis (those water machines near condos and mini-marts) is too pure, and to have a devastating leeching effect.

It’s also possible to die from drinking too much water. This happened to a woman in the US following a water-drinking contest.

Salt

Too much salt can cause high blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause heart disease, strokes or kidney disease. Pass me pepper, please.

E. Coli

Most people don’t realize how important it is that restaurant workers wash their hands after going to the toilet. E. coli (a bacteria found in human feces) can cause urinary tract infections, meningitis, peritonitis, mastitis, septicemia and gram-negative pneumonia—people die from eating contaminated food every year.

MSG

This one won’t kill you but some bored researchers in Tokyo shot up rats with MSG and they went blind. Wow, we knew it gives some people headaches (which others argue is purely psychological) but we’re happy to have a new excuse to fight the chefs’ angel dust.

THE GOOD: HUMAN INTERACTION

“The use of Information Technology (or IT) has made human interaction more accessible to many people and this provides a good source of social support, which has a beneficial influence on one’s psychological and physiological health. People who are bedridden have other ‘inconveniences’ that hinder them from leaving their homes, or shun face-to-face interpersonal interactions can access online support groups.”

THE BAD: STRESSED OUT

“However, less research has been done on the negative consequences of IT use on interpersonal interactions. Most research has focused on the negative consequences of IT use on the user. For example, technology is also a source of stress; a survey of 257 personnel employed in the IT industry in Singapore found that system maintenance was one of the sources of work stress. Long term use of IT has also found to be associated with psychosomatic disorders. Due to the sedentary nature of computer usage, it has also been found to be positively related to percentage body fat among children. Hence, there are both positive and negative effects for the use of technology.”

THE UGLY: ANONYMITY ONLINE

“Several studies have consistently found that anonymity increases the likelihood of hostile acts or aggression. The reason for this is likely to be, with increased anonymity, there is decreased accountability (that is, they’re less likely to be “caught” and “punished”). Whether this is due to bringing out the worst in people is more of a philosophical question than a psychological one.”

So, brace yourselves, folks! Because here are the top tech toys that you’re going to absolutely, positively need to get your hands on in 2007.

SONY PLAYSTATION 3

WHAT IS IT: Have you been living in a sensory depravation tank for the past couple of years? Because that’s the only excuse you’ll have for not knowing what the PS3 is all about. This eagerly anticipated console finally comes to our shores, bringing with it an ever-growing library of hot games, as well as cool functions like doubling up as a Blu-ray player.
IS IT OUT YET: You bet. You can pick one up for $799 at Family Con (#04-03 Centrepoint, 176 Orchard Rd., 6733-2595).

NINTENDO WII

WHAT IS IT: If you think the PS3’s going to be the only console worth clamoring over this year, think again. Already earning itself quite a following in the US, the Wii’s (pronounced “wee”) coolest feature is its infrared- and accelerometer-enabled controller that allows users to control the game via physical gestures, as well as traditional buttons.
IS IT OUT YET: Nope, but keep an eye out. Its release details are set to be announced very, very soon.

PRADA PHONE BY LG

WHAT IS IT: Apple’s iPhone’s at least a year away, but the Prada Phone by LG—the world’s first touchscreen phone—will be here a whole lot sooner. Seductively sexy and sleek, the phone has to be one of the best looking on the market, and with an interface that’s up to par with what users have come to expect from LG, expect this one to be flying off the shelves.
IS IT OUT YET: It’s scheduled to be released in late-Mar/early-April and will be available at The Prada Store (#02-46 Paragon, 290 Orchard Rd., 6735-5026). No price details have been confirmed yet.

MICROSOFT ZUNE

WHAT IS IT: The Zune may have been met with lukewarm reception in the US, but that hasn’t dampened the anticipation of Singaporean music lovers to give this baby—and its Wi-Fi enabled ability to share songs with other Zune users–try.
IS IT OUT YET: No word yet on when it is going to be out.

OK, so we’ve all seen (and dig) iconic international albums like The Beatles’ Abbey Road, Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures, Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, Nirvana’s Nevermind, and Madonna’s True Blue, and how they brilliantly reflect the band/artiste’s musical directions. But do our local album covers fare as well? We assess Ronin’s Do or Die, Electrico’s Hip City , Concave Scream’s Horizons and The Observatory’s Blank Walls to find out about if they’re just as good.

Ronin

Album Title: Do Or Die
Album cover designed by: Levan Wee (lead singer of Ronin) and Dominic Fernandez, with photos by Yazer Aziz.
Cover Concept: Aiming for a vintage feel, the color scheme and lettering are straight out of the good old days. And get this—the dollar signs on the packaging can be scratched off like a scratch-and-win card to reveal the full glory of the cleavage. It’s a smart way to hide the good stuff.
Music: Straightforward rock music from the ’60s and ’70s.
Does it fit the theme?: Resoundingly so. What better way to showcase ’60s rock ’n’ roll than with a (almost) nude silhouette? Nice.
What we think: The combination of retro and sexy is a hit. Sex sells, and what would sell more than a lasciviously posed, bare female torso on the cover, strategically placed dollar signs the only thing protecting her modesty? Legendary status imminent.

Concave Scream

Album Title: Horizons
Album cover designed by: Band members Pann Lim, Sean Lam, Andy Yang and Dean Aziz, who also happen to be advertising designers by day.
Cover Concept: “A living and breathing art piece,” according to Pann. The packaging, together with the CD itself, functions as a working calendar with movable strips, symbolizing the flow of time and hope for the future. Curiously, the liner notes are also designed to be gradually rubbed away with use, “to denote time’s inexorable march.”
Music: Described as alt-rock, you wouldn’t be able to tell the music genre from the deceptively simple cover.
Does it fit the theme?: Much effort has been put in to ensure that we get the temporal theme, and yes, we do.
What we think: A fascinating concept and admirable effort from the band members. Clever thought has been put into the packaging, although it just doesn’t look rock-ish enough. Perhaps too arty for its own good.

Electrico

Album Title: Hip City
Album cover designed by: Visual artist and graphic designer Jaz Loh
Cover Concept: The fusion of local structures and buildings with “New Wave colors,” inspired by the band’s new electronic sound, as described by the band’s drummer Desmond Goh—is pretty good. The album’s title refers to Singapore as a hip city, hence the album’s hip styling.
Music: Besides electronica, pop, rock, alternative, jazz and bossa nova influences are also cited by the band, making their musical leanings just as colorful as their album cover.
Does it fit the theme?: Well yes, if we can take Loh’s word for it, that “everything was a deconstruction of literal metaphors from their lyrics.”
What we think: The flashy colors with a Pop Art sensibility stands out enough to attract the casual browser. Our only complain is that it’s not too different from the many other equally shiny album covers out there competing for our attention.

The Observatory

Album Title: Blank Walls
Album cover designed by: Yuen Chee Wai, with illustrations by Andy Yang
Cover Concept: Yuen conceptualized a moody vision of “turmoil that lies beneath the seemingly calm surface,” reflecting the band’s musicality, and “the repulsive and flavorless state of affairs we commune in.” He also admits to feeling “wretched” while designing this. Heavy stuff.
Music: Experimental, deep and abstract.
Does it fit the theme?: Far from being tumultuous, it’s actually quite beautiful, in a gothic sort of way. There’s obviously more to it than random pretty curves, judging from the surreal nature of florid orbs with wings cavorting around—but maybe we’re not deep enough to get it.
What we think: Chic and arty rather than cool, this should appeal to those who appreciate understated style. Quite beautiful, if not for its slight affectedness.

Worst Local Album Covers Ever

Taufik / Blessings
Toothpaste commercial gone wrong. Don’t lie on the grass if you want to keep your shiny, clean teeth.

Rauzan Rahman / My First Storybook
A primary school yearbook project? How old is the singer anyway? 12?

Cccrush / Feel the Move
This cheaply-styled EP cover from shortlived group Cccrush should be cccrushed, alright.

Hady Mirza / Hady Mirza
Booooooooring.

2001

Nice to meet you. BK Magazine was launched in March—free, as it is now and will always be, but bi-weekly instead of every Friday, like clockwork, as it is today. Talk about visionary: long before they were officially an item, we had Paradorn and Tata on the cover of BK No. 001. And our current editor (who was not our editor then) was included in our Hall of Fame, as “class wit” (or was that “nitwit”? It’s so long ago we can’t remember).

The Year of the Snake was, appropriately enough, the start of the Thaksin Era, which began with the “historic victory” of his newly-formed party in the January 6 election. In four years, Chairman Maew promised, Thailand would be free of the scourges of drugs, corruption and poverty. If that sounds ridiculous to you now, don’t forget that he was also crowned the Sexiest Man in Thai Politics by Durex.

Though it seems like we’ve been connected by the ears for longer, it was only six years ago that the iPod was launched. These 5GB devices with “click wheels” that really clicked and batteries that died all-too quickly weren’t the first MP3 players on the market, but, judging from their ubiquity (and Apple’s stock price), they were clearly the best.

We’d rather not remember, but there’s no forgetting the events of September 11, which changed the world forever. In Thailand, we reacted—at times with questionable taste: soon t-shirts of Osama bin Laden were on sale next to t-shirts of George W. Bush, and rapper Da Jim’s “Bin Laden” became an inescapable underground hit.

Speaking of bad taste, let’s not forget about Father of the Year Chalerm Yoobamrung and his completely innocent and misunderstood offspring, who now have different names than they did back in 2001. The exploits of the bar-brawling brothers served to highlight, among other things, the public’s lack of confidence in the rule of law, the shaky relationship between the police and the military, a justice system weighted heavily in favor of elites and the dangers of Bangkok nightlife. Watch where you step.

In sports news, Paradon Srichaphan rose to no. 9 in the world tennis rankings and became the hottest property in town for advertisers as well as saow Thai, specifically dara luk-kreung like Odette and Tata. Speaking of luk-kreung, Tiger Woods, who is understandably tighter with Roger Federer than Ball, paid a high-profile visit in 2001. While his mom Kultida talked about her son on TV, Tiger went on to win the Johnnie Walker Classic, which was played on former temple land that may have been illegally turned into a golf course by godfather Sanoh and then sold to his buddy Thaksin.

It was a big year for film, but not so much for the overly hyped, overly long but predictably award-winning Suriyothai (thankfully it only hogged every screen in town for a week) but for international multi-part franchises Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. Captain Wannachai is cute, but he’s no Orlando Bloom—or even Daniel Radcliffe (well he might be...naked).

The big news in the entertainment world was the arrival of Ministry of Sound, which took over the Sukhumvit 12 space that was previously Discovery discotheque and not in RCA or on Ratchadaphisek as it probably should have been. Immediately tagged Best New Night Spot, Best DJ and Best Place to Dance by BK readers, MoS was gone less than two years later, leaving everyone wondering what went wrong. Enforcement of early closing times, maybe?

2002

In the Year of the Horse, we started riding low cost airlines, and soon more people than ever were able to experience flight delays, cancellations, technical problems and shoddy service. Of the early birds, AirAsia is now flying highest, with Orient Thai still One-to-Go-ing along, PB Air out there somewhere and Phuket Air, grounded or not, still giving us nightmares. Go Nok!

The hottest TV program of 2001 was more than just a game show. Kamchad Jud Orn (The Weakest Link) became a phenomenon thanks in part to uni lecturer-turned-host Krittika Kongsompong and her stern sendoff (“You are the weakest link! You loser!”). What also made The Weakest Link controversial, and popular, is that it showed real people being nasty in order to win. Good thing life isn’t like that.

The year saw the second coming of RCA, which was previously left for dead after its first rise and fall. This time celebrities moved in to open their own pubs (Caramile, Chomrom Chom Chan, School Bus) for drinking, dancing, drinking and maybe a bit of other-ing in the underground parking lot if you couldn’t afford a motel. Other hotspots included Route 66, Morgan, Sailing, Cisar and Old Leng.

Unfortunately this was also the era of Purachai Piumsombun, who held RCA and other nightlife areas and venues up as examples of all that was wrong with society. They roamed the strip with cameras and reporters in tow, and called in squads of pee-collecting cops who were particularly sensitive to the color purple. Special nightlife zones were drawn up and closing times were strictly enforced. Punters started looking elsewhere—like Singapore.

Hand in hand with the moral crusade came more government-designed distractions such as pride-building patriotism and record-setting. Grammy was commissioned to create some new versions of the national anthem, which were intended to attract the younger generation; they should have asked Bakery Music instead. Then there was the world’s biggest aerobic session; among the 46,823 participants were celebrities, atheletes, politicians and, of course, then-PM Thaksin, who looks great in Spandex. 

2003

In 2003, SARS horrified the world and slapped Asia particularly hard. What began in China spread throughout the region, leaving in its wake deaths—two reported in Thailand—and hitting tourism-dependent economies right where it hurt most. The government responded with another bright idea of that clever boy Thaksin, a B10 million insurance policy for foreign tourists. You die, we pay.

In the Year of the Goat, we flocked like sheep to theaters to see Fan Chan. This feel-good flick was the first movie of the year to gross B100 million. Now one way to ensure a film’s success is to give it a tagline like “A movie from one of the Fan Chan directors,” “A movie from one of the assistants of one of the Fan Chan directors” or “A documentary from a highschool friend of one of the Fan Chan directors.” Thailand also welcomed a new hero, Tony Ja. With his “No Sling, No Stunt” motto, Ja Phanom made Onk-Bak a huge hit and set the stage for international distribution of his next mindless action film, Tom Yum Goong.   

Soap opera star Suwanan Kongying compromised relations between Thailand and our neighbor by saying mean things about Cambodians that were quoted in the Rasmei Angkor Newspaper. Only she didn’t. Unfortunately, no one heard her tearful denials until it was too late: Hun Sen was enraged, angry mobs torched the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh, Thai flags were burned, Thai businesses vandalized and Thai people attacked. And of course Suwana’s soap operas were banned. 

2004

In the Year of the Monkey, Bird Flu invaded Thailand and we were scared senseless, until the PM announced it was again safe to eat properly cooked chicken. Hello, KFC! More monetary reassurance: If you were lucky enough to die of H5N1, the government would pay you B3 million. 

The tragedy of the year was the unexpected tsunami disaster. The upside of the tragedy was that the world showed how much it cared by sending money, blood, supplies and more.

The most violent and entertaining battle of the year was the governor election. Fun characters like the massage parlor king and Leena Jung appeared, the latter being disqualified as she paraded around with her transgender dancers.

In 2004 J-Avenue opened as a new hub for the young and trendy crowd. The beginning of the end for predecessor H1, in no time the gorgeous boys and girls had moved down the street and were peacocking at Au Bon Pain.

The reality TV trend kicked off locally with Academy Fantasia, which was soon followed by The Star, Big Brother, Thailand’s Next Top Model and Thailand’s Perfect Man.

But when it comes to real reality, it was a notorious year for celebrities, beginning with fading pop singer Power Pat, and Triumph Kingdom member Joyce, who were both arrested for selling amphetamines. The Casanova rapper Joey Boy got into trouble for joining a sex party, but later claimed he was taking prescription medication—er, sorry, wrong excuse: he said he was just there to watch, not actually participate. And 2004 was also the year Nong Nat became a VCD star and a household name. You go, girl!

As in most years, there was no accounting for taste in 2004. Taiwanese boy band F4 were tops: tickets to their Bangkok Fantasy concert were among the most expensive in town—even more than Mariah—and all 5,000 of the B6,000 tickets sold out within two hours. This was also the year of Tata Young’s comeback. Leaving her cute tomboy look behind, Tata appeared with longer hair, shorter pants and heavier… burdens. Not quite Nong Nat, but her hot-hot-hot videos sparked the usual “youth going down the toilet” debate.

2005

Forget diamonds, gold, and expensive watches. In 2005, wristbands began as fashion for teenagers who wore those multicolored rubber bracelets without a clue as to what they meant or who Lance Armstrong was. But soon, even your grandma had one. The most popular one, without a doubt, is the yellow Long Live the King wristband.

In the Year of the Rooster, Thaksin Shinawatra was named top cock (Person of the Year) in an ABAC Poll. Wow, things can sure change in two years. And we thought love is forever.

Speaking of cocky, Rain flooded Asia with his songs, TV series and images of his sixpack. We were lucky enough to talk to him in BK No. 095. Favorite book: “I don’t have time to read,” Favorite publication: “No magazine in particular,” Favorite website: “I’m too busy to go online,” Favorite song to get you on the dancefloor: “No song in particular.” What a guy.

Siam Paragon ads were on every BTS, wall, leaflet and TV in town. With this kind of marketing, we almost expected to be let down by the “glorious phenomenon.” Truth is, Paragon has lived up to our expectations. 

The rise of RCA came again in 2005, when Slim opened its doors and the king of the strip, Route 66, returned with a new-and-improved look. While everyone lemminged along with the rise of hip hop and bling-bling, Astra filled its bare bones interior with more than one kind of music. By the way, despite the rumors it’s still open. 

Even bigger, buzz-wise, was the arrival of Mystique. With its aquariums, curtained cubbyholes and comfy Bedouin rooftop retreat, this supposedly New York-style club gave Q-Bar and Bed a run for their money until the neighbors decided they’d had enough of the noise, traffic and wasted punters. 

2006

We don’t need to remind you of the coup d’etat and the New Year’s Eve bombs—and we don’t have to tell you what a crap way it was to end the year. But the Year of the Dog wasn’t all bad…

BK loves you way too much to spend an entire two weeks without getting in touch. To spend more time with you, we increased from bi-weekly to weekly—but the official reason was to help you plan your weekend every Friday.

The biggest and most spectacular celebration of this year was for the 60th Anniversary of HM the King’s Accession to the Throne. The country found peace for the occasion as Thais united under one color—the royal yellow. HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn stealing shots from the balcony, the human sea of yellow stretching as far as the eye could see, the royal barge procession, the world’s royals gathered to pay homage (and of course the super-hot then-Prince Jigme of Bhutan) were just some of the many touching and moving moments of the celebrations.

Aimed at boosting tourism in Chiang Mai, Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006 turned out to be a giant phak chee roy na picnic. What, people don’t visit Thailand for our flowers???

Having newspapers, TV and radio wasn’t enough for Sondhi Limthongkul: what he really wanted was to bring down Squareface. It took a marathon runner’s stamina to campaign and rally week after week, but he was there leading the cheers until it all came tumbling down.

In November, mobile phone numbers switched to 10 digits. As if we needed more stress.

We thought of inviting NASA to Thailand when unidentified objects began popping up in Uthai Thani. When they failed to deliver winning lottery numbers, the painful truth had to be accepted. The UFOs were nothing but water-gorged fever relief pads fallen from a plane.

Speaking of foreign round objects, Roti Boy had Bangkokians queuing for hours just to get a taste of those those cloyingly sweet coffee, butter, and sugar buns.

The alcohol advertisement ban for all media cast its shadow on TVs, radios and magazines. At BK, fearing for our jobs, we started drinking more heavily than ever, increasing sales of booze.

After 46 years of the nong ngoo hao project, Suvarnabhumi International Airport came to be in September. We’ll really miss Don Muang, especially that tunnel that was like being in some sick monster’s intestines that went from the domestic to the international terminal. Oh, but wait, DM is back!

Top 10 BKs

Every one of our issues is like a child to us, so you can imagine how painful it was to choose which ones we liked best. If you missed these, shame on you.

		Issue: Mar 16-Apr 5, 2001. Class of 2544. Why: This was our launch issue with Paradon, Tata and a puppy on the cover. We were very excited and we wanted to cover everything in town, review every restaurant, every bar, and interview everyone. We haven’t done too bad.
		Issue: Oct 5-18, 2001. Free & Easy. Why: We know that you love free stuff—we do too—so we went out and found everything you can get for B0.00: movies, arts, concerts, fitness and beauty trials, free food—and even condoms.
		Issue: Oct 3-16, 2003. Technicolor Dreams. Why: Our Fall Fashion Issue was so elegant, Vogue must have been jealous—with distinguished photographer Thananon Thanakornkarn.
		Issue: May 2-15, 2003. Ms. Thang’s Weekend. Why: It’s the birth of our Khun-nhu character who spends her time and money living the high life. She had such a blast, she made a comeback in BK No. 19, Aug 6-19, 2004 issue.
		Issue: Jul 16-Aug 5, 2004. Haiku. Why: It’s not often that we feel poetic and come up with haikus about what we needed Bangkok to be.
		Issue: Feb 4-17, 2005. Love, International Style. Why: This is one of the most talked about issues. For Valentine’s Day, we explored the complex business of love between Thais and foreigners.
		Issue: Jun 3-16, 2005. Be Good. Why: Because we want a better world—and not just great food and cool bars—we rounded up ways to change society for the better.
		Issue: Apr 7-27, 2006. Water World & Singapore Spree (double issue). Why: It was the first issue of BK with two front covers and no back cover. One side we told you how to survive the Songkran festival, the other heralded a complete shopping guide to Singapore.
		Issue: Jun 9-15, 2006. Big on Japan. Why: This one was a real big hit (and a small headache). You read it backwards, Japanese-style! Everything inside had been Nippon-ized as well.
		Issue: Jun 22-29, 2006. Good to be Gay. Why: It’s not all about the cute model on the cover. It was also about celebrating all things LGBT—Venus Flytrap, flavored condoms, and all the things that make being gay so good.

It’s eleven at night and your stomach is begging to be fed. The problem is that most restaurants tend to doze off around 10pm, even on weekends. Sure, there are 24-hour convenience shops where you can drop by for snacks and dumplings, but if you’re looking for something substantial, try one of the following for a proper, hearty meal after 11pm.

Big Mama Pizzeria

The lowdown: Stylish she is not, but Big Mama is definitely generous. At this small and homey shop house, you’ll find every sort of hearty, homestyle food on offer and at low prices. Try the house special—the Big Mama pizza, replete with sausage, ham, eggplant and garlic. If you prefer a Thai twist, there are pizza tom yum and pizza larb kai. Everything here is cheesy—even the décor with its blend of faux wood paneling, African-style paintings and Thai textiles.
Last order: 11:30pm.
139 Sukhumvit Soi 21 (Asoke Soi 1), 02-259-0232. Open daily 11am-midnight.

Coyote on Convent

The lowdown: Head upstairs if you’re after a cozy restaurant ambience, or grab a seat on the ground floor for a lively party feel. The kitchen dishes out all the familiar Mexican favorites, such as sizzling fajitas and bulging burritos. The food won’t win any awards for its authenticity, but it’s still excellent, with heavy Tex-Mex influences. A huge selection of margaritas and addictive nachos makes this watering hole an entertaining joint to hang out with a bunch of friends.
Last order: Midnight.
Sivadon Bldg., 1/2 Convent Rd., 02-631-2325. Open daily 11am-1am.

Crêpes & Co.

The lowdown: Thanks to its friendly service and on-going all-day brunch, Crêpes & Co. remains a firm favorite among friends and families, where you can have crêpes for your starter, entrée and dessert. Choose between the comfy lounge, lively dining area, and outdoor terrace. A good place if you like to experiment, the restaurant is also known for its Spanish, Greek, and Moroccan festivals. It’s laid-back and quiet enough for a chat, yet not too informal to take your business clients. Just don’t gulp down too much sangria.
Last order: 11:30pm.
18/1 Sukhumvit Soi 12, 02-653-3990/1. Open Mon-Sat 9am-midnight, Sun 8am-midnight.

Gotto Retto

The lowdown: Non-smokers should give this sushi bar a wide berth as the place is filled with Marlboro-puffing salarymen and their pretty dates. For the rest of you, feel free to eat, drink, and smoke to your hearts’ content. It’s more of a drinking restaurant serving an assortment of small tidbits than a proper sushi shop, and Gotto Retto’s sushi might not be the best you’ve ever had, but there are still some real bargains on offer.
Last order: Midnight.
87 Thonglor Soi 13, 02-381-4272. Open Mon-Fri 4pm-1am, Sat-Sun 11am-2pm, 4pm-1am.

Kinnaree

The lowdown: You have to make your way through food stalls, massage parlors, and shoddy nightclubs to get to this spacious restaurant tucked at the back of dingy soi 8. But there, a vast selection of Thai dishes awaits you. The décor evokes the mystical Anodard Pond, with dark teak, golden ornaments, and lots of flower arrangements. The place is usually quiet until around 9pm, when the expat regulars show up for lingering dinners and drinks. Don’t worry about saving room for the desserts—they’re pretty forgettable—but their signatures, yam som-o (spicy pomelo salad) and neua pun saparod (grilled marinated beef strips wrapped on pineapple sticks), are not.
Last order: 11:30pm.
43 Sukhumvit Soi 8, 02-256-0328. Open 11:30am-3pm, 6pm-midnight.

Ramentei

The lowdown: Even during the day, this bustling ramen shop can get rather wild, when office workers and Japanese salarymen descend for good-value lunch sets. In the evening, it’s similarly packed and the same ear-splitting noise prevails, so this is not the place for a romantic dinner. However, it’s perfect for anyone looking for a cheap, filling, delicious meal.
Last order: 1:30am.
23/8-9, Soi Thaniya, Silom Rd., 02-234-8082. Open daily 11am-2am

Reflections

The lowdown: This pink building, with its lovely pool and rows of colorful hanging lamps, is a hip hangout for trendy crowds. The menu features a long list of Thai and seafood dishes, which, fortunately, are as good as the decor. After dinner, you can order funky home furnishings and eclectic knickknacks along with your takeaway.
Last order: Mon-Thu 11pm, Fri-Sun 11:30pm.
81 Soi Ari, Phaholyothin Soi 7, 02-270-3340. Open daily 11:30am-1am.

Samsensoisam

The lowdown: The airy riverside restaurant offers spectacular views with great Thai food to match. Its coveted alfresco terrace, overlooking Rama VIII Bridge, wins the best view prize. As it’s an affordable place, university students and young office workers make up the majority of regulars, but the place is still pretty quiet, so it’s a good spot for an intimate moment accompanied by chilled-out, mellow pop tunes.
Last order: Midnight.
10 Samsen Soi 3, Samsen Rd., 02-268-8362. Open daily 5pm-1am.

Xuan Mai

The lowdown: Dining at this small, no-frills eatery is like having dinner at a friend’s house—a friend who is a fabulous cook. Owner/chef Meyung Robson has won over local foodies and picky Vietnamese expats alike with her homestyle Vietnamese cooking. Balancing Saigon’s flavors with Hanoi influences, the former FBI agent serves ubiquitous Vietnamese favorites, but also more unusual dishes you’d be very lucky to find on the menus of other Vietnamese restaurants in town.
Last order: Varies each day, depending on the customers. But normally the staff are willing to make pho for you till the shop closes.
32 Sukhumvit Soi 13, 02-251-8389. Open Tue-Sun 11:30am-2:30pm, 6:30pm-midnight.

Yamagoya

The lowdown: This second branch of the leading Japanese ramen chain is less crowded than its original outlet in Thonglor Soi 13. Accordingly, you can enjoy its toothsome noodles in a quiet atmosphere and without playing hide-and-seek with the staff. The menu is small and simple—a handful of ramen recipes and a few side dishes like gyoza and tonkatsu. Its signature Yamagoya Ramen with boiled egg, seaweed, and tender slices of BBQ pork is the perfect comfort food to sooth a cold, a broken heart or midnight blues.
Last order: 11:45 pm for fried items, midnight for ramen.
98-102 Suriyawongse Rd., (next to Tawana Hotel), 02-637-0588. Open daily 10:30am-midnight.

BarSu

250 Sukhumvit Rd., 02-649-8385. Open daily 6pm-2am. www.barsubangkok.com.
Here you’ll find a large circular area with cozy couches (a.k.a. “love seats”) lining the periphery. Ignore the DJ and draw her in close with those magic words, “Will you marry me? At least for the next two hours?” That’s sure to charm the pants off her. If not, settle for some nibbles; the menu was designed by a two-star Michelin chef.

Crystal Lounge

28 Sukhumvit Soi 20 (next to Koi), 02-258-1599. Open daily 11am-1am. www.crystal-lounge.com.
A nice place to lure your date for dining, then scoot over to the crystal shop to buy her a little ring and drop that question like a hot 10 baht coin. Will she pick it up, or will she just pass on by, like a stingy hiso striding past a nude beggar? Well, you have nothing to lose by trying. Crystal Lounge is redefining the meaning of “one-stop service” for lovers.

Moon Bar at Veritigo

61/F, Banyan Tree, 21/100 South Sathorn Rd., 02-679-1200. Open daily 5pm-1am (weather permiting).
This sky-high, open-air rooftop bar offers a panoramic view of the city, with telescopes on hand to provide pervy close ups. Lounge and jazz music enhance your mood. For a memorable evening, do the deed at Moon Bar…then never look back.

To Die For

H1, 998 Soi Thonglor, 02-381-4714. Open Sun-Thu 11:30am-midnight, Fri-Sat 11:30am-1am.
You’ve been with your significant other for how long now? Well, as they say, either poop or get off the pot. Tie that knot without a second thought! This is a romantic place to make it happen, and in those recliners in the back, you can even propose horizontally! Honestly, though, she won’t mind where you take her, as long as you really mean it, and she really is the one “to die for.”