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November '97
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Vol 1. No 2. November, 1997
I was planning to regale you with some steamy tales from the saunas this month, seeing as two new ones have recently opened their steam valves, but I haven't been quite able to dislodge this overinflated tire tube from around my waist. Bouncing off the wall may be appropriate behaviour at a techno rave or drag-queen clawdown (similar to a country and western hoedown but with bigger hair and more spangly clothing), but I want to be looking svelte and sleek if all I'm wearing is a hanky that passes as a towel. Besides, another month will give both Heaven and Cat the chance to perfect their respective acts (and me the chance to slim down).
Speaking of claws, they must be the UGLIEST drag queens I ever did see.
"They" being the "welcoming committee" at the Hole in the Wall, that long popular watering hole on Khao San Road that has become the latest, favourite, early morning hang-out for the city's queers. Packed from midnight on with Khao San irregulars, with ravers bopping to the latest hits played by music meister Chok, it takes an eagle eye to spot the fake femmes fatales lurking in the shadows under the flashing rainbow-coloured lights. (Fans of old horror movies should have an casier time of it - just look for the pancaked makeup effect). But it's not until Patpong closes down that the Hole really gets a throbbin'. Suppressing a chortle is difficult while watching the look of bemusement gradually change to consternation on the faces of the irregulars as a seemingly never-ending swarm of fairies gushes through the door, changing the entire composition of the room within moments. You can almost hear them asking themselves, "What the hell is this, a Tinkerbell convention?"
The party usually goes on until dawn or beyond. When I discreetly enquired of the owner which days of the week this was most likely to occur, she said with a slightly pained expression, "Eveerrry night." See you there...
Still on the subject of cross-dressers, I rotored over to Mambo recently for a quick look at what it had to offer. In case you don't know, Mambo is the new cabaret venue that opened on June 1 in Sukhumvit 33. Managing director Gorsem Sarigakham, who previously managed Calypso's touring road troupe for 10 years, filched the 40-member troupe to open his new establishment. He was mum about what exactly precipitated his hasty departure from Calypso.
After seeing the show, I can 't help but wonder if he shouldn't have started from scratch (pun intended). Although the brilliantly bedecked dancers put on a spectacular show, they totally lack soul. A couple of impressive numbers stand out - notably the old standby with a performer playing, literally, a double-faced role, but generally the performers are so icily professional they freeze out the audience. At Baht 500 a pop, this is nothing to sneeze at. The entrance fee includes one free beverage or cocktail, with each additional costing Baht 100. Showtimes are at 830pm and 10pm nightly, and the shows last approximately 65 minutes.
Currently tour groups from Japan make up 90 percent of the clientele. Because of this, reservations are recommended, although the auditorium was only half full the night I attended.
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