Joe Louis contemplates getting a tattoo
During the day Khao San Road seems sleepy. Even as tourists pass through sampling 200 bhat flip flops and fending off attacking suit salesmen, the vibe is slow and lethargic. Bars are open but patrons drowsily eat greasy food and sip beer or fruit juices while nursing hangovers.
Once the sun starts to set, the neighborhood awakes with a vibrant energy. Men fling shiny rings into the darkening sky and vendors more openly hawk fake IDs and steamy street food. Bars become crowded and dance music floods onto the street. Buckets of alcohol are prevalent and parties rage on inside of clubs.
There is a broad selection of non-wholesome activities available at nighttime Khao San Road, if you are open and willing. In addition to clubs and bars, near the street, tuk tuk drivers offer to take you to “the best” places Thailand has to offer. Many will offer to take you to Ping Pong Shows, and a few even gave me a menu of performances to choose from. The talented and highly capable entertainers have unique skills that reach far beyond ping pongs; they are able to manipulate candles, balloons, and even cookies.
Tattoo parlors are bustling with travelers looking to make their memorable experience unforgettable. Narcotics dealers shadily try to make a sale. Remember that while much of these business dealings seem endemic while there, many ares actually illegal in Thailand. As always, be aware and act smart.
See what other blogs are saying about the activities of Khao San Road:
“Bars serve 40s of beer and buckets of booze. The ladies are sometimes men and all the tuktuk drivers know where the best ping pong shows are. If you want a tattoo, a piercing, a snack of crickets, a new haircut, a foot massage, or a happy ending, you will find it on Khao San Road”
–The Backslackers
“You’ll see 18 year old boys coming out of back rooms with smiles stretching all the way across their faces, even though the women who came out behind them could have been 60 years old.”
–Hippie in Heels
