2006 - Giotto's Lodge in Bangkok

[Giotto]

...The Sports Lounge. There's a story behind this and not a happy one, unfortunately.

I'm in the lounge one evening, freshly laundered, showered and pressed. As someone's already said on this thread, there's a pretty good bunch of girls in the lounge - most pretty, some very pretty. So I get talking, but there's something clearly wrong: everyone else is jumping (literally in some cases!) but initially at least, I'm only getting polite disinterest. I pop the question, and now I start to get the full range of excuses. The prizes are the face-saving lie ("me period!"), the get-lost ("you want short time, 8000 baht, 1 hour?"), or just the can't-believe-you-asked. On top of that, there's the jokes to the other girls, which I can't understand as they're in Thai but obviously aren't complimentary. ...

Member #3160,

Welcome to the forum, thanks for your report, and sorry to hear your comments about our Sports Lounge.

But I think I don't really get the message. What happened? Was there communication between you and girls, and finally all girls you talked to found excuses not to go?


Giotto

[Member #3160]

So, I've just finished a five-day stay at Livingstone's - first time in Thailand, first time in Bangkok, first time at Livingstone's, and arriving on my birthday as well. Good omen, right? Unfortunately it didn't quite go as I'd expected.

The good:

The lodge itself is really well laid out, set well back from the main road and the soi it faces, so that there's not much traffic noise. The location itself is excellent, near the SkyTrain so it's easy to go places quickly. The rooms are great - big, spacious, clean and with beds big enough to lose an elephant in. The reception and serving staff are very friendly and the management has the proverbial open arms. The food in the restaurant's pretty good and the service is very quick. About the only thing I didn't get round to trying was the pool.

The bad:

The Sports Lounge. There's a story behind this and not a happy one, unfortunately.

I'm in the lounge one evening, freshly laundered, showered and pressed. As someone's already said on this thread, there's a pretty good bunch of girls in the lounge - most pretty, some very pretty. So I get talking, but there's something clearly wrong: everyone else is jumping (literally in some cases!) but initially at least, I'm only getting polite disinterest. I pop the question, and now I start to get the full range of excuses. The prizes are the face-saving lie ("me period!"), the get-lost ("you want short time, 8000 baht, 1 hour?"), or just the can't-believe-you-asked. On top of that, there's the jokes to the other girls, which I can't understand as they're in Thai but obviously aren't complimentary.

I leave at that point, as you can imagine. One of the members of staff comes out, finds me in the lodge and apologises for what's just happened - it's a nice gesture as I'm obviously not feeling too happy at this point. I've just gone through bewilderment, to anger at being singled out, to being deeply saddened and disappointed, because by this time I'm pretty sure I've worked out what was going on. The likely answer's in my guidebook, in a section which I wish I'd paid more attention to before coming out here:

"Despite general compassion there's mixed treatment of the disabled, who tend to be kept hidden, partly due to karmic belief, face and prejudice about appearance."

I'm deaf, and I had a hell of a lot of trouble trying to hear what was being said in the lounge with all the background music. You can work out the rest.

It also explains why, in five days of travelling across Bangkok, I've not seen a single obviously disabled person on any form of public transport. The only disabled people I've seen have been - without exception - beggars or lottery ticket sellers, which probably says something about their status in Thai society.

I go back to the lounge for a short while the following (my last) evening, hoping that what happened before was just an exception. Nope - I have pretty much the same result again and get to add more entries to the list of excuses for why barfining isn't possible - though without the open mockery this time, thankfully.

This prompts another apology from the same member of staff and a "hope you weren't disappointed." Actually, I was - I was able to salvage something from the previous evening by making a quick dash elsewhere but that last evening in Bangkok was a write-off. And that's to say nothing of how generally crappy and demeaning the whole experience felt.

Do I regret going to Livingstone's now? When I checked out this morning I did, but having had a chance to think about it I still think it's a good place to stay, on the whole. I can't blame the management - they're not responsible for the society they live in, any more than hotelliers in 1950s Alabama. If you're able-bodied, you'll have a ball. If you're not, you'll still be able to make good use of most of the facilities, but steer clear of the Sports Lounge: you'll just be sent to the back of the bus. There's a lot of good things about Livingstone's but unfortunately it's not the good things that I'll remember most from this visit.

[Giotto]

Dear Mr. Chairman:

I am happy to report to all that the inspection was satisfactory and the new rooms are excellent. I like the electronic keys with the alarm, the new bathrooms, and of course the new jacuzzi. ...

Mr. Marketing Director,

may I correct you in details - you especially liked the Double Jacuzzi's !


Giotto

[Traveler1234]

Dear Mr. Chairman:

I am happy to report to all that the inspection was satisfactory and the new rooms are excellent. I like the electronic keys with the alarm, the new bathrooms, and of course the new jacuzzi.

Your are now duly CERTIFIED and ready to go. My only concern is the completion of the dungeon in time for Piper1 and his family.

By the way, I should also mention the new stable of ladies at the bar was equally impressive. See you at the pool party

Thanks, Guys. Thanks for coming, Mr. Marketing Director.

I had a quiet evening with some glasses of red wine. It was not really the day to open a bottle of champagne, still too much to do here to organize the processes in the different business sections.

But things are better than two years ago.

I had an excellent frenulum test today - will write about that soon. Sex life getting back to normal. Life is not that bad in the moment.


Giotto

[Giotto]

Thanks, Guys. Thanks for coming, Mr. Marketing Director.

I had a quiet evening with some glasses of red wine. It was not really the day to open a bottle of champagne, still too much to do here to organize the processes in the different business sections.

But things are better than two years ago.

I had an excellent frenulum test today - will write about that soon. Sex life getting back to normal. Life is not that bad in the moment.


Giotto

[Tamurlane26]

Alas have been sequestered in Saudi so shall only be able to drink Saudi Champagne and toast your good fortune

until the next time

[Yi Ren]

<...>Tonight - Mr. G: The Marketing Director is visiting tonight for dinner and an inspection of the premises. Yi Ren will join for dinner. Hope to see other ISG tonight.

(Pls prepare the dungeon)

Hey, if there are any inspections going on, I must be included. I mean as the token Resident Falang. Just to make sure Thai laws and customs are obeyed.

See you there.

Cheers,
-Y

[Traveler1234]

On 22.11.2004 I signed the contract to take over Livingstone's Lodge (that time the object had a different name).

Two years today - is that a reason to open a bottle of chanpagne? I am not sure..

Giotto

Just landed, touch down 2 pm, 10 minutes to walk to immigration (it's like playing two long par 5's), 10 minutes to clear, 2 minutes to pick up bags, 5 minutes to find driver, change money, another 10 minutes for car to come up, and 14 minute drive to hotel (Bang Kapi area, off Rama IX). Not bad - arrived hotel 3 pm.

Now unpacked, making some contacts and off to Long Beach for two hours of R&R.

Tonight - Mr. G: The Marketing Director is visiting tonight for dinner and an inspection of the premises. Yi Ren will join for dinner. Hope to see other ISG tonight.

(Pls prepare the dungeon)

[Piper1]

Congrats Giotto! I'll enjoy a champagne tonight in Dubai to help you celebrate!

Vive la Lodge!

On 22.11.2004 I signed the contract to take over Livingstone's Lodge (that time the object had a different name).

Two years today - is that a reason to open a bottle of chanpagne? I am not sure...

But it is for sure the right day for the next frenulum test !



Giotto

[Giotto]

On 22.11.2004 I signed the contract to take over Livingstone's Lodge (that time the object had a different name).

Two years today - is that a reason to open a bottle of chanpagne? I am not sure...

But it is for sure the right day for the next frenulum test !



Giotto

[Giotto]

Sounds like a record for the ladie$ - you have a nice crew of ladies there so i can see that happening, there not pushy like most bars i visited when i was there

Thanks,

I think the customers rang the bell at least 10 times, drinks for all girls in the bar. It was simply a great party, and the guests made the girls feel very comfortable. And those guests know that the girls make some money with drinks and kept them happy.


Giotto

[Nuff Said]

Sounds like a record for the ladie$ - you have a nice crew of ladies there so i can see that happening, there not pushy like most bars i visited when i was there

Pipeman,

correct, too quiet in here.

Everybody is too busy to make business.

Last Saturday, record day for Livingstone's Lodge. Just one of the record numbers:

690 ladydrinks sold!!!

I drank beer all night. If I ever had a liver - it's gone now.

Giotto

[Giotto]

Yes, the thread has been very quiet! But glad to hear that business has been, well, very busy.

40 days and counting.

Pipeman,

correct, too quiet in here.

Everybody is too busy to make business.

Last Saturday, record day for Livingstone's Lodge. Just one of the record numbers:

690 ladydrinks sold!!!

I drank beer all night. If I ever had a liver - it's gone now.


Giotto

[Piper1]

Wow,

The last weeks were hard. To open the new rooms in time for the event, and then the event itself...

Everything went well. Minor problems in the new rooms, that was to be expected. And then the party on Saturday night until 4 am in the morning. I was dead yesterday.

I will try to get the chaos under control this week, and start writing here again.


Giotto

Yes, the thread has been very quiet! But glad to hear that business has been, well, very busy.

40 days and counting.

[Giotto]

Wow,

The last weeks were hard. To open the new rooms in time for the event, and then the event itself...

Everything went well. Minor problems in the new rooms, that was to be expected. And then the party on Saturday night until 4 am in the morning. I was dead yesterday.

I will try to get the chaos under control this week, and start writing here again.


Giotto