ASIA FILE point of view on the New Thermae, Feb 1998

Unlike the patrons that complain about missing the old place, I am not so nostalgic. I had only been frequenting the place since 1989, but had never grown to love the stale, smoky air, the terrible overcrowding, the broken beer bottles and broken glasses on the floor that the staff could never quite clean up due to the crowds -- or the toilet that you had to take a deep breath, hold it and then hope you could finish taking a leak before you ran out of breath. (Ed: We dropped in a few times in the early 80's and in 1985 after one too many Singha's appreciated the unisex bathroom facility and the strategically placed little hand of a cutie who helped the bent AF editor angle his wizz in the proper direction).

The only good thing about the old place was the noodle soup and the women. Both were cheap. The New Thermae has kept the good (hot noodles and hot women) and improved on what was less perfect. It is larger now with many more places to sit. The old run down booths are still there along one wall, but there is now a S--shaped bar where the patrons can sit on both sides looking into each others eyes or in the case of many male patrons staring a bit lower. Waiters still have to hustle drinks from a liquor bar in the back, but they now have room to walk so that you can actually get a beer the same day you ordered it.

You can safely breathe the air in either of two groups of toilets (one at the back and another at the front). It is still crowded enough so that males and females are forced to brush each others bodies (always one of the great sports of Thermae) as they walk around, but you can actually walk around now, and there are far fewer hostilities caused from "stepped-on-feet" and a general atmosphere of pushing and showing.

The women are still coming in droves and after 3am it is as crowded as any "meat market" anywhere. If I have any complaints it is that the "old timers" that hung out in the old Thermae for years are still taking up too much space in the New Thermae. I would prefer they give up space for some new ladies. Actually, there seems to be many more new male tourists who were probably turned off by the Old Thermae that are now coming in... and staying.

Times change, often for the better. Even nostalgia isn't what it used to be and for many newcomers to Bangkok and Thermae, "these are the good old days." I am a Vietnam Vet, so I can hardly be considered a "newcomer" to Southeast Asia. All I can say to my fellow "old timers" is to learn to adjust and love the new changes or retire to a hermitage in Mae Hong Son.

"Old" doesn't always mean "good", and there is little that the New Thermae doesn't offer that isn't better than the old one. It is still the best place in Bangkok to go for those poor souls who have nothing better to do at 4'oclock in the morning.