absolutelyBangkok archive · Health, body & mind
Originally published Dec. 10, 2008
Thought that was a nice coincidence to celebrate the Thai Constitution Day holiday remembering the day that gave the monarchy a significant increase in authority after the overthrow of the absolute monarchy — to celebrate that holiday with the grand opening party of Bangkok’s latest nightclub N@ir.
No, N@ir is not the latest gallery of Bangkok’s darkish art icon Chris Coles. And anyway, Noir or N@ir? Go figure. Black as in French makes more sense. As all was dark. The walls, the waiters… Couldn’t even count all the darkly dressed event pretties throwing Chivas and Singhas and cocktails after you.
And as everything was dark, so went my mood. Says the nightclub’s slogan under the logo: “Number One In Reality — Bangkok, Thailand.” Here you go. All’s intentionally dark around there. The club’s location in the cellar of Ratchadapisek’s Emerald Hotel is therefore a most fitting place — as Ratchada got the blues.
You couldn’t tell while looking at N@ir’s jolly 25 year old owner who’s also the owner of Babylon massage parlor. No, I didn’t ask for free Babylon vouchers if you know what I mean. He was an all-polite chap hurrying around between his darkly dressed pretties and arriving guests. It all looked straight. But terribly depressive.
Business in Bangkok’s entertainment industry is all but down, down, down. Even though I was the only non-Asian and potential tourist at the club, you could tell that the Pantamit left a mark or two among Bangkok’s most unpolitical circles. The high and festive season felt like one of those big depressions forming devastating hurricanes.
I even had planned to dance a little — I know, me dancing is like a electrocuted cat trying to get out of a frying pan. But with all that darkish gloom and doom around… Even the few arriving lachrymose girls obviously dressed in expectation of some fun couldn’t cheer me up.
Emptied a few Singhas — and another Singha, and called it a night. Black as Bangkok’s new color of reality, N@ir’s really feels the pulse of the city.
If you wanna feel like crying while partying, N@ir’s the place to go.
“Number One In Reality.”
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