Camaraderie On Soi Twilight

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines camaraderie as "a spirit of friendly good fellowship," and the the Thai tend to have that in abundance. Quite a while back we saw how they can find sanuk (fun) in almost everything, including unpleasant work. Sanuk, you'll remember, fun; again, if it isn't sanuk it's not worth doing. Today's post is an example of thamngan sanuk, or finding enjoyment in your work.

The night workers of Bangkok have an often-challenging job: making folks they otherwise may well not normally find attractive, pleasant and/or personable feel both welcome and desired. Touts are tasked with getting customers to come into their clubs, restaurants or massage venues instead of the one next door or two doors down - sometimes by whatever means necessary. In English we might say "by hook or by crook". Clubs are often so much the same there's nothing to make one stand out from another. In the Soi Cowboy area the story's much the same, only the gender of the dancers inside is different.

However, here today are a couple of examples of how people doing what must many nights be somewhat tedious - not to mention thankless - jobs manage to keep spirits up while "on the clock", so to speak.

The tout outside of the club at the top banters with a co-worker who has arrived a little past starting time. By the way he playfully swats at the behind of the person passing by to the left he probably knows him. People do change clubs, but once entrenched in this nocturnal working life (and the quick money that can be made) they tend to stay as long as they can. Please note I said "quick", and not necessarily "easy" money, but that's a topic for another day.

The guys below - one from Dicks Cafe, the other from Bonny Massage chit-chat while waiting for their next possible customer to wander by.