A foreign nobody

[Bamboo Grove]

His name has been changed but I happen to know him from my Bangkok years. Interesting reading and quite true, although nothing new.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/feature/peop ... ign-nobody

[hhfarang]

Great article BG! Thanks for posting it. I've had a few drinks in the Silver Dollar myself over the years and had some conversations with some very interesting American expats in there, a few from Texas, so maybe I've had a drink with this guy.

[MrPlum]

"I'm just a 'foreign nobody' and that's okay."

Like it.

[Nereus]

His name has been changed but I happen to know him from my Bangkok years. Interesting reading and quite true, although nothing new.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/feature/peop ... ign-nobody

I guess his real name is well known to some of us.

I have not been in the Silver Dollar for many years. The original owner, Bobby Tooms, passed away in December of 1996, a real nice guy. I am surprised the whole area has survived this long.

[PeteC]

I'm not sure if that place is still owned by Ott and Ned, or they've sold by now and gone to their Jomtien place. That whole square is still on the chopping block and as the author says, many places have closed up as leases not renewed. Bourbon Street is building a new place somewhere on Ekamai I think, but from what I hear it is behind schedule and the old one is still open. I think one of these days we'll wake up and Washington Square will only be in the history books. Pete

EDIT: Ott and Ned may be the Texas Lone Star....I always get them mixed up.

[Nereus]

I'm not sure if that place is still owned by Ott and Ned, or they've sold by now and gone to their Jomtien place. That whole square is still on the chopping block and as the author says, many places have closed up as leases not renewed. Bourbon Street is building a new place somewhere on Ekamai I think, but from what I hear it is behind schedule and the old one is still open. I think one of these days we'll wake up and Washington Square will only be in the history books. Pete

EDIT: Ott and Ned may be the Texas Lone Star....I always get them mixed up.

Oldtimers Disease is a bitch! Have a look here,Pete.

http://www.freewebs.com/bangkokdarts/page_2.htm

[hhfarang]

Bourbon Street is building a new place somewhere on Ekamai I think, but from what I hear it is behind schedule and the old one is still open.

Yes Pete, the owner showed me the plans for his new place on Ekamai (restaurant and high rise hotel) about a year and a half ago telling me he would be moved in by January 2011. As things go in Thailand, I guess he will be lucky to get the move done by January 2012 (or 2013!).

I for one will be sorry to see the square go as it has been primarily an American enclave in Bangkok for as long as I can remember, but we all get old, land on Sukhumvit at Soi 22 gets more valuable and I'm sure the entire place will be gone with a condo, shopping mall, or 5 star hotel in it's place someday soon.

On a more British note, one of my favorite pubs in Bangkok across Sukhumvit from the square, Bull's Head, closed it's doors for good a couple of months ago after some 20 to 30 years in business at that location.