Le Cabaret Bangkok 23rd March 2012

Le Cabaret at MBK..

Didn't really do the Siam and  MBK experience justice the other day, so back there today for a more comprehensive exploration. Bus 25 or 15, both heading towards the National Stadium where the MBK centre and those other high end shopping malls are located. Bus 15 rolls by, 6.50 baht for the relatively short journey, although hardy trekkers could hike the route in about 1 1/2 - 2 hours.

Bus stops directly opposite the National Stadium, just prior to the Sky Train station, which also serves as an overpass of the 6 lanes of highway, as well as walkways into the various malls. First significant building, is the Bangkok Art and Culture Museum. The only interest for me here is that Google have parked 2 of their Street View cars at the entrance, interesting that his should be considered artistic and cultural! A photo from the elevated walkway is enough, since arts and cultural sounds rather boring and I don't really have the time anyway. Next door is 'Siam Discovery' - a discovery of more shops by the looks of things. Yep, 7 floors of designer shops, posh eating and a display of wax dummies. Madame Tussuad's, famed for having wax models of famous people displayed, are here, close to the top floor with excited Korean tourists queueing for their opportunity to flirt with the stars. Next floor up, the very top infact, is an ice rink, busy with locals skating through puddles of water. Seems like keeping it all frozen is a struggle, 8 floors up! An interesting look around, and if their is an inclination to splurge, then eating in a top floor restaurant will be a memorable experience on 2 accounts, the amazing city view, and the price!

The next 2 along, Siam Centre and Siam Paragon. Looked over these places the other day, nice for an hour to satisfy a curiosity, but when the realisation that these places are really for the rich and super rich kicks in, it all then becomes quite a tedious affair.

Over the road to MBK via the elevated walkways. A stage is set just in front of the Tokyu entrance, chairs laid out in neat rows, on the the pavements between the MBK building and the Sky Train station, must be something going on later. MBK is where the masses, locals and tourists go to shop. It's lively, has all the trappings of a modern day mall - McDonald's, Starbucks, etc. This is where to find those designer label bargains, Reebok trainers for example, £21. No super bargains here though, no smart party shirts for £1.50 or anything like it. Posters around about the impending show outside, the only English wording being the starting time, and Cabaret (OK, I Know that's French) 18.00. Could be interesting. So, with an hour to kill, it's off to Starbucks, for what turns out to be rather substandard Americano coffee for £1.45.

Quarter to 6 and people are gathering outside. Might aswell grab a seat, seems to be a free show. People come and go, stage hands making adjustments. A VIP area is cordoned off, and we're told to move back a few rows. More running around, sound checks, quite clearly not ready for a 6 o'clock show. It's going to be a show with ladyboy participation since I can see quite a gathering of them, milling around in flamboyant dresses, head gear and of course feathers. Quite a crowd now, waiting for proceedings to begin - a few tourists, but mostly locals and a few bemused kids on the fringes.

Le Cabaret

6.30 and the show gets underway with a cancan routine. Interesting is one way of putting it, they must be getting paid well for this! Next is an all glitz and glamour affair with an Alcazar show, as they call it. Miming to well known pop tunes with an energetic dance routine to match. Intermissions with speeches and presentations, all in Thai so not a great deal of interest to the tourists, numbers of which have dwindled significantly looking around the rather large gathering of bystanders. Another routine from the Alcazar troupe, then it's a kind of talent show, with individual performances, X-factor ladyboy style. The initial opening, and 1st hour was quite good, uplifting, spirited displays, but now it's boring. I wouldn't say there is any particularly good talent in a visual sense and the lip syncing is terrible. so after number 2, that's it for me. Off to find a bus back to base.

The bus stand is right by the Stadium, which incidentally has a Thai boxing tournament In progress. This is obviously the place to be on a Friday night in Bangkok, for sports fans anyway. Bus 47 stops at KS road according to another tourist, and yes it does and since traffic is quite light for a change, the journey is only about 20 minutes, and free. The bus stops on the main boulevard, about 200 yards past the Democracy monument. Apparently, bus journeys after 7pm are free of charge. And that would explain why they are packed to the rafters every time!