Social : SOUTHERNERS SPORTS CLUB

Posts Tagged ‘Social’

Khao San Road Tour April 2006

The inimitable Marco Polo once said “to walk amongst the travelers is to be but a fleeting breeze in an Afghan storm”. With this prose resonating around us, the Southerners 2006 Khao San Torrrr was underway. We were the fleeting breeze and that road, that travelers Mecca that is Khao San, was our Afghan storm. We were going to walk amongst the travelers.

Actually I made that quote up. Our Afghan storm began at the Robin Hood in grand style. Never has a more motley, and let’s face it, brave, accumulation of individuals gathered for what really is a rather parlous adventure into the depths of backpacker culture than on this day. There was Brown looking like Pele after 20 years in Jamaica, Jacques in a tea cosy, Steel with unspeakable hair for which he was fined and a Goa inspired headband, Ham looking like Chopper’s younger English cousin, the usual array of Red Bull singlets, wrist bands, fishermans pants and headscarves, and Fatty and Fabio featuring their normal dress complete with bags that could fit a house strapped to their backs.

So off we traipsed to the BTS. Happily, for the second year in a row no one was pushed on to the tracks so there were no delays. We alight at National Stadium and like true travelers, haggle with the tuk tuk boys for a 5 baht discount and settle in for the ride. Races are on and at least 3 make it on 2 wheels.

First stop is Gullivers. There’s not much happening so we create some action. Drinks are ordered and the court is in session. As per the Rules of the Tour, no imported drinks are allowed. We are backpackers and too poor for that. This is fine when you are drinking Singha beers but when it comes to fines of Sangsom, its hardly ideal and visions of a dog show begin to take shape. Notable fines include Maddern who bought his full outfit 2 minutes earlier on the street, Steel for his terrible hair, youngsters, Fabio and Fatty, just for being youngsters and the French boys for being French. After a few good ones we emerge onto the street for some real atmosphere. Its at
this point we begin to realize we are nothing but a bunch of epigones. We cannot match the authentic backpacker for style and grace. No amount of fake tattoos and fisherman’s pants will do it. But we get stuck in.

Bar #2 was a street side thing. Memory is hazy but one doesn’t forget the Cheers Beer chick who reached her monthly quota in the two hours we were there. Like any traveler we know a special when we see it and two large bottle for 10 cents or whatever it was needed to be dominated. The more you drink the more you save. Indeed. We saved a lot. Tarryn left her mark here with 16 orders of tequila and Linda joined us at this point in a top that wasn’t to stay on long.

Warmed and lubricated and attracting our fair share of stares we launched an assault on a rather upmarket bar across the road whose name escapes me right now. Now this is where things get really hazy, especially for the author who pretty soon got horizontal and at one stage almost fell over the balcony. The party raged on despite him.

Well the memory well and truly runs out now but the evidence suggests we made it the Irish bar upstairs where the usual theatrics took place. Basically we gave it stick. The court was out of session completely by this stage so there was nothing stopping us. On on…

See photos for more info. The author regrets that he can’t write on. Shakes brought on by ‘The Fear’ which was the result of that night and disturbing flashbacks spell the end.

But all in it was an absolute cracker. A slightly different crowd with some ring-ins (and one baby) provided a buzzing dynamic and once again, the Southerners Khao San Tour was a raging success.

[View with PicLens]

Southerners Family Race Day

Once again the annual Southerners Race Day has upstaged a gaggled of pretenders as the no. 1 highlight of the Bangkok Social Scene. When previously the NZ Ball, Ploenchit Fair or the Film Festival have sat atop the mantle, we are now experiencing a changing of the guard.

In global terms, the participation rivals that of the Hawaiian Iron Man. Interestingly, you need to be in similar shape to compete in both and many venture the Race Day is slightly more taxing on the body. Certainly the heat, concentration and feats of endurance are on par.

This year the prestigious honour of host went to the Royal Bangkok Sports Club, just edging out Nung Lerng, Royal Randwick, and Aintree in the voting. Set in the lush surrounds of the city centre, the club boasts a golf course, various sports pitches and a driving range in the centre of a spectacular race course. This, combined with the cityscape looming in the background provides a serene vista for avid race goers.

The crowd on the day, by contrast – some avid race goers and some avid other things – provided a less serene vista for the locals in the stand and vice versa. As usual, hats were the order of the day and from Nicole’s black and gold beauty, through Jeremy’s embarrassing pink sailing thing, to Brendon’s fantastical Mongolian Horseman’s bonnet, we really were a spectacle. A number of Brokeback contenders were on display as well.

With Scoop and Jones running syndicates, betting was made easy and interest peaked at raffle times with Wagga in outstanding form providing 3 bottles of sensational NZ, South African and Australian vintages to 3 lucky winners.

By race 8, with the temperature a constant 45ºC, the humidity breaking records, all and sundry rapidly intoxicating, and punters down on their luck we decided to ‘move out’. What a decision. Through an honour guard and to appreciative applause the Southerners Race Day 2006 came to an end and we filed out with promises of “we’ll be back”, “see you soon” and “I want to die”.

Typically, the day the end not end there and in true Southerners fashion we stoically soldiered on well into the night and far into oblivion.

Results later revealed an entry in Lonely Planet’s 10 Best Things to do in Bangkok, a nomination in World’s Best Looking Expats, and an invitation to the Melbourne Cup in November.

All in all a great day was again had by all and Southerners continues to provide innovative and original social gatherings for interested expats and locals.

Southerners Social Committee

2005/2006 BNL RESULTS AND BNL END OF SEASON PRESENTATION

Southerners Netball had it’s best results yet this year in the Bangkok Netball League. After last season where we struggled to keep a second team together, we managed to field two full teams. After the first round the league splits into 3 divisions with Southerners A in Division 1 and Southerners B in Division 3.

Southerners A went through the season u defeated except for a loss to Transpo, much to their delight, when we were down on players. What was most entertaining was the effect of the captains “lets kick some arse” email call out for players the next time we played them. All 10 players turned up 30 minutes before the game started, dressed, warming up and psyched in contrast to the rest of the season where the last players dribbled onto court half way through the first quarter! Anyway, we won that game and the rest of the season’s to take out winners of Division 1.

Southerners B after a shaky start with player turnout, managed to turn things around under the watchful eye of captain Libby Elms. They blasted their way through the last round and a half of the season to top Division 3 and we are sure they will be a force to be reckoned with next season!

The Bangkok Netball League End of Season bash was held in May at Livingstones. This was a great night, where Southerners picked up many awards -

1. Division 1 Winners – Southerners A
2. Division 2 Winners – Southerners B
3. Best Dressed Team – Southerners CLub
4. Player of the Season – Joey Kukielka

Crown, a dedicated netball sponsor for Southerners also gave out awards specifically for our club. These went to -

1. A Team – Best and Fairest Player : Kerry Guthrie
2. A Team – Most Valuable Player : Lisa Stirling
3. A Team – Most Improved Player : Pauline Mills
4. B Team – Best and Fairest Player : Joey Kukielka
5. B Team – Most Valuable Player : Alex Alo
6. B Team – Most Improved Player : Kate Friend

Once we had outstayed our welcome at Livingstones, we ventured on to James’ 30th, where some relatively seedy characters were present…see the photos!

Southerners A Team:
Nicole Stanners (C), Emma Perry, Kristina Zanic, Kerry Guthrie, Stephanie Dunstan, Seonaid Anderson, Lisa Stirling, Pauline Mills, Olivia Thwaites, Gill Kruss, Mel Luck, Cath Gallery

Southerners B Team:
Libby Elms (C), Alex Alo, Sasha Minnett, Tarynn Hatton-Jones, Kate Friend, Joey Kukielka, Gill Presland, Melissa Stewart, Melissa Burt, Kim Mc Connie, Sara Lyn, Sarah Black, Sonia Wilson, Emma De Szoeke, Rachael Wood

We would like to say a big farewell to some of our members that left Bangkok – Seonaid Anderson, Mel Luck and Cath Gallery

Khao San Road Tour 2005

I had visions of writing a long an witty report on the torrr but have lost enthusiasm so this is all I could manage…(cry me a river)

Report: Cone San Road Torr Slash Muff-Show dot com 2005

Lead-up: Boys were nervous. Some didn’t show. Dress code adhered to well. Good crowd.

Mid Way: Smooth sailing. One man cotched already. Good following of groupies. No one arrested. Everyone slowly breaking. Bugs eaten. Kitty proving a winner.

Outcome: Great night which descended into chaos as the torr became leaderless, Chang and Sangsom took their toll and soi 1 bore the brunt. Boys happy, locals relieved, girls off the hook.

Guys, what a night. The Southerners annual Khao San road tour proved yet again to be a highlight on the social calendar in Bangkok. It was very well attended and the spirit in which the lads and lasses took part was exceptional.

The whole debacle started at Livingstone’s at 7am where we warmed up. Jones turned up in his girlfriend’s technicolour skin tight top which made some sick and hypnotized others. The rules were read, kitty sorted and we made our way for to the sky train and National Stadium. The trip proved uneventful this year since no-one was pushed onto the tracks prompting the emergency stoppage of trains. In true backpacker style we tuk tuked it to Cone San in convoy and first stop was The Hole in the Wall, a veritable Cone San institution. Resembling a Beirut bomb shelter from the 90’s, this spectacularly dingy ‘bar’ saw the introduction of Sangsom fines. Charges were called and fines administered with one unlucky reveler experiencing his come back out his nose. The rest of that stop had him in the bathroom cotching and snorting water in a desperate attempt to flush out the burning spirit. He was fined again for this…

Following ‘The Hole’ we managed to impose ourselves on a few different bars where we managed to pick up some groupies, fine people, eat bugs and generally be loud and obnoxious. Eventually we stumbled up into an Irish bar where highlights included Ultan harassing various birds and scaring everyone with his hat, Ron spading some chicks in the corner and impressing them with stories of his work saving the unique freshwater dolphin species of the lower Mekhong – until he realised they knew something about that and asked him to reflect on the state of the erosion caused by recent flooding and it’s effect on the dolphins. Ron then left. James and Fred were seen trying kiss later on – or so the photos would have us believe – and everyone else was generally acting drunk and trying to pick up girls. Except for Wagga who wondered off for an early night and has since copped it for rendering the torrr leaderless…

That’s all from me guys since I left early and was too drunk to remember much else anyway…

Southerners Innaugural Family Race Day

Nothing holds much more promise than a day at the races – money to win, beers to drink, people to see and horses to watch. Similarly…promise over-flows when one considers a Southerners Sports Club event. So to combine the two can result in something monumental, and on this fortuitous day in March the two combined spectacularly. ‘Sensational stuff’ is how one oke described it. Indeed…
In true Southerners spirit and the interests of the single men; wives, girlfriends, friends of girlfriends, and an eclectic assortment of Bangkok’s expat community were all invited. They came one and all. A family day at its best with children in tow and grandparents leading the drinking charge – JD and Margo. The weather also came and exacted a telling toll. This was not for the faint hearted.

And so it was…
Location: Royal Bangkok Sports Club, Nung Lern
Theme: Hat
Conditions:
Temp: Hot, real hot.
Humidity: 120%.
Breeze: Not a breath
First Race: 12.20pm
Last Race: 5.40pm
Stand: The terraces.
Local Crowd: Men: 99.9%.
Women .05%.
Stray Dogs .05%
Beers: Cold n’cheap
Danger Level :High
Hydration: Low
Likely Result: Broken

Given the task ahead it was deemed unwise to go in unprepared. A clever rendezvous was arranged at Gullivers on Khao San road for 11am to settle the nerves and plan our assault. A few cold ones later, introductions, a giggle at everyone’s hat, and some boring diatribe from the racing ‘experts’, and the winsome crowd made their way to the track.
Flemington, Royal Ascot, or Happy Valley, Nung Lern is not. This is not a place you go to ‘be seen’. There are no lovelies in their see-through summer dresses (well not until the Southerners girls arrived), or dapper men in suits (until James turned up), or fancy bars serving European beer and unpronounceable food. This is real racing where old Chinese men with binoculars and scribbled-on race guides come to stand on concrete terraces and bet on the horse arranged to win that race. I mean pick a winner… And there ain’t a thoroughbred to be seen. Win and place bets only keep it simple and an English race guide helps those while they can still see.
And so the day begins. The first bead of sweat drips off Jacques nose, Jones & Dick Moron form a syndicate, Gareth goes hard early, and the women take the strain. JD buys the Singha beers and it’s on. Ice comes thick and fast but it’s not enough. The day heats up. Someone saw a water but it was a mirage. Make-up runs and no one cares. Hats are soaked and put back on. Bets are placed and a few winners emerge, Karen is in there.
The smarter crowd heads off for some Khao Mun Gai or Kwai Teow but the real punters stay behind. There’re form guides to study and beers to drink. While the horses sit in the barriers for 20 minutes and the jockeys presumably try to remember who’s supposed to win, we wait for the green light flashing tickets in hand. It’s an idle moment and attention naturally turns to the hats. The full spectrum is represented here, from Wagga’s Arab headdress to Scoop’s grandmother’s tea cosy, we look a treat. There’s the girls with their boa-decorated summer hats, Jones regal in the Burger King crown, JD with his conical Vietnamese rice farming shade and Justa in his trademark clown hat. Your basic milliner’s nightmare.
The day carries on and typical of Southerner’s mores, everyone has a great day. Highlights were the beer and racing, and the hats of course, but also the new comers representing Jabulani, AIT and the teaching frat – there to sample some of our hospitality.
At this point everyone’s pretty jolly and typical of every weekend night for some; don’t know when to call it a day. So it’s on to the Dubliner. Symptoms of sunstroke and sever dehydration start to become apparent to most. A group drip is suggested but dismissed. More beer is drunk. The evening starts to go in super-slow mode until two clowns start to wrestle in the ‘Battle of the Boa’ and liven things up. But that’s another story…

Conclusion : Top day

Lessons : Take a drip next year

Result : Now a fixture on the BKK social calendar; ranked 33^rd in Conde Naste ‘100things to do before you die’; voted ‘Most Fun Foreigners’ by the Royal Bangkok Turf Club social committee; and soon to form it’s own Chamber of Commerce.

-Southerners Social Committee

[View with PicLens]