The city of Bangkok has something different and bizarre to offer in every place you look. We stumbled by a Shell gas station, as typical looking as any one you would see in North America or other parts of the world. It had two rows of pumps, an overhead roof and a main building where you pay for the fuel. You have to applaud the Thai people for their innovation and creativity. At night they close down the pumps and this gas station is magically transformed into a dining area and a bar.
We stood and gazed in amazement with some other tourists. There were tables and chairs spread throughout the grounds of the station with candle light and all. To make it even funnier, country music blared out of speakers and a make shift bar was set up behind the pumps. At first we thought the gas station was being closed down and this was going to be the new and permanent function for the space. When we walked past in the morning we discovered it was back to a full functioning gas station. It was as if what we saw the night before never happened. We got to witness the transformation from gas station to bar several times during out stay in the area.
We Love The Mobile Volkswagen Liquor Bars
There was a van parked each evening on Rambutri street, it is located just a short distance from the famous Khao San road in Bangkok. The owner would set up a few small tables and chairs around it and crank out some music. The van had a hinged roof that tipped back and exposed the fully stocked bar. It was a very popular place. We spotted these vans in a few other areas of Bangkok. Each one had it’s own unique style.
Each evening there would be a gentleman near the volkswagen bar who we named “guitar man.” He had to be well into his 70’s. He blasted out rock music on his electric guitar. The poor soul looked like a beat up hippie and he wasn’t a very good musician. We did have to applaud his efforts, he really gave it his all.
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