It seems that engaging in orgies is (still) the Holy Grail (OK, maybe not so holy) of most Singaporeans’ sexual fantasies. We have people saying they are aching for threesomes, foursomes, fivesomes or even doing it with the whole national dragon boat team and rugby players (ahem, are you sure you have the stamina?).

Other saucy fantasies bring us into the world of S&M and role-playing, with people wishing they were playing masters and whipping things up and spanking the asses of celebrities like Ashton Kutcher, Johnny Depp and Robbie Williams. Dream on people, dream on, we say.

The more exhibitionistic fantasize about getting it on at spots to the likes of fire stations, elevators, lifts, buses, trains, snow mountains (brrr...) and yes—even on the Merlion (we bet the Singapore Tourism Board will have a fit, but it will definitely be a sight).

See all 2007 Sex Survey results here

Most Singaporean males seem to be fairly boring when it comes to their choice of objects to please themselves. We received more or less predictable answers like panties, lingerie, pillows, toilet rolls and socks (we hope they’re washed). But we did get a few puzzling answers such as frozen watermelons, CDs, face masks, wheels, lamb and even, erm, a squid (it’s dead, right?) that really got us scratching our heads (no, not that, the other one).

On the other hand, Singaporean females seem to exhibit more variety—and imagination—when it comes to playing with themselves. We had dildos, vibrators, bananas, pens, carrots, cooked sausages, markers, shower heads, screwdrivers, remote controls, combs, test tubes and beer bottles (careful there), but the answers that blow us away were Barbie dolls, dad’s belts and Spiderman figurines. Gosh, one even confessed to using a porcupine (ouch!).

See all 2007 Sex Survey results here

55.4%
of men prefer women to go bare—when it comes to pubic hair.

84.7%
like dirty talk.

87.5%
of women find foreplay essential before getting it on, compared to 41% of men surveyed.

71.1%
think prostitution should be legalized.

9.3%
have been paid for sex.

28.8%
find pornography gross, yet strangely compelling, 31% think it’s the folk art of the future, 32% consult their stash once a week while 8.2% will never indulge in pornography.

26.5%
have toyed with S&M.

39%
own, or have owned, a sex toy.

34.6%
have masturbated at work.

34.4%
have told a lie or two in this survey.

See all 2007 Sex Survey results here

Squids, sex videos, the number of people you’ve sex with, cheating on your partner—it’s all here, baby. Yes, the results of Asia City Publishing Group’s Sex Survey are out. Conducted online at www.azia-city.com and in the print copies of I-S (and our sister magazines HK and BK), close to 1,800 readers obligingly let us in on their dirty, romantic, funny, crazy, juicy and explicit sex secrets. To give you some numbers, majority of those surveyed were from Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong, with 21.7% hailing from countries furthur a field. And 59% of them are males, while 41% are females.

Get a sense of what’s happening between the sheets (and sometimes otherwise) in Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok. And, to keep you gripped, we did a roundup of Singaporeans’ favorite fantasies and the objects they like to play with. Read on. You know you want to.

Do you insist on protection?

Always

Sometimes

Never

I consider myself

How old were you when you first had sex?

How many people have you had sex with up to now?

Are you good in bed?

Do you prefer a more or less experienced sex partner?

Ever paid for sex?

Male - Yes

Female - Yes

Have you ever met up for real time sex with someone via the internet?

Had sex with a co-worker

Would you have sex to advance your career?

MALE - YES
37.6%

FEMALE - YES
17.6%

Have you and your partner ever made a sex movie or taken nude photos of each other?

Are you happy with your sex life?

Yes

Male 71.3%
Female 68.8%

No

Male 28.7%
Female 31.2% 

More Sex Survey Results!

Singapore's weapon of choice

Singapore's favorite fantasies

Respondents were

Female 41% Male 59%

Are you good in bed?

Looks like people are happy with themselves. But this begs the question:
is how good you think you are any indication of how good you are?

I consider myself

How many people have you had sex with?

When did you first have sex?

How experienced do you like your partners?

Thai males are the most radical about their preferences on this topic, with fewer of them ticking “No preference” (32%) than the other two cities (42-52%). It’s good to see roughly half of them prefer a confident woman to a clueless girl, but there are still 14% of Thai guys who want to feel like they’re the first one.

Ever had sex with a co-worker?

Yes you did.
HK - 39%
SG - 33%
TH - 40%

Believe in love at first sight?

Yes you do.
Female - 52%
Male - 62%

How often do you do it?

If you’ve got a big appetite, it sure sucks being in the Lion City. A mere 2% of Singaporeans get it on a daily basis. There are three times more people in that lucky (or plain sex-addicted) bracket in Hong Kong and Bangkok. If you look at the “number of partners” statistics, twice as many Thais (20%) have lost count as Singaporeans. Looks like we live in the right city when it comes to getting some.

How long have you gone without getting any?

There’s a surprisingly tight bracket for the number of virgins among Singaporeans and Hong Kongians of both genders and Thai women (5-6%). And then, you have Thai males. Only 1% admit to never having gotten any. Liars or truly getting more action? At the other end of the sexual universe, there are 46% of Thailand’s males who never go for more than a month without a shag (HK: 38%, SG: 43%). As for girls, it’s the Singaporeans who have the most regular habits with a full 35% who have never spent an action-less month compared to a mere 19% here (HK: 24%).

Pet Names For Your Partner’s Genitalia

Many of you were shocked that we could even ask this question, calling us immature, telling us to get a life, or just expressing that the very idea of giving a cute little moniker to your partner’s privates has you on the verge of throwing up. Actually, upon reading the answers some of you gave, one realizes there really are things best kept a bedroom secret.

Foreplay

Uh-oh. The Thai female needs to warm up more than any other in the region with 61% warning that you’re not getting any if you don’t take things slowly (HK: 53%, SG: 38%). It’s not exactly a match made in heaven with 6.6% of Thai males who consider the whole thing an ordeal but 65% are fine either way and 29% even request foreplay).

Ever had sex with someone you met online?

Male - 33%
Female - 20%

Ever cheated on someone?

Ever been cheated on?

Why did you cheat on your partner?

Would you have sex to advance your career?

Is your partner happy with his/her sex life?

86% of males are happy while 83% of females are.

Are you happy with your sex life?

Ever paid for sex? Would you have sex to get a promotion?

While girls throughout the region are all pretty consistent in saying no to gigolos (only 1% have paid for sex in Thailand, HK: 3%, SG: 2%), many guys have paid up to get some (TH: 62%, HK: 53%, SG: 42%). But if you look on to who is taking cash in exchange for their luvin’, the real whores are the guys! 14% of Thai males admitted to taking cash for sex compared to 1% of Thai girls. In the other two cities surveyed, men are also ahead of girls when it comes to this, but much less so­ (all stats fell between 6% to 10%). This is consistent with what men are ready to do for a promotion. Only 62% would refuse to have sex to climb the corporate ladder as opposed to 82% of women.

Have you ever masturbated at work?

58% of males did, and so did 74% of females.

Ever owned a sex toy?

No surprise here—it’s harder for Bangkokians to get hold of an 8” suction-cup, realistic veins, comes in pink or black, latex piece of fun. While about half of Hong Kongers are fully equipped, and 60% of Singaporeans, 70% of Thais must head to the fresh market or just give up on the idea altogether. What about the other 30%? Well, our readers love to travel, and it seems they like to shop when abroad as well.

Porn

Ever made a sex movie or taken nude photos of with your partner?

Of course!

HK - 56%
SG - 52%
TH - 51%

Ever toyed with S&M?

Yup.

HK - 70%
SG - 74%
TH - 76%

Protection

Places where you had sex

Behind a bar counter	BTS	Car
University classroom	Department store	Kitchen
Library	Back of a motorcycle	Staircase at Paragon
Locker room	Rooftop	Public bathroom

BarSu

250 Sukhumvit Rd., 02-649-8385. Open daily 6pm-2am. www.barsubangkok.com.
Here you’ll find a large circular area with cozy couches (a.k.a. “love seats”) lining the periphery. Ignore the DJ and draw her in close with those magic words, “Will you marry me? At least for the next two hours?” That’s sure to charm the pants off her. If not, settle for some nibbles; the menu was designed by a two-star Michelin chef.

Crystal Lounge

28 Sukhumvit Soi 20 (next to Koi), 02-258-1599. Open daily 11am-1am. www.crystal-lounge.com.
A nice place to lure your date for dining, then scoot over to the crystal shop to buy her a little ring and drop that question like a hot 10 baht coin. Will she pick it up, or will she just pass on by, like a stingy hiso striding past a nude beggar? Well, you have nothing to lose by trying. Crystal Lounge is redefining the meaning of “one-stop service” for lovers.

Moon Bar at Veritigo

61/F, Banyan Tree, 21/100 South Sathorn Rd., 02-679-1200. Open daily 5pm-1am (weather permiting).
This sky-high, open-air rooftop bar offers a panoramic view of the city, with telescopes on hand to provide pervy close ups. Lounge and jazz music enhance your mood. For a memorable evening, do the deed at Moon Bar…then never look back.

To Die For

H1, 998 Soi Thonglor, 02-381-4714. Open Sun-Thu 11:30am-midnight, Fri-Sat 11:30am-1am.
You’ve been with your significant other for how long now? Well, as they say, either poop or get off the pot. Tie that knot without a second thought! This is a romantic place to make it happen, and in those recliners in the back, you can even propose horizontally! Honestly, though, she won’t mind where you take her, as long as you really mean it, and she really is the one “to die for.”

1. What is your definition of “romantic”?
a. Being 100% monogamous.
b. Being 99% monogamous.
c. Buying expensive stuff for your significant other.
d. Being able to do it 5 times in one night.

2. Love is:
a. Giving.
b. An emotional state caused by hormones in your body running amok.
c. A big, fat lie.
d. An illusion propagated by the government so we’ll have more babies who will become tax-paying workers. That’s the whole point, really.

3. People say “I love you” because they:
a. Are seriously in love! What’s wrong with you?
b. Want to get married and live boringly ever after.
c. Watch too much TV.
d. I don’t know. But it shuts her up.

4. Kissing is:
a. A very sweet act of affection.
b. An ideal moment to blush shyly and act innocent.
c. A prelude to some hotter action.
d. An unnecessary formality. Best done quickly with eyes closed.

5. Valentine’s Day is nearing. You:
a. Buy flowers and chocolates and book a table at a nice restaurant on the 14th.
b. Buy birth control.
c. Disappear.
d. Draw up a plan so I can see my five lovers in 24 hours.

6. Valentine’s is a great day for:
a. Promises.
b. Avoiding boring couples because they’re all out having dinner.
c. A Brazilian.
d. Sex.

7. Valentine’s Day was originally:
a. A holiday to celebrate the magic of love.
b. Just another Roman excuse for an orgy.
c. The church’s way of spoiling what was originally a perfectly good Roman orgy.
d. The brainchild of greeting card companies, chocolate makers and florists.

8. What is a “cupid”?
a. A cheeky cherub with a bare bum, whose arrow will make anyone fall in love with the first person they see.
b. Mascot for a brand of toilet paper.
c. A word that understandably rhymes with “stupid.”
d. Nickname for my…

9. In your Valentine’s card, you write:
a. A heart-breaking, self-penned love poem.
b. Some choice lines from a sonnet by Baudelaire.
c. Some choice lines from an R. Kelly song.
d. “There once was a woman from Wick…”

10. Which three words best epitomize Valentine’s Day?
a. Love and romance.
b. A night out.
c. Another stupid holiday.
d. Dinner, then sex.

11. What is your Valentine’s Day color?
a. Pink. My love is sweet and naïve.
b. Red. My love burns hot and is forever.
c. White. My love is pure.
c. Black. Like my heart.

12. Where are you going to book for dinner?
a. Le Vendome. Only the best for you, my sweet.
b. Le Steak. I’ve never heard of it either, but I heard it’s cheap.
c. Le Bouchon. If the date doesn’t pan out, at least I’ll be in Patpong.
d. Book? Why, are we going somewhere?

13. If you could take your tii-raak away for Valentine’s Day, where would you go?
a. Venice. For serenaded gondola tours.
b. Paris. Cheese and truffles are great aphrodisiacs.
c. Outer space. We’ve already done the mile high club.
d. Pattaya. Great seafood and golf.

14. It’s late, you’re at your front door, and you suddenly remember it’s Valentine’s Day. You…
a. Go in, admit my mistake and offer to cook dinner.
b. Run to 7-Eleven and pick up a bottle of Chang and a plastic-wrapped cake.
c. Steal flowers from a neighbor or the closest public park.
d. Take off my shirt, fold it into a bow and put it on my head.

15. Where is the best place in Bangkok to spend Valentine’s Day?
a. Vertigo. What a view. And imagine holding hands under the stars, far from the maddening crowd.
b. RCA. Too loud to talk and plenty of booze.
c. Vertigo. After coughing up that much cash, I expect to get something in return.
d. Soi Patpong. No need to take a date.

16. Your loved one has forgotten Valentine’s Day. You…
a. Collapse into a sobbing mess and sink into a long, dark depression that lasts months.
b. Make him/her take me to Le Normandie, where I order the most
expensive food on the menu.
c. Make a scene. At least the make-up sex will be good. Damn good.
d. Don’t notice. I forgot, too.

17. When you see hearts, you want to:
a. Fall in love.
b. Get one as a gift, preferably cut out of a diamond.
c. Do something about my cholesterol.
d. Fondle something heart-shaped.

18. Booty-calling an old flame on Valentine’s Day is:
a. Sad.
b. Lame but acceptable. Might as well get a little more mileage out of
the time we spent together.
c. Smart. S/he’s probably thinking the same thing.
d. Expected.

19. How will you spend the day after?
a. Call in sick and spend the day together.
b. Breakfast in bed, of course I cook.
c. Business as usual. Go to work—but with a big smile on my face.
d. Sneak out before he/she wakes up. After I erase my number from
his/her cell.

20. Your other half is very sick and calls you while you’re busy at work. You:
a. Stop my work immediately, run to the nearest pharmacy and get him/her every kind of medicine imaginable. In the name of love.
b. Tell him/her to quit bitching, take some Para and stop bothering me at work. Put in a nice way, of course.
c. Say, “Hello. Who is this?”
d. Rejoice. Freedom at last!

21. What is the ultimate gift?
a. Love.
b. A romantic holiday.
c. Chocolates, flowers and anything made of gold.
d. Swallowing.

The Verdict.
a. 1 point b. 2 points c. 3 points d. 4 points

21-36 Hopelessly Romantic.	37-49 In Love.	50-64 Faking it.	Over 65 Just Want to Get Laid.
Are you still a virgin? What’s the deal here? Valentine’s Day was invented to sell greetings cards. Wake up!	OK, so you’re in love. FINE. Just stop being so obvious about it. Some of us are still single and deserve respect, too.	How’s sitting on that fence feel? Move up to the “In Love” category, or get real and downgrade to “Just want to get laid.”	Love? What’s that? Aren’t we all just animals that are trying to spread our DNA?

Non Alcoholic Pick Up Joints

Been alone for ages? Maybe you are looking in the wrong place. Check out these non-bar places and get yourself a lover, partner or gig this Valentine’s Day.

• Starbucks, Thonglor 1 branch (237 Soi Thonglor (before Thonglor Soi 13), 02-712-9691. Open Sun-Thu 7am-10pm, Fri-Sat 7am-11pm. www.starbucks.co.th.)
If you are looking for a chance to meet with young execs or cute university students, look no further. This is a meeting point of stylish people who are willing to pay up to B200 for something to drink. But it’s a coffee shop, so take your time. As long as your target doesn’t order a take-away cup, you should have at least an hour to think of some way to approach them.

• Fitness First Plus (3/F, Q House Lumpini Bldg., 1 South Sathorn Rd., 02-677-7131. Open Mon-Fri 6am-10pm, Sat-Sun 8am-9pm. www.fitnessfirst.co.th.)
Nothing is sexier than a good-looking guy in tight sportswear (well, if you don’t mind the smell). Girls, this one is just for you. Be sporty for a day, and walk up to a machine next to one your target is working on. Fumble with it and pretend not to know how to use it. If they don’t offer to help, just turn and say, “Hey, can you give me a hand with this? These things are so confusing for me.” Shazam! You’re talking (and maybe touching) already.

• Villa Supermarket (J Ave, 593/5 Thonglor, 02-712-6000. Open daily 6am-midnight.)
At Villa, food and drink are not the only things you can put in your cart. Supermarkets are great for observing your dream guy/girl’s habits…or showing off some of your own. Put a few high quality, high ticket items in your basket—perhaps some French cheese or some B300 artichokes—then take a stroll. See what’s in your target’s basket, then come up to them and ask (without glancing up from your shopping list), where that item is, or another item of the same type (“Excuse me, do you know where they keep the extra virgin olive oil? Oh, you have some in your basket...”). Ice officially broken, carry on chatting like old friends.

• TCDC (6/F, Emporium, 622 Sukhumvit Rd., 02-664-8448, Open Tue-Sun 10:30am-9pm. www.tcdc.or.th.)
If you opt for smart and classy types, this venue is the best. Take a look around its exhibition rooms for art and design lovers or apply for a membership and enjoy an eye-nourishing view plus good books in the library. Of course your approach has to be suitably bookish...but you’re a smart cookie, right?

• Gourmet Market (G/F, Siam Paragon, 991/1 Rama 1 Rd., 02-610-9000. Open daily 10am-10pm.)
Similar to Villa, the luxurious supermarket at Paragon’s basement offers a wide variety of quality products...There are plenty of fish in this air-con sea, so go on, hook’em.

Flirting 101

The first step to being a successful flirt is to show that you’re attracted to a certain person. After all, when you are told someone likes you, doesn’t that elevate your opinion of them? Being the quirky creatures we are, there is no sure-fire, 100-percent-guaranteed way to know if someone is attracted to you. So why not try to let them know instead...

Eye To Eye Contact

This is the number one flirting signal; the gateway to an approach, so go on: look over there!

DO: Make eye contact briefly, a few times—keeping your gaze soft. If the object of your desire reciprocates, it means you’ve got their interest. (Or you’ve got pak chee in your teeth.)
DON’T: Stare. You’ll scare them! If they don’t return your initial gaze, all is not lost: See how that person interacts within a group. They may just be shy and hesitate to hold anyone’s gaze for long.

Be Yourself

So now, you’re more than faces in the crowd, what next? Find yourself next to them at the bar.
DO: Keep it simple—use natural openers such as “It’s a bit crowded in here, don’t you think?” Even if you feel obvious, these are recognized conversation starters, open questions that people can respond to.
DON’T: Use cheesy pick-up lines—even if you think you’re being funny and charming. It will only make you look predatory, and them feel cheap.

Tease

A bit of good-natured friction heightens tensions and raises expectations for later.
DO: Playfully tease them—but keep it light and fun.
DON’T: Make fun of their shortcomings—even if they do.

Slowly Slowly...

Most people like a bit of a chase, why not give it to them?
DO: Be subtle. Make them suspect you’re interested, but don’t let them know for sure.
DON’T: Be cryptic. Men and women do not share the same lines of logic: men often can’t read signals that women think are patently obvious, and vice versa.

The Look of Love

Confidence and charm can outweigh physical disadvantages, but try to find someone roughly as attractive as you: statistically, there’s a better chance you’ll stay together.

While women tend to underestimate their looks, men often overestimate theirs, because there are “less rigid” rules for men’s beauty. So girls, flirt with men who you think look better than you. And boys, bolster your flirting skills, you’re going to need them!

Reading the Signs

10 Really Bad Pick-Up Lines

• Wanna see a trick I learned in prison?
• If I could rearrange the alphabet, I would put U and I together.
• Are you religious? Cause you are the answer to all my prayers.
• I'm on fire. Can I run through your sprinkler?
• I like the look of your crotch.
• You must be Jamaican, because Jamaican me crazy.
• You know what I like about you? My arms.
• Are my undies showing? Would you like them to?
• Your daddy must have been a baker, because you've got a nice
set of buns.
• Do you know how to use a whip?

A typical dining experience usually involves a group of friends or families sharing communal dishes, while for the approaching Valentine’s Day, lovebirds flock to all the dimly lit romantic places. So where does that leave the solo (a.k.a. single) diner? Most people tend to be terrified by the very thought of dining alone as there’s still a stigma to the soloist. “Don’t they have mates?” is the implied question from the other customers and staff. Put a sock in it! If it’s good enough for James Bond to enjoy a nice solo steak and a martini, it’s good enough for us!

Baan Phra Athit

Leave the world behind and immerse yourself in one of the cushy sofas at this colonial bakery. Take in the glorious aroma of coffee and sample its sinful chocolate fudge. Since there are only a few tables, Baan Phra Athit can’t take a large group, making it a cozy, peaceful place to spend a lingering afternoon.
102/1 Phra Athit Rd., 02-280-7878/9.
Open daily 11am-10pm.

Bed Supperclub

Dress to kill and head to this ultra-chic, all-white restaurant and bar, which is frequented by the models and hiso crowd. Here you can lay down with fluffy pillows while enjoying the “surprise” menu and Sex on the Beaches/Blowjobs served by foxy waiters and waitresses. If you find it too difficult to break the ice with this crowd, warm up with the friendly young bartenders first.
26 Sukhumvit Soi 11, 02-651-3537.
Open daily 7:30pm-midnight.

Benihana

Food meets fun at this restaurant where the chef is more than willing to be your escort. Forget the big tables where other people’s families and friends surround you. Instead, grab a seat by the counter and be mesmerized by the juggling chefs as they throw, twirl and catch the sizzling teppanyaki.
Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa, 257 Charoennakorn Rd., 02-476-0022 ext. 1416.
Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6-10:30pm.

Coffee Society

Thanks to its dark and quiet interior, this café is a good hideaway if it’s peace and privacy you seek. There are plenty of little niches and corners to pass the time alone (sobbing) at any hour of the day or night.
12/3 Silom Rd., 02-235-9784.
Open daily 24/7.

Foodland 

The lunch counter at Foodland is the closest thing Bangkok has to a good old-fashioned American-style diner, and it’s perfectly suited to the antisocial eater. Once you’ve ordered, you can feel free to ignore everyone else around you. Pivoting between grill and counter, seasoned short order cooks serve up consistently delicious Thai and Western standards at reasonable prices.
87 Nai Lert Building, Sukhumvit Soi 5, Klongtoey Nua, 02-254-2179

Gotto Retto

This no-frills eatery is where you can eat, drink and smoke to your heart’s content—perfect for those wanting to get over the ex. During the peak after work hours, it is crowded with Japanese salarymen who are too busy with their Marlboros and sushi, so rest easy that no one will give you that “dude, where is your date?” look. Another plus is that this izekaya opens till 1am (kitchen closes at midnight), so you can always go late.
87 Thonglor Soi 13, 02-381-4272.
Open Mon-Fri 4pm-1am, Sat-Sun 11am-2pm, 4pm-1am.

Mousse and Berries

There is more to this chic café than what its name suggests. For a start, you have a variety of sinful cake and refreshing tropical fruit ice cream to feast on. Then there’s the prompt and professional service, and last but not least, a good view. Order a scoop or two and let the passers-by provide entertainment.
J Avenue, Thonglor Soi 15, 02-712-6054.
Open Sun-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 10am-midnight.

Pranakorn Bar

Friendly diners, cool music, affordable food and nice views of dimly-lit Golden Mountain at night make this four-story restaurant-cum-bar a perfect spot for a solo outing.
58/2 Soi Damnoen Klang Tai, Ratchadamnoen Klang Rd., 02-622-0282.
Open daily 6pm-1am.

Roadhouse BBQ

This three-story tavern couldn’t be more solo-friendly. Rustic barrel tables make a nice seating option for the soloist. TVs showing sports are a legitimate distraction, as are shuffleboard, pool and foosball upstairs.
942/1-4 Rama 4 Rd., 02-236-8010.
Open daily 10am-midnight. BTS Sala Daeng.

Roti Boy

When times are tough, Roti Boy is happy to fill in the gap where your friends ought to be. The long lines are all gone now, so you can beeline in and out and on to the Skytrain before anyone sees you. This is hardly a square meal, but hey, who counts calories when they’re depressed?
292/1-2, Siam Squre Soi 4, Rama 1 Rd., Phatumwan,02-658-4483.
Open daily 8am-9pm

Tapas Café

What would be better than spending the evening over tasty little Spanish bites accompanied by pitchers of sangria? This modest-sized bistro caters to the spontaneous singles as well as commitment-phobes with a menu that changes daily. An eclectic mix of Spanish jazz and Cuban salsa enhances the informal, welcoming ambiance. The counter could be fun for those in the mood to mingle. And Cheap Charlie’s is just around the corner.
1/25 Sukhumvit Soi 11, 02-651-2947.
Open daily noon-11pm.

Telephone Bar

Most people come here to drink and ogle the local talent, but what most people don’t know is that the pad thai, khai jaew and khao soy are pretty darn delicious, even without the boy parade. Most tables have telephones (yes, they really work). Let your fingers do the walking and order yourself up a cutie from table 5. If you strike out, fret not—you can probably find yourself a take-away dining partner. Bon apetit!
114/11-13 Silom Soi 4, 02-234-3276.
Open daily 6pm-1am. BTS Sala Daeng. www.telephonepub.com.

Just the Two of Us

Investigate this parade of Valentine dining promotions.

Love Cherish by Chao Phraya

The Bangkok Marriott Resort and Spa (257 Charoennakorn Rd, 02-476-0022. www.marriott.com/bkkth) is on a mission to cherish your love with special set menus at all outlets. All couples receive a glass of sparkling wine and a complimentary red rose.

Table for Two

Boost your appetite and spice up your love life with the help from Ember (99/11-12 Lang Suan Balcony Building, Soi Lang Suan, 02-6522086. Open Mon-Sat 11:30am-2pm, 6:30pm-10pm). His and hers six-course meals cost B1,600 per person.

Flight of Love

Booze it up with a purchase of a bottle of Grey Goose Vodka at any of the following venues—Mellenium Hilton, Conrad, Dusit Thani, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, Met Bar, Koi, Hard Rock Café, Hu’u or Q Bar—and an exclusive flower bouquet will be delivered to your loved one on VDay!

Love me Tenderloin

Throughout the month of February, Amapola Bar and Steak House (72/1 Sukhumvit Soi 51, 02-258-7077. Open daily 6pm-12am. www.amapolabkk.com) presents three special Valentine’s promotion six-course menus: Thai seafood set (B1,800 per person), Thai fusion (B1,200 per person) and the Ultimate Valentine’s set (B2,940 per person), featuring Kobe steak sirloin. 

Urban Honeymoon

The Metropolitan (27 South Sathorn Road, Tungmahamek, Sathorn, 02-625-3388. metropolitan.como.bz) presents “Garden of Love” at its chic signature restaurant, Cy’an, featuring a uniquely passionate six-course meal at B3,500 per person.
Spellbound by the River Award winning restaurants at The Peninsula (333 Charoennakorn Road, Klongsan, 02-861-2888. www.peninsula.com) will feature set menus on Feb 14 starting at B4,400 per person. A glass of Kir Royale and a rose are complimentary upon arrival.

Key Factors to Dining Solo

Seating
This is very important—nothing makes you feel more uncomfortable than sitting at a table for four with three empty chairs. Pubs solve this with seating around the bar, while sushi places, especially those with conveyer belts, seem designed with the single diner in mind. Sushi bars have the added bonus of interacting with the chef, and are often worth a visit just for the banter. Pubs, of course, encourage chats with the bartender or your fellow patrons.

The latest glossy magazines, today’s paper and of course BK are welcome diversions for those not yet addicted to iPods, and for a lot of people represent the only spare time they have for a little infotainment. Just remember, it’s hard to hold open a paperback and eat at the same time.

Service
Do you get a look of pity (or scorn) from the manager when you say “Table for one, please”? Yes, it happens, and some places still think it’s fair game to stick you at the table next to the swinging kitchen door or halfway into the alley. The industry thinking is that a table for two represents at least double the spending as it assumes a single diner doesn’t want to linger. Another factor: Just because we are alone doesn’t necessarily mean we want pity chat. We’ll let you know if we feel like talking. It’s advisable to pull up seat at a solo-friendly places.

View
People-watching is a fun way to pass the time and provides a free live show—an insight into the mosaic of the local neighborhood.

I found my love in music through praying. I was in a Buddhist school and we prayed after lunch every day. Though it was monotonous, it sounded like a song and felt so peaceful. Music also combines silence and rhythm.

I was so shy as a kid. I think music gave me more confidence. If you want to sing, you have to be confident to perform well.

The only thing that makes a good singer is practice. I have one goal and it’s to keep practicing. It’s necessary for stage performers to ward off nervousness and fear of doing something you’ve never done before.

I think we all are gifted because each of us has a voice. Maybe it’s just that not all of us have learned to use it well.

I don’t think I am that gifted, but I really love music and I have the patience to keep with it. When I won a prize at the 1989’s Nissan Award, I was terrible. But they told me, “It’s good to know you are really patient and are trying to make something from what you like.” Maybe that’s why they chose me.

After that competition I decided to go to the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts and majored in classical music. It was painful but it was also a good learning experience.

At Berklee they taught us how to make a living out of something we loved. While there, I learned about contemporary music, soul, blues, jazz and R&B.

To be a singer, you need more than just skill—you have to be able to manage yourself.

The voice is the best musical instrument. You don’t have to buy any equipment; all you need to do is just take care of yourself. It’s good for your health, too.

I don’t regret all the money I spent on studying music at all. If we have money, we should spend it on the things we love. We can’t take money with us when we die.

Experience is something you can’t buy; but studying is something money can give you time for.

I think it’s better to sing for people who appreciate music. I like singing for people who want to listen to my kind of music because they are more attentive to what you are doing.

Still, it’s fun to sing for the masses. They welcome you like one of their family. Even when they are not all positive, they still make me happy.

Singers and musicians are thankful for every baht you spend on us. It allows us time to practice. We are very honored when you come to listen to us.

I only like the funk songs on my albums. The other songs I don’t really think are me. Half of my albums are what the record company wants me to perform because they want the album to be commercial. The other half is songs that I like.

Everybody says, “If you are rich, you can study music.” That’s something we need to fix. I am running a free workshop for teenagers at Centerpoint with Music Clay on the weekends. I’m now at the point where I can help, even if it’s just a little bit.