How Do You Like Your Martini?

I've always liked the classic. But it's long gone now.

Personally, never cared much for "the drink".

But I have always loved "the place". Since my first visit in 1999, it has been my favorite in Cambodia - even now with the GF by my side. I always find plenty of mates to talk with and plenty of eye candy to look at.

But if this weekend is any indication, things, they are a changin'.

I better qualify this by saying that I am not a racist. I have friends of several nationalities and most races and definitely believe in live and let live. I will say that in visiting over 50 countries, the only time that I have ever left a country with a negative impression of the people was in India. Yet I do not have a problem with Indians in general - it was just that it seemed that almost every Indian that I experienced in India was to out to lighten my wallet in one way or another. Oh yeah, can't say that I very much enjoy the constant calls to buy a suit from the tailors that line the streets of Bangers and the Big P either.

If you go back several months, when Dredge used to actually post on this blog, you'll see that Martini had started to attract what many might consider undesirables - Africans. More specifically West Africans.

While not a racist, I do reserve the right to make generalizations and I certainly will here. Every West African that I have met here has been up to no good. The one that moved in up above me a couple of years ago and failed to pay his rent after one month is a prime example.

I also recall talking to a black guy from San Francisco in Martini a couple of months ago and he hated the fact that locals could not tell him apart from Africans. He certainly did not want to be labeled as one.

Going back to the previous blogs, Dredge had written about the influx of them to Martini. Regardless of what you think about them, most other westerners have a negative perception (see "scams") and that alone makes their patronizing certain establishments not good for business.

As their populations were increasing at Martini, Dredge and others pointed this out to Team JC and while they generally seem to allow all comers there, they must have dealt with it in some manner as the issue went mostly away.

This past weekend saw quite a few of them, and its been building over the last few months. Congregating at the entrance to the dancefloor and, from what the GF tells me, much more so inside. So much so that it made her uncomfortable to be in there. She walked in once and turned around and came straight back out, never to return that night. She's a local girl and if the local girls are uncomfortable in there, they'll go elsewhere and so will the men. She later went out to see someone by the front entrance and came back with the same complaint.

Team JC are nice guys, but this is something that they need to address or possibly suffer the consequences of lost business. As I said, this has always been my favorite place and it remains so to this day. However, I caught myself on Saturday not minding when the GF wanted to head off to Walkabout earlier than usual. Something that I would usually never do because I love to ogle the late night V's sitting on the pond wall. But there was not one to be seen on Saturday night. Coincidence? Could be.

If you know and see Team JC, let them know what effect this might be having on their business...or don't. Up to you.

Having said that, Sharkey's had a bevy of girls that I had never seen before and by far, the two hottest girls of the night. I have also noticed that people are staying in the bar later. Who or what is to attribute that to, I don't know. But if you're out later and think it might be too late to stop in there, it might be worth a quick look to check it out. Tell the Sensitive Dough Boy that Khmerican sent ya! Maybe he'll buy you a drink! Better yet - maybe he'll buy ME a drink!!!

And Walkabout has also been doing well. The female clientele has certainly lost the Skankabout reputation and there's always at least one tasty morsel there at most times of the day/night. Hope the New-Old Manager continues to clean the place up - there's still a ways to go, but it certainly has not affected my attendance at the place, nor does it appear, others. Late night attendance has also been well - at least on the weekends, when I don't have to get up the next day and go to work.

Looking for Lady-Drink Bar updates. Ain't gonna come from me. Although many of my friends frequent them, I despise them. When I moved here, one of the things that I enjoyed was that I did not have to play the game of "What do you drive?" What do you do?" How much are you going to spend on me?" to get laid. So why the f*#$ would anyone want to come to Cambodia and patronize a place where you're only as good as the last lady-drink that you bought? If you're not buying over-priced, sometimes not-what-you-ordered (is that shot of Tequila just a soft drink?) lady drinks, often you are not shit and you might not be welcome by management.

That's my opinion. As stated, many of my friends frequent the places often and are quite happy with them. But they're not for me.