Some of those old buzzards may have been Jack Nicklaus or Gary Player or some other former great.  As we learned a few years ago when Tiger Woods sterling reputation was destroyed by an avalanche of media stories featuring escort girls and cocktail waitresses, some of these guys are bigger players off the golf course than on it. You know what I mean. 

Perhaps my "friend" and yours would have made the ultimate pairing????

This story is the perfect segue into a story I have from the mid 90s, which also features professional-level hustling and even St. Andrews! I was on a project with a vendor to a Scottish bank that was notorious for being meanies with expenses. Their sign off process was so slow, that it didnt get finalised until the week before we were supposed to be up there onsite. The only problem was this clashed with the Open that was being played at St. Andrews that year. We had to scramble to get a hotel and ended up in the Caledonian, which is a 5-star charging big event pricing and so was bound to cause shrieks and squeals when the expenses invoice finally landed at the bank. So we all flew up there, checked-in on a Sunday night and it was packed to the rafters. Golf fans from all over the world were staying there.  What I didn't realise was that golf events, which attract a well-heeled set of followers, also attract 5-star escorts.  We all unpack, hit a curry house and then go back to the hotel bar for drinks. We finally get a table to sit at and I was then treated to a lesson in multi-tasking. There were quite a few ladies of questionabe repute in the bar, but there was one stunner, who worked it so well she had me entranced. At all times she had 3 drinks in 3 locations on the go and just circulated from one old bloke to another, laughing and talking in multiple languages.  Every so often I would see her leave with a septugenarian and then come back about 30 minutes later and just carry on where she left off. This girl was mesmerising to watch, as she was such a pro, I don't think a lot of people twigged what she was doing. I watched her intently for the three nights we were staying there and she was impressive beyond belief. She must have also been staying there, as she changed outfits a few times each night. It was the most interesting and memorable trip I ever took to Scotland, and I will never forget the sheer professionalism of this hot escort, whom I later found out from one of the staff, was from Brazil. To watch her work a room with such ease and experience, was truly a treat.  This was also great experience for what was to come later in my life - LB lounge bars. Bai Pai is very good at working a room with 2-3 different drinks on the go at all times, but she is still minor league compared to the Brazilian. I never found out how much she charged for 30 minutes, but based on her activities over those three nights, she must've made GBP 1,000s. As for the bank, the expected shrieks of agony occurred when the T&E invoice was presented and thereafter they only ever served us a single egg sandwich and tap water each for lunch, as if to try and exact revenge, for their own mistakes. St. Andrews - Sukhumvit - same-same but different. SAG

Talking about restaurants etc, reminded me of the best managed bar/restaurant I have ever been in. Now I know these premises are about as far from lb territory as you can get, but there you go. The premises concerned are in St Andrews, Scotland. Yes the home of golf. The place is on the corner before you walk down to the first tee. It is an old building. Been there for centuries, and a favorite of golfers for many years. I was having a meal there and sitting at a table right next to where this woman was standing. Turns out she was the owner or at least the manager of the premises. Never before or since have I seen someone work a place like she did. Patrons would come in and sit at a table. Within a few seconds this woman was onto it. Directing wait staff to the table where they would give a rundown on what they could order etc. I was there probably 2 hours and in that time she never missed a beat. If a glass was empty, the Boss would bring it to the attention of one of the staff. As soon as a table was being vacated she was on to it. Telling the staff to attend to it. Getting it ready for the next group. Never a raised voice, just calm order. Constantly looking around and checking if anything needed attending to. That evening has stuck in my small brain for many years. A lesson on how a business should be run. I have to admit in some small way I took notes from that experience. Sorry there is no reference to lbs in this story. 

I have eaten at both "I'm Aroi" restaurants and found the food better at the soi 11 than at soi 7/1. The menu booklets are the same. There is an open air restaurant on the other side of soi 11 to I'm Aroi which has great food but I dont know the name. Swan  as mentioned, on soi 4 is another good option. And also the "shrimp" on corner of soi 11/1 and Suk rd. Bit pricier but nice is the Thai Kitchen at Soi 7/1 entrance which does Pints for happy hour. Late night after a few drinks I have eaten at the open air restaurant cnr soi 17 across from McDonalds. Also the beer garden restaurant down Soi 19 has always been a good visit. Generally, if I see locals in a restaurant I am compelled to check the menu.