Assaulted at Windmill

[bangkokbarry 0]

My evening at the Windmill on Soi Diamond in Pattaya was ruined when I was set upon by three or four thugs, resulting in a cut lip and cut on the bridge of my nose.

 

The situation arose after I had spent around four hours in the bar and spent thousands of baht on drinks and tips. I had been entertaining one of the dancers, but after I made a visit to the toilet I returned to find her missing from my table. Another dancer told me she had been moved to another table. I approached the mamasan to ask why and told her it was bad customer service, and she exploded and started screaming and asked why I was making trouble and began pushing me away. I defended myself by holding her wrists, and then went to my dancer’s new table. Then several thugs rushed to the table and attacked me, hitting me on the side of the head - which can be fatal - and I had to curl up and shield myself from them. Only later did I discover the injuries they had inflicted and the blood on my glasses.

 

Dean (? - sorry for not being sure as I was a bit shaken up after being attacked), who was apparently in charge in place of the missing owner Dave, came to the table with a Thai security guard or tourist policeman (?) to investigate. He heard my side of the story, spoke with the mamasan and a customer witness who later told me he used to be a go-go bar owner, and the mamasan was sent home. The Thai man told me she was a crazy woman, so that begs the question, if that is known, why is she employed there. She lied to Dean (?) and told him she was going to ask me if my dancer could be moved, but at no time did she do so. She simply wanted to move her to a table with customers but no dancer, and didn’t give a damn about me and the money I had already spent.

 

Dean (?) has been cleverly schooled, and at no time did he admit any wrongdoing by the bar, and although he took my phone number and e-mail address I was offered no way to contact him or Dave or anyone else. I was told by the security officer/policeman (?) I could press charges for assault, but really, what’s the point with a farang against Thais and them saying one thing and me another. Not one single member of staff, or customer, said I was in the wrong when Dean (?) went around gathering the facts.

 

I was not drunk, and my dancer, other dancers and the ex go-go owner all told Dean (?) that I was a good customer. I am not some young tattooed trouble-maker spoiling for a fight. I am close to retiring age, and highly respected in my field of journalism where I am arguably one of the top 10 specialists in the world.

 

There appears to be a worrying problem with Dave’s bars, and I don’t care how active he is on the forums. Last year I wrote on a forum about bad customer service and management at another of his bars, Club 69 on Soi 15, and he wrote an abusive and dismissive response. Only later did he actually bother to go there and investigate and fired the manager and sent me an apology. It might make a difference, of course, if he actually spent time at the places he is involved with and saw what goes on.

 

Dean told me he would report to the missing Dave and ask him to call me, but in these days of instant communication I had heard nothing some 14 hours later.

 

The appeal of the nightlife in Thailand, while sordid in other countries, has long been regarded as a fun thing here. But that has always been skin-deep and like so many things in the Land Of False Smiles an illusion, and increasing the squalid underbelly is being exposed.

[stevoman 2]

Hmmmm what a weird 1st posting since joining over 3 years ago,could there be an alternative agenda here????

[bangkokbarry 0]

That kind of comment might indicate why I haven't bothered to post before. I am very active in other areas/sites.

 

It totally fails to address an assault on a respectable customer.

 

Try again.

[Cennn3 0]

If true then seems to be a regular occurrence in Pattaya these days.

[Eneukman 1]

Hmmmm what a weird 1st posting since joining over 3 years ago,could there be an alternative agenda here????

 

Well spotted.

 

Alan

[Mescalito 19]

There are as many sides to a story as there are participants and witnesses. I'd be interested in hearing how the mamasan, the dancer, and adjacent un-involved customers would describe these events.

[BigDUSA 71]

I'm going to assume that your version of the events that happened are true. What this tells me that how quickly a fun night can turn into a nightmare and that security will kick your ass in a New York minute.

 

One thing I'll take away from your post as soon as I see trouble starting, I'll back off, pay check bin and leave. Thanks for the heads up and I'm glad your not seriously injured.

[wacmedia 277]

The situation arose after I had spent around four hours in the bar

 

Hi,

 

I feel that may have had some bearing on the situation.

[sick buffalo 15]

Too much criticism these days on Windmill. It started with so much fanfare and plenty of threads with accolades. Maybe the place is experiencing management fatigue...

 

I will know in the second half of March when I'm there. I still haven't collected my discount card from the Windmill Club...

Edited February 8, 2008 by sick buffalo

[rockinjerry 2]

There are as many sides to a story as there are participants and witnesses. I'd be interested in hearing how the mamasan, the dancer, and adjacent un-involved customers would describe these events.

 

 

I'm going to assume that your version of the events that happened are true. What this tells me that how quickly a fun night can turn into a nightmare and that security will kick your ass in a New York minute.

 

One thing I'll take away from your post as soon as I see trouble starting, I'll back off, pay check bin and leave. Thanks for the heads up and I'm glad your not seriously injured.

 

 

Agree, and Agree!

 

Unfortunately, it is usually a no win situation for farang and mamasan unless the owner, or strong farang manage is present to handle a situation like this.

 

Glad you were not seriously injured.

[gentlemangeoff 16]

I do not think anyone has any reason not to believe the account given by the OP. So I shall be giving that particular venue a miss in future.

[JONPAT 222]

Why would the OP lie ? Too easy to check out if he is lying. Lots of facts given. I believe the OP. There are many places to visit in Pattaya, is a lot simpler to keep a list of places NOT to go than a list of places to go. Windmill and club69 are on my list now.

[monkeyman 1,597]

I am not some young tattooed trouble-maker spoiling for a fight. I am close to retiring age, and highly respected in my field of journalism where I am arguably one of the top 10 specialists in the world.

Would your field of journalism have any bearing on this situation, perchance?

[Top_Cat 16]

The situation arose after I had spent around four hours in the bar and spent thousands of baht on drinks and tips. I had been entertaining one of the dancers, but after I made a visit to the toilet I returned to find her missing from my table.

 

Sorry mate........but........

 

Cant see what your point is.

 

You spent money in a Go-Go bar and thought you had exclusive rights to have one bird give you personal one to one attention.

 

If you want the personal thing pay bar. You had 4 hours to make your mind up?

 

Seems you did not and suffered the consequences as the bird was moved to another table. Complain about it and see what happens.

 

Not that beatings are condoned but its pay (bar) or shut up IMO.

 

Chok dee kap.

 

Top_Cat

[bangkokbarry 0]

Gentlemen

 

I have read your comments with great interest.

 

I agree, as some have said, that the Windmill is a fun place. That’s why I went there in the first place, because of its reputation. And I was having a great time until something went wrong. Why the mamasan was so volatile I have no idea. As I said, the Thai I spoke to told me she was crazy, so I’d guess there may have been problems with her before. Even after the beating, I stayed on for quite some time. The mamasan was removed from the bar, not me.

 

I was what should have been regarded by the bar as a perfect customer - spending a lot of money on lady drinks, as Dean who examined my bill would agree, and tipping the staff. As well as tipping my dancer 500 baht I also tipped two waitresses and the cashier. Instead, it was a case of spend 3000 baht and get a free black eye etc. (the black eye developed during the following day).

 

I stand by all I wrote, which was put down as soon as I returned to my hotel and while details were still fresh in my mind. For those who have suggested that I was drunk, even though I said I was not, then can a drunk write the way I did? I believe that what I wrote was articulate, not usually found in fighting drunks.

 

What is most interesting to me, however, is that most of you have sided with the bar. I’m not sure what that says about you, Pattaya or Thailand. It appears to me that many, at least on these forums, now accept that beating up customers is a normal part of life here and can be expected if you complain about poor service, or that many customers in the bars here are looking for trouble and deserve what they get. Perhaps some are. But I have never been in any confrontation in my entire life, and I’m 60 next birthday. I mentioned I am a respected professional as that was supposed to underline my good character, but some even took that up against me.

 

Another aspect of the poor service by the way, which I didn’t mention as it was irrelevant to the main topic, was the waitresses habit of removing glasses before they are empty. I was ordering my dancer a drink while she still had one, and as soon as the new drink was brought they would take the old drink away. They did it twice before I finally caught on to the scam with the third drink and insisted they left it. Guess if they ‘accidentally’ took an unfinished drink again, once I’d noticed what they were doing.

 

I very much look forward to hearing from the management, and am surprised they have not yet responded or contacted me. Perhaps that tells its own story. I don’t know. I waited for a reasonable time, some 14-15 hours, for them to do so before posting what happened. Why many of you think I have an agenda I don’t know - again, a reflection of the thought processes of people who live here. Still, I should have expected that. When I had a lesser problem with the same management I was accused of the same thing, before the management investigated and fired the manager concerned.

 

I’m not after anything for myself, even though some have suggested I deserve compensation. I also don’t have a grudge against anyone, but when something of this nature occurs I believe it is my public duty to inform. Then people can make up their own mind. Clearly, many of you have and have condemned me. Fair enough, but I don’t think I’d like you in my circle of friends.

[stevoman 2]

I would be interested as to just why you feel the need to talk down in a very highanded manner to the rest of us! Don't you realise that equality exists between us all here on this board whether we be professionals,white/blue collar/truck drivers etc or even in your case a "In the top ten in the WORLD" and highly respected!

We all or most of us visit Pattaya for one thing and one thing only and that's not to visit their cultural sites,or maybe I am wrong and you are the exception,and thought "The Windmill" was an old Dutch piece of architecture.

If I was you I wouldn't hold my breath whilst awaiting compensation for your experience as things like that do not occur in Pattaya as surely a widely respected media personage such as yourself must have realised!

The thing that baffles me is that IF things happened in the manner you posted then WHY didn't you immediately contact the tourist police at the very least,instead of adopting this mongers forum to inform us of your troubles!

Finally after all this so called "Beating up by 4 Thugs" you still stayed on and prior to departing handed out TIPS by the hundreds,just doesn't add up!

Edited February 9, 2008 by stevoman

[MC_Ldop 40]

I defended myself by holding her wrists, and then went to my dancer’s new table.

 

This was your mistake. You shouldn't have touched her at all. If the bouncers see some foreigner with his hands around a screaming mamasan's wrist then how are they supposed to react?

[fd2084 0]

What is most interesting to me, however, is that most of you have sided with the bar.

Really? Either your analytic or your math skills suck (my guess is both). Go back and check again.

 

I’m not sure what that says about you, Pattaya or Thailand.

Continuing to be overly dramatic and playing the martyr is not going to win a lot of board members over to your side.

[forest51 2]

Barry i sympathise with u over what hapened at Windmill and appreciate u bringing it to our attention.

 

The forum is a great place to praise a bar or make members aware of unsavoury occurrences as well...

 

You dont appear a malicious type and I believe ur explanations of events and understand why u immediately posted the events here..

 

It would have been so frustrating to b attacked like that for NO valid reason....and how do u vent that frustration,,,hhahah police NO..manager No ...everyone sticks there head in the sand...and therin lies the frustration...so the forum is the place...

 

All members should listen to what u hv said and realise that if it happened to u..it cd happen to them....I m disappointed so many attack u ....I would love to see there reaction if it happened to them.....

 

Good luck mate....

[volsfan 43]

I made a post a short while ago regarding the Windmill and the shit customer service. So I have no problem at all believing the OP's account of this incident. Pattaya is going downhill with this kind of shit IMO, and is only getting worse.

[Eneukman 1]

I made a post a short while ago regarding the Windmill and the shit customer service. So I have no problem at all believing the OP's account of this incident. Pattaya is going downhill with this kind of shit IMO, and is only getting worse.

 

Did the owner ever come back and comment on your post? I think I followed up with comments of my own about poor customer service there.

 

Alan

[rockinjerry 2]

Did the owner ever come back and comment on your post? I think I followed up with comments of my own about poor customer service there.

 

Alan

 

 

The topic runs on the Secrets board too, ( and a lot of others as well so the OP said.) but it is now closed. There is a response from the owner and his response states entirely different facts that what the OP posted.

 

So, now you have "the other side of the incident."

[Eneukman 1]

The topic runs on the Secrets board too, ( and a lot of others as well so the OP said.) but it is now closed. There is a response from the owner and his response states entirely different facts that what the OP posted.

 

So, now you have "the other side of the incident."

 

Volsfan was talking about a totally different post about customer service being virtually non-existant - something I myself experienced a few days later. The owner has not as far as I can tell replied to these comments.

 

I've now seen the owner's response to this particular incident.

 

There are, however, some points I don't fully understand. If the OP was drunk as claimed by the owner of the Windmill, why wasn't HE sent packing rather than the mamasan if the OP is to be believed? Why was he allowed to stay in the bar after the alleged assault? Something doesn't add up here

 

If a senior policeman was in the go-go, wouldn't all the girls be covered up?

 

Where was the manager at the time of the incident? When I complained about bad customer service he was outside and when I had cause to complain again a short time later, it seemed that he had gone to the bar upstairs. IF he wasn't in the bar at the time, I would respectfully suggest that he should be spending more time inside the bar than outside. Obviously, he can't be there all the time.

 

Interestingly, I've just seen a 3rd version of events from someone who claims to be an independent witness. It is also this person's 1st post made just 15 minutes after joining Secrets. It, however, totally contradicts both the OP's and the owner's version of events. Whilst I am always suspicious about first posts made a short time after joining a board, especially where a contentious issue such as this is at stake, it does make sense and suggests answers to my questions above.

 

Alan

[soi unwise 6]

Alan.

You live in Thailand but don't understand a policeman being in a bar where tits are on show ? Get real mate.And a free spending customer would have to decapitate somebody to get thrown out of a go go in 80% of places.Money number 1.

[Gary 4,100]

A customer in ANY bar is definitely at a disadvantage when it comes down to any type of altercation. There was no way that you would have gotten any kind of satisfaction from your problem with the mamasan so why even try to pursue it? In many years here, I have never had that type of problem mainly because I keep a low profile. I have had girls jump up from my table and the drink I bought her to join a favorite customer who had just walked in. Usually she would explain to me that he was a special customer and that she hoped I wasn't angry. By the same token I have had girls leave someone else's table to join me. If I feel like I have been mistreated, I vote with my feet. Sometimes I will go back to that bar and sometimes not. Shit happens and you have to take it in stride.