I was watching Astro’s Channel 8 (Prima) and “Freshie’s High School”, a Thai series, had just finished being aired. Then they showed Mai Charoenpura’s music video, followed by Peacemaker’s “Ngao.” I sat up and sang the song softly. This is one song that has a story of its own.
It was late January of 2004. My colleague, Muaazam, and I, were in Krungthep (Bangkok to the rest) to see our partner, Pathiparn, there. As Pathiparn had to entertain clients from South Korea (golf and dinner), he promised to call us as soon as he’d finish. So Muaazam and I had dinner at this North Indian restaurant just off Sukhumvit soi 8, and before we could finish, Pathiparn called asking us to meet him at the car park adjacent to the Tesco’s at On-Nut sky train station. So we rushed to meet Pathiparn there. So we rushed to the Nana BTS station, passed Asoke, Phrom Pong, Ekkamai, and Phrakanong (where Nang Nak lived) stations before reaching the terminal at On-Nut. Pathiparn was there. We were supposed to have a discussion. So Pathiparn asked us to get into his car and off we went, towards Sukhumvit 24. A left turn there and a few minutes later, we were at Club Orbit. So I said to Pathiparn that we were supposed to have a discussion. He turned and said, “Khun Rahmat, everytime you are in Bangkok you are always working. Tonight is after office hours. Tomorrow we will discuss.”
Okay…fine. In we went. Apparently the bouncers and receptionists there know Pathiparn well. The live band was excellent and we sat at the bar. Club Orbit’s a bit like Coyote Ugly..but the gentlemen’s version. Beautiful girls, well-dressed albeit sexily, were dancing on the bar top. I glanced and saw Muaazam enjoying the view.
“You okay bro?” I asked. Muaazam just said, “I don’t know which one to take back to meet my mom!” Yup, the girls were real stunners. But you can see but no touch. The “butterflies” were equally good-looking. These are girls who hop from client to client. In the end Pathiparn told the girls that we are Malaysians…so they never left us. The girls who attended to me were Ice (on the bar top), and Jo (the butterfly).
In between the live band’s sets, they played some nice songs, one was by Ten Teerapak called “Nab Neung” or “Count One” in English, and then Peacemaker’s “Ngao” or “Loneliness.” So as I slow-danced with Jo, I asked her whose song it is, and she told me who the singers were. To cut a long story short, we left Club Orbit at 4am Malaysian time. I didn’t think we would have made it back to the hotel with Pathiparn, by then dubbed “Partyman” by Muaazam and I, being totally wasted and was at the wheel. We met Pathiparn later (around 11am), as promised, and settled our work, then headed out to Siam Square to buy Ten Teerapak’s and Peacemaker’s CD.
Two months later, I was back in Krungthep on business, and had dinner at Yok Yor across the Chao Phraya river from Saphan Thaksin…and the one-man show there sang “Ngao.” When Muaazam and I were stationed for four months in Langkawi, we’d listen to Peacemaker and “Ngao” again and again.
Even during business trips to Southern Thailand with Naddy Nad and Chalky26 later that year, I’d sing the song at karaoke lounges.
The group Peacemaker has since broken up, but Muaazam went back to Krungthep with his girlfriend (taking ice to the North Pole) to buy that particular CD.
And I still hum the song whenever I feel lonely…
It’s high time I go back to Meuang Thai.
SeaDemon Says 
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