Bangkok's Rubbery Restaurant

Four weeks ago, I was in Bangkok for back-to-back meetings. Every day presented with the customary full day meeting held at the Sheraton Sukhumvit followed by arranged dinners with different groups every night. Suffice to say, I didn't have much chance to explore the city except for a quick adventure with my boss on the first night.

It was over the satisfying seafood dinner when one of the participants suggested that my boss and I take a post-meal stroll to visit a nearby joint called Cabbages and Condoms. He had arrived much earlier in the day, gone out to explore and chanced upon this unique place. "Not to be missed" was his conclusion.

So with the mouth-watering tomyumgoong, delectable soft-shell crab in coconut marinade and other yummy dishes midway digested in our tummies, we both happily flowed with the nocturnal Sukhumvit pedestrian traffic and before long found ourselves greeted by this homely signage:

Still not quite fathoming how cabbages and condoms can co-exist, we stepped into a hallway and were greeted by condom-themed posters lining parts of the wall and lampshades made with real and colourful condoms decorating other parts of the hallway. On our left was a handicraft shop offering more creative products such as:

As we went further down the hallway, the restaurant came into view but what literally stood out was a gigantic Christmas tree at the reception area bedecked with um, yes, more condoms! Papa Christmas standing a few feet away was not to be left out with red and white rubbers completing his outfit.

The restaurant was a pretty magical place. Very tastefully done up and cosy enough to while away your time. But too bad we were still heavy from dinner or else we would have sat right down for supper!

According to its website, it's basically a restaurant but it's also a place that "promotes the health and safety aspects of condom use in a fun and amusing manner." The proceeds from the restaurant is used to fund programs by the Population and Community Development Association (PDA).

Indeed, this is a novel approach to spread the message of safe sex and of condom use.

If you happen to be in Bangkok, do check this place out at Sukhumvit Soi, 200 metres off Sukhumvit Road. Or if you just wanna play it safe (hehe, pun intended), visit their website at http://www.pda.or.th/restaurant/default.asp.

All pictures here are taken from the Cabbages and Condoms website as I didn't bring out my camera on that night (darn).