Patong2

Spent the time in Auckland with trips to the farm and also Waikato. The weather was absolutely rubbish with sinking the red bands over the heels in sodden paddocks. Cold and strong winds the whole time. Yes, Queenstown and areas are beautiful on a good day and I have hunted and hiked over most of NZ but I find Utah, Arizona, Wyoming and Montana more scenic and certainly more consistent weather. The friends and people we met up with seemed beaten and resigned with none of the drive that NZ is known for. Time is dragging on for them. After running businesses in NZ for 40+ years I was shocked by the attitude of people I had worked and dealt with over many years. Different for one relative in Wellington who works for the government. She thinks the country is doing well.

Interesting post Xylophone an unpleasant position to be put in but times are getting hard for many unfortunately. Reminds me of 20+ years ago when we first came here when there used to be a number of guys that we referred to as "tropos" who had obviously run out of money and were "on the bones of their ass" They were generally heavily tanned and unkept and a bit ragged. They would cadge a beer or similar and I certainly felt a twinge of sympathy but I try to sort my problems out before I sort others out. They had diminished in numbers and I presume that either Immigration had caught up with them or they had moved to cheaper areas.

Just spent 2 months in New Zealand (where we have a permanent home) and found it so boring and depressing. People seem cowed, not much patronage at the restaurants we went to and it hasn't really moved on since the big lockdowns for Covid. Some people said they are scared to go out in case they caught Covid. i could understand that with elderly and vulnerable but these were people in their 40's & 50's. It is rife and inevitable most people will catch it by the look of things. Most people very critical of the mismanagement by the government and Ardern as the messiah seems to have lost her glow. Glad to be back in Thailand and we are certainly happier here although it is not perfect either.

I was surprised to see the posted fare to Patong still at B800 when we arrived a couple of weeks ago With the price of gas up so much and the exorbitant price of new vehicles in Thailand I don't think that is unreasonable. We had 5 luggage bags and delivered to our underground carpark lift entrance. I am happy with that service for that price.

Disclosure - we were not in Bangla Rd last night so the venerable Xylophone couldn't have been referring to us - at least not this time.. Since arriving back last week we have enjoyed catching up with places and folks and it certainly is still a great place to be. A lot of traffic about and some re opened places but still a lot more spending tourists needed. Having said that the beach is a wonderful place at 6.00am with even squirrels to watch. Look forward to a meal at Blue Beach later in the week and a wander home through Bangla

What a difference a couple of months make. Went for a walk this morning at around 5.30 and much more traffic than May, even had to wait to cross the road. Bangla Rd had quite a few people still drinking and partying and quite a few girls around. More people partying on the beach. Things definitely looking busier on first impressions but it is Sunday morning after Saturday night. (Hasn't Kris Kristofferson got a song about that?)

The 25 years referred to the time I had been seeing street dogs around Patong but longer actually. I have no connection with Soi Dog Foundation nor have ever contributed but perhaps I should. I became aware of them due to a loud conversation that took place at the Surin Bay Inn (I think) restaurant about 2 weeks after the Tsunami and a loud Australian woman was sounding off about dogs in Bali or somewhere and saying these people at the table should be doing this and that etc. Being as cynical as I am, I said to my wife what a bunch of tossers, we have 1000's of people homeless, injured and many dead and they are worrying about a few stray dogs. Over time, on various visits to Patong, I gradually noticed the packs of dogs which were around and on the beach and were scabby, with hair falling out, some crippled and scarred and generally in an appalling condition and a few quite aggressive, they were diminishing in numbers. Prior to Covid there were few dogs around and most appeared in reasonable condition. Earlier this year there were a couple of packs on Patong Beach in the morning but they were not a problem but certainly more than prior to Covid. The reduction in number and the better health of dogs I have put down to the the reduction of breeding stock due to the intervention of Soi Dog Foundation. I do agree with mass culling of homeless dogs but that is not going to get traction in Thailand.

Great to see all these solutions expounded. But the reality is Soi Dog Foundation is actually doing and achieving something. The improvement in Patong and even surrounding areas over 25 years is astounding and impossible to deny. Other methods might work or be a lot better so if you think you can do better start now and tell us your action plan.

Despite being very cynical initially about Soi Dog's efforts I have been amazed at the difference they have made to the dog problem around Patong and Phuket especially since the Tsunami. Dogs were a problem and everywhere in Patong in the early 2000's and that has noticeably improved year on year until they were hardly noticeable on my early morning walks. Some were aggressive and it detracted from the ambience of the beautiful beach. I do note that there has been an increase in dog numbers the last year or so during Covid but I have not seen any problems. The beach dogs seem to treat lowly foreigners with disdain and are not a nuisance at the moment. Soi Dog has certainly helped in Patong and are worthy of support.

Thanks for the update Xylophone Will be back on Saturday after a couple of depressing months in New Zealand. Really looking forward to it.

Because we were on tourist visas for about 20 years and were visiting sporadically. Now just use it for day to day stuff because we have cards and haven't bothered to close it. Transfers & Visa funds are in BKK Great believer in using more than one bank, if you have a problem with one you still have access to funds.

Kasikorn bank allow a joint account but would not let us have internet banking on it??? If we want internet banking it has to be an individual account according to the main branch here.

Had exact same problem with a hearing aid repair and DHL in New Zealand Except they demanded the equivalent of B9,900. Just their error inputting it into the NZ customs classification Your problem is probably the same, input error. DHL refused to correct, I refused to pay, we already had the repaired aid so we left it up to DHL to sort.

Beechbums right Rawai Seafood market is excellent and places upgraded Better if you take a Thai lady with you and get her to buy the food (with the farangs distancing themselves). You will get fresher and far cheaper prices and just take it to one of the several restaurants for cooking. Always look forward to it

Yes we got asked for a medical certificate and luckily we had brought all our papers for a visa app including the medical certificate. The 500 baht was annoying but we wanted it on the day and we were able to use the same cert for a bank account as well.

In Patong, I had to go over to Phuket town to the DL office renewed in January and was about 7 months after it expired. I had to produce evidence of place of residence ( from immigration and cost B500) and be there in person with passport. At that stage I was on a 60 day tourist visa. Simple enough once I went back to Immigration and got my proof of residence.

The re-opened restaurant on the corner of Ratuchit and Soi Sansabai and opposite Red Hot Bar had a very Arabic aimed menu but I had an excellent Curry Chicken and Eggplant or some such and wife had a Moussaka which was Arabic style and not what she wanted. She actually wanted a Greek Moussaka with Bechamel topping etc and it is totally different. Prices were OK for the location and I'm happy to go back there. Well Patong is still quiet but much improved since we arrived at the beginning of January. We have had to return to NZ last Monday and what a dismal, dreary place it is. Very little traffic except at peak times, very few people on the streets and those all masked and bundled up against the weather. Hardly anyone in restaurants that we saw and driving home 40 km at 11pm on Saturday night hardly saw another car. If you think Phuket is having a hard time adjusting to this new normal, it is faring much better than NZ. How can you have an economy if people are huddled in their homes too scared to go out on the streets. And of course the shootings, 14 in a week in Auckland and this is since I had to hand in my competition guns. Gee, that really made NZ safer didn't it?

Tried the new/reopened restaurant apposite Red Hot in Ratuchit Rd last night. Surprised at just how many people were around and how busy that intersection with Bangla Rd and Soi Sansabai was. Things are definitely looking up and towards a recovery. Wandered up Bangla Rd about 9.30pm and there was a good crowd there and the bars looked busy and all trying to outdo each other on volume. Not conducive for a sit down and have a quiet drink but we are not the target customer, so I suppose it works for the folks they are aiming for. Main demographic appeared to be Indian and Middle Eastern. Even found Amena Burger open in Soi Sansabai near where it was 15 odd years ago. Same lady and she was as delightfully friendly as always. It's great to see a few of these familiar faces around again. Things are definitely un the upswing. Now just get rid of the Thai Pass and Insurance and let the tourists flow in.

Just noticed an "Otto Steak & Seafood" while wandering around today. Above Rawai on the road to Promthep Cape there is the "Gold Shooting Range" Opposite that is a road that runs back down to Rawai. This place was 103/43 on that road.

There are a few more businesses opening up and things look a little better but more tourists are needed desperately. Street lighting is terrible with large areas left in total darkness at night. The rear of Jung Ceylon from Soi Sansabai along Phang Muang Sai Kor Rd to the roundabout. Soi Sansabai is total darkness East of The Yorkshire. Beach Road from Bangla to Sawadirak to name just a few. It looks so seedy and rundown and no tourist in their right mind will venture along areas like that. Patong needs to appear bright, busy and safe to drag the few tourists here out of there hotels at night and give them something other than Bangla Rd to visit after dark. Easily fixed.

Thanks Timbob We have tried it after your recommendation and found it excellent. The English breakfasts with additional black pudding are excellent as is the chilli con carne and the owner is very friendly and personable. Just trying really hard to succeed and doing it right.

Z? Z? Surely that means they support Zelensky and the Ukraine or have they cocked that up too?

The "mag" and "gold" wheels on some of the delapidated vehicles do surprise me. What does puzzle me is why does anyone around my area (Phuket) drive on low profile tires when the roads are so poor and when the vehicle is lowered how do they get in and out of many driveways?

The stupid prices of Tuk Tuks have meant we never use them with about 4 exceptions in more than 20 years. Drove down Rat-U-Chit Sunday night and from before Bangla till well after Jung Ceylon there was wall to wall Tuk Tuks waiting for fares. Had to be 50+ lined up. How do they make a living? Swung into Beach Rd and as well as the Tuk Tuks on the way there was another huge queue at the beach end of Bangla. There are a few more tourists but can't imagine there is a living to be made driving Tuk Tuks in Patong.

London Lowf As the poster who started this 5 years ago (can't believe it is so long) I have been wondering whether it was time for a new thread perhaps "Patong the Resurrection" but then I think and sometimes look back on some of the excellent and insightful posts on here by yourself and many others and especially Xylophone who has kept us up to date while we were locked for 2 years in the socialist gaol that NZ has become. For someone looking to track the fortunes of Patong this thread would be valuable. We flew out of NZ just before New Year 22 and were very concerned at what we would find. Once again Patong is very very different and has lost some of the things we really enjoyed but it still has plenty to enjoy and compared to the depressing and fearful Auckland we left, it is just about heaven. Very sad to see the carnage of businesses that are closed but a few new ones open and already we have almost too many great choices of restaurants to eat at etc. The beach is great first thing in the morning but I miss seeing the night clubs empty out into Bangla Rd at 6am. Always a fascinating collection of drunks, very pretty ladies and boys. Now Bangla at 6am is still full of pussies but they are all 4 legged ones. Thanks to everyone who has posted and look forward to seeing such intelligent and insightful comments on this thread or a new one.