Patong2

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.

I for one, thoroughly enjoyed many of the contributions on the "Patong is dead" thread and I am disappointed it was closed. Xylophone especially made some really insightful and balanced comments with very interesting detail. Having visited Patong for increasing lengths of time over 20 years I can say with confidence that the old Patong as we knew it is definitely dead and the new Patong seems to need some life blown into it. This is the lowest numbers of tourists we have ever seen here at this time of the year. What were your favourite sights in the old Patong? We really miss the pain in the ass (literally for some) of Soi Crocodile. It was always flamboyant and vibrant, many times annoying, but the dancers were always an interesting focal point for tourists new and old.