The 1st time I went to Phuket (Karon), about a year before the Russians moved in, it was brilliant. So many decent Thais, lots of smiles. Used to go to a small bar run by a Brit, really decent guy who looked after us well.
Went back Karon about 3 years later and the Thais seemed to have forgotten how to smile. I went back to that bar, only to find that guy as miserable as sin too. He recognised me and, surprisingly, he cheered up a bit and we got chatting. I asked the obvious and he told me that he'd been asked about selling up. At gun and knife point by some 'friendly' Russians. This was his last week in Thailand.
All I could do is make damn sure I helped him get through his remaining stock. Sad.