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schlog

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    Patong - The Wake

    in Phuket

    Posted

    1 hour ago, xylophone said:

    In keeping with the above, I have noticed a few "new girls" in town, with a few shopping in Big C for the bare essentials to fit in a "new room".

     

    Some repairs are being done around the place, and at last the empty concrete monstrosity which juts out into Soi Banzaan is being demolished (yippee) and I sincerely hope that whatever is built in its place, does not encroach upon the road itself (again).

     

    Big C is still sparsely populated with customers, and that means that they are having to shift stock before it becomes out of date, so some good shopping for cheeses and chocolate and the like, if that's what one is after.

     

    However rather than Big C, I have found some absolute bargains in Tesco Lotus in Phuket town, with classic Tuscan EV Olive Oil being reduced by 75% and the same goes with classic Balsamic Vinegar, whereas the Maple syrup came down by 70%, so needless to say I bought as much as I possibly could manage to get in the bag I had, so now I am well stock up with some essentials – – oh, almost forgot the Stilton cheese from Villa Market in Chalong at about half the price as it is elsewhere.

     

    I think it's the "siege mentality" kicking in for me as stocking up far too much!

     

    That was off topic a little, but whilst shopping in those places I have noticed a lot more activity, and that seems to be spreading to Patong, and strange as it may seem, a few girls I know here who had gone back home looking for work, have now come back to Patong saying that there is no work back home, and they are "more likely" to find work here – – probably looking for some sort of farang sponsorship one way or another.

     

    One thing that's not helping Patong recover is the uncertainty around who can and who can't come here, which airports are open and which are not, and exactly what one has to do to be able to qualify to come here. On that note a friend has a husband stranded in Italy and he is endeavouring to come back in January, and he has been quoted a price of 120,000 baht for the hotel 14 days quarantine period – – how ridiculous is that.

     

    Unfortunately, it is rules like that which will impact upon the poorer people here, rather than the idiots who make the rules, and who want a 50% rake off from those exorbitant prices.
     

    Fresh blood we need in Patong. The average girl in the last weeks must be about 56 years old and 65 kilo heavy.

    Lets hope these new girls are not the ones on the run from Tachileik.

     

    Btw underground parking is open again in big c which makes absolute sense. Didn't go there for some weeks because of their very inconvenience parking/security show.

     

    You are a lucky guy xylo. I never ever found good discounted cheese in big c. But never mind bread is always great there. Thanks to the french guy.

     

    Good luck for salute and great that they open again. Need to go also.

    • Like 6

    Beer in Phuket

    in Phuket

    Posted

    1 hour ago, madmitch said:

     

    Did you try it @schlog? What did you think? I thought it was OK, quite liked the spicy aftertaste. It wasn't syrupy like some 9% brews. I wouldn't pay full price for it though.

    And talking of strong beers I tried this yesterday. I don't recommend it. It tastes strong but that is it's only redeemong feature: characterless, vague lager flavour. Makes Carlsberg Special taste like a craft beer! Cheers Extra Strong is much better.

    IMG_20201125_222414.jpg

     

    Like you said the Kagua was ok. The Tripel is good and i like it. Bought yesterday more Tripel.

     

    I also would not pay full price for both.

    Weihenstephaner Vitus i prefer for the Tripel and for the Kagua i would take Aventinus Schneiderweisse, Korbinian or Abt 12.

    Beer in Phuket

    in Phuket

    Posted

    On 11/20/2020 at 3:54 PM, madmitch said:

    I haven't tried it yet but the Kagua Rouge sounds interesting. It's a Japanese Belgian style 9% ale with hints of sansho pepper. Must be worth a try if you lke Belgian beers at 79 baht for a 33cl bottle.

    If you need more of this 2 beers today in new central tops only 59 baht.

    1606282650899.jpg

    • Like 1

    Beer in Phuket

    in Phuket

    Posted

    14 hours ago, madmitch said:

    I haven't tried it yet but the Kagua Rouge sounds interesting. It's a Japanese Belgian style 9% ale with hints of sansho pepper. Must be worth a try if you lke Belgian beers at 79 baht for a 33cl bottle.

    Had luck and got 3 Kagua and 3 St. Bernardus Tripel. Thanks madmitch.

     

    My favorite top 3 beers here on hkt:

    1. Korbinian @makro 175 baht

    2. St.Bernardus Abt 12 @Tops 179baht

    3. 86 Black @Tops 124 baht

     

    Compared with europa it's a expensive beer desert here but a bigger selection then in the old days when you only could choose between Carlsberg which was good and Singha.

     

    Let's keep an eye on Tops. That was now their second round beers @ 79 baht.

    • Thanks 1

    Beer in Phuket

    in Phuket

    Posted

    22 minutes ago, madmitch said:

    No, only the tripel. The others St Bernadus were priced at 179 baht. I bought one or two of all those on offer though gave an American beer a miss as I thought it seemed well past its sell-by date. Realised on the way home that the date would probably be written American style so it goes out of date in December, not last April!

    Thanks. Ok so the regular price for the abt 12. Never mind will go and get some tripel.

    Beer in Phuket

    in Phuket

    Posted

    4 hours ago, madmitch said:

    We've had a couple of well-read wine threads in this forum, which have occasionally mentioned beers, but there's no specific beer thread, so I've decided to rectify this. Bargains, new beers, anything beer related.

     

    i'll start with two pictures. In the first, all these beers except the Busaba Wheat beer were purchased in Central Food Hall (TOPs) in the old Central yesterday for 79 baht each. I've not tasted them yet. They weren't on offer in TOPs in new Central. The St Bernabus is getting close to its sell-by date but I reckon with its ABV it'll be fine. The Busaba  (by Full Moon) is on sale in Promphan for 59 baht.

     

    The second picture is a new beer I spotted in 7-Eleven yesterday. I don't mind the Black Dragon Red Ale but this one is pretty awful: too fizzy, chemical taste, total lack of character.

    IMG_20201119_204640.jpg

    IMG_20201119_204956.jpg

     

    Was the St.Bernardus Abt 12 (dark beer) also priced at 79 baht? One of the best doppelbock beers. Would buy all.

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    Patong - The Wake

    in Phuket

    Posted

    Run to the hills. Run for your life.... the cruisers are coming.

    Today in the morning what surprise.

    7 tender boats and parts of 1 floating pier.

     

    Do they know more or is it only a habit to bring it in november to patong???

    20201115_072534.jpg

    • Like 2
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    Red Wine bargain in Phuket

    in Phuket

    Posted

    31 minutes ago, xylophone said:

    Yes, I took one back to Villa Market in Chalong and even though the wine was extremely cloudy and foul-smelling they wouldn't take it back/replace it, so I asked to see the manager and he was just as adamant nothing was going to happen, so I suggested that he should taste it!

     

    He was very reluctant, but did so and immediately screwed up his face and my wine was replaced, although he did say in fair English that this would be the only time that he would do that! So you see it's not easy.

     

    Probably less so in your case if the wine is "corked" because as (as a rule) it still looks good, and most Thais wouldn't know the difference between a bottle of corked wine and a bottle of urine!

     

    So I'm afraid old friend that you may have to wear it, although in some cases there is a difference between a wine being corked and having "cork taint", because this can go away if the bottle is left open or decanted.

     

    As any good chef will tell you, never use a bad wine for cooking, as why would you want to introduce a bad taste/smell to your cooking.

    For most cooking sure but in a goulash you don't taste the difference between corked wine or 2000 baht wine. Done it many times also for guests and never ever one complaint about it.

    Red Wine bargain in Phuket

    in Phuket

    Posted

    6 hours ago, madmitch said:

    Has anyone ever returned a bottle of wine to a shop in Thailand if it's off?

     

    Just opened a bottle that I only bought today from Promphan and it's corked.

     

    Don't think I threw the bill away!

    Nope never. I use it to cook delicious goulash.

    Patong - The Wake

    in Phuket

    Posted

    40 minutes ago, xylophone said:

    And another one bites the dust........I have just driven past what was once a restaurant called "I Love Spaghetti" and it has been demolished!

     

    Completely gone apart from a bit of a shell left, and so sad to see it go because it has been a bit of an institution in Nanai and I would think it's been here for about 20 years, however not too sure of that, but I do remember eating there in 2006 and it was well established then.

     

    Of course it would have taken a hit from the Italian restaurant about 50 m up on the other side of the road, and also another one which opened a further 60 or 70 metres up from that, and all of the food in those establishments is reasonably cheap, so I guess they were competing on price, and that's never a good thing.

     

    IMO the best Italian restaurant in Nanai Road, and for some way around I would think, is Da Moreno, and the large pizzas in that place owe their heritage from the pizzas served in La Capannina in Nanai 2.

     

    I say this because my favourite Italian restaurant, Salute, (just off Bangla Road) closed about two months ago so I'm looking out for other ones of note, apart from my own culinary delights!

     

    I did bump into a girl who works in a restaurant called "Kitchen", which is just opposite the top of Bangla Road, and almost next to Taipan, and she told me that the restaurant was open and started serving at 5 PM and finishes just after midnight, so I will have to give that a try on my next foray out.

    Thanks xylo for Da Moreno. Will give that a try. My last pizza delivery pizzeria hut 1 also closed after serving great the last months.

    It's not easy any more to get good fresh food in Patong.

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    Patong - The Wake

    in Phuket

    Posted

    On 9/27/2020 at 12:36 PM, xylophone said:

     

    It didn't really hit home till later when I considered the number of farangs I had seen in Big C earlier that day, and true enough, apart from the whole place being damn near empty, I was the only farang in it?
     

    Thought after your post xylo lets do the farang count today on my ride:

     

    Kok Kloy 0

    Maikhao 0

    Lotus Thalang 1

    Makro Patong 0

    Gym Patong 3

     

    Wooow didn't expect that low numbers. Looking on the positiv side, we are getting more and more exotic and handsome day by day.

     

    Good indication how hkt is struggling are the numbers of red car registration plates. Counted only 3 today in 3 hours on the roads here.

     

    Sad times like you said.....

     

     

    • Like 3

    concret mixer

    in Phuket

    Posted

    From Thai Watsadu Thalang drive up the way to Thalang. On the left side you will see a second hand car dealer and next there you will see your concret mixers. You can't miss it.

    Red Wine bargain in Phuket

    in Phuket

    Posted

    On 8/31/2020 at 5:34 PM, xylophone said:

    Long time since I've had that wine, and the last lot I saw was in the Promphan store........a while ago now!!

    Yesterday in Tops in old Central Faustino V Reserva 2013 now in stock.

     

    Found a primitivo di manduria reserva 2016 Giordano. Luca maroni 98 points. Must admit luca is correct and for around 800 baht a very very nice wine. Need to buy again to test more to confirm that this Giordano is better then the Zolla.

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