Can anyone recommend a friendly (cheap) bar like Gekko?

[moontang]

On 7/9/2019 at 2:30 PM, fhickson said:

i used to live around the corner from gekko, yet rarely went in except for happy hours once in awhile. i preferred the cheap eats down the street which all had english menus and were half the price.

 

i met the owner at gekko and he seemed a fine chap, but i could not help feeling that he was being friendly just to drum up business. same with the service staff, seemed like they were angling for tips. anyhow, different vibe from the thai eats places.

 

oh yeah, several times service staff failed to bring back change on the bill or i would have to walk up and wait at the bar because i naively thought they forgot in the early days. pretty much ended it for me when i learned it was a forced tipping thing.

 

beating a dead horse though, it was years ago.

There seems to be a part of expat culture here that wants to be your friend.. at a heavy price.  Not gekko specifically, but over the last 15 years or so I have seen it in the bars.. they see an outsider or loner, make him feel like one of the guys, feel out his net worth and or vulnerability, and then comes the scam.  Unlicensed financial advisors, others selling shares in a bar multiple times, and others touting their great investments that they don't even know are a scam, because they have never made a withdrawal. I remember this clown from Oz touting his money manager and I told him I was getting 4.6% at the time, government guaranteed in the US.  But his friend at the bar was getting him 9%.  Kind of the type thing that brought CEC to its knees.  But, I have a lot of experience with investing legally, and can shrug this stuff off, unlike many others.  The big turnoff for me are pisswarm beers, poor sanitation, and employees with their noses (if they have one) in their smart phones that cost more than their families worth.  If not drinking alone means listening to a few fairytale, so be it, but when I go out for a beer it needs to match up with the ones I pull out of my fridge at home.. currently less than 51 THB per large tiger.  And I notice how many of the comments about too cheap, and go drink at 711..blahblah..have subsided?  Yeah, either you are on a budget now, or you will be in the future, but everyone has been getting squeezed awfully bad, but there are lots of things in the barowners control that can be tuned up. I could see within one week of living in CM, that mad dog wasn't my scene, but like gekko, they still are in business, for now, and many just aren't aware that things don't have to be bad.  Kind of like new york city delis... most are dirty, few are good, but they manage to chug along. 

[beau thai]

On 7/9/2019 at 2:30 PM, fhickson said:

i used to live around the corner from gekko, yet rarely went in except for happy hours once in awhile. i preferred the cheap eats down the street which all had english menus and were half the price.

 

i met the owner at gekko and he seemed a fine chap, but i could not help feeling that he was being friendly just to drum up business. same with the service staff, seemed like they were angling for tips. anyhow, different vibe from the thai eats places.

 

oh yeah, several times service staff failed to bring back change on the bill or i would have to walk up and wait at the bar because i naively thought they forgot in the early days. pretty much ended it for me when i learned it was a forced tipping thing.

 

beating a dead horse though, it was years ago.

never experienced that in Gekko. Probably only go a couple of times a month when I am up that way but no complaints about food, choice, pricing or service- including 'wholesale' deli - cheese, fish etc to take home

[LivinLOS]

Nowhere is the 2 speed economy and reduction in importance of the traditional retiree money more obvious than when contrasting threads like this, with expats trying to hunt out 3 beers for 180b and how tigers from my fridge are 51 (to the baht no less).. Then looking in the packed Thai craft beer bars like namtons, where the beers are 3xx or 4xx a drink. 

No wonder the visa rules are getting more restrictive. 



 

[sanemax]

3 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

Nowhere is the 2 speed economy and reduction in importance of the traditional retiree money more obvious than when contrasting threads like this, with expats trying to hunt out 3 beers for 180b and how tigers from my fridge are 51 (to the baht no less).. Then looking in the packed Thai craft beer bars like namtons, where the beers are 3xx or 4xx a drink. 

No wonder the visa rules are getting more restrictive. 
 

But realistically 99% (my spoonybomber fact of the day) of Thais get their drink from 7/11's

[moontang]

8 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

Nowhere is the 2 speed economy and reduction in importance of the traditional retiree money more obvious than when contrasting threads like this, with expats trying to hunt out 3 beers for 180b and how tigers from my fridge are 51 (to the baht no less).. Then looking in the packed Thai craft beer bars like namtons, where the beers are 3xx or 4xx a drink. 

No wonder the visa rules are getting more restrictive. 



 

And didn't you crash your motorcycle your first week in CM, or was it your first day?  You ever see me butch about putting 800k in a Thai Bank?  Nope, made good money off that too.  I like to go out, but I draw the line on a lot of bs, like warm beer, filth, and bad service.  If none of that mattered I would go to beer lab.. ever read the reviews on that place?  Awful.  A beer is not worth 10 usd.. especially not when that is what many make in a day.  Kind of like expensive Mexican... It just doesn't work that way. 

 

They are doing 39 THB small Tigers on soi 11 sukhumvit every day from 6-8..but it still sucks because they chill the beer with tap water and the little midget waiters have the personality of a pile of dogshite, except dogshite eventually turns white.  And the TV is too loud to count the change correctly, according to many reports. 

Edited July 13, 2019 by moontang

[LivinLOS]

17 minutes ago, moontang said:

And didn't you crash your motorcycle your first week in CM, or was it your first day? 

erm ?? nope... 

[LivinLOS]

21 minutes ago, sanemax said:

But realistically 99% (my spoonybomber fact of the day) of Thais get their drink from 7/11's

I would edge a bit more than only 1%.. Places like the village seem to have a steady stream of well heeled Thais coming in.. I would hazard theres a lot more well heeled Thais around than well heeled farangs. 

The fact remains, this thread is a stark example of why Thailand no longer seems to be rolling out the red carpet.. I know Chiang Mai always did have the more budget retiree factor than say Phuket, but when it comes to the stage of knowing the exact to the baht price of a bottle, thats why they are increasing all the financial hurdles while at the same time offering easier stays like elite and the 10 year O-X visas for the people they do want. 

[Lizard2010]

On 7/9/2019 at 2:30 PM, fhickson said:

i used to live around the corner from gekko, yet rarely went in except for happy hours once in awhile. i preferred the cheap eats down the street which all had english menus and were half the price.

 

i met the owner at gekko and he seemed a fine chap, but i could not help feeling that he was being friendly just to drum up business. same with the service staff, seemed like they were angling for tips. anyhow, different vibe from the thai eats places.

 

oh yeah, several times service staff failed to bring back change on the bill or i would have to walk up and wait at the bar because i naively thought they forgot in the early days. pretty much ended it for me when i learned it was a forced tipping thing.

 

beating a dead horse though, it was years ago.

Well it has certainly changes since then

Staff are helpful as they can be

Rudi does bring round nibbles to advertise his products

As most stuff my friends and i buy are cheaper and more flavorsome than most of the products bought at the major supermarkets for foreign food

The staff have always brought the change back

Maybe it was a few that were always looking for money

I have been going regularly now for over 2 years with no problems

love the daily  meal specials too

[sanemax]

4 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

I would edge a bit more than only 1%.. Places like the village seem to have a steady stream of well heeled Thais coming in.. I would hazard theres a lot more well heeled Thais around than well heeled farangs. 

The fact remains, this thread is a stark example of why Thailand no longer seems to be rolling out the red carpet.. I know Chiang Mai always did have the more budget retiree factor than say Phuket, but when it comes to the stage of knowing the exact to the baht price of a bottle, thats why they are increasing all the financial hurdles while at the same time offering easier stays like elite and the 10 year O-X visas for the people they do want. 

The visa clampdowns began well before the Bahts appreciation .

BTW , 70 Million Thais , how many of them drink in the Village (bar)  ?

200 000 ?

[LivinLOS]

37 minutes ago, sanemax said:

The visa clampdowns began well before the Bahts appreciation .

They have been gradual for decade plus.. 

 

But to me the increasing inspection of financial requirements, the increasing restrictions on easy long stay options outside of the strict channels, which you would be crazy deny, are all part of a clear system of trying to reduce the population of borderline or low end long stayers. No more multi entry non imms, no more self certified declarations, prove actual inbound money each extension, etc etc.. They are doing that for a reason !! They no longer want to have the budget long staying folks here, and when you see how bitter and angry so many of them are, about a 3 dollar beer not meeting thier desired standards of coolness or service not being happy enough to see them, I am not sure I blame them one bit. 

 

Quote

 

BTW , 70 Million Thais , how many of them drink in the Village (bar)  ?

200 000 ?

 

Or places like it... The point is you go in the expensive bars, and they are doing the best trade, namtons is busy and costs london prices, yellow dog, crafity, parallel (whatever complex name that is) etc etc etc, thats without the more mainstream beer lab style or renegade etc.. Its not one bar, its in general.. The places catering to Thais at the mid and upper price points have never been better or more of them, the places catering to western retirees who seem to resent them making more than cost price of beer are doing very poorly. Given that trend, which one is your Thai entrepreneur likely to think about opening next ?? Great I say.. 

[sanemax]

1 hour ago, LivinLOS said:

They have been gradual for decade plus.. 

 

But to me the increasing inspection of financial requirements, the increasing restrictions on easy long stay options outside of the strict channels, which you would be crazy deny, are all part of a clear system of trying to reduce the population of borderline or low end long stayers. No more multi entry non imms, no more self certified declarations, prove actual inbound money each extension, etc etc.. They are doing that for a reason !! They no longer want to have the budget long staying folks here, and when you see how bitter and angry so many of them are, about a 3 dollar beer not meeting thier desired standards of coolness or service not being happy enough to see them, I am not sure I blame them one bit. 

 

Or places like it... The point is you go in the expensive bars, and they are doing the best trade, namtons is busy and costs london prices, yellow dog, crafity, parallel (whatever complex name that is) etc etc etc, thats without the more mainstream beer lab style or renegade etc.. Its not one bar, its in general.. The places catering to Thais at the mid and upper price points have never been better or more of them, the places catering to western retirees who seem to resent them making more than cost price of beer are doing very poorly. Given that trend, which one is your Thai entrepreneur likely to think about opening next ?? Great I say.. 

Seems to me that just want to have a dig at people who are not as rich as they were a a few years a go , like, rub their noses in it, kind of thing .

Why not just a get a wad of 1000 Baht notes and wave it in their faces ?

[moontang]

The pretentious hiso this will go wherever their sheep hurder and their credit card allows, but they wish they make as much as I do sleeping.  Oh, and the actual price of my cold tigers is 50.833, but I rounded to not get the eurotrash upset, but considering a simple slipped digit can cause a loss of life in many applications, I take pride in being precise, and it sure does come in handy being employed as a math teacher in places where the students weren't milk deprived. Chiang Mai will die with a whimper, it is as simple as that. 

[elektrified]

5 hours ago, LivinLOS said:

They have been gradual for decade plus.. 

 

But to me the increasing inspection of financial requirements, the increasing restrictions on easy long stay options outside of the strict channels, which you would be crazy deny, are all part of a clear system of trying to reduce the population of borderline or low end long stayers. No more multi entry non imms, no more self certified declarations, prove actual inbound money each extension, etc etc.. They are doing that for a reason !! They no longer want to have the budget long staying folks here, and when you see how bitter and angry so many of them are, about a 3 dollar beer not meeting thier desired standards of coolness or service not being happy enough to see them, I am not sure I blame them one bit. 

 

Or places like it... The point is you go in the expensive bars, and they are doing the best trade, namtons is busy and costs london prices, yellow dog, crafity, parallel (whatever complex name that is) etc etc etc, thats without the more mainstream beer lab style or renegade etc.. Its not one bar, its in general.. The places catering to Thais at the mid and upper price points have never been better or more of them, the places catering to western retirees who seem to resent them making more than cost price of beer are doing very poorly. Given that trend, which one is your Thai entrepreneur likely to think about opening next ?? Great I say.. 

Or for example at Ruamchok Plaza, there are two bars now that do a fantastic trade each and every night. Both have live entertainment. Clientele - 95% Thai. At the outdoor bar I would guess that the average person spends 300-400 on drinks while at the indoor place 500-1000. The indoor place has an amazing stock of imported liquor. So yeah, this is the way it is.

[BritManToo]

On 7/4/2019 at 1:37 PM, eyecatcher said:

Like Gekko......(but not Gekko?)

 

Whats the criteria?

Stinky Klong?

[moontang]

4 minutes ago, elektrified said:

Or for example at Ruamchok Plaza, there are two bars now that do a fantastic trade each and every night. Both have live entertainment. Clientele - 95% Thai. At the outdoor bar I would guess that the average person spends 300-400 on drinks while at the indoor place 500-1000. The indoor place has an amazing stock of imported liquor. So yeah, this is the way it is.

Is there a decent liquor that isn't imported?  And the 30 ml shot drinks?  Would make me more sober, but might give a headache, too.  Counterfeit liquor?  Still a huge problem.  Friend had some mango absolute the other day.... Need I say more? 

[BritManToo]

6 hours ago, LivinLOS said:

Or places like it... The point is you go in the expensive bars, and they are doing the best trade, namtons is busy and costs london prices, yellow dog, crafity, parallel (whatever complex name that is) etc etc etc, thats without the more mainstream beer lab style or renegade etc.. Its not one bar, its in general..

And yet in Vietnam and Cambodia there are hundreds of bars, both expats bars and local bars, high end and low end, all charging 50c-$1 for a beer. Why are the bars in Chang Mai so much more expensive?

(20,000vnd = 25bht)

Edited July 13, 2019 by BritManToo

[BritManToo]

7 hours ago, LivinLOS said:

I would edge a bit more than only 1%.. Places like the village seem to have a steady stream of well heeled Thais coming in.. I would hazard theres a lot more well heeled Thais around than well heeled farangs. 

I live on a moobaan for exclusively well heeled middle class Thais, all up to their eyes in debt.

I choose to live within my means, rather than play the pretend rich person game the Thais love so much.

Around 20% of the properties have been repossessed in the past 5 years. 

[elektrified]

24 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I live on a moobaan for exclusively well heeled middle class Thais, all up to their eyes in debt.

I choose to live within my means, rather than play the pretend rich person game the Thais love so much.

Around 20% of the properties have been repossessed in the past 5 years. 

I would say that is the norm everywhere around here. Perhaps 10-20%.

[moontang]

I see people driving like idiots, of course, in trucks that likely cost 3 to five times their income... 5x is even a stretch on real property. If you want to call people we'll heeled, who are making half of fast food wages in the US, fine, but it just doesn't ad up.  Under 20000 per month is still the norm for Thais, less than 3 bucks per hour, even with the mighty THB, and the family trees seem to all be infected with illegitame kids, deadbeats, former hookers, and just plain lazy worthless turds. The corruption is now so widespread, the pie slices are too small to make a difference. 

[moontang]

45 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

And yet in Vietnam and Cambodia there are hundreds of bars, both expats bars and local bars, high end and low end, all charging 50c-$1 for a beer. Why are the bars in Chang Mai so much more expensive?

(20,000vnd = 25bht)

BM, I am surprised you haven't discovered the 25 cent beer happy hour in Sihanoukeville. Euphoria or something... 

[BritManToo]

5 minutes ago, moontang said:

BM, I am surprised you haven't discovered the 25 cent beer happy hour in Sihanoukeville. Euphoria or something... 

I was happy enough at N-pub in Da Nang where the Saigon export was 20,000vnd (25bht), buy one, get one free at happy hour, that's 12.5bht/bottle. I had plenty of Angkor draft in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh at 50c-75c a glass. I've just stopped drinking in bars in Thailand, all my spare money now goes on holidays in Vietnam and Cambodia every 90 days, countries that actually seem to want me to visit them and welcome me.

 

Sihanoukville is just a giant building site at the moment, occupied by Chinese casinos, all the bars are gone.

Edited July 13, 2019 by BritManToo

[moontang]

16 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I was happy enough at N-pub in Da Nang where the Saigon export was 20,000vnd (25bht), buy one, get one free at happy hour, that's 12.5bht/bottle. I had plenty of Angkor draft in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh at 50c-75c a glass. I've just stopped drinking in bars in Thailand, all my spare money now goes on holidays in Vietnam and Cambodia every 90 days, countries that actually seem to want me to visit them and welcome me.

 

Sihanoukville is just a giant building site at the moment, occupied by Chinese casinos, all the bars are gone.

Yep, even the satellite photo shows that strip mall of beer bars and the 25 cent beer places as leveled.  Right across from Sakal Guest House.  Was fun for a while... Khmer are a bit creepy, but it is cool you are able to go drink cold cheap beer.  The mom pop scene is history in North bkk, I hope everyone is happy. 

 

BM, what else can you tell us about this bar?  Mostly expats, working girls, food, etc, what time do they close? 

Edited July 13, 2019 by moontang

[scottiejohn]

I thought the topic was regarding Gekko Bar which is in Chiang Mai.
What are the previous posts re countries/exchanges rates etc got to do with it. 
If you want a cheap good beer/food go to Gekko Bar which is in Chiang Mai!

Why can't people stay on topic? 

Edited July 13, 2019 by scottiejohn

[LivinLOS]

6 hours ago, sanemax said:

Seems to me that just want to have a dig at people who are not as rich as they were a a few years a go , like, rub their noses in it, kind of thing .

Why not just a get a wad of 1000 Baht notes and wave it in their faces ?

I am not trying to rub anyones nose in it, but everyone needs to be clear about the current and coming reality.. 

 

Thailand is no longer the easy cheap booze and brass destination, not only on exchange rates but on rising living standards, rising incomes, rising disposable income etc.. Sure many are loaded to the eyeballs in debt, but incomes are way up, especially in the younger more educated sectors, getting up there to overtaking budget pensioners. The days of expecting service like a moist towel rub down and grovelling wai for the great white bwana to deign to buy a few changs are over.

 

My bet is that trend isnt changing, and if your at the point of being angry at everyone and everything because costs have outpaced the savings plan, then its time to make another plan, because Thailand isnt waiting for us. 

 

Posts of constant complain that the beer isnt cold enough, that its put in water, followed up with insults and put downs ?? because a bar charges more than Macro to resell it.. Once you get like that its time to pack. 

[LivinLOS]

35 minutes ago, moontang said:

I see people driving like idiots, of course, in trucks that likely cost 3 to five times their income... 5x is even a stretch on real property. If you want to call people we'll heeled, who are making half of fast food wages in the US, fine, but it just doesn't ad up.  Under 20000 per month is still the norm for Thais, less than 3 bucks per hour, even with the mighty THB, and the family trees seem to all be infected with illegitame kids, deadbeats, former hookers, and just plain lazy worthless turds. The corruption is now so widespread, the pie slices are too small to make a difference. 

Exactly my point. 

[LivinLOS]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

I live on a moobaan for exclusively well heeled middle class Thais, all up to their eyes in debt.

I choose to live within my means, rather than play the pretend rich person game the Thais love so much.

Around 20% of the properties have been repossessed in the past 5 years. 

Agreed, Thais are living in a huge credit bubble.. But I thought it would pop in 08, and it didnt, and it still hasnt.. The money they borrowed then has been inflated away, land values have skyrocketed, infrastructure, roads, etc have all been built using that debt... Even when it pops they will still have developed massively in the last 15 years. They will have owned those cars, bought those houses, etc.. Sure they might get repo'ed, but they didnt have one before either.. 

I also think its very much part of the Thai national character, the sanuk, live for today, fatalism that runs right through the psyche.. Enjoy now, worry about pay later when it comes due. Its part of what I loved when I first came her so to complain about it would be childish. 

 

 

[moontang]

Don't look now, but your gf's family needs their monthly "loan." 

Oh, and the manufacturer of Tiger, multinational Asia Pacific Brewery says serve at 36f..or 2.2c, which it unlikely is when the digital readout says 9c, and it is 37c outside.  Complaint?  More like astonishment at lack of common goddamn sense, with many foreign owners more than willing to serve deficient products. 

Edited July 13, 2019 by moontang

[LivinLOS]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

And yet in Vietnam and Cambodia there are hundreds of bars, both expats bars and local bars, high end and low end, all charging 50c-$1 for a beer. Why are the bars in Chang Mai so much more expensive?

(20,000vnd = 25bht)

 

Local taxation on drink, local brew competition rather than a few billionaire brewer families and laws designed to prevent small scale competition.. Higher salaries and rents in popular spots, possibly more police and unofficial taxes behind the scenes. 

Its not like the local bar owners are reaping in the big bucks, farangs going broke everywhere trying to do it proves that point. 

[elektrified]

1 hour ago, moontang said:

I see people driving like idiots, of course, in trucks that likely cost 3 to five times their income... 5x is even a stretch on real property. If you want to call people we'll heeled, who are making half of fast food wages in the US, fine, but it just doesn't ad up.  Under 20000 per month is still the norm for Thais, less than 3 bucks per hour, even with the mighty THB, and the family trees seem to all be infected with illegitame kids, deadbeats, former hookers, and just plain lazy worthless turds. The corruption is now so widespread, the pie slices are too small to make a difference. 

I think you may be a little out of touch with what the younger generation (25-38 year olds) earn nowadays. The wife's cousin was making 20K when she was 19. No, not salary of course but commissions off the Chinese and sales, Internet work  etc. Have you seen how many packages internet sellers ship every day at the P.O.? My friend told me his 24 y/o daughter makes a profit of 30K per month selling clothes on FB Live. Things have really changed and young people have more cash to buy expensive motorbikes and cars, go on nice vacations, drink in expensive bars, etc.

Edited July 13, 2019 by elektrified

[moontang]

4 minutes ago, elektrified said:

I think you may be a little out of touch with what the younger generation (25-38 year olds) earn nowadays. The wife's cousin was making 20K when she was 19. No, not salary of course but commissions off the Chinese and sales, Internet work  etc. Have you seen how many packages internet sellers ship every day at the P.O.? My friend told me his 24 y/o daughter makes a profit of 30K per month selling clothes on FB Live. Things have really changed and young people have more cash to buy expensive motorbikes and cars, go on nice vacations, drink in expensive bars, etc.

5 dollars an hour justifies 10 dollar beers?  Not.  The data on salaries is easily accessible.  650,000 paying any income tax in a country of 70 million...