Pattaya residents, where are you?

[Brunolem]

A friend in Pattaya is sending me daily videos from the city, and it is frightening! 

 

It feels more like the aftermath of a nuclear accident, than the return to life after a pandemic. 

 

There are very few taxis/songthaew, and when he finally gets one, he sits alone in it. 

 

Traffic is almost inexistant... no motorbikes roaming the roads in Pattaya, can you believe that? 

 

Malls are empty... you can count the visitors with the fingers of one hand. 

 

Yesterday, he was at the Royal Garden at 6PM...not one soul! 

 

Same thing a little bit later at the Central. 

 

Where is the population? 

 

Many Thais may have chose to return to their villages, but what about the tens of thousands of farang residents? 

 

There is far more life and activity in my remote area in Sisaket province, where the nearest small city is busy as usual. 

 

Has Pattaya become toxic? 

Edited May 27, 2020 by Brunolem

[bkk6060]

Everything you say is true.

I will guess there will be more people wandering around when the bars open.

Walked the beach promenade yesterday afternoon for almost an hour and saw just a handful of people.

Truly an eerie ghost town.

 

All this is evidence the economy in Pattaya cannot sustain itself with locals.

No way no how, it is way too big now.  I would guess 90%+ of this place is supported by tourism.

 

So, I guess the plan is to gut it out until the tourists come back.  In the mean time many for rent, for sale, and totally closed/gutted structures/businesses clutter the landscape.

It will be interesting to see if and when this place ever comes back to what it was.

 

Edited May 27, 2020 by bkk6060

[JohnBZ]

Pattaya has to let all businesses to open before tourists are back.  If there is no fun, why go to Pattaya.

[Phil McCaverty]

Over here on the Darkside, where most expats live, life is pretty much back to normal. No reason to go into Pattaya, although I've been in a couple of times, lunch at Bake 'n Brew (x2) and dentist. Over here, things will be 100% back to normal when the bars open and restaurants serve alcohol again.

[Pattaya46]

7 hours ago, Brunolem said:

Many Thais may have chose to return to their villages,

but what about the tens of thousands of farang residents?

Tens of thousands?? I really doubt they were so many. 

[Brunolem]

54 minutes ago, Pattaya46 said:

Tens of thousands?? I really doubt they were so many. 

Around 2010, there were over 40,000 farangs with a retirement visa in Pattaya... and that was only those with this specific visa... (that was headline news in the Pattaya Mail at the time). 

 

I doubt that these numbers have gone down since... on the contrary... 

[ivor bigun]

it does seem to be getting a little busier ,but i must say ,its great like this ,but i do feel so sorry for those who have lost their jobs ,

[Destiny1990]

4 hours ago, Brunolem said:

Around 2010, there were over 40,000 farangs with a retirement visa in Pattaya... and that was only those with this specific visa... (that was headline news in the Pattaya Mail at the time). 

 

I doubt that these numbers have gone down since... on the contrary... 

since some years there was a downtrend and especially this corona thing has  nearly extinct all farang long staying expats in Pattaya !! 

[action]

I spent all day yesterday running errands around Pattaya.  It was fantastic!  No tour buses full of Chinese clogging the roads.  Didn't have to wait for the same red light 3 times.  I think it's a great improvement, I'm enjoying living here more than ever right now.  

[wombat]

where are we ?
we are all being good little vegemites and social distancing while watching frustrations being played out on social media.
what are you doing ?

[asiamaster]

22 hours ago, Phil McCaverty said:

Over here on the Darkside, where most expats live, life is pretty much back to normal. No reason to go into Pattaya, although I've been in a couple of times, lunch at Bake 'n Brew (x2) and dentist. Over here, things will be 100% back to normal when the bars open and restaurants serve alcohol again.

Agreed. Most just stay at home and only venture into town if and when they really have to. Remember many blame the farangs for this and think that we are extremely rich.

[Pedrogaz]

I was thinking about heading down to Pattaya (Jomtien) for a few days R&R when the internal travel restrictions end next Sunday. After reading you report, I don't think I'll bother. Doesn't sound like much fun, but all the best Pattaya, hope you make it through the crisis.

[1FinickyOne]

22 hours ago, Pattaya46 said:

Tens of thousands?? I really doubt they were so many

just 2 really big guys taking up a few barstools each, I thought? Haven't been there in a few years...

[Guderian]

It's silly to say that there's no traffic on the roads, there are no tour buses which is a BIG positive, but plenty of cars, trucks and motorbikes. Far too many Grab Food motorbikes. One nice thing is that you can go shopping on the weekend now without expecting Sukhumvit to be like parking lot with all the visitors from Bangkok.

[Brunolem]

1 hour ago, wombat said:

where are we ?
we are all being good little vegemites and social distancing while watching frustrations being played out on social media.
what are you doing ?

I am actually at Central Ubon...lots of people there, almost business as usual.

 

Looks like Pattaya is losing its mojo...no extreme city anymore?

[DefaultName]

I'm in Pattaya, apart from shopping, there's not much reason to go out.  So I'm one of the missing expats.

 

Allow even a beer with a meal and I'll be there.

[jimn]

On 5/27/2020 at 8:57 AM, Brunolem said:

 

Many Thais may have chose to return to their villages, but what about the tens of thousands of farang residents? 

I agree with what you are saying, but numbers who actually live in central Pattaya are much less than that, probably less than 5,000. There are many who live in Jomtien and like me over on the Darkside. With the lack of bars, cinemas and restaurants that sell alcohol open, there is little need to come into the the centre.

[Ties V]

A lot of farang early evening in Jomtien beach road every day. Also in soi Buakao. 

[PGSan]

19 minutes ago, jimn said:

There are many who live in Jomtien and like me over on the Darkside.

Also substantial numbers in the neighbouring Tambons: in Banglamung, Sri Racha and Sattahip.

 

When we can come into Central Pattaya for a beer or six, then we will be there!  At least until Sukhumvit and Pattaya become once again a giant parking lot :-(.

[newnative]

    My partner and I are in north Pattaya and it is, indeed, quiet.  We've been going out about every other day on drives to get out of the condo for awhile.  Once a week we have been doing food shopping at Big C Marina--usually a fair number of customers but not busy.

    We've eaten out a few times at Mom and Pop restaurants but not at any of the chains yet.  We used to eat out at least once and often twice a day but we have gotten used to cooking at home and my partner thinks it's easier, safer, and the food is better.   Dining out doesn't seem that fun right now. 

     Index seemed fairly busy when we were there last weekend.  The condo pool finally opened (yaa!) and the gym for limited use with weights.  With so much still closed--including the beach--I guess there's not the urge to go out that much, especially with the masks and temperature checks and sign-ins everywhere you go.  Not really a fun experience.  I'm ready for more things to open and a little more normalcy to return.  

[NewGuy]

I saw an empty double decker tourist bus going east on Pattaya Tai on Tuesday. 

[kokopelli]

Last night at 7 pm took a motorbike taxi from Pattaya to Jomtien. Dead, dead, dead.

And even more dead on the return on a Baht bus. But service was quick at the restaurant. 

[Mick501]

When out and about I like to pass the time by masturbating on the beach, waiting in food queues, acosting strangers whilst not wearing a face mask, and going on drug fuelled abusive rampagesthrough the streets.  Whilst at home it's more low key.  Just chilling in my undies on the roof and waving a machete at passers by, or tossing the girl I met the night before off the balcony.   

 

All pretty much business as usual in Pattaya, right?

[J Town]

Gotta say, some parts are enjoyable. I did my 90 day and annual extension this week. No queue whatsoever, I was the only one doing either.

[J Town]

1 minute ago, Mick501 said:

When out and about I like to pass the time by masturbating on the beach, waiting in food queues, accosting strangers whilst not wearing a face mask, and going on drug fueled abusive rampages through the streets.  Whilst at home it's more low key.  Just chilling in my undies on the roof and waving a machete at passers by, or tossing the girl I met the night before off the balcony.   

 

All pretty much business as usual in Pattaya, right?

I recognize every landmark you post here. Should I be concerned? ????

[Mick501]

20 minutes ago, J Town said:

I recognize every landmark you post here. Should I be concerned? ????

Nah, all good.  Even now managed to control the urges to spit on elevator buttons.   Nothing to worry about here.

Edited May 28, 2020 by Mick501

[Aliflair]

3 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

I was thinking about heading down to Pattaya (Jomtien) for a few days R&R when the internal travel restrictions end next Sunday. After reading you report, I don't think I'll bother. Doesn't sound like much fun, but all the best Pattaya, hope you make it through the crisis.

Yeah save your money unless you like peace and quiet, are happy drinking in your room, and only want to look at the sand as it's full of covid so the govt is protecting us from that danger ????

[shy coconut]

On 5/27/2020 at 11:54 AM, Brunolem said:

Around 2010, there were over 40,000 farangs with a retirement visa in Pattaya... and that was only those with this specific visa... (that was headline news in the Pattaya Mail at the time). 

 

I doubt that these numbers have gone down since... on the contrary... 

I thought most of these were chucked off balconies by 37kg bar girls or hormone

crazy, yabba addicted lady boys, not to mention the thousands killed daily on the 

roads, kidnapped by thieving families up country for their tiny pensions.

 

All the above happen so the time from what I read here.....

 

[Phil McCaverty]

2 hours ago, PGSan said:

Also substantial numbers in the neighbouring Tambons: in Banglamung, Sri Racha and Sattahip.

 

When we can come into Central Pattaya for a beer or six, then we will be there!  At least until Sukhumvit and Pattaya become once again a giant parking lot :-(.

Breaking news!

 

National emergency to end July 1st. All restrictions lifted. Party time!

[Brunolem]

1 hour ago, Phil McCaverty said:

Breaking news!

 

National emergency to end July 1st. All restrictions lifted. Party time!

Still a very long time to wait...we are in May, not in June...