Picture: INN

 

Thai media INN went to Pattaya and found the area known as Wong Amat - usually bustling with Russians eating out and shopping - was deserted.

 

This was the result of the invasion of Ukraine and the sanctions placed on the Russians. 

 

Restaurants in the area were largely empty.

 

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Blue Siam owner Praratana, 36, said that things had really picked up in December and January.

 

Then came the war.

 

Now her clientele - mostly Russians - had dived 80% as they can't use their Visa or Mastercards.

 

They are shopping at 7-Eleven for essentials and eating in their condos, she noted sadly. 

 

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They can always try and get back home....

4 minutes ago, petermik said:

They can always try and get back home....

Via Ukraine

10 minutes ago, petermik said:

They can always try and get back home....

Limited flights, most Russian aircraft are leased from the West and are now only flying domestic routes within Russia, to avoid being seized. The flights with non-Russian airlines still open are hardly likely to accept Russian rubles in payment.

When my relatively wealthy, safe and healthy kids whinge I used to say......well, you could be living in Aleppo.

 

Now I say say........ well, you could be living in Mariupol.

 

ßloody Putin.....AGAIN.

 

 

I feel bad for these Russians.  TV cameras following them inside massage places and asking, "will you pay for happy ending?"  No?  OMG, the money is gone!!!  "Will you tip?"  NO?  OMG, businesses are crashing!!

 

I've interviewed 10,000 Russians in bars and they don't like the question, "How much will you spend on bar girl?"

 

Then I stare at them as they sip their drink.    Can you afford another one?  That's the question.

 

Honestly, I do feel bad for anyone treated unfairly because of their nationality

Edited March 23, 20224 yr by Iamfalang

In the words of Bonny M : Oh those Russians... resorts and restaurants are suffering but take away, cheap eating places and supermarkets are presumably doing well with now low budget tourists...

42 minutes ago, Excel said:

That's true they could except many of them are illegally here and/or into scamming or general illegal activities I suspect so it suited them.

Most of those I know had normal jobs. Depends on the kind of people with whom you associate. For example, with real estate developers. But people with diseased minds might prefer to think that they work in the sex industry or worse...an estate agent ???? 

There is good and bad everywhere. Just like you, they want to have a better life. 

 

 

13 minutes ago, ezzra said:

In the words of Bonny M : Oh those Russians... resorts and restaurants are suffering but take away, cheap eating places and supermarkets are presumably doing well with now low budget tourists...

 

You mean that places to which people from every nationality might frequent? 

It's Boney M...

The article is a pile of steaming.... There is no way that Russians are buying their essentials from 7-11. There is not even a 7-11 in the area pictured, but a Family Mart.  The nearest 7-11 is right next to a Tesco Lotus mini-mart; so it's more likely that the Russians and anyone else looking for essentials will go into the Tesco Lotus store. There is also a TOPS daily for them to get their essentials. The main people seen outside a 7-11 are the natives camping outside and having fun. 

The reason why few Russians in the restaurants is that there a few Russians tourists in situ. The ones in Pattaya likely stay in condos anyway and have normal lives like you and I.

I don't eat out in tourist restaurants every day; especially when I can create better food than they can.

They will get more out of the food if they eat it raw just as animals do

16 minutes ago, Bruno123 said:

The article is a pile of steaming.... There is no way that Russians are buying their essentials from 7-11. There is not even a 7-11 in the area pictured, but a Family Mart.  The nearest 7-11 is right next to a Tesco Lotus mini-mart; so it's more likely that the Russians and anyone else looking for essentials will go into the Tesco Lotus store. There is also a TOPS daily for them to get their essentials. The main people seen outside a 7-11 are the natives camping outside and having fun. 

The reason why few Russians in the restaurants is that there a few Russians tourists in situ. The ones in Pattaya likely stay in condos anyway and have normal lives like you and I.

I don't eat out in tourist restaurants every day; especially when I can create better food than they can.

Do keep up, Tesco Lotus is no more.

1 hour ago, Iamfalang said:

I've interviewed 10,000 Russians in bars

Over what period of time please?

9 minutes ago, Blue Muton said:

Do keep up, Tesco Lotus is no more.

Have all the shops been renamed? I think you will find they have not.

Of course none of them will admit to being a Putinista but once they get home the Z's come out.

1 hour ago, Excel said:

That's true they could except many of them are illegally here and/or into scamming or general illegal activities I suspect so it suited them.

yes many could return..but if you were a russian would you want to back to Mad Vlad

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Exactly what the vast majority of the Chinese tourists did, when they were #1 in volume. Everyone I spoke to in the industry said they did not spend much money. Only the fruit shake vendors, the buffets, 7/11, Lotus, and duty free seemed to make any money from them. And they want them back?

 

Just curious.... What and where do you spend your money?

1 minute ago, Harveyboy said:

yes many could return..but if you were a russian would you want to back to Mad Vlad

Many Russians have escaped to places like Armenia and Georgia but that doesn't mean their problems are over.

1 hour ago, Iamfalang said:

I feel bad for these Russians.  TV cameras following them inside massage places and asking, "will you pay for happy ending?"  No?  OMG, the money is gone!!!  "Will you tip?"  NO?  OMG, businesses are crashing!!

 

I've interviewed 10,000 Russians in bars and they don't like the question, "How much will you spend on bar girl?"

 

Then I stare at them as they sip their drink.    Can you afford another one?  That's the question.

 

Honestly, I do feel bad for anyone treated unfairly because of their nationality

did i read in this post Russians Tip ha ha made my day

1 hour ago, petermik said:

They can always try and get back home....

How, by walking on water ........or wait an Oligarch could take them home on his super yacht......thats the ticket

I'll give you a 1000 to 1 the Chang and Vodka sales ain't gone down 

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Exactly what the vast majority of the Chinese tourists did, when they were #1 in volume. Everyone I spoke to in the industry said they did not spend much money. Only the fruit shake vendors, the buffets, 7/11, Lotus, and duty free seemed to make any money from them. And they want them back?

Appearances can be deceptive. The Chinese  tourist trade is very lucrative.

2 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

How, by walking on water ........or wait an Oligarch could take them home on his super yacht......thats the ticket

many still still have return tickets .. isn't that required..there are still routes open to get back to russia..but would you want to

1 minute ago, The Hammer2021 said:

Appearances can be deceptive. The Chinese  tourist trade is very lucrative.

yes it brings a lot of money into China

The Russians who used to visit Cosy beach used to buy all their food and drink from 7/11s. They all appeared poor, badly dressed families possibly  staying in condos for free or cheap.

8 minutes ago, Harveyboy said:

many still still have return tickets .. isn't that required..there are still routes open to get back to russia..but would you want to

I believe even with return tickets the airlines are not flying anymore that they came in on

12 minutes ago, The Hammer2021 said:

The Russians who used to visit Cosy beach used to buy all their food and drink from 7/11s. They all appeared poor, badly dressed families possibly  staying in condos for free or cheap.

 

Nasty. I met a few Russians around there and none of them fit your description. I certainly didn't meet anyone staying anywhere for free.

They would buy their food and drink from the vendors, restaurants and convenience shops; just like everyone else.

Without the Russians, the Phra Tamnak area would have been deserted, other than for the resident Norwegians.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Bruno123 said:

Depends on the kind of people with whom you associate

I don't associate with any of them, got more sense. Those that do associate with them are often found to have similar traits. " Birds of a Feather" comes to mind

35 minutes ago, Harveyboy said:

yes many could return..but if you were a russian would you want to back to Mad Vlad

If they are making a nice illegal, tax free living here in Thailand then I can see the reasons for them not wanting to return.

16 minutes ago, Excel said:

I don't associate with any of them, got more sense. Those that do associate with them are often found to have similar traits. " Birds of a Feather" comes to mind

 

Oh dear....