Night Spots To Close Nationwide For Thai Princess' Funeral April 8-10

[chrisinth]

What are "Night entertainment venues"? Does this include restaurants as well? If the wife does close her bar (we are up country), then, we will be bringing our own booze to a local restaurant and inviting lots of friends for a party. The restaurant may not sell drink, but it will sell mixers and ice as that is not illegal. Nothing to prevent people bringing their own bottles.

[atyclb]

They shouldn't need to legislate respect for such an occurrence.

[HeavyDrinker]

They shouldn't need to legislate respect for such an occurrence

Why?

[csolgosz]

The reason a lot of Thais probably don't know who she is, may be that she was not the daughter of the current king, but the daughter of Rama IV who had two successors (Rama VII and Rama VIII) before the current King Rama IX (King Bhumibol). This princess was a first cousin of current King Bhumibol Adulyadej and third cousin with King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia.

[hotandhumid]

Show some respect people. This is Thailand for gods sake so respect the Royal family. If the tourists don't like it then tuff luck, go to Cambodia for a few days or Laos etc. or try to actually do something else rather then bar monger.

You people claim to live in this wonderful country that is ruled by a great Family yet you can't even respect when one of it's members dies and has a ceremony? King Rama 5 is and was a greatly respected King bye everyone including the present King so yes the Princess if their family also.

The article forgot to mention that they are asking that everyone dress in black on those days to show respect.

Do something positive for a change and if you do live here and see tourists that are a little discouraged try and help them by pointing them to venues that you might know of or suggest some other things for them to do. Make this a positive issue NOT a bar closer issue.

Could you possibly be any more cringeworthy?

[HeavyDrinker]

Could you possibly be any more cringeworthy?

Well, it's mighty funny seeing someone DEMAND we show respect to a culture, yet they spell "God" with a lower case "g"...

[cardholder]

That is three excellent days of violence-free and sensible days to sit down and do something productive. Like spend time with family, do some gardening, wash your car, read a novel, etc. Basically things that party goers don't do on a regular basis, this is the chance.

Spoken like a true Farang !

You will understand that, for the Thais, the 3 days will not be as you describe.

[PattayaParent]

The question is do they have a choice in the matter-- answer no! Do they get compensated for loss of earnings-- answer no! is there any consideration for the effect that this will have on businesses-- answer no! Has this been particularly well thought out-- answer no!

Yes, very inconsiderate of this lady to die and inconvenience all the drunken tourists and expats in Thailand.

She really should have thought about it more carefully before deciding to die.

[piewarmer]

Will it be like the last Buddha day may 7?... no bars open but restaurants, bowling alleys and Golf clubs doing a roaring trade selling beer.

[pattayadingo]

Not all of us are alcoholics yet we go out to socialise.

I am seeing posts that say wash your car, see your family, read a good book, crying over no beer = you are an alcoholic, cannot do without go-go girls and so on.

Well, I for one do go out to socialise, to talk with friends of an evening in a quiet pub in Pattaya. We talk politics, about life in general and all sorts of topics over a couple of beers in a friendly atmosphere.

During the day I watch television, read books, wash my car, clean my Fino, do the shopping and all those other mundane things in life. Then on an evening I go to the pub if I want to.

Yet this edict from upon high orders me that I cannot go and socialise have a couple of beers on 3 nights to show my respect for this princess. Why should I be forced to show respect to someone I do not know? Why can we not have a minute / 5 minutes silence across the country?

This princess did not die the other day but many months ago. That was the time to show respect.

Added to that the many Thai people who will be financially deprived because of this edict and the many tourists who will consider this country to be a backward place because of this action and who may never return makes this edict seem crazy.

We do live in the 21st century now and times and people change. We are not all serfs these days and it is about time some countries and governments understood that.

Such is life .....

[Thai at Heart]

Presumably a dry run.......

[Fatherfluffybottom]

I take it this includes phuket?

[hyperdimension]

How about Thai traditional shows

Siam Niramit is an entertainment venue, so I guess all those package tourists would be disappointed. Though some might argue that Siam Niramit or other traditional Thai shows (e.g. Khon theatre) aren't at all entertaining, and should therefore not be under the "entertainment venue" classification.

Edited March 19, 2012 by hyperdimension

[hyperdimension]

I hope some of you people never have surgery. I had an accident last year and then surgery and developed a post operative infection. Being on medication means no alcohol (if you want to recover quickly). I was out and about a few weeks after the surgery but count not drink booze until the infection was completely gone. 10 weeks. Infections in the tropics can get serious if not properly cared for.

Alcohol can disinfect.

[blackthorn2005]

All those people who had saved all year for your one week holiday in Thailand, ha ha a lot of sex tourist will have to buy a magazine and spend thier time in the hotel rooms alone. No girls, no booze and no party for you.

I am sure it is not difficult to get an advance supply of booze and girls!

[bigbamboo]

Could you possibly be any more cringeworthy?

Well, it's mighty funny seeing someone DEMAND we show respect to a culture, yet they spell "God" with a lower case "g"...

I suppose it could depend on which god he was referring to.

[Travel2003]

I think it's awesome that Thai people have so much respect and admiration for their monarchy. The government of Thailand is basically doing this for the people who want their time to remember their royals. What an amazing and great country for us to live in, I don't mind taking a few days off to relax and not go out before the crazyness of Songkran, I could care less what the tourists care about.

I have great respect for the Royal family. Well, maybe not all 10 000 of them, but the ones we are familiar with.

Especially the King and Queen, who are doing a great job.

Having said that, the government do this out of protocol. They do not carry on with this for the people to remember someone they dont remember in the first place.

It is protocol.

Most Government employees could not care less about the people unless there is something to gain from it.

You are taking a few days off from what? Bar-hopping?

Then go out again for the craziness of Songkran?

And you could care less about the tourists?

Of course, you are an expat, and not a tourist.

lol

Seems like you are in a glass house shooting with a sawn off shot gun.

lol

Btw, interesting to observe each time the bars are closed, a lot of TV members enjoy it, purely because someone else dont like that the bars are closed.

[peterdk]

Well by doing simple math its not 3 days the bars are closed.

Its 5.

Friday the 6th due to Chakri Memorial Day

Saturday due to election.

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday due to the Princess funeral.

1+1+3 = 5

At least in Phuket anyway.

[DocN]

3 days in a lifetime...

Sorry...if that would be it, no one would actually complain.

What get's me a little upset about this, is the fact, that they seem to make up the rules as they go along.

3 days here, two days there...announced (sometimes) the day before it happens with absolutely no rulesanyone can stick to.

You can ask 3 different venues (i did, cause i wanted to go out with a friend on Tuesday) and you get 3 different answers;

Pub: no problem- open and selling beer, Pool cafe: open- but no alcohol...well...officially that is, bar: closed!

Just name the days and the regulations and <Snip!> stick with it and enforce it- no problem!

But ask ME for respect (which is only given if I dont drink alcohol or feel happy, of course!) and even your own citizens couldn't give a rats behind about it...puuuuuulllleaze!

Edited April 9, 2012 by metisdead

[geriatrickid]

The reason a lot of Thais probably don't know who she is, may be that she was not the daughter of the current king, but the daughter of Rama IV who had two successors (Rama VII and Rama VIII) before the current King Rama IX (King Bhumibol). This princess was a first cousin of current King Bhumibol Adulyadej and third cousin with King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia.

I wonder how many people will understand the ramifications of the relationships or appreciate that Thailand and Cambodia were linked much as the old Royal families of Europe were?

[geriatrickid]

Well by doing simple math its not 3 days the bars are closed.

Its 5.

Friday the 6th due to Chakri Memorial Day

Saturday due to election.

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday due to the Princess funeral.

1+1+3 = 5

At least in Phuket anyway.

Really? Bangla was in full swing after 11 pm on Saturday. Many establishmnets were serving alcohol on Chakri day, although the beer brothels were not. I walked by Molly malones on beah road and the tourists were drinking their beer.

Alcohol will indeed be available for closed door events. I know because I have been invited to a birthday party tonight at a club. I won't be going though.

[rak sa_ngop]

The reason a lot of Thais probably don't know who she is, may be that she was not the daughter of the current king, but the daughter of Rama IV who had two successors (Rama VII and Rama VIII) before the current King Rama IX (King Bhumibol). This princess was a first cousin of current King Bhumibol Adulyadej and third cousin with King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia.

Should read 'the daughter of Rama VI' not Rama IV I think.

[peterdk]

Well by doing simple math its not 3 days the bars are closed.

Its 5.

Friday the 6th due to Chakri Memorial Day

Saturday due to election.

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday due to the Princess funeral.

1+1+3 = 5

At least in Phuket anyway.

Really? Bangla was in full swing after 11 pm on Saturday. Many establishmnets were serving alcohol on Chakri day, although the beer brothels were not. I walked by Molly malones on beah road and the tourists were drinking their beer.

Alcohol will indeed be available for closed door events. I know because I have been invited to a birthday party tonight at a club. I won't be going though.

Well ok Bangla is like a world of its own.

However if you took a stroll down in Chalong and Rawai, you would see a lot of closed bars.

Ok some have an "arrangement" with the police, so a few bars opened Saturday after 8pm and Sunday after 7pm. But the majority was still closed.

Suspect its the same deal today and tomorrow.

Edit : I was out looking for a place to watch the football, and was really struggeling. Especially Saturday.

Edited April 9, 2012 by peterdk

[ginjag]

If you like booze, and socialising, in normal establishments, and are thinking of a holiday,and do not like an over the top drenching for a week,  Do not enter Thailand for 2 weeks, 6th until 20th to be safe. welcome to the land of smirks, please come TAT needs you.

[Travel2003]

Went out yesterday, up country (KK).

Most bars catering for Thais (where food was also part of the menu) were open, and all so called farang bars were closed.

Anyone in same area will confirm this.

This is nothing less than ridicules.

I think the members here so happy for the 3 day closings should gather together now and do the good deed and go on a crusade against those Thai bars being so disrespectful that they are open for business in the evenings.