What Was Thailand Like Years Ago

[Swelters]

I lived in upcountry Isan starting in 1963, it was before the troop buildup there and as someone else has pointing out it was like rural Laos now, unpaved roads, no TV or electricity. I'd buy Singh by the case and canned tunafish in weekly visits to the changwat and at night back in the village listen to the BBC on the shortwave and the local stations which featured a lot of Mor Lam and smoke these Chinese cigars that were like Parodis, except a lot of them had worm holes and you had to throw them away and try a new one. The local pooyai bahn would take me hunting with him, sometimes at night, but I apparently made too much noise so we didn't have much luck, and one night I got dengue fever which discouraged night hunting.

The Erawan Hotel was a wooden building in those days, it seemed on the edge of town. The little shopping center across the street had pizza. There were a few clubs around town, the Beatles were new that fall and the Phillipine musicians were playing "I want to hold your hand" sounding just as good as the Beatles themselves.

I could go on a bit, maybe I'll start a blog on this.

[Nignoy]

Wow, sorry if I stepped on some long toes here about the OP's questions. I know it's nice to talk about the old days 'back in Thailand'; I have quite a few stories myself to tell and share, but I'm not always in the mood you know...

Anyway, Tippaporn, YES, I do have some 'era-photos' but have to dig em up, scan, and than post them, but it will take some time.

OK, to share some experiences with you:

1. Over the years, Patpong hasn't changed much (1978: and quote of Mighty Mouse) I disagree, since it was more quiet, more atmosphere, more REAL FUN and there was no market as there is now; I think it's horrible now

2. Phuket/Patong Beach: I agree here with Mighty Mouse since there was indeed 1 'high-rise Hotel: The Patong Beach Hotel, (almost empty in February...) and YES, it WAS paradise back than; my friend and myself stayed 1 night there and moved to the Patong Beach Bungalows, RIGHT on the beach; we both had 1 bungalow; 1 palmtree in front and the motorbike parked to it.....now, that was real paradise!

However I realize since December 26, 2004, that we would never ever could have escaped a Tsunami on that particular spot on Patong Beach we were blessed it didn't happen back than.

2A. we took a longtail boattrip to the beach around the corner of Patong; that following night there was an incredible storm and the same longtailboat was completele washed ashore and destroyed (I have pics)

2B. I can even remember a few guys on Patong beach, building a SUBMARINE (!!!!) made of CONCRETE; this one was destroyed also (pics also!).

3. Pattaya.........well, what can I say; my first experience was at the (in)famous MARINE BAR; a big place with many, kind of square-build, bars with lots of girls; I was with another friend of mine who 'found' the most beautiful girl....he had to go to the toilet and told me: "DON'T you dare to 'take the girl away from me".....of course I didn't The day after we had to go to BKK for business; he called me the next mondaymorning that he had a problem with his little 'friend'

I found him a clinic at (I will NEVER forget): Ploenchit Road 'Ha-peh-peh (not sure if I write this properly) 588.....and he had to take a lot of medicines.... and NO alcohol anymore...

I'm tired now and go to bed; maybe I will write some more stories if you like..........

have fun with you topic!

LaoPo

As a real old fart, in BKK in 1962 only 5 or 6 big hotels , taxis rare as rocking horse poo don muang air port was surrounded by ricefiels, the ride into town was an experience on its own, pattaya was still a fishing village with one small bar, as far as phuket goes , we hired a taxi from bkk he drove us down to phuket stayed with us all week ,was only 1 small hotel run by a portugese couple in Phuket town, for the whole week and return journey back to bkk cost us 50 dollars US apiece. The best thing about those times were Yanks were few and far between, especially the snow drops from Shore patrol ,we decorated our club back in blighty with their helmets ,arm bands and nightsticks nignoy

[Tippaporn]

I lived in upcountry Isan starting in 1963, it was before the troop buildup there and as someone else has pointing out it was like rural Laos now, unpaved roads, no TV or electricity. I'd buy Singh by the case and canned tunafish in weekly visits to the changwat and at night back in the village listen to the BBC on the shortwave and the local stations which featured a lot of Mor Lam and smoke these Chinese cigars that were like Parodis, except a lot of them had worm holes and you had to throw them away and try a new one. The local pooyai bahn would take me hunting with him, sometimes at night, but I apparently made too much noise so we didn't have much luck, and one night I got dengue fever which discouraged night hunting.

The Erawan Hotel was a wooden building in those days, it seemed on the edge of town. The little shopping center across the street had pizza. There were a few clubs around town, the Beatles were new that fall and the Phillipine musicians were playing "I want to hold your hand" sounding just as good as the Beatles themselves.

I could go on a bit, maybe I'll start a blog on this.

I wish you would. Coincidentally, I was just wondering while writing the last post whether or not I'd hear from anyone who was actually in the boondocks. A farang must have truly been a strange sight to the Thais back then.

Without TV or electricity I guess it was early to bed, early to rise? Any entertainment besides hunting and coming down with dengue fever? Just joking about the dengue fever!!

Just curious, how did you end up in Isaan country in '63?

Sorry, but I've seen too many Phillipino musicans in hotel lounges. The worst was a Captain and Tennille impression.

[camerata]

Let's not forget the various coups that were a feature of life in Thailand up until the 90s. The October 1976 coup was the worst I remember in terms of deaths (always civilians in Thai coups). In the attempted coup of 1985 I was out and about all day on the bus and wondering why there was virtually no traffic on the streets. I didn't find out what was going on until I got home in the evening. The coup failed, but not before Australian journo Neil Davis (who had survived Vietnam and many other war zones) was killed by shrapnel as rebel troops shelled the gates and radio tower of the Public Relations Dept. The leader of that failed coup is now a respected MP and until recently I believe he was Speaker of the Senate. Prem Tinsulanonda, the general who faced down the rebels, is now head of HM's Privy Council.

The coup that overthrew Chatichai Choonhavan in 1991 was relatively quiet, but it led inevitably to the street protests and confrontation of Black May, 1992. The less said about the brutality of troops at the Royal Hotel during Black May, the better. Could it happen again? I wouldn't bet against it. Shortly after Black May I was leaving the country and went through Immigration at Don Muang. Two officers were talking when I handed my passport in for stamping. The first asked me if I'd gone to watch the protests, the second said, "You are very handsome."

[Nordlys]

Let's not forget the various coups that were a feature of life in Thailand up until the 90s. The October 1976 coup was the worst I remember in terms of deaths (always civilians in Thai coups).

That was by far the most violent crackdown and massacre against the student uprising that I remember, with the images of dead protesters and tanks on Rajdamnoen avenue on TV still vivid in my memory even though I was a child then, reminiscent of pro-democracy student uprising in 1989 at Tianamen Square.

On one Sunday afternoon during the student uprising of Thammasat University in 1976, I was at Mission Hospital (seventh day adventist church affiliated hospital near Uruphong) with my mother not too far from Sanam Luang and saw protester and bystanders shot by police/military brought in to the hospital one after another on stretcher, their clothes soaked in blood. A few days later, my father took me to Sanam Luang and I saw the spot where they burned students on the street in front of the university and trees where they hanged student protesters and banged their head with folding chair (as seen in the famous Pulitzer award winning photograph). I saw shoes that I think belonged to the hanged victims still remaining under the tree.

I think it was also this year that I saw deserted Ploenchit Rd. while curfew was imposed. I was 11 years old then.

[Swelters]

Just to give the flavor of 1963, the first is a nice clean Bangkok canal, you could swim in them

the second a nice clean and empty highway from Saraburi to Korat (approximately where all the cement factories are now), you could wait twenty minutes for a car

and the third the Tambon where I would buy my Singha. My jeep the only car in town. I recently identified the same spot where this photo was taken and there was a new Benz parked there.

Edited January 9, 2006 by Swelters

[buadhai]

Here are some Photos of Thailand, 1977

My memory is pretty poor, so if anyone can provide help with photo captions, I'd be grateful.

[TRIPxCORE]

Here are some Photos of Thailand, 1977

My memory is pretty poor, so if anyone can provide help with photo captions, I'd be grateful.

Mike, I have looked at the pictures in your extensive album before. They are quite good and paint a good picture of the era as well.

[Tippaporn]

Excellent pics Mike and Swelters. Truly appreciate the effort and enjoyed looking at them tremendously. Look forward to hearing more from the both of you . . . if you're willing. Would love to ask you guys, and the other posters, a heap of questions.

Looking forward to seeing some pics from Laopo, too, especially of Phuket. I wonder if they'll be recognizeable?

Also, wondering if anyone caught an article in a local magazine about the early days of Patters. I hate to be so sketchy since I can't remember the magazine or the particular guy's name who was featured in the article (Jim ??, I believe) since I was browsing it in Sunbelt Asia's lobby while waiting for my appointment back in June /July of '05/'48. I'm sure, though, that once I relate the main details of the story it'll ring someone's bell rather loudly.

But (and let's call him Jim for now) was involved in the Vietnam war and settled in Patters back in the early 70's when it was little more than a fishing village. He married a TG and opened a beer bar which they ran together. The establishment survives rather successfully to this day. Those more familiar with Patters would probably know who I'm talking about.

Anyway, it was a great article and had quite a few pics, too.

BTW Swelters, to Enjoy the site and I hope you find many new friends.

Edited January 9, 2006 by Tippaporn

[ProfessorFart]

There is an old National Geographic from the 1960's with some great pics (what else do you get in NG?) of Bangkok in the 1960s which I'm sure some of the old hands here would appreciate.

In particular there is an ariel shot of BKK taken over Wat Arun looking east. It is striking to note that green paddy fields begin from around Ploenchit Road and stretch away into the distance.

Another interesting comment was made by Tim Slessor who wrote the book 'First Overland' which was an account of the Oxford and Cambridge overland trip from London to Singapore. He said 'Bangkok has gone as far as she can go' and that was in 1950. I wonder what he would say now?

[Tippaporn]

<snip>

Another interesting comment was made by Tim Slessor who wrote the book 'First Overland' which was an account of the Oxford and Cambridge overland trip from London to Singapore. He said 'Bangkok has gone as far as she can go' and that was in 1950. I wonder what he would say now?

Now that's funny, at least from our present retrospect.

[qualtrough]

I first arrived here in 1980. Apologies if some of my observations have already appeared here.

Taxis had no aircon and no meters. Always a pain to haggle.

Few aircon buses, and the regular buses often had people (including myself) hanging on the outside.

Although there were far fewer cars than now, traffic was worse as there were fewer streets, etc.

Still a few steam engines chugging around Hat Yai up to Chumporn. Gone by 1981.

Visited ChaAm. Pretty sleepy place with a few bungalows and shophouses.

Koh Samui, no airport, road around island not complete or at least not paved. Only way to make a phone call to the mainland was to go down to the Post Office at 3PM or so to have them patch you in via ham radio. Generators at most resorts. Haven't been back but I hear it has changed. BTW, at that time people were telling me I should have been there 5 years ago.

The only place I knew of to get a decent pizza was Mario's in Gaysorn. Run by a family who lived in the back. We were often the only customers. Nearby was a restaurant that was (or purported to be) a franchise of an American chain whose name I forget. Something like a Perkins or Big Boy. I don't believe A & W, MacDonalds, etc. appeared until about 1982, although I could be mistaken. I remember the first Pizza Hut near Patpong. Had the worst pizza of my live shortly after they opened.

From the Golden Temple you could only see about 4 buildings higher than 4-5 storeys: Dusit, the just-built BKK Bank, Chokchai Bldg, and one I forget.

Patpong had no tourist stalls, and at closing time you could just about throw a rock from end to end. There was an economic downturn at the time and tourist arrivals were down. In many bars you would be the only customer (or so I am told).

Travel to Phuket and points South by bus was dangerous not just because of the drivers but because of frequent holdups.

No mobiles phones, Internet, etc. When I had to make the rare long distance call I would go down to the Central Post Office.

Outside of Silom/Sukhumvit and obvious tourist places you didn't see that many farangs.

As someone noted earlier, there was a lot of YOU YOU, HEY YOU wherever you went. Fortunately the novelty is over and I rarely hear that. That was very annoying.

That's it for now. Wish I had been here in the 50s or 60s!

[Tippaporn]

Let's not forget the various coups that were a feature of life in Thailand up until the 90s. The October 1976 coup was the worst I remember in terms of deaths (always civilians in Thai coups).

That was by far the most violent crackdown and massacre against the student uprising that I remember, with the images of dead protesters and tanks on Rajdamnoen avenue on TV still vivid in my memory even though I was a child then, reminiscent of pro-democracy student uprising in 1989 at Tianamen Square.

On one Sunday afternoon during the student uprising of Thammasat University in 1976, I was at Mission Hospital (seventh day adventist church affiliated hospital near Uruphong) with my mother not too far from Sanam Luang and saw protester and bystanders shot by police/military brought in to the hospital one after another on stretcher, their clothes soaked in blood. A few days later, my father took me to Sanam Luang and I saw the spot where they burned students on the street in front of the university and trees where they hanged student protesters and banged their head with folding chair (as seen in the famous Pulitzer award winning photograph). I saw shoes that I think belonged to the hanged victims still remaining under the tree.

I think it was also this year that I saw deserted Ploenchit Rd. while curfew was imposed. I was 11 years old then.

Very gruesome. Thanks for remembering such a sad time, Nordlys. I certainly hope we don't have a recurrence any time soon.

[daleyboy]

Heres some nice old photos of the trams in Bangkok

http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/Tram/index.shtml

[dannishgung]

My first trip to Thailand was 1975 with my parents who went to business trip in Singapore, I was only 5 years old and do not remember much.

I came again with my family in early 80's again business trip to HK and Singapore. The first trip as an adult I think was in 1992. I was 22 and having graduated from college, came to Southeast Asia Thailand, Malaysia, then went on to Japan. Spend in Thailand for over 1 month.

I remembered I and another Danish friend stayed in Khao San Road for a few days. The Khao San Road did not have many pubs or discos but had lots of guest houses already and lots of hippie looking foriengers. And it was very messy and cars could go in and out swerving to miss all the pedestrians and traffic jam all the time. The Suzie pub was there back then, and we really had very easy time picking up Thai student girls. Actually almost every time we went there, always some student girls wanted to know us, and we ended up taking them back to our hotel many times, or they came to see us the next day.

Another big hot spot was the opening of RCA. We went there many times and it was packed every night of the week with young kids from age 14 up. Route 66 and Morgan and another huge pub called Babe Blink across Rama 9.

Back then we were 2 young good looking Scandinavians kids with complete Nordic looking appearance with very smooth delicate skin and feature and slender, Thais always told us we look very smooth or something, we really got lots of attention from nice Thai girl, mostly nice student girls and asked us to sit and dance with them. Back then, the RCA had lots of tables outside the stores where the Thais danced around their tables in the heat. Also inside the stores was packed as sardines every night.

The Thai guys were very shy back then and did not dare to talk to girls much. Over the years, the Thai guys especially the rich ones have become very bold in hunting girls and splurged on them. Back them in RCA or any disco, you rarely see any Thai guy trying to pick up ladies. So back then it was so easy picking. The girls too were not used to boys so they feel very happy if a nice young handsome guy approach them. It was such a good memory at RCA in early 90's. I do not exaggerate, we picked up so many nice Thai girls in a month and half from RCA, we were thinking of cancelling later part of our trip to Japan and stayed more in Thailand. (we glad we made it to Japan, even much better there than Thailand back then) Back then in early 1990, the Thai girls at the disco clubs were still so naive and full of curiosity to know foreigners and so willing to back with them.

Over the 10 years, Bangkok changed a lot, night scenes changed a lot, girls mentality in disco changed a lot, in Bangkok, it's hard to pick up these cute student girls without splurging some money now.

[Mighty Mouse]

Also, wondering if anyone caught an article in a local magazine about the early days of Patters. I hate to be so sketchy since I can't remember the magazine or the particular guy's name who was featured in the article (Jim ??, I believe) since I was browsing it in Sunbelt Asia's lobby while waiting for my appointment back in June /July of '05/'48. I'm sure, though, that once I relate the main details of the story it'll ring someone's bell rather loudly.

This was a story about Bill Jones, a Texan born Vietnam veteran, who arrived in Pattaya in 1971.

He married Lek, a local girl, and in 1974 set up one of the first bars on Walking Street. BJ Discotheque and Coffee House. (Later known only as 'BJ Bar.')

There was not much competition in those days, only six other similar bars. Today more than 1,000.

BJ Bar was a landmark and remained at the same location till only a few years ago when he closed it down. The adjoining Soi was named after him..'Soi BJ.'

Bill was a genius at attracting customers. He could talk the talk and walk the walk. He was always known to have a folded hand towel hanging over his shoulder and a toothpick that never left the corner of his mouth. American military personal on R and R flocked to his bar at every available opportunity, and he built up a large clientel of regular drinkers from all nationalities. He was always on hand to have a conversation with each and every customer. He was generous with free drinks too.

His sister-in-laws opened other bars along Walking Street and although fairly successful, they lacked the magic of the BJ Bar.

The early BJ Bar had only an ice box. Electricity in the early days konked out most nights and the whole of the strip (Walking Street) was lit up by lanterns and candles only. Electric refrigerators had not come into being at that time and would have been wasted anyway without electricity.

Bill had trained his bar staff to dig to the bottom of the ice blocks and serve only the coldest bottles of beer.

He brought in VCR tapes of various bands from around the world that he would play on a TV positioned over his bar. He compiled many other tapes himself and these were great entertainment for his customers.

These were the days when the only shows on TV were Thai. There was no cable TV in those days.

He played the latest music over his PA system and it wasn't long before other bars started copying Bill's entertainment ideas.

He also served a mean pizza, and this was long before Pizza hut came to town.

As well as the bar, he also had a guesthouse in north Pattaya. (BJ Guesthouse) He and Lek can be found there today where they continue to run a successful business. Their good service and interesting conversation is a vibrant as ever.

[Tippaporn]

Heres some nice old photos of the trams in Bangkok <snip>

Looking at the tram archive photos - http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/Tram/dailytram.shtml - circa 1964/1965 Bangkok doesn't seem to resemble present day at all. At least not in some respects that I think are particularly surprising because you wouldn't think these aspects would change over the decades.

For instance, has anybody noticed the neatness and cleanliness? I'm looking for litter - - any litter - and can't seem to find it. The buildings seem whiter and no so much stained with black. The absence of traffic in general, too. But, where are all the street vendors??? I was under the impression that they had existed on every street corner and everywhere inbetween, well, forever. I couldn't imagine what I'd do without them!

Thanks, Daleboy.

[Tippaporn]

Also, wondering if anyone caught an article in a local magazine about the early days of Patters. I hate to be so sketchy since I can't remember the magazine or the particular guy's name who was featured in the article (Jim ??, I believe) since I was browsing it in Sunbelt Asia's lobby while waiting for my appointment back in June /July of '05/'48. I'm sure, though, that once I relate the main details of the story it'll ring someone's bell rather loudly.

This was a story about Bill Jones, a Texan born Vietnam veteran, who arrived in Pattaya in 1971.

He married Lek, a local girl, and in 1974 set up one of the first bars on Walking Street. BJ Discotheque and Coffee House. (Later known only as 'BJ Bar.')

There was not much competition in those days, only six other similar bars. Today more than 1,000.

BJ Bar was a landmark and remained at the same location till only a few years ago when he closed it down. The adjoining Soi was named after him..'Soi BJ.'

Bill was a genius at attracting customers. He could talk the talk and walk the walk. He was always known to have a folded hand towel hanging over his shoulder and a toothpick that never left the corner of his mouth. American military personal on R and R flocked to his bar at every available opportunity, and he built up a large clientel of regular drinkers from all nationalities. He was always on hand to have a conversation with each and every customer. He was generous with free drinks too.

His sister-in-laws opened other bars along Walking Street and although fairly successful, they lacked the magic of the BJ Bar.

The early BJ Bar had only an ice box. Electricity in the early days konked out most nights and the whole of the strip (Walking Street) was lit up by lanterns and candles only. Electric refrigerators had not come into being at that time and would have been wasted anyway without electricity.

Bill had trained his bar staff to dig to the bottom of the ice blocks and serve only the coldest bottles of beer.

He brought in VCR tapes of various bands from around the world that he would play on a TV positioned over his bar. He compiled many other tapes himself and these were great entertainment for his customers.

These were the days when the only shows on TV were Thai. There was no cable TV in those days.

He played the latest music over his PA system and it wasn't long before other bars started copying Bill's entertainment ideas.

He also served a mean pizza, and this was long before Pizza hut came to town.

As well as the bar, he also had a guesthouse in north Pattaya. (BJ Guesthouse) He and Lek can be found there today where they continue to run a successful business. Their good service and interesting conversation is a vibrant as ever.

Great stuff, Mighty Mouse. Sorry to ring your bell.

[gareth1]

Heres some nice old photos of the trams in Bangkok <snip>

Looking at the tram archive photos - http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/Tram/dailytram.shtml - circa 1964/1965 Bangkok doesn't seem to resemble present day at all. At least not in some respects that I think are particularly surprising because you wouldn't think these aspects would change over the decades.

For instance, has anybody noticed the neatness and cleanliness? I'm looking for litter - - any litter - and can't seem to find it. The buildings seem whiter and no so much stained with black. The absence of traffic in general, too. But, where are all the street vendors??? I was under the impression that they had existed on every street corner and everywhere inbetween, well, forever. I couldn't imagine what I'd do without them!

Thanks, Daleboy.

I bet the trams didn't have a two tier pricing policy for us lot then.

I wonder when that all started.

Does anybody know ?

And who was responsible for inventing that one?

Do you think we could bring them to justice like they do with war crimes. LOL

[Mr Red]

Yes, and there was a road construction going on Bangna Trad Rd. that seemed to have lasted for ten years. In around 72 - 73, I've seen B52s landing and taking off from Utapao airport on its way to bombing mission to Vietnam when our family was heading to Rayong driving on Suk. Rd. If I remember correctly I believe I saw bomb laden trucks that I think were delivering bombs to Utapao air base. Bombs were visible from outside as they were in crate. I'm not sure if this is possible but believe that's what I saw and was told by my father that's what it is.

Spent 70-72 at Utapao, and, yes they were bomb trucks. Gaudy looking trucks that made the trek from Sattahip harbor on a specially built back road to the bomb dump at Utapao. None of them liked to stop at the stop signs before crossing Sukumvit road that ran from Sattahip to Rayong -- made for some interesting accidents.

I spent a year here in 1968/1969 compliments of the US government. First 6 months was at Utapao RTAFB near Sattihip and I lived in a small village near Rayong (even though it was frowned on to live off-base). Later I rented a 2-story house in Pattaya for 5000B/month. At that time Pattaya was indeed a paradise. There was only one hotel, pretty much every thing else was two stories or less. The bar scene was mostly bamboo type huts and seriously laid back attitudes.

The beach was white and the water as pure blue/green as a post card scene. Remarkably clean water and beach. Tourists were pretty scarce then, mostly R&R military came here.

Same here -- lived in Ban Chang for about a year. I remember the market where you could get really god Kow Pot in a banana leaf for 5B and "monkey ball" soup which I learned to love. I remember the baht buses (really were 1-2B) and having to be careful to get more than one GI on the bus or you were destined to make a trip down a side road and lose your money.

Pattaya was great as you mention -- nothing like it is today. Not too many bars (or maybe not enough depending on your point of view), and pretty beaches. You must have been pretty well off to afford 5000B/month in those days -- I think my monthly pay was not much more than that.

I also remember our work section going to BKK periodically and taking over the Metro Hotel (wonder where that is these days). Scenes of drunk yanks diving off second floor balconies into the pool and chasing naked or nearly naked BGs down the halls brings mixed memories (sometimes, thankfully no memories).

After I sobered up and met my wife (still my wife after 35 years), I got into the Thai side of Thailand. I remember making treks from Utapao to SE BKK (Sukumvit Soi 103), and going to her family's house next to a Sanyo plant. Today, the house is still there, but the Sanyo plant is 10millionB+ homes. So much change.

Went through my first Thai funeral when her father died, and found just how great her family was to include this confused (and scared) yank in their ceremonies. I was honored then and remain so today. I learned then what it means to have good Thai friends and family.

Also remember martial law during my last year. Some yank officer got himself smoked, and the local police located a likely suspect and executed him by firing squad in a public display no more than 4-5 days after the killing. Major event that attracted all the vendors selling anything you wanted.

Good old days, but just that -- memories that are right where they belong. Today's Thailand is very different, and much improved in most ways (not in all). I look forward to making new memories when I return there in the not-too-distant future.

[Tywais]

I remember the baht buses (really were 1-2B) and having to be careful to get more than one GI on the bus or you were destined to make a trip down a side road and lose your money.

I remember being poured onto a baht bus on a couple of occasions after a bit too much out on the town. And you are right about being sure to be in a group when taking them late at night.

Pattaya was great as you mention -- nothing like it is today. Not too many bars (or maybe not enough depending on your point of view), and pretty beaches. You must have been pretty well off to afford 5000B/month in those days -- I think my monthly pay was not much more than that.

Actually I coop'd the house with a couple of other guys. We all worked swing shifts and would switch days as to who would have the house.

Good old days, but just that -- memories that are right where they belong. Today's Thailand is very different, and much improved in most ways (not in all). I look forward to making new memories when I return there in the not-too-distant future.

I have to admit after reading some of these posts waves of nostalgia rolled over me. Some of my memories of that time are embedded like a photograph. But now I have new "photographs" which are, of course, not the same but great in their own rights.

[Tippaporn]

<snip>

Good old days, but just that -- memories that are right where they belong. Today's Thailand is very different, and much improved in most ways (not in all). I look forward to making new memories when I return there in the not-too-distant future.

<snip>

I have to admit after reading some of these posts waves of nostalgia rolled over me. Some of my memories of that time are embedded like a photograph. But now I have new "photographs" which are, of course, not the same but great in their own rights.

There's a great deal of value in digging up "the good old days" and savouring the sweetness of it, for that it was. But just like this world will never stop making new beautiful women year in and year out, we'll never stop making new "good old days."

There's something about listening to people's stories; though you weren't there yourself and can only imagine what it might have been like visually you can catch enough of the feeling to be able to taste some of that sweetness yourself.

Love it!

[sabaijai]

Here are some Photos of Thailand, 1977

My memory is pretty poor, so if anyone can provide help with photo captions, I'd be grateful.

Mostly scenes from northern Thailand, a few from the south, plus pics of Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Pho.

[Mighty Mouse]

I've linked this post to my photo album into which I have uploaded some early 80's shots of Patong Beach.

I wish the developers had allowed Patong to remain as it once was. Progress has a lot to answer for.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...album&album=312

[markuk]

having read all the comments makes you want to be older and have come here earlier!!

[sabaijai]

I first moved to Thailand in early 1977, when the heaviness of the Oct 76 military takeover was still palpable. Stayed two years the first time, living in a wooden house in Thonburi and teaching English in Bang Mot. I also spent a few months living in Mahasarakham, Hua Hin and Chainat .

I never saw a rice field anywhere in Bangkok then, and the traffic was awful during the day, but not at night. Forget about BTS or MRTA, there were no air-con taxis then, and no air-con city buses either, so getting around Bangkok was a lot more uncomfortable then than it is today. It was just as hot and humid most of the year. Flooding in the city was much more common in the rainy season than it is today.

I got caught out after the 1am Bangkok curfew (1976-1982) once, and spent the night in an open-air detention area with about 40 other people. I have to chuckle seeing expats nowadays getting so upset by the 1am bar closing.

Hotels in Bangkok that today cost 1000-1500B cost about 100B back then. The exchange rate was 20B to one US dollar, so that 100B room cost the equivalent of US$5, ie 200B in today's baht.

Camerata if you remember the original Cowboy's you must also have been to Mitch and Nam's Soul Food, no? It didn't last much beyond 77 as I recall.

'Buddha sticks' were available on Patpong for 25B each back then, and No 4 was sold along Sukhumvit. Wat Bowon had a contingent of farang monks in the late 70s but by the mid 80s they weren't allowing any more farang ordinations. Wat Phleng in Thonburi was another centre for foreign monks; now there are none.

Khao San Rd was just another Chinese-dominated market district. Backpackers weren't really a visible presence there till the mid 80s.

Mahasarakham was sticksville then, and I took slides of Khon Kaen in 77/78 that show it was a sea of wooden homes and shophouses. About half the streets were unpaved. The largest building was the Roma Hotel, three stories at the time I believe.

Chiang Mai was very quiet in the late 70s, too. Taking a samlor (there were no tuk-tuks in Ch Mai then) from the old city to Wat Umong seemed like a very long trip. There were only a handful of guesthouses then, most of which aren't around anymore.

The deep south may seem violent now, but back in the 70s and most of the 80s there was PULO and communist activity - eg, bus robberies, bombings, assassinations - in every province south of Chumphon except for Phuket. Lots of stuff happening in the north and northeast too, esp provinces bordering Laos, i.e., Chiang Rai, Nan, Loei, Sakon Nakhon and Nakhon Phanom. You didn't travel at night outside the provincial capitals in those provinces in the late 70s and early 80s even though foreigners were never threatened. In 78 I once hailed a songthaew at a temple outside Udon Thani and ended up riding with five or six armed PLAT guerrillas to Sakon Nakhon.

After two years back home, I returned to Thailand in 81 and have been here most of the time since. Thailand didn't change much throughout most of the 80s, but from 89 onwards it started developing quickly, more quickly than any other country I've had the chance to compare it to.

I'm not that nostalgic for those days, as what I most remember is being confused by everything. Thailand was even more full of contradictions then than it is now, in most ways.

[Boon Mee]

I'm not that nostalgic for those days, as what I most remember is being confused by everything.

Me neither.

I first moved to Thailand in 1978 and lived in a little village called Ban Saray just north of Sattahip. Not so little anymore and if I could have bought some property there at the time - it would be easy street today for me today for sure.

As some of the previous posters have mentioned, Pattaya was indeed a much cleaner place but BKK was more polluted as I recall. Food vendors not regulated as now and many more smoky busses. Prices for vehicles, electronics, phone lines to the house etc were out of sight at the time. Recall getting a quote for a million Baht (25 to 1) for a line to my house - for that money, I was happy to visit the phone exchanges!

Nope, not nostalgic for too much...

Edited January 10, 2006 by Boon Mee

[Florin]

I remember a couple of franchises that have disappeared - Domino's Pizza and Popeye's.

Also, it sucks that UBC has a monopoly these days, at least in the past one could chose between IBC/Thai Sky/UTV

[Cassandra]

I remember a couple of franchises that have disappeared - Domino's Pizza and Popeye's.

Also, it sucks that UBC has a monopoly these days, at least in the past one could chose between IBC/Thai Sky/UTV

Since Popeye's only started business here about 1997 we are not exactly wandering down memory lane.

[Tippaporn]

I remember a couple of franchises that have disappeared - Domino's Pizza and Popeye's.

<snip>

OT, but I wouldn't mind if they all disappeared.