You Fondest Memories Of Thailand In The Not So Distant Past...

[CountSaintGermain]

And..........

How does Thailand now compare to Thailand as it was back then ..........

Or, how are things now compared to how they were when you first arrived?

[stoneyboy]

Ah the memories.

[CountSaintGermain]

Ah the memories.

From where? How long ago?

[elektrified]

Thailand was awesome in the late 1980's-1990's; particularly Koh Samui and Phuket. It is so sad what has happened to Phuket with all the development, destruction of the natural beauty, etc. and the influx of scammers and poorly behaved tourists. I haven't been to Koh Samui in years...I'm afraid to see what has happened there. Chiang Mai is becoming over-developed and over-crowded. Thailand used to be quite affordable. Nothing ever stays the same anywhere in the world.

[stoneyboy]

Ah the memories.

From where? How long ago?

Last week in Bangkok.

[Rob8891]

Nostalgia ain't what it used to be

[stoneyboy]

Nostalgia ain't what it used to be

Bit like Thai visa.

[CountSaintGermain]

Thailand was awesome in the late 1980's-1990's; particularly Koh Samui and Phuket. It is so sad what has happened to Phuket with all the development, destruction of the natural beauty, etc. and the influx of scammers and poorly behaved tourists. I haven't been to Koh Samui in years...I'm afraid to see what has happened there. Chiang Mai is becoming over-developed and over-crowded. Thailand used to be quite affordable. Nothing ever stays the same anywhere in the world.

In Bangkok, I still remember Sukhumwit Soi Zero. I remember Clinton Plaza and Asoke Square. I remember those bars near Soi 10 that were bulldozed one night.

Samui used to be great. A decade or so ago, it took a turn for the worse.

Phuket (or Junk Ceylon as it used to be known) was paradise. I still remember the first time I went there. It's horrible these days.

Chiang Mai has been going downhill for years.

[tinfoilhat]

early mid 90's on koh phangan were pretty chilled, no road to haadrin, an hour's walk along the beach to the party, banking was a day trip to samui, bungalows were 40 baht and 30,000 baht would last a couple months without economizing

the only rule was take your shoes of in the restaurant.

[jbrain]

Thailand was awesome in the late 1980's-1990's; particularly Koh Samui and Phuket. It is so sad what has happened to Phuket with all the development, destruction of the natural beauty, etc. and the influx of scammers and poorly behaved tourists. I haven't been to Koh Samui in years...I'm afraid to see what has happened there. Chiang Mai is becoming over-developed and over-crowded. Thailand used to be quite affordable. Nothing ever stays the same anywhere in the world.

We gonna turn this in a Brit bashing thread again

[CountSaintGermain]

Thailand was awesome in the late 1980's-1990's; particularly Koh Samui and Phuket. It is so sad what has happened to Phuket with all the development, destruction of the natural beauty, etc. and the influx of scammers and poorly behaved tourists. I haven't been to Koh Samui in years...I'm afraid to see what has happened there. Chiang Mai is becoming over-developed and over-crowded. Thailand used to be quite affordable. Nothing ever stays the same anywhere in the world.

A lot of truth here.

But Thailand was also awesome prior to the 80's and 90's.

Only recently have certain places nose-dived. Phuket and Samui are obvious examples of places that have bombed.

Chiang Mai is also no longer the place it once was. Who can forget the town of PAI 20 or 30 years ago.

I wonder if any of you can remember steam locomotives?

[endure]

Thailand was awesome in the late 1980's-1990's; particularly Koh Samui and Phuket. It is so sad what has happened to Phuket with all the development, destruction of the natural beauty, etc. and the influx of scammers and poorly behaved tourists. I haven't been to Koh Samui in years...I'm afraid to see what has happened there. Chiang Mai is becoming over-developed and over-crowded. Thailand used to be quite affordable. Nothing ever stays the same anywhere in the world.

We gonna turn this in a Brit bashing thread again

You can exclude the English from that. We all wear monocles and drink tea. If you want poorly behaved tourists you'll probably have to travel north of the border

[endure]

The first time I visited Chiang Mai (1993?) I remember walking past Kad Suan Kaew when a minibus drew up and a bunch of schoolkids dressed in hilltribe costume (don't remember which) got out. They set up a monster ghetto blaster, danced on KSK forecourt for 15 minutes then packed up and drove off. It was quite enchanting.

[CountSaintGermain]

Thailand was awesome in the late 1980's-1990's; particularly Koh Samui and Phuket. It is so sad what has happened to Phuket with all the development, destruction of the natural beauty, etc. and the influx of scammers and poorly behaved tourists. I haven't been to Koh Samui in years...I'm afraid to see what has happened there. Chiang Mai is becoming over-developed and over-crowded. Thailand used to be quite affordable. Nothing ever stays the same anywhere in the world.

We gonna turn this in a Brit bashing thread again

You can exclude the English from that. We all wear monocles and drink tea. If you want poorly behaved tourists you'll probably have to travel north of the border

I think British people are sometimes poorly behaved in Pattaya.

But if it's the islands you are looking at (Samui and Phuket), I don't think any one nationality stands out. I think the climate of decadence attracts all sorts.

Elderly Scandinavians are usually very well mannered, though. This seems to be especially true in Cha Am and Hua Hin.

[endure]

Elderly Scandinavians are usually very well mannered, though. This seems to be especially true in Cha Am and Hua Hin.

[Chittychangchang]

Thailand was awesome in the late 1980's-1990's; particularly Koh Samui and Phuket. It is so sad what has happened to Phuket with all the development, destruction of the natural beauty, etc. and the influx of scammers and poorly behaved tourists. I haven't been to Koh Samui in years...I'm afraid to see what has happened there. Chiang Mai is becoming over-developed and over-crowded. Thailand used to be quite affordable. Nothing ever stays the same anywhere in the world.

We gonna turn this in a Brit bashing thread again

You can exclude the English from that. We all wear monocles and drink tea. If you want poorly behaved tourists you'll probably have to travel north of the border

Them ladyboys wannabees north of the border are always on the look out for a spot of wee bover on holiday,( the barbarian hords). I say "give them their independence and let's be rid of the drain on our tax's"

North sea oil's about to run out anyway!

[CountSaintGermain]

Elderly Scandinavians are usually very well mannered, though. This seems to be especially true in Cha Am and Hua Hin.

The Vikings. Well known, but little understood.

The impact that the Danes had on British life and culture in the 11th and 12th centuries was great. Their legacy still endures.

Those were troubled and violent times.

[nottocus]

Thailand was awesome in the late 1980's-1990's; particularly Koh Samui and Phuket. It is so sad what has happened to Phuket with all the development, destruction of the natural beauty, etc. and the influx of scammers and poorly behaved tourists. I haven't been to Koh Samui in years...I'm afraid to see what has happened there. Chiang Mai is becoming over-developed and over-crowded. Thailand used to be quite affordable. Nothing ever stays the same anywhere in the world.

In Bangkok, I still remember Sukhumwit Soi Zero. I remember Clinton Plaza and Asoke Square. I remember those bars near Soi 10 that were bulldozed one night.

Loved Soi Zero. Many a drunken night at the Wanida Bar.

[theblether]

Elderly Scandinavians are usually very well mannered, though. This seems to be especially true in Cha Am and Hua Hin.

The Vikings. Well known, but little understood.

The impact that the Danes had on British life and culture in the 11th and 12th centuries was great. Their legacy still endures.

Those were troubled and violent times.

Eh?......it was earlier than that, I thought you were a historian?

[Mickeem]

MUCH more affordable

Slim Younger Bargirls and GoGo dancers

More knockin shops...

Amarit beer

Far quieter roads

And yes before rampant overdevelopment destroyed Phuket and Chiang Mai - Pai etc etc

[tinfoilhat]

Thailand was awesome in the late 1980's-1990's; particularly Koh Samui and Phuket. It is so sad what has happened to Phuket with all the development, destruction of the natural beauty, etc. and the influx of scammers and poorly behaved tourists. I haven't been to Koh Samui in years...I'm afraid to see what has happened there. Chiang Mai is becoming over-developed and over-crowded. Thailand used to be quite affordable. Nothing ever stays the same anywhere in the world.

In Bangkok, I still remember Sukhumwit Soi Zero. I remember Clinton Plaza and Asoke Square. I remember those bars near Soi 10 that were bulldozed one night.

Loved Soi Zero. Many a drunken night at the Wanida Bar.

Det 5/Sexy night for me, i remember lurching out of there as daylight approached on many an occasion

[Songhua]

Late eighties/early nineties:

Bangkok: a venue (sort of a pub) called Round Midnight down LangSuan. Dunno if it's still there but used to be a great hangout for foreigners and Thais. Real loud live music. Could pay a guy 10 baht to watch and roll your car around there for the night. Not sure why people complain about the traffic these days - even then it could take over an hour to get to LangSuan from Sathorn.

The greasy nosh place in Patpong 2 was always good for a post bender feed and the British pub upstairs (was it in a carpark?) also in Patpong 2 had some of the best ploughmans & pies in the world. Girl #26 at the Safari Bar. There were no sidewalk stalls on Sukhumwit - you had to go to Pratunam for that. Chatuchak was easy to navigate. The annual St Andrew's Ball at the Dusit (usually finished up elsewhere at about 4pm the next day lol).

Phuket: You could still park your car right in front of your favorite bar in BangLa. Jung Ceylon? - no such concept in those days - Phuket just wasn't like that - if you wanted to do 'fancy' shopping you had to go to the department store in Phuket Town. We lived at the quiet little intersection of the soi leading to Wat Chalong at one stage, the nearest convenience shop was halfway to Rawai. The wat had those drive-in movies once a week.

Samui: Quiet & relaxing. Bungalow ON the beach for ฿100 and not another tourist in sight.

HuaHin: ChaAm was a wasteland. The seafood restaurants over the water in town were always there but you were often the only table in there.

ChiangMai: One went there to see a bit of history or for a nice weekend away.

Kanchanaburi: A beer bar? No such thing! Used to be a great old Thai style resort out in the sticks near Hellfire Pass. Some of THE best food in Thailand was to be had there.

HatYai and the South: You could go there.

[CountSaintGermain]

Thailand was awesome in the late 1980's-1990's; particularly Koh Samui and Phuket. It is so sad what has happened to Phuket with all the development, destruction of the natural beauty, etc. and the influx of scammers and poorly behaved tourists. I haven't been to Koh Samui in years...I'm afraid to see what has happened there. Chiang Mai is becoming over-developed and over-crowded. Thailand used to be quite affordable. Nothing ever stays the same anywhere in the world.

In Bangkok, I still remember Sukhumwit Soi Zero. I remember Clinton Plaza and Asoke Square. I remember those bars near Soi 10 that were bulldozed one night.

Loved Soi Zero. Many a drunken night at the Wanida Bar.

Way back then, Soi Zero was the "in" place. It was as shitty as hell, but it was awesome.

I guess it was all to do with the rats, the noise, the traffic overhead, the dirt, and the overall sleaziness.

Great days indeed!

[CountSaintGermain]

Late eighties/early nineties:

Bangkok: a venue (sort of a pub) called Round Midnight down LangSuan. Dunno if it's still there but used to be a great hangout for foreigners and Thais. Real loud live music. Could pay a guy 10 baht to watch and roll your car around there for the night. Not sure why people complain about the traffic these days - even then it could take over an hour to get to LangSuan from Sathorn.

The greasy nosh place in Patpong 2 was always good for a post bender feed and the British pub upstairs (was it in a carpark?) also in Patpong 2 had some of the best ploughmans & pies in the world. Girl #26 at the Safari Bar. There were no sidewalk stalls on Sukhumwit - you had to go to Pratunam for that. Chatuchak was easy to navigate. The annual St Andrew's Ball at the Dusit (usually finished up elsewhere at about 4pm the next day lol).

Phuket: You could still park your car right in front of your favorite bar in BangLa. Jung Ceylon? - no such concept in those days - Phuket just wasn't like that - if you wanted to do 'fancy' shopping you had to go to the department store in Phuket Town. We lived at the quiet little intersection of the soi leading to Wat Chalong at one stage, the nearest convenience shop was halfway to Rawai. The wat had those drive-in movies once a week.

Samui: Quiet & relaxing. Bungalow ON the beach for ฿100 and not another tourist in sight.

HuaHin: ChaAm was a wasteland. The seafood restaurants over the water in town were always there but you were often the only table in there.

ChiangMai: One went there to see a bit of history or for a nice weekend away.

Kanchanaburi: A beer bar? No such thing! Used to be a great old Thai style resort out in the sticks near Hellfire Pass. Some of THE best food in Thailand was to be had there.

HatYai and the South: You could go there.

Unbelievably good post!

The greasy nosh place in Patpong 2 was always good for a post bender feed and the British pub upstairs (was it in a carpark?) also in Patpong 2 had some of the best ploughmans & pies in the world

The British pub upstairs (entrance through a kind of car park) was called Bobby's Arms. It's gone now, but it was a dream. Food was exceptional; beer was great; atmosphere was as laid back as you could get; toilets were clean.

HatYai and the South: You could go there.

Tell me, what's there?

[CountSaintGermain]

Thailand was awesome in the late 1980's-1990's; particularly Koh Samui and Phuket. It is so sad what has happened to Phuket with all the development, destruction of the natural beauty, etc. and the influx of scammers and poorly behaved tourists. I haven't been to Koh Samui in years...I'm afraid to see what has happened there. Chiang Mai is becoming over-developed and over-crowded. Thailand used to be quite affordable. Nothing ever stays the same anywhere in the world.

In Bangkok, I still remember Sukhumwit Soi Zero. I remember Clinton Plaza and Asoke Square. I remember those bars near Soi 10 that were bulldozed one night.

Loved Soi Zero. Many a drunken night at the Wanida Bar.

Det 5/Sexy night for me, i remember lurching out of there as daylight approached on many an occasion

For me, daylight used to approach when I was in (is this right?) The Silver Dollar in Washington Square.

What a dump that was.

[Songhua]

Bobby's Arms, that's it. Yeah it was fantastic. Always good for a long lunch.

The south .... lol, nothing!

[theblether]

For gawds sake, it's like the zombie returns......how many life's is this MediumPaceBowler guy gonna get

[CountSaintGermain]

Bobby's Arms, that's it. Yeah it was fantastic. Always good for a long lunch.

The south .... lol, nothing!

Fond memories!!

I'll be back in Bangkok next month. I plan on hitting all my old haunts. I guess most have gone now, but I'm hoping a few might still remain.

Any news about that Dutch bar on the corner of Cowboy?

[roamer]

For gawds sake, it's like the zombie returns......how many life's is this MediumPaceBowler guy gonna get

Ever considered a career in forensic linguistics Blether

[theblether]

For gawds sake, it's like the zombie returns......how many life's is this MediumPaceBowler guy gonna get

Ever considered a career in forensic linguistics Blether

Hmmm..............an interesting possibility

To be fair to him this is a nice wee thread so I won't make a fuss but hey, I don't know who he thinks he's kidding