After 22years Big Bill says good-bye to Patong&Phuket

[bunta71]

When I lived on Phuket I tried to compromise in a way by living near the Heroines monument in a Thai subdivision. It was quiet and I had some of the finest neighbors I have ever had. But to get to anywhere from there for shopping, school at Darasamut, trips to Villa, I had to do a lot of driving. The traffic eventually became too stressful for me so I escaped to Krabi a little over a year ago. Here the traffic is very minimal, one can actually relax a little and "cruise". This is a very different lifestyle but so far the peace and quiet has been very therapeutic for me and my family. My trips over to Villa every month or two tend to overwhelmingly support my decision to move. Last month the traffic seemed to have doubled on Phuket. Krabi is not the answer for all of the ills found in Thailand, but for me it was a good move, and that is what I like. To each his own... I can also relate to the needs you have now as we all get a bit older almost every day. Good luck with whatever direction suits YOU.

[IrishIvan]

The whole coastline from Prachuap Kiri Kan to Hua Hin is a giant toilet. I personally think Phuket has it all, and I wouldnt dream of leaving, Ive been here a year now but my opinion might change after my 2nd year

The whole gulfs coastline is a toilet.

From the Cambodian border and all the way to Surat thani.

Don't you think Phuket's beaches and sea is heading that way - and quite quickly.

Im seeing more of a recovery than like 5 years ago. Every time I go out diving or snorkelling I am continually impressed. The exception to this rule is Patong beach. All though even in Paradise beach false clownfish can be seen at 5m. I know what you are saying but the Gulf of Thailand has a huge population and therefore more pressure on marine life

[LivinginKata]

Have you looked at Kata beach recently. The waste water discharge seems to be getting worse.

[IrishIvan]

Have you looked at Kata beach recently. The waste water discharge seems to be getting worse.

No I havent actually, last time I was there they hosted a surprise Tsunami drill, kinda left a bad taste in my mouth

Edited June 23, 2013 by IrishIvan

[hansgruber]

The whole coastline from Prachuap Kiri Kan to Hua Hin is a giant toilet. I personally think Phuket has it all, and I wouldnt dream of leaving, Ive been here a year now but my opinion might change after my 2nd year

The whole gulfs coastline is a toilet.

From the Cambodian border and all the way to Surat thani.

Don't you think Phuket's beaches and sea is heading that way - and quite quickly.

Yes but due to commercialization. The water quality is much better here due to the Andaman sea and Indian ocean. The gulf is stagnant khlong water and the most remote and uninhabited areas still have filthy water. All Bangkok's waste flows into the gulf.

[Colonel_Mustard]

When I lived on Phuket I tried to compromise in a way by living near the Heroines monument in a Thai subdivision. It was quiet and I had some of the finest neighbors I have ever had. But to get to anywhere from there for shopping, school at Darasamut, trips to Villa, I had to do a lot of driving. The traffic eventually became too stressful for me so I escaped to Krabi a little over a year ago. Here the traffic is very minimal, one can actually relax a little and "cruise". This is a very different lifestyle but so far the peace and quiet has been very therapeutic for me and my family. My trips over to Villa every month or two tend to overwhelmingly support my decision to move. Last month the traffic seemed to have doubled on Phuket. Krabi is not the answer for all of the ills found in Thailand, but for me it was a good move, and that is what I like. To each his own... I can also relate to the needs you have now as we all get a bit older almost every day. Good luck with whatever direction suits YOU.

I quite like Krabi too and if I were retired and without kids, it's a place that I might consider. However, it lacks a lot of facilities that I need right now such as decent schooling, shopping etc.

A lot of people talk about Phuket being worse than it used to be but for my life it's actually got better overall with more facilities and a wider range of options and activities for the kids to do. Having said that I do understand why that those who don't need such things and are just looking for a quiet and cheap life are looking elsewhere.

[TheWizardofRnR]

@NKM

I believe you are correct that some businesses are hurting but where I differ is that I believe others are booming. The change in demographic to Russian and Chinese tourists has probably hit the typical Western hang outs in Patong/Kata/Karon but other businesses catering to those nationalities are doing extremely well.

I might be wrong but I suspect the average Russian spends as much in Phuket as did the average Brit/Aussie/American, they just spend it on different products in different places. Same with the Korean tourists.

I see no signs of an imminent recession here but if it would wake up the powers that be into tackling some of the island's problems, then that might not be such a bad thing.

I would be happy to hear where the Chinese and Russians are spending their money on Phuket and what businesses are booming.

Kamala, Surin, Laguna had a record high season.

have u been to junk ceylon or central during the high season?

plenty of asians and others shopping and eating.

The business that are booming are restaurants and those selling nick nacks/souvenirs and many massage places that cater to the growing Korean, Japanese and Arab/Indian families that seem to visit Patong .

Companies that cater to the tour groups are laos doing record numbers.

Many Russian //eastern European families are moving in as numbers inmost schools are growing for them.

AS i spend time between Phuket and Cambodia i have spoken to many expats that have moved up there an its not ONLY the difference in prices ( as i find Cambodia ONLY cheaper for beer, cigs and girls) but the changing visa situation.

Bill; i regards to why i never visited ur deli, Went once or twice and u were closed, that's not the way to run a business.

as to nobody stops by to give u rides, Come on, are u for real?

200 baht for a tuk tuk, why didn't u teach flower to drive?

Under 10,000?? few and far between, its not the 90's

Like i said best of luck

Phuket is far from dying, what it is losing are the old timers that want to hang on to how phuket was and are not accepting the changes from their simple island we knew when we came in the 80's. and cant adapt.

Teach her to Drive , she has a license but remember what the Mazda looked like after Chris valiumed up with screwdrivers for a chaser then tried to drive it up a pole but crashed a noodle shop!! I coul barely drive it !

And yes we closed so Flower could have a day off once a week ,cause she was working alone and I guess I didn't think treating my wife like a Slave with 1 day a month off or none , was very nice!

BTW, we are extending our moving out of business sale this whole week if you know anyone looking for sports memorobilia , Posters and banners. Plus a bar of teak with big coffee stand and 2 tall teak shelves , be great for home or coffee shop or reception or a bar-restaurant......call her to take a look , freezer and SS convection oven and a SS 4 door fridge/freezer....even selling our bagel slicer and a smoker box for a BBQ grill never used , plus an old map from days gone bye of Patong. All kinds of kichen pots ,SS bowls SS,whips, 2 SS tables 1 small one big good for centerpiece. I'm trying to depart on Wednesday , hopefully! We got 15day extension if we need it , so Flower will be here to sell ,while I go house hunting !

[phuketrichard]

that mazda was a piece of shit 20 years ago when Larry brought it. :-)

Guess i was just there the wrong 2 days

[Markaew]

So long Bill and good luck. Getting around affordably is such a problem here. I can't say I blame you. If your still here July 6th and 7th, I hope you can make it to the US independence day event at the airpark so everyone at the Navy League can say goodbye. I know you were a supporter in the past.

I went to that a couple years ago and would like to go again. You say it's at the airpark?

Where is that?

[Jimi007]

So long Bill and good luck. Getting around affordably is such a problem here. I can't say I blame you. If your still here July 6th and 7th, I hope you can make it to the US independence day event at the airpark so everyone at the Navy League can say goodbye. I know you were a supporter in the past.

I went to that a couple years ago and would like to go again. You say it's at the airpark?

Where is that?

There's a map and directions on this thread: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/647546-american-independence-day-celebration-in-phuket-2013/

[FDog]

Best of luck - no idea what you think you will find Pattaya that you wont find here in Phuket IF YOU LEAVE PATONG!

(The below is not aimed at Bill, sorry but just fed up with these comments)

So many .... on here lambasting Phuket, when really you are talking about Soi Bangla and taxi drivers. TIP: Dont go to Soi Bangla and don't get so drunk you can't drive and Phuket still is a great place to live.

If you NEED to go to places like Soi Bangla and NEED to drink yourself stupid every night, I am pleased you dont like Phuket, bugger of and dont come back and we are both happy.

If you don't go to Soi Bangla and drink why the hell would it matter to you what the people there do?

[chuckd]

Teach her to Drive , she has a license but remember what the Mazda looked like after Chris valiumed up with screwdrivers for a chaser then tried to drive it up a pole but crashed a noodle shop!! I coul barely drive it !

And yes we closed so Flower could have a day off once a week ,cause she was working alone and I guess I didn't think treating my wife like a Slave with 1 day a month off or none , was very nice!

BTW, we are extending our moving out of business sale this whole week if you know anyone looking for sports memorobilia , Posters and banners. Plus a bar of teak with big coffee stand and 2 tall teak shelves , be great for home or coffee shop or reception or a bar-restaurant......call her to take a look , freezer and SS convection oven and a SS 4 door fridge/freezer....even selling our bagel slicer and a smoker box for a BBQ grill never used , plus an old map from days gone bye of Patong. All kinds of kichen pots ,SS bowls SS,whips, 2 SS tables 1 small one big good for centerpiece. I'm trying to depart on Wednesday , hopefully! We got 15day extension if we need it , so Flower will be here to sell ,while I go house hunting !

Bill, Passed your message on to Izzy and he sends his regards. My suggestion is to give Pattaya a good look. Cheap public transportation and from my information, rents are cheaper there than in many places. I lived there many years after leaving Convent Road and still have a home there where my daughter lives. Lots of old Bangkok hands are there now.

You might have a built in clientele with fond memories of your food if you decide to settle there.

Good luck wherever you decide to go and whatever you decide to do. Chuck

[Issangeorge]

Bill, I've never met you, but I use to drink in the Grand Prix and they would go across to the Derby King and get me a Reuben Sandwich. I loved those and for many years every time I went to Bangkok I would eat a Reuben, even after you left the DB they had them on their menu, then when they stoped serving them I went to Lary's Dive, but then they got to expensive, so I haven't had a Reuben for a few years now. Sure miss them. Last time I was in Phuket I believe you were still at Rock Hard, so never got a chance to go to your deli.

Sent from my i-mobile IQ 6 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[smotherb]

Bangkok maybe north of Phuket but that's about it. North in Thailand refers to Northern provinces. Sorry for being such an "idiot"

Bangkok maybe north of Phuket but that's about it. North in Thailand refers to Northern provinces. Sorry for being such an "idiot"

Bill says, "Flower and I are moving North to concrete pastures!"

I live in Hatyai, and I go NORTH to Phattalung. North is a cardinal direction.

[Old Croc]

Bangkok maybe north of Phuket but that's about it. North in Thailand refers to Northern provinces. Sorry for being such an "idiot"

Bangkok maybe north of Phuket but that's about it. North in Thailand refers to Northern provinces. Sorry for being such an "idiot"

Bill says, "Flower and I are moving North to concrete pastures!"

I live in Hatyai, and I go NORTH to Phattalung. North is a cardinal direction.

Living in Hatyai I suppose you have to keep an eye out (or two) for those mad bombers.

[DonaldBattles]

I am guilty of helping to drag this subject out and think that we should stop. However, I need to close by saying that while Big Bill was working at the Derby King he made the best Ruben Sandwiches in Thailand. I ate a lot of them while living in Bangkok. Bill knew how to do it right.

[Jimbo]

Btw, Don, you are also missed. My wife and I used to love your place and you always used to stop at our table for a nice chat.

Bill, had the pleasure of meeting you a few times over the years. So sorry to see you and the missus leave

[TheWizardofRnR]

I am guilty of helping to drag this subject out and think that we should stop. However, I need to close by saying that while Big Bill was working at the Derby King he made the best Ruben Sandwiches in Thailand. I ate a lot of them while living in Bangkok. Bill knew how to do it right.

Thx, Uncle Don! The ones I made at my Deli , Uncle Don were even better...had a bakery making a light caraway rye and my corned beef was done just like NY Delis do , my own special pickling spice , and my Pastrami ,oy vey !...... not bad for a Eng.-Irish-Scottish Polish kid from Greenpoint,Brooklyn!

[Jongmanee]

Here you go BB...........

Megan Ferrera

Available to rent now. Fully furnished house in Chalong on Chaofah East. 400 meters from the sea. 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath with fenced in garden and covered carpark. Located in a quiet neighborhood. 10,000 baht per month, 2 month security deposit.

[NamKangMan]

Here you go BB...........

Megan Ferrera

Available to rent now. Fully furnished house in Chalong on Chaofah East. 400 meters from the sea. 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath with fenced in garden and covered carpark. Located in a quiet neighborhood. 10,000 baht per month, 2 month security deposit.

Looks good.

Edited June 23, 2013 by NamKangMan

[TheWizardofRnR]

thx ,J ....its Flower's Choice this time as I said in the PM , so is the FB page for some reason , sorry old age brain dilemma lol

[Hanuman2547]

Without seeing the house in Chalong I'm not sure.............but it does look nice and the price is good. Definitely worth a look except the only problem is it is still on Phuket but at least not in Patong.

I was in Krabi last November. It was nice and much better than Phuket. A few aggressive Indian/Nepalese touts for restaurants. I hadn't been there in over 10 years so yeah, it has changed a lot too. Would prefer it to Phuket any day for me.

[TheWizardofRnR]

Without seeing the house in Chalong I'm not sure.............but it does look nice and the price is good. Definitely worth a look except the only problem is it is still on Phuket but at least not in Patong.

I was in Krabi last November. It was nice and much better than Phuket. A few aggressive Indian/Nepalese touts for restaurants. I hadn't been there in over 10 years so yeah, it has changed a lot too. Would prefer it to Phuket any day for me.

Flower needs to go look tomorrow if possible , is it North of Patong? east but North would be streching.

but we'd have to get the elec. MC 3wheel pickup see the link

http://www.lionbike.com/store/product/view/%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%96%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%A5%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%AD%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%9F%E0%B8%9F%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B2_800W-22626297-th.html

[taninthai]

Looks like most of you guys have been here quiet a long time. I arrived in Phuket in April 2006 so even being here 7 years I'm more or less a newbie compared to most. After spending 4 great years in Phuket (Kata/Karon) we decided that cost of living was getting out of hand along with a slowly accelerating crime rate and we also wanted to buy some land and build a home and with the land prices in Phuket (for us) it was not possible. Have visited Pattaya didn't think as nice as Phuket. We jumped on our Phantom and started driving towards Bangkok checking out all the places in between. We found the Cha Am Hua Hin area the best for cost of living land prices Farang community and a very nice beach. We bought a small bit of land built (local man who built home did a fantastic job cheaply) our very nice 1650 sq ft 3 bdrm 2 bath home for 1 million baht. We settled in Tha Yang area 40K north of Cha Am 65K north of Hua Hin.

I would suggest to anyone seriously thinking of leaving Phuket but remaining in Thailand to spend a few days in Cha Am/Hua Hin area. Where ever you go, good luck

Well said! If the nightlife isn't a big factor in your life than there are many other nice places to live in Thailand. The Cha Am - Hua Hin area is quite nice and an area I have always enjoyed. Further south, Prachuab Khirikhan is also nice. If you want to be in the Pattaya area but not right in Pattaya then maybe Bang Saray about 15kms south of Pattaya might be another option.

we drove through hua hin about 6 weeks ago hated the look off the place commercialised way to much ,just reminded me of a bigger version of ao nang ,went on up to prachup kiri kan and that seemed like my kind of place a no big buildings or even building work going on can sit on an old wooden table on a super quiet beach and the restaurant across the road will serve your food with a smile and reasonable prices.

[Hanuman2547]

Without seeing the house in Chalong I'm not sure.............but it does look nice and the price is good. Definitely worth a look except the only problem is it is still on Phuket but at least not in Patong.

I was in Krabi last November. It was nice and much better than Phuket. A few aggressive Indian/Nepalese touts for restaurants. I hadn't been there in over 10 years so yeah, it has changed a lot too. Would prefer it to Phuket any day for me.

Flower needs to go look tomorrow if possible , is it North of Patong? east but North would be streching.

but we'd have to get the elec. MC 3wheel pickup see the link

http://www.lionbike.com/store/product/view/%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%96%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%A5%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%AD%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%9F%E0%B8%9F%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B2_800W-22626297-th.html

Lion Bike is really close to where I used to live in Bangkok.

[grumpyoldman]

Hi Big Bill,

if you are not entirely convinced of uprooting and going north, might I suggest Rawai.

Pete at Stoned Crab pub (pretty happening business since he opened) not only has a fully operational kitchen he would like to lease out, but he has an open shophouse in the building he owns.

A fellow TV member and I were discussing, it sure would be good to have your grub here in the hood. Cheers, GOM

[jocko]

No doubt about it the great posts and good wishes and help to the OP justifies the existence of TV much be better than the same old posts that often are discussed on here about the problems of Patong there is hope for us after all..

The best of luck to Bill and Flower i hope you find that better future

[phuketsub]

The whole coastline from Prachuap Kiri Kan to Hua Hin is a giant toilet. I personally think Phuket has it all, and I wouldnt dream of leaving, Ive been here a year now but my opinion might change after my 2nd year

The whole gulfs coastline is a toilet.

From the Cambodian border and all the way to Surat thani.

I have to agree with this, even though I am moving over there. The worst part is all the fluorescent bulbs that was ashore from the squid boats, but that is only one small part of the problems that develop when you view the sea as your own personal garbage dump -- as many people over there do. The jellyfish are bad over there too...

[Jongmanee]

Hi Bill I would have to agree with GOM This may prove to be a great chance to work a deal with Pete at Stoned Crab pub. Your food, new location, and a chance at a new life in Rawai

Hi Big Bill,

if you are not entirely convinced of uprooting and going north, might I suggest Rawai.

Pete at Stoned Crab pub (pretty happening business since he opened) not only has a fully operational kitchen he would like to lease out, but he has an open shophouse in the building he owns.

A fellow TV member and I were discussing, it sure would be good to have your grub here in the hood. Cheers, GOM

[Old Croc]

Maybe I'm misreading the message, but I got the impression that the OP was looking for a new life style.

He is looking for a place that is more wheelchair friendly (health problems?) and Rawai, nor indeed Phuket fit that description.

He is selling all his kitchen equipment, so I gather that phase of his life is in the past. He stated his wife is working far too hard running the business (he is unable to assist as he once did?) and in need of a break.

I gained the impression he is looking for a cheap, comfortable place to retire, not somewhere to start anew with the old business.

Please correct me if I'm wrong Bill.

Good luck with whatever path you decide to follow.