Pics of Lotus Restaurant, Beach Club Demolishment

[EBlair48]

Taken 1 hour ago

Lotus no more..

Movenpic Beach Club gone, too

Cherng Telay Chief

Carnage

[EBlair48]

Meanwhile about 1 kilometer north of Lotus at the brand new places where they;

Cut trees to put up lights

and lay massive concreting

However, no more Mr Reggae Bar

Mayor to be demolished next?

Watch out the next year or two.. lots of debris

What ya gonna do when they come fer you.... ( Cherng Telay Mayor )

Bad Boyz Bad Boyz

[EBlair48]

It's a takeover !!

So long, everyone

Sa wa dee gone

[N47HAN]

Great photos EBlair,

Thx for sharing , times they are a changing.

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[EBlair48]

I actually found myself regretting my wishing for this to happen. It's really looked like a war zone and that is exactly what it is plus a lot of jobs lost and it really will take away from the beach experience. Will every single beach on Phuket , what about 15 or so ...really be just mile after mile of sand and nothing else?

I really think it was a mistake to do this in such a drastic fashion. Tourism will plummet- further. I have read the arguments," Thailand cannot police itself to allow some vendors..." and yes I have to agree and it why I have always had difficulty respecting a culture that has little civil ethos

I also feel a war coming on, a class war.

[N47HAN]

Have to agree , although in principle it would make sense to carry these actons I fear in reality there has to be at some point a civil revolt against this.

To displace so many people from their income in such a short space of time has to have repercussions.

I guess time will tell how bad they will be.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[trd]

Very sad about the Lotus. I have some very pleasant memories of that place and such great food.

I have very mixed feelings about what is going on now.

[Jimi007]

I actually found myself regretting my wishing for this to happen. It's really looked like a war zone and that is exactly what it is plus a lot of jobs lost and it really will take away from the beach experience. Will every single beach on Phuket , what about 15 or so ...really be just mile after mile of sand and nothing else?

I really think it was a mistake to do this in such a drastic fashion. Tourism will plummet- further. I have read the arguments," Thailand cannot police itself to allow some vendors..." and yes I have to agree and it why I have always had difficulty respecting a culture that has little civil ethos

I also feel a war coming on, a class war.

Really? A class war? You and Bulldozer Dawn are a couple of drama queens. It is about time tourism slowed down around here. How long can they keep building without any expenditure on infrastructure? It has reached it's maximum. Now their sandcastle is crumbling! Most Thai people in Phuket, except the old families and their relatives are from other provinces. There has always been feudal system here in Phuket. My wife has family some here and I have met a few of the local village chiefs. Interesting lot and a very interesting local culture…

[nisakiman]

I think that was very heavy-handed - much more than necessary. It would have made more sense to offer those places an amnesty on condition that they enhanced the area in some way. Plant trees, keep the beach pristine, improve the appearance of the premises to blend in etc etc. Too many people relied on those places for an income, and I'm sure they were popular with the tourists. Seems like a bit of an own goal, to me. Nobody really gains, and everybody loses. For most tourists, an important part of the beach experience is being able to grab a cold beer and a bite to eat right there at the beach. Yes, yes, I know that unblemished beaches are a treat for the eye, and that in an ideal world they would all look like the backdrop to a Bounty advert, but if Thailand wants tourists, then facilities must be available.

Personally, I like deserted beaches. The first time I swam off Patong it was like paradise (1971), and I think it's awful now. But for the majority of holidaymakers, it's the beach bars and restaurants they come for. Take those away, and they'll go somewhere else.

And having demolished the buildings, who is going to clean up and restore the ground to the way it was originally? My gut feeling is that those demolished properties will remain an eyesore for years. One more reason they should have left them.

[Jimi007]

I think that was very heavy-handed - much more than necessary. It would have made more sense to offer those places an amnesty on condition that they enhanced the area in some way. Plant trees, keep the beach pristine, improve the appearance of the premises to blend in etc etc. Too many people relied on those places for an income, and I'm sure they were popular with the tourists. Seems like a bit of an own goal, to me. Nobody really gains, and everybody loses. For most tourists, an important part of the beach experience is being able to grab a cold beer and a bite to eat right there at the beach. Yes, yes, I know that unblemished beaches are a treat for the eye, and that in an ideal world they would all look like the backdrop to a Bounty advert, but if Thailand wants tourists, then facilities must be available.

Personally, I like deserted beaches. The first time I swam off Patong it was like paradise (1971), and I think it's awful now. But for the majority of holidaymakers, it's the beach bars and restaurants they come for. Take those away, and they'll go somewhere else.

And having demolished the buildings, who is going to clean up and restore the ground to the way it was originally? My gut feeling is that those demolished properties will remain an eyesore for years. One more reason they should have left them.

I totally disagree! Ya Nui is completely cleared and almost all the debris has been hauled away. Yes, I understand some like their lounger, umbrella and beer service, but it's time to get over it. It wasn't legal and it still isn't. As many of us have said over the past decade, it will take the Army to clean out all of the corruption that has been allowed here on the beaches and with the taxi "services" over the years.

[LivinginKata]

I think that was very heavy-handed - much more than necessary. It would have made more sense to offer those places an amnesty on condition that they enhanced the area in some way. Plant trees, keep the beach pristine, improve the appearance of the premises to blend in etc etc. Too many people relied on those places for an income, and I'm sure they were popular with the tourists. Seems like a bit of an own goal, to me. Nobody really gains, and everybody loses. For most tourists, an important part of the beach experience is being able to grab a cold beer and a bite to eat right there at the beach. Yes, yes, I know that unblemished beaches are a treat for the eye, and that in an ideal world they would all look like the backdrop to a Bounty advert, but if Thailand wants tourists, then facilities must be available.

That's all very well, trouble is that what are the limits of the encroachment ? Give a little and very soon it becomes a lot as everyone wants a bigger piece of the cake.

Remember after the tsunami only 2 rows of chairs was allowed, how long did that last. i rest my case.

[trd]

Come the high season, it will be interesting to see, or not see, who cleans up the garbage from the beaches. Tourists will have to bring all their own food and drink, and some will inevitably fail to clean up after themselves. I haven't seen one trash bin on Nai Harn beach.

[nisakiman]

Yes, I understand some like their lounger, umbrella and beer service, but it's time to get over it.

I quite understand what you say, and from a personal point of view I'm inclined to agree. I'm sure you'd like nothing better than for the tourism aspect of Phuket to be scaled right down, as it would enhance your lifestyle there. And I'm sure I'd feel the same if I was living there, too. However, neither you or I rely on that tourism to support our way of life, so it's departure would have no economic impact on our lives. But for the locals, it would be disastrous, and I think their ability to survive trumps your desire for the aesthetic of bar-free beaches.

[N47HAN]

Guess we will being some supercheap stores opening up close to the beaches very very soon.;-)

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[Jimi007]

Yes, I understand some like their lounger, umbrella and beer service, but it's time to get over it.

I quite understand what you say, and from a personal point of view I'm inclined to agree. I'm sure you'd like nothing better than for the tourism aspect of Phuket to be scaled right down, as it would enhance your lifestyle there. And I'm sure I'd feel the same if I was living there, too. However, neither you or I rely on that tourism to support our way of life, so it's departure would have no economic impact on our lives. But for the locals, it would be disastrous, and I think their ability to survive trumps your desire for the aesthetic of bar-free beaches.

"But for the locals, it would be disastrous, and I think their ability to survive trumps your desire for the aesthetic of bar-free beaches."

For the most part those who "work" here in Phuket on the beach are NOT locals! If they were they would not be working on the beach, they would own land and rent it to people who aren't locals. The Or Bor Tors here have been illegally renting public land to private enterprise, why don't you understand that?

So, if I come to your country, if it has a beach or a national park, I could pay some cash to the local corrupt government officials and open a restaurant and put out loungers and sell beer? No problem? Wake up… They don't allow any vendors on the beaches in California where I grew up or allow restaurants and loungers all over the beach. Do they allow that on the beaches where you grew up? I rather doubt it.

[trd]

They don't allow any vendors on the beaches in California where I grew up or allow restaurants and loungers all over the beach. Do they allow that on the beaches where you grew up?

Nope. So they came here to enjoy what they couldn't get back home. They said it was part of Thailand's charm.

[Jimi007]

They don't allow any vendors on the beaches in California where I grew up or allow restaurants and loungers all over the beach. Do they allow that on the beaches where you grew up?

Nope. So they came here to enjoy what they couldn't get back home. They said it was part of Thailand's charm.

If you call "charm" being harassed if you don't want to pay for a lounger on "their" beach and try to bring you own beverage.. Or try to park on a public road and be threatened as it is their road. You obviously haven't been here very long and most likely don't live in Phuket or you wouldn't have any sympathy for the scum that intimidate and scam everyone that doesn't want to play along with their illegal activities.

[EBlair48]

Yes, I understand some like their lounger, umbrella and beer service, but it's time to get over it.

I quite understand what you say, and from a personal point of view I'm inclined to agree. I'm sure you'd like nothing better than for the tourism aspect of Phuket to be scaled right down, as it would enhance your lifestyle there. And I'm sure I'd feel the same if I was living there, too. However, neither you or I rely on that tourism to support our way of life, so it's departure would have no economic impact on our lives. But for the locals, it would be disastrous, and I think their ability to survive trumps your desire for the aesthetic of bar-free beaches.

"But for the locals, it would be disastrous, and I think their ability to survive trumps your desire for the aesthetic of bar-free beaches."

For the most part those who "work" here in Phuket on the beach are NOT locals! If they were they would not be working on the beach, they would own land and rent it to people who aren't locals. The Or Bor Tors here have been illegally renting public land to private enterprise, why don't you understand that?

So, if I come to your country, if it has a beach or a national park, I could pay some cash to the local corrupt government officials and open a restaurant and put out loungers and sell beer? No problem? Wake up… They don't allow any vendors on the beaches in California where I grew up or allow restaurants and loungers all over the beach. Do they allow that on the beaches where you grew up? I rather doubt it.

I think we all understand the criminality aspects and how it wasn't regulated sufficiently as the culture is deficient in that regard. I simply think this will bring trouble, we are talking about thousands of jobs that will not be replaced. The upcoming season will already be lean from political fallout- which means a rise in crime. Yes, sure plenty of jobs, minimum wage jobs. Who wants to go from 1000 baht a day to minimum wage? A 60% + decrease in wage is unreasonable to ask anyone to take. Why are they now expected to " go back home"? They have a right to live where they choose, too.

I think it may well impact our lives here, negatively and for many reasons but particularly if resentment festers and that's what I mean about a class war. I can't think of a better way to stir up trouble than to do what has happened here the last few months.

[Jimi007]

Yes, I understand some like their lounger, umbrella and beer service, but it's time to get over it.

I quite understand what you say, and from a personal point of view I'm inclined to agree. I'm sure you'd like nothing better than for the tourism aspect of Phuket to be scaled right down, as it would enhance your lifestyle there. And I'm sure I'd feel the same if I was living there, too. However, neither you or I rely on that tourism to support our way of life, so it's departure would have no economic impact on our lives. But for the locals, it would be disastrous, and I think their ability to survive trumps your desire for the aesthetic of bar-free beaches.

"But for the locals, it would be disastrous, and I think their ability to survive trumps your desire for the aesthetic of bar-free beaches."

For the most part those who "work" here in Phuket on the beach are NOT locals! If they were they would not be working on the beach, they would own land and rent it to people who aren't locals. The Or Bor Tors here have been illegally renting public land to private enterprise, why don't you understand that?

So, if I come to your country, if it has a beach or a national park, I could pay some cash to the local corrupt government officials and open a restaurant and put out loungers and sell beer? No problem? Wake up… They don't allow any vendors on the beaches in California where I grew up or allow restaurants and loungers all over the beach. Do they allow that on the beaches where you grew up? I rather doubt it.

I think we all understand the criminality aspects and how it simply wasn't regulated as the culture is deficient in that regard. I simply think this will bring trouble, we are talking about thousands of jobs that will not be replaced. The upcoming season will already be lean from political fallout- which means a rise in crime. Yes sure plenty of jobs, minimum wage jobs. Who wants to go from 1000 baht a day to minimum wage? A 60% + decrease in wage is unreasonable to ask anyone to take

I think it may well impact our lives here, negatively and for many reasons but particularly if resentment festers and that's what I mean about a class war. I can't think of a better way to stir up trouble than to do what has happened here the last few months.

When is the last time you went to the beach? When is the last time you rented a lounger? For me it was about two years ago on Kata when I met a friend visiting and he rented the lounger for me. I won't, I refuse and just sit on a towel or beach mat. The beach boy who was serving us was from Burma. He said the Thais are too lazy to do the work, plus they can't speak English. Very true! So your false pretense that the Thais do any work, other than collect ill gotten gains from public lands and most likely illegal aliens working for them won't fly with me. Again, do you know any Thais that were directly affect by the tear downs? I do, they haven't complained a bit.

[EBlair48]

I quite understand what you say, and from a personal point of view I'm inclined to agree. I'm sure you'd like nothing better than for the tourism aspect of Phuket to be scaled right down, as it would enhance your lifestyle there. And I'm sure I'd feel the same if I was living there, too. However, neither you or I rely on that tourism to support our way of life, so it's departure would have no economic impact on our lives. But for the locals, it would be disastrous, and I think their ability to survive trumps your desire for the aesthetic of bar-free beaches.

"But for the locals, it would be disastrous, and I think their ability to survive trumps your desire for the aesthetic of bar-free beaches."

For the most part those who "work" here in Phuket on the beach are NOT locals! If they were they would not be working on the beach, they would own land and rent it to people who aren't locals. The Or Bor Tors here have been illegally renting public land to private enterprise, why don't you understand that?

So, if I come to your country, if it has a beach or a national park, I could pay some cash to the local corrupt government officials and open a restaurant and put out loungers and sell beer? No problem? Wake up… They don't allow any vendors on the beaches in California where I grew up or allow restaurants and loungers all over the beach. Do they allow that on the beaches where you grew up? I rather doubt it.

I think we all understand the criminality aspects and how it simply wasn't regulated as the culture is deficient in that regard. I simply think this will bring trouble, we are talking about thousands of jobs that will not be replaced. The upcoming season will already be lean from political fallout- which means a rise in crime. Yes sure plenty of jobs, minimum wage jobs. Who wants to go from 1000 baht a day to minimum wage? A 60% + decrease in wage is unreasonable to ask anyone to take

I think it may well impact our lives here, negatively and for many reasons but particularly if resentment festers and that's what I mean about a class war. I can't think of a better way to stir up trouble than to do what has happened here the last few months.

When is the last time you went to the beach? When is the last time you rented a lounger? For me it was about two years ago on Kata when I met a friend visiting and he rented the lounger for me. I won't, I refuse and just sit on a towel or beach mat. The beach boy who was serving us was from Burma. He said the Thais are too lazy to do the work, plus they can't speak English. Very true! So your false pretense that the Thais do any work, other than collect ill gotten gains from public lands and most likely illegal aliens working for them won't fly with me. Again, do you know any Thais that were directly affect by the tear downs? I do, they haven't complained a bit.

I was at the beach today, Jimi. [smiley smiley]

The place I go, er went to once or twice a week for lunch gave me a lounger with my meal. He's Thai and very, very upset His place has been there almost 10 years. He had no concrete and had a business license.

I talked to about five others today, all expressed what I have been posting, this was not a smart thing to do and will have negative consequences.

hey have had thier livelihoods ripped out from under them. They were acting with permission from local govt. Yes Local govt was acting illegally, apparently but that doesn't make it OK to now just nuke the working class like what has been done

T

[Jimi007]

I was at the beach today, Jimi. [smiley smiley]

The place I go, er went to once or twice a week for lunch gave me a lounger with my meal. He's Thai and very, very upset His place has been there almost 10 years. He had no concrete and had a business license.

I talked to about five others today, all expressed what I have been posting, this was not a smart thing to do and will have negative consequences.

hey have had thier livelihoods ripped out from under them. They were acting with permission from local govt. Yes Local govt was acting illegally, apparently but that doesn't make it OK to now just nuke the working class like what has been done

T

The old saying;"two wrongs don't make a right" comes to mind. So in your mind. it would be better for all Thais to let a few who illegally set up businesses on Public Lands to continue? What if my wife came along and tried that? Wouldn't she be beaten and her business set on fire as has happened up at Surin a few years ago. The law is finally being enforced, I'm all for it, yet you feel sorry for the people who have been part of the corrupt system? Amazing...

[trd]

I was at the beach today, Jimi. [smiley smiley]

The place I go, er went to once or twice a week for lunch gave me a lounger with my meal. He's Thai and very, very upset His place has been there almost 10 years. He had no concrete and had a business license.

I talked to about five others today, all expressed what I have been posting, this was not a smart thing to do and will have negative consequences.

hey have had thier livelihoods ripped out from under them. They were acting with permission from local govt. Yes Local govt was acting illegally, apparently but that doesn't make it OK to now just nuke the working class like what has been done

T

The old saying;"two wrongs don't make a right" comes to mind. So in your mind. it would be better for all Thais to let a few who illegally set up businesses on Public Lands to continue? What if my wife came along and tried that? Wouldn't she be beaten and her business set on fire as has happened up at Surin a few years ago. The law is finally being enforced, I'm all for it, yet you feel sorry for the people who have been part of the corrupt system? Amazing...

Hey Jimi, it seems like you really respect the law. So make sure you don't assemble in groups of five or more, because that's now against the law which it wasn't two months ago. The beach vendors had licences from the Or Bor Tor and that was the law then but not now. Your self righteousness is beginning to grate!

[IsaanUSA]

Thanks for the pictures. I really hope they do a very thorough job of cleaning the debris. One sharp piece of metal could ruin somebody's vacation/holiday.

[steelepulse]

I was at the beach today, Jimi. [smiley smiley]

The place I go, er went to once or twice a week for lunch gave me a lounger with my meal. He's Thai and very, very upset His place has been there almost 10 years. He had no concrete and had a business license.

I talked to about five others today, all expressed what I have been posting, this was not a smart thing to do and will have negative consequences.

hey have had thier livelihoods ripped out from under them. They were acting with permission from local govt. Yes Local govt was acting illegally, apparently but that doesn't make it OK to now just nuke the working class like what has been done

T

The old saying;"two wrongs don't make a right" comes to mind. So in your mind. it would be better for all Thais to let a few who illegally set up businesses on Public Lands to continue? What if my wife came along and tried that? Wouldn't she be beaten and her business set on fire as has happened up at Surin a few years ago. The law is finally being enThe beach vendors had licences from the Or Bor Torforced, I'm all for it, yet you feel sorry for the people who have been part of the corrupt system? Amazing...

Hey Jimi, it seems like you really respect the law. So make sure you don't assemble in groups of five or more, because that's now against the law which it wasn't two months ago. and that was the law then but not now. Your self righteousness is beginning to grate!

>>The beach vendors had licences from the Or Bor Tor

Are you sure they had licenses? Or had they paid a fee (bribe) to do business? I'd love to see the legitimate licenses of those feeling the ill effects of the law so they can sue the powers that be.

[Jimi007]

I was at the beach today, Jimi. [smiley smiley]

The place I go, er went to once or twice a week for lunch gave me a lounger with my meal. He's Thai and very, very upset His place has been there almost 10 years. He had no concrete and had a business license.

I talked to about five others today, all expressed what I have been posting, this was not a smart thing to do and will have negative consequences.

hey have had thier livelihoods ripped out from under them. They were acting with permission from local govt. Yes Local govt was acting illegally, apparently but that doesn't make it OK to now just nuke the working class like what has been done

T

The old saying;"two wrongs don't make a right" comes to mind. So in your mind. it would be better for all Thais to let a few who illegally set up businesses on Public Lands to continue? What if my wife came along and tried that? Wouldn't she be beaten and her business set on fire as has happened up at Surin a few years ago. The law is finally being enforced, I'm all for it, yet you feel sorry for the people who have been part of the corrupt system? Amazing...

Hey Jimi, it seems like you really respect the law. So make sure you don't assemble in groups of five or more, because that's now against the law which it wasn't two months ago. The beach vendors had licences from the Or Bor Tor and that was the law then but not now. Your self righteousness is beginning to grate!

Sum num nah. How am I self righteous for stating what is fact and that the army is doing what the local corrupt police and Or Bor Tors wouldn't as they were making too much profit off of the King's Land. A rather lame argument IMO. Is that the best you could come up with? I never meet with five people, I don't have four gf's, just the one wife!

What country do you come from that I can just take over part of you national park or public beach and put up a restaurant or "Beach Club?" I'm sure your government wouldn't have any problem with it right? They'll just collect tea money every week.

Wake up. You want to make excuses for the corrupt local officials around here that pocketed illegal leases of public land, then I feel sorry for you. You are part of the problem. I been here too long and have put up with the BS, I'm happy they are getting their karma returned. By the way I have no problem here, I know how to get along just fine. Probably why I don't hang out with farangs...

[surangw]

its a shame they have to do it so rapidly, and not dismantle the places with reusing the materials in mind

[Yahooka]

Come the high season, it will be interesting to see, or not see, who cleans up the garbage from the beaches. Tourists will have to bring all their own food and drink, and some will inevitably fail to clean up after themselves. I haven't seen one trash bin on Nai Harn beach.

The sea will of course clean away all the garbage........................thai style !!

[LivinginKata]

Hey Jimi, it seems like you really respect the law. So make sure you don't assemble in groups of five or more, because that's now against the law which it wasn't two months ago. The beach vendors had licences from the Or Bor Tor and that was the law then but not now. Your self righteousness is beginning to grate!

You really think thr Or Bor Tor issued official licences. I think not as local authories have no legal right to rent out public beach land. For sure the local authorities turned a blind eye subject to brown envelope payments. All illegal on both sides.

[KarenBravo]

Hey Jimi, it seems like you really respect the law. So make sure you don't assemble in groups of five or more, because that's now against the law which it wasn't two months ago.

No, you've got it a little bit wrong.

No more than five people can congregate for political purposes.

[AJBangkok]

EBlair48 thank you for taking and posting the pics.