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Patong - The Wake


Patong2

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Certain bars require certain types of girls…

The girls in the Aussie Bar in Bangla don’t humbug for drinks or chatter to you when the footy is on.

They are usually on the ball when you need a refill too, they get paid better than some other bars to NOT humbug.

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21 hours ago, xylophone said:

Regarding Soi Banzaan, that old half constructed building was pulled down a few years ago and they have done nothing about the narrowing of the street, which as you quite rightly say, causes terrible traffic jams at times. However I believe I read that this is a "private soi" so it doesn't come under the council's jurisdiction, hence the reason nothing is done about that road problem.

I thought I would update that piece of news with regards to the narrowing of the Soi and why nothing has been done about it since the building was demolished.

 

 I had a look at it yesterday and when that abomination was being constructed, to accommodate its incursion into the Soi, the electricity providers installed two concrete "posts/pillars/pylons" to enable the power supply cables to circumvent the would-be building and now the electricity supply cables are supported by those, along with a whole myriad of other telecommunications cables. And they are actually in the Soi/road themselves, so to get the Soi back to a normal size, the posts would have to be removed/dug out and the cables rerouted, so that is quite a major job – – and because of this I can't see it ever happening.

 

Having said that somebody has decided to put some tarmac in the Soi where it merges with the "middle road" to at least make it usable now – – as for the rest of it, well it's still an abomination.

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  • 2 weeks later...
43 minutes ago, xylophone said:

Perhaps it was because I was younger that I saw it with younger eyes, but now whatever it was has faded and I will consider moving out of Patong after I've done a bit more research as to what other area is less crowded and friendly, on Phuket – Rawai perhaps?

 

I'm in my 70's now and I still enjoy people-watching and the buzz of Bangla - I spend 50% of my life on Phuket and, although I could never live there, I ride into Patong six nights a week (there's a great band on in my local bar on Thursdays). I have a few  favourite bars and chat with a couple of the girls in Blue Lotus (and your favourite pole dancer) and tip them in cash but never buy lady drinks or takeaways.

 

It's going to be difficult to relocate - rents have gone crazy in the last year or so even if you’re well in with some locals (I am, fortunately) but I have recommended Kamala to you in the past.

 

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3 hours ago, London Lowf said:

 

I'm in my 70's now and I still enjoy people-watching and the buzz of Bangla - I spend 50% of my life on Phuket and, although I could never live there, I ride into Patong six nights a week (there's a great band on in my local bar on Thursdays). I have a few  favourite bars and chat with a couple of the girls in Blue Lotus (and your favourite pole dancer) and tip them in cash but never buy lady drinks or takeaways.

 

It's going to be difficult to relocate - rents have gone crazy in the last year or so even if you’re well in with some locals (I am, fortunately) but I have recommended Kamala to you in the past.

 

 

I have been meaning to ask you for a while, aren't there any police checks between Patong and Kamala late at night...? 

 

I used to go to Kamala and even Rawai from Patong, the opposite of your direction, just once or twice a week for something different. But not for the past couple of years, as I heard there are usually many police checks nowadays, looking for you know what...! 

 

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2 hours ago, Agusts said:

 

I have been meaning to ask you for a while, aren't there any police checks between Patong and Kamala late at night...? 

 

I used to go to Kamala and even Rawai from Patong, the opposite of your direction, just once or twice a week for something different. But not for the past couple of years, as I heard there are usually many police checks nowadays, looking for you know what...! 

 

 

There is invariably a check on beach road at Lama Park on the way home at 1am/2am but I have never been pulled over there.

 

I've recounted this in the past - Once or twice a week there is one on the approach to Kamala but, the only time they stopped me and asked if I had been drinking, I told them "Only beer, no whiskey!" and they were happy with that. They now wave me through once they recognise me with the occassional "Go Papa!".

 

There are (very few) advantages to being an old guy!

 

 

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Sorry to see the problems you are having Xylophone.

We have had our share of mobility problems too and it definitely gives you cause to consider whether Patong is the best place to be.

Are in New Zealand for the past two weeks and already finding it cold (8C as I write this) and boring.

Stuck here for treatment for at least another 8 weeks and it is certainly not a long term option for us.

We will be happy when we get back to Patong.

The thing with Patong is there is such a variety of things that are interesting, challenging and even still exciting (if you find it still exciting to look at attractive women who dress to be looked at).

A walk at 6am along the beach is equal to anywhere in the world.

Supermarketing, restaurants and cheap eats are available easily.

We eat at many restaurants around the island and because of my wife's limited mobility choose places we can park close to the venue. Lots of choice of so many different tastes. 

A short walk down to Soi Sansabai and you can have a ringside seat and a good meal at Summer Breeze or The Yorkshire and others, to a constant parade of, dare I say it, the good bad and the ugly up and down the street for as long as you like.

Having spent periods of time living in places like Ko Khaeo and Cherngtalay, we just find them too quiet for our liking. Nice to visit but not to stay long term.

Patong ain't what it used to be, but it is still pretty darn good.

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15 hours ago, London Lowf said:

It's going to be difficult to relocate - rents have gone crazy in the last year or so even if you’re well in with some locals (I am, fortunately) but I have recommended Kamala to you in the past.

Your comments are well noted LL, and I know you recommended Kamala to me in the past, and I have been there quite a few times when I had friends who lived there, but it did absolutely nothing for me and I always considered it a "one-horse town". Also a couple of those friends have moved out and another one has died, so even less attraction for me to move there.

 

There was a time when I quite liked sitting in Smiley Ban watching the world go by, but that view is now blocked by the dancers at the front, attractive as they are! Also my other favourite bar in that Soi, Island Bar, is now no longer the same as it was, as it was sold out from under the previous owner by his then "girlfriend", when he was visiting his home country, so he returned to having "no bar". The perils of owning a bar in Patong!

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7 hours ago, Patong2 said:

Sorry to see the problems you are having Xylophone.

We have had our share of mobility problems too and it definitely gives you cause to consider whether Patong is the best place to be.

Are in New Zealand for the past two weeks and already finding it cold (8C as I write this) and boring.

Stuck here for treatment for at least another 8 weeks and it is certainly not a long term option for us.

We will be happy when we get back to Patong.

The thing with Patong is there is such a variety of things that are interesting, challenging and even still exciting (if you find it still exciting to look at attractive women who dress to be looked at).

A walk at 6am along the beach is equal to anywhere in the world.

Supermarketing, restaurants and cheap eats are available easily.

We eat at many restaurants around the island and because of my wife's limited mobility choose places we can park close to the venue. Lots of choice of so many different tastes. 

A short walk down to Soi Sansabai and you can have a ringside seat and a good meal at Summer Breeze or The Yorkshire and others, to a constant parade of, dare I say it, the good bad and the ugly up and down the street for as long as you like.

Having spent periods of time living in places like Ko Khaeo and Cherngtalay, we just find them too quiet for our liking. Nice to visit but not to stay long term.

Patong ain't what it used to be, but it is still pretty darn good.

You also make some very good points Patong2, putting forward your view of Patong from NZ, and the thought of being in a place where it is 8° C now fills me with dread!

 

Yes, you are quite right, there are a lot of things to do in Patong and even in my "sick/poorly" state I have managed to get down to Big C to do a little shopping and many of the girls there know me from the years I've been shopping at the store, so I'm greeted with smiles and helping hand if I need it, which has been necessary after the fractured coccyx.

 

I had forgotten about the Yorkshire as a place to eat, although years ago I had a few good meals there, so must put that back on my list of things to do. However these days I do spend more time in my condo cooking my dinners, than eating out, but then again the options for eating out, as you quite rightly say, are manyfold.

 

As for a walk along the beach at 6 AM – – hmmmm, not for me I'm afraid, and anyway walking at this moment in time is "difficult", let alone at 6 AM!!

 

Thinking about it, the fact that I've had a rough four months, what with the motorcycle taxi accident, fractured coccyx, concussion and now Chikungunya, has quite probably clouded my view of the place, although nothing can take away the fact that the traffic here is bloody horrendous, not to mention dangerous, so perhaps I should have a rethink.

 

Having said that, it's probably time to have a look around down south, and not Kamala as mentioned in the post above, as I've never really explored the south, so that something I will put on my bucket list.

 

Meanwhile I'm hoping that things get better, although I'm not sure that I will ever be a regular visitor to Bangla again as I was only ever a regular visitor to a couple of bars, both of which were owned by friends, not to mention having a singsong at Red Hot, which I did enjoy!

 

I will end by saying thank you for your words of encouragement and for giving me a different and positive view of Patong. Good health my friend.

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2 hours ago, simon43 said:

IMHO, you should never close this thread Xylophone!  It's very interesting to read about the changes (good and bad, mostly bad it seems), in Patong and on Phuket Island.

 

I left Phuket some years ago and have been bouncing around mostly in Burma and Laos for some years.  But as I approach my UK retirement age next year (66), I have been trying to find somewhere to live in Thailand that I can afford, and which is beneficial for my health.

 

As we get older, realistically it's all downhill as far as health is concerned.  I was forced to visit the UK last February for some cancer tests, and I did seriously consider returning to live in the UK.  However, my pension income would only allow me to rent some dingy room, and I would be condemned to 'waiting to die' in said room.  Since my bad luck (if you can call it that), would see me living to 99 years old, the thought of 33 years in that room put me right off returning to the UK!

 

I have been sounding out living in Krabi and currently am in Koh Lanta.  But both locations have very high humidity levels ('cos the clouds from the sea can't get over the hills behind the coast).  So it's not very nice (for me).

 

I can't afford to rent in Phuket, but perhaps next week I'll drive over to Takua Pa or north Khao Lak and see what I can rent.  The sea breeze in those locations makes for a pleasant temperature.

 

My ex-wife #3 is still managing her small airport hotel, but it makes no profit to speak off, mainly because of the competition from other hotels and guesthouses (which didn't exist when I built it in 2012).  We are very good friends, and it maybe that she throws in the towel and comes to live with me and perhaps opens a small food business/stall. 

 

Note that #3 ex is the sane one, #2 ex who is completely mad has offered for me to live with her again in Phuket, but I would rather slit my wrists!!

 

I hope you get over your accident and fever Xylophone. If you need any help getting off the loo, then I can send mad ex #3 over to help.... 🙂

Thank you for your kind wishes Simon43 and I do remember your posts from way back when you were building your "hotel/guesthouse" in Phuket – – such a shame you had to leave it.

 

If ex-wife number three is still managing her small airport hotel, is there any opportunity to move into a room there to act as a handyman or suchlike?? Just a thought.

 

For the record, there are rooms (Thai style, but clean) available in the likes of Nanai Road for around 5000 baht per month, and probably less, and provided one stays away from the likes of Bangla and a couple of the other roads which are more like nose to tail traffic jams, then maybe things will improve, if indeed that's what you want.

 

Whatever transpires, I wish you all the very best in your endeavours Simon.

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go live at turtle beach with Steve Rosse

FYI:
its very easy to live on phuket island with less than $1,000/month ( even for 2 of us) 
we eat well, dont drink or bar hop and mostly cook at home

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2 minutes ago, hansgruber said:

After all this time it's funny how nothing really changes at all.  If it does it always for the worst.  

 

Hmmm, hansgruber, I think you are about right with that comment, and I will agree with the fact that "if it does it's always for the worst".

I can't think of much that has improved over the years I've been here, if anything, and certainly there are areas which have become worse, if not pitiful now: –

 

– The heavy traffic which is nose to tail on some of the roads.


– The condition of the roads themselves, which has become downright dangerous in places esp for m/c drivers.


– The policing which was always poor, but is now laughable to non-existent, and this allows poorly maintained vehicles on the road, motorcycle drivers with no helmets (both Thai and farang) and downright dangerous drivers.


– Patong Hill, after the slip was repaired, coming from Kathu to Patong is a dangerous joke because once it rains the Toyota passenger vans cannot get any traction and slip back onto the cars behind, and sometimes skew sideways. Of course poor driving techniques don't help one bit.


– The tour buses are full of ill mannered Chinese who can make life a misery when trying to shop. Visa free trip?

 

However, one thing which seems to have improved is the fact that in talking to a Tuk Tuk driver to ascertain the cost of a trip from one side of Patong to the beach road, he told me that the cost of every trip within Patong was now 200 baht, which surprised me and is a far cry from being ripped off in the past for a short trip!! A bright spot in the darkness here!

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  • 3 weeks later...

Nothing much to write about as I have only been out a couple of times in the evenings over the past months, but have managed to get out and about a little during the day.

 

I mentioned the poor state of the roads roads in a previous post and that certainly hasn't changed and because my coccyx is still sore/hurting, I feel every bump and pothole, despite trying to steer around them. The roads are a disgrace, and some workmen have been around plonking tarmac in some of the holes, and the one in Soi Banzaan has had some more tarmac dumped in it, but because the ground has given way under the concrete road, it still keeps falling and no matter how much they put in, it still remains a hole of some description or another!

 

Jumping around the place, the bar at the top of that road, "Blue Sky Bar" actually in Soi Nanai, seems to have opened over the past few days because there have been a couple of girls sitting in it – – no customers, just a couple of serving girls, and it won't be long before that closes again much the same as its previous incarnations have done. One would think that the people opening the bar and paying the rent would realise that it has been a failure ever since it began, and wonder why that was?? Not hard to ascertain, however I won't go into it here.

 

Further down Banzaan, in what used to be a bar/part-time guesthouse called "Canada House" and has been remodelled into a bar, which incidentally I have only ever seen one customer in, is for sale (again). Apparently the owner has it for sale on Facebook for around 3 million baht!! It appears that price is negotiable folks if you want to rush in and make an offer – – yeah right!

 

I haven't seen any punters going in or coming out of the Monster Billiards establishment in Banzaan, but maybe I've missed them, and in reality it's absolutely packed out, day and night?

 

Was nearly involved in a little prang a few days back when a Toyota taxi in front of me had to screech to a halt to avoid hitting a couple of Chinese people who had decided to wander into the road without looking, as they are apt to do, but luckily enough I was following far enough behind to be able to stop before hitting the back of the taxi, but it was a close thing.

 

The lady owner of a massage shop was bemoaning the fact that customers are in short supply and that those that do stop to enquire are usually of Arabic or Indian nature and want to beat the price down, and she refuses to do that.

 

Wandering a little bit away from Patong, I have discovered some wonderful frozen Indian food at "Food for Foreigners" in Chalong, and it is amongst the best I've ever tasted whether frozen or otherwise, so my freezer is now stocked up with it.

 

Coming up for the retirement extension next month, so had better remember to get into Bangkok Bank EARLY to order the account print-out so that they can prove I've had the 800 K in there for the year, because they can take well over a week to 10 days to be able to produce it for me to pick up, and the time before last there was a delay and when I went to immigration I was charged 1500 baht overstay for the three days that the account information was delayed. TIT.

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8 hours ago, Kopitiam said:

Why wait until the end of your extension of stay when you can do it 45 days before expiry in Phuket?  You don't lose any day when you do your extension early.  While you are preparing your document, do remember that all copies must be in portrait format. I gave them a google map to my condo in landscape format for easy reading. No, they wanted a small portrait format one eventhough you can hardly read it.  I usually provided a photo of me standing in front of my condo as there is only a plain door going into my apartment.  This time, the IO asked me to print out the house number (as given in the address of my unit) in large font size (150), paste it on the door and take a photo of me standing in front of the door. He put a note on my pile of document stating that I should provide this photo when I collect my new extension. Every year, new surprises.

Imagine how good that is going to feel once you need to start paying tax in Thailand on your WORLDWIDE income in 2025.

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20 minutes ago, Agusts said:

 

I'm amazed how people get so excited about this, including my close friends. Firstly it's not worldwide income, it's foreign income that's brought into Thailand... (they have zero chance of finding total foreign income) , secondly implementing this will be a hell of a job, imagine banks having to report to tax office and vice a versa, then somebody has to go after them..., there are so many laws in Thailand but hardly any of it is implemented, think of red traffic light, or helmets or buying houses and land under company name or etc. etc. ....! 

 

This law was specifically brought in for some rich Thais/Fireigners who are tax registered, and have huge businesses abroad in shady countries that avoid paying millions in tax altogether...., the usual run of the mil retiry living in Thailand brining a few thousand a month for living expenses are not the target... 

 

Finally most retirees from western countries already paying tax in their home country with double taxation treaty with Thailand, pay a lot more tax there in fact, so it's totally deductale and they know that too... 

 

But it still amazes me that people are so worried about this, and keep brining it up to create drama, it will be decades before they can even get their act together on this...

 

Finally with Wise transfer it's possible to choose a money transfer that looks like coming from a local bank, not abroad...! Let's see how Thai banks can detect that as money coming from abroad... 

 

Nothing to worry about this at all, unless for some people with dodgy dealings...! 

 


You underestimate the revenue incentive and ability of the TRD when it comes to sharing information with foreign governments. 
 

Its easier than you think.

 

If you are mostly relying on a foreign pension to survive, and are already taxed on it overseas, then you can probably sleep well.


Everyone else with foreign income and cap gains will be in for a shock when the Thai tax man cometh for them.

 

 

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On 6/26/2017 at 12:56 PM, Prometheus33 said:

Yep, full of these Chinese and you know what?! They spend a great deal on their trips to Thailand (and elsewhere) .......... at hotels, restaurants and shops. Today, the Chinese tourists are a major contributor to the Thai tourist industry (and to global tourism as well ........ check relevant data at locations France, Germany, UK , USA etc) .. So,  "full of Chinese" , really ?! ........  and they "haggle" too ?!  

A request, please do not belittle any race , nation or colour ..

There are some good people here at Aseannow but there are also fools that have no idea how insulting other races is disgusting.  I just mostly let it go.  Empathy applies to losers too!

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On 9/12/2024 at 6:53 PM, Kopitiam said:

Why wait until the end of your extension of stay when you can do it 45 days before expiry in Phuket?  You don't lose any day when you do your extension early.  While you are preparing your document, do remember that all copies must be in portrait format. I gave them a google map to my condo in landscape format for easy reading. No, they wanted a small portrait format one eventhough you can hardly read it.  I usually provided a photo of me standing in front of my condo as there is only a plain door going into my apartment.  This time, the IO asked me to print out the house number (as given in the address of my unit) in large font size (150), paste it on the door and take a photo of me standing in front of the door. He put a note on my pile of document stating that I should provide this photo when I collect my new extension. Every year, new surprises.

Thanks for the info Kopitiam and the only reason I wait(ed) until nearer the date was because a good friend went to Immigration about a month prior to his renewal date and was told to come back nearer the renewal time!!! So a wasted journey and out of date paperwork for him...........which he had to do again!!

 

However I will go 3 weeks or so prior to my renewal date, just in case but it still gives ma a bit of leeway. Thanks again.

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10 hours ago, ChasingTheSun said:


You underestimate the revenue incentive and ability of the TRD when it comes to sharing information with foreign governments. 
 

Its easier than you think.

 

If you are mostly relying on a foreign pension to survive, and are already taxed on it overseas, then you can probably sleep well.


Everyone else with foreign income and cap gains will be in for a shock when the Thai tax man cometh for them.

 

 

come on!!!!
they cant even get their own people to pay tax!!!

FYI:
i always do my renewals a min 3 weeks before due, in case i need something new, that wasn't required the year before 

Edited by zzzzz
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9 hours ago, zzzzz said:

come on!!!!
they cant even get their own people to pay tax!!!

FYI:
i always do my renewals a min 3 weeks before due, in case i need something new, that wasn't required the year before 

The thing is, there are many thousands of foreigners residing in Thailand who have far higher incomes than 95% of Thais.

 

As such, foreigners can supply a HUGE easy new tax revenue source per capita vs Thais.

 

It’s easy to force every foreigner to get a Thai tax ID in order to maintain their visas.

 

Foreigners tax situation will be vetted at every 90day immigration report, or at minimal once per calendar year. 
 

Now foreigners will need to pay tax in Thailand, and they will get nothing for it. 😢 

Edited by ChasingTheSun
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