Patong - The Wake

[Paul Catton]

On 8/15/2024 at 8:02 AM, Patong2 said:

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.

Send me a pm, might be able to bring  back a bit of cheer,

 

[xylophone]

Watch out – – there is still Covid 19 about, and I know because I've got it, unfortunately.

 

I had the original vaccination just over three years ago (I think) but didn't bother to get a booster to counter the latest Covid 19 version as I thought the old one would cover me, but obviously not!

 

I took myself off to Patong hospital on Wednesday, October 2nd because I was feeling extremely rough, with a throat which was so painful that I couldn't swallow, along with a fever and a chest which would rattle every time I breathed in or out, which included bringing up huge amounts of horrible green phlegm.

 

They took a blood test and other tests and I had a chest x-ray, and waited for the results. The doctor asked if I had anyone at home to look after me (because I was feeling very shaky on my feet, this especially after the motorbike accident) and I told him no, I lived on my own, and he offered me the opportunity to stay overnight in the hospital, which I gracefully declined.

He said that the chest x-ray was marginal (stay in hospital or not) so I paid for the vast amount of tablets he provided and went home.

 

I have to say that I don't remember feeling this sick for many years, and I have no appetite and have hardly eaten anything for a while now, this being exacerbated by the motorbike accident I think. The upside to this is that I have lost 6 kg in weight, however the downside is eating no food and not drinking any wine!!!

 

I think I'm coming right very slowly, and would love to get back to the time when I could enjoy a good meal and a good wine........fingers crossed it will be within the next week!!

 

Just a comment on Patong Hospital – – it is not the cleanest place I have ever experienced and it would be fair to say that the place is dilapidated somewhat, and the x-ray room was something akin to a store cupboard, but they did their job and for that I'm grateful.

 

PS. Remind myself to get the updated Covid 19 vaccine when it's available for the next round of Covid.!!!!

[Kopitiam]

1 hour ago, xylophone said:

Watch out – – there is still Covid 19 about, and I know because I've got it, unfortunately.

 

I had the original vaccination just over three years ago (I think) but didn't bother to get a booster to counter the latest Covid 19 version as I thought the old one would cover me, but obviously not!

 

I took myself off to Patong hospital on Wednesday, October 2nd because I was feeling extremely rough, with a throat which was so painful that I couldn't swallow, along with a fever and a chest which would rattle every time I breathed in or out, which included bringing up huge amounts of horrible green phlegm.

 

They took a blood test and other tests and I had a chest x-ray, and waited for the results. The doctor asked if I had anyone at home to look after me (because I was feeling very shaky on my feet, this especially after the motorbike accident) and I told him no, I lived on my own, and he offered me the opportunity to stay overnight in the hospital, which I gracefully declined.

He said that the chest x-ray was marginal (stay in hospital or not) so I paid for the vast amount of tablets he provided and went home.

 

I have to say that I don't remember feeling this sick for many years, and I have no appetite and have hardly eaten anything for a while now, this being exacerbated by the motorbike accident I think. The upside to this is that I have lost 6 kg in weight, however the downside is eating no food and not drinking any wine!!!

 

I think I'm coming right very slowly, and would love to get back to the time when I could enjoy a good meal and a good wine........fingers crossed it will be within the next week!!

 

Just a comment on Patong Hospital – – it is not the cleanest place I have ever experienced and it would be fair to say that the place is dilapidated somewhat, and the x-ray room was something akin to a store cupboard, but they did their job and for that I'm grateful.

 

PS. Remind myself to get the updated Covid 19 vaccine when it's available for the next round of Covid.!!!!

COVID-19 vaccine doesn't prevent catching Covid but "MAY" reduce the severity of the effects when infected.

 

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

[Agusts]

@xylophone did you do a Covid test to be sure...? Because otherwise this could be any seasonal flu or chest infection...! 

[HighPriority]

3 hours ago, Agusts said:

@xylophone did you do a Covid test to be sure...? Because otherwise this could be any seasonal flu or chest infection...! 

Give it up !

He said he went the hospital and they told him he’s got covid…

Unless you’ve got a conspiracy for us…?

🙄

[Olmate]

1 hour ago, HighPriority said:

Give it up !

He said he went the hospital and they told him he’s got covid…

Unless you’ve got a conspiracy for us…?

🙄

Its not a hot Agusts nite in October it seems! 

[xylophone]

4 hours ago, HighPriority said:

Give it up !

He said he went the hospital and they told him he’s got covid…

Unless you’ve got a conspiracy for us…?

🙄

Yes HP, I thought I made that quite clear in my post, so thanks for backing me up on that.  Was feeling really bad and considered a trip to Phuket Bangkok Hospital for a few days stay, but luckily enough the main symptoms seem to have eased slightly, so I am soldiering on taking enough pills to start my own pharmacy!! But tired, so very tired.

 

[HighPriority]

7 hours ago, xylophone said:

Yes HP, I thought I made that quite clear in my post, so thanks for backing me up on that.  Was feeling really bad and considered a trip to Phuket Bangkok Hospital for a few days stay, but luckily enough the main symptoms seem to have eased slightly, so I am soldiering on taking enough pills to start my own pharmacy!! But tired, so very tired.

 

I think I may have caught covid (but not tested/diagnosed) when I was over in May, it certainly knocked me around. 
I am relieved that I didn’t pass it on to the older members of my wife’s family.

Rest up, you’ve had a rough 12 months. 

[Gottfrid]

8 hours ago, xylophone said:

Yes HP, I thought I made that quite clear in my post, so thanks for backing me up on that.  Was feeling really bad and considered a trip to Phuket Bangkok Hospital for a few days stay, but luckily enough the main symptoms seem to have eased slightly, so I am soldiering on taking enough pills to start my own pharmacy!! But tired, so very tired.

 

Get well soon.

[Agusts]

On 10/6/2024 at 3:29 AM, HighPriority said:

Give it up !

He said he went the hospital and they told him he’s got covid…

Unless you’ve got a conspiracy for us…?

🙄

 

I am sorry but I just re-read @xylophone post twice again and in no sentence he mentions that the hospital or doctor said he had Covid...!? Just that they took blood test and chest x-ray...! And he had very bad flu symptoms and condition. 

 

Please read again and copy/paste the section here for me to see where I missed it... 

 

No conspiracy it's just that Covid diagnosis needs a particular test to confirm it, that's all. 

[HighPriority]

9 minutes ago, Agusts said:

 

I am sorry but I just re-read @xylophone post twice again and in no sentence he mentions that the hospital or doctor said he had Covid...!? Just that they took blood test and chest x-ray...! And he had very bad flu symptoms and condition. 

 

Please read again and copy/paste the section here for me to see where I missed it... 

 

No conspiracy it's just that Covid diagnosis needs a particular test to confirm it, that's all. 

Take your blinkers off and read it again then… then read his response to my comment to you.

I’ll paraphrase his post as such for you.

 

i was very unwell, I went to hospital where they performed various tests, they were hesitant to let me go home alone I was so crook, I HAVE COVID.

 

 

[xylophone]

5 hours ago, Agusts said:

 

I am sorry but I just re-read @xylophone post twice again and in no sentence he mentions that the hospital or doctor said he had Covid...!? Just that they took blood test and chest x-ray...! And he had very bad flu symptoms and condition. 

 

Please read again and copy/paste the section here for me to see where I missed it... 

 

No conspiracy it's just that Covid diagnosis needs a particular test to confirm it, that's all. 

I thought I made it clear enough, but obviously not, but I did start the post with the following: – "Watch out – – there is still Covid 19 about, and I know because I've got it, unfortunately".

[Agusts]

14 hours ago, xylophone said:

I thought I made it clear enough, but obviously not, but I did start the post with the following: – "Watch out – – there is still Covid 19 about, and I know because I've got it, unfortunately".

 

Let's get to the bottom of it, did they or you carried out a Covid test, using many of the usual test kits...? 

 

I doubt they do a Covid blood test, but did they say we found Covid in your blood test...? 

 

Simple really...., I'm afraid you can't feel Covid or diagnose it from symptoms... 

 

You did say you got Covid, but how do you know, please elaborate by saying you carried out a Covid test..., that's not hard to say...! 

 

[HighPriority]

3 hours ago, Agusts said:

 

Let's get to the bottom of it, did they or you carried out a Covid test, using many of the usual test kits...? 

 

I doubt they do a Covid blood test, but did they say we found Covid in your blood test...? 

 

Simple really...., I'm afraid you can't feel Covid or diagnose it from symptoms... 

 

You did say you got Covid, but how do you know, please elaborate by saying you carried out a Covid test..., that's not hard to say...! 

 

🤦🏼‍♂️

[Olmate]

8 hours ago, Agusts said:

 

Let's get to the bottom of it, did they or you carried out a Covid test, using many of the usual test kits...? 

 

I doubt they do a Covid blood test, but did they say we found Covid in your blood test...? 

 

Simple really...., I'm afraid you can't feel Covid or diagnose it from symptoms... 

 

You did say you got Covid, but how do you know, please elaborate by saying you carried out a Covid test..., that's not hard to say...! 

 

Your at the bottom of this now, thats easy to say.High priority...😂 lol!! 

[xylophone]

10 hours ago, Agusts said:

 

Let's get to the bottom of it, did they or you carried out a Covid test, using many of the usual test kits...? 

 

I doubt they do a Covid blood test, but did they say we found Covid in your blood test...? 

 

Simple really...., I'm afraid you can't feel Covid or diagnose it from symptoms... 

 

You did say you got Covid, but how do you know, please elaborate by saying you carried out a Covid test..., that's not hard to say...! 

 

Jeez, you do seem to have an unnatural concern about my Covid, perhaps it's you who needs to see a doctor.

 

I had a PCR test done at the hospital and I waited, probably more than an hour, before the doctor came back to me with the diagnosis I had Covid 19, and brought along with him a whole clutch of tablets and medicines.

 

The reason I posted that I had Covid was because I KNEW I had Covid, not because of a "feeling" I had, but because it had been diagnosed by the hospital. Not only that, but it was the worst I have felt in many, many years.

 

Please, no more of your nonsense.
 

[London Lowf]

Wow, this thread really has become redundant!

[xylophone]

1 hour ago, London Lowf said:

Wow, this thread really has become redundant!

Yes I suppose it has in a way LL, more so with this latest moron questioning my Covid diagnosis, but then again, I suppose it takes all sorts.

 

Back onto the original thread: – have you any idea what is going up on the vacant plot opposite the Jungceylon building? I think it says something like, "Patongo" or similar and I can't make it out as yet, but no doubt it will become clearer given a little more time.

 

I hope it's not another shopping/supermarket complex because we already have two with Big C and Tops, so I don't think another one is necessary, however it could well be an amusement park of some sort???

 

As I drove along Nanai Road yesterday on one of my few visits out, on my way to pick up groceries at Makro, I noticed "Rock Bar" was empty, except for one person (a friend of the owner?), and no girls serving, whereas the bar immediately next door (owned by a Frenchman I think) had eight girls milling around in it, and the contrast between that and its next door bar was stunning, although there were no punters in that bar either!

 

On the subject of empty bars, on the few occasions I've driven passed Hooters, it has been empty, whilst at one time there were some attractive girls serving, nowadays, I haven't seen one, so perhaps it's a "concept" whose time has come and gone here?

 

I'm almost back up to full speed now, although months of sitting around waiting for the coccyx to heal has affected my hips, so walking has been difficult, although that is coming right now. The good thing is that in about a week an old friend and bar owner from Bangla is coming back for a visit, and I will be going out to catch up with him and a few other friends of his, so something to look forward to, and more to write up about!
 

[London Lowf]

I've been back in Kamala for three weeks now and as a result have been for “Beers in Bangla” about fifteen times and got drenched on the ride back on more than half of those. I know it’s low season but the traffic and parking along beach road is ridiculously easy at the moment, not only for bikes but also for cars – I can’t remember it ever being so painless.

Oddly, along Rat-U-Thit on the approach to Bangla at about 10pm is just as bad as peak season – this is clearly not caused by volume of traffic, but rather by the completely selfish parking of taxis and tuk tuks who often take over three of the available four lanes and stop to pick up/drop off with zero consideration for other road users.

I don’t often venture along Nanai these days but I did ride down to Da Moreno for my favourite pizza a couple of weeks ago, but they have renovated it and made it totally alien for me as it is now fully enclosed. I did pop inside the door but it felt decidedly chilly and I did not travel half way around the world to sit in air-conditioning watching my pizza get cold at an accelerated rate. They did look busy, so I guess that I am not a target customer for them – can anyone suggest an al fresco second-best pizza place?

Back to Bangla, and I think that it is reasonably busy and am always surprised at how many familiar faces I see. Many bar staff have been there for years, although they do seem to play musical chairs by moving from bar to bar. The same applies to the on-street traders (cigs, flowers, food, umbrellas and raincoats during the frequent downpours) and also the freelancers, although I note that some of the ladyboys do lose their “looks” quickly and dramatically at quite a young age.

Another thing that never changes is the awful racket spilling out from Rock Bar – I have to pass it to get to my favourite places and I have to quicken my pace as it is always so bad that it’s painful. By contrast, New York's music is quite enjoyable in passing although the place is always packed out and so I haven't had a drink in there for about seven years!

 

The new Tiger complex is always dead, and I really can't understand why. A few years ago, when there were two of them on opposite sides of Bangla, they were always busy despite being among the priciest bars. There were plenty of attractive girls on the bar-tops and pole dancers on the front bars, but they do not seem to be able to replicate those days.

Overall, I still enjoy the vibe of Bangla and it always amazes me how well-behaved the majority of customers are considering the various vices on offer – I have seen a few pale youngsters the worse for wear, but they’re harmless enough and I’ve yet to see any unruly behaviour this visit - either from punters or the "unofficial enforcement officers". It’s a shame that there are so few attractive bar girls to tempt me these days, but there are much better alternatives and so I no longer trawl that market.

On topic? Patong seems far from dead and therefor there is no need for a wake. I accept Xylophone’s observations about businesses constantly going down the pan and then re-opening but I think that is simply because of bad decisions – there are far too many bars, taxis, massage places, restaurants, scooter rentals, tour desks, exchange kiosks etc. in Patong but it’s the old joke about Thai business sense – if a shop is successful then open another one right next door, forgetting that you are just going to dilute the customer base by 50%. Patong is a very small town with no room for expansion and you can only fit a certain number of tourists into it – I would imagine that it is at saturation point during peak season, but you cannot expect those tourist dollars all year.

It’s exactly the same in my UK home town – it’s very much a holiday destination and they make all of their money during the seven week school summer holidays….. if the weather plays ball. The rest of the year the local trade associations are bellyaching and expecting help from central government.

 

 

[Dogmatix]

I remember Patong in the early 80s when there were just a few friendly bars along dirt streets and duck walks were put down in the rainy season to avoid the mud.  I went back 10 years ago and found it was totally unrecognisable - a totally hideous and nightmarish place.

[ChasingTheSun]

8 hours ago, Dogmatix said:

I remember Patong in the early 80s when there were just a few friendly bars along dirt streets and duck walks were put down in the rainy season to avoid the mud.  I went back 10 years ago and found it was totally unrecognisable - a totally hideous and nightmarish place.

 

Can you name somewhere that got better over the last 40 years?

[HighPriority]

Progress… 🤷🏼‍♂️

[xylophone]

16 hours ago, London Lowf said:

I don’t often venture along Nanai these days but I did ride down to Da Moreno for my favourite pizza a couple of weeks ago, but they have renovated it and made it totally alien for me as it is now fully enclosed. I did pop inside the door but it felt decidedly chilly and I did not travel half way around the world to sit in air-conditioning watching my pizza get cold at an accelerated rate. They did look busy, so I guess that I am not a target customer for them – can anyone suggest an al fresco second-best pizza place?

IMO La Capaninna, at the end of Soi Nanai 2 (as you know, they are related restaurants) does a mean pizza as well as an antipasto entrée, both of which are to die for.

 

You could try the Italian restaurant down the street off Bangla, opposite Soi Sea Dragon, as I've had a few good meals there, but never a pizza, so maybe you could be the test pilot, and course its right on your beat, so to speak....look forward to the report LL!

[xylophone]

On 10/9/2024 at 8:38 PM, London Lowf said:

On topic? Patong seems far from dead and therefor there is no need for a wake. I accept Xylophone’s observations about businesses constantly going down the pan and then re-opening but I think that is simply because of bad decisions

Well LL,

 

I have suggested on several occasions that the title of the thread should be changed, because there is no longer a wake in Patong, because it's in full swing for this time of the year, and some. Having said that, what would the suggestion be for a new heading: – "Patong – the resurrection", or "Patong – alive and kicking". I'm sure you can come up with something that would please everybody, including the mods.

 

I did ask the question if anybody knew what the new building complex was, which was going up opposite Jungceylon, and nobody answered, but I have found out for myself: – it is, wait for it, something much-needed in Patong, it is a shopping and entertainment complex, right opposite the original Jungceylon which is a shopping and entertainment complex, which is opposite Tops, which is a shopping and entertainment complex.....hmmm, Patong needs another one of these like a moose needs a hat rack!

 

This especially as the restaurant scene is more than adequately catered for (sorry about the pun) in Jungceylon and the "second part" of Jungceylon has a ground floor area which has a food court and a few other food stalls, but is never busy.

 

Then take the Tops complex and although the ground floor is a popular food court area, and one which I frequent fairly often, the rest of the complex is pretty dead, so quite why anyone felt the need to build this other complex, Buddha only knows?

 

Getting onto my night out on Tuesday to celebrate an old friend's birthday and his visit to Patong, the night at Blue Beach Café and Restaurant was excellent and a birthday spread was laid on by the owner, Jit, which was also excellent and the Australian beef cut (whatever it was) was superb and she is a generous and gracious host and deserves all the success possible.

 

On that note, by 9 PM the whole restaurant was packed full, so she's obviously running a top-notch establishment, and long may it continue.

 

After that a few of us ambled up Bangla and it was surprisingly busy for this time of the year, so as I mentioned at the start of this post, the word "wake" doesn't really seem to be a fitting description now.

 

We stopped at Smiley Bar for a few drinks and that was busy, but what was surprising was the popularity of Soi Freedom now, as opposed to what it has been in recent times, because it has had a complete overhaul, a roof has been fitted and the bars have been refitted and tidied up in some cases, and it has become popular with tourists, as witnessed by the few parties that passed by into the depths of the Soi in the time I was there.

 

I'm not a full on drinker and I only had one beer that night, as well as a few glasses of wine at Blue Beach, so thought I would take my leave at about 11 PM and amble on up Soi Sansabai to my condo, which took a bit of doing because the injury to my back has affected my ability to walk strongly, so it was more of an amble/shuffle, and by the top of the Soi, I was beginning to feel some discomfort.

 

The traffic is still bloody awful in the main, so quite how the now crowded streets of Patong are going to cope with any extra traffic which the new entertainment complex will attract is probably only known to the town planners if indeed there are any, which I suspect not. 

 

So unless somebody drops a bomb on the place and completely rebuilds it, those of us who reside here will have to put up with this crowded nonsense or move to another part of the island.......just a thought, I seem to recall in the early days that the traffic flow was a two-way affair and that seemed to work okay, until someone had the idea to change it to a one-way flow, and look how that has turned out!

[HighPriority]

I was thinking the rename/new thread could be “The reanimation of PaTongs bride”

😎

[DrDave]

19 hours ago, xylophone said:

. . .

So unless somebody drops a bomb on the place and completely rebuilds it, those of us who reside here will have to put up with this crowded nonsense or move to another part of the island.......just a thought, I seem to recall in the early days that the traffic flow was a two-way affair and that seemed to work okay, until someone had the idea to change it to a one-way flow, and look how that has turned out!

I think the one-way system was implemented in response to the "Tonight, Tonight" Thai boxing promotional pickups plying the roads at a snail's pace. When the streets were one lane in each direction, traffic would be backed up for blocks as it was nearly impossible to pass these slow-moving vehicles.

[xylophone]

After quite a long absence from the thread I have decided to post again, mainly to sing the praises of a local restaurant and also my observations about Patong.....

 

A friend had just arrived in Patong from England and as Christmas Day was around the corner I decided that I would love to go to Churrasco restaurant to have a lovely steak, and invited him to join me so he did.

 

We were on the side of the road opposite the Bangla boxing stadium (Sai Kor road) and he motioned to cross the road at that spot, so I stopped him and said that we would be far better crossing the road a little farther down where the powers that be had repainted the pedestrian crossing and it was very visible (if that indeed makes a difference in Thailand) and should be safer. Just a point here; the traffic was still nose to tail and hardly moving apart from motorbikes whizzing up and down in amongst the traffic.

 

So we gingerly set foot on the pedestrian crossing and a couple of cars stopped for us, as did a youngish guy on a motorbike, and as he did I noticed the guy following behind him on another motorbike just about stopping in time, BUT then there was an almighty great crash as a young woman/girl on a motorbike slammed into the back of the now stationary second motorbike!!

 

We dismissed this as "typical Patong driving" and walked onto the restaurant, which was about half full at 7:15 PM. A couple of hours later it was full, with diners inside and outside of the restaurant, and I have to praise this particular establishment because not only was the "Black Angus tenderloin steak" the best I have ever tasted anywhere in my life (as I recall) the service was outstanding and this continued throughout the evening despite the place being full.

 

The maitre d' (a tall slim and very beautiful woman) was in charge, and occasionally the owner would come out and assist, and last but not least, the serving folk were absolutely amazing and the whole operation was running like clockwork – – probably the best I've ever seen in any restaurant worldwide, and will say that I have visited very many, in many countries (part of my job as Director Sales and Establishment Marketing for American Express).

 

I was allowed to take along a bottle of my own wine, which was a Petite Sirah from California, one of my favourites at the moment, and it complemented the steak superbly. This is a restaurant I can highly recommend and I have been there a few times, and the quality has never waned one iota.

 

Jumping onto another subject, I visited my friendly massage parlour for a foot massage (mainly to massage the calf muscles which were cramping as a result of my accident) and spoke to the joint owner and she said business was quiet, and then I noticed a new younger (21?) girl/woman in the shop and found out a little bit of her background – – she is a cousin of the owner and was previously working as a nurse, but was dissatisfied with her monthly salary of 13,000 baht! I couldn't believe that a qualified nurse would be paid that lowly salary, but that seems to be the way in some of the hospitals upcountry, sadly.

 

The building opposite Jungceylon is taking shape and it looks more like a "temporary" type conglomeration than anything substantial, however that may change as it progresses however as I previously said, "Patong needs this, like a moose needs a hat-rack".

 

So Christmas is here and the traffic is nose to tail for much of the day on just about all of the roads in Patong and if you add the traditional Thai crazy/careless driving to the many nationalities who are visiting the place and who have no idea how to drive/which side of the road to drive on, then the place is an absolute disaster of a circus!!!

[jas007]

Anyone remember Soi Eric?  That could be a fun place, and they had a good Italian restaurant at the back of the complex. 

[xylophone]

7 hours ago, jas007 said:

Anyone remember Soi Eric?  That could be a fun place, and they had a good Italian restaurant at the back of the complex. 

Absolutely do.......I used to push Terry Cole, the owner of Euro Bar, around in his wheelchair and spent many hours and nights at his bar as well as visiting other bars/owners, and around 2.00am we would go to Tums bar to listen and sing to the songs from the small band there. THEY really were the GOOD OLD DAYS!!

[HighPriority]

I’m more on the bah humbug side of things but compliments of the season and I’m hoping you enjoy a better 2025 xylophone and extend the same to all the contributors to this thread.

Its always been an interesting, informative read, thank you.