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Posted

Many off-topic troll posts have been removed from this thread.

 

It has been suggested that this topic be closed as it seems to have run it's course.

 

All in favour?

  • Like 1
Posted
19 minutes ago, Jai Dee said:

I am but a lowly moderator.

But you do have a "good heart"!!

 

I'll abide (obviously) with what others suggest................

  • Haha 1
Posted

 

Keep the thread running.  The personal attacks against me are taken with a grain of salt.

 

After 59 pages of content, there's bound to be a bit of banter, which isn't always a bad thing.

 

All in all, it's a good thread. 

Posted

Keep it going

 

I started the thread and have been amazed at the useful and insightful posts that have been posted.

Thank you to all who have contributed and added to my knowledge.

 

Patong is "a changing" as they say and for those of us who have visited or lived here for several years it is an unsettling experience.

However it still has plenty of delights for all comers but the old Patong has died along with Soi Crocodile.

 

There are still many good tales to be told over the coffin of what was the old Phuket.

 

Perhaps we need to look forward to a baptism of the new Patong?

  • Like 2
Posted
14 minutes ago, Patong2 said:

Keep it going

 

I started the thread and have been amazed at the useful and insightful posts that have been posted.

Thank you to all who have contributed and added to my knowledge.

 

Patong is "a changing" as they say and for those of us who have visited or lived here for several years it is an unsettling experience.

However it still has plenty of delights for all comers but the old Patong has died along with Soi Crocodile.

 

There are still many good tales to be told over the coffin of what was the old Phuket.

 

Perhaps we need to look forward to a baptism of the new Patong?

 

"Perhaps we need to look forward to a baptism of the new Patong?" - I can't see the "Patong - The Resurrection" thread being started anytime soon, UNLESS, casinos are allowed here.  Then, Patong, and other parts of Phuket, will become a Macau, virtually over night. 

 

The Chinese are already coming here.  All they need to do now is give them something they like spending money on - gambling. 

  • Like 1
Posted
1 hour ago, Patong2 said:

Perhaps we need to look forward to a baptism of the new Patong?

And the way things are going, who knows what that might look like??????

 

Patongski or Patongchin? ????

Posted
7 hours ago, Jai Dee said:

I am but a lowly moderator... it's your forum... you guys are the forum... it's your call not mine.

 

As a couple of us mods have recently had to wade in with our mops and sanitize this topic somewhat, it would help if you forum members immediately used the report function to alert online mods to trouble... don't respond to antagonists, and don't feed the trolls.

 

This is obviously a popular topic with over 900 posts so it would be a pity to have to close it.

 

Up to you.

Good thread with many insightful contributions.   Pity to lose it through someone's personal agenda.

Posted
1 hour ago, xylophone said:

And the way things are going, who knows what that might look like??????

 

Patongski or Patongchin? ????

Patong-Sahib ????

  • Haha 1
Posted
13 hours ago, NamKangMan said:

 

"Perhaps we need to look forward to a baptism of the new Patong?" - I can't see the "Patong - The Resurrection" thread being started anytime soon, UNLESS, casinos are allowed here.  Then, Patong, and other parts of Phuket, will become a Macau, virtually over night. 

 

The Chinese are already coming here.  All they need to do now is give them something they like spending money on - gambling. 

Yeah casinos instead of tuk tuks.

Posted
2 hours ago, Destiny1990 said:

Yeah casinos instead of tuk tuks.

I keep wondering when such an event will take place, this esp because of the powers-that-be love of money (and corruption).

 

Wouldn't be that hard to declare specific areas/zones as legal gambling enclaves whilst outlawing it elsewhere.

Posted
2 minutes ago, xylophone said:

I keep wondering when such an event will take place, this esp because of the powers-that-be love of money (and corruption).

 

Wouldn't be that hard to declare specific areas/zones as legal gambling enclaves whilst outlawing it elsewhere.

I've been hearing for years this may come about after a major passing of the baton.

I've pointed out in these pages previously that one small island close to shore is already set up to revert from exclusive resort to cas. 

  • Like 1
Posted
20 hours ago, pagallim said:

Good thread with many insightful contributions.   Pity to lose it through someone's personal agenda.

 

I agree.

 

Those with businesses here do tend to push their own personal agendas, but it's easy to see through, so it's good the thread is still running.

Posted
9 hours ago, Destiny1990 said:

Yeah casinos instead of tuk tuks.

 

In my opinion, if the situation remains the same, and considering that under military rule, it still remained the same, the tuk-tuks will eventually kill their their own livelihood.  

 

The Chinese will be bused from the airport straight into a casino resort, and then bused around to various sights and activities, as they are now.  

 

Currently, they are "zero baht tourists."  No money in the Chinese now.  Put the Chinese in a casino, and watch the money roll in. 

 

I've been told it's already happening in Sihanoukville - Cambodia, with some 50 casinos there now, and I have personally seen it in The Ho Tram Grand out of Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam. 

 

http://www.thegrandhotram.com/casino/

 

Casinos in Thailand - it's not if, just when. 

Posted
1 minute ago, NamKangMan said:

 

In my opinion, if the situation remains the same, and considering that under military rule, it still remained the same, the tuk-tuks will eventually kill their their own livelihood.  

 

The Chinese will be bused from the airport straight into a casino resort, and then bused around to various sights and activities, as they are now.  

 

Currently, they are "zero baht tourists."  No money in the Chinese now.  Put the Chinese in a casino, and watch the money roll in. 

 

I've been told it's already happening in Sihanoukville - Cambodia, with some 50 casinos there now, and I have personally seen it in The Ho Tram Grand out of Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam. 

 

http://www.thegrandhotram.com/casino/

 

Casinos in Thailand - it's not if, just when. 

Phuket pattaya bkk all need atleast one stylish casino with entertainment and restaurants bars inside them.

i rather hang out in a fancy casino with foods and drinks then going to Bangla rd.

But I remember same thread 5 years ago and still zero progress.

  • Like 1
Posted
7 hours ago, xylophone said:

I keep wondering when such an event will take place, this esp because of the powers-that-be love of money (and corruption).

 

Wouldn't be that hard to declare specific areas/zones as legal gambling enclaves whilst outlawing it elsewhere.

 

There has always been the idea that there should be "Special Economic Zones" where establishments can open past 2am, without having to pay "tea money" for the privilege. Eg. Bangla Road - Phuket and Walking Street - Pattaya.

 

These "SEZ's" could incorporate casinos. 

 

The argument that casinos will bring social harm to the Thai people has been addressed in Vietnam. 

 

Initially, Vietnamese were not allowed into the gaming area of a casino there, however, in recent times, Vietnamese earning over, I think it's $450USD a month, could enter the gaming area.  They have to prove this some how, and they have to pay a "cover charge" to ensure they are not just there for a photo op.  

 

 

  • Like 1
Posted
7 hours ago, Old Croc said:

I've been hearing for years this may come about after a major passing of the baton.

I've pointed out in these pages previously that one small island close to shore is already set up to revert from exclusive resort to cas. 

 

I've heard many stories as well.

 

I've heard particular floors of certain new hotels have been built with no rooms.  Just open floor plan. 

 

I have been told the elevator can not stop on these floors, as there is nothing there.  Apparently, these floors have been designed to be turned into gaming areas, once Thailand is allowed to have gambling.

  • Thanks 1
Posted
9 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:

Phuket pattaya bkk all need atleast one stylish casino with entertainment and restaurants bars inside them.

i rather hang out in a fancy casino with foods and drinks then going to Bangla rd.

But I remember same thread 5 years ago and still zero progress.

 

I really don't know how long Thailand can hold out for.  They are losing serious money, at a time of great opportunity. 

 

Gambling is just another recreational activity that should be offered to tourists on their holiday.

 

Phuket claims to be "A World Class Tourist Destination" but doesn't even have a casino, and doesn't ever look like getting one.  

 

As you say, "no progress" here, at a time when neighboring countries, in direct competition to Thailand, are in overdrive, Thailand is stuck in first gear, which is as good as going backwards.

 

 

  • Like 1
Posted

Still open for business I see, so here goes..........

 

Sticking with the title "Patong – the Wake" in the sense that it could mean mourning the passing of something, or part of a celebration I observed the following over the last couple of days: –

 

New buildings going up in Nanai road, whilst a couple of small guesthouses remain empty, if not almost derelict. I also noticed that the Sheraton Four Seasons work seems to have slowed up quite dramatically!

 

There would be more than a dozen empty shop units just off rat-u-thid road in front of a hotel called The Square, Patong, and these have been empty for approximately a year or more. Meanwhile some small shops in front of it, alongside of the B-Qik garage are just about unapproachable and feature a very large fence in front of them (displaying a for sale sign on the plot I think) as well as some unkempt, overgrown ground, so I bet the folks who bought into the little units/shops are overjoyed!

 

Touring round I noticed a lot of smaller businesses were shuttered, and I have to say that although the new and larger bars in OTOP look nice, there seems to be a dearth of customers, as there is with those that remain from the old days, yet building goes on unabated, with more bars and shop units coming available shortly by the looks of things.

 

Something I hadn't really taken much notice of was a very large seafood restaurant in that complex called Moong xxxx and it is huge, surrounded by small fish tanks and with seating upstairs and downstairs would have to seat in excess of 200 people. Now somebody either has a contract with some Chinese tour companies, or they are very optimistic about what the future holds.

 

I have no pity for the wealthy who seem to think that this place is a goldmine and try to "drown out" the small operator with their presence, but I do feel sorry for the everyday Thai person/family who come to Patong to start a small business, as it seems to be the dream of many an average to poor family here, but having seen quite a few fail, or in the process of failing, I do have pity for them.

 

One particular example which I noticed yesterday was a lady sitting alone in her relatively large "restaurant", which was previously a minimart of some description, staring out of the window at a time in the evening when she should have had some customers, but no, empty and she was looking forlorn, and to be honest I don't hold out much hope for a future for it as have seen it empty every time in passing.

 

The Italian restaurant further south about 200 m was a mirror image, with the owner sitting alone at a table, staring out at the road, which I had seen him do on many occasions, but unlike the Thai folk, he is an experienced foreign restaurateur and should have known what he was getting himself into, because I really don't see how this place has made anything like a profit, although I would love to be wrong.

 

And just to end this post on a high note, I observed something yesterday which I would have loved to have captured on camera.........there was a stall right alongside (within half a metre of the road itself) of a busy road selling "fresh seafood sushi" and as I sat there looking at this and watching all of the smoky diesel trucks, cars and motorbikes go past, I wondered if they were going to advertise it as sushi with free toppings of dust, dirt and diesel!

 

Anyway just then a couple of Chinese on a motorbike drew up alongside of this stall, and I thought they were going to buy some sushi, but no, not only was the male Chinese driver a bit wobbly on the bike, his passenger was having trouble with her helmet and observing her actions with this, I noticed that she had it on back to front, hence the reason she was finding it difficult to do the strap up. So she took it off, looked at it closely and put it back on again round the wrong way, only to motion her driver to wobble off again, which he did.

 

So a mourning or a celebration............the jury is still out!

  • Like 2
Posted
29 minutes ago, xylophone said:

Still open for business I see, so here goes..........

 

Sticking with the title "Patong – the Wake" in the sense that it could mean mourning the passing of something, or part of a celebration I observed the following over the last couple of days: –

 

New buildings going up in Nanai road, whilst a couple of small guesthouses remain empty, if not almost derelict. I also noticed that the Sheraton Four Seasons work seems to have slowed up quite dramatically!

 

There would be more than a dozen empty shop units just off rat-u-thid road in front of a hotel called The Square, Patong, and these have been empty for approximately a year or more. Meanwhile some small shops in front of it, alongside of the B-Qik garage are just about unapproachable and feature a very large fence in front of them (displaying a for sale sign on the plot I think) as well as some unkempt, overgrown ground, so I bet the folks who bought into the little units/shops are overjoyed!

 

Touring round I noticed a lot of smaller businesses were shuttered, and I have to say that although the new and larger bars in OTOP look nice, there seems to be a dearth of customers, as there is with those that remain from the old days, yet building goes on unabated, with more bars and shop units coming available shortly by the looks of things.

 

Something I hadn't really taken much notice of was a very large seafood restaurant in that complex called Moong xxxx and it is huge, surrounded by small fish tanks and with seating upstairs and downstairs would have to seat in excess of 200 people. Now somebody either has a contract with some Chinese tour companies, or they are very optimistic about what the future holds.

 

I have no pity for the wealthy who seem to think that this place is a goldmine and try to "drown out" the small operator with their presence, but I do feel sorry for the everyday Thai person/family who come to Patong to start a small business, as it seems to be the dream of many an average to poor family here, but having seen quite a few fail, or in the process of failing, I do have pity for them.

 

One particular example which I noticed yesterday was a lady sitting alone in her relatively large "restaurant", which was previously a minimart of some description, staring out of the window at a time in the evening when she should have had some customers, but no, empty and she was looking forlorn, and to be honest I don't hold out much hope for a future for it as have seen it empty every time in passing.

 

The Italian restaurant further south about 200 m was a mirror image, with the owner sitting alone at a table, staring out at the road, which I had seen him do on many occasions, but unlike the Thai folk, he is an experienced foreign restaurateur and should have known what he was getting himself into, because I really don't see how this place has made anything like a profit, although I would love to be wrong.

 

And just to end this post on a high note, I observed something yesterday which I would have loved to have captured on camera.........there was a stall right alongside (within half a metre of the road itself) of a busy road selling "fresh seafood sushi" and as I sat there looking at this and watching all of the smoky diesel trucks, cars and motorbikes go past, I wondered if they were going to advertise it as sushi with free toppings of dust, dirt and diesel!

 

Anyway just then a couple of Chinese on a motorbike drew up alongside of this stall, and I thought they were going to buy some sushi, but no, not only was the male Chinese driver a bit wobbly on the bike, his passenger was having trouble with her helmet and observing her actions with this, I noticed that she had it on back to front, hence the reason she was finding it difficult to do the strap up. So she took it off, looked at it closely and put it back on again round the wrong way, only to motion her driver to wobble off again, which he did.

 

So a mourning or a celebration............the jury is still out!

 

I can't see how anyone could consider opening a large restaurant here now, without coming under the corporate umbrella of a Chinese tour company. 

 

Even then, they control the tourists, thus, they control the market, thus, they can use their superior bargaining position to secure the lowest price, per head, to maximze their own profits.    

 

It would have been funny to see the Chinese girl struggling to find out how to wear the helmet correctly, but on the other hand, there can be serious consequences to the couple having to be on a bike in the first place. 

 

Like so many farang backpackers before them, many of these young Chinese will die on the roads here. 

  • Like 2
Posted
20 hours ago, Jai Dee said:

Nice to see you guys are behaving and getting along again... keep it up.

:thumbsup:

 

Funny how kids tend to get along when they are left unsupervised.   ????

  • Haha 1
Posted
22 hours ago, NamKangMan said:

"there are still some folks (mostly farangs with Thai "partners") out there willing to take a chance" - I'm not so sure they are "taking a chance" as to purchasing an expensive hobby, or way of life. 

 

It's a phenomenon that everyone wants to have a drink with the boss of a bar.  For some farang bar owners, it's their 15 mins of fame in their life.

As for my comment: "Ask yourself..........would you buy a bar on Bangla for 7 million baht??"

 

Probably purchasing a way of life/job/future with g/f, but whatever the reason he has had ''some expressions of interest''.............

 

Posted
20 minutes ago, xylophone said:

As for my comment: "Ask yourself..........would you buy a bar on Bangla for 7 million baht??"

 

Probably purchasing a way of life/job/future with g/f, but whatever the reason he has had ''some expressions of interest''.............

 

 

In my opinion, whatever the individual's motives, given the current situation here, it would not be a sound business decision to purchase. 

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