Patong - The Wake

[ChasingTheSun]

15 hours ago, hansgruber said:

Phuket would become a Triad gangster town. No thank you. 

How so?

Has Singapore become a “triad gangster town”?

[DrDave]

2 hours ago, ChasingTheSun said:

How so?

Has Singapore become a “triad gangster town”?

No, because Singapore has a very no-nonsense approach to government in which corruption is not tolerated in any form. Very difficult for organized crime to get a foothold without the help of corrupt government officials and police. Nearly the polar opposite of Thailand.

[hansgruber]

3 hours ago, DrDave said:

No, because Singapore has a very no-nonsense approach to government in which corruption is not tolerated in any form. Very difficult for organized crime to get a foothold without the help of corrupt government officials and police. Nearly the polar opposite of Thailand.

Thanks. Saved me the trouble replying. 

 

[ChasingTheSun]

3 hours ago, DrDave said:

No, because Singapore has a very no-nonsense approach to government in which corruption is not tolerated in any form. Very difficult for organized crime to get a foothold without the help of corrupt government officials and police. Nearly the polar opposite of Thailand.

 

Las Vegas Sands and Resorts World manage the two regulated casinos in Singapore, and other casino properties around the world.
 

Are you really suggesting that those two companies could not successfully manage a regulated casino in Thailand that caters almost exclusively to foreign tourists and they would be somehow overrun with warring “triads”?

 

 Perhaps you are afraid the new “triads” would introduce prostitution and other new vices to thailand  as a result of having casinos?

 

 

[zzzzz]

Not sure about this, was driving into Town form kamala and passing the Kalima resort on the left before patong,  7 Large bus's were parked an it seems like a bunch of Chinese were boarding.

 

 1st time i have seen that many bus's in one place in over 7 months

 

Am sure somewhere will be welcoming in needed $$$$$$$

[xylophone]

In times like this, there are many rumours flying around the place as to what is happening and what isn't, so I thought I would mention a few that I have heard just recently........

 

I do know for a fact that Taipan has been undergoing renovation and it has been said that the owners have bought what was the Yorkshire Inn and are going to make the kitchen and dining area a little larger (which is great because the food there was very good) and have use of the swimming pool! The thought of drunken revellers and a swimming pool does bring the word "danger" to mind.

 

Heard a rumour that the owner of the Aussie bar was considering closing and the few times I have been past of late would suggest that the patronage would not really be paying the bills, and it has gotten smaller since its heyday, so that would be no surprise.

 

How much longer can Bar Funk stay open with an average of a handful of patrons over the weekend, and most of those are Thais, not spending much money? Again, a rumour that the owner would be walking away from it soon was doing the rounds.

 

Was at Hippie Road bar about a week ago, past midnight, and there was nobody there to listen to the band, which had just started up, whereas a few months ago, even with the virus ever present (or not as the case may be) there would be perhaps 10 people or more waiting for an evening's musical entertainment.

 

And last but not least, the haunt of many a farang (Suzie Wongs) in the late/early hours is also feeling the pinch I believe, this especially as on a recent visit on a friends birthday, just after midnight, we were the only 2 customers in the place!
 

[DrDave]

14 hours ago, ChasingTheSun said:

 

Las Vegas Sands and Resorts World manage the two regulated casinos in Singapore, and other casino properties around the world.
 

Are you really suggesting that those two companies could not successfully manage a regulated casino in Thailand that caters almost exclusively to foreign tourists and they would be somehow overrun with warring “triads”?

 

 Perhaps you are afraid the new “triads” would introduce prostitution and other new vices to thailand  as a result of having casinos?

 

 

No, I'm not suggesting these companies couldn't run a "clean" operation, or that warring triads would take over.

I am, however, suggesting that these two companies would never be given that opportunity in Thailand when there is so much potential for enrichment of government officials from a management group operating outside of the law.

[ChasingTheSun]

8 minutes ago, DrDave said:

No, I'm not suggesting these companies couldn't run a "clean" operation, or that warring triads would take over.

I am, however, suggesting that these two companies would never be given that opportunity in Thailand when there is so much potential for enrichment of government officials from a management group operating outside of the law.

i agree that the only way Thailand could make it a success is if they outsourced the management and control to reputable international casino operators. 
 

 

 

[Kopitiam]

52 minutes ago, ChasingTheSun said:

i agree that the only way Thailand could make it a success is if they outsourced the management and control to reputable international casino operators. 
 

 

 

And let the monies flow to others' pockets?  Never going to happen.

 

https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/singapores-marina-bay-sands-casino-faces-us-money-laundering-probe-bloomberg

[ChasingTheSun]

1 hour ago, Kopitiam said:

And let the monies flow to others' pockets?  Never going to happen.

 

https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/singapores-marina-bay-sands-casino-faces-us-money-laundering-probe-bloomberg

Casinos around the world have issues with money laundering, but real estate is by far the biggest money laundering industry globally. 
 

Most regulated large casinos do try to minimize the problem. Like anything, they could make it work well in Thailand if they do it right, or make it a disaster if they do it t.i.t  style.

[Old Croc]

10 hours ago, ChasingTheSun said:

Casinos around the world have issues with money laundering, but real estate is by far the biggest money laundering industry globally. 

For evidence of this one doesn't have to look any further than the many massive edifices constructed in Phuket to ostensibly sell trinkets and rubber goods to Chinese tourists.

 

 

 

Edited November 2, 2020 by Old Croc

[thaibeachlovers]

On 6/25/2017 at 6:56 PM, jenifer d said:

Patong is dying, and i'm not sure if it can be rescued... 

To be correct, the Patong you loved is dying, but Patong will survive and not in a way, IMO, that farangs will like.

I used to love Patong myself back in the early 1990s, but it became too expensive without being better value for money so I stopped going there. I might have gone there as a gateway to Phi Phi, had that unfortunate island not been destroyed by greed ( NOT by the tsunami- that happened later ). Sadly, every touristy location in LOS has been afflicted, IMO, by greed and most have sold their soul for baht. The only holdout IMO was Phangan, and even there the flashpackers were moving in when last I visited.

Patong may be dying as a place those like you can love, but it's not alone, by far.

 

If I were younger I'd be looking to Burma with it's undeveloped Andaman coastline as the next paradise to explore. Sadly for us, IMO Thailand has chosen the Chinese demographic and they are, IMO, going to fundamentally change the tourism in LOS to something I want no part of.

[Agusts]

Saturday night Bangla and the beach was quite full, big festival , party with stage playing well into 11pm, later many people at the bars, illuzion packed, mostly Thais of course, expats only complain, they don't get up and go out much to support the places they like - or not but criticize it's dying ...!

 

Too much negativity about Patong and Phuket, unless you have not noticed there is a virus called Covid19 that wreck havoc around the world, perhaps ask little Paris cafes or Rome restaurant and see how they are doing...

 

Once it's over in one or two years we will have the same crowd as before pouring back into tourists spots of Asia, the borders are shut closed if you missed it, so nobody can come. I have no business or interest here, but I can see the situation as an expected consequence of, well, closing doors shut to foreign visitors, Thais don't come to Phuket in numbers.

 

Business owners were raking it in here before, bars, restaurants, discos, even  jetski and paragliding mafias and tuk tuk, millions every month or even week, of course now they kind of hit with a type of karma, maybe they learn, they will have to dig into those millions for a couple of years, so what....! Of course only the poor hurt...

 

[xylophone]

13 minutes ago, Agusts said:

Saturday night Bangla and the beach was quite full, big festival , party with stage playing well into 11pm, later many people at the bars, illuzion packed, mostly Thais of course, expats only complain, they don't get up and go out much to support the places they like - or not but criticize it's dying ...!

 

Too much negativity about Patong and Phuket, unless you have not noticed there is a virus called Covid19 that wreck havoc around the world, perhaps ask little Paris cafes or Rome restaurant and see how they are doing...

 

Once it's over in one or two years we will have the same crowd as before pouring back into tourists spots of Asia, the borders are shut closed if you missed it, so nobody can come. I have no business or interest here, but I can see the situation as an expected consequence of, well, closing doors shut to foreign visitors, Thais don't come to Phuket in numbers.

 

Business owners were raking it in here before, bars, restaurants, discos, even  jetski and paragliding mafias and tuk tuk, millions every month or even week, of course now they kind of hit with a type of karma, maybe they learn, they will have to dig into those millions for a couple of years, so what....! Of course only the poor hurt...

 

Of course the place is dying as a consequence of closing the door to foreign visitors, who made up the vast majority of visitors here who would spend the money.

 

I, and others who have posted on here, are amazed at how badly the government has handled the situation, and not only the government, the large land and property owners here who have been raking in huge sums of money over the years, but now most will not give any leeway to the bar and restaurant owners to even let them try and make a dollar.

 

It's all very well for Thais to (occasionally) visit the the bars and discos, but one has to remember that in many instances the discos will allow free drinks (up to a point) for the Thai women in the hope of attracting the males, and overall the take would not be much at all.

 

It's also relevant to remember that before the virus hit, business was falling off quite markedly in the likes of Patong, as it was no longer seen as offering value for money, or to put it more candidly, a rip-off place, and many bars were shut and abandoned due to lack of business.

 

So I suppose one could argue that Patong was getting its "just desserts" anyway, and then the virus hit and the place has been devastated, and as for its returning to normal in one or two years, well if it hasn't changed its M.O. in that time, then it will still be seen as a place where tourists will be ripped off, and other destinations will have sprung up which will attract the tourist dollar and will offer a value for money holiday experience.
 

[zzzzz]

5 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

To be correct, the Patong you loved is dying, but Patong will survive and not in a way, IMO, that farangs will like.

I used to love Patong myself back in the early 1990s, but it became too expensive without being better value for money so I stopped going there. I might have gone there as a gateway to Phi Phi, had that unfortunate island not been destroyed by greed ( NOT by the tsunami- that happened later ). Sadly, every touristy location in LOS has been afflicted, IMO, by greed and most have sold their soul for baht. The only holdout IMO was Phangan, and even there the flashpackers were moving in when last I visited.

Patong may be dying as a place those like you can love, but it's not alone, by far.

 

If I were younger I'd be looking to Burma with it's undeveloped Andaman coastline as the next paradise to explore. Sadly for us, IMO Thailand has chosen the Chinese demographic and they are, IMO, going to fundamentally change the tourism in LOS to something I want no part of.

Patong is NOT Phuket>>> and agree, Phuket will survive,  its in their genes

I have traveled all over Burma, from the far north to the east, west and as far south as Kwathong.

Beaches outside Daweii at Maungmagan are the finest i have seen in 35 years in Thailand,

reminiscent  of Khao lak in the 90's
problem is there are NO long staying visas unless ur working or married>

28 days is not enough to truly see the country which i feel is the best,  at this point in time) in SE Asia
If I was back in my 30-40's....... id be there
 

Edited November 2, 2020 by zzzzz

[DFPhuket]

The underground parking lot at Jungceylon is now closed. Parking is available in the outside lot behind B-Quik, but that's not very convenient if you shopped at Big C. 

[zzzzz]

FYI
The FIRST PATONG BEACH BIKE FESTIVAL, THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY 6/7 November.
gonna be busy

 

[xylophone]

Thanks for the info about the First Patong Beach Bike Festival zzzzz, and it seems as if things could be picking up here (I dare to hope) because I have heard from a few knowledgeable people that my favourite Italian restaurant SALUTE will be open within a week and I really hope that anybody who reads this thread gets down there to support the business.

 

It's a very good Italian restaurant and the service is impeccable, and I for one will be visiting it on the day it opens, which I think is a week on Friday, however I will get back to those interested and post the opening day on this thread.

 

Another bit of good news was that the music venue and bar, RED HOT will be starting up again in a few days and although it used to have two bands playing, one from about 7 PM to 11:30 PM and then one from thereon in until closing time (3 PM?) It now will only have the first band playing, although I think it's only for Thursday or Friday and the weekend.

 

Still, it's a start and I sincerely hope that folks will get down to Bangla and give these two venues a visit as they are taking a bit of a risk, and it would be great to see the nightlife/restaurants ramping back up again (of course within the confines of the current situation).

[madmitch]

I went to Patong early evening. The beach was reasonably busy with Thais just after sunset, probably due to the food street currently in place at the back of the beach as that got busier as people left the beach.

 

The food street wasn't exactly packed but it had quite a few people there. A lot of the stalls have signed up for the Government 50/50 payment scheme, so many Thais were using their phones to pay. I assume it will remain for the Bike Week.

 

But Rat-U-Thit remains depressingly dark and dead.

[xylophone]

On 11/5/2020 at 11:10 PM, madmitch said:

I went to Patong early evening. The beach was reasonably busy with Thais just after sunset, probably due to the food street currently in place at the back of the beach as that got busier as people left the beach.

 

The food street wasn't exactly packed but it had quite a few people there. A lot of the stalls have signed up for the Government 50/50 payment scheme, so many Thais were using their phones to pay. I assume it will remain for the Bike Week.

 

But Rat-U-Thit remains depressingly dark and dead.

Bangla Road on Friday night was looking a whole different proposition to the recent past, though nowhere near what it had been when the farangs were in town, but a welcome change nevertheless.

 

No doubt that the influx of Thais was due to the motorbikes, some of which were enormous, and of course to see the famous band which were due later.

 

The whole road was busy, not amazingly so, but busy enough to make it look welcoming, and even my old favourite bar, Red Hot was open. Just adjacent to it was the big stage that had been erected previously and a band were playing away, but with only about four or five onlookers.

 

A little further down the road the Sweetie Bar was extremely busy and as I walked past I noticed a couple of musicians from the old band that were on stage and they beckoned me up to sing a couple of songs, which I did as it's something I enjoy – – and even the Thai folks enjoyed it, with one guy whom I believe is fairly high up in the BIB, giving me quite a vigourous round of applause.

 

Later on in the evening that whole bar was absolutely full and spilling out onto the road, and then some, and I think it was because there was a band of some note playing there (after the other one had left) and that would account for the reserved chairs and tables in the place!

 

Had a couple of drinks in a couple of my local bars and then headed off to Suzie Wong's, and unlike last week (or was that two weeks ago?) it had about a dozen farangs in the place, taking in the eye candy.

 

After that a friend and I went up to the Hippie Road bar, but there was no one watching the band so we only stayed a short while and then went.

 

It was good to see people out and about and although just a few bars were open, I expect they were glad of the custom albeit a little low on the spend side.....made a nice change I have to say. 

 

PS. There is one solitary bar open on the vast space at the top of Soi Sansabai and it did have two or three customers, but that was about it. If what I heard is true, and also what I saw, someone is planning a vast bar area there......hmmm????

[Patong2]

Xylophone, that report certainly sounds a bit more positive.

Some things are starting to try to come back

[xylophone]

9 hours ago, Patong2 said:

Xylophone, that report certainly sounds a bit more positive.

Some things are starting to try to come back

Yes P2 some folks are trying to make a go of it, and good on them for doing so, and Salute restaurant is supposedly opening next week, so that's another bonus........now all we want is more free spending farangs!

[Patong2]

50 minutes ago, xylophone said:

Yes P2 some folks are trying to make a go of it, and good on them for doing so, and Salute restaurant is supposedly opening next week, so that's another bonus........now all we want is more free spending farangs!

We are only too willing to do our share. They need to get Phuket airport open to international flights.

We have just left Hamner Springs in NZ, it was 4C and snowed on the Lewis Pass. This is November!!!.

We just have to get back to our lovely Patong.

[zzzzz]

Being optimistic is fine BUT reality check please

With the country still closed, except for a chosen few with deep pockets

i dont see anything positive .  Local domestic tourism wont help phuket much.

 

i foresee more closures across the west coast as places open, but find they cant cover costs so close back up.

 

[xylophone]

3 hours ago, zzzzz said:

Being optimistic is fine BUT reality check please

With the country still closed, except for a chosen few with deep pockets

i dont see anything positive .  Local domestic tourism wont help phuket much.

 

i foresee more closures across the west coast as places open, but find they cant cover costs so close back up.

 

Yes, I do fear that is going to happen and following on from my "optimistic" post I have noticed some more small businesses, like massage parlours, opening up again, but have also seen other shops closing at the same time, so maybe a type of status quo is happening?

[schlog]

Run to the hills. Run for your life.... the cruisers are coming.

Today in the morning what surprise.

7 tender boats and parts of 1 floating pier.

 

Do they know more or is it only a habit to bring it in november to patong???

[Olmate]

1 hour ago, schlog said:

Run to the hills. Run for your life.... the cruisers are coming.

Today in the morning what surprise.

7 tender boats and parts of 1 floating pier.

 

Do they know more or is it only a habit to bring it in november to patong???

Read somewhere yesterday visa,s were being issued to passengers on cruise ships and yachts to visit Pattaya and Phuket.

[Agusts]

1 hour ago, Olmate said:

Read somewhere yesterday visa,s were being issued to passengers on cruise ships and yachts to visit Pattaya and Phuket.

 

Yes, that was for yachts, but they have to moor in Phuket waters for 14 days and quarantine onboard, some coast guard or navy will check and keep an eye on them that they don't leave, then after a negative test they can disembark..., I don't think cruise ships can do something like that...!!!? 

 

[xylophone]

There would appear to be a sort of patchy resurrection, if indeed that's the right word.

 

There are small shops and eating places popping up along the southern end of Nanai Road, and the massage parlours seem to be more prevalent in Rat-u-Thid road than before, along with a few other small shops.

 

Even my favourite Italian restaurant just off Bangla, called Salute is now open and trying to make a go of things. So I will be visiting him tonight!

 

Contrast this with the many roller blind type shops which appear to have dilapidated to such an extent that they will be almost "un-openable", especially in some parts of the longer main roads.

 

In keeping with the above, I have noticed a few "new girls" in town, with a few shopping in Big C for the bare essentials to fit in a "new room".

 

Some repairs are being done around the place, and at last the empty concrete monstrosity which juts out into Soi Banzaan is being demolished (yippee) and I sincerely hope that whatever is built in its place, does not encroach upon the road itself (again).

 

Big C is still sparsely populated with customers, and that means that they are having to shift stock before it becomes out of date, so some good shopping for cheeses and chocolate and the like, if that's what one is after.

 

However rather than Big C, I have found some absolute bargains in Tesco Lotus in Phuket town, with classic Tuscan EV Olive Oil being reduced by 75% and the same goes with classic Balsamic Vinegar, whereas the Maple syrup came down by 70%, so needless to say I bought as much as I possibly could manage to get in the bag I had, so now I am well stock up with some essentials – – oh, almost forgot the Stilton cheese from Villa Market in Chalong at about half the price as it is elsewhere.

 

I think it's the "siege mentality" kicking in for me as stocking up far too much!

 

That was off topic a little, but whilst shopping in those places I have noticed a lot more activity, and that seems to be spreading to Patong, and strange as it may seem, a few girls I know here who had gone back home looking for work, have now come back to Patong saying that there is no work back home, and they are "more likely" to find work here – – probably looking for some sort of farang sponsorship one way or another.

 

One thing that's not helping Patong recover is the uncertainty around who can and who can't come here, which airports are open and which are not, and exactly what one has to do to be able to qualify to come here. On that note a friend has a husband stranded in Italy and he is endeavouring to come back in January, and he has been quoted a price of 120,000 baht for the hotel 14 days quarantine period – – how ridiculous is that.

 

Unfortunately, it is rules like that which will impact upon the poorer people here, rather than the idiots who make the rules, and who want a 50% rake off from those exorbitant prices.
 

[schlog]

1 hour ago, xylophone said:

In keeping with the above, I have noticed a few "new girls" in town, with a few shopping in Big C for the bare essentials to fit in a "new room".

 

Some repairs are being done around the place, and at last the empty concrete monstrosity which juts out into Soi Banzaan is being demolished (yippee) and I sincerely hope that whatever is built in its place, does not encroach upon the road itself (again).

 

Big C is still sparsely populated with customers, and that means that they are having to shift stock before it becomes out of date, so some good shopping for cheeses and chocolate and the like, if that's what one is after.

 

However rather than Big C, I have found some absolute bargains in Tesco Lotus in Phuket town, with classic Tuscan EV Olive Oil being reduced by 75% and the same goes with classic Balsamic Vinegar, whereas the Maple syrup came down by 70%, so needless to say I bought as much as I possibly could manage to get in the bag I had, so now I am well stock up with some essentials – – oh, almost forgot the Stilton cheese from Villa Market in Chalong at about half the price as it is elsewhere.

 

I think it's the "siege mentality" kicking in for me as stocking up far too much!

 

That was off topic a little, but whilst shopping in those places I have noticed a lot more activity, and that seems to be spreading to Patong, and strange as it may seem, a few girls I know here who had gone back home looking for work, have now come back to Patong saying that there is no work back home, and they are "more likely" to find work here – – probably looking for some sort of farang sponsorship one way or another.

 

One thing that's not helping Patong recover is the uncertainty around who can and who can't come here, which airports are open and which are not, and exactly what one has to do to be able to qualify to come here. On that note a friend has a husband stranded in Italy and he is endeavouring to come back in January, and he has been quoted a price of 120,000 baht for the hotel 14 days quarantine period – – how ridiculous is that.

 

Unfortunately, it is rules like that which will impact upon the poorer people here, rather than the idiots who make the rules, and who want a 50% rake off from those exorbitant prices.
 

Fresh blood we need in Patong. The average girl in the last weeks must be about 56 years old and 65 kilo heavy.

Lets hope these new girls are not the ones on the run from Tachileik.

 

Btw underground parking is open again in big c which makes absolute sense. Didn't go there for some weeks because of their very inconvenience parking/security show.

 

You are a lucky guy xylo. I never ever found good discounted cheese in big c. But never mind bread is always great there. Thanks to the french guy.

 

Good luck for salute and great that they open again. Need to go also.