Patong - The Wake

[Rhacsyn]

Concurring with a few posts above, I like to take a walk in the shadow of the trees up and down Patong beach a few days a week and the number of visitors has most certainly diminished. If I use the walk from the centre of beach road down towards Kalim beach as a "dipstick" then a month or so ago this was hindered most of the way down by throngs of people, five or six deep. Many were snacking at the thirty or so street vendor outlets that appeared there during the encouraging, high season "surge". This all changed almost over night and now there is just a small scattering of people and only four or five vendors left. Sad for them but on a selfish note, makes my walk nicer! This is, as expected, confirmed by the remaining smaller scattering of people on the beach. At one time, just over a month ago, there were queues forming for the beach chairs, something I have never witnessed before. Oh how times have changed.

 

The same applies to the scattering of no.1 to no.6 restaurants around, that understandably had long queues outside from early morning. The queues have gone.

 

Lets see what happens over Songkran.....

 

 

[xylophone]

Decided to jump back on the thread, even though I haven't been out for a while, and certainly didn't head out for Songkran as I gave up playing with water pistols when I was about 12 years old.

 

However a friend of mine did, and whether or not he acquired his Covid infection on the day he went out, or shortly after is not known, however the poor guy was due to travel home to Malaysia to see his folks, so that put the mockers on that, at least for a while.

 

I did venture out a few days later with a few friends, however, and had an enjoyable evening, ending up at Red Hot, which was nowhere near as crowded as it has been, but still had a fair contingent of Russians in the crowd, such as it was.

 

On the way out, the Beach Road was busy with cars, vans and buses, nose to tail for at least half of the length of it, so my motorbike taxi man was not too pleased.

 

As has been mentioned, the traffic situation in Patong varies considerably, however what has been an almost constant since the Chinese started coming back here, is the fact that almost on a daily basis I will see wobbly motorbikes driven by Chinese, with very often a girl on the back giving directions from her mobile phone, and IMO they are a danger to other traffic and themselves.

 

Around and about: – I tried a newish and compact Greek restaurant only metres from my driveway on Nanai 6, and the food was great, and I will be going back for some more very shortly. The name of it is, "Santorini on Nanai" and it is just a couple of metres into Soi Nanai 6, and there is a good selection on the menu, so I ordered a moussaka and a Greek salad to take away, and there were generous portions of both, in fact I made a pig of myself that night, when I could have kept enough over for another day!

 

On the subject of restaurants, and one which I have mentioned before, because it closed, the Italian restaurant which was known as, "The Loft Italian Restaurant" (on Nanai) has seen some building activity in the place, and a bar/restaurant would be a good bet – – time will tell. This is just another small business in the myriad of small businesses in Patong, which has seen its fortunes rise and fall with the tourists and the seasons, and looking back on this particular aspect of Patong, it has been an ongoing occurrence over many years – – one business closes and another one takes its place, and so on. All too often, the business that replaces the failed business, follows the same pattern of lack of planning and lack of business nous, so is doomed to follow the path of the previous one. Someone is making money out of it, and it's not the folks opening the new small businesses!

 

A few of the smaller bars on Nanai are showing signs of a decrease in patronage, even though one in particular has had two or three hopefuls in "wifebeater T-shirts" waiting for it to open at around 11.00 AM in the morning. This is not a one-off though, and I often wonder why people will travel thousands of kilometres from their home to come to a place where they sit on a bar stool all day??
 

[xylophone]

It's been almost a month since my last post on this thread, and it may well be my last, mainly because my posts are becoming very repetitive, which is not surprising given that Patong is up and running again with the usual Bangla shenanigans and bars closing and opening and closing and opening, the same as many small shops/businesses here – – you get the picture.

 

Now that Jungceylon is becoming fully operational, despite the fact that the food and service at Starbucks is abysmal, and the stock of wine at Wine Connection is vastly reduced from that previously, there is not much else to write about!

 

I have visited the food section at Central Patong a few times of late and have partaken of the ready cooked meals to take away and found them to be very good, so that will be another hunting ground, and will save me cooking my own dinner.

 

Unfortunately "La Drinkeria" which was a very hopeful attempt at a nice restaurant/bar, closed a while ago and looks like it's being gutted now, but it would always struggle because there is no foot traffic and not much in the way of parking spaces.

 

OTOP is still suffering from far too many bars and far too few customers, and that also applies to massage parlours/shops, and what hasn't changed much is the amount of beer-bellied, wifebeater T-shirt farangs marauding around the place, and just last night I witnessed a sweaty, old, ugly, fat Aussie trying to chat up (more like molest) a couple of Thai girls in a restaurant I was dining at – – he was an absolute animal in the way he was pawing those poor girls.

 

So Patong carries on like it used to, just being Patong, so I'm not sure that the title of "Patong – the Wake" is relevant anymore, so the thread will see even less of my comments, especially in light of the fact that last night when I was out, I didn't enjoy it like I used to, and trundling home at about 1 pm in the morning with a bladder full of alcohol which I can't get rid of (medical problem) is no fun anymore.

 

Whereas at one time I was out in Bangla almost every night in younger years, just recently that dropped to about twice a week, and as of the past month, just about once per month, which I think will suit me now.
 

[zzzzz]

Loved this:
 

Quote

Whereas at one time I was out in Bangla almost every night in younger years, just recently that dropped to about twice a week, and as of the past month, just about once per month, which I think will suit me now.

Back in the 80's, early 90's that was me<
Once i moved over to Kamala in '96 , I think i 've been out at night in Patong 2-3 times and than ONLY cause a visitor wanted to see it>

[HighPriority]

Even heaven loses it luster eventually I’m told, obviously not referring to PaTong…

????

You make interesting observations and have a gift with language xylophone, I hope that you can find other sources of inspiration to share with us here.

[Patong2]

Xylophone, don't go, please don't go.

Your view and experiences in Patong are different to ours and keep others up to date on what is happening in this everchanging little place.

Had a couple of very enjoyable meals at Santorini in Nanai thanks to your mention of it. 

 

Whats happening to Chang's over the road from there?

 

Sad that "La Drinkeria" didn't survive.  Nicely laid out. Took a group of 8 or 9 people there a couple of times and the food was reasonable, the waitresses lovely and the pool table got a bit of usage but the music was crap. Needed better marketing than just opening and hoping people came in.

 

I wandered down to Soi Sansabai last night to enjoy a hamburger at Amena burger as I had felt a little guilty not being a customer for a month or two. I keep seeing this hard working lady still serving burgers even at 5am and she still manages a wave and a smile as I go past on a morning walk. So many Thais are just so friendly.

 

Due to problems walking, we have really been frequenting restaurants etc close to home or where I can park and it is so nice to have friendly welcoming staff so pleased to see us. In our home country

we can easily spend B4,000+ on a meal for two and never be greeted with "its nice to see you again"

In Patong we get that and more from many places and the meals are less than B400 - B1000. Patong is still a lively friendly place and a great place to be.

 

But Patong is very different, the days of Soi Crocodile in Bangla and the various busy bars like Two Black Sheep in Ratuchit Rd are long gone, but Red Hot still flourishes by the look of it. Perhap's we will see the "Irish Times" back in Jung Ceylon?

 

We need you to keep an eye on the place for us and all the others who have contributed to this thread.

 

 

[xylophone]

My sincere thanks to both @HighPriority and @Patong2for the kind words/feedback and I particularly liked this "You make interesting observations and have a gift with language xylophone" – – trying to pat myself on the back. And I also remember praise from Patong2 a while back which was heartening.

 

Maybe I'll try and broaden my scope a little and not base my posts around my nights out on Bangla, so I will give that some thought, as I do enjoy the threads I have to say.

 

To answer a couple of questions from @Patong2.....I have no idea what is happening to Chang Residence, because as you probably saw, the ceiling in the "recreation/bar" area has completely collapsed and it looks like a bomb has hit it, when in fact it is probably because the roof has leaked so much, letting water in and the whole ceiling throughout has been devastated.

 

I haven't seen any movement or lights on in the actual hotel part of the buildings, and I can only surmise that the owners have been going through some financial difficulties.

 

Your point about La Drinkeria is well-made and although I thought it was quite neat and tidy/well laid out, I always suspected that they would struggle for custom, being where they were, and that turned out to be the case.

 

So pleased that you liked the Greek restaurant Santorini and I must get back in there in the next few days.

 

I sincerely hope that your "problems walking" are not too serious, however if you have to drive, then I can recommend the small restaurant called "Sea Salt" which is part of the "Diamond Cliff" hotel resort and you can be assured of a good welcome and great food.

 

A while back I did mention a new Italian restaurant just next to where "Salute" was, just off Bangla, and it's called, "Anema e Core" and I've eaten there, and it is very good and not expensive and very much on a par with Salute. If you have a problem walking, then it is possible to drive into the Patong Beach resort hotel from the main road, park the car and amble on down to where the Soi containing that restaurant actually joins, so it's quite a short walk if you can make it.

 

Ah, and you bring back good memories of the likes of Soi Crocodile and Two Black Sheep, which I nearly bought a share of at one time, but luckily sanity prevailed! And your mention of the Irish Times in Jungceylon, actually reminded me that there is a small band, led by the lead guitarist from a band way back in Soi Freedom, at Molly Malones, which is supposedly good and also invites people up to sing, so it might be right up my alley as the saying goes!

 

So, once again thanks to both @HighPriority and @Patong2 for their kind words and support.
 

[Rhacsyn]

Happy to see your continued efforts Xylophone to keep us updated and enlighten us on activities around Patong.

 

In a previous post above, you mention the overload of bars in OTOP as well as the massage shops around Patong. I could add pharmacies and "weed" outlets to that list too. Focusing purely on Bangla, it is sad to see old bars such as Parrot bar being routinely replaced with pharmacies and "weed" outlets. At the bottom end of Bangla, as one example, there are now five fully fledged cannabis outlets in the first 50m, all of which have replaced "traditional" Bangla drinking outlets. The latest to appear is close to Kangaroo bar, and nearly the same size as the current Kangaroo bar! I am not against cannabis, especially when it comes to medical use, but to see so many, especially on Bangla road, saddens me.

[zzzzz]

Why open a bar and have to deal with staff, closing times, police etc etc, when you can  open a weed shop, employ 2 people and reap the rewards?

Anyway , bet 50% are out if business within 4 months

FYI: still Plenty of bars to drink in  ????

 

Edited May 25, 2023 by zzzzz

[xylophone]

A friend of mine has just returned to Patong, so I will be out on Friday and also Saturday because I'm attending winetasting function at the Sheraton Four Seasons Hotel, although hopefully I don't get carried away with the winetasting – – as is my wont!

 

So there will be some more feedback, and even today I learnt a little bit more about Patong when I was shopping in Jungceylon.

 

I was talking to a girl I knew from way back, because she was now "manning" one of the property booths, and she is a very personable Thai lady with pretty good spoken English, so hopefully she will do well. As we were talking along came the manager, whom I have also known for a few years, and I commented on the fact that a friend of mine had rented here very cheaply and he agreed that the rents were coming down, not only in hotels, but also for apartments and condos in Patong.

 

I also asked if the Russians were still busy buying up in Laguna, and he said that it had died down quite markedly, and one of the reasons was their inability to be able to get money out of Russia, because apparently the Russian government was making it extremely difficult because they didn't want large amounts of money leaving the country at this particular time, either through transfers, companies or credit cards, so it seems like they are serious.

 

All up, it makes it more affordable for the everyday tourist.

 

However, whilst some of the Russians leaving is a bonus, I was very much reminded of the danger posed by the jaywalking Chinese, a couple of whom decided, along with their children, to step out in front of me without looking at all and when I screeched to a halt and tooted at them they turned and smiled.......firking idiots, and this is not the first time I've had this happen (many times in fact) so I wonder which is the lesser of two evils (or as Russell Crowe said in the movie "Master and Commander", the lesser of two weevils)?
 

[billythehat]

8 hours ago, xylophone said:

A friend of mine has just returned to Patong, so I will be out on Friday and also Saturday because I'm attending winetasting function at the Sheraton Four Seasons Hotel, although hopefully I don't get carried away with the winetasting – – as is my wont!

 

So there will be some more feedback, and even today I learnt a little bit more about Patong when I was shopping in Jungceylon.

 

I was talking to a girl I knew from way back, because she was now "manning" one of the property booths, and she is a very personable Thai lady with pretty good spoken English, so hopefully she will do well. As we were talking along came the manager, whom I have also known for a few years, and I commented on the fact that a friend of mine had rented here very cheaply and he agreed that the rents were coming down, not only in hotels, but also for apartments and condos in Patong.

 

I also asked if the Russians were still busy buying up in Laguna, and he said that it had died down quite markedly, and one of the reasons was their inability to be able to get money out of Russia, because apparently the Russian government was making it extremely difficult because they didn't want large amounts of money leaving the country at this particular time, either through transfers, companies or credit cards, so it seems like they are serious.

 

All up, it makes it more affordable for the everyday tourist.

 

However, whilst some of the Russians leaving is a bonus, I was very much reminded of the danger posed by the jaywalking Chinese, a couple of whom decided, along with their children, to step out in front of me without looking at all and when I screeched to a halt and tooted at them they turned and smiled.......firking idiots, and this is not the first time I've had this happen (many times in fact) so I wonder which is the lesser of two evils (or as Russell Crowe said in the movie "Master and Commander", the lesser of two weevils)?
 

Sir, may I suggest fitting one of these to your trusty steed to deal with those pesky wandering in the street folk?

 

 

[xylophone]

7 hours ago, billythehat said:

Sir, may I suggest fitting one of these to your trusty steed to deal with those pesky wandering in the street folk?

 

 

A very loud Klaxon horn might do the trick BTH, as this aparatus is almost as big as my car (Swift)!!

[anrcaccount]

Please keep posting Xylophone.
 

This will sound very strange, but I hope you’ll take it as a compliment…..

 

Your language is relaxing, makes me

feel like a child again sitting on a mat

 

(think back a very long time ago when you were a small kid in NZ)  

 

 

waiting for story time from the teacher………. don’t stop! 

 

[liddelljohn]

i remember Patong in it glory 1991 -2005 , Expat Hotel, the agogo,s the bars the HHH Maraud etc sadly RIP , i doubt I will return

[xylophone]

2 hours ago, liddelljohn said:

i remember Patong in it glory 1991 -2005 , Expat Hotel, the agogo,s the bars the HHH Maraud etc sadly RIP , i doubt I will return

It is still a lively place for the recents and newcomers, but now being here for nearly 17 yrs it has lost its appeal for me........as the song goes; "The thrill has gone"!!

[zzzzz]

11 hours ago, liddelljohn said:

i remember Patong in it glory 1991 -2005 , Expat Hotel, the agogo,s the bars the HHH Maraud etc sadly RIP , i doubt I will return

and of course there those of us that recall 85- 91   LOL
I managed the Titanic disco back than,  what a time, didn't open till midnight, closed at dawn
As i have stated, left Patong in 96 for Kamala 

[HighPriority]

I guess the thing is (most of us) change, places change and so do our needs and wants.

Wishing a place as dynamic as a city to stay static is nothing more than nostalgia for when we were young enough to live that place to its fullest, which as we age we realise we can’t, so we are really missing our youth and less so the changing environs.

[xylophone]

On 5/30/2023 at 5:52 AM, HighPriority said:

I guess the thing is (most of us) change, places change and so do our needs and wants.

Wishing a place as dynamic as a city to stay static is nothing more than nostalgia for when we were young enough to live that place to its fullest, which as we age we realise we can’t, so we are really missing our youth and less so the changing environs.

I agree with most of what you say HP, although it's not that I can't live life in Patong to its/my fullest, is just that I don't want to!

 

The days of barhopping and drinking to excess, which was most evenings unfortunately, as well as talking nonsense to bar girls and listening to the same, if indeed they could speak English, coupled with staying out till 2 or 3 am are just things I don't want to do these days, even though I could if I wanted to (I think)!

 

My needs and wants have changed and I only drink wine these days, with just the occasional beer, and I'm more than happy sitting in and watching a movie.

 

What I'm trying to say is I could go on the rampage in Patong if I wanted to, but I don't want to!!!!! Hence agreeing with your comment about "changing needs and wants".

[Patong2]

And isn't this the beauty of Patong Xylophone?

 

Here we can have quiet night, a risque night, or a positively crazy night, any night of the week and it's 

your choice. Not many places in the world that has those choices.

 

It's all the things we used to do, could still do and even the ones we are too old to do, are still available to us on our doorstep.

 

We love it.

[xylophone]

1 hour ago, Patong2 said:

And isn't this the beauty of Patong Xylophone?

 

Here we can have quiet night, a risque night, or a positively crazy night, any night of the week and it's 

your choice. Not many places in the world that has those choices.

 

It's all the things we used to do, could still do and even the ones we are too old to do, are still available to us on our doorstep.

 

We love it.

So true Patong2, so very true!

[xylophone]

On 5/31/2023 at 2:29 PM, Patong2 said:

And isn't this the beauty of Patong Xylophone?

 

Here we can have quiet night, a risque night, or a positively crazy night, any night of the week and it's 

your choice. Not many places in the world that has those choices.

 

It's all the things we used to do, could still do and even the ones we are too old to do, are still available to us on our doorstep.

 

We love it.

An interesting night out, and info about bars and café's to follow........

 

I met some friends for dinner in "Blue Beach Café and Restaurant", and it was fairly full, and as always, the hosts were looking after the diners and of course the food was good as it always is.

 

There was a duo playing some music, with one of the guys singing, and the owner of one of the large Sois was also in the restaurant and encouraged me to get up and sing a song, which I did, three or four in fact, which went down well.

 

I was then told that there was a "Princess" (Royal family) dining and that she wanted to get up and sing, which surprised everybody because Thai royalty (she is the daughter of the King's sister) just don't do that sort of thing, but she did, and she was good, as was her English. So I walked across to congratulate her and the staff were incredulous that I was approaching her, because apparently it's just not a done thing here, and whilst there I asked if she would like to join me in a duet, singing Tina Turner's song, "simply the best", but she declined because she said she didn't know the song and paid me a compliment on my singing, so I reciprocated with hers and we did a sort of low high-five, which again left the staff with sagging jaws.

 

I have to say despite all of the misgivings of the staff, this lady was just like an every day Thai and was polite with it, and it was a pleasure meeting her.

 

Up to Bangla after that and a few drinks at the "Black Horse" before my friends decided to make an early exit and leave for home, so I trotted across to the new "Smiley Bar" to talk to the owner/manager, as I've known her for years (the wife of Shaun) and also chatted to a very attractive, almost stunning girl I have seen there a few times, and she spoke very good English and was well educated, so we got chatting and I decided to delve into the reasons she worked in the bar.

 

What was surprising was that she said she would not be bar-fined and earned her money from commission on the drinks, and I believed her because she was a very sincere young woman (actually 30 years old although she looked more like 23). So I asked a very cheeky question along the lines of, "what are you going to do with your life", and the answer was surprising in a way, but then again?

 

She said the main aim at the moment was to earn money to send to her parents, which many Thai girls do, but in the meantime she wanted to find a man who she could love, and who would love her in return and....... get this, was rich! Of course I asked why she hadn't found this already being that she was so attractive (and intelligent) and she said that she had a couple of farang boyfriends, but they were only interested in "short time liaisons" and were only after sex, and love didn't seem to count in the relationship, leaving her despondent. An interesting take and I'm not a gullible person, so I believed her and after a few more interesting topics, I decided to wend my way home.

 

I was tempted to pop into "Red Hot", but I had a fair amount of wine and a couple of rums, but wasn't sure about that until I got to the place and it wasn't that crowded, probably about 40% full, and the band has changed, so I made my mind up not to go in and sought out my usual motorbike taxi driver to take me home.

All in all an interesting night.

 

Now for the other topic I mentioned earlier on – – whatever is happening to the previous Italian restaurant, "Loft" has quietened down, although I did spy a large pizza oven being installed, so one can only assume that the previous failed Italian restaurant is going to be............yes, you guessed it, an Italian restaurant!

 

On the subject of restaurants, almost directly opposite that place was a little restaurant called " Dars Burgers" and I suppose the name of it gave the culinary fare away, however I never saw many people in there and it now appears to have been closed for at least a couple of weeks. Almost immediately next to that there is a small restaurant which does have some customers, but never many, so I wonder how long that will survive?

 

In Soi Banzaan, what was once a bar and small guesthouse called "Canada House" which featured in a sad event where the owner's girlfriend decided to hang herself; then changed ownership  into a "Gentleman's Club" which had next to no customers whatsoever, and in front of which they had put a large wooden door, to give the impression of an exclusive club, which it wasn't. Anyway that has closed and is now on the market.

 

Opposite that, is a bar at the bottom of a small guesthouse (six rooms perhaps?) which has just been sold to some Russians for a tidy sum, although they have not been seen in attendance, so I suppose the previous management are helping to run it. Could well provide a bolthole for any Russians wanting to escape Russia for obvious reasons.

 

Bangla was reasonably busy as we are getting into the low season, however there was a long queue snaking out from "Illuzion" and blocking the road, with reasonable attendance in some bars and not in others.

 

Slowing down, but still alive!
 

[xylophone]

2 hours ago, xylophone said:

Slowing down, but still alive!

That applies to both me and Bangla, just to avoid any confusion!!

[xylophone]

On 6/5/2023 at 12:30 PM, xylophone said:

In Soi Banzaan, what was once a bar and small guesthouse called "Canada House"

An update on my penultimate post, inasmuch as what was once "Canada house", then a "Gentleman's Club" has been sold (re-leased) to Thai folk, however I've no idea what it is going to become, but one would hope that they would remove the ridiculous façade and turn it back into a cheap guesthouse, which it was originally, with of course the obligatory small bar at the entrance. Time will tell.

 

I also noticed that much farther south on Nanai, a long-standing bar called, "Ting Tong Bar" has almost ceased to exist whilst undergoing some pretty radical restructuring, and I've no idea what it is going to be, but it was supposedly famous for its fish and chips, as well as being a bar. Unfortunately it adjoins another bar, the resurrected "Island Bar" so I'm sure that hasn't done much for its business!

 

Nothing is happening as regards the "555" café/restaurant which has been closed for some while now even though there is a sign outside indicating that it is an Italian restaurant, but nothing has happened on that score for more than a year or two?

 

And to add to the woes of Nanai Road, a couple of small guesthouses/hotels which are located a few metres south of the entrance to Soi Banzaan and were closed for a while and then opened again, have now closed again. One can only assume lack of business?

 

Unfortunately I can foresee the same thing happening to a bar and café/restaurant at the very south end of Nanai, which adjoins a massage shop, neither of which do much in the way of business.

 

There are other empty shops around the place, so perhaps the joys surrounding the resurrection of Patong have been short lived??

[jts-khorat]

On 5/26/2023 at 3:50 PM, liddelljohn said:

i remember Patong in it glory 1991 -2005 , Expat Hotel, the agogo,s the bars the HHH Maraud etc sadly RIP , i doubt I will return

The Expat Hotel, indeed! I spent so many hours sitting there at the pool during the low seasons.

Edited June 16, 2023 by jts-khorat

[xylophone]

I don't know whether it's old age or the hot weather, but I don't feel inclined to go out much at all these days, either during the daytime or the evening for that matter!

 

However the couple of times that I have ventured out over the last few days in order to get some shopping, I have noticed a severe decline in the tourists here, and once where Big C was pretty crowded with tourists, and Russian accents could be heard everywhere, now that's not the case, but never fear, the Chinese have arrived.

 

Even before I had spotted the Chinese contingent, I bumped into a farang with his wife and young child all of them wearing masks, so my question was is there a new outbreak of which I'm not aware – – his response was that the bloody Chinese have come back and will be bringing with them all sorts of nasties, so he was taking no chances!!!!

 

Speaking to him and other friends with regards to this, it would appear that the Chinese are about as popular as a rattlesnake in a lucky dip!

 

I often wonder what they live on back in China, because just about every shopping trolley I see here, being pushed around by Chinese, is full of dried noodles, dried fruit, dried this and dried that, along with packets of dried stuff that doesn't look at all appetising – – yet they supposedly live to a ripe old age??

 

Jungceylon is coming along and I must take a good look round as soon as the demolition and rebuilding work has completely finished, and I sincerely hope that there is a "Subway" in there somewhere, because it serves up far better fare than Starbucks which now seems to major in sweet, sticky, waistline expanding rubbish.

 

I notice that the "Long-time Bar" (adjoining the Rock Bar) is being demolished and the French guy who leased it was standing outside of it looking at what was going on, so he is either overseeing a major rebuild, or complete demolition? Whatever the case, I think it suffered from the fact that the "Rock Bar" was opened right next door to it.

 

On top of that, I noticed that several bars just don't open any more, so perhaps the owners have gone back home, wherever that is, to see out the low season. Having said that, the owners of the two small bars attached to the road side of the Makro building are hanging on, despite just one or two beer drinkers per night, with one of the lady owners sitting behind her bar looking out forlornly, and I know she only recently leased this from a guy who wanted to sell it because it wasn't doing very well, and guess what........things haven't changed.

 

As was recently mentioned by @Patong2, the roof in part of the recreation area of the Chang Hotel which had previously partly collapsed, has now completely done so and it looks a mess, and some. The owner must be in severe financial difficulties to let a huge building like this disintegrate, not to mention the large hotel next to it being empty and looking run down.

 

I do think that this low season is going to be one hell of a difficult season for many of the businesses here, just when they thought that they were over the Covid lock downs, so perhaps more hard times ahead for many.

[LivinginKata]

3 hours ago, xylophone said:

<snip>

I do think that this low season is going to be one hell of a difficult season for many of the businesses here, just when they thought that they were over the Covid lock downs, so perhaps more hard times ahead for many.

I sure do agree. After a hard 2+ years our long stay home rentals had a very good 6 months, although with 30% reduction of pre covid month rates. Since last month we lost a few 6 month..ers. Mix Europeans and Russians. Few lookers to take up the slack. All Russians but given we upped our rates to 15% below pre covid rates, there are no takers. 

 

Lucky we own our land and buildings. Those renting businesses have no chance. 

 

 

[London Lowf]

I've been on Phuket since June 1st but haven't posted here as the goings on around Patong are very well documented by Xylophone and others. However, a couple of things......

 

This is my first low season visit and I love it - busy enough around Patong but without the crazy traffic apart from each end of Bangla of course! What does confuse me is that I am still parking my scooter as far along beach road as I did in high season! Is that because that is where all of the staff park now that Sansabai is (I believe) off-limits?

 

But, my main reason for coming on this thread is a bit of a bombshell - Tiger seems to have closed and looks like it is being gutted. I seem to remember pre-Covid reading that there are plans to redevelop it into an hotel or shopping centre? Time will tell......

 

 

Edited June 19, 2023 by London Lowf

[London Lowf]

I had a closer look at Tiger last night - it's only been closed a few days and the ground floor is already a bomb site. The photo is of the former bar area.

 

 

[xylophone]

1 hour ago, London Lowf said:

I had a closer look at Tiger last night - it's only been closed a few days and the ground floor is already a bomb site. The photo is of the former bar area.

 

 

Thanks LL as I hadn't seen this because I've not been out that much of late, but it sure looks like a mess and I wonder what the bar owners in that complex think about it??

 

Quite a few years ago there was talk about this complex being demolished and a supermarket/shopping mall being built there, but nothing happened, but perhaps now that is coming to fruition – – who knows.

 

It will be interesting to see what becomes of that site.

[London Lowf]

They left a light on last night, so a better photo.......