Patong - The Wake

[HighPriority]

I’m glad you’ve got some company xylo, I can’t imagine my ex coming to care for me though ! 🤣

 

[Olmate]

On 3/31/2024 at 12:48 PM, xylophone said:

A night of disappointments on Friday evening, which started with a visit to a restaurant called "West" in Soi Patong Tower, whereby previous visits had been enjoyable and I negotiated being able to bring my own bottle of wine along (because theirs was fruit wine) for a princely sum of 200 baht, which was okay by me.

 

Only this time (and I didn't find out until the bill came along) the charge was 400 baht +10% service charge, and the price of my meal had increased by about 100 baht!! I queried this with the serving guy and he just said that prices had increased everywhere, so they put their price up, or words to that effect. Now 400 baht charge for my own wine was too steep IMO, so I won't be going back to that restaurant, so they have lost my patronage plus the patronage of the other folks I introduced to it.

 

After leaving that restaurant my friend and I went along to another couple of bars in Bangla, but as I've mentioned before "the thrill has gone" and probably went a long time ago if I was truthful, so I don't much enjoy nights out in Bangla these days.

 

I decided to head for home at about 11 PM and as I was walking towards the motorbike taxi place, a group of about six burly guys in their mid-20s or thereabouts, surrounded me and got in my face, with one of them saying, "you dirty bastard, what are you doing here" with a couple of his mates chiming in with similar comments.

 

At the age of 76 I wasn't about to try and take any of these guys on, however I had overheard them in a bar down the road, mention to someone that they were from Nottinghamshire so I basically said to the ringleader what the "fark" are you on about? "You guys are from Nottinghamshire, so what are you playing at, as I was born in England too?".

 

To which he basically said they were only "playing around", but it certainly didn't feel like that although I wasn't unduly threatened, but it was uncomfortable enough. English louts is the best I can say about them.

 

But the worst was yet to come because I got on a motorbike taxi to go home and when we arrived at my Soi, I asked the motorbike taxi driver if his motorbike was strong enough to take me up my steep drive, mainly because my old football knee was playing up a little, to which he replied that it could. So he attempted to get up the drive with me on the back of his motorbike, but unfortunately about halfway up he lost control of it, and I did a backward somersault off the bike and was knocked out for a few minutes and I'm not quite sure what happened next, but I think maybe he picked me up and saw blood gushing out of a head wound so quickly left on his motorbike.

 

I don't remember walking up the remaining part of the drive or the steps to my apartment, but I do remember that the room/my head was spinning and I was in some pain from my back (pelvis area) and my head and I tried to lay down, but think I passed out for a while because I woke up three hours later with my pillow bloodied somewhat, and feeling not well at all.

 

I was feeling very unwell so decided to wait until a bit later when the owners of my apartments were awake to ask them if they could call me a taxi to take me to the hospital, because I was not in a good way and thought I might have fractured my skull. The owners husband decided to take me in their car and I had a CT scan of my head and an x-ray of my hips and chest and I told him to go home and I would get a taxi home, which I did, still feeling very fragile and unwell.

 

The outcome is that I have a couple of wounds on the back of my head, one on my heel, bruising on my shoulders and damage to my lower spine, which I have to go and see the orthopaedic surgeon about next week?

 

Today I went to get the dressing on my head changed and the nurse said that if this was the fault of the motorbike taxi driver, then they were insured and I should claim from him, but how do you claim from someone who decided to do a "runner" after the incident? Not to worry, I said because I had paid it anyway.

 

So an eventful but an unenjoyable evening, which has left me in some pain and questioning why I really need to go to Patong centre, a place I don't enjoy any more and run the risk of all sorts of unsavoury incidents.

 

Moving away from that, the small laundry which opened up about six months ago at the bottom of my drive has closed and somebody who knew the owner said that the woman had borrowed money all over the place and had done a runner. This being one of the small "one-room" like shops in a very small enclave, which also included a Greek restaurant which was recently sold to Russians, plus a café which wasn't doing any business at all and which was sold and bought by someone who has turned it into a coffee and cannabis café, which doesn't seem to be doing much better?

 

The turnover of these small "enterprises" is very high and the above would be typical of what I'm seeing around Patong these days, yet just the other day the ex-girlfriend of a friend of mine asked me if I knew where there were any shops available for rent because she and a friend wanted to rent one and start a little travel advice bureau in it – – this without any experience in the industry at all, but with the burning desire to "open a shop".

 

When I asked her whether she had been seeking out any places that she could use, she basically said she hadn't, but anywhere would do, to which I replied that she really needed to be in an area with a great deal of foot traffic, so that she could sell to the tourists, something which seemed to be alien to her. I would put good money on it that whatever she opens will be destined to fail.

 

Still feeling a little fragile so I will endeavour to get a bit of rest, with the help of a couple of anti-inflammatories plus the antibiotics that the hospital prescribed for my head wounds, hoping that the damage to the base of my spine is not serious.
 

Faaark Xylo, been missing your recent news, sorry to hear, keep battling pal! Used to live Nanai 8, often figured up that slope would kill me living there. As to the english hard talk, Pattaya bars are overflowing with such trash talkers, permanently......." dont sweat, She ll be right mate"! 

[xylophone]

14 hours ago, HighPriority said:

I’m glad you’ve got some company xylo, I can’t imagine my ex coming to care for me though ! 🤣

 

Thanks HP, and as regards the ex/gf coming to look after me, well when we parted company many years ago I made the decision to ensure that both her and her daughter (now my unofficially adopted daughter) would not want for anything. So I provided them with a small business to run, and helped with building a house for her up in Phitsanulok, and of course have supported my daughter financially for all of these years, so we have been on good terms and they have been only too pleased to be able to repay my kindness by coming down to take care of me.

 

My daughter has moved down to Phuket and wants to stay here, so she will be close by in the future, which is a bonus.

 

I have got to say that I'm still in a great deal of pain and just about immobile, but the back pain I can put up with, however damage to my heel is extremely painful and the room spins don't seem to be getting any better, so I'm just hoping that time will be the healer!

 

Thanks for your concern HP, it is much appreciated.

[xylophone]

I thought I'd try and post something whilst sitting uncomfortably in my computer chair, although I haven't been out in the evenings in Patong, I have been out a few times to Bangkok Phuket hospital, accompanied by my daughter and her mother and also been to Big C here in Patong on about three or four occasions, clinging onto their shoulders whilst I shuffled along, trying hard not to fall over. And they have been great.

 

As regards Big C, I went along today and the long queues at the checkouts have disappeared, almost as if by magic, and many of those folk in those queues were Russians, with a few Chinese thrown in, so it would seem there has been an exodus, and coupled with the fact that the traffic has improved somewhat, I would appear to be right?

 

On that subject, whilst coming out of Big C there is a machine in which you put your parking card, and pay a fee so that you can exit the car parking area, but things were not going smoothly for a Russian woman this time! She was shouting at an employee, who I have to say handled himself very well, suggesting that the amount of 120 baht which was showing on the machine for her to pay to retrieve her card, was wrong and it wasn't her card!!

 

No matter how much she shouted at this guy, he basically said they could review the camera in the area and that would show if she had inserted her card and what the time of it was, therefore showing if the card was hers or not. He handled it well, and I had left before it was solved, but kudos to the Thai guy in this situation because he tried to explain what happens and she just wouldn't listen.

 

Staying on that nationality, the restaurant at the entrance to Nanai 6, "Santorini on Nanai" which was bought by Russians about three months ago, is now back on the market at a quite remarkable price of 2 million baht!!!! For this one gets a small restaurant type place which would seat probably eight people at best, and two chefs and a helper, according to the advertisement on Facebook!

 

It is being marketed by Russian estate agent and at 2 million baht is far and away in cloud cuckoo land, especially seeing that it is in a row of about five similar sized "shops" in which one would be lucky to be able to "swing a cat", one of which was a laundry and has been closed because of lack of business, but is now open again and bought by some other Thai lady hopefuls, and the only price point is that one of the shops of the same size sold for around 250,000 baht a short while ago, so the asking price for Santorini is either a joke, or they are hoping another desperate Russian will buy it?

 

Not only that, the recently refurbished and renamed hotel and restaurant just metres across the road from this, offers a substantial menu with different cuisines available, whereas Santorini has just Greek food. It will be interesting to see what happens to this.

 

Whilst my Thai daughter and her Thai mother (my ex-GF) were taking care of me, we would often discuss current events around the dinner table and according to them, the "word out on the streets" from the Thai community was not very favourable for the Russians here, with a number of instances being that the Russians ordered the Thai food in a café, ate a great deal of it and then suggested that it was no good or too spicy and refused to pay for it. This as well as a few of these folk doing a "runner" before paying the bill did not endear them to the Thai community in general by the sounds of it.

 

As I have not been out and about much at all, the above is all I have as regards the latest news in Patong!

[Agusts]

It's nice to hear you're recovering well, and it's so good to have some help..., I doubt any of my ex-gf would even call me in such circumstances...! 

 

As for Big C I have never used those parking machines, I always buy something and then take the receipt to the girl sitting next to the machine and get free parking, I should think most people qualify for that...! 

 

I noticed mention of a lot of bars and restaurants bought and sold at fairytale prices or even operated with no clients here, this is all to do with money laundering, I've seen it in some other Banana Republic countries, even at 25% loss cleaning of illegal money is big business, cash is used for buying or as daily revenue in legal businesses and then cleaned into legal bank account, very common practice..., don't be surprised...! 

 

[Olmate]

3 hours ago, Agusts said:

It's nice to hear you're recovering well, and it's so good to have some help..., I doubt any of my ex-gf would even call me in such circumstances...! 

 

As for Big C I have never used those parking machines, I always buy something and then take the receipt to the girl sitting next to the machine and get free parking, I should think most people qualify for that...! 

 

I noticed mention of a lot of bars and restaurants bought and sold at fairytale prices or even operated with no clients here, this is all to do with money laundering, I've seen it in some other Banana Republic countries, even at 25% loss cleaning of illegal money is big business, cash is used for buying or as daily revenue in legal businesses and then cleaned into legal bank account, very common practice..., don't be surprised...! 

 

Re the cleaning cash.Whole lot easier to become Chinese and visit Sydney Crown casino with suitcases stuffed with cash, no questions asked! 

[Patong2]

Glad to see you getting out and coming back to normal.

 

There is definitely lower numbers in Patong than the last few weeks. Traffic and pedestrians show that.

The piers for the cruise boats have gone and so have all the boat tenders to bring the passengers on shore.

Looks a little bare up that end now.

 

Still lots of crazy driving and I avoided a head on coming back to Patong on Friday night. Two crowded lanes of traffic heading up the hill and a lunatic pulled out on the blind corner and overtook as I was coming sedately down the other side. Completely on my side of the road and unusually I had nothing beside me so managed to squeeze off to the left and he missed by a hairsbreadth. We never miss honking the horn for luck at the temple at the top. With Patong Hill you need all the help you can get and something has managed to save us for many years.

 

During the day I was pulled in at Kathu at the police check and the cop actually had a careful look at my Thai licence for the first time ever.

 

As my wife is having temporary mobility problems we have been eating at restaurants that we can park very close to and in Patong there is not that many. Last night we felt like something different and went down to a Kazakhstan restaurant in Chalong. Great decor and it was very busy with only traditional Kazakstani dishes which are very meat based. Generous portions and good service. I think nearly everyone other than us were Russian and some of the ladies were very smartly dressed.

 

Have enjoyed both the tiny Mexican Taco place and also Le Bistrot at the south end of Nanai Rd a few times but have lost my easy parking at Santorini now the Hotel opposite has reopened. Shame because I enjoy the Greek food. 

 

Looking forward to a quieter time for a few months.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[xylophone]

2 hours ago, Patong2 said:

Glad to see you getting out and coming back to normal.

 

There is definitely lower numbers in Patong than the last few weeks. Traffic and pedestrians show that.

The piers for the cruise boats have gone and so have all the boat tenders to bring the passengers on shore.

Looks a little bare up that end now.

 

Still lots of crazy driving and I avoided a head on coming back to Patong on Friday night. Two crowded lanes of traffic heading up the hill and a lunatic pulled out on the blind corner and overtook as I was coming sedately down the other side. Completely on my side of the road and unusually I had nothing beside me so managed to squeeze off to the left and he missed by a hairsbreadth. We never miss honking the horn for luck at the temple at the top. With Patong Hill you need all the help you can get and something has managed to save us for many years.

 

During the day I was pulled in at Kathu at the police check and the cop actually had a careful look at my Thai licence for the first time ever.

 

As my wife is having temporary mobility problems we have been eating at restaurants that we can park very close to and in Patong there is not that many. Last night we felt like something different and went down to a Kazakhstan restaurant in Chalong. Great decor and it was very busy with only traditional Kazakstani dishes which are very meat based. Generous portions and good service. I think nearly everyone other than us were Russian and some of the ladies were very smartly dressed.

 

Have enjoyed both the tiny Mexican Taco place and also Le Bistrot at the south end of Nanai Rd a few times but have lost my easy parking at Santorini now the Hotel opposite has reopened. Shame because I enjoy the Greek food. 

 

Looking forward to a quieter time for a few months.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for your kind words and I think "normal" is quite a long way off yet what with the painful coccyx and the spinning/falling over sensations – – but time is a great healer.

 

I totally agree with your "lots of crazy driving" and I don't think I've ever experienced driving quite like this now and whether it is the locals going crazy or the Russians/dark Frenchies/Arabs of all descriptions just ignoring the basics of sane driving or just plain stupidity?

 

As regards the Greek restaurant, "Santorini on Nanai", well I did visit it a few times early on in the piece and thought the food was good, however it seemed to go downhill a while before it was sold, so maybe that was a portent to the final event?

 

I did manage to get a pizza from Da Mareno the other evening, and whether it is because they knew me, or "whatever", it was enormous and even though I cut it in half, I could barely get through the two halves over two days!!

 

I hope your wife's mobility problems are improving and please pass on my best regards to her.
 

[London Lowf]

11 hours ago, xylophone said:

I did manage to get a pizza from Da Mareno the other evening, and whether it is because they knew me, or "whatever", it was enormous and even though I cut it in half, I could barely get through the two halves over two days!!

 

Da Moreno is superb but, like you, I can barely manage half of their (Universale) pizza - maybe I need a girlfriend to share it with? I don't use doggy bags and it saddens me a little to abandon good food, but I always get over it with a few beers on Bangla afterwards although I struggle to get them down on a bloated belly!

 

Due to family commitments I will not be back on Phuket until mid-September. I am not enjoying my time back in cold, windy, wet Blighty.

 

 

[zzzzz]

Rode thru Patong yesterday from Jung Ceylon down to circle and up beach road,

FULL on traffic jam around 2 pm>

that Dam  "boxing, boxing" truck creates all the trouble
glad i dont live there

[HighPriority]

On 4/29/2024 at 1:04 PM, zzzzz said:

Rode thru Patong yesterday from Jung Ceylon down to circle and up beach road,

FULL on traffic jam around 2 pm>

that Dam  "boxing, boxing" truck creates all the trouble
glad i dont live there

🤣 as a visitor I love the boxing, boxing truck !

Id feel very different as a local though 👍🏼🤣

 

Great to hear xylophone is able to get out and about a little.

Im looking forward to getting back in a few weeks time, visit my dentist 😵‍💫 and then upcountry to see family.

Happy to hear of a Russian reduction…

[HighPriority]

Hey @xylophone how are you getting along ?

I hope you’re a bit more comfortable and mobile now ?

Ive been away for 5 years, some things the same, some different, Patong never stays still does it. 
The weed shops are to be seen to be believed, they outnumber 7-11 by 50 to 1 😳

Some rain would be welcome though…

 

[xylophone]

On 5/26/2024 at 3:51 PM, HighPriority said:

Hey @xylophone how are you getting along ?

I hope you’re a bit more comfortable and mobile now ?

Ive been away for 5 years, some things the same, some different, Patong never stays still does it. 
The weed shops are to be seen to be believed, they outnumber 7-11 by 50 to 1 😳

Some rain would be welcome though…

 

Good day HP, thank you for getting in touch and although the dizzy spells are continuing (and I must go back to the hospital to see a neurologist to find out why) my back is on the mend and I'm starting to sleep a little better, as well as walk a little better!

 

Agree with you regarding the weed shops and there are loads of them, yet I've never seen one which is busy, and what with the government dillydallying about banning weed or similar, I don't hold out much hope for their future, but then again TIT, so one never knows.

 

I haven't been out of an evening to Bangla or Blue Beach for two months since my accident, although a friend of mine did and said that Bangla was nowhere near as crowded as it has been, but then that happens about this time every year, so no surprise. On that note I must endeavour to get out one evening, just to get me out of a rut, although moving apartments has been an "eye-opener" because I never thought I could cram so much rubbish (including my divorce papers from the UK in 1981) into a small apartment (my previous one) so I've had to throw a lot of stuff away, which is probably for the best.

 

Although I haven't been out of an evening, I have been driving (and been driven) backwards and forwards trying to help with the move and even then I have seen some changes, especially with regards to bars being vacated, and something which mirrors the general "Thai business attitude" would be the reopening of the very small laundry at the bottom of my road, by another couple of Thai women, and this laundry has failed three times in the past through lack of business, so I don't know how these folks think they're going to make it work?

 

Within 15 mtrs of this is the former Greek restaurant, now owned by Russians which also is struggling for business, so I don't give it long. Almost opposite that is the large restaurant which belongs to the recently opened and renamed Chang hotel (now Diva) and although that is advertising, again not many clients – – sign of the times I do believe.

 

The bar in Soi Banzaan which was opened in place of the former bar and guesthouse, Canada House, has also folded due to lack of business.....and the beat goes on, in the words of the song.

 

That's about it for now HP as I'm feeling a little fatigued, which seems to happen with regular monotony after my accident, so I will sign off and also hope that you are well.
 

[HighPriority]

Geez, that sounds like a hell of a concussion Xylo, best to chase it up. 
Congrats on your new digs too. 
 

I had a chat with the manager of the Aussie Bar on Bangla, nice outgoing type, he seems fairly happy with Bangla for this time of year. 
I’m in Phon Phisai at the moment but he offered to replay the Carlton v Port AFL game when I get back. 
Can’t complain about that 👍🏼

[grumpyoldman]

May 30 last post? Seems the Xylo blog has dropped off since ol boy had his accident.

 

Xylo, we hope your health is on the mend mister. I'm sure some of the pubs are missing those golden vocal chords.

 

Maybe we should start a new thread "Reporting from Bangla", the sewer smells not as bad since the rains, girl drinks are still way over the top expensive, Suzie Wongs still a lot of fun, thwack!

[xylophone]

6 minutes ago, grumpyoldman said:

May 30 last post? Seems the Xylo blog has dropped off since ol boy had his accident.

 

Xylo, we hope your health is on the mend mister. I'm sure some of the pubs are missing those golden vocal chords.

 

Maybe we should start a new thread "Reporting from Bangla", the sewer smells not as bad since the rains, girl drinks are still way over the top expensive, Suzie Wongs still a lot of fun, thwack!

Thanks for your concern GOM, and am on the mend although the fractured coxxyx still gives me a bit of pain, making sleeping and sitting a little difficult.

 

i would love to be out singing a song or two in Red Hot or Blue Beach Cafe and restaurant, but sitting on hard stools/chairs is painful after a few minutes, so have not ventured out since my accident at the end of April, although I keep promising to catch up with friends in Bangla.......but to be perfectly honest, Bangla has lost its allure for me now and I enjoy staying in my new condo, enjoying a nice meal and sampling one of the red wines from my collection.

 

If I do go out then I will post here.....but as you say, maybe time for a new thread????

 

 

[xylophone]

On 7/6/2024 at 10:27 PM, xylophone said:

If I do go out then I will post here.....but as you say, maybe time for a new thread????

"maybe time for a new thread"

 

Or not, as the case may be, because although I haven't been out to Bangla or its environs of a night time, in three months, I did venture out yesterday to catch up with an Aussie friend at Starbucks (the one almost attached to Big C).

 

We hadn't been seated for long before a group of Chinese consisting of around five adults and just as many children if not more, came into the place and just a few minutes later it was impossible to hear my friend speaking, with the noise, loud speaking/shouting and screams drowning out any chance of conversation.

 

I let that go on for a few minutes and because the noise didn't abate, and I was getting totally pi$$ed off about it, I turned to this group and shouted at the top of my voice for them to "shut up" gesturing with my hand across my mouth at the same time. They did take notice and immediately decided to move out of the place and I wondered about the "frightened" look on the male's face, and it was then that I realised that I had my knife in my hand (I was eating a muffin at the time) so perhaps that scared him?

 

Having said that, I have experienced this, year upon year since the Chinese invasion and they just have no manners, no social skills and no concern for others around them, in whatever they do – – and to top the lot, my mind keeps flashing back to the same Starbucks a few years back when a Chinese guy decided to clip his toenails on one of the tables. Absolutely unbelievable and disgusting.

 

Jumping around a little here, I have found that the prepared food counter in the Tops supermarket provided me with an outlet for an evening meal without having to cook it, so on a few occasions I put some items together and took them home to eat with my red wine. Made for a nice change, however just a couple of days ago when I went back to do the same thing, imagine my surprise when the prices had increased some 40% over my previous visit about a week prior. I shall be very careful about what I pick and choose from the selection, although I can afford it, I don't like being ripped off.

 

What with all of the idiots and their lack of road manners or etiquette, the last thing one needs is for the condition of the roads to deteriorate even further, but that has happened in Soi Banzaan where it appears a drain under the road has collapsed and the concrete covering it has also dropped because of this collapse and it has become decidedly unsafe for anyone on a motorbike, or even a car for that matter. So with all of the revenue which is supposedly coming in from the tourists, I am waiting to see how long it is before something is done about it, or the whole lot collapses into a very large hole – – I wait with bated breath.

 

With the state of the roads in Patong it wouldn't surprise me if any funds allocated to road maintenance have been "spirited away" by the powers that be.

[JetsetBkk]

6 minutes ago, xylophone said:

... since the Chinese invasion and they just have no manners, no social skills and no concern for others around them, in whatever they do 

I met a similar group a few days ago while shopping in BigC: a dozen or so, half of them kids, totally blocking the aisle, too absorbed in their own world to notice others trying to get past them. 😖

[xylophone]

Although I haven't been to Bangla or the other nightspots since my accident just over three months ago, I did arrange to meet up with a few friends last night at an Italian restaurant that I hadn't been to in about eight years, La Capannina in Soi Nanai 2 and was very pleased that I did. Luckily it is only a short hop from my new Condo, so no problem in getting there.

 

I can honestly say that I had the best Italian meal I've ever had in my life last night and it was so good that I made a pig of myself, eating far more than I really should have. The antipasto was superb and plentiful and the accompanying pizzas were varied and very tasty.

 

The restaurant was empty apart from one other table and the owner, Mario, came to the table to say hello and remembered me after all of those years, which was surprising, although maybe not so much because a group of around 8 to 10 of us used to visit Italian restaurants on a Tuesday night, calling ourselves the, "Italian Food and Wine Appreciation Society" (IFAWAS) and this restaurant was a favourite of ours.

 

I will obviously go back after this experience and not only was the food great, but Mario and his staff were extremely friendly and made us feel very welcome – – a great night.
 

[DrDave]

On 7/14/2024 at 5:40 AM, xylophone said:

Although I haven't been to Bangla or the other nightspots since my accident just over three months ago, I did arrange to meet up with a few friends last night at an Italian restaurant that I hadn't been to in about eight years, La Capannina in Soi Nanai 2 and was very pleased that I did. Luckily it is only a short hop from my new Condo, so no problem in getting there.

. . .

 

I haven't been in Patong for a few years, but I recall that there was some sort of connection between La Capannina on Soi 2, and Pizzeria Da Moreno on Nanai.  Possibly owned by the same family?  Both are outstanding restaurants.

[xylophone]

14 hours ago, DrDave said:

I haven't been in Patong for a few years, but I recall that there was some sort of connection between La Capannina on Soi 2, and Pizzeria Da Moreno on Nanai.  Possibly owned by the same family?  Both are outstanding restaurants.

Quite right DrDave, they are both owned by the same family with the father Mario running the main restaurant and "hotel", La Capannina, whilst the son runs Da Moreno and he has just opened another restaurant up, but not quite sure where it is??
As you say, outstanding restaurants serving outstanding food.

[London Lowf]

6 hours ago, xylophone said:

the son runs Da Moreno and he has just opened another restaurant up, but not quite sure where it is??

 

There's a Da Moreno in Cherngtalay, almost opposite the big Lotus - it's been there for a couple of years.

 

[LivinginKata]

7 hours ago, xylophone said:

Quite right DrDave, they are both owned by the same family with the father Mario running the main restaurant and "hotel", La Capannina, whilst the son runs Da Moreno and he has just opened another restaurant up, but not quite sure where it is??
As you say, outstanding restaurants serving outstanding food.

 

As I understand it Bruno owns/manages the hotel Palma Resort.  This Mario I thought brother/family first open an Italian restaurant over 15 years ago at the newly built 'Resort' (cant remember the name, still empty, being remodel these past 10 years as condos) on Nanai Road south/opposite of Makro but that place closed after just a few years. Bruno seemed to set up  a catering supplies business on Nanai 2 opposite the Palma Resort, AFAIK Bruno manages the hotel and restaurant Capannina. This might old info as I rarely visit our apartments on Nanai 2. Be honest I never see Bruno and only see Mario tese last couple of years. Mario closed the catering supplies shop during covid. Never open again from my observations. 

[pasathai]

miss that little group of bars just off beach road where the Clinic bar was.

 

Grillhutte Restaurant was a nice place too

 

[xylophone]

As I've posted previously, I've not been out and about much since my motorbike accident, however the coccyx is gradually healing and a little more information coming shortly, but for now a couple of observations: –

 

The "recovery" after Covid has been very patchy, and some areas have been okay, such as Bangla, whereas others seem to be struggling and Nanai Road would be one of them. The "Blue Sky" bar (opposite the entrance to Soi Banzaan from Nanai) appears to be permanently closed and that has changed owners three times over the past couple of years and never seems to have been a success, and is not hard to see why that is when you look at the location and its size.

 

A little further along, south, is the "Rock Bar" which was doing pretty well under its previous genial Australian owner, but since he sold it, custom seems to have dropped off quite markedly and when passing by and looking at the forlorn new owner, I wonder if he regrets buying it?

 

Almost opposite is the "Chang" bar, which although larger than most bars, rarely seems to have any customers in it?? Having said that, I don't ever recall there being that many customers in it at any time since its inception.

 

A few other bars in Nanai are suffering the same fate – – lack of customers and it will be interesting to see how long these last.

 

Getting back to Soi Banzaan, that Soi is an absolute disgrace, with a couple of the very large metal drain grills sinking a couple of inches which makes it perilous for a motorcycle driver, not to mention the very large crack/dent in the road a little further down which surely shows signs of a drain being broken under the road and it's getting bigger, and as if to paint an even darker picture, the end of the Soi, where it meets the middle road has broken up and despite efforts to repair it in the past, it is still broken and dangerous.

 

Having said that, it has made me notice the disgraceful and perilous state of the roads in Patong, in the main, and although the road south of the strange roundabout, is being re-laid, I wonder how long that will last and I'm not sure if it's the amount of traffic which is responsible for the poor condition of the roads, or the poor workmanship when roads are being "re-laid"?

 

Now for some brighter news......I took my Thai daughter to hospital because of a problem she had and decided to go to Bangkok Phuket Siriroj (previously Phuket International Hospital) because I have a friend who works there and wanted to know which doctor would have been best for her to see, and he gave me the name of a very good doctor who had previously excised the cancerous lesion on my chest, so I was happy about that.

 

I have to say that it was the best hospital experience I've had here, even though I've previously posted good things about the Bangkok Phuket Hospital, this one topped the lot because everything ran like clockwork and when I mentioned to the doctor that I was still feeling a little pain from my fractured coccyx four months ago, he said he could do an x-ray there and then and passed me on to his orthopaedic doctor/friend for an opinion – – so I took him up on that, after making sure that my daughter was fully taken care of.

 

X-ray completed in quick time, consultation with the orthopaedic surgeon, who said that the fracture was slowly healing and that I still have to take care with it, and a chat with the original Doctor and we were set to go to pay the bill, which I thought might be a little high, however imagine my surprise when the bill came to just over 3000 baht, and I couldn't believe it because my daughter and I had been seen by two different doctors and I'd had an x-ray, and she was also given some medication, so the bill seemed extremely light to me.

 

In light of the above I will make the Siriroj hospital my hospital of choice from now on and will probably book a colonoscopy there within the next few months, as I am well overdue one.

 

I was very pleased to get Tuesday out of the way!

[Agusts]

I was in Rock Bar recently, and noticed it was empty of all patrons, jokingly told the new lady manger she needs to get some pretty girls to get the punters in. But she said we don't want to be that kind of bar, just the sports bar...! 

 

It is also the low season now, so perhaps regulars will return later in the year. 

 

And of course I was there for my fix of the "Rock Burger", and happy to say she said they have the same chef and it was excellent as usual, by far the best burger in town for value for money and everything properly cooked and very tasty. I highly recommend giving it a try... 

 

As for Soi Banzan, I noticed they finally brought down that half constructed old building after some 20 years that I remember..., which was narrowing the street in the middle. I wondered when they are going to widen this bottkeneck which causes terrible traffic jams at times - because only one car can go through there at a time...! 

[zzzzz]

20 hours ago, xylophone said:

As I've posted previously, I've not been out and about much since my motorbike accident, however the coccyx is gradually healing and a little more information coming shortly, but for now a couple of observations: –

 

The "recovery" after Covid has been very patchy, and some areas have been okay, such as Bangla, whereas others seem to be struggling and Nanai Road would be one of them. The "Blue Sky" bar (opposite the entrance to Soi Banzaan from Nanai) appears to be permanently closed and that has changed owners three times over the past couple of years and never seems to have been a success, and is not hard to see why that is when you look at the location and its size.

 

A little further along, south, is the "Rock Bar" which was doing pretty well under its previous genial Australian owner, but since he sold it, custom seems to have dropped off quite markedly and when passing by and looking at the forlorn new owner, I wonder if he regrets buying it?

 

Almost opposite is the "Chang" bar, which although larger than most bars, rarely seems to have any customers in it?? Having said that, I don't ever recall there being that many customers in it at any time since its inception.

 

A few other bars in Nanai are suffering the same fate – – lack of customers and it will be interesting to see how long these last.

 

Getting back to Soi Banzaan, that Soi is an absolute disgrace, with a couple of the very large metal drain grills sinking a couple of inches which makes it perilous for a motorcycle driver, not to mention the very large crack/dent in the road a little further down which surely shows signs of a drain being broken under the road and it's getting bigger, and as if to paint an even darker picture, the end of the Soi, where it meets the middle road has broken up and despite efforts to repair it in the past, it is still broken and dangerous.

 

Having said that, it has made me notice the disgraceful and perilous state of the roads in Patong, in the main, and although the road south of the strange roundabout, is being re-laid, I wonder how long that will last and I'm not sure if it's the amount of traffic which is responsible for the poor condition of the roads, or the poor workmanship when roads are being "re-laid"?

 

Now for some brighter news......I took my Thai daughter to hospital because of a problem she had and decided to go to Bangkok Phuket Siriroj (previously Phuket International Hospital) because I have a friend who works there and wanted to know which doctor would have been best for her to see, and he gave me the name of a very good doctor who had previously excised the cancerous lesion on my chest, so I was happy about that.

 

I have to say that it was the best hospital experience I've had here, even though I've previously posted good things about the Bangkok Phuket Hospital, this one topped the lot because everything ran like clockwork and when I mentioned to the doctor that I was still feeling a little pain from my fractured coccyx four months ago, he said he could do an x-ray there and then and passed me on to his orthopaedic doctor/friend for an opinion – – so I took him up on that, after making sure that my daughter was fully taken care of.

 

X-ray completed in quick time, consultation with the orthopaedic surgeon, who said that the fracture was slowly healing and that I still have to take care with it, and a chat with the original Doctor and we were set to go to pay the bill, which I thought might be a little high, however imagine my surprise when the bill came to just over 3000 baht, and I couldn't believe it because my daughter and I had been seen by two different doctors and I'd had an x-ray, and she was also given some medication, so the bill seemed extremely light to me.

 

In light of the above I will make the Siriroj hospital my hospital of choice from now on and will probably book a colonoscopy there within the next few months, as I am well overdue one.

 

I was very pleased to get Tuesday out of the way!

try mission,  i find it excellent service and quality care

Yesterday had a follow up on Pneumonia  i caught which resulted in a 3 night stay there 12 days ago) 
Chest Xray, blood work , Meds ( 750)  and Dr consultation ( 500)  2,490 baht 

[xylophone]

1 hour ago, zzzzz said:

try mission,  i find it excellent service and quality care

Yesterday had a follow up on Pneumonia  i caught which resulted in a 3 night stay there 12 days ago) 
Chest Xray, blood work , Meds ( 750)  and Dr consultation ( 500)  2,490 baht 

Is that a Government Hospital?? I seem to remember accompanying a friend along there a few years back and he was waiting well over an hour to be seen by the doc?

[zzzzz]

It's a private hospital that provides Social Insurance treatments from the Thai government. Mission hospital is a medical institution established in the 1940s by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

when i first went in 2 weeks ago, i was seeing a dr nurse in 2 minutes and a dr in 5
when i had my appt, waited 10 minutes  but i was early>

I have been using them for years,  YES Bangkok -phuket and Siriroj are pushed for Farangs, but they cost more for the same care and service,   

Cost wise its alot less than the 2 international ones, BUT maybe 35% higher than the government ones ( Vachira , Patong, Thalang)  but the quality is far better>

waited an hour?  sure it could happen if there has been a rush of people showing up to,  but down a hospital cause 1 person had to wait.......
I went in once about 8 years ago with a busted collarbone  and had a shot of morphine within 5 minutes 

 

got insurance? of course go for the most expensive .
 

[xylophone]

On 8/1/2024 at 1:37 AM, Agusts said:

I was in Rock Bar recently, and noticed it was empty of all patrons, jokingly told the new lady manger she needs to get some pretty girls to get the punters in. But she said we don't want to be that kind of bar, just the sports bar...! 

 

It is also the low season now, so perhaps regulars will return later in the year. 

 

And of course I was there for my fix of the "Rock Burger", and happy to say she said they have the same chef and it was excellent as usual, by far the best burger in town for value for money and everything properly cooked and very tasty. I highly recommend giving it a try... 

 

As for Soi Banzan, I noticed they finally brought down that half constructed old building after some 20 years that I remember..., which was narrowing the street in the middle. I wondered when they are going to widen this bottkeneck which causes terrible traffic jams at times - because only one car can go through there at a time...! 

Agree with you on the food aspect as regards the Rock Bar, because a friend of mine used to go there specifically for the Rock Burger, but now he's gone back to England so they have lost his custom! I may be wrong, but I suspect that one of the reasons the patrons visited the Rock Bar was also to have a chat with the genial Aussie owner, whilst having a beer or two, but I do believe the new owner is Eastern European?? So maybe there are not too many of these folk around who would venture in for a drink?

 

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

 

It would also explain why nothing has been done about the very large depression/crack further on down the road, as well as the terrible condition of the surface where the Soi joins the main "middle road". Having said that, something will have to be done about the large depression/crack because the way it is looking, it is going to end up being a very large hole, probably large enough to fit a car in if it carries on like this!