Diary Patong
18.February.2003
Big pool party at Safari every night until 6 AM!!!
17.February.2003
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| Maka Bucha Day 2002 Photo: Bangkok Post |
Anyone that came to Patong last night to party, would be forgiven to think police had raided every bar and closed them down.
Don't worry it was not a crackdown on bars, but Makha Bucha Day. A holy day for Buddhists.
As a farang the day is only another public holiday, but I wished I had remembered to go to a temple at 9 PM when candles is lighted, like in the picture. Looks very beautiful with all the candles lighted. Instead we lighted some candles in the room.
As useal when the bars are closed, the cool people hang out around 7-eleven and Soi SanSabai.
16.February.2003
Today is the first major Buddhist festival of the year, Makha Bucha Day. All bars are closed and shops are not allowed to sell alcohol.
15.February.2003
Good to see that at least one Go-Go bar have pussy show. Patong is not so death that I thought at all. Shooting balloons is always fun to watch, especially when she miss all the time. But make sure you don't open the door when she miss!!!
So many Go-Go bars have new names. Maybe they was closed down and reopened under new names.
Valentine’s Day was so beautiful with flowers everywhere. VIP had roses on all tables, very romantic.
Tiger was raided by police at midnight, checking for drugs. Demanding everyone that hadn't escaped to provide urine sample for drug-testing. But a large number of tourists, mostly foreigners, managed to escape.
Lucky for us we didn't go to Tiger. Police should let people alone to celebrate Valentine's Day.
14.February.2003
Today is Valentine’s Day and the rumor say that Safari will be open to 6 AM, see you there for some fun.
13.February.2003
New Thai management will reopen Shark Club under the name Star Wars.
We will see if it can reach the popularity of Shark Club. It's not enough to just reopen and think they will have the same popularity.
Maroot Tainikom, who also manages the nearby Tiger disco, told Phuket Gazette: "Thais like me will operate the business, with no disgusting dressing, and no drugs". "Our staff will screen the customers. I really need to build up a new image of this place."
I am very happy that we soon will have a large disco that can compete with Tiger and Banana. But please don't make it a dull place where girls can't have some fun. But of course nobody wants drugs, either farang or Thai.
A friend told me that Safari had full moon party last night from 9 PM to 10 AM. How could they stay open all night?
9.February.2003
Pictures are from Phuket Gay Pride Parade in Patong today.
For more pictures click here
6.February.2003
Sun from a clear sky. Water warm, calm and crystal clear. So many good beaches to choose from. Evergreen hills. Thai massage in the room for only 100 baht per hour. Phuket is paradise!
Patong had a bus accident last evening. The bus with 17 tourists was bound for Phuket Fantasea when it failed to negotiate a curve in the downhill after Safari.
(Source: Phuket Gazette and a friend)
We all know that in Thailand many bus drivers think they are driving a Formula One car. Police are still investigating the cause of the crash.
Before I could go out when I wanted, but now I only can go out when I don't wan't. That's "New social order" for me in Thailand.
After closing time there are several places in Soi SanSabai where you can drink all night, but be careful so you don't talk to loud or God forbid want to party.
It can be very crazy in Soi SanSabai at 2 AM closing time when a large crowd of people is gathering here. Last night a Tuk-Tuk got in trouble, with police rushing to the place.
31.January.2003
Weather in January has been very good with sun, sun and more sun!
28.January.2003
Why you stop me??? I am here on holiday!!!
Overheard from a angry tourist stopped by police at Karon Circle while driving motorbike at a large police control yesterday.
Living cost for Thais have increased lately with food getting very expensive. Before 20-30 Baht for a meal but now 35-45 Baht. My girlfriend say too much farang is driving prices up.
22.January.2003
Back from Phi Phi. Good to be back in Patong!
Ton Sai in January is best to be avoided if you want a quiet beach holiday. First time for me to visit these beautiful islands in January and it will also be the last time. Next time we go in April instead.
Ton Sai Village resembles Patong more and more for every year with construction going on all the time. Only difference is all the young people that flock to Ton Sai and Long Beach. Ton Sai like Patong is growing every year.
With so many young people, nightlife in Ton Sai is much crazier than "sleepy" Patong where we have too many people over 30 year including myself.
A good thing about Phi Phi Don is that Ton Sai have much more freedom than Patong. I don't know when the bars close but at a busy night it was still rocking at 3 AM.
Two of my favorite bars is Apache Bar at the water waterfront and Reggae Bar & Disco on the hill at the back of Ton Sai Village.
Reggae Bar have Thai Kick boxing from 10 PM, looked very popular. And later in the night a very good place for dancing.
Apache Bar have Cabaret show on Mondays, rest of the time a good place for dancing.
Ton Sai don't have cars or motorbikes instead bicycles and goods transport make walking in peace impossible. Unlike Patong where we can walk without being afraid of that a bicycle will hit us.
What I miss about Phi Phi is that not so many Thai girls stay here except for when they go with their boyfriends.
Phi Phi is very beautiful and Ton Sai Village is growing and growing with shops, restaurants, massage, guesthouses, bungalows etc. everywhere.
And no problem with money anymore with ATM's several places. Good for me since we always use more money then I expect.
Stayed one week this time instead of a few days thanks to the ATM. Wanted to stay one or two days more but as often happen I got sick in Phi Phi with high fever.
But it's also good to be back in quiet Patong where the daily life is moving in a slow tempo.
Was lucky to find a good room for 1000 baht at Phi Phi Inn only a short walk from the pier and the beach. We like to stay here in high season since the room is good and cheap unlike some other places on the beach.
Many people going to Phi Phi in January are expecting to find a bungalow on the beach for 200-300 baht. Using long time to check out bungalows after bungalows only to find out it's impossible.
Rates in January are very high and more bungalows than before have air condition, pressing rates even higher. Looks like everyone is going to Phi Phi in January.
My best advice is to try Long beach but I forgot to check out rates and it may not be so cheap anymore with lots of young people from Scandinavia. There are signs in Ton Sai with room to 350-500 baht, so it should be possible to find a cheap room away from the beach if you are not too choosy.
There are guesthouses everywhere but the one I checked out was expensive at 650 baht, with a small and dirty room.
Ton Sai beach is not so good for swimming and relaxing with boats after boats anchored up along a large part of the beach, except for a small area where we could swim. Hope there will be less boats in April.
The water surrounding Phi Phi islands is so beautiful with very clear green water. Can see the fish swimming near the surface without using mask. Many good places for snorkeling but some days too much waves, other days calm water.
If you go to Phi Phi, stay a few days. Don't go on a day trip. Too long trip just for staying there 3 hours or so. Stay a few days and see much more of Phi Phi Islands and take time to party. But if you want a quiet holiday, don't stay in Ton Sai Village. Ferry to Phi Phi from Phuket cost around 350-550 baht for a open ticket two ways.
16.January.2003
Going to Phi Phi tomorrow for a few days. Can't wait since I love Phi Phi. Since it's January it can be difficult to find a room but hope to be lucky! Will have updates about Phi Phi when I come back.
14.January.2003
Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Maleenond is to visit Phuket on Wednesday as the national campaign to improve “social order” continues.
(Source: Phuket Gazette)
Bar girls has been told to cover up, no sexy top.
I wished meter taxis was available in Patong. It would make it much easier to travel around.
Meter taxis don't operate from Patong because Tuk-Tuk drivers do not allow it. Only way that I know of is to flag down a taxi in Phuket Town. In Phuket Town there should be no problem after what we have been told.
Tried to get phone number to a meter taxi but the driver wouldn't give it, he told us to go to Phuket Town if we wanted a taxi.
Travel with a Tuk-Tuk you never know what will happen, will the driver care to take us where we want or has he other plans. Will he pick us up later or will he just forget us while we wait and wait for him to come back. You never know with a Tuk-Tuk, in worst case you are stuck far from home.
That happened when together with some friends we arranged to go to Surin with a Tuk-Tuk.
The price for the whole trip was agreed on and off we go. But soon he stopped the car showing us a map and asking where we wanted to go. Like he didn't known where Kamala that would be our first stop where. Later he again stopped the car asking us if we wanted to go elephant trekking or going to a shop (most likely a jewelry). No, no and no, we thought he was crazy stopping all the time.
When we arrived at Kamala we told him to take the road to the left up the hill to see the viewpoint overlooking Patong Bay, but instead he throw us all out of the car while he turned around going back to Patong.
Crazy Tuk-Tuk driver, no money for him. If he wanted more money he could asked for it and not just dump us when we didn't want going to a shop.
Lucky for us he dumped us at Kamala Beach and not the viewpoint where it would be very difficult to get transport back.
Soon another Tuk-Tuk stopped and this time we was lucky, very good man, no problem with him. Taking us everywhere we wanted without complaining and he picked us up from Surin Beach at the same time we agreed upon. Wished everybody was like him, very good man!!!
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| Bang Tao Beach |
At the south end of Bang Tao beach it looks like a new hotel is being build. I think it's a hotel anyway.
And at the viewpoint overlooking Patong Bay up the hill past Kamala Terrace Resort where it before was nothing, a bar is now to be found but without Heineken.
That can only mean that not to many tourists go here but I am sure it will pick up since the road is in perfect condition, not like last time I was here with big rocks blocking part of the road and the viewpoint is very beautiful.
And so can I go on telling about new constructions, don't look like it will never stop.
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| Bar at the viewpoint overlooking Patong Bay |
Popular Laem Singh Beach is more popular then ever judging from all of the motorbikes and cars lining the road.
