Gossip suggests imminent changes to Dongtan beach...

[Marsilius]

As if the last changes - the loss of the chairs in favour of recliners, much-restricted space for concessionaires and weekly beach-free Wednesdays - weren't enough, I overheard on the beach this morning two farang gossiping about even more to come.

Maybe their words were completely unfounded or maybe I've missed a report in the Pattaya Mail, but according to them:

1. During the coming low season all concessionaires will be required to re-apply for their current licences.
2. All are allowed to re-apply but, if successful, (a) will only be granted a single concession area (apparently some currently hold more than one), and (b) any newly awarded concession will not necessarily be in the same location as heretofore. Thus, on our next visit we may need to go hunting along the beach to find Rit, or whoever else you favour, in some new spot - or else find that he isn't there at all and that perhaps he's been replaced by an operator preferring to cater to the straight market.

This may, of course, be idle gossip of a couple of bored and ill-informed farang and without any foundation at all. If any of it is true, however, it sounds like either another typically Thai instance of more bureaucracy for its own sake - or perhaps yet one more initiative to disrupt the Pattaya sex scene.

[frequent]

beach-free WednesdaysMind-boggling

bored and I'll-informed queens and without any foundation at allA queen without her foundation!!More mind-boggling

[latintopxxx]

Is the beach still concession free on Wednesday or is everything back to normal?

[Marsilius]

I asked Rit today and he said that he was not operating tomorrow. Wednesday ban is still in force, it seems.

[mahjongguy]

It's true that the changes you mention have been discussed by City Council. The Wednesday "nature day" may be extended to include Thursday as well.

"...perhaps yet one more initiative to disrupt the Pattaya sex scene."

There's no basis for saying that, none at all. This is about corruption, another battle in the government's war to re-assert control over public spaces.

[latintopxxx]

caught late morning bus from ekamai to Pattaya, was at dongtang by 2pm...was rather lovely...quite a few beach lovers enjoying the beach...using towels and reed mats to ly on...going for swims..idylic scene actually...no noise...no unnecessary business...I sourced my beers from the corner 7-11 by the police station until i discovered a shrivelled old lady selling drinks next to the rabbit resort.
I would fully support halving the number of deck chair concessions...have 30 meter gaps between them ...much more natural...at one stage I found the situation totally riduculous...deck chairs/loungers stretching to the waters edge...like wheres the beach..
Anyway hope to squeeze in another 1/2 day today...gotta be back in BKK this early evening for work commitments...just like a MB I too need to work for my money...

[arsenal]

Oi! Sexual Deviant:
Travelling cargo on a Chinese airline. Staying in the cheapest hostel available. Taking the bus. Buying beers from cheap hawkers. Oh deary me, the picture emerging of you is rather different than the one you have tried to portray for so long.

[latintopxxx]

Wrong arse troll....I've never portrayed myself as a big spender, quite the opposite.....or have u not been reading my informative posts carefully. I love a bargain...be it mb arse or a flight ticket or a hotel room. Besides after several scary taxi rides I feel a lot safer in a bus. And FYI I did prime a1 mb arse yesterday evening and another at 9 this morning ....the 9am mb I lined up already yesterday morning....ones gotta plan ahead. Both cost 800 for 90 min, yes that's right 800....nothing more. Now go crawl back under that rock u share with Scott.

[latintopxxx]

Oh well, all good things have to come to an end, wrapping up my short spur of the moment stay in Pattaya. Glad to report that I like the look of the beach ever since the new regulations were imposed. Lot less empty loungers cluttering the beach, good 15m stretch of open beach between the loungers and the water. On the down side a real butch hottie I booked for 1pm ghosted on me. Maybe the bht700 was too low😖😫😩

[arsenal]

The recent clean up of Dongtan Beach has, I understand included the removal of a horrible greasy oily slick that appeared a day or so ago. Can anyone confirm this?

[latintopxxx]

Will be gone by 3pm.....guaranteed

[mahjongguy]

So now it's official, though details are scarce.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/breakingnews/30313545

[gerefan2]

So now it's official, though details are scarce.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/breakingnews/30313545

None of those figures add up correctly! TiT