This story, which is headlined "Collapse in China arrivals" may boost your morale https://www.bangkokpost.com/business...mperils-target
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This story, which is headlined "Collapse in China arrivals" may boost your morale https://www.bangkokpost.com/business...mperils-target
I also noticed the absence of huge Chinese tour buses dropping the tourists off in front of the Mike Shopping Mall. On a stroll down Walking Street I only saw two tour groups. Lots of Indians, though.
Every night Nom and I would survey Boyztown from the 5 Th floor of the Ambiance. Over the time I was there the soi was often deserted.
And on the odd occasion that Panorama had some customers, they all left as soon as the rain came belting down.
Every now and then small groups of Chinese tourists would walk down the soi, gawking at any gays they could find.
I fear the Chinese are doing what the Japanese did in Hawaii - buy up all the hotels and clubs and a couple of seafood restaurants and then just do package tours with everything paid for in China before they leave.
Once Le Cafe Royale and the Ambiance renovations are finished, just in time for high season, I guess there will be an influx of Chinese tourists. And room charges will no doubt sky-rocket.
That will certainly revitalise Boyztown, but the locals, including the working guys, probably won't benefit much. Everything will be kept in-house.
Agreed, a447, Boyztown has been very, very quiet since at least mid September, and Pattaya overall is very quiet. Yep, very few Chinese, and almost no Chinese bus groups, sitting at Beach road coffee shops, I see Chinese solo travelers couples, something you didn't see often in past. But no large groups, and no buses clogging traffic. It is easy to cross Beach road any time of day now, cos there is very little traffic.
There aren't even that many Indians here now either, allthough they are still majority of people on streets. Almost no Russians. It is very quiet in Pattaya, not sure is it good or bad.
It is raining every day now, last October it definitely didn't rain so much, some days it rains 20 minutes, yesterday rained all day, and drizzled all night, streets were empty, and bars of course dead.
We were sitting with Australian friend at Starbucks on Beach road yesterday, a good spot for people watching, and that is his main hunting ground for girls who walk by, yesterday he was not happy, because while we were sitting outside for couple of hours, almost no one passed by.
Pattaya feels very different when it is so quiet.
There have been reports in the Thai press of a downturn in Chinese visitors; apparently, there have been incidents of conflict between the locals and Chinese visitors which have been widely publicised in China.
We won't be in Pattaya for a few days but, here in Chiang Mai, the domination of the Chinese market is apparent, though curiously less pronounced in our hotel than has been the case in previous stays over the past three years.
Coincidentally, I was responding only a few minutes ago to a friend in the UK on this very subject. I sat in my usual bar near Thapae and counted the first thirty pedestrians who walked past...not passengers in tuk-tuks and buses obviously. Unscientific though this was it still represents fairly what I have seen.
Six were Thais, five falangs and nineteen were Chinese. They are distinguished not just by facial appearance but by clothing and the ubiquitous small back-packs many of them wear.
Oliver2, your observations regarding Chinese tourists in Chiang Mai are the same as mine.
I was at Thapae Gate every day after my massage at Classic and there were lots of young couples out and about.
And I didn't see any tour buses, either.
They were entertained at night by a band or a solo singer to keep them all happy.
The tourists visiting the Sunday Street Market and the food market just off the street were also mostly Chinese.
Excellent news. Thank you.
I have been told that the Entire Cafe royale is being turned into a Music & Karaoke club
The ground floor will have a live band followed by karaoke
Whilst the upstairs rooms will all be VIP karaoke rooms... Similar in style to the KTVs that you see on Xtube etc.
By the way, whilst the Chinese package tours might not spend much, the Chinese gays certainly do, I have seen them drop 20,000B on a night in NAB without any thoughts. They are Also more generous with their tips than the average farang, and don't think twice about buying the latest iPhone for a boy that they have offed 3-4 nights
Have also seen Straight Chinese guys flinging 1000B bunches of 20B notes into the air several times a night in Hollywood (no idea why, I guess its a show off thing)
20,000B a night in NAB? :eek:
You have to wonder how a British pensioner (say, in his mid-70s) on £125.95 a week state pension manages - even after fiddling the Winter Fuel Allowance etc
And it makes me wonder what is the number of Chinese gay men dropping 20k baht at NAB, versus hoards of Chinese descending on Thailand. Not that 20.000 is such a huge amount, it is few hundred euros. But I've jet to meet these Chinese whales, and Im out almost every night. Typical Chhinese gay guys I see, and hook up via Blued usually stand around DJ Station with 1 drink, and in no rush finishing that one drink. They do not spend a satang more than absolutely neccessary.
There are usually 3-4 tables of big spender Chinese guys and their entourages in NAB each night
And at least 100 tables of big spenders (Mostly straight, but some gay) in Hollywood each night... Unfortunately this also means that the show in Hollywood has gone to sh*t as they sing mostly Chinese and K-pop songs these days
Perhaps he’ll be up in the air about the news of more direct flights from India to Phuket?
https://www.thaipbsworld.com/india-s...hts-to-phuket/
Penned by frequent.
"On the odd occasion that I go to a gogo bar with a friend there's more often than not a customer I would rather take off than a boy on stage - and I say so to the mamasan if I know him"
Presumably so he can pass the good news to the boys on stage.
I'm happy with the ratio but thank you for your encouragement. And the stats.
While on the topic of the big-spending Chinese, some may find this article by a Chinese writer apposite https://www.theguardian.com/news/201...pace-of-change
You've got fleas Scottish Guy? Explains a lot.
I've heard better come backs from a 12yo - he'll be hitting out with "Your mother's got fleas" next
You're being outsmarted by a 12 year old? Explains a lot.
I've always thought of St Trinians as very camp
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It's actually called Sawatdee Network these days, and we kept being told that visitors and contributors are UP - but you're quite right LW.
However, your criticism might carry more weight if you were not embroiled in a hair-pulling, mud-wrestling fight with one of the miscreants - who seeks to usurp your title of Official Restaurant Reviewer.
All so unnecessary - there's enough free food for both of you.
Smiles and Wombat are always at each other's throats as is Wombat with Scat Boy as is Scat Boy with Latin as is Scat Boy with Paborn as is Scat Boy with Moses and Smiles with Matt so let he who is without sin blah blah blah
I agree with Smiles.
50-60 responses on how people don't like modern or loud music in the bars, and would prefer to sit on bales of hay and enjoy a Country & Western line-dancing hoe-down is simply not enough on this vital subject and it ought not to be disrupted in any way.
I will certainly modify my own behaviour and whilst I can't speak for Arsenal I'm fairly certain he will be taking himself in hand in the very near future.
Now, what's that Smiles was bitching about Frequent/Wombat/Paborn/Matt ???
I go one step further, I avoid places that play live music. Unless there is a very good reasons, and there is only one very good reason: possibility to find a sexual partner, like in gay discos.
If you want me to come somewhere, announce free [anything].
If you don't want me to come somewhere, announce live music.
The Chinese will love it!
And they are the new market.
Falangs etc are not the main game anymore.
Reports of the new bar Big Boys also suggest that the Chinese are the target market.