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Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Pattaya is flooded with tourists right now which is a sight for poor eyes to put it mildly. It appears as if the vast majority of visitors are Thai nationals, with a small percentage being foreigners.
After spending 5 hours cruising the coastline (from Hat Nong Ram in the South - to Wong Amat in the North) I'm dam glad to be home - because the traffic is heavier than it's been in the past 18 months.
This being a holiday weekend surely contributes to this - but I have a strange feeling that the alcohol bans being lifted in restaurants and many bars also has something to do with this phenomenon.
Traffic along the beach fronts in Pattaya and Jomtien is moving at a snails pace with not an empty parking space in sight. Throngs of people can be seen visiting the small shops and restaurants...the beach concessions are filled to the max...and all you see is people smiling from ear-to-ear - adding to the jubilant atmosphere.
It was still early (1:00 PM) but there was a lot of activity in Jomtien Complex with boys setting up chairs...cleaning table tops...and unloading what seemed to be supplies at several of the bar locations (opps, sorry...I meant Cafe's)
I just returned home...tired of combating all the traffic...but glad I made the journey. In my diary, this will go down as the Day the Rainbow Returned.
A special thanks should go out to each and every bar owner who struggled to survive this past 18 months of Hell. And that includes our brothers in Bangkok like Pride, Balcony, Circus, Connections, and all the others who hung in there and weathered the storm.
Hopefully this will mark the new beginning and we don't have to suffer another round of setbacks, but at least there's a glimmer of hope shining brightly from the Gay Venues letting everyone know that the Rainbow in Thailand still stands.
I haven't ventured over to The Complex during the evenings for a while, but from what I've heard from several locals, the scene has been busy just like the old days for the past 2 evenings...the chairs are loaded...smiling boys...alcohol flowing...and plenty of SMILES to go around.
I plan a night out in The Complex after this holiday weekend and will look forward to thanking and congratulating each and every bar owner, followed by a round of drinks for his/hers staff and any customers who are in the bar at the time. I look forward to repeating this at every gay bar (cafe) in Pattaya that I visit. This will be my way of showing my gratitude - as well as a good excuse to party my ass off and get smashed.
Hope to see you there.
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Don't take off the mask even if you have the strong urge to sniff someone.
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Yes, friends who visited Jomtien Complex last night reported it was quite busy. Many of the bars reopened, serving food and drink and were packed with older gentlemen enjoying the revitalized scene.
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
francois
Yes, friends who visited Jomtien Complex last night reported it was quite busy.
Dont be telling GB - he'll be having a fit as according to him all the bars are closed and it's definitely not worth anyone's time even considering travelling to Thailand just now !
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Jomtien was not the only place with gay bars open last night.
I'd better not name the bar, since I doubt they have a restaurant license. However, apply some Winning logic to figure it out.
As for visiting Pattaya, it's warm and sunny. The phone apps are busy and the bars are open. Lots of businesses have closed, but my favourites seem to survive.
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Jomtien complex felt like old times last night. Many boy beer bars reopened, serving alcohol. Many many elderly expats and relatively
few lads in proportion to number of expats.
Sun bar open and few seats available. Reportedly, they can get away being a restaurant and you can order food
from restaurants there. Cockatoo also open but less blatantly as well as several other that have been shuttered for a long time.
More boys clustered around the boy massage parlors, which have open for a while already.
No idea about Boyztown area bars Or Sunee Plaza boy bars..I’ve heard Winner boys partially open with 2 or 3 lads. No Gogo though.
Saturday night was also busy in Jomtien complex.
One issue, if the bars stay open are the boys. Many came from Cambodia .Doubtful they can easily return.
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
goji
Jomtien was not the only place with gay bars open last night.
I'd better not name the bar, since I doubt they have a restaurant license. However, apply some Winning logic to figure it out.
That is correct. And by applying the same logic, there are others around the same circle.
The Boys are serving Hot Dogs...but you have to bring your own buns.
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Removing the ban on Booze has had an immediate impact on business and tourism in Pattaya.
Just further proof that this is a Party Town, regardless of how they want to dress it (or, re-dress it).
No Booze/No Bars = No Tourists.
https://www.pattayamail.com/latestne...aurants-381787
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
catawampuscat
One issue, if the bars stay open are the boys. Many came from Cambodia .Doubtful they can easily return.
Some never left and were messaging me on Grindr before I got to the hotel room !
However, of course many have left. To return, I guess they have the options of arriving like I did, with the cost of an ASQ hotel and insurance added. So several clients are needed just to pay for that. Or arriving illegally, as at least one is known to have done.
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dodger
No Booze/No Bars = No Tourists.
No booze/ No bars = No Tourists = NO PATTAYA
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
goji
Some never left and were messaging me on Grindr before I got to the hotel room !
However, of course many have left. To return, I guess they have the options of arriving like I did, with the cost of an ASQ hotel and insurance added. So several clients are needed just to pay for that. Or arriving illegally, as at least one is known to have done.
Ohh, you are already in Thailand?
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
vnman
Ohh, you are already in Thailand?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
goji
I also noticed fewer boys than expected in Jomtien on Sunday. That's not something I complain about, since there were enough boys to brighten up the experience.
Amongst many posts...!
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
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Originally Posted by
gerefan2
Amongst many posts...!
I had not noticed and realized with that post. My question was more rhetorical of nature but I could have probably made that clearer.
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
The police appeared at one of the bars at the top end of the complex early on Friday evening, around 7:30, or for all I know, beforehand. All the bars closed, although I got the impression there was at least one upstairs "private party".
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
goji
The police appeared at one of the bars at the top end of the complex early on Friday evening, around 7:30, or for all I know, beforehand. All the bars closed, although I got the impression there was at least one upstairs "private party".
This is surprising, though I avoid the Complex friends told me many bars were openly selling alcohol.
Obviously the police are being somewhat selective as this video shows people drinking openly enjoying the Music Festival. https://youtu.be/5WavdGrJYmc
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Manforallseasons
This is surprising, though I avoid the Complex friends told me many bars were openly selling alcohol.
Obviously the police are being somewhat selective as this video shows people drinking openly enjoying the Music Festival.
https://youtu.be/5WavdGrJYmc
They were openly selling alcohol in the complex on Thursday. On Friday the police changed that.
I was surprised by the size of the police presence at the music festival in the afternoon, long before it opened up. Also the army were present.
Perhaps they have their fingers in that pie.
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
I'm not surprised by any of these tight controls we're witnessing at all, considering the level of fear and apprehension the government's faced with right now regarding the "Reopening"'.
They're facing huge risk and they known it, the same as all other countries who are trying to jump-start their economies and make people happy again.
So far I don't disagree with any of the actions we're seeing. The onus is on the bars and restaurants to make sure they are SHA Certified, have the appropriate license(s), and are following covid-safe protocol. So far I haven't heard of anyone getting hassled or busted who was following these requirements.
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
This morning I was walking up Soi Bukhao and noticed a number of bars and restaurants with prominently displayed SHA+ certification.
I guess some of the Jomtien businesses might need to chase after this. I don't know what the cost is, but it would be very unfair to burden small businesses with fees at a time when they are already struggling. Also, it wasn't immediately obvious what a SHA+ business has to do differently. The table spacing seemed normal.
I later wandered into the food court at Terminal 21. This had none of the daft social distancing measures that were in place early in the year. I guess big businesses, with the right connections can do what they like
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
goji
Also, it wasn't immediately obvious what a SHA+ business has to do differently.
From what I understand, SHA = 70% of staff fully vaccinated. SHA+ = 100% of staff fully vaccinated.
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dodger
From what I understand, SHA = 70% of staff fully vaccinated. SHA+ = 100% of staff fully vaccinated.
Well that's easy enough. If they can't do it in Pattaya, hire a minibus to drive them to Bangkok for walk in appointments. They seem to do anymore who shows up, including farang.
Then fire the ones who refuse vaccines.
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
goji
Well that's easy enough. If they can't do it in Pattaya, hire a minibus to drive them to Bangkok for walk in appointments. They seem to do anymore who shows up, including farang.
Then fire the ones who refuse vaccines.
They do it right here in Pattaya on the east side at the sports stadium every day….Moderna/Pfizer
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dodger
I'm not surprised by any of these tight controls we're witnessing at all, considering the level of fear and apprehension the government's faced with right now regarding the "Reopening"'.
They're facing huge risk and they known it, the same as all other countries who are trying to jump-start their economies and make people happy again.
So far I don't disagree with any of the actions we're seeing. The onus is on the bars and restaurants to make sure they are SHA Certified, have the appropriate license(s), and are following covid-safe protocol. So far I haven't heard of anyone getting hassled or busted who was following these requirements.
while not meaning to pick you out specifically Dodger, this response and others on this thread confuse me having just come from reading threads like "What a difference a week makes" where everyone was liking posts and encouraging visitors breaking SHA+ Test & Go requirements and visiting venues obviously operating beyond current license, SHA/SHA+ and Covid restrictions
the SHA and SHA+ requirements go far beyond just vaccination of staff, but the feeling here is obviously that circumventing this is all just part of the game of getting back to the fun we want to have
the operation of gay venues in Thailand has always only existed because of creative enforcement of the licensing and other laws, but with Covid how far do we need to draw back from our gay abandon of compliance with government restrictions? your first few paragraphs seem to be significantly at variance with many of the posts on this and other threads here - as residents and tourists here how Covid safe do we really want to be?
oh god, I feel like I am channeling Gaybutton on the Silom Soi 2 thread - I will just shut up and go away!
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
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Originally Posted by
bkkguy
as residents and tourists here how Covid safe do we really want to be?
As I see it we are all vaccinated.
The Thais also have had the opportunity of vaccines, including, it seems, mRNA boosters.
So that's as good as it's going to get for the foreseeable future and they should remove all restrictions and get on with it.
Of course, this should be a matter for the Thai people to decide, ideally via a democratically elected government. In practice, they have an imposed government and there is no logic to some of their repressive decisions. Chonburi has harsher restrictions than Bangkok, yet last time I saw data, Chonburi had the lower infection rate
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
goji
As I see it we are all vaccinated.
The Thais also have had the opportunity of vaccines, including, it seems, mRNA boosters.
So that's as good as it's going to get for the foreseeable future and they should remove all restrictions and get on with it.
Exactly, we are vaccinated! Life will likely not get better than now, and we have simple choice; to live or not live, there is no point in waiting, Most people here don't have luxury of time, we lost close to 2 years.
I got to Thailand Saturday morning, test in hotel came in negative; I'm staying for winter as always, and I intend to live.
Sad about Jomtien Complex news. Current Junta is very much like Taliban, nothing we can do about that, but there are always places in Pattaya and Bangkok to party.
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DoubleDutch
Exactly, we are vaccinated! Life will likely not get better than now, and we have simple choice; to live or not live, there is no point in waiting, Most people here don't have luxury of time, we lost close to 2 years.
I got to Thailand Saturday morning, test in hotel came in negative; I'm staying for winter as always, and I intend to live.
Sad about Jomtien Complex news. Current Junta is very much like Taliban, nothing we can do about that, but there are always places in Pattaya and Bangkok to party.
I agree with you that we have to choose to live. However, it is up to us to find a place where this is possible. That comparison with the Taliban might be in poor taste for those who have really suffered their regime. But I do agree with you, time is ticking for all of us and I am not willing to sit at home either.
Enjoy your winter!
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
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Originally Posted by
vnman
That comparison with the Taliban might be in poor taste for those who have really suffered their regime.
Enjoy your winter!
Current regime's disliking of foreigners is readily apparent, they don't even bother to hide it any more, we all remember Minister of Health's putting saying it out loud. I get that they don't like us, they tolerate us, but regime's attitude towards alcohol is truly bizarre, can't think of any country that relies on tourism income so heavily, yet works actively against tourism. Generals may not like happy foreigners, but their restrictive, puritan laws are doing most damage to locals, their own people, for us it is just mild inconvenience.
You say comparing them to Taliban is out of line, but what other regime in the world is so much against alcohol, bars and nightclubs? There are really only handful of such restrictive places, and they are all Islamist regimes.
I don't drink, unfortunately these laws affect everyone here, buzz and typical Thai liveliness is missing now.
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DoubleDutch
Current regime's disliking of foreigners is readily apparent, they don't even bother to hide it any more, we all remember Minister of Health's putting saying it out loud. I get that they don't like us, they tolerate us, but regime's attitude towards alcohol is truly bizarre, can't think of any country that relies on tourism income so heavily, yet works actively against tourism. Generals may not like happy foreigners, but their restrictive, puritan laws are doing most damage to locals, their own people, for us it is just mild inconvenience.
You say comparing them to Taliban is out of line, but what other regime in the world is so much against alcohol, bars and nightclubs? There are really only handful of such restrictive places, and they are all Islamist regimes.
I don't drink, unfortunately these laws affect everyone here, buzz and typical Thai liveliness is missing now.
Yes, I hear what you are saying. Sadly the Taliban are a whole lot more than party-poopers when it comes to nightlife :-)
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
FINALLY!
The news that open-air bars in Pattaya will be allowed to reopen tomorrow (Dec 16) is flooding the streets.
It would have been nice to see this covered in the news - but who's complaining.
Now the drum roll for Jomtien Complex bars begins. We should know the outcome 24 hours from now.
Fingers crossed!
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dodger
FINALLY!
The news that open-air bars in Pattaya will be allowed to reopen tomorrow (Dec 16) is flooding the streets.
It would have been nice to see this covered in the news - but who's complaining.
Now the drum roll for Jomtien Complex bars begins. We should know the outcome 24 hours from now.
Fingers crossed!
I suspect there is a reason there is no news story about this!
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Manforallseasons
I suspect there is a reason there is no news story about this!
I suspect you're right...LOL
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Confusion still reigns as some of the Walking Street bars opened yesterday with music blazing and crowds of people partying, but still no official word on what's happening with all the rest of Pattaya's bars. (see video below).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v81p3cfiDWE
A high level meeting was also held yesterday which included the cities Mayor and new Police Chief but it sounds like no final decision was made. It's still up to the CCSA. I wonder why a representative of the CCSA wasn't at this meeting? (story below)
https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/b...n-pattaya-bars
This has all the ear-marks of a high-level power struggle.
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dodger
This has all the ear-marks of a high-level power struggle.
Or start rumours so more bars open, then send the BIB around to collect the money ?
I get the impression the prohibition rules exist merely so tea money can be collected and have absolutely nothing to do with COVID 19. Why else would they allow some bars to be packed full of customers, whilst closing others ?
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dodger
This has all the ear-marks of a high-level power struggle.
Seems likely to me, with the bars and customers caught in the middle.
I wish they would just stop this nonsense, let the bars open according to safety rules, forget about this SHA certification which I believe isn't helping anything, let customers go to the bars without having to worry about getting caught up in a raid, and let life start getting back to normal and bar workers making a living again.
If we all have to learn to live with Covid, then let us live with it.
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
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Originally Posted by
goji
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Why else would they allow some bars to be packed full of customers, whilst closing others ?
It all depends on who the owners are. Half of Walking Street is owned by people of influence. Use your imagination.
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Walking Street has been one place that's almost entirely shut down day and night.
Last week, I saw just one bar open, in one of those alleys leading onto walking street.
The busiest area seems to be Soi Bukhao and the streets off it. Also there are quite a few bars open north of Central (near the police station), near the post office and a couple near to Boyztown
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Most small bars on Beach Rd are open tonight, they were closed 2 nights ago.
Pattaya fireworks tonight on the beach, across Central Festival.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7YYyWFy2aU
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Sunnee had 2 "host" bars open, but being diplomatic, these were rather quiet, with one member of staff manning each.
I had one beer, 80 Baht, plus a tip. One other customer arrived.
The bar across the road on the corner was open, with no customers.
Outdoor service was available at a gogo bar, which was probably the best option.
Boyztown was completely closed, although some staff were drinking outside BBB.
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
goji
Walking Street has been one place that's almost entirely shut down day and night.n
Stone house on Walking Street announced on their FB that they will open on December 18. So perhaps that's the day that WS will reawaken?
For those that don't know Stone House it's the first live music venue on the left as you enter walking street, highly recommended if you are into loud music and a fun atmosphere, used to get quite a few gay boys after the bars closed or with their farang du jour pre-covid.
If you are the type that misses listening to "puff the magic dragon" in New Moonlight house then it's definitely not the place for you!
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Re: Pattaya is Back - and Ready to Rock!
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Originally Posted by
colmx
Stone house on Walking Street announced on their FB that they will open on December 18. So perhaps that's the day that WS will reawaken?
Stone House rocks. It was the only place on WS that I really cared to visit - when I was in the mood for loud music.
Here's more on the emerging scene:
https://www.pattayamail.com/latestne...usiness-383057