Can Booze Bring Back Sunee?

[Dodger]

Interesting, that through all of our historical perspectives, we've come to the conclusion that Sunee Plaza was first hatched in 1996 with one single gay bar..."Crazy Pub". Then, as the number of gay visitors to Pattaya started skyrocketing - so did the number of gay venues.

Here we are 25 years later, after encountering a sharp decline in the number of gay tourists in Pattaya - where the number of gay venues has sharply declined in exact proportion. The only difference is Sunee Plaza still has 2 gogo bars and a handful of host bars still standing (hopefully) which is far more than were there in 1996.

So you ask yourself the question: Can gay life in Sunee Plaza survive? When, in reality, we should be asking ourselves; Will the number of gay visitors to Pattaya ever increase? Because the survival of Sunee Plaza will ultimately be determined by the answer to that question.

[goji]

Will the number of gay visitors to Pattaya ever increase? Because the survival of Sunee Plaza will ultimately be determined by the answer to that question.

Pattaya firstly needs to attract the gay visitors, but once we are here, the bars also need to offer enough to get us to visit Sunnee.

At present, the authorities still seem to be trying to discourage visitors, by keeping facilities closed, as we witnessed in Jomtien last night. Whilst I can cope with that, I suspect most of the target market is less tolerant.

Then once we are here, the bars need to attract our business. Bars like Winner or something along the lines of past favourites like Euro Boys or Eros would get me in. Nice Boys can forget it, since I don't come here to see podgy guys covered in tattoos.

[a447]

I can list the bars if anyone is interested.

There is already a thread devoted to this topic, so please feel free to post the list here

https://sawatdeenetwork.com/v4/showt...-1980-till-now

[Dodger]

I'm sticking to my view that Sunee was not a bustling centre for gay visitors until the mid-90s.

According to Wikipedia, Crazy pub was the first gay bar in Sunee Plaza and opened in 1996.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunee_Plaza

[Manforallseasons]

This walk down Sunee memory lane was certainly great but to answer the question “Can Booze Bring Back Sunee” the answer is unfortunately NO!

[Oliver2]

Mea culpa....but be honest, Pattaya's past is infinitely preferable to its present. And of the two, the 1990s are more real to me than the vague hopes for the future.to which we cling desperately.

Sorry to be pessimistic , but a month after my flight to BKK was cancelled, a second one booked and paid for a few weeks later has just met the same fate.

Anyway, back to the booze. Much needed today. Shame I'm a Methodist.

[Oliver2]

Are there many young (under forties) gay men anxious to be involved in the bar-scene in Thailand and to pay Thai guys a few years younger than themselves for companionship? How often do we see falang of that age in JC, BT or Sunee? Rarely, I suggest.

And are young "clubbers" likely to travel thousands of miles, at huge cost, to enjoy Bangkok's gay clubs when so many are available nearer to home?

The fact is, we are dying-out, slowly and inexorably and the scene which intoxicated men like me, desperate to escape a lifetime of repression and denial, will end with us.

It's not to say that Thailand won't attract gay people for other reasons but sitting in a Sunee bar watching cute guys dancing and then enjoying company with one of them? I suspect those days won't return after we have gone.

[Dodger]

The fact is, we are dying-out, slowly and inexorably and the scene which intoxicated men like me, desperate to escape a lifetime of repression and denial, will end with us.

As long as it lasts exactly as long as I do, it works for me.

[arsenal]

Remember that Jomtien stagnated for years with some new places not even lasting the season. Then The Venue opened, it drew in the crowds and other bars flourished. Sunee...it only takes one 'must go to' place to revitalise an area.

[a447]

Sunee...it only takes one 'must go to' place to revitalise an area.

Eros, naturally.