Hello there
Have any of you Jomtien regulars been frequenting Soi Welcome in Jomtien in the 00's? If so, would you care to share your thoughts/experiences?
At my first visit to the soi, in 2002, I remember an almost dead soi with a few cement floored and tile walled restaurants, a couple of massage places, an Indian tailor, the Swedish owned Avenue Inn, Sirikan's and Noi's (?) convenient stores and a German travel agent. Apart from that, most units had closed shutters.
At my subsequent visits in 2005-06 and onwards the soi had developed into a vibrant soi with plenty of bars and restaurants.
From memory:
Welai Beer Bar maybe 100 meters down the soi on the left hand side. Frequented by a bunch of Geordies (Robert (Lobert), John and Michael), (electrical pole cable workers?)
Further down the soi on the right hand side was a two unit bar: Popeye Bar/Popeye Inn owned by Khun John (a merry Liverpudlian chap) and his lovely wife, Thuk. They had run an upscale bar in Bangkok years before, and Khun John and Mae Thuk were so likeable that quite a few of their beautiful, former employees hung around the bar frequently.
Further down on the left was Boss Beer Bar, run by the sweetheart Khun Bpoo, who I believe, has now married well in Eastern Europe, and her great Irish boyfriend (his name eludes me at the moment).
There was a big Finnish bar at the right hand side further east. I never went there, but it was well visited - especially at F1 races.
Almost at the end on the left side of the soi was San Snack Bar. Khun San was the matron, and her very well English speaking husband, Andreas/Andy hailed from Köln (Cologne). They won the Jomtien pool league for a number of years. There was a very pleasant Buriram staff for many years.
The soi catered to Scandinavian guests at some point because the Welcome Jomtien Beach Hotel (from which the soi was named) was patroned by Scandinavian tourists back then. I remember restaurants such as: Ettan's, Sjöboa, No Name and Our Place.
There were many great massage places in the soi. The parallel/backside soi was next to empty if I recall correctly. Now at Soi Welcome 2 there are some very good massage places, guest houses etc.
Kind Regards
A.
