NamKangMan
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Posts posted by NamKangMan
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20 hours ago, Jai Dee said:
Nice to see you guys are behaving and getting along again... keep it up.
Funny how kids tend to get along when they are left unsupervised. ????
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44 minutes ago, xylophone said:Decided to pop out on Friday evening to catch up with some friends at my usual Italian restaurant, which was very busy, as were the other restaurants in that little soi (Soi Patong Beach Resort) so it was good to see that some money is being spent, although I would have to say that none of the restaurants in that soi are anything other than mid-range dining (if that).
Bangla was reasonably busy, although I have seen it much busier in times gone by, but the two main sois were disappointing with regards to patronage. Indeed I purposely went down Soi Freedom as the band was supposed to be back and playing..........but no band and a not very busy soi, along with a few more closed bars!
I thought the band had been re-employed in order to draw back the punters, as that soi desperately needs something to be able to restore it to its former glory or something akin to that. Perhaps the band were on a visa run???
I did eventually call into Red Hot as they really do have a red-hot band there, but even that wasn't as busy as it has been and talking to a guy from Bahrain who had been there a few months earlier, he said that he thought one of the reasons that people weren't coming was because the drinks were so expensive!
Now that would have to be something coming from a visitor from Bahrain!
One saving grace for a friend of mine in his bar was that he has a deal with someone who runs a "Bartenders training course" and when a group of them go out on a bit of a pub crawl, his bar is one of those along the way, and on Friday evening there were apparently 76 attendees making their way to his bar, so I would imagine he was quite happy with the take that evening.
I was talking to a couple of friends about bars for sale and they both said that just about every bar would be for sale if the owners were approached? However it's probably more in line with how much the bar owners want for the places, with the ones down the sois being less attractive than the ones fronting Bangla, but another friend has his bar for sale, and this fronts Bangla, with an asking price of 7 million baht for a nine year lease, but no interest as of the last month or so – – perhaps the days of farangs buying bars are long gone?
Contradicting myself, because there have been three bars bought not far from me, however I suspect that they were nowhere near as expensive as those in Bangla, but there are still some folks (mostly farangs with Thai "partners") out there willing to take a chance..........until the money or the girl runs out.
It's very much a mixed bag all over as I said previously, and another example would be the little food kiosks outside of Starbucks at the back entrance of Jungceylon, with one being closed and up for sale for a couple of months now, and another just being erected almost next to it, selling Korean food (and this seems to be a spin-off from the large Korean restaurant, Maru, which has closed, alongside of Churrasco restaurant). However I've yet to see anyone buy anything from this kiosk.......... so I don't think it's going to be a moneymaking business!
All in all, a bit like a box of frogs; you never know where they going to go when you take the lid off, i.e. they are all over the place, a bit like Patong.
PS. Ask yourself..........would you buy a bar on Bangla for 7 million baht??Good post, XP.
A few things stood out for me.
"someone who runs a "Bartenders training course" - it that the young Scandi guys, and the "course" is basically a scam?
"just about every bar would be for sale if the owners were approached" - I agree, and as the leases on these bars come to an end, the current leasee will walk away, and it will close down.
The tourist demographics here have changed a lot in the last 2 years. As some 3 year and 5 year leases approach expiry, in the near future, these bars will not be turned over, and will cease to operate.
"there are still some folks (mostly farangs with Thai "partners") out there willing to take a chance" - I'm not so sure they are "taking a chance" as to purchasing an expensive hobby, or way of life.
It's a phenomenon that everyone wants to have a drink with the boss of a bar. For some farang bar owners, it's their 15 mins of fame in their life. By buying a bar, they are instantly knowledgeable on all things Thailand, and are more than happy to BS to tourists with bad advice.
Perhaps they are prepared to pay for popularity and attention, but for sure it's not a sound business decision.
Maybe it's these type of people that will fill the void here. Basically, they are buying a "money pit" or a "lemon" but at least they get bragging rights. ????
"until the money or the girl runs out." - you forgot the other one, their liver / health.
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29 minutes ago, xylophone said:
Still open for business I see, so here goes..........
Sticking with the title "Patong – the Wake" in the sense that it could mean mourning the passing of something, or part of a celebration I observed the following over the last couple of days: –
New buildings going up in Nanai road, whilst a couple of small guesthouses remain empty, if not almost derelict. I also noticed that the Sheraton Four Seasons work seems to have slowed up quite dramatically!
There would be more than a dozen empty shop units just off rat-u-thid road in front of a hotel called The Square, Patong, and these have been empty for approximately a year or more. Meanwhile some small shops in front of it, alongside of the B-Qik garage are just about unapproachable and feature a very large fence in front of them (displaying a for sale sign on the plot I think) as well as some unkempt, overgrown ground, so I bet the folks who bought into the little units/shops are overjoyed!
Touring round I noticed a lot of smaller businesses were shuttered, and I have to say that although the new and larger bars in OTOP look nice, there seems to be a dearth of customers, as there is with those that remain from the old days, yet building goes on unabated, with more bars and shop units coming available shortly by the looks of things.
Something I hadn't really taken much notice of was a very large seafood restaurant in that complex called Moong xxxx and it is huge, surrounded by small fish tanks and with seating upstairs and downstairs would have to seat in excess of 200 people. Now somebody either has a contract with some Chinese tour companies, or they are very optimistic about what the future holds.
I have no pity for the wealthy who seem to think that this place is a goldmine and try to "drown out" the small operator with their presence, but I do feel sorry for the everyday Thai person/family who come to Patong to start a small business, as it seems to be the dream of many an average to poor family here, but having seen quite a few fail, or in the process of failing, I do have pity for them.
One particular example which I noticed yesterday was a lady sitting alone in her relatively large "restaurant", which was previously a minimart of some description, staring out of the window at a time in the evening when she should have had some customers, but no, empty and she was looking forlorn, and to be honest I don't hold out much hope for a future for it as have seen it empty every time in passing.
The Italian restaurant further south about 200 m was a mirror image, with the owner sitting alone at a table, staring out at the road, which I had seen him do on many occasions, but unlike the Thai folk, he is an experienced foreign restaurateur and should have known what he was getting himself into, because I really don't see how this place has made anything like a profit, although I would love to be wrong.
And just to end this post on a high note, I observed something yesterday which I would have loved to have captured on camera.........there was a stall right alongside (within half a metre of the road itself) of a busy road selling "fresh seafood sushi" and as I sat there looking at this and watching all of the smoky diesel trucks, cars and motorbikes go past, I wondered if they were going to advertise it as sushi with free toppings of dust, dirt and diesel!
Anyway just then a couple of Chinese on a motorbike drew up alongside of this stall, and I thought they were going to buy some sushi, but no, not only was the male Chinese driver a bit wobbly on the bike, his passenger was having trouble with her helmet and observing her actions with this, I noticed that she had it on back to front, hence the reason she was finding it difficult to do the strap up. So she took it off, looked at it closely and put it back on again round the wrong way, only to motion her driver to wobble off again, which he did.
So a mourning or a celebration............the jury is still out!
I can't see how anyone could consider opening a large restaurant here now, without coming under the corporate umbrella of a Chinese tour company.
Even then, they control the tourists, thus, they control the market, thus, they can use their superior bargaining position to secure the lowest price, per head, to maximze their own profits.
It would have been funny to see the Chinese girl struggling to find out how to wear the helmet correctly, but on the other hand, there can be serious consequences to the couple having to be on a bike in the first place.
Like so many farang backpackers before them, many of these young Chinese will die on the roads here.
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9 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:
Phuket pattaya bkk all need atleast one stylish casino with entertainment and restaurants bars inside them.
i rather hang out in a fancy casino with foods and drinks then going to Bangla rd.
But I remember same thread 5 years ago and still zero progress.
I really don't know how long Thailand can hold out for. They are losing serious money, at a time of great opportunity.
Gambling is just another recreational activity that should be offered to tourists on their holiday.
Phuket claims to be "A World Class Tourist Destination" but doesn't even have a casino, and doesn't ever look like getting one.
As you say, "no progress" here, at a time when neighboring countries, in direct competition to Thailand, are in overdrive, Thailand is stuck in first gear, which is as good as going backwards.
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7 hours ago, Old Croc said:
I've been hearing for years this may come about after a major passing of the baton.
I've pointed out in these pages previously that one small island close to shore is already set up to revert from exclusive resort to cas.
I've heard many stories as well.
I've heard particular floors of certain new hotels have been built with no rooms. Just open floor plan.
I have been told the elevator can not stop on these floors, as there is nothing there. Apparently, these floors have been designed to be turned into gaming areas, once Thailand is allowed to have gambling.
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7 hours ago, xylophone said:
I keep wondering when such an event will take place, this esp because of the powers-that-be love of money (and corruption).
Wouldn't be that hard to declare specific areas/zones as legal gambling enclaves whilst outlawing it elsewhere.
There has always been the idea that there should be "Special Economic Zones" where establishments can open past 2am, without having to pay "tea money" for the privilege. Eg. Bangla Road - Phuket and Walking Street - Pattaya.
These "SEZ's" could incorporate casinos.
The argument that casinos will bring social harm to the Thai people has been addressed in Vietnam.
Initially, Vietnamese were not allowed into the gaming area of a casino there, however, in recent times, Vietnamese earning over, I think it's $450USD a month, could enter the gaming area. They have to prove this some how, and they have to pay a "cover charge" to ensure they are not just there for a photo op.
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9 hours ago, Destiny1990 said:
Yeah casinos instead of tuk tuks.
In my opinion, if the situation remains the same, and considering that under military rule, it still remained the same, the tuk-tuks will eventually kill their their own livelihood.
The Chinese will be bused from the airport straight into a casino resort, and then bused around to various sights and activities, as they are now.
Currently, they are "zero baht tourists." No money in the Chinese now. Put the Chinese in a casino, and watch the money roll in.
I've been told it's already happening in Sihanoukville - Cambodia, with some 50 casinos there now, and I have personally seen it in The Ho Tram Grand out of Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam.
http://www.thegrandhotram.com/casino/
Casinos in Thailand - it's not if, just when.
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20 hours ago, pagallim said:
Good thread with many insightful contributions. Pity to lose it through someone's personal agenda.
I agree.
Those with businesses here do tend to push their own personal agendas, but it's easy to see through, so it's good the thread is still running.
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14 minutes ago, Patong2 said:
Keep it going
I started the thread and have been amazed at the useful and insightful posts that have been posted.
Thank you to all who have contributed and added to my knowledge.
Patong is "a changing" as they say and for those of us who have visited or lived here for several years it is an unsettling experience.
However it still has plenty of delights for all comers but the old Patong has died along with Soi Crocodile.
There are still many good tales to be told over the coffin of what was the old Phuket.
Perhaps we need to look forward to a baptism of the new Patong?
"Perhaps we need to look forward to a baptism of the new Patong?" - I can't see the "Patong - The Resurrection" thread being started anytime soon, UNLESS, casinos are allowed here. Then, Patong, and other parts of Phuket, will become a Macau, virtually over night.
The Chinese are already coming here. All they need to do now is give them something they like spending money on - gambling.
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Keep the thread running. The personal attacks against me are taken with a grain of salt.
After 59 pages of content, there's bound to be a bit of banter, which isn't always a bad thing.
All in all, it's a good thread.
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6 minutes ago, pagallim said:
Actually, Chalong, but regardless, both places offer more quality than Patong for sure.
Chalong. ????????
You've got some well to do farang down there. Not a hooker, or ex-hooker in sight, in Chalong. ????????
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1 hour ago, pagallim said:
Agree LiK, as with schlog, our experiences are light years away from the bubble that NKM lives in and his social circle.
Yes, Rawai is such an affluent part of Phuket. ????
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1 hour ago, LivinginKata said:
Bravo ... Well stated. No way my wife is leaving Phuket. And she is from southern Thailand.
Great. Was I talking about your wife????
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1 hour ago, schlog said:
Why should she want to sale?
Having property 10-50 million baht worth, why you think she will have no cash?
I personaly know not only 1 women who came to Phuket 20-30 years ago and are in this situation.
They would no way move to Isaan. For what? They happy here and have more money then most and want no dusty hot life in a isaan village.
Yes, that's your typical Thai / Farang couple - with a 50 million baht property. ????
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@ LIK, pagallim and schlog.
Geeze, it's you guys that live in your own little bubbles. You think every post I submit is directed at YOU, and your own personal circumstances. I am posting IN GENERAL. No need to take anything personally.
Ok, so your spouses were not hookers or gold diggers. Good for you. Yes, bravo, bravo, bravo. I would never take either as a partner, but at least I don't look down upon those who have. They have their reasons for doing so, and their reasons are none of my business, although I suggest psychology has more to do with it than libido.
Now, tell me you don't look around and see the "relationships" I am talking about. Do you deny they exist? Do you deny they are in great numbers in Thailand? Do you think you are all living somewhere far removed from the Thailand sex trade???? Phuket is not Kensington - London, for example. You will be in the queue at the supermarket with these people, and their partners, whether or like it, or not. Get over it.
I am sure you have been to a social function where you meet a new couple, and you can tell straight away what their relationship is all about. I bet you don't walk out in disgust, yet, you are happy to beat your chest on TV, whilst personally attacking me, claiming to be elitist.
You have all been here long enough to know that many have taken Issan girls as brides. Hell, even AirAsia created the Phuket - Udon - Phuket route, just for this demographic.
So, back to the point, when farang hubby dies, and no longer is around to pay all the bills, what do you think will become of these properties.
NOTE: the focus is on the property, not the relationship. GOT IT????
@@ schlog - that's a condo, apartment, small house, not a 50 million baht mansion. YOU GOT THAT?
I am talking about your regular geezer with a girl from Issan, and yes, there are thousands of them here.
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4 hours ago, madmitch said:
Taxes, management fees and maintenance? This is an Issan wife we're talking about! The entire cost of that lot will be around zero baht!
I do detect the humor in your post.
So, old farang hubby dies, she contacts an agent and instructs them to sell the property quickly, and if they can't, to find a tenant.
She then heads back to Issan to be with her family, with not a baht in her pocket from the property.
The agent can't find a buyer, or a tenant, so the place sits derelict.
I'm quite sure there are many places already like this here.
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21 hours ago, Mysterion said:
Everything has a price and can be sold and/or leased out(unless it is a toxic waste site.)
The “wives” will end-up with a house to live in for free, or a house earning rental income, or they can sell it and use the proceeds to buy a house and/or land in cheaper locations.
I agree with you, but not entirely.
Market forces, supply v demand, dictate prices in the market.
Occasionally, there is an out of line sale, where someone pays over the market value, due to sentiment. There used to some of these buyers on Phuket, but they are now long gone.
It's well known there is an oversupply of property here, and they keep building more.
Economics 101 dictates that when supply is low, demand is high, thus pushing prices up. When supply is high, demand is low, thus pushing prices down.
Could a widow sell at a fire sale price - probably. I have a question for you. What "hit" do YOU think she would have to take in order to liquidate within 90 days? Serious question.
Given many of the "wives" are from Issan, I would would suggest they would move back home upon their partner's demise, so living in a Phuket property would probably not be an option.
Renting it out is also a possibility, but with management fees, taxes, maintenance etc - hardly the windfall they expected to be bequeathed to them, and it must be remembered, with all the new properties being built, it's a race to the bottom to secure a long term tenant. Rents just keep going down. I know I haven't had a rent rise in 3 years, which doesn't even keep up with inflation.
So, not wanting to reside in the property, selling at fire sale, rents being pushed down - where is the windfall for the "wives?" What, exactly, is being left behind for them?
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12 hours ago, Lashay said:
Not only because of age of customers in clubs but also harder for the guy to lie to himself about what she really is when comparing a club freelancer vs a bar girl.
Have noticed over last few months girls who went the club route dont seem to be striking it "lucky" where bar girls still seem to be at sponsored to go home at same rate. And when you consider the club girls generally seem to younger/better looking/better english than bar girls thats an interesting difference.
Yeah ton of people here, good for business like yours, though any buisness thats discretionary (bars and mid end restaurants ect) seem to be having horrible high season.
I was more focusing on the nationality of the younger guys in the night clubs, not their age.
I have no statistics to back this up, but, I would not be surprised if the girls running off the phone apps. Eg. WeChat, are getting more customers than the club girls, and bar girls, particularly with some of the ridiculous "bar fine" prices being asked.
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10 hours ago, LivinginKata said:
Yes. it is a very mixed bag. We just won out right now. NKM ... so much for our 'dead' assets .... ????
Steady on LIK. It was YOU who used the term "dead" assets, not me.
I was merely pointing out that in relation to property, if it's not earning, and it's not appreciating in value, and it's costing in fees, taxes, maintenance etc, then what have you got?
I suggested, not the windfall that many here seem to think they will be leaving there spouse, upon their demise.
Your situation is different. Your properties are your business. I was more referring to the "when I die the missus gets the place" brigade. My question still remains to those people, what, exactly, do you think you are leaving?" If it can't be sold, even at a fire sale, and can't be rented out, what have you got????
I congratulate you on your occupancy rate. I believe you run a good operation, so it's only right you should reap the fruits of your labor.
The fact these properties are in Patong is interesting. I always said, Mayor Keesin cleaned up, either way. If your accommodation was in Patong, fair chance he had a financial interest in the property you were staying at. If your accommodation was not in Patong, he picked up "transport fees" when you came into Patong for night out. Either way, he got your money.
LIK, due to the transport situation here, is it possible your Patong properties are well located to take advantage of the transport problem here?
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On 1/18/2019 at 7:57 PM, GeorgeCross said:
generally a younger crowd out at 1.30am - maybe thats what these girls are looking for? tip still the same i suppose!
Whilst the "tip" may still be the same, I doubt the demographic of younger male tourists, frequenting the night clubs on their holiday, will be taking any of these girl back to their home country, which used to be the ultimate goal of a young Thai girls going to the night clubs.
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7 minutes ago, xylophone said:
Hey guys remember what the Mod Leungken has said..............treading on dangerous ground here perhaps!!
I didn't think what I posted breached forum rules, but if have since taken the "s*x" word out and used the words "bar girl."
Other sectors have been "disrupted" by technology. Eg. taxi, accommodation, currency etc. (Uber / AirBnB / BitCoin)
I see no harm in discussing, within forum rules, how a people within a certain "occupation" in Thailand are making use of these apps.
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19 hours ago, Psimbo said:
TAT is British slang for 'crap' and with reason. They skew their stats on a regular basis to the point that they are farcical.
Taking on other people's points about the girls. With the advent of Thaifriendly and Tinder the girls are more savvy now and realise they don't have to sit around in a grotty beer bar all night to make some cash- this is part of the reason the bars are on their ersses. I know a girl that works off these sites and takes 2 clients a day, an afternooner and an early evening usually- she's made her cash and is happy. She can then get on with life for the rest of the night.
With the discos you have this crazy situation that freelancers don't even go out til about 0130 in the morning, part of the reason i have always advocated that the nightlife in Phuket needs to start earlier, not later, and close earlier as it does in other parts of Thailand. people don't want to hang around that late to get laid.
"With the advent of Thaifriendly and Tinder the girls are more savvy now and realize they don't have to sit around in a grotty beer bar all night" - good point, Psimbo. WeChat is another popular pick up app.
I have often said, these apps have become somewhat of a "digital disruptor" in the "bar girl" / bar trade here.
If you have a look at these apps, you will see there are women from many different countries "working" here, with very little chance of being arrested.
I can only see these apps gaining in popularity with working girls in the future.
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5 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:
Not hard to do. Embassies do not care about a person being on an overstay. It is not their responsibility to check for it when accepting an application for one.
How would a person leave the country without a valid passport if they refused to issue one?
You were posting when I was typing.
I know you are experienced in all things visa related UJ, but perhaps we can hear from a member who has actually received a new passport from their Embassy or Consulate, whilst on an overstay, and I mean, a serious overstay, not just a few days.
As I said in a later post, of course an Embassy would issue an emergency passport, but I would suggest that is only with documents from Immigration official because the person is in detention.
The OP could do like JT suggested and present to his Embassy claiming a lost / stolen passport, but doesn't that require a police report? Wouldn't the police verify identity with immigration?
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1 minute ago, JackThompson said:
Maybe. But does your embassy care if you are on overstay regarding issuing a new passport? Honest question - I don't know - but guessing it's not their problem.
The worse-case is if he "lost" a passport, and does not have a police-report for this. That could prevent departure.
If he shows up with an old/expired passport with his entry-stamp shown, or police-report for his old/lost passport, plus a current passport or ETD allowing onward-travel, he should be fine.
If flying direct to Belgium, I think he could even travel there on his old/expired passport (your own country cannot deny you).
Surely, Embassies can not be complicate in a crime. (overstaying) Would they really issue a new passport for someone on such a long overstay? I seriously doubt they would.
In relation to flying direct to Belgium, it's my understanding NO airline is obligated to accept a passenger without a valid passport. They simply will not let you board, and it's understandable, as it's not their problem.
If the OP is not trolling, I can only assume he has an expired passport, so must be detained for the purpose of arranging an emergency passport and paying his overstay fine.
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Patong - The Wake
in Phuket
Posted
In my opinion, whatever the individual's motives, given the current situation here, it would not be a sound business decision to purchase.