Patong - The Wake

[LivinginKata]

1 hour ago, madmitch said:

It was definitely supposed to be a seafood restaurant as there was actually a sign at one point stating such but the Kan Eang story doesn't sound right. That land is worth a lot more than that; it is huge.

 

The Kan Eang connection is correct. Kan Eang 2 was about 5 or so Rai. But don't think a good land paper like Chanote.  So 60 mill in the ball park if no Chanote paper. Similar size land bought off Patak road. Building costs 10 million I estimate. Nothing fancy. Basic Thai build shell.

 

Sorry mods and Phuket members. Off the Patong topic.  

[xylophone]

It seems like a while since I've posted on here, but that's what happens when you are sat at home with very little else to do, time just slowly passes by – – on the other hand there hasn't been a lot to write about......

 

Bangla has been closed and out of bounds since around mid March and the lockdown has meant very few people out and about, giving perhaps a proper definition to the noun "wake": – a watch or vigil held beside the body of someone who has died, or in this case a town that has died.

Up until today all I have managed to do is to get out and drive around the deserted streets on my motorbike, then pay a visit to Big C, which in the early days had very few customers in it, but that picked up a little as time went on. I found myself going there on the flimsiest of excuses, mainly to get out of my apartment, and in an effort to stay sane and also for a change of scenery, and occasionally to talk to another human being.

I did manage to get to the Central Patong supermarket and that was dead, and I think I was probably one of only about five people in the place.

There were signs of life around Patong yesterday as people prepared for the day when they may be able to open, with the shutters up on some small stores and much cleaning going on. In fact today I was able to go out and get a haircut, and pay a visit to the Big C wine department with the intent of buying some of the red nectar.

I didn't do that in the end, but I will wait until tomorrow when I take the car out for a drive and head down to Chalong to visit Villa Market to buy a couple of wines from them, then take a look in HomePro to price a leather reclining chair to replace my old one which gave up the ghost, before heading north to my small supermarket-come-wine-outlet to buy my main stock, and then perhaps heading over to Tops in Central to see what's what.

I did check on whether any of the restaurants in Jungceylon "restaurant alley" were open, or looked likely to open, but no luck, so will check again tomorrow.

It will mean a bit of driving, which I like, and a day out of my apartment, which is also good.
A friend has been trying to leave Patong to head back to Canada and despite having several attempts and several different tickets with different airlines, all has come to nothing at this moment in time.

Having driven round Patong over the course of this lockdown, I have seen the gradual deterioration of many places, some which were a little ramshackle in condition anyway, but also others which didn't seem likely candidates for demolition, but were demolished all the same.

The queues of locals and what would appear to be folks from Myanmar, at the food stations around the place, is heartbreaking and I almost feel a little guilty when I'm driving past them.

Sure things will start to open up, but there won't be any tourists to spend their money in these places, so these establishments will have to rely on the pockets of the local farangs and wealthy Thais being fairly deep, and if that is the case, I see many of the restaurants and similar closing.
 

[billythehat]

1 hour ago, xylophone said:

Hab snip:

Sure things will start to open up, but there won't be any tourists to spend their money in these places, so these establishments will have to rely on the pockets of the local farangs and wealthy Thais being fairly deep, and if that is the case, I see many of the restaurants and similar closing.
 

The loss of key staff will also be a significant problem who may have legged-it back to the boonies. I mention key staff as it is they who play a big role in the success and repeat customer returns in say, the food and hotel industries. I’ve found the fayre and service in the many eateries in Patong pretty dire for the ridiculous money asked. Where there is has been an oasis in desert of mediocrity, and I can count these on one hand, it is those places that offer what a restaurant/other should offer; good quality food, service/atmosphere and a feeling of money well spent. A happy customer will tell one more, an unhappy customer will tell ten more. When this is all over, will anything have been learnt?

[LivinginKata]

 

Looking quite dire in Patong. Big bar owner I know for 15 years seemed quite positive about recovery last month. We talked again yesterday. He was quite negative. 15 years worth of work just gone. 88 staff paid off. Quite sad. 

 

 

2 hours ago, xylophone said:

 

 

[billythehat]

22 hours ago, LivinginKata said:

 

Looking quite dire in Patong. Big bar owner I know for 15 years seemed quite positive about recovery last month. We talked again yesterday. He was quite negative. 15 years worth of work just gone. 88 staff paid off. Quite sad. 

 

 

 

Many similar stories like the above around the globe, but another important note is the effect on current supply chains when this happens. I assume this guy was buying and supplying business down his own supply chain whose businesses in turn employed workers, and so on. The sheer speed at which all of this has occurred showed that nobody was prepared for the catastrophic effect on global supply chains. A reliance on single sources (ironically China) has highlighted the need for some realignment of production sources for some future-proofing against such global events. The link contains some notes on the subject (if it gets removed, pm me and I’ll send you the link – it’s quite relevant).   

https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-china/trump-administration-pushing-to-rip-global-supply-chains-from-china-officials-idUKKBN22G0BZ

 

If you’re lucky enough to still be in employment in the UK at this time, many have taken substantial pay cuts (averaging 10%) and many companies have introduced reduced working hours as production has been curtailed by supply chain shortages from, yes, you’ve guessed it, China.

 

The return of tourists will be a complex issue; people will have less money, airlines are struggling – laying off thousands of staff and asking for bail-outs, etc. So, a resilient plan for the business future of Phuket is required, not just sound-bites by flunkies who couldn’t manage a round of toast, but by proper business minds who know how to turn around failing businesses, maybe someone foreign and…wait a minute, whatever was I thinking there…

 

[xylophone]

Nothing of too much interest to add to the previous posts, but some things have moved here in Patong in as much as Jungceylon is open, although the basement section, "This is Siam" still seems to be closed, whereas a "promise" that some restaurants might be open doesn't seem to have materialised that much – – McDonald's and KFC seem to be open, but not busy, and after asking at Wine Connection (during the daytime) whether they would be open that evening, and they said yes, I ambled down there at 8 PM and they were closed!!

 

There are so many mixed messages out there that even the shop-owners are confused. One massage parlour lady said that they were open for foot massages only, where others have said that they are not open at all.

 

The limitations are gradually being worn down as I have seen some very small bars which appear to be open, with a couple of farangs drinking in them, but they are off the beaten track, so to speak.

 

One long-time and successful business owner had a lease on a shop which was about to end anyway, when Covid shut everything down, so obviously no opening for him. However as things are creeping back towards some semblance of normality (and I say that with a great deal of trepidation) he thought he would approach the landlord with regards to renewing the lease and was quoted 500,000 baht key money with an increased rent to boot.

 

I know the shop and premises and this is plain stupidity, and obviously the previous owner thought so too, because he went elsewhere and appears to have struck a deal with new premises and is paying a fraction of what is previous landlord wanted.

 

IMO it is a nonsense and seems akin to the old adage about "kicking a man when he's down", whereas working together to find a suitable solution could surely be a win-win.

 

I called the owner of my favourite Italian restaurant and asked when he was due to open, and he said he had no idea but "rumours" were circulating about opening at the end of June! Now his restaurant is in a small soi off Bangla Road, along with about six other restaurants which are quite popular with farangs/expats, so all of them are wanting to open ASAP.

 

I asked why the delay and he replied the authorities had told him that Bangla Road was still considered a no-go area and they didn't want to open it up, although it could easily be done to allow access to these restaurants, whilst at the same time ensuring that the bars didn't open, so it would not become a place to congregate.

 

In addition to this, the road must have been sprayed with more disinfectant etc than has been used throughout the whole of the Asian continent, not to mention the fact that no human being has been anywhere near the road for almost a couple of months; but no, the authorities must have their way even though a bit of clear thinking would help a lot of people.

 

Traffic has increased somewhat in Patong, although the modus operandi at the moment appears to be; masks on – – helmets off (saving lives of course – – yeah right).

 

I did venture to Central Phuket on Monday and it wasn't anywhere near full by any means, but there were a few people around the place and enough to make it seem more "welcoming".

 

And just for the record, what with the virus, the lockdown here, the queues of poor people waiting for food and also lock downs in my home country, I decided to redo my Will. This because I really don't want to see my adopted Thai daughter or her mother waiting in queues for food at any time in their lives, so for relatives who would have benefited from my Will, and who really don't need the money, I have scaled back the amounts and reallocated them to my Thai daughter here, to share with her mother, for a better future upon my demise.

 

Now I do have a template which I have posted elsewhere before, and it is fine if used for a very basic Thai Will, which mine was initially, but circumstances have changed, not only for some beneficiaries in New Zealand, but also here with regards to 2 people near and dear to me, so my basic Thai Will is no longer suitable for the very complicated situation I now have.

 

I have found fantastic lawyer in Nanai Road, and the practice (two lawyers) has been also recommended by a couple of other friends, so I decided to visit, and although I was a little put off by the cost, the end result and all of the accompanying work and notations, was fantastic, and I'm so pleased that I had my Will redone as it has put my mind at rest (if anyone would like the name of this law practice then send me a PM and I will reply).

 

Here's hoping that "normal service will be resumed as soon as possible" but I doubt it very much.
 

[Agusts]

As long as Phuket airport is closed and it is not easy to pass through the bridge in either direction, nothing will pick up here, I'm not surprised many restaurants and shops decided not to open even though given the go ahead, running a business without customers to make money cost a lot more than keeping it shut...

 

[LivinginKata]

This seems an appropriate title - the Wake as in the death of Patong, indeed Phuket, is upon us. There really seems to be no glimmer of life as we know it for a long time.  Those optimists talking about October 2020 tourists will be back are now singing a new tune. Maybe 2021 now.

 

There just is no trade for the road side vendors, even the 7-11s are losing money, indeed some smaller ones shuttered up. It's just dismal. 

 

It's just the speed this happened is just breath taking. I wonder will many 'party' tourists ever come back. We suddenly had no rental income.  Those that got stuck here with no flights have no income. We waived rent and just hope they can pay the big electric AC bills they run up being in house all day.

 

The Wake is for sure upon us RIP   

 

 

[Malawi]

10 minutes ago, LivinginKata said:

This seems an appropriate title - the Wake as in the death of Patong, indeed Phuket, is upon us. There really seems to be no glimmer of life as we know it for a long time.  Those optimists talking about October 2020 tourists will be back are now singing a new tune. Maybe 2021 now.

 

There just is no trade for the road side vendors, even the 7-11s are losing money, indeed some smaller ones shuttered up. It's just dismal. 

 

It's just the speed this happened is just breath taking. I wonder will many 'party' tourists ever come back. We suddenly had no rental income.  Those that got stuck here with no flights have no income. We waived rent and just hope they can pay the big electric AC bills they run up being in house all day.

 

The Wake is for sure upon us RIP   

 

 

Not going to recover for years.

Who the hell is going to come here?

Nobody.

Most will be lucky to have a holiday in their own country let alone half way across the world.

Edited May 26, 2020 by Malawi

[Agusts]

They seem to really planning to ruin Phuket in particular, if not already. Most provinces and airports for local flights were opened on 1 May, now 26 May, every day we have zero cases in Phuket, and they don't even talk about loosening these restriction, nobody says anything or complains...!? Thais like zombies from movies now, years of authoritarian system does that to you I guess, just follow orders ....!!!

 

 

 

[madmitch]

Theres one shop I don't understand; whilst even 7-Elevens have closed branches, why is every branch of Top Charoen opticians open? A couple of staff in each one and absolutley no customers and unlikely there will be any.

 

Not COVID related but these days glasses aare cheaper in most of Europe than Thailand so wheres the appeal to tourists? I havent seen many Thais in these stores.

 

Odd!

[Psimbo]

18 minutes ago, madmitch said:

Theres one shop I don't understand; whilst even 7-Elevens have closed branches, why is every branch of Top Charoen opticians open? A couple of staff in each one and absolutley no customers and unlikely there will be any.

 

Not COVID related but these days glasses aare cheaper in most of Europe than Thailand so wheres the appeal to tourists? I havent seen many Thais in these stores.

 

Odd!

Laundries spring to mind- if you get my drift! Be interesting to see who is at the 'Top'.

 

I have noticed a number of 7-11s have closed in order to refurbish- seems a sensible time to do it.

[ChasingTheSun]

it is always darkest just before dawn.

There is allot of pentup demand for holidays around the world.

 

The thai gov has taken an extremist approach to the lockdown, but they know they need to significantly loosen travel restrictions soon.

 

Thai resident travellers and Chinese, Taiwanese, Koreans, and ANZ will be the first permitted back to Phuket in the next month or so. Followed soon by many European countries who seem to have the kungflu under “control”.

 

May be a little while longer until they permit large gatherings/groups at clubs, sports, cinema.

 

I suspect that fall 2020 should look fairly similar to fall 2019 in Phuket.

The “good times” will definitely come back.

 

[schlog]

10 hours ago, ChasingTheSun said:

it is always darkest just before dawn.

There is allot of pentup demand for holidays around the world.

 

The thai gov has taken an extremist approach to the lockdown, but they know they need to significantly loosen travel restrictions soon.

 

Thai resident travellers and Chinese, Taiwanese, Koreans, and ANZ will be the first permitted back to Phuket in the next month or so. Followed soon by many European countries who seem to have the kungflu under “control”.

 

May be a little while longer until they permit large gatherings/groups at clubs, sports, cinema.

 

I suspect that fall 2020 should look fairly similar to fall 2019 in Phuket.

The “good times” will definitely come back.

 

I'm with you about most points but we need to wait for high season.

 

As i said in march when the big boys with the deep pockets got what they want and the change of power here on hkt is arranged then they will open it and we are back in business in some month.

 

Why should only the europeans start to travel alone in juli?

[xylophone]

11 hours ago, ChasingTheSun said:

I suspect that fall 2020 should look fairly similar to fall 2019 in Phuket.

The “good times” will definitely come back.

Can't see Patong fully recovering for at least a couple of years, if that, not only because of money/currency woes for the travellers, but also for the small businesses here.

 

Many have shut down and don't have the money to start again, so will stay permanently shut.

 

Some areas here looking like ghettos, and a collapse of business like this is extremely difficult to "restart".

[Old Croc]

On 5/27/2020 at 9:35 PM, ChasingTheSun said:

it is always darkest just before dawn.

There is allot of pentup demand for holidays around the world.

 

The thai gov has taken an extremist approach to the lockdown, but they know they need to significantly loosen travel restrictions soon.

 

Thai resident travellers and Chinese, Taiwanese, Koreans, and ANZ will be the first permitted back to Phuket in the next month or so. Followed soon by many European countries who seem to have the kungflu under “control”.

 

May be a little while longer until they permit large gatherings/groups at clubs, sports, cinema.

 

I suspect that fall 2020 should look fairly similar to fall 2019 in Phuket.

The “good times” will definitely come back.

 

Few things on the planet will be the same again.

The microcosm that is Patong will evolve to something else before it can ever revert to what it used to be.

[schlog]

On 5/28/2020 at 9:05 AM, xylophone said:

Many have shut down and don't have the money to start again, so will stay permanently shut.

 

Some areas here looking like ghettos, and a collapse of business like this is extremely difficult to "restart".

Isn't that what we see already the last years and now with a booster?

 

Sad but this slogan reflects it good. Why do we need many different small optic shops when we only can have topcharoen shops?

 

I guess on the beach road we can see the future. Erase 50 small businesses and build 1 for the big boys.

 

The good times are long gone at the end of the 90' but it's not all bad what's going on in the background. We will see the facts in the high season.

Edited May 29, 2020 by schlog

[KarenBravo]

58 minutes ago, Old Croc said:

Few things on the planet will be the same again.

The microcosm that is Patong will evolve to something else before it can ever revert to what it used to be.

I disagree. Patong won't "evolve". Businesses will just stay closed until tourists come back. Thai businesses are <deleted> at new ideas, they only know how to copy. Chuck in the fact that land-lords are now demanding unjustifiable rents, more businesses will close even well after the restrictions are lifted. There are fewer mugs coming that 1) want to live here full-time and 2) will put there money into a business. 

What will happen is that the slow decline that has been going on for years, will just continue. Covid-19 just temporarily sped up the process.

What is happening in Patong is happening all over the island. Take a look at all the shuttered shop-houses in Phuket Town. They were there before the virus and are only increasing and will continue to increase. This is a direct result of the Thai Baht going to a few select businesses that have Chinese connections and most money sent straight back to China.

There are no entry level, profitable businesses that can be copied anymore.

The cherry on top is the short-sighted and corrupt local government who would rather have 1 baht today than three tomorrow.

 

In Chalong, most of the business parks are almost empty of businesses now. Fisherman's Way, Fisherman's Way 2 and Draecena (opposite Villa) are either empty, or, close to it. For rent signs are every where with no takers.

For most Westerners, Thailand and Phuket in particular is "so 1990's". Fashions come and go. Phuket rode the wave and the wave has continued on, leaving Phuket behind the crest.

[Old Croc]

4 hours ago, KarenBravo said:

I disagree. Patong won't "evolve". Businesses will just stay closed until tourists come back. Thai businesses are <deleted> at new ideas, they only know how to copy. Chuck in the fact that land-lords are now demanding unjustifiable rents, more businesses will close even well after the restrictions are lifted. There are fewer mugs coming that 1) want to live here full-time and 2) will put there money into a business. 

What will happen is that the slow decline that has been going on for years, will just continue. Covid-19 just temporarily sped up the process.

What is happening in Patong is happening all over the island. Take a look at all the shuttered shop-houses in Phuket Town. They were there before the virus and are only increasing and will continue to increase. This is a direct result of the Thai Baht going to a few select businesses that have Chinese connections and most money sent straight back to China.

There are no entry level, profitable businesses that can be copied anymore.

The cherry on top is the short-sighted and corrupt local government who would rather have 1 baht today than three tomorrow.

 

In Chalong, most of the business parks are almost empty of businesses now. Fisherman's Way, Fisherman's Way 2 and Draecena (opposite Villa) are either empty, or, close to it. For rent signs are every where with no takers.

For most Westerners, Thailand and Phuket in particular is "so 1990's". Fashions come and go. Phuket rode the wave and the wave has continued on, leaving Phuket behind the crest.

So you agree with me that it wont revert to what it was. 

Evolution just means change by adapting to changing conditions and circumstances. It does not necessarily mean improvement.

So you tend to agree with my thoughts there as well?

[KarenBravo]

Evolving doesn't mean stay the same and slowly get worse, or, in this case businesses eventually dying and not being replaced.

Just a disagreement in word meaning maybe.

[KarenBravo]

Stagnation would be a good word.......maybe. Or decline?

[xylophone]

On 5/29/2020 at 9:37 AM, KarenBravo said:

I disagree. Patong won't "evolve". Businesses will just stay closed until tourists come back. Thai businesses are <deleted> at new ideas, they only know how to copy. Chuck in the fact that land-lords are now demanding unjustifiable rents, more businesses will close even well after the restrictions are lifted

I agree with most of the points in your post and especially those above, because I'm not sure exactly what Patong could "evolve" into, unless it reverted to what it was proposed to be quite a few years ago as in the "Pearl in the Andaman" or some such like?

 

To do so would mean upgrading the place quite considerably and not only the utilities such as sewerage, water and electrical supply (just had two black outs here in the past week) but replacing a lot of the shabby old roller-blind shops with something more upmarket or different.

 

And on the subject of utilities, in the heavy rain a few days ago, the usual vast quantities of mud and silt blocked all of the huge, newly installed drains in Nanai and flooded, of course. The next few days saw the huge drainage grills being lifted and a mechanical digger clearing out the mud and silt which had completely blocked any water flow in these huge drains – – so in summary, a complete waste of time, money and effort, let alone thinking capability, went into installing this useless solution, but unfortunately this is just one of many.

 

I remember in a post some while back, that a poster was suggesting that the "big money people" must know what they were doing because new projects were being undertaken, so Patong was not down and out as some had suggested, but preparing for the upswing?

 

Well if the prices of rental apartments and condos, as well as those for sale, is anything to go by, then the owners of these are very optimistic indeed as prices have not changed at all, at least not that I can see, so they will continue to add to the vast number of real estate for sale in Patong, probably for the foreseeable future until the owners get realistic.

 

Looking around the place just a few days ago, I noticed that Soi Kepsub was no longer, and a huge tract of land going down from Rat-u-Thid road to the beach road had been cleared ready for development, and a resort hotel was supposedly being built there, which in reality it is just opposite the beach.

 

Getting onto the subject of small businesses, two of the small guesthouse type hotels opposite the mud/silt/flooding that I've just mentioned are up for sale/lease which is not surprising given that not only would one have to put up with the flooding and mud, but the rooms facing the road are subject to the noise of the huge metal grilles rattling as the traffic goes over them, at all hours of the day and night – – not the best location for a holiday!

 

Another thing I've noticed is that whereas a month or so ago small businesses had closed down and removed the stock that was on show, now those small businesses have also removed all of the fixtures and fittings in the place, suggesting to me that it was closed for good, at least for that particular business.

 

So even if Patong does start to get into "full swing", which I doubt very much will happen any time soon, there will still be many empty shops/establishments.

 

There is still confusion out there as to what will open and when, and asking one of my favourite massage places when they would be open again, I got a vague answer as to maybe at the end of the month, whereas another one or two seem to be open now.

 

I spoke to the owner of my favourite Italian restaurant, off Bangla Road, and asked when he was due to open again and he had no idea, merely commenting that as Bangla was still shut he had no inkling as to what was happening – just great to keep the businesses up-to-date with events!

 

And another puzzler is the fact that even if you do find a restaurant that is open, you are not allowed to drink alcohol in it, although I did notice on this thread or another one, that a poster had said he had taken his own wine along to the restaurant, so I asked a restaurant owner here if I could do that and he said no because it was against the law.

 

A kaleidoscope of rules, regulations, laws and rumour seems to be engulfing Patong at the moment and it is not good for business or any farangs/customers left here.
 

[xylophone]

21 hours ago, xylophone said:

Another thing I've noticed is that whereas a month or so ago small businesses had closed down and removed the stock that was on show, now those small businesses have also removed all of the fixtures and fittings in the place, suggesting to me that it was closed for good, at least for that particular business.

@Patong2 I noticed that the fixtures and fittings have now been removed from "Backside Bistro" which you have mentioned before in your posts as a restaurant that you liked!!!

[Agusts]

I hear from next week you can drink in restaurants, and from what I remember in Ao Nang when I was there around 20 March, when all the bars were closed but restaurants could still serve alcohol, all restaurants will turn into bars, with people sit and just drink and don't eat anything...!

 

Of course that would be without bar girls and barfines and so on, if those are desired, but maybe that is what the morality crowd are after...! ? ????

 

Although I never drink alcohol with my food, and don't go to bars much, but I  finally managed to go for a swim and catch some nice surf, so I say things are looking up, let's see what brings with the airport opening next week... 

 

 

[Olmate]

1 hour ago, Agusts said:

I hear from next week you can drink in restaurants, and from what I remember in Ao Nang when I was there around 20 March, when all the bars were closed but restaurants could still serve alcohol, all restaurants will turn into bars, with people sit and just drink and don't eat anything...!

 

Of course that would be without bar girls and barfines and so on, if those are desired, but maybe that is what the morality crowd are after...! ? ????

 

Although I never drink alcohol with my food, and don't go to bars much, but I  finally managed to go for a swim and catch some nice surf, so I say things are looking up, let's see what brings with the airport opening next week... 

 

 

Who it brings is the thing! No prizes there and they don,t need bars!

[Patong2]

17 hours ago, xylophone said:

@Patong2 I noticed that the fixtures and fittings have now been removed from "Backside Bistro" which you have mentioned before in your posts as a restaurant that you liked!!!

That's sad to hear

Backside Bistro had good food at a reasonable price and a bright happy young waitress and had a good view of all the passing traffic in Nanai Rd and an easy walk from our apartment. Ticked all the boxes for us.

Are the night stalls outside Banzaan Market back yet?

And Soi Ketchup gone.

 

Will there be enough places to service people if tourism starts to return as soon as the flights start?

Thanks for your updates Xylophone.

 

[xylophone]

8 hours ago, Patong2 said:

That's sad to hear

Backside Bistro had good food at a reasonable price and a bright happy young waitress and had a good view of all the passing traffic in Nanai Rd and an easy walk from our apartment. Ticked all the boxes for us.

Are the night stalls outside Banzaan Market back yet?

And Soi Ketchup gone.

 

Will there be enough places to service people if tourism starts to return as soon as the flights start?

Thanks for your updates Xylophone.

 

Hi P2,

 

Yes, I was sad to see that restaurant go, if indeed it has permanently, because they started it further south on Nanai and although it was not in a great position, it did seem to take off, hence the move to "better" premises, and always good to see little businesses like that succeeding?

 

There are some stalls outside of Banzaan market, but nowhere near the amount there were before, where at one time they were spilling out onto the pavement and road, but now, just a few outside of the centre itself, but they seem to be gradually coming back, and only time will tell.

 

I suppose the good thing about Soi Kepsub going is that a lot of the dingy places in that Soi have been knocked down, and where the little Soi came to an abrupt end just before the beach road, with a few low-slung low rent shops, there is likely to be a completely different look with perhaps the entrance to a top hotel, which apparently is the aim.

 

I was very surprised at the amount of land in and surrounding that Soi, and judging by the size of it, it could well be a couple of years before a hotel or similar will be completed, so obviously someone is hoping for an upturn in tourism.

 

There will certainly be enough places to service tourism when the flights start again, so things are not that dire, but many small businesses just will not survive, as others have said. And on that note I wonder how many of the small shops selling latex and skincare products to the Chinese tour bus loads will survive, because already some have been closed and demolished and many weren't doing much business anyway after the accidents and drownings impacted the Chinese inflows.

 

I did visit the wine connection yesterday for lunch with a friend, and there were about six other people in the place all told, and no one passing by eyeing the place up.

 

It's going to be a long slow process I'm afraid.

[billythehat]

3 hours ago, xylophone said:

Hi P2,

 

Yes, I was sad to see that restaurant go, if indeed it has permanently, because they started it further south on Nanai and although it was not in a great position, it did seem to take off, hence the move to "better" premises, and always good to see little businesses like that succeeding?

 

There are some stalls outside of Banzaan market, but nowhere near the amount there were before, where at one time they were spilling out onto the pavement and road, but now, just a few outside of the centre itself, but they seem to be gradually coming back, and only time will tell.

 

I suppose the good thing about Soi Kepsub going is that a lot of the dingy places in that Soi have been knocked down, and where the little Soi came to an abrupt end just before the beach road, with a few low-slung low rent shops, there is likely to be a completely different look with perhaps the entrance to a top hotel, which apparently is the aim.

 

I was very surprised at the amount of land in and surrounding that Soi, and judging by the size of it, it could well be a couple of years before a hotel or similar will be completed, so obviously someone is hoping for an upturn in tourism.

 

There will certainly be enough places to service tourism when the flights start again, so things are not that dire, but many small businesses just will not survive, as others have said. And on that note I wonder how many of the small shops selling latex and skincare products to the Chinese tour bus loads will survive, because already some have been closed and demolished and many weren't doing much business anyway after the accidents and drownings impacted the Chinese inflows.

 

I did visit the wine connection yesterday for lunch with a friend, and there were about six other people in the place all told, and no one passing by eyeing the place up.

 

It's going to be a long slow process I'm afraid.

So, looking down from the entrance from 100 year old monger road, do you mean just the properties as in the video or the whole soi down to the beach road? Also, is the adjacent soi that forms the plan triangular shape, again from 100 year old monger road, also included as Soi Kepsap?

 

 

 

 

 

[xylophone]

19 hours ago, billythehat said:

So, looking down from the entrance from 100 year old monger road, do you mean just the properties as in the video or the whole soi down to the beach road? Also, is the adjacent soi that forms the plan triangular shape, again from 100 year old monger road, also included as Soi Kepsap?

 

 

 

 

 

Yes all has been/is being demolished, including buildings in the "triangle" bit!!

 

A very large area upon which to build and I reckon a hotel about the size of "Gracelands" (Patong) will fit the bill.

[billythehat]

3 hours ago, xylophone said:

Yes all has been/is being demolished, including buildings in the "triangle" bit!!

 

A very large area upon which to build and I reckon a hotel about the size of "Gracelands" (Patong) will fit the bill.

...or another empty shopping mall. ????

 

Apart from the hassle of the numerous rub & tug shops down this soi, it was a handy passage down to the beach road, the other options being a fair trudge from each other in the hot midday sun. Again, all of this has happened very quickly as all was still there in January 2020.