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Pattaya Ghost Town Or Not


Pdoggg

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Perhaps many of you have never been to the Soi Arunthai area (above).  Interesting because when exploring a new area you never know if you will stumble across a ladyboy unknown to most mongers.  Years ago BB, Lefty, and I explored this area together for the first time and it was a nice change from the same old same old.  Traditionally, this area was home to expats who didn't want to splurge on rent.  I suspect that many of these expats have since upgraded to the CCR, City Center Residence, (near wear the soi dogs are near the end of the video) given the rock bottom Covid prices that include a nice gym and pool.

https://www.thailand-property.com/condo/2824/city-center-residence

Near the Full Love Inn, there is a strip of bars that he likens to the old Soi 6.  Buzz is clearly in his comfort zone in this video and seems to be spot on with all the info.

Not a bad place to stay, guess it depends how often you will want to cross 3rd Road.  I wouldn't recommend a guy here for 2 weeks to stay in this area since there is no good way to get here by baht bus.

Buzz also points out the proliferation of Expat Food Stores.  Another new trend is the Cannabis shops which weren't even around before Covid.   I don't believe that anything in these stores include THC.

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5 hours ago, Pdoggg said:

Not a bad place to stay, guess it depends how often you will want to cross 3rd Road. 

Went I went to live in Pattaya in 1996, I spent my first 3 years of my stay in 9 Karat Condo just about smack in the middle of Soi Arunothai, fantastic olympic size swimming pool and from memory only paid 3500 Baht per Month on rent. Great area back then and plenty to explore. :drinks:

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 10/15/2021 at 4:15 AM, Pdoggg said:

Bali Hai Restaurant defying Covid 19 decree raided last night and some customers not playing by the rules escaped by jumping into Pattaya Bay and swimming away.

Raided again for fourth time on Thursday night. These guys don't learn.

https://thepattayanews.com/2021/11/12/pattaya-police-raid-restaurant-near-bali-hai-for-the-fourth-time-over-allegedly-selling-alcohol-and-shisha-as-well-as-breaking-covid-19-rules/

Screenshot 2021-11-13 11.07.35.png

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1 hour ago, Fenton said:

Can one ask what these good rumours are?

It's to do with a reclassification of all bars to restaurant license status thereby giving them the opportunity to sell alcohol once the ban on restaurants serving is up on  Dec 1st.

I know you couldn't make this shit up !   :biggrin:   :drinks:

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There was a meeting in Government House today, November 19th, which had the purpose of reviewing the December 1st reopening date of nightlife businesses.

The reporters asked if there's a tendency to move the opening of the nightlife establishments (bars, karaoke...) forward.

If and when the nightlife operators are ready, "Where there is readiness, there are opportunities" said Gen. Supot Malaniyom to reporters today.

Asked whether the nightlife businesses can open before New Year or not, Gen. Supot said he couldn't answer this question yet...

I guess we'll have to wait until at least December 1st to know more? 

https://www.prachachat.net/politics/news-805568

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Pic shows a karaoke club on Patpong 1 Rd Bangkok called Twilo Live.

Translated from Thai via Google Translate, so probably not 100% correct. 

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Khaosod goes further than Prachachat and writes:

Pub bar have a chance to open faster before (?) 1 Dec.

Entrepreneurs doing well have a chance to open faster.

Translated from Google Translate so please bear with me...

https://www.khaosod.co.th/covid-19/news_6740364

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Do I get this right: the restrictions on cockfighting, fish fighting, horse racing, bullfighting, boxing and bird racing will be relaxed if disease control measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are being strictly followed?

https://www.dailynews.co.th/news/492304/

Prachachat writes that provinces can even allow casinos to open now:

https://www.prachachat.net/politics/news-805679

 

Edited by Papa Sam
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And Channel 7 reports: (via Google translate so please bear with me):

"Today (November 19), General Supot Malaniyom, Secretary-General of the National Security Council as director Covid-19 Situation Administration Center Operation Center said that the meeting of the Office of the Anti-Corruption Commission (BACC) has discussed preparing to relax more business activities during this December. As for the opening of the entertainment situation, pubs, bars, karaoke or not, from meeting the representative of the entertainment venue operator who submitted a letter to Prime Minister yesterday to relax. Has proposed public health measures to Prof. Consider by bringing all information to the meeting of Prof. Big set before 1 Dec. 

Gen Supot stated that the Prime Minister is concerned about entrepreneurs and understands all the impacts. But now the epidemic situation is still worrying. therefore had to postpone the opening of the entertainment venue However, when entrepreneurs express their intentions and confirm they will proceed with public health measures, they will bring this matter to the meeting of the BOE, with the trend going in a better direction. There will be a list of establishments that are ready according to public health measures, which Bangkok and each province. will issue a monitoring of entertainment venues and have to register their readiness As for whether it will be in time for the New Year's festival or not, I can't answer. The overall situation must be assessed first.

Ready to admit that some provinces such as Chonburi and Samut Prakan still have high numbers of infections. How much will the Ministry of Public Health calculate? to consider whether to open an entertainment venue or not And if next month still can't open entertainment venues, there will be remedial measures.    

General Supot also stated that at the meeting CDC next time There will be an increase in low-risk countries entering Thailand. which is being discussed in detail For the possibility to open the country in all provinces within the next year. Still can't do it because you have to look at the picture of the whole country first."

https://news.ch7.com/detail/530659

Bryan Flowers has already reacted:

Bf19.jpg.af0c3929781b0856080f5a44f31f7de9.jpg

Edited by Papa Sam
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Let's see what Thairath writes:

There is a chance to open faster. Jippieyeah! :party0049:

If done well, the bars have a chance to open faster. But probably not before 1 Dec. :cray:

https://thairath.co.th/news/politic/2245890

Similar story from RD News:

https://www.rdnews.news/highlight/17638

 

How can we interpret the a.m. reports from Thai news outlets? My take is that before December 1st there won't be any changes. On or around December 1st there's a small chance that bars could reopen. Though it's still unclear if bars can open this year at all, reading between the lines makes me believe that there's a good chance for that if infection numbers are low and if nightlife operators cooperate by introducing health safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

What's your take guys?

Will bars in Pattaya soon, maybe in mid-December be open (as restaurants)?

Or should Pattaya gogo bars instead try becoming cockfighting arenas since cockfighting is now allowed in all provinces?

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The Bangkok Post today summarizes the Thai media reports:

CCSA to consider night venues' plea:

Gen Supoj (chief of the CCSA and the National Security Council) said that while it's possible the reopening could come sooner than Jan 16 for nightlife businesses that are ready and prepared, he ruled out a Dec 1 reopening for the sector.

He also said nightlife operators are required to register for reopening and undergo inspections by relevant agencies. If they pass the inspections, they will be put on a list which will be reviewed by the CCSA's operation centre next week.

I'm not sure if they mean bar operators in Thailand in general, including Chonburi, or only those located in blue zones...

I don't think that general Supoj is the chief of the CCSA, the chief is the PM afaik. Bangkok Post probably got that wrong. Anyway...

The next CCSA meeting is scheduled for the end of next week around November 26th writes the TPN:

https://thepattayanews.com/2021/11/20/entertainment-venues-nationwide-in-thailand-might-be-allowed-to-reopen-earlier-than-january-according-to-nsc-secretary-general-covid-center-to-discuss-next-week/

Edited by Papa Sam
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Bryan Flowers isn't the only one out there asking the government to let the bars open in December already. The president of the Korat restaurant association is doing the same wrote Matichon yesterday: (sorry, Google translate):

On November 21st, reporters from Nakhon Ratchasima province visited Korat to explore various restaurants, pubs, bars, and karaoke places like the "Mittraphap Tavern" on Sirinakhon Road:

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Cones were arranged in front of the parking lot to symbolize to customers that the shop has been closed. 

Jeerasak Karawiwattana, chairman of the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Restaurant Operators Club said that every nightlife venue is now almost out of funds. The government therefore should review the new order. He wants the government to let him open in December because it is high season and there will be tourists coming during the festive holiday season. Opening in December already would allow pubs, bars and karaoke places to "breathe" again.

The Springnews on November 20th quotes Mr. Thanakorn Wang Boonkongchana, a spokesperson for the PM who said that General Prayut Chan-o-cha was well aware of the trouble of pubs, bars, karaoke etc after the government recently decided to postpone the opening of bars until January 16th 2022. But if the trend (infection rates) was going in a good direction the bars have a chance to open earlier he states.

Moving the opening date forward will likely be discussed at the next CCSA meeting (later this week?).

If they assess at this meeting that the epidemic situation is improving, there's a (good?) chance the nightlife venues could open before January 16th. :db:

 

https://www.springnews.co.th/news/818308

https://www.matichon.co.th/region/news_3052357

md-webp

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Walking Street operators in Pattaya would like to open their entertainment venues on December 15th 

writes Channel 7 today Tuesday November 23rd:

Today (23 Nov 21) Mr. Narit Petcharat, president of the Walking Street Traders Association recently invited fellow bar owners to a meeting to discuss bar opening guidelines. They'll submit the guidelines in a letter to Mr. Sonthaya Khunpluem, Mayor of Pattaya City. Their intention is to get the entertainment venues open on December 15th already. If they had to wait until January 15th the establishments wouldn't be able to bear the costs anymore.

They compare their situation to Bangkok where alcoholic beverages can be sold in restaurants. But Pattaya can't sell alcohol, even though it is in the same tourist pilot area.

They want to offer street food activities in Walking Street during the NY run-up to create color and income for entrepreneurs in the area.

The Pattaya Walking Street operators will be meeting the Pattaya City Mayor by the end of November. 

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https://news.ch7.com/detail/531455

MGR also covered the story:

Walking Street operators in Pattaya move to open businesses on December 15th:

https://mgronline.com/local/detail/9640000115980

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Loosely translated from Thai via Google Translate so please bear with me.

Edit: last but not least: TPN has now finally also covered the story:

https://thepattayanews.com/2021/11/19/prominent-pattaya-business-owners-continue-to-call-for-pattaya-to-get-a-phuket-style-exemption-ending-pattaya-alcohol-sales-ban-at-restaurants/

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Edited by Papa Sam
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On 11/18/2021 at 10:00 AM, BigTel said:

reclassification of all bars to restaurant license status thereby giving them the opportunity to sell alcohol once the ban on restaurants ends

There are apparently already some bar owners in Pattaya that turn their bars into "restaurants" like for example The Camel Toe "Restaurant" Pattaya in, I assume, Jomtien:

Camel.jpg.eb70fbb19e27392ac4a4dab235470499.jpg

Looks like an authentic Thai restaurant with a typical restaurant name to me...

Hey honey, what's for dinner? Camel's hump soup, like every Tuesday my darling...

Edited by Papa Sam
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