Tourists to Thailand halve

**Smithson** · 13-05-2009, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by Whiteshiva

He eventually did. Purachai was probably as close to a clean and competent minister as Thaksin ever came. Which is why he was very popular amongst Thais, and Bangkokians in particular, and probably some of the reason why he fell out of favour with Thaksin.

The ppl in Bkk loved him, but he came out second best when he took on one of Thaksin's relatives over a questionable budget request.

Originally Posted by Whiteshiva

You may not like his idea of zoning, forcing bars and night clubs to adhere to opening and closing times and a crackdown on prostitution, but to many locals this was long overdue and very much needed.

Sounds good, except it seemed to favor certain sectors, for example there was no zone planned for lower Sukumvit. Seemed almost as if they were trying to force tourists back to Patpong and all it's dangers/rip offs.

The locals might have liked the crackdown, but it led to a lot the girls working on the street. Something that will be difficult to get rid off.

Originally Posted by Whiteshiva

I find it amusing, many posters here complain about the lack of law and order in LOS, but when someone actually tries to enforce it, they complain and bitch. You can't have it both ways.

It wasn't really a law and order issue, it was called the social order campaign and had more to do with protecting daughters from the evils of sex and alcohol than preventing crime.

**EmperorTud** · 13-05-2009, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by robuzo

And as I recall, the closing times weren't uniformly enforced- it was easy to get the impression that farang-oriented places/areas were being targeted, with plenty of places to party all night outside the designated farang ghettoes.

Good post.

In Bangkok it was more to do with who was Police connected could stay open.

Many of my old Thai haunts were being closed along with crackdowns in foreign areas. The foreign frequented areas were visibly targeted so no wonder people thought they were being specifically singled out.

It was apparent after the coup when Police influence had declined under the absence of Grand Mufti Thaksin the bars started flouting the laws again and staying open later. Not much has changed in the last two and a half years. The Sanuk element still seems to be missing. Things change over the period of 10 years I guess.

I keep repeating myself but Phnom Penh delivers all the 'fun of the fair', that Bangkok did when I was here for the first few years. The bars have character, it is cheap and cheerful, in general the people are much friendlier than the Thais and even expats seem friendlier too.

**bestvue** · 13-05-2009, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by blackgang

And since I don't drink I have no excuse to go to the pub for a beer.

Start drinking.................

**crazy dog** · 13-05-2009, 04:34 PM

Even though flight prices are bargains at the mo from UK people are going nowhere if they have just lost their jobs, and a great number have in the Uk and US etc. It seems Brits are going on holiday at home this year, just like the good old days when two weeks in Margate was looked forward to all year.

**crazy dog** · 13-05-2009, 04:39 PM

[quote
I keep repeating myself but Phnom Penh delivers all the 'fun of the fair', that Bangkok did when I was here for the first few years. The bars have character, it is cheap and cheerful, in general the people are much friendlier than the Thais and even expats seem friendlier too.[/quote]

Don't know what it's like there now as only went once in 2000. Almost all the bars I went to seemed to be populated by girls of a very dubious age, both Viet and Khmer. It seemed like a hangout for sex tourists of a certain type, so I never went back. has it changed for the better?

**Frankenstein** · 13-05-2009, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by EmperorTud

The sorts of people that are still coming must be the real mongers and the real cheap charlies.

A guy I know has just booked a ticket from LHR for 309.00 Pounds, arriving next week. He stays for around 2 months each time he visits and spends under 1,000thb a day inclusive.

What a wasteful sod. Next time your friend is here, send him to me - I'll teach him how to save his pennies.

**Rural Surin** · 13-05-2009, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by EmperorTud

The sorts of people that are still coming must be the real mongers and the real cheap charlies.

A guy I know has just booked a ticket from LHR for 309.00 Pounds, arriving next week. He stays for around 2 months each time he visits and spends under 1,000thb a day inclusive.

Could be worse. Better than no flow at all. We seem to observe this surface factor that 'the only worthy travellers/tourists are the well-healed ones'.

**EmperorTud** · 13-05-2009, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by crazy dog

Don't know what it's like there now as only went once in 2000. Almost all the bars I went to seemed to be populated by girls of a very dubious age, both Viet and Khmer. It seemed like a hangout for sex tourists of a certain type, so I never went back. has it changed for the better?

Many people I find, especially women, say the same about certain areas of Thailand.

Phnom Penh is completely different now although those places no doubt still exist but harder to find now.

No go-go bars or giant massage parlours so hardened mongers will prefer the staple Thailand has to offer. Plenty of hostess bars though and a few freelance hangouts like Sharky's or Walkabout.

There have been several campaigns cracking down on under age prostitution and nearly every bar contains literature and warnings against such deviant behaviour, something I haven't seen in Thailand for a while considering there is still a large problem.

Weed is still smoked openly in most of the bars and there's a much more relaxed atmosphere.

**robuzo** · 13-05-2009, 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by EmperorTud

Originally Posted by crazy dog

Don't know what it's like there now as only went once in 2000. Almost all the bars I went to seemed to be populated by girls of a very dubious age, both Viet and Khmer. It seemed like a hangout for sex tourists of a certain type, so I never went back. has it changed for the better?

Many people I find, especially women, say the same about certain areas of Thailand.

Phnom Penh is completely different now although those places no doubt still exist but harder to find now.
---
Weed is still smoked openly in most of the bars and there's a much more relaxed atmosphere.

I went last year after a 10-year hiatus; PP was a completely different place from 1998. The street lights alone are a big improvement. Still too many hungry-looking kids walking around, but I didn't notice any overt paedo-weirdo shit. Some really nice places to eat, especially French.

**hafiz** · 13-05-2009, 07:48 PM

powerful stat.

**Agent_Smith** · 14-05-2009, 07:06 AM

Originally Posted by robuzo

but I didn't notice any overt paedo-weirdo shit

The very reason I never went to PP. If things have truly improved then I'll put it on my roster of places to visit on my next sojourn overseas.

**Butterfly** · 14-05-2009, 07:34 AM

Originally Posted by Whiteshiva

You may not like his idea of zoning, forcing bars and night clubs to adhere to opening and closing times and a crackdown on prostitution, but to many locals this was long overdue and very much needed.

the zoning was a good idea, I will give you that, but it also opened all kind of abuses by the police, so the problem was just moved, not solved, that is not always enforced and causing more problems for party goers.

Originally Posted by robuzo

Feel free to use the euphemism "nightlife" to describe all the varieties of evening activity, but what it is it in the end that made Bangkok fun like no other big Asian city? After all, you can find good food, music, even chicks in any Asian fleshpot- some places are cheaper, some more sophisticated, but of the capitals it used be that only Bangkok had the sanook, with all the freedom and abandonment (with recognition of its temporary and impermanent nature as the Buddha teaches) that implies.

perfectly said, that's exactly it.

Originally Posted by robuzo

Consumerism and hypocritical Puritanism (and I place Thaksin in this camp with his dream of being some kind of tinpot version of Lee Kuan Yew) have conspired in recent years to kill the lighthearted outlook of the Thais along with their spirit of sanook. It isn't quite dead yet- it will die hard- but it is getting really hard to find.

Again, right on. However, maybe not a bad thing to take Thailand to a new era though. The idea was to kill the Sanook as nothing could be accomplished as long as office workers were more concerned about partying and drinking than money. Incidentally, the place has become more expat friendly by having better infrastructure than ever, and easier access to facilities. Under a sanook version, I am not sure any of this would have been accomplished. The expat community under Thaksin must have gone up 500%, an amazing accomplishment in itself. It wouldn't have happened without him. The inflow of capital from the greater expat community has certainly benefited Thailand in that regard.

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