Police Crackdown on Patong Bars

[c: smiley]

So much to consider.

First, as I posted before in another discussion that seems to have vanished (about 500 baht drinks) most of the groups mentioned here are all part of the same machine, and while one person may object to touts, another may object to the girls. If Phuket were to enforce all the existing laws, things would be very different from what the situation now is really like. Closing the bars at 2am is just a start. If people really don't want that, then the laws need to be changed.

Second, the problem with jet ski operators isn't with the way they're doing business, but with the lack of information about what's really at stake for visitors. The people I've seen who have been hit with this after an accident never considered the implications of renting a jetski. Visitors just don't think ahead - but why should they, when they're on vacation and just assume that there really is insurance?

Touts - some people find them obnoxious, but they're just doing what they're paid to do. It's their job. If you meet them individually, they're just as nice as anyone else you're likely to meet - but they're doing what they've been paid to do.

Tuk-tuks - ditto. If you don't like the rates, find a different tuk-tuk, walk, or find another way of getting where you're going. Even at their most extravagant prices, say 300 baht, that's about what you pay for a taxi in the western world for a four-minute trip. Negotiate the price ahead of time, or don't complain.

As I see it, there's no need to strike, only to make sure you understand the costs before you do anything. If you act like you don't care, the other person will try to get whatever they can, be it a tout, a bar girl, or anyone else in this wonderful paradise!

 

[M T]

PTSD kicking in again Denver?? Flashbacks are worth 10% on the war Pension scale lolol.

 

[millypeed my choccie Lab]

bbnnnnnhhgbgTwo choices or three, make your mind up. A minibus is a minibus, a limo is a limo and a taxi is a taxi. Choosing to call them by the wrong name is not going to help you communicate. Can you actually read or is this a problem for you ?? You are just repeating what others have already said and then calling them stupid.

 

[Capricorn One]

Somebody once directed me to a link in a topic and when I clicked on it I could not read it. That is why I asked the silly question as to how many posts.

 

[Yohanson.]

Right, I prefer the patong village devoid of tourists which Is why im there in June :intello: Is there a storm brewing crusty ?

 

[Ice]

Been there 3 times in last month and 1am all lights go out and sour faced mib even took my pool sticky thing away so I couldnt finish game.

 

[Torch-Bearer]

i think the fact that it is not regulated like it is in Europe and is viewed as exploitation, and in most cases it is trafficking

i know for me, i never saw anything approaching Thailand or Amsterdam before

 

[sexybutt]

Jeez if I've been drinking until 4:30AM she won't be going anywhere until I wake up for a pee at 2PM.

 

[cpttango30]

In every other business commission comes out of the operators pockets, not the customers. If the owners operated this way it would pay them not to have touts.

 

[Amr R]

They have shlongs.:tuxout:

 

[Kuro Yuki]

Seen him often there. Suppose it is a meeting place for him and a few friends around 8 in the evening. Just talking and drinking water or coffee. No alcohol.

 

[Ju-Ju-Be]

I could say the exact same thing, but for me it was the ladies on the beach road south of Bangla - they'd grab hold of you, and almost insist on your going with them. Ditto for both the ladies and the katoeys on Bangla much later on. There's good and bad in everything, and I suspect you'd have been just as upset had it been a drunk lady invading your personal space and insisting on joining you. By the time you pry their hand off your arm, and finally get them to realize that "no" means just that, it's extremely annoying.

I don't doubt anything you just said - it's just that it applies to a lot of people, ladies and katoeys, once they've had way too much to drink and are desperate for someone to go with. I'm sure if you walked around Paradise at the same hour, it would apply to some gay people as well. People are people, and it's the same all over. You can't lump all people of any group into one basket and say the same thing applies to all of them.


Had you said "some katoeys are present and annoying 24/7 on beach road" it would have been better, but so are "some" ladies.


You mention "personal space". I get to feeling very uncomfortable when anyone is getting too close into my personal space. In the USA you've got lots of "personal space" and people respect it. In Asia, I get the feeling that "personal space" sometimes doesn't exist. I think it bothers me at least as much as you say it bothers you, but unless people get way too close, I try to ignore it.

 

[max jerry horowits]

Before everyone yells at me, let me add that as long as you understand the situation before doing something, there's no problem. If you want to spend 3K for LT, or 300 baht for a tuk-tuk, or 500 for a drink, go for it. If not, just find out the price BEFORE you do something, after which you can go ahead, or change your plans.

Even the 2am bar closing - officially, it's been 2am for many years, right? Don't get upset at the police for enforcing the law - a better solution would be to get the law changed. Methinks there's enough wealthy people in Phuket to make a case for treating Patong differently than other locations.

 

[Alps]

I bet Geir is really looking forward to 'the Visit'

 

[CogitoErgoCogitoSum]

South of beach road? Are you sure that they were ladies?

 

[Emzzy]

At least he got what he wanted. I did sent him a mail in german with the answer and offered more help. I think that fair enough.

 

[Mabelline]

That has been my observation also. When this latest crackdown started it seemed to be a casual kind of approach, the camo boys and police where just in presence and the bars seemed to follow suit however the past few days have seem some heavy enforcement and a bunch of arrests. It would seem that it is getting pretty serious.

 

[Rum&Coke]

Were the outlets still open after 2.00am this past weekend ?

 

[SugarByte]

All businesses pay commissions for introductions....like if you go to one of those tour desks you're going to pay more than if you sought out the operator and went and bought the tour direct from them.

The issue with the tout/gogo setup really is with the extreme overcharge/commission being gouged. Wonder how that 550 price came about?!!

 

[libratiger924]

You'll never get a job as a travel advisor/writer.

Minibus>>> the limo (what I call it) for 150 baht,

TaxiMeter>>>

Limo>>>