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Breaking News
September 2009
Click here to read our August 2009 News.
Free Tourist Visa
Click here to read all about Thailand's new Free Tourist VISA regulations.
Latest News
Financial crisis hits Buri Ram and the Korat.
Well-known businesses run out of money and have to close. According to an insider, at least the ladies will move to Thailand's Beach Resorts... Remember
September 19th 2006 On September 19th 2009 Thai Military toppled elected Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, installed an illegal Thai Government and reinforced Thailand's instability.
Thailand's Military - supporting Bangkok's unteachable Elite - usurps too much power in this country.
Coyotes in the Snow
At the back of the recently renovated Nok Beer Bar on Walking Street a SnowIce Club opened its door.
The new bar features Coyote dancers.
Must be a very cold affair: The snow already drifts the front of the building.
Workmen at Utopia
The first floor of Utopia Lounge on Soho Square gets a 'face-lifting' and its second floor a new staircase.
I was told that A-Go-Go dancers will be back soon on the 2nd floor.
Without Jenny
 Since a few days one of Pattaya's best known Ladyboy bars does its business without name: 'Jenny Star Bar' has gone.
Removed
 The Walking Street bar at the corner to Soi BJ, opposite of New Living Dolls One, closed, as well as the nearby shop. Workmen are in for something new.
Arrested
Officials from Pattaya's Immigration Police closed Devil’s Den Escort and Hostess Service Club on Soi LK-Metro and arrested its manager and his employees.
Overloaded
 September 19th 2009, Walking Street: Signs of a coming problem. Police reacted fast, warned the visitors & informed the power company.
Closed
 Molly Malone's closed the doors on Walking Street. The venue will be converted into a Go-Go-Club with a 'see through' glass floor.
New Pleasure?
 The Pleasure Dome, a new large A-Go-Go, will replace Walking Street's closed Hammer Disco. It is scheduled to open on November 1st 2009.
Another Film Crew
 On September 17th 2009 another Film Crew was taking pictures on Walking Street for an Indian Film.
 Let's hope the film gets a success in India and the producers publish the site of the filmmaking.
New Sign
 The Blue Lagoon Bar & A-Go-Go at Best Friend's bar complex on Pattaya's Beach Road got 2 new, large and conspicuous signs.
New Face
 The large Rolling Stone 2 Bar on Walking Street / Soi 16 got a new and colorful face.
Lights shut down
 The V2O Icebar, the second floor vodka bar on Soi Happy (A-Go-Go), shut down the lights.
Boulevard Café closed
 Bartime's closed its Boulevard Café. A new small A-Go-Go Club will open instead.
City Hall's words
'Regular clean-ups of Pattaya's beaches helps prevent global warming', Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay said...
We always try to top 'intelligent words' from officials in our headline(s), but with statements like this it's simply infeasible...
A(H1N1) update
On September 30, 2009 Thailand's Public Health Ministry announced that 165 people have died of the A(H1N1) flu so far.
The ministry believes more than 3 million people have contracted the virus in Thailand.
There were large numbers of A(H1N1) flu patients in Ubon Ratchathani, Amnat Charoen, Khon Kaen, Roi-Et, Mukdahan, Chiang Mai, Kamphaeng Phet, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Phichit, Chachoengsao, Rayong, Chon Buri (incl. Naklua, Pattaya and Jomtien), Lopburi, Saraburi, Samut Sakorn, Samut Songkram, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Songkhla and Phuket.
Thailand's Health Minister Witthaya Keawparadai said there could be a resurgence of the rate of infection from October to December 2009.
According to World Health Organisation Director General Margaret Chan 'All governments must prepare for the worst. Up to 30 percent of people in densely populated countries risked getting infected'.
While 90 percent of severe and fatal cases occur in people aged above 65 in seasonal flu, most of those who die from A(H1N1) flu are under the age of 50. A very severe form of disease affecting the lungs and causing severe respiratory failure among young and healthy people.
Mövenpick in Pattaya
Switzerland's Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts announces a futuristic tourism project in Pattaya, Thailand.
The exclusive 5-star Mövenpick Resort & Spa Pattaya will comprise 300 rooms and suites and, according to its website(s), is scheduled to open at the end of 2010 or 2011 or 2012...
It is said that each of the 300 modern rooms and suites at the Mövenpick Resort & Spa Pattaya will offer unrestricted views of the sea.
The resort facilities will include a main restaurant, featuring the popular and much-praised Mövenpick buffets, two speciality restaurants and an entertainment centre.
Mövenpick already runs a Resort in Phuket.
Reopened Legs
 Legs, the bar on Soi 8, was closed for a few days, but reopened on September 1st after a fast makeover and with a new format: The lovely girls got replaced by ladyboys...
Improved
 Living Doll's Showcase on Walking Street got an improved entry. The signs are now outshining the ladies...
Angel goes Karaoke
 Angel Bar on Soi Buakhaow closed - and reopened as Spark Karaoke & Pub.
Lazy Thais
Thailand’s workforce is not as productive as its Asian neighbors and Thailand's Labor Ministry wants to know why.
Data shows that the output by one Singaporean is equal to that of eight Thai workers.
Comments no longer necessary...
Skilled Work Force
According to Chonburi's Senator Surachai Chaitrakulthong Thailand's plus is the availability of a skilled work force...
 Just another work of Thailand's skilled work force': In the middle of Pattaya Beach Promenade, across from the entry to Blue Lagoon A-Go-Go...
 ... and at Pattaya Beach Promenade, across from Soi 6.
 Waste of water: Just in front of Pattaya City Hall.
Announcement
 Water pipes in Pattaya are allowed to get broken during office hours only!
Pattaya Waterworks does not have a 24 hours hotline and the lovely people from 1337 City Hall Hotline do not know how to wake-up Waterworks' sleeping officials...
Singing Mayor
According to latest press reports in the resort of Pattaya, our guitar playing Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome is preparing a second career as a singing star!
We can't attest him a 'big voice' but at least he will be one of a very few Thai singers without intonation problems.
Blind McDonald's
 As many Hotels here in Pattaya, McDonald's is serving its breakfast until 11:00 only. It seems the company doesn't know Pattaya means Nightlife.
 At Crazy Dave's (Soi Chaiyapoon) you can get an excellent breakfast around the clock.
Toast, Butter, Marmalade, Eggs, a Sausage, some Ham, Beans and a large cup of Coffee or Tea cost 75 Baht only at Crazy Dave's. A real bargain!
Even at CentralFestival's Foodpark (Groundfloor) you can order your breakfast all day.
Cherry Bar Too sold
Cherry Bar Too, located between Soi 13 & Soi 13/1 (or better known as The Right Spot Bar place) has been sold. The new owners have the intention to convert two bars at this place into a copy of the very successful Club Blu (Soi LK Metro).
Chock Dee! So far, every attemp to repeat the success of Club Blu in Pattaya has failed.
New Problems for Coyotee's A-Go-Go
 Pattaya Immigration Officials raided the A-Go-Go on Soi Marine Plaza after receiving information that the venue is employing illegal immigrants from Cambodia as well as underaged girls.
Checking the venue, the police discovered that the bar also was running a brothel on the second floor of the building.
The police arrested the Manager, the Mamasan and some ladies.
Organized Beggars
Pattaya Police arrested about 20 disabled beggars from Cambodia 'working' on Pattaya's and Naklua's Roads.
The beggars had the right to use 100 Baht of their daily income for personal expenses. The remaining money they had to hand over to 5 Thai men.
Police says it is now trying to arrest the 5 Thai 'business' men.
Chock Dee! Previous Publications
Previous 'News Flash' Publications
August 2009
July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 April 1st 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 April 1st 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 July/August 2007 June 2007 April/May 2007 March 2007 |
Pattaya News Flash September 2009
 from Pattaya, Thailand's most exciting Resort
Utapao Pattaya International Airport recommends:
Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome confirmed that Pattaya City Hall has reached an agreement with Utapao Airport to rename the military owned airport to Utapao Pattaya International Airport. City Hall will invest about 900 million Baht to built an all new terminal to improve all facilities to international standards. In return, Thailand's Defense Ministry has added Itthiphol Kunplome to the airport’s board of directors.
The new airport will be ready at the end of 2010. The airport is located at Sattahip and about 35 minutes from Pattaya. The new passenger terminal will be capable of handling 1'500 passengers per hour. There are also plans to add a mass-transit link. Rear Adm. Surapong said 'the airport’s proximity to rail lines make train service a natural choice for easy access from Pattaya'.
City Hall didn't explain if it will stop the scams from Utapao's taxi mafia. A Baht Bus ride to or from Sattahip costs about 20 Baht only - a taxi driver usually asks about 1'000 Baht (or more) for a one way trip! But until today Baht Buses are not allowed to serve the airport.
Not very exemplary
 Pattaya Police is now enforcing the wearing of helmets on all streets in Pattaya, but apparently not among its own people...
My girlfriend told me, perhaps Pattaya City Hall decided that the head of a policeman isn't worth to be protected.
Photo: September 15th 2009, 15:29, 3rd Road/Central Road.
The End of the Party
 Insomnia closed and knocked its Party Club on Soi 8.
Good Dancers
 Many bars at the New Simons Bar Complex on Walking Street have surprisingly good dancers. Every evening there are a lot of onlookers not only at the 15 bars, but also on the street. Police apparently likes to look too: They installed a table and some comfortable seats just in front of Basilisk Bar.
From Walking Street to Go-Go Street
 The iron club on Walking Street will open soon - together with a handful of other new A-Go-Go Clubs. All located on Walking Street.
Amazing Thailand
Filming Thai Mafia is a Criminal Act
A British producer cameraman has had to flee Thailand after filming a sequence with Jet Ski mafia (in Thai reality 'influential people') on a Phuket beach.
The cameramen and his Thai crew faced up to a year in jail. They stand accused of assisting in the filming of a sequence which could damage Thailand's image.
Black Sheep Productions is responsible for producing the Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand TV series. Bravo TV is prodcasting the documentation.
The movie is now available on youtube.com at
JetSki scam on Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand. Pattaya's New Holiday Inn opens October 1st 2009
 The new Holiday Inn on Pattaya's Beach Road (Northern Pattaya) will formally open on October 1st 2009.
The new hotel is celebrating the occasion with an introductory offer available until December 20th 2009:
Ocean View rooms are priced at 1'999 baht per night, excluding 10 per cent service charge and 7 per cent VAT. Two-night packages, including 10 per cent service charge and 7 per cent VAT, cost 4'000 baht. Expensive WiFi
WiFi in Thailand is Expensive
Since February 2009 TOT (Telephone Organisation of Thailand) provides Wi-Fi Internet all along Pattaya Beach. In addition to this service almost all shopping centers as well as many bars and restaurants in and around Pattaya offers WiFi connections.
But the service is expensive.
 A few weeks ago 'Skilled Thai Work Force' gave Soi Chaiyapoon a new surface. After a few rainy days the Soi presents as bumpy as during the last 20 years.
According to Chonburi's Senator Surachai Chaitrakulthong Thailand's plus is the availability of a skilled work force... He doesn't know what he is speaking about.
 New on Marine Plaza
Marine Pool opened September 19th 2009.
 The new Marine Pool Bar & Restaurant is replacing the former Insomnia Club as well as Lam Morison's Rock Club.
Happy Birthday
 New Coyote Club on Pattaya Beach Road
 The new Coyote Club at the Right Spot Bar Complex on Pattaya Beach Road is scheduled to open during the first week of October 2009.
The manager(s) of the new venue will decided during the next few days how to spell the new bar's name: Daiquiri Hous, Daiquiri Huse or Daiquiri House.
New Shop
 71Export opened its new shop at BigC's CentralCenter in Northern Pattaya.
It's the chain's largest outlet in Pattaya so far.
71Export is known for its resonable prices and the good quality of its clothes.
Another Dream
 'Coming soon' seems to remain a (costly?) dream at Moonlight Complex.
Farangs - not good
Pattaya Police had to arrest a few Farangs
Between September 02 and September 04 2009, Pattaya Police had to arrest a few Farangs dealing with drugs.
On September 2nd Pattaya Police arrested a 48-year-old Englishman. With two Thai partners he was selling drugs to Pattaya club goers. He was running his business for years.
On September 3rd officers from the Narcotics Suppression Unit arrested a 39-year-old Norwegian with 40 grams of heroin and a loaded handgun. The arrested Farang is/was a well-known person in Pattaya. He is/was running a few businesses in the city. During a few month he was working as an volunteer for Pattaya Tourist Police, but was expelled from the group earlier this year.
On September 4th 12 officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration arrested a 21-year-old French men usually selling ya ice on Walking Street.
Good connections
A group of influential locals withstood complaines.
As mentioned in Nightwalker's August News neighbours of the new Phuket Restaurant on Pattaya's 3rd Road complained about the nightly noise from the three venues near Pattaya's fire department.
The residents placed complaints to Pattaya Police, City Hall and the Pattaya call center, but their complaints have fallen on deaf ears during the last 3 months.
And Why?
The Thai music pub producing the loudest noise is owned by a group of influential locals...
That's the way it works in Pattaya!
But finally, on September 3rd Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh and Deputy Chief of Banglamung District Phongthasit Pijjanan acknowledged the problem and promised solutions. 'Closing time for nighttime entertainment venues on Third Road is midnight and bars are not allowed to open after that', Ronakit said.
The nearby fire department - and not the police(!) - got the order to monitor the pubs and to make sure they close at midnight.
iFarang™: Amazing Shopping in Pattaya
Bogus Claim in Pattaya:
'Factory Prices' are an Illusion!
 My friend had to agree: Outlet Mall and Outlet Village are bogus claims.
iFarang™ ©2009
Good intention, but...
Thais Shall Not Cheat
On August 24th 2009 Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome (!) presided over a seminar telling Pattaya residents, business men & women and public servants how to stamp out corruption at all levels of Thailand's society.
Corruption is present, in every system in Thailand, including national and local politics, military, police and civil services as well as the cooperation between public and private sectors.
It is even present in the anti-corruption system...
The Crisis one Year on
Remember September 07 2008
On September 07 2008 the international finance crisis started in the United States of America with Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac and convulsed whole the world within a few minutes only.
The crisis proved again that at the end the small and poor people always have to pay off the debts of the rich and the famous ones...
Famous Alan Greenspan predicts just another financial crash in the future.
Out of Control
Gangs are controlling Suvarnabhumi Airport
According to sources near to AoT (Airports of Thailand) there are more than 20 powerful groups operating in the airport. They act under the command of major gangs known as Kamnan Samruay, Boonruang Srisang, Sak Pakphanang and Pirap. There are also two prominent groups known as the Pattaya Mafia Gang and the Phuyai Daeng Gang.
The Kamnan Samruay Camp seems to be the most powerful group. It is collecting 'protection fees' from smaller gangs.
The gangs run illegal businesses like underground foreign exchange services, ticketing, illegal taxi and tour guide services.
The gangs usually have good connections with influential figures in and around the airport.
Illegal tour guides are scattered on every floor in the terminal and hang around the arrival hall.
The recent (and widely announced) 'crackdown' failed to stop airport gangs. The 'crackdown' is expected only to make the illegal operators lie low for a while, not wipe them out. The gangs still do their business as usual, an AoT source said.
Suvarnabhumi Airport was announced as the 'Pride of Thailand' - today it seems to be Thailand's eyesore.
As of September 1st 2009
 The Moon Beer & Coffee Garden opened in front of Carrefour with Beer Lao, Beer Chang and Federbräu - and a lot of lovely ladies.
 All the bars on the second floor of the bar complex at the entry to Walking Street, also known as The Pier, closed their lights & taps.
 To the right of the now closed Molly Malone's a Burger Bar opened on Walking Street. A very clean venue, but even more expensive than Burger King, KFC and McDonald's.
 With the first drops of rain the umbrella vendors take the almost empty Walking Street by assault.
 Empty Words
 Pattaya City Hall promised to reduce the number of annoying Beach Vendors significantly. But nothing happened so far. As in recent years, the vendors interrupt your journey every few minutes.
Be careful when hiring Water Scooters
 Before you rent a Water Scooter, we recommend to take photos from the entire boat (even from its bottom) to avoid any scams after returning from your ride.
If you can't bring up evidences police can't help you.  Pattaya's good Bicycle Shop
After we published iFarang™'s report about his buying of tubes and tires a lot of readers wanted to know the address of the dealer mentioned in the report.
Amazing Pattaya
Pattaya Sundown
 No matter what politicians, officials and police do and say to drive Thailand's tourism industry into a disaster, Pattaya remains a beautiful resort of its own.
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iStupid©
New Regulation
 Pattaya Traffic Police announces new parking regulations for South Pattaya Road...
 ... and Walking Street.
The Police will collect 1'000 Baht fines for parking violations.
Traffic inspector Lt. Col. Pijet Sangsong is the inventor of Pattaya's 'odd and even dates' regulations. During January 2009 he tried to introduce an 'odd and even dates' one way system on South Pattaya Road. Fortunately somebody stopped that stupid idea. But now he is launching Pattaya's 'odd and even dates' parking regulations. 'Odd and even dates' systems failed everywhere in the world. iStupid © by CityHall™ Scam - or not?
Tesco/Lotus:
Darlie Lemon Mint Toothpaste 160g,
single pack: 44 Baht, twin pack: 95 Baht (2x160g). iFarang™
Ridiculous Experts
The experts from the 'US Financial Watchdog' deeply regret not being able to detect Bernard (Bernie) Madoff multi billion fraud.
I warned all my friends to do any investments with Bernie, as soon as I saw his first offer. The fraud was obvious for any logical thinking human.
iFarang™ ©2009
Seen in Pattaya
  Pit says
Red lights in Pattaya are valid for all road users, except for me.
Last Word
It was never our intention to give any free rooms to all Pattaya tourists.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome
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