Latest incident: Cops deployed to protect Isaan community from a hungry ghost, Khaosod English reports. According to a Chinese legend, once a year the gates of the spirit world are opened up and hungry ghosts are said to roam the streets searching for food, drinks and merriment...

Supporters of Thailand's Dictator are just using the allegedly stupid people from the North to answer the Dictator's 4 simple questions:

• Do you think the next election will get us a government with good governance?
• If that is not the case, what will you do?
• Elections are an integral part of democracy but are elections alone with no regard for the country's future and others right or wrong?
• Do you think bad politicians should be given a chance to come back, and if conflict re-emerges, who will solve it and by what means?

The four questions raised heavy critism but that shouldn't be a problem for the Dictator. Section 44 of the provisional Constitution stipulates that all orders from the Junta Chief, with the endorsement of the NCPO, on those matters are final. It gives Thailand's Dictator absolut power and Sections 47 & 48 legitimise all coup-related actions by the NCPO, by its subordinates, or by the subordinates of its subordinates, as well as all orders and announcements issued by them. It grants amnesty to NCPO members and anyone acting on its orders. Nevertheless, let's hope that for the benefits of Thailand's society and the country's economic the Military Junta itself eliminates as fast as possible...

Pattaya's Officals are launching crackdown after crackdown to please Thailand's Military Junta, its moral apostles and to move the city into a family-friendly tourist destination featuring dirty beaches, unusable pavements, deadly pedestrian crossings, ruthless drivers and a mostly polluted air. On the other hand they launch a 3 to 9 kilometer long Bikini Beach Race with gorgeous babes and handsome men. There is even a competition for the best bikini worn by both sexes. We live in a really crazy part of this world.

Lumyaigate: Teen's golden hot pants overheat culture wars

A few years ago Pattaya's Officials announced to transfer our World Class (dirty) Beach Resort into a family-friendly tourist destination. It never happened. On March 27th, 2017, Bangkok Post reported that Pattaya tries again to become family friendly. Obviously the lovely officials never learned that announcements alone do not change anything. On July 5th, 2014, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau announced its strategic plan to turn Pattaya into an international meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) destination. It never happened. On June 2nd, 2017, LovePattaya reported that Deputy Mayor Bantit Kunjak chaired a meeting with people from many sectors at the town hall to discuss the strategy and launch of Pattaya as a MICE city. In the meantime Pattaya's Authorities started a crackdown on Sex businesses on Walking Street and on Soi 6, launched new regulations for that areas and told the Western Press they are cleaning up Pattaya. It's a farce! Reality is that the hordes of Chinese tourists visiting beautiful Pattaya are lured to Soi 1 (off Pattaya Second Road) and Soi 29/1 (off Naklua Road) to enjoy 'Pattaya's most shocking Sex shows' in special built Music Halls.

69 Show, as an example, runs two showa daily, with up to 100 (or even more) tourist buses carrying Chinese tourists to the shows. The many buses create a traffic chaos. Usually Pattaya Policemen try to regulate the traffic (instead to clean up Pattaya from 'reputation-damaging sex shows'...). The official ticket price for Chinese tourists is at least 1'200 Baht!

On June 20th, 2017, the Pattaya City Council, also known as Pattaya's arm of the Military Junta, approved a 1.4-million-Baht budget for the construction of 30 passenger shelters at locations across Pattaya, particularly along Pattaya Beach Road, Pattaya Second Road and adjacent streets. Pol Maj Gen Pundit Khunnachak, deputy mayor of the city municipality, claims that the work is in line with the National Council for Peace and Order's policy to better regulate traffic and transport for the benefit of local commuters and tourists. Bus stops currently consist of painted markings on the road surface. Pattaya's citizens, the tourists as well as almost all Baht Bus drivers are ignoring them... The result will be that the new Bus Stop Shelters will be just another obstruction for Pedestrians.

Shortly after its inauguration, the the Pattaya City Council installed new but absolutely useless road signs on almost all larger junctions around Pattaya. Many of them even are obstructing pedestrians

Doctors all aver the world knows it and warn their patients, but Thailand's Military Junta obviously never read about it: Sunburn is a clear sign that the DNA in your skin cells has been damaged by too much UV radiation. Getting sunburn, just once every 2 years, can triple your risk of melanoma skin cancer. Sunburn doesn't have to be raw, peeling or blistering. If your skin has gone pink or red in the sun, it's sunburnt. Nevertheless, Thailand's Military Junta is cleaning up the beaches in Hua Hin, Pattaya, Phuket and elsewhere from sun shades and deckchairs.

Doctors warn too: Don't lay down on the sand. You can pick up any kind of disease. It is essential for your health to use a deckchair on any of Pattaya's (or even Thailand's) dirty beaches.

On July 15th Bangkok Post reports, among other newspapers too, that broken pumps at a 15-year-old treatment facility are the root cause of Pattaya's beach pollution. Mr. Chao Nokyoo, the department's director for water quality management, told the press that the problem will be fixed and new pumps will be installed this month.

In our May 2008 edition we already published a picture showing that Pattaya City Hall is dispatching its wastewater during rainy nights untreated directly into the sea. New pumps do not change the situation. They simply move the waste deeper into the sea

Pattaya Mail: South Pattaya sewage leak causes outrage because Pattaya's 15-year-old sewage treatment system could not send sewage to the treatment plant on Soi Nongyai due to broken pumps...

Scientists from the Weizmann Institute compared two kinds of bread viewed as being on opposite ends of the health spectrum. One was industrial white bread made from refined wheat and considered less healthy. The other was sourdough-leavened bread made in an artisanal bakery from freshly stone-milled whole grain wheat flour and baked in a stone hearth oven: It was prepared specially for the study and was assumed to possess superior properties. During the study the scientists divided the participants into two groups and asked to consume large quantities of bread (supplying about a quarter of their caloric intake) for a week. One group ate the white bread, and the other, the healthy sourdough bread. After a two-week break, they switched, and for a week the group that had previously eaten white bread ate the sourdough bread, and vice versa. Tests revealed that eating bread of any kind affected the blood levels of sugar, minerals, liver enzymes and other substances. But when the scientists compared the effects of the two types of bread, they were surprised. We were sure that the sourdough bread would come out a healthier choice, but much to our surprise, we found no difference between the health effects of the two types of bread, says Prof. Eran Segal of Weizmann Institute's Computer Science and Applied Mathematics Department. The study showed, for example, that about half of the participants had higher blood sugar levels after eating white bread, whereas the other half had higher blood sugar after eating sourdough bread. It seems that the body's response to bread is a highly personal matter. It works like the placebo effect: If you believe that sourdough bread is better for you, it will be better for you - but not healthier.

Our World Class Beach Resort is struggling to transfer its image as a 'Sex Capital' to a Family Resort or even a MICE city. We have the inspiring idea to change the image of Pattaya once and for ever! Let's create Pattaya, the Healthiest Place on Earth. It shouln't be a complicated task! With the power of Section 44 Thailand's Dictator General Prayuth Chan-ocha can easely ban the use of all unhealthy oils in Pattaya: For all kind of fried foods cooks have to use Coconut oils, for salads they are obligated to use Flaxseed Oils and Balsamic Vinegar from Modena only. Exemption: The use of Canola Oil is only permitted for cooking foods for American tourists to further support their weight and their diseases. Som Tam has to be prepared with fresh ingredients only. The use of Pla Ra (also known as Pa La) or raw fish is strictly banned. To support the poor regions in the North of the country, all kind of love before and/or after a meal is strongly recommended because it's recognized by most scientists as the healtiest of all activities.

Jomtien faces a very low season and therefore a lot of restaurant at prime locations had to close during the last few months. We show you a few of them only:

First known as Oasis, a Russian restaurant, later known as Anwar, a Lebanese restaurant on Jomtien Beach Road at the entrance to Soi 5, they both had to close down for the very same reason: Missing tourists...

Located on Thappraya Road, a few meters from the beach only, this was the home of a popular Russian Restaurant. It had to close because of missing tourists.

Also located on Thappraya Road and also a few meters from the beach only, Rumours closed down because of missing tourists.

La Taverna, an nice Italian Bistro closed down because of missing tourists. It also was located a few metres from Beach Road on Soi Thappraya.

Firehouse as well as Pastrami on Rye, both located on Thappraya Road, on the way to the beach, closed down.

We could fill up a whole page with pictures from once popular restaurants in Jomtien who had to close their doors - and all of them face the very same problem: Missing tourists. Neverteheless, Miss Suladda Salutilawan, director of TAT Pattaya branch, could tell the press last month that this year Pattaya will face 'no low season'... Close your eyes and dream well!

Teatro, the Travesty Cabaret Show on Thappraya Road opened during March 2017, closed down last month: Missing customers.

In our March-Edition we reported the opening of Naklua's first burger outlet at the former sales office at the Lumpini Ville Condominiums. BurgerMap then annouced to open The MAP Coffee Lounge later this year in the rooms to its left. It did not happen. Instead BurgerMap closed its small sales shop and moved into the rooms previously reserved for the Coffee Lounge.

WakaWaka, the bar promising Bellies, Booties and Boobies placed on REAL Girls, opened on July 14th on Soi Pattayaland 2 (officially known as Soi 13/4).

Flandria reopened its restaurant on July 12th. The venue closed during the third week of June. The lovingly renovated restaurant is located opposite of the well known Marquee Scooter Bar and serves tasty foods at reasonable prices.

A few meters only from North Pattaya's well-known Rounabout the Relax Bar promises now relaxing moments with nice hostesses just in front of the entrance to the Amari Hotel.

Foodland announced that it will open a large supermarket and restaurant at the new Terminal 21 Mall at North Pattaya's turnabout.

J-Bun opened an all new Seafood Restaurant on Pattaya Second Road opposite of China Town in a building that once should be the home of Pattaya's copy of Bangkok's MBK shopping complex.

During May 2017 Antiques Francais closed its door for reconstructions. In the meantime the shop reopened: Larger and more magnificent than ever.

A Rainbow FoodMart opened on South Pattaya Road, a few meters opposite of the TukCom Mall. It opens 24 hours/day and is some kind of a small '7 eleven' but with a large food bar and some seatings to enjoy a meal. Tasty burgers and Thai foods costs between 59 and 79 Baht, Sweets can be bought from 39 Baht.

The Bay on Pattaya Beach Road should have a lot of attractive restaurants and bars since January 2016. It doesn't. But its McDonald's fast food outlet seems to be the best frequented in Pattaya. It's open around the clock.

To attract customers to the otherwise abandoned place, the management launches a Beer Garden and a Seaview Market at The Bay. The activities are scheduled to start on July 21st.

The Extra Bar on Soi Buakhaow closed down. A small banner informs that the venue will remain closed up to revocation, a larger one claims the bar is on the block.

During May 2017 the Naughty Café opened on Pattaya South Road. It had a short life of about 10 weeks only.

Where the Tavern by The Sea at the Amari Ocean Hotel was, a joint venture between Singapore Hospitality Holdings and ONYX Hospitality Group Holdings is investing about US$100 million in a 406-room Ozo Hotel.

Some years ago The Fish in Soi 1, off Pattaya Second Road, was one of the most popular Buffet Restaurants in Pattaya. Now its closed. It had to make space for the Viet-Thai Restaurant and the Bang UP sex show temple.

Where Harry's Bar and T&T used to be, a new bar called Fever will open soon.

On June 12th Murphy's Law reopened its pub on Soi LK Metro. The bar closed down on June 19th for some renovations. The new Murphy occupies now one single unit only - down from two - but enlarged its terrace.

During the dry days on July 8th & 9th the management of the Destiny A Go-Go Bar installed an all new sign in a 'cloak-and-dagger operation'. Nevertheless, it looks nice!

Showgirls A Go-Go closed down for renovations, a banner on the door tells the revellers. It also says that the venue will reopen 'soon'. Whether the bar survives the makeover or not, you will read it here. Update (July 25th): The bar is scheduled to reopen on August 3rd, 2017, with a 'cheap beer' party to celebrate the event. PS. The venue wasn't closed for 'renovation' as told by its management but by Chonburi's Authorities as you can read from an official document at its door...

We are collecting the latest news. Please come back in a few days.

Bars and clubs in Soi 6 have to be remain closed until 18:00. licences for new A Go-Go clubs will not be issued for the foreseeable future... P.S. On February 15th, 2016 Pattaya announced a big and so far unlimited crackdown on all kind of traffic violations, including parking vehicles in prohibited areas, ignoring traffic lights, driving in wrong directions and/or run over double or single yellow lines and on July 7th, 2016, Police said that venues located on Walking Street and on Pattaya Beach Road can stay open until 04:00, but Bars, Clubs and Dancings outside this area must close at 02:00. Obviously these people speak bubbles only and destroy the 'good image' of Pattaya.

Slice is set to open a Pizza outlet on Soi 6.

HK Darts Bar opened near the beach front entrance to Soi 6.

No Prostitutes, No Guns, All Venues have to be closed by 03:00. licences for new A Go-Go clubs will not be issued for the foreseeable future... P.S. On February 15th, 2016 Pattaya announced a big and so far unlimited crackdown on all kind of traffic violations, including parking vehicles in prohibited areas, ignoring traffic lights, driving in wrong directions and/or run over double or single yellow lines and on July 7th, 2016, Police said that venues located on Walking Street and on Pattaya Beach Road can stay open until 04:00, but Bars, Clubs and Dancings outside this area must close at 02:00. Obviously these people speak bubbles only and destroy the 'good image' of Pattaya.

The 'New' Mandarin A Go-Go opened on Friday, July 28th. The venue closed down on July 1st, 2017, for renovation.

Behind this door on Soho Square, off Walking Street, you will find Pattaya's most beautiful open air Karaoke Bar. If you know to sing you shouldn't miss it! Singing in an extraordinairy garden surrounded by authentic bamboo huts is not an everyday stage to show your talent.

On July 5th, 2016, the owners of Electric Blue and Dollhouse, both located on Soi 15, opened G-Spot. During March 2016 the owner of Windmill and Sugarbaby announced to open a new club called Annabelle's on the second floor of the Sugarbaby building. We all know, it did not happen. But during the first week of July 2017, G-Spot changed hands and Windmill was able to realize Annabelle's dream. On July 10th, the G-Spot sign got replaced by Annabelle's. Nevertheless, a question remains unanswered: Why was G-Spot removed? Is Annabelle one of the many women without the elusive G-Spot?

On July 7th some websites reported that Bypass A Go-Go has been dark for a couple of nights. It's a hoax! Bypass A Go-Go is still open.

On Marine Plaza Midnight Liqueur opened its door, The venue sells mostly all kind of popular (Thai made) Beers. Let's hope that despite the shop's name, the owners know Thailand's regulation very well and will close the door at midnight....

Ginza Club A Go-Go prepares a Comeback and was recruiting staff on July 22nd. The bar closed down its door on May 31st, 2017, and was on the block.

A day later, on July 23rd, Ginza already opened its door to the public. A new management runs the Club.

The new Thai Food Restaurant at the entrance to Soi Diamond seems to be more profitable than The Moon it replaced.

White Pines is a new small restaurant with reasonable priced foods on Soi 14, off Walking Street, just where Soi 14 meets Soi 15.

Opposite of Infinity A Go-Go a new A Go-Go Club is set to open soon: Tantra A Go-Go!

The International Market sign disapeared and the well-known Nang Nual name took back its place. Most new business ideas here in Pattaya failed during the last few years. Pattaya is - and will remain - conservative, very conservative.

Payot's Lounge Bar, located across the Windy Hotel at the entrance to the Clair de Lune Bar, got a facelift.

Mour A Mour, a bar located at the ailing Soho Square and providing ladies mainly from Usbekistan changed its outfit and its name to Deja Vu and announces Russian Girls Shows.

The second floor, where the Deja Vu Club was, is now fully occupied by the Spring Cat, a Russian Karaoke Bar.

The management(s) of the G-Spot A Go-Go Club used the dry days on July 8th and 9th to upgrade the interior of the bar and to change the name of the bar to Annabelle's.

XD Cinema located to the left of Walking Street's 'Holly Tree' had to close down and is on the block. The Virtual Reality Cinema was an attraction among Russian visitors of Pattaya.. Obviously they are still missing...

Reggae Rock & Soul Bar at the entrance to the still ailing Soho Square, formerly known as Utopia Rock House, closed down for an unknown reason.

Mandarin A Go-Go closed down for renovation. Should the announced New Mandarin ever open, you will read it here.

Central Gem, a jewellers shop to the left of Mahfil's Indian Dance Club, closed down to make space for a new nightlife venue. Update (July 22nd): Durng our Tour de Pattaya on July 22nd we were told that the rooms in the building will be transfered into another new A Go-Go Bar...

Heart Rock, according to its very own signs, the best live and country music bar, closed down the stage as well as its playground with the pool tables. Soi Lucky Star seems to be anything but a happy place. PS. During the 3rd weekend of this month Heart Rock reopened the closed Part of the bar as a large snooker area:

Swiss Food upgrades its restaurants and therefore closed the larger part of its eatery. Hungry mouths are served in the pizzeria room next door.

The failed 'Only O' A Go-Go Bar will reopen soon as Addiction Club.

The room of the former Swiss House Restaurant, once announced to house the Reluxe A Go-Go Bar got a clean up. It seems to wait for a new investor...

The building that was the shelter of the 'original' Casino Club gets a complete revamp. We keep you posted. Update (July 22nd): The renovated building is an extension to the (since years) unused new Amigo shop at the entrance to Soi Diamond.

In our May edition we reported about the broken wooden railngs at Pattaya Beach Promenade. Just in front of the two dry days on July 8th and 9th City Hall let repair the broken railings by a 'professional team of woodmakers' as you can see on our photos. It shows again that Pattaya's Officials do not have the slightest idea what they are talking about when they tell the press about their World Class Beach Resort of Pattaya.

Since April 19th Pattaya's highly professional Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) delivers dirty tap water to houses, residences and hotels in some parts of this World Class City. The water contains a lot of black sand and has a terrible smelling, but nobody cares. A Chemist told us: Do not use Pattaya's water to clean your teeth. Be careful and use Drinking Water when cleaning wounds and/or genitals. Nevertheless, Pattaya's tap water is still less contaminated than the sea in front of this World Class Beach Resort...