Last month Pattaya City Mayor Sonthaya Khunpluem presented his latest project for Pattaya: The Tram! He revealed that a 70 million Baht budget has already been received for hiring experts who are designing, studying and surveying transportation links. In our view just another mega-project the Khunpluem Family is known for. Shortly after the inauguration in 2008, Sonthaya's younger brother Itthiphol Kunplome (or Khunpluem), Pattaya City's former Mayor, launched the Pattaya Sky Train project to connect Pattaya City Hall, his office, with Bali Hai through Pattaya Beach Road. After strong opposition Itthiphol presented a new plan using Pattaya second Road instead of Pattaya Beach Road. Thailand's Government stopped the (stupid) project. Nevertheless Itthiphol's City Hall wasted millions of Baht for feasibility studies, planning, sessions and publication-materials. 2016, Shortly before Itthiphol had to leave his office, he initiated a new project: A Tram should be built in Pattaya. So what Sonthaya Khunpluem now presents is nothing more than an old hat puffed up with new feathers - and another waste of Taxpayers money. On August 25th, 2017, Pattaya Mail reported that the Military Junta's very own Pattaya City Council called many of the projects initiated by Pattaya's former Mayor Itthiphol Khunplome (or Kunplome or Khunpleum) wasteful. Such a verdict will hardly happen Sontaya anymore: With wise foresight, the Kunplome Family decided to support Thailand's Dictator with their very own political party. As a reward for taking this step Thailand's Dictator General Prayuth Chan-ocha appointed Sonthaya Kunploem as adviser to the Prime Minister and Itthiphol Kunploem as assistant to the Tourist and Sports Minister. A few months later, on September 25th, 2018, General Prayuth Chan-ocha appointed Sontaya Khunpleum as new Mayor of Pattaya. After the Dictator's controversial election victory, Prayuth Chan-ocha decided on July 16th, 2019, to appoint Itthiphol Khunpleum as Minister of Culture.

On the contrary, the tram will help to clog the streets even more. Pattaya's problem are the tourist buses that take tourists to their hotels and to the 'sights of Pattaya'. It's impossible to solve this problem with a tram!

The Pattaya News: Pattaya tram program moving forward, first town hall completed this week, 74 million baht approved for study

International Airline Operators are competing to offer jobs to pilots, but most Thai pilots are failing to find work after graduation. According to Piya Atmungkun, the president of Thailand's Civil Aviation Training Centre, 'between 600 and 700 newly graduated pilots are struggling to secure seats in cockpits'. Newly graduated Pilots from India and Indonesia face about the same problem: Aviation programmes and pilot training schools have mushroomed in these countries, but many - if not most - fail to meet international standards. Thailand's plan to establish a city of aviation in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) will only increase the supply of domestic - but jobless - aviation personnel. The Swiss IMD (International Institute for Management Development) report shows why: Thailand ranks 11th only in the Asia-Pacific World Talent Rankings.

It shows once more how stupid and uneducated Thailand's college graduates really are.

Bangkok Post: Cut school years

The Pattaya News: Thai students rank well below average in reading, writing and science, latest PISA study shows

Horror Quest in Pattaya in Jomtien's Soi Welcome, also known as Jomtien Soi 12, is an adrenaline pumping 10 room interactive live game for groups of 4-5 teammates to solve a mind-twisting mystery in 60 minutes. A substitute to the now closed Escape Hunt on Thappraya Road's Soi 12. It's located a few meters only from Jomtien Beach and is managed by Russians. Available in Russian and Thai versions only.

George's Cafe Restaurant & Grill is the successor of Porky's at the Rompho Bar Complex on Jomtien 2nd Road. Give it a try!

In full contrast to all the promises made by the TAT (Tourist Authority Thailand), tourists from Germany and Russia are still turning their backs on Pattaya, therefore Naklua is orienting itself towards China. A handful of businesses have already set themselves on customers from China, others are just about to do so.

We will keep you up-to-date.

Best Supermarket at the Dolphin Roundabout closed its Best's Eat Restaurant. It was a flop. The new Eatery is called Wok 'n' Roll and serves Asian Foods, whatever else?

Muze, the owner of Move - the Gay Disco Club in Soi 12 opposite Jameson's The Irish Pub - changed the name but not the format of the etablisement again. The club is now known as G-Star Pattaya.

Pattaya's #1 Party Street is known as Soi New Plaza and connects Pattaya Second Road with Soi Buakhao. It is located opposite the entrances to Soi 7 and Soi 8. It cannot be overlooked!

The Pattaya Avenue on Pattaya's Second Road, a long time ago opened as a lifestyle mall by William Heineken's Minor Group - the owner of Royal Garden Plaza - was first known as The Avenue Pattaya. Despite its central location opposite Soi Post Office and Soi Yamato, the imposing building was never able to attract the masses of people necessary for a success and therefore the management changed its format several times in recent years. On June 2012 the Management decided to launch the Avenue as a Fabulous Entertainment Complex and was searching tenants - with very moderate success. The experiment was stopped after a short time. In September 2012, the mall was given a new logo, which still shines at the entrance today to attract customers. This month, the Baku Group announced that it has rented parts of the property to create an entertainment center with Go-Go bars, clubs and beer bars. The Baku Group announced that the project will start with 39(!) A Go-Go Bars and two clubs. It is planned that the project will be extended by about 40 Beer Bars later on. According to their own account, the Baku Group already runs the Baku Lounge, a Gentlemen's Club, in Soi Boomerang, off Soi Buakhao, two Baku Beer Bars in Soi 6, a Cafe, Guesthouse and the Club Baku in Soi Baku, off Soi Boomerang. In addition to the above information, Thaivisa published some additional information: Scott Griffiths, a social media representative for Baku, revealed that the money comes from two investors based in India and the company already runs Y Bar, Bachelor's A Go Go, The Roof, 15th Avenue and Sensations Bar. Mr. Griffiths also mentioned that Pattaya Avenue will be rebranded to Avenue Plaza. McDonald's, Starbucks, Villa Market, Robin Hood, Fitness 7 as well as the cinema and bowling lanes will be untouched by the change. In addition, we learned that the Pattaya-based Baku Group has no connection with the well-known Baku Hospitality Group, which is normally known as Baku Group. The later is a national Azerbaijani development company that operates a hospitality group based in Mountain View, California, and specializes in converting historic buildings into luxury boutique and city hotels and restaurants. Let's wait and see ...

You can park your bicycle free of charge in the guarded CentralMarina motorcycle parking lot. The parking lot can be reached via Soi 1, off Northern Pattaya's Second Road.

Lisa on the Beach, the Coyote Bar on Pattaya Beach Road located between Soi 7 and Soi 8, is already on the Block. The venue opened on December 14th, 2018. We will keep you up-to-date.

The wellknown Tequila Reef Cantina, Restaurant & Bar closed down on Soi 7. The rooms are on the block. The Mexican Restaurant reopened on December 10th as The Reef at the (until today not very successful) Welcome Town Complex, off Central Road.

In the Northern Part of Pattaya 2nd Road, where Amorn Seafood used to be, Yellow Massage prepares to open an large Massage Parlour. We will keep you up-to-date.

Bollywood A Go-Go reopened in Soi Pattayaland 1, also known as Soi 13/3. Due to missing licenses Pattaya's Authorities have closed the club in the first week of October 2019. Obviously, the management of the club was able to solve the problems.

Hovdingen Restaurant opened in Soi Post Office. As its name implies, it serves Skandinavian Specialities.

A VIP Bar opened in Soi Post Office, also known as Soi 13/2. Let's hope the ladies are trained to please VIP guests ...

Mr. Veg, an Indian Restaurant at the P.S. Bowling Building on Pattaya Central Road, closed down.

A few meters only from the closed Mr. Veg the management opened Mr. Veg's Unlimited Indian Food & Coke. Eat as much (Indian food) as you can for 179 Baht.

Pulse A Go-Go on Soi LK-Metro has stopped to beat. The lights went out and the door was closed on December 27th. We will keep you up-to-date.

Another new Indian Restaurant is announced to open 'soon' on Soi Buakhao. It is called Captain Kebab and promises a traditional Northwestern Indian Amritsari Cuisine. The new Restaurant is located a few meters only from the (still ailing) Active Street Bar Complex. The venue already opened.

The management of Babylon, a Gentlemen Club in Soi Bongkoch, announced that it will open a new branch called Golden Time in Soi Buakhao on December 4th in the rooms of the failed Surprise Yourself with a walk on the wild side Ladyboy Bar. The new Club is located opposite the Pattaya City Hospital and the Asia BackPackers Hostel at the entrance to a Street officially called Soi Boomerang that connects Soi Buakhao and Soi 15.

Shaggers is the name of a new Bar in Soi LK Metro, previously known as White Room and/or Magic Motown Nights. It now offers Birds, Booze and Banter. Enjoy it!

Reports claim that Smokin' Joe's BBQ as well as Steak & Co. on Soi Lengkee, off Soi Buakhao, where sold to Investors from Korea. If something should change, you will read it here!

In the last week of November, the brand new Yes Bar Beer was opened on Soi Buakhao, directly opposite the Sawasdee Hotel, in the abandoned rooms of a Boots Pharmacy.

Opposite the entrance to Soi Honey, J&S opened their Sexy Shop 2.

On Soi Buakhao, just in front of the R-Con Blue Ocean Hotel, an Indian Theme Restaurant called Sholay opened.

The Baku Group opened a Second Bar in Soi 6 in the rooms of the former Jack O Tar Bar.

Smoke & Kisses closed down without giving reasons, but we will keep you up-to-date.