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[aussie dollar]

extract from asia bugle 09/02/05


Prowler in Patong Beach, Phuket

The latest from Patong Beach after the Tsunami inspired negative press

PROPERTY SPECULATION

The damage done to Phuket Island's reputation (mainly by the BBC and CNN) will take time to overcome. This is not the case with property speculators. Within a week of the tsunami offers have flowed in with bids on properties all over the island. Pubs and clubs are being bought in the hope of a bright future in a newly-built resort. These people have a long-term strategy and will hopefully inject some much-needed cash into the area.
In Patong the Beach Road already has some of the larger seafood restaurants open again and Starbucks Coffee Shop is now back in business. The cafes and bars in the side streets are gradually being re-opened, so beachgoers have not so far to go for a beer.
The Ratutit Road has evolved into the main business street. The OTOP market has become the shopping centre for all the displaced beach vendors and now the tourists can do all their bargain hunting in one clean and tidy area. They even have a mobile ATM vehicle parked there.
Hotel room rates have come down to bargain prices and some guest houses are offering reduced rates for monthly stays. (10,000 Baht per month in air con room with full facilities)

PLAYSCHOOL SOLD:
Within weeks of the Tsunami hitting Phuket people started buying up business premises. Playschool had been listed on the market for almost a year; and then lo and behold two separate buyers turn up with cash in hand. Steve, the ex-owner, is going to retain the G Spot Bar in the centre strip in Soi Sea Dragon. The new owners of Playschool hope to maintain the high standards of the previous owners.

SHOWS - WHAT SHOWS??
The thought police and our moral guardians (politicians in Bangkok) have declared that there are no shows or lewd acts being made available. Why then is it that you still get accosted by some dodgy blokes waving clipboards full of very graphic photos in your face? The campaign to safeguard budgies and bananas is losing the battle. If you ask any local from Patong they will be able to direct you to several different venues who all carry shows on a nightly basis. You can get the whole balloon popping shooting match wrapped up with coloured string and sealed with hot wax.!! I won't name any venues here as some born-again Christian loonie might report them to the plod.

HAS MOLLY MALONES GONE UNDER?
This Aussie pub chain had two very successful Irish theme Bars in Patong Beach. The Molly Malones on the main beach front took a major hit from the waves, but there seems to be no work in progress to rebuild. Just down the road, Starbucks is open. The other venue, Scruffy Murphys, was far enough off the beach up Soi Bangla to have only suffered minor damage, but it is the same story here. All the adjacent bars in Bangla have been open since early January. I went past the other day and there was no building activity. What is going on? Are they intending to re-open? If anyone from Mollys’ group has info please let us know: even better stick a notice up in the windows.

FAULTY TOWERS - SOI SUNSET
They say it is an ill wind that does nobody any good. With the damage to some of the Irish bars, the Guinness distributor lost a few outlets and asked Faulty Towers to install its dark magic brew. Faulty's already were the top outlet for Kilkenny Beer in Patong and so it made sense to put Guinness alongside it. The owners seem to like it - look at the size of them!! A pint of Kilkenny is sold at a modest 160 Baht and Guinness at 190 Baht. They also have great food - both Thai and Western.

BANANA DISCO REOPENED
The Banana Disco re-opened late January and has been hosting parties every night. As well as the inside disco they have an open air entertainment area with a live band every night. The nearby pizza restaurant is also open again, so people can eat while they watch the band.

BANANA LEAF BAR AND RESTAURANT
Another new eating house has recently opened at the junction of Ratutit Road and Soi Katsup. This place has a wide and varied menu and will benefit from the increase in foot traffic from people going to and from the OTOP market area. It has comfortable rattan seating and is a good place to have a cold beer while the memsab goes shopping.

ROCK HARD'S CAFE RIO
Located on the Ratutit Road junction with Soi Bangla under Rock Hard A Go Go, this cafe has become a popular day time haunt where you can sip a few beers while watching the world go by. They have expanded their menu and have a bevvy of attractive staff. In the evening you can be lucky and have some company from the dancers coming down from the Go Go.

[aussie dollar]

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[DREW]

They will be re-built and re-opened once the owners have been paid by the insurance.

There may even be a plan for them to be on 2 floors like Tropical Murphy's in Samui.

[IreMark]

I got so angry inside today while on the train to work this morning I was talking to a girl that I know who was considering heading over to Thailand but now considers it very rude to be going to Thailand enjoying yourself after such tragic events although she said she would love to go over and help with charity. I told her that Thailand really needs tourism but it seems most people who I say this to are half thinking thats my excuse for ignoring what they see as facts.


grrr stupid media.