asia bugle

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ASIA BUGLE 9/3/05

Prowler in Patong, Phuket Island

It is getting back to normal
By Prowler in Patong, Phuket Island

Patong is seeing a steady increase of tourists from all nationalities and the beach is looking busier. A Star Cruise liner was in port for two days on a big tourism push for Aussie and Kiwi tourists. Also the US Navy called in on a good will visit port call. Their ships have been calling in en route from their duties off Sri Lanka to their home station. This has boosted the bar trade in the Bangla area.
There have been several beach front events involving TAT and the hotels promoting Patong. Each time the beach road has been closed to traffic and several stages erected along the front. There have been live bands each evening and beer stalls selling beers at 50 Baht each. The local hotels provided catering with samples of their cooking on sale at cheap prices.

BAR CLOSING
Bar closing is now been managed by the local police at an unofficial level. They have decided to charge a levy for all bar streets and most bar owners were happy to pay up and get the extra hours. Recently they have allowed the bars to remain open until 0330. This is good for tourists as now they can enjoy a few late nights. At least now the choice is theirs.

SCRUFFY MURPHY'S BAR
Scruffy Murphy's Irish Bar on Soi Bangla is now up and running. "The Red Hot Potatoes" is now the "Red Hot Potato Singular" as the rest of the band have moved on. The music is still good and the beers are ice cold. To get things up and running they are selling draught Tiger Beer at 99 baht per pint and house spirits at a two for one price. The seating layout has been changed and the place seems less cramped than before. The staff are on the ball and I didn't have to wait long for a refill.
There is still some work to do before the kitchens will be complete and food available. The plan is to have every thing up and running next week. There will also be a big bash for St Patrick's Day with a special promotion on.

KAMALA COME BACK
The Kamala Beach suffered more extensive damage than Patong but now many of the bars and restaurants have reopened. The main road now has many of the shops and bars back in business. The Kamala Beer Garden and the Ban Rim Klong are popular hang outs for the local Kamala residents. Several of the smaller bar beers have been refurbished and are open.

CHRISTIN'S MASSAGE PARLOUR
To the great relief of many this wonderful emporium of soapies and car washes has now reopened its doors. Their building was not damaged by the tsunami and I have no idea why they have been closed for the last two months. This establishment is situated on Ratutit Road opposite the junction to the Grand Montana Hotel. This is a place where you can relax and be entertained for a few hours in the afternoon instead of bar hopping in the heat.

DREAM BAR
This new bar is where the Wood Fired Pizza cafe had its second outlet beside the Soi Bangla shopping centre. The girls are in there early afternoon tempting people in for a few beers.

SIDEWALK CAFES
Quite a large portion of upper Soi Bangla in taken up by European style sidewalk cafes offering food and drinks. They would be a nice place to sit but the ones I looked in didn't have any fans on and it was like a greenhouse in under the canopy. Their coffee was more expensive than beer so it was back to the Dream Bar!!

[stevem]

From the pen of the one and only scud!!!

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