Elements of Pattaya

[Procyon]

Great site this is and I hope my first post is not too controversial.

Having visited both Hua Hin and Pattaya on and off for the past ten years and enjoying elements of both I have come to notice more similarities lately. I used to enjoy Pattaya for the obvious reasons and Hua Hin for being quite the opposite.

I have observed lately Hua Hin is adopting elements of Pattaya including the following:

The increase in traffic and general problems with too many vehicles in a small city with proposed development of roads through rural areas to solve this.

An increase in bars and night time entertainment venues, when I first arrived in Hua Hin there were 4 bars, now there are over 50.

An increase in western operated businesses, every other outlet downtown is a European guesthouse, European restaurant, bar, or property shop.

Massive increase in property prices and property available on the market, I can’t count how many developments there are here.

Local immigration office and a specific division employed solely to investigate foreigners.

Increase in shopping options, such as the new Tesco Lotus and Index.

The next thing to come to come to match its eastern counterpart if it hasn’t already is an increase in undesirable elements, mafia, crime and corruption on both sides.

Of course there is a good side to all the development such as more jobs for locals, more tourists and revenue for the country and better overall infrastructure for the town.

For someone that remembers the Hua Hin of old, I miss the place. Pattaya has been and always will be the same, take it or leave it. What do the general people of the forum think about this?

[lomuamart]

For what it's worth, having visited HH for the first time in 1989 and now living here for 8 years, I generally agree with you.
As a trip down memory lane, can you remember the names of the bars on Soi Bintabart all those years ago?

[Burger]

Good observations Procyon.

Only been in HH 3 years so maybe not qualified to say, but for me in 3 years you can see the rapid rate of development and changes around town, but the bar scene does not seem to have developed at the same rate.
Due to Royal family, there are no go-go bars, no 'sabai-land' style massage parlours, no 'Tonys/Marine' style clubs (ahhh the Marine, sweet memories). There's just some tame beer bars and the ever predictable Hilton disco.
So can't see HH going the way of Pattaya in 'that' respect, which means the lager louts/mafia/drugs/crime etc etc hopefully won't come neeeva.

Burger

[Bas]

For what it's worth, having visited HH for the first time in 1989 and now living here for 8 years, I generally agree with you.
As a trip down memory lane, can you remember the names of the bars on Soi Bintabart all those years ago?

I remember from my firts visit in 1991: The first bar coming from the Thanon Naresdamri, was Charlie and Somchays Swiss beerstube, Opposit the Three Ladys, Later on that location Takiab pub (G. jenes) on the next corner T's bar, opposit the Rose bar stil there and a more downstreet untherneed the Phuen guest house, the Happy bar. I think Berny started his 19e hole opposit there in 1992. Then there was a another bar on Naresdamri that was called the Crocodile bar. The Hilton was then called Melia Hua Hin.

Good old memories, only old but friendly bar ladies and no motorbikes.

[lomuamart]

For what it's worth, having visited HH for the first time in 1989 and now living here for 8 years, I generally agree with you.
As a trip down memory lane, can you remember the names of the bars on Soi Bintabart all those years ago?

I remember from my firts visit in 1991: The first bar coming from the Thanon Naresdamri, was Charlie and Somchays Swiss beerstube, Opposit the Three Ladys, Later on that location Takiab pub (G. jenes) on the next corner T's bar, opposit the Rose bar stil there and a more downstreet untherneed the Phuen guest house, the Happy bar. I think Berny started his 19e hole opposit there in 1992. Then there was a another bar on Naresdamri that was called the Crocodile bar. The Hilton was then called Melia Hua Hin.

Good old memories, only old but friendly bar ladies and no motorbikes.

Good un. That was even before my time.
As I remember it, about 8 years ago, coming from The Melia/Hilton, it was The Three Ladies, Universal Joynt opposite. The Rose Bar, The Friendly Bar, T's corner, The Happy Bar and Joy guest house and Bar. I also think the Tulip Bar as well. That was it. Great days and not too many motorbikes!!
Back to the OP's question, I can't really see it going all the way towards Pattaya, although the town has been making a good effort over the past few years.

[Bas]

Me thinks, as long as HRM the king lives here, The tesabaan will try to keep things in a thai way under control. Look at the one way streets, roadsignes, trafficlights, infrastructural improvements, drainagges, streetnames, etc. all as said in a thai way.

As for the naugthy nightlife, i think they will not allow much more than there is now visible. But if you know your way around, no real improvements are needed.

[Bamboo Grove]

I do recall an Italian owned bar as well, was it Roma?

[Bas]

I do recall an Italian owned bar as well, was it Roma?

I believe so, but i think that was in 1994. Never went there myself. There was also just around the corner of Thanon Dechanuchit were the corner bar was and stil is located, the then famous Huricane club and Bar. Thep played the Jimmy Hendrix sound and the first Hua hin hippies gatther there.

Opposit the police station there was a music bar called Stone town. Most of the local talents played thai folk music. It was a real nice place that one.

The real Thai sing songs, I do remember four of them, were still very popular and real fun to visit too.

[Procyon]

Nice to see I've stirred a few memories, though mostly regarding the bars I notice.

My primary point was the "dark influences" that are emerging in Hua Hin such as corruption, mafia, and "dodgy characters" that wouldnt look out of place across the water.

I guess when places become popular they usually end up going down hill.

[Bas]

It is here too and it was here all of the time. If you dont want to get involved you wil not be aware. Stay out of the gambling scene (GF special) and out of motorgang bars.

Sometime you hear say: "O have mafia inside, tonight police not come"

[johnnyk]

Yes, corruption, mafia and dodgy characters are "emerging" all over Thailand.
They've been "emerging" for a thousand years or more.
Follow Bas' advice, stay out of the way.

[olmate]

ahhh life goes on

[buksida]

I have a rough idea where this thread was going but didn't want to interject too much. The elements spoken of here may not be so clear cut and defined or labeled so easily. Whether its emerging throughout the world or not is irrelevant, the topics on this board basically revolve around subjects and events that affect our lives as people living in or visiting this little town alone, be us Thai, Chinese, European, American, Australian, whatever. We need to be aware of it, thats all.

[Roppongi]

Procyon, good observations but these changing elements are hardly limited to Hua Hin.

Look at Ko Samui.

For what it's worth, Pattaya was way way seedier 20 year ago than it is today.

And Hua Hin had a few horses on the beach, the Railway Hotel and the odd flop house.

Nothing stays the same forever.

[maipenrai]

Change is a fact of life; nothing stays the same forever. I too live in a tourist area, although a very seasonal one, and the changes I have seen here in the last 25 years have been drastic. You just have to find fun wherever you can, and try to live with or forget the bullshit. I haven't visited Hua Hin yet, so I really cannot comment on how change has affected that community.....but it is going to happen whether you like it or not, so get used to it and make the most of it if you can. I really enjoy Pattaya, but find it can wear on me after a while...perhaps Hua Hin can provide a happy medium? I look forward to finding out for myself the answer to this question....