Phuket.baronbonk.com Sonkran woes as Valhalla bows out Sea Pearl bars now open

The police have continued their enforcement of 2 am closing in Patong. This is creating a lot of resentment among bar owners who feel that the police have reneged on the previous arrangement. I believe that the Governor wants a more relaxed regime for the tourist areas but the new government in Bangkok are cracking the whip. Some of my more cynical friends think that there is more to this than meets the eye. The Phuket electorate rejected Wacky Tacky's party and are now being punished for it. The latest word is that the police have come up with a new set of times for closing and they will be introduced next week.
Songkran marked the end of high season and the number of tourists in town is starting to decline. This is not too dramatic as last year we saw an increase in European tourists in the months of July and August. Cheap flights from Europe and the costs of holidaying in the "Euro Zone" make Thailand a good alternative for a cheaper summer break. Phuket is also expecting larger numbers of tourists from other Asian countries as well.

PHUKET BIKE WEEK
Phuket bike week went off well with a large attendance of bike enthusiasts from many neighbouring Asian countries. There was a display of bikes in Jungceylon arena and a lot of other activities all over Patong. Nicky's Handlebar was a meeting point for several clubs whilst others were in the thick of things in Soi Bangla centred on the Kangaroo Bar.
This event gets bigger every year but the question must be asked. Why hold it over the Songkran period and not a week later? A lot of bikers do not like their well maintained machines getting splattered with food dyes and talcum powder.

VALHALLA'S FINAL PARTY
Valhalla had its closing down party on the 14th and 15th and it was a huge event. Many Danish holiday makers and Ex Pats turned up to celebrate Valhalla's history. On the Tuesday they had a pool party which started before noon and went on till late evening. Jan had laid on a buffet of roasts and ribs topped up with several Danish speciality dishes. A lot of locals dropped by to wish him well and it was good to see some of the old faces again. The Valhalla is now closed for business and all trade is now at the Hilltop Hotel on Ha Sip Pee (Fifty Year Old) Road.

SONGKRAN
Over the years I have seen this festival deteriorate into the worst time of year for me to be in Patong. Next year I will go on a trip abroad to avoid the entire time. It is now nothing but a bunch of drunken tourists behaving badly. The locals have distorted this event so badly that it is now no more that a chance to make money selling water guns. I doubt that many of the people in the streets could even explain what Songkran is supposed to be about. Traffic accidents were up again this year.
I may sound like a killjoy but many residents in Patong simply stay home and avoid it. I do admit that it is one big party on the main day. The tourists and the younger Thais enjoy themselves and it is the sort of event that you have to experience at least once.

ROCK CITY TWO
The Rock City group have been busy making renovations of the ex VIP Asia Club site to get it ready to open as their second music club in Patong. This will give Taipan a run for their money and will be a welcome addition to the area at the top of Bangla. The site is small and it will be interesting to see what the internal lay out will be.

SOI SEA PEARL
It has been a long slow rebuild but now Soi Sea Pearl has most of its bars open again. If you glance in from the street you can only see the tip of the iceberg. Venture farther in and there is a whole section at the back with some lively bars. It is never going to be Bangla but at least there is space and excellent toilet facilities. The central bar area has an upstairs that has yet to be developed.

EATING STREET
I am referring to the little nameless Soi just one hundred feet north of Soi Bangla on the Beach Road. Most locals probably know it for the Grillhutte. The street is currently blocked off at one end by a construction site for a new hotel. This street has three German/Austrian restaurants and one Italian pizzaria. The Grillhutte has moved across the street and in its place is the Alpen Grill. All of these are doing a steady trade. Although it is right around the corner from Bangla you hear none of the noise.
The Alpen has moved its kitchen into the rear of the ground floor so you can watch your chef at work. I do not like this as the heat from the kitchen wafts through and the bar area becomes hot and sticky. They do have a large upstairs dining room which is a lot cooler. The Grillhutte now has a large open plan bar area surrounded with many dining tables. There is plenty of room and the place is very relaxing.

HAPPY ST GEORGE'S DAY
I am always saddened by the lack of awareness and celebration of most "Brits" to their very own patron Saints Day. The Twenty Third of April should be celebrated with as much gusto as the Irish do on St Patrick's. So far I have not seen any publicity for planned special events for the day and that is a shame. Why don't English owned establishments fly the flag and throw a party? I know that back in PC UK it is almost a criminal offence to fly one's National Flag for fear of offending some import living on benefits but out here we can do it with pride.