Retail therapy in Thailand as upscale shopping centres shuttered by protests reopen
Retail therapy in Thailand as upscale shopping centres shuttered by protests reopen
BANGKOK - Retail-starved Thais trickled back into Bangkok's glitziest shopping district Tuesday as malls shuttered for weeks by anti-government protests reopened for business, minus one landmark torched in last week's violent end to the demonstrations.
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Inside Knowledge of Westerners Who Build Businesses in Thailand
What do ninety percent of successful Western business owners in Thailand have in common? Well they have many things in common but the three most glaring and obvious are discipline, patience and the ability to network with people efficiently. Possessing these three skills could be be called common knowlege for any business owner around the world but it's in even higher demand in Thailand. Business in Thailand requires these things from a man, without them success is a long shot.
Why is this and what's so important about discipline in Thailand? Discipline is an absolute desire to get things done and to complete a mission without comprise. The intoxicating snares that life in Bangkok or anywhere in Thailand has to offer can be overwhelming without this skill.
Foreigners coming to Thailand with a plan can quickly lose focus by all the countless bars, nightlife activities, and women that are readily available.
Westerners arriving without a plan and no direction (thinking they will create a business plan later) will most likely be swallowed up by the relaxed Thai life style. Putting it off until tomorrow can quickly turn into not doing it all. The ones that fit into this category aimlessly wonder the streets of Bangkok, are at every party and gathering or have their elbows propped up on bar table telling stories of bar girls.
Many can overcome the above mentioned scenarios by realizing their situation and doing something about it, either by getting back on tract and remembering why they came to Thailand in the first place or creating a solid business plan.
Second, patience is needed. Doing business in Thailand requires self restraint when dealing with Thai's in positions of authority; especially in a difficult situation. Corruption runs deep in Thailand but holding firm on a business transaction that has obviously gone wrong without losing control takes great skill. When finding one's self in this situation be sure to point out differences in the agreement, got to their manager, let them know that the local papers, police, embassy and even a lawyer may be contacted. Thai's do not like to lose face or have their problems made public and many will back down or renegotiate if confronted with the previously mentioned options.
Lastly, networking with others is just as important as discipline and patience. Thailand is a very viral community and networking with others is easy. However, using those contacts efficiently to build a business is a whole other story. If a great resource is found, expand upon it and don't let it sit idle. Networking might even mean finding the right woman or trusted interpreter who can open doors and break down language barriers.
In closing, be as serious about business as you would in your own country. Stay away from the pitfalls, have patience, network with others, and successful business in Thailand will only be an experience away.
David Scogin is an IT professional, web builder and business owner. He's lived many years in Thailand and now travels between the U.S. and Thailand. David currently writes on many Thai subjects such as jobs in Thailand, business in Thailand and other interesting Thai topics.
Alternatives to Bangkok: Riots causing change in my Thailand trip?
With all the riots and protesting, my friends and I need help figuring out something to do OUTSIDE OF BANGKOK for the first few days of our trip.
We only planned a few nights in Bangkok before we take the drive to Pattaya, so its not a trip killer, but seeing Bankok would have been awesome indeed.
We planned on going to Pattaya with just the guys and leaving our female friends in Bangkok because we really don't want them around in Pattaya. Thats pretty much out of the question. We dont want to head straight to pattaya when we land because the two girls that are coming with us planned to hang out with us for 2 nights in Bangkok and we were going to split up and meet after Pattaya.
Are there any nice places/tours/adventures/hotels near Bangkok and away from all the rioting? Preferably on the way to Pattaya or not too far outside of Bangkok.
Songkran Festival 2007 @ Phuket Thailand
Songkran Festival is the Thai New year. All of Thailand celebrates this day with a massave water fight. If you dare to venture onto the streets during the Songkran Festival, You Will Get Very Wet !
Rosie at Sharkies Bar under Tiger Complex on Bagla Rd, Phuket in Sexy Thailand
Rosie flashes her rear end, under Tiger Complex on Bangla Rd, Patong, Phuket. Girls dancing on bar above as Rosie works her man to take her away.
Thai Girl in Bra in Patong, Phuket, Thailand – Tukta Undressed Hotel Room
Fun in Phuket Thailand! As a beautiful Thai girl gets dressed to go out for Bangla Rd fun! You don't get this much fun in Bangkok, Pattaya or Chang Mai do you?
Top 7 Budget Accommodation In Thailand
For any travel to Thailand, the choice of budget accommodation is very wide indeed. It is always better to plan your holiday in advance and make the necessary bookings before you arrive so as to avoid disappointment. Don't forget, all travel plans should include the best travel insurance you can afford, and this is especially the case when visiting Southeast Asia.
There are literally thousands of budget accommodation outlets right across Thailand and is impossible to give even an adequate cross selection to suit all tastes. So, in the interests of brevity, we will look at seven budget accommodation locations in various towns and cities across Thailand. To make this task easier will be looking at places where travellers have been able to provide comments on their experiences. This adds some validity to the assessment.
Bangkok. No list would be complete without at least some indication of accommodation in the capital city. Ratchana Place. This hotel is located very close to Bangkok airport and is reputedly the most affordable accommodation in the district. The rooms are clean and secure and as at January 2010 were available from as little as $17 per night.
Chang Mai. One of the most popular destinations, originally made famous by the beautiful girls, there are plenty of choices when it comes to budget accommodation. Baan Lamyai Guesthouse. Similarly priced, this comfortable guesthouse comes with double and triple bedrooms each with their own private washroom. A real feature is the beautiful dining room.
Ko Tao. A popular backpacker's choice, Ko Tao is probably best known as a diving destination. Ban's Diving Resort , as backpackers as well as those seeking a little more comfort. It is situated on a prime piece of beachfront well located for some stunning diving experiences.
Ko Kut. A palm fringed tropical town located close to the sea make this an easy backpacking choice. Klong Chao Resort. This resort consists of well made and designed timber structures, located not far from the sea along the river. Accommodation is cheap, clean and safe.
Ko Phi Phi Don. A popular destination this town has many to choose from but the best budget accommodation we can find is: PP Twin Palms Bungalow. At less than $30 per night this beautiful hotel offers great value for money.
Mae Sot. This unusual destination has some fantastic bargain accommodation, none more so than: Centara Mae Sot Hill Resort. This three star hotel offers clean and comfortable accommodation in a very safe environment.
Khao Lak. Located close to the Similan and Surin Islands, this is a great location for backpackers looking for a great scuba diving experience. Briza Beach Resort costs around $55 per night but is still classified as four-star accommodation.
If you have the proper holiday insurance, travel within Thailand is a safe and rewarding destination and with so many budget accommodation options to choose from Thailand is a budget traveller's paradise.
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Don?t Get Arrested in Thailand
Prison conditions were poor and severely overcrowded. The prison population of approximately 168 thousand inmates was held in 139 prisons and detention centers designed for 111 thousand prisoners. Sleeping accommodations were insufficient. Medical care was inadequate and communicable diseases were widespread in some prisons. The number of full-time medical professionals increased significantly in 2004. The corrections department employed 17 full-time doctors, 309 full-time nurses, and 6 full time dentists. There were also a small number of part-time doctors to supplement the permanent medical staff. Prisoners who are seriously ill now may be transferred to provincial or state hospitals. A 500-bed hospital at Klong Prem Prison opened during the year.
Prison authorities sometimes used solitary confinement of not more than three months to punish difficult male prisoners who consistently violated prison rules or regulations. They also used heavy leg irons to control prisoners who were deemed escape risks and often for prisoners serving life sentences or on death row. There were unconfirmed reports that in some institutions designated prisoners were authorized to discipline other prisoners.
Thai law prohibits torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment; however, NGOs and legal organizations continue to report that some members of the police occasionally torture and beat suspects to obtain confessions. During 2004, there were newspaper reports of numerous cases in which citizens accused police of using brutality, threatening false charges, and extorting bribes. Investigations were undertaken in most of the cases, including several in which the accused police officers were suspended pending the results of internal investigations.
A Thai senator, testifying as a character witness at the trial of four Muslim suspects accused of membership in Jemaah Islamiya, said that while in police custody bags were put over the suspects' heads, and they were beaten on the back and the abdomen. The four were acquitted by the criminal court in June and released from custody. Police opened an internal investigation, but at year's end no criminal charges had been filed.
On October 15, in Tak Province, a police officer said to be drunk at the time forced his way into a home, threatened and beat an older woman, and allegedly tried to rape an 18-year-old Burmese migrant worker. The policeman reportedly had previously extorted money from the girl. The two women returned to Burma, but a complaint was lodged on their behalf with the NHRC.
In March 2004, five suspects in the 2004 Narathiwat military camp raid alleged that police beat and administered electric shocks to them in order to obtain confessions. The suspects filed a formal complaint with the Ministry of Justice through their lawyer, Somchai Neelapaichjit, who subsequently disappeared and was presumed dead. Police opened an internal investigation of the officers suspected of abuse, but at year's end no criminal charges had been filed.
There were no reported developments in the internal police investigation into the November 2004 claim by a married couple that they were beaten and robbed while under detention for 102 days without charge at the Lumpini police station in Bangkok.
In November 2004, police in Ayutthaya Province reportedly beat and applied electric shock to a man's genitals to coerce a confession after arresting him for suspected robbery; 23 members of the police were transferred to Bangkok in connection with the incident, pending an internal police investigation. In December the complainant reportedly withdrew his complaint following an out-of-court settlement.
Have fun on your holiday – but don’t do anything stupid. Check the laws in Thailand before you go – they may be different than your home country. You don’t want to spend you holiday in a Thai prison.
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Patpong Road In Bangkok Thailand
Patpong Road was made famous by American soldiers on rest and recuperation (R&R) in the city of Bangkok, Thailand. During the Vietnam conflict, many in the military took the short hop from Saigon to Bangkok to enjoy a week or two getting drunk, stoned, massaged, and spoiled by beautiful Thai women.
Paatpong is actually a small street between Silom and Surawong Roads with wall-to-wall bars and restaurants. At night, the street is vendors catering to tourists charging ridiculously high prices in hopes of finding suckers.
There are actually 4 streets in the area catering to the nightlife. There is Patpong I & II, Soi Jaruwan, catering to gay men, and Soi Thaniya, exclusively for Japanese tourists.
Patpong started off as an undeveloped plot of land purchased by Chinese immigrants in 1946. The Patpongpanich (or Patpongpanit) family built some shop-houses and rented out to normal businesses. Bars eventually overtook the other businesses on these two private roads, and the entertainment zone was created.
I was stationed in Bangkok in the early 1970's and we would go out to Patpong almost nightly. Back then it was bar after bar after bar. There were no vendors blocking the road and, unlike today, it was safe to go to the upstairs bars.
Then, the bars on the ground level were just that - bars. Second floor bars were go-go's with bikini clad girls. And if a bar had a third floor, it was for the special shows.
Today, vendors set up show and block the entire road, and most of the walkway, selling everything under the sun (or moon). Tours line the street promoting shows upstairs with guarantees of no cover charge and cheap beer prices. Don't believe either.
If you visit Patpong, it is best to avoid the upstairs bars altogether. The owners may try to extract large sums of money in order for you to leave alive.
There is one place that I do enjoy visiting on Patpong. The Madrid Lounge is the only bar that has the same name, décor, and menu that it had in 1973. It caters primarily to the embassy and expat crowd and has some great American food. The staff is very friendly and will sit with you if you want or leave you alone if you choose.
The Madrid became a meeting place when I returned to Thailand in the mid 90's during exercise Cobra Gold. I took my guys there the first night and it became the official hangout from that day forward. They still use it as a rendezvous point and place to meet.
Personally, I have tired of Patpong but it is a must-see for the first time visitor. I have not only tired of Patpong, but of Bangkok as well. I only stay in Bangkok if I have to spend the night to catch a flight the next day; otherwise I go direct to my location regardless of time. If I am going to Pattaya, I leave direct from Suvarnabhumi International Airport and never set foot in Bangkok city. When I am going northeast to Khon Kaen, I have to spend the night to catch a connecting flight the next day. I usually just go out to a few local beer bars in walking distance of my hotel.
Patpong is a unique little street and should be on every first-timer's visit list. Don't buy anything from the vendors in the street. Prices are much cheaper anywhere else in Thailand. Have a few drinks, check out activities, and avoid the second floor bars.
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