Travel Tips - Cambodia - Thailand - January 2004

Wednesday January 14, 2004

Pattaya's Walking Street To Be Torn Down? - Long Wait At Border - Former Bangkok Post Columnist Bernard Trink "The Nite Owl" Not permitted To Say Good-bye - Sex Bars In Pattaya? - Sihanoukville Beaches For Fun In Cambodia - Mick & Craig Move - Public Buses To Vietnam Canceled For Chinese New Year

WILL THEY TEAR DOWN PATTAYA'S WALKING STREET?

A well-informed source said Pattaya's walking Street would be torn down in two years and replaced with beachfront high-rise hotels and condominiums.

BERNARD TRINK "THE NITE OWL"

A Canadian reader that lives in Cambodia and formerly Thailand wrote:

It was from your website that I heard that Trink's column was discontinued. He doesn't strike me as the retiring type? I wonder if he was forced out by the authoritie[s] ie. - P.M.Taksin ?

By James Loving NR:

The Bangkok Post gave Bernard Trink his termination notice in mid November 2003 effective at the end of December. At that time he was informed that he would not be permitted to say good-bye to his readers through his column. We wrote about the dismissal in our November column.

Trink was a controversial figure since he wrote about Thailand's nightlife, sex industry and occasionally took the government to task. Some of his opinions enraged many readers who in return let him know about it through the mail/e-mail.

Trink has been a journalist in Bangkok since 1966. The Post has a policy of firing employees when they reach the age of 60. Up until last month Trink was an exception…he is 72.

Over the years he's been highly sought after for interviews. In his last column he noted his experiences with some of the requests he granted.

One lady journalist asked him about his thoughts regarding prostitution in Thailand. After hearing some of his OPINION she interrupted and railed against him for over an hour calling him a chauvinist and pimp in the process. She then stormed out of the office.

The dagger in the heart came later. As Trink noted in his last column

"She returned to her homeland shortly thereafter and wrote a non-fiction book about the field, with references to me in the index and imaginary quotes in the body (none of which she garnered from my column)."

Over the years Trink has been respected and misunderstood. His position on AIDS drew a lot of criticism. Does he know the cure for AIDS? Obviously not.

Trink wrote an ENTERTAINMENT COLUMN in the ENTERTAINMENT SECTION of the newspaper. He is not a doctor or politician. He wrote what he thought from his vast experience. What he wrote was for a readers entertainment pleasure. If someone wanted an opinion on AIDS they could read a medical book or thesis.

In his last Post column he gave a faint hint that it would be his last for the publication.

"A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since I began writing the column in 1966 and I've made several changes in its format a number of times," he said. "The problem now is that the river is silting up. The powers-that-be are determined to stamp out nightlife every way they can. Imposing a 10pm closing time would do it."

During his time in Thailand Trink has witnessed the fishing village of Pattaya turn into a metropolis. He's also passed along a lot of information and has given many of his readers a laugh.

He's seen Thailand when it was still Thailand before the invasion of western thinking.

The fact that he stirred so many readers emotions and criticisms is indicative that he was good at his job….. being an entertainment columnist.

What will Trink do next is unknown to us at this time. Stay tuned…we'll keep you posted.

COMING…."THINK TRINK"

FOR ADULTS ONLY

The Thai government is crediting itself with helping clean up the countries negative image by enforcing bar closing hours and cracking down on bars that have sex shows.

Eliminated??? Well….. ahh.... The Happy Bar on the Walking Street was noted as being a club that has live sex shows.

On arrival we were denied entrance while others were permitted in. If that's your thing check it out for yourself. Is the crackdown is being enforced?

SIHANOUKVILLE BEACHES FOR FUN IN CAMBODIA

When you stop to think of it where can you go have fun when you're in Cambodia you have a dilemma.

If you're a tourist it is most likely that you will make it a point to see Angkor Wat, Toul Sleng Prison and the Killing Fields. So... after a fill of gloom & doom…. Where can one have fun in Cambodia?

A line from a Tom Cruise movie is::

FUN… YOU WANT TO HAVE FUN? IF YOU WANT FUN YOU GO PLAY ON THE BEACH!!! It's a good choice for those that do.

Sihanoukville has several beaches, Independence, Hawaii, Victory, Sokah, Serendipity and Ochheuteal. Serendipity and Ochheuteal beaches are the most popular with foreigners.

Four years ago Serendipity didn't exist. At that time it was mostly boulders, rocks, cliffs and trees. The boulders and rocks were removed and a man made beach was created.

Prior to makeover, an American named Chuck owned the only bar at that location. He named it Chucks Place Serendipity. It is said that he is the person that named the beach.

Since the completion of the beach numerous hotels, bars and guesthouses have been built along the shoreline.

Chuck has moved on but the site of his bar/restaurant currently is another bar with rooms on the second level.

Chuck had an area to play volleyball at his bar. In its place there are boats that will take you for a ride. There are more people and that negates the tranquility that previously existed. The atmosphere remains relaxing.

Guesthouses have been built on the cliffs for affordable lodging with a sea view.

A walk south on the beach will lead you to Ochheuteal Beach considered to be the most popular of all for foreigners. There is barely a spot that is not occupied with beach chairs, food stalls or a bar.

At the far south of the beach a row of bars have been built since March giving the area a spring break type of ambiance. The bars run past the golf course to Chiva's Shack (Full Moon Party). Chiva's was the only and last bar on the beach that far down the coast this time last year. At the time of this writing the Choka Linda is now the last bar on the beach.

Ochheuteal offers plenty of lodging to suite any budget. Accommodations range from newly built well appointed hotels to inexpensive guesthouses.

For fun at night on the beach Chiva's Shack and the Choka Linda Shack light a fire for customers to wine and dine by. Both have youngsters twirling rings of fire for entertainment. Chiva's has a Full Moon Party every month.

MICK & CRAIGS

Mick and Craig's restaurant has moved from the Angkor Inn. They are now located near the Golden Lion. From the Golden Lion on the road to Serendipity Beach they are the second business on the right.

The move appears to be a good one for the Englishmen. They have more facilities.

In an open air covered setting a bar with a pool table is now separate from the restaurant. The restaurant is now called Sanctuary and seats more customers. A five-room guesthouse occupies the rear of the property.

MOM'S ANGKOR INN RESTAURANT

Mom the owner of the Angkor Inn and Mick & Craig's former landlord has taken over the operations of Mick & Craig old restaurant.

The décor is different but the menu is basically the same as when Mick & Craig occupied the premises.

PUBLIC BUSES TO VIETNAM DISCONTINUED FOR HOLIDAY

Public buses from between Phnom Penh and Vietnam will not operate during the upcoming Chinese New Year. This year the holiday is celebrated from January 22 to January 28. Private buses, taxis and boats are not affected.

TRAVEL DELAYS

Due to the Thai governments crackdown on Thai's going to Cambodian border towns to gamble the border crossing at Poipet is experiencing time delays at Thai immigration according to a Cambodian Daily report. Thai immigration knows the gamblers don't like dealing with the delay.

Since the crackdown began cross border traffic has decreased from 5,000 to 1,000 a day. That translates into more hassles for tourists trying to make time on the Bangkok to Siem Reap route.

There has been unrest at the border crossing since the riots on Thai businesses in Phnom Penh January 29, 2003.

BANGKOK, THAILAND TO POIPET/SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA - THE ATTITUDE CHANGES

For travelers that prefer to see a country by land there is a noticeable change in attitude when a foreigner crosses the Thai border and enters Poipet, Cambodia.

"What a change," a mid-thirties German tourist exclaimed as he noticed the extreme poverty of the people and the trashed streets of the town after passing through Cambodian Immigration.

The German kept asking us what was going on and if we knew anything. He was in the dark after sitting and waiting for two hours to move on.

When he purchased his ticket in Bangkok to Siem Reap, Cambodia he was sold with a smile. When he reached the transfer and departure point for the minibus to Siem Reap he encountered an abrupt and somewhat rude behavior. From here tour agents interview, disperse and assign passengers to a minibus and guesthouse in Siem Reap.

In part the agents rude behavior has something to do with their lack of training and experience dealing with foreign travelers. For many agents this may be a first time experience.

As a result of their lack or training they have a way of interviewing travelers by using something similar to interrogation methods.

When you are sold in Bangkok you are told with a smile that you will arrive in Siem Reap at 3:30pm that afternoon.

In reality the interview/interrogation session in Poipet ended at 3:30. We departed shortly after and we arrived in Siem Reap at 10:30pm.

When pressed the agents at AB Travel in Bangkok, Thailand said with a smile that when they send a traveler on a through ticket to Siem Reap they didn't know what to expect after the Poipet border crossing.

Ethics and integrity appear to be qualities that are not taught in some Cambodian employee training sessions. The background of the travel agents boss/manager may indicate they have no previous history in management or the areas they teach.

For an example of the mentality and qualities of the type of individual that is responsible for training young Cambodians Go to: www.lovefm.ws Go to: DJ Profiles - Press: DJ Banana

PATTAYA EXPATS CLUB

The Pattaya Expats Club meets every Sunday at 'HENRY J BEANS' Bar & Grill, at the AMARI ORCHID RESORT, at the north end of Beach Road. A Buffet is available from 9:30 AM. Meetings start at 10:30 AM, and try to finish by 12:00 noon.

American Drew Noyes is the clubs president and MC. The club usually has a guest speaker. In many cases a Thai that has some expertise regarding Thai Laws and business practices.

BLUES FACTORY - PATTAYA

Business is booming at the Blues Factory in Pattaya, Thailand. Management did away with Go Go girls and went strictly music entertainment. The bottom line numbers are up 2 ½ times.

Monday is ladies night. All ladies receive a free drink on entry. A weekly raffle enables ladies to win anything from soft toys to Thai gold.

Rock legend Lam Morrison and his band play every night except Monday.. The Blues Factory House Band performs every night except Wednesday.

The Blues Factory is on the Walking Street.

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