Saturday is Makha Bucha day, maybe dry, maybe not

Makha Bucha day on Saturday 3rd March is a special day for Buddhists and may possibly be designated as a dry day for bars. However bars have not (yet) received the letter telling them to close so maybe they will be open. Monday is a public holiday so government offices and banks will be closed (but the bars are open).

Makha Bucha means "worship in the third month". Thai Buddhists visit the temples to light candles and remember two events that happened on this day.

The first event occurred nine months after Buddha reached Enlightenment, when 1250 of his disciples showed up to hear him preach, unannounced and unplanned. His sermon gave the disciples the "Monk Way": give up evil, cultivate good, and cleanse one's mind.

The second event took place 44 years later, when Buddha announced that he would be entering Nirvana three months from that date. That holy day (three months from now) is called Visakha Bucha and will surely be a closed bar day.

Comment: This Is Thailand

Is it really true that the bars do not have an official list of dry days?
that the officials actually mail out letters on or about the given day?
that at the beginning of each year they are NOT given list of dates to plan for closing?

This seems unfair to all, particularly to the staff who are then denied the ability to plan for the day off to take care of other business.

Who is making -- or failing to make -- these decisions? Surely, it is not on the whim of whatever political party or branch of the military is in power during that month!

but then again This Is Thailand.

Update: Dry

Letters have now been issued instructing bars to close on Saturday 3rd March

 
Blue Lagoon adds more

Blue Lagoon A-GoGo is adding another water attraction, this time what seems to be a Jaccuzi is being built in the middle of the bar. It is to be premiered on Sunday 25th Feb (Thai Time permitting).

The bar already features a swimming tank and a shower show cell (which I haven't seen used for a while)

Blue Lagoon is located at Centre Condo just set back from Pattaya South Road. It is a few hundred metres from 2nd Road, just before but opposite to the computer mall, Tuk Com

Update: Thai Time

Indeed the new water feature is said to be unveiled on Monday or Tuesday

 
Roxy has not been sold

I was originally informed that Andy would be buying Roxy and that he would restore it as Electric Blue Senior.

I have since been informed that this is not the case and that Roxy has not been sold.

Cobra Gold naval exercises will take in Pattaya as usual

The United States has decided to go ahead with the 26th annual Cobra Gold exercise, which was put on hold following the Sept 19 coup and suspension of US military aid to Thailand. The deal-maker was the lifting of martial law across much of the country.

There were doubts as to whether the annual joint military exercise would go ahead this year following the military coup. But Supreme Commander Boonsrang Niumpradit said he had been informed by the US that the war games will take place as scheduled following the Council for National Security's decision to lift martial law in 41 provinces, including Bangkok.

Gen Boonsrang said Washington's decision reflected the improving sentiment of the international community towards Thailand, particularly the US, now that the country was heading towards democracy, with the new charter being drafted and elections to be held soon.

This year's operation, which is the 26th Cobra Gold exercise, will be carried out from May 8-18. The number of US soldiers taking part in the drill this year had not been confirmed, Gen Boonsrang said, adding the number might not be as high as the tens of thousands that normally join.

Chinese New Year on Walking Street

Pattaya saw a weekend of festivities with fire crackers and dragons celebrating the Chinese New Year (year of the pig)

I even spotted a dragon procession do a once round of the stage at The Sea A-GoGo.

So the next time someone tells you that the girls were all fire breathing dragons at the Sea A-GoGo, you'll know how the rumour started

Changes at Taboo Club

From Pattaya Secrets

A few changes have been going down at Taboo Club. A new farang manager, Darren, has appeared on the scene. Perhaps his first job is to sort out volume of the music which has been reported as ear splitting, particularly when the manager steps out of the door for a while.

The bar has also added shows to the repertoire. Early reports suggest that they are basically an excuse to get dancing girls naked. Always a good move but the 1000 Baht bar fine associated with the 'show girls' doesn't seem to have gone down well.

The happy hour drinks prices have been modified such that discounts only apply to draft beer (at 50 Baht) and house spirits (at 70 Baht). The happy hour lasts until 10pm

Katoeys rounded up

From Thai Visa

On the 17th of February at 1.20 am Pattaya Tourist Police along with Police Volunteers carried out a successful operation to crackdown on katoeys around the Pattaya area.

Their activity can sometimes cause offence and annoy tourists when offering obviously, the sale of sex.

Routes of inspection included Pattaya 2nd Road, Pattaya Beach and Walking Street.

Police apprehended 158 lady boys of differing beauty. They were taken to the Police Station and formally identified and given fines. They have been charged with loitering in a public area with the intention of selling sex and all now are known to Police. An unofficial people source stated that around 10% of the people arrested after investigation turned out to be officially female.

Venus Bar goes dark

A recently refurbished aircon bar called V.nus or Venus on Pattaya Soi 15 has gone dark. The bar was located opposite Angelwitch and What's Up and so seemed to be a good location.

For a while the bar even had barkers on Walking Street and secured a good write up on Stickman's website.

Update: Plans Afoot

It was reported on the Pattaya forums that there have been ownership changes and that plans are afoot for this venue. It has been reported on the Pattaya forums that Jimmy who previously ran Naughty Girls has plans for to convert Venus to a GoGo

A new Walking Street bar, Sweetheart's A-GoGo

From the Asia Bugle

The venue that was originally Highway Star A-GoGo and then converted to coyote dancing as The Roof is soon to return as Sweetheart's A-GoGo.

The bar in central Walking Street is scheduled to open in February. The bar will be managed by Khun Satit previously at the current Highway Star A-GoGo at the Beach Road end of Walking Street.

Update: Signage

A new sign has been erected jutting out into Walking Street

Update: Not February

Building work is still ongoing and maybe the middle of March is a better guess at opening day

 
Crystal Girls becomes Crystal Boys

Thanks to eyebee

The gayification of Soi Pattayaland 2 continues apace.

Crystal Girls (previously Bubbles) is now closed and will open ironically on St Valentine's Day as Crystal Boys. (Perhaps the expensive 150 baht "Dancer's Drink' is somehow more acceptable in a boys bar?)

There was a time when Bubbles was one of the better GoGos. But the version of the bar from recent years will surely not be missed by many Pattaya regulars.

The GoGo listing now drops to 76 bars.

 
Electric Blue Jr sold

Thanks to eyebee

Big Andy said the other night that there is to be a big party at Club Electric Blue Jr on Friday (16th Feb). The reason? Andy has sold the bar and the party is to introduce the new owner. Hopefully the new owner will continue the bar's current policy.

 
New Living Dolls One installs Jacuzzi

Always a bar noted for innovation, it will be interesting to see if New Living Dolls One can find a new entertainment twist for its newly installed Jacuzzi.

The bar has blazed the trial of ideas with the recent introduction of the 400 Baht bar fine for dancers.

They have also introduced 'coyote dancing' stations dotted around the customer seating. Of course the twist is that the coyote dancing is naked.

Missing Tiger Dog Cow

Hi from La La Land Bar on Soi 6

When you have been down soi 6 you will have seen my dog named Cow. I am the one who painted him to look like a tiger. He's well known in the street and I've taken care of him for 3 years now.

He stays in the bar at night and never goes far from me but he's gone missing now for nearly 2 weeks and I want him back.

Hope you can help. Thanks

If you can help, drop into La La Land or else email me at webmaster@pattayagogos.com and I will pass on the message

 
At Baby Dolls

Thanks to eyebee

The new owners of Baby Dolls and XXX are due to demolish the partition wall between the two bars. The new expanded gogo will be called Baby Dolls

The new owners are Russ, last seen as manager of Windmill Club, and the current manager at Carousel.

So the gogo count is now back down to 78

Update: The two bars are now one!

 
Star Meeting Point reverts to Freeway

Freeway used to be classed as a gogo but declining numbers meant that the regular dancing was dropped. The bar tried to re-invent itself as Star Meeting Point but has now reverted back to Freeway.

A new manager has taken the reins and intends to revitalise the bar starting off with an offer of 30 Baht draft beer.

It is a very attractive bar so a little bit of energy and a few attractive girls may be all that is needed.

 
Club 69 opens for GoGo

Club 69 is the 3rd of 3 sister bars located in Walking Street Soi 15. The other two, XXX & Baby Doll have only been open a few months but are already sporting an "Under New Management" banner.

Club 69 may have had a long recruitment campaign but there were very hopelessly few dancers on duty for my first visit. Saying that though, they were a very attractive crew and they seemed to be getting barfined the moment they stepped off stage.

The decor is good in the theme of a small intimate club as implied by the bar name. Definitely one up on its sister bars as it has comfortable bench seating complete with scatter cushions. There are a few stools surrounding the bar and in front of the side stage.

There are the same low podium dance stages as the neighbours, but this bar has a side stage too. (Unused at the moment presumably due to lack of dancers).

There were half a dozen dancers in the bar of which 4 were dancing. There was also a hostess maybe trying to help out with the numbers. Most of the dancing girls were topless and were doing a good job of making eye contact and entertaining (the lonely) onlookers.

Surely the bar has potential.

There was no draught beer (as is so often the case when bars open. They usually get some installed quick quick though). Bottled beer was 110 Baht.

 
A new Walking Street vodka bar

From Pattaya Addicts

A new vodka bar named V2O has its opening set for March 2007. It will be located on the first floor running down the length of Soi Happy.

The owners promise an ice room to drink vodka shots, great music, sexy ladies and fantastic surroundings

 
A new gogo opens: Blue Lagoon Bikini Bar

The bar is located at the back of a the Best Friend beer bar complex on Beach Road. The complex is located between Royal Garden Plaza and Soi Pattayaland. The bar is barely visible form the road and relies on the welcome staff to attract attention particularly as there is not yet a neon sign at the front of the complex.

Without actually reading the welcome sign very closely I took the starred figure of 60 to be the draft beer price but in fact there is not yet a draft beer (bottled beer was 105 Baht and Lady drinks are 100 Baht). The 60 on the sign referred to 60 new ladies. In fact there were only 25 ladies slated up on the dancing roster. And with 3 customers in the bar I found it hard to believe that 35 girls were on long term bar fine.

The central stage is a long thin strip catering fro 8 dancers. The bulk of the seating is bench seating arranged in two tiers. The front seats are quite low but they are comfortable enough.

The dancing girls were a middling bunch without any oldies or particular cuties. They clearly they are all painfully shy, as there was not a single topless girl in sight.

I recognised several girls from New Living Dolls One. The mamasang is also familiar having worked at Champagne and the Walking Street version of Silver Star.

I was just getting into a chat with an old friend when she announced that it was her turn to dance. I then realised that the bar has a ridiculous 8 song dancing cycle. So even though the music is oldie friendly, I would have been bored out of my mind to have to watch the usual insipid overdressed dancing for half an hour without any company. Long dance stints and a  lack of company quickly get me reaching for the bin.

I rather forecast that on my next visit things will be a little more sexy and/or entertaining. The bar has little chance in its current boring overdressed/overpriced/overdanced format.

Toilet tip: There aren't any...the beer bar complex outside has a 5 Baht toilet whilst an inside toilet is being built.