Flood, Sweat & Beers

While the worst of the flooding in Thailand appears to be slowly receding, it has left the tourism industry scrambling to entice visitors back to the Land of Smiles.

News coverage around the world has caused the number of visitors arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport to drop 25% according to the airport's acting director Somchai Sawasdipol.

Shortages of stock of store shelves due to the flood interrupting manufacturing and deliveries are reported throughout Thailand. While many of those initial shortages have been alleviated, the one everyone will remember years from now is the Great Beer Shortage of 2011.

Beverage-makers have been allocating more working resources to producing bottled drinking water, which is in great demand from flood-hit areas but have also committed to improving the beer shortage significantly within a month, when the flood water has receded and their logistics systems are back to normal.

Beer availability seems to be hit & miss depending what shop you enter. Some brands are available (at inflated prices) while others are nowhere to be found.

Bar owners are doing their best to keep the shelves stocked but have been hit with price increases of 30% or more. Hopefully this will come back down along with the water levels.

With the rainy season over, the hot, sunny days make the demand for a "cold one" even more pressing.

Thailand will recover from this. There are things we can all do to help.

If you are a tourist, visit Thailand and enjoy the warm, hospitality the kingdom has to offer. This will help the economy greatly.

When you go out, be aware there may be times when your favorite beverage might be in short supply. Please be patient and use this as an opportunity to try another beverage,,,you might like it!

Whether you live here or only visit, consider donating to the flood relief effort.

When the Sun Goes Down

Jomtien Complex

When the sun goes down, the action in Jomtien moves from the sandy beaches to the Bars and Nightclubs, most notably in Jomtien Complex.

As you you travel south from Pattaya on Thapraya Road, shortly after you pass the traffic light at Theprasit Road, a large complex of shop-houses comes into view on the right hand side of the road. This is known as Jomtien Complex.

Here you will find a wide array of Bars, Restaurants and Guesthouses, primarily marketing themselves to the gay market.

Among the most popular establishments are the Question Mark Bar, The Venue, Dolce Vita and Ganymede. Other gay bars in the complex are the L&N Bar, Two Faces, Sugar & Spice and Festival Boys.

The show at The Venue is a must see. There is no cover charge and the show begins around 10pm nightly. Great dancing and beautiful costumes.

The ever popular Question Mark Bar recently expanded next door and opened the Q.M.Bar.

Ganymede Bar & Residence is currently undergoing a major expansion adding a Sauna (with indoor pool) as well as a Karaoke Lounge next door. Both are anticipated to be open in December 2010 (we'll update you as they open).

You can either pub crawl your way through the complex or settle into one bar and watch the world go by. As they say in Thailand - "Up to You".


You'll find a wide range of dining options ranging from Antz Restaurant, where you can get a good meal for under 100 baht (about $3 USD) to the upscale dining experience of Pagoda.

Within walking distance, you'll find Thai Food, Italian, French,German,  American, Mexican and traditional Fish & Chips. Of course, you can also indulge in food from the street carts that pass by for about a dollar.

If massage is your thing, you'll not be disappointed. You can opt for a "traditional" Thai massage at the Thai Blind Massage Institute, where an hour session will run you about 170 baht ($6 USD) or if you prefer, the more "exotic" experience can be found at many bars in the complex.

You find that the staff in the bars are very friendly without being too pushy, the drinks are generally cheaper than in some other parts of town and unlike some areas there are not a lot of underage kids hanging around.

Accomodations in Gay Guesthouses range from basic to luxurious, depending on your budget. Among the Guesthouses in the area are Ganymede Residence, Haus Mewie, Two Faces,The Venue and Poseidon.

Boys Playing Pool at Ganymede Bar

And, if you can't find enough to keep you occupied in Jomtien, you can always hop on a baht bus and be in Boyztown or Sunee Plaza in a matter of minutes.