Gaybutton Posted February 8, 2008 Posted February 8, 2008 Please see the article in today's PATTAYA MAIL for details: http://www.pattayamail.com/current/news.shtml#hd1 Quote
Guest YardenUK Posted February 8, 2008 Posted February 8, 2008 Please see the article in today's PATTAYA MAIL for details: http://www.pattayamail.com/current/news.shtml#hd1 Interesting - I hope resident guys like you GB let us know what happens on the ground. I have always wondered why Jomtien beach is so cluttered with umbrellas - I know most guys sensibly try to avoid sitting out in the sun, but i for one always try to get as far to the front of the beach as possible and fight off all attempts by the concession staff to cover me with umbrellas! I have never been to any other beach in thailand (Pattaya excepted) which is so cluttered with concessions and the dreaded umbrellas - it really is a battle to try to see blue skies! The couple of times that heavy rain has meant they remove most of the umbrellas, and then unexpectedly the sun reappears, really makes me realise how beautiful the beach is with no umbrellas - no claustrophobia, a beautiful blue sky above, and the trees hanging over the back of the beach - it really changes how the beach looks and is much more beautiful in my eyes. I always thought it would be a better idea for the concessions to leave at the very least the first few rows umbrella-less and then the shade lovers could have the rest at the back of the beach. I wonder if the municipal authorities do really clamp down how much of Jomtien beach will be free of umbrellas. Quote
Gaybutton Posted February 8, 2008 Author Posted February 8, 2008 Interesting - I hope resident guys like you GB let us know what happens on the ground. You can count on it. I believe the concessionaires along the gay beach area are there legitimately. Most of them have been there for years and nothing seems to be encroached. I have no idea how the regulation will affect the gay beach area, but if I see anything different from usual, I'll certainly post about it. One of the things I'm wondering about is where they expect people to sit if the concessionaires are not allowed to put out their chairs in certain areas. Sure, you might be able to sit out in the sun, but on what? What are you going to do, bring your own chair back and forth to the beach? If you're here on a week or two holiday, what becomes of the chair you ended up buying once it's time for you to go home? I suppose the concessionaires might be be able to rent you a deck chair and umbrella, which could easily mean there will be just as many seats and umbrellas as always. You may also lose the services such as the beach waiters. You may not be able to order something to drink or order any food if the concessionaires not only lose their chairs, but also lose being able to wait on people who are not in the seats owned by the concession. Also, if the concessionaires lose a significant number of their chairs, then they might all be forced to raise their prices. Personally, I prefer the umbrellas. I burn easily. Also, without the umbrellas there may be a lot less eye candy at the beach. Many of the Thai boys won't go to the beach at all. That's because a dark tan is considered low class in Thailand, so they all want to be "color white." A lot of skin whitening cream is sold in Thailand, even the dangerous kind. Workers who have to work out in the sun are usually seen working in long pants, long sleeve shirts, hats, gloves, and even ski masks to keep their skin from coloring. It can be a day with temperatures hot enough to make a sauna seem like air conditioning, but they'll be out there looking as if they're dressed to follow Robert Peary to the North Pole. That's why I think a lack of umbrellas could mean less boys to ogle at the beach. Many like the beach and a great many of them are there on their daily "farang hunt," but I can't help but wonder if many will stop coming if, by the time they get there, the seats covered by umbrellas are all taken. It's usually somewhere between 2:00 and 3:00 PM by the time the boys wake up and get to the beach. To my mind this idea is one of those typical ideas that hasn't been thought through and the whole thing is ridiculous. As far as I'm concerned, this makes it right to the "If It Ain't Broke, Break It" list. The number of deck chairs and umbrellas hasn't been a problem and I never hear anyone saying, "Gee, I sure wish there were a lot less of them. I want to be able to sit down out in the sun for free." I'd much rather see the city make the illegal concessionaires pay for the areas upon which they encroached instead of forcing them to start removing chairs. I think it ought to be "pay up or get out completely." In any case, I'll be sure to post if and when I see any significant changes. Quote
