The new cases of the Coronavirus in Thailand have continued to drop over the last two months. Currently the new cases are at about 60% of the mid-August daily high of 23,418. The Thai government has been monitoring the virus Province by Province, and is now easing up on several categories of restrictions. As in the past, these restrictions fall into two categories - those internal restrictions that affect the citizenry, and those restrictions that affect those wanting to travel into and out of Thailand. Lets examine those restrictions that affect the citizenry first....
The partially obscured "Cowboy" sign arches over the entrance to the darkened Entertainment Area within.
As can be seen in detail below, the backing-off of a number of restrictions now allows us to stay up an hour later, dine and shop for another hour, get more exercise and more massages. While good for the general morale, it does very little for the economy. Hotels and Night Entertainment are no better off than they were the previous month. -And while we are at this point in the discussion, we note that the Government has never failed to rush to reopen tattoo parlors. Yes, tattoo parlors are now reopened... A resident of The Kingdom for decades, I had not noticed that tattoo parlors were an essential service, and that their closure had caused such hardship. Perhaps on hearing this, the millions of travellers from abroad will be clamoring to get on aircraft and fly to Thailand as soon as they can, and rush into a 10-day quarantine so they can hurry out to get tattoos...
Next is the recent easing of restrictions on international travel. The extent of easing has consisted of shortening of quarantine periods for some classes foreigners entering the country by four days. What the Government has NOT addressed fills volumes. It is obvious the Government has no 'end-game' in mind - no serious plan (other than the internal expanding of areas to which tourists can travel). No concept of a functioning "New Normal" that would facilitate, for example, the 39.8 million tourists that arrived in Thailand in 2019. As it stands now, if Thailand wants to be in a position to receive the 2019 number of tourists, Thai Consulates abroad would have to issue 39.8 million Certificates of Entry (COE), and Immigration would have to process them on arrival, and create permanent records. There would also be a requirement for each of these tourists to receive two swab tests, - 78.6 million swabs, total - and staffs of thousands at the airports and border crossings to administer and process the swabs - and medical facilities to handle those who either tested 'positive' or 'undetermined'. Next, all 39.8 million tourists would have to download "The App" (too bad if they don't have smartphones). They would have to report daily, so they can continue to be 'tracked'. Immigration will need to 'staff up' for this one also - it will make the TM-30 Immigration disaster of 2 years ago look like a walk in the park. There would currently not be sufficient quarantine hotels - but more than that, virtually every hotel would have to become a quarantine hotel. To add insult to injury, each of those 39.8 million tourists would have to have 2 insurance policies - one of them being "Covid Insurance". That's a total of 78.6 million insurance policies per year that have to be verified at the airport by Immigration in addition to all else they now have to do. To say the same thing another way, the more tourists the Government intends to bring in under the current guidelines, the more impossible, the more unmanageable the problem becomes.
What is needed are just a couple of cool heads in influential positions who are capable of executing an effective plan to kick-start the economy's tourism sector. We start with what we want to end up with, and work backwards - a program which produces an annual rate of 39.8 million tourists - commencing sometime in, say, 2022. We then determine how we can effect that rate of tourism arrivals - and eliminate everything we don't need to do - to make it easier on ourselves and the tourists. -
It all starts with the Government consciously evaluating that which is the real Coronavirus threat, and that which is, and has now become institutionalized, administrative Coronaphobia (the fear of the Coronavirus) : Any tourist from a nation with a responsible vaccination program and a controlled rate of infection should be allowed to enter Thailand with a Passport, Valid Visa, a yellow Vaccination Card with evidence of being fully vaccinated not more than 6 months previously. Or, if supplemented by a booster shot, the booster not more than 6 months previously. That's it. No Certificates of Entry. No insurances. No swabs at every turn. Tracking of tourists will revert to the previous system, to include Hotels responsible for the TM-30s and the 90-day check-in requirement for long-stay foreigners would continue. This can be the only acceptable "New Normal".
On 27 September, the Prime Minister'sCentre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced a relaxation in the current partial lockdown. The new guidelines become effective 1 October 2021. The extracts from the published documents are reproduced below; these guidelines will remain in effect as noted, or until further notice...
Summary Results of the Meeting of the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)
Meeting Date: 27 September 2021. Effective Date: 01 October 2021
SUMMARY
* - The Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations current implementation has been extended another 2 months to the end of November 2021.
* - Curfew has now been shortened - 22:00 to 04:00. To be reviewed after 15 days.
* - Gatherings of more than 25 people are not permitted.
* - Malls & Department Stores are allowed to open until 21:00 hrs - However no game machines, game arcades, rides for children, amusement parks, water parks, convention halls, exhibition halls are allowed.
* - Beauty Salons, Tattoo parlors, massage parlors, and beauty clinics open until 21:00.
* - Sports facilities may hold competitions but with limited spectators, closed by 21:00
* - Tourism in "Blue"(or safe) provinces will be allowed, when only few cases of Covid-19 are present.
* - Convenience stores now open until 21:00 hrs. Outdoor markets with adequate ventilation and hygiene, to include wet markets and weekly-meet markets are now allowed - sale of foodstuffs, consumables only.
10 RESTORED ACTIVITIES
The 01 October 2021 partial rollback of the ongoing lockdown now allows for the following additional 10 types of activities.
Now open :
1. Infant and preschool care facilities.
2. Public libraries, Private libraries, Community libraries
3. Museums - Historical and Archaeological
4. Study centers, Science centers, Cultural /art Centers
5. Indoor sports, including air conditioned fitness facilities.
6. Manicure /pedicure shops
7. Tattoo parlors
8. Massage and spa for health
9. Film related business, incl. movie theaters
10. Playing of music in restaurants - up to 3 musicians - Management to insure proper air circulation and Covid-Free conditions before opening. Outdoor seating up to 75 %, indoor seating up to 50%. Alcoholic beverages remain prohibited.
QUARANTINE CHANGES
Changes to Quarantine requirements for persons entering Thailand
- Fully vaccinated 15 days or more - 1 week quarantine, with 2 RT-PCR tests
- Not fully vaccinated, arriving by sea or air - 10 days of quarantine with 2 RT-PCR tests
- Not fully vaccinated, arriving by land - 14 days of quarantine and 2 RT-PCR tests.
"THE REOPENING PLAN"
Further, the initial plan for reopening of Thailand put forward by the CCSA was made public by The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
It should be noted that schedules are subject to change - should conditions so indicate.
Quote:
"Bangkok, 27 September, 2021 –
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like to report that during today’s meeting, the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has approved a four-phase timeline for the country’s reopening plan to revitalize the nationwide tourism industry :
Pilot Phase (1-31 October, 2021)
This will continue with the four popular beach resorts, which were the first destinations to reopen – beginning with Phuket on 1 July, then Surat Thani’s Samui, Ko Pha-ngan and Ko Tao on 15 July, and most recently Krabi and Phang-Nga on 16 August - linking with Phuket under the 7+7 Extension arrangement. This phase will also see reopening of new designated areas in Krabi – Khlong Muang and Thap Khaek.
First Phase (1-30 November, 2021) This will see the reopening extended to 10 other tourism-driven destinations. These include all areas of Bangkok, Krabi and Phang-Nga, and designated areas in Buri Ram (Mueang), Chiang Mai (Mueang, Mae Rim, Mae Taeng, and Doi Tao), Chon Buri (Pattaya, Bang Lamung, Na Jomtien, and Sattahip), Loei (Chiang Khan), Phetchaburi (Cha-Am), Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin), and Ranong (Ko Phayam).
Second Phase (1-31 December, 2021) The reopening will be extended to 20 more provinces which are tourism-driven, well-known for art and culture, or border destinations. These include Ayutthaya, Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Nong Khai, Pathum Thani, Phatthalung, Phetchabun, Phrae, Rayong, Samut Prakan, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Trang, Trat, and Yala.
Third Phase (1 January, 2022, onwards) This will see the reopening of 13 border provinces, including Bueng Kan, Chanthaburi, Kanchanaburi, Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom, Nan, Ratchaburi, Sa Kaeo, Satun, Surin, Tak, Ubon Ratchathani, and Udon Thani. The CCSA has asked all concerned government agencies to prepare for the Phase 1-3 reopening. Meanwhile, foreign tourists can continue to visit the four (existing) pilot beach resort destinations under the existing conditions. "
: Unquote
From a purely 'chartist' assessment, should the rate of decline in new cases continue as currently trending, Thailand could be essentially down to under a thousand CoV-19 cases per day by 15 December (revised from last month) . This is off-the-cuff trending only, and not to be assumed to be accurate - as there is always the possibility of another surge. Careful management must continue, to include universal vaccinations - including 'booster' re-vaccination, and social hygiene.
In summation, world herd immunity grows through vaccination and through contraction of the disease (- and surviving). And as medicines such as the new oral Merck and Pfizer vaccines will soon be on the market, and the further examination of India's results with Ivermectin, (and the 13 other antivirals now being tested elsewhere), we see that once the Governmental paranoia of Coronaphobia is cast aside, Planet Earth has just one more manageable disease on it's hands. Nothing more. We need to see the Coronavirus for what it is. The Coronavirus has not been 'cancelled', but neither is it, now, anything special. Six months ago I made waves among some circles - I stated that I would push the envelope on what was known about the Coronavirus - I predicted that three years from then (in 2 1/2 more years), virtually everyone would be vaccinated, virtually everyone would have contracted Coronavirus (to include asymptomatically), and everyone would be getting annual booster shots. Some were too kind to criticize my brash leaps-of-logic, others kindly demurred, saying none of that's gonna happen. Since that time, the "booster shot" has already become the jab-d-jour, and substantial populations in universities and communities throughout the world that have already been vaccinated are coming down with Covid (- and surviving). And this is all in 6 months. Again, our reality-check on Coronavirus starts with casting out institutional Coronaphobia.
IF YOU'RE PLANNING TO TRAVEL...
(REPRINTED BY REQUEST FROM PREVIOUS MONTHS)
General Information for Travelers to Thailand From the USA. (Not specific to the "Sand Box).
The following procedure / documents are required. Note: These procedures / guidelines are subject to change, so periodic coordination with the Thai Consulate nearest you is recommended. Those arriving in Thailand from other countries may find variations to these guidelines.
1. Negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for Covid-19 Virus within 72 hours of boarding their flight to BKK or HKT [Phuket] airports.
2. Changes to Quarantine requirements for persons entering Thailand
- Fully vaccinated 15 days or more - 1 week quarantine, with 2 RT-PCR tests
- Not fully vaccinated, arriving by sea or air - 10 days of quarantine with 2 RT-PCR tests
- Not fully vaccinated, arriving by land - 14 days of quarantine and 2 RT-PCR tests. Revised 1 October.
3. If the traveler is hoping to be in the 14-day Phuket 'sandbox program', then they can only fly directly into Phuket, no transfers in Bangkok allowed. Tourists will need to spend 14 nights in Phuket before being allowed to travel elsewhere in the Kingdom (This is now no longer guaranteed.) See also item 2. above. Changing regulations often take time to disseminate and be implemented.
4. COE ( = Certificate of Entry) from a local Thai embassy.. https://coethailand.mfa.go.th . Fill in the online application for COE at least 15 working days before the intend date of travel. Please note, the following documents are required to be uploaded to the COE website prior to issuing the COE:
- Passport
- Valid Visa and/ or re-entry permit.
- Certificate of Residence. [if you have one]
- Covid-19 medical insurance coverage of US$100,000.. The insurance should have the following information :
* Medical costs that cover COVID-19 treatment in Thailand;
* Period of the insurance policy ( start … / end … ) and cover the period of stay in Thailand;
* Minimum coverage of 100,000 USD of medical costs.
* ASQ – Confirmation of a 14-day booking of an ASQ hotel [ = Alternative State Quarantine hotel]. See also item 2. above. Changing regulations often take time to disseminate and be implemented.
Note: the traveler must stay at an officially approved hotel, certified by the Amazing Thailand Safely & Health Administration. [called an ALQ?]
- A copy of flight confirmation/ reservation, showing going from US to Thailand. (The name of the applicant must be indicated clearly)
- Please note: use the “arrow” button to be sure the document is uploaded properly.
5. All arrivals will need to download the contact-tracing app, Thailand Plus.
https://apps.apple.com/th/app/thailandplus/id1534557694
6. ( For the 14 days in Phuket, the traveler must download this app and turn on while in Phuket. https://www.gophuget.com. ) See also item 2. above. Changing regulations often take time to disseminate and be implemented.
With regard to the insurance requirement mentioned above, travellers to Thailand from the USA have found the below Insurance Company was able to provide them with the proper insurance.
READER :
Sad news, even if they reopen somewhere else. The surroundings were important for the vibe. And the other way around. Le Bouchon was a pull factor for Patpong.
Cheers
READER :
In my 30+ years in Bangkok, the closing of Le Bouchon is indeed a sad event.
READER :
Sad to hear that Le Bouchon will close permanently in Patpong. It's a strange one mate. Considering he was paying only 25,000 per month you would have thought he could make a profit from his regular clientele. He says he is looking for another venue but he'll struggle even in this climate to get anything cheaper in a good location. I get the feeling he is ready to retire to be honest.
MIDNITE HOUR:
From the several responses we have received (a few shown above), it is more than apparent that Le Bouchon was popular with the expat community. Some of Bangkok's pundits are theorizing that Serge is emulating a "corporate restructuring", shedding partners (if any), taking care of mounting separation bonuses, etc, and will launch a new Thai company. After all, as noted above, the current monthly stick being B25,000, the LB can gross twice that on a busy weekend. These pundits theorize that the "LB" will sooner, rather than later, reopen in its original location. Pollyannas? A big "wait-and-see".
READER : Howdy,
I really enjoyed reading both the posters' opinions (on vaccination) and the website's responses. Salient points on both sides, although I lean toward the position of vaccinating everyone possible to eradicate the Virus. But, I put it to you that there is another reason to vaccinate... Just so I can F'n come to Thailand ! I made reservations for a late November arrival and I'm starting to bite my lip in worry. But, I can, I guess, postpone. FYI: I had reservations for last October, which, of course, had to be canceled. Eva Air was great about refunding. Expedia as well helped with all hotel reservation refunds.
Keep up the nice work on this site.
MIDNITE HOUR:
Thanks for writing in. Your motivation for getting vaccinated - to be able to travel - matches our own. Your objective to arrive in Thailand in November (2021) might be cutting it a bit close. We hope we are wrong. All indications are that even if the number of new infections and deaths in Thailand continues to fall linearly (see our chart above) the governmental restrictions, however paranoid, will for the most part still be in place. On the bright side, we note (see our review of the bars below) that a number of Nitespots are reopening, and 'serving', and they apparently don't care if it harelips the Pope.
The Madrid has reopened, at least as a 'restaurant', from lunch time until late evenings - heading home before curfew if there are no more customers on the street.
PATPONG 1
The Safari has discovered that the sky is falling... or at least the ceiling. The sign reads, "Do not enter. The ceiling is falling in. Danger." Hopefully this is leading to renovations in preparation for a reopening....someday...
PATPONG 1
The below clip of Patpong 1 again records the nearly empty, unlit Night Entertainment Area. (Filmed 30 September 2021 / 17:05 hours.)
VIDEO CLIP
PATPONG 1
Venues in transition or active on or before 30 September 2021 :
*Unnamed massage parlor - (Last known name: "Thai Lady".) - REMAINS OPEN - Upstairs above Thigh Bar
While the Glamour was closed prior to the Covid 3rd Wave, regulars remain hopeful of a reopening...
PATPONG 2
The corridor between "The Island" and the main building, while lit, remains closed for business. Previously home to Pink Panther, the Old Other Office, the Le Bouchon, Taverns 2 & 3, the French Kiss and Vinai's Bar and 11 other Nitespots. It remains to be seen how many survive the paranoia bred of the virus.
PATPONG 2
Venues remaining open or in transition on or before 31 August 2021 :
A clip of Soi Cowboy taken midway, sweeping past Oasis, the Moonshine Joint and Suzie Wong Bar - how many of these classic Venues will 'make it through to the other side' of the lockdown? (Filmed 01 October 2021 / 19:15 hours.)
VIDEO CLIP
SOI COWBOY
The Penny Black, with a degree of optimism, looks to be sprucing up for an eventual reopening... We note: no Nitespots have reopened since the 3rd Wave of Covid -19.
Yet another reminder of just how dead Nana Plaza is. We haven't seen any bars moving out, so they may be trying to hold on until an eventual reopening of Bangkok's Nightlife...
Don't ask. In the midst of The Lockdown, The Blackout opens its doors - and is doing a moderate-to-good business (!) ... (Next door to Chequers). Go figger... Shake it, don't break it, gents...
SOI NANA - (SOI 4 SUKHUMVIT)
Strikers is, obviously, very much up and running - pool tables, the same good menu, and large paper cups containing liquids.... Rock on..
VIDEO CLIP
SOI NANA - (SOI 4 SUKHUMVIT)
A For-The-Archives shot of the newly reopened Strikers Sports Pub. May the live to play another day.
SOI NANA - (SOI 4 SUKHUMVIT)
Hillary 2 must have dusted off their restaurant license and taped it to the front door. They were rocking full bore when we passed by the other night. Welcome back to the vicissitudes...
SOI NANA - (SOI 4 SUKHUMVIT)
Venues open or in transition on or before 30 September 2021 :
A small grouping of Nitespots has opened near Silom Road - G's Bangkok, the Pride Bar & Restaurant, Connections and The Adam Massage. Other venues remain buttoned down...
SOI KATOEY (Silom Soi 4)
Connections has reopened - keeping action mostly confined to the front veranda, where they have something of an 'art gallery' in view... May they keep on keeping on...
The strip along the front of Soi 22 is, for the most part 'open' - either full open, partially open or 'speakeasy' open. At the far left is Buddy's Bar & Grill, then Mekkhala Massage and Am's Bar - then on to Kinnaree Spa and The Connection Bar, before reaching Otto's Bar & Bistro at the Sukhumvit intersection (- not in photo, which is only half-open).
SOI 22
The 3-J Bar bar beer, open since November 2020, is not only closed, it has become 'a shop of some kind'. One of the more interesting bars done under by Officialdom's prevailing Coronaphobia... Greener grass, ladies...
SOI 22
Venues remaining open, or in transition on or before 30 September 2021 :
The Hillary 11 was going full-tilt when we passed by. -And we saw a number of customers making their way inside - in spite of the 9:00 p.m. closing time (to be able to make it home by the 10:00 p.m. curfew). We have to ask ourselves, how much moreCovid virus would be spread in a restaurant because it stayed open until 01:00 a.m. (instead of closing at 09:00 p.m.)? -Just asking...
SOI AMBASSADOR
(Sukhumvit Soi 11)
The upstairs-downstairs Ava Bangkok was open - albeit for what looked like a very formal affair... It's a 'Wait-and-See' if they remain open...
SOI AMBASSADOR
(Sukhumvit Soi 11)
The Tewly Cocktail bar beer originally opened on the demolished building site across from the Ambassador hotel in June of 2020. Since then they, and others, have been adding on like the Winchester Castle. Today there are six (6) bar beers on that stretch. -You heard that right... (Note: since the Coronavirus 3rd Wave, they have been hidden from street view by heavy curtains. If you are looking for them, you will have to listen to where the music is coming from...
File Photo
SOI AMBASSADOR
(Sukhumvit Soi 11)
Venues remaining open or in transition on or before 31 August 2021 :
*Tewly Cocktail group 6 bar beers - STILL OPEN -EXPANDED
Lockdown?! We don' need no steenkin' lockdown... You won't believe this if you don't see it for yourselves. Aside from the bars facing Soi 7, virtually all the bar beers inside (18) were full-open, lights on, music thumping. And the place was crowded with paying customers... And the Vietnamese Restaurant reopened also. (And this is the Night Entertainment Area that Bangkok'sNightlife pundits said would fail....) Let the good times roll...
VIDEO CLIP
SOI 7 PLAZA
Together, one of Soi 7 Plaza's pioneer bars, has cashed in its chips (as did Our Place last month).. We can hope against hope that they are just renovating, but all the signs are bad... Should it come back to life, or reincarnate into something else, we shall get back atcha'.
File Photo
SOI 7 PLAZA
D-Nice Bar (Dee Dee), the third of the recent Soi 7 Plaza pioneer Nitespots to go the way of the Malagasy Sheldgoose, is currently being renovated - it's replacement (or it's reincarnation) due soon. We'll keep you on distribution.
File Photo
SOI 7 PLAZA
Venues remaining open or in transition on or before 01 September 2021 :
Except for foot massage parlors, footpath food stalls, a restaurant, a 7-Eleven and a mom & pop store, Soi Dead Artists is just that - dead... With the huge amount of new construction - most on hold - it will be years, if ever, before the Soi returns to former glories...
VIDEO CLIP
SOI DEAD ARTIST
(Sukhumvit Soi 33)
Venues remaining open or in transition on or before 30 September 2021 :
*Pan Pan Restaurant - STILL OPEN - (Take out menu)
The (Unnamed bar beer) at the top of the Soi, previously mentioned in our columns, continues to thrive. It has never really closed - operating 'speakeasy' style most of the time. ...Tread lightly, amigos...
SOI EDEN (Sukhumvit 7 / 1)
Venues that remained open or in transition through 1 September 2021 :
*Dalah Massage - CLOSED
*Down Under - CLOSED
*Gemma Sukhumvit (Previously called Bangkok Beer Cafe) - STILL OPEN
*Kawinya Massage - STILL OPEN - 'speakeasy style'
*Good Time Massage - CLOSED
*(Unnamed Bar Beer) - STILL OPEN - 'speakeasy style'
SOI EDEN (Sukhumvit 7 / 1)
OTHERNITESPOTSOFINTEREST
While chasing down rumors of new pubs, we came across O'Shea's - a long-established pub - which was not only open but having substantial custom. May they continue to march...
This month Midnite Hour presents :another Pre-R&R look at Bangkok's Expat Night Entertainment Scene, where most Nitespots (other than massage parlors) offered live entertainment acts and / or music. Most of the 'local' entertainment was from the Philippines, but the international acts were from the 'four corners' of the planet.
The New Champagne Room was one of the more popular Night Clubs in the New Road Night Entertainment Area. In succeeding issues, we will continue to cover (to the extent our collection of clippings and pix can show) the various shows / performers presented at the New Champagne Room.
The Green Palms Bar & Restaurant remains a mystery to us. They advertised heavily during the mid '60's, but we have been unable to find any evidence of where they were located (and it's a bit late to try to call them...). Anyone have any ideas?
Patpong'sAladdin was another Venue that had regular entertainment (local, and passing-through) - but live music for lunch...?. We'll attempt to keep up with their Entertainment Scene as time goes on...
Most remember Tony Aguilar as a staple at The Balcony, also in New Road Night Entertainment Area, but he made the rounds at a number of Nitespots in Bangkok (as did his brothers, Narcing and Pepito). The Garden Cafe was located on Oriental Ave. (leading into the Oriental Hotel...).
Mario's Pizza, located in Gaysorn Night Entertainment Area, was not what one would call a Night Entertainment Venue, but we are currently mid-project - tracing down as many of the old venues at that location as we can - for our future article on "Gaysorn Night Entertainment Area".
We should note that in the '60's, pizza in Thailand was quite terrible - they couldn't get quality cheeses or oregano and other spices - often pizzas would be made with parmesan cheese.... The horror, the horror.... -but I digress...
The Kethip Barber Saloon was one of a genre of Nitespots on their own, often the massage services in these 'Barber Shops' offered the same services as today's 'ambiguous' foot massage parlors. Occasionally one can still find these Barber / Massage combos in the big Thai-style Entertainment Emporiums.
Bangkok Eyes goes back in time to see
Who was New - And Who was Through
in the Expat Night Entertainment World
How many of these old 'Oases'
Do you remember ?
Patpong 1
October 2001
*The Pussy Collection opened new next to Gold Fingers in the old Club Habanos. No Nitespot currently occupies that real estate.
*The Camelot Castle Bar reopened.  They would eventually be absorbed by King's Castle 1 currently closed due to Covid-19.
(Total Nitespots that month: 31 )
Patpong 2
October 2001
* The upstairs King's Cloud Cleopatra newly opened in the previous Cleopatra. No Nitespot currently occupies those premises.
* The Eden Bar Beer - returned to its former name - Eden Garden Kama Sutra, but remained a bar beer. Those digs currently occupied by the Dream Boy Bangkok (closed indefinitely for Covid-19.)
* The Chicken Divine bar beer on The Island reopened, combining forces with Hot Shoes (Hot Shoes closed permanently). Closed temporarily for CoV-19.
In 2016, the Tam Thanh commune in the city of Tam Ky (Central Viet Nam) was besieged by paint. The 'decorated' buildings and other objects were presented to the public as 'art'. The village was deemed an "art village" by the local People's Committee, and implemented with the assistance of the Korea Foundation - (it was never explained how the Koreans were involved). The initial project arranged for a number of artists to decorate over 100 structures. (Editor's note; While some Internet links may have categorized the murals as 'graffiti', the artwork, as far as known, was 'commissioned', and would not be -by definition- 'graffiti'.)
The intent of this pilot program (Art for a Better Community) was to have this community become an "art village" tourist attraction. For the most part, the themes of the art initiative were to be traditional scenes, animals and local flora, however other 'subjects' were also displayed.
Since 2016, the concept of the 'art-village tourist attraction' has become quite popular, having spawned follow-on artwork in Tam Thanh by others, to include the painting of over 100 boats, creating the one mile long "Boat Road". The Tam Thanh 'mural village' idea has also spread to other villages in Viet Nam. The full pictorial can be found on the
Saigoneer<link>.
Bangkok Eyes adheres to a single, comprehensive definition of Graffiti :
"Unauthorized, often illegal markings on another's property."
Bangkok Eyes does not support or advocate any illegal activity. Content herein showcases the ongoing controversy over Graffiti in our Society and is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only.
Graffiti #1284
Starry Starry Eyes
8 ft high x 18 ft
Graffiti #1285
Khlongside
8 ft high x (length) ft
Graffiti #1286
Parasites
8 ft high x 23 ft
Graffiti #1287
Roc's Ray
6 ft high x 13 ft (Top)
Graffiti #1288
Silvver
6 ft high x 12 ft
Graffiti #1289
The X-Gauntlet
7 ft high x (length) ft
Graffiti #1290
Mona's Cassette
8 ft high x 16 ft
Bangkok Eyes is an historically based news outlet, and as such, all graphic excerpts herein are considered, under current legal precedents and
prevailing interpretations, 'Fair Use' under Copyright Law. Copyright of any original artwork resides exclusively with the artists.
Bangkok's original site !
SINCE 2005
The MIDNITE HOUR Graffiti Page is prepared by Staff Contributor "Boge" Hartman.
(Boge's photo, above, is not a graffitiper-se, although there are those who have insinuated....
-
Ed)