PHUKET: Patong beach fell just the way all the other Phuket beaches have fallen, without a shot being fired.
The invasion began at 9am. Soldiers with rifles strolled among the bikini babes, creating incongruous images.
The vendors hastened to pull down their stalls. Loungers and umbrellas were being loaded onto trucks.
A vendor who must be about the smallest on Patong beach shed a tear and said she'd only found out about the changes yesterday.
Mayor of Patong Chalermlak Kebsub and the Director of Kathu Saiyan Chanawong strode out with the soldiers.
Beginning at the southern end of the beach, the invaders faced a large gathering of masseuses when they reached the Absolute Sea Pearl Beach Resort Phuket.
Confronted with some hot words, it was difficult not to feel sorry for the newly-elected Mayor. Here she was, arm in arm with the non-elected military rulers of Thailand, trying to correct years of neglect by her predecessors and other uncourageous Phuket administrators.
Some of the people she faced on the beach foreshore today were people who had voted her into office on a mandate of change.
Nobody figured, though, at the time of the election, that the change would be so complete.
History was made today on the mayor's long walk from the southern end of the beach to the other, with Surin, Kata, Karon, Kamala and all the other beaches either swept clean of commerce or earmarked for clearance any day now.
There was just one lone jet-ski on the beach ready to be towed. No decision has been made about jet-skis, ask the Army, the Mayor said. The Army said no decision has been made yet, ask the Mayor.
At O Solo Mio restaurant, the owner complained. Outside the Patong Bay Garden Resort, which protrudes onto the sand, the Mayor said the extension was going to be removed.
She walked the walk and talked the talk.
The tourists that Phuketwan spoke to agreed that the beach looked wonderful, cleared of commerce.
Brian Hardaker, 66, said he'd been coming for 32 years to Phuket from Bondi beach in Sydney.
''It's very good indeed to give the beaches back to the people,'' he said. ''Many tourists will come back now.
''People do not want jet-skis and tuk-tuks. When I first came here, Thais would play soccer on the beach and we could join in.
''That's the way it should be.''
He said he thought it would be a good idea if the military authorities stayed in control for three years and educated people about some of the necessary changes.
''Going back to nature is very good,'' he said.
Major General Somchai Ponatong of the 41 Military Circle said that vendors and masseuses would be able to work on the beach, but that mats would have to be carried by the masseuses and removed when they finished.
According to Patong officials, there are 32 beach umbrella operators, 200 masseuses, 100 mobile vendors and 100 jet-ski employees.
Today many of them are unhappy but tomorrow, there could be more change.
Perhaps motorcycles might even be stopped from using the footpaths intended for pedestrians.
The invasion began at 9am. Soldiers with rifles strolled among the bikini babes, creating incongruous images.
The vendors hastened to pull down their stalls. Loungers and umbrellas were being loaded onto trucks.
A vendor who must be about the smallest on Patong beach shed a tear and said she'd only found out about the changes yesterday.
Mayor of Patong Chalermlak Kebsub and the Director of Kathu Saiyan Chanawong strode out with the soldiers.
Beginning at the southern end of the beach, the invaders faced a large gathering of masseuses when they reached the Absolute Sea Pearl Beach Resort Phuket.
Confronted with some hot words, it was difficult not to feel sorry for the newly-elected Mayor. Here she was, arm in arm with the non-elected military rulers of Thailand, trying to correct years of neglect by her predecessors and other uncourageous Phuket administrators.
Some of the people she faced on the beach foreshore today were people who had voted her into office on a mandate of change.
Nobody figured, though, at the time of the election, that the change would be so complete.
History was made today on the mayor's long walk from the southern end of the beach to the other, with Surin, Kata, Karon, Kamala and all the other beaches either swept clean of commerce or earmarked for clearance any day now.
There was just one lone jet-ski on the beach ready to be towed. No decision has been made about jet-skis, ask the Army, the Mayor said. The Army said no decision has been made yet, ask the Mayor.
At O Solo Mio restaurant, the owner complained. Outside the Patong Bay Garden Resort, which protrudes onto the sand, the Mayor said the extension was going to be removed.
She walked the walk and talked the talk.
The tourists that Phuketwan spoke to agreed that the beach looked wonderful, cleared of commerce.
Brian Hardaker, 66, said he'd been coming for 32 years to Phuket from Bondi beach in Sydney.
''It's very good indeed to give the beaches back to the people,'' he said. ''Many tourists will come back now.
''People do not want jet-skis and tuk-tuks. When I first came here, Thais would play soccer on the beach and we could join in.
''That's the way it should be.''
He said he thought it would be a good idea if the military authorities stayed in control for three years and educated people about some of the necessary changes.
''Going back to nature is very good,'' he said.
Major General Somchai Ponatong of the 41 Military Circle said that vendors and masseuses would be able to work on the beach, but that mats would have to be carried by the masseuses and removed when they finished.
According to Patong officials, there are 32 beach umbrella operators, 200 masseuses, 100 mobile vendors and 100 jet-ski employees.
Today many of them are unhappy but tomorrow, there could be more change.
Perhaps motorcycles might even be stopped from using the footpaths intended for pedestrians.
This is like waking up from a 15 year nightmare in a cold sweat and suddenly realizing that everything is ok
Posted by sky on July 9, 2014 14:01