Tourism News

Tourism News Phuketwan Tourism News
facebook recommendations

NEWS ALERTS

Sign up now for our News Alert emails and the latest breaking news plus new features.

Click to subscribe

Existing subscribers can unsubscribe here

RSS FEEDS

Phuket played ''spot the US Navy'' in Patong's Soi Bangla last night

US Warships Give Peace a Chance in Patong

Friday, June 26, 2009
Patong Stroll Photo Album Above

FOR ONCE, the young men walking around Patong last night in shirts emblazoned US NAVY actually were US Navy.

Most of them were not hard to spot, dressed a little more subtly in dark blue shirts (navy blue, we'd guess) and khaki chinos.

There were generous warm smiles in the tropical evening air, the armless cigarette saleswoman seemed a little more cheerful, and the tailor touts were practicing drawled American accents.

Welcome to Soi Bangla, Sailor.

Groups of young men with short haircuts wandered the roadways, perhaps shaking off their sea legs after a long time on the waves in warplay off Brunei.

Pirates are sometimes their concern, but not on Phuket.

The regulation clampdown that always precedes big, important Asean meetings came earlier in the day from the Deputy Minister for Commerce, another smiling visitor to Phuket.

Will it really be impossible to buy a pirate VCD or a make-believe Billabong T-shirt over the next few days? Hmmm . . . probably as likely as not being able to buy a beer or a good time.

With hundreds of sailors due for R&R and welcoming the chance to sleep in a real bed, resorts in and around Patong were anticipating several days of sheer bliss in the low season from hell.

It's the kind of tourist season they probably have in North Korea, a place with scams that rival those of the Patong ATM bandits and the hucksters on the make and the take.

While a handfull of US warships will be enjoying shore leave on Phuket, The USS John McCain was reportedly about to hand over the tracking of the North Korean vessel Kang Nam to the USS McCampbell amid a major nuclear weapons face-off.

A spokesman for the US Embassy in Bangkok said there would be no special checks of sailors on Phuket for swine flu: the warships have their own medicos.

And Patong police are not expecting an increase in their workload: the US Navy has its own MPs in charge of ensuring good behavior and, if necessary, discipline.

In the early evening last night, peace was definitely on everybody's minds. Clean-shaven, good looking . . . yes, the US boys were more than a match for the katoeys.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will lead the next welcome batch of American visitors to the Asia Regional Forum on Phuket from July 16-23.

Phuketwan Phuket News

MediaWATCH: Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett Die
News Latest Michael Jackson, the pop superstar, died suddently of an apparent heart attack at 50; Charlie's Angel Farrah Fawcett is dead of cancer; New Politics coming
MediaWATCH: Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett Die

Warmongering Precedes Phuket's Next Big Event
Latest Will they or won't they? They world watches as North Korea and the US face off over nuclear weapons, with talks on Phuket next month offering a chance at peaceful dialogue.
Warmongering Precedes Phuket's Next Big Event

Well-Known Phuket Writer Succumbs to TB
Obituary You only needed to mention her first name on Phuket for people to know who you were talking about. Now Seonai Gordon has died at the age of 47.
Well-Known Phuket Writer Succumbs to TB

First Phuket Fashion Week Parade: Photo Special
Photo Album Phuket finally saw what the fuss was about when the models took to the long catwalk at Jungceylon. It was just the kind of event the new Patong needs.
First Phuket Fashion Week Parade: Photo Special

Patong Tourist Drowns Despite Swim Warning
Breaking News A tourist on Patong beach drowned on Wednesday evening despite warnings not to go into the water. The man was from Turkey.
Patong Tourist Drowns Despite Swim Warning

Supermodel Spat as Fashion Week Prices Plunge
Latest Ticket prices to Phuket Fashion Week and Music Festival have been slashed after a group of Thai supermodels had their performances cancelled unexpectedly.
Supermodel Spat as Fashion Week Prices Plunge

Patong Bars Get Set for US Navy, and Holy Day
Latest Thousands of sailors have already booked some Patong bars and clubs for activities when a group of US warships dock this week. But bars will close in July for a Buddhist holy day.
Patong Bars Get Set for US Navy, and Holy Day

Phuket Fashion Week: Preview Party Special
Photo Album Many of Thailand's top models are on Phuket for Fashion Week . . . and the after show parties. At the preview party, there was plenty of evidence that good times lie ahead.
Phuket Fashion Week: Preview Party Special

Comments

Comments have been disabled for this article.

Sunday November 3, 2024
Horizon Karon Beach Resort & Spa

FOLLOW PHUKETWAN

Facebook Twitter