The events in Bangkok in May 2010 have raised concerns about the recovery we were seeing in many sectors of the Thai property market in the first quarter of 2010. However, it will take months to see what the effect will be on sales and letting volumes, prices and rents. We do not believe there will be a sudden a dramatic downward movement in prices or rents. The total supply of expatriate standard apartments in downtown Bangkok increased 2.3% year on year. Occupancy was 88.2%. Rents rose in some locations such as Central Lumpini but fell in other locations.

Despite the increase in the Bangkok hotel supply, Bangkok occupancy rates and REVPAR increased but the Average daily rate decreased in quarter 1. International Tourist Arrivals increased by 27.1% on Q1 2010. Obviously Q2 numbers will be very poor and it remains to be seen how long it will take for business and tourist arrivals to recover. The majority of new condominium launches in the first quarter were mainly small one bedroom units. The office market remained weak. There was no increase in supply. Take up grew by 17,481 square metres. Grade A CBD rents fell by 3.8% year on year. Retail Occupancy increased to 93.4%. Rents remained at similar levels. A number of shopping centres were closed in Central Bangkok for much of April and May. 882 Rai (349 acres) of SILPs were sold on industrial parks and estates in Q1 2010. This was an increase 891% y-o-y. There was 175% increase in townhouse completions on quarter on quarter but developer built single detatched house completions fell by 74% quarter on quarter.

The existing supply in downtown Bangkok reached 67,176 units, up from 65,067 units in Q1 2010. This was an increase of 3.2% Q-o-Q and 15.8% Y-o-Y. There were 2,109 units completed in this quarter. Another 5,220 units are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2010 which will raise the total downtown condominium stock significantly to 72,396 units, or by 11.3 % Y-o-Y. In Q1 2010, the average asking price for an off-plan freehold condominium unit (high-end and above) in downtown Bangkok was 156,460 THB/m2 an increase of 19.2% Q-o-Q or 3.0 Y-o-Y. The total number of units occupied by owners or tenants decreased from 74.2 in Q4 2009 to 74.0% in this quarter.

Bangkok, known as the Venice of the East, is one of South East Asia’s most cosmopolitan, vibrant and modern cities. Thai Airways operates regular flights to almost all countries in the region. Tourists who would like visit Thailand from the United States can book their tickets through travel agents located in their own towns and cities. There is a wide variety of airfare options available to travelers to Bangkok. One of the easiest ways to book tickets to visit the websites of different airlines. Most of these websites have provisions for entering details such as destination, number of passengers, start date and return date. Once the details are entered, which takes not more than five minutes, the traveler just has to click the “submit” button on the webpage. The cost of the ticket is displayed on the computer screen immediately. Information from different airlines can be gathered, prices compared and a decision made.

Some people prefer to consult a travel agent who takes all these steps on behalf of the passenger. Payments can be made online or through the travel agent. When visiting Bangkok, it’s advisable to visit nearby areas of tourist interest inside Thailand and, if possible, neighboring countries. A round trip tour from New York to Bangkok and back can begin as low as USD 200. The affordability depends on the number of passengers, length of stay, whether economy or business class, whether normal fare or excursion fare, and so on. Most airlines also charge for the interim hotel accommodation, onward reservations, etc. Imagine that someone leaves New York on March 1st for Bangkok and returns on March 8th. An airline may charge $740 per person for this flight ticket. Some of the major world airlines that offer excellent discount tickets to Bangkok are Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, United Airlines, and China Airlines of Taiwan.

Life under globalization’s towering shadow is certainly not an easy one for many of Bangkok’s less well off residents, and this is no better illustrated than in the lives of the many street children of Bangkok. Forced to work often not just to feed themselves, but also their families as well, these children can be seen hanging around at all of Bangkok’s major nightspots, from Sukhumwit road to Khao San road, Patpong to Ratchada. Selling anything from flowers and pens to candies and toys, these kids are faced with a daily struggle for survival yet they have no other choice.

All of these children come from poor families, either broken homes or homes where sick parents are unable to work. With Thai society offering little in the way of state welfare, families and children forced into such poverty have little choice but to send the kids out on the streets of Bangkok to work. One the face of it though, some of these children seem anything but miserable. They look happy, smiling and laughing with foreigners as they try to peddle whatever it is they are selling. They often speak very good English and are happy to challenge you to a bet in order to get you to buy something from them. Many foreign visitors are taken in by these kids, and end up giving them whatever they ask for whatever it is they are selling, but what most of them don’t realize is that often enough, the child won’t get to keep a single cent.

While some of the street kids are locals of Bangkok, many of these children are usually refugees from Burma, Cambodia or Laos, sold to local mafia, and forced out to work to pay back their debt. They struggle to sell their quota each day, and often have to work 12 hour days or longer with little food or rest, until their ‘owners’ are satisfied with their earnings for that day. Then, they will go back ‘home’ to a tiny hovel that is shared with several other kids, eat a small meal before setting out to work the next day.

Bangkok’s gay nightlife has attracted visitors from all corners of the world in search of bars and clubs with the right crowd and atmosphere. And where can you find these bars and clubs? Where else but in Bangkok’s red light district called Patpong. Patpong is most well known for go go bars and sex clubs for straight men. But what most people don’t know is that there are many small and large gay establishments as well for gay visitors. There are 3 main areas within Patpong where gays can find all male go go bars, restaurants and even upscale bars and clubs. All of these areas are within easy walking distance to each other.

The first place to find gay go go bars and venues is in Duangthawee Plaza located on Surawongse road just off Patpong 2. It’s often called Soi Twilight because many of the establishments here are able to close later than the official 1am -2am closing time imposed by the government. Here you’ll find the most gay go go bars and a few noteworthy restaurants to lounge around and have a meal and drink in such as Dick’s Cafe.

The second strip for gay nightlife is found on Silom Soi 4. There are no go go bars here so Silom 4 has a much more laid back and relaxed atmosphere. There are many popular restaurants and bars lining the street with open terraces for people watching and the seats are filled especially on weekends. And ever so often a group of gay restaurant and bar owners will get together and put on fashion and entertainment shows with live music and dancers. One of the most popular bars on Silom Soi 4 is the pub style Telephone, where there are telephones on tables which you can use to call for a chat with fellow customers.

The last area is the smallest and it is on Silom Soi 2, just a few minutes walk from Silom Soi 4. This area has the least bars and clubs, however it has 2 of the best clubs popular with the young gay crowd called DJ Station and Freeman with its famous drag show starting every night at midnight. Make sure to get a seat near the balcony for the best view of the show below which takes place on a large central dance floor. Finally there are many hotels in Bangkok but it’s best to stay around Patpong since that’s where you can find the most gay friendly hotels. There are only a few within walking distance to Patpong’s gay nightlife venues such as the Montien Hotel and Bally’s Suites Silom.