newalaan

Thanks for that. I'm staying in Jomtien Complex for a few days as part of February trip, and Rom Pho ain't too far, that'll be worth checking out. The way 'smiles' described it I thought it might be further down Jomtein and quite a way back from Jom 2nd Rd.

Great update with pics aussie! It's now gone from 'to be checked out on Feb trip' to 'FIRST late-night stop on Feb trip!' That's certainly a decent sized place and it's location....perfect! Years ago when I first started Pattaya visits I remember an Issan place called 'Chem'-Issan always sounded like 'semizan' I think around that area, or anyway not that far from the Pattayaland Sois back then which also had those tables with the central food bbq unit. Boys loved it there...food, booze and music!

Thanks for the alert aussie_ I'm always on the lookout for Issan/Live music places, especially closer to TukCom area, but never heard of this place. How 'new' do you know/think it is? I chat to many of the lads about clubs/Isaan style venues and no mention of it on my last visit Sept/oct. I often ask and am told about the open air Morlam shows on 3rd road, and I wonder if it's been mentioned but I've just assumed it's the large open-air Issan shows they're referring to. Is it about the same size and lay-out of Tam Nan Issan? I'll certainly be checking out on next trip in February that's for sure. While they are great places to go/fun with a crowd, I am happy to go only with bf or take one of the lads I know from a sunee bar if I fancy a change from club/discos/Walking St clubs and bf not up for it. 'Smiles' over at SGT forum mentioned some time ago there was an Issan music venue actually in Jomtien somwhere, but I never stay long enough in Jomtien Complex to venture out of the complex to try find it.

The guy I referred to has been there at least a year as he has served/chatted with me on at least my last 3 trips which would be since start of year. He normally works behind the bar, but there is usually another guy who sits around at one of the two tables or on a bar stool as well, but not sure if he is an employee. The guy who serves did ask about my plans for the evening, always does and what I do later, I assume DJ-GOD time, but have never taken it any further. He is a very polite lad. Always quick to make sure you have bowl of nuts/snacks and likes to top up your glass from your beer bottle for you. I didn't ask where the twinks I saw in Screw Boys came from, but from looks alone I would guess 3 definitely Viet, one definitely Thai as he was the one who followed me into the toilet, the other two I liked the look of I couldn't be sure, normally I would assumed Thai but i'm used to seeing so many camob/viet/laos/thai sometimes not easily to tell apart until they speak. One of the 3 I assumed Viet was the one I tipped Bt100 who caught hold of me at the door on way out and asked for name and phone number, he used broken English.

No, I didn't see a range of twinks at Screw Boys that could rival Classic at it's 'best' either, and didn't claim it to be. Classic's best for me was a decade ago, but in my view on the night I visited they did have a range to rival Classic of five years ago. Granted it was a Saturday night and reasonably early so maybe a fuller contingent than usual but i'm not sure why you would question the reliability of the report of my visit, I tend neither to lie or exaggerate reports, I report what I see first hand and on the night I visited there were at least 6 I would describe as Classic standard, not merely one or two. However I've been to Fresh Boys too and on those visits did not find it an alternative to the type of boys on offer at Classic 5 years+ ago or indeed rival what I saw on my visit to Screw Boys a few days ago, so maybe we have slightly differing opinions of twink or what we considered twinks at Classic. More likely different experiences different nights.....

Why the sensationalist, false fake news headline? In fact it's a blatant lie. He has not been banned, so why did you say he had? Sure he went 'ballistic' at a few members, certainly not the exaggerated 'almost everyone on that board' claim. Just be honest and post the facts.

Most recent trip I went as usual up to Patpong soi 2 beer bar opposite the entrance to Screw Boys where i usually start my evening's trail with a nice cool Leo, I sit here every trip because the barman is a nice cute chatty lad. Then I usually just head to Soi Twilight. For some reason I decided to pay Screw Boys a visit for the first time in years. Bt300 per drink, reasonable compared to Twilight. Two mamasans were the usual irritating types but less so than the Classic Gogo leaches/beggers, and the other Katoey waiter/mamasan was polite even, and unobtrusive. So all plus points compared to Classic already. There was one katoey mamasan who could easily have passed as a Classic Boy one. A poor Chinese lad looking no more than 20 but probably more so was shyly playing with his smartphone and occasionally glancing up to stage. He did pluck up the courage to call down one of the more masculine lads and was taken aback to find a mamasan demanding he 'buy boy a drink' he didn't but the gogo boy hung in there hoping for an off which didn't come. The Chinese lad got up to leave seemingly forgetting there was a bill to pay, katoey mamas an was over in a flash..you PAY! bt300! and drink for me Bt300! and tip for me! YES YOU PAY TIP FOR MEEE! very loudly, the customer slightly enraged now simply dumped the Bt300 and barged past the mamasan, of course who just 'laughed it off' not realising the damage that behaviour can do. A quick look at the stage and I could have been transported 5 years back to Classic Boys itself, with a great line-up of twinky very cute boys. 12-15 lads on quickish rotation, with half a dozen I would easily have offed if single. Plenty smiles from the stage. The male toilets here are at the rear near the stage and I just got in to find one of the smiley boys in right behind me. Chat about not having to buy him a drink just pay off and go if I liked, and fine when politely turned down. No begging for extra tips on the check bin, another plus compared to Classic Boys, and on my way out tipped of the cute lads who was making eye contact and smiling Bt100, as I was heading out the door he jumped from the stage caught hold of me (gently) and asked for name and mobile, this was surprisingly in front of everyone, but I just smiled at left. But good experience all round. It'll be a definite drop in on next trip. If you like the 'old' Classic Boys style of lad you'll like Screw Boys. Cheaper and less hassle as well!

Visited here a week or so ago, previous trip in June was Bt250 entrance 1st drink fee, this night (Saturday) it was Bt280, and they had carefully positioned a large see-through plastic tip box right next to the till at the entrance where you buy your drink ticket in advance so you can pop your Bt20 change from Bt300 right into it to save you the bother of having to pocket it. How thoughtful. But as I said on a trip report I made over at SGT, I just don't 'get' the concept of this place as a GoGo bar. It is a Fashion Show Catwalk masquerading as a Gogo bar with available boys. Most of the boys on the night I was there were not even shirtless never mind in briefs god forbid! Most were fully clothed in combat style fatigues in various styles as if promoting fashion rather than trying to attract customers. The only thing brief about the whole 'show' was the amount of time each individual spent on stage. Most only looked forward with no expression exactly as on a Catwalk. I saw NO interaction from the boys on stage with any audience members during the time I enjoyed my drink there, not even smiles around the audience...odd, strange, surreal experience. But I certainly enjoyed my short stay all the same just to catch up on the happenings around the gay Soi's and worth the time for the reasonable drink price as well as use of the nice restrooms on the upper level, which I was used to as I visited it's previous incarnation, Forfun numerous nights over the years it was open. Subsequent drinks from the menu were also very reasonable compared to Soi Twilight GoGos. Packed with at a guess 99% Asians Chinese/Korean/Thai etc... only myself and another white face as far as I could see. In the time I was there I saw very few boys being taken down from the stage for drinks/offs. But Asians seem to love this place and it was doing great business with waiters rushed off their feet. I don't visit GoGos nowadays to off boys as I'm hitched, but even if I were single none of the boy types available were my type, no twinks but some quite handsome lads on stage. I will return next trip as usual and hope it is still going as strong and maybe, just maybe the Soi Twilight Agogos might take note and re-think their entrance/1st drink fees. The reason I add this, is because on the very same night I was over on Soi Twilight to find it very quiet for a Saturday night indeed. I sat at Old Solid bar beer next to Dicks and during the time we were there saw not a single customer enter X-size directly across or Classic at the end of the soi in clear view. Even glances up the soi in the other direction I saw few customers enter Dream Boys. The host bars on Soi Twilight were light with customers whereas over on Soi 4 a waiter friend at Balcony had to drag a table and two chairs together next to Jupiter just to get a seat as the main terrace was full as was the balcony terrace next to Telephone. Quite a contrast. But the real difference was the customers on Soi 4 were spending, waiters at both establishments rushed off their feet, beer towers, cocktails all manner of shots as well as plenty of takers for food, it was doing great business. Even Connections where we also sat for a drink was busy as was the Katoey show bar next door, can't remember name.

You do realise that by continually referring to it yourself, and therefore having the very 'thing' you want kept quiet bumped, renders your 'shut up about it' plea at the very least 'unhelpful' to whatever your cause is. You have not yet advised why you don't want members to be warned about something which could cause them problems while on holiday. I'm sure there are newbies who only read here for whom that info could be important. It might help if you gave an actual reason for your demand.

Just to clarify.......is this place actually a massage place where drinks are available, a bit like Blue House in Pattaya, or a Host Bar/GoGo Bar with massage available? Always assumed it was a GoGo style bar with stage but boys either didn't or couldn't be bothered with the 'gogo' bit. I did visit many years ago when it was an 'upstairs' bar, it had a stage with gogo boys although most sat around on the sofas.

I would recommend both Flamingo and Mosaik. Not only convenient for Sunee but also a short Baht-bus/walk to Boyztown, as well as that, the area is surrounded by shops, restaurants, coffee shops, boy massage joints and TukCom on the doorstep. I always have a short stay in Jomtien as well as in South Pattaya on my trips. I used to consider transport between the two awkward, but not now. In reality catching a baht-bus at either end of Jomtien Complex is only 10mins to South Pattaya depending on time of day. Jump off beside Walking St access sois across from VC hotel and a few metres to sunee. Catch a return baht-bus at the same spot, and if privacy or speed is an issue you can flag down an empty one and hire as taxi and negotiate fare. I think Bt100 for two is fair to Jomtien Complex and probably accepted. As there are no stops it's a very quick 10 mins or so. I have done that a few times now and prefer it to motocy taxi.

Most recent experience couple weeks ago for flight at end of September to Phuket from Bkk, all checked online direct with carrier's website. Outward time 10.30am/return time 1pm. On the day I checked and booked the comparisons were- Airasia and Nok Air from Don Muang Airport. Return flights on airasia with 20kg luggage Bt2700, and Nokair with 15kg luggage Bt3200. Best choice for me was Thaismileair (Thai Air subsidiary) flying from Suvarnabhumi which is handy as I will be coming from Jomtien at Bt2400 return with 20kg luggage allowance, that was a promo so not sure if still on. Airasia had promos for certain flight times but I think the Bt2700 was for cheapest inc luggage upgrade to 20kg. With Airasia and Nok Air you have to be careful of add-ons, the basic flights appear cheap/reasonable until you add luggage cost, then you have to check out of paying for seat choice and insurance. The Airasia basic cost has no hold luggage inc, you have to buy that later in booking, they have packages starting 15kg and up. Nokair is 15kg standard, not sure if you can upgrade luggage package. Thaismileair standard is 20kg for economy inc promos. Of course all this said....it really depends on your travel dates and preferred flight times on those dates. I would have probably picked Thaismaileair even if more expensive as flying from Suvarnabhumi is more convenient for me, but was surprised to find it was also the best priced.

Glad to hear it. They need to be realistic in terms of income, and we need them to be so they remain open and viable. Even these prices are probably too low for a gogo bar but as they rely on expats as well as visitors they need to test the water to find a reasonable balance. These price levels encourage me to stay and share drinks around. Not everyone visits the bars purely to off the boys, because I have nothing like this at home I enjoy visiting just for the fun of it, and part of that is interacting with the boys and enjoying a drink.

I agree that losing a passport is more arduous than a police station visit, and so never carry it. Only exception is driving as it's safe in the car needs to come with me anyway if travelling around, and makes life easier with an official police traffic stop. I photo copy my main passport page (in colour) and East-Suites or which ever hotel is my first port of call after arrival photocopy my immigration slip, I keep these on me at all times. Have done this for more than a decade, have been asked for ID once during a police taxi stop in Bkk a few years ago, they were polite with 'search' and accepted the laminated copy without hesitation (folded in two credit card size fits all pockets). It wouldn't have mattered which night/morning of the week it was, Tam Nan Issan is busy all year every day. I was there 3 times in my recent trip and could easily have been caught up in a raid like this had I still been there, so far have never done the pee test in 17 years of visiting after hours clubs and karaokes. I would go further, and say entering negotiations should be the first and only course if you are positive with drugs, it would be the best use of money you ever made. In the situation where you know you have taken no drugs and would be declared innocent in any European country, if a very reasonable offer was made by police for you not to have to prove anything, say.....couple thousand baht I would take this too and get out of the situation a.s.a.p. guilty or not. I am not speaking from experience of being in that situation either but what I have always already decided to do if I find myself detained in any way for any reason even if absolutely innocent. Blend is also only 35 percent as opposed to normal 40 percent. Also the 'stuff' which is added to the malt is not declared on any label or box I have seen. Apparently some boys claim it doesn't get them as drunk with a sore head compared to 40 percent. When mixed with soda/coke/water/ice very difficult to tell difference between blend/pipers/ballantynes etc..

By change of ownership you mean a director was bought out? Staff and main owners, as I am aware, are still the same. If you mean by 'showing it's age' that it has gone downhill either somewhat or drastically I'm not sure where your information has come from or when you last stayed there but as someone who stays there every 3-4 months I found recently only UPGRADES in some rooms where they had fitted very comfortable superior mattresses with toppers as well as all the wooden furniture (wardrobe/dining table/TV-DVD Unit) in the rooms I have had there. Also some of the bathrooms had new Hans Grohe shower equipment installed. There has ALWAYS been 3 grades of room types in Mosaik, Standard, Deluxe and Prestige and the prices reflect the quality of room furnishings as well as equipment levels. Also to add, Mosaik has become favourite with Chinese (Standard Block) and continues to be a favourite of European, westerners, Asians, middle eastern, etal customers. That's why they manage 90% occupancy rates much of the year and are still in business with high standards. So have you stayed there recently? If so, maybe you could furnish us with some accurate up-to-date details of the room/rooms you have stayed in, rather than unspecific inaccurate generalisations. This smaller, somewhat newer section facing the back you refer to......is where precisely? I haven't come upon any new sections this past 10 years, but always happy to be updated. Mosaik is very easy distance to both Boyztown and Sunee where I've read Vessey visits. Also songtaews stop right outside Tukcom at the end of the soi and so easy access to Boyztown, and all areas on the 2nd Rd route, Soi 6-7, Diana and to LK Metro area. So I still highly recommend. Will be staying there again in few days time and happy to update any positive or negative aspects I encounter.

For a couple of years I used PT Taxis exclusively, however the last few times i used them I found some things which were a nuisance becoming regular occurances, like stopping mid-journey for fuel adding another 30 mins, or the driver having to be told he is driving too fast too close to other traffic...140kph right behind traffic, weaving through traffic at high speed to make up time, spending long peroids on the phone to friends, girlfriends yapping about things of non-urgent nature while, weaving in and out, and sitting in outside lane at 140kph. On the last journey i used them all occassional occurances happened on the one journey and decided to try elsewhere. Having found the Limo Pattaya and used them multiple times over last 2 years they have been consistent in turning up ahead of time, big comfortable limos, carefully driven with sensible drivers, so, as per above 'always excellent' comment I would highly recommend them. In the past I was happy enough with PT Taxis but the Bt200 pittance difference between the two I found to be well worth the change to Limo Pattaya. Bt1200 Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya/Jomtien.

It depends what type of accommodation you are looking for and price level, but I always recommend East-Suites in Jomtien Complex right next to all the Complex bars. Large comfortable rooms, with large floor to ceiling sliding doors onto balcony, quality fittings with small kitchen area, microwave, fridge etc. and TV/DVD player. Immaculate 50sq/m rooms at around Bt1400-1500. Not a big hotel with around 10 rooms and no elevator due to it's size. Owner is very helpful. It's usually very busy and I think not many dates may available so close to your intended February dates. Has good website, so worth a try if that's the type of place you are looking for. I've booked for a short 3 night stay early next month at the start of my Thailand trip. Have had many enjoyable stays there.

I have a booking for an up coming stay there so it will be good to hear from someone actually visiting so soon after the changes to find out the lie of the land now. I received an email yesterday from the new operators basically stating what has already been announced here and that from Oct 1 the new operators are Value Hotels Co Ltd. The email address is info@tarntawansurawong.com.

I really can't understand why anyone would want, let alone need, their room cleaned daily. Does anyone do that when they live at home? clean the rooms they live in on a daily basis? you would have to suffer from OCD for that to happen, so why put up with daily room cleaning in a hotel? And it's absurd that people like the OP actually work their daily routine round a cleaning lady. If you really must have it cleaned tell them when you are prepared to have it cleaned. I've never come across a hotel with part time cleaners working only mornings, it doesn't make sense, most hotels have check out 12pm so afternoon would expect to be the time they would need to be working. When in a hotel for only 2-3 nights I never have it cleaned, I might request extra towels or replacement towels along with bottled water and that's about it. At the Tarntawan if they see us go out, or know the room is vacant they will put clean towels and water in without asking, maybe even tidy up, in all the years staying there I can't ever remember a cleaner coming to the door to request to clean it. In Thailand I'm there for fun and relaxing not to fit around a cleaners timetable. Of course I'm not that bothered if they go into clean the room if I just happen to be out anyway, like if away to beach or out for the day. If in a hotel for a week I might have the room tidied up mid stay. That's why I am more at home in an apartment when in Pattaya. In the early days when I stayed at the Flamingo Hotel many mornings I used to get back from the nights fun just as the cleaners were turning up to start their day at 8am! If they hadn't cleaned it for 3 days they would call up about 4pm and ask if I wanted it cleaned. Everyday they would come with fresh towels and water or leave them outside before finishing their shift. It's amazing what they learn about customers habits and wishes, those who don't you just have to tell them. Abidismaili....they are there for your convenience not the other way round!

From the replies you can see that 'shedding light' on a specific cost is nigh impossible, there are many differing amounts offered up here by others. Just the same as 'shedding light' on any other formal Thai occasion from marriage to funeral. The cost will vary wildly no matter if HiSo, Issan village or any other scenario. The situation between the OP and his bf is about trust and knowing something about his bf's family, and not having relatives simply throwing in unnecessary costs because a foreigner is involved. I haven't had any specific experience of Monk Ceremony costs, but have been present when other formal occasions have been discussed in bf's family and village (I have not been involved in any manner in these, just an observer). One of the main problems I have found/observed in the Issan village esp my bf's, is the amount of family/extended family who put in their tuppence-worth of what they consider SHOULD be done, all that does is lead to extra costs to appease this one or that one, keep face for this one and that one. Also the trouble is, once the announcement has been made and things set in motion it's very easy for the costs to spiral, and of course there is no chance of cutting back/cancelling plans as the would be far more damaging in terms of 'face' than the ridiculous cost at the end. As 'smiles' states, poor families have absolutely no compunction about borrowing huge sums of money way above their realistic ability to repay.......that will be a 'tomorrow' problem not a 'today' one so no need to worry! Regarding funeral costs for example. I've seen funerals in bfs village done for Bt10,000 or less and ones for over Bt100,000. All differ because of different circumstances. How many family members involved? how many of them are HiSo in village terms (council members etc..)? how popular was the deceased?. How many family/extended family/friends/friends of friends to be catered for?, will a Morlam Troupe to be requested/required to play? if so how big? single karaoke style for Bt5,000?, troupe of 6 for Bt20,000?, full band and troupe of 12 Bt50,000+? etc and so on and so forth. The wedding arrangements/plans for my bfs sister were a total fiasco and far too detailed and long winded to give an example of here. So basically there is no set amount, no universally accepted amount, no real framework to say what is acceptable and what is over the top. It seems to be many various influences unique to each occasion and those involved, however I'm pretty sure unless a foreigner has respect from and is firm with families extraneous pleas for cash they will most likely be taken advantage of. It helps of course, if your bf has his feet on the ground and is basically strong enough to also stand firm and not get 'carried away' with the situation.

So very sad to learn of your heartache, anonone. The fact that it was unexpected would make a break up that more devastating. I've been with my bf getting on 9 years and I can't really envisage not being together or what could lead to a break up, but that's the thing you just never know sometimes. Our getting together was a slow burn over a length of time which just kind of crept up on me as when I first met him I wasn't earnestly looking for a relationship, but now I too would be devastated if anything suddenly happened. He's been my only Thai bf so have never gone through a break up to know/understand what you are going through, only that it must hurt. Hope in time you can come to terms with it if there is absolutely no chance of a reconciliation. Hope also you make back to Thailand in not too distant future, always enjoy hearing about your trips.

Yes I can confirm Mosaik has free WiFi. You get a password code for each device if you have more than one. I have had no problems with their WiFi on multiple visits over a few years, and have stayed in various of their Apartments in different buildings.

As far as I am concerned there isn't a bad moth to visit Thailand, all year round is worth a visit. Over the last 16 years I've visited at some time or other during all months bar Nov and Dec.But I tend to stick to Jan/Feb, June and October as the most regular months as they suit my schedule and it's 3 annual visits equally spaced. Things to note...May has 4 public holidays, and July 3 which may affect bars and venues if they coincide with your visit. July and August tends to be Euro hols so if you are travelling from Europe flights will not be as attractive as May/june/September. As for rain, I never think about it when booking a visit. It does put many westerners/farangs off from going out visiting bars etc..during an evening with rain, why?......I don't know....as an umbrella is all that needed between bars which all have roofs! Yes there can be occasional heavy downpours but it never causes bars, discos, clubs, or massage shops to actually close. Yes it's classed as low season but there are still tons and tons of available lads, but in June there may only be 1,000 to choose your one boy for the night from instead of the 2,000 in high season! I've just returned from a month's trip and booked already for June which will be every bit as enjoyable as my last trip and the next one after. Sure there is less 'atmosphere' in some of the bars as there are less customers, but still plenty of of available and willing guys. There may be an element of guys who return home to work but the vast majority of guys in Pattaya are based there and stay there permanently with occasional trips back home. Also with Gay Romeo and hornet you don't even have to rely on going out...you can arrange for a visit. Bangkok like wise, but I seem to notice less difference between the months there, as every Friday/Saturday/Sunday is high season around suriwong/silom. June is also a good month for room availability at reasonable rates both in Bkk and Pattaya. Also there are no local/Buddhist holidays if entertainment venues are important to you.

Thanks for the update on DongTan Beach 'Travellerdave'. Will be in Jomtien soon for a short stay before heading to other areas, and although my Beach visit is almost opposite from your own! we probably get the same amount of enjoyment out of our visits. I'm never in speedos, more rolled up levis or chinos with loose shirt and never swim, never there before 3pm, as it's the cooler later breeze I prefer. But I do enjoy the relaxing atmosphere at the gay concessions, and after a bit of a walk around the area I enjoy a lounge in the deck chairs with a cool beer and coffee. Yes, I also prefer the gay beach area to be populated by gay men and boys....manly, flexible, femme......all very welcome types to have around if they're gay. On way back after 5.30pm, used to enjoy a bite at Bondi, sadly closed, but often pop into some of the less busy/popular bars at the start of the Complex. Staying at East Suites again in Jomtien.......in the middle of things and great rooms. Can't be bothered with the malarkey of stuck-in-traffic Song Taews to and from South Pattaya, and gave up on motocys in Pattaya after a couple of close shaves and finally an accident on the back of a motocy taxi when we were hit by a drunk katoey. Decided I had used up my full quota of motorcy serious injury free cards from the pack. Everyone is entitled to 'like' any post they wish without the need to be disparaged by others just because they don't agree with their choice of what to like. Too bad you can't follow your own advice about disparaging others. Rather hypocritical to make an accusation that you in turn copy on the very next post you make. As for you accusing another member of being a Moron........incredible.....I'll leave it at that.

MK is what I class as a 'compromise' eating place (as they are found everywhere in Thailand). We normally eat/cook thai food my whole trip, so we both eat the same stuff but bf can have his food flavoured/spicy to his own taste I can do likewise without spicy or mild spicy. Many visitors think Thais eat spicy all the time/every dish, but most of the food is 'normal' with chillis added, even in Issan I would say only about 50% of what we eat is chilli-spicy. The only time I eat western is when the occasional craving comes along and then I will have either one of Colonial Bar's offerings or a western breakfast at Palmers, so at other times I find MK ok for a change as we can share food together or with friend or two and it's not just the spicy issan rice-with-everything usual fare. All our normal meals always have tons of veg so the veg platter and extra mushrooms (many types), asparagus etc at MK is fine but I really like the duck there, always tender and succulent also the grilled pork (as opposed to the raw stuff you cook in the pot) is ok too. But the thais smother all the bland stuff cooked in the MK pot with their various sauces, so is acceptable. The other thing bf likes is being able to order a range of stuff for relatively small money, not huge amounts of each but a range of small dishes like small shellfish etc.. I always order a couple extra dishes of the milder sauces I like so everything has 'taste'. It's also just nice for a change where you can chat, relax and take your time over the meal while stuff is boiling, also can practice using chopsticks. Many Thais consider a visit there a 'treat' because it is probably a bit more like 'formal' restaurant, but for the fare offered it is overpriced although for westerners still not big money and as you say a bit bland and hyped-up.