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Articles Tagged ‘pattaya’

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Songkran – Thai New Year

Tuesday, April 17th, 2007

So my days in Pattaya are over. With the end of Songkran also comes my return to Bangkok to start putting serious consideration into the final portion of my trip. I don’t know if I will make it the full 6 months. Maybe a change of pace will make the difference. I have, for the better part of 2 months, been basically relaxing.

My week in Pattaya was very nice. Lots of things to do and interesting people to hang out with. Mark a co-worker from my previous job was visiting with his wife to see his son-in-law’s newborn child. We went out for drinks Friday and Saturday night at a local English pub to watch premiership soccer. It was quite a surreal location to see someone from home at but it was a good time with good conversation.

The rest of my time in Pattaya was spent hanging out with the hotel staff drinking tequila and playing board games. Pattaya is supposed to be a beach town but it rained almost every day so I was limited to the amount of sun I got. At the end of the week Songkran festival began in Pattaya and I purchased my water gun and hit the town. I didn’t take my camera out too much because you can get wet literally anywhere. Mostly children, farang, and bar girls partake in the festival but anyone is fair game to splash. I had a tiny water gun so my attempts were rendered useless. Several groups of teenagers and kids would ride around in the back of pick up trucks and dump buckets of water on unsuspecting pedestrians. I got hit with a few buckets while riding a pick up taxi. It is all in good fun although some people do get out of hand. I put on my bathing suit and tshirt and expected the worst. I am glad I stayed in Pattaya for the festival because it was a really laid back event. I got to Bangkok on Sunday and the fun just wasn’t the same.

Happy New Year!!!

Everyone fully loaded

Not a good day to ride a motorbike

Posted in Thailand | 1 Comment »

Good guys go to heaven, bad guys go to Pattaya

Monday, April 9th, 2007

Last Thursday I had met a couple of girls who are teaching in Bangkok but originally from the Philippines. We went out for drinks and realized we both had plans to head down to Pattaya this week. They were going for the weekend on holiday and I was planning on meeting a co-worker of mine. They headed down early in the morning and I followed at around 12pm. I was really excited about having some people to go to Pattaya with because like much of Thailand it isn’t exactly a place where you want to be alone unless you are looking for something in particular. Pattaya was originally a rest and relaxation port for soldiers during the Vietnam war so over the last few decades it has kept its reputation as a place to come and let loose, relax and pay for just about anything you want. The city is about 10% beach town and 90% red light district. Of course you can go out and have a good time while avoiding the ladies and the lady boys but what is the fun in that?

Lyndaile, Jeaneane and I headed out to Walking Street. Walking Street is a stretch of gogo bars, clubs and restaurants that stretches a couple of kilometers along the beach street. It is quite a spectacle. You get offers from both sides of the street for unique sex shows, terrible drink specials and other interesting night activities. There are side streets along Walking Street that seem to specialize. One road may cater to those looking for Russian or eastern European women and the next street may cater to the gay crowd. The make up of patrons to Walking Street is amazingly diverse. You have your typical 40+ single western men coming to meet their dream Thai girl and take her home with them, you have your backpacker groups that come to check out the attraction, tourists from around Asia, Africans, Muslims and strangely enough… families with young children. It is just as much a “sight to see” as it is a place to actually take advantage of the debauchery.

We eventually made it to Club Lucifer where we spent 2 nights dancing for several hours. The 3 of us did check out one gogo bar but I have to admit I was less than impressed. After a great weekend in good company the girls had to head back to work on Monday so I have been left alone in Pattaya until Mark shows up. The hotel reception keeps asking me why I have no ladies with me when I come home at night so that gives you an idea of what is the norm around Pattaya.

I don’t want to dwell on it so I will make this fast. I got robbed my first night in Pattaya. They made off with my Ipod and my emergency cash. I am in high spirits and expected that at some point I was going to let my guard down and someone was going to take advantage. I would rather not get into details other than that I am over it and just miss my music now.

I am as lost as I have ever been as far as what my next step is. I have no where special I need to be at anytime other than that I wanted to head into Cambodia soon. Lyndaile invited me back up to Bangkok to hang with her for a few more days before she goes on holiday again next weekend. I may do that since Songkran (Thai new year) is coming soon and it would be ashame to miss it. The festival is supposedly really fun and the entire country gets out their water guns, buckets and balloons and has a 3 day water fight. Regardless, I will be leaving Thailand shortly and moving back to the third world. I am pretty excited about it. Thailand has been great, not so great to me personally but I have found the enjoyment through all the tough times.

Hip-hop at Club Lucifer

Morning after dancing all night, Lyndaile and I… Don’t I just look so excited?

Posted in Photos, Thailand | 2 Comments »

Living in Chiang Mai

Tuesday, March 13th, 2007
I was told by several travelers that I will enjoy Chiang Mai and that this is the perfect place to recover from injuries. They were absolutely correct. I haven't done much in the form of travel but I ... [Continue reading this entry]

Posted in Thailand | No Comments »