Pattaya

We had been given a choice before we left home if we only wanted to spend a few days in Bangkok and fly home or spend three day in Pattaya. Half of us had decided we wanted to see Pattaya. Our JAL Represented made sure we got on our Mini-Van and gave instructions to the Driver when he should pick us up to bring us back in time for us to make our plane to take us back to Canada. He went home with the other fifteen Travel Agents.

Thank goodness we had brought bottled water with us because we finished half a large bottle before we reached the out of Bangkok. We traveled for about another hour, (it’s about 150 km), until we reach the port of Pattaya.

We had been told we would be going to wonderful beach resort. We knew that it was not on an Island like Puket is. There was a great beach and some nice Hotels but there was as much sleazy things as there was in Bangkok.

We were booked into the Amari Orchid Hotel, (it was rates as five star Hotel but looked like a four star to us). Even in January it was very hot and our room they said were ’’semi open air’’, (that means no air-conditioning).

The rooms had the high Thai teak ceilings and the furniture was made of rattan with silk pillows on the two seat sofa and two chairs. We had twin beds and the bed spreads and curtains were bright colored cotton.

There was a telephone but no patio, TV, fridge, safe or radio.

The bathroom was a normal size and made of green and white tile. There was a tub with a shower, a toilet and a sink. There was a small counter put there were no amenities.

Every morning we had a buffet breakfast in Henry J. Beans Café. We had Room Service bring our lunch to the pool every day.

The beach was across the road so we just walked on it a few times. We used the swimming pool every day.

~O THERE WAS A HALF DAY TOUR PLANNED FOR US O~

Our first stop was at the Pattaya Crocodile Farm. The entrance looked like I imagined King Arther’s Castle looked. There are a lot of Crocodiles here and every time I walked by one it opened it’s mouth wide. We also walked through the garden. All the trees were trimmed into different shapes.

We drove up Pratamnak Hill two see the two golden Buddha’s there. When we looked down we could see the entire town and look at the bay with the small Islands in it.

Out last stop was at the Mini Siam Museum. The exhibits were scaled down models of historical events for the Sukhothai to the Kattanakosin Kingdoms.

~O THE REST OF OUR TIME O~

Our tour ended down town so we could shop for a while. The brass items were so cheap we each bought a few birds to bring home. There were so many Sailors, (from Countries around the World), walking around with Prostitutes that we decided to go back to the Hotel. It was about 1 km away so we walked back.

The first morning we went to the pool I got in trouble. We signed in and got our towels. I like to sit under an umbrella so I found a lounge chair under one and sat down. A few minutes later a Gentleman and his Wife were standing over me. He literally ordered me to ’’get off his chair’’. I told him I didn’t know that you could reserve chairs here. He told me he could because he was a High Court Judge from England and they were staying at this Hotel for three Months.

We all moved one chair down and he was happy. He then told me the reason he would be here for so long was that he had sent a Maffia Don to jail and the British Government suggested for his safety he leave for at least three Months.

His Wife leaned over and asked me, ’’Have you noticed everyone who works in any Hotel, (from the Manager down to a Maid), wears a number on their jacket?’’ I told her I hadn’t and asked her why and she replied, ’’Because any Guest can have their personal services attended to by just phoning the front desk and ask them to send up number so and so.’’ I wasn’t quite sure if I believed her until we were going up to our room and in the elevator with us was the Front Desk Manager with a credit card machine in her hand going up to a room!

The second day in the afternoon we wanted to try a real Thai massage. There are two types of Thai massages the first is where sex is included and the real one. We asked our Concierge where to go and he arranged for us to go to the place he goes to.

We all went together and we were all asked to undress and put on silk pajamas. Then they took us all into one long room that had a lot of mats in it. Each of us had our own mat an female masseuse. A full massage takes two hours, (you could have half a massage and select which part of your body you want them to massage). We had decided to go for the entire body one.

Each nerve in your body is touched beginning at your toes. I don’t know if I told you before but my toes and toe nails look like fingers. My lady was so excited over this she lifted one of my legs up and told all the others to take a look. They did but they kept on massaging. That meant I was a few minutes behind the others. The last movement in the massage is cracking the neck, (like a Chiropractor does). That wasn’t something I wanted done again because when I was six a chiropractor ruined my back by doing this to me.

When our massage was over we were so pepped up we went for a drink before dinner.

Our last day we spent at the pool.

~O AT NIGHT O~

The first night we all went to see a Thai Boxing Match. This is exactly like ’’kick boxing’’.

The second night we walked a few blocks and found an outdoor grille Café. You could have six Tiger Prawns bar-b-cued for $2.00 CAD.

Out last night we ate at the La Gritta Italian Café at our Hotel.

~O GETTING BACK TO THE AIRPORT O~

We were all waiting in the lobby at 7 a.m. like we had been told to do. We waited until 8 a.m. and the mini-van hadn’t arrived. We had the Desk Clerk phone the Tour Company in Bangkok to find out why. The reason was they had forgot about us!

There was no time for wait for them to send us a van so we hired two taxi cabs to take us back to the Airport, (JAL reimburse us when we got home).

~O MY FINAL THOUGHTS O~

Pattaya may have changed since I was there, (10 years ago), so I will leave it to you do decided if you want to go there or not.

• Everything was free except for the things we did away from

the Hotel.

Comments and questions are always welcome.

©LL2002