Nocturnal activities
- How is business? I asked a boy I ran into.
Business was not good. The boy had pain in his jaw. He had met the mafia in a dark soi and they had slapped him around a bit. The bad guys are looking for Thais who return with cash. Obvious hiding places like shoes, socks and underwear are the first places they look.
I have this dumb hotel manger. He has misunderstood completely how to deal with repeat customers. I get extra good service and he is giving me a discount on the room. This is no way to run a business. The manager should learn from my taxi driver.
My taxi driver from Bangkok counts me as a regular customer now, after taking me to Pattaya three times. As a regular I am entitled to special treatment. For example he has decided it will humour me if he is grumpy and complains about things. Another loyalty bonus is that he has increased the price by 200 baht. He has also changed from driving safely to driving recklessly, tailgating and overtaking left and right at high speed. I can hardly wait to see how he will behave on our fourth trip - if there is any. I expect him to be drunk and fall asleep in the back seat and let me do the driving.
Don’t ask me what I was doing up at that hour, but between 5 and 6 am I watched a procession of monks in the soi outside my hotel room window. First came four in a group, they walked with the tallest first and the shortest last. Later monks came one by one, some carrying heavy bags and stuffing their “pockets” with food. Locals gave them small packs of steamed rice. Then the monks gave a blessing. While this was going on Thai girls and boys and combinations thereof were returning home. The two groups did not interact.
October 27th, 2006 at 11:09 am
What is the etiquette when a Russian bar girl has sex with Thai bar boy ? “You must pay me !” … “No, you must pay me !”.
October 27th, 2006 at 12:11 pm
Rule #1 is that farang should pay Thai.
Rule #2 is that rich should pay poor.
Rule #3 is that older should pay younger.
Rule #4 is that not-so-good-looking person should pay good looking person.
In this case Rule #2 will probably carry most weight.
October 27th, 2006 at 2:55 pm
Why on earth do you take a private taxi when you can catch a bus from Ekamai for a little over 100B. You also get to interact with real Thai people doing real Thai things?
It’s even possable to get a seat next to a Thai boy.
October 27th, 2006 at 5:34 pm
This is what I also used to say before I tried a door to door taxi.
October 27th, 2006 at 9:17 pm
What Hotels in Pattaya do you stay at or would recommend for some one looking for reasonable cost and convenience for a night or two?
What is the problem taking the bus, aside from the getting from the bus station to your hotel?
Thanks,
October 27th, 2006 at 9:35 pm
1. Taste, budget and priorities re choosing a hotel varies from one person to the next. The list of gay-friendly hotels on Dreaded Ned’s website is a good place to start, as is the list Utopia has.
2. There is nothing wrong with the bus. But going by the bus means
Walk to Skytrain station 10 minutes
Go to Ekkamai 25 minutes
Wait for bus to leave 30 minutes
Go to Pattaya on the bus 3 hours
Songtaeow to town 10 minutes
Walk to hotel 10 minutes
Total 4 hours 25 minutes. Arrive sweaty and tired.
Taxi is 2 hours 20 minutes door to door and I arrive fresh and rested. To me the difference is worth the cost.
October 27th, 2006 at 9:48 pm
Wonder if you can tell us where you stay in Pattaya? Since you go there often you will probably give good advice for newbies like us. The only time we visited we stayed at the Flamingo which was not too bad. Where do you recommend? Thanks.
October 27th, 2006 at 10:51 pm
I don’t like to spend on hotels. I prefer cheap places. A clean room with air cond and a bathroom is all I ask for.
If you REALLY want to know where I stay… I stay at the New Paradise Inn near Sunee Plaza. Other times I stay at Honey Lodge near Walking Street.
I don’t recommend either of them! Find something better.
But both are affordable, in the 500 B range. You get what you pay for.
October 27th, 2006 at 11:21 pm
AHHHH
Silom tells it like it is!!!
Thanks!!
October 28th, 2006 at 1:30 am
The Royal Cliff was full.
October 28th, 2006 at 3:25 am
I love your sense of irony. The segments on the hotel manager and the taxi driver are priceless. I think I had the same cab driver the last time I was in Bangkok. Or maybe he has a twin.
November 1st, 2006 at 7:28 pm
…
November 2nd, 2006 at 9:02 pm
I stayed at Howard’s right on Sunee. The room was gourgeous and the same 500 baht.