Despite some excellent recommendations from members of this forum (thanks guys), Mrs BB chose our hotel on the recommendation of one of her friends (resistance is futile
). The Eriko Resort was cheap, and the room was well provisioned (probably as good as any I've used in Thailand), but it was 'compact'. I am larger than average, and I think my wife and I needed a traffic light system to avoid crashing into each when moving around the room. The position of the resort was such that we could walk to anywhere in Pattaya that we wanted to. Would I recommend the place to others? Definitely not.So, were there many changes? Driving to our centrally situated resort, we did not pass one landmark that we recognised. We unpacked our bags and followed our noses to the seafront. It was only when we crossed Beach Road that it felt like Pattaya. Looking around the bay, there were a few familiar landmarks.
I know that I'm a right one to talk, but I thought that I was a giant amongst men in the obesity stakes. There were so many huge guts on display, my stomach simply felt inadequate. I don't think I could even be considered Mr Average with my slight figure.
We walked towards Walking Street, and although some of it was familiar, a lot had changed beyond recognition. For example, both Mike Shopping Malls, and a lot of the shops selling worthless tat were still there. However, there were also monstrosities such as the Hilton that had sprung up. To confuse us even more, most of the streets had been re-numbered. An example of this, the Pattayaland Sois, where I did much of my hunting in my youth no longer existed - it took quite a while to work out what was what.
We moved into Walking Street, and the difference was outstanding. Most of the small bars had gone. The street is now shops, restaurants and Go Go Bars. Where is Soi Diamond (another one of my old hunting grounds)? Marine Bar (where the 'dirty' women used to hang out) is still there. Carried on as far as the Simon Show. The show is no longer there, with the complex having been replaced by a bar complex.
At this point we took a bus back to the digs.
That night, we were meeting up with some friends who move to (Pattaya) Thailand about the same time as we moved to Hua Hin. The only bar they ever use is the Frog Bar, which is in the Drinking Street bar complex.
Thoughts (in no particular orderon the Drinking Street bar complex:
- purpose built for the sale of beer and women (cattle market comes to mind).
- 20 identical bars.
- no street traders allowed.
- no lady boys allowed.
- beer 85 Baht for a small bottle.
- one DJ piping music to the entire complex at an acceptable volume (no bars competing with other bars to see who has the best sound system).
- ring the bell - only buy drinks for the staff, not anybody who sits down quickly.
- owned by the former Mayor of Pattaya (hmmm.... I wonder how he aquired such a large piece of prime real estate).
- a dress code for the 'working' ladies e.g. skirt length, no nudism etc (although I did see the odd nipple as it was displayed to prospective customers)
- every bar pays a figure dependant on their situation within the complex to provide security. The bar I was using pays 70,000 per annum. This basically put the bars above the law regarding closing times etc.
- every bar had a large screen to show important stuff such as football.
It was a clean, pleasant place to drink, so long as you are offended by the main item on sale.
Being a family trip, a fair bit of shopping was on the menu
. We actually found most things very expensive, and much of what is on sale can be found cheaper in Hua Hin. However, there were a lot of shops who supposedly had clothes in my size. I did see a few selling xxxxxxl clothes. I was amazed to see farangs working (as sales assistants) in the shopping malls - I didn't realise that was possible.One day we decided to take a drive down to Jomtien, where we used to do a lot of swimming many years ago. I'd seen a road sign to Jomtien during our walk the previous day, so headed for that, and followed the signs from there. We were basically lost, just following the signs. Didn't recognise anything again. We arrived in Jomtien, and realised that we were on a 'new' road - Jomtien 2nd Road
. Using the power of the nose again, I did a U turn, and then took a left, and there was the sea in front of us. Although very built up now, this was more like the Jomtien we knew. We had a bit of breakfast, and went for a walk along the new beach path (an excellent addition). It got a bit noisy though because it was the Jet Ski World Championship. The water throughout contained a lot of debris (hangover from the recent Loy Krathong Festival?). We took a drive to the end of the beach road, and then returned the car back to the hotel, before doing more shopping .A theme that ran throughout this trip was the Russian influence. It was a bit like being in Wales with every sign being in English and Welsh. It seemed that there were as many Russian signs as Thai signs.
My overall impression is that although we enjoyed our trip, and it was really great meeting up with some old friends, it is not the place that we used to know. Individual bars have been mainly replaced by bar complexes (cattle markets), so you lose that personal touch. Farangs seem to have a huge influence on the management of Pattaya. I watched a bit of Pattaya Peoples TV while I was there, and was amazed at the some of the adverts, which seemed to support my opinion. The fact that Farangs are openly working behind the counters of some shops also seem to support this.
Pattaya is not a place that I personally would want to rush back to, but of course we have friends there so a further visit is almost inevitable.
