TBK remembers - Pattaya Thailand

 

                                        On the way to see the Buddha statues

As I was going through my old external hard drives and waiting for my Wi-Fi to be restored after a brownout, I decided to write a blog about Thailand. Before I finally decided to retire to the Philippines, I probably visited Thailand as much from 2010 to 2021. Both have similar climate, the people are friendly, the food is good and there is plenty to see and do. Its probably a little easier to get around Thailand with coaches and taxis from the airport to the seaside resorts, and you can fly internally – for example to Chiang Rai in the North. Like the Philippines they have regular fiestas, Cookery classes and for the risk seekers and water sports enthusiasts jet skis, parascending etc.

            Pre COV19 the skies were full of people parascending

I have made many good friends there who I have visited year after year like Wanchai- who works in Pattaya but is from a little village in the mountains north of Chiang Rai. He has met me in Bangkok and we have stayed there, stayed in Pattaya and travelled with me to his family home.

                  Mike recommended this excellent restaurant on Soi 1

My good friend Mike Roche who I worked with in Bahrain has a house in Pattaya and often advised me on places to stay, how to get from A to B , places to eat etc. Several times we have been there on vacation at the same time and had a meal together or met for a drink. He also suggested the excellent and cheap hotel I used to stay ( Sandy Springs) and several places to get a good breakfast. 

 When I used to drink we spent many happy hours at the bar in the Sandy Springs

Often colleagues of our would also stay there to play golf . I tried to take in the cultural shows, floating market and various temples, as well as time on the beach, and eating out in the many restaurants or on the street.

                         Thai street food- very good and cheap

They also had a lot of festivals in Pattaya from the annual Candle Festival to dancing, singing and food festivals and Muay Thai both on the street and at Central Festival, the big shopping mall with the Hilton hotel on the top. 

               The annual Candle Festival Parade for which they closed beach road

I also went on various tours to the Floating market, some big gardens and to see the Elephant and Cultural shows.

                       An elephant painting a tee shirt for a tourist ( Farang)

                                Camels in the park outside Pattaya

                                     Buying ice cream at the Floating Market

            At the floating market the food comes to you on the water!

Back then, when I was younger, once I week I would stay up late and check out the night life which was vibrant in Pattaya. Walking street was the main centre of the action with bars and restaurants and live shows but there was something for everyone with Boystown and Suwanee Plaza.

                       Checking out the night life on walking street

                   With two friends of mine in a bar ( yes they are brothers!)

One of my favourite places to eat was called Swensen's and they did the most amazing ice cream sundaes.

                                        Enjoying an ice cream at Swensen's

They had a good variety of Western Food in Pattaya including Starbucks, KFC and McDonalds and I often used to treat myself. There were also pubs serving full English breakfast ( one conveniently situated next to the Sandy springs) and , as they had no restaurant you could order food from the surrounding restaurants which would be delivered and charged to your room!

                Full English Breakfast at the pub next door to the Sandy Springs

                                 My bed at the Sandy Springs Hotel

I always kept some money back for a shopping session near the end of my vacation as I discovered an Adidas outlet shop which had 30% off and so I would stock up on trainers, shorts and Tee shirts.

                 One year's collection from the Adidas outlet shop in Pattaya

               With my friend Nui from Laos at Pattaya's Beer Garden

                                    Wei with Ronald McDonald

I hope you enjoyed my walk down memory lane of my trips to Pattaya. If you want to see my Chaing Mai and Chaing Rai and Bangkok trip where I went with Wanchai just click here:   https://thebritishkabayan.blogspot.com/2021/04/thailand-chiang-rai-land-of-lana.html

If you have any other places you want me to "Remember" just let me know