Pattaya: Bourbon Street by the Sea

Hello from the Land of Smiles!

Well after I had just got used to Bangkok, we left for Pattaya, a beach resort south of the city. We has hired a car and had so much luggage our guide had to stay behind since we needed the front seat for bags! I settled in my seat for the 2 hour ride and went to put on my seat belt. Huh, the belt was there but alas, no place to click it into. I searched for bit until my driver said, "Oh, no seat belt. No seat belt. But you be okay." I politely smiled, nodded, and grabbed the safety bar above my head. He was a nice guy and all, but I've seen the way they drive around here!

Our drive to Pattaya seemed very long. Perhaps because it was only our 3rd day here and we were still getting used to the time change. But it was a good chance to see some scenery. Now Pattaya is a beach resort town, but really it's Atlantic City with a Bourbon Street thrown in. The town is very commercial and touristy. Pattaya used to be a place where GI's would visit when they were on R&R from the Vietnam War. It was a place to get cheap beer and pretty women. Pattaya is still known for it's "Walking Street"; a seedy street of go-go clubs, beer bars, and massage parlors with "happy endings."

Now why in the world were my father, the missionary, and I heading to Pattaya?? Because it is cheap, there is some beach area, and if you avoid Walking Street, it really is just a tourist town. We stayed at the Siam Bayshore hotel which was very nice. The service here is bar-none; the best in the world. Everyone treats you like you are in a 5-star hotel or a VIP. It's very nice to be daunted on, I won't lie about that! :)

The first night we had dinner at the Siam Elephant which is honestly the most romantic restaurant I've been at!! (Which is kinda weird when you are with your dad! lol) But it was beautiful, it overlooked the bay, they played Thai music in the background, the orchids were in bloom everywhere, gas lamps were lit; it was lovely.

Our table also had a view of the street and I could not get over all the tourists there. Mostly there were Russian families, European couples (both gay and straight), and somewhat unattractive American males with their pretty mail-order brides. No lie. There were so many older men with young Thai girls everywhere! I started laughing every time I saw a couple the next few days.

On Saturday, my dad wanted to take me to the Tiger Zoo. Now, I'm a former vegan and even considering heading that way again, so I was a little nervous about the zoo. I had a feeling the animals weren't treated very well. But my dad thought I'd like it so we went. Our driver picked us up right after breakfast and we had a 30-minute WILD ride to the zoo! I've learned that here in Thailand, road markings are merely a suggestion. People drive on the shoulder as an extra lane, will make a 2-lane highway a 3-way highway, and zip and slide past everyone in their way. Breaking doesn't seem to be an opition. I literally held my breath and I think I almost swore once when the cement median and I almost became good friends. Motorcycles are even worse the way they weave in and around. And I've seen couples have their 3-year-old baby in between them on a bike, no helmet of course. In the US, that would be child endangerment but here, no worries! :)

The Tiger Zoo was fun although they definitely weren't the nicest to the animals. :( Our guide was a great girl named Apple (so Gwenyth wasn't the only one!) who was super sweet. She was our guide for the day as she rushed us from attraction to show. I got to hold and bottle feed a baby tiger! And these two boys Jessie and Jerry kept hugging me and kissing me which was sweet! Oh did I mention they are the cutest orangutans?! (Pictures to come later). I also feed a crocodile and we watched various shows: elephants, tigers, crocodiles. For a treat I got a coconut; they drilled a hole in the middle and put a straw in. I drank up the milk pretty quickly, it made me feel like Gilligan! :)

That afternoon I went to the gorgous pool which overlooked the beach. With the palm trees swaying, the waves laping the shore, and the attendants beckoning my every call I thought, "This is ridiculously awesome!" And it was!

The next day we just wandered the mall some, counted old white men with Thai bride couples, and saw the movie "The Kingdom" (which was excellent!). The theatres here serve carmael corn which I was stoked about! Also, before the movie starts, they have you stand to honor the King as pictures of him flash on the screen. The respect for elders here is amazing; I love the honor.

This morning we had a great breakfast overlooking the bay and then prepared to return to Bangkok. I liked Pattaya but Bangkok feels like home. I was excited when we got into our hired car. I had a working seat belt this time!!