Pattaya, Chon Buri, Thailand
Sunday, April 11, 2010
We thought we had seen all the craziness Thailand had to offer. Then we got to Pattaya. This place is like the stereotypical Thailand sex, drugs, partying times 10. It really is unbelievable. Our friend Paul met us at the bus station and took care of us every minute until we got on the bus to leave. He found us a cheap ride to a great condo right in town, good restaurants, great shopping, beautiful beaches, everything. It also reminded us that one of the best things about traveling is meeting up with people you know who can show you around town and enjoy the experience with you. After getting into town, we headed for some food at a local Thai restaurant and then walked down to walking street. It is basically a street shut down to cars with thousands of people going from bar to bar, watching street performers and their kids twist into pretzels and fly in the air and hundreds of beautiful Thai girls begging you to come into their go go bar or dancing half naked in the front window. It was quite a scene.
The next day Paul took us to one of his favorite restaurants, down a small alley, to another even smaller dirt alley, to the patio of this very old lady's house. She made us some of the best Thai food we had in the whole country-noodles, rice, soup and an amazing vegetable omelet. Then we went a little beach right next to his condo and ate fresh shrimp, clams and all kinds of fruit that vendors walk up and down the beach selling for the restaurants nearby. It was a very nice and relaxing day. Our last day in Thailand was spent eating, as usual, shopping for cheap clothes, and checking out a super nice 6 story mall more expensive than home. We also went by the famous Tahitian Queen go go bar run by a high school friend of my parents. The place ended up burning down after 30 years of business just 2 weeks after we left. Crazy. Then it was time to leave. We were very sad to leave Thailand after all of our wonderful adventures, but will be back soon and there is a lot more to see over the next 2 months. On to Cambodia and all it has to offer.
Unfortunately there are no pictures of Pattaya because our camera was stolen by a purse snatcher on a motorbike shortly after we arrived in Cambodia. Here are other favorite Thailand videos. Enjoy
