How bad is Pattaya now?

On Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:21:21 -0800 (PST), wrote:

its a giant toilet -sluts whores and filth of the world congregate
there .only a rat would feel at home there .
Travis couldnt clean that place in a 1000 years .

And how did you become such an expert on the subject? Write your
dissertation on the place, did you?
Cheers,

John B.

You made a lot of assumptions, along with asserting that I don't have a
right to respond to the initial post.

Pattaya seemed to me to be choked with dirty vehicles and dirty air; has
shabby bars, and a local population engaged in the hard-sell, whether of
sex, clothes, or anything else. People are routinely sexually
propositioned up and down the town, while crime of all kinds is high. In
addition, the way some of the foreigners act would make you (well, me
anyway) ashamed to belong to the same nation as them.

The alternative to Pattaya is not just the north east of the country,
nor is Pattaya the only place in the country where westerners can get
themselves catered to. I already mention Jomtien, just around the
corner, but Hua Hin, for example, is a much nicer place, and it has all
the pampering any needy farang could possibly desire. Hua Hin has the
girlie bars, for those who have to have them, but they are discreet and
not in your face. If you are out walking late, you are far less likely
to be mugged or murdered - fairly frequent in Pattaya, I believe.

I am not a member of the moral majority - far from it. I just don't like
dirty, disgusting places. You feel differently, obviously, so enjoy
Pattaya, if you can.

Ian

PG wrote:
"Geoff B" geoff_screen"at"yahoo.co.uk a écrit dans le message de news:
...
"Randy Kehrt" spouted off again...

Perhaps Pattaya has one good point - it keeps small minded people like
you from infecting the rest of the country.
You clearly have no interest in the culture or people of Thailand, so why
not just holiday in Miami if your USA comforts are so important to you?

'Randy' hasn't access to the same perks in Miami, and as he says himself,
feels uneasy in the presence of aliens that don't speekee English and eat
McDonalds.

Not that long since I was in the Chiang Mai Saloon, and a baseball-capped
Yank in his 20s staggered in, parked himself a fair way down the bar, and
started to talk (ie shout, being from across the Pond). I was watching
football (the real thing), could hardly hear the commentary. Yank tried to
engage a Thai next to him in conversation. "You like American football?"
Thai guy looked at him, flummoxed. Shouting louder... "A - Mer - I - Can -
Foot - Ball?", the Yank tried again. Thai guy attempted to be polite. "Ah,
Galax-Y!" he replied. "beck-Ham!" American completely lost, no idea what
he's on about, gave up for a few seconds. Typical US tourist, thought
everyone on the planet knew about the American football 'world
championships'...

Yank tried again. "Speak English?" Not waiting for answer, stunning
revelation followed. "Been all over... Europe, Thailand... Everyone speak
different!" Thai guy was lost for words.

Last attempt from Yank. "Like baseball?" he bellowed. Points at cap "White
Sox!"

I gave up and headed for a Yank-free establishment to watch the match in
peace.

(With apologies to those baseball-capped McDonalds-eating Americans who
won't have a clue what's amusing - and sad - about the above).

pg



Yes, I know whereof you speak. You wonder why such people ever leave home.


Cheers,

Ian

On Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:38:43 -0500, "
wrote:


You made a lot of assumptions, along with asserting that I don't have a
right to respond to the initial post.

Pattaya seemed to me to be choked with dirty vehicles and dirty air; has
shabby bars, and a local population engaged in the hard-sell, whether of
sex, clothes, or anything else. People are routinely sexually
propositioned up and down the town, while crime of all kinds is high. In
addition, the way some of the foreigners act would make you (well, me
anyway) ashamed to belong to the same nation as them.

The alternative to Pattaya is not just the north east of the country,
nor is Pattaya the only place in the country where westerners can get
themselves catered to. I already mention Jomtien, just around the
corner, but Hua Hin, for example, is a much nicer place, and it has all
the pampering any needy farang could possibly desire. Hua Hin has the
girlie bars, for those who have to have them, but they are discreet and
not in your face. If you are out walking late, you are far less likely
to be mugged or murdered - fairly frequent in Pattaya, I believe.

I am not a member of the moral majority - far from it. I just don't like
dirty, disgusting places. You feel differently, obviously, so enjoy
Pattaya, if you can.

Ian

And, did you notice? Packed with people - foreigners.

Ever wonder if, just perhaps, that this is precisely what those
foreigners want?

I was in Pattaya in 1968 and the place was deserted. One hotel (the
Nipa Hut) and two restaurants on the beach. The whole beach to one's
self. Wonderful!.

Then the foreigners started flocking to the place, and now look at it.
I can only believe that if the place wasn't what all those foreigners
wanted that they wouldn't come there any more - but still they flock
there.

So one can only assume that they are finding what they want.

Cheers,

John B.

On Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:34:38 +0700, John B.
wrote:

On Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:38:43 -0500, "
wrote:


You made a lot of assumptions, along with asserting that I don't have a
right to respond to the initial post.

Pattaya seemed to me to be choked with dirty vehicles and dirty air; has
shabby bars, and a local population engaged in the hard-sell, whether of
sex, clothes, or anything else. People are routinely sexually
propositioned up and down the town, while crime of all kinds is high. In
addition, the way some of the foreigners act would make you (well, me
anyway) ashamed to belong to the same nation as them.

The alternative to Pattaya is not just the north east of the country,
nor is Pattaya the only place in the country where westerners can get
themselves catered to. I already mention Jomtien, just around the
corner, but Hua Hin, for example, is a much nicer place, and it has all
the pampering any needy farang could possibly desire. Hua Hin has the
girlie bars, for those who have to have them, but they are discreet and
not in your face. If you are out walking late, you are far less likely
to be mugged or murdered - fairly frequent in Pattaya, I believe.

I am not a member of the moral majority - far from it. I just don't like
dirty, disgusting places. You feel differently, obviously, so enjoy
Pattaya, if you can.

Ian

And, did you notice? Packed with people - foreigners.

Ever wonder if, just perhaps, that this is precisely what those
foreigners want?

I was in Pattaya in 1968 and the place was deserted. One hotel (the
Nipa Hut) and two restaurants on the beach. The whole beach to one's
self. Wonderful!.

BangSean and Pattaya in 1969.
Bangsean a little bungalow nestled in the trees near the beach.
Pattaya a house with a deck over the water...
Like you say both areas deserted and beaches to ourselves.
Magic moments long, long ago....

Then the foreigners started flocking to the place, and now look at it.
I can only believe that if the place wasn't what all those foreigners
wanted that they wouldn't come there any more - but still they flock
there.

So one can only assume that they are finding what they want.

Cheers,

John B.

John B. wrote:
On Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:38:43 -0500, "
wrote:

You made a lot of assumptions, along with asserting that I don't have a
right to respond to the initial post.

Pattaya seemed to me to be choked with dirty vehicles and dirty air; has
shabby bars, and a local population engaged in the hard-sell, whether of
sex, clothes, or anything else. People are routinely sexually
propositioned up and down the town, while crime of all kinds is high. In
addition, the way some of the foreigners act would make you (well, me
anyway) ashamed to belong to the same nation as them.

The alternative to Pattaya is not just the north east of the country,
nor is Pattaya the only place in the country where westerners can get
themselves catered to. I already mention Jomtien, just around the
corner, but Hua Hin, for example, is a much nicer place, and it has all
the pampering any needy farang could possibly desire. Hua Hin has the
girlie bars, for those who have to have them, but they are discreet and
not in your face. If you are out walking late, you are far less likely
to be mugged or murdered - fairly frequent in Pattaya, I believe.

I am not a member of the moral majority - far from it. I just don't like
dirty, disgusting places. You feel differently, obviously, so enjoy
Pattaya, if you can.

Ian

And, did you notice? Packed with people - foreigners.

Ever wonder if, just perhaps, that this is precisely what those
foreigners want?

Most of those foreigners haven't a clue what they want. Pattaya, at
first glance, looks like it might just provide what they are seeking.
Invariably, it is just an illusion, an escape from the realities back home.

I was in Pattaya in 1968 and the place was deserted. One hotel (the
Nipa Hut) and two restaurants on the beach. The whole beach to one's
self. Wonderful!.

Not a beach person myself but I'm sure if beaches were all I wanted, I
could find plenty of those in my own backyard. Having seen Pattaya way
back, I know the beaches in my backyard are much nicer.

Then the foreigners started flocking to the place, and now look at it.
I can only believe that if the place wasn't what all those foreigners
wanted that they wouldn't come there any more - but still they flock
there.

Yes, then it transforms into something that more resembles where they
came from, with added sleaze.

So one can only assume that they are finding what they want.

Cheers,

John B.

Indeed, they are finding what they want and, oftentimes, a lot more of
what they didn't want, if the sad tales of woe we read here are to be
believed.

Krypsis

I've done a bit of travelling around Thailand in the last 10yrs but I still
like Pattaya,nice accommodation,good weather,cheap bike hire.


wrote in message
...
Disenchanting Pattaya
By PattayaSigel


You said it many times before. That this will be the last time you are
going to come here. That staying in Pattaya is a waste of time and a
sacrilege to the many places in SEA which offer cleaner beaches,
friendlier locals, safer infrastructure, classier nightlife and simply
a better vibe. You always came up with excuses such as having a
girlfriend there as well as a harem of regular girls from which to
choose or the cheap food and booze, the convenience of getting around,
the refreshing evening breeze or enjoying a sunset on the beach among
a plethora of gogo bars. And you always mentioned that despite the
obviously predatory nature of this capital of sins there were always
the smiles which made you feel comfortably welcome and let you forget
that you are in fact only in the biggest brothel in the world. This
time though it is a real challenge to come up with any reasonable
argument that justifies the month that you just spent there.

The girlfriend is no longer working in the pool hall and has gone to
sell shirts in a Bangkok mall because she could not put up with
serving the old, dubious farangs, sleazy Thais and stupid bargirls
anymore who came to play at her venue every day. Your selection of
regular girls all were very busy with customers during this peak
season or have left for good, leaving you with no choice than to start
at zero again and go through the “what your name, where you from, how
long stay Thailand” routine just like anybody else. The fact that you
can meanwhile make those basic conversations in Thai does nothing more
than to provoke the question of whether you work here. It simply
signals to them that you know far more than you should and lessens
their interest in you in no time. Why did you not just train to
convincingly tell them that it was your first holiday in Thailand
instead of learning all that vocabulary?! Or do newbies get the same
rough treatment? Is there still some magic for someone who has never
visited Walking Street before? If so, the fascination surely wanes
faster than ever before even for first-timers. The fun is spoiled by
the bluntness of the girls, the mockery of touts and street vendors,
the arrogance of service staff and a generally mercenary vibe.

Please don't make the same mistake again. Don't just ignore and forget
the many upsetting situations you experienced during that holiday and
pretend that just all was good and well. Or do you really like to get
physically grabbed by those slimy Indian tailors ten times per day
anywhere in this city? Do you like to get ambiguous calls from
disgusting katoeys out of the bushes on your way to a quiet place on
Naklua Beach? Do you enjoy the foul smell that lingers everywhere? Or
how about that evening when you made the mistake to sit down on one of
those benches on Beach Road that are occupied by street whores to take
a rest and drink your water? Once they found out that you are not
going to buy their services and told you to “fcuk off” because you
disturbed their business did that not harm your ego? Being told where
to go by an ugly bitch in a public place, is that really on your list
of events that make an enjoyable holiday? So much as you wanted to
start a dispute and set her up with some Arabs for a gang bang to give
her a right seeing to you knew there was no point and the only way in
such situations is to vote with your feet. Probably not set feet in
that city again would be the best conclusion but can you find a better
alternative?

Unfortunately it seems that you have not learned much as previous
holidays have already taught you that there is hardly any point to the
way you used to try to get gratification from partaking in the bar
scene. The gogo girl who refuses a 20 baht tip from the final bill
because it will bring “bad luck for future tips” in the evening is not
the exception. They will always ask for more anyway so screw 'em. Mind
you, you bought her a lady drink already for which you have no-one to
blame but yourself. You did right in just taking back the money and
leaving without looking back. All those cynical wais and the acted
courtesy of service staff only gets on your nerves so it's best not to
look at anybody. In fact the day that you decided not to tip anything
at all anymore in nightlife venues was the wisest decision you made
this year. Even if it means that you will be called “kee neow” or “jai
dam” every time you check your bin you felt that your karma was much
improved when you spent some of the saved tips on really harder
working street vendors which are carrying their trade on a shouldered
pole or mutilated beggars. At least they still show a little bit of
honest gratitude. Also, you have to admit that there is some
satisfaction from feeding on the delicious free barbecues which are
always on display at birthday parties in the beer bars while sipping
your 35 baht happy hour beer. Well, you know to behave yourself and
usually left a generous 5 baht tip for the food.

Of course you were not surprised when in that sorry excuse of a soi 8
coyote bar at 8:45 PM you get a bill for the full price of your San
Miguel light whereas the happy hour clearly runs until 9 PM. You have
been to that country often enough and know that there is no point in
making a fuss over a few baht. But the place of venues you had to
cross off your list due to either bad entertainment or bad treatment
was getting so long that you were starting to get hard pressed to find
adequate replacements for the next night. One of the dancers in there
even addressed you with her worries about her Australian boyfriend
(who of course she never cheats on) who lagged behind in sending over
the regular 40,000 baht for more than a month already. Now she did not
know how to pay the rent for her house which resulted in her having to
“work” again – well that cheered you up! You enjoyed watching her
closer after that and wondered what she was capable of doing in order
to justify such a lofty stipend. Cute sure, sexy yes, but the stretch
marks showed off previous childbirth which simply seems to be the norm
these days for girls in most venues in Pattaya and heavily reduces the
attractiveness, not so much of the body but of the woman itself, for
this means that she is just after a supporter, not after someone to
really share her life with.

You have to realize that the days where easily obtainable GFEs were
the norm in Pattaya are over. You get older and the girls get more
money hungry. If the trend continues, and it won't reverse for sure,
then in a few years Pattaya will just be like a bigger version of
Amsterdam's red-light district. Short time the norm or maybe hostess
like arrangements with previously set terms. No more “up-to-yous”! The
girls really cut into their own flesh though because those “romances”
are what brought them sponsors who financed bikes, cars, houses or
left them with the inheritance. However, the way they behave nowadays
even the most desperate guys will start to ask questions (but more and
more girls seem to get their stipends out of online relationships
anyway...) Will a few naked gogo girls blotched in tattoos and stretch
marks and some grumpy massage ladies still justify the long trip then?
Maybe still attractive for retirees who need someone to look after
them but for young guys on holiday a waste of time and opportunities.

Most girls were less than entertaining and did very little to cheer
you up. In fact their behaviour ranged anywhere from extremely silly
to downright offensive. It really seemed to have worsened a lot in the
2 years you have been coming to Pattaya! They play all tricks of the
trade without the blink of an eye. They lack the least bit of empathy
which reportedly was once one of the biggest draws of the women of
this country. Now they are as superficial and at the same time as
selfish as it gets. How can they keep getting away with that? Are
there really enough guys who are ignorant enough that this does not
bother them and hence continue handing over the cash? It takes a real
simpleton to overlook all these obvious flaws and the overall sadness
and dirtiness of the place at this point in time. Of course, to be
fair, the behaviour and appearance of most guys who frequent Pattaya
does little to change the appalling attitude of the locals. There is
just way too much **** involved from both sides these days. But as
much as the guys are to blame for having a hard time separating “good
girls” from “bad girls” and often ending up staying with the wrong
one, you often feel that the girls are not much better in deciding who
would be good for them in the long term. That's probably why they
behave the way they do now and measure love with money or gold and
nothing else.

Lets not blame your bad mood on the girls though. Did you not have a
great few days with that lady you met in a disco? Did she not manage
to cheer you up with her energy and constant positivity? That has to
be quite some achievement regarding the permanent huffy mood you are
in recently, don't you think? She really deserves credit (and some
baht) for that! Did she not give you a little bit of that old
fashioned GFE by cutting your nails and providing you with free
oranges and watermelons in her room? See, it still exists! And did you
not feel like you were in your early twenties again during the
frequent intimate, mutually entertaining sessions which brought back
your old enthusiasm for the most beautiful exercise on earth? Of
course you have to forgive her lackadaisical cockiness and for
vomiting and peeing in your bed but how could you know that 7 San
Miguels were more than a cute 40 kg light lady could take in 2 hours?
Anyway, the earplugs and Xanax let you drift off to a nice sleep while
she was finishing her business and the next morning, when you already
forgot what had happened, you wondered why she tried so sheepishly but
enthusiastically to make up for her mistake. A whore sure, one of
those who maintain a sponsor even, but the completely satisfying
sexual experience over several days at least justified the trip.

And did you not have a no strings attached sexual encounter with a
girl you met online only a few days prior to coming to Thailand. You
can't blame her for not living up to your increasing expectations and
that she was not girlfriend material in your eyes. She even picked you
up at the airport with her car for about half of what a taxi would
cost. Would that ever happen in your home? You know the answer. You
could easily have met half a dozen more if you had gotten your lazy
ass up to Bangkok. And even if the bars became mostly boring and were
really lacking eye candy you still managed to get at least a free neck
massage and an ice cold towel due to the afflicted face you always
made. They took at least a little bit of pity on you. What more can
you really expect in such a money oriented business? And don't forget
the evening when by accident you stumbled in that new bells and
whistles gogo near Walking Street. Normally you would have left
immediately but you were pretty drunk and the sofas in there were
inviting you to lay down and enjoy the buzz. And at 80 baht for a beer
you can't be wrong, can you? The moment when the performing girl drew
you on to the stage you were a bit distraught but still half drunk you
have to admit that it was an unforgettable moment when she motioned
you to lay down, open your mouth and catch a ping pong ball from where
ping pong balls do not normally emerge. Unfortunately she only needed
2 tries. Only in Thailand.

Unique - and some bizarre - experiences, warm weather, delicious food,
that's what you came here for and you found it all.

So what are you complaining about? Oh yes, You did not manage to find
a replacement for your past experiences with the girlfriend. Well if
you want a sirloin steak you should probably not go looking for it in
McDonald's. Times are changing and there is surely a reason why
Pattaya continues to draw both rougher customers as well as rougher
girls. The bars are simply less fun than strictly business nowadays.
If you only possess the least bit of perception then you cannot deny
that they lacked any kind of charm. Too dirty, too sleazy, too blunt.
What was once (long before you started coming to the kingdom) a
genuinely fascinating environment where you could maybe get a glimpse
of what paradise looks like is about to completely lose the last bits
of its soul. The red light areas of Thailand will just become like
anywhere else in the world and will more strictly be populated by
mercenary pros. Why should Thailand with its millions of tourists be
excepted? You also are not that much into shopping that this absurd
monstrosity of a mall next to soi 9 on Beach Road could lure you into
coming back.

You have great memories from your earlier days in Pattaya. Don't spoil
them by witnessing any longer all the inevitable changes for the worse
which are going on. Your days of innocent fun in Pattaya are over. You
simply do not feel comfortable there anymore. Accept it and move on.
There are plenty of pretty students or office girls in Bangkok who
would love to entertain you in a much classier environment. Or how
about a trip north to Khon Kaen or Udon? Traps and money issues will
arise there too but you will get a new perspective and maybe a desire
to experience a new type of nightlife. Try it at least to do a
completely other type of Thai women justice and enjoy some new sights
and sounds before you decide to give the whole country – not just
Pattaya - a miss.

Stickman's thoughts:

A friend said it well recently when he said that he looks forward to
his Pattaya trip all year long but when he eventually makes it there
and leaves he feels empty and unsatisfied.....and then the cycle
starts again...

On Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:09:59 +1100, Krypsis
wrote:

John B. wrote:
On Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:38:43 -0500, "
wrote:

You made a lot of assumptions, along with asserting that I don't have a
right to respond to the initial post.

Pattaya seemed to me to be choked with dirty vehicles and dirty air; has
shabby bars, and a local population engaged in the hard-sell, whether of
sex, clothes, or anything else. People are routinely sexually
propositioned up and down the town, while crime of all kinds is high. In
addition, the way some of the foreigners act would make you (well, me
anyway) ashamed to belong to the same nation as them.

The alternative to Pattaya is not just the north east of the country,
nor is Pattaya the only place in the country where westerners can get
themselves catered to. I already mention Jomtien, just around the
corner, but Hua Hin, for example, is a much nicer place, and it has all
the pampering any needy farang could possibly desire. Hua Hin has the
girlie bars, for those who have to have them, but they are discreet and
not in your face. If you are out walking late, you are far less likely
to be mugged or murdered - fairly frequent in Pattaya, I believe.

I am not a member of the moral majority - far from it. I just don't like
dirty, disgusting places. You feel differently, obviously, so enjoy
Pattaya, if you can.

Ian

And, did you notice? Packed with people - foreigners.

Ever wonder if, just perhaps, that this is precisely what those
foreigners want?

Most of those foreigners haven't a clue what they want. Pattaya, at
first glance, looks like it might just provide what they are seeking.
Invariably, it is just an illusion, an escape from the realities back home.

Perhaps that is exactly what they are looking for. the fat old guy
with the young slender girl on his arm. He may well be fantasizing
that he really IS a demon lover.

Certainly if he faced reality, that the only reason the girl is
willing to associate with him is the size of his wallet, he wouldn't
be planning on a return visit as soon as he can accumulate sufficient
funds.


I was in Pattaya in 1968 and the place was deserted. One hotel (the
Nipa Hut) and two restaurants on the beach. The whole beach to one's
self. Wonderful!.

Not a beach person myself but I'm sure if beaches were all I wanted, I
could find plenty of those in my own backyard. Having seen Pattaya way
back, I know the beaches in my backyard are much nicer.

Then the foreigners started flocking to the place, and now look at it.
I can only believe that if the place wasn't what all those foreigners
wanted that they wouldn't come there any more - but still they flock
there.

Yes, then it transforms into something that more resembles where they
came from, with added sleaze.

So one can only assume that they are finding what they want.

Cheers,

John B.

Indeed, they are finding what they want and, oftentimes, a lot more of
what they didn't want, if the sad tales of woe we read here are to be
believed.

Krypsis

One wonders why they come? why you come, for that mater?
Cheers,

Schweik

John B. wrote:
On Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:38:43 -0500, "
wrote:

You made a lot of assumptions, along with asserting that I don't have a
right to respond to the initial post.

Pattaya seemed to me to be choked with dirty vehicles and dirty air; has
shabby bars, and a local population engaged in the hard-sell, whether of
sex, clothes, or anything else. People are routinely sexually
propositioned up and down the town, while crime of all kinds is high. In
addition, the way some of the foreigners act would make you (well, me
anyway) ashamed to belong to the same nation as them.

The alternative to Pattaya is not just the north east of the country,
nor is Pattaya the only place in the country where westerners can get
themselves catered to. I already mention Jomtien, just around the
corner, but Hua Hin, for example, is a much nicer place, and it has all
the pampering any needy farang could possibly desire. Hua Hin has the
girlie bars, for those who have to have them, but they are discreet and
not in your face. If you are out walking late, you are far less likely
to be mugged or murdered - fairly frequent in Pattaya, I believe.

I am not a member of the moral majority - far from it. I just don't like
dirty, disgusting places. You feel differently, obviously, so enjoy
Pattaya, if you can.

Ian

And, did you notice? Packed with people - foreigners.

Ever wonder if, just perhaps, that this is precisely what those
foreigners want?

I was in Pattaya in 1968 and the place was deserted. One hotel (the
Nipa Hut) and two restaurants on the beach. The whole beach to one's
self. Wonderful!.

Then the foreigners started flocking to the place, and now look at it.
I can only believe that if the place wasn't what all those foreigners
wanted that they wouldn't come there any more - but still they flock
there.

So one can only assume that they are finding what they want.

Cheers,

John B.

I agree. Things are the way they are because people want them that way.

Cheers,

Ian

Schweik wrote:
On Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:09:59 +1100, Krypsis
wrote:

John B. wrote:
On Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:38:43 -0500, "
wrote:

You made a lot of assumptions, along with asserting that I don't have a
right to respond to the initial post.

Pattaya seemed to me to be choked with dirty vehicles and dirty air; has
shabby bars, and a local population engaged in the hard-sell, whether of
sex, clothes, or anything else. People are routinely sexually
propositioned up and down the town, while crime of all kinds is high. In
addition, the way some of the foreigners act would make you (well, me
anyway) ashamed to belong to the same nation as them.

The alternative to Pattaya is not just the north east of the country,
nor is Pattaya the only place in the country where westerners can get
themselves catered to. I already mention Jomtien, just around the
corner, but Hua Hin, for example, is a much nicer place, and it has all
the pampering any needy farang could possibly desire. Hua Hin has the
girlie bars, for those who have to have them, but they are discreet and
not in your face. If you are out walking late, you are far less likely
to be mugged or murdered - fairly frequent in Pattaya, I believe.

I am not a member of the moral majority - far from it. I just don't like
dirty, disgusting places. You feel differently, obviously, so enjoy
Pattaya, if you can.

Ian
And, did you notice? Packed with people - foreigners.

Ever wonder if, just perhaps, that this is precisely what those
foreigners want?
Most of those foreigners haven't a clue what they want. Pattaya, at
first glance, looks like it might just provide what they are seeking.
Invariably, it is just an illusion, an escape from the realities back home.

Perhaps that is exactly what they are looking for. the fat old guy
with the young slender girl on his arm. He may well be fantasizing
that he really IS a demon lover.

Certainly if he faced reality, that the only reason the girl is
willing to associate with him is the size of his wallet, he wouldn't
be planning on a return visit as soon as he can accumulate sufficient
funds.

I wish "he" would face up to "reality". The reality is that he's paying
the women to pretend it's all something akin to his fantasies. That
fantasy will last only as long as his money. By that time, my "former"
department will have been involved dealing with the wreckage of his
foray into fantasyland.

I was in Pattaya in 1968 and the place was deserted. One hotel (the
Nipa Hut) and two restaurants on the beach. The whole beach to one's
self. Wonderful!.
Not a beach person myself but I'm sure if beaches were all I wanted, I
could find plenty of those in my own backyard. Having seen Pattaya way
back, I know the beaches in my backyard are much nicer.
Then the foreigners started flocking to the place, and now look at it.
I can only believe that if the place wasn't what all those foreigners
wanted that they wouldn't come there any more - but still they flock
there.
Yes, then it transforms into something that more resembles where they
came from, with added sleaze.
So one can only assume that they are finding what they want.

Cheers,

John B.
Indeed, they are finding what they want and, oftentimes, a lot more of
what they didn't want, if the sad tales of woe we read here are to be
believed.

Krypsis

One wonders why they come? why you come, for that mater?
Cheers,

I know why they come. Problem is that they rarely end up in what I would
call a satisfactory situation.

Why do I come?
To Thailand? In most cases, it's related to my work. Bangkok is, or was,
the central hub of my sphere of operations in SE Asia. A jumping off
point, as it were.
To Pattaya? Well, back some 35 - 40 years ago, pattaya was a reasonable
place, a quiet little town. Nice place to relax and unwind after a few
busy days. Stopped going there, maybe, in the early 70's when it started
to lose that lazy backwater feel! Ten years back, a farang friend of
mine, long term resident of Bangkok, invited me down to Pattaya for a
couple of days. I hadn't been there for very long time so I took up his
offer. I saw many changes, none of them positive. Pretty accurately
described by Ian in my opinion. A couple of years later I was there
again as guest of a Thai government official, my counterpart in
Thailand. With his assistance, and that of the local constabulary, I got
to see a side to Pattaya that would scare the crap out of most of the
farang visitors. If only they knew! Probably better that they don't!

If I wanted an overdeveloped and "over the top" resort, the Queensland
"Gold Coast" would be preferable, much closer, quite probably cheaper,
definitely safer but hardly exotic. But then, as I've said, I'm not a
"beach" person. More importantly, I'm definitely not "looking for love
in all the wrong places".

Krypsis