Sick in Pattaya
January 27, 2008
Arrived at 00:20 in Suvarnabhumi International Airport. I was sleepy, hungry, excited and sick with flu. I followed the other Filipinos around the airport. They seem to know where to claim the baggages. From the airport, took a cab that will take me to Jomtien, Pattaya. Cost of Taxi is 1500 baht. Was able to haggle it down to 1300 baht including express toll fees. It was hard to find a taxi that will cost less than 1000 baht in such hour and for a long trip. Besides, I'm not really feeling well and wanted to crawl to a warm bed right away.
My first destination was Pattaya, famous for its reputation as one of the sex capital in Thailand if not Asia. I was warned by my caring friends about going to Pattaya because sex tourists might just take me for one of the go go girls. I appreciate their concerns but I thought to myself, "With my breast size??? I would be shock if anyone will think of me as a woman and not as gay who couldn't afford a breast implant ". hehehe. Besides, its not like i'll be walking around in skimpy outfits.
I stayed in Jomtien area. Jomtien Beach Road is filled with hostels and guesthouses for as low as 350 baht. Taxi in Pattaya and Samui that doesn’t look like normal car do not have a meter but could be like a jeepney in the Philippines at daytime. They have this certain route and you can just hop in and out whenever you like it for 10 baht in Pattaya and 40 baht in Samui. If you are going to a certain place other than its normal route, you need to negotiate with the driver for the fare.
Jomtien beach is packed with tourists sunbathing, playing beach volleyball, etc. Saw a couple of western tourists holding hands with their gay thai lovers too which i find sweet. I try to be openminded as much as possible. After all, i believe that one should go after whatever it is that makes one happy.
I took a cab which cost 200 baht (a roundtrip fare) to Mini Siam. I read that it is Thailand's first wonder displaying Thai and European heritage on a miniature scale. Also, it is said to be the third miniature town in the world after the Netherlands and Taiwan that brings together models of important objects and historical sites of different culture, and civilizations of various periods from the ancient time till the present. There were more than 100 models on display, each on a scale of 1:25. Entrance fee is 250 baht for tourist. I look like any thai citizen until i open my mouth. There is a discount for thai visitors but after seeing my big wide eyes whenever they try to talk to me, they'll bill me with the expensive fees. Mini Siam park is a beautiful park. I feel like i've been to lots of countries already after my walk in the park.
Pattaya park is just along Dongtan beach (popular with gay tourists). It has a water amusement park with water sliders, whirlpools and large pool for childern. Pattaya Park Tower is the first and highest seaside tower with a revolving restaurant and offers a great view of the coastline and Pattaya City. Entrance to the Park Tower cost 200 baht which includes a free drink and one of the rides of your choice in going down from the tower: The Sky Shuttle, Speed Shuttle and Tower jump. I chose the less scary of the three which is the sky shuttle.
The next day, i went to Nong Nooch via taxi which cost 600 baht roundtrip. It is a Thai-village-style park. The entire area is beautifully landscaped, with orchid nursery, french garden, stonehenge garden and other botanical gardens. Entrance Fee is 400 baht which includes the Thai cultural show and an elephant show. Being too trusting, paid the driver the whole 600 baht when I arrived in Nong Nooch. After the tour, the driver was gone along with his promises. Had to find another car that will take me to Jomtien which cost another 400 baht.
On the 22nd, I went to Pattaya U-Tapao International Airport for my plane that will take me to Koh Samui. On the way to the airport, i saw the buddha mountain where the actual image is said to be done in solid gold bar. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take a picture of it because my camera was lost somewhere at the back of my luggage. I heard that Airport in Koh Samui is owned exclusively by Bangkok Airways which makes my fare expensive i think. They have a monopoly of the market. Cost of my roundtrip ticket is 7000 baht which is almost the same as my roundtrip ticket from Cebu to Thailand. It took one hour to travel from Pattaya to Samui.
My first destination was Pattaya, famous for its reputation as one of the sex capital in Thailand if not Asia. I was warned by my caring friends about going to Pattaya because sex tourists might just take me for one of the go go girls. I appreciate their concerns but I thought to myself, "With my breast size??? I would be shock if anyone will think of me as a woman and not as gay who couldn't afford a breast implant ". hehehe. Besides, its not like i'll be walking around in skimpy outfits.
I stayed in Jomtien area. Jomtien Beach Road is filled with hostels and guesthouses for as low as 350 baht. Taxi in Pattaya and Samui that doesn’t look like normal car do not have a meter but could be like a jeepney in the Philippines at daytime. They have this certain route and you can just hop in and out whenever you like it for 10 baht in Pattaya and 40 baht in Samui. If you are going to a certain place other than its normal route, you need to negotiate with the driver for the fare.
Jomtien beach is packed with tourists sunbathing, playing beach volleyball, etc. Saw a couple of western tourists holding hands with their gay thai lovers too which i find sweet. I try to be openminded as much as possible. After all, i believe that one should go after whatever it is that makes one happy.
I took a cab which cost 200 baht (a roundtrip fare) to Mini Siam. I read that it is Thailand's first wonder displaying Thai and European heritage on a miniature scale. Also, it is said to be the third miniature town in the world after the Netherlands and Taiwan that brings together models of important objects and historical sites of different culture, and civilizations of various periods from the ancient time till the present. There were more than 100 models on display, each on a scale of 1:25. Entrance fee is 250 baht for tourist. I look like any thai citizen until i open my mouth. There is a discount for thai visitors but after seeing my big wide eyes whenever they try to talk to me, they'll bill me with the expensive fees. Mini Siam park is a beautiful park. I feel like i've been to lots of countries already after my walk in the park.
Pattaya park is just along Dongtan beach (popular with gay tourists). It has a water amusement park with water sliders, whirlpools and large pool for childern. Pattaya Park Tower is the first and highest seaside tower with a revolving restaurant and offers a great view of the coastline and Pattaya City. Entrance to the Park Tower cost 200 baht which includes a free drink and one of the rides of your choice in going down from the tower: The Sky Shuttle, Speed Shuttle and Tower jump. I chose the less scary of the three which is the sky shuttle.
The next day, i went to Nong Nooch via taxi which cost 600 baht roundtrip. It is a Thai-village-style park. The entire area is beautifully landscaped, with orchid nursery, french garden, stonehenge garden and other botanical gardens. Entrance Fee is 400 baht which includes the Thai cultural show and an elephant show. Being too trusting, paid the driver the whole 600 baht when I arrived in Nong Nooch. After the tour, the driver was gone along with his promises. Had to find another car that will take me to Jomtien which cost another 400 baht.
On the 22nd, I went to Pattaya U-Tapao International Airport for my plane that will take me to Koh Samui. On the way to the airport, i saw the buddha mountain where the actual image is said to be done in solid gold bar. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take a picture of it because my camera was lost somewhere at the back of my luggage. I heard that Airport in Koh Samui is owned exclusively by Bangkok Airways which makes my fare expensive i think. They have a monopoly of the market. Cost of my roundtrip ticket is 7000 baht which is almost the same as my roundtrip ticket from Cebu to Thailand. It took one hour to travel from Pattaya to Samui.
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