Memoirs Of A Graduate

THAILAND


So home from Thailand and what an amazing two weeks it was. Following 14 hours of travelling, 7 hours to Doha, and hour stop over and then a 6 hour flight Doha to Bangkok, I was exhausted but excitable. I slept in the taxi from Bangkok to Pattaya but by the time we reached the hotel I just wanted to explore.

Grand Mirage Hotel

 

Balcony view of hotel grounds

The first night we explored the ‘easy-going’ nightlife, Soi 7 and Soi 8. Roads composed entirely of bars, tightly compact, as many as 8 bars under on single roof. It really is something to take in – a Wednesday night and the place was as busy as Concert Square on a Saturday. But in Thailand, every night is a Saturday. They don’t do ‘weekends’. There nightlife doesn’t stop. Bargirls chant as you walk past trying to coax you into their bar. Street sellers wander up to you with everything imaginable, it’s not just your usual watches and jarg DVD’s holiday crap, anything you could want to buy they have; clothes, nice shoes, all sorts. Everywhere you look there’s motorbikes with barbeque sidecars... cooking chicken, pork, sausages, fresh fish squid, chopping up fresh fruit.. 10 baht for anything (about 20p).

The bar girls are wonderful friendly too, they play games, Connect 4 and Jenga. On our second night we played with a girl for hours, she had some alternate versions of Jenga that proved fun, especially when drunk. Hello new drinking games for home. At that point we experienced men walking up to you in bars with snakes, big pythons wrapped around there shoulders. And lemurs, the first time I saw a lemur I thought from the way it was being held; wrapped in a blanket being cradled that it was a small, ugly child. Many of the bars had bands too, asking for volunteers to get up. Of course this is Jake’s niche and he often got up for performances. Which sent the Thai people insane. They obviously enjoy 80’s rock because they were stamping their feet screaming for more

 Soi 7 and 8 are as well, like I said, the ‘easy going’ nightlife. There’s Soi 6, - which is lady boy central. An example of some of the names of Soi 6 bars; Big Batty Boom Bar, Willies Hang Out Bar. It becomes a game to spot them, and it’s usually an easy game. Then there’s Walking Street. The closest thing I can thing to compare it to is Las Vegas. Bright neon signs, miles long packed bars and clubs; all blasting music with girls outside grabbing you to try and get you to come to their bar. We took refuge in the Revolving Bar, a bar that literally revolves around as you sit. Fun but if you’re drunk it results in the worst case of spinnies I’ve ever had.

The days were action packed too. Our hotel wasn't far from the main stretch; Beach Road - an 8 mile long road stretching along the coast filled with shops, restaurants and tattoo and massage parlours. Massages is something we had a lot of, full body oil massage for £6. Authenic thai massage, £4. Hot stone massage, £6. Pampering at its best, and cheapest. We tried out the foot spa, they're not exclusive to Thailand but over here its a £10 for 10 minutes, there it was £2.50 for 20 minutes.

One day we took a trip to the Elephant park, riding Elephants through the park followed by a show where Elephants played ball games, painted pictures and danced. It was definetly an experience to see.

 

Another day we went out to one of the islands - a 20 minute speed boat ride off the main coast of Pattaya to a beautiful island. White sandy beaches, palm trees, turquoise ocean. Absolute paradise. We went on a Banana Boat which given my history of accidents perhaps in retrospect wasn't the brightest idea. On our final ride I flew off the boat forwards rather than sideways. I landed in the water infront of the banana and it hit me in the head. I ended up with a concussion, a bloody lip and some grazes. I recovered quick however and within an hour we had taken a motorbike up the mountain through dirtroads to a shooting range where I got my first experience of shooting a gun. Surprisingly fun, though I witnesses someone nearly dislocate their arm choosing to fire a shotgun so I thought it best to avoid that.

While this is a very brief sum up of the holiday; hopefully it should give a good idea of what Thailand was like. Beautiful hotels, beautiful islands, beautiful prices. I haven't even covered my 21st. It was amazing though, I got very spoilt; dozens of roses, beautiful jewellry, gorgeous canvas paintings, a new tattoo - and thats just the presents, the night was a bar hired out with my own private band playing (Jake got up himself of course). A buffet with a spit-roast pig (incidently the most gorgeous pork I've ever tasted). The bar girls decorated with hundreds of balloons, a massive banner and a cake for me. It was simply amazing, and definetly a memorable 21st.