The Pattaya style pork scratchings sellers

Hi

This first guy quite a familiar sight in naklua, looks somewhat ghostly as he chalks his face white.

Goes around selling the Pattaya version of pork scratchings

One of the rival sellers, she also has been around quite some time.

Load up that motorbike

The following picture not an unusual sight at all in Pattaya as they use motorbikes to carry a wide range of items and will frequently overload them.

This one being used for a laundry delivery

Pattaya today

Hi

It has been a hot day, temperature around 31/32 C .
Usually from early April to late May/early June can be the hottest time of the year with the temperature hardly dropping at night.

The high humidity level ( approx 75 % ) makes it feel hotter still.
It certainly is important to be drinking enough water.

Some rain is forecast for the coming week which could make it feel a little more comfortable albeit just temporarily.

Whilst out for a walk and to do some shopping, took a quick photo of the current exchange rates between some popular currencies and the Thai baht.
Currency exchange booths all over the city, some marginally better than others.

Nearby one of the many fruit stalls at a market

Royal Masala restaurant review

Hi

Royal Masala restaurant is one of the newer Indian restaurants in Pattaya, located on Pratumnak Road.

I tried it last week.

Popadums, a small onion and tomato salad to accompany,  nan bread,then chicken tikka masala as a main served with pilau rice.

1 large ( 660 ml ) beer and the total bill came to a fairly reasonable 600 baht ( approx US $ 18 )

The mobile sellers

Hi

There are many mobile sellers of goods here in Pattaya, amazing just what can be bought when sitting at a bar/restaurant or just out on the streets generally.

A welcome snack cake seller, cost just 10 baht per piece, about 20 pence UK.

Or maybe some plants

Pattaya cables

Hi

They are not in to neat placing of cables here, some places look like spaghetti junction :

British bar owner succeeds in fending off motorbike theft

Fortunately a rare event but a British Pattaya bar owner managed to fend off 6 Thais who attempt to hijack his motorbike, he did well with the odds against him.


http://pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/183119/british-bar-owner-fights-off-gang-of-youths-in-east-pattaya/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PattayaOneNews+%28Pattaya+One+News%29

Grottino Italian restaurant

Hi
This is located in soi 33 naklua, near the well known Dolphin roundabout.
Opening hours 5.00 PM - 12.30 AM
Italian run.

I`ve tried it a couple of times, excellent food and good service.
It has both an indoor air con section and an outside terrace area with fans.
Only slightly above mid range pricing and worth it for the food quality.

A glass of house wine was 130 baht  ( exchange rate is approximately 32 baht to 1 US $ )
Carafes and bottles also available.

The tasty lasagne was 280 baht

An Italian style ice cream about 130 baht, nice rich taste.

Pattaya Pharmacies

Hi

It is incredible just how many pharmacies there are here, on many busy streets there will be several.
Within 10 minutes walk of where I live, there is probably more than 20.

Not that it is particularly unhealthy living here, just seems to be a very common shop type and a Thai obsession with taking loads of different tablets whenever they have a very minor ailment..

Unlike in the UK, pharmacies here can and do sell antibiotics without prescription.
Useful in one way, perhaps unwise in another.

Prices are generally reasonable.

You can buy unrestricted amounts of paracetamol & ibuprofen, again unlike the UK.
You cannot however buy in a pharmacy anything containing codeine, it is a restricted drug, so things like nurofen plus ( ibuprofen + codeine ) co-codamol ( paracetamol + codeine ) cannot be bought.

A hospital pharmacy may be able to supply it.

Long opening hours, many pharmacies being open until 10.00 PM/midnight and there is at least 1 24 hour one that I am aware of, which would suggest there is probably a few more.

Pattaya Today

Hi

Now entered the hot season here, with humidity adding to some discomfort.

Quite a lot of foreigners who stay here for long periods of time have headed home, Europe etc., others leaving soon.

Some spend time here in the European winters months to escape the cold then return when the worst of their own winter is over.

Even some Thais commenting about the heat.
It will likely be like this for the next 2 months or so

Greed can be ugly and shortsighted

Hi

I was earlier talking to a friend of mine out here in Pattaya.

He had been a couple of times to a small bar/restaurant.
Ordered the same food dish.

On the 3rd visit the price went up by 20 %, not marked on the menu.

He queried it but was given the explanation that prices have risen and he paid

His Thai girlfriend however heard a different explanation.

" He is a foreigner, they have a lot of money, he can pay more "

Result is that the bar/restaurant has lost a customer.

International music festival Pattaya

Hi

Today is the start of an International music festival in Pattaya, lasting 3 days.
The event has been running every year for a number of years.

One drawback is that it does create traffic chaos as one of the major roads, Beach Road is closed to vehicle traffic.
Other roads also badly affected as people choose alternative routes.

Even walking near the various stage venues can be difficult.

http://pattayamusicfest.com/home/

Pattaya now - temperature rising

Hi

It is quite a contrast from just a month ago, which although was warm not as hot and  humid as now.
The increased humidity making it feel hotter than it is.

Next month both will increase more as well as the risk of some sharp heavy thundery showers.

Tourist numbers a little down,as we move away from high season.

Quite a lot of expats/long stayers also decide to return home at about this time of the year, having hopefully escaped the harshest of their winter period.

Recycling Thai style

Hi

Here empty glass bottles, as well as plastic ones and cans have a value.

Quite a lot of Thais make a living of sorts from collecting them and then selling on to a recycling facility.

Some just walk around collecting them, some cycle or use a motorbike, sometimes with a side car attached.

Others use a larger vehicle.

Load up as much as possible !

Cafe Patini soi bukhao Good Value & good Service

Hi

Another one of many bistro/restaurants here.
Comprises of an indoor air con section, about 10 tables and an outdoor slightly raised ( from the very busy main road ) terrace area with 6 tables.

Good menu selection, mostly western/British orientated but with a Thai food section also.

Very reasonable pricing.

I had a fairly good roast beef dinner, the beef itself tender, which can often be a problem here, Thai beef often tough, the main and safer meats are chicken and pork.

The above cost just 149 baht /about 3 GBP / under US $ 5

Drinks reasonably priced, Diet Coke 40 baht, glass of house wine 80 baht.

Finished off with a nice Apple & Raisin pie with ice cream, not the cheapest at 125 baht but tasty

Fish and chips at 169 baht, didn`t eat it myself, looked fine though, maybe another time.

Temperature up and a dry spell

Hi

Just entering March and the temperature is increasing a little, with a lovely blue sky today.

There`s only been one very brief rain shower within the last week, lasting a mere 10 minutes or so and overall very little rain within the last few weeks.

The temperature usually increases gradually through March and then rises more in April.
April & May and to a certain extent September which is a rainy month are the only months where I can sometimes feel a little uncomfortable, some very hot & humid days.

Even some of the Thais I  speak to feel it is too hot in  April, which is also the month in which  the  "water festival" Songkran is held.

In Pattaya it runs for longer than in other parts of the country and unfortunately some take it to extremes, some expats decide to leave whilst it is on, often taking a break in nearby countries.
I will do a post explaining it nearer the time or whilst it is on.

La petite planete restaurant review

Hi

As the name suggests, this is a French style bistro/restaurant located on soi Day Night pattaya tai ( south pattaya road.) by Tukcom IT center, very well known.
Telephone number is 038723755.

I have been 2 times, very pleased with it.
Service is good, food is good, considering the very low prices.
A 3 course set menu is available at 320 baht ( about GBP 6 )
Even 3 courses al la carte would come in at about 400 baht.
Limited menu.

On my first visit I had country pate starter, beef bourguignon with sauted potatoes and a small quantity of vegetable.
Apple pie and ice cream for desert.

Small portions but all tasty

House wine OK and reasonably priced.

Star Focus bar pattaya klang

Hi

Just an example of one of the many bars in Pattaya, tere is estimated to be approximately 2000 + of them , the figure doesn`t surprise me.
"pattaya klang " merely means central pattaya ( a major road )

I  popped in to this bar merely because I recognised the excellent voice of a Thai lady singer who used to work in anther bar that I used to frequent

One of the all too familiar Pattaya ladyboys, loads of them here

This shows the lady singer that I rate, to the right of the picture as you look at it

One more photo, it was fairly quiet, not many customers and that on a Saturday night

Jocky`s Bar Restaurant soi Lenkgee off soi Bukhao British style pub grub

Hi

This is a bar/restaurant with 2 branches in Pattaya, one on soi bukhao ( a major soi/street ) and one on soi lengkee which runs off soi bukhao.

I tried the latter, every day they put a " special " on with a generous discount to the standard price.

Busy and popular and a decent deal.

I had their beef & chicken roast combo,with roast potato, OK only 2 small ones, mashed potato, Yorkshire Pudding, 1 but it was nice + a small amount of vegetables.

Usually about 240 baht ( 5 GBP ) reduced on the day to 150 baht ( 3 GBP )

Not top quality but a big plate of acceptable food for a very reasonable price.

Service good, air con inside or sit outside underneath fans.

Soft drinks about 45 baht, beers from about 60 baht, all very fair.

Doggies in tuk tuk

Unlike Bangkok, which has many tuk tuks, they are quite rare in Pattaya.

Here`s one caught in traffic transporting some dogs

Then a little later fuelling up at the gas station

The yellow label discounted items buyers at Tesco Lotus Pattaya

The UK based supermarket Tesco operates as Tesco Lotus here, some Thais refer to it merely as "Lotus"
Every evening one or 2 staff will go around the fresh produce section reducing prices on certain products that are either on or very near their Sell By Date.

This attracts quite a following, mostly Thai but some foreigners also.
It can at times be like a mini scrum as people jostle for position.

Some of the buyers probably need the reduced prices, others maybe just like spending as little as possible.

There is an interesting article by Zoe Williams writing for the Guardian that describes a very similar situation in the UK

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/oct/25/tales-tesco-reduced-to-clear-aisle

Restaurant review Alby & Mickeys Italian soi bukhao

Hi

Another Italian restaurant on soi bukhao, Italian owner with Thai wife.

Mostly Italian customers.

Good service, reasonable prices for here.

Foccacio with garlic and rosemary topping, about 110 baht ( £2,20 )

Main course Tortelloni, beef filling with bolognese sauce served with Parmesan cheese

House wine OK at 350 baht a 1/2 litre ( £ 7 )

Pattaya Christmas 2014

Being mostly a Buddhist country, Christmas is mostly insignificant in Thailand but as there are a lot of expats as well as tourists in Pattaya at that time, they do put on  bit of effort.

This just outside a shopping centre in Pattaya

Many Thais do actually seem to enjoy it.

Some restaurants putting on Xmas dinners etc.

Quite a lot of bars put on free food and one small bar area closes the street to vehicle traffic to allow more room for tables and chairs

Walking Street

Some photos from the famous or perhaps infamous Walking Street, approximately 1 kilometre in length, closed to traffic in the evening/night time.

It houses a lot of racy gogo bars, other bars, restaurants as well as a few shops.

Prices above average as it is a major tourist draw, fairly safe but onw would want to be aware of the danger of pickpockets.

Entrance to Walking Street

Beer bar just at the start of Walking Street

Live music bar

Seafood restaurant, popular but over rated

Another seafood restaurant, comment above also applies

Another beer bar, not the name " Crazy bar beer ", fairly appropriate for some of the bars here

The darker side of Pattaya and it`s bars

A foreigner was beaten unconscious after a bar bill dispute, not far from where I stay.

Not entirely uncommon unfortunately.


Late on Monday Night, a foreign national thought to be aged in his mid-thirties, was beaten unconscious by Security Guards and Motorbike Taxi Drivers, over a presumed non-payment of a bar bill, even though the foreigner intended to pay the bill but needed to use a nearby ATM to withdraw money to settle the debt.

The incident occurred at the V.I.P. Beer Bar Complex located on the Naklua Road and left the foreign man with head-injuries. The incident occurred outside of the Honey Beer Bar at the front of the complex where the victim was drinking. His final bill was 1,300 Baht but he only had 600 Baht in his pocket. He informed bar workers that he would cross the street and use an ATM where he would withdraw the additional 700 Baht to settle the bill.

As he left, Security Guards, who appeared to misunderstand the situation, shouted at the man to return but he continued to walk across the road. One of the guards then struck the victim over the head. A group of motorbike taxi drivers stationed nearby were called in to assist the guards, who then collectively assaulted the man until he was rendered unconscious.......

http://www.pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/166278/foreigner-beaten-unconscious-over-bill-payment-issue-at-north-pattaya-beer-bar/

As daylight fades

There is a large open air beer bar located just before " Walking Street ", quite a nice spot to look over the Pattaya bay.

Drinks prices fairly reasonable and service OK.

Photo shows a part of the bar

Looking back towards the beach line

Floating restaurant, colorful at night, I`ve never tried it

View from the Pattaya Beer Garden towards a nearby seafood restaurant

Restaurant review Tikka centre soi bukhao

Hi

A review of this very basic Indian restaurant which is located on soi bukhao, one of the main pattaya roads, easily located and the Tikka Centre is located on it almost opposite the entrance to soi LK Metro.

I`ve been here about 20 times, food is fairly consistent, gets close to UK style Indian restaurants.

It has an indoor air con section, about 8- 10 tables and just 2 tables outside.

Very noisy if you are eating outside, 2 bars flank it playing music at high volume.

Good choice on the menu and reasonable prices.

A couple of poppadoms with a very small side of onion and tomato, 20 baht ( less then 50 pence GBP)

Lamb seekh kebab, quite tasty although would be bettered in the UK, about 180 baht ( 3.50 GBP )

Nan bread, there was 6 slices but ate half before taking photo, 40 baht ( sub 1 GBP )

Chicken tikka masala  150 baht ( 3 GBP ) plus pillau rice  60 baht ( 1.2 GBP )

Quite nice, one of the better ones in Pattaya as well as being amongst the cheapest.

I`ve paid more here for lesser quality.