Getting Acqainted - Part 1
Dan Scott, my direct report in Thailand and the fellow who brought me over here, had at least organised one of his contracted project managers, Ninad, to make contact with me on the Sunday afternoon, and bring me up to speed on transport arrangements and the like....
He kindly walked me over to the shopping centre up the road, pointed out a few eateries and took me to the hypermarket style store in the mall. I needed an adaptor for my computer and battery charger. They did not have, but Ninad assured me that I would be able to arrange something at the office in the morning.
Ninad gave me a few pointers on life at Bella Villa, EDS and GM and I welcomed his input. Ninad has been on contract at GM Thailand, for EDS, on and off for some 8 months, so he knows the ropes. He was preparing to head back to India on the Tuesday.
So, I had pointers, knew what time to be ready for work, where to meet the fellows and was now free to explore!?
Which way is the beach!
I strolled westward down Soi 4, a scraggly street, but then they all are, taking in the sights. A new high-rise being built on the right, just next to the Bella Villa, a walled but open stand with a decaying 6 foot corrugated iron fence on the left, hiding an unkempt mess. Then, on the right, an expensive looking hotel apartment block complete with private security guards and on the left, still that rusty fence. Still further, a mid range hotel with an expansive deck jutting out toward the road, at the first floor level, bedecked with umbrellas and chairs, around a swimming pool I presume. Now there is a building with a laundry service, internet cafe and cheap rooms on the right and coming up on the left is an all-night 7-Eleven. Outside the 7-Eleven are a number of motorbikes with sidecars serving a variety of local snack foods, sausages, kebabs and the like, another loaded with fruit, pineapple and what I later learn is Nah! a large litchi type fruit, but the peel is a bright red with brown coloured soft spikes about 3 to 5 mm in length. They look frightening and poisonous, but are refreshing and rather tasty. Directly opposite is Suzie Go-Go Bar with an elaborate entrance way, but there never seems to be anything going there, apart from the occasional 2 or 3 people sitting outside at a table having a smoke. I have never seen anyone go either in or out, and I walk by there often!? Suzie's big action would be Suzie Beer Bar which is on the corner of Beach Road and is part of the Go-Go Bar building (The same one you spotted in the photos I posted to the web). Always a million gais but seldom any patrons, how they make money, I wonder!?
Over Beach Road and I'm on the promenade which runs the length of Pattaya Bay, some 4 KM.
The beach is, at first a disappointment, where is the space I am so accustomed to, umbrellas and chairs everywhere, very little open sandy areas and touts everywhere. It is quite daunting. How does this work, how much does it cost to hire a chair, etc, etc. I decide to skip wandering onto the beach, or what there is of it to wonder onto, and head south down the promenade, taking in the sights and sounds of Pattaya on a Sunday afternoon.
I am struck by how calm everything is, even though the road is busy and the beach area is quite full. It is relaxed, with people lazing about in deck chairs under the umbrellas. Not many children to be seen though, a handful cavorting in the shallows and a few teenagers bobbing in the water just off shore!
I stroll down the promenade for about a kilometre, turn around and head back as it is now late afternoon. I have covered about 1km, but it has taken the better part of 2 hours, stopping to look at all the new things, wandering through the stalls selling trinkets and clothing, snack foods and ornaments..... getting a feel for what is available and what they cost.
I arrive back at Bella Villa as night falls and head up to my room to freshen up, it has been hot, humid, a long walk and a shower does the trick. I am now ready to try the food, but what and where is not decided! Should I eat at Bella, no, boring, head up to the mall, Alan.
I eventually settle on a Western Styled restaurant and after studying the menu from cover to cover, opt for a pork schnitzel, with some veg of the day and a beer. (Beer for me here is Heineken) The food is mostly tasteless and I end up spicing it up with a sweet chilli sauce which is available on the table. It is now about 9 PM and after the trials, tribulations and frustrations of my long journey, all be it in Business Class, I am feeling tired and return to the Bella to turn in for the night.
I scan through the TV Channels, Thai, Japanese, Indian, Portuguese, French, Italian, more Thai, ah! a sport channel (Thai commentary of an English Premier league game), another (English commentary), a movie channel (Thai subtitles), another, discovery channel and BBC world news......that will do!
He kindly walked me over to the shopping centre up the road, pointed out a few eateries and took me to the hypermarket style store in the mall. I needed an adaptor for my computer and battery charger. They did not have, but Ninad assured me that I would be able to arrange something at the office in the morning.
Ninad gave me a few pointers on life at Bella Villa, EDS and GM and I welcomed his input. Ninad has been on contract at GM Thailand, for EDS, on and off for some 8 months, so he knows the ropes. He was preparing to head back to India on the Tuesday.
So, I had pointers, knew what time to be ready for work, where to meet the fellows and was now free to explore!?
Which way is the beach!
I strolled westward down Soi 4, a scraggly street, but then they all are, taking in the sights. A new high-rise being built on the right, just next to the Bella Villa, a walled but open stand with a decaying 6 foot corrugated iron fence on the left, hiding an unkempt mess. Then, on the right, an expensive looking hotel apartment block complete with private security guards and on the left, still that rusty fence. Still further, a mid range hotel with an expansive deck jutting out toward the road, at the first floor level, bedecked with umbrellas and chairs, around a swimming pool I presume. Now there is a building with a laundry service, internet cafe and cheap rooms on the right and coming up on the left is an all-night 7-Eleven. Outside the 7-Eleven are a number of motorbikes with sidecars serving a variety of local snack foods, sausages, kebabs and the like, another loaded with fruit, pineapple and what I later learn is Nah! a large litchi type fruit, but the peel is a bright red with brown coloured soft spikes about 3 to 5 mm in length. They look frightening and poisonous, but are refreshing and rather tasty. Directly opposite is Suzie Go-Go Bar with an elaborate entrance way, but there never seems to be anything going there, apart from the occasional 2 or 3 people sitting outside at a table having a smoke. I have never seen anyone go either in or out, and I walk by there often!? Suzie's big action would be Suzie Beer Bar which is on the corner of Beach Road and is part of the Go-Go Bar building (The same one you spotted in the photos I posted to the web). Always a million gais but seldom any patrons, how they make money, I wonder!?
Over Beach Road and I'm on the promenade which runs the length of Pattaya Bay, some 4 KM.
The beach is, at first a disappointment, where is the space I am so accustomed to, umbrellas and chairs everywhere, very little open sandy areas and touts everywhere. It is quite daunting. How does this work, how much does it cost to hire a chair, etc, etc. I decide to skip wandering onto the beach, or what there is of it to wonder onto, and head south down the promenade, taking in the sights and sounds of Pattaya on a Sunday afternoon.
I am struck by how calm everything is, even though the road is busy and the beach area is quite full. It is relaxed, with people lazing about in deck chairs under the umbrellas. Not many children to be seen though, a handful cavorting in the shallows and a few teenagers bobbing in the water just off shore!
I stroll down the promenade for about a kilometre, turn around and head back as it is now late afternoon. I have covered about 1km, but it has taken the better part of 2 hours, stopping to look at all the new things, wandering through the stalls selling trinkets and clothing, snack foods and ornaments..... getting a feel for what is available and what they cost.
I arrive back at Bella Villa as night falls and head up to my room to freshen up, it has been hot, humid, a long walk and a shower does the trick. I am now ready to try the food, but what and where is not decided! Should I eat at Bella, no, boring, head up to the mall, Alan.
I eventually settle on a Western Styled restaurant and after studying the menu from cover to cover, opt for a pork schnitzel, with some veg of the day and a beer. (Beer for me here is Heineken) The food is mostly tasteless and I end up spicing it up with a sweet chilli sauce which is available on the table. It is now about 9 PM and after the trials, tribulations and frustrations of my long journey, all be it in Business Class, I am feeling tired and return to the Bella to turn in for the night.
I scan through the TV Channels, Thai, Japanese, Indian, Portuguese, French, Italian, more Thai, ah! a sport channel (Thai commentary of an English Premier league game), another (English commentary), a movie channel (Thai subtitles), another, discovery channel and BBC world news......that will do!