Pattaya...

I took a taxi to Pattaya on friday, but having taken the bus back for only 113 Baht (from Pattaya to Ekkamai bus stations) - from here on in, that will be my preferred method of transport. Actually, my dad and family moved from the sattahip flat (about a half our south of pattaya, give or take) to an apartment in north pattaya.

Wong Amat beach is north of the crowded and crazy jomtien beach, and it really is pretty and clean... removed, yet a mere motorbike-ride away from all the "pattaya action". This flat isn't quite as pretty, but it has space and it is on right the beach, and has a lovely pool. And has a fantastic view (from the 15th floor)...

The building has several little girls that go to school with my sister (who just turned 9), so now she has playmates (a highly imaginative north irish girl who wants to be called Isadora and the cutest little dutch sisters...), and it's safe enough around there that they get to run around a bit on their own...

My filipina friend came down saturday (as well as two russian girls who were staying in town). We spent a few hours on the beach - vendors come around with food - you can get a 1/2 dozen giant shrimp for 100 Baht ($3)...fried chicken, corn, fruit, and ice cream are also choices...

After a few hours on the beach, we had german food for dinner and headed to Walking Street. I'd actually never been into Pattaya to hang out (the other apartment was a bit far). If "street walkers" is the next phrase that popped into your head, you wouldn't be so far off. It's not that there aren't plenty of nice people walking around - this street has dozens of bars with fun music, pool tables, dance floors, etc. It's just that you gotta be okay with the loads of men trolling for prostitutes (or near-prostitutes) - and vice versa.

Hey, everyone's entitled to a good time, after all, it's a Saturday night... but while we waited for our russian friends to arrive, i was propositioned three times - in 15 minutes! Like, how much... i admit, it was actually more amusing than anything... they were all middle eastern men - but they were, aside from the obvious insult, rather polite about it - and took my refusal very well (especially considering that i joked with all of them, instead of outright telling them i wasn't a prostitute) They all asked if i was russian (which has its own implications)... what was really strange, though, was that 10 feet away from me, there really were a couple of blondies in see-through bloomers, stilettos, and baby-dolls... a far cry from my jeans (not even tight!) and tank top (okay, a litte tight there).  So, is it actually a compliment that they picked me... I mean, look, that's what they (and scores of others) went to Pattaya for, so really, it comes with the territory, and at least they ASKED (not just take) - which is why i went easy on them. But really, their inability to even tell the difference, let alone grasp the concept that women can converse and socialize intelligently puts them light-years behind the times.

However, the rest of the night was fun - the lot of us even met some nice australians, and we had a grand ol' time of it.

But ask me if i prefer pattaya or khao san road (which many locals see as dirty and drug-ridden)... i'd take the open-eyed, nomadic youth of khao san over the single-minded whore-seekers (and its share of nasty drunks) of pattaya any day.