Getting to Pattaya (Part 3)

 

The Taxi was making slow progress along Beach Road in the heavy traffic as I turned my gaze towards the sea, directly opposite the myriad array of Bars. There were a couple of large, brightly lit boats, which had been converted into floating Restaurants, anchored amidst a fleet of smaller boats bobbing around on the Sea. There were many people wandering along the Promenade beside the Beach, enjoying the cool breeze drifting in from the sea in the warmth of the early evening. It wasn’t difficult to spot the ‘Freelancers’ hanging about along the Prom. I marvelled at the fact that they were allowed to do this without being arrested. I’d read that Prostitution was illegal in Thailand, how did they get away with it I wondered? Maybe it was because they were operating ‘passively.’ Not hustling Guys, but rather waiting for Guys to talk to them. I’d been warned against picking up one of these Girls as many were ‘druggies,’ high on Yabaa and booze. (Yabaa, an amphetamine based drug smuggled over the Border from Burma.) And that there were quite a few Katoeys (Lady Boys) among them.

       My Hotel was located on Soi 13, and as we approached and passed the Soi, I was about to say something to the Driver when I noticed that it was a one way street, and that it was against us. A couple of hundred yards later we turned on to Soi 13/2 ( Pattayaland 1) WOW! Amazing! This was GoGo Land! Both sides of the Street were stuffed with GoGo Bars, projecting their neon lights and offering all kinds of delights… if you would only step inside. Outside every bar were a swarm of Girls trying to entice passing Guys. Virtually all the Girls I saw were absolutely beautiful. Just incredible! As the Taxi crept up the Soi toward Second Road, one or two of the Girls spotted me in the Taxi and came over, saying “hello hansum man” and waving. Although I felt a little intimidated by this, I loved it. It was just as I’d read on the Forum. ‘Shangri-La’ really did exist in Pattaya.

 Another good friend that I made on the Forum was Roy. Also from America. Unlike Jimmy, Roy was no ‘Newbie.’ He’d been to Pattaya many times before and recommended a Hotel on Soi 13… ‘The Haven.’

Others on the Forum had stayed in this Hotel, and there were few complaints. This was a small family run Hotel with approximately 20 rooms on two levels, centred around a small swimming pool. Roy sent me a few photographs of the Hotel, which appeared to suite me just fine. The price was well within my budget at 750bht per night. I knew Jimmy was staying there, but to my delight, I discovered during the next few days, that other Forum members were there during the same time as us. Let the adventure begin.