Walking Street

We decided to take the Baht bus into town rather than ride in on the motorbike. We are still learning the roads and are still beginners on the bikes. Right hand turns still make us nervous. Having gone into town with Tom and Cob before, we know it can get pretty busy especially at night. Pattaya/Jomtien comes to life once the sun sets. It's a whole new world.

A baht bus is pretty much a pick up truck with bars and a top over the bed. You see them running up and down the street. They usually stop if they see you on the street or honk at you as to ask if you want a ride. If nothing else, you just stick your hand out and one will stop. It's not unusually to see a Baht bus filled to capacity with several people hanging out the back. Again, limited rules in Thailand regarding safety.

Example of safety! Always be careful walking by low hanging wires or wires on the street!

Once you get to your destination, you ring a bell and the driver stops. Most Baht buses have fixed routes, so you want to make sure your going in the right direction. Apparently, in the past there was a lot of discrepancy about fare. Farangs were being charged double what Thai's paid. The government stepped in to pacify the problem. A typical fare on the Baht bus is 10-20 Baht one way. If you go further the price increases.

Since we live right off the beach, it was easy to flag one down. It was nice not having to worry about driving or traffic. Brian pounded at least 2 beers on the ride. He was happy not to be driving! It only took around 15 mins to get to Central/South Pattaya. Time of course varies according to the number of passengers/stops, but we really do not live far from the city anyway.

We got off and paid the driver. We went into a Kodak store to buy batteries for our point-and-shoot camera. The batteries we bought at the corner store lasted 30 seconds but only cost 24 baht. We should have know better, but no other batteries where offered anyway. The new batteries were 80 baht.

A whimsical mannequin along the walk.

No more than 5 minutes of walking from getting off the bus, we where standing at the beginning of Walking Street. This is probably the most famous part of Pattaya. It is know for its bars and sex scene. I expected to see scandalous dressed girls, but was not expecting to be offered sex show after sex show... We barely made it in under the sign that said, "Walking Street," before we where being barraded by men trying to sell shows.

The Beginning of Walking Street

Looking down Walking Street

Men along walking street offer sex shows with these pamphlets. A bit raunchy, but some make you wonder...

 Something for everyone in Pattaya.

For a Saturday night, It wasn't very crowded. It is the slow season right now.

There are alot of seafood restaurants on walking street as well. Most overlook the water. In addition to tons of bars and clubs, there are also alot of places to buy suits. Apparently, buying suites is big in Pattaya. Perhaps all of Thailand, I'm not sure.

We walked through Walking Street. It really isn't that long of a street. It ends at a boardwalk. It is here that you can see the Pattaya City sign. We walked out on the wharf hoping to get to the restaurant at the end. Unfortunately, the restaurant is floating. The men at the beginning of the wharf take you out there by boat. I have no idea how much that costs, but we didn't do it. Maybe later...

Pattaya Sign

We met a farang who offered to take our picture. He was with a Thai girl, V or B. Brian and I argue as to what her name was. I think V... He thinks B... Either way he was part of the U.S. Navy. Their boat had just docked yesterday. That explains why we saw so many military guys on Walking Street. There are several Military Bases close to Pattaya. After all, it is the U.S. Miliatary that made Pattaya what it is today.

Since this side of Walking Street dead ends, We decided to walk back through to the beginning and go along the beach. We checked out restaurants along the way, but everything is rather pricey. Granted it is a tourist area, and we all know the more touristy the place - the more expensive. If you were just visiting Thailand, the prices would not be that bad. You would think you were getting a bargain. Paying 150-250 Baht for a meal seems reasonable. However, living here is a different story. I am used to paying under 100 Baht for a meal. Then again, I am on a humble teachers salary... not on vacation.

Hydration is key in Thailand! ~ That's my excuse for buying the beverage!!!! But Starbucks is still rather pricey, but worth a try. Nothing really different on the menu... Not like in China. China was alot more expensive too!!!

There are tons of girls sitting at the bars as though waiting for business. Most look bored. It was a rather slow night... perhaps things pick up the later it gets. We left around 8:30 P.M.  I wonder if they are paid by certain bars to entertain guests there? I'm sure the owners would like the girl's guests to rack up a pretty hefty tab in addition to paying for any services rendered. Prostitution is not illegal in Pattaya, but drugs are. But you can buy Viagra at any drugstore... no hard drugs are legal. Interesting fact to me.

It's not unusual to see girls dancing on poles or on top of tables as you walk through Walking Street. I suppose it is a way to draw in clientele. You do not see anything too risky on the street, everything scandalous is done behind curtains and for a premium price. You see strollers and children with their parents walking down the street. I do not think I would bring my children to such a place, but to each their own.

With Walking Street behind us, We walked along the beach and spotted a McDonalds. It is our thing to try every McDonalds outside of America. It is always interesting to see different menus and try the food. McDonalds is even expensive in Thailand... Not as expensive as in China though. The hamburgers we got tasted fine and the french fries were indistinguishable.

While we ate our meals, a couple more Military men came in with their Thai escorts. The girls where all too excited to be eating McDonalds.

We walked around the streets so more. Vendor after Vendor. Eventually we caught the Baht Bus home. Our trial run was a success.

This only perpetrates my name being synonymous with sexual innuendos. A Grand Theft Auto prostitute, a common stripper name, and now a Pattaya Go-Go Bar.