Flash Floods and the Battle of the Baht Bus

I was so excited to take Brian to the Mall on friday.

I have only been once with Tania, and it made me so happy to see a mall like back home!!! Plus there are so many dentists and spas in the mall :) I knew seeing all the "proper" bread places would make Brian happy too!!!

We left sorta late. Brian had to go running first. His normal routine of running on the beach at sunset.

We decided to take the Baht bus. Why deal with traffic? We paid 10 Baht this time!!!! We were made aware that the Baht bus should only cost 10 Baht one way not 20 Baht.

We ate at a delicious Japanese/Sushi restaurant on the top floor. Sooo good and not very expensive by Baht standards either. Mochi Ice cream for dessert!

We walked around the mall for a bit. The smell of rain was wafting into the mall. Brian was getting pretty anxy looking at spa treatments. He wanted to get to bed early because he was doing his Advance Certification tomorrow. I had no idea it was already close to 10:00 p.m. We only got through 3 of the 5 floors! Boo, I didn't want to leave.

As we neared the doors we could see the downpour. Everyone was crowded around the doors and sitting along the outside of the mall covered by the overhanging roof. I already knew getting home would be a struggle in this weather. If the Baht bus does not have passengers they usually will haggle you for a higher fare. I had already experienced this. Brian had not.

We took off into the rain. We flagged down a baht bus. He wanted 200 Baht to go to Jomtien. We got out.

We walked down the street more in the downpour. This is the ideal situation for the drivers to make alot of money in a short period of time. We flagged down another one with passengers in it. He said he was going to Jomtien, but he lied. He took us across the street to the main hub of Baht Buses. We had to pay the 10 Baht. It wasn't ideal, but it was a good location to get dropped off at if it couldn't be our house.

This main intersection was flooding fast! We had to cross two streets to get to the Baht Buses. We crossed over one street and started walking down. The water was up to my ankles. Each time a car would pass, a wave of water would come hurling at you. This is dirty smelly water too, not beautiful clear rain water. The water dramatically got higher. People were walking knee deep in the water on the side walk. I made Brian turn around. There was no way I was walking through that. It would probably be even higher on me!

Alot of the other farang were in the same situation as us. How to get to the Baht buses on the other side, and for us not pay outrageous prices. We starting walking down the street again where it was not flooding yet. We flagged down a baht bus. He wasn't going to Jomtien. Burn. I could tell Brian was getting upset. He wanted to get to bed early and never really wanted to come to the mall in the first place.

We flagged down another Baht Bus - No passengers. Great. He wanted 200 Baht to go to Jomtien too. Awesome... Then, out of nowhere a Thai woman with an old man came up to the bus. They needed to go to Jomtien too. The new deal was we would pay 100 Baht and he would pay 100 Baht.

We took it! We're not dumb. We weren't going to get a better offer than that until after the rain stopped. And there was no telling how soon that would be. I had an anxious boyfriend who needed to get home too!!!!

We got in. The Baht bus turned and started going through the water. I was amazed that we were able to wade through that water. It was nearly up to the floor of the bus. You could hear the engine struggling. I had never experience anything like that before. There were people on their motorbikes behind us. "No way in hell," were Brian's exact words. He was right... How were they able to stay upright and drive? Brian and I would have tipped over. 

We passed the worst portion of the flooding and the old man rang the buzzer. The Thai woman looked a little confused too. Shit, we are going to get kicked out and have to find another Baht bus. But, the old man paid the 100 Baht.  It did little to calm my nerves. Each time the driver slowed down, I thought we were getting the boot.

The old man got off at another hotel, perhaps his wife was back at the Jomtien Hotel.  Either way, I was very grateful for that dirty old man and Thai hooker.

We went through another section of deep water. The usual road we took ahead was closed off. We took a detour. Benefit - We found little India.

Finally, we were half way home. It seemed like forever trying to get home. Paying 100 Baht was seeming more and more like a wonderful price! Having to deal with the traffic and water was worth it. As we neared Beach Road, the flooding started again. We picked up two other passengers on the side of the road. They were so happy to find a Baht bus. Beach road was pretty empty. All the Baht buses were in the city trying to make money.

The driver started to fly down beach road. You could tell he wanted to be back in the city too.

Brian and I made it home. It was still raining. As Brian says, "We had to experience the rain eventually." Next time we will check the weather.

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.