Pattaya

Of all the things that I have heard about Thailand, I have heard the beaches there are unbelievably amazing. As much as I like sun and the beach, I couldn’t possibly miss out on that. After having the guidance of our Thai receptionist at the hostel, I set out on my trek to the beach. Taking the train to the bus and the bus two hours south to Pattaya. If you look it up, you will understand why that was my final choice, it was the same place the the movie “Beaches” was filmed. 

Note 1: Always listen to your mother! She said to me on more than one occasion, “I’m a little concerned about the language barrier... don’t you think that will make your travel a bit difficult?” I, with my oh so optimistic attitude often shrug off the not so joyful aspects of things and focus on the positive and exciting points. I can write about this now that I am safe and sound, but my bus trip to Pattaya was one of the most nerve racking two hours of my life. Not because I felt threatened but because I was the only english speaking white girl on the bus. And as they stopped at each stop my heart raced to see something that matched my directions... but would I even know it, as most everything is in Thai with only a few signs using the alphabet. I know that I looked panicked as I looked almost in circles searching for a bit of hope, when a young Thai man speaking good english asked me if I needed help. He directed to my stop and to where a taxi would be that could take me to my hotel. Before I found a taxi I asked a security guard, knowing they usually speak english, where about my hotel was. After taking the entire group to find it on a map, he offered to take me there for a larger price than average. At the moment I didn’t think twice. Who cares if you get ripped off by a security guard, right? I was glad to find my hotel safely and unwind all the nerves. 

I spent the rest of the day at the beach. Finally catching up on a few cat naps when I was rudely awakened by a Russian that just wanted to give me a banana milkshake as a gift. That was when I thought I should call it a day. As I am unbelievably allergic to bananas I thought it had to bad juju, not to mention that most Russians can be aggressively brash and I was not in the mood. 

After many stressful hours of travel and not much sleep in the last week, I took myself back to my hotel and had my first and hopefully my last meltdown of the trip. After a good cry, a short nap and a shower, I got ready and went out on the town. I wasn’t much in the lively mood but you can’t be in new and exotic place and not take some time to see what it is all about. 

I ended my night with my first Thai massage. Its something that they say everyone should experience as it is unbelievably inexpensive, and most would say just unbelievable. However, I am not most. Some parts were indeed amazing, but I am not one that likes to be touched much by people I do not know and in general I don’t get too touchy with those I do know. So to say the least I found my massage a bit invasive for my liking. When in Rome... I guess. That is what traveling is all about.