A full and mostly fun Tuesday started with a walk to, well, Walking Street. It was about a 7K round trip. Oddly enough, even though it was a flat street walk, I had some severe breathing issues that left me feeling light-headed. I had to stop twice to sit down and try and catch my breath. When I returned to the hotel, my blood oxygen was 89. My deep breathing exercise increased it to 91, but that’s still not good. I’m back in my usual mid-90s today and feeling better. Still, I made a doctor’s appointment for this afternoon at Pattaya International Hospital (conveniently located on the same street as my hotel) to try and gain some insights into what’s happening and what I might do about it. I’ll let you know how that goes tomorrow.
Here’s some of what I saw along the way to Walking Street:
The latest in Thai fashion.All the cool cats are getting stoned.You are never far from a pot stand. Now I was a big-time pothead between the ages of 15 and 25, but I can honestly say I’ve not even been tempted to smoke a doobie here. IF I were to try some weed again, I think I’d prefer ingesting it in a brownie.And there it is, the infamous Walking Street. Of course, there is little debauchery to be found during the daylight hours. After dark, things get more than a little wild. Or at least they used to. I noticed a lot of bars were advertising sexy Russian females as dancers. I’m not sure how many Russian expats and tourists there are these days; it appears from my observations that a wave of immigrants from India has displaced them.This guy was rockin’ it!I stopped to rest and have some lunch on the way back to my hotel. I’m not wanting to brag about it, but that pork dish came right off the Thai menu. I enjoyed it, too!I stopped at a convenience storefor a sweet snack to take back to the room. I don’t think it gets any more Thai than that; hell, I couldn’t even read what I was getting. Tasted a lot like chocolate chip cookies, though.
I took a nap and wrote yesterday’s post, then got ready to head out for a rendezvous with an old dart buddy from Barretto.
Good to see you again, Steve.
Steve returned home at the beginning of the scamdemic and got stuck there. When he was ready to return, the Philippines was still locked down for unvaccinated folks like him. So, he basically said, “fuck that,” and moved to Pattaya. He seems to be doing well here. Steve gave up drinking years ago, but since he plays darts, he knows the local bars (at least some of them). He graciously agreed to give me a tour of the bar district near his home. My friends from Barretto, Dave and Jo, also joined in the fun.
We met up at Steve’s home bar, I-Rovers, which is in the SK Metro bar district. We then strolled down Soi Buakhao, an area adjacent to SK Metro. But what blew me away was a bar area called Tree Town that I’d totally missed on my 2016 visit (if it was even there then). The number of bars in this town is mind-boggling. Even a guy like me who goes out every night would need months to visit them all, and my liver would probably fail before I completed the quest. I’m sure most folks just find the handful of places that suit them and become regulars. This is a tourist town, though, so I guess there are enough thirsty (and horny) visitors to keep these bars in business during high season.
Hey, it’s one of those street food places I’ve been hearing about!This guy seems to be green with envy for the good time I’m having.That’s me nearly every frickin’ night.Some of the names they come up with for these places are a hoot.Soi BuakhaoMore of that food on the street.I guess if these two bars merged it would make for one pretty ass.This Tree Town area really blew me away.Who says you can’t find Joy in a bar?“Hey baby, where have you been all my life?”I guess if you are going to have street food, it only makes sense to have street drinks too.We have a Voodoo bar in Barretto, too!All that walking around made us thirsty.Why do you think they call it “dope”?I felt like a king pissing in these golden urinals. This was the fanciest bar we visited, and they had gals dancing in t-backs and fishnet stockings right on the table in front of us—not my thing, but well done for those who enjoy it.It was getting late and time for me to make that 3K trek back to the hotel. I had yet to have a proper dinner. This place wasn’t an option because I wanted to try a little place I’d seen across the street from where I’m staying.
Alas, when I sat down to order, I was told the kitchen had just closed (it was 10:30). They said I could stay and drink, but I wanted to eat something before calling it a night. I remembered a place nearby that was open 24 hours, so I headed there.
Don’t be a hater. I’m just an American craving a taste of home. I’ll try the Thai place across the street again tonight.
And that was my Tuesday.
2 thoughts on “Fit to be Thaied”
I had some severe breathing issues that left me feeling light-headed.
How polluted is the air over there? From what I can see, Pattaya has a small population, so it seems to be a relatively small town, i.e., there shouldn’t be much air pollution. I’m just wondering.
You are never far from a pot stand.
I’ve gotten so used to South Korea’s straitlaced attitude toward drugs that these photos are frankly amazing. With the marijuana-leaf logos being so out there, this isn’t even a subculture: it’s in-your-face culture. Do you see a lot of strung-out Thais on the street? If not, why might that be? They have the good taste to keep it indoors?
that pork dish came right off the Thai menu. I enjoyed it, too!
Congratulations.
That’s me nearly every frickin’ night.
I can almost make out the word “Kevin” in that green sign. And I love the napping dog that’s kind of in the background.
Looks to have been a nice stroll, all in all. Good luck with the docs. I hope you get those lungs under control.
Kev, Thailand does have air pollution issues–Bangkok is often like Seoul in that regard. So far this trip, I have not noticed any air quality issues in Pattaya…maybe those ocean breezes drive it away.
Those ubiquitous pot stands are the biggest change since my last visit. I used to vape in those days and found out it was a crime to vape or even possess the equipment. Now marijuana is legal, and vaping is still not allowed. Weird. But no, I have not seen anyone smoking any (it is not permitted on the street, and most bars prohibit it as well). I have seen any obviously stoned tourists or locals either. Still, the sheer volume of shops says there must be a massive market for it.
Now that’s funny! I hadn’t even noticed that the Thai script for toilet looks like a fancy rendition of “Kevin.” Maybe that dog got into someone’s weed supply…
I had some severe breathing issues that left me feeling light-headed.
How polluted is the air over there? From what I can see, Pattaya has a small population, so it seems to be a relatively small town, i.e., there shouldn’t be much air pollution. I’m just wondering.
You are never far from a pot stand.
I’ve gotten so used to South Korea’s straitlaced attitude toward drugs that these photos are frankly amazing. With the marijuana-leaf logos being so out there, this isn’t even a subculture: it’s in-your-face culture. Do you see a lot of strung-out Thais on the street? If not, why might that be? They have the good taste to keep it indoors?
that pork dish came right off the Thai menu. I enjoyed it, too!
Congratulations.
That’s me nearly every frickin’ night.
I can almost make out the word “Kevin” in that green sign. And I love the napping dog that’s kind of in the background.
Looks to have been a nice stroll, all in all. Good luck with the docs. I hope you get those lungs under control.
Kev, Thailand does have air pollution issues–Bangkok is often like Seoul in that regard. So far this trip, I have not noticed any air quality issues in Pattaya…maybe those ocean breezes drive it away.
Those ubiquitous pot stands are the biggest change since my last visit. I used to vape in those days and found out it was a crime to vape or even possess the equipment. Now marijuana is legal, and vaping is still not allowed. Weird. But no, I have not seen anyone smoking any (it is not permitted on the street, and most bars prohibit it as well). I have seen any obviously stoned tourists or locals either. Still, the sheer volume of shops says there must be a massive market for it.
Now that’s funny! I hadn’t even noticed that the Thai script for toilet looks like a fancy rendition of “Kevin.” Maybe that dog got into someone’s weed supply…