I survived my first outing with the Pattaya Hash House Harriers. It was quite a bit different than how we do things in Subic–some of it I liked, some not so much. They do utilize the ice-sitting, and I got to experience that cold goodness twice in the after-circle. I say after circle because Pattaya does a pre-circle as well. In that one, they discuss the coming trail, go over some Hash business, remind people of the rules, initiate virgins, and punish violators (like the fool who wore new shoes to the Hash). I didn’t like waiting around forty-five minutes for the start of the pre-circle at 4:00. We were out in the countryside, and all the locals knew to bring a chair, but I just had to stand around with nothing to do and nowhere to sit. Yeah, yeah, I shouldn’t be such a whiner.
I was able to purchase this colorful Hash shirt to add to my collection.
It was an “A to A” Hash, which means the trail started and finished in the same location. And that location was over twenty kilometers from Pattaya out in farm country. They had a short and long trail, and of course, I opted for the short option, which was just under 5K. I walked to Hash home bar to catch a “bus, adding another 3+K to my day. So, I’ll start the Hash story with that adventure.
I used Google Maps to plot my course to the meeting place at Buffalo Bar. The problem was it didn’t clearly identify the street names I needed to take. So, I used the Waze app to get directions. The trouble with Waze is that it plots a course for automobiles, meaning one-way streets in the wrong direction aren’t options, even if they would be the best route for a walker. So, I tried navigating around that and screwed things up several times.My misadventures are captured here, although I did eventually reach my destination.Along the way I saw a couple of shrines like this honoring Buddha.Here’s another one.Came across this Hard Rock Cafe on Beach Road. Maybe I’ll pay them a visit in my quest for Thai food.Beach RoadThis is a “Bhat Bus,”–Thailand’s version of the Jeepney. These were the type of buses that carried us to the Hash trail location.This building looked interesting enough to take a picture of for some reason.Ah, the name of that building above.In my wanderings, I came across this eerily familiar place. Yes, I visited the Pussy Bar back in 2016 and discovered there wasn’t a pussy in the place. I wrote about that experience in a post called “Lola.”And at last, I arrived at my intended destination, Buffalo Bar.Where I was joined by fellow Subic hashers, Dave and Jo.We still had 45 minutes before the first “bus” was scheduled to leave, so I had the waitress order me a chicken quesadilla from the Mexican joint next door. There we no local food options available here, promise! I can honestly say this quesadilla was absolutely the worst I’ve ever tasted. I only managed to down two slices.The inside of Buffalo Bar.The route to the start of the Hash trail–23K from Buffalo Bar. Subic Hashers are lucky because we can hit the hills right out the backdoor. Urban Hashes like Pattaya have to travel out of town to find a trail.Loaded up in the Bhat Bus for the forty-minute ride to the Hash start. It held ten of us in relative comfort.And we have finally arrived. I’m not sure what the actual number of attendees was, but I’d guess seventy or more. Much larger than the Subic Hash, but then, Pattaya is a much larger city.Thanks for having us!The pre-Circle. One of the rules is you can’t photograph at the after Circle. I don’t know why.And we are FINALLY On-On!Way off on the horizon, you can just see the Pattaya skyline.Let’s get it done!I didn’t mind following her behind, I mean behind her. She was on my bus, but I guess her watch was broken because she wouldn’t give me the time of day.The trail was mostly flat, but there were occasional challenges, like coming down this embankment.Through the fields we go.Those houses ahead were abandoned. In fact, throughout the hike I never saw a local resident or occupied building.A woodsy stretchThen back to the wide open spaces.I think I’d miss the mountains if I lived here.Even without challenging terrain, I was huffing and puffing a bit along the way. I tried to do my deep breathing exercises, and it helped some.Marching ever onwardThe trail was actually very well marked, but we had to backtrack a couple of times when we veered off course.Through the palms we goI can see clearly now.The farmer wasn’t in the dell; I hope he didn’t mind that we were.The end is nearThe final pushAnd back to our base camp. Laughed at the ad on this Bhat Bus.The trail started where it ended, I just forget to turn on my tracker at the beginning.
The after Circle was okay, the usual Hash stuff, but the songs weren’t as raunchy as we sing in Subic. They had a raffle and I won this:
Are these authentic Thai biscuits?
So, we did the usual beer drinking, although they didn’t have Zero beer, so I did the San Miguel Light. More alcohol and calories, but I’m on vacation, damn it! So, I was feeling no pain when we boarded the busses back to Pattaya and another Hash bar called I-Rovers.
That would be it. I need to find it again tonight. Tonight I’m meeting an old dart friend from Barretto who lives here now.I *think* I only had one beer at I-Rovers, but I took a picture of my dessert. As good as it looks.
Well, I was more than a little drunk at this point, and I had no other way back to my hotel than my feet, so I headed out. Walked through an interesting bar area along the way. I need to go back at some point and check it out more thoroughly.
Looks like my kind of place! And I just spotted the clue about location on the sign–LK Metro is a famous bar area here. I’ll be back to explore!And these marijuana shops are all over the place since pot was legalized last year.
Stop! You’re killing me!I’ve heard about the kink in Thailand–girls with something “extra.” No thanks!Another pot shopTalk about getting high!
Anyway, I found my way to the hotel, safe and sound. I miss having my trike driver friends around, though. I need to be more careful in the future; stumbling around in the dark in a strange city is not a good idea.
More adventures to come.
4 thoughts on “Thaiing one On-On”
Flat… like a greener version of Texas, and probably just as humid as the Houston area.
All in all, this looks to have been quite a nice adventure. Good to know your lungs held up, too.
Any more Hashes while you’re there, or will it be solo adventures from here on in?
We should actually get as many of the cringey “Thai” puns out of our system as we can.
Bad Thai
Bad Thai-ming
The Thais that Bind
Hit Me, Baby, One More Thai’m
Thai Cobb
I’m ReThai’erd, So Phuket
Thai-tanic
Neck Thai
Thai Hard
Thai Chee
Live and Let Thai
Thai Me Up, Thai Me Down
You’ve already used “Thai one on,” right?
Anyway, there’s a partial list. You’re welcome.
Hmm, thanks for the list, but now I will be challenged to find a title you haven’t already used. I went back and checked, and no, I haven’t used “Thai one on”–the Thai one On-On was a double pun since the post was Hash-related.
There is a special Hash coming up this Saturday I’m planning to attend. I know it involves taking a boat to an island, so that should be interesting.
It hasn’t felt all that humid here, although I did get a little sweaty on my morning walkabout yesterday. It’s been raining in the Philippines since I left, so I’m glad for the weather here so far.
I’d say “Thai One On-on” is close enough that “Thai One On” would come off as unoriginal. That said, I’m sure there are still many awful Thai puns to be made. Just don’t Thai too hard to find them.
Flat… like a greener version of Texas, and probably just as humid as the Houston area.
All in all, this looks to have been quite a nice adventure. Good to know your lungs held up, too.
Any more Hashes while you’re there, or will it be solo adventures from here on in?
We should actually get as many of the cringey “Thai” puns out of our system as we can.
Bad Thai
Bad Thai-ming
The Thais that Bind
Hit Me, Baby, One More Thai’m
Thai Cobb
I’m ReThai’erd, So Phuket
Thai-tanic
Neck Thai
Thai Hard
Thai Chee
Live and Let Thai
Thai Me Up, Thai Me Down
You’ve already used “Thai one on,” right?
Anyway, there’s a partial list. You’re welcome.
Hmm, thanks for the list, but now I will be challenged to find a title you haven’t already used. I went back and checked, and no, I haven’t used “Thai one on”–the Thai one On-On was a double pun since the post was Hash-related.
There is a special Hash coming up this Saturday I’m planning to attend. I know it involves taking a boat to an island, so that should be interesting.
It hasn’t felt all that humid here, although I did get a little sweaty on my morning walkabout yesterday. It’s been raining in the Philippines since I left, so I’m glad for the weather here so far.
I’d say “Thai One On-on” is close enough that “Thai One On” would come off as unoriginal. That said, I’m sure there are still many awful Thai puns to be made. Just don’t Thai too hard to find them.