John Punter

I saw a biography on Father Ray in Canterbury Tales bookshop on Soi Chaiyapoon last August. In fact there were a couple of copies. Looked like an interesting read. I would have read it if I'd had more time.

I've always preferred off season. But last July/August there was lot of rain. The soi I was staying in got flooded regularly. The novelty wore thin after a while.

I started using Mr T in 2009 after previously getting a taxi outside the airport. I can't fault the service. It's much better having somebody to meet you and not having to negotiate the price after a long journey. I had a decent female driver on a couple of occasions too.

Elbow, I've bought Cialis in Pattaya and BKK. It's available in pharmacies. I believe it was the real thing. I've never taken it anywhere else, so I can't compare, but the stuff I bought really did the job. It was still working when I was on the plane on the way back home!

The beach in Pattaya is awful. There's a lot of hassle from hawkers and you've got the fumes from the traffic on Beach Road just behind you. Years back they used to pump the shit straight out into the sea there and I wouldn't be surprised if they still do. There's no way I'd get into that water. Anybody who's been to Pattaya and didn't see the beach must have had one hell of a time. Nice one!

When I first went to Pattaya 17 years ago I was euphoric. I thought I had found heaven. Over the next few visits I learnt all about the crap that happens there and all the rip offs and BS. I still love the place but you have to be clued up not to fall foul of the trickery you will encounter.

In the past I'd always see Levi copies in BKK and Pattaya, but I haven't seen any for years now. I heard that there'd been a crackdown on Levi copies.

Pattaya wins easily for me, but a first timer really should take in Bangkok. Fitting the two is not a problem. I was in Phuket for the first time last August. It was well worth the visit, but for what I really want out of my time in LOS Pattaya is much better. There's far more of it and it's much cheaper there.

I have been to Pattaya several times at all times of the year. I've been there in the "quiet" summer months and at New Year. As long as you use your head and don't do anything stupid you can have great time there at anytime of the year. I've never found the weather or the amount of people there to have any bearing on the quality of my trip. Just go!

The diving in Pattaya is not up to much. HMS Khram is worth a visit and there is another wreck I think, but I can't remember the name right now. Maybe it's the Hardeep. Phuket is much, much better for diving.