Nightmarch 3 April 2003

[PattayaPete 530]

The devil made me do it: Almost from the moment it opened its doors, the Diablo Diskotek (Walking Street) has proved to be a popular alternative to places like Tony’s and the evergreen Marine (both in Walking Street) for head bangers and jitterbug aficionados. Thirst quenchers are not cheap, with the amber nectar at 150 baht and lolly water 100 baht, but the disco is spacious and not too loud, while the front area has a good live band and, when they’re on a break, the music is good Top 40 dance style, tunes that almost everyone whose watched any sort of MTV in the last six months will be familiar with.

 

An extra ‘x’: It seems as if the management of the Soi 8 ogling den (where else but in Soi 8 ) finally realised they were getting close to being shut down for good with their behind-closed-doors-anything-goes-for-north-Asian-tourist-shows, and the chrome pole palace recently re-badged itself and is now known as Sexxy Girls. It has reopened to the general public rather than attempting to lure the Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans.

Draft amber fluid is 59 baht, liver wasters 89 baht and lady drinks a fair 85 baht with a tasty plate of peanuts supplied to each table. The music was far too loud, either the Thai DJ is deaf (more than likely) or he was trying to attract imbibers from as far away as Walking Street, but it was varied. The waitresses performed the now de rigeur act of pressuring customers to either purchase a lady drink for the damsel lurking nearby or quaff a 100 baht shot of tequila. The den had around 15 or so dancing maidens, some I recognised as veterans from places further south.

 

Not an Aston Martin in sight…yet: The new management of the Goldfingers ogling den (Soi 7) recently completed the first part of their expansion of the play palace. There is still a lot more work to be done, especially regarding the recruitment of more chrome pole molesters, but in the hope of enticing customers across the portal there is a happy hour between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. with local bottles of amber fluid retailing at 50 baht. The den also has imported cans of that wonderful liquid Victoria Bitter, better known to all Aussies simply as VB, for 130 baht. Now that’s a beer.

 

On the way out: The beer boozers, Sierra Tango joints and odd noshery located along Soi 6/1 are already being knocked down and are set to be replaced by shop-houses. The place that will be missed the most by diners will probably be Street Kitchen, the rustic-style Thai nosh house run by the well-known and popular Panya. I’m told she’s moving her operation to somewhere on Third Road.

 

Yet another complex: Just in case you thought the removal of the bars along Soi 6/1 meant Pattaya was finally starting to scale down the number of boozatoriums in Fun Town, well I’m sorry to disappoint you, but just down Second Road, not far from the English fayre of Greg’s Kitchen, the ostentatiously-named Queen’s Park Plaza complex should be ready for business in the next few weeks.

According to the sign out the front, the place will have beer boozers, an ogling den, nosheries, massage facilities, and a karaoke lounge. Talk about trying to be all things to all people. I’m surprised there isn’t a child-minding centre and an old people’s rest home on the site as well.

 

Revaluation: Tony, the short-order spatula wielder in the Renoir’s upscale noshery (Soi Day-Night 2, in the Flamingo Hotel) left the place some weeks ago and management decided to reduce the impost on the daily four-course special menu from 249 to 175 baht. I’ve been in a few times since and the quality of the vittles remains at a high level and, as far as ambience goes, makes it a terrific venue to take a girlfriend or mistress. The munching den is closed on Tuesday’s.

 

Early classes: For those wishing to partake of cheap liquid refreshments in an air-conditioned atmosphere, the Classroom ogling den (Pattayaland Soi 2) is offering a three-hour happy hour zone from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. with amber fluid, house liver wasters, Thai rotgut and lolly water at just 59 baht.

 

Vale, Big Tony: Tony Marotta, better known to his circle of friends as Tony Tuna, the big lug who ran the Uncle Charlie’s nosh-house in Soi Honey and was a regular in The Alamo boozer in Soi 8, died on March 11 of heart failure. The former New York copper was just 61 years old. Our sympathies and best wishes go out to his wife and family.

 

Fair’s fare: One of the most contentious arguments among Pattaya expats and regulars is the two-tiered pricing system imposed by the baht bus drivers who ply the standard route along Beach Road and Second Road. While the fare for a Thai national is five baht, many drivers demand 10 baht from fair-skinned foreigners.

It is nothing more than extortion. I stopped eating at a small Thai place in Soi 17 many years ago when a young Thai boy sitting at a table opposite me, eating the same dish as myself, was charged 10 baht less. He looked at the vendor and asked her why was I being charged more. Her reply was a succinct, “farang.” What she and the baht bus drivers forget is that it is because of foreign tourism that they are here in Pattaya earning, as a rule, a far more profitable living than back in their home village of Ban Kwai Yai.

If you think I’m wrong, just compare the following short list and let me know where I’ve lost the plot:

1. Fares to and from Jomtien are pegged at 10 baht, whether you are a Thai or a foreigner. Fair.

2. The fare for a bus to Ekkamai or Morchit from the north Pattaya bus station is 90 baht, whether you are a Thai or a foreigner. Fair.

3. Fares on the BTS in Bangkok are clearly marked and apply equally whether you are a Thai or a foreigner. Fair.

4. Fares on public transport buses in Bangkok and other Thai cities are also the same for Thais and foreigners. Fair.

5. Price differential. Consider the trip by an air-conditioned mini-bus from Hat Yai to Songhkla- a distance of around 30 kilometres- and being dropped off anywhere you ask for 19 baht. Now, consider a trip in an open-sided songthaew a distance of around two kilometres (from South Pattaya Road to Big C) and being threatened either verbally and/or physically if you don’t hand over 10 baht. Extortion?

 

My e-mail address is: nightmarch@hotmail.com

Author of Pattaya "Patpong on steroids"

No reproduction without specific reference to: nightmarch@hotmail.com nightmarch@hotmail.com

[valentinoxxx 4]

10 baht to Jomtien!! I paid 20! I've been ripped!!     :)

[Raylene 1]

in a drunken stupor on my 1st trip i paid 100 baht from walking street to Residence Gardens.

 

total extortion.

but i and my TG were quite drunk but never belligerent.

we were just swaying from side to side trying to hold each other up.

i gave bahtbus driver a 100 baht note, he smiled and drove away.

i'm thinking my reflexes were a bit slow.

come to think of it, everything was moving in slow motion that night.

hehehe.

 

but rest assured this next trip will be a lot different.

i'll carry smaller bills, and give TG a 20 baht note to pay the bahtbus driver upon exiting.

let him smile and drive away with that!

 

14 days!

[Marky 0]

Firstly, great column Nightmarch, really love it.  However re the Baht Bus thing - I just pay the 10 Baht and if travelling with a TG give her 20 Baht to hand over.  These are miniscule amounts and it is an accepted practice. Note that your TG will not generally attempt to pay 10 or 15 Baht.  All Thai people are "brothers" or "sisters" and she is helping her brother by getting him a few Baht more - c'mon this is nothing to us.  Just a shame that farang people don't stick together a little more like the Thais do.  Just my take on it.  Mai pen rai!

[Daveuk 28]

I asked my girl how much she paid on the baht bus and she replied 5. "How much should I pay ?" - "10" she said.

"You are farang" !

"Then if i am with you i give him 15 -  1 Thai 1 Farang" I said ?

"No" she said "you give 20". Why I said ? "that means if Iam with you - you are farang as well"

"Oh no - I am Thai"  she said.

"I dont understand" I said.   ???

"You are farang & must pay 10"  She said

At which point we got to Soi 8 and of course paid 20 and moved the discussion to another topic.

 

I intend to persue this discussion during my May trip which is getting ever closer !!!!!!  

 

Has anyone noticed the fee at the Universe Gym on Beach Road ? - There are different prices for Thais and farangs. just more of the same.

[ragman 0]

I intend to persue this discussion during my May trip which is getting ever closer !!!!!!

 

Perhaps the path to understanding is to think in terms of "Is it coming out of a Thai pocket or a farang pocket?"  Even if you give her the money first, it will be seen as coming from your pocket.  

 

Be careful how deeply you ask into this because you will find many examples of a two-tier price schedule. They say "Ignorance is Bliss" and for most of us tourist types 5 baht or 50 baht or even 500 baht is pocket change while we are on vacation.  (When we are at home and not trying to impress anyone, we are more likely to make a stand "on the principle".)  Do you really want to know that the 200 baht admission to some park is twice the amount a local would pay.  Probably not.

[monkeyman 1,604]

Just think of it as a form of income tax, where it's accepted that the more you earn, the more you pay.

 

Then some rich Thai gets on the bus and fucks the whole theory up.       [smiley=livid2.gif]

 

be seeing you

monkeyman

[jimmybcool 0]

Dudes,

 

Don't fight city hall.  Yeah, it is  extortion.  It is unfair.  It does suck.

 

But, for 5 baht do you want to spend one of your vacation days in a hospital?  Most of those baht bus drivers carry  a club of some type and despite appearances, they are not unfamiliar with violence.  

 

You can pay 5 baht and walk a nd get away with it 1000 times.  Or, you could get the lipo crazed nut that hates farang and caves in your skull.

 

When it is all said and done, if you live there and know how to handle some thai language and have some presence, do what you want.  If you are a tourist, pay the fucking 10 baht and enjoy your vacation.  :)

[rockinjerry 2]

Pay it and forget it!

 

Chump change!

 

Not worth the hassle!

 

Rockin'

[Daveuk 28]

Guys - Shall I tell you of one of my worst moments in Pattaya ? OK I will !.

Prior to my trip I had been in the US on business and had some $ notes left which I took to pattaya and had in my wallet along with baht of varying denominations. After getting off the baht bus at Soi 8 with a particularly tasty girl from Paris A'gogo I accidentaly gave the driver a $50 bill instead of 20 baht. He was off like a shot and I never saw the 50 again. One happy bus driver !.

 

This was a blow to my pride as a shrewd man about Pattaya more than the loss of the 50 and the incident severely affected my performance later on.

[Joop 0]

Come on guys...  10 baht, 50 baht, 100 baht...  so what?  My friend Dale will haggle to the death over 20 baht on a shirt then go and spend 5000 baht on a lobster dinner...  "Its the principle" he tells me...  I don't get it that is for sure...

 

I think it is crazy to get wound up over money...  We are in Thailand to enjoy ourselves and just have fun...  I work hard for my money but I guess I am just charitable, 20 baht is not anything to any one of us...  It is a meal for a Thai person...

 

So what is my point...  I don't know, but why bitch about the small stuff, just let it go off your back and enjoy all the good stuff around you...

 

My two cents...

 

Cheers

 

Joop

[Daveyh 0]

Joop ....... I'm with you on this one. Lets face it guys we are here to enjoy ourselves, so why spoil your holiday by worrying over a few baht...... 10, 20, 50 or 100 notes are small change to us. What I always remember when I'm in Thailand is the tremendous value & fun we get for our money!!! A little tip that I use often is ..... I tend to pay for breakfast with a large note each day & ask for small notes which leaves me with lots of change for baht bus, tips etc.

 

Enjoy your hols guys & sanuk. Daveyh [smiley=thumbup.gif]  

[Guest]

Gen Joop,

 

I can relate to your pal, Dale.  If I'm in the market or wherever, especially outside the main tourist areas, it is expected for you to haggle - it's part of the culture.  As long as it's done with an element of good humour and both parties are smiling at the conclusion then it is all part of the overall experience.  

 

Where I do come unstuck is when I go out eating with Thais and I am picking up the tab.  If I was with farang I would tip circa 5-10% on a 5,000 Baht bill, depending on the service, but if I am with Thais they would say 50-100 Baht is more than enough. :-/

 

See you in Soi Happy in a couple of weeks.

 

Ole Tom

[landy2a 0]

Pat809,

I agree with you about the ex-pats that may be living on a fixed income.

 

I have to stick to a budget if I want to maintain my at home lifestyle and still spend a few months of the year in LOS. Luckily the Thais realise Aussies are cheap charlies ( at least this one is) and are not too upset at small tips. Tipping is a curse that does not have a hold in Australia and I have to make a conscious effort to tip as it is not a normal action for me in Oz.

 

John

 

 

A cheap charlie since svn 1968

[Joop 0]

I was a Bellmen in college...  so tipping is real important to me too...  If someone is giving me good service they will know it...  Works great if you go to the same place often...  Like here in Bahrain, I call the radio taxi dudes, they say "We are busy and it will be 1 hour"...  Once they ask my name, "Oh Mr Joop, we will be there in 10 minutes!!"...  So my nice tips to them are money well spent.

 

You guys will met Dale at PIC, he is one of my better friends in Thailand but I will NEVER go shopping with him...  He makes me feel like I am taking food off of the poor ladys table...  Last time after he bartered her down to pennies on the shirts I slipped the poor lady a 100 baht note to make up the difference...  I felt bad for her man...

 

Upto you guys...  You sure as hell won't find me bitching about a few bucks here or there...  life is too short...

 

See ya guys soon!!

 

Ole Tom, I will probably cook the pig on the 8th or 9th...  depending on a trip to Phuket I wanna make...  I will let you know.

 

Cheers

 

Joop

[landy2a 0]

Tipping,

 

I get the impression from the posts of Joop and Pat809 that the wage structure in the US for lower paid service jobs is the minimum allowed but you can add tips to your wage. OK this is is the US.

 

In Oz we have award wages in the service industries  where you are paid an amount, agreed it may not be a collossal amount but tips do not in any way  influnce the rate of pay, hence the reluctance for Aussies to tip.

 

Joop

You guys will met Dale at PIC, he is one of my better friends in Thailand but I will NEVER go shopping with him...  He makes me feel like I am taking food off of the poor ladys table...  Last time after he bartered her down to pennies on the shirts I slipped the poor lady a 100 baht note to make up the difference...  I felt bad for her man...

 

I bartered a stall trader down to 50%of the asking price and was quite happy with the final outcome. My friend( a thai speaker) simply asked in Thai what is the minimum you will accept and bought the same article for 50% of what I paid.

 

Thai traders are not stupid, they know their break even point and will not sell at a loss or even money. Your 100 baht would have been a welcome addition to their retirement fund. Don't look at this as a Aussie being critical of US mannerisms as it is not, I have been the welcome recipent of American generosity IE a poncho liner circa 1967 that is still used on camping trips.

 

I feel the reason North Americans have a compulsion to over tip is that you pay your CEO'S massive amounts and pay your normal workers shit...

 

For what its worth  

 

 

John

 

Dont look at this as an anti US post, I have found Americans, especially the military to be extremely generous . I have highlighted the military as I have contact with them more than the average American.