Thread: Interesting letter sent to Pattaya Mail by tourists

I do not as a general rule write to newspapers, as I feel it is unlikely that my opinions could be of the slightest interest or consequence to any of your readers just as their opinions are of no import to me. On this occasion I make an exception and crave your indulgence.

My wife and I have recently returned to the UK after our first visit to Thailand. We are seasoned travellers and have visited many parts of the world for extended holidays and are therefore well aware of the different attitudes and customs that can be found when travelling. We have been in flower fights, tomato battles, bull running, and most sorts of festivals all over the world. Thailand sounded absolutely wonderful from its advertising etc. The Land of Smiles – great we thought and so we arrived in Pattaya at the Sunbeam Hotel; on the advice of travel agents and from advertising we come for Songkran, which again sounded wonderful - a three day water festival with people sprinkling each other with water in the streets etc. The reality as they say, is somewhat different.

Pattaya – fun city they call it in UK., did not disappoint, a bit grubby in places yes but I’ve seen much worse at three times the price. But the water festival? A very unpleasant experience to be honest, ten days of having water flung at you by drunken fools (mostly, it seemed, I’m ashamed to say – English) not really very pleasant. My wife, having had a large bucket of water flung in her face at close range with enough force to knock her over and break her glasses was so scared afterwards that she refused to leave the hotel again until we got into the taxi to go home, and quite frankly I don’t think I have ever been so glad to do so.

This festival is punted around as being fun – it isn’t unless you’re a drunken tattooed oaf taking a break from football violence for the summer, or one of the shrieking harpies from a bar who’d laugh at a fatal car crash if she thought the drunk wanted her to. Quite frankly the naked aggression with which these guys were using their high pressure squirters and big buckets was frightening. Most of them appeared to make a point of aiming for the faces of their victims especially when they were motorcyclists – it’s got to be really dangerous surely.

Please don’t misunderstand me, I am not as a rule in favour of control or of legislation, I believe minimal government is good government and the same goes for policing, but if your fun involves causing fear, misery and pain for others then the time has come for the police to do a little more than pose with their shiny boots, guns and tight brown uniforms.

Thailand – Land of Smiles? I don’t think so, I shall certainly never return and will do my best to dissuade any of my friends foolish enough to contemplate the same mistake we made i.e. visiting Thailand the land of the drunken oaf.

To be fair a 'seasoned traveller' would not have gone to Shattaya. It's the very worst Thailand has to offer. Even a glimpse at a Lonely Planet would tell you that.

It is a crap trap that Toxin tolerates as it removes his duties to help the issan folk prosper.

True Pattaya has a seamy side, and that appeals to the Single men who go there. Married men traveling with the Missus will not enjoy.......as a rule.

But, what most of you don't know, is that today, millions are being spent on improving the place, in every way imaginable. The Beach is much cleaner, now too. Thanks to better sewage disposal.

What amuses me though, is the way those of you who live in Bangkok, complain about Pattaya!

Songkran is a drag. I split to Malaysia this year. I think it was time and money well spent. Pattaya would have to be the absolute worst place to spend Songkran because it goes on for nearly two weeks. The Brit tourist couldn't have picked a worse place or time for Songkran. He seems to have been badly misinformed. Perhaps he should have looked at some other sources of information before he booked. Regrettably, Songkran does not show the Thais at their best, or for that matter, the farangs that freak out during Songkran. September through February would be a far more sensible time go to Thailand. I think for a first visit I would go somewhere like Isan. It would be quite peaceful in October.

The guys real problem was that he came half way around the world and found himself surrounded by mindless, aggressive, drunken English louts and Thai hookers. Not exactly a culturally enriching experience.

Wish I had that guy's email. Anyone dumb enough to fly into Thailand when 90% of the resident foreigners are trying to fly out could surely "lend" me a few of his grossly inflated English bills.

Friend of mine spent that week looking at cherry blossoms in Osaka. Needless to say, he's not an English teacher...

:sad: