After having a couple of beers and a few games of pool in the Roo, Phil and I headed out into the still hot evening. First stop, the all veggie Thai restaurant I failed to find earlier and turning the corner onto Pattaya Tai there it was. Looking like a little cafe we entered the strangely named “Five Star Tai Restaurant” and sat down to look at the menu.

The menu was a huge A4 ring binder with so much choice and all veggie. We picked a couple of dishes each to share and wow, it was something else. There was almost to much to eat but we managed! And it only came to 300 Bart, about a days wages for a Thai.

Stomachs loaded we headed off for a walk down some of the side roads I had skirted past earlier. The first thing that struck me was the signs, it was neon city overload. Every bar and club had groups of girls or ladyboys outside. There job I guess is to get you in to buy drinks by paying you complements. I had been informed I would be called handsome man and this is the norm. I was I’ll informed as it turned out. I walked down the street to calls of “long hair, long hair, I like long”.

It would have been rude not to call into a couple of clubs for curiosity if nothing else. As we approached the first club the bouncer pulled aside the black curtain and we walked straight in. We were ushered straight to a small table facing the dancing tables and drinks were ordered. Maybe I’m getting old but the girls didn’t seem old enough to be working there although the Thai authorities are apparently quite strict and all girls have to be over 21. And as for me being old, not by the standards of some of the clientele. There were some quite old guys in there with young Thai girls on their arms watching the show.

We had a couple of drinks and moved on.

The next club was pretty much the same although the music was a bit better! Scantily clad girls dancing on tables hoping for drinks to be bought. After a few more beers we moved on again.

Lots of calls from the girls/boys continued up the street and the occasional one coming to stand right in front of us. Next port of call was an English pub for a quite beer and a decent toilet. After the hustle bustle of the streets and the clubs we had been in it seemed really flat.

With Phil having work in the morning we headed back towards the Roo and parted company, I opted for a few more beers and a couple of games of pool before retiring.

All in all a good night and, although really not my scene today has been quite an experience. And I’m sure I have only just scratched the surface of Pattaya.

Tomorrow is time for the camera as there are just so many photo opportunities here.