an early morning jog around pattaya

[andrewcraig]

I had not planned to be in Pattaya when I left Spain early last week, I intended to break my trip home with a business call in Singapore However that was cancelled because of a death in the family and rather that continue my flight and then return for a few days, my empoyer said stay and enjoy. It actually will save him money.

Friday night jet lag was catching up with me, so after Krazy Dragon went to bed I was up at 7 and feeling refreshed decided to go for a jog [my definition might not be yours]

I started off in South Road and was amazed at the number of people and traffic. I took a quick look inside the market and it was a hive of activity. The butchers and the live fish stalls did not make me feel very comfortable but what you dont see you dont worry about. Along Second road and there were cars, buses and motorbikes by the hundreds.

I moved down to Beach road just past Mikes and it did not seem as busy . There I was approached by some middleaged hookers who seem to be popular with the arab guys who were out in force. Maybe a cheaper rate before 8AM .As I jogged along slowly I pondered on what the 3 large junks in the bay were really doing. One had a sign restaurant, but there has always been hints of a Casino or floating brothels. Maybe someone here has more info. Even this early the concessions had all their chairs set up. I know Dongtan is often after 9 before they start

As I got close to Pattayaland the footpath was blocked by tourists waiting to board the large motorboats lined up along the shore.I estimate there were at least 20 boats waiting. I chose to cross the road to get around the cluster on the footpath,
As I jogged slowly past the open beer bars where the boxing ring is , even at 7.45 the island bars were manned by ugly middleaged thai women and my pace quickened as they called out I Luvvvv Youuu. Back onto the beach side and I realised the pier had gone .I was told later it has been gone for 6/7 years

As I got close to Walking Street, I looked the area where the notorious Marine Bar ,the little boys bar was , just behind the police box and next to the boxing ring. I never ever crossed the road to even peek in. I was told but never checked it out, the wife of a Policeman owned the bar and it shifted to Sunee. I continued into Walking Street looking for the Maya Disco sign which last visit was very hard to find, still hard if it is still there. Approached again by hookers but these were class and real good lookers, probably desperate if they approached me

Just as I was looking for a soi to escape back towards home I heard loud disco music. Continuing down to opposite Marine Disco There was an open bar doing roaring trade serving drinks and about 40 people standing around. I did not believe for one moment they had a day licence. As I made my way through to VC Pattaya hotel it was amusing to see Arab men holding hands as they walked along . There goes trouble with a Capital T I thought and hurried on.

As I walked back I tried to imagine where all the tourist buses were going or coming from. They were everywhere.

I am glad that I did the trip but do not think I will repeat it. It was a part of Pattaya I have never seen . Maybe I stay too close to Sunee. I have promised myself to have breakfast on Dongtan beach before I leave, just to try something different.

[bao-bao]

Nice post, andrewcraig - thanks for sharing what you observed on your early morning jog. Despite the early commute traffic it's a very different (and much calmer) world there before mid-morning. Besides being cooler it's also less frantic and more "local" as most of the tourists are still asleep -- other than the ones rumbling by in buses or gathered for an island excursion boat at the shore.

The local markets are colorful and lively, the guys setting up shop along the beach are often glad to take a break to say hello and pose for a picture and it's a much more enjoyable stroll than after the areas are full of (we) foreigners.

What a weird post. In the course of a few lines supposedly about a jog he has managed to cram in middle aged hookers, floating casinos, floating brothels, early morning beer bars, little boy bars, and arabs holding hands ( they do this and doesnt mean thay are gay).
Suggest you find a more picturesque place to run about, or indeed reveal your true motive for writing such a non-post.

[Smiles]

" ... or indeed reveal your true motive for writing such a non-post ... "
The only thing weird in this thread is your quote above. "True motive"? What in hell are you on about?
Andrew writes an interesting observational post and you imply not only that it has no place in this Forum, but the author has some kind of hidden motive. Bizarre indeed ... but certainly not Andrew's subject.

Cheers ...

OK, I'll bite
Leaving out the stuff I mentioned earlier, I thinK I'll start with the shock/horror comment about second road being full of people, cars and bikes. Next up is the fact that tourists were on Beach Road waiting for their motorboats. Then the realisation that the pier had gone. Followed by the rather too detailed decsription as to how to find the ex-little boy bar which he adds rather helpfully, had moved to Sunee. Then a hunt for another disco on walking street, winding back past marine disco and the VC hotel pausing to show he is an expert in day licenses. Last on the 'jog' was the idle thought about not being able to imagine where all the tourist buses were coming from and going to. Well there's a real poser for some sharp mind to battle with.
Lastly, although being fully descriptive about places new and old we have the quote ' it was part of pattaya I have never seen'
As, I have said already....weird.

[andrewcraig]

OK, I'll bite
Leaving out the stuff I mentioned earlier, I thinK I'll start with the shock/horror comment about second road being full of people, cars and bikes. Next up is the fact that tourists were on Beach Road waiting for their motorboats. Then the realisation that the pier had gone. Followed by the rather too detailed decsription as to how to find the ex-little boy bar which he adds rather helpfully, had moved to Sunee. Then a hunt for another disco on walking street, winding back past marine disco and the VC hotel pausing to show he is an expert in day licenses. Last on the 'jog' was the idle thought about not being able to imagine where all the tourist buses were coming from and going to. Well there's a real poser for some sharp mind to battle with.
Lastly, although being fully descriptive about places new and old we have the quote ' it was part of pattaya I have never seen'
As, I have said already....weird.

For some Pattaya is all about Sunee and little boy bars. What do you think about if and when you go for a walk.
Do you have your eyes open or are you cruising for some cheap sex. Can you remember anything you have seen along the way. Life must be boring.

DELETED

[jimnbkk]

The only thing weird is Lester.

I've been attacked by street dogs in Pattaya. The rabies shots were only precautionary. But, I still walk around a lot.

'For some Pattaya is all about Sunee and little boy bars. What do you think about if and when you go for a walk.
Do you have your eyes open or are you cruising for some cheap sex. Can you remember anything you have seen along the way. Life must be boring.'

I dont think I need to say anymore..point proved.

[catawampuscat]

Sometimes regular posters and ex-pats forget that there are hundreds or maybe even thousand of gay men
out there in cyberspace who are starved for information and enjoy the trip stories..
I found Andy's posting informative and frankly had never heard of the boy bar near the police station on
Walking Street but have heard stories of reckless abandon and outrageous behavior with youngsters in
decades past.

Beach Rd. is another world just after dawn and it is an experience to walk/jog thru the area. The female & lady-boy
hookers look better in the dark of nite and many are downright scary looking in the brite lite of daytime.
Many Arabs, Africans and others who are turned on by older fatter women frequent this place, even at
7 AM. If one walked on the beach at that hour, expect to find many used condoms and empty beer cans
and perhaps some other waste items as well..

I hope Andy is not turned off by the jaded critics as many farangs who haven't made their first trip to Thailand
yet, would find this thread of interest.. Stinging sarcasm and witty dissing (new USA slang word) put out
an unwelcome mat to those with stories to relate.. :cat:

[PeterUK]

I go for an early(ish) jog in Jomtien most mornings. My usual route takes me through the Complex where, because of the demolition work which has been going on recently, I've been using some of the covered alleyways. Most visitors to the Complex probably stay on the main sois and barely notice them. There are actually quite a few of them and little inner courtyards too. At the moment this 'secret' world is all shuttered shopfronts, dust, stored goods and rubbish, but with a bit of vision and enterprise could be turned into an atmospheric addition to the area. In an arab country I could easily imagine it being a bazaar. This being Thailand it will no doubt end up looking plain bizarre - a photo shop next to a host bar next to an estate agent next to a massage parlour, not forgetting the 7-11. Oh well, just a passing thought.

[paulg]

What a weird post. In the course of a few lines supposedly about a jog he has managed to cram in middle aged hookers, floating casinos, floating brothels, early morning beer bars, little boy bars, and arabs holding hands ( they do this and doesnt mean thay are gay).
Suggest you find a more picturesque place to run about, or indeed reveal your true motive for writing such a non-post.

Lester why don't you give an indication of what you think a picturesque place to run or walk might be. Give us an indication what would interest you and what time of day. To make it easier for you, exclude Sunee Plaza

Andrew thanks for your very interesting comments. Next time you post please use this link as a guide

http://www.sawatdee-gay-thailand.com/fo ... tml#132732 (http://www.sawatdee-gay-thailand.com/forum/the-best-and-the-worse-t13895.html#132732)

Picturesque runs and walks that I would recommend? Well the serious runners amongst the thais and farangs who do this sort of thing to keep fit tend to jog up and down the roads leading from Pratumnak Hill to the Asia Pattaya beach/Pattaya Park areas. Wide roads and not very much traffic. Sometimes they take in the roads that are above the Pattaya sign overlooking the Bali Hai bay. Next on my list would be the circular route around the Big Budha image in the Rama Royal Park that was built to provide a walking path and views all over the city and bay. I would avoid the so-called Sports Park part as there have been reports of muggings.
Further north, I would consider the stretch from the Dusit Thani hotel along the beach all the way to Wooden Wat (cant think of its proper name). A few small stretches across sand and rock and alas for Andrewcraig, no sign of boybars, marauding arabs or propositioning katoeys.
If I wanted a long flat stretch I would run from Jomtien Beach all the way along south as far as the beach promenade goes. You could run out and bus back or vice versa. The further south you go the less tourists and tourist buses for AC to worry his little head over.
All of these suggestions avoid the biggest danger for runners, which is dogs. Some friends of mine who like to walk about and explore take one of those ski pole affairs to lash at dodgy looking canines with.
Finally, buy a bike, explore and find new routes inland. I wonder if you can run around the reservoir areas?

I am usually an early riser and love to run or walk Pattaya very early in the morning. Beach Road to Walking Street to Pratumnak Hill looping back on Second Road is a favorite run. Walking can take me most anywhere. I am usually out and about before sunrise. I can't do this every morning, especially those mornings where the BF and I stagger back from the all night disco.

AndrewCraig's description of some of the early morning activities is very accurate. I can't count the number of times along Beach Road I have been propositioned by females, males and ladyboys while doing my run or walk. Most are the type you would never give even a first look, some are down right dangerous. Interestingly, I have made one or two remarkable encounters.

I recall meeting a young man who was probably pushing the far side of being a bar boy. We chatted and he then took me on a wonderful walking tour of Pattaya giving a running commentary on Thai history and culture. No sex, no con, no hustling; just a young man acting as a tour guide. When we were done he was off to sleep and I was off to wake the BF.

On another occasion, I met a young lad fresh off the bus who had made his way to Pattaya to make his fortune and spent the first night sleeping on the beach. Amazingly, he had enough English to carry on a conversation. We discussed finding a job, the expectations of parents and life in general. I took him to breakfast at a typical sidewalk eatery and we parted company wishing each other good luck.

Early morning wandering around the sois behind Wat Chai Market has also offered some wonderful exchanges with the locals. On the last visit I passed a street vendor who offered some of her wares gratis. Wow, wonderful, we had a great conversation on cooking and I tried my hand at it. I ended up buying some of the goodies and taking them back to the sleeping BF. He was shocked and pleased at having a very Thai breakfast in bed.

Bao-bao is right; it can be more enjoyable before the foreigners (us) wake up.

... all rather vulgar. My wall is adorned with newspaper clippings of those who have died while exercising - the latest some young (twenty-something) man who collapsed during a "fun run" in Sydney on the weekend. I get quite enough exercise jogging horizontally

[Beachlover]

The female & lady-boy
hookers look better in the dark of nite and many are downright scary looking in the brite lite of daytime... :cat:

ROFL... they sure do!

[Beachlover]

What a weird post. In the course of a few lines supposedly about a jog he has managed to cram in middle aged hookers, floating casinos, floating brothels, early morning beer bars, little boy bars, and arabs holding hands ( they do this and doesnt mean thay are gay).
Suggest you find a more picturesque place to run about, or indeed reveal your true motive for writing such a non-post.

LOL Sand in your peehole, I think