Re: My first trip to Pattaya
I can identify with all of this. My first trip was in '95 and after living a straight life until I turned forty-five, I was overwhelmed by the experience. Indeed, two years later, I took early retirement, accepting the loss of income that this would entail, so that I could visit Pattaya when I wanted. A few years (and many offs) later, I was fortunate enough to meet the love of my life.
And yes, even now, after seventy plus trips, I share snotface's ambivalence about many aspects of Pattaya life . The major change in my routines now is that P. and I spend the first week of my trips in another location....currently, the undervalued city of Chiang Rai. I shall be delighted when I arrive in Pattaya next week but no longer wish to spend so long there. I shall always remember that first night in August 1995 and my astonishment at what was on offer. And the smell that wafted-up from the drains outside Moonlight in Second Road.
Re: My first trip to Pattaya
An excellent piece of nostalgia, Snotface (I do get embarrassed writing the name 'Snotface').
Yes, I recall Jomtien beach back in 1993, the date of my first trip. Two years after that, Channel 4's Dispatches programme focussed on reports of underage boys in Boystown and Jomtien and conducted an interview with an underage lad on Jomtien beach in the presence of Father Ray. Does anyone else remember that programme and the subsequent piling into the same salacious scenarios by the News of the Screws and other tabloids. Dispatches focussed on Jomtien Beach and a hotel in Soi Post Office called something like the Sun and Sand or it could have been the Sun and Sea. There were claims of nefarious goings-on, where a German Farang teacher was the focus of attention!! The same programme mentioned a certain "piano bar".
The first bar I entered in 1993 was Memory Bar in Naklua (the soi's name was perhaps something like Wongamat). Anyway, it was jumping with twinks and my first off was a guy called Lat. I was staying at the Penthouse which, in those days, was half gay / half straight. Lat spent the night with me. I recall that the owner of Memory returned to the North of England and I heard on the 'gayline' that he killed himself.
It was in that same year when I was speaking to Madam Jim at the Ambiance that he mentioned an area called Sunee Plaza......the rest. as they say, is history.
Let's have more of these posts (trips down memory lane). I hope other members will pile into this thread with their own memories of Pattaya in days of old.
Re: My first trip to Pattaya
Oliver is there a 'gay scene' in Chiang Rai (bars/go-go etc)?
Re: My first trip to Pattaya
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Oliver
I can identify with all of this. My first trip was in '95 and after living a straight life until I turned forty-five, I was overwhelmed by the experience. Indeed, two years later, I took early retirement, accepting the loss of income that this would entail, so that I could visit Pattaya when I wanted.
1997 was a good year for early retirement, but only if it was on or before 31 August? :-)
Re: My first trip to Pattaya
I'm stunned at how closely your description of your first trip matches my own. I think it was the same year, or close to it, inspired by the same Spartacus Guide. Stayed at the Royal Cliff too, led there by the same brochure, also the only one my travel agent had. Went to the same bars, mostly, had similar missed connections due to my shyness and hesitation, along with numerous successful encounters. I missed Jomtien altogether on that trip--simply was unaware of it. Had the foam massage at Adam and Eve too (with two boys at once)--remember the owner Madame Ed, dressed like Scarlett O'Hara at a ball? Went to Nautilus, passed Dolf Riks, but didn't eat there, didn't know about Homex. I left with many happy memories, and some not-so-happy, mostly due to my own awkwardness and to undeniable cultural differences causing miscommunication and some hurt feelings. After fifteen or so more trips I have to say I still don't have it right, but I still keep trying. Thanks for the memories.
Re: My first trip to Pattaya
Captain Swing: you end with... "Thanks for the Memories"...
I feel a song coming on…..
Best sung to the link here, starring Bob Hope and Shirley Ross, and I’ve altered a couple of words (dedicated to the former Memory Bar in Naklua and the power of Niagara!!) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKgUq5dziEk
Thanks for the Memory Bar, of humid afternoons, ya-ba’s Sunee lunes,
Jet ski scams and burning tits and sunburnt farang prunes…
How lovely it was! Thanks for the Memory Bar, in Wongamat Naklua, I’d my merry way, The baht bus ride,
Where Kathoyes reside, beside the plastic tide…
How lovely it was!
Many's the time that we feasted.
On Niagara you’ve never fasted,
And the swelling certainly lasted; we did have fun, and no harm done.
So thanks for the memories, of crap games on the floor,
Nights in Cupidol, the Mamasan’s a headache, but she’ll happily show it all,
I thank you so much.
Thanks for the memory, the hotel’s now lodged a claim; it’s saying that we’re to blame
And just because Niagara’s power sent it up the bloody wall.
How lovely that was!
Thank you!
Re: My first trip to Pattaya
I remember I used the travel agent listed in the back of the Spartacus Guide in 1997.
Didn't find Sunee Plaza until 2000.
Re: My first trip to Pattaya
"Jomtien Complex wasn't even a glimmer in a developer's eye and when it did emerge in the mid-'90s it remained an untenanted ghost town for years. Even someone with the skills of Nostradamus would have struggled to predict its current pre-eminence as a centre for gay life."
Yes, I recall riding past it on baht buses, going to and from the beach.
A huge shopping complex, all white and totally devoid of any signs of activity.
It seemed to me that somebody must have lost a heap of money building such a failure.
It took a long time but eventually things started to happen.
And look at it now; virtually filled.
Re: My first trip to Pattaya
snotface, you may have a tacky nickname, but there's nothing tacky about your written reminiscences.
They are a delightful read, and I for one appreciate the effort that you have made.