Just in case there's any confusion we came to Pattaya to see the boys and that really is the main reason. We knew that it would be a few days of doing not a lot and coping with big hangovers. Its a deffinate eye opener and a completly different way of life, but we are beginning to understand it a bit better now.

Saturday 11th July 2009 Bangkok to Pattaya

We decided to get up fairly early today as we wanted to go to Bangkok's weekend market before heading to Pattaya. After having a cup of coffee we left our guesthouse at about 9am. We left our bags there in storage for the day. We took the local bus number 3 from our area to Chatuchak Weekend market in Chatuchak Park. We'd heard from various people that the market was big but we never expected it to be as big as it was. Its said to be the biggest market in South East Asia. It was very over whelming. There were clothes, crafts, jewellery, food, household items and pretty much every thing you could wish for. It was very easy to get lost. We were there until about 1pm and we had lunch there, just pad thai, before heading back to Khoa San road and our guesthouse. The bus back took a lot longer as traffic was horrendus. Getting to the market had taken about half an hour coming back it was more like an hour! With our bags back on our backs we then tried to get a taxi to take us to the bus station. This proved harder than we had expected mainly because we weren't prepared to just pay any price we wanted it on the meter. Every taxi has a metered taxi sign on top of the car but it took us 4 taxi drivers before we found one who agreed to use the actual the meter! The other guys were asking for anything between 250 baht and 500 baht. The actual cost was 150 baht, a big differance. It was also only this much because traffic again was horrendus and it took an hour to actually get to the bus staion. Not fun!! This was our first experience of crazy thai driving. We got there about 3:50pm and the next bus was leaving at 4pm, so just in time.

We arrived in Pattaya at 6:30pm, but they dropped us off on the side of the road quite far out of town and Skelly was waiting for us at the bus station. So then we had to try and explain to Skel where we were so that he could come and get us. Not an easy think to do when your in an area with no landmarks around. But thankfully we were able to work out which Soi (road) we were on so then he could come and find us. After picking us up we went straight to the appartments where he lives and he had put one aside for us to stay in. Its lovely and big and so nice to be able to spread out. After showering and changing we headed out to main Pattaya with Skelly to Walking street. This is where our lesson on Pattaya's culture started and its an eye opener I can tell you. We started the night just in a normal regular bar, but after dinner we then visited 2 go-go bars and a lady boy bar! With the go-go bars use your imagination and you want go far wrong. Lots of nakedness and bar fines. (Gran ask dad he'll explain) and in the lady boy bar, my god they are stunning!! The one we were talking too had had his/her boobs done in Bangkok for 50,000 baht. And they were very good!! They also have tiny bums!! It is very hard to tell with alot of them which sex they actually are!! But Skelly was very good at pointing them out for us!! A good late night was had by all!!

Sunday 12th July 2009, Pattaya.

Morning was cancelled today!! We didn't leave the appartment until about 1pm and then from there we walked the half an hour walk down to Jomtien, which is where both Skelly and Jim have there bars. Firstly we had some lunch and then we popped into see Jim who we had previously rung and arranged to meet. We had a couple of coke's with him and arranged to meet later for a drink or 2. After this we went to the beach for a few hours. The beach we were on was ok but not the prettiest beach we have ever been on. But it did us fine for a bit of R&R. We left the beach at about 6pm just as the rain started. This didn't last too long thankfully. Now the idea had been to go home and shower before meeting Jim but we went to Skelly's bar first to get out of the rain and then we kind of never made it back home. Skelly's bar is called Olivers and Jim's is called Kosy's. So anyway we had several beers with Skelly and some other people he knew and then we went to Kosy's at about 9pm to meet Jim and Ed. The rest of the night was spend going to a few different bars with Jim so he could show us a few different places and meet some of the people he knew. It was a good fun night but another very late one!! I do believe Ed may have been cursing us today (Monday) as we made him stay out later than he had intended. He had to get up at 7am to play golf. Sorry Ed.

Monday 13th July 2009, Pattaya

Another morning cancelled!! After seeing Skelly up in his appartment and using his computer I then went for some lunch, Caroline did come with me but only for a drink as she was not up for food. She didn't stay for long as she wanted to be close to a bathroom!! So she went back to Skelly's and I had some lunch. I then stayed in the bar/restaurant reading my book. I had intended going to the beach but it was raining and not really very sunny. Its been really overcast today so not really beach weather.

At about 4:30pm we took the half an hour walk too Jomtien, saw Jim for a bit and came here to use the internet, which is where we are now. Were going to have an early night tonight as were going out with Phil tomorrow afternoon and we though we might go to Pattaya's floating market in the morning. Tomorrow night will be another thing as its Phil's birthday so it would rude not to help him celebrate it!!! Were staying here until Thursday and then going north to start seeing the real Thailand.

Tuesday 14th July 2009, Pattaya

This morning was a refreshing change, we woke up feeling great!! No hangovers and plenty of sleep!! After we had used the net last night we went for dinner at Natans (French and Thai), which was nice and then we had an early night. Our early night also included watching the Coast to Coast walk of 1992. Very amusing!!!!

We had a chilled morning and then Phil and Nid picked us up at 1pm and took us too the Crocodile Park. The Crocodile Park also advertises as a 1 million year old stone park as well. Couldn't quite see it myself!! The Crocodile Park was great fun and set in some really nice grounds. Even though its low season the grounds are maintained perfectly!! Whilst there we saw Crocs, tigers, elephants and other animals. There was also a crocodile show which was very amusing but not quite Steve Urwin!!!

After the Crocodile Park we all went back to Phil and Nid's house which may I say Nid is lovely. We chilled here for a bit, looked around the house and then had some dinner. We also introduced Nid to Mrs Doubtfire (remember Phil you need to download it!). From here we all headed back into Pattaya to Cosy's bar (Jim's) to celebrate Phil's birthday. Ed and some of Jim there too. Another late night!!!

Wednesday 15th July 2009, Pattaya

Not much in the morning except for seeing Skelly and then at lunch time we went to Nong Nooch Botanical Gardens. Skelly gave us a lift and then we spent about 4 hours here. We started off with a bit of lunch and then we started to explore. First spot was Butterfly hill and garden, this then lead us in to Pet's corner. Interesting array of animals. We didn't want to stray too far as there was a show at 3pm which we wanted to see. The first part lasted about 40 minutes and was a Thai cultural show, a mixture of dancing, singing and Thai boxing. The second part was in a seperate arena and was an elephant show. Mixed feelings on this one, it was fun to watch and the elephants appeared quite happy but it's always difficult to know how you feel about performing animals. It was good though and they did a mixture of ball sports, dancing and painting.

After the show we held hands with a chimp and then carried onto explore the gardens. The gardens were again very impressive and very well maintained. It was good and glad we went.

Skelly picked us back up at 5:45pm and we headed back to the condo ready to be picked up by Ed at 6:30pm. Caroline went on the back of Ed's bike and I got a motorbike taxi and we all went to a favourite Thai restaurant of Ed's. Once there we were joined by Phil, Nid, Ed's girlfriend Ying and her friend. The girls ordered the food and we all tucked in. It was delicious!! Our favourite being King prawns in garlic, pepper and onion. Yummy. After dinner we all headed to Jim's bar for a couple of drinks.

Thursday 16th July 2009, Pattaya

After having our morning coffee with Skelly in his condo we then took the half hour walk to Jomtien and attempted to get our train tickets to Chiang Mai. Not as easy as we had expected. Everywhere else we have been we have been able to just book train/bus tickets the day before travel but this is not the case here. We wanted overnight train tickets to Chiang Mai for Friday but typically it was full. So the options were a)fly or b) train ever today or Saturday. Now because we couldn't leave today and we didn't want to stay another day we opted to fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai on Friday.

This all took a lot of time and as we were due to meet Phil, Nid and Ed at 1pm we then didn't have time for lunch so we just grabbed some street food and then walked fairly quickly to our meeting point. Once we found them we jumped into Phil's car and first stop was The Pattaya floating market. Nothing like the Bangkok one as this was very much built for tourists. All wooden flooring and shops on the river. It was really pretty and nice to walk round. We also ate our food whilst here along with Nid eating hers. We have now discovered that Thai woman love to eat. They eat little and often so street food is big on the list of things to do/eat.

After the floating market we drove up into the mountains to a wonderful temple called Anek Kusala Sala (Viharasien). It's not really a worshipping temple but more of a museum combining Chinese and Thai culture and art. Very interesting and a fantastic building. It was opened in 1993 as a friendship museum between China and Thailand. We were here for an hour or so. Not much to read thankfully for Caroline and Phil but lots to look at.

After looking at the Cat fish near by, we then went a different way back through the mountains looking at various houses, temples and scenery before stopping at a vineyard. The vineyard was called Silver lake vineyard and it was also a shop, restaurant and beautiful setting over the lake. We tried red grape grape juice which was lovely.

From here it was back to our condo, packing and then a baht bus into Jomtien. We went for dinner at an Irish bar with Bi (Skelly's girlfriend), I had Mexican and Caroline had Thai. After here we had a few drinks in Skelly's bar, a few drinks with Jim and then back to Skelly's for a game of pool before heading home about 12am.

Friday 17th July 2009, Pattaya

Today it was up at 8am, finish packing, good byes to Skelly and Bi before being picked up at 9:30am by Phil and Nid. They were going to Bangkok anyway so had offered us a lift. A lot quicker way of getting there than by bus. Thanks Phil.

Once in Bangkok we walked around with Phil for a bit as our flight wasn't until the afternoon and then they dropped us off at the airport for us to get our 4pm flight to Chiang Mai. It was a little delayed but we eventually left about 4:45pm arriving in Chiang Mai around 6pm.

Just a quick extra to say thank you to Skelly, Phil, Jim and Ed, for all your hospitality and kindness. Great to see you all and keep in touch xxx