My Week in Pattaya

[Daniel]

I arrived in Pattaya for a few weeks’ vacation in February 2016. I posted details of one week’s vacation on GaySexThailand. Unfortunately, that site is still offline. So, if anybody is interested and has not yet seen it, I am reposting it here.

I flew with KLM from the UK into Schiphol and then onto Bangkok. I’m staying at Mosaik ‘Luxury’ Apartments in Soi Day Night 2, in a 60 m2 one-bedroom apartment. Upon arrival, I paid 32’000 BHT for a month’s rent, along with a 10’000 BHT deposit for electricity, water, and housekeeping services. The optional room cleaning, bed linen and towel change, is available daily for 250 BHT. Water is charged at 40 BHT/unit and electricity 7 BHT/unit. I budget for 500 units of electricity and 6 units of water per month.

Mosaik ownership has changed, but the staff (and furniture) remain the same. Even if the rooms appear tired now, the location is great, the staff helpful, and the price for the size of the room is still reasonable. They must be doing something right, as I tried to book a room for visitors from Chiang Mai for a couple of nights and they had nothing available. My friends booked into the Boutique City Hotel in Day Night 2 which, apart from a 500 BHT joiner fee, turned out to be a good substitute.

I understand that the Mosaik is undergoing redecoration this year.

‘Tops Super’ at Tukcom had been extended, since my last visit. I was able to fill my fridge and pick up any toiletries that I didn’t bring with me.

DAY ONE

On my first day in Pattaya, I met a friend for breakfast at Noi’s Bar & Diner, located between Pattaya Soi 17 and Yensabai Condo, on the same short soi as Italian restaurant Volterra, Belgian restaurant Sanong, and (previously) the Thais4Life bookshop. I enjoyed a very warm welcome from the English owners and a tasty breakfast of two eggs, a sausage, two rashers of bacon, baked beans, tomato, two thick rounds of buttered toast and a mug of tea for 150 baht. The restaurant is open from 7 am – 11 pm Mon – Sat and 2 pm – 11 pm on Sunday for breakfast, lunch or evening meals.



In the afternoon, I went to Boyz Town. I hadn’t seen the Copa, since they removed the front wall to their nightclub, which now runs on to the terrace. Everything looked new and inviting. I sat on the terrace and soon got chatting to some of the staff. They serve tea, coffee and soft drinks for 60 BHT and alcohol for 100 BHT. These prices are charged up until the evening show and again when the show is finished. The Ambiance Hotel was quite happy to serve me food, while I sat on the Copa Terrace, so I ordered a 230 BHT cheeseburger, which came with fries and coleslaw.



I moved next door to Oscars Bar, where they were serving soft drinks, tea and coffee for 40 BHT. I chatted to one of the waiters and bought him a couple of drinks. The bar adds 50 BHT to each drink you buy for a member of staff. Considering the time of day, I was surprised at how busy the bar became. Many of the customers seemed to be enjoying very large glasses of red wine, served with cheese and biscuits, for which you pay 70 BHT. The first floor of the bar houses a collection of (unused) underwear and swimwear, which is for sale. I was too lazy to climb the stairs to the second floor, which boasts a V.I.P room. My waiter/drinking companion informed me that they have a massage room, and that staff were available to relieve any tension that I might have. Upon discovering that there were no shower facilities, I decided that service wasn’t for me. In any case, both the Ambiance and Copa have handsome masseurs available, along with shower facilities. I met the Australian owner who was very welcoming, and I’m sure I’ll revisit.

In the evening, I ate at La Petite Planète, Soi Day Night 2, opposite Tukcom. I had a three-course set menu at 320 baht, opting for pâté de campagne, roast pork with French fries, and a crème caramel. Diet Coke was 45 baht. Set menu is served from 1 pm – 11 pm, and the à la carte menu is served from 11am to 11 pm. The à la carte menu includes sandwiches and Thai food. During my last visit, they employed a French chef, but he died about a year ago. The head chef and manager is now a Thai woman. For the price, the food is still good, as is the service.





After dinner, I returned to Boyz town, heading straight for Panorama. The terraces at Copa, Ambiance, Boyz Boyz Boyz, Serene, and Panorama all appeared to have plenty of customers. I like to sit at the back of Panorama, near the air con. Panorama has chilled glasses and draught beer, so I got a decent shandy there, for which I paid 120 BHT. Actually, I’ve had a Life Membership card for years, so I get a 10% discount on that. Panorama still give you a raffle ticket, when you buy a drink. The weekly draw is held at 10.30 and at midnight on Saturdays.

After a few drinks at Panorama, I walked to the other end of the soi and called into Funny Boys. My bottles of Heineken here were 180 BHT each but, again, I got a 10% discount with my Panorama card. I recognised a few faces from previous visits, some of which I knew would be suitable to take off. It didn’t take many seconds for me to invite a guy to join me for drinks, and it didn’t take many minutes before he was in jeans and a T-shirt. I paid 180 BHT for my guest’s drink too, out of which the bar pays him a small ‘commission’.

I didn’t bother asking whether he wanted to walk or take a motorbike back to the Mosaik, as experience tells me that Thais don’t like to walk. So, we took a couple of bikes back to my apartment.

[Daniel]

DAY TWO

Last night’s guest stopped overnight. He proposed calling his ‘flatmate’ over to join us after breakfast. So, we ate at Cicciollina, located in Soi Day night 2, where Office Boys and Niddy’s Nook used to be. Cicciollina (stage name of porn star, Ilona Staller) is run by a father and son from Serbia. Their 90 BHT cooked breakfast came with coffee, orange juice, and a stack of toast.



After breakfast, the ‘flatmate’ arrived, and the three of us amused ourselves until lunchtime. I took some photos of my apartment and its balcony.





We walked to the school, where South Pattaya Road meets Second Road and took a Baht Bus to Jomtien for 10 BHT. Before a stroll along Jomtien Beach, I had a cheeseburger, French fries and a diet Coke for 210 BHT at Dick’s Café, Jomtien Complex, Tappraya Road.



In the apartment was a flyer, advertising the pizza menu at the Wine Bar in Soi Day Night 2 opposite Le Bordeaux. Having prepared myself for a seafood pizza, I went to the Wine Bar. I was given a menu, but the pizzas had been removed. The menu consisted entirely of Thai dishes, all priced at 69 BHT. As I’d already sat down and ordered a Coke, I thought I’d stay and eat. I chose the chicken and cashew nuts, shrimp with basil leaves and steamed rice. Service was good and the food was delicious. The two Thai dishes were 69 BHT each, the Coke 40 BHT, steamed rice 20 BHT, and I finished with decent coffee at 50 BHT.





Off to Sunee Plaza. I met a friend at All of Me bar, who was enjoying happy hour Chang Beer at 50 BHT. My Gordon’s and tonic was 90 BHT but, during happy hour, you can order TWO Gilbey’s and tonic for 80 BHT. Happy hour(s) 6 – 9 PM. The bar is well maintained, clean and the service was good. It has sister bar, All of Me Too, in the Plaza. I left my friend and agreed to meet later in All of Me Too, as I wanted to check out Eros. I was glad I did. Eros was full of dancers and customers. It differed from traditional go-go bars, in that the dancers only danced to let you know they were there. If you don’t invite them over for a drink, they sit down and presume you are not interested in them. Most of the customers were sitting with a dancer. I ordered a Heineken at 110 BHT, and eventually one of the dancers caught my eye. I invited him over for a drink. His beer was 110 BHT too. The staff are not shy; a drink in Eros can be a ‘hands on’ experience. After a couple more drinks, I left the dancer a couple of hundred BHT and went to All of Me Too.

Drinks were the same price as All of Me. I had a Heineken for 85 BHT. The bar was only one shop unit wide, whereas All of Me is a double unit. There were massage chairs, if you wanted a foot massage in the bar, or rooms upstairs for a full body massage. There were only three masseurs available, so I bought each of them a drink. A drink for a staff member incurs a 50 BHT supplement. All three masseurs gave their permission for me to take their photo and post it on the Internet.

An off fee was 300 BHT and a massage upstairs is 400 BHT. I wanted a massage, but in my apartment, so paid 400 BHT, on the condition that the masseur brought some massage cream with. The massage was just OK, but the ending was a long and happy one.

[Daniel]

DAY THREE

A quick 165 BHT breakfast at La Petite Planète.



Ran out of duty free cigarettes, so went to 7-Eleven; 1’740 BHT for two cartons, which was increase of more than 20 BHT a packet since my last visit. I’m going to restrict myself to three packets a day. Ran out of money too, so checked out the exchange rate in Siam Commercial Bank in Tukcom and the Kasikorn Bank on South Pattaya Road. Kasikorn offered a better rate for my traveller’s cheques. However, the weak pound, the 1% commission I paid in the UK, and the 150 BHT commission and 3 BHT stamp duty I paid per cheque in Thailand, gave me a piss poor exchange rate. I shall have to look into Bitcoin!

Took a walk round to Sunee Plaza, to meet a friends for drink at German-owned Ting Tong Red, which wasn’t hard to find.




Soft drinks and coffee were 50 BHT. They hold a pool party at the Marina Inn Plaza pool on Tuesdays, with free admission. Draft Chang is served at 50 BHT glass all week, as is a 0.9 ltr glass at 150 BHT, and a chilled 3 ltr tower at 500 BHT. The pool is open to non-residents for 50 BHT at other times.




Back to Soi Day Night 2 for lunch. Penang Gai, prawn and vegetable tempura, steamed rice, diet Coke 335 baht.




After lunch, I jumped on a baht bus and got off at Royal Garden Plaza. Had a look round, then walked on a bit further to Mike’s Shopping Mall to buy some shirts.

In the evening, a friend and I went to Chez Georges http://www.chezgeorgespattaya.com on third road. Chef/owner Georges had sold the restaurant, since my last visit, to another French guy. There has been no deterioration in the quality of food or service. I started with a half portion of terrine of foie gras 210 BHT, then had Thai beef fillet with a pepper sauce 580 BHT, then a chocolate mousse 160 BHT. We shared a bottle of Prosecco 1300 BHT and a bottle of Argentinian Cabernet Sauvignon 750 BHT.





After dinner, I went to Boyz Town. Heineken at Serene Bar was 130 BHT. I bought a waiter a beer and was charged 150 BHT. I took the waiter off, for 400 BHT.

We went to Cupidol on Soi 1, which had a large number of guys on the stage, who appeared to be enjoying themselves. The Thai manager introduced himself and spoke of their plans to move the go-go into Castro in Boyz Town. He said that the Castro owner was leasing the Copa Showbar from 1st April, and Cupidol would enclose the front of Castro and move in in May. So Boyz Town will lose a show bar and gain a go-go bar. Heineken a Cupidol was 180 BHT.

We went back to Soi 3 (Boyz Town) and caught the 10.30 show at Boyz Boyz Boyz. Drinks were 280 BHT. The show was all male; not a lip-synching ladyboy in sight. The show included a break-boying display, erotic candle/shower acts and, at one point, a dozen guys walked onto the stage wearing only a raincoat and a condom. They walked around the bar, inviting the audience to tip them in exchange for an opportunity to check that their manhood was original. I just took their word for it.

We left Boyz Boyz Boyz after one drink and crossed the Soi to see the Copa show, which had already started. Drinks in the Copa were 180 BHT. The bar was clean and comfortable, the service excellent, and the show introduced many comedy elements into the songs, which went down well with the audience.

An enjoyable evening, but time to head back to the apartment with my willing victim. You never need Flunitrazepam in Pattaya! He was good, I was better. I’d built up a bit of an appetite, so I took a short walk to the food stalls that line South Pattaya Road at night. I treated myself to some barbequed octopus and a fried chicken portion, which I took back to the apartment. It went down well with a can of Leo from the fridge. I slept well.

[Daniel]

DAY FOUR

I had breakfast at the Sanong Brussels Resto-Bistro next to Noi’s Bar & Diner, near Yensabai Condo. For 119 BHT, there were no complaints from me.



I’d brought the complete first season of ‘Fargo’ with me, which I was keen to watch on the DVD player in the apartment. I got through a couple of episodes, before meeting my friends from Chiang Mai for lunch at Cuisine au Beurre. I had a beef burger with peppercorn sauce and fries 145 BHT, tea 30 BHT and, as I haven’t got much of a sweet tooth, I had steamed rice with chicken and cashew nuts 140 BHT for dessert.




My friends had driven down from Chiang Mai, a journey which had taken eleven hours, so they had their car with them. After lunch, we drove to Naklua to visit the Sanctuary of Truth. Entrance was 500 BHT, with no discount for Thai nationals.
We were issued with a hard hat to wear, when entering the ‘temple’. The Sanctuary of Truth was very beautiful and skilfully crafted but too ornate for my taste. It seemed that not a centimetre could be left without excessive adornment. I prefer to ally Truth with Simplicity.











At the café, my Thai friend from Chiang Mai ordered me my first Thai iced tea, which was refreshing and unlike anything I’d ever tasted before. It looked more like a milk shake. We headed back to Soi Day Night 2 to shower and plan our evening.

We decided to eat at Pupen Seafood. My Thai friend drove to Jomtien, along Jomtiensaineung Road (the beach road) in the direction of Sattahip. Eventually, we arrived at the large restaurant, which was very busy. Most of the customers appeared to be Thais who were arriving in their own cars, which I took to be a good sign. The restaurant is open from 10.00 am to 10.00 pm.

I let my friend order for me. Large bottles of beers arrived, along with a terrine of steamed rice, Mantis shrimps, crab in a yellow curry sauce, sea bass baked in rock salt, stir-fried morning glory (water spinach), and tiger prawns. Everything was delicious and the service swift and polite. As well as driving me there, he also insisted on paying for the meal, so I don’t know how much it cost.







After dinner, my friends were tired from their journey down from Chiang Mai, so they retired for the night and headed off to Sunee Plaza.

I called in to the Colonial Bar on Soi VC/Soi 17 http://www.colonialpattaya.com, part of which was the old La Cage, which I owned with business partner David, before we sold it and it became Mike’s La Cage. Mike extended the bar, by purchasing White Night next door. The Colonial now successfully rents out six apartments above the bar. My Heineken here was 85 BHT.

I thought go to All of Me Too and take another masseur back to the Mosaik with me. On my way round, I visited Nice Boys on the same soi as Colonial Bar. My Heineken here was 160 BHT. There were a few guys on the stage, but no impromptu shows. The bar really didn’t smell too fresh, so I drank my beer quickly and left.

I ordered a Heineken in All of Me Too and viewed the line of young men sitting outside Good Boys, opposite All of Me Too. Good Boys was a double unit divided in half. The front half of the bar is terrace style seating and the back half hidden by a screen. The waiter in AOMT told me that customers can drink on the terrace of Good Boys or take a waiter for a drink behind the screen. He claimed not to know any more details. I thought I’d go over and enquire some more. Apparently, drinks on the terrace are 120 BHT. If you go behind the screen, you pay 150 BHT for your drink and are expected to buy the waiter a drink at the same price. The waiter shoots his load and you tip the waiter 400 BHT. Whilst the back of the bar is screened from the street, if another customer wishes to drink with a waiter, there is little privacy if you are already playing with one – apparently!

So, after 30 minutes, I went back to AOMT, had a drink with a masseur, and took him back to Mosaik with me.

[Daniel]

DAY FIVE

Thought I’d have a quiet breakfast at Cucumber, South Pattaya Road opposite Tukcom. The breakfast was good, comprising fruit, full English, orange juice and as much tea or coffee as you wanted for 199 BHT. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as quiet as I’d hoped, as a resident of the Cucumber Suites decided to impart his wisdom as I ate. Apart from bemoaning the fact that he was charged a joiner fee, when bringing girls back, he also informed me that lots of gays come to Pattaya for ladyboys. I suggested that the gays might be coming for young men, but was corrected, as they are available in their own country, whereas ladyboys are unique to Thailand. You learn something new every day.




I spent the rest of the morning in my apartment, watching Fargo and reading my holiday book ‘Slade House’. Lunch was a 100 BHT cheese and ham sandwich at La Petite Planète.



A motorcy taxi driver at Tukcom charged 60 BHT to take me to Baan Souy Resort, Soi 15 off Thappraya Road. I spent the afternoon at the pool bar with friends. Coke was 80 BHT and a Heineken 110 BHT. The resort has been operating for a few years now, but the owners have kept the place looking like new. I spoke to a couple of residents, who said the quiet and the pool were a big attraction for them, but also praised the rooms, staff and café.




A motorcy taxi driver near Baan Souy returned me to the Mosaik for 70 BHT. After a shower and change of clothes, I went back to the motorcy taxi driver, who wanted 60 BHT to take me to Jomtien Complex. I met friends at 4T bar, where my Heineken was 80 BHT. The bar is owned and efficiently managed by two Thai guys.

We ate at Café John (formerly Café Ritz) in the Complex. I enjoyed a prawn cocktail, red snapper with cream and prawn sauce, apple rhubarb pie with ice cream, and a diet Coke for 395 BHT.





We called into @Home Bar, where my Heineken was 90 BHT. Like 4T, this bar had many customers. My visit to the Jomtien Complex tonight, reversed my rather negative opinion of it. Unlike Sunee, it was bright and vibrant, and there were plenty of handsome guys (mostly Cambodian) to keep you company. Jomtien Complex is very much a busy gay area and well worth a visit.
We travelled back to South Pattaya on BHT bus for 10 BHT. I called in to Funny Boys and picked up some company for the last few hours of the day.

[Daniel]

DAY SIX

Had a breakfast at Two Guys http://www.twoguysguesthouse.info off Soi Yensabai. I was hoping to say hello to owner John, but he was not on the premises at the time. Still, his staff were more than capable of looking after me. I had a decent breakfast for 159 BHT.



On the way back to my apartment, I called in to Cicciollina for a coffee and ordered a lasagne for 1 pm, so I didn’t have to wait for it to be cooked. I went back to the Mosaik, watched more Fargo and read more of my book, returning to Cicciollina at the arranged time. My lasagne was waiting, piping hot and delicious.



I had planned to walk off lunch with a shopping trip, but got side-lined by Blue House Massage http://www.bluehousepattaya.com opposite Mosaik. I enjoyed a shower, massage and happy ending, opting for the 1.5 hour cream massage for 600 BHT. The masseur (Pat, but called Rush on the website) seemed content with a 1000 BHT tip. There were 8 masseurs to choose from when I arrived.

A Thai friend and I had dinner at Le Bordeaux Restaurant in Soi Day Night 2. I had a 500 ml carafe of Chilean red wine 350 BHT, he drank Singha beers 80 BHT. We didn’t have a starter, but both enjoyed an excellent imported Australian beef tenderloin steak, he with a mushroom sauce and I with a pepper sauce 690 BHT. I managed a mango tart with ice cream 160 BHT too. Coffee was 60 BHT. The food and service here was very good, and they don’t try to make their prices look artificially low by adding a service charge and VAT like some of the better restaurants.





I was keen to visit Toy Boys in Boyz Town, as I’d read many good reports on the forums. Well, it’s worth a visit, but it didn’t live up to the hype. There were only nine guys dancing, and the building is in desperate need of refurbishment; the black seats had been repeatedly repaired with black tape. The waiter told me that it was better to visit after 10 pm, as sometimes freelancers arrive. My Heineken was 220 BHT.

I called in to Funny Boys and counted 17 dancers. The bar is in excellent condition and my Heineken was only 180 BHT (less discount). Reports of the death of Funny Boys have been greatly exaggerated.

I whipped round to Soi and arrived at X-Boys, just as the 10 pm show started. The show began with nine parading guys displaying an erection. Then there was a comedy S&M sketch, followed by two naked guys taking a shower. Then came some drawn out act with lengths of fabric, which bored me shitless. I left 300 BHT for my 260 BHT Heineken, only to have some aging, mamasan stick out her hand for a tip. We’d met on previous trips, when she demanded drinks. I ignored her and left.

I took a motorcy taxi for 50 BHT to Sunee Plaza, where I called in to Power Boys on Soi VC/Soi 17. This bar was very different to its neighbour Nice Boys. Power Boys had lots of dancers on the stage and the bar was much cleaner. My Heineken was 160 BHT. After my afternoon massage, I decided I didn’t really want company back at the apartment, so decided to have a few drinks in the Colonial.

I met the New Zealand owner at the Colonial. We introduced ourselves and had several gin and tonics. I left the early hours of the morning, and stopped off at the burger bar on Soi VC. I recognised the woman from many years ago. I took a double cheeseburger and fries 190 BHT back to Mosaik with me.

[Daniel]

DAY SEVEN

Met a couple of friends at Cicciollina for a 90 BHT breakfast.




Back to the apartment and, reluctantly, read through and replied to a week’s e-mail. Wi-Fi at Mosaik was included in the rental, an acceptable speed and reliable.

I decided to call in to Ocars in Boyz Town in the afternoon. En route, I stopped off at La Petite Planète, where I enjoyed a green curry for 120 BHT.



Just soft drinks for me at Oscars, chatting to a few of the staff.

In the evening, a friend and I took a 10 BHT ride from Boyz Town to the Dusit Thani in Naklua, for the Saturday BBQ and seafood buffet at the Bay restaurant. Cost of the buffet was 1’754 BHT (1’490 ++) free flow wine and beer was 705 BHT (599 ++). I particularly enjoyed the roast wagyu beef and lamb leg, and the tiger prawns. I ordered a beer and was served a bottle of Singha. After that, I switched to wine. I didn’t need to attract a waiter’s attention to get more wine; it really was free flow, with my glass constantly replenished. 2’459 might sound expensive for a meal with drinks, but I felt I got my money’s worth. Pleasant surroundings and the staff all smiled as they passed. It really made for an enjoyable few hours.









Took a baht bus along Beach Road back to Boyz Town for 10 BHT. Time for a 190 BHT Heineken in Dream Boys, Soi 1, before the 11 pm show at New Café Royal. Dream Boys was clean, and the air-conditioning worked well. It was a large bar, so the few guys on the stage and lack of customers made the place feel empty. However, the available guys, were a friendly and handsome group.

I bought a Heineken at the New Café Royal for 160 BHT. The show was a bog-standard cabaret. I only stayed for about 20 minutes, as the music was too loud to be enjoyable for me.

I got a couple of beers in, before the midnight draw at Panorama Pub. Heineken was 145 BHT (less discount). I won a free drink in Funny Boys in the raffle. Two of the bar staff gave me permission to upload their photo to the Internet. A Thai friend, with whom I intended to spend the night, met me in Panorama.



Before getting a motorcy back to Mosaik, we went to A-Bomb on Soi 2. Drinks here were 220 BHT and a drink for a member of staff was 250 BHT. This bar has had the same Thai owner and Thai manager for 20 years. They seem to tick along with a few very handsome and masculine dancers, catering to a wealthy Thai clientele. The manager is very particular about the guys he employs, and it shows.

It was time to put my camera and note book away. If reading my week in Pattaya was a bit tedious, imagine what it was like uploading photos and writing it. I would add that I’ve been taking holidays in Pattaya for 23 years, so I’ve seen many changes to the ‘gay scene’. I remember Sunee Sunee Plaza, when it consisted of one gay bar, and Jomtien before the complex was built. Like many posters on the various forums, I talk fondly of the past, but I really can’t say that I enjoyed my holidays any more then than I do now.

[Daniel]

Post Script:

"DAY TWO ... All of Me Too ... All three masseurs gave their permission for me to take their photo and post it on the Internet."

[Daniel]

GWMinUS, thanks for your comment. I do have a particular interest in food but, to be honest, I’m more of a greedy b…..d than a gourmet. The report is rather top-heavy on images of food, but that’s because you don’t have to ask the food for permission to post on the Internet.

[Gaybutton]

Thank you very much. My favorite posts are trip reports, especially when the author includes photos. I certainly appreciate your effort and I'm also certain so does everyone reading your report.