Fourth Report, Final Report, Thailand Trip, November 2019

This is the final Report of four separate reports of my recent trip to Pattaya Thailand.  The reports are in reverse order starting with my latest one at my blog site: binghamevent.blogspot.com.  

19 November Tuesday.  Played golf today with the group the Golf Club on Soi Metro. I had played once before with this group years ago.  We played on the golf course Pattana which is a very long, nice course.  I do not think I have scored well there.  It has lots of water obstacles and is a long course.  What was fun I played with Herbert from Holland and Richard from Los Angeles.  I had talked to them on the way to the course and on the course.  Herbert is a medical doctor from New Zealand and Herbert was an inhalist, medical specialist from California.  I did not play well the first nine holes and seemed the trip has worn me out and I did not have the strength initially.  It could have also been that I had not drank enough water even though the it seemed slightly cooler today for Thailand’s standards.  This club, with a new owner did not have us start driving to the golf course until 10AM which in my view is too late in the day for Thailand standards considering the high temperature. 

Bridge Wednesday (20^th) was fun playing with Glen (London Cabby).  I have played bridge over the years with Glen and he has developed into a fine bridge player.  In April of this year I had left him my bridge notes and I do not know whether this has helped his game, but he is much improved.  

Thursday (21) I played with a golf group that I had avoided playing with for years even though they were playing at some desirable courses.  It is called he Growling Swan.  One of its founders named Peter who is not a nice person who I wanted to avoid, is no longer there and moved to northern Thailand and may not even be playing golf.  The group I played with was composed of people from Australia, Canada, and Ireland (all very pleasant to be with) (Colm, Colin, Steve).  I rely on caddies over here to see where my ball goes and this caddy (a young person, 20s) could not see where the ball went, even when it was in the middle of the fairway.  I shot a 37 (tied for second) using the Stable ford system and also made the longest put (winning 200 baht; approximate 7 dollars).  It was a fun day.  Their busiest days are on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays where up to 40 golfers will show up to play golf.  We played on the golf course called the Eastern Star which over the years I have dreams about because of the challenging fairways where substantial water hazards are simultaneously on both sides of the fairway.  

Friday, 22 November.  Played bridge my last day with the Pattaya bridge group.  My partner is Ivar Lima from Norway.  We only disagreed once on the bidding.  I have played bridge a total of 5 times on this trip to Thailand.

Beer is inexpensive over here. The charge a lot for hard liquor.  I ate at the Mexican Restaurant and had a Margarita.  The Margarita made the meal expensive for Thailand standards.  

I have been told that approximately a year and a half ago, the dart boards were required to be removed from all the bars because of possible gambling.  They have subsequently been brought back.  A few years ago, the police arrested the entire group of bridge players that I play bridge with for gambling.  Fortunately, I was not playing at the time of the arrests.  This charge was subsequently dropped and the Thai Police captain responsible was later demoted.  A government program was started afterwards indicating that they were positive to bridge players.  Major bridge tournaments take place in Thailand and there was concern that there would be a loss of money for them not taking place.

Other information is that factories have moved from Thailand to Vietnam because of the poor rate exchange with western currencies.  This has left a high rate of unemployment among Thai people. 

One of the primary forms of entertainment for westerners over here is to go to bars and drink beer. The open-air bars exhibit this in mass.  After golf Thursday, I had a cup of tea.  Not a regular.  

Golf groups and golf courses is a major activity over here.  There are 22 golf courses in a fairly easy drive from where I am staying in Pattaya.  It is fun to have a caddy and see these beautiful courses which are well maintained.  Caddy are mandated on all courses.  Many of the of the courses are designed by major designers such as Robert Trent Jones Jr.  and Pete and Perry Dye.  

On Saturday I went to the movies here and saw the movie Gemini Man.  When going to movies here, it is a requirement to stand while a pro King video is shown.  I always comply with this matter of respect in this country.  The movie was entertaining.  The previews shown ahead of the movie advertised many products (not movies) and were tiring to watch.  

Sunday, 24 November 2019:  Played my last time at golf this trip. Play with Colin’s Group.  We drove to Green Valley and had a nice round of golf with Merel from Oregon, Sapra from Japan.  I shot 36 using the stableford system.  I did well on the front nine with a 20 and then the heat starts to have a serious impact on me.  Merel appears to have a serious sugar diabetic problem and was very heavy which he explained that his medication caused. He was pretty demanding on a caddy regarding instruction his play of golf and club selection and she all at once got sick and left the course.  A replacement was found which who was a substantial assistant for him considering his limited ability to be mobile.  We were really crowded in the van to get to the course with very close contact.  

Back at the hotel, I had a shock where I had made a mistake in booking the room and was due to check out today.  That is a problem because I do not leave the country until tomorrow by plane.  I paid the hotel staff for an additional day at a higher rate than I would have received from Agoda my favorite hotel booking agent. I paid for my mistake.  

Rushing around the golf course, I had a minor injury to my right knee, and I need to be more careful her because of the uneven floors which are a frequent feature of construction here.  I usually am; but, not today. 

Walking around Pattaya, Thailand is not for the faint of heart.  The traffic is almost unregulated, and a person has to be very aware of their surroundings to avoid being hit by a motorcycle or car.  I have been in cars who have been in accidents over the years and it is best to step forward and offer “cash”. 

Monday, November 25, 2019: my last day in Thailand.  One would ask why I come to Thailand.  For entertainment, golf with caddy, guaranteed bridge game, this is the place.  Also, very nice rooms at good prices. For me it is deeper.  This is my 24^th trip to Thailand.  The first one was in 1967 for a R&R from Vietnam.  I spent two years in Vietnam.  The first year was as an Infantry officer Battalion Advisor to a two Vietnamese Battalions.  While assigned to the first one I was shot and after two months in the hospital, returned to another Vietnamese combat battalion.  I developed strong relations with soldiers in the Vietnamese Army.  Coming to Thailand, I am in a similar environment (jungle, heat) with entertainment.  I am older now and these thoughts are not as strong.  I have been back to Vietnam twice after the war.  Vietnam is not a good vacation spot. 

Regarding my past vocations (31 year U.S.Army (much of that in reserve and active duty assignments), (27 years in California prisons), (20 years teaching 100 college classes as adjunct faculty for a University, two colleges),  I needed a break on occasion which would get my “head” in a total different culture.  Thailand has always done that for me.  I after a trip here, I am ready to get back into the reality of American culture.