Thailand Trip report 2023, first report
This is my 26th trip to Thailand. The question is “why Thailand” and for me it is no grocery shopping, no driving, no cooking, no vacuuming, no garbage emptying, no walking the dogs. Here in Pattaya, activities include: golf with a caddy, playing duplicate bridge with interesting people (actually the ones back home are mildly interesting), inexpensive massages (one hour for six dollars; I tip them three dollars; high roller).
I tried something new this year and paid big money for an expensive seat on the airlines (EVA; great service, reliable). Business class top level. Actually I could got less of a business class and probably the same service on the plane. It was unique to serve me meals in separate courses and have them lay a proper table cloth on the tray (no normal tray; big roll out). Also the seat positions itself by pushing buttons where a person can completely lay down. They offered me pajamas to wear and they over and I declined. Linda wants me to wear them on the way back. The food was specially prepared vegetarian and I think I cook better at home vegetarian. I know, picky.
The other big deal on Best Business class was access to the “lounges”. The lounges offer free food, drink, including alcohol (I am not an enthusiast at drinking alcohol and had none). The food is very good, including vegetarian dishes. Also, the seating areas are varied and a person can be in any seat they desire. The one area I took advantage both in LA and in Taiwan airports was the showers. I showered both places and it is terrific. The big mistake I made was in Taiwan where I brushed my teeth using their water. Almost immediately, I became sick. I had not swallowed and did rinse my mouth with their water. That is enough. Fortunately I have some special medication for just such an occasion and these pills have worked.
Arriving in Bangkok also worked very well. The crowds of people were the very most I have seen. Terrible. However, I pulled the elderly 87 year old card, circumvented the crowds going through customs and gain access to the area to get my luggage. Always my first priority is to get Tai currency. Surprisingly, my Schwab card which I have for this purpose would not work in the machine. I then tried a new travel card that Linda and I have recently purchased, and that worked perfectly. I then was able to collect my principle bag and pick up my golf bag in the unusual bag pick up area. My next step was to get my phone converted to using a Thai sim card. I was able to get one at a good price, with no line of people (found at the other end of baggage claim area, whole area is very large). I made my usual checks, had the employee call my new number and tape the number on the back of my phone. It all worked.
I had sent an email to my usual taxi from Taiwan and he was waiting for me on the second floor next to the number 3 exit. He had a large sign with my name correctly spelled on it. With my luggage I went to the small store in the airport and bought a bottle of water which gave me the change to pay the taxi driver. Just a little over an hour and a half later, we pulled up to my new hotel in Pattaya called the Stay, on Soi 10. This is by far the nicest place I have stayed at here since my first trip in 1967. Also, the drive used to take 3 1/2 hours. It is also now on regular interstate type highways a little over an hour to get to the edge of Pattaya. I traffic in Pattaya I too much.
I organized the room and went to the
Witherspoon’s bar where I will playing golf from mostly on this trip. Paul the coordinator was there and he and I figured out it wood be stupid to try for me to play golf in this heat and humidity my second day here with my elderly age. Not wise. So, he told me I could get a ride to the ladies LPGA event which is going on locally tomorrow. I think also this would be too much my second day here. Too many hours standing up in the heat. Over 12 hours difference in the time zones.
So, I will organize for the future to play golf on Tuesday, Thursday and Bridge on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I plan to take a new ride, taxi service called Bolt.
Paul has told me that it is insane to try to play golf here now on the weekend during high season with the masses of Tourists.
This concludes my first report.
Gary Bingham
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