Pattaya Parasailing every day except for the few occasions the weather is so bad they have to cancel. Most of these tourists are from China, they pay for their holiday before leaving so a fair bit of the money never makes it to Thailand.
Organised chaos
They buzz around like mosquitoes, personally I would not do this because I just don’t trust the Thai boat drivers.
Coming in to land
There are 4 or 5 of these barges located on the bay, non-parasailers can also come out to the pontoon to watch the fun for a small cost.
One of the overpowered speed boats.
About 750 HP is a ridiculous waste of money, I’m guessing they are just showing off to their competitors. When I lived in Australia I had one Yamaha 200 HP powering my boat, that used to cost me about $25 aud per hour in fuel. So these guys are obviously making plenty to be able to justify these three huge engines.
Stuck on the sand.
Speedboat stuck on sandbar
Every which way but loose
This was the name of the 1978 Clint Eastwood movie, the phrase reminds me of the speed boats in this photo, it seems to be total chaos. 🙂
Check out the crowd on the barge
All waiting for their turn to fly.
Flying high
The most popular attraction for tourists.
Chaotic & crazy Parasailing in Pattaya
Chaotic & crazy Parasailing in Pattaya
A storm is looming
The black clouds are coming across the bay but the tourists don’t seem to care.
More boats stuck on the sand.
Pattaya boats stuck on the sand
Here it comes
There is no better sight than watching a storm roll in over Pattaya bay.
A beautiful rainbow over the bay
After the rain in Pattaya there a beautiful day always follows.
Pattaya Parasailing every day
Quite a walk for the tourists to get to the boats when the tide is out.
Finally another busy day on the bay
Triathlon coming to Pattaya Thailand
Thanks for visiting my Pattaya Parasailing every day photo blog. Bookmark THIS LINK to access my webcam and check out Pattaya bay any time you wish.
Thanks for visiting my Pattaya Parasailing every day photo blog.
This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate.
Many wonderful boats Pattaya Bay, lets start with the old clunkers, funnily enough some of these boats from 1980 are still being used today.
Here is a perfect example in 2016
I guarantee this classic has been working in the bay for 60 or more years. I would definitely recommend a life jacket. 🙂
Protection from the burning sun?
No way José , just sit there & fry.
At least the captain has shade in this one.
Forget the passengers the captain is ok. 🙂
This old bucket has just had a paint job.
Looks pretty good with the new paint job.
One extreme to another
Here is one of the hundreds of speed boats that take tourists, mainly Chinese, to Koh Larn & Para-sailing. This one is grossly overpowered with almost 700 HP to push it along.
Even all that power doesn’t always do the job.
Speedboat stuck on sandbar
These Thai drivers are not very skillful I’m afraid.
Every morning in Pattaya
The boats start gathering on Pattaya beach from 6.30 every morning.
Here come the Chinese tourists
Every day thousands flock to Pattaya to board the boats.
And now for something different
A nice catamaran pulls into the beach.
Koh Larn ferry
The 40 minute ferry ride to Koh Larn will set you back B30, or 86 U.S. cents.
Needs a little work
One owner, & open to all reasonable offers.
Here is one being done up
Still a little work to be done but starting to look good.
There are some luxury boats here as well.
Just wander around some of the marinas along the coast and you will finds some very nice boats. However please don’t expect the “French Riviera”. 🙂
Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.
The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.
This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate.
This is not a travel blog just my personal photo collection from the 2nd half of 2016.
Another birthday rolls around July 7.
Loving Pattaya life 2016
Loving Pattaya life 2016 has seen me spend all year here, the quietest travel year I have had this century. I over spent in the last 2 or 3 years so I thought I should pull my horns in. 🙂
I spent 5 days in Koh Samui in June, 2 weeks in Australia in August and a great trip to Japan in October.
Some of the usual suspects
Greg, Hamish & John helped me celebrate at the Mantra.
A year living in Pattaya seems like about 6 months, time just seems to fly.
Great beach shot August 4th at 7am
All the boats are waiting for the hordes of Chinese tourists.
And here they come in their thousands
The buses roll into Beach Road of a morning and the tourists flock to the boats.
Tony & Nikki Murphy at Signature Steak & Seafood.
The Murphy’s spent a week in Pattaya then 3 nights in Mae Pim before flying back to Australia.
Visitors from San Diego
It was great to catch up with Paul, Eileen, Parker & Elle in Pattaya as part of their 9 week Asian holiday with included Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Koh Samui, Koh Samet & Danang.
Seagulls in Pattaya?
Here is a sculpture on Beach Rd showing a flock of seagulls, yet to this day I have never seen a seagull in Pattaya. 🙂
Here comes the rain
I love seeing the black clouds roll in over Pattaya.
Steve is a great mate of Larry’s from the Gold Coast. Terrific news for movie goers which vastly overshadows the recent Brangelina bullshit, the “odd couple” Larry Krausz & Steven Reade have been signed by BangBros, the largest porn studio in the world, to star in a remake of the 1988 movie Twins, which stared Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito. See if you can pick who will play DeVito. 🙂
The more thigs change the more they stay the same
After many years the Cherry bar on Soi 3 & 2nd Rd has been sold and is now Billabong 2.
When can we have some fun?
Every night you go out in Pattaya the fun starts.
For a discounted hotel rate with free WiFi in Pattaya or anywhere in the world, just book through THIS LINK
Starbucks
Opened in September at the “Bay” which is between Soi 5 & 6 on Beach Rd.
Good coffee & happy staff
They are the first to open at the Bay, next will be McDonalds.
Stunning November sunset
So many great sunsets from my balcony.
My new home
On November 1st after 4.5 years I moved from the 17th floor in Markland to the 20th, does that mean I coming up in the world?
The usual suspects
Jim’s Burgers is a great place for a casual dinner with friends, I’m with Hamish, Jonathon & Matt.
Delicious
Lots of varieties & you can order small or large.
One of my massage girls
Used to be a waitress in Chamiko in Soi 3, now she works at a massage parlour in Soi 3 & sometimes gives me a reasonable foot massage.
Spectacular clouds over Koh Larn
These days I seem to be obsessed with taking photos of clouds & sunsets. 🙂
October in Japan
I m with my friend Kayo in a Spanish restaurant in Tokyo. I purchased a two week ticket on the Shinkansen or bullet train, then after 3 nights in Tokyo I travelled to 6 interesting Japanese cities, includung Kanazawa, Hiroshima, Kumamoto, Kagoshima, Nagasaki & Fukuoka.
I arrived back in Pattaya on Ocober 28th & the following day my good friend Larry Krausz was rushed to Bangkok Pattaya hospital after suffering a major stroke, now 5 weeks later on December 5th he is still in a serious condition in the intensive care ward.
Ross & Bryce arrive from Australia
The boys came over for a few days to visit Larry.
Centara Grand
After a couple of cold beers at Centara Grand and a Pattaya cop working security wanted to throw us out. I lay the blame 100% on Pothole aka John David Martin who was dressed like a local bum & showing off his silly tattoos. 🙂
Pothole & sons + Kayo.
Tate is Pothole’s eldest son, he arrived in Thailand from Australia to celebrate Xmas & to meet his 2 half brothers Tyrone & Tiger. Notice for some strange reason known only to Pothole, all his children including daughter Tamara have to have a first name starting with the letter T. Just another one of his many offbeat strange quirks. 🙂 The lovely Japanese girl in the photo is my friend Kayo from Tokyo.
Shopping for a dress in Soi 6
Even though Soi 6 is one of the wildest streets in Pattaya there is still time for some quiet shopping. 🙂
Soi Diana redhead.
A very sweet girl from Area 51, no wonder I’m Loving Pattaya life 2016′
On the subject of Soi 6
Here is Geoff from Australia, a fanatical Soi 6 supporter. We are at Leckerle in Soi 33 Naklua with his ex fiance Nana for a terrific meal & lots of wine.
Xmas Day with Geoff & Nana
We started with a bottle of French Champagne on my balcony.
Lunch at Surf & Turf & Loving Pattaya life 2016
A great location on the beach at Wongamat. Kayo flew from Tokyo to spend 10 days in Thailand before heading to Australia.
Two nights in Bangkok
December 29th took Pothole & Yogurt to Cheap Charles before checking out Brewski a new sky bar at the Radisson Blu.
New Years Eve in Pattaya
Steve “Jumbo” Reade having a ball at the Atlantic Bar & Loving Pattaya life 2016.
Atlantic girls
They all looked terrific, dressed to kill. 🙂
Meet the gorgeous Katie.
A very happy lady from Billabong 2.
Here’s Pothole dressed in his Jaffa outfit.
Anything to attract attention. 🙂
Farewell to an old friend
Larry Krausz, a friend for around 30 years suffered a major stroke on October 28. After 2 months in the Bangkok Pattaya hospital on life support he was transported to Australia by a hospital Leer jet, thanks to his Medibank travel insurance. After a month his life support was removed & he passed away peacefully.
It’s now 2017 and here is Glenn Frey to tell you exactly how I feel today.
For a discounted hotel rate with free WiFi in Pattaya or anywhere in the world, just book through THIS LINK
Mae Pim Excellent Hotel is across the road from the beach on the gulf of Thailand, two hours from Bangkok airport. Only 90 minutes east of Pattaya, B1200 by taxi and B1800 in a mini bus. For an excellent room rate just book through THIS LINK.
Adjacent to the pool you will find a fully equipped gym and a Thai massage service. The gym is free and it’s B300 for an hour for a Thai massage or foot massage.
Naturally 301 on the next floor would have an even better view. 🙂
The hotel from the beach
You can clearly see the great location of Mae Pim Excellent Hotel Thailand.
Main St Mae Pim near Rayong
There are many good restaurants close by overlooking the beach
This vermicelli & prawn dish was at Xing Xing restaurant. For more information on food in Mae Pim just follow THIS LINK.
Tequila Sunrise
Only 150 meters down the road is our favourite bar restaurant Tequila Sunrise. There is an international team there, a Swiss owner, Peter the German chef, Gary an Australian manager & some very nice Thai staff who run this popular establishment. On our recent trip we had lunch there 3 times, dinner once and cocktails every evening.
Location
As I said earlier Mae Pim is two hours from Bangkok airport & only 90 minutes east of Pattaya. Thanks for visiting my Mae Pim nice Hotel photo blog. Use this link for a discounted rate at THE MAE PIM RESORT.
Mae Pim beach boats sunsets a beautiful onshore wind & peace and quiet. Only 90 minutes from Pattaya and 2 hours from Bangkok airport. The peace & quiet only applies between February and October, the 3 months over Xmas is a different story when the crowds converge on this delightful beach side resort.
Fishing traps
Here are the traps being loaded onto the boat.
Setting off for a nights fishing
The traps are on board and there is a long night ahead, Mae Pim beach boats sunsets it’s all here.:)
Roadside stalls
The fresh produce is sold at roadside stalls beside the beach.
Beautiful Mae Pim beach boats sunsets
Plenty of deck chairs through the high season however they don’t seem to waste their time offering them in the low season.
Looking west the beach goes on forever
This is the perfect place for long beach walks with the onshore wind blowing in your face.
Mae Pim beach resort Thailand
Sunset at Mae Pim
A beautiful time of the day to enjoy a stroll along the beach.
The sun setting in the west
Mae Pim is on the gulf of Thailand only ninety minutes by car east of Pattaya, and 2 hours south of Bangkok. Beautiful white sand and clean water, it’s so quiet and peaceful after the noise & Madness of Pattaya.
However it’s not all a wilderness
There are many restaurants offering live seafood, the photo above is my brother Warren & I at Tequila Sunrise.
Mae Pim fabulous food was high on our list when my brother & I took some Australian friends to this quiet little seaside village 90 minutes east of Pattaya. The 3 days & 4 nights had the feel of an eating odyssey centred mainly around the Tequila Sunrise bar & restaurant. There is an international team, a Swiss owner, Peter the German chef, Gary an Australian manager & some very nice Thai staff who run this popular establishment. We had lunch there 3 times, dinner once and cocktails every evening. Above is Swedish Skagen at Tequila Sunrise
Dr Evil & Nikki Murphy fell in love with the Pina Coladas at Tequila Sunrise. Chris has just completed a terrific South American trip, read his hilarious blog, just follow THIS LINK.
From the left we have Chris Lockwood, Warren Herd, Nikki Murphy and Tony Murphy.
Nikki snaps the Sea Bass.
This was certainly worth a photo, another excellent dish at Tequila Sunrise.
Peter the talented chef at Tequila Sunrise
Peter was a chef at the Hard Rock Hotel in Pattaya until he saw the light and moved to Mae Pim. Now nothing short of an atomic bomb will get him to move anywhere else. Originally from Hamburg in Germany, he returned home for 2 weeks in May 2016, after 33 years this was his only visit. After speaking with him I’m guessing it may be his last trip home. 🙂
Up to now it seems like Tequila Sunrise is the only place we ate at, however there were a couple of other places. Here is my Tequila Sunrise photo blog from February.
Thailand beach resort fabulous food at Xing Xing
One of the many Mae Pim seafood restaurants, lots of live product on offer at very reasonable prices. Above is their Prawn & Vermicelli which was absolutely delicious.
Rock Lobster at Xing Xing
Rock Lobster at Xing Xing certainly lived up to the Mae Pim Thailand fabulous food category.
Seafood tanks at Xing Xing
Lots of fresh seafood to choose here.
Lots of varieties
I’m not even sure what this little beast is. 🙂
Mae Pim fabulous food Curry crab & spring rolls
The crab was very good (B600) and the spring rolls were fantastic.
Sadly I didn’t get the restaurant name, however it was right next door to Tequila Sunrise, food was very good as was the beautiful breeze coming off the gulf of Thailand. My brother Warren enjoyed his fried squid in yellow curry with fried rice.
Chris also enjoyed his spicy Tom Yum seafood soup
All the dishes here were good and the price very reasonable.
A short video on Mae Pim beach
Mae Pim beach resort Thailand
Wednesday special
The Wednesday special at Tequila Sunrise is the enormous double schnitzel for only B159 which is a bargain. Here is my friend Larry Krausz who was born in Australia so I guess he was raised on schnitzels. 🙂
Larry & I were here in February 2016 and I couldn’t wait to return.
Larry Krausz wasa friend for around 30 years, sadly he suffered a major stroke on October 28 2016. After 2 months in the Bangkok Pattaya hospital on life support he was transported to Australia by a hospital Leer jet, thanks to his Medibank travel insurance. After a further month his life support was removed & he passed away peacefully.
I rest my case
What a monster, comes with French fries or mash potato.
Peter is the chef at Tequila Sunrise
Thanks for visiting my Mae Pim fabulous food photo blog, for an excellent hoteluse this link for a discounted rate at THE MAE PIM RESORT.
Amazing Bangkok buses transporting tourists all over Thailand, many are decorated in bizarre colours often featuring Japanese cartoon & Disney characters. Eagles, serpents you name it they have got it. I have never seen anything like it anywhere in the world, take a bow Thailand for giving us so many great photo opportunities.
Bright & exciting colours
I have no idea how they produce these amazing creations, I’m guessing it’s all created on computer then automatically painted on the production line, then again how would I know? 🙂
There was a comment on Facebook that explained to process, it is a vinyl wrap, using the same machines that produce outdoor posters, then they just wrap them round the bus.
For a discounted hotel rate in Bangkok just book through THIS LINK
I see Johnny Walker at the front
I’m also guessing they didn’t get permission to use the Johnny Walker logo. 🙂
Back view
Six exhausts and speakers for sound.
This beast is one of my favourites
It was parked a few meters from where I live in Soi 1 Pattaya so I was able to have a close look.
Eight lethal exhaust pipes
Imagine if a motorbike crashed into the back of this bus, the exhaust pipes were on a 45 degree angle with sharp edges pointing upwards. Perfectly positioned to impale a human being. You gotta love Thailand.
Beach Road Pattaya
Every morning hundreds of buses converge on Beach Road Pattaya bringing thousands Chinese tourists who board the boats to go para-sailing and visit Koh Larn island.
For a discounted hotel rate in Bangkok just book through THIS LINK.
This yellow one will get noticed.
There are so many amazing styles, this one looks like a huge yellow monster. 🙂
The Eagle has landed.
And the beat goes on, it must be a prestige thing the way some of these guys push it to the limit.
You light up my life
Or so the song goes, I really want to ask a question, do you think this guy is trying just a little too hard?
36000 buses idle
Tour bus operators are in dire need of measures to cushion the impact of the coronavirus crisis, as an idle fleet of 36,000 buses countrywide has already missed out on 7 billion baht in income during the sluggish tourism period.
President of the Thai Transportation Operators Association, said that while tourism was at its peak, each bus could generate 50,000 baht a day from tour services.
The current lack of income has led operators to carry a cost burden of roughly 2 million baht from each bus leased, and they don’t have enough cash for installment payments.
Many thanks for visiting my Amazing Bangkok buses photo blog.
This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate.
Koh Samui busy main street runs parallel to Chaweng Beach and has hundreds of shops, restaurants & pubs. Central Festival is a huge new shopping mall with all to usual outlets. On the ground floor in this photo is my favourite restaurant The Wine Connection.
Central Festival is in Koh Samui main street
The shopping mall covers a huge area from Koh Samui main street to the back road beside the lake.
Koh Samui busy main street
There is a food court, Starbucks, lots of restaurants, phone shops and all the fashion houses.
Solo
Solo is one of the many popular bars on Koh Samui main street.
Lots of massage parlours.
A one hour massage is around B300 however you can find them as low as B200 if you look around.
Entrance to all the beach-side hotels is from the Koh Samui main street, here is where I usually stay at the Baan Chaweng. The location is perfect, for an excellent room rate just book through THIS LINK.
LadyBoy show
Thailand is famous for it’s LadyBoy shows and Samui is no different. If that’s what you want to see then Starz is the place to go.
Lots of fresh seafood
There are many restaurants offering fresh seafood all along Koh Samui main street.
Koh Samui busy main street Sports pubs
All these sports pubshave multiple screens showing sport from all over the world.
No more overhead wires in Chaweng
A step in the right direction, sadly however Samui is like a ghost town in June 2021 due to Covid-19.
Samui map
As you can see Chaweng Beach is only 15 minutes from the airport. Be careful when organising transport to & from your hotel, the majority of people will overcharge you. For instance our hotel told us a taxi would cost B200 for one person and B300 for two people, how ridiculous is that?
I think Samui airport is the nicest airport I have ever flown to or from.
We took a 4 hour taxi ride around Koh Samui at a cost of B2000, it was a great way to explore the delights of this wonderful tropical island, we had a very nice lady driver, her name in Ying and her mobile is 09 1128 3867. Check out some of the great things to see, just follow THIS LINK.
Thanks for visiting my Koh Samui main street photo blog.
Koh Samui sports bars have increased quite a bit since I was there in 2007. Most of the beer bars etc have numerous screens showing sport from all over the world. The header for this post show my friend John Martinaka Pothole& I on our first night in Chaweng at Henry’s Africa which seems to be the best bar in town.
Koh Samui sports bars
Henry’s Africa is a huge bar with lot’s of girls, some pool tables and TV screens. As you can see Potholeis enjoying himself. 🙂
Henry’s Africa
Early in the evening they offer Chang beer at B79.
Best racks in town
Or so they claim.
Opposite Henry’s
There are a couple of small bars struggling to attract customers because of the low number of tourists in June 2016.
Green Mango
This iconic bar nightclub is a little further along the street, it is arguably Chaweng’s most popular nightspot. It boasts of one of the largest dance floors on the island, Green Mango is large, loud, & very busy from around 11 pm.
Green Mango
A great effect with the green and orange decorations.
Happy Bar
A little further around the corner from the Green Mango there are quite a few smaller bars.
It was a little early and there were no customers, most of the young tourists in Samui don’t go out until around 11 pm. Geriatrics like us are living in a different time zone. 🙂
Keep walking back to the main street and you will find the Hard Rock.
Bondi Aussie Bar & Grill
Another sports bar where the Aussies gather for obvious reasons. I was rather put off by the B210 price for a Jack Daniels. So I went to the bar next door to watch the State of Origin played on June 22nd, which QLD won.
The bar next door.
A glass or red here was only B80.
The Islander
200 meters down the road from the Aussie bar is the Islander where I watched the AFL, next door is Legends, another well known sports bar.
Tropical Murphy’s Irish Pub
Quite a way up the road past Central Festival is Tropical Murphy’s another popular sports bar.
Tropical Murphy’s
A fairly normal layout, however a funny thing happened as I took this photo, initially the Thai barman was standing towards the front of the bar, but as soon as I raised my camera he ran like a rabbit to get out of the shot. I’m guessing he is hiding from somebody. 🙂
VW sidewalk bar
There are lots of these great mobile bars where I live in Pattaya.
Koh Samui Island restaurants Thailand have improved out of sight since I was last there in 2007. There are so many great choices now, here are a few I have no hesitation in recommending. We hit the jackpot on our first evening when we dined at Il Duomo which is rated 3 out of 154 by TripAdvisor.
A very interesting guy who enjoyed having a chat. There was one very nice touch, we ordered a main course each and asked for extra plates as we wanted to share the meals. We were pleasantly surprised when they actually served us both half portions separately, we didn’t need to do it ourselves, very classy indeed. Apart from that the food was exceptional.
Located at the Amari hotelTripAdvisor only rate it 13 out of 154 restaurants in Chaweng. Al I can say if there are 12 better restaurants then Samui dining is in great shape. Lovely decor, great food and excellent service. Once again the price was reasonable and they also had a red wine from Chile on special.
Put Prego on you list of must do restaurants in Samui. The Amari has been totally renovated and rates very highly among Samui hotels, for a very good room rate just book throughTHIS LINK.
My favourite, they also have several in Bangkok although the Silom branch is the only one I have been to. The best garlic prawns I have had in 20 years, I have had them both at Samui & Bangkok & they are perfect.
Wine Connection at Central Festival Samui
We only spent 4 nights in Samui and chose to eat here twice.
The food choices are extensive, lots of terrines a a big range of pasta.
Coffee club
I saw two Coffee club restaurants, one in Central Festival and one in the main street opposite the Ark Bar. Very good eggs Benedict and coffee.
Eggs Benedict
Absolutely delicious.
Bar Baguette
Located at Bophut beach this was really a good little cafe for lunch, the avocado & bacon baguette was perfect and the staff were really friendly.
For more good restaurants in Bophut just follow THIS LINK.
Lots of choices on the main street.
There are many restaurants offering fresh seafood and lots of sports bars offering good pub food. Sadly we only had four days to sample the Koh Samui Island restaurants Thailand, however I guarantee I shall return.
Lots of fresh seafood
In the nine years since I was in Samui I can’t believe the incredible improvement in the restaurant scene, the choices are endless.
Thanks for visiting my Koh Samui Island restaurants Thailand photo blog. Book through THIS LINK for a discount on your hotel room.
