And 10 hours later....
Trip Start
Jun 08, 2007
1
19
23
Trip End
Jul 05, 2007
Bangkok,
Thailand
Monday, July 2, 2007
I got drawn the window seat next to Carl and some bint on the aisle. Bad draw in hindsight. As soon as they'd both fallen asleep I was imprisoned in seat 36A for 10 hours or so. Before I die, I am definetly going to treat myself to (or get someone else to pay for) an upgrade on a long haul flight. It's the future.....
So onto Thailand and Part 3 of a day that takes us about half the way back home. Before departing England, Mark had arranged transport via a local fellow by the name of "Monkom" to take us from the airport by minibus a further two hours to Pattaya, a coastal resort 100km to the South. We all walked through immigration excited at the prospect of a little slanty chap holding a sign saying "Corin Ladford"....but sadly, this wasnt to be!
From day 1, it was our intention to chill on a beach or around a pool for three whole days after skiing, etc and Pattaya had been picked really as the most easily accessible resort. However, given my time again and knowing what I know now, I would have gotten straight on a plane to Phuket even with the limited time available.
The bumpy roads from the Airport to Pattaya made in difficult to sleep and they seemed to go on forever and ever. We eventually arrived at the hotel at 2.00am in 30 odd degree heat, some 20 hours or more since we'd left Auckland in the morning. Shattered is an understatement.
The initial impression of Pattaya was also quite disappointing and we were thinking that maybe we'd made a massive mistake coming here. After checking into the hotel, I took a brief walk around the close vicinity to get water. etc and it certainly felt like the the sort of place you wouldnt want tobe out on your own after dark! Hasty retreat to the Beverley Plaza and a sleep of all sleeps for me then!
