Happy New Year

Mr John has given up with wrapping paper!

We had a fabulous Christmas and New Year and are now simply trying to get back into a routine like everyone else.We took a trip to Pattaya just before Christmas and spent all our money on food and drink for the festive period. Well, maybe not all our money but we definitely enjoyed it! For some reason Snoopy was this years theme. I'm a fan but still bewildered as to why?

Our hotel in Pattaya was the Baan Sila (aka Natural Beach Resort). The location was really good, the room clean and priced appropriately but other than that there was not much to write home about. Our shower was rubbish with the water a mere dribble out of the shower head and no visible means to have it anything other than stone cold. I wouldn't rush to go back but, because of the location, I wouldn't dismiss it.

By far the best bit of Pattaya, besides the Indian dinner, was meeting Gordon & Lisa. Mr John and Lisa went to the same high school. We caught up over a coffee and it could not have been easier chatting to these lovely people. Hopefully next time we'll be able to spend more time together.

We were really lucky to receive some great gifts and they have all been put to use. In fear of upsetting people which is not my intention I do have to tell you about the "grown-up" colouring-in in book I received from Abby I nearly said "adult" but I guess that's a whole other colouring in experience!. Mr John is extremely pleased with it too as it keeps me quiet for hours. Honestly, everyone should have one of these in their house. Except maybe "Aunty" Wendy who allegedly got last place for a colouring-in competition when she was little.

Alibaba

We fancied trying somewhere to eat outside the shopping mall for a change.  Mr John suggested Italian or Indian.  As we can get a reasonable amount of pasta and pizza in Chan, my vote was for the Indian.  Mr John rang and booked the table but had a bit of trouble understanding the directions. I'd already looked on line and found about four different maps for this place so who knew where it was.  Actually, that's a helpful hint - don't trust internet maps when in Thailand, they're invariable not quite right. Check out my map below.

Alibaba promotes itself as a tandoori & curry restaurant.  For the princely sum of about 1200 baht we had popadoms to start then I chose the buttered chicken and Mr John the Jalfrezi. Having enough rice on a daily basis, we ordered naan bread for the mains and washed it all down with some house wine.  I had the Chardonnay, which could have been a brave choice but it was buttery and smoky, just how I like it.  And they set the table with knives and forks which is really exciting as eating here involves forks and spoons.

We will definitely head here again and it says on their website that they will deliver.  Speaking of their site, there is more on the written menu than appears here so don't get hung up that they don't have what you want.  Enjoy!!

From our hotel keeping the beach on our right we walked towards Central Festival until we passed the Hard Rock Cafe. 

After the Cafe you'll come to a wide street (T intersection) and you should turn left. 

About 500 metres up this street, on the right hand side, you'll see Alibaba.

Discovery Beach Hotel

Our recent trip to Pattaya saw us stay at this hotel.  We booked through Agoda and got a really good rate of 2000 baht per night.  It was more expensive than the last hotel we stayed at but this one had a bath which was a big seller for us at the moment.  As there were only single bed rooms left when we arrived they upgraded us to the Chic Tower.

This building was lovely though the air-purifier they had in the lobby smelt like a bad dinner - my only complaint and the carpet in the corridors was so thick I actually took my shoes off to walk on it in bare feet.  Our room was amazing and the way they have done the balcony a sort of triangle shape means that you don't see anyone else and feel as if you're the only ones there.

Not only did we make full use of the bath and the rain shower but we also got into the pool. These are the joys of having two nights instead of one.  We didn't eat at the hotel preferring to get stuck in to the western cuisine available in the town so I can't comment on that.

The reception staff and housemaids were very nice, adding to the ambience. We would certainly recommend this place to anyone planning a two night plus visit.  It would be such a waste to only stay in this place for one night and simply sleep in the huge, comfortable bed.

Pattaya II

You know, if Mr John had told me 11 years ago that he'd take me on holiday to a shopping mall - I'd probably have walked.  However our weekend was spent doing exactly that and I had a ball.  For me, the highlight was just sitting in Starbucks having coffee and reading the paper.  How times have changed.

You may remember last time  we only went for one night, well this time we decided to make it two nights and booked a hotel nearer the shopping mall I know right! and with a bath.  We chose the Pattaya Discovery Beach hotel and we were really glad we did.  

Don't get me wrong, our previous hotel was really good value for money and for one night was ideal.  This hotel was much closer to where we wanted to be and gave us a view of the beach plus had parking for Pii Kob's car.  In fact, this hotel justifies it's own post so watch this space.



We managed to get two movies in - Expendables 3 and Hercules.  We would have seen Into The Storm on Sunday had the viewing times been better for us but there you go, seems you can't have everything. In fact, Saturday was a little fraught as Mr John had us route marched to Mulligans Irish Pub straight after the movie so we could see the second half of the Australia v New Zealand rugby match and anyone who knows the score will understand when I say though I wish we hadn't bothered.

As we had an extra night we also managed to fit in a swim in the pool and of course a couple of lovely baths.  Whilst we had breakfast at Mulligans and my advice is don't bother with this it seemed cooked by someone who'd seen a big breakfast but never actually tasted one! I discovered a free eating out booklet and Mr John, having undertaken extensive research, found an Indian restaurant for dinner.  It's called Alibaba and it was fantastic. Again, this place deserves it's own write up so I'll get on to that.

Road Trip

We've just had the most amazing weekend, but before I launch into that I must tell you about last week.  The eagle eyed among you will have noticed that I didn't post anything on Friday.  It wasn't because I had nothing to say but because I thought it was Thursday.  You see Wimbledon tennis has been on and having said previously that our new TV package would not take over our lives.... I was wrong. 


Mr John adhered to his "it's a school night" mantra  he can be such a goody, goody sometimes but I was way too interested to bother with all that.  Consequently I stayed up some nights til 4am, creeping into bed so as not to disturb him.  The resulting consequences were that I would get up in the morning feeling as if I'd had a night on the tiles and I promise you I was not drinking during any of this.  Anyway, having watched the final last night, normal service has now resumed.

So, let me tell you about Pattaya.  It all started with the Transformers film coming out and Mr John and I really miss going to the movies.  Don't get me wrong, there are enough here in Chan but they're either Thai films or western films dubbed in Thai and our language skills are denying us this facility for the time being.  We had heard Pattaya is full of ex-pats a good reason some might say to stay away along with McDonalds and Starbuck.  Mr John had even been told he could buy Pork Pies don't worry, it's a British thing.  We were talking with Pii Kob about our trip and getting on the bus when he very, very kindly offered us his other car.  It was so exciting being able to drive the 106 miles in lovely air-conditioning and I haven't driven for over twelve months but I hadn't forgotten anything it is indeed like "riding a bike".

Our weekend revolved around the Central Festival shopping centre and eating our own body weight well that's what it felt like in western food.  Man it was good.  Being very health conscious we had McDonalds, Burger King, lots of coffee at Starbucks and a pub meal of steak & ale pie for Mr John, including a pint of Guinness, and shepherds pie for me.  The weather was really kind to us and we were able to sit at the rooftop Sky Bar and have an ordinary cocktail.  Parking at Central is really easy and they even have a floor just for ladies to park, so lucky I was doing the driving.

The supermarket on the ground floor has a huge variety of foods from all over the world and Mr John was truly over-excited wandering around mostly because he got his pork pie and a scotch egg along with British beers.  We bought some smoked pork sausages and ham off the bone and have agreed we need to seriously get saving and do another trip before Christmas so we can spoil ourselves with food and drink who needs presents right?  And, unbelievably, Marks & Spencer which some might say is a British institution opens a store here in September.

The hotel we booked was the Sabai Wing and it was excellent value for money at 990 baht (roughly GBP£18 / AUD$33 / US$30) all up for the two of us.  It was a 20 minute stroll to Central but that just meant it was nice and quiet to sleep in the evening.  There's three pools at the hotel which all looked very inviting, but we ran out of time and didn't use any of them.

Pattaya has a lot to offer a westerner in Thailand if you're feeling a little homesick and is more convenient, less populated and cheaper for movies and accommodation than going to Bangkok.  A weekend for us was ample sufficiency, though I would consider staying two nights.  It's a bit too plastic and completely non-Thailand for us to spend any longer there.  Having said that, we'll definitely be back.