So Pattaya was the destination. We were going by a VIP bus as they are known, an upmarket van. There were 8 adults and 5 kids, so 13 people in all. Okay 3 kids were under 3 years old including our little Ja so wouldn’t take up much room.
Miss Noot was a little worried about space but we were assured there would be plenty. The van was actually a 16 seater and it came with a driver. I thought he was dry hiring it and we were driving but not the case. This all for 2,000 baht a day, a bargain I say.
We left a little after our planned departure of 9am from Ubon, leaving about 9.30am. The first few hundred kilometers are the slowest as we encounter single lane roads before getting the dual carriageways. Often you get caught behind overloaded and slow moving trucks doing 30klms an hour if you are lucky.
Safety standards are not like they are in some of our countries; you will always see the labourers sitting on the loads in the back of the trucks. These people have virtually no chance if an accident happens as they are just thrown like a rag doll.
If you click on this picture and look at the largest size you can see people asleep on top of the truck and one man’s knee hanging out the top on the right hand side.
Anyway, the trip started out very slow, mainly because we stopped twice in the first 150klms for toilet stops for weak bladders and stomach problems. I was thinking and so was my mate that at that rate we would get to Pattaya by about midnight.
In the end we only made 4 stops and our driver was a F1 driver. I have been in many vans with drivers who are terrible, the scare the living crap out of you but this guy although he drove fast, between 120-150 klms per hour most of the time on the carriageways, I wasn’t worried as he could drive and was really aware, that must sound silly going at those speeds in Thailand where anything can happen.
You often come across brightly coloured buses with all sorts of murals painted on them and I actually like these better than the plain old buses back home. Usually the drivers scare me as they fly along at times in convoy and if you don’t get out of their way they will honk their horn and tailgate you.
There are many trucks on the roads and most are slow moving. This truck wasn’t so bad but still only doing 30klms an hour or so. It was good to hit the dual lanes and then we really made time.
For some the speeds were unknown as they were too busy sleeping.
Mr.k and Nong Ja, for a long trip Ja was a champion and hardly made a noise. She had a couple of sleeps that passed a good 4 hours.
After settling into our hotel and a swim we then headed to Pattaya's infamous walking street. Yes, yes I am a bad uncle I know. Pattaya is what it is but when you are here you have to view the darker side that most indulge in.
After settling into our hotel and a swim we then headed to Pattaya's infamous walking street. Yes, yes I am a bad uncle I know. Pattaya is what it is but when you are here you have to view the darker side that most indulge in.
Three beautiful girls, Miss Noot, Nong Ja and Joom.
I am sure this is neon heaven for many of the punters wandering along Walking Street; I was surprised how busy it was. I was thinking it would be a little more quite with all goings on around the world and in Thailand itself. But I suppose most come for the one thing Pattaya offers the most and it is still cheap for them. They come and be superstars for their holiday and go home happy, heartbroken, broke, and some even leave in pine boxes.
Brunty
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