Christmas Rush? How Was It For You?

[Edge]

Last night - Christmas Eve. The traffic was heavy, but not as heavy as I expected after my last excursion on Thursday evening.

 

I started out with the Wilde Bunch at Quicky on Soi Six. They were a good crew in party mode, but I think it's fair to say they were the life and soul of the Half Dozen. There really wasn't much else special I could see happening.

 

Around 9pm I got a call and went to see some regular Christmas visitors and other expats in Jane's Bar, New Plaza.

Wow!!! New Plaza was rammed and rocking.

So far I'd been up Soi 6, along Beach Road and down Soi 8 and this was the first real sign of Christmas Eve I'd seen.

As in previous years the whole area had been closed to traffic from both ends. There was no chance of getting my bike in there, so I parked it in another Soi and walked back in from Second Road end.

Both sides of the Plaza were filled with red tables and chairs and they were filled with customers to the extent that it was difficult to even walk through there.

Free food was being offered everywhere and with CC drink prices (55 Baht for a Heineken on Christmas Eve) it perhaps wasn't surprising that so many people spent the evening there.

A stage at either end provided the music and there was no other bar music being played.

New Plaza knows how to do Christmas IMO and the same happens on NYE I believe.

 

At around Midnight I headed down Soi Buakhao to see what was happening on WS.

 

I started at Shark (free buffet). It was OK from my PoV but pretty quiet and nothing to tell you it was Christmas.

 

Heaven (no 's') Above was faring better, but it wasn't full by any means and just looked like a normal night.

 

Sapphire was OK, again from my PoV, but really not much happening and no sign of a Christmas rush there. The sound system is set up great now IMO, though being an old git I'd have loved to have heard the odd Billy Idol or ZZ Top track through it.

By about 2am it was downright quiet there and I thought I might as well head home, only I didn't.

 

I popped into Misty's for one for the road.

Misty's is never predictable, but personally I feel comfortable there.

Misty's was the only one which was really rocking on my little foray. Their auditorium type setup seems to be ideal for music and their sound system is always faultless IMO without deafening anyone. Their mix of music is also good, not really specialising in any particular genre but nicely juxtaposing some of everything.

There was a good crowd in there - not rammed but definitely in party mode.

 

Today being Christmas Day, I'll head down to Sapphire Lodge later this afternoon and then see how it goes from there.

 

Merry Christmas to you all and especially to Elvis and Bagel................... wherever you are.

 

[LaaMok]

I'm off to buy some presents, its just something we never seem to do here. I will be at the lodge at 4 p.m, see you there

[Edge]

I'm off to buy some presents, its just something we never seem to do here. I will be at the lodge at 4 p.m, see you there

 

What are you getting me?

[PattayaFanatic]

A BG is always a great gift,for any occassion

[Wedders]

Unexpected appearance of former gf just as I was heading for soi 8, so change of plans. Great Xmas meal at the "Cuisine au Beurre" behind TukCom on Pattaya Tai. full of Frenchies of course. Although not sure if they were the genuine article, they were drinking anything but red wine (which was pretty good). Then off to Murphy's Law in LK Metro, but little Xmas atmosphere there. Next door though was really rocking. Fireworks going off everywhere in the street, was having to fish bits of spent rocket out of beer and hair...

 

No GoGos this time, was dragged off to a Thai club called "Ping!!!" (with the exclamation marks). 2nd oldest person there was 25 years younger than me. Don't know what the music was, but if I didn't hold on to my beer, it was vibrated off the table. Still it was good fun, although hardly Christmassy - no other farangs there that I could spot. Live band came on later, pretty good, all Thai of course. Like Edge, a bit of ZZ Top (or even Mud) would have been welcome!

 

Then around 4am off to one of those open Thai BBQ places along the same street as "Ping"; home for 6am, up at 10am for a quick session, and we're supposed to be doing it all over again from 3pm, at the Lodge, and later at Sapphires?

 

Groan.

[Edge]

Christmas Day, was a different story where I was compared to Christmas Eve.

 

I started out at Sapphire Lodge a little later than planned at 5pm and the 250 Baht Christmas Dinner was a little past its prime but still good value. We had a couple of drinks and then moved on. Whilst sitting in the bar it didn't look as though there were many girls there, but as we left we saw there were another 10-12 huddled in a seating area more or less out of sight near the door - strange?

To me the place lacks a Hostess with the Mostest - not like a Mamasan but more a well dressed facilitator with social skills who could guide the girls where they'd needed and help make things happen. I suppose Bryan could try dressing in drag, but I'm not sure that would work somehow.

 

We dropped into Exotica around 6.30 where there was still a good vibe going on. The excellent spread there was free BTW, but we were stuffed already of course.

 

I arrived on WS earlier than usual and decided to check what was happening at Windmill.

It was already packed at 7.30 The usual formula was working well and the line up was better than I've seen for a long time.

The new manager seems a really nice guy and he's working hard to make it all go with a swing - a breath of fresh air compared to a certain former manager who thought it was enough to just turn up and look miserable,

David, the owner and his wife were away on the night, but I'd say they left the bar in safe hands.

Personally I wouldn't have been too happy about the 10-12 Indian guys who were taking up a lot of space without spending much, but maybe they'd paid a different way - not my problem.

I enjoyed my stay and I think I was there until about 11pm.

 

After a year or more saying No to the handshaker outside Super Girl, I gave in and ventured in for one drink. I've never felt comfortable in the Japan man GoGos, but the line up in there was about the best I've seen anywhere in Pattaya and most of the girls seemed more receptive, at least to eye contact, than had been my previous experience.

I was surprised to hear that the ST BFs there are still only 6-700 Baht, considering what's going on elsewhere. ST fees quoted at 2k, but not surprising considering the quality. I've certainly been quoted more for less elsewhere.

 

I went from there to Sapphire and IMO it was a different story to either Thursday night or Christmas Eve - it was packed and rocking.

The free food provided was exceptional - thank you.

I had to laugh at the Chief Cheap Charlie (one Singha and eat all you can). He had taken up station directly in front of the main food table and, despite hints from other customers, had been resolutely ignoring the plates, cutlery and serving utensils for at least 5 minutes, preferring to finger feed his way through the various dishes. The chunky Service Guy arrived and with much admonishment "No good, no good, no good" forced a plate, cutlery and napkin into his sticky hands. The guy did as he was told and filled his plate, then took up residence next to the jacuzzi where he ate his food, sipped his one Singha for an hour or so, smoked a 'Woodbine' or two and eventually left in search of his next free feed. Made me laugh anyway.

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay there and I thought that was the first time I've seen the bar at its best.

Having made an early start, I expired around 1.30 and left for home.

[Wedders]

Christmas Day, was a different story where I was compared to Christmas Eve.

 

I started out at Sapphire Lodge a little later than planned at 5pm and the 250 Baht Christmas Dinner was a little past its prime but still good value. We had a couple of drinks and then moved on. Whilst sitting in the bar it didn't look as though there were many girls there, but as we left we saw there were another 10-12 huddled in a seating area more or less out of sight near the door - strange?

To me the place lacks a Hostess with the Mostest - not like a Mamasan but more a well dressed facilitator with social skills who could guide the girls where they'd needed and help make things happen. I suppose Bryan could try dressing in drag, but I'm not sure that would work somehow.

 

I left about 5.15, and just before that there were 22 girls approx, going by the tequila shots I'd offered them that had disappeared from my table.... some girls were upstairs doing ST as well.

 

Know what you mean, the girls seemed pretty much left to their own devices. One girl I'd LT'd two days before was moping around the place, in tears occasionally, but nobody seemed to take her in hand. It was a bit embarassing actually, and it makes it a bit hard to go to a place when one girl hits on you straight away as personal property, following a single night's boom boom. Hopefully she'd just drunk too much, and will be ok next time I'm there.

 

The food was great at 4pm, being replenished occasionally by the chef. Really good deal.

 

Had drunk too much by the time I left, and combined with some bedroom activity early evening, we then passed out, not waking up til 3.... so missed out on the planned trip to Sapphire GoGo, damn it.

 

Oh well plenty more party nights to come between now and the New Year.

[allegis]

may i ask where new plaza is ? haven't been to Pattaya in 11 months and will be there this Saturday?

[nice to visit]

Thanks for the reports Edge. Always nice to hear what's happening around town. I guess Xmas in Pattaya is much the same as any other day only with more free food.

 

Sounds like super girl is worth a go.

[Edge]

may i ask where new plaza is ? haven't been to Pattaya in 11 months and will be there this Saturday?

 

It runs from Second Road (opposite Sois 7 & 8) through to Soi Buakhao - about 20 bars in all.

 

Not necessarily the best place to look for stunners but you never know.

[allegis]

It runs from Second Road (opposite Sois 7 & 8) through to Soi Buakhao - about 20 bars in all.

 

Not necessarily the best place to look for stunners but you never know.

thank you for the directions, happy holidays

[Sa-teef]

may i ask where new plaza is .....

 

Looking at Pattaya New Plaza from the Second Road/ Soi Eight intersection:

 

 

A mix of retail/restaurants and bars in the shophouses on either side and larger bars down the middle.

There was already a fair bit of trade at 3:30pm this afternoon.

 

 

[allegis]

nice photos

[Edge]

Just to say - last night on WS it was a different story.

Out on the street it was busy, but most of the gawkers seem to have drifted off.

In the GoGos, the girls were definitely back to work in Heaven Above and Shark and Misty's was still pumping away as usual.

There also looked to be more serious punters in town.

[Warrigal29]

Yea, a good christmas and new year. I got into Pattaya, 22nd and stayed at The Nature View in Soi Buakhao. Good value for 1000 bt a night and no compulsory gala dinners to pay for. Met up with my g/f and wandered along to The Rich Bar and had some chicken and cashew nuts a few tigers and sang a few songs with The Ting Tong band. That boy can really play.

 

Christmas day was just like any other day in Pattaya really escept that most of the girls were wearing sexy little red christmas outfits. When I left the UK there was havoc in the shops and on the roads with everybody rushing to get presents and food etc. It was great to get to Pattaya away from all that hassle. New years eve was party night and and again went to The Rich Bar but got a bit rat arsed and staggered back along to the hotel about 3 am. (luckily she doesn't drink so I had someone sober to guide me) I saw a couple of farangs laying in the road, blood everywhere, I think that they had been hit by cars. Woke up new years day and started all over again.

 

I came home on 4th Jan. Apparently 6000 Americans hit the town on 5th as there were a couple of ships in port.

 

I'm back again in April after Son kran cant be doing all that water again.

[kansuwan]

I had the misfortune to be in Bangkok at about 8.30pm on Christmas Eve, where I bumped into a Mamasan I've known for about ten years. A very good-hearted lady, just on the way to work in her new bar. It would have been impolite not to walk her there and, anyway, I wanted to see what the bar was like. It turned out to be a bar catering for Japanese punters (no English signage outside, spotless Japanese decor within). Unlike most such bars, it didn't rely on hostesses in frocks to keep the customers satisfied. Instead, the staff were all coyotes, who could be invited upstairs for a shimmy and shake. I never got that far - the bar was quiet, so drink was taken downstairs with the Mama and a coyote. All sorts of drinks: Beer, B52, Yadong, vodka and more Yadong and B52s.

Mama paid for her share (separate bill) and discipline quickly broke down. As Christmas approached and there were no other customers, it seemed like a good idea to close the bar and go to a Thai cabaret bar. Don't ask me where: somewhere in Onnut. My early Christmas present was watching the coyote dancing. We stayed there until Mama had to go home to her parents' place and me and the coyote had to get the chimney ready for Santa Claus.

Billy Idol failed to make an appearance.

 

Edit: spelling

Edited January 16, 2012 by kansuwan

[Edge]

........................................... me and the coyote had to get the chimney ready for Santa Claus.

Billy Idol failed to make an appearance.

 

 

What, was there no Mony Mony involved?

 

Sounds like an interesting evening and you wound up pulling a cracker.

[kansuwan]

[Edge]

 

If you got Boom Boom and no Mony Mony you need to tell BigReg about it...

 

....as long as there was no Sweet Sixteen of course.

[kansuwan]

Edge:

I'm not going to post any details about the financial side of my Basil Experience: that would only prompt Twats Inc. to blast this fine thread with posts about how I should have paid more.

 

I know you'll understand.

 

Coyote duties re-commence tomorrow.