Thailand: My First Night in Pattaya

It was seven-ish and I was sitting in a nice-enough room overlooking the front entrance to the pub above which I had just moved in. The pub was the Pig and Whistle on Soi 7 in Pattaya. Across the way was a big hole, which they were hoping to construct a hotel in and next door to that, just opposite me, was a tiny bar with one lady sitting on a stool outside it. Not that there was a wall there, it was open on two sides. The Soi was lovely and peaceful, I thought. I also thought that I might go and sit in that little bar and talk to that woman, if my friend was late, because I would surely see him arrive from two metres away, the width of the Soi.

So, I went to the bar in the pub at 19:15 to await my friend who said he would meet me at 20:00. It was much busier than thirty minutes earlier but not noisy and I sat at the bar. The first thing a barmaid did was say hello, give me a menu and step back. I did not really want to eat, I only wanted a beer as I presumed we would be dining together later, but I wanted to read the menu anyway.

‘A pint of Boddington’s’, I said. It arrived and the girl began laying a setting for me. I tried to explain that I was not hungry, but it was no good. Like in Spain, most people eat and drink at the same time. All the while the girl was smiling at me. Then she said: ‘You live upstairs? My name Charli. What you want to eat?’. So, I gave in and ordered something and rice.

‘You first time in Thailand? You no can eat. Too spicy’, she said with a grin. ‘Oh’, I replied, ‘but I want to try. ‘I put only 50-50 for you’, she said and went.

I battled my way through that meal and it took a Boddingtons and a bottle of water. Charli had been accurate, it was too hot for first-time foreigners and she had reduced the chilis by 50%. I have always heeded a Thai’s guidance on food ever since.

I changed seat to by the window to see what was happening as it was dark by 19:30 and I was curious. Within thirty minutes Soi 7 had changed completely. I could see hundreds of ladies and tourists milling about. I wanted to go out and join in or at least sit in the quiet bar across the way, but I’m ashamed to say that I was too scared, so I sat put, rivetted to the Pig like a rabbit in a hunter’s beam.

My friend walked in on time and after we had been chatting for an hour, he said: ‘Drink up, I have someone I want you to meet’. This was it, we were going into that mele. A waitress opened the door for us and the racket and the heat were terrific. Particularly the noise. Every metre at least two or three girls would yell: ‘Hello, sexy man, you want a drink’. Trying to say no courteously to each call was out of the question, so I just stuck close by to my pal.

Luckily, we only had about fifty metres to stroll and we sat down in another bar. My friend said hello to several women and then said, this a girl I have been going out with for some time. I was flabbergasted as I had never heard him talk about her, ever. She was gorgeous, but could not speak English, so I sat in the pandemonium in silence. Not for long through, as my friend said, I have a blind date for you and he introduced another girl to me who was equally beautiful, but with whom I could speak a little. She was captivating and I was captivated. The pandemonium seemed to pass away, but it was only because I was concentrating on my new friend. The four of us had the best time and the best food I had ever had in my forty-nine years of existence.

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Things to Do In Madrid - Staying Busy Isn’t Hard

Madrid, the capital city of Spain, has not always been a hot tourist spot. With a population well over 3 million, though, it has certainly stayed full of things to do and activities to be enjoyed. More recently, it has focused on becoming an international destination, so you should be able to find something to do on your vacation to this bustling city.

World Famous Food

Madrid is very famous for some of its food. There are many different restaurants that are able to be found throughout the city serving some of the best local cuisine in the world. There is also a variety of international cuisine to check out while in town.

There are a variety of restaurants throughout the city offering the finest food that you’ll find in the country. In addition to local flavors, you’ll also find plenty of international restaurants, including French and North African dining.

There are restaurants and cafes all around the city, featuring a variety of styles of cuisine and environments to choose from. Whether you want bustling restaurants and bars or quaint cafs, you can find it all.

Historical Attractions

Madrid is striving to become an international Mecca for tourism, fashion, and more, so their history is a little less important to them than it might be in other places.

In addition, you can find history throughout the city showing different stages of Madrid’s life. Whether you want to see classic history landmarks or famous sites, there are plenty to see in this city that has been around for centuries.

You’ll also find three of the most important art museums in Madrid: the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofia Museum, and the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum, which boast artwork from some of the most famed artists in history.

Other Entertainment Options

Finding things to do in Madrid is NOT difficult. If you’re looking for nightlife and entertainment, you can find plenty to keep you entertained.

The city of Madrid has a rich musical culture, and you can find them at any number of theaters that are available. It isn’t uncommon for the locals to spend a night out on the town and not go home until the morning, guaranteeing you entertainment galore.

Shopping is one more type of entertainment that you can find in Madrid. From upscale boutiques to large department stores, there is something out there for almost everyone. Madrid features some of the best cuisine, but also offers plenty of shopping, night life, and other entertainment for travelers to enjoy.

Need some additional Madrid travel tips for travellers? Why don’t you visit our travel tips blog?

Beautiful River Cruises

Leisure, scenery, ambiance and culture all sum up to a western european river cruise. If you need a holiday that may remain in your memory for a while, running into all the unique aspects of a river cruise will be a great experience for you. The boats used for river cruises are smaller and can access inland areas that the bigger sea ocean liners can’t.

This will enable you the chance to explore regions not generally known on the holiday circuit. Northern EU river cruises are one of the journeys that will enable you to see sights in Finland, Sweden and Norway. See for yourslef the countries of the ‘Midnight Sun’ and see what it’s like to have daylight for 24 hours.

A river cruise is one of the best ways to spend your vacation without caring about booking hotels. By experiencing a river cruise you will have accommodations and meals already looked after while you are on the go to explore coastal cities on the way. The river cruises vary in length, but you should be capable of finding one to fit in with your vacation plans.

The northern cruises will enable you the opportunity to see the Baltic Sea and revel in the wonders of this area of the planet. From the ports of call along the way you’ll enjoy the variances of the old and new mixture of architecture. Palaces and contemporary buildings exist in a way that is tempting to behold.

Experience a mixture of old and new while enjoying the riverside towns. Cruising along in the summer when the temperatures are perfect for your river boat trip will be an energizing adventure. To remember everything use a camcorder or digital compact camera to record your cruise. You can buy a cheap one in any online auction website.

Preparing for European river cruises is not an easy task. If you’d like to read advices from experts and also travelers who speak from experience, you should visit our website that specializes in these trips. I’d personally recommend Seine cruise for everyone who wants to see beautiful places in Europe.

Ibiza - An Island To Forget Your Worries

Ibiza has a well deserved reputation as being a party island but it is important to know that there is much more to the island than dancing all night long to the latest DJs. It is the closest of all the Balearic Islands to Spain and has 125 miles of coastline dotted with magnificent beaches with golden sand and crystal clear water and also many quiet small coves.

There is accommodation available to suit every budget from simple and cheap rooms up to deluxe villas and resorts, these can be found throughout the island and not just on the shore. Most visitors come during the summer months of July and August at which time it is essential to book ahead to be assured of getting a place to stay.

It was during the 1990s that Ibiza’s tourist numbers grew massively; this was at the same time as the advent of the dance scene. Today some of Europe’s most famous bars and clubs can be found here attracting clientele from around the world. But apart from the partying there are many other pursuits and activities to keep visitors happy. It is possible to rent an old stone cottage in the middle of nowhere and slowly watch the days pass by. Also there are plenty of great walks to be had amongst olive groves, pine forests, and historic buildings.

Ibiza town is the largest on the island and has a unique charm that mixes a medieval feeling alongside superb restaurants and bars.

Ibiza is a perfect destination at any time of the year. It has an average of 300 days of sunshine and very little rain. The days never get too hot as there is usually a gentle and refreshing sea breeze. Many tourists are now discovering the charm of the island in winter.

The pace of life throughout the island is very laid back. All your stresses and worries can be left behind at the airport.

Tom Binns set up the yacht The Life of Riley ibiza boat charter

Adding Mystique To The Railways

There is something quite magical about the railways. Right from the time when there used to be steam engines to the transcontinental high speed trains that zip across Europe and Asia, trains have captured the imagination of people from across the globe. If you are one of those who just keep flying from place to place, it may make sense to savor the magic of the trains every now and then, just for a change. Whether it is Moscow or Tokyo, Mumbai or London, the common thread happens to be the railways which have tied together huge countries leading to unparalleled connectivity as well as a world of luxury.

Train journeys, especially if they are long in duration are not quite complete without consumption of certain beverages or drinks, either cold or hot. This is where cup holders come in quite handy so that one can keep the cup, bottle or even pouch in the cup holder and take sips from drinks that they would like to savor. It is possible to get quite thirsty in trains, which means that the cup holder’s utility is unquestioned.

Cup holders on trains are quite convenient as these can help hold not only the beverages that you love, but also some chocolate or small packet snacks that you may have purchased from vendors along the way. Some people find this extremely convenient as placing these items on the seat or in flaps in the seat ahead can get rather cumbersome and not the tidiest of options. After all, as the train zips by at dizzying speeds, any imbalanced movements could cause the drink to spill, which is prevented by using cup holders.

Train cup holders come with easy to use Velcro straps which mean that you do not have to fumble as you try and hold the cup holder in place on high speed trains. If you want some coffee, just order it, place it in the cup holder and enjoy sips of this utterly stimulating drink that can help wake you up from a stupor.

If you want to buy cup holders that can be used in trains, you need not really look too far. There are so many websites that you can refer to which list various types of cup holders at various price points too, to meet your needs in terms of style, size and cost.

Cooper “Coop” Shepherd makes his daily commute by rail, to a job where he investigates the usefulness of the drink holder especially in reference to stadium accessories.