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[devilish]

Definitely Phuket. I've spent a lot of time there over the past 10 years.

Korat is a distant second.

[tinfoilhat]

theblether, on Yesterday, 21:27 , said:

Oh no......an impossible task......my best memory of Thailand.......can we make it my best 100 memories of Thailand??? Even that would be a struggle. The country is outstanding.

Some of you will have seen this before, I've had to edit this story to fit this topic..........the background is that I didn't want to come to Thailand because of all the bad press......this encounter on my first day was a blessing, so it was the beginning of my love affair with Thailand........here goes.................

....................................................................................................................

My first trip to Thailand was Feb 2008, I had done a business deal and I was taken on holiday to Pattaya as a bonus. I was reluctant to go as I had heard all the usual nonsense about Thailand, but being Scottish I couldn't see the holiday go to waste.

I duly turned up at the hotel opposite Wonderful Bar 2 and you can imagine I was blown away with my first sight of Pattaya. The first afternoon there was live entertainment in the bar, so I wandered across and sat down on one of the stools. There was an older English guy doing his turn, and he had a good voice.

Once he finished he came to over my way and mentioned I had blagged his seat, I skipped up one and he sat with me. He asked me if it was my first time in Thailand, he must have smelled the newness off me. I said it was and to cut a long story short he launched into this story. If he is reading this, I hope he knows the impression he made on me.

" I was 59 and living in London when I lost my wife, I couldn't handle it, I loved that woman so much. For 18 months I was like a zombie, going to work, coming home, drinking by myself every night and just wanting it all to end, I was so miserable. My daughter kept pleading with me to get on with my life, but my life died with my wife. One day my daughter came into the house with my best friend, they had bought me a holiday to Thailand to try and get me out of my shell. I refused to go, no way I could contemplate going on holiday, it would be a betrayal of the memory of my wife, how could I enjoy myself?

My daughter burst into tears, and I relented, I was a miserable sod but now I was hurting my kids too. The day came for me to fly to Thailand and never was there a more reluctant tourist than me, all the way over I didn't want to be going on holiday, I was betraying my wife. I got to Pattaya and I was miserable, angry with myself for agreeing to come and the first day I was a nightmare, by day two I was starting to relax a little bit, and by day three I was starting to enjoy myself.

By the time the two weeks were over I went home and my daughter was ecstatic, she could see happiness in me, as she had already lost her Mum, and she felt she lost her Dad that day too. It was all I could do but get to work, save up and get back out again.

He went on to say.............The first girlfriend you get in Thailand is always the hardest to get rid of, you end up entrapped and unsure and that was a nightmare for me. Eventually it all ended, and I took up with another lady that didn't work out either, and it went on until I met my lady here.

I retired from my job, moved over here and got married, my best pal did the same thing and two other friends have moved here too. We all stay in the same villa, we get up at about 10.00am and go for a swim, the wives make brunch, we sit and eat together, and we all take off in different directions for the afternoon. Today I'm here because I love a sing song, my wife here is a sweetheart ( I would say she was about 54, and the gent I was talking to would be about 67 at the time ), and she looks after me so well.

He went on to say..........

" I would give all this up right now for my wife, I loved that woman so much, I would give up everything to be with her again........I thought my life was over when my wife died, but Thailand has given me a second chance at life............"

I hope that gentleman is still going strong and still loving life in Pattaya, and I bet you there are many men reading this and recognizing a bit of themselves in it........I think that was one of the best phrases I have ever heard in my life.  

" Thailand has given me a second chance at life "

seriously, was a larger croc o' shite ever wrote?

i remember the first time you shared it, and suspect i had the same reaction.

[tinfoilhat]

i remember the southern family who became my family.

18 years later their daughters tend mine.
18 years later i cant actually spend money in their restaurant.
18 years later they meet me at the pier
18 years later they drop me off when i leave.


when my parents died, they would not accept money when i left after  3 months
they gave me a jeep because i helped their daughters with school
they deflected the police that time i was wrong.
they called me when they were ill, but did not believe the doctor.
they actually preserved that toe in plastic, even though i was joking.

they visit with a whole barracuda as a gift.
they will never understand that i owe them more than they could ever owe me

by the way, i still have the toe as a keychain, and they demand to see it every time i see them

[endure]

Don Muang - getting off the plane and sniffing the air...

[necronx99]

1st trip Phuket in the 80's. no buildings over 3 stories, could ride 30 min from Patong and find a deserted beach..

[Goshawk]

endure, on Today, 05:44 , said:

Don Muang - getting off the plane and sniffing the air...

ditto... exiting the arrivals hall for the very first time 8yrs ago - "wow.. this is different"

[smokie36]

Goshawk, on Today, 06:23 , said:

endure, on Today, 05:44 , said:

Don Muang - getting off the plane and sniffing the air...

ditto... exiting the arrivals hall for the very first time 8yrs ago - "wow.. this is different"

The little bar outside....that was a good spot.

[Rooo]

smokie36, on Today, 06:32 , said:

Goshawk, on Today, 06:23 , said:

endure, on Today, 05:44 , said:

Don Muang - getting off the plane and sniffing the air...

ditto... exiting the arrivals hall for the very first time 8yrs ago - "wow.. this is different"

The little bar outside....that was a good spot.

Yup, different feel when you got here. Loved that little bar outside.

[Ulysses G.]

endure, on Today, 05:44 , said:

Don Muang - getting off the plane and sniffing the air...

That is one of my favorites too. Another is Patong beach 20 something years ago. It was one of the prettiest beaches that I have ever seen, not too built up, but plenty to do and the people were so friendly. I fell in love with the place and knew that I had to live here some day.

[cardholder]

Bulldog bar Soi 6, girl with tongue stud and 3 lions tattooed on her ankle.


My first shag in Thailand.

[richard_smith237]

tinfoilhat, on Today, 04:32 , said:

theblether, on Yesterday, 21:27 , said:

Oh no......an impossible task......my best memory of Thailand.......can we make it my best 100 memories of Thailand??? Even that would be a struggle. The country is outstanding.

Some of you will have seen this before, I've had to edit this story to fit this topic..........the background is that I didn't want to come to Thailand because of all the bad press......this encounter on my first day was a blessing, so it was the beginning of my love affair with Thailand........here goes.................

....................................................................................................................

My first trip to Thailand was Feb 2008, I had done a business deal and I was taken on holiday to Pattaya as a bonus. I was reluctant to go as I had heard all the usual nonsense about Thailand, but being Scottish I couldn't see the holiday go to waste.

I duly turned up at the hotel opposite Wonderful Bar 2 and you can imagine I was blown away with my first sight of Pattaya. The first afternoon there was live entertainment in the bar, so I wandered across and sat down on one of the stools. There was an older English guy doing his turn, and he had a good voice.

Once he finished he came to over my way and mentioned I had blagged his seat, I skipped up one and he sat with me. He asked me if it was my first time in Thailand, he must have smelled the newness off me. I said it was and to cut a long story short he launched into this story. If he is reading this, I hope he knows the impression he made on me.

" I was 59 and living in London when I lost my wife, I couldn't handle it, I loved that woman so much. For 18 months I was like a zombie, going to work, coming home, drinking by myself every night and just wanting it all to end, I was so miserable. My daughter kept pleading with me to get on with my life, but my life died with my wife. One day my daughter came into the house with my best friend, they had bought me a holiday to Thailand to try and get me out of my shell. I refused to go, no way I could contemplate going on holiday, it would be a betrayal of the memory of my wife, how could I enjoy myself?

My daughter burst into tears, and I relented, I was a miserable sod but now I was hurting my kids too. The day came for me to fly to Thailand and never was there a more reluctant tourist than me, all the way over I didn't want to be going on holiday, I was betraying my wife. I got to Pattaya and I was miserable, angry with myself for agreeing to come and the first day I was a nightmare, by day two I was starting to relax a little bit, and by day three I was starting to enjoy myself.

By the time the two weeks were over I went home and my daughter was ecstatic, she could see happiness in me, as she had already lost her Mum, and she felt she lost her Dad that day too. It was all I could do but get to work, save up and get back out again.

He went on to say.............The first girlfriend you get in Thailand is always the hardest to get rid of, you end up entrapped and unsure and that was a nightmare for me. Eventually it all ended, and I took up with another lady that didn't work out either, and it went on until I met my lady here.

I retired from my job, moved over here and got married, my best pal did the same thing and two other friends have moved here too. We all stay in the same villa, we get up at about 10.00am and go for a swim, the wives make brunch, we sit and eat together, and we all take off in different directions for the afternoon. Today I'm here because I love a sing song, my wife here is a sweetheart ( I would say she was about 54, and the gent I was talking to would be about 67 at the time ), and she looks after me so well.

He went on to say..........

" I would give all this up right now for my wife, I loved that woman so much, I would give up everything to be with her again........I thought my life was over when my wife died, but Thailand has given me a second chance at life............"

I hope that gentleman is still going strong and still loving life in Pattaya, and I bet you there are many men reading this and recognizing a bit of themselves in it........I think that was one of the best phrases I have ever heard in my life.  

" Thailand has given me a second chance at life "

seriously, was a larger croc o' shite ever wrote?

i remember the first time you shared it, and suspect i had the same reaction.

Seriously, was there ever a post made which identifies to everyone reading what an a-hole someone can be ?

Passing comment on someone opening up and telling their story is rather dirty in my view. This is a positive thread, please don't tar it with your own scepticism and bitterness, keep that for the fellow on the barstool next to you....

[edwinclapham]

smokie36, on Today, 06:32 , said:

Goshawk, on Today, 06:23 , said:

endure, on Today, 05:44 , said:

Don Muang - getting off the plane and sniffing the air...

ditto... exiting the arrivals hall for the very first time 8yrs ago - "wow.. this is different"

The little bar outside....that was a good spot.

Loved that wee bar as well

[edwinclapham]

Koh Samet for me! Lost my virginity to a  German version of a Mrs Robinson there.

[aneliane]

Pai

[barefoot1988]

got to be chiangmai airport.

its a strange feeling. it was the first place i touch down in thailand. i could still remember how excited i was in the airport with a slight touch of confusion. probably more than anything else, including my first sexual intercourse

and then i went out for a smoke. and my first experience of my crotch by the weather

[skybluestu]

Ko Lanta. My first visit was in my early twenties about 14yrs ago and Ko Lanta was the reason I came back every year for the following 6yrs. I'd spent about six weeks on Phuket and Ko Samui and wasn't impressed at all, but I heard about an unspoilt island which had hardly been affected by tourism so off I went. Back then there was very few hotels, mainly small bungalow resorts owned by local muslim families dotted along the beaches, no decent roads and no electricity connection from the mainland and it was perfect!

I stayed in a simple wooden bungalow just a few steps from the beach for 50baht a night, days were spent chilling on the beach, swimmimg and going out fishing with one of the locals and evenings were just as chilled, usually cooking fish on a beach bar-b-q and drinking until the early hours while listening to Hotel California over and over again! I went back every Dec for about two months, the first year I didn't was the year of the Tsunami. I know it has changed a lot since then but Ko Lanta will always be a special place for me.

Edited by skybluestu, 54 minutes ago.

[samsiam]

phuturatica, on Today, 02:21 , said:

Watching the sun rise and sun set on Long Beach, Krabi when I was alone. I think I found true inner peace at that moment.

Before or after tsunami ??


You can find inner peace anywhere....much simpler locations......'Grasshopper' for example.




.

Edited by samsiam, 45 minutes ago.

[taninthai]

phuturatica, on Today, 02:21 , said:

Watching the sun rise and sun set on Long Beach, Krabi when I was alone. I think I found true inner peace at that moment.

Lol  I met  my now wife on that beach and have been living there for last 5 years it's still a beautiful place today and has not changed alot in the last 20 years , it will be a sad day when we eventually leave this place

[wamberal]

The old Lee Gardens Hotel in Wireless Road.  I stayed there with a bunch of work colleagues for a few weeks, it was a wonderful place to stay in those days.

    Another thing I miss is the old 100 baht buffet lunches in all the five star hotels (except the Oriental, can't remember how much the buffet in Lord Jim's cost, maybe 400 baht).

    I miss the Country and Western Bar on the corner of Soi 19, great spot, a really good and decent management, lots of the girls married farang.  The Australian Embassy used to recommend the place (unofficially) as a safe and sensible bar for bachelors to go to.  And it was.

   I also miss Cleopatra's.  I hasten to add that my bar and sauna days are long gone, but I would love to be able to visit some of these quality places again.

[edwinclapham]

Bei Otto Restuarant in Bangkok.. getting oblivious with my old Dad on Apple Shnappes and  catching a train to Nong Khai afterwards...

Loose tongues leave a life time of memories.

[chrisinth]

Being honest, it would have to initially be Pattaya in the late 80's. At that time, I had been to many, many incredible places in the world, but nothing touched Pattaya for the party atmosphere it then had. I was one of the hundreds of thousands of people arriving in Thailand for the first time thinking that Pattaya was Thailand. Wonderful memories, and before the anti-Pattaya brigade have a go, while it was still "red-light" in those days, it really was a different place to what it has evolved to now. No regrets to anything that went on there!

Not sure what happened with me, but after visiting (and living) there for 11 years things changed, maybe just getting old or growing up! Sitting in one of the Go-Go's with a group of mates, and telling this gorgeous girl to stop pestering me because we were talking about football or something else inane; that was the "What just happened there?" moment for me. Looking around seeing naked girls on the poles, punters drooling around the stage, and us arguing about football! All things become the norm. after time.

Went to Phitsanulok for a break from the hectic Pattaya, and never looked back, been here ever since! So being greedy, Phits would be the second (or possibly first) best place I've had the privilege to call home in this "amazing" country.

Growing old is a given, growing up is optional!