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Journalism of Courage
There is a very interesting fact about Thailand: In this country known for sex-tourism, women are not the weaker sex, they are the stronger. A good part of the service industry is being run and managed by women. Be it tour guides, foot masseurs, restaurant managers or eatery-shop owners, women are just about everywhere.
Also omnipresent is their resentment against the Prime Minister. During our visit just two weeks prior to the coup, we could see that the Thais love their King, Rama IX, as they call him. I don8217;t think this is what we expected, when planning a holiday to Thailand this August.
The travel agent friend adjusted the conventional six-night-seven-day trip to a more suitable seven-night-eight-day one. The first two days at Pattaya, the next three in Phuket because someone told us the place was awesome and the last two reserved for Bangkok8217;s malls. And all this for just Rs 34,000 per person, making it one of the cheapest overseas holiday destination for middleclass India.
As we touched down at Bangkok airport, it was 5 in the morning and we queued up for our visa-on-arrival most Indians take this option, as it saves Rs 750 per head. The mini-coach, waiting for us, straightaway hit the expressway and we were in Pattaya after a two-hour drive.
After a quick shower, we headed for the crowded and noisy South Pattaya beach. It has reclining beach chairs on rent for 30 Baht. Once here, you can order drinks, seafood, get a foot massage or a tattoo, or even ride a water scooter. Our next destination was the quieter Jomtien Shompien beach where the sea was rough.
Later in the evening, we visited the Walking Street of Pattaya, the happening hangout zone of the city. The street, with its rows of pubs and bars and stripping clubs8212;popularly known as the Go Go bars8212;is an eye-opener.
Everyone gets sozzled and watches sizzling performances but none misbehaves. The street rocks till the crack of the dawn, with the music and the dazzle.
Next morning, on our package8217;s first sight seeing tour, we were huddled into a speedboat by our guide Yong and taken to a wooden platform in the middle of the sea for paragliding. At 500 Baht, you can soak in the finest view of Pattaya8217;s skyline.
Next was deep sea diving, accompanied by expert divers. At 1,200 Baht, you can walk on the seabed and are even given bread loaves to feed the fish. The colourful aquatic life, replete with corals, in the deep blue sea is an unforgettable experience. The icing on the cake is the visit to the Coral Island. With a beautiful beach and clear blue-green water, one just did not want to return from there.
Once back in Pattaya mainland, Yong offered tickets for a cabaret show for 500 Baht. But there8217;s a catch: The performers will not be women, but Kathoeys, Thai for lady boys. The one-and-a-half-hour show at the Alcazar8217;s auditorium left us dazzled. If not informed earlier, we would have mistaken them for women.
Early next morning, we went to Bangkok for an hour-long flight to Phuket island. Here, we checked into a hotel that8217;s two minutes away from its most happening Patong beach.
Having soaked up the sea during the day, we enjoyed the best cultural show in Thailand in the evening. The Phuket Fantasea is a fun-and-food park with elephant rides, souvenir shops and a massive stage show, which showcases Thai culture. Next day8217;s sightseeing included sunset point, zoological parks and a quiet Rawa beach.
On our third day in Phuket, we hopped from one island to another, on a speedboat. The rough sea, with occasional downpours, couldn8217;t hamper our spirits. We also snorkeled around the Phi Phi island where Leonardo Dicaprio apparently shot for The Beach.
After five days in and around beaches, the flight to Bangkok was depressing. But a visit to the local night bazaar and we were back in form. By the end of this shopping spree, we were starving. Finally, we located a huge food court, about the size of a football stadium, with food counters on our left and bar counters on the right. The icing on the cake was a concert8212;that went on till 3 am. Why can8217;t we have this in India? Is anybody listening?
Next morning, we zeroed in on three temples, of the hundreds in Bangkok. The Grand Palace where the present King doesn8217;t live has the Temple of Emerald Buddha our guide told us Emerald Buddha is actually made of green jade. And the other one is Wat Arun Wat in Thai means temple, which also has a golden Buddha.
From the Grand Palace, the temple of Reclining Buddha is a 10-minute walk. This is a must-see, before one embarks on another shopping-spree. MBK Mall is perhaps the most happening shopper8217;s paradise in Bangkok, where you can bargain over branded and unbranded stuff from all over the world.
On our last morning in Bangkok, we took a trip to the weekend Chatuchak market, and enjoyed the sky-bus ride. Sky-bus is Bangkok8217;s version of our Metro, except that it8217;s entirely elevated.
Now that we are back home, we are planning yet another vacation. Yes, it8217;s destination Thailand again!
Ticket To Thailand
There are direct flights to Bangkok from Delhi. Phuket is an hour-long flight from Bangkok and it also has an international airport. A night flight saves time, but could leave you a bit groggy for the next day. Packages are better as there are tie-ups between airlines and hotels.
Phuket Fantasea is highly recommended, while Grand Palace and Temple of Sleeping Buddha in Bangkok are also a must-see. Thai foot-massage and water sports, depending on your taste, should be tried.
