Your rating of this hotel:
8.0
from 10
Hotel ratings by criteria:
Rooms:
9.0
Service:
7.0
Cleanliness:
10.0
Food:
7.0
Amenities:
6.0
So we were going to fly to Thailand. For the rest to be successful, it is necessary (for me personally) to know a lot about the places where I am going. I found only 2-3 normal reviews, which at least somehow describe what, where and how you can find, buy, eat. Therefore, I decided to write about what happened and what I read. It turned out to be half a story, and half - advice and comments to vacationers. The review is large, 13 pages, I understand that not everyone is ready to spend time on it. Now at the bottom there will be a short list of keywords by day, and then see for yourself what you are interested in.
Day 1: Departure. Check-in at The pattaya garden hotel. Tesco Lotus. Big C. Tom yum. Products. Prices.
Day 2: Pattaya Beach. Tours. MiniSiam.
Day 3: Beach rest. Islands. Oceanarium. Shopping. Night flea market. Company items.
Day 4: Relax by the pool. Alcohol prices. Volkin street.
Day 5: Temple of Truth. Beach. Buying a tour from local travel agencies. Prices for tours.
Day 6: River Kwai, excursion, first day.
Day 7: River Kwai, continued. Club Limalima.
Night club. DJ.
Day 8: Flight of the Gibbon. Night flea market. Item prices. Shopping.
Day 9: Island, Koh Lan beaches. White sand.
Day 10: Koh Lan again, prices. Electronics store. Store of musical instruments.
Day 11: Purchases of goods, souvenirs.
Day 12: Souvenirs, prices. Alcohol: prices and tastes.
Day 13: Duty free, departure, arrival.
At the end - useful tips and comments.
Day 1.
Departure nordwind (north wind). We must pay tribute - the departure is ultra-precise - 00:15 is indicated - indeed, it was at this time that they began to leave the runway. The stewards are pleasant, the food is very tasty (compared to their competitors), but the Boeing 757 has one big disadvantage - the small distance between the rows. 7 hours twisted like a shrimp, and all - in the country of smiles and happiness.
Since the airport is international, there are a lot of people, customs control racks - not very much. 40-50 minutes (and local time - 8 am), and that's it, the control is passed. Pegasus met us.
It is very difficult to refrain from commenting in their direction, well, yes, okay - we did not fly in to be friends with Pegasus. We drove an hour and a half from Bangkok to Pattaya. Regarding the accent, Pattaya is correct, but I still say Pattaya, and I don’t see anything like that in it.
Regarding currency exchange: the airport had a normal exchange rate. That is, the first $100 can be changed safely. For comparison: at the airport 30.23 for $1, at the hotel - 29.7. In the city - from 30.20 to 30.50. In general, 1:1 to the ruble.
Stayed at The Pattaya Garden Hotel. Free of charge: breakfasts (they didn’t get on the first day), 2 bottles of water, a safe at the reception, funny English staff. Time - noon, check-in at 14:00. We were offered: wait for rooms up to 14, or pay extra 1000 baht at a time for two and move to Villa Deluxe. After reading the reviews that the bungalow costs 3000, agreed immediately. What's the catch: very humid, very hot, I want to take a shower: I want to agree to everything at once.
Then it turned out that the standard settlement was in bungalows, and for an extra charge - in villas. Attached photos will show the difference. In general, if you only spend the night, it will do. But, alas, not everyone goes to spend only nights in a hotel.
The territory is stunningly green - a bunch of trees, bananas grow, squirrels jump, birds sing. Very cool - for a quiet holiday, and for parties.
Cleaning is daily, it does not depend on tips, but we decided to leave it every other day for 20. The bungalows are located next to the disco - it mumbles not like a child, only if you are not drunk, but nothing is heard at all in the buildings or in the villas.
Having settled and washed, we decided to get a little tan. And splash in the pool. There are two of them: rectangular and round. We liked the round one - big, the people there are younger, and it just happened that way.
After reading about Big C and Lotus, we went to look for them.
Damn, the traffic on the streets is wildly unusual, no one pays attention to zebras, you need to stupidly run across for good luck. Yes, and when moving, you should not turn your head to the left, but to the right - do not forget about it.
We visited a Thai restaurant - ate rice with seafood and the vaunted tom yum. The phrase "maypet", that is, "not sharp" / no spicy, is understood with a bang. Very large portions - I advise you to order gradually, one at a time.
I'll attach a map to the pictures - Lotus was found simply, there were little problems with big s. Lotus is like Auchan, Metro cash'n'carry, tape and other large hypermarkets - there's not much to catch there.
Big C is a clothing, footwear, electronics store and a good food court. Prices are slightly lower than Russian ones. It is important to remember: do not rush ha all at once: there are always lower prices.
I also visited sevenaleven (7-11.7eleven) - a small grocery store - there are a lot of them.
I will say this: drinking beer in Tae is very expensive, even if you take packs of 10 cans in Lotus.
But elite alcohol is very cheap.
It is important to remember: wear comfortable, comfortable, non-rubbing shoes: rubbing corns here is a waste of time, since you have to walk a lot.
P. S. Regarding sockets: there are a lot of them in villas, few in bungalows, they are all universal - for both Asian and European plugs, so adapters are not needed.
Day 2
We decided to visit the local beach (about which everyone writes only negative reviews), which is located behind the dolphins of the northern street. We walked not very long, we reached - the usual yellow sand, the usual sea, only salty. I myself am from Novosibirsk, I was in Krasnoyarsk - the sea is not dirtier, moreover, it is not dirty, but muddy - there is no garbage in it.
There are a lot of traders along the shore, but this is normal, and the prices are much higher than adequate.
The distances there are not very large for the non-lazy, in general - 1-1.5 km from the hotel. However, in the heat it is simply unrealistic to move around.
The second part of the day was scheduled for MiniSiam - a park of miniatures.
Tour guides and street vendors have high prices - we reached it on foot (not the closest way), paid 300 at the entrance, and went in. Well, the reduced triumphal arch, the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty and other reduced famous sights. But in the second part of the park - the same thing, but connected with Thailand - palaces, train stations and so on. If you don’t want to regret a trip to this park, come at sunset: you will see everything in a normal light, and then they turn on the backlight, and you will see a huge beautiful park shimmering with many colors. Tip: they don’t sell anything from food in the park: I advise you to take it with you - they treat their food normally there. On the way home, we visited the food market, which is located at the beginning of Naklua road - good prices for vegetables and fruits, as well as for prepared food. However, by 10 o'clock there are already few people working. I read that there are the cheapest rolls - 5 baht / piece, they were not found.
Day 3
Finally Ko La(r)n! They promised white sands and azure water - they say, bring the bounty advertisement to life. There are several beaches. Friends advised Samae beach. Arriving at the pier and going into the room, we saw different stalls selling tickets. Ticket prices vary depending on the beach. From 30 to 150 round trip. We took a ticket to the above beach and went to look for a boat. At 9:00 we were late (loading starts in 15-20 minutes), but we went at 9:30. The ride is about 30 minutes, then they transfer from a large boat to small boats and take them to the beach. They warn that you can get back on the flight at 15:00 and 17:00. But for this you need to go to the beach 40-20 minutes before departure, so that you are taken away in a small boat to a large one. But the big one leaves at 15:00 indeed.
Regarding the beach: yes, the sand is white, yes, the water is blue, but I expected more. They brought us to a place that is next to windmills - there are sunbeds for 50 baht, and after walking 300 meters, sunbeds are already 30 baht, even further - 25 baht.
If there is no difference, why pay more? In general, you can swim well - sand along with small pebbles, no hedgehogs, no corals either. The further you sail to the buoys, the more you will meet living creatures. And so - only shells and stones to collect. Where you see large solar panels - an observation deck, after it, after walking a little, there is another beach. Purely subjective: the water is a little bluer, and the sand a little whiter, but the whole beach is only made of sand - it's more pleasant for the feet.
Prices for food, of course, are high on the island, but we found an interesting cafe - I don’t remember the name, but it’s opposite the landing site, there are funny crabs with table numbers on the tables, and funny drawings on the walls. The prices are like in the city, and the portions are large.
Arriving on a three-hour ferry back, we decided to visit the aquarium. They rented a tuk-tuk like a taxi, explained where to go, and he began to tell us something about tickets. I took him to some office, where it turned out that they had tickets for 400, and at the entrance they would be 450.
Hoax, you think? And I thought so, but I trusted - and rightly so! At the entrance 450, and we took 400! ! ! I couldn't understand the logic of the event.
Oceanarium: being inside, it becomes clear why they want so much money for entry. All this is very expensive to maintain. I won’t spray on the description of the tour, I’ll just say one thing: if you have an “extra” 400 rubles, go, if you’re thinking about it, pass by. Relatively nearby is the southern Lotus - the choice there is more interesting than in the north. We bought sets of rolls - a large set of about 50 baht, a small one - 35 baht. The next building is Outlet Mall. Brands from all over the world are collected and eternal sales are arranged. The assortment of a large mall, where prices are 30-70% lower. The biggest temptation is to buy everything there. However, it is worth going behind the Lacoste department, which is located in the second building (exit through the sports department), and you will find yourself in the wonderful world of the Thai flea market.
I’ll make a reservation right away: it works only Fri-Sun, from 19 to 22, but at 19 people are just starting to turn around there. I have never been to Cherkizovsky, I will not compare, but the prices shocked me to the core: T-shirts (which you are not ashamed to wear) from 100 rubles, trousers (strict) from 90, shirts from 150, and watches from 80. There are also cosmetics, perfume, sarafans and heaps of any jewelry. In the heart of the market - food, prices did not look, but the range is good.
In the end: I bought a cool one. Spectacle frames for 160, an exact copy (fake) Eagle America watch for 200.
They did not buy anything thoroughly, but asked the price and decided to come next weekend.
We took a tuk-tuk from the outlet - for 250 we got to the hotel.
We bought rum (300 baht for 0.7), limes, mint and ice (the last one was taken at 7eleven), we made mojitos and ate rolls. Everything is quite tasty. These sets taste like Novosibirsk restaurants.
Day 4
Having bought cheap whiskey (by the way, 200 baht for 0.7) we went to the pool to relax.
We returned along the Volkin and went to the dolphins along the beach road (beach street). On the way we went to Burger King, and next door was McDonald's. I will say on my own: for me, McDonald's against the background of the king is like railway station pies against the background of my mother's borscht, but the prices bite to the fullest. The average score in poppy is 150-200, in king - 300-500.
Eat, go for a walk. Who will argue that Pattaya at night, painted with millions of lights, is more beautiful and attractive than during the day. Yes, and not so hot (I won’t say “cooler”, because the coolness here is only from the air conditioner). We walked back to the house. By the standards of many, we are "crazy", because we walked about 6 km in total, although it seems to me that when it's nice to walk, why not walk.
It was raining - 3 drops fell on me all the way. The locals said that this is how they rain in winter.
We met a Russian at the pool, who was on the Kwai River - Pegasus asks for 4900 for it, he gave 2500. According to him: the difference was the main one in two things: 1.
We went not on a large tourist bus to the place (8 hours), but in a minibus (5 hours); 2. Pegasus settled tourists in a large hotel, and according to their ticket - in a floating hotel on the water.
Find out where it is, the day is over.
Day 5
Went to buy tours. I read a lot about Jasmine myself - I searched for 2 days, I didn’t find it (according to the law of meanness, I found it after I bought everything, but oh well). That man advised us the company SS2007 (I will mark it on the map), it is located territorially to the left of the hotel, if you stand facing the sign "the pattaya garden hotel". Boy Chan speaks very good Russian, he studied in Irkutsk. Makes small discounts, as a result - the prices are very reasonable. Bargained him on the River Kwai for 2600 per person. We bought an analogue of the Gibbon flight (the same track, only not over the zoo, but over the forest), 30 meters longer, less insurance and there were some accidents; all this for 1900.
Then we decided to visit "the cleanest beach in Pattaya" - located behind the Temple of Truth. visited.
A real sea smell, hedgehogs and fish in the water, the sound of waves splashing on the sand. But the wind is blowing: on the one hand, it’s good that it’s fresh and calm, on the other hand, getting burned is a spit. In general, we put the beach clean 4 plus.
After the beach, we took a taxi and drove to the northern Lotus. We took ready-made food at low prices, had dinner and went to bed, because getting up on Kwai at 4 in the morning.
It is here that I will devote space and time to describe such a phenomenon as a Thai banana pancake. Believe me, this is something so divine that it begins to seem as if the Buddha himself learned how to cook them, and their Holiness the Dalai Lamas have blessed this action for centuries. I myself filmed a video clip of how they are prepared, they are also on youtube. Super thin dough, banana, egg, sugar and condensed coconut milk filling - mmm, I'm in love with them now.
Continuing the question of gastronomy, I would like to note the obvious: fresh fruits are one level higher than our brought ones.
It's funny ...What can I say: all the goods are in Pattaya and at lower prices.
The teak factory - damn it, the bar for 23.000 baht made me fall in love with itself - nothing will burn, nothing will deteriorate, and it is almost impossible to spoil the teak itself in 100 years. Because of the high humidity, furniture, bars, etc. are made of teak in Tai. The cost of products includes delivery to any port in the world (I think it's an ocean port).
Then we were taken to ride on elephants. I tell you, the sight is funny: the people squeal, the elephants sigh, and the drovers smile at you with all 18 teeth that they have left. For a small cash reward, the driver will put you on the neck of an elephant and take a picture, or even ride. An important note: the skin of an elephant looks like a medium-sized knife, but if you sit in shorts or shorts, the skin will swell to complete trouble. But you took a towel at the reception? Fine! I put it under the ass and there are no problems.
After the skating, they showed a show: for about 15-25 minutes the elephant reared up, waved its trunk, danced, and a special number: the ladies massaged the priests, and the men's inguinal region of the feet. It looks funny enough and is commented funny by our compatriots, respectively. Then we traditionally fed them for 20 baht with coconut milk or potatoes (whoever is lucky) and drove on.
The next part of the Marlezon ballet was a visit to the temple in the rock, where the Buddha stayed in one of the most important positions for Buddhists and culturologists, and then went for lunch. The buffet was very varied and very tasty.
After lunch, we went to feed the monkeys. What are they well-fed! Despite the fact that they are wild, on Discovery or Animal planet you will not see such dead animals! Even in our zoo, they are mega-skinny compared to these.
We fed - and that's enough, then we were waiting for check-in at a hotel, skiing, rafting and swimming. Everything in order:
According to eyewitnesses and guides, large travel agencies (Pegasus, C7, Natalie Tours, Coral and others) settle in ordinary hotels for the night - everything is like everywhere else and nothing more. We were lucky: the settlement went to a hotel on the water: all the houses were floating, the house had 2 rooms. Photos, of course, are attached, but I’ll say: if you take one double bed, you get a room with the letter V, and if you take two, then with the letter S. What’s the difference: in our room (with one bed) a canopy was made (shelf huge), on which there were 2 mattresses. Cool, but uncomfortable. There is no door to the toilet - only a curtain, and the water must be constantly regulated in the shower - everything is either cold or extremely hot - uncomfortable. In general, no complaints, but here's another category - mmm, just a miracle! The sinks are all teak, the shower is great and the room has 2 doors to let in a draft. And the beds, like, you can just move.
Wake up at 7:00, breakfast at 7:30. Some of the tables did not climb out. It turned out that at night one tourist got drunk, knocked on someone's room, asked to go to the toilet, somehow unsuccessfully sat on it, broke it and left. And in the morning I didn’t remember anything (for me it’s dangerous to drink on the water). Why am I writing this: a fine for a broken toilet is 7.000 baht. Be careful with plumbing - check it for cracks and other malfunctions. The problem was still being resolved, we ate peacefully and all left together.
First, we were taken to a traditional medicine store (I'll scan the store's price list and attach it). There they give you a taste of a tincture of 40 degrees, infused with 70 herbs. Delicious, useful, freebie.
Then we went to radon springs. It looks like this: a river, next to it there are almost natural 3 pools: 38.40 and 44 degrees, respectively. First you need to bathe in the river, then in one source, then again in the river, and so on. These sources have more contraindications than prescriptions.
Radon is radioactive, and natural radon came out there a long time ago, because it is fed artificially through pipes. Everywhere swindle! As the guide said: Thailand is not a country of fakes, but a country of fakes of fakes.
And it was here that we realized how lucky we were with the guide: some guide of one of the travel agencies from afar shouted to his own: "the bus leaves in five minutes. " It’s not clear how to have time to pack up and get on the bus in five minutes ...It’s somehow not humane ...
Then we were sent to taste the teas. Their tea is also something like a remedy for both hemorrhoids and split ends. But there is a good selection of Chinese teas (more than 75% of the store's assortment), so I took a seven-year-old Pu-Er for myself for 300 baht, already packaged for brewing. Tea prices are more expensive, of course, than in China, but at least 2-3 times lower than in Russia.
The last point of excursions is waterfalls.
If on the first day we visited a waterfall called "big flower", then on this day - "small flower", but we did not find the middle one.
The waterfall is completely different than on the first day: on top there was a large pressure of water in the form of a stream, and here - several small ones with a small pool formed by them - a backwater, ledges and shallow caves. Interesting and cool to take pictures.
Everyone took pictures, got hungry, went for dinner and went home!
You know, I used to love the series "Interns", but watching it for about 7 hours is really killing neurons.
We arrived home. But our day did not end there - today Gareth Emery arrives in Pattaya. "Who is this? " - you ask, and I will answer that this person is one of the top ten DJs in the world according to one major site. In short, this guy performs quite often on the anniversary editions of A State Of Tranc, which are made by Armin van Buuren.
The whole thing took place in the Limalima club.
I liked the club, only the bass pumps too much. The prices are amazing: cocktails - 230-280, and beer for 0.33 everything - 170. It's funny ...And in the toilet, when you get up to the urinal, a guy runs up and starts massaging his back. And the girls in the toilet have cosmetics and lollipops. Listened to music, shook. Note: at 23 you can still find a free table, but from 23 to 24 they are all taken apart. I listened to the "great DJ" - not impressed. However, I want to say a few words about the warm-up - it seems that someone is local. The musical selection resembles tom yum soup - you don’t understand what it is from, why all this together and how you can use it all at once. But periodically inserts well.
At 2:15 we went home. It's funny, it's three o'clock in the morning, and tuk-tuks are still running. We sat down and drove home - tomorrow at 7 to get up for the Gibbon flight.
Day 8
Firstly, I must say that we were not on the "Flight of the Gibbon", but on the "cable car" (cable rides). The difference is not only in price: the gibbon is 2600, ours is 2000.
The gibbon is shorter by 300 meters: 3200, and our road is 3500. The gibbon also ends at the zoo, and the price includes a tour of this zoo (Khao Kheo), but the cable car just ends and is taken home.
I will say that the attraction is more than not scary - a married couple of 50 years old rode with us, so they didn’t even squeal ...It’s very hot, everything is very slow, and the distances are not very steep and short.
That is, if you want adrenaline - you are not here. But if you want to feel yourself in the middle of the jungle, look at the flora and fauna from tall trees - then yes, it's worth it. In general, everyone agrees that once it is worth visiting, the second - not. Personally, I liked it, but it's not worth the money. Bargained until 1900 per person: transfer, skiing, lunch.
While we were flying between the trees, my parents went to the zoo. Its cost is 900 baht (prices, of course, are not travel agencies, but firms ss2007). They spent about two hours at the zoo.
As it was said: "a zoo is also a zoo in Africa", but they liked the show with animals: without the participation of people, the animals themselves ran out onto the stage and showed numbers.
After lunch, having previously rested, it was decided to visit the country of junkland once again (we had three trips in total).
If you've watched the South Park episode about Wal-Mart, you'll feel like you're the hero of that episode. Prices are simply insanely low, and when I saw a simply amazing shirt for 350, I thought it was too expensive. The difference in prices is 3-4 times in relation to Novosibirsk, but prices above 200 seem disproportionately high - this is the effect of a flea market.
Well, here you have it for comparison: T-shirts are good in quality with a cool pattern - 150-250, jeans (all kinds of different ones) - from 200, shoes - from 400. At 1300 I managed to buy trousers, classic jeans, skinny jeans and 8 different cool T-shirts ( some of them with the label techniques) and a headset on the iPhone for 150 versus 1500 in stores.
Or along the north to the dolphins - there's no one like it. We took a tuk-tuk like a taxi: if you take those standing at the flea market - 300, passing - 250, and if you go to Sukhumvit - 200. Then decide for yourself. Standard taxi - 200. Since there were 6 of us, we took a tuk-tuk as a taxi.
Day 9
We decided to go to Koh Lan. Since we have already visited Samae Beach, this time it was decided to visit Thien beach. We walked on it last time. The ferry departed at 10 am and arrived in front of Samae Beach. We were put in a separate boat and sent to the desired beach.
Along the way, we met an elderly couple - they praised the local travel agency Kokos all the way. And a lot of people who heard it agreed. I didn’t go there myself, but it is located a little further along Naklua from dolphins.
Yes, the water is really bluer - this is due to the shallow depth and the fact that the bottom without pebbles is only white sand.
The sand itself resembles something between semolina and starch.
Almost a paradise island and bounty advertising (if you have a desire - there is a tour to the island, which is full of palm trees, white sand and azure - many sellers call this bounty island).
There were no free sunbeds - I had to lie on a towel on the sand. Since all the beaches are municipal - no one will tell you anything.
We decided to go back on a five-hour ferry. We came to eat at the restaurant, but it is not open at this time. Boats are approaching - and here something began to happen. Do you remember the movie "Titanic" when there was a massacre for boats? This is where the same thing happened! Therefore, advice: in fresh water (a shower for 40 baht) it is pointless to wash - it splashes completely in waves. I also advise you to be in a bathing suit so that you can change clothes on the ferry itself.
Anyway, everyone is alive and well, and therefore it was decided to visit the flea market again. In the previous day, everything is described in sufficient detail. Bought sushi: took them at 22:10 or so.
While I got home, while they lay in the refrigerator, while they lay in the heat on the counter - in short, they died - I immediately threw it away. Therefore, I advise you to buy in the Lotus - at least they lie on ice.
Day 10
Ko Lan again. Only now the ferry is at 9 am. Accordingly, we are the very first on the beach. We chose more comfortable sunbeds, they all cost 100 baht (! ), for which they will also give checks. Sunbathed, bought. All the sadness was that the wind blew the second day. Moreover, all its negativity consisted in the extreme difficulty in mooring the boat and the ferry. And the ferry was shaking again so that it was just awful!
Well, okay, we again avoided all the bad things, it was decided to visit tuc stores. com (tukkom) and Yamaha, which sells musical instruments.
Tukkom: This is 6 floors of everything you can imagine electronic, however, the emphasis is on computers, of course. Floors:
1) Food, souvenirs, watches - prices are tolerable.
2) Cell phones.
There are both original models (for example, iPhone), and fakes - iMobile (everyone advertises it via the Internet) and others. Smiled in stock iPhone 5.
3) Players and surveillance cameras - here they are in use. And also a good assortment of active speakers and their own, but with a usb input, which allows you to stick flash drives with music. By the way, flash drives here are very cheap - for 16Gb - 600 rubles.
4) Monitors and accessories, there are a lot of printers and MFPs right there. I went here for the monitor. Prices - for 1.5-2 tr. more profitable than ours. I bought a monitor for 23 diagonals with a viewing angle of 176 degrees for 5000 baht - 4600 rubles.
5) There are branded departments of manufacturers - aser, asus and so on, and a little more household appliances - a glass-ceramic burner with legs costs 1500 baht - for Novosibirsk it is very, very cheap.
And the sixth floor has not yet been put into operation. And one more thing: on some of the floors I saw cameras. If you buy a soap dish - there is no difference, for professional equipment - the difference reaches 8000.
We walked, stared and went to the yamaha.
This store is located opposite the Outlet (but the tukkom is located on the south street, between the second and third). Came to yamaha to watch an acoustic guitar. Looked, asked the price, went home. In general, prices are lower than ours by the same 1.5-2 tr. , but you can also bargain! So, in reality, prices are more interesting than Russian ones. However, as everyone says: Moscow prices - yes, that's exactly what they are.
Day 11
Yes, the dollar exchange rate in Thailand is more than funny - it can jump in any direction by more than a baht, and this does not surprise anyone. We exchanged dollars at a more than favorable rate, went to the stores where we had been the day before for purchases. Monitor, with him on the tuk-tuk to the yamaha. Regarding discounts: the original price for the guitar was 15900. As a result, for 16300 we got a guitar, a case according to its size, strings, and some souvenirs. But this is not mine, and I bought a harmonica with a quite tolerable sound for 100 baht.
We returned home, had lunch and decided to visit the Central Festival and Walking Street in the evening.
I will not write about the latter - a lot has been said. About central - it is located at the intersection of central and beach streets (central st. & beach road). Located in the Hilton. Just a big expensive shopping mall - the same outlet, only with serious prices.
However, food prices are pleasant - everything is quite adequate, and tasty or not - it all depends on your taste.
In general, most of all, in terms of delight, it was because of the stepped fountain - again, see the photo.
I crawled into the Big C, found white sneakers for 500 on the eternal sale. What I liked the most was that they had my size; )
Day 12
Last day. Personally, I dedicated it to tanning and a square pool. It somehow happened that it was much quieter there, and the last day I just wanted to enjoy the pleasant atmosphere.
It was decided to devote the second part of the day to the last shopping and throwing alcohol.
What I want to say about souvenirs is important: they are expensive in stores, BUT on Volkin Street, in Lotus, at a flea market, and so on, all at the same price: a belt - 80-100 baht, magnets - 4 pieces for 100 and wallets also for 100.
As for souvenir shops: there are two large ones: Otop and Lukdok. And there, and there a taxi is free! Only the prices there are slightly higher than on Volkin. But all at once in one place. If you do not want to save, but time is important - they are for you! The same goes for the Vovan shop - there are the cheapest leather goods, BUT (! ) wallets of 100 rubles each are made of leatherette, not leather - that's why the prices in the store are so high.
They bought alcohol in Lotus: I took Thai whiskey and cheap XO cognac as a gift. And they took one bottle to drink here (370 baht was given for a bottle of 0.7). I love cognac - it really feels good exposure - it is very tasty.
More about alcohol: for comparison - a large bottle of Martini costs 750 baht, Big Smirnov - about 500, Hennesy V. S. O. P. 1 liter - 1500.
We decided to have dinner at the restaurant "Old Germany" - it is located on Naklua, almost the last in a series of bars, a few steps from the dolphins. Since we were regular customers there (and the Thais love it very much), the portions were very large. Preli is delicious - I advise Tom Yam - they ate it in different places - only here we liked it - a lot of shrimp, squid and mushrooms, but because of the abundance of lime, the taste is rather sour.
Day 13
Wake up, go to breakfast. I have always considered people who write about such buffets "the same type of menu" to be snickering, sorry for the jargon, but for 3 days now I have noticed how tired of rice and chicken are, and that every day the breakfast plate is filled less and smaller.
We ate, drank - went to rent a room (villa). That's all I liked in the hotel - they clean perfectly, the food is delicious and there were no intrigues with the theft of towels. But upon discharge, we were credited with drinking water from the minibar for 25 baht, but we did not touch it!
They did not prove anything, paid 25 and happily handed over the keys.
We went on a separate bus, they didn’t pick anyone up, there weren’t many people on the bus - it’s convenient if you want to stretch your legs, talk, or because the conder does its job quite well.
Airport: it would seem that not so long ago he met us, and now he is seeing us off. Long queues, but ours came up. The guitar was allowed in hand luggage, and the monitor - in luggage, as a result, there was almost an overweight - the monitor weighs 6.5 kg, and I was hoping to throw it in hand luggage. But it turned out 38 kg for two - and we were delighted. As for the overweight: the norm is 20 kg for one or 40 for two. Nobody weighs hand luggage. Overweight costs 500 baht per 1 kg.
We passed the controls (I advise you to fill out both migration cards at once - otherwise you will stand in line later, find out that the piece of paper is empty, fill it out - and stand in line again).
Duty free:
The prices are funny - for perfumes some prices are higher than in stores, for alcohol - low.
For example - Johnnie Walker Black Label - 1000 baht for a bottle or 1900 for two. When buying three - a branded suitcase with the logo of Johnny the Skipper. But eating and drinking beer is a little expensive somehow ...
Departure - on time, landing - with a delay of 30 minutes.
P. S.
Here I will write everything that is somehow scattered and forgotten by the day, but it would be nice to remember in Tae - like a trifle, but let them be.
1. How to use a tuk-tuk: there are two options: it beeps to you, if you wave your head or hand - it stops - you climb into it and eat for 10 baht in the right direction. I must say right away that it is impossible to predict the direction - that is, if you do not know the number - it can turn left or right at the turn. But if you know a clear route, everything is fine. Sit down, watch the road - when you need to get out - press the bell. The second option is you tell the driver where to go - he drops everyone out of the car and takes only you, like a taxi.
2. Cellular communication. There are two kinds of operators: happy and 1-2-call.
We took the first one. Here, respectively, there are two more options for calls: expensive and cheaper. Dear ones, you just dial the country code, city, etc. , and cheap ones - 009 + code + number. It looks like this - a call to a cell phone looks like 009-7-913-123-45-67.
3. Those who want to increase the fun through illegal means - in Thailand, all drugs are prohibited. For sale - the death penalty, for use - a huge prison term. For more beautiful impressions, I will retell the guide's story about the prison: under the scorching sun there is a long cage, divided between them by bars. At one end is a huge fan that blows through all the cells. And it turns out that the cells closest to the fan threaten with pneumonia, and the farthest - with overheating. So, in general, be careful.
4. Not so long ago, the country of Thailand was the kingdom of Siam - the country was renamed, but the king remained.
He came to power after the death of his brother (as always in palace intrigues, the story is muddy). To confirm that he came to the kingdom not of his own free will and with good intentions, he made two promises to the people: 1. Never leave the country, 2. Do not sit on the royal throne. As long as it performs and does not violate. And for this, too, his people love him very much. Question: why this historical digression? There are his portraits everywhere - if you point a finger, laugh next to the portrait and stuff like that - Thais can be offended. If you throw coins into the water - throw Russian coins - otherwise, as the guide said, Thais can come up and check what kind of coins you are throwing.
5. Insects. Lizards crawled into the house (never with us), geckos - they themselves are afraid of people, so they won’t crawl close. A bunch of beautiful butterflies, bees and bugs - they will not care about you either. And two objects should worry: mosquitoes and ants.
We were lucky with the second ones, they weren’t there, but they were in the friends’ house - they left the fanta open once, and in the morning there was just a bottle of ants. Very annoying, you know. Mosquitoes: our fumitox does not take them. I specifically took the fumigator and the plates - they don’t care, but if you set fire to the pill and smell it, then they die (although I was also ready to die from such a smell). But during the day, mosquitoes are not visible - only in the evening.
To prepare for this trip, I read a lot and found out what was there and how. If you have any questions - write to the mail, I will try to answer them.
Day 1: Departure. Check-in at The pattaya garden hotel. Tesco Lotus. Big C. Tom yum. Products. Prices.
Day 2: Pattaya Beach. Tours. MiniSiam.
Day 3: Beach rest. Islands. Oceanarium. Shopping. Night flea market. Company items.
Day 4: Relax by the pool. Alcohol prices. Volkin street.
Day 5: Temple of Truth. Beach. Buying a tour from local travel agencies. Prices for tours.
Day 6: River Kwai, excursion, first day.
Day 7: River Kwai, continued. Club Limalima.
Night club. DJ.
Day 8: Flight of the Gibbon. Night flea market. Item prices. Shopping.
Day 9: Island, Koh Lan beaches. White sand.
Day 10: Koh Lan again, prices. Electronics store. Store of musical instruments.
Day 11: Purchases of goods, souvenirs.
Day 12: Souvenirs, prices. Alcohol: prices and tastes.
Day 13: Duty free, departure, arrival.
At the end - useful tips and comments.
Day 1.
Departure nordwind (north wind). We must pay tribute - the departure is ultra-precise - 00:15 is indicated - indeed, it was at this time that they began to leave the runway. The stewards are pleasant, the food is very tasty (compared to their competitors), but the Boeing 757 has one big disadvantage - the small distance between the rows. 7 hours twisted like a shrimp, and all - in the country of smiles and happiness.
Since the airport is international, there are a lot of people, customs control racks - not very much. 40-50 minutes (and local time - 8 am), and that's it, the control is passed. Pegasus met us.
It is very difficult to refrain from commenting in their direction, well, yes, okay - we did not fly in to be friends with Pegasus. We drove an hour and a half from Bangkok to Pattaya. Regarding the accent, Pattaya is correct, but I still say Pattaya, and I don’t see anything like that in it.
Regarding currency exchange: the airport had a normal exchange rate. That is, the first $100 can be changed safely. For comparison: at the airport 30.23 for $1, at the hotel - 29.7. In the city - from 30.20 to 30.50. In general, 1:1 to the ruble.
Stayed at The Pattaya Garden Hotel. Free of charge: breakfasts (they didn’t get on the first day), 2 bottles of water, a safe at the reception, funny English staff. Time - noon, check-in at 14:00. We were offered: wait for rooms up to 14, or pay extra 1000 baht at a time for two and move to Villa Deluxe. After reading the reviews that the bungalow costs 3000, agreed immediately. What's the catch: very humid, very hot, I want to take a shower: I want to agree to everything at once.
Then it turned out that the standard settlement was in bungalows, and for an extra charge - in villas. Attached photos will show the difference. In general, if you only spend the night, it will do. But, alas, not everyone goes to spend only nights in a hotel.
The territory is stunningly green - a bunch of trees, bananas grow, squirrels jump, birds sing. Very cool - for a quiet holiday, and for parties.
Cleaning is daily, it does not depend on tips, but we decided to leave it every other day for 20. The bungalows are located next to the disco - it mumbles not like a child, only if you are not drunk, but nothing is heard at all in the buildings or in the villas.
Having settled and washed, we decided to get a little tan. And splash in the pool. There are two of them: rectangular and round. We liked the round one - big, the people there are younger, and it just happened that way.
After reading about Big C and Lotus, we went to look for them.
Damn, the traffic on the streets is wildly unusual, no one pays attention to zebras, you need to stupidly run across for good luck. Yes, and when moving, you should not turn your head to the left, but to the right - do not forget about it.
We visited a Thai restaurant - ate rice with seafood and the vaunted tom yum. The phrase "maypet", that is, "not sharp" / no spicy, is understood with a bang. Very large portions - I advise you to order gradually, one at a time.
I'll attach a map to the pictures - Lotus was found simply, there were little problems with big s. Lotus is like Auchan, Metro cash'n'carry, tape and other large hypermarkets - there's not much to catch there.
Big C is a clothing, footwear, electronics store and a good food court. Prices are slightly lower than Russian ones. It is important to remember: do not rush ha all at once: there are always lower prices.
I also visited sevenaleven (7-11.7eleven) - a small grocery store - there are a lot of them.
I will say this: drinking beer in Tae is very expensive, even if you take packs of 10 cans in Lotus.
But elite alcohol is very cheap.
It is important to remember: wear comfortable, comfortable, non-rubbing shoes: rubbing corns here is a waste of time, since you have to walk a lot.
P. S. Regarding sockets: there are a lot of them in villas, few in bungalows, they are all universal - for both Asian and European plugs, so adapters are not needed.
Day 2
We decided to visit the local beach (about which everyone writes only negative reviews), which is located behind the dolphins of the northern street. We walked not very long, we reached - the usual yellow sand, the usual sea, only salty. I myself am from Novosibirsk, I was in Krasnoyarsk - the sea is not dirtier, moreover, it is not dirty, but muddy - there is no garbage in it.
There are a lot of traders along the shore, but this is normal, and the prices are much higher than adequate.
The distances there are not very large for the non-lazy, in general - 1-1.5 km from the hotel. However, in the heat it is simply unrealistic to move around.
The second part of the day was scheduled for MiniSiam - a park of miniatures.
Tour guides and street vendors have high prices - we reached it on foot (not the closest way), paid 300 at the entrance, and went in. Well, the reduced triumphal arch, the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty and other reduced famous sights. But in the second part of the park - the same thing, but connected with Thailand - palaces, train stations and so on. If you don’t want to regret a trip to this park, come at sunset: you will see everything in a normal light, and then they turn on the backlight, and you will see a huge beautiful park shimmering with many colors. Tip: they don’t sell anything from food in the park: I advise you to take it with you - they treat their food normally there. On the way home, we visited the food market, which is located at the beginning of Naklua road - good prices for vegetables and fruits, as well as for prepared food. However, by 10 o'clock there are already few people working. I read that there are the cheapest rolls - 5 baht / piece, they were not found.
Day 3
Finally Ko La(r)n! They promised white sands and azure water - they say, bring the bounty advertisement to life. There are several beaches. Friends advised Samae beach. Arriving at the pier and going into the room, we saw different stalls selling tickets. Ticket prices vary depending on the beach. From 30 to 150 round trip. We took a ticket to the above beach and went to look for a boat. At 9:00 we were late (loading starts in 15-20 minutes), but we went at 9:30. The ride is about 30 minutes, then they transfer from a large boat to small boats and take them to the beach. They warn that you can get back on the flight at 15:00 and 17:00. But for this you need to go to the beach 40-20 minutes before departure, so that you are taken away in a small boat to a large one. But the big one leaves at 15:00 indeed.
Regarding the beach: yes, the sand is white, yes, the water is blue, but I expected more. They brought us to a place that is next to windmills - there are sunbeds for 50 baht, and after walking 300 meters, sunbeds are already 30 baht, even further - 25 baht.
If there is no difference, why pay more? In general, you can swim well - sand along with small pebbles, no hedgehogs, no corals either. The further you sail to the buoys, the more you will meet living creatures. And so - only shells and stones to collect. Where you see large solar panels - an observation deck, after it, after walking a little, there is another beach. Purely subjective: the water is a little bluer, and the sand a little whiter, but the whole beach is only made of sand - it's more pleasant for the feet.
Prices for food, of course, are high on the island, but we found an interesting cafe - I don’t remember the name, but it’s opposite the landing site, there are funny crabs with table numbers on the tables, and funny drawings on the walls. The prices are like in the city, and the portions are large.
Arriving on a three-hour ferry back, we decided to visit the aquarium. They rented a tuk-tuk like a taxi, explained where to go, and he began to tell us something about tickets. I took him to some office, where it turned out that they had tickets for 400, and at the entrance they would be 450.
Hoax, you think? And I thought so, but I trusted - and rightly so! At the entrance 450, and we took 400! ! ! I couldn't understand the logic of the event.
Oceanarium: being inside, it becomes clear why they want so much money for entry. All this is very expensive to maintain. I won’t spray on the description of the tour, I’ll just say one thing: if you have an “extra” 400 rubles, go, if you’re thinking about it, pass by. Relatively nearby is the southern Lotus - the choice there is more interesting than in the north. We bought sets of rolls - a large set of about 50 baht, a small one - 35 baht. The next building is Outlet Mall. Brands from all over the world are collected and eternal sales are arranged. The assortment of a large mall, where prices are 30-70% lower. The biggest temptation is to buy everything there. However, it is worth going behind the Lacoste department, which is located in the second building (exit through the sports department), and you will find yourself in the wonderful world of the Thai flea market.
I’ll make a reservation right away: it works only Fri-Sun, from 19 to 22, but at 19 people are just starting to turn around there. I have never been to Cherkizovsky, I will not compare, but the prices shocked me to the core: T-shirts (which you are not ashamed to wear) from 100 rubles, trousers (strict) from 90, shirts from 150, and watches from 80. There are also cosmetics, perfume, sarafans and heaps of any jewelry. In the heart of the market - food, prices did not look, but the range is good.
In the end: I bought a cool one. Spectacle frames for 160, an exact copy (fake) Eagle America watch for 200.
They did not buy anything thoroughly, but asked the price and decided to come next weekend.
We took a tuk-tuk from the outlet - for 250 we got to the hotel.
We bought rum (300 baht for 0.7), limes, mint and ice (the last one was taken at 7eleven), we made mojitos and ate rolls. Everything is quite tasty. These sets taste like Novosibirsk restaurants.
Day 4
Having bought cheap whiskey (by the way, 200 baht for 0.7) we went to the pool to relax.
We returned along the Volkin and went to the dolphins along the beach road (beach street). On the way we went to Burger King, and next door was McDonald's. I will say on my own: for me, McDonald's against the background of the king is like railway station pies against the background of my mother's borscht, but the prices bite to the fullest. The average score in poppy is 150-200, in king - 300-500.
Eat, go for a walk. Who will argue that Pattaya at night, painted with millions of lights, is more beautiful and attractive than during the day. Yes, and not so hot (I won’t say “cooler”, because the coolness here is only from the air conditioner). We walked back to the house. By the standards of many, we are "crazy", because we walked about 6 km in total, although it seems to me that when it's nice to walk, why not walk.
It was raining - 3 drops fell on me all the way. The locals said that this is how they rain in winter.
We met a Russian at the pool, who was on the Kwai River - Pegasus asks for 4900 for it, he gave 2500. According to him: the difference was the main one in two things: 1.
We went not on a large tourist bus to the place (8 hours), but in a minibus (5 hours); 2. Pegasus settled tourists in a large hotel, and according to their ticket - in a floating hotel on the water.
Find out where it is, the day is over.
Day 5
Went to buy tours. I read a lot about Jasmine myself - I searched for 2 days, I didn’t find it (according to the law of meanness, I found it after I bought everything, but oh well). That man advised us the company SS2007 (I will mark it on the map), it is located territorially to the left of the hotel, if you stand facing the sign "the pattaya garden hotel". Boy Chan speaks very good Russian, he studied in Irkutsk. Makes small discounts, as a result - the prices are very reasonable. Bargained him on the River Kwai for 2600 per person. We bought an analogue of the Gibbon flight (the same track, only not over the zoo, but over the forest), 30 meters longer, less insurance and there were some accidents; all this for 1900.
Then we decided to visit "the cleanest beach in Pattaya" - located behind the Temple of Truth. visited.
A real sea smell, hedgehogs and fish in the water, the sound of waves splashing on the sand. But the wind is blowing: on the one hand, it’s good that it’s fresh and calm, on the other hand, getting burned is a spit. In general, we put the beach clean 4 plus.
After the beach, we took a taxi and drove to the northern Lotus. We took ready-made food at low prices, had dinner and went to bed, because getting up on Kwai at 4 in the morning.
It is here that I will devote space and time to describe such a phenomenon as a Thai banana pancake. Believe me, this is something so divine that it begins to seem as if the Buddha himself learned how to cook them, and their Holiness the Dalai Lamas have blessed this action for centuries. I myself filmed a video clip of how they are prepared, they are also on youtube. Super thin dough, banana, egg, sugar and condensed coconut milk filling - mmm, I'm in love with them now.
Continuing the question of gastronomy, I would like to note the obvious: fresh fruits are one level higher than our brought ones.
It's funny ...What can I say: all the goods are in Pattaya and at lower prices.
The teak factory - damn it, the bar for 23.000 baht made me fall in love with itself - nothing will burn, nothing will deteriorate, and it is almost impossible to spoil the teak itself in 100 years. Because of the high humidity, furniture, bars, etc. are made of teak in Tai. The cost of products includes delivery to any port in the world (I think it's an ocean port).
Then we were taken to ride on elephants. I tell you, the sight is funny: the people squeal, the elephants sigh, and the drovers smile at you with all 18 teeth that they have left. For a small cash reward, the driver will put you on the neck of an elephant and take a picture, or even ride. An important note: the skin of an elephant looks like a medium-sized knife, but if you sit in shorts or shorts, the skin will swell to complete trouble. But you took a towel at the reception? Fine! I put it under the ass and there are no problems.
After the skating, they showed a show: for about 15-25 minutes the elephant reared up, waved its trunk, danced, and a special number: the ladies massaged the priests, and the men's inguinal region of the feet. It looks funny enough and is commented funny by our compatriots, respectively. Then we traditionally fed them for 20 baht with coconut milk or potatoes (whoever is lucky) and drove on.
The next part of the Marlezon ballet was a visit to the temple in the rock, where the Buddha stayed in one of the most important positions for Buddhists and culturologists, and then went for lunch. The buffet was very varied and very tasty.
After lunch, we went to feed the monkeys. What are they well-fed! Despite the fact that they are wild, on Discovery or Animal planet you will not see such dead animals! Even in our zoo, they are mega-skinny compared to these.
We fed - and that's enough, then we were waiting for check-in at a hotel, skiing, rafting and swimming. Everything in order:
According to eyewitnesses and guides, large travel agencies (Pegasus, C7, Natalie Tours, Coral and others) settle in ordinary hotels for the night - everything is like everywhere else and nothing more. We were lucky: the settlement went to a hotel on the water: all the houses were floating, the house had 2 rooms. Photos, of course, are attached, but I’ll say: if you take one double bed, you get a room with the letter V, and if you take two, then with the letter S. What’s the difference: in our room (with one bed) a canopy was made (shelf huge), on which there were 2 mattresses. Cool, but uncomfortable. There is no door to the toilet - only a curtain, and the water must be constantly regulated in the shower - everything is either cold or extremely hot - uncomfortable. In general, no complaints, but here's another category - mmm, just a miracle! The sinks are all teak, the shower is great and the room has 2 doors to let in a draft. And the beds, like, you can just move.
Wake up at 7:00, breakfast at 7:30. Some of the tables did not climb out. It turned out that at night one tourist got drunk, knocked on someone's room, asked to go to the toilet, somehow unsuccessfully sat on it, broke it and left. And in the morning I didn’t remember anything (for me it’s dangerous to drink on the water). Why am I writing this: a fine for a broken toilet is 7.000 baht. Be careful with plumbing - check it for cracks and other malfunctions. The problem was still being resolved, we ate peacefully and all left together.
First, we were taken to a traditional medicine store (I'll scan the store's price list and attach it). There they give you a taste of a tincture of 40 degrees, infused with 70 herbs. Delicious, useful, freebie.
Then we went to radon springs. It looks like this: a river, next to it there are almost natural 3 pools: 38.40 and 44 degrees, respectively. First you need to bathe in the river, then in one source, then again in the river, and so on. These sources have more contraindications than prescriptions.
Radon is radioactive, and natural radon came out there a long time ago, because it is fed artificially through pipes. Everywhere swindle! As the guide said: Thailand is not a country of fakes, but a country of fakes of fakes.
And it was here that we realized how lucky we were with the guide: some guide of one of the travel agencies from afar shouted to his own: "the bus leaves in five minutes. " It’s not clear how to have time to pack up and get on the bus in five minutes ...It’s somehow not humane ...
Then we were sent to taste the teas. Their tea is also something like a remedy for both hemorrhoids and split ends. But there is a good selection of Chinese teas (more than 75% of the store's assortment), so I took a seven-year-old Pu-Er for myself for 300 baht, already packaged for brewing. Tea prices are more expensive, of course, than in China, but at least 2-3 times lower than in Russia.
The last point of excursions is waterfalls.
If on the first day we visited a waterfall called "big flower", then on this day - "small flower", but we did not find the middle one.
The waterfall is completely different than on the first day: on top there was a large pressure of water in the form of a stream, and here - several small ones with a small pool formed by them - a backwater, ledges and shallow caves. Interesting and cool to take pictures.
Everyone took pictures, got hungry, went for dinner and went home!
You know, I used to love the series "Interns", but watching it for about 7 hours is really killing neurons.
We arrived home. But our day did not end there - today Gareth Emery arrives in Pattaya. "Who is this? " - you ask, and I will answer that this person is one of the top ten DJs in the world according to one major site. In short, this guy performs quite often on the anniversary editions of A State Of Tranc, which are made by Armin van Buuren.
The whole thing took place in the Limalima club.
I liked the club, only the bass pumps too much. The prices are amazing: cocktails - 230-280, and beer for 0.33 everything - 170. It's funny ...And in the toilet, when you get up to the urinal, a guy runs up and starts massaging his back. And the girls in the toilet have cosmetics and lollipops. Listened to music, shook. Note: at 23 you can still find a free table, but from 23 to 24 they are all taken apart. I listened to the "great DJ" - not impressed. However, I want to say a few words about the warm-up - it seems that someone is local. The musical selection resembles tom yum soup - you don’t understand what it is from, why all this together and how you can use it all at once. But periodically inserts well.
At 2:15 we went home. It's funny, it's three o'clock in the morning, and tuk-tuks are still running. We sat down and drove home - tomorrow at 7 to get up for the Gibbon flight.
Day 8
Firstly, I must say that we were not on the "Flight of the Gibbon", but on the "cable car" (cable rides). The difference is not only in price: the gibbon is 2600, ours is 2000.
The gibbon is shorter by 300 meters: 3200, and our road is 3500. The gibbon also ends at the zoo, and the price includes a tour of this zoo (Khao Kheo), but the cable car just ends and is taken home.
I will say that the attraction is more than not scary - a married couple of 50 years old rode with us, so they didn’t even squeal ...It’s very hot, everything is very slow, and the distances are not very steep and short.
That is, if you want adrenaline - you are not here. But if you want to feel yourself in the middle of the jungle, look at the flora and fauna from tall trees - then yes, it's worth it. In general, everyone agrees that once it is worth visiting, the second - not. Personally, I liked it, but it's not worth the money. Bargained until 1900 per person: transfer, skiing, lunch.
While we were flying between the trees, my parents went to the zoo. Its cost is 900 baht (prices, of course, are not travel agencies, but firms ss2007). They spent about two hours at the zoo.
As it was said: "a zoo is also a zoo in Africa", but they liked the show with animals: without the participation of people, the animals themselves ran out onto the stage and showed numbers.
After lunch, having previously rested, it was decided to visit the country of junkland once again (we had three trips in total).
If you've watched the South Park episode about Wal-Mart, you'll feel like you're the hero of that episode. Prices are simply insanely low, and when I saw a simply amazing shirt for 350, I thought it was too expensive. The difference in prices is 3-4 times in relation to Novosibirsk, but prices above 200 seem disproportionately high - this is the effect of a flea market.
Well, here you have it for comparison: T-shirts are good in quality with a cool pattern - 150-250, jeans (all kinds of different ones) - from 200, shoes - from 400. At 1300 I managed to buy trousers, classic jeans, skinny jeans and 8 different cool T-shirts ( some of them with the label techniques) and a headset on the iPhone for 150 versus 1500 in stores.
Or along the north to the dolphins - there's no one like it. We took a tuk-tuk like a taxi: if you take those standing at the flea market - 300, passing - 250, and if you go to Sukhumvit - 200. Then decide for yourself. Standard taxi - 200. Since there were 6 of us, we took a tuk-tuk as a taxi.
Day 9
We decided to go to Koh Lan. Since we have already visited Samae Beach, this time it was decided to visit Thien beach. We walked on it last time. The ferry departed at 10 am and arrived in front of Samae Beach. We were put in a separate boat and sent to the desired beach.
Along the way, we met an elderly couple - they praised the local travel agency Kokos all the way. And a lot of people who heard it agreed. I didn’t go there myself, but it is located a little further along Naklua from dolphins.
Yes, the water is really bluer - this is due to the shallow depth and the fact that the bottom without pebbles is only white sand.
The sand itself resembles something between semolina and starch.
Almost a paradise island and bounty advertising (if you have a desire - there is a tour to the island, which is full of palm trees, white sand and azure - many sellers call this bounty island).
There were no free sunbeds - I had to lie on a towel on the sand. Since all the beaches are municipal - no one will tell you anything.
We decided to go back on a five-hour ferry. We came to eat at the restaurant, but it is not open at this time. Boats are approaching - and here something began to happen. Do you remember the movie "Titanic" when there was a massacre for boats? This is where the same thing happened! Therefore, advice: in fresh water (a shower for 40 baht) it is pointless to wash - it splashes completely in waves. I also advise you to be in a bathing suit so that you can change clothes on the ferry itself.
Anyway, everyone is alive and well, and therefore it was decided to visit the flea market again. In the previous day, everything is described in sufficient detail. Bought sushi: took them at 22:10 or so.
While I got home, while they lay in the refrigerator, while they lay in the heat on the counter - in short, they died - I immediately threw it away. Therefore, I advise you to buy in the Lotus - at least they lie on ice.
Day 10
Ko Lan again. Only now the ferry is at 9 am. Accordingly, we are the very first on the beach. We chose more comfortable sunbeds, they all cost 100 baht (! ), for which they will also give checks. Sunbathed, bought. All the sadness was that the wind blew the second day. Moreover, all its negativity consisted in the extreme difficulty in mooring the boat and the ferry. And the ferry was shaking again so that it was just awful!
Well, okay, we again avoided all the bad things, it was decided to visit tuc stores. com (tukkom) and Yamaha, which sells musical instruments.
Tukkom: This is 6 floors of everything you can imagine electronic, however, the emphasis is on computers, of course. Floors:
1) Food, souvenirs, watches - prices are tolerable.
2) Cell phones.
There are both original models (for example, iPhone), and fakes - iMobile (everyone advertises it via the Internet) and others. Smiled in stock iPhone 5.
3) Players and surveillance cameras - here they are in use. And also a good assortment of active speakers and their own, but with a usb input, which allows you to stick flash drives with music. By the way, flash drives here are very cheap - for 16Gb - 600 rubles.
4) Monitors and accessories, there are a lot of printers and MFPs right there. I went here for the monitor. Prices - for 1.5-2 tr. more profitable than ours. I bought a monitor for 23 diagonals with a viewing angle of 176 degrees for 5000 baht - 4600 rubles.
5) There are branded departments of manufacturers - aser, asus and so on, and a little more household appliances - a glass-ceramic burner with legs costs 1500 baht - for Novosibirsk it is very, very cheap.
And the sixth floor has not yet been put into operation. And one more thing: on some of the floors I saw cameras. If you buy a soap dish - there is no difference, for professional equipment - the difference reaches 8000.
We walked, stared and went to the yamaha.
This store is located opposite the Outlet (but the tukkom is located on the south street, between the second and third). Came to yamaha to watch an acoustic guitar. Looked, asked the price, went home. In general, prices are lower than ours by the same 1.5-2 tr. , but you can also bargain! So, in reality, prices are more interesting than Russian ones. However, as everyone says: Moscow prices - yes, that's exactly what they are.
Day 11
Yes, the dollar exchange rate in Thailand is more than funny - it can jump in any direction by more than a baht, and this does not surprise anyone. We exchanged dollars at a more than favorable rate, went to the stores where we had been the day before for purchases. Monitor, with him on the tuk-tuk to the yamaha. Regarding discounts: the original price for the guitar was 15900. As a result, for 16300 we got a guitar, a case according to its size, strings, and some souvenirs. But this is not mine, and I bought a harmonica with a quite tolerable sound for 100 baht.
We returned home, had lunch and decided to visit the Central Festival and Walking Street in the evening.
I will not write about the latter - a lot has been said. About central - it is located at the intersection of central and beach streets (central st. & beach road). Located in the Hilton. Just a big expensive shopping mall - the same outlet, only with serious prices.
However, food prices are pleasant - everything is quite adequate, and tasty or not - it all depends on your taste.
In general, most of all, in terms of delight, it was because of the stepped fountain - again, see the photo.
I crawled into the Big C, found white sneakers for 500 on the eternal sale. What I liked the most was that they had my size; )
Day 12
Last day. Personally, I dedicated it to tanning and a square pool. It somehow happened that it was much quieter there, and the last day I just wanted to enjoy the pleasant atmosphere.
It was decided to devote the second part of the day to the last shopping and throwing alcohol.
What I want to say about souvenirs is important: they are expensive in stores, BUT on Volkin Street, in Lotus, at a flea market, and so on, all at the same price: a belt - 80-100 baht, magnets - 4 pieces for 100 and wallets also for 100.
As for souvenir shops: there are two large ones: Otop and Lukdok. And there, and there a taxi is free! Only the prices there are slightly higher than on Volkin. But all at once in one place. If you do not want to save, but time is important - they are for you! The same goes for the Vovan shop - there are the cheapest leather goods, BUT (! ) wallets of 100 rubles each are made of leatherette, not leather - that's why the prices in the store are so high.
They bought alcohol in Lotus: I took Thai whiskey and cheap XO cognac as a gift. And they took one bottle to drink here (370 baht was given for a bottle of 0.7). I love cognac - it really feels good exposure - it is very tasty.
More about alcohol: for comparison - a large bottle of Martini costs 750 baht, Big Smirnov - about 500, Hennesy V. S. O. P. 1 liter - 1500.
We decided to have dinner at the restaurant "Old Germany" - it is located on Naklua, almost the last in a series of bars, a few steps from the dolphins. Since we were regular customers there (and the Thais love it very much), the portions were very large. Preli is delicious - I advise Tom Yam - they ate it in different places - only here we liked it - a lot of shrimp, squid and mushrooms, but because of the abundance of lime, the taste is rather sour.
Day 13
Wake up, go to breakfast. I have always considered people who write about such buffets "the same type of menu" to be snickering, sorry for the jargon, but for 3 days now I have noticed how tired of rice and chicken are, and that every day the breakfast plate is filled less and smaller.
We ate, drank - went to rent a room (villa). That's all I liked in the hotel - they clean perfectly, the food is delicious and there were no intrigues with the theft of towels. But upon discharge, we were credited with drinking water from the minibar for 25 baht, but we did not touch it!
They did not prove anything, paid 25 and happily handed over the keys.
We went on a separate bus, they didn’t pick anyone up, there weren’t many people on the bus - it’s convenient if you want to stretch your legs, talk, or because the conder does its job quite well.
Airport: it would seem that not so long ago he met us, and now he is seeing us off. Long queues, but ours came up. The guitar was allowed in hand luggage, and the monitor - in luggage, as a result, there was almost an overweight - the monitor weighs 6.5 kg, and I was hoping to throw it in hand luggage. But it turned out 38 kg for two - and we were delighted. As for the overweight: the norm is 20 kg for one or 40 for two. Nobody weighs hand luggage. Overweight costs 500 baht per 1 kg.
We passed the controls (I advise you to fill out both migration cards at once - otherwise you will stand in line later, find out that the piece of paper is empty, fill it out - and stand in line again).
Duty free:
The prices are funny - for perfumes some prices are higher than in stores, for alcohol - low.
For example - Johnnie Walker Black Label - 1000 baht for a bottle or 1900 for two. When buying three - a branded suitcase with the logo of Johnny the Skipper. But eating and drinking beer is a little expensive somehow ...
Departure - on time, landing - with a delay of 30 minutes.
P. S.
Here I will write everything that is somehow scattered and forgotten by the day, but it would be nice to remember in Tae - like a trifle, but let them be.
1. How to use a tuk-tuk: there are two options: it beeps to you, if you wave your head or hand - it stops - you climb into it and eat for 10 baht in the right direction. I must say right away that it is impossible to predict the direction - that is, if you do not know the number - it can turn left or right at the turn. But if you know a clear route, everything is fine. Sit down, watch the road - when you need to get out - press the bell. The second option is you tell the driver where to go - he drops everyone out of the car and takes only you, like a taxi.
2. Cellular communication. There are two kinds of operators: happy and 1-2-call.
We took the first one. Here, respectively, there are two more options for calls: expensive and cheaper. Dear ones, you just dial the country code, city, etc. , and cheap ones - 009 + code + number. It looks like this - a call to a cell phone looks like 009-7-913-123-45-67.
3. Those who want to increase the fun through illegal means - in Thailand, all drugs are prohibited. For sale - the death penalty, for use - a huge prison term. For more beautiful impressions, I will retell the guide's story about the prison: under the scorching sun there is a long cage, divided between them by bars. At one end is a huge fan that blows through all the cells. And it turns out that the cells closest to the fan threaten with pneumonia, and the farthest - with overheating. So, in general, be careful.
4. Not so long ago, the country of Thailand was the kingdom of Siam - the country was renamed, but the king remained.
He came to power after the death of his brother (as always in palace intrigues, the story is muddy). To confirm that he came to the kingdom not of his own free will and with good intentions, he made two promises to the people: 1. Never leave the country, 2. Do not sit on the royal throne. As long as it performs and does not violate. And for this, too, his people love him very much. Question: why this historical digression? There are his portraits everywhere - if you point a finger, laugh next to the portrait and stuff like that - Thais can be offended. If you throw coins into the water - throw Russian coins - otherwise, as the guide said, Thais can come up and check what kind of coins you are throwing.
5. Insects. Lizards crawled into the house (never with us), geckos - they themselves are afraid of people, so they won’t crawl close. A bunch of beautiful butterflies, bees and bugs - they will not care about you either. And two objects should worry: mosquitoes and ants.
We were lucky with the second ones, they weren’t there, but they were in the friends’ house - they left the fanta open once, and in the morning there was just a bottle of ants. Very annoying, you know. Mosquitoes: our fumitox does not take them. I specifically took the fumigator and the plates - they don’t care, but if you set fire to the pill and smell it, then they die (although I was also ready to die from such a smell). But during the day, mosquitoes are not visible - only in the evening.
To prepare for this trip, I read a lot and found out what was there and how. If you have any questions - write to the mail, I will try to answer them.
Translated automatically from Russian. View original
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