For years friends had told me stories of LOS. Of course never having been there I couldn't really believe half of it. So when it can time to schedule a vacation I naturally began thinking more and more about trying out the LOS. I mentioned to one of these friends of mine my intentions and the first thing out of his mouth was "Don't go!! you will never come back!" That sealed it. I made flight reservations that day and booked a hotel.
Booking a flight and hotel combination IS a good Idea however it is usually a better idea to reseach an area BEFORE making your plans. I did it ass-backwards. I made my reservations (nonrefundable) then thought to myself "I wonder if there is any information Online about LOS?". And that's when I found this site. Over the next four months I read as much as I could on these boards.
I arrived into Phuket airport Late at night, 10PM or so. I was planning on exchanging USD$ for BHT at the airport but all the currency exchange places were closed. Lesson for next time: exchange $ before getting to Phuket! I found the metered cab area and agreed to 450 BHT for the ride to Patong. I really didn't know how I was going to pay for the cab, but I figured a solution would present itself.
I got dropped off at my Hotel in Patong--Club Bambbo--. I gave the TG there my " Hey I'm a dumb ass" smile and managed to get her to front the BHT for the cab ride. Told her I'd pay her back later (which I did).
Club Bamboo is a great little hotel. Girl friendly, Quit, and away from the crazyness of downtown of Patong. The room was in good condition and clean (for the most part). I settled in and checked the clock--1145pm--. I figured things in town were probably starting to wrap up so I decided to turn in early. (YEAH i know now that I was wrong).
Well after successfully getting to Patong I decided to get an early start on the day. I woke up at 6 am and rolled out to the town. Yeah right! I quickly found that nothing was open in the morning. Matter of fact nothing was open till about 9:30. LOL Oh well! No worries I wandered around the town getting a feel for the area before it got crowded. I got pretty good at dodging the "Suit MR.?" and "You want DVD?" guys. A skill that is needed in that town!
Skip ahead---8pm-- back to Bangla road. things were starting to get going now! Finally! I sat at the Margarita bar and watched the people for about an hour or so. Nice open air bar over-looking the street. I was having a great time watching the local cops pull people over for not wearing helmets on the Vespa scooters! (If this was you---sorry it was funny!)
About 9pm I had had enough fun watching tourists get trafic tickets so I decided that it was time to see the night life! First stop MTB! I was hoping to find one of the Thai phrase books. Unfortunatly they were out. I looked around and figured I'd return to the MTB later on when the crowds got bigger. (I don't think I ever made It back--sorry) I ended up playing pool with a BG just around the corner. Of course she wanted me to buy her a ladydrink. I told her every game she won I'd buy her a drink. Belive it or not BG's are not very good pool players! I won the first game and told her she owed me a drink. Panic look on her face till she reallized I was just teasing. I eventualy let her win a couple of games....then a couple more. By then it was about mid-night, and i had a feeling I was going to be taken off the market for the night if I didn't leave the pool hall! I gave my pool partner a kiss on the cheek and promised to return the next night.
Walking down one of the Sois I found myself at an interesting place. Suzy Wongs. I figured what the Hell...I'll check out a Go-Go! As I walked in through the door a lady handed me a little foam bat. I looked at it with a "What am I supposed to do with this" look. She motioned toward the girl on stage and says "hit Girl!" Alright...
..So I walk toward the stage and lightly tapped the girl on the butt with the bat. She looks over her shoulder at me, rolls her eyes and goes back to dancing. I looked over at the lady manning the door to find her laughing at me. OK I can play this game! I wheeled back Babe Ruth style and delived a home-run smack! THAT DID IT. At the sound of the "POP" Ten half naked LBG's came streaming out of the back room, all of them armed with little foam bats!
Game ON!!
Nights for me pretty much followed this routine. Key word *crazy*
I spent the days Diving, shopping for cheap DVD's, and getting massages! In all probably one of the best vacations I've ever taken. I'll be returning as soon as possible (june1 2007
) I'm hoping to be able to control myself a bit more next time.....yeah right!