Diary of a Hibernator
The comment in my previous diary that I was going to hibernate doesn't cover the load, a friend remarked.
I only left on February 22 and then the Dutch winter will come to an end, on March 20 spring will already be waiting. That's right. It is therefore partly hibernating and partly springing. So, that has been rectified.
Friday: goodbye cold Netherlands
It is cold in the Netherlands. So I'm glad I'm leaving. Was freezing at the station in Apeldoorn. Went to Schiphol by train. Boarded a flight from Malaysian Airlines to Kuala Lumpur to transfer to Bangkok. The flight went perfectly. Sleeping alone was a bit difficult this time, even with a sleeping tablet.
Saturday: Jomtien
Bangkok smiles at me again. She does this with cheerful sunbeams. The warm blanket that I get over me is a pleasant feeling after the winter cold in our chilly but oh so beautiful country.
The nice thing about Thailandblog are the good tips from readers. For example, after arriving at Suvarnabhumi I walked through to the second hall of Immigration. And indeed, no one to be seen. Long queues and long waiting times in the first hall. In the second hall, maybe 300 yards away, I was the only one; I had the counters to sort it out. In less than five minutes I was through Immigration. Don't tell any further. The suitcase also arrived very quickly. I walked to the baggage carousel and saw him pass by. Why does that never work at Schiphol?
More smiling faces in the arrivals hall, including those of my love. After 6 months, a reunion is a party in itself.
Then with a large tour bus for 135 baht per person to Jomtien. Of course I'm staying in the 'Drie Olifanten', an oasis of peace and a beautiful accommodation.
Sunday: Pattaya, what happened?
In 2011 I was last in Jomtien/Pattaya. Now I looked my eyes out. This no longer resembled the Pattaya of the time. Indeed, it has been completely taken over by Russian tourists. It can go fast.
And busy, incredibly busy. A ride with the Songthaew from Jomtien to Pattaya now usually takes less than an hour. Maybe 15 minutes for that. Traffic is stuck. The songthaews are packed, again with Russians, I can rarely get a seat. Boris and Tanja, the Russian version of Sjonnie and Anita, are now temporary companions in the taxi. Oh, I don't mind them. Why would I? Russians are not that bad after all and the Russian ladies with their long legs make my field of view more pleasant. Don't forget that Gorbachev even managed to end the cold war, then you have to have something in your march. With his successor Boris Yeltsin you could drink a vodka and dance, just ask Bill Clinton, he is still talking about it.
In addition to Russians, I also see quite a lot of Pakistanis or are they from India? A bit hard to tell apart. They also all wear mustaches. They obviously want to look like their mother.
I am surprised that especially the Russians who come here on holiday really don't speak a word of English. My girlfriend was approached on the street by a Russian. She wanted to change money, dollars, of all things. “Где я могу поменять деньги”, she asked my friend. She wanted to answer “Когда банк курса”, but my girlfriend doesn't speak Russian. Oh, you can go far with hands and feet too.
After buying some groceries at Big C and having a delicious meal again, the night took over from the day. The nights in Pattaya are usually long and the next day you are rudely reminded. My head is pounding continuously while writing this diary.
Monday: The day after
Besides the headache, I have trouble getting back to a normal daily routine. The same goes for Thailandblog. Fortunately, Dick is my support and rock and he ensures that the readers do not have to be deprived of their daily food.
So, now let's try to become human again. A cup of coffee might help with that.
Last year I also wrote a piece about the Russians in Pattaya and some thought it might be childish or exaggerated what I wrote then. But everything is almost in Russian on the street, the trucks towards Jomtien bomb full of those people. Sorry I just say lazy because they are rude as a don't know what. Of course the Dutch are not good either. But there are many people waiting until they can go to Jomtien. The tsarinas just walk past the line and sit first or Dad stands in front of it so that no one can pass until he and his wife are seated. We always liked Pattaya with all its events, but no more Pattaya for us. And I hear it from several people. There are even tour operators who have removed Pattaya from their program, 2 years ago even the Walking Street was once dry due to the alcohol consumption of the Russians. Also in the Walking Street itself where Thai girls used to work, you now only see Russian women.
The editors have removed the typos from your text and added capital letters: Russians, Pattaya, Jomtien, etc. You may want to do that yourself next time. Small effort.
Marijke, I have already traveled quite a lot with a Songthaew from Jomtien to Pattaya. Have not seen any rude behavior from Russians.
There are antisocials in every population group, especially among the Dutch. That's not typically Russian. You can't tar everyone with the same brush, that's incorrect.
Yes, I agree with you that among everyone wherever you come from there are neat and aso people. But the experience we have with them can certainly not be called positive. There are already hotels that they no longer want, that says something. I don't remember whether it was 2 or 3 years ago, there are 2 young Russians on the beach of Jomtien shot to death in their beach chair. And of course they bring in a lot of money. But if you talk to the Thai, it is not the ordinary Russian who walks here, but the mafia. Because the ordinary man in Russia is still happy to eat Let alone be able to go to Thailand. It is nice that everyone can travel in freedom, but I personally think that you should also behave. And other world citizens also have good and bad citizens. But many also write that pattya will be broken this way in a few years. You don't have to agree with me at all, but I'm not the only one who thinks this way.
Marijke, you are going too far in your opinion and it is not correct either. I just see Russian families and not just Mafia (how do you recognize them by the way? Do they have the abbreviation Maf tattooed on their forehead?). If you disturb yourself with our Russian fellow human beings then you should not go to Pattaya. Thailand is bigger than just Pattaya.
@ Kuhn Peter
You are a voice crying in the desert. Given the many reactions to TB from readers who are indeed inconvenienced by the rude behavior of Russians in Pattaya, I can only conclude that you are still suffering from jet lag, or are wearing the wrong glasses or are simply exhibiting ostrich behaviour.
Furthermore, I find your reactions to Marijke downright rude and do not show any ability to “sich einfühlen!”
Marijke, I have been living in Pattaya for years and your experiences with Russians are 100 percent correct with reality in Pattaya. Unfortunately!
@ Draw the conclusions you want. It's funny that the Russians in Pattaya already belong to the Moroccans of Thailand. Now a Thai populist with hydrogen peroxide in her hair and the circle is complete.
@KuhnPeter
Your response has been noted. It's funny that editors of TB, of all places, flout their own rules with regard to chatting or responding to the person….
In any case, I respect the rules of TB, and therefore leave it at that.
Dear tjamuk, I don't know you and I don't think I will need it. Because your reaction and thought is the same as Peter's. If you sometimes stay there yourself for a longer period of time, you might also talk differently.
Moderator: text removed. Gut feelings are irrelevant.
Completely agree, what a one-sided and negative story as if there is no culture and nature in Pattaya and the surrounding area.
Well know for yourself, thanks for your comment Peter!
Frank F
Must be just me, of course, but I've seen very few decent Russians here in Naklua/Pattaya!! certainly not in the Bath vans!! Sitting wide and just like the other Blogger put it!! You have rude people among all population groups, but the Russians really take the cake for me!!
Patteya, despite the many improvements (cleaner beach !! ?? and cordoned off areas for swimming without being run over by a water scooter), is going into a downward spiral and this has been playing for a long time with many holidaymakers or winter visitors for Hua, among others. Hin etc. or now like my mate says he doesn't want to come back after holidaying here for over 30 years!
I have been coming here for 21 years now and now that I have put aside everything that even remotely resembles work last year, I have now been here for 6 months at a time and will be going to Holland for 2 months at the end of April for 2 months and soon. back again!! I've had it with the Netherlands!! Sorry, this is a fantastic country, but despite what I have just noticed, I feel completely AT HOME HERE!!
greetz
Ps Only once met a rude Dutchman here and put me in his place!! Could also be a coincidence? Also a few real perverts, I just left otherwise it would have ended all wrong for these “gentlemen and I didn't feel like trouble then!!
Nice article, totally agree that Pattaya should actually be called Pattayski. Stayed in Jomtien Beach, wonderful and good to pick up your Russian. Taxi drivers refused short journeys, they only want to do for a minimum of 200 baht.
Very different from what I was used to, won't come back either.
You could indeed ask yourself what the world is suffering more from, many Russians in a seaside resort or intolerant people?
Peter, you should know better about the Russians. It is not for nothing that the immigration service has mapped out all the Russians where they are and where they are, especially the long-term stayers.
Of course there are also Russian families that will not bother you at all, except that they do not adapt to the language or speak English.
I roamed through Russia and Eastern Europe for 5 years with the camper, so I know the Russians quite well, but what is so mixed up here is not the best.
By the way, I find it absurd that all shops and actually everything is listed in the Russian language. The French generally do not speak English, but nowhere is anything indicated in French, except for a few French restaurants.
Last week I was in Tukcom, the sellers have already learned the Russian language to sell products, their right, but just ask something in English, you will hear something that must be English, Thai-English with hot potato in the mouth.
I myself live a little outside of Pattaya, but if this continues for another 2 years, I will move, it is just not normally so busy anymore, especially with Russians. And they are certainly cheeky, speak and understand a nice word, you do not want to know what they are talking about and how laconic they think, disrespectful. I myself no longer go to the center or to the beach, I do drive a little further for the beach, we do our shopping early in the morning, so it is still quiet.
I don't know if it is still the case, but last year and also the year before, tickets for the Russians were partly sponsored, I think also by the Thai government in cooperation with the Russian Federation. Have ever seen, return ticket with Aeroflot from approx. 360 euros, flies over Amsterdam. Aeroflot International is a very good and reliable company.
Moderator: discriminatory sentence removed.
Moderator: Your position is clear. No repeat please.
I too have fled from the cold winter. I arrived at Krabi Airport on January 27 where my girlfriend picked me up. We have rented a house for an indefinite period because Nut (my girlfriend) works on Ao Nang Beach at a massage shop.
It's busy there now, she leaves the house at 9 o'clock and comes home at 7 o'clock. Still nice, earned about 800 bath with tip money. To stay in shape and not get bored, I bought a bicycle, we live in Klong Haeng Ao Nang about 3 km from the beach where she works. She goes by motorcycle, I rarely see a Thai on a bike and certainly not ladies. I have now ridden all the roads and paths in a radius of 50 km and come to places where no farrang would otherwise be. Here in Ao Nang Beach, most of the holidaymakers are from Russia and Scandinavia and a few Dutch people.
I haven't seen any mafia Russians here, they are all neat people, mostly with children. I think there is no room here for people who want to get drunk and there is no place for them to show bravado. It is a beautiful place for people who like peace and quiet and enjoy the beach, not to mention the pleasant boulevard with many shops, restaurants and eateries. No gogo bars or discos, just fun. I'm going home again on March 26, but I hope to return to this paradise soon. Gr. Joop.
I, who lived - not really long, but still - in Pataya, was last week (from Koh Chang) in Pattaya (due to a maternity visit together with family of the young father). Now I let myself be driven in my own car, so I had no complaints about traffic problems (partly due to my choice of approach route).
That evening I went to Pattaya. My feet and the muscles in my shins are still strained from the unfortunate sidewalks there. But Russians? How do you tell someone is a Russian (or Russian woman)? They already have to say something to each other in Russian and apparently they don't do that often and not rudely loud. Perhaps they need pubs more than average; I never visit it. Well - the next day that was - the beach of (preferably) Jomtien. Where I ate in the evening and also the next morning (at an address I have known for a long time): no Russian to be seen or heard (not even on the beach).
In summary: Pattaya is still difficult to walk on, has high air pollution, and I could go on and on, but would it have essentially changed since a few years ago? My favorite Japanese fish restaurant has disappeared, but probably not because of the advance of the Russians, but rather because of the Belgian fries.
In the meantime (because of the jellyfish in the sea) I swam in the pool of my resort on Koh Chang. That swimming pool had - previously also - a high Russian content. So what? The Dutch are worse, because I unfortunately understand them. They chatter unrestrainedly about nothing of importance. The Russians probably do too (and the Thai), but my ear doesn't get stuck on that.
Just a final response from me on this subject. We have been coming to Thailand as a couple for 10 years for a month. We always went to Pattya for 2 weeks and to Changmai for 2 weeks. But 2 years ago we said no more Pattya, so we are now going the same way. day to the north. We are having a great time here. As far as I am concerned, this was my last reaction to TB. We are currently also in Thailand, but unfortunately the month is almost over. So back to the cold country.
A few weeks ago I was in Jomtien and Pattaya. The behavior of the Russians has been quite good. Indeed, they rarely speak English. If there is one who speaks very limited English, he expects a Thai to understand him perfectly and immediately.
I am more annoyed by the groups of Chinese. They don't care about anyone. I went to Koh Larn for the first time. Many restaurants that focus on Chinese. Perhaps sometimes with Chinese owners. They are more like canteens. When a group of Chinese leaves the canteen, they leave a battlefield behind. There were waste bins here and there. A Chinese woman thought nothing better of picking up her 4-year-old child and making her urinate in the waste bin.
Last year on a flight: a Chinese was brushing his teeth in the aisle for minutes.
Experienced in the Magic Food restaurant at Bangkok airport: a Chinese was loudly slurping his soup. Suddenly he may feel a piece of bone in his mouth. He just spit it out on the table.
We have just returned home after spending 3 wonderful and wonderfully warm weeks in North Pattaya. Our hotel was an oasis, in the garden you could not imagine that once outside the gate you would find yourself in the middle of a terrible hustle and bustle. Indeed, Pattaya is not really fun anymore and that is not only because of Russian tourists, although they are noticeable because of their less social behavior. Pattaya is already overcrowded during the day and in the evening it is a complete disaster to visit a nice place to eat, for example. The streets are overcrowded, just like the baht buses, there is no way through.
A recommendation: go to the Royal Garden shopping Center in the afternoon and then sit on the outdoor terrace of the Foodwave (3rd floor) with a nice cool beer and, for example, a portion of spring rolls.
You can possibly complete the outing by staying there for dinner, just select from the large selection, order and not much later everything will be delivered. Wonderfully relaxed and worth repeating.