Reader Submission: My first introduction to Thailand
Because apparently there are few people who write a story, I'm willing to give it a try. It is about my first acquaintance with Thailand.
1989
In 1987 I had made my first “far” trip with a friend. That was to Miami. Initially the intention was to go to Indonesia, but my employer only allowed me to take a maximum of 3 weeks holiday. In 1989 we got a new personnel manager, and he went to Chile for 4 weeks. So that opened the door for me to apply for Indonesia for 4 weeks. Immediately to a travel agency to get books for tours to Asia.
After looking at many organized trips, we finally found that travel agency Van Ginkel had the best offer. The journey started with 4 days in Bangkok. Then Java, Bali, Sumatra and Singapore. So that was him. In September 1989 Garuda left for Bangkok. In Bangkok we had the Asia hotel. Very luxurious. In Bangkok, of course, to the many sights. The hotel also had a nightclub in the basement. Of course we had to go there too. Soon after entering we were joined by 2 lovely Thai ladies. For a fee of 50 dollars they were willing to take us to their apartments. They said they couldn't take us to our room. We along through nightly Bangkok with the ladies. My friend's lady's apartment was a little further. After an hour of “fun” my friend and his lady were at my door. The ladies neatly took us back to our hotel.
The third day could be completed independently. We stopped a tuktuk, because we also had to experience a ride in it. On the way the driver said he wanted to take us to something nice. Ah, why not. We stopped at a massage parlor called Cleopatra. We go in with him (he, of course, for the committee). What we saw then was heaven on earth for us bachelors. 100 or more ladies. 1.500 baht for 90 minutes it was said. Body to body massage and more. That was not said on deaf ears. In reality we were outside again after an hour, but a moan who pays attention to that. The first thing we said to each other was. Thailand next year. After this we made a beautiful and well-arranged tour through Indonesia.
1990
Got travel books again at the travel agency. Surprisingly enough, the offer from Indonesia specialist De Boer and Wendel was the most interesting for us. And unlike the year before, we now had an excellent tour guide instead of a tour guide. It was a fully arranged tour of 3 weeks. We started like almost all tours in Bangkok. There we stopped another tuk-tuk, with the request to take us to Cleopatra. He said sorry, but only Japanese are allowed there now. Green as we were, we believed him. Well, you didn't have internet back then. Different tent, same principle.
Then the tour followed. To Kanchanaburi, the bridge over the river Kwai. Ayutthaya, Khao Yai, Phimai, Khon kaen, Udon Thani, Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Uttaradit, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, finally ending in Cha-am. Seen a lot and Thailand had stolen my heart forever.
Until then I had not been to Pattaya. But that would change in 1991.
Submitted by KeesPattaya
1989 I came back from 3 years in the Philippines and went to Koh Samui for a while,
Lamai beach for 3 months . A bungalow at the beach was then 50 baht / day.
That's why I think you paid way too much for the massage with 1500 baht.
A big deal with weed was 50 baht back then. Back then you still had those Marijuana cookies in the
small shops and in the restaurants magic mushroom pizza .
It was a very nice time there , but then the airport opened and everything was going to change .
Bin never went to Koh Samui after that.
Just got back from Thailand, of which I spent 7 days in Ko samui, but how things have changed! It has been said several times, but the Thai baht has made many things unacceptably expensive, such as a taxi from lamai to bangrak pier ( seatran ferry to donsak pier ) The ferry boat of almost 2 hours sailing and then a bus to surrathani airport also takes 90 minutes and costs 750 baht together, the taxi from lamai to the pier is exactly 14.4 km and it also costs 700 baht, no, these guys count themselves rich but short-term thinking will break them up, already many are giving way tourists to Cambodia and to a lesser extent Vietnam, the Thais are aware of this but continue to rake in unabated. When I first came to Ko Samui 22 years ago, Bangkok Air was actually the only one that already charged 400 baht on domestic flights, but the flight was still affordable, not anymore, astronomical prices are charged and still paid, but not because of me, I do fly via surrathani, saves more than 100 euros on a single flight.
mean to say that they were the only airline allowed to charge airport tax on a domestic flight, on top of the flight price of course.
Oh well Chris, Kees paid maybe too much and even then…he paid this so many years ago with pleasure.
Keeping Kees writing seems like fun stories to come!
Indeed DVW, we were happy to pay this back then. I have now also submitted 1991. Even then we probably paid way too much. Not to mention the price of the organized tours!.