Two Thailand Stories About Phuket, Pattaya And Family
I am a 49 year old divorced man from the land down under Australia. I’m a big fan of your channel and I’ve been listening to Thailand bound for several years now. As they say, longtime listener, first time sharing my stories about my experiences in the wonderful land of smiles. Whether I am out exercising, pottering around at home on the weekend, or traveling to and from work, I regularly listen to your many entertaining viewers stories. I love to hear the twists and turns of the viewer stories and the lovely Thai ladies, lady boy characters, especially the beautiful and very seductive bar girls wrapping guys around their little fingers. I guess for all of us who have visited the land of smiles share this common bond and just smile and nod knowingly. One of my favorite things is to hear the amazing names matched with stories such as cop who gets the guy in hot water with the boys in brown. Ploy with the ulterior motive who adds a secret and devious twist. Tick who leeches money from the guy merantly. And my personal favorite, Wang who incredibly turns out to be a lady boy. Who would have thought?
My Thailand experience begins back in 2007 when I holidayed in Phuket with my ex-wife and actually got engaged over there. The irony of hindsight, we can refer to this as my car crash story from the moment I stepped off the plane to the heat, smells, and sensations of this place. The Thailand bug well and truly bit me in a big way. For this trip, we stay in Karamon Beach and enjoyed all of the food, the amazing beaches, the famous warmth and hospitality of the Thai people, which planted a seed in my memory to carry forward for many years. Seeing these incredible postcard views, the girls and sites in Pong’s Bangler road and constant request to provide mashard services was very intoxicating. It was a very enjoyable trip doing all the tourist things, temples, elephant rides, tuk tuks to Patong and seeing many shells in the Camala Beach area. Highly recommended. Fast forward to 2023. My marriage was on the rocks and we decided to part ways 16 years and three children later. My exit date, the day before my 47th birthday, no less. I picked myself up as any a man would do and we just carry on as best as we can navigating these new waters.
On serious reflection of my life to date, I realized the many years had disappeared through a haze for the past 16 years. Family, kids, mortgages, climbing the corporate ladder, grinding away for the family. Now the illusions were all gone with the divorce and reality hit me. My whole world had completely changed and I have not even had an overseas holiday since that 2007 pre-engagement trip. [snorts] At that moment, I decided I was booking an October holiday back to the land of smiles. My solo Phuket trip was booked staying in Kata Beach for 10 glorious days. Over the next two months, I cram studied every YouTube clip I could find, stories and channels I could get my hands on. I studied every fact about the country in readiness for my return visit. Pretty soon, October came and I was ready to hit the ground running, Thailand bound and ready for action. I flew out of Melbourne direct from Phuket in the early afternoon, an 8hour 50-minute flight and arriving into Phuket International Airport at ex approximately 8:40 p. m.
local time. I had studied the travel options and wandered across to the Phuket Smart Bus Service at the airport exit terminal for the pricey sum of 100 baht. Thai bar absolutely great value for the 1-hour bus trip down the coast to my Kata Beach Resort location. As the bus made its way along the windy roads hugging the coastline, my senses were in overtime. The scenery, shops, and glimpses of those stunning Thai beauties in the beer bars was amazing sight. And just as I had anticipated from the YouTube channels, once the buns bus arrived at my resort, I carried my luggage through, checked into my room, dropped my bags, and decided to hit the main road to stretch my legs after a long trip. The warm sticky air hits you in the face, smells of charcoal, chicken pieces, and many sights and sounds is just a unique experience which captures your imagination and senses. A quick walk down to the local 7-Eleven, some snacks and a few Leo beers for hydration, and back to the hotel for a good sleep to rejuvenate. I had decided I wanted to make the most of the island touring, and I hired a Honda ADV 160 prepaid online for my entire holiday, all delivered direct to my hotel. What a great service. The scooter delivery arrived right on time.
Very impressive for the famous tie time. And whilst I did not have a motorbike license back in Australia, I figured with my good looks, charm, and international driver’s permit, I would wing it. I can report that in the whole 10 days of this trip, I only ran into the boys in brown roadb block once, I was respectful and polite, and to the police officer and got away with a warning after offering to make payment to settle this matter. Lady luck was on my side. I spent this first trip exploring different beaches and locations. each day. Back to the resort pool for an early afternoon dip, followed by a couple of Chang beers and an afternoon snooze each day. I visited different food stores for a quick lunch, enjoying the very substantial breakfast buffets each morning and then picking a night food market in the evening and a few bars for a drink with some fang and locals alike. I decided I wanted to give the soapy massage place in Patong a run. See what all the fuss was about. And wow, did it deliver.
What an amazing unique experience for the senses with the fishbowl setup ladies all seated around the elevated seats like a concert hall. Choose your massage attendant. Let’s call her Noi. And she definitely provided a great experience for the 3,500 baht fee. Looking back at this trip, I had reclaimed my self-confidence and zest and vitality for life on this trip. I was back to living again.
Kata Beach And New Confidence
Not just existing, but really living. Next trip, 2025 October. Again, I was locked and loaded and ready for adventures. I committed this time to really immersing myself into the Thai culture and ladies experience mongering this time. I stayed at the same resort in Kata Beach, hired the same scooter from the same company, and I felt the excitement coming all over me once again. Stepping off the plane at Puket airport. This time I decided to pre-book a car ride service to get to the hotel and action quicker and in more comfort. The Thai guy, like an absolute lunatic most of the way, 140 km an hour in an 80 mph zone. This is Thailand, as they say. I started the week off with a couple of day trips on the bike, taking in the amazing beaches and sightes along the way down to the Cape and Nihan Beach.
South beautiful scenery. Now it was coming into early evening and I made my way into Pong Bangler to check out the nightife and entertainment venues on the scooter. Found an amazing bar, the New York Bar, right smack bang in the middle of Bangler Road. The music was pumping which drew me in and I was escorted straight in by security. A few beers later and some great live Thai band music, I was ready to leave and head back to Kata Beach. For those who are not familiar, the main road into Patong Beach Road is a one-way street and it funnels all the traffic through Patong to the north exit. Sometimes the Thai police will set up a checkpoint at the top of Beach Road Street before it diverts away. So here I am having had three or four beers, a fang on a scooter with the boys in Brown just ahead. I take a deep breath and prepare myself for the encounter. As this is my second trip, an international driver’s permit in hand, I’m reasonably confident I am halfway being a law abiding despite a small detail of not having a motorbike license back in Australia.
Only learner’s permit at this stage. The Thai officer has a look like the cat who has swallowed the canary. He can smell the tea money about to be extracted from the silly farang. This fang with relatively strong beer fumes at this point in the evening. By this stage, I knew the score in regard to fines for scooter unlicensed was a cool 1,000 bar. I had heard from a previous Thailand ban subscriber how he would discreetly place the fine inside the international driver’s permit pouch, allowing discretion for the fine for the Thai policeman and minimal banter in the exchange. I handed my permit to him and he flashed his flashlight to my details. I discreetly thumbmed over the page to the folded 500 baht notes inside the pouch. He re realizes and says 1,000 baht, not 500. I signal with two fingers, two times 500 baht inside, keeping my beer soaked mouth firmly shut.
Haha. A broad smile comes across his face as he quickly looks around and slips out the two 500 baht notes from the pouch. He finishes with a good evening, sir, and away I go. Phew. A close call now, Pete. I do not ever condone getting around on a scooter after a few beers, and this experience really sharpened up my judgment. As a side note, I was to be relieved of no less than 3,000 baht and fines on this trip, and it was worth every penny. Now, in my travels, I kept going past a lovely lady at the front of a massage shop who would have the biggest smile and yell out, “Massage car. ” every day when I would scooter past her on a back road through Kata Beach. This particular night, I decided I was going to take her up on her lovely offer for a massage when I went past around 9:30 p.
m. Her shop was already closed. Bummer. Being a resourceful guy, I thought I will continue along through the night and along a road leading in neighboring Karang Beach. When I heard a lovely voice on my left say, “Special massage, sir.” I circled back on my scooter and I saw at a massage parlor a vision of beauty with a beautiful smile and slightly brown skin which we all love with our beautiful Thai ladies. I parked up my scooter and introduced myself. Her name was Apple and she quickly ushered me in for a massage in her establishment. I had a great massage and I was f it was followed up by some lovely aerobics instruction from Apple. a beautiful petite lady of 48 years with a 21-year-old son from Surin originally.
It is an amazing how Thai ladies are just so polite, feminine, and natural beauties which we too often in the West are so starved of in our women. We are slapped in the face when we encounter these amazing tie creatures in the flesh. What was equally equally amazing is there was not pushy sales tactics required for ID details or follow-up or just a natural and beautiful connection between two strangers. Being a relative newbie, I of course went back the following day to make sure I was not imagining this experience. And yep, every bit as amazing as the first evening for 2,000 baht. By the third day, I was just waiting for the hook and further requests for time or money. However, none was forthcoming and we communicated mainly through Google Translate and broken English. Apple was a very relaxed, lovely lady, and I think her age probably contributed to her laid-back attitude. Very sweet and incredibly firm body for her age and sweet face and feminine nature was really drawing me in. On that Saturday, she asked me if I wanted to go out to a live band and dance with a traditional Thai band.
A Night Out With Apple
She knew my mantra in life is always say yes to adventure. Let’s go. Went back to my villa to change and get ready for the night and drove my scooter back to the massage shop. Apple was ready and waiting and we grabbed a bolt taxi and off to the venue around 30 minute drive. When we went into a large venue, it was very quiet inside and maybe a dozen people. We were ushered to a table by the staff, a pretty young girl and a young Thai guy, and got drinks and beers served up while we settled in to listen to this band over the next 3 to four hours. We have a brilliant night together, a little dancing and minimal touching, as I was aware of the public display of affection customs in Thailand, and the service staff filled my beer each and every time it came close to empty. We ordered some food and Apple proceeded to feed me just an amazing experience and one I have probably not been accustomed to since my baby days from my mother.
Haha. This is Thailand. At the end of the evening, I was waiting for the big hit of the bill of 1,800 baht. Very reasonable for the total night entertainment, drinks, food, and service. We had both had plenty of alcohol and got a bolt back to my resort. I tried to enter the room with my ATM card. We both giggled and crashed into bed. So, no aerobics this evening.
As a side note, I was very impressed with my own self-awareness and actually locked my bank cards in the safe overnight. I came to realize in the morning, not bad for a drunk fang in the morning as I opened my eyes to be greeted by this stunning Thai lady in my bed. Since my divorce, I had not spent a solitary night with a lady sleeping in my bed. Of course, the morning cuddles did lead to a couple of rounds of aerobics before we had to get up. My holiday was completing and I was due to check out by 10:00 a. m. that morning. We both eventually got up, showered, and got dressed and we could return Apple back to her massage accommodation.
Another side note, it is amazing to see a Thai lady beauty routine in the morning. No makeup and stunning natural beauties with nothing more than a concoction of creams and face beauty routine. So lovely to observe. After returning to Apple‘s massage place, I told her I will check out my accommodation and return to take her out to lunch at a beautiful restaurant on the hill south of Kata Beach. This was the point where reality jolted back when Apple firmly extended her upright hand and said, “00 boss to go out of the massage parlor,” at which I had completely forgotten about. I made a quick dash across to the 7-Eleven and pulled out some cash. I gave Apple a 1,000 baht note and said, “I don’t have change.” She said, “Okay.
” and turned to go inside to change for lunch. Note to newbies, remember, it is a transaction, guys, as lovely as great as the experience may be. I did all of my business in the checkout, and I came back to take Apple out for lunch with an amazing view of the Bay of Katanoi Beach and its surroundings. It was a quiet lunch, as Apple was still very tired. We know Thai ladies love to sleep, so no doubt the beers and the lack of sleep were having an impact. Still, a delightful lady, and we chatted little about our lives. On the way back on the scooter from lunch as we trailed along the windy roads, Apple asked, “Again,” which I teased her, saying, “I’m an old man now, too tired, old.” Haha.
It must be said to have a beautiful Thai lady cuddling up to you on the bit back of a scooter. Total trust in your hands in a foreign country and foreign roads in one of life’s mustos. Simply amazing experience. When we arrived back at the massage parlor, we went back upstairs for another unforgettable visit. It was an incredible adventure and one which I will be trying to replicate for many years to come in Thailand. Incredibly, after all this adventure, we did not exchange any details, no line or WhatsApp, nothing, and just left this amazing time to our memories.
First Trip To Pattaya
Hope you are well. I have enjoyed listening to your stories for many years now. As far back as when you were still in the UK reading from your converted garage out building in the back garden, sipping your Croninberg. I thought to myself, why not share my story with you and your viewers? I am 33 and I’m from the UK and I first traveled to Thailand in October 2024. After the usual months and months of watching people like yourself pulse travel videos about the land of smiles, actually Ed Sweeney was another favorite of mine, and I enjoyed his channel, too. RIP Eddie. I had a decent job at the time, but I felt something was missing from my life. However, I couldn’t put my finger on it, and I thought there was nothing to lose by going out to experience Thailand for myself. I had been lucky enough in my life up to that point to have traveled to many places in the world, but I was yet to experience Asia. So, I booked a 3-week trip, took annual leave off work, and flew out to Bangkok.
Touching down in the second week of October, I headed straight to Pattaya and arrived at my apartment that I booked on Airbnb on Soi 13 next to the Sportsman. The room and location were great, just a few steps from Beach Road. Although it was my first time there, everything felt familiar because I’d binge watched many YouTube channels about Pattaya, including Thailand Bound. I remember my first afternoon. I walked down to Beach Road and went into the Pattaya Beer Garden. The weather was perfect. It was beautiful and I had a few beers along with some food. I had a walk around, bought some clothes in Mike Shopping Mall and met up with some guys who also had flown out on the same dates. I got talking to them before leaving via another YouTuber’s page and some group chats. I remember meeting the guys I’d arranged to meet for the very first time at the corner bar on my first night on Soi 6. We went and hit all the bars, played games with the ladies, enjoyed a few drinks, and of course tried to keep a straight face amongst ourselves at all the handsome man shoutouts from the girls.
We ended up buying tickets for the bar fine Friday night party upstairs in the VIP room for around 900 baht where you get all your drinks included for 3 hours and your choice of girl to join you if you were quick enough to get to one you liked. Later we went on to LK Metro and Walking Street. That was when one of the guys gave me my first experience of the famous windmill clubs. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I’d say the first two weeks were a rinse and repeat every day. Going for some food and getting a massage before meeting up with the guys in the late afternoon and partying into the early hours, enjoying all there was to offer. When we all look back now, we still can’t believe the amount of drinking we actually did. Treetown, LK Metro, Soi 6, bottles upon bottles in the nightclubs on Walking Street. Of course, I enjoyed plenty of company as expected in Pattaya. One of the guys I’d met, who was a regular visitor there, called me Butterfly at the time. I asked him what that meant.
Of course, now I know the term for myself. On my first night on Walking Street, I met a girl in a club called Maest. It was there I had my first experience of Sangom whiskey. Let’s just say I’ve never touched a drop of it since that night. Apparently, I drunk most of the bottle, leaving her friends we had met up with in disgust. Haha. I blacked out on the way back in the taxi. To my complete surprise, the girl from Miss was still there when I woke up. I wasn’t surprised because she had stayed the night with me while I was in such a state. I was surprised because I didn’t even remember meeting her at all. Oh dear.
I went into the bathroom and there was a mess where I’d missed the toilet several times during the night while being sick. Or so she told me. This lady opened her purse and handed me 18,000 baht and my iPhone. She told me I’d left them in my shorts the previous nights and she’d kept them safe for me along with my mobile phone as we were leaving mist and someone could easily have taken them. She had even cleaned up the bathroom. I felt so ashamed. Obviously gave her a couple of thousand bar for her troubles. I quickly realized how stupid I’d been and I felt embarrassed. She could have taken the lot, but she was a really honest and genuine person. Luckily for me, because that could have been a terrible start to my very first trip to Thailand. It was a lesson quickly learned.
I took her for lunch before she left, and we did meet a few more times after that. But it was strictly for business. I met many ladies on that trip and had some amazing times that I’ll never forget. But there was one girl I met a few days before leaving who was 22 and worked in a massage shop. I couldn’t put my finger on it exactly, but there was just something about her. Apart from her obvious beauty, she was very shy, had a cute smile, no tattoos, and gave me a body massage. To be honest, I was exhausted after 3 weeks in Pattaya, and a massage was all I required. We chatted casually. The massage wasn’t even in that good. You could tell she was new at it, but somehow that didn’t matter because I enjoyed her company and talking with her. I asked her for her line QR code and told her it was nice to meet her.
Meeting Ning In Thailand
Then off I went back to my room for a shower and out once again. As the final few nights before my journey home were approaching, the final day came and it was time to head back to Bangkok. I said my goodbyes to my new friends and just like that, I was back on a plane with the wheels touching down in the UK. After returning home in early November, the holiday blues well and truly hit. Reality sank in and I was back to the usual re routine of work shifts, cold weather, and a general feeling of unhappiness and boredom. My new friends and I all stayed in contact through a group chat online and WhatsApp. We’ve all been back to Thailand together four times since that first trip, and I can honestly say I’ve made some great friends for life. A few days and weeks went by and I received a WhatsApp message from let’s call her Ning for the sake of this story. It was the girl from the massage shop that I’d mentioned meeting a few days before leaving. She asked how I was, how my flight home had been and the usual questions. We started talking every day. I’d asked her about work. She’d asked me about mine.
And we gradually got to know more about each other and each other’s lives. After Christmas, a few of the guys and I booked our second trip for Sran 2025. This time, I wanted to stay longer, so I booked a six-week trip, arriving halfway through Sran. To be honest, Sran isn’t really my cup of tea. It was fun for a few days, but then I got fed up with getting soaked late into the evening. Sorry to sound like a party pooper, but of course those of your viewers who enjoy it. Of course, I should mention that from November until April, I was speaking to Ning every day, and I guess we developed some chemistry together. Looking back, I think it was already there during that brief hour. We met in person back in October. When I arrived in Bangkok in April, it was the same routine again, straight to Pattaya. This time I stayed at the Cuba hotel for 2 weeks with the plan of changing hotels every 2 weeks to try a few different places. As soon as I arrived in Pattaya and Ning came straight to meet me at the hotel and let’s just say we had a very nice afternoon together indoors. To cut a long story short, she stayed with me for the full 6 weeks, stopped going to work and spent every day with me.
It all felt surprisingly natural, as though we’d known each other for years. I’d also like to add that she never once asked me for a penny. Of course, whenever we went and whatever we did, I paid for everything as I felt that was only right. I did, however, give her some money each week to buy whatever she needed for herself, and she always seemed more than happy with what I gave her. My routine was basically spending the days with her and then meeting up with the guys in the evening. So, you could say I had the best of both worlds. Ning isn’t much of a drinker, so she only joined us a handful of times during those six weeks. She was perfectly happy staying in and watching Netflix. The other hotels we stayed at during the trip were the a LK Royal Suite and the Vogue. Personally, I thought the Vogue was much better than the previous two. During those six weeks, we got out and about and quite a bit. We visited Colon, the patio city sign, the Sanctuary of Truth, Central Pattaya, Terminal 21, and Jumpia Night Market. We enjoy plenty of foot mass foot massages and overall just had a fantastic time together.
At the same time, I was still able to enjoy the night life with my friends whenever I wanted. Before I knew it, the 6 weeks had flown by and it was time to go home. Ning came to the airport with me before heading back to her family’s home in the northwest of Thailand for a week or two before returning to work. As you can imagine, it was a sad goodbye for the both of us after spending such a wonderful 6 weeks together. By the time we arrived at Swanap airport, it was getting dark. She was planning to get a taxi to Mulch and then a 3-hour bus journey home. I told her I’d book her a taxi all the way home directly from the airport because it would be much safer. I could see she was very upset and that wouldn’t have been a pleasant journey at the best of times. For such a simple gesture as paying for the taxi, she seemed incredibly grateful. Once again, I arrived home to the holiday blues and went straight back to work. It felt like deja vu. The usual routine continued working and talking to Ning every day. After spending 6 weeks together and having so many meaningful conversation, it became obvious that she didn’t enjoy working in patio at all.
She was only there because there weren’t any other opportunities. Even then, she never once asked me for money. Never hinted, never suggested it, nothing. A week or so later, we had the conversation about becoming more serious together. Once again, she never asked me for money, but I’m not stupid, and I know nobody can survive without it. I asked how much she needed each month, so she wouldn’t have to work while I we figured out our future together. I couldn’t believe what she told me after watching all these YouTube videos. I was expecting the usual 20, 30, 40,000 baht a month or some other ridiculous amount. Instead, what she asked for was peanuts. I think it was around 12,000 baht a month. I was happy to take that risk and see where things led. I continued working in the UK while she stayed back home with her sisters and we video called and chatted on FaceTime every day around my working hours. Before I knew it, I was back in Thailand in July, just 2 months later.
This time it was only a three-week trip. We rented a condo in Pratumnak and had a wonderful few weeks together. The reason for returning so soon was that we found out she was pregnant shortly after I got home from my previous 6 week stay. I decided to go back in July because we had some serious decisions to make. Ultimately, she left the decisions to me. I thought to myself, why not? Maybe this was the crossroads in my life where I would either have a child of my own or never have one. I felt there was nothing for me back home, just work and a miserable life.
Family Life And A New Future
By now, I was in love with Thailand. I could see a future there. And of course, Ning was perfect for me. Together, we decided to go ahead with the pregnancy. Neither of us had had any children, so it was obviously a scary decision for us both. 3 weeks passed and before I knew it, I was back at work. This time though, I felt like I had a reason to work, something to motivate me before leaving Thailand in July. I booked Ning onto a maternity care package with a private hospital near her home. I think it cost me 55,000 bar and included monthly checkups leading up to the birth.
The cesarian section plus three nights and 4 days in hospital afterwards. The care was second to none and made me realize just how good the health care in Thailand really is. I also couldn’t imagine what package like that would cost in the UK. I’m guessing somewhere around £10,000. I was back again around Halloween for a four-week visit. By then, she was about 5 or 6 months pregnant and starting to show. Seeing her in person again with her growing bump made me everything suddenly feel very real. It all sank in very quickly and I was completely committed. As you and your viewers know, time flies in Thailand and before I knew it, I was back in the cold UK.
Now, the countdown had begun for the birth of my first child in February, and the nerves were starting to creep in. My first flight was due to arrive in Bangkok on the 31st of January, 4 days before the planned birth. 2 days before I arrived, Ning attended her final checkup with her mom and sister. After checking her over, the doctor said the baby was ready to be delivered and the operation could be performed the following day. Ning asked if it would be safe to wait a few more days because I was arriving 2 days later. The doctor carried out some additional tests and agreed it would be safe to wait another 6 days as she wasn’t having any contractions and he believed everything would be fine. I arrived in Bangkok on the 31st of January at 1:00 a. m. in the morning.
The immigration cues were horrendous and it took 2 and 1/2 hours to get through. I stayed in Bangkok for the night and traveled to her hometown the following morning. By then, we had everything prepared before I arrived. So, we spent the best part of a week relaxing, visiting some lovely places, enjoying some delicious food, and meeting members of her family that I hadn’t met before. The morning finally came to go to the hospital at 8:00 a. m. After completing the paperwork, I found myself sitting in a small room just outside the operating theater, wearing my hospital gown, mask, and hat, waiting for the nurse to come and take me to meet my new daughter. They were the longest 10 minutes of my life. All I can say about meeting my daughter is that I’d never experienced anything like it.
I can’t put that feeling into words. It was the most amazing and beautiful moment of my life. There were two doctors and four nurses in the operating theater and they all welcomed me in perfect English, congratulated me and then handed me my daughter. We stayed in hospital for 4 days in a private room and once again the care was second to none. Everyone was so professional and it was worth every single bart. I stayed in Thailand for 4 months after the birth. I’ve recently returned to the UK for a contract job and to tie up a few loose ends. I miss them both very much, but I’ll be back with them again in a few months. I don’t know exactly what the future holds for our family, whether that will be in Thailand or the UK.
My daughter is already 4 months old and has dual citizenship, so all the options remain open. However, the spouse visa requirements are harsh and very frustrating when applying for a genuine person to enter the UK, but then you see all those people entering the country illegally every week. Anyway, we won’t get into politics. The next time I’ll see my daughter will hopefully be around October as I’ll be working in the UK until then. She’ll be 8 months old by that point. Time really does fly. I couldn’t be happier with how everything has turned out and Ning is an amazing mother. I guess this story shows that none of us knows what’s waiting around the corner in life.
