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| TRAVEL & TOURISM |
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Tax-weary businessman
on the road less travelled
Gilbert sight-seeing in
Pattaya.
Adversity does not have to be a negative thing, as
Gilbert Vimond from France learned. This 48-year-old Frenchman is gaining
astonishing fame and popularity through his unusual exploits as he journeys
around the world on his Gitane bike.
Gilbert, who is now on his second world tour, reached Thailand in December.
He left his village of Quettreville in France’s Normandy region on January
16, 1996.
Between 1994 and 1995, he pedalled his way around North and South Africa and
he became an instant celebrity of sorts in that continent. He said his
African tour was a beautiful experience which afforded him lasting memories.
Besides, he said, “Africa is best for cycling. Most of the roads are geared
for it.”
The carefree Frenchman arrives
at the Amari Orchid Resort and welcomed by GM Pierre-Andre Pelletier and
executive staff for a well earned rest.
Being seated with him on the same table in Novotel Resort
Rayong on New Year’s Eve was almost a serendipitous find. Amidst three
bottles of red wine, a bottle of Pol Rogers, and the raucous cacophony of
fireworks, conversation drifted to the facts of life and the reasons that
propelled him to such an unusual pursuit down a peculiar path.
Gilbert once owned a restaurant and discotheque in his native France.
However, after a long and arduous battle with the government’s oppressive
tax system, he finally raised his arms in abandon and decided to see the
world on his bicycle. “I told the government, ‘Here’s the key. You can have
everything. I give up. I go’,” said the carefree Frenchman in his faltering
English.
Gilbert is on the 12th leg of his European and Asian tour which brought him
across Italy, Greece, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, China, South Korea, Japan,
Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Laos. So far, in this trip, he has done 22,000
kilometres of varying terrain’s, temperatures and cultures.
Michel Vivier, GM Novotel
Rayong, explains the route to Pattaya after his visit to the resort during
the New Year celebrations.
During his four day visit in Pattaya, sponsored by the
Amari Orchid resort, he said that he averages 100 kilometres a day on his
bike with a conservative budget of US$100 per week. “Pattaya is a fun City,
after 12 months on the road, my first night was drinking until 4 am with
local French expats,” he said, however, money is inconsequential as he meets
a lot of generous and very good people on the road. Nevertheless, he relies
mostly on sponsorship of French companies such as Novotel which has helped
him in various ways in several occasions.
“It’s unbelievable. There are a lot of generous and kind-hearted people out
there.”
Gilbert has many anecdotes and sketches to share about his day-to-day
skirmishes with life on the road. All he needs is a willing ear, an open
heart, and perhaps a can of beer.
However, life is not always a bed of roses for this man. For instance, in
Vietnam and Laos he encountered several problems because the roads in these
countries are not tailored for cycling. Other challenges, such as visa, food
and health problems, confront him along the way.
A few days from now, Gilbert, who is turning 49 on January 13, will complete
another year of fun and grind on his bike. After Thailand, he will cycle his
way to Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Sydney in Australia ending his
16-country expedition. From there, he will fly back to France for a brief
interlude of much-needed rest.
His next itinerary? The Americas. For this indefatigable human being, life
is too precious to be wasted in boredom. As he said, “I like being on my
bike. It gives me freedom as I am in control of my destiny.”
Perhaps there’s no more distinct message of hope this new year than what
this man presents.
I know you should have seen his bike. The brakes do not work, the pedals are
loose, and the main body is wobbly.
“You don’t need anything great. All you need is the will and perseverance to
do what you want. No problem,” this unusual Frenchman said with a glint in
his eyes.
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What Tourists think about Pattaya
A contemporary interview with local tourists by Elif Seitz, part 2
Marielle Ferre and Guillaume Chatelus, both from France, are
expatriates, although they have only lived here for two months.
Q: Coming from such a cultural place like France, how do you like it in
Pattaya?
A We like it here. It’s all very new for us. Of course there is a kind
of culture shock, but we believe we will slowly get over it.
Q: What do you mean by culture shock?
A: Well, all those bars, the girls and all that sex tourism. It is very
disturbing for a woman to see that all so openly. Old, fat men walking
with tiny young girls or boys. Nobody seems to be offended by it. Of
course, everybody can do what they want to do - but! Now, slowly we will
get used to it.
Q: Do you think Pattaya is a clean town or does it need improvement?
A: Actually, we have seen much worse places in Europe. We think it is
quite clean. Of course, a little improvement wouldn’t hurt. The beaches
look O.K., just all the garbage next to the streets looks awful.
Q: Even though you have only been in Pattaya for a short time, what
impression do you have of it’s people?
A: Everybody is very nice and friendly. Not like back home, where people
hardly smile. But there are too many Europeans living here. Staying in
Pattaya makes you feel like you are staying in Europe - too many white
faces. Other than that, we really like it here. We both feel secure,
more than in France. Nobody bothers us - except that terrible traffic.
Q: Have you been eating Thai food already?
A: It’s very good. I can’t eat too much of it, it’s just too hot, but
Marielle loves it.
Q: Usually women always have the better taste. Thank you for letting me
talk to you. I hope you will have a fantastic time in Pattaya.
Karin and Jacques Streng from Groningen in Holland have been regular
guests in Pattaya for 13 years. They came before their children were
born and now, having three, they always bring them along.
Q: Bringing your children to Pattaya, does it mean that Pattaya is a
safe place for them?
A: Definitely. Thai people love children. It’s very secure here for
families. If some of the tourists are in trouble, it’s because they ask
for it by going to certain places. You get what you ask for. If you like
to stay in peace - you can have peace. If you look for fun - you can get
it.
Q: Coming to Pattaya for so many years already, you might have realized
some changes?
A: There are a few changes. Everybody say’s the tourism is going back,
but how come the beaches are fuller than some years ago? Maybe the
tourism of single men went back, but there are more and more families
coming. Therefore the bars are not so crowded anymore. Many more hotels
were built and Pattaya itself grew a lot - that’s the reason why one can
not see so many tourists gathered in one place anymore. You know, 13
years ago there were almost only men here. Look around now. Another
change is Pattaya became cleaner. It’s far away from perfect, the
beaches should be more taken care of, garbage cans should be standing
everywhere and the streets are still not like in Holland, but generally
it is cleaner. The tourists are already aware of the environment, but
this is not their own country, so why should they bother to keep it
clean? And Thai people still have to learn a lot about it.
Q: You said that there are more families coming to Pattaya. Do you
believe “sex tourism” is a myth?
A: It is here, of course. Just like everywhere else in this world.
Europeans and especially journalists think too small. They should remove
the dirt in front of their own house before they talk about Pattaya.
There are sex shows everywhere in Europe - except they are behind closed
doors. They highlight Pattaya on the map to hide the problems in their
own countries.
Q: Now, two last questions: How do you like Thai food and what do you
think about Thai people?
A: The food here is very variable and tasty. We like it very much. The
people are usually very friendly and nice. But I believe it is like
everywhere in the world, there are some good and some bad people.
Q: Thank you very much and enjoy your stay here.
Irene Viebig from Bad Homburg in Germany is here in Pattaya for the
first time. It is her very first trip to an Asian country.
Q: How do you like Pattaya?
A: To be truthful, I don’t know yet. I have only been here for 4 days
and all I have been doing is relaxing. I went to South Pattaya once, but
that doesn’t give me the right to have an opinion.
Q: Why? Just tell me what you saw.
A: A lot of dirty places, dirty streets. The smell from the cars was
overwhelming. But I have been traveling through a lot of countries much
dirtier than Pattaya. My first impression of Thailand was: ‘It is very
hot here’. And I was quite shocked. I believe the eggheads call it
culture shock. But I feel all right now. This hotel here is like an
oasis. It’s perfect here.
Q: You said you went to South Pattaya. I am sure you saw a lot of bars
and bargirls. What do you think about that?
A: That’s what I meant with the culture shock. You know, those guys
making a fool out of themselves with all the young girls. I watched some
for more than an hour. I could see how the girls are only out for their
money. I am sure some of those men are in good positions back in Europe
- how can they be so, excuse my language, stupid, not to realize it? But
maybe I ask for too much. The tourists I saw seemed to be very simple
people. This is also a reason why so much crap is sold in the markets.
How can normal people buy such things?
Q: In the four days you have been here, have you tried Thai food yet?
A: From the first day on. I believe that in whatever country I travel, I
must eat their food. This is also a way to understand the culture of a
country better. Even though I got stomach pain after the first time, I
keep eating Thai food. It’s very tasty and very good and I like it.
Q: Thank you very much for the opportunity to talk to you. I sincerely
hope you’ll get over your culture shock very soon and you will be
enjoying your vacation.
A: Thank you very much also. I am sure after I visit Thailand a few more
times, I will get used to it.
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