Features

by Ariyada

Monika P. Rottmann: of Germany
Husband: Peter, whom she met during one of her many concerts in Canada.
Children: None
Present address: Moonlight on Sea, Naklua
Occupation: Architect until 1981, later Jazz-singer and saxophone player after studying music at the University in Cologne. Now housewife and vice-president of the International Lady’s Club.
Hobby’s: Music, photo-graphy, reading, traveling and everything related with art.
Sports: Water-aerobics (which she teaches), power walking every morning, bicycling.
Stay in Pattaya: Since three years and her plan is to stay here for the rest of her life.
Plans for future traveling: Australia and New Zealand. Because of the climate - 4 different seasons at the same time within one country.
What she likes about Pattaya:
Shopping possibilities, health care in hospitals, her house in the middle of nature and still very close to the center, movie theaters with (many times) good movies, all the nice and cozy restaurants with food from all over the world, Thai food, the many possibilities to go on a tour, the variable entertainment, Thai people (especially women who have a bunch of kids and a lot of work to do and are still friendly and smiling), her job as a vice president at the Lady’s Club for it brings women of different nationali-ties together and gives her the chance to help new-comers to adapt to their new life here and at the same time being able to do charity work.
What she doesn’t like about Pattaya:
The rather small choice of dresses in bigger sizes, no explanation when receiving medication, garbage on the streets and on the beaches, the polluted sea, the sudden change of cinema programs without a warning, restaurants one got attached to disappear over night, streets in permanent bad condition and under permanent construction, the sometimes chaotic traffic and the undisciplined drivers, the old rules that a ‘Farang’ always and for everything has to pay more than a Thai.
What she thinks about life in general in Pattaya:
“I think we can consider ourselves very lucky. Life in Pattaya is very relaxing. I, personally, never have had any problems walking alone on the street, even after dark. The people are so friendly, open-minded and curious. The countryside is beautiful, the food very delicious and the climate perfect for me.
My husband and I are not bothered by the ‘night-life’. We simply don’t join it. If we go out we go to a nice pub and never to those kind of beer-bars. I believe many tourists who come to Pattaya are not representatives of their country. I wouldn’t like to be identified with them. You know, sex-tourism is one thing, normal life in Pattaya is different. We chose the country, we chose the town, we are happy here with all the good and the bad.