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Dining Out: Tequila Reef - much more than Mexican
Gender blending: The operators of the Top Class Entertainment group of ogling dens located in Pattayaland Soi 2 are holding what is being billed as a New Orleans style Mardi Gras on Wednesday, May 9. The evening will get underway around the streets of Pattaya with a parade of showgirls decked out in garish and glamorous glad rags. I’m led to believe that some, not all, of the showgirls might be women of the ‘second category’. Part of the fun will be trying to work out those that are from those that aren’t. There are also promises of clowns (not all of them tourists), magicians (is that a rabbit in your hat or just a rubber toy) and people walking around on stilts (now that’s enough to scare the natives). The event will culminate in a party at Planet Rock ogling den and late night boogie barn that kicks into gear around 11 p.m. The Top Class people are promising shows that will, in the words of the publicity blurb, ‘dazzle and amaze you’. Planet Rock is noted for putting on good shows and they deserve full marks for at least trying out new ideas and concepts in what is, after all, an environment in which it is so easy to become jaded and jaundiced. So, Pattayaland Soi 2 will be the place to be next Wednesday evening. I’ll be the one in the frogman outfit using a fluoro snorkel as a rudder. In the Boozers: The Smuggler’s Rest (Naklua Road, just up from the Pussycat ogling den) opens its doors at around 3 p.m. and bats on until late. The atmosphere is laid back and friendly with the usual pool table (out the back) and darts. Food can also be ordered and will be brought to your table from a couple of the nearby nosheries, including a new Indian munching palace that is already getting some good reviews. A decent-sized mug of tea or coffee costs just 35 baht. Well worth a visit if you happen to be up that way. Stairway to heaven: How long will it be before a pedestrian overpass, or two, is built at some point along Second Road between South Pattaya Road and Central Pattaya Road? Given the increasingly heavy amount of traffic, not just on Second Road, but Beach Road as well, it is becoming more and more difficult for pedestrians to do the chicken thing...you know, get to the other side. Hoping for a gap in the traffic is probably what inspired Samuel Beckett to write his famous play ‘Waiting for Godot’. In fact, that’s how half this column gets written. Yes, I know it shows. Indeed, I’ve waited so long to try and get across Second Road on some occasions that I’ve had the local male mongrels, thinking I’m some form of human sculpture, contemplate using my legs for their three-legged water ballet. Of course, you could try enforcing your rights on a pedestrian crossing, but only if you’re suicidal or clinically insane. For the Hungry: One of the hidden delights of Pattaya is right there on the Second Road, opposite Soi Yamato. The restaurant in the Palm Villa sleeping palace serves cheap, but good quality food and drinks. My favourite is the chicken or beef curry at a mere 65 baht. It represents tremendous value for money and with a 10 baht plate of rice will satisfy most hungry palates. Seaside in Songkhla: I recently made mention of the fact that I travelled down to Hat Yai on a visa run. While there, I decided to go on a 14 baht bus ride to the town of Songkhla, about 20 kilometres to the east. The town has a great beach that evokes memories of what Pattaya Bay must have been like some 25 years ago. The non air-conditioned bus was typical in that the only real relief from the heat came through the open windows, the ceiling fans being about as useful as a bow and arrow against a guided missile. After travelling a short period, the bus was packed with three people sitting on bench seats designed to accommodate two and the aisle was jammed solid. In fact, the only room left was up front on the driver’s knob...of his gearstick. My e-mail address is: [email protected]
Copyright 2001 Pattaya Mail Publishing Co. Ltd. |
The restaurant is sparkling clean, with tiled floors and booth style seating around colourful tiled top
tables. A bar counter runs almost full length of the far wall, with a surfboard hanging behind it. A dispenser for frozen margaritas sits expectantly below it! Straight away
you know this is going to be a ‘fun’ restaurant.
Fish is next (around B.180) including Corona Beer battered red snapper tacos, and they are followed by
burritos and burgers (B.130-160). Next up are the fajitas and Mexican combo plates (B.185-215) with tacos, enchiladas and burritos.